STATE HIGH VS NUDGEE,  THE PAUL MORGAN CUP

ADDED TUESDAY 06/05/2008

I thought I would put together a piece on the Paul Morgan cup,  before round one of the GPS competition.  I know there is plenty of tradition out there,  but this is one match that caught my eye last year.   This match is one of the keys to the coveted (though I am unsure why it is so coveted) GPS premiership,  but as the last week of trials unfolded,  there are a few schools looking to be in the running for this prize. 

The Paul Morgan cup is played between Nudgee and State High,  schools with vastly different backgrounds,  and cultures,  both having produced over time,  their fair share of elite performers across the board,  business,  academia,  sport,  arts,  what ever.  Nudgee probably lays claim to the most number of Wallabies produced,  but I haven’t counted them,  I’m sure I will know by the end of the day! 

Paul Morgan played for 3 years in the State High Firsts,  1961 to 1964.  You can read all about Paul on the excellent BSHS Rugby history page,  I would put  a link up but you really should have permission to do that,  just find the BSHS site,  then go to rugby and rugby history,  it’s a great read.  No point in me regurgitating some impressive work. 

What was interesting for me was,  from reading that site,  was that Paul went on to play for Queensland in his first year out of school,  in an era when,  shall we say violence was a little less controlled,  encouraged even one might say.  Also of note was the fact that he played in a winning Toowoomba Bulimba cup side. 

Paul “Porky” Morgan also was one of the founding members of the Brisbane Broncos,  a coulourful business man,  credited with bringing the stockmarket to “mum and dad” investors,  died playing golf at the age of only 54 in 2001.  Some recent names out of BSHS history in the rugby field would be Peter Hynes,  Charlie Fetoai,  Matt To’omua,  Willie Tupou. 

Son Lachlan attended Nudgee, and I believe was a member of their last premiership winning side,  in 2002 if my research has been correct,  the last of 36 in total,  that is a fairly impressive statistic in itself.  Lachlan has also played for the Toowoomba Clydesdales in his tie up with the Broncos rugby league outfit.  The most recent name,  out of Nudgee,  and on everyone’s lips this week is one James “Rabbit” O’Connor,  now the youngest ever player to debut in the Super 14,  at 17 years and 303 days,  something like that anyway.  He is young whatever the case may be.  Others that the young many not remember were reds and Wallaby enforcer Mark Loane,  and a guy by the name of Paul McLean,  a couple of pretty fairly legendary  guys at the forefront of Qld Rugby resurgence back in the 70’s. 

I think maybe Mrs Morgan comes along and meets the boys from each First XV and maybe as well presents the cup after the game. 

State High starts this game in a new era for them really,  having been used to dominant forces in their rugby over the last few years,  none more so than To’omua,  (now with the Brumbies,  Hamlin (also Brumbies),  Willie Tupou (Broncos),  Victor and Paul Mafi (Souths Rugby) to name but a few.  They will be on a rebuilding curve,  and just due to the style and skill levels of Hamlin and To’omua have had to change their entire playing style,  from my observation at least,  to accommodate perhaps a less dominant 9 and 10 combination.  There are and will be others that will step up to the mark,  and the Joel Faulkner/Elih Bailey clash is a mouthwatering one to start with. 

Nudgee on the other hand is building out of last year with plenty of players back from some 3:15 pm experiences in 2007,  or coming out of a strong Under 16 side.  They have probably embarked on a new playing style from last year forward,  under a new coaching regime.  2008 should see them more used to this particular style and game type. 

Nudgee have been touted,  on the back of some outrageous rumours,  as 2008 favourites.  I am now not so sure about that situation.  Trial games are trial games,  but there have been a few patterns emerge in those results,  that tell me Nudgee is not as white hot as everyone expects,  and could be beaten on any given day,  by several sides.  Time will tell and the Nudgee guys will need to turn up on the day,  each day to win what many pundits think is a foregone conclusion. 

There is no question,  that the scrum battle,  for an old front rower like myself makes me salivate,  I’d love to put my head into one of those things,  a couple of decent packs at these two schools will ensure a great battle indeed ensues.  Both sides are blessed with pace and footskills that old front rowers like myself wish we had,  dream about having had,  and maybe make up stories occasionally about having had! 

Now for the most important bit,  and it is very important.  It is as crucial today as it was 5 years ago,  100 years ago,  that sport,  and indeed life and work is enjoyable.  Part of that enjoyment for young people comes directly from a lack of pressure. 

Adults, parents,  coaches,  managers,  teachers should be very careful,  very mindful of the pressure that is put on young folks.  Guess what,  it doesn’t matter a cracker who wins this Saturday,  some will celebrate and mourn for longer than others,  more adults than kids,  but life will go on.  The key factor is that from the bottom grade and age group,  to the First XV,  is that all participants are enjoying the game they are playing.  If they are enjoying the game,  the training,  then we as spectators and adults,  will certainly see the very best of these players. 

I for one am really looking forward to seeing the silken skills of Steph Hunt,  the running and evasion skills of Joel Faulkner,  the brute force of Dave Feao (I’m still having nightmares about his old man and thanking God I never had to play against him). 

I will admit that I like the playing style of BSHS,  which would also mean I like the playing style of Ipswich Grammar,    but can also immerse myself in the structure that I feel Nudgee may play,  given the very good information I have on their forward pack,  not the rubbish rumours that are out there,    I do like a good set piece and tactical battle.  The game may come down to fitness,  the game may come down to whichever style can get on top first,  but really as an independent observer, I have no care for who wins,  I hope the game befits the spectacle it promises,  I hope there are few if any injuries,  I hope that the game is played as rugby should be at this level,  for fun,  for enjoyment,  and for the sheer experience of playing rugby at this level.  Most of all I hope the boys playing all day are unshackled from pressure that they feel coming their way,  I can assure them,  they will get over a win and they will get over a loss,  and they will face many more important things in their lives than a single match of schoolboy rugby. 

I am actually looking forward to getting over to Nudgee,  work permitting of course,   early and watching some of the kiddies in under age footy go around,  and I will probably run into legendary tough guy Richard Tweedy,  who’s boy Daniel will be in the 16A’s (I think) for Nudgee.  I’ll certainly be looking for him lurking in the shadows for a blindsiding shot in the ribs. 

Good luck to all playing in all games this weekend,  and to all those playing,  coaching,  watching and analyzing,  be sure and enjoy your rugby. 

You can view some pictures of last year's clash at the bottom of this page,  the page being last year's write up.

In other games this weekend,  BBC are at home to Gregory Terrace,  BGS take on IGS at their home venue at Northgate,  and TGS travel to the Coast to meet The Southport School.  Churchie (ACGS) have the bye,  and the two First XV's clash at Suncorp in a curtain raiser to the Reds/Crusaders match.

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