Gregory Terrace welcomed a new head coach in Ryan Schultz this year and that caused some natural disruption in the pre-season, which was followed by a campaign that ended with so many ‘what ifs?’ hanging over it.

Despite that short preparation Gregory Terrace went within a converted try of knocking off eventual top six sides Toowoomba Grammar, Nudgee College and Churchie in the opening five weeks of the season.

With losses to Brisbane Boys’ College and Brisbane State thrown in there, it’s obvious to see how different Gregory Terrace’s season would’ve been had they converted those winning opportunities.

They wouldn’t have won the title, but they would’ve finished substantially higher than eighth too.

OVERVIEW WITH RYAN SCHULTZ

“In terms of results it was obviously disappointing but in the end we lost [three] games by a (converted) try or less and they all came early in the season, against good sides. If we convert those games and get some momentum early it would’ve been a very different season,” Schultz lamented.

“But that’s probably one of the successes from the season too, our ability to compete with most of those top sides because we had a really short preparation.

“(Me) being new to the program, we didn’t really start until early term two and in terms of getting down to a first XV we didn’t do that until midway through that term, I also think the need to get to know the players in such a short space of time [impacted] out ability to perform at the level I think we could have.

“Another positive of this year’s program was, I think, how much enjoyment the playing group had even though we didn’t win that many games. I think most of our leaving year 12 players will stay in the game too, they’ll continue playing and hopefully go on to experience all the joys club rugby has to offer.”

WHO IS THE GRADUATING PLAYER TO WATCH?

“Glen Vaihu is the main one,” Schultz said.

“He had an outstanding season and he [played] for the Australian Schools and U18 team in New Zealand and he was a standout.

“I think he’ll have big things ahead of him in club footy and representative footy.”

WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN BETWEEN NOW AND ROUND ONE NEXT YEAR?

“Knowing the playing group now, returning the players and the younger players, that helps and that’ll put the program in good stead I think,” Schultz said.

“Continuing to learn about the GPS program in Queensland is going to be really important and then being able to get access to the group earlier will be great, I think 2020 is going to be pretty exciting.”

BOLD PREDICTION FOR 2020?

“Let’s just say we’ll be better prepared than we were in 2019,” Schultz said.