Brisbane State High will field arguably the most experienced squad in the GPS competition in 2023, with 15 players returning from last year’s campaign.

While results didn’t go their way in 2022, coach Haydn Hirsimaki is hopeful his players will be better for the experience of last season and ready to leave a mark on the competition.

Overview with Haydn Hirsimaki: 

“It’s been exciting to have a competition game to get ready for this week after a 15 week preseason. I know the boys are all really looking forward to Saturday,” Hirsimaki told Rugby News.

“We’ve trained as one big squad from 16s through to Opens for the majority of the preseason.

“We did that to try and build a bit of community within the school and to help integrate the younger players into program.

“It’s helped all of our players get on the same page and now we know that if we do have injuries, then we’ll have younger players ready to step up.

“The trials have been positive for us. We played Grammar and Ipswich twice, then played TSS and Toowoomba.

“We’ve been mixing things up quite a bit from week to week to help us find the best combinations and the best starting XV for round one.

“We’ve got a tough start to the year (facing Churchie, Toowoomba and TSS in the opening three rounds), but with schoolboy footy, so much comes down to the player’s mindsets.

“You can do all the preparation in the world for a match but if the players aren’t mentally there, then results can get away from sides very easily.

“We’re pretty confident that we can get off to a good start this week against Churchie. We know next week up in Toowoomba is going to be tough but I think our guys will be up for the challenge.”

2023 Squad: 

“We’ve got a solid group of players returning from last year. There are probably 15 guys who played first XV last year while they were in year 11 and are back for a second season,” Hirsimaki said.

“There are some really good leaders in that group of boys and they’ve been great so far this year.

“They are all on the same page and they’re all very motivated after a disappointing season in 2022 to turns things around this season.”

What style of rugby will we see from Ipswich this year?

“You’ll see a bit of everything from us this year I think,” the coach continued.

“We really just want to play what is in front of us. When we want to be expansive, I think we’ve got a game plan for it. If we need to be straight and direct, we’re capable of that as well.

“It’ll very much depend on the opposition that we are playing and the game plan we choose for each match but I think we’ve got a good amount of depth and rugby IQ within the squad to change things up when needed.”

Which sides pose the biggest threat this season? 

“It’s hard to go past sides like Nudgee and BBC who have been consistently strong

“Looking at the trial form, they’ll both be right in the mix.

“Toowoomba are definitely the dark horse. I think they’re going to be very tough to beat.

“Looking across the competition through the trials, all the sides know how to throw the ball around and they’re all going to play an exciting style of rugby.

“Sides will look for opportunities to score wherever and whenever they can and I think that’s going to make for an exciting season.”