Joeys will start two wins clear of the rest of the competition with four matches remaining when the GPS first XV competition resumes on Saturday following the July break. 

But coach Greg Thompson said his side isn’t getting ahead of themselves just yet and said there’s still plenty of rugby to be played before any school can add to their trophy cabinet. 

“To be honest, we’re not speaking about premierships. We’ve got four tough games to go and we really just want to improve on our performances from the first six rounds,” Thompson told Rugby News.

“We play a number of teams again that we were lucky to get a victory against, then we play Kings who we lost too, so we know we need to get better.”

Joeys lost to Kings 21-19 in round three and snuck home against Shore (17-14) and Riverview (19-14) in the following weeks. 

Thompson’s side is in the box seat to add to first XV premierships the school won in 2018, 2019 and 2022, but a slip up in the weeks ahead could bring them right back to the pack. 

“Everyone has come back from the holidays in one piece, which is pleasing,” Thompson said. 

“We had a few boys playing rep rugby over the last few weeks and a number of them performed really well. 

“Our hooker Charlie Ghattas got picked in the Australian Schoolboys side and Joey Fowler was picked in the Australian U18s squad which is great reward for both boys.”

Joeys spent the final week of the school holidays on a rugby camp up in Kingscliff and Thompson said he was pleased with the work the squad got through over the break. 

“There’s a lot we worked on,” he said. 

“We’d like to improve our wet weather play, as I’m sure most sides would after the start to the season we all had. 

“We also want to make sure we convert and score points when we enter the opposition’s 22 and make the most of our opportunities.”

“Most of our games have been low scoring games and obviously weather plays a part in that but hopefully we get a few dry Saturday afternoons where we can score some good tries and play some attacking rugby.”

Joeys face a Scots outfit that found form before the holidays after a slow start to the season. 

Considered by many as the preseason favourites, Scots won just two of their opening five matches this year, but found some form before the break and have enough talent in their playing group to beat anyone on their day.  

“Scots beat Kings in their last game and obviously Kings beat us. Before that, they had a couple narrow losses but they’ll be fired up and ready to go,” Thompson explained. 

“If we’re going to win the premiership, we’ve got to beat good teams in these next four games and they won’t give it to us, so we need to make sure we go out and earn it.”

In the rounds other matches, Newington host Riverview and Shore travel to play Kings in must win games for any side looking to challenge Joeys for the 2024 title.