Teams confirmed for Game Two of Challenger Series

Thu, Sep 21, 2023, 11:50 PM
Jim Tucker
by Jim Tucker

The Reds Development XV have made three changes to their starting line-up ahead of this weekend’s second-and-final Queensland Rugby Challenger Series game against the Challenger XV at Ballymore Stadium.

After coming off the bench in last weekend’s 59-36 win, hooker Josh Nasser will make his first start of the 2023 calendar year alongside George Blake and Sef Fa’agase in the frontrow.

GPS flanker Matt Gicquel, who won the Gallopers’ Player of the Season Award this year – will also make his first start of the series after impressing off the bench last week.

Gicquel’s inclusion into the starting XV will see a reshuffle in the backrow, with Connor Anderson moved to blindside flanker and Bond University captain Lachlan Connors dropping to the bench.

The only other change sees Lawson Creighton set to start as a finisher with Easts stalwart Matt Smith named at inside centre.

New Reds signing Massimo De Lutiis is also in line for his first appearance for the Reds having been named on the bench.

The Challenger XV side have enacted significant changes to their XV with Brothers prop Jaiden Christian, UQ lock Jack Brady and Souths number eight Sean Farrell all starting on Sunday.

Changes to the back line include Cullin Cooper-Jones (Wests) starting at scrumhalf, UQ wing Lachlan Sperling and GPS centre Tautalatasi Tasi that see Phransis Sula-Siaosi (Souths), Ratu Vio Batibasaga (GPS) and Ollie Bartlett (GPS) shift to the bench.

Sweeping changes have been made in the women’s ranks to both the Reds Development XV and Challenger XV with nine girls called up to the Wallaroos squad for the test against New Zealand in a week’s time. 

In their place, six players from last week’s Challenger XV have been shifted across to the Reds Development XV side including Rosie Ebbage (Easts), Rebecca Davidson (Brothers) and Brooke Savelio (UQ). 

Wests lock Aleena Greenhalgh will captain the Reds Development XV while Sunnybank’s Ana Afuie – the 2023 Selena Worsley Medallist – is named to start at scrumhalf.

For the Challenger XV side, the changes see a host new faces in the squad with Debbie Burese (Souths), Lillian Kolb (UQ) and Sabay Lynam (UQ) all handed starts. 

Named amongst the finishers includes Emiliya Byrne (GPS), Annelise Lole and Maddison Melish (Wests).

The matches will again be live streamed via the Queensland Reds Facebook and YouTube pages.

2023 Queensland Rugby Challenger Series – Game Two

Reds Development XV v Challenger XV (men) at 1:15pm AEST - Ballymore Stadium, Sunday 24 September

Reds Development XV



1. George Blake | Bond University

2. Josh Nasser | UQ

3. Sef Fa’agase | Sunnybank (Captain)

4. Tanna Wilson | Easts

5. Chris Minimbi | UQ

6. Connor Anderson | Wests

7. Matt Gicquel | GPS

8. John Bryant | Souths

9. Louis Werchon | Wests

10. Harry McLaughlin-Phillips | Souths

11. Mac Grealy | UQ

12. Matt Smith | Easts

13. Josh Flook | Brothers (Vice-Captain)

14. Tim Ryan | Brothers

15. Meli Dreu | Easts

16. Max Craig | Easts

17. Baguio Johnson-Tiumalu | Wests

18. Jeff Toomaga-Allen | Norths

19. Fred Fewtrell | Easts

20. Lachlan Connors | Bond University

21. Spencer Jeans | Bond University

22. Lawson Creighton | Brothers

23. Conor Chittenden | Norths

24. Massimo De Lutiis | Easts

25. Rhys Sheriff | Bond University

26. Jake Kurbatoff | Souths

27. Shaun Anderson | GPS

Challenger XV



1. George Francis | Souths

2. Moli Sooaemalelagi | Bond University

24. Jaiden Christian | Brothers

4. Jack Brady | UQ

5. Brad Kapa | Brothers

6. Adam Korcyzk | UQ

7. Kohan Herbert | Souths (captain)

8. Sean Farrell | Souths

9. Cullin Cooper-Jones | Wests

10. Jake Pappin | Easts

11. Lachlan Sperling | UQ

12. Chris Kuridrani | GPS

13. Tautalatasi Tasi | GPS

14. Ben Navosailagi | Wests

15. Cooper Whiteside | Wests

16. Ben Murphy | Souths

17. Liam Usher | Wests

3. Phransis Sula-Siaosi | Souths

19. Noah Neilsen | Brothers

20. Ratu Vio Batibasaga | GPS

21. Isaac Tarabay | Brothers

22. Shane Kennedy | Easts

23. Tyler Campbell | Bond University

18. Jake Tierney | UQ

25. Connor Higgins | Norths

26. Oliver Bartlett | GPS

27. Pio Nakubuwai | Easts

28. Veresa Mataitini | GPS

Reds Development XV v Challenger XV (women) at 1:15pm AEST - Ballymore Stadium, Sunday 24 September  

Reds Development XV



1. Madi Schuck | Easts

2. Tiarna Molloy | Easts

3. Alapeta Nqaumo | Wests

4. Rosie Ebbage | Easts

5. Aleena Greenhalgh | Wests (captain)

6. Joanna Rabaka | Sunnybank

7. Ema Masi | UQ

8. Kaipo Olsen Baker

9. Ana Afuie | Sunnybank

10. Renae Nona | Sunnybank

11. Georgia Wilson | Souths

12. Rebecca Davidson | Brothers

13. Alana Elisaia | Wests

14. Laura Burnett 

15. Ellie Draper | Souths

16. Roni Setu | UQ

17. Brooke Savelio | UQ

18. Nina Poletti | Brothers

19. Ashley Knight | Wests

20. Eva Robertson | Brothers

21. Jess Craig | Wests

22. Georgia Flood | Nambour

23. Giverney Robinson | UQ

Challenger XV 

1. Allana Sikimeti | Wests

2. Mary Tuaana | Souths (captain) 

3. Asi Mafi | Souths

4. Dillyn Blackburn | Wests

5. Nena Williamson | UQ

6. Megan Prinsloo | UQ

7. Amelia Brown | GPS

8. Luana Tongia | Sunnybank

9. Taleah Ackland | Toowoomba Bears

10. Leka Tuaana | Souths

11. Debbie Burese | Souths

12. Lillian Kolb | UQ

13. Kalisi Logopoa | Sunnybank

14. Gemma Lawrence | Wests

15. Sabay Lynam | UQ

16. Anelise Lole | UQ

17. Laiyah Sevealii | Souths

18. Tiarrie Fanuatanu | Wests

19. Shannon Symon | Easts

20. Emiliya Byrne | GPS

21. Vei Koloamatangi | Souths

22. Maggie Glassock | Easts

23. Maddison Melish | Wests

24. Wynonah Conway | Brothers

25. Evie Robertson | Brothers

26. Bree Shepherd | Brothers

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