Canterbury Bulldogs in historic partnership with Cooper Cronk’s old school - a rugby stronghold

Canterbury Bulldogs ink a historic deal with the old school of Queensland State of Origin great Cooper Cronk - a college famous for producing Reds and Wallaby rugby champions.

The St Laurence's College first XV rugby union team - Cooper Cronk is second from the left.

The Canterbury Bulldogs have inked a historic deal with the Queensland school rugby union powerhouse, St Laurence’s College.

St Laurence’s College, a grand nursery for elite private schoolboy AIC First XV rugby talent, will be the destination for “a dedicated training base’’ for Canterbury’s contracted players in south east Queensland.’’

The partnership will provide Bulldogs pathways players with access to the College’s facilities, including Gair Oval and high-performance training spaces.

In return, Canterbury will also provide coaching development and player engagement opportunities for St Laurence’s staff and students.

Queenslander Reed Mahoney celebrates with team mates after scoring a try. Canterbury has a long history of recruiting Queenslanders, but has now linked a deal with a Brisbane college steeped in rugby union tradition. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)

It is a significant decision for an NRL club to establish such a partnership with a Queensland private school that is steeped in rugby union tradition. Rugby league was only introduced into AIC schools in 2019 as a term 3 sport.

Indeed St Laurence’s is such a rugby juggernaut that the First XV recently conjured up one of Australian rugby’s great winning streaks, with a First XV side going unbeaten between round 4, 2019, and June 1, 2024.

Queensland’s rugby union Team of the Century selections Bill McLean, Dan Crowley and Nev Cottrell were all Laurie’s old boys, as were 100-game Reds champion Mark Connors, Wallaby front rowers Neil Betts and Brendan Cannon and grand backs like state representative John Hoyland, Tyron Mandrusiak, Brad Free and Laurie Lawrence, along with current Queensland Reds forward John Bryant.

William Zillman is a Laurie’s old boy. (AAP Image/Dave Hunt)

St Laurence’s historic link to league is tenuous, with Cooper Cronk recruited from the school to the Melbourne Storm, Will Zillman a notable signing for the Raiders and Titans and Rhys Jacks a past Storm and Gold Coast player.

This decision by Canterbury to formally enter into a pathways program with St Laurence’s highlights the potential growth the club sees in the AIC sporting system, while also growing the club’s strong recruitment presence in south east Queensland.

Adam Hartigan, General Manager of Pathways at the Bulldogs, said the training hub would “create a solid stepping stone for Queensland-based players in their journey to the NRL’’.

“This partnership with St Laurence’s College is a great opportunity for our contracted players based in south east Queensland,” Hartigan said.

“The partnership gives our Queensland-based players the foundation they need to one day succeed at the highest levels.”

Members of the 2024 St Laurence's College’s side.Picture, John Gass

Principal of St Laurence’s College Ben Lowrie said the partnership would open doors for the school’s students and staff.

“We are incredibly excited about this partnership with the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs,” Lowrie said.

He said the partnership with the Bulldogs would provide the school community with “incredible opportunities’’.

“We look forward to the many benefits this collaboration will continue to offer,’’ he said.

Originally published as Canterbury Bulldogs in historic partnership with Cooper Cronk’s old school - a rugby stronghold