Mountain Creek SHS thriving in 2025 Walters Cup schoolboys competition

Newcomers Mountain Creek SHS are relishing their ‘underdog’ tag in the premier Walters Cup schoolboys rugby league competition as they mount a serious finals charge.

Mountain Creek SHS rising rugby league talents, Harvey Morris, Billy Roderick, Cash Bennett and Cleveland Mackay. Picture: Patrick Woods.

Mountain Creek State High School have emerged from the wilderness and charged into South East Queensland’s premier rugby league competition with a series of impressive results in the Walters Cup.

The Sunshine Coast based school began their campaign by almost toppling Marsden SHS in a major upset with the scores locked at 14-all before a final Marsden try with three minutes to play.

A brave 22-all draw against Redcliffe SHS the following week was followed up with a 24-22 comeback win over Mabel Park SHS in round three and a 40-14 victory against Palm Beach Currumbin in round four.

Their ambushed-styled start to the 2025 season had head coach Brendan Newcombe, assistant coach Sam Mawhinney and their playing group reconfigure their season expectations.

“We set some goals at the beginning of the year, mainly around just hoping to compete against the better sides but we realised early on that we’ve probably overachieved and had to reset our aims,” Newcombe said.

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Mountain Creek SHS Walters Cup head coach Brendan Newcombe. Picture: Patrick Woods.

“We’ve come up against some much bigger sides but we’ve challenged every team we’ve played so far, so it’s now been about looking at our opposition and trying to identify the best style we can play against them.

“We’ve realised that we can give the competition a bit of a shake, we definitely have that underdog status as no one knows too much about us but our biggest attribute has been our effort.”

Having been absent from the top year 10 division for a number of years, Newcombe said his side was enjoying the season so far.

“I think the last time we were in this grade was when Tyson Smoothy was running around at Creek,” Newcombe said.

Mountain Creek SHS rising rugby league talents, Harvey Morris, Billy Roderick, Cash Bennett and Cleveland Mackay. Picture: Patrick Woods.

Another hurdle has been the complete lack of home matches for Mountain Creek.

With no Sunshine Coast schools in the senior Langer Trophy competition, Mountain Creek have been paired with Stretton State College, playing their home games at Langlands Park and away games as south as Tugun on the Gold Coast.

Newcombe said his side would be an exciting one to follow.

“Billy Roderick, our half who was new to the school at the beginning of the year, he came down from Bundaberg and has been a real revelation,”

“His kicking game is second to none and he’s just getting more and more confident.

“Cash Bennett is our hooker, another that hasn’t played a lot of representative footy but was with the Falcons Cyril Connell and found his way into starting hooker.

Mountain Creek SHS Walters Cup captain Cleveland Mackay. Picture: Patrick Woods.

“He really grew and is now getting on a few clubs’ radar because he’s a real hard worker and he’s playing a really good brand of footy.

“Harvey Morris is a player that just a few years ago was trying to find his feet and find a spot in the school side but has taken off in the past year and was lucky enough to play in a Broncos under-16 match against Newcastle recently.

“Our captain Cleveland Mackay is another to mention so there are a few little gems in our side which has been really exciting to see them come together and grow as a team but also as individuals.”

Newcombe threw his support behind the Sunshine Coast Falcons newly established Excellence Academy, headed by Falcons Queensland Cup assistant coach Leon Cherry and BMD head coach Danny Gray.

“It’s a new initiative that a lot of our players are taking part in and it’s really helped them on and off the field,” Newcombe said.

“It’s more good exposure for younger players that are eager to take that next step and improve their game as much as possible.”