Coast creates history

THE 2005 Sunshine Coast Primary Schools side recently achieved something current State of Origin stars Casey McGuire, Chris Flannery and Ben Ross never could it won a State 12 years championship

Stella Maris school's Jarred Edwards, right, tries to drag down Deception Bay's Hymel Hunt.

THE 2005 Sunshine Coast Primary Schools side recently achieved something current State of Origin stars Casey McGuire, Chris Flannery and Ben Ross never could it won a State 12 years championship.

In fact, no Sunshine Coast side has ever claimed the State Primary Schools crown before the class of 2005 achieved that feat in Townsville last month.

After finishing level at the top of its pool, Sunshine Coast defeated warm favourites Metropolitan West 16-4 in the final.

Coach Scott Pacey said his side knew it had created history.

They knew how special it was, three or four of them had tears in their eyes after the final, Pacey said.

Five Sunshine Coast players Hymel Hunt (Deception Bay North State School), Samuel Wright (Noosaville SS), Patrick Templeman (Bli Bli SS), Tom Geraghty (Buderim SS) and Joshua Buckland (Stella Maris) were rewarded with selection in the Queensland possibles v probables match.

From that match, Hunt, Wright, Geraghty and Buckland were named in the Queensland Primary schools squad, which will compete at the national exchange in Adelaide from July 30 August 6.

Stella Maris survived a countback to win the ARL Development Cup Sunshine Coast final at Caloundra yesterday.

After an 18-all draw with Deception Bay North, Stella Maris was declared the winner because it scored the first try.

Originally published as Coast creates history