Live stream: Palm Beach Currumbin v Patrician Brothers College Blacktown, NRL Schoolboys Cup final
A single moment stranded in time between two young flyers has defined a massive year of NRL Schoolboys Cup - but in the end, only one could prevail. Watch the full match REPLAY.
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The Steeden floated high above the Cbus Super Stadium turf.
With 90 seconds left in the NRL Schoolboys Cup national final, and two points bewteen the sides, time stood still.
The entire stadium crowd drew a collective breath as opposing wingers Patrician Brothers’ Chad Riddle and Palm Beach Currumbin’s Beau Hatmann leapt as the footy tumbled down from the sky - and Hartmann prevailed.
He picked Riddle’s pocket and surged towards the stripe untouched with 90 seconds left on the clock to hand Palm Beach Currumbin a two-point lead - just minutes after he had dropped a similar chance at full stretch for what would’ve been a certain try.
The moment meant Palm Beach Currumbin clinched their third NRL national schoolboys title in a gripping 18-16 triumph over Patrician Brothers College, Blacktown. It was a win as special as they come, in a match as gripping as they come.
“I don’t even know, it was a perfect kick,” said Hartmann of the magical try after the game.
“I couldn’t have done it without Zane (haflback Harrison). It came down to luck really.
“I can’t describe it, it’s just so good, it’s the best feeling ever.”
The result was a repeat of 2018 where the same outcome ensued between the two schools. On that day, Tom Dearden was the star for Palm Beach Currumbin. This time, it was another Reds half in Zane Harrison.
Harrison was amazing. The final try was just reward for a great kicking display for the full 60 minutes, and his defence was as good as his attack. Twice he scooped up the footy in dangerous territory and scurried out of the in-goal to save PBC’s blushes.
PBC coach Tim Maccan was full of praise for his star half, who is signed to the Titans and seems destined to have a long career lighting up Cbus Super Stadium ahead of him.
“He’s the type of player where you just give him the keys and he drives it for you. I love him. He’s been my halfback for the last three years and he’s been unbelievable,” Maccan said.
PBC defended gallantly all day, fighting tooth and nail under immense pressure against a star-studded Patties Blacktown outfit containing four Australian Schoolboys representatives.
The earlier two tries came courtesy of Reuben Tamariki, who spearheaded the Palm Beach Currumbin forward pack all day and earned himself a double thanks to some brilliant hole running.
“He’s had his best season this year, he really dug deep at times when we needed him and he did a great job today,” Maccan said.
The Reds coach was equally impressed with Marley Igasan, who had been absent from the side for the past three weeks.
“He was unbelievable, he played almost a whole game …. he’s been training his butt off in our extended group, he was amazing.”
PBC had led for much of the second half until Pats Blacktown five-eighth and co-captain Jared Haywood turned the match on its head in a matter of minutes with two superb cut out passes to set up back-to-back tries.
His first floater sent gun lock Tyson Sangalang under the posts, before he broke apart the Reds edge defence in a matter of seconds as he slowed himself to draw in the defence before picking out Riddle.
It’s no wonder Dragons coach Shane Flanagan rates front-rower Jacob Halangahu so highly given he delivered bruising run after bruising run through the middle and drove his side into very dangerous territory.
The loss continues a sorry streak for the proud Sydney school, who have just a lone national title to show for eight national final appearances.
For Maccan, a simple age-old cliche told him everything he needed to know. And it was one that proved hard to argue with come full-time.
“I just told the boys that (Patrician) have a lot of individual champions in their team,” he said.
“But we’re a champion team and that’ll always beat it.”
PREVIEW
The two best Schoolboys Cup sides in the nation will go head-to-head with pride, glory and history on the line.
Both Palm Beach Currumbin and Patrician Brothers College, Blacktown are chasing their own slice of redemption, adding more emotion to an already charged NRL Schoolboys Cup national final.
The national final will be live streamed from Cbus Super Stadium on KommunityTV and across all News Corp Australia digital mastheads. Check out the full schedule and links below.
For Palm Beach Currumbin, they will aim to shed 12 months of heartache after they were emphatically blown off the park by a Lachlan Galvin-led Westfields Sports High in last year’s national final.
For Patrician Brothers Blacktown, it is about avenging their loss in the 2018 national final, when they went down to the same Red Army they come face-to-face with on Wednesday.
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While that grand final six years ago was littered with future State of Origin stars like Stephen Crichton and Tom Dearden, this year’s grand final will also be laden with players with plenty of their own promise.
Check out the stars of the future set to break the national final wide open below.
Jacob Halangahu, Patrician Brothers Blacktown
Position: Backrow, NRL club: Dragons
The most damaging player in schoolboys rugby league. Halangahu has a competitive fire that cannot be extinguished. He will hit hard and run even harder, keep an eye out for a game-changing offload. While he is definitely in a mould of his own, the Dragons SG Ball winner plays a similar game to Titans big man David Fifita.
Zane Harrison, Palm Beach Currumbin
Position: Halfback, NRL club: Titans
The mercurial halfback will make a welcome return for Palm Beach Currumbin in the national final after his well-publicised absence from the state final due to concussion. The Titans have just extended the young gun’s contract in a sign of just what he brings to the party. A natural leader on the field, he will have a hand in everything PBC does.
Lachlan Coinakis, Patrician Brothers Blacktown
Position: Hooker, NRL club: Eels
The Eels young gun plays eyes up football behind the ruck, and will be able to spot an issue with the markers before they realise there is one. Every play for the Patties side begins with Coinakis, and the Australian Schoolboys representative will be determined to get them on the front foot early.
Sam Stephenson, Palm Beach Currumbin
Position: Centre, NRL club: Titans
The damaging ballrunner can be even more damaging without it. The Titans young gun, who spent a pre-season with their NRL side last Summer, has been a revelation out wide for Palm Beach Currumbin in recent years. He was also part of the Queensland Under-19 Origin squad this year and picked in the Australian Schoolboys side.
Jhett Sydir, Patrician Brothers, Blacktown
Position: Halfback, NRL club: Panthers
He hasn’t played a game of rugby league in more than two months, but don’t expect Sydir to be putting the handbrake on in this one. He targeted the national final as his return, and will be desperate to deliver that premiership glory to his school in his final year. Possesses a strong running game and will be the chief organiser for the Patties attack.
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