Live stream: Watch grand final day at the ASSRL Nationals from Redcliffe
Five tries in the first 30 minutes lifted a rampant NSWCCC side to the ASSRL boys title in Redcliffe - and it was another dominant first half that settled the girls decider. Relive the action.
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A first half try-scoring feast from the NSW Combined Catholic Colleges blew away their NSW Combined High Schools rivals as they claimed a stunning 40-10 ASSRL 18 years grand final victory.
NSWCCC ran in five tries in the first 30 minutes to deflate the spirits of NSWCHS - and doing the groundwork was hulking middle forward Jacob Halangahu, a Parramatta signed talent from Patrician Brothers’ College Blacktown.
He was without powerful forward buddy De La Salle Va’a (Marcellin College, Randwick) but fullback Jaxen Edgar (St Dominic’s College, Kingswood, halves Heath Mason and Riley Pollard and lock Finau Latu brought their absolute best.
Who could forget the best dummy-half at the nationals, Zaidas Muagututi’a, whose second try put the nail in the coffin at 34-10.
NSWCHS scored their first try with 18 minutes left and it was their trusted right wing finisher Nikora Williams who was the beneficiary of a line break and cut out pass by Kade Reed (Illawarra Sports High).
Five-eighth Lachlan Galvin crossed for NSWCHS’ second successive try to reduce the margin to 28 points, but the support play of Muagututi’a landed one final blow for the victors.
Earlier, Edgar opened the scoring after just three minutes, the St Dominic’s College fullback cutting back in and crashing over.
Halangahu kept his opposition on the back foot when he burst through the line and ran 60 metres to give his side prime field position. One set later and his side was up 12-0, Mason (St Gregory’s College) slicing and dicing to score a cracking try.
Their momentum led to try No.3 and it was Panthers signed centre Wilson Decourcey (Patrician Brother’s Blacktown) who couldn’t be stopped on the right edge. He had the hardworking Halangahu to thank for the open pastures.
Up 16-0, NSWCCC weren’t settling. Their headgear wearing hooker, Muagututi’a, used his fend and elusive running style to move from centre field to the left touchline, finding Logan Aoake and Kirk before the ball returned to his hands for him to finish. 22-0 up, they were with four minutes to play in the first half.
To make matters worse for NSWCHS, jinking halfback Pollard joined the party right on the siren to make the difference 28 points.
NSWCCC sprinted past the finish line with the fantastic finishing of Will Rosenbaum and sideline goalkicking brilliance of Pollard bringing their team into the forties.
NSW CHS completely dominates Queensland
It was a sky blue winter’s day at Redcliffe and all sky blue on the field as well as NSW Combined HIgh Schools released the hand brake to roll all over the Queensland schoolgirls and win the ASSRL 18 years grand final.
NSW CHS claimed the premiership in style by 38-8, rattling up a 26-0 lead after a dramatic first half onslaught.
They then scored first in the second half, a deft chip and chase try to Kayla Henderson (Crestwood High) to widen the chasm between the two teams, before two successive tries by Queensland late on narrowed the margin.
REPLAY: Queensland v NSW CHS (Girls grand final)
Initially NSW CHS fullback Caley Tallon-Henniker (Figtree High) broke the game open with two scintillating long distance efforts, the second a 50m solo try when she capitalised on a scrum base fumble by Queensland.
Then, with interchange forwards Monica Fasavala-Faamausili and Faustina Akeje (both Bass Hill School) seemingly running down hill, NSW CHS established a match-winning lead at the break.
Having attacked with their defence, NSW CHS then feasted on possession leading to an inside ball from half Kasey Reh, which put star centre Indie Bostock over.
Then Fasavala-Faamausili stormed over and on the cusp of halftime, winger Mia Walsh (Illawarra Sports HIgh) scooted over after NSW CHS had torn Queensland’s left edge defence to bits.
The scoring ended with Akeje crashing over, a deserved try given her impact on the game.
It all started so well for NSWCHS.
They crashed over first through one of their best in fullback Tallon-Henniker. The Dragons Academy member had one to beat down the left touchline, and a wonderful in-and-away step undid the last line of defence as she battled her way over.
Queensland got on the board after Mabel Park’s Malaela Su’a wrecked the ruck defence, giving India Seeto (Marsden SHS) a chance to score.
Then Mercedez Taulelei-Siala (Marsden SHS) crossed before a game-ending injury to No.13 ace Tavarna Papalii (knee) further dampered Queensland’s spirits.
CAS gallant but classy CIS prevail
NSW Combined Independent Schools ace Casey McLean blasted his team to a 34-22 win against a fast-finishing Combined Affiliated Schools.
The Newington College centre, signed by the Panthers and regarded as one of the top three players at the championship, superbly engineered a critical try for his halfback. Toby Rodwell, and then two minutes later scored himself to ensure a CIS win.
CAS had closed the gap to 24-18 after trailing 14-4 at halftime, and were pushing for an upset win when McLean stamped his class on the clash.
CAS were magnificent.
They were superbly led up front by prop Nelson Solo, at the back through Hugo Peel (St Kevin’s) and shone everywhere in between.
The CAS players and their coaching staff should take a bow.
REPLAY: NSWCIS v Combined Affiliated States (Boys)
The match was highlighted by a rare event - a prop running 50m to score.
NSW CIS middleman Patrick Young (St Joseph’s College) bolted away like he had heard the starters gun in a 100m sprint, striding over after supporting a break down the middle of the field from his fullback, Mitchell Woods (St Patrick’s College).
Both the athletic Young and impressive fullback Woods were both Canterbury Bulldogs’ signings, with Woods later crossing for his own try.
McLean also got across the line to extend his team’s lead to 14-4 approaching halftime.
With five-eight Alex Conti scheming behind his forwards, and hooker Jaxon Allen light on his feet, CIS upped the ante on their rivals.
CAS went with NSW CIS early.
Around NSW CIS pair Conti and Lennox Risati scoring, CAS crossed courtesy of fullback Clayton Tapelu and were in the game trailing just 10-4 deep into the first half.
Queensland end ASSRL in style
Queensland’s magic man Mutua Brown enhanced his growing reputation with a scintillating try in the young Maroons’ win over ACT 46-4.
The Cathedral College fullback followed a break from fellow North Queensland Cowboys signing, Jaxon Purdue, to explode down the middle of the field.
His swerving 30m run burnt off ACT’s cover defence and handed Queensland an 18-4 halftime lead. It was a golden moment in the game.
Brown has not had a wave of opportunities at the championships, but what he has done has highlighted why he is easily a top 10 school player at this event.
Five-eight Purdue (St Patrick’s Mackay) also started to blossom as the championship progressed, helped by his pack going forward around dummy half Cameron Bukowski.
ACT were no pushovers, and for a long period of the first half trailed just 6-4.
But persistence paid off for the Queensland pack, spearheaded by edge forwards Jett Bryce and Zac Garton.
Early on, impressive Wavell SHS back rower Lautolo Salei and Redcliffe SHS utility John Fineanganofo, Queensland’s man of the match, kept the ball alive in tackles to engineer Queensland’s first try scored by Zac Garton. Coby Black’s conversion made it 6-0.
REPLAY: ACT v Queensland (Boys)
Fineanganofo had been a brave soldier for Queensland this week playing injured, while Salei had impacted all week with subtle hands and hard running.
Fineanganofo deservedly scored a try in the second half diving over from the ruck - and then crossed for a second.
ACT’s reply came on the heels of a strong run from prop Jesse Milin (Erindale College). From his play-the-ball quick passes were directed at centre Lekani Mpaso who scored. It was 6-4.
Both teams went back and forth, up and down the ground across the next 15 minutes, but ultimately a clearing kick from Maroons No.7 Black, supported by a chase from Garton and Sam Stephenson, turned the tide Queensland’s way.
After a near miss from Queensland winger Alton Naiyep, Black and Purdue shifted right, presenting Bryce with a try back on the inside. Black’s kick made it 12-4.
Naiyep also set up a fabulous try for Stephenson.
ACT’s man of the match was Lekani Mpaso.
PREVIEW
NSW Combined Catholic Colleges will play NSW Combined High Schools in Friday’s ASSRL 18 years boys grand final after NSW CHS beat the ACT 32-16 on Thursday.
And NSW CHS will also play in the schoolgirls grand final at Kayo Stadium, Redcliffe, after accounting for NSW CIS 60-0.
They will face Queensland who broke NSW Combined Catholic College’s hearts 12-10 in a dramatic semi-final.
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In the boys clash, towering NSW CHS prop Loko Pasifiki Tonga (Endeavour Sports High) was a man mountain for his side.
The 195cm tall, 118kg prop signed by the Dragons was a 2022 premiership winner with Ipswich SHS in Queensland.
But during the off-season he moved to Endeavour Sports High School to be closer to his training base at St George Illawarra.
“It has been one of the best moves I have made,’’ Tonga said.
“The pre-season was a real step up and I feel like I am improving.’’
Another star player on Thursday was Queensland utility Will Semu, signed by the TItans but in demand from rival clubs, who was back to his best after a bad head knock in 2021.
“I have progressed more than I expected this season. I feel far more confident, and especially after making this team,’’ he said.
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In schoolgirls semi-final action, it was a bruising affair won 12-10 by Queensland, with Esther Pedro saving the game with a dramatic covering tackle on NSW CCC centre Eve Keeling.
“I was thinking ‘will I catch her’,’’ said Pedro, a Year 11 student at Ipswich SHS. “Lucky I kept going and got her. It was a good one.’’
Even after Pedro’s heroics, NSWCCC almost drew level in the last minute after winger Josephine Jeffries scored, but the conversion missed.
Both team’s defended with the intensity of a final, with four dramatic tackles from Maroons’ centre Ebony Raftstrand-Smith testing the ground’s foundations.
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