Live stream: Why Parramatta Eels junior Hayden Bell was picked to lead NSW CHS at ASSRL Nationals Under-15/16 Championships

He is the Eels young gun that ‘has that mongrel in him’, but there is an even simpler reason this lock was chosen to lead the NSW Combined High Schools campaign at the ASSRL Under-16 Nationals.

He might not match the physical size of his rivals in the middle of the field, but there is no doubting the size of the heart in NSW Combined High Schools leader Hayden Bell.

Bell will lead the sky blues into battle at the ASSRL Under-15/16 National Championships in Port Macquarie, as the side aims to dethrone the recent run of glory for rivals NSW Combined Independent Schools.

Every match of the Under-15/16 nationals will be exclusively live streamed on KommunityTV from June 30-July 5.

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For the past two years, NSW CHS have narrowly come up short against their state rivals in the knockout stages, only to watch NSW CIS move on to claim back-to-back titles.

But with the Parramatta Eels-contracted Bell leading the side on field at lock, the NSW CHS camp is confident they have the team to beat at Port Macquarie.

NSW Combined High Schools captain Hayden Bell (left) with teammate Curtis Brown.

Bell, who was part of the NSW CHS side as an underage player last year, will return to Port Macquarie a different player according to team manager Glenn Mallon.

“He represented last year at Port Macquarie, he was one of our best in that side, and he has come a long way in the past year,” Mallon said.

“He plays unbelievably above his weight. He played nine for us last year, but he will move to lock for the nationals, his running game at the trials was second to none. I was just blown away at the growth in his game.

“He still has that passing game from his time as a nine, six and seven in the juniors, but I think 13 is his preferred spot. He will really straighten up the attack, get teams on the backfoot and then we play off the back of that.

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The NSW Combined High Schools squad during a training session ahead of the ASSRL Under-15 National Championships in Port Macquarie.

“His frame isn’t huge, he has gotten a bit taller in the past year, but he will be our toughest out on the field without a doubt. He has that mongrel footballer in him.”

Bell was named captain by his peers, with NSW CHS coach Tony Wilson putting the decision to a vote among the squad in an effort to get the players to take ownership of the team.

The team has run two weekend training camps in the lead up to the tournament with players coming in from Wollongong, Lithgow and as far as Murrumbidgee High School.

Mallon said the confidence was high in the blues camp ahead of the tournament kick-off.

“I think we are stronger than last year and we have more football in us than last year,” he said.

“It means nothing if we don’t turn up. Last year we didn’t play our best football in any of the games and we missed out because of it. We need to play our best football.”

Originally published as Live stream: Why Parramatta Eels junior Hayden Bell was picked to lead NSW CHS at ASSRL Nationals Under-15/16 Championships