National Schoolboy Cup Live Stream: Watch Ipswich v Patrician Brothers in interstate derby (NRL Schoolboys Cup)
An incredible year of firsts for Ipswich State High has culminated in the ultimate reward - the national schoolboys title - after a big win over Patrician Brothers, Fairfield. RELIVE all the action.
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Ipswich SHS wrote the final chapter in its Cinderella Season by beating Patrician Brothers Fairfield 32-6 to claim the coveted NRL Schoolboys Cup final at Redcliffe.
It was Ipswich SHS’s third grand final win in four weeks following earlier historic victories in the Langer Trophy and then the Phil Hall Cup state final.
Captain Josiah Pahulu wrote both the foreword and was one of the main characters in his team’s storybook winter and spring that has been unmatched in Ipswich SHS’s history.
The old school of Broncos and Queensland champion Allan Langer and current Sharks star Ronaldo Mulitalo, Ipswich SHS has a proud league history, but this milestone moment must be top of the pops.
Ipswich SHS dummy half Gabriel Satrick was named the Peter Sterling Medallist.
Winning coach Joshua Bretherton said Patrician Brothers Fairfield came hard at them down the middle and he was proud his side withstood the challenge.
“Under fire and under seige, against a team which plays brutal, high intensity football, the ability of my guys to keep their heads, calm and focused is what I am most proud of,” he said.
“And across the final series we have shown an ability to play with speed, to terrify people with the speed in which we move forward.’’
Patrician Brothers Fairfield, the NSW school champions, came to play, don’t worry, with a ruthless power game and challenged the fitness and toughness and desire of the Ipswich SHS pack.
One after another Patrician Brothers came at their rivals, mixing their forward challenge with dummy half scurries. It was a far closer game than the scores indicate.
But there could only be one winner and Ipswich SHS, unbeaten this year, found their way to the winners post as they have done all season.
Patrician Brothers coach Frank Pritchard said his team had climbed a mountain to get to grand final day and were simply beaten by a better side.
“It has been a roller coaster,’’ Pritchard said.
“It has been a great achievement for our team and what we have done for the school, but today, I have no excuses.
“We were just beaten by a better team.
“To Ipswich’s credit they were just the better team.’’
“We have not been here for 30 years and what these guys have done is awesome.
“I am proud of them. We came up against a side like Ipswich who produced a class performance.’’
Ipswich SHS caught out Patrician Brothers Fairfield twice in the opening minutes of both halves, both left edge spreads which resulted in centre Tre Fotu scoring (2nd minute) and winger Anton Naiyep (32nd minute) crossing.
Naiyep finish was classic wingers play, with the No.5 pinning his ears back and sprinting 35m to the corner despite three late comers crashing him toward the corner post.
The hammer blow then came three minutes later when the discovery player of the season, Ipswich SHS dummy half Gabriel Satrick, feasted on possession to score after a charge down had restarted the tackle count.
Although 24 minutes remained, 22-0 was a long way back for Patrician Brothers Fairfield.
Patrician Brothers Fairfield did score next - the power game yielding a try for a scurrying Yehya Ayache - and they were back in business.
But with 13 minutes remaining Satrick’s dummy half sidekick, Tommy Luhrman, launched at the line like he was starting off in a 100m freestyle swimming race, finding the line to score.
At 28-6 the result was settled. Everyone was just waiting on the final score.
It was a battle royale across the opening 30 minutes as both teams pounded each other in the middle third.
Patrician Brothers Fairfield were hellbent on beating their man in the middle with a power game and running off the back of that with dummy half darts.
It was effective, although Ipswich SHS did curtail the running game of prop giant Jordan Miller and, to a lesser degree, the aggressive running of left edge back rower and captain Joshua Alhazim.
Ipswich SHS held on, but as the game progressed in warm conditions, you sensed a fatigue factor could come into play for both sides.
And so it was the case six minutes before halftime when Ipswich SHS halfback Jalen Afamasaga speared through a gap almost as wide as the Sydney Heads to score after a quick tap and run from a penalty.
It was Ipswich’s second try after an early, successful charge at the line by Tre Fotu.
There was a huge moment 90 seconds before halftime when Ipswich right edge forward Oliva Iaulualo extended his arm to score, but had the ball knocked out, saving Patrician Brothers Fairfield from a 16-0 deficit.
Earlier, in the opening minutes, Ipswich SHS wasted no time in playing footy, casting aside any thought of a nervous, conservative opening by sweeping the ball right and then left, leading to centre Fotu scoring in the corner.
It would have taken a prime mover to halt the big Queensland centre who came on the burst with such ferocity, there was no stopping him. It was 4-0.
Patrician Brothers fullback Junior Fagalel then doused a dangerous situation when he grasped Ipswich winger Kulu Baruani who almost kicked clear to score after snaring an attacking bomb.
Ipswich SHS (T Fotu, J Afamasaga, Anton Naiyep, T Luhrman G Satrick tries; J Frazer 6 conv) def Patrician Brothers Fairfield (Y Ayache; T Colquhoun conv)
PREVIEW
State rugby league pride will go on the line again on Wednesday when Queensland’s schoolboy champions Ipswich SHS confront NSW champs Patrician Brothers Fairfield in the National Schoolboy Cup final.
The grand final blockbuster will be a part of a feast of finals’ football on Wednesday at Moreton Daily Stadium (Dolphin Oval) - all to be live streamed by the home of schoolboy rugby league, KommunityTV.
WATCH THE EARLIER FINALS INCLUDING KMC, SCHOOLBOYS TROPHY AND NRL SCHOOLGIRLS CUP FINAL HERE
NSW struck hard and early in the battle for state supremacy earlier in the year when Sky Blue state teams won the women’s State of Origin and the under 19 boys State of Origin.
But Queensland fought back to win the national schoolboys championship and the inaugural schoolgirls interstate match before wrapping up another upset State of Origin series win.
And it is on again on Wednesday when unbeaten Ipswich, the old school of the great Allan Langer, take on a Patrician Brothers Fairfield side steeped in rugby league tradition.
They are the two underdog sides come good.
A Patrician Brothers side that broke a 30-year Peter Mulholland Cup drought against an Ipswich side flying high after winning their first ever Phil Hall Cup.
Ipswich SHS coach Joshua Bretherton said his group were proud to fly Queensland’s flag.
“It was only when we started to get messages of congratulations after our Phil Hall Cup state final win over Ignatius Park College wishing us luck against a NSW side that it dawned on us that we are representing a group of people from Queensland and a whole competition,’’ he said.
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LANGER TROPHY TEAM OF THE YEAR HERE
STRUDDY’S CUP GRAND FINAL DAY REPORTS, BEST PLAYERS
NRL CLUBS SIGN REDCLIFFE SHS TALENT
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“It is exciting and encourages you to do the best job we can.
“The players are aware they have one more job to do and representing the state is something we talked about before putting it to bed and concentrating on our processes.’’
Bretherton said the final would be a celebration for the entire Ipswich SHS community, both past, as well as being a reunion.
“The whole family is coming back together and we will be there to enjoy it, no matter what,’’ Bretherton said.
He said the group was aware that Patrician Brothers Fairfield had also “bucked the trend’’ of recent history to be the No.1 school in NSW again after an illustrious period in the 1970s and 1980s and 1990s when the likes of Kangaroos’ champions Peter Sterling, Greg Alexander, Nathan Hindmarsh and Paul Langmack played.
“We are both in a rare place and bucking the trend a little bit compared to the names that have been there in recent years. The opportunity is there for one of us to take it,’’ Bretherton said.
Patrician Brothers Fairfield have made a habit of climbing what seemed like insurmountable mountains this season, and will be determined to do the same in Redcliffe.
The western Sydney juggernauts were the ultimate underdogs on their run to the Peter Mulholland Cup title.
They beat Westfields Sports High by a single point in the semi-finals and were pitted against top-ranked Hills Sports High in the final, who they beat 20-16 in a thrilling game which came down to the final few minutes.
Now they will face another seemingly insurmountable task, taking down an undefeated Ipswich on what is essentially their home turf.
Patrician Brothers coach, and former NRL star, Frank Pritchard said the side had not lost any focus despite what was at stake on the national grand final day.
“We’ll just keep doing the same (preparation). For us, nothing needs to change,” Pritchard said.
“I think the trip away will be massive for us in the sense of, especially with our year 12 boys, knowing what lies ahead of them with this game and what may happen.
“The boys have created history so far, and (the chance) to become the best in Australia is amazing.”
TEAM LISTS
Ipswich SHS: 1. Tyler Peckham-Harris 2.Kulu Baruani, 3. Caleb Jackson, 4. Tre Fotu, 5. Anton Naiyep, 6. James Frazer, 7. Jalen Afamasaga,8. Ahmani Leluia, 9. Tommy Luhrman, 10. Josiah Pahulu, 11. Xavier Sofeni, 12. Oliva Iaulualo,13. Jack Laing, 14. Gabriel Satrick,15. Rene Bagon, 16. Loko Tonga, 17. Jacobi Shaw. 18th Cayleb Johnson, 19th: Nick Torrens
Patrician Brothers Fairfield: 1. Junior Fagalele, 2. Corey Leigh, 3. Godfrey Ilavalu, 4. Sione Lolohea, 5. Noah Funa, 6. Taj’h Colquhoun, 7. Chad Daniels, 8. Massimo Mari, 9. Yehya Ayache (c), 10. Jordan Miller, 11. Jezaiah Funa-Iuta, 12. Joshua Alhazim (c), 13. Bailey Myers, 14. Zaidas Muagututia, 15. Matthew Alhazim, 16. Jack Leigh, 17. Kohan Lewis, 18. Billy Arena, 19. Robert Uhatafe
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