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NRL Nationals Schools Finals: Top performers from all four games at Cbus Super Stadium

There was some cracking footy across the NRL National Schoolboys and Schoolgirls finals, as well as the Karyn Murphy Cup and Queensland Schoolboys Trophy. All the top performers here.

One of the greatest match-winning tries you will see!

What a day of footy it was.

As if a try with 90 seconds to go in Palm Beach Currumbin’s thrilling win of Patrician Brothers College, Blacktown, wasn’t enough, Xavier Catholic College followed it up with a monster 48-metre conversion to seal a two-point win of their own.

Discover the top performers of the NRL National Schoolboys final, National Schoolgirls final, Karyn Murphy Cup final, and Queensland Schoolboys Trophy final below.

National Schoolboys Final

Zane Harrison

School: Palm Beach Currumbin SHS

Wow. What a player. He has an elite kicking game, great defensive attributes, and it seems like he’s addicted to the big moment – he thrives in it. Much will be made of Harrison’s man of the match national final performance, but one that may go under the radar was his conversion to hand the Reds a crucial four-point buffer heading into halftime. He appeared to be in pain after he was winded and effectively dropped on his head in one tackle, but rose to take the crucial penalty kick from 45 metres out and nailed it so convincingly it would’ve gone through from well beyond the halfway line. He steered the PBC ship all day and his outstanding kicking game was rewarded in the final minutes where his centimetre-perfect bomb fell into the arms of Beau Hartmann who scored the matchwinning try. Also saved PBC at the back on multiple occasions, sweeping the footy up and not only avoiding conceding a dropout, but working his way past a handful of defenders and gaining 15 metres he had no right to. As PBC coach Tim Maccan said post-game, just give him the keys and let him drive the team.

Man of the Match PBC Captain Zane Harrison after the Langer Trophy final. Picture: Liam Kidston.
Man of the Match PBC Captain Zane Harrison after the Langer Trophy final. Picture: Liam Kidston.

Beau Hartmann

School: Palm Beach Currumbin SHS

It’s hard to look past Hartmann given his matchwinning try that will be forever etched in Palm Beach Currumbin – and wider schoolboys for that matter – folklore. He leapt higher than his opposing winger, held the footy and surged over the tryline. It was particularly special given minutes earlier he had dropped what many thought was PBC’s golden chance. It was a tough one mind you, and would’ve been equally as magical given he tried to control and plant the descending Steeden horizontal from the turf at full stretch.

Palm Beach Currumbin 's Beau Hartmann scores the winning try and celebrates with teammates. .Picture Glenn Hampson
Palm Beach Currumbin 's Beau Hartmann scores the winning try and celebrates with teammates. .Picture Glenn Hampson

Reuben Tamariki

School: Palm Beach Currumbin SHS

Could well have been the man of the match if there wasn’t a bloke named Zane Harrison on the field. The second-rower set the tone early with some great carries and was pivotal in the Reds wrestling the early ascendancy before bursting over for the first points of the game. Followed it up to score PBC’s second try as well with some brilliant hole-running.

NRL National Schoolboys Cup final at CBUS Stadium between Palm Beach Currumbin and Patrician Blacktown Brothers. PBCs Reuben Tamariki scores.. Picture Glenn Hampson
NRL National Schoolboys Cup final at CBUS Stadium between Palm Beach Currumbin and Patrician Blacktown Brothers. PBCs Reuben Tamariki scores.. Picture Glenn Hampson

Marley Igasan

School: Palm Beach Currumbin SHS

PBC coach Tim Maccan heaped praise on Igasan post-game given he had been left out of the PBC squad for the three weeks leading up to this clash but was superb when called upon. Igasan grinded out close to a full game in the middle of the park and enjoyed one particularly special play where he forced a knock with a desperate lunging effort.

Sam Stephenson

School: Palm Beach Currumbin SHS

The lone Australian schoolboys representative in the Palm Beach line-up played a very impressive game out wide and delivered plenty of promising attacking runs.

Queensland U19s centre Sam Stephenson. Picture: NRL
Queensland U19s centre Sam Stephenson. Picture: NRL

Jared Haywood

School: Patrician Brothers College, Blacktown

If you doubted Haywood’s class, just watch the five-minute patch in the second half where Patties found their way through an impenetrable Palm Beach defence twice. It was no coincidence that both four-pointers came courtesy of brilliant Jared Haywood passes. It was Cam Munster-esque the way he held the ball long enough to draw the defence in and disrupt the line then hit his teammate on the chest with a pinpoint cut out.

Jared Haywood. Picture: Warren Gannon Photography
Jared Haywood. Picture: Warren Gannon Photography

Jacob Halangahu

School: Patrician Brothers College, Blacktown

You’ve got a good one Dragons fans, this kid can seriously play. He was at the heart of his side’s drive upfield in every set and gained some serious metres with his bruising runs. It was a testament to PBC’s resilient and outstanding defence that he didn’t score coming agonisingly close time and time again.

Jacob Halangahu. Picture: Warren Gannon Photography
Jacob Halangahu. Picture: Warren Gannon Photography

Tyson Sangalang

School: Patrician Brothers College, Blacktown

Despite one dropped ball, the lock was immense all day for Patties Blacktown. His individual highlight was when he stormed over under the posts for what was a crucial try at the time.

Tyson Sangalang. Picture: Warren Gannon Photography
Tyson Sangalang. Picture: Warren Gannon Photography

Fine Fale

School: Patrician Brothers College, Blacktown

Played an impressive game and it was great to watch him go head-to-head with his opposing number and Australian schoolboy Sam Stephenson. Fale broke the line on several occasions with his great footwork.

Christian Taupau-Moors

School: Patrician Brothers College, Blacktown

Taupau-Moors was hitting the line very hard and produced strong carries up the middle all day.

National Schoolgirls Final

Shalom Sauaso

School: Ipswich SHS

Sauaso made her mark from the first second of the game when her kick off put Hills under pressure from the get go, then inside the opening three minutes she’d already crossed for a try when she stepped and bullied her way through the helpless Hills defence. Carried the ball superbly all day and converted four of five attempts – including three from the touchline. Was player of the match and player of the tournament and deservedly so. The Broncos NRLW outfit has a good one.

Shalom Sauaso in action for Ipswich State High in the Queensland Schoolgirls Cup finals. Picture: Milahn Situa
Shalom Sauaso in action for Ipswich State High in the Queensland Schoolgirls Cup finals. Picture: Milahn Situa

Kaiah Hansell

School: Ipswich SHS

A natural hooker, Hansell was made to play out wide on the wing and produced a hat-trick with some superb finishing. Talk about versatility.

Dominika Baleinagasau

School: Ipswich SHS

The Ipswich hooker was light on her feet and could dance around the Hills defenders effortlessly.

Dominika Baleinagasau. Picture credit: Holly Hope Creative.
Dominika Baleinagasau. Picture credit: Holly Hope Creative.

Ella-Jaye Harrison-Leaunoa

School: Ipswich SHS

The five-eight was impressive in attack but also punched well above her weight in defence and delivered some bruising shots that flattened her opponents.

Emily Jackwitz

School: Ipswich SHS

The fullback threw a great cut out pass to earn herself a try assist and provided great leadership for her troops and was particularly vocal all day.

Olivia Vaalele

School: Hills Sports High

Caused plenty of headaches for Ipswich with her dangerous kicks and eyes up play. The first Hills try came off her boot as her chip cashed in on the Ipswich fullback being caught in the defensive line.

Olivia Vaalele during the NRL Schoolgirls Cup NSW state final between Hills Sports High and Central Coast Sports College. Picture: Warren Gannon Photography
Olivia Vaalele during the NRL Schoolgirls Cup NSW state final between Hills Sports High and Central Coast Sports College. Picture: Warren Gannon Photography

Danielle Seckold

School: Hills Sports High

Played an impressive game out wide and caught the footy cleany when it mattered to score Hills first try of the day.

Danielle Seckold. Picture: Warren Gannon Photography.
Danielle Seckold. Picture: Warren Gannon Photography.

Aliahana Fuimaono

School: Hills Sports High

Defended well against the might of Ipswich’s forward pack and delivered some big hits that forced knock-ons.

Shire Thocolich

School: Hills Sports High

Played a great game in the middle and delivered one hit in the second half that was simply massive.

Karyn Murphy Cup

Fleur Ginn

School: Stretton State College

Ginn was rightfully adjudged the player of the match after a great display. The lock made a difference with some strong runs and found her way across the stripe as well.

Fleur Ginn was best on ground for Stretton State College in the 2024 Karyn Murphy Cup final. Picture: Mitch Bourke.
Fleur Ginn was best on ground for Stretton State College in the 2024 Karyn Murphy Cup final. Picture: Mitch Bourke.

Cornelia Motuliki-Tu’aefe

School: Stretton State College

Motuliki-Tu’aefe made some great runs including an exceptional 30-metre effort up the middle of the field. She had great pace and leg drive.

Bella Alo

School: Stretton State College

Alo made the right decisions out of dummy half and was potent when she decided to run the ball.

Tekainga Enkera-Raveora

School: Stretton State College

Enkera-Raveora had great pace and an even better fend off, and almost went the length of the field for what would’ve been a great try late in the game.

Leevi Williams

School: Stretton State College

The flashy fullback-turned-playmaker ran roughshod over a valiant Caloundra State High side in the final, pulling apart their edge defence with her sharp footwork and blinding turn of speed.

Queensland Schoolboys Trophy

Boedie Dwight

School: Xavier Catholic College

It’s always hard to look past a matchwinner, and Boedie Dwight was just that. He nailed a crucial kick from 48 metres after the siren to seal a magical 20-18 win.

Zac Bennett

School: Xavier Catholic College

The halfback was everywhere for Xavier, scored two of his side’s three tries and had a hand in the other. Had a brilliant step.

Caleb Berthelsen

School: Xavier Catholic College

Had good zip and was fast on his feet which boded well for his line-breaking ability throughout the day.

Jamall Nelson

School: Xavier Catholic College

The hulking second-rower caused plenty of headaches for Columba and his first try was brilliant piece of running as he barged through the line and then forced his way over the stripe with three defenders hanging off him.

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Original URL: https://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/local-sport/nrl-nationals-schools-finals-top-performers-from-all-four-games-at-cbus-super-stadium/news-story/8bde5abd7f0d418fdc1e3ed7e6776c86