NRL 2024: From raw prospects to project players, the schoolboy rugby union converts riding the rugby league wave in New Zealand
Siale Pahulu is just one top schoolboy rugby union prospect in New Zealand who is loving rugby league. We take a look at the top seven rugby union schoolboys in the Warriors’ pathways system. WATCH THE VIDEO
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The wave of momentum towards rugby league in New Zealand has landed the Warriors one of the top schoolboy rugby union prospects in the country.
Powerhouse centre Siale Pahulu was a standout in the Warriors’ inaugural Harold Matthews (under 17s) season but has been turning heads in the 15-man game for years as a winger.
The teenager was recently named the No.2 schoolboy rugby union prospect by HS Top 200 in their rankings of the best young players in New Zealand – and is as highly regarded by Warriors coaching staff.
Pahulu missed out on playing in the under 17s grand final win due to rugby commitments at his school St Kentigern College, where he has been part of the first XV since grade nine.
The youngster is now one of 26 schoolboy rugby union players at the Warriors, a list the club is working to grow, making the transition into rugby league with the dream of playing in the NRL.
Warriors general manager of recruitment and development Andrew McFadden said the club was now in a position to entice more talent, like Pahulu, to take up rugby league.
“With what our NRL team did last year, and all the support, I can certainly feel a wave of momentum over here,” McFadden said.
“Results like the Harold Matthews only adds to that momentum towards rugby league.
“There is a massive opportunity over here. We are making waves but we have to capitalise on that.
“We need to make sure we are pressing our footprint across all areas in New Zealand. The talent comes from all across the country, that was represented in our Harold Matthews team, the talent came from the South Island too.”
Last week, this masthead lifted the lid on the tactics long-used by some rugby schools in New Zealand to discourage students from playing league in the cross-code war for talent across the ditch.
McFadden admits the ‘lion’s share’ of talent in New Zealand is still in rugby, but the addition of a Harold Matthews outfit to the Warriors pathways system has given the NRL club more bargaining power when it comes to enticing the best youngster to make the switch.
“There’s a lot of talent over here, we don’t get the lion’s share of talent that rugby does,” McFadden said.
“So any investment in pathways and development here in New Zealand is critical to the game. So many NRL players come from New Zealand outside of the Warriors.
“It’s important that kids in New Zealand know they can be developed to a high standard.”
RISING SCHOOLBOY RUGBY WARRIORS TO WATCH
Siale Pahulu
Grade: Harold Matthews
School: Saint Kentigern College, Auckland
Position: Centre
Pahulu is one of the top schoolboy rugby prospects in New Zealand but the Warriors also have high hopes for the powerful centre. He played every game in the Harold Matthews season but missed out on the grand final due to school rugby commitments. The youngster has been in Saint Kentigern College’s first XV since grade nine.
Joseph Ratcliffe
Grade: Harold Matthews
School: Palmerston North Boys’ High School, Palmerston North
Position: Fullback
Ratcliffe came on to the radar of Warriors development staff after the youngster trailed with the NRL club for a spot in the Harold Matthews squad. The speedy fullback impressed and quickly signed to the Warriors until the end of 2026. Ratcliffe has adapted to league quickly thanks to his football smarts and was one of the standouts out of the under 17s outfit.
Nganatatafu Vake
Grade: SG Ball
School: Rotorua Boys’ High School, Rotorua
Position: Centre
Vake is described as a ‘raw prospect’ still learning the game but has impressed coaches with his strong runs at centre and ability to find the tryline. His willingness to take on the physicality of league has seen him elevated into the Jersey Flegg competition in 2024. The Rotorua product is also firmly on the radar of Super Rugby scouts and was selected in the Chiefs under 18s development camp late last year.
Motu Pasikala
Grade: SG Ball
School: Liston College, Auckland
Position: Fullback
Pasikala is still learning the intricacies of league but that hasn’t stopped his ascent through the Warriors pathways system. An athletic fullback with speed to burn and lethal right foot step, Pasikala was elevated into the Jersey Flegg side this year before earning selection in the NSW Cup side only last weekend, where he featured on the wing.
Tobias Crosby
Grade: Jersey Flegg
School: St Patrick’s College Silverstream, Upper Hutt
Position: Prop
A loose forward in rugby, Crosby is only in his first year of rugby league but was snapped up by the Warriors after showing plenty of promise. Crosby’s highlights reel is a display of strength and skill on both sides of the ball. A ‘project player’ for the Warriors, his barnstorming runs are matched with the same vigour in defence. The Greytown product was also part of the Hurricanes under 20s squad last year before he was lured to league.
Eddie Ieremia
Grade: Jersey Flegg
School: De La Salle College, Auckland
Position: Back row
Ieremia is a backrower, who can play in the middle, is in his second year in the Warriors pathway and has quickly impressed coaching staff. Tall, athletic and strong, he was catapulted into the NSW Cup side last year after starring in the junior representative competitions. Still eligible for Jersey Flegg, Ieremia trained with the NRL squad over the summer and earned selection in the first pre-season trial in 2024.
Patrick Moimoi
Grade: Jersey Flegg
School: De La Salle College, Auckland
Position: Centre
Moimoi is on a development contract for the next two seasons with the club. A tackle busting centre with plenty of untapped potential, he is also viewed as a potential backrower long-term. The youngster is currently sidelined with an ACL but that hasn’t dampened the Warriors excitement over his future. Moimoi was part of the under 18’s development squad of Auckland based Super Rugby side, the Blues.
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Originally published as NRL 2024: From raw prospects to project players, the schoolboy rugby union converts riding the rugby league wave in New Zealand
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