NRL 2024: Hamilton Boys High School is the centre of a league vs union showdown

The runaway success of the Warriors has reignited a code war in New Zealand, with rugby bosses accused of attempting to derail the club’s pathways program.

The rugby league v union battle in New Zealand.

The runaway success of the Warriors has reignited a code war in New Zealand with rugby bosses accused of attempting to derail the club’s pathways program.

A major sponsor of the prestigious Hamilton Boys High School’s first XV rugby union team is considering pulling its funding amid allegations students are being pressured into turning their backs on the Warriors’ junior system.

The development lifts the lid on alleged tactics rugby schools use, which have been commonplace in New Zealand for years, as the battle between union and rugby league for the country’s best talent reaches a tipping point.

While the issue is not confined to Hamilton, it has come to a head on the back of the Warriors’ NRL resurgence.

The club made history by winning the Harold Matthews Cup (under-17s) grand final in their first season in the competition last weekend, evoking memories of when the Warriors dominated the now-defunct national under-20s competition.

The Warriors celebrate their Harold Matthews Cup win. Picture: Sean Teuma

This masthead understands parents of multiple students at Hamilton Boys High School, arguably New Zealand’s best rugby school, are concerned their children are being allegedly pressured into rejecting the opportunity to join the Warriors’ pathways program.

The students in the school’s rugby system are also members of the Warriors’ academy in Hamilton, on New Zealand’s North Island.

Tony Barakat, co-founder of Apex Property Group — one of Hamilton Boys High School’s major sponsors — is also a key figure behind the Warriors’ academy, which was launched last August. He says the school’s actions are concerning.

“I’m about to reach out formally to explain why I’m about to pull my funding out of the school,” Barakat said.

“So far we know of around five kids that have been approached, telling them if they play league that they won’t have a chance to get on the first XV.

“We encourage other sponsors to be asking similar questions, and ensure they are comfortable that their values align with the purpose of their sponsorship.”

The Warriors are facing a growing concern of pathways players allegedly being pressured into walking away by rugby union schools.

This masthead also sighted text messages from other parents expressing similar concerns and recounting stories of their children being told they risk missing out on selection in the first XV because they also played rugby league.

Hamilton Boys High School was contacted for comment but did not return phone calls.

For Barakat, this is also a welfare issue and the businessman fears the pressure to make a choice will have a negative impact on the students.

The Warriors academy in Hamilton is also a charitable Foundation with a focus on mental health, inspired after a rising rugby league prospect from the Waikato region committed suicide at just 18-year old after moving to Australia to pursue his NRL dream.

The Foundation also financially supports other sports in the region including touch football and golf, while providing support to develop not only as athletes but personally too.

“The academy was started to try and support our players at home. A few of our younger ones went over to Australia to play rugby league and one of boys committed suicide when he was 18,” Barakat said.

“I’ve created this pathway and Foundation to create some life balance.”

Another parent recounted a story where they claim their child was told they should be prioritising the school’s rugby commitments over Warriors training sessions.

WARRIORS’ PATHWAYS SUCCESS DESPITE RUGBY HURDLES

Warriors CEO Cameron George revealed a growing number of players in the NRL’s club’s pathways program are facing a similar dilemma.

“We are encountering a number of problems with the schools that are telling kids to give up their association with the Warriors or they will be barred from playing rugby,” George said.

“We’ve heard about the kids from Hamilton that have been told to surrender their association with us and this has only happened in the last few weeks. It’s a sad story.

“It’s starting to happen more broadly.”

The Warriors entered the Harold Matthews (under-17s) competition for the first time this year, giving the resurgent club a full suite of junior representative sides in the NSWRL.

Warriors were crowned 2024 Harold Matthews champions in their first season of the under-17s competition. Picture: Warren Gannon Photography

The under-17s side had immediate success and were crowned 2024 champions after defeating Western Suburbs Magpies 34-16 in last weekend’s grand final.

This masthead understands one young player missed out on featuring in the grand final, after playing all season, due to rugby commitments at his school.

It’s understood the youngster, who does not attend Hamilton Boys High School, wanted to travel to Australia for the grand final but the Warriors were forced to put the teenager’s welfare first given he had already played at least two union games in the week leading up to the clash against the Magpies.

RUGBY CAGES RATTLED

The Warriors’ rise, headed by coach Andrew Webster, comes as the NRL club quickly expands its footprint across New Zealand.

A ticket to the Warriors is now the hottest in town, with the club selling out all home games so far this year.

Junior participation numbers are also growing quickly.

George believes the rise of the Warriors is now beginning to “rattle the cage” in the sporting landscape, which rugby union has always dominated.

The NRL club is now a genuine threat to the rugby union pathways, according to George.

“Forever and a day rugby schools have had the run of it, but right now our offering in the pathways is first class,” George said.

The Warriors’ resurgence is expanding the club’s footprint in New Zealand. Picture: Hannah Peters/Getty Images

“They fly to Australia and play in the best competitions around. Rugby can’t offer that, the life experience, the training and playing against other clubs in Australia.

“Families here are seeing that opportunity for that professional development.

“We are making headway in that space, it’s starting to rattle the cage.

“We’ll never stand in the way of kids choosing something over rugby league but we’ve got a great pathway here at the Warriors.”

NRL NZ EXPANSION TO RAMP UP CODE WAR

Powerful rugby schools flexing their muscle over rugby league in New Zealand isn’t new.

But the Warriors’ revival is helping shift that power imbalance, and that will continue when the NRL rubber eventually stamps expansion into the South Island.

Already, two bids have expressed interest in joining the NRL as the game looks grows to 20 teams.

“This isn’t anything new, a lot of kids have been told not to play rugby league over the years,” Barakat said.

“But this is not a dictatorship.”

AUSTRALIA’S UNION/LEAGUE DIVIDE

It is not unusual for Sydney’s most prestigious GPS schools, and schools in Brisbane, to recruit some of rugby league’s brightest prospects in pursuit of a coveted first XV premiership.

It’s now seen as a mutually beneficial arrangement.

The NRL is littered with talent from rugby schools in NSW and QLD.

Prodigious Dolphins playmaker Isaiya Katoa attended Barker College, Roosters stars Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii and Angus Crichton went to The King’s School and The Scots College, respectively. While South Sydney captain Cameron Murray was a graduate of Newington College and the Roosters’ Sam Walker attended Ipswich Grammar.

The Warriors will return to the NRLW in 2025.

WARRIORS FLEX MUSCLE IN WOMEN’S FOOTY

The Warriors’ pursuit of New Zealand’s best talent has now expanded into the women’s space.

The club will return to the NRLW in 2025 and will pursue female talent with the same vigour as the country’s brightest male athletes.

“We’re not stopping here,” George said.

“We have an NRLW team next year and we are going to get very active in the women’s space as well.

“The Warriors, as a club, are growing, because we have good people at the club that put the person first and that’s why we are seeing strong growth in numbers coming through our juniors system.

“We can offer opportunities for development in a way rugby cannot.”

Originally published as NRL 2024: Hamilton Boys High School is the centre of a league vs union showdown