NSW dominating rugby State of Origin after Waratahs U15s beat Queensland Reds again, result wrap
They might be struggling in elite rugby league but NSW teams are nailing their State of Origin juniors battles with Queensland in rugby with an extraordinary record this season.
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The Waratahs have returned to NSW with yet another big win over their old rivals the Queensland Reds in the under 15s to extend an extraordinary winning run in 2023.
The Craig Roberts’s coached Tahs U15s side beat their Queensland counterparts 31-14 in the second and final game of their annual series.
This extended the NSW Waratahs winning record to eight recent successes in junior rugby this season with the 15s joining the 16s, 18s and 19s in double defeats of the Queenslanders.
The win in Brisbane for the 15s on Saturday followed on from the NSW Waratahs soundly beating the Reds 40-7 a week earlier at Forshaw Park.
And it came off the back of a horror spell in the match when the Waratahs lost three players - two to yellow cards and another to the concussion rule.
“We played nine minutes with just 13 players but it took until then for us to play ur best,’’ Roberts said.
The Waratahs coach told his players at halftime they has a special record to try and defend in the match in Queensland with seven straight wins by NSW.
Roberts said there were numerous standouts for the Waratahs in the match including Sam Polley before he went off with a concussion and Cyrus Bloomfield who scored the first try off a repeat effort from Lucas Broderick.
“Broderick has a whale of a game,’’ Roberts said.
“It was through eh roof and he was our man of the match.’’
The Waratahs kept the Reds scoreless in an impressive second half.
“Off the back of a kick and chase we piled on tries,’’ Roberts said.
This included Darcy Feltham scoring a 60m try off a kick-off.
Other try scorers were Stranz Schaumkel, Iliyaz Viliamu, Luke Niulala and Cyrus Bloomfield.
Roberts said he was also impressed with his tight fives.
“I see many of these kids going on to a higher level.,’’ he said.
“I see these kids becoming Waratahs, Super Rugby players and going on to the next level.’’
EARLIER: CALL FOR SUPER RUGBY U15S SERIES
Just a year after playing schoolboy rugby and for the Waratahs Academy, Max Jorgensen,
the son of a dual code international, was picked up in the Wallabies World Cup squad.
And while teenagers of the ilk of 19-year-old Waratah Jorgensen are rare, it proves young guns playing in the current Super Rugby U16s and U19s series could potentially be running out at the rugby’s 2027 World Cup in Australia.
It’s why Waratahs U15s coach Craig Roberts is keen to see the current Super Rugby U16s and U19s series expanded to include an U15s age group
“I would love to see it,’’ Roberts said after his Waratahs defeated the Queensland Reds at Forshaw Park in Sydney’s south last weekend in the first of two annual clashes.
“Off the back of what we have seen in France (at the World Cup) it wouldn’t hurt if we expand it to the U15s.
“The more exposure for youth, the better it will be for Australian rugby.
“Some of these 16s and 19s could be at the World Cup. Jorgensen is technically still a 19s player.
“And add in the 15s and there is more pressure for the under 16s to perform and the under 19s to perform which is creating a bigger and better playing pool.’’
The potential for women’s teams to be added to the current series has already been mooted for the future.
“Super Rugby for U15s would be great,’’ said Junior Wallabies coach Nathan Grey.
“But it costs money to do.
“We’d also like to do the 16s and 19s women. That is in the pipeline.’’
Roberts and his under 15s team head north to Brisbane on Saturday to take on their Queensland Reds opposites in the second and final match of their annual mini serries.
Last Sunday the Waratahs beat the Reds 40-7 in a match where some expert advice at halftime helped set up the NSW victory.
“There were nerves and not a lot of confidence early,’’ Roberts said.
“They managed to hold on, get us to halftime and we took a breath with the boys.
“We told them how good they were and to go out and play team rugby.
“We spoke about playing rugby as a group, not worrying about errors and being positive in what we do.’’
Roberts said some of his standout in eh match included Cyrus Bloomfield, Jarryd King, Toby Davis and Lucas Broderick.
A downside was Samuela Sorvi suffering a head knock.
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