‘Positive impact on everyone’: Macarthur and Sussex Inlet Little Origin stars shine bright
Brad Fittler would have been taking notes as two primary schools went head-to-head in Ampol’s Little Origin at halftime of State of Origin Game 1 at Accor Stadium.
The South Coast News
Don't miss out on the headlines from The South Coast News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The ‘full house’ sign went up in Sydney during last week’s State of Origin opener with 80,512 league lovers packing in to see Queensland upset the Blues 16 to 10.
The footy fans also witnessed a cracking game at halftime with Sussex Inlet Public School and Macarthur Adventist College going head-to-head in the Ampol Little Origin.
Each school had 10 players take part in the grudge match on the hallowed turf of Stadium Australia which was the conclusion of an epic action-packed day which included hands-on coaching sessions with NRL greats Matt Cooper and Alan Tongue at Belmore Oval.
Macarthur Adventist College’s primary sports co-ordinator Jacqui Maua said her students had a stellar day and appreciated the crowd getting behind them despite the southwestern Sydney school drawing the short straw of having to wear the Maroons jersey.
“It was a really cool experience and the kids looked like they were able to take it all in,” Ms Maua said.
“Matt Cooper was amazing with the kids and he explained how it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience and that they really need to soak it in as they run onto the field.
“We had one girl who was a little nervous and threw up in the tunnel just before they ran out, but once they were on the field the nerves went straight away.
“I was a little nervous about how the crowd would react to us being in the Queensland colours, but they were amazing and were cheering their hearts out for the kids.”
As for Sussex Inlet Public School, their journey started with a three-hour bus trip and they didn’t arrive home in the tiny South Coast town until after 2am.
However, the school’s sports co-ordinator David Booler said it was a fantastic opportunity for the youngsters and their families.
“It was special as the kids had a ball, the families had a ball, a lot of siblings came along,” he explained.
“The grandparents loved it and we received a lot of comments from the broader community because we’re in a small town so it seems to have had a positive impact on everyone.
“[Playing in front of 80,000 people] was really cool because I wasn’t sure what to expect [from the crowd] and whether they would be interested or not.
“Every time there was a line break they were right into it and they loved a couple of the try celebrations - it had a real Origin feel about it.
“After halftime the kids got to clap the Origin players back out onto the field which was pretty special.”
Mr Booler said while the Little Origin affair - taken out by the ‘NSW’ team - was the highlight, the events earlier in the day added to the experience.
“The lead up to the game was pretty awesome,” he said.
“It set the tone for a great day. We had the clinic with Alan Tongue and Matt Cooper and they were fantastic with the way they talked with the kids about belonging and inclusiveness.
“Our teams got together there and they were even dancing together before the game so hopefully they were able to take some good messages out of it.”
In addition to the epic rugby league-fuelled day, both schools also walked away with $5000 cheques courtesy of Ampol.
Sussex Inlet will be using their prize to purchase some new air conditioning units, while Macarthur Adventist will be funnelling their winnings in a mental health and wellbeing program.
South Coast sale and auction results, week ending February 22
South Coast recorded 10 property sales over a million dollars last week, the latest auction and sales results reveal.
Delusional garden shed gunsmith jailed
A man who “hears voices” as a result of a brain injury has been jailed after he was busted hoarding homemade and modified guns in a South Coast garden shed.