ASSRL Nationals Live Stream: NSWCIS dealt blow, young guns backed to step up to plate

They have been dealt a critical blow on the eve of the ASSRL Nationals, but NSWCIS reckons it has a card or two still hidden up its sleeve. Find out how to watch the ASSRL Nationals LIVE.

NSW Combined Independent Schools have been dealt a critical blow on the eve of the ASSRL National Championships in Redcliffe.

But NSWCIS manager Andrew Hutchinson is backing a group of underage stars with plenty of bravado, to rise to the challenge.

Every match of the ASSRL Nationals will be exclusively live streamed on KommunityTV from Saturday, July 1.

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The squad will travel to Brisbane on Friday minus inspirational leader, and Roosters prodigy, Blake Steep.

Roosters junior Blake Steep has been ruled out of the ASSRL Nationals. Picture: Instagram

The impressive Scots College product who is on the comeback trail from a ruptured ACL last season, was not medically cleared to compete across the week in Redcliffe.

It has thrown the NSWCIS plans into disarray, but Hutchinson declared it would not be fatal to their chances of shaking up the national championships.

“It definitely hurts us,” Hutchinson said. “He thought he was ready to go, he has done all his training with the Roosters, but the surgeon didn’t think he was quite ready.

“He is a phenomenal kid. I have been speaking with his family right through the process, I know he is gutted to be missing the tournament.”

Mitchell Woods is contracted to the Bulldogs, but the Swans have been sniffing around the young fullback. Picture: Sean Teuma/NewsLocal

But where there is injury, there is opportunity and Hutchinson is backing an exciting group of Year 11 students to take up the fight for the Independent schools.

Bulldogs contracted youngster Patrick Young from St Joseph’s College will move into the lock forward role vacated by Steep, while Scots College teammate Mateus Heslin has been called into the squad.

But it is a young spine which will have pressure on it to perform, with fullback Mitchell Woods, halves Alex Conti and Toby Rodwell and dummy-half Jaxson Allen all Year 11 students with big raps on them.

Woods, who is contracted to the Bulldogs and expected to join the club’s development list next season, has long been in the sights of the Sydney Swans.

Rodwell is part of the Roosters pathway system, while Conti works under Matthew Betsey in the Tigers junior ranks.

“It is really exciting for us, as we know we will have a strong side this year but there is also so much potential to grow into next year,” Hutchinson said.

NSWCIS playmaker Alex Conti has been in the eyes of rugby union selectors for a number of years, part of the NSW Gen Blue squad. Pics: Julian Andrews

“Alex will be playing six for us, he made the emerging Blues squad last year. He played in Redcliffe last year as a 16-year-old and he more than measured up. He is one player who has spent the past year getting better, more experienced.

“We are really confident in the team we have got.”

Hutchinson said NSWCIS would wait until their Captain’s Run session in Redcliffe before deciding on a captain for the tournament.