ASSRL Nationals: NSW CCC fullback Jack Attard reveals emotional grand final inspiration

Jack Attard only had to look down at the strapping on his left wrist to get inspiration at the ASSRL Nationals. Read the moving reason behind his starring grand final display.

Australian Schoolboys selection Jack Attard only had to look down at the strapping on his left wrist to get inspiration at the ASSRL National Championships.

The word ‘Pola’ is written on Attard’s tape, remembering his late mate Corey ‘Pola’ Partridge who tragically passed away last March.

On Friday, the fullback put in an influential performance as his New South Wales Combined Catholic Colleges defeated NSW Combined High Schools 40-12 in the grand final on Friday.

Jack Attard pointing to where he drew inspiration from during the ASSRL championships.

“Recently, last year, one of my mates passed away who we were all pretty close with,” Attard said after helping CCC to the national title at Coffs Harbour.

“That has really hit us hard as a group, all the boys back at home, but we are really close now, together we get through a lot of things.

“That was the toughest thing to get through and it’s all for him now.”

The St Dominic’s College goalkicking sniper scored 20 of the 40 points amassed by his team in the big dance, scoring two tries and slotting six-from-seven conversions in a performance inspired by a friend gone but not forgotten.

With Partridge’s memory living on in his mind, Attard rose above to turn heads at the tournament with an impressive showing at fullback, a position where the Penrith Panthers see a future for him.

“I just re-signed with Penrith for two years so I will do a Jersey Flegg pre-season and go back to SG Ball and then hopefully go into Flegg,” Attard said.

“I have been going for Penrith my whole life so it’s really good to hopefully play NRL there one day too.”

The re-signing of the Brothers Penrith junior was well deserved, after Attard had worked hard to progress from playing division two club rugby league in 2021, to division one in 2022, Harold Matthews Under-17s in 2023 and finally SG Ball Cup earlier this year.

“I was relieved they looked at me and saw the values I could bring to the team so that was really good,” Attard said about getting his first shot in the Harold Matthews arena for the club.

NSW CCC fullback Jack Attard in action at the 2024 U18 ASSRL National Championships in Coffs Harbour. Picture: Darrell Nash/NashysPix

“It’s really good. Facing a few challenges back at home, playing division two footy for a few years, Penrith didn’t really look at me for a few years and got back into their Harold Matthews and SG Ball,” he said.

“Little backward step but I learnt a lot off a real good coach at the North West Magpies.”

Attard, who turns 18 later this month, grew up loving the way Billy Slater played and before this tournament did not have the kicking duties locked up.

But after his pinpoint goalkicking inspired NSW CCC to a 30-26 comeback win over Queensland on day one, it was a no-brainer for Attard, who missed just three goals across the week, to remain slotting conversions.