Live stream: Central Coast Sports head down M1 to take on Westfields Sports in Peter Mulholland Cup

This wasn’t just an upset, it was an NRL Schoolboys masterclass as Central Coast Sports College turn in a performance to down Westfields that will linger long in the memory. Relive all the action.

It was the upset of all upsets.

Reigning NRL Schoolboys national champions Westfields Sports High School have fallen at the first hurdle of their 2024 Peter Mullholland Cup title defence.

And it wasn’t as though it was close either.

Central Coast Sports College, in just their second year in the competition, slew the giants 36-6 in a perfect start to their campaign on Thursday.

Central Coast’s Devonte Vaotu’ua proves hard to stop. Pic: Justion Lloyd.

From start to (almost!) finish, it was a complete performance from the Central Coast, who scored six tries and allowed nothing through their defence until the 28th minute of the second half.

Coach Michael Sullivan said there was one key ingredient they took into the match.

“We came into this whole campaign, and this game in particular, with a word: belief,” he said.

“So I think there was a lot of belief in the boys and the systems and I couldn’t be prouder of them really.”

Vice-captain and tryscorer Lachlan Simpson said the whole team had bought into what Sullivan and the coaching staff were pushing for.

“We talked about belief and believing in our players, belief in what (Sullivan) and stuff do for us, and that’s a big thing,” he said.

“Going into that game was just belief and confidence.”

The first half was a footy masterclass from the underdogs, with tries to Dayne Jennings, Joshua Fesolai, Lachlan Simpson and Samisoni Talakai securing a 20-0 lead at the break.

Diminutive hooker Simpson was the star of the match, involving himself in most of his side’s tries and leading from the front.

Diminutive hooker Lachlan Simpson skips away. Pic: Justin Lloyd.

The second half was much of the same as Simpson added another to his try tally, while Tali Kolofale grabbed himself one out wide after a lovely sweeping backline move.

It was hard to watch for Westfields supporters, with the team a shadow of their 2023 side, making mistakes that would have been unthinkable last season.

A Westfields try with just minutes remaining from Lorima Rokosuka was barely celebrated by those on the field, who were most likely just relieved they got some points on the board.

PREVIEW

There’s few more daunting tasks than taking on the defending national champions in a season opener, but Central Coast Sports College is up for the challenge.

CCSC will make the trip down the M1 to face off with reigning champs Westfields Sports High to kick off their Peter Mulholland Cup campaign on Thursday.

And you can catch all the action from Mcredie Oval at Guildford LIVE and EXCLUSIVE on KommunityTV from midday.

Check out the full PMC rounds 1 and 2 LIVE STREAM schedule below.

Rather than shirking the task, the young men from the Central Coast are using it as a barometer for their upcoming season.

“We want to test ourselves against the best,” coach Michael Sullivan said.

Josiah Fesolai will be a key player for Central Coast. Pic: Sue Graham

“We’re only in our fifth year as a program. Playing against the calibre of a school like Westfields, that is a breeding ground for NRL players, is a huge achievement for our college.

“We’re not here to make up the numbers. We want to be competitive and give the best schoolboys team in the country a run for their money.

“Westfields is a big side. They’re the best for a reason and we’ll see where we are at as a team. We had success against Farrer and Maitland (last year), and if we can get a shock result it will put us in a position to qualify.”

The recent wet weather engulfing Sydney has stretched up the coast, with CCSH severely hampered in their preparations for their round one clash.

“We’ve had two weeks of wet weather where our fields have been closed,” Sullivan said.

“With trimester learning, we haven’t come together as a college. Other than that we’ve lost some key figures in Brock and Coby Thomas.

“They’ve got knee injuries and that’s our starting front row right there. It will test our depth.”

Despite missing that key influence in their forward pack, Sullivan is confident that a number of their players with junior reps experience can lead the charge.

“Josiah Fesolai will lead the forward pack and has had a taste of SG Ball. We’ll lean on him to lead our team around,” he said.

“Devonte Vaotuua and his sister (Mia) are going really well. We’ll look to him as well to help step up and replace those forwards.

Chaice Bayley is back to guide CCSC around the park.

“We’ve got a good young crew. I’d like to see Samisoni Talakai get freed up with some open space. Isaac Fotu-Moala and Chaice Bayley remain in the halves. We’ve kept our spine unchanged from last year.”

As for their first test of the year, Sullivan believes the key to an upset is trying to unsettle Westfields in the middle of the field.

“We need to keep things pretty up-tempo,” he said.

“We’re not the biggest side, but we back our skill level and hopefully our fitness against a bigger side.

“We’ll try to get around the park and play a pretty expansive brand of footy.”

TEAM LISTS

Central Coast Sports College

1. Cooper Dean-Potaka, 2. Joshua Fesolai, 3. Samisone Talakai, 4. Dayne Jennings, 5. Bailey Vaeau, 6. Isaac Fotu-Moala, 7. Chaice Bailey, 8. Christian Pasikala, 9. Lachlan Simpson, 10. Devonte Vaotu’ua, 11. Tanner Mahon, 12. Jake Sanday, 13. Josiah Fesolai (c), 14. Tali Kolofale, 15. Cameron Makey, 16. Cooper Gibbs, 17. Caleb Fesolai, 18. Carter Mareko, 19. Samuel Tracey, 20. Taytr Bailey. Coach: Paul Franze

Westfields Sports High

1. Lorima Rokosuka, 2. Jeremiah Quiroz-Mapasua, 3. Tanner Crook, 4. Tomasi Tavui, 5. Tana Iese, 6. Jhevon Lele, 7. Zain Alameddine, 8. Ryda Talagi, 9. Brooklyn Milford, 10. Malcolm Mailo, 11. Madison Ong, 12. Teancam Epati, 13. Peter Taai, 14. Cooper Carr, 16. Tristan Burns, 17. Yahya Ayache, 18. Cameron Nonenmacher, 20. Jedidah Esera. Coach: Tim Sheens, Keith Hanley