NRL Schoolboys Cup: Greg Alexander proud of Patrician Brothers Fairfield’s rise to the top
He’s the NRL legend who steered Patrician Brothers to back-to-back schoolboys glory, but it is the rise of this year’s side which has left him in awe. Watch the national final LIVE on Wednesday.
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NRL great Greg Alexander has heaped praise on his former school, Patrician Brothers Fairfield, as the western Sydney institution sets its sights on becoming national champions.
Patrician Brothers snapped a 30-year schoolboys cup drought when they defeated Hills Sports High last week to hoist the Peter Mulholland Cup.
It has set the Sydney side on a collision course with fellow underdogs Ipswich State High in the national NRL Schoolboys Cup final on September 14.
The national final will be livestreamed by KommunityTV on The Daily Telegraph and Courier Mail websites.
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‘WAYNE BENNETT IN DISGUISE’: The hero behind Patties’ success
Alexander, who guided Patrician Brothers to back-to-back schoolboys cup titles in 1982-83, said he was impressed with the school’s success and “the way they had to do it”.
Patrician Brothers were the ultimate underdogs, not even in the NRL Schoolboys Cup three years ago, as they dispatched of highly-fancied rivals Endeavour Sports High and Hills Sports High in thrilling fashion across the finals series.
“It’s great to see that it is back,” Alexander said.
“Over the last few years they’ve made a bit of a return back to their rugby league (glory) days and it was great to see them named as the schoolboy champions, particularly in the way they had to do it.
“They had those close games against Endeavour and Hills. They had the toughest of runs throughout, playing the big sports schools.
“Sports schools have dominated for a long time now, but it’s great to see Pats back there.”
The school last won the national title back in 1992 when they beat Harristown State High School Toowoomba in 1992, and 40 since Alexander first won the competition.
The crafty halfback attended the western Sydney school for years 11 and 12, winning the Schoolboys competition in both years and crowned player of the competition in 1983.
“The first year was against Holy Cross Ryde, and the second against St Greg’s Campbelltown,” he said.
It kicked off his successful 15-year rugby league career, which included 265 NRL appearances at both the Penrith Panthers and Auckland Warriors.
“I left my school at Penrith to attend Fairfield Pats and it was a terrific school, headed up by Brother Christopher (Finucane) back in those days,” he said.
“I had a great time. It was a great school to go to.
“We had a great group of teachers, who took their sport seriously, but also their school work. It was a good mix and a great place to be for year 11 and 12.”
Watch the NRL Schoolboys Cup national final with KommunityTV at 3.30pm on Wednesday, September 14.
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