NRL Schoolboys Cup: Meet every side’s unsung hero to start the 2022 campaign
It's the halfway point of the Peter Mulholland Cup and one NRL club in particular is sure to be delighted with the progress of two of their most promising talents. Read on to find out which club.
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The Peter Mulholland Cup has been a stomping ground for the best young rugby league talent in the country for years and nothing has changed in season 2022.
Despite having the past two years of development robbed from them through the Covid-19 pandemic, the players of the prestigious competition have proven that the talent hasn’t slowed down.
As the competition reaches its halfway point, and break for the school holidays and Australian Secondary Schools Rugby League Nationals, KommunityTV has reached out to the people behind the success of each school to get their votes for their unsung heroes.
HOW TO WATCH THE ASSRL NATIONALS LIVE WITH KOMMUNITYTV
We polled the coaches to find out which players had stood out over the opening rounds of the competition, and likely the players who will make the difference for each school’s finals hopes when the season returns in late July.
There is one final game before the mid-season break, with Farrer MAHS hosting All Saints College in an exciting battle on Wednesday.
If you have missed any of the action this season, we have got you covered. Scroll down to find the season schedule so far with links to every game’s replay.
Matthew Arthur
Patrician Brothers Blacktown
The son of Eels head coach, Brad Arthur, the dummy-half was a standout in attack for his side against rivals Endeavour and Westfields Sports High. The young leader has a high work rate and sets up his side’s offence well out of dummy half. Arthur will be a key cog in the NSW CCC side at the ASSRL Nationals in Redcliffe.
Logan Spinks
Farrer MAHS
Farrer’s backrower Logan Spinks was impressive in his side’s opening clash against Patrician Brothers Fairfield. Despite the 64-0 loss, Logan’s ability to run the right lines and hit the ball hard made him a handful to tackle every time he carried.
Noah Martin
Erindale College
The Canberra Raiders young gun started his NRL Schoolboy Cup season on fire after bagging a hat-trick in Erindale’s 64-0 win over the visiting Illawarra Sports High. The second-rower was also solid without the ball, leading the defensive line and showing great intent in his contact.
Suliasi Prescott
The Grange
The Grange’s captain Suliasi Prescott has been a constant threat for opposition in the NRL Schoolboy Cup. The crafty hooker leads from the front with his line speed and is no stranger to the highlight reel after scoring some great individual tries. Prescott was super impressive in the Combined Affiliated States trial match in Perth on Sunday and is expected to lead the team in the ASSRL Nationals.
Josiah Neli
Hallam College
Hallam’s Josiah Neli was a standout in attack against cross-town rivals The Grange. Neli’s ability to take full control of the ruck and make the right decisions kept his side in control. His speed out of dummy-half kept the defence guessing and put Hallam on the front foot in offence. He also possesses a slick set of hands for a big bodied forward.
Chevy Stewart
Endeavour Sports High
The Raiders have unearthed a gem and prised it from the clutches of rivals Cronulla. Stewart has had a big impact in his opening two games of the NRL Schoolboy Cup. The fullback was strong in attack, hitting the scoreboard multiple times. Even without the ball, Stewart was a powerhouse shutting down opposition attack with solid hits against his team’s tryline. Noa Penitani was one of the best players on the ground in Endeavour’s opening round but unfortunately broke his jaw in the first hit-up against Hills last Wednesday.
Tallyn Da Silva
Westfields Sports High
Westfields hooker Tallyn Da Silva’s near-flawless start to the season has propelled him into the Peter Sterling Medal conversation in the NRL Schoolboy Cup. His explosive speed out of dummy-half is reminiscent of Storm star Harry Grant and has kept opposition sides guessing. He has also been a powerhouse defensively, saving his side plenty of points in scrambling efforts. Will be part of the NSW CHS side in Redcliffe.
Siaosi Kaliti
Hills Sports High School
Hills Sports High rising star Siaosi Kaliti is already on the NRL radar after playing in the SG Ball Cup grand final for the Roosters who lost to the Penrith Panthers 20-22 last month. The tall winger is a known try-scorer that puts his school side in great field positions off the back of strong carries.
Michael Gabrael
Holy Cross Ryde
The explosive centre has been one of the most impressive strike players to start season 2022 in the NRL Schoolboy Cup. It is no surprise the Bulldogs were quick to pinch him out of rivals Parramatta’s junior ranks earlier this month. Gabrael uses speed and finesse to outclass opposing centres and has been rewarded for his efforts with selection in the NSWCCC team.
Liam Ison
St Dominic’s College
The St Dom’s skipper has been a standout in the past two seasons of the NRL Schoolboy Cup, but this year he has taken his game up to another level according to the coaching staff at the Kingswood nursery. The allusive fullback has been a handful for opposition sides slipping and stepping his way through defensive lines reminiscent of Roosters gun James Tedesco.
Zak Marbaani
Illawarra Sports High
Explosive lock Zak Marbaani has been a defensive leader for his Illawarra side to open the schoolboy cup. His high work rate and ability to lay massive hits keeps opposition sides on their toes.
Myles Martin
All Saints Maitland
Myles Martin has been one of the standouts to start this season’s schoolboy cup. Martin’s massive work rate and sublime skills helped his side almost upset powerhouse’s Holy Cross. He is extremely fast for a big man and is a major threat for opposition in attack and defence.
Charlie Guymer
St Gregory’s College
St Gregory’s Charlie Guymer was a handful against Hunter in the opening round of the NRL Schoolboy Cup. The dynamic centre shut any opposition attack that came to his edge, and if he wasn’t putting on big tackles he was breaking the line setting up tries for his teammates. He leads from the front for the St Greg’s side, but he doesn’t need words to do it.
Please note: KommunityTV is still waiting to hear back from the leaders at Hills Sports High School, Hunter Sports High, Patrician Brothers Fairfield and Bass High School. We will update the list with their finest as soon as we can.
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