NRL Schoolboys Cup final: Former NRL stars have turned to coaching in elite schoolboys league competitions

They are the former NRL players who have given years of hard work to the game, and now they’re giving back to the next generation. Find out which former stars are coaching the kids in the NRL Schoolboys Cup.

After giving years of blood, sweat and tears to the game they loved, a select group of former NRL players are now giving back something completely different.

Their wisdom.

The NRL National Schoolboys Cup might be home to some of the game’s most exciting prospects, but it is the sports’ past champions who are steering them in the right direction.

The competitions on both sides of the border, and even in Victoria, are littered with former professionals who are using their years in the game to coach the next generation.

It is a chance to give back to the grassroots, which for one school has already paid off in major dividends.

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Former Canterbury Bulldogs enforcer Frank Pritchard joined the coaching staff of Patrician Brothers Fairfield three years ago, and in his first season as head coach, helped the proud league nursery break a 30-year title drought.

Patrician Brothers coach Frank Pritchard celebrating winning the NRL Schoolboys Grand Final against Hills Sports High last year. Picture: Jonathan Ng

For Pritchard, working with the students at Patrician Brothers is just an extension of the work he has already done in the South-Western Sydney region.

The former NRL veteran, who played 256 games over his career with Penrith, Canterbury and Parramatta, has made it his mission in life to provide better education for young people fighting a similar battle he faced growing up in rough neighbourhoods.

Patrician Brothers Fairfield head of sport Brendan Wallace said Pritchard’s impact on the students transcended their work on the field.

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“He’s had a significant impact in a number of areas, especially as a leader and a role model to the boys as well as the cultural link that he has to a number of students,” Wallace said.

Patrician Brothers, Fairfield winger Jesse Williams crosses for a try in their opening round win over Matraville Sports High. Photo: Tim Pascoe

“The leadership potential and guidance that he brings out of the boys, I think when you’ve got someone who’s been in those circles who can then relate that to the boys for their experience both on and off the field. I think that’s one of the biggest things that he seems to bring.

“He’s certainly come in and, prior to taking over as head coach himself, managed to bring them together. It was a thing that was a long time coming, those boys had a lot of success but Frank came along and put the icing on the cake.

“It wasn’t an overnight thing of course, he came in and built on the success they’d had in the younger year groups and managed to bring them together well to get them the success they had last year.”

Pritchard isn’t the only former NRL player teaching his players about more than just life on the football field.

Antonio Kaufusi has turned his attention to coaching the Shalom College Dolphins Cup team in 2023.

Former Kangaroos and Tongan international Antonio Kaufusi, who returned to his childhood town of Bundaberg after his career ended, has taken over the reins as head coach of Shalom College in the Dolphins Cup this season.

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Kaufusi, who drives the school bus most days, has been part of the school’s burgeoning rugby league program for the past seven years including leading the school’s team in the Queensland Schoolgirls Trophy.

Shalom College head of rugby league Adam Booth said Kaufusi had provided plenty for his players in the off-season beyond just teaching them the basic skills of rugby league.

“It is great for the kids to have Fus as head coach, he just passes on that experience and knowledge,” Booth said. “He has been there and done it all before.

“It’s not just on the field, but also off the field as a mentor. On the field he is doing a great job, but the lessons he is giving the lads about life off the field, he just offers a lot in that space.

“The kids really look up to him, you can see there is a lot of respect there. When he speaks, they take it all on board.”

St Brendan's College coach Scott Minto has been at the helm for three years now, and has won two titles with the school. Photo: Callum Dick

The Dolphins Cup, which features the best rugby league nurseries from across central Queensland, has a proud history of producing NRL talent.

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But it also has the highest concentration of former NRL players in the coaching ranks, with Kaufusi joined by St Brendan’s College, Yeppoon mentor Scott Minto and The Cathedral College coach and former Melbourne Storm premiership winner Tony Martin.

Fellow Storm premiership winner Matt Geyer is pulling the strings at Brisbane second division school Marymount College while ex-Queensland Origin centre Chris McKenna is coaching Iona College’s Confraternity Shield side.

In NSW former Cronulla Sharks hooker Michael Sullivan has taken the reins Peter Mulholland Cup newcomers Central Coast Sports College, while former St George and Wests Tigers forward Bronson Harrison has been running water for the Hills Sports High team this season.

Former State of Origin star Nate Myles, who owns an F45 Training gym in Melbourne, is helping train the Hallam College team. Picture: Tony Gough

Victoria is also not immune from the influence of former NRL stars in the schoolboys’ competition, with former Maroons hard man Nate Myles working as a trainer with Peter Mulholland Cup contenders Hallam Senior College.

Originally published as NRL Schoolboys Cup final: Former NRL stars have turned to coaching in elite schoolboys league competitions