What NRL clubs have signed the Phil Hall Cup grand final players
NRL signing surprise: Here’s where the top schoolboy rugby league players competing in Wednesday state final Phil Hall Cup are headed.
Other Sports
Don't miss out on the headlines from Other Sports. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Eleven players preparing for Wednesday’s Phil Hall Cup state schoolboy rugby league grand final have been signed by NRL clubs, and only five of those were from the unbeaten Ipswich SHS.
That is the surprising revelation as Ipswich SHS and Townsville’s Ignatius Park College prepare for Wednesday’s decider to be live streamed by www.couriermail.com.au, the Townsville Bulletin and News Corp affiliates from CBUS Super Stadium on the Gold Coast.
Ipswich SHS qualified after beating PBC SHS in the Langer Trophy grand final while Ignatius Park College beat St Brendan’s Yeppoon in the Payne-Dolphins Cup playoff
LANGER, WALTERS CUP MATCH DAY REPLAYS HERE
The www.couriermail.com.au will live stream Wednesday’s state final which is named after long time co-ordinator of the schoolboy rugby league competitions, Phil Hall.
News Corp will then live stream the national title on September 14 played between the best Queensland school and the best NSW school.
RELATED LINKS
DOLPHINS SIGN SCHOOLBOY RUGBY STAR
BEST PLAYERS FROM FIVE GRAND FINAL REVEALED HERE
YEAR 7-8 OLD BOYS, RENOUF SHIELD REPORT
The eleven NRL-signed players from either school were, Ipswich SHS: Tre Fotu (Cronulla Sharks), Josiah Pahulu (Gold Coast Titans), Oliva Iaulualo (Canterbury Bulldogs), Gabriel Satrick (Melbourne Storm), Rene Bagon (Manly Sea Eagles)
Ignatius Park College: Jamal Shibasaki (Brisbane Broncos), Matthew Hunter (North Queensland Cowboys), Henry Teutau (North Queensland Cowboys), Jonah Raidaveta (North Queensland Cowboys), Tekelu Mene (North Queensland Cowboys), Jack Petitt (Newcastle Knights).
Of those players Ipswich hooker Satrick and his captain, middle forward Pahulu, were Australian schoolboy selections and Ipswich centre Fotu is a Queensland schoolboys representative.
Ignatius Park did not have a 2022 Queensland schoolboy representative but does have six NRL players.
Among them were mobile forward Jamal Shibasaki is the younger brother of NRL outside back Gehamat, winger Mene and prop Teutai who were driving forces in helping the Townsville Blackhawks into the Meninga Cup grand final earlier in the year.
Ipswich SHS coach Joshua Bretherton said while there was also interest from NRL clubs in halfback Jalen Afamasaga, hooker Tommy Luhrman and prop Ahmani Leilua, it was a credit to his team to be unbeaten this season with as few as five NRL signed players.
“All the boys have done an outstanding job all season. There is a lot of them who do their roles and do them really well. They have very much a team first mentality.
“But there are a couple of boys who have not been picked up who I would hope do get opportunities.
“We will work hard to try and help those boys out and hopefully they are taking their chances to show people (NRL scouts) what they can do.
“Every week we role out against teams who have NRL contracted players, but we keep doing our job.’’
Ipswich No.13 Laing said his favourite NRL team growing up was the Cronulla Sharks, where Ipswich SHS Old Boy Ronaldo Mulitalo is currently playing.
Laing said: “It’s great to have one of the boys in Tre Fotu signing there and going to play with Mulitalo.
“I have always wanted to play for Cronulla and it feels great knowing Fotu shares that dream with me.
Laing’s favourite NRL player is Mulitalo, who he was thrilled to meet when he flew up from Sydney on Wednesday to deliver a pre-match talk.
“Knowing that he (Mulitalo) is from down here (Ipswich) and knowing how hard he has worked through all the stories they tell about him. I just want to be living the dream,” Laing said.
The Cowboys were working hard on retaining strong local talent which is reflected by the additions of Hunter, Teutau, edge forward Jonah Raidaveta and Mene into development squads.
Squads (starting teams to be confirmed)
Ignatius Park College: Elijah Joe, Tekelu Mene, Brodie Dineen, Izaya Leedie, Rayzarlin Pearson, Mitch Brown, Matthew Hunter, Henry Teutau, Jack Wood, Jamaine Stanley, Jonah Raidaveta, Nelson Kennedy, Jamal Shibasaki, Diesel Jacobsson- Rhodes, Nathaniel Hansen-Murdoch, Jack Petitt, Jack Prior, Caleb Searles. Coach: Steve Lansley
Ipswich SHS: Tyler Peckham-Harris Kulu Baruani, Anton Naiyep, Tre Fotu, Jacobi Shaw, James Frazer, Jalen Afamasaga, Loko Tonga, Tommy Luhrman, Josiah Pahulu, Xavier Sofeni, Oliva Iaulualo, Jack Laing, Gabriel Satrick, Rene Bagon, Nick Torrens, Cayleb Johnson, Caleb Jackson, Ahmarni Leluia, Joven Gyemore
LIVE STREAM SCHEDULE
Wednesday
Phil Hall Cup state grand final
Ignatius Park College v Ipswich SHS
September 14
NRL National Schoolboys Cup finals
Karyn Murphy Cup
Schoolgirls Cup
Schoolboys Trophy
Originally published as What NRL clubs have signed the Phil Hall Cup grand final players
‘Nearly lost my life’: Olympians’ shock reveal
Australian Olympic athletics star Morgan Mitchell has opened up on one of the darkest moments of her life.
Nailed it! Aussie women creating history at America’s Cup
Australian sailors in the first women’s America’s Cup are tapping into some famous inspiration for their history-making appearance in the famous regatta.