Replay: U18 Combined High Schools v Combined Catholic Colleges, NSW Schoolboy rugby league

The U18 Combined Catholic Colleges team has held off a spirited Combined High Schools fight in the NRL Schoolboys competition. Watch the full replay here.

Combined Catholic Colleges made it two for two in the opening round of the NSW Schoolboy Championship with a late Ryley Smith try earning them an 18-14 win over Combined High Schools in the U18s.

After an absorbing back and forth battle, it was Smith who landed the killer blow as the Penrith SG Ball star somehow found a way to the line amid a horde of CHS defenders after a sharp dart from dummy half from close range with less than ten minutes remaining.

“We knew they were going to come at us pretty hard for the whole game, they weren’t going to take a backward step. We had to combat that,” Smith said.

Looking for the U15 clash between the Combined High Schools and Combined Catholic Colleges?CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE FULL REPLAY

CHS celebrate a try during the NSW U18 Combined High Schools v Combined Catholic Colleges, State Rugby League Tri-Series held at St Mary's Leagues Stadium. Picture: Jonathan Ng

“It’s good to get an ugly win. When it’s an ugly game it’s good to grind it out and get the win because it’s always easy to win easy but when it’s hard it’s good to win hard.

“It’s always good to win, it’s never good to lose. I know it’s a selection trial but it’s an even better feeling when you win.”

Smith refused to back down from the enormous CHS forwards and gave as good as he got in the middle of the field.

“It’s something I really pride myself on, my defense, I love it. I just try to get my body in front as best I can cause they’re pretty big,” Smith said.

“It was a bit of a game plan from us, if there’s a few blokes there together I can back myself and try to burrow my way over.”

Lajuan Vito hitting the ball up during the NSW U18 Combined High Schools v Combined Catholic Colleges, State Rugby League Tri-Series held at St Mary's Leagues Stadium. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Iverson Matai during the NSW U18 Combined High Schools v Combined Catholic Colleges, State Rugby League Tri-Series held at St Mary's Leagues Stadium. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Despite launching several late attacking raids, CHS could not summon a winner despite the best efforts of halfback Iverson Matai, who was close to best on ground in a beaten side.

CCC winger Reuban Moyle opened the scoring when he dotted down in the corner after a magical offload from backrower Lachlan Blackburn but CHS soon replied with two jaw-dropping efforts of their own.

After CHS five-eighth Jack Cole hoisted a bomb that CCC fullback Liam Ison failed to claim, Matai scooped up the loose ball and flick a terrific pass for Blake Metcalf to score.

Iverson was in the thick of things again moments later - he placed over a delicate crosskick for winger Tyrone Munro to find space and while the cover defense tracked down the speedster, Cole kicked back to the other side on the ensuing play for Te Umariki Heremia Tukere and the Illawarra Sports High School student made no mistake with the finish.

Charlie Guymer during the NSW U18 Combined High Schools v Combined Catholic Colleges, State Rugby League Tri-Series held at St Mary's Leagues Stadium. Picture: Jonathan Ng

But after CHS had the better of things early, the turning point came just before halftime after CCC Taj Brailey made a clean break from dummy half and found Liam Sutton in support.

Matai was on hand to save the try with a fine cover tackle but was sin-binned for holding down and without their talismanic halfback CHS lost their way just a little.

That was all CCC needed to capitalise and Holy Cross Ryde forward Jaxson Rahme burrowed over from close range to give CCC the lead.

While Iverson set up another try on return with another pinpoint kick for Munro, the momentum had shifted, which paved the way for Smith’s late strike.

Former Roosters players Mitchell Aubusson and Jake Friend watching the NSW U18 Combined High Schools v Combined Catholic Colleges, State Rugby League Tri-Series held at St Mary's Leagues Stadium. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Moyle and CHS prop Raymond Lole were judged their side’s best with CCC lock Myles Martin of Patrician Brothers Blacktown also standing out with his strong defense and hardy carries in the middle of the field.

CCC centre Travis Petersen also caught the eye on both sides of the ball - the St Francis Xavier student was physical and imposing on both sides of the ball.

FULL SQUADS

Combined High Schools Under 18’s

1 Blake Metcalfe The Hills Sports High School

2 Tyrone Munro, Alexandra Park Community School

3 Kyron Fekitoa, Endeavour Sports High School

4 Brandon Morkos, Figtree Sports High School

5 Te Umuaiki Heremai Tukere, Illawarra Sports High School

6 Jack Cole, Orange High School

7 Iverson Matai, Endeavour Sports High School

8 Amir Yatim, Homebush Boys High School

9 Ethan Gilchrist, Tumut High School

10 Markis Atoa, The Hills Sports High School

11 Ryan Couchman, Bulli High School

12 Junior Tapau, Endeavour Sports High School

13 Nicholas Lenaz, Castle Hill High School

14 Trey Barlow, Warilla High School

15 Soloman Saukuru, Westfields Sports High School

16 Lajuan Vito, Endeavour Sports High School

17 Raymond Lole, Westfields Sports High School

18 Luran Patea, The Hills Sports High School

19 Luke Raymond, Endeavour Sports High School

20 Ryan Hodgson, Kiama High School

Catholic Colleges Under 18’s

1 Paul Alamoti, Marist College

2 Josh Alhazim, Patrician Brothers’ College

3 Taj Brailey, De La Salle Catholic College

4 Jock Brazel, Parramatta Marist High School

5 Lachlan Blackburn, St Dominic’s College

6 Charlie Guymer, St Gregory’s College

7 Liam Ison, St Dominic’s College

8 Emmanuel Kandidakis, St Gregory’s College

9 Myles Martin, Patrician Brothers’ College

10 Jordan Miller, Patrician Brothers’ College

11 Rueban Moyle, Xavier College Skennars

12 Travis Petersen, St Francis Xavier’s College

13 Daniel Peters, St Edwards College East

14 Jaxson Rahme, Holy Cross College

15 Taj Ridley, All Saints College

16 Keegan Russel-Smith, St Dominic’s College

17 John Sagaga, Patrician Brothers’ College

18 Ethan Sanders, Patrician Brothers’ College

19 Ryley Smith, St Dominic’s College

20 Liam Sutton, St Gregory’s College

Sagaga brewing something special

The only thing stronger than Patrician Brothers Blacktown prop John Sagaga’s carries are the long blacks he makes on a Wednesday morning.

The Combined Catholic Colleges front-rower, who’s been likened to Penrith star James Fisher-Harris, is one of the players to watch at this week’s New South Wales Schoolboy Championship and has already made his Jersey Flegg debut for the Panthers.

Every indication says Sagaga could be one of the first of his age group to crack the NRL, but he’s got something to fall back on – a talented barista, Sagaga makes coffee to raise money for charity one morning every week at his school.

Patrician Brothers Blacktown players (from left) Myles Martin, John Sagaga, Siotame Hansen and Ethan Sanders. Picture: Jonathan Ng

“John leads by his actions. He’s very humble. He’s not a big talker, he’s probably like a James Fisher-Harris, that type of person,” said Patrician Brothers Blacktown coach Greg Beacroft.

“Each week we have a roster of four boys, on a Wednesday morning, who do work placement through their hospitality subject, they make and sell coffee and the money raised goes to help the less fortunate.

“Last Wednesday, he was making coffee in the morning before we played Westfields SHS.

“He could open his own coffee shop tomorrow.

“You’d be lucky to get two words out of him. If you tell him, ‘you’re a great player, John’ he’d go ‘you think so?’

“John realises that playing in the front row, if you want to be good, you’ve got to be strong. And John doesn’t take any short cuts. He works hard to be where he’s at.”

Powerful and mobile, Sagaga made his Jersey Flegg debut earlier this year when COVID restrictions forced a host of changes to the young Panthers and held his own in the middle of the field.

See the best bits from Patrician Brothers Fairfield and All Saints' Round 2 @NRL Schoolboy Cup battle in Cabramatta.

FULL REPLAY: https://t.co/APFe52rPv0pic.twitter.com/nM5ImbMAYS

— Telegraph Sport (@telegraph_sport) June 17, 2021

A regular trainer with the Under 21s squad, Penrith have been impressed by his efforts, dedication and willingness to improve his own game.

“We’re probably juggling his work around schoolboy footy and finishing off his Year 12 so we won’t put too much expectation on his availability for Flegg. But he’s a really respectful, humble and hardworking kid,” said Penrith’s Jersey Flegg coach Ben Harden.

“His off-field stuff has improved in terms of his preparation and communication in monitoring his workload.

“If anything, Johnny does too much, he trains most days whether it’s school, club or here.

“His understanding of balance, workload and life, it’s probably obvious that he understands that and it’s working both ways, so we’ll be working with him over the next six months to get through all that.”

CCC have a handy line-up across the park, with St Gregory’s halfback Liam Sutton – who just signed with Newcastle on a three-year deal last week – another name to watch.