NRL Schoolboy Cup 2020: Academic high performers nominations revealed
Endeavour Sports High’s Jaiden French will be forced to miss the NRL Schoolboy Cup preliminary finals, but his off-field success has seen him scoring a nomination in the Academic High Performers. See the full list.
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When Endeavour Sports High play their NRL Schoolboy Cup semi-final, winger Jaiden French will be recovering from jaw surgery.
In a stroke of bad luck, French broke his jaw — for the second time — in the last tackle of Endeavour’s quarterfinal win.
But that didn’t stop the Year 12 student from sitting his Mathematics and Biology HSC exams.
And it certainly won’t stop French from cheering on his teammates this Wednesday in their preliminary final clash against Patrician Brothers Blacktown.
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“It was after the full time shooter and was a fairly innocuous tackle. He got the opposition player’s shoulder directly to the jaw, he knew straight away,” Endeavour coach Brad Kelly said.
“We will miss him this week. The boys all know how hard he has worked and are shattered for him.”
French, a proud Anaiwan man, has been nominated for the 2020 NRL Schoolboy Cup Academic High Performers.
In 2017, he moved 500km from Armidale into the Kirinari Hostel — a hostel for Indigenous students across NSW while they attend school in the Sylvania Heights region — and began studying at Endeavour.
Since then, French has achieved an array academic, leadership and community accolades.
He finished 1st in the Year for Biology and PDHPE this year and 3rd in English.
NRL SCHOOLBOYS CUP: WATCH HILLS SHS V WESTFIELDS SHS LIVE FROM 11AM ON WEDNESDAY & ENDEAVOUR SHS V PATRICIAN BROTHERS BLACKTOWN FROM 1.30PM.
WATCH THE REPLAY
QUARTER-FINAL 1: Pats Blacktown vs St Greg’s
QUARTER-FINAL 2: Hills Sports vs Holy Cross
QUARTER-FINAL 3: St Dominic’s vs Westfields Sports
QUARTER-FINAL 4: Endeavour Sports vs Illawarra Sports
Moving into a hostel environment would be tough for a young country boy but Jaiden has not wavered in his effort and application to his school work for even one day,” coach Kelly said.
“Living at the Hostel, it‘s easy to sleep in when we start training at 7am in the middle of winter … but he’s the first one on the training paddock, every session.
“He grabs a ball and it doesn‘t matter how cold or wet it is, he will get on the ground and start practising his play the balls, because that’s what we’ve told him to do as extras.”
To represent Endeavour, students must follow the school’s high expectation policy that requires students to demonstrate good behaviour, complete all assessments and log a minimum 90 per cent attendance rate.
NRL CEO Andrew Abdo said that an important goal of the Schoolboys Cup was helping to produce educated and well-rounded young men who can be leaders in their communities.
“One of our most important priorities is ensuring our young players understand there is more to life than playing rugby league,” Abdo said.
“We are proud that over 100 of our elite players are currently studying while playing in the NRL. These players are creating multiple career options for themselves early in their lives. “This starts with instilling that discipline during their school years.
“The Academic High Performers have excelled on and off the field. Some have excelled with high marks in traditional subjects, others have had perfect attendance or taken on added responsibilities at school.
“Rugby league is about teamwork, communication, discipline and focus. These are skills that can transfer to academic pursuits and the workplace.”
“Our Academic High Performers Team celebrates the success of students who are putting a focus on balancing education and rugby league together to ensure they have a range of options post school.
Endeavour principal James Kozlowski said that French is the ideal student-athlete.
“We constantly remind our student athletes that a sporting career can be over in an instant but an education is for life,” Kozlowski said.
“Reputable research and our own experience demonstrates that academic achievement and sporting success are not mutually exclusive.
NRL SCHOOLBOYS CUP: WATCH HILLS SHS V WESTFIELDS SHS LIVE FROM 11AM ON WEDNESDAY & ENDEAVOUR SHS V PATRICIAN BROTHERS BLACKTOWN FROM 1.30PM.
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“Jaiden is a student whose outstanding academic achievement, leadership qualities and significant sporting ability combine to make him a much admired role model to other students.”
Patrician Brothers‘ College, Blacktown, Principal Frank Chiment echoed the need to educate student-athletes both on and off the field.
“Our students value learning at school and beyond. We promote a culture of high expectations in all endeavours and this transcends from the classroom to the field,” Mr Chiment said.
“Providing flexibility in study patterns such as Pathways provides good options for elite representative players who manage a heavy schedule off and on the field.
“The College regularly collaborates with clubs in order to better support our rugby league players with their study and rugby league commitments.”
SCHOOLBOY CUP ACADEMIC HIGH PERFORMERS
Blake Metcalfe (Hills SHS): School Leadership Team 2021, Student Representative Council Member 2017-20, Model student - perfect uniform, outstanding attendance, fantastic grades across all subject areas.
Jaiden French (Endeavour SHS): Finished 1st in Biology, 1st in PDHPE and 3rd in English for Year 12. 2020 School Vice Captain, recipient of the GO Foundation.
Ryan Swain (Holy Cross College): College Captain, in multiple sports such as Cricket, captained the First XI since Year 10. Ryan topped HSC Modern History and achieved Academic achievement in PDHPE and English.
Charlie Guymer (St Gregory’s College): straight A student (English, maths, tech, engineering, PDHPE and PASS. Obtained a 100/100 mark for the final PASS exam.
Devante Te Ahuru (Illawarra SHS): 2020 School Captain, recipient of Student Citizen Awards for offering writing assistance for students during HSC
Mitch Henderson (Farrer MAHS): finished 1st in advanced English, 1st in SLR, 3rd in Business Studies, 3rd in Mathematics. Current vice-captain, actively involved in the ANZAC Day march and completes charity work for the school in the Red Shield and Legacy Day appeals.
Sandon Smith (St Edwards, Gosford): Finished 1st in Construction and 2nd in the Mathematics trial HSC examinations. Received endorsement letter from school principal for University Application
Jai Wynbergen Tiitoko (Patrician Brothers, Blacktown): Gained early entry to 2021 Science Degree at University, currently works part time as a Youth Worker
Michael Geddes (Holy Cross College): is an academically gifted student and leader at Holy Cross College elected as the co-curricular prefect. Achieved academic excellence in Biology, PDHPE and Business Studies. Plans on attending Sydney University or Macquarie to complete a degree in Physiotherapy
Samuel Iese (Wesfields SHS): 99 per cent attendance and zero late arrivals in 2020. Impeccable behaviour and a high achiever in SLR.
Larry Muagututia (Patrician Brothers, Fairfield): 2020 A Grade Captain, 2020 Sportsboy of the Year, 1st place in Sports Coaching
Jack Hyde (St Dominic's College): finished 1st in English Studies and Industrial Technology Timber.
Mason Teague (St Dominic's College): 1st place in English Studies and 1st place in Studies in Catholic Thought.