NRL Schoolboy Cup: How all 16 teams are looking in 2021
The NRL Schoolboy Cup is back in 2021, find out how each of the 16 schools are shaping up ahead of kick-off next week.
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The NRL Schoolboy Cup is back in 2021.
After last year’s coronavirus-disrupted season, 16 schools across NSW and Victoria will battle it out in rugby league’s prestigious competition that has produced a long list of NRL stars.
Can reigning champions Patrician Brothers Blacktown defend their title without last year’s stars Jakob Arthur, Sunia Turuva and Sean Russell?
Will St Dominic’s College win their first NRL Schoolboy Cup since 2003? Can Victoria’s Hallam College and Mount Ridley upset the NSW schools?
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Round 1 kicks off on Wednesday, when Holy Cross College takes on All Saints College Maitland at Cessnock Sports Ground and clashes will continue over the coming weeks.
Here’s how each school is shaping up ahead of kick off.
All Saints College, Maitland
Hooker Jacob Davis and forward Taj Ridley will lead first grade in 2021. Both played for Newcastle’s SG Ball side and are ready to rip in after All Saints was forced to withdraw from the Cup last year due to COVID-19. A handful of Knights under-17s stars also attend the college – look out for crafty halfback Fletcher Sharpe who is returning from an ankle injury.
Endeavour Sports High School
Tough halfback Iverson Matai had a strong season with the Bulldogs’ Harold Matts side and will look to carry his form over to schoolboy footy. Matai represented Endeavour as a 16-year-old last year and played through a tight semi-final with a shoulder injury. Lajuan Vito, another young Bulldogs, will make an impact in the centres and back row.
Erindale College
Raiders SG Ball star Michael Asomua will be key. The powerful outside back from Griffith has been part of Canbera’s junior representative system for years. Raiders SG Ball squad member Jack McDougall will take on a leadership role – his discipline and attitude are bound to lift those around him.
Farrer Memorial Agricultural High School
The boys from Tamworth are back in 2021. Halfback Mitch Henderson and five-eighth Ethan Antzakles will be a handful for oppositions this year. Both were just selected in the Greater Western Side that will compete at CHS.
Hills Sports High School
Bowed out in the semi-finals last year. Last year’s halfback Tyler Bunting returns in 2021 after a tremendous season with Penrith’s Harold Matts side. Bunting has an exceptional kicking game reminiscent of Nathan Cleary’s. But competition for Hills’ no. 7 jersey has been fierce since Cassius Tia arrived at the school. The former New Zealand’s under-16s halfback was strong for the Sydney Roosters’ Matts side this year. School captain and rising Raiders star Blake Metcalfe will lead Hills in 2021.
Hallam Senior College
The boys from Hallam are itching to play, after COVID-19 shut down sport across Victoria. Props Sheldon Diaz and Mikey Mailelaa will lead from the front. Diaz had a strong season with the Thunderbolts, while Mailelaa has impressed at local NRL Nines tournaments. Skipper Bailey Busby has also been training the house down – the agile halfback has shown great discipline to overcome an ACL injury.
Holy Cross College
Skilful lock Jaxon Rahme will take over the captaincy in 2021. The Year 12 student is hardworking, willing to play big minutes and was key for Balmain’s SG Ball side this season. Halfback Aaron Kurnoth will also be a point of difference. He is a second-year player for Holy Cross and featured in South Sydney’s strong under-19s side. Holy Cross are managing a few injuries heading into Round 1 but they’ve got enough talent to weather the storm.
Illawarra Sports High School
Steelers SG Ball stars Viliami Mahe and Dilan Asanoski are ones to watch. Halfback Mahe will organise the side, while Asanoski will excel in a ball-playing lock role. Youngster James Walsh will also be keen to make his mark. Walsh was damaging in the centres for the Steelers’ Harold Matts side – this year, Illawarra SHS will play him at fullback.
Mount Ridley College
2021 will be Mount Ridley’s first year in the NRL Schoolboy Cup. Don’t underestimate these kids. Fullback Sualauvi Faalogo starred for the Victoria Thunderbolts SG Ball side and has pushed up into Jersey Flegg. He did a bit of pre-season work with the Melbourne Storm. Thunderbolts’ SG Ball forward Harry Sio will also be key for the newbies.
Patrician Brothers College, Blacktown
Ethan Sanders will take over halfback and leadership duties from Jakob Arthur. Sanders a level-headed no. 7 who steered Parramatta’s Harold Matts side to the grand final. Also watch out for Penrith’s dynamic forward John Sagaga – the SG Ball is currently training with the Panthers Jersey Flegg side. Both Sanders and Sagaga will be key in Patties’ title defence.
Patrician Brothers College, Fairfield
Don’t forget about Patrician Brothers Fairfield. Coached by former Panthers star Frank Pritchard, the side is stacked with talent. Nook no further than Yehya Ayache, the crafty dummy half who anchored Parramatta’s successful Harold Matts season. Eels forward Joshua Alhazim will also be damaging.
St Dominic’s College
St Dom’s will field a special group in 2021. There’s Ryley Smith, the Panthers’ SG Ball hooker who also plays cricket for NSW. There’s captain Lachlan Blackburn, who will provide physicality. And don’t forget about young Liam Ison, the exciting fullback progressing through Penrith’s junior ranks.
St Gregory’s College
Halfback Liam Sutton will lead St Greg’s in 2021. Sutton showed remarkable courage during last year’s quarter-final against Patties Blacktown, matching it with fellas twice his size. Expect youngsters Tom Fisher, Lachlan Bush and Tom Fletcher to wreak havoc – the trio of forwards were formidable for the Magpies’ Harold Matts side that reached semi-finals this year.
All 2021 NRL Schoolboy Cup games will be live streamed on www.dailytelegraph.com.au
Westfields Sports High School
Carson Kaho spent most of the junior reps season on the wing, but he’ll dominate at fullback for Westfields in 2021. Big Solomone Saukuru also returns – the youngster scored nine tries for the Magpies’ Harold Matts side this year. Expect to see him pop up in either the centres or back row.
Bass High School
Will field a young side in 2021. Brothers Mitchell and Maxwell Taotua will be key – both were part of Manly’s victorious Harold Matts side. The boys will be coached Jon Wilson, who oversaw the Dragon’s Tarsha Gale Cup grand final winning side.
Hunter Sports High School
After a two-year hiatus, Hunter SHS has returned to the NRL Schoolboy Cup. Old school country front rower Connor Cromarty will make an impact with his high work rate and courageous play. Knights SG Ball star Lachlan Fitzhenry will move into fullback for his school. The elusive and intelligent is the son of Wests Tigers legend Daniel Fitzhenry.
SECRETS OF POWERHOUSE SCHOOLBOY PRODUCTION LINE
When Greg Beacroft tunes into a Panthers game, familiar faces flood his television screen.
There’s Jarome Luai, the electric five-eighth who used to sing in the corridors at Patrician Brothers College, Blacktown.
Old boys Stephen Crichton, Tyrone May and Spencer Leniu often star, too.
In fact, the school’s rugby league co-ordinator can spot former students in most NRL games these days.
“Because I’ve been in the job for nine years, I can turn on the televisions, and pretty much every NRL game will feature several boys from our school,” Beacroft said.
“We’ve got one or two players at every NRL club at the moment, including the Warriors and the Broncos.
“It’s good for the boys at school now, to aspire to be like them, it’s a great thrill.”
Patties has produced a long list of NRL stars — from legends such as Luke Lewis to hot young talent DaineLaurie, Luai and Crichton.
Exciting rookies Sunia Turuva, Taylan May, Jakob Arthur and Sean Russell are also alumni.
But how exactly does the school foster so much talent?
“The work starts from when they’re in Year 7. We want them to realise that it’s not just football,” Beacroft said.
“If we tell every kid that they’re going to be an NRL player, you’re doing them an injustice because they’re not all going to make it.
“We want them to be good people, have great opportunities and be prepared for the rest of their lives as well.”
When kids arrive in Year 7, they can join the under-13s program coached by Joseph Tramontana, a member of Penrith’s reserve-grade squad.
For most students, the ultimate goal is to represent Patties in the NRL Schoolboy Cup. The rugby league powerhouse has won the national title once and been runners up on six occasions.
“In the NRL Schoolboy Cup, to win any match is a great achievement … seeing dreams that boys had in Year 7 come in Year 12 is great” Beacroft said.
“When we play grand finals, the whole school watches. Even the kids and teachers with no interest in football, they love those days.”
The reigning NRL Schoolboy Cup NSW champions will kick off their title defence in two weeks’ time with a Round 1 showdown against Endeavour Sports High School.
First-grade coach Noah Meares — Penrith’s Harold Matts assistant coach — said the 2021 squad is young and enthusiastic.
One player to watch is Ethan Sanders, the level-headed halfback who steered Parramatta to the Harold Matts grand final.
“Watching him in the Harold Matts this year, he’s really found his leadership there,” Meares said.
“He’s a very patient player with a versatile skill set, he seems to do the right things at the right time. We’re looking forward to him taking over where Jake (Arthur) left last year.”
Meares also expects John Sagaga to excel.
“He was a big part of our forward pack last year, he’ll step up a leadership role with the forwards this year,” Meares said.
“He’s currently training with Jersey Flegg for Penrith, so he’s probably a step ahead, hopefully he can pass on some knowledge. He’s a very dynamic middle forward, he’s got skills others his age don’t seem to have.”
The 2021 NRL Schoolboy Cup kicks off next Wednesday, when All Saints College Maitland takes on Holy Cross College at 12pm.
All NRL Schoolboy Cup games will be live-streamed with commentary on www.dailytelegraph.com.au
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