Phil Hall Cup state schoolboy league grand final: Ignatius Park take on Ipswich SHS

Rising star Gabriel Satrick turned in a dummy half masterclass as Ipswich beat Ignatius Park College to continue their magic carpet ride through the schoolboys season. Relive the action from our LIVESTREAM.

Andrew Dawson

7 min read

September 1, 2022 - 6:18AM

Replay: Phil Hall Cup final - Ignatius Park College v Ipswich SHS

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Ipswich SHS’s Gabriel Satrick jumped aboard his team’s magic carpet ride through the schoolboy season to spearhead the side to an historic Phil Hall Cup state final rugby league win.

North Queensland product Satrick was the difference, as unbeaten Ipswich SHS defeated Townsville’s Ignatius Park College 30-10 at CBUS Stadium on the Gold Coast.

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Northern raiders’ Ignatius Park had launched a stunning hit and run mission for half the match, delivering sledge hammer like defence which stung their rivals.

The Ipswich defence stops Tekelu Mene in his tracks .Picture: Jerad Williams

But Satrick’s injection into dummy half tilted momentum and contributed to three tries in 10 minutes just after halftime.

Superb goal kicking from James Frazer also saw his team balloon from a 4-all at halftime to a 22-4 lead 16 minutes from fulltime.

The explosive acceleration of Gatrick, Ipswich’s Australian schoolboys dummy half, gave Ipswich the edge, with the Yarrabah product’s try seven minutes into the second half crucial.

Ignatius Park had done their homework with their outstanding marker and ruck defence, but Satrick is the best in the business and found the tryline with a dash and a lunge under pressure from Ignatius Park defenders.

It was Satrick’s quick tap and run minutes later which also gave Ipswich SHS field position for his winger Jacobi Shaw to score and within the space of three minutes, Ipswich were leading 16-4.

“It has been a great season, full of fun, Satrick said.

Jack Laing gets Ipswich moving forward. Picture: Jerad Williams

Brodie Dineen drives St Ignatius forward. Picture: Jerad Williams

“We now wait for the next game and hopefully win it all,’’ he said in reference to playing the NRL National Schoolboy final against Sydney’s Patrician Brothers, Fairfield in two weeks.

“I came on, but it was a good team effort. Our team just keeps showing up and we love each other,’’ said Satrick, who is signed by the Melbourne Storm.

After Satrick’s double magic trick, centre Fotu crossed for his second try and Ipswich could taste victory.

But with 11 minutes remaining Ignatius Park’s Jack Prior crossed, and with Brodie Dineen’s sideline conversion, it was back to 22-10.

Ignatius Park’s Rayzarlin Pearson then made a break, but in the covering tackle he mistimed his pass and Ipswich survived. The match was much closer than the scoreline indicated.

Ignatius Park were looking to snap an 18-year drought stretching back to 2004 when they last won the state final.

Tre Fotu got himself a double for Ipswich. Picture: Jerad Williams

“We gave them too much footy in the second half and when they get possession, they really wear you down physically,’’ reflected Ignatius Park coach Steve Lansley.

“We just didn’t have enough possession in the second half to compete with them.

“I was really proud of our effort and we have had a great year.

“They showed up and we’re not intimidated by the south east corner.

“The boys will learn that when you play good teams, you have to hold the footy in the second half.

“The best thing for their development is going forward, they know they can match it with these boys.’’

Ignatius Park struck first through Rayzarlin Pearson. Picture: Jerad Williams

Ipswich SHS’s win followed last week’s historic first ever Langer Trophy win.

Those involved in that day should bottle the moment and carry it around with them for the rest of their lives, and this moment should sit alongside it.

Iggy Park also had a magnificent season, and after winning the Confraternity Shield and then Payne Cup, their players left nothing in the tank.

“What we did in the first half to control them, when they were at their best, I am most proud of,’’ said Ipswich coach Joshua Bretherton.

“They are a very, very good team but the resolve we showed to stay in control when the game could have got away from us, that was what I was most proud of.’’

It was a match full of near misses and try-saving tackles, among the best of them being:

Gabriel Satrick had a huge game. Picture: Jerad Williams

- Ignatius Park’s Brodie Dineen clipping the heels of a tearaway Ipswich hooker Gabriel Satrick

- Ipswich’s James Frazer ankle taping a runaway Rayzarlin Pearson

- Nelson Kennedy’s jersey grabbing effort on Ipswich fullback Tyler Peckham-Harris

- Ignatius pair Jonah Raidaveta and Elijah Joe somehow felling the towering Ipswich prop Loko Tonga

In the first half, Ipswich SHS confronted a Berlin Wall for most of the 30 minutes, with impregnable defence blocking pathways to the line for Ipswich heavy hitters Josiah Pahulu and Tre Fotu.

Those defensive efforts across the first six minutes set the highest of standards and must have had Ipswich wondering how to get through, and around their northern rivals.

Ignatius Park’s Brodie Dineen in action. Picture: Jerad Williams

After the defensive blockade, Ignatius Park rebounded to the other end of the field where winger Rayzarlin Pearson scored.

Ipswich had also defended superbly on the line but a backs ball movement through the hands of Matthew Hunter, Elijah Joe and Izaya Leedie helped get Pearson over to score.

After ebb and flow following the try, Ipswich centre Tre Fotu finally burst through the barn door three minutes before halftime to open his team’s scoring. It was 4-all at halftime.

Not being able to go through Ignatius Park, Ipswich went around them with a wide left edge spread that got Fotu on the outside of his rivals.

Ipswich SHS 30 (Tre Fotu 2, Gabriel Satrick, Rene Bagon, Jacobi Shaw; James Frazer 5 goals) defeated Ignatius Park College (Rayzarlin Pearson, Jack Prior tries; Brodie Dineen goal).

Ignatius Park College: 1. Elijah Joe, 2. Tekelu Mene, 3. Brodie Dineen, 4. Izaya Leedie, 5. Rayzarlin Pearson, 6. Mitch Brown, 7. Matthew Hunter, 8. Henry Teutau, 9. Jack Wood, 10. Jamaine Stanley, 11. Jonah Raidaveta, 12. Nelson Kennedy, 13. Jamal Shibasaki, 14. Diesel Jacobsson- Rhodes, 15. Nathaniel Hansen-Murdoch, 16. Jack Petitt, 17. Jack Prior, 18. Caleb Searles. Coach: Steve Lansley

Ipswich SHS: 1. Tyler Peckham-Harris 2.Kulu Baruani, 3. Anton Naiyep, 3. Tre Fotu, 4. Jacobi Shaw, 6. James Frazer, 7. Jalen Afamasaga, 8. Ahmani Leluia, 9/ Tommy Luhrman, 10. Josiah Pahulu, 11. Xavier Sofeni, 12. Oliva Iaulualo,13. Jack Laing, 14. Gabriel Satrick, 15. Rene Bagon, 16. Loko Tonga, 17. Cayleb Johnson, 18th: Caleb Jackson.

PREVIEW: Clash of the titans in Queensland decider

Prepare for another chapter in rugby league’s great north versus south rivalry when Queensland’s premier schoolboy rugby league teams battle it out for state supremacy today at CBUS Super Stadium.

Unbeaten Ipswich SHS, winners of the Langer Trophy, will confront Payne Cup champions Ignatius Park College in a schoolboy grand final to be live streamed by www.couriermail.com.au, the Townsville Bulletin and News Corp affiliates.

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News Corp will then live stream the national title on September 14 played between the winner of today’s game and the best NSW school from Dolphin Oval.

Ipswich SHS, who has Allan Langer as its most famous alumni, will be shooting for its first ever Phil Hall Cup while Ignatius Park College, the old school of NRL premiership champion Scott Prince, last won the state title in 2004.

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For Ipswich SHS, it is another hurdle in a season which had them touted as contenders, but not as unbeaten front rowers which is what the side has been all season.

Ipswich SHS player Josiah Pahulu celebrates with teammates after a try. Picture: NIGEL HALLETT

Coach Joshua Bretherton said last week’s Langer Trophy win over 2020-21 state champions Palm Beach Currumbin SHS was an extraordinary experience.

As well as a huge number of old boys and past teachers swelling the crowd, decorated past students Allan Langer and Ronaldo Mulitalo (Cronulla Sharks) attended.

“It has been an awesome experience to have everybody supporting us,’’ Bretherton said.

“And it is on again on Wednesday. We let the boys enjoy last Wednesday, but we had a bit of a moment in the dressing room afterwards when we decided to pick ourselves up and go straight back to work.

“And that (winning the Phil Hall Cup) is what it is all about.’’

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Ignatius Park College coach Steve Lansley said the key to a great season, which included winning the Confraternity Shield, was that “everyone has a common goal and everyone is on-board with the direction and game plan and believe in it’’.

Ignatius Park players Jamal Shibasaki and Matthew Hunter with the Payne Cup. Picture: Evan Morgan

“We also have good leaders who are also our best players and we have size in the middle and pace out wide,’’ he said.

Lansley said the players also had “immense pride both in the individuals and the school’’.

Ignatius Park College's Jamal Shibasaki. Picture: Evan Morgan

“We have many boys from the different islands in North Queensland - Mornington, Palm, Torres Strait Islands and many proud families with diverse cultural backgrounds.

“I love seeing how rugby league brings everyone together and the joy and fun we are having playing together.’’

Ipswich SHS’s Tre Fotu. Picture: NIGEL HALLETT

Two pillars of Ipswich SHS success have been its props, brothers-in-arms captain Josiah Pahulu and Ahmani Leluia.

Both Springfield Panthers juniors, the boys have known each other since they were children and it was Pahulu who persuaded Leluia to leave BSHS where he played First XV rugby and join him this year at Ipswich SHS.

“I have been encouraging him to come and finally he made the move,’’ Pahulu said.

And Leluia did not need much encouragement. “I came to watch Josiah’s game against Marsden SHS in the semi-finals last year and it was an eye opener to the opportunities and the atmosphere and the hype,’’ Leluia said.

“The crowd went crazy and it was a massive atmosphere.’’

Ipswich SHS player Josiah Pahulu with Allan Langer. Picture: NIGEL HALLETT

Pahulu, a Queensland and Australian front rower signed by the Titans, has been an obvious inspiration to Ipswich SHS this season.

Josiah Pahulu and Ahmani Leilua. Ipswich SHS. Thursday May 12, 2022. Picture, John Gass

But in his shadow has been his middle forward mate, Leluia, who was also having a year to remember after captaining the Karmichael Hunt coached Souths Logan to the Meninga Cup under 18 premiership.