2025 ASSRL Nationals live stream: Under-18s Day 1

NSW CIS claimed a giant scalp while two heavyweights couldn’t be separated. Watch all the REPLAYS from Day 1 and see what we learned and our top players of the day.

Two competition heavyweights went the full 10 rounds and still couldn’t be split, while an unlikely contender made a massive statement on the opening day of the ASSRL Under-18 National Championships.

There was nothing to separate NSW CHS and Queensland after a bruising 60 minutes of action, while NSW CIS showed little concern about its bevy of missing talent in a cracking first day in Coffs Harbour.

Two likely suspects also emerged into title contention on the girls side of the championships.

The play of the day belonged to NSW CHS halfback Toby Batten who fooled the Queensland defence with the dummy to stream through a gap. His 60 metre line break set-up a great opportunity which was iced by a trio of ball-playing forwards. Check it out above.

Watch the replays from Day 1 below. Scroll down to see what we learned and our top players of the day.

REPLAYS

NSWCCC v NSWCIS (U18s Boys)

NSW CHS v Queensland (U18s Boys)

Victoria v NT (U18s Girls)

NSWCHS v NSWCIS (U18s Girls)

Queensland v ACT (U18s Girls)

NSWCCC v WA (U18s Girls)

WHAT WE LEARNED

NSWCIS ARE NOT MUCKING AROUND

It’s scary to think what might have been for the NSW Combined Independent Schools side.

The boys in red looked like they had not missed a step leading into the ASSRL National Championships, despite the squad being rocked by a number of outs pre-tournament.

When star backrower James Finegan, the son of Wallabies legend Owen Finegan, was ruled out on the eve of the tournament it made it five of their best players sidelined for the week.

But the NSW CIS boys showed little signs as impressive halves Carter Mareko and Callum Grantham connected to inspire a brutal 32-12 win over reigning champions NSW Combined Catholic Colleges.

South Sydney-contracted centre Dayne ‘Plane’ Jennings set the tone early when he ran around the entire NSW CCC side to score, while flashy finisher Josh Ballard finished with a hat-trick on the end of several slick backline movements.

FUTURE IS BRIGHT FOR THE NO. 7s

Two of the best young halfbacks in the country went toe-to-toe in an old school No. 7 shootout which ended in fitting fashion.

Nothing could split ASSRL Under-18s title contenders Queensland and NSW Combined High Schools with the sides sharing the points in a thrilling 20-20 draw to open the ASSRL Under-18s National Championships.

The first half belonged to NSW ace Toby Batten, with the Nambucca Heads High School playmaker scoring a try and setting up another as the sky blues took a six-point lead into the break.

When Batten sliced his way through the line to help set up a try for Oliver Winter in the second half, it appeared the NSW CHS side was going to finish day one on top.

It’s just that the memo failed to reach star Queensland playmaker Hayden Watson, who took the game by the scruff of the neck with a dominant solo effort.

Watsons’ fellow Storm-contracted teammate Ellyjah Birve sprinted through a hole on the next set to level the scores where they would remain for the final five minutes.

DOUBLE TROUBLE FOR QUEENSLAND

There is only one thing scarier than a Misa girl running full steam, and that’s two of them.

Queensland’s Misa sisters, Amanii and Mele, were dominant for the Sunshine State as the side kicked off its national title defence in style with a 42-4 win over the ACT.

The Queenslanders were slow out of the blocks and made to pay early when the ACT shocked their rivals with a try inside the opening 10 minutes.

There is just one issue when you land a jab on your rival, it tends to wake them up.

Australian Schoolgirls representative, Amanii landed a counterblow on the very next set, before Queensland went on to score seven unanswered tries in the rout.

Amanii capped off a stellar performance with a try-scoring double, while her front-row sister ran roughshod through the middle of the park.

The ACT will hold big concerns for strike centre Gabriella Savage who appeared hampered by a lower leg complaint for most of the contest.

Queensland weren’t the only landslide winners on day one of the girls tournament, with title contenders NSW CHS kicking off its tournament with a 48-4 win over NSW CIS.

SUNNY SKYES AT DRAGONS

The only thing shining brighter than the sun at Coffs Harbour on Sunday morning was NSW Combined Catholic College’s five-eighth Skye Spencer.

The Dragons Academy playmaker was dazzling for the blue and whites, scoring two tries and having a direct hand in three others before she was given an early mark late in the second half.

The Illawarra Steelers Lisa Faiola Cup captain linked brilliantly with Raiders’ Tarsha Gale Cup playmaker Holly Williams in the halves, while Knights young gun Summer Dowell was exceptional in the centres.

NSW CCC proved too strong for Western Australia in a big 36-4 win, but it was great to see Tenterfield High School’s Ava Mitchell cross the stripe for a late consolation for the girls from the West.

TOP PLAYERS OF THE DAY

BOYS

Toby Batten (NSW CHS)

He may as well be the hometown hero this week. The Nambucca Heads High student set the ASSRL Championships alight with the first try of the boys tournament cutting back off his left foot twice to beat Queensland’s big men. His running game will be crucial this week.

David Bryenton (Queensland)

The Queensland fullback didn’t get a chance to show his electric pace in open space, but his workrate on the ball was massive. He kept Queensland in the game in the first half and had a major hand in their first try of the game.

Jai Callaghan (NSW CIS)

He might have been a late call-up into the NSWCIS line-up but fullback Jai Callaghan looked far from out of place at the back. The former Central Coast junior linked with the Bulldogs for the 2025 junior representative season and proved he is the perfect link man for sweeping backline plays.

GIRLS

Amanii Misa (Queensland)

The Australian Schoolgirls middle made sure Queensland kicked off its title defence in style. The classy lock forward is part of the Broncos NRLW squad as a development player, and based on her early form in Coffs Harbour, is surely not far off making her debut at the top level.

Koffi Brookfield (NSW CHS)

The enigmatic playmaker made a massive difference when she came on the field, directing the NSW CHS side around from dummy-half and later at halfback. The Dragons junior scored a try and set up two others in a brilliant display.

Summer Rowell (NSW CCC)

The classy centre won the coaches award for Newcastle Knights’ Tarsha Gale Cup side this season and it isn’t hard to see why. She was just as happy taking tough yardage carries as she was setting up tries with her power and offloading ability. Will be a handful this week.

PREVIEW

Defending champions NSW Combined Catholic Colleges will kick start the ASSRL Under-18s National Championships with a bang when they clash with a hopeful NSW Combined Independent Schools.

The all-NSW clash will headline a massive opening day of action in Coffs Harbour on Sunday with every game exclusively live streamed on KommunityTV.

NSW Combined Independent Schools coach Yoni Charlupsky said his side relished the challenge of going head-to-head with the two-time defending champions first up.

The NSWCIS squad was hit with a raft of player outs on the eve of the tournament, but it won’t dent the confidence of Charlupsky’s charges.

The opening round clash will include an exciting battle of two of the best emerging centres in the NRL junior ranks with South Sydney’s Dayne Jennings going up against the Eels-contracted Andes Johansson.

A State of Origin showdown between NSW Combined High Schools and Queensland will be the other Under-18s boys clash on day one.

The day’s action will feature four opening round games from the Under-18s girls tournament with defending champions Queensland going head-to-head with the ACT.

NSWCHS will clash with NSWCIS in a cracking battle while affiliated states Victoria and Northern Territory will also battle it out.

Watch every match live and exclusive from 9am.

Did you miss any of the ASSRL Under-15/Under-16 National Championships? Use the links below to watch the replays.

Originally published as 2025 ASSRL Nationals live stream: Under-18s Day 1