Blue blood behind St Dominic’s stellar NRL success

For anyone walking the corridors of St Dominic’s College it’s almost impossible not to notice: this is a school that takes its NRL very seriously — and it’s got the silverware to prove it.

Uaale Elisara, Jett Cleary and Jack Ewer are among the up-and-coming rugby league hopefuls at Sydney’s St Dominic’s College. Picture: John Feder

For anyone walking the corridors of St Dominic’s College it’s almost impossible not to notice: this is a school that takes its NRL very seriously – and it’s got the silverware to prove it.

With an impressive coterie of past players and former coaches, including legends Greg Alexander, Brad Fittler, Tim Sheens and Des Hasler, it’s little wonder the Penrith boys school has gained a reputation for producing some of the country’s best NRL-calibre talent.

On any given day, a champion of the code could drop in to lend a hand at training, present students with their jerseys or offer up some words of wisdom on all things football and life.

“It’s funny because former players or coaches will often ask the school if they can come down and speak to the students instead of us approaching them,” St Dominic’s coach Kyle Churchill said.

“It’s great they still have the connection to the school, and it really contributes to the culture of the place and its traditions.”

As Parramatta and Penrith fans limber up for the grand final on Sunday night, St Dominic’s staff and students will be watching on with special interest, as old boy Nathan Cleary captains the Panthers in his third grand final, after winning the Clive Churchill Medal last year.

As well as his famous father, Panther’s coach Ivan Cleary, Nathan’s 17-year-old brother, Jett, is also making waves at St Dominic’s, with plans to follow in his older brother’s footsteps.

“My main goal is to make the NRL, like most kids playing footy,” said Jett.

“There is pressure because of my dad and my brother, but I try to stay away from that and just be the best player I can be.”

The derby blockbuster, which brings together one of the game’s fiercest rivalries, is set to be a very local affair, a battle between neighbours, with young Jett proud of his school’s links to the Panthers and his family. “We’re really lucky because when former players and coaches come down to the school, they talk about being a team and the brotherhood and how we’re all going to be friends for life. We just listen and we all love it.”

David Mackinnon, who has coached at the Penrith boys school for more than a decade, said the derby clash will be one of the biggest calendar events in Western Sydney for years, with St Dominic’s conscious of its links to the big game.

“The atmosphere is already building across the region and it will be something that draws the community together in a way only sport can,” Mr Mackinnon said.

“We’ve got close links with the Panthers, of course, but there are also staff and students that support Parramatta, believe it or not.

“I’ve been doing some research and I found out that at least one St Dom’s past student has played in every single Panther’s Grand Final and also kicked a goal in the match, too. That’s something we’re all really proud of.”