Ranked: Kommunity TV’s top 10 NRL Schoolboys Cup tries of the season
From grand final-winning grabs to stunning solo runs – this NRL National Schoolboy Cup season had it all and we’ve ranked the top 10 tries. Watch every highlight here.
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The 2024 NRL National Schoolboy Cup season was one to remember and it had the highlights to match.
We’ve combed through hundreds of tries in a drama-filled schoolboys campaign from April to September – all live streamed on KommunityTV – and picked out the cream of the crop.
From schools in Cairns down to Victoria and everywhere in between packed full of future NRL talents, these are the top 10 tries of 2024.
10. FINE FALE & JASAIS AH KEE
Patrician Brothers College, Blacktown
This was the defining moment of a break-out Schoolboys Cup campaign for Patrician Brothers’ barnstorming Kiwi centre Fine Fale.
In a mix of power and precision, Fale crunched, danced and spun his way through three would-be Endeavour tacklers, breaking out the other side before finding a flying Jesais Ah Kee in support.
The young halfback made no mistake, showing a clean pair of heels after catching the pass from his centre, streaking away to score the go-ahead try in the Peter Mulholland Cup decider.
The Bulldogs will be excited to see the impressive footwork and fend of Fale as he rises through the club’s junior ranks.
9. CARTER FORD
St Brendan’s College
Talk about legacies to live up to.
The son of the late, great Queensland enforcer Carl Webb, Ford showed he possesses his father’s competitive fire but also a few other natural traits.
None more so than raw pace off the mark as Ford pulled the pants down of all the Emmaus College defenders in a blistering display of pace and power.
The big-bodied St Brendan’s College front rower pulled out his best fullback impersonation by running around his rivals in a crucial Dolphins Cup win.
Catching the ball inside his own 30m line, Ford turned on the afterburners before stepping fullback Harry Meilland out of his boots on his way to a 75m solo try.
8. PATRICK SLADE
Hunter Sports High
When the kick went in behind the Hills Sports defence, Patrick Slade appeared to have too much ground to make up with the deadball line determined to beat him to the ball.
But the flashy Hunter Sports winger had other ideas.
Slade charged past two opponents before beating the Hills fullback to the ball and somehow touching it down in the very depths of the back corner of the in-goal area.
With only a single blade of grass between the ball and the end of the in-goal, it is proof of why you should never give up on the play.
7. DAYNE JENNINGS
Central Coast Sports College
Arguably, there was no one with a better schoolboys highlight reel in 2024 than Dayne Jennings.
Whether the Central Coast centre was setting them up or storming downfield solo like this try against Hallam, he was a genuine X-factor in his side’s impressive campaign.
The Dayne Plane was certainly in full flight for this four-pointer, showing not only his raw pace but his ability to step his way out of trouble on more than one occasion.
If this list had been expanded to a top 20, Jennings would likely have featured a couple more times.
6. ALI KARNIB
Bass High
Needing a big win to secure a breakthrough Peter Mulholland Cup finals appearance, Bass High were in need of a spark away at St Dominic’s.
Up steps captain Ali Karnib.
The skipper showed excellent reflexes to pick off a kick, burst through two St Dom’s defenders and streaked down the sideline right in front of the heaving home crowd.
It fired Bass up to go on and win 36-22 and secure a quarter-final spot.
5. TRISTAN ROSELT
Caloundra State High
If we were picking the best team tries of the season – this one would be hard to beat for top spot.
Pinned back deep against Langer Trophy powerhouse Ipswich, Caloundra picked off a loose ball and combined with three offloads to score an absolute cracker.
Centre Tristan Roselt capped off the brilliant breakaway move with a nice swan dive over the try line.
Elijah Birve played a key part in the try with his classy bootlace pick-up and 60m sprint downfield, but special shout-out to the final pass from Rhico Markey as well.
4. DAVIDSON BENIONI
Kirwan State High
Not one, but two massive stiff arm fends secured Davidson Benioni a well-deserved spot in the top 10.
With St Patrick’s threatening the Kirwan try line in the second half of a hotly-contested Aaron Payne Cup grand final, the winger intercepted an Adam McSherry kick and went 100m to slam the ball down with authority at the opposite end.
It was a run that wouldn’t be out of place on the gridiron fields of America, with the Kirwan High leader showing some sheer power to stomp over his rivals.
3. JOSHUA FESOLAI
Central Coast Sports College
New kids on the block Central Coast came within a whisker of reaching the Peter Mulholland Cup final – and dynamic winger Joshua Fesolai almost dragged them over the line.
This try, as he somehow made his way through four Patrician Brothers Blacktown defenders, brought up his hat-trick in the preliminary final.
Central Coast would go onto lose one of the games of the season 23-22 after a Jared Haywood kick in golden point extra time.
2. WAKA HAMMOND
Hallam Secondary College
It is a moment which will go down in Hallam rugby league folklore.
The Victorian school’s stunning, history making upset of Patrician Brothers Fairfield was one of the stories of the season and of course their main man Waka Hammond was right at the centre of it.
With the elimination final on the line, the Storm-signed fullback stepped inside and charged for the corner to secure a famous victory at the death.
It was the first time a Victorian school defeated a NSW opponent in the Peter Mulholland Cup finals.
1. BEAU HARTMANN
Palm Beach Currumbin State High
Now this is a grand final try for the ages.
Palm Beach Currumbin’s hopes of a national championship hung in the balance and – just minutes earlier – Beau Hartmann had missed a catch from a Zane Harrison high bomb which would have been a certain try.
With 90 seconds remaining and two points between the sides, Harrison went to the sky again.
This time Hartmann made no mistake.
The PBC winger picked his opposite number Chad Riddle’s pocket and surged towards the try line to rapturous celebrations from the Reds’ faithful.
Redemption for Hartmann, national glory for Palm Beach Currumbin.
Originally published as Ranked: Kommunity TV’s top 10 NRL Schoolboys Cup tries of the season
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