2025 NRL Schoolboys Cup final: Inside the rise of powerhouse Patrician Brothers College
Patrician Brothers coach Noah Meares reveals the painstaking video analysis and elite-level preparation behind the school's remarkable rugby league dynasty.
Sleepless nights and countless hours spent chopping up video footage on iMovie, is just a small glimpse into the level of coaching that has made Patrician Brothers College the premier powerhouse in schoolboys rugby league.
For more than a decade, Patrician Brothers College has been the envy of the nation.
While their trophy cabinet might not be overflowing, the school has been a clear standout when it comes to the NRL Schoolboy Cup.
Since winning the school’s only national title in 2012, they have been back to the national final six times including a run of four-straight finals.
While the school likes to chalk up its success to the ‘culture’ on campus, it truly goes a long way beyond that.
The Patrician Brothers students are exposed to an elite level of coaching from the first year at school. It’s part of the holistic, next man up approach that the school puts forward.
The young players don’t have to look far for inspiration on the training paddock either. The results of hard work and repetition are in front of them.
“Success breeds success,” school coach Noah Meares said.
“We have had a really good run and we have built that up from the bottom up. We are not a school trying to bring kids in at older ages. Majority of our boys come in at Year 7 and are here for their whole schooling.
“They see that determination to win these games and the trophies that come with it.
“The boys truly have a love for our school.”
With most of their students involved in junior representative programs outside of school, it means most of the skills drills can be left behind.
Instead the school puts its focus on core skills and simulated game drills, while off the field the players are tasked with being ‘students’ of the game.
That is where Meares’ dedication comes to the fore.
When he took over as the school’s coach in 2020, he saw an opportunity to prepare his players better individually.
While film work factored into what they did at the school, Meares had seen the benefits that individual film study could have on players in NRL systems and set about finding a way to incorporate it into his coaching.
“The year we won (the state title), I was using iMovie to cut up all the vision by myself,” Meares said.
“We give the kids individual videos of their performance. They are still able to see what we are looking for as a team, but at that micro level.
“I brought it in a few years ago and we have made good use of it. It has allowed us to improve tactically and technically. We make sure we use that to our best advantage.”
While the long hours on iMovie are a thing of the past, with Meares employing better video tools and splitting the workload among his trusted assistants, it hasn’t changed why he does it.
“The levels above us are all using it, it is something that has helped with the boys’ progression,” he said.
“They all know how important it is that they take notes from video and focus on what needs to be done for their position.
“I just think you don’t keep the same engagement from the players, if you can’t provide that side of the sport they love or are passionate about and are involved with in the highest level, you will struggle.
“It is what separates us from the schools trying to find their feet in the top league.
“It is a learning opportunity. Similar to how they learn in the classroom, we want them to learn out on the field. If you aren’t a student of the game, your potential is limited.”
Originally published as 2025 NRL Schoolboys Cup final: Inside the rise of powerhouse Patrician Brothers College
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