WATCH NOW: Highlights of schoolboy and schoolgirl players destined for higher honours

HIGHLIGHT TAPES: Watch the top 20 pieces of magic produced at the National Championships and gain an insight into potential NRL and NRLW young guns of the future. WATCH NOW.

NRL and NRLW devotees, here’s a story that you will love.

If you want an insight into the young talent headed for the top competitions in years to come then enjoy these highlights from the top flight schoolboys and schoolgirls seen at the Australian Secondary Schools Rugby League Championships held at Coffs Harbour this month.

The Queensland Representative School Sport team took out the 17-18 Years Girls pool, while the New South Wales Combined Catholic Colleges won the 16-18 Years Boys pool for the second successive year.

But there are highlights for all, with 20 next-up rugby league rookies from all corners of the country recognised as we highlight the magical tries, assists, fend offs or what have you.

The top highlight from the championship came from Keebra Park State High School fullback Mason Barber, a North Queensland Cowboys pathways player, who scored an extraordinary try which evoked memories of Canberra Raiders champion Brett Mullins.

Get an insight on Barber further down in this story, along with other exciting youngsters who are sure to produce more highlights in the years to come.

MEET THE AUSTRALIAN SCHOOLBOYS

20 TAPES THAT TELL A TALE OF NRL, NRLW FUTURES

ZAC HERDEGEN AND SAIFITI JUNIOR SAIFITI

Here’s a highlight reel of two exciting schoolboys who were teammates at the national championships but are foes in Queensland’s Langer Trophy competition.

Five-eighth Herdegen attends Wavell SHS and is signed by the Newcastle Knights, while Saifiti, a softly spoken Samoan with dreams of providing for his family, is in Year 12 at Ipswich SHS.

Saifiti is signed by the Dragons for three years starting in 2025 and will move to Wollongong later this year.

To pick out the best asset from each player would be hard because they are so well rounded, but for Herdegen it would be his kicking game, specifically his precise crossfield kicking.

For Saifiti, it is his fearlessness in pursuit of metreage out of yardage.

GRACE DABIN

It would surprise not seeing the name Grace Dabin pop up in an NRLW or Super Rugby Womens setup in the near future.

A sporting high achiever from Brisbane Waters Secondary in Woy Woy, Dabin built on her strong showing at the Australian Schools Rugby Championships on the Sunshine Coast with a dynamic display on the edge for NSWCHS at the national championships.

A Central Coast Roosters junior representative, the determined Dabin is the type of player who could progress to the top level in either code.

She plays as an edge forward in rugby league and in union is an outside back.

ELLA KNOWLES

Masterful is the word that comes to mind.

This crafty young utility back, who can play in the halves but loves fullback, was as classy as they come at the national championships as the best playmaker not in a No.6 or No.7 jersey.

The selfless Central Coast Sports College, Kariong NSWCIS selection represented local club Wyong Roos last year before playing her way into the Central Coast Roosters Under-17 junior representative side.

Her ability to put players through a gap, draw in defenders and spin out of tackles is uncanny and despite being slightly undersized, she is no pushover on the defensive end.

In one half during the national championships, she came away with five try assists.

One half was just 20 minutes long.

COOPER JOHNSTON

Look at this fine piece of work from Erindale College, Wanniassa outside back Cooper Johnston.

From this video, it seems he already has the finesse of an NRL winger down pat.

Earlier this year he played fullback for the Canberra Raiders Harold Matthews team.

BRAYDAN DARMODY

A loyal servant to the Canberra Raiders junior representative sides, fullback livewire Darmody was the sole St Edmunds College, Griffith representative to play for the ACT Secondary Schools at the national championships.

Having played Harold Matthews Cup (2023) and SG Ball Cup (2024) for the Raiders, Darmody came into the championships well versed and he led the side expertly from fullback.

This highlight reel shows his pace, but it doesn’t show how busy he was getting himself involved with scoots from the ruck and on defence where he fronted up like a middle forward.

CODY HOPWOOD

If you are a Newcastle Knights supporter, there is a strong chance you might be watching this kid in a few years.

The 18-year-old Maitland man mountain, who is a two-time Australian Schoolboy selection, has all the makings of a modern day blue collar middle forward.

Hopwood, who will join the Knights NRL Squad in 2025, reminds us of Roosters hardman Lindsay Collins.

AYLAH MCCOLLOCH

The Newcastle Knights NRLW squad has shown no signs of slowing down after snaring the 2023 premiership and the club also has a handle on some elite young talent.

One of the top halves at the national championships was Newcastle Knights Tarsha Cup Gale playmaker Aylah McColloch.

From Hunter Sports High School, Gateshead, McColloch has been honing her craft with Central Coast club the Wyong Roos and would have missed out on Australian Schoolgirls selection by the width of a tissue paper.

DARCY SMITH

A quality edge forward out of Kincumber High School, Kincumber and previously St Edward’s College, Smith showed his line running ability on this play.

A Central Coast Roosters Harold Matthews select earlier this year, Smith was a key cog in the Roosters Andrew Johns Cup (under-16s) premiership side last year.

He was Mr Consistent in NSWCHS’s successful national championships campaign where they reached the grand final for the second year running.

ALICE SHANNON

Raised in Auckland, this powerhouse prop from Mabel Park SHS has professional rugby league written all over her.

A Glenora Bears junior, Shannon moved across the Tasman for greater exposure to the game she loves and has made the most of her opportunities, having made the Queensland Schoolgirls and Australian Schoolgirls two years in a row.

She has improved her fitness dramatically and is not to be taken lightly on either side of the ball, otherwise opposition players will be in for a rude shock.

SHALOM SAUASO

Other promising rookies mentioned in this story may well be on your television screens in the future.

The case for Sauaso is a bit different because she already is.

Earlier this year the Ipswich SHS senior scored tries for the Queensland Reds Super Rugby Women’s team, despite being 16-years-old.

If it wasn’t for Sausao’s ripe young age of 17 (2007), she would be playing for the Brisbane Broncos in the NRLW this season.

However, you have to be 18 so tune in next season when the 18-year-old can and will, provided she stays healthy, look right at home in the highly competitive NRLW competition.

TOBY RODWELL

This highlight here shows why Toby Rodwell, the Roosters’ SG Ball Cup best back award winner, is one of the more highly touted schoolboys in the nation.

An Australian Schoolboy selection, Newington College, Stanmore halfback Rodwell has the precise passing game of a seasoned NRL veteran.

He is not going to wow you with a 50m line break or a series of steps, but he is going to get his outside backs in the right place and get the very best out of them.

REX BASSINGTHWAIGHTE

There are highlights easily accessible if rugby and rugby league fans want to watch exciting Shore School winger Rex Bassingthwaighte in his element.

He was the biggest shock omission from the Australian Schoolboys after being the most potent wing threat at the national championships.

He has long been one of the New South Wales Waratahs Academy’s more electric outside backs but earlier this year played for the Roosters Harold Matthews team.

LINCOLN FLETCHER

Lincoln Fletcher was that player who performed too well to miss out on Australian Schoolboys selection at the ASSRL championships.

The Hills Sports High School, Seven Hills senior has a thirst for contact and making tackles which is not always the case in this age group.

Despite not being the biggest bloke on the field, he makes up for what he lacks in size with a high workrate, great tackle technique and a willingness to put his body on the line.

The dynamic edge forward represented the Parramatta Eels in the Harold Matthews Cup earlier this year and this highlight says everything about the edge forward, who has the creativity, vision and finesse of a spine player.

MASON BARBER

Now this kid is a highlight reel waiting to happen.

A Keebra Park SHS senior, Barber comes from a school that has produced Tigers fullback Jahream Bula and Broncos star Reece Walsh in the last five years.

An Australian Schoolboy selection, Barber’s off the mark speed and unique stepping ability was too hard to deny for selectors who just had to pick the raw, Coomera Cutters junior who has played two seasons of Meninga Cup Under-19s and the elite Langer Trophy schoolboy league competition.

He is signed to the Cowboys, who have other exciting fullback prospects like Jaxon Purdue (can play halves too) and Mutua Brown in the system.

CHARLIE DICKSON

Notice the way Wavell SHS lock or edge forward Charlie Dickson straightens up?

The 17-year-old Year 12 student is the type of player the Dolphins could see a future for.

Signed by the NRL Dolphins, No.13 Dickson was a powerful line runner with subtle variety in his game, while also having a turn of speed that can match it with the backs.

He is a young gun, born in 2007, and still has two more seasons of Meninga Cup Under-19s in him.

But something tells us he might be playing against men in the near future, whether it be in the Hostplus Cup, A-Grade or even NRL.

JACK ATTARD

St Dominic’s College, Kingswood outside back Jack Attard was the most impressive fullback at the ASSRL championships at Coffs Harbour.

He deservedly made the Australian Schoolboys side which was the icing on the cake after under a month prior Attard inked a two year deal with the Penrith Panthers through 2026.

He is not big, nor tall, but he is often faultless, light on his feet and a versatile type who could play in the halves, on the wings and at fullback.

Don’t forget he was the best goalkicker of all at the national championships.

NIKORA WILLIAMS

This is just one of many clips that show why Nikora Williams could well progress through Cronulla’s junior pathway systems and into the NRL side.

Currently a Year 12 student at Endeavour Sports High School, Caringbah, Sutherland Shire young gun Williams recently made the Australian Schoolboys team for the second successive year.

Williams is a fierce competitor, someone that grew up wanting to get the better of his older brother Tuia, a Roosters NSW Cup talent.

Indeed Williams is the full package. He is good in the air, loves an offload in traffic, is a sniper off the tee and is an impressive leader.

JAI CALLAGHAN

This clip shows how much speed exciting Shore School student Jai Callaghan possesses. It also shows why his coaches have likened him to Broncos star Reece Walsh the way he steams onto the ball out the back.

What it doesn’t show is the elite footwork he put to great use at the Australian Schools Rugby Championships (Sunshine Coast) and ASSRL Championships (Coffs Harbour).

Callaghan has the footwork that makes you stop and gawk at on the sidelines.

He is the type to be able to duck and weave out of traffic as defenders are pouring through applying pressure.

The fullback, who can play in the halves as well, is raw talent personified.

ZOE ROBSON

From the famous Rockhampton Brothers club, Cathedral College flyer Robson fended off some star power opposition to win the No.1 jersey in the Queensland Schoolgirls side - that’s how good a player she is.

Robson has a touch football background, having shone for the Rockhampton Touch Football Association and this highlight gave a glimpse into the sheer speed and presence of mind this Brisbane Broncos NRLW Academy member has.

Originally published as WATCH NOW: Highlights of schoolboy and schoolgirl players destined for higher honours