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| VICTORIOUS: Young Public School beat Tumut’s McAuley Catholic School in the Mortimer Shield on Monday. Front(l-r): Jacob Dodge, Jordan Sams, Jack Mundy, Simon Douch. Second row (l-r): Jahnayah Freeman |
YOUNG PUBLIC WIN MORTIMER SHIELD
Story & Photo By :Michaela Walsh 
THE Young Public School rugby league side claimed the Mortimer Shield on Monday after defeating McAuley Catholic School from Tumut.
The sides drew the match 22-22, with Young coming away victors due to scoring more tries.
This is the first time Young have won the shield and they are ecstatic about their win.
Under the watchful eye of Mortimer brothers Steve and Chris, the youngsters slugged it out in the tightly contested game.
According to coach Scott Hewitt, the game was very exciting and they were very relieved by the final result.
Young played a combined Barellan/Ardlethan/Weethalle side first up, winning convincingly 28-10 before taking on the Tumut side in the final.
The boys and Hewitt were interviewed by the Footy Show following the game and will appear on the show in the next few weeks.
Young Public will play Franklin Public in Tumut on Friday for the Westmont Shield in the finals of the Riverina PSSA and in mid-August, they will travel to Sydney to compete against 20 schools from around the state for the Legends Shield. |
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| Sharks Jersey Flegg in action '07 (Photo : ourfooty media) |
FLEGG SHARKS IN THE FINALS HUNT
Story By : Sharks Media
After scoring a thrilling come from behind victory against Souths Juniors on Saturday, the Sharks Jersey Flegg side have moved into contention for a semi final berth.
Behind 16-0 at half time, the Flegg Sharks responded with some outstanding play in the second stanza to draw level at 16-apiece, before a Mitch Mahon penalty goal three minutes from time saw them escape with an 18-16 victory.
The two competition points sees the Sharks draw level with Souths in eighth position on the table, with five matches in the regular season remaining.
For the Sharks, winger Reece Robinson continued his try scoring heroics, bagging another four pointer after crossing for four tries for the Sharks in Premier League in the past two weeks, with twin brother Travis Robinson and centre Jason Fletcher also getting accross the stripe.
Mahon converted two of the tries before his penalty goal to seal the result.
The Jersey Flegg Sharks will come up against the Balmain Tigers this week in a match to be played at Toyota Park on Friday night. Kickoff is at 7.30pm and entry to the ground is free. |
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| Tricky Ricky Morris lines up a kick – Ricky gathered 16 points for the Bears on Friday night. Photo: Steve Little. |
NORTHS UNDER 20s CAPTURE NORTH SYDNEY SPIRIT AT HOME
In an inspired display, the North Sydney Jersey Flegg team produced the goods on Friday night, in possibly their best attacking performance to date.
“They really played well and scored some great tries” claimed proud coach Will Leyshon.
Wests scored the first try but Norths levelled after Mitch Williams put in a grubber kick that the Magpies failed to clean up and Mitch grounded the ball. Ricky Morris converted.
Norths were in again ten minutes later when Olly Tiatia broke the line and passed to Siaosi Liumaunu who got a great ball away to Adam Saunders who scored.
After strong runs from Nathan McKay and Siaosi, Norths scored when Rob Mykietyn dived over from dummy half and as the halftime buzzer sounded Norths were in front 18-6.
In the second half the Bears scored back-to-back tries from perfectly placed short kicks that were gathered by Siaosi and Ricky Morris. Ricky again converted both tries.
Wests were able to score again before Olly Tiatia scored a well-deserved try. The Maggies scored the final try, the Bears running out winners 36-18.
2007 is the last we’ll see of a North Sydney U/20’s team, and these boys have begun to capture the essence of the North Sydney spirit and many new fans with their late run of success.
It was a strong team performance. Olly Tiatia was outstanding. Siaosi Liumaunu was great.
Ricky Morris was elusive at fullback and deft with the boot.
Mitch Williams and Jake Foster did well in the halves and Rob Mykietyn played it tough at hooker.
NORTH SYDNEY 36 (Mitch Williams, Adam Saunders, Rob Mykietyn, Siaosi Liumaunu, Ricky Morris, Olly Tiatia tries, Ricky Morris 6 goals from 6) defeated WESTERN SUBURBS 18 (3 tries, 3 goal). Halftime North Sydney 18-6.
North Sydney's next games will include Premier League competing against Penrith at CUA Stadium on Saturday 4 August at 5:30 p.m. and the Jersey Flegg will play Manly at 12:30 p.m. at Brookvale Oval on Saturday 4 August. |
SAWTELL TEAM OFF TO SYDNEY
Story By : 
FOURTEEN Sawtell Public School students have been busy raising funds to ensure they can take their place at the all schools rugby league knockout carnival in Sydney on Monday 30 th July '07.
The school's under-10 years team qualified for the Sydney trip after a strong performance at the Bellingen knockout carnival last term.
The team's co-coach Will Trice said it was about the "fifth or sixth time" the school had qualified for the Sydney knockout, but it had been about six years since it had last participated.
Will said the trip would be a "great buzz" for the students, who will also get to watch the National Rugby League game between Wests Tigers and North Queensland on Monday night.
The team leaves on Sunday and will contest the one-day carnival on Monday before returning home the following day.
The Sawtell side will contest the under-10 years B division, a competition for schools throughout the state with enrolments of less than 200.
Will said the Years 3-4 players had been busy raising funds for the trip, including holding a lamington drive and sausage sizzle.
He said the local community had also offered great support. |
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| Geared up: The St Paul's College Rugby League team are primed to play against St Francis Xavier at Energy Australia Stadium, Newcastle on Friday |
SCHOOL BOYS PRIMED FOR ULTIMATE FOOTY BATTLE
Story By : Shellie Brennan 
THEY achieved one of the biggest upsets in the history of the Arrive Alive Rugby League Competition and St Paul's College are keen to keep the momentum going.
The team pulled off an incredible upset win over former Arrive Alive Cup Champions Terra Sancta College in their second Tier B match of the competition last month.
The local lads defeated Terra Sancta 12-10 at Verge St Oval. Big front row forward Brendan Organ was the star of the game. He punished the defence and continually charged at the opposition forwards.
The halves combination of Mitchl Picker and Jarrod Lipscombe was outstanding and fullback Liam Mecham was safe under the high ball.
Matt Scott scored one try and kicked two from two.
The team now progress to the final 32 in the Arrive Alive Cup and will play St Francis Xavier, Hamilton on Friday.
The game will be played at Energy Australia Stadium, Newcastle, at 1pm.
St Paul's will be out to seek revenge as their opposition knocked them out of the Arrive Alive competition last year, when they were in the top 64.
St Francis Xavier has a student population of 1400 and only has year 11 and 12 students.
Friday's game is the Tier B final and the St Paul's boys will show the same determination and raw passion that has got them this far, a feat no other team from St Paul's has achieved.
The team would like to thank the community for bearing the elements and supporting them in the rain last month.
And the team should know the whole of the Macleay Valley will be cheering for them on Friday.
If St Paul's wins the match they will face Endevour Sports High in the next round.
This achievement completes a successful couple of months for the college.
Last month the 13-year and 15-year teams won the Hastings Region Country Rugby League Gala day.
The 15s winning all four games without having a point scored against them.
The 14-year team competed in the Cochrane Cup Team and travelled to John Paul II College Coffs Harbour.
They fought out a tense 26 points to 20 win after trailing 6-20 after five minutes of the second half and will now advance to the next round. |
 DE LA SALLE WORK HARD FOR 1ST WIN
De La Salle Under 14 A (2) had their 1st win of the season today at Boys Town oval, but they had to work very hard as a team to achive this.
De La (2) have been improving little things each week between beltings, and it's begining to show in their footy.
"our defence was what got us home today" said a very proud De La coach Stuart Docwra.
Bosco did play De La (1) last week and were smashed all over the park 68 - 0, so there may have had some sore and injured players.. Learn More |
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| Man-child ... Big Broncos prop Dave Taylor has been a human wrecking ball in the NRL this year. / The Sunday Telegraph |
THE RISE OF DAVE TAYLOR
Story By : David Riccio 
HE was just shy of 11 pounds at birth. He wears size 15 shoes, ate adult-size meals as an eight-year-old and by 12 he was breaking BMX bikes.
This is the world of Broncos giant David Taylor. The 19-year-old had tongues wagging among Brisbane insiders long before the raised fist that accompanied his maiden NRL try against the Gold Coast Titans two weeks ago.
Broncos coach Wayne Bennett knows he is in charge of a special talent. What he probably isn't aware of is that Taylor could have been a BMX champion.
"Dave loved riding bikes but he was always breaking them, so one day I went to the local bikeshop and we asked for the biggest, strongest bike they had,'' Taylor's mum Sharon recalled.
"The shop owner said, `take this one, it can't be wrecked, it's for adults and they can't even break it'.
"Two weeks later, Dave had bent it. He was 12 years old.''
Taylor's father Logan, a 120kg bushie who drives coal trains for a living, said with a laugh that his boy needed plenty of fuel. A young David Taylor didn't just eat, he devoured everything in sight.
"Our grocery bill has certainly gone down since he moved out,'' Logan said.
"He's always been very good on the tooth. I remember one time we went to a league carnival and on the way back he had two Big Macs, a large fries and a large coke. We got home two hours later and he was hungry again.
"Dave was always meant to be big. Even when he was born, he came home from the hospital and he looked like a three-month-old.''
Now standing 185cm and weighing 115kg, there's no question Taylor has the physical attributes to be one of the code's dominant front-rowers.
Broncos strength and conditioning coach Dean Benton said Taylor is easily the biggest teenager he has trained, likening his frame to that of the hulking rugby union props produced by South Africa.
But Benton added that despite the impressive physique, Taylor remains very much a work in progress.
"Looks can be deceiving. He's not weak, it's evident on the field that he is a big, strong kid, but he's not as strong as someone like Tonie Carroll, Brad Thorn or a Shane Webcke,'' Benton said.
"That takes time. We are talking four to five to six years before he can achieve the athletic development you see in those players I mentioned.
"We wouldn't like to see him any bigger. Ideally, his playing weight in the future would be 112 or 113kg while still continuing to improve his physical qualities like speed, strength and endurance.
"In terms of athletic development he's got a long way to go yet, and coupled with that is a lot of hard work.''
Part of the refinement process involves taming exuberant try celebrations.
Bennett was less than enthused with Taylor's histrionics, telling the media later: "We're going to have a talk about that, Dave and me ... and I'll be doing all of the talking. The last thing we want is an 18-year-old lair.'' |
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| Ben Picker was selected in the Australian U15 Rugby League team |
PICKER THE BEST OF THE BEST
Story & Photo By : 
AFTER representing NSW in the combined high school side Ben Picker (pictured right) has been chosen as the hooker for the Under 15's Australian rugby league side.
Picker made a huge impact on selectors after he was initially unable to play the first game of the championships in Adelaide due to a virus.
Four members of the team were ruled out and isolated from the rest of their team mates for about three days.
But the youngest of the Picker brothers made a fast recovery and knew he had to be at his best to qualify for the Australian jersey.
With no games actually played in the green and gold jersey only the bare minimum 13 players were chosen.
They have to be the best in their position to be named in the side, and on the last day of the championships Picker was named Australia's best hooker for the Under 15's.
"I was really happy, I thought the QLD hooker was pretty good," said Ben.
Ben's father, Grant, said his youngest son was, "over the moon with his selection." |
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| Greg Waddell palm off the QLD U17 defender at Telstra in the NSW Vvs QLD U17 game (Photo : ourfooty media) |
SIXTEEN-YEAR-OLD ST DOMS CENTRE GREG WADDELL HAS BEEN SIGNED BY THE PANTHERS UNTIL 2010.
Story By : Penrith Panthers & 
"He's an outstanding talent," Penrith's General Manager Rugby League, Michael Leary said this morning.
However, he dismissed media reports that the youngster, who has not yet played Jersey Flegg, had been signed on a contract of $100,000 or more a year.
"I can assure you that we aren't paying out that kind of money," Michael said.
"We wanted to hold onto him in the face of some serious interest from other NRL clubs. To his credit - and his agent’s - they gave us a shot and we signed him. But the sums mentioned in the media are way off the mark.
"Greg's contract has triggers in it that apply depending on whether or not he makes NRL and how many games he plays.
“He could earn up to $150K between 2008 and 2010, but as I say, that depends on how many games he plays in the NRL," Michael said.
MOST schoolchildren would consider themselves lucky to get $10 a week to spend at the tuckshop - but 16-year-old rugby league sensation Greg Waddell has signed a deal with Penrith under which he will earn $100,000 before he finishes school.
TEEN'S SALARY NOT GUARANTEED
Story By : AAP
PENRITH has corrected claims it is paying schoolboy prodigy Greg Waddell $100,000 a year after signing him to the NRL club until 2010.
Waddell, a 16-year-old centre, is the hottest young target in rugby league despite having yet to play Jersey Flegg.
The Panthers won the race between several NRL clubs to sign the talented teenager and The Daily Telegraph reported that Waddell could earn up to $100,000 before he graduates from St Dominics next year.
But Panthers general manager Michael Leary has clarified those claims, saying Waddell's earnings would depend on him cracking first grade.
"He's an outstanding talent," said Leary.
"I can assure you that we aren't paying out that kind of money.
"We wanted to hold onto him in the face of some serious interest from other NRL clubs.
"To his credit – and his agent's – they gave us a shot and we signed him.
"But the sums mentioned in the media are way off the mark.
"Greg's contract has triggers in it that apply depending on whether or not he makes NRL and how many games he plays.
"He could earn up to $150,000 between 2008 and 2010, but as I say, that depends on how many games he plays in the NRL." |
Waddell's manager, Alan Gainey, who also looks after Melbourne superstar Greg Inglis, said last night that his client's deal would make him the richest schoolboy rugby league player in history.
"It would have to be the biggest deal for a schoolkid," Gainey said.
"I had Inglis, too, but he was a bit older.
"I think it is fair to say there has never been this must interest in a kid.
"I had every NRL club making inquiries about him."
Penrith won the race to secure the young centre, considered to be the hottest young talent in the country, signing Waddell yesterday on a deal that could earn him $500,000 by the end of 2010.
The St Dominic' s Year 11 student hasn't played a junior Jersey Flegg match yet, but that didn't stop every club in the NRL from chasing his signature.
One Sydney club is understood to have offered Waddell a contract worth $150,000 a year.
The Australian Schoolboys star said in his first interview that he was "stoked" he wouldn't have to work, and he hoped to crack the NRL next year.
"I am a Penrith junior so it's great to be staying," Waddell said.
"It's where I started off, and they have helped me along the way.
"I don't have to work or nothing any more, so I will help look after my parents and nan."
Storm recruitment officer Peter O'Sullivan, a nationally respected judge of talent, described Waddell as one of the best young players he had seen.
"He is that good, he will be a superstar," O'Sullivan said.
"He is as good as any I have seen and right at the top of the pile.
"Body shape, weight, size, it is all very good.
"Every club would have been interested. It is good work by the Panthers keeping him."
Penrith coach Matt Elliott said Waddell could play in the NRL next year.
"It is very good news for the club," Elliott said.
"We are really lucky because Greg represents some of the exciting talent we have.
"He is probably the modern prototype player.
"Physically, he is a great athlete. He is a fantastic trainer and already has some leadership qualities.
"He has just got a great game awareness." |
 DENHAM COACHES CHS TO NATIONAL TITLE
Story By : 
Congratulations to Bellingen High School teachers, Peter Denham (back row, far right) and Declan Horan (back row, second left) who took the NSW Combined High Schools to a win in the national schoolboys championships in Townsville during the holidays.
Denham was the coach of the side and Horan the manager. Queensland defeated NSWCHS 24-6 on day one of the titles, but CHS turned the result around in the final coming from 18-6 behind at half-time to win 20-18.
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| The Presentations were presented by some Rugby League Legends including Mr. Terry Hayes |
MDSSRL FINALS 2007 !
MACKAY HIGH RUGBY LEAGUE ACADEMY FILL TROPHY CABINET
Story & Photo's : 
Mackay and District Secondary Schools Rugby League Finals were completed at the Mackay JRL on Wednesday nights in all age groups and divisions.
The Mackay State High Schools Rugby League Academy was the big winner on the night taking out four of the five shields on offer including the prestigious Terry Hayes Shield for the district division one open champions.
This game was also being played as an Arrive Alive Cup game with the winner moving through to a state quarter final spot against Townsville’s Ignatius Park College.
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| Ben Buchloz thanks Mr. Mick Aprile |
The finals began with an Under 15 Division Two game between two country schools, Sarina High and Moranbah High.
Although Moranbah had finished on top of the table, beating Sarina High in their last encounter, the Sarina Boys continued their impressive finals form defeating Moranbah High in convincing fashion 32 – 8 to win the inaugural match for the Mick Aprile Shield presented by Mick.
Sarina High dominated throughout the contest with eventual Cowboys player of the match Ben Bucholz providing another strong performance while leading his team to victory.
Mackay High began the finals full of running with the Year 8 first team overpowering Holy Spirit College 42 – 0 in a dominant display.
Although HSC lifted their performance noticeably in the second half they had few answers to Mackay High’s powerful ball runners and swarming defence.
Cowboy’s player of the match for the winning team was hard running forward Kelton Dorante while for HSC Ben Alexander was rewarded as their best on field.. Learn More |
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| TOP FORM: Under 14s Tiger Keegan Spellacy palms off a player during their landslide win against Berkeley on Saturday. |
YOUNG TIGERS CONTINUE GOLDEN SEASON
Story By : SARAH WEBB
THE Bay's under 14s Tigers proved years of teamwork brews a winning combination after they smashed the comp's second placed Berkeley side on Saturday at Mackay Park.
There was little left for coach Jeff Cox to praise, after his boys won 50 to six. And it has put the Tigers in a convincing lead on the comp's ladder.
Cox said a couple of factors contributed to their landslide win. The Tigers were faultless in their team work, and Berkeley was missing one of their star players.
"I thought it was the best I have seen [the Tigers] play," Cox said.
The victory seemed all the sweeter as the Bay boys appeared to be almost half the size of the average Berkeley boy. Cox said, in general, the players are a lot bigger further north, but it's a fact that has not intimidated the Bay.
While the Tiger's golden season points to perfection, Cox said the success has taken a lot of work.
"They have been together for a good three to four years, and basically when they came together they were hopeless.
"Every year they've got progressively better. They're now used to each and have got a good bond," Cox said.
Last year the team were beaten in the preliminary finals, but all signs are pointing towards the boys becoming grand finalists this year.
Either way, Cox is thrilled with his side, who he said are a fantastic bunch of kids.
"They're a real testament to their mums and dads."
But where the players make their game great, Cox said co-coach Joey Broadhurst makes every other facet great.
"He's the Pied Piper for our team, where he goes the kids follow.
"He sails under the radar, but anyone who knows Joey would not have a bad word to say about him," Cox said. |
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| CHAMPIONS . . . the victorious Townsville under-17s Foley Shield team |
FOLEY SHIELD CELEBRATION
Story & Photo : ADAM WATKIN 
TOWNSVILLE has taken out the Good Guys under-17 Foley Shield grand final following a 36-10 victory over Cairns on Saturday.
Both teams fought out an intense battle during the opening exchanges however Cairns gained the upper hand late in the first half and entered the break leading 10-6.
Townsville coach Glenn Morgan said despite his team trailing by four points at half-time he was always confident they could win the match.
"At half-time I just told them we had to defend in numbers and we had to rush up on them quickly to force the mistake," Morgan said. "After the break we started to hit pretty hard and Cairns started to drop the ball. It was a bit hard to believe actually."
Morgan's pre-match prediction that defence would decide the game proved accurate as the Stingers kept Cairns scoreless in the second half.
The Stingers also put together a tremendous effort in attack during the second half and controlled the match through a mountain of possession.
Townsville five-eighth Dan Humphreys won the Good Guys man of the match while fullback Ben Henaway and centre Simeon Fuller made several line breaks late in the second half.
"I thought our forward pack played really well and they really set the ground for us," Morgan said. "And I thought that was very important because if our forwards weren't going forward our backs wouldn't be able to score the tries."
Townsville recorded two solid victories over Mackay and a win and a draw against Cairns prior to the final.
Morgan said it was a tremendous effort from his team to finish the series undefeated.
"It was a great effort considering ten of my players hadn't played much representative football until this season," Morgan said. |
SMITHFIELD PS COME FROM BEHIND WIN IN WESTMONT SHIELD
Story & Photo's By :
Loftus Public School took on a determined Smithfield South Public School yesterday at Yarrawarrah Oval in the Westmont Shield.
Loftus lead 12 - nil at one stage in the second half, and looked confident enought to go on with the job and win the game.
Smithfield South scored a couple wonderful team tries as the Smithfield South forwards started to get the ball away in tackles and making good breaks.
The game was played with great spirit, with fantastic sportsmanship was shown from both schools.
Smithfiled South Public School go on to play on Monday in the next stage of the Westmont Shield.
Loftus
PS |
18 - 32 |
Smithfield
South PS |
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| Jeremy Papamau's dream of wearing the green and gold has been realised (Photo : ourfooty media) |
WINGER FLYING HIGH
Story By : 
After eight years waiting for his chance, Bolwarra winger Jeremy Papamau's dream of wearing the green and gold has been realised after a strong showing at the recent national rugby league championships in Townsville.
Papamau, 16, has earned selection in the 18-man Australian secondary schools rugby league team to tour New Zealand in September, following his part in NSW Combined High School's win at the under-18s championships in Townsville.
The former East Maitland and Morpeth Bulls player made no secret of his desire and determination to wear the Australian jumper, telling the Mercury in May he did not want to return home with any less.
The Hunter Sports High student was disappointed when he returned from representing CHS at the under-15s national carnival two years ago without Australian merit team selection.
But true to his word Papamau achieved his goal and was one relieved teenager when his name was called at 5.30pm on Saturday.
He had harboured a dream of playing in an Australian jumper since he was a six-year-old.
Feedback from selectors indicated it was the Newcastle Knights SG Ball player's consistent performances in the championships that swayed them.
NSW CHS won the tournament following a hard fought 20-18 defeat of Queensland in the final.
Queensland had defeated CHS in a pre-tournament Test match in Mackay, despite Papamau's man-of-the-match three-try performance, as well as the opening round clash of the championships.
Papamau will now count down the days until he heads to Canberra for a team camp in September before flying out for a two-week tour of New Zealand from September 25. |
MCMILLAN’S SECOND SHOT
Story By : 
Red Bend Catholic College rugby league talent Alex McMillan might have missed out on selection in the Australian Secondary Schoolboys team but the 17-year-old will have another chance next winter when he will still be eligible for selection in the NSW Combined Catholic Colleges outfit.
McMillan was named in the NSWCCC under 18s squad this year as a replacement forward after representing NSWCCC's Southern zone at selection trials at Bass Hill last month.
The year 11 student travelled with NSWCCC to Townsville last week for the four-day Australian Secondary Schools Rugby League (ASSRL) Championships, for four matches against rival state and public school sides.
The championships wrapped up on July 16 with 18 players named in the national schoolboys team for a tour of New Zealand later this year.
Four NSWCCC players were named including Daniel Mortimer of James Sheahan College, Orange.
Jason Baitieri (Oakhill College, Castle Hill), Kieran Foran (Marist College, North Shore) and Greg Waddell (St Dominic's, Kingswood) were also selected.
McMillan had game time in all four matches for NSWCCC and was named in the starting team for the final match due to injury to a team mate.
NSWCCC met New South Wales Combined High Schools first up and went down 22-10.. Learn More |
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| Strong effort: Marlins under-17 player Ricki Macri. |
LATE LAPSES STING YOUNG MARLINS IN FOLEY SHIELD FINAL
Story By : 
AT first glance, it might appear the Cairns Marlins under-17s were outclassed in Saturday night's Foley Shield rugby league Grand Final against Townsville.
Beaten 36-10 is not a pretty scoreline, especially when you consider Cairns had a 10-6 lead at half-time.
But coach Dean Barnard was not too disheartened by his troops’ second half effort in the match at Barlow Park.
"A few late tries blew out that score, to lose 36-10 is not a true indication of how close that game was," Barnard said after the match.
"It was a real arm wrestle for quite a while, it was just a shame we dropped off at the end." After first half tries to Lance Gibson and Minimi Murgha, Cairns mounted heavy pressure on the Townsville line in the second half with repeat sets of six tackles.
"That was the turning point of the game, them holding us out for three sets of six. If we had scored there then the rest of the match might have been the reverse. I think a try for us there makes it tough for Townsville to come back and we might have got a few more tries and ran away with it," Barnard said.
Barnard praised the side for making the Grand Final and believes the young Marlins have a good chance of exacting revenge next season.
A nucleus of players may be lost to National Rugby League clubs after they attracted interest for the new national under-20s
competition.
Trent Barnard and Theeron Pearson are aligned with Newcastle, Joel Roxby with the Gold Coast Titans and Saturday night’s players’ player James Segayaro has a scholarship with South Sydney.
Other players to impress included Ricki Macri, Keegan Lay and Grant McIvor.
Cairns Marlins had three teams in Grand Finals against Townsville on Saturday night but the under-19s were the only winners.
Cairns under-19 coach Mark Volpe praised his team who stunned the previously unbeaten Stingers outfit.
"That Townsville team is a very, very strong side. They have players with Cowboys contracts and players who are on NRL scholarships so for us to combat that sort of talent we had to dig very deep and play at a couple of levels above where we would normally be, and we did that," Volpe said.
"What these guys did today just showed so much heart and so much respect, for their teammates and for the Cairns jersey." |
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| LAURIE SPINA SHIELD WINNERS 2007 - CAIRNS KANGAROOS |
SPINA SHIELD 2007 RESULTS
Story & Photo's By : 
Cairns Kangaroos, a club that has produced current Cowboys player Ashley Graham and Brisbane Broncos international Justin Hodges, is the latest Under-11 team from North Queensland to take out the Ikin Store It Laurie Spina Shield after holding out a determined Townsville Brothers Paddys team.
In the final played at Dairy Farmers Stadium before the Cowboys v Warriors match, the Kangaroos won courtesy of being the first try scorer after the teams were locked at 8 all when the hooter sounded.
It brought to an end two magnificent days of Rugby League, where 46 teams and over 800 children competed for the right to play in the final.
The 2007 Ikin Store It Laurie Spina Carnival has again provided young rugby league players the opportunity to play footy with their mates against teams from all over Central and North Queensland.
The carnival has grown over the past 12 years to be a must do for all junior rugby league clubs.
The standard of the football played in recent years is a credit to the children and their coaches, and a good indication of the effect the Cowboys are having on the game in North Queensland
The carnival showcased the talent of young players with some great games of footy played.. Learn More |
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| STING IN THIS TALE ... the Townsville Stingers celebrate their Foley Shield victory following a 14-14 grand final defeat of the Cairns Marlins |
STINGERS MAUL MARLINS
Story & Photo By : CRAIG BAXTER
THE Townsville Stingers reclaimed representative rugby league bragging rights as they overcame arch-rivals Cairns in the Good Guys Foley Shield grand final on Saturday night.
The visiting Stingers produced a superb defensive performance to win a gripping match 14-4 after a scoreless first half.
Townsville claimed their first Foley Shield since 2003 while Cairns were denied a hat-trick of titles.
Townsville coach Chris Perry's pre-match prediction that defence would carry the day proved accurate in one of the lowest-scoring Foley Shield battles in memory.
Perry said the win had been set up in a first half which saw Cairns running with the aid of a strong breeze.
"It was nil-all at halftime but they would have had a 12-point-plus wind behind them and probably 70 per cent of ball," Perry said.
"They couldn't crack our line, which I thought broke their spirit a bit.
"The boys hung in there.
"It's probably one of the best defensive games I've ever seen."
Centre Adam Peluchetti, halfback Tom Humble and interchange forward Nathan Barraclough scored Townsville's tries.
Victory was not ensured until the shadows of fulltime, when Townsville's final try stretched a 10-4 advantage.
Townsville avenged a heartbreaking 24-22 loss in last year's decider.
"We never thought we were going to get the game until the last two minutes," Perry said.
"Cairns came out probably the better of the two sides for the first five or 10 minutes of the second half.
"In the second half we didn't just rely on the wind to do the work, we had a good kicking game and just kept the pressure on them and forced the errors.
"It was a good team effort.
"Especially travelling to Cairns and beating them up there, it was a good effort, a good feeling.
"The way we let it slip last year was very disappointing, it was just great to go away and beat them."
Townsville's faith in a youthful backline came up trumps, Humble, fullback Matt Sorbello and wingers Tremayne Bowie and Luke Murr having played only three matches between them heading into the grand final.
Stingers back-rower Jim Baira won the Ben Wall Medal for man of the match, while prop Lewis Balcomb took out Townsville's players' player award.
"It's very hard to single anyone out, I think they all deserve a mention," Perry said.
Perry said interchange forward Lee McLean (ankle) had been Townsville's only real injury concern out of the match. Townsville have now won five Foley Shields since the time-honoured competition was restarted in 2000. Perry added the Foley Shield triumph to a coaching resume which includes Townsville premierships with Burdekin in 2000, 2001 and 2003.
A great day for Townsville began with the Stingers overwhelming Cairns 36-10 in the under-17 grand final.
Townsville were denied a clean sweep of grand final day when Cairns stormed home to win the under-19 decider 28-26. |
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| TOP TEAM: Tristan Nisbett has been part of the Milton Ulladulla Bulldogs Under 18s team and helped the team move to the top of the ladder. |
DOGS DOMINATE COMP
Story By : Daryll Cook 
A SLICKLY co-ordinated Milton-Ulladulla Bulldogs Under 18 team demolished a hard-trying Culburra Dolphins last Saturday at Kevin Walsh Oval scoring nine tries to register a tearaway 46-0 victory and consolidating their outright leadership with five games remaining for the season proper.
With eight established regular members of the squadron missing through injuries, the valued remainder were fantastic as they scored a large amount of team tries.
They defended their try line with calm and silken placidity as the ninth-placed Culburra fired four determined shots at the Bulldogs line during the first stanza and two good attempts at scoring in the second half only to be halted by stoic defence.. Learn More |
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| Conor Loughnan from the Under 13’s running hard with the ball. |
THE JUNIOR WOMBATS FLYING HIGH
Story & Photo By : 
After the school holidays the Peter Druitt and Co. Junior Wombats are chomping at the bit to get stuck back into the next term of football.
As the juniors look toward the finals, all the Mudgee sides are in contention to fight for the end of season honours.
The Flynn Conn Under 17s are currently on top of the ladder and will be wanting to continue their superb form this season when they play Wellington in what has been described as a derby game.
"It is always a feisty game against Wellington and we really can't take any chances," coach, George Hamilton said.
Also home will be the Mudgee Home Decore Under 14s Redbats are still punching above their weight in the Under 15's competition and they will take on the Dubbo Blues, who are the undefeated competition leaders at the moment.
The Mitre 10 Under 15s Mudgee Bluebats are currently second on the competition ladder and will travel to Dubbo this weekend to take on the Dubbo Harlequins.
In a very tight under 15 competition both Mudgee sides are performing very well.
Dubbo Blues are on top with 16 points followed by the Mitre 10 Mudgee Bluebats on 12 points.
In a very impressive season so far the younger Mudgee Home Decore Redbats are one point behind on 11 points with Parkes breathing down their neck on 10 points.
The B. and K. Mechanical Under 13s are fourth on the ladder with 10 points behind Dubbo Blues on 16, Emus on 14 and Cowra on 12 points.
The Under 13 will open at 10.30am, 17s will play at 12.30pm, Colts 1.45pm and First grade will play at 3.15pm. |
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Cronulla Caringbah had plenty of the ball at home to trounce a soft De La Salle (2) 54 - 0, who played their worst game of the year & know they can play a lot better.
Engadine fought all the way to the final bell to over come the Gymea Gorilla's 34 - 6, "Gymea just kept coming at us all day", said Dragons coach Corey.
Bosco came against Competition Leaders De La Salle (1) this week and put up a gutsy effort but went down 68 - 0.
At half time score was 28 - 0, De La started to spread the ball wide and the pilied on 40 unanswered points which included 4 tries in the second half by the De La right winger.. Learn More & see the action |
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| (L to R) Luke Saunders, James Staszewsky & Lee Brickwood, all 16 will be attending Mackay High this term. Photo : MSHSRLA / ourfooty media |
MACKAY HIGH’S RUGBY LEAGUE ACADEMY ATTRACTS ENGLISH STUDENTS
Story By : Bill Esau (MSHS) & 
We know that Mackay High’s Rugby League Academy Students love their football but no more than three English schoolboys who have travelled from the other side of the globe to study and play. Luke Saunders.
Lee Brickwood and James Staszewsky, all 16 will be attending Mackay High this term, training and playing with the schools Academy teams and playing for Magpies in the local club competition.
Luke, Lee and James are all living with the families of Academy players Jace Sainsbury, Trent Heading and Kelvin Nielsen.
All three boys attend Outwood Grange College in Wakefield and play Rugby League for the Stanley Rangers in the Yorkshire League.
Luke is a skilful hooker or scrum half and Lee is an illusive centre who scored an impressive try in his first game for the school on Wednesday night.
Unfortunately James, a tall, hard charging second rower, broke his arm in a game for Magpies and is unlikely to play again while he is here.
Back home Luke and Lee follow Super League Team the Leeds Rhinos while James supports the Wakefield Wildcats. Lee likes the fact that he can watch NRL games while he is here on free to air television and his favoured NRL club is Parramatta .. Learn More |
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| FUTURE COWBOY . . . emerging league star Wayne Ulugia, 15 |
NATIONAL SPOT FOR ULUGIA
Story & Photo By : ADAM WATKIN
GOOD news North Queensland, teen sensation Wayne Ulugia is being touted as rugby league's next superstar and he's contracted to the Cowboys.
The Kirwan High student was selected in the Australian under-15 Schoolboys merit team following stand-out performances for Queensland at the national championships in Adelaide recently.
Ulugia was solid throughout the carnival at fullback and scored two tries in Queensland's semi-final (16-10) loss to New South Wales Combined High Schools.
The North Queensland Cowboys signed Ulugia at the end of last year, following the 15-year-old's impressive
performance in a trial match on the Gold Coast.
Former Queensland under-15s coach George Bartlett said Ulugia possessed a lot of special attributes and believed he had the potential to be the next Karmichael Hunt.
"I coached Karmichael Hunt in 2001 and there are quite a few similarities between the two players," he said. "He possesses a lot of physical strength and he is very athletic."
Ulugia said his main goal was to play in the National Rugby League and he idolised Hunt as a fullback.
"Karmichael does all the little things well and he is extremely safe," Ulugia said.
Despite the large wraps on Ulugia, Bartlett said he still had a lot to learn as a fullback.
"He is in pretty good shape for a 15-year-old but he still has a lot of work to do just like any other player at his age," Bartlett said.
Due to the competitive nature of National Rugby League clubs in their efforts to sign players, juniors are now being recruited by the age of 14 and 15.
The Cowboys are no exception and with the national under-20s competition (Toyota Cup) next year, their junior recruitment drive is expected to continue.
"Obviously the Cowboys would love to have their whole under-20 team full of North Queensland juniors but the reality is they also have to look in other regions or they will miss out on the best talent," Bartlett said. |
WINTERS IN HOT FORM FOR SENIOR CAMPUS
Story By : BILL NORTH 
SCHOOL LEAGUE: Cameron Winters starred in Dubbo College Senior Campus' win in the inaugural Opens division of the Andrew Ryan Cup held at Apex Oval yesterday.
As the Western Region component of the Country Rugby League-organised Country Cup, the Andrew Ryan Cup had previously included under-13 and -15 divisions but expanded to include the open division this year.
Competing in a round robin final series Senior Campus survived an early scare to account for Red Bend Forbes 16-10 in the first match of the day before beating Blayney High 38-4 and St Stanislaus Bathurst 22-6 to secure the cup win.
Winters was named player of the day while Dave Nicholls and Brad Marks also earned special mention.
Canterbury Bulldogs and NSW State of Origin star Andrew Ryan will present Winters with a carry bag at an official presentation at the school while all of the winning team members will receive a backpack.
The College's win was part of a Dubbo clean sweep in all three divisions with St John's College winning the under- 13s and South Dubbo winning the under-15s.
Josh Merritt was named Player of the Day in the under-15s as South Dubbo recorded victories of 14-6 against Red Bend and 30-0 against Blayney High.
St John's defeated Delroy 12-6, James Sheehan Orange 22-6, Red Bend 20-6 and St Stanislaus 20-4 on their
way to winning the under-13 cup.
Senior Campus, South Dubbo and St John's will now travel to Cootamundra next Wednesday for the semi-finals of the Country Cup against the winning side from the South Coast, Illawarra and Riverina regions.
The final will be played in Dubbo on August 15 in
conjunction with the finals of the small schools competition.
Most of yesterday's budding football stars will be back in action tomorrow with the resumption of the Dubbo Junior Rugby League Competition at Apex Oval. |
 STANLEY EXTENDS CONTRACT UNTIL THE END OF 2010
Story By : St. George/Illawarra Dragons Media
Dragon Rookie Chase Stanley has officially extended his contract with St George Illawarra for a
further two years, meaning he will remain with the Club until the end of 2010.
The Hurstville United junior became the youngest St George Illawarra NRL player ever when he
made his debut in Round 2 this year at OKI Jubilee Stadium against Newcastle.
Stanley, 18, scored a try with his first touch in NRL football and in his 12 games to date has scored
five tries and sits equal second behind Matt Cooper as the Club’s leading try scorer this season.
“As a local junior I always wanted to play NRL for the Dragons and I didn’t expect it to come so
soon,” said Stanley. “I’m very happy to know that I will be playing with the Dragons for a few more
years and am grateful for the opportunities I have been given here”.
Dragons Chief Executive Officer Peter Doust praised the efforts of Stanley and said he was
pleased to have finalised his arrangement with the Club.
“Chase is an exciting player and it is very exciting news for all St George Illawarra fans that he will
be remaining with our Club until at least the end of 2010,” said Dragons Chief Executive Officer
Peter Doust.
“Chase was identified early as a local junior who would have a big future and we can
all look forward to watching his continued development.
“The way he has handled the transition to NRL football has been great, especially given that he has
combined this with his final year of school”.
Dragons Coach Nathan Brown was equally as pleased to have extended Stanley’s contract with the Club.
“Chase has definitely got a big future ahead of him if he continues to keep working hard and
applying himself as he has done this year,” said Brown.
“Our plan at the start of the year was to play him in Premier League but he really impressed us in the off-season when he joined the fulltime squad after Christmas.
“His efforts in the pre-season combined with some early season injuries gave him his opportunity in
the NRL where he has been outstanding, especially considering his age and the fact he is still at
school,” added Brown. |
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| Kyle Stanley runs flat out into the Tuggerah Lakes line in a recent St. Mary's Cup match |
MATRAVILLE SPORTS TOO GOOD FOR ENDEAVOUR
Story & Photo's by :
Mighty Matraville Sports High School won the Elite St. Mary's Cup at Weekender Stadium St. Mary's on Thursday.
Endeavour Coach Mr. Jeff Hardy said "yeah, they are a good side, they had a few of their boys missing today too"
Matraville have now became the new St. Mary's Cup Champions after posting a strong 36 - 24 win over an almost full strength Endeavour Sports High School, who have won this Elite schoolboys competition for the past 3 years.
With a few player to come into the Matraville squad, they will also be strong contenders for the University Shield and why not, the Arrive alive Cup too.
 ENDEAVOUR
SPORTS
HIGH SCHOOL
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24 - 34 |
 MATRAVILLE
SPORTS
HIGH SCHOOL |
SOUTH SYDNEY
HIGH SCHOOL |
14 - 28 |
ENGADINE
HIGH SCHOOL |
Engadine High School proved too strong in the Buckley Shield yesterday with a convincing 28 - 14 win over a big, tough South Sydney High School side.
Engadine have powered though this Under 14's schoolboys competition by winning the East Sydney Regional Final now progress to the next level where the competition will be a lot faster & toughter.
Engadine HS are arguably one of the best Rugby League Schools in the Shire, they are very well coached by Mr. Steve Holz, ( St. Pat's at Sutho' come very close and we dont include Endeavour in this as they are a Sports High School) and are confident of giving the Finals a fair shake this year.
Then again 13 years old Nick the RAT reckons St. Pat's at Sutherland are the best! It's a free country. |
FARRER CLEANS UP
Story By : Grant Robertson 
FARRER High made a clean sweep of the Country Rugby League Cup regional finals in Tamworth yesterday and will now represent the region at the northern NSW finals in Coffs Harbour.
The green and gold sides dominated all three age groups at Minor League Park and will now face the best sides from the north and central coasts and the northern rivers regions for a place in the State finals.
The Farrer under 13s, 15s and open sides all went through unbeaten.
"The best teams won," CRL development officer Jamie McCormack said.
"It's good for the Farrer school.
"They dominated but they didn't have it all their own way.
"The other sides competed really well and it was a good day of rugby league."
Farrer has been successful in the Country Cup before.
They have been to the State finals on a number of occasions and have won the under 15s crown before.
"Farrer will represent the Greater Northern region well at the northern NSW finals," McCormack said.
One of the highlights of the day was the open clash between Farrer and Coonabarabran.
Coona gave Farrer a scare before the green and golds won 12-4.. Learn More |
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In the Year 8 division Mackay SHS and Holy Spirit College will play off for the Mick Shew Shield after Mackay High 1 defeated Mercy College and HSC defeated Sarina High.
In the Under 15 Division 2 competition the finalists will be Moranbah High and Sarina High as Moranbah scraped home against a hard charging Mackay North High team.
In a fascinating contest that went into ‘golden point’ extra time with the teams locked at 8 all, Moranbah High scrambled home following a scoreless extra period, taking the honours by being the first team to score in the game.
Try scorers for Mackay North were Trent Bell and Chris Tattersall with Moranbah High’s Cohen Crispin and Cody McLean crossing the line.
In the other U/15 Division 2 match Sarina High ( Bill Green, Jake Wyper 2, David Jorgensen, Ryan Clark, Ben Bucholz 2) overwhelmed the young Mackay High 2 team with a 38 – 8 victory.
The Division 2 Open final will be played between Mackay High 2 and Sarina High. Mackay High 2 were full of running in their 50 – 0 win over Mackay North High.
In the win Assan Munro, Andrew Pannowitz and Richard Kay scored doubles and two of Mackay High’s three 16 year old English Rugby League exchange students, Luke Saunders at hooker and Lee Brickwood playing in the centres had impressive games.
A very willing contest was witnessed in the other open semi with Sarina High finishing better to record a 28 – 20 victory over Mirani High.
u/15 Sarina High player Ben Bucholz proved to be the difference between the two sides backing up the the older age group to score the match winning try and goal.
Dean Sliwa, Kyle Schuler, Kris Zurvas, Curtis Smith also registered points for Sarina High.
Next Wednesday night will also see the final Super 8 matches between the Combined Mirani and Pioneer High team and Mackay High 1 in under 15, playing for the Mick Shew Shield, and St Patrick’s College and Mackay High’s Open firsts playing for the Terry Hayes Shield.
Close contests are expected between these teams, the last time they met Mackay High Opens recorded a narrow win over St Pat’s and the U/15 match concluded in a hard fought draw. |
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| Endeavour SHS Vs Tuggerah HS @ Cronulla '07 |
CHS ST. MARY'S CUP GRAND FINAL TODAY
Story & Photo's by :
The Elite St. Mary's Cup schoolboys Competition will be played at 1:30 Thursday at Western Weekender Stadium.
Defending CHS St. Mary's Cup Champions Endeavour SHS play a very strong and star studded Matraville Sports High School.
Matraville will start with Australian Schoolboys Martin Kennedy and NSW U 17's Ben Jones.
In the Semi-Final games, Westfields play Chifley at 11:00 am & Brisbane Waters HS play Tuggerah HS at 12 :15 pm.
ENDEAVOUR
SPORTS
HIGH SCHOOL
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24 - 34 |
MATRAVILLE
SPORTS
HIGH SCHOOL |
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GOOD GUYS FOLEY SHIELD FINAL
TO CAIRNS a hat-trick of Good Guys Foley Shield titles would be unprecedented. To Townsville that situation would be unthinkable.
Everything goes on the line this Saturday at Barlow Park in Cairns when the Marlins meet the Stingers for the 56th Shield final.
Cairns enters the latest regional grudge match as favourite, having finished on top at the end of fixtures and boasting home ground advantage.
Townsville however is buoyed by a 52-14 win against Cairns just three weeks ago, when both sides experimented with new combinations.
Should Cairns be able to raise the Shield it will be the first time in history the Marlins have completed a trifecta of titles, reigning from 2005-07.
Aside from Cairns’ current streak it also won back-to-back titles in 1970-71.
The only teams to previously claim hat-tricks were the Mount Isa sides of 1977-79 and the Townsville teams from 2000-03 (four titles).
For decades the strength and standard of the Foley Shield has brought praise and admiration from across the land.. Learn More |
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| Mackay SHS star Patrick O'Hanlon |
SCHOOLBOY HAS MADE THE GRADE
Story By : 
AUSTRALIAN Schoolboy Ryan Williamson has had a taste of playing for and against the best of the best, and can't wait for more.
Williamson, 17, one of nine Queenslanders named in the Australian side for a three-match series against the Junior Kiwis in New Zealand in September, is looking forward to the tour and to linking up with NRL club Sydney Roosters at the end of the year.
The St Patrick's College product scored two tries playing on the wing for Queensland in the Australian secondary schools championship in Townsville last week.
But he was disappointed that the side allowed arch rivals NSW to come back and win the final 20-18 on Saturday.
"We were leading 18-4 at half- time," Williamson said yesterday.
"I guess at that stage everyone was thinking about after the game, maybe we just eased up a bit.
"They got one try and got their tail wagging, and scored a few more."
Williamson said he enjoyed the experience of playing in the secondary schools championship, and was honoured to be named in the Australian Schoolboys side - Mackay's first since former Broncos halfback Brett Seymour.
"Playing in the championship was like the best against the best, it was quick and hard.
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| Patrick O'Hanlon with David Faiumu of the Nth QLD Cowboys |
"Just about everyone at that level is contracted to NRL clubs. Being in the Australian side is regarded as a stepping stone to the NRL."
Contracted to the Roosters, Williamson plans to leave Mackay for Sydney in November and said he would probably be playing in the new national under 20s competition next season.
After losing the traditional test between NSW and Queensland played in Mackay recently, the Maroons were fired up for the championships.
They opened with a 24-10 defeat of NSW, followed by wins over NSW Combined Catholic Schools (40-16) and Affiliated States (44-6), but were pipped in the final.
Mackay State High School Rugby League Academy member Pat O'Hanlon, taken into the Queensland side late as a replacement for an injured player, got some time off the bench in several games at the championships. |
QLD RANGERS READY TO ROLL
Story By : QRL MEDIA RELEASE
WOMEN IN LEAGUE
THE QUEENSLAND Brolgas have named a new-look team to face New South Wales in the annual Nellie Doherty Cup at Penrith’s CUA Stadium on August 11.
Unbeaten since 1999 in interstate women’s matches, the Brolgas will go into the unknown with a fresh squad that does not include long-time skipper Karyn Murphy, nor stalwarts Stephanie Hancock, Tracey Thompson and Jaye Christensen.
Assuming the mantle of captain is fearless Ipswich Brothers lock Tahnee Norris, while last year’s fullback Teresa Anderson will step into the halfback role vacated by Murphy.. Learn More |
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| North Sydney’s ‘never say die’ winger Mohammed Alhaje – his defence was heroic against the top compitition. Photo: Steve Little. |
JUNIOR BEARS PUSH EELS TO THE LIMIT
Story By : North Sydney Bears 
Photo : Steve Little
Willie Leyshon’s Junior Bears have by no means disgraced themselves in their loss to 2nd placed Parramatta 22-12.
With just about all of the Eels points confined to a 10 minute period in the first half the Bears otherwise defended their line with the passion and honor that has been expected from the side in recent matches.
Mohammed Alhaje and Mitch Williams were impenetrable on the left wing. One memorable attempt by the Eels saw the Bears hold them up over the line’ Mohammed tackle them short of the line and Brad Lupi regain possession.
For most of the first half the Bears tried to storm the right side hoping to link up with speedy fullback Ricky Morris. Mitch Williams, Brent ‘Bluey’ Millar and Chris Farrell tried their heart out but it was not to be, the Eels bringing the match to 16-0.
One minute left to half time saw Bears a Bears forward sent off. Then as Norths were on the attack a brawl broke out in back play that saw the entire teams from both sides abandon play. The result saw 2 Eels and 2 Bears sent to the sheds for 10.
With The Bears facing the Eels 3 players down to their 2 Norths did well during the ten-minute period to keep the score line to 16-nil. Norths scored through Jake Foster soon after the 4 sin-binned players came back on. Mohammed Alhaje converted and the Bears were on the board 16-6.
Parramatta scored one last try to make it 22-6.
Then Brad Lupi scored his first flegg try for Norths barging between the posts surrounded by seemingly half the Parra defence. Mohammed Alhaje converted and there was only 10 points in it 22-12.
Norths went close to scoring near the end of the match but couldn’t finish off. Final score 22-12.
There is no doubt that the tide of the Eels attack was quelled by the magnificent work of winger Mohammed Alhaje. Together with Mitch Williams they stopped a number of tries in the first and second halves. Tim McDonald was also a standout player but as in previous outings the team’s recent success hails from a strong team sprit. A great effort by the whole team to push the 2nd placed Eels all the way.
PARRAMATTA 22 (4 tries, 3 goals) defeated NORTH SYDNEY 12 (Jake Foster, Brad Lupi tries, Mohammed Alhaje 2 goals). Due to a postponement in round 13 this week Norths will face 2 matches in 4 days;
Wednesday July 18
Premier League v Penrith, 7:00pm North Sydney Oval
Jersey Flegg v Manly, 5:30pm North Sydney Oval |
Saturday July 21
Premier League v Parramatta, 2:30pm North Sydney Oval
Jersey Flegg v Canberra, 1:00pm North Sydney Oval |
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| IF six-year-old Blake Asmus could meet anyone in the world, it would be Darren Lockyer. |
TAYLOR-MADE FOR EXCITEMENT
IF six-year-old Blake Asmus could meet anyone in the world, it would be Darren Lockyer.
The Broncos’ skipper is his favourite player, but young gun Dave Taylor is a close second.
The giant prop spent his day off signing autographs for Brisbane fans ahead of the Falcons game at Quad Park yesterday, along with team-mates Rodney Davies and Gideon Mzembe.
And although the trio is fairly low profile compared with players like Lockyer, it didn’t stop a steady stream of fans from lining up to get jerseys and posters signed.
Blake for one, was excited.
“I really like them,” he said in the understatement of the day.
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NRL DREAM ALIVE
Story By : 
THE dreams of junior Scotty Princes and Darren Lockyers running around Quad Park on Saturday have received a boost.
Sunshine Coast junior Rugby League chairman Dave Cordwell says sporting tonics could not come any stronger than the chance to play for a Sunshine Coast NRL team.
Expectations were raised last week by NRL boss David Gallop, who speculated on a fourth Queensland side to match the Broncos, Cowboys and Titans.
While Gallop is looking to the south-west of Brisbane, the NRL is casting an eye over all of south-east Queensland and Mr Cordwell said there would be no better base than the Sunshine Coast.
An Ipswich regional team would be overkill but a Coast side would be all the incentive the under 7s running around Quad Park on Saturday would need to kick onto seniors.
“If they are looking at 10 to 12 years that would be perfect for these juniors who would be 18 by then,” he said.
And that would open up league development doors that could keep young stars in a region that is already an outstanding league nursery.
“We have something like 3000 players in junior rugby league on the Coast – I can only imagine what the numbers will be like in a few years.
“This would give them a dream – even if they did not go on to play for a Coast team.”
He said the Sunshine Coast would need to play in the senior Queensland Cup before mounting a tilt at the best league comp in the world, but the challenge would be exciting for local players and fans alike.
Kawana players like Joel Dionysius, 9, and Braedon Miles, 8, may one day have the opportunity to lace up the boots for a Coast NRL outfit.
And Joel’s dad, Wayde, finds the thought exciting.
“It would really mean a lot for these kids to have an NRL team here on the Coast – I reckon they would be really fired up,” he said.
Former Broncos media manager Tony Durkin, who now lives on the Sunshine Coast, said that geographically the Coast would be the place for a Queensland expansion.
“But if the NRL are going to be fair dinkum about this, they have to give the franchise plenty of time to do the proper planning required.” |
 NSWCHS DEFEAT QLD
IN SCHOOLBOYS FINAL
Story By : Photos : Cameron LAIRD
NSWCHS took revenge on QSSRL in Townsville to be crowned Australian Schoolboys Champions for 2007.
It was a great grand final, close and action packed.
After trailing 18 - 6 at half time the NSW team scored 14 unanswered points to win revenge in this years final.
In the end only 2 points seperated these excellent young teams.
In the Sam Davey Plate Final '07, The Northern territory were too HOT for an improving Victoria winning 34- 6.
Martin Kennedy of Matraville Sports High School was this years best on the field in the Final, while Eric Warria from the NT was best on the ground in the Plate Final.
Saturday 14 July 2007
AUSTRALIAN UNDER 18 CHAMPIONSHIP '07 |
| Queensland |
18 - 20 |
NSW CHS |
TRIES : Benjamin Ridge, Kevin Proctor, Kayne Lawton
GOALS : Ryan Hansen 2, Robert Lui |
TRIES : Matthew Mundine 2, Ben Jones, Angus McHattan
GOALS : Matthew Mundine, Peter Mata’utia |
| Australian Training Company “Player of the Final” – Martin Kennedy (CHS) |
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QSS Vs CAS in yesterdays semi final action from the schoolboys championships in Townsville
PHOTO'S : Cameron Laird PHOTOGRAPHY |
QUEENSLAND TO PLAY NSWCHS IN FINALS
Story By : &
Photo's By: Cameron Laird PHOTOGRAPHY
Queensland will defend their Australian Champions title this afternoon when they get it on with a hot NSW CHS side this afternoon in Townsville.
QUEENSLAND Secondary Schools smashed their way through to the final of the Under-18 Australian Schoolboys Rugby League Championships yesterday.
After an early wake-up call at Dairy Farmers Stadium, the favourites proved far too strong for a committed but outgunned Combined Affiliated States side, winning 44-6.
Queensland will now meet New South Wales Combined High Schools in today's decider at Jack Manski Oval after they dispatched New South Wales Combined Catholic Colleges 22-16 in yesterday's other semi-final.
Led strongly by lock forward Andrew McCullough in the opening 30 minutes, the Maroons established a comfortable 16-point buffer by halftime and never looked like being headed.
Despite taking their foot off the gas in the second half, Queensland showed their class, laying on another four tries, including one to Ignatius Park product Sam Bann.
CAS, made up of players from Victoria, WA, South Australia and the Northern Territory, jumped out to an early lead but the home team responded with four unanswered tries and went to the main break leading 22-6.
Cowboys-contracted centre James Munns got the roll started, before he was followed up with four-pointers to McCullough, Ryan Williamson and Ryan Hansen.
The final kicks off at 3pm.. SEE DAY 5 RESULTS |
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| Robert Lui runs the ball for QSSRL |
STAIRWAY TO LEAGUE HEAVEN
Story & Photo By : ADAM WATKIN
FROM humble beginnings in 1981 the Australian
Secondary Schools Rugby League Championships has grown to become the leading pathway for players into the NRL.
This year the nation's next crop of stars are competing in Townsville for the opportunity to secure an NRL contract and gain selection into an Australian Secondary Schools team.
Historically very little has separated championship heavyweights the Queensland Secondary Schools team (QSS), New South Wales Combined Catholic Colleges (NSWCCC) and the New South Wales Combined High Schools (NSWCHS).
Former 2003 and 2004 Australian Secondary Schools Rugby League team manager Grant Edwards said in terms of talent, all three teams were on level par and the championships would be decided on whoever `turned up' on the day.
"These championships are very much like the NRL in that all the players are very well coached and they have a very high level of skill," he said. "Out of the three big teams (QSS, NSWCCC and NSWCHS) nearly every kid has been signed to an NRL club and now they are all playing for selection in the Australian Schoolboys team."
Edwards said out of the 2003 Australian Schoolboys team, 14 players had played in the NRL including Karmichael Hunt, Benji Marshall and Dean Collis.
The 2007 championships has attracted some exceptional talent including Kevin Proctor (QSS), Robert Lui (QSS), Daniel Mortimer (NSWCCC) and Lachlan Coote (NSWCHS).
Proctor (Palm Beach Currumbin High) was selected in last year's Australian Schoolboys team and is contracted to the Melbourne Storm while Lui (Keebra Park High) is contracted to the Wests Tigers.
"Robert is very quick and he has got some excellent footwork," Edwards said. "I expect him to be very dangerous when Queensland play the Combined Affiliated States team."
The Combined Affiliated States (CAS) team is a representative side selected from Victoria, Western Australia, Northern Territory and South Australia.
Queensland will meet CAS in the semi-finals at Dairy Farmers Stadium today at 4.15. |
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| Tiger Chris Lawrence ... is also studying Sports Science at Sydney University. Photograph: Brett Costello / The Daily Telegraph |
LAWRENCE'S VISION BEYOND FOOTY
Story & Photo By : Josh Massoud 
FIRST-YEAR university student Chris Lawrence hopes to complete his degree in eight years time. But the second-year NRL star expects to graduate on the footy field much earlier than that.
Currently studying Sports Science at Sydney University, Lawrence has zoomed through the grades at Wests Tigers with the same speed fellow teen prodigy Doogie Howser finished medical school.
Aged just 19, Lawrence makes his 16th NRL appearance against Manly at Brookvale tonight. Still within a year of breaking into first grade, the chiselled speedster has already scored 14 tries and sits equal third on this year's list with an even dozen from just 10 games.
Given that record, Lawrence doesn't just belong in the "Teenage Sensation'' pigeonhole. He should be given the keys as well. But unlocking the secret to Lawrence's astonishing rise is no open and shut case.
Wisened by the storm of publicity that greeted his slashing debut as a St Gregorys schoolboy against Brisbane in Round 21 last year, Lawrence doesn't crave the raps some of his peers eagerly devour.
He refuses to talk between games. He might speak after a match - such as last week's three-try effort against Penrith - but his consent is always conditional on knowing what the questions are beforehand.
Such wariness could be mistaken for shyness. And while Lawrence is no extrovert, his reluctance is couched in the smarts that saw him achieve a UAI of 91. But the scary thing is this: had Lawrence not debuted in the middle of trial HSC exams, his score might have been even higher.
"I'm not sure about that,'' he said this week. "(Playing NRL) took my mind away from studying and I didn't get burnt out at school. But then again, I could have worked even harder. You never know.''
While he dreamed about scoring 100-metre tries like the one against the Panthers, Lawrence also set his sights on becoming a psysio from a young age. "I always had an interest in physiotherapy and sports science,'' he said.
"I was good at sport, so that made me interested in that side and I was fairly good at school. I just went really well at those types of subjects at school.''
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| Chris Lawrence in action for the NSW U19 at Suncorp Stadium |
The demands of professional football, however, were not compatible with fulltime physio studies. So Lawrence settled for his current degree - which demands four days a week of his schedule at the University's Cumberland Campus.
He sat first semester exams alongside 200 fellow pupils last month and is awaiting the results.
"At the moment it's working out well,'' Lawrence said. "But if it starts to affect my football, or football starts to affect my uni, I might have to start looking at changing things.''
Although he looks fitter than the average campus dweller when dressed in civvies, Lawrence doesn't "get recognised much'' in lectures and tutorials. It's another reflection of his determined effort to maintain a low profile.
Dropped to reserve grade after that memorable first-up performance at Suncorp Stadium, Lawrence does not want acclaim flowing from his current purple patch to precipitate another setback.
"I think I've learned from that a little bit,'' he said. "After my first couple of games, I worked hard to get back up there from Premier League and I didn't want to let the media affect my game. I just wanted to focus on that until I could cement my spot.''
And although Lawrence agreed to break his mid-week silence for this piece, others at the club remain reluctant. For one, Tigers coach Tim Sheens refused to be interviewed about Lawrence.
"He's had enough comments from me. This happened last year after his debut, and Chris went off the rails,'' Sheens explained.
In previous interviews, Sheens has constantly emphasised how much Lawrence has to learn. The youngster, too, knows his lessons don't stop when class ends.
"I'd be happy to keep scoring tries, but there's still plenty of things to do if I'm going to cement spot,'' he said. "(The main things are) my defence and little things that a senior first grader does like talking and leading.
"I want to communicate better - to do the things people see on TV that help my team mates out.''
Should he postpone his studies, Lawrence maintained he could not spend life outside of football in front of a Play Station console or at pub poker nights. "I could just be a professional footballer, but I like having something on the side,'' he adds.
"I find it hard just to go home and sit around doing nothing. I feel like I have to be doing something all the time - something completely different to football.'' |
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MACKAY SCHOOLBOYS COMP GETS SERIOUS 
2007 COWBOYS CHALLENGE 
BRISBANE METRO 
ELITE SYDNEY CHS COMP'S
SYDNEY 
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2003 
2002 
2001 
ENGLAND 
ENGLAND 
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FRENCH 
