Story By : Grant Banks

The group of boys coached by teacher Russell Meehan won six of their seven matches and drew the other, a fine performance by the team consisting of Thomas Say, Jeremy Lonergan, Simon Thomas, Mitchell Cook, Robbie Hamel, Ritchie Landsborough, Drew Petersen, Bryce Johnston, Lachlan Thomas and Adam Miller. The competition involved teams from across the northwest of New South Wales including Moree, Gunnedah and two teams from Inverell and Tamworth.

Story By :

"It would've been good to win but you don't want to peak too early," the St Patrick's College student said in the lead-up to next week's under 18 national championships at Townsville.

"Everyone put in an enormous effort in defence otherwise they would've beaten us by more than they did.

"We're Queensland we'll bounce back." But for now, the honours lie with the Blues, who staged a gutsy second half comeback to steal the match.

A desperate effort from centre Jarrod Croker helped turn the tide for the visitors. With the scores locked at 12-all in the second half, Croker produced a try-saving tackle on Maroons winger Bodie Clarke.

It proved a pivotal moment, with the Blues sealing the match winning try in the next set of six when flyer Jeremy Papamau crossed for his second four-pointer.

With the code's emerging stars on show, the contest was highlighted by some punishing defence from both sides. The hosts held out several New South Wales raids before opening their account with a try to hard-hitting prop Ken Edwards.

Edwards was over again after pouncing on a Ray Thompson grubber.

But the Maroons' 12-0 lead was cut back when Blues' Rory O'Brien charged over the white line.

Trailing 12-6, New South Wales hit back again when Papamau scored after the break.

Fullback Lachlan Coote converted from the sideline to level the scores before Papamau claimed the match-winning try.

"That was a great hit-out," New South Wales coach Peter Denham said after the three tries-to-two display.

"Right across the park there were some great performances."

The Blues mentor believed the two teams were blessed with talent.

Ben Jones running for the NSW U17's at Telstra Stadium (Photo : ourfooty media)

"They're all tied to NRL clubs and they could all go on from here," he said after Blues' five-eighth Ben Jones (Matraville High) was named man-of-the-match.

"It's just about attitude now. The best footballer here won't necessarilly play NRL, the kid with the best attitude will."

Despite going down to their rivals, Queensland coach Brendan Barlow praised his team's determination in defence.

"We might not have won on the scoreboard but we definitely won as far as effort is concerned," he said.

"We put ourselves under some pressure but if we can hold that attitude in defence we'll certainly come good in the national championships.

"We just lacked a little bit of cohesion around the traps. The best thing to come out of tonight was our commitment and effort in defence. We're judging our team on effort." Barlow labelled Williamson as one of the real triers for the home side which also included Proserpine product Chris Faust (Kirwan State High).

And for Williamson, the chance to play in a Maroon jersey on home soil was a memorable occasion but he admitted it was hard to concentrate on the job at hand with such a large contingent of supporters in the stands.

"I've got enough to focus on out there but I've got to get used to it (playing in front of fans)," he said.

After the match, Barlow encouraged his troops to relish the experience of playing for their state.

"You only get so many chances to play for Queensland so you've got to make the most of it," he said.

Rabbit hunt: Cairns players Nick Hanigan, Robbie Kyles and Trevor Port round up South Sydney centre Jack Leehang. Picture: NORBERT von der HEIDT

Story By : Craig Ross

Traditionally, the annual clashes between the Cairns representative outfit and the visiting Rabbitohs Harold Mathews squad have been tight affairs and Tuesday night’s encounter did nothing to buck the trend.

Cairns coach Greg Malenstein said a superb defensive effort from his side had set up the victory.

"We worked a lot on our defence after the North Queensland championships,’’ Malenstein said.

"We did drop a lot of ball in our own half on Tuesday night, so we had to defend for most of the first half."

The Cairns outfit, which narrowly missed out on capturing the NQ Championships in Townsville last month, produced a defensive effort of such intensity, Malenstein said it resembled Queensland’s courageous State of Origin performance 24 hours later.

"At halftime I said to the boys, "that was the best defensive effort I’ve seen in the last six years – do you want to keep doing that or put some points on?"

Wisely, Cairns decided to go with the latter option, scoring some nice second half tries and defending grimly to the end as the Rabbitohs again threw everything at the home side in the final stages.

Malenstein said back-rower Rob Kyles and five-eighth Trevor Port had led the way with big hits and high work rates in defence with Port also effective in attack.

Lock forward Troy Nolan also impressed with his willing hit-ups.

Fullback Rhys Talty’s finishing signalled he, like the others, had a bright future in the game.

INTERVIEW WITH NSW LATEST CHAMPION - BEN JONES

Story & Photo's By :

"We are playing a test match here on Thursday and going to to Townsville later", Ben told us on his way back to the Hotel after footy training.. Learn More

Story By :

The game is a precursor to the Australian Schoolboy Championships, this year held in Townsville, and it's a chance for Farrer trio Angus McHattan, Seb Swain and Scott Blanch, Gunnedah's Trent Hilton and Coonabarabran's Wes Suckley to impress.

Swain, Blanch and Hilton flew out from Tamworth on Saturday before meeting up with McHattan, Suckley and the rest of the CHS squad.

"We've got a couple of days training in Sydney and then we go to Mackay for the Test match against Queensland," Swain said.

"Then we go to Townsville for the Australian Championships. "The Test is a big thing for CHS.

"There's a lot of rivalry there and they (CHS) got flogged last year so they want to get it back."

The local players were selected for CHS after the State championships at Myuna Bay.

McHattan, Blanch, Hilton and Suckley impressed for Greater Western while Swain played for the President's XIII.

"We went all right," Hilton said. "I think they were looking for a team that worked a bit harder.

"On the second day, after the game on the first day that we should have won, we beat the President's side 40-nil."

Following the Test the real battle begins for Australian Schoolboy places in Townsville.

CHS faces Queensland again on Monday and then NSW Combined Catholic Colleges on Tuesday before the finals.

All of the local boys will be aiming for a green and gold jersey by the end of the championships but, as the youngest member of the team, Blanch is just after some experience for next year.

He is only in Year 11 at Farrer High. "It's a learning thing for me and hopefully I'll get to go again next year," he said.

"I was surprised to even get a look in for the team so it's an awesome chance.

"I'm just looking forward to getting out there. "It's exciting. "You've got all the Origin hype of NSW versus Queensand.

"It's the biggest thing in my football career." All five players are already linked with NRL clubs.

McHattan and Hilton are signed with Newcastle, Blanch has linked with Manly, Swain with Cronulla and Suckley will head to St George-Illawarra.

Cowra’s Luke Burns (left) and Lee McClintock are expecting a physical challenge from two Tongan representative sides they will play on the NSW Country under 18s tour this week.

Story By :

Cowra’s Luke Burns (left) and Lee McClintock are expecting a physical challenge from two Tongan representative sides they will play on the NSW Country under 18s tour this week.

Cowra's NSW Country under 18s stars Luke Burns and Lee McClintock are under no illusions about the opposition they will face on the side's overseas tour.

The squad is scheduled to play two Tongan representative sides in a frenetic one-week tour. The Magpies duo flew out of the country on Saturday and will play their first match against a Presidents under 18s side today.

Both players know they will have to adapt to the strong, physical presence of the Tongan sides in stifling heat.

"I expect them to be big and tough. I'll get a lot out of it. We'll learn about playing against people with a lot of size, 100 plus kilograms, almost like the NRL," McClintock said.

CROCS PUT BITE ON VISITORS

Story By :

All Mercury Cup teams are set to showcase their premiership credentials at Sarina after the MDRL was forced to re-locate its mid-season carnival from the Junior Rugby League Grounds which were torn up by the under 12 state carnival in wet conditions.

And there's no doubting most eyes will be on the home side, which has surged into third place on the ladder and is level on points with defending champions Souths.

But after thumping Norths 32-14 last weekend, Crocodiles' president Scott Goode refused to talk up his side's premiership hopes with five rounds still remaining in the regular season.

"We just want to finish in the best position we possibly can, we're not looking that far ahead yet," he said before admitting the club's pre-season ambition had been to just make it into the finals.

Bolstered by an ominous forward pack which includes North Queensland Marlins' representative Quinton Fielder and Mackay Sea Eagle Shane McKellar the Crocodiles have unleashed a barrage of hard hits in defence to stymie the attacking raids of opposition sides. "Defensively it's starting to come together for us," Goode said.

"With Marty (coach Martin Bella) and Kevin Campion we've got the right people showing us how to go about it."

And the Crocodiles have an array of talented youngsters boosting the side during a torrid mid-season which usually stretches the playing depths of every club.

"Some of the younger blokes have really matured and are starting to chip in," Goode said before labelling under 19 flyer Farron Hussey as a likely prospect alongside halfback Mitchell Fairburn who is doing the job for us."

Goode's side tackles a desperate Wests outfit which has only managed to secure three wins from 11 outings but he expects the Walkerston side to pose a real threat.

Josh Logue scoring one of his four spectacular tries. Loguey took out Man of the Match for his efforts. Picture by Martin Lang.

Story By :

Josh Logue scoring one of his four spectacular tries. Loguey took out Man of the Match for his efforts. Picture by Martin Lang.