2016 Australian Schoolboys 1 Nick Cotric (Erindale College – ACT) 2 Mawene Hiroti (Matraville Sports High – NSWCHS) 3 Zac Lomax (Figtree High – NSWCHS) 4 Tui Afualo (Westfields Sports High – NSWCHS) 5 Campbell Graham (Marcellin College, Randwick – NSWCCC) 6 Lachlan Lam (Marcellin College, Randwick – NSWCCC) 7 Sean O’Sullivan (Patrician Brothers’ College, Blacktown – NSWCCCC) 8 Pasami Saulo (Hunter Sports High – NSWCHS) 9 Blayke Brailey (Aquinas Catholic College, Menai – NSWCCC) 10 Thomas Mikaele (Keebra Park State High – Queensland) 11 Brodie Jones (All Saints College, Maitland – NSWCCC) 12 Josh Curran (Patrician Brothers’ College, Blacktown – NSWCCC) 13 Sean Keppie (Westfields Sports High – NSWCHS) 14 Dean Blore (The Hills Sports High – NSWCHS) 15 Reece Robson (Endeavour Sports High – NSWCHS) 16 Payne Haas (Keebra Park State High – Queensland) 17 Michael Tupou (Patrician Brothers’ College, Blacktown – NSWCCC) Coach: Brian Battese (NSWCCC) Manager: John Stanley (NSWCHS) Trainer: Peter Burke (NSWCCC) Physiotherapist: Scott Thornton First Test: Australian Schoolboys v England Academy 2:00pm – Sunday July 31 Dolphin Oval, Redcliffe, Queensland Second Test: Australian Schoolboys v England Academy 1:15 pm – Saturday August 6 Southern Cross Group Stadium, Woolooware, NSW
1/7/2016
NZRL name NZ U18/U16 TrialistsEighty athletes have been selected to attend the 2016 NZRL National Performance Camp in Rotorua from July 9-13.The roster features players from all over New Zealand, identified through last year’s “Got A Trade? Got It Made!” National Youth Tournament and zone camps since the start of this season. Among them are two outstanding performers from the 2015 NPC – Respect Award winner Rory Ferguson of Southern Zone and Passion Award winner Morgan Harper from Upper Central. NZ Kiwis coach Stephen Kearney and Junior Kiwis coach Kelvin Wright will be special guests during the four days, along with former Kiwis Tony Iro, Duane Mann and Nigel Vagana. As well as helping players to develop their skills on and off the field, the National Performance Camp is an opportunity for them to impress NZ selectors and NRL scouts. The camp will culminate in national 16s & 18s trials on Wednesday, July 13 at Rotorua International Stadium. 18s - Player - Zone Dylan Clark - Upper Central Rory Ferguson - Southern Jonathan Fidow - Mid Central Mark Graham - Akarana Emerson Gray - Mid Central Morgan Harper - Upper Central Utah Ioka - Akarana Awatere Kiwara - Mid Central Samiuela Lauhingoa - Counties Manukau Montelle Le’afa Sione - Wellington Peteroni Lilomaiava - Counties Manukau Iloa Ma’afu-Roberts - Akarana Junior Malau - Counties Manukau Javan Marsh - Akarana Kiani Marshall - Counties Manukau Te Kahi Nathan - Northland Nathan Newton - Akarana Raven Penu - Akarana Javvier Pitovao - Akarana Ihaka Rameka - Upper Central Preston Riki - Akarana Sheldon Rogers - Upper Central Geroge Salu - Akarana Alfred Smalley - Counties Manukau Elijah Sufia - Akarana Fuiva Takitaki - Counties Manukau Aublix Tawha - Upper Central Jonty Timoti - Akarana Siave Togoiu - Counties Manukau Xavier Tutaki - Akarana Caleb Uele - Akarana Sila Ulugia - Counties Manukau Samuelu Vaeagi - Akarana Fine Vakautakakala - Akarana Wesley Veikoso - Mid Central Zae Wallace - Akarana Jahmarl Weir - Mid Central Mikey Williams - Akarana Rahiri Witehira - Akarana 16s - Player - Zone Lewis Afeaki - Akarana Zeniff Asa - Akarana Aiden Au - Akarana Kienan De La Rambelje - Wellington Domanyc Fidow-Kele - Southern Taylor Fiu - Counties Manukau Potusa Fuilala - Counties Manukau Foliga Gabriel - Counties Manukau Talavou Gavet - Akarana Tyrone Hamilton - Counties Manukau Kayal Iro - Akarana Tyler Jahnke - Wellington Aitasi James - Counties Manukau Josh Ka - Counties Manukau Nitoa Kairau - Counties Manukau Matagi-Blade - Kamuhemu Akarana Asu Kepaoa - Akarana Michael Lemafa - Counties Manukau Jaedyn Lyttle - Upper Central Uenuku Malesala - Counties Manukau Latima Malohi - Counties Manukau Zinzaan Martin - Southern Regan McClennan - Akarana Israel Ogden - Counties Manukau Joseph Onjeke - Akarana Josh Rawiri - Southern Jordan Riki - Southern Eteru Ropeti - Akarana Tayler Slade - Akarana Xavier Stevens - Counties Manukau Jensen Taumoepeau - Mid Central Jay Te Kani - Upper Central Dezhia Tele’a - Counties Manukau Cameron Todd - Upper Central Vito Tevaga - Akarana Matt Timoko - Akarana Starford Toa - Akarana Kakoi Togoiu - Counties Manukau Xavier Tuigamala - Counties Manukau Emanuel Tuimavave-Gerrard - Akarana Looking for a sports scholarship to help with University Fees - Waikato has Scholarships from $3000 - $40000 - Click Here for full details. There are a number of significant representative teams/squads coming up ... So what better time to have a flash back to one of the best highlight packages by a school boy rugby player. Despite following his dream into Rugby League, we have seen time and time again, that talent can swap codes if the foundation is there. Kalyn Ponga, born in Australia to kiwi parents, recently rejected a contract extension from the Queensland Cowboys. Currently no announcement has been made on where he will end up, although with over a year on his contract ... there is no hurry. Sit back and enjoy. When the NZRL Taurahere camp assembles on Queensland’s Gold Coast next week, the two 18s squads will deliberately not bear the names of their Australian home states. Instead, New South Wales-based players will form the “Tu” squad, drawn from the Maori word meaning “stand up”, and Queensland-based players make up the “Toa” group, referring to “strength”. “One of the real drivers for this programme is to reconnect our Australian-based players with their NZ heritage,” explains NZRL high performance general manager Brent Gemmell. “Although they are largely drawn from these two Australian states, for the obvious reasons, we don’t want them thinking of this as some inter-state rivalry. “They are not here to represent their states. Ultimately, they are there to represent one country – New Zealand.” Tu (NSW) are so named because they were the first team to “stand up” as part of the Taurahere programme, visiting New Zealand to face the NZ Residents 18s in a two-game series two years ago. Toa (Queensland) will add “strength” to the programme, when they come together for the first time at Runaway Bay on July 3. The camp will culminate in a trial game on the final day, with a merit team named the following week. Despite the team names, this programme is not a Maori-motivated campaign. Players and staff will be immersed in the “te iwi kiwi” culture, which embraces all the walks of life that make up the New Zealand rugby league community. Many of the invited players, particularly in the Tu squad, have come through the NZ domestic pathway and are now contracted with NRL clubs or attend schools across the Tasman. For them, this will be a way to stay engaged with the national team programme, until they are selected for Junior Kiwis and Kiwis. Others, though, have been born in Australia or have moved there while still young. These players are also eligible for State of Origin and Australian national teams, and must eventually choose which nationality to honour. Recent Kiwis Kieran Foran, Gerard Beale and Jason Taumalolo, along with former captains Benji Marshall and Nathan Cayless, have all represented Australian Schoolboys, before opting to wear the black jersey. But NSW Origin prop James Tamou (born Palmerston North) and Queensland forward Josh Papalii (born Auckland), both Australian internationals, represent the alternative, while talented Junior Kangaroos and Cronulla Sharks back Valentine Holmes (Maori father) is another leaning towards the green-and-gold. Brisbane Broncos and former Junior Kiwis utility Kodi Nikorima (born Palmerston North) debuted for the Kiwis in England last year, but younger brother Jayden (also born Palmerston North) has opted for Junior Kangaroos. “These are the kinds of players that we need to engage before they make those career decisions,” says Gemmell. “The more we can strengthen their NZ roots, the better chance we have of retaining them in the Kiwis programme.” Perhaps the success story of the young Taurahere programme so far is Northland-raised forward James Fisher-Harris (20), one of that inaugural 2014 NSW outfit, but now a Junior Kiwi, Penrith Panthers first-grader and outside contender for the Kiwis’ Four Nations title defence later this year. Among the players invited to Runaway Bay are some of the outstanding performers of NZ domestic competition last season:
Squads for the NZRL Taurahere Camp, Runaway Bay, July 3-6 are: TU Donavan Briggs (Cronulla Sharks), Haze Dunster (Parramatta Eels), Manase Fainu (Manly Sea Egales), Jackson Ferris (Cronulla Sharks), George Francis (Manly Sea Eagles), Tevita Funa (Manly Sea Egales), Sione Hopoate (Manly Sea Egales), Soane Hufanga (Newcastle Knights), Phoenix Hunt (South Sydney Rabbitohs), Oregan Kaufusi (Parramatta Eels), Sato Ketia-Opo (Canberra Raiders), Joey Lose (South Sydney Rabbitohs), Steven Marster (Illawarra Steelers), Giordan Patia (Canterbury Bulldogs), John Tuivaiti (Manly Sea Eagles), Lee Turner (Mascott), Paul Turner (South Sydney Rabbitohs), Joshua Uta (Illawarra Steelers), Ben Valu (Parramatta Eels) Coaches: Ezra Howe & Rangi Hiroti TOA Jesse Arthars (Melbourne Storm), Baylee Gerrard (Burleigh Colts), Bostyn Hakaraia (Gold Coast Titans), Liam Hori-Clark (Nerang Roosters), Joel Hughes (Ipswich Diggers), Lumafale Lualua (Cronulla Sharks), Antonio Nelu (Wests Tigers), Api Noema-Matenga (Gold Coast Titans), Eli Noovao (Central Queensland Capras), Ethan Paikea (Gold Coast Titans), Jaxson Paulo (Gold Coast Titans), Radean Robinson (Redcliffe Dolphins), Jayden Stephens (North Queensland Cowboys), Carlos Swasbrook-Murray (Sunshine Coast), Kobe Tararo (Gold Coast Titans), Emani Vaovasa (Gold Coast Green), Zane Wallace (Canberra Raiders) Coaches: Roy Leoni & Tim McIntyre Following a draw with defending champions St Paul's in last week's game, Tamaki have secured their first win over Papatoetoe High School.
Five minutes of play and Tamaki put first points on the board to lead 0-4. Papatoetoe hit back with a mid-field break and a try to stand off Thornton Edmonds. Some brilliant defence saw Tamaki take advantage of a loose ball lost by the home side. Shifting the ball quickly to the right fullback Lepa To'a scores to get ahead 4-8. On numerous occasions, Tamaki were denied points with Papatoetoe displaying some brilliant group efforts. With Tamaki in possession and the half-time siren signalled, stand off Raven Takerei makes a drop goal to lead 4-9. Coming into the second half, something clicked for the Papatoetoe side taking the lead 10 minutes in with prop Rodney Afuie running the ball down field and centre to cross in under the posts. Edmonds converts to get ahead 14-9. But Papatoetoe's confidence peaked too early. Having fumbled the ball after kick off, Tamaki took advantage of Papatoetoe's errors. Further tries were awarded to Tamaki's prop Sione Muaiava, Raven Takerei and Joshua Ionga. Lepa To'a collects his second to confirm the 14-31 victory to Tamaki College. Tamaki's head coach Terry Tangata is happy with the team's performance so far. "We're probably down half a team compared to last year, we've got a lot of new boys so I think we're doing pretty good considering," he says. "They've got that raw attitude. They just like to go out there and have fun - that's what I love about them. "It's still early days in the competition and the boys still have a lot to learn, but I'm happy with our progress so far." Tamaki are scheduled to play Southern Cross next week. Tamaki 31 (Lepa To'a x2, Joshua Ionga, Sione Muaiava, Raven Takerei x2 tries; Raven Takerei 3 goals, Raven Takerei drop goal) BEAT Papatoetoe 14 (Okusitino Tahaafe, Thornton Edmonds, Rodney Afuie; Thornton Edmonds 1 goal). In other results, Otahuhu bounce back from their loss last week to beat Mt Albert in the ARL Game of the Round. With the half time score locked in at 12 all, Otahuhu were able to get over the top to win 16-22. Wesley continue their winning streak beating Southern Cross 21-4 and premiership favourites Kelston boys have secured their first win of the season over Western Springs 6-40. The 15 a side 9's competition kicked off this week with Avondale, Onehunga and Southern Cross taking home their first wins. Next week's Game of the Round will take us to Wesley College where they play defending premiers St Paul’s College. Click here for next week's fixtures (Wednesday May 25). SAS College Rugby League full results for May 18 Premier Pools Premier Pool A Papatoetoe 14 Tamaki 31 HT: 4-9 Wesley 21 Southern Cross 4 HT: 10-0 St Paul’s BYE Premier Pool B Manurewa 20 Aorere 12 HT: 8-4 Western Springs 6 Kelston Boys 40 HT: 0-20 Premier Pool C Mt Albert 16 Otahuhu 22 HT: 12-12 Westlake Boys 40 Papakura 10 HT: 20-0 Senior A Pools Senior A Pool A James Cook 8 Sir Edmund Hillary 18 HT: 8-6 Aorere 16 Southern Cross 14 HT: 12-10 Manurewa B BYE Senior A Pool B Vanguard 18 Selwyn 10 HT: 12-0 Otahuhu 0 St Paul’s 16 HT: 0-4 Henderson BYE U/15’S Pools U/15’s Pool A Henderson 20 Avondale 30 HT: 6-14 Glenfield BYE U/15’s Pool B Western Springs 20 Onehunga 52 HT: 6-22 St Paul’s BYE U/15’s Pool C Sir Edmund Hillary 9 Southern Cross 30 HT: 4-16 Aorere BYE U/15’s Pool D Alfriston v Manurewa (Postponed) Eden Christian BYE Premier Pools Premier Pool A Southern Cross 32 Papatoetoe 16 HT: 22-6 Tamaki 18 St Paul’s 18 HT: 6-12 Wesley BYE Premier Pool B Aorere 16 Kelston Boys 14 HT: 10-14 Western Springs 28 Lynfield 16 HT: 22-16 Manurewa BYE Premier Pool C Otahuhu 12 Westlake Boys 18 HT: 6-4 Avondale 22 Mt Albert 10 HT: 10-10 Papakura BYE Senior A Pools Senior A Pool A Manurewa B 10 Sir Edmund Hillary 10 HT: 4-6 Aorere 16 James Cook 0 HT: 0-0 Southern Cross BYE Senior A Pool B Otahuhu 14 Selwyn 12 HT: 6-4 St Paul’s 44 Henderson 0 HT: 16-0 Vanguard BYE St Pauls College Auckland have secured an important first up win in the SAS Auckland Rugby League competition for 2016. With arguably some of the top league schools in the country playing in this competition, the weekly round up of results will give some insight as to who will be serious contenders for at Nationals later in the year!
Premier Pools Premier Pool A St Paul’s 18 Southern Cross 12 HT: 6-12 Papatoetoe 16 Wesley 30 HT: 4-18 Premier Pool B Aorere 58 Western Springs 4 HT: 26-4 Lynfield 4 Manurewa 32 HT: 0-10 Premier Pool C Westlake 28 Avondale 12 HT: 12-0 Papakura default to Otahuhu Senior A Pools Senior A Pool A Sir Edmund Hillary 28 Aorere 4 HT: 8-4 Southern Cross 26 Manurewa 6 HT: 16-6 Senior A Pool B Henderson 24 Selwyn (1) 20 HT: 24-0 Otahuhu 26 Vanguard (1) 8 HT: 14-4 The Auckland Rugby League in conjunction with College Sport are gearing up for the SAS College Rugby League season kick-off. The preliminary pools get underway tomorrow Wednesday May 4, with the championship rounds (contested between the top two teams from each pool) starting on June 8. The Premier final is set down for August 10 at Mt Smart Stadium #2. ARL competitions manager Patrick Carthy says it’s going to be another big year for the SAS College Rugby League competition. "There's been an increase in participation from schools and we're excited to see Paerata’s/Pukekohe's prestige rugby union school Wesley College come on board," he says. "Wesley College are expected to have huge potential in this competition. Being placed in Pool A with the 2015 champions St Paul's College, we're sure this will be an exciting battle." The secondary school competition demonstrates a proven pathway in the NRL having unearthed Vodafone Warriors squad members and former SAS College Rugby League players Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and David Fusitu’a. 2015 Premier winners St Paul's College will return to defend their title and will play in Pool A alongside Southern Cross Campus, Papatoetoe High School, Wesley College and Tamaki College. Games will be played every Wednesday at 4pm, with home and away rounds for every team. Click here for a full competition description and how the pools work. Click here to view draws for every grade. CRL Premier Boys Pool A St Paul's College Southern Cross Campus Papatoetoe High School Wesley College Tamaki College CRL Premier Boys Pool B Aorere College Western Springs College Lynfield College Manurewa High School Kelston Boys High School CRL Premier Boys Pool C Westlake Boys' High School Avondale College Papakura High School Otahuhu College Mt Albert Grammar School 4/5/2016 Junior Kiwis Pathway To NRL SuccessIn 2010, with the advent of the National Youth Competition, the Junior Kiwis was switched to an Under-20′s team and played in a two Test series against the Junior Kangaroos. Since 2011, the Junior Kiwis have faced the Junior Kangaroos at the end of each season in a one-off Test match, usually as a curtain raiser to a senior level Australia-New Zealand Test match. On Friday the two trans-Tasman rivals will face each other in the curtain raiser to the ANZAC Test at Hunter Stadium, Newcastle. The brief history of this fixture is colourful and littered with big names. The rivalry commenced on 23 October 2010 when the match was played as a curtain raiser to the New Zealand v England Test at the Westpac Stadium, Wellington. Australia took the honours by 24-16. Dean Gagai, who made his Queensland Origin debut last season, scored two tries. Internationals Michael Oldfield (Tonga) and Justin King (Vanuatu) also crossed along with Cameron King, a Premiership player with St. George. Shaun Johnson did his best to inspire the Kiwis, scoring a try, but it wasn’t enough until the next test in Rotorua. Incidentally Glen Fisiahi played fullback for the Kiwis. He later scored four tries in a first grade game for the Warriors against the West Tigers at the Westpac Stadium. In Rotorua New Zealand achieved a record 36-20 victory. They outscored Australia six tries to four. Captain Martin Taupau (Manly) was inspirational scoring a try and making several strong bursts. Carlos Tuimavave (Hull) also got on the score sheet. Corey Norman who has played over 100 NRL games was another prominent Australian player to emerge from the series. The 2011 match was the last played in Newcastle. Australia was victorious 28-16. Gagai played a big hand scoring two tries. Australia’s captain was Chad Townsend who played 41 games for the Warriors. Premiership winners Kyle Feldt (Cowboys, 2015) and Boyd Cordner (Roosters, 2013) also featured. Sebastine Ikahihifo who played 39 games for the Warriors scored two tries for the Kiwis. Jason Taumalolo was the most prominent Kiwis junior in the game. In 2015 he won a premiership with the Cowboys and has played four tests for the senior Kiwis. The 2012 match was staged in Townsville and resulted in a record 48-16 win for the Kangaroos. Alex McKinnon whose career with the Knights was tragically cut short by a broken neck was the Aussie skipper. Australia scored nine tries to four. Canberra pair Erdick Lee and Jack Wighton scored two tries each. David Klemmer has kicked onto play for New South Wales and Australia. Ngataua Hukatai scored two tries for the Kiwis. A year earlier he had turned his back on a very promising Union career. David Fusitu’a was another fine Union player. He won a National Top Four with Kelston BHS, but chose the 13-man code. He scored a try in this Test and has kicked onto play for the Warriors. In 2013 the Kiwis offered far more resistance, but still came up short in Kogarah 38-26. Patrick Mago scored two tries for Australia who crossed for seven in total. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak (Panthers) and Kurtis Rowe (Tigers) scored twice for the Kiwis. Tuimoala Lolohea (Warriors) and Ngani Laumape (Warriors/Hurricanes) played in this match. The 2014 test at Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland was perhaps the most dramatic in the history of the contest. The weather was atrocious and the game was a brutal struggle with several fights, a pre-game haka stand-off and a dramatic ending captured by NRL.com. “New Zealand looked to have the game won following a 79th-minute field goal from five-eighth Te Maire Martin gave them a 15-14 lead. But with the siren sounding in the background the drama was far from over. Kangaroos halfback Ryan Matterson was ruled to have been collected late by Junior Warriors captain Sam Lisone on a final field goal attempt, setting up a 40-metre penalty shot for Clinton Gutherson to win the game. To a chorus of boos from the small but vocal Kiwi crowd Gutherson pushed the kick to the left, ensuring the Junior Kiwis collected their first win since 2011.” Despite boasting only one player with NRL experience compared to the Junior Kangaroos’ seven, the New Zealanders were able to better control possession throughout the contest. Maire Martin has gone onto play for the Panthers. Kodi Nikorima who scored a try has already played for the senior Kiwis and Nelson Asofa-Solomona is a regular for the Storm. Valentine Holmes (Sharks) turned down selection for the Junior Kiwis in 2013 scored two tries for Australia. Last year Australia won another thriller 22-20. A lost ball with seven minutes left allowed Kiwi winger Tony Tumusa to sprint to the line to bring the Junior Kiwis within two but Zach Dockar-Clay’s sideline conversion was waved away with seven minutes to go and the Aussies held on. Stunning all-round games from Eels back-rower and Man of the Match Tepai Moeroa and Broncos playmaker Ashley Taylor proved the difference, with Taylor showing some great touches and controlling the game well while also showing incredible pace in two length-of-the-field try-saving chases. For the Junior Kiwis, Storm prop Nelson Asofa-Solomona was a massive handful with a series of powerful charges and offloads. Penrith prop James Fisher-Harris, fast becoming a fixture in the Panthers premier side, headlines a Junior Kiwis side that takes on the Junior Kangaroos in Parramatta next Saturday. PlayerClub Brad Abbey - Canterbury Bulldogs Kurt Bernard - Gold Coast Titans Cowan Epere - Penrith Panthers Poasa Faamausili - Sydney Roosters James Fisher-Harris - Penrith Panthers Patrick Herbert - St George Dragons Ata HIngano - NZ Warriors Jamayne Isaako - Brisbane Broncos Greg Lelesiuao - Gold Coast Titans Esan Marsters - Wests Tigers Marata Niukore - NZ Warriors Ofahiki Ogden - NZ Warriors Isaiah Papalii - NZ Warriors Nathaniel Roache - NZ Warriors Brandon Smith - North Queensland Cowboys Reimis Smith - Canterbury Bulldogs Siosifa Talakai - South Sydney Rabbitohs Ken Tofilau - Newcastle Knights |
OrganisationCollege Sport Media is dedicated to telling the story of successful young sportspeople in New Zealand
|