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NSW AAGPS 2022

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Rudderless

Trevor Allan (34)
This Saturday's trials, Kings Opens are fielding teams thru to the 10th's against Waverley, Syd Boys High and Cranbrook.


I note that Term 2 for Joeys starts next week (Tues 3rd) hence they are not included in the pool of games listed earlier for this Saturday.

I'm told Newington has opted not to play any fixtures on Sat 14th May as they have a Cadets Camp week and wont be able to train.
 

Rudderless

Trevor Allan (34)

2 recent schoolboy articles...one from the 'Sunday Telegraph' and the other 'The Australian'​

FYI​

How NRL is killing rugby nursery​


It was only a few years ago that rising Parramatta Eels star Will Penisini was dreaming of becoming a Wallaby.

The Penisinis were a rugby union family.

They followed the Wallabies to two World Cups in 2011 and 2015, were Waratahs members for six years and their 19-year-old boy was an outstanding footballer for The King’s School.
“But the pathway in rugby union compared to the NRL wasn’t the same,’’ Penisini said.

“I was at school and there was a better pathway to league and it was more appealing because the NRL is bigger in Australia right now, in terms of crowds, TV coverage, sponsorship.

“In 2015, me and my family were Waratahs members and we’d go to the games and the crowds were massive.

“But as the years went on, it became less appealing and more recently I went to a game and the crowds weren’t as good and the game wasn’t showcased as it was a couple of years ago.’’

A graduate of the prestigious King’s School in Sydney, Penisini, was signed by the Eels on a development contract at 14.

He is just one of an increasing list of elite schoolboy footballers breaking with 103 years of GPS tradition by choosing a pathway to the bright lights of the NRL instead of rugby union.
Once regarded as a breeding ground for future Wallabies, the revered GPS rugby union competition has become the new talent pool for NRL scouts.

The decline in profile of Super Rugby and the lure of million-dollar contracts in the NRL, supported by lucrative sponsorship deals and wall-to-wall coverage on TV, has produced an unprecedented production line of NRL players with GPS credentials.

In a fast-developing trend, there are at least 20 players with private school tutelage currently performing in the NRL.

All of them would be considered as potential Wallabies, had they stayed playing rugby union.
Among them are NSW State of Origin player and South Sydney captain Cameron Murray (Newington), Roosters rising stars Sam Walker (Ipswich Grammar) and Joseph Sua'ali'i (The King’s School), Roosters forward Angus Crichton (Scots), Sharks forward Toby Rudolf (Scots), Storm player Tepai Moeroa (Newington) and Penisini.

Below the established NRL stars is a new wave of talent about to emerge with GPS rugby union backgrounds.

Barker College’s (CAS school) Isaiya Katoa created headlines earlier this year when he quit the Panthers to join new franchise the Dolphins on a three-year deal from next season, Penrith SG Ball (under-18) player Jesse McLean is a student at Newington as is former Cronulla Harold Matthews (under-16) skipper Siteni Taukamo, who is contracted with the Sharks until 2024.

Penisini’s younger brother Richie is in Year-12 at The King’s School, but is on a similar path to his brother, contracted to the Eels SG Ball side.

“I think we’re about to see a new wave. There’s a lot of talented kids coming through the GPS schools,’’ Penisini said.

“A lot of those boys start by playing both codes, which only helps them increase their skill-set, before picking their path.

“There’s been more and more focus and talk within rugby league about the GPS kids moving onto league and we can see now the boys coming through the system, even in the Harold Matts and SG Ball.’’

Making it easier for young footballers to switch codes is a shift in the previously over-protective mentality of the GPS blazer brigade.

Where once GPS students were only permitted to play rugby union for their school, headmasters and heads of sport are allowing their students to play both codes.

GPS schools are also acutely aware of the fact that a student who makes the NRL is an equal-parts promotion for the school of which they developed their skills.

“I started playing rugby league at eight and then I started rugby union when I was 11,’’ Moeroa, who made his NRL debut with the Eels, said.

“I was doing both growing up, playing league on Saturday and union Sunday.

“When I first started at Newington, they didn’t like the idea of me playing rugby league. My manager was able to come up with an agreement that I would play both in year nine and 10 and a bit in Year-11.’’

Moeroa added that the football development provided by GPS schools is another factor in NRL scouts spending their weekend’s watching private school footy.

“The level of training we were able to access at Newington was a pretty good avenue for life and footy after school,’’ Moeroa said.

“Some of the GPS schools facilities are almost at the standard as some Super Rugby and professional franchises. It’s crazy the amount of funding that goes into their programs.”

Former Parramatta premiership-winning forward John Muggleton switched from rugby union to league as a junior before returning to the 15-man game as the defence coach of Super Rugby franchise the Melbourne Rebels in 2011.

Muggleton said GPS schools were offering scholarships to teenagers playing junior league, transforming them into rugby union players, only to lose them in the end.

“Recruitment is a big thing for the GPS Schools,’’ Muggleton said.

“Rugby league is losing a lot of young juniors to schools in the GPS system.

“It’s not a bad thing because at the end of their school time a lot of them are going back to league.

“It’s a false economy for rugby. The schools target the good league players but then they aren’t in rugby for the long-term.

“What is happening is, NRL scouts are watching GPS matches and Australian Schoolboys selection trials and are poaching them back to play NRL.

“It’s a funny situation.

“At the end of the day. so long as they get a great education, that’s the best thing about it.’’





NSW vs QLD ex-union Origin, Wayne Bennett’s alliance with Nudgee College, GPS schools​


In the past, you couldn’t get in the front door of a GPS school if you were a league scout, now things have changed and so much so NRL is winning the war with rugby.
The NRL’s greatest coach Wayne Bennett is ready to raid rugby’s famous GPS system as he leaves no stone unturned in his recruitment drive for rugby league’s new expansion franchise, the Dolphins.
The Greater Public Schools system in Brisbane and Sydney has traditionally been the domain of elite schooling that has developed generations of rugby young guns destined for the green-and-gold of the Wallabies.

But over the past decade, there has been a greater prevalence of GPS talent sidestepping the Wallabies and instead chasing a rich contract with NRL clubs. The GPS system in Queensland has delivered a raft of teenage sensations to the NRL, including Churchie triumvirate Karmichael Hunt, Kalyn Ponga and Jaydn Su’A, Ipswich Grammar’s Sam Walker and BBC’s Dane Gagai.

NSW​

1. Ryan Papenhuyzen (Oakhill)
2. Joseph Sua'ali'i (Kings)
3. Will Penisini (Kings)
4. Taane Milne (Newington)
5. Tolutau Koula (Newington)
6. Adam Doueihi (St Patrick’s Strathfield)
7. Luke Keary (Oakhill)
8. Toby Rudolf (Scots)
9. Freddy Lussick (Newington)
10. Davvy Moale (Waverly)
11. Angus Crichton (Scots)
12. Tepai Moeroa (Newington)
13. Cam Murray (Newington)
14. Bailey Simonsson (Newington)
15. Albert Hopoate (St Augustine’s)
16. Luca Morretti (Waverley)
17. Billy Smith (Scots)


QLD​

1. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (Brisbane Grammar)
2. Xavier Savage (Brisbane Boys' College)
3. Dane Gagai (Brisbane Boys' College)
4. Hymel Hunt (Nudgee College)
5. Murray Taulagi (Brisbane State High)
6. Kalyn Ponga (Anglican Church Grammar)
7. Sam Walker (Ipswich Grammar)
8. Christian Welch (Villanova)
9. Andrew McCullough (Brisbane State High)
10. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (Iona)
11. Kurt Capewell (Ipswich Grammar)
12. Jaydn Su'A (Anglican Church Grammar)
13. Pat Carrigan (Gregory Terrace)
14. Billy Walters (Marist Ashgrove)
15. Lindsay Collins (Padua)
16. Ethan Bullemor (Nudgee College)
17. Jack Howarth (Brisbane Boys’ College)

18. Jojo Fifita (The Southport School)
19. Tom Gilbert (Brisbane Grammar)
20. Daejarn Asi (Brisbane Grammar)
21. Emry Pere (The Southport School)
22. Ezra Mam (Ambrose Treacy)

Now the Dolphins are cashing in, with the NRL’s 17th team striking an alliance with Nudgee College as the battle for elite sporting talent in rugby league and union intensifies.

“We’ve made inroads in the GPS system up here in Brisbane,” Bennett said. “We have built a strong relationship with Nudgee College and we have other GPS schools contacting us wanting to assist with scholarships.

“But the prerequisite is that a scholarship holder’s behaviour must be exemplary and they have to strive academically as well as athletically.

“A lot of league kids now are getting GPS scholarships because the schools value what they bring to their program. Jaydn Su’A, Kalyn Ponga, Dane Gagai and Karmichael Hunt all went to GPS schools in Queensland.

“It’s a wonderful thing because most working-class parents in league can’t afford to send their kids to GPS schools, but the scholarships give them the opportunity.

“It’s a win-win situation. Even in Sydney it’s happening. Cameron Murray (Souths captain) went to Newington College, so there’s quite a few kids who went to GPS schools who have gone on to play NRL.

“The GPS schools are now scouting kids as young as the Queensland under-12s and they are helping with their education, which is a positive for the NRL because it produces more educated, rounded people.

“Invariably, kids like Sam Walker and Gagai come back to rugby league because that’s their sport.

“And the NRL scouts know they are league kids, so they entice them back to the code.”
Dolphins recruitment boss Peter O’Sullivan said the GPS system has undergone a radical shift in mentality when dealing with NRL clubs.

“In the past, you couldn’t get in the front door of a GPS school if you were a league scout,” he said. “But they know rugby’s grassroots is diminishing and the best players are in rugby league, so they have a much better relationship with NRL clubs now.

“Now, young talents can have the best of both worlds. They can play junior reps in rugby league, be at a GPS school for their education and the NRL clubs get the benefits.

“At the Dolphins, we’re already working with GPS schools. One of the first things we did was go out to visit Nudgee College, who are in our catchment, and start building a relationship with them.”
 

Joker

Moderator
Staff member
I am leaving this alone.
The "word that shall not be spoken" is all over the NSW list.
I will leave this to braver souls to discuss
 

Love2Scrum

Watty Friend (18)
AD133123-73AC-4679-915C-2C88A90415AC.jpeg
 

Black & White

Vay Wilson (31)
It’s good to see that all the rugby teams will be playing at Stanmore this weekend.

From memory the Year 8’s or 9’s use to play at Tempe Reserve.

Has the number of teams declined ??? or has football moved all their games to Tempe Reserve freeing up Buchanan Oval for rugby??

I recall reading a few years ago that Newington had signed a 30 year agreement with the Inner West council to fund the upgrade to Synthetic fields.
Hello Love2Scrum

Yes, I read something of a similar nature. I believe the agreement is with Marrickville Council, if they still exist.. Apparently, I believe Newington has the right to develop these ovals as well. Something, that benefits both the Newington's Sports Program and the local Sports in Sydney's Inner West. A move and attitude of a progressive and enlightened school, that befits schools such as Newington and the overall community .
 

Black & White

Vay Wilson (31)
Yes, unfortunately it is true that the southern game gets played on view 1 for about 1 game per year, however you will never see the round ball game there which I guess is a small piece of respite.

BP.
Despite the initial surge in the popularity of soccer( Yes, I call it soccer) back in the 1990s and into the naughties. Soccer has seemed to come halt in recent years at Newington. In some age groups past, they have been equal in player numbers. As for Aerial Ping Pong. The sport benefits from the patronage of the Deputy Headmaster, who appears to be the driving force for the game at Newington. However, likely any member of staff, his time will come and he will depart from Stanmore. Will the game, survive his departure, remains to be seem.

In the meantime, Rugby is strong in numbers at the 13s with six teams. I can be corrected on this and happy to be proven wrong

But in the13s, Joeys have 6 teams
Shore have 5 teams
New have 6 teams
Scots appear to have 6 teams
View i expect to have 6 teams, maybe 7 teams
Kings I expect to have 5,6, or 7 Teams in the 13s
So if any body knows better, please correct my figures, as I am more than happy to change them. Particularly, if the numbers fall on the larger side. Also, we shouldn't be hesitant in providing numbers for Grammar, High and TAS.

Many thanks for revised Information
 

Joker

Moderator
Staff member
So if any body knows better, please correct my figures, as I am more than happy to change them.

Joeys traditionally have 7/8 Under 13 rugby teams and 3 soccer teams. (if you don't make a soccer team, then you play rugby)
Joeys also has the smallest of year 7 cohorts with on average 150. Other schools have 200+ in year 7.
At St Joseph's the numbers in the cohort steadily increase as the years pass by so by year 12 they have 200.
Joeys only has 1000 students
 

Black & White

Vay Wilson (31)
Joeys traditionally have 7/8 Under 13 rugby teams and 3 soccer teams. (if you don't make a soccer team, then you play rugby)
Joeys also has the smallest of year 7 cohorts with on average 150. Other schools have 200+ in year 7.
At St Joseph's the numbers in the cohort steadily increase as the years pass by so by year 12 they have 200.
Joeys only has 1000 students
Many thanks Joker
 

Big Papi

Herbert Moran (7)

How NRL is killing rugby nursery​

I know that this is not your article Rudderless, however I thought I would give my opinion on the matter.

While it is a shame that much of the best talent that schoolboy rugby has to offer is being poached by "thugby league," I think it is vital to understand that many of these players began with rugby league and only started playing union when they attend the private schools. This may have something to do with the fact that the best private schools academically on the east coast tend to be union schools and hence they make the switch for their time in high school.

I understand that this may ruffle some feathers, but I am a rugby league fan as well as a fan of union, and while I do see many players getting poached, I also see many players going back to their original forms. For example, I believe Okane and Cameron Murray started out with rugby league (if this is wrong let me know). So while it is disappointing I cannot say that I am mad about young kids going back to their roots.

Happy for a discussion on this one.

BP.
 

propsarespeedy

Ted Thorn (20)
I know that this is not your article Rudderless, however I thought I would give my opinion on the matter.

While it is a shame that much of the best talent that schoolboy rugby has to offer is being poached by "thugby league," I think it is vital to understand that many of these players began with rugby league and only started playing union when they attend the private schools. This may have something to do with the fact that the best private schools academically on the east coast tend to be union schools and hence they make the switch for their time in high school.

I understand that this may ruffle some feathers, but I am a rugby league fan as well as a fan of union, and while I do see many players getting poached, I also see many players going back to their original forms. For example, I believe Okane and Cameron Murray started out with rugby league (if this is wrong let me know). So while it is disappointing I cannot say that I am mad about young kids going back to their roots.

Happy for a discussion on this one.

BP.
Good point BP, of course if people start off with league and play that mainly before high school they are more likely to return back to it after graduation which is the case for most of the Gps players in the NRL, but there are some GPS talents who started with Union such as Penisini and Crichton. Would be great to see those boys in Union, how good would it be if they came back for the RWC
 

Joker

Moderator
Staff member
CORRECTIONS......

Angus Crichton played junior rugby league for the Young Cherrypickers, before switching to rugby union in his senior school years (11 and 12) at The Scots College. He also played league while at Scots on Sundays. (BTW...His dad attended the school and so he was always going there....so do not use "the word shall never be spoken")

Will Penisini played his junior days for the Rouse Hill Rhinos. In 2016, at the age of 14, Penisini joined Parramatta Eels' junior development squad. He first attended Patrician Brothers' College, Blacktown where he played league and then was "offered a place" at Kings where he played rugby union for the first time. Thank goodness for the Kings School for their support of a kid from Blacktown but alas he returned to league when his education was up (plus two premierships)
 
Last edited:

Rudderless

Trevor Allan (34)
Despite the initial surge in the popularity of soccer( Yes, I call it soccer) back in the 1990s and into the naughties. Soccer has seemed to come halt in recent years at Newington. In some age groups past, they have been equal in player numbers. As for Aerial Ping Pong. The sport benefits from the patronage of the Deputy Headmaster, who appears to be the driving force for the game at Newington. However, likely any member of staff, his time will come and he will depart from Stanmore. Will the game, survive his departure, remains to be seem.

In the meantime, Rugby is strong in numbers at the 13s with six teams. I can be corrected on this and happy to be proven wrong

But in the13s, Joeys have 6 teams
Shore have 5 teams
New have 6 teams
Scots appear to have 6 teams
View i expect to have 6 teams, maybe 7 teams
Kings I expect to have 5,6, or 7 Teams in the 13s
So if any body knows better, please correct my figures, as I am more than happy to change them. Particularly, if the numbers fall on the larger side. Also, we shouldn't be hesitant in providing numbers for Grammar, High and TAS.

Many thanks for revised Information
Black & White

looking at the fixtures tomorrow...

Kings U13's, U14's and U15's each have 5 teams, U16's have 6 teams.
 
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