Australian Schoolboys & National Championship 2010

[observer]

I understand Usaia O'Sullivan has also been picked. He is playing in the backs at the moment. I will put him at 12 for the moment until the picture becomes clearer.

1 Jack Jones, ACT, Marist College/Allan Ala'alatoa NSW Newington College
2
3 Phil Kite, QLD, Nudgee College
4 Dean Oakman-Hunt, ACT, Erindale College
5 Michael Oakman-Hunt, ACT, Erindale College/ Michael Wells, NSW, St Ignatius College
6 Williams, NSW, St Josephs College
7 Gordon Broome, NSW, Asquith BHS
8 Caleb Timu, QLD, Nudgee College
9 Jock Merriman, NSW, SHORE/ Clint Dale, ACT, MacKillop Catholic College
10 Ulupano Seuteni, QLD, TSS
11 Jason Seage, NSW, The Hills Sports HS
12 Usaia O'Sullivan, NSW, Trinity College
13 Brogan Roods, NSW, Newington College
14
15

 

[Lindommer]

I understand Usaia O'Sullivan Trinity Grammar School...

A very, very talented young lad. He's been picked in the back row for most of his school games but lacks the muscular physicality to cut it at senior level. Usaia's been involved with Wests Junior Rugby (and now Pirates Colts) for some years; Pirates see him as a 13, or 12, and will give him every opportunity to make it at the highest level. His WJR/Trinity/Pirates mate, Jack Debreczeni's, no slouch either.

 

[Lee Grant]

Let's hope they don't go the way of young Adrian Ha'angana another Wests Junior who played for NSW Schools last year out of Joeys. He's just signed for the Roosters.

Agree with your assessment of Usaia - is skilful but doesn't have the physicality for a back rower that, for example, young Luani showed for New last Saturday and Havea for CHS. I hope those lads stay in our code.

Jack D had a great week for Sydney Juniors in the U/16 comp last year but was less good for the CAS Twos when I saw them go around at Cranbrook recently - though one average game doesn't signify much.

 

[Lee Grant]

Allan was in the NSW 1 schools team this year (he is only 16) and he is one of the big props from Newington that terrorised Joeys last weekend. he is also in the NSW JGS squad. A really good player with heaps of potential

Agree with this. He was a reserve for the NSW Ones which I believe is the 4th group of players picked (after NSW I 1st XV, NSW II 2nd XV, NSW II reserves) though they may have changed that system they used to have.

Anyhow - I'm pretty sure he will be in GPS Is (in the IIs this year) and the NSW I 1st XV in 2011.

Still just 16, wow ; but he is still not allowed anywhere near my fridge.

 

[Lindommer]

Let's hope they don't go the way of young Adrian Ha'angana another Wests Junior who played for NSW Schools last year out of Joeys. He's just signed for the Roosters. ... I hope those lads stay in our code.

Usaia, and Jack, are rugby boys through and through. We're currently giving them a run in Pirates Colts 3s and, believe me, they're not out of their depth. Adrian was always at risk of going to league and played juniors (S G Ball?) with Easts on Sundays while he was at Joeys. I watched him closely during his last few years in rugby and reckoned he was either picked out of position (backrow) or didn't want to play the game. He did look a bit better after moving to 12 in 2008 but he's got the perfect body shape for 6 or 8, or maybe even prop if he doesn't grow any taller. His work ethic at the breakdown left a lot to be desired.

 

[observer]

Gee, have a look at this Wests colts 3 team. All those boys you mentioned Havea, Debreczeni and O'Sullivan are all there. My mail on Havea turned out right; he must of broken his contract with the Melbourne Storm. The bloke I'm surprised to see there is Sam Ahofono, Hills Sports HS and NSW2 winger. I understood he had a contract with the Bulldogs but perhaps he got out of it too. He and Havea are best mates.

Hills Sports along with Manu Sutherland and Hugh Carpenter from the ARU have done a great job in converting these boys to rugby. The list of mungoes now rah rahs include Steve Cummins (JGS & Wests colts1), Jason Seage (Sevens and Tah Academy), Jason Havea, Sam Ahofono, Big Willy Skelton (Sydney Uni colts2 and CS). The one that got away is Gerard McCallum (CHS1 & NSW2) who is tied to the Bulldogs. I know rugby is still interested in him.

Third Grade Colts
1 David Lolohea
2 Peter Woollett
3 Leon Latu
4 Patrick Lind
5 Eli Chan
6 Jarrod Wicks
7 Rob Hahn (C)
8 Jason Havea
9 Jarrod Hourigan
10 Jack Debreczeni
11 Usaia O'Sullivan
12 Sisa Koroi
13 Sam Ahofono
14 Veni Mafi
15 Lucas Baxter

 

[Informer]

Hills Sports along with Manu Sutherland and Hugh Carpenter from the ARU have done a great job in converting these boys to rugby. The list of mungoes now rah rahs include Steve Cummins (JGS & Wests colts1), Jason Seage (Sevens and Tah Academy), Jason Havea, Sam Ahofono, Big Willy Skelton (Sydney Uni colts2 and CS). The one that got away is Gerard McCallum (CHS1 & NSW2) who is tied to the Bulldogs. I know rugby is still interested in him.

Third Grade Colts
1 David Lolohea
2 Peter Woollett
3 Leon Latu
4 Patrick Lind
5 Eli Chan
6 Jarrod Wicks
7 Rob Hahn (C)
8 Jason Havea
9 Jarrod Hourigan
10 Jack Debreczeni
11 Usaia O'Sullivan
12 Sisa Koroi
13 Sam Ahofono
14 Veni Mafi
15 Lucas Baxter[/QUOTE]

That is an impressive side and well done to Manu and his NTS/JGS team, I am a great fan of their work which largely goes unnoticed by the general public. To keep/convert those boys to rugby is a great effort and bodes well for rugby at Wests and in general.

 

[Lee Grant]

Thanks for those comments fellows - those guys are worth their weight in gold aren't they?

We need a few more rugby missionaries, especially at the Sports High Schools, and fellows like Papa (warts and all) at other schools. The trick is to find these fellows and somehow get them placed.

 

[Upright]

Usaia, and Jack, are rugby boys through and through. We're currently giving them a run in Pirates Colts 3s and, believe me, they're not out of their depth. Adrian was always at risk of going to league and played juniors (S G Ball?) with Easts on Sundays while he was at Joeys. I watched him closely during his last few years in rugby and reckoned he was either picked out of position (backrow) or didn't want to play the game. He did look a bit better after moving to 12 in 2008 but he's got the perfect body shape for 6 or 8, or maybe even prop if he doesn't grow any taller. His work ethic at the breakdown left a lot to be desired.

My information is that he is playing Under 20's (League call it Toyota Cup Rugby calls it Colts) with Souths as a prop and is playing from the bench only.

 

[Albert]

My information is that he is playing Under 20's (League call it Toyota Cup Rugby calls it Colts) with Souths as a prop and is playing from the bench only.

Adrian was young in year 12. He played SG Ball (under 18s) for the first half of this season in the 2nd row, then at the conclusion of that comp, was promoted to the Rabbits Toyota Cup squad. He'll still be eligible for Toyota Cup in 2011 & 2012.

 

[Lee Grant]

My info is that he is signed for 2011 and 2012.

 

[pitbull]

I think Luani is returning to league after the season, believes he cant make it in union. Upsetting to say the least

 

[Iluvmyfooty]

I think Luani is returning to league after the season, believes he cant make it in union. Upsetting to say the least

I would hope the ARU learnt its lesson last year when they took a player on the UK tour who had signed with Cronulla. If they are contracted past the end of school to play senior league leave them out of the schools teams and let a player who is prepared to back himself in Union take their place.

 

[FTS]

Thats why we so badly need a provincial comp so there is more pathways for juniors to play some professional footy, instead of just taking off to league.

 

[rugbyfan]

i would hope the aru learnt its lesson last year when they took a player on the uk tour who had signed with cronulla. If they are contracted past the end of school to play senior league leave them out of the schools teams and let a player who is prepared to back himself in union take their place.

agree

 

[rugbyfan]

Thats why we so badly need a provincial comp so there is more pathways for juniors to play some professional footy, instead of just taking off to league.

Like the ITM Cup for NZ?
and the Currie Cup for SA?

 

[DPK]

Like the ITM Cup for NZ?
and the Currie Cup for SA?

Yeah, we can call it the umm... hows Australian Rugby Championship? Sorry, that jokes been made too many times on G&GR...

 

[NZ10]

colts is a shambles and so is 3rd grade if that's where elite boys want to go, we need an under 20s super 14.. even if its just interstate in australia

 

[rugbyfan]

It's the reason NZ (being a tiny country) have so much depth, because of the continuous progression of skill levels they progress through to reach the super 14 and national side.

 

[lily]

The Australian Schools Rugby team should consist of the best 15 regardless of their future. It should be a reward for their outstanding play. It is not their fault that their are only a very samll number of places for them.