Superlander
Bob McCowan (2)
Look on nswjuniors.com.au, under School Teams. The ISA teams went up earlier this week.
ISA 2025
- Thread starter DaSchmooze
- Start date
Superlander
Bob McCowan (2)
Attachments
AussieSchoolboyRugby
Allen Oxlade (6)
Any names to look out for in the Blacks and Golds?
paddofanpage
Frank Row (1)
Tom Longland a gun, also in Augs 1stXV
LookLongPlayShort
Bob McCowan (2)
After watching the ISA 1s yesterday and Thursday, safe to say the future is bright. Just went down to GPS 1s because of a few poor ref decisions, which cost them the game, and a tight loss to CAS 1s.
ISA forwards looked great, could they have been even better with Polley, Fulton, Cleary and Tait (IMO), yes. Nevertheless, The ISA boys showed some fearless ball carrying, especially from Selestino Mainakavika, Noah Rylands and Charlie Woolf. Collectively looking strong against all forward packs
The backs were electric. The Oakhill boys were on fire with Darcy Feltham and Cyrus Bloomfield, and it was exactly the same story with the Auggies boys. Chayse Geros, Beau Alexander and Oliver Metcalf who all looked lively during the games.
I thought ISA was unlucky to lose both games to GPS and CAS but is a good showing that ISA is just around the corner for these 'Bigger competitions'.
Good luck to all Boys on NSW Schools selection and the upcoming ISA/CAS Games.
LLPS Out
ISA forwards looked great, could they have been even better with Polley, Fulton, Cleary and Tait (IMO), yes. Nevertheless, The ISA boys showed some fearless ball carrying, especially from Selestino Mainakavika, Noah Rylands and Charlie Woolf. Collectively looking strong against all forward packs
The backs were electric. The Oakhill boys were on fire with Darcy Feltham and Cyrus Bloomfield, and it was exactly the same story with the Auggies boys. Chayse Geros, Beau Alexander and Oliver Metcalf who all looked lively during the games.
I thought ISA was unlucky to lose both games to GPS and CAS but is a good showing that ISA is just around the corner for these 'Bigger competitions'.
Good luck to all Boys on NSW Schools selection and the upcoming ISA/CAS Games.
LLPS Out
shaquille_oatmeal
Frank Nicholson (4)
As someone supporting the GPS side your boys played very well and were most certainly deserving of a win against GPS, looks like the future is bright for some strong competition which should help sharpen everyone's ability and elevate the quality of rugby for all teams.
rugbyfootyguy
Stan Wickham (3)
Shoutout to the following ISA boys who cracked the NSW Schools team. Congrats Lads!
-Chayse Geros AUG
-Cyrus Bloomfield OAK
-Jack Bronwn SPX
-Flynn Farrell OAK
-Oscar Clear KWS
-Sele Mainakavika STA
-Noah Rylands AUG
-Harper Shaw KWS
-Ewan Coates AUG
-Casey Bray AUG
-Beau Alexander AUG
-Chayse Geros AUG
-Cyrus Bloomfield OAK
-Jack Bronwn SPX
-Flynn Farrell OAK
-Oscar Clear KWS
-Sele Mainakavika STA
-Noah Rylands AUG
-Harper Shaw KWS
-Ewan Coates AUG
-Casey Bray AUG
-Beau Alexander AUG
Think Lewis Wilson (Aug) was ISA 1st XV #3 last year
DaSchmooze
Cyril Towers (30)
Gremlins in the system WLF3 - your post only just popped up???
From a 1st XV perspective it's really hard to work out who's who int he zoo. i think you're right, Barker will probably get the nod but as a program, I dont see anyone dusting Waverley. Auggies and Oaks have strong programs but do have a weak age group or two whereas Waverley doesn't. Even though their 1s arent going great, they've only just gone down by small margins.
Agree it's been an engaging season to date with everyone putting on a show. Well done to both associations and I cant wait for the first round.
rugbyfootyguy
Stan Wickham (3)
In regard to this subject, I need some advice from people. It's obvious to say that year in and year out Waverlye's younger years always seem to dominate...like all the time. My question is why hasn't this been translating to Waverley's Opens boys, specifically the 1XV 15. Obviously they went undefeated and won the CAS premiership in 2023, but over the past 8 years they have only won 3 times. Now don't get me wrong winning 3 CAS titles in 8 years is still very good, but I don't understand how they haven't won more CAS titles considering how strong their younger rugby program is and has been. Anyone have an answer to help me understand. (I'm not hating on Waverley, just really curious.)
Also sorry to bring up CAS matter in the ISA forum but I do think it would be nice to know the answer to this ahead of the upcoming ISA/CAS comp. Plus their hasn't been much going on in the forum so just trying to spice things up.
Also sorry to bring up CAS matter in the ISA forum but I do think it would be nice to know the answer to this ahead of the upcoming ISA/CAS comp. Plus their hasn't been much going on in the forum so just trying to spice things up.
DaSchmooze
Cyril Towers (30)
I suppose the low hanging fruit would be to say that (and I don't know if this is thew case but I presume), that in the lower years, the results reflect good coaching and good program. But in the senior years, the effects of other schools scholarship programs take over.
So considering this, I think the best program match ups will be Waves v Augs and Waves v Oaks. I don't think the other match ups will be an accurate reflection of how each school's program is going as each schools scholarship cohort skews the results. Barker v Augs/Oaks will be interesting as they are undefeated in the 1s, 2s and 16s but lack strength in the younger years.
All of the above is pure speculation of course.
As far as scheduling goes, you'd hate to be a CAS/ISA sports co-ordinator now. 3 weeks to settle on a draw that caters for 15+ schools factoring country travel and varied team numbers. Yikes. I suspect we wont see anything until the Sunday night before school resumes.
EDIT - to your original point of 3 titles in 8 years... As a Pats supporter, I'd be very happy with those numbers!
So considering this, I think the best program match ups will be Waves v Augs and Waves v Oaks. I don't think the other match ups will be an accurate reflection of how each school's program is going as each schools scholarship cohort skews the results. Barker v Augs/Oaks will be interesting as they are undefeated in the 1s, 2s and 16s but lack strength in the younger years.
All of the above is pure speculation of course.
As far as scheduling goes, you'd hate to be a CAS/ISA sports co-ordinator now. 3 weeks to settle on a draw that caters for 15+ schools factoring country travel and varied team numbers. Yikes. I suspect we wont see anything until the Sunday night before school resumes.
EDIT - to your original point of 3 titles in 8 years... As a Pats supporter, I'd be very happy with those numbers!
Backintheolddays
Syd Malcolm (24)
Demographics and less room for improvement. Joeys is similar in the GPS. Generally dominate in lower age groups and playing field levels out (ho ho ho I won't go there) in the older boys. Lot of kids at these schools have more of a rugby (whether league or union) than most of their peers. Plus solid programs.
Running_rugby_1954
Vay Wilson (31)
In the last ten years only 3 teams have won CAS - Knox, Waverley and Barker. Waverley or Barker would have won 2021(This will forever be a debate of which one, but Waverley had beaten Kings by 60 that year- no mean feat and a sign of how strong the team was - most of the team had returned from their 2020 winning team too).
Premierships over last ten years:
Barker 5, Waverley 4, Knox 1.
So we can say that Waverley’s younger success has been translating to 1st XV premierships.
During this time some of the players that have arrived at Barker in year 10 or sometimes year 11 are (this is not an extensive list either by the way):
Taj Smith
TJ Talaileva
Harrison Dene
Mark Falaniko-Brown-Peterson-Patolo
Jeremy Rath
Charlie Poynton
Isaiya Katoa
Adrian Brown
Doug Phillipson
Josh Nercession
Oniti Finau
Sam Sayoun
Lachlan Hooper
Eli Sagala
Kyle Bowen
Dion Yazdani
Luke Reimer
Billy Pollard
Jordan Cameron
Dane Wilson
Everyone will agree this is an incredible list of players and this will have an impact on the results. Barker are very smart in this area in that the players arriving are often 3 year 1st XV players who end up at that Aus U18s level.
And I will highlight that Barker appears to have the most effective weights program. This is a standard above all the other CAS schools in my opinion based mostly on the visual development of all the Barker kids compared to every other CAS school.
I also want to highlight how close the comps have been. Besides 2019 and 2022 Barker Waverley could have won if a pass had stuck in 2024, if they had kicked a goal in 2018 (which was the last play of the game) and in 2025, they lost to Barker by a goal kick. So all pretty good for a close comp.
Premierships over last ten years:
Barker 5, Waverley 4, Knox 1.
So we can say that Waverley’s younger success has been translating to 1st XV premierships.
During this time some of the players that have arrived at Barker in year 10 or sometimes year 11 are (this is not an extensive list either by the way):
Taj Smith
TJ Talaileva
Harrison Dene
Mark Falaniko-Brown-Peterson-Patolo
Jeremy Rath
Charlie Poynton
Isaiya Katoa
Adrian Brown
Doug Phillipson
Josh Nercession
Oniti Finau
Sam Sayoun
Lachlan Hooper
Eli Sagala
Kyle Bowen
Dion Yazdani
Luke Reimer
Billy Pollard
Jordan Cameron
Dane Wilson
Everyone will agree this is an incredible list of players and this will have an impact on the results. Barker are very smart in this area in that the players arriving are often 3 year 1st XV players who end up at that Aus U18s level.
And I will highlight that Barker appears to have the most effective weights program. This is a standard above all the other CAS schools in my opinion based mostly on the visual development of all the Barker kids compared to every other CAS school.
I also want to highlight how close the comps have been. Besides 2019 and 2022 Barker Waverley could have won if a pass had stuck in 2024, if they had kicked a goal in 2018 (which was the last play of the game) and in 2025, they lost to Barker by a goal kick. So all pretty good for a close comp.
WLF3
Ted Thorn (20)
Not sure why that happened DaS, never mind.
I am just extremely happy to see an engaging new comp start that accommodates all the schools from 2 associations. like never before!
I am also damn sure that the ISA boys/coaches and fans will be having a quiet word to give it to these other pretenders!
I would guess, as you astutely outlined, that the 13s-15s comps may well be decided between the 3 schools you mentioned.
The seniors though isn't as clear cut, imo, as it may appear. Barker are deserved favs, let's see what happens.
Haven't heard yet about the start dates or draws but wait with baited breadth.
I am just extremely happy to see an engaging new comp start that accommodates all the schools from 2 associations. like never before!
I am also damn sure that the ISA boys/coaches and fans will be having a quiet word to give it to these other pretenders!
I would guess, as you astutely outlined, that the 13s-15s comps may well be decided between the 3 schools you mentioned.
The seniors though isn't as clear cut, imo, as it may appear. Barker are deserved favs, let's see what happens.
Haven't heard yet about the start dates or draws but wait with baited breadth.
WLF3
Ted Thorn (20)
RR, Your analysis is very well researched and spot on.
You sound very close to the Waves
I think it's only fair to point out that the Waves and Knox, and to a far lesser extent Trinity and Cranbrook have had boys arrive, so Barker is not the only offender, and this is what affects the outcomes of winning the Henry Plume Cup.
Very biasly I can say that the Waves, imo, would have definitely won the 2021 comp.
The coaches who have coached for the last 20 years said it was the best team they had ever coached, it had everything and had never lost a CAS since year 7. They flogged all most all comers in the 8 matches played prior to the covid shut down, what a disappointment that was.
The Waves younger age groups have historically nearly always been very strong.
Why? Not sure but many believe it is because of the abundance of local junior comps, beach activities like nippers, generally a very heathy and sporty lifestyle, and I agree having been submerged it in with 2 boys. Along with terrific coaches and a strong footy program.
It can't all be just a coincidence.
Agree that the Waves 1st XV could have won the 2024 comp, 1 last pass in the last 2 games killed them and this year again the last 2 games v Knox and Barker went down to the wire.
This all leads to a very exciting ISA/CAS comp, with 2 tiers! Bring it on!
You sound very close to the Waves
I think it's only fair to point out that the Waves and Knox, and to a far lesser extent Trinity and Cranbrook have had boys arrive, so Barker is not the only offender, and this is what affects the outcomes of winning the Henry Plume Cup.
Very biasly I can say that the Waves, imo, would have definitely won the 2021 comp.
The coaches who have coached for the last 20 years said it was the best team they had ever coached, it had everything and had never lost a CAS since year 7. They flogged all most all comers in the 8 matches played prior to the covid shut down, what a disappointment that was.
The Waves younger age groups have historically nearly always been very strong.
Why? Not sure but many believe it is because of the abundance of local junior comps, beach activities like nippers, generally a very heathy and sporty lifestyle, and I agree having been submerged it in with 2 boys. Along with terrific coaches and a strong footy program.
It can't all be just a coincidence.
Agree that the Waves 1st XV could have won the 2024 comp, 1 last pass in the last 2 games killed them and this year again the last 2 games v Knox and Barker went down to the wire.
This all leads to a very exciting ISA/CAS comp, with 2 tiers! Bring it on!
LookLongPlayShort
Bob McCowan (2)
Fun Fact, Harrison Dene and Charlie Poynton were previously Augs Boys.
rugbyfootyguy
Stan Wickham (3)
I remember hearing about this a couple months ago and I was astonished, and the fact that Barker snagged BOTH of them is out of this world. IMO last year St Augustine's 1XV were the best team in NSW. I believe they went undefeated and took down multiple schools such as Knox, Waverley, Joeys, Oakhill and many more. Obviously they had a great team with big time names like Joey Walsh, Charlie Blank, Sam Blank, Tamoko Berryman, and Tylan Berryman. BUT.......... imagine if they still had Harrison Dene and Charlie Poynton. I genuinely couldn't put together a possible backline team-list because there too stacked. This really makes you wonder the possible great ISA teams that got taken away as a result of other schools poaching these young lads.
DaSchmooze
Cyril Towers (30)
Yes Oakhill could attest to that.