Schoolboy Cup

Ipswich too good in Schoolboy Cup National Final

by
ourfooty
15/09/2022

Ipswich SHS are the world Champions (Photo's : Steve Montgomery)

Ipswich too good in Schoolboy Cup National Final

Author : Andrew Dawson and Phoebe Street

Ipswich too good in Schoolboy Cup National Final

National Schoolboy Cup Live Stream: Watch Ipswich v Patrician Brothers in interstate derby

An incredible year of firsts for Ipswich State High has culminated in the ultimate reward – the national schoolboys title – after a big win over Patrician Brothers, Fairfield.

Watch the replay of the NRL National Schoolboys Cup – Patrician Brothers Fairfield v Ipswich State High

Ipswich SHS wrote the final chapter in its Cinderella Season by beating Patrician Brothers Fairfield 32-6 to claim the coveted NRL Schoolboys Cup final at Redcliffe.

It was Ipswich SHS’s third grand final win in four weeks following earlier historic victories in the Langer Trophy and then the Phil Hall Cup state final.

Captain Josiah Pahulu wrote both the foreword and was one of the main characters in his team’s storybook winter and spring that has been unmatched in Ipswich SHS’s history.

2022 Peter Sterling medalist Gabriel Satrick. Picture: Steve Montgomery

NRL player Ryan James presents the Peter Sterling medal to Gabriel Satrick. Picture: Steve Montgomery

The old school of Broncos and Queensland champion Allan Langer and current Sharks star Ronaldo Mulitalo, Ipswich SHS has a proud league history, but this milestone moment must be top of the pops.

Winning coach Joshua Bretherton said Patrician Brothers Fairfield came hard at them down the middle and he was proud his side withstood the challenge.

Ipswich SHS are the world Schoolboy Rugby League Champions

“Under fire and under seige, against a team which plays brutal, high intensity football, the ability of my guys to keep their heads, calm and focused is what I am most proud of,” he said.

“And across the final series we have shown an ability to play with speed, to terrify people with the speed in which we move forward.’’

Patrician Brothers Fairfield, the NSW school champions, came to play, don’t worry, with a ruthless power game and challenged the fitness and toughness and desire of the Ipswich SHS pack.

One after another Patrician Brothers came at their rivals, mixing their forward challenge with dummy half scurries. It was a far closer game than the scores indicate.

But there could only be one winner and Ipswich SHS, unbeaten this year, found their way to the winners post as they have done all season.

Patrician Brothers coach Frank Pritchard said his team had climbed a mountain to get to grand final day and were simply beaten by a better side.

Ipswich captain Josiah Pahulu, right and Tre Fotu – the rewards for their huge effort. Photo : Steve Montgomery

Ipswich are the national schoolboys champions. Photo : Steve Montgomery

“It has been a roller coaster,’’ Pritchard said.

“It has been a great achievement for our team and what we have done for the school, but today, I have no excuses.

“We were just beaten by a better team.

“To Ipswich’s credit they were just the better team.’’

“We have not been here for 30 years and what these guys have done is awesome.

“I am proud of them. We came up against a side like Ipswich who produced a class performance.’’

Ipswich SHS caught out Patrician Brothers Fairfield twice in the opening minutes of both halves, both left edge spreads which resulted in centre Tre Fotu scoring (2nd minute) and winger Anton Naiyep (32nd minute) crossing.

Naiyep finish was classic wingers play, with the No.5 pinning his ears back and sprinting 35m to the corner despite three late comers crashing him toward the corner post.

The hammer blow then came three minutes later when the discovery player of the season, Ipswich SHS dummy half Gabriel Satrick, feasted on possession to score after a charge down had restarted the tackle count.

Although 24 minutes remained, 22-0 was a long way back for Patrician Brothers Fairfield.

Ipswich are the national schoolboys champions. Photo : Steve Montgomery

Patrician Brothers Fairfield did score next – the power game yielding a try for a scurrying Yehya Ayache – and they were back in business.

But with 13 minutes remaining Satrick’s dummy half sidekick, Tommy Luhrman, launched at the line like he was starting off in a 100m freestyle swimming race, finding the line to score.

At 28-6 the result was settled. Everyone was just waiting on the final score.

It was a battle royale across the opening 30 minutes as both teams pounded each other in the middle third.

Patrician Brothers Fairfield were hellbent on beating their man in the middle with a power game and running off the back of that with dummy half darts.

It was effective, although Ipswich SHS did curtail the running game of prop giant Jordan Miller and, to a lesser degree, the aggressive running of left edge back rower and captain Joshua Alhazim.

Ipswich SHS held on, but as the game progressed in warm conditions, you sensed a fatigue factor could come into play for both sides.

And so it was the case six minutes before halftime when Ipswich SHS halfback Jalen Afamasaga speared through a gap almost as wide as the Sydney Heads to score after a quick tap and run from a penalty.

It was Ipswich’s second try after an early, successful charge at the line by Tre Fotu.

There was a huge moment 90 seconds before halftime when Ipswich right edge forward Oliva Iaulualo extended his arm to score, but had the ball knocked out, saving Patrician Brothers Fairfield from a 16-0 deficit.

Earlier, in the opening minutes, Ipswich SHS wasted no time in playing footy, casting aside any thought of a nervous, conservative opening by sweeping the ball right and then left, leading to centre Fotu scoring in the corner.

It would have taken a prime mover to halt the big Queensland centre who came on the burst with such ferocity, there was no stopping him. It was 4-0.

Patrician Brothers fullback Junior Fagalel then doused a dangerous situation when he grasped Ipswich winger Kulu Baruani who almost kicked clear to score after snaring an attacking bomb.

Ipswich SHS 32

TRIES : Tre Fotu, Jalen Afamasaga, Anton Naiyep, Tommy Luhrman Gabriel Satrick
GOALS : James Frazer 4
P/GOALS : James Frazer 2

Patrician Brothers Fairfield 6

TRIES : Yehya Ayache
GOALS : Tah’j Colquhoun

TEAM LISTS

Ipswich SHS:

1. Tyler Peckham-Harris 2.Kulu Baruani, 3. Caleb Jackson, 4. Tre Fotu, 5. Anton Naiyep, 6. James Frazer, 7. Jalen Afamasaga,8. Ahmani Leluia, 9. Tommy Luhrman, 10. Josiah Pahulu, 11. Xavier Sofeni, 12. Oliva Iaulualo,13. Jack Laing, 14. Gabriel Satrick,15. Rene Bagon, 16. Loko Tonga, 17. Jacobi Shaw. 18th Cayleb Johnson, 19th: Nick Torrens

Patrician Brothers Fairfield:

1. Junior Fagalele, 2. Corey Leigh, 3. Godfrey Ilavalu, 4. Sione Lolohea, 5. Noah Funa, 6. Taj’h Colquhoun, 7. Chad Daniels, 8. Massimo Mari, 9. Yehya Ayache (c), 10. Jordan Miller, 11. Jezaiah Funa-Iuta, 12. Joshua Alhazim (c), 13. Bailey Myers, 14. Zaidas Muagututia, 15. Matthew Alhazim, 16. Jack Leigh, 17. Kohan Lewis, 18. Billy Arena, 19. Robert Uhatafe

WATCH THE NRL SCHOOLBOYS CUP FINALS DAY LIVE
Don’t miss a minute of the action from a jam-packed NRL Schoolboys Cup grand final day – all being live streamed by KommunityTV.

Live Stream Schedule
Wednesday, September 14

9.40am: Karyn Murphy Cup – Cairns SHS v Isis District SHS
10.10am: Karyn Murphy Cup – Cairns SHS v Stretton State College
10.50am: Karyn Murphy Cup – Isis District SHS v Stretton State College
11.30am: Schoolboy Trophy final – Lockyer District SHS v Trinity Bay SHS
1pm: Karyn Murphy Cup grand final – Stretton v Cairns
1.45pm: Queensland Schoolgirl Cup final – Marsden SHS v Kirwan SHS
3.30pm: NRL Schoolboys Cup final – Ipswich SHS v Patrician Brothers Fairfield