U15s hooker. Heβs had a good year.Looks like we signed a hm player for next season.
General Warriors Harold Matthews 2024
- Thread starter mt.wellington
- Start Date
NZWarriors.com
It would be great to see an annual secondary schools championship game featuring the national champs of both NZ & Australian school sides maybe as a curtain raiser to an NRL finals game.
It would be a great barometer of the continued development of the game in NZ, especially when you hear so much about the virtues of Australian schools like of Keebra Park and their ability to develop good players.
It could also assist in the continued growth of the game in NZ , both with playing standards and importantly the profile of Rugby League in NZ
It would be a great barometer of the continued development of the game in NZ, especially when you hear so much about the virtues of Australian schools like of Keebra Park and their ability to develop good players.
It could also assist in the continued growth of the game in NZ , both with playing standards and importantly the profile of Rugby League in NZ
Any help here?
www.nzherald.co.nz
The next Wahs generation: NRL scouts swarm NZ high schools competition
After years of ignoring South Island talent, the Warriors are looking south for new stars.
NZWarriors.com
This weekβs South Island sports wrap highlights the young rugby league talent that NRL scouts are spying, as well as secondary schools basketball, rugby and netball. Mike Thorpe reports.Any help here?
The next Wahs generation: NRL scouts swarm NZ high schools competition
After years of ignoring South Island talent, the Warriors are looking south for new stars.
If they werenβt taking notice before β they are now. The national secondary school rugby league tournament held in Auckland over the weekend attracted dozens of NRL scouts and they had their eyes on one team in particular, St Thomas of Canterbury College (STC).
βThey were pretty good last year but I thought they were even more dominant this year,β says New Zealand Warriors development coach, former Kiwis star Tony Iro.
The South Islandβs hottest league talent has largely been ignored by the Warriors in years gone by, allowing Australian clubs to take the first pick.
But thatβs changing, with the Warriors already having links to a number of STCβs brightest prospects through their age group squads.
βIβm pretty sure that based on those performances on the weekend that weβll have plenty more Christchurch boys coming up and playing in those teams as well,β says Iro.
The Christchurch school came into the tournament at Bill Pulman Park as defending champions and flexed their muscles right from day one, thumping Aorere College (Auckland) 42-0 and Manurewa High School 32-4.
Day two saw a heavyweight clash with Aucklandβs De La Salle College to end pool play β STCβs star second-rower Bishop Neal proving irresistible in their 24-14 win. The 16-year-old scored early in the second half, bursting through a pack of four defenders on his own. Five minutes later, Neal laid on a try for explosive centre Jackson Stewart with an around-the-back pass that went viral. TikTok, Instagram β it was so good it probably even reached MySpace.
βHe [Neal] only turned 16 probably in May. Heβs one of a kind to be honest,β says proud coach Andrew Auimatagi.
Neal is already plugged into the Warriors system and was a part of their title-winning Harold Matthews Cup (Under-17) side earlier this year. The Year 11 student outshone all the others at the nationals and was named tournament MVP.
βI just love the way he plays β heβs pretty carefree but I think this tournament just showed that he can do a lot of the tough stuff and his defence was a highlight for me. We know he can break teams open with his attack and his flair β but it was a bit of a coming of age for him,β says Auimatagi.
In the semifinal, STC easily accounted for St Paulβs College (Auckland) 24-4 to set up another showdown with De La Salle in the final. The Auckland school also had a convincing semifinal win, routing Rotorua Boysβ High School 34-4.
STC quickly took charge of the final, leading 18-0 after just seven minutes through tries to Isaiah Savea, Meihana Pauling and Xavier Reweti.
βThe boys started pretty hot and everything was going a bit too easy I thought. I was kind of expecting it to potentially turn at some point and it did,β said Auimatagi.
De La Salle closed the gap to six by halftime but STC were always in front and scored again through a well-worked try to winger Xavier Talatonu. DLS added one more consolation try at fulltime but they couldnβt stop STC from securing their second consecutive national title, winning 24-18.
βThe boys showed great resilience and grit and yeah I think our defence has been a trademark of the last few seasons,β said Auimatagi.
The hot-stepping Meihana Pauling was named the MVP of the final.
βHeβs one of key leaders and lynchpin there at fullback. Just showed how much of a threat he is but also a real calming influence on the team,β said Auimatagi.
STC had eight players selected for the New Zealand Secondary Schools 18s team (Meihana Pauling, Xavier Lynch, Jackson Stewart, Lautasi Etuale, Isaiah Savea, Zeke Faga-Leti, Lennox Tuiloma and Toby Gibson) and two for the 16s (Christiano Elia, Bishop Neal).
For Auimatangi β a former Canterbury Bulls coach and multiple premiership-winning mentor with Linwood Kea β the achievement was hugely significant in his own career.
βThis is definitely the highlight for me I guess, being an old boy of St Thomasβ and Iβve been working at the school for nearly 14 years. I was there when we started a bit of a league programme and taking the boys up to nationals. We were in the developing grade in 2013 so to be going back-to-back in the premiership 10 years later is pretty special.β
The decorated coach sees even more success in the near future for his school side.
βThereβs definitely a really talented group of young ones coming through right from Year 9 up. So, hopefully itβs something we can continue.β
The Reefton Kidβs kid
Waimea College are the South Islandβs best boyβs basketballers, downing Christβs College in the Zone 4 final in Dunedin.Led by the hot hand of upcoming Tall Blacks star Hayden Jones, Waimea jumped out to an early lead and maintained it β winning 94-84. Jones scored a game-high 37 points, edging Christβs Collegeβs main attacking threat, Hoani Togia (29 points).
Jones β son of Nelson and Tall Blacks great Phill β led all scorers through the tournament as well, collecting 222 points across seven games at a tournament-high average of almost 32 points per game. St Thomas of Canterbury College sharpshooter and rising Canterbury Rams prospect Mana Martin was the next-best with just over 29 points per game.
Shirley Boysβ High Schoolβs Milan Newton also scored heavily across the tournament, amassing 215 points.
Rangiora High School claimed third spot with an 83-60 win over St Andrewβs College.
In the junior boys tournament, it was Hillmorton High School who triumphed over Nelson College, 79β71 in the final.
St Andrewβs College claimed the AA Girls title in a tight tussle, beating Kaiapoi High School 67-65.
STAC did the double in the girlsβ grade, winning the junior title as well, 90-50 against Ashburton College.
Top 2
Nelson College fell at the final hurdle of an otherwise historic season, losing the final of the Top 4 National First XV tournament in Palmerston North. Nelson had gone north with an unbeaten run in 2024 and every title imaginable from the South Island competition.
They took the field in their semifinal with Kelston Boysβ High School (Blues region champions), having never won a match at the Top 4 stage of the tournament before.
Playing into a howling wind, Nelson College dominated the first half and took a 21-3 lead into the second half. With the wind at their backs in the second spell Nelson failed to fully capitalise on the advantage β but still got the win, 26-18.
The final, two days later, saw very similar conditions. Up against serial finalists Hamilton Boysβ High School (Chiefs region champions), Nelson struggled to exit into the wind and soon trailed. But they hit back with a smart try to second five-eighth Jimmy West before a spectacular length-of-the-field effort put them in front. From a scrum five metres out from their own goal-line, Nelson College spread the ball to influential first five Harry Inch. With a show-and-go and left-arm fend, Inch broke out of his 22 before a perfectly timed pass put Mikey Morrison into space, the flying winger dashing 60m before an in-and-away saw him shake the last defender for the try of the tournament.
Hamilton Boysβ took a handy 20-10 lead into the second half and once again, Nelson struggled with the wind at their backs.
βWe got over the line three times but none of them given so it made it really hard to get momentum,β said head coach Jono Phillips.
Hamilton Boysβ prevailed 27-17 to claim their sixth Top 4 title.
The loss brings the curtain down on Phillipsβ time at the school and with the team. His success has been undeniable over the past six years, taking the team to three South Island titles and even more Miles Toyota Championships. He says heβs gutted for his team β but immensely proud of what theyβve achieved.
βIβve actually known this group for the full five years theyβve been at secondary school so theyβre pretty dear to me,β said Phillips.
Heβs yet to confirm his next step but says he will continue to work with the USA national team.
Meanwhile, Christchurch Girlsβ High School suffered a narrow loss in their Top 4 semifinal with Howick College, 22-17. They led the playoff for third against Hamilton Girlsβ High School at halftime before succumbing 38-10.
Unbeaten run comes to an end
Christchurch Boysβ High School (CBHS) Under-15s also contested a national final β taking on hosts Tauranga Boysβ High School.CBHS reached the final after a Houdini-like semifinal escape against Westlake Boysβ High. Trailing 30-18 with five minutes to go, they scored a converted try and kicked a penalty to pull within two points of Westlake.
With just enough time for the restart, CBHS rumbled upfield to force a kickable penalty. With time up, Freddy Davis stepped up to slot the goal and give his side the most improbable of victories, 31-30.
But their unbeaten season came to a shuddering halt in the final, Tauranga Boysβ High crushing CBHS 32-3 in an impressive display of running rugby.
In a beaten side, George Williamson was a standout with strong carries and a high workrate.
South Island champions
St Margaretβs are South Island netball champions after a dominant display in the final at NgΔ Puna Wai. The Christchurch school defeated Dunedinβs Columba College 39-28.
St Margaretβs coach Helen Belcher says her teamβs success was built across the whole squad.
βEight games in four days is a big ask but we were able to use all 10 players throughout the week and they all got good court time,β says Belcher.
That was reflected in a number of players named in the talented players list β a kind of tournament team.
βWe had three girls named in that β Charlotte Coughlan, Evie Leeson and Siahn Nilsen.β
Next up for St Margaretβs is a shot at the big one, the nationals in October.
βThatβll be in Christchurch so looking forward to that to see what we can do against the North Island teams,β says Belcher.
Mean read! Can't wait to see neal and Stewart play the lower grades next year!This weekβs South Island sports wrap highlights the young rugby league talent that NRL scouts are spying, as well as secondary schools basketball, rugby and netball. Mike Thorpe reports.
If they werenβt taking notice before β they are now. The national secondary school rugby league tournament held in Auckland over the weekend attracted dozens of NRL scouts and they had their eyes on one team in particular, St Thomas of Canterbury College (STC).
βThey were pretty good last year but I thought they were even more dominant this year,β says New Zealand Warriors development coach, former Kiwis star Tony Iro.
The South Islandβs hottest league talent has largely been ignored by the Warriors in years gone by, allowing Australian clubs to take the first pick.
But thatβs changing, with the Warriors already having links to a number of STCβs brightest prospects through their age group squads.
βIβm pretty sure that based on those performances on the weekend that weβll have plenty more Christchurch boys coming up and playing in those teams as well,β says Iro.
The Christchurch school came into the tournament at Bill Pulman Park as defending champions and flexed their muscles right from day one, thumping Aorere College (Auckland) 42-0 and Manurewa High School 32-4.
Day two saw a heavyweight clash with Aucklandβs De La Salle College to end pool play β STCβs star second-rower Bishop Neal proving irresistible in their 24-14 win. The 16-year-old scored early in the second half, bursting through a pack of four defenders on his own. Five minutes later, Neal laid on a try for explosive centre Jackson Stewart with an around-the-back pass that went viral. TikTok, Instagram β it was so good it probably even reached MySpace.
βHe [Neal] only turned 16 probably in May. Heβs one of a kind to be honest,β says proud coach Andrew Auimatagi.
STC coach Andrew Auimatagi. Photo / NZRL
Neal is already plugged into the Warriors system and was a part of their title-winning Harold Matthews Cup (Under-17) side earlier this year. The Year 11 student outshone all the others at the nationals and was named tournament MVP.
βI just love the way he plays β heβs pretty carefree but I think this tournament just showed that he can do a lot of the tough stuff and his defence was a highlight for me. We know he can break teams open with his attack and his flair β but it was a bit of a coming of age for him,β says Auimatagi.
In the semifinal, STC easily accounted for St Paulβs College (Auckland) 24-4 to set up another showdown with De La Salle in the final. The Auckland school also had a convincing semifinal win, routing Rotorua Boysβ High School 34-4.
STC quickly took charge of the final, leading 18-0 after just seven minutes through tries to Isaiah Savea, Meihana Pauling and Xavier Reweti.
βThe boys started pretty hot and everything was going a bit too easy I thought. I was kind of expecting it to potentially turn at some point and it did,β said Auimatagi.
De La Salle closed the gap to six by halftime but STC were always in front and scored again through a well-worked try to winger Xavier Talatonu. DLS added one more consolation try at fulltime but they couldnβt stop STC from securing their second consecutive national title, winning 24-18.
STC go back-to-back after defeating De La Salle 24-18 in the national final. Photo / NZRL
βThe boys showed great resilience and grit and yeah I think our defence has been a trademark of the last few seasons,β said Auimatagi.
The hot-stepping Meihana Pauling was named the MVP of the final.
βHeβs one of key leaders and lynchpin there at fullback. Just showed how much of a threat he is but also a real calming influence on the team,β said Auimatagi.
STC had eight players selected for the New Zealand Secondary Schools 18s team (Meihana Pauling, Xavier Lynch, Jackson Stewart, Lautasi Etuale, Isaiah Savea, Zeke Faga-Leti, Lennox Tuiloma and Toby Gibson) and two for the 16s (Christiano Elia, Bishop Neal).
Meihana Pauling of STC, the grand final MVP. Photo / NZRL
For Auimatangi β a former Canterbury Bulls coach and multiple premiership-winning mentor with Linwood Kea β the achievement was hugely significant in his own career.
βThis is definitely the highlight for me I guess, being an old boy of St Thomasβ and Iβve been working at the school for nearly 14 years. I was there when we started a bit of a league programme and taking the boys up to nationals. We were in the developing grade in 2013 so to be going back-to-back in the premiership 10 years later is pretty special.β
The decorated coach sees even more success in the near future for his school side.
βThereβs definitely a really talented group of young ones coming through right from Year 9 up. So, hopefully itβs something we can continue.β
The Reefton Kidβs kid
Waimea College are the South Islandβs best boyβs basketballers, downing Christβs College in the Zone 4 final in Dunedin.
Led by the hot hand of upcoming Tall Blacks star Hayden Jones, Waimea jumped out to an early lead and maintained it β winning 94-84. Jones scored a game-high 37 points, edging Christβs Collegeβs main attacking threat, Hoani Togia (29 points).
Jones β son of Nelson and Tall Blacks great Phill β led all scorers through the tournament as well, collecting 222 points across seven games at a tournament-high average of almost 32 points per game. St Thomas of Canterbury College sharpshooter and rising Canterbury Rams prospect Mana Martin was the next-best with just over 29 points per game.
Waimea College, winners of the Zone 4 AA senior basketball tournament held in Dunedin.
Shirley Boysβ High Schoolβs Milan Newton also scored heavily across the tournament, amassing 215 points.
Rangiora High School claimed third spot with an 83-60 win over St Andrewβs College.
In the junior boys tournament, it was Hillmorton High School who triumphed over Nelson College, 79β71 in the final.
St Andrewβs College claimed the AA Girls title in a tight tussle, beating Kaiapoi High School 67-65.
STAC did the double in the girlsβ grade, winning the junior title as well, 90-50 against Ashburton College.
Top 2
Nelson College fell at the final hurdle of an otherwise historic season, losing the final of the Top 4 National First XV tournament in Palmerston North. Nelson had gone north with an unbeaten run in 2024 and every title imaginable from the South Island competition.
Nelson College with some of the spoils of an unprecedented season. Photo / Tasman Rugby Union
They took the field in their semifinal with Kelston Boysβ High School (Blues region champions), having never won a match at the Top 4 stage of the tournament before.
Playing into a howling wind, Nelson College dominated the first half and took a 21-3 lead into the second half. With the wind at their backs in the second spell Nelson failed to fully capitalise on the advantage β but still got the win, 26-18.
The final, two days later, saw very similar conditions. Up against serial finalists Hamilton Boysβ High School (Chiefs region champions), Nelson struggled to exit into the wind and soon trailed. But they hit back with a smart try to second five-eighth Jimmy West before a spectacular length-of-the-field effort put them in front. From a scrum five metres out from their own goal-line, Nelson College spread the ball to influential first five Harry Inch. With a show-and-go and left-arm fend, Inch broke out of his 22 before a perfectly timed pass put Mikey Morrison into space, the flying winger dashing 60m before an in-and-away saw him shake the last defender for the try of the tournament.
Mikey Morrison crosses for Nelson College against Southland Boys' High School. Photo / Tasman Rugby Union
Hamilton Boysβ took a handy 20-10 lead into the second half and once again, Nelson struggled with the wind at their backs.
βWe got over the line three times but none of them given so it made it really hard to get momentum,β said head coach Jono Phillips.
Hamilton Boysβ prevailed 27-17 to claim their sixth Top 4 title.
The loss brings the curtain down on Phillipsβ time at the school and with the team. His success has been undeniable over the past six years, taking the team to three South Island titles and even more Miles Toyota Championships. He says heβs gutted for his team β but immensely proud of what theyβve achieved.
Jono Phillips of Nelson College.
βIβve actually known this group for the full five years theyβve been at secondary school so theyβre pretty dear to me,β said Phillips.
Heβs yet to confirm his next step but says he will continue to work with the USA national team.
Meanwhile, Christchurch Girlsβ High School suffered a narrow loss in their Top 4 semifinal with Howick College, 22-17. They led the playoff for third against Hamilton Girlsβ High School at halftime before succumbing 38-10.
Unbeaten run comes to an end
Christchurch Boysβ High School (CBHS) Under-15s also contested a national final β taking on hosts Tauranga Boysβ High School.
CBHS reached the final after a Houdini-like semifinal escape against Westlake Boysβ High. Trailing 30-18 with five minutes to go, they scored a converted try and kicked a penalty to pull within two points of Westlake.
With just enough time for the restart, CBHS rumbled upfield to force a kickable penalty. With time up, Freddy Davis stepped up to slot the goal and give his side the most improbable of victories, 31-30.
CBHS U15s (blue/black) found the going tough in the national final, going down 32-3 to Tauranga Boys' High School. Photo / Facebook
But their unbeaten season came to a shuddering halt in the final, Tauranga Boysβ High crushing CBHS 32-3 in an impressive display of running rugby.
In a beaten side, George Williamson was a standout with strong carries and a high workrate.
South Island champions
St Margaretβs are South Island netball champions after a dominant display in the final at NgΔ Puna Wai. The Christchurch school defeated Dunedinβs Columba College 39-28.
Columba College on their way to the final of the South Island secondary schools tournament. Photo / George Heard
St Margaretβs coach Helen Belcher says her teamβs success was built across the whole squad.
βEight games in four days is a big ask but we were able to use all 10 players throughout the week and they all got good court time,β says Belcher.
That was reflected in a number of players named in the talented players list β a kind of tournament team.
St Margaret's College, 2024 SISS senior netball champions.
βWe had three girls named in that β Charlotte Coughlan, Evie Leeson and Siahn Nilsen.β
Next up for St Margaretβs is a shot at the big one, the nationals in October.
βThatβll be in Christchurch so looking forward to that to see what we can do against the North Island teams,β says Belcher.
NZWarriors.com
Great swimmer also I heard
Was he playing today for the SI under 16s.
NZWarriors.com
Are you at the field Teets or live streaming.
Just watching the stream while I'm at work mate. You there? Anyone you like the look of? A few good individual talents spotted around I thought but shit weather didn't help.
A lot of good ball playing 13s in both grades actually. Like the Auckland 16s lock with the Wahs as well.
The Sth Island fullback in the 18s was alright, I see he's signed with the Warriors.
There was a kid Viljoen(?) from Mid Central that had a hell of a boot in the one game I saw of them, with a pretty strong build. Not the type of prospect we traditionally take from these tourneys but I'd rather build a half around a good kicking game than a flash step. The opp was pretty weak in that one game though.
Pretty disappointing final from the Falcons 18s boys considering how much NRL affiliated talent they have. Just resorted to dumb bully ball that might work againt the physically smaller teams in the regions, but against an equally big Vulcans team was silly.
Shame Te Rore from Counties is with the Roosters, big strong athlete, as Blairy said they don't take as many Kiwis as other teams so they must really see something.
Too many touch and union tap offs too for my liking. Hold it in both hands and bring your foot up lads you're league players now!
NZWarriors.com
I was officiating. I did a 16s semi SI Scorpions v Auckland Vulcans and then the 16s 3rd v 4th playoff between SI and Counties Manukau which was live streamed. Saw the first half of the 18s final then had to gap it.
Reffed on Wednesday but missed yesterday.
I donβt know many of the names but some real talent spread amongst the teams.
As you said the SI 16s number 13was a standout.
Saw Bishop Neal a couple of times but they didnβt get him involved enough
Reffed on Wednesday but missed yesterday.
I donβt know many of the names but some real talent spread amongst the teams.
As you said the SI 16s number 13was a standout.
Saw Bishop Neal a couple of times but they didnβt get him involved enough
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Walked past him, heβs huge but pretty much the same size from when I saw him at the PYC comp this time last year. Probably done growing for height and filling out now. But he is huge lol. Canterbury werenβt amazing and were beat by the Vulcans whose squad were half u15s although theyβre mostly training or signed with the Warriors.
NZWarriors.com
The question was about Dougal Grant who played SI under 16s.
Saw Bishop on day one v Vulcans and he hardly touched the ball in the first half. Got it a bit more in the second half but usually just for hopeful barge ups.
They didnβt seem to have a plan to utilise him properly.
Today v Wellington he was closer to the action and you could see the talent but itβs like he was expected to do something sensational each time he carried.
Then got sent for what I would describe as reckless endangerment in a tackle.
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Did you have whanau playing Viking.
Or were you involved with any of the teams.
Or just there for viewing pleasure.
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They didnβt select anyone that was already in the NZ schoolboys u16s as theyβll be playing against each other. I think most the picks were good considering who couldnβt be picked.
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One of my sons was played for Akarana but was injured in pool play. It was scary watching those games yesterday. The fields were mud baths so lots of injuries and the games were just mistakathons! It was a hard watch. I donβt know about the rest of the country but in Auckland, the council closes the fields before they get chewed up to that extent. Iβve never so many mistakes in a league game. Of course rugbys always like that.
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