2023 NRL National Schools Grand Finals, Palm Beach State High School, Westfields Sports High School, watch, live stream

The five year pact behind Palm Beach's next gen of schoolboy stars

Author: Kelsey Hogan NRL Reporter
Timestamp: Mon 11 Sep 2023, 05:01 PM

Watching halves Tom Dearden and Toby Sexton take out the National Schoolboys Cup in 2018, Zane Harrison and Bailey McConnell made a pact they’d do the same one day.

Five years later the budding halves duo prepare to meet Westfields Sports High School and bring National Schoolboys Cup glory back to Palm Beach Currumbin State High.

After leading a six-game winning streak to shut out St Patrick’s College Mackay in last month’s Phil Hall Cup state final, coach Tim Maccan is confident his side can repeat what the now NRL Alumni's did in 2018.

“After watching our 2018 team win at Redcliffe the boys made a pact that they wanted to do the same thing,” Maccan told NRL.com.

“They set off to try and win the National Championship and they’re really looking to finish off what they started in Year 7.

“They’ve got the opportunity now so they’ve just got to get down there and give it their best shot."

The rugby league powerhouse has a proud history of producing NRL playmakers including the likes of Dearden, Sexton, Jahrome Hughes, Cody Walker and Jamal Fogarty and this year’s halves duo look set to carry on the tradition.

With Tweed Seagulls junior, Harrison, steering the ship at halfback and five-eighth McConell adding the flair in attack, the Queensland playmakers are set to test undefeated Sydneysiders at Allianz Stadium on Wednesday.

Zane Harrison was awarded the Ron Lanesbury Medal as the player of the year in the 2022 New South Wales Rugby League's Andrew Johns Cup ©Gregg Porteous/NRL Photos

“Zane was injured in the first couple of rounds but since he’s come into the side he’s really directed us around the park,” Maccan said.

“He plays some really good, smart, patient footy.

“And Bailey he played a bit of hooker last year but this year has moved into five-eighth and played the best year of school footy he's ever played. He’s just been awarded the Justin Hodges, Player of the Allan Langer competition.

"Schoolboys is definitely the number one competition they want to play in, they love it and think it's the pinnacle of rugby league at that school age so I know these boys are really looking forward to finish off what they started five years ago.”

Meanwhile, Westfields coach Luke Vella said his side has taken a lot of confidence from their thrilling 18-17 victory over Patrician Brothers Blacktown in the Peter Mulholland Cup final, particularly after clawing their way back from an early deficit.

“The boys are well rested and have prepared well in terms of their video and training," Vella told NRL.com.

“Throughout the whole campaign we’ve come from behind in a lot of games so there’s this sense of calmness around the team where they don’t panic if we're behind on the scoreboard.

“Which is a really good sign considering the majority of the squad is only 17 or 18.

“Palm Beach are really fast and play down both sides of the field really well, they’ve got some good halves that get the ball in really good areas.

“So we’ve definitely got a big job coming up against them but we’ve got to take confidence from getting here.”

Watch the NRL National School Finals live from 11.30am on NRL.com.