GAME REPORT

Congratulations to our Under 16, 2022 Rugby League team.

We made the State Finals!!!!!

Our U16’s Rugby League team played extremely well in the NRL Rugby League 9’s West Qualifiers competitive games on Wednesday 18th May at Altona Meadows. The weather conditions were difficult with strong and very cold winds all day.

Our team played 3 games throughout the day against St Albans, Melton and Craigieburn. This was a full contact competition and our team demonstrated physicality and high-impact tackles. Most of all, our players stepped up to the pressure to perform, to meet expectations of the community and to become a role- model to others.

In our first game against St Albans, we won the match 18 to 14 points. Well Done!! In game 2, we lost to Melton 12-20 points. In our final game against Craigieburn, we lost 18 to 10 points. We had a number of outstanding players on the day who tackled hard and ran the ball.

Please see below the final table for the U16’s Boy’s to which Melton, Craigieburn & Staughton will be heading to State Finals.

Our very best player was our Captain, Parryson Taofa who I understand is a State Rugby League representative. Parryson was easily our busiest player and terrorised the opposition with ease. He posed a threat every time he had the ball whether it was with his sublime kicking, deft passing or powerful running game.

Our second-best player was Elbjorn Fiaui. Watching Elbjorn in full flight is simultaneously the most scary and beautiful thing on a rugby league field. He hit the line with speed and was very difficult to tackle and made some excellent offloads. Our third best player was Leeroy (Tony) Taumiti and at times he was almost impossible to stop with his speed rivalling anyone on the field.

It is important to also acknowledge the efforts of all our team who are not only exceptional players, but exceptional human beings. They are: Lopeti Amato, Tyrone Mundy, Kadison Munn, Joel Papalii Seu, Paulo Penaia, Edwin Taulama Tonga, Blessing Tautasi, Feleti Valoa, Antwon Watkins, Oliver Tyrell and Akeli Pale. Thank you also Preston Tuileisu (Year 12 Senior) and Palu Fuatapu (Year 12 Senior) for helping out on the day. Special mention to Oliver who injured his ankle in Game 1.

As Coach, a couple of things that stick out to me from this day. The first being, the team learned that playing competitive sport requires physical and mental requirements and is not like playing touch football on the basketball courts at lunchtime. The second learning was that our students are incredibly ready to use rugby league as a vehicle to apply themselves, learn skills and link learning to real life. I like how our rugby league students have chosen this sport that their passionate about and enjoy. Combined with our Under 18 performance, Staughton College plays Rugby League with passion, respect and in the greatest of spirit, and has built a fine reputation as a force to be reckoned with in the local school Rugby League scene.

Rugby League: More than just a game

Representing your School is an absolute honour and in many ways School sport is special and memorable. This is most likely because you get to play with your mates that you see each day of the week and talk about the game more often with your peers. I reflect on a comment by one of Under 16 players. He said to me, “Rugby League is everything to me; it’s all I feed on every day. I read, sleep, and talk Rugby League”.

This comment reinforces the importance of a team sport and make no mistake, Rugby League is a principled sport, so we expect the boys to have principles, to show that they are committed, motivated to play, and have discipline. I think every time a student pulls on their school jersey it’s a very special occasion and the privilege to represent your community becomes easily understood.

Our school values, Learning, Effort, Respect, Care, Connection teaches our students the importance of giving your everything for a bigger cause, doing your small part to contribute to the team. And we must always respect our team, our school, the referee, and the opposition.

Again, I would like to acknowledge Ms Nicole Jowett for her outstanding support to the rugby league program and her capacity to interpret the administrative processes. I would also like to acknowledge Mr Jesse Sciberras (Sports Coordinator) for organising jerseys, inputting student data and the bus.

Daryl Nayler

Teacher / Coach

Tuning Into Teens Program

Headspace Melton