NRL National Schools grand final, Patrician Brothers College, Palm Beach Currumbin, schoolboys

Author: Colleen Edwards NRL Reporter
Timestamp: Wed 11 Sep 2024, 01:44 PM

Palm Beach Currumbin have stolen a last-gasp victory to be crowned this year’s NRL Schoolboys champions, with an 18-16 win over Patrician Brothers.

Played in front of an extremely vocal and pro-Palm Beach crowd, it was a physical opening to the match with both sides trying to assert their dominance early – however, the two teams were also beset with nerves, making errors they would not have done in their regular competition games.

Both sides squandered opportunities with the ball after earning scrums early in the game, but it was Palm Beach Currumbin who were able to find their rhythm first, and after earning a penalty, they made the possession count, with second rower Reuben Tamariki running onto a Zane Harrison pass close to the line to cross for the opening try. Harrison then slotted the conversion for a 6-0 lead.

Poor discipline plagued the visiting Patrician Brothers’ side in the early stages, but then the two sides settled into more of a grind in the warm conditions at Cbus Super Stadium.

The New South Wales side got their opportunity to attack soon enough, but the Palm Beach goal-line defence showed plenty of desperation and proved too strong when they tried to go through the middle.

Bamblett gets Blacktown back in it

However, they got on the board with only a few moments left in the half after they were initially denied trying to go out to their left, before resetting and finding their fullback Cameron Bamblett who sold a dummy and went over in the far right corner. The difficult conversion attempt by Charlie Elaro was waved away with Palm Beach holding a two-point lead with the halftime break beckoning.

However, in an exciting ending to the half, PBC fullback Ray Puru was released by Harrison to make a break though the middle of the field, but the Titans-contracted halfback received a penalty after being on the receiving end of a dangerous tackle and then stepped up on halftime to slot the two points to give his side an 8-4 lead at the break.

One hell of a kick to end the half

It was nearly a spectacular try to Palm Beach open the second half, only for them to lose the ball over the line after making a great leap to try and bring it back in and guide it down.

Next, it was Patrician Brothers who went on the attack, but initially the Palm Beach defence was again able to hold strong, with some back and forth play then ensuing.

However the game changed when Patrician Brothers forward Tyson Sangalang went in under the posts and hit the lead when Elaro successfully converted the try for a 10-8 lead with just over 15 minutes left to play in the match.

Things started to fall apart for the home side, giving up three penalties in a row and they paid the price, with Patrician Brothers posting back-to-back tries, with a great effort on the right tryline from winger Chas Riddle to go over just four minutes later. Elaro again landed the conversion and the visitors had surged to a 16-8 lead.

However, the fightback didn’t take long to being from Palm Beach and it was first half try scorer Reuben Tamariki to lift his side, again running a good line to go over almost untouched just outside the left uprights.

With the conversion successful from Harrison, the scores had narrowed to 16-14 with plenty of time still left on the clock.

The threw plenty at Patrician Brothers and nearly reclaimed the lead with Beau Hartmann nearly taking a crossfield kick – only to lose control of it as he landed.

Crucially, however, he was able to make up for it as the clock was winding down, stealing the ball from in the closing moments from the hands of his opposing winger to run away and score the match winner.