Heamasi Makasini’s decision to re-sign with Wests Tigers rather than making a permanent switch to Australian rugby collapsed like a balloon on Monday.
Indeed, what should have been a cause for celebration after the Australian Under-18s’ famous win over their New Zealand schools rivals just 24 hours ago suddenly descended into yet another opportunity to bring play to a halt.
In fact, the 17-year-old Tigers junior confirmed to the NRL club a few months ago his intention to join full-time after finishing school.
“We will always have kids who choose another code over rugby. “Isn’t that right?” Ben Whitaker, Rugby Australia’s General Manager Men’s High Performance and Competition, said: roar.
“It is written that if one person (goes) the world will end. We let the players do that, like Dally Messenger in 1907, right?
“What we are doing much better today than we were a while ago is communicating with these children and their families early on.
“If you actually try to formally engage these players, the known potential outcome is that they may decide to go in a different direction.
“So how do you deal with criticism like, ‘Oh, you lost another player?’ No, we’re actually trying to retain or recruit players. “Sometimes things don’t work out the way you want them to.”
Australia lined up for a landmark win over New Zealand schools at FMG Stadium Waikato in Hamilton on 6 October 2024. (Photo credit: Fiona Goodall/Getty Images for Rugby Australia)
The 38-31 win over the New Zealand school was Australia’s first win in five years.
In 2019, Peter Hewat’s coached side upset their trans-Tasman opponents with future Wallabies Josh Flook, Billy Pollard and Zane Nonggorr arriving on the scene.
So did others, such as Joseph Suaalii and Tolu Koula. Both took the route to the NRL.
Suaalii, 21, is the most expensive player in Australian rugby and is set to return to the game in the XV.
The deal has divided the Australian sporting landscape and while most people accept that Suaalii will succeed as a Wallaby, more and more people are wondering why Rugby Australia would invest so much money in one player when 15 juniors could sign a $100,000 contract. It’s spinning. You must pay the same amount each year for at least the next three seasons.
So how is Rugby Australia working to capture Australia’s current schoolboy stars?
Overall, not good.
However, given that 14 of the current squad’s 26 players are under the age of 17, we may not know for some time which path they will all take.
There are currently three players most at risk of joining an NRL club.
Fullback Rex Bassingthwaighte is expected to join the Sydney Roosters long-term, No.8 Heinz Lemoto is considered more likely to remain at the Penrith Panthers and fellow backrower TJ Lalaileva is also favored to remain with the Newcastle Knights after school.
Australian Under-18 star number 8 Heinz Lemoto is a Penrith Panthers junior. (Photo credit: Fiona Goodall/Getty Images for Rugby Australia)
But they are the exception, not the norm.
However, most of the players are already part of the four remaining Super Rugby academies across the country.
These are factors that Whitaker believes will pay dividends for years to come.
“What we have achieved over the last five years is that we now have a legitimate quality competitive structure in place,” he said.
“It exposes talent from under-14s to 19s and 20s, as well as exposure to professional environments such as Super Rugby as well as higher levels of football.
“Now I can see what 16 in particular is doing. So that’s a valuable addition.
“I think we are formally involving players and their families earlier.
“Part of it is obviously you need the financial and human resources to do it. It’s not a good fit for most sports where you basically have to make a choice at 14, 15 or 16 years old. But that’s the world we live in. It has definitely changed and changed.
“Players like Kingley (Uys), our frontline striker, are signed before they turn 16 because they are considered talented and we want to nurture that.
“And the third thing I think is that we continue to make strong investments in how we can best develop this young talent. This includes working with schools and clubs for 14-15 year olds. Because they are obviously a very important part of the system.
“If you look at the work of Paul Carozza in Queensland, Andrew Cleverley (NSW), Dan Hooper in Canberra and now Damian Steele in the Force, this is a really key part of their role. We need to ensure that every player we bring into the system is developed to the highest quality. That’s the expectation.”
Kingsley Uys is one of Australian rugby’s most exciting young prospects. (Photo credit: Phil Walter/Getty Images for Rugby Australia)
Whitaker has been criticized in the past for not doing enough to ensure players like Angus Crichton, Cameron Murray, Kayln Ponga, Ryan Papenhuyzen, Suia Wong and indeed Suaalii join rugby union or at least strongly consider it. I insisted that wasn’t the case. It’s as simple as saying that the essence of talent is choosing one code over another.
“Most of the people we kept advertising through articles and things like that were actually kids in the league,” Whitaker said.
“They grew up playing rugby, their parents were involved in it and they were able to play rugby through their club or school. Most of them love the game of rugby, so why wouldn’t you? Different games, different properties will use your skills. But it’s very difficult to break away from something you’ve known your whole life.
“Obviously there are some that do both and can be a little more ripped.
“There is no doubt that we understand that we need to get involved sooner. Because when I look at players who have been here for a long time, they are getting involved at a very young age with a league club. They currently have a few rules, but they have a lot of resources and they cast a very wide net. This is how they operated, and to their credit, they must have operated successfully over the years.
“But we expect fewer numbers but the same quality. As you can see from some of those names and some of the performances during the week, we have the talent.”
One rising star is second-placed Will Ross, who is currently with the Reds and is likely to be out for the long term.
“You can tell your story here if you want, and we can do that too. The 17-year-old’s performance in both games last week was as good as I’ve ever seen from a 17-year-old lock,” Whitaker said.
“They don’t grow on trees, buddy.
“It’s like we’re looking for something that other codes aren’t looking for. Right? And they are rare. See, he’s 17 years old. “There’s a long, long way to go, but it’s a great sign.”
Sam Blank congratulates Australia’s U18 team on their win over New Zealand schools at FMG Stadium Waikato in Hamilton on October 6, 2024. (Photo credit: Fiona Goodall/Getty Images for Rugby Australia)
Uys has won the hearts of many after his devastating performances and he is far from alone.
Other players such as the injured Toby Brial and Leo Jaques did not feature on the field last weekend, but observers were licking their lips about their long-term prospects.
The current status of the Australian Schoolboys team is as follows:
Kingsley Uys – Lez Academy
John Grenfell – Lez Academy
Edwin Lang – Waratahs Academy
William Ross – Lez Academy
Isaac Fonua – TASS Academy
Ellie pipe – TBC
Tom Robinson – Lez Academy
Heinz Remoto – TBD; Prefer to head to Penrith in rugby league
Angus Grover – TASS Academy
Jonty Fowler – TBD; He is expected to remain in Australian rugby but is not required to remain with the Waratahs.
Hammock Magazine – west tigers
Joshua Takai – The Reds Academy could find a new home elsewhere with another Australian Super Rugby franchise.
Frankie Goldsbrough – reds
Nicholas Conway – Lez Academy
Rex Bassingtwight – TBC; Expected to sign long-term contract with Roosters
reserve
Ewalo Kruger – TBC; There’s competition for young prostitutes.
Nicholas Hill – Waratahs Academy
Hayden Lavercombe – TBC
Avery Thompson – Lez Academy
Luca Cleverley – Waratahs Academy
TJ Laraileva – TBC; Expected to head to Newcastle
Sam Blank – Waratahs Academy
Jack Fittler – Waratas
