The 2016 Australian Schoolboys side has been named today following the conclusion of the ASSRL U18 Championships in Wynnum.
The side will play two Tests against the touring England Academy side.
Nine members of the side (Cotric, Lomax, Afualo, O’Sullivan, Saulo, Jones, Blore, Robson and Haas) represented the New South Wales under-18 side earlier this year, while two (Lam and Mikaele) represented Queensland under-18.
The side is also filled with Holden Cup experience, with 11 of the 17 having played in the NYC in 2016.
Brian Battese, a two-time premiership winner with the Bulldogs, coaches the side once again.
2016 Australian Schoolboys
1 Nick Cotric (Erindale College – ACT)
2 Mawene Hiroti (Matraville Sports High – NSWCHS)
3 Zac Lomax (Figtree High – NSWCHS)
4 Tui Afualo (Westfields Sports High – NSWCHS)
5 Campbell Graham (Marcellin College, Randwick – NSWCCC)
6 Lachlan Lam (Marcellin College, Randwick – NSWCCC)
7 Sean O’Sullivan (Patrician Brothers’ College, Blacktown – NSWCCCC)
8 Pasami Saulo (Hunter Sports High – NSWCHS)
9 Blayke Brailey (Aquinas Catholic College, Menai – NSWCCC)
10 Thomas Mikaele (Keebra Park State High – Queensland)
11 Brodie Jones (All Saints College, Maitland – NSWCCC)
12 Josh Curran (Patrician Brothers’ College, Blacktown – NSWCCC)
13 Sean Keppie (Westfields Sports High – NSWCHS)
14 Dean Blore (The Hills Sports High – NSWCHS)
15 Reece Robson (Endeavour Sports High – NSWCHS)
16 Payne Haas (Keebra Park State High – Queensland)
17 Michael Tupou (Patrician Brothers’ College, Blacktown – NSWCCC)
Coach: Brian Battese (NSWCCC)
Manager: John Stanley (NSWCHS)
Trainer: Peter Burke (NSWCCC)
Physiotherapist: Scott Thornton
First Test: Australian Schoolboys v England Academy
2:00pm – Sunday July 31
Dolphin Oval, Redcliffe, Queensland
Second Test: Australian Schoolboys v England Academy
1:15 pm – Saturday August 6
Southern Cross Group Stadium, Woolooware, NSW
18TH MAN 