There was no shortage of Sydney Catholic School Alumni playing in this month’s Pacific Championships and the Australian Kangaroos Ashes Series victory against England.
Led by Holy Cross Ryde ex-student Mitchell Moses, an Australian schoolboys representative in 2012 alongside fellow Ryde students Luke Brooks and Brad Dietz.
Moses represented Lebanon at two World Cups before finally achieving his childhood dream of representing Australia last year in the Pacific Championships. Another SCS ex-student selected in his debut Australian squad was Blayke Brailey, who graduated in 2016 from Aquinas College Menai.
Blayke also earned his first Australian jersey after a stellar season for the Cronulla Sharks.
Blayke was selected in the 2016 Australian Schoolboys team that defeated the touring English Academy side in two tests. Although neither was selected in the three-test whitewash of England, the experience would have been invaluable.
Jessica Sergis, who attended OLSH Kensington and plays in the NRLW for the Roosters, was also part of the Australian Jillaroos squad that defeated the New Zealand Ferns in the Female Pacific Championships.
The Jillaroos dominated New Zealand in the final to reclaim their Pacific crown. After a successful WNRL season, Jessica scored with her first touch in the final, racing 70 metres to score.
Other Sydney Catholic Schools ex-students appearing in the Pacific Championships included Paul Alamoti, Lachlan Lam, Jope Rauqe and Esan Marsters.
Sydney Catholic Schools ex-students Esan Marsters (Holy Cross Ryde 2015) and Lachlan Lam (Marcellin College Randwick 2016) have both represented the Cook Islands and Papua New Guinea for several years and were once again involved in this year’s Championships.
Esan also played a major part in the Cook Islands defeating the South African Rhinos to qualify for next year’s World Cup.
Paul attended Marist College Kogarah, graduating in 2021 and excelling in both rugby league and basketball while at the College. Paul made his NRL debut in 2023 for the Canterbury Bulldogs before moving to the Penrith Panthers for the 2024 season.
It was a decision he wouldn’t regret walking away with a premiership ring in his first season at Penrith. Alamoti’s strong end to this year’s NRL season again ensured his selection in the Tongan squad for this year’s Championships.
Jope Rauqe only finished at Holy Cross Ryde in 2024 and was a late call-up for the Fiji squad, making his international debut in Fiji’s loss to Papua New Guinea.
It was not just ex-students involved at this elite level. Ex-New Zealand and Samoan International Frank Pritchard, who runs the Patrician Brothers Fairfield league program was an assistant coach for Samoa and Gab Rose, who works at De La Salle Caringbah, was on the Australian Jillaroos coaching team as a well-being mentor.
There has always been a strong connection between the Pacific Island communities and Sydney Catholic Schools, with many students of island descent playing rugby league for their schools before going on to make their debuts in the NRL.
Sydney Catholic Schools are extremely proud to see alumni represent Australia or represent the many nations playing in the Pacific Championships.