As timing goes, it was impeccable.

The inaugural Knights Northern NSW Premiership was played at Port Macquarie Regional Stadium on Birpai Country, just days before Newcastle upset the Penrith Panthers at Accor Stadium in Sydney to secure their place in the 2026 NRL Grand Final on the October long weekend.

Camden Haven High School had qualified for both the U15 boys and girls grand final and with good reason; the school is home to Pathways: Elite Rugby League Academy, known as PERLA.

“Both teams are made up from majority PERLA students, which is run in conjunction with the Newcastle Knights,” Head Coach, Shayne Vonbun said.

“So, they provide the academy athletes with elite level training programs including strength and conditioning, field sessions, speed and agility.”

Camden Haven U15 Boys defeated Farrer Memorial Agricultural High School 34-8, dominating a Tamworth team not lacking in rugby league nous.

“Farrer, they’re winning the U16’s weekend competition over there, so they’re playing up a grade,” Mr Vonbun said.

“For our boys to dominate and play such an exceptional game against that side is just outstanding, it’s very exciting.”

Meanwhile, the Camden Haven U15 Girls team downed Tamworth’s Oxley High School 50-nil.

Mr Vonbun said the Camden Haven girls all had talent, skill and ability, but on gameday, it was clear from the first whistle that the side took to the field as a unit.

“It’s a mindset. Nine of the team members play together on the weekend and you see it there as well,” the Deputy Principal said.

“I call it machine mode; they just complete their sets and go.”

In the end, the day was a clean sweep for northern NSW public schools.

Farrer’s U13 Boys side had a better on field outcome, beating Mackillop College Port Macquarie, while Great Lakes College Forster Campus claimed the win against St Paul’s College, Kempsey in the U13 Girls,

The PERLA program, supported by the Newcastle Knights, is just one of Camden Haven High School’s many Inspire - High Potential and Gifted Education offerings.

It provides elite sport coaching supported by an emphasis on academic achievement and career planning, to ensure that students can develop confidence, discipline, and a flexible mindset.

With that on offer, little surprise that the program is drawing in the talent.

“We’ve had an influx of out-of-zone enrolments, and Catholic and independents which has strengthened the teams, leading to the kind of results we have just had," Mr Vonbun said.

As a bona-fide coach of champions, already proud of Camden Haven’s connection to ‘Kalyn and the boys’, what is Mr Vonbun’s prediction for Sunday’s match?

Forget the hype, forget the heart: surely a sensible rugby league brain would look at the statistics and back Sydney City…right?

“You know what, let’s keep the fairytale rolling,” he said

“It does have that ‘97 feeling.

“Win, lose or draw, though, I’d say the Knights have already won, wouldn’t you?”