Endeavour is home of champions whoever wins
It’s state against state (school) as alumni line up for the rugby league grand final.
30 September 2021
Endeavour Sports High School will be celebrating on Sunday regardless of who wins the National Rugby League Grand Final.
The Sutherland Shire high school has four of its alumni playing – two on each of the opposing teams, South Sydney Rabbitohs and Penrith Panthers.
Rabbitohs winger Alex Johnston and hooker Damien Cook and Panthers centre Paul Momirovski and forward Scott Sorensen all attended the school.
If attendance at a public high school gives any indication of the result, Saturday’s final will be a nail biter; with the Panthers scraping home having six public school graduates in their starting line-up as opposed to the Rabbitohs’ five.
Besides their Endeavour High teammates, South Sydney captain Adam Reynolds went to Matraville Sports High School, fullback Blake Taaffe is a former student of Tuggerah Lakes Secondary College, while Keon Koloamatangi went to Ashfield Boys High.
For the Panthers, Rooty Hill High School students will be throwing their support behind star winger Brian To’o, while Forbes High School will be backing Panthers interchange Charlie Staines.
West Wyalong High School not only follows its former school captain Liam Martin, his exploits in making the NSW State of Origin side this year was the subject of a Year 11 English Studies unit called Playing the Game.
Likewise, in Dorrigo, the primary school holds a Dylan Edwards NRL Gala Day in honour of their former student and Panthers fullback, who also attended the local high school.
Endeavour Sports High principal James Kozlowski said the whole school community was excited and right behind the players.
"With two former students in each of the teams competing on Sunday we know that our school can celebrate an NRL Grand Final victory regardless," Mr Kozlowski said.
"It's a proud moment for our teachers and coaching staff who remember Alex, Damien, Scott and Paul as being good young men both on and off the field."
In an interview with the Today Show this week, Mr Kozlowski admitted he had a bit of a “soft spot for Souths”.
“I know Alex Johnston quite well, he was the leading try scorer for the NRL for the past two years and he was our Dux in 2012.
“So, my heart says Souths but I think Penrith go in as favourites. Either way though Endeavour High is going to be a winner.”
- News