Public School All Stars are a class above
Secretary Murat Dizdar has named his inaugural rugby league Public School All Stars as part of Public Education Week celebrations.
07 August 2025
More than a decade before the inaugural season of rugby league in Australia in 1908, Herbert Henry Messenger was wowing his fellow Double Bay Primary School students at most sports.
A gifted sailor and cricketer, the young Messenger shone at rugby union and was part of an undefeated junior team so strong it would be matched against senior school champion sides – and often win.
Better and endearingly known by his nickname Dally, Messenger played rugby union for Australia, before becoming the key signing in the new ‘Rugby League’ competition 117 years ago.
Messenger would go on to be regarded as a football icon, a wizard with the ball in hand or off the boot, who played an instrumental role in transforming rugby league from a rebel pastime to its dominant place in the Australian sporting landscape.
Like Messenger, NSW public schools have been inextricably linked to the 13-person game ever since.
From casual footy games in the school yard, all the way to NRL and NRLW pathways at sports high schools, NSW public schools have embraced the code.
One only has to look at rugby league’s ‘Team of the Century’, named in 2007, to see the historical wealth of NSW public school talent: Reg Gasnier (Sydney Technical High School); Ron Coote (Newtown High School); Bob Fulton (Dapto High School); Graeme Langlands (Wollongong Technical College); Norm Provan (Crows Nest Boys High School); and Frank Burge (Darlington Public School) all featuring in the elite side.
These days the talent is no less startling.
To celebrate Public Education Week, and our partnership with the National Rugby League to promote public school alumni in the competition, Department Secretary and Wests Tigers tragic Murat Dizdar has named his current Public School All Stars for both the NRL and NRLW.
Mr Dizdar backed his 2025 All Stars as competition-winning sides in both the women and men’s leagues.
“Not only are my teams full of exceptional players, they also contain former school duxes and current teachers in the NSW public system,” he said.
“To me this highlights the importance our schools place on not only supporting students with high potential in areas like sport and performing arts to reach the highest levels, but also in ensuring they have a strong education to deliver fulfilling careers afterwards.”
The teams could create a bit of discussion among footy purists, but what is not up for debate is the incredible rugby league talent that continues to be nurtured in NSW public schools today.
2025 Public Schools All Stars teams
NRLW
| NUMBER POSITION | NAME | CLUB | PRIMARY SCHOOL | HIGH SCHOOL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1. Fullback | Abbi Church | Parramatta Eels | Cobbitty Public | Elderslie High |
2. Wing | Brydie Parker | Roosters | Muswellbrook Public | Muswellbrook High |
3. Centre | Lily Rogan | Wests Tigers | Ulladulla Public | Ulladulla High |
4. Centre | Jaime Chapman | Gold Coast Titans | Cronulla South Public (Yrs 5-6) | Cronulla High |
5. Wing | Jayme Fressard | Sydney Roosters | Wyong Public | Gorokan High |
6. Five eighth | Tiana Penitani Gray | Cronulla Sharks | South Sydney High, now coach at Endeavour SHS | |
7. Halfback | Jesse Southwell | Newcastle Knights | New Lambton Public | Hunter Sports High |
8. Prop | Simaima Taufa | Canberra Raiders | Granville South Creative and Performing Arts High | |
9. Hooker | Quincy Dodd | Cronulla Sharks | Woolooware Public | Cronulla HS |
10. Prop | Jordyn Preston | Canberra Raiders | Illaroo Road Public | Bomaderry High |
11. Second row | Kezie Apps | Wests Tigers | Bega High | |
12. Second row | Shaylee Bent | Gold Coast Titans | Glenmore Park Public | Glenmore Park High |
13. Lock | Brooke Anderson | Cronulla Sharks | Blakehurst High | |
BENCH | ||||
14. | Olivia Higgins | Newcastle Knights | Teacher Newcastle High | |
15. | Raecene McGregor | St George Illawarra Dragons | Chester Hill Public | Bass High |
16. | Teagan Berry | St George Illawarra Dragons | Oak Flats Public (Years 5 and 6) | Oak Flats High |
17. | Kirra Dibb | North Queensland Cowboys | Copacabana Public (Years 5 and 6) | Kincumber High |
NRL
| NUMBER POSITION | NAME | CLUB | PRIMARY SCHOOL | HIGH SCHOOL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1. Fullback | Dylan Edwards | Penrith Panthers | Dorrigo High | |
2. Wing | Brian To’o | Penrith Panthers | Madang Avenue Public | Rooty Hill High |
3. Centre | Latrell Mitchell | South Sydney Rabbitohs | Chatham Public | Chatham High |
4. Centre | Tom Trbojevic | Manly Sea Eagles | Mona Vale Public | Pittwater High |
5. Wing | Zac Lomax | Parramatta Eels | Figtree High | |
6. Five eighth | Nicho Hynes | Cronulla Sharks | Umina Beach Public | Brisbane Water Secondary College |
7. Halfback | Adam Reynolds | Brisbane Broncos | Matraville Sports High | |
8. Prop | Jake Trbojevic | Manly Sea Eagles | Mona Vale Public | Pittwater High |
9. Hooker | Damien Cook | St George-Illawarra Dragons | Endeavour Sports High School/Illawarra Sports High School | |
10. Prop | Stefano Utoikamanu | Melbourne Storm | Westfields Sports High | |
11. Second row | Liam Martin | Penrith Panthers | West Wyalong High | |
12. Second row | Teig Wilton | Cronulla Sharks | Narooma Public | Endeavour Sports High |
13. Lock | Mitch Barnett | New Zealand Warriors | Wingham High | |
BENCH | ||||
14. | Kotoni Staggs | Brisbane Broncos | Wellington Public | Wellington High |
15. | Alex Johnston | South Sydney Rabbitohs | Endeavour Sports High | |
16. | Lachlan Galvin | Canterbury Bulldogs | Oran Park Public | Westfields Sports High |
17. | Keaon Koloamatangi | South Sydney Rabbitohs | Ashbury Public | Ashfield Boys High |
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