Sharks’ young guns Jamie Curran and Liam Challenor have booked their tickets to Papua New Guinea, the pair picked to play for the Australian Schoolboys side that takes on the Junior Kumuls in October.
Curran, a 203cm powerful prop, and Challenor, a crafty halfback, both impressed for the NSW Combined High Schools side as they took out the title at the ASSRL National Championships.
Fellow Shark Haiden Wooldridge also played well in the winning side, and Curran dominated in the middle and laid the perfect platform.
Challenor steered them around the park brilliantly and kicked the match-winning field goal in the final, to then be named player of the tournament.
“Yeah, it was pretty special,” Challenor shared.
“It hasn’t really sunk in yet. I didn’t think I was the best up there. I played off the back of what my teammates did really well. We had some amazing forwards that made my job a lot easier.”
“It was awesome,” Curran reflected.
“A real honour to be presented with the green jumper. It was pretty emotional when it happened, and it was cool for my whole family to be there.”
Aussie Schoolboys Presentation
Both have also grown up idolising the Cronulla-Sutherland jumper.
They were 8 years old in 2016, but the Sharks' first premiership sparked a dream for the pair of them.
“2016 was the best time ever,” Challenor recalled.
“I was young, but I still remember it, having a few tears up at ANZ Stadium, and my goal was set from that day.”
“I loved watching them growing up,” Curran said.
“We used to be members, and we’d sit over there (pointing at the Monty Porter Stand). We’d come down for every game and watch all those old boys play.”
Curran, a Joeys junior and Challenor, a De La Salle junior, have come through the Cronulla JRL.
Both have played SG Ball for the Sharks and have been training with the Jersey Flegg squad.
“It’s awesome to pull on the Sharks jumper,” Curran said.
“I always wanted to as a kid, and it’s just a dream. Hopefully, one day I can play NRL for the Sharks and run out here (Ocean Protect Stadium) for a debut, which would be awesome, like that’s the dream.”
Challenor shares that goal, and so do some of his family members.
Liam’s cousin Alex currently plays in the Sharks’ Jersey Flegg side, but they aren’t the only Challenors that have pulled on the black, white and blue.
“My grandpa played back in the President’s Cup for Cronulla, and my dad played, and my uncle played, so there are a few Challenors down the line.
“It’s special to represent all of my family line but also all the Sharks’ players past and present.”
Challenor and Curran are in grade 12 at Endeavour Sports High School, coming through one of rugby league’s best junior nurseries, with which the Sharks have enjoyed a strong affiliation for more than two decades.
The boys are following in the footsteps of current Cronulla NRL players Will Kennedy and Teig Wilton and learning from Endeavour head coach and Sharks Elite Pathways & Development coach Dave Howlett.
“Dave is involved here, but he’s also at school with me (Endeavour), and anything rugby league, he’s the one you go to,” Curran said.
“We’ve also got our SG ball coaches, Chad Townsend and Luke Bateman and all those guys around the club, who help us with the things around the game that make you a better player.”
It was a full-circle moment for the boys being coached by Townsend, after he inspired them in 2016 to chase an NRL dream.
Plus, Academy and Pathways Co-ordinator Bryce Gentle and Development & Pathways Manager Glenn Brailey are looking after Cronulla’s youngsters.
"We're really proud of Jamie and Chal,” Brailey said.
“They're two great young fellas, both local juniors who love the club. We're looking forward to helping them navigate the next few years and helping them be the best young men they can be.”
