SMASH DOWN MEMORY LANE
JUWAN Compain knows exactly what to expect from Palm Beach Currumbin’s NRL Schoolboy Cup state final against Kirwan today. Why? Because he has seen it all unfold before. The Broncos-contracted second-rower fondly remembers watching his brother Sheaziah team up with the likes of Keegan Hipgrave to deliver the Reds their last Queensland title four years ago. “I have never seen a game more physical and more exciting,” Juwan recalled. “It was a massive game and just the intensity, it was crazy to watch.” More than anyone, it was those PBC players that he wanted to emulate one day.
“I was in Year 8 so I guess I really looked up to them,” said Compain, who has been picked for the Australian Schoolboys end-of-year tour of England.
“They were the seniors and they were the ones I wanted to be like when I was older. Four years down the track, here I am with my boys with us in the state final again.
“Just the whole journey from watching them, they probably started me off as wanting to be a real Red like them. They were all a good bunch of mates so that’s what we are like as a group, our 2018 team.
“Ever since that day, watching them in the grand final, it’s what I have wanted to do.”
Hipgrave, now a Titans NRL regular, said he would be supporting his old school wholeheartedly.
“When I was in Year 12, they were sort of the next upand-coming big things,” he said. “They’ve got such a talented side and it’s such a good school, the foundation they give to young kids. Fingers crossed they go through.”
PBC are undefeated in 2018 and enter the Kirwan clash at Langlands Park on the back of thumping Ignatius Park College 38-16 at last start.