BACK THE BEARS
OUR BOYS ON THE NATIONAL STAGE
FOR the second time in four years the Kirwan State High School Bears will play for a national title when they take on Westfields Sports High at Sydney’s Campbelltown Stadium today.
They have overcome major disparities in size to make it this far and while they were rated underdogs in their recent Queensland finals clashes against Brisbane’s Wavell and Marsden state high schools, Kirwan were in a class of their own as they scored thumping wins.
Now the time has come for the biggest challenge of all, when Kirwan take on opponents who finished as New South Wales’ top schoolboys footy team.
They are big, quick, skilful and well conditioned to top-tier competition, and Sydney’s weather forecast is predicting rain and a top of 16 degrees.
But anything Westfields dish out at Campbelltown Stadium today, Kirwan know they can take.
“The boys have been supported on and off the field, and that’s what gives our school community a lot of pride,” Kirwan head of sport Dave Ackers said. “They put in a lot of hard work and three days a week they are here at school at the crack of dawn for training.
“After training they go into their school day, and we have staff who work hard to make sure the boys are given every opportunity when it comes to their education.
“They have a good balance with their football and education, and that’s what our sports program is all about.”
The Kirwan coaching staff features head coach Todd Wilson – a former Cowboys under-20s coach – and assistants Nathan Norford and Ackers.
Norford is a former Kirwan student who went on to play for the Cowboys under-20s and Townsville Blackhawks, and was this year named the Townsville and Districts Rugby League player of the year.
Ackers is a Kirwan alumni, graduating in 1998, and he was part of the Kirwan Bears team that reached the 1998 state final.
He also coached the school to its inaugural national title in 2015 and among other coaching duties he is part of the Queensland Rugby League summer camp staff, working with the likes of Maroons head coach Kevin Walters.
“Todd has a done tremendous job with this team,” Ackers said of Wilson.
“You come across coaches who have a plan in their head and stick to it, but Todd has been able to adjust to our challenges.
“We’re not a big team – it’s actually one of the smallest Kirwan teams I can remember – but Todd has been able to adjust our game-plan.”
The Bears draw on players who hail from far and wide including Mount Isa, Darwin and Cairns – as well as Townsville – and many are billeted to local families as they chase their footy dreams.
A handful also played for the Townsville Blackhawks in the Queensland Rugby League’s statewide under-18 competition, where players take on the best young players in Queensland on a regular basis.
“Kirwan run a great rugby league program,” QRL regional manager Scott Nosworthy said.
“They draw on a group of players who come from all over the place and they get supported on and off the field.
“People at the school and in Townsville are giving them an opportunity to develop their game.
“Kirwan is doing a great job with those boys and a few NRL players have gone through there.
“We wish them all the best.”
Wilson said Kirwan had the necessary talent to get over the top of Westfields today.
“They’ve exceeded all expectations but they’re focused on doing one more job,” he said.