In 2023, Christchurch-based St Thomas’ of Canterbury College became the first non-Auckland school to win the New Zealand Secondary Schools Tournament in 23 years – and created more history last year by taking out back-to-back titles.
The success of St Thomas’ rugby league program – and the burgeoning individual talent within the team – is having a major flow-on impact in the NSWRL’s junior competitions.
Powerhouse second-rower Bishop Neal was named player of the match in the Warriors’ Harold Matthews Cup grand final victory over Newcastle last weekend, scoring a first-half double to delete the Knights’ early 12-0 advantage and set the Warriors on course for a 30-16 win.
Neal replicated the 2024 feat of fellow St Thomas’ star Lennox Tuiloma, who earned best-on-ground honours as the Warriors won the Harold Matthews Cup grand final in the club’s maiden season in the grade.
“I’m really proud of ‘Bish’ – and obviously Lennox the year before him – those guys have really done well in the Warriors’ system and it’s awesome to see them achieving on that stage,” says St Thomas’ dual NZSST-winning coach Andrew Auimatagi, a long-serving former Canterbury representative player and coach, who was a Kiwi Ferns assistant coach in 2024.
“With Bishop, he’s got a lot of natural talent and physicality, so it’s good to see him play to his strengths. I think sometimes as coaches we can be guilty of putting too many limitations on players, but he’s a player that feels the game really well, can create and pull anything out of the bag.”
Neal went viral with a jaw-dropping display of skill, pace and raw power to complement his imposing frame against Illawarra earlier this season, scoring a 50-metre try featuring a chip-and-regather, a swerve and a succession of big fends.
But the 2024 NZRL Male Junior Player of the Year 2024 possesses plenty of other qualities unrelated to his rare physical gifts that hold him in good stead to reach the game’s heights.
“Some of his biggest strengths are not many things phase him, he knows who he is and plays with confidence,” explains Auimatagi, who is also involved with the Warriors in a South Island satellite coaching role.
“Other players love playing with him as well, that’s what I’ve seen over the last few years, he brings a lot of confidence to any team he’s part of. Obviously his skill level is really high but he’s a great team person and brings a lot of energy and humour to the group.”
Hornby Panthers junior Neal is one of many St Thomas’ products making a mark in the NSWRL junior grades this year. Kenny Lafituana came off the bench in the Warriors’ grand final win, while Calieb Fidow and Christiano Elia also featured during the campaign.
Meihana Pauling, Isaiah Savea and Micah Sula were in the Warriors’ SG Ball squad (Tuiloma was ruled out of making the step up by injury), while the versatile Jackson Stewart lined up at fullback in Sydney Roosters’ SG Ball grand final win in extra-time over Parramatta.
Ezekiel Paulo (Manly), Ezekiel Faga-Ieti and Xavier Lynch (both Newcastle) also made SG Ball debuts in 2025.
“We just love seeing our boys continuing to play league and rugby [union] beyond their time at STC and to be excelling at that next level in pathways systems, it’s pretty rewarding for us as a school to see them continue on that journey,” Auimatagi enthuses.
“I know there will be even more to follow, but these guys are leading the way.”
Meanwhile, with their NSWRL commitments complete for the year, the likes of Neal heading back to Christchurch shapes as a trump card in St Thomas’ of Canterbury College’s NZSST three-peat bid later this year.
“They’ve got a pre-season under the belt and they bring back a lot of confidence and discipline from being in those systems, and it definitely makes an impact on the other boys seeing the way they go about their business and bringing those habits back.”
