There were mixed fortunes for the MacKillop Saints in Round 2 of the Taminmin Tri-Series, with the Year 7/8 team sealing the series in dramatic fashion while the 9/10s were brought back to earth by a fired-up Taminmin outfit.

In the opening juniors match, the MacKillop Saints’ Year 7/8 side locked horns with Taminmin College in a high-stakes clash that lived up to the billing. With the series on the line, the Saints struck early when a pinpoint kickoff by captain Harry Liddle pressured the Taminmin catcher into an error when he ended up in touch.

Though Jack Angeles was held up shortly after, the Saints wasted no time asserting dominance as Tre Tuariki crashed over on the left edge and Liddle converted from out wide for a 6–0 lead.

From there, MacKillop surged forward, gaining metres through powerhouse props Zaiden Smith and Tyler Moore, with Gabriel Walsh continuing his try-scoring form to extend the lead to 10–0 after eight minutes with another barge over from short range.

But as seen in Round 1, momentum is never permanent in Saints v Taminmin clashes. A mid-game lapse in concentration saw the hosts claw their way back to 10–10 early in the second half and when Josh Roberts was sin-binned for a flop tackle, Taminmin looked poised to run away with it.

Enter Lachlan Kiernan.

Injected off the bench, Kiernan’s energy was infectious, and his darting runs from dummy half culminated in a crucial try under the posts, breaking the deadlock. Liddle’s conversion made it 16–10.

With renewed confidence, the Saints pushed on. Angeles, earlier denied, got his moment in the sun with a well-earned try, stretching the lead to 22–10. But the drama wasn’t over yet. Zaiden Smith was the second Saint to be marched for misconduct in the dying minutes, and Taminmin capitalised, narrowing the margin to six. But in a nail-biting finish, the Saints held firm, claiming a 22–16 victory and securing the series 2–0.

After the match, Saints Head Coach Mr Matthew Sharp praised the debutant players Ojja Pitia, Sonny Smith, Tobi Fredericks, and Mihali Kampouris for their composure and impact.

“We’re known for giving newcomers a go, and they absolutely rose to the occasion,” Sharp said. “Off the field they’re respectful young men—on the field, they switch it on.”

Veterans like Smith, Tuariki and Liddle also acknowledged the impressive efforts of the rookies. Smith pointed out Pitia’s toughness in the middle, while Tuariki highlighted Sonny Smith’s intensity in both attack and defence. Liddle, ever the leader, gave full credit to the team—before being called away by Mrs. Bradtke to finish his assessment. She never misses a beat.

With the juniors victorious, attention turned to the Year 9/10 Saints who were hoping to wrap up the series. But it wasn’t to be.

Taminmin came out with intent, playing hard, fast, and disciplined football en route to a 24–8 win, levelling the series at 1–1 and setting up a mouth-watering decider.

Coach Sharp didn’t sugar-coat the performance.

“Credit to Taminmin. They deserved the win. We were flat. Our execution wasn’t there, and you can’t expect to win games with double-digit errors and constant penalties,” he said.

The second half alone saw 10 negative plays from the Saints which either resulted in turnovers or repeat sets, and despite moments of individual grit, cohesion was lacking.

“It’s a good reminder that talk doesn’t win games. We were outmuscled, out-enthused, and out-played. Every jersey is now up for grabs ahead of Round 3,”

Sharp declared.

With the juniors locking away the silverware, all eyes now turn to Term 3 for the series finale at MacKillop. Can the Year 9/10 Saints regroup and take the title on home soil? Will the younger Saints complete the clean sweep?

Either way, the stage is set for a blockbuster finish.

Special thanks to NRL NT for their support and to Referee Marcos Steinhardt, who officiated both games with his signature poise and authority. Steinhardt continues to shine as the Territory’s premier schools rugby league official.

Stay tuned for what promises to be a thrilling end to the 2025 Taminmin Tri-Series.