Melton brothers Paula and Melvin Fifita will take on the best in Australia after being named in the 2014 combined states rugby league team to compete in the Australian under-18 schoolboy championships next month.
The Hallam Senior College students were named following their performances in the affiliated states championships held during the Queen’s Birthday weekend and involving Northern Territory, Western Australia, South Australia and Victoria.
Victorian coach and Hallam teacher Jamie Fardell said it was unusual for twins to be in the same representative team.
“Paula made the combined team last year so it was good to have both of them make it this time,” he said.
Fardell said the boys, 17, were instrumental in Victoria winning the affiliated states championships.
“We had a lot of injuries during the championship and lost our first game, but we were able to bounce back and win the final against Western Australia.”
He said the boys still attended Hallam Senior despite having moved to Melton.
“Their dad owns a barber shop around the corner from the school,” he said. “It’s a long drive to get to [Hallam Senior from Melton], but sometimes they sleep in a unit above the shop to help reduce the travel.
“Both boys are studying VET hairdressing as a subject at school.
“They take the clippers away with them when they are part of representative teams and give everyone haircuts.”
Fardell said both boys were aiming to play for Melbourne Storm or another NRL side.
“They used to play under-18s for Melbourne Storm,” he said. “The next big aim is to be part of the Storm’s Holden Cup side, which is the level below NRL.
“They both play the prop position so they take the brunt of a lot of the tackles. It’s really hard stuff on them. They’re training every Monday with the Storm.”
The combined states team will face sides from ACT, Queensland and three New South Wales school teams at the national championships in Darwin between July 6 and 11.
Rikki Turner from the Grange P-12 College is also part of the team.
