ENDEAVOUR TO PLAY IN BUCKLEY &
UNI SHIELD FINALS TODAY

Endeavour SHS University Shield Team Photo (Photo : ourfooty media )	ENDEAVOUR SHS BUCKLEY Shield Team ( Photo : ourfootyteam.com)

Endeavours' young open rugby league staged an amazing comeback in the University Shield Final at the Morrie Breen Oval Wyong today.

By half time Hunter had a commanding lead to be 24 - 6, and it looked like the uni shield was slipping away for this year.

Endeavour coach Jeff Hardy was quiet addressing his team during the break and reminded the boys of what they and the school is about.

It was a very pumped up Endeavour in the second half and really showed why they are one of the best school footy team in the country by completing their sets of six and and with the final siren it was 32 - all.

It was decided to play an extra 5 minutes each way, rather than play the Golden Point which was a pity as Endeavour scores a great try in the right hand corner to make the score 36 - 32.

Both team continued to pile on the points until the end of the game where Hunter held on to a slight lead to win 38 - 42.

MICHAEL BUETTNER
SHIELD

2007

CHAMPIONS

THE HILLS
SPORTS HIGH SCHOOL

Born to run ... Chase Stanley

We knew little else of the prodigious Dragons and NSW under-19 talent. Through a peep-hole of four first-grade games, he has shown us exhilarating future possibilities, but as his father Paul Stanley explains, the young man himself is still discovering who Chase Stanley is.

"He has been on this earth all of 17 years, he knows everything," Paul says with parental sarcasm. "Chase has had to grow up quite quickly because he is playing in the NRL, but you have to remind him that he is 17 years old. He has to still be in touch with being a teenager and enjoy himself at this phase of his life."

Chase is the second eldest of six children, the eldest of five brothers, born in Bankstown Hospital to working-class parents. His mother, Michele, is from proud league stock, with her grand-uncles Rangi and Tommy Chase representing New Zealand in the 1930s. Chase was christened with his mother's maiden name, and is a distant relative of Dragons teammate Rangi Chase.

"He has a pretty wise head on his shoulders, he is pretty mature," Rangi Chase says. "I'm just really happy for him. Being a young guy he has a lot of big wraps on him, but he handles it all."

The bright lights of professional sport are shining on him now, but the family's world was plunged into darkness 10 years ago when Paul, a former construction manager, nearly lost his life after falling from a worksite building.

"I fell two storeys, and then I got up and my mate drove me home, I didn't go to the hospital," says New Zealand-born Paul. "I had a bath, but it started getting worse, and then I started spewing up this gooey blood - basically I was haemorrhaging. When I got to the hospital the doctor told Michele I'd be lucky to make it through to the next day."

Chase was eight, not ready to assume man-of-the house status, not wanting to try. "It was a pretty scary time at the time, we were very young," Chase says. "Dad talked to us, told us to be strong."

Fate had a different course in store for the Stanleys. Paul survived, albeit with the stipulation he would never work again, while his daily ritual includes the intake of five tablets - gradually reduced from 30 - to manage the pain of compressed fractures along his spinal column.

"That made him realise that it is the little things in life that matter," Paul says. "I always tell my children, you can dream about the big stuff but it will never happen unless you do the little things right - being a good person, doing the right things at training and at home - the little things are basic everyday occurrences.

The advice, which the Stanley children refer to as "nagging", seems to have rubbed off despite a few adolescent indiscretions. Chase's manager and mentor, Sharks forward Lance Thompson, says: "I have never seen a bloke more passionate about his friends and family. Even though he is in first grade he will always go to watch his little brothers play. He has a positive attitude, he is just a ball of energy, and it's starting to rub off on me."

Thompson spotted Chase when he was 10 years old playing for the Clemton Park-based Dragons club in the Canterbury district, and persuaded the youngster to join the side he was coaching, Hurstville United under-10s. Chase's brothers Kyle, Jamie, Mutu and Reremoana all joined the club. Three years later, Chase (under-13s), Kyle (under-11s) and Jamie (under-9s) each won man-of-the-match awards as they led their sides to grand final victories on the same day.

"From the first day he came to training I thought to myself, 'This is a ready-made footballer'," Thompson says. "But talent is a dime-a-dozen, there are a lot of kids with talent, it's how they use it. He has had a few hurdles here and there, making mistakes that teenagers do - everyone has done it, I have done it. Not only this year, but last year in SG Ball when he was getting into a little bit of trouble, we sat down and worked out how we were going to deal with it and get over it, and he did. He is a very respectful, polite young kid."

Thompson, a former Dragons player, credits Chase for inspiring him to become a player manager and role model to some of the most talented youths in the Shire who are now part of his client list. "The first pay cut I took at St George was $10,000 and that was to donate money to kids in the area, and he was the main reason for that. He was definitely an inspiration, he was the first player that got me thinking about [player management]."

Chase has been dealt some favourable cards, and knows he must play them wisely because the game has only begun. "I am glad to be playing, I'm thankful for the opportunity," he says.

MOTORING . . . Chase Stanley sets sail to score for the Dragons in the first half against Penrith last night. Picture: Mark Evans.

Penrith coach Matthew Elliott told a post-match media conference he felt like he was "in the desert, surrounded by vultures" – he complimented reporters on their wings – after the return of Dean Young and strong showings from rookies Chase Stanley and Jason Nightingale helped the Dragons win and left the Panthers stranded on four competition points.

Cooper, ruled unfit for Country Origin selection due to a bad head knock on Anzac Day, said he still didn't know if he would play even when he arrived at OKI Jubilee Stadium last night.

"I was still a bit dusty out there, I just couldn't concentrate on things that well," said Cooper, who blasted back into NSW selection favouritism.

"Coming in at halftime, I felt a bit crook. I felt like throwing up but I went back out and tried to help the team win. That was the main thing. "In the end, I'm glad I played.".. Learn More