A Tale of Two Schoolboys
Proudly clad in green and gold, two young men, on the verge of leaving school and making their way into the National Rugby League, stand in the centre of the field. Representing Keebra Park, Queensland, and now Australia as members of the Australian Schoolboy side for 2017, Tanah Boyd and David Fifita have joined some of the games’ greats. Together these two students entered Keebra Park in grade 8 and have since grown on and off the field together. Capping off stellar school careers with a GIO Cup National Championship win in 2017, the boys diverse backgrounds and unique playing styles make them two players to watch as they enter the NRL system.
Fifita, a young boy from Inala, enrolled at Keebra Park after graduating from the renowned rugby powerhouse Kruger State School. Boyd, a Gold Coaster, finished his schooling at Coomera before making his way to the grounds of Keebra. “I first saw Tanah come in for development day in 2013 as this small blonde kid. He always won the fitness tests and had a solid build on him but since then, I knew that there was something special in him,” Fifita says of his playing partner.
Despite growing up 100 kilometers apart and a bashful admission that a then 12-year-old Fifita intimidated Boyd, the boys’ bond on and off the field has become nearly inseparable. Both quickly rose through the club and school representative scene, forming a devastating pairing on the right edge. Of their combination on the field, Boyd says “we know the in’s and out’s of both our games and that really helps on the field.” Of their friendship, Fifita, cites Tanah as one of his best mates, but that doesn’t mean it is always roses. “Tanah sometimes gets up me when I run the wrong line or something, but that’s the game. I love playing with him,” says Fifita.
Their deadly combinations, unique game intelligence, and presence on the field have led to both achieving high accolades at every possible turn. “It has been great playing together, not just at school but for other rep teams as well. Tanah makes me look good and always puts me in the holes,” Fifita says. Together, Boyd and Fifita have been named in six representative sides- Under 15 Queensland Schoolboys, Under 15 Australian Schoolboys Merit Team, Under 16 Queensland Origin, Under 18 Queensland Schoolboys, Under 18 Queensland Origin and Under 18 Australian Schoolboys. Capp that off with back-to-back Queensland State Championships and two appearances in the GIO Cup National Final, with one victory, Fifita and Boyd are on the precipice of something special. “It has been awesome playing along side David for all these years. We have so much trust in each other,” says Boyd, while Fifita “can’t wait to see what the future holds for both of us.”
