Fresh from a memorable debut season in Newcastle Knights colours, which culminated on Saturday in Harold Matthews Cup glory, Mitchell Henderson can't wait to rip in for Farrer when they kick-off their NRL Schoolboy Cup and University Shield campaigns on home turf next Wednesday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
The five-eighth missed the hit-out against Red Bend College, played as a curtain raiser to the NRL clash between the Wests Tigers and Gold Coast Titans, due to his Knight's commitments but is set to be one of a few inclusions for clash against Matraville High.
"It's going to be a big game against Matraville," he said.
Before then the teenager, who is also a talented rugby union player, will head down to Sydney to trial for the NSW Combined High Schools under-16s union side.
The NSW Country representative was invited by one of the CHS coaches to attend Friday's trials.
On Saturday his Knights under-16 side capped off a great season with a 28-8 grand final win over Canterbury-Bankstown in what Henderson said was "a really tough game".
READ ALSO:
"We got off to a really good start: completed our first few sets and scored a few quick one's," he said.
"Then late in the half they scored a couple of tries."
The second came right on half-time and left the Knights clinging to a 12-8 lead at the break.
"We were up by four but it felt like in the sheds we were losing," Henderson said.
In contrast to the first half they started the second half poorly. Making a few mistakes they were forced to defend their line for 15 minutes straight.
It was a game-defining period with the Knights holding the Bulldogs out, and from there kicking away.
"It was a big effort from everyone," he said.
"Everyone worked their backsides off for a lot of sets."
Defence was the one of the cornerstones of their campaign.
"We had a really good defensive record," Henderson said.
"For the entire season we only conceded 16 points in the second half."
"That was a pretty special stat."
Training with the side since last November, Henderson said he learnt a lot from it.
"It was a really good experience," he said.
"I went down there pretty raw."
He pinpointed the technical side as where his game has probably improved the most.
For instance he "didn't understand how complex defending on the edge was".
"And also in attack I learnt a lot playing at a faster pace and game management in harder games," he said.
Admittedly "pretty nervous" before his first game in February, which was incidentally against the Bulldogs, Henderson felt like he really grew into the role at five-eighth.
"I started a bit slow, I was a bit quiet," he said.
But as the season went on he got more comfortable.
Because the club isn't affiliated with Country Rugby League, that will be it this season for Henderson as far as competition league.
He is tossing up playing Friday night rugby but is looking forward to a well-earned break.
