A Farrer First 13 layered with top talent will finally get their season under way when they play St Edward's College Gosford in an NRL Schoolboy Cup knockout match at Farrer on Wednesday morning.
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Because of COVID-19, Farrer assistant coach Tom Learoyd-Lahrs said the competition had been shortened - with the best 16 teams in Australia set to go head to head in the country's premier secondary schools rugby league event.
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Farrer and St Edward's have never met before.
Farrer head coach Marty Moore and Learoyd-Lahrs - who played for the First 13 under Moore before going on to have a celebrated professional rugby league career - oversaw a final training session at Farrer on Tuesday afternoon.
Expect a truckload of "energy and enthusiasm" from the Farrer boys, Learoyd-Lahrs said. "I think as far as I'm concerned, they're ready to play footy."
He added: "I think every time you've got that First 13 jersey you've got an obligation to front up with plenty of energy and attitude."
Throughout history, Farrer were not always the biggest or most skilful side, said the former Kangaroos, Blues and Raiders star. "But what they'd always bring to the footy field was toughness and determination."
Farrer would be "bloody hard to beat", he added, if they "turn up with that frame of mind and are willing to work for each other and for the jersey".
