League and rugby schools clashed in a hybrid game. Who was the real winner?

On a wet Wednesday in Kellyville, old sparring partners league and union came together.

It’s said that oil and water don’t mix, but here was an exhibition that attempted to tap the best of both games. For one afternoon, at least, two rival codes found common ground outside a disdain for Rugby 360.

The guinea pigs were two of the best football nurseries in the country. Representing rugby was Barker College, a private school located in Hornsby, while St Gregory’s College, Campbelltown, flew the league flag.

As they played at the training home of the Parramatta Eels, onlookers included former Wallaby Mark Gerrard, former NRL stars Brad Fittler, Luke Burgess, Josh Hodgson and Jason Death, and prominent player agent Isaac Moses. There were times when the players, like those in the stands, weren’t exactly sure of the rules.

Those rules included the team in possession obeying league laws in their own half (as the above video shows), then switching to rugby rules when in enemy territory. Tackle counts were disposed of, with a shot clock restricting the attacking side to 60 seconds of play on each side of the halfway line. It’s a credit to both sides that, given only two weeks to prepare, neither had to forfeit the footy for took too long to cross the threshold.

It was a better spectacle than it was a contest. Only a handful of the year 12 St Greg’s boys were available due to HSC commitments, and they were no match for a stacked Barker side that was too big and classy.

In the battle of the codes, this was a decisive 47-5 victory to rugby. But that’s not what the match-up was about. It was about bringing together talented athletes and finding common ground in a new sporting format.

“I actually enjoyed the game – this is like your T20 version of rugby, so to speak,” Gerrard said.

“I know you’ve got traditionalists in league and union that are gonna say: ‘No, it’s the worst thing in the world’. Well, you can stay in your box. I just enjoy something different because to have something in an event style, that creates a different atmosphere around the same product, I think it’s a good thing. It’s healthy.”

Some habits die hard, though. On a couple of occasions, the St Gregory’s players, having crossed halfway, stood up to play the ball instead of reverting to a ruck. But for the most part, everyone was on the same page. Barker had three Australian Schoolboys representatives on their team and a gun 15-year-old fullback who attracted the interest of talent scouts. The good ones stand out, regardless of the rules.

‘I actually enjoyed the game – this is like your T20 version of rugby, so to speak.’

Former Wallaby Mark Gerrard

This was the first hybrid football game played on these shores since Western Suburbs (league) defeated Randwick (rugby) in 2016. On that occasion, Phil Franks was championing the Hybrid Rugby brand, a task he passed on to his son, Paul.

“It was a fast, free-flowing flowing and exciting game. Both schools got a lot out of it,” Paul Franks said.

“We’re pretty open-ended with [what comes next]. The England idea is a bit of a no-brainer – both codes are struggling financially over there.

“It’s a way to do a spectacle event where both codes can share in revenue. It’s exciting for the fans as well.”

The NRL has always been mindful not to do anything to give its closest competitor a leg up, but even the governing body got on board for the latest exhibition.

“I thought both sides showed really good spirit,” said Fittler, who holds an NRL pathways position.

“The thing about this age group is, you see how much they care for their schools.”

So, where to from here for the hybrid game? There have been numerous attempts to stage games between the Kangaroos and Wallabies, and even the All Blacks have been approached. None of them have ever materialised, each code wary of ceding ground to the other.

ARLC chairman Peter V’landys is an ideas man, having taken the NRL to Las Vegas for season openers. Now there’s even talk of kicking off the 2027 season in even grander style, via a Global Round. Have we gotten to the point where a hybrid clash at the elite level could be used to draw new eyeballs and fans? When I put this to V’landys via text this week, his reply was succinct.

“No.”