He doesn’t turn 18 until the last day of December, but Cornelius Pupualii is making inroads on his list of goals as he continues his journey towards a hopeful NRL career.
Cornelius – or ‘Connie’ as per his teammates – was last week named to the Under 18s Australian Schoolboys Team off the back of a standout ASSRL National Championships campaign with NSWCCC.
A Mount Druitt native and St Marys Saints junior, Pupualii – alongside twin brother Alexander – earlier this year pieced together a successful maiden SG Ball campaign with the Dragons in which he nabbed seven tries from eight outings.
A student at Patrician Brothers’ College, Blacktown, Pupualii was honoured to have received a green and gold jersey in recognition of the work that he and his family have put in over the past few years.
“It was a special thing to do; my prayers were answered,” Pupualii said.
“I’m just trying to put my last name out there. I wanted to make the most of my family’s hard work and sacrifices. They’ve been so supportive of me throughout my life.”
Pupualii admitted that he had some nerves when the team was being selected but that he was confident in the work that he had put in.
“I was pretty speechless and probably a bit nervous,” he said.
“But you’ve got to have that mentality and confidence. My preparation was really good, and I had a good feeling I was going to play well… It was just good seeing my family smile. The energy around me was pretty cool and it’s a moment I’ll remember.”
Having made the move from Penrith less than 12 months ago, Pupualii went from strength to strength at SG Ball level spending time on the wing and in the centres.
“The club has really good people. I’ve gotten along with them all,” he said.
“The staff have been welcoming; they’re cool people… I enjoyed playing across the park. The positions aren’t too different. It’s pretty good on the wing because you score so many tries; just catch them, put them down.”
Since finishing the SG Ball season, Pupualii – alongside his twin brother – has transitioned into the club’s Academy as he continues his rise through the grades.
“I’ve enjoyed my time in the Academy,” he said.
“They teach you how to become a better person and player at the same time. It’s really detailed training and helps us lay the groundwork. It’s just real technical… Having my brother here is great too. He’s been out for so long, so I’ve been playing by myself for a while. It’s been good to have him on the field. He helps motivate me.”
