Canterbury College has capped one of its strongest sporting trimesters in years with an unbeaten rugby premiership, a third straight netball title, a dramatic Queensland Independent Secondary Schools Netball Carnival triumph and a Junior The Associated Schools (TAS) cross-country victory.
The Waterford school’s First XV ended a 20-year premiership drought with an undefeated The Associated Schools season, securing the title before the final round.
Coach and rugby coordinator Josh Afu said the breakthrough was years in the making.
“It is a great achievement for the program as a whole as this has been a project five years in the making,” Mr Afu said.
“The gentleman who wore the 1st XV jersey this season did so with pride and humility.”
Captain Max Newton also led a strong representative contingent, with Newton, Lebron Tusitala, Sitaleki Tafa, Khalis Southon and Laurenson Silaga earning South Coast selection. Newton and Tusitala progressed to Queensland honours.
Canterbury’s First VII netballers were just as dominant, completing an undefeated TAS campaign to claim a third consecutive premiership after titles in 2024 and 2025.
Canterbury said members of the 2026 squad had not lost a TAS netball game since beginning Year 7.
“Our Firsts Netball Team went from strength to strength, harnessing the full breadth of their collective skill to finish the TAS season as undefeated Champions,” netball coordinator Tania Carlson said.
The First VII was coached by Deanne Hamilton and captained by Jayda Penitani.
Their season then produced an even more dramatic chapter at the Queensland Independent Secondary Schools Netball Carnival.
After losing twice on the opening day, Canterbury fought its way into the Division 1 girls grand final against St James College at Nissan Arena.
Trailing by six goals in the final quarter, Canterbury surged back to snatch a 22–21 victory.
The six-day carnival, hosted by Emmaus College Jimboomba, featured 100 teams from 81 schools.
Harmony Topeto was named an all star and player of the final, Jasmine Fidow received Canterbury’s tournament most valuable player award and Ari Leota was named a rising star.
Canterbury’s younger athletes also delivered, with the school crowned Boys’ Aggregate Champion at the Junior TAS Cross Country Carnival and finishing third overall.
Together, the results gave Canterbury a trimester of titles across rugby, netball and cross-country — combining long-awaited breakthroughs, unbeaten runs and one of the season’s most dramatic comebacks.
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