The under 15s were impressive, winning their first four matches to set up a final showdown with Hunter.

The match was a hard-fought affair, with Hunter ultimately edging Illawarra 7-5.

The under 16s had a tougher time at the event, with the boys starting the competition with a 10-5 loss to Hunter. They then bounced back on Saturday to defeat Central West 36-7 and book a semi-final berth on Sunday morning.

Sunday did not play out as coach Dion Miller had hoped, with the side losing to Far-North Coast 29-7 in the semi-final before they fell to Mid-North Coast 24-7 in the third-place playoff.

"We're really proud of the kids' efforts," Miller said. "We have limited numbers in the under 16s, with no competition down here. We've had this team for two years, they've developed nicely.

"We had a good day Saturday, the win over Central West was a great team effort, with every player playing. We just lost our mental structure on Sunday, that's the next thing we need to work on. They have the attributes to win games, but we just need to teach them that mental side of competition."

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The boys, and all other Illawarra sides will now turn their attention to the upcoming NSW Championships, which most age groups will play over the Queen's Birthday long weekend.

That competition will pose a fresh challenge, with the Sydney teams boasting numerous high-quality players, however Miller is looking forward to seeing his players rise to the task.

"We'll go to state championships now, so that's our focus. Last year we only lost to Randwick, which was a good effort. Now we've learnt a bit more, our focus is on trying to work on that next phase.

"If we can get our mental state together, we will be in good stead. We'll try to get down and watch the Illawarra seniors prepare for their Country Championships, watch how they train, look at their intensity and hopefully get some pointers."

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