“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. 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 that 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.

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“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.”