In this Footy IQ cutdown, Blake Austin dives into the Australian Schoolboys pathway and his own experience sitting inside – and outside – those rep setups. He explains why missing out on a Schoolboys blazer doesn’t end your career, how many future NRL players never get the big‑name selections at 17 or 18, and what advice he’d give to any young half or forward who’s feeling overlooked.
Blake talks about resilience, mindset and what actually matters for aspiring pros: turning up, competing every week and loving your footy more than you love selections. If you’re a junior player, a coach, or a footy parent trying to navigate the modern pathways system, this is a must‑watch perspective that cuts through the hype around rep teams and rankings.
Subscribe to Footy IQ for more NRL tactics, pathways and development breakdowns, and find the full Round 19 episode – including the Eels’ Luai puzzle and the rise of the Sharks – on our main channel and podcast feed
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