Over six short days in Canberra, coach Dale Roberson and a band of Australia's brightest young stars made a 21-try statement against New Zealand that may be felt for years to come.
No one treats Kiwi rugby like that at any age level yet the Australia Under-18s smashed the NZ Schoolboys 81-48 and 55-33 in two internationals just as some Aussie age teams have been dealt with in the past.
For Australian U18s head coach Dale Roberson, it was a period to savour a top crop of teenage players on the rise and the positive pathway work being done in Australian rugby.
It is something he has been attuned to for four-and-a-half years as the Buildcorp Reds Academy coach based at Ballymore.
The likes of prop Kingsley Uys, centre Treyvon Pritchard, lock Will Ross, flyhalf Finn Mackay, prop Levi Slater and fullback Nick Conway are talents who stepped up from the Reds Academy for the recent successes with the Australian U18s.
All had been signed on multi-year deals to continue their development at the Queensland Reds in the months before the U18s campaign as a sharp tick for talent ID.
"There is real enjoyment in seeing the progress of young guys like this," Roberson said.
"I get great satisfaction in seeing that next step from the Reds Academy to the Reds squad.
"Consistently, the Academy is doing its job of delivering players to the top squad. Guys like Tim Ryan, John Bryant, Dre Pakeho and Harry McLaughlin-Phillips have taken that step. In recent months, Tom Robinson and Vaiuta Latu have done so. It's helping to 'close the gap' as (Reds head coach) Les Kiss refers to bringing the levels closer together."
Roberson said several key pillars set up the Australian U18s for success.
"'Team-first' and 'relentless' were two pillars we drove from the start. I think you saw that team-first attitude in many different ways like that one extra pass when a player could have scored but passed to a teammate to score in a better position," Robeson said.
"Players getting back on their feet to get back involved in attack and defence was another reflection of that attitude.
"I'm also the first to say the U18s coaching team was lucky to inherit a very talented group from the schools and pathway programs plus the massive benefit of a core of players returning from the U18s in 2024.
"Our job was to bring it together and find that connection on the players' level.
"The whole U18s squad contributed to our success. One of the awards we had for each match was the 'Celebrate The Unseen Award' which was again about recognising a worker doing his job like (hooker) Noah Rauluni."
Beyond the quiz games, the team play lists of songs linked the unique individual pieces of the squad.
You won't find Biffy Clyro in the U18s team list but you did find the Scottish rock band on the team play list thanks to Roberson.
It's a throwback to Roberson's own music tastes from his days as a back more than 20 years ago when playing abroad with Jed-Forest, one of the oldest of rugby clubs in Scotland.
"No one had a clue who Biffy Clyro were but it was the music of my seasons playing in Scotland," Roberson said.
Athletic Performance Coach Will Brown did excellent work to keep the players sharp and fit for not just two games in six days but three in 10 days.
The likes of Pritchard, Mackay and Conway backed up in all three games with fine performances as a measure of Brown's well-acted program.
Attack coach James Hilgendorf and forwards coach Cameron Blades added their expertise but there was playful scrutiny over the defence coach.
"The defence coach needs to work on his game...me," Roberson said with his trademark dry humour.
Roberson was an assistant coach with Blades at the Southern Districts club in Sydney from 2012-18 before his coaching in Queensland took off with the Churchie First XV (2019-21) and as a Brothers assistant coach (2019-20).
The speed of ball generated by the U18s forwards enabled the backs to play on the front foot and show their best.
Roberson was upbeat about the gains that can be developed into the future.
"Nick Conway played wing for the Australia U20s so this was an excellent opportunity for him to show his X-factor from fullback and his command of the back three," Roberson said.
"Finn Mackay is a player who has benefitted in the pathways from Australia U16s to now. He's progressed to play Premier Grade with Souths as a teen this year. You could see the benefits of his kicking training through the Academy to continue his improvements as a young 10.
"A player like Treyvon showed athletic potential not often seen with his speed, size and power. He kicks both feet. He's gone from being a fullback to the frontline where there is no messing around in defence which is an area he has really improved."
