By Jon Geddes

HE may only have finished year 12 at Waverley College last year, but there is no holding back rising secondrower Clem Halaholo who graduated into the school of hard knocks by making his first grade debut for Sydney University last weekend.

The up-and-coming 18-year-old lock got his initiation into the Shute Shield as a replacement just before halftime in the Students’ 17-12 win over Northern Suburbs at North Sydney Oval on Saturday to reclaim the John Thornett Cup.

“It was unreal, the atmosphere just hit me,” a beaming Halaholo said after the game.

“I felt like I was in a dream.”