Endeavour Sports High School in New South Wales is on the brink of national success in the NRL Schoolboys Cup, having broken a decade-long drought and secured an undefeated run to reach the final. The team will face Queensland state champions Wavell State High in the national decider, scheduled for next Wednesday, with the match set to be live streamed online.

A distinctive aspect of Endeavour’s rise has been the enduring culture of family instilled within the program, symbolized by the team’s ritual of singing the 1970s disco anthem "We Are Family" by Sister Sledge after every victory. This tradition dates back more than 20 years and has helped define the team’s identity beyond the rugby field.

The song was originally created during a road trip to Tamworth by Blake Ayshford, a former NRL player who competed in 174 top-grade matches. Ayshford, who played for the Wests Tigers, Cronulla Sharks, and New Zealand Warriors, was in his final school year when he helped develop the team song, incorporating "We Are Family" at the request of then head coach Jeff Hardy.

Reflecting on his experience, Ayshford emphasized the genuine sense of camaraderie at Endeavour, describing the players and coaches as a close-knit unit. “When you go to school for so many years with someone and you train two to three days a week, and with these coaches who basically treated you like a son, we actually were a family,” he said. He noted that this bond extends beyond individual teams to encompass all players who have worn Endeavour’s black jersey.

Coach Dave Howlett explained that the value of family was formally embedded into Endeavour’s rugby league program at the end of the 2003 season, alongside respect and striving for a personal best. That year, the team reached the national final but suffered a 28-0 defeat against St Dominic’s College. Howlett attributed the loss not to a lack of talent but to the opponents' stronger sense of unity and school spirit.

“How connected the other team was—that made the difference,” Howlett said. He recalled observing another semifinal where St Greg’s College players celebrated with their fans, generating an electric atmosphere that highlighted the importance of team cohesion. In response, Endeavour made the commitment to foster a family culture.

Since then, the program has emphasized putting others before oneself and living the family value on and off the field. If successful in the upcoming final against Wavell State High, the players will once again unite in song, reaffirming the culture that has sustained their success.