Sam, in a lead up to the Australian Indoor Hockey Championship held recently at the Unanderra Hockey Centre, said being familiar with the court would give him and his NSW under 18s team the advantage.

"It's my local court, so I know it very well," he said in the lead up to the competition.

True to his word Sam and NSW dominated the under 18's boy's tournament.

NSW ended up taking on arch-rival Victoria in the recent grand final and came away with a conclusive victory.

NSW beat Victoria by 3-nil in the grand final.

Sam led the way in the goal-scoring department for the Blues.

The Shoalhaven High School student found the back of the net twice for NSW while Connor Tuddenham also scored a goal.

Sam stood up to be counted when it mattered the most and his effort in the final was his best match for the tournament.

However, things did not start off too well for the rising local hockey star.

Sam, in a warm-up for the first match, was hit in the head by the ball which opened up an old scar.

The taped up Shoalhaven High School student quickly recovered and led his team to the title.

The NSW under-18s women's team capped an unbeaten Australian Indoor Hockey Festival campaign by winning gold.

The Under 18s women recorded a comprehensive 6-2 win over Queensland in the grand final

NSW has now won five titles at the Australian Indoor Hockey Festival since it got underway on January 4.

The NSW Blues open women's side was the state's first side to win, followed by the NSW open men's team.

NSW has also claimed the under-21s women's title.

Meanwhile, Gerringong's Josh Mayo and team-mates like Jack Hayes continue to be rewarded for guiding NSW to national title glory.

Mayo and Hayes played key roles in helping his state win the Australian Indoor Hockey Festival open men's title.

It was their 12th straight title win.

Their form didn't go unnoticed and they are among a group of South Coast players named in Australia's extended men's and women's squads for the 2021 Indoor Hockey World Cup.

Mayo and Hayes will be joined in the Aussie men's world cup squad by fellow locals Heath Ogilvie, Daniel Joliffe and Thomas Miotto.