Meet the unsung heroes of the Langer, Walters Cup
Grand final countdown: Here’s 16 unsung heroes set to impact Wednesday’s Langer Trophy, Langer Reserves and Walters Cup finals.
Ipswich
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While Wednesday’s hotly anticipated grand final triple treat features matchwinning players sprinkled all four schools challenging for three premiership, the games also feature unsung heroes.
So who have been some of the unsung heroes who have helped get their respectives Langer Trophy, Langer Reserves and Walters Cup teams to grand final day at Kougari Oval?
We name 16 understated players who will feature in the three premiership deciders to be live streamed by www.couriermail.com.au, the Gold Coast Bulletin and News Corp affiliates.
GRAND FINALS
12.30pm: Langer Reserves: Marsden SHS v PBC SHS
1.45pm: Walters Cup: Marsden SHS v Keebra Park SHS
3pm: Langer Trophy: Ipswich SHS v PBC SHS
WATCH THE SEMI-FINAL REPLAYS HERE
MEET 35 BIG BOPPERS OF THE LANGER, WALTERS CUP SEASON
LANGER TROPHY
Jack Laing (Ipswich SHS)
Laing, a No. 13, looks like he would be a coaches’ dream player. And do you know what? He absolutely is just that. “Jack is everything you want in a back rower,’’ said Ipswich SHS head coach Joshua Bretherton. “He just works his backside off. And he does those little things – the pressure, the kick chase that no one wants to do.’’
James Frazer (Ipswich SHS)
What a player to have in a grand final. Frazer, a five-eight, does his job without fuss and makes his tackles. Who could ask for anything more? Indeed onlookers on semi-final day would have seen his strong tackle on one of Marsden SHS’s best players, hooker Jacob Tinsley, when he knocked possession out of Tinsley’s arms just as Marsden were threatening late. “That is one of James’ great strengths,’’ Bretherton said. “He is a good half, but he is a very strong defender as a half and has been an excellent asset to us with his defensive effort.’’
Tyler Peckham-Harris (Ipswich SHS)
There is not much of Peckham-Harris but doesn’t he pack a punch through will, hard work and endeavour.
Those are the attributes which got him into our Meninga Cup Team of the Year earlier in the rugby league season. And he also has pace, and plenty of it, with his 75m solo try against Marsden a gem, along with his 25m spurt to the line. “For Tyler to go and score two tries like he did, I am just so proud of him because he is just such an excellent kid,’’ said Ipswich SHS coach Joshua Bretherton.
Ahmani Leilua (Ipswich SHS)
Talk about an unsung hero. Leilua is not only a great character, but a natural leader on the training paddock, on game day and off the field as well. He is the starting prop and sets the high standards in defence and carrying the ball. The topic of unsung heroes was made for someone like Leilua, a Springfield Panthers junior.
“They (Frazer, Laing, Peckham-Harris and Leilua) are the types of kids who are good kids, work extraordinarily hard and they are just dragging everything out of themselves,’’ said Ipswich SHS coach Joshua Bretherton. “They have not all been gifted the natural things that some other people have been, but they work hard, understand the game well and I am just so proud.
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SPEED DEMONS OF THE LANGER TROPHY
OUR BEST 40 FROM THE LANGER, WALTERS AND TITANS FINALS
Will Taylor (PBC SHS)
From the Bilambil Jets situated in the beautiful northern NSW hamlet, Taylor has been a revelation this season.
Outsiders knew little about him because injury disrupted his 2021, but PBC SHS coach Tim Maccan knew all about him, launching his return to rugby league via the Tweed Seagulls in the Meninga Cup under 18 competition. With that grounding behind him, Taylor has been outstanding as a left edge, not unlike the way former Cowboys and Origin forward Ethan Lowe used to play.
Cooper Cambey (PBC SHS)
The right centre is a little like former Cowboys captain Paul Bowman or Broncos champion Mick De Vere who were never Flash Dan players, but who played State of Origin. “Cooper has worked really hard on his game. A couple of weeks back we said he really needed to work hard on his kick chase and carrying the ball with intent, and he has done that really well,’’ said PBC SHS coach Tim Maccan. And a flick pass by Cambey to create a try against Keebra Park SHS in last week’s semi-final elevated Cambey beyond merely tradesman status.
Isaiah Scanlan (PBC SHS)
“He has been massive for us,’’ said PBC SHS coach Tim Maccan in reference to Scanlan. And with those five words, nothing else needs to be said about the hardened middle forward.
Reico Ratana (PBC SHS)
Along with Scanlan, Ratana entered 2022 with wise eyes and rich knowledge after helping PBC SHS to the 2021 Phil Hall Trophy state premiership. He has shown the new crop of forwards the way around the field in Langer footy.
Jett Jackson (PBC SHS)
A tall middle forward, Jackson has got the job done without fuss. PBC SHS coach Maccan summed up Jackson, Ratana, Scanlan, Cambey and Taylor when he said: “They know their role, they do their role and they do their role every week. They are so consistent, so much so it is hard to tell the difference between a good game and a and game.’’
Bailey McConnell (PBC SHS)
We will highlight PBC SHS No.9 Tanu Nona’s contribution in a story tomorrow, but when McConnell comes on as fresh legs out of dummy half, he is giving the side a real lift. Nona is the captian, a figure head and an outstanding dummy half, but PBC SHS is fortunate to have McConnell zipping around after 20 minute sor so.
LANGER RESERVES
Cory Pearson (Marsden SHS)
Pearson has been symbolic of the Marsden SHS season which has built ever so steadily since the resumption from the mid season break. A hooker, he is powerful, quick enough, strong as an ox and can kick goals. He also thumps in defence.
Isaac Harrison (PBC SHS)
The lock forward, twin of the Langer Trophy’s starting halfback Zane Harrison, has good footwork, is clever and plays above his weight. He leads by example on and off the field, that’s why they call him “The Chief.
WALTERS CUP
Emmanuel Asomua (Marsden SHS)
The Walters Cup side has obvious threats on the edges, but under rate this big front rower at your peril. He is deceptively quick for a big man, an explosive type who's acceleration at the line can surprise opponents.
Paea Pulekia (Marsden SHS)
Like all teams that make the grand final, their success can be traced back to the person who handles the ball most – the dummy half. He has been an unsung hero who has given great service from the ruck all season.
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SONS (and brothers, daughters) OF SPORTING GUNS
Bailey Seccombe (Keebra Park SHS)
The Keebra Park SHS centre has been slightly understated this season, getting through a mountain of work in defence and with the ball.
Zac Kumbamong (Keebra Park SHS)
Kumbamong and edge partner Tyrel Laban are physically imposing players, with Kumbamong having had a big year and has been instrumental in Keebra Park’s unbeaten run this season.
LIVE STREAM SCHEDULE, Wednesday
12.30pm: Langer Reserves: Marsden SHS v PBC SHS
1.45pm: Walters Cup: Marsden SHS v Keebra Park SHS
3pm: Langer Trophy: Ipswich SHS v PBC SHS
FOOTNOTE: The www.couriermail will cover Tuesday’s Brisbane Broncos Old Boys Trophy (Year 7) grand final between Wavell SHS and Keebra Park SHS, and the Steve Renouf Shield (Year 8) between Ipswich SHS and Keebra Park SHS.
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