Hoffman plays for one of state's top footy schools

IT'S not easy to make the First X111 at Keebra Park but our man at the Gold Coast has done it.

SUCCESS: Brendan Hoffman at his old junior ground Eastern Suburbs. Picture: Gerard Walsh

SportsView with Gerard Walsh

AFTER playing all his rugby league with Eastern Suburbs juniors, Brendan Hoffman is now in his third year at Keebra Park State High School at the Gold Coast and playing in the First X111.

He is in the starting side in the Allan Langer Cup competition for one of the best school rugby league teams in the state.

Keebra Park is a school with a rugby league excellence program and a Rugby League Academy

He plays under-18 games for Runaway Bay and some under-20 games in Gold Coast club footy.

Hoffman is already aiming for the nationals in shot put and discus this season.

While his swimming has dropped away now he is at the Gold Coast, there is no doubt years of hard training in swimming have boosted his strength for footy.

Wattles finals

GOOD to see Wattles are in two President's Cup finals at Clive Berghofer Stadium in Toowoomba on Sunday.

The reserve-grade team from Allora and Clifton is coming up against Valleys in the 1pm reserve-grade game on Sunday. Captain-coach Brenden Wilson has played a lot of A grade but this year is leading the way for the reggies.

The A-grade game is for the Madsen Rasmussen Cup trophy and Wattles will be aiming to beat Valleys after having a win in the first round this season. The word is Wattles player/coach and five-eighth Travis Burns is playing even better footy each season and his combination with half Matt Duggan is sure to open up a lot of defences this season.

Warwick A-grade narrowly missed out to Valleys on securing the other cup final spot and now prepare to face Wattles on June 30 at Platz Oval.