2025 Langer Trophy report card: How the eight teams were travelling with three rounds remaining
The Langer Trophy mid-season report card is in. How is your school side going in the elite schoolboy rugby league competition that will resume next week? Find out here.
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Keebra Park State High were steaming toward Langer Trophy premiership favouritism, but how did the other teams perform through the first four rounds of the season?
After a three week school holiday break, the Brisbane Broncos-sponsored competition will resume on Wednesday, July 23 with four mouth-watering clashes sparking the run towards finals.
Keebra Park’s backline star power, along with the endeavour and defence of the team’s forwards, saw the northern Gold Coast school elevated to favourite status — and rightly so.
Keebra Park have not disappointed, winning all four matches so far as teams chase a top-five position in a revamped finals series that will see the bottom three sides miss out.
The margin for error this season has been sliced in two, with the top five Langer Trophy outfits — along with the Gee Cup winners — playing in the revamped top-six finals’ series.
THE PREMIERSHIP TABLE
Keebra SHS 8
PBC SHS 6
Mabel Park SHS 4
Redcliffe SHS 4
Wavell SHS 4
Ipswich SHS 4
Marsden SHS 2
Stretton SC 0
LANGER TROPHY REPORT CARD
Keebra Park SHS
A+
Keebra Park have purred to 110 points so far, featuring strike-power galore across the opening month of the competition.
But importantly Keebra Park also has the equal-best defensive record so far, having conceded just 10 points a game after clashes with PBC, Mabel, Marsden and Wavell SHS.
Canterbury-bound Kiwi fullback David Bryenton has taken the competition by storm with his electric footwork making him a nightmare for even the best defenders.
Keebra Park were no one trick ponies this season.
Even if defenders can lock down Bryenton, there is simply no rest as Keebra Park boasts one of the deepest rosters in the competition with vastly talented players in every position.
“The most pleasing thing for me has been our defence,” coach Peter Norman said.
“That has been our big focus.”
The likes of Tomasi Vaitai and Cruz Tauaifaiga have set a high standard early before middle forwards Tavaka Tau’a’alo and Tino Tevaga have roared off the bench and defended well.
Norman said the brilliant form of the school’s Langer Reserves side has also created healthy competition and great depth which is translating onto the field where his side is backing up scoring points with squeaky-clean defence.
PALM BEACH CURRUMBIN SHS
A-
The pre-season loss to injured first-choice half Marley McLaren and a changing of the guard had pundits curious about how the national championship winning Reds would progress in 2025.
Wonder no more. PBC SHS was a side here to play in 2025.
After a 26-0 round 1 loss to Mabel Park, PBC SHS’s recovery to win three on the trot has been based around its defence.
Just 14 points have trickled from opponents (Wavell, Ipswich and Stretton) in the three matches leading up to the break, and the hardworking culture is obviously still alive and well within the PBC school gates.
Led by Taj Lateo (halfback), Torino Jackson and Josiah Fa’aoso (props) and Jai Bilish (hooker), the Reds have surged to second on the ladder and promise to be one of the most dangerous sides in the run home to finals.
The 100 per cent man Marlie Barry, an ultra-reliable edge forward, has been an important figure alongside impressive Year 11 Billy Mulheran who has transitioned from the Walters Cup with distinction.
Wavell SHS
Rating: B+
Wavell were the team that had most threatened frontrunners Keebra Park SHS, finishing narrow losers (16-12) when the sides met in round 3.
That performance, and the group’s rollicking come-from-behind win against Mabel Park when all seemed lost, has underlined the squad as genuine contenders.
Confidence is a big thing in sport, and Wavell’s finish in both attack and defence against Mabel Park must give the team additional belief they have what it takes.
Wavell has considerable firepower and skills. Look no further than halves Payton Gifford and Charlie Webb, centres Billo Wotton and Sangstar Figota and fullback Timahna Tandy.
With forward leaders Hayden Polson and Dallas Davidson leading the defensive urgency, the side can give a big yelp in the run home.
It’s worth noting the Wavell Warriors have been without representative second rower Jared Horne who is recovering from a patella fracture.
Mabel Park SHS
Rating: B
Mabel Park SHS players will rue its late loss to Wavell SHS in round 4 when the side led 16-4, only to concede three tries in 12 minutes.
But Mabel showed enough in that game alone to highlight they were capable of anything this season.
The Mabel Park SHS squad ticks a lot of boxes.
They have electric Queensland Schoolboys hooker Ezra Leota and his crafty brother Natu Leota (lock).
The strike of edge players DJ Tevi, Maje Peachey, Dean Tauaa and Jahzayis Perenara-Livapulu adds to the excitement.
Off the bench, reliable middle forward Abdul Kaya has lost nothing in comparison to his rivals.
After a white-hot start in Langer Reserves, the exceptional forward earnt a call-up and was top notch storming off the bench in rounds one, two and three.
Perhaps the most noteworthy moment of Mabel’s season so far was the starting debut of young halfback Sire Drinnan in round 4.
A 16-year-old rookie in Year 11, Drinnan impressed significantly in the Langer Reserves and his form was too good to deny.
He is fearless, confident and just isn’t afraid to play off the cuff. Why would he be? It’s magic when he pulls it off.
All this from a kid who started the season playing in the Titans Cup before raising eyebrows in the Reserves with his off-the-whim wizardry.
“He has been exceptional,” said coach Ben Weston.
“He has come a long way. He has surprised everyone and we are so proud.”
Mabel Park also has the third best defensive record (behind Keebra and PBC) and there’s a good chance things remain that way with the round 5 injection of fullback Tawa Simpkins a big boost on both sides of the ball.
The slippery Simpkins is fighting fit after recovering from a freak accident while playing for the Bulldogs in the Harold Matthews Cup in the summer.
The spiral fracture to his humerus (upper arm) is in the rear-view mirror and the comeback kid is ready to rumble.
Redcliffe SHS
Rating: C+
Much like Mabel Park, you sense this Redcliffe outfit can really shake the competition if they can get their full side on the park and perform to their potential.
The round 4, 22-10 loss to Ipswich SHS would have stung, but the mighty Eagles were without three top-guns forwards: Cody Starr, Nate Berrigan and Jairus Suliasi.
While Redcliffe have more depth, for a school just three seasons into its Langer history, missing men of that calibre hurts hard.
Indeed Starr has not played a match so far but is due back for round 5.
There is now no margin for error with PBC, Mabel and Wavell the upcoming opposition.
With classy Grady Payne directing play from halfback, and dummyhalves Amare Wynyard and Cohen Cochran handling plenty of possession off quick ruck speed, Redcliffe have tremendous potential to impact the competition.
They remain the dark horses.
IPSWICH SHS
Rating: B
When you consider the fact this Ipswich SHS cohort actually missed out on qualifying for the 2023 Walters Cup competition, their rating is worthy of being bumped up.
The Ipswich boys have beaten Redcliffe and Marsden and lost to Wavell and PBC, with good signs aplenty across the first month.
Halfback Tom Parker has been shining bright like a flare in the fog, creating scoring opportunities, kicking well into the air and injecting himself nicely when playing fullback.
Ipswich’s Queensland Schoolboy selects Xzavier Timoteo, Mel Nonu and Neyon Taito-Makea have been magic at times as the school prepares for a late-season charge.
Nonu in particular has been a staple of consistency on the wing while the big frame of Taito-Makea has ruffled feathers in attack and sent attackers packing in defence.
The first half of the season has also seen Ipswich SHS lock Cooper Cracknell make a successful return from an off-season shoulder reconstruction and 16-year-old Baxter Best find his feet in an instant.
Aggressive No. 13 Cooper Young, barnstorming prop Tanielu Tuu’u and impressive five-eighth TJ Sauaso have each had their moments as well, with Sauaso’s grit on defence and work rate in the middle to be admired.
Ipswich will face Mabel Park, Keebra Park and Stretton to close out the home-and-away season.
Marsden SHS
Rating: D
Marsden were becalmed on two competition points after three successive losses. They have to win every remaining game to have a chance of making the top five.
With four state players — prop Mace Andrew, lock Francis, edge forward Taylan To’a and halfback Hayden Watson — and elite fullback Adaquix Luke and Walters Cup graduate Tayshaarn Tonga (hooker) in the -pre-season squad, Marsden SHS loomed as premiership contenders.
So what happened?
The reality is Marsden has been decimated by injury, meaning new players are being thrown into positions they’ve not played.
In a cutthroat competition like this, that means everything.
Marsden SHS finished the clash with Keebra with 11 men, and in every match the side has not finished with 17 fit players.
In the Langer Trophy, it is a fine line between progressing or rolling backwards, and Marsden has rolled backwards amid a slight injury crisis.
The players are trying hard.
Effort is not an issue. But the margin for error is now zero.
For inspiration, the Marsden players need to look no further than last year’s finish when the team’s energy and aggression on both sides of the ball paved the way for the group to make the Langer grand final.
One shining light is fullback Luke who has been the competition’s most dangerous customer alongside Keebra’s David Bryenton.
Towering outside back Grayson Wharakura made his debut on the wing, and his twin brother Nik (prop) the same — a just reward for two players whose outstanding performances in the Reserves demanded a call-up.
Halves Hotere and Watson have been rock-solid while props Koby McGarrity, Zack Lotaki and Ethan Jackson have muscled up in the middle very well with Levi Rusin currently out injured.
Jackson’s impact off the bench has been welcomed in his first year back at the school after working as a full-time apprentice electrician.
Meanwhile McGarrity, a Year 11 student, has been outstanding regularly playing about 45-50 minutes alongside Jackson.
Against Redcliffe SHS, the only time prop McGarrity sat on the sideline was when he was sin-binned.
Let’s see what unfolds in term three.
Stretton SC
Rating: D
While Stretton SC have been well beaten in each game, Stretton players should be given A for effort.
The squad, led by captain Lewis Gardner, has been performing to its potential and the school community cannot ask more of them.
The group have been gritty and gutsy and have built a reputation for fighting to the end, even as the score mounted against them.
In big losses to Marsden and Redcliffe, Stretton still had small wins and finished both games strongly after trailing by big margins.
Then against PBC SHS, Stretton continued to battle hard to win the ruck and scramble.
What they will look to do in the weeks ahead is to stretch out successes for longer periods in a game.
But for a first season side, playing without their finest forward in Monte Betham (ACL), the group is going well.
Betham would have made a palpable difference with his barn-door breaking runs and rugged defence.
Outside backs Amon Tuaefe, Jonah Huni and Kayzon Key have threatened with their runs while the halves pairing of Jontaye Brown and Lexin Hill have held the team in great stead.
Hooker Bailey Vang and makeshift middles Ryley Neuendorf and Karsen Leota have battled brilliantly to assist Onyx Poimafiti, a true-blue prop.
ROUND 5 MATCHES, July 23
Mabel Park SHS v Ipswich SHS
Marsden SHS v Wavell SHS
Keebra Park SHS v Stretton SC
PBC SHS v Redcliffe SHS
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