Fabulous Five of the elite Langer Cup schoolboy rugby league competition which starts this week
The elite Langer Cup schoolboys rugby league talent pool is brimming with brilliant rookies. We’ve narrowed it down highlight a Fabulous Five we believe will shine when the Cup, to be live streamed by The Courier-Mail and News affiliates, starts Wednesday.
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The next generation of Queensland schoolboy rugby league players can be glimpsed when the elite Brisbane Broncos-sponsored Langer Cup competition starts on Wednesday.
To be live steamed by The Courier-Mail and affiliates, the Brisbane Broncos-sponsored competition features the hottest prospects in the country.
St Mary’s College Toowoomba have four very good ones playing for the seniors from year 11, Brayden Paix, Shaun Packer, Xavier Va’a and Blake Cesari, while all clubs will be blooding rookies from last year’s Walters Cup competition.
But today we peep into the vast talent pool and pluck out a Fabulous Five who went think will make a big impact in season 2020.
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EVANDER TERE-TONGOTAUA
IPSWICH SHS
From Allan Langer’s old school of Ipswich SHS, Tere-Rongotaua is such an eye-catching talent that the eagle-eyed Sydney Roosters talent scouts have quickly snapped him up for 2021.
“He will move there when he graduates at the end of the year,’’ said Ipswich SHS teacher and coach Josh Bretherton.
A centre partner of Tony Francis (Marsden) at the Wynnum-Manly Seagulls, Tere-Rongotaua has shone in the Mal Meninga Cup competition.
Standing at 190cm tall and topping the scales at just over 100 kgs, he is a teenager on the move as much for his efforts off the field as on the field.
“Evander will be successful because he works to constantly to improve his football IQ. He is a great talent blessed with exceptional footwork for his size,’’ Bretherton said.
TONY FRANCIS
MARSDEN SHS
The Marsden SHS boom boy is all raw power and aggression.
Signed by the Brisbane Broncos, the dynamic Francis carries the ball with ferocity but also has a lovely sense of setting his outside man up.
Originally from Sydney, Francis moved to Queensland last season and quickly established himself in the Langer Cup team at Cameron Smith’s old school.
With that experience under his belt, Francis was expected to be one of the shining lights of the Langer Cup this season.
PRINSTON ESERA
WAVELL SHS
Described by his Wavell SHS coach Jimmy Francis as a powerhouse ball runner, the year 11 student has been snapped up by the Canberra Raiders.
“The thing that has impressed me most this year about Prinston is his maturity off the field,’’ Francis said.
“He has worked really hard to improve his effort and behaviour across the school and his football has improved as a consequence.
“Prinston is instinctive, powerful and has a really good understanding of the game. He is level headed and has been a natural leader among our group.’’
Blooded in the Langer Cup last season as a year 10 student, the rookie was one of Wavell’s players of the year during their late season challenge in the National Schoolboy Cup.
He is the younger brother of Caleb who has also been signed by Canberra.
XAVIER WILLISON
PALM BEACH CURRUMBIN
Palm Beach Currumbin coach Brad Davis was excited to be working with Willison, a tall athletic front rower who is a damaging ball carrier.
“He can bust the defensive line or come up with a killer offload to a support player,’’ Davis said.
“This is Xavier’s third year of playing in our Open A’s, with his first year being when he was still only 16 years old in Year 10.’’
Injured during last season, Davis said Willison had been “extremely diligent with his rehabilitation’’ from an ACL injury.
He said the Covid-19 enforced break was also a blessing for Willison, giving him extra time to get his knee back to 100 per cent.
“Xavier is extremely coachable and also possesses a fine work ethic,’’ Davis said.
JAHREAM BULA
KEEBRA PARK SHS
A Keebra SHS centre, Bula is a magnificent build for a centre who stands at an imposing 193cm and has a long stride to match.
“He has a natural strength to him and is a beautifully balanced runner who reminds me of a (Greg) Inglis in full flight,’’ said Keebra Park SHS director of rugby league Glen Campbell.
“He is not as heavy yet, but he is only 18 this year.’’
Bula is also a talent under the high ball and uses his vertical leap honed on the basketball court to catch bombs. “He is very good in the air and has a very good right fend.’’