Gee Cup grand final: Meet two rock hard forward leaders

Wednesday’s 12-game live stream schoolboy league bonanza will include the Gee Cup grand final involving a Canterbury young gun and another promising Broncos forward. Details here.

The Stretton State College grand final team.

A city slicker will meet his country cousin as Corey Nassif (Stretton State College) and Darcy Carswell (St Mary’s College) look to inspire their teams to victory in the Gee Cup grand final tomorrow.

The Broncos-sponsored competition, named after Brisbane champion Andrew Gee, is the second tier senior schoolboy competition behind the Langer Trophy.

WATCH THE GEE CUP GRAND FINAL LIVE HERE

It will be played between St Mary’s and Stretton State College and live streamed at www.couriermail.com.au and News affiliates as part of bumper coverage that also features 11 games of Langer Trophy and Walters Cup fixtures on News Corp’s streaming platform.

Darcy Carswell celebrates his team’s semi-final win last week. Picture: Nev Madsen.

This week’s round of Langer fixtures is highlighted by the Clash of the Titans - Keebra Park SHS v Palm Beach Currumbin SHS.

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St Mary’s front rower Carswell made the www.couriermail.com.au Meninga Cup Team of the Season earlier in the year, while Stretton edge forward Nassif was a member of Karmichael Hunt’s Souths Logan Meninga Cup premiership winning squad this season

Carswell started playing footy at the age of nine and instantly grew a love for the game.

Corey Nassif is the Stretton State College forward leader.

“I particularly liked being able to have some fun with my mates and achieve something as a team,’’ he said.

Like all good young props, his favourite player was an elite middle forward - and his choice is Matt Scott.

“It didn’t matter which jersey he had on he always gave his best which is how I try and play my footy,’’ Carswell said.

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Nassif is a tough as teak No.12 who plays with the hitting power of a prop and the skill and agility of an edge forward, while Carswell is a typical tough and tumble front rower chiseled out in true Darling Downs tradition.

Nassif said being a member of dual international Karmichael Hunt’s under 18 premiership winning squad this season was beneficial.

RUGBY LEAGUE: Meninga Cup between Ipswich Jets and Clydesdales. Clydesdales, Darcy Carswell. Picture: Patrick Woods.

“It was good being in Karmichael’s squad, working with older boys. You can take pointers from them on and off the field,’’ said Nassif, who was surrounded by four captains at Souths Logan - Blake Mozer (2021 Keebra Park captain), 2022 Queensland schoolboys captain Jye Gray, Marsden SHS captain Chris Faagutu and his Souths Logan captain Ahmani Leilua.

Several other Stretton players have substantial club league experience.

Darcy Carswell for St Mary's last week. Picture: Nev Madsen.

Nassif’s edge partner Jack McCosker is an inspirational leader who will captain Stretton.

He is also captain of the Brisbane Tigers Mal Meninga squad while Kayliss Brown and Connor Richards are members of the Brisbane Tigers Cyril Connell under 16 squad.

Centre Josh Beetham is a member of the Wynnum Manly Connell under 16s.

St Mary’s has displayed fortitude to rebound from the disappointment of losing the 2022 Langer Trophy playoff to Mabel Park, while Nassif said a grand final berth was reward for the effort of the Stretton squad.

Members of the Stretton State College grand final team.

“It all started with pre-season training and turning up for each other and working hard for each other,’’ Nassif said.

“And we have been sticking together and turning up for each other in games.’’

Carswell added: :It’s very exciting for the team to reach the final. It means a lot to the squad to get this far and come Wednesday I know we will be ready to go.’’