Here are 30 reasons why the Brisbane Jets bid should win the NRL’s 17th team licence
Here are 30 reasons why the Brisbane Jets led by Ipswich chairman Steve Johnson, should win the NRL licence bid. They are the names of 30 league elites from the Ipswich district.
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What do Allan Langer, Sam Walker, Kevin Walters and Luke Keary have in common aside from being elite halves?
They all come from Ipswich.
Ipswich is an old coal mining town, but when it comes to rugby league Ipswich is also resource rich, with talent around most clubs and schools in Ipswich.
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As the Brisbane Jets bid for the 17th NRL licence, led by Ipswich Jets chairman Steve Johnson, gathers momentum, we give you an insight into some of the past and present talent which emphasises the playing strength of the region.
Current NRL players from the district include Philip Sami (Queensland. Titans), Treymaine Spry (TItans), Ronaldo Mulitalo (Sharks), Tautau Moga (Knights) Jo Ofahengaue (Wests Tigers), David Fifita (Titans), Anthony Milford (Broncos), Matt Parcell (English Super League), Luke Keary (Roosters), Jake Turpin (Broncos), Sam Walker (Roosters), Kurt Capewell (Penrith) and Thomas Mikaele (Wests Tigers).
Throw into the mix past Queensland or Australian players such as Kevin Walters, Kerrod Walters, Steve Walters, Allan Langer, Chris Beattie, Noel Kelly, Ian Robson, Gary Coyne, Denis Flannery, Rod Morris, Dud Beattie, Des Morris, Greg Quinn, Dud Beattie, Larry Briggenshaw and Gary Purcell, to name a few, and you have an all-star group to match it with any Team of the Century from other regions.
“There are so many talented schoolboys that have come from Ipswich,’’ said Ipswich SHS Langer Cup coach and teacher Joshua Bretherton.
“When you listen to the current group of players talk, they are very excited about the potential NRL club in the region.
“It would mean so much to them, they are very passionate about the area.
“It is another club for them to perssuade their talents and stay close to family.’’
Other Australian players like Townsville born Peter Gallagher (St Edmund’s College), Roma’s Willie Carne (Ipswich Boys Grammar School) and Sarina raised Dale Shearer (Ipswich SHS) attended school in the region.
The Ipswich Jets are also a stepping stone to bigger things, with the likes of Manly premiership winner Steve Matai who used the Jets as a springboard into the NRL, while players like Brad Chicken, Danny Coburn, Glen Haggath, Ian Lacey, Donald Malone, and Ray Ovens, to name a few, went on to represented Queenslansd Residents from Ipswich.
Then you have elite BRL club players like Ipswich SHS past student and Brisbane representative prop Al McInness, Queensland representative, Ray Kelly, gun half Kevin Langer, Queensland Residents’ player Steve Parcell and BRL/Queensland Cup hit man Darren Wolens giving you an additional snap shot of just some of the talent which has swirled in and out of club and school rugby league around the region.
Ipswich SHS alone has a glittering array of past players such as Shearer, Langer, Sami, Spry Ronaldo Mulitalo and brother Lorenzo, Lupe Tivalu (Storm), Kiko Manu (Bulldogs), Valu Lisati (Penrith Jersey Flegg), Evander Tere-Rongotaua (Roosters Jersey Flegg), Ilai Tuia (Penrith Jersey Flegg), Elone Taufa (Penrith Jersey Flegg), Josh Cleeland (Bulldogs) and Daniel Ticehurst (Knights).
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Two from the current crop from the Ipswich SHS, prop Josiah Pahulu (Titans) and second rower Kulikefu Finefeuiaki (Cowboys), will spearhead Ipswich SHS’s Langer Cup campaign, while the likes of Raiden Fonoti (Souths Logan), Kea Pere (Brisbane Tigers) and Faitatoa Faitatoa (Tweed Seagulls) play in the Queensland Cup.
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