Here’s 30 Players to Watch in the Langer Reserves competition
The Langer Reserves competition is set for kick-off and there won’t be a dull moment with these next-up young guns ready to make their mark. SEE THE PLAYERS TO WATCH.
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The Langer Trophy, Langer Reserve and Walters Cup competitions launch today and we will be there to report each week.
The Langer Reserves competition will feature some serious talent and will be a springboard for rookies looking for promotion into the Langer Trophy at some point this season or next.
Here we present some of the key Players to Watch across Redcliffe SHS, Ipswich SHS, Mabel Park SHS, Marsden SHS, Keebra Park SHS, Caloundra SHS, Palm Beach Currumbin SHS and Wavell SHS.
Last year Ipswich SHS went unbeaten to claim the premiership and they look just as good this year - with newcomers Tom Parker, fullback, and Sam Martin, hooker, sure to impact a competition boasting players just as gifted as those in the Langer Trophy.
LANGER TROPHY PLAYERS TO WATCH
30 PLAYERS TO WATCH
REDCLIFFE SHS
Dustin Appo
A trusty fullback who had his hand in the Redcliffe Dolphins Connell Challenge premiership this year, Appo is the modern day No.1 who is equally comfortable setting up his teammates as he is hitting holes and scoring himself.
Logan Hudson
An aggressive defender out of five-eighth, the strong Hudson has a great running and kicking game which will get his side on the front foot.
Jackson Carmody
Carmody is a smart hooker who reads the game very well. He will be looking take advantage of a quick play the ball to get his big forwards going up the guts.
Genesis Toleafoa
A ball playing lock forward or edge back rower who will look to play a fast power based game to set the tone.
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CALOUNDRA SHS
Brandyn Marks
Marks, an Australian under 15 Indigenous Representative in 2022, will spend time in the halves but can play hooker when needed.
A superb utility.
Darcel Snowden
Snowden will do his best work in the back row and after a strong Connel Challenge season with Sunshine Coast, he will be ready to rock.
Callum Ballantyne
With Connell and Meninga Cup experience, Ballantyne will move the team around the park from halfback.
Tyler Conquest
Conquest is capable of breaking a game open from fullback and after watching from the sidelines on Walters Cup and Langer Trophy qualifying day, he will be itching to get out there.
IPSWICH SHS
Xzavier Timoteo
A hard runner, physical defender a leader through his actions, Timoteo’s presence out there will be invaluable for an Ipswich outfit chasing another Langer Reserves premiership.
Tom Parker
Parker is a classy runner who had been showing off in the Connell Challenge for Souths.
He will play fullback for his new school Ipswich, having come over from Forest Lake SHS.
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Jeriah Vagana
Vagana, nephew of NRL great Nigel, will do exactly what he did in the Langer Reserves last year and that is carve up.
You will see him scoring.
Maaro David
A hardworking forward who will inspire his teammates with his physicality while providing them confidence when holding down the defensive line.
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Sam Martin
Expect Martin and Parker to display a telepathic connection, with Martin’s dummy-half game sure to create for his Souths-Logan teammate.
Cooper Cracknell
An offload king who will get the ball free if you try wrap him up, Cracknell is a promising young lock picked up by the Rabbitohs.
MARSDEN SHS
Xavier Ato
A Souths Acacia junior who has caught the eye of Brisbane Broncos’ talent scouts, Atoa made the Met West 16-18 years team last season from the Stretton State College system.
He has since moved to Marsden SHS where he has the potential to slot into the Langer Trophy team if needed.
VJ Vialau
A no nonsense second rower who will feature in both attack and defence.
Alofiana Sula
A deadly winger who can finish off the best of tries, leave him open at your peril.
MABEL PARK SHS
Chaev Kolone
Wynnum-Manley's Connell Challenge Player of the Year will toil and toil for the entire contest. His engine has earned him a contract with Canberra.
CONNELL CHALLENGE TEAM OF THE YEAR
Ronnic Starkey
An edge forward, Starkey was elite in the Walters Cup last year earning him selection in the Met East under 15s side and the Souths-Logan Connell Challenge team in 2023.
Natu Leota
A playmaker who played with Starkey in the Souths-Logan and Met East team, Leota is a No.7 with a huge boot.
A great field general.
PALM BEACH CURRUMBIN SHS
Josh Donovan
Donovan will play fullback where he offers great pace, strong ball carrying and instinct.
Originally from Grafton and Keebra Park last year, he is the cousin of Wests Tigers fullback Dane Laurie.
Toran O’Donnell
An athletic edge forward who will use his strength and determination to bust tackles.
Beau Hartman
Good luck tackling this guy one-on-one. Hartman, a centre with size and speed, an extremely tough customer to bring to the ground.
KEEBRA PARK SHS
Jesse Soric (6)
Currently playing halfback for Byron Bay’s A grade team alongside former Dally M medallist Todd Carney, Soric has scored six tries in the past three games against men in the Northern Rivers competition.
Soric has had a few injuries to begin this year but is working hard and will push hard for a run in the Langer Trophy.
Daniel Rakena (7)
Rakena only turned 16 last Sunday. He played at the recent state carnival for the South Coast Maroon side in Townsville as a 15-year-old and steered Keebra to a Walters Cup premiership last year.
The Burleigh Bears Cyril Connell player has great vision and will loaded with confidence after his performance at the state carnival.
Isopo Taunuu (10)
Contracted to the Bulldogs, Taunuu was a Mal Meninga semi finalist with the powerful Wynnum-Manly team.
Built like a tank, Taunuu is a front rower in the same mould as Junior Paulo.
Was an integral member of Keebra Park’s undefeated Walters Cup team in 2022 and will be working hard to earn a Langer Trophy jersey throughout the season.
WAVELL SHS
Mason Phillips
A dynamic hooker who played Harold Matthews Cup this year for Bulldogs - with Ipswich SHS’ Oliva Iaulualo and David Leota.
Won’t take long before he jumps to the Langer Trophy.
Keoki Koraba
A damaging centre whose toughness and aggression makes him a standout on the field.
Queensland under 15 White select in 2022.
Charlie Dickson
A high energy lock who possesses a great balance between skill and toughness.
Dickson will break into the Langer Trophy this season, the foundation of his game tackling.
But don’t get it confused, he can run it too.
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