Langer Cup countdown: Draw features newcomers clash - Mabel Park SHS and Coombabah SHS

Langer Cup countdown. It is just nine days until the Langer Cup round 1, with newcomers Mabel Park SHS and Coombabah SHS pitted against each other.

Langer Cup countdown. It is just nine days until the Langer Cup, with newcomers Mabel Park SHS and Coombabah SHS pitted against each other part of round 1 highlights.

The elite schoolboy competition starts on June 2 featuring a Logan City blockbuster between heavyweights Keebra Park SHS and Marsden SHS, while both Palm Beach Currumbin SHS and Wavell SHS have challenging away trips.

The Kulikefu Finefeuiaki and Josiah Pahulu inspired Ipswich SHS will be locked and loaded at the North Ipswich Reserve when the team confronts Langer Cup Palm Beach Currumbin, while a Xavier Va’a-led St Mary’s College will have an ice cold reception ready for Wavell SHS.

Langer Cup schoolboy representatives. PICTURE: Brad Fleet

The competition will be livestreamed by www.couriermail.com.au, the Gold Coast Bulletin and News Corp affiliates.

The Brisbane Broncos’ sponsored competition has been expanded this season from six to eight teams.

Mabel Park SHS claimed the eighth and final position last Wednesday with a qualifying victory over Redcliffe SHS who will remain in the Gee Cup.

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June 2 will be a huge moment for Mabel Park SHS’s community, with the school in the top tier schoolboy rugby league competition for the first time.

“It is the first time in our history making the Super 8 (of teams) and everyone is just super keen to rip in,’’ said Mabel Park SHS captain Mustafa Kaya.

“Mabel is always underdogs, we understand that, but we are just keen to rip in.’’

Tim Sielaff-Burns, Coombabah SHS. PICTURE: Brad Fleet

He said the two playoff games to get into the Langer Cup were an ideal build-up “because we have a new team’’.

“We could gel together and build a connection between the boys.’’

Coombabah SHS captain Tim Sielaff-Burns said it was also an enormous honour for his community, with Coombabah SHS rejoining the Langer Cup for the first time since 2017.

“It is an awesome opportunity for the community to see we are back in the top competition and putting our name back on the map as one of the top rugby league schools on the Gold Coast and in south east Queensland,’’ Sielaff-Burns said.

“You are playing against future NRL players and it forces you to come up to their level and to train really hard.

“There is no better place to build your game than in the Langer Cup because you are playing against the best.’’

ROUND 1, June 2 (home teams first)

St Mary’s College v Wavell SHS

Ipswich SHS v PBC SHS

Marsden SHS v Keebra Park SHS

Coombabah SHS v Mabel Park SHS