Langer Cup play-offs: Players to Watch in shootout between four schools chasing Cup qualification

Four schools will vie for the eighth and last position in the expanded Langer Cup schoolboy competition this week.

Four schools will vie for the eighth and last position in the expanded Langer Cup schoolboy competition on Wednesday.

Mabel Park SHS will clash with Forest Lake SHS while Alexandra Hills will confront Redcliffe SHS in the knockout play offs.

The winners of both matches will play again the following week for the right to enter the prestigious schoolboy competition, which will again be livestreamed by www.couriermail.com.au and News Corp affiliates from the first week in June.

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This season the Langer Cup has been expanded from six to eight teams, with Coombabah SHS automatically joining incumbent schools Palm Beach Currumbin SHS, Keebra Park SHS, Marsden SHS, Wavell SHS, St Mary’s College Toowoomba and Ipswich SHS in expanded competition.

Dolphins Braith Major. Picture: Renae Droop

Redcliffe SHS, the old school of Queensland State of Origin players Josh McGuire and Daly Cherry-Evans, will be spearheaded by captain Matthew Bennett, a Mal Meninga Cup player from the Dolphins.

Redcliffe SHS is playing for a place in the Langer Cup.

Redcliffe’s SHS other players with Meninga Cup experience are Jonathan Maller, Braith Major and Kiahl Moore.

“This group has been together mostly from Year 7 and I wanted to give them the opportunity of competing in the top level of schoolboy competition,’’ said Redcliffe SHS rugby league coordinator Scott Murray.

“We played Coombabah in the semi final of the Gee Shield in 2020 with predominantly Year 11 students, so we are looking forward to the qualifying process starting with a tough Alex Hills team.’’

Alexandra Hills SHS is an established rugby league school, and last season the community celebrated the NRL debut of past student Reece Hoffman at the Wests Tigers.

The school is part of the rich rugby league landscape of the eastern and bayside suburbs and this season the team will be coached by Jake Stanton.

He said halfback and captain Cooper Hersom, an excellent game manager with an fantastic kicking game, would lead his team.

Wynnum Seagulls Connell Challenge fullback Zyroam Herlihy, who is Titans contracted, along with his cousin and hooker Gary Herlihy would also play well.

“Gary has a great awareness out of No.9,’’ Stanton said.

Te Anau Graham-Papali’i, contracted by South Sydney, was also a strong ball runner and defender along with middle forward Tieran Ross. “He will top the hit up and tackle count,’’ Stanton predicted.

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Forest Lake SHS are the new chums into rugby league Academy space, having started its program six years ago.

Reece Hoffman of the Tigers is an Alexandra Hills SHS past student.(Photo by David Neilson/Getty Images)

Last year front rower Rene Bagon was signed by Manly supporter and Brandon Tikinau signed by Manly from Forest Lake SHS, while Tesi Niu is also from the district, which highlights the region’s potential.

Coach Billy Vine said he would have a less experienced side this season, with fullback Denzel Samoa, a Meninga Cup player at Souths Logan, leading the charge.

Mabel Park shs has a strong rugby league tradition for both girls and boys. Picture Glenn Hampson

Mabel Park SHS coach Lee Addison said his Players to Watch were hooker Brayden Easthope, second row Shiloh Filipo and fullback Glen Fisher.