Langer Reserves 2025: 30+ Players of the Week from round 1

Langer Reserves Players of the Week: Three fullbacks and a cracking PBC forward beamed brightly after round 1 openers. The best 30+ players revealed here, including from your school.

Ipswich SHS had a round one win over Wavell by 20-8. On the right is prop Logan Dudley who had a big match. Next to him is Ethan Todd.

The Langer Reserves season is off and running, with fullbacks Ira Yeatman (Ipswich SHS), Levi Bannan (Marsden SHS) and Dermott Arthy (Redcliffe) were arguably the Players of the Round after their performances

In this story we feature Yeatman following his team’s 20-8 against a spirited Wavell on Tuesday, along with the other top line performers from round one.

SCHOOLGIRL CUP PLAYERS OF ROUND 1, WATCH REPLAYS

WALTERS CUP PLAYERS OF THE DAY, WATCH REPLAYS

On Wednesday, Marsden SHS 50 defeated Stretton SC 6, and Mabel Park SHS’s depth stood up, beating PBC SHS 30-10 after the Reds lost several players to the top grade.

At Southport, Keebra Park SHS beat Redcliffe SHS 20-10.

So who were the Players of the Week? Story here.

MABEL PARK 30 DEF PBC 10

Nelson Makaafi (PBC SHS)

Big Nelson Makaafi earlier in his career.

Big Nelson Makaafi was a dynamic right edge battleship for the Reds who started the 2025 school season with a sound performance.

A young giant with quick feet, agility and power, Makaafi made his Langer Trophy case with a damaging 70-minute showing.

Outside of his threatening runs, Makaafi defended well on his edge and often in the middle and had energy late in the piece.

Abdurrahim Kaya (Mabel Park SHS)

A prop good enough to be starting in the Langer Trophy somewhere in the competition, Kaya aimed up and let rip to give Mabel metres at a good clip.

Coming off a sound club campaign with the Souths Logan Connell Cup team, Kaya had a perfect middle forward’s knock which saw him maintain high energy levels across the duration of the match.

He came off with about 15 minutes to go but he had already fit in a whole game.

Hudson Pratt (PBC SHS)

Playing centre, Burleigh Bears junior Pratt carried the ball powerfully and was hard to handle. The team’s captain, he had numerous tackle busts, played with intensity and scored a good try from a kick.

Harry Doherty (PBC SHS)

The Reds confronted an amped-up Mabel team with size and plenty of intent. Despite falling to a 30-nil deficit, hooker Doherty and his team did not drop their heads and ran in two second half tries to take some positives into round 2.

Sporting white headgear, the No.9 organised his team admirably and asked questions with his dinking kicks.

His cross field kick to create a stunning try late in the game was a highlight on a day where he rarely put a foot wrong.

Sire Drinnen (Mabel Park SHS)

Drinnen had an outstanding game to open the season and spearhead his team’s 20-point success.

The little ripper kicked all five of his shots at goal, with three of them from wide out. Drinnen’s magic moment came in the second half when the quick-thinking halfback lobbed a chip kick over the defence, regathered it on the full and scored.

A jinking run from Drinnen also created Mabel’s second try, scored by Mason Fisher.

The Carina junior was at his enterprising best.

Mason Fisher (Mabel Park SHS)

Fisher was ever so close to scoring three tries but he was held up over the line nearing full time when he scurried forward from the ruck base.

His decisive running produced two tries in the first half, helping his side jump to an unassailable 24-0 lead.

Nicknamed ‘Fish’ for obvious reasons, the fearless rake also delivered it on a platter for halves Donte Tahuhu-Wilson and Drinnen all game long.

Viliami Vea and Tipene Cooley (Mabel Park SHS)

Tyson McDonald, Bailey Downs, Tipene Cooley and Motootua Kia of Mabel Park's Langer Reserves side after a win last season.

Vea played centre and Cooley edge forward and both left bruises.

It was a grand performance from every Mabel Park player but these two in particular stuck it to the Reds and twisted the knife with their turf-shredding runs.

The two of them were unrelenting, quick and heavily involved.

IPSWICH v WAVELL

Ira Yeatman (Ipswich SHS)

The fullback was a tremendous all around performer, catching the ball on the full, running strongly from the back or from the ruck, and linking perfectly when the shifts on either side of the field were rolling. Sometimes it was like there were two of him on the field.

Ira Yeatman.

Yeatman was obviously tremendously fit, given he’d take or make a tackle, and then sprint toward a position on the field where he’d next be needed.

Jai Pattison (Wavell)

Playing centre, he was elite with his effort plays from the ruck, defence and finishing prowess. Wavell has depth with blokes like Pattinson in the seconds.

Fletcher Ebbsworth-Briggs (Ipswich SHS)

Ipswich has a good one here. Ebbsworth-Briggs was a finisher, a battering ram and a solid defender on the flank.

Logan Dudley and Cordell Kirk (Ipswich SHS)

Ipswich needed a big middle forward effort and both props delivered in spades in what was a demanding away game.

Hayden Madders (Wavell)

Madders ran Wavell’s recovery, rewarding his forward effort with energy, smart passing and dangerous running. He helped continue the momentum generated in the second half by his forwards. It was unfortunate he was injured with 90 seconds remaining.

James Pau (Ipswich SHS)

Pau was strong throughout, defending stoutly and running with vim and vigour. He’s an ace in the pack.

Isaac Lui (Wavell SHS)

Lui was a pillar for Wavell, as consistent in the last minute as he was in the first. He was simply strong throughout against imposing opponents.

Levi Bannan and Clint Morris from Marsden SHS. Bannan was outstanding and Morris scored two strong tries.

MARSDEN V STRETTON

LeviI Bannan (Marsden SHS)

Fullback Bannan gave his side an extra dimension. From behind a big pack he emerged on either side of the field, challenging Stretton with his pace and foot movement at speed. The former halfback had plenty of footy IQ about his game and adds quality depth to Marsden’s top squad.

Flynn Brooks, left, was tireless for Stretton State College. On the right is Solomon Molenda who had his moments and who will benefit from the experience.

Flynn Brooks (stretton SC)

The dummy half was consistent across the match, trying hard to rally his team with enthusiasm in defence and slick service off the ground from the ruck. He;d give a good account of himself if he was ever needed in the Langer Trophy team.

Frontier Wiperi (Marsden SHS)

The right second rower, Wiperi was a constant handful. If he was not challenging with his runs, he was unloading in traffic which gave Marsden a try scoring threat down the wing.

Stretton State College reserve players at halftime against Marsden.

SPECIAL MENTIONS

Nik Wharakura (Marsden SHS)

The towering prop kept trucking it forward, drawing several defenders to him with each carry. He was consistently strong across the match.

Clint Morris (Marsden SHS)

While he was hungry for work from the wing, he just had to get a special mention for his blistering first half try where his pace left defenders in his wake.

Luatangi Haunga (Marsden SHS)

Haunga also gave his side plenty of up and go from the interchange bench, rolling powerfully up the field to give his side momentum.

Lennox Pope (Marsden SHS)

Halfback Pope was his team’s spark plug, razor sharp with his option taking whether he was running the ball or shifting it wide. Pope’s delivery of a pass to fullback Levi Bannan was class.

Marsden SHS players at halftime against Stretton SC.

Blade MacDougall (Stretton SC)

The centre worked hard from ruck runs coming out of his defensive end. He had his hands full on the left side of the field, but held up his end of the bargain.

Lutalo Petusa also gave his side plenty of enthusiasm as another little man around the ruck.

Haki Kennedy (Marsden SHS)

The old fashioned prop drove forward with gusto and was a vault in defence with his ball and all grabs, and driving tackles. Unfortunately he saw only one minute of the second half after a head clash.

Scores: Marsden 50 (L Haunga 2, Z Watene 2, C Morris 2, F Wiperi, D Everitt, L Pope, L Uluave, N Phelps 5 goals defeated Stretton 6 (B McLean try, B McLean goal).

Keebra Park SHS 20 def Redcliffe SHS 10

Dermott Arthy (Redcliffe SHS)

Arthy added the x-factor to Redcliffe SHS’s performance. You got the impression the fullback could burst through tackles with every carry. He was at times sensational for his side.

Sione Tonga (Keebra Park SHS)

The centre had a stellar debut as he was a thorn in the side of Redcliffe’s edge defence for the entire 60 minutes. Tonga made crucial carries from deep in Redcliffe territory to relieve his side from pressure and was an exciting presence in attack.

Tyrell Schwenke (Keebra Park SHS)

The barnstorming prop was dominant throughout the contest but produced a major game-changing play to give his side the lead early in the second half as he made a dazzling and powerful run past multiple Redcliffe defenders on his way to cross for a crucial try.

James Peni (Redcliffe SHS)

Peni made his mark and showed why he will be one to watch throughout the season. He made some big carries and helped Redcliffe gain some momentum and territory when the game was there for the taking.

VJ Letalu (Keebra Park SHS)

He kick-started the game in style with an early try and did not look back from there. Letalu made strong carries on the edge and was crucial in giving his side momentum early in sets to win the field battle.

Azaiah Maile (Redcliffe SHS)

New to the school from New Zealand, the Year 11 student impressed as a right second rower. He defended strongly, ran hard and looked a likely prospect.

Troy Ellis (Keebra Park SHS)

A tremendous middle or edge workhorse forward, Ellis rolled his sleeves up and led the charge for his side. He is yet another well performed footballer from the Helensvale Hornets system.

Hosea Toki-Mautairi (Redcliffe SHS)

Launched into the fray from the interchange bench, the brother of Langer Trophy utility Azariah Toki-Mautairi was a gutsy, march forward middle man who helped keep Redcliffe within reach of their rivals. Toki-Mautairi brought a burst of energy off the bench and was a standout impact player.

Max Carriage (Redcliffe SHS)

The Redcliffe halfback produced a strong all-round performance and kept his side in the fight until the final stages of the contest. His defensive work was impressive while in attack he was versatile with a strong kicking game mixed and made some exciting runs to keep Keebra Park on its toes.

Members of the Marsden SHS Langer Reserves side.