Langer Trophy finals: Who are the Kingmakers with the keys to victory?
Meet the 20 kingmakers set to influence Wednesday’s Langer Trophy quarterfinals involving Ipswich, Keebra, PBC, Mabel Park, Marsden, Wavell, Redcliffe and Stretton. FULL LIST
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Finals fever has struck the Langer Trophy, with an eight team quarterfinal play off to be staged on Wednesday.
While Ipswich SHS and Keebra Park SHS will enter the finals ranked No.1 and No.2, it means little in a competition where anyone can beat anyone.
The KommunityTV and News Corp have teamed up for ongoing live streaming of the competition.
LIVE STREAM SCHEDULE
10.30am - Ipswich SHS vs Redcliffe SHS
12.00pm - Keebra Park SHS vs Mabel Park SHS
2.45pm - Palm Beach Currumbin SHS vs Stretton SC
4.15pm - Wavell SHS vs Marsden SHS
Wavell SHS were an extrenely dangerous side, PBC SHS were rising to the occasion while Mabel Park SHS have the respect of everyone and will be better with captain Daquan Talaepa returning.
Redcliffe have two wins, but before those triumphs had improved in leaps and bounds while Marsden SHS produced its best performance of the competition in round 7.
And Stretton State College has its chance in the big league after winning eight position.
KINGMAKERS
Grady Payne (Redcliffe)
Grady Payne has done an exceptional job this season directing Redcliffe around the ground and would have to be one of the competition’s success stories.
He has steered his side around calmly and efficiently, and has expertly carried out the instructions of his coach, Scott Murray.
Payne’s story is a great one of perseverance and determination. Each day the Year 11 student spends five hours on trains or buses travelling to and from his home in Coomera to attend school at Redcliffe SHS.
It is a price he is willing to pay for the chance to play in the Langer Trophy.
“It is worth it. It was my aim to play Langer,’’ said Payne, who is a Helensvale Hornets junior.
“It is the biggest stage in the south east.
“It was a goal, and having Mr Murray as a coach, it was a very good opportunity.’’
Jairus Halahala (Redcliffe)
There would not be too many better players in the competition than Halahala. With dynamic leg drive in contact and great footwork, the powerhouse middle forward is one of the best big men playing school football. It is not beyond him to trigger Redcliffe to a finals’ win.
Amare Wynyard (Redcliffe)
With a few big boppers back, along with the prospect of Nate Berrigan returning from injury, Wynyard’s potency is considerable. He could be even more potent if the towering Cody Starr gets those quick play the balls of his going.
Saifiti Junior Saifiti (Ipswich SHS)
Queensland Schoolboys winger Saifiti has had a steady season and will no doubt be looking to bring his best for the biggest games of the season.
A fearless carrier of the ball out of yardage, Saifiti’s exits when Ipswich SHS are on the back foot have been a great starting point for the team’s attack, which will be organised by kingmakers Reeco Kirk and Lesayne Tuiasau.
Xzavier Timoteo (Ipswich SHS)
The Ipswich Rangers junior and Sydney Roosters contracted middle forward powerhouse Timoteo has been excellent all season - and will likely provide much of the same when the season is on the line.
You get the sense the rugged prop would run through a brick wall for his teammates.
With leg power and footwork, he has been outstanding. He has regularly added to scoreboard pressure with his crash ball tries close to the line after hooker Sam Martin has brought him back on the inside.
Zane Harrison (PBC SHS)
The masterful young half knows how to win big matches. After all he and his brother Isaac have won 11 premiership across their careers. Halfback Zane has a beautifully balanced game for a No.7, including a blossoming running game which he executes against tiring forwards.
A prolific winner, PBC’s halfback and goal kicker will of course be influential in his team’s charge towards the grand final.
Sam Stephenson, Ray Puru, Sunny Kama (PBC SHS)
How blessed Harrison is to have the strike power of backs like Sam Stephenson (centre), Ray Puru (fullback) and Sunny Kama (winger) on his outside.
Each player offers something different, and when you put them together you have a team with the firepower, experience and finesse to challenge for the Langer Trophy and National Schoolboys Cup.
Zac Herdegen (Wavell SHS)
PBC SHS has one ZH, Zane Harrison, and Wavell SHS has the other ZH, Zac Herdegen, whom the Wavell community would not swap for anyone.
Like Harrison, Herdegen earned Queensland schoolboy selection and will be itching for his chance in the finals.
Herdegen’s leadership, at times brutal defence and booming kicking game has been at the centre of Wavell’s attack this season, along with his silky play making ability which draws in defenders and creates gaps in opposition defences.
Timahna Tandy (Wavell SHS)
How impressive has this Year 11 student been this season?
Slightly undersized but no pushover in defence, crafty pivot Tandy has impressively maintained a low mistake rate all season, rarely overplaying his hand of pushing a pass that is not there.
He is also on goal kicking duties and has a blossoming kicking game which has benefited from tips sourced from Dolphins NRL ace Isaiya Katoa.
“When I have been to Dolphins training, Isaiya Katoa and I do a bit of work, like goal kicking and game management,’’ he said.
Exposure to the benefits of the Dolphins’ academy is all a part of Tandy’s development after the quick stepping fullback turned-half arrived at Wavell SHS from the southern Darling Downs.
David Bryenton, Mason Barber (Keebra Park SHS)
The fleet-a-foot, quick stepping Bryenton can swing momentum with one of his dazzling moves. But Keebra Park’s strike power is far reaching.
Note their backline includes Queensland and Australian schoolboys selection Mason Barber and Broncos signed centre Joseph Tupuse.
Their presence adds richly to their attacking resources.
Elijah Keung (Mabel Park SHS)
Jackson Howe and Ezra Leota (Mabel Park SHS)
Mabel Park SHS’s halfback Howe and hooker Leota have maintained their high standards throughout the season and if Mabel is firing, there’s a good chance one of these two were having a hand in proceedings. The scheming runs of the slippery Leota and the astute kicking game, both long and short of Howe, will challenge defenders - that is for certain.
Elijah Keung and Daquan Talaepa (Mabel SHS)
Keung is one of the best three props left in the competition and with him in the side, Mabel Park SHS will always be a chance in a big match
Also, don’t under estimate how Mabel Park has missed their captain, Daquan Talaepa, for the last two matches.
The Dolphins signed second forward Talaepa returns as fresh as a daisy for the finals.
Tupou Francis (Marsden SHS)
Francis has turned into a young forward leader this season and Marsden SHS will need him to continue his aggressive, lead by example type play if they were to snare a finals’ upset win.
He was outstanding again in Marsden’s round 7 win over Mabel Park.
Hayden Watson (Marsden SHS)
Watson is now a representative hooker, but when he plays as a halfback he has that Shaun Johnson-type flair. He is one of the competition’s best young players and opponents will be on alert playing against him.
Kayliss Brown (Stretton)
A crafty ball playing dummy half, Brown will look to insert himself into games with his vision and speed around the ruck.
Jonah Huni (Stretton)
A year 11 student at Stretton State College, Jonah is a tall ball playing lock that will look to assert himself in defencewith aggression and great first contact.
JZ Perenara-Livapulu (Stretton)
A young bullocking centre JZ was a Queensland under 15 representative. JZ will look to impose himself in games with his strongball running & bruising defence.
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