Langer Trophy: Six things we learned ahead of round 2

The Langer Trophy round two teams have been announced ahead of our livestream coverage, as we reveal six of the major findings that have come off the back of last week’s opening encounters.

Karl Oloapu (Wavell SHS), Lewis Symonds (Coombabah SHS), Josiah Pahulu (Ipswich SHS), and Seth Nikotemo (Keebra Park SHS). Picture Lachie Millard

Langer Trophy live stream action continues tomorrow, with another four matches exclusive to News Corp’s streaming platform.

The www.couriermail.com.au, Gold Coast Bulletin and News Corp affiliates will feature four Langer Trophy games, and another four Walters Cup (Year 10) matches.

Matches include Wavell SHS’s annual Home Coming Day when past students and their families flock back to school to watch Langer and Walters games.

WATCH REPLAYS

PBC SHS v MARSDEH SHS

IPSWICH v KEEBRA PARK

MABEL PARK v REDCLIFFE SHS

So what are six things we learned from round 1 ahead of Tuesday’s bumper action?

PBC SHS during halftime in game 1.

THERE IS LIFE AFTER WEAVER AND BRYANT

For two years Tom Weaver (halfback) and Oskar Bryant (hooker) combined around a fantastic group of players to take PBC SHS to successive Phil Hall Cup victories.

So what impact would their departure have on the PBC SHS Langer Trophy operation?

Nothing.

Dummy half and captain Tanu Nona combined wonderfully with young Zane Harrison and the experienced Josh Lynn and it was business as usual for PBC SHS.

Lynn was a perfect foil, with his passing and kicking keeping Marsden SHS guessing.

And what a joy it must have been for Harrison to trickle a grubber kick toward the tryline, then scoop up the ball and score. Talk about icing on the cake.

And what about the performance of prop Reico Ratana.

PBC SHS waved a graduation goodbye to a representative pack at the end of last season, but have no fear.

Last Wednesday around busy bees Isaiah Scanlan, Brady Turner, Will Taylor and Jackson Le Pou, front rower Ratana said “follow me boys’’ with his actions – in attack and defence.

And in exciting news looking ahead to tomorrow’s match, Sam Stephenson will make his debut on the wing. The strapping outside back is the son of former NRL player Paul.

Keano Kini, middle, was in great form, with Reico Ratana, to his left, having a drink.

KEANO KINI IS VERY GOOD – YET AGAIN

Have we already seen the best player in the Langer Trophy competition?

The performance by PBC SHS fullback Keano Kini will take some beating after he demolished Marsden SHS in round 1.

His individual try from 45m out, when he stepped and accelerated his way to the tryline, was as good as you will see.

But the Gold Coast Titans-signed No. 1 also created tries with his left edge ball play, playing as a second half. He is a young gun.

RELATED LINKS

BRONCOS EXTEND LANGER TROPHY STAR

DOLPHINS SIGN LANGER PLAYER OF THE YEAR

MEET THE LANGER TROPHY CAPTAINS

MABEL PARK SHS HAS A LETHAL LEFT EDGE

The cat is out of the bag. Mabel Park SHS has a lethal left edge and Redcliffe SHS felt the full brunt of its force in round 1.

After Mabel Park SHS prop Alex Leapai had led the go-forward, ball swung left caused no end of trouble for Redcliffe SHS.

Melchizadek Laumatia can attack on the right. Picture, John Gass

Halfback Julian Drinnan was the trigger man as centre Elijah Mikaio and edge forward Marley Lupeomanu shone, while Te Hataterehapaerau Reid chimed in for good measure.

These are good signs for Mabel Park SHS because we know right edge forward Melchizadek Laumatia is an attacking weapon as well because he twice scored in the Langer qualifying win over St Mary’s SHS.

Ahmani Leilua of Ipswich SHS captained Souths Logan to the Meninga Cup premiership. Picture, John Gass

IPSWICH SHS – OUR SUSPICIONS WERE CORRECT

One win does not make a winter but Ipswich SHS’s first step into the fray this season was a nice, firm, one.

We observed in our preview that five Ipswich players – like Tyler Peckham-Harris (Ipswich Jets), Tre Fotu (Souths Logan), Jalen Afamasaga (Norths), captain Josiah Pahulu (Burleigh Bears and Ahmani Leilua (Souths Logan), were coming off bumper Meninga Cup seasons for their respective clubs, and predicted this Ipswich side looked better than the two which were unlucky semi-final losers in 2020 and 2021.

So tomorrow an intriguing clash will take place between Mabel Park SHS and Ipswich SHS.

Tuesday will be a big day for all Wavell teams – Peter Benjamin Uini, Jared Horne, Charlie Dickson and Karl Oloapu. Picture, John Gass

WAVELL SHS’S HAS CHARACTER

Wavell SHS displayed character to escape the clutches of a Coombabah SHS ambush and claim a W in round 1.

It was no easy task having to travel down the M1 and confront a Coombabah SHS which had spent months training leading up to game 1.

Behind at halftime, and with Coombabah trio Lewis Symonds, Boston Riggs-Albert and Junior Filimaua at their best, Wavell displayed plenty of fortitude to escape with a win.

Loto Salei, Po Hotere-Papalii and Bristowe Murray lead the charge for Wavell.

And now they are primed for Marsden SHS in their annual Home Coming Day, a huge afternoon when past students flock to Wavell SHS.

MARSDEN SHS WILL NEED TO START STRONGLY

It would not surprise me if, at Thursday’s team meeting review of their 44-nil loss to PBC SHS, coach Matt Hartigan showed the side a football and then threw it out the door as far away as the group as possible.

“We will see that football again in four days time,’’ he might have said.

Why?

Because although Marsden SHS were defended out of the game early, defence was their biggest problem.

They will need to start strongly in defence against Wavell, repel Wavell across the entire defensive line, or risk having flashbacks to a horror round 1 when PBC won both halves 22-nil.

Attack will come, but defence is the key to a comeback victory over Wavell SHS.

ROUND 2 TEAMS

The teams

Ipswich SHS v Mabel Park SHS

Ipswich SHS: 1. Tyler Peckham-Harris, 2. Kulu Baruani, 3. Caleb Jackson, 4. Tre Fotu, 5. Anton Naiyep, 6. James Frazer, 7. Izaiah Mafi, 15. Josiah Pahulu, 9. Tommy Luhrman, 8. Ahmani Leilua, 11. Xavier Sofeni, 12. Cayleb Johnson, 13. Jack Laing, 14. Gabriel Satrick, 16. Rene Bagon, 17. Nicholas Torrens, 10. Loko Tonga, 18th Man – Jalen Afamasaga.

Mabel Park SHS: 1. Te Hataterehapaerau Reid, 2. Steven Walsh, 3. Elijah Mikaio, 4. Kena Finau, 5. Elijah Tagiilima, 6. Tevita Holaafolau, 7. Julian Drinnan, 8. Hamuera Kingi, 9. Daytona Tupuhi-Taoho, 10. Alex Leapai, 11. Marley Lupeomanu, 12. Melchizadek Laumatia

13. Louruce Brown, 14. Atunaisa Pahulu, 15. Tarawa Latu, 16. Fiva Taumaletila, 19. Deniro Seumanutafa

Wavell SHS v Marsden SHS

Wavell SHS: 1. Jayden Ambichi, 2. Josh Callaghan, 3. Po Hotere-Papalii, 4. Tuialii, Mark, 5. Tyreece Tait, 6. Karl Oloapu, 7. Arthur Fitness, 8. Ben Uini, 9. Jai Camilleri, 10. Damascus Neemia, 11. D’Metrius Iose, 12. Naz Taua, 13. Loto Salei, 14. Butt, Jayden, 15. Amos Tuialli,

16. Will Sologinkin, 17. Michael Waqa, 18. Ethan Jones, 19. Christian Taula

Marsden SHS: 1. Dominic Sandow, 2. Haizyn Mellars, 3. Devonte Vaivela, 4. Shannon Subritzky Stewart, 5. Teapo Stoltman, 6. Apa Twidle, 7. Coby Black, 8. VJ Semu, 9. Kylem Vunipola, 10. Mou Taumaletila- Maulolo, 11. Te Anau Graham-Papali’i, 12. Jieye Mauai, 13. Chris Faagutu (c), 14. Cody Hamilton, 15. Taelon Te Whiu Hopa, 16. Bailey Trew, 17. Jeremy Crawford. Emergencies: Mana Whakatau, Jacob Tinsley, Mark Nosa, Harry Durbin, Kees Cassidy

PBC v REDCLIFFE

PBC SHS: 1. Keano Kini, 2. Sam Stephenson, 3. Michael Roberts, 4. Cooper Cambey, 5. Jett Forbes, 6. Josh Lynn, 7. Zane Harrison, 8. Isaiah Scanlan, 9. Tanu Nona, 10. Reico Ratana, 11. Brady Turner, 12. Will Taylor, 13. Jackson Le Pou, 14. Bailey McConnell, 15. Jac Finnigan, 16. Jett Jackson, 17. Cooper Wolf.

REDCLIFFE SHS: 1. Bailin Haji, 2. Regan O’Connell, 3. Cravin Poutai, 4. Julian Mirupasi, 5. Jeconhia Seden, 6. Guy Visachi, 7. Blake Kehl, 8. Loka Toia, 9. Jack Cameron, 10. Gerhard Matthes, 11. Jacob Taulani, 12. John Fineanganofo, 13. Jayden Alefaio, 14. Connor Streak, 15. Troy Ennion, 16. Ben Crawford, 17. Jiovaani Samita-Fonokalafi

Coombabah SHS v Keebra Park SHS

COOMBABAH SHS: 1. Shannon Donaldson, 2. Ryan McCann, 3. Kane Garland, 4. Jack McKenzie, 5. Izayah Petricevich, 6. Hunter Innes, 7. Jaxon Denny, 8. Boston Riggs-Albert, 9. Jhett Pilcher, 10. K-ci Whare, 11. Kyen Murphy, 12. Lewis Symonds, 13. Junior Filimaua, 14. Braydan Wong, 15. Tom McKenna, 16. Cassius Whale, 17. Jason Firth, 18. Mokena Marsh

KEEBRA PARK SHS: 1. Karauria Stokes, 2. Munga Baruani, 3. Xavier Asi, 4. Taniela Mapusua-Lotaki, 5. Jeremaiah Tamepo, 6. Jodeci Letalu, 7. Jaxen Yow, 8. PJ Poutasi, 9. Isaiah Fagalilo, 10. Immanuel Kalekale, 11. Jared Johnson, 12. EJ Finau, 13. Arama Hau

14. Gary Herlihy, 15. Lokea Motufoua, 16. Eli Tuli, 17. Wailer Whaiapu, 18. Jett Bryce, 19. Kobie Mackey-Taylor