Langer trophy: What we learnt, six of the best from round 3
Langer trophy: What we learnt, six of the best from round 3 of the elite schoolboy competition plus links to the replays of all last night’s action.
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Langer trophy: What we learnt, six of the best from round 3 of the elite schoolboy competition plus links to the replays of all last night’s action.
WATCH ALL ROUND 3 REPLAYS HERE
WEAVER NOT THE ONLY HALFBACK STAR
Palm Beach Currumbin SHS champion No.7 Tom Weaver may have got his team over the line, but there was another little general who impressed in the fixture won late by PBC over Coombabah SHS 22-18.
Take a bow Coombabah SHS halfback Calebl Gould-Waiariki who pulled his side together and took them to the brink of victory. Gould-Waiariki helped his team lead 6-4 at halftime and then 18-10 with 10 minutes to go before Weaver’s try assist and solo try ripped the game away from Coombabah. “He really stepped up,’’ said Coombabah SHS coach Sam Meskell in reference to Gould-Waiariki. “He showed determination, he took control and showed great leadership. That influenced some of the other boys to step up as well.’’
RELATED LINKS
WATCH ALL ROUND 2 REPLAYS HERE
Meskell said despite missing the upset of the season, it was a good test to show “where we really are’’ after a heavy loss to Wavell SHS in round 2, albeit with a depleted side. “To push PBC to such a close game and still have improvement left in us is a good thing.’’
WAVELL SHS ARE THE REAL DEAL
Despite defeat, Wavell SHS proved they are the real deal against Marsden SHS. They must be, because Marsden SHS are the real deal in 2021 and Wavell went within a whisker of snatching a draw. And there is so much improvement in them.
There was too much drop ball, although conditions were very slippery. Indeed if you’d had a bucket sitting on the sideline for the duration of the match, there would have been a centimetre or two of moisture settle. That, and the heavy contact in tackles, made ball handling difficult.
But Wavell has got what it takes. Ben Tu kuru is a welcomed addition from injury and dummy half Tyrell Waaka-Rhind, halves Jaylan Afamasaga and Karl Oloapu are super effective playing off the front foot. Tuesday’s match could easily be a dress rehearsal for semi-finals ahead.
RELATED LINKS
ROUND 1 – WHAT WE LEARNT, SIX OF THE BEST
ROUND 2 – SIX OF THE BEST, WHAT WE LEARNT
ANOTHER ODE TO MOZER – AND HIS ROOKIE MATE
Another round goes by, and another influential performance from gun hooker Blake Mozer whose control of the game is second to none. This time he stepped up to direct his team to a 24-6 win over Ipswich SHS who had closed the gap to 10-6 early in the second half. But he had a mate. Walters Cup rookie Wailer Whaiapu made an outstanding debut. “It was a good start for him coming off the bench,’’ said Keebra Park SHS coach Glen Campbell. Campbell left a spot on his bench open to watch Wailer in the Walters Cup, before pulling him off and putting him on the bench in the top side. Campbell also liked the form of Troy Vea’s season best effort, while big Herman was good.
MABEL SHS MAKING PROGRESS
It was a case of close, but no cigar for Mabel Park SHS who wrestled tenaciously with St Mary’s for the duration of the game – only to go down 12-8. It was a big effort by the competition newcomers.
A trip up the range where primed opposition lay in wait, and a big penalty count against the home side does require a backs-to-the-wall effort to compete. And compete they did. “My players were fantastic,’’ said coach Lee Addison. “All they did was defend for big chunks. It was two tries each and we have improved again.’’ There was frustration at some of the possession waved St Mary’s way, and one decision in particular to reverse a penalty given to St Mary’s because a knock-on had been detected prior to the infringement caused angst. “It is so hard to win in those circumstances,’’ Addison said.
But the Langer Trophy is a school of hard knocks, and Mabel Park is taking the hard knocks and getting on with doing their jersey and community proud. “I am so happy with my boys.’’
BRONCOS BOY NATHANIEL SHINES FOR MARSDEN
He has been with the Brisbane Broncos since aged 15, and on Tuesday night Marsden SHS’s Nathaniel Tangimatatiti showed his community a glimpse of the best of him in a man of the match effort during Marsden’s win to maintain an unbeaten start to the season. Marsden held on to beat a fast finishing Wavell 18-12, a match they would not have won with their young side in 2020.
Tangimatatiti, a left centre or left edge backrower, is now three games into his career at Marsden SHS after moving from New Zealand last year. Family ties to Marsden SHS meant the young Kiwi was never going to go to any other school if he moved to Queensland.
He is a great addition to the side after getting miles into his legs playing centre for Jesse Maclean’s Meninga Cup under 18 side earlier in the year. I’ll tell you how well he is going – he keeping Eli Tuli out of the side and that is saying something.
SAINTS SHOW SOME STEAL
No Xavier Va’a again – no problem as St Mary’s College claimed a second home win over Mabel Park SHS. Well, there were some problems if we are honest because new chums Mabel Park were no push overs.
But Va’a, a three season veteran in the Langer Trophy, is St Mary’s front row battleship and forward leader and any side would miss him. Darcy Carswell, Luke Cesari and Zac Brown were also missing, so St Mary’s squad has been tested and wins over Wavell SHS and Mabel SHS show they have passed the test ahead of the break for exams and holidays.
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