Langer Trophy’s form guide; key players and road ahead
The Langer Trophy team form guide; 35 key players and the road ahead revealed here ahead of our live streaming resuming on Tuesday
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With News Corp’s live streaming of Langer Trophy and Walters Cup action resuming on Tuesday, we peer at the road ahead, run our eyes over the form guide and name some key players.
After a break for school holidays, round 4 action returns on Tuesday with the top of the table clash between PBC SHS and Ipswich SHS at Tugun the prime fixture.
But Tuesday will also feature another two Langer games and three Walters matches, with the fourth Langer clash to be played on Saturday between Wavell SHS and Keebra Park SHS at CBUS Super Stadium on the Gold Coast.
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WATCH THE GRAND FINAL REPLAYS HERE
PHOTO GALLERY FROM GRAND FINAL DAY
OUR 40 SCHOOLBOY AWARD WINNERS FROM THE NATIONALS
PALM BEACH CURRUMBIN
WIN-LOSS 3-0
Despite a new forward pack and minus key 2020-21 halfback Tom Weaver, PBC SHS made a statement to the competition from round 1 that the Reds were still the team to beat with a big win over Marsden SHS.
A no-frills pack is working hard around Queensland schoolboys halfback Josh Lynn who has relished the extra responsibility.
KEY PLAYERS:
Fullback Keano Kini: Kini won Queensland’s best player of the tournament award at the recent schoolboy nationals and has taken his game to another level this season. He is like an NRL player playing schoolboys.
Centre Michael Roberts: Roberts’ confidence would have been boosted by his Australian schoolboy selection and he looms as a constant danger man.
Josh Lynn: The perfect link man, Lynn must be growing in confidence after his outstanding team performance for the Queensland 18s.
Front rowers Isisah Scanlan, Tanu Nona, Reico Ratana
The PBC front row division led a winning pack and were laying a foundation from the opening whistle.
ROAD AHEAD
Ipswich SHS (home)
Mabel Park SHS (home)
Keebra Park SHS (away)
Wavell SHS (away)
PREDICTED RESULTS: 1 loss
IPSWICH SHS
WIN-LOSS 3-0
Ipswich SHS are the competition giant-killers but should we really be surprised by their form this season? No.
A look through the team sheet saw the names of players who shone for their respective teams in the Meninga Cup across the summer.
And the selection of Josiah Pahulu (now an Australian schoolboy), hooker Gabriel Satrick (also an Australian schoolboy) and Tre Fotu in the Queensland schoolboys team reflects the quality of players at the school.
KEY PLAYERS
Josiah Pahulu: The spiritual leader of the pack works strongly in union with unfashionable prop Ahmani Leilua to deliver an early foundation for the side. The mobile Pahulu also has a late offload in his game and his energy and line speed in defence disrupts the momentum of opposition packs.
Gabriel Satrick: Satrick is a wildcard no more and the cat is well and truly out of the bag after his dynamic running game was seen by all and sundry at the national championships.
Tru Fotu: Fotu has shown his form with Souths Logan’s premiership winning Meninga Cup side was no flash in the pan with another four star performance for the Queensland 18 years. He would have been strongly considered for an Australian schoolboy birth.
Anton Naiyep: Naiyep is a weapon on the wing. He has a bunch of tricks up his sleeve which could put any opposition to bed.
He has blinding speed, cracking foot work, great instincts and a hunger to bump off defenders.
James Frazer: Frazer played in all three games for Ipswich prior to the break and was their most consistently threatening player.
He leaves defenders in two minds. With his deceiving step, dummy-and-go and his ability to penetrate the line with great off-the-mark acceleration, he will be there to spark some magic and get Ipswich the momentum they need when it matters most.
ROAD AHEAD
PBC SHS (away)
Wavell SHS (home)
Coombabah SHS (away)
Marsden SHS (home)
PREDICTED RESULTS: 1 loss
KEEBRA SHS
WIN-LOSS 2-1
Have the sleeping giants woken?
Their first round loss to Ipswich SHS has now been put into perspective given Ipswich’s continued good form and the team from the northern Gold Coast looms large on the horizon.
There should never have been any panic in the ranks given the form line of Ipswich SHS and a last start win against a motivated Marsden SHS confirmed Keebra were a top four side.
KEY PLAYERS
Immanuel Kalekale: The big Queensland schoolboys front rower is a brute of a player at this level who has an ability to dominate matches.
Arama Hau: Hau is arguably the form schoolboy forward in Australia judging by what we saw at the national championships.
He will return to Langer 10 foot tall and feeling bulletproof and will fit snugly into the No.13 role after being challenged as an edge player in the Queensland 18s.
The added responsibility of being named captain is obviously agreeing with Hau.
Seth Nikotemo: Edge back rower Nikotemo was a quiet achiever of the Queensland schoolboys side but will be on a high and a better player for his experience at the national championships. Watch for him to go up a gear.
Isaiah Fagalilo: The No.9 has been a great addition to the Keebra Park ruck adding glue and control to the middle, while holding his own in defence. He is a nice blend of player to have touching the ball first in the ruck.
Karauria Stokes: Stokes is a wildcard of the pack, a thrilling attacking prospect who will make teams pay if Keebra Park SHS get the basics right upfront.
THE ROAD AHEAD
Wavell SHS (home)
Redcliffe SHS (away)
PBC SHS (away)
Mabel Park SHS (home)
PREDICTED RESULT: 2 losses
WAVELL SHS
WIN-LOSS 2-1
Don’t discount this young Wavell SHS, but the next two weeks will shape their season.
They are a very well balanced team, well coached and have the best x-factor player in Australia, Karl Oloapu, touching the ball often at No.6.
But despite Oloapu’s obvious class they are no one man band and should get better the longer the season goes.
KEY PLAYERS
Karl Oloapu: Named the best player at the national championships despite playing out of position at No.13, the humble champion will love returning to the No.6 jersey for Wavell and if he is enjoying his footy, then Wavell will benefit.
Po Hotere-Papalii: Wavell have strike power out wide, don’t worry, with brilliant winger Tyreece Tait and Papalii huge threats.
Loto Salei: The Canberra Raiders signed Salei has made a great impression at No.13 and like Wavell, we feel he will get better the more experience he gets in the big league.
Bristowe Murray: Is Murray back? At the time of publication this was a question put to coach Mick Roberts. If he is, he will add a great dimension to the team’s ruck.
Damascus Neemia: The Queensland schoolboy prop is a steady she goes type, just what the doctor needed in the big matches ahead.
THE ROAD AHEAD
Keebra Park SHS (away)
Ipswich SHS (away)
Redcliffe SHS (home)
PBC SHS (home)
PREDICTED RESULTS: 3 losses
MARSDEN SHS
WIN-LOSS 1-2
Marsden SHS have needed to do a quick rebuild after two high standard seasons in 2020-21, and the break probably came at a good time after an away loss to a revitalised Keebra Park at Southport on June 15.
Effort is not lacking. But ball control is and Marsden SHS need to get that right in a hurry to mount a second half of the season campaign.
The key for Marsden is not looking for the flash plays. If they go back to the basics, hold the ball, play the ball quickly and show enthusiasm and talk in defence, then natural talent will look after the scoreboard.
KEY PLAYERS
Coby Black: Black has had to grow up quickly in a remodelled Marsden SHS side that lost its hooker, five-eight and fullback for 2022. Halfback Black has also not had the benefit of his team mates controlling the ball but if that happens, watch for him to continue the form he showed for Queensland schoolboys at the nationals.
Chris Faagutu: When you want your team to display more consistency and do the simple things right, then Faagutu is the best man to have the C next to his name.
A recent Australian schoolboys selection, Faagutu is Mr Consistency and his calming influence and leadership is welcomed in the camp.
Haizyn Mellars: A returning representative winger will not turn the tide but Mellars’ character, confidence and enthusiasm - of which he has plenty - will likely be a positive influence. He is after all a member of a championship winning Queensland schoolboy side.
THE ROAD AHEAD
Redcliffe SHS (away)
Coombabah SHS (home)
Mabel Park SHS (away)
Ipswich SHS (home)
PREDICTED RESULTS: 3 losses
COOMBABAH SHS
WIN-LOSS 0-3
Coombabah SHS has made ground from its 2021 campaign and its playing group should be excited at the prospect of possibly winning matches in the second half of the season - providing they get the basics right.
Coombabah has run into two runaway steam trains in Keebra Park and PBC SHS, but despite lopsided scoreboards the group has displayed plenty of pluck.
KEY PLAYERS
Kane Garland: Garland has set a great example to his teammates by displaying plenty of pluck.
Shannon Donaldson: If their work ethic and attention to detail does not drop, Coombabah should be able to start bringing Donaldson more effectively into the game.
K-ci Whare: A forward leader and seasoned campaigner, teammates will look to him to lead by example.
Lewis Symonds: Arguably the best player in the side, edge forward Symonds still has plenty of time left on the clock this season to make an impact.
THE ROAD AHEAD
Mabel Park SHS (away)
Marsden SHS (away)
Ipswich SHS (home)
Redcliffe SHS (away)
PREDICTED RESULTS: 5 losses
MABEL PARK SHS
WIN-LOSS 1-2
Mabel Park have a tough run home but face a “grand final’’ against Coombabah on Tuesday at Slacks Creek.
The squad has come on in leaps and bounds this season after making its 2021 debut and like the young Redcliffe SHS group, they are laying bricks and mortar for the years that follow.
But first things first. Mabel Park has one win this season, so why not make it two on Tuesday against Coombabah?
KEY PLAYERS
Alex Leapai: Without harping on about it, Leapai is a front row colossus who generates go-forward while also being able to unload in the tackle.
He also scored two individual tries and with him in the side, anything is possible.
The edge combination of Julian Drinnan, centre Elijah Mikaio edge forward Marley Lupeomanu has promise, but they will be nullified if Mabel Park do not control the ball better than they did in their last outing against Wavell Park. Fix that, and you have a football team on your hands.
THE ROAD AHEAD
Coombabah SHS (home)
PBC SHS (away)
Ipswich SHS (home)
Keebra Park SHS (away)
PREDICTED RESULTS: 6 losses
REDCLIFFE SHS
WIN-LOSS 0-3
Every member of this current Redcliffe SHS should have their names placed on an honour board down at the club’s weight gym so they are forever remembered as the school’s Langer Trophy pioneers.
They are the group of young men who have done the hard yards, who have laid foundations for the years ahead when Redcliffe will be successful - and they will be successful, believe me, possibly as early as next year.
The catchment is rugby league rich. Where do you think Karl Oloapu and Rob Toia, two of the three best Queensland schoolboy players in the state, started at school? Redcliffe SHS.
That is the type of talent Redcliffe will be able to keep in the seasons ago because they are a top tier schoolboy league side.
When the Penrith Panthers (1967), Canberra Raiders (1982) and North Queensland Cowboys (1995) entered the NSWRL and NRL competitions, they were the whipping boys.
Last year Mabel Park SHS were winless in their first season.
But experience gained from last season, coupled with the arrival of Langer quality players from other schools, has helped them to one win and better overall performances.
Look at those clubs today?
The squad who have toiled should feel mighty proud of themselves knowing they have been the ones to brandish the hoes and chainsaws, cutting a path way to rugby league paradise for the generations to follow.
KEY PLAYERS
Jayden Alefaio: Alefaio was a member of our Meninga Cup Team of the Season and his skill is welcomed in the Redcliffe SHS ranks. He has a shoulder injury, but lets hope he is back given consistent forward John Fineanganofo (shoulder) will miss the rest of the season.
Jack Cameron: The big hearted Redcliffe skipper is an effort on effort player who is as proud as punch to have the C next to his name in this historic season.
THE ROAD AHEAD
Marsden SHS (home)
Keebra Park SHS (home)
Wavell SHS (away)
Coombabah SHS (home)
PREDICTED RESULTS: 7 losses
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