Langer Trophy’s Super 8 schoolboys set to shine

The elite schoolboy Langer Trophy, a hotbed of rugby league talent, will be livestreamed by News Corp from Wednesday. Here is a Super 8 of players set to shine.

The elite schoolboy Langer Trophy, a hotbed of rugby league talent, will be livestreamed by News Corp from Wednesday.

In News Corp’s biggest junior livesteam sporting deal, 150 matches across the Langer Trophy, Payne Cup, reserve grade and year 10 Walters Cup matches will be livestreamed by www.couriermail.com.au and affiliates up and down the coast.

Subscribe to also view matches each Wednesday, while also enjoying the replays of the games and unlocking access to the best News sites around Australia.

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Out of a vast reservoir of talent, here is a SUPER 8 of players

Xavier Va’a, St Mary’s College Toowoomba. PICTURE: Brad Fleet

XAVIER VA’A, (St Mary’s College)

A Brisbane Broncos contracted front rower, Va’a is a three year Langer Trophy young veteran who coach Matt Jahnke says “is a leader among the men now’’. “He has grown from a boy into a man and leads from the front, both with his football and also academically.’’ Va’a said: “I feel like I have developed. I have tried to learn off all the older players I played with and also the players I played against for the big schools. Year 10 and year 11 were two big years of learning. I am grateful for the experience and hope to really showcase my skills this year.’’

Wavell’s Prinston Esera..

PRINSTON ESERA (Wavell SHS)

A centre, year 12 student Esera is a smooth operator oozing class. Contracted to the Canberra Raiders, he was first blooded in the Langer Trophy as a year 10 student and keen Langer Trophy watchers will notice he has bulked up for 2021. “He has put on some size but has not lost any pace. He is looking very good,’’ said Wavell coach Mick Roberts.

Tim Sielaff-Burns, Coombabah SHS. PICTURE: Brad Fleet

TIM SIELAFF-BURNS (Coombabah SHS)

Signed by the Brisbane Broncos, the Jimboomba Thunder junior is coming off playing in the under 18 South Coast side at the Queensland schools championships. “He is a very strong ball runner who loves to get involved,’’ said Coombabah SHS coach Sam Meskell. “He also has a lot of experience at the higher level playing rep footie, so he will be an important player for us.’’ Sielaff-Burns said being both the school captain and Langer Cup captain was “a great opportunity for me to develop more as a person and become a better young man’’.

Blake Mozer, Keebra Park SHS. PICTURE: Brad Fleet

BLAKE MOZER (Keebra Park SHS)

Long serving Keebra Park SHS coach Glen Campbell said Mozer was an easy choice to captain his squad. “He is our school captain, an academic boy and that transfers across into his football and how smart he is on the football field. “He is a big hooker who has a long way to go in this game.’’

Tom Weaver, Palm Beach Currumbin SHS. PICTURE: Brad Fleet

TOM WEAVER (Palm Beach Currumbin SHS)

PBC SHS coach Tim Maccan said Weaver, who spearheaded PBC to last season’s Langer Trophy title, thrived on pressure. “He has a great long and short kicking game that keeps teams on notice,’’ Maccan said. “He loves the pressure moments and will be looking to go to another level in 2021.’’ Weaver said playing up an age group last season was a great challenge. “And now this year I can look forward and try and develop some more and go a bit better than last year.’’

Chris Faagutu, Marsden SHS. PICTURE: Brad Fleet

CHRIS FAAGUTU (Marsden SHS)

Chris Faagutu was a member of the Langer Trophy Team of the Year in 2021. A lock, he has been given the honour of captaining Marsden SHS. “He leads by his actions and across the last five years he has been very consistent, training hard and never missing a session,’’ said Marsden SHS coach Matt Hartigan. “He is also very committed to has academic studies.’’

Faagutu said he was proud to be a part of the Marsden SHS community.

KULIKEFU FINEFEUIAKI (Ipswich SHS)

The Cowboys have swooped to snap up an exciting Ipswich teenager from Allan Langer’s former school after he impressed in a one-on-one session with NRL giant Jason Taumalolo during the off-season. “Kuli is a tall, dynamic athlete who carries the ball aggressively into contact,” said Ipswich SHS Joshua Bretherton.

Mustafa Kaya, Mable Park SHS. PICTURE: Brad Fleet

MUSTAFA KAYA (Mabel Park SHS)

Without the talk and organising ability of Kaya, Mabel Park SHS coach Lee Addison doubts if his team would have survived the qualifying round against a fast finishing Forest Lake SHS.

Kaya, a Wynnum Seagulls junior, enjoys the freedom of playing fullback which allows him to “be where the ball is and creating my own opportunities’’. Addison said Kaya was “the epitome of what we are trying to do because he works so hard on his game’’.