Langer, Walters Cup’s best players – along with the Broncos Old Boys and Renouf Shield stars
We reveal 40 top-notch stars who shone in the Langer Trophy, Langer Reserves and Walters Cup grand final action, as well as the standouts from the Renouf Shield and Old Boys Year 7-8 deciders.
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Ipswich claimed a historic victory in a Langer Trophy classic yesterday at Kougari, 16-12 over a brave PBC SHS.
It was the game of the season where every player had his moment.
But some, like Ipswich SHS captain Josiah Pahulu, fullback Tyler Peckham-Harris and PBC SHS centre Michael Roberts and Keano Kini, shone more than others.
RELATED LINKS
YEAR 7-8 OLD BOYS, RENOUF SHIELD REPORT
Here we present the Players of the Day from across the five grand finals we have witnessed over the last 48 hours – the Langer Trophy, Langer Reserves, Walters Cup, Renouf Shield and Broncos Old Boys Cup.
And, for an added bonus, we also acknowledge an outstanding Studdy’s Cup Year 9 semi-final which saw Alexandra Hills edge out Stretton College.
LANGER TROPHY
Josiah Pahulu (Ipswich SHS)
Talk about a captain’s knock. Big Josiah Pahulu showed what it really looks like to lead a team.
In terms of how he played he was destructive. A tryscorer, a metre eater, a work horse and probably the fittest on the field.
He looks NRL ready. From kick off to the final whistle, Pahulu did everything he could for Ipswich.
In terms of being there for his team. He couldn’t have pulled them together better. Whenever there was a mistake, Pahulu picked his mates up and said move on, let’s make up for it. Ironically, this happened a handful of times. Ipswich would make a mistake and the very next set, they’d make up for it. With an effort play, they’d force a turnover and regain possession. That’s the type of team they are. A team led by Pahulu.
Tre Fotu (Ipswich SHS)
Just like he did in the Mel Meninga Cup final, Fotu found a way to win it for his team without the ball in hand.
His physicality on defence is just unmatched. Whenever the ball was sent down his edge you knew a PBC player was going to end up on their back.
That was the case, with Fotu sending a thumping echo around Kougari Oval.
Tyler Peckham Harris (Ipswich SHS)
He scored the game winning try. Ipswich were down 12-10, but Peckham-Harris, after playing the ball, got his hands on it and gave the Old Boys on Mitch Cronin Hill a try right in front of their eyes.
Peckham-Harris never ceases to deliver-especially in the big moments. He made 0 mistakes.
Let us say that again. 0 mistakes for the No. 1 dynamo.
Anton Naiyep (Ipswich SHS)
Naiyep was sensational. A run he had in the 55th minute, emulated that of a first minute run. He just kept going at 110%.
Into contact, he would have left bruises on the shoulders of daring PBC defenders.
That’s nothing new for Naiyep. We have kept tabs on him all season and that is exactly what he brings to the table- sheer brutality.
Gabriel Satrick (Ipswich SHS)
Satrick looked like an Australian Schoolboy.
The Melbourne Storm’s newest talent showed his value, with electric impact off the bench. Ipswich found the secret recipe in Tommy Luhrman starting and Satrick the interchange firepower. But, on the grand final day, they were at the best when on the paddock together.
Satrick’s speed was blinding and his sidestep so unpredictable you never knew if he was going to move laterally or burn straight through a hole with a dart out of dummy half. Let’s not forget Luhrman’s creation of the final try which put Ipswich SHS into the lead. Hat’s off to him.
Keano Kini (PBC SHS)
Kini was the magic man for PBC, and looked to have a hold of his rivals in the early going.
You had a sense that if PBC were going to win it, he was going to have to step up big time. He was on the path, but after an awkward tackle early in the second half, he wasn’t the same.
Some rocking whiplash turned Kini from a try scoring threat with every touch to a more passive customer, still dangerous, but quieter.
Kini’s defence was also first class, saving several Ipswich opportunities.
Will Taylor and Oliva Iaulualo (PBC SHS and Ipswich SHS)
Taylor and his opposite man Oliva Iaulualo both had a cracker in jumper No. 12.
Taylor was a defensive brute, standing tall until the last whistle. It was all the more impressive due to the towering size of the Ipswich pack, which Taylor subdued valiantly. Iaulualo was an attacking assassin, offloading, juking defenders and getting Ipswich in try scoring range that whole first half.
Michael Roberts (PBC SHS)
Roberts was at his freakish best for PBC. On both sides of the ball, he showed why he is one of the best centres in the competition.
With some timely tackles, try savers and a try, Roberts was on a mission to get PBC a three-peat.
Isaiah Scanlan (PBC SHS)
Against a huge pack Scanlan lifted and tried hard to get go-forward and stop Ipswich SHS’s roll down the middle. His effort reflected that of the PBC SHS forwards to tried so hard to quell the Ipswich SHS forwards. It was a mighty effort on te big stage by Scanlan.
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WATCH THE SEMI-FINAL REPLAYS HERE
MEET 35 BIG BOPPERS OF THE LANGER, WALTERS CUP SEASON
MEET THE 15 UNSUNG HEROES AHEAD OF THE THREE GRAND FINALS
LANGER RESERVES
Jakeem Thompson (PBC SHS)
Wow. What a performance. The halve ignited grand final day with three first half tries off the back of front foot ball from his forwards. He scored the first, second and fourth tries, the last of which was a clever blindside play that basically put Marsdem SHS out of the picture.
Creedance Donovan (PBC SHS)
We glimpsed in the semi-final when he roved around and we can’t wait to see some more of him after an encore performance in the grand final. Playing fullback, he was here, there and everywhere and presume he would have been playing a heap of Langer Trophy if not first team gun Keano Kini.
Ashley Hayes (PBC SHS)
The lanky Hayes caused trouble on the right edge with several telling runs into, and beyond the defence. Hayes was also the man who shut down Marsden SHS’s only break of the first half with cover defence. He also made an important tackle on Marsden fullback Bailey Trew late in the game.
Taelon Te Whiu Hopa (Marsden SHS)
The big fella came to the party with a storming second half performance. His powerful ruck run gave Marsden SHS momentum immediately prior to his team’s first try, while his creation of Tuvaka Palu’s try was classy. But generally he challenged PBC SHS with strong, committed runs.
Tuvaka Palu (Marsden SHS)
Palu was a revelation and one of the discovery players of the day. PBC SHS defended him well, but not before he punched his side forward which gave Marsden some depth in which to shift to the opposite side of the field. His other centre Shannon Subtritzky-Stewart also played strongly.
Cairo Rangihuna-Ruri (Marsden SHS)
Cairo Rangihuna-Ruri started to blossom the more father time ticked by, giving Marsden danger on the right edge and in the middle which sucked some attention away from the team’s high skilled right side attack.
Jeremy Crawford (Marsden SHS)
Crawford and his prop partner Kaleb Akaroa did very well, with Crawford’s energy when his team were down 22-nil leading his team forward in the ruck.
WALTERS CUP, Year 10
Christian Vaimilli (Marsden SHS)
Vaimilli was all heart. He stood tall in defence on multiple occasions, somehow holding up Keebra just short of the line.
He returned the ball from fullback brilliantly and was always a threat on attack.
Isopo Taunuu (Keebra Park)
Taunuu applied the pressure at prop. He was tireless on defence and just brutal when charging it up the middle.
With his big frame he exhausted the life out of Marsden which allowed the backline to pile on the points.
Tino Fomai (Keebra Park)
Fomai was fantastic. A double from the No. 2 put Keebra on the way to becoming Walters Cup champions.
Keebra operated down his edge a lot in attack and there’s no little wonder why. He’s a tryscorer. On the other side of the ball, he made a telling trysaver which began Keebra’s barrage.
Cooper Lewis (Marsden SHS)
With limited possession in the second half, Lewis was kept quiet. But, it was a different story in the first. He looked dangerous with every touch.
He targeted little holes in Keebra’s defence and showed the quality of his kicking game. His cross field kicks left the opposition defenders in two minds.
Quinten Teuila (Marsden SHS)
It was the same story as Lewis for Teuila, in that his first half performance gave Keebra a real fright. The way he held up the ball created opportunities for Marsden’s outside backs.
He was deceptive down that left edge and won the halves battle with Lewis for the first 25. The next 25 Keebra’s halves join the party.
Anthony Solomon (Marsden SHS)
Solomon was the grand final hitman. He left his Keebra prey stunned and slow to get up after a few bone rattling shots.
A barnstorming run by Solomon also laid the platform for Marsden’s first try of the day.
Daniel Rakena (keebra Park)
Rakena was a real handful for Marsden. In fact, he was almost impossible to tame in that second half. He had his fingerprints on almost all of his team’s tries.
He set up his teammates, but also helped himself cross the line with his deceiving play style.
He flipped a switch and won it for Keebra, but not without the help of his halves partner
Ryder Williams
Ryder Williams (Keebra Park)
Williams was everything and more. He and Rakena were joined to the hip and that’s what you want on a stage like this.
He was always in support and scheming out the back. Not to mention he was a sniper off the tee.
RENOUF SHIELD, Year 8
Kingston Seve (Keebra Park SHS)
Seve was the most outstanding player across either of the grand finals. The tall, powerful fullback scored three tries and simply could not be consistently contained once he wound up on the outside or returned kicks.
Israel Lotaki (Keebra Park SHS)
Centre Lotaki caused havoc on the edge. A big body with plenty of power under the hood, he added the finishing touches to a lethal Keebra Park backline.
Harvey Smith (Keebra Park SHS)
Smith will be the first to say he had his forwards to thank for putting him onto the front foot against Ipswich SHS, but he took full advantage of that opportunity. After his classy individual try he set his edge on motion. sending rolling to victory.
Brendon Bruce (Ipswich SHS)
Bruce was one of his team’s prime movers this season, a strong carrier of the ball and outstanding at plugging the gaps. He deserved the excitement of helping his team into the grand final, despite the squad’s loss.
Jaylan Naleba (Ipswich SHS)
Busy as a bee from start to finish across the season, Naleba was one of his team’s most consistent players and that attribute shone through again on grand final day.
BRISBANE BRONCOS OLD BOYS, Year 7
Rame Neema (Wavell SHS)
The brother of Queensland schoolboys prop Damascus, the No. 13 was the official man of the match with telling defence and strong running. There was not a struck match in the clash, but Neema’s work rate must have been an inspiration to teammates.
Maihi Pene (Wavell SHS)
Pene had a big first half at a time when Wavell SHS was setting up its narrow victory by building a two try advantage. He saved a try, he took his team forward and kicked well, including forcing a line drop out.
William Hamblim (Keebra Park SHS)
Hamblim looked the goods from the opening whistle, with effective forays with the ball and strong runs from the back.
Jet Rimaputa (Keebra Park SHS)
You always sensed that if Keebra were going to overtake Wavell and win the premiership, that either fullback Hamblim or centre Rimaputa would be involved. He looked a likely prospect for Keebra Park SHS moving forward.
Dynari Aoilupo (Keebra Park SHS)
He finished in the losing team, but the young edge back row forward should gain a lot from the big match experience. Look for him to impact the Renouf Shield in 2023.
Struddys Cup Year 8-9, semi-final
Cooper Benvenuti, Thomas Croker and Jaxon Peters-Falloon (Alexandra Hills SHS)
The middle unit of Benvenuti, Croker and Peters-Falloon laid foundations for Alex Hills’ entry into the grand final on September 6 after a golden point thriller against Stretton State College this week.
Alexandra Hills SHS captain Cody Harris needed to kick a conversion on full time to make the scores 18–18, which he did.
The game went to golden point, with a try in the third minute by Koby McGarrity putting Alex Hills straight into the grand final.
Meanwhile Alexandra Hills SHS also had success in the Year 8 semi-final, winning 32-nil and also progressing to grand final day.
Player of the day was Nathan Phelps.
“The students thrived from having a big crowd of friends, family and teachers in attendance claiming a memorable 32-0 victory,” said Kevin Neighbour, rugby league academy coach for Years 7-10.
“While there were lots of points scored through some fantastic speed and passing, all students agreed they were super proud of stopping the opposition from scoring a point. The squad now advances to the Struddys cup grand final on September 6.
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