Langer, Walters Cup’s most improved 22 players
Who have been the Langer Trophy and Walters Cup’s most improved players this season? Ahead of this week’s semi-finals,, we reveal 22 big improvers of 2022.
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The Langer Trophy and Walters Cup competitions will reach fever pitch this week when News Corp live stream semi-finals on Wednesday and Thursday.
Wednesday’s two Langer Trophy (NRL Schoolboys Cup) blockbusters feature unbeaten Ipswich SHS against Marsden SHS, and a Gold Coast derby between PBC SHS and Keebra Park SHS.
The www.couriermail.com.au, the Gold Coast Bulletin and affiliates will live stream the two Langer semi-finals on Wednesday (plus one Langer reserve game), and also the Walters Cup on Thursday (including another Langer reserve match).
MATCH REPLAYS: RELIVE ALL THE QUARTERFINAL ACTION HERE
And as a bonus for subscribers, the historic Dolphins Cup grand final between St Brendan’s College v The Cathedral College will also be streamed on Wednesday at 2pm, wedged between the Langer semi-final matches.
In what has been another bumper season, below we reveal the most improved players across both the Langer and Walters competitions.
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SONS (and brothers, daughters) OF SPORTING GUNS
Marsden SHS
Apa Twidle (Langer): In his first ever season at fullback, Twidle has continued to go from strength to strength. He has found a great balance between challenging the defence with his running and then utilising his pass options to deceive the defence.
Alize Clarke (Walters): Clarke scored a hattrick against Mabel Park and this follows some really strong performances across the competition. A fast outside back, Clarke has gained more confidence as the season has gone.
Mabel Park
Tarawa Latu (Langer)
Edge backrower Latu has an outstanding work ethic and has gone from being on the bench at the start of the season to cementing a spot in the starting side. Has worked hard at training and it’s paying dividends on the field.
Benji Quinlan (Walters Cup)
The Mabel Year 10 student arrived at Mabel as a backup half but through his own hard work, determination and desire to improve, he has now converted to a ball playing lock with a strong carry. His defence in the middle has improved from week to week.
RELATED LINKS
BEST 30 PLAYERS FROM QUARTERFINAL DAY - HERE: https://bit.ly/3JQykcw
Coombabah SHS
Boston Riggs-Albert: Biggs-Albert impressed coach Sam Meskell by working “extremely hard on preparing himself physically’’. “Boston is very coachable so he has improved in a lot of areas, most notably his understanding of defensive play in the middle and he has also developed a pass into his game,’’ Meskell said.
PBC SHS
Barney Litidamu (Langer)
Centre Litidamu originally hails from the sporting rich Darling Downs pastures. A Fijian with great speed and power, he has done a great job at centre in the absence of injured Australian schoolboy Michael Roberts, while also being a capable edge second rower. Coach Tim Maccan had him in his Tweed Seagulls Meninga Cup side earlier in the year and knew he could count on him.
Isiah Scanlan (Langer)
Scanlan is a survivor from PBC SHS’s championship 2021 winning side when he came off the bench, a middle forward who has taken his team to a new level across the season.
When PBC SHS were gutted from its premiership winning side, Scanlan stood up to lead the new players in the team and show them what it is all about.
Hai Hiawe King (Walters Cup). A tough as teak young prop with plenty of go forward.
Ipswich SHS
Anton Naiyep (Langer Trophy)
Ipswich SHS rugby league coordinator Josh Bretherton said Naiyep had made the most improvements to his game. “And we have seen that week in and week out from the dynamic and destructive winger,’’ he said. Naiyep has proved how threatening he can be whether it is as a centre or winger, running the ball with fierce intent and is super strong into contact.
Cayleb Johnson (Langer):
Johnson was Ipswich’s 18th man in the quarterfinals but ended up playing the entire home-and-away season in the Langer Trophy. What a remarkable effort that is.
When Ipswich returned to its full side, he just missed out but like every other member of this unbeaten Ipswich squad, has had his role to play in such a historic season.
“The improvement he has made over the year has been outstanding” Josh Bretherton said.
Bretherton said Xavier Sofeni, Caleb Jackson and Tyler- Peckham Harris had also “taken big jumps from last year.”
Jackson has shone more than anyone could have foreseen, not only with his tryscoring but with the little aspects in his game that he has improved.
Harris has demonstrated how lethal and impactful he can be in the competition, despite being on the lighter side.
Walters Cup
Velonte Baruani:
Baruani was without a doubt Ipswich’s most improved for the year. The Year 10, who is the brother to Langer Trophy wingers Kulu of Ipswich and Munga of Keebra Park.
Velonte took strides forward in his game, strengthening his case of wearing that Langer Trophy No.2 Jersey of his brothers in years to come.
Tahj Pagett:
The versatile halfback was another one of Ipswich’s big improvers over the year. Coach Shane Harris was very impressed with Pagett and Baruani’s progression this year. Whether it was scoring tries of his own with fancy footwork or showing his vastly developed playmaking ability, Pagett was a clear pick.
Xzavier Timoteo:
Making the Queensland team was a huge jump for Timoteo, a fitting testament to the hard work he put in all season long to better himself as a rugby league player.
Honourable mention: Lorenzo Oliva
Redcliffe SHS
Blake Kehl (Langer): The hard working, dedicated Hehl has shown great improvement this year. “It has been great to see how Blake has taken on the challenge of being the key playmaker in our team,’’ said Redcliffe SHS’s head of rugby league Jake Laack. “Blake’s ability to sum up the situation and take on the line is something that has been important for us in 2022.”
Keebra Park SHS
Wailer Whaiapu (Langer)
Whaiapu, a year 11 student, broke into the Langer last season as a Year 10 student when an injury crisis forced veteran coach Glen Campbell to search the Walters Cup for a Langer bench player. Campbell decided the best performomg forward in the first half of the Walters Cup game would be taken out of the game and promoted onto the Langer bench an hour later. That player turned out to be Whaiapu.
Keebra Park SHS coach Peter Norman said during the off-season he identified Whaiapu was a terrific defender, but not as effective carrying the ball and as a result was asked to work on his carries.
He responded positively and is Norman’s pick as the team’s most improved player in 2022, alongside Dorian Lotaki.
Dorian Lotaki (Langer)
Keebra Park SHS coach Peter Norman said when Keebra SHS dropped off as a team in their last two matches of the home and away season against Redcliffe SHS and Mabel Park SHS, centre Lotaki never dropped his standards, playing tough for the team.
Wavell SHS
Kobi Floro (Walters Cup): The local junior grew in the Stafford region and has gone on to do his local high school, Wavell SHS, proud across the season.
Ethan Jones (Langer Cup): Jones is an effort on effort player who was able to give the Warriors impact off the bench while maintaining a high standard in defence.
LIVE STREAM SCHEDULE
Wednesday
11.45am: Langer reserves semi-final: Ipswich SHS v Marsden SHS
1pm: NRL Schoolboys Cup (Langer Trophy) semi-final: Ipswich SHS v Marsden SHS
2.30pm: Dolphins Cup Grand Final – St Brendan’s College v The Cathedral College
3.45pm: NRL Schoolboys Cup (Langer Trophy) semi-final: Palm Beach Currumbin SHS v Keebra Park SHS
Thursday:
1:30pm: Langer Reserves: Palm Beach Currumbin and Keebra Park
2.30pm: Walters Cup: Keebra Park v Mabel Park
3:30pm: Walters Cup: Palm Beach Currumbin v Marsden.
Grand Finals
August 24
12.30pm: Langer Reserve
1.45pm: Walters Cup
3pm: Langer Trophy
August 31
Phil Hall Cup grand final
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