The 30 speed demons of Langer, Walters Cup schoolboy league
Who were the quickest schoolboys across the Langer, Walters Cup and junior school league competitions? Here we deliver you the name of 30 speed demons.
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The Langer Trophy is the elite schoolboy breeding ground for NRL rugby league talent, where the big and the small shine brightly through the season.
Live streamed by www.couriermail.com.au, the Gold Coast Bulletin and News Corp affiliates again tomorrow, the Langer and Walters competitions were also a place where there is a need for speed.
Current NRL speed demons like Canberra’s Xavier Savage (PBC SHS), Broncos’ Tesi Niu (Marsden SHS), Cronulla’s Ronaldo Mulitalo (Ipswich SHS) and Titans’ Phillip Sami (Ipswich SHS) are all past Langer players, as is Deine Mariner (PBC SHS) who made his Broncos’ debut on Saturday.
WATCH THE STRETTON v MARYMOUNT LIVE HERE FROM 3PM TODAY
So who are the speed merchants of Langer Trophy and affiliated Broncos’ sponsored schoolboy competitions this season?
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WAVELL SURVIVE REDCLIFFE AMBUSH
Here we reveal 30 who would not be out of place in the 100m dash at the Queensland track and field championships.
JOVEN GYEMORE (Ipswich SHS)
Ipswich SHS may have the quickest in Joven Gyemore.
Originally from sporting rich Murgon SHS, the young outside back has scored a heap of tries this season. He runs the 100m in low 11 seconds and can really motor.
EMMANUEL KASUANGA (Ipswich SHS)
An Ipswich SHS Langer Trophy reserve fullback, Kasuanga is very quick over 40m and has an ability to maintain top speed over that distance.
TYREECE TAIT (Wavell SHS)
If an opposition winger gets his timing wrong with up and in defence, then the sideline hugging Tait will pull his opponent’s pants down by burning him on the outside.
Brisbane Broncos-signed and a member of the national championship winning Queensland schoolboys, Tait is explosive. The further he runs, the quicker he seems to get as his long stride wheels him across the turf.
KARL OLOUPA (Wavell SHS), Taj Kelly, Daruis Andrews and co.
Wavell skipper Oloupa is quick between the ears with his ball playing, but he is also lightning fast over a short distance.
When he presses the go button from 15m out, sound the air raid sirens because he is coming at the defence line fast and hard.
The best player of the recent national schoolboys carnival, the Broncos’ signed Olopua and Tyreece Tait (see above) are not the only quicksilver runners at Wavell.
Try beating Taj Kelly (year 7), Darius Andrews (year 8), Chris Cook (year 9), Carlos Ka (year 10) and Jayden Ambichi (year 12) in a foot race.
KEANO KINI (PBC SHS)
With an off-season of Titans training behind him, specialised sprint training and the professionalism of the PBC SHS rugby league program, the Queensland schoolboys player of the recent national championship has speed to burn.
Kini has increased his strength and is more explosive both off the mark, but can also maintain speed across a distance. Throw in his step and swerve and Kini is Explosive with a capital E.
BLAKE FORDER and co (PBC SHS)
There is no shortage of speed merchants at PBC SHS with Langer Trophy’s Blake Forder, Langer reserve flyer Creedence Donovan and long striding Walters Cup centre Sam Stephenson top of their class when it comes to foot races.
But also note recent Australian schoolboy selection Michael Roberts and Langer Trophy winger Jett Forbes - a Jett by name and Jet by nature.
When centre Roberts gets rolling, few can match him for pace.
KARAURIA STOKES (Keebra Park SHS)
The recently signed Melbourne Storm fullback has plenty of toe, progressing from the Meninga Cup under 18 competition with Burleigh Bears earlier this season to play in the colts (under 21) competition.
ZYROAM HERLIHY (Keebra Park SHS)
The Keebra Park SHS Langer reserves fullback-winger obviously impressed the Gold Coast Titans with his pace - they signed him to a contract.
JOSHUA DONOVAN (Keebra Park)
Donovan is a Walters Cup fullback, the type of player he gets quicker the more he is challenged. Originally from Grafton, he is the cousin of Wests Tigers fullback Dane Laurie. He is coming off a wonderful foundation having played in the Cyril Connell Challenge Lote Tuqiri-coached Brisbane Easts under 16 team.
HUNTER INNESS and RYAN MACCAN (Coombabah SHS)
An opens five-eight, Hunter Inness and winger Ryan Maccan can match it with the best,
Maccan is a state track and field championship standard dasher while Hunter is a more raw talent - but he can sure make tracks when he wants.
HAIZYN MELLARS (Marsden SHS)
The athletic Mellars is quick, my goodness he is. Just ask Redcliffe SHS defenders who watched the soles of his shoes disappear into the distance when he ran 95m to score.
The Queensland schoolboys winger, and the son of former NRL player Vince, Mellars is an explosive talent both across the ground and in the air.
DEVONTE VAIVELA (Marsden SHS)
The Broncos-signed Devonte Vaivela is explosive off the mark, dynamic over the first 30-40m. Cutting back on the inside he is also a powerhouse, mixing strength with his stepping and acceleration.
SAXON INNESS (Marsden SHS)
A rising junior representative centre, Inness is deceptively quick.
He is a junior player at Marsden SHS whose time in the Langer Trophy is coming later in life, but for the moment junior rivals have their hands full containing him.
BAILEY TREW (Marsden SHS)
The long striding Bailey Trew has a natural advantage over his rivals - his long legs - and he uses that advantage to perfection. He actually reminds grey haired blokes like this scribe of Super Coach Wayne Bennett when he played in the 1970s.
TANE COOK (Mabel Park SHS)
Tane Cook is a Walters Cup player and is so versatile, he can play fullback and hooker - all in the same game. But no matter where he plays, he is fast. His blinding pace is tempting to use in the middle as a dummy half to run opponents rolling onto the back foot.
TYRESE TAVAO (Mabel Park SHS)
Tyrese Tavao is a Mabel Park SHS centre from the Langer reserves who has opponents on the hop when he gets early, clean ball.
LUKE BOSSOMS (Mabel Park SHS)
Bossoms is a real jack rabbit on the wing possessing good pace which he can sustain over a line distance.
JAYDEN ALEFAIO (Redcliffe SHS)
Alefaio can play anywhere in the backline and can change the tempo of the game with ball in hand. He is quick off the mark.
DANIEL HARLOW (Redcliffe SHS)
A Year 8 student who plays fullback in the junior program, Harlow is so quick he is a national track and field champion.
GUY VISACHI (Redcliffe SHS)
Visachi is a very, very good player who has strength, vision and enough pace to challenge once he breaks the defensive line.
The current Langer Trophy ladder is:
1. Ipswich SHS 12
2. Keebra Park SHS 10
3. PBC SHS 8
4. Marsden SHS 8
5. Wavell SHS 4
6. Mabel Park SHS 4
7. Redcliffe SHS 0
8. Coombabah SHS 0.
LIVE STREAM SCHEDULE
TODAY: Marymount v Stretton encounter will be live streamed from 3pm.
Wednesday’s Langer Trophy fixtures:
3.30pm: Redcliffe v Coombabah
5pm: Marsden v Ipswich
5.30pm: Keebra v Mabel Park
5.30pm: Wavell v PBC SHS
REPLAYS: Huge first half paves way for Wavell win
With a passionate crowd cheering them on, Wavell had this game in the bag by halftime break after winger Kurt Jones starred with two tries and a try assist. Check out the REPLAYS.
National Schoolgirls Cup: Mabel v Marsden, Ippy v St James
National Schoolgirls Cup: Debut delights for Marsden SHS ahead of a the big four, Ipswich, Keebra, Mabel and Marsden, clashing in the semi-finals. Read how round 5 unfolded here.