Who the coaches think will win the grand final, and what helped transform Marsden into a force
Langer Trophy coaches have revealed their picks for tomorrow’s NRL Schoolboys Cup grand final between Marsden SHS and Palm Beach.
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Marsden SHS will head into tomorrow’s NRL Schoolboys Cup grand final against reigning southern conference champions Palm Beach Currumbin SHS as outsiders.
That is the opinion of all but one rival Langer Trophy coaches who tip the Tim Maccan-coached PBC SHS to get the job done at Kougari Oval tomorrow afternoon.
The grand final, and along with the De Vere Cup decider (Caloundra SHS v Mabel Park SHS) and Gee Cup grand final (Redcliffe SHS v Clairvaux MacKillop College) will be livestreamed at www.couriermail.com.au, the Gold Coast Bulletin and News’ affiliates from 12.30pm.
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Wavell SHS’s Michael Roberts did not declare a winner, but the five other Langer coaches have tipped PBC SHS to win.
Regardless Marsden SHS will be a 50-50 chance after a resurgent season under coach Matthew Hartigan.
So what has been a key factor in the squad bouncing back from a modest 2020 campaign to capture a historic first ever Langer Trophy premiership?
According to captain Chris Faagutu and his backrow teammate Jieye Maua’i, a pre-season camp did the group the world of good.
They spent three days together at a Gold Coast training camp - a camp with a difference where all mobile phones were banned..
It was like a tropical island without a palm tree, and the players really struggled with life without social media.
“They put them in a bag at the start of the camp and put them in a car and no one could get to them,’’ Faagutu said.
“Most of us boys found it tough without the social media.’’
But Maua’i said the no phone edict had the desired effect.
“Our camp brought us all together.
“It made us believe we could do better than last year and brought us all together as a group.
“We had our phones taken off us and had to talk to each other.
“It was really hard. But that is what the camp was about, to bond more, but it was hard.’’
Most of the senior side had come through under coach Matt Hartigan as part of his 2019 Walters Cup side, and combinations are second nature to most.
PBC SHS have reached the grand final after a 20-10 win over an inform Keebra Park SHS, a victory which featured premiership winning defence for the first half of the match.
“We will be looking to build on that,’’ coach Maccan said.
“They have some really big boys. We are probably the smallest in the competition with regards to the middles, so we are going to have to work hard and work together to stop them.’’
He said Marsden’s second phase play was the biggest danger and it was imperative they wrapped the ball up.
“They have some fast, outside backs and have an ability to keep competing and showing up.
“It will be a really good game.’’
Young five-eight Michael Roberts, the brother of NRL star James, praised the way the 2021 side had overcome the loss of some of its 2020 stars.
“The young boys have come through and shown discipline,’’ Roberts said.
Maccan said Roberts, who had played wing during the home-and-away season, was likely to stay at No.6.
“We have gone to having Tom (Weaver) control the middle, and Michael (Roberts) on one side and Kini (Keano) on the other,’’ he said
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WHAT THE COACHES THINK
“I think it will be a very close game both teams have had very strong seasons. Tough to separate so you probably have to go with PBC because of their experience in finals the last few years’’.
- Joshua Bretherton, Ipswich SHS
“It’s far from their first rodeo, they play with discipline and they step up for the big games.
“Marsden have plenty of firepower and didn’t play anywhere near their potential last week against Ipswich so I’m expecting them to really step up.
“They need to build more pressure and play with more patience and I’m sure they will.
“This will be the game of the year and both teams can be super proud of their season, regardless of the outcome.’’
- Lee Addison, Mabel Park SHS
“I think PBC will win.
“I just feel they have the halves and experience to keep the team focused on getting the job done. No much phases them. They are tough and follow their processes very well.’’
- Matt Jahnke, St Mary’s College
“I think they are a smarter football side than Marsden, not that I want to bag Marsden. But that is what I take out of it.’’
- Glen Campbell, Keebra Park SHS
“PBC. They have a well-rounded team with a very good kicking game, a tough forward pack and some classy backs who are hard to contain.’’
- Sam Meskill, Coombabah SHS
“I think it will be a cracking game and the result will be decided by who’s dominate playmaker stands up on the day. I believe it will come down to the battle between Cassius Cowley (Marsden SHS) and Tom Weaver (PBC SHS).
Mick Roberts, Wavell SHS
THE TEAMS:
PBC SHS: 1 Keano Kini, 2 Hunter Ploegsma, 3 Reef Sommerville, 4 Deine Mariner, 5 Jett Forbes, 6 Michael Roberts, 7 Tom Weaver (c), 8 Kade Somerville, 9 Oskar Bryant, 10 Jack Cullen, 11 Brock Priestley, 12 Ryan Foran, 13 Jayden Wright, 14 Tanu Nona, 15 Bailey Martin, 16 Reico Ratana, 17 Isaiah Scanlan, 18 Travis May, 19 Sam Sowery, 20 Darcy Townsend.
MARSDEN SHS: 1 Leon Te Hau, 2. Tea-Rani Woodman-Tuhoro, 3. Teapo Stoltman, 4. Kienan Tempest, 5. Rylan Fleming, 6. Jardyn Stilinovich-Watene, 7. Cassius Cowley, 8. Lance Fualema, 9. Tyree Bowman, 10. Xavier Stowers, 11. Will Semu, 12. Jieye Mauai, 13. Chris Faatgutu; 14. Braden Teuila, 15. Hamuera Kingi, 16. Taelon Te Whiu Hopa, 17 Eli Tuli, 18. Mou Taumaletila, 19. Terry Lafaoi, 20. Cody Hamilton, Nat Tangimataiti, 22 Sione Fotuaika, 23 Dom Sandow.
GEE CUP GRAND FINAL
Clairvaux v Redcliffe SHS
Clairvaux MacKillop College: 1 Jesse White, 2 Connor Watson, 3 Luke Anderson, 4 Elijah Maher, 5 James Richardson, 6 Daniel O’Shaughnessy, 7 Nathan Byrne, 8 Keith Obrien-Kerslake, 9 Ryan Pratt, 10 Zane Ford, 11 Dylan Gibb, 12 Chris Wilson, 13 Rory Polich, 14 Blake Mckenzie, 15 Dean Balev, 16 Oliver Kucfir, 17 Will Burns, 18 Zak Ambrosini, 19 Jack Pratt, 20 Jack Boggs, 21 Tim Eleftheriadis. COACH Mitchell McClelland and Jason Moon
Redcliffe SHS: 1 Tyler Fishlock, 2 Dean Cara, 3 Jacob Howarth, 4 Tom Lunney, 5 Daniel Dawes, 6. Blake Kehl, 7 Lachlan White, 8 Matt Bennett (C), 9 Jack Cameron, 10 Sefo Faatuono, 11 Jacob Taulani, 12 Braith Major, 13 Kiahl Moore, 14 Julian Mirupasi, 15
Gerhard Matthes, 16 Elijah Brown, 17 Cooper Dunning, 18 Jak Goulding, 19 Jack Soko
DE VERE CUP GRAND FINAL
Caloundra SHS v Mabel Park SHS
Caloundra SHS: 1 Brooklenn Mundraby-Grogan, 2 Brandon Vanegas-Munoz, 3 Boedy White
4 Matthew Poole, 5 Jacob Thompson, 6 Jack Philp ©, 7 Tully McLellan, 8 Chase Patterson, 9 Nathan Smyth, 10 Lachlan Dunn, 11 Brad Higgins, 12 Zak Zibara, 13 Hayden Gallagher, 14 Memphis Shield, 15 Brodie Halpin, 16 Huey Liston, 17 Gabriel Philemon, 18 Benji Westwood-Pritchard. Coach Andrew Gercken
Mabel Park SHS: TBA
LIVESTREAM SCHEDULE
Wednesday
De Vere Cup (Year 10)
12.30pm: Caloundra SHS v Mabel Park SHS
Gee Cup (opens)
1.45pm: Redcliffe SHS v Clairvaux MacKillop College
NRL Schoolboys Cup southern conference
3pm: Palm Beach Currumbin SHS v Marsden SHS
September 7
Broncos Challenge grand finals (Carina Easts Leagues)
2pm: Broncos Old Boys (Year 7)
3pm: Renouf Cup (Year 8)
4pm: Hancock Cup (Year 9)
September 8: COVID Contingency Week, including Walters Cup and Langer Reserves grand finals
September 15: Phil Hall Cup (Redcliffe)
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