Langer Cup 2021: Game times, team lists, players to watch
It's been the breeding ground of NRL stars on the Gold Coast and the 2021 Langer Cup is set to go up a notch again. EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW >>>
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- In case you missed it: 10 of the best Langer Cup stories from 2020
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IT's been the breeding ground of NRL stars on the Gold Coast and the 2021 Langer Cup is set to go up a notch again.
ALL THE TEAMS: See below
FORWARD'S HARD ROAD TO THE TOP
SETH Nikotemo is the 18-year-old back row enforcer for one of Queensland’s top rugby league nurseries who almost let fear drive him out of the game aged 13.
Nikotemo will today follow in the footsteps of his idol, David Fifita, inspiring fear of his own as Keebra Park embarks on a journey he hopes will mirror Fifita’s all the way to the national championship.
Before every game Nikotemo searches for inspiration in his hero’s highlights.
LANGER TROPHY’S SUPER 8 SET TO SHINE
In Fifita the teenager can find a role model on the footy field, his air of invincibility fuelled by his colossal physical strength.
At 13 Nikotemo couldn’t imagine what that felt like.
“I was getting ready to quit footy,” the Keebra Park No.11 said as his side prepared to take on Marsden State High in the Langer Trophy season opener.
“I wasn’t the biggest kid on the field, I was out of shape, unfit.
“I wasn’t really into it. I was a bit scared of getting hurt by the bigger boys.”
His concerned dad Neemia saw it as an opportunity to teach his son a life lesson.
Instead of letting his talented son walk away from rugby league, Nikotemo Snr would help him solve the root cause of his fear.
The purchase of a home gym set and careful instruction in how to use it changed Nikotemo’s outlook on life and football.
PBC V KEEBRA: Best NRL sides ever from top Coast schools
“My dad played a big role in that, keeping me in footy and getting me to come back,” Nikotemo said.
“He and my mum bought some gym equipment at home and they got me into Crossfit when I was about 14.
“That changed my mindset completely where I wanted to get in shape, get bigger, get fitter.
“That’s changed my whole life and I’m loving footy now.”
MORE LANGER CUP NEWS
PLAYERS TO WATCH IN SEASON 2021
QLD UNDER 15, UNDER 18 STATE TEAMS NAMED
Having conquered his physical fears, Nikotemo credits his 2020 Keebra Park teammates Trey Peni and Klese Haas for helping him to develop the mental toughness required in a rising footballer.
“They were big inspirations for me,” he said.
In case you missed it: 10 of the best Langer Cup stories from 2020
“I had always grown up thinking I was doing it all for myself and playing the best I could play.
2021 Titans Schools League: Watch every game
“They made me realise it was actually about the team and what you can do for your mates in the team.”
There is no room for fear in the engine room of Queensland’s most famous rugby league school.
Conquering that fear has made Nikotemo who he is.
Now, his goal is following Fifita onto the NRL stage.
PBC'S UNPREDICTABLE GUN
PALM Beach Currumbin prop Jack Cullen only needs a glance from hooker Oskar Bryant to know when something big is coming.
It’s as close to a superpower you can find in the Langer Trophy competition because the free-wheeling redhead is one of Queensland’s most unpredictable players.
It’s a skill Cullen shares with halfback Tom Weaver, a competitive advantage they have honed together as rugby league’s answer to triplets over almost a decade.
Keebra Park and PBC's NRL Dream Teams
It began in the Cudgen Hornets Under-9s and grew through their time at St Joseph’s College, Banora Point and the Junior Titans System before joining Palm Beach Currumbin together in 2020.
“We’ve been close mates for ages,” Cullen explained.
“Being a middle and Oskar being a middle you can kind of sense when he’s going to give you the ball.
PBC V KEEBRA: Best NRL sides ever from top Coast schools
“I’m always ready because he gives you that little blind eye, a little eye to the posts or at a hole and I can tell.”
For the first time in three seasons Palm Beach Currumbin will enter a Langer Trophy campaign without alpha dog prop Xavier Willison, now with the Brisbane Broncos.
Filling those enormous shoes is an ambition for the Junior Titans System prop.
In case you missed it: 10 of the best Langer Cup stories from 2020
“Last year he was hands down our best player, he used to top our stats in tackles and in runs,” Cullen said.
“I’d like to think I’m one of the leaders in the pack so (filling that void) is definitely one of my goals.”
Cullen and prop Kaden Somerville will lead a mobile pack against giants Ipswich.
FULLBACK ON THE FLY
COOMBABAH fullback Shannon Donaldson knows which side of his bread is buttered.
A running fullback is only as good as the forwards he runs off and for the 17-year-old, that means getting on their good side.
A bite or two of his lunch at school each day is a small price to pay, Donaldson says, to be first man up when an offload at the line is up for grabs.
“Maybe I feed my forwards a bit too much with my lunch … actually, don't' tell my parents that,” he joked.
Donaldson joined Coombabah this year after stints at Palm Beach Currumbin SHS and Marsden SHS.
It was at the Gold Coast and Brisbane rugby league nurseries respectively where he honed his craft but it’s in his new colours, under coach Sam Meskell, that the fullback has shone.
“I’ve known Sam for quite a while, he used to teach me back in primary school at Mudgeeraba Creek State School,” Donaldson said.
“I felt quite comfortable coming in and being coached by him. He used to teach me maths and now he teaches me how to play footy.”
This year marks four years since Coombabah last competed in the Langer Trophy. They face fellow newcomers Mabel Park in round one on Wednesday.
“It will be an interesting match seeing as we’ve never really played them before,” Donaldson said.
“I think we’re underdogs coming into (the competition). I think people believe we won’t be a tough squad but we have some surprises.”
ROUND 1
Walters Cup (Brandon Park)
2pm: Forest Lake SHS v Wavell SHS
Langer Cup (St Mary’s Toowoomba)
3.40pm: St Mary’s v Wavell SHS
Ipswich SHS v PBC SHS (Ipswich)
Langer reserves:
3.30pm: Ipswich v PBC
Walters Cup
4.30pm: Ipswich v PBC
Langer Cup
5.30pm: Ipswich v PBC
Marsden SHS v Keebra Park SHS (Marsden)
Langer reserves:
3.30pm: Marsden v Keebra
Walters Cup
4.30pm: Marsden v Keebra
Langer Cup
5.30pm: Marsden v Keebra
Coombabah v Mabel Park/Redcliffe (Runaway Bay)
Walters Cup
3.30pm: Coombabah v Redcliffe SHS
Langer Cup:
4.30pm: Coombabah v Mabel Park
SEASON DRAW (home team first)
Round 1, Wednesday
3.40pm: Langer St Marys v Wavell
5.30pm: Langer Ipswich v PBC
5.30pm: Langer Marsden v Keebra Park Marsden SH
4.30pm: Langer Coombabah v Mabel Park Runaway Bay RLFC
Round 2, June 2:
Wavell v Coombabah
Mabel Park v Keebra Park
St Marys v PBC
Ipswich v Marsden
Round 3, June 16
Keebra Pk v Ipswich
PBC v Coombabah
Marsden v Wavell
St Marys v Mabel Park
Round 4, July 13
Keebra Pk v St Marys
Mabel Park v Wavell
Ipswich v Coombabah
Marsden v PBC
Round 5, July 21
Coombabah v St Marys
Marsden v Mabel Park
Wavell v Ipswich
PBC v Keebra Pk
Round 6, July 28
Mabel Park v PBC
Ipswich v St Marys
Wavell v Keebra Pk
Coombabah v Marsden
Round 7, August 4
Keebra Park v Coombabah
Marsden v St Marys
PBC v Wavell
Mabel Park v Ipswich
August 18
Quarterfinals
August 25
Semi-Finals
September 1
Grand Final
September 8
Queensland Final (Phil Hall Cup)
September 15
National Schoolboy Cup Final
Originally published as Langer Cup 2021: Game times, team lists, players to watch
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