Langer Trophy’s big boppers of season 2024
Here’s 15 big boppers you simply won’t miss when round 4 of the Langer Trophy swings around on Wednesday - all live streamed by News Corp alongside Walters Cup action.
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He is a throwback to the old days, a rip and tear big man who would have been a hit in any era of rugby league.
He is Henry Sologinkin, one of many big boppers of the outstanding Langer Trophy competition who we feature ahead of a bumper round 4 of schoolboy action.
ROUND 4 LANGER LIVE STREAMING
WEDNESDAY
2.15pm: Mabel Park v Wavell
4pm: Redcliffe v Ipswich
5.30pm: PBC v Caloundra
5pm: Keebra Park v Marsden
Henry Sologinkin is a run straight and hard type of prop who has evolved his game under the tuition of expert coaching at the Redcliffe SHS, including from head coach Scott Murray, and also for the Redcliffe Dolphins where he has played under Chris Little (Connell Cup, 2023) and Scott Tronc (Meninga Cup, 2024).
“I have always been big and not with a lot of footwork, but I am starting to get that now,’’ Sologinkin said.
“When you play with good players, they bring you up to a higher standard.
“Our captain Amare Wynyard, the hookers and halves and good locks, they bring you up.’’
ROUND 3 LANGER TROPHY REPLAYS
KEEBRA v REDCLIFFE LIVE STREAM
Sologinkin was an Albany Creek Crushers junior who moved to the Peninsula to play rugby league as an under 13 player.
He said as a point of difference, he had always wanted to be as strong, or stronger than anyone else.
Sologinkin is just one of the Langer Trophy’s big boppers. Who were some of the others?
LANGER TROPHY BIG BOPPERS
Elijah Keung (Mabel Park SHS)
Wow this bloke is strong.
A starter in News Corps Mal Meninga Cup Team of the Season, Keung has landed at Mabel from St James College and is ready to rip into his first and final season of Langer Trophy.
A Year 12 student named in the Queensland schoolboys side, Keung is a monster in the gym, regularly putting up 130kg for six reps.
Cooper Clarke (Caloundra SHS)
The Caloundra SHS were gifted this Melbourne Storm signed courtesy of his cousin - Caloundra SHS captain Zac Garton.
Now both were not only family and school teammates, but also will be Queensland schoolboy teammates after their recent selection
When Clarke was looking to move to Queensland to play in the Langer Trophy, it was only natural he linked with his cousin, Zac Garton.
Garton was no midget either, but more of an edge powerhouse.
REDCLIFFE SHS’S HAMPO’S SCHOLARSHIP WINNER
Nixon Pasese (Wavell SHS)
Big prop Pasese has come across from Nudgee to test himself in the Langer Trophy competition, giving Wavell extra size in their already massive front row.
With tree trunks for biceps, heavy-lifter Pasese is poised to return from injury midway through the season.
Kobi Floro (Wavell SHS)
He’d be the biggest player in the competition, a towering front rower who the Melbourne Storm swooped to sign when he was aged 15 playing for Brisbane Tigers in the Connell Cup club competition.
The big fella learned his trade in the Wavell SHS, but was even more authoritative this season.
Floro is street wise after his debut campaign in the Langer last year and Wavell were an imposing side due to people like Floro maturing.
Benji Quinlan (Marsden SHS)
Built low to the ground, but an absolute powder keg, Quinlan has made an impact for Marsden SHS off the bench.
Also throw Anthony Soloman and Benson Tau into the mix - Soloman is an interchange forward and Tau as a robust winger.
Emmanual Asamona (Marsden SHS)
Asamona has plenty of grunt in his tough carries and has defensive hitting power as well. He is a run first, ask questions later prop who gives his all for his school.
Xzavier Timoteo (Ipswich SHS)
Barnstorming prop Timoteo knows the North Ipswich Reserve turf like no other. He has played for the Jets Connell Cup side for the last two seasons, and for the school’s Walters Cup and Langer Reserves teams.
Now as a Year 12, the Roosters signed battering ram will be chomping at the bit to replicate David Leota’s back fence carries from last year.
Kanaan Magele (Ipswich SHS)
A wrecking ball, big man Magele is Ipswich’s forward prime mover who last week made a huge impact coming off the bench.
A New Zealand boy, Magele is so mobile and has elite foot speed, making him one of the competition’s best post contact players.
Zac Kumbamong and Isopo Taunu’u (Keebra Park SHS)
The bruise brothers were giving opposition sides plenty of grief this season. Kumbamong, a recent Queensland schoolboys selection and News Corp’s recent Meninga Cup Team of the Season squad member, helped Tweed Seagulls win the Meninga Cup premiership.
His fellow prop Taunu’u is just as effective and together they give Keebra Park imposing punch.
The towering Cruz Tauaifaiga complemented the two props when it came to big boppers at Keebra Park.
Cody Starr (Redcliffe SHS)
Tall timber for a prop, Starr was outstanding for Redcliffe in the Langer qualifying games before being injured. Once he is back on the field, you will see a big difference to the Redcliffe go forward. “He works really hard on getting his body right and he gets that carry and a quick play the ball,’’ said Redcliffe SHS head of its rugby league program, Jay Wilkinson.
Jarius Halahala (Redcliffe)
Halahala is one of the outstanding middle forwards of the competition. He has strength, power and agility, but his footwork and leg drive in contact stand him out from the rest of the pack. It is no surprise he was an early signing for the Dolphins NRL junior academy.
Redcliffe SHS also have a big man forward rotation courtesy of the likes of Taufa Taulani and Tylah Akau also give the Eagles middle forward rotation plenty of clout.
Isaac Harrison and Jack Schmidt (Palm Beach Currumbin SHS)
PBC SHS do not have a giant pack, rather a traditional working man’s middle rotation spearheaded by South Coast representative Jack Schmidt, a muscular type who is as fit as a fiddle.
But helping Schmidt in the muscle department is No. 13 Isaac Harrison who has built up considerably for this school season. He is built low to the ground, but is a real dynamo.
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