Langer Trophy: Team of the Decade – so far – includes eight NRL players
Langer Trophy: Our Team of the Decade – so far – which includes eight NRL players and two current Logan students ahead of action resuming on Tuesday.
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Ahead of the round 4 resumption of Langer Trophy action on Tuesday and Thursday, we delve into the not too distant past and name our Langer Trophy Team of the Decade – so far.
It includes two current players, Marsden SHS halfback ace Coby Black and pile driving Mabel Park SHS forward Alex Leapai, while six Palm Beach Currumbin SHS alumni make our top 18.
Four bumper round four Langer and Walters Cup matches loom this week.
Tuesday:
3.30pm: Redcliffe SHS host PBC SHS; Walters Cup 2.30pm
Thursday:
4pm: Mabel Park SHS v Ipswich SHS; Walters Cup 2pm Mabel v Stretton
5pm: Marsden SHS v Wavell SHS; Walters Cup 4pm Marsden v Wavell
5.30pm: Keebra Park SHS v Caloundra; Walters Cup 4.30pm Keebra v Caloundra
All live streamed by www.couriermail.com.au, the Gold Coast Bulletin and News Corp affiliates via KommunityTV’s streaming platform on Thursday.
RE-WATCH DAY ONE OF THE ASSRL NATIONALS
RE-WATCH DAY TWO OF THE ASSRL NATIONALS HERE
Our top 20 players includes 2023 NRL players Keano Kini, Xavier Savage, Deine Mariner, Jahream Bula, Karl Oloapu, Xavier Willison, Kulikefu Finefeuiaki, Klese Haas, and two boys on the cusp of A grade – Blake Mozer (Broncos) and Tom Weaver (Titans).
THE TEAM
1. Keano Kini (PBC, Titans)
Titans fans have only had a glimpse of this pocket rocket fullback but rest assured he is a talent to be excited about. The PBC SHS No. 1 is an explosive ball runner, deft passer and strong defender for his size. He was two-time Justin Hodges Medal winner, awarded to the Langer Trophy player of the season.
2. Xavier Savage (PBC, Raiders)
The Cairns product finished his schooling at PBC SHS and is established as a starting member of the Canberra Raiders – when he is fully fit. Savage is a speed machine, the quickest at the Raiders.
3. Deine Mariner (PBC, Broncos)
The classy Mariner is an outside back young gun whom Brisbane fans will see more and more of next season. In 2021 we wrote of Mariner: “The best schoolboy centre in Queensland – don’t take our word for it – he was named player of the state schoolboy carnival in May.’’
4. Michael Roberts (PBC SHS, Dolphins)
Roberts was the matchwinner in the Langer Trophy. He could score long distance tries, but we loved his tough defence in the big matches. He could play anywhere from five-eight to fullback and made the 2022 Australian schoolboys side.
5. Jahream Bula (Keebra Park, Titans)
Bula has been the discovery player of the NRL but close observers of the Langer Trophy will not be dumbfounded by his ability. He was one of the competition’s leading players in 2020 when we wrote of him: “A long striding athlete, Bula is potentially one of the very good ones to have graced the Langer Cup. He seems to have untapped potential.’’
6. Karl Oloapu (Wavell SHS, Canterbury)
Oloapu is an exciting teenager from the Redcliffe peninsula who went to finishing school at the talent-laden Wavell SHS. He has all the skill and is learning on the run in the NRL. He shared the Langer player of the year award with Kini in 2022.
7. Coby Black (Marsden SHS, Broncos)
Black is a current Year 12 student at Marsden SHS who played in his second successive national championship series representing Queensland schoolboys. Broncos-signed, the Marsden skipper has all the skills and is quick between the ears.
8. Xavier Willison (PBC, Broncos)
Willison was one of the top handful of players in 2020 and it was not surprising to see him impress playing NRL before injury sidelined home. Having said that, it was great to see him back in the NRL side this month. In 2020 we summed up his impact on the Langer competition when we wrote: “It is not often you say of a prop forward that he is one of the most exciting players in the competition, but Willison is a rare jewel.
9. Blake Mozer (Keebra Park, Broncos)
We have been No. 1 in the Blake Mozer fan club so won’t go on and on about him again here. But Broncos’ fans will see, soon enough, what all the fuss is about. He has his patience cap on at the moment as he awaits an NRL call-up.
10. Xavier Va’a (St Mary’s, Roosters)
The Dalby product via the famous St Mary’s College has already captained the Queensland under 19 State of Origin side. He has been disrupted by injury this year, but it is part of the learning curve for this prop learning off Roosters’ top dogs Lindsay Collins and Jared Waerea-Hargreaves.
11. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki (Ipswich SHS, Cowboys)
Finefeuiaki earned a Cowboys contract after impressing Jason Taumalolo during a one-on-one training session in the summer of 2021. Now the youngster is fast gathering experience either as a starting or interchange player in the NRL.
Finefeuiaki was 18th man in our 2021 Langer Team of the Year. Everyone is asking “where has he come from’’. Well he came out of the accomplished Ipswich SHS finishing school – say no more.
12. Klese Haas (Keebra Park SHS, Titans)
Haas is a completely different style of player to his famous brother Payne, but is extremely effective in his own way. An edge forward, he has the finesse of a three-quarter.
13. Chris Faagutu (Marsden SHS, Tigers)
Faagutu is in the Wests Tigers junior system and is exactly the type of kid who will work his way through the system and play in the NRL. Remarkably Faagutu made our Langer Team of the Year three years running – firstly as a prop in 2020, and then as a No. 13 in 2021 and 2022.
14. Gabriel Satrick (Ipswich SHS, Storm)
Satrick was the discovery player of the 2022 Langer Trophy season after bursting onto the scene as an unknown player after arriving at Ipswich from Far North Queensland. The dummy half is lightning on his feet.
15. Tom Weaver (PBC, Titans)
Weaver is one of our favourite players of the decade so far, a wonderfully gifted halve with vision, precise kicking game and great passing game. Titans fans will be impressed when they see him. We best summed him up in 2020 when we wrote: “Weaver is a crafty, old-fashioned half with a bag of tricks as big as many magicians.’’
16. Alex Leapai (Mabel Park SHS, Titans)
Leapai is one of only two current players – the other is Coby Black – who we put into our top squad. A third season Langer Trophy player, he is a fit- 193cm, 112kg athletic prop with ball handling skills. He is a Queensland schoolboys representative this season.
17. Josiah Pahulu (Ipswich SHS, Titans)
Pahulu was an automatic selection in our top squad after leading Ipswich SHS through a sensational, unbeaten 2022 season. A little like Cowboys ace Ruben Cotter, he has leg strength, an explosive element to his game. He actually made our Team of the Year squad three years running after first breaking in as an interchange player in 2020.
18. Arama Hau (Keebra Park SHS, Titans)
Hau had a boom 2022 season in the Langer where he was arguably the best forward alongside of Josiah Pahulu (see above). If he continues to progress – as we believe he will – then the Titans have a good one on their hands.
19.Leon Te Hau (Marsden SHS)
A fullback or centre in the South Sydney system, Te Hau was a lethal Langer Trophy player. He previously represented the Queensland in the Under 18s and has featured in a handful of games for the Rabbitohs NSW Cup.
20. Tre Fotu (Ipswich SHS)
Fotu was a blockbusting centre who had a huge 2022 in the unbeaten Ipswich SHS season. He offered sledge hammer defence in the centres, and ran with the gusto of a prop forward.
Emergencies:
Seth Nikotemo (Keebra Park SHS, Titans)
Nikotemo is a ripping back row product who played Queensland schoolboys in 2022. He has a great work ethic and like Hau, is chipping his way through the ranks at the Gold Coast club and is exactly the type of kid we will see on our TV screens playing NRL. Both he and Ryan Foran, see below), were desperately unlucky to miss our top 20, but they both receive recognition here.
Tony Francis (Marsden SHS)
Francis was one of the impact players of the competition after moving from Sydney to Marsden SHS to challenge himself in the best schoolboy competition in the land. He was a firebrand centre who took no prisioners. Francis is on a development contract with the Titans.
Ryan Foran (PBC SHS)
Foran was an elite edge forward who was as good as any in the competition. The representative back rower was a brute of a ball running, but also a telling defender. It is little wonder PBC SHS won grand finals with him in their side.
John Lynn (PBC SHS)
Lynn was a masterful halfback who was the glue in PBC SHS’s high class teams of the early 2020s. He was a little like Cooper Cronk, a real professional who got the job done. He was first choice half in Queensland schoolboys ASSRL championship winning side last year.
Jack Cullen (PBC SHS, Titans)
Cullen was the middle man prime mover during Palm Beach Currumbin SHS’s reign at the top earlier this decade. A 2021 Australian schoolboy, he and Ryan Foran could easily have found their way into our top 18.
Oliva Iaulualo (Ipswich SHS)
The current Ipswich SHS Langer and school captain, Oliva Iaulualo has been a massive player on the edge for Ippy, with his imposing frame challenging opponents and his passing skills in contact coming to the fore. Contracted by the Canterbury Bulldogs, Iaulualo was a premiership winner with the Bulldogs earlier this season.
Tyler Peckham-Harris (Ipswich SHS)
Peckham-Harris has been a sensation for Ipswich SHS. He may be a little man, but so was Ipswich SHS’s most famous old boy – Allan Langer – and look how that turned out. Peckham-Harris uses his build to his advantage by ducking and weaving, dancing and stepping at the line. He has sustained his form over three seasons.
Oskar Bryant (PBC SHS)
Bryant one of the outstanding No. 9s of the competition who was able to ramp up PBC’s attack or slow the game down. He had an uncanny combination with his halfback and childhood friend Tom Weaver.
Prinston Esera (Wavell SHS, Canberra)
While the Wavell SHS alumni has not kicked on just yet, he was one of the best Langer Trophy players this season. A centre, he was a beautiful mover who played three seasons in the top team.
Xavier Stowers (Marsden SHS)
He only had the one season in the Langer Trophy, but he was one of the most influential forwards in the competition. A towering figure, he scored important tries and could also scramble in defence and cover the inside despite his size.
Wildcard watch
Wingers Haizyn Mellars (Marsden SHS, Souths) Tea-Rani Woodman-Tuhoro (Marsden SHS, Storm) and Tyreece Tait (Wavell SHS, Broncos)
The boys did not make our top side for obvious reasons – they were blocked by current NRL stars Savage (Canberra) and Bula (Tigers) – but were three players for supporters to mark down in their little black books.
Mellars has been signed by South Sydney and Tait by the Broncos and that pair, in particular, were potential NRL players. But a wildcard is Woodman-Tuhoro simply because he is so quick,
Caleb Jackson (Ipswich SHS, Dolphins).
Jackson started 2023 behind last year’s Australian schoolboy Michael Roberts in the pecking order at Redcliffe, but it was Jackson who first broke into the Redcliffe Hostplus Q-Cup side. He is an impressive late bloomer.
Ben Te Kura (Wavell SHS, Broncos)
The towering 202cm tall Te Kura is a thrilling prospect who has been signed by the Brisbane Broncos. An edge backrower, he reminds us of a poor man’s Xavier Willison. Te Kura is one for the little black books, that is for sure.
LIVE STREAM
Round 4
Tuesday:
3.30pm: Redcliffe SHS v PBC SHS; 2.30pm: Walters Cup Redcliffe v PBC
Thursday
4pm: Mabel Park SHS v Ipswich SHS; 2pm: Walters Cup Mabel v Stretton State College
5pm: Marsden SHS v Wavell SHS; 4pm: Walters Cup Marsden v Wavell
5.30pm: Keebra Park SHS v Caloundra; 4.30pm: Walters Cup Keebra v Caloundra
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