2025 Langer Trophy live stream: Stretton State College v Marsden State High, Round 1

A baptism of fire is on the menu for Langer Trophy newcomer Stretton State College ahead of a bout against last year’s runners up, Marsden SHS. Watch the triple-header LIVE here on Wednesday.

Regardless of how the game plays out, Stretton State College’s opens rugby league team will have done their friends, family and school community proud when they make their Langer Trophy debut.

The Stretton Storm will receive a baptism of fire on Wednesday night when facing off against last year’s runners up Marsden State High.

But the chance to play the best Queensland school football has to offer is what they have been striving for since its rugby league academy was created in 2019.

The Langer Trophy and Queensland NRL Schoolgirl Cup clashes between Stretton and Marsden – plus Mountain Creek v Marsden in the Walters Cup – will be exclusively live streamed here on KommunityTV.

Since the academy’s inception, no team has progressed into the top-flight Langer Trophy competition but that all changed when this year’s giant killers got up over Caloundra State High in a frantic qualifying bout in Stafford.

“We’ve been working on this for years,” Stretton skipper Lewis Gardner said, after the 20-18 nailbiter against the Seahawks.

“I’ve been at this school since I was in Primary School (prep) and since the academy started (2019). It has always been a big goal for this school, to break into the top competition.

“It’s a really big relief that we’ve finally got here.”

Stretton skipper Lewis Gardner. Picture: John Gass

Gardner’s troops have become accustomed to must-win matches at Stafford Brothers. In 2023, as Year 10s, Stretton edged out Ipswich State High to earn their place in the Walters Cup competition.

Last year, they couldn’t repeat the dose to get into the top competition.

“We’ve been in these qualifying games for a few years now and we’ve fallen short year after year,” Gardner reflected.

“We made the top competition (Walters Cup) in Year 10, then last year we fell short.

“We’ve had a year off, a year to train and get back into it. It’s a huge credit to all these boys coming in week in and week out, training and working our arses off and finally getting the reward we always looked for.”

Gardner said the friendship and camaraderie between the coaches and players was a big reason behind the team achieving this first in school history.

Hostplus Cup stalwart Rhys Jacks, now retired, is in charge of Stretton as head coach. Picture: Kevin Farmer

“We are a really tight friend group,” he said.

“We do things outside of school, inside of school. We’ve been tight this whole high schooling journey.

“It’s special to win this as a group, with the same coaches who have been here the whole time.

“It’s a really big credit to those coaches (Rhys Jacks, Jayden Best, Brandon Khuu) that have stuck by us since day dot.

“It’s a really good feeling to finally give them the reward they deserve.”

This year Amare Wynyard (Redcliffe SHS), Xzavier Timoteo (Ipswich SHS), Dean Tauaa (Mabel Park SHS) and Lewis Gardner (Stretton SC) will captain their sides. Picture, John Gass

Marsden will welcome Stretton for a 4.30pm kick-off where, led by four Queensland Schoolboys selects, they will be looking to start the season strong.

Edge forward Taylan To’a, prop Mace Andrew, lock Tupou Francis and halve Hayden Watson will all wear maroon in Coffs Harbour this July when the rugby league national championships kick off.

Marsden State High skipper Tupou Francis and the mighty Makos won’t be taking it easy on Stretton come round 1. Picture: John Gass

ROUND 1

Tuesday, June 3

Wavell SHS v Ipswich SHS

Wednesday, June 4

Stretton State College v Marsden SHS

Mabel Park SHS v Palm Beach Currumbin SHS

Keebra Park SHS v Redcliffe SHS