Watch the replay of Palm Beach Currumbin’s Langer Trophy derby against Keebra Park

Keebra Park has taken the spoils from the first encounter against arch rivals Palm Beach Currumbin this season. RE-WATCH how they made it happen on the field.

With each hit up he took, Arama Hau showcased why there is such high praise on his abilities, as Keebra Park battled to an enthralling 18-12 Langer Trophy triumph over Palm Beach Currumbin.

The Titans contracted rookie and Australian schoolboys lock took several young men to take down with each carry, and his sheer power laid a platform for halfback Jaxen Yow to attack.

WATCH THE FULL MATCH REPLAY IN THE PLAYER ABOVE

A battle of the forward packs eventuated in the opening stanza, with Keebra hooker Isaiah Fagalilo’s burrowing effort from close range the only try of the first half.

The margin was doubled when centre Taniela Mapusua-Lotaki charged over, however the defending Phil Hall Cup champions were not about to die wondering.

Back to back tries from Isaiah Scanlan and Cooper Wolf levelled the scores for the boys in red, however a missed field goal attempt to five-eighth Josh Lynn gave Keebra a chance to get back in front.

Given the way he had pulled the strings all game, it was only fitting that Yow had the final say.

The crafty number seven saw no PBC markers on the back of a huge run by Jared Johnson, scooping up the ball from dummy-half to score his fifth try of the campaign.

REPLAY: Walters Cup, PBC v Keebra Park

REPLAY: Langer Reserves, PBC v Keebra Park

PREVIEW: Nona, Hau show leadership through actions

Not much of a discussion was needed at the start of the Langer Trophy campaign when Palm Beach Currumbin coach Tim Maccan was electing his captain.

Brief consultations with his senior players all came up with a unanimous verdict — Tanu Nona was their man.

The red army’s hooker has been the heart and soul of his side throughout the campaign, and will be a young man the team looks to for their cross-town Gold Coast clash against Keebra Park.

In addition to his on field leadership, Nona is also the PBC school captain, and has left Maccan impressed by the way in which he has juggled all his responsibilities to still emerge as a key figure in their title quest.

Maccan said he was unsurprised that his squad rallied around Nona as their leader, even among several contenders for the role in the top 17.

Arama Hau from Keebra Park (left) and Tanu Nona from Palm Beach Currumbin renew the rugby league rivalry ahead of their Langer Trophy clash at Pizzey Park. Picture: Glenn Hampson.

While Nona has started games in the number nine jumper before moving back to lock, his coach said he would likely keep his skipper at dummy-half for a longer stint having well and truly found his feet.

“He is pretty verbal with the boys and gives them some wise words, but it’s more his actions (he leads with) and the boys look up to him,” Maccan said.

“At the start of the season I asked all the boys who they thought would be the best leader for this team and everyone said Tanu.

“He was an obvious choice. His actions on the field and the way he carries himself off the field with his preparation and dedication to not only his football but school work and behaviour … he’s got all the leadership qualities.”

Keebra Park boast one of the most formidable packs in the competition, with the likes of Queensland schoolboys representatives Arama Hau, Immanuel Kalekale and Seth Nikotemo taking their rivals to task each week.

Arama Hau from Keebra Park (left) and Tanu Nona from Palm Beach Currumbin renew the rugby league rivalry ahead of their Langer Trophy clash at Pizzey Park. Picture Glenn Hampson.

Meanwhile, Maccan’s young men have shown a tendency to produce moments of flare that are near unrivalled in the Trophy, with players in the calibre of Michael Roberts and Keano Kini earning Australian selections.

That attacking spark was on full display last week in a 58-8 thumping of Mabel Park, however their two point loss to Ipswich the week prior highlighted their need to lean into the grind of a contest should the offence not quite click.

After that 18-16 defeat, Maccan challenged his players to address how they responded to pressure, and consider how to determine when was the time to attack and when we the time to build pressure throughout the contest.

He said victory on Wednesday at Pizzey Park — with the clash to be livestreamed by the Gold Coast Bulletin — would come down to which team kept their cool when the heat of the battle began to escalate.

“It was more just about sticking to the plan and showing me they could do it even when the pressure was on,” Maccan said of his messages after the Ipswich loss.

“When the pressure moments are on, can you still stick to the plan and carry out the task you need to do? They know their roles in the team, so when the pressure is on can you still do your role and not fall into the trap of thinking you have to do more than you need to?

“It will be going into the grind trying to go set for set and try to apply pressure onto them, and then it’s seeing who can hold on.

“It’s how it works in these types of games, it’s the team who can hold onto the pressure and make the right decisions in those pressure times.”

Originally published as Watch the replay of Palm Beach Currumbin’s Langer Trophy derby against Keebra Park