Meet the New Faces of the Langer Trophy revealed

Langer Trophy’s big reveal of exciting new faces includes a Storm signed prop who lost 50kg, a Roosters’ pick-up from Ipswich SHS and the Meninga Cup’s discovery player of the year from Logan.

Nelson Maka’afi as a Walters Cup player last season. He is now a Langer Trophy squad member.

It is new faces time in the Langer Trophy, with a host of fresh faced rookies set to flood the field during the elite schoolboy competition starting on Wednesday.

Leading the charges will be three elite front rowers largely unheard of before this year - Elijah Keung (Mabel Park SHS), Cooper Clarke (Caloundra SHS) and Kanaan Magele (Ipswich SHS).

Clarke has arrived from western Sydney to play with his cousin at Caloundra SHS, Magele has arrived from New Zealand for Ipswich SHS while Mabel Park SHS’s Keung has come from nowhere to make the Queensland schoolboys side ahead of his Langer Trophy debut. More on those boys, and other exciting new faces, in this story

Elijah Keung of Mabel Park SHS. Picture, John Gass

This season all eight rounds and finals from the Langer Trophy and the Year 10 Walters Cup will be LIVE STREAMED on KommunityTV in a deal with the NRL and Queensland Secondary Schools Rugby League. The Brisbane Broncos-sponsored competitions were named after Broncos’ greats Allan Langer and Kevin Walters respectively.

IMPRESSIVE NEW FACES

Cooper Clarke (Caloundra SHS)

The Melbourne Storm swooped to sign this young prop from south west Sydney on potential after he was in the process of losing 50kg.

Clarke moved interstate late last year wanting to test himself in the Langer Trophy season and play alongside his cousin at Caloundra SHS, Zac Garton.

“He is a good prospect,’’ said Caloundra SHS coach Toby Poole.

“He is a wonderful young man and has settled in very well.’’

Poole said a fitness regimen by the rookie had seen him gradually lose 50kg.

Clarke last week played his way into the Queensland schoolboys side after a bumper Meninga Cup season for the Falcons.

Poole said another impressive new squad member was Jett Ryan who had been impressed with the effort and communication as a lock or potential hooker.

Zac Garton - a big part of the reason why his cousin Cooper Clarke has joined Caloundra SHS. Picture: Liam Kidston

Elijah Keung (Mabel Park SHS)

Keung was one of the players of the recently completed Meninga Cup competition where he was named in News Corp’s Team of the Season, and last week played himself into the Queensland schoolboys side.

He will make his Langer Trophy debut after arriving at Mabel Park SHS from St James’ College.

“We are very proud of him for making the Queensland team. It is very well deserved,’’ said his Mabel Park SHS and Brisbane Tigers club coach Ben Weston.

“He is humble and respectful and his willingness to learn and improve his game have been impressive.’’

Kinkade Carson (Mabel Park SHS)

Since coming across from Wavell SHS, Carson has set high standards on and off the field in the Mabel squad.

A Meninga Cup representative player, Carson played for the Roosters Harold Matthews side last year before playing at the Jets and Tigers during the under-19 competition in Queensland this season.

Alize Clark (Mabel Park SHS)

A versatile back, Clark was a try scoring whiz in Marsden SHS’ Walters Cup team (2022) but has come to Mabel for Year 12 where he adds more depth to their promising backs department.

Signed by the Storm, the Souths Logan Connell Cup representative could feature at fullback, in the halves or even on the wing.

Cody Goulter (Marsden SHS)

Marsden SHS coach Krys Freeman said back rower Goulter was back after having a break from the game. “He didn’t play footy last year for the school but has come back this year with a refreshed approach around rugby league and is looking to make his mark on the season.’’

Keebra Park SHS’s Daniel Rakena as a Burleigh player.

Daniel Rakena (Keebra Park SHS)

A five-eight of considerable skill, Rakena had a big Connell Cup season with the Burleigh Bears Connell Cup under-17 side. “He played Langer reserve last season and has stepped up into our starting halfback role,’’ explained Keebra Park SHS coach Peter Norman.

He played in the South Coast representative last week.

Timahna Tandy. Picture courtesy of the Norths Devils.

Timahna Tandy (Wavell SHS)

When the Warriors run out in their colourful Indigenous jersey strip this season, just know crafty halfback Tandy and dad Codey helped design the masterpiece.

Young Tandy, the Norths Devils Connell Cup pivot, is in a wonderful patch of form following bumper Walters Cup (2023), Queensland Schoolboys (2023) and Norths Devils (2024) campaigns.

Kanaan Magele of the Jets and Ipswich SHS. Picture credit: Justine Parisi/ Ipswich Jets Media.

Kanaan Magele (Ipswich SHS)

Who remembers that tidy outside centre from Ipswich SHS last year, Keisaia Su’a? The St Paul’s College (Auckland) boy helped Ipswich to their second successive grand final and this year they have another Kiwi, big Magele, helping their cause.

The powerfully built prop will hit the ground running after an impressive Meninga Cup campaign with semi-finalists Ipswich and we suspect he is in for a huge season.

Also keep an eye out for fellow Kiwi boy Ezekiel Paulo.

Palm Beach Currumbin players Marley McLaren and Taj lateo with Broncos legend Kevin Walters after the school won the Walters Cup in 2023.

Nelson Maka’afi (PBC SHS)

A whopping edge forward talent who is gathering valuable experience the more he plays. He is a thunderous runner, but also a big hitting defender. If you were a half or a centre playing alongside him, you’d feel like you were surrounded by the Secret Service.

Marley McLaren (PBC SHS)

Expect to see this halves’ young gun feature in PBC SHS’s top side this season. A spritely play maker, McLaren has been a stand out junior in his age group. From just down the street from PBC SHS, this Currumbin junior and Broncos-signed half has sat back watching Toby Sexton (Canterbury), Tom Weaver (Titans) and now Zane Harrison (current Langer captain) excell, and will eager to put into practise his own game - and bits and pieces he has learned from those three champion schoolboy halves as well.

Jake Carsburg (Redcliffe SHS)

Carsburg did not play last season due to injury, but he made up for lost time by starring in the Redcliffe Dolphins premiership winning Connell Cup side earlier in the season. A centre, he had impressed Redcliffe SHS rugby league coordinator Jay Wilkinson with his build up to the school season as well. “He is not exactly new, but he feels like a new player,’’ Wilkinson said. Carsburg was a 2022 Queensland schoolboys selection in the 14-15 years age group.