Langer Trophy quarter final live stream: The big and small of the elite schoolboy competition revealed
They are the best in the business for their size and are sure to be at the forefront of their teams’ Langer Trophy finals campaigns, which get underway with a massive day of action on Wednesday.
Live Stream
Don't miss out on the headlines from Live Stream. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The big and the small of the Langer Trophy will be key players in Wednesday’s four sudden death finals at Kougari Oval.
All games will be live streamed by KommunityTV on www.couriermail.com.au, the Gold Coast Bulletin and News Corp affiliates as part of a huge week of Queensland Schoolboys finals action.
MEGA PIC GALLERY OF THE LANGER TROPHY
So who are the big and the small players who will be to the forefront across the eight teams in the finals, including the returning St Mary’s College, when the games unfold on Wednesday? Revealed here.
See the draw below for the Langer Trophy, Dolphins Cup/Challenge, Payne Cup/Cowboys Challenge and Titans Schoolgirls matches.
Wavell SHS
Ben Uini and Zac Herdegen
Prop Uini and his halfback Herdegen have been two of the competition’s best in their respective positions.
Herdegen, signed by the Knights, has been outstanding this season and will be a Team of the Year contender.
Uini is a Roosters contracted middle forwatd who said playing and training in the Roosters junior system had improved his game. “They have taught me a lot of things, including being a better person and doing the one per cent things right,’’ said Uini, a Pine Central Holy Spirit Hornets junior.
Caloundra SHS
Zac Garton and Jack Philp
The thickly set Garton is the big man and Philp the little man in Caloundra’s historic first ever season in the Langer.
Caloundra crashed through for a breakthrough win in round 7 against Redcliffe, and leading the way all season for Caloundra has been Garton, the Dolphins signed, Queensland schoolboy back rower.
Garton is no giant - he is in the kenny Bromwich mould - ironically a player he is likely to be learning off at the Dolphins this off-season. But Garton is powerful and takes some containing on the edge.
Little man Philp, a versatile back, has also been a good for Caloundra SHS and will be jumping out of his skin on Wednesday. He can play fullback, wing or in the halves. Where will he bob up on Wednesday?
WATCH ROUND 7 REPLAYS
CALOUNDRA SHS BREAKS DUCK V REDCLIFFE SHS
MABEL PARK SHS V KEEBRA PARK SHS
Marsden SHS
Sione Suilua and Saxon Innes
Sione has been the big man Marsden SHS needed, arriving late last year from Auckland. Marsden SHS entered the season with plenty of talent - that was not the issue - but needed direction from a front row grunt man and Suilua has supplied this.
At the other end of the field, the slightly built Innes has been a sensation from fullback or wing with his blinding pace.
There is not match of him, but is there anyone quicker over 400m than Innes in this competition? I’d say no. He can run that distance in 40m in 4.63 seconds.
Mabel Park SHS
Alex Leapai and Lachlan Buchbach
Although he won’t play in the first week of the finals due to a recent head knock, Leapai has been the best big man in the competition.
He stands at 193cm in height and weighs 114kg, but is extremely athlete and nimble.
We all knew entering the season Leapai would have a big year, and the Queensland schoolboys middle forward has not let anyone down.
But who predicted five-eight Buchbach to impact the way he has?
Buchbach has been the discovery player of the Langer Trophy, a revelation with his control and option taking.
Mabel would not swap him for any other No.6 in the competition, which is the ultimate tribute.
Keebra Park SHS
Keebra Park SHS has possibly the biggest side in the competition. Three-quarters Jeremiah Havea, Joseph Tupuse and Dorian Lotaki were the size of back rowers.
We like prop Jack Schmidt as their best big man.
He built like a brick outhouse, a great man to have in the middle.
The search for Keebra Park SHS’s best little man was difficuit because they are possibly the biggest team in the competition when it comes to tipping the scales.
Ryder Williams is a beauty, of course, but we like five-eight Jack Hudson as a good, little man.
Hudson, also a capable hooker, has actually been one of the competition’s unsung heroes who has made his tackles on the edge, and been a reliable link between ace No.7 Williams and powerhouse centres Tupuse and Lotaki.
PBC SHS
Brady Turner and Will Saunders
PBC SHS don’t have a forward giant, but of their middle man Brady Turner is a beauty.
He set the highest of standards during the recent local derby win over Keebra, and it was from his opening stint - along with Jett Jackson - that PBC were able to forge out a platform for their little blokes.
PBC SHS is spoiled for good little men. They have Bailey McConnell, Zane Harrison and Will Saunders buzzing around the ruck.
Saunders’ impact out of dummy half has been spectacular at times, Harrison has taken his game to another match management level while McConnell’s running and support game is on song.
St Mary’s College
Bodhi Sharpley and Braithen Scott
St Mary’s make an appearance in the finals after their Gee Cup performances and their best big man is edge forward Bodhi Sharpley.
Scott is playing up in age group as a halfback and is a very, very good player who St Mary’s would not swap for anyone.
Ipswich SHS
Oliva Iaulualo and Tyler Peckham-Harris
Although he will miss Wednesday’s first final, watch for the big bloke later on.
Iaulualo has had another fabulous season and was as good an edge or middle forward as any going around in Queensland schoolboy league.
He could easily have represented the Queensland schoolboys this season.
Signed by the Bulldogs, he learned to play prop earlier this year playing for Canterbury.
Oliva Iaulualo said playing out of position, prop, helped his running game ahead of the season and keep his match fitnessup.
But we like him best on the edge. He has huge mitts, long arms and is hard to contain against weary tacklers.
Pound for pound Tyler Peckham-Harris is the best in the league.
Last year he was a star fullback.
This year he has been an elite hooker. He will be one of the best players on finals day, don’t worry about that.
LIVE STREAM, WEDNESDAY
11am - Marsden v Caloundra
12.30pm - Mabel Park v Wavell
2pm - Ipswich v St Marys
3.30pm - PBC v Keebra Park
‘Enjoy the hype’: Why Queensland is embracing nationals pressure
An ultra-talented line-up and recent winning pedigree has Queensland primed to attack the Under-20 National Championships. Read the full women’s state-by-state preview.
REPLAYS: Queensland Schools Premier League Grand Finals
A crazy goal from halfway, a one touch, left-footed marvel and a save that has to be seen to be believed ... it’s been quite the day at the home of Wynnum Wolves. Catch the REPLAYS, read the match reports.