Langer Trophy: The making of Mabel Park SHS in the Langer Trophy competition

Recap all the action from Mabel Park SHS vs Wavell SHS Langer Trophy, Walters Cup and Langer Reserve matches. WATCH THE REPLAYS >>>

Mabel Park SHS are the Langer Trophy new chums, coached by a Pom whose players were all about making the community proud of them. Watch them go up against stalwarts Wavell in Round 4.

REPLAY: Redcliffe v Wavell in the Walters Cup

REPLAY: Mabel Park v Wavell in the Langer Reserves

TODAY’S TEAMS

Mabel Park SHS v Wavell SHS

Mabel Park SHS: 1. Hikoirangi Paki, 2. Lennox Pafalani, 3. Kena Finau, 4. Atunaisa Pahulu, 5. Glen Fisher, 6. Kaiwhiri Reuben, 7. Lexii Tau,8. AJ Taylor, 9. Ranil Shankar, 10. Peni Auvaa, 11. Jamie Zaghini, 12. Melchizadek Laumatia, 13. Levi Kereopa. Interchange:14. Fiva Taumaletila-Maulolo, 15. Alex Leapai, 16. Mustafa Kaya, 17. Shilo Asafo

Wavell SHS: 1. Po Hotere-Papalii, 2. Jayden Ambichi, 3. Tre Fotu, 4. Prinston Esera, 5. Jordan Tut-Chapman, 6. Karl Oloapu, 7. JalenAfamasaga, 8. Damascus Neemia, 9. Tyrell Waaka-Rhind, 10. Tahrell Feaveai, 11. Will Curran, 12. Ben Te Kura, 13. Drew Timms. Interchange: 14. Bristowe Murray, 15. Norman Rua, 16. D’metrius Iose, 17. Naytan Iselin, 18. Sese Nati, 19. Arthur Fitness

LIVESTREAM SCHEDULE

Venue: Southport Tigers

Walters Cup

2.30pm: (Southport Tigers)

Keebra SHS v Forest Lake

Langer Trophy

3.30: Keebra SHS v St Mary’s College

Venue: Slacks Creek RLC

Langer reserves

3pm: Mabel Park SHS v Wavell SHS

Walters Cup

4pm: Mabel Park SHS v Wavell SHS

Langer Trophy

5pm: Mabel Park SHS v Wavell SHS

Venue: North Ipswich Reserve

Walters Cup

3.30pm: Ipswich SHS v Coombabah SHS

Langer Trophy:

4.30pm: Ipswich SHS v Coombabah SHS

Venue:Marsden SHS

Langer reserves

3.30pm: Marsden SHS v PBC SHS

Walters Cup

4.30pm: Marsden SHS v PBC SHS

Langer Trophy

5.30pm: Marsden SHS v PBC SHS

Mabel Park SHS play Wavell SHS in one of four Langer Trophy matches livestreamed by News this afternoon.

Wavell SHS is an established Langer side with countless elite NRL and representative players as past students, stretching back to Australian representative of the 1970s, David Wright, through to Origin legend Greg Inglis.

In contrast Mabel Park SHS are the Langer Trophy new chums, coached by a Pom from Salford whose players were all about making the community proud of them.

This is a story about the making of Mabel Park SHS’s rugby league program.

It all started with a random phone call made by Mabel Park SHS principal Mick Hornby to Lee Addison when Hornby he was head of Ipswich SHS.

Hornby had wanted to start a rugby league program at Ipswich SHS and came across Addison’s CV.

Ranil Shankar gets the ball away for Mabel Park. Picture: Nev Madsen.

When Addison took Hornby’s call at his workplace in Sydney’s St Gregory’s College, Addison thought to himself: Why would I want to leave this?

“I was looking out at the boarding houses, swimming pool, tennis courts and Mick said ‘come to Ipswich’.

“I thought why would I do that? Anyway, he sold his vision to me and I came up to see him.’’

RELATED LINKS

WATCH ALL ROUND 2 REPLAYS HERE

ROUND 1 LANGER TROPHY REPLAYS

LINK TO ROUND 3 REPLAYS

Mustafa Kaya, middle, coach Lee Addison and Principal Mick Hornby. PICTURE: Brad Fleet

Addison had an impressive coaching background, starting at Harold Matthews and SG Ball coach at Manly and Penrith, and continuing at high profile Sydney league school St Gregory’s Campbelltown for three years.

Then came his role at Ipswich SHS where he mentored current Ipswich SHS Langer Trophy coach Joshua Brethreton.

When Hornby moved from Ipswich SHS to Mabel Park SHS, Addison went with him with aim ambition of building up the Mabel Park league program to one day gain a berth in the elite Langer Trophy.

Principal Hornby said the passion of Mabel Park SHS’s coaching staff, led by Lee Addison, was second to none.

“I have been at Palm Beach (Currumbin SHS) and Marsden and then Ipswich and set up the Ipswich program.

“But to get to Mabel Park and see the passion of our coaching staff, and to have Lee’s expertise in mentoring and coaching our other coaches, that is what is so impressive.’’

Lexii Tau, Mabel Park Picture: Nev Madsen.

Hornby said the league program contributed to growing the school from 500 to 1500 students and “it was great for our community and our school’’ to be in the Langer Cup.

Addison said when Mabel Park SHS were confirmed in the Langer Trophy - the same day his beloved Manchester City won the EPL - there were tears in the dressing shed.

“It was significant because it is a big achievement,’’ he said.

Addison said the Langer Trophy was a great competition full of future NRL talent.

“There are 10-15 players a year who end up in the NRL,’’ he said.

“I remember coaching at Ipswich and in one of those games there was something like nine NRL players, including four Origin players, came out of one game. That is the level of competition.

“We are here not to make up the numbers and we will make the community proud of us.’’

Originally published as Langer Trophy: The making of Mabel Park SHS in the Langer Trophy competition