WATCH THE REPLAYS: Marsden v Palm Beach Currumbin in the Langer Cup, Walters Cup

Palm Beach Currumbin SHS were too good for Marsden SHS in round 1 of the Langer Trophy and Walters Cup on Wednesday afternoon. WATCH THE REPLAYS!

The Langer Trophy started with a bang today with title holders Palm Beach Currumbin SHS outstanding against Marsden SHS in round 1.

All Langer games will be live streamed by www.couriermail.com.au, The Gold Coast Bulletin and News Corp affiliates.

SCROLL DOWN TO WATCH THE WALTERS CUP REPLAY

WATCH LIVE/REPLAYS - Ipswich SHS v Keebra Park

LANGER TROPHY

Reigning Phil Hall Cup state champions Palm Beach Currumbin SHS laid the gauntlet down to the rest of the competition with an overwhelming 44-nil victory against Marsden SHS in Langer Trophy round 1 action.

With Dolphins coach Wayne Bennett watching from the grandstand, PBC SHS fullback Keano Kini produced a five star performance off the back of a early first half defensive blockade.

PBC SHS led 22-nil at halftime to set up victory after a huge early tackling effort.

PBC SHS fullback Keano Kini during halftime.

Showing there was life after 2020-21 puppeteers Tom Weaver (halfback) and Oskar Bryant (hooker), PBC SHS’s 2022 halves-hooker combination of Zane Harrison, Josh Lynn and Tanu Nona also shone brightly.

But it all started with PBC SHS’s defence which held Marsden SHS out for the opening 10-12 minutes.

The game then changed in an instant when Reds’ fullback Kini scored a stunning 40m solo try.

Wayne Bennett with the Marsden SHS mascot. Pic: Kimberley Chadburn.

Kini, a Titans-contracted rookie, is not only an ace running back, but also a ball player whose hands contributed to another three tries.

When he put the aptly named PBC SHS winger Jett Forbes away for a long distant try in the second half, PBC SHS led 32-nil and Marsden were playing for pride.

Left winger Blake Forder was then on the end of a wide shift from Kini and Lynn, racing 40m to score.

PBC SHS had a stunning first round victory tonight.

In the first half, after Marsden SHS had rode a wave of possession across the opening 10 minutes of the match, Kini gave his team’s defensive effort the reward it deserved with a sensational solo try under the posts.

Blink and you would have missed it, as Kini cut back on the inside from a ball by Josh Lynn, breached the line and then stepped again to beat the last line of defence and score.

Wayne Bennett with schoolboy league doyen Phil Hall

Minutes later PBC winger Jett Forbes launched a long pass from dummy half to his halfback Zane Harrison who scored after PBC SHS No.13 Jackson Le Pou and pounced on loose ball, turning defence into attack.

And PBC SHS edge back rower Brady Turner then made it three tries in six minutes, running onto a lovely short ball from Kini.

PBC SHS then completed its first half assault with centre Michael Roberts scoring after Kini had again asked questions in the front line after his halves had nicely straigthened the attack near the goal posts.

REPLAY: Marsden SHS v PBC SHS in the Walters Cup

In the earlier games, Marsden SHS had a win over PBC SHS in the Broncos Old Boys Year 7 encounter, 26-8, while in the Year 8 Renouf Shield clash was also claimed by Marsden SHS, 30-nil.

There was a thriller in the Year 9 Hancock Cup, with PBC SHS and Marsden SHS drawing 12-all.

PBC SHS then struck back hard in both the Langer Reserves and Walters Cup, with the Reds winning the reserves 30-10.

Then in the Watlers Cup (Year 10), PBC SHS led 16-nil at halftime and went on with the job to win 32-nil.

Players from the Year 8 Renouf Shield clash.

Both teams had late chances to break the deadlock, but the 12-all scoreline was probably an appropriate result.

THE PREVIEW

PBC SHS won that day, with Michael Roberts running 80m to snare an opportunist try minutes from the end.

But how will PBC SHS go without the time honoured halfback-hooker pairing of Tom Weaver and Oskar Bryant?

They had an inherent understanding, having grown up together in northern NSW playing club and school footy alongside each other.

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They leave a hole, but opportunity knocks for a crack division of younger players who have been successful coming through the Walters Cup, Hancock Cup and Renouf Shield.

No one will have to introduce skipper Tanu Nona to Josh Lynn - they know each other back to front, and Northern Rivers product Zane Harrison is highly acclaimed.

PBC SHS’ Keano Kini is an elite Langer player. Picture: Liam Kidston

And of course at the back is the dangerous Keano Kini, a wonderful running and creative fullback, while Michael Roberts is a Rolls Royce of centres.

Marsden SHS has had its own changing of the guard, while elite young edge player Will Semu is yet to return from an extended break.

Marsden SHS’ Teapo Stoltman. Picture: Liam Kidston.

But Marsden centres Devonte Vaivela and Shannon Subritzky Stewart will throw plenty back at PBC SHS, while the clash ushers in a highly ranked junior halfback, Coby Black.

Importantly the team’s 2021 skipper Chris Faagutu returns, while Taelon Te Whiu Hopa is arguably the best bench player in the competition.

Fasten your seat belts. Kick-off time is 6pm.

THE TEAMS

Marsden SHS: 1. Dominic Sandow, 2. Tuvaka Palu, 3. Devonte Vaivela, 4. Shannon Subritzky Stewart, 5. Teapo Stoltman, 6. Apa Twidle, 7. Coby Black, 8. VJ Semu, 9. Kylem Vunipola, 10. Mou Taumaletila- Maulolo, 11. Te Anau Graham-Papali’i, 12. Jieye Mauai, 13. Chris Faagutu (c), 14. Cody Hamilton, 15. Taelon Te Whiu Hopa, 16. Bailey Trew, 17. Jeremy Crawford. Emergencies: Mana Whakatau, Jacob Tinsley, Mark Nosa, Harry Durbin, Kees Cassidy

Palm Beach Currumbin: 1 Keano Kini, 2 Blake Forder, 3 Michael Roberts, 4 Cooper Cambey, 5 Jett Forbes, 6 Josh Lynn, 7 Zane Harrison, 8 Isaiah Scanlan, 9 Tanu Nona (c), 10 Reico Ratana, 11 Brady Turner, 12 Will Taylor, 13 Jackson Le Pou, 14 Bailey McConnell

15 Jac Finnigan, 16 Jaylen Taewa, 17 Cooper Wolf