Watch replay: Keebra Park and Palm Beach Currumbin battle in Langer Trophy semi-final
Against a Palm Beach Currumbin backline with weapons across the park, Keebra Park’s own livewire will be out to end the defending champions’ Langer Trophy campaign. WATCH the game LIVE on Wednesday.
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The cream rose to the top as the star power of Michael Roberts and Keano Kini garnished PBC SHS’s march into next Wednesday’s grand final.
PBC SHS won 28-12 over a fast finishing Keebra Park SHS, with Roberts completing a remarkable return from a knee injury to produce a brilliant chip-and-chase try to score.
Roberts had barely run for six weeks after sustaining a knee injury at the national schoolboy carnival, but he made up for lost time with that try, and a dummy half dive try.
WATCH THE FULL MATCH REPLAY IN THE VIDEO PLAYER ABOVE
He scored the first two tries of the match, and fullback Kini the next two.
Turning for home leading 12-nil at halftime, PBC SHS team members watched a beautifully set piece play between Joshua Lynn and Kini end in a try, and then cheered on Kini on his way to a 50m intercept try.
If Kini had not taken that intercept, Keebra Park SHS could probably have scored.
But Kini’s anticipation to pluck down the pass, and then out pace the Keebra Park cover defence, was special.
While PBC SHS’s two trump cards Roberts and Kini found themselves on the score sheet, they have their hard working forwards to thank for holding their own against a big mobile pack inspired by captain Arama Hau.
PBC SHS led 12-nil at halftime, and then 24-nil before Keebra’s front rowers combined, with Eli Tuli scoring to make it 24-6 with 16 minutes remaining.
Keebra Park SHS did not lay down, cutting PBC SHS advantage from 24-nil to 24-12 with 13 minutes remaining.
Keebra Park’s forwards got rolling, along with centre Taniela Mapusua-Lotaki and it was anyone’s match for a time.
PBC SHS’s entry into the grand final is a feather in the cap of coach Tim Maccan who lost most of his 2021 championship winning side.
PREVIEW: Keebra, Palm Beach arm themselves for semi-final battle
Against a Palm Beach Currumbin backline with weapons across the park, Keebra Park’s own livewire will be out to end the defending champions’ Langer Trophy campaign.
Five-eighth Jodeci Letalu put on a clinic in his side’s quarter-final triumph over Marymount, with his instinctive play orchestrating an attacking masterclass.
Unsigned to an NRL club at this stage, Letalu’s try where he put winger Munga Baruani into open space before the winger kicked in field for the crafty half to somersault and score is one which will remain in the school highlights reel for some time.
On Wednesday he will face off against a PBC unit featuring the likes of Keano Kini, Michael Roberts and Jett Forbes — fresh off a hat-trick against Mabel Park — with the clash to be livestreamed on the Gold Coast Bulletin.
Keebra Park coach Peter Norman said Letalu originally grew up as a fullback, however in order to also fit Melbourne Storm-contracted custodian Karauria Stokes into the blue jersey a shift to the number six ensued.
He said since the move the teenage talent had thrived, and the same flair he showed last week would need to come to the fore again if they were to thwart the prowess of their Gold Coast rivals.
“He’s just as cool as a cucumber. He’s got all the skill in the world and what we’ve been working on with him is finding his confidence and becoming more of a voice,” Norman said.
“He’s a real quiet kid, so the more he plays like that and has good touches the better he is and we know how good he is.
“We’re turning him into that five-eighth role and he’s handling it really well. He was a Queensland schoolboys rugby union five-eighth last year so he has runs on the board.
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“He’s got nothing at the moment (in terms of NRL chances) but if he keeps performing like that hopefully something comes his way.”
It was at this same stage of last year’s Langer Trophy that Keebra Park were undone, ironically by the same opposition they are about to face.
To make the task more daunting, Norman said key forward Immanuel Kalekale was still touch and go to take the field, after the Queensland representative fractured his shin during the National Schoolboys carnival.
While Keebra Park managed to defeat PBC when they met in the round fixtures, Norman said the coaching staff had been quick to put that out of their minds.
However he said ever since their quarterfinal win the air around training had been palpable, with each young player determined to ensure history does not repeat.
“I think the big learning we got from last year’s game was our ill-discipline; we gave away like 20 penalties and with the spine PBC have if we give them good field position we’ll make it hard for ourselves,” Norman said.
“We addressed it and spoke about it after the match when we won in the round game; we did that same thing last year so it’s keeping their heads on making sure they play well and control the little things in the game and not get overawed.
“It’s always exciting when we’re playing Palm Beach, the intensity at training was really big.”
Keebra Park and PBC will kick off from 3.45pm.
TEAM LISTS
KEEBRA PARK
1. Karauria Stokes, 2. Munga Baruani, 3. Dorian Lotaki, 4. Taniela Mapusua-Lotaki, 5. Jeremaiah Tamepo, 6. Jodeci Letalu, 7. Jaxen Yow, 8. Jared Johnson, 9. Tyrell Waaka Rhind, 10. Eli Tuli, 11. Seth Nikotemo, 12. EJ Finau, 13. Arama Hau (C), 14. Xavier Asi, Lokea Motufoua, 15. PJ Poutasi, 16. Wailer Whaiapu, 17. Carlos Pauli, 18. Immanuel Kalekale, 19. Ryder Williams
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, 10. Jett Jackson, 11. Jac Finnigan, 12. Will Taylor, 13. Reico Ratana, 14. Bailey McConnell, 15. Barney Litidamu, 16. Jaylen Taewa, 17. Caleb Te Mono, 18. Jackson Le Pou, 19. Cooper Wolf, 20. Baylen Donald
Originally published as Watch replay: Keebra Park and Palm Beach Currumbin battle in Langer Trophy semi-final
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