WATCH THE REPLAYS: Ipswich defeat PBC in Langer Trophy grand final blockbuster
Comeback kings Ipswich snatched back the lead to defeat Palm Beach Currumbin in a Langer Trophy grand final blockbuster. Watch the Langer Trophy, Walters Cup and Langer Reserves grand final replays!
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Ipswich SHS’s team today created history by winning its first ever Langer Trophy, edging out PBC SHS 16-12.
At Kougari Oval it was a triple treat of schoolboy live streaming by The Courier-Mail and KommunityTV.
LANGER TROPHY: Ipswich defeat Palm Beach Currumbin 16-12
Ipswich SHS’s most famous past student Allan Langer has expressed his pride in seeing his old school claim an historic premiership, the Langer Trophy, by beating Palm Beach Currumbin SHS 16-12 in a schoolboy rugby league grand final classic at Kougari Oval on Wednesday.
Ipswich SHS, unbeaten this season, swept to its first ever premiership by winning the trophy which is named after Langer.
“I am proud of the Ipswich boys. It was such a great game of rugby league and you need to give it to Palm Beach as well. They defended superbly,’’ Langer said.
“It was great football. But even better (Ipswich won),’’ Langer with a typical cheeky smile.
Ipswich SHS hit the winners post by the width of tissue paper in a grand final for the ages.
Ipswich scored first, then PBC SHS crept back to lead 12-10 before Ipswich SHS mighty mite Tyler Peckham-Harris dashed over to score after a break by his hooker Tommy Luhrman.
Ipswich SHS had received a pre-game pump up by celebrated alumni, Sharks winger Ronaldo Mulitalo, who flew from Sydney to address his old school side.
The NRL star then celebrated with the schoolboys like he had been let out of the classroom a day ahead of the Christmas school holidays.
“I could cry right now. I have had my best memories here,’’ Mulitalo said.
“It’s such a proud rich history we have. And from where we have come from, it means even more. We finally have one. “I’m so proud of the boys.’’
PBC SHS coach Tim Maccan said despite the loss, the game highlighted how tough his side was as it suffered injuries and confronted a huge pack.
“They probably beat us through the middle. We just had to try and hold on and they got a couple of sneaky tries and they got the chocolates.
“It could have gone either way and while I am disappointed we did not win, if there was a team which deserved to win it, it was Ipswich.’’
The Ipswich win was greeted with wild celebrations broke out around Kougari Oval as coach Joshua Bretherton and his men disappeared beneath a heaving mass of supporters.
In a match where the 26 players from both teams reached lofty heights, it was the smallest man on the field, jockey-sized Ipswich SHS fullback Tyler Peckham-Harris, who scored the decisive try nine minutes from the end.
Peckham-Harris, having played the ball, then had the energy to follow his scurrying dummy half Tom Luhrman through the ruck and score under the posts, leading to a 16-12 lead.
This was a grand final for the ages, with first one team and then the other wrestling for the initiative.
Ipswich, unbeaten this season, won it on the back of its defence, locking up the middle against the dynamic PBC SHS fullback Keano Kini, and hustling to the edges like men possessed.
There were an array of crucial tackles surely inspired by the occasion.
Some of those included:
+ PBC SHS’s Caleb Te Mono tackle on a try bound James Frazer
+ Anton Naiyep and Tyler Peckham-Harris on Michael Roberts
+ Keano Kini making two in a row on attacking Ipswich runner
+ MIchael Roberts on his opposite Naiyep
+ Zane Harrison’s dive to prevent Gabriel Satrick putting his support over for the winning try
Players from both teams played out of their skins, highlighted when Ipswich little man, fullback Peckham-Harris, leapt skyward to field a bomb like he had been fired out of a cannon.
The first half was highlighted by one of the great prop forward grand final tries, with Ipswich SHS captain Josiah Pahulu battering his way 15m to score under the posts.
He came so hard onto the ball, once sensed he would have run right through the fencing surrounding the field had his celebrating teammates not jumped all over his back and eased his momentum.
“They say big time players make big time plays and that’s what skipper Josiah Pahulu did,” Mulitalo said.
It was a real “follow me’’ effort by the Ipswich SHS forward leader and gave his side a 10-6 lead after 26 minutes.
Then came a crucial moment. Following the resumption of play, Ipswich turned the ball over which gave PBC SHS a late chance in the half.
PBC SHS were blocked from scoring on the left side when Ipswich centre Anton Naiyep and his fullback Tyler Peckham-Harris tackled Roberts on the line, but a right shift saw interchange forward Jaylen Taewa crash over from a short ball by Zane Harrison after Reico Ratana had tapped on.
Earlier, Ipswich SHS opened the scoring after six minutes when Tommy Luhrman cleared the ruck to his halfback Jalen Afamasaga whose early ball to his representative centre Tre Fotu saw the big bloke crash over.
Ipswich had just regained possession from a nothing bomb, but in attacking the bouncing ball PBC SHS fullback Kini fumbled possession, leading to another set of six for Ipswich SHS.
Fotu’s early game contribution also included a thumping tackle on Brady Turner which shook the venue.
But after Ipswich middle forward Rene Bagon had produced a try saving tackle on Kini, PBC SHS were ahead when big match centre Michael Roberts barged over from dummy half.
It was a double blow for Ipswich who lost Bagon to injury after his brave tackle on Kini who had come on the burst with typical explosive power.
It was a blow to Ipswich who lost Caleb Jackson (centre), Ahmarni Leluia (prop) and Joven Gyemore (winger/ utility) leading up to the game.
PBC SHS captain Josiah Pahulu said the win should be used for his community to “aim high’’. “Anything is possible when you put your heart and mind to it,’’ said Pahulu, while also praising the Ipswich SHS coaching staff.
Scores: Ipswich 16 (T Fotu, J Pahulu, Tyler Peckham-Harris tries; J Frazer 2 conv) def PBC SHS 12 (M Roberts, J Taewa tries; J Lynn 2 convs).
LANGER RESERVES: PBC defeat Marsden 22-16
PBC SHS five-eight Jakeem Thompson lit up the grand final day with three thrilling early tries as his team survived a dramatic Marsden SHS recovery to win the Langer Reserve grand final. PBC won 22-16.
Thompson’s hat trick and Creedance Donovan’s four pointer established a 22-nil lead as the Marsden SHS players were hit with a red and white wave at Kougari Oval.
To Marsden’s everlasting credit, they scored three tries to cut the margin to 22-16, with Taelon Te Whiu Hopa’s creation of a try for Tuvaka Palu a highlight.
When Saxon Innes crossed after a break by Shannon Subtritzky-Stewart, it was a six point ball game with five minutes remaining.
The game came down to the last play of the day when Marsden, on attack, dropped the ball during a right side shift.
Wow. It was some grand final after Taelon Te Whiu Hopa, Mark Nosa and Tuvaka Palu sparked Marsden from way back in the field.
But the game was won in the first half. Before Marsden SHS had raised a sweet they were down 18-nil and bailing water, and then 22-nil as PBC SHS dominated possession and field position to inflict telling blows on their rivals.
Thompson scored one individual try after big centre Ashley Hayes had maneuvered his side into the attacking zone, and then Thompson scored another after dummy half Will Saunders had sliced through the ruck.
His third try came with another clever dummy half dart down the blindside, twisting his body over to score.
Around that try PBC SHS halfback Jake Lateo lobbed a perfectly weighted chip kick for dangerous fullback Creedence Donovan to score and it was probably game over.
Centre Hayes also had a rousing first half off the back of his team’s ball control and forward momentum.
And when Marsden made their first break of the game just before halftime after Saxon Innes had sparked a counter attack, it was Hayes who was there to make the covering tackle.
Hayes also made a telling tackle on Marsden fullback Bailey Trew three minutes from the end when Trew had taken him on.
WALTERS CUP: Keebra Park defeat Marsden 32-10
A second half surge by halves Daniel Rakena and Ryder Williams led the way for Walters Cup champions Keebra Park State High School.
Marsden opened the scoring thanks to lock Anthony Solomon slicing his way through Keebra’s defence and getting them in the box seat.
A cross field kick from five eighth Cooper Lewis gave Marsden a repeat set and from there, a crisp cutout from halfback Quinten Teuila to Alize Clarke saw Marsden gain an early 4-0 lead.
It took until 5 minutes were left in the half for unbeaten Keebra Park to get on the scoresheet. Five eighth Daniel Rakena found wing Tino Fomai unmarked on the left edge with a super cut out pass.
A sideline conversion from halfback Ryder Williams gave Keebra a 6-4 lead.
Fomai made another big play for Keebra shortly after, making a crucial ankle tap on Marsden centre Thor Barnes who had wound up 40m on his way to the try line.
Marsden wing Rongonui Makakea and fullback Christian Vaimilli repaid the favour with a trysaver on the half time siren.
Keebra went bang bang bang to begin the second half.
Powerhouse prop Isopo Taunuu stretched Keebra’s lead to eight with an unstoppable carry from close range.
Then, five eighth Daniel Rakena put in a tricky chip kick over the Marsden defence which sat up perfectly for Williams who was in hot pursuit. Williams found tryscoring second rower Micah Eturu in support.
Rakena opened up Marsden’s defence a minute later with a dummy and go, and it was none other than his halves partner in Williams who reaped the rewards of Rakena’s playmaking.
All of a sudden, Keebra were up 24-4.
With nine minutes to play, Fomai called game at 38-4, with his second try of the day. Centre Joseph Tupuse was able to sneak an offload in contact and Fomai just had to put the ball down.
Hooker Paea Pulekia gave Marsden supporters their final try of 2022, cutting his way through the line for a feel-good try. This was answered by Keebra.
Hooker Benji Strutt struck away for a try on the siren on the back of a line break by Tupuse. Strutt stuck his hand in the air on his way under the sticks to celebrate an unbeaten Keebra run to the title in 2022.
Keebra, winning 32-10 to be crowned this season’s Walters Cup champions.
RELATED LINKS
WATCH THE SEMI-FINAL REPLAYS HERE
MEET 35 BIG BOPPERS OF THE LANGER, WALTERS CUP SEASON
MEET THE 15 UNSUNG HEROES AHEAD OF THE THREE GRAND FINALS
THE PREVIEW
Kini, the Queensland and Australian schoolboys fullback, was the best schoolboy his coach Tim Maccan had seen during his involvement in coaching over the last 6-8 years.
“It does help having a great player at the back who can also play halfback or five-eight and he is so electric with his speed,’’ Maccan said.
“He has fire power to play multiple positions and cause havoc.’’
Maccan’s wish list of recent schoolboy talent he had seen included David Fifita, Payne Hass (both Keebra Park SHS), incumbent Queensland Origin five-eighth Tom Dearden, PBC SHS past halfbacks Toby Sexton and Tom Weaver, and PBC alumni Deine Mariner (Broncos) and Xavier Savage (Canberra).
But Macacn said Kini was the best because no one matched his ability to win a game.
“Keano is a freak,’’ added PBC SHS’s five-eight Joshua Lynn. “He does everything right and he is very reliable.’’
RELATED LINKS
LANGER, WALTERS CUP’S MOST IMPROVED PLAYERS THIS SEASON
SPEED DEMONS OF THE LANGER TROPHY
OUR BEST 40 FROM THE LANGER, WALTERS AND TITANS FINALS
Ipswich SHS’s historic appearance in its first Langer Trophy decider has been recognised by past student, Cronulla Sharks winger Ronaldo Mulitalo.
Mulitalo was so moved by the achievement from his old school team, he flew to Brisbane to directly deliver a motivational message to the side.
Ipswich SHS coach Joshua Bretherton said it was an amazing gesture by Mulitalo to acknowledge the team which was so far unbeaten this season.
“It is the first time into a Langer Trophy grand final and it is a huge moment for the school,’’ Bretherton said.
“We have been on this journey for 8-10 years, but that is a short journey compared to the other schools we have been competing against.
“It is just to be there is a massive step for us. It is something we are very proud of.’’
Ipswich SHS hooker Gabriel Satrick said one of the reasons for the success was the team’s bond.
“We have a good bond and get along with each other,’’ Satrick said. “And the coaches give us confidence to back ourselves which makes it a lot easier for us.’’
PBC SHS Tim Maccan said his side was getting better each week. “We have been building every week to be better,’’ Maccan said.
“Against Keebra we used the team strengths and playing as a team was the best thing, that we did not over play certain people.
“And our bench comes on and they really lift the intensity and it does not drop down.’’
PBC SHS captain Tanu Nona said the group was “very proud’’ to continue PBC SHS’s successful tradition after back to back wins in 2020 and 2021.
“It is always a privilege running out with the Red jersey on. You go back to Year 8 watching the Opens team take out the national final.
“Hopefully we follow in the success of the many years which come before us.’’
There was bad luck for PBC SHS’s Jac Finnigan and three Ipswich players - Caleb Jackson (centre), Ahmarni Leluia (prop) and Joven Gyemore (winger/ utility.
All have been ruled out with injury.
Finnigan was replaced by Brady Turner in his first game back since round 2 after dislocating elbow playing for Murwillumbah.
For Ipswich, Jacobi Shaw, Cayleb Johnson and Nick Torrens receive opportunities.
LIVE STREAM SCHEDULE, Wednesday
12.30pm: Langer Reserves: Marsden SHS v PBC SHS
1.45pm: Walters Cup: Marsden SHS v Keebra Park SHS
3pm: Langer Trophy: Ipswich SHS v PBC SHS
THE TEAMS
PBC SHS: 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. Brady Turner, 12. Will Taylor, 13. Reico Ratana, 14. Bailey McConnell, 15. Jackson Le Pou, 16. Jaylen Taewa, 17. Caleb Te Mono.
Ipswich SHS: 1. Tyler Peckham-Harris 2. Kulu Baruani 3. Anton Naiyep 4. Tre Fotu 5.Jacobi Shaw, 6. James Frazer 7. Jalen Afamasaga 8. Loko Tonga, 9. Tommy Luhrman 15. Josiah Pahulu, 11. Xavier Sofeni, 12. Oliva Iaulualo 13. Jack Laing 14. Gabriel Satrick 16. Rene Bagon 17. Nick Torrens, 18. Cayleb Johnson.
Originally published as WATCH THE REPLAYS: Ipswich defeat PBC in Langer Trophy grand final blockbuster
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