2025 Langer Trophy live stream: Ipswich SHS v Mabel Park SHS, Round 5
Ipsiwch State High has kicked back into high gear in the Langer Trophy after surviving a dramatic final 10 minutes whilst being a man down. Watch the REPLAYS from a big triple header.
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Ipswich SHS could not have been any more brave in its frantic finish to Wednesday’s high-stakes clash against Mabel Park SHS at Langlands Park.
Reduced to 12 men for the final 10 minutes, Ipswich dug deep within themselves to hold on for a thrilling 20-18 win.
Ipswich played a man down in the final stages after running out of substitiutions, with debutant forward Innocent Baruani forced off the field with a neck injury.
WATCH THE LANGER TROPHY REPLAY ABOVE. SCROLL DOWN FOR THE WALTERS CUP AND SCHOOLGIRLS CUP
No words could do the final 15 minutes of this game justice.
It was an all out melee with every player on the field giving their heart and soul to the cause.
Few channeled the defence of two players meshed into one better than Ipswich’s gutsy five-eighth TJ Sauaso.
He shook off hits all across his body, retreated to the defensive line and tackled the house down all over again as Ipswich’s vaunted defence denied a slick Mabel backline.
Sauaso’s $20 bright-pink headgear might just be the biggest bargain the Sauaso family has ever pulled off because it protected the little ripper across a titanic 70 minute display that saw him work till the wheels fell off.
“If we didn’t win this game we wouldn’t get close to finals,” Sauaso explained, still capturing his breath.
That now-or-never mindset was on every player’s mind that took to the field and it showed in a match of madness, rib-rattling hits and sleek backline tries.
Sauaso’s injection into the lineup has been so valuable and with his teammates defending their backsides off, Ipswich only just managed to quell Mabel and reduce them to just one second half try to Harrison Bath (51st).
Sauaso was in the middle, often, putting his body on the line.
All this from a Year 11 student who didn’t see himself making the team having fractured his wrist earlier this year and finding himself on the out in his recovery.
Hooker Jaylen Naleba was also worth his weight in gold, matching motors with the diminutive and prolific Ezra Leota.
Sauaso said the theme of brotherhood best typified Ipswich’s performance, a performance that takes them one leap closer to snaring a finals berth in 2025.
“It’s just brotherhood. Backing your brother,” he said.
“We work so hard for each other.”
Ipswich’s defensive display was superb and when skipper Xzavier Timoteo made a thumping tackle late in the second half it couldn’t have come at a better time.
Halfback Tiger Campbell and prop Cooper Young also made timely tackles late in the piece that halted ominous Mabel momentum.
Mabel could have scored twice as many tries as they did (three) were it not for Ipswich’s gallant goal line defence.
A feature over the first 10 minutes was Ipswich holding them up near the try line and eventually defence turned into attack as the visitors entered the second half ahead 8-6.
Replay: Mabel Park v Ipswich (2025 Walters Cup)
Mabel took a brief lead when impressive fullback Tawa Simpkins scored a beauty in his return but debutant Ira Yeatman returned the favour when he created a try to Tevita Pomale.
That trademark in-and-away by Yeatman was just enough for Pomale to power through and Ipswich did not look back once ahead 14-12.
Mabel’s chances of landing a late try when trailing 20-18 were hindered significantly when forward battering ram Dom Ierome was sin-binned for a high shot.
Mabel Park v Ipswich (2025 QLD NRL Schoolgirls Cup)
An Orianna Clark hat trick was not enough for Ipswich State High as they had to settle for a draw in a bruising Schoolgirls Cup showdown with Mabel Park.
The heavy hits off the ball were as much of a factor as the sharp footwork and passing, with both forward packs aiming up for the encounter.
With the howling winds and impending rain casuing havoc, it was unsurprising that the match came down to goal-kicking.
Both sides struggled off the tee, kicking one-from-three each in the 14-14 draw.
Newly-minted Australian Schoolgirls sisters Mamele and Amanii Misa were at their fire-breathing best with their carries through the middle of the park.
The sisters linked up on multiple occasions, with one Amanii short ball leading to a crucial four pointer for her front row sister.
But the player of the match honours clearly belonged with the Ipswich bulldozer Clark.
The Ipswich girls camwe with a clear gameplan to hand the ball to their inspirational skipper every time they found themselves inside the 10 metre zone of their rivals... and it was a plan that worked.
While he first four pointer came from a tap restart, the other two were barnstorming carries, carrying four or five defenders back into the in-goal and slamming the ball down with authority.
The draw means the reigning national champions have now slipped behind competition front-runners Keebra Park by one point in the race to the Pool A finals.
PREVIEW
With a whiff of finals’ fever in the air, the chant of ‘MP State’ will echo across the Langlands Park Field to rev up Mabel Park SHS for their round 5 match on Wednesday.
That cheer squad will be missing the key voice of a bloke who had previously been playing a supporting role from the sidelines but will return to action and put his vocals to good use in behind his teammates.
Fullback Tawa Simpkins, 17, will make his long-awaited return when Ipswich SHS come to town for what's shaping up to be a mouth-watering schoolboy skirmish streamed live and exclusive on KommunityTV from 2.30pm.
The hardworking No. 1 has done a stellar job rehabilitating a spiral fracture to his humerus (upper arm), sustained earlier this year playing for the Bulldogs Harold Matthews Cup team.
Mabel are stoked to have him back where he belongs.
“He could’ve very easily kicked stones and been down in the dumps,” Mabel Park coach Ben Weston said in praise.
“But he used it as motivation, worked hard and got himself fit.”
The slick Simpkins has worked overtime to return in better shape than before. Those that saw him in the Walters Cup and then Langer Trophy last year as a Year 11 student know that’s saying something.
“It’s probably the hardest that I’ve ever seen him train (while he was injured), because he knew that when he came back he had to be ready,” Weston said.
“His training, his fitness levels, his work in the gym has all been top notch and I can’t fault him.”
Simpkins was his own motivator.
“He did it off his own bat,” said Weston.
“He didn't need any extra motivation or anything from the coaches.
“He sort of went, ‘I am going to do this on my own and come back bigger and stronger’.
“It’s the fittest I’ve ever seen him and he hasn’t missed a beat.”
The inclusion of Simpkins will be a key one because his nuance and instincts are up there with the best Weston has seen.
“In terms of footy IQ, Tawa is one of the best 17-year-olds that I’ve seen,” he said.
“He’s just one step ahead of the game.”
The backline boost means that versatile outside back David Filo will swap the No. 1 jersey for the No. 5 jersey after doing a “phenomenal job” at fullback during the first month of competition.
“It’s no fault of his own,” Weston assured.
Filo is a gem in himself because he can play anywhere in the back five at a high level.
The big-bodied Souths Logan junior representative has a strong carry, is fit and fast and can slot in anywhere like a key that fits every lock.
“He was always around the footy and his push support was exceptional,” Weston praised.
“Defensively it’s hard for a player to come in and play fullback and organise the defensive line but he did really well, finding a job in each play.”
Ipswich State High will unleash a debutant, which adds to the excitement.
Year 11 second rower Innocent Baruani, having cooled his heels while recovering from a concussion, will get his first taste at this level after being a leader in last year’s Walters Cup.
It will be a nice moment for the Baruani family seeing Innocent run out given his three older brothers were once battling it out in this competition.
Munga (Manly Sea Eagles) Kulu (Redcliffe Dolphins) and Velonte (Souths Logan Magpies) were all wingers but big Innocent has gone against the grain and is a thoroughbred edge forward.
Innocent will find a home near the beautiful beaches of Manly when he graduates, having signed with the club for three years until 2028.
On Wednesday, Mabel Park SHS winger Quinn Timperon will be his rival but in years to come they might just be good mates given Timperson is heading south to Manly at the end of this year to continue his development in the game.
Mabel Park SHS: 1. Tawa Simpkins, 2. Quinn Timperon, 3. Jahzayis Perenara, 4. Dean Tauaa, 5. David Filo, 6. Maz Burns, 7. Sire Drinnan, 8. Braddock Taylor, 9. Ezra Leota, 10. Harrison Bath, 11. Majah Peachey, 12. DJ Talaepa, 13. Natu Leota, 14. Tai Kapaith, 15. Dom Ierome, 16. Abdurrahim Kaya, 17. Tipene Cooley.
Ipswich SHS: 1. Tom Parker, 2. Mel Nonu, 3. Tevita Pomale, 4. Tomu Cook, 5. Caesar Yeatman, 6. TJ Sauaso, 7. Tiger Campbell, 18. Tanielu Tuu’u, 9. Jaylen Naleba, 10. Cooper Young, 11. Neyon Taito-Makea, 12. Innocent Baruani, 13. Cooper Cracknell, 14. Ira Yeatman, 8. Xzavier Timoteo, 15. Eddie Fa’amausili, 20. Cordell Kirk.
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Originally published as 2025 Langer Trophy live stream: Ipswich SHS v Mabel Park SHS, Round 5
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