Keebra Park 2025 Langer Trophy Squad Breakdown: Every player profiled
Rugby league teams will often claim to be built on a bedrock of brotherhood but the Keebra Park Class of 2025 is taking that to new heights. Meet the entire 24-man squad.
Local League
Don't miss out on the headlines from Local League. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Rugby league teams will often claim to be built on a bedrock of brotherhood but the Keebra Park Class of 2025 is taking that to new heights.
Four members of the school’s Langer Trophy team are the younger siblings of past players, making every match a chance to add to their family legacies in the famous blue-and-maroon jerseys.
Prop Lennox Whaiapu is the younger brother of two former Keebra Park Langer Trophy captains, in Wailer (2023) and Anton (2024).
Centre Israel Lotaki is the third member of his family to play centre for the school’s flagship team, following in the footsteps of brothers Nela (2021) and Dorian (2023).
Just one as Chris Vaimili graduates from the backline - Christian (2024) - another rises to take his place, in winger Christopher Vaimili.
With one try in term three Chris the younger will catch his elder brother’s Langer Trophy haul of three tries.
And last but not least, backrower Simi Tauelangi follows 2021 centre Xavier Tauelangi into the school’s top team.
Meet the entire squad below.
FULLBACKS (1)
David Bryenton
The Brisbane Broncos have signed the 2025 Queensland Schoolboys fullback with the quickest feet in the state. Bryenton was used at five-eighth for Souths Logan in the Mal Meninga Cup under-19s but truly shines with the No.1 on his back and the space to make even the best Langer Trophy defenders look silly.
OUTSIDE BACKS (5)
Israel Lotaki
Melbourne Storm contracted Lotaki made the Queensland Schoolboys team while still in Year 11. He is the younger brother of former Keebra Langer Trophy centres Dorian and Nela but where Dorian brought a powerful, compact build, Israel has broken the mould. His build is more similar to New South Wales and Canterbury star Stephen Crichton. The younger Lotaki is a great athlete, humble and reserved.
Joseph Tupuse
A powerful left centre in his third season of Langer Trophy football for Keebra Park. The Broncos have signed Tupuse for his blockbusting carries and big game experience. T
Siosaia Poese
Another Queensland Schoolboys representative in the backline, Poese has returned to Keebra Park from prestigious GPS rugby union St Joseph’s College, Gregory Terrace to further his rugby league career. Another junior Brisbane Bronco, Poese is the second leading tryscorer for the Langer Trophy in 2025 with four in four games. Poese and Bryenton bring a strong combination from Souths Logan’s under-19s.
Christopher Vaimili
Just 15 turning 16, Dolphins contracted Vaimili has moved south from Marsden State High in term four last year to follow in the footsteps of his elder brother Christian Vaimili. Playing Langer Trophy at his age is nothing to sneeze about but Vaimili’s finishing ability consistently proves he is up to the task despite his youth. Lightning quick along the ground and with the ability to rise up for high balls.
VJ Letalu
Another Dolphins contracted wing talent who is stuck for the moment in Keebra Park’s Langer Reserves team, such is the quality of outside backs assembled at the school in 2025. Tall, athletic and a strong carrier of the football, Letalu is hard at work rounding out his game so he’s ready for his chance when his number is called. He is a regular on the extended bench and an integral member of the 2025 squad.
HALVES (3)
Justus Lowndes
An unsigned 18-year-old half who played a few games for Burleigh in the Mal Meninga Cup champion team. A very good footballer who likes to push up in support and is a noted tryscoring threat because of his ability to pop up in positions the defence cannot stop him. Lowndes earned the starting No.6 role and had his best performance of the year against his former school Marsden in the final game of term two.
Harvey Smith
Contracted to the South Sydney Rabbitohs and already a Queensland state champion in the under-17 Cyril Connell Challenge. Smith also represented Queensland City in the under-17s. Smith and Lowndes share organising duties between them equally with Lowndes favouring the left and Smith the right - though their interplay between them has proved deadly for opposition defences when they link up. Smith, in Year 11, has a bright future in rugby league.
Cornelius Kelsall
Long-term expectations for Kelsall are that he will develop into a fine senior five-eighth but his versatility in covering all four spine positions and the outside backs has seen him deployed as Keebra’s first-choice No.14 through the early season. Kelsall won a state championship for Burleigh’s under-17s as a fullback but coaches believe his defensive tenacity is simply too great to hide him out of the frontline. Still just 16 years old, Kelsall will be a future leader of this team. His attitude and commitment to playing out of position has impressive coach Peter Norman especially.
HOOKERS (2)
Cooper Murphy
Captain and starting hooker Cooper Murphy is currently unsigned but whichever team does pull the trigger will gain a really strong defender. Murphy idolises Cronulla No.9 Blayke Brailey and knows his role well. He gives good service and is always adding more craft to his game. Murphy is Keebra Park’s leader and the cattleprod that makes sure his forwards are always in position to stress the defence. Coach Peter Norman says Murphy would be an asset to any NRL club if he continues the growth trajectory he is already on.
RJ Sharrick
The Langer Reserves No.9 is 15 turning 16 this year whose specialty is his craft at the position. Sharrick has a touch football background, is small in stature but is still a solid defender. His deception from dummyhalf is top notch but needs more reps in defence against bigger bodies before his time comes to wear the school’s No.9 jersey full-time as a senior next year.
MIDDLE FORWARDS (8)
Fa’apale Feaunati
The Brisbane Broncos have signed Keebra’s 18-year-old first-choice lock. He played for Souths Logan in the Mal Meninga Cup as a tall, athletic middle forward who has the engine to play big minutes and get through a ton of work while out there. Feaunati is one of Keebra Park’s key leaders. Standing around 6’3 (190cm) with good footwork and a great offload, Feaunati is a weapon in the middle.
Tomasi Vaitai
Only 17 this year and contracted with the Rabbitohs alongside halfback Harvey Smith. Vaitai played for Ipwich Jets in Cyril Connell and for Country under-17s. Vaitai’s point of difference is his communication on the field in addition to his fine front row play.
Tavake Tau’a’alo
A Mal Meninga Cup champion with Burleigh who brought tremendous impact and power with every performance off the bench for that side. Compared in style to New South Wales State of Origin prop Spencer Leniu because he makes it difficult for the first defender to hit and stick with him. The 18-year-old regularly clocks up post-contact metres or a quick play-the-ball as the situation requires. 2025 has been his breakout campaign and coaches expect his status as an uncontracted player will not last the season.
Lennox Whaiapu
Gold Coast Titans contracted prop Whaiapu recently earned his place in the New Zealand Maori under-17 team. Whaiapu - pronounced Fye-a-pooh - is reliable in defence and carries the ball well. While not a complete package yet, Whaiapu is chipping in off the Langer Trophy bench and projects as a three-year veteran of this time with a lot of potential. His elder brothers Whailer and Anton are both former Open As captains at Keebra Park.
Cruz Tauafaiga
Tauafaiga missed Round 1 with injury but has started opposite Tomasi Vaitai at prop in three matches since. The versatile middle and edge forward is the latest Keebra Park product to follow in the footsteps of Benji Marshall, Ben Te’o and Jahream Bula to a contract with the Wests Tigers. Tauafaiga can handle both forward positions comfortably but was used mostly as a middle forward by Burleigh’s Mal Meninga Cup team despite being smaller in stature. He still packs a punch - stylistically, in the Victor Radley mould. His elder brother Xavier Tauafaiga previously played centre for the school’s Open As.
Tino Tevaga
Santino ‘Tino’ Tevaga is transitioning back to the middle forwards after leaving the pack behind to train as an outside back the last few seasons, at the behest of the Gold Coast Titans. Keebra Park have a different vision in mind for the South Coast representative centre, where his rapid foot speed and strong defence make him a unique front row talent in the Langer Trophy. Fit and fast, Tevaga is just as big as Keebra’s other front rowers but is a matchup nightmare for tired opposition middles. If Keebra have a midgame injury anywhere from front row to wing, Tevaga can probably plug the gap.
Gasnier To’omaga
A ballplaying lock who represented South Coast Bs in Gladstone. To’omaga earned a debut with Tweed’s Cyril Connell team as a 16, going on 17, year old.
Tyrell Schwenke
A monster 135kg prop who dwarfed his teammates at Burleigh’s Cyril Connell Cup team and now Keebra Park’s Open As. Schwenke is still learning how to apply his efforts over the course of a match but when he does find that balance with his fitness there are going to be few more fearsome weapons on the goal line.
EDGE FORWARDS (4)
Kalani Patu
One of four Gold Coast Titans on Keebra Park’s Open As roster, Patu represented Queensland City and Tweed Seagulls at an under-17 level in the lead-up to the Langer Trophy. Patu played last year as a 16-year-old which is a mark of tremendous potential, especially in the forwards. Patu is an aggressive backrower who runs tough lines and defends with that same attitude. If an opponent is going to attempt to tackle Patu they had better bring 100 per cent effort because any less and they are getting bounced.
Simi Tauelangi
Similar to Tino Tevaga but opposite in build, Tauelangi played centre for Keebra Park’s Year 10 Walters Cup team in 2024. Signed with the Brisbane Broncos as an under-17 talent and will start most weeks for Keebra in the second row before rotating through the middle to spell the bigger boys. Taeuelangi’s leg speed will also trouble opponents through the second half this season
Treleque Boyce-Similaka
A skilful 17-year-old backrower contracted to the Gold Coast Titans. While Patu and Tauelangi are classical linerunning edge forwards, Boyce-Similaka brings ballplaying expertise and exceptional footwork to the position. His touch football and OzTag background becomes clear immediately when watching him go to work on the extremes of the field. Teammates can confidently run shape off ‘Tre and know the ball will find them if they find a hole.
Troy Ellis
Twice Keebra Park’s 18th man and twice the school’s 19th man, 17-year-old Tweed Cyril Connell player Ellis is so close to a Langer Trophy debut he can almost touch it. Ellis runs great lines on the edge, is reliable and can rotate through the middle in a pinch. A great team man who is unfortunate that there are so many established, NRL contracted forwards blocking his path to a jersey. Ellis wouldn’t look out of place in the Langer Trophy at all.
Titans School League Grand Finals: Top 32 players of the day
A “generational NRLW prospect” stole the day at the Titans Schools League grand final day while another player left the club’s chairman Dennis Watt awe-struck. Meet the players who got talent scout tongues wagging in Monday’s grand finals.
Funny and fabulous: These are the Langer Trophy’s larrikins
The Langer Trophy’s larrikins of schoolboy rugby league can be revealed ahead of Wednesday’s bumper round 5 of matches. See who gets the teams giggling here.