Langer reserve grade Players to Watch in 2025
The Langer Reserve grade Players to Watch this season includes the brother of a former Queensland schoolboy gun and twin tower brothers from across the Tasman. FULL LIST
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While the Allan Langer Trophy rightly is the focus ahead of the elite Brisbane Broncos schoolboys competition starting on Tuesday, the time-honoured Langer reserve competition will purr along playing an important part in the season.
Just as it takes a village to raise a child, it takes a squad to win the Langer Trophy and those hardy 17 reserve grade players toiling away for their school will play their role in adding depth and competition to the top group.
Last year’s competition was full of top-tier schoolboy talent and the season finished in frantic fashion when Mabel Park playmaker Titus Marsden kicked a 40m drop goal on the stroke of full time to win 17-16 over reigning premiers Ipswich SHS.
One of the players aiming to press hard for a regular starting position in the Langer Trophy side is Ipswich State High Langer reserves captain Lleyton Alofa-Fotu.
Alofa-Fotu is the younger brother of former Queensland Schoolboys centre Tre who played in Ipswich SHS’s unbeaten national championship winning side in 2022.
Like his brother, young Lleyton plays centre and good communication, fast hands and a nice in and away are features of his game.
Originally from West Auckland, he was a slow starter to the code.
Indeed while Tre was playing in the Langer Trophy, young Lleyton was playing no sport at all.
“I went to church, played video games and kept active but I didn’t play (one of the rugby codes),’’ he explained.
But when he eventually followed his older brother to Ipswich, encouraging words by head coach Joshua Bretherton lured Lleyton into trying his hand at league.
Lleyton trained, and then played, rugby league for the first time in the Hancock Cup as a Year 9 student.
He said training was hard at first, but as he gathered fitness his next task was to gain match day confidence.
Fotu said with belief and encouragement from his coaches like Shane Harris, he soon felt at home in the code.
“They put in a lot of work and effort which helped me a lot,’’ he said, praising the Ipswich SHS coaches.
Last season Lleyton played some reserve games, but competition was intense and he was not a regular starter. But this season he will be the captain - and with aspirations to play in the top Langer squad.
“The pre-season has really helped me, especially fitness wise. And I am more confident now in what I have to do,’’ Lleyton said.
“And I am just hoping the reggies (reserves) are not the only games I play this season.
“I always look to my brother, any clues he can give me.’’
Alofa-Fotu, whose hard work has been rewarded with a Langer Trophy round 1 debut, is one Player to Watch in this season’s Langer reserves competition.
Who are the others?
LANGER RESERVES PLAYERS TO WATCH
Kyron and Dermott Arthy (Redcliffe SHS)
You get the impression if the Arthy brothers had a run in a GPS or AIC First XV rugby game they’d be just terrific.
The Western Australia duo will get the rare chance to play in the same team this season.
Watch for big-bodied Year 11 student Kyron, a centre or second rower and the diminutive Dermott at fullback or on the wing.
The fit and fast Dermott was selected in the Queensland Schoolboys I rugby team earlier this month while Kyron was the Dolphins’ most improved player in this year’s Connell Cup.
Marcus Harris-Pomare (Redcliffe SHS)
Harris-Pomare’s energy and presence in the middle is one thing and his contagious, positive attitude behind the scenes in another.
A big bopper who works hard for his teammates, Harris-Pomare was recently named in the Queensland Schoolboys II team following the rugby state championships in Townsville.
Harvey Longhurst (Redcliffe SHS)
Like Harris-Pomare, Longhurst has been a high-effort leader within the program for almost six years since he arrived at the school in Year 7.
A Connell Cup campaign with Redcliffe will serve the No.13 well because his ability to control the tempo and understand when to run and pass has improved greatly.
Watch for the Redcliffe junior to generate a quick play the ball when he runs or put his peers through a hole when he’s handling the ball.
Noah Reti (PBC SHS)
A big, athletic forward, Reti brings a great attitude training and playing. The second rower is yet another talent who has made the move up from northern NSW, specifically Grafton, and spent the summer with the Tweed Seagulls Connell Cup squad and is now with the Helensvale Hornets U18s.
Ethan Alcorn and Murphy Philips (PBC SHS)
Both smart, skilful halves, the boys bring different strengths to the side.
Philips has great natural instincts while Alcorn can get a side from point A to point B.
Alcorn, who has an attacking short kicking game, is another Northern Rivers product from Tom Weaver-Oscar Bryant country - Cudgen Headland.
Philips is a Gold Coast kid and a Burleigh junior who has been snapped up by the Titans academy.
When Philips takes on the line, you can see he has been an elite touch footballer.
Cole Finter (Mabel Park SHS)
Keep a watch on Mabel Park’s No.1, Cole Finter.
A tough youngster from Mt Isa, Finter has speed to burn and a team first mentality which goes a long way in school football.
Kamren Watson (Mabel Park SHS)
Winger Watson can finish backline shifts with precision and also do the dirty work at a good clip for his team this season.
Strong with the ball in hand, Watson has sharp feet which have wreaked havoc in Oz Tag before.
Tane Leef (Mabel Park SHS)
An edge forward, Leef brings toughness and strength to the Mabel Park SHS campaign. He is the type of footballer who wears his heart on his sleeve, and is someone who competes on every play
Dallin Houma Mabel Park SHS)
The versatile Houma can play front row or as an edge forward.
A tough rooster, he has a reputation for tackling hard. Houma brings a fantastic work ethic to training and matches.
Arjay Troy-Sharrock (Keebra Park SHS)
A natural footballer who can play multiple positions, Troy-Sharrock, 16, will start the season in the halves where his effort and attitude can inspire Keebra.
A western Australian product with bucket loads of potential, Troy-Sharrock joined the mighty Easts Tigers when he moved from southern Perth suburb Atwell a few years ago.
Ben McGregor (Keebra Park SHS)
Easy to coach and hard to stop in his tracks, McGregor is coming off a marvellous club season with the Connell Cup premiers, Burleigh.
Dependable like the sunrise, McGregor is sure to set a high standard with his work rate and consistency after such a demanding club season where he was the recipient of the Bears Coaches Award.
Tyrell Schwenke (Keebra Park SHS)
Another who excelled for Burleigh during the club season, Schwenke rarely takes no for an answer and when he is close to the tryline alarm bells ring in opposition defensive lines.
Damaging and destructive, South Coast representative Schwenke is a big boy with a big heart and has the power to match his passion.
Nik Wharakura (Marsden SHS)
A young giant, Wharakura is softly spoken off the field but lets rip on the field where he runs hard and hits harder.
A defensive sledgehammer for the Connell Cup Tigers, Wharakura has a big engine and is highly skilled for a front rower.
Grayson Wharakura (Marsden SHS)
One half of the Marsden bash brothers from Auckland, centre Grayson will move closer to the ruck for the school season after playing as a wing for the Tigers earlier this year.
Strong and mobile, Wharakura has good footwork for a big man.
Kaharau Reti (Marsden SHS)
It would not surprise to see Reti work his way into the Langer Trophy at some point but the skilful No.13 will start the school season in Marsden’s top tier Second XIII.
Also a quality dummyhalf or halve, Reti has an admirable work ethic on and off the field.
Has been warming his engines with teammates Levi Rusin (prop) and Tamai Baker (lock) in the under-18 division 1 competition for the Beaudesert Kingfishers.
Ira Yeatman (Ipswich SHS)
A little livewire from Yarrabah, Yeatman can move and he can move very quickly.
A fullback or halve with spiders on him, Yeatman is small in stature but big in heart.
Elusive.
McGuiness Tiananga (Ipswich SHS)
Like Yeatman, halfback Tiananga uses his smaller size to his advantage.
Hard to grab a hold of, Tiananga has quick feet and an exciting short kicking game.
Can sniff out a try and has a competitive desire of note.
Fletcher Ebbsworth-Briggs (Ipswich SHS)
The sharp outside back will be stationed on the wing but he has plenty of strings to his bow.
A quiet achiever, Ebbsworth-Briggs works harder than most and has so much natural ability.
The speedy, instinctual western Queensland product was an unsung hero in Ipswich State High’s Walters Cup team of 2024 who gave his everything.
Dakoda Yung (Stretton State College)
A halfback, Yung brings fast feet and great instincts for the game.
A natural footballer, he will keep pressure on Stretton’s starting 17 in the Langer Trophy.
Solomon Seiulli (Stretton State College)
A robust running second rower with junior representative experience in rugby union, Solomon Seiulli is someone with a great motor and wonderful work ethic.
Flynn Brooks (Stretton State College)
Watch for the Dakoda Yung-Flynn Brooks halfback-hooker combination to play a big role in this side.
No.9 Brooks brings toughness and a great attitude to the team. He is a Mr Reliable who is particularly consistent.
Hayden Madders (Wavell SHS)
From a well known family which has contributed to the school’s league program throughout this decade, Madders was the halves partner of Wavell school mate Timahna Tandy during Norths’ 2025 Connell Cup campaign.
A tough, smart player who can control of game naturally, Madders had a bumper Walters Cup season last year and is a Langer Trophy player of the future.
Nickolai Wolpers (Wavell SHS)
Wolpers is an ideal bloke to have in the side, someone who is safe and competitive - while having a high level of skills.
Israel Faialaga (Wavell SHS)
Strong and aggressive, Israel Faialaga has the ability to take the game by the scruff of the neck.
Originally published as Langer reserve grade Players to Watch in 2025
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