Here’s 30 Players to Watch in the Langer Reserves competition
The Langer Reserves competition is set for kick-off and there will be plenty of highlights with these next-up rookies ready to make an impression. SEE THE PLAYERS TO WATCH.
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This year’s Langer Reserves competition will again be chock full of budding rugby league talent, many on the cusp of getting a run in the premier Langer Trophy competition.
LANGER TROPHY PLAYERS TO WATCH
In this story, we shine a light on the young gun reserves gearing up for a high octane environment, which has been won by Ipswich State High School for the last two years.
The Langer Reserves, which will not be live steamed by News Corp, will be the curtain raiser games to News’ live streaming of all eight rounds and finals from the Langer Trophy and the Year 10 Walters Cup on KommunityTV in a deal with the NRL and Queensland Secondary Schools Rugby League.
ROUND 1 LIVE STREAMS
MABEL PARK SHS v CALOUNDRA SHS
LANGER RESERVES PLAYERS TO WATCH
Taj Lateo (Palm Beach Currumbin)
Watch for the kicking game of tall Year 11 playmaker Taj Lateo, the younger brother of Langer Trophy premiership winner Jake.
The team captain will hit the ground running at five-eighth after a season with Tweed’s Connell Cup side and he will be hungry for victory.
Earlier this week his club coach, Sam Meskell, rated him one of the best NRL unsigned players in the Meninga Cup.
Dylan Watkins (Palm Beach Currumbin)
Another emerging back from the Seagulls Connell Cup side, Watkins could play fullback, on the wing or even in the centres and be effective.
Good luck first line defenders, this kid has wheels and a knack for breaking tackles.
Devin Bates-Wellington (Palm Beach Currumbin)
The Tweed Seagulls connection will be strong in this Reds team, with the physical Devin Bates-Wellington another under-17 representative.
The powerful second rower has Langer Trophy written all over him for 2024, but for now the Year 11 brute will be spearheading his team’s defensive effort in the Langer Reserves.
Donte Tahuhu-Wilson (Mabel Park SHS)
The quicksilver talent coming out of Logan City just never stops.
Youngster Tahuhu-Wilson steps oppsotion players in his sleep and with the ball in hand this season, alarm bells will ring in opposition defensive lines.
The kid is agile, with the vision to make him a consistent threat in this competition.
Tyson MacDonald (Mabel Park SHS)
Here’s a talent for the little blackbook.
Titans signed Year 11 student MacDonald is an outside back with raw talent and flare.
Tall and athletic, MacDonald doesn’t shriek the physical battle and we suspect as the season goes on the better he will get.
Watch this space.
Bailey Downs (Mabel Park SHS)
Mabel Park had a real ferrari in their forward pack with dynamic edge forward Downs sure to ruffle some feathers through the middle of the field.
A damaging line runner, Downs is just as strong on defence as he is powering through contact.
Underestimate him at your peril.
Sonny Herdegen (Wavell SHS)
While older brother Zac - a recent Queensland schoolboys selection - will be troubling opponents clever creation and towering torpedo kicks, youngster Sonny, a hooker, will be working overtime putting the ball in the breadbasket.
A Redcliffe Dolphins Connell Cup representative, Herdegen had his hands on the ball as much as anyone in Queensland’s best under-17 side this year, premiers Redcliffe. Watch for his skirting runs from the ruck.
Devine Timu (Wavell SHS)
Light on his feet, Year 11 student Timu can execute backline shifts in a flash with his elite finishing ability.
But he was also very capable on defence and when returning the ball from the backfield, hence why the astute Broncos scouts have him on their books.
Hayden Polson (Wavell SHS)
The Dolphins signed edge forward dynamo will be a real handful for his rivals this season.
A defensive beast for the Norths Devils, Queensland Maroon Under-15s (2023) selection Polson may take a game or two to click into gear due to injury but it will not be long before his thumping first contact puts an end to opposition momentum.
Rhico Markey (Caloundra SHS)
Markey can produce madness anywhere in the spine.
Speedy and tough, Markey can play fullback, five-eighth, halfback and hooker with ease.
William Joyner (Caloundra SHS)
The Seahawks’ first choice rake will be Joyner, a dynamic No.9 with an eye for the tryline and the defensive capabilities to go with it.
Sonny Kendall (Caloundra SHS)
The Caloundra Sharks junior will be the Seahawks’ edge forward prime mover.
A rangy type, Kendall eats post contact most contact metres for breakfast.
Zayne Hudson (Caloundra SHS)
With a mix of speed and strength, Hudson will again be a try scoring threat on the wing for Caloundra.
Last season he showed finesse scoring plenty of tries on the wing in the Walters Cup Year 10 competition.
Now a Year 11, Hudson is primed to run in even more four pointers.
Christian Mikaele (Keebra Park SHS)
A member of the South Coast Maroon side who finished runners up at the state championships, Ipswich Jets conjurer Mikaele has more than a smattering of x-factor.
A skilled spine player who could lineup at fullback or in the halves, Mikaele is quite tall and has deceptive footwork, hence why he was picked in the Queensland Country Under-17s side.
His older brother Thomas was a barnstorming NRL front rower, while Christian was also signed to the club’s successful Academy program.
VJ Letalu (Keebra Park SHS)
A member of the Queensalnd Under-15 schoolboy side last year, Letalu is an elusive outside back with great footwork and athleticism.
The young rook will be pushing for higher honours and he has a good chance if he strings together a handful of strong showings.
Gazniah To’omagah (Keebra Park SHS)
Another member of last year’s Queensland Schoolboys Under-15s, To’omagah is a bigger and stronger playmaker or No.13 you would see in a day’s march.
The big framed lock is signed by the Titans and will give this exciting Keebra squad a third on field general to assist its halves.
Cruz Tauaifaiga (Keebra Park SHS)
Wow! This Keebra Park side is going to have some strike in the backs and power in the forwards.
Cruz, the younger brother of prolific tryscorer Xavier, Keebra’s instrumental Langer Trophy centre last year, was a versatile forward who punches well above his weight.
Don’t be fooled by his size, South Coast representative Cruz, just like Tigers signee Xavier, can find the tryline.
Ceasar Yeatman (Ipswich SHS)
The school’s best and most electric Year 10 player last year, Yarrabah flyer Yeatman is an outside back with spiders on him.
Hard to tackle and on the fringe of the Langer Trophy team, Year 11 student Yeatman has that magical touch rugby league footballers from Yarrabah seem to have. Magic like Australian Schoolboy Gabriel Satrick, Yeatman’s cousin, showed in 2022 with Ipswich SHS.
Yeatman had a disrupted Connell Cup season with the Jets because of shin splints but is ready to break free in the centres.
Isaiah Pene (Ipswich SHS)
After a strong junior career at the school and with the Springfield Panthers, fullback Pene is rising up the ranks quick and is a smokey to play some Langer Trophy time this year.
A ball playing fullback with speed to burn, the Maori boy is stuck behind some good ones in Xavier Kirk and Tom Parker but will be a key cog in Ipswich’s side chasing a three-peat of Langer Reserve premierships.
Tanielu Tuu’u (Ipswich SHS)
A Goodna Eagles junior, Ipswich Jets under-17 representative prop Tuu’u is another Year 11 pushing his case for Langer Trophy honours.
A hard running prop in a centre’s body, Tuu’u punches above his weight and has a bit of Kane Self (Norths Tigers, Ipswich SHS, Knights) about him with his strength and foot speed a point of difference.
Tyler Theuerkauf (Ipswich SHS)
Spotting Year 12 centre Theuerkauf won’t be difficult. Just look for a wavy blonde mullet reminiscent of an 80s hairstyle.
The Norths Tigers junior is stuck behind gun centres Tayshon Foley and Chris Simpson and will be handful in this competition.
Levi-James Bannan (Marsden SHS)
How healthy was the depth in Marsden SHS’ open age group?
The fact Bannan is in the Langer Reserves side indicates just how deep the talent stretches.
A dummyhalf or playmaker, the quick Souths Logan ace is a defensive workhorse and conductor capable of putting teammates through holes.
Taysharrn Tonga (Marsden SHS)
Marsden SHS will be in safe hands with Year 11 rake Tonga handling the ball out of the ruck, passing or going himself as a creative ballrunner.
Signed by the Dolphins, Tonga was elite in the Walters Cup last season.
Jackson Carmody (Redcliffe SHS)
The high IQ dummyhalf will be Mr consistent for this side.
He knows when to pass and when to go himself will hold up his end of the bargain on the tackling front.
Regan Tomlinson (Redcliffe SHS)
The Year 11 player makes up for what he lacks in size, he makes up for with his pace off the mark and ability to create off the whim.
The younger has an Oz tag background and will keep the Redcliffe attack moving forward with his communication skills.
Kai Harris (Redcliffe SHS)
Another Year 11 student moving up into the Opens environment, Harris is the type of middle forward to thrive in this competition.
The old fashioned prop will lead the charge with his hard running and tough defence and he is the type of player you would want in your team.
Gus Folau (Redcliffe SHS)
The agile centre will continue a strong tradition at the school after his older brother Graham, the Langer Trophy winger, graduated last year.
Meanwhile his younger brother Mahonri, a No.13, was the captain of the school’s Year 7 side.
Currently in Toowoomba at the schoolboy rugby championships, Gus is an elite defensive player who will hold the side together with his ability to read the attack.
Originally published as Here’s 30 Players to Watch in the Langer Reserves competition
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