Langer Trophy 2021: How to watch Coombabah v PBC replays

Coombabah SHS and Palm Beach Currumbin SHS faced off in the Langer Trophy and Walters Cup at Pizzey Park this afternoon. WATCH THE REPLAYS HERE

• Every Gold Coast Langer Trophy replay
• Langer Trophy 2021: Season Draw

Superstar Palm Beach Currumbin halfback Tom Weaver has ripped the greatest Langer Trophy boilover in memory from the clutches of Coombabah State High School, orchestrating a 12-point comeback in 10 minutes to save his school’s undefeated season.

It was a rare off night for Weaver and his teammates as a sluggish, inaccurate performance was countered by a Coombabah outfit that punched above its weight at every opportunity.

Halfback Caleb Gould-Waiariki’s Queensland touch football pedigree helped Coombabah lead the three-time defending champions 18-10 with 15 minutes to play.

With their first defeat in two seasons on the line, the Titans-contracted playmaker snapped out of his funk to swing the axe of Coombabah’s upset dream.

With 10 minutes to play Weaver straightened to take on the line himself, drawing the attention of four defenders to set prop Darcy Townsend one-on-one against fullback Shannon Donaldson on the goalline to cut the lead to two points.

With five minutes to play Weaver took on the line again, slicing between two front row forwards to score the matchwinner untouched between the goalposts.

Weaver played below his own lofty standards for much of the match, with a missed tackle leading to a try and throwing away another when a wild offload was intercepted and converted into six points by Coombabah on the stroke of halftime.

His champion class shone through as he dragged Palm Beach Currumbin back into the contest through sheer force of will, sealed with the 55th minute matchwinner to break Coombabah hearts.

Weaver created the first try for PBC when a cross-field bomb picked out winger Michael Roberts, who offloaded for a looping Deine Mariner to lead 4-0 in the opening minutes.

A poor pass from Weaver cost his side the half-time lead when Coombabah grubbered ahead to score two tackles later through winger Dwayne Ckwan-Fuimaono.

Weaver played the key hand in PBC’s second try early in the second half, when a bounce-pass lured Coombabah’s Dre Goldsmith out of the defensive line and opened the hole for fullback Keanu Kini to slice through untouched for a 10-6 lead.

A one-on-one strip from Gould-Waiariki changed the momentum of the match as Coombabah marched upfield to score through a short-side raid from fullback Shannon Donaldson in the 40th minute.

Gould Waiariki proved the hero again five minutes later when a dummy pass left PBC’s defence grasping at thin air as he went in to build the eight point lead, silencing the home team spectators.

That was the point where Weaver ignited, shrugging off earlier shortcomings to show why the Titans have already entrusted him with a full-time position in their NRL squad next year.

WALTERS CUP REPLAY

COOMBABAH State High School could not maintain its momentum after scoring a one in a million try from kick-off, eventually falling 32-4 to Palm Beach Currumbin in the Walters Cup.

Centre Ryan McCann was the beneficiary of extraordinary luck and good timing in equal measure, winning the race to a kick-off Palm Beach Currumbin had foolishly allowed to find grass inside their red zone.

The ball bounced cruelly for PBC, straight into the arms of McCann who fought through two desperate defenders to score with 10 seconds.

Palm Beach Currumbin answered back with three tries to centre Tyson Ploegsma, hooker Will Saunders and halfback Zane Harrison to take a commanding 16-4 lead at halftime.

Ploegsma had his double early in the second half as Palm Beach went 99 metres in a single set thanks to incisive runs from Saunders and fullback Creedance Donovan.

Donovan and Ploegsma combined to set Harrison in space for his second try moments later.

Quick hands from Donovan put winger Bailey Simpson into space for an aerial finish to wrap up a comprehensive victory, their third from three games.

LANGER TROPHY PREVIEW

The basketball genes roaring through the blood of Coombabah State High School edge weapon Kyen Murphy will fuel his aerial assault upon Palm Beach Currumbin’s backline on Wednesday night.

Newly promoted Coombabah will hunt for the greatest Langer Trophy upset in memory when they travel to Pizzey Park to take on the three-time defending champions in a prime time clash livestreamed on the Bulletin website.

WATCH THE MATCH IN THE PLAYER ABOVE

Towering Year 11 second-rower Kyen Murphy leads a host of reinforcements returning from injury to bolster Coombabah’s charge, including Titans-contracted prop Joseph Shannon and outside backs Filisi Frost and Dre Goldsmith.

He is the son of former New South Wales representative basketballer Glenn Murphy, who was killed in 2012 while a passenger in a car crash near Byron Bay, when Kyen was just eight years old.

“Every game I play I usually strap my arm and write his name or something about him,” Murphy said.

“Because I was so young it didn’t really affect me back then but as you grow up you definitely feel that absence. It’s always there in the back of my mind now.”

Coombabah SHS second row Kyen Murphy. Picture by Richard Gosling

Murphy owes his physical gifts to his late dad, whose No.44 basketball singlet was retired and now flies above the rafters at Lismore Basketball Association headquarters.

“I definitely got the height off him,” Murphy said.

“He was six-foot-four, a tall man. When I used to be a winger and I jumped for the ball I always used to score the try.

“It used to be a cheat code for us, just kick the ball up on the wing for me to go up and score.”

Murphy has moved further infield since those high-flying junior days because coaches felt his other skills – namely his strong tackling - were wasted on the extremes of the field.

Coaches hope his aerial abilities will prove a trump card for Coombabah as Murphy lines up opposite Queensland top schoolboy centre Deine Mariner, who will start at right centre for PBC before joining the Brisbane Broncos full-time in November.

The school has not faced opposition of Palm Beach Currumbin’s quality since last qualifying for the Langer Trophy in 2017.

Gold Coast’s Langer Trophy schools. Picture by Richard Gosling

With the spotlight upon them Murphy backed his teammates to shine under pressure.

“None of these boys have played this level of Opens football before so it would be good to get out there and play some good footy,” Murphy said.

“We don’t have the numbers that all these other schools do so we’ve got to outwork them and get our combinations going, no matter what.

“Our coach Mr Meskell has told us all year we just have to push up because even though we don’t have the size we do have the speed, definitely.

“If we push up with all our players then any offloads will be there for them and that’s how you get the tries.”

Palm Beach Currumbin will host Coombabah in the first Gold Coast derby of 2021 at Pizzey Park while Keebra Park host title dark horse Ipswich State High School at Southport’s Owen Park.

Online subscribers to the Bulletin can watch every match of the Langer Trophy tournament.