Keebra Park 2020 rugby league report card
Keebra’s sweeping backline was the competition’s deadliest when given room to roam, with left edge backs Levi Jones and Jahream Bula finishing off a combined 14 tries from seven games.
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KEEBRA PARK
Ladder: 2nd (Langer Cup)
Wins: Marsden SHS (24-0), Ipswich SHS (22-16), St Mary’s College (46-12), Wavell SHS (32-8)
Loss(es): Wavell SHS (38-24), Palm Beach Currumbin (22-18, 16-8)
Rating: B+
A defensive collapse in their first game of the year and two losses to eventual State Finalists Palm Beach Currumbin were the only blights on another strong season for the Gold Coast rugby league nursery.
Keebra’s sweeping backline was the competition’s deadliest when given room to roam, with left edge backs Levi Jones and Jahream Bula finishing off a combined 14 tries from seven games.
The team’s defensive improvement was out of sight from round one but Keebra weren’t strong enough to hold out PBC’s attack in their two clashes this season.
Highlight
Keebra’s semi-final redemption against Wavell State High was the high point of the 2020 Langer Cup season.
Their round one defeat stung so badly that coach Glen Campbell said players in the team were reconsidering their futures as footballers after conceding seven tries.
The pride Keebra displayed to hold Wavell to eight points in their rematch to book their place in the first Langer Cup grand final was resplendent.
It was also a high point of Keebra’s attack with devastating set piece moves carving up the competition’s top-rated defensive outfit.
Lowlight:
Round one’s defeat to Wavell has already been discussed, so the greatest remaining disappointment of the season came in Keebra’s first clash with Palm Beach Currumbin in Round Four.
Three tries in the opening 10 minutes set a platform that Keebra should not have let slip but poor discipline opened a floodgate of points and allowed PBC to storm home to claim their third win over Keebra in as many years.
Backbone:
Year 11 front-rowers Herman Tofaeono at prop and Blake Mozer at hooker were the most consistent performers in the squad, next to centre Jahream Bula.
All three featured heavily in the voting for Keebra’s player of the year.
Most improved player:
At the start of the year the left edge backrow position was certain to belong to captain Sioasi Tonga, but injury and the incredible development of Kobe Wood tossed that script out the window.
Wood punched above his weight in every match but never came close to relinquishing his jersey after first winning it.
Who returns in 2021?
Competition leading tryscorer Levi Jones, halfback Connor Te Kani and interchange forwards Seth Nikotemo and PJ Poutasi will join the aforementioned Tofaeono and Mozer in the 2021 Keebra Park team but not even their positions are assured, coach Glen Campbell said.
“That’s how we operate,” he explained.
“No one can rest on their laurels at Keebra because everyone pushes to be the best.
“Like this year, Kobe Wood wasn’t in the picture but he grabbed his jersey and proved that every position is up for grabs.”
Prop Seth Nikotemo is one player with a high ceiling and could shape to be a perfect partner for Herman Tofaeono upfront.
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