Langer Cup 2020: Five things we learned from PBC v St Mary’s

Five things we learned from Palm Beach Currumbin’s 16-6 victory over St Mary’s at Pizzey Park on Wednesday, August 12.

Five things we learned from Palm Beach Currumbin’s 16-6 victory over St Mary’s at Pizzey Park on Wednesday, August 12.

1. WHEN ALL ELSE FAILS

Defending champions Palm Beach Currumbin (red) host runners up Ipswich State High in the opening round of the 2020 Langer Cup at Pizzey Park. Palm Beach Currumbin's Troy Duckett . Picture: Jerad Williams

The Brisbane Broncos, Melbourne Storm and Australian Wallabies have long enjoyed the benefit of having an excellent aerial presence on their wing in the form of Israel Folau, Xavier Coates or Suliasi Vunivalu.

For PBC, that presence comes from winger Troy Duckett – who is barely six-foot.

You can’t deny his results with two great leaps resulting in two tries to turn the match.

2. BALLING

Defending champions Palm Beach Currumbin (red) host runners up Ipswich State High in the opening round of the 2020 Langer Cup at Pizzey Park. Palm Beach Currumbin's Tom Weaver crossing over the line and Ipswich State High's Deijion Leugaimafa. Picture: Jerad Williams

Halfback Tom Weaver’s accurate kicking game is producing a stack of try assists but his kicking game is being heavily relied on for points.

Like a basketball point guard, Weaver is tossing up alley-oops for his slam dunkers to feast on.

What’s scary for opposition teams is that there’s still room for improvement, with a number of overcooked kicks letting the pressure off.

When the Titans youngster puts it all together PBC’s aerial raids will be tough to stop.

3. NEXT BRONCOS PROP

Langer Cup: PBC host St Mary's Toowoomba at Burleigh Bears Rugby League Club at Pizzey Park Miami. Pbc's Xavier Willison and St Marys Joshua Quinlan plead to the ref. Picture Glenn Hampson

There’s no prop in the Langer Cup who looks more like a future NRL star than Xavier Willison.

The lanky third-year PBC star is able to generate metres like few other forwards in the competition with his long legs, blessed with both speed and power.

What’s most exciting is his offloading game. Teams commit defenders to shutting him down but his ability to flash out and keep a set alive is his signature point of difference.

The Broncos will be pleased to have locked up Willison because he’ll only improve as he stacks weight onto his lean frame.

4. BATMAN AND DUNROBIN

Langer Cup: PBC host St Mary's Toowoomba at Burleigh Bears Rugby League Club at Pizzey Park Miami. St Marys Keanu Wright-Dunrobin brings the ball back from a kick. Picture Glenn Hampson

St Mary’s fullback Keanu Wright-Dunrobin is his school’s key player across three Langer Cup rounds.

He’s undersized but his speed is a difference maker because any kick into the in-goal is a try-scoring chance.

With two capable playmakers in the halves in Blake Moore and Brayden Paix, it’s hard to tell who gets to be Batman between them.

5. DEBUTANT DEINE

Langer Cup: PBC host St Mary's Toowoomba at Burleigh Bears Rugby League Club at Pizzey Park Miami. PBC's Daniel Butturini and Deine Mariner in a strange dance to try and score off a kick.. Picture Glenn Hampson

Debutant PBC centre Deine Martin had the biggest shoes to fill of any player on the park on Wednesday night, filling in for injured PBC skipper Damon Somerville.

He had a few quality touches but the disappointment on his face was clear as he left the field in the arms of a trainer.

We’ll have to wait and see if the Broncos signing is cleared to return for the biggest day in PBC’s sporting calendar – the annual Gold Coast derby with Keebra Park next Wednesday.