Langer Cup: Five things we learned from Keebra v Marsden

Mini-Moe, the curse of the anklebreaker, the powerful prop pair, multi-talented wingers and creative approaches to crowd control: These are five things we learned from Keebra v Marsden

Five things we learned from Keebra Park’s 24-0 victory over Marsden SHS at Southport Tigers

My Kingdom for an Ankle

The Sunday Mail will launch schoolboy rugby league livestreaming this week. To launch we are doing a story with Payne Haas' little brother Klese Haas, who is playing for Keebra Park on the Gold Coast. Pics Adam Head

Who knows what’s in the water at Keebra Park, but if you value your ankles, I wouldn’t go near it.

Star backrower Klese Haas was ruled out during the week with an ankle injury but those woes didn’t stop there.

Keebra lost bench forward Leyton Borg to an ankle injured before sparkplug utility Blake Mozer joined him on the sideline – both with ankle injuries.

If there’s some hotshot sidestepping his way around the Keebra Park tuckshop breaking ankles, would you kindly stop?

WATCH REPLAY: KEEBRA PARK V MARSDEN SHS

Mini Moe

Sione Fotuaika plays Langer Cup rugby league for Marsden State High School and is brothers to Titans star Moeaki Fotuaika and will take on his brother's old school (Keebra Park) on Wednesday. Pics Adam Head

It was back page news of the Gold Coast Bulletin as the latest member of the Fotuaika clan took the field at Keebra Park for the first time.

Sione – who played prop for visitors Marsden – punched well above his weight for a 16-year-old front rower in the fiercest schoolboy rugby league competition on the planet.

Keebra prop Herman Tofaeono might be one the toughest players to tackle in the entire competition but young Fotuaika made himself felt in defence with a number of rib-tickling shots.

WATCH REPLAY: WAVELL SHS V PALM BEACH CURRUMBIN

Tough to tackle x2

Langer Cup: Keebra Park SHS's Isaac Matalavea-Booth in action against Marsden SHS at Southport Tigers home ground Owen Park on Wednesday. Picture: Jerad Williams

Tofaeono might be tough to tackle but when paired with prop partner Isaac Matalavea-Booth the duo grow to another level.

They’re a one-two punch up there with the best of the competition.

Matalavea-Booth’s try, charging onto a Yorel Alapaki short-ball to split the defence, displayed the hole-running ability of any great centre.

If the pair, particularly Tofaeono, can nail down their ball security the NRL will surely come knocking.

WATCH REPLAY: ST MARY’S V IPSWICH SHS

Edge threats in attack and defence

Langer Cup: Marsden SHS's George Peyroux tries to stop Keebra Park SHS's Tuvalli Khan-Pereira crossing over the line in the match against Marsden SHS at Southport Tigers home ground Owen Park on Wednesday. Picture: Jerad Williams

Keebra wingers Trey Peni and Levi Jones have showcased strong finishing ability in the opening two weeks of the competition but it was their contributions in defence that shone brightest against Marsden.

Centre Khan-Pereira scored his first try of the season when Trey Peni’s kick-chase forced a knock-on from his opposite when defusing a Dave Telea cross-field kick.

It was no fluke because Jones’ perfectly timed goal line tackle on Marsden fullback Jodeci Tiraha forced a second knock-on that led to points, when Jahream Bula won the chase to that loose ball.

The Keebra wingers can finish them and create them for others with their big hitting.

WATCH: FIRST EVER EPISODE OF ‘SCHOOL FOOTY SHOW’

Crowd control

It was the first week ever where crowds were banned from Langer Cup matches but some crafty students wouldn’t let that deter them.

Turned out by security at the gate, dozens of students assembled on the southern hill to peer over the chainlink fence to watch the match live.

Others set up camp in the back of their utes parked on the eastern fence line to score the second-best seat in the house.

The best, of course, was claimed by the thousands of viewers who tuned in to the Gold Coast Bulletin livestream.