Wavell SHS school captain among the Langer Trophy’s most versatile
How’s this for the Langer Trophy’s most versatile players? It is a Super 17 of talent who have had all bases covered as the elite schoolboy competition prepares for an exciting final round.
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The Langer Trophy steams into round 7 of the competition starting tonight with an old boys day clash between PBC SHS and Keebra Park SHS.
The competition then continues on Wednesday with another three games.
ROUND 7 Live stream schedule
Tuesday:WATCH LIVE: Keebra Park v PBC SHS
Wednesday:WATCH LIVE: Mabel Park v Marsden
Wednesday: Caloundra v Ipswich
Wednesday: Wavell v Redcliffe
Premiership ladder
1. Ipswich 12
2. Keebra Park 10
3. PBC SHS 7
4. Mabel Park 6
5. Wavell SHS 5
6. Marsden SHS 4
7. Redcliffe SHS 4
8. Caloundra SHS 0
Ahead of round 7, enjoy this story highlighting some of the competition’s most versatile players who can play in various positions.
LANGER TROPHY’S MOST VERSATILE PLAYERS
Kaleb Smith (PBC SHS)
When you have a demanding season like the Langer Trophy, someone like Kaleb Smith is exactly the type you need around the squad.
Smith, who made his A grade debut for the Murwillumbah Mustangs earlier in the year, plays in both the halves or No.13 or even at dummy half.
A Future Titans academy member, he represented South Coast in June at the state championships.
ROUND 3 LANGER TROPHY REPLAYS
KEEBRA v REDCLIFFE LIVE STREAM
Callum Bowles (PBC SHS)
Palm Beach Currumbin’s Callum Bowles is indeed Mr. Versatile.
The Tweed Seagulls Meninga Cup premiership winner can play in the halves and could kick the goals if Zane Harrison is away.
A big bodied outside back, Bowles has played on the wing, at fullback and in the centres this year for the Reds.
Natu Leota (Mabel Park SHS)
If you search up the word versatile in the Langer Trophy dictionary Leota’s headshot should appear, that is how many positions he could play and be effective.
The vice-captain of the First XIII, Leota debuted as a centre last year, at times played prop for Parramatta’s Harold Matthews side and can play No.13 or five-eighth under coach Ben Weston at Mabel Park SHS.
Ryan McCann (Mabel Park SHS)
While Ryna McCann has played right wing in every game this season, he was still one of the more versatile outside backs in the competition.
A strong and steady winger with finesse, pace and athleticism, Logan Brothers junior McCann has finished plenty of backline shifts from Mabel this season and even got unlucky with a few more that were brought back by the referee.
He play wings but is a quality fullback and a more than capable centre.
Keyarn Pene (Wavell SHS)
A Met North selection Keyarn Pene is one of the great leaders to have come through Wavell’s system.
The captain of the Norths Devils Meninga Cup team, school captain Pene can play in the halves, centres or at fullback.
Like many of the Wavell players, he has been better for the experience gained in last year’s competition where he played every game.
Pene is one of Wavell’s best both in defence on the edge, and running the ball.
Ruben Webb (Wavell SHS)
Exciting Wavell winger Ruben Webb, the son of former New Zeland international Brent, has been stationed on the wing this season.
He is a capable halve as well, but Wavell already have the outstanding Timahna Tandy shining at five-eight this season, and his crafty little brother, Charlie Webb (Walters Cup), coming along nicely. Ruben Webb can also play fullback, where his speed and footwork is to the fore.
Ellyjah Birve (Caloundra SHS)
A livewire utility, Birve was just as exciting as either a fullback or in the halves.
He could even float around the ruck where his speed and agility would challenge big forwards.
Originally a FNQ product, he has come through the Caloundra SHS program since year 8 and his impressive campaign as a Year 11 student has flown under the radar.
Noah Noke (Caloundra SHS)
Impressive Caloundra SHS schoolboy Noah Noke has toiled away this season at a high level and is one of the big reasons why the Seahawks have been in all but one game this season (28-0 loss to PBC).
Noke played No.13 for the first four games of the season and is now fronting up against the competition’s biggest bodies as a middle forward.
Along the way Noke, who scored a try against Redcliffe in round six, made his A Grade debut for the Coolum Colts.
Teina Maoate (Caloundra SHS)
Maoate has been masterful this season after on the job training as a Year 11 student last season.
A hooker in 2023 and earlier this season, the big bodied Maoate has cemented his position in the halves where he is a running threat and great organiser for his outside backs and edge forwards.
Mason Barber (Keebra Park SHS)
While he is now an elite fullback signed by the Cowboys, Barber started the Langer season as a five-eighth and just two years ago he played some No.13 at school.
He has played centre, wing and fullback in recent seasons for Tweed Seagulls, but fullback and five-eighth are his preferred positions.
The Australian Schoolboy is just a footballer.
Benji Strutt (Keebra Park SHS)
A versatile outside back, Strutt played the first five games of the season and was Mr Consistent for a fast starting Keebra Park outfit.
A team first player who can do a job with any number on his back, the quiet achieving Strutt could be trusted on the wing, in the centres and at fullback.
Hayden Watson (Marsden SHS)
Originally a Beaudesert boy who played his way into the City under-17s from the Burleigh Bears this season, Watson is a Queensland Schoolboys select who has both hooker and halves covered.
Watson comes from a touch football background, so his speed and versatility has been important for a Marsden outfit riddled with injuries. Last week the representative hooker played halfback.
Caleb Cresswell (Marsden SHS)
He is not unlike former Queensland State of Origin and Test champion Brent Tate, the way he aggressively runs toward the defensive line with an expectation he is going to come out the other side.
Like Tate, he also fights to stay on his feet while also having the explosive pace to whiz around an opponent on the outside.
Creswell also has a killer short kicking game which is why he is also at home in the halves.
Zayden Hayburn (Redcliffe SHS)
Zayden Hayburn has done a tremendous job helping Redcliffe through a mid-season injury crisis. He has covered lock, second row and centre - and in one match spent some minutes on the wing.
Nate Berrigan (Redcliffe SHS)
With him progressing well from injury, Berrigan’s aim is to return for the finals. And wouldn’t that be a boost for the side which now has two wins in a row behind them. He certainly is a versatile player, just like his uncle Shaun who was an elite Brisbane Broncos utility. Nate Berrigan can play No.13, second row, centre and even dummy half.
Dusty Appo (Redcliffe SHS)
The premiership winning Redcliffe Dolphins Connell Cup back has played fullback in all six games this season but if needed, was also a capable winger or centre.
Xavier Kirk (Ipswich SHS)
A Met West representative, Kirk is Ipswich SHS’s spark plug who brings energy at dummy half, lock, on the wing or at fullback.
The diminutive utility back can break open a game in a split second.
Also throw into the mix Lesayne Tuisao, a hooker or halves player who has been important to Ipswich this season.
Tom Parker (Ipswich SHS)
Ipswich SHS coach Josh Bretherton used Tom Parker at both fullback and five-eight this season.
At weekend’s he plays club for Souths Under-17 Nev Blair Shield side.
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