Best of the Day players across six games - Marsden SHS and PBC SHS
Here’s 40 of the best of the day during a six match extravaganza between Marsden and Palm Beach Currumbin across the Brisbane Broncos Old Boys Challenge, Renouf Shield, Hancock Cup, Walters Cup and Langer Trophy.
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Six bumper schoolboy matches were staged during a rugby league extravaganza between host school Marsden SHS and Palm Beach Currumbin SHS.
WATCH THE LANGER, WALTERS CUP REPLAYS HERE
Games were played in the Brisbane Broncos Old Boys Challenge for Year 7s, followed by Renouf Shield (Year 8), Hancock Cup (Year 9), Walters Cup (Year 10) and two open Langer fixtures.
Enjoy our Best of the Day coverage here in a clash between two old rivals.
LANGER TROPHY, PBC SHS 30 def Marsden SHS 10
Zane Harrison (PBC SHS)
The Queensland schoolboys halfback was splendid with his control, running game and passing game. Refreshed after a demanding June-May club, school and representative period, watch for the young conductor to have an influence on the final six weeks of the competition.
Mace Andrew and Tupou Francis (Marsden SHS)
Both boys were easily in the top five best players on the field. Mobile front rower Andrew had his big motor working on all cylinders while Francis was aggressive with his runs and defence. Both were Year 11 students who were already leaders of the pack.
Isaac Harrison (PBC SHS)
You know what you get from this wholehearted No.13 who rarely misses a tackle and who carries the ball with his feet, frequently playing the ball swiftly for his dummy half. He is the type of player you build premiership around - and it is no surprise he has won about a dozen titles during his career.
Jai Bilish and Jac Finigan (PBC SHS)
Bilish was a tremendous enhancement to the PBC program this year, with his dashing runs as an interchange dummy half and defensive work rate complementing the side perfectly.
We know Finigan is an effective edge back rower, but the Queensland schoolboys representative can also be a defensive workhorse and he was an effort player in this department against Marsden SHS.
Special mentions:
Marley Igasan, Marley McLaren and Cruz Dangerfield (PBC SHS)
In an outstanding team performance in which PBC SHS did the simple things right - ball control, physical, line speed in defence - two boys enjoyed debuts. Try scorer Marley Igasan, a Year 11 student, and Year 12 student Cruz Dangerfield will get great satisfaction from pulling on the famous Reds jersey for the first time. McLaren also had a nice match, creating a short side try, scoring another just before halftime and supporting well, while also making his tackles.
Adaquix Luke (Marsden SHS)
It is good to finally get a decent sighting of Luke in school football this season after a disrupted 2023 and showed touches of pure class playing fullback.
Marsden SHS prop Benji Quinlan was again a big hearted performer around the ruck.
BBOB (Year 7), Marsden 12 def PBC SHS 8
Jenesys Tuimavave-Gerard (Marsden SHS)
The tall forward troubled PBC SHS with his runs wider of the ruck and through the middle.
He also stole possession in a one-on-one tackle which led to the field position which, soon after, saw him chase an attacking kick and score.
The athletic Tuimavave-Gerard also saved a try in the second half with an ankle tap on runaway PBC SHS prop Thomas Mellor.
Lando Flint (PBC SHS)
The left edge second rower unfortunately had limited chances to show his wares, but when he was presented the ball, he impacted the match.
With one of his few chances in the first half Flint strode gracefully over 30m to score after hitting a hole off his five-eight Hudson Davis.
Zane Zimmerle (PBC SHS)
Zimmerle ran strongly, had a subtle passing game before the line, and once saved a try with rallying defence on his line.
Like a lot of the PBC SHS, he came into the match more during his team’s improved second half performance.
Kingston Laulu (Marsden SHS)
He delivered the bricks and mortar to the building site and off the back of his no-nonsense, sturdy middle charges, Marsden SHS were able to gain a footing in the middle.
Special mentions: With his team’s ball control improving in the second half, PBC SHS fullback Quade Hambly came into the game some more and his long striding, swerving run to the line in the second half enabled his side to draw level, 8-all, with Marsden.
Marsden’s left winger Billy Pollard did a great job. There is nothing of him, but his speed over a short distance three times launched his side away from the danger zone and he put his body on the line in defence.
Also a special mention to Marsden SHS debut boy, Jahral King, who scored the winning try late in his first game in the side, and to PBC SHS hooker Lennox Maccan who gave nice service.
RENOUF SHIELD (Year 8), Marsden 36 def PBC SHS 8
Tipene Moyes (Marsden SHS)
Well, he scored all six tries - four in the first half - and was a one man wrecking machine with his powerful thrusts angling either in behind the forwards or slightly wider of the ruck.
But the No.13 was also skilful and smart, scoring his fourth try on the cusp of halftime when he became a makeshift winger in order to chase a nice chip kick delivered by one of his halves.
Koby Skelton and Jysiah Jones (Marsden)
Centre Skelton and fullback Jones completed the team performance, with the aggressive Skelton’s runs from his own end and swift moving edge defence ensuring the PBC SHS had more to worry about that simply Moyes (mentioned above). No.1 Jones pushed up and had a high involvement in the line.
Blake Millar (PBC SHS)
Miller started on the wing, but finished the second half at fullback and was just gutsy and brave.
Special mention: Xane Jarvis and Tyla Cicchini (PBC SHS) for their courage under fire.
HANCOCK CUP (Year 9), PBC SHS 6 def Marsden SHS 4
Nixon O’Connor (PBC SHS)
The mobile big fella was the player of the match. He had endless energy, plenty of second effort runs and one handed unloads in tackles, challenging the Marsden SHS defence with his lateral movement at pace around the ruck.
Jaylon Russell (PBC SHS)
Russell scored a near miracle try just after halftime with a stunning regather of a towering bomb which had bounced once.
He displayed catlike reflexes to gather the ball at full pace after it had bounced violently straight back at his right arm pit.
For that play alone, he deserves high praise because his magic proved the difference in a close game.
Dazel Guillonta (Marsden) scored a brilliant chip and regather try, was physical with his edge defence and took the ball to the line to try and release his outside backs.
Special mentions: Fabian Cowan (Marsden SHS), the Marsden No.13 and PBC SHS interchange forward Elijah To’omaga who played against his old school. PBC SHS fullback Ike Bilish (PBC SHS) also had a high involvement.
WALTERS CUP (Year 10), Marsden SHS 20 def PBC SHS 18
Marquis Sando (Marsden SHS)
Sando is the type of kid you’d love to play alongside. He is no Flash Dan, but he rolls his sleeves up and just gets it down with aggressive carries and hurtful defence. It is his consistency across a match which is a great strength.
Grayson Wharakura (Marsden SHS)
There were no long distance runs or striding cover defending tackles, but instead what you got from the tall fullback was a high work rate and extra effort runs down the middle to take pressure off his forwards.
Billy Mulheran (PBC SHS)
The impressive young prop matched it with his rivals in a physical forward contest in which there was no clear winner. He has a growing reputation and onlookers glimpsed why in yesterday’s bout.
Special mentions: Nathan Phelps (Marsden SHS)
The five-eight has ice in his veins, with his late penalty goal the difference in a match which swung wildly in the strong wind.
Phelps is used to pressure, having two seasons ago kicked a long range golden point field to give his former school, Alexandra Hills SHS, a premiership.
Special mentions also to PBC SHS busy hooker Cooper McCarthy, probing halfback Max Fife and Marsden SHS centre Mairangiatea Walker who lit up the match with a brilliant individual burst down the sideline to put his winger Ezra Button over to score.
LANGER RESERVES, Marsden 24 def PBC SHS 22
Cooper Lewis (Marsden SHS)
Lewis turned a quick play the ball into an easy 10m gain with his smart dummy half spurts, while also giving grand service from the ground. HIs goal kicking was a bonus in a close game.
Josiah Fa’Aoso (PBC SHS)
The dynamic prop had a big finish to the match, with his closing 15 minute spurt carrying his side to the brink of victory. He was also good in the first half, but at his best in the second half.
Sean Daugherty (Marsden SHS)
The big bloke loaded up and let fly in the middle of the ruck where his leg speed was a point of difference.
Caleb Margetts (Marsden SHS)
Margetts kicking game found turf and in a close game, that was extra important, while he was enthusiastic chasing kicks.
Dylan Watkins (PBC SHS)
Watkins was good all game, but he also had a tremendous late burst that gave PBC SHS a chance.
One of his involvements provided PBC SHS with the field position in which to push a deep, wide left raid that ended in a try that cut the margin to 24-22.
Devin Bates-Wellington (PBC SHS)
Bates-Wellington helped break the deadlock with a busting edge run that created a try for his halfback Riley Loughland after prop Bobby Smith had delivered with a momentum turning run in the ruck. He was consistent across the game.
Special mention: Taj Lateo (PBC SHS)
Lateo, returning the reserves after a good brace of games in the Langer prior to the end of term 2 break, directed his team well, lunged to score a close range individual try and backed up to score his second try which dragged his side to 12-all by halftime.
It was a brilliant run from nothing by winger Kaea Cribb which created the chance for Lateo to score his second try, but Lateo still had to make the effort to push up on the inside just in case he was needed - and he was needed. He also chased kicks hard and his strong shoulder tackle eight minutes from full-time gave PBC SHS a chance to draw the game.
Winger Cribb (PBC SHS) also deserves a special mention.
Marsden’s Levi Bannon gains a special mention for his left side organisation, with his probing passing eventually finding a deadlocking breaking try for second rower Teurangi Walker.
Originally published as Best of the Day players across six games - Marsden SHS and PBC SHS
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