How’s this for 70 gun schoolboys from GPS, AIC and Langer footy
How’s this for a crackerjack 70 schoolboy players from across the GPS First XV rugby, Langer Trophy league and AIC XV rugby seasons? We’ve named our best of the best here.
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Who were the top 70 schoolboy players from the GPS First XV rugby, Langer Trophy league and AIC XV rugby seasons?
From observing all three competitions this season, we rank our top 30 players, No.1 to 30, - and name another 40 who we feel shone brightest for their schools in the respective competitions.
RELATED LINKS
OUR LANGER TROPHY TEAM OF THE YEAR REVEALED HERE
GPS FIRST XV RUGBY TEAM OF THE SEASON HERE
AIC FIRST XV RUGBY TEAM OF THE SEASON HERE
CLUB RUGBY’S BEST 20 PLAYERS FROM LAST WEEKENDS FINALS
So sit back, relax and we will take you for a journey past some of the hottest young league and union talents in open schoolboys football from the South East.
OUR TOP 30
30: Tom Howard (Marist College Ashgrove)
Reminiscent of some of the raw talent Ashgrove has been able to produce in their rich rugby history, this Year 10 was one of the competitions most exciting with ball in hand.
Howard stood out more and more every game as he began to find his feet at just 15 years of age.
29: Israel Leota (IGS)
An athletic wonder who could easily have commanded a top 25 placing, Leota was enormous for IGS as an outside centre and for Souths Logan as a rugby league winger where his vertical leap came into place along with his pace and power.
28: Oliva Iaulualo (Ipswich SHS)
Oliva Iaulualo has been a massive player on the edge for Ippy, with his imposing frame challenging opponents and his passing skills in contact coming to the fore. Contracted by the Canterbury Bulldogs, Iaulualo was a 2021 15 years Queensland player and will challenge for the state 18 years side next season.
27: Alex Leapai (Mabel Park SHS)
Leapai has had such a good season, we seriously considered naming him in the First XIII. But the kid won’t be disappointed with his placement here. A huge Year 11 student who plays prop, Leapai scored five or six tries himself, but created countless other attacking raids with passes in tackles. His go forward was also unmatched.
26: Tyler Peckham-Harris (Ipswich SHS)
Talk about a golden patch of form. Peckham-Harris has been the sensation of the finals’ series, with his two try effort in the semi-final a moment he and his family will cherish. He may be a little man, but so was Ipswich SHS’s most famous old boy - Allan Langer - and look how that turned out. Peckham-Harris uses his build to his advantage by ducking and weaving, dancing and stepping at the line. But his form is no flash in the pan after we named him in our Meninga Cup Team of the Year in May.
25: Immanuel Kalekale (Keebra Park SHS)
The Gold Coast Titans also have this man mountain, Kalekale, who along with Seth Nikitemo and Hau have been given upgraded contracts, so impressive were they this season. Another Queensland schoolboys player, Kalekale’s season was cut short by injury and sorely missed by Keebra Park during the business end of the season.
24. Tyreece Tait (Wavell SHS)
Another Queensland representative, Tait is an explosive runner. With a long stride he bounces along, springing from one stride to the next and seems to get quicker the more he moves. He looks the part and was an easy choice on the wing.
23. Haizyn Mellars (Marsden SHS)
The athletic Mellars was a shining light who rose to represent both the Queensland schoolboys league team, and the state basketball under 18 side. He is the son of an NRL player (dad) and an Olympic basketballer (mum) and is explosive across the ground and in the air
22: Jake Kurbatoff (St Laurence’s, captain)
Kurbatoff was an automatic choice as lock and captain of our AIC First XV Team of the Year, after leading St Laurence’s to a third successive AIC premiership. Workhorse best describes Kurbatoff who must be a coaches’ dream. He was a “follow me’’ type skipper who led by example, getting down and dirty.
21: Tafito Falaniko Ah-Ki (St Edmund’s College)
Ah-Ki was a mighty mite whose skill and poise was largely responsible for Eddie’s dramatic rising the AIC First XV competition. His blindside runs, deft kicking and passing gave St Edmund’s every chance of success and Eddies would not have got within cooee of the big dance without their wonderful No.9.
20: Chace Oates (TGS)
Oates was a backline wonder in the GPS First XV competition, a key player in the resurgence of Toowoomba Grammar School who were the close game kings of the competition. He won matches with his boot, with his pace and skill, and could not be contained when TGS had front foot ball. He was a revelation, one of the competition’sshining lights who we take great delight in placing in our top 20.
19: Mikael Ibrahim (St Laurence’s)
For the second season in succession in the AIC First XV, Ibrahim resembled a Sherman Tank with his crashing edge running. There were times when Ibrahim looked like a man among boys, and his forward pack would have chased after him knowing quality ball would be coming back their way - that is if anyone could tackle Ibrahim.
18: Joe Nadenic (St Laurence’s)
St Laurence’s Everywhere Man was both a No. 8 and flanker, such was his work rate. A baby of the squad in 2021, he stood tall this season as a forward leader in 2022, carrying the ball strongly via pick and drive and in rolling mauls, while also defending his tryline like his life depended on it.
17: Chris Faagutu (Marsden SHS)
The Marsden SHS captain and Australian schoolboys rugby league backrower was another shining light in his third season of Langer Trophy with his driving runs, mobility in attack and defence, and lead by example efforts a feature.
16: Dre Pakeho (Churchie)
The depth of our top 25 is evidenced by Pakeho’s selection at No. 16. He was an inside centre phenomenon; his crash ball, powerful attacking bursts and defensive clearing kicks as a second five-eight helped Churchie to its shared GPS premiership.
15: Macarius Pereira (Nudgee)
Looks who’s back in town. The Nudgee prop made our Team of the Year for a second successive season with sweeping lineout work, rolling maul and set piece contributions unmatched.
14: Frankie Goldsbrough (Churchie)
A revelation outside his teammate Dre Pakeho, Goldsbrough was an elite No. 13 who caught the eye as much for his defence as he did his crashing runs or passes to winger Mac Kelley.
13: Liam Le Blanc (Nudgee)
Le Blanc was Nudgee’s forward leader, a defensive strongman who no one could get over the top of during his team’s rise to its joint First XV rugby premiership.
12: Charlie Brosnan (Churchie)
What a player. Tall and athletic, Brosnan was a bit of everything to the Churchie cause with remarkable ball skills, great defensive positional play and damaging runs from No.8. His catch and pass off his ankles, under the fatigue of to gift winger Mack Kelley a try
11. Tre Fotu (Ipswich SHS)
Fotu was Ipswich SHS’s edge gatekeeper, a defensive weapon and brutal ball runner. He played for the Queensland rugby league schoolboys and was the unlucky omission from the Australian schoolboys squad.
10: Tory Bath (Nudgee)
Blink and you may have missed him. We just had to get Bath into the top 10, such was his contribution not only to Nudgee’s premiership pursuit, but to the enjoyment of those watching the GPS season. He mixed speed, a step and a swerve with lovely ball play.
9. Michael Roberts (PBC SHS)
Tre Fotu’s centre mate in the Queensland rugby league schoolboys side, Roberts again proved to be a big match player with class touches. But he was also a defensive rock and played tough - even when he was wounded.
8: Gabriel Satrick (Ipswich SHS)
Satrick is the discovery player of our top 30. Who had heard of his Yarrabah dummy half product before this season. His golden season included winning man of the match in the final playing for Queensland at the national championships, being named Peter Sterling Medallist at yesterday’s NRL schoolboys grand final, earning Australian schoolboy selection, helping Ipswich win its grand finals and earning an NRL contract with Storm. Now that is one hell of a season.
7: Nick Hilton (TSS)
Old Man River kept getting the job done time and again for The Southport School, setting the highest of standards. Away from his hurtful defence, telling runs and brute strength in the set piece and in rolling mauls, He and Jye Gray were leaders whose contribution cannot be measured.
6: Arama Hau (Keebra Park SHS)
Hau was one of the players of the season. Everyone in junior rugby league knew he had talent, but how would he perform with the added responsibility as Keebra Park SHS captain? He performed by playing the house down, joining Ipswich skipper Pahulu as the most dominant forward in the competition, He was simply outstanding and would have been one of the first picked in the Australian schoolboys.
5: Josiah Pahulu (Ipswich SHS)
The Ipswich SHS rugby league captain should be given the Keys to the City. So well has he played, he could easily be the No. 1 player on our list. A middle forward, he was dynamic with his speed and leg drive, explosive in defence and a great leader. His try in the Langer Trophy grand final against PBC was one of the great grand final tries by a prop. He garnished his season by being named an Australian schoolboy.
4: Rob Toia (Nudgee College)
Another who could easily be ranked No. 1, Toia’s season was harpooned by a serious knee injury. But in the two and a half games played Toia was the most dominant player in the GPS First XV competition. He was also Queensland’s best player in its under 19 State of Origin rugby league side.
3: Karl Oloapu (Wavell SHS)
King Karl was a marvel in 2022. Named Player of the Carnival at the Australian schoolboys rugby league championships, Oloapu was a ball playing five-eight with all the skills in the world. He could pass long and short, run and step himself and kick deftly for teammates. In the national schoolboys final he scored a Wally Lewis “follow me boys’’ type try playing out of position at No. 13. The kid is a very, very good player.
2: Keano Kini (PBC SHS)
Kini Keano. Remember this name. The Langer Trophy joint player of the year with Karl Oloapu (Justin Hodges Medal). A fullback who could ball play on either side of the field like a five-eight, he was an explosive runner, powerful with explosive peace. He also used his pace and power to save tries on his tryline both front on and in cover defence.
1: Jye Gray (TSS)
He just had to be the No. 1, didn’t he. He’s a bloke who blitzed the Meninga Cup competition with the premiership winning Souths Logan league side, captained the Queensland schoolboys to the national rugby league championship win and captained The Southport School to a joint GPS First XV premiership. All this by being an outstanding individual player and academic. Gray was basically one and a half players when he ran on for TSS, defending at inside but switching to fullback in attack. In either role he could score tries or save them, while also mopping up with cover defence or using his speed to douse short attacking kicks. The kid did it all and deserves No. 1 billing.
THE OTHER 40 WE LOVE
In no particular order, we also loved these players
Kadin Pritchard (St Peters)
Pritchard’s phenomenal kicking game, calming presence at the back, play making ability and individual brilliance when threatening the line allowed his team to beat teams they would not normally beat.
Jeremy Trappett (Iona)
The Iona College First XV fullback and Queensland schoolboys rugby league representative, Trappett is a little bit of everything to everyone. He is a class player with pace and passing, while being a Mr Reliable at the back mopping up high ball or a break from the opposition. He also showed his versatility by successfully out of position in helping Queensland win the national championship.
Stanley Huen (IGS)
Huen’s off-side in the Ipswich Grammar School midfield, he was a tower of strength either straightening the attack with courage and power from inside centre, or creating for his outside men with deft passing and pace. He was one of the best rounded players we saw this season.
Larry Siala (St Edmund’s College)
Siala was Eddies prime mover, a lock powerhouse with the run of a rampaging No.8.
His ball carry gave Eddies momentum and no one deserved to score a try in Saturday’s decider more than Siala, such was his effort and work rate.
Daniel Mavunda (St Edmund’s)
Captain Marvel led Eddies through a remarkable season. Such was his energy, he at times resembled an extra loose forward, yet he never shirked his responsibilities in the tight stuff.
Blake Raymond (TSS) - and Blake Ruaporo
It is the Blake and Blake Show. Raymond, the TSS utility, was another class act for the joint premiership winners, with blazing pace and uncanny positional play giving TSS an extra string to its attacking formation. But he was also strongly defensively - all this from a player probably better suited to fullback or five-eight. Outside centre Ruaporo, a little like Nudgee’s Rob Toia, had his mast lowered by injury otherwise would have been a strong contender for top 30. But around his injury scare he was an imposing figure with and without the ball. TSS were lucky to have the boys in their side.
Angus Munn (Terrace)
Angus Munn had to be Terrace’s best for 2022. He;s a big boy, mobile, physical and has great ball skills for a forward. He looks for an offload, runs off your hip expecting a pop pass, lurks on the edge and runs it bravely into the line of defence.
Ryan Shaw (BGS)
Shaw was outstanding in all departments - running, kicking, tackling, passing. He could short or long kick, and there was no better defensive No.10 in the GPS First XV competition than Shaw. When BGS were at their best going wide, his pinpoint service was a blessing.
Charlie Horn (TGS)
The Toowoomba lock and captain was a tower of strength both as a player and a leader. He rallied his boys from match No.1, showing them the way to the winners post and with a bit of luck, would have had a side pushing for an unlikely premiership.
Joshua Lynn (PBC SHS)
The quiet achiever of the Langer competition who was at the helm when the Queensland schoolboys won the national carnival. Lynn never over plays his hand and takes the right option 19 out of 20 times. The Parramatta-signed halve has all the tricks, including a killer kicking game.
Wing: Joey Wilson (Villanova)
Wilson was magnificent at the back for Villa, with his clearing kicks keeping his team in the territorial battles while also displaying tremendous courage, particularly after the Big Wet when fields resembled New Zealand sheep paddocks.
He was also a lovely contributor to the Villa attack. He named him on the wing to get him into the side
Mitch Rogers (Padua)
Rogers was one of the most gifted players in the competition who had the distinction of scoring arguably the try of the season against Iona with a double kick and chase.
He also fired Padua to a come-from-behind victory over St Peters and was simply one of the best. Rogers played mainly inside centre, but he could play outside centre, fly half or halfback with ease, such is his ability.
Seth Nikitemo (Keebra Park SHS)
A little like Joshua Lynn (see above), Seth Nikitemo was a little understated this year but was a thorough professional who got the job done for both the Queensland schoolboys and the Keebra Park SHS Langer side. He was also a leader who stood up
Tommy Luhrman (Ipswich SHS)
Good things come to those that wait and Luhrman’s final year as an Ipswich SHS rugby league representative has been a dream come true. So well did he play this season, the Ipswich SHS coaches left Luhrman as the starting dummy half despite Gabriel Satrick earning Australian schoolboy selection. Luhrman enjoyed the faith in him, rising to create a try in the Langer grand final - and score one yesterday against Patrician Brothers Fairfield.
Coby Black (Marsden SHS)
The talented half will be oh so much better next year after his first season of senior school footy. He had a big year, coming off the bench for the winning Queensland schoolboys side and rising with the tide as Marsden SHS recovered from a slow start to challenge. He’s a kid with a lot of skills. He just has to choose when to pull the trigger on them.
Will Taylor (PBC SHS)
We must admit he was one of our crowd favourites this season. Injury robbed him of 2021, but he made up for lost time with his left edge effort players both with and without the ball. A Wayne Bennett-Jack Gibson-Craig Bellamy type player, Taylor left nothing in the tank.
Jack Laing (Ipswich SHS)
He is no Flash Dan but gosh he is a footballer. When you have strikers like Oliva Iaulualo, Gabriel Satrick and Josiah Pahulu, you need a glue player in the middle and this bloke is your man. He is a clone of former Queensland Origin players and premiership winners David Stagg (Broncos, Canterbury) and Scott Sattler (Penrith) who proved with hard work, anything is possible. Ironically Stagg was on hand yesterday to watch him in the NRL Schoolboys Cup grand final.
K-ci Whare (Coombabah SHS)
The towering prop showed the way in a side which struggled to gain parity with the competition heavyweights, but which never threw in the towel - and Whare’s leadership would have been a reason why.
Guy Visachi-Waerehu (Redcliffe SHS)
Visachi arrived on the Peninsula at the start of the year from New Zealand just hoping to impress enough to gain an NRL contract not for himself, but for his family. And with a huge heart, toughness and skill, the Redcliffe SHS fullback achieved that when the Canberra Raiders came knocking.
Mac Kelley (Churchie)
Kelley was a flying finisher for the premiership winning Churchie side who swept down the left or right wings with the pace and gusto of a 100m run on track and field day. He also used his speed to save tries. He had a golden season for Churchie.
Archie Wilson (Churchie)
Could Wilson’s have dreamt of a better season? He had the ball in his hands more than any other Churchie player and he made the team sing. Whether playing on quickly from a penalty or passing wide or short, he expertly swept Churchie into action. He also scored plenty of tries on his own, the most memorable in the come from behind victory over Nudgee when he ran a joyous 50m.
Lewis Symonds (Coombabah SHS)
Injury unfortunately cut short Symonds contribution to Coombabah’s Langer Trophy season, but the good news is we will see his powerhouse, fast moving edge forward again in 2023 where he will be so much better for his first stint in open grade.
Laulato Salei (Wavell SHS)
Salei was one of the discovery players of the Langer Trophy season, both a middle and edge forward. From Alice Springs and then Northern Queensland, he lost nothing in comparison to anyone in his position across the season.
Archie Xavier (Terrace)
Xavier was phenomenal all season for Gregory Terrace. The cheeky halfback was a great leader, pesky and scheming round the scrum and rucks and provided his forwards with great direction. He was a constant, never missed a game and got the young Terrace squad up for the challenge every game.
Dorian Lotaki (Keebra Park SHS)
Lotaki is an explosive, strongly built centre in the Tre Fotu (Ipswich SHS) mould who terrorised opposition teams from start to finish, almost getting Keebra Park SHS back on track in the closing minutes of the semi-final effort against PBC SHS. He was strongly considered for a top 40 position.
Isiah Scanlan (PBC SHS)
Along with Reico Ratana, Scanlan was an unsung hero of the PBC SHS pack. He was no front row giant, but he was tough, hardened by last season’s experience and proved a real lea
der of a working man’s pack.
Kyen Murphy (Coombabah SHS)
An astute signing by the Parramatta Eels, Murphy was a real “roll your sleeves up and let’s get the job done’’ type of edge forward. Capable of also filling in at centre, Murphy was outstanding and would have been the perfect example to the young Coombabah SHS side during the season.
Samson Tuqiri (BCC)
Tuqiri is a speedy customer and this year in the First XV he showed glimpses of Lote.
He exceeded expectations, improving leaps and bounds from the beginning of the season to now.
Caleb Laifoo (TSS)
The big, mobile prop was a one man wrecking machine, enormous in the scrum and destructive carrying the ball or swinging into action as a part of the rolling maul. But he also brought into TSS’ defensive philosophy and pity help you if Laifoo lined you up.
Lock: Griffin Schostakowski and Pat Dallimore (Nudgee)
We loved these two toilers for Nudgee College. Nudgee had strike and some star power, but it all started with these boys who won and secured possession for their team mates, doing everything right in the process. They were also part of a Liam Le Blanc led defensive pack which blocked opponents.
Damascus Neemia (Wavell SHS)
This list was just made for blokes like the Wavell SHS prop. He was a Queensland schoolboy representative who extracted every bit of ability out of him to achieve that milestone. Canterbury have picked up on his worth ethic by signing him.
Will Rogers (Nudgee)
A Harry Vella reincarnated from Nudgee’s premiership winning days of 2018. Rogers did damage at the back of the rolling maul like we have never seen in the GPS before. When Rogers has it at the back, consider it a done deal.
Rory Beech (Nudgee)
Big boppa Rory Beech bolstered Nudgee’s forward pack all year, and their dominance was no secret. Hooker Will Rogers scored a try almost every game and it was because of the leg drive and power of Beech by his side.
Ben Daniels (Churchie)
Queensland Reds Head of Talent Management Paul Carozza had nothing but praise for Daniels when we spoke with him. He said he was not only a hard worker but really talented with a knack for the game. A pleasant surprise for the Queensland Reds U18 forward pack.
Charlie McCauley (Brisbane Grammar)
A lineout king and toiler in every meaning of the word. He was super for Brisbane Grammar all year and we knew that he would be. He had an impressive 2021 GPS campaign and 2022 did not disappoint. Jeez he runs it hard into contact.
Bud Smith (Toowoomba Grammar)
Bud Smith is a classy player with a stunning step, fleet of foot and great vision. He wriggles his way out of the first tackle and is a jinking type. You always thought he would make a break when given any opportunity.
Xavier Rubens (BBC)
Rubens has a mix of pace and power, bumping off defenders in offence and defence a hobbie of his. With his strong carries and great running lines Rubens shone like a beacon in the BBC First XV this year.
Toshi Butlin (Brisbane State High)
Butlin is a speedstar but that is not it. He’s got great balance and on the counter-attack he’s hard to stay in front off. He just carves right past his defenders.
Thomas Stoddart (Churchie)
He is last on this list, but we we stressed No.31 to 70 was not in any order. Indeed the Churchie GPS First XV rugby skipper was an outstanding flanker, a leader on and off the field who took his side to its first premiership - shared with TSS and Nudgee - for the first time since 2015.
Footnote: The www.couriermail.com.au also covered the TAS first XV where John Paul College’s Beni Allen shone.
Originally published as How’s this for 70 gun schoolboys from GPS, AIC and Langer footy
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