Meet the Langer Trophy captains - and their coaches - plus Rd 1 teams
Langer Trophy: What you didn’t know about the captains behind the eight schoolboy rugby league teams; plus round 1 teams revealed here.
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The elite schoolboy rugby league Langer Trophy starts on Wednesday and will feature another generation of exciting schoolboy young guns.
And The Courier-Mail, your home of Langer Trophy coverage, will live stream a record number of matches this season across the state.
News’ Corp’s Langer Trophy coverage will include Walters Cup (Year 10) and Langer Trophy games each Wednesday, with Round 1 kicking off tomorrow — see the full draw below.
In addition, the www.couriermail.com.au will also stream the new Dolphins Cup (Bundaberg, Rockhampton school competition) and the time honoured Payne Cup (Mackay, Townsville, Cairns regions) this season.
This season’s eight school Langer Trophy features Redcliffe SHS for the first time.
The Scott Murray-coached Redcliffe join Keebra Park SHS, Palm Beach Currumbin SHS, Coombabah SHS, Ipswich SHS, Mabel Park SHS, Wavell SHS and Marsden SHS in the competition.
RELATED LINKS
PLAYERS TO WATCH IN THE LANGER, DOLPHINS CUP
NRL RECRUITMENT SHOCK: WHERE THE SCHOOLBOYS ARE HEADING
THE UNDER RATED 8 OF THE LANGER TROPHY
Broncos Game Development Officer Paul Dyer said the club was delighted to invest in helping Queensland schoolboys fulfil their dreams of playing rugby league in the Langer Trophy.
Both Dyer and Broncos general manager Ben Ikin, a former PBC SHS player, also praised the respective coaches for their role in developing league players across the respective schools.
Attending the launch was Phil Hall, who along with the late Cyril Connell and ex-Broncos offical John Dixon, is a founding father of the competition.
Hall, a retired school teacher who schedules the Langer trophy matches, has the Phil Hall Cup state schoolboy grand final named in his honour.
He gave an interesting insight into the history of the competition and how it came about to halt NSW school’s from their landslide victories over Queensland school teams.
The Langer Trophy is the best breeding ground for Queensland NRL talent.
For example Xavier Savage (Canberra) and Xavier Willison (Broncos) were playing Langer just 18 months ago - and another batch of thrilling talent like Wavell’s Karl Oloapu (Broncos), PBC’s Keano Kini (Titans), Ipswich SHS’s Josiah Pahulu (Titans), PBC’s Michael Roberts (Dolphins) Mabel Park’s Alex Leapai (Roosters), Coombabah’s Lewis Symonds (Broncos), Keebra Park’s Arama Hau (Titans), and Marsden SHS’s Chris Faagutu (Tigers) were training with NRL clubs.
MEET THE CAPTAINS - and their coaches
PALM BEACH CURRUMBIN SHS
Captain: Tanu Nona
First club: Currumbin Eagles
First rugby league memory: Dad dropping me off at my local footy club and telling me to go and find a team to train with.
Favourite club growing up: Broncos
Favourite player growing up: Justin Hodges
Playing honours: South Coast
Who is the current player you most admire: Cameron Murray
What does being the Langer Trophy captain mean to you:
It is an honour to be able to captain the Reds - a school that has a history of success and a rich rugby league culture. It has been a dream of mine ever since I was a little kid watching the likes of Tommy Dearden and Toby Sexton play in the national final. It will be a privilege to run out a team that has been together since year 7 and hopefully we can follow in the footsteps of last year’s team.
PBC SHS coach Tim Maccan
A Tweed Seagulls junior and senior player, he was a Palm Beach Currumbin State High student and player 1996-2000.
A halfback or hooker, he played Penrith Panthers under 20s and NSW Cup (2002-2004), and was a leading Tweed Seagulls Queensland Cup player (2005-2013), including being a 2007 premiership winner.
As a coach he joined Palm Beach Currumbin State High Rugby League Coach in 2007 and last season coached PBC to the Phil Hall Cup state champions premiership. He was also the
Tweed Seagulls Mal Meninga Cup Coach 2018 - 2022, guiding Tweed to Meninga Cup championships in 2021 and 2019. Tweed were also the 2019 under 18 national champions
MARSDEN SHS
Captain: Chris Faagutu:
First club: Logan Brothers
First rugby league memory: Under 11 grand final with Logan Brothers
Favourite player growing up: Cowboys
Favourite player growing up: Steve Mati and Sonny Bill Williams
Playing honours: Joint 2021 Langer Trophy Medal player of the year, Queensland under 12s, Stingers, SEQ, Queensland under 16 squad. 2022 Qld schoolboys.
Who is the current player you most admire: Cameron Murray and Victor Radley
What does being the Langer Trophy captain mean to you: It means a lot to have another chance to lead the boys around and hopefully lead them to another Langer Trophy and win the state champs.
Coach: Matthew Haritgan
A current Australian OzTag representative who will be playing at the world championships in August, Hartigan coached Marsden SHS to its first ever Langer Trophy home and away series trophy in 2021
With an extensive coaching history in Sydney, the founder of the new 3PTAG touch football competition has brought through the ranks many of the current crop of Langer Players.
REDCLIFFE SHS
Captain: Jack Cameron
First club: Redcliffe Dolphins under 6s
First rugby league memory: Scoring nine tries in one game for the Dolphins when I was younger.
Favourite team growing up: Cowboys
Favourite player growing up: Cameron Smith
Playing honours: Sunshine Coast
Who is the current player you most admire: Reed Mahoney
What does being the Langer Trophy captain mean to you: Leading the boys is a good feeling. It is the first open’s team ever to be in the Langer Trophy, so it is important to stamp our name.
Redcliffe SHS coach Scott Murray
Played in 50 NRL matches for his junior club the Roosters (30), St George and South Sydney as a five-eight or centre.
The current Redcliffe Dolphins HostPlus Q Cup coach and former Dolphins colts coach.
A former long serving head of rugby league at Matraville SHS, Murray is a former under 20s coach at the Roosters, South Sydney and Bulldogs.
COOMBABAH SHS
Captain: K-Ci Hoeroa Whare
First club: Riccarton Knights
First memory of rugby league: I was always shy when I first started playing rugby league so I don’t remember much but my first memory of watching rugby league was watching my dad play for Canterbury
Team I supported when I was growing up: Warriors
Favourite players growing up: Steve Matai, Greg Inglis
Playing honours: South Island U/15 2019, South Coast 2021/22, Melbourne Storm signing 2022
Who is the current player you most admire: A player I look up to is Payne Haas because I like the style of footy that he plays
What does being the Langer Trophy captain mean to you: Playing in the Langer Trophy means a lot to me because it is one of the best competition I have played in throughout my career and I want to make my family back in NZ proud of what I can achieve this year
Coombabah SHS coach Sam Meskell
Meskell is a former Burleigh Bears star and Tweed Seagulls Queensland Cup captain whose coaching career took off when he joined the Coombabah SHS teaching staff.
RELATED LINKS
DOLPHINS SIGN ORIGIN 18s FORWARD
MENINGA CUP TEAM OF THE SEASON
NRL GREAT COACHING IN THE LANGER TROPHY
WAVELL SHS
Captain: Karl Oloapu
First club: Kingfishers (Wellington, NZ)
First rugby league memory: Playing for Stingers and Queensland under 14s
Favourite club growing up: Warriors
Favourite player growing up: Benji Marshall
Playing honours: Queensland under 14-15s, under 16-18s. 2022 Qld schoolboys.
Who is the current player you most admire: Nathan Cleary
What does being the Langer Trophy captain mean to you: It means a lot. Watching the other boys before me captain this team, it means a lot since I have been here since grade 8.
Wavell SHS coach Mick Roberts
A St Pat’s Mackay old boy, Roberts is a Redcliffe Dolphins legend (almost 250 matches) who was a member of their crack Queensland Cup teams.
A halfback or hooker, he also had the honour of playing NRL for the Brisbane Broncos.
A past coach at Redcliffe SHS, he took over at Wavell SHS last season and has an exciting young side around him this season.
KEEBRA PARK SHS
Captain: Arama Hau
First club: Nerang roosters
First rugby league memory: I got bumped off trying to make a tackle and then had a cry in under 7s.
Favourite club growing up: The Warriors
Favourite player growing up: Sam Burgess
Playing honours:
Keebra Park Open A’s, South Coast under 15s, South Coast under 18s, QLD City under 17s, Queensland Emerging under 18s, 2022 Qld schoolboys
Who is the current player you most admire: Isaiah Yeo and Victor Radley.
What does being the Langer Trophy captain mean to you: “It is a real privilege to lead the boys this year.
“We are super keen to showcase what we have been building on in the pre-season & to show everyone that Keebra is still the top rugby league school in Australia.’’
Vice-captain: Seth Nikotemo
First club: Parkwood Sharks
Favourite club growing up: North Queensland Cowboys
Favourite player growing up: Greg Inglis
Favourite current player: Cameron Murray, Viliame Kikau
Keebra Park SHS coach Peter Norman
Played rugby league throughout junior years representing the Gold Coast Titans in the NYC under 20s and was an outstanding Queensland Cup player.
Norman started coaching when he arrived to teach at Keebra Park SHS 10 years ago where he was an assistant coach of the Open A’s until taking over the top job last season.
Coached PBC SHS to the 2021 Phil Hall Cup state title premiership.
He is also the current coach of the under 16-18 South Coast side.
RELATED LINKS
DOLPHINS SIGN ORIGIN 18s FORWARD
MENINGA CUP TEAM OF THE SEASON
NRL GREAT COACHING IN THE LANGER TROPHY
MABEL PARK SHS
Captain: Kena Finau
First club: Logan Brothers
First rugby league memory: Watching Billy Slater on television
Favourite club growing up: Storm
Favourite player growing up: Billy Slater
Who is the current player you most admire: Kotoni Staggs
What does being the Langer Trophy captain mean to you: It is a great honour leading the school in top tier rugby and leading the team on first.
Vice-captain: Alex Leapai
First club: Logan Brothers
First rugby league memory: Watching a video or dad playing rugby league
Favourite club growing up: Canberra Raiders
Favourite player growing up: Josh Papalii
Playing honours: Sydney Roosters Harold Matthews
Who is the current player you most admire: Josh Papalii
Mabel Park SHS coach Ben Weston
Weston is a Level 2 senior coach who brings years of experience co-ordinating school programs at Forest Lake SHS and coaching successful premier grade teams Easts Tigers and Souths Magpies teams, including developing the likes of David Fifita and Tesi Niu in their junior years. He’s also coached representative teams in Brisbane Stingers, Met West and English Super League club Leeds Rhinos.
IPSWICH SHS
Captain: Josiah Pahulu
First club: Springfield Panthers
First rugby league memory: Pre-season at Springfield Panthers
Favourite club growing up: Parramatta
Favourite player growing up: Fuifui Moimoi
Playing honours: Under 15 Qld, Qld 19s Origin squad. 2022 Qld schoolboys
Who is the current player you most admire: Payne Haas
What does being the Langer Trophy captain mean to you: It means a lot. Growing up with this boys, I know what they can bring to the team and hopefully we can bring
Ipswich SHS coach Joshua Bretherton
Josh Bretherton leads Ipswich into the competition with 10 years experience behind him.
Supported by a network of coaches, fitness gurus, teachers and former students, he devotes countless time and energy to the footy squad.
“He’s really focused on the students achieving outside of football first and then football being the thing they do as well as being a student,’’ said colleague Jonathan Dore.
ROUND 1 TEAMS
Ipswich SHS v Keebra Park SHS
Ipswich SHS: 1. Tyler Peckham-Harris, 2. Kulu Baruani, 3. Caleb Jackson, 4. Tre Fotu, 5. Anton Naiyep, 6. James Frazer, 7. Jalen Afamasaga, 8. Josiah Pahulu, 9. Tommy Luhrman
10. Ahmani Leilua, 11. Xavier Sofeni, 12. Oliva Iaulualo, 13. Jack Laing: Interchange: 14.
Gabriel Satrick, 16. Maaro David, 17. Cayleb Johnson, 19.
Keebra Park SHS: 1. Karauria Stokes, 2. Munga Baruani, 3. Dorian Lotaki, 4. Taniela Mapusua-Lotaki, 5. Jeremaiah Tamepo, 6. Xavier Asi, 7. Jaxen Yow, 8. PJ Poutasi, 9. Gary Herlihy, 10. Eli Tuli, 11. Seth Nikotemo, 12. EJ Finau, 13. Arama Hai: Interchange: 14. Jodeci Letalu, 15. Jared Johnson, 16. Immanuel Kalekale, 17. Wailer Whaiapu. 18. Lokea Motufoua, 19. Jett Bryce, 20. Isaiah Fagalilo.
Marsden SHS v PBC SHS
Marsden SHS: 1. Dominic Sandow, 2. Tuvaka Palu, 3. Devonte Vaivela, 4. Shannon Subritzky Stewart, 5. Teapo Stoltman, 6. Apa Twidle, 7. Coby Black, 8. VJ Semu, 9. Kylem Vunipol, 10. Mou Taumaletila- Maulolo, 11. Te Anau Graham-Papali’i, 12. Jieye Mauai, 13. Chris Faagutu (c), 14. Cody Hamilton, 15. Taelon Te Whiu Hopa, 16. Bailey Trew, 17.
Palm Beach Currumbin: 1 Keano Kini, 2 Blake Forder, 3 Michael Roberts, 4 Cooper Cambey, 5 Jett Forbes, 6 Josh Lynn, 7 Zane Harrison, 8 Isaiah Scanlan, 9 Tanu Nona, 10 Reico Ratana, 11 Brady Turner, 12 Will Taylor, 13 Jackson Le Pou, 14 Bailey McConnell
15 Jac Finnigan, 16 Jaylen Taewa, 17 Cooper Wolf
Mabel Park SHS v Redcliffe SHS
Mabel Park SHS: 1. Te Hataterehapaerau Reid, 2. Atunaisa Pahulu, 3. Elijah Mikaio
4. Kena Finau, 5. Elijah Tagiilima, 6. Tevita Holaafolau, 7. Julian Drinnan, 8. Alex Leapai, 9. Daytona Tupuhi-Taoho, 10. Hamuera Kingi, 11. Marley Lupeomanu, 12. Melchizadek Laumatia, 13. Louruce Brown: Interchange from: 14. Steven Walsh, 15. Tarawa Latu, 16. Fiva Taumaletila, 17. Deniro Seumanutafa, 18. Danny Ierome, 19. Sylus I’liga1.
Redcliffe SHS: 1. Guy Visachi, 2. Regan O’Connell, 3. Cravin Poutai, 4. Julian Mirupasi, 5. Bailin Haji, 6. Jayden Alefaio, 7. Blake Kehl, 8. Loka Toia, 9. Jack Cameron (c), 10. Gerhard Matthes, 11. Sonny Ray Maxwell- Beasley, 12. John Fineanganofo, 13. Jacob Taulani; Interchange: 14. Connor Streak, 15. Troy Ennion, 16. Hayden Potts, 17. AJ Amosa
Coombabah SHS v Wavell SHS
Coombabah SHS: 1. Shannon Donaldson, 2. Ryan McCann, 3. Kane Garland, 4. Jack McKenzie, 5. Izayah Petricevich, 6. Hunter Innes, 7. Jaxon Denny, 8. Boston Riggs-Albert, 9. Jhett Pilcher, 10. K-ci Whare ©, 11. Kyen Murphy ©, 12. Lewis Symonds, 13. Junior Filimaua, 14. Braydan Wong, 15. Dwayne Ckwan-Fuimaono, 16. Ben Roadnight, 17. Neziah Patuua, 18. Mokena Marsh, 19. Cassius Whale, 20. Tom McKenna
Wavell SHS: 1. Ambichi, Jayden, 2. Callaghan, Joshua, 3. Hotere-Papalii, Po 4. Tuialii, Mark, 5. Tait, Tyreece, 6. Oloapu, Karl, 7. Fitness, Arthur, 8. Neemia, Damascus, 9. Murray, Bristowe, 10. Uini, Ben, 11. Iose, D’Metrius, 12. Taua, Nazareth, 13. Salei, Loto
14. Camilleri, Jai, 15. Jones, Ethan, 16. Taula, Christian, 17. Butt, Jayden, 18. Waqa, Michael, 19. Tuialii, Amos, 20. Sologinkin, Will.
Originally published as Meet the Langer Trophy captains - and their coaches - plus Rd 1 teams
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