Langer Trophy

Palm Beach 2023 Langer Trophy Champions

by
dailytelegraph
25/08/2023

Palm Beach Currumbin SHS celebrate winning the 2023 Lander Trophy Picture: Liam Kidston

Palm Beach 2023 Langer Trophy Champions

Author : Andrew Dawson and Nick Tucker News Corp Sport

Palm Beach 2023 Langer Trophy Champions

Langer Trophy grand final live stream: Ipswich SHS take on Palm Beach Currumbin SHS in decider

Gold Coast juggernauts Palm Beach Currumbin handled the pressure of a frantic final minute in a come-from-behind championship win.

Watch the Langer Trophy grand final REPLAY.

Watch a full replay of Palm Beach Currumbin SHS v Ipswich SHS.

Palm Beach Currumbin SHS wrote another milestone moment for the school’s time capsule with a rousing Langer Trophy premiership win over Ipswich SHS at Langlands Park.

Like a boa constrictor creeping toward its prey, PBC exerted tremendous second half pressure to win the battle for field position and claim a 16-12 come-from-behind victory.

A second-half double for Palm Beach winger Sunny Kama all-but sealed victory for the Gold Coast nursery before a frantic final two minutes.

Palm Beach 2023 Langer Trophy Champions PBC SHS win, PBC SHS vs Ipswich SHS, Langer Trophy schoolboy rugby league final, Langlands Park, Greenslopes. Picture: Liam Kidston.

Ipswich managed to wriggle free of their rivals vice-like grip late in the second half when centre LJ Nonu created a try for his captain Oliva Iaulualo which cut the deficit to just four points.

A one-on-one steal on the final hooter gave the reigning champions one final shot at pulling off the unthinkable.

But Palm Beach held on for dear life, forcing the ball over the touchline to kick off massive celebrations.

Palm Beach’s Zane Harrison saved a try late with his cover defence, and his goal kicking also proved the difference.

What a match it was.

Ipswich led 6-0 at halftime on the back of a five star performance from rough and tumble winger Alton Naiyep, scoring in typically robust fashion.

On a normal day three or four more tries would have been scored, but not on grand final day as both sides scrambled impressively on their goal lines.

PBC SHS 3. Sam Stephenson, PBC SHS vs Ipswich SHS, Langer Trophy schoolboy rugby league final, Langlands Park, Greenslopes. Picture: Liam Kidston

Creedence Donovan on Naiyep and Jac Finigan on Keisaia Su’A saved tries for PBC, while Naiyep returned serve to deny Donovan and Nonu grimly halted PBC spearhead Sam Stephenson.

It was a rollercoaster opening salvo, which set the tone for a thrilling finish.

Palm Beach Currumbin will have little time to savour victory ahead of a Phil Hall Cup showdown next Wednesday against Mackay’s St Patrick’s College.

WATCH THE REPLAY OF THE DOLPHINS v PAYNE CUP WINNERS HERE

WATCH THE REPLAY OF THE DOLPHINS v COWBOYS CHALLENGE FINAL HERE

Preview: PBC, Ipswich to clash in ‘pressure’ cooker grand final

“Who handles the pressure best on grand final day will win the title.”

Palm Beach Currumbin SHS coach Tim Maccan is certainly speaking from experience.

Maccan’s Reds will confront Ipswich SHS on Wednesday in a replay of last year’s Langer Trophy decider. Ipswich took the title in 2022 and went ont to be crowned national champions by beating Patrician Brothers Fairfield.

Watch all the action LIVE and EXCLUSIVE on a big day from Langlands Park today, which includes the Langer Reserves from noon, Walters Cup grand final at 1.30pm and the main game from 3pm.

WATCH THE WALTERS CUP, LANGER RESERVES DECIDER HERE

Here is the full Wednesday LIVE STREAM schedule for all QSSRL finals matches.

QSSRL Finals Week Live Stream Schedule

Wednesday, August 23

Langlands Park

Langer Reserves

Midday: Ipswich SHS v Marsden SHS.

Walters Cup

1:30pm: Palm Beach Currumbin v Wavell

Langer Trophy

3pm: Palm Beach Currumbin v Ipswich

Northern and Central Challenge/Cup finals

Mackay JRL

12:15pm: St Patrick’s v Emmaus (Challenge)

1:30pm: Emmaus v St Patrick’s (Cup)

FOOTBALL FACTORIES: EVERY AUSTRALIAN SCHOOLBOY OF THE LAST DECADE

“The best team does not always win on grand final day. The team that best handles that pressure, that is who is going to win,’’ says Maccan, who has taken PBC SHS to the last two deciders.

Unlike last year when Ipswich SHS were slight favourites, they will be underdogs this time around after fielding a side with few survivors from last year’s history-making deeds.

CATCH THE LANGER RESERVES, WALTERS CUP DECIDERS HERE

PLAYERS WE CAN’T WAIT TO SEE IN THE FINALS

Jett Jackson and Jac Finegan of PBC SHS

“It is a different journey, and a different group of boys and there have been very different experiences this year,’’ said coach Joshua Bretherton.

“Given the nature of the journey, it feels a little bit giddy. Are we supposed to be here? How good is this.’’

“We have never, ever had to deal with being the team everyone comes after and, at different times, we have not managed that really well.

“We have been inconsistent, but I am really proud of what the boys have done in the last two weeks to manage the pressure of the situations.’’

Palm Beach Currumbin State High’s Sunny Kama

LANGER TROPHY PLAYERS TO WATCH

Zane Harrison and Bailey McConnell (PBC SHS)

PBC SHS has an extraordinary knack of producing playmakers and Harrison and McConnell are maintaining this proud tradition.

Last weekend, Tom Weaver (class of 2021) made his NRL debut for the Gold Coast – and he was one of six starting NRL halves from PBC SHS who played across the round.

The others were Tom Dearden (Cowboys), Cody Walker (South Sydney), Toby Sexton (Canterbury), Jamal Fogarty (Raiders) and Jahrome Hughes (Storm).

A proud PBC SHS coach Tim Maccan with one of his former star pupils – Tom Weaver

That is an All-Star cast, but Harrison and McConnell don’t have to live up to those past players because just being themselves is good enough and has got PBC into another decider.

Watching Harrison play is like seeing patches of Weaver and Josh Lynn (2021-22) on rewind.

His control, his attacking kicks and the way he plays to his ability is impressive.

Ray Puru and Will Saunders (PBC SHS)

Saunders has been a revelation this season with his dummy half play.

Like PBC SHS hookers from earlier this decade, Oksar Bryant and Tanu Nona, Saunders has a long pass from the ruck which opens up the field for his halfback Zane Harrison, while also giving his No. 7 a split second more time.

But he can scamper away from dummy half against tiring defenders, or run and engage the ruck defenders before unloading.

Throw a roaming Puru into the fray and you have a potent ruck cocktail.

Puru, a fullback, returned from injury in the semi-final against Marsden SHS and aided PBC SHS’s running game and speed with the ball around the ruck.

He is a smaller body, which makes him a harder target for big middle forwards to nail.

Tyler Peckham-Harris and Lesayne Tuiasau (Ipswich SHS)

Last year Ipswich had Gabriel Satrick and Tommy Luhrman (hookers), this year they have Peckham-Harris and Tuiasau.

Peckham-Harris will start at hooker and Tuiasau at prop, but Tuiasau is quick, fearless and can fill in at hooker to allow for Peckham-Harris to inject himself elsewhere.

They are a dangerous combination and with Sam Martin coming off the bench, Ipswich will be well equipped to combat the tricks of Saunders.

Ipswich hooker Tyler Peckham-Harris

Alton Naiyep (Ipswich SHS)

Perhaps the best finisher in the competition. Naiyep, a Manly-signed winger gets Ipswich onto the front foot with his carries, and is safe under the high ball. He will instil confidence in his teammates just by lurking on the edge.

Oliva Iaulualo (Ipswich)

The mobile second rower is capable of anything. He can assist by breaking the line and getting an offload away or score with sheer strength. Iaulualo is the full package and without jinxing him, he is made for the big moments.

TEAMS

PBC SHS:

1. Jake Lateo, 2. Sunny Kama, 3. Sam Stephenson, 4. Tyson Ploegsma, 5. Creedence Donovan, 6. Bailey McConnell, 7. Zane Harrison, 8. Brady Turner, 9. Will Saunders, 18. Jaylen Taewa, 11. Baylen Donald, 12. Jac Finigan, 13. Isaac Harrison, 14. Ray Puru, 10. Jett Jackson, 15. Cameron Bevan, 16. Jace Williams, 17. Ethan Schultz.

Ipswich SHS:

1. Dominique Sandow, 2. Xavier Kirk, 3. LJ Nonu, 4. Keisaia Su’A, 5. Anton Naiyep, 6. Brandon Tikinau, 7. Izaiah Mafi, 18. Kane Self, 9. Tyler Peckham-Harris, 10. David Leota, 11. Shaye Faa’aoga, 12. Oliva Iaulualo, 13. Jack Laing, 14. Sam Martin, 15. Lesayne Tuiasau, 16. Maaro David, 17. Cayleb Johnson.