Queensland’s best schoolboy rugby league players have launched their bid to win the state’s premier titles. Discover the biggest moments from round one of the Langer Trophy, Dolphins Cup and Aaron Payne Cup.
The Langer Trophy, Dolphins Cup and Aaron Payne Cup all kicked off with a bang this week as the next batch of NRL hopefuls displayed their skills in games streamed by KommunityTV.
Discover the biggest moments from every clash below.
LANGER TROPHY
Wavell vs Cal Langer Trophy
One of the standout plays of the afternoon came in the opening two minutes thanks to some quick thinking from Wavell’s left side attack.
A Zac Herdegen charged down kick landed in the hands of Wavell winger John-Paul Donevski who found some room to move before some smart ball movement resulted in an easy try for Jared Horne.
Those early points arguably set the tone for the match but a stunning 55m individual run in the 19th minute mark from Caloundra fullback Toby Irvine was a shining light play in what was a tough afternoon for the Seahawks.
PBC v Marsden
The most exhilarating point of the match came with just under two minutes to play between Palm Beach Currumbin and Marsden State High School.
Marsden’s halfback Cody Black went for glory in the form of a field goal when the teams were locked at 10-a-piece, but was unsuccessful.
PBC were eager to have their turn at gaining a last-minute lead.
An incomplete set was the home team’s undoing as the siren blared with the final score still 10-10, a very different story to last year’s 44-nil opener.
Langer Trophy game between PBC and Marsden at Tugun. PBC’s Baylen Donald wrapped up by Marsdens Markatato Nosa. Picture: Glenn Hampson
Mabel Park v Redcliffe
Big moments were abound in round 1 but perhaps the one that flew under the radar was a late game dagger from Mabel Park lock Xyon Purcell.
With a Redcliffe SHS side surging in the final quarter, Mabel had to somehow halt their momentum. And, throwing on his cape was Purcell, steering his team past the winners post with a timely try in the 57th minute.
Moving them ahead 34-20, Purcell made sure that the hard work of Alex Leapai Jnr, fullback Ryan McCann and five eighth Lachlan Buchbach, among others, was not in vein.
Keebra Park v Ipswich
Stepping into the number 13 jumper previously worn by skipper Wailer Whaiapu – who succumbed to a dislocated shoulder on the eve of the competition – Withington crossed for two barnstorming tries in the first half to set up the win.
His first proved particularly impressive, cutting through the defence off a linebreak and showing classy footwork to get around the Ipswich fullback and cross against the defending champions.
AARON PAYNE CUP
Trinity Bay v Kirwan: Deininger hat trick
It was always going to be a tough task for Trinity Bay to get off to a winning start in their first Payne Cup game, and Kirwan’s Logan Deininger certainly didn’t do the Cairns school any favours.
Deininger was outstanding throughout for Kirwan, the five-eight pulling the strings and crossing for a hat trick in a brilliant afternoon for the playmaker.
He used his impressive footwork and blinding acceleration to speed past Trinity Bay’s defenders, and marked himself as a player to watch throughout this season.
Holy Spirit v Mackay
Holy Spirit interchange forward Kalan Morris scored the first try in his school’s Aaron Payne Cup history in a key moment that proved the minnow school belonged at this level of competition.
A sin-binning to decorated opposition backrower Nehemiah Wuatai-Davis delivered an overlap opportunity but Holy Spirit didn’t need it, running directly through the opposition pack to get on the scoreboard for the first time.
Having fallen to 18-0 inside 13 minutes there were fears Holy Spirit’s debut could descend into a bloodbath.
The College’s courage shut down that concern and Morris’ score was a moment that got fans onto their feet at the ground and off their couches in the lounge room for those watching via Kommunity TV.
Aaron Payne Cup 2023 Mackay State High School versus Holy Spirit College Mackay Junior Rugby League Grounds Wednesday 31 May 2023 Picture: Michaela Harlow
St Patrick’s v Ignatius Park
The competition for the fastest rugby league schoolboy in North Queensland is off to a flyer after Ignatius Park College rookie Iowani Cavuilati scorched St Patrick’s Mackay for a 95m stunner in round one.
The debutant is stepping into the shoes of electric 2022 wingers Rayzarlin Pearson and Tekelu Mene but more than held his own, producing his side’s play of the day in a 20-12 defeat.
The sin-binning of centre Zy Gall left Iggy Park down a man when Cavuilati snuffed out a St Pat’s raid then galloped the length of the field for a momentum-turning try.
Cavuilati deflected an opposition kick with his boost before regathering and sprinting upfield to score untouched.
It opened a six-point lead his side should have been good enough to close out.
Meanwhile, the blinding speed of Cowboys contracted halfback Jaxon Purdue was the fitting final stamp on a three try scoring blitz at Leprechaun Park in Mackay.
Purdue’s electric try six minutes from full-time was the knife twist to seal victory, slicing through the heart of the Ignatius Park defence to open a matchwinning eight point lead.
It was the high point of seven minutes of rugby league heaven for the hosts after left wing Hunter Harris and his inside man Tenzin Contor kicked off the 14-point scoring swing in the 47th minute.
Cowboys junior Purdue beat three defenders through sheer pace on a 60m gallop to avenge last year’s Aaron Payne Cup grand final defeat against the same opposition.
Mareeba v St Augustine’s
St Augustine’s College made history after they became the first FNQ school to win a Payne Cup game.
Rhys Woolcott scored the first try, but it was all about the ball from halfback and captain Lachlan Magill, the Northern Pride member cutting out two men as he took the high road to his centre for the history-making four-pointer.
Magill summed up the situation perfectly, and his pass couldn’t have been better to open the scoring.
DOLPHINS CUP
Emmaus v The Cathedral College
The slick work of Emmaus halves Isaac Walker and Clancy Hohn to set up the side’s fourth try and essentially seal a strong win over Cathedral College.
Off the back of a dominant run and quick play the ball from prop Zacery Adams, dummy half Liam Barnes got out from the ruck dragging the markers with him before turning it back to Walker.
The halfback wasted little time firing the ball back across the width of the play-the-ball to his partner-in-crime in the six, who streamed through a gap as wide as the Fitzroy River.
Hohn streaked off downfield finding Seth Carpenter for his second try which sealed the result.
The crafty set-up play exposed the Cathedral College tired middles, and shows good signs for a resurgent Emmaus College in 2023.
Clancy Hohn running the ball for Emmaus College in 2021.
St Brendan’s v Shalom
The sharp work out of dummy-half from St Brendan’s Braelen Marsh.
The hooker made ate metres for afternoon tea against a Shalom side that struggled to stand up in marker defence.
Marsh, much like a famous Yeppoon product Harry Grant, had a sixth sense for when the markers weren’t in place and pinched metres at ease.
His tough scoots out of his own end, which seemed to be a part of every set, got the St Brendan’s boys on the front foot and playing footy at the right end of the field.
Marsh set up the first try for Carter Ford with a sneaky bit of deception at the line.