ONE of Queensland’s most respected school rugby league systems, Ipswich State High School, officially launched its 2025 rugby league program last week, unveiling a new crop of players and high expectations across all grades.
The Year 7 team, competing in the Brisbane Broncos Old Boys Trophy, is coached by Benjamin Newton and captained by Bentley Tikinau.
Coach Newton said the squad was still developing, but the potential was evident.
Describing the team as “very raw”, Newton added that the mix of size, skill and athleticism gave the group a solid foundation.
The Year 8 Renouf Shield squad led by coach Peter Poole and captained by Cooper Hunt is looking to go further than its top-four finish in 2024.
In the Year 9 Hancock Cup, coach Daniel Hobden is focused on growth both on and off the field, with Malachi Kirk named as captain.
“This group made the semi-finals in the 2024 Renouf Shield, and we’ll all be hungry to take it one step
further in 2025,” Hobden said.
Despite a pre-season disrupted by injuries, wet weather and public holidays, Hobden is optimistic.
“The beauty of coaching 12 to 18-year-olds is that rapid improvement and development can occur for those who consistently work hard,” he said.
The Year 10 Walters Cup side, coached by Shane Harris and captained by Blake Tikinau, enters the season as back-to-back defending premier. While ambitions remain high, it faces a new challenge in 2025 – playing without star fullback Baxter Best, who has been promoted to the Open squad.
The Langer Reserves team is coached by John Dore and will be co-captained by Clement Karauti and Lleyton Alofa-Fotu. After a heartbreaking one-point grand final loss in 2024, Dore is confident the team can go one better this year.
At the pinnacle of the program is the Allan Langer Trophy Opens team, coached by Joshua Bretherton and captained by Queensland U18s rep Xzavier Timoteo.
“To make finals, we need consistency,” Bretherton said. “We’ve had some challenges with injuries during the Mal Meninga season, including the loss of Sam Martin, our captain and hooker last year, to a season-ending injury. But the boys replacing him are doing a quality job.”
The Opens squad boasts an impressive 13 players on NRL junior contracts, including Timoteo (Roosters), Elsuyah Laumatia (Bulldogs), Joey Salafia and Sam Martin (Broncos), and Cooper Young (Wests Tigers).
With high-level talent, NRL affiliations, and a focus on discipline and teamwork, Ipswich State High looks poised for another strong season across all age groups.
