Wavell State High is deep into the business end of the 2026 Langer Trophy, with the local school now waiting to discover which rival will stand between it and the next stage of its finals campaign.
Palm Beach Currumbin and Ipswich State High are due to meet in a sudden-death semi-final at Kougari Oval, Wynnum, with the winner advancing to face Wavell in the following week’s qualifying final.
For Wavell Heights, it puts the suburb’s state high school firmly in the frame as one of the teams still chasing one of Queensland schoolboy rugby league’s biggest prizes.
It has already been a campaign in which Wavell has mixed some of its more prominent attacking talent with important contributions from players who have attracted considerably less attention.
Wavell Waiting for Its Opponent
The immediate focus is on the Palm Beach Currumbin-Ipswich showdown.
Both schools have significant recent Langer Trophy pedigree. Ipswich won the competition in 2022, while Palm Beach Currumbin took the title in 2023 and successfully defended it in 2024.
Whoever survives their meeting will then have Wavell waiting.
That represents a strong position for a Wavell side which entered the final regular-season round in contention for the minor premiership.
Wavell’s meeting with defending champion Keebra Park was billed as a battle for top spot, with the school chasing what would have been its first Langer Trophy minor premiership since 2015.
Regardless of how that final regular-season contest unfolded, Wavell’s season had already done enough to secure an important place in the finals picture.
A Season That Has Required Some Big Moments
One of the most revealing games of Wavell’s campaign came against Palm Beach Currumbin.
Wavell appeared headed for defeat before Year 11 rookie Silas Tohilima-Gardiner crossed for a crucial late try.
Calvin Harris-Tavita then converted from the sideline to secure a 22-all draw.
It was the type of escape that can matter enormously over a short schoolboy season — and it also showed Wavell could find a way back into a contest when under serious pressure.
Should Palm Beach Currumbin defeat Ipswich, the two schools will now get another chance to settle things in the finals.
Wavell’s Less Heralded Contributors
Much of the attention around Wavell has understandably fallen on players such as Charlie Webb and Harris-Tavita, but several other members of the squad have emerged as important contributors.
Tohilima-Gardiner has been one of them.
The Year 11 player has moved between the wing and centre during his first Langer Trophy campaign, bringing strong carries and physical running to Wavell’s outside backs. His try against Palm Beach Currumbin was his biggest moment of the regular season.
Isaac Salei has also made an impression despite being only 16.
The back-rower, who can also play hooker, entered the Langer Trophy after an outstanding representative campaign in which he was named player of the carnival as Queensland II won the 15–16 years division at the national championships.
He is also following a familiar path at Wavell. His older brother Lauloto Salei was one of the school’s leading forwards during the 2023 season.
Then there is Nick Wolpers.
After beginning the season in reserve grade, Wolpers worked his way into the top side and made his opportunities count. Among his notable contributions was an offload that created a try against Redcliffe, while another determined effort saw him escape Wavell’s in-goal area despite the attention of multiple defenders.
Together, they underline the depth Wavell will need as the competition moves into its most unforgiving stage.
The Stakes Get Higher
There is little margin for error from here.
Ipswich and Palm Beach Currumbin must first fight for the right to continue their seasons. Wavell, meanwhile, can prepare knowing exactly what is coming: a finals opponent with recent championship experience and everything to play for.
For a Wavell program that has spent the winter competing among Queensland’s leading schoolboy rugby league teams, the biggest matches of its 2026 campaign are now arriving.
And one of Ipswich or Palm Beach Currumbin will soon be coming for them.
Published 10-Aug-2026
