Keebra Park SHS can be justifiably proud of its 1998 open rugby
league team which, as with teams of previous years, performed at
the highest level of schoolboy league. The team reached the final
of the Broncos/Coca-Cola School Challenge and the State final of
the Aussie Home Loans Cup.
Coached
by Greg Lenton, they put together some great wins. With their
professionalism and dedication they showed they were truly worthy
of wearing the Keebra sky blue.
Keebra’s
1998 season started in February with the Broncos/ Coca-Cola SEQ
Challenge. On its way to the finals the team accounted for St
Mary’s Toowoomba, Harristown, Wavell and Coombabah, and
Coombabah again in the semi finals.
Its
run was halted by Palm Beach Currumbin in the final. The
injury-hit Keebra team led until well into the second half, but
the lack of reserve strength eventually took its toll and PBC
came from behind to win 36-25.
The
Aussie Home Loans Cup saw Keebra produce its two best
performances of the year - a 22-10 group final win over Palm
Beach Currumbin - and the 22-8 State semi final defeat of St
Mary’s Toowoomba. Both matches were highlighted by
Keebra’s never-say-die defence.
Despite
the shock loss of State rep Tas Bartlett, who had injured a
cruciate ligament in a Group 18 A grade match, Keebra took to the
field against PBC determined to avenge the loss they suffered in
the Broncos Challenge.
After
leading 10-4 at half-time, Keebra turned dour defence into
brilliant attack, scoring two tries to one in the second half to
win an entertaining match 22-10.
The
semi final against St Mary’s was watched by a large crowd at
Owen Park Southport. In the first half Keebra were their own
worst enemies, squandering a number of try-scoring opportunities.
However their defence was on target, and at half-time they held a
10-4 lead.
Aided
by a lop-sided penalty count in the second half, St Mary’s
threatened the Keebra line a number of times. However their great
defence and counter-attack saw Keebra soundly beat the Toowoomba
team 22-8, to set up a meeting with Kirwan SHS in the State
final.
Unfortunately
Keebra left their worst performance of the season for the clash
with Kirwan, which was played at Langlands Park in Brisbane.
The
day before the match Keebra coach Greg Lenton was shocked to
learn the team’s halfback, Adon Quinn, had suffered a
serious hamstring injury during the school athletics competition
a day earlier.
On
top of this, his reserve prop had been handed a two-week
suspension earlier in the week. Having to reshuffle the team at
this late stage was something Greg did not need.
Despite
these setbacks, Keebra took to the field confident in their
ability to win. However injuries to two key players in the first
five minutes - fullback Tim Nathan-Webster and prop Corey Blazey
- allowed Kirwan to get a roll on, and Keebra looked to be in
trouble at half-time, trailing 22-6.
Kirwan
scored first after the break but Keebra hit back with a try by
heavily strapped halfback Adon Quinn.
Another
Kirwan try saw them gain a commanding 28-12 lead. Quinn lasted
only a few minutes more, and when he came off, along with second
rower Andrew Johnson, Keebra’s game was all but over.
The
sin-binning of Keebra captain James Brown saw Kirwan run away
with the match, scoring 18 points in 15 minutes to record a
convincing 52-12 victory.
In
other AHL Cup matches Keebra beat Coombabah 2 and Coombabah 1,
and Marsden SHS in the State quarter final.
Representative
honours were the highlight of the year for a number of Keebra
Park players. Selected to represent the South Coast region were
Tim Nathan-Webster, Matt Doeg, Jamaal Lolesi, Travis Surch,
Tasman Bartlett, Corey Blazey, Tim Casey, James Brown and Steven
Faifai.
Lolesi,
Bartlett and Brown were selected in the Queensland State High
Schools’ team, and Jamaal also gained selection in the
Queensland Under 17s. State honours also went to Bartlett and
Brown with the New South Wales Country Under 18s.
1998
was the final year at school for a number of players, some of
whom will continue their careers with NRL clubs. Keebra captain
James Brown will join the Brisbane Broncos, while Jamaal Lolesi
has fielded offers from a number of major clubs.
Players
returning to Keebra this year include Tim Casey, Steven Faifai,
Justin McDonald and Mace Bartlett.
Although
the school has a student base of just over 800, it continues to
compete at the top level of schoolboy league in Queensland,
defeating much larger high schools.
With
the positive publicity generated by its high profile rugby league
team in 1998 and the continued long term support of the schol
community, Keebra Park’s proud tradition of being one of
Queensland’s leading league schools should endure for years
to come.
Our
thanks to R & D Networking for its support
of the Keebra Park rugby league teams.