Halves will take no quarter in battle for the crown
ANY thoughts of pre-game banter have been cruelled by school exams, however that perhaps looms as the perfect calm before the storm for these two young halves.
Palm Beach Currumbin duo Joshua Lynn and Jake Lateo go from squad mates to rivals on Saturday when they battle for the Rugby League Gold Coast under-18s title.
It shapes as Lynn’s last game on the Glitter Strip when he dons the No.7 jumper for the Nerang Roosters, before he embarks on his biggest career move to link up with the Parramatta Eels.
The Langer Trophy star’s graduation in the coming months will open the door for Lateo to assume a place at the scrumbase in the school’s top side next year, having guided the PBC reserve outfit to the premiership this year.
PBC coach Tim Maccan has seen Lynn take his game to another level in 2022, undertaking an ideal initiation under Titans contracted gun Tom Weaver last year before assuming the reins himself.
Maccan said the Queensland schoolboys representative had served his apprenticeship and was ready to test himself against the upper echelon of the game.
“He’s done really well, obviously making the rep team with Queensland schoolboys was a big positive step for him in the right direction in regards to his footy journey,” he said.
“He learnt a fair bit last year being in underneath and training with Tom Weaver and Oskar Bryant at hooker ... (and) he wanted to get his hands on the ball more often and take control of the team.
“I’m sure he goes through his own process of what he’s going to do in a game, but he doesn’t show if he’s nervous. He’s concentrating on what his job is going to be and take that into the occasion.”
For Lateo, the young Eagle will carry the extra burden of the captaincy into the contest, despite still only being in year 11 at school.
Maccan said he would well and truly be in the mix for a Langer Trophy berth next year, having performed admirably as Lynn’s understudy.
“He’s definitely in the mix, he’s got some good qualities in his game and having a good kicking game as well, which is what you want in a halfback,” he said.
“Everything he does – his preparation is really good, he’s committed to training and learning to be better, and that’s the big key for him.
“He’s been getting better every year, though the teams he’s played in, he’s one who hasn’t yet made representative teams or may not have been on someone’s list of people to look out for, but he’s one of those slow burners.
“He’s coming up, he’s learning everything right and doing everything right to give himself an opportunity at the end of the journey of year 12 to hopefully get a start somewhere.”