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GREG EASTWOOD Graduated: 2005 | NRL Games: 168

ROBERT LUIGraduated: 2003

NRL games: 87

KENNY EDWARDSGraduated: 2007 | NRL games: 19

COREY NORMANGraduated: 2008 | NRL games: 93

BENJI MARSHALLGraduated: 2003 | NRL games: 223

LAMAR LIOLEVAVEGraduated: 2013 | NRL games: 1

BEN MURDOCH*Graduated: 2009 | NRL games: 58

JORDAN KAHUGraduated: 2009 | NRL games: 17

BEN TE’OGraduated: 2006 | NRL games: 151

SAM MOAGraduated: 2004 | NRL games: 57

KEEBRA SHSProduct of Australia

May contain ingredients from New Zealand

* Now plays as Ben Murdoch-Masila

MADE ON THE

GOLD COAST

IT all started with a kid named Benji.

Keebra Park had produced rugby league first graders before.

Brett Horsnell captained the 1988 Australian Schoolboys side while studying at Keebra and went on to play for the Gold Coast Giants, South Queensland Crushers and Parramatta Eels.

But Benji Marshall was about tochange the landscape of the Southport school forever.

With his speed, step and flick pass, Marshall would add a new dimension to the National Rugby League.

The kid from Whakatane in NewZealand piloted Wests Tigers to the 2005 NRL premiership. In 2010, he was crowned the best player in the world by winning the Golden Boot.

And while the 30-year-old maynow not be the scintillating player he used to be, his legacy has inspired a generation.

The Keebra Park production line of NRL talent is running faster than ever and a lot of the school’s success is owed to Marshall, according to head coach Greg Lenton.

“There’s no question Benji gotthe ball rolling,” Lenton said.

“When you consider where he

came from and how it all happened in those early days ... he achieved what he achieved without playing reserve grade or anything.

“It inspired a whole lot of kids inNew Zealand to get out there and have a go. It inspired their families as well.

“It’s (school’s league program)gone from strength to strength since then.

“Everything gets stronger andbetter and there’s more opportunities and more kids want to come.”

The NRL is littered with KeebraPark graduates at the moment.

Agnatius Paasi has found a spoton the Gold Coast Titans bench while Parramatta five-eighth Corey Norman has never played better.

Jordan Kahu, who starred in the2009 national schoolboys title win, has made a fist at fullback for

Brisbane after a horrific run with knee injuries and Sam Moa is a star in the Roosters front-row.

Throw in Bodene Thompson atthe Warriors and Greg Eastwood at Canterbury and there’s some serious talent floating around.

But it’s not just their on-field success that Lenton, who started at the school in 1978, is proud of.

“What I’ve been more proud ofis that out of all these guys, none of them have got themselves in any serious trouble,” he said.

“We’ve always been really serious about discipline and made them work really hard and appreciate what they’ve got.

“A lot of these guys have donethat. They’re very loyal and wouldn’t want to let the place down.”

There is also the inspirational stories.

Ben Murdoch, who now plays

under the surname Murdoch-Masila, was 140kg when he arrived at Keebra Park but managedto strip 30kg in an off-season.

Paasi was cut by the Warriors last year after playing one NRL game but has already played three at the Titans.

“There’s been a stack of guys who have come through some tough situations and worked incredibly hard,” Lenton said. “Different things inspire different kids and their families.”

The latest Keebra exports to taste the NRL were Lamar Liolevave and Delouise Hoeter, who left New Zealand together to head to the Gold Coast and debuted for the Tigers alongside each other this season.

They came through the school’s2013 national title season and have thrived since.

“We go way back,” Liolevave said. “We were together in New Zealand, came to Australia together and made our debut together.

“I’m pretty happy and proud ofhim as well.”

And there’ll be plenty more tofollow in their footsteps.— Additional reporting TOM BOSWELL

Production line keepson rollin’

TRAVISMEYNtravis.meyn@news.com.au

KEEBRA’S NRL TEAMBACKS FORWARDS No. Player NRL club No Player NRL club

1 Jordan Kahu Broncos 8 Sam Moa Roosters 2 Kurtis Rowe Tigers 9 Rangi Chase Salford*

3 Bodene Thompson Warriors 10 Isaac Liu Roosters 4 Tau Tau Moga Cowboys 11 Ben Murdoch-Masila Panthers

5 Delouise Hoeter Tigers 12 Lamar Liolevave Tigers 6 Corey Norman Eels 13 Greg Eastwood Bulldogs

7 Benji Marshall DragonsINTERCHANGE

14 Blake Leary Sea Eagles 16 Robert Lui Cowboys15 Kenny Edwards Eels 17 Agnatius Paasi TitansNote: Team of current players selected by Keebra staff * English Super League club