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Daniel Butterini started at left centre for the Northern Rivers Titans in Round Three of the U18 Laurie Daley Cup on Saturday against the Central Coast Roosters and had a huge match on the way to scoring a hat trick.
In relation to his first try, Daniel Butterini received the ball wide out to the left of the field after a Northern Rivers Titans scrum win fifteen metres out from the Central Coast line and immediately cut back inside twice to crash over five metres from the left upright.
Daniel Butterini scored his second try when he was on the spot to take a Thomas Weaver kick when it bounced perfectly. Daniel Butterini was able to take the bouncing ball above his head and place it down a metre inside the dead ball line.
Daniel Butterini scored his third and final try from a twenty metre dash out of dummy half. With the Central Coast defence back peddling Daniel Butterini got into dummy half and ran to the right of the play the ball producing a left foot step near the try line to wrong foot the remaining defenders to dive over mid-way between the corner post and the left goal post.
Vinncent Takataka will play the 2020 season as part of the Tweed Heads Seagulls Colts side for the second season in a row.
The former Canterbury Bankstown junior moved up to South East Queensland at the start of 2018 and has had an exceptional start to his rugby league career in South East Queensland over the course of the 2018 season.
Vinncent Takatake came into the Tweed Heads Seagulls U20 Hastings Deering’s Colts side for their Round Two match against the Townsville Blackhawks starting from the bench and maintained his place in the local derby against the Burleigh Bears starting at lock and scoring his sole try of the season.
In total in the 2019 Hastings Deering’s Colts competition Vinncent Takatake played in thirteen matches including their Elimination Final loss to Mackay. Vinncent Takatake started six matches in 2019, four at lock and two in the second row with his first match in the second row coming in Round Nineteen against the Mackay Cutters.
Vinncent Takatake made his Gold Coast Rugby League Doug Lipp Cup debut from the bench in Round Twelve against Currumbin.
Vinncent Takataka also played three GCRL U20 matches for Runaway Bay in 2019 with his total of two points coming when he kicked a conversion against Southport in May.
Vinncent Takataka represented South’s Logan in the 2018 MM Cup competition starting a number of the Magpies matches including their MM Cup Grand Final against North’s and their National Final against Penrith. Earlier in 2018 the former Canterbury Bankstown junior represented South Coast at the U18 QSSRL Championships in Toowoomba where South Coast was defeated by Met East in the Championship final.
In the 2018 MM Cup competition for South’s Logan as noted Vinncent Takataka played in four South’s Logan’s matches. Vinncent Takataka broke into the South’s Logan MM side in Round Three against North’s from the inter change bench and also played off the bench in Round Four against Burleigh. Vinncent Takataka started Round Five against Wynnum Manly in the front row and started the MM Cup Grand Final and U18 National Final in the second row, scoring in the National Final against the Penrith Panthers.
Post those feats, Vinncent Takataka made his debut in the Gold Coast Rugby League U19 competition when he started in the second row for Runaway Bay in Round Eight in their 32-24 win over the Ormeau Shearers. In Round Nine Vinncent Takataka started in the second row once against and scored a double as his Runaway Bay side defeated Beaudesert 32 – 20.
In total in the Gold Coast Rugby League U19 competition in 2018, Vinncent Takataka played in six matches and in addition to the previously mentioned double against Beaudesert also scored against Burleigh and Helensvale in consecutive matches in August 2018.
Vinncent Takataka, prior to his move to Queensland was part of the Canterbury Bulldogs Junior Development set-up for a numbers of years, joining the Bulldogs in their U15 Development Squad in 2015 and progressing to playing for the Bulldogs U16 Harrold Matthews Cup side in 2016. Vinncent’s Takataka’s junior rugby league club in Sydney was the Bankstown Sports Club where he started his rugby league journey in the U12’s.
James Torrens will line up for the Tweed Heads Seagulls Hastings Deering’s Colts side in 2020 potentially bypassing the MM Cup Competition all together.
James Torrens started off the 2019 season on the bench for the Tweed Heads Seagulls MM Cup side in their Round One match with the Western Mustangs with James Torrens contributing a try in a big 58 – 18 Seagulls win.
When he came on James Torrens played on the left side of the field and that is where he scored his try, the Titans worked a blind side play with James Torrens receiving the ball literally on the try line and was able to just bend down to score probably the easiest try he ever will.
In total in the 2019 MM Cup competition, James Torrens played in all nine of Tweed Heads matches starting all from the bench including their semi-final and Grand Final victory over Wynnum Manly as well as the National U18 Championship victory over Illawarra.
James Torrens played only twenty one minutes in the National Final but certainly made the most of it, running for 134 metres (forty post contact), broke four tackles, played the ball at an average speed of 2.7 seconds and made four tackles at a tackling efficiency of 80%.
If there was a more improved player for Tweed Heads over the course of their 2019 MM Cup campaign I did not see them. When he came on in the MM Cup James Torrens played in the forwards and on each occasion ran with intensity and purpose, he was to put it simply very impressive in each of his nine outings in the MM Cup this season.
In the final against Wynnum Manly James Torrens provided a real spark off the bench immediately making some powerful charges in the centre of the ruck. Over the course of the season, when he came on James Torrens played in the second row.
James Torrens started at right second row for PBC in their Round Two Langer Cup win over St Mary and taking into account his heavy MM Cup schedule played big minutes for PBC and for me he was their best player regularly making big post contact metres, he also had a running battle with the St Mary’s No. 12.
James Torrens also started in the front row for PBC in their Queensland GIO Cup quarter final win over St Mary’s High School Toowoomba 50 – 6 and started in the front row and scored the last minute try to pushed the GIO Cup Queensland semi-final to Golden Point when he used a late change of angle to score mid-way between the left corner post and left upright.
After the completion of the MM Cup competition, James Torrens played for Tugun in the Gold Coast Rugby League U18 Division One competition, making his first appearance off the bench for the Seahawks in Round Four against Mudgeeraba.
James Torrens also came off the bench in Round Six of the GCRL U18 Division One competition scoring a double against Helensvale. James Torrens also scored in Round Thirteen against Currumbin.
James Torrens played in a total of xx U18 Division One matches in 2019 for Tugun and after starting from the bench in his first two matches moved into the starting side in the second row.
James Torrens also represented South Coast at the U18 QSSRL Championships where he was named on the bench. On Day One of the Championships against Northern James Torrens was particularly impressive, in one instance splitting the line from a Northern line drop out, after James Torrens effected a quick play the ball the ball was spun to the right for fellow Titan Trey Peni to score.
At just 17 years old, James Torrens made his Hastings Deering’s Colts debut in Round Nineteen when he started in the second row against the Mackay Cutters.
The tough young centre/second rower was impressive throughout the 2018 season for Northern Rivers in the U18 Laurie Daley Cup competition as well as in the NRRRL competition for Ballina for whom he played across all three grades of the NRRRL competition including an outstanding NRRRL First Grade debut.
James Torrens started off the 2018 season, performing solidly for Northern Rivers in the inaugural U18 Laurie Daley Cup competition starting in the centres in four matches against the Newcastle Knights Development Squad, North Coast, Central Coast Roosters and the Greater Northern Tigers.
For the Ballina Seagulls in the NRRRL U18 competition, James Torrens finished the regular season playing in eleven matches and scoring twelve tries. Of those twelve tries, James Torrens scored ten of those in a six game period from late May to late July.
In that span James Torrens scored a hat trick against Murwillumbah, doubles against Casino RSM and Cudgen and tries against Tweed Coast, Kyogle and Lower Clarence.
With his twelve try tally James Torrens finished equal second on the U18 NRRRL try scoring list equal with Tweed Coast forward Oscar Clarke and five behind Cudgen centre Liam Cusack.
James Torrens was part of the 2018 Ballina U18 NRRRL Grand Final side that won 30 – 4 to Cudgen with James Torrens starting the Grand Final in his usual left centre position. Throughout the Grand Final James Torrens was a handful for the Cudgen defence, scoring a good try and also making a long break when he fielded a Cudgen grubber kick on his own line and charging downfield on a 60 metre run before the cover defence converged.
In the Grand Final James Torrens had the responsibility of taking the first hit up from every one of Ballina’s scrum wins, regularly bending the Cudgen defence back and putting the Seagulls on the front foot.
James Torrens made his NRRRL Reserve Grade debut in June 2018, against Casino RSM and in 2018 went on to play in six Reserve Grade matches in total scoring three tries, including a double against Lower Clarence and also scoring in his second Reserve Grade game against Mullumbimby.
James Torrens made his NRRRL First Grade debut in late July 2018 against Lower Clarence and what a debut he had, scoring a double on a memorable afternoon. James Torrens had scored a double in the earlier Reserve Grade match as well as scoring in the U18 match that same day.
In 2017 James Torrens represented the East Coast Dolphins in the New South Wales Country U16 Championships and in 2016 represented Group One at the U15 New South Wales Junior Country Championships.
Michael Roberts started at right in Round Three of the U16 Andrew Johns Cup competition for the Northern Rivers Tians against the Central Coast Roosters on Saturday finishing the match with an individual point’s haul of sixteen points from two tries and four conversions from five attempts.
Michael Roberts first try came from a scrum when he ran a great line into a gap and received a great ball from half Harvey Moase. Immediately upon running through the gap, Miochael Roberts stepped off his right foot to beat the Central Coast fullback to score untouched.
Michael Roberts also scored a long range try, also in the second half when he received a great off-load from hooker Tanu Nona to burst down the right touched line before beating the fullback to score under the posts after a fifty five metre run.
Titans linked Noah Gafa will line up for the Tweed Heads Seagulls Hastings Deering’s Colts side in 2020.
The young centre is deservedly part of the Titans JTS program, signing a deal during 2017 and continues to go from strength to strength.
In January of 2019 Noah Gafa started at right centre for the Tians U18’s in their match against the Newcastle Knights. Midway through the first half however when Will Evans moved to fullback, Noah Gafa moved to right centre where he remained for the duration of the match.
Noah Gafa also started at left centre for the Titans U18 side in their big win over PNG at Pizzey park in early October and was one of multiple Titans try scorers in the match when he crossed untouched after running an inside shoulder route from close range (ten metres).
After missing Round One Noah Gafa started Round Two of the 2019 MM Cup competition on the wing for Tweed Heads against the Townsville Blackhawks and certainly made an impact including scoring the final try of the match to ensure that Tweed Heads came away from the game on the winning side.
In the Round Three MM Cup local derby against Burleigh Noah Gafa scored for the second match in a row. Playing left centre Noah Gafa split the Burleigh defence from about fifty five metres out and was just too quick for the cover defence to score out wide for the Seagulls first try of the match in their close victory over their local rivals.
Noah Gafa missed the remainder of the MM Cup competition post the Round Three derby.
After missing a number of weeks through injury Noah Gafa made his way back onto the field in Round Eight of the GCRL U18 Division One competition starting on the bench for Burleigh against Tugun. Noah Gafa made his first start of the season in Round Nine lining up in the centres against Currumbin.
In total for Burleigh in the 2019 GCRL U18 Division One regular season competition Noah Gafa played in five regular season matches scoring his first try and only try in the regular season rounds in Round Thirteen against Bilambil.
Noah Gafa started in the centres for Burleigh in their 34 -4 U18 Division One Week Two Finals victory over Southport 34 – 4 to progress directly to the Grand Final.
Noah Gafa started the Grand Final against Southport at left centres scoring twice in Burleigh’s 28 – 12 win.
Both of Noah Gafa’s tries came from short range in the second half, on each occasions the Burleigh dummy half’s (Try One – Lachlan Adamson, Try Two – Dakota Whalan) took the ball down a short blind side and passed to Noah Gafa who powered onto the ball on both occasions to score, for the first try Noah Gafa was able to bring the ball all of the way around to score under the posts.
Noah Gafa made his first Hastings Deering’s Colts appearance of the 2019 season in Round Nineteen when he started in the centres against the Mackay Cutters and also started in the centres in Round Twenty against the Ipswich Jets and in Round Twenty Three against the Northern Pride when he started at right centre.
Prior to the 2018 Gold Coast Rugby League season proper, Noah Gafa was part of the 2018 Tweed Heads Seagulls MM Cup squad playing in all seven of their matches including their final against South’s Logan. Noah Gafa started his first five matches in the centres before starting from the interchange bench in Round Seven against Easts and then again in the semi-final against South’s Logan.
In the 2018 MM Cup competition Noah Gafa scored two tries, coming against the Victorian Thunderbolts in Round two and against the Townsville Blackhawks in Round Five.
Noah Gafa made his Hastings Deering’s Colts debut for the Tweed Heads Seagulls in Round Sixteen of the 2018 season against Burleigh starting in the centres and started on the wing in Round Seventeen against Wynnum Manly scoring two tries in an impressive display especially when you are talking about a 17 year old playing against 20 year olds.
Noah Gafa also started on the wing in Round Eighteen against Souths Logan and in the centres in Round Twenty against the Mackay Cutters in round out his four Colts matches this season.
For Currumbin in the 2018 Gold Coast Rugby League U17 Division One competition, Noah Gafa made on outstanding start starting in the centres in each of his six matches and scoring a total of nine tries along the way.
Noah Gafa scored a hat trick against Tweed Heads in Round Five and has also scored against Mudgeeraba, Helensvale, Ormeau and Bilambil in the opening four rounds to lead the U17 Division One try scoring list. Noah Gafa’s other regular season try came against Burleigh in Round Six.
Noah Gafa was heavily involved in Currumbin’s final’s campaign which culminated with Noah Gafa starting in the second row in the Grand Final with Currumbin prevailing 30 – 10 over a Runaway Bay side which was led by fellow Titans contracted youngster Carsil Vaikai.
Noah Gafa scored one of his nine tries in the finals crossing in Week Two of the finals in a 32 – 22 Currumbin win over Burleigh.
Noah Gafa was also in outstanding form for PBC in 2018 including being involved in their matches against Keebra Park 22 – 20 win, Ipswich State High School 24 – 18 win and Marsden State High School 38 – 10 win in the Langer Cup competition when he started at left centre and scored two second half tries.
Noah Gafa was also involved in PBC’s Queensland GIO Cup Quarter Final and semi-final victories, including scoring a double in the semi-final victory over Ignatius Park. Noah Gafa’s first try came early in the first half when he ran an outside shoulder route close to the try line and received a good ball from hooker Jed Edwards to crash over.
Noah Gafa’s second try came late in the second half. After a break from PBC half Thomas Dearden, Noah Gafa backed up to receive the pass from Dearden and outpaced the defence to score untouched.
In the Queensland GIO Cup final against Kirwan State High School Noah Gafa started at left centre, partnering fellow Titans contracted player Will Evans as PBC overcame Kirwan State High School 32 – 26 to qualify for the National GIO Cup Final. In a great sign for the Titans both Noah Gafa and Will Evans scored doubles in the win with one of the tries the two combining for Noah Gafa to cross out wide in the second half.
Noah Gafa started at left centre for PBC in the GIO Cup National Final against Patrician Brothers College Blacktown with PBC becoming National GIO Cup Championships with a 20 – 12 win.
Post the National GIO Cup final Noah Gafa was part of the PBC touring side that went to Fiji and was part of the PBC side that defeated a Fijian U18 side, fellow Titan Will Evans was also in the PBC side that won by around thirty odd points.
In the 2017 U16 GCJRL Division One competition, Noah Gafa scored 38 points for the Currumbin Eagles which has come from eight tries and three goals. All three of Noah Gafa’s goals came in the one match in June against the Ormeau Shearers. From a try scoring perspective, Noah Gafa had a great run of four matches from April 28 to May 26 where he scored in all four matches which, in order, where against Ormeau, Runaway Bay, Helensvale and against Ormeau a second time.
Noah Gafa also scored a hat trick against Burleigh in August against Burleigh and the match prior to that scored against Helensvale. Currumbin were the deserved Grand Final winners in the 2017 GCJRL U16 Division One competition, with Noah Gafa starting in the second row in their 34 – 4 Grand Final victory over Burleigh.
In 2017 Noah Gafa was also a key member of the PBC Open Rugby League side that performed so will in the GIO Cup competition and in fact he scored in their tough Queensland GIO Cup semi-final loss to Marsden State High School 22 – 20.
Earlier in 2017 season, Noah Gafa was selected in the Gold Coast Vikings Green U16 side for their South East Queensland U16 pre-season competition and in 2013 Noah Gafa was selected in the Queensland U12 side with fellow Titan Alofiana Khan-Periera.
Standout Titans contracted play maker Thomas Weaver started at half back in Round Three of the U18 Laurie Daley Cup competition for the Northern Rivers Titans against the Central Coast Roosters on Saturday recording three try assists in the Northern Rivers Titans twenty six point victory. Thomas Weaver also kicked one conversion from two attempts in the win.
Thomas Weaver’s first try assist was identical to many that he recorded last season. Thomas Weaver took the ball to the left of the field, close to the Central Coast line and threw a great pass to Titans left second rower and favourite target Ryan Foran who ran an outside shoulder route to crash over.
Thomas Weaver recorded a second try assist in the first half when a bomb that he put up to the left corner bounced perfectly for centre Daniel Butterini to put the ball down a metre inside the field of play.
Thomas Weaver’s third and final try assist of the match came in the centre half. He ran the ball to the right of the field shapes to pass but instead stepped off his left foot to break the line and drew the fullback to send Ryan Foran away to score near the left corner.
Titans contracted Ben Liyou will line up for the Tweed Heads Seagulls Hastings Deering’s Colts side in 2020.
He is a young player from the Grafton Ghosts who last year signed a two year deal with the Titans which saw him move to the Gold Coast continue his rugby league career at the start of 2019.
Ben Liyou is currently training with the Tweed Heads Seagulls and will be part of the Titans Rookie Squad that will play the Tweed Heads Seagulls Queensland Cup side in early February.
In early 2019 Ben Liyou started from the bench for the Titans U18’s in their match at Coffs Harbour against the Newcastle Knights U18 SG Ball squad which ended five tries all.
When he came on mid-way through the first half, Ben Liyou started on the left side of the field but moved over to the right side for the second half.
Ben Liyou was more than solid defensively in the match, covering across field well and even though he was not the biggest forward on the field, he initial contact was more than impressive.
With the ball Ben Liyou ran a couple of very good outside shoulder routes when he was operating on the right side of the field in the second half.
Ben Liyou started in the unfamiliar front row position for the 2019 Tweed Heads Seagulls MM Cup side in their 58 – 18 Round One victory over the Western Mustangs.
Ben Liyou’s first 2019 MM Cup try came in Round Three against Burleigh. Tweed Heads five eight Kade Hill put in a grubber kick for Ben Liyou to follow through and dive on to score under the posts with the ball very close to the dead ball line.
In total in the 2019 MM Cup competition, Ben Liyou played in all nine of Tweed Heads matches starting all in the front row including their semi-final and Grand Final victory over Wynnum Manly and their U18 National Final victory against Illawarra 48 – 12 (no head gear in the National Final however that meant it took a minute for me to pick him out).
Ben Liyou played thirty nine minutes in the National Final against Illawarra, running for ninety nine metres (forty post contact), played the ball at an average speed of 3.56 seconds and made a team leading nineteen tackles at a tackling efficiency of an impressive 95%.
Ben Liyou made his Hastings Deering’s Colts debut in Round Eleven against the Northern Pride starting the match in the front row, playing significant minutes in Tweed Head’s 35 – 16 victory and also started in the front row in Round Twelve.
Ben Liyou also started in the in the front row in Round Thirteen against the Sunshine Coast Falcons, scoring his first try when he ran hard and straight to crash over just to the left of the uprights after receiving the ball around nine metres out from the line.
In total in the 2019 Hastings Deering’s Colts competition, Ben Liyou played in twelve matches (in a row) including their Elimination Final loss to Mackay, starting all in the front row and as noted above scored in Round Thirteen against Sunshine Coast.
Impressively Ben Liyou also spent some time training with the Titans NRL side in 2019 which clearly shows the high regard the Titans hold him in. At the 2019 Titans NRL Awards night Ben Liyou was awarded the inaugural Titans TEDS award.
In late 2018 Ben Liyou was part of the Titans U18 side that won matches against PNG and New South Wales Country U18’s starting in the second row on both occasions and in those matches spent some time playing on the left side of the field instead of playing on the right where he played for the Grafton Ghosts and Northern Rivers earlier in 2018.
Early in 2018 Ben Liyou was part of the North Coast U18 Laurie Daley Cup side starting in the second row in all four of their matches and scoring one try which came against Northern Rivers in Round Two.
Ben Liyou was one of the North Coast’s standout players across the Championships constantly challenging the defensive line, normally operating on the right side of the field.
Ben Liyou had been a Grafton Ghosts player throughout his entire career and that did not change in 2018. Ben Liyou started the season in the U18 Group two competition and at just 17 years old made his Tooheys New Group Two First Grade debut in Round Three against the Macksville Sea Eagles.
Ben Liyou made his Group two First Grade debut playing left centre even though he has been playing in the second row exclusively over the last couple of seasons.
Post his debut Ben Liyou made three additional Group Two First Grade appearances and in Round Ten in a big win against Macksville had a try assist late in the first half when he broke through the line and set up half Jake Frame for a try on the cusp of half time.
In the 2018 U18 Group Two competition, Ben Liyou played in eight matches, scoring six tries and kicking two goals for a points tally on the season to date of 28. Ben Liyou scored a double in Round One against local rivals the South Grafton Rebels, also kicking his season’s two goals in the match. He also scored a double against the Rebels in a 33 – 12 Round Nine win.
Ben Liyou’s other two tries came against Bellingen in Round Five and in Round Six against the league leaders and previously undefeated Coffs harbour side.
In October 2017 Ben Liyou was also awarded the Aquinas Titans Sportsperson of the Year award at a gala dinner at the Southport Yacht Club showcasing the esteem that he is held in at the Titans.
Ben Liyou played the 2017 season at the U16.5 level for the Ghosts as well as playing three matches at the U18 level for Grafton in the Group Two U18 competition. Ben Liyou also attended a Titans Elite Academy session that was held at Lennox Heads late in 2017, another Grafton Ghost in centre Jake Martin was also an attendee.
Ben Liyou was also part of the East Coast Dolphins U16 side that performed well at the New South Wales Country Championships making the Championship final and as a result was selected for the U16 New South Wales Country side that played two matches in New Zealand as part of a South Island Tour. The NSW Country U16 side won both of their tour matches.
Previously Ben Liyou has represented the Titans in a number of development squad matches including in 2014 when he came off the bench in a match against a Samoan side playing in the second row.
With his try and two goals in a Grafton Ghosts 24-4 win over Ballina Ben Liyou finished the U16.5 regular season competition as the leading point’s scorer with 62 points from ten matches. Ben Liyou scored eight tries and kicked fifteen goals. From a try scoring perspective Ben Liyou scored doubles against Casino RSM in June and also against Ballina in July. Ben Liyou also started in the second row in Grafton’s two finals matches against Clarence Coast and the Grand Final against Casino RSM.
As a 16 year old Ben Liyou also played three matches for the Grafton Ghosts U18 side in the Group Two competition, with his U18 debut coming in April against the Sawtell Panthers. His other two games were against Sawtell again in June and Coffs Harbour in July 2017.
In the U16 New South Wales Country Championships Ben Liyou scored three tries in their way to the Final where the East Coast Dolphins U16 side lost in extra time to the Western Rams. In that Grand Final Ben Liyou started in the second row and another Titans linked youngster Kade Hill started at half. Ben Liyou scored a double in the East Coast Dolphins 44-0 semi-final win over the Bidgee Bulls and he also scored in Round One against the Central Coast.
In 2016 Ben Liyou was the U15 Group One’s top try scorer with 18 tries from 12 matches to finish five tries clear of the next highest try scorer. Ben Liyou also started at lock for the Group One U15 representative side that had some good wins over the course of the New South Wales Country Age Championships. Ben Liyou has previous experience in a Titans jersey when he came off the bench in late 2015 in a U14 contest against Samoa.
For the Ghosts in the U15 competition, Ben Liyou started off the season with a bang scoring seven tries in the first three rounds, including a four try haul against Kyogle and a double against Minor Premiers Clarence Coast. Over the course of the season, Ben Liyou scored five other doubles which came against Ballina on three separate occasions, Lismore Marist Brothers and Kyogle. In April Ben Liyou also played one match at the U16.5 age group against Kyogle backing up after playing in the U15’s earlier in the day.
After a long term injury Ryan Foran was named on the Northern Rivers Titans extended bench for Round Three of the U18 Laurie Daley Cup competition against the Central Coast Roosters on the weekend but he ended up starting the match at left second row scoring a double with both tries coming off passes from fellow Titan Thomas Weaver.
Ryan Foran’s first try resulted when he ran an outside shoulder route close to the Central Coast line to crash over. Ryan Foran scored his second try in the second half when he backed up a Thomas Weaver break to take the pass when Thomas Weaver drew the fullback to run twenty metres to score near the left corner.
Mate looks like Tweed will be hard too beat this year in colts some good talent in there
Agree mate they will be a strong side
Mate looks like Tweed will be hard too beat this year in colts some good talent in there
highlights from the titans northern rivers u18s https://www.nswrl.com.au/news/2020/03/02/highlights--andrew-johns-cup-rd-3/
titans game first for 10 mins, tom weaver looking good im surprised he didnt play MM for tweed
Thomas Weaver is U18 eligible as well in 2021 and is from Cudgen so him playing for the Northern Rivers Titans is a good fit for this season.
highlights from the titans northern rivers u18s https://www.nswrl.com.au/news/2020/03/02/highlights--andrew-johns-cup-rd-3/
titans game first for 10 mins, tom weaver looking good im surprised he didnt play MM for tweed
u16s CRL highlights https://www.nswrl.com.au/news/2020/03/02/highlights--andrew-johns-cup-rd-32/
junior pathways looking good from the northern rivers
Another intriguing Keebra Park recruit for the upcoming season is former Kirwan State High School front rower Kaya Anapa.
In 2019 Kaya Anapa was a key member of Kirwan’s Queensland GIO Cup Final win over Marsden State High School and also their GIO Cup National Final 16 – 10 win over Westfield Sports High, scoring in both Final’s victories.
In addition to playing for Keebra Park in the Langer and GIO Cups in 2020, Kaya Anapa will line up for the Easts Tigers in the MM Cup competition.
Codey McLaughlin is part of the Tweed Heads Seagulls U20 Hastings Deering’s Colts for the second season in a row this season.
He deservedly started the 2019 season with the Tweed Heads Seagulls Hastings Deering’s Colts squad playing in all twenty of Tweed Heads matches including their Elimination Final loss to Mackay, splitting time between starting on the bench and starting in the front row for the Seagulls.
Codey McLaughlin started the first two rounds of the season from the interchange bench before moving into the starting side for Round Three against Burleigh and also started in the front row in Round Five against Wynnum Manly.
Codey McLaughlin’s first Colts try of the season came in Round Four against Central Queensland and he also scored in Round Eleven when he followed through a short attacking kick out of dummy half from Josh Sexton to dive on the ball near the touch in goal.
In a Hastings Deering’s Colts bye week, Codey McLaughlin started from the bench and scored for Runaway Bay as they defeated Southport 40-26 in Round Seven of the Gold Coast Rugby League U20 competition.
His try was a good one too, late in the second half, Cody McLaughlin took a hit up to the left of the play the ball around ten metres out from the Southport line. It looked for all money that he was held and he even got his right arm free over his head looking to offload (he had be turned around and was facing his own try line), but instead he spun around breaking away from the three defenders that had hold of him to crash over.
Codey McLaughlin also scored in Round Twelve of the GCRL U20 competition matches when he scored out wide on the left side of the field untouched after some good work inside of him after starting the match in the front row.
Codey McLaughlin was part of the 2018 Tweed Heads Seagulls MM side and post that competition has played in the GCRL U19, Doug Lipp Cup and First Grade competitions for Runaway Bay.
In the 2018 MM Cup competition for Tweed Heads, Codey McLaughlin played in five matches starting all five from the interchange bench and scoring twice. Codey McLaughlin’s first try came in Round Two against Victoria and he followed that with a try in Round Five against the Townsville Blackhawks.
For the 2019 U19 Runaway Bay side post the MM Cup competition Codey McLaughlin played in twelve regular season matches scoring six tries. Codey McLaughlin scored a Round Fourteen double against Mudgeeraba and also scored in Round Fifteen against Burleigh and well as in Round Seventeen against Beaudesert. Earlier in the season Codey McLaughlin scored against Bilambil and Ormeau to round out his seasons try scoring.
In the Doug Lipp Cup competition for Runaway Bay Cody McLaughlin played five regular season matches including starting Round Sixteen against Helensvale in the second row and Round Seventeen in the centres against Beaudesert, debuting against Currumbin and April.
Codey McLaughlin scored two regular season Doug Lipp Cup tries including scoring in just his second game at that level against Tugun and also scored in his starting debut against Helensvale in Round Sixteen.
In Week One of the GCRL Finals series, Codey McLaughlin started in the second row as well as scoring for Runaway Bay in their 40 – 12 win over Burleigh in the Doug Lipp Cup competition.
In Week Two of the GCRL Finals series, Codey McLaughlin started in the second row for Runaway Bay once again in their 25 – 4 win against Beaudesert.
Codey McLaughlin also started in the second row for Runaway Bay in the Doug Lipp Cup Preliminary Final against Currumbin with Runaway Bay going down by a solitary point 17 – 16 in a hard fought contest.
Codey McLaughlin made his deserved GCRL First Grade debut in late June coming off the bench for Runaway Bay against Tugun.
Codey McLaughlin played the 2017 season with the Helensvale Hornets in the GCRL U17 Division One competition including starting at five eight in Helensvale’s 34 – 20 Grand Final victory over Ormeau. Over the course of the U17 Division One 2017 season Codey McLaughlin played in thirteen matches scoring four tries in the process with the tries coming against Southport, Mudgeeraba, Runaway Bay and Burleigh.
For Gold Coast Green in the CC Cup competition in 2016, Codey McLaughlin played in all eight matches, starting the seven regular season games at right centre, but he started the quarter final on the right wing. Over the course of the CC season he scored three tries which came against the Easts Tigers in Rounds One and Six and also against Toowoomba in their quarter final loss, he also kicked two conversions in a Round Two win against local rivals Gold Coast White.
In addition in 2016 Codey McLaughlin also represented South East Queensland White in the Queensland Age Championships at the U16 level, and on Day Two scored a try and kicked two conversions in a win against South East Queensland Green and on Day Three kicked three conversions in a big 42-24 victory over the Northern Marlins.
The Tino Fa’asuamaleaui 2021 watch:
Tino Fa’asuamaleaui started from the bench in the Storms final 2020 NRL trial against North Queensland last Saturday running for 110 metres (forty five post contact), broke a tackle, played the ball at an average speed of 3.79 seconds and made twenty two tackles at a 100% tackling efficiency.
Tanu Nona started at hooker for the Northern Rivers Titans in Round Three of the U16 Andrew Johns Cup against the Central Coast Roosters on Saturday and for me was close to if not the Titans best in their 28 – 22 victory, scoring a try and having a big hand in another.
Tanu Nona’s try was an outstanding individual effort in the first half. With the Central Coast defence back peddling Tanu Nona exploded out of dummy half to the right of the play the ball around about twenty five metres out from the line and was just too quick and strong for the Central Coast defence, scoring near the left upright.
In the second half, Tanu Nona ran out of dummy half to the right of the half the ball and was able to get a one armed (right arm) pass away to Michael Roberts whilst engaged with the defensive line to send Michael Roberts away down the right side of the field from his second try
Great initiative from the Titans
https://www.titans.com.au/news/2020/03/03/new-pagerugby-league-gold-coast-shows-its-true-colours-with-titans/
Runaway Bay junior and Coombabah State High School student Beau Liddle has been named in the 2020 Gold Coast Vikings U16 Training Squad.
In 2019 Beau Liddle represented Queensland White at the U15 ASSRL School Boy Championships.
Former Townsville Brothers half Jaxon Yow had a successful first season on the Gold Coast for Runaway Bay in the U15 Division One competition and with his selection in the 2020 Gold Coast Vikings U16 Training Squad, 2020 is looking like 2020 will be the same.
Keebra Park student Haysely MacDonald has been selected in the 2020 Gold Coast Vikings U16 Training Squad.
In 2018 Haysley MacDonald represented Queensland Maori at the QPIIC Carnival.
Runaway Bay’s Jack McKenzie has been named in the 2020 Gold Coast Vikings U16 Training Squad.
After representing ABF Academy at the Murri Carnival, Jack McKenzie was named on the bench for the 2020 Queensland Murri U16 side.
Fresh off an a great first season on the Gold Coast that saw former Wellington Orca’s lock/front rower Junior Daniels score eighteen tries in fourteen matches for Mudgeeraba in the U15 Division Two competition for Mudgeeraba, Junior Daniels has been named in the 2020 Gold Coast Vikings U16 Training Squad.
An impressive outside back to look out for in the 2020 Gold Coast Vikings U16 Training Squad is Helensvale’s Kasey Kopua, who in 2018 was named in the 2018 South East Queensland U14 representative side.
In 2019 Kasey Kopua played for the Hornets in the GCRL U15 Division One competition.
In addition to rugby league Kasey Kopua plays rugby, in 2019 being named in the Queensland Blue U15 Gold Coast side and also playing for the Southport School (TSS) in the GPS U15A school boy rugby competition.
For TSS Kasey Kopua started the majority of rounds at inside centre (No.12) scoring in Round Two against Anglican Church Grammar School and Round Eight against Ipswich Grammar School. In addition Kasey Kopua kicked four conversions in Round Six against Brisbane Boys College (BBC) and two conversions in Round Five against Brisbane Grammar School.
Luke Jurd joined the Tweed Heads Seagulls Queensland Cup squad for the 2019 season after spending a number of seasons with the Cronulla Sharks in their lower grades including the now defunct NYC competition.
Luke Jurd’s first official hit out of the 2020 season came when he started at half for the Seagulls in their Queensland Cup trial win over the Souths Logan Magpies at Tugun in mid-February.
Luke Jurd also started at half for the Tweed Heads A Grade side in their late February trial against the Burleigh Bears.
Luke Jurd came into the Tweed Heads Queensland Cup side in Round Nine of 2019 starting at five eight against Norths after being named on extended benches in previous rounds.
In total in the Queensland Cup for Tweed Heads, Luke Jurd played in twelve matches, including starting six matches at five eight, four at half and the remainder from the interchange bench scoring a single try in the process which came against Wynnum Manly in Round Sixteen.
Luke Jurd played 751 minutes, running for 687 metres (57.3 metres per game), made 163 tackles (12.6 tackles per game), forced six line drops outs, had four try assists, broke the line on three occasions, had twenty tackle breaks and kicked for 1 426 metres (118.83 metres per game) including kicking for 412 metres in Tweeds Elimination Final loss to Redcliffe.
Luke Jurd started the 2019 season playing for Currumbin in the Gold Coast Rugby League First Grade competition, and in Round One against Southport, started at half and scored a try and kicked three from three.
Luke Jurd operated primarily on the right side for Currumbin and his try came from a dummy and run from around ten metres out from the Southport line as he dragged two defenders over the line with him.
In total for Currumbin in the 2019 GCRL First Grade competition Luke Jurd played in five matches starting the vast majority of those at half or five eight and scoring eighteen points from three tries and three goals.
Luke Jurd’s tries came against Southport, Burleigh and Tugun and all three of his goals coming in an early season match against Southport.
In 2018, Luke Jurd played for the Cronulla Sharks U20 Jersey Flegg side, playing in every match that Cronulla were involved in being twenty matches including four finals matches, including starting the Grand Final that Cronulla won 22 – 12 against Penrith from the interchange bench.
Luke Jurd started Cronulla’s first twelve matches at five eight before moving to the interchange bench for Cronulla’s remaining twelve 2018 matches including their four finals matches.
Coming off the interchange bench, Luke Jurd played a variety of positions including in the halves, hooker and even spent some time in the backrow for the Cronulla Sharks.
Luke Jurd scored two 2018 U20 Jersey Flegg tries, the first coming in Round Thirteen against the Canterbury Bulldogs and the second in Round Twenty Four against the Wests Tigers.
Late in 2018 Luke Jurd toured South Africa with the Australian Universities Rugby League side and scored in their first tour match against a West Province XIII side in Cape Town in a big 72 – 6 Australian Universities victory.
Luke Jurd was part of the New South Wales University side that were beaten by Queensland Universities 52 – 12 earlier in 2018 but played well enough to be selected in the Australian side alongside his brother as one of only a handful of New South Welshmen in the Australian side.
In 2017 Luke Jurd was in fact named to make his New South Wales Intrust Super Cup debut with the Newtown Jets but unfortunately had to withdraw from the match late in the week due to injury
In late February 2020 Rory Lillis started at lock for the Tweed Heads Seagulls A Grade side in their trail against Burleigh.
In 2019 Rory Lillis was part of the Tweed Heads Seagulls Queensland Cup squad playing in ten matches, starting eight from the bench and Rounds Twenty Three and Twenty Four at lock.
In total in the Queensland Cup in 2019 Rory Lillis played 339 minutes, ran for 715 metres (249 post contact), broke sixteen tackles and made 194 tackles at a 91% tackling efficiency.
Rory Lillis had a career match in Round Twenty Three against the Northern Pride, in fact it was his first Queensland Cup start. In his fifty six minutes on the field, Rory Lillis ran for 207 metres, eight three of which were post contact and made twenty eight tackles.
2019 also saw Rory Lillis made eight appearances for the Tugun Seahawks in the GCRL First Grade competition scoring three tries, including a late season double against Southport and also scoring the following week against Ormeau.
Rory Lillis made his Queensland Cup debut in 2018 for Tweed Heads playing three matches in total, running for 165 metres and making fifty five tackles at a 90.16% tackling efficiency.
In 2018 Rory Lillis played four matches in the GCRL First Grade competition for the Tweed Heads Seagulls with his matches coming against Burleigh twice, Currumbin and Tugun.
The local young second rower originally from the Mullumbimby Giants just south of the border moved back to the Gold Coast mid-way through the 2016 season playing for the Tweed Heads Seagulls Colts side before making the Titans Holden Cup squad for the 2017 season and played in twenty Two matches in the Holden Cup for the Titans including scoring his solitary 2017 NYC try in Round twenty Three against the St George Dragons.
Rory Lillis started in all twenty two of his 2017 NYC matches, all in the second row outside of Round Three against the Parramatta Eels when he started at lock. In total across the 2017 NYC season Rory Lillis carried the ball on 199 occasions making 1 786 metres, one line break, two try assists, six off loads and 663 at a tackling efficiency of 86% all whilst on the field for 1 652 minutes. Rory Lillis’s 2017 NYC per game season averages included running for 81.2 metres from 9.1 hit-ups and 30.1 tackles in 75 minutes of game time.
On fifteen occasions Rory Lillis played all 80 minutes including from Rounds Ten to Nineteen when he did not come off the field in those eight matches. On four occasions Rory Lillis ran for more than 100 metres with his highest number of metres in a match coming in Round Fourteen against the Warriors when he ran for 137 metres from fourteen charges into the Warriors defence.
Defensively Rory Lillis had an outstanding year in 2017, making the most tackles by a Titans NYC player both in terms of total tackles and tackles per match with 663 and 30.1 respectively. In all twenty two matches that he played Rory Lillis made in excess of twenty tackles including making more than 30 tackles on eleven occasions including a huge game against the Cronulla Sharks when he made 39 tackles in Round Nineteen.
In 2016 Rory Lillis played the season with the South Sydney NYC side where he played a total of eight matches, scoring one try in the process which came against the Newcastle Knights in Round Two. Of the eight matches Rory Lillis played, he started at either lock or second row in five of those and came off the interchange bench in the other three rounds that he played in. In two of the matches that he started Rory Lillis played the entire 80 minutes, which were in Rounds One and Three against the Roosters and Dragons respectively, showcasing his endurance abilities.
In the remaining six rounds Rory Lillis averaged around 40 minutes a match to finish to an average of 50 minutes per match during the 2016 NYC season. His 2016 averages also included an average of eight runs for 70 metres and 20 tackles per match. From a run metres perspective his best match was against Newcastle in Round Two when he ran for 105 metres and in Round Three he made 31 matches against St George. In addition to the NYC matches that he played in 2016, Rory Lillis also played two matches for La Perouse United in the local South’s Sydney A grade competition which were against the Coogee Dolphins and Moore Park.
Upon his return from Sydney in mid-2016 Rory Lillis linked with the Tweed Heads Seagulls QCup Colts squad making his first appearance for them in Round 17 against the Sunshine Coast Falcons and proceeded to play eight matches straight, including scoring three tries which came on debut, in Round 22 against the Toowoomba Clydesdales and in Round 25 against the Redcliffe Dolphins. Rory Lillis lined up in the second row in all of the matches that he played for the Tweed Heads Colts in 2016.
Prior to moving to Sydney, Rory Lillis had a distinguished junior representative career on the Gold Coast and Northern New South Wales, including representing Group 18 at the U15 level in 2012 and playing in the CC Cup competition in 2013 and the MM Cup competition in 2015 including scoring a try against the Redcliffe Dolphins in Round Three. Rory Lillis was also part of the South Coast team for the 2015 QSSRL U18 championships where team mates includes Tyrone Roberts-Davis and AJ Brimson who will be Titans NYC team mates this year.
Good to see Callum Boomer start on the left wing for the Tweed Heads A Grade side in their late February trial against the Burleigh Bears.
The hard working winger started the 2019 season with the Tweed Heads Seagulls Hastings Deering’s Colts squad, playing in sixteen matches for the Seagulls after coming into the side in Round Three on the bench against Burleigh.
In 2019 Callum Boomer had eighty six points come his way from six tries and thirty one goals.
Callum Boomer had a try scoring double in Round Eleven against the Northern Pride and also scored in Rounds Ten, Twelve, Fifteen and Twenty against Easts, Souths Logan, Townsville and Ipswich respectively.
With the boot Callum Boomer kicked five goals in Round Thirteen against Souths Logan and kicked four goals in a match on four occasions.
Positionally Callum Boomer started his first six 2019 Colts matches in 2019 on the wing, seven in the centres the first being against the Northern Pride in Round Eleven and started two matches at lock with those matches being against Wynnum Manly in Round Thirteen and Ipswich in Round Twenty.
At the late September 2019 Tweed Heads Seagulls Presentation Night Callum Boomer was awarded the 2019 Tweed Heads Seagulls Hastings Deering’s Colts Coaches Award.
Callum Boomer made his deserved Queensland Cup debut in Round Seventeen of 2019 in the derby against Burleigh playing the entire match on the right wing, almost scoring on debut when he was held up early in the second half but also saved a try when he held up the Burleigh left centre and then with Tremain Spry pushed him into touch in goal.
In his debut Callum Boomer ran for fifty one metres (12 post contact), broke a tackle, played the ball at an average speed of 4.83 seconds and had a tackling efficiency of 100%.
Callum Boomer started the 2018 season playing in the Gold Cost Rugby League First Grade competition for the Southport Tigers starting on the wing in the first two rounds against Currumbin and Tugun and kicked a conversion in each of those matches.
In total for Southport in the Gold Coast First Grade competition Callum Boomer played in four matches scoring twelve points from the two tries mentioned above and two conversions.
In Round Three after being named earlier that week on an extended bench for the Burleigh Colts side Callum Boomer played in the U19 Gold Coast Rugby League competition. Callum Boomer started in the centres and scored a try and kicked three goals in a 22 all draw with the Bilambil Jets.
Round Four saw Callum Boomer once again start in the centres for the Southport Tigers U19 side in their clash against Burleigh which they won 31 - 18. Callum Boomer had a day out in the win over Burleigh when he scored 19 of Southport’s 31 points. Callum Boomer scored two tries, kicked five goals and a field goal. Through his first two U19 games this season, Callum Boomer scored 29 points from three tries eight goals and the field goal.
After a couple of matches for the Burleigh Hastings Deering’s U20 Colts side Callum Boomer was back in the Southport U19 side for Round Seven and starting at centre kicked three goals as the Tigers fell to a 28 – 28 defeat to Mudgeeraba.
Southport progressed all of the way to the Gold Coast Rugby League U19 Grand Final with Callum Boomer starting the Grand Final at fullback and scoring two tries and kicking two conversions as Southport went down 34 – 20 to Currumbin.
In total for Southport in the U19 competition Callum Boomer played in ten matches scoring 93 points from seven tries, thirty two goals and a field goal (against Burleigh). In addition to the two tries that he scored in the Grand Final Callum Boomer also scored doubles against Burleigh and Mudgeeraba and also scored against Bilambil in his first U19 match of the season.
Callum also had some big matches with the boot in the U19 competition this season including kicking six in a match against Mudgeeraba (he also scored a double in the match) and five goals in matches against Ormeau, Mudgeeraba and Burleigh. In Week One of the U19 Finals Callum Boomer kicked three goals as Southport progressed with a 34 – 8 win over Burleigh.
Callum Boomer made his deserved Hastings Deering’s U20 Colts debut for Burleigh in their Round Eleven match against Easts, starting in the centres and kicking seven from seven in a 42 – 4 victory for the Bears.
Callum Boomer maintained his place in the Burleigh Colts side for their match against the Mackay Cutters starting on the wing as Burleigh won 14 - 6. Callum Boomer kicked three from three and through his first two Hastings Deering’s Colts matches Callum Boomer has kicked ten from ten.
Round Sixteen saw Callum Boomer score his first career Colts try when he crossed against Tweed Heads. In the match Callum Boomer also kicked eight goals.
In total for Burleigh in the Hastings Deering’s Colts competition Callum Boomer played in eight matches scoring the try against Tweed heads and kicked twenty goals to finish with fifty two points.
Callum Boomer started five of those matches on the wing and three in the centres.
In 2017 Callum Boomer played for the Burleigh Bears MM Cup squad having a great Round One when he scored two tries, one in each half and kicked three goals in Burleigh’s tough two point loss to Redcliffe at Dolphin Oval whilst playing on the right wing. Post the MM Cup competition, Callum Boomer also played a number of matches for Burleigh in the U20 Colts Challenge side playing primarily on the right wing.
For Burleigh in the 2017 MM Cup competition Callum Boomer started in all six of Burleigh’s matches on the right wing scoring 56 points including five tries and 18 goals. In addition to his double in Round One against Redcliffe, Callum Boomer also scored double in Round Four against Souths Logan and he also scored in Round Six against Tweed Heads. Kicking wise, Callum Boomer kicked eighteen goals from twenty eight attempts for a goal kicking conversion rate of 64.28%.
For Burleigh in the 2017 U20 Colts Challenge competition, Callum Boomer played a total of nine matches scoring three tries which came in Rounds six, seven and eight against Tweed Heads, Ipswich and Redcliffe respectively. Callum Boomer started Round One on the wing against the Sunshine Coast Falcons and in total played five matches on the wing and four at fullback.
Callum Boomer also played a number of matches in the Gold Coast Rugby League competition in 2017 for Runaway Bay. He played one match in the GCRL U19 competition and what a match it was. Against Ormeau Callum Boomer scored 22 points from a try and nine conversions in a dominant Runaway Bay performance.
Callum Boomer also played two matches for Runaway Bay in the Doug Lipp Cup competition, both matches being finals matches starting both on the wing. In his debut match (final) against Beaudesert Callum Boomer kicked four conversions and a fortnight later started on the wing in the Doug Lipp Cup Grand Final and kicked a conversion in a 13 – 6 loss to Beaudesert. A team mate for runaway Bay in the Grand Final was fellow Titans Rookie Squad member Lochlyn Sheldon who started in the front row and an opponent Charlie Gee.
The former Coombabah State High School student had a successful 2016 season, including kicking a late penalty goal which propelled the Queensland GIO Cup final between his Coombabah side and Keebra Park into golden point territory, unfortunately for Callum Boomer and his team mates Keebra Park kicked a golden point field goal to progress to the 2016 National GIO Cup final.
Callum Boomer played for Runaway Bay in the 2016 U17 Division One competition on the Gold Coast in 2016, finishing as one of the leading points scorers with 110 points which came from 10 tries and 35 goals from just eleven matches. Callum Boomer scored a hat trick against Beaudesert late in the season and also a double against Currumbin. In terms of goal kicking Callum Boomer twice kicked five goals in a match, on both occasions against Currumbin and in both of those matches, Callum Boomer also scored at least one try, meaning 32 of his 110 points came in just two matches against Currumbin.
Former Mudgeeraba Redbacks junior Brent Woolf’s first “official” hit out of the 2020 season came when he started at hooker for the Tweed Heads Seagulls in their Queensland Cup trial win over the Souths Logan Magpies at Tugun in mid-February.
Brent Woolf also started at hooker for Tweed Heads in their Queensland Cup trial against Burleigh last weekend.
Brent Woolf played in his first Queensland Cup match for a year and his first for Tweed Heads, when he started at hooker in Round Eighteen of the 2019 Queensland Cup competition against the Central Queensland Capra’s playing forty eight minutes on that occasion.
In that time, Brent Woolf ran for seventy metres (eleven post contact), had a try and line break assist, broke two tackles, played the ball at an average speed of 4.01 seconds and made twenty two tackles at a 91.67% tackling efficiency.
Brent Woolf started Round Nineteen against the Mackay Cutters from the bench playing 39 minutes in the dummy half role when he came on. In that time Brent Woolf ran for twenty one metres (three post contact), played the ball at an average of 3.92 seconds per play the ball and made seventeen tackles missing only one for a tackling efficiency of 94.44%.
Round Twenty against Ipswich also saw Brent Woolf also come off the bench playing 28 minutes in the dummy half role. In that time Brent Woolf ran for five metres, played the ball at an average speed of 3 seconds and made an impressive nineteen tackles at a tackling efficiency of 86.36%.
Brent Woolf also had a try assist in the second half when he produced a good short ball out of dummy half to his right close to the line for Ioane Seuili to crash over to give Tweed Heads a lead that they did not surrender.
Brent Woolf also came off the bench in Round Twenty One against Easts playing 51 minutes in the dummy half role when he came on. Brent Woolf ran for 35 metres (two post contact), broke two tackles, played the ball at an average speed of 2.26 seconds and made 22 tackles at a 100% tackling efficiency.
Brent Woolf made his 2019 Queensland Cup starting debut at half (he had been named on the bench but came into the starting side late) in Round Twenty Two against Souths Logan going onto the play 68 minutes. From half Brent Woolf ran for 42 metres (seven post contact), broke a tackle, played the ball at an average speed of 3.92 seconds and made six tackles.
Brent Woolf played all 80 minutes of the Round Twenty Three match against the Northern Pride at half, running for 81 metres (23 post contact), broke three tackles, played the ball at an average speed of 3.13 seconds and made twenty six tackles at a tackling efficiency of 94.82%.
Bent Woolf started at half in Tweed Heads Elimination Final loss in Week One of the Queensland Cup finals played 62 minutes.
Brent Woolf ran for thirty three metres (eight post contact), played the ball at an average speed for 5.31 seconds and made twenty five tackles at 96.2% tackling efficiency. One play that Brent Woolf made that is not part of his statistics way was an exceptional first half try saving tackle in the right corner.
In total in the Queensland Cup in 2019, Brent Woolf played a part in seven matches, starting one at hooker, three at half back and three matches from the interchange bench. Brent Woolf played 376 minutes, had two try assists and three line break assists, three off loads, made 137 tackles at a 90.4% tackling efficiency and ran for 291 metres.
Brent Woolf’s 2019 Queensland Cup per game averages for Tweed Heads included playing 53.7 minutes, running for 41.7 metres and making 19.6 tackles.
Brent Woolf played the 2018 season with the Townsville Blackhawks in the Queensland Cup even though he was still eligible for the Colts competition. The former Brisbane Broncos NYC player moved north after playing for the Broncos NYC side in 2017 and also two Queensland Cup matches for the Wynnum Manly Seagulls.
Brent Woolf came into the 2018 Townsville Blackhawks Queensland Cup side in Round Three and went on to play in seventeen matches starting the majority from the interchange bench and scoring two tries including one against his father’s team being Tweed Heads in Round Five in Townsville.
In 2018 Brent Woolf ran for 808 metres, kicked for 240 metres, forced two drop outs, had four try assists, seven offloads and made 360 tackles at a tackling efficiency of 89.89%.
Brent Woolf’s 2018 Queensland Cup per game averages include playing 36.6 minutes, running for 47.53 metres and making twenty tackles.
In 2017 in the Holden Cup with the Brisbane Broncos Brent Woolf played in nine matches before injury struck. In those nine matches the 172cm and 80kg Brent Woolf scoring two tries with his first try coming in Round Four against the Canberra Raiders and his second against the Sydney Roosters in Round Thirteen.
Of his nine matches 2017 NYC matches Brent Woolf started three at hooker and the other six from the inter change bench and in his first start in Round Four against the Raiders Brent Woolf played the entire 80 minutes.
In total across his nine NYC matches for the Broncos in 2017, Brent Woolf ran the ball on 44 occasions making 324 metres including three line breaks, had four try assists and made 199 tackles at a tackling efficiency of 88%. Brent Woolf’s 2017 NYC per game averages included being on the field for 45 minutes, taking 5 runs for 36 metres and making 22 tackles.
In Round Six against the Sydney Roosters Brent Woolf ran for 74 metres from just seven carries and in seven of his nine matches Brent Woof made in excess of twenty tackles in a match including making 32 tackles with just two missed tackles in a Round Twelve match against the New Zealand Warriors, those 32 tackles came in just 53 minutes.
Brent Woolf prior to his NYC debut in 2017 had a distinguished junior rugby league career with some of his achievements being starting at hooker for Queensland U16’s in 2014 and Queensland U18’s in 2016.
Brent Woolf was also named in the Australian U15 Order of Merit side after the 2013 ASSRL Championships where be represented Queensland U15 School Boys. Prior to moving up to Brisbane to play for the Brisbane Broncos Brent Woolf was a standout performer for the Mudgeeraba Red Backs in the Gold Coast Junior Rugby League competition.
Good to see Zachery Johnston named on the bench for the U16 Northern Rivers Titans U16 side tomorrow against the Greater Northern Tigers.
Lower Clarence Magpies youngster Michael White is part of the 2020 Tweed Heads Colts side.
TITAN PETE
07-03-20, 09:12 AM
That’s a great write up on Woolfey mate & as you would know his father being the coach doesn’t give him an easy ride he would have to work twice as hard to make the squad
Powerful Ipswich youngster Josiah Pahulu was a member of the 2019 Queensland U15 Emerging Origin Squad and was part of the Titans U16 side starting in the right second row position in their annual match against the Newcastle Knights Harold Matthews Cup (U16) side in Coffs Harbour in January 2020.
The Titans came away from the match with an 18 – 14 victory in wet conditions and some of the charges (and tackles) that Josiah Pahulu made were just outstanding especially some of his kick-off returns when on multiple occasions he dragged defenders with him. In addition one of his hit-ups when Josiah Pahulu took the ball from the dummy half was exceptional and accounted for twenty five valuable metres the majority of which were post contact with the Knights half amongst others vainly trying to drag Josiah Pahulu down.
In early 2020 Josiah Pahulu was selected in the Ipswich Diggers U16 representative side for the U16 South East Queensland Challenge.
Josiah Pahulu was one of the standouts for the Titans U15 sides in their February 2019 matches against another Titans side and the Western Mustangs at the U15 level at Mudgeeraba where he started at lock and produced an outstanding display of rugby league.
In the match, Josiah Pahulu scored a barnstorming try against the other Titans side, taking the ball off the dummy half on the right side of the field and crashing over from around ten metres out.
Josiah Pahulu made another powerful run of about thirty metres later in the day when he took a short pass inside his own twenty metre line and smashed his way to around the half way line before being brought down in a tackle that required multiple defenders to complete.
Josiah Pahulu also had two try assists in his matches, both coming from off-loads close to the opponents try line, on each occasion the support player was able to score reasonably easily. The first pass was popped out around one a metre from the line with Josiah Pahulu engaged with three defenders and the second was when he got halfway through the line before offloading.
As a result of his performance in that game and over recent seasons, Josiah Pahulu, in early 2019 signed a multi-year contract with the Titans.
In early October 2019 Josiah Pahulu was part of the Titans U15 side that played a Balmain Tigers U15 side at Piggabeen in Northern New South Wales with the Titans producing an outstanding display to win 36 – 14 with Josiah Pahulu starting the match in the right second row position for the Titans.
Early in the 2019 season Josiah Pahulu trialled for a spot in the Met West U15 rugby league side and to say he was dominant at the trials would be an understatement including an outstanding try when he received an inside ball easily broke through the defensive line before scoring under the posts from around thirty five metres out.
Josiah Pahulu represented Met West, where for me was the stand out Met West player at the 2019 U15 QSSRL Championships, in particular Josiah Pahulu was outstanding in matches against Peninsula and Met East. Subsequently Josiah Pahulu was selected in the Queensland White side for the 2019 U15 ASSRL Championships.
At the 2019 ASSRL U15 Championships Josiah Pahulu played primarily in the right second row position for the Queensland White side, playing particularly on Day Two against New South Wales Combined High Schools.
Late in 2019 Josiah Pahulu was also named in the Ipswich Diggers U15 Development Squad. Josiah Pahulu was also a standout player for the Ipswich State High School Year Ten side in 2019.
Josiah Pahulu also had an outstanding year in relation to school boy rugby league in 2019 including starring for the Ipswich school and leading them to the Quarter Finals of the Brisbane Broncos Cup competition.
In 2018 Josiah Pahulu played for Springfield Panthers Black in the Ipswich U14 competition playing in ten matches and scoring eight tries including a try in the Grand Final that his Springfield side was able to win 24 – 4 against Redbank Plains.
2018 also saw Josiah Pahulu represent Met West at the U14 level and from there he was selected in the South East Queensland U14 side for the Queensland Age Championships, where he played all four of their matches starting each in the front row.
In 2017 Josiah Pahulu represented the Ipswich Diggers at the U13 level and prior to that Josiah Pahulu represented Toa Samoa in a two day tournament in Auckland. In 2017 Josiah Pahulu was also named the Springfield Panthers International Player of the Year.
Josiah Pahulu will play the 2020 season with the Springfield Panthers in the Ipswich U16 competition and will also play for Ipswich State High School in the Langer Cup and GIO Cup school boy competitions and is a real chance to break into the First XIII side as a 16 year old for the Langer and GIO Cup school boy competitions, Josiah Pahulu is simply that good.
2020 will also see Josiah Pahulu play for the U16 Ipswich Diggers side in the 2020 U16 South East Queensland U16 Pre-season Challenge where he will be up against multiple fellow Titans contracted players in the two Gold Coast Vikings sides and the three Brisbane Stingers sides
Agreed mate and as you know better than me, he is a class young man.
That’s a great write up on Woolfey mate & as you would know his father being the coach doesn’t give him an easy ride he would have to work twice as hard to make the squad
Great to see Taine Tuaupiki in the 2020 Burleigh Bears Queensland Cup squad and I anticipate the fullback/five eight make his Queensland Cup debut sooner rather than later.
The Burleigh Bears MM Cup side this season will not lack size and skill in the forward pack with the likes of the talented Taanei Heu in the squad.
Titans contracted stand out junior Josiah Pahulu has been confirmed as part of the 2020 Ipswich rugby league U16 representative side.
Titans contracted centre Shannon Subritzy has started training as part of the Norths Devils 2020 U16 Development Squad.
Great to see nippy half Kia Smallwood named on an extended bench for the Northern Rivers Titans U16 Andrew Johns Cup side for their Round Five local derby against North Coast this Saturday.
Young Ballina second rower Reece Noble has been named on an extended bench for the Northern Rivers Titans U16 Andrew Johns Cup side for their Round Five local derby against North Coast this Saturday.
2021 Titans NRL recruit Tino Faasuamaleaui has been named on the bench for the Storm in Round One.
A couple of very talented young players have been named for the Northern Rivers Titans U23 side for the Round Two match against North Coast being Tahne Robinson (five eight) and Kel Sheather (interchange).
One of he best players for the Northern Rivers Titans U23 side in last weekends Round One victory over the Greater Northern Tigers was Casino Cougars left second rower Michael Schipp who scored a double. The 21 year old has been named on the bench for Round Two this weekend against North Coast.
Powerful left centre Josh Patson had to great try assists for the Northern Rivers Titans U23 side in last weekends Round One victory over the Greater Northern Tigers.
He has been named at left centre again for Round Two this weekend against North Coast.
Titans contracted Orlando Swain has been named in the second row for Ipswich in their Round One MM Cup clash this weekend against the Townsville Blackhawks.
Great to see Titan Samuel Shannon lock and captain for Burleigh in their Round One MM Cup match this weekend against Wynnum Manly.
Interesting to see normal hooker/lock Cole Geyer named at right centre for the Burleigh Colts sides Round One match against Wynnum Manly.
Regular front rower/lock Laz Sua has been named at right centre for the Tweed Heads Seagulls Colts sides Round One match against the Northern Pride.
Titans Will Evans (wing), Greg Leleisiuao (wing), Erin Clark, Kea Pere and Darius Farmer (all interchange) have been named in the Burleigh Queensland Cup Round One side for this weekend's match against Wynnum Manly.
Titan Ioane Seuili has been named on the right wing for the Tweed Heads Seagulls Queensland Cup Round One side for this weekend's match against the Northern Pride. .
Great to see Titans contracted Jed Edwards named captain for the Tweed Heads Colts side for Round One this weekend .
Jayden Campbell will captain the Burleigh Colts side this weekend.
Taanei Heu is due to start Round One of the 2020 MM Cup competition for the Burleigh Bears from the bench against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls this weekend.
After starting Round One of the 2019 GCRL U18 Division One competition with Nerang Taanei Heu moved to the Currumbin Eagles with his first match for his new club coming in Round Three against Bilambil when he started from the bench.
In total for Currumbin in the 2019 GCRL U18 Division One regular season competition, Taanei Heu played in eight matches starting the vast majority in the front row and scoring his first and only try of the season in Round Thirteen against Tugun.
In early June of this year Taanei Heu went over to New Zealand to play in the New Zealand Maori Rangatahi Tournament for Te Arawa and in fact was named in the All Tournament U17 team in the second row.
In early November 2019 Taanei Heu started in the second row for the New Zealand Maori U17 side as they defeated Tonga in New Zealand.
In late 2018 Taanei Heu was named in the initial Burleigh MM Cup squad but did not make the final squad.
The tall strong young front rower played the 2018 season for Nerang in the U16 Division One competition playing in nine matches including the finals series.
In Week Two of the U16 Division One Finals, Taanei Heu started in the front row and scored as Nerang progressed with a 32 – 22 win over Currumbin.
Taanei Heu also started in the front row in the U16 Division One 2018 Grand Final once again against Currumbin and once again Nerang prevailed winning 24 – 8.
In the 2018 U16 Division One regular season, Taanei Heu scored an additional two tries the first of which came in Round One against Runaway Bay and Taanei Heu scored again against Runaway Bay late in the regular season.
Taanei Heu was also part of the Gold Coast Vikings White side that took part in the South East Queensland U16 Challenge and from there was selected in the South East Queensland White side for the Queensland Age Championships, playing all four of those matches including the Championship Final against South East Queensland Green.
Taanei Heu’s other matches for South East Queensland Green at the Queensland Age Championships were against SEQ White in the qualifying rounds, Central and Northern.
For the Nerang Roosters U15 Division One side in 2017 Taanei Heu played in eleven matches including their Grand Final victory over Helensvale and scored against Southport early in the season for his sole try of the season. Taanei Heu also played one match up in the U16 Division Two competition which came against the Ormeau Shearers in early July.
The PBC student was part of the South Coast Maori representative side as well in 2017
Laz Sua is due to start this weekend in Round One of the 2020 Hastings Deering’s Colts competition for the Tweed Heads Seagulls at right centre against the Northern Pride.
Laz Sua started the 2019 season as part of the Souths Logan Hastings Deering’s Colts side playing in five matches for the Magpies before heading back to play in the GCLR First Grade competition with the Ormeau Shearers with his first match being in Round 16 against Currumbin when he came off the bench. Laz Sua also came off the bench in Round Seventeen.
Laz Sua made his first start since coming back to Ormeau in Round Eighteen when he started at hooker against Southport and also came off the bench in Rounds Nineteen and Twenty.
Laz Sau started off the 2019 season with the Souths Logan Magpies U20 Hastings Deering’s Colts side, playing his first match in Round Three against Norths when he started the match in the front row.
In total for Souths Logan Laz Sua played in five Hastings Deering’s Colts matches this season, starting three in the front row, one at lock being Round Five against Burleigh and one from the interchange bench which was in Round Six against the Northern Pride.
The powerful nuggetty young Gold Coast local had an outstanding 2018 season. Even in the 2018 pre-season Laz Sua was in outstanding form. In Tweed Heads MM trial against Souths Logan at Waterford, the Seagulls were on the back foot for the first two quarters but Laz Sua’s introduction made a significant difference and when he was on the field he provided momentum through his hit-ups and defensive starch and that was just a trial!
In the MM Cup season proper in 2018 Laz Sua started in the front row of all seven of Tweed Head’s matches including their semi-final against South’s Logan. Laz Sua did not score any tries in the MM Cup this season, but was rewarded for his outstanding effort in Round Five against the Townsville Blackhawks when he converted Tweed Heads final try in a big 72 – 6 victory.
After Tweed Heads finals elimination, Laz Sua moved directly to the Tweed Heads Seagulls Colts side starting in his debut in the front row in Round Ten against Ipswich and came off the bench in Round Eleven against the Northern Pride who were top of the table at that point. Round Twelve saw Laz Sua once again start on the bench. He was also on the bench for the Seagulls in Rounds Thirteen and Seventeen to Twenty Four.
Laz Sua moved to the Gold Coast Rugby League competition in Round Eight of that competition, coming off the interchange bench for the Ormeau Shearers who unfortunately suffered a 74 – 12 loss to a rampaging Bilambil Jets side. In total Laz Sua played in five GCRKL First Grade matches in 2018.
In 2017 in addition to playing for Keebra Park, Laz Sua was selected in the South Coast U18 side and from there was selected in the Queensland U18 Open Schoolboy side for the ASSRL Championship including scoring a try on Day Three in a 28-18 loss to New South Wales Combined Catholic Colleges.
Laz Sua and his Keebra Park Open team mates had an outstanding 2017 GIO Cup campaign with the Gold Coast based school winning the National final with Laz Sua starting the final in eth second row and playing on the left side of the field against Westfield’s Sports High School.
Laz Sua was also a member of the Tweed Heads Seagulls MM Cup side for the 2017 version of that competition and played for Queensland Samoa U18 squad for the QPICC tournament that was held in October 2017.
Laz Sua played in club football in 2017 with the Ormeau Shearers across a number of competitions including the U17 Division One competition, U19’s, the Doug Lipp Cup and five first grade matches. In the U17 Division One competition, Laz Sua played in five matches scoring three tries including a double against Burleigh with his other try coming against Mudgeeraba. In the U19 competition, Laz Sua has played in nine matches scoring against Runaway Bay in June and also kicking a late conversion against Mudgeeraba.
Laz Sua made his Doug Lipp Cup debut in June against Tugun and celebrated by scoring on debut. Playing first grade at any level as a 17 year is no mean feat and Laz Sua achieved that feat on Sunday June 18 2017 when he came on from the interchange bench against Currumbin. His other first grade matches came against Runaway Bay, Bilambil, Currumbin again and Southport.
During the 2016 season Laz Sua was selected as a result of his good form to represent Queensland at the U16 level. Unfortunately for Laz Sua he only got a handful of minutes on the field when he came on late and played in the dummy half role.
In relation to his club rugby league on the Gold Coast in 2016 he played six matches for the Ormeau Shearers club in the U16 Division One competition and scored three tries in limited action, including scoring against eventual premiers Burleigh on two separate occasions and also against Helensvale.
For Gold Coast White in the CC Cup competition in 2016, Laz Sua played in all six of their games, splitting his time evenly between starting at hooker and at lock. He started at hooker in Rounds One, Six and Seven and started at lock in the other three games. He also crossed for two tries which came in Rounds One and Two, against Souths Logan and Gold Coast Green respectively.
In addition, after the completion of the 2016 season he was a late replacement in the Team Toa side where he came off the bench in their loss to a NSW New Zealand side. In 2016 he was also a member of the QAS squad and in 2015 made the Queensland Maroon U15 side for the ASSRL U15 championships after playing a leading role for South Coast at the U15 QSSRL championships where he played the majority of his matches in the centres.
Brody Smitka will start Round One of the 2020 MM Cup competition for the Burleigh Bears from the bench against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls.
The local young front rower signed a two year contract with the Titans in 2018 and started from the bench for the Titans U18 side in their annual match against the Newcastle Knights SG Ball (U18) side in Coffs Harbour in January 2020.
Early in the 2020 season Brody Smitka was named on the bench for the Pacific Rim Open rugby league district side after the trials for that representative side were competed.
Brody Smitka started the 2019 season off as part of the Gold Coast Vikings U16 Yellow squad.
Starting in the front row for Gold Coast Yellow on Match Day One of the U16 South East Queensland Challenge, Brody Smitka scored as GC Yellow defeated Brisbane Red 32 – 10 at Mudgeeraba.
Brody Smitka started in the front row in the Titans U15 Invitational side that defeated a Western Mustangs Invitational side in March 2018 at Nerang and also started in the front row for the Titans in their match against a Newcastle U16 side in Coffs Harbour in January of this year.
Brody Smitka was one of the Titans try scorers that hot Sunday afternoon, when he took a pass on the right side of the field and barged his way across the try line from about twelve metres out in the second half.
Brody Smitka’s most recent match for the Titans was when he started from the interchange for the Titans U16 squad in their early October match against PNG at Pizzey Park with the Titans winning 44 - 12.
Brody Smitka played the 2019 GCRL season with Helensvale in the U16 Division One competition, playing in twelve matches starting all at either lock or in the second row. Brody Smitka scored his first try of the season in Round Six against Mudgeeraba and also scored against Currumbin in Round Seven.
Brody Smitka made his GCRL U18 Division debut for the Hornets in Round Seven coming off the bench against Bilambil and came off the bench in Week One of the Finals series in Helensvale’s 24 – 20 win over Currumbin.
Brody Smitka started in the second row for Helensvale in their U18 Division One Week two Finals loss to Ormeau 34 – 26.
Brody Smitka was named in the 2019 South East Queensland White U16 side for the Queensland Age Championships starting in the front row for the representative side. Post those Championships Brody Smitka was selected to start in the front row in the Queensland City U16 side.
In the match Brody Smitka played thirty six minutes, running for thirty nine metres (ten post contact), broke a tackle and made twelve tackles at a tackling efficiency of 85.71%.
The Coomera Anglican College student in 2018 was selected in the U15 Queensland White side for the U15 ASSRL National Championships after performing solidly for the South Coast U15 side for whom he started in the front row in the QSSRL U15 Championships held in Townsville in April 2018.
Even though he was still eligible for the U15 competition in 2018, Brody Smitka just like he has done in previous seasons has started the current season “up” an age group. Brody Smitka has played the opening four rounds in the GCRL U16 Division One competition starting each match at lock.
Late in 2018 Brody Smitka was part of the Titans U15 Invitational side that played their annual match against a Balmain Tigers selection in Cudgen late in the year and also was named in the Queensland U15 2018 Emerging Origin Squad and has already attended a number of camps including camp in February on the Sunshine Coast where on the last day they played a simulated match against the U16 side who were also present at the camp.
Brody Smitka is also part of the 2019 Queensland U16 Emerging Origin squad, with the squad completing their first camp of the year recently. On the last day of the camp the squad was split into two sides for an opposed session. Flynn Daniel started in the centres for one of the squads that contained fellow Titans Flynn Daniel and Caleb Gould-Waiariki.
The local young front rower from the Helensvale Hornets junior rugby league on the Gold Coast was part of the U14 Gold Coast Vikings side that went through the 2017 Hill Stumer championships undefeated after victories against Stingers Red and White sides and the Ipswich Diggers.
Post those championships Brody Smitka was selected in the U14 South East Queensland Green side for the Queensland Age Championships which were played in Toowoomba and scored on Day Three in a big win over South East Queensland White.
The U14 Vikings was the third representative side that Brody Smitka has made, after he was part of the dominant U13 Vikings side in 2016 and the South Coast U12 schoolboys side in 2015 which also went through their competition undefeated, he made the South Coast U12 side from Coomera Anglican College. Also this season Brody Smitka was part of the 2017 Gold Coast Academy of Sport Rugby League Excellence Program.
Brody Smitka played the 2017 Gold Coast Junior Rugby League season with the Helensvale Hornets primarily in the U15 Division One side although he did play one match for Helensvale in the U14 Division Two competition in July where he dominated Nerang to score a double.
In the U15 Division One competition in 2017, Brody Smitka started in sixteen matches including starting in the front row in their 34 – 10 Grand Final loss to Nerang. In those sixteen matches Brody Smitka scored five tries including a great first two rounds of the season when he scored four of his five tries including a hat trick in Round two against Southport and scoring against Burleigh in the season opener. In the U15 Division One Preliminary Final also against Burleigh Brody Smitka scored his fifth try of the year.
Te Ahurei Epapara will start his final official competitive match on Australian soil on the weekend in Round One of the 2020 Hastings Deering’s Colts competition for the Burleigh Bears from the bench against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls.
The giant young New Zealander had an outstanding career in both rugby and rugby league across the ditch but has headed over to the Gold Coast and will look to cement a spot in the Burleigh Bears Hastings Deering’s Colts squad this season. Te Ahurei Epapara is also Colts eligible in 2021.
In 2019 Te Ahurei Epapara played school boy rugby for the powerhouse New Zealand school Rotorua Boys High playing primarily at lock (loosely equates to second row in rugby league) in their talented First XV side. Te Ahurei Epapara also played a number of First XV matches at No. 8 including a key match against Tauranga Boys College.
In 2019 Te Ahurei Epapara also played 7’s rugby for Rotorua Boys High including in the U19 Bay of Plenty 7’s tournament where Te Ahurei Epapara was named Rotorua Boys High best forward at the tournament.
Prior to the 2019 season Te Ahurei Epapara played a significant amount of rugby league including representing the Wai-Coa Bay Colts in the New Zealand U17 National Youth Tournament in 2018 starting all five of their matches at lock with those matches being against the Auckland Vulcans, Wellington Orca’s twice, Counties Manukau Stingrays and Northern Swords.
In 2018 Te Ahurei Epapara represented the Bay of Plenty side at the U17 Northern Districts Rugby League Tournament and in 2015 was an Upper Central Zone U15 rugby league representative. In the Bay of Plenty area Te Ahurei Epapara played for the Pikiao Warriors rugby league club.
Ji Van Heerwaarden will start Round One of the 2020 Hastings Deering’s Colts competition for the Tweed Heads Seagulls in the front row against the Northern Pride.
The big strong young forward originally from the Glenn Innes Magpies club in the New England Group 19 competition moved up to the Gold Coast for the 2018 season linking with the Tweed Heads Seagulls in the 2018 MM Cup competition.
In 2019 Ji Van Heerwaarden played primarily for the Tweed Heads Seagulls in the Hastings Deering’s Colt competition, playing in nineteen consecutive matches including their Elimination Final loss to the Mackay Cutters after coming into the side in Round Three against Burleigh.
Ji Van Heerwaarden as noted above started from the bench in Round Three and moved into the starting side in the front row in Round Five against Wynnum Manly. Ji Van Heerwaarden maintained his starting spot through to Rounds Twenty Two and Twenty Three against Easts and Souths Logan respectively when he started from the bench.
Ji Van Heerwaarden’s sole 2019 Hastings Deering’s Colts try came in Round Sixteen against Wynnum Manly.
Ji Van Heerwaarden also played one match for Currumbin in the GCRL U20 competition including starting from the bench and scoring a double in Round Seventeen against Southport. Both tries were a result of sheer will power, Ji Van Heerwaarden charged at the line and just wanted to score more than the defence wanted to stop him.
Ji Van Heerwaarden made in GCRL First Grade debut in May against Bilambil coming off the bench on that occasion.
In 2018 Ji Van Heerwaarden only played in one MM Cup match last season being in Round One against Norths when he started in the front row.
In the Gold Coast Rugby League competition he played for the Currumbin Eagles and went his first thirteen U19 matches without scoring but chose the perfect time to score when he scored a double in Currumbin’s 34 – 20 Grand Final victory over Southport after starting the match in the front row.
In 2018 Ji Van Heerwaarden also made his Gold Coast Rugby League First Grade debut coming off the interchange bench for Currumbin and Round Fifteen against Ormeau. He also came off the bench in Round Sixteen against Tugun.
Ji Van Heerwaarden played the 2017 season in the Group 19 U18 competition where he was one of the standout players. Across the ten matches that he played for Glenn Innes in the U18 competition, Ji Van Heerwaarden scored nine tries including a great end to the season when he scored four tries in his final three matches including a double in Glenn Innes’s final loss.
In the final two rounds of the regular season U18 competition, Ji Van Heerwaarden also scored against the Moree Boomerangs and the Inverell Hawks. Earlier in the season, Ji Van Heerwaarden scored a double against the Moree Boars and also scored in the first two rounds against the Tingha Tigers and Armidale Rans respectively. In June of 2017 Ji Van Heerwaarden made his Group 19 First Grade debut when he started against the Moree Boars after playing in the U18 clash earlier in the day.
Carsil Vaikai will start Round One of the 2020 Hastings Deering’s Colts competition for the Tweed Heads Seagulls at lock against the Northern Pride this weekend.
The big strong young Titans contracted Runaway Bay Seagull second rower or lock continues to develop his game at an exceptional rate over the course of recent seasons. From a trivia perspective Carsil Vaikai was in 2019 selected in the Australian Mixed Netball side highlighting his stamina and athleticism.
Carsil Vaikai is contracted to the Titans until the end of the 2021 season and was part of the Titans Rookie Squad that played the Tweed Heads Seagulls Queensland Cup side in early February 2020.
In January of 2019 Carsil Vaikai started at lock for the Titans U18 side in their Coffs Harbour match against Newcastle and scored an outstanding first half try when he barged over carrying two or three Knights forwards with him from around ten metres out.
Carsil Vaikai also started at lock for the Titans U18 side in their big win over PNG at Pizzey Park in early October.
In May 2019 Carsil Vaikai was selected in the Queensland U18 side for their annual match against their New South Wales counter parts in a State or Origin curtain raiser where he started from the bench coming on late in the first half playing in the backrow.
In the Interstate U18 match Carsil Vaikai played twenty five minutes, running for ten metres and made ten tackles at a 90.9% tackling efficiency.
Carsil Vaikai started at lock in Round One of the 2019 MM Cup competition as Tweed Heads smashed the Western Mustangs 58 – 18 in a one sided affair with Carsil Vaikai being particularly effective defensively.
In total in the 2019 MM Cup competition, Carsil Vaikai captained all eight of Tweed Heads matches starting all in at lock in all including both their semi-final against Souths Logan and Grand Final victory over Wynnum Manly. In the 2019 MM Cup Player of the season voting Carsil Vaikai finished with three votes.
In the Grand Final Carsil Vaikai was simply outstanding leading from the front as he was in the National U18 Grand Final leading Tweed Heads to a big win against the Illawarra Steelers.
Carsil Vaikai played fifty seven minutes in the National Final, running for 145 metres (forty seven post contact), broke two tackles, played the ball at an average speed of 3.64 seconds and made fourteen tackles at a tackling efficiency of 73.7%.
Carsil Vaikai made his Hastings Deering’s Colts debut in Round Eleven of 2019 for the Tweed Heads Seagulls against the Northern Pride. After originally being named on the bench, Carsil Vaikai in fact started the match at hooker, acquitting himself well in that role for the first twenty minutes before reverting to the backrow for the remainder of the match.
Unfortunately for Carsil Vaikai the match was his only Hastings Deering’s Colts match of the 2019 season.
Carsil Vaikai played for the Tweed Heads Seagulls MM Cup side in 2018 playing in six of their seven matches, including their semi-final loss to eventual champions South’s Logan. Carsil Vaikai started at lock in the Seagulls first four matches, before missing Round Six. Carsil Vaikai came back into the side in Round Seven off the bench and also came off the bench against Souths Logan in Tweed Heads semi-final loss.
Carsil Vaikai scored one try in the MM Cup competition which came in Round Three against the Burleigh Bears. On that occasion, Carsil Vaikai received the ball from the dummy half to the left of the play the ball and crashed over from around ten metres out carrying two Burleigh defenders across the line with him.
Post the MM Cup competition, Carsil Vaikai played for Runaway Bay in the Gold Coast Rugby League U17 Division One completion.
In total in the U17 Division One competition in 2018 Carsil Vaikai played in ten matches four of which were finals matches. Carsil Vaikai started all ten of his U17 Division One matches at lock.
In Week One of the Finals series Runaway Bay defeated Tweed Heads 42 -14 and won again in Week Two 24 – 18 against Ormeau with Carsil Vaikai starting both of those finals at lock.
Carsil Vaikai picked a great time to scored his first and only try of the U17 Division One season when he scored in Runaway Bay’s 34 – 22 Preliminary Final victory over Burleigh.
Unfortunately for Carsil Vaikai and Runaway Bay they ran into a red hot Currumbin side in the U17 Division One Grand Final going down 30 – 10 to an Eagles side that contained amongst others fellow Titans contracted 17 year old Noah Gafa.
Carsil Vaikai was also part of the Coombabah State High School Opens side that made the Queensland Cup Quarter Finals after a one point win over fellow Gold Coast School Marymount College 17 - 16.
Carsil Vaikai moved to Runaway Bay from Helensvale at the start of the 2017 season, and played the majority of the 2017 season with Runaway Bay in the U16 Division One competition, but also played four matches in the U17 Division One competition where he made an immediate impact.
In the U16 Division One competition in 2017 Carsil Vaikai played in fourteen matches scoring his sole try against his former club in July and in the last regular season round Carsil Vaikai converted a late Runaway Bay try.
Carsil Vaikai also played four matches in the 2017 U17 Division One competition and across those four matches scored three tries including a try on debut against Burleigh and also tries against Ormeau and Helensvale. On all four occasions that Carsil Vaikai played in the U17 competition he was backing up after playing in the U16 competition earlier in the night.
Carsil Vaikai was also part of the Gold Coast Vikings Green U16 side that played in the 2017 U16 pre-season competition, scoring against Ipswich in Week Four in a tough 42 – 6 loss. Carsil Vaikai scored in Week Three when Gold Coast Green defeated Brisbane Grey at North Ipswich Reserve.
Carsil Vaikai had a solid season in 2016, at club, schoolboy and representative level, including representing the South Coast U15 side at the QSSRL State U15 championships. For his Helensvale Hornets club side he crossed for three tries in eight matches in the U15 Division One competition, with the tries coming against Runaway Bay, Beaudesert and eventual premiers Burleigh. He also played one match up at the U16 Division One level also against eventual premiers Burleigh in May 2016.
As noted Carsil Vaikai was selected in the 2016 South Coast U15 side that went through the U15 QSSRL competition undefeated through their four matches in the competition. Other Titans linked members of the U15 South Coast side included five eight Jessie Brasslin. Carsil Vaikai also started in the second row when the Titans U15 side were narrowly defeated 22 – 18 by a Balmain Tigers side in a trial game on the Gold Coast.
Solomon Torrens will start Round One of the 2020 Hastings Deering’s Colts competition for the Tweed Heads Seagulls from the bench against the Northern Pride.
The Titans contracted powerful forward has had an impressive start to his career in Titans colours being involved in late 2018 in matches for the Titans against PNG and New South Wales Country and also was part of the Titans U18 side in January 2019 that played against the Newcastle Knights.
Solomon Torrens spent the recent of season training with the Titans Rookie Squad as well as training with the Tweed Heads Seagulls Queensland Cup squad and was part of the Titans Rookie Squad that played the Tweed Heads Seagulls Queensland Cup side in early February.
Solomon Torrens also started from the bench for the Tweed Heads A Grade side in their late February 2020 trial against the Burleigh Bears.
In March 2019 Solomon Torrens was selected in the South Coast U18 side for the 2019 QSSRL U18 Championships and started in the front row for South Coast in the QSSRL U18 Championships. One Day One of the Championships, Solomon Torrens was his typical hard charging self, scoring when he collected a grubber kick that had bounced around through a number of feet to score near the right upright.
South Coast went through the Championships undefeated including coming from behind to defeated Northern in the final 22 – 16.
Solomon Torrens was subsequently named in the Queensland School boy’s side for the Australian School boy Championships and in fact was named Player of the Tournament.
Solomon Torrens was the captain of the 2019 Queensland U18 ASSRL side playing in all of his Queensland’s matches starting in either the front row or second row although he did some matches with an injury.
Solomon Torrens played in all eight matches for the Tweed Heads Seagulls MM Cup side in 2019 and was particularly outside in their semi-final win against Souths Logan including being heavily involved in the Seagulls first try.
Operating on the left, Solomon Torrens used impressive late footwork to get outside of the Magpies right second rower and get the ball to the outside, leading directly to a try for fellow Titan, centre Caleb Hodges.
In the 2019 MM Cup Grand Final against Wynnum Manly Solomon Torren was one of Tweed Heads best and scored the match sealing try late in the second half when he cut back in after receiving he ball and crashing over for an outstanding try.
Solomon Torrens was also at his rampaging best in the National U18 Grand Final against Illawarra proving to be a real handful for the Steelers defence every time he took the ball up.
Solomon Torrens played thirty six minutes in the National Final, running for an incredible 150 metres (forty six post contact), broke two tackles, played the ball at an average speed of 3.83 seconds and made fourteen tackles at a tackling efficiency of 87.5%.
Solomon Torrens started Round Two of the Langer Cup for PBC on the bench against St Mary’s but when he was injected into the match mid-way through the first half, Solomon Torrens put PBC on the front foot with some big charges through the middle and started at lock against Keebra Park.
2019 also saw Solomon Torrens start in the front row for the Titans U18 side in their match against North Queensland that was played as the curtain raiser to the Titans/ Warriors NRL match in June 2019.
The powerfully built young forward has moved up in 2018 from Northern New South Wales and has made an immediate impression at PBC State High School and for me was the best player on the field when PBC defeated Keebra Park 26 – 22 in the Langer Cup (Open Age Group) recently. The match was a high quality affair but Solomon Torrens was a class apart with his powerful running on the fringes of the ruck for PBC.
Solomon Torrens started that match at lock and was dominant throughout regularly making metres through the centre of the ruck as well as on the right side of the ruck. For me Solomon Torrens performance on the Wednesday night against Keebra Park was the best performance I have seen from a school boy since watching Ryan James destroying everyone when he was in his senior year also at PBC seven or eight years ago now.
The former Casino RSM youngster generated a lot of buzz around him as a result of his great season in the U16.5 Group One junior rugby league competition in2017 and it was certainly deserved. As a result Solomon Torrens was selected in the Tweed Heads Seagulls U18 MM Cup squad for the 2018 version of the competition.
For Tweed Heads in the MM Cup competition Solomon Torrens played in two matches being Rounds One and Two against Norths and Victoria respectively coming off the inter change bench on both occasions.
When the 2018 MM Cup competition reached its conclusion, In addition to playing for PBC Solomon Torrens played for the Bilambil Jets in the Gold Coast Rugby League U17 Division One competition. Round One saw Solomon Torrens start in the front row as the Jets lost 20 – 18 to the Tweed Heads Seagulls. An opponent in that match but a team mate for PBC in the Langer Cup match against Keebra Park was giant Titans linked front rower Jordan Tauali’i.
Solomon Torrens was back in the U17 Division One competition in Round Three when he came off the interchange bench. In Round Four Solomon Torrens started from the interchange bench for Bilambil and scored in their tough 18 – 10 loss to Currumbin.
In Round Five of the Gold Coast Rugby League competition, Solomon Torrens deservedly made his GCRL First Grade debut when he started in the centres for the Bilambil Jets in their 26 – 18 loss to the Tugun Seahawks. Making your GCRL First Grade debut at just 17 is an impressive feat.
For Casino RSM in the 2017 U16.5 Group One JRL competition, Solomon Torrens averaged just under a try a match on his way to scoring nine tries from just eleven matches including a great first two rounds when he scored a hat trick in Round One against Ballina and a Round Two double against Lismore Marist Brothers.
Prior to his move to Casino RSM, Solomon Torrens played for the Kyogle Turkeys including at 2016 at the U15 level where he scored five tries across 10 ten matches, including a hat trick against Clarence Coast, and also tries against Marist Brothers on two separate occasions. Unfortunately his U15 side has had a difficult season and finished last. Solomon Torrens also played eight matches up in the U16.5 age group, scoring two tries in the process, one being in his first match in that age group against Grafton and the second against Casino RSM.
Titans contracted Noah Johannssen had another outstanding match for the Northern Rivers Titans U18 Laurie Daley Cup side in Round Four against the Greater Northern Tigers last Saturday.
Noah Johannssen scored a powerful try from close range in the first half scoring near the left upright after taking the pass from the dummy half, Oskar Bryant.
In the match Noah Johannssen also produced an outstanding return from a Greater Northern Tigers drop out. The ball was taken fifty five metres out with the ball give immediately to Noah Johannssen who crashed through the initial defensive line dragging defenders with him on a thirty five metre exquisite effort.
Gold Coast local Jovahn Te Aroiti moves up to the Hastings Deering’s Colts competition this season and will line up for the Burleigh Bears, starting from the bench in Round One against Wynnum Manly.
Jovahn Te Aroiti played three matches off the bench for the Tweed Heads Seagulls MM Cup side in 2019 being Rounds Two, Four and Five against Townsville, Central Queensland and Wynnum Manly respectively.
Post the MM Cup competition Jovahn Te Aroiti played for Runaway Bay in the Gold Coast Rugby League competition playing matches in four separate competitions being the U18 Division One, U20, Doug Lipp Cup and First Grade competitions.
In the U18 Division One competition Jovahn Te Aroiti has played in eight matches. In the U20 competition Jovahn Te Aroiti has played in one match and in the Doug Lipp Cup competition Jovahn Te Aroiti has played in three matches.
In the First Grade competition Jovahn Te Aroiti made his debut in late June against Southport and went on to play in additional three regular season matches.
The young front rower had an outstanding season in 2018 including starting in the front row for the PBC Open schoolboy side as they beat all comers to win the National GIO Cup competition with a victory over Patrician Brothers College Blacktown in the National Final.
Jovahn Te Aroiti was also a Premiership winner in the 2018 Brisbane U17 Rugby Premiership playing for the Nerang Bulls in that competition, interestingly spending time in the centres there.
In 2017 Jovahn Te Aroiti played for Helensvale in the GCRL U16 Division One competition playing in thirteen matches and he also played in one U17 Division One match against Runaway Bay.
In the 2015 season, Jovahn Te Aroiti alternated between playing for his proper age group being U14’s and playing up an age group in the U15’s. At the U14 Premier level he scored one try and at the U15 level he scored two tries across Division 1 and Division 2.
Jovahn Te Aroiti also started on the bench for the Titans U14 development squad in their recent match against Samoa. When he came on, he played in the second row.
Jovahn Te Aroiti also represented the Vikings, Kookaburra’s and South East Queensland U14’s during the 2015 season, starting in the second row for those representative sides in their various competitions
Good to see Gold Coast local Adam Christensen named in the centres for the Tweed Heads Seagulls MM Cup Round One side.
In 2019 Adam Christensen represented Aquinas College Southport and the QISSRL Championships being named in the second row in the Team of the Championships.
Taine Ujdur-Berghan is slated to start Round One of the 2020 MM Cup competition for the Tweed Heads Seagulls at half against the Northern Pride.
Taine Ujdur-Berghan started Round One of the 2019 GCRL U18 Division One competition for Nerang but with their demise moved to Burleigh, starting with their U18 Division Two side, spending time at fullback, hooker and half over the course of the season.
Taine Ujdur-Berghan made his first start for the Burleigh U18 Division Two side in Round Two against Tugun, scoring in their draw. In total Taine Ujdur-Berghan played in eight 2019 U18 Division Two regular season matches and three Division One matches.
In addition to his debut try in Round Two, Taine Ujdur-Berghan also scored in Rounds Three and Eight against Runaway Bay and Currumbin respectively in the U18 Division Two competition.
In Week Two of the GCRL U18 Division Two Finals Taine Ujdur-Berghan started at hooker against Currumbin and then was on the bench for the Burleigh U18 Division One side in their Week Two Final win against Southport and also started at hooker in the Grand Final as Burleigh defeated Robina.
For the Burleigh U18 Division One side Taine Ujdur-Berghan primarily came off the bench playing in a variety of roles including in the halves and hooker, in total playing three matches in that competition for the Bears with those matches coming against Helensvale, Runaway Bay and Bilambil.
Taine Ujdur-Berghan was also a more than solid performer for the PBC Open rugby league side in 2019 including starting at five eight in the Langer Cup local derby against Keebra Park and also starting at five eight in PBC’s heart breaking Gold Point GIO Cup Queensland semi-final 23 – 22 loss to Marsden State High School.
Late in 2018 Taine Ujdur-Berghan was part of the Titans U16 squad played matches in September against PNG and New South Wales Country U16 sides.
Taine Ujdur-Berghan attends PBC as part of their rugby league excellence program and is the regular starting five eight in their Year Ten side.
Taine Ujdur-Berghan started Round One of the 2018 GCRL U16 Division One competition at five eight for Nerang as they defeated Runaway Bay 60 – 0 with centre Trey Peni scoring four tries in that match. Fellow PBC Year Ten student Jaiden West also scored for Nerang in the Round One match.
Post that Round One match, Taine Ujder-Berghan played in an additional eight matches for Nerang scoring two regular season tries, with the first coming in Round Six in a 32 – 8 win over Helensvale. Taine Ujdur-Berghan’s other try came two rounds later against Runaway Bay.
Taine Ujder-Berghan missed a portion of the GCRL U16 Division One Finals series but did start at five eight for the Roosters in the Grand Final as they defeated Currumbin 24 – 8.
In 2017 Taine Ujdur-Berghan played in thirteen matches in the GCRL U15 Division One competition for the Nerang Roosters scoring a solitary try which came around mid-season against Currumbin.
Reece Noble has been named on an extended bench for the Round Five local derby against North Coast tomorrow morning.
The hard working second rower was part of the Titans 2018/19 Group One Development Squad after a number of solid seasons for Ballina in the Group One competition.
Reece Noble played the 2019 season once again with Ballina in the Group One U15 competition, playing in twelve matches for the Seagulls including starting in the second row in the Grand Final but unfortunately Ballina went down 14 – 10 to Clarence Coast.
From his twelve matches Reece Noble scored two tries and kicked one goal which came against Lismore Marist Brothers when he converted his own try. His other try came six weeks later against Casino RSM.
Reece Noble was named on the interchange bench for the Group One U15 Taipans for the New South Wales Country Age Championships that were held in Port Macquarie in late September 2019. In the Championships Reece Noble played in all three of Group One’s matches being against Maitland and Group 19 on Day One and Central Coast on Day Two.
2018 also saw the Ballina Coast High School student represent Group One at the U14 New South Wales Country Age Championships playing in all five of their matches that year.
For Ballina in the 2018 U14 Group One competition, Reece Noble played in thirteen matches crossing for six tries. Reece Noble scored a mid-season double against Grafton and also scored against Lismore Marist Brothers in two separate matches, Clarence Coast and Casino RSM.
In the 2018 U14 New South Wales Country Age Championships for Group One Reece Noble played in all four of Group One’s matches including the Northern Plate Final against Group 19 which Group One won 38 – 12. Reece Noble in fact scored in the Final after starting the match in the second row.
Latest Junior Wrap from the Official Site
https://www.titans.com.au/news/2020/03/12/titans-jts-junior-rep-wrap/
Powerhouse second rower James Pere is set to start Round One of the 2020 MM Cup competition for the Burleigh Bears in the second row against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls this weekend.
James Pere started the 2019 schoolboy rugby season off as part of the TSS First XV side that played Toowoomba Grammar School in a trial as a curtain raiser to a Classic Wallabies match at Moree in Northern New South Wales in March.
In late April 2019 when James Pere was part of the TSS Second XV side that defeated touring New Zealand School New Plymouth Boys High 36 – 0, starting the match at No. 8. James Pere was then on the bench for the TSS First XV side that drew 29 all.
In TSS’s second last trial before the GPS school boy rugby season starts, James Pere started at No. 8 for the TSS Second XV as they defeated Ipswich Grammar School 47 – 0 and then backed up to come off the Bench in the First XV match which also ended in a big TSS victory.
James Pere also started from the bench for the TSS First XV’s final trial against Sunshine Coast Grammar School which TSS won 10 – 5.
James Pere started Round One of the GPS School Boy rugby competition at No.8 in the TSS Second XV against Nudgee College. He also started at No. 8 against Churchie in Round Two, Brisbane State High School in Round Three,
In Round Three against Brisbane State High School, James Pere came on in the second half for the TSS First XV and was an effective ball runner from No. 8 as the TSS forwards dominated.
In Round Four James Pere started at No. 8 for the TSS Second XV against Toowoomba Grammar School and was then on the bench for the First XV as he was in Round Five against Brisbane Grammar School.
James Pere had a big game in Round Six against BBC in a tough Second XV loss and was an unused First XV substitute in the First XV match. James Pere was once again in the thick of the action in Round Seven for the TSS second XV against Gregory Terrace.
James Pere also started from the bench for the Second XV when TSS had a Round Nine bye, but in essentially a trial match played against Toowoomba’s Downlands College First XV.
In late 2018 James Pere was named in the Burleigh Bears 2019 MM Cup squad however he did not play in any matches for Burleigh in the 2019 MM Cup.
The powerhouse young forward was outstanding in 2018 both in club rugby league and school boy rugby, playing for the TSS U16A side in the GPS rugby competition.
Even though he was U16 eligible in 2018 James Pere played the 2018 GCRL season in the U17 Division Two competition with Coomera playing in nine matches including the U17 Division Two Finals series.
In Week Two of the U17 Division Two finals James Pere started in the centres and scored for Coomera as they went down 28 – 16 to Currumbin.
In the Preliminary Final James Pere scored a try after starting in the centres as Coomera qualified for the Grand Final on the back of a 62 – 4 victory over Jimboomba.
In the U17 Division Two Grand Final James Pere started in the centres as Coomera went down 24 – 18 to Currumbin.
In addition to his two finals tries, James Pere scored ten in the U17 Division Two regular season competition. James Pere scored a hat trick against Jimboomba, doubles against Currumbin in two separate matches and Jimboomba and also scored against Beaudesert.
Early in the 2018 season James Pere represented Gold Coast Vikings Yellow in the South East Queensland U16 Challenge.
For the TSS U16A side this season James Pere played in seven matches missing only Round Two as a result of an injury suffered in Round One against Churchie. James Pere started all seven matches at No. 8.
James Pere scored three GPS U16A tries in 2018, scoring in Round Four against Brisbane Grammar School, Round Seven as a result of a pick and drive against Ipswich Grammar School and Round Nine against Churchie.
Prior to the GPS U16A season proper James Pere started in six of the U16A TSS trial matches starting at No. 8 in five and on the bench in the other which was against Ipswich Grammar School. Trial matches that James Pere played in included matches against Riverview College (Sydney), Somerset College and Ambrose Treacy College.
Prior to heading to TSS James Pere attended Keebra Park and 2016 represented the Gold Coast Vikings at the U14 level and was also selected in one of the South East Queensland U14 representative sides.
In 2016 James Pere was a dominant player for Keebra in the U14 Hancock Cup school boy competition, including scoring a hat trick in a match against Marsden State High School where in the first half he was almost unstoppable running off 2018 Queensland U16 representative Reece Walsh.
James Pere also scored a hat trick the week prior as well against Wavell. After being down 12 – 0 early to Wavell James Pere crashed over to score Keebra’s first try and then produced two more barnstorming runs in the second half to help Keebra Park close out the game 30 – 18. James Pere understandably was also awarded the man of the match honours in that game.
James Pere also represented the Vikings and South East Queensland at the U13 level in 2015.
One young player who I anticipate will make his mark in the MM Cup competition this season is Connor Te Kani who has been named to start at five eight for Tweed Heads in Round One of the competition this weekend against the Northern Pride.
Connor Te Kani played his club rugby league on the Gold Coast last season with the Coomera Cutters in the 2019 GCRL U16 Division One competition.
For the Cutters Connor Te Kani played thirteen matches, including starting the Grand Final at five eight and kicked four goals as the Cutters went down in heart breaking fashion in golden point 22 – 20 to the Ormeau Shearers.
In his thirteen matches Connor Te Kani scored seventy three points from three tries, thirty goals and a field goal which he kicked in Round Two against Ormeau. Connor Te Kani’s tries came in matches against Ormeau in Round Two and also in matches against Helensvale and Burleigh later in the season.
With the boot Connor Te Kani kicked six goals in Week One of the 2019 U16 Division One Finals Series against Burleigh and five mid-season against Helensvale, he also scored in those two matches. Connor Te Kani added three further goals in Coomera’s Preliminary Final victory over Currumbin.
Connor Te Kani started all eight of Brisbane Grammar Schools 2019 GPS First XV matches at No. 10 (fly half) making his debut In Round Two against Ipswich Grammar School after Brisbane Grammar School had a Round One bye. In his eight matches Connor Te Kani kicked seven conversions with his first coming in Round Three when he kicked a pressure conversion in the last minute to lock the scores up at 17 all against Anglican Church Grammar School (Churchie).
Connor Te Kani kicked two conversions in Round Seven and Eight against Nudgee and Brisbane State High School respectively and also kicked a conversion in Round Six against Gregory Terrace and in Round Nine against Toowoomba Grammar School.
Connor Te Knai also came up against Syris Schmidt who also started at fly half when BGS played TSS last season. The good friends had a great battle over the course of the match.
In the 2019 QPICC Connor Te Kani represented the Cook Islands U16 side playing in all four of their matches at half and had an outstanding final scoring two tries and kicking three goals as the Cook Islands defeated Tonga 14 – 6 in the Final
Big strong PBC student Jack Kearton is set to start in the front row for the Burleigh Bears MM Cup sides Round One match this weekend against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls.
Jack Kearton played one match for Burleigh in the MM Cup competition in 2019 with that match being in Round Five when he came off the bench in Round Five against Souths Logan.
In 2019 Jake Kearton played his club rugby league on the Gold Coast for Burleigh in the GCRL U18 Division One competition playing ten regular season matches, primarily starting at lock and scored four tries including a Round Nine double against Currumbin just days after the PBC/Keebra Langer Cup match. Jack Kearton also scored against Ormeau earlier in the season and against Mudgeeraba in Round Fourteen.
In Week Two of the GCRL U18 Division One Finals series, Jake Kearton started at lock as Burleigh defeated Southport 34 – 4 to progress directly to the Grand Final.
Jack Kearton started at lock in Burleigh’s 28 -12 U18 Division One Grand Final win over Southport 28 -12 and had strong stints in each half.
Jake Kearton in 2019 was also part of the PBC Open A rugby league side including starting from the bench (he had been named to start) in the Langer Cup derby against Keebra Park in June and was heavily involved when he came on.
Jake Kearton was also part of the PBC side for their Queensland GIO Cup quarter final win over St Mary’s High School Toowoomba 50 – 6 coming off the bench in that match and also came off the bench in PBC’s semi-final loss to Marsden State High School.
The young front row moved down from Mackay State High School to attend PBC at the start of 2018 and was part of the Titans U16 squad played against PNG and New South Wales Country U16 sides in September 2018. The match against PNG was held at Pizzey Park Burleigh and the New South Wales Country match at Cudgen.
Jack Kearton, even though he was eligible for the U16 age group played for the Mudgeeraba Redbacks U17 Division One side in 2018, starting in the second row in their Round One match against Currumbin.
In 2017 Jake Kearton was part of the Capricornia U15 side that took part in the QSSRL U15 championships. In those Championships he played primarily in the second row but has played in the front row for PBC this season in their Year Ten side although he did miss the recent Walter Cup match won by PBC against Keebra Park by two points through illness.
Exciting talent Syris Schmidt is set to start from the bench in Round One of the 2020 MM Cup competition for the Burleigh Bears from the bench against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls.
The local young five eight originally from the Ormeau Shearers club on the Gold Coast after attending Keebra Park High School for a number of years took up a rugby scholarship with TSS in 2018 year playing in their U15A side and in 2019 year played for the Gold Coast based School in their First XV in the GPS school boy rugby competition with a team mate being Titans contracted centre Kaleb Ngamanu.
Syris Schmidt’s first hit out of the 2020 season was when he started at five eight for the Burleigh MM Side in their trial against the Easts Tigers.
Syris Schmidt was also a key performer for the Burleigh MM side that drew 20 all with a Burleigh Colts selection in a trial that preceded the Titans v Burleigh NRL trial at Pizzey Park in February.
Syris Schmidt started at half for the Titans U16 squad in their early October 2019 match against PNG at Pizzey Park. In the match Syris Schmidt was instrumental in a number of tries, including a good flat pass to he left for Orlando Swain to score in the second half.
After starting the majority of TSS’s First XV 2019 GPS trials at fly half (No. 10), Syris Schmidt started there in Round One against Nudgee College and had a solid game in their heart stopping after the final siren one point win.
Syris Schmidt also started at five half in Round Two against Churchie producing an assured performance highlighted by some deft short passing and some raking left foot tactical kicking. For his performance, Syris Schmidt was awarded one point in the 2019 TSS First XV Rounds Two points’ award by the First XV coach.
Syris Schmidt continued his solid form in Round Three once against starting at No. 10 against Brisbane State High and was very effective defensively and also started at No. 10 in Round Four against Toowoomba Grammar School, producing an assured display.
Round Five against Brisbane Grammar School also saw Syris Schmidt in the No. 10 jersey for the TSS First XV scoring his career first GPS First XV try in the match.
In the critical Round Six match against BBC Syris Schmidt had limited ball playing time due to the rushing defence but more than held his own as TSS remained undefeated on the back of a 23 – 20 away win.
Syris Schmidt added a try assist in Round Seven in a big 54 – 24 win against Gregory Terrace when he put up a pin point left foot kick which literally went the entire width of the field and was perfectly weighted.
Syris Schmidt started the critical Round Eight match against Ipswich Grammar School once again at fly half as TSS won the GPS First XV Premiership after drawing 29 all.
Syris Schmidt post the 2019 GPS First XV competition was named at fly half in the fam nominated Courier Mail GPS First XV Team of Year after receiving 34.4% of the votes for the fly half (no. 10) position.
Syris Schmidt started the 2019 season representing the Gold Coast Vikings U16 White side in the South East Queensland U16 Pre-season Challenge. Playing in all of their matches. Syris Schmidt had a big Round One match when he scored and kicked a conversion against Brisbane Green and also kicked conversions against Ipswich and Brisbane Blue.
In 2018, in relation to club rugby league on the Gold Coast, Syris Schmidt played for Ormeau in the U15 Division One competition, playing ten matches and finishing with a strike rate of 90%. To cap off his 2018 season Syris Schmidt was named U15 Division One Player of the Grand Final in the Shearers victory.
Syris Schmidt scored a hat trick in Round Five of 2018 against Coomera and added a Round Four double against Mudgeeraba. Syris Schmidt, in 2018, also scored in Rounds Six, Seven, Nine and Eleven against Runaway Bay, Robina and Runaway Bay twice more.
Syris Schmidt represented South Coast in the 2018 QSSRL U15 Championships and has been named in the U15 Queensland White side for next week’s ASSRL U16 Championships where team mates were Titans contracted Ezra Ubaldino and Brody Smitka.
Syris Schmidt played the GPS 2018 season with the TSS U15A side spending time at inside centre, outside centre and fly half playing in all of TSS’s matches.
In the 2017 GPS rugby season for the TSS U14A side, Syris Schmidt played in seven matches. Syris Schmidt started the season on the bench for the TSS U14A side making his TSS Rugby debut in Round One against Brisbane Stet High School.
Syris Schmidt broke into the TSS U14A starting line-up in Round Eight against St Joseph’s Nudgee College starting the match at No. 10 (fly half) and was named Best Back in his starting debut. Syris Schmidt also started in Round Nine this time at inside centre against Churchie.
In 2017 for the Ormeau Shearers, Syris Schmidt played eight matches in the U14 Division One competition, scoring seven tries and kicking a conversion to finish with 26 points. Syris Schmidt scored four tries in a match against Runaway Bay and a double against Nerang.
Syris Schmidt represented Keebra Park in the Renouf Cup competition in 2016. Syris Schmidt also represented the U13 Vikings side that went through the Hill Stumer Championships undefeated and also represented South East Queensland Green at the U13 level in the Queensland Age Championships which were held in Toowoomba.
In 2015 Syris Schmidt represented Queensland at the U12 level. For the Queensland U12 side, he scored two tries across the competition that Queensland won, including scoring a try against Western Australia in their round 3 victory and another against Victoria in their 52 – 0 semi-final victory.
It is great to see Kia Smallwood named on the extended bench for the Round Five local derby against North Coast this Saturday at Coffs Harbour.
In early in October 2019 the quick stepping young half or five eight was part of a Titans U14/15 NRRRL Invitational side that played the Titans U14 Gold Coast/Brisbane Academy side in a development match at Tweed Heads Seagulls Piggabeen ground with Kai Smallwood’s side going down 32 – 10 in an exciting and entertaining match.
Kai Smallwood was part of the Group 18 representative U15 side that played at the New South Wales Country Age Championships held in Port Macquarie in September 2019. In those Championships Kai Smallwood started in the halves in all three of Group 18’s matches and scoring eighteen points in the process to finish as Group 18’s leading point’s scorer at the Championships.
Kai Smallwood scored on Day Two against Newcastle, kicking three goals in that match as well to finish with ten points in an 18 all draw. On Day One Kai Smallwood kicked three goals against Central Coast and then backed that up by kicking a conversion later in the day against Group Three.
Late in the 2019 season Kai Smallwood was named the 2019 Group 18 U15 representative teams best back.
Kai Smallwood played the 2019 club rugby league season with Bilambil in the Group 18 U15 competition and in fact was named player of the Grand Final as Bilambil defeated Byron Bay/Lennox Head in a high quality encounter.
In late 2019 Kai Smallwood headed to Sydney to trial for the 2020 New South Wales Koori U16 side with fellow Titan Michael Roberts.
Kai Smallwood also represented Group 18 in 2018 at the U14 level at the New South Wales Age Championships. In 2018 Kai Smallwood scored a double in Group 18’s first match against Group 21
Giant Titans contracted front rower Isaac Matalavea-Booth has been named to start in Round One of the 2020 MM Cup competition for the Burleigh Bears in the front row against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls this weekend.
The giant young front rower from Auckland New Zealand headed over to the Gold Coast in early November 2019 chasing his rugby league dream and to play for the Burleigh Bears MM Cup side in 2020 and well as attend Keebra Park for his senior year of school.
Not long after arriving in Australia Isaac Matalavea-Booth signed a one year contract with the Titans to immediately become part of the impressive Junior Titans system (JTS) and in mid-December was part of the Titans contracted junior players squad that undertook a training session with the Titans NRL squad. In the post training session photo Isaac Matalavea-Booth towered over most if not all of even the Titans NRL squad members, highlighting his size attribute.
Isaac Matalavea-Booth’s first match in a Titans jersey came against the Newcastle Knights SG Ball (U18) side in January 2020 in Coffs Harbour when he came off the bench in the Titans 24 – 10 loss.
Isaac Matalavea-Booth was outstanding in 2019 for Auckland’s Pakuranga College and at the 2019 SAS College Rugby League Awards Night was named in the front row in the 2019 Premier First XIII Team of the Year which was a deserved acknowledgement of his performances for Pakuranga College and even more meritorious considering Isaac Matalavea-Booth was just 17 years old throughout the season.
From a club rugby league perspective in 2019 in New Zealand, Isaac Matalavea-Booth played for the Manurewa Club in the Auckland U17/18 Open competition playing in thirteen matches scoring five tries and kicking a conversion to finish the 2019 season with twenty two points.
One of his thirteen games one was the 2019 Auckland Rugby League U17/18 Grand Final with Isaac Matalavea-Booth starting in the front row for Manurewa, but unfortunately they went down 22 – 14 to the Marist Saints in a high quality physical (very) encounter.
Isaac Matalavea-Booth also represented the Tao Samoa U18 side in 2019 in their annual match against the New Zealand U18’s starting in the front row and also started in the front row for the Tao Samoa U16’s against New Zealand U16’s in 2018. In fact the first time that Isaac Matalavea-Booth represented Tao Samoa was at the U13 level in 2014 and also represented Tao Samoa at the U15 level in 2016 I believe.
In 2019 Isaac Matalavea-Booth who previously was part of the New Zealand Warriors Development Academy represented the Auckland based Counties Manukau Stingrays representative side in the New Zealand National Youth U17 Tournament starting in the front row in all five of their matches including their semi-final victory over the Akarana Falcons and the U17 National Youth Final victory 24 – 20 against the South Island Scorpions.
Isaac Matalavea-Booth scored two tries in the pool portion of the 2019 U17 National Youth Tournament with those tries coming in Match One against the Wellington Orcas and Match Three against the Northern Swords.
In 2017 Isaac Matalavea-Booth represented Counties Manukau at the U15 National Youth Tournament starting in the front row in his two matches for the Stingrays.
Titans linked Jack Smith will start Round One of the 2020 MM Cup competition for the Tweed Heads Seagulls at fullback against the Northern Pride this weekend.
The young utility late in 2018 signed a scholarship with the Titans from the Forbes Spacemen after playing for the New South Wales Country U16 side against a Titans U16 squad at Cudgen.
Jack Smith started from the bench for the New South Wales Country side in the match with New South Wales Country running out 30 – 10 winners. Jack Smith was also part of the New South Wales Country U16 side that defeated PNG U16’s a couple of days earlier in Ballina in Northern New South Wales as a precursor to the match against the Titans.
Jack Smith in June of 2019 was part of the Titans U18 side that played North Queensland in a curtain raiser to the Titans/Warriors NRL match at Cbus stadium starting that particular match at fullback.
Jack Smith started Round One of the 2019 GCRL U18 Division One at fullback for his new club being the Currumbin Eagles in their match against Burleigh where he was opposed by fellow Titan Will Evans.
In total Jack Smith played in seven regular season matches for Currumbin in the 2019 GCRL U18 Division One competition, playing the majority at fullback although he did play a number of matches at centre, his first being in Round Nine against Helensvale.
Jack Smith also played centre in Round Ten, scoring a hat trick against Bilambil (he converted one of his tries in that match as well) and also from the centre position scored sixteen points from a try and six goals in Round Twelve against Runaway Bay.
Jack Smith also played a number of matches for PBC in their Open A side including starting at fullback in their Langer Cup derby against Keebra Park in June, scoring in the second half. Jack Smith moved into dummy half around ten metres out from the line and threw a big dummy to his left and then took off for the line scoring adjacent to the left upright.
Initially Jack Smith was held up by three defenders but instead of submitting to the tackle spun counter clock wise separating himself from the defenders and falling to his knees. Jack Smith had the presence of mind to note that his hand holding the ball had not touched the ground and thus reached out to put the ball down beside the left upright.
Jack Smith also started at fullback for PBC in their Queensland GIO Cup quarter final win over St Mary’s High School Toowoomba 50 – 6 and was once again at fullback, pulling off two try saving tackles in the GIO Cup semi-final loss to Marsden State High School in heart breaking fashion.
In November 2019 Jack Smith was named the PBC Open Rugby League Most Improved Player at the PBC Sport Awards Night.
Playing in the Group 11 competition for the Parkes Spacemen in 2018 Jack Smith played in both the U16 and U18 competitions over the course of the 2018 season. In the U16 competition Jack Smith spent time at fullback including starting the Grand Final at fullback. Jack Smith also played eight U18 matches scoring a hat trick in his first career U18 match against Dubbo Macquarie.
Jack Smith was also part of the 2018 victorious Western Rams U18 Laurie Daley Cup side and started at lock as they defeated Illawarra South Coast Dragons in the final. Jack Smith started all seven of the matches that he was involved in and scored three tries, including a double against the Wests Tigers and in Round Two he scored against the Riverina Bulls.
In 2017 Jack Smith was selected at fullback for the New South Wales Combined Catholic Colleges side from Red Bend Catholic College starting all of the matches that he played in during the ASSRL U15 Championships
Noah Croudace is set to start Round One of the 2020 MM Cup competition for the Burleigh Bears on the wing against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls.
The Burleigh and PBC youngster started on the wing for the Titans U16’s and scored as they defeated PNG 60 – 10 in a late 2018 match at Burleigh and also started on the right wing as the Titans U16’s went down 30 – 10 to New South Wales Country U16’s at Cudgen in what can best be described as wet and miserable conditions.
In 2019 Noah Croudace was part of the Burleigh Bears MM Cup squad and was named on an extended bench for Round Four against Townsville but unfortunately did not make the final seventeen but made his debut starting on the wing in Round Six as Burleigh overcame the previously unbeaten Wynnum Manly Seagulls to finish the 2019 season on a high with the 23 – 22 victory.
Noah Croudace played the 2019 season with Burleigh in the GCRL U18 Division One competition playing in six regular season matches, scoring five tries to finish with a strike rate of 83.33%. Noah Croudace had outstanding start to his 2019 U18 Division One campaign scoring doubles in his opening two matches ironically both matches were against Currumbin. Noah Croudace’s other regular season try was against Bilambil in early August.
In Week Two of the U18 Division One Finals series Noah Croudace started on the wing for Burleigh in their victory 34 – 8 against Southport to progress directly to the Grand Final contributing a try to the dominating victory.
In the 2019 GCRL U18 Division One Grand Final against Southport Noah Croudace started on the right wing and had some good moments in the match which turned into a forward slog with the Bears winning 28 – 12 in a physical affair.
2019 also saw Noah Croudace play multiple matches for PBC in both the Langer Cup and GIO Cup competitions including starting on the right wing for PBC in their heart breaking Gold Point GIO Cup Queensland semi-final 23 – 22 loss to Marsden State High School.
In the match Noah Croudace was very effective down the right touchline including making a long break in the first half which almost led to a PBC try.
Early in the 2018 season Noah Croudace represented the Gold Coast Vikings White side in the South East Queensland U16 Challenge, scoring a double, including a try in the last minute to defeat Ipswich.
In 2018 Noah Croudace only played in one U16 Division One match with that match being the Preliminary Final when he started from the bench with Burleigh going down 28 – 26 to Currumbin in a high quality contest.
Unfortunately Noah Croudace was struck down with injury in 2019 while playing for PBC but it is good to see him over the injury now so that he can undertake the MM Cup pre-season with Burleigh with the aim of establishing himself in the team from Round One
Orlando Swain will start Round One of the 2020 MM Cup competition interestingly in the second row for the Ipswich Jets against the Townsville Blackhawks this weekend.
The Ipswich youngster signed with the Titans in 2018 after a standout campaign with the Queensland Maroon side at the U15 ASSRL Championships. A team mate in the Queensland Maroons side was fellow Titans contracted youngster the outstanding Burleigh lock Bailey Martin who returning quickly from injury.
Orlando Swain’s most recent match for the Titans was when he started at left centre for the Titans U16 squad in their early October 2019 match against PNG U16’s at Pizzey Park scoring in the second half when he ran onto a straight pass from Syris Schmidt to crash over out wide.
In January of 2019 Orlando Swain started at right centre for the Titans U16 side in their match against the Newcastle Knights in Coffs Harbour. Orlando Swain did not keep too many opportunities with the ball in space but was effective none the less in terms of bringing the ball out of the Titans territory.
Orlando Swain also started in the centres for the Titans U15 side in their match against a Balmain Tigers U15 touring squad. Like in the Newcastle match Orlando Swain was partnered in the centres by the equally talented Ezra Ubaldino.
Orlando Swain is also part of the 2019 Queensland U16 Emerging Origin squad, with the squad completing their first camp of the year recently. At that camp, in the opposed session was on the same side as Kaleb Ngamanu and Bailey Martin.
Early in 2019 Orlando Swain was part of the Ipswich side that contested the South East Queensland U16 Championships scoring on Match Day Four in a tough 14 – 4 loss against Gold Coast Vikings White and subsequently was named in the 2019 South East Queensland White U16 side the for the Queensland Age Championships starting in the centres.
Post those Championships Orlando Swain was selected to start at right centre in the Queensland City U16 side in a match that was the curtain raiser to the 2019 Queensland Cup Grand Final but had only limited chances as City went down 44 – 4 to Country. Orland Swain did however make eight tackles at a tackling efficiency of 88.89% as well as running for seventy five metres.
Orlando Swain started in the centre in Round One of the Ipswich Rugby League U16 competition for Norths Ipswich scoring against Fassifern in a 34 – 22 victory and backed that up by scoring a double in Round Two against West End as Norths prevailed 40 – 12.
After missing Round Three Orlando Swain scored again in Round Four as his Norths side defeated Ipswich Brothers 78 – 4.
Orlando Swain also scored in Round Six against the Springfield Panthers and Rounds Nine, Ten and Twelve against West End, Rosewood and Redbank Plains respectively and kicked his only two goals of the season in Round Six against Springfield.
In total in the 2019 Ipswich Rugby League U16 regular season competition, Orlando Swain played in twelve matches scoring eight tries to finish with a 67% strike rate.
In the Ipswich Rugby League U16 Grand Final Orlando Swain started at right centre against Redbank Plains with Norths winning 34 – 26 and Orlando Swain contributing a try to the Premiership victory.
At the late September 2019 Norths Ipswich Junior Rugby League Awards Night, Orlando Swain was awarded the Rod Kelly Junior Representative Player of the Year Award.
Orlando Swain was also part of the Ipswich Grammar School U16A GPS school boy rugby side this season but made his deserved First XV debut on the right wing in Round Eight of the 2019 season against TSS on the Gold Coast.
Orlando Swain had a great debut including a first half try assist when he threw a left arm over the head flick pass to Roosters bound Sam Walker to score in the first half. Even though he was playing on the right wing, Orlando Swain had a licence to roam on the match, regularly chiming into the backline on the left side of the field after set pieces.
Orlando Swain played his second GPS First XV match in Round Nine against Gregory Terrace, once again starting on the right wing and scored his first try when he was on the end of an Ipswich Grammar School movement to score wide out on the right in the first half.
As a result of his outstanding performances on the wing for the 2018 U15 Queensland Maroon side Orlando Swain was selected in the Australian U15 Merit side where he was named on the wing.
Orlando Swain started all four of Queensland Maroon’s matches on the wing and scored two tries, the first coming on Day One against New South Wales Combined High Schools and his second try was in the 4th minute of the final against New South Wales Combined Catholic College, a final which Queensland Maroon won 36 – 10.
The Ipswich Grammar School student this season played for Norths Blue in the 2018 Ipswich U15 competition and through nine matches, including the finals series scored 56 points from twelve tries and four goals.
Orlando Swain scored a hat trick against Fassifern and has also scored doubles against Norths Gold, Rosewood and Redbank. Orlando Swain’s other two tries came against West End and Brothers.
In Week Two of the Ipswich Rugby League U15 Finals series, Orlando Swain started on the wing and scored as his Norths Blue defeated a determined Redbank side 30 – 26 to progress to the Grand Final.
In the Ipswich U15 Grand Final Orlando Swain started on the wing for Norths Blue against West End with Norths Blue going down is a close match 28 – 22 with Orlando Swain scoring one of North’s Blue’s four tries on the Sunday morning.
Orlando Swain has an extensive representative resume including representing the Ipswich Diggers at the U14 level in 2017 and earlier this year represented Met West U15’s.
Trey Peni will start Round One of the 2020 MM Cup competition for the Burleigh Bears on the wing against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls.
The Titans contracted Keebra Park student originally from the Rockingham Sharks in Western Australia is a classic example of why you should not be concerned about where a young player comes from but be only concerned about their ability on a football field and whether they can reach their full potential, Trey Peni has both area’s covered in spades and the proof is on display each weekend on Gold Coast Rugby League fields.
In late 2018 Trey Peni started in the centres and scored for the Titans U16’s as they defeated PNG 60 – 10 at Pizzey Park and in January of 2019 was part of the Titans U18 squad that played a trial in Coffs Harbour against the Newcastle Knights U18 SG Ball squad.
Trey Peni started the 2019 season as part of the Burleigh Bears MM Cup side coming in to the side on the left wing in Round Three. In the Round Three match against local rivals the Tweed Heads Seagulls Trey Peni scored his first MM Cup try when he pounced on an inch perfect kick from Tweed Heads five eight Brodyn Gudgeon to score close to the left touch line in goal line.
In Round Four against the Townsville Blackhawks Trey Peni recorded a try assist when he took a cross field bomb to his left wing on the full a few metres out from the Townsville line and then under pressure was able to off-load to Eli Morgan who had looped around the back of him to score in the left corner.
In total for Burleigh in the 2019 MM Cup competition, Trey Peni played in four matches starting three on the wing and one, being Round Six in the centres against Wynnum Manly with Burleigh finishing their 2019 MM Cup season off on a high after beating the previously undefeated Seagulls 23 - 22.
Post the 2019 MM Cup competition, Trey Peni played Round One of the 2019 GCRL U18 Division One competition for Nerang scoring in that match as well.
Trey Peni received a deserved call-up to the Burleigh Colts Hastings Deering’s Cup side for their 2019 Round Nine match against Redcliffe and had an outstanding debut scoring a double from the right wing.
In relation to both of his tries, Trey Peni scored by positioning himself well by staying on the side line outside of his direct opponent and as a result having a direct path to the try line. Trey Peni was certainly happy to score his first try, pumping his fist even before crossing the try line. Trey Peni could have had a hat trick but the ball went to Jayden Campbell to score when it could have quite easily have gone to Trey Peni instead.
Trey Peni came back into the Burleigh Colts side starting on the right wing and scoring in Round Twenty against the Western Mustangs when he scored an easy try in the right corner after good work inside by the Burleigh playmakers including Cameron Brown and Jayden Campbell.
In total in the 2019 Hastings Deering’s Colts regular season competition for Burleigh Trey Peni played in four matches starting all on the right wing scoring the three tries noted in the paragraph’s noted above.
Trey Peni’s 2019 Hastings Deering’s Colts season came to an end when he started on the left wing for Burleigh as they went down 23 – 16 to Sunshine Coast in the Preliminary Final.
Trey Peni also performed well for Keebra Park in 2019, including scoring a double in their Round Two Langer Cup victory over Ipswich State High School and started on the right wing in the Langer Cup derby against PBC also scoring a double in the match with both tries coming in the second half.
Trey Peni’s first try came when he retrieved a chip kick and stepped inside the fullback to score and for his second try Trey Peni flew down the right touch line executing a dive to place the ball down in his right hand in the right corner of the field.
Trey Peni also started on the right wing for Keebra Park in their Queensland GIO Cup quarter final win over Coombabah State High School 42 – 12 and also started on the right wing in their tough loss to Wavell State High School in the their Queensland GIO Cup semi-final.
Trey Peni also represented South Coast at the 2019 U18 QSSRL Championships playing on the right wing at the Championships. Trey Peni scored on Day One against Northern in the right corner after outstanding lead up work by fellow Titan James Torrens on his inside.
South Coast went through the Championships undefeated including coming from behind to defeat Northern in the final 22 – 16. Trey Peni was subsequently named in the 2019 Queensland School boy’s side for the Australian U18 School boy Championships.
At the 2019 ASSRL U18 Championships Trey Peni started all of Queensland matches, including the Championship Final on the right wing, scoring in the 10th minute of the second half in Queensland’s second match of the Championships against New South Wales Combined High Schools.
Trey Peni played the 2018 season with the Nerang Roosters in the GCRL U16 Division One competition after moving in the off season from the Coomera Cutters and has started in the centres in all bar one of their matches, scoring five tries and kicking three goals to finish the season with an individual point’s haul of twenty six.
In Round One Trey Peni had an outstanding match scoring four tries and kicking two goals against Runaway Bay and in Round Four also scored a try against Burleigh.
Trey Peni started in the centres in both of Nerang’s 2018 Finals matches being in Week Two when Nerang defeated Currumbin 32 – 22 with Trey Peni converting one of Nerang’s five tries and the Grand Final which Nerang won defeating Currumbin again 24 – 8.
At the start of the 2017 season Trey Peni moved over to the Gold Coast to continue his flourishing rugby league career with Coomera Cutters in the GCRL U15 Division One competition and in 2018 played for the Gold Coast Vikings U16 white squad. In previous years Trey Peni has represented Western Australia at the U12 National Championships and has been a member of the West Coast Pirates Development Squad for a number of seasons.
For the Cutters in the U15 Division Once competition in 2017 Trey Peni played a number of positions including centre and fullback playing in ten matches scoring eight tries and kicking seven goals to finish with 46 points on the season.
Trey Peni had an outstanding start to the 2017 season, scoring seven of his eight tries in a three game stretch from late April to early May, in that span scoring a hat trick against Helensvale and doubles against Currumbin and Burleigh. Five of his seven goals also came in that period. Trey Peni’s other try came late in the season against Nerang.
Titans contracted Isreal Higgins has been named to start Round One of the 2020 MM Cup competition in the second row against the Northern Pride this weekend
The local young centre or second rower from the Currumbin Eagles junior rugby league club on the Gold Coast as well as PBC has recently signed a multi-year contract with the Titans, moving over from the Sydney Roosters who he was with for a number of seasons.
In a sign of the regard that the Titans hold in him, Isreal Higgins trained with the Titans Rookie Squad in the 2019-20 offseason and played for the Titans Rookie squad against the Tweed Heads Queensland Cup side in early February at Cudgen in wet and slippery conditions.
Isreal Higgins has previously worn a Titans jersey when he started in the second row for the U13 Titans development squad against a Toowoomba U14 selection in late 2015 at Burleigh’s Pizzey Park. In that match Isreal Higgins scored a strong try under the posts when he charged through the Toowoomba forward pack from about ten metres out off a pass from the dummy half at the dressing room end of the ground.
Isreal Higgins had a standout 2019 season which saw him play for the U18 National Championship winning Tweed Heads Seagulls MM Cup side as well as representing Queensland at the ASSRL U18 School Boy Championships from PBC after representing South Coast at the QSSRL U18 School Boy Championships that were held in Toowoomba.
In the MM Cup for Tweed Heads in 2019 Isreal Higgins played in all eight of Tweed Heads matches including starting from the bench in their 28 – 24 Grand Final hard fought victory over the Wynnum Manly Seagulls.
Isreal Higgins started Round One against the Western Mustangs in the second row, scoring his sole ty of the season before moving to the bench for Rounds Two and Three against Townsville and Burleigh respectively. Isreal Higgins started Rounds Four and Five in the centres against Central Queensland and Wynnum Manly before moving back to the bench for the remainder of the season including the Queensland semi-final against Souths Logan and the a fore mentioned fiercely contested Queensland Final against Wynnum Manly.
In the National U18 Championship Final against the Illawarra Steelers, Isreal Higgins started from the bench for Tweed Heads in their 48 – 14 victory. In the match, Isreal Higgins played thirty one minutes, ran for eighty three metres (thirty nine post contact, being an impressive 48.99% of his total running metres) on nine hit-ups, broke a tackle and made eleven tackles at a perfect 100% tackling efficiency including a couple of brutal front on hits.
Also in 2019 Isreal Higgins started in the second row for South Coast in the U18 QSSRL School Boy Championships, from there being named in the Queensland U18 School Boys side for the U18 ASSRL Championships playing a number of matches for Queensland at left centre including scoring in the Championship Final as Queensland defeated NSW Combined Catholic Schools 34 – 10.
To cap off an outstanding 2019 season Isreal Higgins has recently been named in the 2020 U18 Queensland Emerging Origin Squad with fellow Titans Ediq Ambrosyev and Samuel Shannon.
Isreal Higgins was also been a key member of the PBC Open rugby league side over the last couple of seasons including starting in the second row in 2019 in the Langer Cup Final victory and in 2018 was part of the PBC National GIO Cup winning side.
In 2018 Isreal Higgins represented the Queensland U16 side in their annual match against New South Wales starting the match in the second row as the Maroons went down 28 – 14. Prior to his Queensland U16 selection Isreal Higgins started in the second row for the U16 South East Queensland Green side in the Queensland Age Championships.
Also in 2018 Isreal Higgins represented Gold Coast Vikings Yellow in the 2018 South East Queensland U16 Challenge, starting the first four rounds in the second row. Isreal Higgins was also part of the 2018 U16 Queensland Emerging Origin Squad alongside Titans contracted jack of all trades Ediq Ambrosyev.
In 2017 Isreal Higgins played in the U15 age group in the 2017 season for the Currumbin Eagles. Isreal Higgins also represented South Coast at the U15 level in 2017.
Isreal Higgins was only able to play one match for the Currumbin Eagles U15 side in 2017 which was against Southport in April but was selected in the South Coast U15 side for the QSSRL competition after playing well for PBC and them went on to be named in the Queensland White team for the U15 ASSRL Championships.
In 2016 Isreal Higgins represented the Gold Coast Vikings at the U14 level where he was selected at lock for the U14 South East Queensland Age Championships.
For Currumbin in the U14 Division One competition in 2016 Isreal Higgins played in eight matches scoring six tries along the way. Isreal Higgins had a big day out in June 2016 when he scored a hat trick against Mudgeeraba and he also scored in the next two club matches that he played in which were against Burleigh Heads and Coomera. Isreal Higgins other try on the season came against Nerang in the first round of the U14 Division One season proper.
In 2015 Isreal Higgins also was part of the U13 Gold Coast Vikings representative side and also made the South East Queensland U13 side for the Queensland Age Championships where he was selected on the inter change bench.
Titans contracted Kaleb Ngamanu has been named to start Round One of the 2020 MM Cup competition on the wing against the Northern Pride this weekend.
Kaleb Ngamanu is a Gold Coast based youngster originally from Western Australia where he played two years of rugby league for the Joondalup Giants who moved over to the Gold Coast at the start of 2016 season, making every post a winner since that time in his junior rugby league career and for that matter in school boy rugby for the Southport School (TSS) including the First XV side and has recently signed a new deal with the Titans which will keep him with the club for the next couple of seasons.
Kaleb Ngamanu’s most recent match for the Titans was when he started at fullback for the Titans U16 squad in their early October match against PNG at Pizzey Park and made a great fist of the fullback role.
In January 2019 Kaleb Ngamanu started on the left wing for the Titans U16 side against the Newcastle Knights in Coffs Harbour and was very unlucky not to be awarded a second half try. To be honest I am still unsure why the try was disallowed, he flashed into the back line on the left hand side of the field and broke through two Knights defenders to seemingly score but the try was disallowed I assume for a lost ball.
Kaleb Ngamanu started the match on the left wing but spent some time at fullback midway through the first half when he swapped positions with Rowan Mansfield for a few minutes. In the second half with Rowan Mansfield injured, Kaleb Ngamanu played the entire half at fullback and showed his outstanding speed when he backed up a long break from Joseph Shannon (who had been put into a hole as a result of a great Bailey Martin pass).
In the first half Kaleb Ngamanu produced three outstanding pieces of play including two try saving tackles, the first when the Knights winger burst through the centre of the ruck and Kaleb Ngamanu tracked back and caught him from behind. His second try saving tackle was made in the left corner when he stopped the Knights winger in his tracks about a metre from the try line when the winger looked certain to score.
With the ball Kaleb Ngamanu made an outstanding break down the left touch line when he got outside his direct opponent as a result of a great ball from half Thomas Weaver whilst playing on the left wing in the first half.
On top of all that Kaleb Ngamanu forced at least three errors that I can recall as a result of sheer hard work and effort.
Kaleb Ngamanu signed a multi-year deal with the Titans in early 2018 after a starring on the left wing for the Titans U15 side in their six tries to three win over the Western Mustangs in March 2018 and late in the 2018 season started on the wing for the Titans U15 as they defeated a U15 Balmain Tigers touring side 16 – 10 with Kaleb Ngamanu scoring an outstanding try in the match.
Kaleb Ngamanu scored in around the 6th minute when he flashed down the left touch line untouched and was able to bring the ball around under the posts. For the try Kaleb Ngamanu kept his width and exploded onto a great cut out ball from Thomas Weaver to score from around 30 metres out.
In the match Kaleb Ngamanu also had some other highlights including an outstanding fifty metre second half run when he expertly fielded a low kick and split the defence from his own line, but unfortunately just could not find Thomas Weaver with the inside pass.
Kaleb Ngamanu was also involved in the final Titans try scored by Rowan Mansfield. At the time Kaleb Ngamanu was playing right centre, he took a pass from Jye Gray before drawing the Balmain winger and popping a great ball to Rowan Mansfield to send him down the touch line.
Early in 2019, Kaleb Ngamanu was part of the Gold Coast Vikings U16 side that played in the South East Queensland U16 Challenge and post that championship was named in the South East Queensland U16 train on squad.
Kaleb Ngamanu started on the left wing for the Queensland City U16 side in their match against Queensland Country, playing the entire seventy minutes. Kaleb Ngamanu ran for 45.1 metres in the match and made three tackles at a 75% tackling efficiency.
Kaleb Ngamanu started the 2019 season for Coomera in the GCRL U16 Division One competition, starting in the centres in Round One against Burleigh and scoring in the match which was his one and only GCRL match of the season.
Kaleb Ngamanu kicked off his 2019 school boy rugby campaign for TSS in late April when he was part of the TSS Second XV side that defeated touring New Zealand School New Plymouth Boys High 36 – 0, starting the match at inside centre. Kaleb Ngamanu then was on the bench for the TSS First XV side that went down 31 – 29.
Kaleb Ngamanu made his TSS First XV run on debut in a trial against Brisbane State High School in May with TSS winning 57 – 12.
Kaleb Ngamanu was once against part of the TSS First XV squad for the next set of GPS rugby trials against Brisbane State High School and Gregory Terrace at the TSS campus, in late May with Kaleb Ngamanu named on the bench. TSS won the trial against Gregory Terrace but went down against BSHS in the second match.
Kaleb Ngamanu started TSS’s next trial against Nudgee College in the right wing (No. 14) for the TSS First XV. Kaleb Ngamanu moved to the left wing (No. 11) for the TSS First XV’s next trial against Ipswich Grammar School at Ipswich.
Kaleb Ngamanu started at outside centre for the TSS First XV in their final GPS rugby trial prior to their Round One fixture against Nudgee College with TSS winning 10-5 against Sunshine Coast Grammar School.
In Round One of the 2019 GPS school boy rugby competition, Kaleb Ngamanu started on the right wing for TSS against Nudgee College and was outstanding defensively for TSS, both in terms of initial contact and cover defence.
The ball did not get out to his right wing a great deal but Kaleb Ngamanu did have an outstanding run late in the second half where he dragged a number of Nudgee defenders five or six metres. Kaleb Ngamanu actually crossed the line in the second half but the final pass was called back for being forward. To be fair it was only two or three metres forward.
Kaleb Ngamanu also showcased his hands in Round One taking producing a great contest catch of a TSS box kick under extreme pressure to maintain TSS’s momentum in a pivotal moment of the first half.
Kaleb Ngamanu was also outstanding in Round Two as TSS thrashed Churchie 64 – 7 with Kaleb Ngamanu starting on the right wing but moving into inside centre around the 10 minute mark after an injury.
From that position Kaleb Ngamanu scored his first First XV try of the career. At a set piece about fifteen metres out from the Churchie line, Kaleb Ngamanu originally lined up in the left of the piece but rotated around to the right receiving the ball in space.
Kaleb Ngamanu ran at the opposition defensive line which started to back pedal holding the ball in both hands and after shaping to pass the ball to his right before running through the resultant gap in the line to score mid-way between the touch line and goal post on the right side of the field.
After finishing Round Two at inside centre, Kaleb Ngamanu started there in Round Three against Brisbane State High School. In the first half Kaleb Ngamanu focussed primarily on ball playing for his outside backs but in the second half ran the ball more and came close to scoring twice.
Kaleb Ngamanu also started at inside centre in Round Four against Toowoomba Grammar School in Toowoomba scoring his second try of the season as well as recording a try assist and also being heavily involved in a few others.
Kaleb Ngamanu’s try assist came in the second half and was as a result of a great sleight of hand from a set play. From a TSS scrum win on the Toowoomba Grammar School twenty metre line Kaleb Ngamanu received the ball to the right of the scrum and produced an outstanding no look pop up pass to his right as the TSS left winger looped around to charge through the resultant gap to score adjacent to the left upright.
Kaleb Ngamanu’s try (his second of the season) came late in the match, Kaleb Ngamanu picked up the ball on from the back of a ruck and drove to his left to score from close range to round out a 62 – 3 TSS route.
Round Five against Brisbane Grammar School saw Kelab Ngamanu continue at inside centre scoring for the second week in a row and third for the season. Kaleb Ngamanu’s try can only be considered a superb effort. In the 16th minute of the first half, Kaleb Ngamanu received the ball to the right of the ruck and ran diagonally to his right and used a great fend which literally knocked the Brisbane Grammar School fly half, being Connor Te Kani off his feet.
Once that occurred Kaleb Ngamanu ran through the resultant gap to score mid-way between the goal posts and the right corner flag under pressure from two more BGS defenders.
In Round Six Kaleb Ngamanu started once again at inside centre against fellow unbeaten school Brisbane Boys College at Toowong in Brisbane in essentially what was the GPS First XV Premiership decider between the only remaining unbeaten schools.
Unfortunately Kaleb Ngamanu was forced off the field with a cheek bone injury in the early minutes of the second half in TSS’s 23 – 20 victory in front of a massive crowd at Toowong in Brisbane’s west.
The win ensured that TSS were the 2019 GPS School Boy rugby First XV Champions and it is a touch ironic that it came against BBC which was the school that Kaleb Ngamanu’s two older brothers starred for being Cullen and Jayden Ngamanu.
Kaleb Ngamanu in 2019 was also part of the Queensland U18 Reds Academy Rugby side that defeated Victoria 46 – 18 with Kaleb Ngamanu coming off the bench to play on the right wing and mid-way through the second half set up a try when he drew the Rebels fullback and passed back inside to the Reds outside centre to score after a long run down the right touch line.
2018 saw Kaleb Ngamanu’s selection in the South Coast U15 QSSRL side at the completion of the South Coast Trials. Kaleb Ngamanu was subsequently selected in the Queensland Maroon U15 side for the U15 ASSRL Championships.
Other Titans linked boys to make the 2018 U15 South Coast QSSRL squad included front rower Brody Smitka, centre/second rower Ezra Ubaldino and outstanding backrower Bailey Martin.
As a result of his performance at those Championships Kaleb Ngamanu was selected in one of the two Queensland sides for the Australian Championships. Unfortunately Kaleb Ngamanu was injured in the camp just prior to the U15 ASSRL Championships and was unable to take his place in the Queensland Maroon side.
In late 2018 Kaleb Ngamanu was named in the Gold Coast Vikings U16 Training Squad for the 2019 U16 South East Queensland Challenge.
Kaleb Ngamanu is also part of the 2019 U16 Queensland Emerging Origin squad and in their opposed session was on the same side as Bailey Martin and Orlando Swain.
When he moved over to the Gold Coast, Kaleb Ngamanu started attending Keebra Park State High School making a big impression in their U13 side even though he missed portions of the 2016 season with an injury. Kaleb Ngamanu however was identified by The Southport School (TSS) and for 2017 transferred there standing out in their U14A GPS rugby side in 2017 in Term Three.
In 2018 Kaleb Ngamanu played club rugby league for the Coomera Cutters and obviously for TSS in terms of school boy rugby and for Queensland II in the Australian U16 Rugby Championships.
For Coomera in the U15 Division One competition in 2018 Kaleb Ngamanu has played in six matches scoring three tries. Kaleb Ngamanu scored a Round One double against the Mudgeeraba Redbacks and scored against Runaway Bay in Round Four.
Kaleb Ngamanu played for the TSS U15A side in 2018 playing in four GPS matches and one match against Downlands College. Kaleb Ngamanu started Round One at outside centre against Anglican Church Grammar School and then missed a number of matches before returning once again at outside centre in Round Six against Gregory Terrace.
In Round Seven against Brisbane Boys College Kaleb Ngamanu moved to the open side flanker position before returning to outside centre for Round Nine against Nudgee College. Kaleb Ngamanu also started at outside centre against Downlands College in TSS’s Round Eight bye week.
Prior to the GPS school boy rugby season proper, Kaleb Ngamanu played in a number of trial matches. He started on the bench for the first two trials which were against Far North Coast and Toowoomba Grammar School before moving into the starting side at outside centre for the last four trials against Nudgee, Ipswich Grammar School Ambrose Treacy College and Sunshine Coast Grammar School . In those four appearances in the starting trial sides Kaleb Ngamanu has been partnered in the centres with rugby league youngster Syris Schmidt.
Kaleb Ngamanu also played club rugby on the Gold Coast this season at the U15 level for the Griffith University Colleges side and started at outside centre in the Grand Final which they won 47 – 19 against the Helensvale Hogs and Cbus stadium as a curtain raiser to the Rugby International between Argentina and the Wallabies.
Kaleb Ngamanu played in nine matches for the Griffith University Colleges starting two at outside centre (No. 13) including the Grand Final, one at inside centre (No. 12) and the remainder from the interchange bench. In Round Two against the PBC Alleygators Kaleb Ngamanu kicked three conversions in a big win for Griffith University Colleges.
In October 2018 Kaleb Ngamanu was part of the Queensland II side for the Australian U16 Championships. In Round One Kaleb Ngamanu started on the left wing for Qld II in their big 57 – 5 win over Western Australia.
Round Two against Victoria saw Kaleb Ngamanu once again start on the left wing for Queensland II and scored one of Queensland II’s three tries as they went down 19 – 17 in a tight encounter.
For the Round Three clash against New South Wales I Kaleb Ngamanu swapped to the right wing but unfortunately Queensland II went down 29 – 17.
The 2017 season Gold Coast Junior Rugby League season saw Kaleb Ngamanu play up an age group in the U15 Division One competition after transferring from Southport to the Coomera Cutters. In the U15 Division One competition, Kaleb Ngamanu played in eight matches scoring 28 points in total from three tries and eight goals, with the tries coming against Southport, Helensvale and Nerang. In the match that he scored against his former club Southport, Kaleb Ngamanu also kicked six goals for a sixteen point haul on the night.
Kaleb Ngamanu also played one match for Coomera in the U14 Division Two competition (his regular age group) which was against the Robina Raptors, he then backed up to play for his “regular” U15 Division One side later that Friday night.
2017 also saw Kaleb Ngamanu represent the Gold Coast Vikings at the U14 level and from there going on to make the South East Queensland Green U14 side for the Queensland Age Championships that were held in Toowoomba on July last year. In those Championships, Kaleb Ngamanu scored on each of the first four days, in order against Central, Northern South East Queensland White and Central again.
In 2017 Kaleb Ngamanu played for TSS in the GPS U14A competition, starting all eight of TSS’s matches at outside centre except for Round Nine when he started at fullback against Nudgee College. In those eight matches he scored six tries and was awarded the best back award on three occasions, being against Brisbane State High School in Round One, against Ipswich Grammar School in Round Three and against Gregory Terrace in Round Five.
Kaleb Ngamanu scored a Round Six double against Brisbane Grammar School and also scored against Ipswich Grammar School in Round Three, against Brisbane Boys College in Round Four, against Gregory Terrace in Round Five and against Nudgee College in Round Nine.
Kaleb Ngamanu also scored against Downlands College in a “trial” match when TSS had a GPS Round Seven bye.
Kaleb Ngamanu played the 2016 season for the Southport Tigers at the U14 level splitting time between the U14 Division One and Division Two competitions even though he was still eligible to play in the U13 competition.
Kaleb Ngamanu started off his rugby league journey on the Gold Coast with a bang by making the 2016 U13 Vikings squad after impressing in the trials held in the weekend of 16-17 April 2016 where he played the majority of the trials in the centres after playing almost exclusively at five eight in the Western Australian junior rugby league competition.
Great to see Geordie Brand named on the bench for the Tweed Heads Colts side for their Round One match on Sunday against the Northern Pride.
Jordan Lewis has been named to start Round One of the 2020 MM Cup competition on the bench for the Tweed Heads Seagulls against the Northern Pride on Sunday.
The talented Ormeau Shearers youngster has moved around a bit from a position perspective over the last couple of seasons including representing the Gold Coast Vikings at the U13 level in the back row, in 2017 at half and the last two seasons at five eight.
Jordan Lewis played the 2019 season for Ormeau Shearers in the GCRL U16 Division One competition playing in fifteen matches including starting the Grand Final at five eight and kicking the winning penalty goal in Golden Point as Ormeau defeated Coomera 22 – 20.
In total in his fifteen matches, including finals, Jordan Lewis scored 98 points from five tries and 39 goals. His five tries came in separate matches against Currumbin and Coomera, twice and also against Helensvale.
With the boot this season Jordan Lewis kicked eight goals in Round Three against Southport and five on two occasions being against Currumbin and Burleigh.
In the 2018 Gold Coast Rugby League U15 Division One competition for Ormeau, Jordan Lewis finished as both the competitions leading goal kicker with 40 goals and point’s scorer with 116 points.
Over the course of the 2018 Jordan Lewis scored nine tries including doubles against Mudgeeraba and Runaway Bay and also scored in matches against Helensvale, Southport, Coomera and Runaway Bay twice.
With the boot Jordan Lewis kicked six goals in a match on three occasions being against Mudgeeraba (he also scored two tries to finish the match with twenty points), Southport and Coomera.
Jordan Lewis started at five eight in Week One of the U15 Division One Finals series scoring a try and kicking two goals and Ormeau defeated Runaway Bay 28 – 12.
In Week Two of the Finals Jordan Lewis also started at five eight as Ormeau qualified for the Grand Final with a 44 – 6 victory over Coomera with Jordan Lewis contributing a try and six goals.
In the U15 Division One Grand Final Jordan Lewis, once again started at five eight as Ormeau finished a great season by defeating Runaway Bay 38 – 20 in the decider with Jordan Lewis once again at the forefront contributing a try and five goals.
In 2017 the young man had an outstanding season finishing with 117 points from ten tries, thirty eight goals and a field goal in the GCJRL U14 Division One competition including starting at half back, scoring a try, kicking three conversions and a field goal in the U14 Division One Grand Final against victory over Burleigh.
From a try scoring perspective, Jordan Lewis scored four tries in a match in early June kicking five goals in that match to finish with 26 points as well and in May against Runaway Bay in May he scored a hat trick and kicked seven goals for 26 points as well. Jordan Lewis also kicked seven conversions in a victory over Nerang in Round One of the competition and five goals against Runaway Bay in the Preliminary Final.
In 2017 Jordan Lewis represented the U14 Gold Coast Vikings side where he was selected at hooker and from there he was selected in the South East Queensland U14 White side for the Queensland Age Championships which were held in Toowoomba in July 2017.
In 2016 Jordan Lewis primarily came off the interchange bench for the U13 Vikings side including scoring on Day Two in a 58 – 6 victory over the Ipswich Diggers a match in which Titans linked front rower Brody Smitka was outstanding. After those Championships which were held at Carina Jordan Lewis was selected to represent South East Queensland Green at the Queensland Age Championships
Former Lower Clarence Magpies junior Michael White has been named on an extended bench for the Tweed Heads Seagulls Hastings Deering’s Colts side in their 2020 Round One match against the Northern Pride on Sunday.
Prior to his move up to Tweed Heads Michael White was a stand out in his two seasons in the U18 NRRRL competition with the Magpies playing primarily in the halves in Lower Clarence Black and White.
Michael White is also Colts eligible in 2021
Oliver Singh is set to start at five eight in Round One of the 2020 Hastings Deering’s Colts competition for the Tweed Heads Seagulls against the Northern Pride on Sunday.
In 2019 Oliver Singh played for the Tweed Coast Raiders in the NRRRL competition making his NRRRL First Grade debut early in the 2019 season playing primarily at half back and for portions of the season was the Raiders primary goal kicker. Oliver Singh was also the mid-season hero for Tweed Coast when he kicked the game winning field goal as they defeated the Kyogle Turkeys 19 – 18 in a nail biting finish.
In 2018 Oliver Singh was part of the Tweed Heads Seagulls MM Cup squad playing in the opening three rounds, starting from the in Rounds One and two against Sunshine Coast and Redcliffe Dolphins respectively. In his third and final match of the 2018 MM Cup season, Oliver Sign stated at five eight against the Tweed Heads Seagulls.
2018 also saw Oliver Singh play two matches in the GCRL U19 competition, debuting against Helensvale in July when he scored a try and kicked two goals, he also played against Bilambil in August.
In the 2017 GCRL U17 Division One competition the half or fullback played in eleven matches scoring 76 points from four tires and 30 goals. Three of those goals were kicked in the GCRL U17 Division One Grand Final that Currumbin won 30-10 against Runaway Bay with Oliver Singh starting at fullback.
All four of Oliver Singh’s tries came in separate matches against Mudgeeraba, Tweed Heads twice and Burleigh in a semi-final. With the boot Oliver Singh had a big match in June against Tweed Heads kicking seven conversions to go along with a try.
In 2017 Oliver Singh played for the Currumbin eagles in their U16 Division One semi-final victory over Burleigh 24 – 22 last Friday night. A team mate in that Friday night’s semi-final win was Titans High Performance Unit member Noah Gafa.
Over the course of the 2017 season with the Currumbin Eagles in the GCJRL U16 Division One competition, Oliver Singh has played in eleven matches including Friday night’s semi-final, scoring two tries and kicking three goals. Oliver Singh’s first try came in Round One against Southport and his second try came in the last round before the finals against Helensvale.
Early in 2017 Oliver Singh was part of the Gold Coast Vikings White U16 side that took part in the South East Queensland U16 pre-season competition and also played half back for Marymount College when they played in the QISRL Confraternity Shield competition in Cairns in July.
Oliver Singh was also part of the Marymount College Open rugby league side that season including their heart breaking GIO Cup loss to Redbank Plains State High School in the last minute. A win in that match would have seen Marymount College progress to the Queensland GIO Cup quarter-finals.
In 2016 Oliver Singh was named the Gold Coast Academy of Sport Future Stars Athlete of the Year.
The former PBC and Marymount College Burleigh Heads student represented the U14 Titans development squad in late 2015 in their victory against Samoa and also in 2014 against the same opposition. Oliver Sign was a member of 2015 Gold Coast junior rugby league academy. He also received the Rugby League Encouragement of the year award at the Gold Coast Academy of Sport awards night for 2015.
Oliver Singh started at five eight for the Titans U14 side in their game against Samoa, and made a good fist of the position. In attack, regardless of the position he is playing, he is quick and strong and has good footwork to beat opposition defenders and then has decent speed, but he is not a burner from a speed perspective.
Powerful young front rower and former Queensland U16 representative Stepharn Holo was part of the Sydney Roosters junior set-up for a number of season but will line-up for the Tweed Heads Seagulls U20 Hastings Deering’s Colts side in 2020, starting Round One in the second row against the Northern Pride.
Stepharn Holo started in the front row for the Queensland U16 side in 2017 in Queensland tough 22 – 16 loss to New South Wales. Team mates that night included Titans Eli Morgan (second row),Tristian Powell (second row), Will Evans who captained the side from right centre and scoring and left winger Lofi Khan-Pereira who scored two of Queensland’s tries.
In 2017 Stepharn Holo represented South Coast at the U18 QSSRL Championships as a 16 year old and in 2019 was part of the Queensland U18 Emerging Origin Squad.
Vinncent Takataka will start in the second row in Round One of the 2020 Hastings Deering’s Colts competition for the Tweed Heads Seagulls against the Northern Pride on Sunday.
Vinncent Takatake came into the 2019 Tweed Heads Seagulls U20 Hastings Deering’s Colts side for their Round Two match against the Townsville Blackhawks starting from the bench and maintained his place in the local derby against the Burleigh Bears starting at lock and scoring his sole try of the season.
In total in the 2019 Hastings Deering’s Colts competition Vinncent Takatake played in thirteen matches including their Elimination Final loss to Mackay. Vinncent Takatake started six matches in 2019, four at lock and two in the second row with his first match in the second row coming in Round Nineteen against the Mackay Cutters.
Vinncent Takatake made his Gold Coast Rugby League Doug Lipp Cup debut from the bench in Round Twelve against Currumbin.
Vinncent Takataka also played three GCRL U20 matches for Runaway Bay in 2019 with his total of two points coming when he kicked a conversion against Southport in May.
Vinncent Takataka represented South’s Logan in the 2018 MM Cup competition starting a number of the Magpies matches including their MM Cup Grand Final against North’s and their National Final against Penrith. Earlier in 2018 the former Canterbury Bankstown junior represented South Coast at the U18 QSSRL Championships in Toowoomba where South Coast was defeated by Met East in the Championship final.
In the 2018 MM Cup competition for South’s Logan as noted Vinncent Takataka played in four South’s Logan’s matches. Vinncent Takataka broke into the South’s Logan MM side in Round Three against North’s from the inter change bench and also played off the bench in Round Four against Burleigh. Vinncent Takataka started Round Five against Wynnum Manly in the front row and started the MM Cup Grand Final and U18 National Final in the second row, scoring in the National Final against the Penrith Panthers.
Post those feats, Vinncent Takataka made his debut in the Gold Coast Rugby League U19 competition when he started in the second row for Runaway Bay in Round Eight in their 32-24 win over the Ormeau Shearers. In Round Nine Vinncent Takataka started in the second row once against and scored a double as his Runaway Bay side defeated Beaudesert 32 – 20.
In total in the Gold Coast Rugby League U19 competition in 2018, Vinncent Takataka played in six matches and in addition to the previously mentioned double against Beaudesert also scored against Burleigh and Helensvale in consecutive matches in August 2018.
Vinncent Takataka, prior to his move to Queensland was part of the Canterbury Bulldogs Junior Development set-up for a numbers of years, joining the Bulldogs in their U15 Development Squad in 2015 and progressing to playing for the Bulldogs U16 Harrold Matthews Cup side in 2016. Vinncent’s Takataka’s junior rugby league club in Sydney was the Bankstown Sports Club where he started his rugby league journey in the U12’s
Ezra Ubaldino is a local young Titans contracted centre or second rower who has named on the extended bench for Burleigh in Round One of the 2020 MM Cup competition against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls on Sunday at Piggabeen.
Ezra Ubaldino’s most recent match for the Titans was when he started in the second row for the Titans U16 squad in their early October 2019 match against PNG at Pizzey Park.
In the early 2019 match against the Newcastle Knights in Coffs Harbour for the Titans U16 side Ezra Ubaldino started at left centre and was his usual hard running hard tackling aggressive self. Ezra Ubaldino did not necessarily have too many opportunities with the ball but did make a good run in the second half.
Ezra Ubaldino got the ball early and was able to get outside his direct opponent who looked to tackle him high. Ezra Ubaldino was able to fend him away as he made about thirty metres down the left touch line.
In March of 2018 Ezra Ubaldino started in the second row for a Titans U15 side that defeated a U15 Western Mustangs selection six tries to three, in that match, Ezra Ubaldino was the Titans best in my opinion that day and also scored a strong second half try.
Ezra Ubaldino started Round One of the 2019 GCRL U16 Division One competition in the centres for Burleigh in their match against Coomera.
Ezra Ubaldino played a total in six regular season matches for Burleigh in the GCRL U16 Division One competition splitting time between the centre and second row scoring four tries including scoring in Round Nine against Currumbin, Round Thirteen against Southport and Round Fourteen against Mudgeeraba.
In the Round Twelve match against Southport, Ezra Ubaldino kicked his first goal of the season and in fact for a number of seasons I believe.
In Week One of the U16 Division One Finals series Ezra Ubaldino started in the centres and scored as Burleigh defeated Helensvale 42 – 20. Ezra Ubaldino also started in the centres in Round Two of the Finals against Coomera.
Ezra Ubaldino made his GCRL U18 Division One debut in Round Ten starting from the bench against Southport.
Ezra Ubaldino made his GCRL U18 Division Two debut in Round Ten starting at lock against the Robina Raptors.
Late in 2018 Ezra Ubaldino was named in the Gold Coast Vikings U16 Training Squad for the 2019 U16 South East Queensland Challenge.
In Match Day One of that competition earlier this season Ezra Ubaldino scored for Gold Coast Vikings U16 White as they defeated Brisbane Green 32 – 10 and also scored on match Day Three.
In the 2018 U16 Division One competition, Ezra Ubaldino played in five matches including the finals scoring four tries. Ezra Ubaldino’s two regular season tries came against Southport and Helensvale.
In week two of the U16 Division One finals series Ezra Ubaldino started in the second row and scored for Burleigh as they overcame a resilient Helensvale side 24 – 18.
In Week Three of the U16 Division One finals series Ezra Ubaldino started in the second row and scored as Burleigh went down 28 – 26 to Currumbin in the Preliminary Final.
In 2018 the PBC student represented South Coast at the U15 ASSRL Championships and from there was selected in the Queensland White side for the ASSRL Championships. In those Championships Ezra Ubaldino played in three matches and achieved a 100% try scoring strike rate after scoring a double against the ACT on Day One and also scoring against the ACT on the final day of the Championships.
In 2017 at the start of this season Ezra Ubaldino transferred from the Currumbin Eagles to the Burleigh Bears where he played in the U15 Division GCJRL competition even though the PBC student was still eligible for the U14 age group. Ezra Ubaldino was part of the Titans U15 side that played a Balmain Tigers selection late in 2017 with the young man being outstanding in that match.
Ezra Ubaldino played nine matches for Burleigh in the GCJRL U15 Division One competition including their semi-final campaign scoring three tries in the process. Ezra Ubaldino scored a double against the Southport Tigers and late in the season also scored against the Coomera Cutters. Ezra Ubaldino also played one match for Burleigh in the U15 Division Two competition against the Ormeau Shearers in May 2017.
2016 saw Ezra Ubaldino represent the Gold Coast Vikings at the U13 level where they went through the Hill Stumer Championships undefeated and from there Ezra Ubaldino was selected in the South East Queensland White side for the Queensland Age Championships. For the Vikings in 2016 Ezra Ubaldino was selected in the centres but for South East Queensland White he was selected in the second row.
At the 2016 Hill Stumer Championships held at Carina, Ezra Ubaldino played in all three of the U13 Vikings matches including scoring a great hat trick in the Sunday game against Ipswich including two long range efforts in a 58 – 6 victory for the Gold Coast youngsters.
In 2014, Ezra Ubaldino represented South Coast in the QPSRL U11 competition, a competition that South Coast dominated and went on to win, scoring 132 and conceding only 12 across the five matches. In those championships, Ezra Ubaldino scored three tries, one each against Capricornia, Sunshine Coast and Met West. Runaway Bay centre Connor Te Kani and Ormeau five eight Syris Schmidt were also part of that South Coast side and all three have continued to take positive steps with their development and look to have a lot of potential to work with moving forward.
Jaylan To’O will start Round One of the 2020 Hastings Deering’s Colts competition for the Tweed Heads Seagulls at fullback against the Northern Pride this Sunday.
The outstanding Titans contracted youngster’s first official hit out of the 2020 season came when he started from the bench for the Seagulls in their Queensland Cup trial win over the Souths Logan Magpies at Tugun in mid-February.
Jaylan To’O also started from the bench for the Tweed Heads A Grade side in their late February 2020 trial against the Burleigh Bears.
Jaylon To’O missed the opening two rounds of the 2019 Hastings Deering’s Colts competition, but started Round Three for Tweed Heads against the Burleigh Bears at fullback and maintained his place in the starting line-up at fullback for Round Four against the Central Queensland Capra’s.
Jaylon To’O had a particularly impressive match in Round Eleven from fullback against the Northern Pride recording two try assists. Mid-way through the first half, Jaylon To’O got to dummy half around a metre out from the Northern Pride line, he took two quick steps to his right a popped a great short ball to fellow Titan Blake Campbell to crash over.
Jaylon To’O’s second try assist of the match came right on full time when he threw a great long cut out ball this time to his left right onto the chest of Callum Boomer who burst through the gap to score in the last minute of the match.
Jaylon To’O also scored in Round Nineteen against the Mackay Cutters from the fullback position. After a strong run from fellow Titans Blake Campbell, Jaylon To’O got into dummy half around nine metres out in from of the goal posts.
Taking advantage of a quick play the ball, Jaylon To’O took off out of dummy half to his left running at an approximate 45 degree running with the ball in two hands (I know that carry on about that but it really does put the defence in two minds) he took advantage of a dis organised and back peddling defensive lien to charge over to score mid-way between the left goal post and the touch line.
Jaylon To’O added a further try in Round Twenty Two against Souths Logan from the fullback position and also scored from fullback in Round Twenty Three against the Northern Pride.
In relation to his try against the Northern Pride Jaylon To’O received the ball and ran to the right of the play the ball dummying to his right around seven metres out from the line. After contact with the defence, Jaylon To’O spun around 360 degrees clockwise maintaining his balance whilst doing so putting the ball down about seven metres from the left corner post.
Jaylon To’O also had a try assist in the match, once again on the left side of the field Jaylon To’O drew in the defence before putting a pass to his left on the chest of debutant Caleb Hodges who crashed over around five metres from the left corner post.
Jaylon To’O moved to right centre for Tweed Heads Week One Elimination Final loss to the Mackay Cutters 23 – 10 but was one of two Tweed Heads try scorers in the match. Five eight Toby Sexton took the ball down a short blind side and popped a short ball to Jaylon To’O who cruised through a gap and scored from forty metres out untouched.
In total in the 2019 Hastings Deering’s Colts competition Jaylon To’O played in nineteen matches. Including Tweed Heads Elimination Final scoring six tries. Jaylon To’O started all bar one of his 2019 Hastings Deering’s Colts matches at fullback bar Round Ten against the Easts Tigers when he started at five eight.
In the 2019 Hastings Deering’s Colts Player of the Year Award tally Jaylon To’O finished with a solid nine votes.
Jaylon To’O made his Gold Coast rugby League first grade debut in Round Thirteen when he started at half for Runaway Bay against Bilambil and also started at half in Round Fifteen against Ormeau.
Jaylon To’O moved to the wing for his second GCRL First Grade match in Round Sixteen against the Burleigh Bears where he was up against fellow Titan Will Evans.
Jaylan To’O also spent some time in the GCRL U20 competition for Runaway Bay in 2019 including starting at left centre and scoring in Round Seventeen against Helensvale. Jaylon To’O had backed up a break down the left touchline line and was on hand to receive the ball inside to run thirty five metres to score untouched.
Jaylon To’O was one of three Titans U18 try scorers as they overcame a determined New South Wales Country U18 side 14 – 12 in Cudgen in wet conditions in early October 2018. In the match Jaylan To’O also converted one of the Titans tries to account for six of the Titans fourteen points.
Starting in the centres for the Titans U18 side Jaylan To’O had a solid match with his try coming in the second half from a powerful run out of dummy half. With the Titans attacking the line, Jaylan To’O moved into dummy half with the Titans on the attack about two metres from the New South Wales Country line, picking up the ball up and ran to his left barging over taking two NSW Country defenders with him.
Jaylon To’O started the 2018 season as part of the Tweed Heads Seagulls MM Cup squad playing in all seven of Tweed Heads matches including their Week One Final against South’s Logan.
Jaylan To’O started all seven matches from the interchange bench including Round Seven when he was named to start at hooker against Easts but reverted to the bench for the start of the match.
Post the 2018 MM Cup competition, Jaylan To’O played for Runaway Bay in the Gold Coast Rugby League U19 competition playing a variety of positions including fullback and five eight.
In the U19 competition in 2018 Jaylan To’O played in twelve matches finishing with a 50% strike rate. Jaylan To’O scored an early season double against Ormeau and scored a double later in the season against Currumbin. Jaylan To’O’s other 2018 U19 tries came in matches against Ormeau and Burleigh.
In 2018 Jaylan To’O also played in four GCRL Doug Lipp Cup matches, making his debut in June against Tugun. In just his second Doug Lipp Cup match Jaylan To’O scored against Ormeau (he clearly enjoyed playing against Ormeau).
For Runaway Bay in the 2017 U17 Division One competition Jaylan To’O scored a total of 74 points from six tries and twenty-five goals. Jaylan To’O scored a double in Round One against Ormeau and finished the season scoring in each of the last three rounds which were against Ormeau, Mudgeeraba and Helensvale.
With the boot on four occasions did Jaylan To’O kick four goals in a match which were against Bilambil, Ormeau twice and Mudgeeraba. Jaylan To’O made his U19 debut in July against Mudgeeraba and went on to play five matches in total in the Gold Coast U19 competition.
Jaylan To’O also played five matches in the U19 competition in 2017.
Titans contracted Brock Priestley starts the 2020 season as part of the Tweed Heads Seagulls MM Cup squad, being named on the bench for Round One against the Northern Pride on Sunday.
The former Northern Territory junior converted his outstanding performances since his move to the Gold Coast mid-way through the 2017 season into an opportunity with the Titans U15 Development squad and was part of the side that played against a Balmain Tigers U15 touring side in 2018 with the Titans winning 16 - 10.
As a result of his performances Brock Priestley late in 2018 signed a Titans contract to join an outstanding crop of 2019 U16 players who are contracted to the Titans.
In January of 2019 Brock Priestley started from the interchange bench for the Titans U16 side in their match against the Newcastle Knights U16 Harold Matthews squad and once on the field showcased his ability with an outstanding display especially defensively.
On at least three occasions that I recall, Brock Priestley flew out of marker and got to the Newcastle ball runner prior to them making any ground at all. I am not sure whether I was just not paying attention or not but on each of the occasions that I have noted above, Brock Priestley exploded out of the marker position to his right.
The first involvement that Brock Priestley had in the game was also a moment to remember, Brock Priestley had come on after the Knights had scored their first try and on the subsequent kick return, Brock Priestley and Nicholas Hilton lined up the Knights forward returning the kick-off and hit him front on in an outstanding tackle.
Running with the ball in the match, Brock Priestley showcased some neat and subtle footwork prior to impacting the Newcastle defensive line and on more than one occasion looked to target the area behind the Knights play the ball either by stepping back towards the ruck or by running an inside shoulder route.
On each of the occasions that he used this tactic Brock Priestley made ground and was also in a position for a quick play the ball because by using his footwork and targeting sparely populated areas of the Knights defence he was not gang tackled and thus was able to generate the quick play the ball.
Brock Priestley’s most recent match for the Titans was when he started at right second row for the Titans U16 squad in their early October 2019 match against PNG at Pizzey Park.
Brock Priestley started Round One of the 2019 GCRL U16 Division One competition in the second row for Ormeau against Currumbin.
In total in the GCRL U16 Division One competition for Ormeau Brock Priestley played in nine regular season matches including a big Round Nine match when he started at lock and scored two tries and kicked a conversion against Helensvale.
Brock Priestley also scored against Helensvale in Round Thirteen and in Round Fourteen against Coomera.
In Week two of the U16 Division One Finals series, Brock Priestley started at lock against Currumbin as Ormeau progressed directly to the Grand Final with a solid win.
In the GCRL U16 Division One Grand Final against Coomera, Brock Priestley started at lock had was having a very good game until injury struck late in the match. His Ormeau side went on to win the U16 Division One Grand Final in golden point 22 -20.
This season also saw Brock Priestley play for the Somerset College First XV in the Associated Private Schools competition, being a group of eight schools across the Gold Coast including starting in the Grand Final against All Saints Anglican School. For the first time in the competitions history the Grand Final ended in a 17 all draw with Brock Priestley prominent in attack especially in the second half.
Post the season Brock Priestley was named the Somerset College First XV Best Forward and was also named the 2020 Rugby Captain.
Brock Priestley was named in the 2019 South East Queensland Green U16 side for the Queensland Age Championships starting in the second row for the representative side scoring a first half double on Day Three against South East Queensland White. Post those Championships Brock Priestley was selected in the second row in the Queensland Country U16 side.
Brock Priestley had an outstanding match for Country as they defeated City 44 – 4 with Brock Priestley playing fifty five minutes at right second row. In his fifty five minutes on the field, Brock Priestley ran for 121 metres (thirty four post contact), had a line break early in the second half and made five tackles, one of which was an outstanding tackle early in the first half when he used a perfect technique to smash fellow Titan Brody Smitka just as he received the ball.
For Ormeau in the U15 Division One competition in 2018, including finals matches, Brock Priestley played in twelve matches scoring six tries for a solid 50% strike rate.
In Week One of the U15 Division One of the Finals Brock Priestley started in the centres and scored as Ormeau defeated Runaway Bay 28 – 12. Brock Priestly backed that up in Week Two starting in the centres and scoring once again as the Shearers qualified for the Grand Final with a 44 – 6 win over Coomera.
In addition to his three finals tries (from three finals matches), Brock Priestly scored three U15 Division One regular season tries including a double against Robina and a late June try against Southport.
To cap off an outstanding 2018 season Brock Priestley was named in the Gold Coast Vikings U16 Training Squad of the 2019 U16 South East Queensland Challenge and as a result of his play in that competition Brock Priestley was named in the South East Queensland U16 train on squad.
In addition to playing rugby league for Ormeau in 2018 Brock Priestley also played club rugby on the Gold Coast for the Griffith University Colleges U15 side who won the Grand Final which ended in a 47 – 19 victory over the Helensvale Hogs in a match that was curtain raiser to the Wallabies v Argentina test at Cbus stadium. Brock Priestley started the match at lock.
In total for the Griffith University Colleges U15 side Brock Priestley played in eight matches including the Grand Final starting five and coming off the bench in the remaining three.
Brock Priestley’s first match with the Griffith University Colleges U15 side was in Round Eleven when he started at lock against Wollongbar/Alstonville with his first match from the interchange bench being in Round Fourteen against the Gold Coast Eagles.
Brock Priestley scored two tries for the Griffith University Colleges side, the first coming in Round Fourteen against the Gold Coast Eagles with his second try coming in their semi-final victory over the Helensvale Hogs.
Brock Priestley played his first rugby league game in the Gold Coast in late June 2017 after his move down from the Northern Territory. Brock Priestley played one U14 Division Three match in 2017 for Ormeau scoring a try and kicking two goals against Mudgeeraba.
Brock Priestley in 2017 also played in six U14 Division One matches and scored his first try in that age group actually in the Grand Final when he started a lock as Ormeau overcame Burleigh 31 – 16.
The former Northern Territory youngster moved down to the Gold Coast midway through the 2017 season playing the 2018 season in the GCRL U15 Division One competition for the Ormeau Shearers and enjoyed success straight off the bat, starting the U15 Division One Grand Final in the centres and scoring as the Shearers defeated Runaway Bay 38 – 20 to make it two from two Grand Finals since his arrival on the Gold Coast.
In 2017 prior to his Gold Coast move, Brock Priestley played for the Litchfield Rugby League club in the Harvey Norman U14 competition in Darwin, playing in seven matches and scoring eight tries and kicking nine goals to finish his abridged 2017 season with 50 points, scoring in each of his matches.
Brock Priestley scored doubles against the Palmerston Raiders and the Nightcliff Dragons and also scored against South Darwin in two matches, Darwin Brothers and Litchfield Red.
Brock Priestley in 2017 impressively also played in four U16 matches and scored in just his second match against the Nightcliff Dragons after making his U16 debut a fortnight earlier against the Northern Sharks.
Brock Priestley also played some representative rugby league in the Northern Territory including in 2017 representing the Northern Territory in the U14 Norther Queensland Junior Championships.
Brock Priestley played for the Good Shepherd Lutheran College including being named their Most Valuable Player in the final of the 2015 Palmerston with Good Shephard defeating Bakewell 28 – 12 in the final.
The outstanding Geordie Brand has been named to start from the bench for the Tweed Heads Seagulls U20 Hastings Deering’s Colts for their 2020 Round One match against the Northern Pride.
The former Titans contracted youngster and Keebra Park student is back on the Gold Coast after spending two seasons in Sydney playing for the Sydney Roosters in the U18 SG Ball and U20 Jersey Flegg competitions and is part of the 2020 Queensland U20 Emerging Origin Squad.
Geordie Brand has already represented Queensland on two occasions starting both matches in the front row being in 2018 for the Queensland U18 side and 2016 as part of the Queensland U16 side.
As noted above in 2019 Geordie Brand was part of the Sydney Roosters U20 Jersey Flegg squad, playing in fourteen matches with his first appearance being from the bench in Round two against Manly after the Roosters had a Round One bye with his final match of the season being off the bench in Round Nineteen.
Geordie Brand made his first start in Round Four in the front row against Canberra, going on to start five matches, all in the front row with the remainder of his 2019 appearance from the bench.
In his fourteen matches, Geordie Brand scored in Round Six against the Melbourne Thunderbolt sand Round Twelve against the Norths Sydney Bears.
In 2018 Geordie Brand started in the front row in ten of the Sydney Roosters eleven U18 SG Ball matches in the front row, missing only Round Five, with his first appearance coming in Round One against the Canterbury Bulldogs. Geordie Brand had a big Round Seven match against the Parramatta Eels, scoring a try in each half for his only tries of the competition.
In 2017 Geordie Brand was a stand out for the Keebra park Open Rugby League side in their great GIO Cup run. That same season Geordie Brand represented South Coast at the QSSRL Championships and subsequently represented the Queensland U18 school boy’s side at the 2017 U18 ASSRL Championships. To cap off 2017 and his Keebra Park school boy career, Geordie Brand was named in the front row in the Keebra Park Team of the Year alongside Tannah Boyd who was named at half.
In addition to playing for Keebra Park, in 2017 Geordie Brand played four matches for the Tweed Heads Seagulls Mm Cup side, starting Round One from the interchange bench against the Ipswich Jets. Geordie Brand’s sole start came in Round Five when he started in the front row against Souths Logan. Geordie Brand rounded off the 2017 MM Cup season with a try in Round Seven against the Norths Devils.
In 2017 Geordie Brand was part of the South Logan Magpies U16 Cyril Connell Cup side that went all of the way to the Grand Final unfortunately going down 20 – 16 to the Townsville Blackhawks.
Over the course of the 2016 Cyril Connell Cup season Geordie Brand started in the front row in eight of Souths Logan’s nine matches, missing only Round Seven. Geordie Brand finished the season with a try scoring strike rate of 62.5%. Geordie Brand scored a Round One double against Gold Coast White and also scored in Round Five against the Easts Tigers, in the Quarter Final against Ipswich and the Grand Final against the Blackhawks.
In 2015 Geordie Brand captained his Logan Brothers GBJRL U15 Premier Division side all of the way to the Grand Final against Souths Acacia Ridge at Bishop Park and was one of the best players on the field, eclipsed probably only by David Fifita who played lock for Souths Acacia Ridge that day.
One Geordie Brand play in the Grand Final still resonates with me to this day. From a drop out by Souths, Geordie Brand took the ball on about the half way mark and produced an incredible charge that was only stopped a metre out on the left side of the field. A typically quick play the ball by Geordie Brand led to a try for Logan Brothers on the opposite side of the field.
Titans contracted Caleb Hodges is set to make his Queensland Cup debut in Round One of the 2020 competition on the right wing against the Northern Pride on Sunday Afternoon.
The Northern New South Wales youngster is currently training with the Titans Rookie Squad as well as training with the Tweed Heads Seagulls Queensland Cup squad for the 2020 season and was part of the Titans Rookie Squad that played the Tweed Heads Seagulls Queensland Cup side in early February this year.
Caleb Hodges’s first official hit out of the 2020 season came when he started from the bench for the Seagulls in their Queensland Cup trial win over the Souths Logan Magpies at Tugun in mid-February a great effort by the young 18 year old. Caleb Hodges spent the majority of his time on the field on the wing but also got an opportunity in the centres as the match progressed.
Caleb Hodges also started at left centre for the Tweed Heads A Grade side in their late February 2020 trial against the Burleigh Bears.
The centre who is contracted to the Titans until the end of 2021 is one of a number of Titans players who were outstanding for the highly successful 2019 Tweed Heads Seagulls MM Cup side.
Caleb Hodges started at left centre for the 2019 Tweed Heads Seagulls MM Cup side’s Round One victory over the Western Mustangs 58 – 18 with Caleb Hodges scoring a first half try. Caleb Hodges ran fifty metres down the left touchline to score after receiving a great ball from five eight Toby Sexton and then was able to bring the ball around to near the posts.
Caleb Hodges scored the winning try in the last minute in Round Three against Burleigh when he pouched on a great grubber kick by Tweed Heads five eight Kade Hill to score out wide to seal a great Seagulls comeback.
Caleb Hodges also scored a late try in Round Four against the Central Queensland Capra’s when playing at left centre received a cut out lob pass from five eight Kade Hill to score out wide.
Tweed Heads had to win well in their Round Six match against the Mackay Cutters which they did 72 – 0 with Caleb Hodges crossing once again. Playing left centre, Caleb Hodges ran a good line into a gap and was presented with a great pass from left second rower Brendan Paiakura.
In the Tweed Heads Seagulls semi-final win against Souths Logan, Caleb Hodges once again crossed. After good inside work from Solomon Torrens Caleb Hodges took the ball on the left with little room to move, but after getting outside his direct opponent was able to streak down the left touchline to somehow get the ball down right in the left corner under heavy pressure.
Caleb Hodges was also outstanding at left centre in Tweed Heads Grand Final victory over Wynnum Manly, as he was in the National U18 Grand Final against Illawarra when he added another try to his resume. For the try, Caleb Hodges flashed down the left touch line before cutting inside the Illawarra fullback to score out wide on the left of the field.
Caleb Hodges played the entire seventy minutes in the National Final, running for ninety seven metres (twenty eight post contact) broke a tackle, played the ball at an average speed of 3.33 seconds and made fourteen tackles at a tackling efficiency of 61%.
Caleb Hodges in 2019 was once again part of the PBC Open A rugby league side including starting at left centre in the Langer Cup derby against Keebra Park in June.
Caleb Hodges also started at left centre for PBC in their Queensland GIO Cup quarter final win over St Mary’s High School Toowoomba 50 – 6 scoring an outstanding first half try in the match.
From a set of six after a St Mary’s drop out (Caleb Hodges in fact made the tackle in the in goal to force the drop out) Caleb Hodges ran into a gap around forty metres out with his speed and power far too much for the St Mary’s fullback to handle.
Caleb Hodges was a solid performer for PBC at left centre in their tough Gold Point loss in the Queensland GIO Cup semi-final loss to Marsden State High School.
Caleb Hodges made his Hastings Deering’s Colts debut In Round Twenty Three against the Northern Pride starting at left centre and scoring in the 23rd minute of the match as Tweed Heads qualified for the finals on the back of a 36 – 10 win.
Caleb Hodges ran a straight crash line from his left centre and smashed through one tackle before scoring around five metres from the left corner post. The straight crash line is one of the hardest one to run as it is anticipated that you are going to get hit hard, but Caleb Hodges proved his courage and strength to score on debut.
Caleb Hodges played his second Hastings Deering’s Colts match for Tweed Heads Week One Elimination Final loss to the Mackay Cutters 23 – 10 starting at left centre.
In early 2019 Caleb Hodges was part of the Titans U18’s in their match at Coffs Harbour against the Newcastle Knights U18 SG Ball squad which ended five tries all.
2019 also saw Caleb Hodges start at left centre for the Titans U18 side in their match against North Queensland that was played as the curtain raiser to the Titans/ Warriors NRL match in June.
Also in 2019 Caleb Hodges was selected in the South Coast U18 side for the QSSRL U18 Championships after playing in the centres in the trials. Caleb Hodges primarily played left centre for South Coast in the U18 QSSRL Championships.
South Coast went through the Championships undefeated including coming from behind to defeated Northern in the final 22 – 16. Caleb Hodges was subsequently named in the Queensland School boy’s side for the Australian School boy Championships.
At the 2019 ASSRL U18 Championships, Caleb Hodges started all of Queensland matches on the left wing including the semi-final against New South Wales Combined Independent Schools when he scored a first half try highlighting his speed and evasive qualities.
The former Group 18 (NSW) centre or winger had an outstanding 2018 season including starting on the wing for the PBC School Boy side that won the GIO Cup National Final against Patrician Brothers College Blacktown.
Caleb Hodges also started from the bench for PBC in the Queensland GIO Cup Final against Kirwan State High School and also having a hand in the success of the Tweed Heads Seagulls MM Cup side in the 2018 season.
Caleb Hodges joined the Tweed Heads MM Cup squad and PBC in 2018 with an impressive pedigree including representing the U16 New South Wales Indigenous side in 2017 where he started in the second row and also representing Group 18 on numerous occasions in the junior age levels.
Caleb Hodges played his club rugby league in the 2017 season for the Tweed Heads Seagulls in the U16 Group 18 competition, with a team mate being Jordan Tauali’i.
For the Tweed Heads Seagulls in the MM Cup competition in 2018, Caleb Hodges played in four matches scoring for two tries. Caleb Hodges scored his first try in Round Six against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls and also scored in Tweed Heads semi-final against Souths Logan.
Caleb Hodges was named to start on the interchange bench in Round One but did not make the final 17 but came into the Tweed Heads side in Round Five against the Townsville Blackhawks and stayed in the side for the remainder of the season.
Caleb Hodges started from the interchange bench in Rounds Five and Six and in the centres for Round Seven and the semi-final. Interesting Caleb Hodges was named to start at hooker in Round Six against Wynnum Manly but ended starting from the bench instead in that match.
Caleb Hodges played his club rugby league on the Gold Coast with the Bilambil Jets and in 2018 played in three grades for the Northern New South Wales based club.
In the U17 Division One competition, Caleb Hodges played in four matches for Bilambil scoring against Ormeau. Caleb Hodges also made two appearances in the GCRL U19 competition with those matches being against Burleigh and Currumbin.
Caleb Hodges made his Gold Coast Rugby League First Grade debut in May of 2018 when he came on against Tugun.
Caleb Hodges was a regular for the PBC Open side’s 2018 GIO Cup campaign starting from the bench in their Queensland GIO Cup final victory over Kirwan State High School and moved to the starting side on the left wing for the GIO Cup National Final against Patrician Brothers College Blacktown with PBC running out 20 – 12 winners to be crowned the 2018 GIO Cup National Champions.
You’ve been busy mdrew! Thanks for all your efforts but I have to ask... do you sleep....
Great win by the Northern Rivers Titans U16 Andrew Johns Cup side winning 20-18 against North Coast to keep them in the running for a finals berth.
Try scorers were Travis May, Jamal Laurie (another intercept), Michael Roberts (James brother) and Damon Coldwell. Michael Roberts also kicked two goals.
haha mate, in all honesty I am an insominiac though.
You’ve been busy mdrew! Thanks for all your efforts but I have to ask... do you sleep....
The Northern Rivers Titans U18 side drew 26 all Coffs Harbour today.
Titans contracted Thomas Weaver kicked five from six and also had four try assists with the try scorers being Ryan Foran, Kegan Pace, Reef Sommerville and Daniel Butterini.
Titans Kedan Chan-Tung (five eight) and Orlando Swain (second row) are set take the field for Ipswich against Townsville this afternoon.
The outstanding Geordie Brand has been named to start from the bench for the Tweed Heads Seagulls U20 Hastings Deering’s Colts for their 2020 Round One match against the Northern Pride.
The former Titans contracted youngster and Keebra Park student is back on the Gold Coast after spending two seasons in Sydney playing for the Sydney Roosters in the U18 SG Ball and U20 Jersey Flegg competitions and is part of the 2020 Queensland U20 Emerging Origin Squad.
Wishing Geordie all the best on his return to the GC. Hopefully the Titans take notice.
Kedan Chan-Tung with a double and Orlando Swain also scored for Ipswich in their 38-18 win this afternoon in Ipswich.
Titans Kedan Chan-Tung (five eight) and Orlando Swain (second row) are set take the field for Ipswich against Townsville this afternoon.
The northern Rivers Titans U23 side won this afternoon 34-10 against North Coast with left centre Josh Patson once again prominent with two try assists to make to four from just two matches.
New Zealander Yorel Alapaki will start from the bench tomorrow for the Tweed Heads MM Cup side against the Northern Pride.
Stand out Titans contracted Ryan Rivett will start at half today for the Burleigh MM Cup side as they take on Wynnum Manly.
Titan Ezra Ubaldino will start in the centres this morning for the Burleigh MM Cup side in their Round One match against Wynnum Manly.
Mr Bods
15-03-20, 01:01 PM
Are Tanah Boyd and Toby Sexton playing footy this weekend ??
Tannah on bench for Burleigh in QCup and TOby playing now for Tweed Colts
Are Tanah Boyd and Toby Sexton playing footy this weekend ??
Mr Bods
15-03-20, 01:23 PM
Thanks mdrew I’ll watch Burleigh
Be interesting to see what role and time Tanah is given.
Great win by Tweed MM 52-20 against the Northern Pride
Titan Ryan Rivett with a try and two goals and also tries for Ezra Ubaldino and Sam Shannon for Burleigh MM in their loss this morning.
Good win by Tweed Colts 42-22 against the Northern Pride. Toby Sexton kicked five goals, Ben Liyou scored a double with other try scorers including Jed Edwards and Noah Gafa.
Great to see Will Evans cross for Burleigh in their Queensland Cup win over Wynnum Manly this afternoon.
Titans contacted Caleb Hodges scores on debut for Tweed Heads this afternoon.
Jayden Campbell with a try and four from four with the boot for the Burleigh Colts side in their 24-16 win this afternoon against Wynnum Manly.
Darius Farmer was absolutely outstanding for Burleigh today and can't be far away from his NRL debut. No-one else in the Titans NRL squad has his combination of size, speed and power.
Fabien Puletua Kiri made his Queensland Cup debut for the Tweed Heads Seagulls starting Round One of the 2020 season from the bench against the Northern Pride playing twenty minutes yesterday.
In his twenty minutes on the field, Fabien Puletua Kiri ran for fifty two metres (twenty one post contact), broke a tackle, played the ball at an average speed of 4.31 seconds and made thirteen tackles at a tackling efficiency of 92.86%.
Titans NRL Development contracted Kea Pere started Round One of the 2020 Queensland Cup competition for the Burleigh Bears at right centre yesterday after initially being named on the bench against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls. Kea Pere played all eighty minutes in the math, running for thirty eight metres (thirteen post contact), broke a tackle, played the ball at an average speed of 5.56 seconds and made twelve tackles
Titans contracted Erin Clark started Round One of the 2020 Queensland Cup competition for the Burleigh Bears from the bench against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls coming on in the 30th minute of the first half to play in the dummy half role yesterday.
Erin Clark played forty nine minutes, running for ninety metres (twenty five post contact), broke a tackle, played the ball at an average speed of 4.15 seconds and made eighteen tackles at a tackling efficiency of 94.74%, including an outstanding tackle in the first half where with another Bears player forced the Wynnum Manly half back ten metres into the in goal area to earn Burleigh a goal line drop out.
Titans contracted Blake Forder started at fullback in the Round Five local derby in the U16 Andrew Johns Cup competition against North Coast on Saturday recording two try assists, one in each half and one on each side of the field.
Blake Forder’s first try assist resulted from his quick hands, he chimed into the backline on the left of the field and as soon as he took the ball was confronted by a North Coast defender rushing in, Blake Forder barley took possession and flicked a great ball to his left to send Damon Coldwell on a forty run to the left corner to score.
Blake Forder’s second try assist came on the right side of the field in the second half. He received the ball and immediately cut to his right running parallel to the defensive line and at the last moment threw a great ball to his right, putting Michael Roberts into a gap eighteen metres out from the line.
Jaimen Jollife started Round One of the 2020 NRL Premiership, being his NRL debut from the bench for the Titans against the Canberra Raiders on Friday night.
In his NRL debut Jaimen Jollife more than held his one in his twenty six minutes on the field running for seventy metres (nineteen post contact), broke a tackle, played the ball at an average speed of 3.54 seconds and made fifteen tackles at a 93.75% tackling efficiency.
Titans NRL Development contract holder Ioane Seuili started Round One of the 2020 Queensland Cup competition for the Tweed Heads Seagulls from the interchange bench yesterday against the Northern Pride coming on to play sixty five minutes. In that time Ioane Seuili ran for sixty five metres (twenty seven post contact), broke a tackle, played the ball at an average speed of 4.05 seconds and made thirteen tackles at a 92.86% tackling efficiency.
Tannah Boyd started Round One of the 2020 Queensland Cup season on the bench for Burleigh against Wynnum Manly playing five eight on the left of the field when he came on and recorded a try assist when a pin point bomb he put up was taken on the full by Sami Sauiluma to score.
Tannah Boyd was on the field for twenty eight minutes running for eleven metres (four post contact), broke a tackle, kicked for twenty two metres (the bomb noted above), played the ball at an average speed of 4.18 seconds and made three tackles
2021 Tino Fa’asuamaleaui Watch:
Tino Fa’asuamaleaui started Round One of the 2020 NRL Premiership from the bench for the Melbourne Storm on Sunday afternoon against Manly playing twenty nine minutes. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui made the most of that time running for 139 metres (forty one post contact), broke a tackle, played the ball at an average speed of 3.54 seconds and made fifteen tackles at a tackling efficiency of 93.75%.
Titans contracted 18 year old Caleb Hodges made his Queensland Cup debut in Round One of the 2020 competition yesterday on the right wing against the Northern Pride.
In his debit Caleb Hodges played thirty seven minutes, running for thirty seven metres (eight post contact), broke a tackle, played the ball at an average speed of 3.88 seconds and made five tackles at a 100% tackling efficiency.
Will Evans started Round One of the 2020 Queensland Cup competition for the Burleigh Bears on the left wing against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls and had an outstanding match scoring in the 73rd minute and also recording a try assist.
Will Evans try was a simple one as he took the ball around five metres out after a back line movement to score in the left corner, his try assist however was anything but easy. Will Evans chased a Burleigh clearing kick down the left touch line, the Wynnum Manly fullback flicked the ball back into the field after it was going to go out. Will Evans dived on the ball to get possession back for Burleigh.
Will Evans immediately got back to his feet and stepped off his left foot to get inside a defender coming across. In the tackle Will Evans, as he was falling to the ground, flicked the ball out of the back of his right hand to a trailing Jamal Fogerty to run twenty five metres to score.
In total in the match Will Evans played the entire eighty minutes, running for seventy four metres (nineteen post contact), made a line break, played the ball at an average speed of 2.84 seconds and made four tackles.
Titans NRL contracted Darius Farmer started Round One of the 2020 Queensland Cup competition for the Burleigh Bears from the bench against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls but had an impressive match after coming on in the 30th minute of the first half. Some of his charges into the teeth of the Seagulls defensive line were very impressive indeed and on each occasion fought to produce a quick play the ball.
In total in the match Darius Farmer was on the field for thirty six minutes, ran for ninety nine metres (thirty six pot contact), broke three tackles, played the ball at an average speed of 4.01 seconds and made seven tackles
Greg Lelesiuao started Round One of the 2020 Queensland Cup competition for the Burleigh Bears on the right wing against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls breaking a ridiculous fourteen tackle breaks in his eighty minutes on the field.
In the match Greg Lelesiuao ran for 152 metres (thirty seven post contact), played the ball at an average speed of 4.3 seconds and had a 100% tackling efficiency whilst making five tackles, one of which was a try saving effort in the first half in the right corner when he held up the Wynnum Manly played who had looked certain to score.
Thomas Weaver started at half in the Round Five U18 Laurie Daley Cup local derby against North Coast on Saturday having an outstanding match in the twenty six all draw finishing with four try assists and five goals from six attempts including a pressure penalty goal with two minutes remaining in the match in lock the scores up at twenty six all. The penalty goal in itself was not necessarily in itself a difficult kick with the kick being take from around fifteen metres to the left of the uprights, but with the game in the balance and the Titans unbeaten record on the line, it was certainly a pressure kick that Thomas Weaver easily kicked, showing no sign of nerves. His only miss was from right on the left touch line.
Thomas Weaver’s first try assist was scored by Ryan Foran, running to the left side of the field, Thomas Weaver put in a right footed stab kick which North Coast could not handle and Ryan Foran was on hand to score. His second try assist was also from a first half kick. Thomas Weaver clearly aimed for the left upright from seventeen metres out hitting it perfectly and Reef Somerville was on the spot to score next to the left upright.
Thomas Weaver’s third try assist of the first half came when he drifted to his left and popped a great ball to a hard charging Daniel Butterini to burst into a gap and run twenty metres to score on the left side of the field. Thomas Weaver’s fourth and final try assist was a critical on elate in the match when he threw a long cut out pass to his left over the head of defenders to left winger Keegan Pace who scored in the left corner
With the NSWRL competitions postponed below is the to date 2020 U16 Andrew Johns Cup summary for Titan Harvey Moase:
Harvey Moase was due to start at half back for the Northern Rivers Titans in Round One of the 2020 U16 Andrew Johns Cup against the Parramatta Eels at Cudgen however the match was cancelled due to the wet conditions.
Harvey Moase started Round Two of the U16 Andrew Johns Cup at halfback against the Newcastle Knights in Ballina kicking a conversion in their 28 – 22 victory and added a try assist early in the match when he threw the last pass to right winger Jamal Laurie after a scrum based move down a short right blind side.
Harvey Moase also started at half in Round Three against the Central Coast Roosters and recorded a try assist when he ran across field to his right to put centre Michael Roberts into a hole with a great weighted pass.
Harvey Moase also started at halfback in Round Four against the Greater Northern Tigers and added another try assist to his 2020 playing resume. In just the second minute of the match, Harvey Moase put in a pin point bomb to the right corner for winger Jamal Laurie to take on the full to score s spectacular try.
Harvey Moase was once again at half in the Round Five local derby against North Coast leading his side around the field well in their 20 – 18 victory
With the NSWRL competitions postponed below is the to date 2020 U18 Laurie Daley Cup summary for Titan Reef Sommerville:
Reef Somerville was named to start in the second row for the Northern Rivers Titans in Round One of the 2020 U18 Laurie Daley Cup against the Parramatta Eels at Cudgen however the match was cancelled due to the wet conditions.
Reef Sommerville started Round Two of the U18 Laurie Daley Cup at right second row against the Newcastle Knights in Ballina scoring a long range try when he loomed up in support to the right of a rampaging Noah Johannsen to run forty metres to score.
Reef Sommerville also started in the right second row position n Round Three against the Central Coast Roosters and in Round Four against the Greater Northern Tigers but moved back to start from the bench for the Round Five local derby against North Coast scoring in the first half when he chased through a Thomas Weaver kick. The ball rebounded off the left upright and Reef Somerville got down low to scope the ball up and dive over adjacent to the left upright
With the NSWRL competitions postponed below is the to date 2020 U16 Andrew Johns Cup summary for Titan Patrick Gray:
Patrick Gray was due to start in the second row for the Northern Rivers Titans in Round One of the 2020 U16 Andrew Johns Cup against the Parramatta Eels at Cudgen however the match was cancelled due to the wet conditions.
Patrick Gray started Round Two of the U16 Andrew Johns Cup in the second row against the Newcastle Knights in Ballina and produced an outstanding display in both attack and defence including scoring a first half try.
Whilst his try was scored from just six metres out, Patrick Gray still had a lot of work to do. After receiving a wide pass off the dummy half, Patrick Gray immediately cut back towards the play the ball to defeat the initial contact before changing direction once again to straighten up to get low and burrow over next to the right upright.
Patrick Gray also started in the right second row position in Round Three against the Central Coast Roosters and in Round Four against the Greater Northern Tigers as well as in the Round Five local derby against North Coast
With the NSWRL competitions postponed below is the to date 2020 U18 Laurie Daley Cup summary for Titan Rowan Mansfield:
Rowan Mansfield was named to start on the wing for the Northern Rivers Titans in Round One of the 2020 U18 Laurie Daley Cup against the Parramatta Eels at Cudgen however the match was cancelled due to the wet conditions.
Rowan Mansfield started Round Two of the U18 Laurie Daley Cup on the right wing against the Newcastle Knights in Ballina scoring in the first half when he took an intercept to run forty metres untouched to score under the posts.
Rowan Mansfield also produced a smart piece of play late in the match to add a try assist to his stats. He retrieved a bomb that Newcastle let bounce but instead of trying to beat the remaining defender between himself and the line, held the ball up nicely to draw the defender to put Riley Lack away to score.
Rowan Mansfield also started on the right wing in Round Three against the Central Coast Roosters and recorded a try assist with a heads up play late in the match. A kick was put up to Rowan Mansfield’s right wing, he leapt high to take the ball on the full and just as he was about to be pushed over the side line threw a one armed pass (like an NFL quarter back) back inside to Riley Lack who scored in the right corner from a metre out.
Rowan Mansfield also started on the right wing in Round Four against the Greater Northern Tigers
The 2020 U18 Laurie Daley Cup season for Grafton Ghost Elliott Speed:
Grafton Ghost Elliott Speed was selected in the North Coast U18 Laurie Daley Cup squad and started at half in Round One against the Central Coast Roosters, operating primarily on the right side of the field and kicked four goals from seven attempts (three conversions and one penalty goal) in North Coast’s victory.
Elliott Speed also started at half in Round Two against the Parramatta Eels in Sydney kicking four from six as North Coast won their second match in a row.
Once again in Round Three against the Greater Northern Tigers, Elliott Speed started at half and kicked three from five in their tough two point loss. Elliott Speed made it four starts at half back in as many matches in Round Four against the Newcastle Knights scoring a try as well as kicking four from six conversions and one penalty goal from as many attempts in North Coast’s six point win.
Elliott Speed’s try came in the first half, he ran at the Knights line on a 45 degree angle around twelve metres out from the line, at the last moment he tucked the ball under his arm and took on the Knights left side defence, the initial contact made Elliott Speed spin 360 degrees counter clock wise, but he was able to maintain his balance and dive over near the left upright.
Elliott Speed also had a try assist in the match when he ran to the right of the play the ball about ten metres out from the try line producing a good short ball to his right to send his centre over.
Elliott Speed started the Round Five “local derby” against the Northern Rivers Titans last weekend also at half kicking three conversions from five attempts in the twenty six all draw last weekend.
With the NSWRL competitions postponed below is the to date 2020 U16 Andrew Johns Cup summary for Titan Damon Coldwell:
The outstanding young Lismore Marist Brothers flyer kicked off his 2020 season being named in the centres for the Northern Rivers Titans U16 Andrew Johns Cup side in their Round One match at Cudgen against the Parramatta Eels however the match was cancelled due to the wet conditions.
Damon Coldwell started in Round Two of the U16 Andrew Johns Cup at left centre against the Newcastle Knights in Ballina scoring in the second half of the Titans 28 – 22 victory. Damon Coldwell showed admirable patience to score. Five eight Travis May put in a short grubber which was bouncing around near the try line with multiple players trying to get their hands on the ball. Instead of just trying to grab it Damon Coldwell held his nerve to wait until the right moment to grab the ball and crash over five metres from the left corner post.
Damon Coldwell also started at left centre in Round Three against the Central Coast Roosters and in Round Four against the Greater Northern Tigers scoring his second try of the season late in the match. Damon Coldwell had stayed on the left side of the field and received a long cut out pass from Titans hooker Tanu Nona to score in the left corner.
Damon Coldwell also started at left centre in the Round Five local derby against North Coast scoring once again after breaking into space around forty metres out to score in the left corner. As he was heading towards the left corner, the North Coast fullback was coming across Damon Coldwell straightened up slightly to hold the fullback in place before veering back to his left to score in the left corner with the North Coast fullback clutching at thin air.
With the NSWRL competitions postponed below is the to date 2020 U18 Laurie Daley Cup summary for Titan Keegan Pace:
Keegan Pace was named to start on the wing for the Northern Rivers Titans in Round One of the 2020 U18 Laurie Daley Cup against the Parramatta Eels at Cudgen however the match was cancelled due to the wet conditions.
Keegan Pace started Round Two of the U18 Laurie Daley Cup on the left wing against the Newcastle Knights in Ballina and whilst he did not get many opportunities ran the ball well out of dummy half when he was bringing the ball out of his own territory.
After missing Round Three Keegan Pace started Round Four on the left wing against the Greater Northern Tigers and kicked three conversions from as many attempts including a great kick from the left touch line in the first half.
Keegan Pace also started on the left wing in the Round Five local derby against North Coast scoring a late try in the second half when he stayed on his wing to take a high pass above his head to dash over from five metres out to cross for a critical try in the twenty six all draw last Saturday
Keebra Park's De'ontae Perese has been selected in the under 18 NZtag team (Kiwi Tag Blacks) squad to compete at the Trans-Tasman Series.
With the NSWRL competitions postponed below is the to date 2020 U16 Andrew Johns Cup summary for Titan Michael Roberts:
Michael Roberts started Round Two of the U16 Andrew Johns Cup at right centre against the Newcastle Knights in Ballina scoring a late second half try and kicking one from one in the Titans 28 – 22 win. Michael Roberts scored from an old fashioned mouse trap play. Hooker Tanu Nona ran over the top of the ball to the right of the play the ball leaving the ball to Michael Roberts who took off to the left and forced his way over from close range.
Michael Roberts also started at right centre in Round Three against the Central Coast Roosters finishing that match with an individual point’s haul of sixteen points from two tries and four conversions from five attempts.
Michael Roberts first try came from a scrum when he ran a great line into a gap and received a great ball from half Harvey Moase. Immediately upon running through the gap, Michael Roberts stepped off his right foot to beat the Central Coast fullback to score untouched.
Michael Roberts also scored a long range try, also in the second half when he received a great off-load from hooker Tanu Nona to burst down the right touched line before beating the fullback to score under the posts after a fifty five metre run.
Michael Roberts also started at right centre in Round Four against the Greater Northern Tigers kicking two goals from four attempts including a first half penalty.
Michael Roberts also started at right centre in the Round Five local derby against North Coast scoring a try after running a great line and hitting a hole fifteen metres out and also kicked two goals from four attempts in the two point victory last weekend.
With the NSWRL competitions postponed below is the to date 2020 U18 Laurie Daley Cup summary for Daniel Butterini :
Daniel Butterini was named to start in the centres for the Northern Rivers Titans in Round One of the 2020 U18 Laurie Daley Cup against the Parramatta Eels at Cudgen however the match was cancelled due to the wet conditions.
Daniel Butterini started Round Two of the U18 Laurie Daley Cup at left centre against the Newcastle Knights in Ballina and also started at left centre in Round Three against the Central Coast Roosters.
Daniel Butterini also started at left centre in Round Three against the Central Coast Roosters and had a huge match on the way to scoring a hat trick. In relation to his first try, Daniel Butterini received the ball wide out to the left of the field after a Northern Rivers Titans scrum win fifteen metres out from the Central Coast line and immediately cut back inside twice to crash over five metres from the left upright.
Daniel Butterini scored his second try when he was on the spot to take a Thomas Weaver kick when it bounced perfectly. Daniel Butterini was able to take the bouncing ball above his head and place it down a metre inside the dead ball line.
Daniel Butterini scored his third and final try from a twenty metre dash out of dummy half. With the Central Coast defence back peddling Daniel Butterini got into dummy half and ran to the right of the play the ball producing a left foot step near the try line to wrong foot the remaining defenders to dive over mid-way between the corner post and the left goal post.
Daniel Butterini also started at left centre in Round Four against the Greater Northern Tigers adding a try assist to his 2020 stats sheet. Daniel Butterini cut inside off his left foot with the Titans on the attack and it looked like he would score himself but had his legs taken out from under him. Daniel Butterini was not held however and flicked the ball out of the back of his right hand when he was on his knees to Jaylon DeGroot to score.
Daniel Butterini also started at left centre in the Round Five local derby against North Coast scoring in the first half when he ran into a gap on the left side of the field and took a ball from Thomas Weaver who had drifted across the field
With the NSWRL competitions postponed below is the to date 2020 U16 Andrew Johns Cup summary for Titan Nic Torrens:
Nic Torrens was due to start at lock for the Northern Rivers Titans in Round One of the 2020 U16 Andrew Johns Cup against the Parramatta Eels at Cudgen but the match was cancelled.
Nic Torrens started Round Two of the U16 Andrew Johns Cup at lock against the Newcastle Knights in Ballina and produced some outstanding moments including a great run mid-way through the first half of around twenty metres, the majority of the ground he made was post contact.
In the second half Nic Torrens also produced a smart piece of play. On around the halfway mark, Nic Torrens was on hand to retrieve the ball in space after it was dropped by a Knights front rower. Instead of trying to outrun the converging cover defence, Nic Torrens popped a good ball to his left to Travis May to run fifty metres to score.
Nic Torrens also started at lock in Round Three against the Central Coast Roosters and in Round Four against the Greater Northern Tigers and in the Round Five local derby against North Coast where his defence came to the fore with some heavy initial contact in the centre of the ruck.
With the NSWRL competitions postponed below is the to date 2020 U18 Laurie Daley Cup summary for Titan Oskar Bryant:
Oskar Bryant was named to start at hooker for the Northern Rivers Titans in Round One of the 2020 U18 Laurie Daley Cup against the Parramatta Eels at Cudgen however the match was cancelled due to the wet conditions.
Oskar Bryant started Round Two of the U18 Laurie Daley Cup at hooker against the Newcastle Knights in Ballina and was impressive including a great break through the centre of the ruck in the first half of around forty metres before he drew the Knights fullback to send Jaylan DeGroot away to score.
Oskar Bryant also started at hooker in Round Three against the Central Coast Roosters and in Round Four against the Greater Northern Tigers throwing the last pass to Noah Johannssen to score in the first half.
Oskar Bryant also started at hooker for the Round Five local derby against North Coast and was his usual busy self in the centre of the ruck.
Probably going to spend some time reviewing things with the impact of everything. I will be back.
Titanic
22-03-20, 10:26 PM
Take a well earned rest while you can old mate, you deserve it.
All the best to all of the youngsters, never give up on your dreams because dreams do come true.
Take care all!!!
Yeah it’s a bit soul crushing for the youngsters. Hopefully they can find a way to stay motivated and keep training some how.
Thanks for your all your hard work mdrew.
Take a break..sleep in ;)
The 2020 U16 Andrew Johns Cup competition that was for Titan Blake Forder:
Blake Forder was named to start at fullback for the Northern Rivers Titans in Round One of the 2020 U16 Andrew Johns Cup against the Parramatta Eels at Cudgen however the match was cancelled due to the wet conditions.
Blake Forder started at fullback in Round Two of the U16 Andrew Johns Cup at fullback against the Newcastle Knights in Ballina as well as in Round Three against the Central Coast Roosters where he proved to be a significant threat to break through the Roosters defensive line every time that he touched the ball especially when running to the right of the field.
Blake Forder also started at fullback in Round Four against the Greater Northern Tigers as well as in the Round Five local derby against North Coast recording two try assists, one in each half and one on each side of the field.
Blake Forder’s first try assist resulted from his quick hands, he chimed into the backline on the left of the field and as soon as he took the ball was confronted by a North Coast defender rushing in, Blake Forder barley took possession and flicked a great ball to his left to send Damon Coldwell on a forty run to the left corner to score.
Blake Forder’s second try assist came on the right side of the field in the second half. Blake Forder received the ball and immediately cut to his right running parallel to the defensive line and at the last moment threw a great ball to his right, putting Michael Roberts into a gap eighteen metres out from the line.
The 2020 U16 Andrew Johns Cup competition that was for Titan Jamal Laurie:
Jamal Laurie started on the right wing in Round Two of the U16 Andrew Johns Cup against the Newcastle Knights in Ballina scoring the Northern Rivers Titans second try of the match. From a scrum move, Jamal Laurie received the ball down a short blind side producing a good in and away to get outside his direct opponent and broke away after a powerful left arm fend on the same defender to run twenty metres to score.
Jamal Laurie also started on the right wing in Round Three against the Central Coast Roosters scoring the Northern Rivers Titans first try of the match when he took at intercept and ran ninety metres to score untouched an was able to bring the ball around to near the goal posts, to make it two tries from as many matches.
Jamal Laurie had a bug match In Round Four against the Greater Northern Tigers scoring a double after starting once again on the right wing. Jamal Laurie’s first try was a spectacular effort in just the second minute of the match when he leap above his opposing winger to take a cross kick from Harvey Masoe on the full and score in the right corner.
Jamal Laurie also stopped what looked like a certain Greater Northern Tigers try in the second half. The Greater Northern Tigers got outside the Titans right side defence and Jamal Laurie was confronted with a three on one situation just ten metres out from his own line. Just as the ball was passed Jamal Laurie was able to come forward and knock the ball into the air and finish off the intercept to prevent the try. To add to the impressive play Jamal Laurie was able to stay in the field of play and bring the ball back to the half way mark to fundamentally change the momentum of the match.
Jamal Laurie also started on the right wing in the Round Five local derby against North Coast scoring once again from a long range intercept. With North Coast attacking ten metres out from the Northern Rivers Titans line, the ball was spun to the left, Jamal Laurie sensing the danger, moved up directly into the North Coast attacking line, initially contacting the ball above his head. Jamal Laurie, did not panic when the ball rebounded in the air, he calmly collected the ball and ran eight five metres to score near the posts.
The 2020 U16 Andrew Johns Cup competition that was for Titan Travis May:
Travis May was due to start at five eight for the Northern Rivers Titans in Round One of the 2020 U16 Andrew Johns Cup against the Parramatta Eels at Cudgen however the match was cancelled due to the wet conditions.
Travis May started Round Two of the U16 Andrew Johns Cup at five eight against the Newcastle Knights in Ballina scoring a double and also contributing a try assist through a short grubber kick in the second half for Damon Coldwell to score.
Travis May first try was also the first try of the match. Travis May drifted across the field to the right, running with the ball in both hands. At the last second Travis May transferred the ball to his left arm accelerating and producing a right armed fend to beat the Newcastle defender to score.
Travis May’s second try was an opportunist one, Newcastle knocked the ball on in the middle of the field with Titans lock Nic Torrens on hand to pick it up and immediate pass to his left to Travis May who outpaced the Knights cover defence in a fifty untouched run to the line to score under the posts.
Travis May also started at five eight in Round Three against the Central Coast Roosters and in Round Four against the Greater Northern Tigers and once again was dangerous including making a long break down the left side of the field with the Titans scoring from the subsequent play the ball.
Travis May also started at five eight in the Round Five local derby against North Coast scoring a good individual try splitting the defence early in the first half to give the Northern Rivers Titans an early lead that they never relinquished.
The 2020 U16 Andrew Johns Cup competition that was for Tanu Nona:
Tanu Nona was named to start at hooker for the Northern Rivers Titans in Round One of the 2020 U16 Andrew Johns Cup against the Parramatta Eels at Cudgen however the match was cancelled due to the wet conditions in Northern New South Wales at that time.
Tanu Nona started Round Two of the U16 Andrew Johns Cup at hooker against the Newcastle Knights in Ballina. Tanu Nona was involved in an old fashioned mouse trap play late in the match. Tanu Nona ran over the top of the ball to the right of the play the ball leaving the ball to right centre Michael Roberts who took off to the left and forced his way over the try line from close range to ensure the Titans 28 – 22 victory.
Tanu Nona also spent the majority of his time on the field packing in at lock when the Titans had the scrum feed and it was from this situation that he was part of a set play from the scrum base that led to a try to Titans right winger Jamal Laurie. The ball went through Tanu Nona’s hands to Harvey Moase who was able to put Jamal Laurie away down the touch line.
Tanu Nona also started at hooker in Round Three against the Central Coast Roosters and for me was close to if not the Titans best in their 28 – 22 victory, scoring a try and having a big hand in another.
Tanu Nona’s try was an outstanding individual effort in the first half. With the Central Coast defence back peddling Tanu Nona exploded out of dummy half to the right of the play the ball around about twenty five metres out from the line and was just too quick and strong for the Central Coast defence, scoring near the left upright after breaking through a number of tackles.
In the second half, Tanu Nona ran out of dummy half to the right of the play the ball and was able to get a one armed (right arm) pass away to Michael Roberts whilst engaged with the defensive line to send Michael Roberts away down the right side of the field from his second try.
Tanu Nona also started at hooker in Round Four against the Greater Northern Tigers and added another try assist when he threw a perfectly weighted long pass out of dummy half to his left for Damon Coldwell to score in the corner from close range. The pass was perfectly weighted because as well as needing to cover an extended distance, the pass had to be looped over a defender who had come out of the line. Tanu Nona had no margin for error with the pass but made it look deceptively easy and routine, such was its execution in one fluid movement.
Tanu Nona was once again at hooker in the Round Five local derby against North Coast and as usual provided excellent service out of dummy half as well as undertaking some probing runs to get the Northern Rivers Titans on the front foot early in their sets of six in their two point victory in the must win match
The 2020 U18 Laurie Daley Cup competition that was for Titan Riley Lack:
The young Murwillumbah five eight, centre or fullback is a Titans contracted player was named to start at five eight for the Northern Rivers Titans in Round One of the 2020 U18 Laurie Daley Cup against the Parramatta Eels at Cudgen however the match was cancelled due to the wet conditions.
Riley Lack started Round Two of the U18 Laurie Daley Cup at five eight against the Newcastle Knights in Ballina playing on the right side of the field as usual. Riley lack also scored late in the match after putting a bomb up to the right corner. Riley Lack immediately chased his own kick and after it was retrieved by Rowan Mansfield was on hand to take the pass from the fellow Titans contracted player to score.
Riley Lack moved to the right centre position for Round Three against the Central Coast Roosters scoring late in the second half. A kick was put up to the right wing, Rowan Mansfield leapt high to take the ball on the full and just as he was about to be pushed over the side line threw a one armed pass (like an NFL quarter back) back inside to Riley Lack who scored in the right corner from a metre out. Riley Lack will probably never score an easier one.
Riley Lack moved back to five eight for Round Four against the Greater Northern Tigers and for the Round Five local derby against North Coast.
In March 2020 Titans contacted Keano Kini was selected to captain the under 16 NZtag Black team that was due to compete in the Trans-Tasman Series in April but unfortunately that series has been postponed indefinitely.
The 2020 U18 Laurie Daley Cup competition that was for Titan Ryan Foran:
After a long term injury Ryan Foran was named on the Northern Rivers Titans extended bench for Round Three of the U18 Laurie Daley Cup competition against the Central Coast Roosters. Ryan Foran however ended up starting the match at left second row scoring a double with both tries coming off passes from fellow Titan Thomas Weaver.
Ryan Foran’s first try resulted when he ran an outside shoulder route close to the Central Coast line to crash over. Ryan Foran scored his second try in the second half when he backed up a Thomas Weaver break to take the pass when Thomas Weaver drew the fullback to run twenty metres to score near the left corner.
Ryan Foran also started at left second row in Round Four against the Greater Northern Tigers and in the Round Five local derby against North Coast scoring the Titans first try when he followed through a Thomas Weaver stab kick which the North Coast defence could not handle.
The 2020 U18 Laurie Daley Cup competition that was for Titan Jack Cullen:
He is a Northern New South Wales born Titans contracted front rower who was named to start in the front row for the Northern Rivers Titans in Round One of the 2020 U18 Laurie Daley Cup against the Parramatta Eels at Cudgen however the match was cancelled due to the wet conditions.
Jack Cullen started Round Two of the U18 Laurie Daley Cup in the front row against the Newcastle Knights in Ballina scoring in the first half when he barged over from close range to score adjacent to the right upright. The try was as a result of the set play. Fellow front rower Noah Johannssen ran back towards the play the ball and Jack Cullen ran the opposite direction receiving the ball in a big gap to score.
Jack Cullen also started in the front row in Round Three against the Central Coast Roosters and scored his second try from as many matches late in the match when he ran onto a great pass from fellow front rower Noah Johannssen to score adjacent to the left upright untouched.
Jack Cullen also started in the front row in Round Four against the Greater Northern Tigers but moved at start at lock for the Round Five local derby against North Coast.
The 2020 U18 Laurie Daley Cup competition that was for Titan Noah Johannssen:
Noah Johannssen was named to start in the front row for the Northern Rivers Titans in Round One of the 2020 U18 Laurie Daley Cup against the Parramatta Eels at Cudgen however the match was cancelled due to the wet conditions.
Noah Johannssen started Round Two of the U18 Laurie Daley Cup in the front row against the Newcastle Knights in Ballina and was impressive including a great break through the centre of the ruck in the first half of around forty metres before popping a pass to his right to send Reef Somerville away to score. It was an outstanding run by Noah Johannssen who just burst through the Knights defence and showed outstanding speed for a front rower when he space.
Noah Johannssen also started in the front row in Round Three against the Central Coast Roosters and yet again simply outstanding constantly making metres through the centre of the ruck. Noah Johannssen also produced a piece of quality late in the match when he took the ball close to the Central Coast line but at the last minute jinked to his left and popped a great short ball to fellow front rower Jack Cullen who scored adjacent to the left upright untouched.
Noah Johannssen also started in the front row in Round Four against the Greater Northern Tigers scoring a powerful try from close range in the first half scoring near the left upright after taking the pass from the dummy half.
In the match Noah Johannssen also produced an outstanding return from a Greater Northern Tigers drop out. The ball was taken fifty five metres out with the ball give immediately to Noah Johannssen who crashed through the initial defensive line dragging defenders with him on a thirty five metre exquisite effort.
Noah Johannssen was also in the front row for the start of the Round Five local derby against North Coast and once again led from the front making significant ground through the centre of the ruck, a lot of which were post contact metres.
The 2020 U18 Laurie Daley Cup competition that was for Titan Thomas Weaver:
Thomas Weaver was named to start at half back for the Northern Rivers Titans in Round One of the 2020 U18 Laurie Daley Cup against the Parramatta Eels at Cudgen however the match was cancelled due to the wet conditions.
Thomas Weaver started Round Two of the U18 Laurie Daley Cup at half against the Newcastle Knights in Ballina kicking an outstanding nine from nine in the match. Thomas Weaver also showcased his outstanding tactical kicking skills in the match with a 40/20 plus a great forty five metre kick to trap the Knight fullback in his own in-goal.
Thomas Weaver also started at half back in Round Three against the Central Coast Roosters recording three try assists in the Northern Rivers Titans twenty six point victory. Thomas Weaver also kicked one conversion from two attempts in the win.
Thomas Weaver’s first try assist was identical to many that he recorded last season. Thomas Weaver took the ball to the left of the field, close to the Central Coast line and threw a great pass to Titans left second rower and favourite target Ryan Foran who ran an outside shoulder route to crash over.
Thomas Weaver recorded a second try assist in the first half when a bomb that he put up to the left corner bounced perfectly for centre Daniel Butterini to put the ball down a metre inside the field of play.
Thomas Weaver’s third and final try assist of the match came in the centre half. He ran the ball to the right of the field shapes to pass but instead stepped off his left foot to break the line and drew the fullback to send Ryan Foran away to score near the left corner.
Thomas Weaver also started at half back in Round Four against the Greater Northern Tigers filling up the stats sheet with a try, a try assist and one goal from as many attempts as well as some strong defence.
In relation to his try, Thomas Weaver ran to the right of the paly the ball with the ball in two hands. As he approached the defensive line on a forty five degree angle, Thomas Weaver dummied to his left stepping back inside off his left foot to slice through the Tigers line, when he came to the fullback, Thomas Weaver once again to comprehensively beat the fullback to score mid-way between the side line and goal posts on the left side of the field.
Thomas Weaver recorded a try assist in the first half when he ran to the left and popped a pass back to his right to send fullback Jaylan DeGroot into a big gap to score.
Thomas Weaver also started at half in the Round Five local derby against North Coast having an outstanding match in the twenty six all draw finishing with four try assists and five goals from six attempts including a pressure penalty goal with two minutes remaining in the match in lock the scores up at twenty six all.
The penalty goal in itself was not necessarily in itself a difficult kick with the kick being take from around fifteen metres to the left of the uprights, but with the game in the balance and the Titans unbeaten record on the line, it was certainly a pressure kick that Thomas Weaver easily kicked, showing no sign of nerves. His only miss was from right on the left touch line.
Thomas Weaver’s first try assist was scored by Ryan Foran, running to the left side of the field, Thomas Weaver put in a right footed stab kick which North Coast could not handle and Ryan Foran was on hand to score. His second try assist was also from a first half kick. Thomas Weaver clearly aimed for the left upright from seventeen metres out hitting it perfectly and Reef Somerville was on the spot to score next to the left upright.
An impressive aspect in relation to the two kicks was that they were to opposite sides of the field, once again displaying just how good Thomas Weaver’s tactical kicking already is.
Thomas Weaver’s third try assist of the first half came when he drifted to his left and popped a great ball to a hard charging Daniel Butterini to burst into a gap and run twenty metres to score on the left side of the field. Thomas Weaver’s fourth and final try assist was a critical on elate in the match when he threw a long cut out pass to his left over the head of defenders to left winger Keegan Pace who scored in the left corner.
Mr Bods
29-03-20, 02:50 PM
You know things are grim when mdrew goes more than a day when there is no content from him to keep the forum ticking along
New Zealand born youngster Te Poutokomanawa Matatahi-Tali Tonu is from the Taranaki region which is in the west of New Zealand’s North Island.
In 2019 Te Poutokomanawa Matatahi-Tali Tonu attended Patea Area High School and was part of the school’s rugby league U15 side as well as representing his school at the New Zealand Secondary Schools Mixed Touch Championships that were held late in 2019 in Rotorua.
2019 also saw Te Poutokomanawa Matatahi-Tali Tonu play for the Taranaki U15 representative rugby league side.
In 2020 Te Poutokomanawa Matatahi-Tali Tonu was set to continue his rugby league career in New Zealand and would have pushed for a spot in the 2020 Taranaki U17 representative side as well as in the Mid-Central Vipers U17 representative side for the New Zealand National U17 Youth Championships that was scheduled to be held late in the 2020 season. Te Poutokomanawa Matatahi-Tali Tonu was also likely continue to play touch as well in 2020, including for Patea Area High School.
A lot of things are in lock down at present but no doubt the Titans contracted youngsters continue to work hard and rehab from injury.
A huge shout out to Jamie McCormack who has done an outstanding job mentoring the Titans youngsters through this strange and difficult time.
Make no mistake the Titans juniors will be the best prepared in the NRL as a result of what the Titans have put in place.
In saying that the young men (and their families) are working very hard to continue their development and help them fulfill their dreams.
Great to hear that Titans stand out youngster Bailey Martin's rehab from a serious injury is done and the young man is working hard in continuing his work towards his dream.
This young man is a class act on and off the field.
Congratulations to the Titans for having one of the best U16 players in Australian in Nicholas Hilton in their ranks. The lock is an outstanding talent and a leader of exceptional quality as well.
His season may have ended prematurely but make no mistake Titans contracted Thomas Weaver is probably the best U18 player in Australia at present that the scary part is that the PBC half is also U18 eligible in 2021 and has not even scratched the surface of his limitless potential yet.
There are plenty of talented junior rugby league players with solid defensive techniques but no junior player that I have even seen )and that includes Ryan James) has the technique and execution of Titan Bailey Martin who is a fearless defender at lock and for me may just end up in the hooking role but regardless is already an NRL calibre defender at just 16.
Throw in an underrated attacking game and you have some sort of player to say the least.
In addition to having some of the best players for their age group in Australia under contract, the Titans also have the best U16 player in NZ under contract, being half Keano Kini who was named player of the Tournament in last years U15 National Youth Tournament.
The Titans have in their JTS program the two best young U15 front rowers in Queensland being Gold Coast local Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa and Ipswich youngster Larry Siala.
Both are exceptional talents.
In the JTS system with Titans also have one of the most dynamic U15 second rowers in Carina's William Semu who is a lethal left side player.
Probably the hardest ball runner in the Queensland U16 rugby league ranks is on a long term Titans contract being powerful Ipswich State High School's Josiah Pahulu.
He has already stood out in a number of matches for the Titans against the Balmain Tigers and Newcastle Knights.
Players that can direct their team around the field with both their passing and kicking game are hard to find but the Titans have one in their JTS system being Carina five eight Hayden Miller.
Young forwards with speed, power and late footwork are a rare commodity thus it is great to see that the Titans have one of the best U16 players in Queensland with those attributes at their disposal in outstanding Redcliffe youngster EJ Finau.
I can probably count on one hand the times that I have seen a young player who I have just been stunned at how they seem to glide across the field and seemingly are two or three plays in front of every other player on the field.
The Titans have one of those rare players in their JTS system in Ipswich based Kedan Chan-Tung. Whether it is playing for Ipswich Grammar School in the GPS First XV competition or the Ipswich Jets MM Cup side, it is clear that Kedan Chan-Tung is a rare talent.
One of the toughest types of p;ayers to find regardless of competition level is a legitimate strike centre but thankfully the Titans have one in their JTS system is Norths Devils U16 right centre Shannon Subritzky Stewart.
He is also an outstanding goal kicker.
Every player in the Titans JTS system has a lot of potential but one that is developing at an incredible rate is superbly talented second rower Arama Hau.
At his rampaging best Arama Hau is the equal of any U16 player running around on a football field in Australia.
One of the most electric players in the Titans JTS system is explosive Ballina U15 fullback/five eight Kye Cooper.
The young man has been a points scoring machine in the Group One junior rugby league competition for a number of seasons.
An underrated trait for a player is that of leadership but the Titans have that covered with Tweed Heads Colts and Titans contracted Carsil Vaikai who expertly led the Tweed Heads Seagulls MM Cup side in 2019 to National success.
Carsil Vaikai is a born leader as well as an outstanding lock forward.
Toughness and aggressiveness are essential traits for success for rugby league forwards and one young Titans contracted player with both of those traits in spades is giant Coombabah State High School student Joseph Shannon.
The young front rower is a scary sight for defenses when he runs straight and hard with his long hair flowing creating a scary sight indeed.
An outstanding kicking game is a pre-requisite for a rugby league half/five eight and being a left foot tactical kicker is even more valuable as there are so few of them.
Burleigh Bears MM Cup and TSS First XV five eight Syris Schmidt is an outstanding left foot kicker but is also an outstanding ball player and very underrated runner of the ball with a huge future in either rugby league or rugby.
The 2019 U18 Laurie Daley Cup competition unfortunately fell victim to the current health crisis but one big positive to come out of the competition was the form of Titans contracted and Northern Rivers Titans front rower Noah Johannssen who was simply outstanding and impressively is also U18 eligible in 2021.
Some players lead by example and some lead through their vocal nature. In the Titans JTS system is one young contracted player who does both and does them very well being outstanding hooking prospect Ediq Ambrosyev.
The young man is a flat out competitor as well as being one of the best U18 players in Australia regardless of position.
One young Titans linked hooker who has already developed the ability to make the correct decision of when to run out of dummy half is U15 South Grafton Rebel Keaton Stutt.
When you are thinking about elite speed and acceleration it is hard to go past Titans linked U14 Clarence Coast Magpie David Torrens.
The young half/fullback has been one the stand out youngsters in the Northern NSW Group One competition for the last couple of seasons.
Young Grafton Ghosts second rower Lockie McLaughlin is part of the Titans 2020 Group One Academy squad that was training on a weekly basis in Ballina in Northern New South Wales.
The Grafton High School student played the 2019 Group One U13 season with the Grafton Ghosts and started in his sides 24 – 16 Grand Final victory over the Clarence Coast Magpies scoring in the Premiership victory when he burst down the left side of the field and outpaced the Magpies cover defence to score . As a result of his outstanding performance in the match Lockie McLaughlin was deservedly named Player of the Grand Final.
In the 2019 Group One U13 competition Lockie McLaughlin played in eleven matches including the finals series scoring twelve tries (109% strike rate) and kicked a conversion when he converted his own try against South Grafton in early June. His twelve tries meant that Lockie McLaughlin finished the 2019 Group One U13 season as the competitions fifth highest try scorer and second highest try scoring forward.
Lockie McLaughlin scored a Round One hat trick against Lismore Marist Brothers and added a further hat trick against Lismore Marist Brothers later in the season. Lockie McLaughlin also scored a double against South Grafton as well as scoring in matches against Ballina, Casino RSM and against South Grafton in the 2019 Preliminary Final.
In 2018 Lockie McLaughlin played in thirteen matches in the Group One U12 competition finishing the season with twenty four points comprising of four tries and the same number of goals with his four tries coming from doubles against Casino RSM and South Grafton.
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2018 New South Wales U12 rugby league representative Noah Waldock (from St Francis Xavier College Ballina) continued his rise in the junior rugby league ranks in 2019 with a great season for the Ballina Seagulls in the Group One U13 competition finishing his impressive season third on the try scoring list with thirteen tries from eleven matches (118% strike rate), second on the goal kicking tally (thirteen goals) and second overall from a points scoring perspective (seventy eight points).
Noah Waldock is currently part of the Titans 2020 Group One Academy squad that was training on a weekly basis in Ballina in Northern New South Wales and hopefully this is just the start of a long and fruitful association with the Titans.
Noah Waldock had a great 2019 Group One U13 Round One scoring a hat trick and kicking a conversion against South Grafton and followed that up with a Round two double against Casino RSM. Noah Waldock added further doubles against Clarence Coast and Casino RSM later in the season as well as scoring in matches against Lismore Marist Brothers (three separate matches including finals) and Kyogle.
From a goal kicking perspective, Noah Waldock kicked three goals against Lismore Marist Brothers and kicked two conversions in matches against Casino RSM, Clarence Coast and Grafton over the course of the 2019 season.
In 2019 Noah Waldock also played five matches in the Group One U14 competition making his debut in May against Clarence Coast. Noah Waldock played in the U13 match immediately prior to all five of his U14 appearances this season.
In 2018 Noah Waldock Scored thirty six points from seven U12 Group One matches scoring eight tries (114% strike rate) and kicking two goals. Six of his tries came from doubles against Lismore Marist Brothers, Casino RSM and Grafton.
When you are considering exciting young players in the Titans JTS system you do not need to go any further than Joshua Donovan-Skinner.
The young Grafton Ghosts fullback or centre is part of the Titans 2020 Group One Academy squad that is training on a weekly basis in Ballina in Northern New South Wales Ghosts team mate Lockie McLaughlin is also part of the Titans JTS squad based in Group One in Northern New South Wales.
The Grafton High School student played the 2019 Group One U13 season with the Grafton Ghosts and started in his sides 24 – 16 Grand Final victory over Clarence Coast scoring in the premiership victory.
In the 2019 Group One U13 competition Joshua Donovan Skinner played in twelve matches in the Ghosts blue and white colours including the finals scoring an impressive ninety four points comprised from fifteen tries (125% strike rate) and seventeen goals. Joshua Donovan-Skinner as a consequence finished the 2019 season as the Group One U13 equal leading try scorer (equal with Clarence Coast’s Tyrelle Waters, also in the Titans Group One Academy squad), leading goal kicker and leading points scorer.
Joshua Donovan-Skinner scored a hat trick against Kyogle in late June and also scored three doubles which came against Kyogle, South Grafton and Ballina. As well as his Grand Final try, Joshua Donovan-Skinner also scored in matches against Clarence Coast (two matches in the regular season), Casino RSM, Lismore Marist Brothers and in the Preliminary Final against South Grafton.
With the boot Joshua Donovan-Skinner kicked five goals in a match on two occasions which were against Lismore Marist Brothers and Kyogle mid-season. In the match against Kyogle, Joshua Donovan-Skinner also scored a hat trick to finish the match with an individual point’s haul of twenty two points.
In 2019 Joshua Donovan-Skinner also played one match in the Group One U14 competition which was against Lismore Marist Brothers. Earlier that day Joshua Donovan-Skinner scored twenty two points in the U13 match to cap a great day for the young man.
In 2018 Joshua Donovan-Skinner played fourteen matches in the Group One U12 competition finishing the season with thirty eight points from four tries and eleven goals with his tries coming in separate matches against South Grafton twice, Casino RSM and Clarence Coast.
Talented young Titans linked fullback, winger or centre Kaleb White from the Runaway Bay Seagulls Junior Rugby League club on the Gold Coast started on the right wing for the Titans U16 side in their match against PNG at Pizzey Park in early October 2019.
Kaleb White was one of multiple Titans try scorers that Friday night when he came off his right wing about five metres out from the try line breaking one tackle before diving over in another tackle near the right corner.
In 2019 Kaleb White played for Runaway Bay in the GCRL U16 Division One competition, playing in eight matches and scoring seven tries to finish with a 87.5% strike rate. Impressively Kaleb White scored two hat tricks including in Round One against Mudgeeraba and later in the season against Southport. Kaleb White’s other try came against Southport in Round Two.
Kaleb White also played in one U18 Division Two match for Runaway Bay this season, with that match coming against Tugun in early August.
In early 2019 Kaleb White represented Gold Coast Vikings U16 Yellow in the South East Queensland U16 pre-season challenge including scoring against Ipswich.
Early in 2018 Kaleb White was selected in the centres for the South Coast U15 QSSRL side at the completion of a number hard fought trials. Kaleb White currently attends PBC and usually started in the centres for their 2018 Year Ten side in school boy competitions such as the Walters Cup.
Kaleb White started the 2018 season with Runaway Bay in the U15 Division One competition starting Round One at fullback in their big 54 – 2 win over Robina. In total in the 2018 U15 Division One competition, Kaleb White played in twelve matches scoring seven tries and kicking one goal which was kicked against Ormeau when he converted one of his three tries to finish the 2018 season with thirty points.
In addition to his Ormeau hat trick, Kaleb White also scored a double against Ormeau as well as a double against Coomera in 2018.
Over the course of the 2017 GCJRL season, Kaleb White represented Runaway Bay in both the U14 Division One and U15 Division Two competitions. In the U14 Division One competition, Kaleb White played in eleven matches scoring two tries (18% strike rate) which came against Ormeau and Burleigh playing primarily at fullback for the Seagulls.
Kaleb White had a 100% strike rate across his four matches in the 2017 GCJRL U15 Division Two competition, and scored doubles against Ormeau and Helensvale Green in games two and four of his four match stint.
Titans linked local Tom Neale has won the Titans jersey on a number of occasions already in his career including for the Titans early this season against the Newcastle Knights in Coffs Harbour.
Tom Neale started the 2019 season as part of the Tweed Heads Seagulls MM Cup squad, coming into the side in Round Four when he started from the bench against Central Queensland, Tom Neale also started from the bench in Rounds Five and Six against Wynnum Manly and the Mackay Cutters respectively.
From a club perspective, Tom Neale played for Burleigh in the GCLR U18 Division One competition including starting the Grand Final at half and scoring as the Bears defeated Southport 28 – 12 in a tough encounter.
In total in the GCRL U18 Division One competition in 2019 Tom Neale played in eleven matches scoring eighteen points from four tries and a late season conversion against Mudgeeraba. In addition to his Grand Final try Tom Neale also scored against Ormeau, Runaway Bay and Helensvale.
In 2018 Tom Neale played in twelve matches for Burleigh in the GCRL U17 Division One competition scoring three tries across the journey with those tries coming against Helensvale, Bilambil and Ormeau.
If you need any proof that the Titans look far and wide for the best young players to bring into their JTS program, you need to look no further than Bryton Nimo.
The young Titans contracted former Chinchilla Five eight has had a horror run of injuries in recent seasons, including two dislocated hips but has continued forward and been rewarded with a two year contract with the Titans and in 2020 was set to be part of the Tweed Heads Seagulls MM Cup squad.
In early October 2019 Bryton Nimo started from the bench for the Titans U16 side that defeated PNG U16’s 44 – 12 at Burleigh’s Pizzey Park on a great Friday night of rugby league. The match was Bryton Nimo’s first of hopefully many in Titans colours.
In 2019 Bryton Nimo played for Chinchilla in the Roma and Districts Junior Rugby League competition, starting the U16 Grand Final at five eight and scoring a double as Chinchilla defeated Red Bulls 30 – 28 in an exciting Grand Final with Chinchilla coming back from a 20 – 6 deficit to ultimately win the Grand Final.
In addition to his Grand Final double, Bryton Nimo also scored a double against Mitchell in Round One of the Roma and Districts U16 competition. Bryton Nimo also played in the U16 Roma and Districts Junior Rugby League competition in 2018.
In 2019 Bryton Nimo represented South West at the QSSRL U18 Championships at Roma and that is where I believe that he was first spotted by the Titans.
Grafton Ghosts second rower Lockie McLaughlin is part of the Titans 2020 Group One Academy squad that was training on a weekly basis in Ballina in Northern New South Wales, Ghosts team mate Joshua Donovan-Skinner is also part of the Titans squad.
The Grafton High School student played the 2019 Group One U13 season with the Grafton Ghosts and started in his sides 24 – 16 Grand Final victory over the Clarence Coast Magpies scoring in the Premiership victory when he burst down the left side of the field and outpaced the Magpies cover defence to score . As a result of his outstanding performance in the match Lockie McLaughlin was deservedly named Player of the Grand Final.
In the 2019 Group One U13 competition Lockie McLaughlin played in eleven matches including the finals series scoring twelve tries (109% strike rate) and kicked a conversion when he converted his own try against South Grafton in early June. His twelve tries meant that Lockie McLaughlin finished the 2019 Group One U13 season as the competitions fifth highest try scorer and second highest try scoring forward.
Lockie McLaughlin scored a Round One hat trick against Lismore Marist Brothers and added a further hat trick against Lismore Marist Brothers later in the season. Lockie McLaughlin also scored a double against South Grafton as well as scoring in matches against Ballina, Casino RSM and against South Grafton in the 2019 Preliminary Final.
In 2018 Lockie McLaughlin played in thirteen matches in the Group One U12 competition finishing the season with twenty four points comprising of four tries and the same number of goals with his four tries coming from doubles against Casino RSM and South Grafton.
Coomera Cutters forward Makau Waiapu was part of the Titans U13 side that defeated the Western Mustangs 40 – 12 at Mudgeeraba in February 2019 in hot and steamy conditions.
Early in the 2019 season Makau Waiapu was named in the Gold Coast Vikings U13 squad for the South East Queensland Hill Stumer Championships where he started in the front row.
Makau Waiapu started the opening three rounds of the GCRL U13 Division One competition in the front row for Coomera.
In total in the GCRL U13 Division One regular season competition Makau Waiapu played in eleven matches primarily in either the front row or second row, scoring ten tries including scoring four tries in Round Nine against Runaway Bay and a Round Fourteen double also against Runaway Bay.
Makau Waiapu also scored in Round Two against Ormeau, Round Twelve against Helensvale.
In the first week of the Finals series, Makau Waiapu started in the second row and scored as Coomera defeated Southport 46 – 24.
Makau Waiapu also started in the second row in Week Two of the Finals against Burleigh with the Cutters season coming to an end with their loss.
2018 saw Makau Waiapu play in the Gold Coast Rugby League U12 Division One competition for the Coomera Cutters, playing primarily in the second row. In his thirteen matches, including finals, Makau Waiapu amassed sixteen points from three tries and two goals.
Makau Waiapu’s three tries came in the opening three rounds against Mudgeeraba, Currumbin and Burleigh Maroon. In the Round One match Makau Waiapu kicked his first conversion and kicked his second in June against Burleigh White.
One of the most impressive young players in the 2019 Group One U13 competition was Clarence Coast Magpie Tyrelle Waters who finished the season as the competitions equal leading try scorer with fifteen tries from just thirteen matches (115% strike rate) equal with fellow Titan Joshua Donovan-Skinner. Joshua Donovan-Skinner also kicked two goals (against South Grafton and Casino RSM) to finish the 2019 season with a total points haul of 64.
Tyrelle Waters is part of the Titans 2020 Group One Academy squad that is training on a weekly basis in Ballina in Northern New South Wales.
Tyrelle Waters scored a mid-season hat trick against Kyogle and added doubles against Lismore Marist Brothers and Kyogle in Rounds One and Two and scored a further double against Casino RSM later in the season. Tyrelle Waters also scored in matches against South Grafton and Grafton twice, Ballina and Casino RSM.
In 2018 Tyrelle Waters played in fourteen matches in the Group One U12 competition finishing with a 100% strike rate with fifteen tries. He also kicked three goals in finish the 2018 U12 Group One season with sixty six points. Included in his try scoring tally in 2018 were hat tricks against South Grafton and Ballina and two doubles against Lismore Marist Brothers.
Tyrelle Waters was also one of Clarence Coast’s try scorers in the 2018 Group One U12 Grand Final as the Magpies defeated Lismore Marist Brothers in a 20 -18 thriller with Tyrelle Waters starting the match in the second row.
In 2018 Tyrelle Waters also played in one U13 match which came against Lismore Marist Brothers in late May.
2018 New South Wales U12 rugby league representative Noah Waldock (from St Francis Xavier College Ballina) continued his rise in the junior rugby league ranks in 2019 with a great season for the Ballina Seagulls in the Group One U13 competition finishing his impressive season third on the try scoring list with thirteen tries from eleven matches (118% strike rate), second on the goal kicking tally (thirteen goals) and second overall from a points scoring perspective (seventy eight points).
Noah Waldock is currently part of the Titans 2020 Group One Academy squad and hopefully this is just the start of a long and fruitful association with the Titans.
Noah Waldock had a great 2019 Group One U13 Round One scoring a hat trick and kicking a conversion against South Grafton and followed that up with a Round two double against Casino RSM. Noah Waldock added further doubles against Clarence Coast and Casino RSM later in the season as well as scoring in matches against Lismore Marist Brothers (three separate matches including finals) and Kyogle.
From a goal kicking perspective, Noah Waldock kicked three goals against Lismore Marist Brothers and kicked two conversions in matches against Casino RSM, Clarence Coast and Grafton over the course of the 2019 season.
In 2019 Noah Waldock also played five matches in the Group One U14 competition making his debut in May against Clarence Coast. Noah Waldock played in the U13 match immediately prior to all five of his U14 appearances this season.
In 2018 Noah Waldock Scored thirty six points from seven U12 Group One matches scoring eight tries (114% strike rate) and kicking two goals. Six of his tries came from doubles against Lismore Marist Brothers, Casino RSM and Grafton.
Titans linked Helensvale Hornets lock or centre Jay Blazek started from the bench for the Titans U16 side in their early October match against PNG U18’s at Burleigh’s Pizzey Park ground with the Titans winning 44 – 12 on the Friday night in ideal conditions for rugby league.
In the 2019 season Jay Blazek played twelve matches for the Hornets in the GCRL U16 Division One competition scoring three tries including a double in a Week One Finals loss 42 – 20 to Burleigh. Jay Blazek’s other try came in Round Twelve against Runaway Bay as he finished the season with a 25% strike rate.
Early in 2019 Jay Blazek was part of the Gold Coast Vikings U16 train on squad and then represented the Gold Coast Vikings White side in the South East Queensland U16 Pre-season Challenge against sides from Ipswich, Brisbane (three teams) and Gold Coast Vikings Yellow.
In 2018 Jay Blazek played eleven matches for Helensvale in the U15 Division One competition scoring five tries (45.45% strike rate) including a double against Mudgeeraba and also scored against Currumbin in two separate matches to account for the majority of his five tries.
In relation to pure speed in the Titans JTS program it is hard to go past Reee Warburton.
The young flyer from the Clarence Coast Magpies played in ten matches in the 2019 Group One U14 competition this season and scored in all of them to finish with eighteen tries on the season for an exceptional 180% try scoring strike rate. Reece Warburton also kicked fifteen goals to break through the 100 point mark, finishing with 102.
Reece Warburton’s season started with a bang scoring five tries and kicking two goals in Round One against Lismore Marist Brothers and went from strength from strength from there. He added a late season hat trick against South Grafton as well as a double against Ballina.
Reece Warburton’s remaining tries came in separate matches against Kyogle, South Grafton, Casino RSM twice and Grafton twice.
This season Reece Warburton was also part of the McLean High School U14 side that defeated Grafton High School in the U14 DEX Shield Final.
Reece Warburton also played touch for McLean High School in 2019 and was part of their U15 side that went through the Northern Rivers Zone competition undefeated and as a consequence made the Northern Rivers Zone team.
The MacLean High School student’s 2019 was no fluke as was evidenced by his 2018 season. In 11 Group One U13 matches in 2018 he averaged two tries per game (200% strike rate) and also kicked 14 goals to finish the season with 116 points.
Reece Warburton scored five tries in a June match against Kyogle and added four in Round One against Casino RSM. In addition he scored hat tricks against Lismore Marist Brothers and South Grafton, going on to score in ten of his eleven matches.
In 2018 he also played in eight Group One u14 matches for Clarence Coast scoring in four of them being against Lismore Marist Brothers, Kyogle and Grafton in two matches. He also kicked four goals including three in June against the Kyogle Turkeys.
Powerful lock from the Clarence Coast Magpies Malik Elabbasi is currently part of the Titans Group One Academy Squad.
In 2019 Malik Elabbasi played for the Magpies in the Group One U14 competition and also played for McLean High School in the U14 DEX (Daily Examiner) Shield school boy rugby league competition leading his side to Final’s success in the long running and vitally important regional school boy competition and was deservedly named 2019 U14 Player of the competition.
In 2019 Malik Elabbasi also represented Group One at the U14 New South Wales Country Age Championships, starting at lock in all three of the Taipan’s matches.
Anthony (AJ) Hickling is a young man from the Clarence Coast Magpies who is currently part of the Titans Group One Academy Squad.
In 2019 AJ Hickling played in the Group One U13 competition with the Magpies, including scoring in their Grand Final Qualifying Final against Lismore Marist Brothers when he split the Rams defence on the right side of the field and was able to bring the ball around to score under the posts with a number of defenders trailing in his wake.
AJ Hickling was also part of the Magpies Group One U13 Grand Final side that went down 24 – 16 to the Grafton Ghosts in the decider. AJ Hickling also scored in the Grand Final getting Clarence Coast back in the match before Grafton pulled away again after scoring their third try of the match.
The 2019 season that was for Titans linked Kye Cooper
Late in 2019 Kye Cooper played for a Titans U14/U15 NRRRL Invitational side against a Titans U14 Gold Coast/Brisbane side at Piggabeen starting the match at five eight with the result being that the NRRRL side went down 32 - 10.
Kye Cooper started the 2019 Group One U14 competition off in outstanding form scoring two tries and kicking two goals for Ballina in their 34 – 6 win in Round One against the South Grafton Rebels.
Kye Cooper was on fire once again in Round Two scoring five tries and kicking two conversions as Ballina defeated Casino RSM 54 – 4.
Kye Cooper continued his try scoring feats in Round Three scoring a double as Ballina defeated Clarence Coast 44 – 8.
In Round Five against Lismore Marist Brothers Kye Cooper finished with an individual points tally of twelve from two tries and two goals in a big win against Lismore Marist Brothers.
Round Seven saw Kye Cooper continue to add points to his season tally when he kicked two conversions in a 38 – 0 win over Kyogle.
In Round Ten against Casino RSM continued his outstanding season by scoring a hat trick and kicking two goals.
Round Twelve against Grafton saw Kye Cooper add two tries and three goals to his already impressive 2019 points tally.
Kye Cooper added a hat trick and four goals in finish the Round Thirteen match against Lismore Marist Brothers with an individual point’s tally of twenty.
In total in the Group One U14 regular season Kye Cooper scored 112 points from nine regular season matches, from nineteen tries and eighteen goals.
In Round One of the Finals series, Kye Cooper scored a try and kicked five goals as Ballina defeated South Grafton 34 – 6 and was also a member of the Ballina side that won the Grand Final.
Post the Grand Final Kye Cooper’s Group One U14 Ballina side was named team of the Group One Junior Rugby League competition for their unbeaten season. On an individual level Kye Cooper was named Group One U14 Player of the Season.
Kye Cooper made his Group One U15 debut in Round Thirteen against Lismore Marist (he had scored twenty points in the preceding U14 match)kicking a late conversion in a 32 – 18 Ballina win.
The St Johns College Woodlawn student was selected in the New South Wales Combined Catholic Colleges (CCC) Lismore Diocese U15 side for their for the NSW CCC selection trials that were held in Sydney commencing 25 May, very impressive for a 14 year old.
The result was that Kye Cooper was selected in the New South Wales Combined Catholic Colleges U15 Country side.
Kye Cooper was named at five eight for the Group One U14 Taipans representative side for the New South Wales Country Age Championships that were held in Port Macquarie in late September and kicked a conversion in Group One’s 26 – 10 Northern Cup Final loss to Central Coast.
Öne of the more intriguing players with a Titans link is Northern NSW youngster Ziah Piggott.
The centre or fullback was one of the players that represented one of the Titans U15 squads that played each other and a Western Mustangs selection at Mudgeeraba in February 2019.
Ziah Piggott played the 2019 season with Kyogle in the Group One competition, playing in both his regular U15 age group and also playing a number of matches “up” in the U16.5 competition.
In the 2019 Group One U15 competition Ziah Piggott played nine regular season matches for Kyogle scoring fourteen tries (156% strike rate) including a big match in Round Four when he scored four tries against Lismore Marist Brothers in a 36 – 14 win for the Turkeys. In fact Ziah Piggott finished five tries clear on the Group One U15 top try scorers list such was the outstanding season that Ziah Piggott had.
Ziah Piggott also had a big Round Six match scoring four tries for Kyogle as they defeated Clarence Coast 38 - 12.
Ziah Piggott’s other 2019 Group One regular season U15 tries included a double against Casino RSM and he also scored against came against Ballina, Lismore Marist Brothers, Casino RSM and Clarence Coast.
Ziah Piggott added a further U15 try in Week One of the Group One finals series but unfortunately Kyogle fell 26 – 10 to Ballina.
Ziah Piggott’s 2019 season came to an end when Kyogle went down 18 – 12 to Clarence Coast in the 2019 Group One U15 Preliminary Final.
Ziah Piggott in 2019 also represented the Group One U15 representative side at the New South Wales Country Age Championships starting all three of their matches in the centres scoring three tries including a double in his second match of Day One against Group 19. Ziah Piggott also scored on Day Two against Central Coast.
In the 2018 Group One U16.5 competition Ziah Piggott played in nine matches, his debut being against Clarence Coast in Round Two scoring on debut. In addition to his Round Two try, Ziah Piggott also scored against Lismore Marist Brothers Blue in Round Four and he also scored a double against Lismore Marist Blue in Round Twelve.
In relation to all of his 2019 Group One U16.5 matches, Ziah Piggott played in the fixture after playing in the U15 match earlier in the day.
Ziah Piggott was named in the centres for the 2019 Group One U15 Taipans for the New South Wales Country Age Championships that were held in Port Macquarie in late September. Ziah Piggott scored a double in Group One’s Northern Plate 40 – 10 win over Group 19 and scored again in Group One’s Northern Plate semi-final loss 38 – 12 to Central Coast.
In 2018, Ziah Piggott played fifteen matches including starting the Grand Final at fullback in the Group One U14 competition, scoring twenty tries (133% strike rate), including scoring a hat trick in Round Two against Clarence Coast.
Mid-season in 2018, Ziah Piggott had an incredible string of five straight games where he scored a double in each match with those matches coming in order against Grafton, Ballina, Casino RSM, Lismore Marist Brothers and Clarence Coast.
2018 also saw Ziah Piggott play one match in the Group One U15 competition scoring a double on debut against the South Grafton Rebels in July after playing in the U14 fixture earlier in the day.
Ziah Piggott represented the Group One U14 representative side in 2018, starting at fullback in all five of their matches in the New South Wales Country U14 Age Championships including scoring in their Plate Final victory against Group Nine 22 – 18, with Ziah Piggott’s try the one that gave the lead to Group One for good late in the second half.
Second rower Jake Lenard from the Clarence Coast Magpies club in Northern New South Wales was part of the Titans U15’s that played against another Titans and Western Mustangs sides at Mudgeeraba in February 2019.
Jake Lenard missed a number of rounds of the 2019 Group One U15 competition due to injury but bounced back in a big way in Round Twelve scoring a hat trick against Casino RSM.
In Week One of the Group One U15 Finals series, Jake Lenard had a big hand in Clarence Coast’s 42 – 10 win over Lismore Marist Brothers contributing a double to the win and also started in the Grand Final as Clarence Coast defeated Ballina 14 - 10.
Jake Lenard was named on the interchange bench for the Group One U15 Taipans representative side for the New South Wales Country Age Championships that were held in Port Macquarie in late September and post those Championships was named the Group One U15 Representative Player of the Year.
In 2019 Jake Lenard also represented the Northern region NSW CCC U15 rugby league side at their trials held in May in Sydney after the Maclean High School student stood out for the Northern Rivers side in the Northern Trials.
In 2018, Jake Lenard finished as the Group One U14 competitions second leading try scorer with twenty one tries from just fifteen matches (140%), scoring in all but two of those matches, with those matches being against Ballina and Kyogle.
Jake Lenard scored four tries in a mid-June match against Casino RSM and scored a hat trick against Grafton in July 2018. Jake Lenard also scored four doubles which were against Casino RSM in two separate matches, Kyogle and Grafton.
Jake Lenard also played four matches in the Group One U15 competition in 2018, making his debut against Casino RSM in early April and celebrated by scoring a double. He had also scored a double earlier in the day in the U14 match.
Jake Lenard went on to play a total of six U15 Group One matches in 2018 and in addition to his debut double also scored against Casino RSM once again later in the season and against Kyogle.
Jake Lenard also played in five matches for the Group One U14 representative side in 2018, playing in five matches in their New South Wales Country U14 Championship campaign including starting from the bench in their Plate Final 22 – 18 victory over Group 9.
In 2017 Jake Lenard a few other positions from the Clarence Coast Magpies junior rugby league club in the Group One Junior Rugby League competition in Northern New South Wales continued his outstanding try scoring feats throughout the 2017 Group One JRL U13 competition, where the former U12 New South Wales representative scored a staggering 35 tries in just eleven games. Understandably Jake Lenard leads the try scoring list for his age group.
Jake Lenard scored six tries in a May match against Grafton and five against Ballina in August. In addition Jake Lenard scored four tires twice, coming against Kyogle and Casino RSM and also hat tricks against Casino RSM, Marist Brothers, Ballina and Grafton. Jake Lenard in 2017 played two matches in the U14 Group One JRL competition with those matches being against Ballina and South Grafton.
Scoring tries is not a foreign experience for Jake Lenard as in 2016 at the U12 level he scored 20 tries from ten matches. To round off his points scoring this season, Jake Lenard also converted one of his tries in the Round Two clash against Casino RSM.
Juwann-Claude Wetere. The powerhouse young Runaway Bay Seagulls centre had a great match for the Titans U13 Invitational side in their 40 – 12 win over the Western Mustangs at Mudgeeraba with Juwann-Claude Wetere starting the match at left centre.
Juwann-Claude Wetere contributed a double (it could have been a hat trick, sorry I lost count and from my angle it was difficult to see across to het opposite corner) including a long range effort when he ran off a great ball from Titans five eight Coby Black who had pocked his nose through the defensive line before offloading to his left to Juwann-Claude Wetere.
Early in the 2019 season Juwann-Claude Wetere was named in the Gold Coast Vikings U13 squad for the Hill Stumer Championships where he played right centre.
Juwann-Claude Wetere started at five eight in Round One of the GCRL U13 Division One competition for Runaway Bay against Currumbin and made an impressive start to the season scoring four tries as his Seagulls side defeated Currumbin 52 - 0.
Juwann-Claude Wetere also scored early season tries against Southport in Round Two and Helensvale in Round Four. In Round Six Juwann-Claude Wetere was outstanding on his way to scoring a hat trick and in Round Thirteen added a double against Ormeau and added a further double in Round Fourteen against Coomera.
In total in the GCRL U13 Division One competition Juwann-Claude Wetere scored fifteen tries from just eleven matches to finish the regular season with a 136% try scoring strike rate.
Juwann-Claude Wetere played just the six matches for Runaway Bay in the 2018 GCRL U12 Division One competition but in those matches finished with a strike rate of 117%, scoring in all bar one match which was against Helensvale in June.
Juwann-Claude Wetere scored doubles against Ormeau and Southport and also scored Currumbin, Coomera and Burleigh Maroon. Juwann-Claude Wetere also kicked one goal over the course of the season, with that goal coming against Currumbin in June.
Izayah Petricevich. One player in the Titans U13 side that defeated the Western Mustangs 40 – 12 in February was Nerang Rooster Izayah Petrichvich when he played left centre and scored two tries. In the match Izayah Petricevich also spent some time in the second half on the left wing.
Early in the 2019 season Izayah Petricevich was named in the Gold Coast Vikings U13 squad and played left centre in the Championships including scoring in the Vikings first match on Day one diving over in the left corner against Brisbane Red.
Izayah Petricevich started the 2019 GCRL club season for Nerang in their Round One match against Ormeau.
Izayah Petricevich moved to five eight for Round Four scoring as Nerang went down 68 – 10 to Burleigh.
In total for Nerang, Izayah Petricevich played in three GCRL U13 Division One matches scoring against Burleigh as noted above.
With the movement in the U13 competition, Izayah Petricevich also played in five U13 Division Two matches scoring seven tries (140% strike rate) including a hat trick against Mudgeeraba in Round Eleven and a Round Twelve double against Helensvale. Izayah Petricevich’s other 2019 U13 Division two regular season tries came against Burleigh White and Jimboomba.
In 2018 Izayah Petricevich finished the Gold Coast Rugby League U12 Division One competition as the second leading try scorer with nine tries from ten matches, playing primarily in the second row.
Izayah Petricevich scored hat tricks against Currumbin and Coomera, a double against Burleigh Marron, with his other try coming in Round Two against Mudgeeraba.
In 2019 Izayah Petricevich was also a key member of the Coombabah State High School Year 8 Renouf Cup school boy side including scoring a 90 metre long range half try as Coombabah overcame a six point half time deficit to defeat Forest Lake State School 36 – 16 in the Renouf Cup Grand Final.
Izayah Petricevich started the match at left centre and scored when in the second half. Forest Lake State High School spun the ball to the left but the ball was dropped out wide when they were on the attack.
From a standing start Izayah Petricevich retrieved the ball and took off down the left touch line, at one point it appeared that the Forest Lake fullback would get to him but Izayah Petricevich was able to put on an extra burst of speed to break the jumper grab to score.
Xavier Tauaifaiga. The young Helensvale Hornets winger was part of the Titans U13 side that played a Western Mustangs U13 selection at Mudgeeraba in February, that afternoon playing on the left wing.
Xavier Tauaifaiga moved to Helensvale this season after playing the 2018 season U12 Division One season with Runaway Bay.
Xavier Tauaifaiga also played on the left wing for the 2019 Gold Coast Vikings U13 side at the Hill Stumer scoring the U13 Vikings first try of the competition in their first match against Brisbane Red.
After the completion of the competition, Xavier Tauaifaiga was selected in the South East Queensland U13 training squad.
Whilst he has been playing on the left wing for the Titans and in the representative arena, Xavier Tauaifaiga has primarily operated in the centres, specifically left centre for Helensvale in the GCRL U13 Division One competition this season.
Over the course of the 2019 regular season Xavier Tauaifaiga played in twelve matches for the Hornets in the U13 Division One competition and scored twelve tries amongst others against Southport (Round One), Runaway Bay (Round Four) Nerang (Round Five), Runaway Bay (Round Eleven), Currumbin (Round Thirteen) and Burleigh (Round Fourteen).
In Round Six Xavier Tauaifaiga scored a double as Helensvale defeated Ormeau 54 – 6, he also scored a Round Nine double against Southport and added another double in Round Twelve against Coomera.
In Week two of the GCRL U13 Division One Finals series Xavier Tauaifaiga started at left centre against Ormeau, scoring in the match which propelled Helensvale directly to the Grand Final.
In the U13 Division One Grand Final against Burleigh Xavier Tauaifaiga started the match at right centre scoring in the 26th minute of the first half when he dived over from dummy half from close range diving to his right out of dummy half. Helensvale went on to win the U13 Division One Grand Final 26 – 22 against Burleigh.
In the Grand Final Xavier Tauaifaiga also made an outstanding try saving tackle late in the first half on Burleigh centre Sam Stephenson.
Xavier Tauaifaiga made his GCRL U14 Division One debut from the bench in Round Nine against Beaudesert after scoring a double in the U13 Division One fixture earlier in the day. Xavier Tauaifaiga made his first U14 Division One start in Round Thirteen against Ormeau on the wing after starting in the centres in the U13 Division One match directly prior.
In total in the GCRL U14 Division One competition in 2019 Xavier Tauaifaiga played in five matches, on each occasion backing up from playing in the U13 Division One fixture earlier in the round (read day).
In 2018 Xavier Tauaifaiga played in thirteen U12 Division One matches for Runaway Bay scoring 32 points from seven tries and two conversions.
The Titans have a number of outstnading halves/fiveeights in the JTS program and one that is not overshadowed by absolutely anyone is Coby Black.
The young Helensvale Hornets five eight played very well for the Titans U13 side in their 40 – 12 win over the Western Mustangs at Mudgeeraba early this year leading the Titans around the field well.
Starting at five eight Coby Black had a very good game and also recorded a try assist. Coby Black was operating on the left side of the field one off the ruck when he received the ball and subtly stepped off his left to push through the first defensive line and then as he was being tackled provided a great ball to Titans centre Juwann-Claude Wetere who ran around sixty metres to score an outstanding try.
Early in the 2019 season Coby Black was named in the Gold Coast Vikings U13 squad starting their three matches at five eight and for me was one of their best. In the Championships Coby Black put on a goal kicking master class including two superb efforts from the left touch line in Game One on Day One against Brisbane Red . For me regardless of age group Coby Black was easily the best goal kicker on display in the Championships.
After the completion of the competition, Coby Black was selected in the South East Queensland U13 training squad.
Coby Black started at five eight for Helensvale against Southport in Round One of the U13 Division One competition and had a huge game scoring a double and kicking five goals as Helensvale defeated Southport 56 – 6.
In Round Two as Helensvale defeated Nerang, Coby Black was in the points once again scoring a try and kicking an astounding fifteen goals as the Hornets prevailed 90 – 0.
Coby Black continued to show why he was asked to start at five eight for the Titans U13 side earlier this season in Round Three scoring two tries and kicking two goals as his Helensvale side defeated Coomera 28 - 10.
Round Four was also no impediment to Coby Black scoring three tries and kicking seven goals for Helensvale as they defeated Runaway Bay 50 – 10.
In Round Five against Runaway Bay, Coby Black scored an incredible thirty eight points from four tries and eleven goals in a big 104 – 8 win for the Hornets.
In Round Six Coby Black continued his outstanding form, scoring a try and kicking seven goals against Ormeau.
After missing two rounds due to representative commitments Coby Black made his return to the Helensvale side at five eight in Round Nine against Southport and picked up where he left off scoring a double and kicking four goals and in Round Ten against Ormeau added a try and a conversion to his individual points tally.
Coby Black had a big day with the boot in Round Eleven kicking eight goals as the Hornets had a big win against Runaway Bay. Amazingly the match was the first of the season where Coby Black did not score but regardless he had a huge impact on the result, proving that there is a lot more to rugby league than just scoring tries.
In Round Twelve against Coomera, Coby Black scored twenty of Helensvale’s forty eight points (41.67%), from two tries and six goals against Coomera.
Coby Black continued to score in bunches in Round Thirteen scoring a try and kicking six goals as Helensvale smashed Currumbin 78 – 0. Coby Black then added two conversions in Round Fourteen against Burleigh.
In total in the GCRL U13 Division One regular season competition, Coby Black played in twelve matches scoring a staggering 224 points from nineteen tries (third leading try scorer in the competition) and seventy four goals to average 18.67 points per game in what can only be described as an outstanding season for the young play maker. Coby Black was also by far the leading point’s scorer in the U13 Division One competition as well as the leading goal kicker.
In the 2019 GCRL U13 Division One Grand Final Coby Black kicked three conversions from four attempts, with his only miss hitting the goal post from the right touch line.
Unfortunately Coby Black had to leave the field in the Grand Final late in the match with what looked like a shoulder injury but helping to ease the pain was the fact that Helensvale won the Grand Final 26 – 22 over Burleigh.
Whilst I have noted the three conversions that Coby Black kicked in the Grand Final there were two plays that deserve mention that in many ways were far not noteworthy. The first was with Helensvale under pressure after a Burleigh try, Coby Black angled the ball expertly from the kick off to find touch and get Helensvale the ball back immediately.
The second key play was also when Helensvale were under pressure, Burleigh grubber kicked into the in-goal and it looked like they were going to get a repeat set before Coby Black got to the ball first and instead of conceding the tackle produced a great run to get out of his in-goal ensure Helensvale finished the first half in front.
In 2019 Coby Black was also a key member of the Coombabah State High School Year 8 Renouf Cup school boy side starting at half and scoring a second half try as Coombabah overcame a six point half time deficit to defeat Forest Lake State School 36 – 16 in the Renouf Cup Grand Final.
Coby Black was operating on the left side of the field and took the ball one off the ruck, running at the defence with the ball out in front in both hands. Cody Black then dummied to his left and broke through an arm tackle to run fifteen metres to score under the posts.
In 2018 Coby Black was a key member of the Helensvale Hornets U12 Division One side that won the premiership as a result of a 28 – 6 Grand Final win over Burleigh White with Coby Black starting the match at five eight and contributing a conversion in the win.
In total in the U12 Division One competition in 2018 Coby Black played in nine matches scoring 30 points from four tries and seven goals. All four of Coby Black’s four tries came in separate matches against Nerang, Mudgeeraba and Burleigh White in two separate matches including week two of the finals. All seven of Coby Black’s goals were also kicked in separate matches.
2018 was the second season in a row that Coby Black had played in the U12 age group. In 2017 even though he was still U11 eligible he played the season in the Helensvale U12 Division Two side amassing forty six points from nine tries (100% strike rate) and five goals.
Coby Black scored four tries in a late May 2017 match against Ormeau and scored a double a fortnight prior against Runaway Bay.
Lachlan Offley. The Ballina Seagulls flyer’s 2019 season can favourably be compared to anybody’s in the entire Group One Junior Rugby League competition and for that matter all of Northern New South Wales.
For Ballina in the 2019 Group One U14 competition Lachlan Offley finished the season scoring in all of his ten matches and finishing as the competitions leading try scorer with twenty seven tries for an out of this world strike rate of 270%. Lachlan Offley also kicked seven conversions to finish as the competitions leading point’s scorer as well with 122 points to average more than twelve points per match.
In addition to scoring five tries against Kyogle in June Lachlan Offley scored five hat tricks including in each of his first three 2019 Group One U14 matches against South Grafton, Casino RSM and Clarence Coast respectively. Lachlan Offley added hat tricks against Clarence Coast and Lismore Marist Brothers later in the season.
Lachlan Offley also scored a finals double against South Grafton and tries against Grafton in two separate matches.
Lachlan Offley also played in five Group One U15 matches in 2019 and once again showcased his try scoring prowess scoring seven tries (140% strike rate) including a Grand Final double against Clarence Coast, unfortunately Ballina went down 14 – 10 in a tight encounter.
In addition to his Grand Final double, Lachlan Offley also scored U15 doubles against Lismore Marist Brothers and Kyogle as well as scoring on his Group One U15 debut against Clarence Coast in May.
In late 2019 Lachlan Offley started at fullback in all three of the Group One U14 representative sides matches at the New South Wales Country U14 Age Championships scoring on Day One against Maitland. On Day Two Lachlan Offley started at fullback in matches against Group 21 and Central Coast.
To prove that his try scoring feats in 2019 were no fluke Lachlan Offley scored twenty one tries and kicked thirteen goals in Ballina in the 2018 Group One U13 competition to record 110 points.
One of the most recent signings to the Titans JTS program is Jeremaiah Tamepo.
The young centre from Auckland New Zealand found his way over to the Gold Coast to continue his schooling at Keebra Park and was due to part of their Open Rugby League program.
In 2019 Jeremaiah Tamepo represented the Countries Manukau Stingrays representative side at the New Zealand National Youth U15 tournament starting in the centres in all four of the Stingrays matches which were against the Auckland Vulcans, one being the Tournament Final which Counties Manukau lost 18 – 6 with the other a pool match, the Wai-Coa Bay Stallions and the South Island Scorpions.
In the 2019 Auckland Rugby League U15 club competition Jeremaiah Tamepo played eight matches for the Manurewa Force scoring five tries over the course of the season to finish with a 62.5% strike rate.
Also in 2019 Jeremaiah Tamepo played for Counties Manukau Maori in the New Zealand Maori U15 tournament and at the completion of that tournament was named in the All-Tournament team in the centres.
In 2019 Jeremaiah Tamepo was also a key performer for the Wesley College U15 side in their Auckland school boy rugby league competitions.
Also in 2019 the former New Zealand Warriors Development Squad player was part of the U15 Auckland Vulcans Development Trial representing the U15 Open South side and in 2018 represented the U14 Open South side at the 2018 U14 Auckland Vulcans Development Trial.
The 2019 season that was for Titans contracted Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa.
The big strong young Southport front rower was in devastating form for the Tigers in the GCRL U14 Division One competition in 2019 and early in 2020 signed a contract with the Titans that will see him in Titans colours for the next three seasons at least.
For Southport in the 2019 GCRL U14 Division One regular season competition Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa played in nine matches scoring eleven tries (122% strike rate) including a Round Three hat trick against Currumbin and doubles in Round Ten and Round Twelve against Ormeau and Mudgeeraba respectively.
Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa also scored in matches against Runaway Bay twice, Helensvale and Beaudesert to account for his eleven tries.
In Week One of the Finals series Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa started in the front row in Southport’s 26 - 22 loss to Runaway Bay.
In Week two of the U14 Division One Finals series, Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa started in the front row and scored a hat trick against Mudgeeraba as Southport progressed to the Preliminary Final.
In the Preliminary Final against Runaway Bay Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa once again started in the front row and scored a double as Southport fell 22 – 16 to Runaway Bay to end their season one win short of the Grand Final.
After performing well for the Gold Coast Vikings U14 side at the 2019 Hill Stumer Championships held at Ipswich this season, Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa started in the front row for the South East Queensland White side at the Queensland U14 Age Championships where he was a handful for opposing defences in each of SEQ Whites matches.
Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa started all four of South East Queensland White’s matches in the front row and scored when he crashed over against Central on Day Two of the Championships.
In early October 2019 Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa was named on the bench for the 2019 Nga Hau e Wha Maori Tournament U14 Boys Merit Team at the completion of the tournament.
The 2019 season that was for Eli Morgan:
The Titans linked forward started from the interchange bench for the Burleigh MM Cup side in their 2019 Round One match with the Norths Devils with Eli Morgan contributing a try in in Burleigh’s great second half comeback to draw 38 all with the Devils.
In total in the 2019 MM Cup competition Eli Morgan played in all six matches spending time both in the second row and in the centres as well as coming off the interchange bench in Round One against Norths. Eli Morgan played four matches in the centres with first of which was in Round two against Ipswich and started in the second row in Round Six against Wynnum Manly.
In his six 2019 MM Cup matches Eli Morgan scored three tries which came in Rounds One, Four and Five against Norths, Townsville and Souths Logan respectively.
In Round Four against Townsville Eli Morgan scored his second MM Cup try of the 2019 season when he dived over in the left corner. Playing left centre Eli Morgan was on hand to receive a pass from left winger Trey Peni who had taken a bomb on the full a few metres out from the Blackhawks try line and was able to off-load to his left to Eli Morgan who had looped around.
Almost immediately after the competition of the 2019 MM Cup competition, Eli Morgan moved to the Burleigh Hastings Deering’s Colts side making his debut off the bench in Round Nine against Redcliffe. Eli Morgan moved into the starting line-up in Round Twelve against the Sunshine Coast Falcons starting in the second row.
Eli Morgan’s 2019 Hastings Deering’s Colts season came to an end when he started on the interchange bench for Burleigh as they went down 23 – 16 to Sunshine Coast in the Preliminary Final.
In total in the 2019 Hastings Deering’s Colts competition Eli Morgan played in nine matches two of which were finals. Eli Morgan made two starts in the second row, his second coming against Souths Logan in Round Sixteen with the remaining seven of his matches from the bench.
Eli Morgan also played four matches in the 2019 GCRL U18 Division One regular season competition, mostly off the bench for Burleigh and scoring his sole try against Ormeau.
Eli Morgan made his 2019 GCRL U20 debut in Round Nineteen when he started at lock for Burleigh against Helensvale for his sole match in that competition in 2019.
The 2019 season that was for Trey Peni:
in January of 2019 Trey Peni was part of the Titans U18 squad that played a trial in Coffs Harbour against the Newcastle Knights U18 SG Ball squad.
Trey Peni started the 2019 season proper as part of the Burleigh Bears MM Cup side coming in to the side on the left wing in Round Three. In the Round Three match against local rivals the Tweed Heads Seagulls Trey Peni scored his first MM Cup try when he pounced on an inch perfect kick from Tweed Heads five eight Brodyn Gudgeon to score close to the left touch line in goal line.
In Round Four against the Townsville Blackhawks Trey Peni recorded a try assist when he took a cross field bomb to his left wing on the full a few metres out from the Townsville line and then under pressure was able to off-load to Eli Morgan who had looped around the back of him to score in the left corner.
In total for Burleigh in the 2019 MM Cup competition, Trey Peni played in four matches starting three on the wing and one, being Round Six in the centres against Wynnum Manly with Burleigh finishing their 2019 MM Cup season off on a high after beating the previously undefeated Seagulls 23 - 22.
Post the 2019 MM Cup competition, Trey Peni played Round One of the 2019 GCRL U18 Division One competition for Nerang scoring in that match as well.
Trey Peni received a deserved call-up to the Burleigh Colts Hastings Deering’s Cup side for their 2019 Round Nine match against Redcliffe and had an outstanding debut scoring a double from the right wing.
In relation to both of his tries, Trey Peni scored by positioning himself well by staying on the side line outside of his direct opponent and as a result having a direct path to the try line. Trey Peni was certainly happy to score his first try, pumping his fist even before crossing the try line. Trey Peni could have had a hat trick but the ball went to Jayden Campbell to score when it could have quite easily have gone to Trey Peni instead.
Trey Peni came back into the Burleigh Colts side starting on the right wing and scoring in Round Twenty against the Western Mustangs when he scored an easy try in the right corner after good work inside by the Burleigh playmakers including Cameron Brown and Jayden Campbell.
In total in the 2019 Hastings Deering’s Colts regular season competition for Burleigh Trey Peni played in four matches starting all on the right wing scoring the three tries noted in the paragraph’s noted above.
Trey Peni’s 2019 Hastings Deering’s Colts season came to an end when he started on the left wing for Burleigh as they went down 23 – 16 to Sunshine Coast in the Preliminary Final.
Trey Peni also performed well for Keebra Park in 2019, including scoring a double in their Round Two Langer Cup victory over Ipswich State High School and started on the right wing in the Langer Cup derby against PBC also scoring a double in the match with both tries coming in the second half.
Trey Peni’s first try came when he retrieved a chip kick and stepped inside the fullback to score and for his second try Trey Peni flew down the right touch line executing a dive to place the ball down in his right hand in the right corner of the field.
Trey Peni also started on the right wing for Keebra Park in their Queensland GIO Cup quarter final win over Coombabah State High School 42 – 12 and also started on the right wing in their tough loss to Wavell State High School in the their Queensland GIO Cup semi-final.
Trey Peni also represented South Coast at the 2019 U18 QSSRL Championships playing on the right wing at the Championships. Trey Peni scored on Day One against Northern in the right corner after outstanding lead up work by fellow Titan James Torrens on his inside.
South Coast went through the Championships undefeated including coming from behind to defeat Northern in the final 22 – 16. Trey Peni was subsequently named in the 2019 Queensland School boy’s side for the Australian U18 School boy Championships.
At the 2019 ASSRL U18 Championships Trey Peni started all of Queensland matches, including the Championship Final on the right wing, scoring in the 10th minute of the second half in Queensland’s second match of the Championships against New South Wales Combined High Schools.
In March 2019 Titans contracted Solomon Torrens was selected in the South Coast U18 side for the 2019 QSSRL U18 Championships and started in the front row for South Coast in the QSSRL U18 Championships. One Day One of the Championships, Solomon Torrens was his typical hard charging self, scoring when he collected a grubber kick that had bounced around through a number of feet to score near the right upright.
South Coast went through the Championships undefeated including coming from behind to defeated Northern in the final 22 – 16.
Solomon Torrens was subsequently named in the Queensland School boy’s side for the Australian School boy Championships and in fact was named Player of the Tournament.
Solomon Torrens was the captain of the 2019 Queensland U18 ASSRL side playing in all of his Queensland’s matches starting in either the front row or second row although he did some matches with an injury.
Solomon Torrens played in all eight matches for the Tweed Heads Seagulls MM Cup side in 2019 and was particularly outside in their semi-final win against Souths Logan including being heavily involved in the Seagulls first try.
Operating on the left, Solomon Torrens used impressive late footwork to get outside of the Magpies right second rower and get the ball to the outside, leading directly to a try for fellow Titan, centre Caleb Hodges.
In the 2019 MM Cup Grand Final against Wynnum Manly Solomon Torren was one of Tweed Heads best and scored the match sealing try late in the second half when he cut back in after receiving he ball and crashing over for an outstanding try.
Solomon Torrens was also at his rampaging best in the National U18 Grand Final against Illawarra proving to be a real handful for the Steelers defence every time he took the ball up.
Solomon Torrens played thirty six minutes in the National Final, running for an incredible 150 metres (forty six post contact), broke two tackles, played the ball at an average speed of 3.83 seconds and made fourteen tackles at a tackling efficiency of 87.5%.
Solomon Torrens started Round Two of the Langer Cup for PBC on the bench against St Mary’s but when he was injected into the match mid-way through the first half, Solomon Torrens put PBC on the front foot with some big charges through the middle and started at lock against Keebra Park.
2019 also saw Solomon Torrens start in the front row for the Titans U18 side in their match against North Queensland that was played as the curtain raiser to the Titans/ Warriors NRL match in June 2019.
PNG born and raised Jahream Bula moved over to Australia to attend Keebra Park State High School at the start of 2018 and since then has showcased his elite athleticism both on a rugby league field as well as on a basketball court for Keebra Park.
As a result Jahream Bula has recently signed a multi-year contract with the Titans and was set to play for the Tweed Heads Seagulls in the 2020 MM Cup competition as well as completing his senior year of schooling at Keebra Park and being part of the JTS Program with the Titans.
In his two years of playing rugby league for Keebra Park, Jahream Bula played primarily for the Langer Reserve side but in both 2018 and 2019 played two Langer A Cup matches with the Keebra Park Open A side including scoring against PBC in their local derby this season.
In his first year at Keebra Park being 2018 Jahream Bula was named the Langer Cup Reserve Most Valuable Player and was also awarded the Most Valuable Player at the Year 11 level at the Keebra Park Rugby League Sports Specialisation Awards night towards the end of that year.
As noted Jahream Bula also played basketball for Keebra Park in both 2018 and 2019, playing in five matches each year in the CBSQ Boys Fourth Division competition. In 2019 Jahream Bula averaged a team leading 11.6 points from his five games including scoring a career high twenty two points in the final game of the season against Mt Maria College. Jahream Bula added twelve points in matches against Brisbane Bayside State College (Game One) and Pacific Pines State High School (Game Three).
In 2018 in the CBSQ Fourth Boys Division competition Jahream Bula averaged a team leading (again) twelve points a game including scoring fifteen points in the final game of the 2018 season against Springfield Central State High School.
Impressively in 2018 Jahream Bula scored in double figures in each of his five matches. In addition to his season high fifteen point match noted above Jahream Bula also scored in double figures in 2018 against Alexandra State High School, Pacific Pines State High School, Immanuel Lutheran College and St Andrews Catholic College.
In 2019 Jahream Bula played for the Hurricanes in the North Coast Basketball Association in the U17 – U20 competition.
In 2018 Jahream Bula also represented North Gold Coast at the U18 Boys Division Three Queensland State Championships scoring fifty six points from seven matches at an average of eight points per game made up of twenty five two point shots and six free throws. Jahream Bula scored thirteen points (six two point shots and a free throw) in Game Three against Redlands and added twelve (six two point shots) in Game Six against the Trojans.
The 2019 season that was for new 2020 Keebra Park student Zinzan Kahu:
In 2019 the young half played a lot of rugby league including representing Victoria in both the U15 ASSRL Pool B school boy Championships and at the U15 New South Wales Country Age Championships, Southern Zone. Zinzan Kahu also played for the Waverley Panthers in the NRL Victoria U15 club rugby league competition.
For the U15 Victorian school boys side in the 2019 U15 ASSRL Championships, Zinzan Kahu started at half in all four of Victoria’s matches including the Pool B final against the ASSRL ATSI Invitational side, unfortunately Victoria went down 20 – 14 in the final.
In his four matches at the U15 ASSRL Championships Pool B competition for Victoria Zinzan Kahu finished with a 50% strike rate from his four matches, scoring in Game One against the ASSRL ATSI Invitational side and Game Three against the Northern Territory. Zinzan Kahu was named Victoria’s best against the ASSRL ATSI Invitational side in Game One of the Championships.
Post the Championship Final the former Keysborough College Melbourne student (now Keebra Park State High School student of course) was named at half in the U15 ASSRL Pool B Merit Team.
2019 was the second season that Zinzan Kahu represented the U15 Victorian side at the ASSRL U15 Championships after also being part of the 2018 side when he played four matches at hooker as a 14 year old.
Late in 2019 Zinzan Kahu started at half in all four of NRL Victoria’s matches at the New South Wales Country U15 Age Championships kicking a conversion on Day One against Illawarra.
On Day Two Zinzan Kahu played in matches against Group Six and Group Seven and the following week was part of the NRL Victoria side that went down in their Final series match against Group Three.
2019 GPS school boy First XV season for Syris Schmidt:
After starting the majority of TSS’s First XV 2019 GPS trials at fly half (No. 10), Syris Schmidt started there in Round One against Nudgee College and had a solid game in their heart stopping after the final siren one point win.
Syris Schmidt also started at five half in Round Two against Churchie producing an assured performance highlighted by some deft short passing and some raking left foot tactical kicking. For his performance, Syris Schmidt was awarded one point in the 2019 TSS First XV Rounds Two points’ award by the First XV coach.
Syris Schmidt continued his solid form in Round Three once against starting at No. 10 against Brisbane State High and was very effective defensively and also started at No. 10 in Round Four against Toowoomba Grammar School, producing an assured display.
Round Five against Brisbane Grammar School also saw Syris Schmidt in the No. 10 jersey for the TSS First XV scoring his career first GPS First XV try in the match.
In the critical Round Six match against BBC Syris Schmidt had limited ball playing time due to the rushing defence but more than held his own as TSS remained undefeated on the back of a 23 – 20 away win.
Syris Schmidt added a try assist in Round Seven in a big 54 – 24 win against Gregory Terrace when he put up a pin point left foot kick which literally went the entire width of the field and was perfectly weighted.
Syris Schmidt started the critical Round Eight match against Ipswich Grammar School once again at fly half as TSS won the GPS First XV Premiership after drawing 29 all.
Syris Schmidt post the 2019 GPS First XV competition was named at fly half in the fam nominated Courier Mail GPS First XV Team of Year after receiving 34.4% of the votes for the fly half (no. 10) position.
2019 GPS school boy First XV season for Titan Orlando Swain:
Orlando Swain was part of the Ipswich Grammar School U16A GPS school boy rugby side in 2019 but made his deserved First XV debut on the right wing in Round Eight of the 2019 season against TSS on the Gold Coast.
Orlando Swain had a great debut including a first half try assist when he threw a left arm over the head flick pass to Roosters bound Sam Walker to score in the first half. Even though he was playing on the right wing, Orlando Swain had a licence to roam on the match, regularly chiming into the backline on the left side of the field after set pieces.
Orlando Swain played his second GPS First XV match in Round Nine against Gregory Terrace, once again starting on the right wing and scored his first try when he was on the end of an Ipswich Grammar School movement to score wide out on the right in the first half.
2019 GPS school boy First XV season for Titan Kedan Chan-Tung:
Kedan Chan-Tung started Round One of the GPS School boy First XV competition at fullback for Ipswich Grammar School contributing two tries as IGS had a big win over Brisbane State High School.
Kedan Chan-Tung’s first try came about when he was on hand after a long break to take the ball and dive over close to the line. His second try came from a scrum move and after receiving the ball he flew thirty five metres down the left touch line to score out wide, unfortunately not long after that he limped off with what looked like an ankle injury, missing Round Two as a result.
Kedan Chan-Tung was back at fullback for Round Three against Toowoomba Grammar School contributing a try to the IGS victory. The ball was spun out to the left, Kedan Chan-Tung received the ball in space, dummied to his left and strolled over from fifteen metres out.
Kedan Chan-Tung also had a try assist in the match, he fielded a kick on the full on the half way mark, and simply spilt the Toowoomba Grammar School defence right through the centre of the ruck, he could have beaten the fullback who was flat footed but instead he threw a long pass to his left to his winger who crossed out wide untouched.
Kedan Chan-Tung also produced an outstanding break in the second half, he folded around the back of the play on the left side of the field and after receiving the ball produced a great right arm field to gain separation before stepping off his left foot to break the line and charge down the centre of the field for a thirty metre run before the Toowoomba defence converged.
Kedan Chan-Tung moved to outside centre for Round Four against Nudgee College and whilst me may not have had the space he did at fullback still as a major contributor including scoring his 4th try of the season when he pounced on a mistake by the Nudgee fullback to score late in the first half.
In Round Five against Brisbane Boys College, Kedan Chan-Tung started at fullback and had a busy afternoon, making at least three try saving tackles in the first half alone as well as standing in at half back when IGS were reduced to 14 men in the first half.
With the ball Kedan Chan-Tung did not get too many opportunities after the opening minutes, but his first run of the match was outstanding when he broke three BBC tackles returning a kick in general play.
Kedan Chan-Tung was at his elusive best from fullback in Round Six against Anglican Church Grammar School scoring a try and setting up one both in the second half but Ipswich Grammar School went down 24 – 22 in a bit of an upset.
In relation to his try assist Kedan Chan-Tung took the ball in the right field and took the ball right to the line, copping a hit to the ribs for his trouble before popping a great short ball for his outside centre to slice through a gap to score.
Kedan Chan-Tung had a lot of work to do for his try, he received the ball once again on the right side of the field from Sam Walker, stepping off his right foot immediately upon receipt of the ball to get inside the immediate Churchie defender before accelerating over the ten metres to the line to dive over under pressure from three cover defenders.
After an Ipswich Grammar School Round Seven bye Kedan Chan-Tung started Round Eight against TSS at fullback and was dangerous as the match ended in an exciting 29 all draw with both teams having chances that they could not convert.
In Round Nine being the final round of the GPS School Boy First XV competition, Kedan Chan-Tung had two try assists from fullback both when he drew the Gregory Terrace fullback and passed to Roosters bound Sam Walker to score.
Post the GPS season Kedan Chan-Tung was named in the U18 Reds Academy Maroon side for a double header at Nudgee College in late September with Kedan Chan-Tung starting the match against the News South Wales Waratahs Academy from the bench.
2019 GPS school boy First XV season for Titan Kaleb Ngamanu:
Kaleb Ngamanu kicked off his 2019 school boy rugby campaign for TSS in late April 2019 when he was part of the TSS Second XV side that defeated touring New Zealand School New Plymouth Boys High 36 – 0, starting the match at inside centre. Kaleb Ngamanu then was on the bench for the TSS First XV side that went down 31 – 29.
Kaleb Ngamanu made his TSS First XV run on debut in a trial against Brisbane State High School in May with TSS winning 57 – 12.
Kaleb Ngamanu was once against part of the TSS First XV squad for the next set of GPS rugby trials against Brisbane State High School and Gregory Terrace at the TSS campus, in late May with Kaleb Ngamanu named on the bench. TSS won the trial against Gregory Terrace but went down against BSHS in the second match.
Kaleb Ngamanu started TSS’s next trial against Nudgee College in the right wing (No. 14) for the TSS First XV. Kaleb Ngamanu moved to the left wing (No. 11) for the TSS First XV’s next trial against Ipswich Grammar School at Ipswich.
Kaleb Ngamanu started at outside centre for the TSS First XV in their final GPS rugby trial prior to their Round One fixture against Nudgee College with TSS winning 10-5 against Sunshine Coast Grammar School.
In Round One of the 2019 GPS school boy rugby competition, Kaleb Ngamanu started on the right wing for TSS against Nudgee College and was outstanding defensively for TSS, both in terms of initial contact and cover defence.
The ball did not get out to his right wing a great deal but Kaleb Ngamanu did have an outstanding run late in the second half where he dragged a number of Nudgee defenders five or six metres. Kaleb Ngamanu actually crossed the line in the second half but the final pass was called back for being forward. To be fair it was only two or three metres forward.
Kaleb Ngamanu also showcased his hands in Round One taking producing a great contest catch of a TSS box kick under extreme pressure to maintain TSS’s momentum in a pivotal moment of the first half.
Kaleb Ngamanu was also outstanding in Round Two as TSS thrashed Churchie 64 – 7 with Kaleb Ngamanu starting on the right wing but moving into inside centre around the 10 minute mark after an injury.
From that position Kaleb Ngamanu scored his first First XV try of the career. At a set piece about fifteen metres out from the Churchie line, Kaleb Ngamanu originally lined up in the left of the piece but rotated around to the right receiving the ball in space.
Kaleb Ngamanu ran at the opposition defensive line which started to back pedal holding the ball in both hands and after shaping to pass the ball to his right before running through the resultant gap in the line to score mid-way between the touch line and goal post on the right side of the field.
After finishing Round Two at inside centre, Kaleb Ngamanu started there in Round Three against Brisbane State High School. In the first half Kaleb Ngamanu focussed primarily on ball playing for his outside backs but in the second half ran the ball more and came close to scoring twice.
Kaleb Ngamanu also started at inside centre in Round Four against Toowoomba Grammar School in Toowoomba scoring his second try of the season as well as recording a try assist and also being heavily involved in a few others.
Kaleb Ngamanu’s try assist came in the second half and was as a result of a great sleight of hand from a set play. From a TSS scrum win on the Toowoomba Grammar School twenty metre line Kaleb Ngamanu received the ball to the right of the scrum and produced an outstanding no look pop up pass to his right as the TSS left winger looped around to charge through the resultant gap to score adjacent to the left upright.
Kaleb Ngamanu’s try (his second of the season) came late in the match, Kaleb Ngamanu picked up the ball on from the back of a ruck and drove to his left to score from close range to round out a 62 – 3 TSS route.
Round Five against Brisbane Grammar School saw Kelab Ngamanu continue at inside centre scoring for the second week in a row and third for the season. Kaleb Ngamanu’s try can only be considered a superb effort. In the 16th minute of the first half, Kaleb Ngamanu received the ball to the right of the ruck and ran diagonally to his right and used a great fend which literally knocked the Brisbane Grammar School fly half, being Connor Te Kani off his feet.
Once that occurred Kaleb Ngamanu ran through the resultant gap to score mid-way between the goal posts and the right corner flag under pressure from two more BGS defenders.
In Round Six Kaleb Ngamanu started once again at inside centre against fellow unbeaten school Brisbane Boys College at Toowong in Brisbane in essentially what was the GPS First XV Premiership decider between the only remaining unbeaten schools.
Unfortunately Kaleb Ngamanu was forced off the field with a cheek bone injury in the early minutes of the second half in TSS’s 23 – 20 victory in front of a massive crowd at Toowong in Brisbane’s west.
The win ensured that TSS were the 2019 GPS School Boy rugby First XV Champions and it is a touch ironic that it came against BBC which was the school that Kaleb Ngamanu’s two older brothers starred for being Cullen and Jayden Ngamanu.
Kaleb Ngamanu in 2019 was also part of the Queensland U18 Reds Academy Rugby side that defeated Victoria 46 – 18 with Kaleb Ngamanu coming off the bench to play on the right wing and mid-way through the second half set up a try when he drew the Rebels fullback and passed back inside to the Reds outside centre to score after a long run down the right touch line
You won’t find a hard working player in the Queensland Cup competition than Rory Lillis.
In late February 2020 Rory Lillis started at lock for the Tweed Heads Seagulls A Grade side in their trail against Burleigh.
Rory Lillis started Round One of the 2020 Queensland Cup competition for the Tweed Heads Seagulls from the bench against the Northern Pride and impressing in his forty six minutes on the field. Rory Lillis ran for 106 metres (thirty eight post contact), broke four tackles, played the ball at an average speed of 4.42 seconds and made twenty seven tackles at a perfect tackling efficiency.
In 2019 Rory Lillis was part of the Tweed Heads Seagulls Queensland Cup squad playing in ten matches, starting eight from the bench and Rounds Twenty Three and Twenty Four at lock.
In total in the Queensland Cup in 2019 Rory Lillis played 339 minutes, ran for 715 metres (249 post contact), broke sixteen tackles and made 194 tackles at a 91% tackling efficiency.
Rory Lillis had a career match in Round Twenty Three against the Northern Pride, in fact it was his first Queensland Cup start. In his fifty six minutes on the field, Rory Lillis ran for 207 metres, eight three of which were post contact and made twenty eight tackles.
2019 also saw Rory Lillis made eight appearances for the Tugun Seahawks in the GCRL First Grade competition scoring three tries, including a late season double against Southport and also scoring the following week against Ormeau.
Rory Lillis made his Queensland Cup debut in 2018 for Tweed Heads playing three matches in total, running for 165 metres and making fifty five tackles at a 90.16% tackling efficiency.
In 2018 Rory Lillis played four matches in the GCRL First Grade competition for the Tweed Heads Seagulls with his matches coming against Burleigh twice, Currumbin and Tugun.
The local young second rower originally from the Mullumbimby Giants just south of the border moved back to the Gold Coast mid-way through the 2016 season playing for the Tweed Heads Seagulls Colts side before making the Titans Holden Cup squad for the 2017 season and played in twenty Two matches in the Holden Cup for the Titans including scoring his solitary 2017 NYC try in Round twenty Three against the St George Dragons.
Rory Lillis started in all twenty two of his 2017 NYC matches, all in the second row outside of Round Three against the Parramatta Eels when he started at lock. In total across the 2017 NYC season Rory Lillis carried the ball on 199 occasions making 1 786 metres, one line break, two try assists, six off loads and 663 at a tackling efficiency of 86% all whilst on the field for 1 652 minutes. Rory Lillis’s 2017 NYC per game season averages included running for 81.2 metres from 9.1 hit-ups and 30.1 tackles in 75 minutes of game time.
On fifteen occasions Rory Lillis played all 80 minutes including from Rounds Ten to Nineteen when he did not come off the field in those eight matches. On four occasions Rory Lillis ran for more than 100 metres with his highest number of metres in a match coming in Round Fourteen against the Warriors when he ran for 137 metres from fourteen charges into the Warriors defence.
Defensively Rory Lillis had an outstanding year in 2017, making the most tackles by a Titans NYC player both in terms of total tackles and tackles per match with 663 and 30.1 respectively. In all twenty two matches that he played Rory Lillis made in excess of twenty tackles including making more than 30 tackles on eleven occasions including a huge game against the Cronulla Sharks when he made 39 tackles in Round Nineteen.
In 2016 Rory Lillis played the season with the South Sydney NYC side where he played a total of eight matches, scoring one try in the process which came against the Newcastle Knights in Round Two. Of the eight matches Rory Lillis played, he started at either lock or second row in five of those and came off the interchange bench in the other three rounds that he played in. In two of the matches that he started Rory Lillis played the entire 80 minutes, which were in Rounds One and Three against the Roosters and Dragons respectively, showcasing his endurance abilities.
In the remaining six rounds Rory Lillis averaged around 40 minutes a match to finish to an average of 50 minutes per match during the 2016 NYC season. His 2016 averages also included an average of eight runs for 70 metres and 20 tackles per match. From a run metres perspective his best match was against Newcastle in Round Two when he ran for 105 metres and in Round Three he made 31 matches against St George. In addition to the NYC matches that he played in 2016, Rory Lillis also played two matches for La Perouse United in the local South’s Sydney A grade competition which were against the Coogee Dolphins and Moore Park.
Upon his return from Sydney in mid-2016 Rory Lillis linked with the Tweed Heads Seagulls Queensland Cup Colts squad making his first appearance for them in Round 17 against the Sunshine Coast Falcons and proceeded to play eight matches straight, including scoring three tries which came on debut, in Round 22 against the Toowoomba Clydesdales and in Round 25 against the Redcliffe Dolphins. Rory Lillis lined up in the second row in all of the matches that he played for the Tweed Heads Colts in 2016.
Prior to moving to Sydney, Rory Lillis had a distinguished junior representative career on the Gold Coast and Northern New South Wales, including representing Group 18 at the U15 level in 2012 and playing in the CC Cup competition in 2013 and the MM Cup competition in 2015 including scoring a try against the Redcliffe Dolphins in Round Three. Rory Lillis was also part of the South Coast team for the 2015 QSSRL U18 championships where team mates includes Tyrone Roberts-Davis and AJ Brimson who will be Titans NYC team mates this year.
Unfortunately Will Brimson’s return to the Queensland Cup ended as a result of the Covid 19 virus after just one regular season match.
After taking a two year break from rugby league Will Brimson is looking to make his mark in 2020 with the Tweed Heads Seagulls and at only 24 years old there is plenty more to come for the backline utility.
Will Brimson’s first match of the season came in Tweed Heads first “official” trial against Souths Logan when he started from the bench as the Seagulls prevailed seven tries to three at Tugun in wet conditions.
Will Brimson also started at five eight for Tweed Heads in their Queensland Cup trial against Burleigh.
In his first Queensland Cup match in two years, Will Brimson started Round One of the 2020 Queensland Cup competition for the Tweed Heads Seagulls at five eight against the Northern Pride impressing whilst playing the entire eighty minutes.
Will Brimson ran for 117 metres (twenty post contact), kicked on three occasions for seventy five metres, broke three tackles, played the ball at an average speed of 3.99 seconds and made eight tackles at a tackling efficiency of 88.89%.
The 2020 season that was for Fabien Puletua Kiri:
Fabien Puletua Kiri’s first official hit out of the 2020 season came when he started in the front row for the Seagulls in their Queensland Cup trial win over the Souths Logan Magpies at Tugun in mid-February.
Fabien Puletua Kiri also started from the bench for Tweed Heads in their final 2020 Queensland Cup trial against Burleigh.
Fabien Puletua Kiri made his Queensland Cup debut for the Tweed Heads Seagulls starting Round One of the 2020 season from the bench against the Northern Pride playing twenty minutes. In his twenty minutes on the field, playing in the front row, Fabien Puletua Kiri ran for fifty two metres (twenty one post contact), broke a tackle, played the ball at an average speed of 4.31 seconds and made thirteen tackles at a tackling efficiency of 92.86%. Not a bad twenty minute debut at all.
The 2020 season that was for Brent Woolf:
The Former Mudgeeraba Redbacks junior’s first official hit out of the 2020 season came when he started at hooker for the Tweed Heads Seagulls in their Queensland Cup trial win over the Souths Logan Magpies at Tugun in mid-February.
Brent Woolf also started at hooker for Tweed Heads in their Queensland Cup trial against Burleigh.
Brent Woolf started Round One of the 2020 Queensland Cup competition for the Tweed Heads Seagulls at hooker against the Northern Pride playing fifty one minutes in the match. Brent Woolf ran for fifty two metres (sixteen post contact), kicked once for twelve metres, broke a tackle, played the ball at an average speed of 2.95 seconds and made twenty six tackles at a tackling efficiency of 92.86%.
Giant powerful young former Ballina Seagulls front rower or second rower Carl Lolohea is another youngster from the Group One region in northern New South Wales making his mark in rugby league.
At the start of 2020 Carl Lolohea moved to New Zealand to be part of the Warriors U18 SG Ball Squad.
To commence the 2020 rugby league season Carol Lolohea started in the second row for the New Zealand Warriors U18 SG Ball side in their big Round One home victory 36 – 16 against the Victorian Thunderbolts.
In Round Two against the Canberra Raiders in the Warriors first trip across the Tasman in the U18 SG Ball competition, Carl Lolohea started in the second row for the second week in a row. After missing Round Three, Carl Lolohea was back in Round Four against the Cronulla Sharks starting in the second row and also started in the second row in Round Five against the Parramatta Eels which was the last match before the season ended prematurely.
Carl Lolohea started the 2019 season of starting from the interchange bench in Round One for the Northern Rivers Titans in the U18 Laurie Daley Cup competition against the Newcastle Knights Development Squad.
Round Two of the 2019 Laurie Daley Cup competition saw Carl Lolohea once again start the match from the interchange bench in their match against Parramatta.
Carl Lolohea moved into the starting line-up for the Round Three clash against the North Coast Bulldogs starting the match in the front row and maintained his starting front row spot in Round Four against the Central Coast Roosters where he made some impressive runs making good ground post contact.
As a result of his earlier performances in the U18 Laurie Daley Cup competition Carl Lolohea also started in the front row in Round Five against the Greater Northern Tigers and was rewarded for an outstanding match scoring a powerful try late.
Carl Lolohea took the ball from around twelve metres out from the try line to the left of the play the ball and cut back off his left foot to surge over near the left upright dragging a couple of defenders over the line with him.
Post the U18 Laurie Daley Cup competition Carl Lolohea played in the U18 NRRRL competition playing for Ballina. Carl Lolohea started the U18 NRRRL season off with a bang starting in the front row and scoring in Round One in a 44 - 8 Ballina win over Kyogle and he also scored in Round Two against Casino RSM in another big Ballina victory.
Carl Lolohea also had a big match in Round Eleven scoring a hat trick against Evans Head in a 54 – 4 Ballina victory.
In total in the NRRRL U18 regular season competition in 2019 Carol Lolohea scored nine tries from fifteen appearances. In addition to the tries noted above Carl Lolohea also scored against Cudgen and Kyogle and finished the regular season with a bang scoring against Byron Bay.
In Week Two of the NRRRL U18 Finals Carl Lolohea was part of the Ballina side that defeated Cudgen 26 – 20 to progress directly to the Grand Final.
In the 2019 NRRRL U18 Grand Final Carl Lolohea started in the left second row position and terrorised his Cudgen opponents continually throughout the match as Ballina drew away in the second half to win 24 – 6 after the scores were locked 2 all at half time.
Carl Lolohea made his deserved NRRRL Reserve Grade debut in Round Seven for Ballina against the Tweed Coast.
Carl Lolohea started the 2018 season as part of the Northern Rivers U16 Andrew Johns Cup side playing in four matches, including games against the Newcastle Knights Development Squad, the Central Coast Roosters, the Greater Northern Tigers and the Western Rams which featured recent Titans signing Jack Smith.
Carl Lolohea also played for Ballina in the Far North Coast U16 Rugby competition starting seven matches in the centres with his first match being in Round Three against Brunswick Valley. IN his seven matches he scored two tries both coming in Round Thirteen against Lismore.
In 2017 Carl Lolohea represented the Group One U15 side in three matches at the New South Wales Country U15 Age Championships.
In the Group One U16.5 competition in 2018 Carl Lolohea played in thirteen matches for Ballina scoring five tries. Each of his tries came in individual matches and came against Lismore Marist Brothers twice, Casino RSM twice and Clarence Coast.
It would be great to see former Titans (and Brisbane Broncos) Junior Development Squad member and PBC student Josh Bevan in a Titans jersey in 2021 with his Sydney Roosters contract expiring at the end of 2020.
Josh Bevan was to commence the 2020 season starting at hooker for the Roosters in their U18 SG Ball Round One match against the Norths Sydney Bears however the match was cancelled due to the extreme weather conditions in Sydney that weekend.
In Round Two against the Western Suburbs Magpies Josh Bevan was once again named to start at hooker for the Roosters scoring in the first half in the Roosters 50 – 4 victory. Josh Bevan’s try was an opportunist one out of dummy half. With the Roosters on the attack right on the Western Suburbs line, Josh Bevan ran out of dummy half to his left from a metre out, crashing over between two Magpies defenders.
The Magpies initial contact was actually quite good on Josh Bevan but he pumped his legs and was able to crash over mid-way between the uprights and corner post on the left side of the field.
Josh Bevan also started at hooker in Round Three against the Parramatta Eels as well as in Round Four against the Canberra Raiders.
After the Roosters had a Round Five bye, Josh Bevan was back starting at hooker in Round Six against the Cronulla Sharks in what turned out to be a low scoring bruising encounter before the season ended prematurely.
The 2020 season to date for Titan Tremain Spry:
Tremain Spry’s first 2020 appearance was for the Titans in the 2020 NRL 9’s 18 man tournament in Perth in February. In the Titans opening match against the Canberra Raiders, Tremain Spry ran for thirty metres on three runs and made two tackles at a 100% tackling efficiency. In the Titans quarter final victory over Manly Tremain Spry ran for thirty eight metres from three hit-ups and broke a team leading five tackles.
In total in the 2020 NRL Nine’s tournament, Tremain Spry played in two matches, ran for sixty eight metres from six runs, broke five tackles and made two of his own.
Tremain Spry started from the bench in the Titans first NRL trial of 2020 against Burleigh at Pizzey Park. In the match Tremain Spry ran for forty four metres, an impressive twenty one of which were post contact, broke three tackles and made eleven tackles.
Tremain Spry also started at right centre for Tweed Heads in their Queensland Cup trial against Burleigh.
The newest Titan Jamal Fogerty had an outstanding Round One (and only round) of the 2020 Queensland Cup competition scoring a try and kicking four from six conversions and one from one penalty goals in Burleigh’s big 34-6 win over Wynnum Manly.
In addition to his fourteen point haul, in his 80 minutes on the field, Jamal Fogerty had a try assist, ran for a team leading 180 metres (19 post contact), made a team leading two tackle breaks, played the ball at an average speed of 4.74 seconds and made 26 tackles at a tackling efficiency of 89.66%.
Hard running titans linked local forward Reico Ratana from the Nerang Roosters was part of the Titans U16 side that defeated the Newcastle Knights U16 Harold Matthews side in Coffs Harbour in January 2020, 18 -14 in wet and slippery conditions.
The powerful front rower or second rower was also part of the Titans U15 side that defeated the Balmain Tigers 34 – 16 at Piggabeen in early October 2019 after being in camp for the couple of days prior to the annual match in Northern New South Wales.
In February 2020 Reico Ratana was named in the Gold Coast Vikings U16 Training Squad for the 2020 South East Queensland pre-season challenge but unfortunately the competition had to be cancelled due to the pandemic.
The PBC student played for the Nerang Roosters in the GCRL U15 Division One competition in 2019 playing in eleven regular season matches and scoring in late July against Runaway Bay for his sole try of the season but his impact on the competition and his Runaway Bay side was worth far more than just that one try.
In Week Two of the GCRL U15 Division One Finals Reico Ratana started in the front row for Nerang as they went down 20 – 0 to Runaway Bay. Reico Ratana also started in the front row for Nerang in their 22 – 18 Preliminary Final victory over Helensvale to progress to the Grand Final.
In the GCRL U15 Division One Grand Final Reico Ratana once again started in the front row as Nerang avenged their Week Two finals defeat by Runaway Bay to win a fiery Grand Final 36 – 24.
2019 also saw Reico Ratana play for PBC in various Queensland based school boy competitions including producing a Player of the Match performance in the Year Nine Hancock Cup Grand Final win 24 – 18 against Coombabah State High School.
Reico Ratana started PBC’s fight back after they well behind 18 – 6 early in the second half when he scored a barn storming try. Reico Ratana took the ball from the dummy half around ten metres out from the line and cut back against the grain to score near where the ball was played skittling multiple Coombabah defenders along the way.
After the season Reico Ratana was awarded the Year Nine PBC Future Reds Award at the PBC Sports Award Night held in November 2019.
In 2019 Reico Ratana was also part of the all-conquering U15 South Coast that went through the QSSRL U15 school boy Championships undefeated.
Late in the 2019 season Reico Ratana was named in the Queensland Maori U16 QPICC side and was named in the front row in the 2019 Nga Hau e Wha Māori Tournament U16 Boys Merit Team.
In 2018 for Nerang in the GCRL U14 competition Reico Ratana played in fourteen matches, including finals, scoring three tries which all came against Coomera in three separate matches.
In late 2018 Reico Ratana was part of the Queensland Maori U14 side that competed in the QPICC carnival and was in fact named as Queensland Maori U14’s Most Valuable Player.
Reico Ratana has been a Gold Coast representative regular in recent seasons. In addition to representing South Coast U15’s this season, Reico Ratana represented the Gold Coast Vikings U14 side in 2018 playing three matches and scoring on Day One against the Ipswich Diggers. Reico Ratana also played three matches for the Gold Coast Viking sU13’s in 2017 starting those matches in the centres in fact.
The young Nerang Roosters lock has had a great start to the 2017 junior rugby league season, successfully trialling for a spot in the 25 player 2017 Gold Coast Vikings U13 squad after playing the 2016 GCJRL season at the U12 Division One level for Nerang.
Reico Ratana played ten matches in the U12 Division One competition in 2016, scoring three tries and kicking a single goal which came against Jimboomba in June. Reico Ratana scored his tries against Burleigh, Currumbin and Southport with all three tries coming in the second half of the season.
As good as any player in the Titans JTS is front rower/second rower EJ (Edward) Finau.
The hard hitting front rower or second rower was part of the Titans U16 side for their annual match against the Newcastle Knights Harold Matthews Cup (U16) side in Coffs Harbour in January 2020. The Titans came away from the match with an 18 – 14 victory in wet conditions.
The superbly talented young forward is a rare combination of size, strength, speed and power on a football field and that was on display for the Titans U15’s early in 2019 at Mudgeeraba against the Western Mustangs and another Titans U15 development squad.
In the match EJ Finau scored an outstanding try against the Western Mustangs in the last half of one of the U15 matches. EJ Finau stood on the left side of a scrum with a Titans feed about twenty metres out, he received the ball two passes wide of the scrum and simply powered his way over to score mid-way between the posts and the touch line after easily disposing of a Western Mustangs attacker on the way to the try line.
Subsequent to that match the Titans were able to secure EJ Finau to a two year contract, a deal which will I am sure will pay huge dividends for the Titans in future years leading all of the way up to the NRL level and potentially beyond in relation to this outstanding young talent.
In early October 2019 EJ Finau was part of the Titans U15 side that played a Balmain Tigers U15 side at Piggabeen in Northern New South Wales with the Titans winning 34 – 16 in impressive fashion and EJ Finau putting on a damaging and powerful display making significant ground through the centre of the ruck, a lot of which were post contact metres.
For the 2019 GBJRL U15 Division One season EJ Finau moved from Logan Brothers to Redcliffe starting Round One in the left second row position for Redcliffe White making an immediate impact against Mitchelton scoring a double on debut.
EJ Finau’s first try came when after Redcliffe received a penalty around forty metres out from the line, he took the first hit-up and burst through the defensive line before using his speed to easily beat the fullback to score.
EJ Finau’s second try was from a play closer to the Mitchelton line, the ball was delivered to Redcliffe’s left for EJ Finau to receive the pass when running a straight crash line to break through the defensive and then just prior to the line, spun 360 degrees to score whilst dragging three defenders with him.
EJ Finau also had an outstanding game late in the season, Round Fourteen in fact against Redlands where in my opinion was clearly the best player on the field, by far.
The former Logan Brothers product and Marsden State High School student in 2018 was a key member of the Logan Brothers GBJRL U14 Premier Division side and also represented South East Queensland Green at the Queensland U14 Age Championships, starting all four of their matches in the front row including the final against SEQ White which ended in a 16 all draw.
In 2018 EJ Finau was a standout member of the Marsden U14 Michael Hancock Cup side after moving from Wavell State High and in 2016 represented Queensland at the U12 level, in the second row I believe in his first taste of representative rugby league.
Ipswich based Larry Siala signed a three year contract with the Titans in early 2020 and has a lot more potential to unlock.
The big strong young front rower was one of a number of standouts for the Titans U14 side that defeated the Western Mustangs 32 – 8 in February 2019 at Mudgeeraba and also started in the front row for the Titans U14 side that defeated a Titans NRRRL U14/15 Invitational side 32 – 10 in early October 2019.
On that extremely hot Saturday in February 2019 at Mudgeeraba Larry Siala had a simply outstanding match constantly making ground with the ball through the centre of the ruck and as a result of his late footwork prior to the line made major metres post contact and also got away a few more than impressive off-loads usually one handed right ones at that.
I can also recall a couple of huge hits that he put on a couple of Western Mustangs forwards with a couple of the hits forcing the ball loose as a result of the initial contact by Larry Siala. Larry Siala really did stand out as a young player on the rise in that match.
Larry Siala was selected in the 2019 Ipswich Diggers U14 representative side for the Hill Stumer Championships playing both in the second row and front row in the Diggers three matches that were held at North Ipswich Reserve.
After the completion of the competition, Larry Siala was selected in the 2019 South East Queensland Green U14 squad for the Queensland Age Championships. At the Championships, Larry Siala was named on the interchange bench. Over the course of his four games at the Championships, Larry Siala highlighted his aggressiveness especially in defence spending time in both the front row and second row.
The St Edmunds College (Ipswich) student played in the Ipswich Rugby League competition, in 2019 playing for Norths in the U14 age group.
In the 2019 U14 pre-season Larry Siala played in three matches scoring five tries, including a hat trick against Goodna Black in Round Three and a Round Two hat trick against Brothers Ipswich White. His five tries were enough to finish the pre-season as the competitions equal second leading try scorer.
Larry Siala started Round One of the Ipswich Rugby League U14 competition in the front row, scoring for Ipswich Norths in their 14 – 10 loss to Goodna Black. Larry Siala backed that up by also scoring in Round Two against Springfield as Norths won 44 – 0.
Larry Siala made it three tries from as many matches when he scored again in Round Three as Norths defeated Brothers Ipswich 24 – 8. Larry Siala also scored in Round Six against Goodna and Round Eight against Ipswich Brothers.
In total in the 2019 Ipswich Rugby League U14 regular season competition, Larry Siala played in twelve matches scoring eight tries for a 67% strike rate.
In Week One of the Ipswich Rugby League 2019 U14 Finals Series Larry Siala started in the front row for Norths against Goodna with Norths going down 20 -10.
Larry Siala also started in the front row in Week Two of the Finals against Brothers Ipswich being their Preliminary Final victory.
In the 2019 U14 Ipswich Rugby League Grand Final Larry Siala started in the front row against Goodna Black with Ipswich Norths going down 14 - 12.
Larry Siala made his Ipswich Rugby League U15 debut in Round Nine of 2019 against Swifts Bluebirds celebrating the occasion by scoring in Norths big 58 – 8 win.
Larry Siala also played school boy rugby and rugby league in 2019 for St Edmunds College in the AIC competitions playing lock in rugby league.
One of the more underrated players in the Titans JTS is Kobie Mackay-Taylor.
In January 2020 Kobie Mackey-Taylor was part of the Titans U16 side that played the Newcastle Knights U16 Harold Matthews side in Coffs Harbour.
Kobie Mackay-Taylor started the match on the left wing and scored in the first half when he was on the back of a Titans backline movement and a cut out pass from Titans fullback Blake Forder and he was able to dive over from close range in the left corner under pressure from the Newcastle defence.
Prior to crossing the try line Kobie Mackay-Taylor was able to fend off a would be Knights defender on the way to the line. The Knights defender had come in to try to tackle Kobie Mackay-Taylor just as he was to receive the ball but Kobie Mackay-Taylor was too strong and was able to break the attempted tackle.
In February 2020 Kobie Mackey-Taylor was named in the Gold Coast Vikings U16 Training Squad for the 2020 U16 South East Queensland Challenge but unfortunately the Championships fell victim to the Covid 19 pandemic.
The young Helensvale Hornets fullback, winger or centre signed a multi-year contract with the Titans early in 2019 after a stellar campaign with the Hornets in 2018 in the GCRL U14 Division One competition as well as for the Gold Coast Vikings U14 representative side.
Kobie Mackay-Taylor played the 2019 season with Helensvale in the GCRL U15 Division One competition playing in six regular season matches for the Hornets scoring three tries including a double against Ormeau in May and also scoring in a match against Runaway Bay mid-season to finish with a 50% strike rate.
In Week One of the 2019 Finals series Kobie Mackay-Taylor started in the centres and scored as the Hornets defeated Ormeau 20 – 14 to progress to the Preliminary Final.
Week Three of the U15 Division One Finals saw Kobie Mackay-Taylor start in the centres but unfortunately his Helensvale Hornets side were defeated in the Preliminary Final 22 – 18 by Nerang to end their season one win short of a Grand Final berth.
2019 also saw Kobie Mackay-Taylor represent the South Coast U15 QSSRL side that went through the Championships undefeated and as a result was selected in the Queensland White side for the ASSRL U15 Championships.
At the ASSRL U15 Championships Kobie Mackay-Taylor played primarily on the left wing for the Queensland White side including scoring on Day One in a good win against ACT 20 – 4. Kobie Mackay-Taylor’s try was as a result of him backing up a long break from the Queensland White left centre.
Kobie Mackay-Taylor stayed on his left wing and correctly positioned himself to take the pass four metres out from the try line when his centre was caught by the ACT cover defence. Kobie Mackay-Taylor was then able to bring the ball around a touch once he had gotten into the in-goal area.
Kobie Mackay-Taylor also played for Coombabah State High School in their various school boy rugby league competitions in 2019.
In 2018 Kobie Mackay-Taylor represented South East Queensland White U14’s in the Queensland Age Championships finishing as the competitions leading point scorer with thirty points from his four matches including three tries and nine goals playing on the wing.
In Round One Kobie Mackay-Taylor kicked a goal against SEQ Green, Round Two saw him score a try and kick three goals against Central and in Round Three Kobie Mackay-Taylor scored a double and kicked three goals against Northern. Kobie Mackay-Taylor then started on the wing in the final kicking two conversions in a 16 all draw against SEQ Green.
For the Helensvale Hornets U14 Division One side in 2018, Kobie Mackay-Taylor played primarily at fullback including in their 29 – 12 Grand Final victory over Coomera, playing in ten matches overall. Team mates in the Grand Final winning side were fellow Titans contracted players, second rower Zac Johnson and centre Te Haeta Takamore.
Kobie Mackay-Taylor was also part of the Helensvale U14 side that won the Tassell Trophy in 2018 scoring in the Hornets 40 – 6 Tournament final victory over the Western Lions.
If you are looking for a multi-talented goal kicking forward you need to look no further than Titans linked Reshawn Anderson.
Reshawn Anderson’s first 2020 hit-out came for one of the three Titans U15 sides that played round robin matches against each other in mid- February 2020 at Burleigh’s Pizzey Park. Reshawn Anderson’s team won both of their matches to finish the day undefeated.
The Goal kicking front rower Reshawn Anderson started his 2019 campaign in impressive fashion scoring two tries and kicking a conversion for Ballina as they defeated Casino RSM 54 – 4 in Round Two in the Group One U14 competition, Ballina had a Round One bye.
In Round Three Reshawn Anderson continued his impressive form scoring a try and kicking two conversions as Ballina defeated Clarence Coast 44 – 8. Reshawn Anderson also scored a Round Six double against Lismore Marist Brothers. In Round Twelve against Grafton Reshawn Anderson added a try and a goal to his season’s points tally.
Reshawn Anderson had a huge Round Thirteen match against Lismore Marist Brothers scoring three tries and kicking three goals to finish the match with eighteen points.
In total in the 2019 Group One U14 regular season competition Reshawn Anderson played in eight matches for Ballina scoring sixty two points from nine tries (113% strike rate) and thirteen goals to average just under eight points per game.
In Week One of the Finals series, Reshawn Anderson scored as Ballina progressed on the back of a 34 – 6 win over South Grafton and was also a member of the Grand Final winning side and fact was named the Player of the Match in the Grand Final.
Post the Grand Final Reshawn Anderson’s Group One U14 Ballina side was named Team of the Group One Junior Rugby League competition for their unbeaten season. On an individual level Reshawn Anderson was also named 2019 Group One U14 Representative Player of the Year.
Reshawn Anderson in 2019 also played two matches in the Group One U15 competition, making his debut against Casino RSM and scored his first try in that competition in Round Thirteen against Lismore Marist Brothers.
Reshawn Anderson was named in the front row for the Group One U14 Taipans for the New South Wales Country Age Championships that were held in Port Macquarie in late September. In Group One’s first qualifying match Reshawn Anderson kicked two conversions as Group One drew 14 all with Newcastle and added a try and a conversion in Group One’s Northern Cup semi-final.
In early in October Reshawn Anderson was part of a Titans U14/15 NRRRL side that went down 32 – 10 to the Titans U14 Gold Coast/Brisbane Academy side in a development match at Tweed Heads a match for me at least Reshawn Anderson was one of the NRRRL sides best.
Reshawn Anderson also represented Ballina Coast High School in multiple school boy competitions in 2019 including being part of the Ballina Coast High School side that won the 2019 U15 Titans Cup when they won all four of their matches on the day.
Ballina Coast’s wins were against Alstonville High School 11 – 10 in Round One, St Joseph’s Banora Point 20 – 4 in Round Two, Woodlawn College 12 – 6 in the semi-final and Alstonville 18 – 6 in the Grand Final.
The powerful Ballina Seagulls junior had a great season in the 2018 Group One U13 competition where he scored seven tries and kicked seven goals to finish with 42 points from his eleven matches.
In 2018 Reshawn Anderson scored doubles against South Grafton and Casino RSM and also scored in other matches against South Grafton, Kyogle and Lismore Marist Brothers over the course of the season.
With the boot Reshawn Anderson kicked two conversions in a late season match against Clarence Coast in 2018 with the remainder of his seven goals coming from individual matches over the course of the season as well
As good as any player in the Titans JTS is Carina U15 left second rower William Semu:
The Brisbane based young man signed a contract with the Titans that will see him in Titans colours for the next couple of seasons.
The outstanding young second rower proved to be almost unstoppable on the left side of the field for the Titans U14 side in February 2019 in their 32 – 8 win over the Western Mustangs at Mudgeeraba in February 2019 and also started in the second row for the Titans U14 side that defeated a Titans NRRRL U14/15 Invitational side 32 – 10 in early October 2019.
In addition to starting the match in the second row, William Semu scored an outstanding try and was awarded the award as the Titans player in the match. In the match William Semu formed a lethal left side combination with centre Karl Oloapu.
William Semu played for Carina in the 2019 GBJRL U14 Division One competition where a team mate was fellow Titans contracted player Hayden Miller.
William Semu was due to represent the Brisbane Blue U14 side at the 2019 Hill Stumer Championships due was forced to miss the Championships where he was named in the second row due to injury.
William Semu made his return from injury in Round Ten of the GBJRL U14 Division One competition against Souths Acacia Ridge and started the match in the No. 7 jersey. Throughout the match, William Semu operated on the left side both in attack and defence and made some good plays, including one outstanding run down the left touch line which looked like leading to an outstanding long range individual try but unfortunately William Semu just put his foot on the touch line.
With Carina in front late in the game against the previously undefeated South Acacia Ridge side, William Semu also pulled off some outstanding defence on his own try line, constantly turning back the Souths attack.
William Semu was heavily involved in Carina’s U14 GBJRL Finals series including their Major Semi-final victory over Souths Acacia Ridge and started at left second row in the Grand Final once again against Souths Acacia Ridge but unfortunately Carina went down 28 – 4.
Post the GBJRL competition William Semu was named in the 2019 U14 Queensland Samoa side for the 2019 QPICC Championships. William Semu started in the U14 Final for Samoa as they went down 8 – 6 to PNG but scored a double in Round Three (one try in each half) also against PNG.
2019 also saw William Semu co-captain the Marsden SHS Renout Cup side.
One of the more impressive attacking players in the Titans JTS is Te Haeta Takamore.
The young Helensvale Hornets strike centre/fullback deservedly signed a multi-year contract with the Titans early in 2019.
In January 2020 Te Haeta Takamore was part of the Titans U16 side that played and defeated a Newcastle Knights U16 Harold Matthews side in Coffs Harbour.
In February 2020 Te Haeta Takamore was named in the Gold Coast Vikings U16 Training Squad for the 2020 U16 South East Queensland Challenge but unfortunately the Championships fell victim to the Covid 19 pandemic.
For the Hornets in the 2019 GCRL U15 Division One competition Te Haeta Takamore played in ten matches scoring five tries (50% strike rate) playing both in the centres and at fullback for the Hornets.
Te Haeta Takamore’s 2019 tries included a Round Three double against Ormeau and also scored in another match against Ormeau as well as against Nerang and Runaway Bay in consecutive mid-season matches.
In Week One of the U15 Division One Finals series Te Haeta Takamore stated in the centres as Helensvale progressed as a result of defeating Ormeau.
Week Three of the U15 Division One Finals being the Preliminary Final saw Te Haeta Takamore score a double from the centre position but Helensvale were knocked out by Nerang going down 22 – 18 to fall just short of a Grand Final appearance.
2019 also saw Te Haeta Takamore represent South Coast at the U15 QSSRL Championships where South Coast went through undefeated to win the Championships and subsequently Te Haeta Takamore was named in the Queensland Whites side for the U15 ASSRL Championships.
At the 2019 ASSRL U15 Championships Te Haeta Takamore played primarily at fullback for the Queensland White side, including scoring and being named player of the match on Day One against ACT in a good Queensland White win 20 – 4.
Te Haeta Takamore was everywhere in the match, including scoring a long range fifty metre try when he received the ball early on the left from a Queensland White scrum win, he got outside his direct opponent and outpaced the cover defence to score untouched.
Te Haeta Takamore also had a try assist early in the match on the right when he drew a defender to send the Queensland right centre over and also had a big hand in the try scored by fellow Titan Kobie Mackay-Taylor and to cap off an outstanding match produced a great try saving tackle mid-way through the first half.
For the Helensvale Hornets U14 Division One side in 2018, Te Haeta Takamore played primarily in the centres including in their 29 – 12 Grand Final victory over Coomera. Team mates in the Grand Final winning were fellow Titans contracted players, second rower Zac Johnson and fullback Kobie Mackey-Taylor.
In total of the Helensvale U14 Division One side in 2018 Te Haeta Takamore played in twelve matches, including the Grand Final and finished as his sides leading try scorer with ten tries including doubles against Beaudesert and Ormeau.
Te Haeta Takamore also played in three U15 Division Two matches in 2018 scoring once with the first match being against Jimboomba in that Division.
In 2018 Te Haeta Takamore also had the honour of being named on the wing in the Keebra Park Team of the Year and was also named Keebra Park Year 8 Player of the Year, deserved honours for the talented young man.
Te Haeta Takamore was also part of the Helensvale U14 side that won the Tassell Trophy in 2018 scoring in the Hornets 40 – 6 Tournament final victory over the Western Lions to go through the competition undefeated.
To cap off his 2018 season Te Haeta Takamore was part of the Queensland Nga-Hua U14 side that took part in the QPICC tournament.
One of the more exciting contracted young play makers in the Titans JTS program is Burleigh half Ryan Rivett who in January 2020 started at five eight for the Titans U18 side in their annual match against the Newcastle Knights SG Ball (U18) side in Coffs Harbour.
In a sign of the regard that the Titans hold in him, Ryan Rivett trained with the Titans Rookie Squad in the 2019-20 offseason and played for the Titans Rookie squad against the Tweed Heads Queensland Cup side in early February 2020 at Cudgen in wet and slippery conditions.
Ryan Rivett was also a key performer for the Burleigh MM side that drew 20 all with a Burleigh Colts selection in a trial that preceded the Titans v Burleigh NRL trial at Pizzey Park in February.
Ryan Rivett started Round One of the 2020 MM Cup competition for the Burleigh Bears at half against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls scoring a try and kicking two goals from three attempts.
In January 2019 Ryan Rivett was part of the Titans U18 side that played a Newcastle Knights U18 SG Ball side in Coffs Harbour.
Ryan Rivett was also part of the Titans U18 side that defeated a PNG U18 side at Burleigh’s Pizzey Park in early October 2019 and recently spent a session training alongside the Titans NRL squad with his fellow Titans contracted junior players.
Ryan Rivett started at half for the 2019 Burleigh MM Cup side in their Round One match with the Norths Devils with Ryan Rivett contributing a try in in Burleigh’s great comeback to draw 38 all with the Devils.
Ryan Rivett started all six of Burleigh’s MM Cup matches at half, and had an outstanding match in Round Six against the previously unbeaten Wynnum Manly Seagulls scoring a try, kicking three goals and also the game winning field goal with less than two minutes on the clock.
Ryan Rivett’s try resulted from a piece of individual brilliance. The ball was spun to the right of the field, Ryan Rivett received the ball with pressure to his right, he stepped quickly back inside to get through the initial defensive line before scoring under extreme pressure from Wynnum Manly defenders.
In the 2019 MM Cup Player of the season voting Ryan Rivett finished the season with two votes.
Post the MM Cup competition Ryan Rivett played for Burleigh in the new GCRL U18 Division One competition starting Round One against Currumbin at half, scoring a try and kicking three goals in the match.
Ryan Rivett also scored a try and kicked three goals in Round Two against Helensvale and followed that up by kicking five goals in Round Four against Ormeau and four goals in Round Six against Runaway Bay.
In total before injury struck, Ryan Rivett played in five U18 Division One matches for Burleigh scoring 38 points from two tries and fifteen goals.
Ryan Rivett was also a stand out in 2019 for PBC early, including playing a starring role in their Round One Langer Cup victory over Marsden State High School, including scoring in the second half when he stepped back inside off his right foot to break through the initial defensive line before diving over.
Ryan Rivett also started at half in Round Two of the Langer Cup competition one again at half as PBC defeated St Mary’s 18-12. PBC were not at their best but Ryan Rivett still led the side around the field will and kicked well both from a tactical and attacking perspective.
Unfortunately injury cruelled his 2019 but Ryan Rivett was able to make it back in time to start at half for Burleigh in their Week Two U18 Division One final victory 34 – 8 against Southport to progress directly to the U18 Division One Grand Final with Ryan Rivett contributing a try and a conversion to the dominating victory.
In the GCRL U18 Division One Grand Final Ryan Rivett started at five eight and was at his classy best directing Burleigh around the field in their 28 – 12 victory over Southport.
In the Grand Final Ryan Rivett contributed conversions in the 21st and 38th minutes to the Burleigh victory.
Early in the 2019 season, Ryan Rivett was selected in the South West U18 side for the QSSRL U18 Championships after the South Coast trials starting at half for that side.
The Titans contracted half spent the 2018 season playing for Burleigh in the U16 Division One competition but also got an opportunity in the U17 Division One competition as well.
Ryan Rivett started at half back and scored a hat trick for the Titans U16 side in a 60 – 10 win over PNG at Pizzey Park and was named by the coaches as the player of the match. Ryan Rivett also started in the halves for the Titans U16’s in their 30 – 10 to New South Wales Country U16’s and kicked a second half conversion in the match.
In the U16 Division One competition, Ryan Rivett played in twelve matches including the finals series scoring 101 point from eight tries, thirty four goals and a field goal (kicked against Southport).
From a regular season try scoring perspective, Ryan Rivett scored a double against Runaway Bay and also scored against Helensvale, Mudgeeraba in two separate matches and against Southport.
Ryan Rivett’s best goal kicking match was against Mudgeeraba in June when he kicked six and on three occasions he kicked four goals in a match.
In Week Two of the 2018 U16 Division One Finals series, Ryan Rivett started at half back for Burleigh as they defeated Helensvale 24 – 18. In the Friday night match Ryan Rivett scored a try and kicked four from four.
In Week Three of the GCRL Finals series being the Preliminary Finals, Ryan Rivett was certainly busy. On the Friday night he started at half back in the U16 Division One match, scoring as Burleigh went down 28 – 26 to Currumbin.
Ryan Rivett then started at five eight for the Burleigh U17 Division One side, scoring a try and kicking three second half conversions but unfortunately Burleigh went down to a rampant Runaway Bay side 34 – 22 to end their season.
Ryan Rivett made his U17 Division One debut against Mudgeeraba in late May 2018 starting the match at half back and running riot on the way to scoring a hat trick. In his second and final U17 Division One match of 2018 Ryan Rivett kicked two goals against Helensvale.
Ryan Rivett was also selected in the 2018 Queensland Indigenous U16 side for the QPIIC Championships that were held in October in Beenleigh.
Ryan Rivett was part of the 2018 Gold Coast Vikings White U16 side that played in the South East Queensland U16 Challenge early in the season and recently was named joint winner of the 2018 GCRL U16 Representative Player of the Year.
The nippy young Burleigh Bears half back’s outstanding 2017 season culminated in him putting on a Titans jersey for the Titans U15 side that took on a Balmain Tigers selection at Cudgen late last year, 2017 also saw Ryan Rivett be part of the Gold Coast Academy of Sport Excellence Program.
Over the course of the GCJRL 2017 U15 Division One competition for Burleigh Ryan Rivett played in thirteen matches scoring five tries, kicking nine goals and a field goal for 39 points on the 2017 season. All of Ryan Rivett’s tries came in individual matches against Southport on two occasions, Coomera on two occasions and Helensvale.
Ryan Rivett’s field goal came late in the season against Coomera. Ryan Rivett started off the season as Burleigh goal kicker, kicking four in a match against Southport and the following week, three against Coomera. All of his season’s goals came in the first four rounds of the competition.
The 2020 season for Titan Jed Edwards:
Jed Edwards commenced his 2020 season starting at hooker for the Titans Rookie Squad that played a Tweed Heads Seagulls Queensland Cup selection at Cudgen in wet and slippery conditions.
Jed Edwards started from the bench in the Titans first NRL trial of 2020 against Burleigh at Pizzey Park coming on in the second half in the dummy half role and recording a 100% tackling efficiency through his nine tackles.
Jed Edwards started Round One of the 2020 Hastings Deering’s Colts competition for the Tweed Heads Seagulls at hooker, and captaining the side against the Northern Pride and scoring in just the third minute of the match.
The 2020 season for Lofi Khan-Periera:
The young Burleigh Bears winger and former Keebra Park student in 2018 signed a new three year Development contract with the Titans after the expiration of his initial two year contract and is spending at least part of the current off-season training with the Titans NRL squad where his speed has already caught the attention of seasoned NRL players such as Ryan James who has commented that Lofi Khan-Periera is easily the fastest player in the Titans NRL pre-season training squad.
Ryan James’s comments on Lofi Khan-Periera’s speed were backed up on multiple occasions with him regularly being the fastest player in the Titans NRL pre-season speed sessions.
Lofi Khan-Periera started from the bench in the Titans first NRL trial of 2020 against Burleigh at Pizzey Park with the young flyer getting a touch or two under his belt in his first official senior game of rugby league.
Lofi Khan-Periera also started on the left wing for the Burleigh A Grade side in their late February 2020 trial against the Tweed Heads Seagulls.
Lofi Khan-Periera started Round One of the 2020 Hastings Deering’s Colts competition for the Burleigh Bears at left centre against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls and scoring a scintillating try showcasing his speed as Burleigh started their campaign with a first up victory.
The 2020 season for Titans NRL Development contract holder Kea Pere:
Kea Pere started in the second row for the Titans first NRL trial of 2020 against Burleigh at Pizzey Park and certainly made a positive impression running for eighty nine metres (twenty four post contact), broke two tackles, had a line break assist and made thirty one tackles at a tackling efficiency of 93.94%.
Kea Pere started from the interchange bench for Burleigh in their final Queensland Cup trial against the Tweed Heads Seagulls.
Kea Pere started Round One of the 2020 Queensland Cup competition for the Burleigh Bears at right centre after initially being named on the bench against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls. Kea Pere played all eighty minutes in the match, running for thirty eight metres (thirteen post contact), broke a tackle, played the ball at an average speed of 5.56 seconds and made twelve tackles.
The 2020 season for Titan Tristian Powell:
Tristian Powell started from the bench in the Titans first NRL trial of 2020 against Burleigh at Pizzey Park in an impressive senior rugby league debut. In total in the match Tristian Powell ran for 106 metres (thirty five post contact) and made fifteen tackles.
Tristian Powell started from the interchange bench for Burleigh in their final Queensland Cup trial against the Tweed Heads Seagulls.
Tristian Powell started Round One of the 2020 Hastings Deering’s Colts competition for the Burleigh Bears in the second row against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls.
The 2020 season for Titans contracted Will Evans:
Will Evans commenced his 2020 season starting at right centre for the Titans Rookie Squad that played a Tweed Heads Seagulls Queensland Cup selection at Cudgen in wet and slippery conditions.
Will Evans then started on the right wing for the Burleigh Queensland Cup side in their 2020 trial against the Titans at Pizzey Park. Late in the match after switching to left centre Will Evans almost scored when he took an intercept ten metres out from his own line and burst down the left wing, only to be caught in an outstanding tackle a metre out from scoring by Jayden Campbell.
In total in the match Will Evans ran for 117 metres (eighty seven post contact) and made ten tackles at a more than solid 90.81% tackling efficiency.
Will Evans also started on the right wing for Burleigh’s final Queensland Cup trial against the Tweed Heads Seagulls.
Will Evans started Round One of the 2020 Queensland Cup competition for the Burleigh Bears on the left wing against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls and had an outstanding match scoring in the 73rd minute and also recording a try assist.
Will Evans try was a simple one as he took the ball around five metres out after a back line movement to score in the left corner, his try assist however was anything but easy. Will Evans chased a Burleigh clearing kick down the left touch line, the Wynnum Manly fullback flicked the ball back into the field after it was going to go out. Will Evans dived on the ball to get possession back for Burleigh.
Will Evans immediately got back to his feet and stepped off his left foot to get inside a defender coming across. In the tackle Will Evans, as he was falling to the ground, flicked the ball out of the back of his right hand to a trailing Jamal Fogerty to run twenty five metres to score untouched.
In total in the match Will Evans played the entire eighty minutes, running for seventy four metres (nineteen post contact), made a line break, played the ball at an average speed of 2.84 seconds and made four tackles.
The 2020 season for Titans contract Jayden Campbell:
The Titans contracted fullback started from the bench in the Titans first NRL trial of 2020 against Burleigh at Pizzey Park and made an outstanding impression on Titans coaching staff and supporters with the undoubted play of the match.
With only minutes to go and the Titans on the attack ten metres out from the Burleigh line, Bears left centre (and fellow Titan) Will Evans took an intercept racing down the left touch line. It looked for all money like Will Evans would score but Jayden Campbell flew from the other side of the field to bring Will Evans down a metre short from the line. Will Evans subsequently lost the ball as he got up to try to play the ball quickly with Jayden Campbell heavily involved to force the error.
Jayden Campbell was also heavily involved in Jonas Pearson’s second half try, the Titans second. Jayden Campbell got into dummy half and threw a great cut out ball in one motion that travelled around twelve metres to his left down a short blind side to put Jonas Pearson into space.
In total in his time at fullback in the match, Jayden Campbell ran for forty seven metres (eleven post contact), had a line break assist, a try assist being the Jonas Pearson try noted above, broke three tackles as well as finishing the match with a 100% tackling efficiency including that amazing tackle on a flying Will Evans.
Jayden Campbell started Round One of the 2020 Hastings Deering’s Colts competition for the Burleigh Bears at fullback showcasing his elite foot work against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls also captaining the side scoring a try and kicking four from four conversions as Burleigh started their campaign with a solid first up victory.
JT (John Thomas) Manuofetoa is a powerful young centre or second rower from the Ormeau Shearers junior rugby league club on the Gold Coast who was part of the Shearers U16 Division One Grand Final winning side in 2019, scoring a double in the victory. JT Manuofetoa was named to start the Grand Final on the bench end ended up starting and starring at right centre.
JT Manuofetoa is currently contracted to the Brisbane Bronco’s but with the Titans doing such a great job in bringing young local junior back into the fold, anything is certainly possible.
JT Manuofetoa started Round One of the 2020 MM Cup competition for the Tweed Heads Seagulls at right second row against the Northern Pride scoring in the Seagulls big first up 50 – 20 victory.
In 2019 JT Manuofetoa moved to Brisbane Grammar School and started all eight of their GPS school boy rugby matches at outside centre (No. 13) with his debut in Round Two against Ipswich Grammar School after Brisbane Grammar School had a Round One bye.
In 2018 JT Manuofetoa was named to start in the second row for U16 Queensland City side for their match against Queensland City but was unfortunately ruled out of the match in the end.
In early 2018 JT Manuofetoa started at left centre for the Titans U15 side in their six tries to three victory over the Western Mustangs at Nerang. Over the course of the match JT Manuofetoa combined well with Kaleb Ngamanu.
JT Manuofetoa was also part of the Ormeau U14 Division One side in 2017 that defeated Burleigh in the 2017 Grand Final 31 – 16. JT Manuofetoa actually started the Grand Final at five eight.
Over the course of the 2017 GCJRL U14 Division One season, JT Manuofetoa played in thirteen matches for the Shearers, scoring eight tries including a final’s double against Runaway Bay. JT Manuofetoa had a great end to the regular season scoring in each of the last four rounds.
In 2016 JT Manuofetoa played at fullback for the all-conquering U13 Gold Coast Vikings side as well as being named in the centres for South East Queensland Green U13’s.
For the Ormeau Shearers in the U13 Division One competition in 2016, JT Manuofetoa played in ten matches and scored an impressive 17 tries for the season to finish third on the try scoring tally behind Shearers team mate Syris Schmidt who topped the list. At a team level, Ormeau had a very successful year culminating in a 34 – 22 Grand Final victory over Runaway Bay.
JT Manuofetoa started the Grand Final at fullback. As noted JT Manuofetoa scored seventeen tries including an incredible span of five matches where he scored 14 tries alone including four against Helensvale, hat tricks against Helensvale again and Nerang and doubles Currumbin and Burleigh Heads. Earlier in the 2016 season he also scored a double against Jimboomba.
Previous seasons has seen JT Manuofetao make a number of representative sides, for example in 2014 he represented the South Coast U11 QPSRL side which won the Queensland championships and scored two tries against Wide Bay and in 2015 he played for the Queensland Invitational side which finished third in the Australian U12 championships, and across the pool matches scored four tries, one each against ACT, WA, SA and NT.
Connor Te Kani is a local young five eight/centre who started Round One of the 2020 MM Cup competition for the Tweed Heads Seagulls at five eight against the Northern Pride finishing the match with an individual points haul of sixteen from a try and six from ten goal kicking attempts in the Seagulls big first up victory.
Connor Te Kani played his club rugby league on the Gold Coast with the Coomera Cutters in the 2019 GCRL U16 Division One competition.
For the Cutters Connor Te Kani played thirteen matches, including starting the Grand Final at five eight and kicked four goals as the Cutters went down in heart breaking fashion in golden point 22 – 20 to Ormeau.
In his thirteen matches Connor Te Kani scored seventy three points from three tries, thirty goals and a field goal which he kicked in Round Two against Ormeau. Connor Te Kani’s tries came in matches against Ormeau in Round Two and also in matches against Helensvale and Burleigh.
With the boot Connor Te Kani kicked six goals in Week One of the U16 Division One Finals Series against Burleigh and five mid-season against Helensvale, he also scored in those two matches. Connor Te Kani added three further goals in Coomera’s Preliminary Final victory over Currumbin.
Connor Te Kani started all eight of Brisbane Grammar Schools GPS First XV matches at No. 10 (fly half) making his debut In Round Two against Ipswich Grammar School after Brisbane Grammar School had a Round One bye.
In his eight matches Connor Te Kani kicked seven conversions with his first coming in Round Three when he kicked a pressure conversion in the last minute to lock the scores up at 17 all against Anglican Church Grammar School (Churchie).
Connor Te Kani kicked two conversions in Round Seven and Eight against Nudgee and Brisbane State High School respectively and also kicked a conversion in Round Six against Gregory Terrace and in Round Nine against Toowoomba Grammar School.
In the 2019 QPICC Connor Te Kani represented the Cook Islands U16 side playing in all four of their matches at half and had an outstanding final scoring two tries and kicking three goals as the Cook Islands defeated Tonga 14 – 6 in the Final.
For the Coomera Cutters (he had previously played for Runaway Bay) Connor Te Kani played in eleven matches in the 2018 GCRL U15 Division One competition, including points and finished as one of the competitions leading point scorers with 84 from ten tries and twenty two goals.
In Round Two of the U15 Division One Final’s series, Connor Te Kani started at five eight and kicked a conversion as Coomera went down 44 – 6 to eventual Grand Final winners Ormeau.
In the U15 Division One Preliminary Final Connor Te Kani once again started at five eight, scoring a try and kicking a conversion as Coomera bowed out of the competition on the back of a 58 – 14 loss to Runaway Bay.
In addition to his finals try, Connor Te Kani scored four doubles which came in matches against Currumbin (in two matches), Mudgeeraba and Ormeau. Connor Te Kani’s other try came late in the season against Mudgeeraba.
Connor Te Kani had some big matches from a goal kicking perspective in 2018 including six goals in a match against Currumbin (he also scored a double in the same match) and five against Mudgeeraba late in the season.
In addition Connor Te Kani was co-captain of the Griffith University Colleges U15 rugby side that won their Grand Final, which was played as a curtain raiser to the Wallabies against Argentina test 47 – 19 against the Helensvale Hogs with Connor Te Kani starting the Grand Final at fullback.
In total for Griffith University Colleges Connor Te Kani played in fourteen matches, starting six at fullback, two from the interchange bench, two at fly half (No. 10), two at inside centre and two at outside centre.
Connor Te Kani scored three tries and kicked eight conversions, including three in Round Fourteen against the Gold Coast Eagles. Connor Te Kani’s tries came in Round Nine against the Gold Coast Eagles, Round Twelve against Bond University and in Round Fifteen against the Surfers Dolphins.
Connor Te Kani was also part of the Queensland Red side that won the Australian Gold Cup (U15) Championships starting at outside centre in the final as Queensland Red were victorious 17 – 5 against NSW Gen Blue I. Connor Te Kani also started at outside centre in the semi-final.
In 2016 the season Connor Te Kani was also yet another member of the exceptionally talented U13 Gold Coast Vikings side that went through the Hill Stumer Championships undefeated. From those championships, Connor Te Kani was selected in the centres for the South East Queensland White team for the Queensland Age Championships. Connor Te Kani kicked five goals on Day One in wins against Brisbane Red and Brisbane White.
Unfortunately for Runaway Bay even though they finished the U14 Division One 2016 season proper as the minor premiers, they were defeated 34 – 22 in the Grand Final by the Ormeau Shearers, with Connor Te Kani starting in the centres and kicking three conversions.
Over the course of the 2016 season, Connor Te Kani scored 13 tries from just nine matches and also kicked 18 goals to finish with 88 points in the season. In a four games stretch during June and July 2016, Connor Te Kani scored nine tries including two hat tricks which came against Jimboomba and Helensvale and also in that same stretch scored a double against Jimboomba. Earlier in the season, he also scored a double against Nerang. Connor Te Kani also averaged two tries a game across seven matches in the U13 pre-season grading competition.
With the boot, Connor Te Kani had two big games when he kicked seven against Ormeau and six against Jimboomba (the same day he scored three tries for 30 points in the game). Connor Te Kani also played one match at the U14 Division One level which was against Nerang.
During the 2015 season, he also made the Qld U12 side that won the national U12 championships with a 4 – 0 victory against NSW in the final. During the course of the U12 National championships, he scored two tries in the pool matches, against Western Australia and ACT and also scored in Queensland’s semi-final victory against Victoria
The 2020 season for Titans NRL Development contract holder Toby Sexton:
Toby Sexton started at five eight for the Titans first NRL trial of 2020 against Burleigh at Pizzey Park scoring late in the match when he backed up a break when the Titans attacked down the left side of the field to take an inside pass and outpace the cover defence to score under the posts. The match was Toby Sexton’s first senior match.
In total in the match Toby Sexton ran for forty eight metres (seven post contact), broke a tackle and made seventeen tackles at a 100% tackling efficiency. Toby Sexton also kicked twice in general play with those kicks making forty seven metres.
Toby Sexton also started at five eight for the Tweed Heads A Grade side in their late February 2020 trial against the Burleigh Bears.
Toby Sexton started Round One of the 2020 Hastings Deering’s Colts competition for the Tweed Heads Seagulls at half against the Northern Pride and kicked five goals from seven attempts as Tweed Heads emerged with a first up victory with Toby Sexton playing a significant role in the big win.
The 2020 season for Titans NRL Development contract holder Ioane Seuili:
Ioane Seuili started from the bench in the Titans first NRL trial of 2020 against Burleigh at Pizzey Park which was his first match back from his shoulder injury. In the match Ioane Seuili ran for ninety one metres (twenty nine post contact) and made seventeen tackles at a 100% tackling efficiency.
Ioane Seuili also started in the second row for Tweed Heads in their Queensland Cup trial against Burleigh.
Ioane Seuili started Round One of the 2020 Queensland Cup competition for the Tweed Heads Seagulls from the interchange bench against the Northern Pride coming on to play sixty five minutes. In that time Ioane Seuili ran for sixty five metres (twenty seven post contact), broke a tackle, played the ball at an average speed of 4.05 seconds and made thirteen tackles at a 92.86% tackling efficiency
The 2020 season to date for Greg Lelesiuao:
Greg Leleisiuao made an immediate impression on the Titans coaching staff post his arrival being named in the Titans 2020 NRL 9’s 18 man squad. In the Titans opening match against the Canberra Raiders, Greg Leleisiuao ran for fifty seven metres on five carries, scoring a try, made a line break, broke four tackles and also made a tackle.
In the Titans quarter final victory over Manly Greg Leleisiuao ran for forty seven metres from four hit-ups and made three tackles at a 100% tackling efficiency. In the Titans semi-final loss to North Queensland Greg Leleisiuao ran for a team leading ninety three metres on five runs, made a line break, broke two tackles and made two tackles.
In total in the 2020 NRL Nine’s tournament, Greg Leleisiuao played in three matches, ran for 197 metres from fourteen, scored a try, broke six tackles, made two line breaks and made six tackles.
Greg Leleisiuao started on the right wing for the Titans first NRL trial of 2020 against Burleigh at Pizzey Park. In his time on the Greg Lelesiuao ran for 112 metres (thirty four post contact), broke three tackles and had a 100% tackling efficiency.
Greg Leleisiuao also started from the bench in the Titans second and final NRL trial against the Brisbane Broncos in Redcliffe running for forty eight metres (eleven post contact), broke four tackles, played the ball at an average speed of 3.93 seconds and made a tackle.
Greg Lelesiuao started Round One of the 2020 Queensland Cup competition for the Burleigh Bears on the right wing against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls breaking a ridiculous fourteen tackle breaks in his eighty minutes on the field.
In the match Greg Lelesiuao ran for 152 metres (thirty seven post contact), played the ball at an average speed of 4.3 seconds and had a 100% tackling efficiency whilst making five tackles, one of which was a try saving effort in the first half in the right corner when he held up the Wynnum Manly played who had looked certain to score by initially hitting the attacker with solid contact and rolling the Wynnum Manly player onto his back to prevent the ball being grounded in the Seagulls left corner.
The 2020 season to date for Tannah Boyd:
Tannah Boyd’s first 2020 appearance was for the Titans in the 2020 NRL 9’s 18 man tournament in Perth in February. In the Titans opening match against the Canberra Raiders, Tannah Boyd, in addition to kicking three conversions from as many attempts, ran for twenty four on three carries, had a try assist and made three tackles at a 100% tackling efficiency.
Tannah Boyd made a further eight metres from a run and made two tackles in Game Two against the Wests Tigers. In the Titans semi-final loss to North Queensland Tannah Boyd ran for sixty four metres on four runs and made two tackles at a 100% tackling efficiency.
In total in the 2020 NRL Nine’s tournament, Tannah Boyd three matches, ran for ninety six metres from eight runs, converted three tries and made seven tackles at a 100% tackling efficiency.
Tannah Boyd started at half for the Titans first NRL trial of 2020 against Burleigh at Pizzey Park kicking two conversions from three attempts in an assured display. In total in the match Tannah Boyd ran for forty three metres (five post contact) and made fifteen tackles at a tackling efficiency of 88.24%. In addition, Tannah Boyd made 260 metres from his eleven tactical kicks.
Tannah Boyd also started from the bench in the Titans second and final NRL trial against the Brisbane Broncos in Redcliffe running for thirty seven metres, breaking a tackle and making six at a 100% tackling efficiency.
Tannah Boyd started Round One of the 2020 Queensland Cup season on the bench for Burleigh against Wynnum Manly playing five eight on the left side of the field when he came on and recorded a try assist when a pin point bomb he put up was taken on the full by Sami Sauiluma to score next to the left upright.
Tannah Boyd was on the field for twenty eight minutes running for eleven metres (four post contact), broke a tackle, kicked once for twenty two metres (being the bomb noted above), played the ball at an average speed of 4.18 seconds and made three tackles.
When the NRL season restarts one player who will push for playing time in the second row is 2020 Titans NRL recruit Beau Fermor.
The Dalby born and raised second rower joins the Titans NRL squad on a three year deal in 2020 after two outstanding seasons with the Newcastle Knights in the U20 Jersey Flegg and Canterbury Cup competitions. Beau Fermor sought and gained a release from his NRL Development contract to sign with the Titans.
In 2019 Beau Fermor was outstanding for the Knights Canterbury Cup side and as a result started in the second row for the New South Wales Residents against their Queensland Resident counterparts in a State of Origin curtain raiser.
In the 2019 Canterbury Cup competition, Beau Fermor played in fifteen matches starting the first thirteen in the second row and his final two matches including Round Twenty One, when he suffered a serious knee injury from the bench.
On eleven occasions, including his first eight 2019 Canterbury Cup matches of the 2019 season, Beau Fermor played the entire 80 minutes of the match. In total Beau Fermor was on the field in the 2019 Canterbury Cup for 1 095 out of a possible 1 200 minutes being 91.25%. An impressive statistic considering Beau Fermor sustained a serious knee injury early in Round Twenty One.
In his 1 095 minutes on the field Beau Fermor ran for 1 797 metres (587 post contact, being 32.67%), broke thirty three tackles including eight in Round Three against the Mounties, offloaded the ball on ten occasions, broke the line on four occasions, had a line break assist and made 454 tackles at an impressive tackling efficiency of 91.6%.
Beau Fermor finished the 2019 Canterbury Cup season with a try scoring strike rate of 26.67% after scoring in Rounds One, Three, Five and Seven against the Newtown Jets, Mounties, Blacktown Workers and the Western Suburbs Magpies respectively.
Beau Fermor’s 2019 Canterbury Cup per game averages included playing 73 minutes, running for 119.8 metres and making 30.27 tackles. Thus per eighty minutes, Beau Fermor, in 2019, ran for 131.29 metres and made 33.17 tackles.
On eleven occasions in 2019 Beau Fermor ran for in excess of 100 metres, including a 175 metres effort against Blacktown in Round Five and 160 metres in Round Three against the Mounties. On nine occasions Beau Fermor made in excess of thirty tackles in 2019 including making forty tackles in Round Three against the Mounties and Round Fourteen against the Magpies and a season high forty three tackles in Round Thirteen against the Rabbitohs.
For the New South Wales Residents representative side in 2019 Beau Fermor started in the second row in the interstate match against Queensland Residents playing 67 minutes. In that time, Beau Fermor ran for 95.5 metres (twenty eight post contact), scored and made thirty two tackles at an 88.9% tackling efficiency.
Beau Fermor made his Canterbury Cup debut for Newcastle in 2018 playing in six matches scoring twice. In the 2018 Canterbury Cup competition, Beau Fermor ran for 531 metres, broke the line on three occasions, offloaded the ball five times and made 145 tackles at a solid tackling efficiency of 85.8%.
Thus Beau Fermor in 2018 in the Canterbury Cup ran for 88.5 metres and made 24.17 tackles per game whilst playing approximately 65 minutes. Thus per eighty minutes, Beau Fermor, in 2018, ran for 108.92 metres and made 29.75 tackles.
Beau Fermor had an outstanding first season in 2018 with the Newcastle Knights U20 Jersey Flegg squad, including not just being named Newcastle Knights 2018 Jersey Flegg Player of the Year but also the New South Wales Rugby League 2018 Jersey Flegg Player of the Year.
In the 2018 U20 Jersey Flegg competition for the Knights, Beau Fermor started in the second row in all seventeen of his matches including Newcastle’s three Finals matches. Beau Fermor finished the 2018 Jersey Flegg season with an impressive strike try scoring rate of 76.47%.
Included in his thirteen tries was a Round Six hat trick against the Cronulla Sharks and a Round Twenty One double against the Mounties. Beau Fermor also scored in Round One (Manly), Round Two (Wests Tigers), Round Three (St George Dragons), Round Eight (Norths Sydney Bears), Round Eleven (Canterbury Bulldogs), Round Twenty (Parramatta Eels), Round Twenty Two (New Zealand Warriors) and Week One of the Finals against the Mounties.
Beau Fermor also started in the season row for the Queensland U20 State of Origin side in 2018 in the annual U20 State of Origin interstate match. Team mates in the Queensland side in their 36 – 10 win were AJ Brimson who started at five eight and 2021 Titans NRL signing Tino Fa’asuamaleaui who started from the bench.
In 2017 Beau Fermor was part of the Melbourne Storm NYC squad starting in the second row in all twenty two NYC matches that he played in 2017. Beau Fermor finished the 2017 NYC season with seven tries including a Round Fifteen double against the North Queensland Cowboys.
Beau Fermor also scored in Round Four (Wests Tigers), Round Five (Cronulla Sharks), Round Eighteen (Broncos), Round Twenty One (Manly Sea Eagles) and in Round Twenty Four against the Newcastle Knights.
In 2016 Beau Fermor played for the Sunshine Coast Falcons and even though he was still U18 eligible was named the Falcons Colts best forward.
For the Sunshine Coast Falcons Beau Fermor played in fourteen matches, commenced the season on the bench before coming into the falcons starting line-up in the second row in Round Six against the Burleigh Bears. In 2016 Beau Fermor also started four of his fourteen matches in the centres with his first coming in Round Thirteen against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls.
In total Beau Fermor, in the 2016 Queensland Colts competition started six matches in the second row, four in the centres and the remaining four from the bench.
Beau Fermor finished the 2016 Queensland Colts season with a try scoring strike rate of 50%, including a Colts debut double in Round One against Souths Logan. Beau Fermor also scored in Round Five (Redcliffe), Round Eight (Ipswich), Round Nine (Norths), Round Twenty Three (Western Mustangs) and Round Twenty Five against the Easts Tigers.
In 2016 Beau Fermor also kicked two conversions with both coming in Round Fourteen against the Souths Logan Magpies for his only two goals kicked in the senior rugby league ranks.
Over the course of the 2019 Gold Coast Rugby League season one player who impressed me as much as anybody else when I saw him play was Ormeau Shearers U16 Division One left second rower LT Anae.
Lt Anae started off his 2020 school boy campaign starting in the forward pack for Gold Coast based Somerset College in their First XV 32 – 15 trial win over Brisbane based Ambrose Treacy College in very wet conditions with LT Anae providing a strong presence in both attack and defence.
LT Anae’s outstanding 2019 rugby league season included a great performance in Ormeau’s 22 - 20 U16 Division One Grand Final victory over Coomera in golden point as a result of a penalty goal from right next to the goal posts.
LT Anae who started the 2019 season in the Gold Coast Vikings U16 set up played in fifteen GCRL U16 Division One matches this season scoring six tries with those tries coming individually in matches against Southport, Mudgeeraba, Helensvale (two matches), Burleigh and Coomera.
In 2018 LT Anae also played for Ormeau playing in the GCRL U15 Division One competition and finishing his eleven matches with four tries including a mid-season double against Southport and also tries against Runaway Bay and the Robina Raptors.
It should also be noted that LT Anae is also a very good basketballer who plays for the Coomera City Warriors in the North Coast Basketball Association and has done so for a number of seasons including in the 2019/20 U20 A and Men’s A Grade competitions before their premature closure.
In Round One of the 2019/20 Summer Season LT Anae had a particularly impressive game in the Boys U20 A competition scoring nineteen points from nine two points shots and a free throw as Coomera held on to defeat SSC 52 – 51 after LT Anae put the Warriors ahead 51 – 41 late in the match with a two point conversion. Round Two saw LT Anae score five points from a two point and three point shot in a one point Warriors loss to CAC.
In total in the 2019/20 U20 A summer competition, prior to its shut down for Coomera City LT Anae played in eleven matches, averaging 6.27 points per game (ppg) including scoring nineteen against SSC and thirteen against CAC
Lt Anae also played in the 2019/20 Open A Men’s Gold Coast Basketball competition in that competition LT Anae averaged 2.8 ppg including a season high eight points against St Stephens Chargers.
In 2020 LT Anae also played for the North Gold Coast Seahawks Navy side in two competitions being the U18 Boys Development Cup and the U18 Boys Division three/four State Championships.
In the U18 Boys Division three/four State Championships LT Anae played in seven matches averaging 6.14 ppg including scoring eleven against Ipswich and eight against Caboolture in the last match that he played.
In the U18 Boys Development Cup LT Anae played in six matches scoring an average of 9 ppg. LT Anae’s first six matches of the Cup were outstanding including a sixteen point effort against the SWM Pirates, fourteen against SC Phoenix and ten against Toowoomba
A young player who I knew nothing about prior to the commencement of the 2019 Gold Coast Rugby League season was Coomera Cutters U16 Division One left second rower Christian Kiri but through is outstanding performances made me sit up and take notice.
Christian Kiri started off his 2020 sporting campaign starting in the forward pack for Gold Coast based Somerset College in their First XV 32 – 15 trial win over Brisbane based Ambrose Treacy College in very wet conditions with Christian Kiri standing out in both attack and defence.
In 2019 for the Coomera Cutters in the GCRL U16 Division One competition Christian Kiri played sixteen matches for Coomera scoring just the one try which came against Burleigh in May but his contribution and skill set on display, including an outstanding U16 Division One Grand Final display far exceeded his try scoring tally.
Unfortunately Coomera went down in the Grand Final 22 – 20 as a result of an Ormeau penalty goal kicked in golden point after the scores were locked 20 all at the conclusion of the match in regular time.
In addition to playing rugby league in 2019, Christian Kiri played for the Helensvale Hogs in the 2019 Gold Coast Rugby U16 competition and also represented the Gold Coast Cyclones U16 representative rugby side scoring against Downlands in Game Four of that competition, where Christian Kiri spent time at outside centre (No. 13).
Prior to playing for Coomera in the GCRL U16 Division One competition in 2019 Christian Kiri played in the 2018 Ipswich Rugby League U15 competition for the Springfield Panthers scoring six tries and kicking one conversion in ten matches.
In 2017 in the Ipswich Rugby League U14 competition, Christian Kiri played limited matches but had a huge season in 2016 in the Ipswich Rugby league U13 Development Cup competition scoring seventeen tries from eleven matches and scored seven tries from four matches in the Ipswich Rugby League U13 competition
Former Titans Development Squad member and Gold Coast local Damon Somerville is off contract with the Brisbane Broncos at the end of the 2020 season and it would be great to see him back with the Titans sooner rather than later.
Damon Somerville’s first hit out of the 2020 season was when was involved for the Burleigh MM Side in their trial against the Easts Tigers. Damon Somerville was probably Burleigh’s best in the trial where he played in the centres, primarily left centre.
Damon Somerville started Round One of the 2020 MM Cup competition for the Burleigh Bears at left centre against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls with the Bears going down 28 – 16 to Wynnum Manly in what ended up being the one and only MM Cup Round of the 2020 season.
In late 2019 Damon Somerville was named in the 2020 U18 Queensland Emerging Origin Squad highlighting his ability and standing in the game.
Damon Somerville started the 2019 season with Burleigh in the MM Cup competition, playing in all six of their matches, spending time at both centre and second row. Damon Somerville started in the centres in Rounds One and Five against Norths and Souths Logan respectively, starting in the second row in his remaining four fixtures.
Damon Somerville ended the 2019 MM Cup campaign with two tries with those tries coming in Round Two against Ipswich and Round Four against the Townsville Blackhawks.
Damon Somerville also was part of the South Coast U18 QSSRL side but unfortunately was injured in the QSSRL U18 Championships.
Damon Somerville was also part of the Burleigh U18 Division One side this season but only played a limited number of matches as a result of the arm injury suffered playing for South Coast.
Damon Somerville started in the centres in his first U18 Division One match of the 2019 season in Round Ten and scoring against Currumbin. Damon Somerville moved to fullback for Round Eleven against Runaway Bay, scoring as well in that match and made it three from three when he scored in Round Twelves whilst playing in the centres against Helensvale.
Damon Somerville moved to the second row for Round Thirteen against Bilambil but that did not scoring his scoring run scoring for the 4th match in a row.
In Week Two of the U18 Division One Finals series Damon Somerville started in the centres for Burleigh in their victory 34 – 8 against Southport to progress directly to the Grand Final contributing a try to the dominating victory.
Damon Somerville was outstanding from the right second row position in the Grand Final for Burleigh scoring an outstanding solo try that showcased power running and a strong fend as he beat at least four Southport defenders to score. Burleigh went on to win the Grand Final 28 – 12.
With his finals tries and those in his three U18 Division One regular season rounds, Damon Somerville scored a try in each of his six 2019 matches.
The 2018 Queensland U16 Emerging Origin Squad member was part of the PBC Rugby League Excellence Program and has been a Burleigh Heads Junior his entire career. Damon Somerville’s younger brother Kaden is contracted to the Titans.
Damon Somerville was an ever present for the PBC side in 2018 playing a key role for the PBC Open side that won the National GIO Cup competition. Damon Somerville primarily came off the bench for PBC playing left second row when he came on.
Damon Somerville in 2018 played four matches in the GCRL U16 Division One competition for Burleigh and certainly made an impact on his way to scoring five tries, including a hat trick against Mudgeeraba and tries against Nerang and Currumbin.
Damon Somerville also played one match at the U17 Division One level which was against Mudgeeraba in May 2018. In that match Damon Somerville was one of the Burleigh try scorers.
Damon Somerville first wore a Titans jersey in 2014 when he started at five eight for the Titans U13 Development Squad in a match against a Toowoomba U14 selection and that morning at Pizzey park he cut Toowoomba apart including scoring a try under the posts with a great show and go splitting the Toowoomba defence from about 40 metres out.
Earlier in 2018 Damon Somerville was part of the Gold Coast Vikings side that played in the South East Queensland U16 pre-season competition. In 2017 Damon Somerville was part of the South Coast U15 side that competed in the U15 QSSRL competition, playing four matches in the centres and from there was selected in the U15 Queensland Maroon side for the U15 ASSRL Championships.
For Queensland Maroon, Damon Somerville played in four matches and scored against Queensland White and ACT.
In 2014 Damon Somerville was part of the Queensland Rugby League U12 side. A team mate in that side was Titans contracted and fellow PBC student Ediq Ambrosyev
Brisbane based half Cooper Hersom was involved in the Titans U15 Academy matches at Burleigh after being part of the Titans Logan based academy and also in 2019 played for Carina in the GBJRL U14 Division One competition finishing second on the goal kicking tally.
In 2019 Cooper Hersom also represented the Brisbane Red U14 side at the Hill Stumner Championships that were held at Ipswich, starting his four matches at half. Cooper Hersom was also Brisbane Red’s first choice goal kicker across the two day competition.
Against the Gold Coast Vikings U14 side at the Hill Stumner Championships Cooper Hersom scored on outstanding try when he split the Vikings defence to score. Cooper Hersom ran to the right of the field at the defensive line with the ball out of the front of his body threatening to pass until the last possible moment, only to pull the ball back into his body and slice through the defence around fifteen metres out and then Cooper Hersom stepped off his right foot to beat the Vikings fullback who was coming across the field, to score mid-way between the right upright and corner post.
Post those Championships Cooper Hersom was selected for the U14 South East Queensland Green side for the 2019 Queensland Age Championships where he played in all four of their matches, including their 26 – 4 Championship Final victory against Northern.
At the Championships Cooper Hersom kicked seven conversions including a conversion in the Championship Final. Cooper Hersom also kicked three goals in Game Two against Northern, two goals in Game Three against South East Queensland White and in Game One kicked a conversion against Central.
The South East Queensland Green side was not the only representative ide that Cooper Hersom made in 2019 as he was also selected in the Met East U15 QSSRL side.
In 2019 Cooper Hersom was a stand out for his Alexandra Hills State High School Boy’s side starting all of their matches at half back alongside Titans contracted duo Zyroam Taurawa-Herlihy and Gary Whare- Herlihy
Northern New South Wales youngster Lachlan Offley was involved in the Titans U15 Academy matches at Burleigh in early 2020 and post those round robin matches against other Titans academy sides signed a contract with the Titans which will see him part of the Titans JTS program for the next couple of seasons.
In March 2020 the Alstonville High School student travelled to the Kadina High Campus to compete at the Northern Rivers Zone 15 Years Boys Rugby League Trials. Post those trials Lachlan Offley was selected into the Northern Rivers Zone 15 Years Boys Rugby League Team. 2020 also saw Lachlan Offley trial for the Northern Rivers Zone 15 Years Boys Touch Team.
Easts Tigers (GBJRL) youngster Zyroam Taurawa-Herlihy early this year signed a contract with the Titans for the next couple of season after his outstanding 2019 performances for the Tigers and in representative sides.
Zyroam Taurawa-Herlihy was also involved in the Titans U15 Academy matches at Burleigh and post those round robin matches signed his contract with the Titans which will see him part of the Titans JTS program for the next couple of seasons.
In 2019 Zyroam Taurawa-Herlihy played for the Easts Tigers in the GBJRL U14 Division One competition alongside fellow Titans contracted player Gary Whare- Herlihy. Zyroam Taurawa-Herlihy played fifteen matches for the Tigers scoring fifty six points from twelve tries and kicking four conversions, playing primarily played in the centres.
In 2019 Zyroam Taurawa-Herlihy was also a stand out for his Alexandra Hills State High School Boy’s side starting all of their matches. For Alexandra Hills Zyroam Taurawa-Herlihy operated primarily in the centres and was probably the stand out player in their Year Ten school boy side.
2019 also saw Zyroam Taurawa-Herlihy selected on the wing in the Brisbane Blue side for the U14 South East Queensland Hill Stumner Championships that were held in Ipswich. Post those Championships Zyroam Taurawa-Herlihy was selected in the South East Queensland U14 White side for the Queensland Age Championships.
Local young outside back Brock Lennox from the Helensvale Hornets early this year signed a contract with the Titans for the next couple of season after his outstanding 2019 performances for the Hornets and in representative sides.
Brock Lennox was also involved in the Titans U15 Academy matches at Burleigh in early 2019 and post those round robin matches signed his contract with the Titans which will see him part of the Titans JTS program for the next couple of seasons.
In 2019 Brock Lennox played for the Helensvale Hornets in the GCJRL U14 Division One competition finishing the season as one of the competitions leading goal kickers and points scorers overall as he has for a number of seasons in yellow and green. It was a similar situation in 2018 in the GCRL U13 Division One competition.
In 2019 Brock Lennox also represented the Gold Coast Vikings U14 side at the Hill Stumner Championships starting at left centre, that were held at Ipswich and post those Championships was named in the South East Queensland White side for the Queensland U14 Age Championships.
For Queensland White at the Championships, Brock Lennox played in all four of their matches primarily at left centre and kicked five goals including two in the Championships third v fourth 16 – 14 play-off win against Central to round out an impressive 2019 representative season for the Titans contracted centre.
Brock Lennox also kicked two goals in Game One against Northern and one in Game Three against South East Queensland Green when he converted the try of fellow Titans contracted player, second rower Philip Hakaraia-Ngamotu.
In 2018 Brock Lennox played for Merrimac High School in the NRL Gold Coast Titans Year 7/8 Challenge and was in fact named player of the competition after a number of outstanding displays for the Gold Coast based school
Local young outside back Matthew Barrow from the Jimboomba Thunder early this year signed a contract with the Titans for the next couple of season after his outstanding 2019 performances for the Thunder and in representative sides.
Matthew Barrow was also involved in the Titans U15 Academy matches at Burleigh and post those round robin matches signed his contract with the Titans which will see him part of the Titans JTS program for the next couple of seasons.
In 2018 and 2019 Matthew Barrow played for the Jimboomba Thunder in the GCJRL U13 and U14 competitions being the outstanding performer in those sides including a three try and five goal effort in the 2018 U13 major semi-final 36 – 30 victory over Burleigh finishing the match with a twenty two point individual point haul.
In 2019 Matthew Barrow also represented the Gold Coast Vikings U14 side starting on the left wing at the Hill Stumner Championships that were held at Ipswich and post those Championships was named in the South East Queensland Green side for the Queensland U14 Age Championships.
Matthew Barrow’s two tries in the Championship Final both came in the first half and both were scored wide-out in the left corner. Matthew Barrow’s first try which was also the first try of the match came after a good backline movement put Matthew Barrow in space about twenty five metres out. Matthew Barrow’s initial burst of speed took him past the immediate defender but Matthew Barrow had some work to do close to the line when he broke through a would be around the chest tackle by the Northern fullback who came across to try to knock him into touch about two metres out from the try line.
Matthew Barrow scored his second try of the Championship Final and the half after the half time siren had sounded. Matthew Barrow received a long loop pass to his left wing, which he took twenty metres out and outpaced the cover defence to score in the left corner untouched.
Matthew Barrow finished the Championships with a100% strike rate through his four matches which he started on the left wing, including scoring a double in the Championship Final against Northern in South East Queensland’s 26 – 4 victory . Jack Barrow also scored in Game One against Central and Game Two against Northern.
The young centre or winger (more recently) went on a try scoring blitz in 2017 for the entire U12 Division Two competition season amassing twenty three tries including four tries on four separate occasions which came in the opening two rounds against Mudgeeraba and Parkwood as well as against Southport and Currumbin and five tries in a Round Three clash against the Coomera Cutters. In Round Two against Parkwood, Matthew Barrow also converted five of his own tries and had 102 points on the season.
Matthew Barrow also played one Division One U13 match in 2017 scoring against Coomera in his debut match
Seems like when the Gold Coast rugby league season comes back in July, the Burleigh and Tweed Heads Queensland Cup players will be allocated to local Gold Coast clubs, that will be a great local competition and will also include the Titans fringe players.
The Gold Coast First Grade competition will also have a new club included being the Mudgeeraba Redbacks.
It also appears that the Northern NSW competitions such as Group Two and NRRRL are aiming to play an eight round regular season followed by finals, with junior competitions in Group One and Group 18 set also for a shorten season.
One young player who I am sure is keen to get back onto the field is Keebra Park student Jett Bryce.
The Helensvale Hornet had an outstanding 2019 season including being named in the 2019 U13 South East Queensland development squad and in November 2019 was named the Gold Coast Rugby League U13 Representative Player of the Year.
The young second rower has a big future ahead of him.
Runaway Bay's big strong young front rower Amare Milford's 2019 was outstanding including starting in the front row for the Gold Coast Vikings U13 Representative side and post that he was named in the U13 South East Queensland Development Squad.
Hopefully Amare Milford will be able to get on the field later this year for Runaway Bay in the GCRL U14 Division One competition.
Speed out of dummy half is a key trait for hookers in the modern game and one young player on the Gold Coast who has that in shapes is Helenvale's Lennix Teika.
In 2019 Lennix Teika started at hooker for the Gold Coast Vikings U13 representative side and post the Hill Stumer Championships was named in the U13 South East Queensland Development Squad.
Lennix Teika played his club rugby league in the Hornets yellow and green in the GCRL U13 Division One competition as well as playing five games up in the U14 Division One competition.
The young man is also a talented touch plyer, representing Queensland in 2018 and 2019.
In 2018 Lennix Teika was part of the Qld U12 side that won the Championship Final 4-3 against Rockhampton with Lennix Teika being name Player of the Final.
Southport centre Tyrel Laban had an impressive first season on the Gold Coast playing for the Tigers in three divisions.
In the U13 Division One competition, Tyrel Laban scored thirteen tries from just nine matches (144% strike rate), scoring in each one.
He recorded doubles against Runaway Bay, Ormeau, Coomera twice and Currumbin and also scored against Runaway Bay, Currumbin and Burleigh in separate matches.
Tyrel Laban played in two U14 Division One matches in 2019 as well as five U14 Division Two matches.
He made his U14 Division One debut against Burleigh in June and also played against Mudgeeraba in late July.
His U14 Division Two debut came also in June against Burleigh, in fact that weekend Tyrel Laban played in all three grades. His first U14 Division Two try came in his third match in that competition against Burleigh and he also followed that up with a try in his next match against Nerang.
Burleigh GCRL U13 Division One centre Sam Stephenson had a great 2019 season which saw him finish with 100 points from fifteen matches and finish second on the competitions try scoring list in the regular season.
In only one game in the regular season being against Ormeau did Sam Stephenson not score in 2019, scoring twenty four tries in his other fourteen games for a strike rate of 160%. He also kicked two goals in Round One against Coomera to hit the 100 point on the season mark.
Sam Stephenson recorded four tries in consecutive rounds against Ormeau and Southport as well as scoring a hat trick against Coomera mid-season.
He also scored three doubles coming against Coomera in two matches and Ormeau with tries against Currumbin twice, Nerang, Runaway Bay twice and Ormeau accounting for the remainder of his tries.
In 2018 in the GCRL U12 Division One competition Sam Stephenson recorded a 100% strike rate from fourteen matches.
Grafton Ghosts flyer Jye Boehme had an outstanding 2019 season in the Group One U14 competition, finishing as the competitions second leading try scorer with 21 tries from eleven matches (191% strike rate) and added six goals to finish the 2019 season with a points tally of 96.
In only one game did Jye Boehme not score but he did score four tries on two occasions being against Lismore Marist Brothers and Kyogle and he added a hat trick mid-season against Clarence Coast (also kicking two goals in that match).
Jye Boehme also scored doubles against Kyogle, South Grafton and Clarence Coast, with his other tries coming in matches against Ballina on two occasions, Casino RSM and South Grafton.
Jye Boehme also played AFL in 2019, being named the U15 Best and Fairest Runner-up and was part of the Grafton side that defeated Sawtell 60 – 12 in the U15 AFL Grand Final.
Ormeau Shearers U13 Division One fullback Ryan McCann’s 2019 season was an impressive one including scoring twenty seven tries from his fourteen matches which saw him finish as the competition’s leading try scorer and a strike rate of 193%. With a conversion against Runaway Bay, Ryan McCann scored 110 points on the season.
Ryan Mccann’s season included scoring five tries early in the season against Southport and four tries against Currumbin and Southport. He also scored hat tricks in consecutive matches in June against Runaway Bay and Coomera and recorded doubles against Burleigh on two occasions and Currumbin. His other two tries came against Runaway Bay and Burleigh.
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