View Full Version : Junior Development
Casino RSM’s Laine Toohey had a season for the ages in the Group One U14 competition scoring at least one try in all eleven of his matches to finish with nineteen tries for a strike rate of 173%. He also kicked conversions against Kyogle and South Grafton to finish the 2019 season with 80 points.
Laine Toohey scored a mid-season hat trick against Lismore Marist Brothers and late in the season added a further hat trick against Clarence Coast and scored doubles against Clarence Coast twice, Kyogle and Lismore Marist Brothers.
His other tries came against Kyogle, Ballina, South Grafton and Grafton.
Laine Toohey also played two Group One U15 matches in 2019
Clarence Coast Magpies elusive Levi Cavanough continues to prove that he is one of multiple outstanding rugby league prospects in Northern New South Wales with another impressive season in 2019 to add to his growing resume.
For the Magpies Levi Cavanough played in thirteen Group One U15 matches including kicking a conversion in their 14 – 10 Grand Final victory over Ballina.
In total in his thirteen matches Levi Cavanough scored ten tries and kicked twenty goals to finish with 80 points. He scored doubles against Casino RSM twice and also scored against Lismore Marist Brothers twice, Ballina twice, Kyogle and Casino RSM.
With the boot he had an outstanding match in early August when he kicked seven against Casino RSM, also scoring in that match.
In 2019 also played six U16.5 Group One matches making his debut in early May against Marist Brothers Blue with his first points in the U16.5 competition coming in his third match against Casino RSM. Levi Cavanough scored two tries in the U16.5 competition being against Kyogle and Casino RSM.
2020 saw Levi Cavanough named as a reserve for the Northern Rivers Titans U16 Andrew Johns Cup squad.
It appears that the GPS school boy rugby season will kick off on July 18 this year which is good news for a number of Titans such as Kaleb Ngamanu and Nic Hilton from TSS and Orlando Swain from Ipswich Grammar School amongst others.
One player who will play a lot of matches when games kick off again in 2020 is Runaway Bay and TSS outside back Billy Wellard.
In 2019 Billy Wellard played for Runaway Bay in the U13 Division One competition as well as one match in the U14 Division One competition.
From a representative perspective, Billy Wellard represented the U13 Gold Coast Vikings side and was named in the U13 South East Queensland Development squad.
Billy Wellard also played for TSS in their U13A GPS school boy rugby side in 2019 starting matches at inside centre (No. 12), outside centre (No.13) and on the left wing (no. 11) and was particularly impressive mid-season scoring a double against Brisbane Boys College.
Powerful young second rower Philip Hakaraia-Ngamotu made a big splash for Burleigh in the GCRL U14 Division One competition in 2019, his first on the Gold Coast since his move down from Brisbane. In addition to playing for Burleigh Philip Hakaraia-Ngamotu attends Keebra Park and is part of their junior age school boy program which is now linked to the Titans.
As a result of his outstanding performances for Burleigh, Keebra Park and in representative sides Philip Hakaraia-Ngamotu signed a contract with the Titans in early 2020.
After performing well for the Gold Coast Vikings U14 side at the Hill Stumer Championships held at Ipswich, Philip Hakaraia-Ngamotu started in the second row, specifically right second row for the South East Queensland White side at the Queensland U14 Age Championships.
At those Championships, Philip Hakaraia-Ngamotu started all four of South East Queensland White’s matches in the second row and scored a double in their third against fourth 16 – 14 victory against Central.
Philip Hakaraia-Ngamotu also scored in Game Three against South East Queensland Green to finish with a 75% strike rate, with his try against South East Queensland Green converted by fellow Titans contracted player Brock Lennox.
As a result of his performances for the U14 Vikings and South East Queensland White Philip Hakaraia-Ngamotu was named the 2019 Gold Coast U14 Representative Player of the Year.
For Burleigh in the GCRL U14 Division One regular season competition Philip Hakaraia-Ngamotu started the majority of his fourteen matches at right second row and scored eleven tries including a big four try effort in Round Eleven against Ormeau.
Philip Hakaraia-Ngamotu’s remaining seven tries came in separate matches against Currumbin twice, Mudgeeraba twice, Helensvale, Ormeau and Beaudesert.
In Week Two of the 2019 U14 Division One Finals series, Philip Hakaraia-Ngamotu started from the bench against Runaway Bay in a 40 – 6 win that that propelled Burleigh directly into the Grand Final.
In the 2019 U14 Division One Grand final Philip Hakaraia-Ngamotu started at right second row and formed a lethal combination with Kalahni Lawrence and was rewarded with a try when he came back under his five eight to charge through a number of defenders to score adjacent to the right upright with the run accounting for fifteen metres and at least three broken tackles.
At the late September Gold Coast Rugby League Presentation Night, Philip Hakaraia-Ngamotu was named as the 2019 U14 GCRL Player of the Year, as well as the a fore mentioned representative Player of the Year.
In early October 2019 Philip Hakaraia-Ngamotu was named on the bench for the 2019 Nga Hau e Wha Maori Tournament U14 Boys Merit Team after his impressive performances in the tournament.
Titans contracted Keano Kini was part of the Auckland based Marist Saints side that toured Australian in July 2019 playing a number of matches including a match on the Gold Coast against a Keebra Park select side in prefect conditions on the Gold Coast at Keebra Park’s school campus. In that match Keano Kini kicked five conversions.
Keano Kini also started at half in another tour match against the Mudgeeraba Redbacks with Kenao Kini kicking six goals as Marist Saints defeated the Redbacks 48 – 0, with Keano Kini also recording a try assist, when operating on the right of the field, he held the ball up bueatifully to put the Marist Saints right centre away on a twenty metre run to to score.
Titans Kaleb Ngamanu and Nic Hilton have got a tough match first up in the GPS First XV school boy rugby competition in July. After a Round One bye, the TSS First XV side are set to take on Nudgee College in Brisbane in Round Two.
They have a big match later in the season at Ipswich when they take on Ipswich Grammar School which will include Titan Orlando Swain.
Brisbane based Easts Tigers (GBJRL) youngster Gary Whare- Herlihy early this year signed a contract with the Titans for the next couple of season after his outstanding 2019 performances in the black and orange of the Tigers and the Titans Logan based Academy.
Gary Whare- 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 Gary Whare-Herlihy played in the hooking role for the Easts Tigers in the GBJRL U14 Division One competition alongside fellow Titans contracted player Zyroam Taurawa-Herlihy.
In 2019 Gary Whare-Herlihy also played for his Alexandra Hills State High School Boy’s side starting all of their matches at hooker once again alongside fellow Titans contracted student Zyroam Taurawa-Herlihy
Gold Coast local young forward Wailer Whaiapu from the Southport Tigers and Keebra Park student early in 2020 signed a contract with the Titans for the next couple of season after his outstanding 2019 (and earlier) performances for the Tigers and in Gold Coast and South East Queensland U14 representative sides.
Wailer Whaiapu was also involved in the Titans U15 Academy matches at Burleighin early 2020 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 at the very least.
In 2018 and 2019 Wailer Whaiapu played for the Southport Tigers in the GCJRL U13 and U14 Division One competitions as well as for Keebra Park in their various school boy competitions.
In 2019 Wailer Whaiapu also represented the Gold Coast Vikings U14 representative side, being named on the bench 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, starting the majority of those matches against Central, Northern and South East Queensland White (twice) from the bench.
In 2018 Wailer Whaiapu (Year Seven) was named at lock in the Keebra Park Rugby League Team of the Year. Fellow Titans contracted player Te Haeta Takamore (Year Eight) was named on the wing in that side as well. In previous years the likes to Titans NRL squad member Tannah Boyd has been named in the Keebra Park Team of the Season.
Wailer Whaiapu is not just a talented sportsperson, he is also has showcased his academic aptitude by being involved in various school boy academic pursuits with Keebra Park State High School including in a National History competition in 2019.
Wailer Whaiapu moved over from Perth in Western Australia for the start of the 2018 season after being named in the Western Australian U12 school side in 2017 when he was a student at Ashburton Drive Primary School with Western Australia finishing sixth at the Championships
Forest Lake State High School student and outstanding five eight or half back prospect Brandon Tikinau early this year signed a contract with the Titans for the next couple of season after his outstanding 2019 performances for the Forest Lake State High School Year Eight school boy side and the Titans Logan based Junior Academy.
Brandon Tikinau 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 Brandon Tikinau captained his Forest Lake State High School Year Eight Bronco’s Cup rugby league side that fell to Coombabah State High School in the final of that competition and was heavily involved in the majority of the good things that occurred for Forest Lake State High School in the match.
In the final Brandon Tikinau started the match at five eight, setting up Forest Lakes first try when after taking the ball to the left of the ball the ball before cutting back across the field making his way to the right of the play the ball and firing a long flat cut out pass (seriously it was just a flick of the wrist and the ball flew like a well-aimed bullet) to his right to allow his right centre to get outside his direct opponent from around five metres out from the line.
2019 also saw Brandon Tikinau start at half for the Ipswich Diggers U14 representative side at the Hill Stumner Championships with a team mate being fellow Titans contracted youngster Larry Siala, leading the Diggers side around the field assuredly.
After playing the 2017 (U12) and 2018 (U13) seasons with Logan Brothers in the Greater Brisbane Junior Rugby League competition, Brandon Tikinau played the 2019 season with the Springfield Panthers in the Ipswich Rugby League U14 competition where he palyed against fellow Titans contracted player Larry Siala who played for the Norths Tigers.
In 2018 Brendon Tikinau was part of the Brisbane U13 Blue representative rugby league side and in 2017 Brandon Tikinau started at five eight for the Met West side at the Queensland U12 Primary School Boy Championships when he was attending Pallara State School.
The Titans association with Keebra Park will pay dividends into the future but looking backwards the Gold Coast school is already a big contributor to the Titans NRL squad.
For the 2017 Keebra Park National GIO Cup wining side (they defeated Westfield Sport High 25-12), Tannah Boyd started at half and slotted a 53rd minute field goal and Ioane Seuili started at right centre scoring a key try off a Tannah Boyd pass in the first half. In addition, Titans contracted Lofi Khan-Periera started on the left wing and scored the first try of the match in just the 3rd minute when he flashed down the left wing to score in the corner.
In addition three other Keebra Park players from that match will play in the Gold Coast Rugby League competition when it gets back underway in July. Those three talented players and the positions that they played in the 2017 GIO Cup National Final are front rower Geordie Brand, left second rower Laz Sua and lock Brock Hamill.
Coming through the junior ranks on the Gold Coast for Runaway Bay and Keebra Park Tannah Boyd always stood out as a classy player and even after leading Keeba Park in Queensland and Australian GIO Cup success against Marsden and Westfield Sports High respectively, Tannah Boyd still probably had not received the recognition that he deserved.
It was not until Tannah Boyd starred at five eight for the Australian School Boys side in their 40 – 8 win against the New Zealand U18 side in late 2017 that many more people sat up and took notice. That afternoon Tannah Boyd was clearly the best player on the field on his way to scoring a double as well as recording four try assists. When you throw in three kicks where New Zealand were trapped in their own in goal, Tannah Boyd had one heck of a match.
Less than a year later Tannah Boyd had made his Queensland Cup debut and less than two years later he made his NRL debut for the Titans.
Tannah Boyd’s first try for the Australian School Boys side came early in the second half, being the 59th minute. After taking the ball on the right side of the field thirty metres out, Tannah Boyd dummied to a runner coming back inside before veering outside the New Zealand five eight and sprinting the remaining distance in dive over in the left corner.
Tannah Boyd scored his second try in the 69th minute when he on hand to take an off-load fourteen metres out from the New Zealand line on the right side of the field. Tannah Boyf double pumped to his right and slicing through a gap to score mid-way between the right goal post and the right corner post.
Tannah Boyd’s first try assist came in the 27th minute of the match. Operating on the right, Tannah Boyd, using a right foot step thirty five metres out from the line before drawing the fullback to send Campbell Graham away to score.
Tannah Boyd’s second try assist came just six minutes later being in the 33rd minute when he produced a run around on the right of the field before throwing a flat pass to David Fifita to barge his way over.
In the 54th minute Tannah Boyd made it three try assists when he once again, after a run over sliced through from twenty metres out before drawing the New Zealand fullbackand throwing an onside pass to David Fifita to score under the posts.
Tannah Boyd’s fourth a final try assist of the match resulted from a Tannah Boyd right foot grubber which he aimed at the righ goal post from the left side of the field. The kick was weighted perfectly for 2020 Tweed Heads Seagulls Queensland Cup recruit Jeese Cronin to run through the collect the ball and score under the posts.
To add to his outstanding match, on three occasions Tannah Boyd produced well weighted kicks which trapped the New Zealanders in their own in goal. These kicks occurred in the 56th, 67th and 80th minutes. The kick in the 56th minute was particularly impressive. Tannah Boyd received the ball from the dummy half to the right fifty two metres out from the New Zealand line, putting in a long right foot kick which pulled up two metres inside the in goal area and a metre from the the left in goal. Impressively Tannah Boyd was the first Australian down field to force the New Zealand fullback back into his in goal area.
Tannah Boyd to other kicks where attacking kicks with the one in the 67th minute kicked along the ground from eighteen metres out and the 80th minute kick also along the ground from around eight metres out to trap New Zealand
One player that I am sure is looking forward to get back on the field to showcase what he can do is Jack Glossop.
The former North Queensland Cowboys NYC and Townsville Blackhawks front rower/lock was set to line up for the Tweed Heads Seagulls Queensland Cup side in 2020 after arriving from North Queensland.
Jack Glossop’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.
Jack Glossop also started in the front row for the Tweed Heads A Grade side in their late February 2020 trial against the Burleigh Bears and was named on an extended bench for Round One of the 2020 Queensland Cup competition but ultimately did not make the final Tweed Heads Seventeen for the match.
Jack Glossop has been on the radar of NRL clubs since he was just 15, Jack Glossop at that age was part of both the North Queensland Cowboys and Brisbane Bronco’s Development programs but ultimately made the decision to sign with the Cowboys, moving to Townsville once the former Gladstone Valley’s junior finished his schooling at St Brendon’s Yeppoon.
In 2019 Jack Glossop was part of the Townsville Blackhawks Queensland Cup but did not make his debut, he was however named to start from the bench in Round Seventeen but ultimately did not make his debut.
In 2018 Jack Glossop played in the Hastings Deering’s Colt’s competition for Townsville playing in the Blackhawks first eleven matches before missing the remainder of the season. In his eleven matches Jack Glossop scored four tries including a Round Two double against Ipswich and also scored in Round One against the Mackay Cutters and Round Eight against the Victoria Thunder.
Jack Glossop started seven of his 2018 Colts matches at lock, one in the front row, being Round Eleven against Wynnum Manly and the remainder from the interchange bench.
In 2017 Jack Glossop was part of the North Queensland Cowboys NYC squad, making his debut in Round Two against Manly, starting from the bench and scoring on debut as well as being named the Cowboys best.
In total in the NYC competition in 2017 Jack Glossop played in sixteen matches, starting fourteen off the bench including their Week One Finals loss to Manly. Jack Glossop made his first NYC start when he started at lock in Round Eight against the Newcastle Knights and also started at lock in Round Nine.
In 2015 and 2016 Jack Glossop was part of the Townsville Blackhawks MM Cup squad’s and in 2016 was also part of the Blackhawks squad that took on the Penrith Panthers in the U18 National Final
One of the new players to the Gold Coast that I was looking forward to seeing in 2020 (and thankfully that may happen at least in the Gold Coast Rugby League First Grade competition) was Ethan O’Neill.
Prior to his move to up Tweed Heads from Sydney to play for the Seagulls 2020 Queensland Cup side the former Marcellin College Randwick student spent five years in the Sydney Roosters junior system, playing the 2019 season in the NSWRL U20 Jersey Flegg competition.
Ethan O’Neill started from the bench for the Tweed Heads A Grade side in their late February 2020 trial against the Burleigh Bears.
From a trivia perspective, Ethan O’Neill is the son of former Brisbane Bronco’s and Queensland State of Origin fullback, Julian O’Neill.
For the Roosters in 2019, Ethan O’Neill played in twelve Jersey Flegg matches starting the season in the centres before moving to the second row in Round Twenty Two against the New Zealand Warriors and staying there for Round Twenty Four against the Rabbitohs.
Ethan O’Neill started the 2019 season off as the Roosters primary goal kicker, kicking seventeen from twenty (85% conversions rate) through the opening six rounds, before injury, including a six from seven effort in Round Two against the Manly Sea Eagles. Ethan O’Neill returned from injury in Round Fifteen against the Sea Eagles but did not take back the goal kicking duties upon his return.
Ethan O’Neill scored in Round Three against the Parramatta Eels and also scored in Round Twenty Two against the Warriors to account for his two 2019 Jersey Flegg tries.
In 2018 Ethan O’Neill was only able to play in one U20 Jersey Flegg match for the Roosters when he started in the second row in Round Eight against the Mounties.
In 2017 Ethan O’Neill started in all eleven of the Roosters U18 SG Ball matches, starting the eight regular season rounds in the second row before starting the Roosters three finals matches in the centres including their Preliminary Final loss to the Parramatta Eels. Ethan O’Neill’s sole try of the 2017 SG Ball season came in Round Eight against the Newcastle Knights.
Ethan O’Neill’s first season in the U18 SG Ball competition was in 2016 when he played in five matches for the Roosters coming into the side on the bench in Round Three against the West Coast Pirates.
Ethan O’Neill started on the wing in Round Five against St George scoring his first career SG Ball try before moving to the centres for Round Seven against the Centurions and Round Eight against the Magpies when he scored his second try of the season. Ethan O’Neill’s third 2016 came in Round Ten when he scored after coming off the bench in Round Ten against the Parramatta Eels.
Ethan O’Neill’s first season at the Roosters was in 2015 when he was part of their U16 Harold Matthews squad playing in all nine of the Roosters matches starting four in the second row including Round One against Parramatta one at lock (Round Three against the Raiders), Round Five against the Steelers on the wing and one in the centres in Round Seven against the Rabbitohs.
In those nine matches Ethan O’Neill crossed for five tries including a Round Three double against the Raiders and also scored in Round Six against Penrith, Round Eights against the Wests Tigers and Round Nine against the Norths Sydney Bears.
In a fascinating situation in 2015 Ethan O’Neill has named in the centres for both the Queensland and New South Wales U16 side for their match against each other.
Of course Ethan O’Neill also had a very impressive school boy rugby league career with Marcellin College Randwick including in 2015 leading Marcellin College Randwick to a win in the New South Wales Combined Catholic College Grand Final
When the Gold Coast Rugby League season hopefully starts in July it will be great to see Brock Hamill back playing on the Gold Coast as he lines up for the Southport Tigers, his junior club.
a young local red headed backrower originally from the Southport Tigers rugby league club and also played for Keebra Park in relation to his schoolboy football and for Burleigh in the MM Cup competition. At the U13 level a number of seasons ago Brock Hamill also played a game or two for the Titans Development Squads at Redlands.
Brock Hamill started from the bench for the Tweed Heads A Grade side in their late February 2020 trial against the Burleigh Bears.
In 2019 Brock Hamill played nine matches for the Bulldogs in the Jersey Flegg competition starting in the front row in Round two against the Parramatta Eels. Brock Hamill also started in Rounds Three and Four when he started at lock against the Wests Tigers and North Sydney Bears respectively. Brock Hamill’s remaining matches were from the bench including the Bulldogs two 2019 finals which were against the Knights and Roosters.
Also in 2019 Brock Hamill played fourteen matches for the Moorebank Rams in the Sydney Shield competition coming into the side in Round Six when he started at hooker against the Bulls. Brock Hamill started his first three 2019 Sydney Shield matches at hooker before starting at lock in Round Eleven against the BR Eagles.
In total Brock Hamill started four in his eleven matches at hooker, nine at lock, including Week Two of the Finals against the Saints and one being Round Nineteen against the Bulls from the bench.
Brock Hamill had a great start to the 2019 Sydney Shield competition scoring in his first four matches including a Round Eleven double against the BR Eagles. His Round Six, Seven and Eight tries were against the Bulls, Owls and Magpies.
In 2018 Brock Hamill was diagnosed with cancer but before his treatment started Brock Hamill made his debut off the bench for the Bulldogs Jersey Flegg side scoring a double against Manly.
From Keebra Park Brock Hamill represented South Coast at the U18 level in 2016 and 2017and in 2017 was selected in the Queensland School boy’s side for the Australian School boys Championships. South Coast won every match by more than 40 points including beating Met North 74 – 4 in the final.
Brock Hamill has also been a key part of the Keebra Park Open side that won the GIO Cup in 2017 including being part of the Keebra Park side that won their Queensland semi-final over the The Cathedral College 74 – 0.
For the Burleigh Bears MM Cup side in 2017, Brock Hamill started in all six of their matches starting Rounds One and Two in the second row, Round Three in the front row and Rounds Four to Six at lock.
Brock Hamill played his club rugby league for the Southport Tigers primarily at the U19 level in 2017 but also played two matches in the Doug Lipp Cup competition, making his debut in that competition in April against Burleigh with his other Doug Lipp Cup match coming in June against Bilambil. In the U19 competition, Brock Hamill to date has played in seven matches, scoring doubles against Runaway Bay and Burleigh and in his first match of the season in that age group scored against Mudgeeraba.
In 2017 Brock Hamill was a stand out for the Keebra Park Open Rugby League side in their great GIO Cup run. Brock Hamill started at lock for Keebra Park in their Queensland GIO Cup Final win over Marsden State High School and also started at lock in Keebra Park’s 25 – 12 National GIO Cup Final victory over Westfield Sports High.
Brock Hamill made an immediate impact in the National Final. Keebra Park kicked off and the Westfield front rower charged directly at Brock Hamill who hit him with a superb left choulder tackle to put the front rower on his back. It was a tackle that set the tone for the remainder of the match.
Post the 2017 season Brock Hamill was understandably named at lock in the Keebra Park Rugby League 2017 Team of the Year.
Over the course of his junior career, Brock Hamill made a number of junior representative sides including U13 and U14 Gold Coast Vikings squads and represented South Coast at the U15 level. Brock Hamill was also named in the U18 South Coast squad for the 2017 U18 QSSRL championships, along with five other Keebra Park team mates.
The Northern Rivers Regional Rugby League (NRRRL) competition in all grades will have a ten week regular season then finals kicking off on July 18. There will be more than a few Titans players running around in the U18's with a few of those looking towards first grade as well.
A player I will be keeping an eye on when Community Rugby League competitions likely kick off in July is Jesse Cronin who arrived on the Gold Coast this year looking to make his Queensland Cup debut for the Tweed Heads Seagulls.
Jesse Cronin represented the Australian School Boys Rugby League side against New Zealand in 2017 a team mate in the side that defeated the New Zealand School Boys side was Titans NRL Top 30 player Tannah Boyd who excelled on the right side of the field that day.
In the 58th minute of the International Jesse Cronin scored in the Austalian School Boys 40 – 8 win after starting from the bench. The ball was spun to the right by Australia to Tannah Boyd who put in a right foot grubber towards the right upright, Jesse Cronin took off from Tannah Boys right to get to the ball and roll over to score under the posts.
Jesse Cronin’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.
The 2017 Australian School Boys representative originally signed with the Eels as a 15 year old in 2014 from the Newcastle region moving to Sydney to finish his schooling at Hills Sports High a school from where he was selected in 2017 to play for the Australian School Boys side.
In 2019 Jeese Cronin captained the Parramatta Eels in the New South Wales U20 Jersey Flegg competition playing in sixteen matches scoring seven tries (43.75% strike rate). Jesse Cronin scored a double in Round Fourteen against the Warriors and also scored in Rounds Seven, Nine, Sixteen, Eighteen and Twenty against Newcastle, Penrith, Victoria, Canberra and the Warriors respectively.
Jesse Cronin started the first five of Parramatta’s matches at lock, but after missing Round Six through injury started the next three rounds from the bench before coming back into the starting side in Round Twelve against Souths Sydney once again at lock maintaining his place at lock for the remaining matches that he played in 2019 except for Round Twenty when Jesse Cronin started in the second row against the New Zealand Warriors.
In 2018 Jesse Cronin was also part of the Parramatta U20 Jersey Flegg side playing in nineteen matches including starting from the bench in their Week One Finals loss to Canterbury. Jesse Cronin started the first two matches of the 2018 season on the bench before making his starting debut in the front row in Round Three against Newcastle, going on to start in eleven matches, nine at lock, one in the front row being his debut and Round Fifteen against the Sydney Roosters in the second row.
Jesse Cronin’s sole try of the 2018 U20 Jersey Flegg season came in Round Twelve against the North Sydney Bears.
Jesse Cronin became an International rugby league player in 2018 when he started at lock for Malta in their 30 – 24 loss against South Africa in a rugby league World Cup qualifying match when he played alongside his older brother.
In 2017 Jesse Cronin was prominent for the Parramatta U18 SG Ball side and was in fact named as the Player of the Year for the Eels in that competition. Jesse Cronin played in ten matches, missing only one including starting at lock in both the SG Ball Grand Final win over Cronulla and Parramatta’s U18 National Grand Final 48 – 12 win over the Western Mustangs.
Jesse Cronin started nine games at lock and one in the front row being in Round Five against the Wests Tigers with his sole try coming in Round Six against the North Sydney Bears.
Jesse Cronin started his SG Ball career in 2016 when he played two matches for the Eels starting Rounds One and two on the interchange bench.
In his first season with Parramatta being 2015 Jesse Cronin captained the Eels U16 Harold Matthews side starting in ten of their eleven matches including starting in the front row in their Grand Final loss to Cronulla. That season Jesse Cronin started nine matches in the front row and one match being Round Six at lock against Souths Sydney.
2015 also saw Jesse Cronin named in the initial New South Wales U16 Pathways squad but he missed out when the final seventeen was named for the interstate match against Queensland.
Previously Jesse Cronin captained the New South Wales Combined Catholic Colleges U15 side at the ASSRL U15 National Championships whilst still in the Hunter region. It was at these Championships where ultimately he was spotted by the Eels
Titans contracted Riley Lack, in addition to being a very good rugby league player is also a very good overall athlete, being named the Year 16 Athletics Champion at the 2019 Murwillumbah High School Athletics Championships. At those Championships Riley Lack set a new 16 years 100 metres record when he ran 11.41 seconds. Riley Lack also won the “Champion of Champions” race to determine the fastest runner in the school - open 100 metre dash winning in a time of 11:41 seconds.
Riley Lack then went on to represent Murwillumbah High School at the 2019 Far North Coast Athletics Championships, winning the 200 metres sprint and coming second in the 100 metres sprint. Riley Lack was also part of the Murwillumbah High School 16 Years relay time that won the sprint relay.
In 2018 Riley Lack was named the the 15 Years cross country male age Champion after the three kilometres race was run.
In addition to athletics and rugby league Riley Lack has also represented Far North Coast in touch, specifically in the U15’s in 2018 when he was the North Coast captain.
Whilst a number of players have since moved to another school the 2019 Banora Point U16 school boy rugby league side was one for the ages and one that the Titans will no doubt benefit from in coming years with Oskar Bryant, Jack Cullen, Reef Sommerville and Thomas Weaver from that side Titans contracted players
The team travelled to Sydney for the 75th year of the competition. They defeated Bega 32-6 and then Red Bend Forbes who won it last year 18-0 in their opening two matches.
A forfeit from the Manly district, Banora Point Mulwaree 18-0 in the semi-final/
The Grand Final against Wadalba from the Central Coast was a tough contest and after trailing 4-nil early Banora Point scored two tries for a 10-4 victory. Oskar Bryant was named Player of the Grand Final
Mr Bods
17-05-20, 08:31 PM
Whilst a number of players have since moved to another school the 2019 Banora Point U16 school boy rugby league side was one for the ages and one that the Titans will no doubt benefit from in coming years with Oskar Bryant, Jack Cullen, Reef Sommerville and Thomas Weaver from that side Titans contracted players
The team travelled to Sydney for the 75th year of the competition. They defeated Bega 32-6 and then Red Bend Forbes who won it last year 18-0 in their opening two matches.
A forfeit from the Manly district, Banora Point Mulwaree 18-0 in the semi-final/
The Grand Final against Wadalba from the Central Coast was a tough contest and after trailing 4-nil early Banora Point scored two tries for a 10-4 victory. Oskar Bryant was named Player of the Grand Final
Is Oskar Bryant the brother of the cricketer Max Bryant?
Don’t worry about replying just found a photo of him.
He’s definitely his brother.
Another multi-sport athlete with links to the Titans is Jamal Laurie
2019 also saw Jamal Laurie represent North Coast in athletes showcasing his diverse sporting skills and also participated at the New South Wales age state Track and Field Championships.
In 2019 Jamal Laurie participated in the New South Wales Combined High Schools Track and Field Championships in the 100 metre and 200 metres spring races and also High Jump.
In his 100 metre heat, Jamal Laurie ran 11.73 seconds to finish fourth and qualify for the final. In the final Jamal Laurie ran 11.83 seconds to finish seventh. At the Championships Jamal Laurie also jumped 1.65 metres in the High Jump competition.
In 2019 Jamal Laurie was also the 2019 South Grafton U15 age athletics champion and he also played for the South Grafton High School U15 touch side.
Titans contracted Lachlan Offley is not just an outstanding rugby league player and also excels in athletics and swimming being named school (Alstonville High) and North Coast Age Champion in both 2018 and 2019.
Lachlan Offley has also finished in the top 10 in the in the Northern Rivers Zone cross country Championships in the last two years.
In 2019 in athletics, Lachlan Offley qualified for the New South Wales State Age Championships in the 400 metres after running 57.67 seconds at his Zone Championships.
In Swimming Lachlan Offley qualified for the New South Wales State Age Championships in the 50 and 100 metre freestyle and 50 metre breaststroke events.
In 2018 Lachaln Offley represented Alstonville High School at the North Coast Combined High Schools Athletics Championships participating in both track and field events in the U13 age group.
Amongst other results Lachlan Offley finished second in in the Discus with a throw of 29.02 metres, seventh in the 800 metres in 2 minutes 45.45 seconds, seventh in the 100 metres sprint in 13.86 seconds, seventh in the 200 metres sprint in 27.90. Lachlan Offley was also part of the Astonville High School 4 x 10 metres relay team that finished fourth in a time of 56.35 seconds.
Lachlan Offley also represented Alstonville High School at the 2019 North Coast Combined High Schools Athletics Championships participating in both track and field events in the U14 age group.
Amongst other results Lachaln Offley finished fifth in the 100 metres running 12.18 seconds in the final after posting 12.44 in his heat. Lachlan Offley also finished fifth in the 200 metre final in a time of 25.51 seconds after recording 25.88 in his heat.
Lachlan Offley also finished second in the 400 metres in a time of 57.67 seconds and jumped 5.49 metres to finish third in the long jump.
Titans contracted Rowan Mansfield has shown his speed on the field on multiple occasions over the last couple of seasons including in a Titans jersey as well as this season for the Northern Rivers Titans U18 Laurie Daley Cup squad.
In 2019 when representing Ballina Coast High School he showed it on the track when he won the 100 metre/200 metres sprint double at the 2019 North Coast Combined High Schools Track and Field Championships.
In the 100 metre final Rowan Mansfield won in a time of 11.70 seconds after running 11.84 in his heat and he ran 23.83 seconds to win the 200 metre final after running 24.82 in his heat.
Some good news for our elite school boys!
Elite schoolboy Langer Cup and Payne Cup competitions confirmed to start this year
A starting date for the elite schoolboy rugby league Langer Cup and Payne Cup competitions has been finalised following a meeting of the Queensland School Sport Rugby League committee.
Andrew Dawson, Albert & Logan News
Subscriber only
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May 15, 2020 8:24am
The Langer Cup will be played this year in the south, while the Payne Cup will go ahead in the north of the state.
The Langer Cup will be played this year in the south, while the Payne Cup will go ahead in the north of the state.
A starting date for the elite schoolboy rugby league Langer Cup and Payne Cup competitions has been finalised following a meeting of the Queensland School Sport Rugby League committee.
July 29 will be round one of the respective competitions, with the Langer Cup to be contested among the six leading league schools in south east Queensland and the Payne Cup to involve the best six schoolboy league sides from central and north Queensland.
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Queensland School Sport Rugby League president Andrew Peach said the starting date would be subject to any state government or Queensland Health alterations to COVID-19 restrictions, but it was full steam ahead for a July 29 kick-off.
Blake Cesari of St Mary's tackles against Wavell State High School, Allan Langer Cup.
Blake Cesari of St Mary's tackles against Wavell State High School, Allan Langer Cup.
“We are working to develop a range of plans to help ensure we meet all the required guidelines and expectations for a return to play next term,’’ he said.
Peach stressed the QSSRL had a “range of contingency plans’’ to make sure the competitions proceeded this year.
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Peach said the QSSRL owed it to the respective year 12 students to try and launch the Langer and Payne Cups so they had an opportunity to represent their schools in their final year.
Kirwan's Bonnor McGregor on the move. Picture: Evan Morgan
Kirwan's Bonnor McGregor on the move. Picture: Evan Morgan
“Rugby League plays a special role in helping to engage and support male and female students in learning through our schools programs, and we are committed to working within the Queensland Health and Department of Education guidelines to make a safe environment for this in Term 3,’’ he said.
“We are committed to providing opportunities for our year 12 students to represent their schools in 2020.’’
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Peach said beyond the Langer and Payne Cup competitions, the next priority was to get the girls competitions up and running.
“We have identified three key areas we can support schools to get back on the field this year.
Kirwan's Tyreece Woods celebrates try. Picture: Evan Morgan
Kirwan's Tyreece Woods celebrates try. Picture: Evan Morgan
“Our first priority is the top level Aaron Payne Cup and Allan Langer Trophy which will resume in week 3 of term 3 with the six team competition structure that sees the best sporting schools in Queensland going head to head to find a State Champion this year.
“Our next priority is to provide the same opportunity for our high performing schools in the girls game, and we will also be looking to host shorter competitions to support our participation and developing schools,’’ Peach said.
Five teams are confirmed for the Langer Cup, with the sixth place still to be decided.
The schools that have qualified are last year’s state finalists Marsden SHS, Wavell SHS, Ipswich SHS, Palm Beach Currumbin SHS and Keebra Park SHS.
The sixth side will come from the winner of the qualification match between St Mary’s Toowoomba and Coombabah State High School.
The gutsy, unheralded Ipswich SHS squad under coach Joshua Brethreton which finished equal first in the Langer Cup, only to roll back to second on points for and against.
The gutsy, unheralded Ipswich SHS squad under coach Joshua Brethreton which finished equal first in the Langer Cup, only to roll back to second on points for and against.
The five Payne Cup schools confirmed are the state champions Kirwan SHS, Ignatius Park College, Mackay SHS, St Brendan’s Yeppoon and Cathedral College, Rockhampton
The sixth side will come from the winner of the clash between St Patrick’s Mackay and Rockhampton Grammar School.
Ignatius Park College and Kirwan State High School played in the Payne Cup final last year.PICTURE: MATT TAYLOR.
Ignatius Park College and Kirwan State High School played in the Payne Cup final last year.PICTURE: MATT TAYLOR.
In April, said Peach would not write off either the Langer Cup or Payne Cup competitions going ahead in some format in 2020
Titans contracted Orlando Swain is more than just a rugby league or rugby player, excelling in both shot put and discus for Ipswich Grammar School in recent seasons.
Impressively Orlando Swain, at the end of 2019 was ranked in the Top Six in the Discus for Australian Men’s U18 after throwing 52.33 metres on November 2 to finish second in the Queensland Junior Athletics Championships.
In early October 2019 Orlando Swain represented Met West at the Queensland Schools Athletics Championships in Cairns finishing third in those Championships with a throw of 47.58 metres in the Mens 16 Years Discus Event.
In 2018 at the Queensland Track and Field Championships Orlando Swain had an outstanding event finishing first in the U15 Shot Put to become State Champion and finishing second in the Discus.
Orlando Swain has also had a great school boy athletics career for Ipswich Grammar School in both shot put and discus.
In 2016 at the GPS Track and Field Championships Orlando Swain finished second in the U13 shot put and third in the U13 discus. Orlando Swain backed that up in 2017 to win the U14 discus event and finished second in shot put.
2018 saw Orlando Swain win his second GPS Track and Field Championship when he won the U15 shot put and also finished second in the discus. In 2019 participated in the Open shot put and discus events helping Ipswich Grammar School to win the 2019 GPS Track and Field Championships.
The November 2019 NSW Country U16 tour of the UK may well go down as a key part of the history of the Titans NRL side such was the quality of the Titans linked players that were part of that three match tour.
The NSW Country U16 side played three matches winning them all. They won Match One 62 – 0 against the U17 British Community Lions, won 32 – 10 against the Leeds Academy in game two and beat the Community Lions once again in their final match 62-6 to finish the tour undefeated.
Below is my run down of the Titans linked players who were on the tour: (Another Titan Ryan Foran would have toured as well but for injury)
Rowan Mansfield:
Rowan Mansfield started on the left wing scoring a double in Game One of the tour scoring New South Wales Country U16’s second try of the match in their big 62 – 0 win over the U17 Community Lions.
Rowan Mansfield’s first try of the match was a sixty metre effort which he was able to bring around to under the goal posts (after crossing the try line in the left corner) in the first half after eluding the Lions fullback. Rowan Mansfield’s second try was scored when he leapt in the air to claim a Thomas Weaver cross kick on the full to score in the corner.
Rowan Mansfield also started on the left wing in Match Two of the tour and scored his third tour try late in the match from close range in the left corner as the NSW Country U16’s defeated the Leeds Rhino’s 32 – 10. Rowan Mansfield scored literally right in the left corner after a three metre after a chain of short passes to the left of the field by the New South Wales Country U16 side.
Rowan Mansfield finished the tour with five tries when he scored a double after starting the third and final match on the wing as the New South Wales Country U16 side defeated the British Community Lions 62 – 6. Rowan Mansfield’s first try (and the first of the match) was the result of a great back line move to the left in just the second minute and he completed his double in the twenty first minute when another backline movement saw Rowan Mansfield in space from where he was able to score.
Reef Somerville:
Reef Sommerville started at right centre in Game One of the tour scoring New South Wales Country U16’s second try of the match (and tour) in their big 62 – 0 win over the U17 Community Lions. The ball went through hands to the right for NSW Country before Reef Sommerville ran a straight hard line to break the initial defensive line around ten metres out from the line and power over from there.
Reef Sommerville also started in the centres and scored his second try from as many matches in Game Two as New South Wales Country U16’s defeated the Leeds Rhino’s 32 – 10, Reef Sommerville scored when Leeds failed to take a bomb cleanly early in the second half with Reef Sommerville retrieving the ball and powering his way over with two defenders hanging off him as he surged to the try line to extend the NSW Country lead to 24 – 6.
Reef Sommerville also started at right centre in Game Three of the New South Wales Country U16’s tour of the UK as they finished undefeated on the back of a 62 – 6 victory over a British Community Lions squad consisting of players from the Lancashire and Cumbria region of England.
Riley Lack:
Riley Lack started at five eight in Game One of the UK tour scoring New South Wales Country U16’s second try of the match in their big 62 – 0 win over the U17 Community Lions. Riley Lack also started at five eight in Game Two as NSW Country ran out 32 – 10 winners against the Leeds Rhino’s and operated primarily on the right of the field.
Riley Lack also started at five eight and scored a double in Game Three of the New South Wales Country U16’s tour of the UK as they finished undefeated on the back of a 62 – 6 victory over a British Community Lions squad consisting of players from the Lancashire and Cumbria region of England. Riley Lack’s first try came three minutes from half time when he darted over after a probing run from ten metres out to score near the right upright.
Riley lack’s second try came in the second half from a scrum move. Riley Lack fed the ball into the scrum and shaped to pick the ball up from the base of the scrum but instead backed away to his right on a wide blind side on that side of the field. The lock picked up the ball drawing the Lions half for Riley Lack to score wide out in the right corner.
Thomas Weaver:
Thomas Weaver started Game One of the tour at half also captaining the side scoring twenty points from a try and eight goals in a Player of the match performance as New South Wales Country U16’s won big 62 – 0 win over the U17 Community Lions. Thomas Weaver also had a try assist with a pin point kick to Rowan Mansfield’s left wing for the fellow Titan to score.
Thomas Weaver’s try come in the second half when he was operating on the left of the field two passes off the ruck. Thomas Weaver took the ball and immediately dummied to his left before a subtle left foot step put him into space around ten metres out and he was able to sprint the remainder of the way to dive over adjacent to the left upright and then converted his own try.
Thomas Weaver also started at half in Game Two of the tour as the Country U16 side defeated the Leeds Rhino’s 32 – 10. Thomas Weaver also had his second try assist from kicks in as many games when he grubbered through for Jock Brazell to score after thirty minutes mid-way between the corner post and goal post on the left side of the field.
Thomas Weaver also had another try assist in the match when he threw a good short ball to his left which sent his ball runner on a twelve metre uninterrupted run to the line touching down ten metres from the left upright.
Thomas Weaver added a third try assist in the match late when he put up a bomb to the right corner which could not be held by Leeds with Reef Sommerville picking up the pieces to crash over in the right corner.
In the final match of New South Wales Country U16’s UK tour Thomas Weaver produced yet another dominant performance after captaining the Country side from half back scoring a double and kicking seven tries from nine attempts to score twenty two points as NSW Country defeated the Community Lions 62 – 6.
Both of Thomas Weaver’s tries came in the second half, the first when he split the defence through an individual effort mid-way through the half and the second when he scored after a great offload from Bayley Cox with four minutes remaining.
Thomas Weaver also had a try assist in the match when he scooped up a louse pass before drawing a defender to send fellow Titan Riley Lack on a ten metre run to score.
Oskar Bryant:
In Game One of the tour Oskar Bryant started at hooker and had a try assist as NSW Country defeated the Community Lions 62 – 0.
In the first half Oskar Bryant took off from dummy half splitting the defence directly down the middle from around seventy metres out from the line and drew the fullback before sending a pass away to his left to send the NSW fullback away to score under the posts. Oskar Bryant also started Game Two at hooker as the NSW Country side defeated the Leeds Rhino’s 32 – 10.
Oskar Bryant also started at hooker in Game Three of the New South Wales Country U16’s tour of the UK as they finished undefeated on the back of a 62 – 6 victory over a British Community Lions squad consisting of players from the Lancashire and Cumbria region of England.
Jack Cullen:
Jack Cullen started in the front row in Game one of the Tour scoring NSW Country’s first and last try in their 62 – 0 with over the Community Lions with his first try coming just three minutes into the match when Jack Cullen twisted 360 degrees clockwise to crash over from close range mid-way between the left corner post and upright.
Game Two saw the New South Wales Country U16’s defeat the Leeds Rhino’s 32 – 10 with Jack Cullen once again starting in the front row and producing a typical hard uncompromising performance.
Jack Cullen also started in the front row in Game Three of the New South Wales Country U16’s tour of the UK as they finished undefeated on the back of a 62 – 6 victory over a British Community Lions squad consisting of players from the Lancashire and Cumbria region of England.
Noah Johannsson:
Noah Johannsson started from the interchange bench and scored in Game One of the tour scoring New South Wales Country U16’s second try of the match in their big 62 – 0 win over the U17 Community Lions. Noah Johannsson’s try came early in the second half when he was too strong for the Lions defence after a charging run from close to the line. Game Two saw the New South Wales Country U16’s defeat the Leeds Rhino’s 32 – 10.
Noah Johannsson also started from the bench and scored in Game Three of the New South Wales Country U16’s tour of the UK as they finished undefeated on the back of a 62 – 6 victory over a British Community Lions squad consisting of players from the Lancashire and Cumbria region of England.
Noah Johannsson scored the first try of the second half when he crashed over from close range. Noah Johannsson also had a try assist in the match. After splitting the Lions defence through the centre of the ruck, Noah Johannsson rumbled down field thirty metres before drawing the fullback and sending his support runner away to score under the posts.
Keegan Pace:
Keegan Pace started on the interchange bench in Game One of the tour scoring New South Wales Country U16’s second try of the match in their big 62 – 0 win over the U17 Community Lions.
Keegan Pace started Game Two of the tour in the centres scoring in each half as his Country U16 side defeated the Leeds Rhino’s 32 – 10. Keegan Pace scored Country’s first try of the match in the corner after some good ball movement and also scored their last when scooped up an errant Leeds pass to score a simple try.
Keegan Pace started on the bench in Game Three of the New South Wales Country U16’s tour of the UK as they finished undefeated on the back of a 62 – 6 victory over a British Community Lions squad consisting of players from the Lancashire and Cumbria region of England. Keegan Pace converted New South Wales Country’s tenth try of the match which was scored by Thomas Weaver with four minutes remaining to round out his scoring on the highly successful overseas tour.
In the next two to three years I would anticipate that the first of the exceptionally talented 2019 Tweed Heads Seagulls MM Cup squad that defeated Illawarra 48 – 14 will make their way into the Titans NRL squad. It should be noted that Toby Sexton and Juwan Compain are already on NRL Development contracts with the Titans.
A staggering eleven of the seventeen players that played in the National U18 final are contracted or have previous links to the Titans.
Below is a run down of those players performance in the National Final:
Troy Duckett:
He played the entire seventy minutes on the right wing running for sixty five metres (eighteen post contact), played the ball at an average speed of 3.78 seconds and made four tackles at an 80% tackling efficiency.
Caleb Hodges:
He was outstanding at left centre in the National U18 Final against Illawarra scoring when he 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%.
Jake Martin:
He played the entire seventy minutes in the National Final on the left wing, running for twenty one metres (eight post contact) broke a tackle, played the ball at an average speed of 2.58 seconds and made five tackles at a tackling efficiency of 83.3%.
Toby Sexton
In the Final he started at half, scoring a try and kicked seven from seven conversions.
He played the entire seventy minutes in the U18 National Final against Illawarra, running for 127 metres (eighteen post contact), made a line break, broke two tackles, played the ball at an average speed of 3.7 seconds and made ten tackles at a perfect tackling efficiency of 100%.
Ben Liyou:
He started the National Final in the front row playing thirty nine minutes, 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%.
Ediq Ambrosyev:
He started the National Final at hooker and played fifty five nine minutes running for thirty three metres (ten post contact), broke a tackle, played the ball at an average speed of an exceptional 2.4 seconds and made nineteen tackles at a tackling efficiency of 73.1%.
Solomon Torrens:
He started in the front row and 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%.
Juwan Compain:
He started at right second row and recorded a try assist. After some good work on his inside, Juwan Compain charged down field from his right second row position to draw the Illawarra fullback to send Reece Walsh away to score under the posts in the second half.
He played the entire seventy minutes in the U18 National Final, running for 140 metres (forty post contact), broke two tackles, played the ball at an average speed of 2.9 seconds and made thirteen tackles at a tackling efficiency of 86.7%.
Carsil Vaikai:
He captained the Tweed Heads side in the National Final as well as starting the match at lock.
Carsil Vaikai played fifty seven minutes 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%.
Isreal Higgins:
He started from the bench coming on to play 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.
James Torrens:
He played only twenty one minutes in the National Final after starting from bench 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%.
It wasn’t the NRL but the Titans selected a few players in their 2020 NRL 9’s squad that appear to have definite futures at the NRL level with the Titans.
Tannah Boyd:
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.
Greg Leleisiuao:
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.
Sam Stone:
In the Titans opening match against the Canberra Raiders, Sam Stone ran for thirty two metres on three carries and made six tackles at a 100% tackling efficiency. Sam Stone made a further twenty seven metres from three runs, broke a tackle and made three tackles at a 100% tackling efficiency in Game Two against the Wests Tigers.
In the Titans quarter final victory over Manly Sam Stone ran for twenty eight metres from three hit-ups and made two tackles. In the Titans semi-final loss to North Queensland Sam Stone ran for thirty two metres on three and made two tackles.
In total in the 2020 NRL Nine’s tournament, Sam Stone played in all four of the Titans matches, ran for 119 metres from twelve runs, broke a tackle and made thirteen tackles.
Erin Clark:
In the Titans opening match against the Canberra Raiders, Erin Clark ran for ten metres on two carries and made a team leading ten tackles at a 100% tackling efficiency.
Erin Clark made a further 37 metres from three run, broke a tackle and made five tackles in Game Two against the Wests Tigers. In the Titans semi-final loss to North Queensland Erin Clark ran for forty nine metres on four runs, broke a tackle and made two tackles.
In total in the 2020 NRL Nine’s tournament, Erin Clark played in three matches, ran for ninety six metres from nine runs, broke two tackles and made seventeen tackles.
Darius Farmer:
In the Titans opening match against the Canberra Raiders, Darius Farmer ran for twenty four metres on two carries and made four tackles.
Darius Farmer made a further twenty four metres from three runs and a tackle in Game Two against the Wests Tigers. In the Titans semi-final loss to North Queensland Darius Farmer ran for thirty eight metres on three carries, broke a tackle and made two tackles of his own.
In total in the 2020 NRL Nine’s tournament, Darius Farmer played in three matches, ran for eighty six metres from eight runs, broke a tackle and made seven tackles at a high tackling efficiency.
Jaimen Joliffe:
In the Titans opening match against the Canberra Raiders, Jaimen Jollife ran for twenty four metres on three runs and made six tackles at a 100% tackling efficiency. In the Titans quarter final victory over Manly Jaimen Jollife ran for fifty one metres from three hit-ups, broke a tackle and made three tackles at a 100% tackling efficiency.
In total in the 2020 NRL Nine’s tournament, Jaimen Jollife played in two matches, ran for seventy five metres from seven runs, broke a tackle and made nine of his own.
Tremain Spry:
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.
Great to see the PBC and Keebra Park rugby league sides back in training for the upcoming Langer Cup.
Both schools have outstanding depth this season which is a great sign for the Titans.
Through in Coombabah State High School and the Titans have links to three of the schools in the six school Langer Cup competition.
Mr Bods
23-05-20, 11:40 AM
MDREW-I’m really interested in Oskar Bryant. Does he have a professional future?
Certainly mate, he is very quick out of dummy half and runs selectively. Also he has got a touch of aggression about him.
Once his frame fills out he is going to be a good player thats for sure. Plus who can't cheer for a red head!
MDREW-I’m really interested in Oskar Bryant. Does he have a professional future?
It has been interesting to see how NRL clubs have handled their juniors in what has been happening around Australia. Some clubs have slashed their programs, others have told their players that they will contact them again in 2021 but one club has maintained contact and one has developed a system where they have kept in contact with their player regularly.
That team being the Titans.
Jamie McCormack and his staff have been outstanding throughout this time and deserve a huge wrap for keeping his brain child being the JTS program going.
The Titans have the BEST junior program in the NRL bar none.
The Titans future has been locked in due to the hard work of Jamie McCormick and his staff.
They do not know it but every Titans supporter owes Jamie McCormick a debt of gratitude that they will never be able to repay.
Titanic
24-05-20, 02:21 AM
Thanks mdrew however I think there could be some workarounds developed for the “nobody will ever know” regarding Jamie and his team. Perhaps some of the more innovative on here can come up with some ideas of how to raise the JTS profile and recognize the contributions of the team ... over to you all.
The 2019 Queensland U18 State of Origin side that thumped their New South Wales opponents 34 – 12 will be another side that I am sure Titans fans will look back on in a couple of season when I am sure a few of the four Titans players that were on show that night have established themselves in the Titans NRL squad.
Left winger Lofi Khan-Periera, starting front rower Tristian Powell, lock Juwan Compain and interchange forward Carsil Vaikai all played well for Queensland.
Lofi Khan-Periera:
He scored Queensland’s second try of the match when the ball was moved out to the left to Lofi Khan-Periera who had to jump up to take the ball well above his head in both hands before sprinting the twelve metres to the left corner, diving the last couple of metres to score. Interestingly Lofi Khan-Periera dived with the ball in his right hand instead of his left (very similar to how Corey Oates scored later in the night in the State of Origin match).
In the Interstate match against New South Wales, Lofi Khan-Periera played the entire seventy minutes of the match on the left wing, running for 77.9 metres (nine post contact), broke three tackles, made a line break which resulted in his try and had a 100% tackling efficiency.
Tristian Powell:
He was immediately in the action in the match taking the second hit-up and winning a penalty for Queensland when he was held down too long as he fought to get a quick play the ball.
In the Interstate match, Tristian Powell played fifty five minutes of the match, running for 102.9 metres (32.3 post contact), had an offload and made a team leading twenty two tackles at a 88% tackling efficiency.
Juwan Compain:
In the Interstate match, Juwan Compain played the entire seventy minutes of the match, running for 60.9 metres (23.9 post contact) and made ten tackles at a 90.9% tackling efficiency.
Carsil Vaikai:
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.
Post his successful 2019 GPS First XV rugby season that saw him named at fly half in the fan nominated Courier Mail GPS First XV Team of Year after receiving 34.4% of the votes for the fly half (no. 10) position, Titans linked Syris Schmidt was part of the TSS Open side on their three match tour of Japan in September 2019.
In their first match of the tour TSS defeated Yamanote High School 41 – 19.
Syris Schmidt captained the TSS Open side in their second tour game as they defeated Kugayama High School 35 – 12 with Syris Schmidt scoring TSS’s first try of the second half and converted that try and two other TSS second half tries.
The final match on tour saw Syris Schmidt named the TSS Player of the Match as they went down 41 – 0 to powerhouse Japanese school boy side Tokai University Sagami High School.
It seems like an age ago now but Round One of the Queensland Cup produced some very solid displays from Titans contracted players, many of whom are young players who will be pushing for an NRL opportunity as early as this season.
For Burleigh against Wynnum Manly:
Will Evans:
He started the match on the left wing 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.
Kea Pere:
He started 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.
Greg Lelesiuao:
He started the match 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.
Erin Clark:
He his Queensland Cup debut from the bench coming on in the 30th minute of the first half to play in the dummy half role.
Erin Clark played a total of 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, Josh Rogers, forced the Wynnum Manly half back ten metres into the in goal area to earn Burleigh a goal line drop out.
Darius Farmer:
He started on the bench having 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 to keep the Bears on the front foot.
In total in the match Darius Farmer was on the field for thirty six minutes, ran for an impressive ninety nine metres (thirty six post contact), broke three tackles, played the ball at an average speed of 4.01 seconds and made seven tackles.
Tannah Boyd:
He started from the bench 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.
Looks like the Ipswich rugby league will be up and running in mid-July thus a number of Titans contracted youngsters will get in a ten round regular season competition prior to finals.
The Titans have the likes of Orlando Swain, Josiah Papulu and Larry Siala contracted from the Ipswich region.
It seems like an age ago now but Round One of the Queensland Cup produced some very solid displays from Titans contracted players, many of whom are young players who will be pushing for an NRL opportunity as early as this season.
For Tweed Heads against Northern Pride:
Caleb Hodges:
He made his Queensland Cup debut in the match starting on the right wing. He 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, not a bad debut at all for an 18 year old.
Ioane Seuili:
He started from the interchange bench 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.
Titans 2021 NRL recruit Tino Faasuamaleaui has been named on the bench for the Storm for this weekend against Canberra.
For the people that saw the Titans first trial of the 2020 season against Burleigh there is no doubt that you saw the future for the Titans in the NRL. Even though the Titans went down by two points, it was a great experience by a number of the young Titans some of whom palyed against men for the first time in the match.
Below is a run down of the match for some of the young players in the Titans side as well as Titans youngster Will Evans who started for Burleigh in the match.
Burleigh’s Will Evans:
He started on the right wing and 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.
Greg Leleisiuao:
He started on the right wing and in his time on the field he ran for 112 metres (thirty four post contact), broke three tackles and had a 100% tackling efficiency.
Toby Sexton:
He started at five eight 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 in a run over approximately thirty five metres.
The match was Toby Sexton’s first senior match and his try was obviously his first senior rugby league try. Like in his junior rugby league Toby Sexton put in an assured and confident display in his senior debut.
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.
Tannah Boyd:
He started at half 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.
Erin Clark:
He started at hooker running for forty four metres (fourteen post contact), broke two tackles and made a team leading thirty seven tackles at a 94.87% tackling efficiency. In addition Erin Clark made seventy nine metres from three kicks out of dummy half, including a 40/20 late in the first half that led to the Titans first try.
Sam Stone:
He started in the second row and ran for eighty six metres (twenty seven post contact) and had a 100% tackling efficiency when making his nineteen tackles.
Kea Pere:
He started in the second row 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%.
Darius Farmer:
He started at lock and performed well in the new position for him running for an impressive 135 metres (twenty seven post contact), broke a tackle and made twenty six of his own.
Jaimen Jollife:
He started from the bench but when he came on was one of the Titans best running for a team leading 183 metres, a team leading seventy three of which were post contact, broke a team leading four tackles and made twenty tackles of his own at a 100% tackling efficiency.
Tristian Powell:
He started from the bench 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.
Jayden Campbell:
He started from the bench 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.
Tremain Spry:
He started from the bench and ran for forty four metres, an impressive twenty one of which were post contact, broke three tackles and made eleven tackles.
Ioane Seuili:
He started from the bench which was his first match back from the shoulder injury that he suffered late in the 2019 season.
In the match Ioane Seuili ran for ninety one metres (twenty nine post contact) and made seventeen tackles at a 100% tackling efficiency.
Lofi Khan-Periera:
He started from the bench with the young flyer getting a touch or two under his belt in his first official senior game of rugby league.
Jed Edwards:
He started from the bench coming on in the second half in the dummy half role and recording a 100% tackling efficiency through his nine tackles.
Mr Bods
27-05-20, 06:59 PM
MDREW-anything you can tell me or post again on Tom Weaver??
Mate his is absolute class and is contracted to the Titans for a few more years and this year moved to PBC:
Thomas Weaver. (Revised) The extremely talented young half back from Cudgen in Northern New South Wales recently signed a new multi-year contract with the Titans and to cap off an outstanding 2019 season Thomas Weaver was named in the New South Wales 2020 Future Blues Squad and in fact I believe is the youngest member of the representative squad.
In early 2020 Thomas Weaver started at half for the Titans U18 side in their annual match against the Newcastle Knights SG Ball (U18) side in Coffs Harbour. Thomas Weaver had a try assist late in the second half when he put up a bomb towards the left corner which the Titans scored from.
Kedan Chan-Tung chased through Thomas Weaver’s perfectly weighted bomb, leaping over the Knights defence to take the ball on the full around three metres from the Knights line. With no way to get to the line Kedan Chan-Tung flicked the ball out of the back of his right hand to the left side of the field to an unmarked Jahreem Bula who was playing on the left wing to dive over in the left corner untouched.
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.
In early 2019 Thomas Weaver started at half for the Titans U16’s and captaining the side in their match at Coffs Harbour against the Newcastle Knights and was involved in the first play of the game being the opening tackle after the kick off on the Knights front rower with team mates, Brody Smitka and Ryan Foran.
Like in previous matches for the Titans Junior Development sides, Thomas Weaver was in the thick of the action against the Knights directing the Titans around the field and scored a good solo try in the second half when he stepped off his left foot about ten metres out from the Newcastle Knights line and beat two or three defenders, plus dragged one over the line to score just to the left of the goal posts for the Titans first try of the match.
Against the Knights Thomas Weaver operated primarily on the left side of the field with five eight Riley Lack operating on the right. When the Titans had a scrum feed, Thomas Weaver played as the first receiver with Riley Lack feeding the scrum.
Just like he has in a number of matches, Thomas Weaver had the ball on a string and included in his outstanding passing game was a great cut out pass to left winger Kaleb Ngamanu who got outside his direct opponent and sprinted down the touch line on a 40 metre run before passing the ball inside to centre Ezra Ubaldino.
I do want to site a specific example or two of Thomas Weaver’s tenacity, late in the first half he put in a great kick from around 30 metres out from the Newcastle line with the ball pulling up a metre short of touch in goal, instead of sitting back resting on his laurels, Thomas Weaver was the first Titan down the field and made the tackle to trap the Knights fullback in the in goal.
It was a similar situation for the Titans captain in the second half, he put in a kick from around forth metres out which held up a metre or so from the touch in goal making the Knights fullback have to play the ball and whilst on that occasions he did get out of his in-goal, once again Thomas Weaver was the first Titan down the field to make the tackle.
Just to round off his outstanding kicking display in the match, one of his kicks for touch in the second half made around fifty metres, it was just an outstanding kick and put the Titans well and truly on the attack.
In June of 2019, Thomas Weaver started at half 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, an impressive feat considering that the majority of the players that he was up against were already 18 years old.
In March of 2018 Thomas Weaver captained and started at half back for a Titans U15 Invitational side that defeated a Western Mustangs U15 side six tries to three (no goal kicks were taken) with Thomas Weaver being one of a number of stand outs for the Titans.
In the match against the Western Mustangs he formed a solid combination with five eight Jed Bignell. To be honest, it was clear in that match that Thomas Weaver was the leader of the team, he dictated the Titans tempo and controlled the play well from a game management perspective determining who got the ball, where the play was to and the ultimate aim of the particular set up six tackles and was the Titans primary tactical kicker.
Thomas Weaver also had a try assist in the match when he threw an outstanding flat ball to left centre JT Manufeoata who ran into a whole to score out wide in the first half. Thomas Weaver was also the Titans primary tactical kicker in the match.
Late in the 2018 season Thomas Weaver started at half back for the Titans U15 as they defeated a U15 Balmain Tigers touring side 16 – 10 with Thomas Weaver being prominent throughout including throwing a great cut-out ball to winger Kaleb Ngamanu to score 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 to help back Thomas Weaver’s conversion a whole lot easier.
Thomas Weaver was also involved in Rowan Mansfield second half match sealing try against Balmain throwing the first of a chain of passes through five eight Jye Gray to Kaleb Ngamanu who put Rowan Mansfield into a gap down the sideline. Rowan Mansfield used an outstanding in and away to beat the Balmain fullback to score untouched after a seventy metre run just to the right of the goal posts. Once again making Thomas Weaver’s conversion attempt a whole lot easier.
Thomas Weaver almost scored himself in the match when he was backing up an outstanding fifty metre second half run from Kaleb Ngamanu 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.
Clearly Thomas Weaver and Kaleb Ngamanu have developed a good rapport which hopefully continues all the way to the NRL.
In Round One of the 2019 U18 Andrew Johns Cup competition Thomas Weaver started at half back for the Northern Rivers Titans in their match against the Newcastle Knights Development Squad and like in matches described above, captained the side and pulled the strings for the Titans in their big 38 – 8 victory and contributed five goals from seven attempts.
Thomas Weaver can really throw a great long pass and showcased that once again for the Titans in Round One when he set winger Matthew Avery away down the left touch line. The match also saw Thomas Weaver force three drop out with outstanding kicks each coming from around thirty metres out from the Newcastle line each pulling up in the Newcastle in goal.
Thomas Weaver also had a first half try assist when he drifted to his right and threw a great short ball to left second rower and fellow Titans contract player Ryan Foran who charged thirty metres to score late in the first half.
Round Two of the 2019 Andrew Johns Cup competition saw Thomas Weaver once again line up at half in their match against Parramatta and yet again he had an outstanding match scoring twenty four points from two tries and eight conversions from nine attempts.
Both of Thomas Weaver’s tries were from backing up plays. In his first half try, Thomas Weaver threw a great cut out ball to his left to send winger Jack Field away and then backed up to receive a pass back from the winger to score. Thomas Weaver’s try in the second half came when he backed up a break from interchange forward Byron Jones to score.
Thomas Weaver also had a try assist when he drifted to his left and put left second rower Ryan Foran on his way to the try line, a try which was eerily similar to the try that the two put on in Round One against Newcastle.
As in Round One Thomas Weaver also had the ball on a string from a kicking perspective, with both of his first two kicks of the game being outstanding, the first trapping the Parramatta fullback a metre out from his own line where he had to dive to the ground or he would have been either pushed into touch and back into the in-goal in the left corner and the second even better forcing a drop out.
Thomas Weaver’s outstanding game included two try saving tackles in the second half helping to keep the Northern Rivers Titans line intact. On the first occasion he held a Parramatta player up in the left corner after making up an impressive amount of ground and in the second instance, after a long Parramatta break, Thomas Weaver stripped the ball from the Eels centre when he looked set to score.
Thomas Weaver also started at half in the Round Three local derby against the North Coast Bulldogs and added another three try assists to his outstanding 2019 Andrew Johns Cup campaign. Two of his three try assists, one in the first half and the other in the second where eerily similar. Thomas Weaver took the ball down a short blind side close to the North Coast line and on each occasion threw a cut out pass to winger Jack Field (Craig Field’s son) to score.
Thomas Weaver’s other try assist was providing a good pass to left second rower Ryan Foran to crash over. In each of the first three rounds Thomas Weaver and Ryan Foran have combined on the left side of the field for a Ryan Foran try.
In Round Four against the Central Coast Roosters Thomas Weaver started again at half and captain and well once again was special, with five conversion and an incredible six try assists, five from passes and one from a kick.
Thomas Weaver garnered a try assist in each of Titans left centre Keegan Pace’s three first half tries. In Keegan Pace’s first and third tries, Thomas Weaver drifted across field, forcing the Central Coast defence to back pedal and then found a straight running Keegan Pace with a great pass to his left.
The other try assist in the first half for a Keegan Pace try was when Thomas Weaver split the Central Coast defence on his own twenty metres through a hard straight and when confronted with the fullback, Thomas Weaver popped a good ball back across his right shoulder to send Keegan Pace away to score under the posts.
Thomas Weaver was also involved in two tries in the first half for Titans left second rower Ryan Foran. Thomas Weaver and Ryan Foran combined for a try in each of the opening three rounds but combined for two in Round Four.
For Ryan Foran’s first try, Thomas Weaver took the ball quickly to his left about five metres out from the Central Coast line and passed to Ryan Foran who ran an outside shoulder route to score. In the second try, Thomas Weaver ran to his left from a scrum win and again with Ryan Foran running an outside shoulder route found him with a pass for Ryan Foran to run twenty metres to score.
In the second minute of the second half Thomas Weaver got his sixth try assist of the afternoon when be put in a good grubber kick near the posts which the Central Coast defence could not defuse with the Titans pouncing on the mistake to score under the posts.
Thomas Weaver also forced a Central Coast line drop out in the match after a great klick from around forty metres out with Titans left centre Keegan Pace making the tackle in the Central Coast in-goal.
Thomas Weaver also started at half back in Round Five against the Greater Northern Tigers adding five conversions to his points tally and another try assist when he grubbered into the in goal area for Riley Lack to score the first try of the match.
Thomas Weaver could have scored two tries of his own in the second half from scrum moves but on each occasion he was dragged down just short of the line. On each occasion Thomas Weaver Thomas Weaver looped around five eight Riley Lack putting the defensive line under pressure but unfortunately was on each occasion dragged down just shy of the try line.
Thomas Weaver was also dominant in the Northern Rivers Titans semi-final victory over Penrith scoring a double and kicking three conversions from five attempts. In relation to his first try Thomas Weaver was the recipient of an outstanding piece of work from second rower Ryan Foran. Ryan Foran charged down a Penrith kick and passed immediately to Thomas Weaver upon retrieving the ball for Thomas Weaver to sprint forty five metres to score.
Thomas Weaver’s second try came just two minutes after the first. He backed up through the centre of the ruck after an outstanding run from lock Bailey Cox, who offloaded to fullback Jaylan De Groot who was able to find Thomas Weaver to space to race away and score.
Thomas Weaver could in fact have finished the match with a hat trick but was adjudged to have knocked on when attempting to ground the ball from a kick after the siren to conclude the first half.
Thomas Weaver also had a try assist in the match. Operating on the left of the field close to the Penrith line, Thomas Weaver took the ball right to the line before popping a good short ball to his left to Ryan Foran to crash over.
In the 2019 U16 Andrew Johns Cup Grand Final against the Western Rams Thomas Weaver started at half captaining the side to an 18 – 6 victory, contributing ten points from a try and three conversions from three attempts. Thomas Weaver also had a try assist when he threw good flat ball for Titans lock Bailey Cox to crash over for the first try of the match.
In the second half, Thomas Weaver scored after receiving a pass from fullback Jaylan DeGroot. DeGroot had field a kick on his own try line with the Western Rams on the attack and then offloaded to Thomas Weaver to sprint ninety metres to score under the posts. As a result of his performance, Thomas Weaver was named player of the final.
Post the victory Thomas Weaver was named at halfback for the New South Wales Country U16 side for their November 2019 three match tour of the United Kingdom and was also named in the 2019 New South Wales U16 36 man train on squad and was one of only four New South Wales Country players in the squad, two others being fellow Titans Riley Lack and Ryan Foran.
Thomas Weaver flew out for the United Kingdom tour from Sydney in mid-November and started Game One of the tour at half also captaining the side scoring twenty points from a try and eight goals in a Player of the match performance as New South Wales Country U16’s won big 62 – 0 win over the U17 Community Lions. Thomas Weaver also had a try assist with a pin point kick to Rowan Mansfield’s left wing for the fellow Titan to score.
Thomas Weaver’s try come in the second half when he was operating on the left of the field two passes off the ruck. Thomas Weaver took the ball and immediately dummied to his left before a subtle left foot step put him into space around ten metres out and he was able to sprint the remainder of the way to dive over adjacent to the left upright and then converted his own try.
Thomas Weaver also started at half in Game Two of the tour as the Country U16 side defeated the Leeds Rhino’s 32 – 10. Thomas Weaver also had his second try assist from kicks in as many games when he grubbered through for Jock Brazell to score after thirty minutes mid-way between the corner post and goal post on the left side of the field.
Thomas Weaver also had another try assist in the match when he threw a good short ball to his left which sent his ball runner on a twelve metre uninterrupted run to the line touching down ten metres from the left upright.
Thomas Weaver added a third try assist in the match late when he put up a bomb to the right corner which could not be held by Leeds with Reef Sommerville picking up the pieces to crash over in the right corner.
In the final match of New South Wales Country U16’s UK tour Thomas Weaver produced yet another dominant performance after captaining the Country side from half back scoring a double and kicking seven tries from nine attempts to score twenty two points as NSW Country defeated the Community Lions 62 – 6.
Both of Thomas Weaver’s tries came in the second half, the first when he split the defence through an individual effort mid-way through the half and the second when he scored after a great offload from Bayley Cox with four minutes remaining.
Thomas Weaver also had a try assist in the match when he scooped up a louse pass before drawing a defender to send fellow Titan Riley Lack on a ten metre run to score.
The New South Wales Country U16 side played a New South Wales U16 Harold Matthews squad as a curtain raiser to the Penrith/Warriors NRL match on a Friday night at Penrith Park in May. Thomas Weaver started the match at half back.
Even though the NSW Country side went down 16 – 6, Thomas Weaver who captained the side was outstanding including converting Country’s only try of the match which was scored by fellow Titans contracted player, hooker Oscar Bryant.
It was his defence that stood out in the match with Thomas Weaver making two try saving tackles, the first in the first half was a classic cover defending tackle down the right touchline and the second was when he tracked back to stop one of the giant Harold Matthews forwards, Thomas Weaver rounded him up from behind dragging him down with the assistance of fellow Titan Rowan Mansfield.
After that match, Thomas Weaver was selected in the New South Wales U16 side that defeated a U16 Pasifika team 36 – 6 at Belmore Sports Ground on Sunday 9 June with Thomas Weaver starting the match at five eight.
At the Northern Rivers Awards night held in April, Thomas Weaver received the 2019 Players Player Award for the U16 Andrew Johns Cup side. Thomas Weaver then added the Ron Lanesbury Medal to his collection for the 2019 U16 Andrew Johns Cup Player of the Year.
A week after the Andrew Johns Cup final Thomas Weaver made his NRRRL U18 debut in Round Three for Cudgen, starting on the wing against Murwillumbah and scored a try and kicked four goals from seven attempts in an outstanding debut as his Cudgen side defeated Murwillumbah 36 – 0.
In Round Four of the NRRRL U18 competition, Thomas Weaver moved into five eight and kicked three goals as Cudgen defeated Byron Bay 26 – 10.
Round Five of the NRRRL U18 competition saw Thomas Weaver start at five eight and he kicked three from three as the Hornets defeated Ballina 18 – 12.
After missing time with an injury Thomas Weaver came back into the Cudgen NRRRL U18 side for their Round Fifteen match against Kyogle which Cudgen won 64 – 0 and kicked three goals in Round Seventeen against Murwillumbah to prove that he was definitely over his injury.
In total in the 2019 NRRRL U18 regular season competition, Thomas Weaver played in eight matches scoring thirty six points from two tries and fourteen goals, with his tries coming against Murwillumbah and Kyogle.
Thomas Weaver added a goal in his point’s tally as Cudgen defeated Lismore Marist Brothers 24 – 10 in Week One of the NRRRL U18 Finals series and was also involved in Week Two of the Finals as Cudgen went down 26 – 20 against Ballina kicking two conversions in the match.
In the Week Three Final, being the NRRRL U18 Preliminary Final Thomas Weaver scored a try and kicked three conversions from as many attempts as Cudgen booked their place in the 2019 U18 NRRRL Grand Final against Ballina with a 24 – 4 win over Byron Bay.
Thomas Weaver came off the bench in the first half of the NRRRL U18 Grand Final plying five eight when he came on as Cudgen went down 24 – 6 to Ballina in a match which was closer than the score line indicates.
Thomas Weaver was also part of the dominant Cudgen 2019 U16 Group 18 side that won their Grand Final 44 – 6 against Byron Bay/Lennox Head.
In 2019 Thomas Weaver was named joint Player of the Year for the Group 18 U16 Junior Rugby League competition with fellow Titan Ryan Foran.
Thomas Weaver was also part of the St Joseph’s College Benora Point school boy rugby league side in 2019 including a member of the side that won the Grand Final of the New South Wales All Schools U16 competition.
The team travelled to Sydney for the 75th year of the competition. After not winning a game in 2018 the Banora Point U16 side defeated Bega 32-6 and then Red Bend Forbes who won it last year 18-0 in their opening two matches.
A forfeit from the Manly district, Banora Point Mulwaree 18-0 in the semi-fianl.The Grand Final against Wadalba from the Central Coast was a tough contest and after trailing 4-nil early Benora Point scored two tries for a 10-4 victory.
2018 saw Thomas Weaver represent Group 18 in the New South Wales Country Age Championships scoring a try and kicking eight goals in his three Championship matches. Thomas Weaver scored against Group 21 and also kicked six goals in that match to finish with sixteen points and also kicked two goals in a tough 16 all draw with Group Two.
In April of 2018 Thomas Weaver was selected in the Northern Region New South Wales Combined Catholic Colleges (CCC) U15 side for the New South Wales trials. Thomas Weaver was the half back in the side after being selected from St Joseph’s College Benora Point.
After those trials Thomas Weaver was selected in the New South Wales Combined Catholic Colleges U15 team for the ASSRL U15 Championships where he was up against the Queensland Maroon and White sides which both contain Titans contracted boys.
Thomas Weaver started at half back for the NSW CCC side in the Championship Final against Queensland White. Thomas Weaver kicked a conversion in their loss against a Queensland White side for whom fellow Titans contracted player Orlando Swain was one of Queensland’s try scorers.
After the completion of the 2018 season Thomas Weaver and fellow Group 18 U15 team mates headed overseas to play in the Battlefield Challenge to commemorate the 100 year anniversary of the end of World War I, a competition that the side won including victories against Emory Moor 12 – 6 and Leigh East 18 – 12.
In a warm up match in England prior to the Tournament they defeated a Hemel Stags U16 side and post the Tournament defeated French side Aude Cathare. A number of other Titans players will also be involved in the tour including Keegan Pace, Jack Cullen, Ryan Foran, Byron Jones and Bailey Cox. On the tour Thomas Weaver won a number of Player of the Match awards.
Thomas Weaver is also an outstanding touch player who has represented his region with distinction in multiple touch competitions and tournaments in both Queensland and New South Wales including last year’s Queensland Championships.
The Titans contracted young half backs 2017 rugby league commitments ended when he was part a the Titans U15 Invitational side that played against a Balmain Tigers side at Cudgen and even though they were defeated the young Titans players put in a great effort on the night against a primarily older Balmain Tigers side.
Thomas Weaver and his U14 Cudgen Hornets side had a great club campaign in the 2017 Group 18 junior rugby league competition going through the U14 competition undefeated with their skill and discipline on show in every match.
The outstanding young Group 18 half back was a constant threat to opposing defences in the New South Wales Country Age Championships early in 2017 where Group 18 were defeated in the U14 Final with Thomas Weaver scoring Group 18’s sole try in the final and then he converted his own try. In two of the preliminary rounds Thomas Weaver kicked two goals apiece including a local derby against Group One to finish with a points total of 14 over the course of the Championships.
Earlier in 2017 year Thomas Weaver was selected in the Northern Region Combined Catholic Colleges side at half back representing St Joseph’s College Benora Point. In 2015 Thomas Weaver was selected in the New South Wales U12 side for the Australian U12 Championships and that same year after being named Player of the Final for Cudgen in the Group 18 U12 competition was also named as the U12 Group 18 Player of the Season.
Even though Thomas Weaver has plus acceleration off the mark and above average top speed, his primary focus on a football field is to direct his side around the field, putting his side where they need to be to maintain pressure on the opposition. Holding the ball out in front of his body in both hands enables Thomas Weaver to put doubt into the minds of the opposing defensive line and thus he can dummy and run if there is a gap in the defensive line or put his support runners into gaps.
This trait was in evidence in this year’s Titans U16 match against Newcastle when he dummied and stepped off his left foot to score the Titans first try of the match.
Thomas Weaver’s decisive nature also means that when the ball needs to get out to his back line he will get it out there quickly to give his outside backs as much space as possible to work with prior to contact with the opposing defensive line. Getting the ball out to the back line quickly is no issue for Thomas Weaver as he has a very good long passing technique which delivers the ball quickly and accurately to the right place.
In defence, due to his size Thomas Weaver is obviously not going to come up with the big hit but reads the play well and can hold his own when defending much bigger players and against players with similar size is very aggressive when finishing off his tackles. Thomas Weaver is also very vocal on the field always talking and encouraging his side.
Thomas Weaver is also a very good goal kicker with both good range and accuracy. I would suggest that he is likely to be his side’s primary goal kicker regardless of the level he progresses to into the future.
Thomas Weaver also has a very good short attacking kicking game with a positive being that he will go right to the line before dropping the ball to his foot, add to the fact that he regularly runs with the ball out in front of his body in both hands, he gives defensive lines a lot to consider, is Thomas Weaver going to kick, run or pass, a defensive line that anticipates incorrectly will be scrambling to recover before he makes them pay for their error in judgement.
Like with his goal kicking Thomas Weaver has a real opportunity to be his team’s primary tactical kicking option going forward.
Thomas Weaver has moved to PBC in 2020 and will be a key piece in their Langer Cup and GIO Cup school boy rugby league campaigns and in relation to representative rugby league played for the ultra-talented Northern Rivers Titans U18 Laurie Daley Cup side.
From a position perspective with his speed and rapidly developing ball playing, game management and tactical kicking skills, Thomas Weaver has an opportunity to develop into a very talented young player who can play half back at the NRL or representative level at a young age. The more that Thomas Weaver has the ball in his hands the better it is for his entire team as was evidenced multiple times over recent seasons.
Thomas Weaver is just an outstanding player and one that I cannot think of a current NRL player with similar attributes. For comparison purposes however, Thomas Weaver controls and his side around the field and kicks and passes at the Cooper Cronk level.
Like Cronk, Thomas Weaver has a wide variety of skills which he is developing and whilst they may not all develop at the same pace or a linear fashion, they surely will all be above average to plus attributes at least when it is all said and done.
Thomas Weaver does far more however than control play, he will take the defensive line on regularly and to that extent an ideal comparison when Thomas Weaver runs the ball is Cronulla Sharks and New Zealand International half Shaun Johnson. I would argue however that Thomas Weaver’s speed off the mark and ultimate top end speed eclipses that of Johnston and by a fair margin.
Thomas Weaver is rapidly developing into a very talented young play maker indeed and certainly a player to keep an eye on as he progresses through the Titans junior development ranks.
The other exceptional trait that Thomas Weaver possesses is outstanding leadership and it is no wonder that the Titans selected Thomas Weaver to captain their U15, U16 and U18 sides over the last three seasons and that he captained the outstanding 2019 U16 Andrew Johns Cup Northern Rivers Titans side, New South Wales Country U16 side and the 2020 U18 Northern Rivers Titans Laurie Daley Cup side.
Thomas Weaver’s leadership skills are far more than just being the captain of a team, Thomas Weaver has all the hall marks of not just an NRL captain or even a club captain but a representative level one as well.
From a leadership perspective in rugby league, the best I have seen is Cameron Smith, Thomas Weaver’s leadership skills are in that same bracket, he will back is team mates no matter what but at the same time will let them know when they have to change their attitude, behaviour or the way that they are conducting themselves on the field from a playing perspective.
I am more than comfortable associating the word Ïnspirational”to Thomas Weaver’s leadership attributes, it suits him perfectly.
MDREW-anything you can tell me or post again on Tom Weaver??
Mr Bods
27-05-20, 07:35 PM
FMe Jesus, Mary and Joseph. Throw in Buddha and Muhammad as well.
This kid sounds unbelievable.
We are going to have in coming years Brimson, Sexton, TBoyd and this kid as potentially our spine.
Brimson FB, Sexton/Weaver as the halves, TBoyd might want to right now start developing into a hooker to complete this spine.
My god mdrew. That’s easily the best write up you have done for a player in my opinion.
Thanks mate, that means a lot
Bayside Titan
27-05-20, 10:06 PM
FMe Jesus, Mary and Joseph. Throw in Buddha and Muhammad as well.
This kid sounds unbelievable.
We are going to have in coming years Brimson, Sexton, TBoyd and this kid as potentially our spine.
Brimson FB, Sexton/Weaver as the halves, TBoyd might want to right now start developing into a hooker to complete this spine.
My god mdrew. That’s easily the best write up you have done for a player in my opinion.
Mdrew. Agree with Bods here. Awesome work.
The scary thing about Thomas Weaver is that he is still U18 eligible in 2021.
The Titans first trial against NRL opposition being against the Brisbane Bronco’s (a good win too) is a precursor to what the Titans NRL side will look like to coming seasons with a handful of young players on display.
Tannah Boyd
He started from the bench running for thirty seven metres, breaking a tackle and making six at a 100% tackling efficiency.
Jaimen Jollife:
He started from the bench running for 102 metres (thirty eight post contact), broke three tackles, played the ball at an average speed for 3.39 seconds and made twenty three tackles at a 95.83% tackling efficiency.
Sam Stone:
He started from the bench running for fifty six metres (twenty post contact), played the ball at an average speed of 3.45 seconds and made eleven tackles at a tackling efficiency of 91.67%.
Erin Clark:
He started from the bench running for ten metres out of dummy half (four post contact), played the ball at an average speed of 4.2 seconds and made fourteen tackles at a 100% tackling efficiency.
Greg Leleisiuao:
He started from the bench 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.
ozynorts
28-05-20, 07:28 PM
My god mdrew. That’s easily the best write up you have done for a player in my opinion.
Have to agree, great write up. Didn't know this kid existed so thanks for that. He sounds like a great prospect and I hope he continues to develop.
Just chiming in to say the Weaver will be a full blooded nrl star in the next few years and we will be hard pressed to keep him if clubs come sniffing around BUT the titans have done a lot of great work on the northern rivers lately and parents are talking about the titans with admiration for what they do in the junior supports and grass roots. We aren’t a laughing stock anymore (or as much of one as we were in 2016 and previously).
I think this kid can lead us to a premiership, reminds me very much of a young DCE. Well spoken and very calm under pressure
ozynorts
28-05-20, 07:41 PM
Found a bit of footage.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xzpWJcrGb8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TsEqOmtQ8js
Titans contracted Larry Siala was set to play school boy rugby league in Term Three for the U15 St Edmunds College (Ipswich) in the Association of Independent Schools (AIC) competition but with everything happening that will not be the case.
Instead the AIC school boy rugby league competition will likely be run over one week being the first week of the September school holidays. Larry Siala was the stand out performer for St Edmunds in 2019 operating primarily at lock.
The Ipswich based young man signed a three year contract with the Titans in early 2020 and has a lot more potential to unlock.
Such is his potential various media outlets have already compared Larry Siala’s physical attributes and playing style to that of Payne Haas.
Even Payne Haas himself has said publically that Larry Siala amazed him with his size, speed, power and skill when he attended a training session that Larry Siala was also attending.
Hail Sezer
29-05-20, 03:53 PM
Mdrew you're doing an amazing job mate...Siala sounds like a huge prospect.
I agree that Weaver has the potential to be a top 30 player straight out of high school in the same way that Deardon was. Hugely talented kid.
Bayside Titan
29-05-20, 04:44 PM
Found a bit of footage.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xzpWJcrGb8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TsEqOmtQ8js
He look very likely. He’s able to put himself in the right place. Like to see how he goes.
Absolutely spot on mate, Thomas Weaver will be in the NRL sooner rather than later
Mdrew you're doing an amazing job mate...Siala sounds like a huge prospect.
I agree that Weaver has the potential to be a top 30 player straight out of high school in the same way that Deardon was. Hugely talented kid.
Mr Bods
29-05-20, 09:08 PM
With Weaver, Sexton, TBoyd on our books I think we can happily let all of our halves go (Taylor/Roberts/Peachey) when off contract and totally believe those 3 can form our half/5-8/Bench Utility For over a decade. Throw in AJ at FB and you have a spine worthy of hanging in there for with our club.
You can add in a couple of others Bods, Ryan Rivett who is a Burleigh junior and a Greg Alexander clone at 17 and Keano Kini whp last year was easily the best U15 player in New Zealand.
With Weaver, Sexton, TBoyd on our books I think we can happily let all of our halves go (Taylor/Roberts/Peachey) when off contract and totally believe those 3 can form our half/5-8/Bench Utility For over a decade. Throw in AJ at FB and you have a spine worthy of hanging in there for with our club.
What a game last night by Moeaki Fotuaika. In his 56 minutes on the field he ran for a team leading 154 metres (a team leading 54 post contact), made a line break, broke three tackles, played the ball at an average speed of 3.54 seconds and made 43 tackles at a 100% tackling efficiency.
When the 2020 Langer Cup school boy competitions kicks off in Term Three one player from Keebra Park that I am intrigued to see how he goes is David Finai Telea. He is an intriguing player who can play multiple positions.
Two players in the Titans JTS program have already developed an outstanding combination on the left side of the field and it would take a brave person to saw that the combination of half Thomas Weaver and left second rower Ryan Foran will not be doing the same in a Titans NRL jersey in seasons to come.
Thomas Weaver and Ryan Foran worked together to score two tries in Round Three in the 2020 U18 Laurie Daley Cup against the Central Coast Roosters in the Northern Rivers Titans twenty six point victory.
The first try was identical to many that the two combined for in 2019. 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 Ryan Foran who ran an outside shoulder route to crash over.
In the second half Thomas Weaver 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.
In the Round Five local derby against North Coast Thomas Weaver ran to the left of the field and put in a right footed stab kick which North Coast could not handle and Ryan Foran was on hand to score.
In Round One of the 2019 U16 Andrew Johns Cup competition Thomas Weaver drifted to his right and threw a great short ball to Ryan Foran who charged thirty metres to score late in the first half.
In Round Two the two combined for a try which was eerily similar to the Round One try against Newcastle, Thomas Weaver drifted to his left and put Ryan Foran on his way to the try line.
Thomas Weaver and Ryan Foran also combined in the Round Three local derby against the North Coast Bulldogs when the two combined on the left in the second half for their third almost identical try combination in the opening three rounds.
Round Four against the Central Coast saw the two combine for two tries. For Ryan Foran’s first try, Thomas Weaver took the ball quickly to his left about five metres out from the Central Coast line and passed to Ryan Foran who ran an outside shoulder route to score. In the second try, Thomas Weaver ran to his left from a scrum win and again with Ryan Foran running an outside shoulder route found him with a pass for Ryan Foran to run twenty metres to score.
The two were dominant in the Northern Rivers Titans semi-final victory over Penrith, the first instance being when Ryan Foran charged down a Penrith kick and passed immediately to Thomas Weaver upon retrieving the ball for Thomas Weaver to sprint forty five metres to score.
Thomas Weaver returned the favour later in the match when operating on the left of the field close to the Penrith line, Thomas Weaver took the ball right to the line before popping a good short ball to his left to Ryan Foran to crash over.
Titans_alan
02-06-20, 01:38 PM
Hey Mdrew, no doubt great players, but correct me if I'm wrong, but don't they play in a tier 2 competition. Don't you think we need to see them play a season in the city before making assumptions?
Not nessarity Alan, both Thomas Weaver and Ryan Foran have made NSW U16 squads, NSW U15 ASSRL squads etc. They can only play who they are scheduled to play, for want of a better way to put it.
Similiarly both have played a number of matches for Titans squads that have included the best players in the Titans system from both the Gold Coast and Brisbane and have stood out against the likes of the Newcaslte Knights.
Next year both are potentially likely to play in the MM Cup and for PBC so whilst I agree that will be very good to see, they in my opinion already shown that they are very talented young players.
Hey Mdrew, no doubt great players, but correct me if I'm wrong, but don't they play in a tier 2 competition. Don't you think we need to see them play a season in the city before making assumptions?
Tino Faasuamaleaui named on the bench for Round Four against Souths.
A couple of Titans junior players who are based in New Zealand will be back in the field shortly with Levon Pure and Keano Kini lining up in the Auckland Rugby League U16 competition when it restarts on July 4.
Size and power have never been a problem for Keebra Park school boy rugby league sides and the 2020 Langer Cup Open A squad will be no different with the likes of 17 year old front rower Taine Nathan in the squad.
At 188cm and 112kg Taine Nathan certainly adds size to the 2020 Keebra Park Langer Cup squad.
The powerhouse earlier in 2020 was part of the Burleigh Bears MM Cup squad and is also MM Cup eligible in 2021.
In early 2020 Taine Nathan was selected in the South Coast U18 school boys rugby squad.
Taine Nathan has been at Keebra Park State High School for a number of years now and in 2019 was part of Keebra parks Year Ten side.
The Coombabah State High School 2020 Langer Cup squad will be a very young side when the school boy rugby league competition kicks off in term three.
One of the youngsters looking to make their mark in the Open A side will be young front rower or second rower Jared Johnson. Jared Johnson has been at Coombabah State High School for a number of seasons, playing the 2019 season as part of Coombahah’s Year Ten side.
The 98kg, 185cm front rower or second rower for Helensvale Hornet earlier this season was set to play for one of the two Gold Coast Vikings U16 representative sides in the South East Queensland U16 Pre-Season Challenge.
In 2019 Jared Johnson was named in the Murri Carnival Arthur Beetson Foundation U15 Merit Team.
In 2018 Jared Johnson was part of the Helensvale Hornets U14 side that won the Tassell Trophy junior tournament by defeating the Western Lions 40 – 6 in the final in Cairns.
In that final Jared Johnson kicked one of the four conversions that Helensvale kicked.
Erin Clark started at hooker for Round Five against the Souths Sydney Rabbitohs being his second career NRL start, playing forty nine minutes.
In his time on the field Erin Clark ran for fifty two metres (nine post contact), broke two tackles, played the ball at an average speed of 4.2 seconds and made thirty nine tackles at a 97.5% tackling efficiency.
Tannah Boyd played his second NRL match of the season and fourth of his career starting from the bench for Round Five against the Souths Sydney Rabbitohs spending forty eight minutes on the field. Tannah Boyd played in the dummy half role when he came on but moved to half later in the match in the second half.
In his forty eight minutes on the field, Tannah Boyd ran for sixty metres (seventeen post contact), played the ball at an average speed of 3.61 seconds and made thirty four tackles at a tackling efficiency of 97.14%
Tino Fa’asuamaleaui started from the in Round Five against the Newcastle Knights scoring his career first NRL try when late in the first half Tino Fa’asuamaleaui ran onto a pass from Cameron Smith from around seven metres out crashing over after breaking through a David Klemmer tackle.
In his thirty eight minutes on the field Tino Fa’asuamaleaui ran for 102 metres (forty three post contact), made a line break for his try, broke three tackles, played the ball at an average speed of 3.23 seconds and made twenty eight tackles at a 96.55%.
In no surprise Moeaki Fotuaika started in the front row for Round Five against the Souths Sydney Rabbitohs and once again was outstanding in his sixty two minutes on the field.
In that time, Moeaki Fotuaika ran for 154 metres (a team leading seventy six post contact), broke a tackle, played the ball at an average speed of 3.39 seconds and made a team leading forty three tackles at a 100% tackling efficiency.
Keebra Park State High School has a great history of developing New Zealand born players and the next one that could develop into a special player is left centre (primarily left centre but has also played on the right and on the wing) is former Auckland standout Nathaniel Cama.
At 90kg and 178cm Nathaniel Cama is a big boy but has deceptive speed and mobility.
Before moving over to Australia (he travels from Logan to Keebra Park every day) Nathaniel Cama spent two seasons in Auckland powerhouse school St Paul’s First College XIII, making his debut as a 15 year old in 2018.
In late 2019 Nathaniel Cama started at left centre for St Pauls College in their SAS College First XIII 28 – 6 Final victory over Southern Cross Campus.
In October 2019 Nathaniel Cama started in the centres and scored for the Toa Samoa U16 side as they defeated a New Zealand U16 side 26 – 20 in their annual match.
Also in 2019 Nathaniel Cama was selected in the New Zealand U16 Talent Development Program and on the last day of the camp that was held in early 2019 started in the centres for Team Papalií in the trial. Later in the 2019 season Nathaniel Cama was named in the New Zealand U16 Wider Squad.
Nathaniel Cama’s 2019 representative program also included starting on the left wing for the Auckland Vulcans U16 side that played a Future Warriors U16 squad in a curtain raiser to an NRL match in Auckland between the Warriors and North Queensland. Titans contracted Keano Kini started at half for the Auckland Vulcans U16 side.
In the 2019 Auckland U16 club competition Nathaniel Cama played ten matches for the Waitemata Seagulls and opposed Titans Keano Kini and Levon Pure.
Finally in 2019 Nathaniel Cama was part of the Arakana Falcons U17 representative side.
In 2018 Nathaniel Cama represented the Auckland Vulcans U15 representative side at the New Zealand U15 National Youth Championships starting at left centre in all five of their matches including their 16 – 14 Championship Final victory over the South Island Scorpions. In the Final Nathaniel Cama scored an acrobatic diving try of the left corner from close range down a short blind side.
Post those Championships Nathaniel Cama was named in the U15 National Youth Championship Merit Team.
In 2017 Nathaniel Cama represented Fiji at the Pasicifica Youth Cup scoring two tries for the Fiji U15 side. Those tries came against the Cook Islands and Niue.
Nathaniel Cama’s first taste of representative rugby league came in 2016 when he was part of the Auckland North U13 representative rugby league side and in 2017 was part of the Auckland North U14 representative side.
With the new rules the likes of Cameron Murray and Victor Radley have come into their won around the ruck and as team gets more and more used to the new rules and the interchange limit reduces even more in 2021 the type of players noted will become even more valuable.
Thankfully for the Titans they have a young player in their JTS program who has the best attributes of Murray and Radley in Bailey Martin.
The young PBC student has impressive late and quickly footwork to accompany underrated ball playing skills.
When you throw in one of the defensive techniques I have ever seen from a junior rugby league player, the Titans have an absolute class act on their hands in Bailey Martin.
The GPS school boy rugby competition kicks off next month, all be it for a shortened season, with a number of Titans contracted players involved for their respective schools across South East Queensland.
Brisbane based Titans contracted outside back Antioch Faitala-Mariner will line-up for the Brisbane State High School U16A side in the GPS school boy rugby competition and may also get an opportunity the school’s First XV side such is his skill set and his maturity both physically and mentally.
Brisbane State High Schools first 2020 GPS school boy rugby trial will be in July against Ipswich Grammar School for whom fellow Titan Orlando Swain will line up for in the Ipswich schools First XV. Even though he was U16A eligible in 2019 Orlando Swain played two First XV matches for Ipswich Grammar School late in the 2019 season, starting both on the right wing including a match against TSS.
Titans contracted Kaleb Ngamanu will line-up for the The Southport School (TSS) at inside centre after a stand out 2019 First XV campaign with fellow Titans contracted Nic Hilton (backrow) in either the U16A or First XV. TSS play their first GPS trial next month against Nudgee College and are the defending GPS school boy rugby First XV Champions.
Players that are part of the Titans JTS program will be back training soon and it will be great to follow their progress as they look to achieve their NRL dreams.
In particular the cohort of Titans contracted in the 17 to 20 years group is particularly impressive and over the next two to three years those young men will start to move through into the Titans NRL squad.
Great to see Toby Sexton and Ioane Seuili lining up for the Titans in an 11 a side match against the Broncos prior to the NRL match.
Any team playing Keebra Park in the upcoming Langer Cup school boy rugby league competition will have to handle backrower Tyrone Gunn-James.
The young lock or second rower had a great amount of success at the school boy level in 2019 and will be looking to replicate that in 2020 after his move south to Keebra Park State High School where he will be part of their Langer Cup Open A squad.
In Round One of the 2020 MM Cup competition Tyrone Gunn-James started at lock and scored in the 29th minute of the first half for Easts as the Tigers defeated the Central Queensland Capra’s 52 - 18 in the one and only Round of the 2020 MM Cup season.
In 2019 Tyrone Gunn-James was part of the Kirwan State High School side that won the Payne Cup by defeated St Brendan’s College Yeppoon, also won the Queensland GIO Cup school boy final against Marsden State High School 38 – 22 and also won the National GIO Cup Final 16 – 10 against Westfields Sports High.
In all three school boy finals Tyrone Gunn-James started the matches at lock although he moved into the second row in the National GIO Cup final mid-way through the first half as a result of an injury reshuffle and actually broke his nose late in the game as a result of a heavy tackle.
In the Queensland GIO Cup Final Tyrone Gunn-James scored Kirwan’s first try of the match when he dummied his way through the Marsden State High School defence and then ducked under a high tackle to dive over and lock the scores up at six all early in the first half.
Bayside Titan
29-06-20, 10:05 PM
Great to see Toby Sexton and Ioane Seuili lining up for the Titans in an 11 a side match against the Broncos prior to the NRL match.
Sounded like these guys did well. Pitty no ISC to watch them play.
Both good mate, Both will push for NRL debuts in 2021.
Sounded like these guys did well. Pitty no ISC to watch them play.
Great to see Titans linked Nicholas Torrens back in training with his Clarence Coast Magpies side in preparation for the start of the Group One U16.5 competition in a couple of weeks.
Mr Bods
02-07-20, 03:55 PM
Both good mate, Both will push for NRL debuts in 2021.
You don’t think Seulli could push for a debut this year?
I have him ahead of Peachey in my pecking order of Centres (even though he plays 2nd Row in QCUP)
Titans linked Tyrelle Waters is also back in training with the Clarence Coast Magpies U14 side for the upcoming commencement of the Group One junior rugby league competition.
I agree that he is close to ready mate and if the Queensland Cup had continued I would be as certain as can be that Ioane Seuili would make his NRL debut late this season. Still think that there is a fair chance that he will make his debut late in the season and when he gets there I believe that Ioane Seuili will be there to stay.
His position is an interesting one as prior to the second half of 2019 he was a centre or winger and even a fullback at the U16 level for Souths Logan. FOr me he breaks into the NRL in the centres before moving into the second row reasonably quickly after that. Dare I say it Ioane Seuili would be ideal on the bench until he gets used to the NRL speed.
His attack is NRL ready either in the second row or centre now and his defense improved exponentially last season.
Impressively Ioane Seuili has played both on the left and right for Tweed Heads so he could be plugged into the NRL side on either side.
You don’t think Seulli could push for a debut this year?
I have him ahead of Peachey in my pecking order of Centres (even though he plays 2nd Row in QCUP)
Bayside Titan
02-07-20, 05:24 PM
I agree that he is close to ready mate and if the Queensland Cup had continued I would be as certain as can be that Ioane Seuili would make his NRL debut late this season. Still think that there is a fair chance that he will make his debut late in the season and when he gets there I believe that Ioane Seuili will be there to stay.
His position is an interesting one as prior to the second half of 2019 he was a centre or winger and even a fullback at the U16 level for Souths Logan. FOr me he breaks into the NRL in the centres before moving into the second row reasonably quickly after that. Dare I say it Ioane Seuili would be ideal on the bench until he gets used to the NRL speed.
His attack is NRL ready either in the second row or centre now and his defense improved exponentially last season.
Impressively Ioane Seuili has played both on the left and right for Tweed Heads so he could be plugged into the NRL side on either side.
I would love for him to get a start.
Mr Bods
02-07-20, 07:39 PM
I would love for him to get a start.
He can get to the try line AND I’ve seen him combine well with Taylor numerous times to get to the try line too.
Bayside Titan
02-07-20, 10:31 PM
He can get to the try line AND I’ve seen him combine well with Taylor numerous times to get to the try line too.
I only saw him at training early this year and he was in the rehab group for a bit then trained with the forwards.
Mr Bods
03-07-20, 01:36 PM
I only saw him at training early this year and he was in the rehab group for a bit then trained with the forwards.
Yeah looks like he’s been “labelled” now as a 2nd Rower then but I truly feel he could be a handy Centre.
Agree mate, Ioane Seuili will certainly end up in the second row but certainly at the moment he can still play in the centres.
Yeah looks like he’s been “labelled” now as a 2nd Rower then but I truly feel he could be a handy Centre.
The Clarence Coast Magpies junior rugby league sides are back in training for the upcoming Group One JRL season and a number of Titans linked young men from the Magpies have started training with their respective teams including AJ Hickling (U14), Reece Warburton (U15) and Jake Lenard (U16.5).
The Covid 19 situation has had a huge impact across the board including in relation to schooling. Auckland youngster De'Ontae Perese headed over to the Gold Coast earlier this season to attend Keebra Park but is now back in Auckland and this afternoon will start at half back for the Otahuhu Leopards as they take on the Mt Albert Lions Blue side in Round One of the Auckland Rugby League U17/18 competition.
De'Ontae Perese and his team mates won 52-4 and he kicked six goals in the win.
The Covid 19 situation has had a huge impact across the board including in relation to schooling. Auckland youngster De'Ontae Perese headed over to the Gold Coast earlier this season to attend Keebra Park but is now back in Auckland and this afternoon will start at half back for the Otahuhu Leopards as they take on the Mt Albert Lions Blue side in Round One of the Auckland Rugby League U17/18 competition.
I am looking forward to seeing Titans linked David Torrens take on the Group One U14 competition with Clarence Coast Magpies that kicks off on 18 July.
The young man is a classy talented player.
Titans contracted Kaleb Ngamanu and Nic Hilton will be part of the TSS Rugby camps that run from this Friday to Sunday as they prepare for the GPS school boy rugby competition.
Great to see Tremain Spry named to debut on the wing against the Warriors in Round Nine.
Bayside Titan
07-07-20, 07:58 PM
Great to see Tremain Spry named to debut on the wing against the Warriors in Round Nine.
Can’t wait to see how he goes.
ozynorts
08-07-20, 01:57 PM
I was a bit surprised to learn he is still only 20 years old, for some reason I thought he was older. He has time then to work on his game, hope he does develop.
The 2020 Langer Cup school boy rugby league competition is set to start soon but before the competition proper kicks off there is a very important match between Gold Coast’s Coombabah State High School and ST Marys that will be held in Toowoomba later this month. The winner of the match will go into the main draw where they will play the likes of Keebra Park and PBC.
Coombabah will be led by Titans contracted Brodyn Gudgeon who is the 2020 school rugby league captain.
Brodyn Gudgeon’s first hit out of the 2020 season was when he was part of the halves rotation for the Burleigh MM Side in their trial against the Easts Tigers in the first half. Later in the trial match Brodyn Gudgeon spent time at fullback as well showcasing his versatility.
Early in the 2020 season the Coombabah State High School student was named in the halves for the Pacific Rim Open rugby league district side after the trials for that representative side were completed. Unfortunately the school boy representative season in 2020 went no further but Brodyn Gudgeon shaped as an almost certain selection in the South Coast U18 QSSRL school boy representative side.
Brodyn Gudgeon also spent a fair portion of the 2019/20 off season training with the Tweed Heads Seagulls U20 Hastings Deering’s Colts squad even though he was still U18 MM Cup eligible in that period such is Brodyn Gudgeon’s class and potential.
Brodyn Gudgeon started Round One of the 2020 MM Cup competition for the Burleigh Bears at fullback against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls which unfortunately ended up being the only round of the MM Cup competition that was played in 2020.
The talented young half started the 2019 season as part of the Burleigh MM Cup squad as his rugby league career continued to develop at an outstanding rate.
Brodyn Gudgeon missed Round One of the 2019 MM Cup but was named on an extended bench for Round Two against the Townsville Blackhawks, started Round Three at five eight against the Tweed Heads Seagulls and starred after starting the match at five eight, scoring a double and also recording a try assist.
Brodyn Gudgeon operated on the left of the field and for his first try, he took the ball whilst he was stationary around nine metres out from the Seagulls line and just exploded off the mark to slice through the defensive line.
For his second try of the match Brodyn Gudgeon looked like he was going to take the defence on just like his first try but instead stepped off his left foot and accelerating to score mid-way between the right goal post and the touch line.
Brodyn Gudgeon’s try assist was as a result of an outstanding short attacking kick, he went all of the way to the line putting in a deft right foot kick angled towards the in goal area and sat up perfectly for left winger Trey Peni to retrieve and score.
In total in the 2019 MM Cup competition Brodyn Gudgeon started in four of six of Burleigh’s matches at five eight missing only Round One.
Brodyn Gudgeon started at half back for Helensvale in their 2019 U18 Division One Round One match against Southport.
Over the course of the 2019 GCRL U18 Division One regular season Brodyn Gudgeon played in eight matches scoring two tries (25% strike rate), being in Round Eight against the Bilambil Jets and in Round Nine against the Ormeau Shearers.
Brodyn Gudgeon started at half in Week One of the Finals as Helensvale defeated Currumbin 24 – 20 and also started at half back and scored for Helensvale in their U18 Division One Week Two Finals loss to Ormeau 34 – 26.
Brodyn Gudgeon made his Hastings Deering’s Colts debut when he started at five eight for Burleigh in Round Twelve of the 2019 season against the Sunshine Coast Falcons with the Bears winning the match 23 – 22.
Brodyn Gudgeon also started at five eight in Round Thirteen against the Easts Tigers, crossing for his first try in the 36th minute of the match. Brodyn Gudgeon shaped to kick on the half way mark but instead sent his left winger down the touchline when a great cut out pass and then backed up on the inside to get the ball back to score untouched.
2019 also saw Brodyn Gudgeon start at five eight 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.
From a school boy rugby league perspective in 2019 Brodyn Gudgeon captained the Coombabah State High School open school boy side in the Langer Cup and GIO Cup competitions where Coombabah gave Keebra Park all that they could handle in a great contest in their GIO Cup Quarter Final match.
Late in 2018 Brodyn Gudgeon started from the bench for the Titans U16 side and scored a second half try as the Titans went down 30 – 10 to the New South Wales Country U16’s at Cudgen on a wet and windy Saturday afternoon in early October.
The try was a result of Brodyn Gudgeon not giving up on chasing a short grubber kick from Titans half Ryan Rivett (I believe it was) and beating the NSW Country defence to ground the ball in the in goal area.
Brodyn Gudgeon played the 2018 GCRL season in the U16 Division One competition with Helensvale and through his eleven games had an impressive 100% strike rate. Brodyn Gudgeon scored a late season hat trick against Southport and also scored a double against Southport the week prior. Brodyn Gudgeon’s other 2018 double came against Burleigh earlier in the 2018 U16 Division One season.
Brodyn Gudgeon also scored against Southport, Currumbin and Burleigh in the first regular season match and also the last in 2018 to bookend his season.
At the start of the 2018 season Brodyn Gudgeon started at half back for the U16 Gold Coast Vikings Yellow side in the South East Queensland U16 Challenge and from there was selected in the South East Queensland Green U16 for the Queensland Age Championships.
In those Championships, Brodyn Gudgeon started at half back in all four of South East Quqqnsland Green’s matches including the Championship Final against South East Queensland White and in fact Brodyn Gudgeon scored in that final.
Over the course of the 2017 season the Coombabah State High School student scored eight tries from fourteen matches and started at half back in the 34 – 10 Grand Final loss to Nerang. Brodyn Gudgeon scored an early season hat trick against Coomera and also doubles against Nerang and Southport as well as a try against Burleigh to account for his eight tries over the course of the 2017 rugby league season.
Hail Sezer
11-07-20, 08:07 AM
Thanks for your continued work Mdrew, you’re an asset!
Mate what’s the current go with Juwan Compain?
Looks like Nathaniel Cama will not be returning to Keebra Park for Term Three as the young centre started in the centres for the Marist Saints U17/18 side today in Round Two of the Auckland Rugby League competition against the Pakurangi Kingz.
The outstanding Syris Schmidt will start at No. 10 (fly half) for the TSS First XV in their internal trial on the Coast tomorrow. Fellow 2020 Burleigh MM Cup player James Pere will start at No. 8.
Mr Bods
17-07-20, 10:45 AM
How you keep finding content in a Covid world at the moment is outstanding
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Mdrew other than Mat Rogers have we ever had someone from TSS play first grade for us?
Yes mate, Jai Whitbread is a TSS old boy as well.
How you keep finding content in a Covid world at the moment is outstanding
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Mdrew other than Mat Rogers have we ever had someone from TSS play first grade for us?
Mr Bods
17-07-20, 10:54 AM
Yes mate, Jai Whitbread is a TSS old boy as well.
I’ll be buggerred.
I thought he was St Joseph’s Banora Point
Initially but spent two seasons at TSS playing outside centre in the First XV.
I’ll be buggerred.
I thought he was St Joseph’s Banora Point
At tomorrow’s TSS school boy rugby internal trials two Titans contracted players have been selected in the First XV side being Nic Hilton who has been named at No. 6 even though he was still eligible for the U16A side and Kaleb Ngamanu who will start at inside centre (No. 12) and congratulations Kaleb has also been named as vice-captain.
All the best to the youngsters from Group One and Group 18 who start their seasons tomorrow, enjoy playing rugby league with your friends and thank you to the parents who happily (well most of the time) drive their youngsters around.
Three hour drive tomorrow morning to watch some Titans in the outstanding JTS system playing in the Group One JRL competition. Wish me luck getting into the grounds with the restrictions in NSW.
The Group 18 JRL season kicks off today and good to see Kia Smallwood named the South Tweed Bears U16 captain with Jye Brady named as vice captain.
Impressive to see that 16 year old Titans JTS contracted centre Jeremaiah Tamepo named in the Keebra Park Open A Langer Cup squad for the school boy rugby league competition which starts in a week or so.
Titans linked Travis May scored a double yesterday for his Cudgen Hornets U16 side in Round One of the Group 18 JRL competition. Unfortunately his Hornets side went down 36-26 to South Tweed.
Young winger Maxwell Earl had a good game in Round One of the Group One U13 competition yesterday scoring a double and kicking four goals for the Clarence Coast Magpies as they won 20-8 against the South Grafton Rebels.
Clarence Coast Magpies Group One U13 centre Grant Brown had a good debut yesterday scoring a hat trick for the Magpies in their Round One 46-8 win against the South Grafton Rebels.
Grant Brown then backed up for the U14 match, coming off the bench and scoring as Clarence Coast won 24-10.
Titans linked Tyrelle Waters, Anthony (AJ) Hickling and David Torrens successfully navigated Round One of the Group One U14 competition as the three talented young men all started for the Clarence Coast Magpies in their 24-10 victory against the South Grafton Rebels.
Tyrelle Waters and Anthony Hickling each scored in the 14 point victory.
Clarence Coast Magpies youngster Antwone Quinlin-Randall had a busy day yesterday in Round One of the Group One JRL season. He started the U13 match at lock and then started in the front row in the U14 match with both games being against South Grafton.
He was a winner in both matches.
Jasper Whalley was able to cross for a double in Round One of the Group One U13 competition on Saturday for the Clarence Coast Magpies as they defeated South Grafton 46-8.
With the 2020 Group Two rugby league competition not restarting at all this season, it was good to see Titans linked Jake Martin getting some games under his belt, even if it is in rugby. Over the weekend he started at inside centre (No. 12) for the Grafton Redmen in their Round One 45-15 loss to Casuarina Beach.
Kyogle's Aiden Hardy's 2020 season kicked off where his 2019 season left off but scoring in Round One for Kyogle in their Group One U15 loss to the Grafton Ghosts after starting the match at fullback.
In the 2019 Group One U14 competition he scored ten tries from eleven matches including four tries against Grafton in mid-May and a double against Casino RSM and fortnight prior. Sandwiched in between he scored against Clarence Coast.
Aiden Hardy also scored in matches against Lismore Marist Brothers (he kicked his one and only goal of the season in the match as well), Clarence Coast and Lismore Marist once again late in the season.
Titan Reece Warburton scored ten points from a try and three goals for the Clarence Coast Magpies as they defeated South Grafton in Round One of the Group One U15 competition on Saturday.
Reece Warburton started the match at half back.
The Grafton Ghosts Group One U15 halves both had big matches in Round One of the competition on Saturday, five eight Thomas Bowles scored a try and kicked three goals and half Hamish Speed kicked four goals as Grafton defeated Clarence Coast 42-10.
Titans linked Ghost Ghosts youngster Lockie McLaughlin scored in Round One of the Group One U14 competition on Saturday. Starting the match at lock, Lockie McLaughlin was outstanding as Grafton defeated Kyogle 46-0.
Great article from the Official Site about the Titans JTS program.
https://www.titans.com.au/news/2020/07/21/junior-titans-system-production-line-roars-back-into-action/
Updated to include link to Official Site video:
https://www.titans.com.au/news/2020/07/21/junior-titans-system/
Tough loss for Coombabah SHS this afternoon against St Mary's in the Langer Cup qualifying match with a number of Titans contracted players on display for Coombabah, this to the "guy" for the updates.
Syris Schmidt will start at No. 10 (fly half) for the TSS First XV in their first trial against a fellow GPS school on Saturday against Nudgee College in Brisbane. Fellow 2020 Burleigh MM Cup player James Pere will start at No. 8.
For Saturdays TSS school boy rugby trial against Nudgee College in Brisbane two Titans contracted players have been selected in the First XV side being Nic Hilton who has been named at No. 6 even though he is still eligible for the U16A side and Kaleb Ngamanu who will start at inside centre (No. 12) and has also been named as vice-captain.
Titans contracted Brock Lennnox has been named to start at inside centre (No. 12) for the TSS U15A side on Saturday in their trial in Brisbane against Nudgee College.
FalconSloth
24-07-20, 05:13 PM
Titans contracted Brock Lennnox has been named to start at inside centre (No. 12) for the TSS U15A side on Saturday in their trial in Brisbane against Nudgee College.
Was he there last year?
I do not believe so
Was he there last year?
Jed Edwards will line-up for the Mullimbumby Giants in the NRRRL First Grade competition including in Round One on Sunday against Northern United.
One of the most natural try scorers in Australia outside of the NRL in Connah Mills will start at left centre for the Cudgen Hornets in Round One of the NRRRL First Grade competition on Sunday against the Byron Bay Devils.
The Cudgen Hornets NRRRL U18 side for their Round One match against Byron Bay on Sunday has a distinct Titans feel to it with Reef Sommerville at left centre, Thomas Weaver at half, Jack Cullen in the front row and Oskar Bryant at hooker to name a few of the Titans contracted players involved.
Unfortunately a Titan or two will miss the match with injury.
Bayside Titan
24-07-20, 11:16 PM
The Cudgen Hornets NRRRL U18 side for their Round One match against Byron Bay on Sunday has a distinct Titans feel to it with Reef Sommerville at left centre, Thomas Weaver at half, Jack Cullen in the front row and Oskar Bryant at hooker to name a few of the Titans contracted players involved.
Unfortunately a Titan or two will miss the match with injury.
Hey Mdrew. Do these matches get posted somewhere at all ??
Not normally mate, but when/if they do I will let you know.
Hey Mdrew. Do these matches get posted somewhere at all ??
Bayside Titan
24-07-20, 11:56 PM
Not normally mate, but when/if they do I will let you know.
Ok great. Thanks mate.
Tino Faasuamaleaui proved once again that the Titans have snared a very impressive youngster for 2021 with a barnstorming two try performance against the Broncos.
Starting from the bench he, in just 50 minutes, ran for 169 metres (51 post contact) which was the most of any forward on the field, broke four tackles, played the ball at an average speed of 3.54 seconds and also recorded a 100% tackling efficiency from his 23 tackles.
TSS came back from 21-7 down to win 24-21 in wet conditions. Nic Hilton's work rate was outstanding and Kaleb Ngamanu put in a key kick that resulted in the try to Jojo Fifita to put TSS in front with two minutes to go.
For Saturdays TSS school boy rugby trial against Nudgee College in Brisbane two Titans contracted players have been selected in the First XV side being Nic Hilton who has been named at No. 6 even though he is still eligible for the U16A side and Kaleb Ngamanu who will start at inside centre (No. 12) and has also been named as vice-captain.
Titans Rookie Squad member Caleb Hodges will start at right centre tomorrow for the Bilambil Jets against Ballina in Round One of the NRRRL First Grade competition.
Keebra Park student and younger brother of Payne Haas, Kleese Haas will start at lock for the Bilambil Jets against Ballina in Round One of the NRRRL U18 Grade competition tomorrow and then he will be on the bench for the First Grade match.
Mr Bods
25-07-20, 09:21 PM
Keebra Park student and younger brother of Payne Haas, Kleese Haas will start at lock for the Bilambil Jets against Ballina in Round One of the NRRRL U18 Grade competition tomorrow and then he will be on the bench for the First Grade match.
I believe a number of Payne’s brothers are at Bilambil. Payne is very gettable for us when his current Drongoes contract is finished.
After playing earlier in the season at hooker for the Sydney Roosters SG Ball side, Josh Bevan is back home and is set to start at five eight for Bilambil in Round One of the NRRRL U18 competition against Ballina.
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Both Zeda and Kleese are in the Bilambil U18 side for tomorrow's match.
I believe a number of Payne’s brothers are at Bilambil. Payne is very gettable for us when his current Drongoes contract is finished.
2020 Burleigh MM Cup squad member Lachlan Garner will start at half tomorrow for Bilambil in Round One of the NRRRL U18 competition against Ballina.
Powerful Titans contracted Noah Johannssen will start in the front row today for Bilambil today in Round One of the NRRRL U18 competition against Ballina.
His older brother Tim will start in the second row.
Bilambil Jets U18 hooker Jonah Whitlam-Rose with a double today in Round One of the NRRRL U18 competition as the Jets defeated Ballina 34-18.
Great to see former Titans U20 player Max Elliott back in northern NSW and this afternoon lined up for Lismore Marist Brothers against Casino RSM in Round One of the NRRRL First Grade competition, starting the match from the bench.
In Round One of the Group One U16.5 competition last weekend second rower Reece Noble had a big match scoring a double as his Ballina side defeated Casino RSM 38-10.
Titans contracted Lachlan Offley started at right centre and scored for Ballina in Round One of the Group One U15 competition last weekend but his Ballina side went down 16-14 to Casino RSM.
Titans linked Reshawn Anderson started in the front row and scored for Ballina in Round One of the Group One U15 competition last weekend but his Ballina side went down 16-14 to Casino RSM.
Ballina youngster Noah Waldock had a busy day last Saturday in Round One of the Group One competition. First he scored after starting at fullback for the Ballina U14 side and then backed up to start on the wing for the Ballina U15 side in the following match.
Titans contracted Rowan Mansfield started at fullback and scored for Ballina in Round One of the U18 NRRRL competition yesterday but teh Seagulls went down 34-18 to the Bilambil Jets.
It was a case of the centres doing the damage for the Grafton Ghosts U13 Group One side last weekend in Round One.
In a 42-24 win over Kyogle left centre Beau Hartmann scored a hat trick and right centre Kyron Nipperess crossed for a double.
Ballina Seagulls U13 five eight Dylan Watkins had some sort of match in Round One of the Group One U13 competition last weekend scoring all five of Ballina's tries and also kicking a conversion as Ballina defeated Casino RSM 28 - 18.
The Titans secured the highly coverted signature of the powerhouse young second rower David Fifita on a three year contract starting from the 2021 NRL season. The 186cm, 107kg young man is simply an outstanding potentially once in a generation talent.
David Fifita will join fellow former Keebra Park students, Moeaki Fotuaki, AJ Brimson and Tannah Boyd in the Titans NRL Top 30 and Ioane Seuili and Lofi Khan-Periera who are on Titans NRL Development contracts.
The question is what are we getting with David Fifita?
David Fifita started Round One of the NRL competition at left second row against the North Queensland Cowboys playing the entire eight minutes and scoring one of the most outstanding tries that I have ever seen in the 57th minute of the match.
David Fifita received the ball on the left side of the field seventy metres out from the Cowboys line. David Fifita surged through the initial defensive line including brushing off Cohen Hess and one other. After outpacing the Cowboys cover defence, David Fifita produced a brilliant right foot step to easily defeat Valentine Holmes and outpacing Kyle Feldt to score under the posts to score one of the best individual tries that I have ever seen.
David Fifita played the entire eight minutes of the match, running for 150 metres (twenty eight post contact), broke a team leading eight tackles, played the ball at an average speed of 3.44 seconds and made thirty one tackles at a 93.94% tackling efficiency.
David Fifita also started at left second row in Round Two against Souths Sydney and produced another outstanding performance in his eighty minutes on the field. David Fifita ran for 154 metres (forty post contact), broke seven tackles, played the ball at an average speed of 4.08 seconds and made twenty six tackles at a tackling efficiency of 96.3%.
At the start of the 2020 season, David Fifita was part of the Broncos NRL nines squad playing in both of their matches. In match One against North Queensland, David Fifita ran for eleven metres and made five tackles at a 100% tackling efficiency and in Game Two against Melbourne he ran for fifty one metres, broke two tackles and made four, once again at a 100% tackling efficiency.
In 2019 David Fifita played in twenty four NRL matches for the Broncos, scoring seven tries. In the NRL in 2019 David Fifita ran for a total of 2 321 metres, made ten line breaks, off loaded the ball on fifteen occasions and made 525 tackles at a tackling efficiency of 93.86%.
David Fifita’s 2019 NRL per game averages included running for 96.71 metres and making 22.29 tackles.
A description of a number of David Fifita’s 2019 NRL tries are noted below:
Agaisnt the New Zealand Warriors David Fifita received the ball on the right side of the field around twenty five metres out from the line with not a great deal happening for Brisbane. Four right foot steps and a powerful left arm fend on the Warriors half back later David Fifita put the ball down to the left of the goal posts for an outstanding individual try.
Against the Canberra Raiders, David Fifita received the ball in space, David Fifita accelerated at the line and dummied to his right to beat Jarrod Crocker after that it was an easy run to the line for David Fifita.
David Fifita scored a close range try against the Manly Sea Eagles when he dragged three defenders over from a metre or so out. David Fifita was able to maintain his balance as he spun clock wise to score ten metres from the left corner.
In relation to his try against the North Queensland Cowboys, David Fifita scored a powerful individual try. David Fifita cut back inside and ten metres from the try line, powered over the top of Josh Maguire and then dived over close to the left uprights with three Cowboys defenders handing off him.
David Fifita scored what on face value was a seemingly simple try against the Parrmatta Eels but a closer examination would suggest that it was not as simple as it initially seemed. The Bronco’s played the ball close to the Eels line near the left corner. David Fifita started literally behind the play the ball. Once he received the ball from the dummy half, David Fifita ran a 45 degree angle towards the try line to the right of the play the ball. David Fifita burst through three defenders right on the try line who was trying to prevent David Fifita from scoring, they had no chance.
Against Souths Sydney David Fifita scored yet another outstanding individual try. David Fifita was operating on the left side of the field received the ball thirty metres out from the try line, bursting through two Souths Sydney defenders before veering around the fullback before spinning 360 degrees counter clockwise to beat Dane Gagai who was coming across in cover defence. After the spin David Fifita maintained his balance before diving over to score next to the left upright for an outstanding individual try.
David Fifita made his State of Origin debut for Queensland in 2019 playing in all three matches in the series. David Fifita made history in Game One when he was the first player born in the 2000’s to play in a State Origin match.
In his State of Origin debut in Game One in 2019, David Fifita started from the bench playing twenty seven minutes. In that time, David Fifita ran for eighty two metres (thirty one post contact), broke two tackles and made twelve of his own at a 100% tackling efficiency.
In Game Two David Fifita also started from the bench coming on to play thirty five minutes. In his game time David Fifita ran for forty six metres (twelve post contact) and made twenty two tackles at a tackling efficiency of 95.65%.
In Game Three David Fifita started from the bench for the third match in a row, playing nineteen minutes. David Fifita ran for twenty metres (five post contact), broke a tackle and made sixteen at a tackling efficiency of 84.21%.
In his first State of Origin series, David Fifita played a total of eighty one minutes, rand for 149 metres and made fifity tackles at a 93.3% tackling efficiency.
2019 also saw David Fifita represent the Indegenious all star’s coming off the bench and scoring in a 34 – 14 victory.
In 2019 David Fifita was part of the Australian World Nine’s squad announcing himself on the International stage with a series of damaging displays in the nine format.
In Game One against New Zealand David Fifita was devastating scoring a double. David Fifita’s first try was a brute strength effort from close range, but his second resulted from a series of punishing fends and a deft dummy leading to a diving try in the corner.
In the match David Fifita played the entire eighteen minutes of the match, breaking the line twice and also breaking ten tackles on the way to running for fifty seven metres and making five tackles at a 100% tackling efficiency.
In Game Two against PNG David Fifita palyed all eighteen minutes, ran for thirty five metres, broke a tackle and made three at a 100% tackling efficiency. David Fifita played all eighteen minutes once again in Game Three against Samoa on the way to running for twenty seven minutes and five tackles at a 100% tackling efficiency.
In the finals against New Zealand David Fifita played all eighteen minutes, had a try assist, a line break, two broken tackles, ran for 116 metres and made four tackles at a 100% tackling efficiency. David Fifita’s try assist was an outstanding effort, he made a long break starting from sixty metres out from the line and just as he was being tackled by the New Zealand cover defence, he popped a great one armed pass to his inside to send Mitchell Moses away to score under the posts.
In total in the 2019 World Nines for Australia, David Fifita played four matches, scored twice, broke the line on three occasions, off loaded four times, ran for 236 metres and did not miss a tackles whilst making seventeen.
David Fifita made his NRL debut as an 18 year old in 2018 in Round Sixteen against the Canberra Raiders, going on to play in eleven NRL matches and scoring on two occasions with his first NRL try coming in Round Twenty Three against Souths Sydney. David Fifita’s other 2018 NRL try came against St George when he backed up a Kidi Nikorima break to run fifity metres to score in the first half.
In the NRL in 2018 David Fifita made three line breaks, off loaded on nine occasions, ran for 1 109 metres and made 227 tackles at a tackling efficiency of 93.42%.
David Fifita’s 2018 NRL per game averages included running for 100.85 metres and making 20.64 tackles.
David Fifita started the 2018 season as part of the Souths Logan Magpies MM Cup side leading the Magpies to Queensland MM Cup success with an 18 – 16 win over Norths and was also part of the Souths Logan side that went down 38 – 32 to Penrith in the U18 National Final. In the National Final David Fifita scored an outstanding long range try.
Current Penrith Panthers NRL five eight Matt Burton put up a bomb in the first half. Penrith recovered the ball and threw it around on the sixth tackle. David Fifita intercepted the ball on the twenty metre line taking off down the left touch line on an eighty metre run. With thirty metres to run David Fifita used a strong left arm fend to push away the fullback and just as he was crossing the try line used another left arm fend to knock the Penrith left winger off his feet.
In the 2018 MM Cup competition for Souths Logan David Fifita scored thirteen tries from just ten matches (130% strike rate) including hat tricks in Rounds Five and Six against Wynnum Manly and the Central Queensland Capra’s respectively.
David Fifita scored his first try against Wynnum Manly down the right side of the field when he pounced on a grubber kick that Tannah Boyd weighted perfectly into the in goal area. David Fifita’s second try of the match was also down the right when after receiving the ball ten metres out, got on the outside of the Wynnum Many left centre to score in the right corner.
David Fifita complated his hat trick in the second half when he took a pass off the dummy half down the blind side on the right side of the field, once again getting on the outside of his direct opponent to crash over in the right corner.
Two of David Fifita’s hat trick of tries against Central Queensland were outstanding individual long range efforts. David Fifita’s first try of the match was a long range ninety metre effort. David Fifita broke through the initial Capra’s defensive line and then charged down the right touch line getting rid of the Capra’s left winger and fullback with strong right arm fends and then brought the ball around to score under the posts.
David Fifita’s second try of the match resulted from a charge down the right side of the field to score from around twelve metres out. David Fifita completed his hat trick with a second lange range effort in the match. David Fifita received the ball two off the ruck on the right side of the field eighty one metres out going through a gap in the Capra’s defensive line untouched. David Fifita beat the fullback with a deft slight of hand when he momentarily shaped to pass back on his inside to put off the fullback before charging untouched to score.
A description of David Fifita’s remaining 2018 MM Cup tries are noted below:
David Fifita scored a double against the Redcliffe Dolphins, with his first coming when Souths Logan threw the ball out to the right. David Fifita received the ball fifteen metres out from the line, immediately exploding through a gap and then was able to bring the ball around to score near the right goal post.
David Fifita’s second try of the match was a strong individual effort. After Souths Logan kicked the ball out after receiving a penalty, David Fifita took the hit up from the tap restart forty three metres out from the Redcliffe line. David Fifita broke through the initial defensive line, leaving two defenders in his wake before rounding the fullback through sheer pace. A right palm into the chest of the Redcliffe five eight who had come across in cover defense ended any hope that Redcliffe had to him, with David Fifita diving over under the posts.
David Fifita also scored a double against the Western Mustangs. His first try of the match came in the first half. David Fifita took a hit up on the right side of the field and was hit heavily by the Mustangs left winger, who initially rocked David Fifita backwards around twenty metres out from the line. David Fifita maintained his balance however and proceeded to power through three tackles and was also able to bring the ball around to put it down near the goal posts.
David Fifita’s second try of the match came in the second half when he backed up a break by Tesi Nui to run fifteen metres to score.
David Fifita also scored a double against against the Burleigh Bears, the first coming when he picked the ball up off the back of a scrum that was set ten metres out from the Burleigh try line. David Fifita broke to the right of the scrum down a fifteen metre blind side and was just too powerful for the Burleigh left side defence to score in the corner.
David Fifita’s second try against the Bears was as a result of a twenty charge down the right side of the field to cross in the right corner.
David Fifita’s final try of the 2018 MM Cup season came against the Mackay Cutters when David Fifita made a seventy metre break down the right side of the field with two strong left armed plams taking care of the Cutters defenders. David Fifita then was able to bring the ball around to score under the posts.
Post the 2018 MM Cup competition David Fifita played for the Souths Logan Magpies in the Queensland Cup competition playing four matches prior to his NRL call up. In his four matches David Fifita ran for 660 metres (243 post contact), made eighty two tackles, broke thirty two tackles and made two line breaks.
David Fifita’s debut Queensland Cup try came against the Ipswich Jets. David Fifita received the ball on the right side of the field one off the back of a scrum. David Fifita burst through three Jets defenders and then beat another defender coming across with a left arm fend before outpacing the Ipswich fullback and left winger on an eighty metre run to the line.
David Fifita’s 2018 Queensland Cup per game averages included running for a staggering 165 metres, breaking eight tackles and making 20.5 tackles.
In 2018 David Fifita won numerous individual awards including the Greg Veivers MM Cup Best Forward, MM Cup Player of the Year and Queensland Representative Player of the Year. David Fifita was also the Queensland U18 captain in 2018 and was due to represent Queensland at the U20 level as well but had to withdraw as he was called up to the NRL just prior to the match.
In the 2018 U18 interstate match, David Fifita scored a strong try when thirteen metres out from the line on the right of the field, he received a pass from Tannah Boyd, immediately producing a left foot step to beat the initial defender and then crash over with two defenders hanging off him.
David Fifita has also made a number of appearances for Australia in a number of teams, including starring for the Australian school boys side in 2017 when he scoreda double in a big win against the New Zealand U18 side. In that match David Fifita terrorised on the right side of the field and combined exceptionally well with Tannah Boyd.
David Fifita’s first try came on the first half when he received the ball from Tannah Boyd around seventeen metres out from the New Zealand line. David Fifita immediately cut back inside before veering back to the right to outpace the cover defence to score. David Fifita’s second try came in the second half when he backed up a Tannah Boyd break to receive an inside pass from Boyd to score from six metres out.
David Fifita also represented the Prime Ministers XIII in 2019 when he started from the interchange bench against Fiji. In his forty eighte minutes on the field, in addition to scoring David Fifita ran for 106 metres (eleven post contact), made a line break, had a line break assist and try assist, broke six tackles and made sixteen of his own at a 94.65 tackling efficiency.
David Fifita played for the Junior Kangaroo’s in 2019 as well against France. Davif Fifita started the match at left second row, playing in the opening 65 minutes of the match before being replaced. David Fifita scored in the match as well as running for 118 metres (thirty eight post contact), made a line break, broke nine tackles, played the ball at an average speed of 3.6 seconds and made ten tackles at an 80% tackling efficiency. David Fifita’s try was a reasonably easy one by his standards, he received the ball in space on the left side of the field rumbling to the try line dragging two French defenders with him.
David Fifita played his junior rugby league for Souths Acacia Ridge in Brisbane ‘s South/West. In 2015, David Fifita was 18th man for the Queensland Under-16 rugby league team, despite being a year younger. David Fifita then competed at the ASSRL U15s Tournament, playing for Queensland U15s Schoolboys Maroons team. David Fifita was selected for the Australian U15s Schoolboys Merit team.
One of the first times that I saw David Fifita play was for the Souths Acacia Ridge U15 side that played against Logan Brothers in the GBJRL U15 at Nundah. David Fifita played lock that day for Souths Acacia Ridge and was simply outstanding against a Logan Brothers side that contained amongst others Geordie Brand.
In 2016, David FIfita was once again selected for the Queensland Under 16 rugby league team at lock and captained the side. David Fifita was was part of the Keebra Park side, which also featured Payne Haas and Tannah Boyd, that narrowly lost to Westfields Sports High School in the GIO Schoolboy Cup Final.
In 2017, David Fifita competed at the ASSRL U18s Tournament, playing for Queensland U18s Schoolboys team. David Fifita was chosen for the Australian U18s Schoolboys team, which toured New Zealand. Later in the 2017 year, David FIfita captained Keebra Park in the GIO Schoolboy Cup Final against Westfields Sports High School, which Keebra Park won with Tannah Boyd and Ioane Seuili also in the starting side. That same year David Fifita was awarded the Peter Sterling medel for the most outstanding GIO Cup school boy player of the competition.
What also cannot be overstated is David Fifita’s ability to bring other young players to the Titans over the coming seasons. There is no doubt that the Titans will leverage off having David Fifita, Tannah Boyd, AJ Brimson, Moeaki Foteuika, Ioane Seuili and Lofi Khan-Periera all going to Keebra Park to get the next generation of Keebra Park stars to link with the Titans.
David Fifita spent his junior rugby league career at lock, including for Keebra Park at the school boy level but has spent his time in the NRL, in State of Origin and International level in the second row and impressively is outstanding whether he is playing on the left or right side of the ruck.
There is no need to come up with an NRL player that David Fifita plays similar too, he is literally in a category all on his own.
Titans contracted Riley Lack had a solid match on Sunday for Murwillumbah in Round One of the NRRRL U18 competition in their 22 - 16 win against Tweed Coast.
Riley Lack kicked three from four in the win.
Jed Edwards was one of the Mullumbimby Giants try scorers in their 16-12 win over Northern United on Sunday in Round One of the NRRRL First Grade competition.
With the Group Two competition not restarting in 2020 a few players have moved to the NRRRL competition, one being former Grafton Ghosts U18 half Elliott Speed who has moved to the Marist Brothers Rams.
He started on the bench for the Rams on Sunday in Round One of the NRRRL U18 competition coming on to kick two conversions as the Rams defeated Casino RSM 20-8.
Powerful 18 year old centre and former PBC student James Torrens was at his rampaging best on Sunday starting at right centre and scoring for Casino RSM as they went down in Round One of the NRRRL First Grade competition to Marist Brothers Rams 16-10.
Mr Bods
28-07-20, 08:09 PM
There is some quality playing in the NRRRL this season
Bayside Titan
28-07-20, 10:01 PM
Mdrew. Awesome info on David Fifita. Thank you so much for that.
Great to see 19 year old tear a way second rower Kuyan Roberts-Laurie back on a football last weekend when he came off the bench for the Northern United NRRRL First Grade side in Round One against Mullumbimby, unfortunately Northern United went down 16-12.
Titans contracted Josiah Pahulu will start at lock this afternoon for Ipswich State High School in Round One of the Langer Cup against PBC.
Plenty of young Titans in action for PBC in their Langer Cup match at Pizzey Park this afternoon.
Managed to catch the last 10 minutes. Saw some nice touches from Tom Weaver to set up the final try.
For anyone who subscribes to the Bulletin etc I highly recommend trying to catch a couple of streams of the Langer Cup games (and the Payne cup up north for that matter) over the next month or so.
Tom Weaver scored a try, kicked three from three and had the try assist that JA4220 noted and also threw the last pass to both of Damon Sommerville's tries.
Burleigh will be looking to go back to back when the Gold Coast Rugby League First Grade competition kicks off this weekend and two key players in that charge will be Titans contracted Jayden Campbell and Tristian Powell.
The GCRL First Grade competition kicks off on the weekend with Burleigh looking to repeat their 2019 Premiership success and their Round One side to face Southport certainly has a yuthful look to it. Jayden Campbell will start at fullback, Will Evans on the right wing and Tristian Powell on the bench.
Other young players include Taine Tuaupiki (left centre), Tyler Szepanowski (front row), Lochlyn Sheldon (front row) and Jayden Sharp (interchange).
With the Queensland Cup not restarting the Ormeau Shearers have taken the opportunity to bring talented 22 year old Souths Logan Magpies five eight Hayden O'Hara to the club for the 2020. He is a great addition to the competition.
Titans contracted Brock Lennox will start at outside centre (No. 13) on Saturday in the TSS U15A's final GPS trial on the Gold Coast against Anglican Church Grammar School (Churchie).
Titans contracted Kaleb Ngamanu and Nic Hilton will start for the TSS First XV in TSS's final GPS school boy trial on Saturday against Churchie.
A couple of nights after playing fullback for PBC in their 22-10 schoolboy Langer Cup Round One win over Ipswich SHS Jack Smith will start on the wing for the Tugun Seahawks against Ormeau in Round One of the Gold Coast Rugby League First Grade competition on Sunday.
Hail Sezer
30-07-20, 07:43 PM
Tom Weaver interview after his first game for PBC
https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/national/tom-weaver/video/e65efb1868c532a1f9ce7905c9701d84?nk=d67ccaeff9c8c7 f6bb18e2b1fb038492-1596102038
In their first ever GCRL First Grade match it is great to see one of the Mudgeeraba Redbacks best ever juniors line up being Brent Woolf who will start at lock as the Redbacks take on Runaway Bay on Sunday in Round One.
Mr Bods
30-07-20, 09:01 PM
In their first ever GCRL First Grade match it is great to see one of the Mudgeeraba Redbacks best ever juniors line up being Brent Woolf who will start at lock as the Redbacks take on Runaway Bay on Sunday in Round One.
Hasn’t he always been a halfback?
Half in the juniors but had moved to hooker at the Queensland Cup level with Tweed Heads.
Hasn’t he always been a halfback?
Titans contracted 19 year old Solomon Torrens will start on the bench for the Tugun Seahawks against Ormeau in Round One of the Gold Coast Rugby League First Grade competition on Sunday.
Titans contracted Carsil Vaikai will start at lock for Runaway Bay in their GCRL First Grade Round One match against Mudgeeraba this weekend.
Titans contracted Rowan Mansfield will line up at fullback for Ballina for the second week on a row on Sunday in Round Two of the NRRRL U18 competition.
Tweed Heads Seagulls 2020 Colts Steharrn Holo will start at lock on Sunday for the Ormeau Shearers as they take on the Tugun Seagulls on Round One of the GCRL First Grade competition.
Stephern Holo is a former Qld U16 representative and is also U20 eligible in 2021.
one of the most interesting names for the Ormeau Shearers GCLR First Grade side's Round One is Lorenzo Leapai who has been named to start on the bench.
The young man played a match or two for the Titans development squads as a 13 year old and certainly is a talented player and will play in the middle of the field when he comes on.
Titans linked utility back Jaylon To'O will srat at five eight on Sunday for the Runaway Bay Seagulls GCRL First Grade side in their Round One match against the Mudgeeraba Redbacks.
Titans contracted Alofana Khan-Periera will start on the left wing for the Burleigh Bears GCRL Round One First Grade side against the Southport Tigers tomorrow evening.
Giant young Titans contracted front rower Noah Johannssen will start in the front row tomorrow for the Bilambil Jets in Round Two of the NRRRL U18 competition against the Murwillumbah Mustangs.
Burleigh defeated Southport 32-4 this afternoon in Round One of the GCRL First Grade competition with Will Evans and Lofi Khan-Periera both scoring doubles and Jayden Campbell his usual dangerous self.
Kaleb Ngamanu had three line breaks this afternoon for the TSS First XV as they defeated Churchie 31-29 in their final GPS trial.
Titans contracted Orlando Swain was part of the Ipswich Grammar School GPS First XV that defeated Brisbane Grammar School 50-19 in their final GPS school boy rugby trial yesterday.
Titans contracted 16 year old outside back Antioch Faitala-Mariner will be a key member of the Brisbane State High School's First XV when the GPS school boy rugby competition starts next weekend.
Great to see Carsil Vaikai in his GCRL First Grade debut this afternoon for Runaway Bay as they defeated Mudgeeraba 32 - 20.
Titans contracted tear a way Solomon Torrens scored a double this afternoon for Tugun as they defeated Ormeau 52-28 in Round One of the GCRL First Grade competition.
Bayside Titan
02-08-20, 09:47 PM
Great to read how the young guy are going. Thanks Mdrew.
Titans linked Reshawn Anderson also started in the front row for Ballina in Round Two of the Group One U15 competition kicking two conversions as Ballina defeated South Grafton 28 – 0.
- - - Updated - - -
Dylan Watkins continued his outstanding form in Round Two of the Group One U13 competition scoring two tries and kicking a conversion as Ballina defeated South Grafton 22 – 4, once against playing five eight in the match.
Round One saw him score five tries and kicked one conversion.
Talented young right second rower Jykoven Torrens has had a great start to the Group One U13 competition for Casino RSM scoring three tries in the opening two rounds. In Round One against Ballina scored a double and he added a further try against the Kyogle Turkeys in Round Two.
Titans linked Ziah Piggott was one of the Kyogle Turkeys try scorers in Round Two of the Group One U16.5 competition as the Turkeys defeated Casino RSM 30 – 12.
Titans linked Kye Cooper moved to five eight for Round One and scored as his Ballina side defeated South Grafton 28 – 0.
When the Gold Coast Rugby League restarted on the weekend, Titans contracted Solomon Torrens started on the bench for the Tugun Seahawks in Round One of the Gold Coast Rugby League First Grade competition against the Oremau Shearers.
Solomon Torrens was outstanding in the match scoring a double as the Seahawks defeated Ormeau 52 – 28. Both of Solomon Torrens were as a result of powerful charges. Solomon Torren’s first try come in the first half, when, operating on the left Solomon Torrens charged onto the ball around ten metres out bursting through two defenders in the Ormeau front line before he dragged the fullback over the line with him.
Solomon Torren’s try in the second half was even better. Solomon Torrens received the ball twenty metres out bursting through the initial defensive line and then spub 360 degrees clockwise to twist past another defender before bumping off the Ormeau fullback to score next to the right upright, for an outstanding individual effort.
When the 2020 Gold Coast rugby league competition started on the weekend Titans contracted Lofi Khan-Periera was part of the Burleigh First Grade squad starting Round One against Southport on the right wing.
Burleigh defeated Southport 32 – 4 with Lofi Khan-Periera scoring a try in each half to finish the match with a double. Lofi Khan-Periera’s first try was in fact the first try of the match, he received a long cut out pass from Jayden Campbell, taking the ball five metres out from the Southport try line. When he received the ball Lofi Khan-Periera was stationary and had about two metres to move from a touch line perspective. Lofi Khan-Periera looked like he was going to step inside but in fact ended up beating the defender on the outside with a subtle effective move.
Lofi Khan-Periera’s second half try was the polar opposite of his first try. Southport were attacking the Burleigh line but an errant pass went to ground and Lofi Khan-Periera was on hand to retrieve the ball and sprint seventy five metres to score under the posts untouched.
When the 2020 Gold Coast Rugby League competition restarted on the weekend Titans contracted Jayden Campbell was part of the Burleigh Bears side that was looking to repeat their 2019 Premiership success starting Round One of the GCRL First Grade competition at fullback.
In Burleigh’s 32 – 4 Round One victory, Jayden Campbell was his usual elusive self and finished the match with a line break, a try assist and he also kicked one conversion from as many attempts.
Jayden Campbell set up Burleigh’s first try of the match, he joined the backline on the right side of the field with Burleigh close to the line and threw a long cut out pass to his right to fellow Titan Lofi Khan-Periera who was able to stand up his direct opponent to score in the corner.
Jayden Campbell was also heavily involved in one of Will Evan’s two tries. With Southport on the attack, they put through a grubber kick. Jayden Campbell retrieved the ball five metres out from his own try line and then split the Southport defence with two outstanding left foot steps. Jayden Campbell was eventually brought down forty metres out from the Southport line but the damage was done with Will Evans scoring from the resultant play the ball.
In Round Two of the Group One U15 competition, Titans contracted Lachlan Offley moved from right centre to fullback and had a big match scoring a hat trick and kicking a conversion as Ballina defeated South Grafton 28 – 0.
Giant Titans contracted front rower Noah Johannssen scored first try of the 2020 NRRRL U18 season on Sunday for Bilambil in Round Two but they went down 24-18 to Murwillumbah.
Titans contracted Riley Lack started at five eight and kicked four conversions from four attempts as his Murwillumbah side defeated Bilambil 24-18 in Round Two of the NRRRL U18 competition on Sunday.
Giant former Titans linked and PBC front rower Jordan Taualii started from the bench for the Mullumbimby Giants in Round Two of the NRRRL First Grade competition as they went down 26-12 to Byron Bay.
After spending the recent off season training with the Melbourne Storm U20 side left centre Thomas Vickery could not have done any more in Murwillumbah's 38-36 loss to the Bilambil Jets on Sunday in Round Two of the NRRRL First Grade competition scoring a double and kicking six from six.
Former Titans NYC player Rory Lillis was one of Mullumbimby's two try scorers as they went down 26-12 to Byron Bay in Round Two of the NRRRL First Grade competition on Sunday.
Titans linked Noah Gafa started at right centre for the Mullumbimby Giants as they went down 26-12 to Byron Bay in Round Two of the NRRRL First Grade competition on Sunday.
When rugby league restarted in Queensland in late July 2020 Titans linked Luke Maiden headed back to play for Souths Tigers Toowoomba in the 2020 Volunteers Cup competition which was a competition with Ipswich and Toowoomba sides playing. In Round One of that competition Luke Maiden started in the front row as the Tigers defeated West End 32 – 30.
Hail Sezer
05-08-20, 07:41 AM
Hey Mdrew - is Sione Fotuaika signed with us?
Not that I am aware of mate, but hopefully the family connection helps.
Hey Mdrew - is Sione Fotuaika signed with us?
One of the most intriguing players in this season’s U18 NRRRL competition is Tuveia Leon who on the weekend started at right second row for Murwillumbah as they defeated the Bilambil Jets in Round Two 24-18.
The former Kingscliffe High School student also plays rugby and in Round Two of the Far North Coast Rugby competition and in Round Two a fortnight ago made his First Grade debut and celebrated his debut with a try against Ballina, starting the match on the right wing.
For the 2020 Group One season Titans linked Jamal Laurie moved from South Grafton to the Clarence Coast Magpies, including starting at left centre and scoring in Round Three of the U16.5 competition as the Magpies went down to Ballina.
Great to see Titans contracted Bailey Martin back into the PBC Open A Langer Cup side for this afternoon's match against Wavell.
He will add a spark off the bench when he comes on, likely at lock. He is an outstanding young talent.
Young Casino RSM five eight Toby Hannah is not just a game manager but a talented ball runner as well.
In Round One of the 2020 Group One U13 competition, Toby Hannah started at five eight and scored a try and kicked three from three conversions against Ballina.
Toby Hannah also started at five eight in Round Two last weekend against the Kyogle Turkeys scoring eight of Casino RSM’s twelve points in their 12 – 4 win from a try and two conversions from as many attempts.
On Saturday in Round Three of the Group One U16.5 competition Titans linked Damon Coldwell moved to left centre for Round Three and made the most of the move, scoring a double as Ballina defeated Clarence Coast 18 – 12.
Young Clarence Coast Magpie Antwone Quinlin-Randall had another busy day on Saturday on Round Three of the Group One competition on Saturday. He began the day starting in the front row in the U13 match and then backed up to start at lock in the U14 match, with both matches being played against Ballina.
Titans linked Reece Warburton started at half back in Round Three of the Group One U15 competition on Saturday and kicked a conversions as the Magpies went down 18 – 12 to Ballina.
After Clarence Coast’s Round Two match was postponed, Titans linked David Torrens started at lock for Round Three of the Group One U13 competition on Saturday against Ballina and scored his first try of the season as Clarence Coast defeated Ballina 24 – 8.
Talented youngster Grant Brown moved to fullback for Clarence Coast’s Round Three Group One U13 match against Ballina, scoring and kicking a conversion as the Magpies went down 32 – 22 to Ballina.
Bayside Titan
05-08-20, 02:49 PM
Not that I am aware of mate, but hopefully the family connection helps.
Just saw a post on the Legion Insta account someone asking the same question.
Titanic
05-08-20, 02:52 PM
Just saw a post on the Legion Insta account someone asking the same question.The power of the press ... let's hope we sign the lot of them and keep them in the system but you can bet your left one that the 'Ponies will be after revenge served hot, cold and lukewarm.
After Clarence Coast’s Round Two match was postponed, Titans linked AJ Hickling was back in the second row for Round Three of the Group One U13 competition on Saturday against Ballina and made it two tries from as many matches, scoring as Clarence Coast defeated Ballina 24 – 8.
Titans linked Kye Cooper made it two tries from as many matches in the last two rounds when he scored in Round Three as his Ballina side defeated Clarence Coast 18 – 12. Kye Cooper also kicked three goals in the match to finish with a ten point haul.
After Clarence Coast’s Round Two match was postponed, Titans linked Tyrelle Waters was back at half back for Round Three of the Group One U13 competition on Saturday against Ballina and made it two tries from as many matches, scoring as Clarence Coast defeated Ballina 24 – 8.
In the 2020 Group One U16.5 season Titans linked Nic Torrens took over some of the goal kicking duties including kicking two conversions from as many attempts in Round Three as Clarence Coast went down 18 – 12 to Ballina on Saturday.
Ballina’s Dylan Watkins outstanding 2020 continued in Round Three of the Group One U13 competition scoring a hat trick and kicking two goals, for an individual game tally of sixteen as Ballina defeated Clarence Coast 32 – 22.
In just three matches this season Dylan Watkins has scored ten tries and kicked four goals to average sixteen points a game.
Just-a-Fan
08-08-20, 11:35 AM
Hi mdrew
hey are the Titans looking at any of these player do you know
Langer Cup: 10 Gold Coast talents ready for prime time
Palm Beach-Currumbin State High School and Keebra Parak State High School will fly the Gold Coast’s flag in southeast Queensland’s top schools rugby league competition. READ THE COMPLETE LIST
Nic Darveniza, Gold Coast Bulletin
Subscriber only
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August 5, 2020 2:18pm
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GOLDCOASTBULLETIN.COM.AU1:11:58
Langer Cup: St Mary’s College (Toowoomba) vs Coombabah State
Langer Cup: St Mary’s College (Toowoomba) vs Coombabah State battle it out in the qualifiers.
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The 2020 Langer Cup season is upon us.
Palm Beach-Currumbin State High School and Keebra Parak State High School will fly the Gold Coast’s flag in southeast Queensland’s top schools rugby league competition.
FIVE THINGS WE LEARNT FROM OPENING ROUND
The schools have a fearsome record of success in the Cup and 2020 will be no different as strong squads battle for the right to compete in the state and national title games.
Here are 10 Gold Coast talents to watch as the season continues on Wednesday evening.
The Gold Coast Bulletin and News affiliates will livestream both the Langer Cup (south east Queensland) and Payne Cup (North Queensland) competitions.
XAVIER WILLISON – FRONT ROW, PALM BEACH-CURRUMBIN SHS CLASS OF 2020
Palm Beach Currumbin are playing in the NRL Schoolboy Cup state final on Wednesday. Photo of Xavier Willison. Photo by Richard Gosling
Palm Beach Currumbin are playing in the NRL Schoolboy Cup state final on Wednesday. Photo of Xavier Willison. Photo by Richard Gosling
Willison has been a dominant force on the school circuit but missed out on a Queensland jumper last year due to injury. His athleticism is remarkable for the position with endurance to match the power generated by those long legs.
LACHLAN ADAMSON – HOOKER, KEEBRA PARK SHS CLASS OF 2020
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Adamson was selected in the Queensland under-18 squad so you can only imagine he would have featured in the school equivalent side. His playmaking ability is rapidly catching up to his strong defence.
RYAN RIVETT – FIVE-EIGHTH, PALM BEACH-CURRUMBIN SHS CLASS OF 2020
Gold Coast footballer Ryan Rivett.
Gold Coast footballer Ryan Rivett.
Picture Alfie Langer in a bigger body. Whether Rivett reaches those illustrious heights remains to be seen but good judges have been impressed by organisational skills in the meantime. Rivett was stuck behind young Titan Toby Sexton last year but was poised to break out in 2020.
TYRONE GUNN-JAMES – LOCK, KEEBRA PARK SHS CLASS OF 2020
One of the star’s of Kirwan State High School’s Payne Cup and national title-winning side, Gunn-James has moved south to Keebra to further his football. His outstanding defence would have been a tremendous asset to Queensland selectors.
FLYNN DANIEL – EDGE, PALM BEACH-CURRUMBIN SHS CLASS OF 2020
Flynn Daniel of Palm Beach Currumbin. Picture: Tertius Pickard
Flynn Daniel of Palm Beach Currumbin. Picture: Tertius Pickard
Daniel injects chaos onto the right edge, with a potent combination of size and an ability to pick out uncomfortable running lines to stress defenders. A strong skill base contributes to a productive offloading game as well.
DAMON SOMERVILLE – CENTRE, PALM EACH-CURRUMBIN SHS CLASS OF 2020
Somerville represented the Queensland under-15s in 2018 and has only grown as a strong, dynamic ball-carrier. His agility and footwork match well with his physicality to provide a well-rounded attacking presence in the wider channels.
TREY PENI – OUTSIDE BACK, KEEBRA PARK SHS CLASS OF 2020
Trey Peni of Keebra Park. Picture: Tertius Pickard
Trey Peni of Keebra Park. Picture: Tertius Pickard
Peni is the incumbent Queensland Schools winger from 2019 and would have pushed for the start in the Australian team in 2020. Peni has blossomed at Keebra since making the move from Western Australia to test himself in their system.
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CONNOR TE KANI, FIVE-EIGHTH, KEEBRA PARK SHS CLASS OF 2021
Keebra Park five-eighth Connor Tekani has walked away from the GPS Rugby competition to chase his rugby league dream at Keebra Park. Picture Glenn Hampson
Keebra Park five-eighth Connor Tekani has walked away from the GPS Rugby competition to chase his rugby league dream at Keebra Park. Picture Glenn Hampson
Tekani left the GPS rugby system this year to pursue his rugby league dream.
He has some pedigree in the sport, having represented the Queensland Under-16s in previous seasons.
He joins a Keebra Park outfit hungry for Langer Cup success after two years without a title.
XAVIER SAVAGE – OUTSIDE BACK, PALM BEACH-CURRUMBIN SHS CLASS OF 2020
The Canberra Raiders pounced on Savage not long after he set the all-time State under-16 100-metre record with a blazing 10.5. He’s an incumbent Queensland winger so would have expected to feature again in 2020.
KLESE HAAS – BACK ROW, KEEBRA PARK SHS CLASS OF 2020
The Sunday Mail will launch schoolboy rugby league livestreaming this week. To launch we are doing a story with Payne Haas' little brother Klese Haas, who is playing for Keebra Park on the Gold Coast. Pics Adam Head
The Sunday Mail will launch schoolboy rugby league livestreaming this week. To launch we are doing a story with Payne Haas' little brother Klese Haas, who is playing for Keebra Park on the Gold Coast. Pics Adam Head
The younger brother of Payne Haas isn’t built quite the same as his Broncos star sibling but the footballing ability is just as strong. Klese is rangier, with speed and a similarly massive engine. He’s the fourth of 10 Haas children so you know he’s learned how to tackle.
Ryan Rivett, Flynn Daniel & Trey Peni are with the titans at the moment.
Xavier Willison and Damon Somerville are with Brisbane. I believe Lachy Adamson is still with Canterbury.
The others I am not too sure about.
Mr Bods
08-08-20, 03:36 PM
Tom Weaver not one of them in the article
No way
Hail Sezer
08-08-20, 03:53 PM
Tom Weaver not one of them in the article
No way
Yeah ND tries hard but I find some of his reporting a bit amateurish. He’s missed some really good players, Weaver being one of them.
Just-a-Fan
08-08-20, 04:08 PM
Thanks for that Yeah i have read Weaver was with us before somewhere he set up 2 tries and scored 1 in a game a week or so ago
keen in finding out about XAVIER SAVAGE as we all need speed
KLESE HAAS is doing ok so I read also might be 1 Haas we can keep here
Tom Weaver made his NRRRL First Grade debut this afternoon for the Cudgen Hornets at five eight as they defeated the Bilambil Jets.
He kicked two side line conversions from the right touchline and recorded a try assist.
It was a battle of the Titans linked backrowers in Round Four of the Group One U14 competition on Saturday when Grafton defeated Clarence Coast 22-16. Lockie McLaughlin scored a double for Grafton and that was matched by a double by Clarence Coast's Anthony Hickling.
Lockie McLaughlin then was on the bench for the U15 match.
Young Clarence Coast centre Jasper Whalley continued his run of scoring in each of his Group One U13 matches this season when he scored for the Magpies as they went down 22-18 to the Grafton Ghosts.
Jasper Whalley had previously scored doubles in Round One and Two against South Grafton and Ballina respectively.
Titans contracted Rowan Mansfield celebrated his NRRRL Reserve Grade debut by coming off the bench and scoring for Ballina as they drew 28 all with Northern United in Round Four of the NRRRL competition yesterday.
Youngster Cooper Many made his deserved NRRRL First Grade debut off the bench for Ballina in Round Four against Northern United on Sunday in a big 62 – 10 win for the Seagulls. With the Lower Clarence Magpies choosing not to play in the 2020 season, Cooper Many moved to the Ballina Seagulls for the season.
Cooper Many started the 2020 season in the right second row position for the Ballina NRRRL Reserve Grade side in their 22 – 4 victory over the Bilambil Jets and also started at right second row in Round Two as Ballina went down 26 – 14 to the Marist Brothers Rams and in Round Three in a 28 all draw against Northern United.
Former Titans junior Isaac Lee is back in Lismore after spending the 2019 season in Newcastle.
He started Round One of the 2020 NRRRL competition at right centre against Casino RSM and scored as the Rams emerged victorious 16 - 10. Isaac Lee also started at right centre in Round Two as the Rams went down 28 – 16 to the Ballina Seagulls.
Isaac Lee had a big match in Round Three of the NRRRL First Grade competition on Sunday scoring a hat trick from the right centre position as the Rams defeated Byron Bay 52 – 0.
Kel Sheather had a big weekend. On Saturday he played rugby for Lennox Heads in his first appearance in the Far North Coast Rugby First Grade competition in Round Four when he started at No. 9 and scored a double against Grafton.
On Sunday Kel Sheather played his first match for the Ballina Seagulls in the NRRRL First Grade side in 2020 when he started Round Four at half back as the Seagulls defeated Northern United 62 – 10.
With the Hastings Deering’s Colts and the Group Two competition cancelled, Jake Martin still managed to get on the field in 2020 although it meant a move to the Byron Bay Devils in the NRRRL competition, playing his first match for the Rams on Sunday in Round Three against the Marist Brothers Rams.
Jake Martin has also played rugby in 2020 starting Round One of the Far North Coast First Grade rugby season at inside centre (No. 12) for the Grafton Redmen in their 45 – 15 loss to Casurina Beach. Jake Martin also started against Lennox Heads in Round Four, this time at outside centre (No. 13) on Saturday before lining up in the NRRRL rugby league competition on Saunday.
Damon Coldwell has had a big fortnight for Ballina in the NRRRL U18 competition.
In Round Three scored a double as Ballina defeated Clarence Coast 18 – 12 and he added a further double in Round Four on Sunday when he started at left centre as Ballina defeated Kyogle 38 – 10.
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Apologies all, Moeaki's younger brother Sione Fotuaika is a Titans contracted junior player.
Bayside Titan
11-08-20, 10:40 AM
LOCAL SPORT
Langer Cup 2020: David Fifita magic rubs off on Gold Coast Titans bound Marsden SHS trio
The NRL’s multimillion-dollar man David Fifita has not even laced up a boot for the Gold Coast Titans, but already his magic has worn off on three Marsden State High School students bound for the club.
Andrew Dawson, Albert & Logan News
Subscriber only
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August 11, 2020 8:25am
NRL multi million dollar man David Fifita has not even laced on a boot for the Gold Coast Titans yet, but already his magic has rubbed off on three Marsden SHS students bound for the club.
Marsden SHS forward leader Taelon Te-Whiu-Hopa, Will Semu and EJ Finau can already feel the buzz around the Titans training venues following the club’s prized signing of Fifta from the Brisbane Broncos.
“Seeing him go there gives the club some good hype, gets the fans in because he is a big name,’’ said Te-Whiu-Hopa, his eyes alight in anticipation of training with Fifita during the off-season.
Finau added: “Someone like David Fifita coming is good for us boys to look up to and motivates us to train harder.’’
Semu said it was not only the addition of Fifita which was exciting to him, but also the addition of fellow forwards Herman Ese’ese and Tino Faasuamaleaui for the 2021 season.
The trio and a fourth Marsden SHS player, Langer Cup prop Sione Fotuaika, were all under contract to the Titans.
They said the training environment around the Titans was already sky-high – even before the club landed Fifita’s signature.
“The team culture, everyone is welcoming. It is great. I have been there for two years and it feels like home to be honest,’’ Finau said.
Both Te-Whiu-Hopa and Semu agreed: “There has been a lot of improvement. I have been there since the 13s,’’ Te-Whiu-Hopa said.
“It has improved over the years and is better.’’
Semu added: “The junior development is probably the best I have been in so far.”
The Gold Coast successfully signing the four Marsden SHS’s players from league rich Logan is a win for the club.
While Titans have the likes of Sione’s older brother Moeaki Fotuaika (Logan Brothers junior) and reserve winger Greg Leleisiuao (Woodridge SHS) on their list, Logan City has been open season for just about every other NRL club in the past and Titans’ recruits have been limited.
Gold Coast was Chris Sandow’s first club and Branko Lee eventually got to the coast on the rebound from other clubs, but Logan City talent like Cameron Smith, Josh Papalii, Corey Allan, Ricky Leutele, Caleb Timu and Jaydn Su’a passed by the Titans.
However, clearly the talent pool is being watched given the addition of Te-Whiu-Hopa, Semu, Finau and Fotuaika from Marsden SHS.
https://www.couriermail.com.au/questnews/sport/langer-cup-2020-david-fifta-magic-rubs-off-on-gold-coast-titans-bound-marsden-shs-trio/news-story/d7622027a0a705101c421ecd8b33d26e
Just-a-Fan
11-08-20, 11:41 AM
Thanks Bayside you beat me to this post
Sione Fotuaika I been watching him seems to be very much like his older brother punches above his age
Titans contracted front rower Noah Johannssen scored his second try from as many matches on Sunday when he scored in Round Three of the NRRRL U18 competition against the Cudgen Hornets and was also one of the co-captains for the match as Bilambil lost a close match 26 – 22 to the Hornets.
A week earlier Noah Johannssen scored in Round Two against Murwillumbah as the Jets went down 24 – 18.
Great to see Titans contracted Seth Niketimo captain the Keebra Park Open Titans Cup side to a win against Marymount earlier this week.
Playing left second row Seth Niketimo also scored when he chased through a kick that was put up on the half way mark, he retrieved the ball 40 metres out dummied past the initial defender before running directly over the Marymount fullback. He in fact lost his balance and literally crawled the last six metres to score.
Titan Reef Sommerville has had a busy few weeks including starting Round One of the 2020 NRRRL U18 competition at left centre as Cudgen travelled to Byron Bay to take on the Devils with Reef Sommerville scoring in the Hornets 14 – 10 victory. Reef Sommerville also started in the centres in Round Three against the Bilambil Jets on Sunday and scored his second try from as many NRRRL U18 matches as Cudgen defeated Bilambil 26 - 22.
Also in the last couple of weeks Reef Sommerville started Round One of the Langer Cup school boy competition at right centre as PBC took on and defeated Ipswich State High School 22 – 10 at Pizzey Park also starting there in Round two against Wavell State High School last week in an 18 all draw.
There is a great article in the GC Bulliten about Titans contracted Bailey Martin. He is an outstanding talent.
gothabull
11-08-20, 04:54 PM
There is a great article in the GC Bulliten about Titans contracted Bailey Martin. He is an outstanding talent.
Thank you for the outstanding write ups you do on our juniors I hope the titans club is aware of what you do , you should be employed by them .
Palm Beach Currumbin forward Bailey Martin might not look like it but the 174 centimetre lock could be the toughest teenager in Queensland rugby league.
Martin was 16 years old when his school coach Brad Davis selected him to represent Queensland’s Cities in an annual representative clash with Queensland Country last year. During training camp Martin dislocated his shoulder.
Usually that would mean six weeks on the sidelines from the moment he regained full range of movement.
Martin chose to play on that weekend anyway.
PBC Student Bailey Martin poses for a picture at Pizzey Park Burleigh. Photograph : Jason O'Brien
PBC Student Bailey Martin poses for a picture at Pizzey Park Burleigh. Photograph : Jason O'Brien
Within minutes of kick-off he had dislocated it again.
He popped it back and played on, only to dislocate it for a third time in the space of the week on the next set of six.
Martin played on for 20 more minutes until Davis finally convinced him to leave the field. He did it for his mates.
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“It was pretty tough (to play on) but I was trying to stay on for the boys,” he explained.
“It’s important to me that I don’t want to let my team down.”
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Who were the stars in round two of the Langer Trophy and Payne Cup schoolboy rugby league competition?
Surgery and seven months of rehabilitation repaired the damage, which will make his potential return to the starting team all the sweeter for the student who started at PBC in Grade 8. Davis said he was extremely proud to see Martin back on the pitch.
“He’s definitely a tough kid and someone you want in your footy team,” he said.
“He’s worked diligently on his rehabilitation to get back to this level.
“With COVID issues we weren’t sure he’d make it back to play another game for the school.”
Martin said he wouldn’t change his approach to the game.
“If I see the chance I’ll put a shot on – no fear.”
The 16 year old younger brother of Titans NRL star front rower Moeaki Fotuaika, Sione Fotuaika is a Titans contracted junior and is currently starting in the front row for the Marsden State High School Langer Cup school boy side after moving over from New Zealand for the start of the 2020 school year.
Sione Fotuaika had the opportunity to go to Keebra Park but decided to go to Mardsen State High School to forge his own legacy away from the school where his three older brothers all attended and excelled.
Sione Fotuaika started Round One of the 2020 Langer Cup competition in the front row against PBC and also started Round Two against his brothers former school, being Keebra Park.
Early in 2020 Sione Fotuaika was part of the Souths Logan U18 MM Cup squad, starting Round One which was the only round of the competition that was played from the bench as the Magpies went down 26 – 20 against the Western Mustangs.
Prior to his arrival in Australia Sione Fotuaika made numerous representative sides in New Zealand as well as being part of the New Zealand Warriors junior development set up.
In early 2019 Sione Fotuaika was part of the New Zealand U16 National Talent Development Program (TDP) and at the end of the camp was part of the Fisher-Harris U16 team that played a trial. 2019 also saw Sione Fotuaika named in the New Zealand Residents U16 wider squad.
In New Zealand Sione Fotuaika attended Papatoetoe High School and played for the Waitemata Seagulls in the Auckland rugby league competition.
In 2018 Sione Fotuaika started in the front row in his five matches for the Auckland Vulcans representative side in the New Zealand U15 National Youth Tournament.
Titans contracted Josiah Pahulu was the stand out player on the field this afternoon as his Ipswich SHS side went down 22-16 to Keebra Park. The young man even though he was up against players two years older than him was simply outstanding.
Jamal Laurie started at left centre in Round Four and scored his second try of the Group One U16.5 season last weekend as his Clarence Coast Magpies defeated Casino RSM 40 – 0.
Titans linked Nic Torrens continued his solid start to the Group One U16.5 season scoring a double and kicking three goals for an individual points haul of fourteen in Round Four last weekend as Clarence Coast defeated Casino RSM 40 – 0.
Nic Torrens started the match at lock for the Magpies.
Titans contracted Larry Siala has had a great start to his season in the Ipswich RL U15 competition, starting in the front row in their Round One 66-6 victory over Norths Gold and in the second row last weekend in Round Two in a 28-0 win over Redback Plains.
Round One of the GPS school boy rugby First XV competition proper saw Titans contracted Nicholas Hilton start at No. 6 for TSS against Brisbane State High School and such was his performance that Nicholas Hilton received a coaches honourable mention after the match that TSS won 49-19.
Two pieces of play in the match highlight all of the good qualities that Nicholas Hilton has.
The first piece of play came early in the match, Nicholas Hilton through sheer hard running broke through the BSHS line and under heavy pressure off laoded to front rower Carson Latu who ran thirty metres to score.
In the second half, after a TSS try, Nicholas Hilton waited under a high BSHS kick off with what seemed like the entire BSHS forward pack bearing down on him. Nicholas Hilton was immediately smashed as soon as he took the ball, but maintained his composure to quickly recycle the ball before the BSHS forwards could get back onside leading to a seventy metre try to star TSS centre Jojo Fifita down the blind side.
Titans contracted Brock Lennox has moved from outside centre to fullback for the TSS U15A side for their Round Two GPS school boy rugby match against Toowoomba Grammar School on the Coast on Saturday.
Great to see Burleigh Colts youngster Cameron Brown get an opportunity in the GCRL First Grade competition this weekend when he comes off the bench for Burleigh in Round Three against the Ormeau Shearers.
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