View Full Version : Junior Development
Electric young Western Australian Juilius Anderson-Hiroti had an exceptional 2020 season in both rugby league and rugby and as a consequence in 2021 will head east to attend Keebra Park State High School as part of their Titans partnered Elite Rugby League Academy.
In 2020 Juilius Anderson-Hiroti played in the Western Australian U15 Rugby League competition for the Kalamunda Bulldogs, who went on to become Premiers.
In the 2020 Western Australian U15 Rugby League Grand Final Juilius Anderson-Hiroti started the Grand Final at fullback as the Bulldogs defeated arch rivals, The South Perth Lions 12 – 8, unfortunately Juilius Anderson-Hiroti was unable to finish the match due to injury.
Juilius Anderson-Hiroti’s 2020 Western Australian U15 rugby league season was outstanding and was punctuated by multiple long range solo tries, with the first of those signature tries comning in Round Three against the Freemantle Roosters when Juilius Anderson-Hiroti split the defensive line in his own territory and easily outpaced the cover defense to score the first of many highlight reel tries.
Juilius Anderson-Hiroti was at it again in Round Four against eventual Grand Final opponents, the South Perth Lions when he tracked back and retrieved a long South Perth kick on the bounce, twenty metres from his own line. An eighty metre run and four tackle breaks later saw Juilius Anderson-Hiroti place the ball down under the posts for ultimately what I can say was one of the best individual tries of the 2020 season.
Juilius Anderson-Hiroti was at it again in Round Five recording a double against the Freemantle Roosters with both tries long range solo efforts by the lightning quick, explosive fullback.
Juilius Anderson-Hiroti added another long range solo try in Round Six once again against South Perth when he split the Lions defence in a hard fought 10 all draw.
In Round Nine against Ellenbrook Juilius Anderson-Hiroti once again showcased his kick return skills with another ling range try after he retrived a kick on the bounce and was simply too fast and elusive in an eighty run to score, and has become another trade mark, Juilius Anderson-Hiroti put the ball down directly under the black dot.
In December 2020 Juilius Anderson-Hiroti represented the U15 Northern Fusion side at the rugby league twelve a side Kwinana Klassic Tournament and the young man was a 2019 Western Australian U15 representative.
In 2020 Juilius Anderson-Hiroti did not just tear up the U15 Western Australian Rugby League competition, he did the exact same thing in the 2020 Western Australian U16 Rugby Competition, playing for the Kalamunda Districts Rugby Club.
Juilius Anderson-Hiroti played thirteen matches in the 2020 Western Australian U15 Rugby Competition, scoring twelve tries, including a try in Kalamunda’s finals victory against the Mandurah Pirates.
Juilius Anderson-Hiroti scored hat tricks in Round Three against Rockingham and Round Five against the University of Western Australia as well as a double in Round Seven against Wanneroo. Juilius Anderson-Hiroti also scored in Round Four against Palmyra, Round Six against the Mandurah Pirates and Round Nine against Joondalup.
From a position perspective Juilius Anderson-Hiroti started twelve of his thirteen matches at fullback, starting from the bench in his remaining match which was against Arks Rugby Club in Round Eight.
Magnificent article on the Official site about the JTS program and doing a session with NRL players. Outstanding work Jamie McCormack and team.
https://www.titans.com.au/news/2021/01/11/titans-jts-players-receive-surprise-session-with-nrl-squad/
Hail Sezer
12-01-21, 06:47 PM
Magnificent article on the Official site about the JTS program and doing a session with NRL players. Outstanding work Jamie McCormack and team.
https://www.titans.com.au/news/2021/01/11/titans-jts-players-receive-surprise-session-with-nrl-squad/
That is brilliant.
lonegull
12-01-21, 08:47 PM
Magnificent article on the Official site about the JTS program and doing a session with NRL players. Outstanding work Jamie McCormack and team.
https://www.titans.com.au/news/2021/01/11/titans-jts-players-receive-surprise-session-with-nrl-squad/
How good is that bloody great work something that all them boys will cherish and aspire to
It is scary to consider that in his own words Tino's younger brother Iszac Fa'asuamaleuai was always the better of the two when they were growing up. Not a bad wrap at all for the younger brother who is part of the Titans junior program.
Hail Sezer
13-01-21, 12:41 PM
It is scary to consider that in his own words Tino's younger brother Iszac Fa'asuamaleuai was always the better of the two when they were growing up. Not a bad wrap at all for the younger brother who is part of the Titans junior program.
Sounds very promising.
He’s training with Burleigh ISC and the Burleigh recruitment team had a lot to do with getting him here. They get little credit but are responsible for a lot of the talented youth coming to the coast..Vaka Sikahele & Sammy McIntyre to name a few. Good operators.
Mason Barber is a young man from the Northlands Region of New Zealand has moved over to the Gold Coast to attend Keebra Park State High School as part of the Titans partnered Elite Rugby League Academy with a junior reputation second to none in both rugby and rugby league.
In the abridged 2020 season Mason Barber who at 176cm and 68 kg can play half, hooker and lock played for the Tautoro Titans U15 side in the Northern Zone U15 competition. In his matches, Mason Barber scored eight points including a try against the Otangarei Knights, kicking a conversion in that game as well and kicked another conversion against Hikurangi.
In 2019 in the Northern Zone U13 competition, Mason Barber finished the season as the competitions outstanding player as well as leading the competition with twenty three tries, Mason Barber also finished as the competitions leading goal kicker with forty five goals and understandably the competitions leading points scorer with 182 points from just ten games to average 18.2 points per game.
Mason Barber had some big matches in the 2019 Northern Zone U13 competition including scoring three tries and kicking two goals (16 points) in an early season matches against the Horahora Broncos and then backed that up later in the season by also scoring three tries and five goals (22 points) once again against the Broncos.
Mason Barber also had two big matches against the Portland Panthers, in the first scoring twenty four points (three tries and three goals) and in the second scoring twenty points (three tries and eight goals)
Hikurangi/Moerewa also felt Mason Barbers fury in 2019, first when he scored two tries and two goals (12 points) and then when Mason Barber scored a try and kicked two goals late in the season.
Interspersed in those matches was a Mason Barber fourteen point haul (one try and five goals) against Takahiwai.
In 2019 Mason Barber represented the Northern Swords U13 representative side at the New Zealand National Youth Championships, playing in all four of the Northern Swords matches and kicking four conversions for an eight point haul.
In round out an impressive 2019 rugby league season, Mason Barber was part of the Taniwha Cup U13 side and was named in the New Zealand Maori U13 Merit side.
Mason Barber is also an outstanding rugby player, in 2019 playing for the Te Puna O Hokianga representative rugby side that became the New Zealand U13 Junior Rugby Champions after an unbeaten run through the Championships, scoring 184 points and conceding just 48 to finish with a positive points differential of 136.
Mason Barber scored thirty four of his sides points from three tries and eleven conversions.
Mason Barber’s side won the U13 National Championships on the back of a win in the Grand Final against Auckland University 21 – 17, after defeating YMP Gisborne in the semi-final 15 – 12.
Te Puna O Hokianga’s other victories in the National Championships were against Paraparumu 36 – 0, Taupo 46 – 5, Carlton 52 – 0 and St Thomas Canterbury 14 – 12.
Mason Barber will be U15 eligible in 2021.
OTOWN SHEARER
14-01-21, 02:24 PM
I believe that there is some stuff in the works for a northern GC MM cup and hasting deerings side
All the best to all of the Titans juniors who will head down to Coffs Harbour for tomorrows annual matches against the Newcastle Knights.
A special shout out to the Titans U19 female side who will play against the Knights tomorrow, in what I believe is the first ever U19 fixture between NRL sides. They had their jersey presentation last night.
Good luck to all, have a safe trip and enjoy the experience.
The new Keebra Park High Performance Centre will be ready to go soon and will allow the Keebra Park school boy rugby league teams (both boys and gilrs) to be even better prepared than they already are, which is a scary thought for opposition teams, but great news for Titans fans as a result of the partnership with Keebra.
From the images that I have seen it looks an incredible facility.
Great to see six current or former Keebra Park SHS sports specialisation students in the Titans U19 side for their match tomorrow against Newcastle.
There are also six current or former Marsden SHS students in the squad highlighting the great relationship that the Titans have both both schools.
Bring on a Titans NRLW side!
At this time of year a lot of junior rugby league players are training hard to be picked up by NRL clubs and placed in their Junior development programs, one such player is Burleigh Bears junior Tuvalli-Afoa Khan-Pereira, whose older brother Lofi is on a Titans NRL Development Contract.
Tomorrow Tuvalli-Afoa Khan-Pereira will push his claims with the Titans when he travels to Coffs Harbour as part of the Titans U19 squad to take on Newcastle tomorrow.
In late 2020 Tuvalli-Afoa Khan-Pereira was named in the 2021 Burleigh Bears MM Cup squad after also being part of the squad in 2020, starting the one and only round of the 2020 MM Cup competition on the right wing against Wynnum Manly.
In 2020 Tuvallio Khan-Pereira was part of the Keebra Park Open A Langer Cup school boy side and also was part of the Burleigh Bears U18 Division One side that went down 18 – 0 to Currumbin in the Grand Final, starting the decider at fullback for the Bears.
In the 2020 Langer School Boy Cup competition Tuvalli-Afoa Khan-Pereira started Round One at right centre against Wavell State High School and maintained his place there in Round two against Marsden State High School when in a 24 – 0 Keebra Park victory Tuvalli-Afoa Khan-Pereira scored his first try of the 2020 Langer Cup competition when he pounced on the ball in the in goal when the Marsden winger dropped a cross field bomb.
Tuvalli-Afoa Khan-Pereira once again started at right centre in Round Three against Ipswich State High School and scored the match winning try late in the second half. After leading 18 – 0, Keebra Park saw their lead wittled down to 18 – 16 before Tuvalli-Afoa Khan-Pereira received a pass when he was on the outside of his immediate defender to run seven metres untouched to dive over in the right corner to clinch a 22 – 16 victory.
In the Round Four local derby against PBC, Tuvalli-Afoa Khan-Pereira continued is 2020 Langer Cup run of starts at right centre as Keebra Park went down 22 – 18 after leading 18 – 0 early in the first half. In the final 2020 Langer Cup regular season round, being Round Five against St Mary’s Toowoomba Tuvalli-Afoa Khan-Pereira also started at right centre as Keebra Park qualified for the finals on the back of a big win.
Tuvalli-Afoa Khan-Pereira moved to fullback for Keebra Park’s semi-final against Wavell State High School and had a big game especially in the first half when he recorded two try assists as Keebra Park qualified for the Grand Final on the back of a 32 – 8 victory.
For all intents and purposes both of Tuvalli-Afoa Khan-Pereira’s try assists were identical, on each occasion the ball was spread to Keebra Park’s left with Tuvalli-Afoa Khan-Pereira chiming into the backline and providing the final pass for his left winger Levi Jones to cross in the left corner.
Tuvalli-Afoa Khan-Pereira also started at fullback for Keebra Park as they went down 16 – 8 to PBC in the 2020 Langer Cup Grand Final.
In 2019 Tuvalli-Afoa Khan-Pereira was heavily involved on the representative scene including being named in the Queensland U16 side for their interstate match against New South Wales but unfortunately was unable to participate in the match.
2019 also saw Tuvalli-Afoa Khan-Pereira start at right centre and captain the Queensland Murri U16 side as they defeated New South Wales Kurri 28 – 20.
Tuvalli-Afoa Khan-Pereira also started at fullback for the 2019 Queensland U16 City side against Queensland Country and scored City’s sole try in their loss. Tuvalli-Afoa Khan-Pereira played all sixty minutes of the match, making a team leading ninety five metres (twelve post contact) with seventy seven of those metres generated from kick returns. Tuvalli-Afoa Khan-Pereira also had a line break, a tackle break and made eight tackles from the fullback position.
In relation to his try Tuvalli-Afoa Khan-Pereira was operating on the left side of the field when he received the ball two passes from the play the ball twenty five metres out in space. Tuvalli-Afoa Khan-Pereira then accelerated and ran a straight diagonal route to score ten metres in from the left corner post untouched.
In 2018 Tuvalli-Afoa Khan-Pereira represented the South Coast U15 side at the QSSRL Championships, going on to representing the Queensland White side at the U15 ASSRL National Championships and was a key member of the side that won the National Championship with Tuvalli-Afoa Khan-Pereira subsequently being named in the 2018 Australian U15 Merit side.
Tuvalli Khan-Pereira was a standout for both Burleigh and Keebra Park over the course of the 2017 season. Tuvalli-Afoa Khan-Pereira started at fullback for Burleigh in the U14 Division One Grand Final however they were defeated by Ormeau 31 – 16 with Tuvalli-Afoa Khan-Pereira scoring.
Tuvalli-Afoa Khan-Pereira also represented a Titans U15 side late 2017 that played against a Balmain Tigers selection. Well done Titans as the U15 side had some very very good players in it, including like Tuvalli-Afoa Khan-Pereira a number of exceptionally talented youngsters who were U14 eligible at the time of the match. Tuvalli-Afoa Khan-Pereira has also been named in the Queensland U15 Emerging Origin squad.
Over the course of the GCJRL U14 Division One season, Tuvalli-Afoa Khan-Pereira finished as the competitions leading try scorer with eighteen tries from just ten matches. Tuvalli-Afoa Khan-Pereira scored four tries in a late season match against Runaway Bay and scored a hat trick against them in the first Round. Tuvalli-Afoa Khan-Pereira also scored a hat trick against Ormeau early in the season.
Tuvalli-Afoa Khan-Pereira was also a standout performer for Keebra Park in their U14 Michael Hancock Cup side that went through the 2017 competition undefeated including defeating PBC in the Cup Final.
In addition, Tuvalli-Afoa Khan-Pereira represented the Vikings at the U14 Hill Stumer Championships where he played mainly in the centres and where the U13 Vikings were undefeated and from there was selected in the U14 South East Queensland Green side for the Queensland Age Championships.
For the Vikings in 2016, Tuvalli-Afoa Khan-Pereira scored three tries over the three matches that the Vikings played, including scoring in both matches on Day One on the Saturday, including a double in a big win over Brisbane Red and also scoring against Brisbane White. For SEQ Green Tuvalli-Afoa Khan-Pereira played in all of their matches. In 2016 Tuvalli-Afoa Khan-Pereira was also named Keebra Park’s U13 MVP and was named in the second row in the 2016 team of the year.
Tuvalli-Afoa Khan-Pereira also was part of the 2016 Keebra U13 Renouf Cup side that performed so well in that competition and scored an incredible number of tries including fifteen in the first five weeks alone. Against Marsden in Round Five he scored four tries and backed that up with a hat trick in Round Seven against Alexandria Hills and in the Round of Sixteen scored a great sixty metre try when he burst through the Ipswich defensive line to score untouched.
At the Keebra Sports Specialisation Awards night in 2016, Tuvalli-Afoa Khan-Pereira was awarded the U13 Player of the Year Award and was also named in the Keebra Team of the Year in the second row along with Renouf Cup and Vikings team mate Syris Schmidt who was named at five eight.
In 2015 he was named in Keebra Park’s team of the year where he was named in the centres, a position he played a lot for Keebra in the U13 age group. Other Titans linked boys who made the Keebra Park 2015 team of the year included AJ Brimson who was named at five eight.
Another player looking for an opportunity is former Marsden State High School student Tony Francis.
In 2020 Tony Francis was part of the Marsden State High School Langer Cup Open A school boy side spending time at both five eight and left centre.
Tony Francis started Round One of the 2020 Langer Cup at five eight for Marsden State High School against St Mary’s College Toowoomba and also started at five eight in Round Two agaisnt Keebra Park.
Round Three of the 2020 Langer Cup against Wavell State High School saw Tony Francis line up at five eight once again and in Round Five against PBC.
Tony Francis was also part of the Marsden State High School set up in 2019, including playing in the Queensland GIO Cup Grand Final against Kirwan State High School, with Tony Francis making one memorable line break in the second half down the left side of the field which ultimately led to a try to TC Robati. Unfortunately Marsden SHS went down in the Grand Final to their North Queensland opponents.
Tony Francis was simply dominating over the course of the 2019 school boy season in both the GIO Cup and the Langer Cup and a description of some of his impressive moments are noted below.
Playing left centre against PBC, Tony Francis chased through a short stab kick towards the PBC right corner post, Tony Francis wanted the ball more than the three PBC defenders trying to defuse the kick but Tony Francis bustled this way through the take the ball off a head high bounce and after flipping over a PBC defender was able to get the ball down three metres in from the left corner post.
Tony Francis recorded an outstanding try assist against Wavell State High School when he produced a outstanding flick pass off load out of the back of his left arm to his unmarked left winger to score in the left corner.
Against Ipswich State High School, Tony Francis produced in of the most outstanding pieces of play that I saw in school boy rugby league in 2019. Playing at left centre, Tony Francis split the Ipswich SHS right sided defence twenty metres out from his own line with the cover defence coming from everywhere. Tony Francis was initially dragged down just over the halfway mark but the tackler fell off Tony Francis, who smartly get back to his feet whilst surrounded by defenders to continue his run. Tony Francis then drew the Ipswich SHS fullback to send his left winger away untouched to the try line.
One of the first occasions that Tony Francis wore a Marsden jersey was in early 2019 when a Marsden Open side played a trial against a Wests Tigers Development U17 side. Tony Francis had an outstanding match, including a supurb long range line break. Tony Francis, playing left centre, took a pass fifty five metres out above his head. Tony Francis produced an outstanding left arm fend to beat the initial attempted tackle before cutting back to his right to beat another. IT was only a last ditch effort that dragged Tony Francis down just short of the line.
2019 also saw Tony Francis represent Met East at the QSSRL U18 Championships where he was impressive with his hard charging runs and one handed off loads, alternating between starting and coming off the bench.
In 2019 Tony Francis also represented Tonga U18’s at the QPIIC Carnival scoring an outstanding try against Samoa. Tony Francis charged onto the ball from a pass from the dumy half to the left of the play the ball from fifteen metres out, dragging two Samoan defenders with him with those two defenders still trying to hold on even as Tony Francis crashed over the line.
Tony Francis has also played some club rugby since his move from Sydney, playing for the Colleges Knights in the Gold Coast District Rugby competition, primarily at outside centre. Some of his tries in club rugby for Colleges Knights when he terrorised the Helensvale Hogs are noted below.
Playing outside centre (No. 13) Tony Francis was operating on the left side of the field when he took receipt of the ball seventy five metres out from the try line in space. Tony Francis highlighted his impressive speed to outpace the sliding defensive line before producing a strong right arm palm to get rid of the Hornets fullback and bring the ball around under the posts to make the conversion a simple one.
Tony Francis was defending on the left side of the field when the Helensvale fullback kicked to try to clear the ball away from his own territory. Tony Francis took the clearing kick on the full forty two metres out from the Hogs line and brushed past two defenders, one with a fend and another with a shoulder into the defender to score in the left corner.
Probably Tony Francis’s best try of the three against Helensvale came once again when he was on the left side of the field. Tony Francis received the ball forty five metres out from the Hogs line whilst he was standing still after to appeared that the attacking play had broken down. Tony Francis exploded off the mark, cutting to his right to beat the first defender, stepping off his right foot to beat the second to break into open space before outpacing the Hogs fullback to dive over to score in the left corner.
Tony Francis moved to Brisbane in early 2019 after playing for the Manly Sea Eagles in the U16 Harold Matthews Cup in 2018 including starting in the Harold Matthews Cup Grand Final against the Parramatta at five eight and scoring as the Sea Eagles won the premiership decider 26 – 18.
Tony Francis’s first match in the 2018 Harold Matthews Cup competition for Manly came in Round Two when he started at left centre against the Parramatta Eels. Tony Francis maintained his place at left centre in Round Two against the Bulldogs and also started there in Round Three agaisnt the Central Coast Roosters, a match which saw Tony Francis score his first points of the competition, kicking three conversions.
Tony Francis had a big match in Round Five against the Illawarra Steelers in Round Five from left centre scoring two tries and kicking three conversions for a fourteen point individual haul. Tony Francis then elipsed that in Round Six against the Canberra Raiders scoring eighteen points from a try and seven conversions and added eight points from a try and two goals against the Balmain Tigers in Round Seven.
Tony Francis moved to five eight for Round Eight against St George kicking a conversions and in Round Eight started at half against the Western Suburbs Magpies adding a try and a conversions to his 2018 points haul.
In Week One of the finals against the Parramatta Eels Tony Francis started at half before moving to five eight for Week Three of the Finals against the Penrith Panthers and as noted above Tony Francis started the Grand Final at five eight.
In total in the 2018 U16 Harold Matthews Cup Tony Francis played in eleven matches and scored fifty eight points from six tries and seventeen conversions.
Tony Francis’s try against the Balmain Tigers in Round Seven came when after he received the ball in a reasonable amount of space, Tony Francis stepped off his right foot and produced a sild fend to break through the Tigers defensive line and then it was a twenty metre surge to the try line for the left centre.
As noted above Tony Francis also scored in the 2018 Harold Matthews Grand Final. Tony Francis received the ball two passes to the left of the play the ball just to the right of the gola posts twelve metres out. Tony Francis immediately broke two tackles and dragged three other Eels defenders over the line to get the ball donw under heavy pressure two metres from the right goal post.
Congratulations to Makenzie Weale who will captain the the inaugural Gold Coast Titans Under 19's Female Academy side in their match against the Newcastle Knights today.
Makenzie Weale is not just an outstanding rugby league player but also a stand out Rugby and Rugby 7's player.
lonegull
16-01-21, 10:45 AM
Great article up on the titans website re the woman’s under19 worth a look very proud of the club
One of the key players for the Titans U19 female Academy side today against Newcastle is five eight Tiana Raftstrand-Smith.
In 2020 Tiana Raftstrand-Smith started at five eight for Keebra Park as they defeated Marsden SHS 24-6 in the Titans Cup Girls Open Grand Final. with the Australian U19 rep being one of Keebra Park's Grand Final try scorers.
Tiana Raftstrand-Smith is also an exceptional Rugby 7's player who is part of the Australian Youth Development Program
Another player that the Newcastle U19 Female side will have to watch in todays match will be Marsden SHS student Destiny Brill who will line up for the Titans U19 Female Academy side.
Scarily for Newcastle, in 2020 Destiny Brill played Women's Super Rugby for Queensland, being the youngest debutant in Queensland history.
A few players will be putting on a Titans jersey for the first time today against Newcastle in Coffs Harbour, one being Immanuel Kalekale who moved over from New Zealand prior to Christmas.
The young front rower will line up today for the Titans U17 side.
Titans U19 Female side went down on Saturday to Newcastle 20-14 in a tight match.
Big win for the Titans U19 men's side 40-6 on Saturday against the Knights.
Well done to Michael Roberts for being named the Titans U17 Player of the Match in their victory on Saturday against Newcastle.
lonegull
18-01-21, 09:06 PM
Thanks mdrew for the updates on the junior matches
Always my pleasure my friend.
Thanks mdrew for the updates on the junior matches
A great start to Sam McIntyre's career in a Titans jersey when he scored for the Titans U19 side in their 40-6 victory over Newcastle on Saturday, he scored when he ran a good line and barged over off a pass from elusive Titans dummy half Oskar Bryant.
After an injury interrupted start to the 2020 season it was great to see Ryan Foran start at left second row for the Titans U19 side in their big win over Newcastle on Saturday with Ryan Foran scoring to cap off a great start to Ryan Foran's 2021 seasn.
Ryan Foran charged onto a pass from hooker Ediq Ambrosyev only a metre or so from the line. When he hit the defensive line Ryan Foran spun 360 degrees clockwise to gain seperation from the Knights defenders and then it was just a case of him diving over to get the ball down midway between the goal posts and corner post on the left side of the field.
It was a homecoming of sorts on Saturday for former Coffs Harbour junior Troy Duckett when he started on the left wing for the Titans U19 side in their victory against Newcastle.
Jaylan De Groot's first game for the Titans could not have gone much better. He started at fullback for the Titans U19 side in their 40-6 victory and as has become his trademark, was a multiple try scorer putting the ball down under the posts on each occasion, well one was very very close.
Titans_alan
20-01-21, 07:27 AM
Does anyone have a link to the match video. I'd be interested to watch the game.
Great article from the Official Site on the JTS teams and their matches against Newcastle.
https://www.titans.com.au/news/2021/01/21/junior-titans-taste-success-in-coffs-harbour/
Titans JTS u19’s Vs Burleigh Bears HDC squad.
5pm Burleigh Juniors Saturday 23 January.
https://www.burleighbearsrlfc.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/game-day-2021-2-1-1024x1024.png
Titanic Believer
21-01-21, 08:00 PM
A great start to Sam McIntyre's career in a Titans jersey when he scored for the Titans U19 side in their 40-6 victory over Newcastle on Saturday, he scored when he ran a good line and barged over off a pass from elusive Titans dummy half Oskar Bryant.
I am a bit confused. Are there two Sam McIntyres?
Yes mate, one the NRL second rower from the Wests Tigers, the second the 2020 NZ U18 captain from Auckland who will play for Burleigh Colts, also a second rower.
They signed at around the same time which caused HS and I all sorts of confusion!!!!!
I am a bit confused. Are there two Sam McIntyres?
Titanic Believer
22-01-21, 12:13 PM
Thanks for removing the confusion. Until they play in the same team.
The Northern Rivers Titans U16 Andrew Johns and U18 Laurie Daley Cup squads have their first trial this coming Sunday at Yamba against the North Coast Bulldogs.
There are a number of Titans linked/contracted players in both the U16's and U18's.
This years TSS First XV school boy rugby side is likely to have at three Titans contracted players in their starting line-up, being Kaleb Ngamanu, Syris Schmidt and Nic Hilton.
The season does not kick off until July but when it does TSS will have a Round One home fixture against Brisbane Grammar School.
Good write up on Toby Sexton from the Queensland Rugby League website.
https://www.qrl.com.au/news/2021/01/22/sexton-feeling-fresh-after-chance-to-find-his-feet/
lonegull
30-01-21, 07:21 PM
Some great photos up on the titans website of the under 19 match against the knights, one thing I noticed geez we have some big boys in that squad I remember the good old NYC days and it always seemed that the sides playing the titans always were bigger but things have definitely changed going on the pictures
Former Victorian youngster Tylah Akai has moved up to the coast to be part of the Keebra Park RL Academy.
One of the more intriguing players at Keebra Park this season will be former Victorian junior Jerome Taupau. The former Altona Rooster has the ability to make a name for himself this season.
OTOWN SHEARER
02-02-21, 03:23 PM
if this all three grades playing on game day gets of the ground i think our JTS team would be in a good position with all the talent coming to the titans
I agree mate, what a great experience for the players and also the fans who can see the next generation coming through.
if this all three grades playing on game day gets of the ground i think our JTS team would be in a good position with all the talent coming to the titans
Great article on Titan Alofiana Khan-Pereira.
https://www.qrl.com.au/news/2021/02/01/khan-pereira-keen-for-his-return-to-the-football-field/
Titans contracted Lachlan Offley will start at centre for the Northern Rivers Titans U16 Andrew Johns Cup side for their Round One match this Saturday against the Wests Tigers.
A number of player who were involved in the Titans Invitational U15 match in late October 2020 have been named in the U16 Northern Rivers Titans Andrew Johns Cup Round One side for this Saturday's match against the Wests Tigers.
They include Stevie O'Çonnor (fullback), Kaden Rees (wing), Bo Peisley (half), Cameron Bevan (hooker), Jaylen and Jury Taewa (starting second rowers) and Levi Dangerfield (interchange). Reshawn Anderson also starts from the bench.
Great to see 2020 Tweed Heads Seagulls U15 Best and Fairest Ethan Schultz named to start in the front row for the U16 Northern Rivers Titans Andrew Johns Cup Round One side for this Saturday's match against the Wests Tigers.
The young man is a real hard worker.
Strike centres are but the U16 Northern Rivers Titans U16 Andrew Johns Cup Round One side for this Saturday's Round One clash against the Wests Tigers has two with one being Marist Brothers Rams youngster Reshawn Brown.
Former Victorian U12 rugby league front rower Isopo Taunuu moved up to the Gold Coast to attend Keebra Park State High School and mid-way through 2020 be part of their Rugby League Academy and shortly after arriving played a number of matches in Keebra Park's iconic jersey.
In 2021 in his first full year on the Gold Coast the big strong young front rower should be even better as he progresses through the age groups.
After a solid match for the Titans U17 side against Newcastle last month, which the Titans won, with contracted Blake Forder starting the match on the right wing before moving to fullback, Blake Forder will start from the wing for the Northern Rivers Titans U18 Laurie Daley Cup side in Round One this Saturday at Ballina against the Wests Tigers.
Tanu Nona started for the Titans U17 side at hooker against Newcastle in January and he will start there once again for the Northern Rivers Titans U18 Laurie Daley Cup side in Round One this Saturday at Ballina against the Wests Tigers.
With the MM Cup trials just around the corner I will certainly be interested to see how a lot of the Tweed Heads and Burleigh players are shaping up for the long season ahead.
One player in particular I am interested in seeing is Tweed Heads front rower/second rower Jesse Jackson. The young man from North Queensland is no stranger to representative teams and no doubt will be a good addition to Gold Coast Rugby League.
After a player of the match performance for the Titans U17 side in their recent victory over Newcastle which included an 80m intercept try right on half time, Titans contracted Michael Roberts will line up at left centre for the Northern Rivers Titans U18 Laurie Daley Cup side in Round One this Saturday at Ballina against the Wests Tigers.
After a number of very solid performances for both PBC and Currumbin in 2020 I will be interested to see how front rower Jotham Russell goes when he lines up for the Tweed Heads Seagulls MM Cup side this season.
line breaking fullbacks are very difficult to find but one arrived at Keebra Park mid-way through 2020 and no doubt will be even better this season, being former Victorian U13 Rugby fullback and No. 10 Tyrus Salanoa.
The young man has some real line breaking ability and is one of the Keebra Park players to watch for me in 2021.
Great to see the Taewa brothers, Jaylen and Jury named as the starting second rowers in the U16 Northern Rivers Titans Andrew Johns side for their Round One match at Ballina against the Wests Tigers on Saturday.
The two young men were also part of the same Titans Invitational U15 side that played at CBus Stadium in October 2020.
After an assured display at halfback for the Titans U17 side in their win against Newcastle, including scoring a try off his own kick, I am looking forward to see how Bailey McConnell progresses this season, starting with how he performs for the Burleigh U16 Cyril Connell Cup squad.
Matthew Barrow got some game time off the bench on the right wing for the Titans U17 side against Newcastle last month and he will get more time on the field for the Tweed Heads Seagulls U16 Cyril Connell Cup side in their upcoming competition.
After a tough 2020 season punctuated by injury it is great to see Titans contracted Wailer Whaiapu named in the 2021 Burleigh Bears U16 Cyril Connell Cup squad for their upcoming pre-season competition.
After an exceptional 2020 season I am keen to see Titans contracted Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa continue to develop starting with the upcoming 2021 Cyril Connell Cup competition after he was named in the Tweed Heads Seagulls squad.
Talented dummy half's are difficult to find but the Tweed Heads Seagulls U16 Cyril Connell Cup side this season have one in Titans linked PBC student Will Saunders.
There is no harder worked on the Coast than this young man.
Size is certainly not going to be an issue for the 2021 Burleigh U16 Cyril Connell Cup side with Titan Philip Hakaraia-Ngamotu.
The young man is an exceptional athlete and his speed and mobility belie the fact that he plays in the front row or second row.
Good to see Ormeau Shearer Miracle Tangata named in the 2021 Tweed Heads Seagulls Cyril Connell Cup squad.
Tevita Tau'a'lo is another talented Ormeau Shearer named in the 2021 Tweed Heads Seagulls Cyril Connell Cup squad.
Great to see former Titans NYC player Luke Mastroianni training with the Helensvale Hornets for their inaugural season in the Gold Coast Rugby League First Grade competition.
I am looking forward to seeing how Titans linked Cameron Bevan goes today at hooker for the Northern Rivers Titans in their Round One Andrew Johns Cup match against the Wests Tigers at Ballina this morning.
Titans linked Brady Turner will start in the front row this morning for the Northern Rivers Titans in their Round One Andrew Johns Cup match against the Wests Tigers at Ballina this morning.
He will lead a talented and mobile pack of forwards against a giant Wests Tigers outfit.
Tough Round One loss for the U16 Northern Rivers Titans going down 22-4 to the Wests Tigers in Ballina.
The U18 Northern Rivers Titans Laurie Daley Cup side put in a great display to defeat the Wests Tigers 30-12.
Titans contracted Michael Roberts, Tanu Nona and Blake Forder were outstanding as was half Harvey Moase who finished with a double.
Just to put into context how good the Titans JTS program as that a couple of weeks ago Titans U17 and U19 sides easily accounted for Newcastle Knights sides of the same age group with in particular the Titans U19's winning by 40 odd points.
Yesterday in Round One of the NSWRL SG Ball and Harold Matthews Cup competition, Newcastle sides smashed St George with similiar sides to the ones that the Titans played.
In short we have the best Development Program in the NRL, full stop.
Jamie McCormack and his team certainly have "future proofed" the Titans.
Titanic
07-02-21, 02:10 PM
Love to read that more than anything else
lonegull
07-02-21, 06:42 PM
Thanks mdrew it’s bloody refreshing to know about our JTS system
One of the best performers for the U18 Northern Rivers Titans in their Round One victory last weekend over the Wests Tigers was Harvey Moase. Below is a review of his performance:
Harvey Moase started at halfback for the Northern Rivers Titans U18 Laurie Daley Cup side for their Round One match against the Wests Tigers and had an outstanding match which saw him cross for a second half double.
Harvey Moase’s first try came early in the second half, when after kicking towards the right corner, he was on hand when a heavy tackle from Michael Roberts dislodged the ball from the Wests Tiger’s fullbacks grasp, under Harvey Moase being on the spot to pich the ball up and race away to score under the posts.
Later in the second half Harvey Moase scored his second try when he backed up fullback Ben Moyle who had split the Wests Tigers line through the centre of the ruck. Ben Moyle drew the fullback to send Harvey Moase away in score under the posts in the 57th minute. Harvey Moase then proceeded to convert his own try.
Harvey Moase was also heavily involved in Michael Robert’s first try of the match, early in the first half. Harvey Moase kicked towards the right wing with the ball taking a wicked bounce, right winger Blake Forder flew through and toe’d the ball forward for Michael Roberts to pick up on the bounce and crash over under the posts.
Over the course of the match, Havey Moase’s tactical kicking into the right corner kept the Wests Tigers on the back foot and midway through the second half, Harvey Moase’s kick travelled into the in-goal and as a result of a strong Michael Roberts tackle, the West Tigers fullback could not get back into the field of play, thus forcing a goal line drop out.
Titans contracted Blake Forder was an impressive performer for the U18 Northern Rivers Titans in their Round One victory last weekend over the Wests Tigers. Below is a review of his performance:
Blake Forder started on the right wing for the Northern Rivers Titans U18 Laurie Daley Cup side for their Round One match against the Wests Tigers before moving to fullback late in the second half with Blake Forder contributing an early second half try to the victory.
Blake Forder was consistently in the action in the match, including being getting over the line early in the match with a great winding run off his right wing only to be penalised for a (seemed harshly) for a double movement after a great winding run off his right wing.
Blake Forder was also heavily involved in Michael Robert’s first try of the match, early in the first half. Half Harvey Moase kicked towards the right wing with the ball taking a wicked bounce, Blake Forder flew through and toe’d the ball forward for Michael Roberts to pick up on the bounce and crash over under the posts.
As noted Blake Forder scored early in the second half when after receiving a pass from Michael Roberts he stepped back inside and after juggling the ball got it down wide out on the right near the corner post.
Blake Forder also showcased some outstanding hands in the match, including a situation when he misjudged a Wests Tigers kick off, coming in too far, Blake Forder had to stop and dive backwards full length, taking the ball over his shoulder as you was diving in the same direction as the ball. If Blkae Forder had not been able to pull off such as spectacular take, the ball would have likely gone dead and the Wests Tigers would have gotten it back from the restart.
Defensively Blake Forder also had some good moments in the match, including in the 51st minute of the match, when he along with Michael Roberts grabbed hold of the Wests Tigers left winger and dragged him eight metres into touch to force a Northern Rivers Titans scrum feed.
For me the best player on the field for the U18 Northern Rivers Titans in their Round One victory last weekend over the Wests Tigers was Titans contracted Michael Roberts. Below is a review of his performance:
Michael Roberts started at right centre for the Northern Rivers Titans U18 Laurie Daley Cup side for their Round One match against the Wests Tigers and was for me the best player on the field as the Northern Rivers Titans got their season off to an outstanding start on the back of a 30 – 12 victory.
Michael Roberts was in the match early, converting Jack Field’s 100 metre kick return try and he then backed that up just moments later scoring under the posts for the Nortehrn Rivers Titans second try of the match, which he also converted. In total Michael Roberts kicked four goals from as many attempts in the Round One win.
In relation to Michael Robert’s try, half Harvey Moase kicked towards the right wing with the ball taking a wicked bounce back towards the centre of the field, right winger Blake Forder flew through and toe’d the ball forward for Michael Roberts to pick up on the bounce and crash over under the posts. Michael Roberts took possession of the ball ten metres out from the line, pushing the first Wests Tigers defender off with his right arm before charging at the line and forcing the ball down with two defenders all over him.
Michael Roberts in fact could have scored two more tries in the match, on two occasions being in position to take intercepts in his own half, but on each occasion, one in each half, just could not maintain possession.
Michael Roberts also had a try assist early in the second half when after taking possession of the ball drew the Wests Tigers defender and passed to his right to Blake Forder who stepped back inside and after juggling the ball got it down wide out on the right. That try was another that Michael Roberts converted.
Early in the second half Michael Roberts played a big role in Harvey Moase’s first try. Michael Roberts chased through a Harvey Moase kick towards the right corner and smashed the Wests Tigers fullback dislodging the ball from his grasp, Harvey Moase was on the spot to pich the ball up and race away to score under the posts.
That occasion was not the only time that Michael Roberts chased a Harvey Moase kick hard. Midway through the second half, Harvey Moase’s kick travelled into the in-goal and as a result of a strong Michael Roberts tackle, the West Tigers fullback could not get back into the field of play, thus forcing a goal line drop out.
Michael Roberts was also on hand in the 51st minute of the match, when he along with Blake Forder grabbed hold of the Wests Tigers left winger and dragged him eight metres into touch to force a Northern Rivers Titans scrum feed.
Even when Michael Roberts missed a tackle he stayed in the game. Late in the second half, the Wests Tigers leftcentre was able to initially palm off Michael Roberts but he kept chasing and dived full length to ankle tap the Tigers player just as he was accelerating into space.
Titans contracted Shane Davis-Caldwell has been named in the centres for the Northern Rivers Titans U18 Laurie Daley Cup side for their Round Two match against the North Coast Bulldogs this Saturday.
After coming off the bench to play a roving forward role, Titan Rowan Mansfield moves into the starting side at lock for the Northern Rivers Titans U18 Laurie Daley Cup side for their Round Two match against the North Coast Bulldogs this Saturday at Nambucca Heads.
Great to see tough as Nails Byron Bay forward Jedd Windle named on the bench for the Northern Rivers Titans U18 Laurie Daley Cup side for their Round Two match against the North Coast Bulldogs this Saturday at Nambucca Heads.
Great to see PBC flyer Creedence Donovan named at fullback for the Northern Rivers Titans for their Round Two match of the U16 Andrew Johns Cup match this Saturday against North Coast.
After starting at fullback in Round One, Kye Cooper moves to lock for the Northern Rivers Titans for Round Two of the U16 Andrew Johns Cup match this Saturday against North Coast.
Two players who have been involved in Titans junior matches being Reshawn Anderson (front row) and Levi Dangerfield (second row) move from the bench into the starting line up for the Northern Rivers Titans for Round Two of the U16 Andrew Johns Cup this weekend against the North Coast Bulldogs.
Talented forward Christian Kiri has been named in the Burleigh MM Cup side for this weekend's trial against Tweed Heads.
Great to see Titan Vaikai named to start from the bench for the Burleigh MM Cup side in their first 2021 trail this weekend against Tweed Heads.
Utility Jay Blazek who has played for Titans Development Squads previously has been named to start from the bench for the Burleigh MM Cup side in their first 2021 trail this Saturday against Tweed Heads.
One of the more dynamic runners of the ball on the Gold Coast in second rower Delahia Wigmore will start from the bench for Burleigh in their MM Cup trial on Saturday against Tweed Heads.
The former Cairns Brothers junior is a very talented player who is destined for higher honours.
Titans contracted Brock Lennox will start in the centres for the Burleigh Bears Cyril Connell Cup trial this Saturday against Tweed Heads.
Titan Bailey Connell who started at half for the Titans U17 side against Newcastle last month starts at half on Saturday for the Burleigh U16 Cyril Connell Cup side in their trial against Tweed Heads on Saturday.
Titans contracted Keebra Park student Phillip Hakaria-Ngamotu will start in the second row for the Burleigh U16 Cyril Connell Cup side in their trial against Tweed Heads on Saturday.
Beaudesert Kingfisher Dylan Haack starts at lock on Saturday for the Burleigh U16 Cyril Connell Cup side as they take on the Tweed Heads Seagulls.
The Burleigh Bears U16 Cyril Connell Cup side that plays Tweed Heads in a trial this Saturday has more than a few talented players including second rower Junior Filimaua.
I am looking forward to seeing how Neybron Kiriona goes tomorrow when he starts on the the wing for the Burleigh U16 Cyril Connell Cup, he certainly has the potential to go far in rugby league.
Talented Keebra Park five eight Tana Tuhaka is another young man that will be playing for the U16 Burleigh Cyril Connell Cup side in their trial tomorrow against Tweed Heads.
Titans contracted Josiah Pahulu turned out for the Ipswich Jets MM Cup side last weekend in their first 2021 trial and was on the winning side against the Western Mustangs.
Josiah Pahulu started the match at lock for the Jets.
The Titans have some outstanding youngsters involved in their JTS program including Mullumbimby's Cooper Nelson who was involved in the Titans U15 trial.
The young man was the 2020 Group 18 U14 Player of the Year.
Tweed Heads Seagulls and PBC youngster Zane Harrison continues to impress regardless of whether he is playing in the halves and at fullback including for the Titans in their U15 trial and is certainly a player to watch.
Second row is one of the strongest positions for the Titans at the NRL level and that is unlikely to change in coming years with the quality of young second rowers in the JTS Program including Riley Buchanan from Tweed Heads who was part of the Titans U15 trial.
Another second rower who may well have a positive future is former Victorian and current Keebra Park student Lama Afu who is working hard to continue to develop and was also part of the Titans U15 trial.
Tweed Heads Seagulls junior Harry Chadburn continues develop whether that is in the centres or at fullback and more than held his own against the best 2021 U15 players running around for the Titans U15's, putting in an impressive performance at fullback.
Tough day for the Northern Rivers Titans with both the U16 and U18 sides going down in wet conditions against North Coast.
Front rower Brady Turner for me was the stand out player for the Northern Rivers Titans U16 Andrew johns Cup side in their match yesterday against North Coast. The young man was everywhere in the match, standing out from the kick-off with a great first up tackle.
In his first U16 Andrew Johns Cup match for the Northern Rivers Titans fullback Creedence Donovan put in a very assured performance, including looking the most dangerous Titan in attack and a great chase and tackle on a run-a-way North Coast Bulldogs player.
Half Tyler Harper is another of the outstanding 2020 U14 Tweed Heads Seagulls side that is showcasing his skill and potential with the Titans, operating on the right side of the field in the Titans U15 trial.
He may be on the smallish side but Tyler Harper is tough and does not shirk any challenge.
Titans contracted Zyroam Tarawa-Herlihy started from the bench last night for the Easts Tigers Cyril Connell Cup squad that played a trial against the Ipswich Jets at Stones Corner.
The young man is a real flyer and can play fullback, centre or on the wing.
Another young Titans contracted player in the Easts Tigers U16 Cyril Connell Cup squad in the match against Ipswich at Stones Corner was Alexandra Hills SHS student, hooker/half Gary Whare- Herlihy.
To make it a trio of Titans contracted players in the Easts Tigers Cyril Connell Cup squad for their U16 trial against the Ipswich Jets also in the squad was Hayden Miller who last month came off the bench for the Titans U17 side in their victory against the Newcastle Knights to play five eight.
Great to see former Clarence Coast Magpie Malik Elabbasi in the 2021 U16 Cyril Connell Cup Easts Tigers Cup squad.
Also good to see Gold Coast junior Kobie-Mackay-Taylor take his place on the bench for the Easts Tigers MM Cup squad in their trial last night against the Ipswich Jets.
After starting in the centres for the Titans U17 side against Newcastle, Titans contracted Antioch Faitala-Mariner started on the wing for the Easts Tigers MM Cup side last night in their trial against Ipswich.
The Titans are building a strong cohort of players who attend Marsden State High School and that number has increased with contracted Dominique Sandow attending the school in 2021 and even at just 16 years old he will push for immediate playing time in the Open A side in the GIO and Langer school boy Cup sides.
It is been around a full year since Titan Darius Farmer has played a proper match and I cannot wait to see all of the hard work that he has been putting in pay off when he lines up for the Titans against Burleigh on Friday.
Good to see Tristian Powell named to start at lock for the Titans for Friday's clash against Burleigh
If you are going on Friday night to see the Titans play Burleigh you are in for a treat if Titans winger Alofiana (Lofi) Khan-Pereira gets into open space, this young man is seriously quick.
Great to see the Titans formalise a partnership with Marsden State High School. Well done Titans.
Great to see the Titans formalise a partnership with Marsden State High School. Well done Titans.
Interesting development. If I remember correctly Marsden have been with Brisbane for the last few years after long term agreements with Canberra.
Good to see (even if it was a Brennan thing) we are buying back the farm!
Titan Bailey McConnell will lead the Burleigh CC cup side around once again on Saturday in their final trial against the Easts Tigers.
Titans contracted Brock Lennox will start in the centres once again for Burleigh CC cup side n Saturday in their final trial against the Easts Tigers.
Titans_alan
18-02-21, 07:18 AM
mdrew, do you know what the deal involves? As we know kids are free to sign up with any club from a young age, regardless of what school they go to. Maybe they plan to hold coaching clinics with the kids and offer titans game tickets, etc to get them supporting the titans prior to the kids reaching the contract age. This may influence their decision when crunch time comes. The only problem I see is that these schools are most active at recruiting from senior school which would mean that most talented kids already have a contract with an NRL team. What are your thoughts on the benefits to recruitment with this deal?
mdrew, do you know what the deal involves? As we know kids are free to sign up with any club from a young age, regardless of what school they go to. Maybe they plan to hold coaching clinics with the kids and offer titans game tickets, etc to get them supporting the titans prior to the kids reaching the contract age. This may influence their decision when crunch time comes. The only problem I see is that these schools are most active at recruiting from senior school which would mean that most talented kids already have a contract with an NRL team. What are your thoughts on the benefits to recruitment with this deal?
As a general rule the club helps support the schools programs and coaches. It doesn't give the club 100% unfettered access to the kids, cos as you say many are in NRL squads prior to attending the school.
It also gives the club the ability to place kids from out of the area in to the school, example is Tom Weaver at PBC, which allows the kids to develop in a high level school system and also brings them closer to the actual club for the Titans programs.
Depending on the level of hands on involvement at the school as well it allows the club to talent spot kids that may not have been identified yet. I saw this happen with a few boys while my son was at PBC.
You also find that kids that may be in another program change to the Titans over the course of their schooling, partly due to the exposure to the club at school and also due to there friends and team mates feedback. Will Evans (Broncos) and Toby Sexton (Bulldogs) are good examples of this.
I'm sure mdrew may have something to add, but thats just some feed back based on my experiences with PBC.
Spot on JA4220, the only thing that I will add is that the partnerships mean that the coaching staffs will be a lot closer aligned and thus Titans staff will be at training and trials and thus will get a more extensive look at players before other clubs.
The three best rugby league schools in SEQ and three of the four best in Queensland are now in partnership with the Titans, in all of the school boy competition finals in 2020 from Year 7 to the Opens it was Keebra/PBC/Marsden playing each other. A scary situation for EVERY other NRL club.
Well done to Titans contracted Larry Siala who has been named in the finalised Ipswich Jets U16 Cyril Connell Cup squad.
Titans contracted Josiah Pahulu and Xavier Stowers have both been named in the final Ipswich Jets 2021 MM Cup squad.
Interesting to see Titans contracted Syris Schmidt named at fullback for Burleigh's MM Cup trial on Saturday night against the Easts Tigers.
Former Titans Junior Development Squad member Billy Mozer has been named on the bench for the Souths Logan Magpies Queensland Cup side for their Saturday night trial against Tweed Heads.
One of most dynamic Gold Coast juniors in Titans contracted Arama Hau will start up at lock for the Burleigh MM Cup side on Saturday in their trial against Easts.
In modern rugby league big strong powerful wingers are a critical reason for success and Burleigh will have one on the wing in their MM Cup trial against Easts on Saturday in Titans contracted Keebra Park student Jeremaiah Tamepo.
The Easts Tigers forward pack are going to have a few bumps and bruises after their Saturday night MM Cup trial against Burleigh with Titans contracted Joseph Shannon starting in the front row.
Describing Joseph Shannon as big strong powerful and aggressive is an understatement.
Keebra Park's Seth Nikotemo who last month played so well for the Titans U17's against Newcastle will start at right second row in Burleigh's MM Cup trial against Easts Tigers on Saturday.
In his first season in Australia Titans NZ signing Immanuel Kalekale will start from the bench for the Burleigh MM side in their trial on Saturday against Easts.
Agressive young front rower Khyan Weir from the Byron Bay Devils will start for the third week in a row tomorrow when the Northern Rivers Titans U18 Laurie Daley Cup side take on the Greater Northern Tigers in Round Three.
Titans contracted Lachlan Offley moves from the centre to fullback tomorrow when the Northern Rivers Titans U16 Andrew Johns Cup side take on the Greater Northern Tigers in Round Three.
Good to see Thomas King set to make his debut tomorrow for the Northern Rivers Titans U16 Andrew Johns Cup side when they take on the Greater Northern Tigers in Round Three.
The Bilambil Jets junior played for a Titans U15 Invitational side in October last year at CBus stadium.
Round Three of the U16 Andrew Johns Cup competition sees Kye Cooper line up in his third position. In Round One he started at fullback, Round Two at lock and Round Three tomorrow against the Greater Northern Tigers, Kye Cooper will start at five eight.
For me the Northern Rivers Titans U16 Andrew Johns Cup sides best in the opening two rounds has been Titans linked front rower Brady Turner and he will start once again in the front row in Round Three tomorrow against the Greater Northern Tigers.
After a solid stint off the interchange bench in Round Two Jedd Windle moves into the Northern Rivers Titans U18 Laurie Daley Cup's starting side in the second row for tomorrows Round Three match against the Greater Northern Tigers.
Good to see Cooper Wolfe is set to make his debut tomorrow for the Northern Rivers Titans U18 Laurie Daley Cup side when they take on the Greater Northern Tigers in Round Three.
He played for a Titans U16 Invitational side in October last year at CBus stadium.
Titans contracted Larry Siala lines up tomorrow for the Ipswich Jets in their CC Cup trial on the Sunshine Coast against the Falcons.
Contracted Xavier Stowers and Josiah Pahulu should both be in the Ipswich Jets MM Cup squad for their CC Cup trial on the Sunshine Coast against the Falcons tomorrow evening.
Lofi Khan-Pereira ran down Troy Leo from behind after giving him a start, Lofi has some serious speed.
Good win for the Northern Rivers Titans U16 Andrew Johns Cup side this morning defeating the Greater Northern Tigers 30-16 in Armidale.
In the MM Cup trial at Logan yesterday Tweed Heads defeated Souths Logan 32-4 (no goal kicks) on the back of outstanding performances from Titans contracted Jack Cullen and Keano Kini.
The Burleigh MM side also won their trial last night against Easts 20-12 with Titans Arama Hau doing well and front rower Kaden Somerville also promanent.
Titans NZ recruit Immanuel Kalakale had a very goo cameo in the last quarter of the match.
Reshawn Anderson started in the front row in Round Three against the Greater Northern Tigers on Saturday in the U16 Andrew Johns Cup, having a good match getting involved early in the match with a powerful run from the fourth hit-up of the match making fifteen metres from a run to the right of the play the ball.
Reshawn Anderson’s involvement continued minutes later when he expertly took a hard low Tigers attacking kick on the full low down and gained ten metres upfield. Minutes later, Reshawn Anderson who was packing into scrums in the front row was able to break from the scrum and chase down the Greater Northern Tigers half who had broken thorugh the line from the scrum.
Reshawn Anderon’s involvement continued in the 10th minute when he along with Kye Cooper smashed a Greater Northern Tigers front rower forcing him to lose the ball just ten metres ouf from the line. Minutes later Reshawn Anderson looked as if he had scored on the ledt side of the field but the referee adjudged that he had been held up.
Reshawn Anderson put an exclamation point on his impressive match in the 52nd minute when he smashed the Greater Northern Tigers fullback with a huge hit when he flew in from the fullback blind side.
In late October 2020, Delahia Wigmore was named in the 2021 Burleigh MM Cup squad and came off the bench in their first 2021 MM Cup trial against the Tweed Heads Seagulls.
Delahia Wigmore moved in the starting side at left second row for Burleigh’s second trial against the Easts Tigers on Saturday night at Langlands Park.
Delahia Wigmore had a very impressive trial building into the match in the opening minutes with a great right arm offload to Caleb Gould-Waiariki. Delahia Wigmore made a strong fifteen metre run in the 40th minute when he ran off a Jye Gray pass on the left side of the field, breaking three tackles one of which was as a result of Delahia Wigmore spinning counter clockwise to break the tackle and gain more ground.
From a defensive standpoint in the 34th minute, Delahia was on hand accompanied by Ezra Ubaldino to force the Easts Tigers fullback over the dead ball line as force a goal line drop out.
Titans linked Cameron Bevan started at hooker in Round Three against the Greater Northern Tigers on Saturday in the U16 Andrew Johns Cup producing some moments of class in the 30 – 16 victory including a key second half try.
Early in the first half Cameron Bevan forced the Tigers to restart by way of a goal line drop when he grubber kicked out of dummy half into the in-goal.
Early in the second half Cameron Bevan was unlucky not to score when he darted out of dummy half to his left from close range but unfortunately he was held up. Cameron Bevan made up for that in the 48th minute when he darted out of dummy half to the right of the play the ball to score next to the left upright.
Cameron Bevan was very good defensively in the match including being on hand to hold up the Greater Northern Tigers front rower over the line with the assistance of Brady Turner.
After signing a two year contract with the Titans Immanuel Kalekale moved over from New Zealand and made his debut appearance for the Titans off the bench in their February 2021 U17 match against Newcastle.
Immanuel Kalekale’s first hit-out with the 2021 Burleigh Bears MM Cup side came when he started on the bench in the Bears second trial against the Easts Tigers last Saturday night. Immanuel Kalekale did not come into the match until the final twenty metres, playing in the front row but what a cameo appearance he made.
Immanuel Kalakale’s initial contribution was a strong twenty metre charge directly into the heart of the Tigers forward pack off a Titans penalty restart just inside Easts territory. Immanuel Kalekale contrinuted another strong charge in the 65th minute when he took the hit-up from the Easts Tigers kick-off from Syris Schmidt’s try. In the same set of six Immanuel Kalekale made fifteen more metres from another hit-up and was awarded a penalty when the Easts Tigers defence did not allow him to his feet quickly enough.
Tremain Spry’s first 2021 hit-out came on Friday night when he started at right centre for the Titans in their first trial against the Burleigh Bears. Tremain Spry’s had an outstanding match, scoring one try as well as a number of other touches of class.
Tremain Spry’s try came in the 35th minute when he charged onto the ball twenty metres out from the line. Tremain Spry shaped to pass to his right but as the defence started to backpeddle Tremain Spry brought the ball back in to score wide out on the right.
One of those touches of class came early in the first half when he showcased quick hands to his right to put Lofi Khan-Pereira into space down the right touchline. Whilst it did not lead to a try, Tremain Spry produced a piece of individual brilliance midway through the first half when he threw a beautiful right arm flick pass to put Lofi Khan-Pereira over in the corner but somehow the pass was ruled forward.
Tremain Spry also defended well in the match, including heavy contact on the Burleigh No. 18 with the ball coming lose as a result just metres away from his own try line to difuse a threatening Burleigh opportunity.
The Round Three Andrew Johns Cup match last Saturday match was Jaylen Tawea’s best of the season for the Northern Rivers Titans, impressing in both attacking and defence, deservedly scoring in the second half when he charged onto a pass to the left of the ruck to crash over from close range right next to the right upright.
Jaylen Tawea was on song early in the first half with a twelve metre surge into the heart of the Greater Northern Tigers forward pack.
Defensively Jaylen Taewa was also very strong in the match including a desperate one armed tackle in the 23rd minute on the Greater Northern Tigers fullback to prevent a line break.
In early 2021 Tuvalli Khan-Pereira (the younger brother of Lofi who is on a Titans Development contract and played for the Titans against Burleigh) played two matches for the Titans U19 side being against Newcastle and Burleigh Colts.
On Saturday night Tuvalli Khan-Pereira had his first hit-out with the 2021 Burleigh Bears MM Cup side came when he started at right centre in the Bears second trial against the Easts Tigers, scoring an early second half try in Burleigh's 20 – 12 (no conversions taken) victory.
Tuvalli Khan-Pereira’s try was well worked by Burleigh. Travis May kicked towards the right wing with the kick being picked up by Levi Jones who got the ball back inside to Tuvalli Khan-Pereira who dived over in the right corner.
Tuvalli Khan-Pereira was in the match early in his just the 6th minute he threw the final pass to Levi Jones to score in the right corner after hooker Caleb Gould-Waiariki had broke the Easts line from dummy half and was able to find Tuvalli Khan-Pereira who had backed up in his outside.
In the 14th minute of the match Tuvalli Khan-Pereira made the first of his two try saving tackles of the match when he tracked his opposite number across field to his right and brought him down with a ball and all tackle centremetres short of the line.
In the 53rd minute Tuvalli Khan-Pereira produced a piece of defensive brilliance in the right corner when just as the Easts Tigers left winger was diving in mid-air to put the ball down in the corner, Tuvalli Khan-Pereira dived full length from three metres away to knock the ball loose from the wingers grasp to prevent what looked like a certain try. What a way to bring up your second try saving tackle of the match.
Looks like Jayden Campbell is on the move to Tweed Heads this season.
On Saturday in Round Three of the Andrew Johns Cup Kye Cooper moved from lock to five eight as the Northern Rivers Titans took on the Greater Northern Tigers with the move suiting him perfectly as he scored one try and was heavily involved on others in an all round impressive display in the Titans 30 – 16 victory.
Kye Cooper’s try came in the 25th minute when he dummied to his right then cut back to his left and whislt he was being held by three defenders, Kye Cooper was able to reach out to get the ball down.
Kye Cooper’s involvement started in the 10th minute when he along with Reshawn Anderson smashed a Greater Northern Tigers front rower forcing him to lose the ball just ten metres out from the line.
Just minutes later Kye Cooper threw the pass that put fullback Lachlan Offley into space on the left for the Titans tyo score their first try of the match.
Kye Cooper finished off his impressive match with a huge bomb in the last minute. The spiriling kick could not be taken on the full by the defence and Levi Dangerfield was able to dive on the ball in the in-goal to score just prior to the final siren sounding.
After coming off the bench earlier in 2021 for the Titans U19 side against Burleigh Colts, Caleb Gould Waiariki had his first hit-out with the 2021 Burleigh Bears MM Cup side came when he started at hooker in the Bears second trial against the Easts Tigers on Saturday night.
Caleb Gould-Waiakiri made his presence felt early in the match when in just the 6th minute he burst out of dummy half to the right of the play the ball splitting the Easts Tigers defensive line before finding right centre Tuvalli Khan-Pereira who in turn put Levi Jones over to score in the right corner.
Caleb Gould-Waiariki recorded a try assist of his own in the 34th minute with a deft right foot kick out of dummy half. Caleb Gould-Waiariki went into dummy half nine metres out from the Easts Tigers line directly in front of the goal posts. When the ball was played Caleb Gould-Waiariki took a step back and to the left before putting in the grubber kick which pulled up nicely a metre or so from the dead ball line which was perfect for Brody Smitka to dive on in front of two Easts Tigers players.
Titans linked Brady Turner started in the front row for the third week in a row in Saturday in Round Three of the Andrew Johns Cup against the Greater Northern Tigers producing an outstanding display which started from just the second hit-up of the match with a strong run.
Brady Turner also produced a strong charge from the third hit-up from the restart after Jayeln Taewa had scored in the 33rd minute. Once again Brayd Turner charged into the Tigers forward pack making significant post contact metres,
Brady Turner was also very good defensively in the match including being on hand to hold up the Greater Northern Tigers front rower over the line with the assistance of Cameron Bevan. Brady Turner produced another try saving tackle in the29th minute when he brought down the Greater Northern Tigers hooker who had tried to sneak over from dummy half.
Early in the second half, Brady Turner produced a great front on one on one tackle that absolutely rattled the opposing forward.
After spending the 2020/21 off-season training with the Titans NRL squad Jayden Campbell’s first 2021 hit-out came in mid-February when he started at fullback for the Titans in their first trial against the Burleigh Bears. Jayden Campbell almost scored in the match when he backed up a Lofi Khan-Pereira break down the right touchline but the pass back inside to Jayden Campbell just could not be taken.
Jayden Campbell made a plethora of half breaks in the match seemingly poking his nose through the line every time that he touched the ball but he did break the line in the 31st minute when he came forward at full speed to take a Burleigh droped ball and got to within three metres of the line after initially retrieving the ball twenty five metres from the line.
Also Jayden Campbell almost made a line break from his first kick return of the second half. Jayden Campbell retrieved the ball and skipped to his right only to be just caught as he was accelerating through a gap.
In the 49th minute Jayden Campbell came forward at full speed to take a midfield bomb on the full and then blew through the on rushing defensive line but was rounded up when he skipped to his right with only one defender to beat.
Titans contracted Tanu Nona started at hooker on Saturday in Round Three of the Laurie Daley Cup against the Greater Northern Tigers recording a try and a try assist.
Tanu Nona’s try came in the 60th minute of the match when he ran out of dummy half to his left before dummying the same way and darting towards the line to get the ball down under the posts.
Tanu Nona recorded his try assist in the 42nd minute of the match when he ran out of dummy half to his left holding his pass to his left nicely to create a gap for Jye David to run into from close range to score.
Round Three of the U16 Andrew Johns Cup on Saturday saw Titans contracted Lachlan Offley move from right centre to fullback as the Northern Rivers Titans took on the Greater Northern Tigers.
Lachaln Offley scored his first try of the 2021 Andrew Johns Cup season in the 17th minute of the match when whilst operating on the left he received a pass in pace from Kye Cooper. Lachlan Offley then produced a strong left arm fend to create space and then cut back to his right to charge over from eight metres out.
Lachlan Offley also worked hard running out of dummy half including a strong twenty metre run towards the end of the first half which took a lot of pressure off the Northern Rivers Titans side.
Lachlan Offley produced another strong run late in the first half, breaking through the line making thirty metres and then winning the penalty when he was held down whilst trying to execute a quick play the ball.
Early in the second half Lachlan Offley was at it again making another twenty metres on the back of a winding run that included beating three defenders in the set of six after Jaylen Taewa’s 33rd minute try. Just minutes later Lachlan Offley broke the line once again flying twenty five metres down the left touch line.
After starting his two 2021 matches for the Titans U19 side against Newcastle and Burleigh at five eight Titans contracted Syris Schmidt’s first hit-out with the 2021 Burleigh Bears MM Cup side came when he started at fullback in the Bears second trial against the Easts Tigers on Saturday scoring in the 64th minute of the match when he had moved to the dummy half role for a short period of time.
Syris Schmidt showed his positioning skills early in the match when he moved quickly to his left to take an Easts attacking kick on the full and was then able to draw a penalty when he was not allowed to get to his feet to execute a quick play the ball.
Whilst Syris Schmidt had more opportunities to run the ball in the second half, it was his defensive from the fullback position early in the second half that stole the show. From Burleigh’s second half kick-off, Easts spun the ball to their left on the second tackle, splitting the Bears line and leaving Syris Schmidt confronted by two attckers. Syris Schmidt moved forward and hit the ball carrier with a solid right shoulder to the mid-rift whilst he was still trying to get his hands in the right position to pass to his left and as a result the ball went to ground and the try scoring opportunity with it.
As noted above Syris Schmidt spent some time in the dummy half role late in the match and it was whilst operating at dummy half that he scored in the 64th minute. Syris Schmidt darted to his left when he took possession a metre out dummying to his right before spinning clockwise to get the ball down under the posts.
Greg Marzhew’s first 2021 hit-out came ilast Friday night when he started at left centre for the Titans in their first trial against the Burleigh Bears producing an outstanding display including scoring a hat trick.
Greg Marzhew’s first try came in the 33rd minute of the first half and showcased his spped, elusiveness and power. Greg Marzhew received a long pass from his right from Erin Clark whislt he was stationary side on the left. Greg Marzhew immediately cut back towards the centre of the field, beating one defending with a step before straightening up and dragging four defenders with him to get the ball down two metres from the left upright.
Greg Marzhew’s second try came in the 45th minute when he cut back inside after receiving an offload from Beau Fermor to score. Earlier in the same movement Greg Marzhew smartly kept the ball alive with a good offload.
Greg Marzhew completed his hat trick in the 51st minute of the match when just four metres out from the line he caut back inside to take an offload from Beau Fermor to burst through two defenders to score. Just prior to receiving the ball from Fermor, Greg Marzhew had actually been the one to pass the ball to Fermor.
Greg Marzhew’s first impact on the match came in the 8th minute when he broke three tackles in a powerful twenty metre run out of dummy half. Greg Marzhew produced another strong run in the 17th minute of the match, breaking two tackles in a fifteen metre run down the left side of the field.
After missing Round Three of the Laurie Daley Cup last weekend it is good to see Titans contracted Blake Forder back on the right wing for this weekends Round Four against the Central Coast Roosters at Lismore.
After coming off the bench for the Titans U17 side in February 2021, Titans contracted Arama Hau’s first hit-out with the 2021 Burleigh Bears MM Cup side came when he started at lock in the Bears second trial against the Easts Tigers.
Arama Hau had a very impressive trial building into the match in the opening minutes with a great charge in just the 2nd minute of the match, making eight metre post contact. Arama Hau was at it again in the 12th minute of the match when another powerful charge from inside is own territy netted sixteen hard fought metres. As he tried to get to his feet after te hstrong run Arama Ahu was held down thus winning the Titans well deserved penalty.
Arama Hau continued his great running in the 33rd minute with another strong carry, making a further twelve metres, plenty of which was post contact. Arama Hau impressively in the final minute was still running as hard as he had in the opening minutes, making a further twelve metres in his last hit-out of the match.
Arama Hau was just as effective defensively in the match including a huge front on tackle on the Easts No. 20 in the 25th minute just saw the ball jolted lose such was the force of Arama Hau’s initial contact on the ball carrier.
Also in the 50th minute, Arama Hau came out of the line when defending on the right of the ruck to smash his opposite number dropping him on the spot as he was trying to bring the ball out of his own territory.
After spending the 2020/21 off-season training with the Titans NRL squad Lofi Khan-Periera’s first 2021 hit-up came in mid-February when he started on the right wing for the Titans in their first trial against the Burleigh Bears putting in an impressive performance.
In fact Lofi Khan-Pereira should have had his name on the try scoring list when Tremain Spry produced a piece of individual brilliance midway through the first half when he threw a beautiful right arm flick pass to put Lofi Khan-Pereira over in the corner but somehow the pass was ruled forward.
Lofi Khan-Periera’s first line break came early in the first half when he was put away down the right touch line by Tremain Spry, after a forty metre run Lofi Khan-Periera passed back inside to his left to an unmarked jayden Campbell but the pass could not be taken.
In an impressive sign, in the fourteen minute, Lofi Khan-Periera tracked back to retrieve a kick and when he took possession was confronted by a straight line of Burleigh kick chasers. Lofi Khan-Periera just put his head down and charged straight at the on coming defenders making fifteen valuable metres to get over the twenty metre line.
In the third minute of the second half, Lofi Khan-Pereira came off his wing and took a solid hit-up, bringing the ball out of his own territory making twelve metres through centre field.
Lofi Khan-Periera also showcased his express pace in the first half when he had to stop, turn and chase and still ccaught Burleigh speedster Troy Leo within forty metres.
Lofi Khan-Pereira showed safe hands in the 28th minute when he lept high to take a Tannah Boyd on the full in heavy traffic just short of the try line but was held up on the sixth tackle.
Hail Sezer
24-02-21, 10:14 AM
After spending the 2020/21 off-season training with the Titans NRL squad Lofi Khan-Periera’s first 2021 hit-up came in mid-February when he started on the right wing for the Titans in their first trial against the Burleigh Bears putting in an impressive performance.
In fact Lofi Khan-Pereira should have had his name on the try scoring list when Tremain Spry produced a piece of individual brilliance midway through the first half when he threw a beautiful right arm flick pass to put Lofi Khan-Pereira over in the corner but somehow the pass was ruled forward.
Lofi Khan-Periera’s first line break came early in the first half when he was put away down the right touch line by Tremain Spry, after a forty metre run Lofi Khan-Periera passed back inside to his left to an unmarked jayden Campbell but the pass could not be taken.
In an impressive sign, in the fourteen minute, Lofi Khan-Periera tracked back to retrieve a kick and when he took possession was confronted by a straight line of Burleigh kick chasers. Lofi Khan-Periera just put his head down and charged straight at the on coming defenders making fifteen valuable metres to get over the twenty metre line.
In the third minute of the second half, Lofi Khan-Pereira came off his wing and took a solid hit-up, bringing the ball out of his own territory making twelve metres through centre field.
Lofi Khan-Periera also showcased his express pace in the first half when he had to stop, turn and chase and still ccaught Burleigh speedster Troy Leo within forty metres.
Lofi Khan-Pereira showed safe hands in the 28th minute when he lept high to take a Tannah Boyd on the full in heavy traffic just short of the try line but was held up on the sixth tackle.
He looks to have had a great pre-season. Looked a different player to 6 months ago. Hope he can work his way into ISC this year. Tough grind at Burleigh because Troy Leo is a freak, and then you've got Pearson, Marzhew, Niko & Dennis but he needs to be better than at least half of that list at least to make a claim to play NRL - should be a good challenge for young Lofi.
Titans contracted Kyhan Weir started in the front row in Round Three of the U18 Laurie Daley Cup on Saturday against the Greater Northern Tigers and produced another impressive display starting with his first run of the match which came in the 3rd minute when after making ground through the centre of the ruck, Kyhan Weir was able to offload to Tanu Nona. Kyhan Weir then backed up to take another hit-up from the next play the ball.
Kyhan Weir continued his strong match in the 14th minute when he charged into a short pass from Rowan Mansfield surging forty metres downfield, showing some good speed from a front rower before he was brought down.
Kyhan Weir continued his strong match in the second half with yet another strong run in the 59th minute and won a penalty for the Northern Rivers Titans when he was not allowed to get to his feet quickly to play the ball. Tanu Nona scored from the resultant set of six.
Kyhan Weir made another strong charge in the 69th minute and once again was awarded a penalty when he was not allowed to get to his feet quickly to play the ball.
Titans contracted William Semu started at right second row in Souths Logan’s final 2021 trial against the Tweed heads Seagulls on Saturday, putting on an incredible display of power running and brutal tackling on the way to scoring two second half tries and in fact William Semu probably should have scored a hat trick but with the line open he could not take a long looped pass which to be fair dropped towards his feet quickly.
William Semu’s first try came in the opening minutes of the third quarter when he ran onto the ball from around twelve metres out down a wide blindside on the right of the field and simply carried two defenders over the line to score five metres in from the right corner.
William Semu scored his second try in the fourth quarter when once again he ran the ball down a wide right blindside, William Semu received the ball twenty metres out from the Seagulls line and ran on an angle towards the right corner post, just before the line William Semu straightened easily beating the Seagulls left winger to score near the right corner.
William Semu also had an outstanding run in the first corner when he surged forty metres down the sideline beating at least four defenders.
As noted William Semu as also supurb defensively in the match and it was in fact his defence that set up his first try. From the kick off of the third quarter, William Semu smashed the Tweed Heads front rower returning the kick off, in the process jarring the ball lose. William Semu scored from the resultant set of six.
After William Semu could not get to the pass that could have led to his hat trick, William Semu took his frustration out on the next Tweed Heads runner, almost cutting the front rower in half as he was trying to bring the ball away from his own line.
In the first quarter of the match William Semu showcased all that his good about his game when he chased through a long Magpies kick to the right corner. The Tweed Heads winger was trying to bring the ball away from his own line, but William Semu got hold of him and strong armed him back into the in-goal to gain a restart for his team by way of a Tweed Heads goal line drop out.
One of the more intriguing players that was part of the Titans U17 squad that took on Newcastle in late January this year was Tyrell Waka-Rhind.
The powerful, lightening quick young dummy half made his first appearance in a Titans jersey for the Titans U17 side against the Newcastle Knights in Coffs Harbour starting the match from the bench, with the Titans U17’s emerging impressive 32 – 20 victors in hot and steamy conditions.
When he came on mid-way through the first half Tyrell Waka-Rhind operated in the dummy half role for the Titans, as he did in his second half stint. Tyrell Waka-Rhind scored for the Titans towards the end of the first half. Tyrell Waka-Rhind was as acting half less than a metre out from the Knights line. When he took control of the ball, Tyrell Waka-Rhind darted to his right then spun 360 degrees clockwise to generate a gap and then dived over to score adjacent to the right upright.
Tyrell Waka-Rhind almost scored a second try just minutes later, when once again he darted out of dummy half to the right of the play the ball less than a metre out. This time however Tyrell Waka-Rhind was stopped just centremetres away from the line in the final tackle.
It was not just in attack where Tyrell Waka-Rhind impressed in the match, he was also quite effective defensively in the match. Early in the second half Tyrell Waka-Rhind hit the Knights left second rower front on with his left shoulder, with the initial contact lifting the second rower off the ground, with Tyrell Waka-Rhind then driving him hard into the ground.
In 2019 Tyrell Waka-Rhind was selected in the Queensland White side for the U15 ASSRL Championships and also in 2019 Tyrell Waka-Rhind was named in the backline for the Queensland White u15 Junior Gold Cup Rugby side.
2018 saw Tyrell Waka-Rhind named on the wing for the Samoan U14 side for the QPIIC Carnival and in 2017 he was named at fullback in the New Zealand Maori All-Tournament Team.
In 2016 the former Wavell State high School student represented Queensland at the U12 Australian Primary School Rugby League Championships.
Titans contracted Jaylan De Groot started at fullback in Tweed Heads final 2021 MM Cup final against the Souths Logan Magpies at Logan last Saturday . After starting the first two quarters at fullback, jaylan De Groot moved to the right wing in the final quarter.
Overall in the match Jaylan De Groot made a line break and also recorded a smart try assist in the final quarter whilst playing on the right wing. Jaylan De Groot’s line break came in the second quarter when he was operating just behind the play the ball. Thomas Weaver took the ball to the left before passing back to his right to Jaylan De Groot who burst through the centre of the ruck only to be dragged down just as he was accelerating away.
Late in the fourth quarter Jaylan De Groot burst down the right touchline after good work on his inside. As he was being hemmed in by the Souths Logan fullback and cover defence Jaylan De Groot grubbered kicked with his right foot inside with the kick perfectly weighted for Riley Lack who was tracking the play on the inside to get downward pressure on the ball to be awarded a try, the final one of the eight that Tweed Heads scored in the match.
Titans contracted Thomas Weaver started at halfback in Tweed Heads final 2021 MM Cup final against the Souths Logan Magpies at Logan on Saturday and found himself on the end of a heavy hit early in the match from Sione Fotuaika, who is also Titans contracted when Thomas Weaver looked to take the ball down a short left blind side.
After being on his haunches for a couple of minutes sucking in some deep breaths, Thomas Weaver bounced back quickly to be heavily involved in the Seagulls opening try of the match in their 32 – 4 (no conversions were attempted) victory.
Thomas Weaver received the ball on the left side and put in a high well weighted kick to the left corner. The Souths Logan Magpies right winger could not handle the ball and it fell to Campbell Watchairs who spun away from one dedender superbly to dive over in the left corner.
Thomas Weaver also recorded a line break assist in the match in the second quarter when he took the ball to the left before passing back to his right to Jaylan De Groot who burst through the centre of the ruck only to be dragged down just as he was accelerating away.
Thomas Weaver recorded a further line break assist in the 8th minute of the third quarter when he received the ball from Blake Mozer who had packed in at lock and held the ball up as Riley Lack ran a decoy line, giving the ball to Keano Kini who made twenty metres downfield utilising his exceptional footwork to beat multiple tackles as a result of being put into a gap by Thomas Weaver..
Thomas Weaver also showcased his outstanding top end speed in the second quarter. Souths Logan Magpies captain and five eight Ezra Mam broke through the Tweed Heads right sided defence and chipped over the fullback with a foot race ensuing. Thomas Weaver started ten metres behind Mam and on the opposite side of the field but within twenty five metres Thomas Weaver had caught and passed Mam in the race to the ball that had pulled up in the in-goal. Ultimately it was Keano Kini who got to the ball first but Thomas Weaver’s effortless speed was a sight to behold.
Great to see Toby Sexton named on the bench for the Titans NRL trial against the Warriors in Lismore.
Last Friday night Toby Sexton had his first 2021 hit-out when he started at five eight for the Titans in their first trial against the Burleigh Bears.
Whilst a lot of the play went to the left with Toby Sexton on the right, he did have some good moments in the match in both attack and defence.
Toby Sexton produced an impressive line break in in the 35th minute of the match when after receiving the ball from Erin Clark he stepped off his left foot beat two defenders and break through the centre of the Burleigh ruck, making thirty five metres before being brought down by the fullback.
Toby Sexton also made a long run in the 69th minute when he backed up on the inside of a Tremain Spry break from a Titans scrum win inside their own twenty. Once he received the ball toby Sexton stepped off his left to beat one defender running twenty metres downfield before off-loading to his left.
A minute later, Toby Sexton almost caught the Burleigh defence napping when, on the sixth tackle, Toby Sexton dummied to his left and took off towards the line from ten metres out, only to be brought down just centremetres short of the try line.
Defensively Toby Sexton produced an outstanding front on tackle in the 21st minute jarring the ball lose to gain a Titans scrum feed.
Titans contracted Bailey Martin started from the bench in Tweed Heads final 2021 MM Cup final against the Souths Logan Magpies at Logan on Saturday, playing lock in the second and fourth quarters of the match even though he was wearing jersey No. 4.
Bailey Martin was immediately in the action upon his injection into the match at quarter time, taking a hit-up to the right of the play the ball. Bailey Martin made around ten metres or so before he was taken down but as he was trying to get to his feet for his usual quick play the ball, the Souths Logan defence held on too long with Bailey Martin being awarded the resultant penalty.
Bailey Martin’s third run just minutes later garnered the same result as his first run of the match. Once again Bailey Martin’s ability to get to his feet quickly was too much for the Souths Logan Magpies defence to deal with and as a result they gave away another penalty.
To round out an outstanding quarter Bailey Martin’s fifth hit-up in just fifteen minutes, he gained thirteen more metres when he cut off his right foot to beat the first defender and then continue his surge through the centre of the ruck.
Bailey Martin made a final mark on an impressive second quarter when he produced a heavy defensive hit on the Souths Logan Magpies lock, stopping him in his tracks just five metres out from the line.
After being on the bench for the entire third quarter Bailey Martin was back on the field for the fourth quarter playing the entirety of that quarter at lock. Like in his second quarter stint, Bailey Martin was in the action immediately in the fourth quarter when the Souths Logan left winger took a hit-up centre field, beating two tackles and breaking into space, Bailey Martin cut him down from behind forcing the ball loose, with the ball being picked up and run back by Thomas Weaver.
Bailey Martin got to his feet and took the next hit-up to the right of the play the ball. Bailey Martin ran through two defenders, but was tripped up, going to ground after making ten metres, Bailey Martin bounced to his feet as he was not held and made another ten metres before being brought down a second time. After a lightning quick play the ball by Bailey Martin, Tweed Heads scored on the play in the left corner.
Even after that hectic start to the fourth quarter Bailey Martin did not rest on his laurels, producing a strong tackle minute later on the Souths Logan front rower (No. 10) who had charged at him from a penalty restart with Bailey Martin’s contact forcing the ball loose.
Two sets of six tackles later, Souths Logan had a twenty metres restart and in the resultant set of six, Bailey Martin was involved in three of the five tackles, with the third being on the Souths Logan No. 10 once again and once again Bailey Martin’s contact forced the ball loose.
In a fitting end to the match, due to his high work rate, Baley Martin ran the ball into the Souths Logan defence once again as the final siren sounded.
In an impressive forty minutes on the field, Bailey Martin made eleven hit-ups, with two resulting in penalties won when he was held down. Bailey Martin also made multiple tackles in his two stints on the field and on three of those occasions, Bailey Martin’s contact forced the ball loose.
Since his move from New Zealand early this year Titans Contracted Keano Kini has impressed to say the least, both for the Titans U17 side against Newcastle and for the Tweed Heads Seagulls MM Cup side in their trials.
His most recent match for Tweed Heads came on Saturday when he started from the bench against the Souths Logan Magpies at Logan, scoring early in the second quarter.
Keano Kini came onto the left wing in the second quarter before playing fullback in the second half.
Keano Kini’s try came in the 25th minute of the match, he had stayed on the left touchline as the ball was being thrown out in his direction. Kenao Kini received the ball from Kaleb Ngamanu who threw a long pass to his left to Keano Kini. Three Souths Logan defenders were coming across in cover defence, but at the last moment Keano Kini who had presented that he was going for the left corner, stepped back inside off his left, resulting in all three defenders sailing past. Keano Kini was then able to dive over to score five metres in from the left corner post.
Keano Kini’s first run of the match came off a Tweed Heads scrum win. Keano Kini had moved in from his left wing to be the first receiver to the left of the scrum, darting past two defenders whilst making fifteen valuable metres from deep in his own half.
Keano Kini produced another supurb second quarter run and once again it was as first receiver from a scrum with a Tweed Heads feed ten metres from their own line. Keano Kini received the ball just five metres out from his own line and literally ran around the three Souths Logan right side defenders before beating one when he stepped back inside off his left. Keano Kini burst through four arm tackles on defenders who were trying to keep up with his directional changes before he was hit high from behind with the Souths Logan defender being sin binned and put on report for the high hit. Keano Kini’s exceptional run had brought the ball an additional thirty metres away from the Tweed heads Seagulls line.
Keano Kini continued his dominant performance in the second minute of the third quarter with an outstanding offload and line break assist. After moving to fullback, Keano Kini chimed into the Tweed Heads backline on the left side of the field, going deep into the line before producing an outstanding right arm around the corner pass to put Ryan Foran into space.
Keano Kini continued his exceptional match later in the third quarter with yet another impressive run. Souths Logan received a penalty and kicked for touch but the Tweed Heads left winger was able to bat the ball back into the field of play. Keano Kini retrieved the ball inside his own twenty, immediately racing to his right at a 60 degree angle. As he approached the Souths Logan defensive line, Keano Kini stepped subtly off his left twice but bumping off one defender who tried to take him chest high before cutting back to his left to make an additional tem metres post contact. In total from when he retrieved the ball, Keano Kini make forty metres.
Keano Kini produced a further outstanding run a couple of minutes later from the second hit-up after Billy Mozer’s try. Taking a hit-up to the left of the play the ball, Keano Kini was initially hit behind the advantage line, but after breaking that tackle, he exploded down field to make ten metres.
A third impressive run in the third quarter came in the 8th minute of the quarter when Keano Kini looped around to a short left blind side from a Titans scrum win. Thomas Weaver received the ball from Blake Mozer who had packed in at lock and held the ball up as Riley Lack ran a decoy line, giving the ball to Keano Kini who made twenty metres downfield utilising his exceptional footwork to beat multiple tackles.
Just two minutes later, Keano Kini again broke through the Souths Logan defensive line after being the first receiver of a Titans scrum win. Keano Kini ran to the right after receiving the ball from the back of the scrum, stepping off his left to beat one defender, making fifteen metres downfield before eventually being brought down.
Keano Kini also showcased his outstanding top end speed in the second quarter. Souths Logan Magpies captain and five eight Ezra Mam broke through the Tweed Heads right sided defence and chipped over the fullback with a foot race ensuing. Keano Kini started ten metres behind Mam and on the opposite side of the field but within twenty five metres Keano Kini had caught and passed Mam in the race to the ball that had pulled up in the in-goal, ultimately knocking the ball dead.
Titans contracted Jack Cullen started in the front row in Tweed Heads final 2021 MM Cup final against the Souths Logan Magpies at Logan on Saturday producing a player of the match performance including scoring two third quarter tries in a 32 – 8 Seagulls victory.
Jack Cullen’s first of his two second half tries came in the 5th minute of the third quarter. Standing two passes off the ball the ball on the right side of the ruck, Jack Cullen came back underneath Riley Lack who had run to his right. Jakc Cullen beat two defenders in the ten metres to the line before spinning clockwide with two defenders holding onto him to score ten metres to the left of the uprights.
Jack Cullen’s second try of the match and of the third quarter came from a relatively simple hit-up, he ran to the left of the play the bell three metres out, receiving the ball from Blake Mozer before veering a fraction to his left to score mid-way between the corner post and goal posts on the left side of the field.
The sequence of events involving Jack Cullen after his first try deserves to be written in detail as it perfectly encompasses all that is Jack Cullen. From the kick-off after his third quarter try, Jack Cullen took the ball up once again and was hit with a heavy shoulder charge which saw the Souths Logan player on report. After Tweed Heads kicked for touch from the penalty, Jack Cullen was on hand once again to charge into the defensive line and made twelve more metres.
At the end of that set of six, Tweed Heads kicked to their right corner to try to pin Souths Logan there. On the third tackle of that Souths Logan set, their lock took a hit up to the left of the play the ball. Jack Cullen flew out of the line from the Souths Logan locks right hitting with around the chest with significant power. As a result the ball came lose and Tweed Heads regained possession from the subsequent scrum.
Jack Cullen was immediately in the match, taking part in the first tackle of the match along with Ryan Foran when the two Titans contracted forwards brought down Souths Logan front rower and fellow Titans contracted player Sione Fotuaika.
One of Jack Cullen’s many stand out moments in the match came from the kick off after Tweed Heads first try. From the kick off Jack Cullen burst through the Souths Logan defensive line, keeping his balance once through the line even though his weight was well forward. Jack Cullen then as the Souths Logan defence converged sent a great off-load whislt running at full speed to his left to Campbell Watchairs who sprinted seventy metres only to be brought down metres from the Souths Logan try line. Two tackles later Tweed Heads scored in the opposite corner, but the try as Jack Cullen’s. There is no doubt about that.
Jack Cullen then took the kick off after that Campbell Watchairs try, with Souths Logan defenders coming from everywhere to try to put a big hit on. Jack Cullen was hit high in the tackle and was awarded a penalty as a result.
Iszac Fa’asuamaleaui will come off the bench tonight for the Burleigh Bears Queensland Cup side in their trial against the Easts Tigers.
Great to see Jury Taewa back in the Northern Rivers Titans Andrew Johns Cup side for their Round Four match this afternoon against the Central Coast Roosters.
The young man has missed the last two rounds after suffering a head knock in Round One.
Tristian Powell is another Titans contracted player who will start from the bench tonight for Burleigh in their Queensland Cup trial against the Easts Tigers.
Great to see Titans contracted Bailey McConnell named at half and captain for the Burleigh U16 Cyril Connell Cup side for this Saturday's Round One match against Souths Logan.
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After being named at fullback for Round One of the U16 Andrew Johns Cup for the Northern Rivers Titans but having to miss the game, it is great to see Stevie O'Connor named at fullback for Round Five this weekend against Newcastle.
The Round One U16 Cyril Connell Cup Easts Tigers Cup side has a Titans flavour to it with three members of the side contracted to the Titans being, Zyroam Tarawa-Herlihy (centre), Hayden Miller (five eight) and Gary Herlihy (half) named in the starting side against Redcliffe.
Greg Marzhew will line up in the centres for Burleigh in their final Queensland Cup trial against Tweed Heads.
Great to see Titans contracted front rower Isaac Matalavea-Booth named on the bench for the Burleigh "Reserve Grade" side for this Saturday's trial against Tweed Heads.
Great to see Titans contracted EJ Finau named in the second row for the Souths Logan Magpies MM Cup side for their Round One match this Saturday against Burleigh.
After starting on the bench and scoring for the Titans U17 side against Newcastle in January, Tyrell Waaka-Rhind will start at hooker for the Norths Devils in Round One of the MM Cup this weekend against Wynnum Manly.
Titans contracted Antioch Faitala-Mariner will start at fullback for the Easts Tigers MM Cup side in their Round One match this weekend against the Redcliffe Dolphins.
The young man is a real flyer.
Tannah Boyd will start from the bench this weekend for Burleigh in their Queensland Cup trial against Tweed Heads.
Titans contracted Khyan Weir will start in the front row for the fifth straight week for the Northern Rivers Titans U18 Laurie Daley Cup side that take on Newcastle this Saturday.
Bayside Titan
02-03-21, 10:59 PM
Man. You can almost say that footy season has started. What’s the one thing you will be holding for this year mdrew ?
Always good to see improvement of some of the youngsters. In the trials front rower Jack Cullen has been great for Tweed Heads MM, front rower Isaac Matalavea-Booth for the Titans U19's and Burleigh and Will Semu for Souths Logan.
CAn't wait for this weekend.
Man. You can almost say that footy season has started. What’s the one thing you will be holding for this year mdrew ?
The battle up front between Titans contracted front rowers in Round One of the MM Cup on Saturday will be worth the price of admission alone with Jack Cullen (Tweed) taking on Josiah Pahulu (Ipswich).
Burleigh's Round One MM Cup starting forward pack for this weekend's match against Souths Logan has four of the starters on Titans contracts being Joseph Shannon (front row), both second rowers in Seth Nikotemo and Brody Smitka and hooker Caleb Gould-Waiariki. Titans contracted front rower Immanuel Kalekale will start from the bench.
Titans contracted Xavier Stowers will face a lot of his Titans U19 team mates when he comes off the bench for the Ipswich Jets this Saturday in Round One of the MM Cup against Tweed Heads.
One of the best and most consistent players for the Burleigh Colts side over the last couple of seasons has been half Cameron Brown and he was at in again last weekend in Burleigh’s Colts trial against the Easts Tigers at ended in a 20 all draw.
Cameron Brown started at halfback in the trial, operating on the left with Cameron Brown scoring a 90 metres intercept try in the second half as well as being heavily involved in multiple other positive plays for the Bears.
Cameron Brown also produced some smart pieces of play in the match, including in the 24th minute when he smartly blacked an attacking grubber kick with his left foot, picking the ball up and making a couple of additional metres to ease the pressure on his team.
Cameron Brown was at it again in the 33rd minute of the first half when he tracked back to retrieve an Easts chip kick, after retrieving the ball Cameron Brown burst through the fractured Easts defensive line running sixty metres before looking to offload to his left to his fullback, but unfortunately the ball went to ground.
In the early minutes of the second half, Cameron Brown who operated on the left side of the field in the match showed that he is not adverse to taking the line on, when he dummied to his left then stepping off his right foot to beat one defender before being collared, Cameron Brown however was able to get his arms free to offload to keep the play going.
Burleigh’s Cole Geyer has had a busy start to the 2021 season, playing multiple matches in the pre-season.
Cole Geyer’s first 2021 hit-out was in late January when he started at hooker for the Burleigh Bears Hastings Deering’s Colts side that went down 32 – 20 (no conversions) to a Titans U19 side. Cole Geyer was busy in his time on the field and kicked a great 40/20 in the first half out of dummy half with his right foot.
In his second stint in the second half, Cole Geyer highlighted why he star is on the rise, scoring one try and setting up another. For anyone that saw Cole Geyer play for the Currumbin Eagles in the 2020 GCRL First Grade competition, his try would not have been a surprise. Cole Geyer packed in at lock in a scrum where Burleigh had the scrum feed ten metres out from the Titans line. Cole Geyer picked the ball up from the back of the scrum and darted to his left and was simply just too quick for the Titans defenders to three metres to the right of the uprights in the 76th minute of the match.
Minutes earlier Cole Geyer recorded a try assist when he put a Burleigh runner through a gap to score under the posts from ten metres out. Once again Cole Geyer packed in at lock and once again picking the ball up at the back of the scrum and darting to his right parallel to the Titans defensive line before popping a short pass to his left to put the Bears forward over under the posts.
Cole Geyer started the Burleigh Queensland Cup sides first 2021 trial when he started from the bench against the Titans at Burleigh in mid-February making an impact when he came on to play in the dummy half role for the final fifteen minutes of the match.
Cole Geyer very nearly added his name in the Burleigh try scoring list in the match when in the 72nd minute he raced out of dummy half to his right from five metres out but was tackled by Tannah Boyd who was able to twist Cole Geyer onto his back and hold him up directly under the goal posts.
Cole Geyer was in fact the reason that Burleigh were in such a good attacking position. A minute earlier Cole Geyer ran to his left out of dummy half grubber kicking through the Titans line as the defence moved up. It appeared that Cole Geyer would regain position and progress down field but he was tackled prior to taking possession thus Burleigh were awarded a penalty for that transgression.
Cole Geyer started from the bench in the Bears 2021 Hastings Deering’s Colts trial against the Easts Tigers with Cole Geyer initially playing at lock when he came on before moving into the dummy half role later in the first half.
As usual Cole Geyer was heavily involved in everything and was one of the Bears try scorers when he darted out of dummy half to his left from three metres out and diving between two defenders to score mid-way between the corner post and goal posts on the left side of the field.
Earlier in the match, Cole Geyer also darted out of dummy half, once again to his left to make fifteen metres downfield.
Midway through the first half, Cole Geyer showcased his ability to kick out of dummy half when from close range Cole Geyer produced a right foot stab kick into the in-goal which had to be forced dead by the Tigers fullback.
Cole Geyer’s kicking out of dummy half was displayed once again in the second half, when in the 30th minute of that half, Cole Geyer produced a right foot stab kick out of dummy half to the left of the ruck. The kick was ideally weighted into the in-goal and forced the Easts Tigers defence to take the ball dead and have to restart by way of a goal line drop out.
When he came back onto the field in the second half, Cole Geyer moved straight into the dummy half role for Burleigh an as usual was involved in almost everything including a strong twenty metre run through the centre of the ruck out of dummy half. Cole Geyer moved a step out of dummy half to his right, dummying in that direction before straightening up and making that a fore mentioned twenty metres to be brought down ten metres short of the line.
Since his move over from New Zealand Titans contracted Sam McIntyre has played in a number of matches for both the Titans U19 side and a trial for the Burleigh Bears Hastings Deering’s Colts side.
In January 2021 Sam McIntyre played his first match in a Titans jersey when he started from the bench for the Titans U19 side in their annual match at Coffs Harbour against the Newcastle Knights with the Titans dominating the match, especially in the second half to record a 40 – 6 victory after leading 16 – 6 at half time.
Initially when he came on Sam McIntyre played on the right before moving to the left side of the field in the second half. It was on the left side of the field where Sam McInrtyre scored, when he ran into a gap and was fed a pass down a short blind side by Oskar Bryant to charge ten metres to score when he ran over the Knights fullback to ensure that he got the ball down to be awarded his first try in his first game in a Titans jersey.
Sam McIntyre also produced an outstanding run in the match in the 5th minute of the second half. After a break down the right touchline by Samuel Shannon, the Titans spun the ball back to the left, with Sam McIntyre receiving the ball then immediately stepping off his right to beat one defender and drag two more another ten metres. After a quick Sam McIntyre play the ball the Titans crossed in the left corner but the play was called back for an earlier forward pass.
Sam McIntyre also produced a smart piece of attacking play mid-way through the second half. Sam McIntyre was taking a hit-up to the right of the play the ball when he Knights defender flew out of the line trying to put a big hit on him, but Sam McIntyre saw him coming stepping off his left with the Knights defender clutching at thin air. Sam McIntyre was then able to make an additional six metres as well as getting a subsequent quick play the ball, when things could have been substantiionally different but for his quick foot work.
A week after the match against the Newcastle Knights Sam McIntyre once again lined up for the Titans U19’s as they took on a Burleigh Hastings Deering’s Colts squad with the Titans winning 32 – 20 with no conversions attempted.
Sam McIntyre started the match from the bench before coming on at half time playing the entire second half in the left second row position and shortening up a few of the Bears forwards with heavy hits to the ribs. Similarly when he ran the ball in the second half, Sam McIntyre left a couple of Bears in his wake after dropping his shoulder into then when they attempted to tackle him.
Sam McIntyre made his first appearance for the Burleigh Hastings Deering’s Colts side when he started at left second row in the Bears trial against the Easts Tigers which finished in a twenty all draw. Sam McIntyre made some strong runs in the match including a big run from the kick-off after Branden Amundsen scored the Bears first try of the match.
Late in the first half, Sam McIntyre almost scored his first try since moving to the Gold Coast when he cut back inside to beat one defender and surge towards the line, but he was eventually brought down two metres short of the line.
Sam McIntyre also highlighted in the first half his intelligence when he chased through a mid-field bomb. It would have been easy for Sam McIntyre to charge through and tackle the Easts fullback whilst he was still in the air taking the ball, but Sam McIntyre recognised this and held his momentum to tackle the Easts fullback just as his feet hit the ground.
When Sam McIntyre came onto the field in the second half for his second stint in the match, he swapped sides to play in the left second row position and once again displayed his intelligence when in the 24th minute of the second half, he anticipated an Easts Tigers off-load through the centre of the ruck, getting in between the Tigers players to take an intercept and make eight metres up the field before being stopped.
Hail Sezer
03-03-21, 03:22 PM
Burleigh’s Cole Geyer has had a busy start to the 2021 season, playing multiple matches in the pre-season.
Cole Geyer’s first 2021 hit-out was in late January when he started at hooker for the Burleigh Bears Hastings Deering’s Colts side that went down 32 – 20 (no conversions) to a Titans U19 side. Cole Geyer was busy in his time on the field and kicked a great 40/20 in the first half out of dummy half with his right foot.
In his second stint in the second half, Cole Geyer highlighted why he star is on the rise, scoring one try and setting up another. For anyone that saw Cole Geyer play for the Currumbin Eagles in the 2020 GCRL First Grade competition, his try would not have been a surprise. Cole Geyer packed in at lock in a scrum where Burleigh had the scrum feed ten metres out from the Titans line. Cole Geyer picked the ball up from the back of the scrum and darted to his left and was simply just too quick for the Titans defenders to three metres to the right of the uprights in the 76th minute of the match.
Minutes earlier Cole Geyer recorded a try assist when he put a Burleigh runner through a gap to score under the posts from ten metres out. Once again Cole Geyer packed in at lock and once again picking the ball up at the back of the scrum and darting to his right parallel to the Titans defensive line before popping a short pass to his left to put the Bears forward over under the posts.
Cole Geyer started the Burleigh Queensland Cup sides first 2021 trial when he started from the bench against the Titans at Burleigh in mid-February making an impact when he came on to play in the dummy half role for the final fifteen minutes of the match.
Cole Geyer very nearly added his name in the Burleigh try scoring list in the match when in the 72nd minute he raced out of dummy half to his right from five metres out but was tackled by Tannah Boyd who was able to twist Cole Geyer onto his back and hold him up directly under the goal posts.
Cole Geyer was in fact the reason that Burleigh were in such a good attacking position. A minute earlier Cole Geyer ran to his left out of dummy half grubber kicking through the Titans line as the defence moved up. It appeared that Cole Geyer would regain position and progress down field but he was tackled prior to taking possession thus Burleigh were awarded a penalty for that transgression.
Cole Geyer started from the bench in the Bears 2021 Hastings Deering’s Colts trial against the Easts Tigers with Cole Geyer initially playing at lock when he came on before moving into the dummy half role later in the first half.
As usual Cole Geyer was heavily involved in everything and was one of the Bears try scorers when he darted out of dummy half to his left from three metres out and diving between two defenders to score mid-way between the corner post and goal posts on the left side of the field.
Earlier in the match, Cole Geyer also darted out of dummy half, once again to his left to make fifteen metres downfield.
Midway through the first half, Cole Geyer showcased his ability to kick out of dummy half when from close range Cole Geyer produced a right foot stab kick into the in-goal which had to be forced dead by the Tigers fullback.
Cole Geyer’s kicking out of dummy half was displayed once again in the second half, when in the 30th minute of that half, Cole Geyer produced a right foot stab kick out of dummy half to the left of the ruck. The kick was ideally weighted into the in-goal and forced the Easts Tigers defence to take the ball dead and have to restart by way of a goal line drop out.
When he came back onto the field in the second half, Cole Geyer moved straight into the dummy half role for Burleigh an as usual was involved in almost everything including a strong twenty metre run through the centre of the ruck out of dummy half. Cole Geyer moved a step out of dummy half to his right, dummying in that direction before straightening up and making that a fore mentioned twenty metres to be brought down ten metres short of the line.
No idea why this guy doesn't have a contract of some sort with the Titans. He's very very good.
Powerhouse former Marsden State High School centre/five eight is a Titans contracted youngster who started training with the Titans after a number of seasons in the Brisbane Bronco’s junior development system after moving to Brisbane from Sydney and has been a revelation in the pre-season.
In January 2021 Tony Francis was part of the Titans U19 squad that took on the Newcastle Knights in their annual match in Coffs Harbour, starting the match at left centre with the Titans recording an impressive victory 40 – 6 against the Knights.
Tony Francis’s first involvement in the match was when he chased through a Thomas Weaver midfield high kick and crunched the Knights fullback just as he took possession of the ball.
Tony Francis performed exceptionally well in the match, scoring in the second half when he charged onto a pass from Oskar Bryant down a short blind side, running over a defender before getting the ball down under heavy pressure.
Tony Francis proved a handful for the Knights right sided defence on multiple occasions in the match including a bustling first up run when he beat two Knights defenders to make his presence in the match felt. Tony Francis was at it again late in the first half when he surged fifteen metres down field, a majority of which was post contact metres when he ran off a good pass from Oskar Bryant who had darted out of dummy half.
Tony Francis also had some good moments defensively in the match, including a heavy well timed hit on the Knights right centre (No. 3) early in the match. From a Newcastle scrum win the Knights threw the ball out to their right, with a long pass being thrown to the right centre. Tony Francis identified the situation early and come out of the line to hit the Knights centre front on just a fraction after the ball got to the centre. Tony Francis drove his shoulder literally through the centres chest , stopping all of the Knights, and the centres, momentum.
A week after the match against the Newcastle Knights Tony Francis once again lined up for the Titans U19’s starting once again at left centre as they took on a Burleigh Hastings Deering’s Colts squad with the Titans winning 32 – 20 with no conversions attempted.
Tony Francis did not take long to make an impact in the match, taking a strong hit-up in the opening set of six from the kick with a twelve metre surge down the left side of the field.
Just minutes later, Tony Francis had an even bigger impact on the match when he charged into a gap, receiving a good pass from Jaylan De Groot in the process to charge fifteen minutes to get the ball down five metres in from the left corner after a twelve metre burst.
Tony Francis was again in the action in the 25th minute of the first half with yet another strong charge down down the left of twenty metres after being put into a gap by Thomas Weaver.
Tony Francis followed up his 25th minute line break with an even more impressive thirty five metre effort just five minutes later when he rumbled downfield, initially bumping off two defenders who had tried to tackle him chest on. Tony Francis then got rid of two further defenders in quick succession with right arm fends.
Just weeks after Tony Francis suited up for the Titans against Burleigh, Tony Francis was in a Burleigh jersey lining up for the Bears in a Hastings Deering’s Colts trial against the Easts Tigers at Langland’s Park. Starting at left centre, Tony Francis was one of Burleigh’s best, alongside fellow contracted Titan Isaac Matalavea-Booth in the match that ended up in a twenty all draw.
Tony Francis was one of the Bears try scorers when he crossed for a powerful try late in the first half. Tony Francis came back underneath Cameron Brown who had run to his right and passed back to Tony Francis who received the ball ten metres out charging onto the ball and beating three defenders to score ten metres away from the left upright.
Tony Francis also had a first half line break assist, when he showed quick hands to catch and pass to his left to put the Burleigh left winger into space down the left touchline for a thirty metre gain.
Earlier in the match, in the 25th minute to be precise, Tony Francis made a strong ten metre charge when he, like he did for his try, ran on underneath play with Cameron Brown to make a ten metre gain.
Defensively Tony Francis was also very strong in the match including a big front on tackle in the 27th minute of the first half on his opposing centre which forced the Easts Tigers centre sideways.
When he came back onto the field late in the second half, Tony Francis showed his versatility, playing right centre.
For me the most outstanding Titans contracted junior (and most improved) is front rower Isaac Matalavea-Booth.
In early January 2021 Isaac Matalavea-Booth started in the front row for the Titans U19 side in their annual match against the Newcastle Knights in Coffs Harbour as the Titans ran away with the match in the second half to record an impressive 40 – 6 victory after leading 16 – 6 at half time.
Isaac Matalavea-Booth was in the action almost immediately, being involved in a solid hit in the second tackle after the Titans kicked off. Also involved in the tackle were Samuel Shannon and Ediq Ambrosyev. Isaac Matalavea-Booth was involved in a further heavy tackle just two minutes later when he and Brock Priestley belted the Knight left winger who had come off his wing forcing him five metres backwards before driving him into the ground.
Isaac Matalavea-Booth and Brock Priestley combined once again in a heavy tackle early in the second half when they combined to heavily tackle a Knights player from a twenty metre restart, with the initial contact forcing the ball loose.
It was not just in the centre of the ruck where Isaac Matalavea-Booth was effective defensively, early in the second half, Issac Matalavea-Booth found himself on the fringes of the ruck on the Titans left side of the field with the Knights attacking the line from close range. The Newcastle five eight identified that Isaac Matalavea-Booth was on a one on one situation with him and tried to beat him on the outside. Isaac Matalavea-Booth however tracked across the field and hit the Knights five eight around the shoulders, knocking him down immediately, which was in fact only a metre out from the Titans line.
Over the course of his stints on the field Isaac Matalavea-Booth was particularly effective in forcing the Knights forward pack to use multiple resources to bring him down and with his quick play the balls, the Titans play makers were regularly able to exploit the additional space that Isaac Matalavea-Booth afforded them.
Isaac Matalavea-Booth was deservedly the Titans first try scorer of the match when he charged onto an Ediq Ambrosyev pass out of dummy half to the left of the play the ball from ten metres out. When Isaac Matalavea-Booth caught sight of the try line, literally no-one on earth was going to stop him from scoring as he planted the ball down adjacent to the right upright.
Over the course of the match Isaac Matalavea-Booth was a difficult for the Knights defensive to stop and that was highlighted when Isaac Matalavea-Booth charged into the Newcastle defensive line when he returned the second half kick off and made twenty five metres through sheer size and power. A quick play the ball from Isaac Matalavea-Booth led to more metres being gained by Samuel Shannon.
Isaac Matalavea-Booth was at it again in the 8th minute of the second half making eighteen metres, the majority of which were post contact metres with Isaac Matalavea-Booth twisting and turning and bullocking his way downfield, eventually being brought down only after four Knights defenders had to comit themselves to the tackle.
Unbelievably for a big front rower Isaac Matalavea-Booth was still charging at the Knights defensive line in the last couple of minutes, including a big charge and subsequent off-load to Xavier Stowers who then got the ball away to TJ Devery who was held up. Make no mistake however if Isaac Matalavea-Booth’s stamina was not as impressive as it was the Titans would not have had that late match opportunity.
A week after the match against the Newcastle Knights Isaac Matalavea-Booth once again lined up for the Titans U19’s starting in the front row as the Titans took on a Burleigh Hastings Deering’s Colts squad with the Titans winning 32 – 20 with no conversions attempted.
Like against Newcastle Issac Matalavea-Booth was exceptional for the Titans both in attack and defence including a late first half try assist and he almost had a second just minutes later after making his initial impact in the match making a strong hit-up, being the third of the match after the Knights kicked off.
Isaac Matalavea-Booth’s try assist come in the 37th minute of the first half. Isaac Matalavea-Booth charged onto the ball to the right of the play the ball from thirteen metres out for the Bears line, heading directly at the posts. After initially being held, Isaac Matalavea-Booth was able to get his right arm free and was able to get a great flick pass away to Oskar Bryant who was backing up on the inside from dummy half who was able to dive over next to the left upright after rounding one Burleigh defender.
Just minutes later Isaac Matalavea-Booth charged into space, getting a strong one armed (right arm) offload away across his body to his left to Thoams Weaver for what seemed was going to be another Titans try but a desperate knock down of a Titans pass by a Burleigh defender put paid to the Titans attacking play.
Isaac Matalavea-Booth also had a number of kick return metres in the match. Late in the first half, Isaac Matalavea-Booth got his hands down low and cleanly took possession when Burleigh grubber kicked not far out from the Titans line, Isaac Matalavea-Booth took possession and then rumbled four metres down field.
Defensively Isaac Matalavea-Booth produced one of the best tackles in the first half when he crunched one of the Burleigh forwards late in the half. Isaac Matalavea-Booth hit him from the left side around chest high and driving his opponent diagonally backwards for at least five metres.
Just weeks after Isaac Matalavea-Booth suited up for the Titans against Burleigh, Isaac Matalavea-Booth was in a Burleigh jersey lining up for the Bears in a 2021 Hastings Deering’s Colts trial against the Easts Tigers at Langlands Park. Starting in the front row in the second half Isaac Matalavea-Booth was one of Burleigh’s best, alongside fellow contracted Titan Tony Francis in the match that ended up in a twenty all draw.
Isaac Matalavea-Booth was outstanding in his two second half stints but it was a hit-up in the 71st minute of the match in his second stint in the half that summed up not just Isaac Matalavea-Booth’s match but his 2021 season to date.
Isaac Matalavea-Booth charged onto the ball to the right of the play the ball and surged an incredible thirty five metres up field, breaking eight tackles in the process. It looked as if on at least two occasions that Isaac Matalavea-Booth’s momentum would be stopped but on each occasion Isaac Matalavea-Booth produced another effort to keep the run going. Isaac Matalavea-Booth received the ball on his own twenty metre line and was eventually stopped five metres into Easts terriroty.
Isaac Matalavea-Booth the first of his many second half hit-ups in the opening minutes of the second half when he took a hit-up to the right of the play the ball, jinking off his left foot prior to contact with the line and making ten metres before three defenders had to commit to the tackle to bring him to the ground.
Just a few minutes later, Isaac Matalavea-Booth made another strong surge, making a further ten metres and once again it took three Tigers defenders to get him under control, even those three defenders however could not get Isaac Matalavea-Booth to the ground.
Once again in the 15th minute, Isaac Matalavea-Booth took the ball into the Tigers defensive line, this time making fifteen metres from a hit-up that started in his own twenty metre area.
Isaac Matalavea-Booth made his prescence felt in defence with some huge hits in the second half, the first of which came in the 9th minute of the second half when he came in from the left side of the Easts Tigers giant left winger, dropping him to the ground immediately contact was made.
Isaac Matalavea-Booth did not leave it too long to make another strong tackle, this time on the Easts Tigers right centre (No. 4) when he got in under his ribs and drove him back three metres before driving the centre into the ground.
Last Sunday Titans contracted EJ Finau represented the Queensland U19 Rugby Seven's side in their Battle of the Border match against NSW.
EJ Finau started the match but unfortunately Queensland went down 33 - 21.
Young Titans linked front rower Brady Turner has for me been one of the stand out players for the 2021 Northern Rivers Titans U16 Andrew Johns Cup squad and after this weekend's 5th and final round he will have started in all of the Northern Rivers Titans matches in the front row.
After a very solid performance off the bench for the Burleigh Bears Hastings Deering's Colts side in their trial against the Easts Tigers Jayden Sharp moves into the starting side at lock for this weekend's trial against Tweed Heads and then will come off the bench for the Burleigh "reserve" side also against Tweed Heads.
Titans contracted Tony Francis was outstanding last weekend for Burleigh in their Colts trial against Easts and will start in the centres in this weekends Colts trial against Tweed Heads.
Great to see Glenn McGradey back from Penrith and looking forward to seeing him play with the Tweed Heads Seagulls Hastings Deering's Colts side this season.
NZ youngster K-CI Newton-Whare moved over to Australia to attend Coombabah State High School and has made a great start to his time in Australia, first making the South Coast Open B school boy side and then recently being drafted into the 2021 Burleigh Bears MM Cup squad. He is also MM Cup eligible in 2022.
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Two young Titans NZ recruits will line-up in the second row together for the Burleigh Colts side in this Saturday's trial against Tweed Heads in TJ Devery and Sam McIntyre.
The young man have already played in two matches for the Titans U19 side this year as well as playing in Burleigh's Colts trial against the Easts Tigers last weekend which ended in a twenty all draw.
It will be odd to see Jayden Campbell run out in a Tweed Heads Seagulls jersey on Saturday when he starts at fullback for the Seagulls in their Queensland Cup trial against his former club Burleigh.
Another former Bear will be lining up with Campbell on Saturday night in fellow Titan Darius Farmer.
It will be the Shannon brothers show on Saturday when the three brothers will line up for the Burleigh Bears.
Oldest brother Daniel Shannon will start in the front row for the Burleigh Colts side, with middle brother coming off the bench in the same side.
Earlier on Saturday youngest brother Joseph Shannon will start for the Bears MM Cup side in the front row against Souths Logan.
Sam and Joseph Shannon are contracted to the Titans.
It will be odd to see Jayden Campbell run out in a Tweed Heads Seagulls jersey on Saturday when he starts at fullback for the Seagulls in their Queensland Cup trial against his former club Burleigh.
Another former Bear will be lining up with Campbell on Saturday night in fellow Titan Darius Farmer.
Any idea why they swapped teams? Obviously Jayden has been in the Burleigh system for a while through MM HDC and A Grade.
Do you think its a decision based on development opportunities or just balancing the players out at each feeder club?
I think that it is for opportunity mate, obviously Kurtis Rowe is entrenched at Burleigh and obviously the Titans are looking to get Jayden into the Queensland Cup as soon as possible.
Any idea why they swapped teams? Obviously Jayden has been in the Burleigh system for a while through MM HDC and A Grade.
Do you think it’s a decision based on development opportunities or just balancing the players out at each feeder club?
Titans contracted Matthew Barrow will line up at fullback for the Tweed Heads Seagulls CC Cup side tomorrow as they take on the Ipswich Jets.
Earlier this season Matthew Barrow came off the bench to play on the right wing for the Titans U17 side that took on Newcastle in Coffs Harbour.
The Souths Logan Magpies CC Cup side are going to have their hands full tomorrow in Round One of that competition when they have giant Titans contracted Burleigh second rower Philip Hakaraia-Ngamotu running straight and hard at them.
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Back from Sydney playing with the Parramatta Eels, Charlie Murray will play for the Tweed Heads Seagulls Hastings Deering’s Colts side this season and he will also be Colts eligible in 2022.
Charlie Murray was named on the extended bench for the Parramatta Eels in Round One of the 2020 Jersey Flegg U20 competition and was also named there in Round Two but that round (and all subsequent) were cancelled.
Charlie Murray came back to the Gold Coast after the Covid 19 pardemic hit, and played for the Currumbin Eagles in the 2020 GCRL U20 competition including starting at right second row for the Eagles in the 2020 GCRL U20 Grand Final against the Helensvale Hornets with the Eagles prevailing 22 – 20 at Cbus Stadium.
Charlie Murray scored one of Currumbin’s first half Grand Final tries when he was on hand when the Burleigh defence dropped an Oliver Singh kick. After taking the ball Charlie Murray cut to his left and was able to spin clockwise to break a tackle and score under the posts.
It was great to see Charlie Murray named to make his Gold Coast Rugby League First Grade debut in late September 2020 when he started from the bench for the Currumbin Eagles as they took on the Tugun Seahawks in Round Eight.
In 2019 Charlie Murray was a stand out for the Marymount Mako’s school boy rugby league team including being part of the Marymount side that played in the Confraternity Shield. At that competition Charlie Murray was named Confraternity Player of the Carnival, named at lock in the team of the carnival and also won the Carbine Club Award.
In 2019 Charlie Murray also started in all six of Burleigh’s MM Cup matches, starting five at lock and one being Round Five against Souths Logan in the second row. Charlie Murray’s sole try was an important one that tied the scores in Round One against the Norths Devils.
The former Wauchope Blues and Camden Haven High School student was part of the Parramatta Eels Harrold Matthews squad in 2017 this season and in 2016 as a 15 year old captained the New South Wales High Achievers Rugby League side on a PNG tour where they played a curtain raiser in front of 15,000 for a PNG against Australian Presidents XIII match in Port Moresby. Charlie Murray also represented Group Three in multiple junior representative sides.
Titans contracted Jeremaiah Temapo, who will start on the wing for the Burleigh MM Cup side this weekend, has been named in the South Coast Open school boys rugby squad from Keebra Park.
After two seasons with the Penrith Panthers, Glenn McGradey is back on the Gold Coast and will play the 20201 season with the Tweed Heads Seagulls Hastings Deering’s Colts side and such is his talent that a Queensland Cup debut for the tall young former PBC fullback or centre is certainly not out of the question.
In Round One of the 2020 U20 Jersey Flegg NSWRL season Glenn McGradey started at fullback and scored a double (28th and 43rd Minutes) and Penrith defeated the Norths Sydeny Bears 24 – 0. Glenn McGradey was outstanding playing the entire matchrunning for 1041. Metres, made two line breaks, also broke ten tackles and made three tackles of his own at a 100% tackling efficiency.
Glenn McGradey’s first try came late in the first half. Glenn McGradey received the ball around twelve metres out from the line on the right side of the field from a long cut our pass and as he approached the line, Glenn McGradey stepped off his right foot to crash over the line mid-way between the right corner post and right upright.
Glenn McGradey’s second try of the match came in the second half when he followed through a short kick out of dummy half to take the ball and put it donw with around ten centremetres to spare which was followed by a forward roll to put an explanation mark on the try.
In 2019 for Penrith in the U20 Jersey Flegg competition Glenn McGradey played in seventeen matches, starting them all. Glenn McGradey’s Jersey Flegg debut came in Round Seven when he started on the wing against Souths Sydney. Glenn McGradey continued starting on the wing until Round Twelve against Manly when he started in the centres and moved to fullback in Round Sixteen against St George.
In total in the 2019 Jersey Flegg competition, Glenn McGradey started five matches on the wing, five in the centres and seven at fullback including both of the Panthers finals matches which came in Week One against the Roosters and Week Three against Souths Sydney.
Glenn McGradey finished his debut Jersey Flegg season with sixty eight points from nine tries and sixteen goals with his first goal coming in Round sixteen when he kicked a conversion against the St George Dragon. Glenn McGradey’s 2019 goal kicking exploits included an impressive seven from seven against the Newcastle Knights in Round Eighteen. Glenn McGradey also kicked five goals in Round Twenty Four against the Manly Sea Eagles.
Glenn McGradey scored his first Jersey Flegg try in on his debut in Round Seven against Souths Sydeny and also scored against Manly (Round Twelve), the Roosters (Round Thirteen and Week One of the Finals), the Raiders (Round Nineteen), Bulldogs (Round Twenty), the Wests Tigers (Round Twenty Two and in Round Twenty Three against the Norths Sydney Bears.
The talented young former Goondiwindi youngster from the Warwick and Districts Junior Rugby League had an incredible first season for the Bilambil Jets, representing the club in both the U17 Division One and U19 competitions in 2018. Glenn McGradey was also a standout performer for PBC that same year as they progressed all the way to the Queensland GIO Cup semi-finals losing in the end 22 – 20 to Marsden State High School.
Glenn McGradey in 2018 was a key member of the Tweed Heads Seagulls MM Cup side starting at fullback in all seven of their matches including their Week One Finals loss to the Souths Logan Magpies.
Glenn McGradey finished the 2018 MM Cup season with a 100% strike rate, with six of those tries coming from doubles in consequetive matches from Round Five to Round Seven, coming against the Townsville Blackhawks (Round Five), Wynnum Manly Seagulls (Round Six) and in Round Seven agains the Easts Tigers.
2018 also saw Glenn McGradey play a key role in the PBC open school boy’s success in the Langer and GIO Cups, playing fullback and Glenn McGradey also represented the South Coast U18 school boy side in 2018 and subsequently Queensland at the 2018 ASSRL U18 school boy Championships.
Over the course of the 2017 season the young fullback or five eight played in fourteen U17 Division One matches scoring twelve tries to lead the competition try scoring tally and has also kicked twenty five goals to have 98 points on the season. Glenn McGradey also played in seven U19 matches scoring five tries and kicking fourteen goals for 48 points on the season.
Glenn McGradey had a great U19 debut in July 2018 against Ormeau after playing in the U17 match earlier in the day and what a debut the young man had, he scored a double and kicked three goals as well to finish with 14 points for the match. Glenn McGradey in fact started at fullback for Bilambil in the Gold Coast U19 Grand Final kicking three conversions in Bilambil’s 34 – 20 Grand Final win over Tugun.
In the U19 competition Glenn McGradey, in addition to his debut double he also scored a double against Tugun in a regular season match and also scored against Currumbin and on four occasions kicked three goals in a match.
At the U17 Division One level, Glenn McGradey scored an incredible five tries in a Round Two match against the Ormeau Shearers and also kicked five goals in that match as well for 30 points. Glenn McGradey also scored a double a fortnight later against Helensvale and in July against Mudgeeraba he scored 16 points in a match from a try and six goals. The following week against Burleigh Glenn McGradey kicked six conversions in a win over Burleigh and in the Preliminary Final Glenn McGradey scored a try and kicked a goal in their loss to Ormeau which knocked them out of the competition this season.
After a solid 4th quarter for the Titans against the Warriors in the recent NRL trial, Toby Sexton will start at halfback for the Tweed Heads Seagulls in their Queensland Cup trial tomorrow against the Burleigh Bears.
Great to see Titans contracted young outside back Caleb Hodges named on the bench for the Tweed Heads Seagulls Queensland side for their trial tomorrow against local rivals the Burleigh Bears.
Anyone who will be watching the Tweed Heads Seagulls MM Cup side go around tomorrow in Round One against the Ipswich Jets will see a young Titans contracted player with one of the best defensive techniques in all of rugby league in Bailey Martin.
Even though he will start from the bench Bailey Martin will still almost certainly be at or near the top of the top tacklers list.
To date in the 2021 season Titans contracted Keano Kini has played fullback for the Titans U17 side and also for the Tweed Heads Seagulls MM Cup side except for a quarter and a half on the left wing in a recent trial against Souths Logan but tomorrow Keano Kini lines up at left wing but he seems set to continue his game breaking ways against Ipswich tomorrow.
Powerful Titans contracted front rower Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa will captain the Tweed Heads Seagull U16 CC Cup side in their Round One match against Ipswich and there is no doubt he will lead from the front through his actions.
Great to see Titans contracted forward Wailer Whaiapu named on the bench for the Burleigh CC Cup side for Round One tomorrow against Souths Logan. The young Keebra Park student has had some injuries over the last year but now that he is coming back to full fitness opponents should be on guard.
The Cudgen Hornets rugby league club supporters will have a big smile on their face when juniors Tom Weaver, Jack Cullen, Oskar Bryant and Jaylan De Groot run out in the Tweed Heads Seagulls MM Cup Round One match tomorrow against Ipswich. But for injury Reef Sommerville may have had it five Cudgen juniors.
Reserve forward Bailey Martin was also part of the Cudgen Hornets club in 2020, playing in their NRRRL U18 Grand Final winning side alongside the other players noted with all six contracted to the Titans.
Ryan Foran who is also contracted to the Titans will start in the second row for Tweed Heads is from just down the road in Murwillumbah as is Riley Lack who unfortunately is out of Round One due to a head knock suffered scoring in a trial match against Souths Logan recently.
The Southport School (TSS) is better known as a GPS school boy rugby First XV powerhouse but tomorrow the focus will turn towards rugby league with five member of their 2021 First XV squad playing in the MM Cup.
Kaleb Ngamanu and Nic Hilton will line-up for Tweed Heads and Syris Schmidt, Carson Patu and Jye Gray will be in a Burleigh jersey.
Kaleb Ngamanu, Nic Hilton and Syris Schmidt are all contract to the Titans. Of course one of the best TSS school boy players in their great history is also with the Titans and that of course is Jojo Fifita.
In the powerful Tweed Heads Seagulls MM Cup squad, positions are at a premium so it great to see Reico Ratana named 18th man for tomorrow's Round One match against Ipswich tomorrow.
The Young PBC student is also MM Cup eligible in 2022.
The Ipswich Jets U16 CC Cup side certainly packs some punch off the bench with powerful Titans forward Larry Siala named to come off the bench tomorrow in Round One against Tweed Heads.
The clash between him and Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa, who are both contracted to the Titans will be worth the price of admission alone.
The way that the current rules mean that rugby league is played means that having an all action lock who can play big minutes and also be a link between the others forwards and the backline has become critical to a teams success.
Thankfully the Tweed Heads Seagulls U16 Cyril Connell Cup side has one starting at lock tomorrow in Titans linked PBC student, Jonah Beaven, the young man is a mirror image of Souths Sydney NRL standout Cameron Murray.
One fascinating name on the Tweed Heads Seagulls Colts team sheet for their trial tomorrow against Burleigh is Dennis Waight who is a Runaway Bay junior and played a few matches for Titans Development squads in the U13 and U14 age groups before moving to rugby.
Dennis Waight was a stand out centre for Brisbane Grammar School in the GPS FIrst XV competition and in 2018 played for the Australian School Boys Barbarians side before heading to Canberra and part of the Brumbies Development program.
It is great to see the Gold Coast junior back in rugby league and getting him to Tweed Heads could prove to be a masterstroke.
Titans contracted Troy Duckett will start on the right wing tomorrow for the Tweed Heads Seagulls Colts side that take on Burleigh in a Hastings Deering's Colts trial.
Klese Haas will start at right second row tomorrow for the Tweed Heads Seagulls Colts side that take on Burleigh in a Hastings Deering's Colts trial.
Hail Sezer
05-03-21, 09:45 PM
Klese Haas will start at right second row tomorrow for the Tweed Heads Seagulls Colts side that take on Burleigh in a Hastings Deering's Colts trial.
I wish him luck with Tony Francis running that hard unders line at him all day
Great to see Juwain Compain lining up at left second row tomorrow for the Tweed Heads Seagulls Colts side that take on Burleigh in a Hastings Deering's Colts trial.
2020 Keebra Park Langer Cup school boy five eight David Telea will start from the bench today for the Tweed Heads Seagulls Colts side in their trial against Burleigh.
The solidly built young man late last year was named in the Easts Tigers 2021 Colts side, but it is great to see him named for the Seagulls.
A couple of former Illawarra region players are lining up for the Tweed Heads Colts side today in centre Nelson Sharp and half Tyler Hickey.
There are two things people should know about the starting front row of the Tweed Heads Seagulls Colts trial side which comprises of front rowers Ben Liyou and Solomon Torrens and hooker Ediq Ambrosyev.
One they are all outstanding players and two they are all contracted to the Titans.
Titans contracted William Semu (second row) and Dominique Sandow (fullback) will start for Souths Logan this morning against Burleigh in Round One of the CC Cup.
Tweed Heads two from two today with wins in Round One of the CC and MM Cups, Titan Jaylan De Groot with a double in MM.
The Northern Rivers Titans U18 Laurie Daley Cup side finished their competition yesterday with a tough loss to Newcastle in a strangely refereed match.
In the match, Titans contracted right centre Michael Roberts showed some real touches of class including a first half try and if he continues his current trajectory people will be saying James Roberts is Michael Roberts instead of the other way around.
The Northern Rivers Titans U16 Andrew Johns Cup side finished their competition with a comprehensive win against Newcastle and once again tall young front rower Brady Turner was outstanding including scoring a strong try, his first of the campaign and a great 70 metre charge through the centre of the ruck, beating double digit tackles over the course of the seventy metre charge.
Titans contracted Lofi Khan-Pereira then started on the wing for Burleigh Second’s side in their final 2021 Queensland Cup trial against the Tweed Heads Seagulls on Saturday night and was one of the best players on the field on the way to scoring two spectacular second half tries.
Lofi Khan-Pereira’s first try resulted from a kick to Lofi Khan-Pereira’s right wing with the ball sitting up perfectly for him to streak away to score. Lofi Khan-Pereira’s second try also came from a kick, this time from Ngangarra Barker who grubbered to the right wing with the ball once again sitting up perfectly for Lofi Khan-Pereira to run onto it in full flight to cross for his second try of the half.
Lofi Khan-Pereira in fact could have had a second half hat trick when he almost grabbed an intercept off Jack Cook but he could not quite get to the ball, if he had it was shut the gate for try number three.
Burleigh, in the 72nd minute of the match went to Lofi Khan-Pereira’s right wing once again with a kick but even though the Tweed Heads left winger got to the ball first Lofi Khan-Pereira was able to get hold of him and drag him into touch.
Lofi Khan-Pereira showcased his leaping ability in the opening minutes of the match when he leapt high to take a Tweed Heads attacking bomb to his wing on the full to defuse a dangerous situation.
in Round One of the MM Cup on Saturday Titans contracted Kaleb Ngamanu started at left centre for the tweed Heads Seagulls against the Ipswich Jets.
It was an interesting game for Kaleb Ngamanu, for the first sixty five minutes or so the ball and play always seemed to be on the opposite side of the field, but with the game on the line in the final five minutes with Tweed Heads holding onto a two point lead, all of a sudden the ball and play was everywhere where Kaleb Ngamanu was.
In the 65th minute with the Seagulls defending their won line, Kaleb Ngamanu produced an outstanding tackle on the Jets tearaway left second rower (No. 11). The Jets second rower had space to build his momentum and charged at the line but Kaleb Ngamanu put him on the ground with a superb low tackle.
The Jets No. 11 second rower felt the power of Kaleb Ngamanu once again just three minutes later in the 68th minute. The Jets had an overlap but Kaleb Ngamanu came out of the line to hit the second rower around the chest just as he was looking up after taking possession of the ball.
Interspersed between those two outstanding tackles was a strong hard run brining the ball out of his own twenty metre area by Kaleb Ngamanu who received the ball off Oskar Bryant to the left of the play the ball making ten valuable metres. The last five metres of the run were on his hands and knees after Kaleb Ngamanu was tripped up not long into his run but Kaleb Ngamanu just kept forcing his way forward.
The 2021 U16 Andrew Johns Cup season that was for Thomas King:
Round Three saw Thomas King make his first appearance for the Northern Rivers Titans U16 Andrew Johns Cup squad when he started from the bench against the Greater Northern Tigers. Thomas King came onto the field early in the second half, playing in the centre of the field.
Thomas King also started from the bench in Round Four against the Central Coast Roosters as well as in Round Five, being the final regular season round against the Newcastle Knights coming on early in the second half to operate in the front row.
The 2021 U16 Andrew Johns Cup season that was for Jury Taewa:
Jury Taewa was named in the left second row position for the Northern Rivers Titans U16 Andrew Johns Cup side for their Round One match against the Wests Tigers. In a great situation for his family, Jury Taewa’s twin brother Jaylen was the other starting second rower on the right side for the Northern Rivers Titans.
Disappointingly Jury Taewa suffered a head knock in the first half of the match and was unable to take any further part in the match which was an unfortunate situation as Jury Taewa was having a very solid match to that point.
After missing Rounds Two and Three as a result of his Round One head knock, Jury Taewa was back in the Northern Rivers Titans squad for Round Four against the Central Coast Roosters in Lismore as a curtain raiser to the Titans against Warriors NRL trial. Jury Taewa came onto the field mid-way through the first half, playing in his usual left second row position.
Jury Taewa also started from the bench in Round Five against the Newcastle Knights coming on to play left second row mid-way through the first half.
The 2021 U18 Laurie Daley Cup season that was for Patrick Gray:
Patrick Gray was named from the interchange bench row for the Northern Rivers Titans U18 Laurie Daley Cup side for their Round One match against the Wests Tigers at Ballina. After missing Round Two Patrick Gray was back on the bench for Round Three against the Greater Northern Tigers.
When he came onto the field against the Greater Northern Tigers, Patrick Gray provided enthusiasm including winning a penalty early in the second half when the defence would not allow him to get to his feet after Patrick Gray had poked his head through the line.
Patrick Gray moved back into the starting line-up in the second row for Round Four at Lismore against the Central Coast Roosters , a match that was played as a curtain raiser to the Titans/Warriors NRL trial and also started in the second row in Round Five against the Newcastle Knights and made his presence felt from the kick off when in conjunction with Kyhan Weir crunched the Newcastle front rower who took the ball from the kick-off.
The 2021 U16 Andrew Johns Cup season that was for Kaden Rees:
Kaden Rees started on the right wing for the 2021 Northern Rivers Titans U16 Andrew Johns Cup side for their Round One match against the Wests Tigers. Unfortunately the ball did not get out to Kaden Rees’s right wing that often in the match, but to his credit Kaden Rees went looking for the ball when the Northern Rivers Titans were bringing the ball out of their own territory and defended well against the giant Wests Tigers outside backs.
Kaden Rees also started on the right wing in Round Two against local rivals the North Coast Bulldogs in Nambucca Heads. Round Three saw Kaden Rees move from the right wing to right centre as the Northern Rivers Titans took on the Greater Northern Tigers.
From an attacking perspective the ball did not get out to his side of the field often but Kaden Rees certainly went looking for the ball producing some good runs out of dummy half but he certainly shined from a defensive perspective.
Kaden Rees was involved in a strong tackle in the 21st minute of the match when along with Bo Peisley and Creedence Donovan he initially held up the Tigers fullback and dragged him into touch five metres out from the line.
Kaden Rees continued at right centre in Round Four against the Central Coast Roosters and as in Round Three he was exceptional defensively producing a try saving tackle in the 56th minute of the match.
Kaden Rees continued at right centre in Round Five being the final regular season round against the Newcastle Knights and as usual played well especially in defence.
The 2021 U18 Laurie Daley Cup season that was for Henry Lee:
Henry Lee started at right second row for the Northern Rivers Titans U18 Laurie Daley Cup side for their Round One match against the Wests Tigers at Ballina and also started at right second row in Round Two against local rivals the North Coast Bulldogs at Nambucca Heads.
Henry Lee also started at right second row in Round Three against the Greater Northern Tigers and made a strong run of a penaly restart early in the second half when he came off the long run to charge into the Greater Northern Tigers set defensive line.
Just minutes later Henry Lee produced a smart piece of play from the Northern Rivers Titans kick-off from Jye Davis’s try. Henry Lee was starting on the left sideline just in front of the goal line. With the kick off coming his way, Henry Lee ensured that his left foot was in touch and then took the kick on the full to get a penalty for the Northern Rivers Titans back on the halfway.
Henry Lee moved to the front row for Round Four at Lismore against the Central Coast Roosters and as usual threw his weight around in both attack and defence. One instance stood out in the match when in the 54th minute, Henry lee came flying out of the line looking for a big hit, the Central Coast Roosters forward had a look at the flying Henry Lee and dropped the ball cold.
Henry Lee was back at right second row in the physical Round Five encounter against the Newcastle Knights and made his prescence felt in just the 15th minute with a strong twenty metre charge through centre field.
Henry Lee did not let the halftime break slow him down when he flew onto the ball from the second half kick off return. Henry Lee’s hard running paid off in the 56th minute when he charged straight onto a pass five metres from the Knights line to crash over. Henry Lee was then on hand again to take a strong hit-up from the kick-off over his try.
The 2021 U16 Andrew Johns Cup season that was for Bo Peisley:
Bo Peisley was named at halfback for the Northern Rivers Titans U16 Andrew Johns Cup side for their Round One match against the Wests Tigers operating on the right side of the field in the match.
Unfortunately the Northern Rivers Titans went down in the match but Bo Peisley had some good moments in the match including putting up a big mid-field bomb early in the second half towards the right touchline. The Wests Tigers ;left winger knocked the ball on and the Northern Rivers Titans, through jesse Soric scored from the next set of six.
Bo Peisley also started at halfback in Round Two against local rivals the North Coast Bulldogs in Nambucca Heads and in Round Three against the Greater Northern Tigers kicking three conversions in the Titans 30 – 16 victory.
Bo Peisley was also involved in a strong tackle in the 21st minute of the match when along with Kaden Rees and Creedence Donovan he initially held up the Tigers fullback and dragged him into touch five metres out from the line.
Bo Peisley continued at half back in Round Four against the Central Coast Roosters, producing an outstanding short kicking game early including forcing Central Coast to ground the ball in their own in goal twice in the opening twenty four minutes of the match.
Bo Peisley also started at half in Round Five against the Newcastle Knights scoring a double as the Northern Rivers Titans finished their season with an impressive 28 – 4 victory.
Bo Peisley’s first try came in the 24th minute of the first half through a show and go as he ran to the left, once through the line Bo Peisley ran at a 45 degree angle to score under the posts. Just a minute earlier Bo Peisley produced a show and go to the left but was dragged down centremetres short but won a penalty when he was held down by the Newcastle defence.
Bo Peisley scored his second try of the match in the 52nd minute when he moved into dummy half a metre out from the Newcastle line and just to the right of the uprights. Bo Peisley dummied to his right before darting over to score.
Bo Peisley, like he had all competition kicked well in the match, including in the 43rd minute when he produced a stabbing right foot kick from forty metres out that found the touchline less than ten metres out from the Newcastle line in the right corner.
Bo Peisley did it all in the match including defensively with probably his best moment of the match in relation to that attribute coming in the 48th minute with a great ball and all tackle on the Newcastle five eight who had tried to run over him from a Knights scrum win.
The 2021 U16 Andrew Johns Cup season that was for Jaylen Taewa:
Jaylen Taewa was named in the second row for the Northern Rivers Titans U16 Andrew Johns Cup side for their Round One match against the Wests Tigers. In a great situation, Jaylen Taewa’s twin brother Jury was the other starting second rower for the Northern Rivers Titans. Jaylen Taewa worked hard in the match, playing significant minutes in the match and worked hard especially in defence against the Wests Tigers giant forward pack.
Jaylen Taewa also started in the second row, specifically right second row in Round Two against local rivals the North Coast Bulldogs in Nambucca Heads as well as in Round Three against the Greater Northern Tigers.
The Round Three match was Jaylen Tawea’s best of the season to that point, impressing in both attacking and defence, deservedly scoring in the second half when he charged onto a pass to the left of the ruck to crash over from close range right next to the right upright.
Jaylen Taewa was on song early in the first half with a twelve metre surge into the heart of the Greater Northern Tigers forward pack.
Defensively Jaylen Taewa was also very strong in the match including a desperate one armed tackle in the 23rd minute on the Greater Northern Tigers fullback to prevent a line break.
Jaylen Taewa continued at right second row in Round Four against the Central Coast Roosters , a match that was played as a curtain raiser to the Titans/Warriors NRL trial in Lismore and also started at right second row in Round Five against the Newcastle Knights.
Jaylen Taewa and produced one of the better tackles that I saw in the competition in the match when with his left shoulder he smashed the Newcastle forward who was bringing the ball back after the Northern Rivers Titans had been forced into a goal line drop out. Not long later Jaylen Taewa followed that up with a strong hit in the Newcastle No. 15 front on.
The 2021 U18 Laurie Daley Cup season that was for Shane Davis-Caldwell:
After missing Round One of the 2021 U18 Laurie Daley Cup competition, Shane Davis-Caldwell started Round Two against local rivals the North Coast Bulldogs at left centre. Shane Davis-Caldwell had some good moments in the match, including a great kick chase mid-way through the first half when he was able to grab the North Coast fullback by the collar from behind and rag doll him to the ground.
Shane Davis-Caldwell almost found himself on the try scorers list in the 18th minute of the match, but the North Coast defence was able to hold him up after he forced his way over near the left corner.
Shane Davis-Caldwell also started at left centre in Round Three against the Greater Northern Tigers and was hevily involved in the Titans second try of the match when from a scrum win Shane Davis-Caldwell cut inside before offloading in the movement that led to a try in the left corner.
Shane Davis-Caldwell moved to right centre in Round Four at Lismore against the Central Coast Roosters and also started at left centre in Round Five against the Newcastle Knights.
The 2021 U16 Andrew Johns Cup season that was for Creedence Donovan:
In Round Two in the 2021 U16 Andrew Johns Cup competition, Creedence Donovan started at fullback for the Northern Rivers Titans side that took on local rivals the North Coast Bulldogs in Nambucca Heads.
Creedence Donovan was the Northern Rivers Titans most dangerous ball runner in the match and also produced on outstanding piece of play when after a Northern Rivers Titans turnover when attacking the North Coast line, he turned a chased down the Bulldogs left winger after he had broken away.
Round Three saw Creedence Donovan move from fullback to the right wing as the Northern Rivers Titans took on the Greater Northern Tigers.
Creedence Donovan produced an outstanding piece of play in the opening minutes of the second half. Creedence Donovan tracked back to retrieve a kick towards the right corner and after running the ball back, he was held down and drew a penalty on his own twenty metre mark. Creedence Donovan took the tap quickly and flew down the right touchline seventy metres before being caught just metres short of the try line.
Creedence Donovan was also involved in a strong tackle in the 21st minute of the match when along with Bo Peisley and Kaden Rees, he initially held up the Tigers fullback and dragged him into touch five metres out from the line.
Creedence Donovan was at it again late in the first half when he dragged his opposite winger over the sideline as soon as he had taken a kick on the full.
Creedence Donovan continued on the right wing in Round Four against the Central Coast Roosters , a match that was played as a curtain raiser to the Titans/Warriors NRL trial in Lismore.
Creedence Donovan started Round Five against the Newcastle Knights on the right wing producing a start piece of play in the 2nd minute of the second half when he trapped a difficult grubber kick to his right wing with his foot and then was able to bring the ball back a further ten metres.
Creedence Donovan made a further ten metre run in the 41st minute of the match when he came off the wing to make the metres through the centre of the ruck.
The 2021 U16 Andrew Johns Cup season that was for Cameron Bevan:
Cameron Bevan was named at hooker for the Northern Rivers Titans U16 Andrew Johns Cup side for their Round One match against the Wests Tigers. Even though the Northern Rivers Titans went down in the match, Cameron Bevan was an impressive performer for the Northern Rivers Titans, leading his forwards onto the ball well from dummy half and also defending exceptionally well in the centre of the ruck against a huge Wests Tigers forward pack.
Cameron Bevan also started at hooker in Round Two against local rivals the North Coast Bulldogs in Nambucca Heads and in Round Three against the Greater Northern Tigers producing some moments of class in the 30 – 16 victory including a second half try.
Early in the first half Cameron Bevan forced the Tigers to restart by way of a goal line drop when he grubber kicked out of dummy half into the in-goal.
Early in the second half Cameron Bevan was unlucky not to score when he darted out of dummy half to his left from close range but unfortunately he was held up. Cameron Bevan made up for that in the 48th minute when he darted out of dummy half to the right of the play the ball to score next to the left upright.
Cameron Bevan was very good defensively in the match including being on hand to hold up the Greater Northern Tigers front rower over the line with the assistance of front rower Brady Turner.
Cameron Bevan continued at hooker in Round Four against the Central Coast Roosters where once again he provided good service out of dummy half.
Cameron Bevan also started at hooker in Round Five against the Newcastle Knights. Against Newcastle Cameron Bevan showed his intelligence in the 23rd minute. Cameron Bevan was at dummy half less than a metre out from the Newcastle line with nowhere to go, Cameron Bevan deliberately grubber kicked the ball out of dummy half hard into the Knights defenders who were crouched low, forcing a penalty for offside and winning the ball back for the Northern Rivers Titans.
The 2021 U18 Laurie Daley Cup season that was for Rowan Mansfield:
Rowan Mansfield started from the interchange bench row for the Northern Rivers Titans U18 Laurie Daley Cup side for their Round One match against the Wests Tigers at Ballina coming on to play in a roving forward role operating as a lock when he came on, regularly getting into dummy half and running a lot out of there.
After his impressive Round One performance, Rowan Mansfield deservedly moved into the starting line for the Northern Rivers Titans at lock in Round Two against local rivals the North Coast Bulldogs at Nambucca Heads, with Rowan Mansfield scoring the Northern Rivers Titan’s second try of the match and he also recorded a line break assist.
Rowan Mansfield’s try resulted when he ran a straight hard line from around three metres out from the North Coast line, hooker Tanu Nona darted out of dummy half to the left and put the ball onto his chest and Rowan Mansfield was able to put the ball down under the posts.
Rowan Mansfield’s line break assist was a good piece of play in his own territory. Rowan Mansfield ran to the line, jinking to his left just prior to the line and popped a short pass to his left to Nicholas Troy to rumble into a gap and then make another twenty metres down the middle of the field.
Rowan Mansfield also started at lock in Round Three against the Greater Northern Tigers and recorded another line break assist when he put front rower Kyhan Weir into a big gap by way of a short pass to his left.
Rowan Mansfield also started at lock in Round Four at Lismore against the Central Coast Roosters and was once again busy and recorded a try assist in the 43rd minute when he cut inside on a hit-up close to the Central Coast line and was able to off-load to Jye Davis who dived over.
Rowan Mansfield continued at lock in Round Five against the Newcastle Knights and made his presence felt early with a strong front on tackle on the Newcastle front rower that forced the ball loose from his grasp. Rowan Mansfield produced another strong front on tackle that forced the ball loose from his Newcastle opponent when he took the hit-up from a penalty restart just a few minutes after his strong first hit.
Against the giant Newcastle forward pack Rowan Mansfield was able to use his footwork to make ground through the centre of the ruck including a strong fifteen run in the set of six after Michael Roberts early first half try. Rowan Mansfield made another strong run of ten metres through centre field in the dying minutes of the first half. Rowan Mansfield’s footwork continued in the second half including a strong sixteen metre effort from a hit-up to the left of the play the ball.
Late in the match Rowan Mansfield was almost rewarded for his effort in the match but he was held up over the line.
The 2021 U16 Andrew Johns Cup season that was for Reshawn Anderson:
Reshawn Anderson was named on the interchange bench for the Northern Rivers Titans U16 Andrew Johns Cup side for their Round One match against the Wests Tigers. Reshawn Anderson moved into the starting side in the front row in Round Two against local rivals the North Coast Bulldogs in Nambucca Heads and also started in the front row in Round Three against the Greater Northern Tigers.
Reshawn Anderson had a good match against the Tigers getting involved early in the match with a powerful run from the fourth hit-up of the match making fifteen metres from a run to the right of the play the ball.
Reshawn Anderson’s involvement continued minutes later when he expertly took a hard low Tigers attacking kick on the full low down and gained ten metres upfield. Minutes later, Reshawn Anderson who was packing into scrums in the front row was able to break from the scrum and chase down the Greater Northern Tigers half who had broken through the line from the scrum.
Reshawn Anderson’s involvement continued in the 10th minute when he along with Kye Cooper smashed a Greater Northern Tigers front rower forcing him to lose the ball just ten metres out from the line. Minutes later Reshawn Anderson looked as if he had scored on the left side of the field but the referee adjudged that he had been held up.
Reshawn Anderson put an exclamation point on his impressive match in the 52nd minute when he smashed the Greater Northern Tigers fullback with a huge hit when he flew in from the fullback blind side.
After missing Round Four Reshawn Anderson was back in the starting side in the front row in Round Five against the Newcastle Knights taking the first hit-up of the match from the Newcastle kick off, impressive Reshawn Anderson then also took the 4th hit-up on the same set, being the first set of the match.
Reshawn Anderson finished his 2021 U16 Andrew Johns Cup season on a high when he scored in the 55th minute of the match. Reshawn Anderson received the ball twelve metres out from the line and to the right of the play the ball. Reshawn Anderson shaped to pass to his right before straightening to charge his way over to get the ball down adjacent to the right upright.
The 2021 U18 Laurie Daley Cup season that was for Blake Forder:
Blake Forder started on the right wing for the Northern Rivers Titans U18 Laurie Daley Cup side for their Round One match against the Wests Tigers before moving to fullback late in the second half with Blake Forder contributing an early second half try to the victory.
Blake Forder was consistently in the action in the match, including being getting over the line early in the match with a great winding run off his right wing only to be penalised for a (seemed harshly) for a double movement after a great winding run off his right wing.
Blake Forder was also heavily involved in Michael Robert’s first try of the match, early in the first half. Half Harvey Moase kicked towards the right wing with the ball taking a wicked bounce, Blake Forder flew through and toe’d the ball forward for Michael Roberts to pick up on the bounce and crash over under the posts.
As noted Blake Forder scored early in the second half when after receiving a pass from Michael Roberts he stepped back inside and after juggling the ball got it down wide out on the right near the corner post.
Blake Forder also showcased some outstanding hands in the match, including a situation when he misjudged a Wests Tigers kick off, coming in too far, Blake Forder had to stop and dive backwards full length, taking the ball over his shoulder as you was diving in the same direction as the ball. If Blake Forder had not been able to pull off such as spectacular take, the ball would have likely gone dead and the Wests Tigers would have gotten it back from the restart.
Defensively Blake Forder also had some good moments in the match, including in the 51st minute of the match, when he along with Michael Roberts grabbed hold of the Wests Tigers left winger and dragged him eight metres into touch to force a Northern Rivers Titans scrum feed.
After his outstanding Round One performance, in no surprise Blake Forder also started Round Two against local rivals the North Coast Bulldogs at Nambucca Heads on the right wing.
After missing Round Three Blake Forder was back on the right wing for Round Four at Lismore against the Central Coast Roosters and scored in the 67th minute of the match when he dived on a deft right foot grubber into the in-goal in the right corner from Harvey Moase.
Blake Forder continued on the right wing in Round Five against the Newcastle Knights and whilst the ball did not find him too often, Blake Forder did have some good moments including a great in and away off a Northern Rivers Titans scrum win in the 48th minute with Blake Forder surging thirty metres down field.
Blake Forder however did almost get his name on the try sheet but was held up near the right corner in the 55th minute, then in the dying minutes of the match Blake Forder once against broke the Knights line off a Northern Rivers Titans scrum win after receiving the ball to the right of the scrum directly off the back of the scrum.
The 2021 U16 Andrew Johns Cup season that was for Kye Cooper:
Kye Cooper started at fullback for the Northern Rivers Titans U16 Andrew Johns Cup side for their Round One match against the Wests Tigers. Kye Cooper moved into the starting side at lock for Round Two against local rivals the North Coast Bulldogs in Nambucca Heads.
Round Three saw Kye Cooper move from lock to five eight as the Northern Rivers Titans took on the Greater Northern Tigers with the move suiting him perfectly as he scored one try and was heavily involved on others in an all-round impressive display in the Titans 30 – 16 victory.
Kye Cooper’s try came in the 25th minute when he dummied to his right then cut back to his left and whilst he was being held by three defenders, Kye Cooper was able to reach out to get the ball down.
Kye Cooper’s involvement started in the 10th minute when he along with Reshawn Anderson smashed a Greater Northern Tigers front rower forcing him to lose the ball just ten metres out from the line.
Just minutes later Kye Cooper threw the pass that put fullback Lachlan Offley into space on the left for the Titans to score their first try of the match.
Kye Cooper finished off his impressive match with a huge bomb in the last minute. The spiralling kick could not be taken on the full by the defence and Levi Dangerfield was able to dive on the ball in the in-goal to score just prior to the final siren sounding.
Kye Cooper continued at five eight in Round Four against the Central Coast Roosters and was for mine the Northern Rivers Titans best, including scoring a try and converting that same try in the 35th minute of the match.
In the 49th minute, Kye Cooper kicked a huge spirally mid-field bomb that could not be held by the Central Coast fullback, giving the Northern Rivers Titans good field position. Kye Cooper put up another huge kick in the dying moments of the match and then chased hard down field, with the Northern Rivers Titans forcing the Central Coast fullback to lose the ball to give themselves a final opportunity to attack.
Kye Cooper also produced a try saving tackle in the 54th minute of the match when he held one of the Central Coast second rowers back from the line, forcing the Roosters player to extend his arms forward to get the ball down but in the process was penalised for a double movement.
Kye Cooper also started at five eight in Round Five against the Newcastle Knights and kicked four conversions from five attempts as the Northern Rivers Titans ended their 2021 season with a resounding 28 – 4 win.
Kye Cooper also made a line break late in the second half when whilst operating on the left dummied to his outside before slicing through the defensive line and beating two defenders in his twenty metre run.
The 2021 U18 Laurie Daley Cup season that was for Harvey Moase:
Harvey Moase started at halfback for the Northern Rivers Titans U18 Laurie Daley Cup side for their Round One match against the Wests Tigers and had an outstanding match which saw him cross for a second half double.
Harvey Moase’s first try came early in the second half, when after kicking towards the right corner, he was on hand when a heavy tackle from Michael Roberts dislodged the ball from the Wests Tiger’s fullbacks grasp, under Harvey Moase being on the spot to pick the ball up and race away to score under the posts.
Later in the second half Harvey Moase scored his second try when he backed up fullback Ben Moyle who had split the Wests Tigers line through the centre of the ruck. Ben Moyle drew the fullback to send Harvey Moase away in score under the posts in the 57th minute. Harvey Moase then proceeded to convert his own try.
Harvey Moase was also heavily involved in Michael Robert’s first try of the match, early in the first half. Harvey Moase kicked towards the right wing with the ball taking a wicked bounce, right winger Blake Forder flew through and toe’d the ball forward for Michael Roberts to pick up on the bounce and crash over under the posts.
Over the course of the match, Harvey Moase’s tactical kicking into the right corner kept the Wests Tigers on the back foot and midway through the second half, Harvey Moase’s kick travelled into the in-goal and as a result of a strong Michael Roberts tackle, the West Tigers fullback could not get back into the field of play, thus forcing a goal line drop out.
After his outstanding Round One performance, Harvey Moase also started Round Two against local rivals the North Coast Bulldogs at Nambucca Heads at half back and produced another solid display and another try as the Titans went down to the Bulldogs.
Harvey Moase scored early in the first half when he produced a winding run back to the left side of the field, which included a right foot step before straightening up to dive over under the posts under heavy pressure. Harry Moase made his try scoring run after receiving a pass from fullback ben Moyle after initially passing to Moyle on the right side of the field.
Harvey Moase also continued to showcase his tactical kicking in the match, including a pin point kick towards the left corner in the 19th minute of the first half which came down less than a metre from the North Coast line when the Titans defence right there to drag the catcher back into the in-goal for a Northern Rivers Titans restart.
Harvey Moase also produced an outstanding kick in the 21st minute of the first half, this time to the right corner, once again the ball came down close to the North Coast line with the Bulldogs left winger unable to take the ball cleanly.
Harvey Moase also started at halfback in Round Three against the Greater Northern Tigers once again highlighting his tactical kicking including a smart short kick into the in-goal in just the third minute of the match to force the Tigers to restart by way of the goal line drop out.
From the resultant set of six after the drop out, Harvey Moase had a try assist when he put up a pinpoint kick to the right corner which found Harry Silverwright on the chest for him to score untouched.
Harvey Moase also started at halfback in Round Four at Lismore against the Central Coast Roosters, kicking three conversions including converting Blake Forder’s 67th minute try from the right touchline. Harvey Moase in fact set up Blake Forder’s try with a deft right foot grubber into the in-goal in the right corner.
A minute earlier Harvey Moase had forced the Central Coast fullback to take the ball dead when he put in a right foot grubber kick into the in-goal. Harvey Moase set up Blake Forder’s try from the resultant restart.
Harvey Moase continued at halfback in Round Five against the Newcastle Knights and produced a great try saving tackle in the opening minutes of the second half when he scrambled to his right to get to the Newcastle fullback and prevent a try. Harvey Moase made another try saving tackle in the second half of the match in the 63rd minute when he got low and stopped the Newcastle No. 14 when he tried to sneak over from dummy half from close range to the right of the play the ball.
The 2021 U18 Laurie Daley Cup season that was for Tanu Nona:
Tanu Nona was named at hooker for the Northern Rivers Titans U18 Laurie Daley Cup side for their Round One match against the Wests Tigers and had an impressive match as the Northern Rivers Titans had a solid first up victory.
Tanu Nona got the Northern Rivers Titans on the front foot early in the match with a strong forty metre run through the centre of the Wests Tigers ruck after darting out of dummy half to the right of the play the ball. Tanu Nona continued to run from dummy half over the course of the match and it almost paid off late in the match when Tanu Nona darted out of dummy half to his right only to be held up next to the left goal post.
After his outstanding Round One performance, Tanu Nona also started Round Two against local rivals the North Coast Bulldogs at Nambucca Heads at hooker, producing another solid display, including an early first half try assist.
Tanu Nona’s try assist came early in the first half when he darted out of dummy half to his left, three metres out from the North Coast line and through a flat short ball to his left to put Rowan Mansfield into a gap and he was able to put the ball down under the posts.
Tanu Nona produced an early trademark run out of dummy half in just the 14th minute of the first half when he darted out of dummy half to his right and surging twenty metres before being brought down and then being awarded a penalty when the North Coast defence would not allow him to get to his feet.
Tanu Nona produced two more outstanding runs out of dummy half to the match, one a thirty metre run out of dummy half to the right of the play the ball and in the 49th minute of the match, Tanu Nona once again ran to his right making fifteen valuable metres.
Tanu Nona also started at hooker in Round Three against the Greater Northern Tigers recording a try and a try assist.
Tanu Nona’s try came in the 60th minute of the match when he ran out of dummy half to his left before dummying the same way and darting towards the line to get the ball down under the posts.
Tanu Nona recorded his try assist in the 42nd minute of the match when he ran out of dummy half to his left holding his pass to his left nicely to create a gap for Jye David to run into from close range to score.
Tanu Nona also started at hooker in Round Four at Lismore against the Central Coast Roosters as well as in Round Five against the Newcastle Knights. In his second stint on the field in the second half, Tanu Nona initially came on to play as a running forward before reverting back to his dummy half role later in the half.
Tanu Nona was at dummy half less than a metre out from the Newcastle line with nowhere to go in the 60th minute. Tanu Nona deliberately grubber kicked the ball out of dummy half hard into the Knights defenders who were crouched low, forcing a Knights knock on and winning the ball back for the Northern Rivers Titans.
The 2021 U16 Andrew Johns Cup season that was for Lachlan Offley:
Lachlan Offley started at right centre for the Northern Rivers Titans U16 Andrew Johns Cup side for their Round One match against the Wests Tigers as they suffered a tough first up loss and also started at right centre in Round Two against local rivals the North Coast Bulldogs in Nambucca Heads.
Round Three saw Lachlan Offley move from right centre to fullback as the Northern Rivers Titans took on the Greater Northern Tigers.
Lachlan Offley scored his first try of the 2021 Andrew Johns Cup season in the 17th minute of the match when whilst operating on the left he received a pass in pace from Kye Cooper. Lachlan Offley then produced a strong left arm fend to create space and then cut back to his right to charge over from eight metres out.
Lachlan Offley also worked hard running out of dummy half including a strong twenty metre run towards the end of the first half which took a lot of pressure off the Northern Rivers Titans side.
Lachlan Offley produced another strong run late in the first half, breaking through the line making thirty metres and then winning the penalty when he was held down whilst trying to execute a quick play the ball.
Early in the second half Lachlan Offley was at it again making another twenty metres on the back of a winding run that included beating three defenders in the set of six after Jaylen Taewa’s 33rd minute try. Just minutes later Lachlan Offley broke the line once again flying twenty five metres down the left touch line.
Lachlan Offley continued at fullback in Round Four against the Central Coast Roosters. Lachlan Offley took the Central Coast kick-off on the full, returning the ball into the defensive line.
Lachlan Offley moved to left centre for Round Five against the Newcastle Knights and as usual worked hard in attack and in the early going back off his line to make fifteen metres from a winding run. Lachlan Offley was at it again just a few minutes later when after a ten metre run he was able to offload to Stevie O’Connor to get outside his man.
In the 19th minute Lachlan Offley continued his good work out of dummy half in the match when he darted to the right, breaking one tackle whilst gaining ten metres. Lachlan Offley’s impressive running out of dummy half continued in the second half when he darted out of dummy half to the right gaining fifteen valuable metres on a run that started inside his own twenty metre area.
The 46th minute of the match saw Lachlan Offley once again dart out of dummy half to his right making sixteen metres before being brought down on the halfway mark and made eleven more metres two minutes later.
It was not just Lachlan Offley’s attack that impressed during the match, his defence was also top quality including in the 39th minute when he was able to hold the Newcastle No. 11 back from scoring through shear strength. Lachlan Offley backed that moment up in the 51st minute when he was able to get across field to force the Newcastle right winger into touch just three metres out from the corner post.
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