View Full Version : Junior Development
Titans contracted Izayah Petrichvich has been named in the Burleigh Bears U16 Cyril Connell Cup squad.
In February 2021 Izayah Petrichvich took part in the South Coast U15 school boy trials and was named in the South Coast Squad for the QSSRL Championships as a result of his trial performances and started the Championship Final against Met West on the left wing.
At the completion of the Championships, Izayah Petrichvich was named on the left wing in the 2021 QSSRL U15 School Boy Merit Team alongside numerous South Coast team mates such as Sunny Kama, Zane Harrison and Riley Buchanan.
On Day One against Met West Izayah Petrichvich started the match on the left wing and scored South Coast’s first try of the Championships when in the 5th minute he took an intercept and raced eighty metres to dive over in the left corner.
Izayah Petrichvich scored his second try of the match in the 27th minute when he benefited from a great pass down a short left blind side from Jett Bryce to crash over in the left corner.
Izayah Petrichvich heavily involved in Jett Bryce’s 38th minute try when Nayte Saaga put in a chip kick to the left wing which was collected by Izayah Petrichvich who off-loaded in one movement to Jett Bryce to run away to score under the posts.
Izayah Petrichvich also scored on Day Two against Capricornia when in the 50th minute he anticipated a long pass to his side of the field, taking an intercept and running eighty five metres to score under the posts.
His intercept try capped a couple of impressive minutes for Izayah Petrichvich as in the 58th minute he came off his wing to smash the Capricornia right second rower and as he was forcing him back stole the ball in the one on one tackle.
2021 also saw Izayah Petrichvich once again represent Coombabah State High School in school boy rugby league, starting Round One of the Walters Cup against Redcliffe State High School at left centre.
Izayah Petrichvich also started at left centre in Round Four against Ipswich State High School scoring one try and setting up another in Coombabah’s 14 all draw.
Izayah Petrichvich scored in the 32nd minute when he backed up his left winger to get the ball nineteen metres out and was able to surge away from the cover defence to get the ball down mid-way between the goal posts and corner post on the left side of the field.
Izayah Petrichvich’s try assist came in the 7th minute when he showed quick hands to get the ball away to his left down a short blindside and close to the try line to put his left winger over in the corner.
Izayah Petrichvich scored once again in Round FIve against Forest Lake State High School when in the 29th minute from the left centre position, Izayah Petrichvich received a pass from his inside and was able to dive over in the left corner.
Izayah Petrichvich also started at left centre in Round Six against Marsden State High School.
Izayah Petrichvich continued at left centre in Round Seven against Keebra Park and came close to scoring in the 15th minute when he was held up over the line after receiving the ball from an off-load around ten metres from the line.
lonegull
22-10-21, 06:53 AM
Mdrew do you know if their are any JTS games planned in the next couple of months, from memory we usually play the tigers
In late August 2021, Titans contracted Arama Hau was named in the Queensland City U17 squad for a two match series against a Queensland U17 Country squad with Arama Hau starting the match from the bench.
Playing twenty five minutes Arama Hau ran for ninety eight metres (thirty two post contact), made a line break, broke four tackles and made eleven tackles at a 100% tackling efficiency.
Usually mate, but the annual match was not played this year due to covid. The Titans contracted players restart training early next month I believe in preparation for the 2022 season.
Mdrew do you know if their are any JTS games planned in the next couple of months, from memory we usually play the tigers
Young PBC outside back Ray Puru deservedly signed a contract with the Titans early in 2021 and is certainly a long term prospect with outstanding speed and potential.
In October 2021 Ray Puru was named in the Burleigh Bears U16 Cyril Connell Cup squad.
In May 2021 Ray Puru was part of the South Coast U15 QSSRL School Boy representative side, starting the Championship Final against Met West at fullback and scored in the 31st minute of the Final.
In the 31st minute, Ray Puru looped around to the right behind Zane Harrison, receiving the ball thirty metres out and to put to simply from there Ray Puru was just too quick for the defence blowing through the defensive line and getting the ball down mid-way between the goal posts and right corner post.
Ray Puru would not even have been in a position to score had it not been for another outstanding play of his just a minute prior when he raced to his left to field a Met West attacking grubber kick twenty metres out from his own line. As soon as he took possession, Ray Puru headed back towards centre field before a left foot step took him back towards the right wing, breaking four tackles along the way and making twenty metres.
Ray Puru split the defensive line once again in the 39th minute when he ran onto the ball on the left side of the field, thirty metres out from the line, stepping off both feet to get to ten metres out when he off-loaded to his left to five eight Nayte Saaga who got to within two metres of the line before he offloaded to his left for Jett Bryce to dive over fifteen metres in from the left corner post.
Ray Puru showcased his elite footwork in the 18th minute of the Championship Final when he ran the ball to the right after a South Coast scrum win, stepping off his left foot on three separate occasions in his run that made fourteen metres.
Ray Puru recorded a Championship Final try assist in the 24th minute when he took the ball down a short right blindside ten metres out and popping a good ball to Jac Finnigan who crashed over in the right corner.
Ray Puru started at fullback on Day One of the Championships as South Coast took on Met West with Ray Puru producing a dazzlingly stepping run in the 20th minute when after receiving the ball from the back of a scrum on the right side of the field, Ray Puru produced a series of left foot steps across field, bamboozingly a number of defenders before off-loading to Zane Harrison.
Ray Puru showcased his ball playing ability in the 27th minute when he chimed into the backline on the right side of the field and put right centre Joseph Tupuse away on a thirty run down the right side of the field before he was able to off-load on his inside.
Day Two saw Ray Puru once again start at fullback against Capricornia recording a 39th minute line break when he exploded off the mark from forty metres out from his own line after receiving an off-load whilst standing still. Ray Puru simply exploded through the Capricornia defensive line and got to twenty metres out before being tackled high and justifiably was awarded a penalty.
Also in the 16th minute, Ray Puru made fourteen metres from a winding stepping run after receiving the ball from the dummy half, getting the ball out of his own twenty metre area.
In 2021 Ray Puru continued at PBC as part of the school’s Elite Rugby League Program and made an impressive start from fullback for the PBC Walters Cup side in their Round One 16 all draw against Ipswich State High School.
Ray Puru contributed a try assist to PBC’s cause in the 9th minute when he chimed into the PBC backline on the right side of the field, holding the ball until the last minute before throwing a flat cut-out ball to put his right winger over in the corner.
It was clear that Ray Puru stood a class apart in the match as early as the 3rd minute with his initial kick return of the match. Ray Puru tracked the ball to collect it in the right corner and moving to his left getting on the outside of two Ipswich SHS chasers to make twenty metres.
Ray Puru also started at fullback in Round Two against Forest Lake State High School and he was once again at his electric best contributing a try assist and two line breaks to PBC’s cause in their 28 – 6 victory.
Ray Puru’s try assist came in the 24th minute when after receiving an off-load from Jonah Beaven, Ray Puru drew the Forest Lake SHS right winger to send his left centre on an uninterrupted thirty five metre run to the try line.
Ray Puru made his first line break of the match in just the 2nd minute when he retrieved a Forest Lake SHS clearing kick, moving to his left before bursting down the left touchline making twenty four metres before being tackled and after his attempt at a quick play the ball was stifled he was awarded a penalty.
Ray Puru recorded another line break in the 35th minute when he ran the ball from a PBC scrum win on the left beating three defenders in a twenty metre run but just as he was being tackled the ball unfortunately came loose.
Ray Puru also started at fullback in Round Three against Coombabah State High School, recording two a try assists. Ray Puru recorded his first try assist in the 44th minute when he collected the ball ten metres from his own try line and ran to his right and literally ran around the Coombabah SHS left side defence, racing seventy five metres down the right touchline before drawing the fullback and passing to his left to Zane Harrison who raced away to score under the posts.
Ray Puru recorded his second try assist in the 47th minute, when Will Saunders darted out of dummy half down a short right blindside ten metres from the line, drawing a defender before getting the ball away to Zane Harrison who threw an out the back pass to Ray Puru who put his right winger in the corner.
Ray Puru also had a very solid match from fullback in Round Four against Marsden State High School and was also solid in Round Five against Keebra Park SHS after once again starting at fullback.
Ray Puru was at his dominating best from fullback in Round Six against Redcliffe State High School scoring a first half hat trick with the three tries coming in a six minute burst. Literally Ray Puru wreaked havoc every time that he touched the ball.
Ray Puru scored his opening try in the 19th minute after receiving the ball on the left side of the field, twenty two metres from the line and was simply too quick, easily slicing through the Redcliffe right sided defence to score five metres in from the left corner.
Ray Puru added his second try in the 22nd minute with the try once again coming on the left side of the field. After he received the ball nineteen metres from the line, Ray Puru cut off his left foot to beat one defender and then cut back inside to beat a second before carrying a third defender over the line to get the ball down five metres in from the left corner post.
Ray Puru competed his hat trick in the 25th minute, and this time he scored on the right side of the field after he received the ball twenty five metres out. After receiving the ball, Ray Puru ran to his right beating one defender with a left arm fend and from there Ray Puru outpaced the Redcliffe cover defence to score in the right corner.
Ray Puru also started at fullback (although he played some left wing in the second half) in the final round after the Covid 19 loackdown was lifted against Wavell State High School, scoring twice as PBC qualified for the final.
Ray Puru’s opening try came in the 38th minute when he crossed in the left corner after some good work on his inside. Ray Puru completed his double in the 45th minute when he found space down the left touchline, initially receiving the ball just inside his own territory. When Ray Puru came to the Wavell SHS winger who had dropped back, Ray Puru chipped over the top and after the ball had take a wicked bounce, Ray Puru retrieved the ball and rached out to get the ball down mid-way between the corner post and goal posts on the left side of the field.
Ray Puru almost scored another try in the match when he chased through a mid-field bomb that was put up by Zane Harrison. The Wavell SHS fullback let the ball bounce and Ray Puru raced through to regather the ball but was eventually tackled ten metres out from the try line.
Ray Puru also started at fullback in PBC’s semi-final victory over Wavell State High School and produced a great solo try for PBC.
In the 35th minute Ray Puru flew onto an off-load around the halfway mark, immediately cutting towards the left wing. Ray Puru was chased by the Wavell SHS fullback who got to Ray Puru just short of the line. Ray Puru however was not held and immediately got to his feet and dive over to score three metres in from the left corner post.
Ray Puru had made an earlier line break in the 11th minute when from a kick return, he ran to his left making twenty metres down the left touchline before being rounded up.
Whilst Ray Puru was outstanding running the ball, he was also solid defensively including in the 46th minute with the game still on the line, Ray Puru was involved in holding up the Wavell SHS fullback.
The 2021 Walters Cup Grand Final against Keebra Park SHS saw Ray Puru named to start on the right wing scoring twice in the first half as PBC won the Grand Final 30 – 12. Whilst he started the match on the right wing, Ray Puru moved to fullback for portions in the second half of the Grand Final.
Ray Puru scored his first try of the Grand Final in the 9th minute when he was on the end of a PBC backline movement from a scrum win inside the Keebra park SHS twenty metre area with Ray Puru diving over in the right corner untouched.
Ray Puru’s second try was a great individual effort in the 21st minute. Ray Puru received the ball whilst stationary around twelve metres from the line, right on the touchline. Ray Puru darted inside a fraction before exploding down the right touchline, reaching out to get the ball down with his right arm in the right corner under heavy pressure from the Keebra Park SHS cover defence.
Titan Vaka Sikahele will undertake the 2021/22 pre-season with the Titans NRL squad and will look to impress Justin Holbrook and the other NRL coaches.
In early May 2021 a Titans U19 side travelled to North Queensland to play an U19 Cowboys selection in a curtain raiser to a Cowboys v Broncos NRL match with Vaka Sikahele starting the match at hooker in his first match in a Titans jersey.
After being injured in a pre-season training mishap, Vaka Sikahele was named on Burleigh’s extended bench for the Round Two local derby against the Tweed Heads Seagulls but moved onto the bench late in the week and celebrated by scoring in his Hastings Deering’s Colts debut.
Vaka Sikahele scored one of the stranger tries that you will see from a run out of dummy half in the 54th minute. After Burleigh had kicked off after a Tweed Heads try, the ball hit the right goal post on the full bouncing back into the field. Tristian Powell was able to retrieve the ball on the bounce and get to within eleven metres of the line. Vaka Sikahele got into dummy half and ran to his left with the Tweed Heads defence in disarray to dive over between two defender’s mid-way between the goal posts and corner post on the left side of the field.
Vaka Sikahele came onto the field late in the first half, with his first run out of dummy half coming just a few minutes later in the 34th minute when ran to his left, breaking the Seagulls line and making twenty metres, beating four defenders along the way to get the ball to within forty metres of the try line.
In addition to some impressive runs and distribution out of dummy half Vaka Sikahele was also good defensively including in the 44th when he along with Isaac Matalavea-Booth hit and stopped Seagulls front rower Ben Liyou just centre metres out.
Vaka Sikahele also started from the bench in Round Three against the Western Mustangs coming into the match in the dummy half role towards the end of the first half. Vaka Sikahele was in the action almost immediately running out of dummy half to his right down a blindside and took the ball ten metres to the line before passing to his right to Cole Geyer who then quickly got the ball out to his right for Ronin Rio to dive over in the right corner.
After missing Round Four due to playing for the Titans U19 side, Vaka Sikahele started Round Five against the Northern Pride from the bench.
Vaka Sikahele was on the bench once again in Round Six against the Townsville Blackhawks, coming into the match towards the end of the first half in a running forward role before spending time at dummy half in the second half. Vaka Sikahele made the most of both of the roles that he played in the match and in the 51st minute, whilst playing as a running forward made thirteen metres, the majority post contact, to get the ball to the halfway mark.
Vaka Sikahele was back in the starting side at hooker in Round Seven against the Central Queensland Capra’s before starting from the bench in Round Eight against the Redcliffe Dolphins and in Round Nine against the Mackay Cutters.
Vaka Sikahele also started at hooker in the Round Eleven local derby against the Tweed Heads Seagulls and scored a double with his tries coming in the 16th and 55th minutes. In the 16th minute Vaka Sikahele moved into dummy half seven metres from the line and then darted to his right before stepping back to his left to beat the Seagulls marker before crashing through two more defenders who had stationed themselves on the try line.
Vaka Sikahele scored his second try in the 59th minute when once again he darted out of dummy half to his right, on this occasion from 32 metres out. After getting around the markers Vaka Sikahele cut back to his left to the area behind the play the ball and then was easily outpace the Seagulls defence to score under the post.
Vaka Sikahele was also named to start at hooker in the previously postponed Round Ten match against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls.
After a Covid 19 enforced hiatus, Vaka Sikahele was named to start at hooker in Round Sixteen against the Ipswich Jets.
At the 2021 Queensland Rugby League Awards Night Vaka Sikahele finished with three votes for the Hastings Deering’s Colts Player of the Season Award.
In late August 2021, Titans contracted Seth Nikotemo was named in the Queensland City U17 squad for a two match series against a Queensland U17 Country squad with Seth Nikotemo starting the match at left second row and scoring in the 19th minute of the match when after playing the ball twenty metres out from the line, Seth Nikotemo backed up on the inside after the City left winger darted down a short blindside. Seth Nikotemo juggled the inside pass above his head but was able to eventually take possession and round the Country fullback and then was able to bring the ball around to put it down under the posts.
Seth Nikotemo also recorded a 9th minute try assist when he threw the last pass to his left to Josh Lynn to run away to score after Seth Nikotemo had run forty metres after charging into a gap from inside his own territory off a Blake Mozer pass.
Playing fifty six minutes Seth Nikotemo ran for 109 metres (thirty post contact), broke three tackles and made nine tackles at a 90% tackling efficiency.
Talented young five eight Amarni Wetini-Ngaropo from Auckland New Zealand has signed a three year contract with the Gold Coast Titans up until the end of the 2024 season and will move over to the Gold Coast in 2022 to attend Keebra Park State High School and Amarni Wetini-Ngaropo will also play for Burleigh in the 2022 U16 Cyril Connell Cup competition.
Prior to signing with the Titans, Amarni Wetini-Ngaropo was a member of the New Zealand Warriors Future Warriors Program and was offered a contract by both the Warriors and Bulldogs as well as the Titans.
In Auckland, Amarni Wetini-Ngaropo attended Auckland Grammar School, represented the Manurewa Marlins representative side and in late 2021 Amarni Wetini-Ngaropo captained the New Zealand Warriors Future Warriors side in a match against a Tao Samoa U15 selection.
At Auckland Grammar School, Amarni Wetini-Ngaropo is the youngster ever First XV School Boy Rugby player, an impressive feat considering the school has produced in excess of fifty All Blacks.
Hail Sezer
22-10-21, 11:23 AM
Talented young five eight Amarni Wetini-Ngaropo from Auckland New Zealand has signed a three year contract with the Gold Coast Titans up until the end of the 2024 season and will move over to the Gold Coast in 2022 to attend Keebra Park State High School and Amarni Wetini-Ngaropo will also play for Burleigh in the 2022 U16 Cyril Connell Cup competition.
Prior to signing with the Titans, Amarni Wetini-Ngaropo was a member of the New Zealand Warriors Future Warriors Program and was offered a contract by both the Warriors and Bulldogs as well as the Titans.
In Auckland, Amarni Wetini-Ngaropo attended Auckland Grammar School, represented the Manurewa Marlins representative side and in late 2021 Amarni Wetini-Ngaropo captained the New Zealand Warriors Future Warriors side in a match against a Tao Samoa U15 selection.
At Auckland Grammar School, Amarni Wetini-Ngaropo is the youngster ever First XV School Boy Rugby player, an impressive feat considering the school has produced in excess of fifty All Blacks.
This is seriously impressive. Very excited to see Amarni's development.
The first rugby league season for Jojo Fifita:
In early May 2021 a Titans U19 side travelled to North Queensland to play an U19 Cowboys selection in a curtain raiser to a Cowboys v Broncos NRL match with Jojo Fifita starting the match on the left wing in his first match in a Titans jersey.
Jojo Fifita made his rugby league debut in Round One of the 2021 Hastings Deering’s Colts competition when he started on the right wing for the Tweed Heads Seagulls against the Souths Logan Magpies.
Jojo Fifita’s first hit-up in rugby league came in just the 2nd minute of the match when he took the ball one metre out of his own line to the right of the dummy half, making thirteen metres up field.
Jojo Fifita made his first rugby league line break in the 12th minute when he flew onto a cut-out pass to his wing, with Jojo Fifita taking the ball on the halfway mark and literally flying down the right wing, running over one defender and easily outpacing the cover defence. When he got to the fullback, Jojo Fifita was able to position is inside support well to get the ball away to Klese Hass on around the twenty metre mark.
In the 25th minute, Jojo Fifita showed that he is willing to do the hard work of bringing the ball out of his own territory when he made twelve metres from a hit-up off to the left of the dummy half to get the ball out to the thirty metre mark.
When the second half started Jojo Fifita was back in the action almost immediately with a bullocking run of twenty metres out of dummy half, with at least 60% of those metres post contact with Jojo Fifita not stopped until he got fifteen metres inside Magpies territory.
In the 45th minute, Jojo Fifita took the second hit-up off the kick-off to Ediq Ambrosyev’s try and was even under heavy pressure able to get the ball out to the twenty metre mark, breaking three tackles and making nine metres.
Late in the match with Tweed Heads chasing the match, Jojo Fifita almost scored a late try. Souths Logan were bringing the ball out of their own territory when Charlie Murray produced a one on one steal and was able to find space to throw a long pass to his right that found Jojo Fifita is space and but for a diving tackle that halted Jojo Fifita by just one leg, he would have dived over in the corner.
Jojo Fifita moved to the left wing in the Round Two local derby against Burleigh with Jojo Fifita scoring his first ever rugby league try in the 3rd minute of the Seagulls 32 – 24 victory.
As noted Jojo Fifita’s try came in the 3rd minute and it was worth the wait. Taine Udjur-Berghan put up a bomb to his left wing and Jojo Fifita came through and jumped above Ronin Rio to take the ball on the full three metres out from the line and he was able to scramble over to get the ball down in the left corner from there.
Jojo Fifita went looking for the ball in the 16th minute when he came off his wing to take a hit-up off the dummy half through the centre of the field, making thirteen metres before he was dragged down on his own twenty metre mark.
Jojo Fifita showed that the skill of a quick (and accurate) catch and pass is transferrable between rugby and rugby league when in the 27th minute whilst under intense pressure caught and passed in the same motion, getting the ball away to his left to Caleb Hodges.
A sequence of efforts in the 37th minute highlighted that Jojo Fifita was taken to rugby league easily and quickly. First off, Jojo Fifita made a heavy well executed front on tackle on tackle on Blake Campbell that knocked the ball loose with Burleigh on the attack and then from the subsequent set of six, Jojo Fifita came off his left wing to take a hit-up and make fifteen metres, breaking five tackles along the way. The Jojo Fifita went all of the way over to the right side of the field to make fifteen metres more running with the ball.
It was interesting to see that early in the second half Jojo Fifita spent time at left centre, alternating with Caleb Hodges and it was from left centre in the 42nd minute where Jojo Fifita made a hard working seven metres to get the ball more than twenty metres away from his own try line.
Jojo Fifita’s plus speed was on display for all to see with the 50th minute when he turned and chased the Burleigh right winger forty metres before making a big tackle ten metres out from the line. Jojo Fifita gave him a fair start but caught him easily.
Once again in the 59th minute Jojo Fifita displayed that he is not afraid to get his hands dirty when he took the second hit-up from a changeover running through the centre of the field, making ten metres, six of which were post contact.
Jojo Fifita was also heavily involved in Glenn McGradey’s 71st minute try with Jojo Fifita starting the movement on the left which ended with Glenn McGradey scoring on the right. After receiving the ball Jojo Fifita who cut back towards centre field, breaking the line there before offloading to Ediq Ambrosyev who then got the ball away to his right to Jaylan To’O who then found Glenn McGradey to score on the right.
Jojo Fifita also was named to start on the left wing in Round Three against the Redcliffe Dolphins however he was a late scratching.
lonegull
22-10-21, 01:50 PM
Interesting how Jojo progresses through the offseason looking forward to see his development hopefully with a full preseason, I keep forgetting and I am not sure how that he will be lurking around and could be a big improver
Great to see young Keebra Park outside back Xavier Tauaifaiga named in the Tweed Heads 2022 U16 Cyril Connell Cup side.
A couple of years ago Lama Afu moved up from Victoria to attend Keebra Park and he has made the most of the opportunity including making the Queensland Rugby U15 squad and recently he was named in the Tweed Heads 2022 U16 Cyril Connell Cup squad.
Burleigh five eight Joey Sankey scored a double for Burleigh Maroon in their GCRL U15 Division One Grand Final victory and in 2022 the left sided younger will be part of the Burleigh U16 Cyril Connell Cup squad.
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Another young former Victorian who is making his mark for Keebra Park is giant front rower Isopo Taunuu who next year will line up for the Tweed Heads Seagulls U16 Cyril Connell Cup side.
Talented Beaudesert Kingfishers back Thor Barnes has been selected in the Tweed Heads Seagulls 2022 U16 Cyril Connell Cup squad after an outstanding 2021 season in the GCRL U15 Division Two competition including a Player of the Match performance in the Grand Final against the Jimboomba Thunder.
Great to see Titans contracted Cooper Bai named in the 2022 Burleigh U16 Cyril Connell Cup squad.
Mudgeeraba Redback Marley Skeen has been named in the 2022 Tweed Heads Seagulls U16 Cyril Connell Cup squad.
PBC Walters Cup winger Jacob Morton has been named in the 2022 Burleigh U16 Cyril Connell Cup squad.
Jacob Morton was one of PBC's try scorers in their 2021 Walters Cup Grand Final victory over Keebra Park.
The Burleigh 2022 Cyril Connell Cup squad has some impressive second rowers in the squad and as good as any of them is Titans contracted Jac Finnigan.
Titans contracted strike centre Sunny Kama who had an outstanding season for Burleigh Maroon in the GCRL U15 Division One competition including in their Grand Final victory against Burleigh White was recently named in the Burleigh 2022 Cyril Connell Cup squad.
It will be interesting to see where Titans contracted Sam Stephenson will play for Burleigh's U16 Cyril Connell Cup side in 2022. For the Burleigh White U15 Division One side and PBC this season he has played fullback, right centre and five eight and in previous seasons was a dominant left second rower as well.
If Burleigh's 2022 U16 Cyril Connell Cup opponents kick chase efforts are not perfect then they will be in a lot of trouble as Titans contracted fullback Ray Puru will cut them to pieces with his speed and elusiveness which was on display on multiple occasions in 2021 in the school boy Walters Cup with PBC.
Having a smart and effective dummy half is a prerequisite for success for any team in the current environment and the 2022 Tweed Heads Seagulls U16 Cyril Connell Cup squad have a very good one in their squad in PBC's Ayden Byrnes.
The strength of Titans partnered Keebra Park's rugby league excellence program can be seen by the number of players that they have had selected in the 2022 U16 Cyril Connell Cup squad and one to keep an eye on is Burleigh squad member Elijah Hano.
Great to see Titans contracted Josiah Pahulu named in the 2021 Queensland U18 Samoan representative side. The powerhouse forward has a huge future in front of him and recently signed a new long term deal with the Titans.
Powerful Titans contracted front rower/second rower Larry Siala has been named in the 2021 Queensland U16 Samoan representative side.
Titans partnered schools are well represented in the 2021 U14 Queensland Maori side for the upcoming QPIIC Carnival with Keebra Park's Taaysharn Tonga and Marsden's Dahnte Te Whiu-Hopa amongst the talented young players on display.
Titans contracted Brandon Tikinau has been named in the Queensland U16 Maori side for the upcoming QPICC Carnival in Beenleigh.
There are a few big strong local Gold Coast forwards in the 2021 Queensland U16 Samoan quad for the upcoming QPICC carnival including Jacob Sa, Isaiah Scanlon and Isopo Taunuu.
Titans contracted Ipswich State High School centre/fullback Shannon Stewart has been named in the 2021 Queensland U18 Maori representative side that will be part of the QPICC Carnival in early November.
Titans partnered Marsden SHS students Tawa-Dean Simpkins and Mace Andrew have both been named in the 2021 Queensland U14 Maori representative side for the upcoming QPICC Carnival.
Great to see Darius Farmer named in the 2021 Queensland Open Maori representative side.
2021 Keebra Park student Deontae Perese has been named in the 2021 Queensland U18 Samoa Representative side in the second row. He primarily played five eight or centre for Keebra Park in the Langer Cup this season.
Titans contracted 16 year old Keebra Park student Wailer Whaiapu has deservedly been named in the 2021 Queensland Maori U16 representative side for the early November QPICC Carnival at Beenleigh.
This season Wailer Whaiapu made his Langer Cup Open A debut for Keebra Park and is set to be a key member of the 2022 Keebra Park side.
2021 Norths Devils MM Cup and Langer Cup Wavell SHS representatives Tyrell Waka-Rhind and Tahrell Feaveai have been named in the 2021 U18 Queensland Maori representative side for the upcoming QPICC Carnival at Beenleigh.
Titans contracted Gary Herilhy has been named in the 2021 U16 Queensland Maori representative side for the upcoming QPICC Carnival at Beenleigh.
This season Gary Herlihy was outstanding for the Easts Tigers in the Cyril Connell Cup and the GBJRL U16 Division One competition as wel las for Alexandra Hills SHS and was recently named in the 2022 Easts Tigers MM Cup squad.
Titans contracted Antioch Faitala-Mariner has been named in the 2022 Easts Tigers MM Cup squad after playing well for the Tigers in this season's MM Cup competition.
Giant front row prospect and Titans contracted Xavier Stowers has been named in the 2021 Queensland U18 Maori side for the upcoming QPICC Cultural Carnival.
This season Xavier Stowers was outstanding for Marsden SHS in the Langer Cup as the Titans partnered school won their first ever Langer Cup Championship.
A couple of Wrestern Australian juniors who are now on the Gold Coast have been named in the 2021 Queensland U16 Maori side in Waaka Hepi, Joshua Siulepa and Preston Hodge-Cekic.
Speed and elusiveness is not going to be an issue for the 2022 Tweed Heads Seagulls U16 Cyril Connell Cup side with Tyahn Keepa-Tamati in the squad.
In addition to being an outstanding rugby league player the Keebra Park student is also an exceptional touch exponent.
The Gold Coast has certainly become a destination for youngsters from Victoria who want to test themselves with the best junior rugby league players going around.
Another that has made the most of the move north is Jarome McDonald who was recently selected in the 2021 Queensland Maori U14 squad for the upcoming QPICC Carnival.
Jye Watton was one of the best on the field in the recent GCRL U15 Division One Grand Final for Burleigh Maroon against Burleigh White and the young backrower has turned that performance into a spot in the 2022 U16 Cyril Connell Cup Burleigh Bears squad.
Marymount College second rower Kyden King as been named in the 2022 U16 Cyril Connell Cup Burleigh Bears squad.
Another Marymount College student who is a member of the 2022 U16 Cyril Connell Cup Burleigh Bears squad is Oscar Laffranchi who like his father is a forward.
Earlier this month Titans contracted Zyroam Taurawa-Herlihy was named in the 2022 Easts Tigers U18 MM Cup squad.
In 2021 Zyroam Taurawa-Herlihy was part of the Easts Tigers U16 Cyril Connell Cup squad and was part of their 28 – 12 trial victory over the Ipswich Jets.
Zyroam Taurawa-Herlihy started Round One of the 2021 Cyril Connell Cup competition at left centre against the Redcliffe Dolphins and after missing Round Three, also started in the centres in Round Five against the Norths Devils, kicking a conversion in the Tigers big win.
Zyroam Taurawa-Herhihy played for the Easts Tigers once again in 2021 in the GBJRL U16 Division One competition spending time at both centre and fullback having some impressive matches along the way, including in a 14 – 4 Round Two victory over Logan Brothers where his pace was simply too much for the defence to handle.
Zyroam Taurawa-Herhihy’s 2021 school boy rugby league season kicked off when he started for the Alexandra Hills State High School side in their Langer Cup play-off match against Redcliffe State High School. Whilst his side went down Zyroam Taurawa-Herhihy was outstanding in the match, scoring a great try when he chased through a kick from a scrum win.
In Round Two of the 2021 Langer Cup Reserve competition Zyroam Taurawa-Herhihy was part of the Alexandra Hill State High School side that took on Wavell State High School.
Early this month Titans contracted Philip Hakaraia-Ngamotu was part of the South Coast Maori side that were successful in the Queensland Maori U16 Tournament with Philip Hakaraia-Ngamotu subsequently named in the Queensland Maori U16 side for the 2021 QPICC carnival.
In June 2021, Philip Hakaraia-Ngamotu was a member of the Titans JYS U16 side that drew with a Titans U17 Northern Rivers Academy side at Cbus Stadium in a curtain raiser to the Titans NRL fixture against Manly.
In late October 2020, Philip Hakaaraia-Ngamotu was named in the Gold Coast Rugby League U16 Cyril Connell Cup Academy Squad and when the split occurred Philip Hakaaraia-Ngamotu was named in the Burleigh Bears Cyril Connell Cup squad.
Philip Hakaaraia-Ngamotu started in the second row in the Bears first 2021 U16 Cyril Connell Cup trail in early February 2021 against the Tweed Heads Seagulls Cyril Connell Cup squad and came off the bench in their second trial against the Easts Tigers.
In Round One of the 2021 Cyril Connell Cup, Philip Hakaaraia-Ngamotu started in the second row for the Bears side as they took on the Souths Logan Magpies and scored a strong try late in the match dragging two Souths Logan defenders over the line with him to score in the right corner.
Philip Hakaaraia-Ngamotu received the ball down a short blind side approximately six metres out from the line, beating two defenders who had rushed out of the line, once past those two defenders Philip Hakaaraia-Ngamotu surged towards the line, dragging another two defenders along for the ride to get the ball down three metres in from the right corner post at the car park end of Pizzey Park.
Philip Hakaraia-Ngamotu also started at right second row in the Round Three local derby against the Tweed Heads Seagulls and made an immediate impression with a strong first up tackle on giant Seagulls front rower Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa.
Towards the end of the match in the 57th minute, Philip Hakaraia-Ngamotu produced for me what as his best tackle of the match when he hit Tweed Heads second rower Max Murphy front on, stopping the Seagulls player dead in his tracks just two metres from the try line.
Philip Hakaraia-Ngamotu also had a number of strong runs in the match, the first of which came in the 22nd minute with a ten metre effort to get Burleigh into Seagulls territory. Philip Hakaraia-Ngamotu then backed that run up two tackles later with the speed of his run too quick for the defence who were penalised for being offside.
Philip Hakaraia-Ngamotu produced another strong effort in the 28th minute with a run from a Burleigh penalty restart, initially taking the ball eighteen metres out from the line and getting to within three before being wrestled down by multiple Seagulls defenders. Then in the 37th minute Philip Hakaraia-Ngamotu continued his hard running afternoon with a run of fourteen metres that once again got him to within a couple of metres of the try line.
Philip Hakaraia-Ngamotu showcased his outstanding speed for a big strong second rower in the 47th minute with a huge fifty metre charge down the right side of the field. After receiving the ball thirty metres out from his own line Philip Hakaraia-Ngamotu easily bumped off the first attempted tackle to break into space, outpacing the Seagulls cover defence. As he got to about twenty metres out from the try line Philip Hakaraia-Ngamotu tried to set up his support on his inside but just as he was about to pass to his left the ball was stripped out of his grasp with Burleigh being awarded a penalty as a result.
Round Five against the Ipswich Jets saw Philip Hakaraia-Ngamotu once against named to start at right second row however he was a late scratching from the match.
2021 also saw Philip Hakaraia-Ngamotu once again represent Keebra Park State High School in school boy rugby league, starting Round One of the Walters Cup against Marsden State High School at right second row.
Philip Hakaraia-Ngamotu also started Round Two against Redcliffe State High School at right second row and was involved in the opening tackle of the match and then also made the fourth tackle of the match.
Philip Hakaraia-Ngamotu continued his strong start to the match in the 8th minute with a strong fourteen run down the right channel.
Philip Hakaraia-Ngamotu also played some matches in the Langer Reserve competition in 2021 including starting from the bench in Round Six against PBC State High School.
Philip Hakaraia-Ngamotu was named to make his Langer Cup Open A debut in Round Six against Wavell State High School at right second row and what a debut it was with Philip Hakaraia-Ngamotu scoring just seven seconds into the match, yes seven seconds is correct.
Keebra Park SHS kicked off with the ball going high and it was subsequently caught by the wind. The ball came down on the twenty metre mark but was dropped by Wavell SHS with Philip Hakaraia-Ngamotu coming through and picking the ball up in one motion whilst at full speed. Philip Hakaraia-Ngamotu then veered slightly to his right and then charged over between two defenders to get the ball down mid-way between the goal posts and corner post on the right side of the field.
After the competition was suspended for a number of weeks due to a Covid 19 lock down, Philip Hakaraia-Ngamotu was named on the bench for Keebra Park State High School in their semi-final against PBC State High School.
Post the 2021 season Philip Hakaraia-Ngamotu was named the 2021 Gold Coast Rugby League U16 Player of the Season.
2021 also saw Philip Hakaraia-Ngamotu play for the Burleigh Bears in the Gold Coast Rugby League U16 Division One competition, including starting the Grand Final against the Southport Tigers at right second row.
Philip Hakaraia-Ngamotu made some strong runs in Burleigh’s 24 – 18 Grand Final victory, none better than in the 33rd minute when he made fifteen metres through the centre of the Southport forward pack from a penalty restart.
Earlier this month Titans contracted Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa was part of the South Coast Maori side that were successful in the Queensland Maori U16 Tournament with Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa being named Player of the Tournament and subsequently Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa was named in the Queensland Maori U16 side for the 2021 QPICC carnival.
In January 2021 Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa started from the bench for the Titans U17 side in their annual match at Coffs Harbour against the Newcastle Knights even though he was still U16 eligible in 2021. Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa had some very good moments in the deserved 32 – 20 Titans victory.
Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa made an immediate impression when he can on, making a great first hit-up when he took the ball to the right of the play the ball, throwing a subtle dummy to his right prior to confronting the defensive line.
In a sign of how highly that he is thought of by the Titans Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa was used almost like a five eight on a number of occasions in the second half, including deep inside the Knights territory when he was a link between the Titans forwards and backline.
In June 2021 Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa was part of a Titans U17 squad that played a Titans U18 Northern Rivers squad at Cbus Stadium as a curtain raiser to the Round Fourteen NRL match between the Titans and the Sydney Roosters.
Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa made some strong runs in the match with none better than mid-way through the second half when he made twenty five metres through the centre of the ruck and then with defenders draped on him, Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa was still able to get away a right arm off-load.
In late October 2020, Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa was named in the Gold Coast Rugby League U16 Cyril Connell Cup Academy Squad and when the split occurred Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa was named in the Tweed Heads Cyril Connell Cup squad.
Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa started in the front row in the first two quarters for the Seagulls in their final 2021 trial against the Souths Logan Magpies before coming back onto the field in the fourth quarter to line up in the front row once again.
Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa made an immediate impression in the match with a supurb front on tackle in the first set of six after the kick off and also in his first run which came when he returned a goal line drop up knocking the initial Magpies defender five metres backwards after initial contact.
Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa started Round One of the 2021 Cyril Connell Cup in the front row as the Bears took on the Ipswich Jets and also started in the front row in the Round Three local derby against the Burleigh Bears, leading from the front as the Seagulls prevailed 33 - 6.
In the Round Three local derby Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa took the third hit-up of the match running an underneath line to the right of the play the ball making nine metres before following that run up with a hit-up on the 5th tackle of the same set of six.
Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa made a further ten metres in the 10th minute when he took the hit-up from a Tweed Heads penalty restart. Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa contributed a further thirteen metres to the metres that Tweed Heads gained in the match in the 60th minute when he got to within three metres of the try line before four Bears defenders finally stopped his forward progress.
Even though he was heavily marked every time that he ran the ball it did not stop Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa from making ground with a good example of that being in the 65th minute of the match when Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa ran onto the ball to the right of the play the ball and even though he as confronted by three Burleigh defenders, Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa was still able to rumble fourteen metres, the majority of which were post contact, to take the ball into Burleigh’s territory.
Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa was also on his game defensively against Burleigh including recording a crunching tackle in the early match on Burleigh winger Andrew Brennan. Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa backed that up in the 6th minute when he engulfed one of the Burleigh front rowers front on knocking the Bears player onto his back.
Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa was involved in another big tackle in the 11th minute, along with Jonah Beaven crunched the Burleigh fullback as he was trying to dart through the centre of the ruck, a run that he paid dearly for.
Round Five against the Souths Logan Magpies saw Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa once against start in the front row and scoring in the last minute of the match to seal an impressive victory for the Seagulls.
2021 saw Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa once again play for Marsden State High School, and he was named on the Marsden State High School extended bench for Round One of the Langer Cup School Boy Rugby League competition against Keebra Park however he dropped off the bench on the day of the match.
Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa came into the Marsden SHS side for Round Three against Wavell State High School, coming off the bench and in the second half was the games biggest halfback when he regularly feed the scrum for Marsden SHS.
Even though he was two years younger than the majority of his opponents, Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa made a big inpact in both attack and defence with his defence coming to the fore in the with a crunching tackle in the dying minutes of the match when he came over the top to smash Wavell SHS second rower Will Curran less than a metre from the line.
Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa made a number of telling runs including in the 25th minute with a strong first charge after he had come onto the field, with Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa making eighteen metres through centre field and then in the opening set of six in the scond half, Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa made a further eighteen metres on the fifth tackle.
Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa continued on the bench in the Round Four blockbuster against PBC State High School before being named at hooker for Round Five against Mabel Park State High School. Even though he initially was named at hooker, Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa spent a lot of the time that he was on the field in a first receiver role where he excelled to highlight what a diverse skill set this exceptional talent has.
Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa was also named to start at halfback in Round Six against Coombabah State High School.
After the competition was suspended for a number of weeks due to a Covid 19 lock down, Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa was named on the bench for Marsden State High School in their semi-final against Ipswich State High School.
Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa came off the bench mid-way through the first half and in the 20th minute came close to scoring with a strong run and was only brought down less than a metre short, winning a penalty for a shoulder charge.
In the 2021 Langer Cup Grand Final against PBC State High School, Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa was named on the bench for Marsden SHS however he ended up starting the match at the left second row position and Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa was in the match early making his first hit-up in just the second minute of the match, making ten metres in the process.
Post the completion of the 2021 Langer Cup competition, Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa was named on the bench in the Courier Mails’s 2021 Langer Cup Team of the Season.
At the end of the 2021 season, Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa was named at No. 11 in the Courier Mail Top 60 school boys from the GPS Rugby, AIC Rugby and Langer Cup competitions.
Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa started Round One of the Langer Cup School Boy Reserve Grade competition at lock against Keebra Park putting in a solid performance especially in defence.
Great to see Titans contracted Joseph Shannon named in the 2021 Coombabah State High school Team of the Season.
Well done to Aiden Byrnes who was named the 2021 PBC Year Nine Rugby League Player of the Year.
Titans partnered Keebra Park SHS are certainly thinking outside the box as a number of their Rugby League age groups start to prepare for the 2022 season.
The squads will spend the next three weeks working on AFL skills focusing on transferable skills between the two sports.
Does anyone know who was the #12 for Nerang in the U18 Grand Final?
Does anyone know who was the #12 for Nerang in the U18 Grand Final?
Delahia Wigmore mate, was named Player of the Match as well
Great to see exciting young hooker Jykoven Torrens named as Casino RSM's 2021 U14 Best and Fairest.
Goal kicking five eight Toby Hannah was recently named the Casino RSM U14 2021 Best Back.
Exciting talent Deekan Duncan was recently named as the 2021 Casino RSM U13 Best Back.
Great to see giant front rower Isaac Matalavea-Booth resign with the Titans until the end of the 2023 season and he will start training with the Titans NRL side next month.
Vaka Sikahele has also resigned with the Titans until the end of 2023 and will also start training with the Titans NRL squad next month.
Waylon Caldwell had a great 2021 season for Casino RSM in the Group One U16 competition and recently was awarded the Bill Raby Award for the best Casino RSM junior in the U13 to U16 age group.
Well done to Titans contracted Zane Harrison who recently was named the PBC Year Ten school boy rugby league Player of the Season.
Well done to talented lock Elijah Freeman who was recently named the Casino RSM Group One U14 Best Forward for the 2021 season.
At the recent 2021 PBC Sports Awards Presentation Night Titans contracted Ryan Foran was awarded the Craig Weston Medal for the Open A Player of the Year.
Impressively Ryan Foran will in November 2021, Ryan Foran will commence the NRL pre-season with the Titans main NRL squad after signing a two year deal to train with the Titans NRL squad in October 2021.
In early January 2021 Ryan Foran started at left second row for the Titans U19 side in their annual match against the Newcastle Knights in Coffs Harbour with Ryan Foran scoring in the first half in the Titans impressive 40 – 6 victory.
From a play the ball a metre out from the Newcastle line, Ryan Foran charged onto the ball, cutting back towards the play the ball and receiving a pass from hooker Ediq Ambrosyev who had darted out of dummy half to the left side of the field. Ryan Foran was immediately confronted by two Knights defenders but as soon as he made contact, Ryan Foran Spun 360 degree clockwise to break contact and then was able to dive over to score around mid-way between the goal post and corner post on the left side of the field.
Ryan Foran was in the action almost immediately, being involved in a solid hit in the third tackle after the Titans kicked off, with the tackle driving the Newcastle opponent sideways. Also involved in the tackle was Jack Cullen.
Ryan Foran’s first touch of the ball in attack came a minute or so later when he came back underneath Thomas Weaver, running directly over one defender before being brought down after a twelve metre charge.
A week after the match against the Newcastle Knights Ryan Foran once again lined up for the Titans U19’s starting at left second row as the Titans took on a Burleigh Hastings Deering’s Colts squad with the Titans winning 32 – 20 with no conversions attempted.
It did not take long for Ryan Foran in make an impact in the match when he produced a strong fifteen surge down the left side of the field on the second tackle of the set of six after the Titans first try.
Ryan Foran was one of the Titans first half try scorers in the 32 – 20 victory, when he dived over from close range near the left corner in the 20th minute of the match after receiving a long pass out of dummy half from Thomas Weaver with the pass finding Ryan Foran outside the widest Burleigh defender on that side of the field.
In early May 2021 a Titans U19 side travelled to North Queensland to play an U19 Cowboys selection in a curtain raiser to a Cowboys v Broncos NRL match with Ryan Foran starting the match on the bench for the Titans.
In November 2020 Ryan Foran was named in the Tweed Heads Seagulls 2021 MM Cup squad.
Ryan Foran started from the bench for the Tweed Heads Seagulls MM Cup side in their first 2021 trial which was against the Easts Tigers at Langland’s Park and was one of the Seagulls best in their 28 – 12 first up victory.
In the Tweed Heads Seagulls MM Cup sides second trial against Burleigh, Ryan Foran started the second half at left second row recording an impressive late match line break and a subsequent try assist.
Mid-way through the second half Ryan Foran steamed onto the ball forty eight metres out from the line, utilising a slight step off his left foot to break through the Burleigh defensive line and then Ryan Foran positioned his support in Keano Kini perfectly to draw the fullback and pass to his left for Kini to sprint twenty five metres to put the ball down under the posts.
Ryan Foran was involved early in the set of six from the kick restart of the second half, taking two hit-ups including a twenty five metre burst down the left side of the field that included breaking two tackles. Later in the second half, Ryan Foran once again proved difficult to stop for the Burleigh right sided defence when he charged eighteen metres before three defenders eventually brought him to ground.
Ryan Foran also started at left second row in Tweed Heads final 2021 MM Cup final against the Souths Logan Magpies at Civic Park in Logan.
Ran Foran was immediately in the match, taking part in the first tackle of the match along with Jack Cullen when the two Titans contracted forwards brought down Souths Logan front rower and fellow Titans contracted player Sione Fotuaika who had taken the hit-up from the kick-off.
Ryan Foran was also part of an impressive Tweed Heads Seagulls attacking sequence in the second minute of the third quarter. Keano Kini produced a great right arm around the corner off-load to Ryan Foran who charged fifteen metres downfield before drawing a defender and passing to his left to Kaleb Ngamanu who raced thirty metres downfield before being bundled into touch just metres short of the left corner post.
Late in the third quarter, Ryan Foran charged into the Souths Logan Magpies defence from a penalty restart making an impressive twenty metres, at least half of which post contact, with the run finishing inside the Souths Logan Magpies twenty metre area.
In Round One of the 2021 MM Cup competition, Ryan Foran started at left second row against the Ipswich Jets and was in the action on just the third hit-up of the match when he came back underneath Thomas Weaver, pushing the Ipswich defensive line back a couple of metres.
Ryan Foran highlighted how difficult he is to get to the ground in the 13th minute when he burst twelve metres down the left side of the field with the majority of those metres post contact and made his way to within eight metres of the line being stopped.
Ryan Foran is also a strong defender and the Ipswich Jets halfback found that out in the 31st minute of the match when Ryan Foran flew out of the line to monster him just as he was trying to pass to his right. After the tackle Ryan Foran certainly let him know about it.
Ryan Foran also started at left second row in Round Two against the Souths Logan Magpies scoring late in the first half (31st minute) when he received the ball in the left thirteen metres out, bumping off one defender to cross the line out wide and then Ryan Foran was able to bring the ball around closer to the posts.
Ryan Foran made another strong surge in the 41st minute, making thirteen metres down the left side of the field dragging a Souths Logan defender along for the ride.
Ryan Foran showed his desperation in defence in the 55th minute when he along with Oskar Bryant both got underneath the Souths Logan hooker to hold him up over the line after he had tried to sneak over from dummy half to the right of the play the ball.
Ryan Foran once again started at left second row in the Round Three Gold Coast derby against the Burleigh Bears making an early contribution with a run that made twelve metres in the 12th minute of the match from a penalty restart.
Ryan Foran added to his strong match in the 23rd minute with a run that accounted for twenty valuable metres from the kick-off after Blake Mozer had scored. After receiving the ball on the ten metre mark, Ryan Foran was able to get the ball thirty seven metres away from his own line before eventually being wrestled to the ground by multiple Bears defenders.
Late in the first half Ryan Foran was on hand to continue to put pressure on Burleigh when he along with Kaleb Ngamanu was on hand to drag the Burleigh right winger into touch just out from his own line after he took a bomb on the field in the left corner.
In the 57th minute Ryan Foran produced probably his best run of the match with a twenty metre hit-up which including a left foot step to get out of the Seagulls won twenty metre area.
Ryan Foran was also named to start at left second row for Round Four match against the Ipswich Jets and produced a strong performance on the left side of the field, with the first of his multiple contributions coming in just the 5th minute with a run down a short left blindside of twelve metres that to take Tweed Heads across the halfway mark. Later in the same set of six, Ryan Foran made a further fifteen metres to get the Seagulls into their attacking twenty metre zone.
Ryan Foran recorded a try assist in the 19th minute, when he received a pass from Thomas Weaver down a short left blindside and ran downfield before passing to his left to Kruz Remine who once again crossed in the left corner.
Ryan Foran’s slick hands were on display in the 29th minute when he reacted quickly to get his hands down low and to his right to cleanly take an Ipswich grubber kick and then Ryan Foran was able to bring the ball back towards the twenty metre mark.
Ryan Foran also started at left second row in Round Five against the Souths Logan Magpies and was one of the Seagulls try scorers in the 38 – 14 victory.
After being rested in Round Six, Ryan Foran was named at left second row for the Seagulls Semi-final against Wynnum Manly and was in the match early, being involved in the Seagulls first tackle of the match when he chased through a Thomas Weaver kick into the left corner.
Ryan Foran made a strong run in the 31st minute, making twelve metres and getting to within twenty five metres of the Wynnum Manly line.
Ryan Foran recorded a try assist in the 45th minute when backed up a Seagulls break down the left touchline and was on hand to retrieve an inside kick from left winger Elijah Lui and passed to his right to Jaylan De Groot who dived over under the posts.
In the 2021 MM Cup Queensland Grand Final against the Townsville Blackhawks, Ryan Foran once again started at left second row as the Seagulls defeated Townsville 30 – 24 to claim back to back MM Cup Championships.
Ryan Foran was in the match early, making a strong run that accounted for twelve metres in the 7th minute to get Tweed Heads inside the attacking twenty metre area. Ryan Foran then made a start play in the 8th minute when he chased through a Thomas Weaver grubber kick and got to the Townsville fullback who had made it out of the in-goal. Ryan Foran however was able to hold the fullback off the ground and then force him back into the in-goal.
Post the 2021 MM Cup competition, Ryan Foran was back playing for Murwillumbah in the NRRRL U18 competition, with his first appearance coming in Round Six when he started at left second row in the U18 competition as the Mustangs took on the Kyogle Turkeys.
To say that Ryan Foran was outstanding in the match would be an understatement. In addition to scoring a hat trick, Ryan Foran recorded two try assists, two line breaks and two line break assists.
Ryan Foran’s opening try of his hat trick performance came in the 13th minute when he received the ball on the left forty metres from the line, easily bumping off the initial defender who attempted to engage him before using his right arm to palm off the second. From there Ryan Foran produced a right foot step to easily round the fullback and bring the ball around to put it down under the posts.
Ryan Foran’s second try came in the 26th minute when he ran a great outside shoulder line from eighteen metres out, breaking three tackles on his run to the line and once again was able to bring the ball around to put it down under the posts.
Ryan Foran completed his hat trick in the 48th minute when Riley Lack put up a huge bomb from near midfield which the Kyogle defence could not handle, Ryan Foran charged through to dive on the loose ball in the in-goal.
Ryan Foran recorded the first of his two try assists in the match in the 3rd minute when after receiving the ball forty seven metres out he kept running to his left, using a right arm fend to gain separation from two defenders before getting a pass away to his left for his fullback to dive over in the left corner.
Ryan Foran added a second try assist in the 41st minute when after he was put into a gap by a great ball from Byron Jones on halfway, Ryan Foran ran thirty metres downfield before passing to his left to put the Mustangs replacement left centre over in the left corner.
The 45th minute saw Ryan Foran record a line break assist when the ball was passed in his direction thirty metres out from his own line, Ryan Foran had to reach forward and down low to take receipt of the ball before passing the ball to his left in one motion to put his support runner away on a thirty five metre run down the left touchline.
Ryan Foran broke the line himself in the 51st minute with a twenty metre line break before off-loading to his left with three would be tacklers on the ground in his wake.
After Murwillumbah’s Round Nine match against the Tweed Coast Raiders was postponed, Ryan Foran was named to come off the bench for Round Ten against the Cudgen Hornets.
Round Seven of the NRRRL First Grade competition saw Ryan Foran come off the bench for Murwillumbah and play in the left second row position in their big 60 – 6 victory over Byron Bay.
Ryan Foran also was named to start from the bench in Round Eight against Northern United and was also named on the bench in Round Twelve against Northern United once again when he scored in the 78th minute when he followed through a break, receiving the ball twenty metres out and crossing the line untouched.
Round Thirteen against the Ballina Seagulls saw Ryan Foran named to start at right second row.
In mid-February 2021 Ryan Foran was named at left second row in the school boy Oceanic Opens side for the South Coast school boy QSSRL U18 trial against Broadwater. Following the final round of trials, Ryan Foran was named in the 2021 South Coast U18 school boy QSSRL squad in the left second row position.
Ryan Foran started at left second row in South Coast’s Day One match against Met North getting into the action in just the 2nd minute he took South Coast’s first hit-up of the match after team mate Kaleb Ngamanu had taken a Met North clearing kick on the full inside his own territory.
Ryan Foran also started at left second row on Day Two as South Coast took on Met East and scored in the 10th minute when he ran twenty metres off a Nicholas Hilton off-load and was able to bring the ball around to put it down near the goal posts.
On Day Three against Capricornia Ryan Foran once again start at left second row and had a line break assist when he was able to get a great ball away to his left to Kaleb Ngamanu who made a forty metre line break down the left touchline, then as he was confronted by the cover defence, Kaleb Ngamanu got the ball back inside to Ryan Foran.
Ryan Foran also started at left second row in the Championship Final against Met North, scoring in the 22nd minute when after great work on his inside by Thomas Weaver who had picked up a wickedly bouncing ball and threw a cut-out ball to his left in one motion. Subsequently Ryan Foran ran into space to score wide out on the left.
Ryan Foran also made some strong defensive efforts in the match including in the 16th minute when he along with Thomas Weaver forced Met North back five metres to just out from his own line.
At the completion of the Championships, Ryan Foran was named at left second row in the 2021 QSSRL U18 School Boy Merit Team.
In late August 2021 Ryan Foran was also named at left second row in the 2021 Australian School Boys U18 Merit Team.
2021 also saw Ryan Foran line up once again for PBC State High School in the South East Queensland School Boy Langer Cup competition starting Round One at left second row against Ipswich State High School.
Ryan Foran scored a key try in the match after PBC had fallen behind early. Ryan Foran ran the ball down the left channel in the 24th minute, receiving the ball ten metres out and through sheer strength and determination, Ryan Foran pushed through three defenders to get the ball down with defenders still hanging off him three metres out from the left upright.
In addition to his try, Ryan Foran also made a number of telling runs, firstly in the 11th minute when his strong run made fourteen metres to get within thirty metres of the line, then in the 48th minute, a Ryan Foran jink to the left saw him get to within eight metres of the line after his run started twenty metres out.
Ryan Foran also started at left second row in Round Two against St Mary’s College Toowoomba and was easily the best player on the field in PBC’s big win, scoring a double as well as recording a try assist.
Ryan Foran’s opening try of the match came in just the 8th minute when from twelve metres out from the line on the left side of the field he ran an outside shoulder route and after receiving the pass from Thomas Weaver, Ryan Foran charged through a gap to get the ball down three metres in from the left corner post.
Ryan Foran completed his double in the 31st minute when after earlier good work from Thomas Weaver and Hunter Plogema, Ryan Foran ran thirty metres untouched to put the ball down next to the left upright.
Ryan Foran recorded his try assist in the 44th minute when he threw a hard flat cut-out pass to his left from just ten metres from the line to put Hunter Plogema into space down the touchline with the PBC left winger getting the ball down in the left corner.
Ryan Foran also made a line break in the 43rd minute when he burst away down the left, charging twenty metres before getting a pass away to his left.
Ryan Foran continued at left second row in Round Three against Coombabah State High School and took the second hit-up of the match and in the 58th minute added a twenty metre run down the left channel to easily get over the halfway mark.
Ryan Foran continued at left second row in the Round Four blockbuster against Marsden State High School with Ryan Foran scoring in the 48th minute when he ran an underneath route down a short left blindside from four metres out after Oskar Bryant had darted to his left out of dummy half and get the ball inside to Ryan Foran.
Ryan Foran’s first key contribution of the match came in the 14th minute when he executed a great ball and all tackle down a short blindside to prevent the Marsden SHS right centre from scoring with Ryan Foran’s tackle stopping his opponent dead a metre from the try line.
Ryan Foran produced another outstanding tackle in the 36th minute when as the Marsden SHS fullback was bringing the ball off his own line, Ryan Foran flew out of marker to his right to smash the fullback and force the ball loose.
Ryan Foran continued at left second row for the much anticipated Round Five local derby against Keebra Park State High School as well as in Round Six against Mabel Park State high School.
After the competition was suspended for a number of weeks due to a Covid 19 lock down, Ryan Foran was named at left second row for PBC State High School in their semi-final against Keebra Park State High School with Ryan Foran taking the second hit-up of the match.
Ryan Foran was on hand in the 12th minute to help prevent a Keebra Park when he along with Thomas Weaver and Keano Kini held up one of the Keebra Park front rowers over the line.
Ryan Foran also produced a smart piece of play in the 49th minute when with Keebra Park on the attack, Ryan Foran produced a great one on one steal. Ryan Foran was not content with that and broke away down field on a sixty metre run where he was eventually brought to ground from behind then metres from the try line. Ryan Foran then got to his feet quickly to affect a quick play the ball with Keano Kini scoring from the resulting play on the opposite side of the field.
In the 2021 Langer Cup Grand Final against Marsden State High School, Ryan Foran was named to start at left second row for PBC and scored a second half double to lead PBC to a 22 – 18 victory.
The first of his two tries came in the 42nd minute when Ryan Foran ran out of dummy half down a short left blindside from close to the line. Initially Ryan Foran was held up short of the line but was able to twist clockwise and get the ball down in the left corner.
Ryan Foran completed his double in the 47th minute when he charged over down the left channel from twelve metres out to score seven metres in from the left corner post.
Ryan Foran was also solid defensively in the match, including in the 32nd minute when he stopped the Marsden SHS hooker from scoring with a great try saving tackle.
Post the completion of the 2021 Langer Cup competition, Ryan Foran was named in the second row in the Courier Mail’s 2021 Langer Cup Team of the Season.
Ryan Foran was then named at left second row for PBC in the Queensland Open School Boys Final (Phil Hall Cup) against St Brendans College Yeppoon with Ryan Foran scoring one of PBC’s tries in their massive 62 – 0 Grand Final victory.
Ryan Foran scored in the 46th minute when he ran off a Thomas Weaver pass just five metres out from the line and crashed over eight metres in from the left corner post.
Ryan Foran almost had a double but in the 32nd minute he was held up over the line and the ball stripped.
Ryan Foran’s initial contribution in the match came in the 5th minute when he made a twenty metre line break down the left side of the field, getting the ball to the halfway mark before he was put to ground.
At the end of the 2021 season, Ryan Foran was named at No. 16 in the Courier Mail Top 60 school boys from the GPS Rugby, AIC Rugby and Langer Cup competitions.
Jay Blazek had a big night at the recent 2021 Helensvale Awards winning the First Grade Rookie of the Year and the U18 Best and Fairest.
Great to see 2022 Titans Development contract holder Shallin Fuller named the Burleigh Gold Coast Rugby League First Grade Rookie of the Year.
Well done to Titans contracted William Semu who was this week named the 2021 Marsden State High School Junior Sportsperson of the Year.
Great to see Titans contracted Isaac Matalavea-Booth named as the 2021 Burleigh Hastings Deering's Colts Best and Fairest.
Blake Campbell has been named the 2021 Burleigh Hastings Deering's Colts Players Player.
Recently resigned Titan Vaka Sikahele was awarded the Coaches Award for the 2021 Burleigh Hastings Deering's Colts side.
Tuvalli Khan-Pereira has been named the 2021 Burleigh MM Cup Player of the Year.
Great to see PBC forward Jonah Beaven named in the 2022 Burleigh Bears MM Cup squad.
Titans contracted Wailer Whaiapu has been named in the 2022 Burleigh Bears MM Cup squad.
He will also be MM Cup eligible in 2023.
This season Yorel Alapaki played well for the Southport Tigers in the GCRL competition but in 2022 Yorel Alapaki will be part of the Ipswich Jets Hastings Deering's Colts squad.
Great to see big strong PBC front rower Isaiah Scanlon named in the 2022 Burleigh Bears MM Cup squad.
He will also be MM Cup eligible in 2023.
Titans contracted Bailey McConnell may be only small in statute but the young halfback is as tough as they came and no doubt he will display that next year after being named in the 2022 Burleigh Bears MM Cup squad.
He will also be MM Cup eligible in 2023.
The 2022 Burleigh MM Cup side will not lack aggression in their side with Titans contracted Joseph Shannon involved.
With his hair flowing everywhere Joseph Shannon is a sight to behold when he is charging onto the ball.
After playing the 2021 MM Cup season with the Souths Logan Magpies, Titans contracted EJ Finua will plat the 2022 MM Cup season with the Burleigh Bears.
The tough second rower or front rower is an outstanding addition to the Burleigh side.
The 2022 Burleigh MM Cup side certainly have some strike power out wide with Titans contracted Jeremaiah Temapo in the squad.
This season Jeremaiah Temapo was the leading try scorer in the GCRL U18 Division One competition including two tries in Nerang's Grand Final victory over Helensvale.
The Lotaki brothers Dorian and Tanelia made an immediate impression when they arrived on the Gold Coast midway through 2021 with both Keebra park and the Nerang Roosters in the GCRL U18 Division One competition.
Their positive impact appears that it will continue in 2022 with both named in the 2022 Burleigh MM Cup side.
Philip Hakaraia-Ngamotu, an outstanding Titans contracted second row prospect has been named in the 2022 Burleigh MM Cup side.
The Keebra Park student is also MM Cup eligible in 2023.
Te Haeata Takamore is a solid fullback or centre prospect and will look to take the next step in his development in 2022 as part of the Burleigh Bears MM Cup squad.
Great to see former northern New South Wales outside back Jamal Laurie named in the Ipswich Jets 2022 MM Cup squad.
My surprise packet of the 2021 season was Titans contracted front rower Immanuel Kalekale I knew he was talented but in 2021 he was FAR better then that for the Keebra Park Langer Cup side and for the Nerang Roosters in the GCRL U18 Division One competition, including being outstanding in their Grand Final victory over Helensvale.
In 2022 Immanuel Kalekale will be part of the Burleigh Bears MM Squad.
In 2021 Titans contracted Brandon Tikinau played for the Souths Logan Magpies U16 Cyril Connell Cup side but in 2022 the Marsden SHS half/five eight will line up for the Ipswich Jets U18 MM Cup side and will also be MM Cup eligible in 2023.
Standout Keebra Park second rower Seth Nikotemo is another Titans contracted player that will line up for the 2022 Burleigh Bears MM Cup squad.
Hail Sezer has a big wrap on this young man and it is easy to see why.
Great to see Titan Tannah Boyd this week go back to Keebra Park to help run a session with the boys who will be arriving at Keebra Park in 2022 in Year Seven.
Exceptionally talented Titans contracted front rower Larry Siala has been named in the Ipswich Jets 2022 MM Cup squad and is also MM Cup eligible in 2023.
Titanic
30-10-21, 11:00 AM
This is what I want to see from our senior squad. The JTS is wonderful but doesn’t mean anything unless there are recognisable links to the NRL players … great stuff.
Another one of the gun players that has been named in the 2022 Burleigh Bears MM Cup squad is Titans contracted lock/front rower Arama Hau.
In 2021 Arama Hau captained the Titans U17 side.
One of the most dominant and powerful players in the Titans JTS system is Josiah Pahulu who late this week was named in the 2022 Ipswich Jets MM Cup side.
I can not wait to see the exceptional young front rower take on his fellow Titans at Tweed Heads and Burleigh next season.
Good to see two northern NSW youngsters testing themselves in Brisbane next season with AJ Hickling and Lockie McLaughlin named in the 2022 Easts Tigers U16 Cyril Connell Cup squad.
Titans contracted Seth Nikotemo was recently named in the second row in the 2021 Keebra Park Rugby Team of the Year.
There is a lot of talented young players coming through at Titans partnered Keebra Park SHS and as good as any is Jeval Pitman who recently was named the 2021 Keebra Park SHS Junior Sports Person of the Year and was also named in the 2021 Keebra Park Rugby League Team of the Year.
Another Titans contracted player who was selected in the 2021 Keebra Park Rugby League Team of the Year is Arama Hau who was selected at lock.
Titans contracted Isaac Togia has been named in the 2022 Ipswich Jets U16 Cyril Connell Cup squad.
Big strong front rower Jake Kearton has been named the 2021 Burleigh GCRL U20 Players Player.
Great to see Noah Croudace named the 2021 Burleigh Gold Coast Rugby League U20 Best and Fairest.
The young fullback is also U20 eligible in 2022.
Talented fullback/five eight Taine Tuaupiki was recently named the Burleigh Bears Gold Coast Rugby League First Grade Best and Fairest.
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Matthew Logopati who played for Coombabah SHS in the Langer Cup this season started in the centres today for the South Island Scorpions U18 side in the New Zealand National Youth Final against the Upper Central Stallions.
Unfortunately his side went down 30-28.
Interesting to see that outside back Kobie Mackay-Tylor was been named in both the Easts Tigers and Burleigh 2022 MM Cup squads.
Great choice to have for the young outside back from Coombabah SHS.
Klese Haas will undertake the upcoming NRL pre-season with the Titans after signing and train and trial deal.
Great to see Burleigh's Taine Tuaupiki also sign an NRL train and trial contract with the Titans.
Titans contracted Tanu Nona clearly is held in high regard and that is shown with the young man being named the 2022 PBC SHS Boys School Captain.
Impressively Shallin Fuller on 1 November 2021 commenced the NRL pre-season with the Titans main NRL squad and will spend the next two seasons training full-time with the Titans NRL squad as part of his Titans NRL Development contract.
In 2021 Shallin Fuller split time between the Burleigh Bears Gold Coast Rugby League First Grade side and the Burleigh Queensland Cup side.
For Burleigh in the Queensland Cup Shallin Fuller played in twelve matches after making his debut at halfback in Round Eight against the Townsville Blackhawks with his final match of the 2021 Queensland Cup season coming in Round Twenty Two when he came off the bench.
In total in his twelve 2021 Queensland Cup matches, Shallin Fuller scored seven tries (58.33% strike rate), ran for 828 metres at an average of sixty eight metres per game, made 140 tackles at a tackling efficiency of 88% and 11.6 tackles per game and kicked for 1 763 metres at an average of 147 metres per game. Shallin Fuller also broke eighteen tackles, had fourteen try assists, had twelve line break assists and also forced seven line drop outs.
Below is a description of Shallin Fuller’s 2021 Queensland Cup tries for Burleigh:
In the 45th minute against the Norths Devils When defending on the right side of the Burleigh defensive line, Shallin Fuller correctly anticipated a pass from Devils hooker Dani Levi, intercepting the pass fifty two metres out and then Shallin Fuller was simply too fast and raced away to score under the posts.
In the 60th minute against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls Shallin Fuller backed up on the inside and to the right of a Burleigh break but the pass was low, instead of trying to make an impossible catch, Shallin Fuller kicked the ball through to regather. As he approached the Seagulls fullback and with the cover defence converging on both side, Shallin Fuller dummied to both his left and right and then was able to reach out to get the ball down with his right arm in a tackle from the fullback with Shallin Fuller getting the ball down five metres from the right goal post.
Against the Ipswich Jets Shallin Fuller whilst operating on the right received the ball twenty five metres out and put in a right foot grubber kick to his right. The ball took a perfect bounce to the left just as the Jets fullback was looking to retrieve the ball two metres from the try line and Shallin Fuller was able to run through, collect the ball and dive over.
Shallin Fuller also scored from a grubber kick for himself against the Easts Tigers when from fifteen metres out and once again on the right, Shallin Fuller was able to collect the ball in space and put the ball down under the posts.
It was the same again against the PNG Hunters but this time Shallin Fuller was operating on the left when he put through a short grubber kick from eighteen metres out for himself with Shallin Fuller once again first to the ball and was able to dive over ten metres in from the left corner.
Against the Central Queensland Capra’s Shallin Fuller backed up a break out of dummy half by Pat Politini to the left of the play the ball with Shallin Fuller receiving the off-load fifteen metres out. Shallin Fuller then stepped off his left to beat the Capra’s fullback and then he was able to bring the ball around to score under the posts.
Shallin Fuller’s seventh try of the 2021 Queensland Cup season came against the Townsville Blackhawks when he followed through a Josh Rogers grubber kick. The ball came off the foot of a Blackhawks defender still ten metres from the line but Shallin Fuller picked the ball up off the ground at full speed and was able to dive over under the posts.
Below is a description of some of Shallin Fuller’s 2021 Queensland Cup try assists for Burleigh:
Against the Ipswich Jets Shallin Fuller was operating on the left side of the field and received the ball ten metres from the line and threw a long cut-out over the top pass to put his left winger over in the corner.
Against the Central Queensland Capra’s Shallin Fuller set up two tries for Josh Rogers. The first was as a result of Shallin Fuller running the ball to his left and when he was twenty metres out, Shallin Fuller double pumped when looking to pass to his left to put Josh Rogers over. In the same match Shallin Fuller put in a short grubber kick inside the Burleigh attacking twenty metre zone and Josh Rogers was on the spot to collect the ball and cross the line.
Against the Souths Logan Magpies in the 72nd minute Shallin Fuller received the ball around ten metres out to the right of the play the ball and as he approached the defensive line diagonally, Shallin Fuller grubber kicked back across the body to his left with the Burleigh chaser on hand to collect the ball and dive over under the posts.
Against the Redcliffe Dolphins Shallin Fuller received the ball two passes to the left of the play the ball on the left side of the field and when he was twenty metres out threw a long high cut-out pass to put his left winger into space and the winger was able to dive over in the left corner under heavy pressure from the Dolphins cover defence.
Shallin Fuller added another try assist against the Ipswich Jets when whilst operating on the left Shallin Fuller from fifteen metres out, took the ball to the line and popped a good short ball to his left to put his left second rower over ten metres in from the left corner.
The against the Easts Tigers on the right side of the field Shallin Fuller put in a grubber kick back to across his body to his left with Kurtis Rowe able to retrieve the ball and score eight metres to the right of the uprights.
Shallin Fuller added a further try assist from a grubber kick against the Souths Logan Magpies when from ten metres out Shallin Fuller put in a grubber kick to his left for Josh Rogers to score under the posts.
Another try assist came against the Redcliffe Dolphins when he was on the end of a backline movement, receiving the ball seventy metres out and burst down the left touchline. Shallin Fuller then drew the Dolphins fullback to put his five eight over towards the left corner.
In 2021 for Burleigh in the Gold Coast Rugby League First Grade competition Shallin Fuller scored thirty points from four tries and seven conversions with three of those tries coming in Round two against the Helensvale Hornets.
Shallin Fuller’s hat trick against Burleigh were in fact the first three tries that Burleigh scored in their victory.
The first try of Shallin Fuller’s hat trick came in the 16th minute when after Burleigh attacked down a short left blindside Shallin Fuller received an off-load around two metres out and dived over in the left corner to get the ball down under pressure.
Shallin Fuller added his second try in the 35th minute when from twenty metres out Shallin Fuller took the ball from an errant pass that was knocked back by Burleigh and immediately ran back to the area behind the play the ball. Shallin Fuller then stepped off his left foot to beat the Hornet’s fullback before bursting past three defenders to get the ball down two metres to the right of the uprights.
Shallin Fuller competed his hat trick in the 45th minute and the try was certainly worth the wait. Shallin Fuller received the ball from an off-load sixty metres out from the line, producing a goose step and a counter clockwise spin to beat two defenders before pulling away from a third who had tried to tackle Shallin Fuller high. Shallin Fuller then rounded the Helensvale fullback by veering to his right and then raced away to score near the right corner post.
Shallin Fuller also scored in the 67th minute in Round Three against the Mudgeeraba Redbacks and what an outstanding try it was. After some good work on his inside Shallin Fuller received the ball on the right side of the field twelve metre out. Shallin Fuller then stepped off his left to create space and took off towards the line. Just as he was about to be tackled three metres out, Shallin Fuller dropped the ball onto his right foot with the grubber going about a metre to get past one defender, Shallin Fuller then retrieved the ball a metre from the line and spun counter clockwise to score mid-way between the corner post and goal posts on the right side of the field.
2021 Southport Tigers GCRL U18 Division One winger Ethan Palanga has been named in the PNG U18 side for this weekend's QPICC Cultural Carnival at Beenleigh.
Keebra Park student Taniela Lotaki has been named in the Tonga U18 side for this weekends QPICC Carnival.
Whilst he has been selected on the wing, no doubt he will also spend time in the centres and second row.
Even though he is still U16 eligible, Keebra Park's Dorian Lotaki has been named in the Tonga U18 side for this weekends QPICC Carnival.
Titans contracted Larry Siala will start in teh front row tonight for the Queensland U16 Samoan side in their Round One QPICC match against the PNG U16 side.
The other front rower in the Samoan side is PBC's Isaiah Scanlon.
Front rower Isopo Taunuu has had a great 2021 season, including with Keebra Park and recently the former Victorian junior was named in the front row in the 2021 Keebra Park Team of the Year.
Isopo Taunuu's season is not over and tonight he is set to come off the bench for the U16 Samoan side in Round One of the QPICC Carnival against PNG.
Great to see Titans contracted Sam Stephenson named in the PNG U16 representative side for the QPICC Carnival that starts tonight.
The Gold Coast Junior Rugby League competition will be stronger in 2022 with the Tugun Seahawks joining the junior competition on the Coast will field teams from U6 to U18.
Great interview with Tom Weaver from the Official Site.
https://www.titans.com.au/news/2021/11/05/weaver-excited-to-tackle-nrl-pre-season/
Titans contracted Corey Pe**** will come off the bench for the Cook Island U16 representative side tonight in Round One of the QPICC Carnival against Tonga.
Official Site interviews with Jack Cullen, Oskar Bryant and Ryan Foran.
https://www.titans.com.au/news/2021/11/05/fresh-out-of-school-and-straight-into-pre-season-three-young-guns-excited-to-rip-in/
Official Site story on Shallin Fuller
https://www.titans.com.au/news/2021/11/05/fuller-confident-heading-in-to-first-titans-pre-season/
Titans contracted Shannon Subritzky-Stewart will start at fullback this morning for the U18 Queensland Maori representative side in their QPICC Round One match against the Cook Islands.
Titans contracted Tyrell Waka-Rhind will start at hooker this morning for the U18 Queensland Maori representative side in their QPICC Round One match against the Cook Islands.
Keebra Park SHS student Joseph Tupuse has been named in the 2022 Souths Logan Magpies U16 Cyril Connell Cup squad.
Titans contracted Corey Pe**** had a strong match last night for the Cook Islands U16 side in their Round One QPICC Round One 16-8 victory over Tonga.
He came off the bench mid-way through the first half to play in the dummy half role and played the remainder of the match in that role.
2022 Burleigh Bears MM Cup squad members Zinzan Kahu (half) and Kobie Mackay-Taylor (interchange) are part of the U18 Queensland Maori representative side for their QPICC Round One match against the Cook Islands today.
Great to see Titans contracted Ryan McCann named in the 2022 U16 Souths Logan Magpies Cyril Connell Cup squad.
Titans contracted Sione Fotuaika is coming off the bench this morning for the Tonga U18 QPICC side in their Round One match against PNG.
2021 Mabel SHS student Atunaisa Pahulu Jnr started at fullback this morning for the Tonga U18 QPICC side in their Round One match against PNG.
Atunaisa Pahulu Jnr has scored in the first half and then stepped up to convert his own try to lock the match up at 6 all.
2021 Mabel SHS student Atunaisa Pahulu Jnr started at fullback this morning for the Tonga U18 QPICC side in their Round One match against PNG.
Keebra Park SHS student Dorian Lotaki is still U16 eligible but this morning came off the bench for the Tonga U18 QPICC side in their Round One match against PNG and made his presence felt shortly after coming on with a well worked try.
The U16 Queensland Maori QPICC side certainly has a Titans flavor it it for their match this afternoon against the Cook Islands with four Titans contracted players in the starting side.
Brandon Tikinau will start in the centres, Gary Herlihy at five eight and Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa partnering Philip Hakaraia-Ngamotu in the front row.
Titans contracted Josiah Pahulu will start at lock this morning for the U18 Queensland Samoan representative side in their opening match of the QPICC Cultural Carnival against Tonga.
Great to see Darius Farmer start in the second row and score early for the Queensland Maori Open Men's side in their QPICC Round One match against Tonga.
Josiah Pahulu will also have the honour of captaining the Samoan side in the match.
Titans contracted Josiah Pahulu will start at lock this morning for the U18 Queensland Samoan representative side in their opening match of the QPICC Cultural Carnival against Tonga.
Dahnte Te Whiu-Hopa was impressive this morning for the Queensland U14 Maori side in their 16-12 QPICC Round One victory against Tonga including scoring a powerful try.
Titans contracted Larry Siala produced a dominant display for the U16 Samoan QPICC side, including a powerful try as Samoa defeated Tonga 30-0.
Kobie Mackay-Taylor scored this afternoon for the Queensland Maori U18 QPICC side in their 34-4 victory over PNG.
Titan contracted Xavier Stowers will come off the bench this afternoon for the U18 Cook Islands QPICC side against Tonga.
Darius Farmer made it two tries on the day by scoring for the Queensland Open Maori side this evening in their 18-14 loss to Samoa at the QPICC Carnival.
Keebra Park's Isopo Taunuu scored a great try next to the right upright this morning when he charged ten metres beating three tackles for Samoa in their QPICC 18-6 victory against the Cook Islands.
Titans contracted Corey Pearce scored a smart first half try out of dummy half for the Cook Islands this morning but his side went down 18-6 in their QPICC U16 match to Samoa.
Titans contracted Josiah Pahulu once again captained the QPICC U18 Samoan side this morning and was one of Samoa's try scorers (he scored yesterday as well) as they won 34-10 against Queensland Maori.
Marsden SHS student Tawa-Dean Simpkins continued his exceptional QPICC U14 Carnival campaign this morning scoring a double for Queensland Maori as they defeated Queensland Samoa 14-12 to qualify for the U14 QPICC Grand Final later today.
Titans contracted Xavier Stowers will start from the bench once again for the Cook Islands U18 QPICC side this morning as they take on PNG.
Xavier Stowers scored a typically strong try but unfortunately the Cook Islands went down to Tonga 20-18.
Titan contracted Xavier Stowers will come off the bench this afternoon for the U18 Cook Islands QPICC side against Tonga.
Great battle going on at the moment in the U16 QPICC at the moment between Samoa and Maori.
Titans contracted front rowers Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa and Philip Hakaraia-Ngamotu for Maori are taking on Samoa front rowers Larry Siala (Titans contracted) and PBC Langer Cup's Isaiah Scanlan for Samoa.
Sione Fotuaika scored for the QPICC U18 Tonga side today as they defeated Samoa 34-0
Tight U14 QPICC Grand Final with Queensland Samoa defeating Queensland Maori 16-14.
For Maori Keebra Park's Tayshaarn Tonga and Marsden's Dahnte Te Whiu-Hopa try scorers.
Titans contracted Larry Siala will start in the front row this afternoon for the Queensland U16 Samoa side in their QPICC Grand Final against PNG.
Titanic
07-11-21, 03:37 PM
You can watch it here https://www.qpicc.com.au/watch-live-qpicc-2021/
Gold Coaster Keahn Skipps with a try and three goals for the Samoa U16 side in their 22-12 QPICC Grand Final win over PNG.
PNG were too good in the QPICC U18 Grand Final, beating Tonga 6-4.
Great news that Bilambil Jets juniors Jaylan and Jury Taewa have signed contract with the Titans.
Both second rowers will likely start the 2022 season with the U18 Laurie Daley Cup Northern Rivers Titans.
Over the weekend Atunaisa Pahulu Jnr played for the 2021 Queensland Tongan U18 representative side at the 2021 QPICC Cultural Carnival, starting all five of his matches at the Carnival at fullback, being Match One against PNG, Match Two against Samoa, Match Three against the Cook Islands, Match Four against Queensland Maori and the Grand Final against PNG.
Across his five matches Atunaisa Pahulu Jnr scored twenty six points from a try, nine conversions and two penalty goals. Atunaisa Pahulu Jnr scored in Match One against PNG and then Atunaisa Pahulu Jnr converted his own try.
With the boot Atunaisa Pahulu Jnr also kicked three from three conversions in Match Three against the Cook Islands and four conversions from five attempts in Match Four Queensland Maori. Atunaisa Pahulu Jnr kicked penalties goals in Match Two against Samoa and Match Two against the Cook Islands.
Titans contracted Gary Whare-Herlihy on the weekend played for the Queensland Maori U16 side at the 2021 QPICC cultural carnival at Beenleigh.
At the Carnival Gary Whare-Herlihy started all four of his matches at the Carnival at five eight being Match One against the Cook Islands, Match Two against PNG, Match Three against Tonga and Match Four against Samoa.
Gary Whare-Herlihy scored in Match Three against Tonga an in Match Four against Samoa kicked two conversions from three attempts in a 16 all draw.
Gary Whare-Herlihy scored in the 17th minute against Tonga when after he received the ball on the right side of the field around fifteen metres from the line. After receiving the ball Gary Whare-Herlihy ran to his right before stepping off his left to straighten up his run and he was able to cross the line mid-way between the goal posts and corner post on the right side of the field.
On the weekend Titans contracted Corey Pearce played for the Cook Islands U16 QPICC side, starting Round One against Tonga from the bench, coming on mid-way through the first half to play in the dummy half role. The match saw Corey Pearce make some smart runs out of dummy half with probably the best of those coming in the 21st minute when he made a twenty metres run to the left of the play the ball getting the ball to near the halfway mark before he was brought down. Corey Pearce was subsequently awarded a penalty when he was not allowed to his feet for a quick play the ball.
Game Three of the 2021 QPICC U16 Carnival saw Corey Pearce also come off the bench against the Cook Islands with Corey Pearce scoring Cook Islands only try of the match in the first half when from three metres from the line, Corey Pearce picked the ball up from dummy half and take two steps to his right and shape to pass in that same direction. Corey Pearce however cut back to the area behind the play the ball and was able to dive over between two defenders on the left side of the field mid-way between the corner post and goal posts.
Corey Pearce started all four of his matches at the Carnival off the bench, on each occasion playing in the dummy half role when he came on the field.
Over the weekend Titans contracted Josiah Pahulu played for the Queensland Samoa U18 representative sidein the 2021 QPICC Cultural Carnival, starting all four of his matches at the Carnival at lock and captain, being Match One against Tonga, Match Two against PNG, Match Three against the Cook Islands and Match Four against Queensland Maori.
Josiah Pahulu scored twice at the Carnival being against the Cook Islands in Match Three and Queensland Maori in Match Four. Josiah Pahulu’s try against the Cook Islands was a typically powerful effort. In the 27th minute with Samoa on the attack Josiah Pahulu stationed himself directly behind the play the ball. After the dummy half picked up the ball, Josiah Pahulu ran to the right of the play the ball, receiving the ball five metres out. Near the line Josiah Pahulu stepped off his right foot to dive over on the right side of the field mid-way between the corner post and goal posts.
Great to see Ipswich State High School fullback Jeriah Vagana training with the Titans JTS Program tonight.
2021 Keebra Park Langer Cup winger Elijah Lui is another outstanding addition to the Titans JTS Program.
In October 2021 Titans contracted Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa was part of the South Coast Maori side that were successful in the Queensland Maori U16 Tournament with Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa being named Player of the Tournament and subsequently Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa was named in the Queensland Maori U16 side for the 2021 QPICC cultural carnival.
At the Carnival that was played on the weekend Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa started all four of his matches at the Carnival in the front row being Match One against the Cook Islands, Match Two against PNG, Match Three against Tonga and Match Four against Samoa with Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa scoring in Match Three against Tonga.
Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa scored in the 27th minute against Tonga when he ran at the line to the right of the dummy half, receiving the ball ten metres from the line. After impacting the Tongan defensive line, Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa spun clockwise to break contact with two defenders before crashing over under the posts.
Hail Sezer
09-11-21, 07:16 AM
2021 Keebra Park Langer Cup winger Elijah Lui is another outstanding addition to the Titans JTS Program.
Nice addition
willhelm
09-11-21, 09:11 AM
Kaden Somerville just signed with the Dragons. Thoughts?
Strong front rower with leadership skills. Unfortunately not all juniors will stay with the Titans and front row is an incredibly strong position in the Titans JTS program.
Kaden Somerville just signed with the Dragons. Thoughts?
willhelm
09-11-21, 10:02 AM
Cheers mdrew
Last weekend Tayshaarn Tonga played for the Queensland Maori U14 side at the 2021 QPICC carnival starting Round One of the Cultural Carnival off the bench against Tonga.
In total at the 2021 U14 Carnival Tayshaarn Tonga played in five matches, coming off the bench in all, including in the Grand Final against Samoa, with Tayshaarn Tonga being one of Queensland Maori’s try scorers in their two point loss.
Tayshaarn Tonga scored in the 36th minute of the QPICC U14 Grand Final when he ran out of dummy half from twelve metres out to score under the posts. After darting out of dummy half to his left, Tayshaarn Tonga held the ball away from his body with an extended left arm, prior to straightening up Tayshaarn Tonga brought the ball back into his body and then dummied to his left, then slicing through the defensive line to score under the posts.
Titans JTS player Jeriah Vagana has been named in the 2022 Ipswich Jets MM Cup squad and is also MM Cup eligible in 2023.
On the weekend Isopo Taunuu played for the Samoan U16 representative side at the QPICC Cultural Carnival starting Round One of the Carnival in the front row against PNG.
In fact Isopo Taunuu started from the bench in all five of his matches at the Carnival including Samoa’s 22- 12 Grand Final victory against PNG.
Isopo Taunuu scored one try at the Carnival with the try coming in Match three against the Cook Islands with Isopo Taunuu scoring in the 22nd minute from a twelve metre charge. Isopo Taunuu charged at the line to the right of the dummy half from twelve metres out, breaking through two defenders before spinning counter clockwise and crashing over five metres to the right of the goal posts.
Over the weekend Dahnte Te Whiu-Hopa captained the Queensland Maori U14 side at the 2021 QPICC carnival starting Round One of the Cultural Carnival in the second row against Tonga. Dahnte Te Whiu-Hopa was also named captain of the Maori U14 side and was one of Maori’s try scorers.
Dahnte Te Whiu-Hopa in total in the 2021 U14 QPICC Carnival played in five matches, starting all in the second row and in addition to his Match One try, Dahnte Te Whiu-Hopa also scored in the Grand Final against Samoa.
Dahnte Te Whiu-Hopa scored in the 5th minute of the Grand Final when whilst operating at left second row Dahnte Te Whiu-Hopa ran onto a short ball from his inside from eight metres out to dive over ten metres in from the left corner post.
Titans JTS Program’s Jeriah Vagana-Malaitai started the 2021 season as part of the Ipswich Jets 2021 U16 Cyril Connell Cup side, starting all three of the Jets matches. Jeriah Vagana-Malaitai started Rounds One and Three against Tweed Heads and Souths Logan respectively at lock before starting Round Five against the Burleigh Bears in the centres.
2021 also saw Jeriah Vagana-Malaitai play for Ipswich State High School in the school boy Walters Cup Rugby League competition, operating primarily at fullback.
Titans partnered Keebra Park Shs had two students that were part of the U14 Samoa side that won their age division in last weekend's QPICC Rugby League Carnival being Cavell Tuilaepa and Atapana Noa.
The 2021 season of Titans JTS Program member Elijah Lui:
The talented young 2021 Keebra Park student was in early November 2020 named to be part of the 2021 Tweed Heads Seagulls MM Cup squad.
Elijah Lui started on the wing for the Tweed Heads Seagulls MM Cup side in their first 2021 trial which was against the Easts Tigers at Langland’s Park as Tweed Heads commenced their season with an impressive 28 – 12 victory.
In the Tweed Heads Seagulls MM Cup sides second trial against Burleigh, Elijah Lui started the second half on the right wing. Elijah Lui produced some impressive runs off his wing when Tweed Heads were bringing the ball out of their own territory. In relation to those runs, Elijah Lui literally just ran flat out at the line. Elijah Lui also leapt high to take a huge spiralling mid-field bomb on the pull, highlighting both his leap and safe hands.
Elijah Lui had some other good moments in the match, one being when he chased through a long Seagulls kick to the left corner, Elijah Lui charged downfield and along with Reef Sommerville and Reico Ratana got to the Burleigh fullback and dragged him back into the in-goal area, forcing Burleigh to drop the ball out from their own line.
In Round One of the 2021 MM Cup competition, Elijah Lui was named as the Seagulls 18th man against the Ipswich Jets and was named on the Seagulls extended bench for Round two against the Souths Logan Magpies as well as for Round Three against the Burleigh Bears.
Elijah Lui was also named on the Seagulls extended bench for their Round Four match against the Ipswich Jets and for Round Five against the Souths Logan Magpies.
Elijah Lui came into the Seagulls side, starting at fullback for the final regular season round of the 2021 MM Cup competition in the local derby against the Burleigh Bears.
After initially being named on the Tweed Heads extended bench for the 2021 MM Cup semi-final against Wynnum Manly, Elijah Lui in fact started the match on the left wing, making the most of his promotion with an outstanding second half try.
Elijah Lui’s try came in the 56th minute of the match. When he backed up on the inside of a long Thomas Weaver break down the left touchline. As he approached the fullback, Thomas Weaver kicked the ball forward with Elijah Lui outpacing the Wynnum Manly defence. As he approached the ball and the try line, the ball sat up perfectly for Elijah Lui who took the ball and dived over.
Prior to his try, Elijah Lui made a strong run out of dummy half to the right, making fifteen metres after cutting back behind the play the ball making fifteen metres to get the ball outside his own thirty metre area.
Elijah Lui was also heavily involved in Jaylan De Groot’s 45th minute try when after being put away down the left touchline by a great Kaleb Ngamanu pass put in an inside kick which Ryan Foran retrieved and passed to his right to Jaylan De Groot who dived over under the posts.
Not long before his involved in the afore mentioned Jaylan De Groot try, Elijah Lui made another line break when he was put away down his wing by Kaleb Ngamanu only for Elijah Lui to be tackled less than ten metres from the try line.
In the 2021 MM Cup Queensland Grand Final against the Townsville Blackhawks, Elijah Lui once again started on the left wing as the Seagulls won the MM Cup Grand Final for the second (played) season in a row.
In February 2021 Elijah Lui took part in the South Coast Open school boy trials and was named on the wing in the South Coast Open A school boy side as a result of his trial performances.
Elijah Lui started South Coast’s Day One match against Met North on the right wing and in just the 2nd minute of the match made a ten metre run down the left sideline to get to within eight metres of the try line. Elijah Lui displayed calm nerves and courage in the 13th minute when he came forward to take a difficult kick-off on the full under intense pressure.
Round One of the 2021 Langer Cup School Boy Rugby League competition saw Elijah Liu start at fullback for Keebra Park State High School against Keebra Park.
Elijah Liu also started at fullback in Round Two against Mabel Park and almost scored in the 9th minute when he chimed into the backline on the left side of the field however he was held up in the left corner.
Elijah Liu made a line break in the 25th minute when he came forward to take a Mabel Park dropped ball just ten metres from his own line and sliced through the defence, making fifty five metres from before being tackled from behind, Elijah Liu then attempted to get to his feet quickly but was held down and was awarded a penalty as a result.
Round Three against Ipswich State High School saw Elijah Lui named on the bench for Keebra Park but he was back in the starting side on the left wing for Round Four against St Mary’s College Toowoomba.
The Round Five local derby against PBC saw Elijah Lui continue on the left wing and scored Keebra Park’s opening try in the match in the 23rd minute with a try in the left corner after he had taken the cut-out pass above is head.
Elijah Lui came close to a second try in the 37th minute when after a great off-load from Immanuel Kalekale Elijah Lui raced down the left touchline and kicked forward for himself when confronted by PBC fullback Keano Kini. Keano Kini got back to the ball first but Elijah Lui was able to force Keano Kini into the in-goal to force a goal line drop out.
Elijah Lui continued on the left wing in Round Six against Wavell State High School and scored three first half tries as Keebra Park held on to win 18 – 16.
After the competition was suspended for a number of weeks due to a Covid 19 lock down, Elijah Lui was named on the left wing for Keebra Park State High School in their semi-final against PBC State High School with Elijah Lui scoring Keebra Park’s opening try of match in the 32nd minute when he ran onto a great long cut out pass from De’Ontae Perese and then was able to outpace the PBC cover defence to dive over in the left corner.
At the 2021 Keebra Park State High School Sports Awards Night Elijah Lui was named on the wing in the 2021 Keebra Park Team of the Year.
Post the completion of the 2021 Langer Cup competition, Elijah Lui was named on the wing in the Courier Mail’s 2021 Langer Cup Team of the Season.
At the end of the 2021 season, Elijah Lui was named at No. 47 in the Courier Mail Top 60 school boys from the GPS Rugby, AIC Rugby and Langer Cup competitions.
Keebra Park SHS students Klay Tancred (hooker) and Jericho Bell-Faamafu (second row) were part of the U16 Samoa side that won their age group at the QPICC Carnival.
Both scored twice through Samoa's five matches with Jericho Bell-Faamafu scoring in Samoa's 22-12 Grand Final victory over PNG.
Congratulations to Titans JTS's Jeriah Vagana-Malaitai who has been named in the centres in the 2021 Ipswich State High School Rugby League Team of the Year.
Titans contracted Cooper Bai has been named in the Miami Raptors U16 side for the 2022 Queensland Oztag State Cup.
Also in October Cooper Bai was named in the 2021 Year Ten Oztag All Schools First XVI after representing Marymount College.
Titans contracted Josiah Pahulu underlined what an outstanding prospect he is for the Titans with selection in the front row in the Ipswich State High School 2021 Rugby League Team of the Year.
Great to see Titans contracted William Semu named in the 2021 Marsden State High School Rugby League Team of the Year.
If you are looking for an outstanding half prospect you should not go past Titans partnered Marsden SHS's ZJ Watene who recently was named in the 2021 Marsden State High School Rugby League Team of the Year.
Impressive prospect Mark Nosa was recently named at fullback in the 2021 Marsden State High School Rugby League Team of the Year.
Exciting talent Tawa-Dean Simpkins was recently named in the centres in the 2021 Marsden State High School Rugby League Team of the Year.
The Marsden State High School student who is part of the Titans partnered schools Rugby League Academy Program and was part of the 2021 Marsden State High School Renouf Cup side, including starting at left centre in the 2021 Renouf Cup Final against PBC after scoring a double in Marsden SHS’s semi-final victory against Keebra Park.
In October 2021 Tawa-Dean Simpkins was named in the Queensland Maori U14 side for the 2021 QPICC carnival starting Round One of the Cultural Carnival on the right wing against Tonga.
Tawa-Dean Simpkins also started on the wing in Match Three against PNG, scoring a try and kicking a conversion. Match Four also saw Tawa-Dean Simpkins start on the wing with the powerful young man scoring a try and kick four conversions from as many attempts against the Cook Islands.
Tawa-Dean Simpkins added a double from the wing in Match Five before starting on the wing in the 2021 QPICC U14 Grand Final against Samoa.
Tawa-Dean Simpkins was part of the 2021 Gold Coast Invitational U13 King of Country Rugby side that won the Tournament with Tawa-Dean Simpkins starring from outside centre.
Post the Tournament Tawa-Dean Simpkins was named on the wing in the 2021 Kings of Country All Tournament Team.
Tawa-Dean Simpkins had an impressive tournament and was for all intents and purposes unstoppable in the second half of the Invitational teams Day One match against the USQ Saints scoring a second half hat trick. To add to his match Tawa-Dean Simpkins converted his third try by way of a drop kick from directly in front of the posts.
Tawa-Dean Simpkins first try came ten minutes into the second half. Tawa-Dean Simpkins received the ball on the left after a USQ turnover, thirty five metres out from the line. Once he received the ball Tawa-Dean Simpkins stepped off his right foot to get on the outside of the defence and then he outpaced the cover defence to score mid-way between the goal posts and left corner post.
Tawa-Dean Simpkins second try was a simply outstanding solo effort. From the kick-off after his first try, Tawa-Dean Simpkins took the kick-off on the full twenty metres out from his own line near the left touchline, initially Tawa-Dean Simpkins headed towards the centre of the field but quickly cut back to his left, towards the left touchline. As he neared the defensive line, Tawa-Dean Simpkins dummied to his left to get through the line and then stepped off his right foot to beat the fullback down the touchline and then he was able to easily outpace the cover defenders to score a spectacular eighty metre solo try in the left corner.
Tawa-Dean Simpkins completed his hat trick scoring the easiest of the three of his tries. Tawa-Dean Simpkins was on the end of a backline movement with the ball being spun to the right with Tawa-Dean Simpkins receiving the ball in acres of space and cruising ten metres to score next to the left upright. Tawa-Dean then converted his own try by way way of a drop goal from close to the goal posts.
It was evident from just the second minute of the match on Day One that Tawa-Dean Simpkins was going to have a major impact on the tournament when he made a long line break down the right side of the field.
Tawa-Dean Simpkins also scored on Day Two against Far North Coast when in the second half he received the ball on the end of a backline movement to the Invitational team’s right. When he received the ball Tawa-Dean Simpkins dummied to his right before stepping off his right foot and running twenty five metres untouched to score under the posts.
The Day Two match against Far North Coast also saw Tawa-Dean Simpkins make probably his best run of the competition when he broke seven tackles in a fifty metre run in the second half.
Benson Tau had an outstanding 2021 season including starting in the GBJRL U14 Division One Grand Final in the centres for Logan Brothers and also being named on the wing in the 2021 Marsden SHS Rugby League Team of the Year.
Great to see Titan Hayden Miller named in the 2022 Easts Tigers MM Cup squad. The five eight is also MM Cup eligible in 2023.
The Marsden SHS rugby league program in 2021 had an outstanding cohort of hookers in their program including Tyree Bowman and Tipessa Lee who were named in the 2021 Marsden SHS Rugby League Team of the Year.
In addition to those two at Marsden are Titans contracted Corey Pearce and South Sydney's Jacob Tinsley.
Well done to PBC and Cudgen Hornets centre/second rower Cooper Camby named in the 2022 Tweed Heads Seagulls MM Cup squad.
In June 2021 the centre from the Cudgen Hornets was part of a Titans U18 Northern Rivers squad that played the Titans U17 JTS squad at Cbus Stadium in a curtain raiser to the Titans Round Fourteen NRL match against the Sydney Roosters.
Cooper Camby played the 2021 season with the Cudgen Hornets in the NRRRL U18 competition starting Round One at left centre against the Tweed Coast Raiders and was one of the Hornets try scorers in their big victory.
Cooper Camby’s try came in just the 4th minute of the Round One match when he ran through a gap down the left channel from five metres out in get the ball down five metres in from the left corner post.
Cooper Camby continued at left centre in Round Three against Casino RSM, scoring a double in Cudgen’s 40 – 18 victory.
Cooper Camby’s opening try came in the 9th minute when he ran into a gap on the left from six metres out, with Copper Camby spinning counter clockwise right on the try line to gain separation from the fullback to get the ball down nine metres in from the left corner.
Cooper Camby scored his second try of the match in the 18th minute when initially he was defending twenty metres from his own line. The Casino RSM halfback put in a grubber kick to the left side of the field with Cooper Camby taking the ball over his right shoulder and then outpaced the defence to run eighty metres down the left wing and then was able to bring the ball around to place the ball under the posts.
Cooper Camby also started at left centre in Round Four against the Bilambil Jets, scoring a double once again in Cudgen’s victory against their closest rivals.
Cooper Camby’s opening try came in the 5th minute when he was on the end of a Hornets passing movement to the left and received the ball in space and was able to comfortably run ten metres to score in the left corner. Cooper Camby added his second try in the 38th minute when he was put into a gap by Harvey Moase and ran twenty metres to score easily.
Cooper Camby continued at left centre in Round Five against the Byron Bay, once again scoring a double. Cooper Camby’s opening try came in the 6th minute of the match when he burst thirty metres down the left touchline and was able to hold off the Byron Bay halfback with left arm, maintaining his balance to get the ball over the line in the left corner.
Cooper Camby scored his second try in the 45th minute when after receiving the ball, Cooper Camby stepped off his left to beat one defender before a second left foot step beat another. As he ran at the fullback, Cooper Camby looked to his left to his support but instead he dummied in that direction with that deception fooling the fullback and then Cooper Camby brought the ball around to score under the posts.
Cooper Camby continued at left centre in Round Seven against the Marist Brothers Rams and in Round Eight against the Kyogle Turkeys where in the 48th minute Cooper Camby made a fifty metre break down the left touchline.
Cooper Camby continued at left centre in Round Ten against the Murwillumbah Mustangs and scored in the 50th minute when he received a great right arm off-load from Darcy Townsend eight metres from the line and Cooper Camby was able to get the ball down in the left corner.
Cooper Camby finished the abridged 2021 NRRRL U18 regular season as the competitions equal leading try scorer with eight tries alongside Damon Coldwell and Michael Roberts.
Cooper Camby also continued to play for PBC in 2021, playing primarily in the Langer Reserve competition and had an exceptional match in Round Four against Marsden State High School when from his left centre position he was one of PBC’s try scorers when he was able to reach out to get the ball down.
Cooper Camby also started at left centre in Round Six against Keebra Park with Cooper Camby scoring PBC’s opening try of the match in just the 2nd minute of the match when after PBC, on the last tackle, spun the ball to their right, the ball came back to Cooper Camby on the left around eight metres out. Cooper Camby was confronted immediately by a defender and subsequently put in a short grubber kick for himself, regathering the ball just short of the line and getting the ball down near the left corner.
Cooper Camby also started at left centre in the final round after the Covid 19 hiatus against Wavell State Hgih School, scoring PBC’s second try of the match.
Cooper Camby scored in the 29th minute when after receiving the ball fifteen metres out, Cooper Camby was able to get the ball down in the left corner. Cooper Camby also had a long sixty metre line break in the match. In the 16th minute Cooper Camby raced sixty metres down the left touchline after receiving an off-load from Bailey McConnell.
Former Toowoomba junior age representative Barnabas Litidamu has been named in the 2022 Tweed Heads Seagulls MM Cup squad.
One player who I anticipate will make a big impression for the Tweed Heads Seagulls MM Cup side in 2022 is young front rower Carlos Pauli.
I know little about him but he stood out in the MM Cup trials for both Tweed Heads and Burleigh and certainly deserves his spot for the 2022 MM Cup season.
The depth at Titans partnered Marsden SHS is scary and that is emphasised by the fact that second rower Marlee Smith was named on the bench for the 2021 Marsden SHS Team of the Year.
Earlier in 2021 Marlee Smith started in the second row for Marsden in the Broncos Old Boys school boy Grand Final winnings side against Ipswich SHS.
Great to see 2021 Walters Cup school boy second rower Diesel Bergsma named in the 2022 Tweed Heads Seagulls MM Cup, he is also MM Cup eligible in 2023.
Fullbacks have become increasingly important in the way rugby league is currently play and one young fullback to keep an eye on currently attends Titans partnered Marsden SHS is Jeremaiah Toko and recently he was named on the bench for the 2021 Marsden SHS Team of the Year.
Outstanding left second rower Mace Andrew earlier this week was named in the second row in the Marsden SHS 2021 Rugby League Team of the Year.
Mace Andrew's older brother Rixon Andrew is a former Titans Junior Development Squad member.
In early November 2021 Will Saunders was named in the 2022 Tweed Heads Seagulls MM Cup squad.
In late October 2020, Will Saunders was named in the Gold Coast Rugby League U16 Cyril Connell Cup Academy Squad and when the split occurred Will Saunders was named in the Tweed Heads Cyril Connell Cup squad.
Will Saunders started at hooker in the first quarter for the Seagulls in their final 2021 trial against the Souths Logan Magpies before coming back onto the field in the fourth quarter to line up at hooker one again. Over the course of the two quarters that he played Will Saunders defended well against the giant Magpies forward pack.
Will Saunders started Round One of the 2021 Cyril Connell Cup at hooker as the Bears took on the Ipswich Jets and put in an outstanding display being far and away the best player on the field in Burleigh’s eight point victory. Such was Will Saunders performance that he was deservedly named as the Seagulls best in the Round One match.
Will Saunders also started at hooker in the Round Three local derby against the Burleigh Bears putting on a dummy half clinic in the Seagulls comprehensive 33 – 6 victory. Will Saunders came close to getting his name on the scoreboard in the 5th minute of the match when he was tackled inches short of the line on the right side of the field.
Will Saunders produced another good dart out of dummy half in the 69th minute when he took off out of dummy half to his left before off-loading. The referee deemed that Will Saunders was hit late after passing the ball with Tweed Heads being awarded the penalty with a bit of a scuffle ensuing due to the late contact.
Even though he was not the biggest player on the field Will Saunders is also an effective defender and that was born out in the 25th minute when Will Saunders hit Bears second rower Junior Filimaua with a strong tackle as he was defending right on his try line with the ball coming loose as a result of Will Saunders initial contact.
Round Five against the Souths Logan Magpies saw Will Saunders once against start at hooker and scored in the 10th minute of the match as the Seagulls recorded a last minute victory.
In 2021 Will Saunders continued at PBC as part of the school’s Elite Rugby League Program and made a strong impression after starting at hooker for the PBC Walters Cup side in their Round One 16 all draw against Ipswich State High School.
Will Saunders made the first of his trademark runs out of dummy half in the 18th minute when made ten metres after darting out of dummy half to his right.
Will Saunders then in the 48th minute highlighted that even though he is not the biggest player he has functional strength when he made a great driving tackle on one of the giant Ipswich SHS front rowers just five metres out from his own line, directly in front of his own posts.
Will Saunders also started at hooker in Round Two against Forest Lake State High School and he was once again at his scheming best as early as the 5th minute when he darted out of dummy half to his right getting through the line before off-loading to Zane Harrison not strangely his pass was called forward. Will Saunders, in the 29th minute made another run out of dummy half once again to his right, on that occasion making eighteen metres.
Will Saunders continued at hooker in Round Three against Coombabah State High School scoring one and coming close to a second in an all-round impressive display.
Will Saunders scored in the 14th minute when he darted out of dummy half to his right to burrow his way over from two metres out, getting the ball down on the right side of the field mid-way between the goal posts and corner post.
As noted Will Saunders almost scored another try but in the 7th minute he was held up over the line after attempting to score from dummy half.
Two runs out of dummy half to the right of the play the ball from Will Saunders were also key points in two further tries. On the first occasion, in the 39th minute, Will Saunders ran out of dummy half to his right making fifteen metres before off-loading to Jac Finnigan who then off-load to the PBC right centre with Jac Finnigan receiving the ball back from the centre and then off-loaded the ball back to the same player to score.
In the 47th minute, once again Will Saunders darted out of dummy half down a short right blindside ten metres from the line, drawing a defender before getting the ball away to Zane Harrison who threw an out the back pass to Ray Puru who put his right winger in the corner.
Will Saunders also had an outstanding match from hooker in Round Four against Marsden State High School and also started at hooker in Round Five against Keebra Park State High School.
Will Saunders continued at hooker in Round Six against Redcliffe State High School with the talented hooker having a very good match including scoring in the 55th minute when he chased through an attacking grubber kick from Zane Harrison to dive on the ball under the posts with the referee consequently blowing the whistle to award the try.
Will Saunders also started at hooker in the final round after the Covid 19 hiatus against Wavell State High School and scored in the 42nd minute of the match when he darted out of dummy half to his right and charging twelve metres to crash over seven metres in from the right corner post.
Will Saunders also started at hooker in PBC’s semi-final victory over Wavell State High School.
The 2021 Walters Cup Grand Final against Keebra Park SHS saw Will Saunders to start at hooker and score a great solo try in the dying minutes of PBC’s 30 – 12 victory. Will Saunders’s Grand Final involvement was immediate when he made the opening tackle of the match in conjunction with Jaylen Tawea.
In the 46th minute PBC were working the ball out of their own territory and still ten metres from the halfway mark. As he had done all match, Will Saunders moved into dummy half picking up the ball and running out of dummy half, exploding through the heart of the defensive line and then used his speed to veer to his left around the Keebra park fullback to dive over adjacent to the left upright.
Ealirer in the Grand Final, in the 25th minute to be precise Will Saunders made fifteen metres through the centre of the field after running to his right out of dummy half.
The talented Titans linked PBC student started at hooker for the PBC Hancock Cup School Boy Grand Final side that went down in heart breaking fashion 26 – 24 to Marsden State High School who kicked a penalty goal after the final siren.
Throughout the Grand Final Will Saunders took on the giant Marsden forward pack and was the deserved scorer of PBC’s first try of the match, when from close range he darted out of dummy half to the right of the play the ball to force his way over ten metres in from the left corner post.
Will Saunders was also heavily involved in PBC’s try early in the second half when he picked up the ball from the back of a scrum ten metres out before getting it early to Ray Puru down the blind side for the flying winger to score in the right corner. The play seemed to be a perfectly performed set play by PBC.
Will Saunders was at his nippy best in Round Three of the 2020 Hancock Cup competition against Coombabah State High School when he darted to his right out of dummy half from around three metres out and was able to get the ball down with two defenders trying to hold him up.
Will Saunders also scored for PBC in their Round Two match against Keebra Park State High School. When PBC put in a clearing kick from their own territory, Will Saunders followed the kick through down the centre of the field. Keebra Park could not retrieve the ball on the full, letting it bounce and it was taken by PBC down the right touchline and Will Saunders was correctly positioned to get the inside pass to run twenty metres to score around fifteen metres to the right of the uprights. If Will Saunders had not chased the kick as hard as he did, PBC and of course himself would not have scored the try.
In early October 2020 Will Saunders was part of the Titans Gold Coast based U14 side that played a trial match against a Titans NRRRL U14/U15 squad with the match being played at Cbus Stadium, giving the young players a great experience with an added bonus that the teams played the match in Titans jerseys.
At the 2021 Marsden State High School Rugby League Excellence Awards, Storm Enoka was named in the second row in the Marsden State High School Team of the Year.
Storm Enoka was part of the 2021 Marsden State High School Bronco’s Old Boys Cup side, including starting in the second row in the 2021 Bronco’s Old Boys Cup Final against Ipswich SHS with Storm deservedly being named Player of the Match after scoring one try and throwing the last pass for two more.
Storm Enoka scored in the 26th minute when from thirty five metres out down the left channel, Storm Enoka charged through a gap and getting to the line before pushing off the Ipswich SHS fullback and putting the ball down midway between the goal posts and corner post on the left side of the field.
As noted, Storm Enoka threw the final pass for two of Marsden’s first half tries being in the 3rd and 11th minutes. On both occasions, Storm Enoka received the ball on the left side of the field and got to the outside of his direct opponent, drawing in another before passing to his left to centre Chris Vaimili who crossed out wide.
After the completion of the Walters Cup Grand Final Storm Enoka was named in the second row in the Courier Mail Team of the Grand Finals.
In early November 2021 Storm Enoka played one match for the U14 Queensland Maori representative side at the QPICC Carnival with that match being the Grand Final when Storm Enoka came off the bench as Maori went down by two points.
The powerhouse rugby flanker or No. 8 was part of the 2021 Gold Coast Invitational U13 King of Country Rugby side that won the Tournament with Storm Enoka scoring a strong try on Day One against the USQ Saints.
Storm Enoka scored in the first half against USQ when he received the ball on the left side of the field twenty eight metres out from the line, immediately getting to the outside of the defensive line and then using a strong left arm fend to keep the defence off him as he charged down the left touchline to score in the left corner.
Storm Enoka recorded a try assist on Day Two against Far North Coast when he ran into space on the right and could have scored himself but five metres from the line passed to his right winger to score in the corner.
In early November 2021 Will Taylor was named in the 2022 Tweed Heads Seagulls MM Cup squad.
Will Taylor was due to start from the bench for the Northern Rivers Titans in Round One of the 2020 U16 Andrew Johns Cup against the Parramatta Eels at Cudgen but the match was cancelled.
Will Taylor started Round Two of the U16 Andrew Johns Cup from the bench against the Newcastle Knights in Ballina coming on the play in the dummy half role and also started from the bench in Round Three against the Central Coast Roosters.
After missing Round Four, Will Taylor was back on the bench for the Round Five local derby against North Coast once again providing a spark when he came on to play in the dummy half role prior to half time.
Will Taylor played the 2020 season with the Bilambil Jets in the Group 18 U16 competition, in fact Will Taylor was the Club Captain. In the 2020 Group 18 U16 regular season, the Bilambil jets won five matches, scoring 152 points and conceding 118 to finish with a +34 points differential.
The young is from the Bilambil Jets club in Northern New South Wales and captained the Group 18 U15 side at the 2019 New South Wales Country Age Championships held in Port Macquarie in September starting at hooker in all of Group 18’s matches.
After the completion of the Championships Will Taylor was named the 2019 Group 18 U15 representative season’s Best and Fairest player in recognition of his outstanding Championship performances.
Will Taylor started from the bench for the Titans U15 side that defeated a Balmain Tigers U15 Touring side 34 – 16 in early October coming on to play in the dummy half role and crossed the try line in the left corner in the math, but the final pass was called forward.
In 2019 Will Taylor played for the Bilambil Jets in the Group 18 U15 competition and was part of the Grand Final winning side that defeated Byron Bay/Lennox Head in a thriller.
Will Taylor was also part of the PBC School Boy program in 2019 representing his school in a number of school boy competitions including co-captaining the PBC Year Nine Hancock side that erased a 12 – 6 half time deficit to win the final of the Hancock Cup 24 – 18 against Coombabah State High School with Will Taylor playing five eight in the final and operating primarily on the left side of the field for PBC.
The Titans affiliated Northern Rivers Titans U16 Andrew Johns and U18 Laurie Daley Cup squads start their 2022 preparation on Sunday with their first training session at Ballina.
There are more than a few Titans boys in both squads.
Great to see Titans JTS squad member Levi Bannon named in the Marsden State High School 2021 Rugby League Team of the Year.
Giant Titans front row prospect Xaver Stowers was recently named in the 2021 Marsden State high School Rugby League Team of the Year.
In early November 2021 Titans contracted Matthew Barrow was named in the 2022 Tweed Heads Seagulls MM Cup squad.
In January 2021 Matthew Barrow started from the bench for the Titans U17 side in their annual match at Coffs Harbour against the Newcastle Knights even though he was still U16 eligible in 2021. Matthew Barrow played on the right wing when he came on as the Titans recorded a well deserved 32 – 20 victory.
Matthew Barrow’s first touch of the ball came late in the first half when he darted out of dummy half to the left of the play the ball on the half way mark to settle himself into the match in the 28th minute of the firt half.
Matthew Barrow is also good defensively in the match, on one occasion early in the second half preventing a try and late in the first half preventing a long Knights run down the left touch line.
Late in the first half, around forty five metres out the Knights left side engineered an overlap that meant Matthew Barrow was facing three attackers, Matthew Barrow made the correct choice to come forward to take the correct attacker thus eliminating the threat.
Early in the second half, Newcastle made a break on Matthew Barrow’s inside, Matthew Barrow turned and chased and just as it looked like Newcastle would score in the left corner, Matthew Barrow came from the clouds so to speak, to tackle the Knights player from behind, knocking the ball loose.
Matthew Barrow finished the match with two line breaks and an impressive game leading 228 metres made running with the ball.
In June 2021 Matthew Barrow started on the left wing for a Titans U17 side that played a Titans Northern Rivers U18 squad at Cbus Stadium as a curtain raiser to the Titans Round Fourteen NRL match against the Sydney Roosters, making two long breaks down the left touchline in the later part of the second half.
The first of the two line breaks that Matthew Barrow made in the second half was a seventy five metre effort after he picked up a dropped ball, with Matthew Barrwo getting to within eight metres of the line before he was brought down from behind. Matthew Barrow’s other line break accounted for fifty metres after he was put into space by Keano Kini.
Matthew Barrow was also involved in the Titans U15 Academy matches at Burleigh in March 2020 and post those round robin matches signed his contract with the Titans which will see him part of the outstanding Titans JTS program for the next couple of seasons at least.
In late October 2020, Matthew Barrow was named in the Gold Coast Rugby League U16 Cyril Connell Cup Academy Squad and when the split occurred Matthew Barrow was named in the Tweed Heads Cyril Connell Cup squad.
Matthew Barrow started at fullback in the first two quarters for the Seagulls in their final 2021 trial against the Souths Logan Magpies before moving to right centre in the third quarter. It was from that right centre position that Matthew Barrow produced a try saving tackle when he came from the clouds to bring down from behind the Magpies five eight who had broken through the line.
In the first two quarters whilst at fullback, Matthew Barrow had to be on his toes with all types of kicks coming his way but on each occasion Matthew Barrow was well positioned and had safe hands taking each type of kick comfortably.
On one occasion in the second quarter Matthew Barrow also chimed into the backline on the right throwing a good long cut-out pass to his right to put his winger into space down the touchline, whislt the winger ultimately forced into touch, it was still a good piece of work by Matthew Barrow.
Matthew Barrow started Round One of the 2021 Cyril Connell Cup at fullback as the Seagulls took on the Ipswich Jets and moved to the left wing for the Round Three local derby against the Burleigh Bears, scoring a double in the Seagulls 33 – 6 victory.
Matthew Barrow’s first try of the match was a long range affair coming in the 29th minute. With Burleigh attacking the line from close range they put in a grubber kick behind Tweed Heads left side defence, fullback Lewis Symonds got to the ball in the in goal darting to his left and getting the ball to Matthew Barrow who raced ninety metres untouched to score.
Matthew Barrow scored his second half try in the 43rd minute and it was a lot less spectacular. Matthew Barrow stayed close to the left touchline, receiving a looping pass which he took and took a step forward putting the ball down for probably the easiest try that he will ever score.
Matthew Barrow’s first contribution for the Seagulls in the match came in the opening minutes of the match when he was in a position to take a Burleigh clearing kick on the full and return the kick running hard into the Bears chasing defensive line.
Matthew Barrow backed that run up with another strong run in the 8th minute when he took the Burleigh kick-off after the Jacob Sa try on the full and charged into the defensive line and immediately fought to get to his feet and consequently was awarded a penalty when he was held down.
Matthew Barrow came off his left wing once again in the 13th minute to take a hit-up in centre field, making ten metres to get the ball out of their own twenty metre area. Matthew Barrow made even more metres in the 36th minute with a run of more than forty metres down the left side of the field, bumping off the first defender who had tried to tackle him front on. Matthew Barrow got within ten metres of the try line before two Burleigh defenders were finally able to break him down.
In the 42nd minute made a further strong run making ten metres and bringing the ball out of the Burleigh twenty metre area and Matthew Barrow was awarded a penalty when he was not allowed to his feet quickly. Being awarded that penalty was telling as from the subsequent kick for touch and set of six, Matthew Barrow scored in the left corner for his second try of the match.
Matthew Barrow rounded out a more than solid match in the 68th minute when he took a Burleigh kick-off from Keahn Skipps field goal, on the full, running the ball back to the Seagulls thirty five metre mark and put Tweed Heads back onto the attack immediately.
Matthew Barrow also produced another highlight reel play and so nearly pulled up a great try saving tackle in the 39th minute. Burleigh made a break through the centre of the field from long range and it looked a certain try but Matthew Barrow came from his left wing to five full length from behind dragging the bell loose just as the Burleigh player was about to score. The referee however called play on with Tana Tuhaka, the Burleigh five eight picking the ball up and diving over. The fact that a try was ultimately awarded should not detract however to the outstanding piece of play from Matthew Barrow.
Round Five against the Souths Logan Magpies saw Matthew Barrow once against start on the left wing.
Well done to PBC students Toran O'Donnell and Marley McLaren for being awarded the 2021 Ryan James and Nash Dawson Rugby League Awards.
Titans contracted standout Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa had an outstanding Langer Cup campaign with Marsden SHS and was rewarded with selection in the Marsden 2021 Team of the Year recently.
The 2021 season of Titans NRL Top 30 player Jojo Fifita:
In early May 2021 a Titans U19 side travelled to North Queensland to play an U19 Cowboys selection in a curtain raiser to a Cowboys v Broncos NRL match with Jojo Fifita starting the match on the left wing in his first match in a Titans jersey.
Jojo Fifita made his rugby league debut in Round One of the 2021 Hastings Deering’s Colts competition when he started on the right wing for the Tweed Heads Seagulls against the Souths Logan Magpies.
Jojo Fifita’s first hit-up in rugby league came in just the 2nd minute of the match when he took the ball one metre out of his own line to the right of the dummy half, making thirteen metres up field.
Jojo Fifita made his first rugby league line break in the 12th minute when he flew onto a cut-out pass to his right wing, with Jojo Fifita taking the ball on the halfway mark and literally flying down the right wing, running over one defender and easily outpacing the cover defence. When he got to the fullback, Jojo Fifita was able to position is inside support well to get the ball away to Klese Hass on around the twenty metre mark.
In the 25th minute, Jojo Fifita showed that he is willing to do the hard work of bringing the ball out of his own territory when he made twelve metres from a hit-up off to the left of the dummy half to get the ball out to the thirty metre mark.
When the second half started Jojo Fifita was back in the action almost immediately with a bullocking run of twenty metres out of dummy half, with at least 60% of those metres post contact with Jojo Fifita not stopped until he got fifteen metres inside Magpies territory.
In the 45th minute, Jojo Fifita took the second hit-up off the kick-off to Ediq Ambrosyev’s try and was even under heavy pressure able to get the ball out to the twenty metre mark, breaking three tackles and making nine metres.
Late in the match with Tweed Heads chasing the match, Jojo Fifita almost scored a late try. Souths Logan were bringing the ball out of their own territory when Charlie Murray produced a one on one steal and was able to find space to throw a long pass to his right that found Jojo Fifita is space and but for a diving tackle that halted Jojo Fifita by just one leg, he would have dived over in the corner to record his first rugby league try.
Jojo Fifita moved to the left wing in the Round Two local derby against Burleigh with Jojo Fifita scoring his first ever rugby league try in the 3rd minute of the Seagulls 32 – 24 victory.
As noted Jojo Fifita’s try came in the 3rd minute and it was worth the wait. Taine Udjur-Berghan put up a bomb to his left wing and Jojo Fifita came through and jumped above Ronin Rio to take the ball on the full three metres out from the line and he was able to scramble over to get the ball down in the left corner from there.
Jojo Fifita went looking for the ball in the 16th minute when he came off his wing to take a hit-up off the dummy half through the centre of the field, making thirteen metres before he was dragged down on his own twenty metre mark.
Jojo Fifita showed that the skill of a quick (and accurate) catch and pass is transferrable between rugby and rugby league when in the 27th minute whilst under intense pressure caught and passed in the same motion, getting the ball away to his left to Caleb Hodges.
A sequence of efforts in the 37th minute highlighted that Jojo Fifita took to rugby league easily and quickly. First off, Jojo Fifita made a heavy well executed front on tackle on tackle on Blake Campbell that knocked the ball loose with Burleigh on the attack and then from the subsequent set of six, Jojo Fifita came off his left wing to take a hit-up and make fifteen metres, breaking five tackles along the way. The Jojo Fifita went all of the way over to the right side of the field to make fifteen metres more running with the ball.
It was interesting to see that early in the second half Jojo Fifita spent time at left centre, alternating with Caleb Hodges and it was from left centre in the 42nd minute where Jojo Fifita made a hard working seven metres to get the ball more than twenty metres away from his own try line.
Jojo Fifita’s plus speed was on display for all to see with the 50th minute when he turned and chased the Burleigh right winger forty metres before making a big tackle ten metres out from the line. Jojo Fifita gave him a fair start but caught him easily.
Once again in the 59th minute Jojo Fifita displayed that he is not afraid to get his hands dirty when he took the second hit-up from a changeover running through the centre of the field, making ten metres, six of which were post contact.
Jojo Fifita was also heavily involved in Glenn McGradey’s 71st minute try with Jojo Fifita starting the movement on the left which ended with Glenn McGradey scoring on the right. After receiving the ball Jojo Fifita cut back towards centre field, breaking the line there before offloading to Ediq Ambrosyev who then got the ball away to his right to Jaylan To’O who then found Glenn McGradey who scored on the right side of the field.
Jojo Fifita also was named to start on the left wing in Round Three against the Redcliffe Dolphins however he was a late scratching due to injury.
Powerful Marsden SHS second rower Eli Tuli has been named in the Tweed Heads Seagulls 2022 MM Cup squad.
At the start of the 2021 season Eli Tuli was part of the Souths Logan Magpies MM Cup squad before playing in the Langer Cup for Marsden SHS.
In total in the 2021 NRRRL U18 competition, Kia Smallwood played in twelve matches for the Bilambil Jets and scored 34 points from five tries and seven goals.
Even though he was still U16 eligible in 2021 Reshawn Anderson played six matches in the U18 NRRRL for the Bilambil Jets finishing with a try scoring strike rate of 67% as a result of scoring four tries.
Well done to outstanding prospect Waylon Caldwell for being awarded the 2021 Casino RSM Bill Raby Award for the Most Outstanding U13 to U16 Player in 2021.
Jye Brady had a very solid 2021 season in the U18 NRRRL competition, playing in twelve matches for the Bilambil Jets and scoring four tries.
Titans contracted Michael Roberts had an outstanding year in the 2021 NRRRL U18 competition for the Bilambil Jets finishing with 84 points from just ten games by scoring eight tries and kicking 26 goals
After a successful season that saw them win their first ever Langer Cup title, the Titans partnered Marsden SHS was recently named the Logan City 2021 Sports Team of the Year.
Great to see St Michael's College fullback and Mudgeeraba Redback Teddy Foster named in the 2022 Burleigh MM Cup squad and he is also MM Cup eligible in 2023.
In 2021 Teddy Foster also played for St Michael's in the Confraternity Shield.
Marymount College lock Taj Harris had a very solid season and rightly has been named in the 2022 Burleigh MM Cup squad.
Another 2021 Marymount College student will be playing MM Cup in 2022 being outside back Henry Mellick who has been named in the Tweed Heads Seagulls MM Cup squad. Henry Mellick also trialled for the Burleigh MM Cup squad.
In addition to playing for Marymount College, Henry Mellick also played for the Currumbin Eagles in the GCRL U18 Division One competition.
Dwayne Cwan-Fuimaono had a big 2021 season for Helensvale in the GCRL U18 Division One competititon and for Coombabah SHS in the Langer Cup and he will looking to get his 2022 underway on a positive note as well after trialling well in the centres for the Burleigh MM Cup side and was subsequently named in the Bears squad.
The strength of the Keebra Park Rugby League Academy can be seen by the fact that five eight Karauria Stokes played the 2021 season in the Langer Cup Reserve competition but in 2022 will look to continue his rugby league career starting as part of the Burleigh Bears MM Cup squad.
In early November 2021 Reico Ratana was named in the 2022 Tweed Heads Seagulls MM Cup squad.
In November 2020 Reico Ratana was named in the powerful 2021 Tweed Heads Seagulls MM Cup squad.
Reico Ratana started from the bench for the Tweed Heads Seagulls MM Cup side in their first 2021 trial in early February which was against the Easts Tigers at Langland’s Park as Tweed Heads commenced their season with an impressive 28 – 12 first up victory against a full strength Tigers side.
In the Tweed Heads Seagulls MM Cup sides second trial against Burleigh, Reico Ratana started the second half at right second row and scoring an impressive try in the dying seconds of the Seagulls big win.
After working solidly in both attack and defence for the duration of the second half, Reico Ratana was rewarded with a well-deserved try in the dying seconds when he ran a good outside shoulder route from around thirty metres out to go straight through the Burleigh line. When he was confronted by the Bears fullback, Reico Ratana threw a dummy to his right, that the fullback fell for and Reico Ratana was able to run the remainder of the way to the line and score next to the right upright.
Reico Ratana had some other good moments in the match, one being when he chased through a long Seagulls kick to the left corner, Reico Ratana charged downfield and along with Reef Sommerville and Elijah Lui got to the Burleigh fullback and dragged him back into the in-goal area, forcing Burleigh to drop the ball out from their own line.
In Round One of the 2021 MM Cup competition, Reico Ratana was named 18th man against the Ipswich Jets and was named on the Seagulls extended bench for Round Two against the Souths Logan Magpies before moving into the game day seventeen late in the match, starting from the bench.
Reico Ratana had some strong runs in the match, the first being from the kick-off to Jaylan De Groot’s try in the 47th minute when he was able to bring the ball out to the twenty metre mark. Reico Ratana made another strong run in the 52nd minute when he took a hit-up to the right of the play the ball, immediately cutting back to his left towards the undefended area behind the play the ball to make to make twelve valuable metres and then took another hit-up two tackles later.
Defensively Reico Ratana also had some good moments including a strong front on tackle in the 48th minute Souths Logan No. 16 and then a couple of tackles later in the same Souths Logan set, Reico Ratana crunched the five eight in a heavy tackle.
Reico Ratana showed his desperation in defence in the 52nd minute when he along with Jack Cullen both chased hard and made a last ditch tackle on the Souths Logan fullback who had burst through the centre of the field off an offload.
Round Three saw Reico Ratana initially named on the Seagulls extended bench for the derby against the Burleigh Bears however Reico Ratana ended up starting the match from the bench.
Reico Ratana was also named on the Seagulls extended bench for their Round Four match against the Ipswich Jets and for Round Five against the Souths Logan Magpies.
Reico Ratana came into the bench for the Seagulls for the final regular season round of the 2021 MM Cup competition in the local derby against the Burleigh Bears coming into the match late in the first half.
2021 also saw Reico Ratana line up once again for PBC State High School in the South East Queensland School Boy Langer Cup competition starting Round One from the bench against Ipswich State High School.
Reico Ratana came onto the field to play in the front row towards the end of the first half with his first hit-up coming in the 26th minute when he took the hit-up from the kick off after Ryan Foran’s try. Reico Ratana made another strong run from another kick-off, on that occasion in the 58th minute after Jett Forbes had scored his second try of the match.
Reico Ratana also started from the bench in Round Two against St Mary’s Toowoomba, coming onto the field in the 21st minute and throughout his time on the field made good ground running the ball against the giant St Mary’s forward pack.
Reico Ratana also started from the bench in Round Three against Coombabah State High School as well as in the Round Four blockbuster against Marsden State High School and the much anticipated Round Five local derby against Keebra Park State High School. Reico Ratana also started from the bench in Round Six away to Mabel Park State High School.
After the competition was suspended for a number of weeks due to a Covid 19 lock down, Reico Ratana was named on the bench for PBC State High School in their semi-final against Keebra Park State High School.
Reico Ratana came into the match towards the end of the first half and made an almost immediate impact in the 25th minute with a great run that included a cut back off his left foot to get within two metres of the line before he was brought down.
In the 2021 Langer Cup Grand Final against Marsden State High School, Reico Ratana was named to start from the bench for PBC.
Reico Ratana was then named to start from the bench for PBC in the Queensland Open School Boys Final (Phil Hall Cup) against St Brendans College Yeppoon coming on and making significant ground through the centre of the ruck on multiple occasions.
2021 also saw Reico Ratana play in the Gold Coast Rugby League U18 Division One competition in the Nerang Roosters including starting the 2021 Grand Final against the Helensvale Hornets from the bench and almost scoring in the 35th minute but Reico Ratana was held up ten metres in from the left corner post after a great hole run off a Josh Lynn pass from ten metres out.
Some of Reico Ratana’s best moments in the Grand Final came when he was returning kick-offs with his best kick-off return coming in the 47th minute after a Kyen Murphy try with Reico Ratana taking possession of the ball on his own try line and broke through the Helensvale defensive line by beating two tackles to get the ball out to the thirty metre mark.
Great to see stand out South Grafton Rebels second rower Noah Reti starting training with the Titan JTS program.
This young man is one heck of a talent.
At the 2021 Marsden State High School Rugby League Excellence Awards, Chris Vaimilli was named in the centres in the Marsden State High School Team of the Year.
The talented centre played for Titans partnered Marsden State High School in the 2021 Bronco’s Old Boys Cup, including scoring a double from left centre in the 2021 Grand Final as Marsden accounted for Ipswich State High School 46 – 12.
Chris Vaimili scored his opening try of the Grand Final just the 3rd minute of the match when he received a pass from his inside from Storm Enoka with Chris Vaimili crossing five metres in from the left corner.
Chris Vaimili completed his double in the 15th minute when once again he received a pass from his inside from Storm Enoka with Chris Vailmili diving over in the left corner.
Then early in the second half, Chris Vaimili made a strong line break down the left touchline from inside his own territory to get well over the halfway mark but making twenty five metres.
After the completion of the Walters Cup Grand Final Chris Vaimili was named at left centre in the Courier Mail Team of the School Boy Grand Finals.
After playing for the Tweed Heads Seagulls in the U16 Cyril Connell Cup in 2021, half Keahn Skipps is on the move in 2022 to play for the Burleigh Bears in the MM Cup competition.
For the Seagulls in the Cyril Connell Cup competition this year Keahn Skipps captained the Tweed Heads side as well as starting all three matches at half.
In Round One against Ipswich he kicked four conversions from five attempts and then added a further four conversions and a field goal in Round Three against Burleigh before kicking three conversions from as many attempts in Round Five against the Souths Logan Magpies.
Powerful forward Caleb Te Momo will start the 2022 season as part of the Burleigh Bears MM Cup squad after playing this season for the Bears U16 Cyril Connell Cup side.
Caleb Te Momo started Round One against South Logan at lock before dropping back to the bench for Round Three against Tweed Heads. He then started in the second row and scored in the 12th minute in Round Five against the Ipswich Jets.
Great to see giant Keebra Park SHS front rower Andreas Mariner named in the 2022 Tweed Heads Seagulls MM Cup squad.
This season Kees Cassidy started all three of his matches in the U16 Cyril Connell Cup competition for the Tweed Heads Seagulls in the front row being against the Ipswich Jets, Burleigh Bears and Souths Logan Magpies and in 2022 he will be looking to force his way into the Seagulls MM Cup squad after recently being named in the Tweed Heads squad.
Kees Cassidy is also MM Cup eligible in 2023.
After trialling well at five eight Tana Tuhaka has been named in the Burleigh 2022 MM Cup squad and is also MM Cup eligible in 2023.
In the Cyril Connell Cup this season for Burleigh Tana Tuhaka started all three of the Bears matches at five eight.
After not scoring in Round One against Souths Logan, in Round Three against the Tweed Heads Seagulls Tana Tuhaka scored the Bears only try in the 32nd minute and then stepped up to convert his own try. Then in Round Five against the Ipswich Jets he added five conversions to his points tally.
This season Jacob Sa started all three of his matches in the U16 Cyril Connell Cup competition for the Tweed Heads Seagulls at right second row being against the Ipswich Jets, Burleigh Bears and Souths Logan Magpies and in 2022 he will be looking to force his way into the Seagulls MM Cup squad after recently being named in the Tweed Heads squad. Jacob Sa is also MM Cup eligible in 2023.
Jacob Sa who was named the 2021 Gold Coast Rugby League U16 Representative Player of the Year was particularly effective against Burleigh scoring the Seagulls opening try of the match in just the 5th minute when he burst onto the ball from ten metres out and was able to reach out with his right arm to get the ball down adjacent to the right upright.
In 2021 Sam McAllister started all three of his matches in the U16 Cyril Connell Cup competition for the Burleigh Bears in the front row being against the Souths Logan Magpies, Tweed Heads Seagulls and the Ipswich Jets and in 2022 he will be looking to force his way into the Bears MM Cup squad after recently being named in the Burleigh squad.
Sam McAllister is also MM Cup eligible in 2023.
This season Max Murphy started all three of his matches in the U16 Cyril Connell Cup competition for the Tweed Heads Seagulls at left second row being against the Ipswich Jets, Burleigh Bears and Souths Logan Magpies and in 2022 he will be looking to force his way into the Seagulls MM Cup squad after recently being named in the Tweed Heads squad. Max Murphy is also MM Cup eligible in 2023.
Max Murphy scored in 11th minute of Round One against the Ipswich Jets.
In 2021 Isaiah ***alilo started all three of his matches in the U16 Cyril Connell Cup competition for the Burleigh Bears at hooker being against the Souths Logan Magpies, Tweed Heads Seagulls and the Ipswich Jets and in 2022 he will be looking to force his way into the Bears MM Cup squad after recently being named in the Burleigh squad and is also MM Cup eligible in 2023.
Whilst powerful second rower Junior Filimaua played for the Burleigh Bears in the U16 Cyril Connell Cup competition this season, starting all three of his matches against the Souths Logan Magpies, Tweed Heads Seagulls and the Ipswich Jets he is on the move in 2022 and will start the 2022 season as part of the Tweed Heads Seagulls MM Cup squad and is MM Cup eligible once again in 2023.
Junior Filimaua scored one try in the Cyril Connell this season, scoring in the 32nd minute of Round Five against the Ipswich Jets.
Titans contracted Josh Lynn has been named in the 2022 Tweed Heads Seagulls MM Cup squad.
Josh Lynn was also a member of the successful Tweed Heads Seagulls MM Cup squad in 2021, playing in the Seagulls 2021 MM Cup trials, including scoring in the Seagulls second MM Cup trial after running off a good short ball from Jaylan De Groot on the right side of the field to find his way over the try line.
For PBC in the Langer Cup Open A competition, Josh Lynn played a number of matches in the halves in their successful school boy campaign including a try and six conversion performance in Round One against Ipswich State High School.
Josh Lynn also played a number of matches for PBC in the Langer Cup Reserve Competition including a player of the match performance against Marsden State High School including setting up centre Cooper Camby to score in the left corner.
Josh Lynn excelled for Nerang in the GCRL U18 Division One competition, starting at halfback in all of the matches that he played in.
In the 2021 GCRL U18 Division One regular season, Josh Lynn played in eight matches scoring two tries and kicking twenty six conversions and one penalty goal in Round Two against the Currumbin Eagles.
With the boot Josh Lynn kicked seven from seven conversions in Round One against the Burleigh Bears as well as five from five in Round Four against the Ormeau Shearers and kicked four goals in Rounds Ten and Thirteen against Runaway Bay and Helensvale respectively.
Josh Lynn’s tries came in Round One against the Burleigh Bears and Round Thirteen against the Helensvale Hornets. Josh Lynn’s Round Thirteen try came in the 45th minute when he scored near the right goal post after backing up through the centre of the field. Josh Lynn in fact started the movement that led to his try when from near halfway he put in a kick towards the right wing and then as noted he backed up through the centre of the field to get the ball back.
Josh Lynn could have scored a second try in the final minute when once again he was on the spot after a long break to receive the ball but a metre from the line and no defenders in wight he gave the ball to Haysley McDonald to score.
Josh Lynn then started the 2021 GCRL U18 Division One Preliminary Final at halfback for the Roosters against the Ormeau Shearers kicking a key conversion in the 53rd minute that put Nerang in front 18 – 16, a lead which they held onto to qualify for the 2021 GCRL U18 Division One Grand Final against the Helensvale Hornets.
In the 2021 Gold Coast Rugby League U18 Division One Grand Final Josh Lynn started at halfback for the Roosters side against the Helensvale Hornets.
Josh Lynn contributed six conversions from eight attempts and a try assist to the Roosters 2021 Premiership success as a result of an impressive 44 – 12 victory after Nerang were behind 12 – 10 at halftime.
Josh Lynn’s try assist came in the 10th minute when he was operating on the left side of the field. Josh Lynn received the ball and cut towards his left around twenty two metres out from the line before throwing a great pass to his left to put Taniela Mapusua-Lotaki into a big gap with the powerhouse centre putting the ball down ten metres in from the left corner post. Josh Lynn then stepped up to convert the try that he had set up.
In relation to his goal kicking two of Josh Lynn’s conversions were from the touchline, the first in the 35th minute from the right touchline to convert Kyen Murphy’s try and then from the left touchline in the 42nd minute to convert Jeremaiah Temapo’s second try of the match.
Josh Lynn was in fact involved in Kyen Murphy’s 35th minute try. Nerang spun the ball to the right with Arama Hau having to dive forward to take the ball, Josh Lynn looped around behind the prone Arama Hau receiving the ball and then when twenty two metres out Josh Lynn threw a cut out pass to his right to Kyen Murphy in space with the fullback then able to beat three tackles to dive over in the right corner.
In late August 2021, Josh Lynn was named in the Queensland City U17 squad for a two match series against a Queensland U17 Country squad with Josh Lynn starting the match at five eight and scoring in the 9th minute as well as kicking eight conversions from nine attempts.
Josh Lynn scored in the 9th minute when he backed up a City break that started deep inside their own territory with Josh Lynn receiving the ball around thirty metres out from the line off a Seth Nikotemo pass with Josh Lynn then outpacing the Country cover defence to dive over untouched in the left corner. Ironically Josh Lynn then missed the conversion, his only miss of the afternoon.
Josh Lynn also recorded a try assist in the 4th minute when after sliding the through the Country defence on the left side of the field from twelve metres out, Josh Lynn passed the ball back inside to put Jye Gray over with the five eight then able to bring the ball around to put the ball down under the posts.
In addition to scoring one try, Josh Lynn also made a number of other telling plays including a 3rd minute line break assist when from just ten metres out from his own line, Josh Lynn ran the ball to the line from a City scrum win, getting part way through the line before getting the ball away to Robert Toia who charged eighty metres downfield.
Playing the entire seventy minutes of the match Josh Lynn ran for sixty two metres (five post contact), broke four tackles and made nine tackles at a 90% tackling efficiency.
Josh Lynn was also heavily involved in both of Robert Toia’s second half tries. On the first occasion, in the 60th minute, Josh Lynn put up the bomb to the left side of the field that Robert Toia picked up to score and then in the 66th minute Josh Lynn threw the final pass to Robert Toia who was able to get the ball down in the left corner just before being forced into touch.
In early November Titans contracted Blake Forder was named in the 2022 Tweed Heads Seagulls MM Cup squad.
In January 2021 Blake Forder started on the left wing for the Titans U17 side in their annual match at Coffs Harbour against the Newcastle Knights with the Titans recording an impressive victory in the contest 32 - 20.
As noted, Blake Forder started the match on the left wing, but in the second half, spent a lot of time at fullback, regularly hunting around just behind the play the ball when the Titans were in possession of the ball.
Blake Forder produced an impressive moment in the second half, when he made a twenty five metre charge when he received the ball on the left two passes of the back of the scrum. Blake Forder ran at the line with the ball in two hands and shaped to pass to his right on a number of occasions before pulling the ball back in prior to contact with the defensive line and made another ten metres post contact.
When he moved to fullback in the second half, Blake Forder continually showed exceptional positioning in the custodian role taking numerous Knights clearing kicks on the full, but it was two instances late in the match, that really showcased his positional ability at the fullback position.
With just on three minutes to go in the match and the Knights down by twelve points Newcastle kicked for touch from a penalty with the Knights kicker looking to make as much ground as possible but Blake Forder was on hand to cut the ball off before it went into touch and then was able to bring the ball back twenty metres to around the halfway mark.
In the last minute of the match, Blake Forder was once again positioned perfectly and was able to get across to a Knights chip kick and bundle the ball into touch less than a metre out from the Titans line. If Blake Forder did not get there when he did, one of three Knights players would have retrieved the ball and scored in their left corner.
In June 2021 Blake Forder was part of a Titans U17 side that played a Titans Northern Rivers U18 squad at Cbus Stadium as a curtain raiser to the Titans Round Fourteen NRL match against the Sydney Roosters with Blake Forder scoring towards the end of the second half in the right corner after good work by multiple players on his inside.
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.
Post the 2021 U18 Laurie Daley Cup competition, Blake Forder played for the Murwillumbah Mustangs in the U18 NRRRL Competition starting Round One at five eight against the Bilambil Jets.
Operating on the right side of the field Blake Forder proved to be a handful for the Jets defence including twice in the first half developing an overlap when he beat his opposing defender on the outside before dragging in the outside defender, but unfortunately on both occasions Blake Forder’s pass to his winger went to ground with a try in the offing.
After Murwillumbah had a number of byes back to back, Blake Forder started on the right wing in Round Six against the Kyogle Turkeys before moving to fullback in the second half.
Whilst playing on the right wing in the first half, Blake Forder recorded a 14th minute try when he was on the end of a Mustang backline movement and raced over in the right corner to score after receiving the ball fourteen metres from the try line.
In addition to a myriad of other impressive moments Blake Forder also recorded two line breaks in the match with the first coming in the 29th minute when from a standing start fifty five metres from the line, Blake Forder raced down the right touchline cutting back inside twice to break tackles before pushing out of a third and cutting back towards the touchline before eventually being take to ground after making thirty five metres.
Blake Forder made his second line break of the match in the 56th minute when whilst operating at fullback he looped around to the left after a Mustangs scrum win slicing through the Kyogle defence from thirty metres out and getting to within two metres of the line before his momentum was halted.
Blake Forder first, of many, significant contributions to the Mustangs victory came in just the 5th minute when he ran the ball back strongly from the kick-off after Murwillumbah’s opening try.
Then in the 41st minute Blake Forder made twelve metres from a hit-up to the left of the dummy half. Blake Forder made a further eighteen metres in the 48th minute from a winding run where he stepped off his left foot on two occasions.
Blake Forder rounded out his impressive match in the 53rd minute when he swooped on a dropped ball by Kyogle to make fifteen metres, breaking four tackles along the way.
Blake Forder once again started at fullback In Round Eight against Marist Brothers, scoring an outstanding solo long range try in the Mustangs victory. In the 47th minute a scrum was packed with a Murwillumbah feed ninety metres out from their try line, Blake Forder ran onto the ball after the ball was passed to him to the right from the base of the scrum. Blake Forder blew between two Rams defenders and easily outpaced the cover defence on his ninety metre run to put the ball down under the posts.
Blake Forder continued at fullback in Round Ten against the Cudgen Hornets before starting Round Twelve against Northern United at right centre before moving to fullback in the second half, a match that saw Blake Forder produce one of the best line breaks that I have ever seen that included breaking six tackles.
In the 49th minute Blake Forder retrieved a Northern United clearing kick fifteen metres out from his own line and ran to his right side, as he approached the chasers, Blake Forder stepped off his right to break two tackles before two left foot steps in quick succession back towards centre field saw Blake Forder break to further tackles. Blake Forder then cut back to his right, bumping out of one tackle, before another left foot step broke another tackle, Blake Forder then shrugged off another Northern United defender who tried to tackle him around his shoulders before passing to his right to Matthew Bollard who then off-loaded to Riley Lack who scored in the right corner.
Blake Forder continued in the centres, specifically left centre, in Round Thirteen against the Ballina Seagulls, scoring the opening try of the match in the 7th minute when he took a long cut out pass whilst in space on the left side of the field from Brandan Williams around ten metres to get the ball down in the left corner untouched.
Blake Forder was also strong defensively in the match in the left centre position including a great ball and all try saving tackle in the 43rd minute when he stopped his direct opponent on the spot with strong initial contact.
In late March 2021 Blake Forder was part of Diocesan of Lismore Opens Squad that attended the Northern Country Catholic Colleges Rugby League Selection Trial that were held at Smithtown with Blake Forder playing on the wing in the trials.
Earlier this month Titans contracted Nic Hilton was named in the 2022 Tweed Heads Seagulls MM Cup squad.
In January 2021 Nicholas Hilton started at lock for the Titans U17 side in their annual match at Coffs Harbour against the Newcastle Knights and was his usual impressive outstanding self, leading from the front as the Titans dominated the Knights to record an impressive 32 – 20 victory. As usual Nicholas Hilton’s work rate in both attack and defence was exceptional as was his leadership in the hot and humid conditions.
Nicholas Hilton’s first action of the match against the Knights came in just the second tackle after the Titans kicked off when he along with EJ Finau smashed the Knights second rower who was taking just the second hit-up of the match. Nicholas Hilton also produced a big tackle early in the second half when he hit one of the Knights outside backs with his left shoulder putting him onto the ground quickly and efficiently with extreme force.
In November 2020 Nicholas Hilton was named in the powerful Tweed Heads Seagulls 2021 MM Cup squad.
Nicholas Hilton started from the bench for the Tweed Heads Seagulls MM Cup side in their first 2021 trial which was against the Easts Tigers at Langland’s Park as Tweed Heads commenced their season with an impressive 28 – 12 victory against a full strength Tigers side.
In the Tweed Heads Seagulls MM Cup sides second trial against Burleigh, Nicholas Hilton started the second half at lock and scored early in his stint in a big Seagulls win. Nicholas Hilton’s try was as a result of a hard charge that started around twelve metres to the right of the play the ball. Nicholas Hilton charged onto the ball, running slightly back towards the play the ball, when he hit the defensive line, Nicholas Hilton spun 360 degrees clockwise to break the initial defensive contact and then Nicholas Hilton surged back towards the region behind the play the ball beating three additional defenders on the way to getting the ball down.
Nicholas Hilton also showcased some impressive offloading skills over the course of the match, including an impressive one arm (right arm) offload ten minutes into the second half, when he hit the defensive line and was able to spin clockwise to get his right arm free and subsequently offload to Oskar Bryant.
Nicholas Hilton started Round One of the 2021 MM Cup competition on the bench as Tweed Heads took on the Ipswich Jets at home. Nicholas Hilton came onto the play in the second row in the 25th minute and took the ball into the defensive line as soon as he had come onto the field making twelve metres against a set Ipswich defensive line.
It did not take long for Nicholas Hilton to take his second hit-up with that coming in the 33rd minute when he bumped away from two defenders to get within ten metres of the Ipswich line. Nicholas Hilton his hard work early in the second half (53rd minute) with a strong run and then a good two handed off-load to Blaze Mozer who made another ten valuable metres.
Nicholas Hilton also started from the bench in Round Two against the Souths Logan Magpies, providing a spark off the bench in both attack and defence when he came onto the field mid-way through the first half.
After missing Round Three against the Burleigh Bears, Nicholas Hilton was back in the Seagulls side for Round Four against the Ipswich Jets, a match that saw Nicholas Hilton named on the Seagulls extended bench however he actually started the match at lock.
One of a number of strong Nicholas Hilton charges came in the 14th minute when Nicholas Hilton made ten metres from a hit-up off the dummy half.
Nicholas Hilton’s intensity and effort was highlighted in the 27th minute when he dived full length to retrieve a Jets loose ball from an Ipswich penalty restart just twenty metres out from the Seagulls line.
Nicholas Hilton also started at lock in Round Five against the Souths Logan Magpies.
After being rested for Round Six in the local derby against the Burleigh Bears, Nicholas Hilton started at lock for the Tweed Heads Seagulls in their impressive semi-final victory against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls with Nicholas Hilton taking the 4th hit-up of the match.
In the 2021 MM Cup Queensland Grand Final against the Townsville Blackhawks, Nicholas Hilton was initially named to start the Grand Final from the bench however he came into the starting line-up late in the week, starting the Grand Final in the front row.
Nicholas Hilton was heavily involved in the Grand Final from the start, including a strong tackle coming over the top of one of the Townsville Blackhawks front rowers (No. 8) in the 5th minute, with the ball coming loose as a result of Nicholas Hilton’s contact.
In Round One of the Gold Coast Rugby League U18 Division One competition, Nicholas Hilton was named at five eight for the Nerang Roosters as they faced the Burleigh Bears and was one of the Roosters try scorers in their impressive first up victory.
In Round Five against the Southport Tigers, Nicholas Hilton came off the bench in the Roosters 34 – 12 victory.
When rugby league recommenced on the Gold Coast in late August 2021 after the Covid 19 lockdown, Nicholas Hilton was named to start from the bench for Nerang in Round Eleven against the Ormeau Shearers and he was also named to start from the bench in Round Twelve against the Southport Tigers.
Nicholas Hilton then was named to start in the second row in Week Two of the 2021 GCRL U18 Final’s series for the Roosters against the Helensvale Hornets and was also named to start on the bench for the Roosters in the 2021 GCRL U18 Division One Preliminary Final against the Ormeau Shearers.
Whilst he was named to start from the bench in the Preliminary Final, Nicholas Hilton in fact started the match at lock and was influential as the Roosters qualified for the 2021 GCRL U18 Division One Grand Final on the back of an 18 – 16 victory.
In the 2021 Gold Coast Rugby League U18 Division One Grand Final Nicholas Hilton started at lock for the Roosters side against the Helensvale Hornets and took the 4th hit-up of the match and was able to make fifteen metres, most of which was post contact against a fast moving Helensvale defensive line.
Nicholas Hilton then added another strong run in the 20th minute with that run accounting for another fifteen metres to get the ball into the Helensvale ten metre zone.
In February 2021 Nicholas Hilton took part in the South Coast Open school boy trials and was named at lock for the South Coast Open A school boy side as a result of his trial performances. Nicholas Hilton was one of two Titans contracted 2021 TSS School Boy Rugby First XV players in the South Coast Squad with the other being Kaleb Ngamanu.
Nicholas Hilton started at lock on Day One as South Coast played Met North with Nicholas Hilton making the opening tackle of the match from the kick-off.
Nicholas Hilton also started at lock on Day Two as South Coast took on Met East and recorded a try assist in the 10th minute when he engaged the defensive line on the left and off-loaded to Ryan Foran who ran twenty metres and was able to bring the ball around to put it down near the goal posts.
Nicholas Hilton was one of South Coast’s try scorers with his try coming in the 42nd minute when he charged at the line from close range (two metres) and after engaging the defence, spun counter clockwise to get the ball down with two defenders still engaged.
Nicholas Hilton also produced a smart piece of play in the 31st minute when he took the line on after receiving the ball of the play the ball and was able to get an off-load away to Brock Priestley.
Nicholas Hilton started at lock once again on Day Three against Capricornia making a strong hit-up in the opening set of six in the match. Nicholas Hilton made another strong hit-up in the set of six after South Coast’s opening try.
Nicholas Hilton also started at lock in the Championship Final against Met North.
Nicholas Hilton was part of the TSS school boy rugby First XV once again in 2021, playing the season as a full colours player in what was Nicholas Hilton’s second season in the TSS First XV.
Nicholas Hilton was named as a stand by player in TSS’s opening GPS trials, being a set of round robin trials against Anglican Church Grammar School (Churchie) and Gregory Terrace.
Nicholas Hilton made his first appearance for TSS in late May 2021 for the First XV in TSS’s first full trial against Ipswich Grammar School when he started at No. 8.
Nicholas Hilton also started at No. 8 in TSS’s second 2021 First XV trial against Nudgee College on the Gold Coast and also started in the same position in the final full scale GPS First XV trial against Brisbane Boys College (BBC).
In TSS’s final trial before the commencement of the 2021 GPS First XV school boy rugby season, Nicholas Hilton continued at No. 8 against the TSS Second XV.
Round One of the 2021 GPS school boy rugby First XV competition saw Nicholas Hilton line up at No. 8 for TSS as they took on Brisbane Grammar School at home with Nicholas Hilton producing a couple of moments of class in TSS’s 71 – 5 victory including a try in the opening minutes when he broke away from a ruck to run fifty metres to score under the posts.
Nicholas Hilton contributed a try assist in the 48th minute when after receiving an off-load from Jye Gray Nicholas Hilton charged downfield before drawing the Brisbane Grammar School fullback and passing to his right to his unmarked right winger to score untouched.
The in the 48th minute Nicholas Hilton broke the Brisbane Grammar School line when running on the left side of the field after receiving the ball ten metres from his own line with Nicholas Hilton eventually being brought down after a thirty five metre run.
Such was Nicholas Hilton’s overall performance that he was awarded two points in the 2021 GPS First XV Coaches Award.
Round Two away to Anglican Church Grammar School saw Nicholas Hilton named at No. 8 for the TSS First XV and scored for the second week in a row when he burst onto a Kaleb Ngamanu pass from ten metres out in the 67th minute to crash over next to the right upright.
As a result of his performance in the match, Nicholas Hilton received an honourable mention from the TSS First XV coaches in their weekly awards.
After the GPS school boy rugby competition was suspended for a number of weeks, Nicholas Hilton started at No. 8 for the TSS First XV side that played an internal TSS trial in late August in preparation for the restart of the competition also in late August against Toowoomba Grammar School.
When the 2021 GPS First XV rugby season recommenced in late August, Nicholas Hilton started at No. 8 in Round Six against Toowoomba Grammar School with Nicholas Hilton performing solidly in the match including a line break in the 50th minute making twenty five metres after receiving a good ball from Syris Schmidt. Nicholas Hilton also pulled off a great front on tackle in the 43rd minute of the match.
Nicholas Hilton also started at No. 8 in Round Eight against Nudgee College, producing a strong front on tackle in the 61st minute from a short TSS kick-off. As a result of his impressive overall performance against Nudgee College, Nicholas Hilton was awarded three coaches votes in the 2021 TSS First XV Player of the Season Award.
Nicholas Hilton also started the final round of the 2021 GPS First XV School Boy Rugby season, being Round Nine against Gregory Terrace at No. 8, match that say fellow Titans contracted players Kaleb Ngamanu and Syris Schmidt play their last ever First XV game for TSS.
Nicholas Hilton was at his aggressive best during the match, including probably the best play of the match when in the 26th minute Nicholas Hilton charged directly through the middle of a ruck, totally destroying it and forcing a knock on by the Gregory Terrace halfback who was just picking up the ball from the back of the ruck when Nicholas Hilton destroyed it.
Nicholas Hilton did something similar in the 34th minute when once again with Gregory Terrace on the attack Nicholas Hilton smashed through the centre of a ruck forcing a knock on by the Gregory Terrace acting half.
The 37th minute saw Nicholas Hilton a key figure in a TSS try with he led a TSS rolling maul from a line-out with TSS rumbling forward to score.
Nicholas Hilton also recorded a 56th minute line break where he made thirty metres before off-loading through centre field.
To round out his match, Nicholas Hilton made a critical diving tackle from behind in the 62nd minute on the Gregory Terrace open side flanker who had broken through the TSS line from twelve metres and looked set to score bar the great tackle from Nicholas Hilton.
At the completion of the 2021 TSS First XV campaign Nicholas Hilton was named as the TSS First XV’s best defensive player.
Titans contracted Tanu Nona has been named in the 2022 Tweed Heads Seagulls MM Cup squad.
In January 2021 Tanu Nona started at hooker for the Titans U17 side that defeated a Newcastle Knights U17 side in their annual match at Coffs Harbour with Tanu Nona leading his forwards onto the ball well as they dominated the Knights pack as well as running judicially out of dummy half as the match progressed and the Knight forwards tired in the Titans 32 – 20 victory. One such run early in the second half was a superb twenty five metre effort directly through the centre of the ruck after darting to his right out of dummy half.
Tanu Nona did not have to wait long to get into the match, being part of three of the first five that the Titans made after they kicked off to Newcastle to start the match off.
In June 2021 Tanu Nona started at hooker for a Titans U17 side that played a Titans Northern Rivers U18 squad at Cbus Stadium as a curtain raiser to the Titans Round Fourteen NRL match against the Sydney Roosters and caused all sorts of trouble for the Northern Rivers Titans defensive line.
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.
In May 2021 Tanu Nona was part of the South Coast Maroon Open school boy side at the QSSRL Championships starting from the bench on Day One of the Championships.
Tanu Nona moved into the South Coast Maroon starting side at hooker on Day Two against Met North with his first dummy half run coming in the opening minute of the match.
Tanu Nona was also outstanding in South Coast Maroons Day Three match against Darling Downs including scoring late in the first half. From thirteen metres out Tanu Nona ran out of dummy half to his left shaping to pass to his left but instead he barged over next to the right upright.
The Day Four fifth place play-off match against Met East saw Tanu Nona also start from the bench coming on to play in the dummy half run and early in the second half he produced a typical Tanu Nona dart out of dummy half to his right, making sixteen metres through the centre of the ruck.
Tanu Nona started from the bench for the Cudgen Hornets in Round One of the NRRRL U18 competition, coming on in the second half in the dummy half role as the Hornets defeated the Tweed Coast Raiders 38 – 6.
Tanu Nona also started from the bench in Round Five against Byron Bay, initially playing as a running forward when he came into the field before reverting back to his normal dummy half role. Tanu Nona almost got himself on the try scoring list in the match but in the 56th minute he was held up under the posts after darting out of dummy half from close range.
Tanu Nona moved into the Cudgen starting side at hooker in Round Seven against the Marist Brothers Rams, scoring one try and setting up another in Cudgen’s impressive victory.
Tanu Nona scored in the 48th minute when he moved into dummy half fourteen metres from the try line on the left side of the field. Tanu Nona dummied to his left before running out of dummy half in the same direction before stepping off his left foot to run back towards the centre of the field. Running parallel to the defensive line towards the right, Tanu Nona dummied once again, this time to the right to force his way over the line five metres from the left goal post.
Tanu Nona’s try assist came in the 52nd minute when he ran down a short right blind side, drawing the defence towards him before throwing a cut-out pass to right winger Tobey Carpenter who dived over in the right corner.
Tanu Nona continued at hooker in Round Eight against the Kyogle Turkeys scoring an outstanding long-range solo try in the final minute of the match. Playing as a running forward at the time, Tanu Nona received the ball to the right of the dummy half sixty five metres from the line, easily slicing through two defenders in the Turkeys defensive line and from there Tanu Nona beat the fullback with pace. Within metres of the try line, Tanu Nona was actually caught from behind by the Kyogle five eight but he maintained his balance to get the ball down under the posts.
In addition to his outstanding try, Tanu Nona recorded a 23rd minute try assist when after skipping out of dummy half to his left, Tanu Nona threw a flat, hard short ball in the same direction to his front rower to force his way over five metres to the left of the goal posts after running into a gap established by Tanu Nona four metres from the line.
Tanu Nona continued at hooker in Round Ten against the Murwillumbah Mustangs.
2021 also saw Tanu Nona line up once again for PBC State High School in the South East Queensland School Boy Langer Cup competition starting Round One at hooker against Ipswich State High School. Whilst Tanu Nona spent the majority of his time on the field in the dummy half role he did play as a running forward for a portion of the second half.
In his debut Langer Cup A match, Tanu Nona was outstanding recording two try assist (both for Jett Forbes to score) and two line breaks on top of his outstanding distribution out of dummy half and solid defence.
Tanu Nona’s first try assist came early in the match, in the 9th minute to be exact when he ran the ball to the right out of dummy half down a short blindside, picking the ball up nine metres out. Tanu Nona took the ball right to the line before throwing a cut-out pass to his right to Jett Forbes who dived over in the right corner.
As noted above, Tanu Nona’s second try assist enabled Jett Forbes to score once again, with the try completing Jett Forbes’s hat trick. In the 59th minute, Tanu Nona flew out of dummy half to his left breaking three tackles to get through the Ipswich SHS defensive line, Tanu Nona rounded the fullback by veering to his right but was ankle tapped but as he was going to ground Tanu Nona was able to off-load to his right to a flying Jett Forbes to race away to score under the posts untouched.
In addition to his 59th minute line break that led to Jett Forbes third try, Tanu Nona also broke the Ipswich SHS line in the 22nd minute when Tanu Nona burst out of dummy half to his left bursting through the line and making fifty metres downfield but unfortunately his off-load could not find friendly hands.
It was clear that Tanu Nona was in for a good match as early as the 8th minute, when a dart out of dummy half caught the Ipswich SHS defence napping with Tanu Nona making good ground and then he was awarded a penalty when he was hit in a high tackle.
Tanu Nona also started at hooker in Round Two against St Mary’s College Toowoomba and scored his career first Langer Cup try when in the 29th minute he ran out of dummy half to his left from twenty metres out but as he approached the defensive line Tanu Nona cut back to his right to dive over next to the right upright.
Tanu Nona was immediately in the match, making the first tackle after PBC kicked off in conjunction with Jack Cullen and took his first run out of dummy half in the 4th minute when he darted out of dummy half to his left, making eight metres.
Tanu Nona continued at hooker in Round Three against Coombabah State High School and was also named at hooker for Round Four against Marsden State High School however he ended up starting the match from the bench and played a sunning forward role when he was on the field.
Tanu Nona also started from the bench in the much anticipated Round Five local derby against Keebra Park State High School and also was named to start from the bench in Round Six against Mabel Park State high School but he came into the starting side at hooker just prior to the match.
After the competition was suspended for a number of weeks due to a Covid 19 lock down, Tanu Nona was named on the bench for PBC State High School in their semi-final against Keebra Park State High School.
In the 2021 Langer Cup Grand Final against Marsden State High School, Tanu Nona was named to start from the bench for PBC, coming into the match around the twenty metre mark and playing the majority of the match as a running lock.
Post the completion of the 2021 Langer Cup competition, Tanu Nona was named by the Courier Mail as one of the 2021 Langer Cup most impressive rookies.
Tanu Nona was then named to start from the bench for PBC in the Queensland Open School Boys Final (Phil Hall Cup) against St Brendan’s College Yeppoon coming off the bench towards the end of the first half to play as a running forward.
At the end of the 2021 season, Tanu Nona was named at No. 52 in the Courier Mail Top 60 school boys from the GPS Rugby, AIC Rugby and Langer Cup competitions.
In late 2020 Tanu Nona was announced as part of the South East Queensland Magic U17 side for the 2021 Queensland Murri Carnival but in the end Tanu Nona played in the Murri U18 competition with the Deadly Choices Bronco’s and was also named in the second row in the Murri U18 Possibles side.
Titans contracted Michael Roberts recently was named in the 2022 Tweed Heads Seagulls MM Cup squad.
In January 2021 Michael Roberts started from the bench for the Titans U17 side in their annual match at Coffs Harbour against the Newcastle Knights with the Titans recording an impressive 32 – 20 victory and Michael Roberts taking away the Titans U17 Player of the Match honours after coming onto the field in the first half to play left centre.
Michael Roberts came into the match early in the first half, but really made his presence felt with the last play of the first half. Newcastle spun the ball to their right with Michael Roberts moving up with the rest of the Titans left sided defence. As the Knights five eight threw a long pass to his right, Michael Roberts anticipated the trajectory of the pass perfectly, taking the intercept seventy five metres away from the line and it was simply shut the gate so no Knights defender got near him as Michael Roberts sprinted away to put the ball down under the posts. Michael Roberts then converted his own try.
Michael Roberts then produced a smart play from the second half kick-off. The Titans let the kick up bounce with the ball bouncing back towards the oncoming Knights defence. Michael Roberts sensed the risk and ran back towards his own try line pushing the ball backwards as it threatened to bounce above his head and then retrieving it with Newcastle players all around him.
Michael Roberts showcased his smarts on the field once again in the second half. Michael Roberts was at marker with Newcastle playing the ball a metre out from their own try line. As the Knights player ran out of dummy half to his left, Michael Roberts got out of marker explosively getting hold of the Knights player and dragging him back into the in-goal to force a Knights drop out.
Michael Roberts continued to showcase his intelligence later in the second half, Michael Roberts tracked back to chase a Knights break down their right, it was clear that Michael Roberts would not be able to get to the line break with a traditional tackle but dived and ankle tapped the Knights player before he could offload, thus stopping the movement in its tracks.
In June 2021 Michael Roberts started at right centre for a Titans U17 JTS side that played a Titans U18 Northern Rivers Development Squad at Cbus Stadium in a curtain raiser to the Titans NRL match against the Sydney Roosters, with Michael Roberts kicking eight conversions for the Titans JTS side.
Michael Roberts started at right centre for the 2021 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 Northern 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 pick 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 who was returning a Harvey Moase kick and dragged him eight metres into touch to force a Northern Rivers Titans scrum feed whilst he was still inside his own territory.
Even when Michael Roberts missed a tackle he stayed in the game. Late in the second half, the Wests Tigers left centre 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.
After his outstanding Round One performance, Michael Roberts also started Round Two against local rivals the North Coast Bulldogs at Nambucca Heads at right centre and kicked two conversions from as many attempts in the 22 – 12 loss.
Michael Roberts also started at right centre in Round Three against the Greater Northern Tigers kicking two conversions in the loss including an outstanding conversion from the right touchline to convert a third minute Harry Silverwright try.
Michael Roberts was into the match early when in just the second minute he rag dolled the Greater Northern Tigers left winger over the sideline.
After missing Round Four Michael Roberts was named to start Round Five against the Newcastle Knights from the bench but actually started the match at right centre and scored early in the first half.
Michael Roberts’s try came in just the 13th minute of the match when he received a long pass in space from Harvey Moase and then got on the outside of his direct opponent around ten metres out from the line and then was able to hold off the Newcastle cover defence with his left arm to get the ball down eight metres in from the right corner post.
Michael Roberts could have had a double in the 22nd minute but was held up after trying to barge his way over from dummy half from close range.
In the 23rd minute Michael Roberts continued to make ground when he cut back towards centre field from his right centre position to beat three defenders whilst making twenty valuable metres.
Michael Roberts was in the match in the match early kicking long into the right corner and then was one of the first Northern Rivers Titans defenders downfield to tackle the Knights fullback in the corner and also was on hand to smash the Knights left winger in the 2nd minute of the second half after the Knights player fielded a Northern Rivers Titans clearing kick.
In Round One of the 2021 NRRRL U18 competition, Michael Roberts started at fullback for the Bilambil Jets as they took on the Murwillumbah Mustangs and had an outstanding match that saw him score an outstanding individual try and well as kicking three conversions from four attempts, including a last minute conversion from the right touchline as well as a late second half penalty goal in the 50th minute to lock the scores up at 18 all.
Michael Roberts try came in the 28th minute and was an outstanding individual effort. Michael Roberts received the ball seventy metres out from the line, chipping over the line perfectly and comfortably regathering before rounding the Murwillumbah fullback and to put the ball down near the posts before converting his own try.
Michael Roberts came very close to scoring a double in the match but in the 14th minute was held up over the line after stepping off his right ten metres out only to be held up.
Michael Roberts also recorded a line break assist in the match when in the 38th minute he ran the ball down a left sided blind side and throwing a cut out pass to his left that hit his winger on the chest, with the winger getting to less than a metre from the corner post before being stopped.
It was not all about his attacking play in the match with Michael Roberts positional play also being first class in the match including in the opening minute when he tracked across to his left to retrieve an attacking grubber kick under heavy pressure but Michael Roberts kept his cool and in fact won a penalty after he was held down in the subsequent tackle.
Then in the 36th minute Michael Roberts took a mid-field bomb under intense pressure, including from a team mate thirty five metres out from his own line and then was able to get the ball into Murwillumbah territory fighting defenders the entire trip.
Michael Roberts also started at fullback in Round Two against the Tweed Coast Raiders kicking three conversions including a great conversion from the right touchline in the 32nd minute in the Jets 22 – 16 victory.
Michael Roberts was also credited with a try assist in the win when in the 27th minute he received the ball from a penalty restart just ten metres from the try line, easing to his left to put his left second rower over the line.
Michael Roberts first impact in the match came inside the first minute when he ran the ball down a short left blindside beating three tackles after dummying to his outside before a right arm flick pass found his hooker who continued to make ground.
In the 7th Michael Roberts positioned himself nicely to retrieve a Tweed Coast kick on his own twenty metre mark, after two left foot steps, Michael Roberts was eventually brought down after making twenty metres.
Michael Roberts continued his dominant start to the match in the 16th minute with a sixteen metre effort out of dummy half to his right before in the 17th minute Michael Roberts chimed into the Bilambil backline on the left, dummying to his outside and slicing through the defensive line from twenty five metres out, only to be brought down a metre short of the try line.
Michael Roberts positioning was also key late in the match with Bilambil leading by just six points when in the 46th minute Michael Roberts moved to his right to field a Tweed Coast attacking in-goal, as soon as he took possession Michael Roberts continued to his right and was able to get the ball back into the field of play.
Michael Roberts followed that good work with another smart piece of play just a minute later after Bilambil had turned the ball over from a charge down by executing a one on one strip to maintain the Jets six point margin.
After missing a number of weeks due to school boy representative commitments, Michael Roberts was back at fullback for Bilambil’s Round Five match against the Kyogle Turkeys, with Michael Roberts dominant in the Jets victory and for me he was a class above everyone else on the field in the Jets victory, a large part due to his performance.
Michael Roberts was outstanding from the opening whistle scoring two tries, setting up another as well as kicking six conversions, including one from right on each touch line.
Michael Roberts scored his first try in the 25th minute when after lining up to the right of a Jets scrum he kicked downfield and chased through putting the Kyogle fullback under pressure. As a consequence the fullback fumbled the ball with Michael Roberts being on hand to kick the ball through a second time with the ball then sitting up perfectly for him to collect the ball and put it down under the posts.
Michael Roberts completed his double just three minutes later in the 28th minute when from a set move twenty metres out from the line, Michael Roberts shot out from behind the play the ball to receive an inside pass from five eight William James, immediately producing a right foot step to beat one and broke through a further three tackles on the way to the line.
Michael Roberts could easily have had a hat trick in the match but in just the second minute after he had dummied to his right to break the Kyogle defensive line thirty five metres out and priding an exquisite left foot step to beat the fullback was held up by the cover defence.
Michael Roberts recorded his try assist in the 4th minute when he ran into the defensive line on the left side of the field double pumping the ball to his left to put Makenzie MacGrarrigal into a big gap just three metres from the line.
Michael Roberts also made an explosive play in the 14th minute when he came forward to take a Kyogle clearing kick on the full, easily beating the first Turkey’s chaser before running straight over two more to make twenty five metres to get the ball to near the halfway mark.
Then in the 20th minute, Michael Roberts saw that the Kyogle fullback was out of position and kicked deep from fifty five metres out with the ball pulling up perfectly in goal, Michael Roberts along with Kai Smallwood was the first Jets played downfield to tackle the fullback just three metres into the field of play.
That was not the only time in the match that Michael Roberts showcased his long kick game as in the 23rd minute, Michael Roberts from a drop out from his own goal line kicked the ball sixty five metres.
It was not all about attack in the match for Michael Roberts as in the 40th minute, the Kyogle No. 17 burst through the line, making a long break but Michael Roberts came from nowhere to tackle him from behind just three metres from the try line.
Michael Roberts produced another outstanding performance from fullback in Round Six against Casino RSM with the mercurial Michael Roberts scoring two tries, recording two try assists and also kicking four conversions.
Michael Roberts scored the first of his two tries in the 18th minute when he ran out of dummy half to his right, shrugging off one defender who had tried to tackle Michael Roberts around his chest. Michael Roberts then got low to dive over to score, and then he stepped up to convert his own try.
Michael Roberts added his second try right on halftime. When time in the first half almost expired and Bilambil having a scrum feed twenty metres out, the Jets put on a set play when after winning the scrum the Jets five eight who was stationed on the left of the scrum put in a short kick for Michael Roberts to chase. Michael Roberts flew through to get to the ball ten metres out but the ball just would not sit up for him so Michael Roberts toed to through again into the in-goal where it did sit up for him to retrieve and get the ball down.
Michael Roberts first try assist in the match came in the 32nd minute when he ran into the line before throwing a pass to his left to put Kelvin Bulluss over in the left corner. Michael Roberts then stepped to kick the conversion from right on the left touchline.
Michael Roberts added his second try assist in the 53rd minute when after packing into a scrum at lock he picked up the ball and ran down a left blindside to put his left centre over to score.
Michael Roberts showed that he has substance to his game as well as flash when in the 5th minute he tracked back a Casino RSM kick, retrieving it in his own in-goal with chasers streaming through. Michael Roberts wrong footed the chasers and made twenty metres down the left touchline before being tackled.
Michael Roberts was named to continue at fullback in Round Nine against the Byron Bay Devils, scoring a try and kicking two conversions in the Jets tough loss.
Michael Roberts scored in the 33rd minute of the match when after receiving the ball thirty metres out from the dummy half to the right of the play the ball, Michael Roberts dummied to his right before slicing through the Byron Bay line between two defenders. Michael Roberts then beat the fullback with a right foot step to dive over three metres to the left of the uprights.
Michael Roberts continued at fullback in Round Ten against the Marist Brothers Rams and scored an outstanding try in the 18th minute when he received an inside ball down a left blindside twenty two metres out from the line. Michael Roberts then produced two outstanding left foot steps to bamboozle the Rams defensive to comfortably score under the posts. Michael Roberts also kicked four conversions in the Jets victory.
Michael Roberts was named to continue at fullback in Round Eleven against the Ballina Seagulls but Round Twelve against the Tweed Coast Raiders saw Michael Roberts move to lock and kick four conversions from as many attempts in the Jets six point loss.
Michael Roberts finished the abridged 2021 NRRRL U18 regular season as the competitions equal leading try scorer with eight tries alongside Damon Coldwell and Cooper Camby.
In total in the 2021 NRRRL U18 competition for the Bilambil Jets Michael Roberts played in ten matches and scored eighty four points from eight tries (80% strike rate) and twenty six conversions.
In February 2021 Michael Roberts took part in the South Coast Open school boy trials and was named in the centres in the South Coast Maroon Open school boy side as a result of his trial performances.
Michael Roberts started South Coast Maroon’s Day One match at right centre, scoring in the 11th when he ran into a gap five metres out and was able to bring the ball around to put it down near the posts.
Michael Roberts also started at right centre on Day Two against Met North and also scored for the second day in a row but he was held up over the try line in the 3rd minute after a ten metre effort.
Michael Roberts continued at right centre on Day Three against Darling Downs and proved once again that he is a legitimate strike weapon, scoring in the 16th minute five metres in from the right corner post after a twenty metre burst.
Michael Roberts scored his second try early in the second half when he received the ball wide on the right before he cut back inside, as he contacted the defensive line near the line, Michael Roberts spun counter clockwise to get the ball down in the right corner.
Michael Roberts almost completed a hat trick mid-way through the second half but he was held-up over the line.
The Day Four fifth place play-off match against Met East saw Michael Roberts once again start at right centre with the Titans contracted standout continuing his try scoring run in the second half. South Coast half Travis May, from thirty metres out, put in a chip kick to the right side of the field, Michael Roberts chasing through. The ball bounced ten metres out and it initially appeared it would sit up perfectly for Michael Roberts but when the ball bounced badly, Michael Roberts pulled his hands backed and instead kicked the ball forward and then he was able to gather the ball and put it down next to the right upright.
Round One of the 2021 Langer Cup School Boy Rugby League competition saw Michael Roberts initially named to start on the right wing for PBC against Ipswich State High School however a late change saw the natural talent start at fullback, with the late positional change not at all impacting on his outstanding performance which included one of the best try assists that you will ever see.
The unbelievable Michael Roberts try assist came in the 27th minute when he chased through a bomb, putting pressure on the Ipswich SHS fullback who dropped the ball forward, Michael Roberts scooped up the ball just metres from the try line, immediately heading towards the goal posts with the ball in his left hand. Michael Roberts was collared a literally swung off his legs by the Ipswich defence but in the process somehow (I have watched the replay multiple times and still do not know how he did it) flick the ball behind his body and put the pass onto the chest of Travis May who scored under the posts.
Michael Roberts also broke the line in the 32nd minute from a kick return. Once he collected the ball Michael Roberts headed for the right touchline, palming off one defender before making a break of twenty five metres down the right touchline but as the cover defence converged Michael Roberts’s pass inside went to ground.
Michael Roberts once again started at fullback in Round Two in Toowoomba against St Mary’s College and scored a double in PBC’s big win.
Michael Roberts scored his first try of the match in the 21st minute when he was loitering around the ruck and was subsequently perfectly placed to receive an off-load from Jack Cullen to dive over next to the left upright after a five metre dart.
Michael Roberts completed his double in the 51st minute when from a set move he received an inside ball from Thomas Weaver ten metres from the line to crash over mid-way between the goal posts and corner post on the left side of the field.
Michael Roberts also recorded a line break assist in the 55th minute when after retrieving a kick just ten metres from his own line, Roberts drew in the St Mary’s left sided defence to put Deine Mariner into a gap with the centre subsequently putting Jett Forbes away to score in the opposite corner.
Michael Roberts moved to the right wing in Round Three against Coombabah State High School. The match saw Michael Roberts record a try assist in the 5th minute with Michael Roberts taking a Thomas Weaver cross kick to his wing on the full and was he was being tackled and with his back to the try line, Michael Roberts offloaded to Deine Mariner who had looped around to the blindside.
Michael Roberts continued on the right wing in the Round Four blockbuster against Marsden State High School and whilst the ball did not get out to his wing often Michael Roberts still found a way to make an impact on the match including in the 12th minute when he chased a great Oskar Bryant right foot kick out of dummy half from thirty eight metres from his own line, with the ball bouncing into the in-goal with the Marsden left winger only able to get the ball a metre out from his own line being tackled by Michael Roberts.
Michael Roberts continued on the right wing in the much anticipated Round Five local derby against Keebra Park State High School and scored a first half double in PBC’s tough loss.
Michael Roberts scored his first try in the 10th minute try assist when Thomas Weaver put in a pin point kick to the right side of the field with the ball falling perfectly for Michael Roberts who took the ball on the fly and was able to bring the ball around to score under the posts.
Michael Roberts completed his double in the 30th minute with a twelve metre burst down the right touchline to score in the right corner.
Round Six against Mabel Park State High School saw Michael Roberts move closer to the action, starting the match at right centre and in the 26th minute scored a long range ninety try which saw him put the ball down under the posts.
Michael Roberts was also PBC’s first choice goal kicker for the match and kicked three conversions from four attempts including a good kick in the 23rd minute from near the left touchline after Reef Sommerville had scored wide out.
After the competition was suspended for a number of weeks due to a Covid 19 lock down, Michael Roberts was named on the right wing for PBC State High School in their semi-final against Keebra Park State High School however Michael Roberts ended up starting the match at five eight and kicked PBC’s final conversion of the match after Keano Kini scored to seal the win for PBC.
Michael Roberts had some good moments in the match, including an outstanding one on one tackle in the 25th minute on the Keebra Park right centre who had cut back inside looking for space through the centre of the field.
Also in the 14th minute, Michael Roberts along with Jayden Wright, Keano Kini and Oskar Bryant held up Blake Mozer over the line and then in the 25th minute, Michael Roberts, Keano Kini, Brock Priestley and Bailey Martin held up Aram Hau over the line directly under the posts.
Then in the 20th minute Michael Roberts chased through a Thomas Weaver kick that pulled up in the in-goal with the Keebra Park fullback unable to get the ball back into the field of play before he was stopped by Michael Roberts and Oskar Bryant.
In the 2021 Langer Cup Grand Final against Marsden State High School, Michael Roberts was named to start at five eight for PBC and was the best player on the field, scoring a double including the match winning try, setting up another and also kicking a key conversion of a Ryan Foran try in the 48th minute from the left touchline to lock the scores up at 18 all.
The first of two Michael Roberts tries came in the 22nd minute when whilst operating on the right side of the field, Michael Roberts was able to get on the outside of his immediate defender eighteen metre out and then after dummying to his right outpaced the Marsden SHS cover defence to crash over five metres in from the right corner post.
Michael Roberts broke an eighteen all tie and sealed the match for PBC in the 56th minute of the match and the try was certainly worth the wait. With Marsden SHS on the attack, one of their forwards spilled the ball around ten metres out from the line, Michael Roberts swooped onto the bell just five metres out from his own line. Michael Roberts immediately burst downfield dummying to his left to take one defender out of the equation before accelerating downfield.
Just inside Marsden SHS territory the Marsden SHS fullback came across in an attempt to effect the tackle but a straight left arm fend from Michael Roberts sent the Marsden SHS sprawling and Michael Roberts was able to run the remaining thirty five metres unaccosted to dive over midway between the corner post and goal posts on the right side of the field.
Michael Roberts try assist came in the 28th minute when once again he got on the outside of his direct opponent on the right side of the field. Once on the outside of his opponent, Michael Roberts drew in the Marsden SHS left winger and then threw a great right arm flick pass to put Jett Forbes over in the right corner.
Post the completion of the 2021 Langer Cup competition, Michael Roberts was named on the wing in the Courier Mail’s 2021 Langer Cup Team of the Season.
Michael Roberts was then named at five eight for PBC in the Queensland Open School Boys Final (Phil Hall Cup) against St Brendan’s College Yeppoon and once again had an outstanding match in PBC’s 62 – 0 thumping win, with Michael Roberts scoring a double and kicking an outstanding conversion to the right touchline in the 57th minute when he converted Jett Forbes fourth try of the match.
Michael Roberts opened his try scoring account in the 37th minute. Michael Roberts moved into dummy half with the PBC play the ball being two metres from the line and on the right side of the field and ran to his left forcing has way over by spinning counter clockwise to crash over ten metres to the right of the uprights.
Michael Roberts completed in double in the 59th minute when he came out of the defensive line to take an intercept and run sixty five metres to put the ball down near the right corner post.
Michael Roberts also recorded two try assists in the Grand Final, the first of which came in the 25th minute when from twenty five metres out he put in a right foot chip kick towards the right corner which bounced perfectly for Deine Mariner to collect the ball and score.
Michael Roberts second try assist was recorded in the 29th minute when he took the ball right to the line on the right side of the field and threw a great cut-out pass to his right to put Jett Forbes over in the right corner a minute before half time.
Michael Roberts was also heavily involved in Deine Mariner’s 11th minute when he took the ball to the line on the right side of the field before throwing a cut-out pass to his right to Jett Forbes who then immediately passed inside to Deine Mariner to force his way over.
Michael Roberts also produced a smart piece of play in the when from forty metres out and down a wide right blindside, Michael Roberts kicked towards the right corner and was one of the first PBC players downfield to take the St Brendan’s fullback into touch just two metres out from his own line.
At the end of the 2021 season, Michael Roberts was named at No. 37 in the Courier Mail Top 60 school boys from the GPS Rugby, AIC Rugby and Langer Cup competitions.
Great to so many Bilambil Jets juniors in the Titans JTS program being:
Max Wood
Luke Penney
Billy Mulheron
Riley Loughland
Sonny Hayes
Joshua Ross
Zeb Deane
Harley Tincknell
After an outstanding 2021 season Titans contracted Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa has been named in the 2022 Tweed Heads Seagulls MM Cup squad and is also MM Cup eligible in 2023.
In October 2021 Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa was part of the South Coast Maori side that were successful in the Queensland Maori U16 Tournament with Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa being named Player of the Tournament and subsequently Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa was named in the Queensland Maori U16 side for the 2021 QPICC cultural carnival.
At the Carnival Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa started all four of his matches at the Carnival in the front row being Match One against the Cook Islands, Match Two against PNG, Match Three against Tonga and Match Four against Samoa with Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa scoring in Match Three against Tonga.
Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa scored in the 27th minute against Tonga when he ran at the line to the right of the dummy half, receiving the ball ten metres from the line. After impacting the Tongan defensive line, Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa spun clockwise to break contact with two defenders before crashing over under the posts.
In January 2021 Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa started from the bench for the Titans U17 side in their annual match at Coffs Harbour against the Newcastle Knights even though he was still U16 eligible in 2021. Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa had some very good moments in the deserved 32 – 20 Titans victory.
Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa made an immediate impression when he can on, making a great first hit-up when he took the ball to the right of the play the ball, throwing a subtle dummy to his right prior to confronting the defensive line.
In a sign of how highly that he is thought of by the Titans Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa was used almost like a five eight on a number of occasions in the second half, including deep inside the Knights territory when he was a link between the Titans forwards and backline.
In June 2021 Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa was part of a Titans U17 squad that played a Titans U18 Northern Rivers squad at Cbus Stadium as a curtain raiser to the Round Fourteen NRL match between the Titans and the Sydney Roosters.
Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa made some strong runs in the match with none better than mid-way through the second half when he made twenty five metres through the centre of the ruck and then with defenders draped on him, Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa was still able to get away a right arm off-load.
In late October 2020, Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa was named in the Gold Coast Rugby League U16 Cyril Connell Cup Academy Squad and when the split occurred Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa was named in the Tweed Heads Cyril Connell Cup squad.
Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa started in the front row in the first two quarters for the Seagulls in their final 2021 trial against the Souths Logan Magpies before coming back onto the field in the fourth quarter to line up in the front row once again.
Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa made an immediate impression in the match with a superb front on tackle in the first set of six after the kick off and also in his first run which came when he returned a goal line drop up knocking the initial Magpies defender five metres backwards after initial contact.
Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa started Round One of the 2021 Cyril Connell Cup in the front row as the Bears took on the Ipswich Jets and also started in the front row in the Round Three local derby against the Burleigh Bears, leading from the front as the Seagulls prevailed 33 - 6.
In the Round Three local derby Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa took the third hit-up of the match running an underneath line to the right of the play the ball making nine metres before following that run up with a hit-up on the 5th tackle of the same set of six.
Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa made a further ten metres in the 10th minute when he took the hit-up from a Tweed Heads penalty restart. Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa contributed a further thirteen metres to the metres that Tweed Heads gained in the match in the 60th minute when he got to within three metres of the try line before four Bears defenders finally stopped his forward progress.
Even though he was heavily marked every time that he ran the ball it did not stop Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa from making ground with a good example of that being in the 65th minute of the match when Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa ran onto the ball to the right of the play the ball and even though he as confronted by three Burleigh defenders, Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa was still able to rumble fourteen metres, the majority of which were post contact, to take the ball into Burleigh’s territory.
Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa was also on his game defensively against Burleigh including recording a crunching tackle in the early match on Burleigh winger Andrew Brennan. Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa backed that up in the 6th minute when he engulfed one of the Burleigh front rowers front on knocking the Bears player onto his back.
Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa was involved in another big tackle in the 11th minute, along with Jonah Beaven crunched the Burleigh fullback as he was trying to dart through the centre of the ruck, a run that he paid dearly for.
Round Five against the Souths Logan Magpies saw Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa once against start in the front row and scoring in the last minute of the match to seal an impressive victory for the Seagulls.
2021 saw Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa once again play for Marsden State High School, and he was named on the Marsden State High School extended bench for Round One of the Langer Cup School Boy Rugby League competition against Keebra Park however he dropped off the bench on the day of the match.
Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa came into the Marsden SHS side for Round Three against Wavell State High School, coming off the bench and in the second half was the game’s biggest halfback when he regularly feed the scrum for Marsden SHS.
Even though he was two years younger than the majority of his opponents, Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa made a big impact in both attack and defence with his defence coming to the fore in the with a crunching tackle in the dying minutes of the match when he came over the top to smash Wavell SHS second rower Will Curran less than a metre from the line.
Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa made a number of telling runs including in the 25th minute with a strong first charge after he had come onto the field, with Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa making eighteen metres through centre field and then in the opening set of six in the second half, Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa made a further eighteen metres on the fifth tackle.
Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa continued on the bench in the Round Four blockbuster against PBC State High School before being named at hooker for Round Five against Mabel Park State High School. Even though he initially was named at hooker, Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa spent a lot of the time that he was on the field in a first receiver role where he excelled to highlight what a diverse skill set this exceptional talent has.
Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa was also named to start at halfback in Round Six against Coombabah State High School.
After the competition was suspended for a number of weeks due to a Covid 19 lock down, Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa was named on the bench for Marsden State High School in their semi-final against Ipswich State High School.
Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa came off the bench mid-way through the first half and in the 20th minute came close to scoring with a strong run and was only brought down less than a metre short, winning a penalty for a shoulder charge.
In the 2021 Langer Cup Grand Final against PBC State High School, Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa was named on the bench for Marsden SHS however he ended up starting the match at the left second row position and Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa was in the match early making his first hit-up in just the second minute of the match, making ten metres in the process.
At the 2021 Marsden State High School Rugby League Excellence Awards, Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa was named on the bench in the Marsden State High School Team of the Year.
Post the completion of the 2021 Langer Cup competition, Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa was named on the bench in the Courier Mail’s 2021 Langer Cup Team of the Season.
At the end of the 2021 season, Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa was named at No. 11 in the Courier Mail Top 60 school boys from the GPS Rugby, AIC Rugby and Langer Cup competitions.
Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa started Round One of the Langer Cup School Boy Reserve Grade competition at lock against Keebra Park putting in a solid performance especially in defence.
After an outstanding 2021 season Titans contracted Keano Kini has recently been named in the 2022 Tweed Heads Seagulls MM Cup squad.
In January 2021 Keano Kini started at fullback for the Titans U17 side in their annual match at Coffs Harbour against the Newcastle Knights U17’s and impressed in the deserved 32 – 20 Titans victory including scoring a special solo try in the second half.
As noted above, Keano Kini’s second half try was an absolutely special one. Keano Kini’s try started to the left of the play the ball with Keano Kini receiving the ball from the dummy half. Keano Kini immediately stepped off his left to beat the first (of many) Knights defenders and then cut back to his right across the face of the Newcastle defensive line, brushing past a couple of outstretched arms. As a Knights defender came out of the line, Keano Kini spun 360 degrees clockwise to generate a gap in the defensive line, ten metres out and then exploded through the gap forcing himself and the ball over the try line with three defenders still hanging off him five metres in from the right goal post.
Keano Kini also had an early second half try assist in the match when he put Seth Nikotemo into a gap to score from six metres away. In the second half Keano Kini moved up from fullback to spend time in the halves for the Titans with Blake Forder moving from the wing to fullback.
Keano Kini stamped his mark on the match in just the second minute. After the first five tackles of the match, Newcastle put in a clearing kick which Keano Kini took on the full over his left shoulder. Keano Kini immediately assessed the situation and seeing that the Knights had a shortened defensive line on the right side of their kick chase, Keano Kini exploded to his left, getting on the outside of the final Knights defender on the right of their defensive line, surging forty metres down the left touch line before eventually being corralled. The Titans scored the first try of the match two plays later, with the try being directly attributable to Keano Kini’s line break.
Wonderful stepping by Keano Kini was a key determinant in Keano Kini’s second half try, but the Knights should have known what was coming after getting a taste of his stepping ability when Keano Kini restarted play from a tap restart in the eighth minute of the first half after a Knights long kick went dead in-goal. Keano Kini took the tap from the twenty metre mark running to his left before producing a jump step off his right foot. On that occasion the Knights defence prevented a line break, in the second half they were not so lucky.
In June 2021 Keano Kini started at five eight for a Titans U17 side that played a Titans Northern Rivers U18 squad at Cbus Stadium as a curtain raiser to the Titans Round Fourteen NRL match against the Sydney Roosters.
The match saw Keano Kini dominate for long stretches including late in the second half when he scored in the left corner after a long Matthew Barrow. In that period, Keano Kini also had a try assist when after he engaged the defensive line he got a great one arm off-load away to put William Semu into space to score untouched from long range.
Keano Kini also recorded a line break assist in the second half with a smart pass to hie left putting Matthew Barrow away for a fifty metre run down the left touchline.
Keano Kini was no less impressive in the first half, scoring one try and setting up another. Keano Kini scored when he backed up a long break from Arama Hau, receiving an offload from his right to race forty five metres untouched to score.
Keano Kini’s try assist came whilst he was operating on the left side of the field, skipping on the outside of two defenders on two occasions from twenty five metres out before drawing a third defender and offloading to William Semu who charged twenty metres to score near the left corner.
It was great to see in October 2020 Keano Kini named in the 2021 Tweed Heads Seagulls MM Cup squad.
Keano Kini started from the bench for the Tweed Heads Seagulls MM Cup side in their first 2021 trial which was against the Easts Tigers at Langland’s Park and was one of the Seagulls best in their 28 – 12 first up victory.
In Tweed Heads second 2021 MM Cup trial against Burleigh that Tweed Heads comprehensively won, Keano Kini played the first half at fullback and then came back on late in the match to line up at fullback once again and scoring late in the match.
Keano Kini’s late second half try was a typical fullbacks opportunist try when after loitering behind the play the ball Keano Kini loomed up on the left of Ryan Foran. Ryan Foran steamed onto the ball forty eight metres out from the line, utilising a slight step off his left foot to break through the Burleigh defensive line and then Ryan Foran positioned his support in Keano Kini perfectly to draw the fullback and pass to his left for Kini to sprint twenty five metres to put the ball down under the posts.
Keano Kini was in the action early in the match setting up a try down the left side of the field for Tweed Heads left second rower Jayden Wright, Keano Kini took the pass from the dummy half twenty metres out down a wide blind side. Keano Kini ran at the line with the ball in both hands before subtly adjusting his running line to his left and producing a good short ball to the left of his body to put Jayden Wright into a gap and from there the second rower was able to power over and score five metres in from the left corner post.
Keano Kini also produced an outstanding run in the first half, when from a Seagulls scrum win, Keano Kini ran to the left of the field, rounding three defenders and making twenty metres downfield but just as he was about to breakaway, Keano Kini was dragged down from behind. Keano Kini however won a penalty for his team after the run when the Burleigh defence would not allow him to get to his feet and execute a quick play the ball.
Keano Kini also started from the bench in Tweed Heads final 2021 MM Cup final 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. Keano 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 superb 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 attempted 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 ten 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.
Keano Kini started Round One of the 2021 MM Cup competition on the left wing before spending a significant portion of the second half at fullback as Tweed Heads took on the Ipswich Jets at home and set up the Seagulls first try of the match.
Thomas Weaver took the ball down a shortish left blindside and throwing a long cut out pass when he was forty eight metres out to his left to put Keano Kini away down the left touch line. Keano Kini flew down the left touchline, drawing the fullback and passing back to his left looking for Jaylan De Groot who was backing up on the inside. The Ipswich Jets right winger got his hand in the way to knock the ball towards the Seagulls try line with Jaylan De Groot retrieving the ball to run ten metres to score nine metres from the left corner post to cross for the Seagulls first try of the match.
One of the things that has stood out in his time in Australia has been Keano Kini’s willingness to bring the ball out of his own territory and against Ipswich that was highlighted in the 16th minute when he made elven metres from a hit-up bringing the ball out of his own twenty metre area.
In the second half with more room to move, Keano Kini had some good moments including in the 54th minute when he tracked back to retrieve the ball essentially on his own line, utilising his outstanding right foot step, Keano Kini easily beat the first defender down the field.
Keano Kini also started on the left wing in Round Two against the Souths Logan Magpies and like he did in Round One Keano Kini moved to fullback in the second half with Keano Kini scoring in just the second minute of the match in their 32 – 24 victory.
Keano Kini scored when he flew down the left touch line to dive over in the left corner, putting the ball down with his outstretched right arm after getting a gem of a pass from Jaylan De Groot.
Keano Kini also had a line break assist in just the 7th minute of the match. As he has all season, Keano Kini was the Seagulls first receiver from scrums, normally on the left side of the field. After receiving the ball, Keano Kini cut to his outside forcing the defender on his left to commit to the tackle and after driving into the line and drawing two defenders, Keano Kini threw a great ball to his left to put Kaleb Ngamanu into space down the left touchline.
Keano Kini’s speed and willingness to take the ball through the centre of the ruck was showcased once again in the 45th minute when he charged onto the ball just inside Souths Logan’s territory to the right of the play the ball. Keano Kini broke two tackles, making twelve metres before bouncing to his feet to generate a quick play the ball with Jaylan De Groot scoring due to the Souths Logan defence still back peddling from Keano Kini’s effort.
Once again in the 48th minute, Keano Kini took pressure off his forward pack when he took the second hit from the kick-off from Jaylan De Groot’s try, with Keano Kini breaking two tackles to get the ball out past the thirty metre line and then was awarded a penalty when the Souths Logan defence would not allow him to get to his feet for a quick play the ball.
Keano Kini continued his exceptional display in the 49th minute when he produced another line break when they got on the outside of his direct opponent on the left, breaking through the defensive line but unfortunately his pass back on the inside went to ground with a try potentially in the offing.
Keano Kini was literally everywhere and bobbed up once again in the 57th minute with yet another hit-up to the left of the play the ball, once again bring the ball out of his own territory, getting the ball up to the forty metre area.
Even with the game winding down and the Seagulls guaranteed the win, Keano Kini could not be kept out of the match. From a Tweed Heads scrum win on their own twenty, Keano Kini received the ball to the left of the scrum and literally ran around the Souths Logan right side defence to run twenty five metres downfield before cutting inside near the halfway mark to put a stamp on yet another impressive dare I say it, dominate performance.
Keano Kini once again started on the left wing in the Round Three Gold Coast derby against the Burleigh Bears scoring once again in the Seagulls victory.
As has become the norm, Keano Kini and Jaylen De Groot swapped positions on a number of occasions over the course of the match.
Keano Kini’s try came towards the end of the first half when he followed through a great break by Bailey Martin who off-loaded to his right to find Keano Kini in open space to run twenty metres untouched to score to the left of the uprights and bring the ball around from the left corner under no pressure.
Keano Kini had to be on his game in just the 9th minute of the match when Burleigh right second rower Seth Nikotemo put in a surprise chip ten metres out from the line. Keano Kini had to come off his left wing and dive forward to take the ball on the full less than a minute away from the try line. Keano Kini was then able to stay low to prevent being forced back into the in-goal.
The second half saw Keano Kini break through the Burleigh defensive line seemingly at will with the first of those occasions coming in the 46th minute when Keano Kini darted out of dummy half to his left. As soon as he was clear of the ruck, Keano Kini stepped off his right to get through the line and get Tweed Heads into Burleigh’s territory with Keano Kini making eighteen metres from the run.
Keano Kini broke the Burleigh line once again in the 50th minute. After Burleigh kicked to their right, Jaylan De Groot received the ball on the left and threw a long pass to his right that found Keano Kini in acres of space. Keano Kini stepped off his right to easily break through a fractured Burleigh defensive line, making thirty five metres downfield before finally being held.
Then in the 55th minute Keano Kini made his third line break in just ten minutes when he ran out of dummy half to his left, breaking two tackles before being tackled on the Burleigh forty metre mark after a twenty one metre run.
Unfortunately Keano Kini was unable to finish the match due to a lower leg injury with that injury forcing Keano Kini to miss the remainder of the 2021 MM Cup season.
In the Queensland Rugby League 2021 MM Cup Player of the Year Award Keano Kini was awarded two votes.
In mid-February 2021 Keano Kini was named at fullback in the school boy Oceanic Opens side for the South Coast school boy QSSRL U18 trial against Broadwater. Following the final round of trials, Keano Kini was named at fullback in the 2021 South Coast U18 school boy QSSRL squad.
After missing the opening two rounds of the 2021 Langer Cup school boy competition, Keano Kini started Round Three for PBC in a Gold Coast derby against Coombabah State High School, putting in a Player of the Match performance in PBC’s come from behind victory. Keano Kini’s initial involvement in the match came in the 3rd minute with his first run when he took a hit-up off the dummy half to the left making twelve metres.
Keano Kini dominant performance included a 33rd minute try when he took possession as PBC spun the ball to their left with Keano Kini collecting a Thomas Weaver pass on the bounce and exploding to his left through a gap and brought the ball around to put it down under the posts completely untouched.
Keano Kini almost scored a second try in the final minute of the match when from fifteen metres out on the left side of the field, Keano Kini stepped off his left foot to beat two defenders before charging at the line, initially it appeared that he got the ball down, but the referee adjudged that Keano Kini lost the ball just short of the line.
In addition to his try, Keano Kini made multiple line breaks with the first coming in the 8th minute with a line break after taking the kick-off after PBC’s opening try, making twenty metres before being brought to ground.
In the 18th minute Keano Kini made another line break when he took a Coombabah SHS clearing kick on the full and burst thirty metres downfield breaking three tackles. Keano Kini broke the Coombabah SHS line yet again in the 44th minute with the line break coming from what appeared at the start to be a regulation hit-up to the left of the play the ball thirty metres out from his own line. As he approached the defensive line, Keano Kini produced a devastating left foot step to slice through the line and then bamboozled the fullback with two left foot steps. Only after he got around the fullback and beat two more tackles was Keano Kini finally brought to ground.
Keano Kini continued at fullback for the Round Four blockbuster against Marsden State High School and was his usual elusive self including a great effort in the 9th minute when he retrieved a short Marsden SHS grubber kick into the in-goal and even with Marsden chasers everywhere, Keano Kini was able to step around a number of defenders to get the ball out of his own in-goal.
Keano Kini also produced an outstanding piece of play after the final siren. With Marsden SHS down by six as the final siren sounded, from fifteen metres from their own line Marsden kicked towards William Semu who charged onto the ball and flew down the left touchline and just as he looked as if he had beaten Keano Kini was able to produce a great desperate tackle to bring William Semu down just short of the line and save the match for PBC.
Keano Kini continued at fullback for the much anticipated Round Six local derby against Keebra park State High School and recorded a 53rd minute try assist when he ran at the line on the left side of the field, digging deep into the line before off-loading to his left to put his winger over in the left corner.
Keano Kini overall had a strong match including an impressive first kick return in just the second minute of the match when he was able to get the ball back to the halfway mark after taking receipt of the ball deep inside his own twenty metre area.
Keano Kini also started at fullback in Round Six against Mabel Park State High School and once again his ability to run parallel to the defensive line before exploding through the smallest of gaps was highlighted on numerous occasions including in the 55th minute when he exploded through a gap to comfortably break through the Mabel Park SHS defensive line, making thirty five metres for his progress was halted.
Keano Kini also scored for PBC in their 22 – 4 victory when in the 48th minute with the Mabel Park SHS defence backpeddling Keano Kini ran the ball down a short left blindside, initially receiving the ball eighteen metres out before cutting off the left foot and then accelerating forward before diving over ten metres in from the left corner post between two defenders.
After the competition was suspended for a number of weeks due to a Covid 19 lock down, Keano Kini was named at fullback for PBC State High School in their semi-final against Keebra Park State High School with Keano Kini scoring the match sealing try in the 49th minute when after receiving the ball on the left side of the field around twenty metres out, Keano Kini dummied to his left before slicing through the Keebra Park defensive line to get the ball down ten metres from the left upright.
Keano Kini’s first of multiple outstanding contributions for PBC came in just the 2nd minute when Keano Kini made twelve metres to get to ten metres out after joining the backline on the left side of the field. Keano Kini then almost set up PBC’s opening try of the match with a great cut put pass to the left but the pass was desperating knocked down by the Keebra Park right winger.
Keano Kini then produced a great kick return in the 5th minute, bringing the ball back and running to his left before straightening up and taking the line on. Keano Kini was hit high in the subsequent tackle and was awarded a deserved penalty.
Keano Kini also recorded a line break assist in the match in the 19th minute when after receiving the ball, Keano Kini cut back to his left before straightening up and getting halfway through the line before throwing a great right arm around the corner pass to put Bailey Martin away down the left channel on a fifteen metre run.
Keano Kini made a line break of his own in the 18th minute with a strong run to his right, making fifteen metres from the second hit-up off the kick off from Jett Forbes first half intercept try.
Keano Kini continued his impressive ball running in the 57th minute with a strong run and right arm flick off-load to Brock Priestley to get the ball well into Keebra Park territory.
Keano Kini was also outstanding defensively in the match including a great one on one tackle on a rampaging Arama Hau in the 26th minute after the Keebra Park lock had broken through the heart of the PBC defensive line.
Also on three occasions Keano Kini was able to hold up Keebra Park attackers over the line. The first of those occasions came in the 12th minute when he along with Ryan Foran and Thomas Weaver held up one of the Keebra Park front rowers over the try line.
In the 14th minute, Keano Kini along with Jayden Wright, Michael Roberts and Oskar Bryant held up Blake Mozer over the line and then in the 25th minute, Keano Kini, Michael Roberts, Brock Priestley and Bailey Martin held up Aram Hau over the line directly under the posts.
In the 2021 Langer Cup Grand Final against Marsden State High School, Keano Kini was named to start at fullback row for PBC and was his usual elusive self in the match including a 20th minute kick return of thirty metres. Keano Kini ran to his right after taking possession of the ball and getting between two defenders making the thirty metres before off-loading to Deine Mariner who was able to make thirty metre more.
Post the 2021 Langer Cup Grand Final, Keano Kini was named the joint Justin Hodges Medal winner for the most outstanding player in the 2021 Langer Cup competition. Keano Kini was also named at fullback in the Courier Mail 2021 Langer Cup Team of the Year.
Keano Kini was then named at fullback for PBC in the Queensland Open School Boys Final (Phil Hall Cup) against St Brendan’s College Yeppoon with Keano Kini scoring a double in PBC’s big 62 – 0 win.
Keano Kini’s opening try of the Grand Final came in just the 3rd minute of the match when Keano Kini received the ball on the left side of the field. When he was ten metres out, Keano Kini dummied to his left and then stepped off his left foot to get through the St Brendon’s initial defensive line before crashing over ten metres in from the left corner post.
Keano Kini scored his second try of the Grand Final in the 40th minute and it was the try of the match. St Brendan’s kicked downfield from inside their own territory with Keano Kini moving forward to take the ball on the move thirty metres from his own line. Keano Kini then split the St Brendan’s line and from there it was shut the gate with Keano Kini easily outpacing the cover defence to score near the right corner.
Keano Kini came oh so close to splitting the St Brendan’s defensive line in the 19th minute when he collected a St Brandan’s attacking kick just ten metres from his own line and burst downfield, getting over the twenty metre line before just being grabbed by his legs from behind. With the St Brendan’s defence still in disarray, the St Brendan’s defender was forced to hold Keano Kini down and concede a penalty.
At the end of the 2021 season, Keano Kini was named at No. 7 in the Courier Mail Top 60 school boys from the GPS Rugby, AIC Rugby and Langer Cup competitions.
Great to see Anthony Don working with the Titans Group 18 Development Squad.
Great interview with Kane Elgey and Matt Srama and their role with the Titans JTS Program.
https://www.titans.com.au/news/2021/11/17/lauxes-grates-ep-1-kane-elgey-and-matt-srama/
The strength of the Titans partnered Marsden SHS Rugby League Program can be seen by the fact that in 2021 four Marsden SHS students were named in the Queensland U12 school boy rugby league Merit Team, being Chris Viamaili, Marquis Sando, Marlee Smith and Jeremaiah Toko.
Young front row/second row prospect Bostyn Taufoou had an outstanding 2021 season, highlighting his outstanding potential.
In addition to playing for Marsden SHS including starting in the front row in Marsden's Bronco's Old Boys school boy Grand Final victory against Ipswich SHS, he also started in the second row for Logan Brothers in their GBJRL U14 Division One Grand Final against Norths.
Young front rower Marlie Barry highlighted his outstanding potential with a Player of the Match performance for PBC State High School in the Renouf Cup Grand Final as PBC prevailed 8 – 4 against a determined Marsden State High School side earlier this season.
Post the Renouf Cup Grand Final Marlie Barry was named in the front row in the Courier Mail 2021 Team of the School Boy Grand Finals.
2021 also saw Marlie Barry play for the Tugun Seahawks in the Group 18 U13 Junior Rugby League competition. In the 2021 Group 18 U13 competition the Seahawks won seven matches, drew two and lost three, scoring 162 points and conceding 116 to finish with a +46 points deferential.
Prior to moving to PBC SHS Marlie Barry attended Currumbin State School and in 2019 started in the front row for Currumbin PS in their NRL Development Cup Final against Frechville State School as a curtain raiser to the Queensland Cup Grand Final with Currumbin SS winning 32 – 6.
The Burleigh 2022 U16 Cyril Connell side is certainly going to have some size and power in their side with Keebra Park SHS student Micah Eteru in the squad.
This season the front rower was part of the Keebra Park side that made the school boy Walters Cup Grand Final against PBC with Micah Eteru almost scoring early in the match.
At the conclusion of the Grand Final Micah Eteru was named in the front row in the Courier Mail Team of the School Boy Grand Finals.
DIEHARD
18-11-21, 11:58 AM
Locker Room Chat with the Grates: Kane Elgey and Matt Srama
Video: :video:https://www.titans.com.au/news/2021/11/17/lauxes-grates-ep-1-kane-elgey-and-matt-srama/
Good friends Kane Elgey and Matt Srama share their memories of their time at the Titans and developing the next wave of local talent.
Another talented player at Titans Partnered Marsden SHS is Juaan Penese who earlier this season started at five eight for Marsden in the Renouf Shield Grand Final against PBC.
Juann Penese also plays for Logan Brothers and started in the centres in their U13 Division One GBJRL Grand Final victory 24-8 against Wynnum Manly.
Ball playing lock Brodie Saunders highlighted his potential with an outstanding performance for PBC State High School in the 2021 Renouf Cup Grand Final as PBC prevailed 8 – 4 against a determined Marsden State High School side.
Post the Renouf Cup Grand Final Brodie Saunders was named at lock in the Courier Mail 2021 Team of the School Boy Grand Finals.
Prior to moving to PBC SHS Brodie Saunders attended Currumbin State School and in 2019 started at lock for Currumbin PS in their NRL Development Cup Final against Frechville State School as a curtain raiser to the Queensland Cup Grand Final with Currumbin SS winning 32 – 6 and Brodie Saunders kicking a conversion.
Good to see Beaudesert Kingfishers junior Ethan Jackson training with the Titans JTS Program.
Another Northern NSW junior training with the Titans JTS Program is Tyler Moore with the young man certainly a player of the future.
Brisbane's Stretton State College's Rugby League Excellence Program is coming along nicely and 2021 Year Seven student Lexin Hill has put the Rugby League Program on the map further with his selection in the Titans JTS Program. Lexin Hill is also a Souths Acacia Ridge Magpies Junior.
Young players with pure natural ability and who play the game with a sense of joy are a rare breed but the Titans have one in their JTS program with Evans Head youngster Latrell Lowah.
Great to see PBC second rower Kwinn Wolf training with the Titans JTS Program.
In 2021 Kwinn Wolf also played for the Murwillumbah Colts U14 side in the Group 18 U14 competition.
Another Stretton State College student and Souths Magpies Acacia Ridge junior who has started training with Titans JTS Program is 2021 Year Eight student Jeremaiah Atoa, he is an outstanding talent in his own right.
Front row/second row Jared Johnson had a very solid 2021 season with Helensvale in the GCRL U18 Division One competition including starting in the front row in the Grand Final against the Nerang Roosters.
Jared Johnson was also a member of the 2021 Coombabah State High School Langer Cup Open A side.
Whilst he was part of the Burleigh MM Cup side in 2021 Jared Johnson will line up for Tweed Heads in the 2022 MM Cup competition.
He did not have the name recognition of most of his team mates but crafty dummy half Hasley MacDonald was an important part of the Nerang Roosters U18 Division One Grand Final winning side against the Helensvale Hornets.
In 2022 Hasley MacDonald will line up for the Tweed Heads Seagulls MM Cup side although I do note that he has also been named in the Burleigh MM Cup squad.
Louruce Brown was a strong presence in the front row for the Ormeau Shearers in the GCRL U18 Division One competition this season and he will be looking to make the Round One Tweed Heads Seagulls MM Cup side in early 2022.
PBC and Keebra Park dominate the school boy rugby league headlines on the Gold Coast but that does not mean that other GC schools do not have very talented players at their school.
That is certainly the case for St Michael's College who had Jack Kelly in their school boy side and captain as well.
Jack Kelly at 17 impressively also captained the Premiership winning GCRL U18 Division One Nerang Roosters side whilst playing in backrow.
2022 will see Jack Kelly bring his leadership skills to the Burleigh Bears MM Cup squad.
The 2021 Nerang Roosters U18 Division One Grand Final winning side (44-12 against Helensvale) was a star studded outfit so a 17 year old breaking into the squad and making a very solid contribution, including starting the Grand Final is no small feat, but that is what Harrison Croaker did this season.
In 2022 in addition to continuing with the Roosters Harrison Croaker will also play for the Burleigh Bears MM Cup squad.
One new player in the Tweed Heads Seagulls 2022 MM Cup side that I am very interested in seeing play is former North Queensland based centre Jett Jackson.
Jett Jackson is also MM Cup eligible in 2023.
One player over the last couple of seasons that has always played well when I have seen him play is front rower Irvine Tiomai who this season played for the Premiership winning Nerang Roosters GCRL U18 Division One side including starting from the bench in their 44-12 Grand Final victory against the Helensvale Hornets.
To cap off a successful 2021 season recently Irvine Tiomai was named in the 2022 Burleigh Bears MM Cup squad.
In 2021 Kasey Kapoa played for the Helensvale Hornets in the GCRL U18 Division One competition including starting in the second row in the Grand Final against the Nerang Roosters.
In addition to playing for the Hornets U18 Division One side once again in 2022 Kasey Kapoa has been named in the Tweed Heads Seagulls MM Cup competition.
One of a number of intriguing players in the 2022 Tweed Heads Seagulls MM Cup squad is Kyen Murphy.
This year Kyen Murphy played for the Premiership winning Nerang Roosters U18 Division One side, starting the Grand Final against Helensvale at fullback and scoring a hat trick in the Roosters 44-12 victory.
Kyen Murphy played for Coombabah SHS in the Langer Cup school boy competition as well this season, starting a number of matches in the second row.
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