Junior Development [Archive] - Page 37

mdrew

22-11-21, 04:41 PM

Young forward Nicholas Novakovic started the 2021 season as part of the U17 Souths Sydney Rabbitohs New South Wales Rugby League Harold Matthews side but headed up to the Gold Coast in time to be named on the bench for Nerang in Round Five of the Gold Coast Rugby League U18 Division One competition as the Roosters took on and defeated the Southport Tigers 34 - 12.

Nicholas Novakovic also came off the bench in Round Six against the Helensvale Hornets operating both in the front row and second row in his time on the field and also came off the bench in Round Seven against Mudgeeraba.

Nicholas Novakovic continued coming off the bench in Round Nine against the Currumbin Eagles as well as in Round Ten against the Runaway Bay Seagulls as well as in Round Eleven against the Nerang Roosters.

When rugby league recommenced on the Gold Coast in late August 2021 after the Covid 19 lockdown, Nicholas Novakovic was named to start from the bench for Nerang in Round Eleven against the Ormeau Shearers before moving into the starting side in the front row in Round Twelve against the Southport Tigers, with Nicholas Novakovic taking the first hit-up of the match after Southport had kicked off.

The match also saw Nicholas Novakovic score his first try since moving to the Gold Coast when in the 40th minute Nicholas Novakovic barged onto the ball to the right of the dummy half, receiving the ball eight metres out and forcing his way over the line adjacent to the right upright.

Nicholas Novakovic dropped back to the interchange bench for Nerang in Round Thirteen against the Helensvale Hornets.

Nicholas Novakovic then started for the bench in Week two of the 2021 GCRL U18 Final’s series for the Roosters against the Helensvale Hornets.

In the 2021 Gold Coast Rugby League U18 Division One Grand Final Nicholas Novakovic started from the bench for the Roosters side against the Helensvale Hornets.

Nicholas Novakovic’s first appearance in the 2021 Souths Sydney Rabbitohs Harold Matthews side came in Round Four when he started from the bench against the Newcastle Knights. Nicholas Novakovic moved to the Souths Sydney starting side in the second row in Round Five against the Norths Sydney Bears celebrating his promotion to the starting side by scoring in the 24th minute of the big Rabbitohs victory.

After missing a number of rounds, Nicholas Novakovic came off the bench in Round Eight against the Central Coast Roosters before once again being promoted to the starting side in the second row for the final round, being Round Nine against the Balmain Tigers.

mdrew

22-11-21, 05:47 PM

Elusive young former Victorian rugby and rugby league junior Tyrus Salanoa moved up from down South mid-way through 2020 to attend Keebra Park State High School and be part of their Rugby League Excellence Program in partnership with the Titans, playing the 2020 abridged school rugby league season in Keebra Park’s famous maroon and blue jersey.

Tyrus Salanoa started for Keebra Park at right centre in Round One of the 2021 School Boy Walters Cup competition against Marsden State High School and scored an outstanding solo try in the 13th minute.

As noted Tyrus Salanoa started at right centre but in relation to his try, he looped around to the left from a scrum move receiving the ball with room to move twenty metres out from the line. Tyrus Salanoa attacked the line continuing to run to his left, running with the ball out of front in both hands. This “froze” the defensive line and subsequently Tyrus Salanoa was able to slice through a gap and score untouched and was also able to bring the ball around closer to the posts.

Tyrus Salanoa also started at right centre in Round Two against Redcliffe State High School, kicking three conversions in Keebra Park’s victory.

Tyrus Salanoa also started at right centre in the 2021 Walters Cup Grand Final as Keebra Park SHS went down 30 – 12 to PBC SHS.

In mid-February 2021 Tyrus Salanoa played in a Titans U15 Invitational Trial at Burleigh, a trial which included only the best of the 2021 Titans U15 squad members.

Early February 2021 saw Tyrus Salanoa made it through the first stage of the South Coast U15 QSSRL trials when he was named in the U15 Broadwater school boy U15 squad. Following the final round of trials, Tyrus Salanoa was named in the 2021 South Coast U15 school boy QSSRL squad.

In the 2021 QSSRL U15 Championships Tyrus Salanoa stood out for South Coast at hooker, including an outstanding display in the Championship Final with South Coast beating Met West 28 – 20 in the decider. Tyrus Salanoa was subsequently named at hooker in the 2021 QSSRL U15 Merit side.

Tyrus Salanoa had a strong start in the final, making twelve metres in just the 4th minute from a run out of dummy half down a short left blindside.

At the completion of the Championships, Tyrus Salanoa was named at hooker in the 2021 QSSRL U15 School Boy Merit Team.

Tyrus Salanoa started at hooker for South Coast on Day One of the Championships against Met West, converting one of South Coast’s first half tries.

Tyrus Salanoa started at hooker as well on Day Two against Capricorna produced a telling run out of dummy half in the 41st minute with the run his right accounting for thirty metres all the way to ten metres out from the try line. Initially it looked as if he would be tackled just after he had run out of dummy half with a Capricornia defender holding onto his right leg, but Tyrus Salanoa was able to break free and keep running.

Day Three against Tyrus Salanoa also start at hooker against Met North with the dummy half scoring one try and converting two. Tyrus Salanoa scored mid-way through the first half under the posts after he forced his way over after running from dummy half to his right from a metre out from the line.

2021 also saw Tyrus Salanoa named in the South Coast Schools U15 Rugby Representative side.

mdrew

22-11-21, 06:16 PM

Talented PBC student Tyler Small started at left centre for the PBC Year Nine school boy side against Keebra Park in early June 2021 with the young centre scoring in the PBC victory when he raced through to dive on a grubber kick to his side of the field, just, and I mean just, before the dead ball line.

Tyler Small was also named to start on the left wing in the 2021 Hancock Cup Grand Final against local rivals Keebra Park State High School.

Tyler Small played in the 2020 PBC Renouf Cup School Boy Grand Final side, sarting at left cetre, that went down in heart breaking fashion 10 – 8 to Marsden State High School with Tyler Small scoring PBC’s sole try of the match late in the second half to get PBC on the board before a late try to Marsden State High School in the left corner saw PBC lose in heart breaking fashion after their great fight back.

Tyler Small’s try came when he chased through a well weighted kick from the PBC half, Tyler Small fly through to take the ball on the full and then stepped off his left foot to get around the Marsden State High School fullback and as a consequence he was able to bring the ball around to put it down directly behind the left upright to make the conversion far easier for five eight Tyler Wright.

Tyler Small not only had a very good 2020 Renouf Cup Grand Final but also had a number of stand out matches in the regular rounds of the Renouf Cup including an impressive three try effort against Wavell State High School in Round Five.

In the Round Five match against Wavell the first two tries that Tyler Small scored were very similar. On both occasions Tyler Small, playing left centre, was on the end of PBC backline movements receiving the ball in open space and crossing in the left corner with one of the tries described coming in each half.

Tyler Small’s third try of the match was a fraction different than the other two. Tyler Small followed through a stab kick to his side of the field, being the left, timing his run to get to the ball taking it above his head between two Wavell SHS defenders and pushing forward to score as the two defenders closed in.

In Round Four of the 2020 Renouf Cup against Forest Lake State High School Tyler Small scored a double as PBC proved too good for their Brisbane West based rivals. Tyer Small’s first try came in the opening minutes of the match when he chased through a grubber kick to the left side of the diving on the ball in the in goal before the Forest Lake defenders could defuse the kick into the in goal.

Tyler Small’s second try of the match, which came in the second half also resulted from Tyler Small chasing through a PBC kick. For his second try however Tyler Small chased through a long kick out of PBC’s own half, with Tyler Small getting to the ball in the clear twenty five metres out from the Forest Lake line and he was able to bring the ball around to score under the posts.

Round Three of the 2020 Renouf Cup saw Tyler Small score a further hat trick against fellow Gold Coast school Coombabah State High School, with the first of Tyler Small’s tries coming when he backed up a break from PBC left second rower Sam Stephenson who got a pass away to his left to Tyler Small who ran twenty metres to score.

Tyler Small’s second try resulted when he ran a perfect hard straight line through the Coombabah State High School defence forty metres out from the line, producing a left foot step to beat the initial cover defence and then Tyler Small ran diagonally away from the fullback to score next to the right uprights.

Tyler Small’s completed his hat trick when he backed up a break from his fullback to get the ball from his right to score in the left corner of the field.

Tyler Small added a further try in Round Two against Keebra Park State High School when he backed up a break by Sam Stephenson receiving the ball forty metres out and Tyler Small’s speed allowed him to bring the ball around to put it down under the posts.

Tyler Small started the 2020 Renouf Cup school boy season off with a bang scoring a double in Round One in a tough loss to eventual Grand Final opponents Marsden State High School. Tyler Small’s first try of the match (and season) resulted from a straight hard run through the Marsden line before he produced a perfectly executed left foot step to beat the fullback and bring the ball around to put it down ten metres to the left of the uprights.

Tyler Small’s second try resulted when he loomed up to the left of PBC left seond rower Sam Stephenson taking the ball fifity metres out and accelerating down the left touch line and Tyler Small was able to bring ball around to put it down near the left upright.

In total in his six 2020 Renouf Cup matches (including the Grand Final) Tyler Small, starting all of them at left centre, scored twelve tries to finish with a 200% try scoring strike rate.

In early October 2020 Tyler Small was part of the Titans NRRRL U14/15 side that played a trial match against a Titans Gold Coast U14 squad with the match being played at Cbus Stadium, giving the young players a great experience including playing the match in Titans jerseys.

In relation to club rugby league in 2020 Tyler Smart played in the Group 18 U14 competition for the Cudgen Hornets. The Cudgen Hornets finished the 2020 season with one win and nine losses, finishing with a -128 points differential, scoring 96 points and conceding 224. Post the season, Tyler Small was named the 2020 Cudgen Hornets U14 Group 18 Best Back.

mdrew

22-11-21, 06:36 PM

2021 saw Jake Lateo play for PBC in the Walters Cup competition, including starting the Grand Final against Keebra Park State High School at lock.

It was not just in the Walters Cup that Jake Lateo had a strong match, he also played well after also starting at lock in Round Three against Coombabah State High School.

Jake Lateo also had a strong match against Wavell State High School, with Jake Lateo being the primary goal kicker in PBC’s 22 – 6 win, with Jake Lateo kicking three conversions from four attempts, including a 40th minute conversion from the left touchline. Jake Lateo also kicked conversions in the 44th and 46th minutes.

In October 2021 Jake Lateo trialled for the 2022 Burleigh Bears MM Cup squad, starting at five eight for the Burleigh Maroon trial side operating on the left side of the field over the course of the trial.

The talented Titans linked PBC student (formerly of Benora Point State School in northern New South Wales) started at five eight for the 2020 PBC Hancock Cup school boy Grand Final side that went down in heart breaking fashion 26 – 24 to Marsden State High School at Langlands Park with the Brisbane based school kicking the winning penalty goal after the final siren had sounded.

Jake Lateo scored an impressive try late in the second half. Operating on the left, Jake Lateo threw a bueatiful long cut out pass to PBC left winger Bailey Simpson who after running down the left touch line kicked inside. Jake Lateo backed up in the inside retrieving the ball close to the Marsden line under heavy pressure. To create space for himself to separate from the defenders close to him, Jake Lateo spun 360 degrees counter clockwise and was able to force his way over from close range fifteen metres from the left goal post to get PBC within four points in the dying stages of the hard fought Grand Final.

Jake Lateo was also heavily involved in PBC’s try that was scored right on the half time siren by fullback Creedence Donovan when he was able to beat a tackle and start the movement down a short blind side near the right touch line around seventy metres out from the Marsden SHS try line that led to Creedence Donovan ultimately scoring under the posts.

Jake Lateo not only had a very good Hancock Cup Grand Final but also had a number of stand out matches in the regular rounds of the 2020 Hancock Cup including an impressive match against Wavell State High School in Round Five when Jake Lateo recorded three try assists in PBC’s impressive victory.

Jake Lateo’s first try assist came as he split the Wavell SHS defence with a left foot step off a PBC scrum win, running sixty metres before drawing the fullback and passing to his left to fullback Creedence Donovan who had loomed up on his outside. Jake Lateo was also heavily involved in another Creedence Donovan first half try when he put up a big mid-field bomb which was let bounce by Wavell and Creedence Donovan flew through to get to the ball on the bounce.

Jake Lateo’s third and final try assist of the match came in the second half, when Jake Lateo ran to the left of the field, ten metres out from the line and brought his left second rower back underneath to crash over next to the left uprights.

In Round Four against Forest Lake State High Sschool Jake Lateo scored as well as recording a further two try assists. Jake Lateo’s try was a hard working effort when he took the ball from the dummy half around ten metres out to the left of the play the ball, cutting back towards the area behind the play the ball to run between two defenders to score near the posts.

Jake Lateo’s two try assists were very different, the first came from a good stab kick to the left for PBC to pounce and the second from a long cut out pass to his left winger who was in space, five metres out from the line. The pass must have travelled around fifteen metres and Jake Lateo put it directly on the chest of his winger.

In early October 2020 Jake Lateo 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 including wearing Titans jerseys in the match.

In 2019 Jake Lateo played for the Group 18 U14 representative side at the New South Wales Country Age Championships, playing primarily on the wing.

mdrew

22-11-21, 06:59 PM

Round One of the 2021 Langer Cup School Boy Rugby League competition saw Nathaniel Cama named to start at left centre of Keebra Park against Marsden State High School however on the day of the game he dropped back to the interchange bench.

Round Three against Ipswich State High School saw Nathaniel Cama named on the bench for Keebra Park. After missing a number of rounds Nathaniel Cama was named on the bench for the Keebra Park SHS Langer Reserve side for their Round Six match against local rivals PBC State High School.

After the competition was suspended for a number of weeks due to a Covid 19 lock down, Nathaniel Cama was named in the centres for Keebra Park State High School in their semi-final against PBC State High School.

2021 also saw Nathaniel Cama play for Wynnum Manly in the Greater Brisbane Junior Rugby League U18 competition where he operated primarily in the centres including starting on the bench in the Grand Final against Souths Juniors.

In 2020 Nathaniel Cama was set to be part of the Keebra Park Open A Langer Cup school boy rugby league side however the Covid 19 pandemic meant that Nathaniel Cama returned to New Zealand and did not return to Australia for the start of the Term Three 2020 school year when the Langer Cup competition was due to commence.

In Auckland Nathaniel Cama started at left centre for the Marist Saints U17/18 side in Round Two of the Auckland Rugby League competition against the Pakurangi Kingz with Marist Saints winning the match 42 - 6. Nathaniel Cama moved to right centre for Round Three as Marist Saints defeated Manurewa 42 – 4.

Nathaniel Cama moved to the interchange bench for Round Four against the Pakuranga Kingz as the Marist Saints recorded a big victory. Nathaniel Cama was back in the Marist Saints starting side at right centre for Round Five against the Otahuhu Leopards.

Round Six saw Nathaniel Cama move to start in the forwards in Round Six as the Marist Saints defeated the Waitemata Seagulls 42 – 4 which was the final round before a further shut down of community rugby league in New Zealand.

Before moving over to Australia (he travelled from Logan to attend Keebra Park State High School every day) Nathaniel Cama spent two seasons in Auckland powerhouse school St Paul’s First College XIII school boy rugby league side, making his First XIII debut as a 15 year old in 2018.

In late 2019 Nathaniel Cama started at left centre for St Pauls College in their SAS College First XIII 28 – 6 Final victory over Southern Cross Campus.

In October 2019 Nathaniel Cama started in the centres and scored for the Toa Samoa U16 side as they defeated a New Zealand U16 side 26 – 20 in their annual match. The New Zealand U16 side contained Titans contracted half Keano Kini.

Also in 2019 Nathaniel Cama was selected in the New Zealand U16 Talent Development Program (TDP) and on the last day of the camp that was held in early 2019 started in the centres for Team Papalií in the trial that was held in the last day of camp, but they went down 24 – 16 to Team Fisher-Harris. Later in the 2019 season Nathaniel Cama was named in the New Zealand U16 Wider Squad alongside Titans contracted Keano Kini.

Nathaniel Cama’s 2019 representative program also included starting on the left wing for the Auckland Vulcans U16 side that played a Future Warriors U16 squad in a curtain raiser to an NRL match in Auckland between the Warriors and North Queensland. Titans contracted Keano Kini started at half for the Auckland Vulcans U16 side.

In the 2019 Auckland U16 club competition Nathaniel Cama played ten matches for the Waitemata Seagulls and opposed Titans Keano Kini and Levon Pure on a number of occasions.
The Waitemata Seagulls and Nathaniel Cama progressed all of the way to the Auckland Rugby League U16 Preliminary Final where they went down 24 – 12 to an outstanding Keano Kini lead Marist Saints side.

Finally in 2019 Nathaniel Cama was part of the Arakana Falcons U17 representative side as part of a busy year for the centre or winger.

In 2018 Nathaniel Cama represented the Auckland Vulcans U15 representative side at the New Zealand U15 National Youth Championships starting at left centre in all five of their matches including their 16 – 14 Championship Final victory over the South Island Scorpions.

In the 2018 New Zealand National U15 Youth Final Nathaniel Cama scored an acrobatic diving try of the left corner from close range down a short blind side. Nathaniel Cama received the ball about two metres out from the line and two metres in from the left touch line and dived from around that far out with the ball in his left hand extended out from his body and put the ball down with the same hand in the corner with the rest of his body high in the air.

Post those Championships Nathaniel Cama was named in the 2018 U15 National Youth Championship Merit Team.

In 2017 Nathaniel Cama represented Fiji at the Pasicifica Youth Cup scoring two tries for the Fiji U15 side, with those tries coming against the Cook Islands and Niue.

Nathaniel Cama’s first taste of representative rugby league came in 2016 when he was part of the Auckland North U13 representative rugby league side and in 2017 was part of the Auckland North U14 representative side.

mdrew

22-11-21, 07:44 PM

Great to see Ricco Watititi received deserved recognition at the recent Tweed Heads Seagulls Awards Presentation.

The Tweed Heads Seagulls youngster was part of the Titans U14 squad that played a Western Mustangs selection in February 2019 at Mudgeeraba and also in 2019 was named in the Group 18 U14 representative side playing in the centres at the 2019 New South Wales Country Age Championships.

In early in October 2019 Ricco Watititi was part of a Titans U14/15 NRRRL side that played the Titans U14 Gold Coast/Brisbane Academy side in development match at Tweed Heads Piggabeen complex with the NRRRL side going down 32 – 10 in a competitive and highly entertaining game of rugby league.

Ricco Watititi played the 2019 season with the Tweed Heads Seagulls U14 side that played in the Northern New South Wales Group 18 junior rugby league competition.

In 2018 Ricco Waititi was selected in the Gold Coast Cyclones U12 side for the Queensland Age Rugby Championships.
qrl

mdrew

22-11-21, 08:40 PM

In late October 2021 K-CI Newton-Whare was named in the Burleigh Bears 2022 U18 MM Cup squad.

In October 2021 K-CI Newton-Whare was named in the 2021 Queensland Maori U18 representative side for the 2021 QPICC Cultural Carnival.

Not long after arriving in Australia, K-CI Newton-Whare took part in the South Coast Open school boy trials and post the completion of those trials he was named in the South Coast B Open school boys side.

K-CI Newton-Whare started South Coast Maroon’s Day One match at right second row.

K-CI Newton-Whare also started at right second row on Day Three agaisnt Darling Downs producing a strong tackle in the opening set of six after South Coast Maroon had kicked off.

K-CI Newton-Whare also started at right second row on started Day Two against Met North and scored in the 10th minute when he ran twenty metres to score after he had been put into a gapt by Caleb Gould-Waiariki who had drifted across field.

To cap off a great start to his time in Australia, K-CI Newton-Whare was brought into the Burleigh Bears MM Cup squad in the week prior to Round One where Burleigh took on the Souths Logan Magpies. Round Two against the Ipswich Jets saw K-CI Newton-Whare named on Burleigh’s extended bench.

K-CI Newton-Whare was initially named on the Bears extended bench once again in Round Three against the Tweed Heads Seagulls however started the match from the bench, playing in the centre of the field and producing some very strong hit-ups in his time on the field in the second half.

After his solid MM Cup debut in Round Three K-CI Newton-Whare moved back to the Bears extended bench for Round Four against the Souths Logan Magpies and was also named on the Bears extended bench for Round Five against the Ipswich Jets.

Upon completion of Burleigh’s 2021 MM Cup season, K-CI Newtown-Whare played for Runaway Bay in Round Three of the 2021 GCRL U18 Division One Pre-season competition, starting at right second row for the Seagulls, scoring an eighty metre solo try late in the match.

In Round One of the Gold Coast Rugby League U18 Division One competition K-CI Newton-Whare started at right second row for Runaway Bay as they took on the Mudgeeraba Redbacks. K-CI Newton-Whare had a huge match including scoring the Seagulls final try of their 42 – 6 victory.

K-Ci Newton-Whare’s try came in the 68th minute with K-Ci Newton-Whare receiving the ball eighty metres away from the line after Runaway Bay had spun the ball wide to their right. When he took possession of the ball, K-Ci Newton-Whare immediately got on the outside of his direct opponent before stepping off his left foot to beat one defender before he punched through the attempted tackle of two more (one from each side) and then stepping off his right to round the fullback. From that point K-Ci Newton-Whare had an uninterrupted fifty five metre run to the line to score under the posts.

K-Ci Newton-Whare’s first significant run came in the 22nd minute when he charged onto the ball making twenty three metres to get the ball to within twelve metres of the try line before offloading to Kobie Mackay-Taylor who was then able to get the ball even closer to the try line.

K-Ci Newton-Whare made another strong run in the 63rd minute when he was able to make sixteen metres through traffic before once again being able to off-load the ball, on that occasion being to one of his front rowers.

In addition to his strong running over the course of the match K-Ci Newton-Whare also made some telling contributions in the match including in the 21st minute when he drove his left shoulder into the exposed ribs of one of the Mudgeeraba forwards, forcing him back five metres before driving him into the ground.

K-CI Newton-Whare was also named to start at right second row in Round Two against the Southport Tigers however he was a late omission from the match.

After missing Round Three due to his school boy representative commitments with South Coast, K-CI Newton-Whare was named on the bench for Round Four against the Helensvale Hornets.

K-CI Newton-Whare started Round Six at left second row and produced some moments of brilliance for the Seagulls with none better than in the 10th minute when he ran the ball from twenty five metres out from the line. At one point K-CI Newton-Whare was brought to ground but as he was not held he was up and running quickly to get the ball close to the try line from a run where he broke six tackles.

K-CI Newton-Whare continued his outstanding match in the 12th minute with a fifteen metre hit-up to the right of the dummy half to get the ball to thirty metres out from his own line and then in the 33rd minute K-CI Newton-Whare whilst being held by three defenders was able to off-load the ball. K-Ci Newton-Whare’s hard running was also on display in the 54th minute with a sixteen metre surge from the third hit-up after the kick-off as a result of Esmonde Parangi’s 52nd minute try.

K-CI Newton-Whare dropped back to the bench for Round Seven against the Ormeau Shearers and but was back in the starting side in the front row in Round Nine against the Southport Tigers.

Round Ten saw K-CI Newton-Whare continue in the front row against the Nerang Roosters with K-CI Newton-Whare scoring double in the Seagulls tough loss.

K-CI Newton-Whare scored his first try in the 14th minute when Runaway Bay spun the ball to the right before K-CI Newton-Whare received the ball ten metres out from an inside pass from his halfback with K-CI Newton-Whare barging his way over from ten metres out to score adjacent to the right upright.

K-CI Newton-Whare added his second try in the 69th minute of the match when from eight metres out K-Ci Newton-Whare ran off a good short ball from Joseph Shannon. After engaging the initial Roosters defender, K-CI Newton-Whare spun clockwise to gain separate and then he carried another Roosters defender over the line with him to once again score adjacent to the right upright.

When rugby league recommenced in August 2021 after the Covid 19 hiatus, K-CI Newton-Whare was named to start in the centres for Runaway Bay against the Helensvale Hornets with K-CI Newton-Whare scoring the Seagulls two tries in the match.

K-CI Newton-Whare scored his first try in the 31st minute when he received the ball to the left of a Runaway Bay scrum win and broke through two tackles and surged to the try line from twenty five metres out, placing the ball down five metres to the right of the uprights.

K-CI Newton-Whare’s second try was scored in the 38th minute from ten metres out after K-CI Newton-Whare received the ball to the right of the play the ball, initially stepping back to his left before breaking two tackles on the way to the tryline to get the ball down ten metres to the left of the goal posts with three defenders hanging off him.

K-CI Newton-Whare then moved back to left second row for Round Twelve against the Burleigh Bears with K-CI Newton-Whare scoring in the 19th minute. K-CI Newton-Whare’s try was all of his own making. The ball was thrown out towards K-CI Newton-Whare on the left. K-CI Newton-Whare had to track back to retrieve the errand pass, collecting the ball thirty two metres out. K-CI Newton-Whare initially ran towards mid-field before straightening up and bursting through the Burleigh line and then he was able to bring the ball around to put it down near the left upright.

K-CI Newton-Whare almost had a second try in the 24th minute when he charged onto the ball from twelve metres out but he was cut down by a great low tackle just centremetres short of the try line.

K-CI Newton made a further strong run in the 46th minute with an eighteen metres effort and a right arm off-laod to take the ball ten metres in Burleigh territory.

Defensively K-CI Newton-Whare was also very strong including a great hit in the 41st when he came out of the defensive line to hit the Burleigh replacement front rower (No. 18) in the ribs five metres out and directly in front of the goal posts.

K-CI Newton-Whare continued at left second row in Round Thirteen against the Currumbin Eagles scoring two powerful tries.

K-CI Newton-Whare’s first try came in just the 2nd minute of the match when he cut back inside, receiving the ball ten metres from the line, K-CI initially contacted the defensive line two metres from the try line but he spun clockwise to get the ball down next to the left upright.

K-CI Newton-Whare scored his second try in the 54th minute when he received the ball on the left side of the field ten metres out from the and immediately cut back inside off his left foot to barge over seven metres in from the left corner post.

The 27th minute of the match saw K-CI Newton-Whare also make a twenty metre line break down the left channel.

K-CI Newton-Whare continued at left second row in Round Fourteen against the Ormeau Shearers, scoring yet again in the 53rd minute as a result of a superb solo run that originated from twenty metres out with K-CI Newton-Whare breaking six tackles to crash over seven metres from the left goal post.

Round One of the 2021 Langer Cup School Boy Rugby League competition saw K-CI Newton-Whare start from the bench for Coombabah State High School as they took on Langer Cup newcomers Mabel Park SHS with K-CI Newton-Whare playing left centre when he came onto the field.

K-CI Newton-Whare also started from the bench in Coombabah SHS’s tough Round Two loss against Wavell State High School and in Round Three against PBC State High School moved into the starting side in the front row and also started in the front row in Round Four against Ipswich State High School.

K-CI Newton-Whare also continued in the front row in Round Five against St Mary’s College Toowoomba, scoring in the opening minutes of Coombabah SHS’s impressive victory. In just the third minute of the match, K-CI Newton-Whare ran onto the ball two passes to the right of the play the ball and after a sligh step off his right foot, K-CI Newton-Whare broke through two tackles and dragged two more defenders over the line to get the ball down under the posts.

K-CI Newton-Whare was also named to start in the front row in Round Six against Marsden State High School.

At the 2021 Coombabah State High School Sports Awards night, K-CI Newton-Whare was named in the 2021 Coombabah State High School Team of the Year.

In early June 2021, K-CI Newton-Whare travelled back to New Zealand to play in the 2021 New Zealand Maori U17 Tournament with the trip proving to be successful with him being named in the 2021 New Zealand Maori U17 All Tournament Team.

mdrew

22-11-21, 10:07 PM

In October 2021 Te Haeta Takamore trialled for the 2022 Burleigh Bears MM Cup squad, starting at fullback for the Burleigh Maroon trial side with Te Haeta Takamore getting the match underway by kicking off. Whilst Te Haeta Takamore started the trial at fullback, playing the opening two quarters in that position, Te Haeta Takamore spent the final two quarters at right centre for Burleigh Maroon and was equally effective at that position.

Te Haeta Takamore produced a smart piece of play in the 6th minute with a fifteen metres dummy half run to the left of the play the ball with Te Haeta Takamore able to off-load when his forward momentum was halted around twenty metres out from the line.

Te Haeta Takamore then produced a great piece of play in the 22nd minute when he moved forward at full speed to collect a Burleigh White grubber down low and at full speed around twenty metres out from his own line. Te Haeta Takamore then was able to break one tackle and was able to make ten metres before off-loading to his left to Henry Melleck who ran twenty five metres down the left touchline and get the ball into Burleigh White territory.

Te Haeta Takamore also made a strong run in the 28th minute when he chimed into the backline on the left side of the field just inside his own territory. Te Haeta Takamore cut back to his inside when he had crossed the halfway mark, bumping off one defender before cutting back to his left with the effort making twenty five metres.

As a result of his trial performance, In late October 2021 Te Haeta Takamore was named in the Burleigh Bears 2022 U18 MM Cup squad.

mdrew

23-11-21, 07:15 AM

Ethan Palanga was named in the PNG U18 side for the 2021 QPICC Cultural Carnival that was held at Beenleigh in Brisbane’s south with Ethan Palanga starting Round One on the right wing against Tonga.

Ethan Palanga then moved back to the bench for his remaining matches of the Carnival including PNG’s 6 – 4 Grand Final victory against Tonga.

The young winger who earlier in 2021 was part of the Easts Tigers MM Cup squad, playing a number of their trials, started on the left wing for the Southport Tigers in Round One of the GCRL U18 Division One competition as they took on the Currumbin Eagles.

In the Round One match, one of the impressive attributes of Ethan Palanga’s performance was his ability to pick the correct time to come out of the line in defence when facing an overlap.

The first occasion that Ethan Palanga came out of the line was inside the opening minute of the match when facing a three man overlap Ethan Palanga flew out of the line to hit the Currumbin right centre just as he was trying to pass to his left.

Ethan Palanga came off his left wing once again in the 10th minute when he was defending from a Currumbin scrum feed. Once again Ethan Palanga came out of the line to hit the Currumbin right centre to end the movement to two unmarked players on the outside.

Ethan Palanga also had some good moments running the ball including in the 2nd minute when he ran out of dummy half to his right to get the ball more than ten metres away from his own try line.

Ethan Palanga produced another strong dummy half run in the 57th minute when he once again ran from near his own line directly into the Currumbin defensive line and was awarded a penalty when he was not allowed to his feet for a quick play the ball.

Ethan Palanga also produced a heads up play in the 66h minute when he took a bomb to his wing over his head whilst running towards his own dead ball line. Ethan Palanga immediately turned and charged back to take the restart from the twenty metre mark.

Then in the 4th minute Ethan Palanga proved that he is prepared to do the work when he ran from his left wing to the right side of the field to take a hit-up out of his own twenty metre area.

Ethan Palanga also started on the left wing in Round Two against Runaway Bay and was able to defuse a number of kicks directed to his wing, including in the 29th minute when he was able to take a kick on the full under pressure near his own line, getting down low immediately to unsure that he was not forced backwards into his own in-goal.

After missing Round Three, Ethan Palanga was back on the left wing in Round Four against Burleigh before moving to the right wing in Round Six against Mudgeeraba. Round Seven against Helensvale saw Ethan Palanga drop back to the bench.

Ethan Palanga then moved to the right wing for Round Nine against the Runaway Bay Seagulls.

After the Covid 19 enforced lock down, Ethan Palanga was named on the right wing for Round Eleven against the Burleigh Bears before being named to to start from the interchange bench for Round Twelve against the Nerang Roosters however Ethan Palanga ended up starting the match on the right wing with Ethan Palanga doing well in the 20th minute when he did well to take a bomb to his wing on the full just inside the field of play to stop Nerang from scoring.

Ethan Palanga was also named on the right wing against the Helensvale Hornets in Round Fourteen.

2021 also saw Ethan Palanga play for Keebra Park State High School in various school boy rugby league competitions.

mdrew

23-11-21, 07:50 AM

In mid-February 2021 Bobby Smith played in a Titans U15 Invitational Trial at Burleigh, a trial which included only the best of the 2021 Titans U15 squad members.

In 2021 Bobby Smith was part of the PBC SHS Hancock Cup school boy rugby league side including starting from the bench in the 2021 Hancock Cup Grand Final against local rivals Keebra Park State High School with PBC prevailing 8-4.

mdrew

23-11-21, 09:03 AM

Matthew Logopati moved over from Canterbury on New Zealand’s South Island in early 2021 to attend Coombabah State High School as well as play for Runaway Bay in the Gold Coast Rugby League U18 Division One competition, after a storied career in New Zealand.

In October 2021 Matthew Logopati played for the South Island Scorpions in the 2021 New Zealand U18 Natiional Youth Tournament including starting at right centre in the Final against the Upper Central Stallions but unfortunately his side went down 30 – 28.

Matthew Logopati started Round One of the 2021 Langer Cup School Boy competition at left second row against Mabel Park State High School having an impressive match in Coombabah’s big win over the Langer Cup newcomers including an outstanding solo try in the 48th minute of the match.

Matthew Logopati took a hit-up from a Coombabah SHS penalty restart eleven metres from the line. Matthew Logopati ran fractionally to his left but after bumping of the first defender, he cut back towards the left touchline, palming off a number of defenders and breaking through two more tackles to slam the ball down in the right corner.

The first of a number of telling contributions from Matthew Logopati came in the 8th minute when he made thirteen metres through the centre of the giant Mabel Park SHS forward pack to get to the halfway mark. Matthew Logopati also made a fourteen metres run in the 16th minute.

Matthew Logopati then in the 29th minute charged onto the ball to the right of the dummy half before cutting back to his left to make twelve metres before getting away a right arm off-load.

Matthew Logopati showed his all-out effort in the 8th minute when he stopped, turned and dived backwards onto an attacking grubber kick that was put through by Mabel Park then did not concede the tackle, immediately jumping to his feet racing forty metres downfield to put Coombabah SHS onto the attack deep in Mabel Park territory.

Matthew Logopati also started at left second row in Coombabah SHS’s tough Round Two loss against Wavell State High School and in Round Three against PBC State High School Matthew Logopati dropped back to the bench, coming on to play right second row but unfortunately Matthew Logopati went down with put looked like a serious knee injury in the 22nd minute. Prior to going off, Matthew Logopati had some very good moments including a strong run down the right channel in the 15th minute with Matthew logopati then being able to off-load to his left.

After missing Round Three, Matthew Logopati was named on the bench for Round Four against Ipswich State High School and also for Round Five against St Mary’s College Toowoomba.

Matthew Logopati’s first appearance for Runaway Bay in the GCRL U18 Division One competition came when he started from the bench in Round Three against the Nerang Roosters. Matthew Logopati moved into the Seagulls starting side at left second row in Round Four against the Helensvale Hornets.

Round Five saw Matthew Logopati start at right second row against Burleigh producing a strong performance in the Seagulls tough loss including a strong run of thirteen metres in the 7th minute, being stopped less than a metre from the tryline.

The match also saw Matthew Logopati produce a strong tackled in the 51st minute when his contact when he came over the top forcing the ball loose.

In Round Seven against the Ormeau Shearers, Matthew Logopati was named on the bench.

Matthew Logopati started his school boy rugby league career of with Coombabah SHS in the Titans Cup Year 11/12 Division One competition including in Round Five when he was Coombabah’s best in their loss to Marymount College.

In 2020 Matthew Logopati was part of the Future Warriors Elite Development Program and was also named in the U16 New Zealand Residents squad as well as playing for the Canterbury U16 representatice side. Matthew Logopati played his club rugby league prior to moving to Australia with the Lonwood Keas in Canterbury.

mdrew

23-11-21, 09:41 AM

Haizyn Mellars started on the left wing for the Nerang Roosters in Round One of the 2021 Gold Coast Rugby League U18 Division One competition as they take on the Burleigh Bears and was one of the Roosters try scorers in their impressive first up victory.

Haizyn Mellars also started on the left wing in Round Two against the Currumbin Eagles and scored for the second match in a row when in the 49th minute when he ran over the top of the Currumbin fullback to get the ball down in the left corner after initially receiving the ball ten metres out down a short left blindside.

Haizyn Mellars could have scored a second try just minutes later when good work from Jeremaiah Tamepo saw Haizyn Mellars set to race away down the left touchline but unfortunately he could not reign the ball in.

Haizyn Mellars also made a 6th minute line break when he burst twenty five metres down the left touchline after being put away by Jeremaiah Tamepo. Haizyn Mellars made another line break in the 30th minute when he burst fifteen metres down the left touchline before being tackled ten metres out and was awarded a penalty for being subject to a lifting tackle.

Haizyn Mellars produced a smart piece of play in the 20th minute when he took an attacking kick on the full on the last tackle near the left touchline and immediately was able to pass the ball on the inside before he was taken into touch.

It was not just in an attacking sense that Haizyn Mellars was good in the air as was evidenced in the 22nd minute when he leapt high in his in-goal in defuse a bomb under pressure and then Haizyn Mellars wasted no time in racing the ball back to the twenty metre mark for the restart and was able to make eight metres as a result.

Haizyn Mellars took the ball on the full once again from a defensive perspective again in the 42nd minute, on that occasion however just out from his own line and then Haizyn Mellars fought his way eighteen metres downfield to get in the ball to near the hallway and was subsequently awarded a penalty when he was not afforded the opportunity to get to his feet quickly.

Haizyn Mellars was also strong defensively in the match including in the 18th minute when he came off his left wing to hit the Currumbin right centre just ten metres out when he was facing a two man overlap. Impressively Haizyn Mellars then raced back from marker to help hold up the Currumbin right second rower over the line.

Haizyn Mellars added a strong ball and all tackle in the 21st minute on his opposite number of Currumbin threatening ten metres out from the line.

After missing Round Three, Haizyn Mellars made the most of his return to the right wing in Round Four scoring a double as Nerang defeated the Ormeau Shearers 30 – 14. Haizyn Mellars also started on the left wing in Round Six against the Helensvale Hornets as well as in Round Nine against the Currumbin Eagles.

Haizyn Mellars continued on the left wing in Round Ten against the Burleigh Bears making a strong line break of thirty metres through the centre of the ruck in the 14th minute.

When rugby league recommenced on the Gold Coast in late August 2021 after the Covid 19 lockdown, Haizyn Mellars was named to start on the left wing for Nerang in Round Eleven against the Ormeau Shearers.

Haizyn Mellars was then named to start the 2021 GCRL U18 Division One Preliminary Final on the bench for the Roosters against the Ormeau Shearers.

In late August 2021, Haizyn Mellars was named in the Queenland City U17 squad for a match against a Queensland U17 Country squad with Haizyn Mellars being named on the City extended bench for the match.

Prior to the start of the GCRL U18 Division One competition, Haizyn Mellars started on the left wing for the Wynnum Manly Seagulls in the 2021 MM Cup competition. Haizyn Mellars started all seven of the Seagulls matches, including their 40 – 18 semi-final loss to Queensland Champions, the Tweed Heads Seagulls.

Easing the hurt of the loss a touch was the fact that Haizyn Mellars scored the opening try of the match, in the 7th minute when he was on the end of a Wynnum Manly backline movement that saw him dive over in the left corner.

In total from his seven 2021 MM Cup matches, Haizyn Mellars scored on six occasions to finish with a strike rate of 85.71%. In addition to his semi-final try, Haizyn Mellars scored a double in Round Two against the Redcliffe Dolphins and also scored against Redcliffe in Round Five.

In the 2021 MM Cup season Haizyn Mellars also scored twice against the Easts Tigers with those matches being in Rounds Three and Six.

2021 also saw Haizyn Mellars play school boy rugby league for Marsden State High School in the Langer Cup Reserve Grade competition and he had a particularly good match in Round Three against Wavell State High School.

mdrew

23-11-21, 11:28 AM

In June 2021 front rower Damian Wilson from the Kyogle Turkeys 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.

Damian Wilson started the season as part of the 2021 Northern Rivers Titans U18 Laurie Daley Cup squad, starting Round One of the competition on the bench against the Wests Tigers and also started from the bench in Round Two against the North Coast Bulldogs.

After missing Round Three Damian Wilson came off the bench once again in Round Four against the Central Coast Roosters before moving into the starting side in the front row in Round Five against the Newcastle Knights.

After starting off the 2021 season in the NRRRL U18 competition with the Kyogle Turkeys, Damian Wilson made his NRRRL First Grade debut in Round Seven when he started at right second row against the Tweed Coast Raiders and continued in the second row in Round Eight against the Cudgen Hornets as well as in Round Nine against Northern United.

Damian Wilson then continued at right second row in Round Ten against the Mullumbimby Giants, in Round Eleven against the Byron Bay Devils and in Round Twelve against the Lower Clarence Magpies.

Damian Wilson played the 2021 season with the Kyogle Turkeys in the NRRRL U18 competition starting Round One at lock against the Ballina Seagulls before moving to the second row in Round Three against Marist Brothers Rams.

Damian Wilson also started in the second row in Round Four and scored in an impressive two point win against Casino RSM with his try coming in the 47th minute when he received the ball down a short left blindside less than ten metres from the line. After receiving the ball Damian Wilson propped on the spot to let one defender fly past before surging towards the line and carry three defenders over the line with him.

Damian Wilson also recorded a great line break in the 18th minute when he ran twenty five metres down the left channel to skittling defenders to get to within five metres of the line. Kyogle then scored from his quick play the ball.

Round Eight Damian Wilson named on the bench against the Cudgen Hornets and he was also named on the bench in Round Nine against Northern United with Damian Wilson scoring in the first half when he broke two tackles to score from ten metres out, getting the ball down eight metres in from the right corner post.

Damian Wilson was also named to come off the bench in Round Eleven against the Byron Bay Devils but was back in the Turkey’s starting side at right second row in Round Thirteen against the Evans Head Bombers.

At the 2021 Kyogle Turkeys Awards Night, Damian Wilson received the NRRRL First Grade Coaches Award.

mdrew

23-11-21, 12:52 PM

Talented young Kyogle Turkeys junior Che Garred and Kyogle High School student started at fullback in Round One of the 2021 Group One U13 competition for Kyogle against the South Grafton Rebels and scored for the Turkeys as they defeated the Rebels 36 – 4.

Che Garred also started at fullback in Round Two against the Kyogle Turkeys and Round Three against the Ballina Seagulls where he scored as the Turkeys defeated Ballina 28 – 10.

Che Garred moved to the centres for Round Four against Casino RSM and continued in the centres in Round Eight against the South Grafton Rebels and Round Nine against Casino RSM.

Che Garred continued in the centres in Round Ten against Ballina as well as in Round Eleven against the Clarence Coast Magpies with Che Garred scoring one of the Turkey’s tries.

In Round Twelve against the Marist Rams Che Garred had an outstanding match in the centres, scoring a hat trick against the Marist Rams. Understandably Che Garred was also named to start in the centres in Round Thirteen against Casino RSM with Che Garred one of the Turkeys try scorers in their 34 – 22 victory.

mdrew

23-11-21, 01:11 PM

One of the most exciting players in the Greater Brisbane Junior rugby League U14 Division One competition was Logan Brothers and Marsden SHS centre Boston Tau.

Boston Tau underlined his potential with an outstanding hat trick in Logan Brothers semi-final victory against Souths Juniors.

mdrew

23-11-21, 01:54 PM

In early November 2021 Cooper Camby was 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.

mdrew

23-11-21, 02:24 PM

The talented Jackson Le Pou youngster moved over from the Upper Central Zone of New Zealand’s North Island for the 2021 season and started at five eight for the Currumbin Eagles in their GCRL U18 Division One Round One match against the Southport Tigers.

Even though he started the match at five eight, Jackson Le Pou played in the dummy half role for the Eagles in their 28 – 10 first up victory.

Jackson Le Pou could not have gotten an earlier touch when he took the kick-off to start the match on the full above his head AFL style.

Jackson Le Pou also started at five eight in Round Two against the Nerang Roosters as well as in Round Three against the Helensvale Hornets.

Against the Hornets in Round Three Jackson Le Pou scored his first regular season try since his arrival from New Zealand when he ran to his right dummying both inside and out before slicing through the line and then Jackson Le Pou stepped off his right foot to beat the Helensvale fullback and get the ball down five metres from the right upright.

Round Four saw Jackson Le Pou continue at five eight agaisnt Mudgeeraba with his left goot kicking game taking precedence inlduing a 16th minute kick into the right corner which had to be knocked dead by the Redbacks fullback.

After missing a number of weeks, Jackson Le Pou was named to return on the bench in the previously postponed Round Eight match against the Southport Tigers and also was named to start on the bench in Round Twelve against the Ormeau Shearers.

Round Thirteen against Runaway Bay saw Jackson Le Pou move in the Currumbin starting side at hooker.

Jackson Le Pou had a very solid pre-season with the Eagles including a great Pre-season Round One match against Ormeau scoring in the 55th minutes as well as recording a 7th minute try assist.

Jackson Le Pou’s 55th minute try was a strong individual effort when he received the ball ten metres out from the line and ran to his right. As he approached the defensive line Jackson Le Pou stepped off his right foot to beat one defender before a second right foot step to get around the Ormeau fullback and get the ball down in a tackle five metres to the right of the uprights.

Jackson Le Pou’s try assist came in just the 7th minute of the match when he took the ball down the right side of the field, taking the ball to the line before throwing a great cut-out pass to put his right centre into a huge gap thirty metres out and from there the centre was able to dive over in the right corner untouched.

In the Upper Central Region of New Zealand, Jackson Le Pou had a solid junior rugby league career, including being invited to attend a number of Brisbane Bronco’s Junior Development camps.

mdrew

23-11-21, 03:34 PM

Former Western Australian junior Quinton Dalton has moved over to the Gold Coast to play for the Burleigh Bears in the Gold Coast Rugby League U18 Division One competition, with his initial appearance in that competition for the Bears coming in Round Three when he started at halfback against the Mudgeeraba Redbacks.

Quinton Dalton’s GCRL U18 Division One debut could not have gone much better when he scored in the 58th minute in the left corner after he had backed up a long break down the left touchline by his left winger.

Quinton Dalton also recorded a 58th minute try assist when he ran to his left, drawing in one defender fifteen metres from the line and passed to his left to put Jesse Harrison into the resultant gap for the left centre to score out wide.

Quinton Dalton was also involved in the 31st minute when he chased through a Burleigh kick, with the speed of his chase forcing Mudgeeraba to kick the ball dead, thus gaining a goal line drop out restart for his team.

After also starting at halfback in Round Four, Quinton Dalton scored once again against Southport with his try coming in the 54th minute.

Quinton Dalton continued at halfback in Round Five against Runaway Bay and made his presence felt in just the 5th minute when he made a darting run through centre field after he trailed one of his forwards and was ideally placed to receive the off-load.

Quinton Dalton made another half break in the 55th minute when once again he backed up one of his forwards and was able to make an extra fourteen metres after receiving the off-load to get the ball out to forty metres from his own line.

Quinton Dalton then produced a smart piece of play in the 54th minute with a smart grubber kick into the goal on the right side of the field to force Runaway Bay into a drop out with Quinton Dalton taking the drop-out on the full and taking the ball back into the line.

Round Six against the Ormeau Shearers saw Quinton Dalton continue at halfback and record a 6th minute line break when whilst operating on the left side of the field he ran at the line with the ball in both hands dummying twice to his outside before stepping off his left to make fifteen metres before being dragged down five metres from the line.

Quinton Dalton continued at half against the Nerang Roosters before being named on the bench for Round Fourteen against the Currumbin Eagles.

Quinton Dalton then moved into the Burleigh starting side at halfback in Week One of the 2021 GCRL U18 Division One Finals against the Ormeau Shearers.

Quinton Dalton had a more than solid junior career in Western Australia before his move to the Gold Coast including in 2019 being named in the Western Australian U15 representative side.

mdrew

23-11-21, 04:59 PM

South Grafton Rebels hooker Keaton Stutt was part of the Titans 2020 Group One Academy squad that was training on a weekly basis in Ballina on Tuesday afternoon’s in Northern New South Wales.

Keaton Stutt crossed the Grafton Bridge this season and started at hooker for the Grafton Ghosts in Round One of the Group One U16 competition against Marist Brothers Rams. The in Round Four against Casino RSM Keaton Stutt moved to five eight and kicked a conversion. Keaton Stutt also started from the five eight position in Round Five against Clarence Coast and was one of the Ghosts try scorers in their 26 – 10 victory.

Keaton Stutt continued at five eight in Round Six against Marist Brothers Lismore.

Keaton Stutt moved to hooker in Round Twelve against the Clarence Coast Magpies scoring a double in the Ghosts eight point win.

Titanic

23-11-21, 05:28 PM

mdrew, could you discuss the processes that bring under aged talent to the Coast, please? Family relocation, recruitment systems, aspirations or just fate?

mdrew

23-11-21, 05:53 PM

The Titans catchment area has expanded quite significantly over the last couple of seasons from just the Gold Coast and just over the border into a significant expanse of territory from Logan and Ipswich all of the way down to south of Grafton.

The initial step is the Titans four JTS squads in Group One, Group 18, the Gold Coast and Logan. Obviously the relationships that Jamie McCormack has developed with Ballina HS, PBC, Keebra Park and Marsden SHS's are one of the key drivers, with players from outside those regions moving to our catchment area.

The big movement in the qualitative explosion in the JTS Program was Jamie McCormack's contacts and subsequently Ezra Howe getting involved with Ezra having great contacts in NZ, thus the quality of NZ boys moving to the Coast, normally to move in with family and attend one of the Titans partnered schools.

Impressively the Titans are really locking up Logan and to a lesser extent Ipswich with one of the reasons that the Titans actually play development squad matches where most of the other NRL clubs just train.

Also the formal links to the Northern Rivers Titans has enabled boys from over the border in NSW to paly under the Titans banner in a high level competition before graduating to the Tweed or Burleigh MM squads.

Whereas five or six years ago the Bronco's development staff were mobbed when they were watching junior matches now the Titans staff are the ones that the Managers are targeting first.

Getting the right players is also key and by right I am not meaning just good players but leaders, for example William Semu who is contracted from Brisbane is a leader and mentor and others follow.

The other key reason is the respect that the Titans show the parents and boys/girls in the JTS program. For example during Covid most NRL clubs literally just said that they would get back to their players in a few month, Jamie McCormack however ran weekly video sessions with each JTS Program participant takign each boy through nor just their matches but of NRL players who are similiar from a playing style perspective and thus the juniors buy into the program because of the respect they are shown.

Having Kane Elgey is a great help too as he is mobbed whenever he attends a school, plus the of Anthony Don, David Fifita and Tananh Boyd attends programs regularly.

What does this all mean, it means that the Titans have not just developed great players but exceptional young boys and girls that are role models for the next generation of juniors. Just look at the fact that Tom Weaver, Jack Cullen and Oskar Bryant gave up their time on the weekend to attend their junior clubs presentations being Cudgen and Ryan Foran coached juniors are his junior club.

Want to guess where the boys who are involved with those situations will sign next - Yep the Titans.

lonegull

23-11-21, 07:32 PM

Thanks Mdrew, every supporter should be getting excited our JTS system will start bearing the fruits and as Mdrew mentioned Jamie McCormack needs a big pat on the back

mdrew

23-11-21, 07:46 PM

In late October 2021 Isaiah Scanlon was named in the powerful Burleigh Bears 2022 U18 MM Cup squad and is also MM Cup eligible in 2023.

In October 2021 Isaiah Scanlon was named in the 2021 Queensland Samoan U16 representative side for the 2021 QPICC Cultural Carnival that was held in Beenleigh to the south of Brisbane, starting Round One of the Carnival in the front row against PNG.

In fact Isaiah Scanlon started all five of his matches at the Carnival in the front row including Samoa’s 22 - 12 Grand Final victory over PNG.

The powerful young front rower had an outstanding 2021 season that saw the 16 year old break into the powerful PBC Langer Cup Open side, playing a number of matches off the bench for the Queensland School Boy Champions, including the South East Queensland Final against Marsden State High School and the Queensland School Boy Final against St Brendan’s College Yeppoon.

Isaiah Scanlon started the 2021 season as part of the Burleigh Bears U16 Cyril Connell Cup side, starting all three of the Bears matches in the front row as Burleigh played the Souths Logan Magpies, Tweed Heads Seagulls and the Ipswich Jets.

2021 also saw Isaiah Scanlon 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 in the front row.

Isaiah Scanlon was one of the Bears try scorers in their 24 – 18 Premiership success when in the 10th minute, Isaiah Scanlon charged onto the ball to the right of the play the ball that occurred a metre from the line, crashing over ten metres to the right of the uprights.

Isaiah Scanlon almost scored a second try in the Grand Final when in the 25th minute, Isaiah Scanlon received an off-load ten metres from the line with Isaiah Scanlon getting to within a metre of the try line next to the right upright before his forward momentum was halted.

In addition Isaiah Scanlon ran the ball consistently hard at the defensive line including a great 37th minute effort that saw him make fifteen metres to get the ball forty metres out from his own try line.

mdrew

23-11-21, 08:14 PM

Titans contracted Wailer Whaiapu has deservedly been named at lock in the 2021 Keebra Park Rugby League Team of the Year.

mdrew

23-11-21, 09:07 PM

Front rower Zachariah Siulepa has moved over to the Gold Coast from Western Australia to play for the Burleigh Bears in the 2021 GCRL U18 Division One competition, starting Round One of that competition against the Nerang Roosters in the front row.

Zachairiah Siulepa dropped back to start from the bench in Round Two as the Bears took on the Helensvale Hornets coming on late in the first half, playing in the front row and not long after coming on the field Zachairiah Siulepa made his presence felt with a strong tackle on the Helensvale right second rower. The 33rd minute then saw Zachairiah Siulepa monster one of the Hornets interchange forwards with a big front on tackle.

Zachairiah Siulepa almost scored his first try since his move to the Gold Coast when in the 34th minute he rumbled forward from ten metres out from the try line and it took four Helensvale defenders to hold him up over the line adjacent to the left upright.

Zachairiah Siulepa came off the bench once again in Round Three against the Mudgeeraba Redbacks as well as in Round Four agaisnt the Southport Tigers.

Zachairiah Siulepa also started from the bench in Round Five against the Runaway Bay Seagulls and had a big hand in Burleigh’s 25 – 24 victory by scoring a try in each half of the nail biting victory.

After coming off the bench in the 21st minute Zachairiah Siulepa only had to wait two minutes to cross the line for his first try of not just the match but since his arrival from Perth. Zachairiah Siulepa rumbled onto the ball from twelve metres from the line, running straight and hard breaking through three tackles to get the ball down five metres from the right uprights.

Zachairiah Siulepa scored his second try in the dying minutes of the match when he received an inside pass and rumbled eight metres to score next to the right upright.

After initially being named to start from the bench, Zachairiah Siulepa started in the front row in Round Six against the Ormeau Shearers, making the first os his strong runs in the 3rd minute when he rumbled forward making fifteen metres to get the ball to near the halfway mark and he made a further fifteen metres in the 9th minute from the kick-off from Burleigh’s opening try of the match.

Zachairiah Siulepa was back in the starting line-up in the front row in Round Nine against the Helensvale Hornets and scored the opening try of the match in Burleigh’s impressive 28 – 16 victory.

Zachaiariah Siulepa continued in the front row against the Nerang Roosters and scored a strong try in the 27th minute when he ran an underneath route off the dummy half, receiving the ball to the left of the dummy half and three metres out to crash over under the posts.

After missing a number of weeks Zachaiariah Siulepa was named on the bench for the Round Thirteen match against the Ormeau Shearers as well as in Round Fourteen against the Currumbin Eagles.

Zachaiariah Siulepa also started from the bench for Burleigh in Week One of the 2021 GCRL U18 Division One Finals against the Ormeau Shearers with Zachaiariah Siulepa rumbling his way over from ten metres out to the right of the uprights in the 25th minute.

In 2019 Zachairiah Siulepa was part of the Western Australian U15 School Boys side that played in the U15 ASSRL U15 National Championships scoring in Western Australia’s second match of the Championships against Victoria when he got low and was too strong for the Victorian defence close to the try line with Zachairiah Siulepa getting the ball down next to the right upright.

Titanic

24-11-21, 01:11 AM

Thanks for taking the time to write that explanation mdrew … I’m sure every Titans fan outside the system is keen to understand the inner workings and potential for our club. Being able to talk authoritatively about junior systems has more promotional punch than just NRL performances.

mdrew

24-11-21, 07:14 AM

After his outstanding season it is no surprise that Keebra Park Year Nine student Joseph Tupuse was named in the centres in the 2021 Keebra Park Rugby League Team of the Year.

mdrew

24-11-21, 08:08 AM

Well done to Kai Saunders for being named the Tweed Coast Raiders 2021 U13 Best Back.

mdrew

24-11-21, 11:21 AM

In October 2021 Atunaisa Pahulu Jnr was named in the 2021 Queensland Tongan U18 representative side for 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.

The exceptionally talented young centre moved over from Auckland and started at right centre for the Southport Tigers in their GCRL U18 Division One Round One match against the Currumbin Eagles.

Atunaisa Pahulu Jnr had a solid first match on the Gold Coast, including recording a try assist when as soon as he received a pass from his left he popped a short ball to his right to put Elikena Finau into a gap with the lock subsequently running twenty metres to score.

Atunaisa Pahulu Jnr also made a number of strong charges in the match including two that stood out, with both coming from kick-off returns, the first of which came off the second half kick-up when the ran to his left, breaking three tackles and then from the kick-off after the Elikena Finau try, Atunaisa Pahulu Jnr broke a further two tackles on his kick-off return.

Atunaisa Pahulu Jnr also started at right centre in Round Two against Runaway Bay and in just the 2nd minute of the match he made a strong burst of fourteen metres from a hit-up to the right of the dummy half with Atunaisa Pahulu Jnr initially receiving the ball just eight metres out from his own line.

Then in the 5th minute Atunaisa Pahulu Jnr broke two tackles when running the ball off a Tigers scrum win, making sixteen strong metres with at least half of those post contact metres. Atunaisa Pahulu Jnr made another strong run from a Southport scrum win in the 7th minute making a further ten metres.

Atunaisa Pahulu Jnr hard working start to the match continued when he took the second hit-up from the kick-off after the first Southport try making ten metres to get the ball outside of his own twenty metre area.

The 18th minute saw Atunaisa Pahulu Jnr record a line break directly from the kick-off after Southport’s second try. Southport let the kick-off bounce and it actually bounced back towards the oncoming Runaway Bay chasers. Atunaisa Pahulu Jnr charged forward retrieving the ball at full speed and then ran straight through two defenders to get the ball back to the forty metre line.

Atunaisa Pahulu Jnr continued to highlight that he can run all sorts of routes when in the 22nd minute he came back underneath one of his playmakers running to his left and backing sixteen metres to get within twenty metres of the try line.

Just a minute later in the 23rd minute, Atunaisa Pahulu Jnr ran out of dummy half once again getting within two metres of the line after a strong fourteen metre run after running to his right.

Atunaisa Pahulu Jnr had a line break assist in the match as well when in the 33rd minute he moved over to the left side of the field for a set move off the back of a scrum, drawing in both his immediate defender as well as the Seagulls right winger to put his own winger away down the left touchline.

Whilst he was one of the most dangerous ball runners in the match, Atunaisa Pahulu Jnr did not ignore his defensive duties, including in the 28th minute when he made a strong tackle on the Seagulls fullback who had run down a short right blindside.

Atunaisa Pahulu Jnr continued his run of starts at right centre in Round Three against the Ormeau Shearers and scored an impressive double in the 16 all draw.

Atunaisa Pahulu Jnr continued at right centre in Round Five against the Nerang Roosters and was one of the Tigers try scorers in the match. Atunaisa Pahulu Jnr also started at right centre in Round Ten against the Ormeau Shearers.

After the Covid 19 enforced lock down, Atunaisa Pahulu Jnr was named at right centre for Round Eleven against the Burleigh Bears with Atunaisa Pahulu Jnr kicking two conversions from as many attempts.

Atunaisa Pahulu Jnr was also named at right centre against the Nerang Roosters in Round Twelve however he ended up starting the match at lock and converted Southport’s sole try of the match.

Atunaisa Pahulu Jnr made a strong run in the 31st minute when from the right side of the field he cut to his left making twelve metres into Nerang territory before being brought to ground.

Atunaisa Pahulu Jnr was also named at right centre against the Helensvale Hornets in Round Fourteen.

Atunaisa Pahulu Jnr attended Mabel Park State High School upon his arrival from New Zealand, originally being named to start Round One of the 2021 Langer Cup School Boy competition from the bench against Coombabah State High School however Atunaisa Pahulu Jnr ended up starting the match at right centre.

Atunaisa Pahulu Jnr made a key contribution for Mabel Park State High School in the 25th minute when from a scrum win he was able to rumble forward after receiving the ball on the left, getting to less than a metre from the line. Atunaisa Pahulu Jnr was on his feet in a flash, producing a quick play the ball that the dummy half was able to take advantage of to dive over under the posts.

Atunaisa Pahulu Jnr moved to left centre for Round Two against Keebra Park State High School and was as good as any player on the field, including recording a try assist in just the 5th minute when he surged down the left channel after receiving the ball twenty metres out from the line. After he received the ball Atunaisa Pahulu Jnr got rid of the Keebra Park right winger and charged downfield getting to within three metre of the line before being taken by the cover defence but even though he was held by the defence Atunaisa Pahulu Jnr as able off-load to his left winger score in the left corner.

Atunaisa Pahulu Jnr then did not rest in his laurels, taking the hit-up from the subsequent kick-off. Atunaisa Pahulu Jnr made another strong run in the 41st minute when from a Mabel Park SHS scrum win to get the ball out of his own twenty metre area.

Then in the 47th minute, Atunaisa Pahulu Jnr charged onto the ball off a tap restart after Mabel Park received a penalty with Atunaisa Pahulu Jnr making thirteen metres when he charged straight into the giant Keebra Park SHS forward pack.

Atunaisa Pahulu Jnr produced a great defensive effort in the 25th minute when he highlighted his elite speed to chase the Keebra Park fullback (Elijah Lui) after he had made a long break to round him up quickly just after he had passed the halfway line.

Atunaisa Pahulu Jnr rounded out his outstanding performance in the match in the 50th minute when he made twenty seven metres after receiving the ball thirty metres from the line.

Atunaisa Pahulu Jnr continued at left centre in Round Three against St Mary’s College Toowoomba and was heavily involved in Mabel Park’s 35th minute try with a great right arm off-load in the lead up prior to the try near the left corner.

Atunaisa Pahulu Jnr also started at left centre in Round Four against Wavell State High School and continued at left centre in Round Five against Marsden State High School, producing an outstanding performance as Mabel Park SHS gave Marsden SHS a real scare with Atunaisa Pahulu Jnr kicking three goals from five attempts.

Atunaisa Pahulu Jnr continued at left centre in Round Six against PBC State High School and once again was as good as any player on the field, making numerous telling runs including an impressive line break in the 54th minute when he broke four tackles in a strong forty metres run after he had run to his right out of dummy half from deep inside his own territory.

Prior to his arrival on the Gold Coast in 2021, Atunaisa Pahulu Jnr was part of the Auckland Vulcan’s Blues U20 side for the inaugural New Zealand U20 Championships.

In 2020 Atunaisa Pahulu Jnr was a stand out for both Kelston Boys High and the Marist Saints.

In 2018 Atunaisa Pahulu Jnr was a member of the Akarana Falcons side at the U15 National Youth Championships, scoring a double on Day One against the Wellington Orca’s. Atunaisa Pahulu Jnr also scored on Day Three against Counties Manukau and kicked a conversion on Day Two against the Central Vipers.

mdrew

24-11-21, 01:28 PM

Talented centre Chris Vaimili played for the 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.

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.

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.

2021 also saw Chris Vaimili named in the Queensland School Boy U12 Rugby League Merit Team.

mdrew

24-11-21, 03:01 PM

In mid-February 2021 Isaac Harrison played in a Titans U15 Invitational Trial at Burleigh, a trial which included only the best of the 2021 Titans U15 squad members.

In May 2021 Isaac Harrison was part of the South Coast U15 QSSRL School Boy representative side, starting the Championship Final against Met West at lock.

In 2021 Isaac Harrison continued at PBC as part of the school’s Elite Rugby League Program and made a strong impression in the PBC Walters Cup side especially in their Round One 16 all draw against Ipswich State High School.

mdrew

24-11-21, 03:21 PM

At the recent Marsden SHS Rugby League Awards Night centre Christopher Vaimili was named the Junior Boys Player of the Year.

mdrew

24-11-21, 03:38 PM

Outstanding second row prospect Storm Enoka was recently named the 2021 Marsden SHS Junior Boys "Don't mess with Marsden" Award winner.

mdrew

24-11-21, 03:52 PM

Well done to Titans contracted Gary Whare-Herlihy who was named the 2021 Alexandra Hills SHS Open Rugby League Best Forward.

mdrew

24-11-21, 04:13 PM

Congratulations to Titans contracted Zyroam Tarawa-Herlihy who has been named the 2021 Alexandra Hills SHS Open Rugby League Best and Fairest. He was also named at fullback in the 2021 Alexandra Hills SHS Rugby League Team of the Year.

mdrew

24-11-21, 05:01 PM

Great to see Billy Mulheron commence training with the Titans JTS Program.

The young man from the Bilambil Jets Junior Rugby League Club in Northern New South Wales is currently part of the Titans JTS Program training with the Titans Group 18 Development squad.

In 2021 Billy Mulheron was part of the successful Bilambil Jets U13 side that played in the Group 18 U13 competition. In that competition the Jets won seven matches, drew two and lost four, along the way scoring 238 points and conceding 158 to have a points differential of +80.

In 2019 Billy Mulheron was selected in the North Coast Primary U11 school boy representative side after representing Far North Coast in the trials from Banora Point High School.

mdrew

24-11-21, 05:58 PM

In October 2021 Zinzan Kahu was named in the 2021 Queensland Samoa U18 representative side for the 2021 QPICC Cultural Carnival, starting all four of his matches at the Carnival at halfback, being Match One against the Cook Islands, Match Two against PNG, Match Three against Samoa and Match Four against Tonga.

Also in October 2021 Zinzan Kahu trialled for the 2022 Burleigh Bears MM Cup squad, starting from the bench for the Burleigh White trial side. When he came on in the trial Zinzan Kahu played in the halves and operated on the left side of the field.

Zinzan Kahu had a strong trial including a good solo try in the 37th minute (third quarter). Zinzan Kahu stationed himself to the left of a scrum ten metres out from the Burleigh Maroon line with Burleigh White having the scrum feed. Zinzan Kahu received the ball from the back of the scrum and immediately took the defensive line on. As he was approaching the line, Zinzan Kahu produced a goose step before shaping to pass to his left. The defender confronting Zinzan Kahu looked to Zinzan Kahu’s outside for just a moment. Zinzan Kahu exploited that movement and sliced through the defensive line to score twelve metres to the right of the uprights untouched.

Zinzan Kahu also had a line break assist in the trial in the 25th minute. From a Burleigh White scrum win, Zinzan Kahu received the ball down a wide left blindside from the back of the scrum and took on the Burleigh Maroon defensive line. Zinzan Kahu was able to get halfway through the defensive line before throwing a left arm flick pass to left centre Dwayne Ckwan who was able to make a further fifteen metres before the ball was lost into touch.

Post the trial Zinzan Kahu was named in the Burleigh Bears 2022 U18 MM Cup squad.

mdrew

24-11-21, 06:33 PM

In mid-February 2021 Tyler Harper played in a Titans U15 Invitational Trial at Burleigh, a trial which included only the best of the 2021 Titans U15 squad members. Tyler Harper started the match at halfback for the Titans Blue side operating on his usual right side of the field.

Tyler Harper also started his 2021 school boy season off well kicking three conversions from as many attempts against Wavell State High School as PBC dominated in the Year Nine match to win 18 – 0 with Tyler Harper starting the match at halfback.

Tyler Harper also had a try assist in the match when a cross field bomb that he put up fell perfectly for the PBC five eight who took the ball on the full as it came down right on the goal line to score easily next to the right upright.

Tyler Harper also started at halfback for the PBC school boy Year Nine side in their win against Keebra Park with Tyler Haeper kicking the conversion to PBC opening try of the match.

mdrew

24-11-21, 07:14 PM

Beaudesert Kingfishers Junior Ethan Jackson recently commenced training with the Titans JTS Program after a strong season in the Gold Coast Rugby League U14 Division Three competition.

The Kingfishers won four matches and lost five along the way scoring 206 points and conceding 290 to finish the 2021 season with a -84 points deferential.

2021 also saw Ethan Jackson be part of the Queensland Rugby League RISE Development Rugby League Program.

mdrew

24-11-21, 09:17 PM

Sonny Hayes from the Bilambil Jets in northern New South Wales is currently part of the Titans JTS Program and in 2021 Sonny Hayes was part of the successful PBC State High School Renouf Cup side including starting on the bench in their 8 – 4 Grand Final victory against Marsden State High School.

In 2021 Sonny Hayes was part of the successful Bilambil Jets U13 side that played in the Group 18 U13 competition. In that competition the Jets won seven matches, drew two and lost four, along the way scoring 238 points and conceding 158 to have a points differential of +80.

mdrew

25-11-21, 07:25 AM

Great effort by Max Mater to be named the 2021 Murwillumbah Group 18 U14 Best and Fairest.

mdrew

25-11-21, 10:58 AM

Kyogle Turkeys junior Tyler Moore recently commenced training with the Titans JTS Program after an outstanding 2021 season in the U14 Group One competition.

Tyler Moore played in nine matches for the Turkeys in 2021, starting all nine in the centres with Tyler Moore scoring four tries to finish with a 44.44% strike rate. Tyler Moore scored a double in Round One against the South Grafton Rebels. Tyler Moore also scored in Round Two against Casino RSM and the Marist Brothers Rams in Round Five.

Tyler Moore also played for the Kyogle Turkey’s in the 2020 Group One U13 competition starting all seven of his matches in the centres and scoring four tries to finish with a 57.14% strike rate.

Tyler Moore scored a double in Round Four against the Ballina Seagulls and also scored in Rounds Five and Ten against Casino RSM and the Grafton Ghosts respectively.

mdrew

25-11-21, 02:52 PM

Young front rower Max Wood from the Bilambil Jets Junior Rugby League Club in northern New South Wales is currently part of the Titans JTS Program training with the Titans Group 18 Development squad, including a number of sessions with former Titan Anthony Don.

In 2021 Max Wood was part of the successful Bilambil Jets U13 side that played in the Group 18 U13 competition. In that competition the Jets won seven matches, drew two and lost four, along the way scoring 238 points and conceding 158 to have a points differential of +80.

In 2019 Max Wood was selected in the U11 Lismore Diocese Northern Country Representative Rugby League Team after the selection trials at Tamworth.

mdrew

25-11-21, 06:40 PM

Great to see that Titans contracted Tom Weaver, Ryan Foran Jack Cullen received their Australian School Boys Jersey's today.

https://www.titans.com.au/news/2021/11/25/australian-schoolboys-titans-young-guns-make-honorary-side/

mdrew

26-11-21, 08:02 AM

On November 8 Noah Reti started training a couple of days a week with the Titans JTS program.

The giant, exceptionally talented youngster from the South Grafton Rebels in the Group One U13 competition had a huge 2021 season with the Rebels and proved impossible for opposing defences to stop on any sort of regular basis.

Starting all of his matches in the second row for the Rebels, Noah Reti scored hat tricks in Round Two against the Clarence Coast Magpies, Round Four against Ballina and Round Six against Marist Brothers.

Noah Reti also scored doubles in Round Three against Clarence Coast and also scored in Round One (Kyogle), Round Five (Ballina), Round Six (Ballina).

Noah Reti continued in the second row in Round Eight against Kyogle and added four tries to his 2021 tally. Round Nine against Clarence Coast saw Noah Reti once again start in the second row and for the second week in a row score four tries.

Noah Reti finished the abridged 2021 Group One U13 regular season as the competitions leading try scorer with thirty six tries to record a try scoring strike rate in excess of 300%.

Round Thirteen of the Group One U14 competition saw Noah Reti named to start from the bench against the Marist Rams in his first match of 2021 “up an age group”.

Noah Reti also played for the South Grafton Rebels in 2020 in the Group One U12 competition, starting almost exclusively in the front row for the Rebels and finished the 2020 Group One U12 season, scoring eleven tries and kicking two conversions from nine matches, with his conversions coming in Round Six against Kyogle and Round Seven against Grafton.

Noah Reti scored a hat trick against Grafton in Round Seven and scored doubles in Rounds Four and Ten, on both occasions against Casino RSM. Noah Reti also scored against Ballina (Round Two), Kyogle (Round Three), Grafton (Round Five) and Clarence Coast in Round Six.

Noah Reti also started in the second row in Round Ten against the Clarence Coast Magpies, scoring a staggering five tries in the Rebels impressive victory.

From the second row position in Round Eleven against the Ballina Seagulls, Noah Reti scored an outstanding hat trick in a tough South Grafton four point loss. Noah Reti also started in the second row in Round Twelve against Casino RSM with Noah Reti proving to be close to unstoppable on the way to scoring on four occasions.

Understandably Noah Reti was also named to start in the second row in Round Thirteen against the Marist Rams, scoring one of the three Rebels tries in the match.

mdrew

26-11-21, 08:42 AM

Titans have signed NZ youngster Tamihana Ratima who will head over to attend Marsden SHS and also play for the Souths Logan Magpies in the U16 Cyril Connell Cup squad.

mdrew

26-11-21, 12:43 PM

Great news that the Titans have extended the contract of Ipswich State High School's Josiah Pahulu.

He will look to commence training with the Titans NRL squad next off-season.

mdrew

26-11-21, 01:46 PM

Exceptional young halfback prospect Jeval Pitman had an outstanding 2021 season including being awarded the Keebra Park State High School Junior Sportsperson of the Year and Jeval Pitman was also named as the Keebra Park State High School Year Seven Rugby League Player of the Year.

To add to his collection of awards at the 2021 Keebra Park State High School Sports Specialisation Awards Night, Jeval Pitman was named at half back in the 2021 Keebra Park State High School Rugby League Team of the Year.

2021 also saw Jeval Pitman named in the Queensland School Boy U12 Rugby League Merit Team and was also named in the Queensland Maori U12 Tama Rugby League Merit Team.

mdrew

26-11-21, 05:59 PM

Powerful, hard running second rower Eli Tuli has been named in the 2022 Tweed Heads Seagulls MM Cup squad and looks set to make an immediate impact in the Seagulls Black and White.

Eli Tuli started the 2021 season as a seventeen year old as part of the Souths Logan Magpies U18 MM Cup squad, starting Round One against The Burleigh Bears on the bench. Eli Tuli also started from the bench in Rounds Two and Three against the Tweed Heads Seagulls and Ipswich Jets respectively.

Eli Tuli broke into the Souths Logan starting line-up in the second row in Round Four against the Burleigh Bears. After missing Round Five against Tweed Heads Eli Tuli also started in the second row in Round Six against the Ipswich Jets and scored his first try of the season when he crossed in the 46th minute.

2021 also saw Eli Tuli play for Titans partnered Marsden State High School in the school boy Langer Cup competition with some devastating results including an inspired performance against Wavell State High School in Round Three of the Langer Reserve competition, all most single handedly leading Marsden State High School to an 18 -12 victory with Eli Tuli powering his way over the try line early in the second half.

In 2020 Eli Tuli was contracted to the Parramatta Eels, attending a number of Development Camps and in 2019 Eli Tuli represented Met East at the U15 QSSRL Championships in the second row and was subsequently named in the Queensland Maroon representative side for the U15 ASSRL Championships also in the second row.

mdrew

26-11-21, 11:21 PM

On November 8 young Ipswich utility Jeriah Vagana-Malaitai started training as a member of the Titans JTS Program.

In October 2021 Jeriah Vagana-Malaitai was named in the 2022 Ipswich Jets MM Cup squad and is also MM Cup eligible in 2023.

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 the Tweed Heads Seagulls and the Souths Logan Magpies 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. Post the Walter Cup competition Jeriah Vagana-Malaitai was named in the centres in the 2021 Ipswich State High School Team of the Year.

In early November 2021 Jeriah Vagana-Malaitai was part of the U16 Queensland Samoa representative side that played in the QPICC Carnival and Jeriah Vagana-Malaitai of the Grand Final side that defeated PNG 22 – 12.

At the 2021 Ipswich Sports Awards, Jeriah Vagana-Malaitai was named as a finalist in the 2021 Ipswich Junior Sports Person Year Award.

mdrew

27-11-21, 09:40 AM

Keebra Park SHS student Kobe Ese recently represented the Queensland Samoa U14 Rugby side in the Pacific Youth Cup Rugby Tournament.

mdrew

27-11-21, 10:01 AM

Keebra Park SHS front rower or second rower Lama Afu recently represented the Queensland Barbarians U16 Rugby side at the Pacific Youth Rugby Cup.

In 2022 Lama Afu will be part of the Tweed Heads Seagulls U16 Cyril Connell Cup Squad.

mdrew

27-11-21, 10:20 AM

In late October 2021 Jordan Penquitt signed an NRL train and trial contract with the Gold Coast Titans, commencing the 2022 NRL pre-season with the Titans on 1 November 2021 alongside a host of other talented young Titans players.

Jordan Penquitt came to the Titans attention in really his first season of rugby league in 2021 when playing for the Easts Tigers in the Hastings Deering’s Colts competition after coming through the GPS First XV school boy rugby ranks with the Ipswich Grammar School.

In 2021 Jordan Penquitt played fourteen matches for the Easts Tigers in the U21 Hastings Deering’s Colts competition, starting Round One in the front row and scoring in the 70th minute against the Burleigh Bears before playing his remaining matches off the bench including the Tigers Week One Finals loss to the Mackay Cutters.

In 2020 Jordan Penquitt played one match in the MM Cup competition for the Easts Tigers, starting in the front row in Round One against the Central Queensland Capra’s. Of course that match was the only match that the Easts Tigers played in the 2020 MM Cup competition as a result of the Covid 19 pandemic shutting down the competition after Round One.

As noted above Jordan Penquitt came through the GPS school boy rugby competition with Ipswich Grammar School, playing First XV rugby in 20219 alongside Sydney Roosters prodigy Sam Walker. Jordan Penquitt played all of Ipswich Grammar School’s First XV matches in 2019, starting the majority of matches at lock but Jordan Penquitt did start one match at blindside flanker (No. 6) as well.

mdrew

27-11-21, 10:37 AM

Young PBC centre Ned Tanner is another player to keep an eye on for the Titans Partnered School. This season Ned Tanner played for the PBC Renouf Cup side including starting in the centres in their 8-4 Grand Final victory against Marsden SHS with Ned Tanner coming desperately close to scoring in the second half.

Ned Tanner moved to PBC after attending Currumbin State School and was Currumbin's captain when he started in the second row in their U12 NRL Development Cup Grand Final against Frechville State School in 2019 with Ned Tanner kicking a conversion in Currumbin's 32-6 victory.

mdrew

27-11-21, 11:23 AM

Another young PBC Rugby League Excellence Program member to keep an eye on into the future is the talented Tom Batchelor who led his PBC Renouf Cup side around the field in the Grand Final against Marsden SHS from the five eight position in a PBC 8-4 victory.

mdrew

27-11-21, 11:45 AM

PBC SHS have a rich tradition of developing outstanding halfbacks and another one on the way is Taj Lateo who this year started at halfback in PBC's 8-4 Renouf Chield Grand Final victory against Marsden SHS.

The Cudgen Hornet junior and former Banora Point HS student is already no stranger to representative sides after in 20219 being named in the New South Wales U12 School Boy Primary State School's side.

mdrew

27-11-21, 12:08 PM

The PBC Rugby League Excellence Program is a program that brings talented young players to the school from other Primary School's and that was the case for former Bogangar Public School student Ashton Hure who has made a positive impact at PBC since his arrival including starting from the bench for the PBC Renouf Shield School Boy side in their 8-4 Grand Final victory against Marsden SHS.

mdrew

27-11-21, 12:47 PM

Rugby League is no longer a 13 player game with the increased importance of the bench.

The 2021 PBC Renouf Shield side had a number of players who made a big impact off the bench including Calais Hallett-Wharewaka who was on the bench as PBC defeated Marsden SHS 8-4 in the Renouf Shield Grand Final.

mdrew

27-11-21, 01:07 PM

The PBC SHS Renouf Cup Grand Final winning side had a number of hero's in the dramatic final minutes of their 8-4 victory against Marsden SHS, none more so than starting second rower Nelson Makaafi who pulled off a last grasp try saving tackle on Marsden SHS interchange player Madden Falaniko.

mdrew

27-11-21, 01:28 PM

These days hookers have to be some of the fittest and fastest players in a team and that is what the 2021 Marsden SHS Renouf Shield side had with Tamai Baker in the starting dummy half role.

mdrew

27-11-21, 02:06 PM

Earlier this year the Marsden SHS Old Boys School Boys side had a dominate 44-12 Grand Final victory against Ipswich SHS.

There were multiple outstanding players for the Titans partnered school that afternoon including young lock Brendan Lemalu who was everywhere in both attack and defence.

mdrew

27-11-21, 02:37 PM

Madden Falaniko had a busy finish to the 2021 rugby league season.

First he came off the bench for the Marsden SHS Renouf Shield that went down 8-4 to PBC with Madden Falanikoalmost the hero for Marsden but for a desperate tackle.

The Madden Falaniko represented the Queensland Samoa U14 Representative side that played in the 2021 QPICC Carnival at Beenleigh in Brisbane's south.

mdrew

27-11-21, 03:10 PM

The 2019 Currumbin State School U12 NRL Development Team that defeated Frechville State School 32-6 in their Final in a curtain raiser to the 2019 Queensland Cup Grand Final has provided more than a few players to the PBC SHS Rugby League Excellence Program including Archie Sillar who started at five eight and kicked two conversions for Currumbin SS in that NRL Development Grand Final.

Archie Sillar underwent a position upon his move to PBC starting at hooker this season in PBC SHS's successful Renouf Shield squad starting at hooker in their 8-4 Grand Final victory against Marsden SHS.

mdrew

27-11-21, 06:19 PM

Young halfback Ryder Williams from the Marist Saints Rugby League Club in Auckland has signed a multi-year contract with the Titans.

In 2021 Ryder Williams played for the Marist Saints in the Auckland Rugby League U15 Open competition with the Marist Saints remaining undefeated through their twelve 2021 matches and recording a for and against of in excess of + 300.

Ryder Williams also attended Mt Albert Grammar School in Auckland and also represented Kotahitanga at the 2021 U15 New Zealand Tournament including starting the Tournament Final at five eight.

mdrew

27-11-21, 09:36 PM

How good was the Marsden SHS Bronco's Old Boys side in 2021, they went through the competition undefeated scoring 296 points conceding 30.

mdrew

28-11-21, 08:16 AM

What a season exciting fullback prospect Mark Nosa this year.

Mark Nosa starred for the Marsden SHS Walters Cup side and as a consequence he was named in the 2021 Marsden SHS Rugby League Team of the Year,

In 2021 Mark Nosa represented Met East at the U15 QSSRL Championships and was subsequently named in the U15 Queensland School Boy Merit Team.

mdrew

28-11-21, 10:17 AM

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.

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.

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 2020 Storm Enoka played for the Coomera Crushers in the GCDRU U12 competition, having a dominant season across the board including from a try scoring perspective.

Storm Enoka scored a hat trick in Round Four against the Yatala Rams and also scored doubles in three matches, being in Rounds One, Two and Three against the Helensvale Hogs (Rounds One and Three) and Bond Pirates (Round Two). Storm Enoka also scored in Round Five against Surfers Paradise.

mdrew

28-11-21, 03:27 PM

Klese Haas has signed a new two year NRL Train and Trial deal with the Titans.

mdrew

28-11-21, 08:56 PM

Zechariah Tuialii, the young fullback was Marsden State High School’s sole try scorer in their tough 8 -4 School Boy 2021 Renouf Shield loss against PBC when he scored down a short left blindside off a Mace Andrew off-load.

2022 will see Zechariah Tuialii move up to the Walters Cup school boy competition for Marsden State High School.

mdrew

29-11-21, 07:31 AM

The stand-out player for me in the 2021 Far North Coast U16 Rugby competition was Grafton Redman Isaac Barker. Isaac Barker was not able to play every game that the Redman played in but when he did Isaac Barker was dominant at No. 10 (fly half).

Isaac Barker had a great start to the 2021 season, scoring four tries and kicking a conversion in Round One against Bangalow. Isaac Barker scored doubles in Round Four against Woollongbar Alstonville and Round Eleven against Bangalow and also scored in Round Nine against Woollongbar Alstonville.

Upthetibros

29-11-21, 09:49 AM

Klese Haas has signed a new two year NRL Train and Trial deal with the Titans.

Does this new contract involve a Dev contract or just the usual pre seasons? Hoping Klese continues to develop into a solid backrower

lonegull

29-11-21, 10:42 AM

A really good article in the Courier mail of the Titans and the juniors highlighting some players both boys and girls and how the academy is reaching out and what they are building

mdrew

29-11-21, 11:10 AM

League Tua the tall, long striding outside back started on the right wing for the 2021 Marsden State High school Bronco’s Old Boys side in their 44 – 12 Grand Final victory against Ipswich State High School.

League Tua wasted no time getting involved in the match when he scored in the opening minutes after good work on his inside.

2022 will see League Tua move up to the Renouf Shield Cup school boy competition for Marsden State High School.

mdrew

29-11-21, 11:27 AM

Just a train and trial mate

Does this new contract involve a Dev contract or just the usual pre seasons? Hoping Klese continues to develop into a solid backrower

mdrew

29-11-21, 03:46 PM

Flying young Keebra Park Year Nine student Bailey Secombe has been named on the wing in the 2021 Keebra Park Rugby League Team of the Year.

mdrew

29-11-21, 05:52 PM

Exciting fullback prospect Jeremaih Toko was recently named on the interchange bench in the 2021 Marsden State High School Rugby League of the Year.

For Marsden State High School in 2021 Jeremaih Toko played in the Bronco’s Old Boys Competition including starting at fullback in Marsden SHS’s 44 – 12 Grand Final victory against Ipswich State High School.

Jeremaih Toko also recorded a try assist in the Grand Final when in the 38th minute Jeremaih Toko received the ball down a short left blindside ten metres out from the try line. After receiving the ball Jeremaih Toko threw a bullet pass to his left to put Chris Vailmili outside the last member of the Ipswich State High School defensive line with the left centre crossing in the left corner.

Jeremaih Toko added a line break assist in the 35th line when Jeremaih Toko chimed into the Marsden SHS backline on the left. After taking the ball right to the defensive line Jeremaih Toko threw a good ball to his left to put his lock into space near the halfway mark.

2021 also saw Jeremaih Toko represented Met East at the QSSRL school boy U12 Championships with Jeremaih Toko subsequently named in the 2021 Queensland School U12 Rugby League Merit Team.

Jeremaih Toko was also named in the 2021 Queensland Maori U12 Rugby League Representee Merit Team.

2022 will see Jeremaih Toko move up to the Renouf Shield Cup school boy competition for Marsden State High School.

mdrew

29-11-21, 06:32 PM

Corey Thompson interviewing Klese Haas.

https://www.titans.com.au/news/2021/11/29/haas-excited-for-future-as-a-titan/

mdrew

29-11-21, 08:56 PM

Dorian Mapusua-Lotaki’s mid-season move from Auckland to the Gold Coast to attend Keebra Park State High School certainly paid dividends with the young man at the completion of the Walters Cup Grand Final Dorian Mapusua-Lotaki was named on the left wing in the Courier Mail Team of the Grand Finals and also was named in the centres in the 2021 Keebra Park Rugby League Team of the Year.

With Keebra Park having a Walter Cup bye in late June 2021, Dorian Mapusua-Lotaki started at hooker for the Keebra Park Year Nine/Ten Division One Titans Cup side in the Grand Final against Marsden State High School.

Dorian Mapusua-Lotaki had an outstanding match in the Titans Cup Grand Final scoring a try and kicking two conversions from as many attempts including an outstanding conversion from the left touchline with only three minutes on the clock to get Keebra Park within six points, however that is as close as Keebra Park got to their fellow Titans partnered school opponents.

Dorian Mapusua-Lotaki’s try came early in the first half when he darted out of dummy half and burrowed his way over the line. In addition, Dorian Mapusua-Lotaki made three line breaks in the match, the first coming in the opening set of six in the match and then mid-way through the first half Dorian Mapusua-Lotaki made a forty metres burst through centre field and in the second half Dorian Mapusua-Lotaki made a twenty metres break from dummy half once again.

Dorian Mapusua-Lotaki started at left centre for Keebra Park in Round One of the 2021 School Boy Walters Cup against Marsden SHS and had an impressive match in the tight Keebra Park win including a great charge in the 40th minute that ended less than a metre out from the line and directly in front of the posts.

The run had started when Dorian Mapusua-Lotaki had received the ball in traffic twenty metres out from the line on the left side of the field before cutting back towards the goal posts, breaking three tackles along the way. Then the Keebra Park dummy half was able to easily score as a result of Dorian Mapusua-Lotaki’s quick play the ball.

Dorian Mapusua-Lotaki also started Round Two against Redcliffe State High School at left centre with the powerful young man scoring an impressive hat trick in Keebra Park’s victory.

Dorian Mapusua-Lotaki scored his first try in the 12th minute when he came back underneath his five eight, running back towards the play the ball, easily bumping off one defender to score a great solo try under the posts.

Dorian Mapusua-Lotaki’s second try of the match came in the 46th minute when he exploded out of dummy half to his left from three metres out to crash over mid-way between the corner post and goal posts on the left side of the field.

Dorian Mapusua-Lotaki completed his hat trick in the 53rd minute when he was on the end of a Keebra Park backline movement to the left to score in the left corner with a defender still trying in vain to bring him to the ground.

Dorian Mapusua-Lotaki also made a line break in the 52nd minute making forty five metres and breaking three tackles after getting on the outside of his direct opponent to get to within fifteen metres of the try line.

In the 15th minute, Dorian Mapusua-Lotaki showcased his elusiveness when he beat five defenders in a winding run that started on the right and finished on the left. In the 25th minute Dorian Mapusua-Lotaki produced another strong run that accounted for a further ten metres to get Keebra Park to within twenty five metres of the line.

Dorian Mapusua-Lotaki contributed a further seventeen metre run from a hit-up to the left of the dummy half to get the ball into Redcliffe SHS territory and then in the 56th minute Dorian Mapusua-Lotaki cut back to run underneath his five eight on the left before cutting back in the same direction and getting an off-load away after making twenty five metres.

Dorian Mapusua-Lotaki moved to right centre for Round Three against Ipswich State High School but the move to the opposite side of the field did not diminish Dorian Mapusua-Lotaki’s effective with the outstanding talent scoring twice.

Dorian Mapusua-Lotaki’s opening try came in the 7th minute when he was on the end of a Keebra Park backline movement to his side of the field to run twenty metres to comfortably score in the right corner.

Dorian Mapusua-Lotaki scored his second try in the 30th minute when he jumped above the Ipswich SHS left sided defence to take a cross kick on the full ten metres from the line and then charged over the line.

Dorian Mapusua-Lotaki continued his exceptional form in Round Four against Forest Lake State High School scoring twenty points from two tries and seven conversions. Dorian Mapusua-Lotaki played the majority of the match at left centre but moved into the dummy half role late in the second half.

Dorian Mapusua-Lotaki’s opening try came in just the second minute of the match when he scored an outstanding solo try that encompassed Dorian Mapusua-Lotaki breaking five tackles after he had cut back after receiving the ball on the left side of the field to score next to the right goal post.

Dorian Mapusua-Lotaki’s second try came in the 18th minute when he burst through the Forest Lake SHS defence to score under the posts from ten metres out after receiving an inside ball.

Dorian Mapusua-Lotaki continued at left centre in Round Six against PBC SHS and was simply dominant in a player of the match performance, scoring two tries and kicking four conversions from five attempts as Keebra Park put their local rivals to the sword.

Dorian Mapusua-Lotaki scored his opening try in the 18th minute as a result of a great forty metre charge down the left side of the field to score wide out untouched after getting an offload from his inside.

Dorian Mapusua-Lotaki completed his double in the 55th minute, and what a try it was. Keebra Park spun the ball out to his left side but the pass intended for Dorian Mapusua-Lotaki was knocked forward by PBC. Dorian Mapusua-Lotaki tracked back to retrieve the ball twenty five metres from the line and ran back towards centre field. After bumping off one defender which included Dorian Mapusua-Lotaki dropping to one knee, he rumbled forward breaking four more tackles and then dragged three more PBC defenders over the line with him to get the ball down under the posts.

It was clear in just the 4th minute of the match that Dorian Mapusua-Lotaki was going to have a big match when he made the first of many line breaks with a twenty metre run and Dorian Mapusua-Lotaki made a further twelve metres in the 8th minute.

Dorian Mapusua-Lotaki made another line break in the 31st minute when after running an underneath route he broke six tackles in a devastating run into the PBC defensive line.

Dorian Mapusua-Lotaki once again started at left centre in Round Six of the Walters Cup against Wavell State High School and once again was outstanding with Wavell SHS being the latest school that could not prevent Dorian Mapusua-Lotaki from scoring.

Dorian Mapusua-Lotaki scored in just the 4th minute as a result of a strong straight charge that easily burst through to defenders from six metres out with Dorian Mapusua-Lotaki getting the ball down near the left upright.

The match also saw Dorian Mapusua-Lotaki kick four conversions from as many attempts in Keebra Park’s 24 – 6 victory.

Dorian Mapusua-Lotaki also started at left centre in Round Seven against Coombabah State High School, scoring an early second half try and kicking two conversions as Keebra Park qualified for the Walters Cup Grand Final.

Dorian Mapusua-Lotaki scored in the 27th minute when he flew onto the ball from ten metres out and easily bursting through the Coombabah SHS line to dive over ten metres to the left of the uprights.

In the 30th minute, Dorian Mapusua-Lotaki made the best line break of the match when he made a thirty metre rumble through the centre of the field into Coombabah SHS territory, breaking wight tackles along the way.

As noted, Dorian Mapusua-Lotaki kicked two conversions as Keebra Park SHS qualified for the Walters Cup Grand Final, the first of which was an outstanding conversion in the 7th minute from the left touchline. Dorian Mapusua-Lotaki’s other conversion came in the 41st minute from directly in front of the posts.

Dorian Mapusua-Lotaki also started at left in Keebra Park’s semi-final victory over Ipswich State High School and in addition to scoring an outstanding solo try, Dorian Mapusua-Lotaki was outstanding in attack throughout.

Dorian Mapusua-Lotaki scored in the 38th minute when after receiving the ball thirty metres from the line, Dorian Mapusua-Lotaki burst down the left touchline bumping off the Ipswich SHS right winger before cutting inside and then straightening up and breaking three more tackles on the way to getting the ball down mid-way between the corner post and goal posts on the left side of the field.

Dorian Mapusua-Lotaki’s impressive match started in the opening set of six in the match with a twenty metre line break down the left channel. Then in the 9th minute, Dorian Mapusua-Lotaki, from a scrum made a 25th metre burst which took the ball out to thirty five metres from his own try line.

In the 17th minute, Dorian Mapusua-Lotaki continued making metres when he made a bumping run of fifteen metres before producing a great right arm off-load near halfway. Then in the 18th minute Dorian Mapusua-Lotaki produced a winding run back to his right, breaking four tackles along the way.

The 2021 Walters Cup Grand Final saw Dorian Mapusua-Lotaki start at left centre for Keebra Park State High School against PBC State High School with Dorian Mapusua-Lotaki scoring Keebra park’s opening try as well as kicking two conversions from as many attempts in Keebra Park’s tough 16 -12 Grand Final loss.

Dorian Mapusua-Lotaki scored in the 14th minute when he charged onto a pass to the left of the dummy half down a short left blindside with Dorian Mapusua-Lotaki receiving the ball three metres from the line and he was simply too strong for the PBC defence to stop, with Dorian Mapusua-Lotaki getting the ball down three metres in from the left corner post.

Dorian Mapusua-Lotaki then stepped up to convert his own try and then in the 20th minute Dorian Mapusua-Lotaki converted Keebra Park’s other Grand Final try, once again from the left touch line.

mdrew

30-11-21, 07:49 AM

Front row prospect Marquis Sando was recently named on the interchange bench in the 2021 Marsden State High School Rugby League of the Year.

For Marsden State High School in 2021 Marquis Sando played in the Bronco’s Old Boys Competition including starting in the front row in Marsden SHS’s 44 – 12 Grand Final victory against Ipswich State High School.

Also in 2021 Marquis Sando played for Logan Brothers GBJRL U12 side, operating in the front row.

2021 also saw Marquis Sando represented Met East at the QSSRL school boy U12 Championships with Marquis Sando subsequently named in the 2021 Queensland School U12 Rugby League Merit Team.

Marquis Sando was also named in the 2021 Queensland Maori U12 Rugby League Representative Merit Team.

2022 will see Marquis Sando move up to the Renouf Shield school boy competition for Marsden State High School and will also play for Logan Brothers in the GBJRL U13 Division One competition.

mdrew

30-11-21, 11:59 AM

Lismore’s Hayden Sivewright had a very busy 2021 season playing rugby as well as for the Marist Rams in the Group One U14 competition.

Early in 2021 Hayden Sivewright started at fullback for the Far North Coast U14 Representative Side at the King of Country Rugby Tournament held on the Gold Coast and from a club rugby perspective in 2021 played at fullback, outside centre or inside centre for Lismore in the Far North Coast U14 Competition.

In the Far North Coast U14 Rugby Competition Hayden Sivewright scored a double and kicked a conversion in Round Seven against Casuarina Beach and also scored in matches against Lennox Head in Round One and Casuarina Beach in Round Twelve.

Hayden Sivewright’s best match came in Round Six when he dominated scoring a staggering five tries against Lennox Head.

mdrew

30-11-21, 12:22 PM

Great to see PBC student Creedence Donovan represent Team Indigenous at the recent 3PTAG (non-contact modified rugby league) Cultural Touch Tournament held at Marsden SHS.

mdrew

30-11-21, 02:39 PM

Exceptionally talented Marsden SHS 2021 Bronco's Old Boys School Boy's side second row pairing Marlee Smith and Storn Enoka recently played for the U13 Tonga Touch side at the recent 3PTAG (non-contact modified rugby league) Cultural Touch Tournament held at Marsden SHS.

mdrew

30-11-21, 04:11 PM

This year 2022 Burleigh U16 Cyril Connell Cup squad member Brocklyn Waerea played club rugby in the Far North Coast U15 Rugby Competition operating at tight head prop with Brocklyn Waerea scoring in Round One against Ballina and Round Ten against Casino.

mdrew

30-11-21, 06:09 PM

In June 2021, Jedd Windle was a member of the Titans U17 Northern Rivers Academy side that drew 28 all with a Titans JTS U16 side at Cbus Stadium in a curtain raiser to the Titans NRL fixture against Manly.

Jedd Windle’s first appearance for the 2021 Northern Rivers Titans U18 Laurie Daley Cup side came in Round Two when he started from the bench against local rivals the North Coast Bulldogs at Nambucca Heads. Jedd Windle moved into the starting side in the second row in Round Three against the Greater Northern Tigers.

Jedd Windle was then named on the Northern Rivers Titans extended bench for their Round Four match in Lismore against the Central Coast Roosters. Jedd Windle then started from the bench in Round Five against the Newcastle Knights.

Jedd Windle played for the Byron Bay Devils in the 2021 NRRRL U18 competition scoring his first try of the season in Round Five when he rumbled his way over to get the ball down ten metres in from the right corner post against the Cudgen Hornets.

Jedd Windle also scored in Round Six against the Marist Brothers Rams after starting the match at right second row. Jedd Windle’s try came in the 52nd minute of Byron Bay’s win when from eight metres out and to the left of the play the ball Jedd Windle charged through two defenders to get the ball down fifteen metres from the right upright.

From the right second row position, Jedd Windle also scored in Round Ten against the Tweed Coast Raiders, when in just the 3rd minute, Jedd Windle charged onto the ball from ten metres out after Byron Bay had spun the ball to the right from the left touchline with Jedd Windle getting the ball down mid-way between the goal post and corner post on the right side of the field.

Jedd Windle also started at right second row in Round Thirteen against Casino RSM.

Jedd Windle made his deserved NRRRL First Grade debut in Round Four, starting at right second row as the Devils accounted for Northern United 64 – 4 and made his second appearance off the bench in Round Eleven against the Kyogle Turkeys before also being named on the bench for Round Thirteen against Casino RSM.

Jedd Windle also played rugby in 2021, playing for the Lennox Head Trojans in the Far North Coast U18 competition, starting Round One against Casuarina Beach at No. 8.

Round Three saw Jedd Windle move to open side flanker (No. 7) and scoring against Wollongbar/Alstonville and he continued at No. 7 in Round Four, scoring once again, on this occasion against Lismore.

Jedd Windle moved positions once again in Round Five, starting the match at blindside flanker (No. 6) against Casino with the position change having no impact on Jedd Windle crossing the line as he scored for the third match in a row.

Jedd Windle also scored in Round Eight against Evans Head and Round Thirteen against Casino.

mdrew

30-11-21, 08:58 PM

Hard working second row prospect Marlee Smith was recently named on the interchange bench in the 2021 Marsden State High School Rugby League of the Year.

For Marsden State High School in 2021 Marlee Smith played in the Bronco’s Old Boys Competition including starting at right second row in Marsden SHS’s 44 – 12 Grand Final victory against Ipswich State High School with Marlee Smith throwing the last pass to put Alex Paisa over for Marsden SHS’s second try in the Grand Final.

2021 also saw Marlee Smith represented Met East at the QSSRL school boy U12 Championships with Marlee Smith subsequently named in the 2021 Queensland School U12 Rugby League Merit Team.

Marlee Smith was also named in the 2021 Queensland Maori U12 Rugby League Representative Merit Team.

2022 will see Marlee Smith move up to the Renouf Shield school boy competition for Marsden State High School.

mdrew

01-12-21, 07:07 AM

If you look at all of the NRL teams that made the 2021 NRL Finals series one common theme is that they have an outstanding fullback and moving forward there is another outstanding fullback prospect coming through the ranks at Titans Partnered Keebra Park State High School by the name of Kingston Seve who was part of their Bronco’s Old Boys Year Seven side.

Recently the Year Seven student was named at fullback in the 2021 Keebra Park Rugby League Team of the Year.

mdrew

01-12-21, 03:37 PM

Exceptional left second row prospect Mace Andrew was recently named on the interchange bench in the 2021 Marsden State High School Rugby League of the Year.

For Marsden State High School in 2021 Mace Andrew played in the Renouf Shield competition including starting at left second row in Marsden SHS’s tough 8 – 4 Grand Final loss to PBC SHS with Mace Andrew coming desperately close to scoring in the final moments. Post the Grand Final Mace Andrew was named on the bench in the 2021 Courier Mail Team of the School Boy Grand Finals.

Also in 2021 Mace Andrew played for the Souths Acacia Ridge Magpies GBJRL U14 Division One side, operating in the left second row position.

2022 will see Mace Andrew move up to the Walters Cup school boy competition for Marsden State High School and will also play for the Souths Magpies in the GBJRL U15 Division One competition.

mdrew

01-12-21, 04:58 PM

I am a fan of junior rugby league players playing either other sports or other codes and that is what Cooper Love did in 2021, playing both rugby and rugby league.

In June 2021 the hooker from Lismore Marist Brothers 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 Love played the 2021 season with the Marist Brothers Rams in the NRRRL U18 competition starting Round One at hooker against Northern United and scoring in the 35th minute when he dived over untouched from dummy half to the left of the play the ball from less than two metres out down a very skinny and unattended left blindside.

Cooper Love also had a try assist in the 26th minute when he put in a right foot grubber kick out of dummy half into the in-goal with Harry Sivewright the beneficiary of a great bounce to score ten metres in from the right corner post.

Rounds two and Three against Casino RSM and Kyogle saw Cooper Love once again start at hooker and score in both matches.

Against Casino RSM Cooper Love scored in the 35th minute with a four metre dart out of dummy half to his right, with the craft hooker getting the ball down under the posts.

Against Kyogle Cooper Love scored in the 6th minute with a smart piece of individual brilliance. Cooper Love moved into dummy half the play the ball forty metres from the line and two metres in from the left touchline. When the ball was played Cooper Love exploded down the short left blindside catching the Turkey’s defence totally off guard and from there Cooper Love was too quick for the cover defence score a great individual try down the left touchline.

Cooper Love also started at hooker against Ballina in Round Four as well as in Round Five and Six against the Tweed Coast Raiders and Byron Bay respectively with Cooper Love scoring in both of those matches as well.

Against Tweed Coast Cooper Love scored in the 51st minute with a two metre dart out of dummy half to his left enabled him to get the ball over the line.

Against Byron Bay Cooper Love scored in the 62nd minute once again with a run out of dummy half to his right from three metres out. The match also saw Cooper Love record a 56th minute try assist with a great short ball to his right to put Henry Lee over after Cooper Love had drawn in the defence after running out of dummy half to his right.

Cooper Love continued at hooker in Round Seven against the Cudgen Hornets and in Round Eight against the Murwillumbah Mustangs as well as in Round Ten against the Bilambil Jets where he scored in the 14th minute when after receiving an offload from Jye Davis eighteen metres out and in the open side of the ruck, Cooper Love cut back down the blindside and then was able to bring the ball around closer to the goal posts.

Round Twelve against Casino RSM saw Cooper Love come off the bench for the Rams and scored in the 44th minute of the match. Cooper Love, who moved into the dummy half role when he came on, found himself at dummy half seventy metres from the line and after picking the ball up ran to his right before cutting back to the area behind the play the ball and got through the defensive line before offloading to his right to a support and then continued to back-up and received the ball back when his team mate drew the fullback with Cooper Love racing away to score on the right side of the field.

2021 also saw Cooper Love play a handful of matches in the Far North Coast U18 Rugby competition for Woollongbar Alstonville, playing fly half (no. 10) in the matches that he was involved in. In his limited matches, Cooper Love scored twice with both tries coming against Evans Head in Round Seven and Ten.

mdrew

01-12-21, 05:46 PM

At the conclusion of the 2021 season outstanding back row prospect and Year Nine student Anton Whaiapu was named on the bench in the 2021 Keebra Park Rugby League Team of the Year.

In October 2021 Anton Whaiapu was named in the 2022 Burleigh Bears U16 Cyril Connell Cup squad.

mdrew

01-12-21, 07:36 PM

Talented ZJ Watene was recently named at halfback in the 2021 Marsden State High School Rugby League of the Year.

For Marsden State High School in 2021 ZJ Watene played in the Bronco’s Old Boys Competition including starting at halfback in Marsden SHS’s 44 – 12 Grand Final victory against Ipswich State High School with ZJ Watene scoring in the 18th minute when he followed through a kick by his halves partner to receive the ball to the right of his five eight who retrieved the ball with ZJ Watene running twelve metres to get the ball down ten metres to the right of the uprights.

ZJ Watene also recorded a try assist in the Grand Final when in the 27th minute ZJ Watene took the ball to the defensive line on the left side of the field twenty five metres from the try line and threw a great ball to his left to put Storm Enoka through a big gap with the powerhouse left second rower taking the ball all of the way to the try line.

ZJ Watene added a line break assist in the 38th minute once again on the left ZJ Watene put Storm Enoka through a gap once again with a good short ball to his left.

Post the Grand Final ZJ Watene was named at halfback in the 2021 Courier Mail Team of the School Boy Grand Finals.

2022 will see ZJ Watene move up to the Renouf Shield school boy competition for Marsden State High School.

mdrew

01-12-21, 09:17 PM

At the conclusion of the 2021 season the Gold Coast local and Year Eight student Gazniah To’omaga was named at five eight in the 2021 Keebra Park Rugby League Team of the Year.

At the start of 2021 Gazniah To’omaga represented the Gold Coast Barbarians U13 side at the King of Country Rugby Tournament that was held on the Gold Coast with Gazniah To’omaga playing fly half (No. 10) for the Barbarians in the three day Tournament.

2021 also saw Gazniah To’omaga play for the Coomera Cutters in the Gold Coast Rugby League U13 Division One competition.

mdrew

02-12-21, 07:21 AM

Another junior player who in 2021 played both rugby and rugby league was Ballina’s Baxter Turner.

Round One of the 2021 Group One U13 competition saw Baxter Turner start in the front row for Ballina against the Clarence Coast Magpies.

Round Two against the Marist Brothers Rams Lismore saw Baxter Turner drop back to start from the bench with Baxter Turner being one of the Seagulls try scorers in their 66 – 0 victory.

Baxter Turner moved back into the Ballina starting side at lock for the Round Three match against the Kyogle Turkeys. In Round Four against South Grafton, Baxter Turner scored after starting the match in the front row.

Baxter Turner continued in the front row in Round Five in the local derby against the South Grafton Rebels before starting from the bench in Round Six against the Clarence Coast Magpies. Baxter Turner was then back in the front row in Round Nine against Marist Brothers and also in Round Ten against the Kyogle Turkeys.

In Round Eleven against the South Grafton Rebels Baxter Turner started in the second row and scored in the Seagulls four point win. Then in Round Twelve against the Clarence Coast Magpies, Baxter Turner came off the bench, scoring for the second match in a row.

Round Thirteen saw Baxter Turner named to return to the Ballina starting side in the front row against the Clarence Coast Magpies and kicked one conversion as the Seagulls prevailed against the Magpies 46 – 12.

In May 2021, Baxter Turner was part of the Ballina Coast High School’s U14 Buckley Shield school boy rugby league side that won the Grand Final 46 – 0 against Tweed River High School.

In the two earlier matches of the Buckley Shield Ballina Coast High School defeated Kingscliffe High School 48 – 0 and Tweed River High School 36 – 6.

Baxter Turner also played club rugby in 2021, playing for Woollongbar Alstonville in the Far North Coast U14 rugby competition. In the matches that he played in Baxter Turner spent time at outside centre (No. 13), inside centre (No. 12) and on the left wing. From the left wing position Baxter Turner scored a double against Lennox Head and he also kicked a conversion in Round Ten also against Lennox Head.

mdrew

02-12-21, 10:27 AM

Recently Lama Afu was named on the bench in the 2021 Keebra Park Rugby League Team of the Year.

In mid-February 2021 Lama Afu played in the Titans U15 Invitational Trial at Burleigh, a trial which included only the best of the 2021 Titans U15 squad members.

Early February 2021 saw Lama Afu make it through the first stage of the South Coast U15 QSSRL trials when he was named in the U15 Broadwater school boy U15 squad. Following the final round of trials, Lama Afu was named in the 2021 South Coast U15 school boy QSSRL squad.

2021 also saw Lama Afu named in the South Coast Schools U15 Rugby Representative side and in late August 2021 Lama Afu was named in the Queensland Barbarians U15 representative rugby side. After starring for the Queensland Barbarians side, Lama Afu was named at inside centre in the Queensland U15 Rugby Merit side.

Lama Afu was also part of the Keebra Park State High School Walters Cup side in 2021 including starting in the front row in their 30 – 12 Grand Final loss to PBC State High School.

mdrew

02-12-21, 01:23 PM

Tough, hard uncomprising young front rower Xhai Waerea from northern New South Wales was a standout at hooker for the U13 Far North Coast Representative Rugby side that played in the King of Country Rugby Tournament and at the competition of the Tournament Xhai Waerea named on the bench in the Team of the Tournament.

In 2021 Xhai Waerea played in the U13 Group 18 competition for the Tweed Coast Raiders, operating primarily in the front row.

Xhai Waerea also played club rugby in 2021, playing in the Far North Coast U13 Rugby Competition for Coolangatta Tweed. In the matches that he played in for Coolangatta Tweed, Xhai Waerea played at hooker.

Xhai Waerea had a monster season for Coolangatta Tweed, scoring hat tricks in Rounds Two and Four against Casino and Ballina and Xhai Waerea also scored doubles in Round Seven against the wonderfully Named Evan Head Killer Wales and in Round Nine against Casuarina Beach. Xhai Waerea also kicked a conversion against Evans Head.

mdrew

02-12-21, 02:19 PM

In 2019 and 2020 the The Southport School (TSS) 4 x 100 metre sprint relay team had more than a passing Titans feel to it.

In 2020 the TSS First XV Team that included Titans Jojo Fifita, Kaleb Ngamanu and Syris Schmidt finished seventh in a time of 44.69 seconds. Jojo Fifita ran the first leg, Syris Schmidt and Kelab Ngamanu ran the third leg.

The three was also part of the 2019 4 x 100 metre sprint relay with the team finishing sixth in a time of 45.18 seconds.

mdrew

02-12-21, 04:52 PM

In 2021 Xavier Collins was part of the Ormeau Shearers U18 Division One squad, starting Round One of the pre-season in the front row and scoring one of the Shearers four tries as they got their 2021 season underway with a 24 – 16 win over the Currumbin Eagles.

For Round Two of the 2021 GCRL U18 Division One pre-season competition, Xavier Collins moved to the second row against the Southport Tigers and scored once again for the Shearers. Xavier Collins also started in the second row in Round Six against the Burleigh Bears.

Xavier Collins moved back to the left second row position in Round Seven against Runaway Bay, scoring a try and kicking two conversions for the Shearers.

In 2020 and 2021 Xavier Collins played in the front row in the Brisbane Grammar School First School Boy XV in the front row.

In 2019 Xavier Collins played for the Brisbane Grammar School Boy Rugby U16A side, scoring against Ipswich Grammar.

Also in 2019 Xavier Collins was selected in the Queensland Maroon U16 Junior Gold Cup squad.

The big strong young former Keebra Park front rower was a standout in 2018 in both rugby league and rugby and impressively in both codes was playing up an age group. Late in 2018 Xavier Collins was named in the front row in the 2018 Keebra Park Team of the Year.

In 2018 Xavier Collins was part of the Cook Islands U14 QPICC side, being awarded the Cook Islands U14 Most Valuable Player award for the tournament and was part of the Cook Islands side that defeated Samoa 22 – 6 in the U14 Final.

For Ormeau in the 2018 Gold Coast Rugby League U15 Division One competition Xavier Collins played in nine matches including the finals and scored four tries, scoring three in the finals series and a regular season try against Coomera early in the season.

In Week One of the U15 Division One Finals series, Xavier Collins started from the bench as Ormeau defeated Runaway Bay 28- 12.

Week Two saw Xavier Collins start in the second row and score a double as Ormeau qualified for the Grand Final on the back of a 44 – 6 victory over Coomera.

In the U15 Division One Grand Final Xavier Collins started from the bench and scored as Ormeau won the premiership on the back of a 38 – 20 Grand Final victory over Runaway Bay.

Xavier Collins also played two matches in the 2018 U14 Division One competition with those matches coming against Coomera and Runaway Bay.

2018 also saw Xavier Collins represent South East Queensland Green at the Queensland U14 Championships starting in the second row in the Championship Final against South East Queensland White which ended in a 16 all draw. Xavier Collins played in all four of South East Queensland Green’s matches.

Xavier Collins was selected in the 2019 Queensland Academy of Sport U15 Emerging Origin Squad.

Xavier Collins also played club rugby on the Gold Coast in 2019, playing for the Griffith University Colleges U15 side including starting the Grand Final at loose head prop with his side winning 47 – 19 against the Helensvale Hogs in a rugby test curtain raiser between Australia and Argentina at Cbus Super Stadium on the Gold Coast.

For Griffith University Colleges side Xavier Collins played in thirteen matches, starting the two finals at loose head prop, one at No. 8, four at open side flanker (No. 7), two from the interchange bench and five at blindside flanker (No. 6).

In his thirteen matches, Xavier Collins scored three tries and converted one of those tries in Round Fourteen against the Gold Coast Eagles. Xavier Collins also scored in Round Nine against the Eagles and in Round Twelve against Bond University.

In 2016 Xavier Collins represented Queensland at the U12 level this year after representing the South Coast U12’s earlier in the year as well as being part of the Keebra Park Renouf Cup winning squad even though he was a year younger than a majority of his team mates in that squad.

In addition to his schoolboy and representative commitments, Xavier Collins played his club rugby league on the Gold Coast with the Ormeau Shearers in the 2016 U12 Division One competition, where he crossed for one try which came against Jimboomba as well as kicking a solitary conversion in the last game of the season against Runaway Bay.

mdrew

02-12-21, 06:15 PM

Great to see more than a few Titans named in the 2022 U16 Andrew Johns Cup train on squad.

mdrew

02-12-21, 06:32 PM

Well done to Marist Brothers Ram's second rower Jed Arnett named in the 2022 U16 Andrew Johns Cup train on squad.

mdrew

02-12-21, 08:22 PM

Great effort by Marist Rams 2021 U15 centre/second rower Alex Yager for his selection in the 2022 U16 Andrew Johns Cup train on squad.

mdrew

02-12-21, 08:43 PM

Good to see that nippy Tweed Heads Seagulls JRL hooker Hudson Towell has been named in the 2022 U16 Andrew Johns Cup train on squad and no doubt to his distribution out of dummy half he will be hard to keep out of the starting hooker spot come Round One early next year.

mdrew

02-12-21, 09:13 PM

Ballina Seagulls U15 Group One second rower and Ballina and Far North Coast backrow rugby representative Fynn Jonnson has been selected in the 2022 U16 Andrew Johns Cup train on squad.

The St Francis Xavier College student has also been part of the NSW Country Development Squad.

mdrew

02-12-21, 09:39 PM

Two talented Murwillumbah Colfs juniors have deservedly been named in the 2022 U16 Andrew Johns Cup train on squad talented back Charlie Shepherd and tough forward Aaron Singh-Goesel.

mdrew

03-12-21, 07:40 AM

Lock Darrell Studders is one of a number of talented Marist Brothers Rams juniors that have been selected in the 2022 U16 Andrew Johns Cup train on squad .

mdrew

03-12-21, 08:01 AM

One of the players that have been named in the 2022 U16 Andrew Johns Cup squad is Tweed Heads Seagulls junior Reuben Tamariki.

mdrew

03-12-21, 08:52 AM

In April 2021, Stepharn Holo was named in the U20 Gold Coast Vikings First Grade South East Queensland Chairman’s Challenge initial squad.

Stepharn Holo made his 2021 Hastings Deering’s Colts debut off the bench for Tweed Heads in Round Six against the Easts Tigers and also came off the bench in Round Seven against the Norths Devils.

Stepharn Holo also started on the bench in Round Nine against Wynnum Manly as well as in the Round Eleven local derby against the Burleigh Bears and also in the previously postponed Round Ten match against the Sunshine Coast Falcons.

In 2020 Stepharn Holo selected in the Tweed Heads Seagulls U20 Hastings Deering’s Colts squad.

Steharn Holo started Round One of the 2020 Hastings Deering’s Colts competition in the second row against the Northern Pride and scoring as a result of a powerful surge in the Seagulls impressive first up victory 50 – 20 in their only match before the competition was shut down as they looked to repeat their 2019 success at both the Queensland and National level.

When the 2020 Gold Coast Rugby League competition restarted in August, Stepharn Holo was part of the Ormeau Shearers GCRL First Grade squad starting Round One of the GCRL First Grade competition at lock as the Shearers took on the Tugun Seahawks. Round Two saw Stepharn Holo move to the left second row position against Runaway Bay before moving back to lock for Round Six against the Mudgeeraba Redbacks.

Stepharn Holo started in the front row for the Queensland U16 side in 2017 in Queensland tough 22 – 16 loss to New South Wales. Team mates that night included Titans linked Eli Morgan (second row), Tristian Powell (second row), Will Evans who captained the side from right centre and scoring and left winger Lofi Khan-Pereira who scored two of Queensland’s tries.

In 2017 Stepharn Holo represented South Coast from Coombabah State High School at the U18 QSSRL Championships impressively as a 16 year old and in 2019 was part of the Queensland U18 Emerging Origin Squad. In 2018 Steharn Holo was part of the Queensland Emerging Origin U18 squad.

mdrew

03-12-21, 09:19 AM

What a heck of a year Koopah Walters had. In addition to being named the Grafton Ghosts Group One U14 Best and Fairest the South Grafton high School student was his school's Athletics School age champion, also representing the Northern Region and also won a Bronze Medal at the NSW Age Athletics Championships in the 4x100m.

At South Grafton's Athletics day Koopah Walters broke the 100m school record.

mdrew

03-12-21, 10:01 AM

In 2021 Alex Paisa stood out for the Marsden State High School in the Bronco’s Old Boys School Boy’s Cup competition including starting at right centre in Marsden SHS’s 44 – 12 victory with Alex Paisa scoring Marsden SHS’s second try of the match when he ran off a good ball from right second rower Marlee Smith and was able to bring the ball around to score under the posts. Alex Paisa then stepped up and slotted the conversion with his left foot. Alex Paisa ultimately kicked two conversions in Marsden SHS’s big win.

The former Melton Bronco’s Victoria junior also represented the Met East at the 2021 QSSRL U12 School Boy trials.

mdrew

03-12-21, 12:30 PM

In October 2021 De’Ontae Perese was named in the 2021 Queensland Samoa U18 representative side for the 2021 QPICC Cultural Carnival, starting all four of his matches at the Carnival at halfback, being Match One against Tonga, Match Two against PNG, Match Three against the Cook Islands and Match Four against Queensland Maori, with De’Ontae Perese kicking three conversions in that match.

Round One of the 2021 Langer Cup School Boy Rugby League competition saw De’Ontae Perese initially named to start at five eight for Keebra Park against Marsden State High School however on game day moved to right centre.

De’Ontae Perese then started at five eight in Round Three against Ipswich State High School, scoring in the 47th minute when De’ontae Perese received an off-load six metres from the line and put the ball down under the posts.

DeÓntae Perese then dropped back to the bench for Round Four against St Mary’s College Toowoomba playing in the right centre position when he came on.

De’Ontae Perese made the most of his opportunities in the match scoring one try and coming close to a second.

De’Ontae Perese’s try came in the 38th minute when from twelve metres out De’Ontae Perese darted out of dummy half down a short right blindside and was simply too quick for the St Mary’s defence to crash over ten metres in from the right corner.

As noted above De’Ontae Perese almost scored another try when he chased through a short grubber kick with the referee adjudging that he did not get the ball down cleanly.

De’Ontae Perese also produced a smart piece of play in the 50th minute with a great one on one strip deep inside his own territory from a St Mary’s scrum win.

The Round Five local derby against PBC saw De’Ontae Perese move back into the Keebra Park starting side at right centre and in the 33rd minute produced an exceptional right arm flick off-load to put Levi Jones over in the right corner to kick off Keebra Park’s stunning second half comeback.

De’Ontae Perese moved to start at five eight in Round Six against Wavell State High School.

After the competition was suspended for a number of weeks due to a Covid 19 lock down, De’Ontae Perese was named at five eight for Keebra Park State High School in their semi-final against PBC State High School.

De’Ontae Perese was as good as any Keebra Park player on the field, scoring a great solo try and recording a try assist for Keebra Park’s other try.

De’Ontae Perese scored in the 37th minute. After receiving the ball ten metres out and to the right of the play the ball, De’Ontae Perese dummied to his right before stepping through the PBC defensive line to dive over adjacent to the left upright.

De’Ontae Perese’s try assist came in the 32nd minute when after receiving the ball on the left around ten metres from the line, he threw a great cut out pass to his left which landed on the chest of Elijah Lui who raced over to get the ball down in the left corner.

2021 also saw De’Ontae Perese play for Wynnum Manly in the Greater Brisbane Junior Rugby League U18 competition where he operated primarily in the centres including scoring in the Seagulls semi-final victory against the Norths Devils.

De’Ontae Perese also started at left centre in the 2021 GBJRL U18 Division One Grand Final against Souths Juniors, scoring an impressive hat trick in the Seagulls 40 – 24 Grand Final victory.

mdrew

03-12-21, 03:15 PM

The Tweed Heads Seagulls Junior Rugby League Club was successful in having a few of their juniors named in the 2022 Northern Rivers Titans U16 Andrew Johns Cup squad including talented duo Blake Murphy and Reuben Tamariki.

mdrew

03-12-21, 03:55 PM

Good to see Titans contracted Wailer Whaiapu's leadership skills being recognised with the young man being named one of Keebra Park SHS's 2022 Vice-captains.

mdrew

03-12-21, 04:52 PM

The Northern Rivers Titans U16 and U18 side are on the road for their Round One clashes in early February 2022 when they travel down to Sydney to take on the McArthur Wests Tigers.

mdrew

03-12-21, 05:25 PM

In Round One of the Gold Coast Rugby League U18 Division One competition Esmonde Parangi started at halfback for Runaway Bay as they took on the Mudgeeraba Redbacks, kicking four conversions and recording a try assist in the Seagulls 42 – 6 opening round victory.

Esmonde Parangi’s try assist did not come until the 66th minute but certainly as worth the wait. Esmonde Parangi initially broke the Redbacks line forty metres out by utilising a right foot step and then as the cover defence converged on him Esmonde Parangi threw an exquisite right arm flock pass around the back of a defender to put his right centre over in the corner.

In addition to his solid goal kicking, Esmonde Parangi’s tactical kicking was showcased during the match including a great 40/20 in the 13th minute of the match when he kicked down a short right blind side to put Runaway Bay back onto the attack.

Even though Runaway Bay ended up winning the match well they were under pressure early in the match with Esmonde Parangi being on hand twice to defuse a threat.

On the first occasion in the 22nd minute, Esmonde Parangi tracked back well to defuse a Mudgeeraba attacking kick in front of his own posts and then in the 23rd minute Esmonde Parangi produced a great covering tackle on the Mudgeeraba right centre who looked as if he would score comfortably.

Esmonde Parangi also started at halfback in Round Two against the Southport Tigers with his kicking game late in the late being a key reason why Runaway Bay was able to come away with a hard fought victory.

In the 45th minute, Esmonde Parangi put in a deft right foot chip to the right corner from thirty metres out with Southport being trapped in that corner and in the 47th minute Esmonde Parangi produced an inside pass to a support runner before receiving the ball back and grubbering through the line, forcing Southport to ground the ball in their own in-goal. Runaway Bay scored the match winning try from the subsequent set of six tackles.

Round Five saw Esmonde Parangi start at five eight against Burleigh in their tough one point loss. In addition to kicking a conversion, Esmonde Parangi also recorded a try assist and a great 40/20 in the first half.

Esmonde Parangi’s try assist arrived in the 12th minute when on the last tackle he put in a right foot stab kick from thirteen metres out into the in-goal. The Burleigh defenders made a mess of trying to defuse the kick and Seagulls winger Cody Brose took advantage of the confusion to dive on the ball.

Esmonde Parangi produced another outstanding right foot stab kick in the 46th minute, on that occasion from five metres out with Burleigh forced to take the ball dead and restart by way of a goal line drop out.

Esmonde Parangi kicked his outstanding 40/20 in the 15th minute when from an acute angle down a short right blindside just inside his own forty, Esmonde Parangi was able to find touch fourteen metres out from the line.

Esmonde Parangi showed quick hands in the 6th minute when under pressure he was able to shift to his right to create space for himself and off-load to put Titan Vaikai inside space.

Esmonde Parangi continued at five eight in Round Six against the Currumbin Eagles scoring a great solo try of the 52nd minute of the match. Operating on the right around ten metres from the line, Esmonde Parangi put in a right foot grubber kick for himself and beat the Currumbin defenders to the ball, getting downward pressure on it a metre from the dead ball line.

Esmonde Parangi continued at five eight in Round Seven against the Ormeau Shearers as well as in Round Nine against the Southport Tigers. Esmonde Parangi recorded a try assist against the Tigers in the 24th minute when whilst operating on the right side of the field, from eleven metres out he grubbered into the in-goal for his right second rower to get to the ball easily in front of the Southport fullback.

Round Ten against the Nerang Roosters saw Esmonde Parangi continue at five eight against the Nerang Roosters with one of best moments in the match coming in the 19th minute when Esmonde Parangi took the ball to the right and from thirteen metres out put in a well weighted grubber into the line goal which Nerang had to take dead in-goal.

When rugby league recommenced on the Gold Coast in late August 2021 after the Covid 19 lockdown, Esmonde Parangi was named to start at five eight in Round Eleven against the Helensvale Hornets and was also named at five eight in Round Twelve against the Burleigh Bears as well as in Round Thirteen against the Currumbin Eagles and in Round Fourteen against the Ormeau Shearers.

Round One of the 2021 Gold Coast Rugby League pre-season competition saw Esmonde Parangi start at halfback for the Runaway Bay U20 side that played round robin matches against Burleigh and Helensvale.

Esmonde Parangi came off the bench for Runaway Bay’s Round Eleven U20 match against Helensvale with Esmonde Parangi scoring late in the match when he darted over from dummy half after running to his right after a long break down the right by the Seagulls right centre.

Esmonde Parangi also was named to come off the bench in Round Twelve against the Burleigh Bears and then was also named on the bench for Runaway Bay in Week One of the 2021 GCRL U20 Finals series against the Currumbin Eagles.

Esmonde was also named on the bench for the Seagulls in the 2021 Gold Coast Rugby League U20 Grand Final against the Burleigh Bears.

mdrew

03-12-21, 09:03 PM

At the conclusion of the 2021 season big strong Year Nine front rower Micah Eteru was named on the bench in the 2021 Keebra Park Rugby League Team of the Year.

In October 2021 Micah Eteru was named in the 2022 Burleigh Bears U16 Cyril Connell Cup squad.

Micha Eteru had an outstanding season for Keebra Park in the school boy Walters Cup including a barnstorming performance in the Grand Final loss to PBC with Micah Eteru subsequently being named in the Courier Mail Team of the School Boy Grand Finals in the front row.

mdrew

03-12-21, 10:02 PM

Great effort by Grafton Ghosts fullback Kyron Nipperess to be named the Ghosts 2021 Group One U14 side's Players Player.

mdrew

04-12-21, 05:56 AM

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.

mdrew

04-12-21, 10:12 AM

mdrew

04-12-21, 11:46 AM

Great to see young Tweed Coast Raiders halfback Kai Saunders who is the reigning Group 18 U13 Player of the Year part of the Outstanding Titans JTS Program.

mdrew

04-12-21, 03:14 PM

Round One of the 2021 Group One U13 competition saw Jett Flatley start in the second row for Ballina against in the Clarence Coast Magpies, scoring a hat trick in the Seagulls 58 – 0 win. Jett Flatley also captained the Ballina Seagulls side.

Round Two against the Marist Brothers Rams Lismore saw Jett Flatley start once again in the second row and he was one of the Seagulls try scorers in their 66 – 0 victory.

Jett Flatley also started in the second row in Round Three against the Kyogle Turkeys with the impressive youngster scoring a double as the Seagulls went down 28 – 10. In Round Four against South Grafton, Jett Flatley scored a hat trick after starting the match in the second row.

Jett Flatley continued in the second row in Round Five in the local derby against the South Grafton Rebels, kicking a conversion in the Ghosts 28 – 16 victory. From the second row position in Round Six against the Clarence Coast magpies, Jett Flatley scored two more tries and also kicked a conversion in Ballina’s 52 – 0 victory.

Jett Flatley dropped back to start from the bench in Round Nine against Marist Brothers, kicking a conversion in his time on the field and then once against started in the second row in Round Ten against the Kyogle Turkeys and in Round Eleven against the South Grafton Rebels. Jett Flatley then started from the bench in Round Twelve against the Clarence Coast Magpies before being named to start in the second row in Round Thirteen against the Clarence Coast Magpies, scoring a try and kicking two conversions in the Seagulls 46 – 12 victory.

The talented Ballina Seagulls second rower was a key member of the Seagulls 2020 U12 side that won the Group One U12 Grand Final 36 – 0 against the Kyogle Turkeys with Jett Flatley scoring a try and kicking a conversion in the match.

Jett Flatley started in all eleven of Ballina’s 2020 matches, including in the Grand Final and in those eleven matches, scored forty eight points from nine tries and six conversions, with all six conversions coming in separate matches and in the main were situations when Jett Flatley converted a try of his own.

Jett Flatley finished the 2020 Group One U12 abridged regular season on a high, scoring a hat trick against the Clarence Coast Magpies in Round Ten and also scored a double in Round Six against the Grafton Ghosts. Jett Flatley also scored against South Grafton in Round Two and Clarence Coast once again in Round Five.

In Round Two against the South Grafton Rebels, Jett Flatley was barely touched by the Rebels defence, scoring from forty metres out after receiving the ball from the dummy half from his left. After receiving the ball Jett Flatley ran through a South Grafton defence that had barely moved off their line and then beat the cover defence with sheer pace to dive over three metres in from the right corner post.

One of Jett Flatley’s Round Ten three tries was as good of a long range solo try that I have seen in any junior age group ever. Jett Flatley received the ball four passes from the play the ball as Ballina spun the ball to their left. When Jett Flatley received the ball he was only fifteen metres out from his own line and just five metres in from the left touchline. Jett Flatley stepped off his left foot to beat one defender before veering back towards the left touchline, breaking five tackles as he broke into space still sixty metres from the try line. Even though three Magpies defenders gave chase they could not take any ground at all off Jett Flatley and he was able to dive over in the left corner to score an outstanding try.

I have noted two outstanding solo tries to look to highlight the skill set that Jett Flatley possesses, but I could also note multiple instances of outstanding defence over the course of 2020 which would also go a long way to describing just how good Jett Flatley is. Some of the tackles against Kyogle, Casino RSM and the Clarence Coast Magpies were simply outstanding with Jett Flatley hitting hard and often with both his left and right shoulders.

mdrew

04-12-21, 03:54 PM

2021 Keebra Park SHS student, Southport U18 Division One winger and PNG U18 representative Ethan Palanga has been named the 2021 Keebra Park SHS International Student of the Year.

mdrew

04-12-21, 04:16 PM

2022 Northern Rivers Titans U16 Andrew Johns Cup squad member Caleb Kilduff will have the honour of being the Grafton Ghosts Junior Rugby League Club Captain next year.

mdrew

04-12-21, 04:39 PM

Caleb Kilduff was also named the 2021 Grafton Ghosts U15 Group One Best Forward.

2022 Northern Rivers Titans U16 Andrew Johns Cup squad member Caleb Kilduff will have the honour of being the Grafton Ghosts Junior Rugby League Club Captain next year.

mdrew

04-12-21, 05:00 PM

After spending his earlier junior rugby league career with the Grafton Ghosts, Wayne-Chase Whitney has moved across the bridge to play the 2021 Group One U13 season with the South Grafton Rebels.

Wayne-Chase Whitney started Round One of the 2021 Group One U13 competition at fullback for the Rebels as they took on the Kyogle Turkeys.

Wayne-Chase Whitney also started at fullback in Round Two against the Clarence Coast Magpies scoring a try in the Rebels 32 – 8 victory.

Wayne-Chase Whitney also started at fullback in Round Three against the Clarence Coast Magpies with the young man scoring a double in the Rebels victory. Wayne-Chase Whitney scored once again from the fullback position in Round Six against the Kyogle Turkeys.

Wayne-Chase Whitney continued at fullback and once again scored in Round Seven against Marist Brothers and also scored from fullback in Round Eight against the Kyogle Turkeys and in Round Nine against the Clarence Coast Magpies.

Wayne-Chase Whitney also started at fullback in Round Ten against the Clarence Coast Magpies, scoring in the Rebels impressive victory. Round Eleven against the Ballina Seagulls saw Wayne-Chase Whitney continue at fullback and score an outstanding hat trick against the Ballina Seagulls.

Wayne-Chase Whitney continued at fullback in Round Twelve against Casino RSM, scoring once again for the Rebels.

Interestingly in Round Thirteen against the Marist Rams, Wayne-Chase Whitney was named to start at hooker, scoring one of the three Rebels tries in the match.

Wayne-Chase Whitney, after playing in the earlier U13 match, was on the bench for the South Grafton U14 side in Round One against Kyogle and it was the same in Round Two against the Clarence Coast Magpies and in Round Three against his former club in the Grafton Ghosts. Wayne-Chase Whitney was also on the bench in Round Six against the Kyogle Turkeys, in Round Eight against Kyogle and in Round Thirteen against the Marist Rams.

In 2020 for the Grafton Ghosts in the Group One U12 competition, Wayne-Chase Whitney had an impressive season finishing with twelve tries and two conversions for an individual points tally of fifty two. Both of Wayne-Chase Whitney’s conversions came in separate matches against the Kyogle Turkeys, the first coming in Round Eight and the second in Round Ten.

Wayne-Chase Whitney scored a hat trick in Round Seven against his 2021 team being the South Grafton Rebels and also scored a double against the Rebels in Round Five. Wayne-Chase Whitney’s other two doubles came against Ballina in Round Six and Casino RSM in Round Nine.

Wayne-Chase Whitney also scored in Round Three against Casino RSM, Round Four against the Clarence Coast Magpies and Round Eight against the Kyogle Turkeys.

mdrew

04-12-21, 05:34 PM

Former Titans JTS Squad member Lockie McLaughlin was yesterday named the Group One U15 Grafton Ghosts Most Consistent Player for the 2021 season after a solid season in the second row in the Ghosts Blue and White.

mdrew

04-12-21, 05:50 PM

The first session for the Northern Rivers Titans squads is tomorrow morning at Ballina as they prepare for their early February Round One in Sydney against the Wests Tigers.

Some of the best juniors at the Titans have come through the Northern Rivers Titans Program such as Tom Weaver, Oskar Bryant, Jack Cullen and Ryan Foran just to name a few and no doubt the next exciting generation of Titans NRL players will be in attendance at Ballina tomorrow morning with training kicking-off at 9am.

mdrew

04-12-21, 08:37 PM

Harrison Clements, the talented Ballina Seagulls second rower was a key member of the Seagulls 2020 U12 side that won the Group One U12 Grand Final 36 – 0 against the Kyogle Turkeys with Harrison Clements scoring in the decider.

Round One of the 2021 Group One U13 competition saw Harrison Clements start in the second row for Ballina against the Clarence Coast Magpies and scored a double as the Seagulls started their Premiership defence on the back of a 58 – 0 win.

Round Two against the Marist Brothers Rams Lismore saw Harrison Clements started once again in the second row and scoring a hat trick as Ballina defeated the Rams 66 – 0.

Harrison Clements also started in the second row in Round Three against Kyogle when he also captained the Ballina side. In Round Four against South Grafton Harrison Clements scored a double after starting the match in the second row.

Harrison Clements continued his try scoring exploits in Round Five against South Grafton, scoring a double after starting the match in his usual second row position. Harrison Clements scored once again in Round Six against the Clarence Coast Magpies after once again starting the match in the second row. Harrison Clements also started in the second row in Round Nine against Marist Brothers and then once against started in the second row in Round Ten against the Kyogle Turkeys.

The Round Eleven match against the South Grafton Rebels saw Harrison Clements come off the bench and score one of the Seagulls tries in their four point win. Harrison Clements moved back into the Ballina starting side in Round Twelve against the Clarence Coast Magpies, scoring a double in Ballina’s victory.

Harrison Clements was also named to start in the second row in Round Thirteen against the Clarence Coast Magpies scoring once again as the Seagulls thumped the Magpies 46 – 12.

In May 2021, Harrison Clements was part of the Ballina Coast High School’s U14 Buckley Shield school boy rugby league side that won the Grand Final 46 – 0 against Tweed River High School after Dylan Watkins started the match on the wing.

In the two earlier matches of the Buckley Shield Ballina Coast High School defeated Kingscliffe High School 48 – 0 and Tweed River High School 36 – 6.

mdrew

04-12-21, 08:54 PM

The Northern Rivers Titans U18 trial was held in Ballina this afternoon and was a quality affair. The final squad should be named shortly and no doubt more than a few Titans will be involved.

mdrew

04-12-21, 10:05 PM

Well done to Tweed Coast Raider Luka Todd for his selection in the 2022 U16 Andrew Johns Cup Northern Rivers Titans train-on squad.

At the Tweed Coast Raiders Presentation Day Luka Todd received a Player of the Most Potential Award.

mdrew

04-12-21, 10:18 PM

Great to see Mullumbimby Giants Junior Dylan Butcher play in the Titans Development Squad matches today.

The young forward was recently named the 2021 Mullumbimby Giants U14 Group 18 Best Forward after being named the U13 Best and Fairest in 2020.

mdrew

05-12-21, 08:27 AM

In June 2021 hooker/half Jesse Beauchamp from the Ballina Seagulls 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.

Jesse Beauchamp started the season as part of the 2021 Northern Rivers Titans U18 Laurie Daley Cup squad, coming into the side on the bench in Round Two against the North Coast Bulldogs and maintaining his spot there in Round Three against the Northern Tigers. After missing Round Four Jesse Beauchamp also came off the bench in Round Five against the Newcastle Knights.

Jesse Beauchamp played the 2021 season with Ballina Seagulls in the NRRRL U18 competition starting Round One at hooker against the Kyogle Turkeys. Jesse Beauchamp continued at hooker from rounds two to four against Byron Bay, Tweed Coast and Marist Brothers respectively before starting Round Five against Casino RSM at halfback with Jesse Beauchamp also captaining the Seagulls side in that match.

In that span, Jesse Beauchamp scored his first try of the 2021 NRRRL U18 season in the 9th minute of Round Three against the Tweed Coast Raiders when he ran out of dummy half to his left to easily get the ball over the line from a metre out.

Jesse Beauchamp was set to continue at hooker in Round Eight against Northern United however he ended up starting the match at halfback and was involved in everything for the Seagulls, finishing the match with a double.

Jesse Beauchamp’s first try of the match came in the 30th minute when he backed up a break through centre field by one of his forwards. Jesse Beauchamp received the offload thirty-five metres from the try line and after wrong footing two Northern United defenders Jesse Beauchamp put the ball down mid-way between the corner post and goal posts on the left side of the field.

Jesse Beauchamp’s second try came in the 43rd minute when he darted out of dummy half to his right from three metres out to score next to the right upright. It is only fair however to note that for a line break by Jesse Beauchamp the play prior, he would not have been in a position to score. Near the halfback mark, Jesse Beauchamp split the Northern United defence through the middle of the ruck before off-loading to Kyhan Weir who had loomed up on his right. It was from Kyhan Weir’s quick play the ball that Jesse Beauchamp took the opportunity to score from dummy half.

Jesse Beauchamp then continued at halfback in Round Eleven against the Bilambil Jets and made a significant contribution to the Seagulls final try in their 30 – 0 when from just inside his own territory he put up a high mid-field bomb which was dropped by the Jets twenty metres out from their own line with the ball bouncing perfectly for the Seagulls replacement left winger to scoop it up and comfortably under the posts.

Jesse Beauchamp continued at halfback in Round Twelve against the Byron Bay Devils scoring three tries and also recording two try assists.

Jesse Beauchamp’s opening try came in the 23rd minute when on the left Jesse Beauchamp put in a right foot grubber kick for himself from just five metres out and after regathering the ball Jesse Beauchamp got the ball down mid-way between the corner post and goal post on the left side of the field.

Jesse Beauchamp scored his second try in the 25th minute when Jesse Beauchamp backed up on the inside when Ballina left centre Damon Coldwell made a long line break down the left touchline, receiving an inside pass around thirty metres out. Jesse Beauchamp was then able to bring the ball around to score under the posts.

Jesse Beauchamp completed his hat trick in the 51st minute when after picking up the ball after picking up the ball from the base of the scrum he ran to his left and simply sliced through the right side of the Byron Bay scrum defence and from there Jesse Beauchamp was just too quick for the cover defence to dive over ten metres in from the left cover defence.

Jesse Beauchamp almost had another try in the match but in the 44th minute he was held up directly under the posts.

Jesse Beauchamp recorded his first try assist in the 34th minute when whilst operating on the left, Jesse Beauchamp put in a right foot stab kick which sat of for his left second rower to run onto and then bring the ball around to put it down under the posts.

Jesse Beauchamp then recorded his second try assist in the 60th minute when he threw a long cut out pass to his left to put Damon Coldwell on the outside of the Byron Bay defence and from there no one was going to stop Damon Coldwell from scoring.

Jesse Beauchamp continued at halfback in Round Thirteen against Murwillumbah and whilst he did not score himself in the match, Jesse Beauchamp was heavily involved in Ballina’s 11th minute try. Jesse Beauchamp put up a mid-field bomb which Murwillumbah let bounce with the ball bouncing back towards the Ballina chasers. The ball got out to Lachlan Offley’s right wing who darted down the right wing. When confronted by the cover defence, Lachlan Offley put in a right foot grubber kick back inside which was collected by Ballina to score.

Jesse Beauchamp was also named to continue at halfback in Round Fourteen against the Cudgen Hornets.

Jesse Beauchamp made his NRRRL Reserve Grade debut in Round Twelve of the 2021 competition when he came off the bench against the Byron Bay Devils and he also came off the bench in Round Thirteen against the Murwillumbah Mustangs.

mdrew

05-12-21, 09:07 AM

Murwillumbah flyer Ryder Nelson played in the Titans Development Squad matches.

This season Ryder Nelson played for the Murwillumbah Colts in the Group 18 Junior Rugby League competition, being named the COlts U13 Best Back.

In 2020 Ryder Nelson was named the Murwillumbah Colts U12 Brest and Fairest and Players Player.

This young named has absolutely blazing speed.

mdrew

05-12-21, 09:28 AM

It is great to see junior rugby league players not just play for their junior club but also get involved and that was the case this season with Grafton Ghost junior rugby league's Billy Kilduff who was named the 2021 Grafton Ghosts Junior Rugby League Volunteer of the Yea.

Billy Kilduff was also named the the 2021 Grafton Ghosts Group One U15 Players Player.

Billy Kilduff is currently training with the 2022 Northern Rivers Titans U16 Andrew Johns Cup Train-on Squad.

mdrew

05-12-21, 10:35 AM

Great to see Murwillumbah Colts Junior Owen Woods play for the Titans Development Squads.

This season Owen Woods played for the Colts in the Group 18 U14 competition being named the Best Back.

He was also named Best back in 2020 in the Group 18 U13 competition.

mdrew

05-12-21, 10:57 AM

2020 Murwillumbah Colts Group 19 U13 Rookie of Year Sam Stovin is another talented player involved in the Titans Junior Development Squad matches.

mdrew

05-12-21, 11:17 AM

At the conclusion of the 2021 season powerhouse Year Eight prospect Feepale Feaunati was named in the second row in the 2021 Keebra Park Rugby League Team of the Year.

The young man is not just an outstanding rugby league prospect but he is also a very talented rugby player, playing for the Sunnybank Dragons in Brisbane.

mdrew

05-12-21, 11:50 AM

The Northern Rivers Titans U16 Andrew Johns Cup Train-on Squad with the likes of Titans contracted Zane Harrison and Riley Buchanan had their first session this morning at Ballina with wet conditions facing the talented squad.

mdrew

05-12-21, 03:20 PM

Leeton Smith from Lismore was brought into the Titans JTS Program in July 2021 after an outstanding start to the 2021 Group One U16 season, with Leeton Smith the Marist Rams in that competition.

Leeton Smith started Round One against the Grafton Ghosts in the second row and also started in the second row in Round Two against the Clarence Coast Magpies.

Leeton Smith continued in the second row in Round Three against Casino RSM with Leeton Smith having a break out match scoring his first try of the 2021 season and he also kicked his first conversion of the season when he converted his own try.

Leeton Smith moved to halfback in Round Five against the Kyogle Turkeys with the move paying immediate dividends with Leeton Smith scoring fourteen of the Rams eighteen points from two tries and three goals.

Round Six against the Grafton Ghosts saw Leeton Smith’s outstanding season continue as from the halfback position once again Leeton Smith scored two tries and kicked a conversion.

In both Rounds Seven and Eight against Kyogle and Clarence Coast respectively, Leeton Smith from the halfback position scored a try and converted that try in both matches.

Round Ten against the Grafton Ghosts saw Leeton Smith continue at halfback with Leeton Smith scoring a try and kicking a conversion in the Rams tough loss.

Leeton Smith also started at halfback in Round Twelve against the Kyogle Turkeys scoring once again in the Rams loss.

Leeton Smith was then named to continue at halfback in Round Thirteen against the Kyogle Turkeys, scoring a try and kicking two conversions as the Rams went down by two points, 26 – 24.

Leeton Smith finished the abridged 2021 Group One U16 regular season as the competitions second leading try scorer with ten tries.

mdrew

05-12-21, 04:23 PM

Recently Titans linked Callum Bowles was named the 2021 Grafton Ghosts Group One U15 Best Back.

mdrew

05-12-21, 05:09 PM

In October 2021 Titans contracted Antioch Faitala-Mariner was named in the 2022 Easts Tigers U18 MM Cup squad for the second season in a row.

Brisbane based Titans contracted winger signed a multi-year contract at the start of the 2019 year after some impressive displays for the Titans Logan based junior development squads. In positive news for the Titans Antioch Faitala-Mariner resigned with the Titans for an additional couple of seasons in late 2020.

In January 2021 Antioch Faitala-Mariner started at right centre for the Titans U17 side in their annual match at Coffs Harbour against the Newcastle Knights with Antioch Faitala-Mariner having the opportunity to showcase his blazing speed on a number of occasions with the Titans deserved 32 – 20 victory.

In 2021 Antioch Faitala-Mariner was part of the Easts Tigers U18 Mal Meninga squad and started on the wing in their 26 – 12 trial victory over the Ipswich Jets.

In Round One of the 2021 MM Cup against the Redcliffe Dolphins, Antioch Faitala-Mariner moved to fullback and also started at fullback in Round Two against the Norths Devils and in Round Three against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls.

Antioch Faitala-Mariner was also named to start at fullback in Round Four against the Redcliffe Dolphins but in fact started the match in the centres and also started in the centres in Round Five against the Norths Devils scoring his first try of the 2021 MM Cup season in the Tigers 26 all draw.

Round Six being the final regular season round of the 2021 MM Cup competition saw Antioch Faitala-Mariner line up in the centres against Wynnum Manly.

In November 2020 Antioch Faitala-Mariner was named in the Easts Tigers 2021 MM Cup squad and he will also be MM Cup eligible in 2022.

The explosive winger was part of a Titans U15 side that played against another Titans U15 side and a Western Mustangs U15 selection at Mudgeeraba in February 2019 in a round robin set of matches and subsequent to those matches signed a contract linking the winger to the Titans until the end of the 2021 season.
In January 2020 Antioch Faitala-Mariner was part of the Titans U16 side that played and defeated a Newcastle Knights U16 Harold Matthews side in Coffs Harbour 18 – 14 in an outstanding display by the Titans.
In early 2020 Antioch Faitala-Mariner was selected in the Brisbane Stingers U16 trial squad for the U16 South East Queensland pre-season Challenge after some impressive early season performances unfortunately however the competition was cancelled as a result of the Conavirus pandemic in the week leading up to the commencement of the competition.

Also in 2020 Antioch Faitala-Mariner was part of the Brisbane State High School GPS school boy First XV side starting round One at outside centre (No. 13) against TSS, starting there as well in round Two against Gregory Terrace and for that matter for the remainder of the season.

In 2020 Antioch Faitala-Mariner was also a member of the Brisbane State High School’s Athletics squad that participated the 2020 GPS Athletics Carnival. At the carnival Antioch Faitala-Mariner represented Brisbane State High School in three track events.

Antioch Faitala-Mariner ran 12.07 seconds in the 100 metre U16 sprint, ran the second leg in the U16 4 x 100 metre relay with Brisbane State High School recording a time of 45.31 seconds and ran the final leg of the Brisbane State High School 4 x 400 metres relay team that finished 4th in a time of 3 minutes 59.01 seconds.

In early October 2019 Antioch Faitala-Mariner was part of the Titans U15 side that played a Balmain Tigers U15 side at Piggabeen in Northern New South Wales with the Titans winning 34 – 16 in impressive fashion with Antioch Faitala-Mariner starting on the right wing for the Titans and coring an impressive individual try. From a Titans scrum win around thirty metres out, Antioch Faitala-Mariner received the ball to the left of the scrum win, stepping off his left foot to beat the initial defender before beating the Balmain fullback with a effortlessly quick swerve to his left to score essentially untouched.

The powerful young winger hails from the Easts Tigers club in Brisbane’s East and played one match for the GBJRL U15 Division One Tigers side in 2019 before moving up to play the remainder of the 2019 season with the Tigers in the GBJRL U16 Division One side scoring two tries in his thirteen matches in that competition.

To be selected to move up to the U16 Division One side is a real feather in Antioch Faitala-Mariner’s cap as the U15 Division One side went all the way to the Grand Final but the Easts Tigers hierarchy identified that he could handle the step up in age and they were proved correct with their assessment over the course of the 2019 season.

Antioch Faitala-Mariner also played rugby in 2019, playing for Brisbane State High School in the GPS U15A competition and was also selected in the Queensland Maroon side for the 2019 Queensland Junior U15 Gold Cup competition.

Antioch Faitala-Mariner played for the Easts Tigers in the 2018 GBJRL U14 Premier Division competition in 2018 including starting in the Grand Final that Easts won 26 – 20 against a Norths Devils side that included fellow Titan contracted U15 player, centre Shannon Subritzky-Stewart.

In 2018 Antioch Faitala-Mariner was also part of the South East Queensland Green U14 side that took part of the Queensland U14 Age Championships and started on the wing in the final that ended in a 16 all draw against South East Queensland White. In total for the 2018 South East Queensland U14 Green side, Antioch Faitala-Mariner played in all four of their matches starting all of them on the wing.

In rugby Antioch Faitala-Mariner represented Met East in the Queensland U12 Rugby Championships in 2016 and was named as their player of the match against Sunshine Coast on Day Two of those Championships.

mdrew

05-12-21, 05:57 PM

Kyogle Turkey's U16 fullback Zacchaeus Brettner Massey had a strong trial at Ballina on Sunday for the 2022 Northern Rivers Titans U18 Laurie Daley Cup squad.

mdrew

05-12-21, 06:21 PM

Great to see Kyogle centre Tyler Moore wear a Titans jersey for the first time yesterday in the Titans U14 Development Squad Trial game.

mdrew

05-12-21, 06:46 PM

After a strong 2021 season with PBC and the all conquering Tweed Heads Seagulls MM Cup side, Titans contracted Reef Sommerville will start the next step in his rugby league journey as part of the 2022 Tweed Heads Seagulls Hastings Deering's Colts squad.

mdrew

05-12-21, 07:21 PM

After a solid season in the Group One U16 competition this season Kyogle Turkey's five eight/lock Oscar Kennett will be looking to break into the 2022 U18 Laurie Daley Cup Northern Rivers Titans squad after a strong trial on Saturday afternoon.

mdrew

05-12-21, 07:38 PM

Great to see Noah Reti line-up in the Titans U14 Development Trial yesterday.

This young man from the South Grafton Rebels is an exceptional talent.

mdrew

05-12-21, 07:59 PM

Great Corey Thompson interview with Jaylan De Groot.

https://www.titans.com.au/news/2021/12/05/young-fullback-excited-for-next-three-years-as-a-titan/

lonegull

05-12-21, 09:36 PM

Great Corey Thompson interview with Jaylan De Groot.

https://www.titans.com.au/news/2021/12/05/young-fullback-excited-for-next-three-years-as-a-titan/

Well spoken young man, great to see him invested in what the future is for the club

mdrew

05-12-21, 09:58 PM

Young fullback prospect Clayton Gainey is another young man who had a solid U18 Laurie Daley Cup trial on Saturday for a spot with the 2022 Northern Rivers Titans.

This season Clayton Gainey scored dive tries for the Kyogle Turkeys in the Group One U16 competition.

mdrew

05-12-21, 11:53 PM

Outstanding young centre prospect Jimmy McCombie certainly had a 2021 season to remember and no doubt 2022 will see Jimmy McCombie go from strength to strength.

Early in 2021 Jimmy McCombie captained from inside centre the Far North Coast U14 Representative Rugby side that played in the King of Country Rugby Tournament that was held on the Gold Coast with Jimmy McCombie scoring a double on Day Two in a 24 – 12 victory over the Maroochydore Swans. Jimmy McCombie then was very unlucky not to be named in the King of Country All-Tournament Team.

In addition in 2021 Jimmy McCombie at just 14 years old was named in the New South Wales Combined Catholic Colleges U15 school boy representative side. Jimmy McCombie started his Combined Catholic College selection journey as part of the Lismore Diocese U15 school boy representative side and then Jimmy McCombie represented the Combined Colleges Northern Region side at the New South Wales State Trials.

Also in 2021 the Byron Bay Devils junior was selected in the New South Wales Country U14 Representative Side after dominating the trials whilst representing the North Coast U14 Rugby Team.

Jimmy McCombie’s first taste of representative honours came in 2019 when he was selected in the North Coast Primary School Rugby League Representative Side.

mdrew

06-12-21, 07:13 AM

Exciting centre prospect Benson Tau was recently named on the wing in the 2021 Marsden State High School Rugby League of the Year.

For Marsden State High School in 2021 Benson Tau played in the Renouf Shield competition with Benson Tau being a prolific try scorer for Marsden State High School.

A review of a number of Benson Tau’s Marsden State High School tries are noted below:

Against Forest Lake State High School Benson Tau whilst operating at left centre received the ball forty metres out from the line and was able to get to the outside of his opposite number. With Benson Tau approaching the left corner and the Forest Lake SHS cover defence coming across, Benson Tau cut off his left foot and ran over the top of the Forest Lake SHS hooker and got the ball down five metres in from the left corner.

Benson Tau also scored against Coombabah State High School when he burst twenty metres down from the left touchline before stepping off his left foot to beat the Coombabah SHS fullback to score wide out on the left.

Against PBC SHS Benson Tau showed how good he is in the air when he took a kick to his left wing and then beat the PBC right winger before diving over near the left corner with two PBC SHS defenders trying to prevent the try.

Benson Tau also played some Rugby Seven’s for Marsden State High School in 2021 when Benson Tau enjoying the amount of space to score a truck load of tries while operating on the left side of the field with more than a few of Benson Tau’s tries being long range efforts.

Also in 2021 Benson Tau played for Logan Brothers GBJRL U14 Division One side, operating in the left centre position, including starting in that position in the Grand Final against Norths.

Benson Tau was outstanding for Logan Brothers in the 2021 GBJRL U14 Division One competition including scoring a hat trick in the Finals series against the Souths Acacia Ridge Magpies.

It was not just in the 2021 GBJRL U14 Division One Final’s series where Benson Tau showcased his try scoring exploits.

A review of a number of Benson Tau’s 2021 Logan Brothers GBJRL U14 Division One are noted below:

Against Waterford Benson Tau whilst in the fullback role for Logan Brothers received the ball twenty metres out on the left side of the field off the back of a Logan Brothers scrum win. After attacking the defensive line Benson Tau stepped off his left on two occasions to beat three Waterford defenders before a right arm fend beat another. Benson Tau then stepped off his left foot once again to beat another defender before diving over next to the right upright.

Also against Waterford when playing on the left wing Benson Tau dived over in the left corner from close range after receiving a cut-out pass from his inside.

Benson Tau also scored against Wynnum Manly when from his left wing position he received a long cut-out pass from his inside and then beat two Seagulls defenders in his ten run to score ten metres in from the left corner.

Also against Wynnum Manly Benson Tau backed up a mid-field break to receive the off-load from his right and Benson Tau then raced fifty metres to score untouched ten metres to the left of the uprights.

Against Brothers Benson Tau showcased his clean hands and leaping ability when he jumped above the Brothers defence to take the ball on the full and crash over five metres in from the right corner.

Benson Tau was also a prolific try scorer for Logan Brothers in 202 in the GBJRL U13 Division One competition with a description of some of Benson Tau’s tries noted below:

Against Carina Benson Tau showed his elite leaping ability after a cross field bomb was put up towards Benson Tau’s left wing. Benson Tau easily got well above the Carina right winger, taking the ball on the full and falling over the line five metres in from the left corner.

Also against Carina scored once again after receiving the ball thirty five metres out on the left wing. Benson Tau to defenders before racing away down the left wing. Benson Tau then stepped inside the Carina fullback who was coming across in cover defence to score ten metres in from the left corner post.

Against the Redcliffe Dolphins Benson Tau scored once again from a cross field kick to his left wing. Once again Benson Tau took possession of the ball after the second bounce near halfway in a lot of space. After taking possession Benson Tau raced away down the left touchline beating three cover defending Dolphins with speed to score in the left corner.

In 2022 the Souths Acacia Ridge Magpies must have been sick of seeing Benson Tau put the ball down over the line after he scored multiple tries including one effort when he scored in the left corner after receiving the ball from his inside after the Logan Brothers attacking play had broken down with Benson Tau running twelve metres to score in the left corner.

Benson Tau continued to dominate the Magpies with a thirty metre effort down the left touchline stepping inside to beat the Magpies fullback.

Benson Tau terrorised the Souths Magpies with an outstanding sixty five metre effort down the left touchline with Benson Tau scoring in the left corner untouched.

Benson Tau in 2020 also played for Marsden State High School in the Bronco’s Old Boys School Boy Cup with Benson Tau scoring a number of tries including scoring against Wavell State High School when after a kick was put in towards Benson tau’s left wing he beat the Wavell State High School fullback, getting to the ball on the bounce and getting the ball down just inside the left in-goal line.

Benson Tau also scored against PBC SHS after a sixty five metre line break down the left touchline with Benson Tau beating three PBC defenders with pace and Benson Tau put the ball down in the left corner.

2022 will see Benson Tau move up to the Walters Cup school boy competition for Marsden State High School and will also play for Logan Brothers in the GBJRL U15 Division One competition.

mdrew

06-12-21, 11:52 AM

Talented 2021 Cudgen Hornets U18 NRRRL hooker will be looking to break into the Tweed Heads Seagulls Hastings Deering's Colts squad in the early rounds of the 2022 season.

Upthetibros

06-12-21, 12:34 PM

Well spoken young man, great to see him invested in what the future is for the club

I remember his dad hired me about 10 years ago and always talked about his son playing footy. Great to see him doing well, cheering for him.

mdrew

06-12-21, 01:40 PM

Tamihana Ratima from the Hawara Hawks and Patea Area High School in the central area of the New Zealand North Island has signed a contract with the Titans that will take him through until the end of the 2024 season being the final season of his schooling and U18 eligibility.

Tamihana Ratima will move over to Australia in early 2022 to attend Titans partnered Marsden State High School and is likely to play in the School Boy Walters Cup competition. Tamihana Ratima will also play for the Souths Logan Magpies in the 2022 U16 Cyril Connell Cup competition.

Tamihana Ratima had an outstanding 2021 rugby league campaign for both the Hawara Hawks and in representative rugby league representing the Taranaki Maori U15 Representative side.

Impressively Tamihana Ratima also represented the Mid-Central Vipers U16 side at the 2021 New Zealand U16 National Youth Tournament even though he was still U15 eligible and had a particularly impressive match on Day One of the Tournament against the South Island Scorpions, starting the Vipers 24 – 20 victory on the right wing, scoring an early second half double.

Tamihana Ratima scored his first try in the 29th minute when he received the ball ten metres out on the right touchline. Tamihana Ratima stepped off his right foot to get back inside and then straightened up to crash over between three Scorpions defenders eight metres in from the right corner post.

Tamihana Ratima completed his double just four minutes later in the 33rd minute and his try was for all intents and purposes a carbon copy of his first try, once again receiving the ball on the right touchline ten metres out and then cutting back inside to crash over out wide on the right.

Tamihana Ratima also started the National Youth U16 Tournament Grand Final on the right wing in a 22 – 10 victory against the South Island Scorpions.

In early 2021 Tamihana Ratima was part of the New Zealand Warriors Development Squad attending a number of camps that were run by former New Zealand International Stacey Jones.

2021 was not the first season that Tamihana Ratima had achieved representative as in 2019 and 2020 he represented Taranaki in the U13 and U14 age groups respectively.

As noted above Tamihana Ratima will attend Titans partnered Marsden State High School in 2022, playing in their Walters Cup School Boy side although an opportunity in the Marsden SHS Langer Cup A squad is not out of the question as well. Tamihana Ratima will also play for the Souths Logan Magpies U16 Cyril Connell Cup side early in 2022.

To date in New Zealand for his school, club and representative sides Tamihana Ratima has played both on the wing and second row, primarily on the right and at around 184cm and 95kg Tamihana Ratima has the size, speed, strength and power to play at a high level in either of those positions and for that matter in the centres as well so it will be very interesting to see where Tamihana Ratima lines up for Souths Logan and Marsden State High School.

mdrew

06-12-21, 02:21 PM

Classy five eight William James was yesterday named the 2021 Bilambil Jets NRRRL U18 Best Back.

mdrew

06-12-21, 04:31 PM

Tremain Spry’s first 2021 hit-out came in mid-February when he started at right centre for the Titans in their first trial against the Burleigh Bears. Tremain Spry’s had an outstanding match, scoring one try as well as a number of other touches of class.

Tremain Spry’s try came in the 35th minute when he charged onto the ball twenty metres out from the line. Tremain Spry shaped to pass to his right but as the defence started to backpeddle Tremain Spry brought the ball back in to score wide out on the right.

One of those touches of class came early in the first half when he showcased quick hands to his right to put Lofi Khan-Pereira into space down the right touchline. Whilst it did not lead to a try, Tremain Spry produced a piece of individual brilliance midway through the first half when he threw a beautiful right arm flick pass to put Lofi Khan-Pereira over in the corner but somehow the pass was ruled forward.

Tremain Spry, in the 69th minutes proved to be a continuing handful for the Burleigh defence when he broke their left sided defence from a Titans scrum win inside their own twenty. Tremain Spry was able to get on the outside of his opposing defender before holding him off with his left arm and passing the ball inside to his left to Toby Sexton who was backing up.

Tremain Spry broke the Burleigh line once again in the 78th minute and once again it was down the right side of the field when he was able to make twenty metres after receiving the pass from a Titans scrum win deep in their own territory.

Tremain Spry also defended well in the match, including heavy contact on the Burleigh No. 18 with the ball coming loose as a result just metres away from his own try line to defuse a threatening Burleigh opportunity.

The following week Tremain Spry started from the bench for the Titans in their final 2021 NRL trial against the New Zealand Warriors at Lismore. Tremain Spry played at right centre in the final quarter of the Titans 12 all draw, running for seventeen metres (eight post contact), played the ball at an average speed to 2.8 seconds and made four tackles at a 100% tackling efficiency.

As he has been in previous seasons, Tremain Spry was allocated to the Tweed Heads Seagulls when the Titans allocated their players to their Gold Coast based feeder clubs with Tremain Spry part of the Seagulls squad for their final Queensland Cup trial against local rivals, being the Burleigh Bears, starting the match at right centre.

Tremain Spry started at right centre in Round One of the 2021 Queensland Cup season for the Tweed Heads Seagulls against the Central Queensland Capra’s, scoring one try and setting up another. Tremain Spry’s try came in the second half when he ran onto a good short ball from Jayden Campbell to charge over from ten metres out to get the ball down ten metres in from the right corner post.

Tremain Spry’s try assist also came on the second half and was a result of him getting on the outside of his direct opponent. Tremain Spry got to the outside five metres from the line and likely could have scored himself but instead passed to his right to put Taylor Walters over in the right corner.

Playing all eighty minutes of the match, Tremain Spry ran for eighty two metres (twenty six post contact) had a line break for his try, the afore mentioned try assist, broke three tackles, played the ball at an average speed of 3.28 seconds and made fifteen tackles.

As a result of his outstanding Round One match, Tremain Spry was also due to start at right centre in Round Two against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls however Covid protocols were initiated and Tremain Spry had to withdraw from the side.

After also missing a number of rounds, Tremain Spry started at right centre in Round Six against the Ipswich Jets, recording two try assists as the Seagulls defeated the Jets 32 – 26. Tremain Spry’s first try assist came when he ran the ball down a short right blindside and held the ball up to put his right winger over in the corner. Tremain Spry’s second try assist came when he followed through a Toby Sexton bomb, and after initially dropping the ball backwards he offloaded to a support who dived over from close range.

Playing the entire eighty minutes Tremain Spry ran for 103 metres (twenty eight post contact), made a line break, broke a tackle, played the ball at an average speed of 2.36 seconds and made eight tackles.

Tremain Spry also was named to start at right centre in Round Seven against the Northern Pride however he was a late omission from the Seagulls side.

Tremain Spry was also named to start at right centre in Round Eight against the Easts Tigers, scoring a double in the Seagulls big win.

Tremain Spry’s first try came after Jayden Campbell chimed into the Seagulls backline as they spun the ball to the right, with Jayden Campbell taking the ball into the line and passing to his right to put Tremain Spry into a big gap twenty metres out, with Tremain Spry then producing a right foot step to beat the Tigers fullback to score.

Tremain Spry’s second try came in the second half when with Easts running the ball, Darius Farmer smashed the Tigers halfback front on with the ball immediately coming loose, Joseph Vuna swooped on the ball, running around forty metres before getting away on overhead pass to his right to an unmarked Tremain Spry who easily scored under the posts.

In addition to his double, Tremain Spry ran for 144 metres (thirty post contact), broke three tackles, played the ball at an average speed of 3.82 seconds and made seven tackles at a tackling efficiency of 87.5%.

Round Nine against the Norths Devils once again saw Tremain Spry line up at right centre. Playing the entire eighty minutes, Tremain Spry ran for 124 metres (forty two post contact), made a team leading seven tackles breaks, played the ball at an average speed of 3.08 seconds and made twelve tackles.

Tremain Spry continued at right centre in Round Ten against the Mackay Cutters, scoring in the 5th minute when he found himself in acres of space on the right after receiving the ball forty five metres from the line. As he neared the line, Tremain Spry stepped off his left to beat the fullback to score out wide on the right.

Playing all eighty minutes, Tremain Spry ran for a team leading 170 metres (thirty four post contact), made a team leading two line breaks, broke a team leading five tackles, played the ball at an average speed of 2.92 seconds and made seven tackles.

Tremain Spry moved to the left wing for Round Eleven against Redcliffe, scoring in the Seagulls two point victory. Tremain Spry scored when he dived on a short grubber kick in the left corner.

Playing the entire eighty minutes, Tremain Spry ran for 108 metres (forty three post contact), broke a tackle, played the ball at an average speed of 3.18 seconds and made a tackle.

Tremain Spry was back at right centre in Round Twelve against the Souths Logan Magpies however the game was postponed due to a Covid 19 lockdown and Tremain Spry was also named at right centre for the Round Thirteen local derby against the Burleigh Bears.

Once again playing the entire eighty minutes, Tremain Spry ran for fifty three metres, made a line break, broke five tackles, played the ball at an average speed of 3.17 seconds and made sixteen tackles at a tackling efficiency of 94.12%.

Tremain Spry continued at right centre in Round Fourteen against the Sunshine Coast Falcons playing the entire eighty minutes and scoring an impressive hat trick.

Tremain Spry's first try came in just the second minute from his first touch of the ball when he beat his opposing centre BJ Au***a-Toomaga on the outside and was too fast for the closing defence to cross from 30 metres.

Tremain Spry’s second try was déjà vu, although this time he beat Au***a-Toomaga with a left-handed fend then shook off two more tacklers near the line.

Tremain Spry's third came in the dying moments when he stepped inside, then out, and pushed off defenders again in a show of class from 25 metres.

In addition to his hat trick, Tremain Spry ran for 136 metres (seven post contact), made three line breaks, broke a team leading ten tackles, played the ball at an average speed of 3.48 seconds and made nine tackles at a 100% tackling efficiency.

Tremain Spry continued at right centre in Round Sixteen against PNG. Playing the entire match Tremain Spry ran for fifty nine metres (sixteen post contact), broke four tackles and made nine tackles at a 90% tackling efficiency.

In Round Nineteen against the Northern Pride Tremain Spry also started at right centre and once again played the entire eighty minutes, running for ninety nine metres (thirty nine post contact), broke five tackles and made six tackles of his own at a 67% tackling efficiency.

Round Twenty saw Tremain Spry continue at right centre against the Norths Devils. In his eighty minutes Tremain Spry ran for 128 metres (forty one post contact), broke four tackles and made ten tackles at an 67% tackling efficiency.

Tremain Spry continued at right centre against the Redcliffe Dolphins, once again playing the entire match. Tremain Spry ran for 105 metres (forty two post contact), made a line break, broke four tackles and made eight tackles at an 89% tackling efficiency.

In his final match of the 2021 Queensland Cup season Tremain Spry played the entire Round Twenty Two match against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls, running for seventy eight metres (thirty three post contact), had two tackles breaks and made seven tackles at a 69% tackling efficiency.

In total in the 2021 Queensland Cup season Tremain Spry played fifteen matches and scored ten tries to finish with a 67% tackling efficiency. In addition Tremain Spry recorded three try assist, broke sixty six tackles, made elven line breaks, made 129 tackles at a tackling efficiency of 81.6% and ran for 1 581 metres at an average of 105 metres per game.

mdrew

06-12-21, 05:56 PM

Whilst the U16 Andrew Johns Cup Northern Rivers Titans squad has been named the U18 Laurie Daley Cup squad has another trial this weekend.

Saturday's trial was impressive in tough conditions, including an early finish, and the final squad is going to be a very good side for sure.

mdrew

06-12-21, 06:25 PM

mdrew

06-12-21, 07:10 PM

Great Corey Thompson interview with NRL Train and Trialist Charlie Murray.

https://www.titans.com.au/news/2021/12/06/murray-rises-to-the-challenge-of-an-nrl-pre-season/

mdrew

07-12-21, 07:23 AM

In June 2021 Brandon Williams a halfback from the Murwillumbah Mustangs 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.

Brandon Williams played the 2021 season with the Murwillumbah Mustangs in the NRRRL U18 competition starting Round One at halfback against the Bilambil Jets with Brandon Williams kicking three conversions in the match.

Brandon Williams also started at halfback in Round Two against Northern United and after Murwillumbah had a number of consecutive bye weeks, Brandon Williams then started at halfback in Round Six against the Kyogle Turkeys once again.

Round Seven against the Byron Bay Devils saw Brandon Williams continue at halfback for the Mustangs, operating on the left side of the field as has been the norm in 2021 as he did in Round Eight against Marist Brothers Lismore.

Brandon Williams had an outstanding match against Marist Brother, recording two try assists and a great 40/20 with Murwillumbah scoring from the restart. Brandon Williams kicked his 40/20 in the 13th minute of the match after receiving the ball to the right of the dummy half, kicking the ball hard and low with the ball running into touch eighteen metres out from the try line.

Brandon Williams first of two try assists came in the 19th minute when he threw a cut out pass out of dummy half to his right down a short blind side to put his right winger over in the corner from three metres out.

Brandon Williams added his second try assist in the 26th minute when he ran the ball to the line to the left of the play the ball. Right at the line, thirty metres out, Brandon Williams put in a stab kick towards the left corner which was scooped up by his left winger Matthew Bollard who was then able to bring the ball around to put it down under the posts.

After Murwillumbah’s Round Nine match against the Tweed Coast Raiders was postponed, Brandon Williams was back at halfback for Round Ten against the Cudgen Hornets and was heavily involved in Byron Jones last minute try. Brandon Williams initially ran the ball towards the left side of the field but came back to the right beating three defenders along the way and then was sable to put Byron Jones into space for him to score near the right corner.

Brandon Williams continued at halfback in Round Twelve against Northern United and recorded a 14th minute try assist when whilst operating on the left, threw a good pass to Byron Jones who had run an outside shoulder route to score untouched mid-way between the corner post and goal post on the left side of the field.

Brandon Williams also started at halfback in Round Thirteen against the Ballina Seagulls recording a try assist for the opening try of the match in the 7th minute when he threw a long cut out pass to his left to Blake Forder who received the ball around ten metres to get the ball down in the left corner untouched.

mdrew

07-12-21, 08:30 AM

Great to see Currumbin Eagles centre or winger Jordan Tuigamala pushing for playing time in the 2022 Tweed Heads Seagulls Hastings Deering's Colts side.

mdrew

07-12-21, 10:59 AM

Hooker/lock Ashton Harley who played for a Titans NRRL U17 Development side against a Titans JTS U16 side in an NRL curtain-raiser is currently trialling for a spot in the 2022 U18 Laurie Daley Cup Northern rivers Titans squad.

mdrew

07-12-21, 12:05 PM

Hard working Chaz Bond was recently named the Cudgen Hornets Group 18 Junior Rugby League U16 Best and Fairest.

mdrew

07-12-21, 12:24 PM

Great to see 2021 Northern Rivers Titans U16 hooker Cameron Bevan being named a Bilambil Junior Jets Life Member.

mdrew

07-12-21, 12:45 PM

Recently Sebastian Pousima was named the 2021 Grafton Ghosts Group One U14 Best Forward.

mdrew

07-12-21, 01:21 PM

In February 2021 Amare Milford ,the front rower and Keebra Park SHS student was named in the U15 South Coast school boy rugby league squad for the 2021 U15 QSSRL Championships starting the Championship Final against Met West in the front row.

2021 saw Amare Milford line up for the Keebra Park Year Nine school boy rugby league side, including a solid front row starting performance in early June against fierce local rivals PBC.

mdrew

07-12-21, 04:04 PM

The elusive Tyrus Salanoa being a former Victorian rugby and rugby league junior moved up from down South mid-way through 2020 to attend Keebra Park State High School and be part of their Rugby Legue Excellence Program in partnership with the Titans, playing the 2020 abridged school rugby league season in Keebra Park’s famous maroon and blue jersey.

Tyrus Salanoa started for Keebra Park at right centre in Round One of the 2021 School Boy Walters Cup competition against Marsden State High School and scored an outstanding solo try in the 13th minute.

As noted Tyrus Salanoa started at right centre but in relation to his try, he looped around to the left from a scrum move receiving the ball with room to move twenty metres out from the line. Tyrus Salanoa attacked the line continuing to run to his left, running with the ball out of front in both hands. This “froze” the defensive line and subsequently Tyrus Salanoa was able to slice through a gap and score untouched and was also able to bring the ball around closer to the posts.

Tyrus Salanoa also started at right centre in Round Two against Redcliffe State High School, kicking three conversions in Keebra Park’s victory.

Tyrus Salanoa also started at right centre in the 2021 Walters Cup Grand Final as Keebra Park SHS went down 30 – 12 to PBC SHS.

In mid-February 2021 Tyrus Salanoa played in a Titans U15 Invitational Trial at Burleigh, a trial which included only the best of the 2021 Titans U15 squad members.

Early February 2021 saw Tyrus Salanoa made it through the first stage of the South Coast U15 QSSRL trials when he was named in the U15 Broadwater school boy U15 squad. Following the final round of trials, Tyrus Salanoa was named in the 2021 South Coast U15 school boy QSSRL squad.

In the 2021 QSSRL U15 Championships Tyrus Salanoa stood out for South Coast at hooker, including an outstanding display in the Championship Final with South Coast beating Met West 28 – 20 in the decider. Tyrus Salanoa was subsequently named at hooker in the 2021 QSSRL U15 Merit side.

Tyrus Salanoa had a strong start in the final, making twelve metres in just the 4th minute from a run out of dummy half down a short left blindside.

At the completion of the Championships, Tyrus Salanoa was named at hooker in the 2021 QSSRL U15 School Boy Merit Team.

Tyrus Salanoa started at hooker for South Coast on Day One of the Championships against Met West, converting one of South Coast’s first half tries.

Tyrus Salanoa started at hooker as well on Day Two against Capricorna produced a telling run out of dummy half in the 41st minute with the run his right accounting for thirty metres all the way to ten metres out from the try line. Initially it looked as if he would be tackled just after he had run out of dummy half with a Capricornia defender holding onto his right leg, but Tyrus Salanoa was able to break free and keep running.

Day Three against Tyrus Salanoa also start at hooker against Met North with the dummy half scoring one try and converting two. Tyrus Salanoa scored mid-way through the first half under the posts after he forced his way over after running from dummy half to his right from a metre out from the line.

2021 also saw Tyrus Salanoa named in the South Coast Schools U15 Rugby Representative side.

mdrew

07-12-21, 04:37 PM

mdrew

07-12-21, 06:05 PM

Great Corey Thompson with Isaac Matalavea-Booth.

https://www.titans.com.au/news/2021/12/07/matalavea-booth-making-an-impact-this-pre-season/

mdrew

07-12-21, 06:22 PM

2021 Stretton State College Year Seven student Lexin Hill recently commenced training with the Titans JTS Program.

In addition to being part of the Stretton State College Rugby League Excellence Program Lexin Hill played for the Souths Acacia Ridge Magpies Junior Rugby League Club in Brisbane’s south west.

To say that Lexin Hill had an outstanding 2021 season in the Bronco’s Old Boys Cup School Boy’s competition would be an absolute understatement. Playing primarily at lock for Stretton State College Lexin Hill dominated in every match that I was him play in.

Against Wavell State High School Lexin Hill started at lock and even though Stretton State College were soundly beaten Lexin Hill was easily the best player on the field, scoring both of Stretton State College’s tries in addition to being near unstoppable.

Lexin Hill’s opening try of the match came in the 13th minute and was a great solo effort. Lexin Hill packed in at lock with Stretton State College having the scrum feed in centre field and thirty five metres out. Lexin Hill picked up the ball from the back of the scrum running to his right. Lexin Hill got outside the first three Wavell SHS players defending on their left before straightening up and cutting between two defenders when still twenty metres from the line. From there Lexin Hill outpaced the cover defence to cross the try line in the right corner, but Lexin Hill was then able to bring the ball around ten metres closer to the goal posts.

The only reason that Stretton State College had the scrum feed in the first place was as a result of smart work from Lexin Hill. Lexin was taking the kick-off after a Wavell SHS try and saw that the Wavell SHS players were a long way back and subsequently put in a short kick-off. As a result the desperate Wavell SHS player knocked on under intense pressure from Lexin Hill

Lexin Hill completed his double in the 38th minute and what a brilliant individual solo effort it was. Lexin Hill took receipt of the ball twenty seven metres out from the try line just to the right of centre field from the dummy half. Immediately Lexin Hill put in a chip kick towards the left corner and was simply way too fast for the Wavell SHS defence. Lexin Hill took possession of the ball around a metre from the ty line just centremetres from the touchline. In one motion Lexin Hill took possession, stopped dead on the spot and then dived full length to get the ball down just inside the left corner post.

Lexin Hill also had a superb early season match against Ipswich State High School, once again dominating the match after starting at lock and scoring both of Stretton State College’s tries in the match.

Lexin Hill’s first piece of individual brilliance came in the 7th minute when after packing down at lock with Stretton State College feeding the scrum ten metres out and in centre field, Lexin Hill picked up the ball at the base of the scrum and ran to his right.

Lexin Hill completed his double in the 17th minute when after receiving the ball in centre field twenty metres out and two passes to the right of the play the ball, Lexin Hill ran to his right to get on the outside of his direct opponent before straightening to get between the defensive line. Lexin Hill then cut off his right foot to crash over ten metres in from the right corner post. Lexin Hill then stepped up to convert his own try.

Lexin Hill also had a strong match against PBC State High School, once again scoring an outstanding try. In the 18th minute Lexin Hill received a pass thirty five metres from the line and in centre field. Upon receipt of the ball Lexin Hill ran to his left, literally running around the complete PBC right sided defensive line and dove over in the left corner. Initially the linesman (student) put his flag up to indicate that Lexin Hill had gone into touch but he was overruled by the referee who pointed to the stop.

I have noted three exceptional 2021 Bronco’s Old Boys matches for Lexin Hill but I have saved the best for last, with Lexin Hill being far and away the best player on the field against Forest Lake State High School. In a dominant 40 -22 Stretton State College victory Lexin Hill was immense scoring four tries (should have been five be he was penalised for a non-existent shepherd) and setting up another.

Spectators only had to wait until the 4th minute to see how skilful Lexin Hill is when he scored the first of his four tries. Lexin Hill packed in at lock with the scrum feed ten metres out and directly in front of the posts. Lexin Hill picked the ball up from the back of the scrum and immediately ran to his right. After running across field for approximately seven metres, Lexin Hill stepped off his right foot to straighten up his run and broke three tackles to score next to the right upright. Lexin Hill then stepped up an slotted home the conversion.

Only eleven minutes later in the 15th minute Lexin Hill crossed for his second of four tries when he received the ball on the right side of the field just twenty metres out from his own try line and two passes off the play the ball. Upon receipt of the ball Lexin Hill ran at the line and at the last possible moment put in a right foot chip kick for himself and retrieved that ball on the second bounce in front of an on-rushing Forest Lake SHS fullback and after easily rounding the fullback Lexin Hill raced away to put the ball down under the posts.

Lexin Hill scored his third try just two minutes later in the 17th minute and it was another long range individual effort. Lexin Hill took possession of the ball to the right of the play the ball thirty metres from his own try line and literally ran around the Forest Lake SHS left sided defence and flew seventy metres down the right touchline to score ten metres in from the right corner post.

Lexin Hill made it four tries in just over a half a match when he scored in the 26th minute when form twenty metres out, Lexin Hill got on the outside of his direct opponent in the Forest Lake SHS defensive line and showed a clean pair of heals to get to the left corner and produced a big elaborate dive with no defenders near him to score.

Lexin Hill also had a 6th minute try assist against Forest Lake SHS when after engaging the defensive line as he ran to his right, Lexin Hill drew in his direct opponent as well as the immediate outside defender and once the gap as created threw a good ball to his right to put his five eight over to score. Lexin Hill then converted the try that he created.

Lexin Hill also produced a smart piece of work in the 9th minute when from ten metres inside his own territory Lexin Hill put in a right foot chip kick that took a poor bounce for Lexin Hill as it bounced towards the Forest Lake SHS fullback but the pressure that Lexin Hill put in the fullback by charging through meant that he lost possession, Lexin Hill calmly re-took possession thirty metres out when a lot of players would have rushed that process and made a mistake with Stretton State College scoring from the subsequent play the ball.

mdrew

08-12-21, 01:45 PM

In early December 2021 Maverick McCarthy was named in the 2022 U16 Andrew Johns Cup Northern Rivers Titans Train-on Squad.

2021 saw Maverick McCarthy play for PBC in the Walters Cup competition, including starting the Grand Final against Keebra Park State High School from the bench.

The exciting Titans linked PBC second rower was one of the reasons that PBC made it all the way to the 2020 Renouf Cup School Boy Grand Final. Unfortunately PBC went down in heart breaking fashion 10 – 8 to Marsden State High School with the Brisbane based school scoring a late try in the left corner saw PBC lose in heart breaking fashion. Maverick McCarthy started the 2021 Renouf Cup Grand Final at right second row.

Maverick McCarthy was prominent for PBC throughout the regular season rounds of the 2020 Renouf Cup including scoring tries in Rounds One, Two and Five against Marsden State high School, Keebra Park State High School and Wavell State High School respectively.

Maverick McCarthy’s try in Round One against Marsden State High School was an impressive individual effort from the tall young second rower. After receiving the ball around forty metres out from the try line Maverick McCarthy stepped off his left foot to beat the first Marsden defender and break into space behind the initial defensive line before using a left arm fend to get rid of the Marsden fullback comfortably to score about ten metres to the right of the uprights.

In Round Two against Keebra Park State High School, Maverick McCarthy received the ball around twenty metres out from the line and two passes off the ruck, immediately shrugging up an attempted tackle around his chest before breaking away down the right touch line to easily outpace the cover defence and Maverick McCarthy was able to bring the ball around to put it down approximately fifteen metres to the right of the uprights.

Maverick McCarthy scored his third and final try of the 2020 Renouf Cup competition came in Round Five as PBC defeated Wavell State High School 28 – 12. Maverick McCarthy, playing on his usual right side, burst through the initial Wavell defensive line around twenty metres out before beating the fullback by stepping off his right foot.

Maverick McCarthy played the 2020 Community Rugby League season with the Tugun Seahawks in the Group 18 U14 competition including starting the Grand Final at right second row but the Seahawks went down 30 – 4 to a red hot Tweed Heads Seagulls side.

In total in the 2020 Group 18 U14 competition the Tugun Seahawks won seven matches, drew one and lost two, scoring 196 points and conceding 112 to finish the regular season with a +84 points differential.

In early October 2020 Maverick McCarthy was part of a Titans NRRRL U14/U15 squad that took on a Titans Gold Coast based U14 side with the match being played at Cbus Stadium, giving the young players a great experience and in a Titans jersey as well.

In 2019 Maverick McCarthy made the Gold Coast Cyclones U13 representative side for the Queensland State Junior Championships with Gold Coast finishing runners up in the competition and Maverick McCarthy coring a double against Brisbane Blue in a Cyclones 55 – 0 win.

Post those Championships Maverick McCarthy was selected in the Queensland’s Country U13 side that drew 17 all at Ballymore with a Queensland City side.

Maverick McCarthy played his club rugby in 2019 with the Coolangatta Tweed Baa Baa’s and amongst others scored a hat trick in Round Twelve against the Gold Coast Eagles and also scored against the Eagles in Round Three.

Maverick McCarthy was also selected in the U12 Gold Coast Cyclones U12 representative rugby side in 2018.

mdrew

08-12-21, 04:08 PM

The Titans JTS Program has snared a coup with Keebra Park SHS student Fatumalosi Nelu recently joining the Titans after previously being part of the Broncos Program.

In 2022 as well as playing for Keebra Park SHS, Fatumalosi Nelu has been named in the Souths Logan Magpies U16 2022 Cyril Connell Cup squad.

mdrew

08-12-21, 07:42 PM

In early December 2021 Billy Kilduff was named in the 2022 U16 Northern Rivers Titans Andrew Johns Cup Train-on Squad.

Powerful Grafton Ghosts lock or second rower Billy Kilduff had a very solid season in 2021 in the Group One U15 competition in the Ghosts famous blue and white colours.

Billy Kilduff who started every match at either lock or in the second row for the Ghosts scored six tries in 2021 with doubles in Rounds Two and Six against Casino RSM and Marist Rams respectively as well as in Round Four against Casino RSM and Round Eight against the Ballina Seagulls.

mdrew

08-12-21, 08:20 PM

Former Souths Logan backrower Jacob Alick, who is currently doing the pre-Christmas sessions with the Titans NRL squad will play the 2022 Queensland Cup season with the Burleigh Bears.

mdrew

09-12-21, 07:36 AM

The Tweed Heads Seagulls 2022 Hastings Deering's Colts side will certainly not lack a tough aggressive edge if Darcy Townsend can break into the Game Day Seventeen.

mdrew

09-12-21, 10:45 AM

Jed Mulcahy who stood out in the Titans U14 trial last week is also an outstanding cricketer and in late November 2021 he was named in the Far North Coast U15 Representative Cricket Team, with Jed Mulcahy being selected as an all-rounder.

Jed Mulcahy played for the Kyogle Cricket Association in the 2021 season and had outstanding opening two days of the season in the Open Division, with Kyogle playing two T20 matches on each those two days.

Jed Mulcahy in the opening T20 match one the opening day of the 2021 cricket season for Kyogle was involved in a 98 run 3rd wicket partnership with fellow 14 year old Ollie Walker with Jed Mulcahy finishing with 50 runs.

In Game Two of Day One Jed Mulcahy continued his strong form from earlier in the day, scoring 24 runs against Casino’s Cecil Hotel.

The following weekend saw Jed Mulcahy score 46 runs and take two wickets in his first T20 match of the day against Marist Brothers.

Jed Mulcahy’s athletic prowess is not just confined to the rugby league or cricket fields with the young man winning the Kyogle High School 2021 U14 Cross Country race.

mdrew

09-12-21, 01:01 PM

Tall, fast and powerful Grafton Ghosts Group One U14 left centre or second rower (normally left sided anyway) Beau Hartmann had an impressive 2021 season including in Round Ten when he scored four tries for the Ghosts against traditional rivals the South Grafton Rebels.

The four tries that he scored in the Round Ten match meant that Beau Hartmann had scored thirteen tries in the 2021 Group One U14 competition through the opening ten rounds.

Beau Hartmann who has started from the bench (or at the least named there) in all of his matches this season has also scored two hat tricks which came in Round Six against the Marist Rams and Round Eight against the Kyogle Turkeys.

Beau Hartmann also scored doubles in Round Seven against the Ballina Seagulls and Round Eleven against Casino RSM and Beau Hartmann also crossed the try line in Round One also against the Marist Rams.

Against Casino RSM in Round Eleven, Beau Hartmann scored the first of his two tries with an outstanding long range individual in the 9th minute when from seventy metres out Beau Hartmann received the ball on the left side of the field. As soon as he took possession of the ball, Beau Hartmann accelerated through a gap directly between two Casino RSM defenders before running around the fullback to his right and then Beau Hartmann was able to get the ball down under the posts.

Beau Hartmann recorded the second of his two tries in the 25th minute when after receiving the ball fifteen metres out and on the right side of the field, Beau Hartmann sliced through the Casino RSM before stepping off his left foot to beat the fullback and then brought the ball around to score next to the right upright.

Beau Hartmann also broke the Casino RSM line in the 21st minute with a strong twenty metre effort down the left side of the field before producing a good left arm off-load to keep the play going.

From the bench in Round Twelve against the Clarence Coast Magpies, Beau Hartmann crossed for a hat trick in the Ghosts big win.

Beau Hartmann continued in the No. 16 jersey in Round Thirteen against the Ballina Seagulls, scoring a double for the Ghosts in their nail biting 27 – 26 victory.

Beau Hartmann finished the abridged 2021 Group One U14 regular season as the competition’s second leading try scorer with twenty tries for a strike rate of close to 200%.

Post the completion of the Group One U14 season Beau Hartmann was named the Grafton Ghosts Group One U14 Most Consistent Player.

Beau Hartmann also scored two tries in the Group One U15 competition with both tries coming from a double in Round Nine against Casino RSM.

Beau Hartmann started at left centre in Round Eleven of the Group One U15 competition against Casino RSM after playing in the U14 match earlier in the day and showed that he could comfortably handle the step up in age group with an assured performance including a strong twenty metre line break to get the ball over the halfway mark through the centre of the field.

Beau Hartmann was also named to start from the bench in Round Thirteen against the Ballina Seagulls.

2021 also saw Beau Hartmann excel in both Athletics and Swimming at school, zone, region and state level. In relation to swimming Beau Hartmann was the South Grafton High School Age Champion, represented his zone, region as well as state, being New South Wales.

From an Athletics perspective Beau Hartmann won a Bronze Medal at the New South Wales Age Athletics Championship in the 4 x 100 metre relay.

mdrew

09-12-21, 03:52 PM

In mid-February 2021 Cooper Nelson played in the Titans U15 Invitational Trial at Burleigh, a trial which included only the best of the 2021 Titans U15 JTS squad members with the match being a high quality affair.

2021 saw Cooper Nelson move to TSS and he made his first appearance in the Red and Blue in late May 2021 when he started at outside centre for the U15A side in TSS’s first full trial against Ipswich Grammar School. Cooper Nelson also started at outside centre in the TSS U15A second trial against Nudgee College as well as in the full scale trial against Brisbane Boys College.

In TSS’s final trial before the commencement of the 2021 GPS school boy rugby season, Cooper Nelson started at outside centre against the PBC Alleygators. Then with the TSS U15A side having a Round One bye, Cooper Nelson lined up at outside centre in a trial against a South Coast U15 representative side.

Round Two away to Anglican Church Grammar School saw Cooper Nelson named at outside centre for the TSS U15A side. Then with the majority of TSS sides having a bye week, Cooper Nelson was named at outside centre in an away match against Brisbane State High School.

mdrew

09-12-21, 07:00 PM

Good to see former Titans junior Vito Saiosi sign for the Helensvale Hornets for the 2022 Gold Coast Rugby League First Grade competition.

mdrew

09-12-21, 07:17 PM

Great to see Kai O'Donnell back to play for Burleigh in the Queensland Cup in 2022 after stints with the Canberra Raiders (NRL debut) and Cronulla Sharks.

mdrew

09-12-21, 08:17 PM

In early December 2021 Caleb Kilduff was named in the 2022 U16 Andrew Johns Cup Northern Rivers Titans Train-on Squad.

Powerful Grafton Ghosts second rower Billy Kilduff had a very solid 2021 season in the Group One U15 competition.

Caleb Kilduff who started all of his matches in the second row in 2021 scored doubles in Rounds Five (Clarence Coast Magpies) and Eight (Ballina Seagulls) and also scored in Round Three (South Grafton Rebels), Four and Nine against Casino RSM, Six (Marist Rams) and Seven against Ballina once again.

Caleb Kilduff also kicked one conversion in 2021 which came in Round Two against Casino RSM.

lonegull

09-12-21, 09:25 PM

Great to see Kai O'Donnell back to play for Burleigh in the Queensland Cup in 2022 after stints with the Canberra Raiders (NRL debut) and Cronulla Sharks.

Good pick up for the bears

mdrew

09-12-21, 09:52 PM

Great Corey Thompson interview with Grafton Ghost Junior Ben Liyou.

https://www.titans.com.au/news/2021/12/09/long-term-titan-liyou-keen-for-pre-season-number-two/

I was lucky enough to see Ben Liyou's first game in a Titans jersey when he came off the bench for the Titans U13 Development Squad against a Samoa U14 side at Pizzey Park.

Now seven years later he is closing in on an NRL Titans jersey.

mdrew

09-12-21, 10:29 PM

Corey Thompson interviewing centre Tony Francis.

https://www.titans.com.au/news/2021/12/09/francis-takes-guidance-from-brian-kelly/

mdrew

10-12-21, 07:18 AM

In early December 2021 Samuel Petch was named in the 2022 U16 Northern Rivers Titans Andrew Johns Cup Train-on Squad.

The young South Grafton Rebel was one of the better performers in the Group One U15 competition in 2021, finishing near the top of the competition’s try scoring and overall points scoring list.

Samuel Petch started in the second row in the opening ten rounds of the competition in the second row before moving to five eight in Round Eleven against the Ballina Seagulls and also started at five eight in Round Twelve against the Marist Rams before starting from the bench in Round Thirteen against the Marist Rams.

Through the opening twelve rounds, Samuel Petch scored twelve tries and kicked twenty four goals.

Samuel Petch had an impressive Round One match, scoring four tries and kicking four goals against Casino RSM. Samuel Petch also scored three doubles which came in Round Four (Ballina), Round Seven (Marist Rams) and Round Eleven against the Ballina Seagulls. Samuel Petch also scored in Round Six against Casino RSM and Round Nine against the Clarence Coast Magpies.

Samuel Petch finished the abridged 2021 Group One U15 regular season as the competitions second leading try scorer with twelve tries.

With the boot through the opening thirteen rounds, Samuel Petch kicked five goals in a Round Four match against the Ballina Seagulls and kicked four gaols in Rounds One and Seven against Casino RSM and the Marist Rams respectively.

Samuel Petch also played for the South Grafton Rebels in 2020 in the Group One U14 competition, scoring four tries across the season.

mdrew

10-12-21, 07:52 AM

2021 Cudgen Hornets U18 NRRRL fullback Jack Field has started his Hastings Deering's Colts journey as part of the 2022 Tweed Heads Seagulls Colts train on squad and whilst he is also Colts eligible in 2023 Jack Field will be aiming to get an opportunity in the early rounds of the 2022 season.

mdrew

10-12-21, 10:34 AM

In June 2021 Titans contracted 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 Barrow 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.

mdrew

10-12-21, 01:33 PM

Great to see that Charlie Murray who is currently training with the Titans NRL squad has been awarded the 2021 Tweed Heads Seagulls Hastings Deering's Colts Coaches Award.

mdrew

10-12-21, 02:05 PM

Hooker Jed Edwards has been named the 2021 Tweed Heads Seagulls Hastings Deering's Colts Players Player.

mdrew

10-12-21, 04:54 PM

Current Titans NRL Train and Trialist Lee Turner has been awarded the 2021 Tweed Heads Seagulls Queensland Cup Coaches Award.

Lee Turner is the older brother of Titans 2022 NRL signing Paul Turner and in 2021 in the Queensland Cup Lee Turner finished equal first in relation to line breaks and third in tackle breaks.

mdrew

10-12-21, 06:22 PM

You cannot argue that the Titans have not identified talent to train with the Titans NRL squad and that includes Braden Robson who was named the 2021 Tweed Heads Seagulls Queensland Cup Best and Fairest.

In the 2021 Queensland Cup Braden Robson led the league in off-loads with 46 and made 468 tackles at a tackle efficiency rate of 97.1%.

mdrew

10-12-21, 08:44 PM

In early December 2021 Harry Chadburn was named in the 2022 U16 Northern Rivers Titans Andrew Johns Cup Train-on Squad.

The young centre/half from northern New South Wales is currently a member of the Titans JTS Elite Academy squad.

In mid-February 2021 Harry Chadburn played in a Titans U15 Invitational Trial at Burleigh, a trial which included only the best of the 2021 Titans U15 squad members. Harry Chadburn started the match at fullback for the Titans White side.

In 2021 Harry Chadburn was part of the PBC SHS Hancock Cup school boy rugby league side including starting at halfback in the 2021 Hancock Cup Grand Final against local rivals Keebra Park State High School.

Harry Chadburn had a very solid Grand Final, kicking two conversions from three attempts in PBC’s exciting 16 -12 victory.

In addition to kicking the two conversions, Harry Chadburn showcased his short kicking game in the 43rd minute with a deft right foot stab kick into the in-goal in the left corner which Keebra Park had to take dead, forcing a goal line drop-out to keep PBC on the attack and Keebra Park under pressure.

The Grand Final also saw Harry Chadburn excel defensively with two outstanding try saving tackles. The most critical of the two came with less than two minutes remaining in the match in the 58th minute. The Keebra Park right winger found space down the sideline and went for the corner, but Harry Chadburn flew to his right and in conjunction with team mates initially held up the Keebra Park winger and then forced him over the sideline.

Harry Chadburn had also made an earlier try saving tackle in the 37th minute on the same Keebra Park winger as his try saving tackle in the 58th minute when after the winger had taken a kick in the right corner on the full, Harry Chadburn was on hand to ensure that he did not get the ball down in the right corner.

mdrew

11-12-21, 07:32 AM

In early December 2021 Isaac Harrison was named in the 2022 Northern Rivers Titans U16 Andrew Johns Cup Train-on Squad.

The northern New South Wales young front rower is currently a member of the 2021 Titans U15 Elite Academy squad.

In mid-February 2021 Isaac Harrison played in a Titans U15 Invitational Trial at Burleigh, a trial which included only the best of the 2021 Titans U15 squad members.

In May 2021 Isaac Harrison was part of the South Coast U15 QSSRL School Boy representative side, starting the Championship Final against Met West at lock.

In 2021 Isaac Harrison continued at PBC as part of the school’s Elite Rugby League Program and made a strong impression after coming off the bench for the PBC Walters Cup side in their Round One 16 all draw against Ipswich State High School.

Isaac Harrison also started from the bench in Round Two against Forest Lake State High School.

In 2020 Isaac Harrison played in the front row for the Tweed Heads Seagulls U14 side in the Group 18 junior rugby league competition with the Seagulls going through the ten regular season rounds undefeated, scoring 316 points and conceding just sixty four to finish the regular season with +252 points differential from their ten matches to record an average winning margin of just above twenty five points.

As a result of their outstanding season the Tweed Heads Seagulls U14 side qualified for the Grand Final against the Tugun Seahawks. Tweed Heads prevailed in the 2020 decider 30 – 4 with Isaac Harrison starting the Grand Final victory in the front row. Isaac Harrison was in my opinion one of the best players on the field in the Grand Final producing some outstanding hit-ups including one outstanding run after the Seagulls first try of the match when he skittled multiple Tugun defenders in a twenty metre charge directly through the centre of the Seahawks forward pack.

Isaac Harrison also played in Group 18 Grand Finals in 2019 in the U13 age group and in 2018 in the U12 age group.

Isaac Harrison attends PBC as part of their Rugby League Excellence Program and in 2020 was part of the PBC Year Nine Hancock Cup side that progressed through to the Grand Final and post the completion of the school boy competition was awarded a Future Reds Award at the PBC Sports Awards night. Unfortunately PBC went down in the Hancock Cup Grand Final to Marsden State High School.

mdrew

11-12-21, 08:49 AM

Titans Partnered Keebra Park SHS have a new Rugby League Head Coach in Peter Norman after long time coach Greg Campbell retired.

Peter Norman has been at Keebra Park since 2013 and is also the current South Coast U18 Rugby League School Boy coach.

mdrew

11-12-21, 09:39 AM

Great to see Tom Weaver in the Titans Top Squad.

mdrew

11-12-21, 11:23 AM

Centre Tony Francis is another talented player from the Titans outstanding JTS Program who is in the 2022 Titans Top Squad.

mdrew

11-12-21, 03:07 PM

Even though the formal Titans Partnership with Marsden SHS is still in its infancy, no doubt the benefits of the partnership will flow shortly, especially when you take into account the talent at Marsden SHS including 2021 QSSRL U15 Merit Selection Javon Andrews who was named at five eight in the Merit side.

Javon Andrews is also a Logan Brothers Junior and will start the 2022 season as part of the Souths Logan Magpies U16 Cyril Connell Cup Squad.

mdrew

11-12-21, 08:06 PM

In early December 2021 AJ Hickling was named in the 2022 U16 Andrew Johns Cup Northern Rivers Titans Train-on Squad.

The young man from the Clarence Coast Magpies was over the course of the 2019/20 offseason part of the Titans Group One Junior Academy Squad that was training on a weekly basis at Ballina every Tuesday afternoon.

In November 2020 Anthony Hickling started once again training with the Titans development squad from the Group One region under the direction of former Titans NRL player Matt Srama.

AJ Hackling missed the opening round of the 2021 Group One U14 competition but was back starting in the front row in Round Five against the Grafton Ghosts and also started in the front row in Round Six against the Ballina Seagulls.

AJ Hickling continued in the front row in Round Seven against Casino RSM and was the Magpies sole try scorer in their 10 – 6 loss. AJ Hickling also started in the front row in Round Eight against Marist Brothers and continued there in Round Nine against South Grafton.

AJ Hickling also started in the front row in Round Twelve against the Grafton and was also named to start in the front row in Round Thirteen against Casino RSM and AJ Hickling scored both of the Magpies tries in a 12 all draw.

AJ Hickling continued in the front row in Round Thirteen against Casino RSM and was one of the Magpies try scorers in their 16 – 10 victory.

In late June 2020 AJ Hickling started training with his Clarence Coast Magpies club side in preparation for the late start of the Group One U14 junior rugby league competition. Round One saw AJ Hickling start for the Magpies at left second row and score as Clarence Coast defeated the South Grafton Rebels 24 – 10.

After Clarence Coast’s Round Two match was postponed, AJ Hickling was back in the second row for Round Three against Ballina and made it two tries from as many matches, scoring as Clarence Coast defeated Ballina 24 – 8.

In Round Four against Grafton Anthony Hickling continued his run of scoring in every match in 2020 when he added a double as the Magpies went down 22 – 16 with Anthony Hickling once again starting in the second row. AJ Hickling also started in the second row in Round Five against Ballina as the Magpies recorded a 26 – 0 victory.

In Round Six AJ Hickling scored a hat trick after starting the 28 – 0 win over Casino RSM from the bench for the Magpies. AJ Hickling started Round Nine in the front row and scored twice as Clarence Coast defeated Ballina 52 – 6. AJ Hickling also started in the front row in Round Ten against the Clarence Coast Magpies.

In total in the 2020 Group One U14 regular season AJ Hickling scored nine tries from six matches for a 150% strike rate.

AJ Hickling started the 2020 Group One U14 Grand Final in the front row as the Magpies took on the Grafton Ghosts and was named the Player of the Match in the Magpies 30 – 16 victory after they came from behind at half time to win the premiership decider with AJ Hickling in devastating form recording two tries in the victory.

With the Clarence Coast U14 side recording a forfeit victory in Round Seven against Casino RSM, Anthony Hickling instead moved up to the Clarence Coast U15 side, coming off the bench for his U15 debut in the Magpies Round Seven 22 – 14 loss to the Kyogle Turkeys.

In 2019 AJ Hickling played in the Group One U13 competition with the Magpies, including scoring in their Grand Final Qualifying Final against Lismore Marist Brothers when he split the Rams defence on the right side of the field and utilising his speed was able to bring the ball around to score under the posts with a number of defenders trailing long way in his wake.

AJ Hickling was also part of the Clarence Coast Magpies Group One U13 Grand Final side that went down 24 – 16 to the Grafton Ghosts in the decider. AJ Hickling also scored in the Grand Final getting Clarence Coast back in the match before Grafton pulled away again after scoring their third try of the match.

mdrew

12-12-21, 07:37 AM

In early December 2021 Kennyon Elisaia-Thomas was named in the 2022 U16 Andrew Johns Cup Northern Rivers Titans Train-on Squad.

The young five eight in late 2020 was selected in the 2020/21 Titans Group One Elite Academy Squad.

Kennyon Elisaia-Thomas started Round One of the 2021 Group One U15 competition at five eight as the Clarence Coast Magpies took on the Ballina Seagulls.

Kennyon Elisaia-Thomas also started at five eight in Round Two against the South Grafton Rebels kicking a conversion in the Magpies 24 – 12 victory. Round Three against the Ballina Seagulls saw Kennyon Elisaia-Thomas once again start at five eight.

Kennyon Elisaia-Thomas moved to fullback for Round Nine against South Grafton and scored two tries and kicked one conversions in the Magpies 32 – 12 victory.

Kennyon Elisaia-Thomas was back at halfback in Round Ten against Casino RSM and Kennyon Elisaia-Thomas was an his scheming best including a 41st minute line break when whilst operating on his usual right side of the field fifty five metres from the line, Kennyon Elisaia-Thomas shaped to pass before slicing through two Casino RSM defenders and then showed the cover defence a clean pair of heels. Kennyon Elisaia-Thomas then was able to position his right sided support well and after drawing the Casino RSM fullback he passed to his right but unfortunately the ball could not be held by his support player.

Kennyon Elisaia-Thomas also started at halfback in Round Twelve against the Grafton and was also named to start at halfback in Round Thirteen against Casino RSM and was one of the Magpies try scorers in their 16 – 10 victory.

mdrew

12-12-21, 01:28 PM

In June 2021 Titans contracted Arama Hau had a distinction of captaining a Titans U17 JTS squad that played at Cbus Stadium against a Titans Northern Rivers U18 selection, with the match being played as a curtain raiser to the Titans Round Fourteen NRL match against the Sydney Roosters.

Arama Hau had an outstanding match including a great offload after he charged downfield thirty metres before getting his right arm free and offloading to his left to Keano Kini who raced away from forty five metres out to score untouched.

mdrew

12-12-21, 06:52 PM

In early December 2021 Noah Waldock was named in the 2022 U16 Northern Rivers Titans Andrew Johns Cup Train-on Squad.

The 2018 New South Wales U12 rugby league representative Noah Waldock (from St Francis Xavier College Ballina) continued his rise in the junior rugby league ranks in 2021 with a great season for the Ballina Seagulls in the Group One U15 competition as well as playing a number of matches up an age group in the Group One U16.5 competition.

In late March 2021 Noah Waldock was part of Diocesan of Lismore U15 Squad that attended the Northern Country Catholic Colleges Rugby League Selection Trial that were held at Smithtown with Noah Waldock playing at fullback in the trials.

In Round One of the 2021 Group One U15 competition Noah Waldock started at fullback and was Ballina’s captain as the Seagulls took on the Clarence Coast Magpies.

Noah Waldock also started at fullback in Round Two against Marist Brothers, scoring a double in the Seagulls 38 – 0 victory and also started at fullback in Round Five against Casino RSM.

Noah Waldock continued at fullback in Round Six against the Clarence Coast Magpies, scoring a double in Ballina’s 34 – 0 victory and scored once again in Round Seven against the Grafton Ghosts after also starting the match at fullback. Noah Waldock also started at fullback in Round Eight against the Grafton Ghosts.

Noah Waldock dropped back to the bench in Round Eleven against the South Grafton Rebels, but dominated when he came on, including scoring a hat trick.

Round Twelve against Casino RSM saw Noah Waldock start at five eight and he also started at five eight in Round Thirteen against the Grafton Ghosts and was one of the Seagulls try scorers in their two point loss.

mdrew

12-12-21, 09:20 PM

Last weekend in the South Queensland U18 Boys Basketball Premier League Grand Final, Titans contracted Izayah Petrichvich who is only 15 was part of the Gold Coast Rollers side that won the Grand Final 82-74 Southern District Spartans.

mdrew

13-12-21, 07:07 AM

In early December 2021 Ricco Watititi was named in the 2022 Northern Rivers Titans U16 Andrew Johns Cup Train-on Squad.

2021 saw Ricco Watititi play for the Tweed Heads Seagulls Junior Rugby League Club in the Group 18 U15 competition and at the Tweed Heads Seagulls Junior Presentations, Ricco Watititi was named the International Player with the Most Potential.

The Tweed Heads Seagulls junior was part of the Titans U14 squad that played a Western Mustangs selection in February 2019 at Mudgeeraba and also in 2019 was named in the Group 18 U14 representative side playing in the centres at the 2019 New South Wales Country Age Championships.

In early in October 2019 Ricco Watititi was part of a Titans U14/15 NRRRL side that played the Titans U14 Gold Coast/Brisbane Academy side in development match at Tweed Heads Piggabeen complex with the NRRRL side going down 32 – 10 in a competitive and highly entertaining game of rugby league.

Ricco Watititi played the 2019 season with the Tweed Heads Seagulls U14 side that played in the Northern New South Wales Group 18 junior rugby league competition.

In 2018 Ricco Waititi was selected in the Gold Coast Cyclones U12 side for the Queensland Age Rugby Championships.

mdrew

13-12-21, 02:29 PM

In June 2021 Titans contracted Bailey McConnell started at halfback and operated on the right side of the field 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.

Bailey McConnell was outstanding over the course of the match, operating on the right side of the field and recorded a first half try assist when he put up a bomb towards the left corner, with the ball coming down two metres from the line and Titans left second rower Will Semu leaping above the defence to take the ball on the pull and crash over five metres in from the left corner post.

mdrew

13-12-21, 04:37 PM

Good to see second rower Alfred Keevers named the 2021 Kyogle Turkeys U13 Most Consistent Player.

mdrew

13-12-21, 04:58 PM

The second of three trials for the 2022 Northern Rivers Titans U18 Laurie Daley Cup squad was held over the weekend with the third and final trial to be held on Wednesday afternoon.

mdrew

13-12-21, 05:16 PM

Young Kyogle Turkeys centre Ezrah Selesele had an outstanding season in the Group One U12 season finishing 4th on the competitions try scoring list with 13 tries and deservedly as named the 2021 Kyogle Turkeys U12 Best Player.

mdrew

13-12-21, 05:54 PM

2021 WaiCoa Bay U20 front rower or second rower Caleb Lepou looks like he will be showing his form on a Gold Coast Rugby League field in 2022.

mdrew

13-12-21, 06:27 PM

One player who is set to make an impact for the Northern Rivers U18 Laurie Daley Cup squad and Casino RSM in the U18 NRRRL competition is young half Waylon Caldwell.

There may not be too much of him but Waylon Caldwell is a classy player who also has a bit of mongrel in him and looks to dominate all opponents regardless of size.

mdrew

13-12-21, 08:19 PM

In early December 2021 Titans contracted Riley Buchanan was named in the 2022 Northern Rivers Titans U16 Andrew Johns Cup Train-on Squad.

The northern New South Wales youngster was a member of the Titans Tweed Heads based junior academy but as a result of his 2021 season signed an official contract with the Titans in late September 2021.

Riley Buchanan will start the 2022 season as part of the Northern Rivers Titans U16 Andrew Johns Cup squad for their New South Wales Country wide competition and will be a key member of the Northern Rivers Titans forward pack when the season kicks off in early 2022.

In early January 2021 Riley Buchanan was part of a small group of Titans 2021 U15 players who after attending a Titans camp, trained with the Titans NRL squad, then in mid-February 2021 Riley Buchanan played in a Titans U15 Invitational Trial at Burleigh, a trial which included only the best of the 2021 Titans U15 squad members.

In May 2021 Riley Buchanan was part of the South Coast U15 QSSRL School Boy representative side, playing the 2021 U15 QSSRL Championship Final against Met West at left second row.

Riley Buchanan made a strong start in the Championship Final when in the 6th minute he made a good run accounting for fifteen metres and promoting the ball into Met West territory.

Riley Buchanan produced some other strong runs, none better than in the 23rd minute when charged onto the ball from the Met West kick-off to the Nayte Saaga try and was awarded a penalty as a result of being hit by a shoulder charge.

At the completion of the Championships, Riley Buchanan was understandably named at left second row in the 2021 QSSRL U15 School Boy Merit Team.

On Day One of the 2021 QSSRL U15 Riley Buchanan played his usual left second row position for South Coast and generated a line break in the 30th minute when he charged into a gap receiving the ball from his left from Zane Harrison, unfortunately thirty metres downfield, Riley Buchanan’s pass to his left was knocked down by the Met West fullback with a try in the offing.

Riley Buchanan started at right second row on Day Three against Met North and was in the action early taking the second hit-up of the match and was able to get the ball out to the thirty metre mark before being brought to ground..

Riley Buchanan scored on Day Three when in the 27th minute, Riley Buchanan received a good ball from his hooker who had skipped out of dummy half to his right. After he received the ball Riley Buchanan spun 360 degrees clockwise to get the ball down.

Riley Buchanan made twenty metres in the 46th minute when he retrieved the ball from a Nayte Saaga short kick-off to the right side of the field, getting to twenty metres out from the line before the Met North defence could recover.

Riley Buchanan also made a strong defensive play in the match when early in the first half, he along with Isaac Harrison and Jett Bryce combined to hit and hold up a Met North runner ten metres from his own line and force him back eight metres towards his own goal line, with the ball coming loose as the Met North player desperately trying to off-load.

In early June 2021 Riley Buchanan started at right second row for the PBC Year Nine school boy rugby league side in their victory against Keebra Park and he was one of the try scorers for PBC when in the 35th minute Riley Buchanan made a straight charge onto the ball from eight metres out to the right of the dummy half with Riley Buchanan’s run proving too much to handle with Riley Buchanan crashing over five metres from the left upright.

2021 saw Riley Buchanan play for PBC in the Walters Cup competition, including starting the Grand Final against Keebra Park State High School from the bench with Riley Buchanan handling the occasion well in PBC’s Grand Final victory against their traditional rivals.