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On Sunday Titans contracted Jeremaiah Temapo started Round Four of the MM Cup for the Burleigh Bears against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls on the left wing and in the 29th minute Jeremaiah Temapo came off his wing to take a hit-up from within Burleigh’s twenty metre defensive area and then Jeremaiah Temapo was awarded a penalty after being held down. Then in the 32nd minute once again Jeremaiah Temapo once again took a hit-up through the centre of the ruck, making fourteen more metres.
In the 58th minute Jeremaiah Temapo came off his left wing to help up his forward pack by taking a hit-up to run the ball out from deep in their own territory and to the right of the play the ball. After making around ten metres Jeremaiah Temapo was brought down by multiple defenders and attempted to get to his feet but that attempt was denied with Jeremaiah Temapo being awarded a deserved penalty.
Dorian Mapusua-Lotaki continued off the bench for Burleigh in Round Four of the MM Cup against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls coming into the dummy half role towards the end of the first half with Dorian Mapusua-Lotaki scoring a trademark try from dummy half in the 48th minute when after Josiah Pahulu was dragged down agonisingly short, Dorian Mapusua-Lotaki picked up the ball and stayed low to force his way over after diving to the right of the play the ball to get the ball down four metres to the right of the goal posts.
After missing Round Three of the MM Cup, Titans contracted Wailer Whaiapu was named on the bench for Round Four against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls on Sunday with Wailer Whaiapu coming off the bench in the 32nd minute to play in the centre third of the field.
Early in the second half in the 41st minute, Wailer Whaiapu got probably the best Bears team movement underway that resulted in fullback Karauria Stokes-Mahara scoring in the left corner. Wailer Whaiapu ran the ball around twenty five metres out and to the right of the play and it looked for all money that Wailer Whaiapu would take the line on but after committing a number of defenders he threw a great ball to Josiah Pahulu who had worked into space on Wailer Whaiapu’s right. After the ball went through Josiah Pahulu’s, Bailey McConnell’s and Arama Hau’s, Karauria Stokes-Mahara scored in the corner.
Titans contracted Ray Puru started for Burleigh at fullback in Round Four of the CC Cup on Sunday against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls and it only took six minutes of the match for Ray Puru to highlight his class when from a midfield Burleigh scrum win around twenty metres from the line, Ray Puru ran to his left getting on the outside of two defenders before drawing in the Wynnum Manly right winger and putting Izayah Petrichvich away down the left touchline, unfortunately Izayah Petrichvich lost the ball in a tackle just short of the try line.
Ray Puru produced a moment of brilliance in the 21st minute when he stood under a high ball almost on his own line with Ray Puru being smashed by two defenders as soon as his feet touched the ground but Ray Puru brilliantly was able to stay in the field of play. Ray Puru could have been excused for taking a moment but after Izayah Petrichvich ran the ball from Ray Puru’s play the ball, he stayed alive taking an off-load three metres for the line and exploding downfield getting the ball to twenty metres away from his own line.
Ray Puru made a further outstanding run in the 36th minute when he chimed into the Burleigh backline on the right, once again getting on the outside of the Wynnum Manly defensive line and racing away down the right touchline on a thirty metre run and then Ray Puru was able to get the ball back inside to Billy Wellard before being taken into touch around ten metres out from the right corner.
Then in the 57th minute Ray Puru was loitering in the centre of the ruck as the Bears were bringing the ball away from their own line and received an off-load just ten metres from his own line and burst sixteen metres downfield through the centre of the Wynnum Manly defensive line.
Ray Puru was also solid defensively including along with Amarni Wetini-Ngaropo and Anton Whaiapu he held the Wynnum Manly five eight over the try line in the 39th minute.
Ray Puru showcased his positioning and safe hands at fullback in the 49th minute when he made a great diving catch on a Seagulls long clearing kick close to the left touchline.
Another match in the CC Cup for the Ipswich Jets meant another try for Titans contracted right second rower Isaac Togia on the weekend in Round Four against the Wide Bay Bulls in a big Jets victory.
In the 24th minute on the second tackle after a Jets scrum win ten metres from the line and fifteen metres in from the right touchline Isaac Togia moved into dummy half and once he collected the ball Isaac Togia ran to his left, engaging two defenders still six metres from the line. Upon the engagement with the two Bulls defenders Isaac Togia spun 360 degrees counter clockwise to gain separation before charging over the get the ball down under the posts with four Wide Bay defenders trying in vain to prevent Isaac Togia from scoring a strong solo try.
Over the weekend Titans contracted Ryder Williams started at halfback for Tamaki Ki Te Raki (North) in Round Two of the U16 Shaun Johnson Shield against Northland after Tamaki Te Raki had a Round One bye. Whilst Ryder Williams started the match at halfback he spent the opening minutes of the second half playing in the dummy half role before transitioning back to halfback.
Against Northlands was heavily involved for Tamaki Ki Te Raki (North) as they won 88 – 0 with Ryder Williams kicking seven conversions including a great kick from the left touchline in the 41st minute. Ryder Williams could have had an additional conversion but his 13th minute effort from the right touchline hit the post.
Ryder Williams also threw the final pass to one of Tamaki Ki Te Raki North’s tries in just the 3rd minute when on the left side of the field he took the ball into the Northlands right sided defensive line and threw a good ball to his left to his winger who crashed over out wide.
Then again in the 50th Ryder William threw the final pass for a try when operating on the left Ryder William took the ball to the line and threw a good short ball to his left for his front rower to crash over.
Ryder Williams threw a third final pass for a try in the 55th minute. The move started on the halfway mark with Ryder Williams throwing a cut-out pass to his left to put his right centre away down the left touchline and then Ryder Williams backed up on the inside, getting the ball back, dummying past one defender before off-loading to his left to an unmarked team mate who ran away to score under the posts.
Ryder Williams also put in a good tactical kick from forty metres out in the 44th minute when his right foot kick stopped in the in-goal, being knocked out over the dead ball line by the Northlands fullback, forcing a goal line drop out.
The Grafton Ghosts U18 side will have the benefit of former Ghosts junior and current Group Two First Grade player Dylan Collett as their coach this season.
More than a few Titans have come through the Grafton Ghosts junior ranks including cult hero Anthony Don as well as Ben Liyou who former so well for the Titans in their first 2022 NRL trial against the Bronco's.
Ben Liyou will captain the Tweed Heads Seagulls Hastings Deering's Colts side this season.
Another former Titan in Jake Martin will also play for the Grafton Ghosts in the Group Two First Grade competition in 2022.
In 2021 Kye Trembath was playing lock for Emmaus College Jimboomba in the Confraternity Shield School Boy Carnival and this weekend in Round One of the 2022 GCRL U18 Division One competition he will line up at lock for the Mudgeeraba Redbacks against the Nerang Roosters.
In 2021 Kaden Meehan played for the Tweed Heads Seagulls MM Cup side and for Marymount College in the Confraternity Shield School Boy Carnival and this weekend in Round One of the 2022 GCRL U18 Division One competition he will line up at lock for the Mudgeeraba Redbacks against the Nerang Roosters.
On Saturday Titans contacted Larry Siala started at left second row for the Ipswich Jets in Round Three of the MM Cup against the Wide Bay Bulls with Larry Siala proving to be almost unstoppable against the Bulls, including a dominating five minutes from the 49th to 54th minute which included two powerhouse tries.
In the 49th minute Larry Siala ran a straight crash line from close range on the left side of the field off a pass from his right from the dummy half with the two Bulls defenders on their line barely moving as Larry Siala flew over between them to score ten metres in from the left corner post.
Larry Siala scored again in the 54th minute and it was once again from an unstoppable charge. From a Jets play the ball six metres out and near the left corner, Larry Siala ran onto the ball to the right of the play the ball, receiving the ball ten metres from the line. Upon receipt of the pass Larry Siala stepped off his left foot to easily beat one defender before he charged over under the posts with three defenders wishfully thinking that they had had any chance of stopping Larry Siala when they made contact with him.
On Saturday Eli Tuli was named on the bench for Tweed Heads in Round Four of the MM Cup against the Easts Tigers with Eli Tuli coming onto the field mid-way through the first half to operate at right second row and in the 23rd minute made a great line break when he ran a great inside shoulder route from a good short ball from his right from Reico Ratana, going straight through two defenders and got over the line directly under the posts but three defenders held him up.
The 44th minute saw another strong run from Eli Tuli when down the left channel he made sixteen metres to get the ball to ten metres out from the try line. Eli Tuli then made a great eighteen metre charge from the kick-off to Will Saunders 45th minute try, getting the ball to the twenty metre line and then two tackles later Eli Tuli made a further twelve metres to get the ball to the halfway mark.
PBC’s Reico Ratana started at lock for the Tweed Heads Seagulls on Saturday in Round Four of the MM Cup against the Easts Tigers and along with Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa and Jackson Le Pou made the opening tackle of the match after Tweed Heads had kicked-off to get the match underway.
Reico Ratana recorded a 23rd minute line break assist when after he received the ball on the right side of the field Reico Ratana subtly moved to his right and popped a great short ball to a hard charging Eli Tuli who came desperately close to scoring under the posts but in the end was held up by three defenders.
For the Tweed Heads Seagulls MM Cup side on Saturday Will Taylor moved into the starting side at right second row for Round Four against the Easts Tigers and was involved in the opening minute with a strong tackle (the third of the match) to force a knock on with the Seagulls scoring through Cooper Camby in the set of six from the scrum.
Will Taylor scored himself in the 4th minute when he ran onto a good ball from his right from Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa to race thirty five metres to dive over in the left corner.
Will Taylor also executed a great tackle along with Nicholas Hilton on the Easts Tigers left winger who was returning a kick with the ball being forced loose. Jett Forbes then scored from the subsequent scrum win by Tweed Heads in the 59th minute
Will Taylor then in the 73rd minute did well from an East Tigers short kick-off after Jett Forbes first try with Will Taylor getting above the Tigers chasers to secure possession for the Seagulls.
Cooper Camby started at right centre in Round Four of the MM Cup for the Tweed Heads Seagulls on the weekend against the Easts Tigers with Cooper Camby scoring one of the fastest tries of the season regardless of the competition in the 2nd minute when he dived over from dummy half from less than a metre out after he dived to his right.
Cooper Camby could have had a second try in the 23rd minute when he dived over in the left corner but the referee after originally looking like he was going to award a try in the end penalised Cooper Camby for a double movement.
Cooper Camby also did well defensively including in the 12th minute when he along with Keano Kini he produced a try saving tackle on the Easts left second rower who had run a straight crash line from close range.
Round One of the Gold Coast Rugby League First Grade competition gets underway this weekend and impressively young Jay Blazek will start at lock for the Hornets when they take in the Ormeau Shearers.
Will Saunders made his MM Cup debut for the Tweed Heads Seagulls in Round Four of the 2022 competition when he was named on the bench for the Seagulls when they took on the Easts Tigers with Will Saunders coming into the match in the dummy half role in the 24th minute.
Will Saunders debut MM Cup match could barely have gone any better when from a metre out and three metres to the left of the goal posts, Will Saunders darted to his right to get the ball down next to the left upright in the 45th minute.
No doubt the try gave Will Saunders a lot of confidence as from the next set of six, Will Saunders ran out of dummy half to his right, making twelve metes to near the halfway mark.
Defensively Will Saunders produced a number of good plays including in the 55th minute when he got down low and stopped the Easts lock from scoring after he had run out of dummy half and appeared certain to score.
Will Saunders never say die attitude could not have been any clearer in the 62nd minute when Easts kicked from a scrum win inside their own territory, Will Saunders raced back from locking the scrum and from the play the ball after Easts had retrieved the ball from the kick downfield, Will Saunders along with Blake Forder initially held up the Easts left winger over the line and then forced him back into the field of play. Tweed Heads were then awarded a penalty for a double movement.
Titans contracted Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa started in the front row for the Tweed Heads Seagulls in Round Four of the MM Cup against the Easts Tigers and along with Reico Ratana and Jackson Le Pou made the opening tackle of the match after Tweed Heads had kicked-off to get the match underway.
Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa recorded an impressive try assist in the 4th minute when he received the ball on the right side of the field around thirty five metres out and took the ball to the line before double pumping a pass to his right to put Will Taylor through a gap with the Tweed Heads right second rower winning the race to the right corner. Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa then made a strong run from the resultant kick-off.
After the Tweed Heads Seagulls had a Round Three MM Cup bye, Blake Forder was named at left centre for Round Four against the Easts Tigers however in a late change he in fact started the match on the right wing with his first touch of the ball coming from the kick-off after Copper Camby’s second minute try with Blake Forder winning a penalty at the end of his run as a result of being held down in the tackle for too long.
Blake Forder then came off his left wing in the 12th minute to help his forwards out with Blake Forder receiving the ball to the right of the dummy half from inside his own territory making fourteen metres through the centre of the ruck.
Blake Forder popped up in the right side of the field in the 33rd minute in the first receiver role near halfway and upon taking possession of the ball good a good ball away to his right to put MM Cup debutant Jiate Litidamu away on the left.
After starting the first half on the right wing Blake Forder moved to fullback in the second half and in the 62nd minute showcased his speed when after Easts put in a pre-planned kick from a scrum inside their own territory Balke Forder turned and chased and whilst the Tigers left centre got to the ball first Blake Forder brought him down from behind just four metres out.
Balke Forder was then to his feet in a heart beat and along with Will Saunders Blake Forder initially held up the Easts left winger who had tried to crash over from dummy half held the winger up over the line and then forced him back into the field of play. Tweed Heads were then awarded a penalty for a double movement.
Titans contracted Matthew Barrow also started on the left wing in Round Four of the MM Cup on the weekend for the Tweed Heads Seagulls against the Easts Tigers with Matthew Barrow scoring a second half try in the Seagulls big win.
Matthew Barrow scored in the 46th minute when from near the halfway mark he was put away down the left touchline and then he dummied to his inside to beat the Tigers fullback with Matthew Barrow then able to bring the ball around to score under the posts.
Matthew Barrow almost scored in the 9th minute when he raced towards the left conrer from forty metres out after he received a great cut-out ball from Josh Lynn, but just as he seemingly beat the last Tigers defender, Matthew Barrow was ankle tapped from behind around eight metres out and before he was able to regain his feet, Matthew Barrow was grounded just two metres short.
Matthew Barrow made a line break in the 33rd minute when after good work on his inside Matthew Barrow was able to promote the ball thirty metres down the left touchline in the attacking twenty metre zone.
Matthew Barrow positioned himself well in the 31st minute when he tracked back to field a Tigers kick to the right corner. After taking possession of the ball when facing his own goal line Matthew Barrow wheeled around to his right and from just eight metres out from his own line Matthew Barrow was able to bring the ball out fifteen metres to over the twenty metre mark.
After the Tweed Heads Seagulls had a Round Three MM Cup bye, Titans contracted Josh Lynn started at halfback in Round Four against the Easts Tigers with Josh Lynn kicking five conversions from nine attempts.
Josh Lynn also had multiple line break assists against the Tigers, the first of which came in the 7th minute when from his own twenty metre line, Josh Lynn went deep into the Tigers right side defensive line and threw a cut-out pass to his left to put MM Cup debutant Jiadle Litidamu away on a thirty metre run down the left touchline.
Josh Lynn recorded his second line break assist (it could so easily have been a try assist) just a minute later in the eighth minute when once again whilst operating on the left Josh Lynn threw a great cut-out pass to his left to Matthew Barrow who raced forty metres toward steh left corner but just as it appeared that he had gotten past the last Tigers defender Matthew Barrow was ankle tapped from behind and thus was tackled a metre short of the try line.
Josh Lynn was also involved in Keano Kini’s 19th minute try from a set move from a Tweed Heads scrum win. With the scrum being packed sixteen metres out and near the touch line Josh Lynn lined up two off the left side of the scrum. Keano Kini received a pass from the back of the scrum and ran to his left, Josh Lynn then cut underneath Keano Kini and looked set to run the ball but instead also immediately passed the ball back to Keano Kini who ultimately sliced through the defence to score.
After the Tweed Heads Seagulls had a Round Three MM Cup bye, Titans contracted Keano Kini was named to start at fullback in Round Four against the Easts Tigers however in a late change Keano Kini moved to start the match at five eight and cut the Tigers apart including scoring a well worked Seagulls try in the 19th minute.
From the Tweed Heads scrum win Keano Kini received the ball from the back of the scrum around twenty metres out and immediately ran to his left. Keano Kini then brought Josh Lynn back underneath with Josh Lynn sucking in multiple defenders before getting the ball back to Keano Kini in space. Keano Kini then palmed off one defender and sliced through the defensive line and crashed over ten metres to the left of the uprights.
The match also saw Keano Kini set up a try for Jett Forbes in the 74th minute. From a Tweed Heads scrum win on halfway, Keano Kini received the ball from the back of the scrum on the right side of the field and initially it appeared as if he would kick on the first tackle but Keano Kini had other ideas and raced through a gap before veering to his right to draw the Easts fullback and pass to his right to send Jett Forbes away on a run to the right corner.
Keano Kini also did well defensively including in the 12th minute when he along with Cooper Camby he produced a try saving tackle on the Easts left second rower who had run a straight crash line from close range.
Tony Francis was named to start on the right wing for the Burleigh Bears in Round One of the 2022 competition against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls and what a debut the young man had, scoring a double in an outstanding display. Tony Francis’s debut saw him become Burleigh Queensland Cup player No. 378.
Tony Francis’s first ever Queensland Cup try came in just the 4th minute of the match when he received a long cut out pass from his left and then Tony Francis flew fifteen metres down the right touchline to put the ball down in the right corner.
Tony Francis completed his double in the 44th minute when after Taine Tuaupiki had chimed into the Burleigh backline on the right side of the field, at the last moment Tony Francis cut back on the inside around three metres from the line and was able to force his way over to score three metres in from the right corner post.
Playing the entire eighty minutes of the match on the right wing Tony Francis ran for sixty eight metres (eleven post contact), had a line break, broke two tackles, played the ball at an average speed of 4.5 seconds and made nine tackles at a 100% tackling efficiency.
Titans contracted Paul Turner was named to start at fullback for the Tweed Heads Seagulls in Round One of the 2022 Queensland Cup competition against the Easts Tigers with Paul Turner causing numerous problems for the Tigers defence.
Playing the whole eighty minutes Paul Turner ran for 121 metres (thirty four post contact), made a line break, broke three tackles, played the ball at an average speed of 3.84 seconds and made two tackles. Such was Paul Turner’s performance that he was named the Tweed Heads Seagulls Round One Queensland Cup Players Player.
Paul Turner’s initial impact was an outstanding try saving tackle in the 16th minute. With Easts attacking down their left side the Tigers halfback slide through the Seagulls right sided defence and looked as if he would score easily in the corner but Paul Turner came from the clouds hitting the Tigers halfback around the ribcage and knocking him into touch just two metres out from the right corner post.
Paul Turner made another exceptional defensive play in the 35th minute when with the Seagulls attacking the Tigers line, the ball went to ground and was picked up by the Tigers and after one pass the Easts left winger flew done the touchline but once again Paul Turner came from the clouds chewing up the distance between the two the Paul Turner getting to the Tigers winger less than ten metres to spare with the attempted pass inside from the Tigers winger missed its mark.
Paul Turner then reacted quickly to collect the dropped ball around ten metres from his own line and returned the ball to the halfway mark before the defence finally got him to ground.
Them yet again in the 43rd minute Paul Turner was on hand right on his own try line to prevent the giant East Tigers replacement front rower from getting the ball down with the ball subsequently coming loose.
The Runaway Bay Doug Lipp Cup side for Round One of the Gold Coast Rugby League this weekend has a talented and elusive young man at fullback in Kruse Rimene.
In 2021 Kruse Rimene was part of the all conquering Tweed Heads Seagulls MM Cup side.
In 2021 Casey Harding was playing in the Gold Coast Rugby League U18 Division One side as well as playing for Coombabah SHS in the School Boy Langer Cup competition but in this weekend's Round One of the Gold Coast Rugby League Doug Lipp Cup Reserve Grade competition Casey Harding will start at five eight for the Seagulls against the Currumbin Eagles.
Last Sunday Titans contracted Seth Nikotemo continued at right second row in Round Four of the MM Cup against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls with Seth Nikotemo scoring a strong 31st minute try when from eight metres out Seth Nikotemo ran a straight and hard crash line, easily bursting through the initial defender before engaging the Wynnum Manly Seagulls fullback and then breaking clear of the fullback’s tackle with a clockwise spin to get the ball down ten metres in from the right corner post.
If there was a hard working index calculation in the MM Cup Seth Nikotemo surely would have scored highly in it in the 48th minute when after Burleigh split the defensive line deep in their onw territory Seth Nikotemo raced through, showing impressive speed and loomed up in the inside of Karauria Stokes-Mahana who had made the break, receiving the uoof-laod on the inside and was able to make a further ten metres before being dragged down from behind. Seth Nikotemo then attempted to get to his feet quickly but that opportunity was denied by the Tigers defence with Seth Nikotemo being awarded a deserved penalty.
Such was the quality of Seth Nikotemo’s performance that he was named in the second row in the Courier Mail’s MM Cup Round Four Team of the Week.
Noah Croudace is still Colts eligible this year but instead he has made the move to the Currumbin Eagles and the move has paid immediate dividends with Noah Croudace being named in the centres for Round One of the GCRL First Grade Competition this weekend as the Eagles take on Runaway Bay.
A couple of former Titans Junior Development Squad members will start on the bench for the Southport Tigers GCRL First Grade side for this weekend's Round One match against the Burleigh Bears, being Rhian Stowers and Billy Mozer.
Another former Titans junior will start in the second row in Ben Thomas.
Last Sunday Titans contracted Arama Hau continued at lock for the Burleigh Bears in Round Four of the MM Cup against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls with Arama Hau recording an impressive try assist in the 41st minute. After good work on his inside by Wailer Whaiapu and Josiah Pahulu, Arama Ahu on the left side of the field ran onto a Bailey McConnell pass, charging fifteen metres and then in the tackle of one of the Tigers cover defenders Aram Hau got a great right arm off-load away to Karauria Stokes-Mahara who dived over in the right corner.
Arama Hau produced a great heads up play in the 28th minute when he flew off the try line in defence to rag doll the Wynnum Manly halfback before he could execute any type of kick with Arama Hau forcing the changeover.
Then in the 33rd minute Arama Hau produced a trademark off-load when after charging ten metres into the defensive line to the right of the dummy half and Arama Hau was able to get his right arm free to off-load the ball to Dorian Mapusua-Lotaki.
Mid-way through the second half in the 47th minute Arama Hau executed a big front on hit on the Tigers lock with the ball coming loose as a result of Arama Hau’s heavy initial contact. Arama Hau produced another strong defensive play by way of a great try saving tackle in the 54th minute when along with Joseph Shannon he held up the giant Easts Tigers No. 8 and then forced him back in the field of play.
Such was the quality of Arama Hau’s performance that he was named in the second row in the Courier Mail’s MM Cup Round Four Team of the Week.
Titans contracted Joseph Shannon was named to continue off the bench in Round Four of the MM Cup against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls on Sunday however in a late change Joseph Shannon moved into the starting side in the front row with Joseph Shannon almost scoring under the posts in the 59th minute when he ran onto a great ball from Wailer Whaiapu but he was collared just short of the line.
Joseph Shannon’s initial key contribution came in the 4th minute from the kick-off after Wynnum Manly’s opening try when Joseph Shannon along with Josiah Pahulu hit the Seagulls forward with the ball coming loose as a result. Burleigh scored their opening try of the match from the resultant set of six.
Joseph Shannon’s second stint on the field started in the 51st minute when he took the hit-up from the kick off to Dorian Mapusua-Loatki’s 48th minute try with Joseph Shannon’s hard charge getting him to the twenty metre mark before he was able to get his right arm free and off-load to Dorian Mapusua-Lotaki.
Joseph Shannon highlighted his intensity in the 54th minute when with the Easts Tigers attacking the try line, the ball went backwards from an errant pass. Joseph Shannon charged after the ball and whilst the Tigers fullback got to the ball first he had to go back to the twenty metre line with Joseph Shannon’s great chase forcing the fullback wide to the right side of the field.
Joseph Shannon produced another great play full of effort and intensity in the 67th minute when with the Tigers on the attack one of the Tigers front rowers tried to trap a low bad pass with his foot but as he was bending down to retrieve the ball Joseph Shannon displayed that he wanted the ball more and raced forward to dive on the ball and regain possession for the Bears.
Defensively Joseph Shannon produced a great try saving tackle in the 54th minute when along with Arama Hau he held up the giant Easts Tigers No. 8 and then forced him back in the field of play. Joseph Shannon added another big tackle to his game resume in the 66th minute when he came out of the defensive line to crunch the Easts Tigers five eight and shut down a dangerous attacking movement when Easts were deep on the attack.
There was a seminal moment in the match for Joseph Shannon and that came in the 59th minute when Joseph Shannon took a hit-up forty metres out from his own line and to the right of the dummy half, Joseph Shannon was hit by a shoulder charge and when in the past Joseph Shannon may have let the moment get the better of his aggression Joseph Shannon looked at the referee, pointed at the back of the retreating Tigers player and then kept running and eventually the referee awarded the penalty for the shoulder charge.
The reason I brought it up was that in the past Joseph Shannon may well have lashed out but it is a credit to him that he maintained his temperament and just got on with the match. It was a small but potentially defining moment of Joseph Shannon’s rugby league career, because let’s not pretend otherwise, Joseph Shannon has the potential to go a long, long way in his rugby league career.
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On Sunday Titans contracted Josiah Pahulu continued in the front row in Round Four of the MM Cup against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls and once again was one of Burleigh’s best in their come from behind 40 – 24 victory.
Josiah Pahulu’s initial key contribution came in the 4th minute from the kick-off after Wynnum Manly’s opening try when Josiah Pahulu along with Joseph Shannon hit the Seagulls forward with the ball coming loose as a result. Burleigh scored their opening try of the match from the resultant set of six.
Josiah Pahulu made a strong charge in the 29th minute from a Burleigh penalty restart with Josiah Pahulu bnding the defensive line back and then Josiah Pahulu was able to get his left arm free and off-load to Dorian Mapusua-Lotaki who was able to promote the ball five metres further Josiah Pahulu immediately got to his feet and took the hit-up from Dorian Mapusua-Lotaki’s play the ball, making a further thirteen metres and breaking one tackle along the way.
The halftime break certainly did not stop Josiah Pahulu which was shown when he took the third hit-up of the second half after the Seagulls had kicked off.
Another right arm off-load from Josiah Pahulu in the 41st minute was part of the Bears best move of the match that ultimately led to a try by Karauria Stokes-Mahara score in the left corner.
Wailer Whaiapu ran the ball around twenty five metres out and to the right of the play and it looked for all money that Wailer Whaiapu would take the line on but after committing a number of defenders he threw a great ball to Josiah Pahulu who had worked into space on Wailer Whaiapu’s right. Josiah Pahulu engaged the defensive line and whilst still engaged with one defender Josiah Pahulu got a right arm off-load away to Bailey McConnell who promoted the ball to Arama Hau who then off-loaded for Karauria Stokes-Mahara dive over in the corner.
Josiah Pahulu got another off-load away in the 43rd minute when after charging onto the ball to the right of the dummy half Josiah Pahulu getting the ball out of his own twenty metre area he got his left arm free with three defenders engaged and got the ball away to Wailer Whaiapu.
Josiah Pahulu also scored in the 48th mimute when he burst onto an off-load near the line and kept his legs pumping and for a moment it appeared that he had scored by the referee adjudged that he was brought down short of the line, but Josiah Pahulu did not dwell on not scoring and got to his feet immediately with his quick play the ball assisting in Dorian Mapusua-Lotaki being able to dive over from dummy half.
Josiah Pahulu showed that he is not all about powerful hard running in the 51st minute when he received an off-load that he was not excepting and was immediately hit by two defenders but Josiah Pahulu maintained his compose and got an off-load away to Bailey McConnell to extend the movement.
Josiah Pahulu pulled off a strong tackle in the 57th minute when along with Taniela Mapusua-Lotaki he smashed the Easts Tigers front rower who as taking the kick-off return.
Such was the quality of Josiah Pahulu’s performance that he was named in the front row in the Courier Mail’s MM Cup Round Four Team of the Week. That was the second round in a row that Josiah Pahulu was named in the front row in the Courier Mail Team of the Week.
Jojo Fifita was named to start on the right wing for the Tweed Heads Seagulls in Round One of the 2022 Queensland Cup competition against the Easts Tigers, scoring on debut in a tough four point loss.
In the 25th minute Jojo Fifita received the ball wide out on the right around nine metres out in space and took off towards the right corner, a metre or two out from the line with the cover defence coming across, Jojo Fifita looked to cut back inside off his right foot but slipped in the heavy conditions with two Tigers defenders going straight over the top of him. Jojo Fifita then had the foresight to still make sure that he grounded the ball in the right corner.
In his Queensland Cup debut Jojo Fifita played the entire eighty minutes on the right wing running for an impressive 152 metres, an equal team leading fifty two of which were post contact metres. Jojo Fifita also made two line breaks, broke two tackles, played the ball at an average speed of 3.66 seconds and made three tackles.
Jojo Fifita took his first hit-up in the Queensland Cup in the 7th minute of the match when he came off his wing to take a hit-up through centre field with Jojo Fifita taking the ball to the right of the play the ball ten metres out from his own try line with continual pumping his legs and making ten metres before being taken to ground. Jojo Fifita was then awarded a penalty when he was not allowed to his feet in a timely fashion.
Then in the 34th minute Jojo Fifita made a strong kick return when after tracking the ball back into his own twenty metre area, Jojo Fifita received the ball from Paul Turner eighteen metres out from his own line and was able to promote the ball to the thirty five metre mark.
A run in the 59th minute showed again that Jojo Fifita is prepared to do the hard work when he came off his right wing to take a hit-up near the mid-field and to the right of the dummy half inside his own twenty metre mark with Jojo Fifita breaking two tackles in a tough hard ten metre gain.
Defensively Jojo Fifita made his first Queensland Cup tackle in just the second minute of the match and then in the 16th minute Jojo Fifita executed a great ball and all tackle on the Easts Tigers left centre when Jojo Fifita was facing an overlap. It was an exceptional defensive play and certainly belies Jojo Fifita’s limited rugby league experience.
Jake Lateo has been named to start at five eight for the Currumbin Eagles in Round One of the Gold Coast Rugby League U18 Division One competition against the Runaway Bay Seagulls.
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.
Speed and elusiveness will not be an issue for the Ormeau Shearers in the GCRL U18 Division One competition this season with the likes of Jai Charlton in the squad and the young man will start at fullback this weekend in Round One as the Shearers take on the Helensvale Hornets.
Talented Vegas O’Rourke will start at hooker for the Mudgeeraba Redbacks in Round One of the GCRL U18 Division One competition against the Nerang Roosters.
2021 Burleigh Bears MM Cup squad member Zinzan Kahu has been named to start at halfback for the Nerang Roosters for this weekend’s Round One of the GCRL U18 Division One competition against the Mudgeeraba Redbacks.
One young player I will be keeping a keen eye on this weekend in Round One of the GCRL U18 Division One competition is Nerang hooker Kanititeiti Sikahele when the Roosters take on the Mudgeeraba Redbacks.
In Round One of the 2022 Gold Coast Rugby League U18 Division One competition this weekend Tevita Tau’aalo has been named to start from the bench for the Ormeau Shearers against the Helensvale Hornets.
In 2021 for the Tweed Heads Seagulls Cyril Connell Cup side Tevita Tau’aalo started all three matches at centre, being Round One against the Ipswich Jets, Round Three against the Burleigh Bears and Round Five against the Souths Logan Magpies. Tevita Tau’aalo scored one try on those three matches which was in fact the Seagulls first try of the competition and came in the 7th minute of the match against the Ipswich Jets.
James Torrens is a big strong barrel chested northern New South Wales junior who spent the 2021-22 off-season training with the Penrith Panthers Jersey Flegg Squad but moved back to the Gold Coast region just prior to the commencement of the 2022 season and signed with the Tugun Seahawks in the Gold Coast Rugby League First Grade competition.
James Torrens started from the bench for the Tweed Heads Seagulls in Round Three of the 2021 Hastings Deering’s Colts competition against the Redcliffe Dolphins.
James Torrens also started from the bench in Round Four against the Ipswich Jets and scored in the second half as the Seagulls defeated Ipswich 24 - 12.
James Torrens moved to right centre for Round Five against the Northern Pride and also played at right centre in Round Six against the Easts Tigers and he was one of the Seagulls try scorers in their 30 – 18 victory. James Torrens also started at right centre in Round Seven against the Norths Devils, once again scoring in the Seagulls big victory.
James Torrens moved back to left centre for Round Eight against the Mackay Cutters and also started there in Round Nine against Wynnum Manly and was one of the Seagulls try scorers in their loss. James Torrens scored in the 8th minute when from twelve metres out, James Torrens got on the outside of his direct opponent only to be brought down two metres short of the line, but he was able to reach out as he was being flipped onto his back to get the down with his right arm three metres in from the left corner post.
James Torrens continued at left centre in the Round Eleven local derby against the Burleigh Bears with James Torrens scoring a double and kicking four conversions in the Seagulls 38 – 22 victory with his tries coming in the 34th and 37th minutes.
In the 34th minute James Torrens received the ball eight metres from the line and initially shaped to pass to his left before running the ball himself to get the ball down near the left corner. Then in the 37th minute James Torrens was the beneficiary of some great initial work from Jack Cullen who produced a great one arm off-load for Tweed Heads to break the ball before James Torrens backed up to score an easy try.
James Torrens also started at left centre in the previously postponed Round Eleven match against the Sunshine Coast Falcons with James Torrens scoring in the 10th minute and also kicked four conversions in the Seagulls big win.
After a Covid 19 enforced hiatus, James Torrens was named to start at left centre in Round Sixteen against the Northern Pride.
James Torrens then was named to move to lock for the rescheduled Round Thirteen match against the Townsville Blackhawks however a late switch saw James Torrens move back to start at left centre.
James Torrens continued at left centre in Round Fourteen against the Western Mustangs and kicked three conversions in the Seagulls 48 – 6 victory.
James Torrens then was named at left centre in the Seagulls Week One Final against the Souths Logan Magpies however he ended up starting the match from the bench.
James Torrens spent a fair portion of the 2019/20 off season training with the Tweed Heads Seagulls U20 Hastings Deering’s Colts squad even though he was still MM Cup eligible in 2020.
With the cancellation of the 2020 Hastings Deerings Colts competition James Torrens headed south to play in the 2020 NRRRL competition with Casino RSM, including starting at right centre in Round One of the NRRRL First Grade competition against Marist Brothers Rams. James Torrens was one of Casino RSM’s try scored in their 16 – 10 loss to the Rams.
James Torrens also started at right centre in Round Two against the Tweed Coast Raiders but moved to right second row for Round Four against Marist Brothers Lismore, being the first round where the NRRRL competition had to be split in two due to the Queensland/New South Wales strict border closure in August 2020.
Post that round James Torrens moved to the Gold Coast Rugby League competition to play for the Tugun Seahawks.
In Round Five of the 2020 Gold Coast Rugby League First Grade competition James Torrens came off the bench for the Tugun Seahawks in their match agaisnt Runaway Bay. Round Eight saw James Torrens move into the Tugun starting line-up in the left second row position where he was partnered by Solomon Torrens for the Seahawks match against the Currumbin Eagles with James Torrens one of the Seahawks try scorers in their 20 – 18 victory.
James Torrens try came when he chased through a Tugun bomb. The ball was coming done around a metre out from the try line but James Torrens was there to put pressure on the Currumbin defender who lost the ball forward. The ball then rebounded off another Currumbin defender straight back to James Torrens who by that time was in the ingoal area. All James Torrens had to do to have the try awarded was to drop to the ground, which he did two metres from the left goal post.
James Torrens also started in the left second row position against Runaway Bay in Round Nine and scored an outstanding long range solo try. James Torrens received the ball around sixty metres out from the line skipping immediately to his outside and proved to be far too quick for the Runaway Bay defence to score in the left corner.
In the final regular season round of the 2020 Gold Coast Rugby League First Grade competition being Round Ten, James Torrens started at left second row as the Seahawks took on the Southport Tigers.
James Torrens started off the 2019 season on the bench for the Tweed Heads Seagulls MM Cup side in their Round One match with the Western Mustangs with James Torrens contributing a try in a big 58 – 18 Seagulls win.
When he came on James Torrens played on the left side of the field and that is where he scored his try, the Titans worked a blind side play with James Torrens receiving the ball literally on the try line and was able to just bend down to score probably the easiest try James Torrens ever will no matter how long his career goes for.
In total in the 2019 MM Cup competition, James Torrens played in all nine of Tweed Heads matches starting all from the bench including their semi-final and Grand Final victory over Wynnum Manly as well as the National U18 Championship victory over Illawarra.
James Torrens played only twenty one minutes in the National U18 Final but certainly made the most of it, running for 134 metres (forty post contact), broke four tackles, played the ball at an average speed of 2.7 seconds and made four tackles at a tackling efficiency of 80%.
If there was a more improved player for Tweed Heads over the course of their 2019 MM Cup campaign than James Torrens I did not see them. When he came on in the 2019 MM Cup National U18 Final James Torrens played in the forwards and on each occasion ran with intensity and purpose, James Torrens was to put it simply very impressive in each of his nine outings in the MM Cup this season.
In the Queensland MM Cup Grand Final against Wynnum Manly James Torrens provided a real spark off the bench immediately making some powerful charges in the centre of the ruck. Over the course of the 2019 MM Cup season, when he came on James Torrens played primarily in the second row although he did spend some time in the centres as well.
James Torrens started at right second row for PBC in their 2019 Round Two Langer Cup win over St Mary and taking into account his heavy MM Cup schedule played big minutes for PBC and for me he was their best player regularly making big post contact metres, he also had a running battle with the St Mary’s No. 12.
James Torrens also started in the front row for PBC in their Queensland GIO Cup quarter final win over St Mary’s High School Toowoomba 50 – 6 and started in the front row and scored the last minute try to pushed the GIO Cup Queensland semi-final to Golden Point when he used a late change of angle to score mid-way between the left corner post and left upright for a typically powerful James Torrens try.
After the completion of the 2019 MM Cup competition, James Torrens played for Tugun in the 2019 Gold Coast Rugby League U18 Division One competition, making his first appearance off the bench for the Seahawks in Round Four against Mudgeeraba.
James Torrens also came off the bench in Round Six of the 2019 GCRL U18 Division One competition scoring a double against Helensvale. James Torrens also scored in Round Thirteen against Currumbin.
James Torrens played in a total of five U18 Division One matches in 2019 for Tugun and after starting from the bench in his first two matches moved into the starting side in the second row.
James Torrens also represented South Coast at the U18 QSSRL Championships where he was named on the bench. On Day One of the Championships against Northern James Torrens was particularly impressive, in one instance splitting the line from a Northern line drop out, after James Torrens effected a quick play the ball the ball was spun out wide to the right for fellow Titan Trey Peni to score.
At just 17 years old, James Torrens made his Hastings Deering’s Colts debut in Round Nineteen of the 2019 season when he started in the second row against the Mackay Cutters.
The tough young centre/second rower was impressive throughout the 2018 season for Northern Rivers in the U18 Laurie Daley Cup competition as well as in the NRRRL competition for Ballina for whom he played across all three grades of the NRRRL competition including an outstanding NRRRL First Grade debut.
James Torrens started off the 2018 season, performing solidly for Northern Rivers in the inaugural U18 Laurie Daley Cup competition starting in the centres in his four matches against the Newcastle Knights Development Squad, North Coast, Central Coast Roosters and the Greater Northern Tigers and was damaging in each of those matches.
For the Ballina Seagulls in the NRRRL U18 competition, James Torrens finished the regular season playing in eleven matches and scoring twelve tries. Of those twelve tries, James Torrens scored ten of those in a six game period from late May to late July.
In that span James Torrens scored a hat trick against Murwillumbah, doubles against Casino RSM and Cudgen and tries against Tweed Coast, Kyogle and Lower Clarence.
With his twelve try tally James Torrens finished equal second on the U18 NRRRL try scoring list equal with Tweed Coast forward Oscar Clarke and five behind Cudgen centre Liam Cusack.
James Torrens was part of the 2018 Ballina U18 NRRRL Grand Final side that won 30 – 4 to Cudgen with James Torrens starting the Grand Final in his usual left centre position. Throughout the Grand Final James Torrens was a handful for the Cudgen defence, scoring a good try and also making a long break when he fielded a Cudgen grubber kick on his own line and charging downfield on a 60 metre run before the cover defence converged.
In the 2018 Grand Final James Torrens had the responsibility of taking the first hit up from every one of Ballina’s scrum wins, regularly bending the Cudgen defence back and putting the Seagulls on the front foot.
James Torrens made his NRRRL Reserve Grade debut in June 2018, against Casino RSM and in 2018 went on to play in six Reserve Grade matches in total scoring three tries, for a 50% strike rate, including a double against Lower Clarence and also scoring in his second Reserve Grade game against Mullumbimby.
James Torrens made his NRRRL First Grade debut in late July 2018 against Lower Clarence and what a debut he had, scoring a double on a memorable afternoon. James Torrens had scored a double in the earlier Reserve Grade match as well as scoring in the U18 match that same day.
In 2017 James Torrens represented the East Coast Dolphins in the New South Wales Country U16 Championships and in 2016 represented Group One at the U15 New South Wales Junior Country Championships.
Round One of the 2021 Gold Coast Rugby League U18 Division One competition this weekend sees Quinton Dalton start at halfback for the Burleigh Bears as they take on the Southport Tigers.
The former Western Australian junior moved over to the Gold Coast to play for the Burleigh Bears in the 2021 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.
This season Elijah Tagiilima has a lot of rugby league in from of him, starting this weekend when he starts in the centres for the Southport Tigers GCRL U18 Division One side in Round One against the Burleigh Bears.
Titans linked 2022 Burleigh Bears MM Cup squad member Sam McAlister has been named to start in the front row in the GCRL U18 Division One competition’s Round One for the Burleigh Bears against the Southport Tigers.
Round One of the Gold Coast Rugby League First Grade competition sees Tepa Arokapiti named to start on the bench for the Ormeau Shearers they take on the Helensvale Hornets.
The big strong young second rower from the Logan Brothers Junior Rugby League Club is currently part of the Souths Logan Magpies Hastings Deering’s Colts squad and has started in the second row in both of their trials against Easts (Trial One) and Ipswich (Trial Two).
In 2019 Tepa Arokapiti was Marsden State High Schools vice-captain and was part of their great run all of the way to the Queensland GIO Cup Final loss to Kirwan State High School.
In 2019 Tepa Arokapiti also played in four matches off the bench for the Souths Logan MM Cup side with his first match being in Round One against the Central Queensland Capra’s.
In 2017 Tepa Arokapiti represented Brisbane Stingers Blue in the U16 pre-season competition. 2017 was not Tepa Arokapiti’s first taste of representative rugby league after representing the Brisbane at the U13 level in 2014.
The young Cook Islands representative at the U14 level in 2015 was also part of the U15 Marsden State High School side that in October 2016 took part in the Queensland All Schools Rugby Sevens tournament held at Ballymore. Marsden went through the competition undefeated beating two GPS rugby schools, including TSS on Day One 31 – 10 and in the final Brisbane State High School 34 – 17 in an outstanding display by the rugby league orientated school which must have sent shivers through the Queensland Rugby establishment.
Other schools that Marsden defeated on the way to winning the Sevens Rugby tournament included Marymount College 46 – 12, Immanuel Lutheran College 60 – 0, North Lakes A 50 – 10 and Ormiston College from the TSS Schools competition 37 – 7. Not bad at all considering the tournament rules mandated seven minute halves.
Round One of the 2022 Gold Coast Rugby League U18 Division One competition sees Te Haeta Takamore named in the centres for the Helensvale Hornets as they take on the Ormeau Shearers.
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.
Round Four against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls saw Te Haeta Takamore named on the Bears extended bench.
Te Haeta Takamore’s first 2022 hit-out came in the Burleigh MM Cup sides first trial in late January when he started in the centres in a trial match against a Titans U17/18 JTS side at Pizzey Park.
Te Haeta Takamore was named on the left wing for the Burleigh Bears second 2022 trial against the Tweed Heads Seagulls.
Te Haeta Takamore was on song defensively in the match, including in the 41st minute when along with Taniela Mapusua-Lotaki he held up Seagulls fullback Jett Forbes over the line when it had looked like he would slice through towards the left corner.
Te Haeta Takamore was also involved in a great Burleigh sequence in the 54th minute that made a lot of ground down the right side of the field. Around twenty metres from the try line, Bailey McConnell ran the ball to his right, throwing a good ball to Taneila Lotaki who burst downfield, getting to his fifty metre mark, Taniela Mapusua-Lotaki then was able to off-load the ball to his right to Te Haeta Takamore who promoted the ball over the halfway line before off-loading back inside to Baiuley McConnell who looked like he would race away to score but unfortunately was ankle tapped from behind just as he was moving towards full speed.
Te Haeta Takamore also started from the bench in the Hastings Deering’s Colts trial against a Titans U19 side at Pizzey Park and starting in the centres in the MM Cup trial earlier in the evening.
Powerful young front rower Caleb Te Momo will start in the second row today for the Burleigh U18 Division One side in their GCRL Round One match against the Southport Tigers.
In 2021 Caleb Te Momo was part of the Burleigh CC Cup squad and this season he was a member of the Bears MM Cup train-on squad and will also be MM Cup eligible in 2023.
This morning in their final CC Cup match of the 2022 competition the Tweed Heads Seagulls take on the Wynnum Manly Seagulls and one young player that I am keen to see once again is Seagulls five eight Mokena Marsh.
The young man has a lot of talent and just needs experience to reach his almost unlimited potential.
Titans contracted Dominique Sandow will start on the wing for the Souths Logan Magpies in this afternoon's Round Five MM Cup match against the Easts Tigers.
Iszac Fa'asuamaleaui will come off the bench for his Queensland Cup debut for Burleigh this afternoon against the Townsville Blackhawks.
Tony Francis with the match winning try this afternoon for Burleigh with literally the last touch of the match as the Bears beat the Townsville Blackhawks 26-22.
I said I needed to take a break but I could not help myself as the Northern Rivers Titans U16 Andrew Johns Cup side qualified for next weekend's Grand Final on the back of a Harry Chadburn double to record a 20-16 victory over St George.
The Titans led 14-0 before going down 16-14 late but they steadied with Harry Chadburn scoring under the posts with three minutes to go to regain the lead.
Titans contracted Zane Harrison and Riley Buchanan were also outstanding this morning.
After starting a number of CC Cup matches this season in the front row for the Tweed Heads Seagulls, Round Five yesterday Isopo Taunuu dropped back to the bench against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls coming into the match in the 19th minute to play in the front row.
The match saw Isopo Taunuu score the try of the match and also execute the tackle of the match.
In the 39th minute Isopo Taunuu scored one of the more remarkable tries that you will ever see. In the 39th minute Isopo Taunuu was stationed to the left of the play the ball and round nine metres out from the try line. The pass from the dummy half got to Isopo Taunuu on the bounce with Isopo Taunuu getting down low to take possession but just as he was straightening up his body a defender grabbed Isopo Taunuu around the head, but Isopo Taunuu continued to straightened his body up and literally threw the Wynnum Manly defender over his head. Isopo Taunuu then rumbled over the line dragging three defenders with him to get the ball down five metres to the left of the uprights.
The match also saw Isopo Taunuu execute the tackle of the the match in the 29th minute. Isopo Taunuu is a big strong young front rower but he was dwarfed by one of the Wynnum Manly replacement front rowers but when the giant front rower took one of his first hit-ups after coming onto the field, Isopo Taunuu came out of the defensive line and smashed him front on and propelled the attacker to the side and backwards with the ball coming loose when Isopo Taunuu drove him into the ground.
lonegull
27-03-22, 12:49 PM
Great result for the northern rivers boys
Hail Sezer
27-03-22, 12:55 PM
Tony Francis with the match winning try this afternoon for Burleigh with literally the last touch of the match as the Bears beat the Townsville Blackhawks 26-22.
He's really surprised me with how well he has handled the step up. For a 19 year old he doesn't seem initmidated by anyone. Brings the same energy and aggression at every level.
After his stand-out CC Cup debut last weekend for the Tweed Heads Seagulls Ayden Byrnes continued at hooker in Round Five yesterday against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls and more than held his own defensively including a great low grassing tackle on his opposite number in the 6th minute as the Wynnum Manly hooker was trying to dart over from five metres out.
Ayden Byrne made a second desperate try saving tackle in the 22nd minute when he flew to his left to cut down the Wynnum Manly right second rower who had broken the Seagulls line and looked certain to score but for Ayden Byrne’s outstanding low tackle.
Ayden Byrnes also took the opportunity to run the ball out of dummy half when the opportunity presented itself with his best run coming in the 23rd minute when he ran out of dummy half to his right from ten metres out from his own try line to get the ball to twenty one metres out.
For the Tweed Heads Seagulls MM Cup side on Saturday Reico Ratana continued at lock against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls with Reico Ratana scoring a strong try in the 67th minute to get the Seagulls within six points of Wynnum Manly.
Reico Ratana ran a great line down the right in the 67th minute, with the only concession being a slight step off his right foot to beat one defender and then from twelve metres out no one was going to stop Reico Ratana from scoring eight metres to the right of the uprights.
Reico Ratana did well defensively in the 42nd minute when along with Will Saunders and Will Taylor he was on hand to hold put the Wynnum Manly lock who under tried to burst over under the posts.
Zinzan Kahu was named to start at halfback for the Nerang Roosters in Round One of the Gold Coast Rugby League U18 Division One competition against the Mudgeeraba Redbacks with Zinzan Kahu recording four try assists, the first of which came in the 9th minute when he was to the right of the play the ball, Zinzan Kahu from twelve metres out, put in a right foot grubber kick which in fact was kicked across field by the Mudgeeraba fullback into the path of the Nerang left centre who was able to get his hands on the ball first to be awarded a try.
Zinzan Kahu’s second try assist arrived in the 28th minute Zinzan Kahu chose to run the ball down a wide left blindside, bumping off two would be defenders before putting lock Thomas Landers on a forty metre run to the line.
Zinzan Kahu completed his hat trick of try assists in the 36th minute when once again operating down a wide left blindside Zinzan Kahu from thirty five metres out put in a short right foot chip kick which sat up perfectly for Kyen Murphy who was then able to bring the ball around and put it down under the goal posts.
Zinzan Kahu’s fourth and final try assist arrived in the 53rd minute when down a wide left blindside and twelve metres out, Zinzan Kahu got on the outside of his direct opponent and put a short ball to his left onto the chest of a charging Thomas Landers who crossed the try line untouched.
Zinzan Kahu also recorded a line break assist inside the opening minute of the match when after receiving the ball whilst operating on the left side of the field, Zinzan Kahu took the ball to the line and threw a great cut-out pass to his left to put Kyen Murphy into a big gap with the left centre racing seventy metres downfield before being tackled a metres short of the try line.
Titanic
27-03-22, 06:55 PM
Everyone needs a break from time to time but there are a lot of us who would sorely miss our daily dose of “mdrew’s perspectives”.
lonegull
27-03-22, 07:08 PM
Everyone needs a break from time to time but there are a lot of us who would sorely miss our daily dose of “mdrew’s perspectives”.
What titanic said
Will Saunders was named on the bench for the Tweed Heads Seagulls in Round Five of the MM Cup on Saturday against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls coming on in the 26th minute into the dummy half role.
Will Saunders did well defensively in the 42nd minute when along with Will Taylor and Reico Ratana he was on hand to hold put the Wynnum Manly lock who under tried to burst over under the posts. Will Saunders was also on hand to hold up the Wynnum Manly lock once again in the 53rd minute in conjunction with Blake Forder and Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa.
On Saturday Titans contracted Matthew Barrow continued on the left wing for the Tweed Heads Seagulls in Round Five of the MM Cup against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls scoring in the 21st minute when Josh Lynn put in a right foot chip kick towards the left wing which Matthew Barrow took on the full and comfortably put the ball down under little or no pressure.
Matthew Barrow then did well in the 58th minute when just a metre from his own try line he retrieved an attacking grubber kick directed towards his wing and Matthew Barrow then did well to get the ball out to the ten metre mark.
On Saturday Titans contracted Blake Forder started on the right wing for Tweed heads in Round Five of the MM Cup against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls and like in previous matches Blake Forder also spent time in the second half at fullback. It was whilst he was playing on the right wing, Blake Forder scored in the 15th minute when he received a cut-out pass from his left to run twenty metres to score near the right corner.
Blake Forder also did well defensively in the 53rd minute when along with Will Saunders and Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa he was on hand to hold put the Wynnum Manly lock who under tried to burst over under the posts.
On Saturday morning Titans contracted Josh Lynn continued at halfback in Round Five of the MM Cup against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls and kicked one conversion from two attempts. Josh Lynn also recorded a 21st minute try assist when he put in a right foot chip kick towards the left wing which Matthew Barrow took on the full and comfortably put the ball down under little or no pressure. Josh Lynn then stepped up to convert the try from the left touchline.
Josh Lynn’s tactical kicking was also solid against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls, the ideal example being in the 66th minute when Josh Lynn executed a right foot chip into the left corner with the Seagulls fullback subsequently trapped in-goal.
Josh Lynn’s determination to make up for any mistakes that he makes was shown in the 41st minute when on the left side of the field and forty metres from the try line, he threw a pass to his left but the pass was intercepted but Josh Lynn turned and chased and was able to catch the Wynnum Manly right centre from behind around five metres from the try line.
Burleigh Bears U18 Division One lock Kohynn Nicholls got his 2022 season in the Gold Coast Rugby League competition underway in style, scoring a double in Round One on the weekend against the Southport Tigers.
Southport Tigers GCRL U18 Division captain and second rower Caylis Latu led his side to a strong 26-18 Round One victory on the weekend against the Burleigh Bears with Caylis Latu scoring the final two Tigers tries.
Young Burleigh centre Jaykob Brown scored ten of his sides eighteen points from a try and three conversions from as many attempts in Round One on the weekend against the Southport Tigers.
It is always great to see young players step up into the senior rugby league ranks and that is certainly what Dredin Goldsmith did on the weekend, scoring a double for the Helensvale Hornets in their 30 – 0 GCRL Doug Lipp Cup Reserve Grade victory in Round One on the weekend.
Titans Development contract holder Aaron Booth started at halfback on the weekend in Round One of the GCRL First Grade competition for the Runaway Bay Seagulls and was one of their try scorers in their 20-4 victory over the Currumbin Eagles.
Round One of Gold Coast Rugby League First Grade competition saw a number of impressive individual performances but none were better than young Runaway Bay fullback Tyler Han who terrorised the Currumbin Eagles defence on the way to scoring a double in a 20-4 victory.
Billy Kilduff had a great defensive match for the Northern Rivers Titans in the U16 Andrew Johns Cup Week One Final against St George where along with Noah Waldock and Callum Bowles, he was involved in the opening tackle of the match after the Titans kicked-off to get the match underway.
Billy Kilduff executed another strong tackle in the 5th minute when he drove his left shoulder through the St George ball runner with the ball coming loose as a result of Billy Kilduff’s strong initial contact to put the Northern Rivers Titans on the attack just thirty metres out from the try line.
Once again in the 28th minute Billy Kilduff was on hand to make a great tackle, on that occasion a grass cutting tackle moving to his left to cut down the St George halfback who had gotten through the defensive line and looked set to score only for Billy Kilduff to cut him down three metres out from the try line.
Over the weekend Tristian Powell was named to make his Queensland Cup starting debut in the front row in Round Two against the Townsville Blackhawks a celebrating that fact by scoring in the 50th minute when he received the ball ten metres out but whilst stationary. Tristian Powell however fought his way past three defenders to get the ball down under the posts.
Playing sixty one minutes Tristian Powell ran for an impressive 180 metres, a team leading eighty three of which were post contact, made a line break, broke five tackles, played the ball at an average speed of 3.84 seconds and made twenty seven tackles at a tackling efficiency of 96.43%.
Great to see Tweed Heads Seagulls CC Cup;s Mokena Marsh named in the halves in the Courier Mail Round Five CC Cup Team of the Week.
Another Tweed Heads Seagulls CC Cup player to make the Courier Mail Round Five CC Cup team of the week was centre and captain Xavier Tauaifaiga.
Titans contracted Ryan McCann scored for the Souths Logan Magpies for the second week in a row on Saturday from the left wing in Round Five against the Easts Tigers once again showcased his express pace when he was on the end of the Souths Logan backline movement to his side of the field in the 27th minute when after receiving the ball thirty metres out and with limited space down the touchline, Ray McCann burnt off the Tigers defence to score in the left corner.
Titans contracted Antioch Faitala-Mariner had yet another strong match over the weekend for the Easts Tigers in Round Five of the MM Cup against the Souths Logan Magpies with Antioch Faitala-Mariner starting the match at left centre.
The U16 Cyril Connell Cup is done for another year and as usual a couple of players separated themselves from the pack in terms of their exceptional performances and for me one of the absolute best performer over the course of the five round competition was Titans contracted front rower Joseph Pouniu.
Joseph Pouniu led from the front for the Redcliffe Dolphins who went through the competition undefeated and if there was a better front rower (or player overall) in the competition, I did not see them.
Callum Bowles started at five eight for the Northern Rivers Titans in Week One of the Andrew Johns Cup Finals against St George with Callum Bowles kicking two conversions as the Northern Rivers Titans qualified for the Grand Final on the back of a come from behind 20 – 16 victory.
In the 16th minute Callum Bowles put in a good short right foot grubber kick from ten metres out that was not handled by St George and thus the Northern Rivers Titans got six more tackles.
Callum Bowles was also involved in Zane Harrison’s 27th minute try when his short kick redounded off a St George player and straight into the hands of Zane Harrison who crossed the line ten metres in from the left corner. Callum Bowles then stepped up to convert the try.
Another week, another try for Titans contracted Isaac Togia who started at right second row in Round Five of the CC Cup for the Ipswich Jets against the Western Clydesdales with Isaac Togia scoring in the 48th minute when from around ten metres out and ten metres in from the right touchline, Isaac Togia ran to his left out of dummy half and proved far too strong for the Clydesdales defence to crash over under the posts.
Titans contracted Riley Buchanan on the weekend was named on the Northern Rivers Titans bench for the Week One Andrew Johns Cup Final against St George coming off the bench in the 20th minute to play in the front row and in the 27th minute Riley Buchanan made a strong fifteen metre effort from a penalty restart to get the ball near to the halfway mark.
Then in the 29th minute Riley Buchanan made a great charge from the St George kick-off to Zane Harrison’s 27th minute try with Riley Buchanan getting the ball twenty five metres out from his own try line.
The half-time break did not slow Riley Buchanan down with the young man making another strong charge after St George kick-off to get the second half underway with Riley Buchanan getting the ball over the twenty metre mark.
Riley Buchanan also executed some outstanding tackles against St George including a critical tackle on the St George lock in the 56th minute when he hit the St George player front on with the ball immediately coming loose and handing possession back to the Northern Rivers Titans with only a couple of minutes to go.
Riley Buchanan’s tackle came in the set of six after the Titans kicked-off after the St George try that gave then the lead. The critical nature of Riley Buchanan’s tackle became even more evident when you take into account that the Northern Rivers Titans regained and maintained the lead from the subsequent set of six tackles as a result of a Harry Chadburn’s try.
Earlier in the 39th minute Riley Buchanan executed a strong front on one on one tackle on the St George left second rower with the tackle stopping him cold only two metres out from the try line.
On Saturday for the Souths Logan Magpies, Titans contracted Corey Pe**** also continued at hooker and captain in Round Five against the Easts Tigers with Corey Pe**** scoring eight of the Magpies forty points from a try and two conversions. Corey Pe**** scored in the 37th minute when after moving into dummy half around a metre from the try line and ten metres in from the left touchline, Corey Pe**** moved out of dummy half to his right and threw a dummy in the same direction before diving over the line back to his left in the dead zone behind the play the ball.
Great to see Tony Francis named on the Titans extended bench for Round Four against the Wests Tigers.
Harry Chadburn started at fullback for the Northern Rivers Titans Week One Andrew Johns Cup Final side on the weekend against St George with Harry Chadburn putting in a two try player of the match performance to lead the Titans into the Grand Final on the back of a 20 – 16 victory, with Harry Chadburn’s 57th minute try being the match winner.
Harry Chadburn’s opening try came in just the 7th minute when on the right side of the field, Harry Chadburn ran onto a long pass from his right from right from Zane Harrison. After juggling the ball Harry Chadburn secured possession and raced twenty five metres to dive over a couple of metres in from the left corner.
The Northern Rivers Titans match winning try by Harry Chadburn came in the 57th minute when he positioned himself on the left side of the field and then cut back to the right, receiving an off-load from Reuben Tamariki how had made a half break with Harry Chadburn receiving the ball ten metres out, beating one defender and then forced himself over the line directly under the posts to give the Northern Rivers Titans back the lead that they ultimately held onto to qualify for the 2022 Andrew Johns Cup Grand Final.
Harry Chadburn was also heavily involved in the Blake Togo-Murphy’s 9th minute outstanding Titans team try. After Hudson Towell split the St George through the centre of the ruck from dummy half sixty metres out from the line, Harry Chadburn loomed up on his left and then burst away before getting the ball away to his left to Ricco Watititi who as able to get the ball back to the inside by way of an overhead pass to Zane Harrison who raced to twelve metres out before he got the pass away to his right for Blake Togo-Murphy to dive over near the left corner.
Harry Chadburn did not just score tries in the final he also saved them when he produced an outstanding try saving tackle in the 39th minute. The St George left centre split the Northern Rivers Titans right sided defensive line and only had Harry Chadburn to beat but even trying a left foot step was not enough to beat Harry Chadburn one on one with Harry Chadburn cutting him down with a great left shoulder low tackle three metres out from the try line.
Titans contracted Ryder Williams started at halfback for Tāmaki ki te Raki (North) as they beat Tāmaki ki te Rawhiti (East) in Round Three of the U16 Shaun Johnson Shield 16-10 to qualify for next weekend's final.
Multiple Titans palyers have been named in the squads for the QRL Positional Skills Day, including Zyroam Herlihy, Philip Hakaraia-Ngamotu, Bailey McConnell, Isaac Togia, Wailer Whaiapu, Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa and Joseph Pouniu.
This coming Sunday morning sees the gutsy young Northern Rivers Titans U16 Andrew Johns Cup side take on the Wests Tigers in the 2022 Grand Final.
This young side have been wonderful ambassadors for their team, their clubs and their region and of course themselves.
They will be smaller that their giant opposition from Sydney but no-one should doubt their heart and toughness.
The two sides played each other in Round One with the Northern Rivers Titans prevailing 22-20 on that occasion.
Titans contracted Larry Siala continued at left second row for the Ipswich Jets in Round Five of the MM Cup on Saturday against the Western Clydesdales and scored yet another powerful try from his left second row in the 43rd minute when after the Jets worked the ball to the left side of the field, Larry Siala from around eleven metres out flew onto a short ball from his right and no one and I mean no one was going to stop his as he dived over mid-way between the goal posts and corner post on the left side of the field.
Titans contracted Xavier Stowers will start in the front row in Round One of the Hastings Deering's Colts competition for the Souths Logan Magpies as they take on the Sunshine Coast Falcons.
Great to see Titans contracted Kaleb Ngamanu named in the Tweed Heads Seagulls Queensland Cup side on the wing for this weekend's Round Three against the Norths Devils.
If he is in the final 17 it is be Kaleb Ngamanu's Queensland Cup debut, bot bad at all for an 18 year old.
Tom Weaver will start at halfback for the Tweed Heads Seagulls Hastings Deering's Colts side in their Round One match this weekend against the Norths Devils.
Kywan Weir has moved up from Ballina for the 2022 season with the Titans contracted front rower named on the bench for the Tweed Heads Seagulls Hastings Deering's side Round One match against the Norths Devils.
Titans contracted Zane Harrison started at halfback and captain for the Northern Rivers Titans Week One Andrew Johns Cup Final against St George and scored in the 27th minute when he crossed ten metres in from the left touchline after prior good work from Cullun Bowles,
In just the 7th minute Zane Harrison threw a long cut-out pass to his left to put Harry Chadburn into a big gap with the fullback, after a juggle, racing twenty five metres to dive over in the left corner.
Zane Harrison also threw the final pass for Blake Togo-Murphy’s brilliant 9th minute team try. After Hudson Towell split the St George through the centre of the ruck from dummy half sixty metres out from the line, Harry Chadburn loomed up on his left and then burst away before getting the ball away to his left to Ricco Waiatiti who as able to get the ball back to the inside by way of an overhead pass to Zane Harrison who raced to twelve metres out before he got the pass away to his right for Blake Togo-Murphy to dive over near the left corner.
Titans Development contract holder Iszac Fa’asuamaleaui started on the Bears interchange bench for Round Two of the Queensland Cup against the Townsville Blackhawks, coming into the match mid-way through the opening half for his opening moments in the Queensland Cup.
To say that Iszac Fa’asuamaleaui had an outstanding Queensland Cup debut would be a major understatement. Playing twenty nine minutes Iszac Fa’asuamaleaui ran for an exceptional ninety three metres, forty five of which were post contact, broke two tackles, played the ball at an average speed of 4.13 seconds and made sixteen tackles, missing only one to record a debut tackling efficiency of 94.12%.
Tino has regularly noted that he believes that Iszac is the better of the two, I won’t go that far but with more performances will this one, it will not be too long before the two brothers are lining up next to each other in a Titans NRL side.
Tony Francis started on the right wing for Burleigh in Round Two of the Queensland Cup against the Townsville Blackhawks with Tony Francis scoring the match winning try with the last touch of the match. With time running down and the Bears down by two, a scrum was packed around thirty metres out near centre field with a Burleigh feed. Burleigh ran the ball to the right with Taine Tuaupiki taking the ball deep into the line before passing to Tony Francis around four metres out and right on the touchline, Tony Francis then fought his way over whilst being engaged by three defenders to miraculously getting the ball down in the right corner.
Earlier Tony Francis turned the match on its head with a seventy eight metre line break. With Burleigh down 12 – 6 and under immense pressure Tony Francis took it upon himself to flip that situation on its head when from a twenty metre restart Tony Francis ran to his left before straightening up and splitting the Blackhawks line between two defenders. It looked as if Tony Francis would run away to score but he was dragged down from behind just two metres from scoring what would have been a spectacular solo try.
Tony Francis literally could not have had an earlier impact on the match when he took the opening kick-off on the full in the right corner and got the ball back to the twenty metre mark before being awarded a penalty for being held down for too long in the tackle.
Playing the entire eighty minutes on the right wing Tony Francis ran for a team leading 193 metres (fifty four post contact), broke a team leading eight tackles, made a team leading two line breaks, played the ball at an average speed of 4.22 seconds and had a 100% tackling efficiency whilst making three tackles.
Great to see that Titans contracted Josiah Pahulu has been named the best junior player in Ipswich by the Courier Mail.
Recently Titans contracted Dom Sandow was named in the Met East U18 QSSRL School Boy Representative side out of Marsden SHS.
Beau Hartmann deservedly signed a contract with the Titans in March 2022 that will keep him with the Titans for the next couple of seasons.
The tall, fast and powerful Grafton Ghosts Group One U14 left centre or second rower (normally left sided in either position) 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 ctrossed 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.
Beau Hartmann also played for the Grafton Ghosts in 2020 in the Group One U13 competition, operating primarily in the centres including starting in the centres in the 2020 Group One U13 Grand Final against Ballina with Beau Hartmann starring in the Grafton’s Grand Final win, including scoring an impressive hat trick in a dominant display.
In the 2020 Group One U13 regular season Beau Hartmann scored fifteen tries including an outstanding four try effort in Round Five against the South Grafton Rebels. Beau Hartmann scored hat tricks in Rounds One and Ten, on both occasions against the Kyogle Turkeys. Beau Hartmann also scored doubles in Round Seven against South Grafton and Round Nine against Casino RSM and also scored in Round Three against Casino RSM.
Beau Hartmann also attends South Grafton High School and has been an impressive performer in Athletics and Swimming amongst other sports at various levels in addition to rugby league.
Young PBC backrower Nelson Makaafi deservedly signed a multi-year with the Titans in early 2022.
In 2022 Nelson Makaafi was part of the Titans Partnered PBC State High School Renouf Shield School Boy side and started the Grand Final at right second row against Marsden State High School and executed a key try saving tackle in the dying moments to preserve PBC SHS’s 8 – 4 lead which they ultimately held onto to for the remainder of the match.
Great effort by Titans contracted Dahnte Tw Whiu-Hopa to make the Met East U15 QSSRL School Boy Representative side.
Jimmy McCombie deservedly signed a multi-year contract with the Titans in early 2022.
The outstanding young centre prospect certainly had a 2021 season to remember and no doubt 2022 will see Jimmy McCombie continue to go from strength to strength on a football field in northern New South Wales and beyond in both rugby and rugby league.
Early in 2021 Jimmy McCombie captained from inside centre (No. 12) 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 as a result of his outstanding performances over the three days of the Tournament.
In addition in 2021 Jimmy McCombie at just 14 years old was named in the New South Wales Combined Catholic Colleges (NSWCCC) U15 school boy representative side. Jimmy McCombie started his 2021 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, excelling at all levels of the NSWCCC selection process, a great achievement for a young man a year younger than 99% of the other trialists.
Also in 2021 the Byron Bay Devils junior was selected in the New South Wales Country U14 Representative Rugby Side after dominating the trials whilst representing the North Coast U14 Representative Rugby Team.
From a club rugby perspective in 2021 Jimmy McCombie played a couple of matches for the Lennox Head Trojans in the Far North Coast U14 Rugby Competition including scoring a double from the outside centre position (No. 13) in Round Ten against Woollongbar Alstonville.
From a club rugby league perspective, in 2021 Jimmy McCombie played in the Group 18 U14 competition for Byron Bay/Lennox Heads.
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.
One intriguing name on the Tweed Heads Seagulls Hastings Deering’s Colts Round One team sheet for their match against the Norths Devils is winger Malakhi Donovan.
Malakhi had earlier in 2022 moved to Sydney to play for the Wests Tigers U19 SG Ball side after also playing in that competition for the Tigers in 2021 but the former Sawtell Panther is back in Northern NSW.
Malakhi Donovan has previously represented North Coast in the U18 Laurie Daley Cup competition and in 20219 was on the bench for the U16 NSW Kurri Representative side.
It is unfortunate that the match had to be postponed due to the weather conditions.
Titans contracted Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa made it a family affair in relation to his selection in the Met East School Boy Rugby League U18 Representative side after his younger brother and fellow Titan Dahnte Te Whiu-Hopa made the U15 Met East side.
Titans contracted Paul Turner on the weekend started at fullback for the Tweed Heads Seagulls in Round Two of the Queensland Cup against the Sunshine Coast Falcons once again playing the entire match. In that time Paul Turner ran for exactly 100 metres (twenty eight post contact), broke a team leading seven tackles, played the ball at an average speed of 4.56 seconds and made three tackles at a 100% tackling efficiency.
Over the weekend, Jojo Fifita started on the right wing in Round Two of the Queensland Cup against the Sunshine Coast Falcons and was once again outstanding including a number of try saving tackles in the Seagulls big win.
Playing the entire eighty minutes, Jojo Fifita ran for seventy six metres (thirty one post contact), broke two tackles, played the ball at an average speed of 3.69 seconds and recorded a 100% tackling efficiency whilst making eight tackles.
In Round Two of the GCRL U18 Division One competition Tawa Allen-Kerehi will start from the bench for Helensvale against the Currumbin Eagles.
When I saw Tawa Allen-Kerehi through the Keebra Park SHS system everyone will nod their head and say a good rugby league school but in fact Tawa Allen-Kerehi was in fact part of the Keebra Park elite basketball program.
Over the years more than a few young men from Western Australia have moved east to try their luck on the Gold Coast and this year sees another how has moved over in Hopepa-Tamati Taiatini Galvin-Dawson.
This weekend in Round Two of the GCRL U18 Division One competition for Burleigh against the Nerang Roosters Hopepa-Tamati Taiatini Galvin-Dawson will line up in the centres.
In Western Australia Hopepa-Tamati Taiatini Galvin-Dawson played five eight in rugby league and fly half in rugby.
Wauchope's Cooper Moreta has moved up to the Gold Coast and over the weekend will start from the bench for the Helensvale Hornets U20 side in their Round Two match against the Currumbin Eagles.
The Gold Coast is a destination for players players to come to to try to take the next step in their rugby league career and that is the case for former Snowy River Bear Nicholas Zusak who will start at halfback for the Burleigh GCRL u20 side in their Round Two match against Runaway Bay this weekend.
The 2022 Cyril Connell Cup season for Billy Wellard:
Round One of the 2022 U16 Cyril Connell Cup saw Billy Wellard named on the right wing for the Burleigh Bears against the Tweed Heads Seagulls with Billy Wellard scoring an outstanding long range solo try.
In the 32nd minute Billy Wellard came off his wing to take a hit-up just twenty five metres out from his own tryline with Billy Wellard slicing through the Seagulls defence before palming off the fullback with a strong right arm fend. From that point no one was going to catch him and Billy Wellard raced away to score under the posts.
Billy Wellard’s first major contrinution to the match came in the 9th minute when he scooped up an errant Seagulls pass and raced down the right touchline before cutting back inside with Billy Wellard only being brought down from behind just metres out from the try line.
Billy Wellard was also named on the right wing for Round Two against the Souths Logan Magpies and continued on the right wing in Round Three against the Norths Devils scoring a great try in the 38th minute when he tip toe’d down the right touch line after receiving a looped cut-out pass ten metres out to dive over to score a spectacular highlight reel diving try in the right corner.
Billy Wellard then continued on the right wing in Round Four against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls.
Billy Wellard was named in the centres for the Bears opening 2022 trial against the Tweed Heads Seagulls.
Kaleb Ngamanu has been confirmed for his Queensland Cup debut for the Tweed Heads Seagulls on Sunday against the Norths Devils.
DIEHARD
01-04-22, 09:33 PM
Northern Rivers inspired to make flood-ravaged communities proud
https://www.titans.com.au/news/2022/04/01/northern-rivers-inspired-to-make-flood-ravaged-communities-proud/
One of the Titans' core values is being relentless, and that sure has been shown south of the Tweed the past few weeks.
Especially for the Northern Rivers Titans in the Andrew Johns Cup, with the squad persisting through so much adversity, such as wild weather, floods and the tyranny of distance... but yet their resilience, desire and determination to succeed has resulted in the Under 16 side qualifying for this weekend's decider in Sydney.
Defying the critics to knock off minor premiers Illawarra 20-16 on their home turf in a courageous contest last Sunday, they now are matched against Macarthur in the big dance with the dream of bringing the silverware back to the Northern Rivers, much like they did back in 2019 with current Gold Coast Titan Tom Weaver, who was the side's halfback and captain in that successful conquest three years ago.
Coach Shaun Davidson - who also held the reins in 2019 - was pleased with his side's effort to remain in the contest against the hot favourites, after coming out of the blocks firing.
"It was a game of two halves where basically in the first half, we executed our game plan really well. Everything we spoke about in the video session and at training we sort of executed and we stuck to what we spoke about pre-game. I think we had a point to prove last week as well," Davidson said.
"I was really pleased to go into the sheds up 14-0, but then the second half was a whole different story... but we battled and stayed in the game.
"We had that one opportunity in the back-end of the second half and we were able to ice it, which was really pleasing to see that we were to capitalise on just that one opportunity to win the game."
With their opposition also getting through with a relatively close 22-16 against the Northern Tigers, the Northern Rivers mentor knows they'll need to hone in on their focus areas if they are going to achieve success in the big dance.
Although, they have beaten Macarthur once already this season - 22-20 in the season opener in Camden.
"They're a big, physical team," Davidson said.
"We're going to have make sure to focus on ball retention, getting through our sets, looking at field position, kick to the corners, defend really hard with our line speed and make good contact to make sure we we don't give them good field position and the majority of the ball because that's what's going to trouble us if we do that."
Away from the footy field, it's quite incredible the strength of character shown by this group of young men who have had to endure the seemingly never ending number of distractions - including the understandable emotional challenge of their community being severely inundated by flooding, causing widespread devastation.
"We had two kids impacted with the floods... not as bad as our Under 18s, but with everything that's going on and the awareness that they have, everyone knows someone that's lost everything or been impacted somehow," Davidson said.
"We had coaching staff impacted. Some staff couldn't get back to their houses from the Central Coast game for over a week.
"It's good that we get to still get to play footy and represent the Northern Rivers in a way that the Northern Rivers people can be really proud and wearing that Titans badge which is massive as well."
With players coming from Grafton, Maclean, Lismore, Casino, Ballina and Tweed Heads each week, the side typically only gets to train once a week without distractions, but it makes it even more inspirational they are in the decider with only one mid-week session under their belt in the whole month of March due to the wild wet weather.
It just typifies the relentlessness and desire to want to compete on the field for their mates week-in, week-out and do the Northern Rivers region proud.
"We've only had one field session in March as we train midweek. We only get together and train on Wednesday nights, so we don't train a lot. The Sydney teams like the West Tigers and Dragons... they train up to three times a week," Davidson said.
"In that regard, we're really under done, but I think that just shows the character of the team and the togetherness we do have.
"We're not getting through what we need to do with our sets and reps on the practice pitch, but we're still able to come through all this adversity and pull together and get the result each weekend."
The Gold Coast Titans wish the best of luck to the Northern Rivers Titans in the Under 16 Andrew Johns Cup grand final, kicking off at 10am on Sunday, April 3 at St Mary's Leagues Stadium in Sydney.
Marsden SHS's Taylan To'o has singed a multi-year contract with the Titans. Recently the powerful young lock was selected in the Met East U15 QSSRL School Boy Representative side.
Another Queensland CUp game, another try for Titans Tony Francis. He has now scored four tries in just three matches.
After missing Round Two of the Queensland Cup Titans contracted Lofi Khan-Pereira only took four minutes of Round Three to score for Burleigh as they defeated Redcliffe this afternoon.
Great first half for the Northern Rivers Titans side as they lead 14-10 at halftime in the 2022 U16 Andrew Johns Cup Grand Final.
Great first half for the Northern Rivers Titans side as they lead 14-10 at halftime in the 2022 U16 Andrew Johns Cup Grand Final.
Zane Harrsion with a last minute try and Callum Bowles with a conversion after the siren to win the Grand Final for the Titans 24-22.
GREAT EFFORT!
lonegull
03-04-22, 11:53 AM
Well done to these lads, faced obscurity getting there and have come out on top well deserved
Titanic
03-04-22, 02:03 PM
Yoo-hoo awesome from the lads
Round Three of the Queensland Cup against the Redcliffe Dolphins saw Burleigh’s Kai O’Donnell move back to start from the bench coming on to play fifty seven minutes. In that time Kai O’Donnell ran for 119 metres (forty three post contact), broke a tackle, played the ball at an average speed of 3.35 seconds and made a team leading thirty two tackles at a 91.43% tackling efficiency.
Burleigh’s Tristian Powell started in the front row in Round Three of the Queensland Cup against the Redcliffe Dolphins and in just his second Queensland Cup start was the best player in the field. Playing fifty one minutes, Tristian Powell ran for a team leading 174 metres, a team leading sixty three of which were post contact, broke a tackle, played the ball at an average speed of 3.41 seconds and made twenty tackles at a 90.91% tackling efficiency.
Iszac Fa’asuamaleaui yesterday came off the bench for Burleigh in Round Three of the Queensland Cup against the Redcliffe Dolphins playing thirty impressive minutes.
In that time Iszac Fa’asuamaleaui ran for seventy seven metres (twenty nine post contact), broke four tackles, played the ball at an average speed of 3.68 seconds and made nineteen tackles at a tackling efficiency of 90.48%.
Hail Sezer
03-04-22, 05:21 PM
Burleigh’s Tristian Powell started in the front row in Round Three of the Queensland Cup against the Redcliffe Dolphins and in just his second Queensland Cup start was the best player in the field. Playing fifty one minutes, Tristian Powell ran for a team leading 174 metres, a team leading sixty three of which were post contact, broke a tackle, played the ball at an average speed of 3.41 seconds and made twenty tackles at a 90.91% tackling efficiency.
Performing as good as any 20 year old middle I’ve seen at Qcup. Hope the Titans throw him another gig.
Great to see Titans contracted Zane Harrison named player of the match in the Northern Rivers Titans great 24-22 Andrew Johns Cup Grand Final victory this morning.
After missing Round Two due to a head knock suffered in Round One, Titans contracted Lofi Khan-Pereira was back for Burleigh for Round Three of the Queensland Cup yesterday, starting on the left wing against the Redcliffe Dolphins. Lofi Khan-Pereira had to wait only four minutes to score when he followed through a kick to his wing. Lofi Khan-Pereira’s speed got him to the ball first but a high bounce saw Lofi Khan-Pereira have to reach above his head but he maintained his composure to them keep his feet in the in-goal and ground the ball a fraction before the dead ball line.
Lofi Khan-Pereira played all eighty minutes, running for ninety six metres (thirty eight post contact), broke three tackles, played the ball at ana average speed of 3.23 seconds and made four tackles.
Round Three of the Queensland Cup saw Titans contracted Tony Francis continue on the right wing for Burleigh against the Redcliffe Dolphins with Tony Francis scoring the fourth try of his fledging Queensland Cup career in the 50th minute when after receiving a pass from his inside from Taine Tuaupiki three metres from the line and in limited space on the right touchline, Tony Francis dived full length to the ball in his right hand, getting the ball down in the right corner before the defence was able to knock him into touch.
Playing all eighty minutes Tony Francis ran for eighty one metres (twenty five post contact), broke two tackles, played the ball at an average speed of 3.96 seconds and made five tackles at an 87% tackling efficiency.
One player who made an impression in his first Gold Coast Rugby League U18 Division One match was Mudgeeraba Redbacks lock Xzqualix Patelesio-Faamausili who score a powerful try in the second half of Round Two against Southport Tigers when he was just too big and strong for the Tigers defence in the second half bursting over on the left side of the field.
Xzqualix Patelesio-Faamausili has moved to the Gold Coast from the Darling Downs where he was a standout rugby Inside centre (No. 13) for Downlands College as well as playing representative rugby.
Burleigh’ Round Six Mm Cup match on the weekend was a match for MM Cup debutants with left centre Kyen Murphy and right winger Filisi Frost scoring on debut.
Kyen Murphy scored in the 49th and 55th minutes and Filisi Frost diving over in the right corner in the 52nd minute.
Round One of the 2022 Hastings Deering’s Colts competition on the weekend saw Sam McIntyre named at left second row for the Burleigh Bears as they got their season underway against the Redcliffe Dolphins.
Sam McIntyre was one of the two Burleigh try scorers in the match with Sam McIntyre scoring in the 56th minute. Sam McIntyre was positioned to the left of a scrum with a Burleigh feed approximately twenty metres out. After some good work on his inside from Caleb Gould-Waiariki charged onto the ball, forcing his way over the line between two Dolphins defenders to score ten metres in from the left corner post.
One of the Northern Rivers Titans U16 Andrew Johns Cup sides hardest workers this season has been Noah Waldock and it was great to see him start on the right wing in the 2022 U16 Andrew Johns Cup Grand Final against the Wests Tigers with Noah Waldock making a key line break in the 46th minute from a Northern Rivers Tians scrum win just twenty metres out from his own line. Noah Waldock was able to break three tackles whilst running forty metres downfield before being caught. Noah Waldock’s effort set up a key try for Billy Kilduff on the final tackle of the set of set that Noah Waldock got off to such a great start.
Round One of the 2022 Hastings Deering’s Colts competition over the weekend saw Caleb Gould-Waiariki named on the Burleigh extended bench for their match against the Redcliffe Dolphins however a late change saw Caleb Gould-Waiariki start the match at five eight.
In a tough loss Caleb Gould-Waiariki had some good moments including in the 56th minute when after reeving the ball to the left of a Burleigh scrum win approximately twenty metre out from the line, he skipped to his left and threw a good short ball in the same direction to Sam McIntyre who was able to force his way over the line.
Around ten minute earlier Caleb Gould-Waiariki made a fifty five metre line break after running onto a good off-load from Samuel Shannon and after Caleb Gould-Waiariki effected a quick play the ball Burleigh scored from the next play through right winger Kalani Skipps.
One of a number of unsung hero’s for the Northern Rivers Titans U16 Andrew Johns Cup Grand Final winning side this season has been Isaac Harrison who started at lock in the 2022 U16 Andrew Johns Cup Grand Final against the Wests Tigers with Isaac Harrison recording a 23rd minute line break assist in the Titans great last minute 24 – 22 Grand Final victory when after a good run he was able to off-load to his right to Jackson Bennett who broke away down the right channel to get the ball over the halfway mark.
Isaac Harrison showed what he is all about in the 39th minute with a desperate covering tackle on his opposite number to force the ball loose just twenty metres out from the try line.
The weekend’s Round One of the 2022 Hastings Deering’s Colts competition saw Tuvalli Khan-Pereira named at right centre for the Burleigh Bears as they got their season underway against the Redcliffe Dolphins.
In the 43rd minute Tuvalli Khan-Pereira set up Burleigh’s first try of the match (and season) when he took the ball deep into the defensive line on the right side of the field and when the Dolphins left winger was drawn towards him Tuvalli Khan-Pereira produced a great right arm flick off-load to put Kalani Skipps over to score.
Billy Kilduff started at right second row for the Northern Rivers Titans in the 2022 U16 Andrew Johns Cup Grand Final against the Wests Tigers with Billy Kilduff scoring a key second half try of the Norther Rivers Titans in their great 24 – 22 Grand Final victory.
In the 47th minute Callum Bowles after receiving the ball to the right of the play the ball around twelve metres out and in front of the posts, he stepped back to his left to gain separation before putting in a right foot stab kick to his right into the in-goal. The ball was initially collected by the Wests Tigers fullback but as he was trying to bring the ball out of the in-goal he suffered a head clash with another Tigers player with the ball spilling loose and into the path of Billy Kilduff who placed his hand on the ball to be awarded a key try mid-way between the goal post and corner post on the right side of the field.
Callum Bowles started at five eight for the Northern Rivers Titans in the 2022 U16 Andrew Johns Cup Grand Final against the Wests Tigers, kicking the match winning goal after the final siren from five metres to the left of the uprights to give the Northern Rivers Titans a great 24 – 22 great Grand Final victory.
Callum Bowles also had kicked a previous conversion in the match in the 26th minute when he converted Hudson Towell’s try.
Callum Bowles also recorded two try assists in the Grand Final, the first coming in the 13th minute he put in a right foot cross kick towards the right wing which was taken by Jackson Bennett to score wide out on the right.
Callum Bowles recorded his second try assist in the 47th minute when after receiving the ball to the right of the play the ball around twelve metres out and in front of the posts, he stepped back to his left to gain separation before putting in a right foot stab kick to his right into the in-goal. The ball was initially collected by the Wests Tigers fullback but as he was trying to bring the ball out of the in-goal he suffered a head clash with another Tigers player with the ball spilling loose and into the path of Billy Kilduff who placed his hand on the ball to be awarded a key try mid-way between the goal post and corner post on the right side of the field.
Callum Bowles made a great run of his own in the 36th minute with a winding run of fifteen metres out of his own twenty metre area and Callum Bowles was then awarded a penalty for Wests Tigers interference in the play the ball.
Harry Chadburn started at fullback for the Northern Rivers Titans in the 2022 U16 Andrew Johns Cup Grand Final against the Wests Tigers with Harry Chadburn scoring the Northern Rivers Titans opening try in their great heart stopping Grand Final success.
In the 20th minute Harry Chadburn inserted himself into the Northern Rivers Titans backline on the left side of the field and after receiving a cut out pass in space from Zane Harrison, harry Chadburn dummied to his left to create room to slice through the defensive line before producing a great left foot step to leave the Tigers fullback grasping at thin air to cross the line and score ten metres to the left of the uprights.
Harry Chadburn made a significant contribution to the Northern Rivers Titans cause in just the 11st minute when he along with Ricco Watititi held up the Wests Tigers right centre to prevent the Tigers getting away to a big lead early in the match.
When the opposition makes a line break, the loneliest person on the field is the opposition fullback and Harry Chadburn found himself in that position on a number of occasions in the Grand Final but he stood up to the challenge on each occasions. The first of the said occasions came in the 36th minute when very close to his own line he brought down his opposite number with a great low tackle.
Then again in the 38th minute Harry Chadburn was faced with the same situation and once again he stood his ground and brought down the Wests Tigers No. 14 with a great low one on one tackle after he had split the line.
Harry Chadburn continued his great defensive match in the 42nd minute when he along with Ricco Watititi chased a Titans clearing kick downfield and was able to force the Wests Tigers right winger six metres backwards in a dominant tackle.
In 2022 Titans contracted Jeremaiah Temapo is once again playing for the Nerang Roosters GCRL U18 Division One side once again and in Round Two against the Burleigh Bears Jeremaiah Temapo was named at left centre with Jeremaiah Temapo getting his 2022 GCRL U18 Division One season underway by scoring a hat trick.
Jeremaiah Temapo only had to wait until the 2nd minute of the match to score his opening try when he crashed over from nine metres out wide out on the left after good work on his inside by halfback Zinzan Kahu.
Jeremaiah Temapo’s second try came in the 9th minute when with the play the ball a metre out from the line and a minute in from the left touchline, Jeremaiah Temapo who as at dummy half took a step to his right before throwing an extravagant dummy in the same direction before forcing his way over the line.
Jeremaiah Temapo completed his hat trick in the 59th minute. Jeremaiah Temapo received the ball around six metres out and three metres in from the left touchline whilst he was stationary. Once he received the ball however Jeremaiah Temapo was anything but, pushing off one defenders and then spinning 360 degrees counter clockwise to gain separation from two more defenders before crashing over before three more defenders who parked themselves on the try line with jeremaiah Temapo getting the ball down five metres in from the left corner.
Titanic
05-04-22, 09:27 AM
Did anyone else notice that in a Saints & Sinners article yesterday praising the win of the Northern Rivers Titans by Buzz Rothfield that he didn’t use the “Titans” name at all, just calling them Northern Rivers and even when mentioning they had to borrow jerseys (no mention of from us) because of flood damage to theirs. How childish.
Ricco Watititi started at left centre for the Northern Rivers Titans in the 2022 U16 Andrew Johns Cup Grand Final against the Wests Tigers and what a match the young man had including making the line break and subsequently off-load in the last minute of the match to put Zane Harrison over for the Grand Final winning try.
In the 59th minute and with just twenty seconds left in the Grand Final the ball was spun out to the left with Ricco Watititi receiving the ball around sixty five metres from the try line, Ricco Watititi immediately got on the outside of his opposing defender before barging over another defender, then a left arm fend beat another before Ricco Watititi raced thirty five metres downfield. When confronted by the fullback, Ricco Watititi beat him with a left foot step before being engaged by two cover defenders.
Ricco Watititi continued to fight in the tackle and was spun around with his back to the try line but that did not stop Ricco Watititi who continued to make ground moving backwards before he got his right arm free and with his right arm above his head got the ball away inside to his right to Zane Harrison who raced fifteen metres to score five metres from the left upright to tie the scores. Callum Bowles after the siren conversion then won the Grand Final for the Titans in dramatic fashion.
Just minutes earlier in the 57th minute Ricco Watititi made another line break down the left touchline from sixty metres out, racing twenty five metres before off-loading to the inside to Zane Harrison who made another twenty metres before being brought to ground.
Ricco Watititi made a significant contribution to the Northern Rivers Titans cause in just the 11th minute when he along with Harry Chadburn held up the Wests Tigers right centre to prevent the Tigers getting away to a big lead early in the match.
Ricco Watititi continued his great defensive match in the 42nd minute when he along with Harry Chadburn chased a Titans clearing kick downfield and was able to force the Wests Tigers right winger six metres backwards in a dominant tackle.
Titans contracted Riley Buchanan started from the bench for the Northern Rivers Titans in the 2022 U16 Andrew Johns Cup Grand Final against the Wests Tigers, coming on around the 21st minute to play in the front row.
Riley Buchanan’s impact on the match was almost immediate when in the 26th minute he produced a great front on driving tackle on the West Tigers No. 16 after an earlier scuffle between the same two players.
With the Northern Rivers Titans leading 14 – 10 at the halftime break, Riley Buchanan got the Titans off to the best possible start in the second half with a strong run from the kick-off and then he took a further hit-up on the 4th tackle of the same set of set six to get the ball over the halfway mark, all the way to the forty metre mark.
Riley Buchanan also ran the ball very hard into the teeth of the giant Wests Tigers forward pack in the Grand Final including a great run in the 40th minute when he charged onto the ball to the right of the play the ball, making twelve metres to get the ball thirty metres out from his own try line.
In the final minutes of the Grand Final with the Northern Rivers Titans down, Riley Buchanan took it upon himself to lead from the front and a sequence of three outstanding tackles by Riley Buchanan in the dying minutes were significant contributors to the Titans great victory.
The first of the three great tackles by Riley Buchanan came in the 53rd minute when he executed a big front on tackle on the Wests Tigers lock stopping him in his tracks. Then in the 55th minute Riley Buchanan belted the Tigers halfback who was sniping around the field just ten metres from the try line.
The third and final tackle of the trifecta, and most important came in the 58th minute and let’s be honest, if Riley Buchanan had not made the type of tackle that he did, the Northern Rivers Titans would not have won the Grand Final. With the seconds running down and the Titans four points down, the West Tigers played the ball just two metres from the try line with their dummy half bringing the giant No. 23 onto the ball looking for him to crash over under the posts to seal the match.
Riley Buchanan however had other ideas and flew off the line to the left of the West Tigers runner and smashed him with a left shoulder hit the shook the whole ground. The staggering hit was just too much for the Wests Tigers interchange forward with the ball flying loose on contact with the Northern Rivers Titans retrieving the ball on their own line.
Titans contracted Zane Harrison started at halfback and captain for the Northern Rivers Titans in the 2022 U16 Andrew Johns Cup Grand Final against the Wests Tigers. On the back of scoring in the final minute of the Northern Rivers Titans exceptional 24 – 22 Grand Final victory, Zane Harrison was named Player of the Grand Final.
In the final minute of the match with only thirty seconds left Zane Harrison threw a long cut-out pass to his left to put Ricco Watititi into space around sixty five metres from the line. Ricco Watititi charged down the left touchline and after getting to around fifteen metres out, Ricco Watititi was able to get his right arm free and off-load the ball above his head with his back to the try line to Zane Harrison who flew onto the ball. Zane Harrison then stepped off his left foot to beat one desperate West Tigers defender and then there was no stopping Zane Harrison who then dived over to score the match winning try five metres to the left of the uprights.
Just minute earlier than his last minute heroics Zane Harrison ran off another Ricco Watititi after the left centre had burst away down the left touchline with Ricco Watititi off-loading to Zane Harrison to his inside with Zane Harrison able to make a further twenty metres downfield.
Zane Harrison’s first strong run of the Grand Final came in the 12th minute when against the giant Wests Tigers lock, Zane Harrison from deep inside his own territory as able to make sixteen metres, the majority of which was post contact, before being awarded a penalty to get the Titans out of their own territory. Then in the 16th minute Zane Harrison made a line break that accounted for twenty three metres to get the ball inside Tigers territory after a good run down the left channel.
Zane Harrison was also great defensively in the Grand Final with the first of a number of great tackles coming in the 32nd minute with a driving front on tackle on the Wests lock forward who had charged at Zane Harrison from a penalty restart with the quality and intensity of Zane Harrison’s tackle forcing the ball loose and giving the Titans the subsequent scrum feed.
A great one on one battle is looming this weekend in Round Four of the Queensland Cup with Jojo Fifita on the right wing for Tweed Heads and Lofi Khan-Pereira on the left for Burleigh.
After missing Round One of the Hastings Deering's Colts competition, it is great to see Titans contracted front rower Isaac Matalavea-Booth named to start from the bench for the Burleigh Colts side as they take on local rivals the Tweed Heads Seagulls on Sunday.
Reico Ratana continued at lock in Round Six of the MM Cup for the Bears on the weekend against the Norths Devils with Reico Ratana scoring the opening try of the match in just the 6th minute when from around five metres out Reico Ratana charged onto a pass to the left of the dummy half to crash over next to the right upright.
As a result of his outstanding performance Reico Ratana was named on the bench in the MM Cup Round Six Courier Mail Team of the Week in Round Six.
What a debut Queensland Cup season Titans NRL Development contract holder Tony Francis is having for Burleigh as a 20 year old.
After three rounds Tony Francis is second on the try scoring tally with four, equal first in line breaks with five and third in tackle breaks with fifteen.
In Round Three of the Queensland Cup Charlie Murray started from the bench for the Tweed Heads Seagulls against the Norths Devils coming on to play twenty nine minutes. In that time Charlie Murray ran for sixty three metres (thirty four post contact), broke a tackle, played the ball at an average speed of 3.25 seconds and made twenty five tackles at a tackling efficiency of 92.59%.
Round One of the 2022 Hastings Deering’s Colts competition saw Charlie Murray named to start at lock for the Tweed Heads Seagulls as they got their season underway against the Norths Devils however the match was postponed due to the extreme weather conditions in northern New South Wales.
Eli Tuli was named to come off the bench in Round Six against the Norths Devils but in the tactical change by the Tweed Heads Seagulls saw Eli Tuli moved into the starting side in the front row.
Eli Tuli had easily his best match of the season with some great charges including in the 45th minute when from the right of the dummy half Eli Tuli charged onto the ball forty metres out from the line and was able to get the ball within twenty five metres of the try line before the Devils defence was eventually able to get him to ground.
Eli Tuli made a further great charge in the 49th minute when he ran back underneath Josh Lynn from thirty five metres out to get the ball inside the attacking twenty metre mark and directly in front of the posts after beating two tackles along the way.
As a result of his outstanding performance Eli Tuli was named on the bench in the MM Cup Round Six Courier Mail Team of the Week in Round Six.
The weekends Round Six MM Cup match against the Redcliffe Dolphins saw Burleigh’s Taniela Mapusua-Lotaki named on the bench against the Redcliffe Dolphins however a late change saw Taniela Mapusua-Lotaki start the match on the left wing with his first touch of the match coming inside the opening minute when he took a penalty tap restart near halfway.
Taniela Mapusua-Lotaki continued his strong start to the match in the 3rd minute when he made a strong twelve metre run to get the ball to near the halfway mark. Then in the 29th minute Taniela Mapusua-Lotaki came off his left wing to take a hit-up on the right side of the field with Taniela Mapusua-Lotaki’s run bringing the ball out from his own thirty metre line to get the ball a further twelve metres downfield.
Burleigh’s Jayviah Nomotu made his MM Cup debut over the weekend in Round Six against the Redcliffe Dolphins when he started at right centre with Jayviah Nomotu having some good moments in his debut including a strong run of ten metres in the 28th minute down a wide right blindside off a Burleigh scrum win near halfway.
Jayviah Nomotu made a further strong run in the 54th minute when he was able to make twelve metres down a short right blindside.
The MM Cup’s Round Six match against the Redcliffe Dolphins saw Burleigh’s Dorian Mapusua-Lotaki named on the bench against the Redcliffe Dolphins however a late tactical change saw Dorian Mapusua-Lotaki start the match at left centre with the late position change not impacting on Dorian Mapusua-Lotaki’s ability to score as he did in the 34th minute when after he received an off-load around three metres out and near the left touchline, Dorian Mapusua-Loatki cut back to his right past where he had received the pass from and got low to burrow his way over the line to get the ball down around eleven metres in from the left corner.
Even though he was playing at left centre, Dorian Mapusua-Lotaki’s initial contribution to the match came when he ran out of dummy half to his right making twelve metres.
Dorain Mapusua-Lotaki executed an outstanding piece of play in the 9th minute when after Bailey McConnell put up a high pinpoint bomb that came down five metres from the line with the height of the kick enabling Dorain Mapusua-Lotaki to race through a force the Norths fullback back into the in-goal to force a goal line drop out.
After missing a number of rounds Titans contracted Immanuel Kalekale was named on the bench for Burleigh in Round Six of the MM Cup against the Redcliffe Dolphins with Immanuel Kalekale coming onto the field to play in the front row late in the first half. Immanuel Kalekale’s first run came in the 31st minute and it was definitely worth the wait as he charged at the line before cutting back towards his left slightly to make twenty strong metres to get within eight metres of the try line with the majority of the run being accounted for with post contact metres.
Titans contracted Wailer Whaiapu started at lock for the Burleigh Bears in Round Six of the MM Cup against the Redcliffe Dolphins and inside the opening minute of the match showcased his improved passing game when after receiving the ball to the left of the play the ball around thirty metres from his own line, Wailer Whaiapu drew two defenders in the front line to him and popped a good short ball to his left to a charging Josiah Pahulu who as a result made twelve metres downfield on just the second tackle of the match.
Great to see the Titans sign Keebra Park SHS's Anton Whaiapu to the end of 2023. This season Anton played for the Burleigh CC Cup side.
Anton's older brother Wailer Whaiapu is also a Titans contracted player.
Titans contracted Izayah Petrichvich who played for the Burleigh Bears U16 Cyril Connell Cup side this season also plays basketball and on Monday night he played for Disney in Round Seven in the 2022 Gold Coast Basketball Men's Division Two competition, scoring four points from one two point shot and two free throws in a 41-35 loss.
In the Men's Division Two competition so far this season Izayah Petrichvich has played in four matches, scoring 29 points to average 8.25 points per game with his best match coming in his first match of the season when he scored 13 points against the Wolfpack from five two point field goals and one three pointer.
Izayah Petrichvich has also played one match in the Gold Coast Basketball U17 Division One competition being Round One when he led his Inferno's team in scoring with 16 points from five two point field goals and two three point baskets in an eight point loss against the Vipers.
In the GC Basketball U17 Division One Grading matches Izayah Petrichvich played three matches, scoring twenty six points from thirteen two point baskets.
Over the weekend for the Tweed Heads Seagulls, Titans contacted Josh Lynn continued at halfback in Round Six of the MM Cup against the Norths Devils licking two conversions being in the 6th minute to convert Reico Ratana’s try and then in the 50th minute to convert Kyen Murphy’s debut try in his debut MM Cup match.
Two Josh Lynn kicks in the second half led to two tries for Mm Cup debutant Kyen Murphy, the first coming in the 49th minute when down a wide left blindside Josh Lynn put in a right foot chip kick which was initially taken by the Norths fullback but left centre Kyen Murphy raced through and then affected a one on one steal and scoring wide out on the left.
The second of Josh Lynn’s kicks that resulted in a Kyen Murphy try came just six minutes later in the 55th minute. Once again Josh Lynn received the ball around twenty metres out down a wide blindside but on this occasion he ran to the line before putting in a right foot stab kick with Kyen Murphy beating the Norths defence to with Kyen Murphy putting the ball down comfortably in the left corner.
Titans contracted Arama Hau was named at lock for Burleigh for Round Six of the MM Cup against the Redcliffe Dolphins however a late tactical change saw Arama Hau start the match at right second row.
Arama Hau’s first strong run of the match came in just the second minute when Arama Hau received the ball to the left of the play the ball eighteen metres out, stepping off his left foot to beat the initial defender that confronted him but Arama Hau just kept pushing forward getting all of the way forward to two metres out near the left corner.
Arama Hau made a further strong charge in the third minute when he broke three tackles in a seventeen metre run down a left blindside. Then in the 7ht minute Arama Hau surged sixteen metres down the left channel to get the ball thirty eight metres away from the try line.
In the 28th minute Arama Hau ran the ball to the right of the play the ball with the run commencing near halfway. Two right foot steps of Arama Hau’s beat Devils defenders with Arama Hau then rumbled eighteen metres downfield however his off-load to his left unfortunately went to ground.
Late in the match Arama Hau almost set up a try for Bailey McConnell when after engaging the Redliffe right side defensive line Arama Hau got his right arm free to off-load to his left to Bailey McConnell around fifteen metres from the line but the Bears halfback was dragged down just short of the try line.
Last weekends MM Cup Round Six match against the Tweed Heads Seagulls saw Norths and Titans contracted Shannon Subritzky-Stewart start at right centre with Shannon Subritzky-Stewart scoring the match sealing try of the Devils in the 65th minute when he charged onto a pass from his inside eight metres out from the line on the right side of the field and he was just too much for the defence to crash over eight metres in from the right corner post.
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Great to see Marymount Collage playing Marsden SHS on Saturday before the Titans NRL match against the Eels. A great experience for the players and a great ide by the Titans.
Titans contracted Bailey McConnell was named to continue at halfback for Burleigh in Round Six of the MM Cup against the Redcliffe Dolphins but a late change saw Bailey McConnell start the match at five eight and scored in the 4th minute when he received the ball to the left of the dummy half around ten metres down a short blindside. Upon receipt of the ball, Bailey McConnell dummied to his left before sliding through the resultant gap to score seven metres in from the left corner.
Bailey McConnell almost scored a second try in the dying moments of the match when he ran onto a good right arm off-load from Arama Hau and from around fifteen metres out raced for the left corner but was dragged down just short of the line with the referee adjudging that Bailey McConnell had lost possession of the ball in the tackle.
Bailey McConnell took the defensive line on also in the 54th minute when down a wide left blindside, Bailey McConnell stepped off his left foot to beat one defender, making around ten metres before he was taken to ground.
Bailey McConnell had a strong match from a kicking perspective against the Dolphins with his initial good kick coming in the 4th minute when from twelve metres out and to the right of the play the ball Bailey McConnell put in a right foot grubber kick into the in-goal which had to be grounded in the in-goal by Norths after a great chase of the kick by Joseph Shannon with Burleigh getting the ball back from a Devils goal line drop out.
Bailey McConnell executed another outstanding tactical kick in the 9th minute when he put up a high pinpoint bomb that came down five metres from the line with the height of the kick enabling Dorain Mapusua-Lotaki to race through a force the Norths fullback back into the in-goal to force a goal line drop out.
Round Three of the 2022 Queensland Cup competition saw Titans contracted Kaleb Ngamanu named to start on the left wing for his debut match for the Tweed Heads Seagulls against the Norths Devils with Kaleb Ngamanu having a very very solid Queensland Cup debut.
Playing the entire eighty minutes Kaleb Ngamanu ran for ninety two metres (forty nine post contact), made a line break, played the ball at an average speed of 3.26 seconds and made eight tackles at a 100% tackling efficiency.
Titans contracted Joseph Shannon moved back into the Burleigh starting side in the front row for Round Six of the MM Cup against the Redcliffe Dolphins with Joseph Shannon taking the opening hit-up from the match from the kick off and was able to get the ball to the twenty metre mark.
Joseph Shannon showed real determination and effort in the 4th minute when he chased a Bailey McConnell grubber kick through into the in-goal, forcing the Norths defender to ground the ball in-goal with Burleigh getting the ball back from a Devils goal line drop out.
The 4th minute saw Joseph Shannon once again charged into the defensive line with no thought of self-preservation when after Norths dropped out from their goal line, Joseph Shannon received the ball on the halfway mark and was able to make twenty metres straight through the middle of the Norths forward pack.
I do not think that I have ever seen a match that Joseph Shannon has played in where he has not been able to get away an effective off-load and the Redcliffe match was no exception when in the 47th minute after taking the defensive line on Joseph Shannon got away a left arm off-load when he was six metres from the try line and directly in front of the goal posts.
Jojo Fifita continued on the right wing for the Tweed Heads Seagulls in Round Three of the Queensland Cup against the Norths Devils with Jojo Fifita scoring in the 12th minute when he raced forward and leapt above the Norths left sided defenders to take the cross kick on the full and crash over ten metres in from the right corner.
Playing all eighty minutes of the match, Jojo Fifita ran for a team leading 136 metres (forty six post contact), made a line break, broke two tackles, played the ball at an average speed of 3.71 seconds and made five tackles.
Titans contracted Josiah Pahulu continued in the front row for Burleigh in Round Six of the Mm Cup against the Redcliffe Dolphins with Josiah Pahulu scoring a deserved try in the 29th minute. With Burleigh playing the ball less than a metres from the try line, Josiah Pahulu lined up to the right of the play the ball, receiving a short pass from the dummy half which came to him just over his left shoulder with the direction of the pass forcing Josiah Pahulu to turn completely around to have his back to the try line. That did not deter Josiah Pahulu however as he backed his way towards the line. As he got to the line, Josiah Pahulu spun to his left to get the ball down right on the try line and just to the left of the uprights.
Josiah Pahulu’s first hit-up was the second of the match with Josiah Pahulu making twelve metres by way of a half break after he had a received a good short ball from his right from Wailer Whaiapu. As is his want Josiah Pahulu was looking for a quick play the ball and after being denied that opportunity was awarded a deserved penalty.
Josiah Pahulu continued his strong start to the match in the 8th minute with a fifteen metre charge from a penalty restart with his run into the Dolphins set defensive line commencing on his own twenty metre mark.
In the 25th minute Josiah Pahulu took on the Devils defensive line one again in the 25th minute when after receiving the ball twenty two metres from the try line, Josiah Pahulu broke three tackles as he got to within three minutes of the try line directly in front of the goal posts.
I have noted a number of outstanding runs from Josiah Pahulu but probably Josiah Pahulu’s best run of the match came in the 50th minute when from a penalty tap restart he broke five tackles in a twenty five metre charge with Josiah Pahulu getting the ball from inside his own territory to just thirty metres from the line.
As a result of his outstanding performance Josiah Pahulu was once again named in the front row in the MM Cup Round Six Courier Mail Team of the Week in Round Six.
Brent Barnes has been named on the left wing in the 2022 Hastings Deering’s Colts Round Two local derby against the Burleigh Bears and he comes into the match in try scoring form after scoring a double for Helensvale in Round Two of the Gold Coast Rugby League First Grade competition against the Ormeau Shearers, scoring a double in the Hornets four point win.
The first of his tries came in the 12th minute when after a kick was put through to the right wing, Brent Barnes chased the ball through and just prior to the Ormeau fullback taking possession Brent Barnes kicked the ball past him with his right foot. With the ball sitting up perfectly for Brent Barnes to collect on the try line. Brent Barnes then brought the ball all of the way around to put it down under the goal posts.
Brent Barnes completed his double in the 37th minute when he was operating on the left wing compared to the right wing where he had scored his first try of the match. From a Helensvale tap restart from a penalty inside the attacking twenty, Helensvale took advantage of the Shearers getting their numbers totally wrong with Brent Barnes receiving the ball around eight metres out and easily got to the try line and shaped to put the ball down near the left corner with his right hand. At the last minute however Brent Barnes accelerated around a defender who had assumed the Brent Barnes would put the ball down, with Brent Barnes bringing the ball around twenty metres closer to the goal posts.
Titans contracted Hayden Taewa starts in the second row tonight for Bilambil in Round One of the U18 NRRRL competition against Murwillumbah.
With Tweed Heads and Burleigh playing each other in the MM Cup, Hastings Deering’s Colts and Queensland Cup competitions, there are a number of outstanding individual match-ups that I am looking forward to including in the front row in the MM Cup match with Titans contracted Bears pair Josiah Pahulu and Joseph Shannon up against Titans contacted Tweed Heads front rower and captain Nicholas Hilton.
Two members of the 2021 Tweed Heads Seagulls Cyril Connell Cup side once again line up as team mates this weekend for the Ormeau Shearers U18 Division One side that takes on the Currumbin Eagles with Teina- Kore Makakea lining up on the wing and Sang Nguyen starting from the bench.
Former Victorian rugby league junior Loko Junior Pasifiki Tonga plays his first U18 Division One match this weekend when he starts from the bench for the Ormeau Shearers in Round Three against the Currumbin Eagles.
2021 Northlands (NZ) U20 representative Tytan Semonoff has been named to start at fullback this weekend for the Ormeau Shearers U20 side in their GCRL Round Three match against the Currumbin Eagles.
He is joined by fellow 2021 Northlands representative Quiahn Pritchard who will start in the front row.
I am looking forward to seeing the Tweed Heads Seagulls Hastings Deering’s Colts starting forward pack play against the Burleigh Bears, with all six Titans contracted players, being front rowers Jack Cullen and Ben Liyou second rowers, Klese Haas and Jayden Wright, lock Brock Priestley and hooker Oscar Bryant.
The Round Two Tweed Heads Seagulls Hastings Deering’s Colts centre paring go into the local derby match against the Burleigh Bears in great form after both Kaleb Ngamanu (left wing) and Caleb Hodges (bench) played in Round Three of the Queensland Cup the week prior.
I am looking forward to seeing Keebra Park SHS's Waaka Hepi line-up at right second row today for the Nerang Roosters in their Round Three GCRL U18 Division One match against Helensvale.
The young man arrived on the Coast from Western Australia early last year and has gone from strength to strength since.
A fortnight from today the TSS First XV side which will feature a Titan or two, including standout No. 8 Nicholas Hilton will play their first match of the 2022 season when they play the The Kings School Parramatta.
The Titans have had quite a few players come through the outstanding TSS school program going all the way back to the likes of Jai Whitbread, all of the way through to Kaleb Ngamanu who was the TSS Rugby Captain in 2021 and at just 18 recently made his Queensland Cup debut.
Titans contracted Xavier Stowers takes the field tomorrow for the Souths Logan Magpies in Round Two of the Hastings Deering's Colts competition and the Norths Devils when he starts in the front row.
The 2022 Cyril Connell Cup season for Ayden Byrnes:
After missing the opening rounds of the 2022 Cyril Connell Cup competition Ayden Byrnes was named at hooker for Round Four against the Easts Tigers and had a great debut including scoring the Seagulls opening try in the 27th minute. Ayden Byrnes moved into dummy half around six metres from the line and just to the left of the goal posts. Upon picking up the ball Ayden Byrnes skipped out to his right, throwing a big dummy to his right before darting towards the line and diving over to score seven metres to the left of the uprights.
Such was the quality of Ayden Byrne’s performance that he was named on the bench in the Courier Mail’s CC Cup Round Four Team of the Week.
Ayden Byrnes continued at hooker in Round Five against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls and more than held his own defensively including a great low grassing tackle on his opposite number in the 6th minute as the Wynnum Manly hooker was trying to dart over from five metres out.
Ayden Byrne made a second desperate try saving tackle in the 22nd minute when he flew to his left to cut down the Wynnum Manly right second rower who had broken the Seagulls line and looked certain to score but for Ayden Byrne’s outstanding low tackle.
Ayden Byrnes also took the opportunity to run the ball out of dummy half when the opportunity presented itself with his best run coming in the 23rd minute when he ran out of dummy half to his right from ten metres out from his own try line to get the ball to twenty one metres out.
Southport Tigers second row and captain Caylis Latu has had a great start to the GCRL U18 Division One season, scoring six times through the opening three rounds of the competition including a hat trick today against the Nerang Roosters.
What a great experience for the U16 Andrew Johns Cup winning Northern Rivers Titans side to be brought onto the field and introduced to the crowd before the NRL match last night. It will be a night that the boys and their families will never forget.
The 2022 Cyril Connell Cup season for Isopo Taunuu:
Round One of the 2022 U16 Cyril Connell Cup saw Isopo Taunuu named in the front row for the Tweed Heads Seagulls against the Burleigh Bears with Isopo Taunuu also starting in the front row in Round Two against the Redcliffe Dolphins before dropping back to the bench for Round Four against the Easts Tigers coming into the match in the 19th minute to play in the front row.
The match saw Isopo Taunuu score the try of the match and also execute the tackle of the match.
In the 39th minute Isopo Taunuu scored one of the more remarkable tries that you will aver see. In the 39th minute Isopo Taunuu was stationed to the left of the play the ball and round nine metres out from the try line. The pass from the dummy half got to Isopo Taunuu on the bounce with Isopo Taunuu getting down low to take possession but just as he was straightening up his body a defender grabbed Isopo Taunuu around the head, but Isopo Taunuu continued to straightened his body up and literally threw the Wynnum Manly defender over his head. Isopo Taunuu then rumbled over the line dragging three defenders with him to get the ball down five metres to the left of the uprights.
The match also saw Isopo Taunuu execute the tackle of the the match in the 29th minute. Isopo Taunuu is a big strong young front rower but he was dwarfed by one of the Wynnum Manly replacement front rowers but when the giant front rower took one of his first hit-ups after coming onto the field, Isopo Taunuu came out of the defensive line and smashed him front on and propelled the attacker to the side and backwards with the ball coming loose when Isopo Taunuu drove him into the ground.
Isopo Taunuu was involved in the Seagulls first trial of 2022 when Tweed Heads took on the Northern Rivers Titans U16 Andrew Johns Cup squad at Pizzey Park.
Young Southport Tigers hooker Blake Scott had an outstanding match last night in Round Three of the GCRL First Grade competition, scoring a double as the Tigers defeated the Tugun Seagulls 20-6.
Titans Arama HAu (second row) and Josiah Pahulu to make their Colts debut today in Round 2 against the Tweed Heads Seagulls.
Another round of the Queensland Cup and another try for Jojo Fifita, he may well make his NRL debut later this season, his transition from rugby has been that good.
Another round of the Queensland Cup and another try for Jojo Fifita, he may well make his NRL debut later this season, his transition from rugby has been that good.
Make that a Jojo Fifita first half double for Tweed Heads in the QCup local derby against Burleigh.
In the NRL curtain raiser last night Marsden SHS were too good for Marymount College 44 - 0.
The 2022 Cyril Connell Cup season for Titans contracted Anton Whaiapu:
Round One of the 2022 U16 Cyril Connell Cup saw Anton Whaiapu named at left second row for the Burleigh Bears against the Tweed Heads Seagulls however he was a game day scratching from the match.
Anton Whaiapu was then named on the Bears extended bench for Round Two against the Souths Logan Magpies before moving onto the bench proper on the morning of the match. Anton Whaiapu came off the bench in the twenty minute to operate at left second row.
Round Three against the Norths Devils saw Anton Whaiapu move into the Bears starting side at left second row with Anton Whaiapu making a big opening tackle of the match with his left shoulder after Burleigh had kicked-off.
Anton Whaiapu then continued at left second row in Round Four against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls with Anton Whaiapu scoring his first try of the 2022 Cyril Connell Cup season when in the 33rd minute Anton Shaiapu crashed over from four metres out ten metres in from the left corner post.
Anton Whaiapu was alo solid defensively including along with Amarni Wetini-Ngaropo and Ray Puru he held the Wynnum Manly five eight over the try line in the 39th minute.
Anton Whaiapu was named at lock for the Bears opening 2022 trail against the Tweed Heads Seagulls with Anton Whaiapu being involved in the opening two tackles of the match after Burleigh had kicked off to get the match underway.
Anton Whaiapu produced a smart piece of play in the 16th minute when down the left channel near halfway Anton Whaiapu threw a great short ball to his left to put his left centre away and then Anton Whaiapu backed up to receive the ball back with Anton Whaiapu then being brought down just centremetres short of the try line.
Anton Whaiapu also produced a big front one tackle in the 24th minute just inside his own territory with the ball coming loose as a result of Anton Whaiapu’s heavy contact and Burleigh taking possession.
Anton Whaiapu then came off the bench to play in the front row for Burleigh in their final 2022 Cyril Connel Cup trial at Pizzey Park against the Western Clydesdales with Anton Whaiapu crashing over from ten metres out to score five metres from the right goal post in the final minute of the match to earn Burleigh an 8 all draw in a match that saw no kicks at goal.
The 2022 Cyril Connell Cup season for Oscar Laffranchi:
Round One of the 2022 U16 Cyril Connell Cup saw Oscar Laffranchi named in the front row for the Burleigh Bears against the Tweed Heads Seagulls with Oscar Laffranchi taking the third hit-up of the match after Tweed Heads had kicked off.
Oscar Laffranchi was also named in the front row for Round Two against the Souths Logan Magpies with Oscar Laffranchi making his first hit-up within the opening minute of the match to get the ball inside the Bears attacking twenty metre area after Burleigh retrieved the ball after kicking the ball off to get the match underway.
Oscar Laffranchi continued in the front row in Round Three against the Norths Devils and had a solid match including a strong tackle in the 8th minute on the Norths right centre with Oscar Laffranchi’s initial contact forcing the ball loose.
Oscar Laffranchi then continued in tgeh front row in Round Four against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls with Oscar Laffranchi making a strong run from the kick-off to Nayte Saaga’s 2nd minute try.
Oscar Laffranchi was named on the bench for the Bears opening 2022 Cyril Connell Cup trial against local rivals the Tweed Heads Seagulls after playing for the Titans against the Burleigh MM Cup side in late January 202. The trial saw Oscar Laffranchi operating in the front row in the second half after coming on at halftime and making some strong runs through the centre of the Seagulls ruck.
Oscar Laffranchi then started in the front row for Burleigh in their final 2022 trial against the Western Clydesdales operating on the left side of the field.
2022 sees Keebra Prk SHS’s Taniela Mapusua-Lotaki once again be a member of the Nerang Roosters Gold Coast Rugby League U18 Division One side, and on the weekend he started Round Three against the Southport Tigers at left centre with Taniela Mapusua-Loatki scoring in the 12th minute when he crashed over wide out on the left after some good work on his inside.
On the weekend Eli Tuli started in the front row for the Tweed Heads Seagulls in the Round Seven MM Cup local derby against the Burleigh Bears with Eli Tuli taking the first hit-up of the match from the kick-off.
Eli Tuli made some great charges in the match with one of the best coming in the 66th minute when Eli Tuli made a tough twenty five metres that started with a crafty left foot step with Eli Tuli getting to within twelve metres of the try line before being brought to ground by multiple Burleigh defenders.
The just three minutes later in the 69th minute Eli Tuli was at it again making nineteen more metres by way of two left foot steps with the run starting just twenty metres out from his own line.
Eli Tuli also had an outstanding defensive match including in the 14th minute when he along with Reico Ratana hit one of the Burleigh forwards front on in a crunching tackle just ten metres out from the try line with the heavy initial contact forcing the ball loose.
Former NZ junior Jackson Le Pou moved to five eight on the weekend for Tweed Heads for Round Seven of the MM Cup in the local derby against the Burleigh Bears with Jackson Le Pou scoring the Seagulls second try in their 26 – 24 victory.
In just the 5th minute Josh Lynn put up a spiralling bomb from forty metres out that the Burleigh fullback wanted no hard of in terms of catching the ball on the full. Kyen Murphy raced through to take the ball on the bounce before off-loading to Jack Le Pou who race twelve metres to score adjacent to the right upright.
Starting in his third different position of the season Jackson Le Pou showed that he was comfortable in the five eight role in the 37th when he put in a good grubber kick towards the line and then chased the kick through and along with Will Taylor held the Burleigh fullback off the ground and then forced him back six metres into the in-goal to win his side a goal line drop out.
One of the surprise packets for me (and shining lights) for the Tweed Heads Seagulls MM Cup side this year was Will Taylor and on the weekend in the Round Seven local derby against Burleigh Will Taylor continued at right second row made an outstanding line break in the 20th minute when after charging into the ball to the right of the play the ball just ten metres out from his own try line, Will Taylor burst through the Burleigh defensive line and raced over the halfway mark before getting away a great left arm around the corner pass to Jett Forbes.
Will Taylor’s speed was on display once again in the 14th minute when he turned and chased a Burleigh line break down their left touchline with Will Taylor racing back around fifty metres to tackle the fullback and save what appeared to be a certain try.
Will Taylor also made a great tackle in the 75th minute when he crunched the Burleigh five eight who had tried to dart through the line for what would have been the match winning try but Will Taylor was having none of that.
Will Taylor really did showcase a plethora of skills in the match including in the 48th minute when he took the ball deep into the Burleigh defensive line down the left channel, getting away a great off-load to a flying Jett Forbes but unfortunately the winger was brought down just short of the try line.
Will Taylor was still chasing everything in the 37th minute when he chased through a grubber kick from five eight Jackson Le Pou, Will Taylor, along with Le Pou got the Burleigh fullback initially holding him of the ground before forcing him back six metres into the in-goal to win his side a goal line drop-out.
In the MM Cup Round Seven local derby against the Burleigh Bears Titans contracted Nicholas Hilton started in the front row and captain for the Tweed Heads Seagulls and took the second hit-up of the match after Burleigh had kicked off to get the match underway.
In the 15th minute Nicholas Hilton showcased his ball playing skills when from inside his own territory he took the ball deep into the Burleigh defensive line before popping a good pre-contact short ball to his right to put Reico Ratana into a half gap.
Nicholas Hilton was also outstanding defensively against Burleigh including a great 17th minute low tackle that took the legs out from under Bears front rower VJ Semu.
For the Burleigh MM Cup side on the weekend, Titans contacted Bailey McConnell was named at five eight in the Round Seven local derby against the Tweed Heads Seagulls. The match saw Bailey McConnell record a try assist and line break with the line break coming in the 29th minute when to the left of the play the ball, Bailey McConnell produced a great show and go from only ten metres out but was dragged down desperately short of the line but Burleigh were awarded a penalty when the Seagulls defensive lien was adjudged to be off-side.
Baily McConnell recorded his try assist in the 61st minute after receiving the ball to the right of the play the ball and around twenty two metres out, Bailey McConnell floated across field to his right drawing one Seagulls out the line before throwing a short ball to his right to a charging Joseph Shannon who charged through the resultant gap and then ran over the top of Michael Roberts to score.
Titans contracted Joseph Shannon started in the front row for Burleigh in the Round Seven MM Cup local derby against the Tweed Heads Seagulls with Joseph Shannon scoring in the 53rd minute to get the Bears back into the match.
In the 61st minute Joseph Shannon burst onto a short ball from Bailey McConnell who had floated across field to his right drawing one Seagulls out the line before throwing a short ball to his right to a charging Joseph Shannon who charged through the resultant gap and then ran over the top of Michael Roberts to score seven metres to the left of the uprights.
It may have taken until the 64th minute but once again Joseph Shannon was once again able to get away a good off-load when he was able to get his left arm free and off-load the ball near the halfway mark.
It was clear that Joseph Shannon was up for the match from the moment that he took Burleigh’s opening hit-up of the match.
Over the weekend Titans contracted Josh Lynn was named at halfback for the Tweed Heads Seagulls in the Round Seven MM Cup local derby against the Burleigh Bears with Josh Lynn scoring ten of the Seagulls twenty six points in a two point victory from a 46th minute try and three conversions from five attempts.
In the 54th minute was stationed down a wide left blindside around twelve metres from the try line when he had to take the dummy pass from his right high above his head but after taking the pass Josh Lynn as able to dart over to get the ball down mid-way between the goal posts and corner post on the left side of the field.
The match also saw Josh Lynn record two assists inside the opening five minutes of the match. In just the 2nd minute Josh Lynn whilst operating down a short left blindside took the ball deep into the Burleigh right sided defensive line before putting in a right foot stab kick into the in-goal from ten metres out for Kyen Murphy to race through and ground wide out near the left corner post.
Then in the 5th minute Josh Lynn put up a spiralling bomb from forty metres out that the Burleigh fullback wanted no hard of in terms of catching the ball on the full. Kyen Murphy raced through to take the ball on the bounce before off-loading to Jack Le Pou who race twelve metres to score adjacent to the right upright.
The 2022 Cyril Connell Cup season for Jac Finnigan:
Round One of the 2022 U16 Cyril Connell Cup saw Jac Finnigan named at right second row for the Burleigh Bears against the Tweed Heads Seagulls with Jac Finnigan taking the fourth hit-up of the match after Tweed Heads had kicked off.
Jac Finnigan then made a strong line break in the 27th minute when he charged onto a wide ball down the right channel making thirty metres before he was eventually brought to ground.
Jac Finnigan was also named at right second row for Round Two against the Souths Logan Magpies and in Round Three against the Norths Devils with Jac Finnigan producing an outstanding cover defending tackle in just the 5th minute against the Devils when he came across and dragged the Norths left winger into touch after the winger had broken away down the left touchline, with Jac Finnigan coming across to get the winger into touch still twenty five metres out from the try line.
In the 8th minute Jac Finnigan made a strong seventeen run down the right channel to get the ball to twenty five metres out from the try line. Jac Finnigan made another strong run down the right channel in the 21st minute from inside his own territory. Jac Finnigan was able to get part way through the Devils defensive line and off-load to his right to Sunny Kama who was able to promote the ball a further fifteen metres.
Jac Finnigan then continued at right second row in Round Four against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls with Jac Finnigan producing a crunching one on one tackle in the 40th minute on the Wynnum Manly halfback.
Jac Finnigan was named on the bench for the Bears opening 2022 trail against the Tweed Heads Seagulls with Jac Finnigan operating at right second row in the second half after coming on at halftime with Jac Finnigan making a strong run to the right of the dummy half making eleven metres to get the ball into Tweed Heads territory.
Jac Finnigan then started at right second row for Burleigh in their final 2022 trail against the Western Clydesdales.
In total in the 2022 U16 Cyril Connell Cup competition Jac Finnigan made the third most tackles with eighty eight.
Burleigh’s Tuvalli Khan-Pereira started at right centre in the Round Seven Colts local derby against the Tweed Heads Seagulls with Tuvalli Khan-Pereira scoring in the 11th minute when he burst onto a catch and pass from Dion Sameula to crash over ten metres in from the right corner post.
In the 50th minute Tuvalli Khan-Pereira produced an outstanding cover defending try saving tackle when he chased back to drag down Brent Barnes from behind around five metres away from the left corner with Tuvalli Khan-Pereira’s tackle forcing Brent Barnes to lose the ball in the tackle.
Great to see Tweed Heads Seagulls MM Cup players Will Taylor (second row) and Eli Tuli (bench) named in the Courier Mail Round Seven MM Cup Team of the Week.
Tweed Heads Brent Barnes was named on the left wing in the 2022 Hastings Deering’s Colts Round Two local derby against the Burleigh Bears with Brent Barnes scoring a ninety seven metre try in the 41st minute when with Burleigh on the attack they lost the ball just three metres from the try line, Brent Barnes scooped up the ball and was simply too fast for the Bears cover defence racing way to score under the posts.
Brent Barnes made a further line break in the 50th minute when he raced away from forty metres out after receiving a good ball from his inside from Klese Hass but Brent Barnes was dragged down from behind just five metres away from the left corner.
Great to see Titans linked Sam McAlister named to make his MM Cup debut from the bench for Burleigh tomorrow night against Easts.
Burleigh’s Samuel Shannon was named to start at right second row in the Round Seven Colts local derby against the Tweed Heads Seagulls however a late tactical change saw Samuel Shannon start the match at lock.
Samuel Shannon came close to scoring in the 36th minute when he got within a metre of the try line near the left upright after a strong fourteen metre effort that started on the opposite side of the goal posts.
Samuel Shannon almost scored once again in the 48th minute when after receiving an off-load from Josiah Pahulu he forced his way over the try line only to be held up by three Seagulls defenders.
Tweed Heads Seagulls Troy Duckett was named on the right wing in the Round Two Hastings Deering’s Colts local derby against the Burleigh Bears with Troy Duckett scoring in the 16th minute when he raced through to take a Thomas Weaver cross field kick on the first bounce to his right wing and run twelve metres to score untouched.
Troy Duckett almost scored a second try in the dying moments of the match when he crossed in the right corner but the long cut-out pass from his inside by Charlie Murray was ruled forward.
Troy Duckett showed his positioning sense in the 20th minute when he came infield off his right wing to take a Burleigh attacking grubber kick in the in-goal with Troy Duckett then producing a great effort to get the ball back into the field of play.
In his first competitive match since returning from rugby Dion Samuela started at fullback for Burleigh in the Round Two Colts local derby against Tweed Heads Seagulls kicking two conversions from three attempts.
Dion Samuela also recorded an 11th minute try assist when on the right side of the field, he executed a great catch and pass to his right to Tuvalli Khan-Pereira who burst over to score from twelve metres out.
Dion Samuela almost scored himself in the 12 minute when after picking up a ball that had been knocked back by Burleigh Dion Samuela from twelve metres out wide out on the right ran back towards the goal posts, beating two tackles to get around a metre from the try line directly in front of the goal posts.
Dion Samuela continued to be dangerous running the ball and also scored once again in the 37th minute when he came so close to scoring in the left corner after a winding run but was dragged down short after a desperate covering tackle from Charlie Murray.
Titans contracted Brock Priestley started at lock for the Tweed Heads Seagulls in the Round Two Hastings Deering’s Colts local derby against the Burleigh Bears however a late change saw Brock Priestley start the match from the bench, coming into the match in the 28th minute.
Not long after coming onto the field in the 33rd minute Brock Priestley displayed some good hands and reflexes when he was able to take a hard low kick just to his left just three metres out from his own try line.
Brock Priestley’s quick reaction time was on display once again in the 54th minute when from close to the try line, the Burleigh dummy half from close to the try line put in a grubber kick to the right but Brock Priestley was able to seemingly effortlessly take possession and then from a metre out from his own line was able to get the ball to twelve metres away from the try line.
Over the weekend Titans contracted Kyhan Weir started from the bench for the Tweed Heads Seagulls in the Round Two Hastings Deering’s Colts local derby against the Burleigh Bears, coming onto the field early in the second half and made his first run with the ball in the 49th minute, making ten metres to get the ball thirty metres away from the Seagulls try line.
Kyhan Weir made another strong run in the 65th minute when he took the second hit-up from the kick-off to Klese Haas’s seconds try with Kyhan Weir making a hard ten metres to get the ball over the Seagulls defensive twenty metre mark.
Kyhan Weir made some strong tackles in the match as well with probably his best tackle coming in the 77th minute when he hit Burleigh lock Samuel Shannon front on with the ball coming loose as a result of Kyhan Weir’s initial contact.
Charlie Murray started at lock for the Tweed Heads Seagulls in Round Two of the Hastings Deering’s Colts competition in the local derby against the Burleigh Bears and along with Oskar Bryant and Jack Cullen made the second tackle of the match after Tweed Heads had kicked off to get the match underway.
Charlie Murray also scored in just the 4th minute of the match when he received an off-load whilst twelve metres out from Ben Liyou and got within a metre of the try line before he was stopped. Charlie Murray then made a further sixteen metres down the left channel in the 15th minute.
Charlie Murray was also good defensively against the Bears including a great try saving tackle in the 37th minute with a desperate tackle racing to his right on Burleigh fullback Dion Samuela who looked as if he was going to slice through and score near the Bears left corner.
After missing Round One of the 2022 Hastings Deering’s Colts competition Titans contracted Jayden Wright was named at right second row for the Tweed Heads Seagulls in the Round Two local derby against the Burleigh Bears and was immediately in the action by making the opening tackle of the match.
In the 6th minute Jayden Wright charged onto the ball down a wide right blindside and was able to make around sixteen metres to get the ball around thirty metres out from his own try line. Jayden Wright was at it again in the 49th minute with a sixteen metre charge down the right channel before being tackled on the halfway mark with at least 50% of the metre that Jayden Wright made being post contact metres.
Great to see the Burleigh MM Cup side end their 2022 season on a winning note tonight with a 30 - 18 win over Easts.
Titan Josiah Pahulu was for me the best player on the field.
A week after his Queensland Cup debut Titans contracted Kaleb Ngamanu started at left centre for the Tweed Heads Seagulls in the Round Two Hastings Deering’s Colts local derby against the Burleigh Bears with Kaleb Ngamanu making twenty five metres down the left touchline in just the 3rd minute of the match before off-loading to Brent Barnes to his left.
Kaleb Ngamanu showed that he is prepared to be the hard work in the 8th minute when he charged onto the ball deep inside his own twenty metre area, making a strong, hard fourteen metres. Kaleb Ngamanu also made some hard metres in the 44th minute directly from the kick-off to Brent Barnes early second half try. Kaleb Ngamanu executed a further strong run in the 75th minute making twelve metres from a Tweed Heads penalty restart to get the Seagulls into the attacking twenty metre zone.
Great to see Currumbin Eagles Noah Croudace named in both the Gold Coast Vikings Representative Chairman Challenge sides in both the open and U20 squads.
Titans contracted Ben Liyou started for the Tweed Heads Seagulls in the front row in the Round Two Colts local derby against the Burleigh Bears with a first of multiple strong runs from Ben Liyou coming inside the opening three minutes of the match when he made sixteen metres to get the ball into Burleigh territory after taking the ball inside his own territory and to the right of the play the ball.
Ben Liyou took another hit-up in the 4th minute and after impacting the defensive line he produced a right arm flick off-load to Charlie Murray twelve metres from the line with the lock getting to within a metre of the try line.
Ben Liyou made another strong hit-up in the 54th minute with a twelve metres gain to the left of the play the ball to get the ball to the halfway mark. Then in the 59th minute Ben Liyou was at it again with a great run from the kick-off from Jaylan De Groot’s first try with Ben Liyou getting the ball twenty five metres out from his own try line.
Just two minutes later in the 61st minute Ben Liyou ran onto the ball to the left of the play the ball making twelve metres to get Tweed Heads into Burleigh territory.
Titans contracted Jack Cullen was also named in the front row for Tweed Heads in the Round Two Hastings Deering's Colts local derby against the Burleigh Bears and along with Oskar Bryant and Charlie Murray made the second tackle of the match after Tweed Heads had kicked off to get the match underway.
In his second stint on the field in the second half Jack Cullen produced a series of outstanding runs, the first of which came in the 59th minute with an effort that made fifteen metres to the left of the dummy half with Jack Cullen promoting the ball over the halfway mark.
Another strong run for Jack Cullen came in the 62nd minute when from just inside Burleigh territory Jack Cullen, on the right side of the field, ran back underneath Thomas Weaver and made an impressive eighteen metres.
Jack Cullen continued his strong runs in the 66th minute with a fifteen metre run from the third hit-up after Klese Haas’s second try with Jack Cullen getting to forty metres out from his own try line with at least 60% of Jack Cullen’s metres gained coming post contact.
Jack Cullen produced another great run in the 71st minute when from a Seagulls penalty restart Jack Cullen cut back under Thomas Weaver once again and was initially hit by the Burleigh defenders still ten metres from the try line but Jack Cullen just would not give up and just kept fighting in the tackle and literally got within centremetres of the try line directly in front of the left goal post.
Round One of the 2022 Hastings Deering’s Colts competition saw Oscar Bryant named on the Tweed Heads Seagulls extended bench for their Round One clash against the Norths Devils however the match was postponed due to the extreme weather conditions in northern New South Wales.
Oskar Bryant started at hooker in the Round Two local derby against the Burleigh Bears and interesting late in the match in his second stint on the field spent time in the halves, acquitting himself well in that position.
Oskar Bryant along with Charlie Murray and Jack Cullen made the second tackle of the match after Tweed Heads had kicked off to get the match underway.
Oskar Bryant made the first of his trade mark runs out of dummy half in the 6th minute with a dart to his right to get the ball over the halfway mark with Oskar Bryant’s run accounting for sixteen metres.
Oskar Bryant made a further dummy half run to his right in the 25th minute making sixteen more metres to get the Seagulls within ten metres of the try line. Oskar Bryant continued his smart running out of dummy half in the 35th minute by making fourteen metres and then with the Bears defensive line still in disarray Oskar Bryant was able to off-load to his right to Jayden Wright.
Oskar Bryant ran himself once again in the 45th minute to his right and burst through the centre of the ruck, making an eighteen mete line break, getting just over the halfway mark.
Oskar Bryant showed that he worked hard on the weights in the off-season with his additional strength coming in handy in the 47th minute when he drove his right shoulder into the ribs of his opposite number. Then in the 48th minute along with Jaylan De Groot and Thomas Weaver, Oskar Bryant was on hand to hold up Burleigh lock Samuel Shannon over the try line.
Titans contracted Jaylan De Groot started at fullback for Tweed Heads in the Round Two Colts local derby against the Burleigh Bears with Jaylan De Groot scoring a double and setting up another try in the Seagulls big 40 – 16 victory.
Jaylan De Groot’s opening try came in the 52nd minute when on the five tackle he positioned himself on the right wing and charged forward taking a Thomas Weaver bomb to the right corner on the full. Jaylan De Groot then did a great job getting the ball down in the in-gaol after taking the cross kick above his head before he was taken into touch in-goal.
Jaylan De Groot completed his double in the 73rd minute when from five metres out Jaylan De Groot ran to his right out of dummy half and got between two Bears defenders to score four metres to the left of the uprights.
In just the 3rd minute of the match Jaylan De Groot recorded a try assist when whilst operating on the left field he threw a hard flat face ball to his left to a charging Klese Haas who charged over from five metres out.
Jaylan De Groots’ first touch of the match came inside the opening two minutes when just two metres out from his own try line Jaylan De Groot picked up a dropped Burleigh ball near the left corner. Upon taking possession of the ball Jaylan De Groot ran to his right towards the middle of the field before straightening up and getting the ball eighteen metres away from his own try line.
As he does so well, Jaylan De Groot was hovering around the play the ball in the 25th minute and got into dummy half, running himself to his right when he spotted the Burleigh defence still going backwards with Jaylan De Groot able to make fifteen metres.
Jaylan De Groot was at his elusive best in the 68th minute when after he received that ball from a Seagulls scrum win on the left side of the field twenty two metres out, Jaylan De Groot cut back to his left on a number of occasions, getting the ball to within eight metres of the try line and directly in front of the goal posts after breaking five tackles in his winding run.
In the 48th minute along with Oskar Bryant and Thomas Weaver, Jaylan De Groot was on hand to hold up Burleigh lock Samuel Shannon over the try line.
Jaylan De Groot showed his high level of positioning sense in the 48th minute when he was perfectly place right on his own try line to retrieve a Burleigh attacking grubber kick in the left corner and Jaylan De Groot was even able to bring the ball five metres away from his own try line.
Titans contracted Josiah Pahulu made his Hastings Deering’s Colts debut for the Burleigh Bears from the bench in the Round Two Hastings Deering’s Colts local derby against the Tweed Heads Seagulls coming onto the field at around the 24 minute mark to play in the front row with Josiah Pahulu’s first run coming just after he came on when he made eight metres after taking possession to the right of the play the ball.
Then in the 29th minute Josiah Pahulu made a strong run from a Burleigh penalty restart with Josiah Pahulu making eight metres into the teeth of the Seagulls forward pack but when he was taken to ground, Josiah Pahulu was not held and was back to his feet in a flash and was able to make a further six metres.
Josiah Pahulu produced a further strong run in the 34th minute when after picking up a loose ball from Burleigh he was able to make twelve metres to get the ball back to near the halfway mark.
In the 48th minute Josiah Pahulu almost was able to put Samuel Shannon over after he got a away a good off-load to Samuel Shannon but he was in the end Samuel Shannon was held up over the line.
Josiah Pahulu kept pumping his legs post contact with the defensive line in the 61st minute when he got within two metres of the try line after a strong fifteen metre burst.
As he is quickly becoming known for Josiah Pahulu just keeps going and going on matter what and that was the case in the 69th minute when he willed himself to his left to tackle Thomas Weaver who had beaten one tackle and set sail for the try line five metres out and directly under the posts but Josiah Pahulu got there to make the tackle and prevent the try.
Really good to see Brent back playing at a high level.
Love your work @mdrew
Titans contracted Thomas Weaver started at halfback and captain for the Tweed Heads Seagulls in the Round Two Hastings Deering’s Colts local derby against the Burleigh Bears with Thomas Weaver kicking six conversions from seven attempts including a number of both touch lines in the Seagulls big 40 – 16 victory.
A good example of just how well Thomas Weaver kicked for gaol in the match was his 52nd minute conversion on Jaylan De Groot’s 52nd minute try from the right touchline, a try in fact that Thomas Weaver set out from a cross field kick to the right corner.
Thomas Weaver also recorded two try assists in the match with the first coming in the 16th minute when from the left side of the field Thomas Weaver put in a cross field kick to the right wing with Troy Duckett moving through to take possession and score comfortably.
Thomas Weaver recorded his second try assist in the 52nd minute when one again he put in a cross field kick from the left side of the field to the right and on that occasion Jaylan De Groot took the ball over his head and did well to get the ball down before being pushed into touch in-goal.
Thomas Weaver showed a high level of effort in the 7th minute when after the ball was knocked backwards by the Seagulls on the last tackle, Thomas Weaver ran back to the thirty metre line to take possession and then he put up a high bomb which he chased through, tackling the Burleigh fullback Dion Samuela just three metres out from his own line.
In the 48th minute along with Jaylan De Groot and Oskar Bryant, Thomas Weaver was on hand to hold up Burleigh lock Samuel Shannon over the try line.
The match also saw Thomas Weaver kick well from a tactical perspective including in the 59th minute when from thirty five metres out Thomas Weaver from the right of the play the ball kicked back to his left with the ball finding touch on the final tackle five metres from the left corner.
Thomas Weaver put up another big bomb in the 66th minute from forty metres out with the Burleigh fullback wanting no part of taking the ball on the full with the ball bouncing into touch as a consequence just two metres from the left corner.
Titans contracted Arama Hau started at left second row in Round Two of the 2022 Hastings Deering’s Colts competition for the Burleigh Bears in the local derby against the Tweed Heads Seagulls and what a debut Arama Hau had by scoring a first half double.
Arama Hau’s first Hastings Deering’s Colts try came in the 28th minute when after receiving the ball around twenty two metres from the line Arama Hau charged forward, dummying to his left, before executing a left foot step to beat Jaylan De Groot to score a great debut Colts try six metres in from the left corner post.
Arama Hau completed his double in the 37th minute when he charged onto the ball as it was spun to the right from close to the left touchline with Arama Hau bursting between two defenders ten metres out from the line and after that no one and I mean no one was going to stop Arama Hau from running around to put the ball down under the posts.
In fact Arama Hau almost scored in the 20th minute when after a seven metre run he got over the try line under the posts before being forced back into the field of play.
Arama Hua’s first touch of the ball in the Hastings Deering’s Colts competition came in just the second minute of the match. Arama Hau then continued his strong match in the 43rd minute making a tough twelve metres to get Burleigh inside their attacking twenty metre area.
Arama Hau continued his outstanding Hastings Deering’s Colts debut in the 53rd minute when after receiving the ball down a wide left blindside around eight metres from the try line, Arama Hau cut back to his right spinning 360 degrees twice and getting to around a metre out from the line next to the left upright before his forward momentum was halted.
Arama Hau proved that his game is not all about attack in the 54th minute with a crunching left shoulder tackle on his opposite number.
Titans contracted Klese Haas for the Tweed Heads Seagulls started at left second row in the Round Two Hastings Deering’s Colts local derby against the Burleigh Bears and was easily the best player on the field on his way to a great hat trick to lead Tweed Heads to a comprehensive 40 – 16 victory.
Klese Hass just had to wait until the 3rd minute of Hastings Deering’s Colts debut to get on the scoreboard when he burst onto a face ball from Jaylan De Groot to burst over from five metres out and five metres in from the left corner.
Klese Haas added his second try in the 59th minute with a great solo effort. The movement actually started wide out on the right with a Thomas Weaver shot grubber kick through the line that was retrieved by the Seagulls. The ball was then spun out to the opposite side of the field getting to Klese Haas around twenty two metres from the line. Klese Haas, who had received the ball whilst stationary, immediately charge at the line, stepping off his left foot to beat one defender before carrying four (yes four) defenders over the line to get the ball down seven metres in from the left corner post.
Klese Haas then completed his hat trick in the 69th minute with another great solo effort. Klese Haas received the ball around twelve metres out and as he charged at the defensive line dummied to his left before a left arm beat one defender. Klese Haas then easily shrugged off a second defender who had tried to tackle Klese Haas around the chest. Klese Haas then carried another Bears defender over the line to get the ball down ten metres in from the left corner post.
Klese Haas also made a 38th minute line break when he broke away down the left touchline before off-loading to his left to allow Brent Barnes to make a further fifteen metres down the left touchline.
The 49th minute saw Klese Haas record a line break assist when from forty metres and after running at the defensive line, Klese Hass threw a great pass to his left to put Brent Barnes away but the left winger was dragged down from behind just five metres away from the left corner.
In addition to the three runs for his tries Klese Hass also produced some other outstanding efforts including a twelve metre run down the left channel in the 24th minute to get the ball within five metres of the halfway mark.
Klese Haas dominated the Burleigh defence once again in the 62nd minute with a strong seventeen run over the halfway mark with around 60% of Klese Haas’s run coming from post contact metres.
In the 69th minute Klese Haas showed that he does not just put his head down and run when after engaging the Burleigh right sided defence, Klese Haas when just two metres out and whilst in contact with defenders, Klese Haas executed a great right arm flock off-load to Jaylan De Groot who almost snuck over the try line as a result of Klese Haas’s off-load.
The hard work in the gym and while training with the Titans NRL squad was on display in the 20th minute when Klese Hass executed a great front on tackle on Burleigh second rower Sam McIntyre that stopped him dead right on the try line.
Tristian Powell continued in the front row for Burleigh in the Round Four Queensland Cup local derby against the Tweed Heads Seagulls with Tristian Powell coming close to scoring in the 14th minute when he almost crashed over under the posts after yet another powerful run.
Tristian Powell was in the early by taking the first hit-up of the match from the kick-off and getting the ball out to his own twenty metre mark.
Tristian Powell made an outstanding line break in the 11th minute when he burst through the Tweed Heads Seagulls line from thirty metres out and it was only a one on one tackle by Seagulls fullback Paul Turner that stopped Tristian Powell from scoring.
Tristian Powell was also outstanding in his second stint on the field including a great charge in the 71st minute when he burst onto the ball twenty two metres out and through shear tough running Tristian Powell was able to get the ball to within eight metres of the try line.
Tristian Powell made a further strong run on the 76th minute when he ran off his halfback to his left with Tristian Powell making fourteen metres, breaking two tackles along the way.
Playing forty eight minutes Tristian Powell ran for 133 metres (thirty nine post contact), broke two tackles, played the ball at an average speed of four seconds and made twenty tackles at a tackling efficiency of 95.24%.
After the opening four rounds of the 2022 Queensland Cup competition Tristian Powell was sitting fourth in the number of run metres with 570 metres and also fourth in post contact metres with 216 metres.
Titans Top 30 contracted Lofi Khan-Pereira also started on the left wing for the Burleigh Bears in Round Four of the Queensland Cup in the local derby against the Tweed Heads Seagulls and actually scored in the left corner in the 15th minute but the cut-out pass from Taine Tuaupiki on his inside was ruled forward.
Lofi Khan-Pereira showed that he is prepared to do the hard work in bringing the ball out of his team’s own territory including in the 7th minute with a run to the left of the dummy half that made twenty metres to get the ball over the halfway mark.
Lofi Khan-Pereira made another great run from deep inside his own territory in the 13th minute with the run making eighteen valuable metres. Then Lofi Khan-Pereira came off his wing once again in the 44th minute to take a hit-up from a twenty metre restart with Lofi Khan-Pereira making ten metres.
Playing the entire match Lofi Khan-Pereira ran for sixty eight metres (eighteen post contact), played the ball at an average speed of 4.13 seconds and made a tackle.
Titans contracted Paul Turner was named at fullback for Tweed Heads in the Round Four Queensland Cup local derby against the Burleigh Bears with Paul Turner having a big match including setting up a 56th minute try for Ioane Seuili as well as setting up both of Jojo Fifita’s two tries.
Paul Turner stationed himself in the Tweed Heads backline as they shifted the ball to the wide to the right. After receiving the ball Paul Turner ran towards the line before throwing a long cut out pass to his left to an unmarked Jojo Fifita who cruised over to put the ball down in the left corner.
In relation to Jojo Fifita’s second try in the 33rd minute, for all intents and purposes it was a carbon copy of when Paul Turner and Jojo Fifita combined in the 3rd minute with Paul Turner once again throwing the final cut-out pass to put Jojo Fifita into space.
Paul Turner’s 56th minute try assist was not so simple. Paul Turner received the ball three passes to the right of the dummy half around thirty five metres out from the line with Paul Turner bringing Ioane Seuili on an underneath run. Ioane Seuili broke through the Burleigh defensive lien and just as he was being brought down for behind Ioane Seuili produced a great right arm flick off-load to Paul Turner who had loomed up on the left.
After Paul Turner juggled the pass while running at full speed, he stepped off his right foot but was caught from behind by the back of his jersey. Paul Turner was spun around but was able to keep his feet with Ioane Seuili getting to his feet and ran onto the Paul Turner off-load around ten metres from the line. From there Ioane Seuili was able to force his way over to score under the posts.
Paul Turner made a great run of his own making in the 22nd minute when he chimed into the backline on the right side of the field and sliced through the Burleigh defence but just was unable to break away from one annoying Burleigh defender who kept with Paul Turner from the thirty metre mark all of the way down to the ten metre mark where he was finally able to get Paul Turner to the ground.
Paul Turner then made a good kick return in the 43rd minute when he tracked back to take possession of the ball six metres out from his own line and Paul Turner was able return the ball to just over the twenty metre mark.
Paul Turner was not just good running the ball against Burleigh including in the 11th minute when he tackled a rampaging Tristian Powell one on one after the Burleigh front rower had split the Seagulls defence. Paul Turner was able to take Tristian Powell down ten metres out and directly in front of the goal posts.
Paul Turner showed very good positioning sense at the fullback position in the 75th minute when he raced across to his left to field a grubber kick just in the in-goal and then Paul Turner was then able to get the ball back into the field of play.
In his seventy six minutes on the field Paul Turner ran for ninety three metres (twenty nine post contact), made a line break which resulted in Ioane Seuili’s try, broke four tackles, played the ball at an average speed of 3.96 seconds and made three tackles.
Titan Tony Francis for Burleigh, started on the right wing in the Round Four Queensland Cup local derby against the Tweed Heads Seagulls with Tony Francis’s first effort with the ball coming in the 6th minute when he ran the ball back from a kick return making ten metres from the thirty metre line to the forty metre line.
Tony Francis then did well in the 11th minute when after he received the ball hemmed in on the right touchline, Tony Francis ran inside away from the touchline beating three tackles in a winding run back towards the posts.
Tony Francis did well once again in the 48th minute when after he received a long cut-out pass from his left Tony Francis, after he cut inside twice after receiving the ball around twelve metres out was able to get within two metres of the try line.
Tony Francis also had some strong defensive moments in the match including in the 9th minute when he came in off his wing to hit the Seagulls left centre to knock the ball loose with a Seagulls dangerous move developing.
Tony Francis also made a crunching tackle in the 42nd minute when he came off his left to hit the Seagulls left centre just two metres from the defensive line. Tony Francis then ran from dummy half from the play the ball restart and fought for every metre from deep inside his own twenty metre area.
Tony Francis also proved that he was more than capable under the high ball with a case in point being in the 28th minute when he leapt high to take a towering bomb on the full that was put up high to his wing.
Tony Francis once again played all eighty metres of the match. Tony Francis ran for seventy nine metres (forty one post contact, being 51.9%), broke two tackles, played the ball at an average speed of 4.05 seconds and made six tackles at a tackling efficiency of 85.71%.
After the opening four rounds of the 2022 Queensland Cup competition Tony Francis was equal second on the try scoring list with four tries and also equal second in terms of the number of line breaks with five. Co-incidentally Jojo Fifita was equal in both of those categories with fellow Titan Jojo Fifita.
Titans contracted Jojo Fifita started on the right wing for Tweed Heads in the Round Four Queensland Cup local derby against the Burleigh Bears scoring a double in the Seagulls 32 – 18 victory.
Jojo Fifita had to wait just three minutes to score the first of his two tries when he ran onto a long cut-out pass from Paulo Turner to cross untouched in the right corner.
Jojo Fifita added his second try in the 33rd minute and it was a near carbon copy of his try in the 3rd minute when once again Jojo Fifita ran onto a cut out pass from Paul Turner to score untouched in the right corner.
Jojo Fifita did very well from the Burleigh kick-off from his own try when after the ball was knocked back by Tweed Heads Jojo Fifita tracked back six metre into the in-gaol to take possession of the ball and did well to get the ball five metres back into the field of play.
Jojo Fifita showed that he was prepared to do the heavy lifting in the 75th minute when to the left of the play the ball and a metre out from his own try line Jojo Fifita charged forward and was able to break one tackle and impressively get the ball to sixteen metres away from his own try line against an on rushing Bears defence that was hell bent on pinning the Seagulls on their own line. Jojo Fifita’s run immediately put paid to that notion.
Jojo Fifita was also very good defensively against Burleigh including in the 14th minute when came off his wing to smash Bears left centre Sami Sauiluma just as he took possession with a try in the offing. Jojo Fifita’s initial contact knocked the ball loose and saved a certain try.
Jojo Fifita made another good tackle in the 13th minute when he followed through a kick that Burleigh let bounce and just as fellow Titan Lofi Khan-Pereira took possession of the ball, Jojo Fifita smashed him front on.
In the dying moments of the match, Jojo Fifita once again made a strong tackle near his own try line on the Burleigh left centre who had made a line break. Jojo Fifita had dropped back in anticipation of a kick but when the Bears line break was name, Jojo Fifita moved up and just as Sami Sauiluma tried to put in a grubber kick Jojo Fifita was in his face with the attempted kick bounced off Jojo Fifita and went into touch. As Jojo Fifita did not play at the ball, Tweed Heads received possession of the ball.
Playing all eighty minutes Jojo Fifita ran for 102 metres (thirty two post contact), made a team leading two line breaks for his two tries, broke two tackles, played the ball at an average speed of 3.29 seconds and made six tackles.
After the opening four rounds of the 2022 Queensland Cup competition Jojo Fifita was equal second on the try scoring list with four trie and also equal second in terms of the number of line breaks with five. Co-incidently Jojo Fifita was equal in both of those categories with fellow Titan Tony Francis.
Jayviah Nomotu was also named at right centre For Burleigh in the rescheduled Round One MM Cup match against the Easts Tigers with Jayviah Nomotu taking the Bears first run of the match in the second minute from a Burleigh tap restart after the Bears fullback was tackled whilst still in the air while taking a bomb after the Tigers opening set of six tackles.
Jayviah Nomotu made a twenty two line break to get within the eight metres of the try line after receiving an off-load from Arama Hau. Jayviah Nomotu made another line break in the 61st minute when an errant Tigers passed was pick up by the Burleigh right winger who immediately got the ball away to Jayviah Nomotu who made a twenty three metre line break. Once he was put to ground, Jayviah Nomotu was on his feet in a flash with Burleigh scoring a long range try on the opposite side of the field with Jayviah Nomotu’s quick play the ball being a key reason for Burleigh being able to break the Tigers line and score.
For Burleigh, Titans contracted Wailer Whaiapu was also named to start on the bench in the rescheduled Round One MM Cup match against the East Tigers with Wailer Whaiapu coming onto the field mid-way through the first half.
Wailer Whaiapu recorded a try assist in the 21st minute (well I am going to call it a try assist) when after engaging the Tigers defensive line, Wailer Whaiapu got a short pass away (it was a pass in my mind) to his right to K-CI Newton-Whare who rounded the fullback to score.
Wailer Whaiapu then made a strong run out of dummy half when he ran to his right making fifteen metres to keep the Tigers defensive off balance and back peddling.
Wailer Whaiapu made a strong defensive play in the 58th minute when after the Tigers halfback had stepped off his right foot and was threatening to break through the Burleigh defensive line, Wailer Whaiapu drove his left shoulder through the ribs of the halfback with the ball flying loose as a result.
Titans contracted Antioch Faitala-Mariner started at left centre for the Easts Tigers in the rescheduled Round One MM Cup match against the Burleigh Bears.
Antioch Faitala-Mariner scored what I can only describe as an “odd” try against the Bears in the 34th minute. Antioch Faitala-Mariner was chasing a kick into the left corner when the Burleigh winger tries to trap the ball with his foot but the ball came off his leg way too hard and rebounded back to the Tigers left second rower who then flicked the ball to his left to an unmarked Antioch Faitala-Mariner who was able to cruise around eight metres. Just prior to the try line the Burleigh fullback was able to get to Antioch Faitala-Mariner and hold him around the legs and it seemed like it was in slow motion that Antioch Faitala-Mariner fell over the line to score just metres in from the left corner post.
For Burleigh, Titans contracted EJ Finau was named to start on the bench in the rescheduled Round One MM Cup match against the East Tigers coming into the match around the Twenty Two minute mark, and to saw EJ Finau make a strong start to the match would be a big understatement starting in the 24th minute when his first run of the match came when he received the ball to the left of the dummy half twenty two metres out and his hard charging run got EJ Finau all of the way to forty metres out.
Two minutes later in the 26th minute made a further twelve metres down the left channel with the Bears attacking inside Tigers territory. EJ Finau continued his torrid start to his time on the field in the match when in the 29th minute EJ Finau picked up the ball from the back of the scrum after packing in at lock and from twenty metres out ran to his left, running over one would be defender to get the ball to withing ten metres of the try line.
EJ FInau’s impressive ten metres before halftime continued in the 33rd minute when he ran onto the ball to the left of the play the ball and made fourteen metres to get the ball thirty metres away from his own try line.
The half time break did not slow done EJ FInau as could be seen in the 37th minute when he flew onto a short pass from Bailey McConnell, bursting straight through the line and it was only a desperate cover defending tackle that stopped EJ Finau from scoring when he was brought down just four metres short of the try line.
Titans contracted Bailey McConnell was named to start at five eight for the Burleigh Bears in the rescheduled Round One MM Cup match against the East Tigers with Bailey McConnell getting into the action early, in the 2nd minute to be precise when from forty metres out Bailey McConnell put in pin point stab kick into the left corner which the Tigers fullback could not handle. Burleigh scored from the subsequent scrum after the Easts knock on from Bailey McConnell’s kick.
Bailey McConnell then did very well from the subsequent kick-off when he raced forward to take the kick-off that had dropped short on the full sliding forward.
Bailey McConnell did exceptionally well in the 11th minute when defending on the left he got back quickly to field a Tigers attacking grubber kick three metres into the in-goal but he fought his way back into the field of play to prevent a Burleigh goal line drop-out restart.
In the 36th minute a short chip kick of Bailey McConnell’s while he was stationed on the left side of the field almost led to a Burleigh try when it seeming sat up perfectly but the Bears fullback was just unable to retrieve the ball, if he had, it was shut the gate.
Bailey McConnell put in a different type of kick in the 64th minute when from forty metres out from his own line Bailey McConnell whilst on the left side of the field put in a long raking kick that pulled up three metres into the in-goal and the Burleigh chase, that included Bailey McConnell, was able to tackle the Tigers winger just two metres out from his own line.
For the Burleigh MM Cup side Joseph Shannon started in the front row in the rescheduled Round One match against the East Tigers with Joseph Shannon taking Burleigh’s fourth hit-up of the match in the 2nd minute with Joseph Shannon making sixteen metres to get the ball into the Tigers territory for the first time in the match.
Joseph Shannon was at it again in the 15th minute when after taking possession of the ball from a pass from his left from the dummy half, Joseph Shannon cut back towards the soft spot behind the play the ball, making twelve metres to forty metres from the try line. Joseph Shannon was then awarded a penalty for Tigers interference in the play the ball.
Joseph Shannon charged at the defensive line once again in the 18th minute making twelve metres to get the ball over his own thirty metre line after receiving the ball to the left of the dummy half. Joseph Shannon added a further twenty metres to his metres gained tally in the 40th minute when he made twenty metres from an Easts Tigers goal line dropout.
Titans contracted Arama Hau started at left second row for the Burleigh Bears in the rescheduled Round One MM Cup match against the East Tigers.
Arama Hau had a number of positive defensive moments in the match including in the 11th minute when he tracked a Tigers attacking play to his left and manhandled the Tigers five eight just out from the try line after the five eight had very nearly sliced through the Burleigh defensive line.
The 20th minute saw Arama Hau engage the defensive line once again to the left of the play the ball with Arama Hau making twenty two metres after crossing into Tigers territory, breaking three tackles along the way.
A minute later in the 21st minute Arama Hau was able to promote the ball a further twenty five metres, approximately 60% of which were post contact metre to get the ball over the halfway mark.
Then in the 24tht minute Arama Hau once again charged onto the ball to the right of the dummy half and broke through the defensive line making a further twenty two metres breaking three tackles along the way before getting an off-load away to his right to centre Jayviah Nomotu who was able to promote the ball a further twenty odd metres.
Arama Hau started at left second row in Round Two of the 2022 Hastings Deering’s Colts competition for the Burleigh Bears in the local derby against the Tweed Heads Seagulls and what a debut Arama Hau had by scoring a first half double.
Arama Hau’s first Hastings Deering’s Colts try came in the 28th minute when after receiving the ball around twenty two metres from the line Arama Hau charged forward, dummying to his left, before executing a left foot step to beat Jaylan De Groot to score a great debut Colts try six metres in from the left corner post.
Arama Hau completed his double in the 37th minute when he charged onto the ball as it was spun to the right from close to the left touchline with Arama Hau bursting between two defenders ten metres out from the line and after that no one and I mean no one was going to stop Arama Hau from running around to put the ball down under the posts.
In fact Arama Hau almost scored in the 20th minute when after a seven metre run he got over the try line under the posts before being forced back into the field of play.
Arama Hua’s first touch of the ball in the Hastings Deering’s Colts competition came in just the second minute of the match. Arama Hau then continued his strong match in the 43rd minute making a tough twelve metres to get Burleigh inside their attacking twenty metre area.
Arama Hau continued his outstanding Hastings Deering’s Colts debut in the 53rd minute when after receiving the ball down a wide left blindside around eight metres from the try line, Arama Hau cut back to his right spinning 360 degrees twice and getting to around a metre out from the line next to the left upright before his forward momentum was halted.
Arama Hau proved that his game is not all about attack in the 54th minute with a crunching left shoulder tackle on his opposite number.
For Burleigh Titans contracted Josiah Pahulu was also named to start in the front row in the rescheduled Round One MM Cup match against the East Tigers and once again Josiah Pahulu putting in a Player of the Match performance including an outstanding first half try.
In the 16th minute Josiah Pahulu stationed himself two passes to the right of the play the ball and then cut back underneath Bailey McConnell, taking possession twelve metres from the try line, Josiah Pahulu stepped off his right foot to beat one defender before straightening up and making contact with a defender four metres out. From there Josiah Pahulu kept battling and forced his way over the try line after being twisted around and landing on his back but Josiah Pahulu was able to get the ball down on his third attempt ten metres to the left of the uprights.
Josiah Pahulu was still fired up from his try when he ran back the resultant kick-off getting the ball twenty two metres away from his own try line.
Josiah Pahulu got himself into the match early by taking Burleigh’s third hit-up of the match in the 2nd minute. Josiah Pahulu made a further strong run in the 6th minute from the 2nd run after Burleigh’s opening try with Josiah Pahulu taking possession twenty metre out and to the left of the play the ball and getting the ball over the thirty metre mark.
Josiah Pahulu led from the front and through his actions and not words in the 11th minute when after three tackles Burleigh were only six metres out from their own line, Josiah Pahulu took it upon himself to do something about that when he charged onto the ball to the right of the play the ball with Josiah Pahulu getting the ball all of the way to his own twenty metre mark with at least ten of the fourteen metres that Josiah Pahulu post contact.
Josiah Pahulu had a number of positive defensive moments in the match including in the 11th minute when he along with Seth Nikotemo sandwiched the Tigers halfback just metres from the try line after he had stepped past one Bears defender who had raced out of the line.
Josiah Pahulu made a further strong run in the 15th minute once again getting the ball over his own twenty metre mark, Josiah Pahulu was then awarded a penalty after not being allowed to his feet in a timely fashion.
Josiah Pahulu was literally everywhere in the match and in the 39th minute made a ball and all tackle on the Easts left winger with the ball popping up in the air, Josiah Pahulu nabbed the ball at its apex just inside his own territory and even with Tigers players all around him Josiah Pahulu was still able to get the ball five metres into Tigers territory.
Getting the ball back to the twenty metre mark is the goal from a kick-off return and Josiah Pahulu certainly matched that goal in the 57th minute as the Bears looked to stay in front in a see-sawing second half.
The 2022 Cyril Connell Cup season for Ryan McCann:
In late October 2021 Ryan McCann was named in the 2022 Souths Logan Magpies U16 Cyril Connell Cup side and after the Magpies had a Round One bye, Ryan McCann was named on the right wing for Round Two against the Burleigh Bears and was set to continue on the right wing in Round Three against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls however he was a game day scratching from the match.
Ryan McCann moved to the left wing for Round Four against the Redcliffe Dolphins and he made the most of the position switch with an opportunist try in the 8th minute when he swooped on a dropped ball by the Dolphins thirty three metres out from the line. After taking possession Ryan McCann outpaced the Redcliffe right second rower down the left touchline and then was able to bring the ball around to put it down under the posts.
Ryan McCann was then named to continue on the left wing in Round Five against the Easts Tigers once again showcased his express pace when he was on the end of the Souths Logan backline movement to his side of the field in the 27th minute when after receiving the ball thirty metres out and with limited space down the touchline, Ray McCann burnt off the Tigers defence to score in the left corner.
Titans contracted Ryder Williams has been named in the New Zealand Rugby League U16 Nine's Merit side.
The 2022 Cyril Connell Cup competition for Joseph Pouniu:
Round One of the 2022 U16 Cyril Connell Cup saw Joseph Pouniu named in the front row for the Redcliffe Dolphins against the Easts Tigers however the match rained out due to a once in a decade rain event. The Round One match against Easts was re-scheduled in Round Three with Josiah Pouniu once again being named in the front row.
Joseph Pouniu was also named in the front row for Round Two against the Tweed Heads Seagulls and scored in the 55th minute when he crashed over from around five metres out and to the left of the play the ball with Joseph Pouniu spinning counter clockwise right on the try line to get the ball down with authority under the posts.
Such was the quality of Joseph Pouniu’s performance that he was named as a reserve in the Courier Mail’s Cyril Connell Cup Round Two Team of the Week.
After Redcliffe had a Round Three Joseph Pouniu was back in the front row for Round Four against the Souths Logan Magpies with Joseph Pouniu probably scoring the easiest try that he is ever scored and is ever likely to. In the 18th minute Joseph Pouniu chased through a short grubber kick into the in-goal. It looked as if the Magpies would handle the kick but instead the ball was lost with the ball bouncing straight to Joseph Pouniu who just had to get his hands down low, take the ball and place it down underneath the goal posts.
Joseph Pouniu continued in the front row in Round Five against the Norths Devils with Joseph Pouniu putting in an exceptional performance which deservedly saw him named in the front row in the Courier Mail CC Cup Round Five Team of the Week.
In total in the 2022 U16 Cyril Connell Cup competition Joseph Pouniu ran for the 13th most metres being 450 metres at an average of 113 metres per game and also made two line breaks.
The 2022 Cyril Connell Cup competition for Corey Pearce:
In late October 2021 Corey Pe**** was named in the 2022 Souths Logan Magpies U16 Cyril Connell Cup side and after the Magpies had a Round One bye, Corey Pe**** was named at hooker and captain for Round Two against the Burleigh Bears, converting Duquan Talaepa’s 47th minute try.
Corey Pe**** continued at hooker and captain in Round Three against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls with Corey Pe**** scoring the opening try of the match in the 10th minute when he moved into dummy half on the right side of the field eight metres out. Corey Perase motioned to pass to his right but literally just held the ball out to his right before darting forward once the Wynnum Manly marker had moved across field to dive over mid-way between the goal posts and corner post on the right side of the field.
Corey Pe**** produced a smart piece of play in the final minute of the match when he spotted Seagulls players offside and ran at them to the left of the dummy half and subsequently being a awarded a penalty with Bailey Trew kicking a penalty goal after the final siren to give the Magpies a 22 – 20 victory.
Corey Pe****’s outstanding performance saw him named in the front row in the Courier Mail Cyril Connell Cup Round Three Team of the Week.
Corey Pe**** continued at hooker and captain in Round Four against the Redcliffe Dolphins, kicking two conversions from three attempts in the Magpies tough 28 – 20 loss.
Corey Pe**** also continued at hooker and captain in Round Five against the Easts Tigers with Corey Pe**** scoring eight of the Magpies forty points from a try and two conversions. Corey Pe**** scored in the 37th minute when after moving into dummy half around a metre from the try line and ten metres in from the left touchline, Corey Pe**** moved out of dummy half to his right and threw a dummy in the same direction before diving over the line back to his left in the dead zone behind the play the ball.
The 2022 Cyril Connell Cup competition for Ray Puru:
Round One of the 2022 U16 Cyril Connell Cup saw Ray Puru named at fullback for the Burleigh Bears against the Tweed Heads Seagulls however he was a game day scratching from the match. Ray Puru was then named on the Bears extended bench for Round Two against the Souths Logan Magpies.
Ray Puru was then named to start at fullback for Round Three against the Norths Devils and had a solid first Cyril Connell Cup game of the season with his initial significant contribution coming in the 8th minute with a good run to the right of the dummy half with two left foot steps across field making seventeen metres before Ray Puru extended the ball by way of a right arm flick off-load.
Ray Puru showed his enthusiasm in the 26th minute when he came forward to take a hit-up to the right of the play the ball near mid-way. Ray Puru raced to the line dumping off one defender before off-loading to his right to Sam Stephenson.
Ray Puru also did well in the 29th minute when with Burleigh on the attack Ray Puru had to track back to twenty eight metres out after an errant pass to retrieve the ball. After taking possession Ray Puru ran to his left before executing a great right foot step to beat one Norths defender and got to just eight metres out from the line before he was brought down. Ray Puru was on his foot in a flash to execute a quick play the ball with Sam Stephenson scoring down a short left blindside as a result.
Ray Puru made a further strong run in the 43rd minute when he took a hit-up to the right of the play the ball receiving the ball twenty two metres from his own try line and getting the ball to thirty six metres away.
Ray Puru then continued at fullback in Round Four against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls and it only took six minutes of the match for Ray Puru to highlight his class when from a midfield Burleigh scrum win around twenty metres from the line, Ray Puru ran to his left getting on the outside of two defenders before drawing in the Wynnum Manly right winger and putting Izayah Petrichvich away down the left touchline, unfortunately Izayah Petrichvich lost the ball in a tackle just short of the try line.
Ray Puru produced a moment of brilliance in the 21st minute when he stood under a high ball almost on his own line with Ray Puru being smashed by two defenders as soon as his feet touched the ground but Ray Puru brilliantly was able to stay in the field of play. Ray Puru could have been excused for taking a moment but after Izayah Petrichvich ran the ball from Ray Puru’s play the ball, he stayed alive taking an off-load three metres for the line and exploding downfield getting the ball to twenty metres away from his own line.
Ray Puru made a further outstanding run in the 36th minute when he chimed into the Burleigh backline on the right, once again getting on the outside of the Wynnum Manly defensive line and racing away down the right touchline on a thirty metre run and then Ray Puru was able to get the ball back inside to Billy Wellard before being taken into touch around ten metres out from the right corner.
Then in the 57th minute Ray Puru was loitering in the centre of the ruck as the Bears were bringing the ball away from their own line and received an off-load just ten metres from his own line and burst sixteen metres downfield through the centre of the Wynnum Manly defensive line.
Ray Puru was also solid defensively including along with Amarni Wetini-Ngaropo and Anton Whaiapu he held the Wynnum Manly five eight over the try line in the 39th minute.
Ray Puru showcased his positioning and safe hands at fullback in the 49th minute when he made a great diving catch on a Seagulls long clearing kick close to the left touchline.
Ray Puru was named on the bench for the Bears opening 2022 trail against the Tweed Heads Seagulls and then started at fullback for Burleigh in their final 2022 trial against the Western Clydesdales operating on the left side of the field with Ray Puru chiming into the backline on the right side of the field in the 7th minute and after drawing in the Western Clydesdales winger put Sunny Kama over in the right corner.
Ray Puru also produced a great defensive effort in the 18th minute. The Clydesdales from a scrum win just ten metres out from their own line kicked deep, Ray Puru turned and chased and was easily leading everyone in the chase to the ball, Ray Puru copped a horror bounce when it bounced back right over his head into the arms of one of the Western Clydesdales chasers who then took off from near halfway. Ray Puru had to stop, turn 180 degrees and chase, comfortably reeling in the attacker near the twenty metre mark.
The 2022 Cyril Connell Cup season for Sam Stephenson:
Round One of the 2022 U16 Cyril Connell Cup saw Sam Stephenson named at left centre for the Burleigh Bears against the Tweed Heads Seagulls with Sam Stephenson scoring a strong solo try.
In the 42nd minute Sam Stephenson burst onto the ball down the left channel around forty metres out from the line breaking the line and set sail for the try line just short of the line Sam Stephenson was ankle tapped from before and went to ground, but before the Seagulls defence could put a hand on him, Sam Stephenson bounced to his feet and dove over around twelve metres in from the left corner post.
Sam Stephenson had made an earlier strong run in the 29th minute from a Burleigh scrum win deep in their own territory Sam Stephenson made twelve metres to the left of the scrum after receiving the ball ten metres out from his own try line.
Sam Stephenson was also named at left centre for Round Two against the Souths Logan Magpies and crossed the line to score in the 12th minute of the match when after receiving the ball wide out on the left just three metres out from the line, Sam Stephenson stepped off his left foot to wrong foot one Magpies defender before diving over to score five metres in from the left corner post.
Sam Stephenson almost scored a second try late in the first half, getting over the line but the ball was knocked from his grasp just prior to getting the ball down.
Sam Stephenson made his first line break of the match in the 4th minute when he took possession to the left of a scrum with a Burleigh feed at mid-field and twenty metres out from the Bears line. Sam Stephenson cut off his right foot to get around one defender before slicing through a gap between that defender and the next outside defender. Just as he was almost through the gap and accelerating, Sam Stephenson was ankle tapped from behind but he was able to maintain his feet and keep going before the Magpies cover defence got to him five metres inside Magpies territory thus Sam Stephenson’s line break accounted for an impressive thirty five metres.
Sam Stephenson made a further strong run in the eighth minute when after Burleigh were awarded a penalty, Sam Stephenson took the tap restart forty metres out from his own line and against a set Souths Logan defensive line, Sam Stehpenson make a strong sixteen metres, more than 50% of which were post contact.
Such was the quality of Sam Stephenson’s performance that he was named as a reserve in the Courier Mail’s Cyril Connell Cup Round Two Team of the Week.
Sam Stephenson also started at left centre in Round Three against the Norths Devils and had a big match in the Bears 20 – 10 victory with Sam Stephenson scoring two of the Bears four tries.
Sam Stephenson scored his first try of the match in the 27th minute when he charged onto a good short ball by Amarni Wetini-Ngaropo down a very short left blindside from four metres out with Sam Stephenson crashing over three metres in from the left corner post.
Sam Stephenson completed his double in the 46th minute when in his left centre position Sam Stephenson received the ball ten metres out immediately stepping off his left foot to beat one defender before cutting off his left once again to beat and second, before Sam Stephenson charged over to score with three defenders hanging off him to get the ball down ten metres in from the left corner post.
Sam Stephenson made a significant run in the 16th minute which accounted for seventeen metres down the left channel to get the ball to thirty metres away from his own try line.
Sam Stephenson, in the 26th minute was part of a good Bears team movement that almost saw Izayah Petrichvich score in the left corner. Amarni Wetini-Ngaropo took the ball down a wide left blindside throwing a great cut-out pass to his left to Sam Stephenson who executed a great catch and pass to put Izayah Petrichvich on a seventeen run down the left touchline but he was bundled into touch just two metres out from the left corner.
Sam Stephenson continued on his way in the 35th minute when he charged onto the ball to the left of the dummy half making fifteen metres to get the ball to within thirty metres of the Burleigh try line.
Sam Stephenson then continued at left centre in Round Four against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls and made a number of line breaks, with the first coming in just the 4th minute of the match when Sam Stephenson burst through the Wynnum Manly righted sided defensive line down the left channel, making twenty two metres.
Sam Stephenson made another line break in the 49th minute when he broke through the Wynnum Manly right sided defensive line making twenty five metres, breaking three tackles along the way.
Sam Stephenson also produced a strong defensive effort in the 47th minute when after Wynnum Manly put in a cross kick to their right, Sam Stephenson smashed the Seagulls right winger just after he took possession of the ball ten metres out from the line.
Sam Stephenson was named on the bench for the Bears opening 2022 trail against the Tweed Heads Seagulls with Sam Stephenson operating at left centre in the second half after coming on at halftime.
In the 35th minute Sam Stephenson recorded a line break and try assist in the same run when he ran off a good ball from Amarni Wetini-Ngaropo. Sam Stephenson raced forty five metres before drawing the Seagulls fullback and passing to his right to send Nayte Saaga over for a great Burleigh long range try.
Sam Stephenson also made a strong run in the 40th minute when from the right of the dummy half Sam Stephenson took the ball on his own twenty metre line and made twenty five metres to get within five metres of the try line, breaking three tackles along the way.
Sam Stephenson made another fifteen metres of metres gained in the 51st minute when from the left of a Bears scrum win, Sam Stephenson was able to promote the ball over the Bears defensive twenty metre line.
Sam Stephenson then started at left centre for Burleigh in their final 2022 trial against the Western Clydesdales operating on the left side of the field.
In total in the 2022 U16 Cyril Connell Cup competition Sam Stephenson ran for the 5th most metres being 549 metres at an average of 137 metres per game and also made four line breaks.
The 2022 Cyril Connell Cup season for Isaac Togia:
In late October 2021 Isaac Togia was named in the Ipswich Jets 2022 U16 Cyril Connell Cup squad and after the Jets had a Round One bye, Cooper Cracknell was named in the second row for Round Two against the Burleigh Bears and scored the line in just the 14th minute of the match. Only twenty metres out from his own try line, Isaac Togia packed in at lock for a scrum with an Ipswich Jets feed. After picking up the ball, Isaac Togia ran to his right and literally just ran eighty metres untouched to five over under the posts.
Isaac Togia continued at right second row in Round Three against the Sunshine Coast Falcons playing strongly yet again, with his first strong effort with the ball coming in just the 5th minute when Isaac Togia making a strong twelve metres when he ran to his right out of dummy half to get the ball within thirty metres of the try line.
Isaac Togia also had a very good match from a defensive perspective including a big tackle in the 6th minute when Isaac Togia drove his right shoulder through the Falcons lock. Then just three tackles later Isaac Togia made a strong driving tackle on the Falcon’s left centre forcing him back around three metres.
Isaac Togia continued at right second row in Round Four against the Wide Bay Bulls, scoring once again in a big Jets victory. In the 24th minute on the second tackle after a Jets scrum win ten metres from the line and fifteen metres in from the right touchline Isaac Togia moved into dummy half and once he collected the ball Isaac Togia ran to his left, engaging two defenders still six metres from the line. Upon the engagement with the two Bulls defenders Isaac Togia spun 360 degrees counter clockwise to gain separation before charging over the get the ball down under the posts with four Wide Bay defenders trying in vain to prevent Isaac Togia from scoring a strong solo try.
Isaac Togia also started at right second row in Round Five against the Western Clydesdales with Isaac Togia scoring in the 48th minute when from around ten metres out and ten metres in from the right touchline, Isaac Togia ran to his left out of dummy half and proved far too strong for the Clydesdales defence to crash over under the posts.
In total in the 2022 U16 Cyril Connell Cup competition Isaac Togia ran for the 7h most metres being 502 metres at an average of 126 metres per game and also made three line breaks. Isaac Togia also made the 13th most tackles with sixty eight tackles.
The 2022 Cyril Connell Cup season for Sunny Kama:
Round One of the 2022 U16 Cyril Connell Cup saw Sunny Kama at right centre for the Burleigh Bears against the Tweed Heads Seagulls.
Sunny Kama scored the opening try of the 2022 U16 Cyril Connell Cup season when in the 6th minute he swooped on a loose Seagulls pass to race forty five to put the ball over the line mid-way between the goal posts and corner post on the right side of the field.
Sunny Kama made a strong run in the 27th minute when from a Burleigh scrum win around ten metres out from his own try line, Sunny Kama made an impressive twenty five metres down the right channel.
Sunny Kama also had a strong match defensively including in the 19th minute when whilst defending right on his own try line, Sunny Kama found himself at marker and got low and was able to use his body position and strength to hald up the Tweed Heads hooker who had tried to sneak over from dummy half.
Sunny Kama was also named at right centre for Round Two against the Souths Logan Magpies and oncer again scored Burleigh’s opening try of the match when in the 4th minute after receiving the ball from his left from fullback Izayah Petrichvich, Sunny Kama ran fifteen metres to score in the right corner untouched.
Sunny Kama also produced a strong ball and all tackle in the 20th minute on his opposite number as the Magpies left centre was bringing the ball out of his own twenty metre area, with Sunny Kama’s initial contact knocking the ball loose with Burleigh subsequently retrieving the lost ball and immediately going onto the attack.
Such was the quality of Sunny Kama’s performance that he was named as a reserve in the Courier Mail’s Cyril Connell Cup Round Two Team of the Week.
Sunny Kama also started at right centre in Round Three against the Norths Devils and made the defensive play of the match in the 9th minute when he came out of the Burleigh defensive line to smash the Devils fullback inside the twenty metre attacking zone.
Sunny Kama in the 21st minute made a good run of fifteen metres over the halfway mark after he was on hand to take an off-load from Jac Finnigan who was able to get his arms free after getting part way through the defensive line down the right channel.
Sunny Kama’s potentially best run of the match came in the 37th minute when literally from under his own goal posts Sunny Kama received the ball off the dummy half to the right of the play the ball and against a set Norths defensive line was able to carry three defenders out to the fifteen metre mark.
Sunny Kama made another big run off his own try line in the 43rd minute when he charged onto the ball to the right of the dummy half, taking receipt of the ball eight metres out from his own line and getting the ball over the twenty metre mark.
Sunny Kama then continued at right centre in Round Four against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls. It was a bit of a strange match for Sunny Kama as the ball just did not get out to his right side of the field often but Sunny Kama certainly went looking for it including in the 32nd minute when from inside his own territory Sunny Kama charged twelve metres through the centre of the ruck and was then correctly awarded a penalty when he was not allowed to his feet.
Once again in the 49th minute Sunny Kama went across to the left side of the field seeking the ball and was able to make fifteen metres through centre field and in the 52nd minute Sunny Kama took a twenty metre restart, running to his left with Sunny Kama breaking four tackles in a twenty metre run.
Even with the game almost over and Burleigh fourteen points down Sunny Kama did not give up as was evidenced by a 57th minute effort of eighteen metres down the left channel.
Sunny Kama was named on the bench for the Burleigh Bears opening 2022 trial against the Tweed Heads Seagulls in early February with Sunny Kama operating at right centre in the second half after coming on at halftime with Sunny Kama making the first of a number of strong runs when he ran from his left centre position back towards centre field, making twelve metres with his run commencing deep inside his own territory.
Sunny Kama made a further strong run in the 45th minute when he made twenty metres from just inside his own territory when he tapped the ball from a penalty restart, breaking three tackles in the great effort.
Sunny Kama then made a strong defensive play in the 48th minute with a good ball and all tackle on the Tweed Heads left centre just out from the try line.
Sunny Kama then started at right centre in the first half for Burleigh in their final 2022 trial against the Western Clydesdales operating on the left side of the field with Sunny Kama scoring in the 7th minute of the match when after good work in his inside from Ray Puru, Sunny Kama ran nine metres to score untouched in the right corner.
Sunny Kama could well have been awarded a second try right on halftime when after Burleigh put in a short attacking Sunny Kama dived on the ball in the in-goal but the referee ruled that somewhere in the mass of arms and legs and pouring rain Burleigh had knocked the ball on before Sunny Kama have dived on it.
In total in the 2022 U16 Cyril Connell Cup competition Sunny Kama ran for the 11h most metres being 468 metres at an average of 117 metres per game and also made a line break.
The 2022 Cyril Connell Cup season for Amarni Wetini-Ngaropo:
Round One of the 2022 U16 Cyril Connell Cup saw Amarni Wetini-Ngaropo named at five eight for the Burleigh Bears against the Tweed Heads Seagulls however he was a game day scratching from the match.
Amarni Wetini-Ngaropo was also named at five eight for Round Two against the Souths Logan Magpies.
The 28th minute of the match saw Amarni Wetini-Ngaropo score a freakish solo try in the 28th minute. Amarni Wetini-Ngaropo received the ball forty metres from the try line on his usual left side of the field. After dummying to his left Amarni Wetini-Ngaropo took the line on himself initially using a right arm fend to keep one defender away from him, but the Magpies defender kept persisting and jumped on Amarni Wetini-Ngaropo’s back but somehow Amarni Wetini-Ngaropo was able to shrug the defender off and break into the backfield.
Amarni Wetini-Ngaropo veered to his right to look to beat the Magpies fullback but once again the defender jumped on his back but once again Amarni Wetini-Ngaropo was able to shrug the defender off, spinning 360 degrees counter clockwise in the process. Amarni Wetini-Ngaropo then still had twenty metres to run but was too quick for the cover defence, crossing the line ten metres from the left upright and then was able to bring the ball around closer to the posts.
Amarni Wetini-Ngaropo also took over the goal kicking duties, kicking his first goal in Australia when he converted Sam Stephenson’s 12th minute try from five metres in from the left touchline.
Amarni Wetini-Ngaropo then stepped up to convert his own 29th minute try from adjacent to the left upright. Amarni Wetini-Ngaropo then added a third conversion in the 32nd minute when he converted Nayte Saaga early second half try from directly in front.
Amarni Wetini-Ngaropo made his first run of the match in the 4th minute when after receiving the ball to the right of the dummy half just inside Souths Logan territory Amarni Wetini-Ngaropo stepped off his right foot and was able to make eight metres after breaking one tackle.
Amarni Wetini-Ngaropo also had a strong match defensively including a great try saving tackle in the 18th minute when he cut down the Souths Logan Magpies right second rower with a scything low tackle just a metre out from the try line.
Amarni Wetini-Ngaropo continued at five eight in Round Three against the Norths Devils put on a master class in the Bears 20 – 10 win with Amarni Wetini-Ngaropo scoring one try, setting up a another and kicking two conversions including a great conversion three metres in from the left touchline to convert Sam Stephenson’s 27th minute try.
Amarni Wetini-Ngaropo scored an outstanding eighty metre solo try to seal the match for Burleigh in the 57th minute. Burleigh fed a scrum just twenty metres out from his own try line with Amarni Wetini-Ngaropo stationed to the left of the scrum. After Amarni Wetini-Ngaropo received the ball from the back of the scrum and ran across field to his left. As he got towards the left side of the field Amarni Wetini-Ngaropo turned his back towards the Norths defensive line and ion fact threw the ball slightly up out of his hands thus intimating that he was bringing someone underneath him but instead Amarni Wetini-Ngaropo took control the ball and slice through the Magpies right sided defence and then outpaced to the cover defence to dive over five metres in from the left corner to seal the match for the Bears.
Amarni added a try assist to his exceptional match in the 27th minute when after the ball was played around four metres from the try line, Amarni Wetini-Ngaropo called the ball down a very short left blindside holding the ball up for a fraction of a second to draw in two defenders and then put a great soft short ball to a charging Sam Stephenson who crashed over to score three metres in from the left corner post.
Amarni Wetini-Ngaropo in the 26th minute was part of a good Bears team movement that almost saw Izayah Petrichvich score in the left corner. Amarni Wetini-Ngaropo took the ball down a wide left blindside throwing a great cut-out pass to his left to Sam Stephenson who executed a great catch and pass to put Izayah Petrichvich on a seventeen run down the left touchline but he was bundled into touch just two metres out from the left corner.
Amarni Wetini-Ngaropo put in a good short attacking kick in the 28th minute that ultimately led to the Bears opening try of the match. Amarni Wetini-Ngaropo in a right foot grubber kick from twenty five metres out which was knocked on by the Norths fullback. Sam Stephenson scored from the resultant Burleigh set of six.
In a complete match for Amarni Wetini-Ngaropo made a try saving tackle in the 36th minute when he got across on the try line to his left to tackle the Norths right winger who had cut back off his wing with Amarni Wetini-Ngaropo getting across to stop his momentum literally right on the try line.
Amarni Wetini-Ngaropo then continued at five eight in Round Four against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls with Amarni Wetini-Ngaropo kicking one conversion, recording a try assist and making a line break.
In the 33rd minute Amarni Wetini-Ngaropo whilst operating down a short left blindside initially ran the ball away from the touchline to his right before cutting back to his left and even in heavy traffic Amarni Wetini-Ngaropo popped a good short ball from four metres out from the line to his left to Anton Whaiapu who crashed over wide out on the left. Amarni Wetini-Ngaropo then stepped up to convert the try.
Amarni Wetini-Ngaropo made his line break in the 48th minute when he ran the ball on the left side of the field, stepping twice off his left foot to get to the outside of the Wynnum Manly right sided defensive line and then Amarni Wetini-Ngaropo burst away down the left touchline getting within five metres of the left corner but unfortunately his pass back inside went forward.
Amarni Wetini-Ngaropo never gave up in the match and even with only a couple of minutes to go Amarni Wetini-Ngaropo was still at it, making a twelve metres winding run to get within fifteen metres of the try line.
Amarni Wetini-Ngaropo was also solid defensively including along with Anton Whaiapu and Ray Puru he held the Wynnum Manly five eight over the try line in the 39th minute.
Amarni Wetini-Ngaropo was named on the bench for the Bears opening 2022 trail against the Tweed Heads Seagulls with Amarni Wetini-Ngaropo operating at five eight on the left side of the field in the second half after coming on at halftime.
Amarni Wetini-Ngaropo scored one of the best tries that you will ever see and the first of I am sure of many in Australia and for Burleigh in the 42nd minute when he scored a spectacular ninety five metre solo try.
Amarni Wetini-Ngaropo called the ball down a short left blindside just five metres from his own line. Upon receipt of the ball Amarni Wetini-Ngaropo ran to his left, dummying twice to players coming back underneath him and then after freezing the defensive line Amarni Wetini-Ngaropo flew down the left touchline. To beat the Tweed Heads fullback who was coming across in cover defence Amarni Wetini-Ngaropo produced a goose step and then was not going to be caught with Amarni Wetini-Ngaropo putting the ball down mid-way between the goal posts and corner post on the left side of the field.
It took just two minutes of the second half for Amarni Wetini-Ngaropo to make his prescence felt by recording a try assist when after receiving an offload around five metres out from the line on the left side of the field Amarni Wetini-Ngaropo skipped around one defender and then shrugged off another before off-loading to his left in a tackle to put Izayah Petrichvich over in the left corner.
Then just three minutes later in the 35th minute Amarni Wetini-Ngaropo recorded a line break assist when he took the ball from the dummy half on the left and threw a flat pass to his left to lead Sam Stephenson into a big gap with the left centre then drawing the fullback and sending Nayte Saaga over for a great Burleigh long range try.
Amarni Wetini-Ngaropo then started at five eight for Burleigh in their final 2022 trial against the Western Clydesdales operating on the left side of the field and recording two first half line breaks before coming off at halftime.
Amarni Wetini-Ngaropo’s opening line break of the match came in the 9th minute when from just inside his own territory down a wide left blindside Amarni Wetini-Ngaropo ran at the defensive line with the ball out in front of his body in both hands. Just as he was nearing the line Amarni Wetini-Ngaropo produced a great dummy and go to his left, slicing through the defensive line, making twenty five metres.
Amarni Wetini-Ngaropo produced his second line break in the 17th minute when he backed up a sniping run out of dummy half by his hooker. Immediately upon receipt of the ball near halfway Amarni Wetini-Ngaropo ran to his left dummying to beat one defender and break the line. Once into open space Amarni Wetini-Ngaropo was able to position Sam Stephenson and put the left centre into space down the left channel.
The 2022 MM Cup season for Jackson Le Pou:
Round One of the 2022 MM Cup competition saw Jackson Le Pou named on the extended bench for the Tweed Heads Seagulls against the Souths Logan Magpies.
In Round Two against the Redcliffe Dolphins, Jackson Le Pou started the match at left centre and made the most of his opportunity by scoring in the 9th minute of the match.
After the Seagulls had a Round Three bye, Jackson Le Pou was named to start at hooker in Round Four against the Easts Tigers and along with Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa and Reico Ratana made the opening tackle of the match after Tweed Heads had kicked-off to get the match underway.
Jackson Le Pou continued at hooker in Round Five against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls as well as in Round Six against the Redcliffe Dolphins before moving to five eight for Round Seven in the local derby against the Burleigh Bears with Jackson Le Pou scoring the Seagulls second try in their 26 – 24 victory.
In just the 5th minute Josh Lynn put up a spiralling bomb from forty metres out that the Burleigh fullback wanted no hard of in terms of catching the ball on the full. Kyen Murphy raced through to take the ball on the bounce before off-loading to Jack Le Pou who race twelve metres to score adjacent to the right upright.
Starting in his third different position of the season Jackson Le Pou showed that he was comfortable in the five eight role in the 37th when he put in a good grubber kick towards the line and then chased the kick through and along with Will Taylor held the Burleigh fullback off the ground and then forced him back six metres into the in-goal to win his side a goal line drop out.
In late January 2022 Jackson Le Pou started at halfback on the left side of the field for the Tweed Heads Seagulls MM Cup squad in their first trail against the Northern Rivers Titans U18 Laurie Daley Cup squad with Jackson Le Pou scoring in the first of three periods when he followed through a break to take the off-load and dive over under the posts.
Jackson Le Pou almost recorded a late match try assist when he put in a good short kick towards the left corner but the Seagulls left winger was adjudged to have knocked the ball on before grounding it.
The 2022 MM Cup season for Will Saunders:
In early November 2021 Will Saunders was named in the 2022 Tweed Heads Seagulls MM Cup squad.
Will Saunders made his MM Cup debut in Round Four of the 2022 competition when he was named on the bench for the Seagulls when they took on the Easts Tigers with Will Saunders coming into the match in the dummy half role in the 24th minute.
Will Saunders debut MM Cup match could barely have gone any better when from a metre out and three metres to the left of the goal posts, Will Saunders darted to his right to get the ball down next to the left upright in the 45th minute.
No doubt the try gave Will Saunders a lot of confidence as from the next set of six, Will Saunders ran out of dummy half to his right, making twelve metes to near the halfway mark.
Defensively Will Saunders produced a number of good plays including in the 55th minute when he got down low and stopped the Easts lock from scoring after he had run out of dummy half and appeared certain to score.
Will Saunders never say die attitude could not have been any clearer in the 62nd minute when Easts kicked from a scrum win inside their own territory, Will Saunders raced back from locking the scrum and from the play the ball after Easts had retrieved the ball from the kick downfield, Will Saunders along with Blake Forder initially held up the Easts left winger over the line and then forced him back into the field of play. Tweed Heads were then awarded a penalty for a double movement.
Will Saunders was also named on the bench for Round Five against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls coming on in the 26th minute into the dummy half role.
Will Saunders did well defensively in the 42nd minute when along with Will Taylor and Reico Ratana he was on hand to hold put the Wynnum Manly lock who under tried to burst over under the posts. Will Saunders was also on hand to hold up the Wynnum Manly lock once again in the 53rd minute in conjunction with Blake Forder and Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa.
Will Saunders also came off the bench in Round Six against the Norths Devils coming onto the field to play in his usual dummy half role with Will Saunders making a trademark run out of dummy half in the 48th minute when he ran to his right making ten metres to put the Seagulls on the front foot thirty metres from the try line.
Will Saunders was then named on the bench in the Round Seven local derby against the Burleigh Bears however a late tactical change saw Will Saunders make his first career MM Cup start at hooker. Will Saunders showed that he belonged in the Tweed Heads starting line-up when in the 20th minute after passing to his left to Will Taylor just ten metres from his own line, Will Saunders chased after Will Taylor’s line break and continued going after speedster Jet Forbes received the ball off-load and seventy metres downfield was able to get his boot to the ball after Jett Forbes attempted pass had gone to ground.
The 2022 MM Cup season for Taniela Mapusua-Lotaki:
Round One of the 2022 MM Cup competition saw Taniela Mapusua-Lotaki named on the right wing for the Burleigh Bears against the Easts Tigers however the match was cancelled due to extreme weather conditions.
Taniela Mapusua-Lotaki as then named to start on the right wing for Round Two against the Souths Logan Magpies and also started on the right wing in Round Three against the Norths Devils. Taniela Mapusua-Lotaki then was named to continue on the right wing in Round Four against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls however a late change saw Taniela Mapusua-Loatki start the match from the bench with Taniela Mapusua-Lotaki coming off the bench in the 16th minute to play at left centre and putting in an outstanding performance.
Taniela Mapusua-Lotaki made a great ball and all try saving tackle in the 28th minute right on the try line when he stopped the Wynnum Manly right centre in his tracks and thus preventing what appeared to be a sure fire Seagulls try.
Taniela Mapusua-Lotaki pulled off another strong tackle in the 57th minute when along with Josiah Pahulu, he smashed the Easts Tigers front rower who as taking the kick-off return.
Taniela Mapusua-Lotaki made a strong charge of fifteen metre, at least nine of which were post contact after receiving the ball to the right of the play the ball in the process getting the ball out of Burleigh’s twenty metre defensive area in the 28th minute.
Then in the 37th minute Taniela Mapusua-Lotaki made a strong run of sixteen metres, nine of which were post contact, from a Burleigh penalty tap restart. Taniela Mapusua-Lotaki took another Burleigh tap restart from a penalty in the 59th minute and once again made significant ground, on this occasions sixteen metres to get the ball within twelve metres of the try line against a Tigers set defensive line.
Round Six against the Redcliffe Dolphins saw Taniela Mapusua-Lotaki named on the bench against the Redcliffe Dolphins however a late change saw Taniela Mapusua-Lotaki start the match on the left wing with his first touch of the match coming inside the opening minute when he took a penalty tap restart near halfway.
Taniela Mapusua-Lotaki continued his strong start to the match in the 3rd minute when he made a strong twelve metre run to get the ball to near the halfway mark. Then in the 29th minute Taniela Mapusua-Lotaki came off his left wing to take a hit-up on the right side of the field with Taniela Mapusua-Lotaki’s run bringing the ball out from his own thirty metre line to get the ball a further twelve metres downfield.
Taniela Mapusua-Lotaki started at right centre for the Burleigh Bears second 2022 trial against the Tweed Heads Seagulls with Taniela Mapusua-Lotaki making a strong run in the 37th minute when off the back of a Burleigh scrum win, Taniela Mapusua-Lotaki from thirty metres out burst down the left side of the field to get around ten metres out from the try line before being stopped near the left touchline.
Just five minutes later in the 42nd minute Taniela Mapusua-Lotaki was at it again with another strong run on that occasion a twenty metre effort starting from his own twenty metre mark. Taniela Mapusua-Lotaki initially ran around one defender towards the left touchline before cutting back to his right towards centre field to get to the forty metre mark.
Taniela Mapusua-Lotaki was also involved in a great Burleigh sequence in the 54th minute that made a lot of ground down the right side of the field. Around twenty metres from the try line, Bailey McConnell ran the ball to his right, throwing a good ball to Taneila Lotaki who burst downfield, getting to his fifty metre mark, Taniela Mapusua-Lotaki then was able to off-load the ball to his right to Te Haeta Takamore who promoted the ball over the halfway line before off-loading back inside to Bailey McConnell who looked like he would race away to score but unfortunately was ankle tapped from behind just as he was moving towards full speed.
Taniela Mapusua-Lotaki was also on song defensively in the match, including in the 41st minute when along with Te Haeta Takamore he held up Seagulls fullback Jett Forbes over the line when it had looked like he would slice through towards the left corner.
Taniela Mapusua-Lotaki made another great defensive read in the 59th minute when he came off his line to smash the Seagulls lock who had run into a gap and was only ten metres from the try line. Make no mistake Taniela Mapusua-Lotaki’s stopped the Seagulls player in his tracks.
Taniela Mapusua-Lotaki also started at right centre in Burleigh’s final trial against the Western Clydesdales with Taniela Mapusua-Lotaki moving to the left side of the field in the second half.
In the 20th minute Taniela Mapusua-Lotaki did well to chase through a kick by his right winger with Taniela Mapusua-Lotaki tackling the Western Clydesdales left winger in goal.
Taniela Mapusua-Lotaki made a great line break in the 68th minute when after finding space down the left touchline, Taniela Mapusua-Lotaki as able to make sixty five metres before being rounded up.
The 2022 MM Cup season for Reico Ratana:
In early November 2021 Reico Ratana was named in the 2022 Tweed Heads Seagulls MM Cup squad and was part of the Tweed Heads Seagulls U18 Mal Meninga Cup squad that played their opening 2022 trial against the Northern Rivers Titans U18 Laurie Daley Cup squad at Pizzey Park.
Round One of the 2022 MM Cup competition saw Reico Ratana named at lock for the Tweed Heads Seagulls against the Souths Logan Magpies with Reico Ratana taking the Seagulls second hit-up of the match.
Reico Ratana was also named at lock for Round Two against the Redcliffe Dolphins and after the Seagulls had a Round Three bye, Reico Ratana started at lock in Round Four against the Easts Tigers and along with Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa and Jackson Le Pou made the opening tackle of the match after Tweed Heads had kicked-off to get the match underway.
Reico Ratana recorded a 23rd minute line break assist when after he received the ball on the right side of the field Reico Ratana subtly moved to his right and popped a great short ball to a hard charging Eli Tuli who came desperately close to scoring under the posts but in the end was held up by three defenders.
Reico Ratana continued at lock in Round Five against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls with Reico Ratana scoring a strong try in the 67th minute to get the Seagulls within six points of Wynnum Manly.
Reico Ratana ran a great line down the right in the 67th minute, with the only concession being a slight step off his right foot to beat one defender and then from twelve metres out no one was going to stop Reico Ratana from scoring eight metres to the right of the uprights.
Reico Ratana did well defensively in the 42nd minute when along with Will Saunders and Will Taylor he was on hand to hold put the Wynnum Manly lock who under tried to burst over under the posts.
Reico Ratana continued at lock in Round Six against the Norths Devils with Reico Ratana scoring the opening try of the match in just the 6th minute when from around five metres out Reico Ratana charged onto a pass to the left of the dummy half to crash over next to the right upright.
As a result of his outstanding performance Reico Ratana was named on the bench in the MM Cup Round Six Courier Mail Team of the Week in Round Six.
Reico Ratana was then named at lock in the Round Seven local derby against the Burleigh Bears and had an outstanding defensive match including in the 14th minute when he along with Reico Ratana hit one of the Burleigh forwards front on in a crunching tackle just ten metres out from the try line with the heavy initial contact forcing the ball loose.
The 2022 MM Cup season for Dorian Mapusua-Lotaki:
Round One of the 2022 MM Cup competition saw Dorian Mapusua-Lotaki named at left centre for the Burleigh Bears against the Easts Tigers however the match was cancelled due to extreme weather conditions.
Dorian Mapusua-Lotaki was then named to start at left centre for Round Two against the Souths Logan Magpies however a late game day change saw Dorian Mapusua-Lotaki started from the bench.
Dorian Mapusua-Lotaki contributed two tries off the bench in Burleigh’s ten point loss, with his opening try coming in the 51st minute when from two metres out from the line and just to the right of the uprights, Dorian Mapusua-Lotaki ran out of dummy half to his right to crash over and he was then subsequently hit after he scored with Burtleigh being awarded an eight point try.
Dorian Mapusua-Lotaki completed his double in the 66th minute when once again from very close range Dorian Mapusua-Lotaki picked up the ball from dummy half, got down low and burst over after running to his right. The only difference between his two tries was that in relation to his first try Dorian Mapusua-Lotaki scored adjacent to the right upright, but he scored his second try ten metres in from the left corner post.
Dorian Mapusua-Lotaki also made a good play in the 71st minute when after a long line break by Souths Logan, Magpies hooker Blake Mozer ran out of dummy half and made it well into the attacking twenty but Dorian Mapusua-Lotaki came out of nowhere to hit Mozer on his left side knocking the ball loose and eliminating the possibility of a Magpies try.
Such was the quality of Dorian Mapusua-Lotaki’s performance that he was named as a reserve in the Courier Mail’s Mal Meninga Cup Round Two Team of the Week.
Dorian Mapusua-Lotaki also started from the bench in Round Three against the Norths Devils and once again Dorian Mapusua-Lotaki providing a real spark when he came off the bench and into the dummy half role in the second half including almost setting up a try for Joseph Shannon late in the match when from just a metre out and directly in front of the posts Dorian Mapusua put in a short right foot kick out of dummy half with Joseph Shannon charging through but the North’s fullback took the ball dead just in front of a diving Joseph Shannon.
Dorian Mapusua-Lotaki made a good defensive effort along with Bailey McConnell when they held up the Norths hooker in the 65th minute when he had darted to his right from dummy half ten metres from the line,
Dorian Mapusua-Lotaki then continued off the bench in Round Four against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls coming into the dummy half role towards the end of the first half with Dorian Mapusua-Lotaki scoring a trademark try from dummy half in the 48th minute when after Josiah Pahulu was dragged down agonisingly short, Dorian Mapusua-Lotaki picked up the ball and stayed low to force his way over after diving to the right of the play the ball to get the ball down four metres to the right of the goal posts.
Round Six against the Redcliffe Dolphins saw Dorian Mapusua-Lotaki named on the bench against the Redcliffe Dolphins however a late tactical change saw Dorian Mapusua-Lotaki start the match at left centre with the late position change not impacting on Dorian Mapusua-Lotaki’s ability to score as he did in the 34th minute when after he received an off-load around three metres out and near the left touchline, Dorian Mapusua-Loatki cut back to his right past where he had received the pass from and got low to burrow his way over the line to get the ball down around eleven metres in from the left corner.
Even though he was playing at left centre, Dorian Mapusua-Lotaki’s initial contribution to the match came when he ran out of dummy half to his right making twelve metres.
Dorain Mapusua-Lotaki executed an outstanding piece of play in the 9th minute when after Bailey McConnell put up a high pinpoint bomb that came down five metres from the line with the height of the kick enabling Dorain Mapusua-Lotaki to race through a force the Norths fullback back into the in-goal to force a goal line drop out.
Dorian Mapusua-Lotaki was named on the bench for the Burleigh Bears second 2022 trial against the Tweed Heads Seagulls with Dorian Mapusua-Lotaki coming onto the field to play in the dummy half role in the 23rd minute.
Dorian Mapusua-Lataki came close to scoring in the 35th minute when on the last tackle, he ran out of dummy half to his right from five metres out but he was put to ground just short of the try line near the right goal post.
Dorian Mapusua-Lotaki ran out of dummy half to his right once again in the 42nd minute making ten metres to the halfway mark before off-loading to his right to Bailey McConnell who was able to promote the ball an additional eight metres.
Dorian Mapusua-Lotaki then started from the bench in Burleigh’s final trial against the Western Clydesdales with Dorian Mapusua-Lotaki playing at right second row and right centre over the course of his time on the field.
Dorian Mapusua-Lotaki almost scored in the 58th minute when after he ran a great inside shoulder route from twenty metres out Dorian Mapusua-Lotaki broke two tackles before being brought to ground less than a metre out from the try line.
Dorian Mapusua-Lotaki made another strong run in the 62nd minute when he made twelve metres from a Burleigh penalty restart to get the ball eighteen metres out from the try line.
The 2022 MM Cup season for Will Taylor:
Round One of the 2022 MM Cup competition saw Will Taylor named on the bench for the Tweed Heads Seagulls against the Souths Logan Magpies with Will Taylor coming off the bench and into the dummy half role mid-way through the first half. Will Taylor also spent time in the second row for portions of the match.
Will Taylor was also named to start from the bench for Round Two against the Redcliffe Dolphins coming on in a running forward role in the 17th minute of the match and after the Seagulls had a Round Three bye, Will Taylor moved into the starting side at right second row for Round Four against the Easts Tigers and was involved in the opening minute with a strong tackle (the third of the match) to force a knock on with the Seagulls scoring through Cooper Camby in the set of six from the scrum.
Will Taylor scored himself in the 4th minute when he ran onto a good ball from his right from Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa to race thirty five metres to dive over in the left corner.
Will Taylor also executed a great tackle along with Nicholas Hilton on the Easts Tigers left winger who was returning a kick with the ball being forced loose. Jett Forbes then scored from the subsequent scrum win by Tweed Heads in the 59th minute
Will Taylor then in the 73rd minute did well from an East Tigers short kick-off after Jett Forbes first try with Will Taylor getting above the Tigers chasers to secure possession for the Seagulls.
Such was the quality of Will Taylor’s performance that he was named on the bench in the Courier Mail’s MM Cup Round Four Team of the Week.
Will Taylor continued at right second row in Round Five against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls, making his best run of the match in the 55th minute with a sixteen metre run through the centre of the ruck to get the ball within thirty five metres of the Tweed Heads try line.
Will Taylor also did well defensively in the 42nd minute when along with Will Saunders and Reico Ratana he was on hand to hold put the Wynnum Manly lock who under tried to burst over under the posts.
Will Taylor continued at right second row in Round Six against the Norths Devils with Will Taylor making the opening tackle of the match. Through the opening six rounds of the 2022 U18 Mal Meninga Cup competition Will Taylor had made eighty two tackles.
Will Taylor then continued at right second row in the Round Seven local derby against the Burleigh Bears and made an outstanding line break in the 20th minute when after charging into the ball to the right of the play the ball just ten metres out from his own try line, Will Taylor burst through the Burleigh defensive line and raced over the halfway mark before getting away a great left arm around the corner pass to Jett Forbes.
Will Taylor’s speed was on display once again in the 14th minute when he turned and chased a Burleigh line break down their left touchline with Will Taylor racing back around fifty metres to tackle the fullback and save what appeared to be a certain try.
Will Taylor also made a great tackle in the 75th minute when he crunched the Burleigh five eight who had tried to dart through the line for what would have been the match winning try but Will Taylor was having none of that.
Will Taylor really did showcase a plethora of skills in the match including in the 48th minute when he took the ball deep into the Burleigh defensive line down the left channel, getting away a great off-load to a flying Jett Forbes but unfortunately the winger was brought down just short of the try line.
Will Taylor was still chasing everything in the 37th minute when he chased through a grubber kick from five eight Jackson Le Pou, Will Taylor, along with Le Pou got the Burleigh fullback initially holding him of the ground before forcing him back six metres into the in-goal to win his side a goal line drop-out.
Deservedly Will Taylor was named at right second row in the Round Seven Courier Mail MM Cup Team of the Week.
Will Taylor also started from the bench for Tweed Heads February 2022 trial against the Burleigh Bears, coming on mid-way through the first half to play as a running backrower.
Good to see Titans contracted Ryan Foran named on the Tweed Heads bench for the Seagulls Hastings Deering's Colts Round Three match this weekend against the Townsville Blackhawks.
The 2022 MM Cup season for Eli Tuli:
Round One of the 2022 MM Cup competition saw Eli Tuli named at right second row for the Tweed Heads Seagulls against the Souths Logan Magpies with Eli Tuli making a strong run of twelve metres down the right channel to get the ball around thirty metres from the try line in the 58th minute.
Eli Tuli was also named at right second row for Round Two against the Redcliffe Dolphins and after the Seagulls had a Round Three bye, Eli Tuli moved to the bench for Round Four against the Easts Tigers with Eli Tuli coming onto the field mid-way through the first half to operate at right second row and in the 23rd minute made a great line break when he ran a great inside shoulder route from a good short ball from his right from Reico Ratana, going straight through two defenders and got over the line directly under the posts but three defenders held him up.
The 44th minute saw another strong run from Eli Tuli when down the left channel he made sixteen metres to get the ball to ten metres out from the try line. Eli Tuli then made a great eighteen metre charge from the kick-off to Will Saunders 45th minute try, getting the ball to the twenty metre line and then two tackles later Eli Tuli made a further twelve metres to get the ball to the halfway mark.
Eli Tuli was also named on the bench for Round Five against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls coming on mid-way through the first half to play left second row and also was named to come off the bench in Round Six against the Norths Devils but in the tactical change Eli Tuli moved into the starting side in the front row.
Eli Tuli had easily his best match of the season with some great charges including in the 45th minute when from the right of the dummy half Eli Tuli charged onto the ball forty metres out from the line and was able to get the ball within twenty five metres of the try line before the Devils defence was eventually able to get him to ground.
Eli Tuli made a further great charge in the 49th minute when he ran back underneath Josh Lynn from thirty five metres out to get the ball inside the attacking twenty metre mark and directly in front of the posts after beating two tackles along the way.
As a result of his outstanding performance Eli Tuli was named on the bench in the MM Cup Round Six Courier Mail Team of the Week in Round Six.
Eli Tuli was then named in the front row in the Round Seven local derby against the Burleigh Bears with Eli Tuli taking the first hit-up of the match from the kick-off.
Eli Tuli made some great charges in the match with one of the best coming in the 66th minute when Eli Tuli made a tough twenty five metres that started with a crafty left foot step with Eli Tuli getting to within twelve metres of the try line before being brought to ground by multiple Burleigh defenders.
The just three minutes later in the 69th minute Eli Tuli was at it again making nineteen more metres by way of two left foot steps with the run starting just twenty metres out from his own line.
Eli Tuli also had an outstanding defensive match including in the 14th minute when he along with Reico Ratana hit one of the Burleigh forwards front on in a crunching tackle just ten metres out from the try line with the heavy initial contact forcing the ball loose.
Deservedly Eli Tuli was named on the bench in the Round Seven Courier Mail MM Cup Team of the Week.
Eli Tuli made an immediate impact in the Seagulls Black and White and Eli Tuli was involved in the Seagulls first trial of 2022 when Tweed Heads took on the Northern Rivers Titans U18 Laurie Daley Cup squad at Pizzey Park.
Eli Tuli then started at right second row for Burleigh’s early February trial against the Burleigh Bears with Eli Tuli taking the Seagulls opening hit-up of the match from a penalty restart after Jett Forbes had been hit high returning a kick after the Magpies had kicked downfield after the opening set of six tackles after the kick-off.
Titans contracted Izayah Petrichvich continues to play multiple sports and last week in Round Eight of the Gold Coast Basketball Men’s Division Two competition (remember Izayah Petrichvich is only 16 years old) he scored nine points from four successful two point shots and a free throw for his Disney side in a touch loss to the Trojans.
In five matches in the 2022 GC Basketball Men’s Division Two competition Izayah Petrichvich has now scored 38 points to average 7.6 points per game.
This weekend’s Round Three of the 2022 Hastings Deering’s Colts competition sees Taine Ujdur-Berghan named on the Tweed Heads Seagulls extended bench for their Round Three away match against the Townsville Blackhawks.
In 2021 Taine Ujdur-Berghan was part of the Tweed Heads Seagulls Hastings Deering’s Colts squad and started from the bench in the No. 1 jersey in their final 2021 trial against the Burleigh Bears. When Taine Ujdur-Berghan came into the match late in the first half he moved into the dummy half role.
Round Two of the 2021 Hastings Deering’s Colts competition saw Taine Ujdur-Berghan start at half for the Seagulls as they defeated Burleigh in the local derby 32 – 24.
Taine Ujdur-Berghan wasted no time becoming involved in the match being involved with Caleb Hodges in Burleigh’s first tackle of the match when they tackled Bears five eight Byron Vaovosa who was returning the Seagulls first kick.
Taine Udjur-Berghan’s next involvement was even more telling when in the 5th minute in put up a high bomb from thirty metres out which Jojo Fifita took on the full to scramble over to score in the left corner.
Taine Udjur-Berghan also started at halfback in Round Three against the Redcliffe Dolphins and in Round Four against the Ipswich Jets, a match which saw him score in the Seagulls 24 – 12 victory.
Taine Udjur-Berghan moved to five eight for Round Five against the Northern Pride before starting on the bench in Round Eight against the Mackey Cutters and Taine Udjar-Berghan also started on the bench in Round Nine against Wynnum Manly.
After missing a number of rounds, Taine Udjur-Berghan came off the bench in Round Fourteen against the Western Mustangs and also came off the bench in the Seagulls Week One Final against the Souths Logan Magpies.
Taine Ujdur-Berghan started Round One of the 2020 MM Cup competition for the Tweed Heads Seagulls at half back against the Northern Pride and scored in the Seagulls big first up victory, which unfortunately ended up being the only round of the 2020 season after the MM Cup competition was cancelled due to Covid 19.
Also in 2020 Taine Ujdur-Berghan was part of the PBC Langer Cup Open A squad, where he operated in the starting side, primarily in the dummy half role. In PBC’s first trial after the Covid 19 pandemic, Taine Ujdur-Berghan started at five eight for the PBC A side that played against the PBC B side.
Taine Ujdur-Berghan started Round One of the Langer Cup at hooker as PBC took on Ipswich State High School but is his second stint on the field in the second half spent time playing as a running forward on the right side of the field.
Taine Ujdur-Berghan also started at hooker in Round Two against Wavell State High School and in Round Three against St Mary’s Toowoomba, in the Round Four local derby against Keebra Park and in Round Five against Marsden State High School.
Taine Ujdur-Berghan also started at hooker for PBC as they qualified for the 2020 Langer Cup final on the back of an impressive 34 – 6 victory over Ipswich State High School scoring late in the second half.
With PBC on the attack on the left side of the field, Taine Ujdur-Berghan got into dummy half twelve metres out from the line, darting out of dummy half to his right catching the defence back peddling. Taine Ujdur-Berghan got down low when he was close to the line burrowing down low to get the ball down under pressure from two defenders.
Taine Ujdur-Berghan started the 2020 Langer Cup Grand Final at hooker for PBC as they defeated Keebra Park 16 – 8 in a high quality match.
In the Queensland School Boys Final against Kirwan State High School Taine Ujdur-Berghan started at hooker as PBC travelled to take on their North Queensland based opponents only to go down 24 – 20 in a tough match.
Taine Ujdur-Berghan started Round One of the 2019 GCRL U18 Division One competition for Nerang but with their demise moved to Burleigh, starting with their U18 Division Two side, spending time at fullback, hooker and half over the course of the 2019 season.
Taine Ujdur-Berghan made his first start for the Burleigh U18 Division Two side in Round Two against Tugun, scoring in their draw. In total Taine Ujdur-Berghan played in eight 2019 U18 Division Two regular season matches and three Division One matches.
In addition to his debut try in Round Two, Taine Ujdur-Berghan also scored in Rounds Three and Eight against the Runaway Bay Seagulls and Currumbin Eagles respectively in the 2019 U18 Division Two competition.
In Week Two of the 2019 GCRL U18 Division Two Finals Taine Ujdur-Berghan started at hooker against Currumbin and then was on the bench for the Burleigh U18 Division One side in their Week Two Final win against Southport and also started at hooker in the Grand Final as Burleigh defeated Robina.
For the 2019 Burleigh U18 Division One side Taine Ujdur-Berghan primarily came off the bench playing in a variety of roles including in the halves (half and five eight) and hooker, in total playing three matches in that competition for the Bears with those matches coming against Helensvale, Runaway Bay and Bilambil.
Taine Ujdur-Berghan was also a more than solid performer for the PBC Open rugby league side in 2019 including starting at five eight in the Langer Cup local derby against Keebra Park and also starting at five eight in PBC’s heart breaking Gold Point GIO Cup Queensland semi-final 23 – 22 loss to Marsden State High School.
Late in 2018 Taine Ujdur-Berghan was part of the Titans U16 squad that played matches in September against PNG and New South Wales Country U16 sides in northern New South Wales, finishing with one win and one loss.
Taine Ujdur-Berghan started Round One of the 2018 GCRL U16 Division One competition at five eight for Nerang as they defeated Runaway Bay 60 – 0 with centre Trey Peni scoring four tries in that match. Fellow PBC Year Ten student Jaiden West also scored for Nerang in the Round One match.
Post that Round One match, Taine Ujder-Berghan played in an additional eight matches for Nerang scoring two regular season tries, with the first coming in Round Six in a 32 – 8 win over Helensvale. Taine Ujdur-Berghan’s other try came two rounds later against Runaway Bay.
Taine Ujder-Berghan missed a portion of the GCRL U16 Division One Finals series but did start at five eight for the Roosters in the Grand Final as they defeated Currumbin 24 – 8.
In 2017 Taine Ujdur-Berghan played in thirteen matches in the GCRL U15 Division One competition for the Nerang Roosters scoring a solitary try which came around mid-season against the Currumbin Eagles.
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Tristian Powell has had a great start to his inaugural Queensland Cup campaign for Burleigh and that will continue this weekend in Round Five when he starts in the front row against the PNG Hunters.
In his four Queensland Cup matches this season to date, Tristian Powell has started each in the front row and has been on the field for a total of 195 minutes, running for 510 metres (142 per game average), 216 metres of which were post contact, broke eleven tackles, made two line breaks and made 80 tackles at a 95.2% tackling efficiency.
In this weekend’s Week One of the 2022 MM Cup Final’s series Titans contracted Shannon Subritzky-Stewart is set to start at right centre against the Souths Logan Magpies.
Shannon Subritzky-Stewart has had a very good 2022 MM Cup season and is a finalist for the Queensland Rugby League 2022 MM Cup Player of the Year.
After missing Round Four of the 2022 Queensland Cup competition it is great to see Titans contracted Iszac Fa’asuamaleaui named on the bench for Burleigh for this weekend’s Round Five clash against the PNG Hunters.
To date in the 2022 Queensland Cup competition Iszac Fa’asuamaleaui has played in two matches, both off the bench.
In his total of fifty nine minutes on the field Iszac Fa’asuamaleaui has run for 171 metres (85.5 average per match), seventy metres of which were post contact, broke six tackles and made thirty five tackles at a tackling efficiency of 91.2%.
Good to see talented flyer Preston Brown set to line up for the Tweed Heads Seagulls Hastings Deering's Colts side in the coming weeks.
The young man from the Darling Downs can play a variety of positions in the backline including but not limited to centre and fullback.
Preston Brown is also a former representative level rugby player.
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