Junior Development [Archive] - Page 47

mdrew

02-11-22, 01:16 PM

The 2022 Hastings Deering’s Colts season of Jaylan De Groot:

Round One of the 2022 Hastings Deering’s Colts competition saw Jaylan De Groot named to start at fullback for the Tweed Heads Seagulls as they got their season underway against the Norths Devils however the match was ultimately postponed due to the extreme weather conditions in northern New South Wales.

Jaylan De Groot was also named to start at fullback in the Round Two 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.

Jaylan De Groot continued at fullback in Round Three against the Townsville Blackhawks and in the 5th minute positioned himself well on the left side of the field to take a grubber kick on the bounce just a metre out from his own line. Once he had secured possession Jaylan De Groot ran to his right back towards the centre of the field and was able to get the ball out past the ten metre mark.

Jaylen De Groot was Tweed Heads saviour in the 9th minute when he hit the Blackhawks hard over the try line to force the ball loose after the hooker had tried to dive over from dummy half.

Jaylan De Groot’s came to the fore once again in the 49th minute when he raced to his left to tackle the Townsville No. 2 who had burst away and appeared set to score but Jaylan De Groot came from the clouds to tackle him from behind.

Jaylan De Groot also started at fullback in Round Six against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls and in a sign of the high esteem that he is held in, Jaylan De Groot was named the Seagulls captain for the match.

Jaylan De Groot made a great one on one tackle on the Wynnum Manly right winger who had broken away and looked to take Jaylan De Groot on one on one in space but Jaylan De Groot was up to the challenge and put the winger on the ground.

Jaylan De Groot continued at fullback in Round Six against the Northern Pride scoring a double in the Seagulls big 66 – 0.

Jaylan De Groot’s first try came within the opening minutes of the match when he backed up a break down the left touchline from Thomas Weaver that started deep inside Seagulls territory with Thomas Weaver drawing the fullback and sending Jaylan De Groot on a fifty odd metre run untouched to the try line.

Jaylan De Groot completed his double in the 29th minute when he was on hand to collect an inside kick from Brent Barnes and dive over mid-way between the corner post and goal posts on the left side of the field.

The fact that Brent Barnes was able to break away down the left touchline and kick back inside with the outside of his right foot was as a result of a great Jaylan De Groot cut out pass to his left near the halfway mark which put Brent Barnes into space.

Jaylan De Groot also threw the final pass for a Seagulls 42nd minute try for his right winger to score one of his four tries in the match. Jaylan De Groot then threw the final pass after chiming into the backline on the left and pass to his left to Kaleb Ngamanu who raced twelve metres to score wide out on the left in what turned out to be an eight point try.

Jaylen De Groot also started at fullback in the rescheduled Round One match against the Norths Devils scoring in the 41sst minute when he followed through a Charlie Murray break through the centre of the field with Jaylan De Groot receiving the ball from Charlie Murray around thirty metres out and raced away to score under the posts.

Jaylan De Groot also recorded a 33rd minute try assist when he burst through the Norths right sided defence with a show and go from thirty metres out and then drew the Devils fullback and pass to his right to Kaleb Ngamanu who raced away to score.

Jaylan De Groot also started at fullback in Round Eight against the Western Clydesdales and had a day out scoring four tries in a big 65 – 12 Seagulls victory.

Jaylan De Groot’s opening try came in the 23rd minute when he received the ball from Thomas Weaver who had received the ball from a Seagulls scrum win. After receiving the ball Jaylan De Groot shaped to pass to his outside but instead sliced through the defensive line to dive over four metres in from the left corner post.

Jaylan De Groot added a second try in the 26th minute when he followed through an Oskar Bryant line break to receive the pass from his left and run twenty five metres to score untouched under the posts.

Jaylan De Groot completed his hat trick in the 43rd when after Konrad Tu’u made a break off a Max Liles pass down the left touchline who got the ball back inside to Max Liles who looked like he would run the five metres to score but got caught from behind but just as he was about to hit the ground Max Liles flicked the ball over his right shoulder for Jaylan De Groot to pick up on the bounce to score his third try near the left corner.

Jaylan De Groot then scored his fourth try in the 67th minute when after he received on off-load from Klese Haas Jaylan De Groot raced eighteen metres to score under the posts.

Jaylan De Groot in fact could have had a fifty try but in the 60th minute after chasing through a kick he lost the ball over the try line.

The match also saw Jaylan De Groot record a 3rd minute try assist when Jaylan De Groot chimed into the Seagulls backline through a sweeping movement to the left side of the field. After Jaylan De Groot received the ball from Thomas Weaver thirty five metres out Jaylan De Groot was able to get on the outside of the winger before drawing the fullback to send Konrad Tu’u over in the left corner.

Jaylan De Groot then did very well in the 10th minute when under intense pressure he took a high spiralling bomb under heavy pressure ten metres out from his own line and after stepping off his right foot was able to get the ball twenty nine metres away from the try line.

It was not all about Jaylan De Groot’s attacking game as in the 61st minute with his side on the attack ten metres from the line, the Clydesdales took an intercept but Jaylan De Groot turned and chased and easily made up the ground, attacking the centre after just a thirty metre chase.

Jaylan De Groot continued at fullback in Round Nine against the Ipswich Jets, scoring in the 28th minute of a Seagulls victory.

Jaylan De Groot continued at fullback in the rescheduled Round Seven match off against the Souths Logan Magpies.

In a tough loss Jaylan De Groot’s was the Seagulls best including scoring a smart solo try in the 17th minute. After the Seagulls had spun the ball from the left side of the field to the right, Jaylan De Groot received a pass from his right around ten metres out and proceeded to run to his left. After cutting off his left foot to get into the defensive line Jaylan De Groot put in a short kick from himself just as he was about to be tackled with Jaylan De Groot getting the ball back on the bounce after the ball had travelled around four metres to dived over seven metres in from the left corner post.

Jaylan De Groot also forced a Magpies goal line drop out in the 44th minute when after receiving the ball from his inside from Oskar Bryant when he was twenty five metres out and five metres in from the left touchline, Jaylan De Groot cut back towards the centre of the field before putting in a right foot grubber kick. Jaylan De Groot then chased through his own kick with the Magpies fullback forced to knock the ball dead.

Jaylan De Groot also started at fullback in Round Eleven against the Central Queensland Capra’s and scored in the 42nd minute he back up a Jotham Russell line break through the centre of the field and after Jotham Russell off-loaded the ball his five eight who drew the Capra’s fullback and passed to Jaylan De Groot who raced twenty metres to score under the posts.

Jaylan De Groot almost created a Seagulls try out of nothing in the 68th minute. Jaylan De Groot positioned himself directly behind a Tweed Heads play the ball around twenty five metres out and fifteen metres in from the left touchline. At the last possible moment Jaylan De Groot raced to his left and after receiving the ball from Oskar Bryant at dummy half took the ball deep into the defensive line before passing to his left to Kaleb Ngamanu who got within two metres of scoring a smart try.

Jaylan De Groot also started at fullback and captain in Round Twelve against the Redcliffe Dolphins with Jaylan De Groot making a strong one on one tackle on the halfway mark on his opposite who had made a line break from deep inside his own territory. Jaylan De Groot then made a further try saving tackle on the giant Redcliffe No. 18 just moments later.

Jaylan De Groot was also involved in a strong tackle in the 3rd minute when along with Jordan Lewis and Ben Liyou, Jaylan De Groot got hold of one of the Dolphin players bringing the ball away from his own line and drove him back ten metres into the in-goal.

Jaylan De Groot continued at fullback in Round Thirteen against the Sunshine Coast Falcons.

Jaylan De Groot continued at fullback in the Round Fourteen local derby against the Burleigh Bears with Jaylan De Groot scoring a double and also recording a try assist in the solid point win for the Seagulls.

Jaylan De Groot scored his opening try in the 24th minute when after Ryan Foran made a line break down the left touchline, Ryan Foran from thirty metres out put in a right foot kick back to the inside with the outside of his right foot with the ball sitting up perfectly for Jaylan De Groot to collect the ball and run around to score under the posts.

Jaylan De Groot scored his second try in the 67th minute when Jaylan De Groot received the ball to the left of the play the ball down a short left blindside and dummied to his left before running between two defenders with Jaylan De Groot then beating the Burleigh fullback with a right foot step with Jaylan De Groot then bringing the ball around to score under the posts.

Jaylan De Groot’s try assist came in the 37th minute when Jaylen De Groot ran to his left out of dummy half wand when he got to ten metres out from the try line, Jaylan De Groot put in a short right foot grubber kick through the line with Caleb Hodges racing through to collect the ball to score mid-way between the goal posts and corner post on the left side of the field.

Jaylan De Groot also recorded a line break in the 46th minute when from thirty five metres out and to the left of the play the ball Jaylan De Groot broke through the defensive line before being tripped up from behind with Jaylan De Groot quickly back to his feet before finally being held on the halfway mark.

Jaylan De Groot continued at fullback in Round Fifteen against the Northern Pride with Jaylan De Groot recording a hat trick in a big Seagulls victory.

Jaylan De Groot scored his opening try in the 38th minute when from thirty five metres out, Thomas Weaver ran to his left after receiving the ball and threw the ball back to his right to Jaylan De Groot with the fullback racing through a huge gap and easily beat the cover defence to score mid-way between the goal posts and corner post on the left side of the field.

Jaylan De Groot added a second try in the 66th minute when Jaylan De Groot lined up directly behind a scrum forty five metres out from the try line, once the Seagulls won the scrum Jaylan De Groot raced to his left, receiving the ball from Thomas Weaver with Jaylan De Groot then racing thirty five metres to score easily under the posts.

Jaylan De Groot completed his hat trick in the 76th minute when after receiving the ball to the left of the play the ball around six metres out Jaylan De Groot ran to his left to get between two defenders to score mid-way between the goal posts and corner post on the left side of the field.

Jaylan De Groot also recorded a 3rd minute try assist when after joining the Seagulls backline on the left side of the field, Jaylan De Groot took the ball to the line before throwing a cut-out pass to his left to put Jotham Russell over in the left corner.

Jaylan De Groot recorded a second try assist in the 54th minute when Jaylan De Groot chimed into the Seagulls backline on the left side of the field and got the ball away to his left to Kaleb Ngamanu twelve metres out with Kaleb Ngamanu holding one defender off him with the right arm fend to score in the left corner.

Jaylan De Groot added a third try assist in the 78th minute when after backing up a line break down the left touchline by Ryan Foran, Jaylen De Groot received an off-load from his left from Ryan Foran with Jaylan De Groot then beating three tackles in a stepping run before off-loading to his left to put Jotham Russell over for his third try of the match.

Jaylan De Groot also made a good kick return in the 45th minute when after taking the ball from a Northern Pride clearing kick thirty five metres out from his own try line, Jaylan De Groot was able to make twenty metres through the centre of the field.

On the back of his three try and three try assist performance Jaylan De Groot led the Tweed Heads Seagulls with 205 run metres.

Jaylan De Groot also started at fullback in Round Sixteen against the Townsville Blackhawks as well as in Round Seventeen against the Easts Tigers.

Jaylan De Groot finished the 2022 Hastings Deering’s Colts regular season with seventeen tries to finish in the top five in that that category in the competition.

The 2022 Hastings Deering’s Colts Week One Elimination Final saw Jaylan De Groot start at five eight for the Tweed Heads Seagulls against the Easts Tigers with Jaylan De Groot scoring in the 44th minute the Seagulls progressed to Week Two.

With Easts on the attack in the 46th minute Jaylan De Groot when facing an overlap while defending on the right side, Jaylan De Groot stepped up to take an intercept and then was able to race fifty eight metres to score ten metres to the right of the uprights.

Jaylan De Groot also made a line break in the opening minute of the match when on the right side of the field Jaylan De Groot sliced through the defensive line near the halfway mark with Jaylan De Groot tackled near the right touchline after a twenty metre charge.

Jaylan De Groot also forced a goal line drop-out in the 51st minute when from ten metres out and down a short right blindside Jaylan De Groot put in a right foot grubber kick which after rebounding between legs when into the in-goal with the Tigers fullback forced to ground the ball in-goal.

mdrew

02-11-22, 02:35 PM

halfback Nic Zusak who moved up from the Snowy Rivers Bears to play in the GCRL U20 competition with the Burleigh bears this season will move up to the Burleigh Hastings Deering's Colts squad in 2023.

mdrew

03-11-22, 07:01 AM

The 2022 Hasting Deering’s Colts season of Kaleb Ngamanu:

Kaleb Ngamanu was also named at left centre in the Round Two 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.

Kaleb Ngamanu continued at left centre in Round Three against the Townsville Blackhawks with Kaleb Ngamanu coming out of the line with Townsville on the attack ten metres from the try line to smash the the Blackhawks fullback with a great driving right shoulder tackle.

Kaleb Ngamanu came out of the line once again in the 52nd minute and smashed his opposite number over the top just twenty metres from the try line.

Kaleb Ngamanu also started at left centre in Round Six against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls and recorded a 10th minute line break and try assist when from the near the halfway mark Kaleb Ngamanu got on the outside of the Wynnum Manly left sided defence and racing thirty metres downfield before drawing the Wynnum Manly fullback and sending Brent Barnes away to score near the left corner.

Kaleb Ngamanu made a further line break in the 16th minute when he burst away down the left touchline on a twenty metre run after being put away as a result of a Ryan Foran off-load from his inside.

Kaleb Ngamanu made a great try saving tackle in the 39th minute when facing an overlap whilst defending on his own try line Kaleb Ngamanu came out of the defensive line to execute a great ball and all tackle on the Wynnum Manly lock just a metre out from the try line.

Kaleb Ngamanu continued at left centre in Round Six against the Northern Pride scoring a double in the Seagulls big 66 – 0.

Kaleb Ngamanu’s opening try came in the 52nd minute when after receiving the ball from his inside, Kaleb Ngamanu accelerated between two defenders from twelve metres out and smartly in the wet conditions dived early and slid over the try line from three metres out and three metres in from the left corner. In fact Kaleb Ngamanu’s try ended up being an eight point try after he was hit late after crossing the try line.

Kaleb Ngamanu completed his double in the 64th minute when after receiving the ball around thirty three metres out down a short left blindside, Kaleb Ngamanu dummied to his left to break the defensive line before a second dummy to his left saw him beat the fullback and dive over three metres in from the left corner post.

Kaleb Ngamanu also recorded a 51st minute line break when from forty metres out and down a short left blindside, Kaleb Ngamanu skipped to the outside of his direct opponent, to break clear. As the cover defence converged on him, Kaleb Ngamanu was able to get the ball away to Brent Barnes who kicked into the in-goal with the kick forced dead by the Northern Pride fullback.

Kaleb Ngamanu’s first significant impact on the match came in the 7th minute with a line break down the left side of the field that came from a Seagulls scrum win around twenty metres out from his own line. Kaleb Ngamanu received the ball from the back of the scrum on the left side of the field, Kaleb Ngamanu then got on the outside of his direct opponent and then dispatched him with a right arm fend. After running around forty metres downfield Kaleb Ngamanu got the ball away to his left to Brent Barnes who then got within ten metres of the try line.

Kaleb Ngamanu also started at left centre in the rescheduled Round One match against the Norths Devils and once again scored a double with his first try coming in the 34th minute when he raced away to score after receiving a good off-load from his left from Jaylan De Groot who had broken through the Norths right sided defensive line.

Kaleb Ngamanu completed his double in the 74th minute when he was on hand to ground the ball in-goal when a cross field Thomas Weaver bomb was dropped by the Devils fullback.

Kaleb Ngamanu also recorded a line break assist in the match when in the 40th minute Kaleb Ngamanu ran the ball from deep inside his own territory and after he took on two defenders Kelab Ngamanu was able to executed a right arm off-load to his left to put Brent Barnes away down the left touchline.

Kaleb Ngamanu first significant contribution to the Seagulls victyory came in just the 4th minute when he drove his right shoulder into the Devils fullback who was returning a kick with Kaleb Ngamanu driving the fullback back three metres.

Kaleb Ngamanu also made a strong run in the 23rd minute when he ran onto the ball to the left of the play the ball with Kaleb Ngamanu stepping off his left foot which enabled him to make fifteen metres to get the ball over the halfway mark.

Kaleb Ngamanu continued at left centre in the rescheduled Round Seven match against the Souths Logan Magpies.

Kaleb Ngamanu also started at left centre in Round Eleven against the Central Queensland Capra’s and scored in the 25th minute after Thomas Weaver took the ball deep into the defensive line and then threw a perfectly weighted short ball to his left to put Kaleb Ngamanu over to score from eight metres out with Kaleb Ngamanu getting the ball down left three metres in from the left corner post.

Kaleb Ngamanu’s first strong run of the match came in just the 3rd minute when Kaleb Ngamanu made fifteen metres down a short left blindside to get the ball to within twenty five metres of the try line.

Kaleb Ngamanu made another twenty metres of valuable ground in the 65th minute when after receiving the ball on the halfway mark kaleb Ngamanu was able to work the ball twenty five metres downfield.

To round out a strong match Kaleb Ngamanu threw the final pass for Brent Barnes’s 76th minute try in the left corner which temporarily gave the Seagulls the lead.

The match saw Kaleb Ngamanu run for a team leading 181 metres.

Kaleb Ngamanu continued at left centre in Round Thirteen against the Sunshine Coast Falcons.

Kaleb Ngamanu continued at left centre in Round Fifteen against the Northern Pride with Kaleb Ngamanu scoring in a big Seagulls victory.

Kaleb Ngamanu scored in the 54th minute when Jaylan De Groot chimed into the Seagulls backline on the left side of the field and got the ball away to his left to Kaleb Ngamanu twelve metres out with Kaleb Ngamanu holding one defender off him with the right arm fend to score in the left corner.

Kaleb Ngamanu also recorded a try assist in the 28th minute when from twenty metres out on the left side of the field, Kaleb Ngamanu broke through the Northern Pride left side defensive line before when eight metres out Kaleb Ngamanu got an off-load away to his left to put Ryan Foran over to score ten metres in from the left corner post.

Kaleb Ngamanu recorded a second try assist in the 61st minute when Kaleb Ngamanu ran the ball down a short left blindside and got a pass away when twenty five metres out to his left to put Jotham Russell away to score near the left corner.

Kaleb Ngamanu also made a line break in the 24th minute when Kaleb Ngamanu received the ball to the left of a Tweed Heads scrum win with Kaleb Ngamanu receiving the ball thirty two metres out with Kaleb Ngamanu dummying to his left behind surging forward with Kaleb Ngamanu only tackled when he had gotten to six metres out from the try line.

Kaleb Ngamanu made another strong run in the 25th minute when he broke three tackles in a twenty five metre run on the left side of the field from an off-load from Ben Liyou to get the ball into Northern Pride territory.

Week One of the 2022 Hastings Deering’s Colts Final saw Kaleb Ngamanu start at left centre in the Elimination Final against the Easts Tigers with Kaleb Ngamanu taking the second hit-up of the match.

Kaleb Ngamanu also started at left centre in the Week Two Final against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls.

mdrew

03-11-22, 07:49 PM

The 2022 Hastings Deering’s Colts season of Klese Haas:

Round One of the 2022 Hastings Deering’s Colts competition saw Klese Haas named to start at left second row 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.

Klese Haas was also named at left second row in the Round Two 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.

Klese Haas continued at left second row in Round Three against the Townsville Blackhawks however he was a late scratching from the match.

Klese Haas was back at right second row in Round Six against the Northern Pride in the Seagulls big 66 – 0 victory.

Klese Haas’s initial significant contribution came in the 15th minute when he charged onto the ball to the left of the play the ball forty metres out from his own line and was able to make sixteen metres after cutting off his right foot and running at a soft spot in the defensive line behind the play the ball. Klese Haas made another strong run in the 39th minute when from inside his own territory Klese Haas was able to break three tackles before off-loading to his left.

Klese Haas made a great line break in the 67th minute when he ran the ball down a short left blindside sixty metres out. Klese Haas used his size and speed to burst through two defenders before a left arm fend got rid of another. After charging fifty metres downfield, Klese Haas was tripped up around ten metres out but was back to his feet without hesitation and got within five metres of the try line.

Klese Haas also started at left second row in the rescheduled Round One match against the Norths Devils with Klese Haas scoring in the 59th minute when he chased through a Thomas Weaver grubber kick into the in-goal with the ball sitting up for Klese Haas to score mid-way between the goal posts and corner post on the left side of the field.

Whilst he was solid in the first half, Klese Haas really turned up his performance in the second half starting with a strong run in the 44th minute with a fifteen metre run from his own twenty metre mark down the left channel.

Klese Haas then made another strong charge down the left channel in the 55th minute making sixteen metres with at least ten of those metres of the post contact variety. Then in the 64th minute Klese Haas made twenty metres after making a half break to get the ball over the halfway mark with Klese Haas subsequently being awarded a penalty when he was not afforded the opportunity to play the ball quickly.

Klese Haas’s best run of the second half and match as a while came in the 61st minute with a superb line break. Klese Haas burst onto the ball to the left of the play the ball deep inside his own territory with his size, speed and power allowing him two break two tackles before Klese Hass charged downfield before cutting back towards the centre of the field, making sixty metres before three Norths defenders converged on him and putting him to ground after Klese Haas put up one heck of a fight.

Round Eight against the Western Clydesdales saw Klese Haas start at right second row and score a powerhouse try in the 51st minute after he received the ball forty eight metres out Klese Hass shoved his way past two defenders before bursting downfield and stepped off his left foot to easily dispose of the fullback to crash over just to the left of the uprights.

Klese Haas also recorded a 67th minute try assist when after engaging the defensive line around eighteen metres off and directly in front of the goal posts Klese Haas got away a left arm off-load to Jaylan De Groot with three defenders on him with Jaylan De Groot exploiting the space to run away to score under the posts.

Klese Haas’s explosiveness was highlighted once again in the 66th minute when after receiving the ball near the halfway mark on the right Klese Haas cut back to his left and powered through five attempted tackles to make fourteen hard fought metres.

Impressively in the match against the Western Clydesdales Klese Hass ran for a team high 2021 metres.

Klese Haas also started at right second row in Round Nine against the Ipswich Jets.

mdrew

04-11-22, 07:15 AM

The 2022 School Boy season of Josiah Pahulu:

In late May 2022 Josiah Pahulu also represented Met West in the U18 QSSRL School Boy Championships starting both of Met West’s matches in the front row and at the conclusion of the Championships Josiah Pahulu was named in the 2022 Queensland Open School Boy Rugby League Representative side and just prior to the commencement of the Championships, Josiah Pahulu was named by the Courier Mail as the tenth best U18 Rugby League player in Australia.

Josiah Pahulu started in the front row in Queensland’s opening round of the Championships against the Australian Capital Territory with Josiah Pahulu scoring Queensland’s opening try of the Championships in the 8th minute when he received the ball two passes to the left of the play the ball. The ball to Josiah Pahulu was fractionally behind him and whilst twenty one metres out from the try line, Josiah Pahulu spun 360 degrees clockwise before bursting through two tackles and charging over to score six metres in from the left corner post. As Josiah Pahulu was charging towards the try line the ACT fullback was coming across but he wanted no part of trying to stop Josiah Pahulu from scoring.

Then from the subsequent kick-off Josiah Pahulu charged onto the ball and got the ball thirty five metres away from the try line before being awarded a penalty with Josiah Pahulu then taking a hit-up from the subsequent penalty restart.

Josiah Pahulu had a strong start to the match, taking Queensland’s first hit-up to get the ball over the halfway mark and then also ran the ball on the 5th tackle in the same set and after making contact with the defensive line Josiah Pahulu was able to get away a left arm off-load with his back towards the try line.

Josiah Pahulu continues his strong match in the 34th minute with a strong charge to the right of the play the ball that got the ball thirty metres away from his own try line.

Josiah Pahulu also started in the front row in Match Two being the semi-final against NSW CIS with Josiah Pahulu taking the opening hit-up of the match. Then in the 5th minute Josiah Pahulu made a strong charge in the 5th minute when after running onto the ball to the right of the play the ball Josiah Pahulu made a tough twelve metres which saw Josiah Pahulu get the ball ten metres into NSW CIS territory.

Josiah Pahulu continued his strong match in the 34th minute from his own twenty metre mark with Josiah Pahulu making fifteen metres after taking possession to the right of the play the ball.

Josiah Pahulu also started at in the front row in Queensland U18 ASSRL Championships Grand Final victory over NSW CHS with Josiah Pahulu making the third tackle of the match with Josiah Pahulu’s heavy contact forcing the ball loose and putting Queensland immediately onto the attack.

Josiah Pahulu made another strong tackle in the 6th minute with a huge front-on hit on the NSW CHS right second rower with Josiah Pahulu’s heavy contact forcing the NSW second rower back a number of metres.

Josiah Pahulu added a further strong tackle in the 35th minute when he smashed one of the NSW front rower around thirty five metres out from the try line. Then after the front rower tried to get an off-load away which went straight up in the air, Josiah Pahulu smartly got to his feet to take the ball on the full and completely change the momentum of the match early in the second half.

I have mentioned Josiah Pahulu’s defence but Josiah Pahulu was also outstanding running the ball, always making himself available and one of Josiah Pahulu’s strongest runs came in the 48th minute when a strong charge from his own thirty metre mark and after engaging the defensive line, Josiah Pahulu got away a good left arm off-load after running onto the ball to the left of the play the ball.

Josiah Pahulu’s outstanding performances over the course of the 2022 ASSRL U18 Championships saw Josiah Pahulu noted by the Courier Mail by being named on various other lists including one of the “Best Mobile Big Men”.

Round One of the 2022 Langer Cup School Boy competition saw Josiah Pahulu start in the front row and captain for Ipswich State High School against Keebra Park State High School with Josiah Pahulu putting in an outstanding performance to lead from the front as Ipswich SHS recorded an impressive first up 24 – 16 victory.

Josiah Pahulu also started in the front row and captain in Round two against Mabel Park State High School with Josiah Pahulu one again putting in a powerful performance in a big Ipswich SHS victory.

After the mid-season break, Josiah Pahulu started from the bench in Round Four against PBC State High School coming onto the field in the 23rd minute to operate in the front row and in the seven minutes until the halftime break Josiah Pahulu made an impressive five hit-up, accounting for in excess of fifty metres gained.

Josiah Pahulu’s dominance continued in the second half including in the 39th minute with a strong charge and off-load and then in the 43rd minute Josiah Pahulu made twenty tough metres to forty metres out after taking possession to the right of the play the ball.

Josiah Pahulu continued in the front row in Round Five against Wavell SHS as well as in Round Six against Coombabah SHS and Round Seven against Marsden State High School.

Josiah Pahulu also started in the front row and captain for Ipswich SHS in their Quarter Final against Coombabah SHS with Josiah Pahulu outstanding in his two stints on the field.

The first of multiple exceptional runs from Josiah Pahulu came in the 4th minute with Josiah Pahulu made a great eighteen metre charge to his own forty metre mark with around 75% of the run made up of post contact metres after running onto the ball to the left of the play the ball.

Then in the 9th minute Josiah Pahulu once again charged onto the ball to the left of the play the ball with Josiah Pahulu making twenty two metres to get the ball just into Coombabah SHS territory.

Josiah Pahulu added a further strong run in the 15th minute by making twenty more metres and breaking three tackles as he charged from his own forty metre mark to forty metres out from the try line.

Josiah Pahulu was just as outstanding in his second stint on the field as was evidenced in the 54th minute when from an Ipswich SHS penalty tap restart Josiah Pahulu made a twenty metre charge to get within five metres of the try line with at least 50% of Josiah Pahulu’s metres post contact.

Josiah Pahulu also started in the front row in the 2022 Langer Cup Semi-Final against Marsden SHS.

Josiah Pahulu started in the front row in the 2022 School Boy Langer Cup Grand Final against PBC SHS with Josiah Pahulu putting in a dominating performance including an exceptional solo try mid-way through the first half when from an Ipswich SHS penalty tap restart fifteen metres out and towards the right touchline, Josiah Pahulu charged onto the ball and immediately cut towards the centre of the field and broke through a number of attempted tackles to score under the posts.

It was clear from the opening minutes that Josiah Pahulu was in for a big match when in the 9th minute made a hard charge for the left of the play the ball with Josiah Pahulu getting the ball from two metres inside his own territory to twelve metes inside PBC SHS territory.

Josiah Pahulu made a great play in the 51st minute when with the Grand Final in the balance PBC SHS put up a bomb from inside their attacking twenty metre area towards the Ipswich SHS left corner. Joshua Pahulu willed himself across field and jumped high amongst a myriad of players from both teams to take the ball on the full just a metre out from his own try line.

At the completion of the 2022 Langer Cup season Josiah Pahulu was named in the front row in the Courier Mail Langer Cup Team of the Year.

Josiah Pahulu then started in the front row and captain as Ipswich SHS took on Ignatius Park SHS in the 2022 Queensland School Boys Final with Josiah Pahulu leading from the front once again as Ipswich SHS became the 2022 Queensland School Boy Champions with Josiah Pahulu deservedly raising the trophy as captain and leader of the Ipswich SHS team.

Josiah Pahulu also started in the front row and captain for Ipswich SHS in the Australian School Boy Championship match against Patrician Brothers Fairfield.

Josiah Pahulu was also named as the fifth best School Boy Rugby League or Rugby player in the 2022 Courier Mail Top 30 school boys.

mdrew

04-11-22, 11:41 AM

Well done to Eden Humphries for being named the 2022 Mullumbimby Giants U13 Group 18 Best and Fairest.

mdrew

04-11-22, 02:33 PM

2022 saw Owen Woods play for the Mullumbimby Giants in the Group 18 U15 competition with Owen Woods being awarded the 2022 Mullumbimby Giants U15 Players Player Award.

mdrew

04-11-22, 05:08 PM

Talented Rugby fly half (No. 10) Reef McKay who was represented the Gold Coast Cyclones in rugby at the U14 level in 2021 has been named in the 2023 Tweed Heads Seagulls U16 Cyril Connell Cup squad.

mdrew

05-11-22, 05:05 AM

2022 saw Dylan Butcher play for the Mullumbimby Giants in the Group 18 U15 competition with Dylan Butcher being awarded the 2022 Mullumbimby Giants U15 Best and Fairest Award.

mdrew

05-11-22, 08:50 AM

In late 2022 Max Palmer commenced training with the 2022 Titans U14 Group 18 Academy squad.

2022 saw Max Palmer play for the Murwillumbah Colts in the Group 18 U14 competition.

mdrew

05-11-22, 10:49 AM

At the recent Marsden SHS Rugby League Awards night, one of the Award winners in his first year at Marsden SHS was Canterbury NZ backrower Cairo Rangihuna-Ruri who will return in 2023 and no doubt be a key member of the Marsden SHS Langer Cup Open A squad.

mdrew

05-11-22, 11:08 AM

Outstanding Marsden SHS outside back Madden Falaniko was recently named on the bench for the 2022 Marsden SHS Rugby League Tema of the Year and just prior to that he was named in the 2023 Tweed Heads Seagulls U16 CC Cup squad.

mdrew

05-11-22, 01:23 PM

In the rugby league off-season Titans contracted Izayah Petrichvich continues to play basketball in the Men’s Division Two competition for Disney Jnr and in Round 12 Izayah Petrichvich scored eight points in a 65 – 63 win over Lemon from one two point shot and two three point shots.

mdrew

05-11-22, 03:50 PM

202 PBC SHS Langer Cup team mates Reico Ratana and Will Taylor have been named in the 2023 Western Clydesdales Hastings Deering's Colts squad.

mdrew

05-11-22, 09:12 PM

In late 2022 William Wright was named in the 2022 Northern Rivers Titans U16 Andrew Johns Cup squad.

2022 saw William Wright play for the Murwillumbah Colts in the Group 18 U15 competition including starting on the wing in the Grand Final against Byron Bay/Lennox Head.

mdrew

06-11-22, 07:30 AM

The 2022 Hastings Deering’s Colts season for Thomas Weaver:

Round One of the 2022 Hastings Deering’s Colts competition saw Thomas Weaver named to start at halfback and captain of the Tweed Heads Seagulls as they got their season underway against the Norths Devils however the match was ultimately postponed due to the extreme weather conditions in northern New South Wales.

Thomas Weaver was also named at halfback and captain in the Round Two 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.

Thomas Weaver was named to continue at halfback and captain in Round Three against the Townsville Blackhawks however he was a late scratching from the Seagulls side.

Thomas Weaver was back at halfback in Round Six against the Northern Pride kicking ten goals from eleven attempts in a big 66 – 0 Seagulls victory.

Thomas Weaver also recorded multiple try assists in the match with the first coming in the opening minutes when from deep inside his own territory Thomas Weaver ran to the left side of the field and around eighteen metres out from his own line Thomas Weaver dummied to his left, slicing through the defensive line as a result. Thomas Weaver then drew the fullback and passed back to his inside to send Jaylan De Groot away to score mid-way between the goal posts and corner post on the left side of the field.

Thomas Weaver’s second try assist arrived in the 15th minute when from around twenty metres out and on the left side of the field Thomas Weaver put up a high bomb towards the right with his right winger racing through to take the kick on the full and then race around to score under the posts.

Thomas Weaver recorded a third try assist in the 39th minute when he kicked from the left side of the field to right with Caleb Hodges outjumping the Northern Pride fullback in the in-goal to score ten metres in from the right corner.

Thomas Weaver almost added another try assist in the 56th minute when from forty metres out he put up a high bomb towards the left corner. The ball was dropped backwards into the in-goal by the Northern Pride fullback but a charging Brent Barnes could not ground the ball.

Thomas Weaver added a line break assist in the 34th minute when down a left blindside Thomas Weaver threw a great cut-out pass to his left to put Brent Barnes away down the sideline with the Seagulls winger getting to within fifteen metres of the try line.

Thomas Weaver also forced a number of line drop-outs, the first coming in the 35th minute when a bomb towards the right corner was taken dead by the Northern Pride defence. Then in the 38th a deft Thomas Weaver grubber to his left was forced in-goal by the Northern Pride right winger.

To cap off a great match Thomas Weaver saved a try in the 36th minute when with the Seagulls deep on the attack, the ball went to ground with the Northern Pride right centre swooping on the ball and raced away. Thomas Weaver came from the clouds to drag the centre down and save what appeared to be a certain try.

Thomas Weaver also started at halfback in the rescheduled Round One match against the Norths Devils kicking four conversions from five attempts with his only miss bizarrely coming from directly in front when he sliced the ball wide of the right upright.

The first of Thomas Weaver’s multiple try assists against the Devils in the 59th minute when he received the ball above his head to the left of the play the ball and around fifteen metres out. After taking possession Thomas Weaver ran the ball towards the line and put in a short right foot grubber kick that sat up perfectly for Klese Hass who charged through to take possession and put the ball down mid-way between the goal posts and corner post on the left side of the field.

A further try assist of Thomas Weaver came in the 79th minute when from the right side of the field and around twenty metres out Thomas Weaver put up a bomb towards the left with the ball coming down just into the in-goal with Kaleb Ngamanu coming through to dive on the ball after it was dropped by the Devils fullback to put downward pressure on the ball mid-way between the goal posts and corner post on the right side of the field.

Thomas Weaver also recorded a line break assist in the 11th minute when he ran to the line and threw a good short ball to his right to put Ryan Foran through a gap with the right second rower surging twenty metres downfield.

Thomas Weaver’s kicking game was impeccable against Norths including in the 45th minute when from thirty metres out Thomas Weaver put up a high bomb that came down less than a metre from the goal line near the right corner with the Tweed Heads chasers getting to the Devils winger just as he took the ball and forced him back into the in-goal to force a goal line drop-out.

Thomas Weaver forced another goal line drop-out in the 75th minute when after taking the ball down a short left blindside Thomas Weaver put in a grubber kick with the outside of his right foot with the Norths left winger trapped in-goal.

Thomas Weaver made it three forced dro-outs in the match in the 78th minute when whilst operating on the left side of the field Thomas Weaver put in another perfectly weighted grubber kick that had to be taken dead by the Devils fullback.

Round Eight against the Western Clydesdales saw Thomas Weaver start at halfback and kick seven conversions from eight attempts before being rested for the final fifteen minutes of the match. Thomas Weaver also kicked a field goal right on halftime.

Thomas Weaver also recorded a try assist in the 16th minute when he put up a bomb towards the left and after the ball was dropped in the in-goal by the Western Clydesdales right winger the ball bounced up for Ryan Foran to take and subsequently put down mid-way between the corner post and goal posts on the left side of the field.

Thomas Weaver made a line break in the 39th minute when after he received an off-load from Ben Liyou near the halfway mark, Thomas Weaver exploded from a standing start and made twenty four metres before being caught.

Thomas Weaver made a second line break in the 61st minute when he ran down the wide right blindside just inside Clydesdales territory and after being hit high Thomas Weaver was able to break away and off-load to the right but when the play broke down the referee awarded a penalty for the high hit on Thomas Weaver.

Thomas Weaver also recorded a line break assist in the 11th minute when he threw a long cut-out pass just inside Clydesdale’s territory to put left winger Konrad Tu’u away with the winger then getting the ball back inside for Ryan Foran to score the first of his two tries.

Thomas Weaver showcased his huge kicking boot in the 56th minute when he put up a huge bomb fifty six metres out and the Clydesdales fullback wanted on part of and let bounce and as the Seagulls chase bore down on him the fullback had to knock the over the dead ball line for a goal line drop out.

Thomas Weaver also started at halfback in Round Nine against the Ipswich Jets with Thomas Weaver kicking four conversions from six attempts and a penalty goal in the final minute to seal an eight point Seagulls victory.

Thomas Weaver also started at halfback in Round Eleven against the Central Queensland Capra’s, kicking three conversions from five attempts in a heart breaking last minute loss with Thomas Weaver kicking an outstanding conversion from the left touchline late in the match to convert Brent Barnes’s try in the corner to give the Seagulls the lead but the Capra’s scored in the dying seconds to snatch the victory.

Thomas Weaver also recorded a try assist in the 7th minute when after receiving the ball from his right around twenty metres out and in fractionally to the right of the uprights, Thomas Weaver threw an exquisite long cut-out pass to his right that travelled at least twenty metres and hit right winger Malakhi Donovan on the chest in space with the winger able to score in the right corner.

Thomas Weaver recorded a second try assist in the 25th minute when whilst operating to the left of the play the ball, Thomas Weaver took the ball deep into the defensive line and then threw a perfectly weighted short ball to his left to put Kaleb Ngamanu over to score from eight metres out with Kaleb Ngamanu getting the ball down left three metres in from the left corner post.

Thomas Weaver’s short kicking game was also effective in the wet conditions against the Capra’s including in the 6th minute when Thomas Weaver took the ball down a short left blindside and from around twenty five metres out, put in a right foot grubber kick which was knocked on by the Carpa’s fullback with the Seagulls scoring from the subsequent set of six tackles.

To emphasise just how good Thomas Weaver’s short kicking game was, in addition to the kick noted above Thomas Weaver also forced three, yes three line drop outs, with the first coming in the 24th minute when after receiving the ball to the right of the play the ball Thomas Weaver put in a right foot grubber kick from ten metres out with the kick weighted such that the Central Queensland fullback had no option but to take the ball dead in-goal.

The second occasion where Thomas Weaver forced a goal line drop-out encapsulated just how good Thomas Weaver is. On the fifth tackle, Thomas Weaver received a high pass to the right of the play the ball just thirty metres out and in the centre of the field and was immediately confronted by three charging Capra’s players. Thomas Weaver darted to his right, beating all three before exploding through centre field and whist running at full pace put in an exquisite right foot banana kick towards the right corner which had to be taken over the side line in-goal by the Capra’s fullback just in front of multiple Seagulls chasers.

The third occasion that Thomas Weaver forced a goal line drop-out came in the 75th minute he Thomas Weaver ran the ball down a short left blindside around thirty metres out and once again after going deep into the defensive line (notice a trend) put in a chip kick into the in-goal with Brent Barnes taking the Capra’s winger over the dead ball line.

To round out his match, Thomas Weaver made a great one on one tackle in the 19th minute and the Capra’s five eight who looked as if he had manouvered himself through the Seagulls defensive line, but Thomas Weaver brought him down fifteen metres from the try line.

Thomas Weaver was back at halfback for Round Fifteen against the Northern Pride with Thomas Weaver scoring twenty points from a try and eight conversions (plus another that hit the posts from the left touchline) in a big Seagulls victory.

Thomas Weaver scored in the 6th minute when after receiving the ball to the right of a Seagulls scrum win twelve metres out, Thomas Weaver dummied to his right to wrong foot one defender before shrugging off a second defender with Thomas Weaver then getting the ball down in a tackle mid-way between the goal posts and corner post on the right side of the field.

Thomas Weaver then recorded a try assist in the 38th minute when from thirty five metres out, Thomas Weaver ran to his left after receiving the ball and threw the ball back to his right to Jaylan De Groot with the fullback racing through a huge gap and easily beat the cover defence to score mid-way between the goal posts and corner post on the left side of the field.

Thomas Weaver did exceptionally well in the 12th minute when Thomas Weaver chased down the Northern Pride hooker who had broken through the Seagulls defensive line with Thomas Weaver catching the hooker from behind ten metres out to stop a certain Northern Pride.

Thomas Weaver then did well once again in the 70th minute when twenty five metres out from his own try line, Thomas Weaver was on hand to pick up a dropped ball by the Northern Pride with Thomas Weaver able to progress the ball fifteen metres downfield before being tackled.

Thomas Weaver also started at halfback in Round Sixteen against the Townsville Blackhawks with Thomas Weaver recording two try assists and kicking two conversions.

Thomas Weaver recorded his opening try assist in the 9th minute when from the centre of the field and around nine metres out Thomas Weaver putting a right foot grubber kick into the in-goal with Solomon Torrens charging through to get the ball down in the in-goal just to the right of the uprights.

Thomas Weaver recorded his second try assist in the 32nd minute when he took the ball to the defensive line on the left side of the field and sent a short pass away to his left to Ryan Foran who burst between two defenders to score ten metres in from the left corner post.

Thomas Weaver also started at halfback in Round Seventeen against the Easts Tigers with Thomas Weaver kicking two conversions from as many attempts.

Thomas Weaver finished the 2022 Hastings Deering’s Colts regular season with 99 points.

The 2022 Hastings Deering’s Colts Week One Elimination Final saw Thomas Weaver start at halfback for the Tweed Heads Seagulls against the Easts Tigers with Thomas Weaver kicking three conversions from five attempts as the Seagulls progressed to Week Two of the Finals.

Thomas Weaver also set up the match winning try for Jesse Jackson when Thomas Weaver received the ball twenty metres out near the centre of the field and to the right of the play the ball. Thomas Weaver took the Tigers defensive line on and threw an inside ball to Jesse Jackson to crash over next to the right upright.

Thomas Weaver was in fact the reason that the Seagulls were in an attacking position when in the final minute of the match the Tigers halfback grubbered from less than ten metres out from the try line. After the ball hit the right upright Thomas Weaver picked up the ball on the try line and burst fifty five metres downfield with Thomas Weaver setting up Jesse Jackson later in the same set of six tackles.

Thomas Weaver in the 64th minute along with Ryan Foran made a try saving tackle on the Tigers No. 9 when the dummy half tried to sneak over from dummy half. Ryan Foran and Thomas Weaver initially held up the dummy half over the try line before forcing him back into the field of play ten metres from the left corner.

Then from the subsequent play the ball Thomas Weaver held up the Tigers fullback over the try line after he had also tried to force his way over from dummy half.

Thomas Weaver had made an earlier try saving tackle in the 8th minute when he crunched the Easts right second rower (No. 12) just on the try line with Thomas Weaver’s initial contact forcing the ball loose just as the ball was about to be placed over the try line.

The match also saw Thomas Weaver execute a great kick-off in the 38th minute when Thomas Weaver hit the ball hard and low to his left with the ball going into touch thirty metres out from the try line with Seagulls consequently getting the ball back.

Thomas Weaver also started at halfback and captain in Week Two of the Finals against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls with Thomas Weaver kicking two first half conversions from as many attempts.

mdrew

06-11-22, 08:32 AM

2023 Burleigh MM Cup squad member and TSS student Billy Wellard has been named on the bench for the Queensland Reds U16 Rugby side for their match against the Melbourne Rebels.

mdrew

06-11-22, 04:26 PM

Keebra Park SHS student Qwayde Whakatihi-Shaw recently represented Queensland at the National Touch Championships and he was part of the qld side that defeated NSW in the Final to become National Champions.

mdrew

06-11-22, 05:01 PM

Powerful Keebra Park SHS left winger Tino Fomai was the leading try scorer in the 2022 Walters Cup competition and was also named in the Walters Cup Team of the Year.

mdrew

07-11-22, 04:21 AM

In June 2021 Jayden Wright signed a multi-year contract with Titans and on November 1, 2022, Jayden Wright will commence training in the Titans NRL off-season program.

2022 saw Jayden Wright continue to train with the Titans JTS Program and Jayden Wright may also do a number of training sessions with the Titans Rookie squad over the course of the 2022 off-season.

In late January 2022 Jayden Wright started at right centre for the Titans U19 side in a match at Pizzey Park against the Burleigh Hastings Deering’s Colts side with the first of Jayden Wright’s key contributions coming in the 8th minute with a strong, important one on one tackle on Burleigh’s Damon Sommerville just four metres out from the try line.

The ball did not necessarily go out to Jayden Wright’s right side too often, it was good to see Jayden Wright go looking for the ball including in the 19th minute when he was able to make twelve metres down the right channel to get the ball within twenty metres of the try line.

In mid-December Jayden Wright had the opportunity to train with the Titans NRL squad in a joint training session between the Titans NRL squad and the Titans JTS Program Squads.

Jayden Wright started the 2022 season as part of the Tweed Heads Seagulls Hastings Deering’s Colts squad and is also Colts eligible in 2023.

After missing Round One of the 2022 Hastings Deering’s Colts competition (in the end the match was delayed in any event) Jayden Wright was named at right second row for the Round Two local derby against the Burleigh Bears and was immediately in the action by making the opening tackle of the match after Tweed Heads had kicked off to get the match underway.

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.

Jayden Wright continued at right second row in Round Three against the Townsville Blackhawks looking to build on an impressive Round two outing but unfortunately Jayden Wright suffered a shoulder injury early in the first half which forced him to leave the field and kept him out long term.

Jayden Wright started the Seagulls opening 2022 trial against the Burleigh Bears at right second row with the Seagulls going down 48 – 0 in a tough start to the 2022 season. Jayden Wright however had a few good defensive moments in the match including a big tackle on Burleigh interchange player Ezra Ubaldino.

Jayden Wright also made a good defensive play in the 8th minute when he raced back in cover defence to make a desperate try saving tackle on Burleigh right centre Tuvalli Khan-Pereira who looked like he was going to race away to score from near halfway.

Jayden Wright made an early contribution in just the 3rd minute with a run accounting for eighteen metres down the left channel to get the ball into Burleigh territory.

mdrew

07-11-22, 04:37 PM

In his first season in South East Queensland after moving down from Cairns Derek Ahwang made his presence felt in the Ipswich Rugby League U13 Division One competition for Brothers with Derek Ahwang finishing as the competitions leading try scorer with twenty one tries and the competition’s second leading points scorer with eighty six points after Derek Ahwang kicked a conversion in Round Seven against Norths.

Derek Ahwang started the 2022 Ipswich Rugby League U13 Division One Grand Final at fullback as Brothers competed an undefeated season by defeating Redback 56 – 4 with Derek Ahwang scoring a hat trick.

Derek Ahwang scored an impressive five hat tricks, including in Round One against Redbank Plains. Derek Ahwang also scored hat tricks in Round Eight and the rescheduled Round One match against Goodna, Round Three against Redback and Round Ten against Norths.

Derek Ahwang also scored doubles in Round Seven against Norths and against Goonda in Brothers semi-final victory.

mdrew

07-11-22, 05:16 PM

Keebra Park SHS rugby league standout Kingston Seve recently represented the Queensland U15 School Boys Touch Team at the Austrlan Championships, not bad for a young man still U14 eligible.

mdrew

08-11-22, 06:02 AM

In his first season in South East Queensland after moving down from Cairns, Tyler Addo made his presence felt in the Ipswich Rugby League U13 Division One competition for Brothers with Tyler Addo finishing as the competitions leading points scorer with ninety eight points from eighteen tries and thirteen conversions and the competition’s second leading try scorer with eighteen tries.

Tyler Addo started the 2022 Ipswich Rugby League U13 Division One Grand Final at five eight as Brothers competed an undefeated season by defeating Redback 56 – 4 with Tyler Addo scoring a double.

Round ten against Norths saw Tyler Addo score four tries and Tyler Addo also scored four tries in Brothers semi-final against Goodna. Tyler Addo also scored a hat trick in the rescheduled Round One match against Goodna and scored a double in Round Seven against Norths. Tyler Addo also scored in Rounds Three and Nine against Redbank Plains.

Tyler Addo’s best match goal kicking came in Round Eight against Goodna with Tyler Addo kicking seven goals and then Tyler Addo kicked three goals in Round Nine against Redbank Plains.

mdrew

08-11-22, 11:18 AM

Well done to right second rower Tyrell Laban for his selection in the 2022 Keebra Park SHS Rugby League Team of the Year.

In 2022 the Southport Tigers junior was an ever present for the Keebra Park SHS School Boy Walters Cup side that went through the season undefeated including defeating Kirwan SHS to win the inaugural Queensland School Boy Rugby League Year Ten School Boy Rugby League Championship.

mdrew

08-11-22, 02:59 PM

Incredible to think that Titans partnered school Keebra Park SHS and Marsden SHS Open A sides are already back in training in preparation for the 2023 season, plenty of Titans at both schools.

Titanic

08-11-22, 05:50 PM

Incredible to think that Titans partnered school Keebra Park SHS and Marsden SHS Open A sides are already back in training in preparation for the 2023 season, plenty of Titans at both schools.I'm ok with it but I hope they have integrated academic programs to keep their futures balanced.

mdrew

09-11-22, 06:53 AM

In late 2022 Christian Rivers as named as the Keebra Park SHS 2022 Hancock Cup Player of the Year and was also named on the bench in the 2022 Keebra park SHS Rugby League Team of the Year.

In 2022 Christian Rivers started in the front row in all of Keebra Park SHS’s Hancock Cup school boy matches.

2022 also saw Christian Rivers play for the Wynnum Manly Seagulls in the GBJRL U4 Division One competition including starting in the second row in the Grand Final against the Redcliffe Dolphins.

Christian Rivers proved to be a try scorer of note for the Seagulls including scoring four doubles, the first of which came in Round Ten against Aspley, then Christina Rivers scored a double in Round Twelve against the Easts Tigers.

In the GBJRL U4 Division One competition regular season Christian Rivers also scored in Round Three against Aspley, Round Eight against Norths, Round Nine against Logan Brothers and Round Thirteen against Redcliffe.

Christian Rivers had a particularly strong 2022 GBJRL U14 Division One competition Finals series, scoring doubles in the Qualifying and Preliminary Finals, on both occasions in victories against Logan Brothers.

mdrew

09-11-22, 03:58 PM

The 2022 GBJRL U13 Division One Grand Final saw Tarell Pati-Sialapae start in the second row for Logan Brothers with Tarell Pati-Sialapae one of Logan’s tries in their 26 – 14 Grand Final victory against the Redcliffe Dolphins.

Over the course of the 2022 GBJRL U13 Division One competition Tarell Pati-Sialapae scored five tries including a double in Round Eight agaisnt Albany Creek. In addition to his Grand Final try, Tarell Pati-Sialapae also scored against Norths Juniors in Round Fourteen and the Elimination Final.

mdrew

09-11-22, 10:04 PM

Marsden SHS's Tayshan Tonga was named Qld Maori U14 QPICC's Best Player.

mdrew

10-11-22, 06:43 AM

The 2022 GBJRL U13 Division One Grand Final saw Iraia Hakaraia-Ngamoutu start in the second row for Logan Brothers in their 26 – 14 Grand Final victory against the Redcliffe Dolphins.

Over the course of the 2022 GBJRL U13 Division One competition Iraia Hakaraia-Ngamoutu scored an impressive hat trick in the Elimination Final against Norths Juniors. Iraia Hakaraia-Ngamoutu scored doubles in the Elimination Final against the Souths Magpies and Round Eleven against Carina as well as scoring in Round Seven against the Waterford Demons.

mdrew

10-11-22, 07:24 AM

Keebra Park SHS student ISrael Lotaki was named U14 Qld Tonga's Best Player at the QPICC Carnival.

mdrew

10-11-22, 10:21 AM

Great effort by Titans Zac Kumbamong for being named QLD U16 PNG's Best Player at the QPICC Carnival.

mdrew

10-11-22, 04:45 PM

GBJRL U13 Division One centre Aileono Mikaio had an outstanding 2022 season with Logan Brothers finishing as the GBJRL U13 Division One competition’s second leading try scorer with seventeen tries.

Aileono Mikaio started in the centres through the GBJRL U13 Division One competition’s Finals series including starting in the centres in Logan Brothers 26 – 14 Grand Final victory against the Redcliffe Dolphins.

Aileono Mikaio scored an impressive four tries in Round Eleven against Carina and scored hat tricks in Round Eight against Albany Creek and Round Twelve against Redlands. Aileono Mikaio also scored doubles in Round Nine against Aspley and Round Fourteen against Norths.

Aileono Mikaio also scored against Norths in Round Three, Waterford in Round Seven and Redcliffe in Round Ten.

2022 also saw Aileono Mikaio convert one of his own tries in Round Twelve against Redlands.

mdrew

10-11-22, 05:06 PM

Good to see Keebra Park SHS's Harry Benbow named in the 2023 Burleigh Bears U16 Cyril Connell Cup squad.

mdrew

10-11-22, 05:23 PM

Marymount College's Jax Damro has named in the 2023 Burleigh Bears U16 Cyril Connell Cup squad.

mdrew

10-11-22, 06:12 PM

Another Keebra Park SHS student to be selected in the 2023 Burleigh Bears U16 Cyril Connell Cup squad is Kendrix Marsh.

mdrew

11-11-22, 07:00 AM

GBJRL U13 Division One centre Jhaleel Paraone had an outstanding 2022 season with the Waterford Demons finishing as the GBJRL U13 Division One competition’s leading try scorer with nineteen tries.

Jhaleel Paraone scored a staggering five tries in Round One against the Souths Magpies. Jhaleel Paraone then scored four tires in Round Thirteen against Redlands and a hat trick in the rescheduled Round Six match against Carina.

Jhaleel Paraone scored a double in Round Three against Albany Creek and also scored in Round Two against Burpengary, Round Nine against Norths, Round Ten against the Easts Tigers, Round Twelve against Wests Arana Hills and Round Fourteen against Albany Creek.

mdrew

11-11-22, 03:08 PM

Logan Brothers centre Lewis Gardner was a strong performer in the 2022 GBJRL U14 Division One competition, proving to be a try scorer of note.

In the 2022 GBJRL U14 Division One competition scored hat tricks in Round Three and Six against Redlands and Aspley respectively and scored doubles in Round Thirteen against Aspley and Round Fourteen against Easts.

Lewis Gardner also scored in Rounds Two and Seven against Easts, Round Eleven against the Redcliffe Dolphins and the semi-final against Souths.

mdrew

11-11-22, 05:19 PM

Powerful Souths second rower Tyrese Herniman had a big 2022 season in the GBJRL U14 Division One competition, finishing the season with four doubles with those doubles coming in Round Seven against Aspley, Round Eight against Easts, the rescheduled Round Six match against Norths and the Elimination Final against Redlands.

Tyrese Herniman also scored In Round Two and Three against Redcliffe, Round Eleven against Wynnum Manly and Fourteen against Aspley.

Tyrese Herniman also played rugby for Souths in the GBJRU U14 competition, playing in the front row and was named in the Brisbane Junior Rugby U14 Representative Train-on squad.

mdrew

12-11-22, 07:22 AM

Post the 2022 Queensland Samoa Championships, Mason Barber was named in the Queensland Samoa U16 representative side to play in the 2022 QPICC Carnival with Mason Barber starting Round One of the QPICC Carnival at fullback against the Cook Islands.

Mason Barber also started at fullback in all of Samoa’s other matches including their 26 – 0 Grand Final victory against PNG with Mason Barber scoring in Round Three against PNG and the semi-final against Maori.

Mason Barber had a particularly strong semi-final match against Queensland Maori including scoring in the 17th minute when from eight metres out and to the right of the play the ball Mason Barber surged onto the ball and crashed through three attempted tackles to score mid-way between the goal posts and corner post on the right side of the field.

Mason Barber also made a line break assist in the 3rd minute when from deep inside his own territory Mason Barber took the defrnsive line on before throwing a good short ball to his left to put Nayte Saaga away on a forty metre run.

mdrew

12-11-22, 04:08 PM

In September 2022 Chance De Thierry was named in the South Queensland Māori U14 Tuakana representative squad starting Round One of the QPICC Carnival in the front row against Queensland Tonga with Chance De Thierry scoring in the 7th minute when from twelve metres out and to the right of the play the ball, Chance De Thierry charged onto the ball, breaking two tackles before executing a great dive from three metres out to slam the ball down with his right arm to score four metres to the right of the uprights.

Chance De Thierry also scored in Round Two against Samoa and Maori’s Grand Final victory against Queensland PNG.

Chance De Thierry also had a strong semi-final against Samoa including a 3rd minute line break when after charging onto the ball to the left of the play the ball, Chance De Thierry, from forty five metres out burst straight through the centre of the defensive line and rumbled to within eighteen metres of the try line before being brought down in front of the goal posts.

Chance De Thierry made a further line break in the 21st minute when to the right of the play the ball and thirty five metres out, Chance De Thierry charged over the top of one defender and made twenty metres downfield before the ball was knocked from his grasp from behind.

Just a minute earlier Chance De Thierry made a great charge from the kick-off to the second half.

mdrew

12-11-22, 04:39 PM

Great to see the Titans U14 Academy Programs kicking off with plenty of talented young players starting their journey towards the NRL in Brisbane, Gold Coast and Group One and Group 18.

Well done to all for their participation.

mdrew

12-11-22, 04:58 PM

Powerhouse young front rower D'Angelo Mikaele was part of the U14 NZ Maori side that defeated Samoa in the U14 Pasifika Youth Grand Final.

2022 also saw D'Angelo Mikaele named in the Auckland U14 side.

mdrew

13-11-22, 08:13 AM

Canterbury NZ youngster Donte Tahuhu-Wilson is one heck of a talented player who last weekend was part of the U14 NZ Maori side that defeated Samoa in the U14 Pasifika Youth Grand Final.

mdrew

13-11-22, 08:30 AM

Obviously Titans partnered schools PBC, Keebra Park and Coombabah SHS are known as rugby league schools but in 2023 they will be adding rugby sides to play in the Gold Coast Schools Rugby Cup which will encompass both the Seven's and XV a side competition's.

Great to see those schools and also Marymount College getting involved.

mdrew

13-11-22, 11:17 AM

The Northern Rivers Titans U16 and U18 squads got their 2023 season underway this morning with a round of testing. Plenty of future Titans in both squads.

mdrew

13-11-22, 11:49 AM

Great to see McDonalds involved in sponsoring the outstanding Titans U14 Development Program.

mdrew

13-11-22, 02:21 PM

In late September 2022 Zac Murphy was named in the 2023 Burleigh Bears U16 Cyril Connell Cup representative squad.

In 2022 Zac Murphy attended Keebra Park SHS and played in the Year Nine/Ten Keebra Park SHS side in the Titans Cup with Zac Murphy operating primarily at five eight.

mdrew

13-11-22, 07:24 PM

Good to see Southport Tiger Dante Driscoll named in the 2023 Tweed Seagulls U16 Cyril Connell Cup representative squad.

mdrew

14-11-22, 07:07 AM

Recently Beaudesert Kingfishers youngster Hayden Watson was named in the Australian U15 Touch side and he was also named in the 2023 Tweed Seagulls U16 Cyril Connell Cup representative squad.

mdrew

14-11-22, 12:07 PM

What a great story Zachary Frazer is, the young man suffered some horror injuries in recent seasons but the Keebra Park SHS student never gave up and recently was named in the 2023 Tweed Heads Mm Cup squad.

mdrew

14-11-22, 06:06 PM

Great to hear that powerful forward Eli Tuli is really making a name for himself at Tweed Heads and whilst the former Keebra Park SHS student will likely start the season in the Colts competition do not discount a QCup start for the front rower some time in 2023.

mdrew

15-11-22, 06:49 AM

In late September 2022 Orlando Meturika was named in the powerful 2023 Burleigh Bears U18 MM Cup squad afer being part of the Ipswich Jets MM Cup squad in 2022.

In 2021 Orlando Meturika played for the Ipswich Jets in the U16 Cyril Connell Cup competition, starting all three of the Jets matches being Round One at halfback against the Tweed Heads Seagulls before moving to five eight in Rounds Three and Five against Souths Logan and Burleigh respectively. Orlando Meturika laos captained the Ipswich Jets CC Cup squad and kicked a conversion against Tweed Heads.

mdrew

15-11-22, 04:09 PM

In September 2022 Calais Hallett-Wharewaka was named in the South Queensland Maori U14 Tuakana representative squad, starting Round One of the QPICC Carnival at fullback against Queensland Tonga.

Calais Hallett-Wharewaka also started at fullback in Maori’s other four matches including their semi-final victory against Samoa and their Grand Final victory against PNG.

Calais Hallett-Wharewaka had a particularly strong semi-final against Samoa with Calais Hallett-Wharewaka recording the first of his two try assists in 14th minute when after chiming into the Maori backline on the left side of the field around sixty metres out Calais Hallett-Wharewaka drew one defender and sent his replacement left second rower thourgh a big gap with the second rower then off-loading to Storm Enoka who raced away to score his second try of the match.

Calais Hallett-Wharewaka recorded his second try assist in the 24th minute with on this occasion Calais Hallett-Wharewaka chiming into the backline on the right around forty metres out with Calais Hallett-Wharewaka then throwing a well weighted pass to put his right centre away down the right touchline.

mdrew

15-11-22, 09:05 PM

Great to see Titans contracted Zane Harrison named in the NSW Junior Blues squad for an upcoming camp which includes Brad Fittler as one of the coaches.

mdrew

16-11-22, 07:18 AM

In September 2022 Cavell Tuilaepa was named in the South Queensland Maori U14 Tuakana representative squad starting Round One of the QPICC Carnival in the front row against Queensland Tonga with Cavell Tuilaepa taking the opening hit-up of the match from the Tonga kick-off.

Cavell Tuilaepa also started in the front row in Maori’s other four match including their Grand Final victory agaisnt PNG with Cavell Tuilaepa scoring a double in the Grand Final and Cavell Tuilaepa also scoring in Round Two againt Samoa.

Cavell Tuilaepa also had a strong semi-final against Samoa including coming ver y close to scoring under the posts twice in the last three minutes of the match. Cavell Tuilaepa also made a great line break in the 12th minute when Cavell Tuilaepa ran onto a good ball from his left from his lock with Cavell Tuilaepa executing a subtle dtep off his left foot also immediately upon receipt of the ball with the step propelling Cavell Tuilaepa through the defensive line with Cavell Tuilaepa only being caught from behind centremetres out from the try line mid-way between the goal posts and corner post on the right side of the field.

mdrew

16-11-22, 08:23 AM

PBC SHS utility back Harry Chadburn has been named in the NSW Junior Blues squad for an upcoming camp.

mdrew

16-11-22, 01:29 PM

William Hamblin played the 2022 season with the Keebra Park SHS Bronco’s Old Boys School Boy’s Rugby League side and was named on the wing in the 2022 Keebra Park SHS Rugby League Team of the Year. William Hamblin was also named as the 2022 Keebra Park SHS Year Seven Player of the Year after starring at fullback for Keebra Park SHS in the Bronco’s Old Boys School Boy competition.

In the Bronco’s Old Boys Cup School Boy Grand Final William Hamblin started at fullback and was Keebra Park SHS’s sole try scorer in their tough 8 – 6 loss to Wavell SHS. In the 23rd minute William Hamblin received the ball from his right around ten metres out and to the left of the uprights with William Hamblin then running the ball to his left, bursting between two defenders with William Hamblin getting the ball down ten metres in from the left corner post.

William Hamblin had an outstanding match in Round Seven against Redcliffe SHS with William Hamblin scoring two great solo tries in a 10 all draw.

William Hamblin scored the first of his two tries in the 3rd minute when with a Keebra Park SHS scrum feed forty metres out and ten metres in from the right touchline, William Hamblin packed in at lock. After picking up the ball from the back of the scrum, William Hamblin ran to his left before stepping off his right foot to get on the outside of one defender before producing a left arm fend to beat a second. William Hamblin then continued to run to his left, dummying in that direct before slicing between two more defenders. From there William Hamblin easily outpaced the Redcliffe SHS cover defence to score seen metres in from the left corner post.

William Hamblin also scored and recorded a try assist in Round Six against Marsden SHS. William Hamblin scored in the 31st minute when after receiving the ball eighteen metres out on the left side of the field, William Hamblin ran to his left with the ball out on from of his body in both hands. After threatening to pass to his left on two occasions, William Hamblin took the defensive lien on himself and after being spun around 360 degrees clockwise, William Hamblin was able to maintain his balance and get the ball down seven metres in from the left corner post.

William Hamblin recorded his try assist in the 3rd minute when from a Keebra Park SHS scrum and feed ten metres out and in centre field, William Hamblin picked the ball up from the back of the scrum and ran to his left. After drawing in two defenders William Hamblin got a pass away to his left to put his unmarked winger over wide out on the left side of the field.

William Hamblin completed his outstanding solo double in the 22nd minute when after William Hamblin took a Redcliffe SHS clearing kick ten metres out from his own try line and in the centre of the field, William Hamblin ran to his left and after getting on the outside of the Redcliffe right winger William Hamblin raced away down his left touchline and then beat the fullback with a great right arm fend with William Hamblin racing away to dive over next to the left upright.

William Hamblin also had an outstanding match in Round Four against Stretton Collage with William Hamblin scoring a hat trick inside the opening seventeen minutes of the match.

William Hamblin scored his opening try of the match in just the 2nd minute of the match when after taking a Stretton College clearing kick on the full whilst tracking the ball backwards just twenty metres out from his own try line, William Hamblin charged back on the kick return and burst between two defenders whilst still deep inside his own territory with William Hamblin then rounding the fullback to his left to then race away and dive over next to the left upright.

William Hamblin scored again in the 8th minute when after receiving the ball forty five metres out and on the left side of the field William Hamblin immediately upon taking possession of the ball cut inside off his right foot with William Hamblin then bursting away down the left touchline before William Hamblin then bringing the ball around to put the ball down next to the left upright.

William Hamblin completed his hat trick in the 17th minute with a sixty metre run after taking a hit-up from the left of the play the ball with William Hamblin breaking through two attempted tackles before rounding the fullback to his right and racing away to score under the posts.

William Hamblin also started at fullback in Round Three against Mabel Park SHS with William Hamblin throwing the last pass for Keebra Park SHS’s 34th minute try.

William Hamblin also scored in just the 2nd minute of Round Two against Redcliffe SHS when he chased through a Keebra Park SHS attacking kick which rebounded off the foot of the Redcliffe SHS fullback with William Hamblin jumping high to take the ball over his head and round the fullback and bring the ball around to score five metres to the left of the uprights.

mdrew

16-11-22, 05:02 PM

Good to see talented Ballina Seagulls hooker Cameron Leach training as part of the Titans Group One U14 Titans Academy.

mdrew

16-11-22, 06:05 PM

Powerful Ballina Seagulls second rower Jett Flatley recently commenced training with the Titans U14 Group One Academy.

Jett Flatley is one heck of a talent.

mdrew

16-11-22, 06:43 PM

Great to see the Northern Rivers Titans 2023 U16 and U18 squads focussing on winning the ruck in defense in their training session with afternoon.

mdrew

16-11-22, 07:36 PM

Great to see one of the most naturally gifted rugby league players in Northern NSW in Latrell Lowah back for his second season training with the Titans U14 Group One Academy.

mdrew

17-11-22, 06:42 AM

In late September 2022 Jackson Le Pou was named in the 2022 U18 Southern Sharks Queensland Samoa Representative side. Jackson Le Pou was then named in the Queensland Samoa U18 representative side to play in the 2022 QPICC Carnival after the completion of the 2022 Queensland Samoa Championships.

Round One of the 2022 QPICC Carnival saw Jackson Le Pou start at halfback for Queensland Samoa U18’s against the Cooks Islands. Jackson le Pou also started at halfback in Round Two against Queensland Maori with Jackson Le Pou the best player on the field on the way to scoring two tries and kicking two conversions.

Jackson Le Pou also kicked two conversions from as many attempts in Round Three against PNG before adding three conversions from as many attempts in Samoa’s semi-final victory against the Cook Islands.

Jackson Le Pou also started the 2022 QPICC U18 Grand Final at halfback for Queensland Samoa and kicked two conversions from as many attempts and a penalty goal in a strong 14 – 4 Grand Final victory against Queensland Maori with Jackson Le Pou being named Player of the Grand Final.

mdrew

17-11-22, 04:17 PM

In September 2022 Tayshaarn Tonga was named in the South Queensland Maori U14 Tuakana representative squad starting Round One of the QPICC Carnival at hooker against Queensland Tonga. Tayshaarn Tonga also started at hooker in Queensland Maori’s other four matches including their Grand Final victory against PNG with Tayshaarn Tonga scoring in Round Two against Queensland Samoa.

Tayshaarn Tonga had a particularly strong semi-final against Samoa with Tayshaarn Tonga making a typically smart run out of dummy half in the 11th minute with a twenty metre effort after running to his right and getting the ball ten metres into Samoan territory.

mdrew

18-11-22, 06:41 AM

Disharne Tonihi was named in the Queensland Maori U16 Tuakana side for the 2022 QPICC Carnival with Disharne Tonihi starting all four of Maori’s matches at fullback including their semi-final against Queensland Samoa.

Disharne Tonihi scored a try and kicked three conversions from as many attempts in Round Three against Niue and kicked two conversions in Round One against Queensland Tonga and a conversion in Round Two against Queensland Samoa.

mdrew

18-11-22, 05:12 PM

In September 2022 Gazniah To’omaga was named in the South Queensland Māori U14 Tuakana representative squad starting Round One of the QPICC Carnival at lock against Queensland Tonga with Gazniah To’omaga scoring in the 36th minute when after receiving the ball to the right of the play the ball and around twelve metres out, Gazniah To’omaga stepped off his right foot and whilst surging the try line, Gazniah To’omaga broke through four attempted tackles and then carried four more defenders over the try line to get the ball down three metres to the left of the uprights.

Gazniah To’omaga also scored in the semi-final also against Samoa and also started at lock in Maori’s three other matches including their Grand Final victory agaisnt PNG.

In the semi-final against Samoa, Gazniah To’omaga on the stroke of halftime (20th minute) when from eight metres out and to the right of the play the ball, Gazniah To’omaga after receiving the ball stepped off his right foot to easily beat one defender with Gazniah To’omaga carhsing through two more defenders to score next to the right upright.

Gazniah To’omaga also recorded a 12th minute line break assist when from forty metres out and to the right of the play the ball, Gazniah To’omaga ran the ball at the Samoa defensive line before popping a good short ball to his right to put Cavell Tuilaepa into a gap with the front rower coming very close to scoring as a result.

mdrew

19-11-22, 07:22 AM

In September 2022 Tawa-Dean Simpkins was named in the South Queensland Maori U14 Tuakana representative squad starting Round One of the QPICC Carnival at five eight against Queensland Tonga.

Tawa-Dean Simpkins, in addition to kicking two conversions recorded a try assist in the 28th minute when after receiving the ball from his left around twenty metres out and on the right side of the field, Tawa-Dean Simpkins ran to his right and after drawing in the Tonga left winger got the ball away for his right second rower to cross wide out on the right.

Tawa-Dean Simpkins also made a great line break in the 35th minute when from twenty metres out from his own try line and on the left side of the field, Tawa-Dean Simpkins got on the outside of the Tonga right winger and raced away down the left touchline and it was only a desperate tackle from the Tonga fullback that brought Tawa-Dean Simpkins down less than a metre out from the try line near the left corner post after an putstnading run down the left touchline.

Tawa-Dean Simpkins also scored in Round Three against Queensland Niue, kicking a conversion in that match as well and also kicked three conversions in Round Two againt Samoa.

Tawa-Dean Simpkins also started at five eight in Maori’s semif-final victory against Samoa and their Grand Final victory against PNG.

mdrew

19-11-22, 10:47 AM

Great effort by TItan Jaylan De Groot to finish second on the 2022 HDC try scoring list with 17 tries.

mdrew

19-11-22, 11:13 AM

Local GC junior Jayden Sharp made his Queensland Cup debut in 2022 for Burleigh and he is set to add more Queensland Cup matches in 2023 after resigning with the Bears.

mdrew

19-11-22, 12:07 PM

After making his NRRRL First Grade debut in 2022 Harvey Moase has resigned with the Cudgen Hornets for the 2023 season.

mdrew

20-11-22, 07:06 AM

In September 2022 Storm Enoka was named in the South Queensland Maori U14 Tuakana representative squad starting Round One of the QPICC Carnival in the second row against Queensland Tonga. Sotrm Enoka also started in the second row in Maori’s four other matches including their Grand Final victory against PNG.

In addition to scoring I the Grand Final, Sotrm Enoka scored a hat trick in a dominant display in the semi-final against Samoa and Storm Enoka also scored in Round Two against Samoa to finish as the U14 Carnival’s equal leading try scorer.

Storm Enoka scored his first of three tries in the semi-final against Samoa in the 7th minute when after receiving the ball from his inside around thirty five metres out, Storm Enoka initially crossed the try line wide out on the left but smartly Storm Enoka took the opportunity to bring the ball all of the way around to put it down comfortably under the posts.

Storm Enoka scored his second try in the 14th minute with a forty metre run from a pass from his inside with Storm Enoka once again able to bring the ball around to score under the posts.

Storm Enoka then completed his hat trick in the 33rd minute when after receiving the ball fourteen metres out and seven metres in from the left touchline. After taking possession Storm Enoka cut off his left foot and crashed over the top of two Samoan defenders who were racing across with Storm Enoka forcing the ball down over the try line five metres in from the left corner post.

mdrew

20-11-22, 04:09 PM

In 2022 Deshawn Compton played for the Runaway Bay Seagulls in the GCRL U13 Division One competition, including a great performance in the Seagulls Preliminary Final against Burleigh with Deshawn Compton starting the match at hooker and scoring in a tough Seagulls loss one win short of the Premiership decider.

Deshawn Compton scored his try in the final minutes of the first half when after receiving the ball to the left of the play the ball and eight metres out from the try line Deshawn Compton ran the ball down a short left blindside and crashed over to score two metres in from the left corner post through sheer will power alone.

Deshawn Compton had almost scored earlier in the match in the opening minutes of the first half when from three metres out and directly in front of the posts, Deshawn Compton initially shaped to pass to his right before darting to his left only to be held up under the posts by three Burleigh defenders.

Deshawn Compton also started at hooker in Week Two of the Finals against the Coomera Cutters with Deshawn Compton scoring the Seagulls only try of the match in the dying minutes when from two metres out from the try line, Deshawn Compton ran to his right out of dummy half and burrowed his way over to get the ball down ten metres to the right of the uprights.

Week One of the 2022 GCR LU13 Division One Finals saw Deshawn Compton continue at hooker against Burleigh with Deshawn Compton scoring an impressive hat trick in an impressive Seagulls 20 -10 victory.

Deshawn Compton scoring his opening try of the match inside the opening minute when with the play the ball less than a metre from the try line on the right side of the field Deshawn Compton after picking up the ball took a step backwards and shaped to pass to his left but at the last second darted forward to score just to the right of the play the ball and ten metres in from the right corner post.

Deshawn Compton scored his second try 21st minute and once again Deshawn Compton scored from a drat out of dummy half, on this occasion running to his right and three metres out from the right corner post.

Deshawn Compton completed his hat trick from dummy half once again in the 53rd minute and as was the case for his opening three tries, Deshawn Compton got down low and ran to his right to force his way over to get the ball down under the posts.

Deshawn Compton continued his try scoring exploits in Round Fourteen against the Mudgeeraba Redbacks with Deshawn Compton scoring from dummy half after running to his right from close range to get the ball down near the right corner in the opening minutes of the second half.

Deshawn Compton added a second try against the Redbacks in the 52nd minute when from twenty metres out from his own try line Deshawn Compton ran to his right and straight through the centre of the Mudgeeraba defensive line and then with no fullback in position Deshanw Compton raced away to score under the posts.

Deshawn Compton also scored in Round Thirteen against the Beaudesert Kingfishers when Deshawn Compton ran to his right out of dummy half from seven metres out to score twelve metres in from the right corner post.

Deshawn Compton added a further try in Round Eleven against Burleigh White in the 5th minute when from a metre out from the try line Deshawn Compton ran to his right ouf of dummy half to burrow his way over to score right metres to the right of the uprights.

Deshawn Compton also scored in the rescheduled Round Five match against the Jimboomba Thunder when in the 36th minute and from ten metres out Deshawn Compton ran to his left before getting in a very short grubber kick away with Deshawn Compton retrieving the ball and diving over to score ten metres in from the left corner post.

Deshawn Compton also scored against the Jimboomba Thunder in Round Ten, scoring in the 22nd minute with a three metre run out of dummy half to his right to score under the posts.

Deshawn Compton also forced a Thunder goal line drop-out when after putting in a right foot grubber kick out of dummy half to his right into the in-goal Deshawn Compton chased his own kick through and tackled the Jimboomba fullback around the legs in goal to force the drop-out from under the posts.

mdrew

21-11-22, 06:52 AM

September 2022 saw Ryder Williams named in the Queensland Samoa Southern Sharks U16 representative side. Ryder Williams was then named in the Queensland Samoa U16 representative side to play in the 2022 QPICC Carnival after the completion of the 2022 Queensland Samoa Championships with Ryder Williams starting Round One of the QPICC Carnival at halfback against the Cook Islands with Ryder Williams kicking two conversions as Queensland Samoa got off to a winning start on the back of a 26 – 16 victory.

In addition to his two conversions, Ryder Williams also made a line break in the 13th minute when after executing an old fashioned run around on the left side of the field around fifty five metres out, Ryder Williams burst away after getting the ball back and when around twenty metres out passed to hie left but bizarrely the pass to his unmarked left winger was ruled forward, much to everyone’s shock.

Ryder Williams also produced a smart piece of play in the 34th minute when after receiving the ball to the right of the play the ball, Ryder Williams saw space behind the Cook Islands defensive line and put in a deft right foot chip kick which sat up perfectly for Nayte Saaga to race through and retrieve on the bounce.

Ryder Williams also started at halfback in Round Two against Maori and was outstanding on the way to scoring two tries and kicking three conversions. Ryder Willams added three conversions from as many attempts in Round Three against PNG and kicked four from four in Samoa’s semif-final victory against Maori.

Ryder Williams then started at half back in the Grnad Final against PNG kicking a conversion in Samoa’s strong 26 – 0 victory.

Ryder Williams finished as the 2022 QPICC Carnival’s U16 top points scorer with thirty four points.

mdrew

21-11-22, 04:21 PM

September 2022 saw Corey Pearce named in the Cook Islands U16 representative side to play in the 2022 QPICC Carnival with Corey Pearce starting Round One of the QPICC Carnival at hooker against Queensland Samoa.

Corey Pearce scored in the 31st minute when from ten metres out, Corey Pearce ran to his left out of dummy half and was able to crash over to score under the posts between two defenders who had not moved off their line due to the speed that Corey Pearce darted out of dummy half. Corey Pearce then stepped up to convert his own try and also kicked another conversion in the match.

Corey Pearce had almost scored earlier in the match in the 20th minute when after running out of dummy half to his left from twelve metres out, Corey Pearce was held up by two defenders next to the right upright.

Corey Pearce also started at hooker in Round Two against Niue with Cortey Pearce scoring a try and kicking three conversions from as many attempts. Corey Pearce also scored and kicked two conversions in Round Three against Queensland Tonga and kicked a conversion in a tough to point semi-final loass to PNG.

Corey Pearce finished as the 2022 QPICC Carnival’s U16 equal second try scorer with three tries and second in total points with twenty eight.

mdrew

22-11-22, 05:57 AM

September 2022 saw Nayte Saaga named in the Queensland Samoa Southern Sharks U16 representative side. Post the 2022 Queensland Samoa Championships, Nayte Saaga was named in the Queensland Samoa U16 representative side to play in the 2022 QPICC Carnival with Nayte Saaga starting Round One of the QPICC Carnival at five eight against the Cook Islands with Nayte Saaga kicking a conversion after the final siren from five metres to the left of the uprights.

Nayte Saaga also recorded a try assist in the 17th minute with the pass of the Carnival. Nayte Saaga fed the ball into a scrum ten metres out and ten metres in from the right touchline and after putting the ball into the scrum Nayte Saaga moved away from the scrum down the right blindside and after receiving the ball from the base of the crum, Nayte Saaga ran down the blaindisde and when three metres out and after drawing in both defenders, Nayte Saaga threw a superb right arm flick pass to put his winger over to score in the right corner.

Naye Saaga then recorded a line break assist in the 25th minute when from thirty five metres out and to the right of the paly the ball, Nayte Saaga deep into the defensive line and double pumped a pass to his right before throwing a great ball to send his right winger away down the touchline.

Nayte Saaga also did well in the 34th minute when he chased through a short Ryder Williams chip kick with the sitting up perfectly for Nayte Saaga to race through and retrieve on the bounce.

Nayte Saaga scored in Queensland Samoa’s semi-final victory against Queensland Maori and kicked another conversion in Round Two also against Queensland Maori.

Nayte Saaga then started the Grand Final against PNG at five eight as Samoa surged away to win 26 – 0.

Nayte Saaga scored in the 25th minute of Samoa’s semi-final victory against Queensland Maori when after receiving the ball sixteen metres out from the try line and from the left of the play the ball near the centre of the field. After taking possession Nayte Saaga dummied to his left and at the same time stepped off his left foot. When still around eight metres out, Nayte Saaga shrugged off one defender who had tried to grab him around the collar with Nayte Saaga then beating a second defender before carrying a third over the try line to get the ball down next to the left upright.

Nayte Saaga also recorded a 3rd minute line break when from forty metres out from his own line, Nayte Saaga charged onto a good short ball from his right from Mason Barber with Nayte Saaga charging forty metres downfield before being brought to ground from behind.

mdrew

22-11-22, 02:31 PM

Marsden SHS student Isaiah Te Pairi was outstanding at the recent U13s 3Ptag Championships including being part of the Championship winning side.

mdrew

22-11-22, 05:26 PM

In late 2022 Christian Mikaele was named in the 2023 Ipswich Jets U16 Cyril Connell Cup squad.

In 2022 Christian Mikaele attended Keebra Park SHS playing in the Titans Cup School Boy competition and operating at lock and five eight.

Also in 2022 Christian Mikaele played for Goodna in the Ipswich Rugby League U15 competition with Christian Mikaele starting at five eight and captain in all of Goodna’s matches.

Christian Mikaele had a particularly strong 2022 Ipswich Rugby League U15 Grand Final scoring a hat trick in Goonda’s 40 – 16 victory against Ipswich Brothers.

In the 2022 Ipswich Rugby League U15 Christian Mikaele scored five tries including a double in Round Twelve against the Fassifern Bombers. Christian Mikaele also scored in Round One against the Lowood Stags and against Norths in Rounds Three and Ten. Christian Mikaele also kicked conversions in Round Eight against Lowood and Round Twelve against Fassifern.

Christian Mikaele finished as the 2022 Ipswich Rugby League U15 competitions equal third leading try scorer with eight tries and equal eight in overall points with thirty six.

Christian Mikaele also played for Goonda in 2021 in the Ipswich Rugby League U14 competition once again at five eight and Christian Mikaele scored in Round Three and Ten against Laidley and Rounds Twelve against Norths. Christian Mikaele also kicked conversions in Rounds Three and Twelve against Laidley and Norths respectively.

mdrew

23-11-22, 07:05 AM

After missing the first half of the 2022 Hastings Deering’s Colts competition Reef Sommerville started at right centre in Round Nine against the Ipswich Jets.

Reef Sommerville then moved to left centre for Round Ten against the Mackay Cutters with Reef Sommerville scoring his first try of the Colts season in the 52nd minute when received the ball around ten metres out and was able to break through an attempted legs tackle before engaging three defenders just a metre from the try line. As the three defenders tried to force him into touch Reef Sommerville spun counter clockwise and get the ball down four metres in from the left corner post.

Reef Sommerville then moved to the right wing for the rescheduled Round Seven match against the Souths Logan Magpies before moving back to right centre in Round Eleven against the Central Queensland Capra’s.

After missing time with injury Reef Somerville was named to make his NRRRL First Grade debut in Round Six of the 2022 season for the Cudgen Hornets at right centre against the Evans Head Bombers and celebrated the milestone with a 16th minute try when after receiving the ball around ten metres out wide out on the right Reef Sommerville stepped off his right to create space and then charged over to score under heavy pressure eight metres in from the right corner post.

Reef Somerville also started at right centre in Cudgen’s NRRRL First Grade Qualifying Final against the Bilambil Jets.

mdrew

23-11-22, 04:24 PM

Kyanu Seuili played the 2022 season with the Keebra Park SHS Bronco’s Old Boys School Boy’s Rugby League side and was named in the front row in the 2022 Keebra Park SHS Rugby League Team of the Year after playing all of Keebra Park SHS’s Bronco’s Old Boys matches in the front row including the Grand Final against Wavell SHS with Kyanu Seuili running the ball back from the kick-off and getting the ball out of his own twenty metre area after Wavell SHS had kicked off to get the Grnd Final underway.

Kyanu Seuili had a particularly strong match in Round Four against Stretton College with Kyanu Seuili scoring in the 28th minute when from twelve metres out and to the right of the play the ball, Kyanu Seuili charged onto the ball and burst through four attempted tackles to get the ball down ten metres in from the right corner post.

mdrew

23-11-22, 05:19 PM

The next generation of Rugby League Excellence students at the Titans partnered Marsden SHS get a taste of training at Marsden SHS with the 2023 Year Seven students training tomorrow morning.

mdrew

24-11-22, 07:33 AM

Tyrell Schwenke played the 2022 season with the Keebra Park SHS Renouf Cup School Boy’s Rugby League side and was named in the front row in the 2022 Keebra Park SHS Rugby League Team of the Year after playing all of Keebra Park SHS’s Renouf Cup matches in the front row including the Grand Final against Marsden SHS.

mdrew

24-11-22, 05:33 PM

In early August 2022 Aaron Singh-Goesel was deservedly named as one of the four 2022 Tom Searle Scholarship winners at a ceremony attended by the likes of Greg Ingles.

In late September 2022 Aaron Singh-Goesel was named in the 2023 Northern Rivers Titans U18 Laurie Daley Cup train on squad and Aaron Singh-Goesel is also U18 eligible in 2024.

Aaron Singh-Goesel started the 2022 season as a member of the Northern Rivers Titans U16 Andrew Johns Cup squad with Aaron Singh-Goesel playing in all seven of the Northern Rivers Titans matches including starting in the front row in both of the Northern Rivers Titans finals being the semi-final against the Dragons and the Grand Final win against the Wests Tigers.

Aaron Singh-Goesel scored twice for the Northern Rivers Titans in the 2022 U16 Andrew Johns Cup with Aaron Singh-Goesel scoring his first try in the 29th minute of Round One against the Wests Tigers and in the 48th minute of Round Four against the Centre Coast Roosters.

Aaron Singh-Goesel’s try against the Wests Tigers was as a result of strong run to the left of the play the ball with Aaron Singh-Goesel charging at the defensive line from twelve metres out and after Aaron Singh-Goesel impacted the defensive line Aaron Singh-Goesel spun 360 degrees counter clockwise and continued his forward progress to get the ball down under the posts.

In Round Four against the Central Coast Roosters, Aaron Singh-Goesel charged onto the ball from six metres out and to the left of the play the ball with Aaron Singh-Goesel crashing over to score five metres to the left of the uprights.

2022 also saw Aaron Singh-Goesel start from the bench for a Titans Northern Rivers U17 Invitational side that played a Titans JTS squad at Cbus Stadium in a Titans NRL curtain-raiser.

Even though he was still U16 eligible Aaron Singh-Goesel played a number of matches for the Murwillumbah Mustangs in the 2022 NRRRL U18 competition with Aaron Singh-Goesel making his first appearance off the bench in Round Seven against the Byron Bay Devils. Aaron Singh-Goesel made three more appearances off the bench before Aaron Singh-Goesel made his first start in Round Thirteen against Casino RSM with Aaron Singh-Goesel starting the match in the second row.

Aaron Singh-Goesel scored his first NRRRL U18 try in Round Nine against the Tweed Heads Seagulls when in the 30th minute Aaron Singh-Goesel followed through a bomb towards the right win and after the ball was knocked forward by Tweed Heads Aaron Singh Goesel was on hand to take possession and then was able to bring the ball around to score under the posts.

Aaron Singh-Goesel also started from the bench in the Week One Qualifying Final against the Tweed Heads Seagulls as well as the Premiership Minor Semi-final in Week Two of the Finals against the Ballina Seagulls.

2022 saw Aaron Singh-Goesel play for the Murwillumbah Colts in the Group 18 U16 competition including starting in the front row in the Grand Final against the Tweed Heads Seagulls.

At the 2022 Murwillumbah Colts Presentation Day, Aaron Singh-Goesel was named the 2022 Murwillumbah Colts Junior Rugby League Player with the Most Potential.

mdrew

24-11-22, 06:47 PM

Great to see the Nerang Roosters set to be involved in the 2023 GCRL U20 competition, with the side set to start their pre-season tonight.

mdrew

25-11-22, 06:49 AM

Lewis Gardner, the Logan Brothers centre was a strong performer in the 2022 GBJRL U14 Division One competition, proving to be a try scorer of note.

In the 2022 GBJRL U14 Division One competition scored hat tricks in Round Three and Six against Redlands and Aspley respectively and scored doubles in Round Thirteen against Aspley and Round Fourteen against Easts.

Lewis Gardner also scored in Rounds Two and Seven against Easts, Round Eleven against the Redcliffe Dolphins and the semi-final against Souths.

mdrew

25-11-22, 01:59 PM

Powerful young centre Jet Rimaputa had a strong 2022 season with the Keebra Park SHS Bronco's Old Boys school boy side and was also very good for the Helensvale Hogs U13 rugby side.

He is certainly a player of the future in either code.

mdrew

25-11-22, 02:23 PM

Well done to Ipswich Girls Grammar student Relna Hosea for her selection in the Titans NRLW Academy.

She is an absolute flyer on the wing.

mdrew

26-11-22, 08:29 AM

In late 2022 Cameron Leach commenced training with the 2022 Titans U14 Group One JTS Academy squad.

In 2022 Cameron Leach played for the Ballina Seagulls in the Group One U14 competition starting all of the Seagulls matches at hooker including their Grand Final loss to Casino RSM.

Cameron Leach scored two tries and kicked two conversions in 2022 with Cameron Leach kicking both conversions in Round One against Lismore Marist. Cameron Leach scored in Week On of the Finals against the South Grafton Rebels and backed that up with a try in Ballina’s Preliminary Final victory against the Kyogle Turkeys.

Cameron Leach also played for Ballina in 2021 in the Group One U13 competition with Cameron Leach starting the season at halfback before moving to hooker later in the season.

Cameron Leach scored a try in Round Five against the South Grafton Rebels in 2021 and also kicked conversions in Round Two against Lismore Marist and Rounds Six and Thirteen against the Clarence Coast Magpies.

mdrew

26-11-22, 08:49 AM

Great to see Bilambil Jets Christian Faigame training with the Titans U14 Group 18 Academy.

In 2022 Christian Faigame was the Player of the Match in the Group 18 U14 Grand Final.

mdrew

26-11-22, 09:21 AM

Jordan Barnes had an impressive 2022 season including being named the Mullumbimby Giants U14 Best and Fairest and Jordan Barnes also had a number of very good matches for Mullumbimby HS in the U14 School Boy Buckley Shield competition.

mdrew

26-11-22, 10:50 AM

Big strong young Bilambil Jets front rower Cooper Clatworthy has started training with the Titans Group 18 Junior Development Squad after a Player of the Match performance in the Group 18 U13 Grand Final.

mdrew

26-11-22, 12:02 PM

William James who has been a talented player in Norhtern New South Wales over the last couple of seasons will be looking to test himself in the Hastings Deering's Colts competition with the Tweed Heads Seagulls in 2023.

mdrew

26-11-22, 01:45 PM

One of the standout players in the 2022 Group 18 U13 competition was Bilambil Jets lock Charlie Wood who had a very impressive Grand Final against the Seagulls amongst many other strong matches.

Deservedly Charlie Wood is a member of the Titans Group 18 U14 Academy squad.

mdrew

26-11-22, 05:18 PM

Austin Marsters is a 2022 Auckland U16 Rugby League Representative lock forward who played his club rugby league in New Zealand with the outstanding Marist Saints Rugby League in Auckland and in 2023 Austin Marsters will move over to Australia and will be part of the 2023 Burleigh Bears U18 MM Cup squad. Austin Marsters will also be MM Cup eligible in 2024.

Austin Marsters also played in the 2022 U16 Shaun Johnson Shield including starting at lock in the Grand Final and Austin Marsters was also formerly a contracted player in the New Zealand Warriors Junior Development system.

In late 2022 Austin Marsters represented the Akarana Falcons U16 representative side at the 2022 New Zealand U16 National Youth Championships, including starting in the Championship Final against Counties Manukau.

mdrew

27-11-22, 07:52 AM

Talented Keebra Park SHS 2022 Renouf Cup player Arjay-Troy Sharrock was another player that stood out at the 2022 Titans All Schools Touch Championships with Arjay-Troy Sharrock playing in the Keebra Park SHS U13 Touch side.

For Keebra Park SHS in the 2022 Renouf Cup School Boy side Arjay-Troy Sharrock operated primarily off the bench in the No. 14 jersey, including their Grand Final victory against Marsdeh SHS.

Also in 2022 Arjay-Troy Sharrock played for the Easts Tigers in the GBJRL U13 Division One competition with Arjay-Troy Sharrock starting all of the Easts Tigers matches at fullback with Arjay-Troy Sharrock scoring a double in the rescheduled Round Six match against the Norths Devils. Arjay-Troy Sharrock also scored in Round Nine against West Arana Hills and Round Eleven against Albany Creek.

Arjay-Troy Sharrock moved over to Keebra Park SHS from Western Australia for the 2022 season after being a member of the Western Australian U12 Representative Rugby League side in 2021.

mdrew

27-11-22, 05:01 PM

2022 saw ZJ Watene play for the Southport Tigers in the Gold Coast Junior Rugby League U14 Division One competition, leading the Tigers to a Grand Final appearance against the Burleigh Bears with ZJ Watene starting the Tigers Grand Final victory at halfback.

ZJ Watene also had a strong match in Round Fourteen against the Beaudesert Kingfishers with ZJ Watene scoring a first half double with ZJ Watene’s opening try of the half coming in the 13th minute when ZJ Watene backing up on the inside of a Tigers line break on the left side of the field with ZJ Watene receiving the ball and racing thirty metres to score untouched under the posts.

ZJ Watene scored his second try of the first half in the 19th minute and in relation to this try ZJ Watene did it all himself. ZJ Watene stepped off his left foot to beat the fullback after breaking through the Beaudesert defensive line with ZJ Watene then racing away to score next to the right upright.

ZJ Watene then made a line break in the 49th minute when after Southport let a Beaudesert clearing kick bounce, it bounced back towards the Southport try line with ZJ Watene swooping onto the ball fifty metres out and raced thirty five metres downfield before off-loading to his left to his winger.

In September 2022 ZJ Watene was named in the South Queensland Maori U14 Tuakana representative squad starting Round One of the QPICC Carnival at halfback against Queensland Tonga.

ZJ Watene also started at halfback in Queensland Maori’s other four matches including their Grand Final victory against PNG.

mdrew

28-11-22, 06:24 AM

GBJRL U13 Division One left centre Jhaleel Paraone had an outstanding 2022 season with the Waterford Demons finishing as the GBJRL U13 Division One competition’s leading try scorer with nineteen tries, two in front of second.

Jhaleel Paraone scored a staggering five tries in Round One against the Souths Magpies. Jhaleel Paraone then scored four tries in Round Thirteen against Redlands and a hat trick in the rescheduled Round Six match against Carina.

Jhaleel Paraone scored a double in Round Three against Albany Creek and also scored in Round Two against Burpengary, Round Nine against Norths, Round Ten against the Easts Tigers, Round Twelve against Wests Arana Hills and Round Fourteen against Albany Creek.

Jhaleel Paraone’s opening try of his double in Round Three against Albany Creek came in just the 7th minute when Jhaleel Paraone pounced on a dropped Waterford chip kick in the in-goal to score ten metres in from the left corner post.

Jhaleel Paraone completed his double in the 45th minute when after packing into a scrum at lock twelve metres out and fifteen metres in from the left touchline, Jhaleel Paraone picked up the ball from the back of the scrum and ran to his left beating two tackles as Jhaleel Paraone beat two tackles to dive over to score three metres in from the left corner post.

Jhaleel Paraone also recorded a try assist inside the opening minute against Albany Creek when from twenty metres out from his own try line, Jhaleel Paraone got on the outside of the Albany Creek right winger and charged thirty five metres down the left touchline before Jhaleel Paraone cut off his left foot to come inside and draw the fullback and pass to his inside to his halfback to race away to score.

In Round Twelve against Wests Arana Hills, Jhaleel Paraone scored in the 48th minute when from thirty five metres out Jhaleel Paraone charged onto the ball and into a gap and raced away to put the ball down five metres to the left of the uprights.

The first of Jhaleel Paraone’s four tries against Redlands in Round Thirteen came in the opening minutes with a long range effort to score under the posts.

Jhaleel Paraone scored his second try in the 3rd minute with a great eighty metre effort from the kick off to his first try. After Redlands had kicked off the ball was taken by one of the Waterford front rowers (No. 10) who got to twenty metres out from his try line before passing to his right to Jhaleel Paraone who raced eighty metres down the left touchline and outpacing the cover defence to dive over to score five metres in from the left corner post.

Jhaleel Paraone scored his third try in the 17th minute and it was another outstanding solo effort from Jhaleel Paraone. Jhaleel Paraone received the ball from his right whilst he was stationary around thirty five metres out and after taking possession Jhaleel Paraone immediately broke two tackles before he cut back to the inside and skipped out of a third attempted tackle before veering back to his left. Jhaleel Paraone then broke two more tackles before bursting away to dive over just to the left of the uprights.

Jhaleel Paraone scored his fourth and final try in the 32nd minute when after receiving the ball from his inside in space, Jhaleel Paraone charged away down the left touchline and used a strong right arm fend to comprehensively get rid of the fullback and put the ball down five metres in from the left corner post.

Jhaleel Paraone also scored in the 32nd minute of Round Fourteen against Albany Creek when Jhaleel Paraone packed in at the back of a scrum fifteen metres out and ten metres in from the right touchline. After picking up the ball Jhaleel Paraone ran down the right blindside and charged over the top of two defenders to score three metres in from the right corner post.

mdrew

15-12-22, 04:23 PM

Joseph Vuna made his return from long term injury in Round Eighteen of the 2022 Queensland Cup competition off the bench for the Tweed Heads Seagulls against the Northern Pride. Playing sixteen minutes Joseph Vuna ran for twenty nine metres (seven post contact), broke a tackle, played the ball at an average speed of 2.85 seconds and made eleven tackles at a 100% tackling efficiency.

Joseph Vuna was also named on the bench for Round Nineteen against the Townsville Blackhawks and in his forty seven minutes on the field Joseph Vuna ran for 124 metres (fifty post contact) broke two tackles played the ball at an average speed of 4.11 seconds and made twelve tackles at a tackling efficiency of 92.31%.

Joseph Vuna continued from the bench in Round Twenty against the Easts Tigers and in his twenty three minutes on the field Joseph Vuna ran for thirty three metres (seven post contact), broke a tackle, played the ball at an average speed of 3.54 seconds and made fourteen tackles at a tackling efficiency of 82.35%.

In total in the 2022 Queensland Cup competition Joseph Vuna was on the field for eighty six minutes and in that time ran for 187 metres at an average of sixty two metres per match and made thirty seven tackles at a tackling efficiency of 90.2%.

mdrew

15-12-22, 05:56 PM

After Lower Clarence had a 2022 NRRRL U18 Round One bye Zachariah Williams started Round Two and Three at right second rower and scored in the 19th minute in Round Two against the Kyogle Turkeys when after receiving a good ball from his inside from five eight Kaleb Hope around ten metres out from the try line Zachariah Williams was too big and strong for the defence to get the ball down ten metres in from the right corner post.

After a number of rounds were postponed due to wet weather in northern New South Wales Zachariah Williams moved to right centre in Round Seven and Round Eight against the Bilambil Jets with Zachariah Williams scoring his second try of the season in the 15th minute when from ten metres out Zachariah Williams received a pass from the back of a Magpies scrum win and charge over to score ten metres in from the right corner post.

In Round Nine when Zachariah Williams also started at right centre against Casino RSM and Zachariah Williams had a big match scoring twenty of the Magpies points from a hat trick and four conversions.

Zachariah Williams scored his opening try in the 12th minute when from fifteen metres out Zachariah Williams ran into a gap, getting a good short ball from his left from his halfback with Zachariah Williams raving through and then was able to bring the ball around closer to the posts, putting the ball down three metres to the right of the uprights.

Zachariah Williams scored a second try in the 15th minute when he backed up a line break from his halfback Hugh Inmon, receiving the ball around forty two metres out with Zachariah Williams then beating the cover defence to score near the right corner.

Zachariah Williams completed his hat trick in the 28th minute when once again he backed up a Magpies line break on this occasion by lock Riley Anderson with Zachariah Williams receiving the ball and running twenty five metres to score adjacent to the right upright.

The match also saw Zachariah Williams throw the final pass for his right winger to score in the corner in the 42nd minute.

Zachariah Williams continued at right centre in Round Twelve against the Kyogle Turkeys and did well in the 24th minute when after taking a short Turkeys goal line drop-out on the full twelve metres out and near the left touchline, Zachariah Williams was able to get within four metres of the try line before being stopped.

Zachariah Williams continued at right centre in Round Thirteen against the Byron Bay Devils with Zachariah Williams scoring in the 27th minute when after receiving the ball from is inside from Reece Warburton, Zachariah Williams shaped to pass to his right but ultimately ran the ball himself to put the ball down ten metres in from the right corner post.

The rescheduled Round Four match against the Ballina Seagulls saw Zachariah Williams named at right centre with Zachariah Williams scoring a double.

The first of Zachariah Williams two tries arrived in just the 2nd minute when after Reece Warburton received the ball in the centre of the field around ten metres out and immediately ran to his right and after he had drawn in the widest Seagulls defender Reece Warburton got a right arm over the head off-load away to Zachariah Williams who scored mid-way between the goal posts and corner post on the right side of the field after cutting to his inside near the try line to let a Ballina flew past him.

Zachariah Williams also scored in the 19th minute when he took a cross kick on the full from his halfback with Zachariah Williams literally just having to fall down to score mid-way between the goal posts and corner post on the right side of the field.

Zachariah Williams made a line break in the 31st minute when after receiving the ball near the halfway mark, Zachariah Williams was grabbed by the Ballina defensive however as he was being spun around in the tackle, Zachariah Williams broke free of two defenders and ultimately made forty metres down the left touchline.

Zachariah Williams also did more than his fair share of work from a defensive perspective including making three tackles in a row between the 15th and 16th minutes including a heavy hit on the Ballina front rower No. 10.

Zachariah Williams also executed a smart play with a one on one strip forty metres out when he stole the ball from the Ballina interchange player No. 16.

Zachariah Williams then started at right centre in the Trophy Qualifying Final against the Byron Bay Devils and the Trophy Preliminary Final against the Kyogle Turkeys.

mdrew

16-12-22, 07:07 AM

In early August 2022 Aaron Singh-Goesel was deservedly named as one of the four 2022 Tom Searle Scholarship winners at a ceremony attended by the likes of Greg Ingles.

In late September 2022 Aaron Singh-Goesel was named in the 2023 Northern Rivers Titans U18 Laurie Daley Cup train on squad and Aaron Singh-Goesel is also U18 eligible in 2024.

Aaron Singh-Goesel started the 2022 season as a member of the Northern Rivers Titans U16 Andrew Johns Cup squad with Aaron Singh-Goesel playing in all seven of the Northern Rivers Titans matches including starting in the front row in both of the Northern Rivers Titans finals being the semi-final against the Dragons and the Grand Final win against the Wests Tigers.

Aaron Singh-Goesel scored twice for the Northern Rivers Titans in the 2022 U16 Andrew Johns Cup with Aaron Singh-Goesel scoring his first try in the 29th minute of Round One against the Wests Tigers and in the 48th minute of Round Four against the Centre Coast Roosters.

Aaron Singh-Goesel’s try against the Wests Tigers was as a result of strong run to the left of the play the ball with Aaron Singh-Goesel charging at the defensive line from twelve metres out and after Aaron Singh-Goesel impacted the defensive line Aaron Singh-Goesel spun 360 degrees counter clockwise and continued his forward progress to get the ball down under the posts.

In Round Four against the Central Coast Roosters, Aaron Singh-Goesel charged onto the ball from six metres out and to the left of the play the ball with Aaron Singh-Goesel crashing over to score five metres to the left of the uprights.

2022 also saw Aaron Singh-Goesel start from the bench for a Titans Northern Rivers U17 Invitational side that played a Titans JTS squad at Cbus Stadium in a Titans NRL curtain-raiser.

Even though he was still U16 eligible Aaron Singh-Goesel played a number of matches for the Murwillumbah Mustangs in the 2022 NRRRL U18 competition with Aaron Singh-Goesel making his first appearance off the bench in Round Seven against the Byron Bay Devils. Aaron Singh-Goesel made three more appearances off the bench for the Mustangs before Aaron Singh-Goesel made his first U18 NRRRL start in Round Thirteen against Casino RSM with Aaron Singh-Goesel starting the match in the second row.

Aaron Singh-Goesel scored his first NRRRL U18 try in Round Nine against the Tweed Heads Seagulls when in the 30th minute Aaron Singh-Goesel followed through a bomb towards the right wing and after the ball was knocked forward by Tweed Heads Aaron Singh Goesel was on hand to take possession and then was able to bring the ball around to score under the posts.

Aaron Singh-Goesel also started from the bench in the Week One Qualifying Final against the Tweed Heads Seagulls as well as the Premiership Minor Semi-final in Week Two of the Finals against the Ballina Seagulls.

2022 saw Aaron Singh-Goesel play for the Murwillumbah Colts in the Group 18 U16 competition including starting in the front row in the Grand Final against the Tweed Heads Seagulls.

At the 2022 Murwullumbah Colts Presentation Day, Aaron Singh-Goesel was named the 2022 Murwillumbah Colts Junior Rugby League Player with the Most Potential.

Aaron Singh-Goesel also attended Murwillumbah High School in 2022 and played for them in a number of New South Wales School Boy rubgy league competitions.

mdrew

16-12-22, 12:27 PM

Well done to Clarence Coast Magpie and 2023 Northern Rivers Titans U16 Andrew Johns Cup squad member Antoine Quinlan-Randall for his selection in the 2023 NSW Koori U16 Representative side.

mdrew

16-12-22, 03:22 PM

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 trial 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 in-goal.

mdrew

17-12-22, 07:30 AM

In late January 2022 Shannon Subritzky-Stewart (that was one heck of a mullet) started at right centre for a Titans U18 side in a match at Pizzey Park against the Burleigh MM Cup side with Shannon Subritzky-Stewart making a 12th minute line break when he got away down to right touchline, making twenty five metres before off-loading to his right to winger Matthew Barrow to promote the ball further.

In the 18th minute Shannon Subritzky-Stewart proved that he will also do the hard work when from just ten metres out from his own try line, Shannon Subritzky-Stewart was able to get the ball over the twenty metre mark with his legs constantly pumping.

Two minutes later in the 20th minute Shannon Subritzky-Stewart continued his strong start to the match when he received the ball to the right of a Titans scrum ten metres out from their own line. Shannon Subritzky-Stewart was able to get on the outside of his direct opponent, making twelve metres before being brought to ground.

In late July 2022 Shannon Subritzky-Stewart started from the bench for the U19 Future Titans Squad that played a North Queensland Cowboys U19 squad at Cbus Stadium as a curtain-raiser to the Round Twenty NRL match between the Titans and the Canberra Raiders with Shannon Subritzky-Stewart coming onto the field in the second half to operate at right centre.

In 2022 Shannon Subritzky-Stewart was part of the Norths Devils U18 MM Cup squad.

Round Two of the 2022 MM Cup competition saw Shannon Subritzky-Stewart named at right centre for the Norths Devils against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls. The match saw Shannon Subritzky-Stewart had a day out for the Devils, scoring a double in a big 54 – 6 victory.

Shannon Subritzky-Stewart scored his opening try in the 217th7th minute when after the ball was worked to his right side of the field, Shannon Subritzky-Stewart from ten metres out ran a straight running line from ten metres out to go through the Easts left sided defence. After breaking through the line, Shannon Subritzky-Stewart cut off his right foot to comfortably beat the Tigers fullback and then was able to bring the ball around to put it down seven metres from the right upright.

Shannon Subritzky-Stewart added his second try in the 64th minute when he scored from a Norths Devils scrum win. The scrum was packed down fifteen metres out from the try line in the centre of the field. After winning the scrum Norths threw the ball to their five eight who was positioned to the right of the scrum. The five eight got the ball quickly to Shannon Subritzky-Stewart around twelve metres out from the try line. Shannon Subritzky-Stewart then ran at the Easts Tigers left sided defensive line with the ball out on front of his body in both hands, then Shannon Subritzky-Stewart literally just kept running as the Tigers defensive line just kept backtracking and Shannon Subritzky-Stewart cruised over to score five metres in from the right corner post.

Shannon Subritzky-Stewart also started at right centre in Round Three against the Burleigh Bears and after a Round Four bye, Shannon Subritzky-Stewart also started at right centre in Round Five against the Redcliffe Dolphins and recorded a 7th minute try assist when he ran down the right channel, going deep into the Dolphins, forcing the left winger to come off his wing and as soon as he did Shannon Subritzky-Stewart passed to his now unmarked right winger who crossed in the right corner.

Round Six against the Tweed Heads Seagulls saw Shannon Subritzky-Stewart named 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.

Shannon Subritzky-Stewart continued at right centre in Round Seven against the Souths Logan Magpies and also in the rescheduled Round One match against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls.

In Week One of the 2022 MM Cup Final’s series Shannon Subritzky-Stewart started at right centre against the Souths Logan Magpies.

Impressively Shannon Subritzky-Stewart was a finalist for the Queensland Rugby League 2022 MM Cup Player of the Year and in fact Shannon Subritzky-Stewart won the award with 53% of the total vote.

Shannon Subritzky-Stewart was also named at right centre in the 2022 MM Cup Courier Mail Team of the Season.

Shannon Subritzky-Stewart then made his Hastings Deering’s Colts debut for the Norths Devils in the 2022 rescheduled Round Seven match against the Easts Tigers with Shannon Subritzky-Stewart starting the match on the right wing.

Shannon Subritzky-Stewart was then named on the Devils interchange bench for their Round Fourteen match against the Souths Logan Magpies.

2022 also saw Shannon Subritzky-Stewart move from Wavell SHS to Marsden SHS and in May was part of a Marsden State High School touring party that played two matches in Sydney with those matches being against the Sydney Roosters and the Souths Sydney Rabbithos.

Shannon Subritzky-Stewart was part of the Marsden State High School side that defeated a Sydney Roosters U18 selection five tries to three in the first tour match. Match Two against a Souths Sydney Rabbitoh’s U18 selection also saw Marsden State High School record a five tries to three victory.

Round One of the 2022 Langer Cup School Boy competition saw Shannon Subritzky-Stewart start at right centre for Marsden State High School against PBC State High School.

Shannon Subritzky-Stewart also started at right centre in Round Two against Wavell State High School before moving to the bench to start Round Three against Keebra Park State High School.

The 2022 School Boy Langer Reserve Grand Final saw Shannon Subritzky-Stewart start at right centre for Marsden SHS against PBC SHS with Shannon Subritzky-Stewart recording a great try assist in the 55th minute when after breaking through the PBC SHS left sided defensive line Shannon Subritzky-Stewart drew the fullback and got the ball away to his right winger who was able to run away to score under the posts to keep Marsden SHS in the game.

In March 2022 Shannon Subritzky-Stewart was selected in the Met East School Boy Rugby League U18 Representative side after successfully negotiating the trials starting Match One against Met North at right centre.

mdrew

17-12-22, 03:11 PM

Matthew Barrow started on the left wing, No. 11 for the 2022 Ipswich Grammar School First XV side in Round One of the GPS School Boy Rugby First XV competition against Toowoomba Grammar School and continued on the left wing in Round Two against Anglican Church Grammar School (Churchie) with Matthew Barrow making two line breaks against Churchie.

Matthew Barrow made the first of his two line breaks in the 58th minute when from a scrum win on the opposite side of the field Ipswich Grammar School spun the ball to the left with Matthew Barrow receiving the ball around forty metres out and was able to progress the ball to within eighteen of the try line down the left touchline.

Matthew Barrow made his second line break of the match in the 67th minute when after he picked up the ball from the back of a ruck that had formed in the centre of the field and sixty metres out from the try line, Matthew Barrow broke through the Churchie defensive line before being tackled twenty metres out. Matthew Barrow was able to lay the ball back after being tackled with Ipswich Grammar School scoring wide out on the left from Matthew Barrow’s recycled ball.

Matthew Barrow continued on the left wing in Round Three against Brisbane Boys College as well as in Round Four against Brisbane Grammar School with Matthew Barrow scoring after just sixty two seconds when he raced twelve metres down the left touchline to score in the corner after the ball was spun from the opposite side of the field by Ipswich Grammar School.

Matthew Barrow also started on the left wing in Round Five against Brisbane State High School and Round Six against Gregory Terrace.

Matthew Barrow also started on the left wing in Round Nine against the Southport School (TSS) with Matthew Barrow scoring in the 47th minute when Matthew Barrow followed through a grubber kick by the Ipswich Grammar School outside centre from near the halfway with Matthew Barrow racing through to retrieve the ball on the bounce and run twenty metres to dive over to score five metres in from the left corner post.

mdrew

18-12-22, 06:45 AM

On November 8, 2021, young Ipswich based utility Jeriah Vagana-Malaitai started training as a member of the Titans JTS Program, then in mid-December 2021 Jeriah Vagana-Malaitai had the opportunity to train with the Titans NRL squad in a joint training session between the Titans NRL squad and the Titans JTS Program Squads.

Jeriah Vagana-Malaitai impressed the Titans JTS Development Staff so much that in early January 2022 he singed a two year deal with will keep Jeriah Vagana-Malaitai in the Titans JTS Program until the end of the 2023 season.

In late January 2022 Jeriah Vagana-Malaitai played his first match in a Titans jersey when he started from the bench for the Titans U18 side in a match at Pizzey Park against the Burleigh MM Cup side with Jeriah Vagana-Malaitai celebrating his debut match in a Titans jersey by scoring in the 61st minute.

In the 61st minute Jeriah Vagana-Malaitai dived over in the right corner after racing ten metres down the right touchline after good work on his inside by five eight Te Hurinui Apanui Twidle. Unfortunately Jeriah Vagana-Malaitai injured his shoulder in scoring the try and he was unable to take any further part in the match.

Jeriah Vagana-Malaitai came into the match early in the second half around the 42nd minute mark at left centre and also spent time at fullback.

Jeriah Vagana-Malaitai’s first run came in the 45th minute when from near the left touchline, he ran out of dummy half to his right, stepping off his right foot along the way to make nine metres.

Not long after than run Jeriah Vagana-Malaitai moved to fullback and in the 49th minute he did well to diffuse a Burleigh attacking grubber kick to Burleigh’s left corner. Then in the 54th minute Jeriah Vagana-Malaitai ran to the right of the play the ball, taking the ball five metres from his own line with Jeriah Vagana-Malaitai able to get the ball seventeen metres out from his own line.

After returning from injury Jeriah Vagana-Malaitai played for Goodna in the Ipswich Rugby League 2022 U17 Division One competition, playing a variety of positions including five eight.

Jeriah Vagana-Malaitai also played for Ipswich State High School in 2022, playing primarily in the centres in the Langer Reserve competition including a two try assist effort in Round Seven against Marsden SHS.

In late September 2022 Jeriah Vagana-Malaitai was named in the 2022 U18 Western Chiefs Queensland Samoa Representative side. Jeriah Vagana-Malaitai was then named in the Queensland Samoa U18 representative side to play in the 2022 QPICC Carnival after the completion of the 2022 Queensland Samoa Championships.

mdrew

18-12-22, 10:44 AM

2022 U16 Shaun Johnson Shield player Roko Bilish from Auckland is another strong addition to the Gold Coast Rugby League ranks for the 2023 season.

mdrew

18-12-22, 12:22 PM

Jared Johnson had a strong 2022 season with the Tweed Heads Seagulls MM Cup squad, for the Helensvale Hornets in the GCRL U18 Division One competition and also for Keebra Park SHS in the Langer Cup.

2023 will see Jared Johnson move up to the Tweed Heads HDC squad.

mdrew

18-12-22, 01:30 PM

Talented NZ rugby league and rugby player Xavier Mitchell-Windsor looks set to be part of the 2023 Tweed Heads Seagulls HDC squad.

mdrew

19-12-22, 06:01 AM

In late September 2022 Amarni Wetini-Ngaropo was named in the 2023 Burleigh Bears U18 MM Cup squad with Amarni Wetini-Ngaropo also MM Cup eligible in 2024.

The talented young five eight from Auckland New Zealand signed a three year contract with the Gold Coast Titans in September 2021 that will take him up to the end of the 2024 season.

Amarni Wetini-Ngaropo moved over to the Gold Coast just before Christmas in 2021 to attend Keebra Park State High School and Amarni Wetini-Ngaropo also played for the Burleigh Bears in the 2022 U16 Cyril Connell Cup competition.

In late January 2022 Amarni Wetini-Ngaropo played his first match in a Titans jersey when he started at five eight for the Titans U16 side in a match at Pizzey Park against the Sydney Bulldogs.

Amarni Wetini-Ngaropo almost set up a try in the 27th minute down a left blindside when the elusiveness meant that two defenders missed him before Amarni Wetini-Ngaropo threw an over the top cut-up pass to Titans left winger Izayah Petrichvich who dived for the corner but the referee ruled that the ball was knocked out of his grasp prior to Izayah Petrichvich getting the ball down in the left corner.

Amarni Wetini-Ngaropo’s first touch of the ball in a Titans jersey came in the 3rd minute when he received the ball just inside Bulldogs territory down a wide left blindside. Amarni Wetini-Ngaropo ran the ball to his left, dummying to an inside runner before taking the Bulldogs defensive line on himself.

Then in the 22nd minute Amarni Wetini-Ngaropo showcased his undoubted passing skills when whilst operating on the left side of the field, he threw a good wide ball to lead left centre Sam Stephenson onto the ball with the centre making fourteen metres down the left channel.

Amarni Wetini-Ngaropo made an outstanding run of his own in the 22nd minute when he received the ball forty metres out and to the right of the play the ball. Upon receipt of the ball Amarni Wetini-Ngaropo ran to his right stepping off that foot on two occasions before bumping through one attempted tackle before he was eventually brought to ground eighteen metres away from the try line.

In late July 2022 Amarni Wetini-Ngaropo was part of the U17 Future Titans Squad that defenders a Titans U18 Northern Rivers Squad 36 – 8 at Cbus Stadium as a curtain-raiser to the Round Twenty NRL match between the Titans and the Canberra Raiders.

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 presence 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.

Amarni Wetini-Ngaropo started at five eight for Keebra Park SHS in Round Four of the School Boy Langer Cup Reserve competition against Wavell State High School with Amarni Wetini-Ngaropo kicking a great conversion from the right touchline in the 8th minute.

Prior to signing with the Titans, Amarni Wetini-Ngaropo was a member of the New Zealand Warriors Future Warriors Program and was offered a contract by both the Warriors and Bulldogs as well as the Titans.

In Auckland, Amarni Wetini-Ngaropo attended Auckland Grammar School, represented the Manurewa Marlins representative side and in late 2021 Amarni Wetini-Ngaropo captained the New Zealand Warriors Future Warriors side in a match against a Tao Samoa U15 selection, such was his standing in the junior rugby league ranks in New Zealand.

At Auckland Grammar School, Amarni Wetini-Ngaropo is the youngest ever First XV School Boy Rugby player, an impressive feat to be sure considering Auckland Grammar School has produced in excess of fifty All Blacks and counting.

mdrew

19-12-22, 10:22 AM

Great article on the Titans JTS Program.

https://www.titans.com.au/news/

MaroonTitan

19-12-22, 11:56 AM

Thanks mdrew - great article. Our JTS Program is a great credit to our club and the people behind it.

Can you name some names, so we know where the credit is due? Those people should be celebrated.

mdrew

19-12-22, 12:01 PM

The key person mate is Jamie McCormack who developed and implemented the JTS Program a few years ago and is the head of the program.

He is also the one who brought the likes of Tom Weaver etc into the program as a 13 year old. Without Jamie McCormack we would not have the best junior program in the NRL (yes above Penrith) and have the quality that we have coming through today.

Thanks mdrew - great article. Our JTS Program is a great credit to our club and the people behind it.

Can you name some names, so we know where the credit is due? Those people should be celebrated.

mdrew

19-12-22, 06:36 PM

On November 1, 2022, Tanu Nona commenced training in the Titans NRL off-season program.

In late January 2022 Tanu Nona started from the bench for the Titans U19 side in a match at Pizzey Park against the Burleigh Hastings Deering’s Colts side after starting at hooker for the Titans U17/18 side against the Burleigh MM Cup side.

Tanu Nona’s initial contribution to the Titans U17/18 side was when along with Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa and Wailer Whaiapu he made the opening tackle of the match after the Titans had kicked off to get the game underway.

Tanu Nona then backed that up with a desperate last ditch try saving tackle in the 5th minute on his opposite number directly in front of the goal posts.

For the Titans U19 side, Tanu Nona came onto the field ten minutes into the second half in the dummy half role and it did not take Tanu Nona long to have a major impact on the match when he started the movement that led to Thomas Weaver’s 56th minute try. Tanu Nona moved into dummy half twenty metres from his own line, scooping up the ball and running out of dummy half to his left, bursting through the defensive line and near halfway was able to get a great ball away to his left to Josh Lynn who then off-loaded back to the right to Nicholas Hilton who then put Thomas Weaver away to score under the posts.

In late July 2022 Tanu Nona started from the bench for a Titans U19 side that played their annual match against the North Queensland Cowboys that was played as a curtain raiser at Cbus Stadium to the Titans Round Twenty NRL match against the Canberra Raiders with Tanu Nona coming in the match in the 24th minute to operate in the dummy half role.

In mid-December 2021 Tanu Nona had the opportunity to train with the Titans NRL squad in a joint training session between the Titans NRL squad and the Titans JTS Program Squads.

In early November 2021 Tanu Nona was named in the 2022 Tweed Heads Seagulls MM Cup squad as they look to replicate their 2021 Queensland dominance.

Round One of the 2022 MM Cup competition saw Tanu Nona named at hooker for the Tweed Heads Seagulls against the Souths Logan Magpies with Tanu Nona transitioning to a running forward role mid-way through the first half.

Tanu Nona along with Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa made the opening tackle of the match after Tweed Heads had gotten the match underway from the kick-off.

Tanu Nona made a trademark line break from dummy half in the 11th minute when he ran out of dummy half to his left, utilising a clockwise 360 degree spin to beat the initial defender that had confronted him before beating a second defender after veering to his right.

Tanu Nona started at hooker in Tweed Heads early February trial against the Burleigh Bears. Whilst he started the match at hooker, Tanu Nona also spend time as a running forward towards the end of the first half when Hasley McDonald came off the bench.

Tanu Nona made an immediate impact for the Seagulls when from sixty five metres out Tanu Nona ran to his right out of dummy half and burst straight through the middle of the Burleigh defensive line, then drew the fullback and off-loading to his left. Another off-load later Jett Forbes scored under the posts.

Tanu Nona made another great run out of dummy half, on this occasion to his left with Tanu Nona once again making a line break through the Burleigh line, Tanu Nona was able to off-load to his left to Michael Roberts who was brought down just inches from the try line.

Tanu Nona made a further strong run out of dummy half in the 55th minute when he ran out of dummy half to his right with Tanu Nona starting his right on his own twenty metre line, getting the ball out to thirty five metres out from his own try line.

Tanu Nona was also named at hooker for Round Two against the Redcliffe Dolphins and like in Round One, whilst he started the match at hooker, Tanu Nona transitioned to a running forward’s role towards the end of the first half when Hasley McDonald came onto the field.

In March 2022 Tanu Nona was selected in the South Coast School Boy Rugby League U18 Representative side after successfully negotiating the trials starting Match One against Northern from the bench, coming on late in the first half to operate as a running forward.

Tanu Nona also started from the bench in Match Two against Met North coming on to operate as a running backrower in the 12th minute.

Round One of the 2022 Langer Cup School Boy competition saw Tanu Nona start at hooker and captain for PBC State High School against Marsden State High School with Tanu Nona making the second tackle of the match along with Isaiah Scanlon after PBC SHS had kicked-off.

Tanu Nona’s first strong run out of dummy half came in the 15th minute when he made twenty five metres after running to his left after shaping to pass to his right with his run coming to its conclusion near the halfway mark.

Tanu Nona also had a strong match defensively including a strong tackle in the 22nd minute when Tanu Nona smashed one of the Marsden SHS front rowers front on around the chest, stopping the far bigger front rower in his tracks.

Tanu Nona was then named at hooker and captain for Round Two against Redcliffe State High School before moving to lock late in the first half when Bailey McConnell came off the bench to operate in the dummy half role.

Tanu Nona made a very good defensive play in the 37th minute he did a great job to hold up his opposite number over the try line on the final tackle after the hooker had tried to sneak over from dummy half from close range.

Tanu Nona was also named at hooker and captain in Round Three against Coombabah State High School high Tanu Nona scoring in the 12th minute when he followed through a break through the centre of the field, receiving the off-load from his left with Tanu Nona running eight metres to score under the posts.

Tanu Nona scored a second try in the dying moments when he backed up a long Keano Kini line break, eventually getting an off-load from Jett Forbes with Tanu Nona crashing over under the posts after running eight metres after receiving the ball.

Tanu Nona made the first of his trade mark dummy half runs in the 6th minute with a fourteen metres effort to get the ball to the halfway mark after running out of dummy half to his left.

Tanu Nona showed his intelligence in the 11th minute when from only twenty five metres out from his own line, Tanu Nona identified that the marker was not square and ran out of dummy half to the same side, being his left to catch the Coombabah SHS player off-side and win a penalty for PBC SHS.

After the mid-season break, Tanu Nona continued at hooker and captain in Round Four against Ipswich State High School with Tanu Nona scoring in the 15th minute when with the play the ball four metres out from the try line and to the left of the uprights, Tanu Nona initially shaped to pass to his right after taking a step in that direction before Tanu Nona straightened up and forced his way over to score ten metres in from the left corner post.

The first of Tanu Nona’s trade mark runs out of dummy half came inside the opening minute of the match when a run to the right from his own forty metre mark promoted the ball to thirty metres out from the try line.

From a defensive perspective Tanu Nona made a great front on tackle in the 7th minute when one of the Ipswich SHS front rowers charged onto the ball from a penalty tap restart with Tanu Nona’s strong initial contact forcing the ball loose.

Tanu Nona made another good tackle in the 36th minute when he along with Keano Kini and Josh Lynn held up the giant Ipswich SHS front rower No. 8 over the line and directly under the posts.

While Tanu Nona started the match in the dummy half role he transitioned to become a running backrower once Will Saunders came off the bench.

Tanu Nona continued at hooker in Round Five against Mabel Park SHS with Tanu Nona making a smart run out of dummy half in the 4th minute when after running to his right Tanu Nona made sixteen metres to get the ball to the forty metre mark.

Tanu Nona also started at hooker and captain in the Round Six local derby against Keebra Park SHS with Tanu Nona heavily involved in Isaiah Scanlon’s 43rd minute try when he threw a short pass from dummy half from three metres out for Isaiah Scanlon to crash over mid-way between the corner post and goal posts on the left side of the field.

Tanu Nona continued at hooker and captain in Round Seven against Wavell SHS.

Tanu Nona continued at hooker and captain in PBC SHS’s Langer Cup Quarter Final against Mabel Park SHS with Tanu Nona recording a try assist as PBC SHS qualified for the semi-finals.

In the 56th minute Tanu Nona ran to his right out of dummy half from sixty two metres out with Tanu Nona breaking the Mabel Park SHS defensive line before drawing the fullback and passing to his left to Jett Forbes who raced away to score.

In the 24th minute, Tanu Nona along with Reico Ratana and Keano Kini did well to hold up the Mabel Park SHS No. 10 over the try line on the left side of the field.

Whilst Tanu Nona started the match at dummy half, Tanu Nona also was very effective as a running forward after Bailey McConnell had come onto the field late in the first half.

Tanu Nona was then named at hooker and captain for PBC SHS in the 2022 Langer Cup Semi-final against Keebra Park SHS with Tanu Nona making the first of a number of smart runs out of dummy half when Tanu Nona ran to his left making eighteen metres to get the ball to withing twenty two metres of the try line.

Tanu Nona made another strong run out of dummy half in the 17th minute when Tanu Nona ran to his right making sixteen metres to get the ball to thirty metres out from the try line.

Then in the 51st minute Tanu Nona ran to his left out of dummy half from six metres out and just prior to the defensive line Tanu Nona put in a short right foot grubber kick into the in-goal which was forced dead in-goal by the Keebra Park SHS defence to force a goal line drop-out.

In the 28th minute Tanu Nona along with Jaylen Taewa and Keano Kini stopped the Keebra Park SHS dummy half Dorian Lotaki just short of the try line after a great run out of dummy half just to the right of the uprights.

Tanu Nona started at hooker and captain in the 2022 School Boy Langer Cup Grand Final against Ipswich SHS with Tanu Nona making a good run out of dummy half in the 37th minute making sixteen metres after running to his right to get the ball into Ipswich SHS territory.

Tanu Nona made his Hastings Deering’s Colts debut in Round Seventeen of the 2022 competition when he came off the bench against the Easts Tigers coming onto the field to operate in the dummy half role late in the first half.

Tanu Nona then started from the bench in Week Two of the Finals against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls with Tanu Nona recording a great try assist in the 28th minute when from just fourteen metres out from his own try line Tanu Nona ran to his right out of dummy half and burst through the centre of the Wynnum Manly defensive line. Then Tanu Nona initially took on the fullback after a fifty metre burst and in the tackle got away to right arm off-load to his left to Jett Forbes who raced away to score under the posts.

2022 saw Tanu Nona once again play for the Cudgen Hornets in the NRRRL U18 competition with his first match coming in Round Eight against the Bilambil Jets when he came off the bench in the 15th minute to operate at lock.

Tanu Nona, even though he came off the bench was the best player on the field with Tanu Nona scoring in the 22nd minute when he ran back underneath Harvey Moase who had run his left and then passed back inside to Tanu Nona. Tanu Nona then took advantage of the fact that the Bilambil inside defenders had not followed the paly across field and charged twenty five metres and easily beating the fullback to score under the posts.

Then in the 31st minute Tanu Nona received the ball on the right side of the field in space and looking at a Hornets overlap and smartly ran at the last Jets defender on their left, drawing him to send Jett Forbes over to score.

Tanu Nona also had a strong defensive match which was evidenced by a 38th minute tackle when he executed a text book front on hit on the Bilambil right second rower with the ball flying loose as soon as Tanu Nona hit him around the chest.

Tanu Nona was back in Round Ten against the Murwillumbah Mustangs coming off the bench in the 15th minute to operate in the dummy half role and scored a strong solo try in the 33rd minute when he darted out of dummy half to his left from twenty five metres out when he identified that the markers were not square. Tanu Nona burst past the markers before dummying to his left to halt the momentum of a defender and then easily veered around the Murwillumbah fullback to score five metres to the left of the uprights.

The reason that Cudgen were deep on the attack in Murwillumbah territory in the first place was as a direct result of smart play by Tanu Nona. Tanu Nona moved into dummy half in the centre of the field and just thirty metres out from his own try line. After identifying that one of the Mustangs markers was not square, Tanu Nona ran to his right and won the penalty when impacted by the not square marker. It was from the play the ball from the subsequent penalty restart that saw Tanu Nona score out of dummy half.

Whilst Tanu Nona scored one try he also saved one when in the 23rd minute Tanu Nona was on hand to hold up the Murwillumbah fullback over the try line on the fourth tackle after the fullback had tried to his detriment to run over the top of Tanu Nona.

Tanu Nona then started at five eight in Round Thirteen against the Ballina Seagulls with Tanu Nona scoring in the 45th minute when he ran to his right out of dummy half seventeen metres out from the line. Once he cleared the ruck, Tanu Nona stepped off his left foot, “breaking the ankles” of one Ballina defender before a left arm fend got rid of the fullback with Tanu Nona getting the ball down mid-way between the corner post and goal posts on the right side of the field.

Tanu Nona also recorded a try assist in the 12th minute when after receiving an off-load thirty metres from his own try line, Tanu Nona ran to his right and after drawing one defender got the ball away to his right to send Jett Forbes on a seventy metre run down the right touchline to score.

Tanu Nona recorded a second try assist in the 37th minute when he skipped out of dummy half to his left from three metres out before throwing a short ball to his left for Chaz Bond to crash over to the left of the uprights.

Tana Nona added a line break assist in the 24th minute when after receiving an off-load from Stevie O’Connor ten metres inside his own territory Tanu Nona got the ball to the halfway mark before getting a right arm off-load away to his left to put Jett Forbes into a big gap.

After starting from the bench for the Future Titans U19 side squad that played a North Queensland Cowboys U19 side in a Titans against Canberra NRL match at Cbus Stadium on the Saturday, Tanu Nona started from the bench in the rescheduled Round Four match against the Bilambil Jets.

Tanu Nona then started from the bench in the rescheduled Round Five match against the Byron Bay Devils with Tanu Nona scoring in the 38th minute when after receiving an inside pass from his left from Harvey Moase when thirty seven metres out, Tanu Nona broke an attempted arm tackle before dummying to his left to initially wrong foot the Devils fullback and then near the try line when the fullback came across, Tanu Nona got rid of him with a left arm fend and then Tanu Nona brought the ball around to put the ball down under the posts.

Tanu Nona then started from the bench for the Cudgen Hornets in the 2022 NRRRL Major Semi-final against the Tweed Heads Seagulls with Tanu Nona scoring in the 36th minute when he ran off a great inside ball from Max Liles with Tanu Nona charged to his left on a 45 degree angle ten metres to score eight metres to the left of the uprights.

The 2022 NRRRL U18 Grand Final saw Tanu Nona named at start from the bench for the Cudgen Hornets against the Ballina Seagulls with Tanu Nona scoring in the 36th minute when Tanu Nona backed up a line break by Harvey Moase to receive the ball after his halfback had drawn the fullback with Tanu Nona then running twenty metres to score under the posts.

Then in the 49th minute Tanu Nona made eighteen metres out of dummy half to his right to promote the ball over the halfway mark. Tanu Nona made a further strong run out of dummy half in the 50th minute, on this occasion to his left with Tanu Nona able to get the ball from thirty metres out to ten metres out.

Then in the 51st Tanu Nona ran to his right out of dummy half making twenty metres to forty metres out from the ty line with Tanu Nona able to get a short off-load away to his right at the end of his run.

To complete an outstanding sequence of runs Tanu Nona also ran out of dummy half in the 53rd minute to his left with Tanu Nona making seventeen strong metres.

Tanu Nona also recorded a try assist in the 55th minute when after receiving the ball ten metres out and to the left of the play the ball, Tanu Nona threw a hard flat pass to his left to put his left second rower over to score mid-way between the goal posts and corner post on the left side of the field.

mdrew

20-12-22, 06:47 AM

On November 1, 2022, Max Liles commenced training in the Titans NRL off-season program, the first of such opportunities for Max Liles.

In late July 2022 Max Liles started from the bench for a Titans U19 side that played their annual match against the North Queensland Cowboys that was played as a curtain raiser at Cbus Stadium to the Titans Round Twenty NRL match against the Canberra Raiders with Max Liles coming into the match in the second half to operate at five eight.

Max Liles started the 2022 season with the Northern Rivers Titans in the U18 Laurie Daley Cup competition and post that competition and even though he was still U18 eligible Max Liles made his Hastings Deering’s Colts debut for the Tweed Heads Seagulls in their Round Four match against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls with Max Liles converting tries from Kyhan Weir and Charlie Murray in a tough day for the Seagulls.

Max Liles was then named on the Tweed Heads Seagulls extended bench for Round Six against the Northern Pride.

Round Eight against the Western Clydesdales saw Max Liles start at left centre with Max Liles recording a try assist in the 43rd minute when after Konrad Tu’u made a break off a Max Liles pass down the left touchline he got the ball back inside to Max Liles who looked like he would run the five metres to score but got caught from behind but just as he was about to hit the ground Max Liles flicked the ball over his right shoulder for Jaylan De Groot to pick up on the bounce to score his third try near the left corner.

Max Liles also started at left centre in Round Nine against the Ipswich Jets with Max Liles putting in another solid performance.

Max Liles then started at halfback in Round Thirteen against the Sunshine Coast Falcons with Max Liles forcing two goal line drop-outs through deft left foot kicks into the in-goal.

Max Liles continued at halfback in the Round Fourteen local derby against the Burleigh Bears with Max Liles kicking four conversions from six attempts in the six point Seagulls victory.

Max Liles also started at five eight in Round Seventeen against the Easts Tigers with Max Liles recording a try assist in the 79th minute when after feeding a scrum ten metres out and in the centre of the field Max Liles ran to the right side of the field and after receiving the ball from the back of the score, Max Liles ran the ball to the defensive line before passing to his right to Caleb Hodges who crashed over twelve metres to the right of the uprights.

Max Liles then started at five eight in Week Two of the Finals against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls.

2022 also saw Max Liles start at five eight for the Northern Country U18 side for the New South Wales Combined Catholic Colleges (NSW CCC) School Boy Representative Rugby League trials with Max Liles going onto being named in the NSW CCC side at halfback for Round One of the Australian U18 School Boy Championships against NSW CAS.

The match saw Max Liles kick five first half conversions in the 10th, 15th, 22nd, 28th and 29th minutes of a busy first half.

Max Liles also recorded a 10th minute try assist when after feeding the scrum around twenty metres out and in the centre of the field, max Liles raced to his right and after receiving the ball two passes from the back of the scrum, Max Liles continued running to his right and when around eight metres from the try line was able to draw in an NSW CAS defender to put his right centre over near the right corner.

Max Liles also started at halfback in Match Two being the semi-final against NSW CHS with Max Liles hitting the post with his 3rd minute conversion attempt from the right touchline.

Max Liles moved to the bench in NSW CCC’s third against fourth U18 ASSRL play-off match against NSW CIS with Max Liles coming onto the field in the second half to play at halfback on the left side of the field. Max Liles sole attempted conversion in the match came in the 38th minute from the right touchline but unfortunately for Max Liles the conversion attempt hit the cross bar and bounced out.

In the 2022 U18 Laurie Daley Cup competition Max Liles started all five of the Northern Rivers Titans matches at five eight scoring in the 38th minute in Round Two against the North Coast Bulldogs and kicking two conversions from as many attempts in Round Five against the Newcastle Knights.

Max Liles also played for Cudgen Hornets in the 2022 U18 NRRRL competition for the second season in a row, starting Round Three against Casino RSM at five eight.

Max Liles scored in the 10th minute when he swooped on a Casino RSM dropped ball inside their own twenty metre area with Max Liles racing eighteen metres to score mid-way between the goal posts and corner post on the left side of the field.

The first of Max Liles line breaks came in just the 4th minute of the match when from thirty five metres out from his own line, Max Liles burst away down the left touchline making thirty five metres of his own but unfortunately his pass to his right went to ground with a try in the offing.

Max Liles produced an outstanding field of play in the 49th minute when after a Casino RSM try Max Liles leapt high to take the Hornets short kick-off on the full just after it had travelled the required ten metres. Max Liles was then able to promote the ball a further twenty metres downfield after taking possession from the short kick-off.

Max Liles also started at five eight in Round Six against the Byron Bay Devils with Max Liles scoring a try and kicking two conversions including a great 35th minute conversion from the left touchline.

Max Liles scored in the 49th minute when be backed up a break by Cooper Camby down the left touchline to receive the ball and score five metres to the left of the uprights. In fact the reason that Cooper Camby found space down the left touchline was as a result of a great catch and pass to his left from Max Liles back near the halfway mark. Max Liles then stepped up to convert his own try.

In addition to scoring a try Max Liles assisted in two other Hornets tries, with the first of those occasions coming in the 11th minute when from seven metres out from the try line and five metres in from the left touchline Max Liles ran out of dummy half to his right before throwing a short flat ball to an on charging Hayden Wilson who was able to crash over.

Max Liles second try assist was recorded in the 30th minute when from twenty metres out and near the right touchline Max Liles put in a high left foot bomb that came down perfectly near the left corner for his winger to take the ball on the full and move two metres to score.

Max Liles also recorded a line break in the 33rd minute when with Cudgen having a scrum feed near halfway Max Liles initially lined up to the right of the scrum but as the ball as being fed Max Liles raced to the opposite side and received the ball from Harvey Moase down a short left blindside. Max Liles then produced a good left foot step to beat one defender and after beating two more tackles Max Liles was eventually put to ground twenty five metres out from the line.

After missing a number of rounds due to Colts and school boy representative commitments Max Liles started at right centre in Round Ten against the Lower Clarence Magpies with Max Liles scoring in the 28th minute when after receiving the ball two passes to the right of the play the ball and eighteen metres out, Max Liles ran to his right, dummying to the same direction before Max Liles sliced between two defenders to score ten metres in from the right corner post.

Max Liles also made a strong run just prior to his try in the 27th minute when after receiving the ball on the left, Max Liles from thirty five metres out, cut back inside beating three tackles before getting away an off-load to his left.

Max Liles was involved in holding up a Magpie in the 21st minute when along with Ethan Hickey and Stevie O’Connor he held up and then forced back into the field of play the Lower Clarence No. 14 six metres in from the right corner.

After starting from the bench for the Future Titans U19 side squad that played a North Queensland Cowboys U19 side in a Titans against Canberra NRL match at Cbus Stadium on the Saturday, Max Liles started at five eight in the rescheduled Round Four match against the Bilambil Jets.

Max Liles recorded the try assist and what a heck of a run it was by Max Liles before he threw the final pass for Jett Forbes to score. Initially Max Liles received the ball from the dummy half ten metres out from the try line to the right of the uprights and ran to his left, dummying to an inside runner before pulling up to assess his options before running twenty five metres parallel to the defensive line towards the right corner and once he enticed one defender out of the line Max Liles threw a sharp ball to his right to put Jett Forbes through.

Max Liles recorded a second try assist in the 37th minute when from forty five metres out from his own line and to the left of the play the ball Max Liles put in a long raking left foot kick which took a horror bounce just in front of the Bilambil fullback with Harvey Moase racing through the retrieve the ball on the bounce and run twenty five metres to score under the posts.

Max Liles then recorded a line break and line break assist in the same play in the 29th minute when after Max Liles received an off-load sixty five metres out and immediately ran towards the centre of the field and after making fifteen metres off-loaded the ball in a tackle to Stevie O’Connor who after dummying to his right beat one defender before veered to his left to round the fullback before Stevie O’Connor got an off-load away to his left to Max Liles who got all of the way to ten metres out from the try line.

Max Liles was also heavily involved in Ethan Hickey’s 45th minute try when from sixty metres out Max Liles threw a long cut-out pass to his right to Jett Forbes away down the right touchline with Max Liles backing up on the inside so that when Jett Forbes off-loading to his inside, Max Liles was on the spot to take possession on the bounce and off-load to his left in one motion to Ethan Hickey who ran twenty metres to score next to the right upright.

Max Liles showcased his off-loading skills in the 41st minute when after receiving the ball from the dummy half from his left, Max Liles ran the ball to the right and threw a great left arm low around the corner pass to Jett Forbes. Max Liles then did not rest on his laurels and backed up to get the ball back from Forbes with Max Liles then running the ball towards the centre of the field before putting in a left foot grubber kick towards the left with Bilambil subsequently being tackled just a metre out from their own try line.

Max Liles then started at five eight for the Cudgen Hornets in the 2022 NRRRL Major Semi-final against the Tweed Heads Seagulls with Max Liles recording a try assist in the 36th minute when Max Liles threw a great inside ball to Tanu Nona who charged to his left on a 45 degree angle ten metres to score eight metres to the left of the uprights.

Max Liles also recorded a line break assist in the 21st minute when Max Liles ran the ball down a short left blindside near the halfway mark before throwing a good ball to his left to send winger Levi Dangerfield away down the left touchline.

Max Liles also made a good run in the 25th minute when initially Max Liles received the ball to the left of the play the ball and ran in the same direction from forty five metres out. When he got within around seven metres of the left touchline, Max Liles propped and cut back to his right, beating three defenders in a winding run that made ten metres.

The 2022 NRRRL U18 Grand Final saw Max Liles named at start at five eight for the Cudgen Hornets against the Ballina Seagull with Max Liles scoring in the 30th minute when he received a pass from his left from Jett Forbes who had retrieved a Harvey Moase chip kick. Max Liles initially juggled the ball but dragged the ball in with his right arm to cross the try line wide out on the right but Max Liles was able to bring the ball around to put the ball down near the right goal post.

Max Liles came close to scoring a second try in the 31st minute when Max Liles backed up a line break by the Cudgen left second rower but the Ballina fullback Lachlan Offley got his hand to a pass that would have gone to Max Liles who would no doubt have scored.

Max Liles also recorded a try assist in the 9th minute when from the left of the play the ball and twenty five metres out, Max Liles cut to his left and put his left second rower through a gap to score.

Max Liles added a second try assist in the 15th minute when from twenty metres out and to the right of the play the ball Max Liles executed a left foot grubber kick which say up perfectly for Jett Forbes in the in-goal with the centre scoring an easy try as a result.

Max Liles almost set up another try in the 27th minute when from forty metres out and down a short left blindside Max Liles put in a smart left foot chip kick with Hornets left winger Levi Dangerfield racing through to retrieve the ball but only to be dragged to ground three metres from the try line.

mdrew

21-12-22, 06:37 AM

In late 2022 Joseph Shannon was selected in the Burleigh Bears Hastings Deering’s Colts squad after playing a number of Colts matches for the Bears when still U18 eligible in 2022 and impressively Joseph Shannon is also Colts eligible in 2024.

In early December 2022 Joseph Shannon took part in a joint training session between the Titans JTS contracted players and the Titans NRL squad.

The giant young forward who signed a contract with the Titans in early 2019 has been one of a number of standouts of his age group on the Gold Coast over the last couple of seasons in both club and school boy rugby league.

Joseph Shannon’s old brothers Samuel and Daniel both have had previous links with the Titans making it a family affair around the dinner table in the Shannon house hold when the subject of rugby league inevitably comes up.

In late July 2022 Joseph Shannon started in the front row for a Titans U19 side that played their annual match against the North Queensland Cowboys that was played as a curtain raiser at Cbus Stadium to the Titans Round Twenty NRL match against the Canberra Raiders.

In his first stint on the field for the Titans Joseph Shannon took the Cowboys defensive line on multiple times including in the 12th minute with a strong charge to the left of the play the ball from his own twenty metre mark with Joseph Shannon making thirteen metres, the majority of which were post contact.

In mid-December Joseph Shannon had the opportunity to train with the Titans NRL squad in a joint training session between the Titans NRL squad and the Titans JTS Program Squads.

In late October 2021 Joseph Shannon was named in the powerful Burleigh Bears 2022 U18 MM Cup squad with Joseph Shannon set to be a key member of what is shaping to be an exceptional Bears forward pack.

Round One of the 2022 MM Cup competition saw Joseph Shannon named in the front row for the Burleigh Bears against the Easts Tigers however the match was rained out due to extreme weather conditions.

Joseph Shannon was then named to start in the front row for Round Two against the Souths Logan Magpies and in the 64th minute Joseph Shannon produced a great off-load. Just twenty five metres out from his own line Joseph Shannon engaged the Souths Logan defensive line and whilst in contact with two defenders executed a great left arm off-load to Keahn Skipps who was able to promote the ball further.

Joseph Shannon also was named to start in the front row in Round Three against the Norths Devils however in a late change Joseph Shannon in fact started the match from the bench coming onto the field in the front row in the 23rd minute and had a big match including but not limited to scoring a second half double.

Joseph Shannon scored the first of his two second half tries in the 63rd minute when Joseph Shannon received the ball two passes and to the right of the play the ball around ten metres out. Upon receipt of the ball Joseph Shannon executed a slight jink off his left foot before rumbling to the line and Joseph Shannon with two defenders on him reached out with his right arm to get the ball down under the posts.

Joseph Shannon completed his double just a couple of minutes later in the 69th minute when from just to the right of the uprights and ten metres from the line, Joseph Shannon charged onto the ball from ten metres out engaging the defensive line before spinning 360 degrees counter clockwise and getting the ball down with three defenders on him mid-way between the goal posts and corner post on the right side of the field.

Joseph Shannon almost got a third try when late in the match when from just a metre out and directly in front of the posts Dorian Mapusua-Lotaki 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.

Joseph Shannon was also heavily involved in Karauria Stokes-Mahara’s 70th minute try. Joseph Shannon ran onto a pass sixty metres from the line, engaging the Devils defensive line and just as he got over the halfway mark with two defenders engaged, Joseph Shannon got his left arm free and was able to off-load to Arama Hau who made a further forty metres before off-loading to the Bears fullback to dive over under the posts.

Joseph Shannon’s initial significant run in the match came in the 26th minute when he made twelve metres (seven post contact) from his own twenty metre line. Joseph Shannon was then not allowed to get to his feet to effect a quick play the ball a thus was awarded a penalty.

Joseph Shannon then came off the back fence to charge into the Devil’s advancing defensive line from the kick-off to Josiah Pahulu’s 28th minute try.

Joseph Shannon then was named to continue off the bench in Round Four against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls 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.

Joseph Shannon moved back into the starting side in the front row for Round Six 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 charge 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.

Joseph Shannon was also named to start in the front row in the Round Seven 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.

Joseph Shannon was also named to start 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.

Joseph Shannon’s first 2022 hit-out came in the Burleigh MM Cup sides first trial in late January when he started in the front row in a trial match against a Titans U17/18 JTS side at Pizzey Park.

Joseph Shannon was then named in the front row for the Burleigh Bears second 2022 trial against the Tweed Heads Seagulls and made the opening tackle from the kick-off in conjunction with front row partner Immanuel Kalekale. Joseph Shannon then backed that up to also make the second tackle of the match.

Joseph Shannon also recorded a try assist in the 57th minute when after charging at the try line from around ten metres out, Joseph Shannon was spun around right on the try line but was able to pop a great short ball to the left for his centre to dive over from close range.

Joseph Shannon produced a trademark off-load in the 54th minute when after charging into the defensive line and making fifteen he was able to get a right arm offload away.

Joseph Shannon also started in the front row in Burleigh’s final trial against the Western Clydesdales with Joseph Shannon producing a typical right arm off-load in the 60th minute ten metres from the try line to put his five eight over near the right upright.

Even though he was still U18 eligible Joseph Shannon was named to make his Hastings Deering’s Colts debut off the bench for Burleigh in Round Six against the Mackay Cutters however he was not in the final match day seventeen.

Joseph Shannon was then named on Burleigh’s extended bench for their Round Eight Hastings Deering’s Colts match against the Easts Tigers.

Round Nine against the Sunshine Coast Falcons saw Joseph Shannon once again named on the Burleigh interchange bench coming into the match in the 25th minute to play in the front row with Joseph Shannon’s first effort with the ball coming almost immediately with Joseph Shannon getting the ball to around thirty metres from the try line.

In the 38th minute showed that playing against older players was not intimidating for him when he raced out of the line and smashed the Flacon’s No. 14 who was taking a hit-up. Then in the 39th minute Joseph Shannon made a great covering tackle after the Falcons fullback had made a half break and offloaded to a support who looked as if he would break away but Joseph Shannon raced to his right to make a great covering tackle.

Joseph Shannon also came off the bench in Round Ten against the Norths Devils coming onto the field late in the first half to operate at left second row with Joseph Shannon making the opening tackle of the second half.

Joseph Shannon continued from the bench in Round Twelve against the Ipswich Jets with Joseph Shannon coming close to scoring in the 68th minute when from seventeen metres out and to the left of the play the ball Joseph Shannon burst onto the ball and even though his initial engagement with the defensive line occurred still twelve metres out from the try line, Joseph Shannon just kept pumping his legs and also spun 360 degrees counter clockwise to get over the try line but he was held up under the posts by three defenders.

Joseph Shannon came off the bench to operate in the front row in the 52nd minute just three minutes later in the 55th minute Joseph Shannon made a fourteen metre run from the right of the play the ball with Joseph Shannon taking the pass on the halfway mark.

Joseph Shannon made his career first Hastings Deering’s Colts start in Round Thirteen of the 2022 season when he started in the front row against the Townsville Blackhawks with Joseph Shannon celebrating that achievement by scoring in the final minute of the match when he chased through a Burleigh grubber kick and Joseph Shannon was on the spot to get his hands on the ball under the posts in the in-goal after it was mis-handled by the Townsville fullback.

Joseph Shannon then moved to the bench in the Round Fourteen local derby against the Tweed Heads Seagulls with Joseph Shannon coming onto the field in the 21st minute to operate in the front row with Joseph Shannon making his first hit-up almost immediately with Joseph Shannon charging onto the ball to the right of the play the ball with Joseph Shannon making fifteen metres to get the ball to within twenty metres of the try line.

Joseph Shannon then did well in the 35th minute when after charging onto the ball to the left of the play the ball from his own thirty metre area with after making fifteen metres Joseph Shannon got away a great right arm flick off-load to his right centre who was able to promote the ball a further twenty five metres.

Joseph Shannon made a further strong run in the 53rd minute when from thirty metres out from his own try line, Joseph Shannon ran over the top of one Seagulls defender and was able to the ball to within three metres of the halfway mark.

Joseph Shannon also made a try saving tackle in the match when in the 44th minute when Joseph Shannon stopped Seagulls interchange forward Kyhan Weir in front of the posts with a heavy tackle and then in the 48th minute Joseph Shannon stopped Brooklyn Stanley from scoring from dummy half just to the right of the uprights.

Joseph Shannon continued from the bench in Round Fifteen against the Mackay Cutters with Joseph Shannon scoring in the 42nd minute when from a metre out Joseph Shannon ran out of dummy half to his left to crash over five metres to the right of the uprights.

Joseph Shannon then moved into the Bears starting side in the front row in Round Sixteen against the Western Clydesdales and in the 58th minute after engaging the defensive line near the halfway mark Joseph Shannon got away a great right arm flick off-load to send his brother Samuel on a thirty five metres charge.

Joseph Shannon then started in the front row in Round Seventeen against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls.

In late April 2022 Joseph Shannon was named in the 2022 Queensland Rugby League U18 Emerging Origin Squad.

Post the 2022 MM Cup competition Joseph Shannon transitioned back to club rugby league, starting Round One of the 2022 Gold Coast Rugby League U18 Division One competition at left second row for the Runaway Bay Seagulls against the Southport Tigers.

Joseph Shannon almost scored in the 59th minute of the match when from twelve metres out Joseph Shannon get within inches of the line before five Southport defenders eventually were able to stop him.

The first of a number of strong runs from Joseph Shannon came in the 16th minute when he was able to make twelve metres down the left channel. Joseph Shannon made a further strong run in the 38th minute making eighteen metres from his own thirty metre mark after receiving the ball to the right of the dummy half.

Joseph Shannon backed up his 16th minute effort with a line break assist in the 18th minute when after receiving the ball on the left and thirty five metres from his own line Joseph Shannon charged at the defensive line drawing the B defender and throwing a good ball to put his left centre through a gap.

Joseph Shannon was all effort in the 30th minute when Runaway Bay put in a kick from on the halfway mark deep into Southport territory with Joseph Shannon being the first Seagulls player downfield and absolutely smashed the Tigers right winger who had just picked up the ball when Joseph Shannon arrived on the scene.

Joseph Shannon also started at left second row in Round Nine against the Ormeau Shearers with Joseph Shannon doing exceptionally well in the 4th minute when after Ormeau made a break down their right wing and drew the Seagulls fullback in looked as if they would race away to score but Joseph Shannon did note give up and chased hard and was able to drag down the Shearers support runner who had received the ball.

Joseph Shannon recorded a 34th minute try assist when from eight metres out he charged at the lien and whilst in contact with multiple defenders got away a left arm flick off-load for his support played on his left to score wide out.

In January 2021 Joseph Shannon started in the front row for the Titans U17 side in their annual match at Coffs Harbour against the Newcastle Knights with the powerful Titans forward pack led by Joseph Shannon leading the Titans to an impressive 32 – 20 victory.

Joseph Shannon could not have made an earlier impression than he did when, after the Titans kicked off to get the match going, Joseph Shannon smashed the Knights forward taking the first hit up, cutting him in half with a superb left shoulder hit just under the ribs which put the Newcastle forward on his back.

Joseph Shannon also produced a superb front on hit early in the second half when he once again smashed a Knights attacker who was bringing the ball back from the kick-off after the Knights scored in the second half. Once again Joseph Shannon drove into the defender with his left shoulder putting him on his back with outstanding force.

Joseph Shannon then bookended the first half with an outstanding off-load with three Knights defenders engaged with him to keep the play going for the Titans. Late in the second half, Joseph Shannon showed some right subtlety in his paly when he charged onto the ball but prior to contact, threw a pre-contact offload to his right to Arama Hau who rumbled fifteen metres upfield. Just as impressively Joseph Shannon took the subsequent hit-up making an additional ten metres, including bumping off the first Knights defender who came out of the line to try to put a big hit on.

Joseph Shannon put an exclamation mark on his exceptional performance with a great fifteen metre charge from the Titans set of six after Keano Kini’s try when he knocked Newcastle forwards backwards as he steamed through the centre of the ruck.

Joseph Shannon showed a lot of desperation as well when early in the second half with the Titans holding a slender lead, to appeared that the Knights were going to score under the posts, but Joseph Shannon willed himself to get across to his left to hit the Knights attacker with his left arm around the mid-rift and forcing the ball free with the Knights player literally less than a metre from putting the ball down under the posts.

Joseph Shannon’s first hit-out with the 2021 Burleigh Bears MM Cup side came when he started in the front row in the Bears second trial against the Easts Tigers.

After taking a head knock from the opening kick-off Joseph Shannon did not play too many minutes in the trial but still made his presence felt in the match including a huge front on tackle in just the third minute of the match to rattle the teeth of his opposite number.

In Round One of the 2021 MM Cup competition, Joseph Shannon started in the front row against the Souths Logan Magpies, scoring Burleigh’s try of the match and for the 2021 season for that matter.

In the 5th minute Joseph Shannon charged onto the ball from around six metres out from the line, cutting to his left immediately prior to receiving the ball from Caleb Gould-Waiariki to take advantage of a big gap. The only defender in the vicinity being the Souths Logan hooker could only hold on for the ride as Joseph Shannon carried him over the try line to get the ball down under the posts at the dressing room end of Pizzey Park.

Just after coming back onto the field early in the second half for his second stint of the match, Joseph Shannon took out his energy on the Souths Logan defensive line with a strong hit-up in the 53rd minute, when after making ten metres and attracting a multitude of Souths Logan Joseph Shannon was able to get an off-load away to Caleb Gould-Waiariki who darted another ten metres downfield.

After missing Rounds Two and Three, Joseph Shannon was named to start on the bench for Round Four match against the Souths Logan Magpies.

In February 2021 Joseph Shannon took part in the South Coast Open school boy trials and was named in the front row in the South Coast Open B school boy side as a result of his trial performances.

2021 also saw Joseph Shannon line up once again for Coombabah State High School in the South East Queensland School Boy Langer Cup competition and after missing the opening two rounds started Round Three at right second row against PBC State High School.

Joseph Shannon had a strong match for Coombabah with his first significant contribution coming in the 12th minute with a ten metre charge on the left side of the field with Joseph Shannon then being able to off-load the ball when in contact with the defensive line.

Joseph Shannon produced an even better off-load in the 38th minute when after he had made eighteen metres, Joseph Shannon got his left arm free with three PBC defenders trying vain to get him to the ground.

Joseph Shannon also started in the front row in Round Four against Ipswich State High School when he came up against fellow Titans firebrand Joseph Pahulu. The match saw Joseph Shannon do want he does best that is to charge at the defensive line and get arm free to off-load and that is exactly what happened in the 33rd minute when he charged onto a pass from Caleb Gould-Waiariki who then looped around to get the off-load and then through a great cut out pass of around twenty metres to put his left winger over in the corner.

Joseph Shannon also continued in the front row in Round Five against St Mary’s College Toowoomba with the giant firebrand charging onto the ball from ten metres out in the 35th minute to get the ball down just to the right of the uprights.

Joseph Shannon was also named to start in the front row in Round Six against Marsden State High School and was his usual aggressive self against the giant Marsden State High School forward pack and as usual Joseph Shannon was able to showcase his off-loading skills including in the 5th minute with a great charge near halfway and then was able to get his right arm free to get away a trademark Joseph Shannon off-load.

Post the completion of the 2021 Langer Cup competition, Joseph Shannon was named as one of the Courier Mail’s Best Blue Collar workers. Then at the 2021 Coombabah State High School Sports Awards night, Joseph Shannon was named in the 2021 Coombabah State High School Team of the Year.

2021 also saw Joseph Shannon play for the Runaway Bay Seagulls in the Gold Coast Rugby League U18 Division One competition with his first appearance coming in Round Nine when Joseph Shannon started in the front row against the Southport Tigers and he also started in the front row in Round Ten against the Nerang Roosters.

After the Covid 19 enforced lock down, Joseph Shannon was named at left second row for Round Eleven against the Helensvale Hornets before moving to lock in Round Twelve against the Burleigh Bears with Joseph Shannon scoring a strong try in the 14th minute when he burst onto an off-load from twelve metres out with Joseph Shannon carrying two defenders over the line to get the ball down next to the right upright.

Earlier in the match in the 13th minute Joseph Shannon had made a huge run of fifteen metres when he cut back inside of his playmaker with Joseph Shannon only stopped by four defenders less than a metre from the line directly under the goal posts. Then in the 8th minute Joseph Shannon was at it again in the 8th minute with a strong run from inside his own territory but his left arm flick off-load was mid-handled but his support on his left.

Joseph Shannon made a further strong run of ten metres, beating one tackle before being wrestled down by three Burleigh defenders after he had gotten the ball out to thirty metres from his own line.

Joseph Shannon then started in the front row in Round Fourteen against the Ormeau Shearers.

Joseph Shannon in late 2019 spent a session training alongside the Titans NRL squad with his fellow Titans contracted JTS players and Joseph Shannon was definitely not out of place from a size or skill perspective.

One of Joseph Shannon’s most recent matches for the Titans was when he started from the interchange bench for the Titans U16 side in their annual match against the Newcastle Knights Harold Matthews Cup (U16) side in January 2020 in Coffs Harbour with the Titans coming away 18 – 14 winners in wet and slippery conditions.

When he came on Joseph Shannon was his usual aggressive self and let the Newcastle Knights players that he was on the field as he belted them in defence. Similarly some of Joseph Shannon’s charges in the Knights line can really only be described as fearsome and he regularly bent the line even though the Knights regularly three or four defenders to stopping Joseph Shannon from making significant post contact metres.

Early in the 2020 season the powerful Coombabah State High School student was named in the forward pack for the Pacific Rim Open rugby league district side after the trials for that representative side were competed. Unfortunately the selection of a South Coast side for the QSSRL U18 Championships did not occur in 2020 due to the Covid 19 pandemic.

In February 2020 Joseph Shannon was also named in the Gold Coast Vikings U16 Training Squad but unfortunately the U16 South East Queensland pre-season challenge had to be cancelled in the week leading up to the first day of the Challenge.

Also in 2020 Joseph Shannon was part of the Coombabah State High School Langer Cup Open A school boy rugby league squad for the Term Three school boy rugby league competition playing against fellow Gold Coast schools PBC and Keebra Park.

In July 2020 Joseph Shannon started in the front row for the Coombabah Open A Langer Cup side in their Langer Cup qualifying match against St Mary’s in Toowoomba but unfortunately Coombabah went down in the match.

After being knocked out of the Langer Cup, Joseph Shannon and his Coombabah State High School team mates took part of the Gee Cup school boy competition, going through the competition as the undefeated Southern Division Champions and taking on Mabel Park State High School in the 2020 Gee Cup Grand Final that was held at Langland’s Park.

In the 2020 Gee Cup Grand Final that Coombabah won 50 – 8 Joseph Shannon started in the front row and had an outstanding match showcasing his size, strength, power and aggression. In the match Joseph Shannon played a key role in Coombabah’s first try of the match when he charged onto the ball in his own territory and got off a great left arm off load to send Harrydon Wilson away on a forty five metre run to the try line.

At the completion of the season, Joseph Shannon was named the Coombabah State High School 2020 Open Rugby League Best Forward and was also named in the 2020 Coombabah State High School Team of the Year.

Joseph Shannon played the 2020 Gold Coast Rugby League with Runaway Bay in the U16 Division One competition and was dominant in a number of matches including Round Six against Helensvale and Round Eight against Ormeau.

Against Helensvale Joseph Shannon was at his powerful best off-loading the ball seemingly at will and scored when he charged straight into the teeth of the Shearers forward pack from around ten metres out from the line. Joseph Shannon contacted the Ormeau defensive line around five metres out but kept pumping his legs to crash over just to the right of the uprights.

Against Ormeau in Round Eight, Joseph Shannon also produced a powerful display and also one of controlled aggression, producing at least three exceptional one armed (right arm) off loads that I can recall to keep Runaway Bay momentum going in their victory on the Friday night.

Joseph Shannon was also outstanding in Round Nine against Runaway Bay and has in his element starting in the front row in a fierce forward battle and making an outstanding line break which ended in Joseph Shannon producing an outstanding left arm out of the back of the hand off load as Runaway Bay prevailed 10 – 4.

In late October 2020, Joseph Shannon was named in the 2021 Burleigh MM Cup squad.

In January of 2019 Joseph Shannon started on the interchange bench for the Titans U16 (he was still U15 eligible in 2019) side in their match against the Newcastle Knights U16 Harrold Matthews side. When he came on Joseph Shannon had a huge impact especially running with the ball making positive metres, especially post contact on each of his hit-ups.

In the first half Joseph Shannon also showcased his off-loading skills, when he threw a good left hand pass when engaged with the defensive line for a line break assist to Noah Johassnnsen who was able to continue to rumble down field into the Knights twenty metre line.

A couple of his first half carries were very impressive especially when he was bringing the ball away from the Titans line. It was also great to see Joseph Shannon support his team mates, after a minor scuffle, Joseph Shannon made sure that the Newcastle Knights forward did not take advantage of the Titans player on the ground.

Joseph Shannon also found himself at dummy half on a few occasions in the match but handled the situation well and got the ball to half Thomas Weaver quickly and efficiently.

In the second half, Joseph Shannon made a fifty metre break from his own half when he ran a great line to the right of the field with Bailey Martin popping him a great ball for Joseph Shannon to charge down the field in a fearsome run including outpacing some of the Knights cover defence.

Defensively Joseph Shannon also made his presence felt with a number of telling tackles including one outstanding front on tackle in the second half when he monstered the Knights replacement half who tried to beat him with a left foot step. Joseph Shannon just rag dolled him and dragged him back a number of metres in an aggressive tackle.

Joseph Shannon played the 2019 club rugby league season with Southport in the GCRL U15 Division One competition, playing in a total of nine matches and scoring five tries including opening his tally in Round One against Helensvale, scoring a double in Round Thirteen against Ormeau and also scoring in matches against Ormeau once again and Nerang.

In Week two of the 2019 GCRL U15 Division One Finals series, Joseph Shannon started against Nerang teaming with fellow Titan Seth Nikotemo in the front row scoring as Runaway Bay progressed directly to the Grand Final on the back of a 20 – 0 win.

In the 2019 GCRL U15 Division One Grand Final Joseph Shannon started in the front row for Runaway Bay as they went down 26 – 22 in a fiery forward battle against Nerang.

Joseph Shannon made his GCRL U16 Division One debut in Round Fourteen of the 2019 season against Helensvale when he came off the bench after playing in the corresponding U15 Division One match earlier in the evening.

2019 also saw Joseph Shannon represent South Coast at the U15 QSSRL Championships where South Coast went through undefeated to win the Championships and subsequently Joseph Shannon was named in the Queensland Maroons side for the U15 ASSRL Championships.

Joseph Shannon started in the front row for Queensland Maroon in their matches including on Day two when he scored in just the 5th minutes in a win against New South Wales Combined High Schools. Joseph Shannon ran a good straight line three metres out from the line and after receiving the ball dived over near the left upright.

Unfortunately Joseph Shannon took a knock and was not able to play out the Championships but he was certainly destructive when he was on the field.

Joseph Shannon was also a stand-out performer for Coombabah State High School in their various U15 schoolboy rugby league competitions in 2019.

For the 2018 season, Joseph Shannon transferred from Southport to the Coomera Cutters for whom he played the U14 Division One season. Through eleven matches in that competition including finals matches, Joseph Shannon scored six tries and kicked five conversions to finish the U14 Division One season with 34 points.

Joseph Shannon scored doubles in consecutive rounds mid-season against Beaudesert and Helensvale and also scored against Ormeau and Nerang. Four of Joseph Shannon’s goals came in a match against Beaudesert (he also scored a double in that match) with the other against Runaway Bay.

Joseph Shannon also played in one U15 Division One match in 2018 for Coomera when he lined up against Currumbin in late July.

Joseph Shannon at the start of this season represented the Gold Coast Vikings U14 side starting at lock in three matches and scored a double in Match Two of the South East Queensland U14 Championships in a win against Brisbane Red. His other match was against Ipswich.

Post those Championships Joseph Shannon was selected at lock for South East Queensland White and scored against South East Queensland Green on Day One of the Queensland Age Championships.

In 2019 Joseph Shannon was also selected in the Queensland Academy of Sport U15 Emerging Origin squad.

Joseph Shannon also represented the Gold Coast Vikings in 2017 at the U13 level, playing three games in the 2017 Hill Stumer Championships that were held at Carina.

mdrew

22-12-22, 06:59 AM

In June 2021 Jayden Wright signed a multi-year contract with Titans and on November 1, 2022, Jayden Wright commenced training in the Titans NRL off-season program on a train and trial basis.

In early December 2022 Jayden Wright took part in a joint training session between the Titans JTS Squad players and the Titans NRL squad at the Titans main training centre.

In late 2022 Jayden Wright was named in the 2023 Tweed Heads Seagulls Hastings Deering’s Colts squad for the second season in a row.

2022 saw Jayden Wright continue to train with the Titans JTS Program and Jayden Wright also did a number of training sessions with the Titans Rookie squad over the course of the 2022 off-season.

In late January 2022 Jayden Wright started at right centre for the Titans U19 side in a match at Pizzey Park against the Burleigh Hastings Deering’s Colts side with the first of Jayden Wright’s key contributions coming in the 8th minute with a strong, important one on one tackle on Burleigh’s Damon Sommerville just four metres out from the try line.

The ball did not necessarily go out to Jayden Wright’s right side too often, it was good to see Jayden Wright go looking for the ball including in the 19th minute when he was able to make twelve metres down the right channel to get the ball within twenty metres of the try line.

In mid-December Jayden Wright had the opportunity to train with the Titans NRL squad in a joint training session between the Titans NRL squad and the Titans JTS Program Squads.

Jayden Wright started the 2022 season as part of the Tweed Heads Seagulls Hastings Deering’s Colts squad and is also Colts eligible in 2023.

After missing Round One of the 2022 Hastings Deering’s Colts competition (in the end the match was delayed in any event) Jayden Wright was named at right second row for the Round Two local derby against the Burleigh Bears and was immediately in the action by making the opening tackle of the match after Tweed Heads had kicked off to get the match underway.

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.

Jayden Wright continued at right second row in Round Three against the Townsville Blackhawks looking to build on an impressive Round two outing but unfortunately Jayden Wright suffered a shoulder injury early in the first half which forced him to leave the field and kept him out long term.

Jayden Wright started the Seagulls opening 2022 trial against the Burleigh Bears at right second row with the Seagulls going down 48 – 0 in a tough start to the 2022 season. Jayden Wright however had a few good defensive moments in the match including a big tackle on Burleigh interchange player Ezra Ubaldino.

Jayden Wright also made a good defensive play in the 8th minute when he raced back in cover defence to make a desperate try saving tackle on Burleigh right centre Tuvalli Khan-Pereira who looked like he was going to race away to score from near halfway.

Jayden Wright made an early contribution in just the 3rd minute with a run accounting for eighteen metres down the left channel to get the ball into Burleigh territory.

Jayden Wright started the 2021 season as part of the Tweed Heads Seagulls MM Cup squad, playing Rounds One and Two against the Ipswich Jets and Souths Logan Magpies respectively at right second row.

In Round Three against Burleigh, Jayden Wright also started at right second row, scoring a double in the Seagulls victory. Jayden Wright’s first try came in the opening minute of the match when he was on hand to force the ball in the in-goal after Burleigh had failed to defuse a kick to his side of the field. Jayden Wright’s second try of the match was a result of him running through a gap and getting a pass from Riley Lack in the 12th minute from fourteen metres out to score ten metres from the left corner.

After dropping back to the bench for Round Four and Five against Ipswich and Souths Logan respectively, Jayden Wright then started Round Six at right second row once again.

Jayden Wright then came off the bench in both the 2021 MM Cup semi-final against Wynnum Manly and the MM Cup Grand Final against the Townsville.

Jayden Wright also scored in a 2021 MM Cup trial against Burleigh when he scored in the opening minutes of the match from the left second row position when he ran into a gap, receiving a good ball from Keano Kini to score from ten metres out, getting the ball down five metres in from the left corner post.

2021 also saw Jayden Wright represent South Coast at the QSSRL U18 School Boy Championships and post those Championships, Jayden Wright was named on the bench in the 2021 QSSRL U18 School Boy Merit Team.

After starting Round One of the 2021 Langer Cup school boy competition at lock for PBC against Ipswich State High School, Jayden Wright started Rounds Two and Three against St Mary’s College Toowoomba and Coombabah State High School respectively from the bench, coming into the right second row position when he came on.

Jayden Wright was named to continue on the bench in the Round Four blockbuster against Marsden State High School however Jayden Wright started the match at right second row.

Jayden Wright moved to lock for the much anticipated Round Five local derby against Keebra Park State High School and came close to scoring on a number of occasions in the first half of the absorbing local derby.

Jayden Wright continued at lock in Round Six against Mabel Park State high School and had a big match particularly in defence with a couple of heavy hits including a huge hit in the first half just as the Mabel Park SHS five eight was off-loading the ball. Jayden Wright hit him with a great tackle knocking the five eight a couple of metres backwards after he was hit by Jayden Wright directly under his right rib cage.

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

In the 14th minute, Jayden Wright along with Keano Kini, Michael Roberts and Oskar Bryant held up Blake Mozer over the line.

In the 2021 Langer Cup Grand Final against Marsden State High School, Jayden Wright was named to start at lock for PBC and had a strong match in PBC’s hard fought victory.

Post the completion of the 2021 Langer Cup competition, Jayden Wright was named as an emergency in the Courier Mail’s 2021 Langer Cup most impressive rookies.

Jayden Wright was then named at lock for PBC in the Queensland Open School Boys Final (Phil Hall Cup) against St Brendan’s College Yeppoon with Jayden Wright making the opening tackle of the match from the kick-off in conjunction with Jack Cullen.

Jayden Wright, once again with Jack Cullen put on another strong hit in the 9th minute with the initial contact forcing the ball loose near the forty metre mark.

Jayden Wright was almost one of PBC’s try scorers in the Langer Cup Grand Final when he was held up in the 14th minute after a strong straight run at the try line from close range.

In 2021 Jayden Wright played for the Currumbin Eagles in the GCRL U18 Division One competition, starting all of the matches that he played in at right second row.

Jayden Wright’s opening try of the 2021 GCRL U18 Division One season came in Round Six against Runaway Bay when in the 13th minute, Jayden Wright followed through a Travis May chip taking the ball above his head in his right hand and then dragged the Seagulls fullback over the line to get the ball down in the right corner.

Jayden Wright scored his second try of the season in Round Seven against the Burleigh Bears in the 47th minute when he chased through a grubber kick, diving on the ball close to the dead ball line.

Jayden Wright continued at right second row in Round Nine against the Nerang Roosters and scored a double in the Eagles impressive victory.

Jayden Wright then continued at right second row in Round Ten against the Helensvale Hornets, scoring a double in the Eagles big 44 – 6 win. Jayden Wright scored his first try in the 7th minute when he was on hand to pick up a kick over the defensive line and after picking up the ball twenty five metres out, Jayden Wright burst down the right touchline to dive over in the corner.

Jayden Wright completed his double in the 55th minute when he burst onto the ball down the right channel thirty metres from the line and was just too fast and powerful for the Hornets defence to score ten metres in from the right corner post.

Jayden Wright also started at right second row in Round Twelve against the Ormeau Shearers with Jayden Wright scoring in the first half in the Eagles big win.

After being a late withdrawal in Round Thirteen, Jayden Wright was named once again to start at right second row in Round Fourteen against the Burleigh Bears with Jayden Wright scoring in the 9th minute when from ten metres out he tip toe’d down the right touchline to dive over in the right corner getting the ball down one handed with his right arm after he dived at the line from two metres out.

Jayden Wright also started at right second row in Week One of the 2021 GCRL U18 Division One Final’s for Currumbin against the Helensvale Hornets scoring the second of the Eagles two tries in the 46th minute when he charged onto the ball from twenty metres out, spinning counter clockwise to get the ball down mid-way between the corner post and goal post on the right side of the field.

Jayden Wright continued at right second row in Week Two of the Finals against the Ormeau Shearers.

At the end of the 2021 season, Jayden Wright was named at No. 30 in the Courier Mail Top 60 school boys from the GPS Rugby, AIC Rugby and Langer Cup competitions.

Jayden Wright made his Gold Coast Rugby League U20 debut for Currumbin in Round Seven when he started at right second row against the Burleigh Bears.

mdrew

23-12-22, 07:20 AM

Vaka Sikahele undertook the 2022/23 pre-season with the Titans NRL squad as a member of the Titans Rookie Squad looking to impress Justin Holbrook and the other NRL coaches after signing a new two year contract with the Titans in late October 2021 that will keep Vaka Sikahele in Titans colours until the end of the 2023 season. In fact in the 2023 season Vaka Sikahele will be on a Titans NRL Development contract and will train full time with the Titans NRL Top 30 squad.

In early December 2022 Vaka Sikahele took part in a joint training session betweed the Titans JTS contracted players and the Titans NRL off-season training squad.

Impressively Vaka Sikahele was named as the 18th man for the Burleigh Bears in their Queensland Cup Week One Final against the Norths Devils and after being activated to become Burleigh Queensland Cup Player No. 393 Vaka Sikahele played six metres running for twenty seven metres (twelve post contact), played the ball at an average speed of 3.4 seconds and made three tackles at a 100% tackling efficiency.

In early December 2022 Saka Sikahele took part in a joint training session betweed the Titans JTS contracted players and the Titans NRL squad.

Unfortunately for Vaka Sikahele he suffered a serious achilles injury whilst training with the Titans NRL squad during their 2021 Pre-Christmas block of off-season training which will keep him out for an extended period of time in the 2022 season.

After an extended injury lay-off Vaka Sikahele was named on the Burleigh Bears Hastings Deering’s Colts extended bench for their Round Eight match against the Easts Tigers before starting the match on the bench and coming on in the 21st minute to operate in the dummy half role.

Vaka Sikahele did well in the 26th minute when after positioning himself as the first receiver to the left of the play the ball and after receiving the pass Vaka Sikahele ran to his left dummying to a runner who came back underneath before taking the ball deep into the defensive line before throwing a hard flat pass to the left that created space for Burleigh to score wide out on the left through Tate Roberts.

Vaka Sikahele continued off the bench in Round Nine against the Sunshine Coast Falcons with Vaka Sikahele coming onto the field in the second half to operate primarily as a running forward.

Round Ten against the Norths Devils saw Vaka Sikahele start at hooker before transitioning to a running forward role towards the end of the first half.

Vaka Sikahele made his initial dummy half run in the 30th minute when he ran to his right and was able to take ten hard fought metres to get the ball thirty five metres out from the try line. The in the 35th minute whilst he was operating as a running backrower Vaka Sikahele made a strong run to the right of the play the ball with Vaka Sikahele’s run accounting for fifteen metres from the halfway mark. Then in the 37th minute Vaka Sikahele was able to make thirteen more metres into Norths territory from the right of the play the ball.

Vaka Sikahele also had a strong match defensively against the Devils including in the 14th minute when he along with Samuel Shannon held up the giant Norths front rower No. 18 midway between the cover post and goal posts on the right side of the field after the front rower had tried to barge his way over from close range.

Then Vaka Sikahele made the second tackle of the second half with Vaka Sikahele’s strong initial contact forcing the ball loose and putting Burleigh immediately onto the attack.

Vaka Sikahele continued off the bench in Round Eleven against the Northern Pride with Vaka Sikahele operating as a running backrower in the second half in a big Burleigh 78 – 12 victory.

Vaka Sikahele performed very well as a running forward including in the 56th minute when he was able to make fourteen metres after running onto the ball to the right of the play the ball with Vaka more than 50% of Vaka Sikahele’s metres being of the post contact variety with Vaka Sikahele getting the ball to within three metres of the halfway mark.

Vaka Sikahele made another strong run in the 60th minute when after running onto the ball to the right of the play the ball, Vaka Sikahele, from own forty metres mark made eighteen metres to get the ball into Northern Pride territory.

Vaka Sikahele continued off the bench in Round Twelve against the Ipswich Jets with Vaka Sikahele scoring a smart try in the 43rd minute after coming on to operate in the dummy half role in the 32nd minute.

In the 43rd minute Vaka Sikahele moved into dummy half with the play the ball three metres out and mid-way between the goal line and corner post on the right side of the field. Vaka Sikahele darted out of dummy half to his right before straightening up and getting down low at attack the line. Vaka Sikahele was hit by two defenders still short of the line and was spun around but with his back towards the try line and going to ground, Vaka Sikahele was able to twist his left arm carrying the ball above his head and get the ball down right on the try line.

Vaka Sikahele then started at lock in Round Thirteen against the Townsville Blackhawks.

Vaka Sikahele then moved back to hooker for the Round Fourteen local derby against the Tweed Heads Seagulls with Vaka Sikahele scoring a double in a tough six point loss.

Vaka Sikahele scored the first of his two tries in the 16th minute when after receiving an off-load five metres out, Vaka Sikahele darted to his right and after initially being held up, Vaka Sikahele was able to reach out and plant the ball down with his right hand to get the ball down five metres to the left of the uprights,

Vaka Sikahele scored his second try in the 53rd minute when from ten metres out and in front of the posts Vaka Sikahele ran to his right out of dummy half and crashed through three tackles to get the ball down under the posts.

Vaka Sikahele continued at hooker in Round Fifteen against the Mackay Cutters with Vaka Sikahele making the opening tackle of the match.

Vaka Sikahele was then back at lock in Round Sixteen against the Western Clydesdales and also in Round Seventeen against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls.

In early May 2021 a Titans U19 side travelled to North Queensland to play an U19 Cowboys selection in a curtain raiser to a Cowboys v Broncos NRL match with Vaka Sikahele starting the match at hooker in his first match in a Titans jersey.

After being injured in a 2021 pre-season training mishap, Vaka Sikahele was named on the Burleigh Hastings Deering’s Colts extended bench for the Round Two local derby against the Tweed Heads Seagulls but moved onto the bench late in the week and celebrated by scoring in his Hastings Deering’s Colts debut.

Vaka Sikahele scored one of the stranger tries that you will see from a run out of dummy half in the 54th minute. After Burleigh had kicked off after a Tweed Heads try, the ball hit the right goal post on the full bouncing back into the field. Tristian Powell was able to retrieve the ball on the bounce and get to within eleven metres of the line. Vaka Sikahele got into dummy half and ran to his left with the Tweed Heads defence in disarray to dive over between two defender’s mid-way between the goal posts and corner post on the left side of the field.

Vaka Sikahele came onto the field late in the first half, with his first run out of dummy half coming just a few minutes later in the 34th minute when ran to his left, breaking the Seagulls line and making twenty metres, beating four defenders along the way to get the ball to within forty metres of the try line.

In addition to some impressive runs and distribution out of dummy half Vaka Sikahele was also good defensively including in the 44th when he along with Isaac Matalavea-Booth hit and stopped Seagulls front rower Ben Liyou just centre metres out.

Vaka Sikahele also started from the bench in Round Three against the Western Mustangs coming into the match in the dummy half role towards the end of the first half. Vaka Sikahele was in the action almost immediately running out of dummy half to his right down a blindside and took the ball ten metres to the line before passing to his right to Cole Geyer who then quickly got the ball out to his right for Ronin Rio to dive over in the right corner.

After missing Round Four due to playing for the Titans U19 side, Vaka Sikahele started Round Five against the Northern Pride from the bench.

Vaka Sikahele was on the bench once again in Round Six against the Townsville Blackhawks, coming into the match towards the end of the first half in a running forward role before spending time at dummy half in the second half. Vaka Sikahele made the most of both of the roles that he played in the match and in the 51st minute, whilst playing as a running forward made thirteen metres, the majority post contact, to get the ball to the halfway mark.

Vaka Sikahele was back in the starting side at hooker in Round Seven against the Central Queensland Capra’s before starting from the bench in Round Eight against the Redcliffe Dolphins and in Round Nine against the Mackay Cutters.

Vaka Sikahele also started at hooker in the Round Eleven local derby against the Tweed Heads Seagulls and scored a double with his tries coming in the 16th and 55th minutes. In the 16th minute Vaka Sikahele moved into dummy half seven metres from the line and then darted to his right before stepping back to his left to beat the Seagulls marker before crashing through two more defenders who had stationed themselves on the try line.

Vaka Sikahele scored his second try in the 59th minute when once again he darted out of dummy half to his right, on this occasion from 32 metres out. After getting around the markers Vaka Sikahele cut back to his left to the area behind the play the ball and then was easily outpace the Seagulls defence to score under the post.

Vaka Sikahele was also named to start at hooker in the previously postponed Round Ten match against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls.

After a Covid 19 enforced hiatus, Vaka Sikahele was named to start at hooker in Round Sixteen against the Ipswich Jets.

At the conclusion of the 2021 Hastings Deering’s Colts season Vaka Sikahele received the Coaches Award for the 2021 Burleigh Bears Hastings Deering’s Colts side.

At the 2021 Queensland Rugby League Awards Night Vaka Sikahele finished with three votes for the Hastings Deering’s Colts Player of the Season Award.

Vaka Sikahele started off the 2020 season as part of the New Zealand Warriors U18 SG Ball squad, playing four matches all off the bench before the SG Ball season was terminated due to the Covid 19 pandemic.

Vaka Sikahele started from the bench in Round One against the Victorian Thunderbolts, playing thirty two minutes. In that time Vaka Sikahele ran for seventy two metres (twelve post contact), made a line break, broke four tackles and made fourteen tackles at a tackling efficiency of 93.33%.

Vaka Sikahele also started from the bench in Round Two against the Canberra Raiders and was on the field for thirty three minutes, running for thirty metres (thirteen post contact), broke a tackle and made eleven tackles at a tackling efficiency of 84.62%.

After missing a number of rounds, Vaka Sikahele was back on the bench in Round Five against the Parramatta Eels but was on the field for just nine minutes, running for sixteen metres (three post contact) and had a 100% tackling efficiency whilst making four tackles.

In Round Six being the final round prior to the competition shut down, Vaka Sikahele started from the bench against the Illawarra Steelers, playing a total of twenty three minutes. In his twenty three minutes on the field, Vaka Sikahele ran for twelve metres (six post contact), broke a tackle and made sixteen tackles of his own at a 100% tackling efficiency.

In total in the 2020 U18 SG Ball competition for the Warriors, Vaka Sikahele played a total of ninety seven minutes, made a line break, broke six tackles, ran for 130 metres (thirty four post contact) and made forty five tackles at a tackling efficiency of 93.75%.

In late 2020 Vaka Sikahele started at hooker for the Auckland U18 representative side against their Southern Zone counterparts and after that match was named as the 2020 New Zealand Schools U18 captain however Vaka Sikahele ended up starting the match against the New Zealand U18 side from the bench. When he came into the match Vaka Sikahele operated in the dummy half role.

Also late in 2020 Vaka Sikahele played for the New Zealand Warriors U18 side that played a New Zealand Rugby League Development U18 side, with Vaka Sikahele scoring early in the fourth corner under the posts as the Warriors U18 side defeated their New Zealand Rugby League counter parts 42 – 16.

In Auckland Vaka Sikahele played for the powerful Manurewa Rugby League Club.

To round out a busy 2020, Vaka Sikahele played school boy rugby league for the St Paul’s College First XIII in the SAS College school boy competition for the second year in a row. Unfortunately like the majority of competitions that competition was cut short with no finals being played.

St Pauls College however did play a round of rounds of the SAS College First XIII Premier Division school boy rugby league competition with some of their 2020 performances coming in wins against Kelston Boys High 6 – 0, Southern Cross Campus 42 – 4, Papatoetoe High School 26 – 4 and a 30 – 10 win against Manurewa High School.

To cap off an outstanding 2020, Vaka Sikahele was named the 2020 St Pauls College Sportsman of the Year.

In 2019 in the school boy rugby league SAS College competition, Vaka Sikahele was part of the Grand Final winning St Paul’s College side scoring in the Grand Final and was in fact named Player of the Match in St Pauls victory as St Pauls College defeated Southern Cross Campus 28 - 6.

Vaka Sikahele was named at hooker in the 2019 SAS College Premier First XIII Team of the Year.

In 2019 Vaka Sikahele represented the Auckland School Boys representative side against a New Zealand Warriors U18 selection, scoring a bustling thirty metre try bumping off a number of defenders on the way to the line with the Auckland School Boys winning the match 18 – 10.

2019 also saw Vaka Sikahele represented the New Zealand U18 side, starting at hooker and scoring as New Zealand defeated Tao Samoa U18’s 30 – 18.

Late in the 2019 season Vaka Sikahele was named the 2019 New Zealand Warriors Academy Excellence Award winner.

Vaka Sikahele played his club rugby league in 2019 for the Manurewa rugby league club in the U17/18 Open Auckland rugby league competition, playing in eleven matches, scoring sixty eight points from fifteen tries (136% strike rate) and four conversions.

Prior to moving to St Pauls College in 2019, Vaka Sikahele attended Wesley College and represented Wesley College at the 2018 New Zealand Secondary Schools Rugby League Tournament, including scoring a hat trick against Whangarei Boys High.

In 2018 for the Manurewa Chiefs in the Auckland Rugby League U16 Open competition, Vaka Sikahele played in twelve matches scoring four tries. In 2017 in the Auckland Rugby League U15 competition Vaka Sikahele finished the season with ten tries from fourteen matches for the Chiefs.

Also in 2018 Vaka Sikahele was part of the Tonga U16 side that won the U16 Pasifika Youth Cup Final against Samoa 28 – 10.

mdrew

23-12-22, 12:10 PM

Great to see Titans contracted Dahnte Te Whiu-Hopa named in the 2023 South Logan Magpies U16 Cyril Connell Cup squad.

mdrew

23-12-22, 03:04 PM

Round One of the 2023 CC Cup will see the Titans packed Burleigh Bears take on the Wynnum Manly Seagulls in Wynnum with Tweed Heads having a bye.

The Seagulls first game is in Round Two away to the Brisbane Tigers.

It will be the same draw in the MM Cup.

mdrew

23-12-22, 04:56 PM

Well done to Waaka Hepi for winning the 2022 Keebra Park SHS Chase Haas Senior Warriors Award.

mdrew

23-12-22, 05:13 PM

After arriving from Alexandra Hills SHS where he was on the bench in the 2021 Team of the Year and named the Year Seven Best Back, Juealz Nathan-Herilhy had a strong season for Keebra Park SHS in the Hancock Cup School Boy side starting all of his matches at hooker.

mdrew

24-12-22, 06:36 AM

Devin Bates-Wellington is a young second rower or lock from Auckland New Zealand who will move over to the Gold Coast in January 2023 after signing a multi-year contract with the Titans.

On the Gold Coast Devin Bates-Wellington will attend the Titans partnered PBC SHS and also play for the Tweed Heads Seagulls in the 2023 U16 Cyril Connell Cup competition.

In 2022 Devin Bates-Wellington who played for the Ellerslie Eagles Rugby League club in Auckland was named as the joint Most Valuable Player in the 2022 U15 Auckland Rugby League Region of Origin Competition with Devin Bates-Wellington starting at lock for Auckland North. Devin Bates-Wellington was also named in the second row in the 2022 U15 Auckland Rugby League Merit Team.

In Game One of the 2022 U15 Auckland Region or Origin match Devin Bates-Wellington who started the match at lock, scored in the opening minutes of the second half when from around ten metres out and on the left side of the field, Devin Bates-Wellington chased through a short grubber kick into the in-goal from the inside, initially it appeared that the Auckland South fullback had taken possession of the ball but Devin Bates-Wellington was able to take the ball out of the grasp of the fullback whilst in the in-goal and get the ball done twelve metres in from the left corner post.

In 2020 Devin Bates-Wellington was named in the New Zealand Māori U13 Merit Team after Devin Bates-Wellington played the Tournament with Tainui Ngati Tara Tokanui.

mdrew

25-12-22, 07:10 AM

Taylan To’o is a young backrower from Titans partnered Marsden State High School, in late March 2022 signed a three year deal with the Titans which will keep him with the Titans until the end of the 2024 season.

In early December 2022 Taylan To’o took part in a joint training session betweed the Titans JTS contracted players and the Titans NRL off-season training squad.

In late December 2022 Taylan To’o was named in the 2023 Souths Logan Magpies U16 Cyril Connell Cup squad.

In early May 2022 Taylan To’o started from the bench for the Titans JTS U16 squad that took on a Northern Rivers Titans U17 squad at Cbus Stadium as a curtain-raiser to the Titans NRL Round Fourteen against the Souths Sydney Rabbitohs with the Titans U16 JTS squad recording a strong victory in front of an appreciative crowd.

In late September 2022 Taylan To’o started from the bench for a Titans U16 side against a Sydney Roosters U16 side at Pizzey Park with the Titans coming away with a resounding 32 – 8 victory at Pizzey Park.

2022 saw Taylan To’o return to Marsden State High School as part of their Hancock Cup School Boy squad and after missing Round One against PBS SHS due to being in New Zealand Taylan To’o was involved in Marsden SHS’s other matches either coming off the bench or starting in the second row, putting in a number of dominating performances.

At the 2022 Marsden SHS Rugby League Specialisation Awards, Taylan To’o was named in the second row in the 2022 Marsden SHS Rugby League Team of the Year.

2022 also saw Taylan To’o represent Met East in the QSSRL U15 School Boy Rugby League Championships.

From a club rugby league perspective in 2022 Taylan To’o played for the Souths Acacia Ridge Magpies in the Brisbane Junior rugby League U15 Division One competition including starting at right second row in the Elimination Final against Brothers.

Taylan To’o also started at right second row in the Week Two Semi-Final against local rivals, Logan Brothers.

The 2022 GBJRL U15 Division One Grand Final saw Taylan To’o named at start at right second row for the Souths Acacia Ridge Magpies against the Redcliffe Dolphins, with the Magpies scoring a tight four point Grand Final victory.

Earlier in the 2022 GBJRL U15 Division One Taylan To’o scored two tries in Rounds Seven and Ten against Carina and Easts Tigers respectively and Taylan To’o also scored in Round Eleven against the Redcliffe Dolphins.

In September 2022 Taylan To’o was named in the South Queensland Maori U16 Tiena representative squad.

In 2021 Taylan To’o played for Marsden SHS in the Year Eight Renouf Shield School Boy competition, starting at lock in their tough 8 – 4 Grand Final loss to PBC SHS.

Prior to the 2021 Renouf Shield Grand Final Taylan To’o had some strong matches for Marsden SHS in the preliminary rounds including a strong performance in the semi-final against Keebra Park SHS with a 14th minute try assist when Taylan To’o, whilst operating on the left side of the engaged the defensive line around six metres out for the try line before off-loading to his left to put his left centre over to score near the corner.

Taylan To’o showcased his goal kicking skills in Round Seven against Ipswich SHS with three conversions in Marsden SHS’s big win with Taylan To’o showing a relaxed, simple and effective right foot goal kicking technique.

mdrew

26-12-22, 06:49 AM

In late December 2022 Jose Ito was named in the 2023 Souths Logan Magpies U16 Cyril Connell Cup squad.

The young second rower previously played for the Greenbank Raiders in the Greater Brisbane Junior Rugby League competition and attends Marsden State High School which recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Titans for a former partnership between the two bodies. Jose Ito is also part of the outstanding Titans JTS Program opening more than a few eyes in the process.

From a club rugby league perspective in 2022 Jose Ito played for the Souths Acacia Ridge Magpies in the Brisbane Junior rugby League U16 Division One competition.

In 2020 Jose Ito was part of the Greenbank Raiders side that went down in their U13 GBJRL Grand Final that was played at Rochedale in September 2020.

In 2019 Jose Ito represented the Samoan U12 side at the QPICC Cultural Carnival that was held at Beenleigh having a particularly strong match at the Carnival against Tonga.

mdrew

27-12-22, 06:45 AM

In late December 2022 Fatumalosi Nelu was named in the 2023 Souths Logan Magpies U16 Cyril Connell Cup squad after also playing for the Magpies in the Cyril Connell Cup in 2022 when Fatumalosi Nelu was still U15 eligible.

Fatumalosi Nelu made his Cyril Connell Cup debut for the Souths Logan Magpies in Round Five of the 2022 competition, starting at lock against the East Tigers.

From a club rugby league perspective in 2022 Fatumalosi Nelu played for the Souths Acacia Ridge Magpies in the Brisbane Junior rugby League U15 Division One competition including starting from the bench in the Elimination Final against Brothers.

Fatumalosi Nelu also started from the bench in the Week Two Sem-Final against Logan Brothers.

The 2022 GBJRL U15 Division One Grand Final saw Fatumalosi Nelu named at start from the bench for the Souths Acacia Ridge Magpies against the Redcliffe Dolphins.

mdrew

27-12-22, 08:14 AM

Taree Old Bar centre Jaxson Longa may well find his way into the Tweed Heads Seagulls Colts side in 2023.

mdrew

27-12-22, 03:56 PM

Dahnte Te Whiu-Hopa, the exceptionally talented young Gold Coast local is the younger brother of Titans contracted Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa and like his older brother Dahnte Te Whiu-Hopa has signed a contract with the Titans for the next couple of seasons and in early January 2022 Dahnte Te Whiu-Hopa attended a Titans JTS Elite U15 Development Camp on the Gold Coast.

Like his older brother Dahnte Te Whiu-Hopa is a front rower or second rower who attends Marsden State High School as part of their Rugby League Excellence Program and also plays his club rugby league on the Gold Coast with the Southport Tigers.

Make no mistake however Dahnte Te Whiu-Hopa is an exceptionally talented rugby league player in his own right and deservedly signed a three year contract with the Titans in early 2022 which extends to the end of Dahnte Te Whiu-Hopa’s u18 eligibility.

In early December 2022 Dahnte Te Whiu-Hopa took part in a joint training session betweed the Titans JTS contracted players and the Titans NRL off-season training squad.

In late December 2022 Dahnte Te Whiu-Hopa was named in the 2023 Souths Logan Magpies U16 Cyril Connell Cup squad.

In late January 2022 Dahnte Te Whiu-Hopa started from the bench for the Titans U16 side in a trial match at Pizzey Park against a Sydney Bulldogs U16 selection with Dahnte Te Whiu-Hopa coming onto the field at halftime.

In early May 2022 Dahnte Te Whiu-Hopa started from the bench for the Titans JTS U16 squad that took on a Northern Rivers Titans U17 squad at Cbus Stadium as a curtain-raiser to the Titans NRL Round Fourteen against the Souths Sydney Rabbitohs.

In late September 2022 Dahnte Te Whiu-Hopa started from the bench for a Titans U16 side against a Sydney Roosters U16 side at Pizzey Park with the Titans dominating in a great 32 – 8 victory over their Sydney based opposition.

In late March 2022 Dahnte Te Whiu-Hopa was named in the Met East U15 QSSRL School Boy Representative side from Marsden SHS.

2022 also saw Dahnte Te Whiu-Hopa line up for Marsden SHS in the School Boy Walters Cup competition including starting at lock in the Semi-Final against PBC SHS with Dahnte Te Whiu-Hopa doing well in the 13th minute to hold up the PBC SHS front rower No. 8 under the posts.

In September 2022 Dahnte Te Whiu-Hopa was named in the South Queensland Maori U16 Tuakana representative squad with Dahnte Te Whiu-Hopa starting all four of Maori’s matches at right second row including their semi-final against Queensland Samoa.

In October 2021 Dahnte Te Whiu-Hopa was named in the Queensland Maori U14 side for the 2021 QPICC carnival starting Round One of the Cultural Carnival in the second row against Tonga. Dahnte Te Whiu-Hopa was also named captain of the Maori U14 side and was one of Māori’s try scorers in the first round match.

Dahnte Te Whiu-Hopa in total in the 2021 U14 QPICC Carnival played in five matches, starting all in the second row and in addition to his Match One try, Dahnte Te Whiu-Hopa also scored in the Grand Final against Samoa.

Dahnte Te Whiu-Hopa scored in the 5th minute of the Grand Final when whilst operating at left second row Dahnte Te Whiu-Hopa ran onto a short ball from his inside from eight metres out to dive over ten metres in from the left corner post.

In 2019 Dahnte Te Whiu-Hopa attended Coombabah State High School and was part of the Year Eight Coombabah side that defeated Forest Lake State High School 36 – 16 in the Renouf Cup Grand Final with Dahnte Te Whiu-Hopa starting the Grand Final in the front row and he was also adjudged Player of the Match after a dominating display.

Dahnte Te Whiu-Hopa’s first (and surely not last) taste of representative rugby league came in 2019 as part of the Queensland White U12 side that were the first team in the history of the Australian U12 School Championship to go through the Championships undefeated.

Dahnte Te Whiu-Hopa had an outstanding carnival including scoring a hat trick in Queensland’s 50 – 10 semi-final victory over Victoria. Dahnte Te Whiu-Hopa went one better in Queensland’s 62 – 0 Quarter Final victory over South Australia scoring four tries and converting one and on Day One of the Championships, Dahnte Te Whiu-Hopa scored a double against Victoria as Queensland started in winning fashion 24 - 4.

mdrew

27-12-22, 04:26 PM

Young front rower Cyrus Simmonds had a big 2022 including playing for Marsden SHS as well as starting in the front row for the Southport Tigers in their GCRL U14 Division One victory over the Burleigh Bears.

mdrew

27-12-22, 04:44 PM

In addition to starting at halfback for the Burleigh Bears in the GCRL U14 Division One Grand Final against the Southport Tigers Isaac Fiddock was named captain and MVP of the 2022 3PTAG U14 Boys All-Tournament Team.

mdrew

27-12-22, 05:12 PM

After a strong 2022 season that saw Codey McConnell start on the bench for the Burleigh U16 Division One side in their Grand Final and named as the co-captain of the 3PTAG U15 Boys All-Tournament Team he has been named in the 2023 U16 Cyril Connell Burleigh Bears squad.

mdrew

27-12-22, 06:43 PM

It was a strange season for Jotham Russell in 2022 when he spent time on the wing for the Tweed Heads Seagulls HDC side but in 2023 he should be back in the forwards, and heck he is a very impressive front rower to say the least.

mdrew

28-12-22, 07:40 AM

On November 1, 2022, Oskar Bryant commenced training in the Titans NRL off-season program and in early December 2022 Oskar Bryant took part in a joint training session betweed the Titans JTS contracted players and the Titans NRL squad.

Oskar Bryant undertook the 2021/22 pre-season with the Titans NRL squad as a member of the Titans Rookie Squad and looked to impress NRL coach Justin Holbrook and the other NRL coaches in at least the pre-Christmas component of the Titans NRL off-season training program.

Oskar Bryant started the Titans first 2022 NRL trial against the Brisbane Bronco’s at Cbus Stadium from the bench coming on to play in the dummy half role towards the end of the second half. As usual Oscar Bryant’s distribution out of dummy half was crisp and he also made six tackles.

In late July 2022 Oskar Bryant started at hooker for a Titans U19 side that played their annual match against the North Queensland Cowboys that was played as a curtain raiser at Cbus Stadium to the Titans Round Twenty NRL match against the Canberra Raiders.

Oskar Bryant’s initial significant contribution in the match was form a defensive perspective and came in the 6th minute when Oskar Bryant executed a great low tackle on a charging Cowboys front rower (No. 8) with Oskar Bryant bringing him down a metre out and directing in front of the posts.

In late January 2022 Oscar Bryant started at hooker for the Titans U19 side in a match at Pizzey Park against the Burleigh Hastings Deering’s Colts side and recorded a 72nd minute try assist when from right on the right line he popped a short pass to his right to a charging Jack Cullen who crashed over from close range.

Oscar Bryant was also involved in Elijah Lui’s last minute try, when after receiving an off-load from Arama Hau, he threw a long cut-out pass to his left to Jaylan De Groot who subsequently put Elijah Liu over in the left corner.

The first of Oscar Bryant’s trademark dummy half runs came in the 4th minute when he darted out of dummy half to his right making twenty metres out getting the ball eight metres into Burleigh territory.

Another Oscar Bryant dummy half run in the 23rd minute, on that occasion to the left out of dummy half saw Oscar Bryant make eleven metres getting within two metres out the try line. Then in the 27th minute Oscar Bryant ran once again to his left out of dummy half making a further ten metres to get the ball over the halfway mark, Oscar Bryant was then too quick to his feet and was awarded a penalty when he was denied the opportunity to play the ball quickly.

After coming back onto the field towards the end of the second half, Oscar Bryant highlighted the variety that he has in his game when he stepped to his right out of dummy half near his own forty metre line and kicked deep into the Burleigh left corner and then Oscar Bryant was immediately downfield to make the tackle on the Burleigh fullback around five metres out from the line.

Just two minutes later in the 70th minute Oscar Bryant darted out of dummy half to his left making a smart twelve metres before being tackled on the halfway mark.

Also in late 2021 Oskar Bryant was part of the Titans NRL squad that undertook a joint training session with ninety members of the Titans JTS Program.

In June 2022 Oskar Bryant was named in the New South Wales U19 side for their match against Queensland U19’s with Oskar Bryant named on the NSW extended bench for the match.

In late 2021 it was confirmed that Oskar Bryant would play the 2022 season as part of the Tweed Heads Seagulls Hastings Deering’s Colts squad and Oskar Bryant is also Colts eligible in 2023.

Round One of the 2022 Hastings Deering’s Colts competition saw Oscar Bryant named on the 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.

Oskar Bryant continued at hooker in Round Three against the Townsville Blackhawks.

After missing a couple of matches Oskar Bryant came off the bench in Round Six against the Northern Pride in a big Seagulls big 66 – 0 coming onto the field around the 28 minute mark to operate in the dummy half role.

Oskar Bryant was heavily involved in Caleb Hodges 60th minute try when from around twenty metres out Oskar Bryant darted out of dummy half to his right and put in a grubber kick down a left blindside. The ball came off the fullback and back into the foot of Askar Bryant, flying back towards the Northern Pride fullback. The fullback was unable to take possession with Caleb Hodges racing through to collect the ball and reach out and plant the ball down with his right arm, five metres in from the left corner post.

Oskar Bryant then started from the bench in the rescheduled Round One match against the Norths Devils coming on to operate in the dummy half role in the 18th minute. Just two minutes later in the 20th minute Oskar Bryant ran out of dummy half from thirty metres to his right and as he approached the defensive line Oskar Bryant put in a right foot grubber kick for himself with Oskar Bryant retrieving the ball only to be tackled just a metre out from the try line.

Oskar Bryant made another strong effort out of dummy half in the 24th minute when from just prior to halfway Oskar Bryant ran out of dummy half to his left before cutting back to his right to make fifteen metres before off-loading to his right to a trailing Jaylan De Groot.

Oskar Bryant ran out of dummy half once again in the 30th minute when he ran to his left making fifteen more metres getting to within five metres of the try line.

Oskar Bryant continued his outstanding match in the 36th minute with a line break after running out of dummy half to his left from just inside Norths territory with Oskar Bryant bursting through the centre of the ruck to make twenty metres.

Round Eight against the Western Clydesdales saw Oskar Bryant continue off the bench with Oskar Bryant coming on to operate in the dummy half role in the 20th minute and made his first effort out of dummy half just a minute alter when he ran to his right making a twenty five metre line break to get to twelve metres out from the try line.

Oskar Bryant recorded a try assist and a further line break in the 26th minute after he raced out of dummy half to his left before cutting back to his right to the soft area behind the markers. Oskar Bryant made sixty five metres before drawing the fullback and passing to his right to send Jaylan De Groot away to score comfortably under the posts.

Oskar Bryant was also involved in Kyhan Weir’s 79th minute try when from close to the try line Oskar Bryant darted out of dummy half to his right and popped a good short ball to his right with Kyhan Weir crashing over to score under the posts.

Oskar Bryant moved back into the Seagulls starting side at hooker for Round Nine against the Ipswich Jets.

Oskar Bryant then moved to start at halfback in the rescheduled Round Seven match against the Souths Logan Magpies with Oskar Bryant executing a smart one on one strip in the 17th minute as the Magpies were trying to bring the ball out of their own territory.

Oskar Bryant was then back at hooker for Round Eleven against the Central Queensland Capra’s with Oscar Bryant showcasing his ability to kick out of dummy half in the 29th minute when from forty metres out from his own try line, Oskar Bryant stepped out of dummy half to his right and put in a low hard kick which came to rest right on the try line and five metres in from the right corner post.

Oskar Bryant then moved to five eight for Round Twelve against the Redcliffe Dolphins with Oskar Bryant recording a try assist in the 50th minute when from around eighteen metres out and on the left side of the field Oskar Bryant put up a bomb to the opposite side of the field with the ball coming down and being taken on the full a metre from the try line by Jotham Russell who got a pass away for Cooper Camby to score.

Oskar Bryant forced a goal line drop-out in the 42nd minute when on the last tackle Oskar Bryant put in a chip kick from twelve metres out with the Dolphins fullback subsequently being trapped into.

Oskar Bryant came close to kicking a great 40/20 in the 35th minute when from thirty five metres out from his own line Oskar Bryant put in a long kick which went into touch on the left side of the field less than a metre from the twenty metre mark.

Oskar Bryant pulled off a great try saving tackle in the 54th minute on his opposite number whilst defending on the left side of the field with Oskar Bryant taking his opposite number down just as he was able to burst through a gap three metres out from the line. Even though Oskar Bryant was injured whilst making the tackle, after a couple of minute he was able to get back to his feet and continue on.

Oskar Bryant moved back to start at hooker in Round Thirteen against the Sunshine Coast Falcons with Oskar Bryant scoring a double in a tough four points Seagulls loss.

Oskar Bryant scored the first of his two tries in the 65th minute when he ran out of dummy half from four metres out and with the play the ball only three metres in from the left touchline. Oskar Bryant had the room to not just score but bring the ball around to near the right upright after an extravagant dummy to his left before darting over.

Oskar Bryant also scored in the 79th minute and once again it was a run out of dummy half that enabled Oskar Bryant to score. With the paly the ball five metres out from the try line and seven metres in from the right touchline, Oskar Bryant ran to his right and then was able to hold off one defender to score eight metres in from the right corner post.

Oskar Bryant also threw the final pass for Ben Liyou’s try in the 60th minute with a short no look pass to his right out of dummy half from close to the try line for Ben Liyou to crash over.

Oskar Bryant continued at hooker in the Round Fourteen local derby against the Burleigh Bears with Oskar Bryant recording a try assist in the 13th minute when he skipped out of dummy half to his right from within two metres of the try line with Oskar Bryant then trying a good short ball to his right to Ben Liyou who barged over to score five metres to the right of the uprights.

Oskar Bryant’s initial smart run out of dummy half in the 13th minute when Oskar Bryant ran to his left out of dummy half with Oskar Bryant making a twenty five metre line break before being tackled thirty metres out from the try line.

Oskar Bryant then made a further smart run of dummy half in the 37th minute when after receiving an off-load from Brent Barnes, Oskar Bryant made a fifteen metre burst through the centre of the field to get the ball forty metres out from his own try line.

Oskar Bryant made another line break in the 38th minute when he scooped out the ball with his right hand from dummy half with Oskar Bryant running to his left from forty metres out with Oskar Bryant getting within three metres of the try line but unfortunately Oskar Bryant was injured in the tackle and was not able to take any further action in the match.

In January 2021 Oskar Bryant started from the bench for the Titans U19 side in their annual match at Coffs Harbour against the Newcastle Knights coming on to play in the dummy half role and as usual Oskar Bryant brought a spark off the bench with his speed out of dummy half and overall enthusiasm.

In the second half Oskar Bryant was heavily involved in a number of Titans tries including when he darted out of dummy half to his left down a short blind side and put Titans left centre Tony Francis into a gap, with the powerful centre subsequently scoring in the left corner.

Oskar Bryant was at it again in the second half when he darted out of dummy half to the right of the play the ball and was then able to draw a defender a pass to his right to Sam McIntyre who was able to barge his way over for his first try in a Titans jersey.

Oskar Bryant has another string to his bow when at dummy half and that is on relation to kicking out of that position. In the 25th minute of the second half, on his own forty five metre line, Oskar Bryant stepped up of dummy half to the right of the play the ball, and off one step produced a strong well directed right foot kick to the Knights left corner. Oskar Bryant generated impressive distance on the kick with the ball pulling up within metres of the Knights line and the Titans right side defence making the tackle on the Knights winger just eight metres out from his own line.

A week after the match against the Newcastle Knights Oskar Bryant once again lined up for the Titans U19’s as they took on a Burleigh Hastings Deering’s Colts squad at Burleigh Juniors, coming off the bench and scoring with the Titans winning once again, this time 32 – 20 in a match that saw no conversions attempted.

Oskar Bryant got into the action almost immediately into the match. From dummy half, Oskar Bryant moved to his right and kicked for the right corner from right on the halfway mark. The kick was ideal, forcing the Burleigh fullback to go back into his in-goal. As the fullback was trying to bring the ball back into the field of play, he was hit by Kaleb Ngamanu with the contact forcing the ball loose for Reef Sommerville to simply put his hand on the ball to be awarded a try.

Later in the first half Oskar Bryant once again kicked out of dummy half, after moving to his right, in the right corner, with the Burleigh kick retriever tackled inside his own ten metre line. Oskar Bryant made it three kicks from dummy half into the right corner in the 35th minute with Burleigh trapped inside their own twenty as a result of Oskar Bryant’s kick.

Oskar Bryant’s try came late in the 37th minute of the first half when after passing out of dummy half to his right, he backed up front rower Isaac Matalavea-Booth who was able to get a right armed offload to his left to Oskar Bryant who received the ball ten metres out. Oskar Bryant took off towards the line beating the Burleigh fullback (No. 2 at the time) with a right foot step to dive over next to the left upright.

As usual Oskar Bryant also ran judicially out of dummy half in his two stints on the field in the match, including a smart run out of dummy half in the 30th minute of the first half when he ran to his right with his twelve metre run on the 5th tackle including a 360 degree spin to beat two defenders.

In early May 2021 a Titans U19 side travelled to North Queensland to play an U19 Cowboys selection in a curtain raiser to a Cowboys v Broncos NRL match with Oskar Bryant starting the match on the bench for the Titans, coming on to play in the dummy half role towards the end of the first half. Oskar Bryant also played in the dummy half role in his second stint of the field against the Cowboys as well.

In November 2020 Oskar Bryant was named in the powerful Tweed Heads Seagulls 2021 MM Cup squad.

In the Tweed Heads Seagulls MM Cup side’s second trial against Burleigh, Oskar Bryant started the second half at hooker and was his usual dynamic self when running out of dummy half.

One of Oskar Bryant’s darts out of dummy half directly led to a Josh Lynn try. Oskar Bryant ran out of dummy half to the right around eleven metres out from the line, drawing the Burleigh B defender before offloading to fullback Jaylan De Groot who then threw a quick short pass to his right to put Josh Lynn over.

Oskar Bryant also started at hooker in Tweed Heads final 2021 MM Cup final against the Souths Logan Magpies at Logan.

In Round One of the 2021 MM Cup competition, Oskar Bryant started at hooker against the Ipswich Jets and scored a key try in the 61st minute of the match that put Tweed Heads back in front by two points, a lead that they kept for the remainder of the match.

Oskar Bryant moved into dummy half with the play the ball twenty metres out from the Ipswich line. As soon as the ball was played Oskar Bryant shot out of dummy half to the right down a short blind side before cutting back behind the play the ball to find open space. Oskar Bryant then used his speed to veer to the right and dive over to score mid-way between the goal post and corner post on the left side of the field.

In the 68th minute of the match with the clock ticking down Oskar Bryant showed what a talented game manager he is when he kicked out of dummy half forty metres out from his own line. Oskar Bryant took one step out of dummy half to the right of the play the bell with his right foot kick travelling in excess of fifty metres into the right corner, Oskar Bryant was then the first Seagulls defender down field to make the tackle on the Jets fullback.

Oskar Bryant also started at hooker in Round Two against the Souths Logan Magpies, making the first tackle of the match when he confronted Souths Logan front rower Herman Tofaeono who charged into the Tweed Heads defensive line.

Oskar Bryant showed his desperation in defence in the 55th minute when he along with Ryan Foran both got underneath the Souths Logan hooker to hold him up over the line after he had tried to sneak over from dummy half to the right of the play the ball.

Oskar Bryant once again started at hooker in the Round Three Gold Coast derby against the Burleigh Bears making his presence felt in just the 4th minute of the match with a strong front on tackle directly in front of his own goal posts on Burleigh front rower Brody Smitka.

Oskar Bryant started his match with a strong tackle and finished it the same way in the 65th minute with a driving tackle on Burleigh five eight Travis May which forced him back four metres.

Oscar Bryant showcased his kicking skills out of dummy half in the 10th minute of the match when he stepped to the right of the play the ball kicking downfield from inside the forty and it was almost a perfect 40/20 with the Burleigh fullback just preventing the ball from going into touch.

Oskar Bryant was also named to start at hooker for Round Four match against the Ipswich Jets and in Round Five against the Ipswich Jets.

After being rested for Round Six against Burleigh Oskar Bryant was back for the 2021 MM Cup semi-final against Wynnum Manly and made his first telling run out of dummy half in the 21st minute when he darted out of dummy half to his right to make fifteen metres and get to within twenty metres of the try line.’

Oskar Bryant produced a smart piece of play in the 65th minute when he was defending at marker. Wynnum Manly tried a play to the right of the play the ball with the halfback running onto the ball before passing back inside to the dummy half, Oskar Bryant was having none of it however and stepped forward to take the intercept.

Oskar Bryant also started at hooker in the 2021 MM Cup Grand Final as the Seagulls won back to back MM Cup Championships by defeating the Townsville Blackhawks in Townsville 30 – 24 with Oskar Bryant contributing a first half try assist to the victory.

In the 17th minute, Oskar Bryant took off out of dummy half to his right on the halfway mark, slicing through the middle of the Blackhawks defence after veering back towards the area behind the play the ball. After he was through the line, Oskar Bryant drew the fullback before passing to his right to Jaylan De Groot who raced away to score under the posts.

Tweed Heads were under pressure early and in the 6th minute, Oskar Bryant along with Jaylan De Groot and Thomas Weaver were able to stem the flow by holding of a rampaging Townsville front rower (No. 8) to stop the Blackhawks from scoring twice in the opening minutes.

Oskar Bryant pulled off another try saving tackle in the 59th minute when he was able to hold up the Townsville replacement dummy half next to the right uprights.

Oskar Bryant’s first run out of dummy half with the Grand Final came in the 8th minute when he ran out of dummy half to his left making thirteen metres to get within thirteen metres of the try line.

In the Queensland Rugby League 2021 MM Cup Player of the Year Award Oskar Bryant was awarded three votes.

In mid-February 2021 Oskar Bryant was named at hooker in the school boy Oceanic Opens side for the South Coast school boy QSSRL U18 trial against Broadwater. Following the final round of trials, Oskar Bryant was named on the bench for the 2021 South Coast U18 school boy QSSRL squad.

Oskar Bryant came off the bench on Day One of the Championships as South Coast defeated Met North with his first run out of dummy half coming in the 24th minute when he darted out of dummy half to his right.

Oskar Bryant started at hooker for South Coast on Day Three against Capricornia making his initial run out of dummy half in just the second minute down a short left blindside making twenty two metres before being tackled just nine metres from the line.

Oskar Bryant started the Championship Final against Met North from the bench but came into the match late in the first half.

At the completion of the Championships, Oscar Bryant was named in the bench in the 2021 QSSRL U18 School Boy Merit Team.

2021 also saw Oskar Bryant line up once again for PBC State High School in the South East Queensland School Boy Langer Cup competition with his first appearance in the Langer Cup coming when he started at hooker in Round Four against Marsden State High School.

In the match Oskar Bryant showed no signs of rust almost scoring in 7th minute when after throwing a big dummy to his left, Oskar Bryant charged towards the line from twelve metres out to get within a metre of the line before the Marsden SHS defence brought him down.

Oskar Bryant recorded a try assist in the 48th minute when Ryan Foran ran an underneath route down a short left blindside from four metres out after Oskar Bryant had darted to his left out of dummy half and got the ball inside to Ryan Foran who crashed over.

Oskar Bryant showcased his diverse skill set in the 12th minute with a great right foot kick out of dummy half from thirty eight metres from his own line, with the ball bouncing into the in-goal with the Marsden left winger only able to get the ball a metre out from his own line before being tackled by Michael Roberts.

Oskar Bryant continued at hooker centre in the much anticipated Round Five local derby against Keebra Park State High School and came close to scoring in the 9th minute when after a dart from dummy half Oskar Bryant was held up over the line.

Oskar Bryant was named to continue at hooker in Round Six against Mabel Park State High School, however he in fact started the match at halfback and recorded a try assist for PBC’s opening try of the match.

In the 23rd minute, Oskar Bryant received to the ball to the left of the play the ball around twenty metres from the line and immediately ran a diagonal route at the defensive line and was able to draw in a Mable Park defender and then threw a good short ball to his left to a charging Reef Sommerville who ran through a gap to score seven metres in from the left corner post.

The in the second half, Oskar Bryant showed that his defensive technique that he has honed whilst at hooker, is not wasted at halfback when near the halfway mark one of the giant Mabel Park SHS forwards tried to run over him. Oskar Bryant drove into him with his right shoulder driving him backwards and then hard into the ground.

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

In just the 5th minute Oskar Bryant produced a typical dummy half run to the right of the play the ball with Oskar Bryant bursting thirty five metres downfield. A quick play the ball then saw PBC score the opening try of the match from the next play.

Oskar Bryant showcased another component of his outstanding skill set in the 27th minute with a great right foot kick out of dummy half that travelled fifty metres downfield and was perfectly placed, forcing the Keebra Park fullback to bring the ball out of the right corner.

Oskar Bryant produced another great kick out of dummy half in the 27th minute with this kick travelling sixty metres to once again force the Keebra Park fullback to bring the ball out of the right corner.

Oskar Bryant kicked twice later in the match, in the 53rd and 56th minutes, on both occasions out of dummy half with both kicks forcing the Keebra Park fullback to bring the ball back from his own try line.

Defensively Oskar Bryant had some good moments in the match including in the 14th minute, when he along with Jayden Wright, Michael Roberts and Keano Kini held up Blake Mozer over the try line.

Then in the 20th minute Oskar Bryant chased through a Thomas Weaver kick that pulled up in the in-goal with the Keebra Park fullback unable to get the ball back into the field of play before he was stopped by Oskar Bryant and Michael Roberts.

In the 2021 Langer Cup Grand Final against Marsden State High School, Oskar Bryant was named to start at hooker for PBC and showcased his elite and varied skill set in the 1st minute of the match with a long raking right foot kick out of dummy half from inside his own forty metre area with the ball pulling up in the in-goal forcing the Marsden State High School fullback to bring the ball back into play.

Oskar Bryant made the first of a number of telling runs out of dummy half in the 33rd minute when he ran to his left, making twenty metres through the centre of the ruck.

Post the completion of the 2021 Langer Cup competition, Oskar Bryant was named on the bench in the Courier Mails’ 2021 Langer Cup Team of the Season.

Oscar Bryant was then named at hooker for PBC in the Queensland Open School Boys Final (Phil Hall Cup) against St Brendan’s College Yeppoon with Oskar Bryant scoring in the 33rd minute with a trade mark run out of dummy half to his left from ten metres out and eight metres in from the left corner post.

At the end of the 2021 season, Oskar Bryant was named at No. 15 in the Courier Mail Top 60 school boys from the GPS Rugby, AIC Rugby and Langer Cup competitions.

Oskar Bryant was named to start at hooker for the Northern Rivers Titans in Round One of the 2020 U18 Laurie Daley Cup against the Parramatta Eels at Cudgen however the match was cancelled due to the incredibly wet conditions in the area at that time.

Oskar Bryant started Round Two of the U18 Laurie Daley Cup at hooker against the Newcastle Knights in Ballina and was impressive including a great break through the centre of the ruck in the first half of around forty metres before he drew the Knights fullback to send fullback Jaylan DeGroot away to score.

Oskar Bryant also started at hooker in Round Three against the Central Coast Roosters and in Round Four against the Greater Northern Tigers recording a try assist when he threw the last pass to Noah Johannssen to score in the first half.

Oskar Bryant also started at hooker for the Round Five local derby against the North Coast Bulldogs and was his usual busy self in the centre of the ruck in both attack and defence.

One of the most recent matches that Oskar Bryant played in a Titans jersey was when he started from the bench for the Titans U18 side in their annual match against the Newcastle Knights SG Ball (U18) side in Coffs Harbour in January 2020.

Oskar Bryant started Round One of the 2020 NRRRL U18 competition at hooker as Cudgen travelled to Byron Bay to take on the Devils and also started at hooker in Round Three against the Bilambil Jets and in Round Five against the Bilambil Jets. After missing a number of rounds, Oskar Bryant started Round Eight against the Tweed Coast Raiders at hooker.

In Cudgen’s 2020 NRRRL U18 Major semi-final loss against Murwillumbah Oskar Bryant started at hooker and also started at hooker as Cudgen qualified for the 2020 NRRRL U18 Grand Final on the back of a 24 – 16 Preliminary Final victory over the Bilambil Jets.

Oskar Bryant recorded a first half try assist in the match when he darted out of dummy half to his right from fifty metres out, splitting the Jets defence right down the middle before drawing the fullback passing to his left to send his support runner away to score.

Oskar Bryant also started at hooker in the 2020 NRRRL U18 Grand Final and produced some telling dummy half runs through the centre of the ruck as Cudgen became Premiers on the back of a 28 – 16 win over Murwillumbah in a bad tempered match.

Oskar Bryant made his deserved NRRRL First Grade debut for the Cudgen Hornets in Round Six starting at half back against the Tweed Coast Raiders.

In a sign of the faith that Cudgen have in him, Oskar Bryant started from the bench in the Hornets 2020 NRRRL First Grade Elimination Final loss to the Bilambil Jets.

Also in 2020 Oskar Bryant was part of the PBC Langer Cup Open A school boy rugby league squad, where he operated primarily in the dummy half role. In PBC’s first trial after the Covid 19 pandemic, Oskar Bryant started at hooker for the PBC A side that played against the PBC B side.

Oskar Bryant started Round One of the Langer Cup on the bench as PBC took on Ipswich State High School and made an instant impact when he came on late in the first half, making a break through the centre of the ruck after running out of dummy half to the right of the play the ball. PBC scored two plays later with the Keebra Park defence still in disarray after Oskar Bryant’s line break.

Oskar Bryant was at it again early in the second half when he kicked down the centre of the field from dummy half, with the kick travelling sixty metres forcing the Ipswich fullback to bring the ball out of the in goal, with Oskar Bryant being one of the tacklers who brought him down less than a metre out. From the subsequent play the ball three PBC defenders, including Oskar Bryant forced the Keebra Park defender back into the in goal to force a goal line drop out.

Oskar Bryant in fact crossed the line in the second half when close to the line he dummied to his right before diving over but the potential try was called back when Reef Sommerville was adjudged (I am not sure why) to have interfered with the marker.

Oskar Bryant also started from the bench in Round Two of the 2020 Langer Cup and made a big difference when he came on, scoring in both halves in the 18 all draw. Oskar Bryant’s first try came in the dying moments of the first half. Oskar Bryant took off out of dummy half to his left charging five metres to score between two Wavell SHS defenders fifteen metres to the left of the up rights.

Oskar Bryant completed his double mid-way through the second half. Two metres out from the line just to the left of the up rights, Oskar Bryant got into dummy half and after skipping out to his left, Oskar Bryant shaped to pass to his left (it was not a dummy per say) before diving over.

After missing Round Three Oskar Bryant started from the bench in the Round Four local derby against Keebra Park and also started from the bench in Round Five against Marsden State High School and recorded a second half try assist when he produced some good footwork and pass out of dummy half to put his older brother Parker over under the posts.

Oskar Bryant also started on the bench 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.

Oskar Bryant started the 2020 Langer Cup Grand Final from the bench row for PBC as they defeated Keebra Park 16 – 8 in a high quality match impressing with his high energy performance and also his short kicking game out of dummy half which resulted twice in Keebra Park having to restart play from a drop out.

In the Courier Mail 2020 Langer Cup Team of the Year, Oskar Bryant was named in starting side at hooker and in the Courier Mail 2020 Top 30 South East Queensland school boy rugby/rugby league list Oskar Bryant was named at No. 12.

In the Queensland School Boys Final against Kirwan State High School Oskar Bryant started on the bench as PBC travelled to take on their North Queensland based opponents and as usual added urgency and enthusiasm to the PBC when he came in into the dummy half role.

Oskar Bryant was also one of PBC’s try scorers in their 24 – 20 loss. Late in the second half, Oskar Bryant went into dummy half a metres out from the line. When the ball was played, Oskar Bryant took a couple of steps out of dummy half to the right of the play the ball and threw an extravagant dummy to his right only dive over next to the left upright. When I say next to the left upright, I literally mean right next to the left upright and it looked left he hit the upright as he was forcing his way over with two defenders trying to prevent him from scoring.

The young red headed hooker signed a multi-year contract with the Titans after an outstanding 2019 season with the Andrew Johns Cup premiership winning U16 Northern Rivers Titans side and his subsequent selection in the New South Wales Country U16 side which successfully undertook a three match tour of the United Kingdom in October 2019.

Oskar Bryant’s first match for the Titans was when he started on the interchange bench for the Titans U16 squad in their early October 2019 match against PNG at Pizzey Park with the Titans running out big winners in the match.

In the 2019 U16 Andrew Johns Cup competition, Oskar Bryant started at hooker in all of the Northern Rivers Titans matches also scoring four tries including a double against the Greater Northern Tigers in Round Five and tries against and Newcastle in Round One and Central Coast in Round Four.

Post that competition, Oskar Bryant was selected at hooker in the 2019 New South Wales Country U16 side and started at hooker for them as they took on the U16 New South Wales Harold Matthew Cup representative side in a curtain raiser to the Penrith/Warriors NRL match at Penrith Park.

Oskar Bryant was Country’s sole try scorer in the match when he dived over from close range in the second half to the Country within two points. Oskar Bryant also received the Players Player Award post-match.

After that match, Oskar Bryant was selected in the New South Wales U16 side that defeated a U16 Pasifika team 36 – 6 at Belmore Sports Ground on Sunday 9 June with Oskar Bryant starting the match on the bench.

Oskar Bryant was part of the New South Wales Country U16 side that embarked on a three match tour of the United Kingdom flying out in mid-November from Sydney. In Game One of the tour Oskar Bryant started at hooker and had a try assist as NSW Country defeated the Community Lions 62 – 0.

In the first half Oskar Bryant took off from dummy half splitting the defence directly down the middle from around seventy metres out from the line and drew the fullback before sending a pass away to his left to send the NSW fullback away to score under the posts. Oskar Bryant also started Game Two at hooker as the NSW Country side defeated the Leeds Rhino’s 32 – 10.

Oskar Bryant also started at hooker in Game Three of the New South Wales Country U16’s tour of the UK as they finished undefeated on the back of a 62 – 6 victory over a British Community Lions squad consisting of players from the Lancashire and Cumbria region of England.

Post the 2019 Andrew Johns Cup competition, Oskar Bryant moved directly to the NRRRL U18 side even though he was still U16 eligible, starting from the bench in Round Three and scoring a double against Murwillumbah to cap an outstanding debut. Oskar Bryant also scored in Round Five against Ballina when once again he started from the bench.

Oskar Bryant made his first NRRRL U18 start in Round Fourteen against Byron Bay starting the match against the Devils at hooker and scoring as well and added a further try in Round Sixteen against Murwillumbah.

Oskar Bryant kicked his first NRRRL U18 goals in Round Eleven when he kicked three goals for as many attempts for Cudgen as they drew 18 all with Casino RSM.

In total in the 2019 NRRRL U18 regular season competition this season Oskar Bryant played in eight matches, scoring twenty two points from four tries and three goals.

Oskar Bryant was also part of the dominant Cudgen 2019 U16 Group 18 side that won their Grand Final 44 – 6 against Byron Bay/Lennox Head.

Prior to 2019 Oskar Bryant represented Group 18 twice, at the U15 level in 2018 and in the U14’s in 2017.

Oskar Bryant was also part of the St Joseph’s College Benora Point school boy rugby league side in 2019 and picked up a couple of Player of the Match awards in their matches including in the Grand Final of the New South Wales All Schools U16 competition.

The team travelled to Sydney for the 75th year of the competition. After not winning a game in 2018 the Banora Point U16 side defeated Bega 32 - 6 and then Red Bend Forbes who won it last year 18 - 0 in their opening two matches.

A forfeit from the Manly district, Banora Point Mulwaree 18 - 0 in the semi-final. The Grand Final against Wadalba from the Central Coast was a tough contest and after trailing 4 -nil early Banora Point scored two tries for a 10 - 4 victory with, as previously noted, Oskar Bryant being named Player of the Final.

In 2018 from St Joseph’s College Banora Point Oskar Bryant was chosen from the Lismore Diocese to represent the U15 Northern Country Catholic Colleges Presidents squad.

mdrew

28-12-22, 08:03 AM

Great to see Ty Kilpatrick resign for the Cudgen Hornets in 2023 with the young front rower moving up to the Cudgen NRRRL First Grade squad.

mdrew

28-12-22, 08:29 AM

Northern NSW young front rower Ethan Schutlz will line up for the Tweed Heads Seagulls U18 MM Cup squad in 2023 after a 2022 season that saw him line-up for the Tweed Heads Seagulls U18 NRRRL side.

mdrew

28-12-22, 09:12 AM

Ormeau Shearers front rower or second rower Kees Cassidy had a strong season in the GCRL U18 Division One competition in 2022 and after playing a number of matches off the bench for the Tweed Heads MM Cup side in 2022 he will be looking to break into the Seagulls starting MM Cup side in 2023.

mdrew

28-12-22, 09:51 AM

After a strong season for the Cudgen Hornets in the 2022 NRRRL U18 competition second rower Hayden Wilson will move up to the Hornets NRRRL First Grade squad in 2023.

mdrew

28-12-22, 05:32 PM

Thor Barnes kicked off the 2022 season by starting in the centres for the Tweed Heads Seagulls CC Cup side and then had a stellar GCRL U16 Division One campaign with the Beaudesert Kingfishers including being named their Best and Fairest.

In 2023 Thor Barnes moves up to the Seagulls U18 MM Cup side.

mdrew

29-12-22, 07:45 AM

Teddy Foster's ability to play anywhere in the outside backs will come in handy for the Tweed Heads Seagulls MM Cup side in 2023.

For Burleigh in the GCRK U18 Division One competition and St Michael's in the Titans Cup Teddy Foster spent time at fullback, in the centres and on the wing.

mdrew

29-12-22, 09:17 AM

Front rower or lock Tom Summer had a strong 2022 season starting off in the Tweed Heads Seagulls CC Cup side before playing well for the Keebra Park SHS Langer Cup Reserve side.

In 2023 Tom Summer moves up to the Seagulls MM Cup squad and he is also MM Cup eligible in 2024.

mdrew

29-12-22, 09:47 AM

Great to see a number of Beaudesert Kingfishers players named in the 2023 Tweed Heads Seagulls CC Cup squad including the hard working Lincoln Gibbons.

mdrew

29-12-22, 10:09 AM

Big, strong and tough front rower Malakai Mosaati has been named in the 2023 Tweed Heads Seagulls CC Cup side after a 2022 season that saw him start in the front row for the Currumbin Eagles last minute Grand Final winning GCRL U15 Division One side and also playing well for PBC SHS.

mdrew

29-12-22, 10:43 AM

Hayden Watson had an outstanding 2022 season in the Gold Coast Rugby League U15 Division One competition for the Beaudesert Kingfishers including scoring the opening try of the Grand Final when he collected the ball from a rebounded kick of his own down a wide right blindside.

At the conclusion of the season Hayden Watson was named the 2022 Beaudesert Kingfishers U15 Division One joint Best and Fairest.

Hayden Watson who also played well for Marsden SHS and is also a representative level Oztag and touch player will commence the 2023 season as part of the Tweed Heads Seagulls U16 Cyril Connell Cup squad.

mdrew

29-12-22, 11:14 AM

Powerful outside back Fui Fui Taito who started for the Beaudesert Kingfishers in the GCRL U15 Division One Grand Final has been named in the 2023 Tweed Heads Seagulls U16 Cyril Connell Cup squad.

mdrew

29-12-22, 11:54 AM

Patrick Knight who received the 2022 Beaudesert Kingfishers U15 Division One coaches award as well as starting in their tough last minute Grand Final loss has been named in the 2023 Tweed Heads Seagulls U16 Cyril Connell Cup squad.

Patrick Knight also attends the Titans partnered Marsden SHS as part of their Elite Rugby League Academy Program.

mdrew

29-12-22, 12:18 PM

In 2022 Reece Gorman was named the Beaudesert Kingfishers U15 GCRL Best and he also started in the Grand Final against the Currumbin Eagles.

In 2023 Reece Gorman will start the season as part of the Tweed Heads Seagulls U16 Cyril Connell Cup squad and will also play for Marsden SHS in the Walters Cup School Boy Rugby League competition.

mdrew

29-12-22, 12:36 PM

The 2023 School Boy Langer Cup competition is still a long way away but it is never too early to start to work through some young players who will be in line for their debut and one young player who will push for playing time in the Titans partnered Marsden SHS Langer Cup side in powerful front rower Emmanuel Asomua who in 2022 stood out for the Marsden SHS Walters Cup School Boy side including being named in the front row in the 2022 Courier Mail Walters Cup School Boy Team of the Year.

mdrew

29-12-22, 01:10 PM

Powerful young front rower Isopo Taunuu was a stand-out for Keebra Park SHS in their outstanding and highly successful 2022 School Boy Walter Cup campaign and in 2023 the young man who was named in the front row in the 2022 Courier Mail Walters Cup Team of the Year will be pushing for a Langer Cup Open A debut in the famous Keebra Park SHS School Boy jersey.

mdrew

29-12-22, 01:52 PM

The 2022 Keebra Park SHS Walters Cup school boy was stacked with stars of the future as they won both the Walters Cup and Qld U16 School Boy Cup going through undefeated.

One player however who was one of the unsung hero's was centre Bailey Seccombe who went about his work, especially defensively, with a minimium of fuss.

Bailey Seccombe will start the 2023 season as part of the Burleigh Bears MM Cup squad before pushing for a spot in the Keebra Park SHS Langer Cup Open A squad.

mdrew

29-12-22, 02:35 PM

The 2022 Walters Cup competition was full of talented dummy half's but one that went under the radar was Marsden SHS's Paea Pulekia.

mdrew

29-12-22, 03:39 PM

One player to keep an eye on in the 2023 School Boy Langer Cup competition is PBC SHS front rower Hai Hiawe King who was one of PBC SHS's best in the 2022 Walters Cup competition.

The tough hard running tall young front rower will be one to watch in 2023 and beyond.

mdrew

29-12-22, 05:45 PM

Titans partnered Marsden SHS has a rich tradition of producing talented players with more than a few already linked to the Titans and another one on the production line at Marsden SHS is Anthony Solomon who usually plays at five eight, including for the 2022 Ipswich Jets CC Cup squad.

For Marsden SHS in 2022 the athletic Anthony Solomon moved to lock and with his ball playing ability made an immediate impact in the Walters Cup competition including being named on the bench in the 2022 Courier Mail Walters Cup Team of the Year.

In 2023 Anthony Solomon will push for playing time in the Marsden SHS Langer Cup squad as well as playing for Goodna in the Ipswich Rugby League U17 Division One competition.

mdrew

30-12-22, 07:17 AM

Current NRL wingers are big and strong who are required to come off their wing and make ground through the centre of the ruck and considering that criteria the Titans may have one in their own backyard in former Darling Downs youngster Barney Litidamu who has size speed and power in abundance.

In 2022 Barney Litidamu was outstanding for the Tweed Heads Seagulls in the MM Cup and for PBC SHS in the Langer Cup and he will back up once again for both of those teams in 2023.

mdrew

30-12-22, 07:45 AM

He may not have been able to break into the Marsden SHS Open A Langer Cup side in 2022 but that should not in any way discount from just how good left centre Tuvaka Palu is with the young man putting in an outstanding performance in the 2022 Langer Reserve Grand Final against PBC SHS.

mdrew

30-12-22, 09:55 AM

For me one of the best players in the 2022 Langer Reserve competition was Marsden SHS second rower Cairo Rangihuna-Ruri including a dominant Grand Final performance against PBC.

The big, tall young man originally from Canterbury in New Zealand was outstanding in his first season in Australia and Cairo Rangihuna-Ruri will only be better in 2023 when he should be a key member of the Marsden SHS Langer Cup Open A forward pack after playing a number of matches off the bench in 2022.

mdrew

30-12-22, 10:22 AM

Well done to Sam McAlister from Marymount College who was awarded the 2022 Scott Casselle With Spirit Award.

mdrew

30-12-22, 10:56 AM

Good to see St Johns College Woodlawn and Tweed Coast Raiders junior Elliott Farrell named in the 2023 Northern Rivers Titans U16 Andrew Johns Cup squad.

mdrew

30-12-22, 11:14 AM

Recently Titan Oscar Laffranchi was named the Marymount College Year Nine/Ten 2022 Best and Fairest Player.

mdrew

30-12-22, 11:47 AM

The question is not whether Grafton Ghost and McAuley College student Kyron Nipperess will make an impact in the 2023 Northern Rivers Titans U16 Andrew Johns Cup squad, that is a given, the question is whether it will be from fullback or five eight.

mdrew

30-12-22, 12:05 PM

Good to see Murwillumbah lock Connor Smith named in the 2023 Northern Rivers Titans 2023 U18 Laudie Daley Cup squad.

mdrew

30-12-22, 02:52 PM

Great to hear that the Titans U17 and U19 sides will play the Newcastle Knights in Coffs Harbour in January 2023 just like that had done on an annual basis prior to Covid.

The week after the Titans U17 cohort will play a Brisbane Bronco's U17 squad, in another good test for the Future Titans.

mdrew

30-12-22, 03:13 PM

Jack Connors had a strong 2022 season including starting at five eight for the Burleigh Bears in their GCR LU14 Division One Grand Final against the Southport Tigers.

Jack Connors also played for the SQ Sharks in the U14 National Youth Touch Championships.

mdrew

31-12-22, 07:08 AM

Immanuel Kalekale was initially contracted to the Titans until the end of the 2022 season which was to the completion of Immanuel Kalekale’s senior year at Keebra Park SHS and the final year of his U18 eligibility but in early 2022 Immanuel Kalekale signed an extended contract with the Titans that will take him to the end of the 2024 season at least. Immanuel Kalekale’s new two year contract saw him join the Titans NRL side for the 2022/23 NRL off-season when it kicked off on November 1, 2022, on a train and trial basis.

In early December 2022 Immanuel Kalekale took part in a joint training session between the Titans JTS contracted players and the Titans NRL off-season training squad. The 2022/23 off-season also saw Immanuel Kalekale also undertake a number of sessions with the Burleigh Bears Queensland Cup squad.

In late 2022 Immanuel Kalekale was selected in the 2023 Burleigh Bears Hastings Deering’s Colts squad and Immanuel Kalekale is also Colts eligible in 2024.

In late January 2022 Immanuel Kalekale started from the bench for the Titans U19 side in a trial match at Pizzey Park against the Burleigh Hastings Deering’s Colts side with Immanuel Kalakale coming off the bench halfway through the first half to operate in the front row.

Immanuel Kalekale was one of the Titans better performers overall and the Titans best forward in the match including scoring in the 38th minute when on the right side of the field Immanuel Kalekale ran into a gap around ten minutes and got a great double pumped pass from is inside from Thomas Weaver. Upon contact with the defensive line and still eight metres out Immanuel Kalekale spun 360 degrees counter clockwise to break contact before Immanuel Kalekale rumbled forward to crash over ten metres out from the right upright.

Immanuel Kalekale made a strong ten metre burst in the 27th minute when he ran off the dummy half to the right of the play the ball to get the ball within thirty minutes of the try line. Then Immanuel Kalekale backed that run up three minutes later in the 30th minute to get the ball within ten metres of the try line.

Immanuel Kalekale continued his strong first half in the 35th minute when he ran back inside coming underneath Tom Weaver, receiving the ball eighteen metres out and pushing his way to within two metres of the line before his forward momentum was finally halted.

After coming back on for his second stint on the field in the second half, in the 74th minute, Immanuel Kalekale got the ball out to the thirty metre mark after charging onto the ball from the Burleigh kick-off after Jack Cullen’s close range try.

In late July 2022 Immanuel Kalekale started from the bench for a Titans U19 side that played their annual match against the North Queensland Cowboys that was played as a curtain raiser at Cbus Stadium to the Titans Round Twenty NRL match against the Canberra Raiders with Immanuel Kalekale coming in the match in the in the 30th minute to operate in the front row.

The 189cm, 105kg powerhouse Immanuel Kalekale attended the renowned Auckland High School, Kelston Boys High School, playing both rugby and rugby league prior to his move over to the Gold Coast in time for the 2021 season.

In mid-December 2021 Immanuel Kalekale had the opportunity to train with the Titans NRL squad in a joint training session between the Titans NRL squad and the Titans JTS Program Squads.

In late October 2021 Immanuel Kalekale was named in the powerful Burleigh Bears 2022 U18 MM Cup squad for the second season in a row.

Round One of the 2022 MM Cup competition saw Immanuel Kalekale named on the bench for the Burleigh Bears against the Easts Tigers however the match was rained out due to extreme weather conditions.

Immanuel Kalekale was then named to start on the bench for Round Two against the Souths Logan Magpies with Immanuel Kalekale coming off the bench to operate in the front row just after mid-way through the first half.

Immanuel Kalekale made a great charge in the 46th minute when after receiving the ball forty metres out from the try line and to the left of the dummy half Immanuel Kalekale broke four tackles in a twenty nine metre charge to get the ball to within eleven metres of the try line. Xavier Asi scored in the left corner two tackles later.

Immanuel Kalekale also was named to start from the bench in Round Three against the Norths Devils however Immanuel Kalekale ended up starting the match in the front row with Immanuel Kalekale taking the second hit-up of the match after Norths had kicked-off.

Immanuel Kalekale was then named on the bench for Round Six 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.

Immanuel Kalekale was also named to start from the bench in the Round Seven local derby against the Tweed Heads Seagulls however he was a late scratching from the match.

Immanuel Kalekale was named in the front row for the Burleigh Bears second 2022 trial against the Tweed Heads Seagulls and made the opening tackle from the kick-off in conjunction with front row partner Joseph Shannon.

The 11th minute saw Immanuel Kalekale make a strong run of fifteen when he took the hit-up to the right of the dummy half to take the ball well over the halfway mark and then in the 13th Immanuel Kalekale made another strong run on this occasion making ten metres into a set Seagulls defensive line after Burleigh received a penalty from a Seagulls which went over the dead ball line on the full.

Immanuel Kalekale’s strong match continued in the 20th minute with a twelve metre effort to the right of the dummy half to get the ball to within twenty eight metres of the try line.

Immanuel Kalekale also started from the bench for Burleigh’s final trial against the Western Clydesdales coming into the match to play in the front row late in the first half with Immanuel Kalekale scoring an outstanding solo try.

In the 55th minute Immanuel Kalekale charged onto the ball two passes off a Burleigh penalty restart twenty metres out from the try line. Since twelve metres from the line, Immanuel Kalekale bumped of the initial three defenders to tried to tackle him and then he brushed off three more around ten metres out before Immanuel Kalekale carried four more defenders over the try line to get the ball down twelve metres in from the right corner.

Immanuel Kalekale in the 38th minute produced a great charge of twenty one metres, breaking five tackles with the run commencing on his own ten metre mark. Then a minute later Immanuel Kalekale as at it again with a sixteen metre effort to get the ball to near the halfway mark.

In March 2022 Immanuel Kalekale was selected in the South Coast School Boy Rugby League U18 Representative side after successfully negotiating the trials starting Match One against Northern from the bench, coming on to operate in the front row in the 14th minute.

Probably Immanuel Kalekale’s best run of the match came in the 27th minute when he made eighteen metres to get within eight metres of the try line after he had charged onto the ball to the right of the play the ball.

Immanuel Kalekale also started from the bench in Match Two against Met North coming on in the 10th minute to operate in the front row with Immanuel Kalekale’s first run coming almost immediately when he returned the ball from a Met North goal line drop-out with Immanuel Kalekale getting the ball back to within twenty eight metres of the try line.

Immanuel Kalekale made another strong hit-up in the 15th minute when he made twelve metres after receiving the ball to the right of the dummy half. The just two minutes later in the 17th minute Immanuel Kalekale received the ball to the right of the play the ball just inside his own territory and after bumping off one would be tackler just inside Met North territory Immanuel Kalekale was able to extend his run a further ten metres after the initial defensive contact.

At the conclusion of the Championships Immanuel Kalekale was named in the 2022 Queensland Open School Boy Rugby League Representative side.

Immanuel Kalekale started from the bench in Queensland’s opening round of the Championships against the Australian Capital Territory with Immanuel Kalekale coming off the bench to operate in the front row in the 18th minute.

Immanuel Kalekale also came off the bench in Match Two being the semi-final against NSW CIS with Immanuel Kalekale coming onto the field in the 23rd minute to operate in the front row.

Immanuel Kalekale scored a strong try in the 57th minute when from ten metres from the try lien and to the left of the left the ball Immanuel Kalekale charged onto the ball and burst through three tackles to score next to the left upright.

Not long after coming onto the field being in the 23rd minute, Immanuel Kalekale made strong front on tackle on the ACT No. 10 with Immanuel Kalekale’s heavy initial contact stopping him in his tracks. Then just after that occurrence Immanuel Kalekale made a strong twenty five metre run from the right of the play the ball from right on the halfway mark.

Immanuel Kalekale added another strong run in the 45th minute when from the right of the play the ball and twenty five metres from his own try line Immanuel Kalekale cut back towards the area behind the markers and broke three tackles to get the ball to the halfway mark.

Unfortunately due to an injury suffered in the semi-final Immanuel Kalekale missed Queensland Grand Final victory against NSW CHS.

Round One of the 2022 Langer Cup School Boy competition saw Immanuel Kalekale start from the bench for Keebra Park State High School against Ipswich State High School with Immanuel Kalekale making a huge charge after Ipswich SHS kicked off to get the second half underway.

Immanuel Kalekale then moved into the starting side in the front row in Round Two against Coombabah State High School with Immanuel Kalekale taking the third hit-up of the match.

Immanuel Kalekale almost scored in the 46th minute but he was held up over the try line after charging at the line from sixteen metres out and breaking four tackles before the line.

Immanuel Kalekale made another strong charge in the 9th minute from the second hit-up from the kick-off to Keebra Park SHS’s opening try. Immanuel Kalekale burst between two defenders but he was tripped up and went down on one knee but was back p and running in a heartbeat to make a further six metres to make his run fourteen metres gained in total.

Immanuel Kalekale was at it again in the 15th minute with a charge to the right of the play the ball and forty metres out with Immanuel Kalekale cutting back to behind the play the ball to make fourteen metres.

Immanuel Kalekale continued his strong efforts with the ball in the 45th minute from the kick-off return of Jaxon Yow’s try with Immanuel Kalekale getting the ball twenty eight metres away from his own try line.

Immanuel Kalekale had another strong kick-off return in the 52nd minute on that occasion getting the ball thirty two metres away from his own line after Taniela Mapusua-Lotaki’s try. Immanuel Kalekale also made it to thirty two metres from his own try line in the 58th minute from yet another kick-off return.

As was evidenced in the 55th minute Immanuel Kalekale did not just no damage returning kicks, as in the 55th minute Immanuel Kalekale cut back underneath Arama Hau and burst through two tackles and make sixteen metres to get the ball ten metres into Coombabah SHS territory.

Immanuel Kalekale continued in the front row in Round Three against Marsden State High School with Immanuel Kalekale involved in the opening tackle of the match after Keebra Park SHS had kicked-off to get the match underway. Immanuel Kalekale then backed up to make the third tackle of the match.

Immanuel Kalekale made a good defensive read in the 46th minute when after Marsden SHS appeared to his throwing the ball wide to their right the halfback tried to cut back towards the centre of the field but Immanuel Kalekale had identified the threat and raced across to his left and smashed the halfback with a heavy front on tackle.

Immanuel Kalekale was named on the Keebra Park SHS extended bench for their Langer Cup Quarter Final against Marymount Collage as well as the Semi-final against PBC SHS.

At the completion of the 2022 School Boy Langer Cup competition Immanuel Kalekale was named in the front row in the 2022 Courier Mail Langer Cup Team of the Season. Immanuel Kalekale was also named as the 25th best School Boy Rugby League or Rugby player in the 2022 Courier Mail Top 30 school boys.

2022 saw Immanuel Kalekale line-up once again for the Nerang Roosters in the Gold Coast Rugby League U18 Division One competition with his first 2022 match in Roosters colours coming in Round Five when Immanuel Kalekale was named to come off the bench against the Helensvale Hornets as Nerang chased back to back Premierships but unfortunately Immanuel Kalekale was ruled out of the match late in the week.

Round Nine against the Burleigh Bears saw Immanuel Kalekale start from the bench with Immanuel Kalekale a barnstorming try in the 49th minute. Immanuel Kalekale charged onto the ball to the right of the play the ball thirty three metres out from the line after a short Burleigh kick-off bursting through three defenders one of whom almost got Immanuel Kalekale to ground but he was able to maintain his balance and then the Burleigh hooker tried to effect a one on one strip but Immanuel Kalekale was just too strong and shrugged him off and kept progressing towards the try line before crashing over two metres to the left of the uprights as the Bears fullback tried in vain to prevent Immanuel Kalekale from scoring.

Immanuel Kalekale came onto the field in the 26th minute to operate in the front row with is first run shortly after when he carried the ball fifteen metres into Burleigh territory after taking possession to the right of the play the ball.

After missing a number of rounds, Immanuel Kalekale came off the bench in Round Fourteen against the Ormeau Shearers with Immanuel Kalekale scoring an astonishing try in the 55th minute after coming on to operate in the front row in the 48th minute.

In the 55th minute Immanuel Kalekale received the ball from his left thirty five metres out and as a result of a strong left arm fend Immanuel Kalekale got on the outside of the Shearers defensive line and charged down the right touchline. When still twenty metres out Immanuel Kalekale beat a second defender with a left arm fend and used a left arm fend to beat a third ten metres out before getting the ball down in the left corner. Immanuel Kalekale then stepped up to take the conversion but the ball fell short of the posts to be waved away.

Immanuel Kalekale then started from the bench in Round Sixteen against the Burleigh Bears with Immanuel Kalekale scoring in the 41st minute when after receiving the ball to the left of the play the ball around eight metres out Immanuel Kalekale held off one defender with his right arm and crashed over to score ten metres in from the left corner post.

In the 26th minute from deep inside his own territory Immanuel Kalekale charged onto the ball to the left of the play with the ball with Immanuel Kalekale able to get the ball out of Nerang’s twenty metre area as a result of making twelve metres. Then two tackles later Immanuel Kalekale made a further twelve metres after once again running onto the ball to the left of the play the ball with Immanuel Kalekale getting the ball two metres into Burleigh territory.

After missing a number of rounds through injury Immanuel Kalekale started at right second row in the 2022 GCRL U18 Division One Preliminary Final against the Helensvale Hornets as the Nerang Roosters qualified for the Grand Final on the back of a 26 – 18 victory.

Immanuel Kalekale made his first run of the match in the 7th minute when from just inside his own territory Immanuel Kalekale ran the ball down the right channel and after bumping off one defender Immanuel Kalekale got away a right arm off-load to his inside.

Then in the 32nd minute Immanuel Kalekale charged onto the ball on the right side of the field from twelve metres out and whilst still running to his right Immanuel Kalekale whilst in contact with two defenders Immanuel Kalekale got to the try line but was ultimately forced back a metre near the right corner.

The 2022 Gold Coast Rugby League U18 Division One Grand Final saw Immanuel Kalekale start at right second row for the Nerang Roosters with Immanuel Kalekale scoring a powerhouse try in the 36th minute when after receiving an off-load eight metres out and on the right side of the field, Immanuel Kalekale took off from a standing start and broke through four tackles to crash over to score mid-way between the goal posts and corner post on the right side of the field.

Immanuel Kalekale had come close to scoring earlier in the match in the 6th minute when he juggled a difficult pass but as he was about to score in the right corner Immanuel Kalekale could not regain possession.

Immanuel Kalekale was also heavily involved in Dorian Lotaki’s 58th minute try which temporarily gave the Roosters the lead late in the match. After an eighteen metre charge from the right of the play the ball to around twelve metres out from the try line, Immanuel Kalekale with multiple defenders still on him, executed a lightning quick play the ball with Dorian Lotaki taking advantage of the still back peddling defensive line to crash over ten metres to the left of the uprights.

Inside the opening minute of the Grand Final the Eagles know that they had their hands full with Immanuel Kalekale when he charged into the ball to the right of the play the ball and made a twenty five metres line break to get the ball within twelve metres of the try line.

Immanuel Kalekale made another strong charge in the 22nd minute when from thirty eight metres out and to the left of the play the ball, Immanuel Kalekale rumbled sixteen metres downfield.

Immanuel Kalekale showed that he is also a hard hitter from a defensive perspective in the 18th minute when Immanuel Kalekale smashed one of the Eagles replacement front rowers (No. 17) just on the try line to prevent a Currumbin try.

Immanuel Kalekale executed another big tackle in the 34th minute in front of his own posts when Immanuel Kalekale smashed the Currumbin right second rower (No. 11) with the ball flying loose with Nerang hooker Dorian Lotaki picking up the ball just metres out from the Nerang try line and making twenty metres downfield.

Immanuel Kalekale made his first appearance in a Titans jersey for the Titans U17 side that played their annual match against the Newcastle Knights in Coffs Harbour in January 2021 with Immanuel Kalekale starting the match from the bench and coming on in the first half to play in the front row for the Titans.

Immanuel Kalekale made a positive impact when he came on as the Titans were impressive in their 32 – 20 victory including an exceptional charge late in the match where he made at least thirteen metres through the middle of the Knights forward pack. Overall it was an impressive Titans debut for Immanuel Kalekale punctuated by some powerful hit-ups and a high work rate in both attack and defence.

Immanuel Kalekale’s first hit-out with the 2021 Burleigh Bears MM Cup side came when he started on the bench in the Bears second trial against the Easts Tigers at Langland’s Park. Immanuel Kalekale did not come into the match until the final twenty minutes, playing in the front row but what a cameo appearance he had.

Immanuel Kalakale’s initial contribution was a strong twenty metre charge directly into the heart of the Tigers forward pack off a Titans penalty restart just inside Tigers territory. Immanuel Kalekale contributed another strong charge in the 65th minute when he took the hit-up from the Easts Tigers kick-off from Syris Schmidt’s try. In the same set of six Immanuel Kalekale made fifteen more metres from another hit-up and was awarded a penalty when the Easts Tigers defence did not allow him to his feet quickly enough.

In Round One of the 2021 MM Cup competition, Immanuel Kalekale started from the bench against the Souths Logan Magpies and as him did in the trial against Easts, Immanuel Kalekale produced an impressive display starting with a moment in the 28th minute when a ball was kicked into his shins, Immanuel Kalekale retrieved the bouncing ball bursting twenty metres downfield from a standing start, breaking two tackles along the way. The second attempted tackle actually tripped Immanuel Kalekale who went to ground but was not held and whilst siting down Immanuel Kalekale was able to off-load for Burleigh to make more metres.

In the final minute of the first half after Burleigh had absorbed a significant amount of pressure on their own try line, Immanuel Kalekale was the release valve for the pressure with a strong ten metre run which commended from within his own twenty metre area, breaking four tackles to give Burleigh some breathing space and room to operate.

After missing a number of weeks, Immanuel Kalekale was named on the Bears extended bench for Round Five against the Ipswich Jets however he started the match from the bench and scored as Burleigh overcame a 20 – 0 first half deficit to record a come from behind 44 – 26 win.

Immanuel Kalekale’s try in the 32nd minute was one of the more impressive front row tries that I have seen. Immanuel Kalekale received the ball twelve metres out from the try line to the left of the play the ball with a set defensive line in front of him. Immanuel Kalekale engaged the initial defender with a left arm fend ten metres out before engaging two additional defenders Jets five metres out from the line. Initially it looked like the three Jets defenders would be able to get Immanuel Kalekale to the ground but Immanuel Kalekale kept fighting the defenders and was able to get the ball down under the posts still under heavy pressure.

In relation to club rugby league in 2021 Immanuel Kalekale lined up for the Nerang Roosters in the Gold Coast Rugby League U18 Division One competition with his first appearance for the Roosters coming in Round Three when he started from the bench as the Roosters defeated Runaway Bay 22 - 4.

In Round Five against the Southport Tigers, Immanuel Kalekale started at lock in the Roosters 34 – 12 victory before being named on the bench in Round Seven against Mudgeeraba. Round Ten against the Runaway Bay Seagulls saw Immanuel Kalekale named to start from the bench however he was a late scratching from the match.

Immanuel Kalekale moved to lock in Round Ten against the Burleigh Bears and scored a strong try in the 15th minute and also kicked Nerang’s final conversion of the match with the kick being taken just to the left of the uprights.

In the 15th minute Immanuel Kalekale charged onto the ball from six metres out to the left of the dummy half and dragged four Burleigh defenders over the line to get the ball down next to the right upright in an exceptional display of size, power and pure strength.

Immanuel Kalekale produced another powerful run in the 55th minute from deep inside his own territory of thirty five metres with Immanuel Kalekale then producing a great right arm off-load to keep Nerang’s momentum going.

When rugby league recommenced on the Gold Coast in late August 2021 after the Covid 19 lockdown, Immanuel Kalekale was named to start in the second row for Nerang in Round Eleven against the Ormeau Shearers.

Round Twelve against the Southport Tigers saw Immanuel Kalekale named to start from the bench with Immanuel Kalekale scoring an outstanding solo try in the 17th minute. Immanuel Kalekale received the ball to the right of the play the ball eighteen metres from the line and engaged two defenders still around nine metres out. After he gained separation from the two defenders Immanuel Kalekale ran to his left pushing off another two defenders before dragging two more defenders over the line and getting the ball down adjacent to the left upright.

Immanuel Kalekale added a second try in the 44th minute when he was a recipient of a pass from Dorian Lotaki who had crossed the try line and waited for Immanuel Kalekale after a great 100 metre Nerang movement and outstanding work by Arama Hau and Jeremaiah Temapo.

The match even saw Immanuel Kalekale attempt a conversion in the 22nd minute from fifteen metres to the right of the goal posts but his attempt hit the left upright much to the delight of his team mates.

Immanuel Kalekale made an immediate contribution in the match when he came off the bench in the 16th minute when Immanuel Kalekale made his first run less than a minute after coming onto the field with the run accounting for eighteen metres. Immanuel Kalekale was awarded a penalty at the completion of his run when the Southport defence would not allow him to get to his feet in a timely fashion.

Immanuel Kalekale made an additional strong run in the 27th minute down the right side of the field with making twenty seven metres before he was brought to ground and once again the Southport defence held him down and Immanuel Kalekale was awarded another penalty.

Immanuel Kalekale moved back into the Nerang starting line-up in the front row in Round Thirteen against the Helensvale Hornets with Immanuel Kalekale making a number of strong charges including a thirty metre charge in the 20th minute from the kick-off after Nerang scored their second try.

Immanuel Kalekale then continued in the front row in Week Two of the 2021 GCRL U18 Division One Final’s series for the Roosters against the Helensvale Hornets scoring a typically powerhouse try in the 26th minute.

Immanuel Kalekale then started the 2021 GCRL U18 Division One Preliminary Final in the front row for the Roosters against the Ormeau Shearers and scored a powerful try in the 26th minute when after he received the ball twenty metres out, Immanuel Kalekale ran at the line and just prior to contact stepped off his left foot bumping off the initial defender. Immanuel Kalekale then beat three more defenders on the way to getting the ball down next to the left upright.

In the 2021 Gold Coast Rugby League U18 Division One Grand Final Immanuel Kalekale started in the front row for the Roosters side against the Helensvale Hornets and had an immediate impact on the match when he took the second hit-up of the match, breaking three tackles and making twenty metres to get the ball out to thirty five metres from his own line. Then in the 3rd minute, Immanuel Kalekale produced another strong run through the centre of the field, making ten metres to get the ball twenty metres out from his own line.

Immanuel Kalekale emphasised his strong first half in the final minute of the first half when after receiving an off-load from Dorian Mapusua-Lotaki, Immanuel Kalekale broke four tackles whilst making fifteen metres to get the ball into Helensvale territory.

Immanuel Kalekale continued his strong match in the 34th minute with a twenty metre charge that included breaking three tackles with the result being that Immanuel Kalekale was able to get the ball to within ten metres of the try line.

Immanuel Kalekale’s Grand Final performance deserved a try and he should have been awarded one in the 47th minute when he charged onto the ball to the right of the dummy half fifty five metres from the try line. After receipt of the ball Immanuel Kalekale immediately stepped off his left foot targeting the area directly behind the play the ball and going straight through the centre of the ruck untouched. When he approached the Hornets fullback, Immanuel Kalekale looked to beat him by rounding him to his right.

Immanuel Kalekale was eventually dragged down from behind just short of the try line and it looked for all money as if momentum had carried Immanuel Kalekale over the try line five metres in from the touchline but bizarrely the referee ruled a double movement much to the confusion of all of the players on the field, including the Helensvale players that had made the tackle.

In February 2021 Immanuel Kalekale took part in the South Coast Open school boy trials and was subsequently named in the South Coast Open A school boy side for the QSSRL U18 Championships as a result of his outstanding trial performances, however Immanuel Kalekale did not end up lining up for South Coast in the Championships.

2021 also saw Immanuel Kalekale line up for Keebra Park PBC State High School in the South East Queensland School Boy Langer Cup Open A competition starting Round One in the front row against Marsden State High School. It was an intense forward battle between the two Titans Partnered sides and Immanuel Kalekale was regularly in the thick of the action.

Immanuel Kalekale started Round Two against Mabel Park State High School in the front row and one of Keebra Park’s try scorers in their 30 – 14 victory with his try coming in the 15th minute when he charged onto the ball from three metres, skittling a number of defenders to get the ball down four metre to the right of the uprights.

Immanuel Kalekale made another big charge in in the 45th minute when he broke four tackles to get to within two metres of the line and then in the 49th minute Immanuel Kalekale came out of the line to put on a big front on hit in what was probably the best tackle of the match.

Immanuel Kalekale also started in the front row in Round Three against Ipswich State High School and made the opening tackle of the match after Keebra Park had kicked off. Immanuel Kalekale made the first of multiple strong runs in the 4th minute with hard charge and off-load to Blaze Mozer and then he was at it again in the 10th minute with another strong charge.

Immanuel Kalekale was named to continue in the front row in Round Four against St Mary’s College Toowoomba however he was a late omission from the Keebra Park side.

The Round Five local derby against PBC saw Immanuel Kalekale named to start in the front row and put in a dominating performance to lead Keebra Park to an impressive come from behind victory.

Immanuel Kalekale was simply devastating running the ball but it was two off-loads that also brought Immanuel Kalekale to prominence in the match, including an off-load in the 38th minute after he kept fighting in a tackle. Immanuel Kalekale was able to get his right arm free and off-load to his left to Delahia Wigmore who cut back to his right into space to score from ten metres out.

Immanuel Kalekale’s other significant off-load came in the 37th minute and came when he charged onto the ball on the left side of the field and whilst in contact with the line got a great right arm off-load away to left centre Taniela Mapusua-Lotaki who then off-loaded to Elijah Lui who broke away down the left touchline.

Immanuel Kalekale was also named to start in the front row in Round Six against Wavell State High School.

After the Langer Cup competition was suspended for a number of weeks due to a Covid 19 lock down, Immanuel Kalekale was named in the front row for Keebra Park State High School in their semi-final against PBC State High School however Immanuel Kalekale ended up starting the match off the bench.

Immanuel Kalekale producing some outstanding runs in the match, none better than in the 37th minute when Immanuel Kalekale produced a great charge from a PBC SHS goal line drop out.

In 2019 Immanuel Kalakale represented the Auckland Vulcans U15 representative side at the New Zealand Age Championships, starting in the front row in three of the Vulcans matches at those Championships, with those matches coming against the Counties Manukau Stingrays, the Central Vipers and the Wellington Orca’s.

In Auckland prior to moving to Australia Immanuel Kalekale played for the Glenora Bears rugby league club and in 2019 played representative rugby for the Rugby West U16 representative side.

mdrew

31-12-22, 08:05 AM

He is still on the very young side but in 2023 Marsden SHS are getting a very talented young rugby league and rugby player in young Sammy Samson who will join the Marsden SHS Rugby League Excellence Program.

Sammy Samson is a very smart Rugby No. 10.

mdrew

31-12-22, 08:29 AM

Titans partnered Marsden SHS has been one of the best academic and sporting schools in Australia and the partnership will benefit both the Titans and Marsden SHS students greatly.

One young player to keep an eye on is rugby league and rugby stand-out Kingzen Lefono, the powerful young man will be one to keep an eye on in 2023 and beyond.

In rugby Kingzen Lefono is an open side flanker (No. 7) including starting there for the Logan Saints in the 2022 BJRU U13 Grand Final against the Ipswich Rangers.

mdrew

31-12-22, 08:48 AM

Young fullback Leison Malu is another young player with talent with the young man named in the 2022 QRSS U12 Rugby League Boys Representative Team after representing South Coast.

mdrew

31-12-22, 09:12 AM

Another young player who has excelled in both rugby league and rugby is Tipene Moyes who in 2022 was named in the QRSS U12 Rugby League Boys Representative Team after representing South Coast as well as the Brisbane Junior Rugby U12 Representative Program.

Tipene Moyes was also named in the Queensland Maori Tuakana U12 Rugby League Merit Team.

mdrew

31-12-22, 09:38 AM

How good was Tyson Tai in 2022, he was named in the QRSS U12 Rugby League Boys Representative Team after representing Met East and also played "up" in the BJRU U13 Division One competition including starting at No. 12 (inside centre) for Logan Saints in their Grand Final against the Ipswich Rangers.

By the way Tyson Tai who plays at five eight in rugby league is already a very good goal kicker.

mdrew

01-01-23, 07:44 AM

Late in the 2022 season it was confirmed that Ben Liyou would train with the Titans NRL squad during the 2022/23 pre-season (and entire 2023 NRL season) on an NRL train and trial basis before Ben Liyou joins the Titans Top 30 NRL squad on a one year contract in 2024.

In early December 2022 Ben Liyou took part in a joint training session betweed the Titans JTS contracted players and the Titans NRL squad.

Ben Liyou undertook the 2021/22 pre-season with the Titans NRL squad as a member of the Titans U20 Rookie Squad looking to impress Justin Holbrook and the other Titans NRL coaches.

Ben Liyou started the Titans first 2022 NRL trial against the Brisbane Bronco’s at Cbus Stadium from the bench with Ben Liyou coming on to play an outstanding role in the front row for the Titans in the first half.

In his approximately fifty minutes on the field in his first NRL trial Ben Liyou ran for a very impressive 114 metres (thirty post contact), broke a tackle, played the ball at an average speed of 3.87 seconds and made nine tackles at a 90% tackling efficiency.

Round Three of the 2022 Queensland Cup season saw Ben Liyou named as the 18th man for the Tweed Heads Seagulls against the Norths Devils.

Ben Liyou made his Queensland Cup debut off the bench for the Tweed Heads Seagulls in the rescheduled 2022 Round Nine match against the Souths Logan Magpies.

Playing thirty minutes in his Queensland Cup debut against the Magpies in the front row, Ben Liyou ran for thirty nine metres (nineteen post contact), broke a tackle, played the ball at an average speed of 2.99 seconds and made twelve tackles at an impressive 100% tackling efficiency.

Ben Liyou in 2022 started the season playing for the Tweed Heads Seagulls Hastings Deering’s Colts squad, including playing in the Seagulls HDC trial against the Easts Tigers in mid-March.

Round One of the 2022 Hastings Deering’s Colts competition saw Ben Liyou named to start in the front row for the Tweed Heads Seagulls as they looked to get their season underway against the Norths Devils however the match was postponed due to the extreme weather conditions in northern New South Wales.

Ben Liyou was also named in the front row in the Round Two 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 Ben Liyou 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.

Ben Liyou continued in the front row in Round Three against the Townsville Blackhawks with his best moment coming I the 67th minute with a great line break from a run that accounted for forty metres and four tackle breaks. Initially Ben Liyou received the ball forty metres out from his own line after coming underneath his halfback and attacked the soft spot behind the play the ball. Ben Liyou initially contacted the Townsville defensive line just prior to the halfway mark and just kept pumping his legs and breaking tackles to get the ball to around twenty metres from the try line.

Ben Liyou also started in the front row in Round Six against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls and also started in the front row in Round Six against the Northern Pride taking the second hit-up of the match.

Ben Liyou also started in the front row in the rescheduled Round One match against the Norths Devils and took the second hit-up of the match.

Round Eight against the Western Clydesdales saw Ben Liyou start in the front row and took the second hit-up of the match to get the ball thirty metres out from his own line.

Ben Liyou also started in the front row in Round Nine against the Ipswich Jets as well as in Round Ten against the Mackay Cutters with Ben Liyou along with Jack Cullen and Kyhan Weir involved in the opening tackle of the match.

Ben Liyou also started in the front row in Round Eleven against the Central Queensland Capra’s and took the opening hit-up of the match from the kick-off in yet another strong display by the former Grafton Ghosts junior.

Ben Liyou also started in the front row in Round Twelve against the Redcliffe Dolphins with Ben Liyou taking the opening hit-up of the match from the kick-off. Ben Liyou then backed up that run up with taking the fourth hit-up to get the ball to forty metres out from his own try line with Ben Liyou then being awarded a penalty after being held down in the tackle.

Ben Liyou then came close to scoring in the 11th minute when after a strong run was held up over the try line.

Ben Liyou was also involved in a strong tackle in the 3rd minute when along with Jaylan De Groot and Jordan Lewis, Ben Liyou got hold of one of the Dolphin players bringing the ball away from his own line and drove him back ten metres into the in-goal.

Ben Liyou continued in the front row in Round Thirteen against the Sunshine Coast Falcons with Ben Liyou scoring in the 60th minute when from the right of the play the ball Ben Liyou ran onto a good no look short pass from Oskar Bryant to crash over from five metres out to the bell down mid-way between the corner post and goal posts on the left side of the field.

Ben Liyou continued in the front row in the Round Fourteen local derby against the Burleigh Bears with Ben Liyou scoring in the 12th minute when he charged onto a short ball out of dummy half from Oskar Bryant with Ben Liyou crashing over to score from four metres out and five metres to the right of the uprights.

Ben Liyou then did well in the 28th minute when after being hit heavily just after receiving the ball forty metres out from the try line, Ben Liyou was able to get away a right arm flick off-load whilst he was being lifted in the air.

Ben Liyou continued in the front row in Round Fifteen against the Northern Pride with Ben Liyou recording a try assist in the 73rd minute when from the right of the play and inside the attacking twenty metre area, Ben Liyou took the ball towards the defensive line before throwing a good short ball to his right to put debutant Travys Downton through a gap with Downton charging twelve metres to score adjacent to the right upright.

Ben Liyou also recorded a line break assist in the 25th minute when after engaging the Northern Pride defensive line Ben Liyou got a right arm off-load away to Kaleb Ngamanu to send the left centre who broke three tackles in a twenty five metre run on the left side of the field to get the ball into Northern Pride territory.

Ben Liyou executed a smart piece of play in the 58th minute when from thirty three metres out from the try line, Ben Liyou executed a one on one strip and then was able to charge twenty metres through the centre of the field only being tackled when he had gotten to within thirteen metres of the try line.

Ben Liyou in the 4th minute made a twelve metre charge to get the ball more than thirty metres out from his own try line after running on the ball to the right of the play the ball.

Ben Liyou also started in the front row in Round Sixteen against the Townsville Blackhawks as well as in Round Seventeen against the Easts Tigers.

Week One of the 2022 Hastings Deering’s Colts Final saw Ben Liyou start in the front row in the Elimination Final against the Easts Tigers with Ben Liyou making a strong tackle along with Jack Cullen in the 24th minute when the two Titans contracted forwards smashed the Easts front rower No. 10 just out from the try line in front of the posts with the ball flying loose as a result of the heavy initial contact.

Ben Liyou then started in the front row in Week Two of the Finals against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls with Ben Liyou taking the opening hit-up of the match.

Impressively Ben Liyou was one of a number of Titans rookie players that trained with the Titans NRL squad in the first five week block of the 2020/21 NRL pre-season.

In 2018 Ben Liyou signed a new two year deal with the Titans which saw him move to the Gold Coast continue his rugby league career at the start of the 2019 season once his schooling in Grafton was complete.

In 2021 Ben Liyou was part of the Tweed Heads Seagulls Hastings Deering’s Colts squad and started in the front row in their final 2021 trial against the Burleigh Bears and was immediately in the action making the first tackle of the match on the charging Burleigh front rower Daniel Shannon who was returning the kick off.

In the 5th minute of the trial match Ben Liyou produced a strong twenty metre run after Tweed Heads got the ball back after retrieving a short kick-off to display that Ben Liyou is more than just a solid defensive player. Ben Liyou produced another strong twenty metre run off the kick-off after Seagulls team mate Troy Duckett’s try and then also took another strong hit-up on the fourth tackle in the same set of six.

Round One of the 2021 Hastings Deering’s Colts competition saw Ben Liyou start in the front row for the Tweed Heads Seagulls as well as captaining the side when they took on the Souths Logan Magpies.

Ben Liyou took the first hit-up of the match after Souths Logan kicked off but unfortunately in just the 4th minute of the match, Ben Liyou was taken off for a HIA which he subsequently failed to prematurely end his afternoon.

Ben Liyou also started in the front row in Round Two in the local derby against the Burleigh Bears and was one of the Seagulls try scorers in the 32 – 24 victory.

Ben Liyou’s try came in the 41st minute with the front rower rumbling twelve metres to score after receiving the ball from his left from Laz Sua. When he received the ball Ben Liyou initially dummied to his right before holding off the Burleigh left second rower with a strong straight left arm to get over to score. Ben Liyou then took the hit-up from Burleigh’s subsequent kick-off making another strong run.

Ben Liyou as has become his trademark, took the first hit-up of the match from the kick-off and then backed that up by taking the 4th hit-up in the same set of six. Ben Liyou then ran the ball from a kick-off once again in the 5th minute bringing the ball back over Jojo Fifita’s try. Ben Liyou made it three kick-offs in a row where he returned the kick-off when in the 9th minute Ben Liyou returned that ball back after Carsil Vaikai’s try.

Ben Liyou is certainly not the biggest front rower running around but he is certainly strong and in the 51st minute Burleigh right centre Tony Francis bore the brunt of that strength when Ben Liyou hit him with a strong crunching tackle that required play to be stopped for a couple of minutes.

Ben Liyou also started in the front row in Round Three against the Redcliffe Dolphins and in Round Four against the Ipswich Jets.

Ben Liyou also started in the front row in Round Five against the Northern Pride, scoring for the Seagulls as they defeated the Jets 40 – 18.

Ben Liyou continued his run of starts in the front row in Round Six against the Easts Tigers, in Round Seven against the Norths Devils, in Round Eight against the Mackay Cutters, in Round Nine against Wynnum Manly and in the Round Eleven local derby against the Burleigh Bears.

Ben Liyou also started in the front row in the previously postponed Round Eleven match against the Sunshine Coast Falcons scoring in the 22nd minute.

After a Covid 19 enforced hiatus, Ben Liyou was named to start in the front row in Round Sixteen against the Northern Pride and continued in the front row in the rescheduled Round Thirteen match against the Townsville Blackhawks.

Ben Liyou continued in the front row in Round Fourteen against the Western Mustangs and scored the Seagulls final try in the 75th minute in the Seagulls 48 – 6 victory.

Ben Liyou then continued in the front row in the Seagulls Week One Final against the Souths Logan Magpies.

Ben Liyou spent the 2019/20 off season training with the Tweed Heads Seagulls U20 Colts side but did spend some sessions with the Seagulls Queensland Cup side and was part of the Titans Rookie Squad that played the Tweed Heads Seagulls Queensland Cup side in early February 2020, starting the match in the Titans forward pack.

Ben Liyou started Round One of the 2020 Hastings Deering’s Colts competition for the Tweed Heads Seagulls in the front row against the Northern Pride scoring an impressive double, one try in each half through sheer guts and determination in the Seagulls big first up win with both tries being a lesson in hard work and effort as the Seagulls prevailed 52 – 20. Unfortunately Round One was the only round of the 2020 Hastings Deering’s Colts played prior to the competition’s cancellation due to the Covid 19 pandemic.

Ben Liyou made his Gold Coast Rugby League First Grade debut for the Currumbin Eagles in Round Six against Runaway Bay, coming off the bench in the match. When he came off the bench Ben Liyou operated in the right second row position for the Eagles.

Ben Liyou also started from the bench in Round Seven against the Mudgeeraba Redbacks before making his career first GCRL First Grade start when he started in the second row for Currumbin against the Tugun Seahawks in Round Eight.

Round Nine against the Burleigh Bears saw Ben Liyou drop back from the starting line up to start on the bench for the Eagles.

Ben Liyou also played a number of matches in 2020 in the Doug Lipp Cup competition for the Currumbin Eagles, including starting in the front row in the Grand Final of that competition against the Tugun Seahawks.

In early 2019 Ben Liyou started from the bench for the Titans U18’s in their annual match at Coffs Harbour against the Newcastle Knights U18 SG Ball squad which ended five tries all even though for me the Titans were clearly the better side that afternoon.

When he came on mid-way through the first half, Ben Liyou started on the left side of the field but moved over to the right side for the second half whilst playing in the second row.

Ben Liyou was more than solid defensively in the match, covering across field well and even though he was not the biggest forward on the field, his initial contact was more than impressive even against far bigger forwards from the Knights.

With the ball Ben Liyou ran a couple of very good outside shoulder routes when he was operating on the right side of the field in the second half, on one occasion almost breaking through the Knights line as a direct result of the line he ran.

Ben Liyou started in the unfamiliar front row position for the 2019 Tweed Heads Seagulls MM Cup side in their 58 – 18 Round One victory over the Western Mustangs.

Ben Liyou’s first 2019 MM Cup try came in Round Three against Burleigh. Tweed Heads five eight Kade Hill put in a grubber kick for Ben Liyou to follow through and dive on to score under the posts with the ball very close, being inches, to the dead ball line.

Ben Liyou also scored in Round Six against the Mackay Cutters in a Seagulls 72 – 0 victory. Ben Liyou scored the Seagulls second try of the match when he took a pass off dummy half Ediq Ambrosyev around twelve metres out from the line and on a diagonal run to the line was just too quick and powerful for the Cutters defence with Ben Liyou putting the ball down just to the left of the right upright.

In total in the 2019 MM Cup competition, Ben Liyou played in all nine of Tweed Heads matches starting all in the front row including their semi-final and Grand Final victory over Wynnum Manly and their U18 National Final victory against Illawarra 48 – 12 (no head gear in the National Final however that meant it took a minute for me to pick him out).

Ben Liyou played thirty nine minutes in the National Final against Illawarra, running for ninety nine metres (forty post contact), played the ball at an average speed of 3.56 seconds and made a team leading nineteen tackles at a tackling efficiency of an impressive 95%.

Ben Liyou made his Hastings Deering’s Colts debut in Round Eleven against the Northern Pride starting the match in the front row, playing significant minutes in Tweed Head’s 35 – 16 victory and also started in the front row in Round Twelve of that competition.

Ben Liyou also started in the in the front row in Round Thirteen against the Sunshine Coast Falcons, scoring his first try when he ran hard and straight to crash over just to the left of the uprights after receiving the ball around nine metres out from the line.

In total in the 2019 Hastings Deering’s Colts competition, Ben Liyou played in twelve matches (all in a row) including their Elimination Final loss to Mackay, starting all in the front row and as noted above scored in Round Thirteen against Sunshine Coast.

Impressively Ben Liyou also spent some time training with the Titans NRL side in 2019 which clearly shows the high regard the Titans hold him in. At the 2019 Titans NRL Awards night Ben Liyou was awarded the inaugural Titans TEDS award.

In late 2018 Ben Liyou was part of the Titans U18 side that won matches against PNG and New South Wales Country U18’s starting in the second row on both occasions and in those matches spent some time playing on the left side of the field instead of playing on the right where he played for the Grafton Ghosts and Northern Rivers earlier in 2018.

Early in 2018 Ben Liyou was part of the North Coast U18 Laurie Daley Cup side starting in the second row in all four of their matches and scoring one try which came against Northern Rivers in Round Two.

Ben Liyou was one of the North Coast’s standout players across the Championships constantly challenging the defensive line, normally operating on the right side of the field.

Ben Liyou had been a Grafton Ghosts player throughout his entire career and that did not change in 2018. Ben Liyou started the 2018 season in the U18 Group two competition and at just 17 years old made his Tooheys New Group Two First Grade debut in Round Three against the Macksville Sea Eagles.

Ben Liyou made his Group Two First Grade debut playing left centre against Macksville even though he had been playing in the second row exclusively over the last couple of seasons in the Group One Junior Rugby League competition prior to his debut.

Post his debut Ben Liyou made three additional Group Two First Grade appearances and in Round Ten in a big win against Macksville had a try assist late in the first half when he broke through the line and set up half Jake Frame for a try on the cusp of half time.

In the 2018 U18 Group Two competition, Ben Liyou played in eight matches, scoring six tries and kicking two goals for a point’s tally on the season to date of 28. Ben Liyou scored a double in Round One against local rivals the South Grafton Rebels, also kicking his season’s two goals in the match. He also scored a double against the Rebels in a 33 – 12 Round Nine win.

Ben Liyou’s other two tries came against Bellingen in Round Five and in Round Six against the league leaders and previously undefeated Coffs harbour side.

In late October 2017 Ben Liyou was also awarded the Aquinas Titans Sportsperson of the Year award at a gala dinner at the Southport Yacht Club showcasing the esteem that Ben Liyou was held in by the Titans.

Ben Liyou played the 2017 season at the U16.5 level for the Ghosts as well as playing three matches at the U18 level for Grafton in the Group Two U18 competition. Ben Liyou also attended a Titans Elite Academy session that was held at Lennox Heads late in 2017, another Grafton Ghost in centre Jake Martin was also an attendee.

Ben Liyou was also part of the 2017 East Coast Dolphins U16 side that performed well at the New South Wales Country Championships making the Championship final and as a result was selected for the U16 New South Wales Country side that played two matches in New Zealand as part of a South Island Tour. The NSW Country U16 side won both of their tour matches.

Previously Ben Liyou has represented the Titans in a number of development squad matches including in 2014 when he came off the bench in a match against a Samoan side playing in the second row.

With his try and two goals in a Grafton Ghosts 24 - 4 win over Ballina Ben Liyou finished the U16.5 regular season competition as the leading point’s scorer with 62 points from ten matches. Ben Liyou scored eight tries and kicked fifteen goals. From a try scoring perspective Ben Liyou scored doubles against Casino RSM in June and also against Ballina in July. Ben Liyou also started in the second row in Grafton’s two finals matches against the Clarence Coast Magpies and the Grand Final against Casino RSM.

As a 16 year old Ben Liyou also played three matches for the 2017 Grafton Ghosts U18 side in the Group Two competition, with his Group Two U18 debut coming in April 2017 against the Sawtell Panthers. Ben Liyou’s other two games were against Sawtell again in June and Coffs Harbour in July 2017.

In the 2016 U16 New South Wales Country Championships Ben Liyou scored three tries in their way to the Final where the East Coast Dolphins U16 side lost in extra time to the Western Rams. In that Grand Final Ben Liyou started in the second row and another Titans linked youngster Kade Hill started at half. Ben Liyou scored a double in the East Coast Dolphins 44-0 semi-final win over the Bidgee Bulls and he also scored in Round One against the Central Coast.

In 2016 Ben Liyou was the U15 Group One’s top try scorer with 18 tries from 12 matches to finish five tries clear of the next highest try scorer. Ben Liyou also started at lock for the 2016 Group One U15 representative side that had some good wins over the course of the New South Wales Country Age Championships. Ben Liyou has previous experience in a Titans jersey when he came off the bench in late 2015 in a U14 contest against Samoa.

For the Ghosts in the 2016 U15 competition, Ben Liyou started off the season with a bang scoring seven tries in the first three rounds, including a four try haul against Kyogle and a double against Minor Premiers Clarence Coast. Over the course of the season, Ben Liyou scored five other doubles which came against Ballina on three separate occasions, Lismore Marist Brothers and Kyogle. In April Ben Liyou also played one match at the U16.5 age group against Kyogle backing up after playing in the U15’s earlier in the day.

mdrew

01-01-23, 09:20 AM

Seems like there is going to be some changes at TSS for their GPS School Boy Rugby Program with the Titans boys at TSS set to benefit as a result.

mdrew

01-01-23, 04:00 PM

Good to see Keebra Park SHS student Jeval Pitman take part of the recent Gold Coast Academy of Sport Future Stars Program.

mdrew

02-01-23, 06:31 AM

In positive news for the Titans Seth Nikotemo resigned with the Titans for an additional three years in late 2020 that will take him up to the end of the 2023 season, including his last as an U18 eligible player, his senior year at Keebra Park State High School and his first year out of the Queensland school system.

On November 1, 2022, Seth Nikotemo commenced training as part of the Titans NRL off-season training program on a train and trial basis and as a result of Seth Nikotemo’s outstanding efforts in the Pre-Christmas Titans NRL off-season Program, including specifically being named as sometone that impressed him by Moeaka Foutikua in an interview, Seth Nikotemo’s trial and trial contract was extended to encompass the entire 2022/23 NRL off-season program.

In early December 2022 Seth Nikotemo took part in a joint training session betweed the Titans JTS contracted players and the Titans NRL squad.

In late 2022 Seth Nikotemo was named in the 2023 Burleigh Bears Hastings Deering’s Colts squad after playing a number of matches for the Bears in the Hastings Deering’s Colts competition when still U18 eligible in 2022.

In late January 2022 Seth Nikotemo started at left second row for the Titans U18 side in a match at Pizzey Park against the Burleigh MM Cup side with Seth Nikotemo putting in an outstanding performance.

Seth Nikotemo was heavily involved in William Semu’s second try of the match in the 9th minute when after receiving an off-load from his right from Larry Siala, Seth Nikotemo charged twenty metres downfield before getting the ball away to his right for William Semu to race away and scored five metres in from the left corner post.

Seth Nikotemo then made another strong run in the 16th minute when he was able to make fourteen metres down the right channel to get the ball twenty metres away from his own try line. Seth Nikotemo made a further fifteen metres in the 24th minute when he got to within ten metres of the try line before three Burleigh defenders had to commit to the tackle to finally stop Seth Nikotemo’s forward momentum.

Seth Nikatemo’s strong match continued in the 44th minute with a great eighteen metre charge down the left channel to get the ball to within thirty metres of the try line.

In late July 2022 Seth Nikotemo started from the bench for a Titans U19 side that played their annual match against the North Queensland Cowboys that was played as a curtain raiser at Cbus Stadium to the Titans Round Twenty NRL match against the Canberra Raiders with Seth Nikotemo coming in the match to play at right second row in the 25th minute and just wo minutes later in the 27th minute Seth Nikotemo made a strong fifteen metre run down the right channel to get the ball within thirteen metres of the try line.

In mid-December Seth Nikotemo had the opportunity to train with the Titans NRL squad in a joint training session between the Titans NRL squad and the Titans JTS Program Squads.

In late October 2021 Seth Nikotemo was named in the talented Burleigh Bears 2022 U18 MM Cup squad for the second season in a row.

Round One of the 2022 MM Cup competition saw Seth Nikotemo named at right second row for the Burleigh Bears against the Easts Tigers however the match was rained out due to extreme weather conditions.

Seth Nikotemo was then named to start at right second row for Round Two against the Souths Logan Magpies and also started at right second row in Round Three against the Norths Devils with Seth Nikotemo taking the 4th hit-up of the match after Norths kicked-off.

Seth Nikotemo then continued at right second row in Round Four 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 own 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 off-load 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.

Seth Nikotemo was named to continue at right second row in Round Six against the Redcliffe Dolphins however a late tactical change saw Seth Nikotemo start the match on the bench. When he came on mid-way through the first half, Seth Nikotemo spent the remainder of the match at left second row.

Seth Nikotemo was also named to start from the bench in the Round Seven local derby against the Tweed Heads Seagulls however a late tactical change saw Seth Nikotemo start the match at right second row.

Seth Nikotemo was also named to start at right second row in the rescheduled Round On match against the East Tigers with Seth Nikotemo taking Burleigh’s second hit-up of the match in the 2nd minute.

Seth Nikotemo had a number of positive defensive moments in the match including in the 11th minute when he along with Josiah Pahulu 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.

Seth Nikotemo was named at right second row for the Burleigh Bears second 2022 trial against the Tweed Heads Seagulls after playing for the Titans against the Burleigh MM Cup side in late January 2022.

Seth Nilotemo scored from close range, being less than a metre and to the right of the dummy half in the 17th minute when he pushed his way over the top of two Seagulls defenders.

Seth Nikotemo also made a line break in the 11th minute when he burst twenty metres down the right channel and then was able to off-load to his right to Bears fullback Xavier Asi who had loomed up on Seth Nikotemo’s right.

The in the 14th minute Seth Nikotemo charged onto the ball from a Bears penalty twenty metres from the try line and was able to get the ball inside ten metres before his forward momentum was halted.

Seth Nikotemo also did some great work defensively at marker in the 40th minute when he stopped and then pushed back Seagulls fullback Jett Forbes had tried to sneak over from dummy half from close range.

In late April 2022 Seth Nikotemo was named in the 2022 Queensland Rugby League U18 Emerging Origin Squad.

In late May 2022 Seth Nikotemo also represented South Coast in the U18 QSSRL School Boy Championships starting Match One against Northern at right second row and also started at right second row in Match Two against Met North.

At the conclusion of the Championships Seth Nikotemo was named in the 2022 Queensland Open School Boy Rugby League Representative side.

Seth Nikotemo started at right second row in Queensland’s opening round of the Championships against the Australian Capital Territory with Seth Nikotemo making a strong run of fifteen metres in the 55th minute to the left of the paly the ball with Seth Nikotemo promoting the ball over the halfway mark.

Seth Nikotemo also started at right second row in Match Two being the semi-final against NSW CIS with Seth Nikotemo scoring in the 50th minute when after backing up a line break by Cody Black, Seth Nikotemo received the ball from his right and after skipping away from one attempted tackle from behind raced fifteen metres to dive over under the posts.

Seth Nikotemo have a very good match and was in the game early when he took Queensland’s third hit-up of the match and then Seth Nikotemo was involved in making Queensland’s first tackle of the match.

Defensively Seth Nikotemo showed his effort and determination between the 8th and 9th minutes when he made three tackles in a row as NSW CIS were trying to bring the ball away from their own try line.

Seth Nikotemo also started at right second row in Queensland U18 ASSRL Championships Grand Final victory over NSW CHS.

At the conclusion of the ASSRL U18 Championships, Seth Nikotemo was named by the Courier Mail as a “Hard Yakka Player” and as one of the “Best flying under the radar” players.

Round One of the 2022 Langer Cup School Boy competition saw Seth Nikotemo start at right second row for Keebra Park State High School against Ipswich State High School, Seth Nikotemo also captained the Keebra Park SHS side on the night with Seth Nikotemo being involved in the opening tackle of the match after Keebra Park SHS had kicked off.

After missing Round Two, Seth Nikotemo was named to start at right second row in Round Three against Marsden State High School with Seth Nikotemo being involved in the second and third tackles of the match.

Seth Nikotemo continued at right second row in Round Four against Wavell State High School in a match that was played as a curtain raiser to the Titans v Bronco’s NRL match with Seth Nikotemo making a strong run in the 46th minute when he made fifteen metres down the right channel and then in the 48th minute Seth Nikotemo made another strong run which saw him dragged to ground four metres short of the try line.

After missing Round Five, Seth Nikotemo was back at right second row in the Round Six local derby against PBC SHS with Seth Nikotemo making the opening tackle of the match.

From a defensive perspective in the 10th minute Seth Nikotemo, along with Taniela Mapusua-Lotaki and Jeremaiah Temapo grabbed PBC SHS left winger Blake Forder four metres out from the try line and dragged him back into the in-goal area to force a PBC SHS goal line drop-out.

Round Seven of the Langer Cup competition saw Seth Nikotemo start at right second row against Mabel Park SHS.

Seth Nikotemo then started at right second row in Keebra Park SHS’s Langer Cup Quarter Final against Marymount College with Seth Nikotemo scoring in the 55th minute when from five metres out Seth Nikotemo ran onto a short ball from his left from his halfback to score mid-way between the goal posts and corner post on the right side of the field.

On first glance Seth Nikotemo’s try seemed a simple one with Seth Nikotemo juggling the ball prior to the line before gaining control to get the ball down but the truth is that Seth Nikotemo did exceptionally well as the pass to Seth Nikotemo came off the chest of one of the Marymount College defenders with Seth Nikotemo doing very very well to readjust his hands to take the ball which was coming at him at a rate of knots and deviating from Seth Nikotemo’s initial expectation.

Seth Nikotemo also started at right second row in the 2022 Langer Cup Semi-Final against PBC SHS and executed a smart piece of play in the 42nd minute with a one on one strip on the PBC SHS fullback after Keano Kini had made a line break.

At the completion of the 2022 School Boy Langer Cup competition Seth Nikotemo was named in the second row in the 2022 Courier Mail Langer Cup Team of the Season. Seth Nikotemo was also named as one of the best players outside the Top 30 best School Boy Rugby League or Rugby player in the 2022 Courier Mail Top 30 school boys.

Seth Nikotemo made his Hastings Deering’s Colts debut in Round Sixteen of the 2022 competition against the Western Clydesdales with Seth Nikotemo playing right second row when he came onto the field.

Seth Nikotemo then started from the bench in Round Seventeen against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls.

In January 2021 Seth Nikotemo started at left second row for the Titans U17 side in their annual match at Coffs Harbour against the Newcastle Knights with the Titans recording an impressive 32 – 20 (no goal kicks taken) victory in hot and steamy conditions.

Seth Nikotemo could not have been more impressive in the match including scoring the Titans opening try of the match in just the second minute of the match. Seth Nikotemo charged onto a pass from half Bailey McConnell around eight metres out and could not be stopped as he barged his way over to score the first try of the match.

Seth Nikotemo added a second try in the second half when he charged onto a Keano Kini pass to charge over from six metres out.

In June 2021 Seth Nikotemo started at right second row for a Titans U17 side that played a Titans Northern Rivers U18 squad at Cbus Stadium as a curtain raiser to the Titans Round Fourteen NRL match against the Sydney Roosters.

Playing right second row, Seth Nikotemo had an outstanding match including a first half try assist when from twenty metres out, Seth Nikotemo took the ball to the line before offloading to his right to put his right centre into a gap and over ten metres in from the right corner.

Seth Nikotemo’s first hit-out with the 2021 Burleigh Bears MM Cup side came when he started in the right second row position in the Bears second trial against the Easts Tigers.

Seth Nikotemo produced a strong tackle in the 63rd minute of the match when he and Ezra Ubaldino combined to smash the Easts second rower who had tried to run the ball off the back of an Easts Tigers scrum win. The contact forced the ball lose for a Titans scrum feed with Syris Schmidt scoring from the resultant set of six tackles.

In Round One of the 2021 U18 MM Cup competition, Seth Nikotemo started at right second row against the Souths Logan Magpies, putting in a solid performance in Burleigh’s impressive 38 – 28 victory.

In the 20th minute Seth Nikotemo showed just who hard he always tries when Burleigh dropped the ball whilst on the attack, the ball was scooped up by the Souths Logan left winger and it looked for all money that he was going to streak away to score, but Seth Nikotemo turned and chased and took the wingers legs from under him in a copy book cover defending tackle.

Seth Nikotemo was strong defensive once again in the 29th minute when he hit the Souths Logan No. 15 with a strong front on tackle as the Souths Logan player was returning a forced goal line drop out by Burleigh. Seth Nikotemo’s initial forced the ball loose to take all of the pressure off the Burleigh defence.

Just prior to half time Seth Nikotemo produced his third impressive defensive play of the half when he produced a great low tackle on Souths Logan’s Ezra Mam who looked like he was through the gap and set to score.

Seth Nikotemo also started at right second row in Round Two against the Ipswich Jets and had his first touch early when he took the hit-up from the penalty restart after Burleigh received a penalty from the kick-off. Seth Nikotemo was then on hand to take the 4th hit-up in the same set of six. Seth Nikotemo then backed up to take another hit-up in the 4th minute of the match.

Seth Nikotemo continued his strong efforts running the ball in the 18th minute when he produced a strong effort of thirteen metres down the left side of the field, winning a penalty as a result of not being allowed to get to his feet quickly to play the ball. Seth Nikotemo then backed up to take the hit-up from the resultant penalty restart.

In the 47th minute, Seth Nikotemo continued his strong match with a run that made thirteen metres for Burleigh to get the ball out to the forty metre mark and then Seth Nikotemo was awarded a penalty for the Jets defence not allowing him to get to his feet for a quick play the ball.

Seth Nikotemo showed his athleticism in the 54th minute when Ipswich restarted the match with a short high kick-off to their left after Jeremaiah Tamepo scored for Burleigh. Seth Nikotemo jumped high to take the kick on the full under heavy pressure above the Ipswich players chasing the ball through. Seth Nikotemo then did not rest on his laurels taking a hit-up later in the same set of six tackles.

Seth Nikotemo’s side of the field was targeted for another short high Jets kick-off in the 67th minute after Tuvalli Khan-Pereira’s try but once again Seth Nikotemo was up to the task, jumping high to take the ball on the full. When he hit the ground, Seth Nikotemo spun clockwise to break through the Jets defensive line and was able to get the ball twenty metres upfield into Jets territory and then provided a good offload to Kaden Sommerville to keep the movement going.

Seth Nikotemo added to his impressive performance in the 69th minute with a great low left shoulder tackle on rampaging Ipswich Jets lock Josiah Pahulu, with the tackle cutting the fellow Titans legs out from under him.

Seth Nikotemo once again started at right second row in the Round Three Gold Coast derby against the Tweed Heads Seagulls. In the 9th minute of the match, Seth Nikotemo took the Tweed Heads defence by surprise when as he ran at the line from ten metres out on the right side of the field he put in a great chip kick. But for a diving Keano Kini the kick would have resulted in a Burleigh try.

Seth Nikotemo continued his strong contribution in the 11th minute with a bustling run of thirteen minutes which got Burleigh within three metres of Tweed Heads line.

Seth Nikotemo also had a strong match defensively in the local derby and produced an outstanding tackle in the last play of the first half with a great front on hit on Seagulls Keano Kini who close to the Burleigh line looped around behind Thomas Weaver, but Seth Nikotemo read the play and crunched Kini just after he received the ball.

Seth Nikotemo was also named to start at right second row for Round Four match against the Souths Logan Magpies.

Seth Nikotemo also started at right second row in Round Five against the Ipswich Jets with Seth Nikotemo recording a second half try assist.

Seth Nikotemo’s try assist came in the 52nd minute when Seth Nikotemo received the ball from his left. As soon as he took possession was immediately under pressure from a Jets defender, but Seth Nikotemo maintained his composure and was able to get the ball over the top of the engaged defender to an unmarked Hunter Ploegsma who crossed after a ten metre run.

Seth Nikotemo continued his solid match with a 66th minute run that accounted for fifteen metres of ground to get Burleigh into Jets territory.

Burleigh were immediately under pressure in the opening moments of the match and but for Seth Nikotemo and team mates, Arama Hau and Tuvalli Khan-Pereira, Ipswich would have opened the scoring in the 4th minute when the Ipswich No. 10 was held up over the line.

With the Ipswich defensive line under all sorts of pressure in the early minutes of the match, it was with his defence that enabled Seth Nikotemo to make an impact. In the 13th minute Seth Nikotemo produced a driving tackle on Ipswich front rower Josiah Pahulu, stopping his momentum with his initial and then driving him back. Following that in the same set of six, Seth Nikotemo smashed the Ipswich left centre forcing the ball loose through the contact.

Early in the second half Seth Nikotemo was able to maintain Burleigh’s early momentum in the half with a strong ten metre run that finished twenty eight metres out and culminated with an exceptionally quick play the ball.

Round Six being the final regular season round of the 2021 MM Cup competition saw Seth Nikotemo once again line up at right second row in the local derby against the Tweed Heads Seagulls with Seth Nikotemo scoring a double in the Bears last minute 34 – 30 victory.

Seth Nikotemo’s opening try came in the 18th minute when from dummy half, Bears hooker Caleb Gould-Waiariki put in a short right foot kick through the Seagulls line with right second rower Seth Nikotemo timing his run perfectly to get the ball down easily on the right side of the field.

Seth Nikotemo’s second try came in the 65th minute and got Burleigh within two points of the Seagulls. Seth Nikotemo ran a good line on the right, receiving a short pass from Caleb Gould-Waiariki from his left. As he hit the Seagulls defensive line, Seth Nikotemo twisted clockwise to gain separation actually being caught up and falling to the ground, but Seth Nikotemo quickly realised that he was not held and dived over ten metres to the right of the uprights.

Evan before he scored his first try of the match, Seth Nikotemo was having a strong match including a strong run in the 13th minute when he easily pushed off one defender and dragged another to make twelve metres and get within six metres of the try line. After Seth Nikotemo’s quick play the ball Ezra Ubaldino was able to score for Burleigh on the opposite side of the field.

From the 4th hit-up from the kick-off restart for his first try, Seth Nikotemo made a strong fifteen metre run to within ten metres of the try line after Tweed Heads were penalised from the kick-off.

With Burleigh chasing the match in the 63rd minute, Seth Nikotemo made a hard twelve metres, pushing off one would be defender to get the ball thirty metres away from the try line.

Round Two of the Gold Coast Rugby League U18 Division One competition saw Seth Nikotemo start from the bench for Runaway Bay against the Southport Tigers with Seth Nikotemo lining up at right second row when he came on with Seth Nikotemo scoring in the 36th minute of the match.

Seth Nikotemo pounced on a Seagulls dropped ball that had been knocked back, picking the ball up ten metres out, Seth Nikotemo was able to hold off one defender with his left arm as he charged towards the line, getting the ball down in the right corner.

After missing Round Three due to his school boy representative commitments with South Coast, Seth Nikotemo was named on the bench for Round Four against the Helensvale Hornets and was also named on the bench for Round Seven against the Ormeau Shearers.

Round Nine against Southport saw Seth Nikotemo start at left second row with the hard running second rower scoring a double for the Seagulls in their 40 – 30 victory.

Seth Nikotmo scored his opening try in the 14th minute he ran into space twenty metres from the line. Seth Nikotemo pushed off the Southport right winger who had tried to come off his wing and then Seth Nikotemo ran straight over the Tigers lock to get the ball down five metres in from the left corner post.

Seth Nikotemo then scored in the 52nd minute when he ran a straight hard line from eight metres out, forcing his way over ten metres from the left upright. Seth Nikotemo initially was hit by the Southport defence three metres from the line and in fact backed his way from there and then twisted to get the ball down.

When rugby league recommenced on the Gold Coast in late August 2021 after the Covid 19 lockdown, Seth Nikotemo was named to start from the bench in Round Eleven against the Helensvale Hornets.

Interestingly in Round Twelve against the Burleigh Bears, Seth Nikotemo was named to start at right centre with Seth Nikotemo handling the position change well including a strong sixteen run down the right side of the field in just the third minute with Seth Nikotemo’s forward momentum finally being stopped just seven metres short of the line.

Seth Nikotemo made another strong run down the right channel in the 13th minute when from a Runaway Bay scrum win Seth Nikotemo made twenty metres before the ball came lose when he was within ten metres of the try line.

Seth Nikotemo also started at right centre in Round Thirteen against the Currumbin Eagles scoring one try and also making a line break.

Seth Nikotemo scored in the 35th minute of the match when a heavy Runaway Bay tackle forced the ball loose on Seth Nikotemo’s side of the field. Seth Nikotemo went back and collected the dropped ball thirty metres from the line and as soon as he turned back towards the try line he was confronted by the Currumbin left winger who he quickly dispatched. Seth Nikotemo subsequently raced down the right touchline and dived over in the right corner.

Seth Nikotemo’s line break came in the 13th minute of the match with Seth Nikotemo receiving the ball from a Runaway Bay scrum win forty two metres from the line. Seth Nikotemo was able to beat a number of defenders before off-loading to his right to his right centre.

Seth Nikotemo continued at right centre in Round Fourteen against the Ormeau Shearers.

In February 2021 Seth Nikotemo took part in the South Coast Open school boy trials and was named in the second row in the South Coast Open A school boy side as a result of his impressive trial performances.

Seth Nikotemo started South Coast’s Day One match against Met North at right second row and scored in just the 11th minute of the match when he ran into a gap wide on the right, diving over to score ten metres in from the right corner post.

His 11th minute try was certainly not Seth Nikotemo’s first contribution in the match, that occurred in the 6th minute when his first hit-up of the match got him to within six metres of the try line.

Seth Nikotemo was also a key contributor to South Coast’s strong defensive effort in the match including in the 42nd minute when a strong tackle on the Met North left centre forced the ball loose to stop all of the momentum that they had built up.

Seth Nikotemo started the 2021 QSSRL U18 School Boy Championship Final at right second row and took the first South Coast of the match from a penalty restart.

Seth Nikotemo started the Championship Final against Met North at right second row and in the 18th minute made a strong run of thirteen minutes to get to within five metres of the try line.

2021 also saw Seth Nikotemo line up once again for Keebra Park PBC State High School in the South East Queensland School Boy Langer Cup competition starting Round One at right second row against Marsden State High School.

Seth Nikotemo also started at right second row in Round Two against Mabel Park State High School as well as in Round Three against Ipswich State High School, a match that saw him with make a strong run in the 23rd minute when he made sixteen metres from a penalty restart

Seth Nikotemo continued at right second row in Round Four against St Mary’s College Toowoomba and had a strong match including scoring in the 55th minute when he charged onto a Connor Te Kani pass down the right channel, holding off a number of defenders to score ten metres in from the right corner post.

The Round Five local derby against PBC saw Seth Nikotemo continue at right second row and he also started at right second row in Round Six against Wavell State High School.

After the competition was suspended for a number of weeks due to a Covid 19 lock down, Seth Nikotemo was named at right second row for Keebra Park State High School in their semi-final against PBC State High School.

At the 2021 Keebra Park State High School Sports Awards Night Seth Nikotemo was named in the second row in the 2021 Keebra Park SHS Team of the Year.

In late August 2021, Seth Nikotemo was named in the Queensland City U17 squad for a two match series against a Queensland U17 Country squad with Seth Nikotemo starting the match at left second row and scoring in the 19th minute of the match when after playing the ball twenty metres out from the line, Seth Nikotemo backed up on the inside after the City left winger darted down a short blindside. Seth Nikotemo juggled the inside pass above his head but was able to eventually take possession and round the Country fullback and then was able to bring the ball around to put it down under the posts.

Seth Nikotemo also recorded a 9th minute try assist when he threw the last pass to his left to Josh Lynn to run away to score after Seth Nikotemo had run forty metres after charging into a gap from inside his own territory off a Blake Mozer pass.

Playing fifty six minutes Seth Nikotemo ran for 109 metres (thirty post contact), broke three tackles and made nine tackles at a 90% tackling efficiency.

In 2020 Seth Nikotemo captained the Keebra Park Open Titans Cup side including in a Round Two win against Marymount College.

Playing left second row Seth Niketimo also scored in the Round Two match when he chased through a kick that was put up on the half way mark, Seth Nikotemo retrieved the ball 40 metres out dummied past the initial defender before running directly over the Marymount fullback. Seth Niketemo fact lost his balance and literally crawled the last six metres to score.

Seth Nikotemo made his Langer Cup debut off the bench for Keebra Park off the bench against PBC playing in the left second row position when he came on. Seth Nikotemo also started from the bench in Round Five against St Mary’s College Toowoomba, playing on the right when he came on and scored a try in each half in an outstanding performance.

Seth Nikotemo’s first try was as a result of an outstanding straight power run from ten metres out. Connor Te Kani was operating on the right and received the ball two passes off the ruck and ran the ball parallel to the defensive line and threw a short no look pass to a straight running Seth Niketemo who went straight through a gap to score from ten metres out.

Seth Nikotemo’s second try came late in the match once again down the right side of the field. On the last tackle, Blake Scott took the ball down a short blind side, off-loading to Seth Nikotemo who was standing still at the time, he was able to step off his right foot but was held by one leg but Seth Nikotemo was able to reach out and put the ball down with his right arm to score a much deserved double.

Seth Nikotemo also started on the bench as Keebra Park qualified for the 2020 Langer Cup Grand Final on the back of a big win over Wavell State High School operating on the right side of the field when he came on early in the first half.

Seth Nikotemo was on the bench for Keebra Park in the 2020 Langer Cup Grand Final as they went down 16 – 8 to PBC in a high quality match, but he did not make it onto the field.

Seth Nikotemo played the 2020 Gold Coast Rugby League with Runaway Bay in the U16 Division One competition and was dominant in a number of matches including Round Six against Helensvale and Round Eight against Ormeau. Seth Nikotemo was outstanding in Round Eight against Ormeau operating on the left including an impressive break around the half way line before off-loading to his left to his left centre who scored one of his three tries.

In late October 2020, Seth Nikotemo was named in the 2021 Burleigh MM Cup squad.

The big strong young Titans contracted forward had a more than solid 2019 season for both Runaway Bay and Keebra Park State High School as well as for the Titans U15 side in their matches which book ended Seth Nikotemo’s successful 2019 rugby league season.
Seth Nikotemo was part of the Titans U16 side that defeated the Newcastle Knights U16 Harold Matthews side in Coffs Harbour in January 2020, 18 -14 in wet and slippery conditions with Seth Nikotemo being heavily involved in the forward battle in the middle of the field. In the conditions the match ended up being a tough hard fought forward battle which suited Seth Nikotemo just fine and it certainly showed in his outstanding performance.
Seth Niketemo also started in the second row of the Titans U15 side that defeated a Balmain Tigers U15 touring side 34 – 16 in early October 2019 performing strongly in the impressive Titans win and was near, if not the Titans best on the night.

One of Seth Nikotemo’s most recent matches for the Titans was when he started in the second row for the Titans U16 side in their annual match against the Newcastle Knights Harold Matthews Cup (U16) side in January 2020 in Coffs Harbour with the Titans coming away with a hard fought 18 – 14 victory.

In February 2020 Seth Nikotemo was named in the Gold Coast Vikings U16 Training Squad for the 2020 U16 South East Queensland Pre-season Challenge where he would have been a certain selection in one of the two Gold Coast Vikings squads that were due to participate but the Challenge was cancelled in the week leading up to the start of the Challenge.

For Runaway Bay in the 2019 GCRL U15 Division One competition Seth Nikotemo played in eleven regular season matches scoring his first try in Round Thirteen against Ormeau and following that up with a try in Round Fourteen being the last regular season round against Helensvale.

Seth Niketemo also kicked two goals from as many attempts in the regular season with both coming against Helensvale in early June in a Seagulls victory with from my recollection both goals coming in the second half.

In Week Two of the 2019 GCRL U15 Division One finals Seth Nikotemo started for Runaway Bay against Nerang teaming with fellow Titan Joseph Shannon in the front row as Runaway Bay progressed to the Grand Final on the back of a 20 – 0 Friday night win.

In the 2019 GCRL U15 Division One Grand Final Seth Nikotemo started the match in the front row once again with Joseph Shannon, scoring an outstanding first half try for the Seagulls. In the end though Runaway Bay went down 36 – 22 to Nerang in a tense physical encounter especially in the forwards.

In relation to his try in the 2019 U15 Division One Grand Final Seth Niketemo charged onto the ball off the dummy half around eighteen metres out from the try line to the right of the play the ball cutting back behind the play the ball just a fraction almost immediately upon receipt of the ball and such was his speed that Seth Niketemo broke through the initial defensive line before it could start to move up in a coherent fashion and the fullback was no match for him either as Seth Niketemo crashed over mid-way between the left corner post and goal posts.

Seth Nikotemo made his GCRL U16 Division One debut in Round Fourteen against Helensvale when he came off the bench after playing and scoring in the U15 Division One match earlier in the evening. Seth Niketemo handled the step up in age group with aplomb.

2019 also saw Seth Nikotemo represent the South Coast U15 side that played in the QSSRL U15 Championships held in Ipswich with South Coast going through the Championships undefeated and Seth Nikotemo played a key role in that positive outcome.

In 2018 the former 2016 Queensland U12 representative started the season for Runaway Bay in the Gold Coast Rugby League U14 Division One competition before moving to the U15 Division One competition with the Seagulls before the half way mark of the season.

In the GCRL U14 Division One competition in 2018, Seth Nikotemo played in seven matches scoring in the final regular season round against Ormeau and also late in the season kicked a conversion against Burleigh.

Seth Nikotemo made his 2018 U15 Division One debut in June of that year against Burleigh and went on to play in ten matches. Seth Nikotemo started all of Runaway Bay’s U15 Division One Finals matches on the bench including the Grand Final and scored as the Seagulls went down 38 – 20 to a powerful Ormeau Shearers side.

mdrew

02-01-23, 08:06 AM

Powerhouse Keebra Park SHS's Tino Fomai had a strong 2022 season including being named on the wing in the Keebra Park SHS Team of the Year and also the Courier Mail Walters Cup Team of the Year.

Tino Fomai as also part of the Souths Logan Magpies CC Cup squad.

mdrew

02-01-23, 08:43 AM

Keebra Park SHS's Qubin Anderson had a strong 2022 season including being named at lock in the Keebra Park SHS Team of the Year.

Qubin Anderson also started at five eight for the Southport Tigers in their GCRL U14 Division One Grand Final victory against the Burleigh Bears.

mdrew

02-01-23, 09:13 AM

2022 Northern Rivers Titans U16 Andrew Johns Cup squad member Jed Mulcahy is also a very handy cricketer with the young seam bowler recently taking 5 for 28 for the Casino Cricket club in a match against Ballina.

Earlier in the cricket season he took 2 for 14 with the new ball from four overs against Lismore/Goonellabah.

Just to clarify this is in the Senior cricket competition.

mdrew

02-01-23, 10:21 AM

Titans contracted Izayah Petrichvich is also a very handy basketball ball player for the Vipers in the Gold Coast basketball U17 Division One competition.

Playing nine matches Izaya Petrichvich scored 128 points (13.78 per game) from 39 two point shots, twelve three point shots and ten free throws made.

Izayah Petrichvich is also averaging around 8 points per game in the Men's Division Two competition.

mdrew

03-01-23, 06:30 AM

In very positive news, Ryan Foran extended his contract with the Titans with his new contract taking Ryan Foran’s time with the Titans up to the end of the 2025 season at least, meaning that Ryan Foran will be spending the next couple of pre-seasons training with the Titans NRL squad on a full-time basis.

In early December 2022 Ryan Foran took part in a joint training session betweed the Titans JTS contracted players and the Titans NRL squad.

In late 2022 Ryan Foran was named in the 2023 Tweed Heads Seagulls Hastings Deering’s Colts squad for the second season in a row.

Impressively Ryan Foran in November 2021 commenced the NRL pre-season training with the Titans main NRL squad after signing a two year deal to train with the Titans NRL squad in October 2021. Ryan Foran will also be part of the Titans Rookie Squad over the next two seasons.

In late January 2022 Ryan Foran started at left second row for the Titans U19 side in a match at Pizzey Park against the Burleigh Hastings Deering’s Colts side with Ryan Foran scoring the opening try of the match in the 11th minute.

Prior to Ryan Foran scoring five metres to the left of the uprights, a number of other Titans players had produced some good work to unlock the Burleigh defence. Ryan Foran’s try scoring movement commenced well inside their own territory with a hit-up from Arama Hau. After engaging the Burleigh defence Arama Hau produced a right arm off-load to Jaylan De Groot who burst through the Burleigh defence before veering to his left as he approached the Bears fullback and then passed back across his body to his left to find a flying Ryan Foran thirty two metres out. As soon as he received the ball Ryan Foran cut off his right foot to beat one defender and then cross the line.

Ryan Foran produced a start piece of play in the 52nd minute when deep in his own territory Ryan Foran scooped up an errant Burleigh pass and got the ball away to his left to send Jaylan De Groot away down the left touchline.

In late July 2022 Ryan Foran started at left second row for a Titans U19 side that played their annual match against the North Queensland Cowboys U19’s that was played as a curtain raiser at Cbus Stadium to the Titans Round Twenty NRL match against the Canberra Raiders.

Ryan Foran recorded a try assist in the 47th minute when Ryan Foran received the ball around ten metres out on the left side of the field, Ryan Foran cut to his outside, drawing in the Cowboys winger and got the ball away to his right to put Jaylen De Groot over to score in the left corner.

Ryan Foran also made a line break against the Cowboys when in the 18th minute Ryan Foran ran over the top of the Cowboys five eight in the 51st minute with Ryan Foran making eighteen metres down the left channel to get the ball to within five metres of the halfway mark.

Defensively in the 6th minute along with Keano Kini and Thomas Weaver, Ryan Foran made a strong tackle on the North Queensland right second rower to prevent him from scoring just to the left of the uprights on the last tackle.

In late 2021 it was confirmed that Ryan Foran would play the 2022 season as part of the Tweed Heads Seagulls Hastings Deering’s Colts squad and Ryan Foran is also Colts eligible in 2023.

After missing Round One of the 2022 Hastings Deering’s Colts competition Ryan Foran was named on the Tweed Heads Seagulls extended bench for the Round Two local derby against the Burleigh Bears.

Ryan Foran was then named on the bench in Round Three against the Townsville Blackhawks coming into the match early at right second row as a result of an injury to Jayden Wright before moving back to his more favoured left second row position in the second half.

Ryan Foran was on hand to prevent a Townsville try in the 15th minute when he came over the top to crunch the Blackhawks halfback who was able to reach over and get the ball down over the try line.

Ryan Foran moved into the starting line-up at left second row in Round Four against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls and took the second hit-up of the match after Wynnum Manly had kicked off to get the match underway.

Ryan Foran also did well in the 13th minute when along with Jack Cullen he was first downfield from a Tweed Heads long tactical kick and put the Wynnum Manly left winger, driving them back around eight metres.

Ryan Foran then had a line break assist in the 16th minute when after engaging the Wynnum Manly defensive line, Ryan Foran off-loaded the ball to his left to send Kaleb Ngamanu away down the left touchline.

Ryan Foran continued at right second row in Round Six against the Northern Pride.

Ryan Foran also started at right second row in the rescheduled Round One match against the Norths Devils with Ryan Foran taking the third hit-up of the match. Ryan Foran almost scored in the 77th minute when he ran off a Thomas Weaver pass and even though his initial contact with the defensive line as still six metres out Ryan Foran kept marching forward and actually got across the try line only to be held up.

Ryan Foran made a line break in the 12th minute when after receiving a good short ball from his left from Thomas Weaver on the forty metre mark, Ryan Foran burst through making twenty metres before being tackled by the Devils fullback.

Along with Jack Cullen, Ryan Foran executed a strong driving tackle on the Devils right winger with the tackle driving him back at least four metres. Then in the 17th minute Ryan Foran along with Charlie Murray held up over the line next to the left upright one of the Devils front rowers (No. 10) who had charged onto the ball from close range.

Round Eight against the Western Clydesdales saw Ryan Foran start at left second row with Ryan Foran scoring a first half double.

Ryan Foran’s opening try came in the 11th minute when he backed up a break down the left touchline by Konrad Tu’u and received the off-load back on the inside to score mid-way between the corner post and goal posts on the left side of the field.

Ryan Foran scored his second try in the 16th minute when he chased through a bomb to the left from Thomas Weaver and after the ball was dropped in the in-goal by the Western Clydesdales right winger the ball bounced up for Ryan Foran to take and subsequently put down mid-way between the corner post and goal posts on the left side of the field.

Ryan Foran made a further strong run in the 42nd minute with a twenty metre effort down the left channel to get the ball over the halfway mark.

Ryan Foran also started at left second row in Round Nine against the Ipswich Jets as well as in Round Ten against the Mackay Cutters with Ryan Foran making a strong run in the 67th minute of fifteen metres down the left channel to get the ball within twelve metres of the try line.

Ryan Foran continued at left second row in the rescheduled Round Seven match off the bench against the Souths Logan Magpies as well as in Round Eleven against the Central Queensland Capra’s.

Ryan Foran took the second hit-up of the match against the Capra’s when he took the ball down the left channel two passes off the dummy half.

The match also saw Ryan Foran make a 27th minute line break when he ran the ball down a short left blindside with Ryan Foran initially taking possession forty metres out from his own line and charging seventeen metres downfield.

Ryan Foran made another strong run in the 53rd minute down the left channel that started thirty metres out from his own try line with Ryan Foran finally brought to ground ten metres into Central Queensland territory.

Ryan Foran also started at left second row in Round Twelve against the Redcliffe Dolphins with Ryan Foran scoring in the 6th minute when from eight metres out Ryan Foran got over the line by way of a pass from Oskar Bryant only to be forced back with his back to the try line but Ryan Foran was able to spin to his left and get the ball down ten metres in from the left corner post.

In addition to scoring a try, Ryan Foran stopped one in the 34th minute with a great try saving tackle on the Redcliffe lock next to the right upright.

Ryan Foran continued at left second row in Round Thirteen against the Sunshine Coast Falcons with Ryan Foran once again performing solidly for the Seagulls.

Ryan Foran continued at left second row in the Round Fourteen local derby against the Burleigh Bears with Ryan Foran producing a great try assist in the 24th minute when after Ryan Foran made a line break down the left touchline, Ryan Foran from thirty metres out put in a right foot kick back to the inside with the outside of his right foot with the ball sitting up perfectly for Jaylan De Groot to collect the ball and run around to score under the posts.

Ryan Foran made a further line break in the 39th minute with a twenty five metre charge down the left channel with Ryan Foran able to get the ball to within five metres of the try line.

Then Ryan Foran along with Kyhan Weir held up the Burleigh lock over the try line five metres to the left of the uprights in the 31st minute.

Ryan Foran continued at left second row in Round Fifteen against the Northern Pride with Ryan Foran scoring in the 28th minute when from twenty metres out on the left side of the field, Kaleb Ngamanu broke through the Northern Pride left side defensive line before when eight metres out Kaleb Ngamanu got an off-load away to his left to put Ryan Foran over to score ten metres in from the left corner post.

Ryan Foran also made a line break in the 78th minute that ultimately led to Jotham Russell scoring the final try of the match. From his own twenty metre mark Ryan Foran made a line break down the left channel making forty metres down the left touchline before getting away a left arm off-load away to his right to Jaylan De Groot who then got the ball away for Jotham Russell to score.

Ryan Foran, in the 5th minute made a sixteen metre run down the left channel to get the ball to within twenty five metres from the try line. Ryan Foran made a further strong run in the 56th minute with a thirty three metre line break down the left channel from his own twenty metre mark.

Ryan Foran made another strong run in the 73rd minute with a twenty metre run to the left of the play the ball from forty five metres out from the try line to twenty five metres out.

Ryan Foran also started at left second row in Round Sixteen against the Townsville Blackhawks with Ryan Foran scoring in the 32nd minute when he took the ball to the defensive line on the left side of the field and sent a short pass away to his left to Ryan Foran who burst between two defenders to score ten metres in from the left corner post.

Ryan Foran also started at left second row in Round Seventeen against the Easts Tigers.

Week One of the 2022 Hastings Deering’s Colts Final saw Ryan Foran start at left second row in the Elimination Final against the Easts Tigers with Ryan Foran scoring in the 13th minute when after receiving the ball around twelve metres out Ryan Foran forced his way forward to carrying one defender over the line to score ten metres in from the left corner.

Ryan Foran could barely have been in the match earlier when he took the third hit-up of the match.

Ryan Foran in the 64th minute along with Thomas Weaver made a try saving tackle on the Tigers No. 9 when the dummy half tried to sneak over from dummy half. Ryan Foran and Thomas Weaver initially held up the dummy half over the try line before forcing him back into the field of play ten metres from the left corner.

To round out a strong match Ryan Foran converted Jesse Jackson’s 80th minute match winning try just to the right of the uprights.

Ryan Foran also started at left second row in Week Two of the Finals against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls with Ryan Foran making the second hit-up of the match to get the ball twenty five metres out from his own try line.

Also in late 2021 Ryan Foran was part of the Titans NRL squad that undertook a joint training session with ninety members of the Titans JTS Program.

In early January 2021 Ryan Foran started at left second row for the Titans U19 side in their annual match against the Newcastle Knights in Coffs Harbour with Ryan Foran scoring in the first half in the Titans impressive 40 – 6 victory on a shockingly hot and muggy afternoon.

From a play the ball a metre out from the Newcastle line, Ryan Foran charged onto the ball, cutting back towards the play the ball and receiving a pass from hooker Ediq Ambrosyev who had darted out of dummy half to the left side of the field. Ryan Foran was immediately confronted by two Knights defenders but as soon as he made contact, Ryan Foran Spun 360 degree clockwise to break contact and then was able to dive over to score around mid-way between the goal post and corner post on the left side of the field.

Ryan Foran was in the action almost immediately after the kick-off, being involved in a solid hit in the third tackle after the Titans kicked off, with the tackle driving the Newcastle opponent sideways. Also involved in the tackle was Jack Cullen.

Ryan Foran’s first touch of the ball in attack came a minute or so later when he came back underneath Thomas Weaver, running directly over one Knights defender before being brought down by two more after a twelve metre charge.

A week after the match against the Newcastle Knights Ryan Foran once again lined up for the Titans U19’s starting at left second row as the Titans took on a Burleigh Hastings Deering’s Colts squad with the Titans winning 32 – 20 with no conversions attempted.

It did not take long for Ryan Foran in make an impact in the match when he produced a strong fifteen surge down the left side of the field on the second tackle of the set of six after the Titans first try.

Ryan Foran was one of the Titans first half try scorers in the 32 – 20 victory, when he dived over from close range near the left corner in the 20th minute of the match after receiving a long pass out of dummy half from Thomas Weaver with the pass finding Ryan Foran outside the widest Burleigh defender on that side of the field.

In early May 2021 a Titans U19 side travelled to North Queensland to play an U19 Cowboys selection in a curtain raiser to a Cowboys v Broncos NRL match with Ryan Foran starting the match on the bench for the Titans.

In November 2020 Ryan Foran was named in the Tweed Heads Seagulls 2021 MM Cup squad.

Ryan Foran started from the bench for the Tweed Heads Seagulls MM Cup side in their first 2021 trial which was against the Easts Tigers at Langland’s Park and was one of the Seagulls best in their 28 – 12 first up victory.

In the Tweed Heads Seagulls MM Cup sides second trial against Burleigh, Ryan Foran started the second half at left second row recording an impressive late match line break and a subsequent try assist.

Mid-way through the second half Ryan Foran steamed onto the ball forty eight metres out from the line, utilising a slight step off his left foot to break through the Burleigh defensive line and then Ryan Foran positioned his support in Keano Kini perfectly to draw the fullback and pass to his left for Kini to sprint twenty five metres to put the ball down under the posts.

Ryan Foran was involved early in the set of six from the kick restart of the second half, taking two hit-ups including a twenty five metre burst down the left side of the field that included breaking two tackles. Later in the second half, Ryan Foran once again proved difficult to stop for the Burleigh right sided defence when he charged eighteen metres before three defenders eventually brought him to ground.

Ryan Foran also started at left second row in Tweed Heads final 2021 MM Cup final against the Souths Logan Magpies at Civic Park in Logan in Brisbane’s south.

Ran Foran was immediately in the match, taking part in the first tackle of the match along with Jack Cullen when the two Titans contracted forwards brought down Souths Logan front rower and fellow Titans contracted player Sione Fotuaika who had taken the hit-up from the kick-off.

Ryan Foran was also part of an impressive Tweed Heads Seagulls attacking sequence in the second minute of the third quarter. Keano Kini produced a great right arm around the corner off-load to Ryan Foran who charged fifteen metres downfield before drawing a defender and passing to his left to Kaleb Ngamanu who raced thirty metres downfield before being bundled into touch just metres short of the left corner post.

Late in the third quarter, Ryan Foran charged into the Souths Logan Magpies defence from a penalty restart making an impressive twenty metres, at least half of which post contact, with the run finishing inside the Souths Logan Magpies twenty metre area.

In Round One of the 2021 MM Cup competition, Ryan Foran started at left second row against the Ipswich Jets and was in the action on just the third hit-up of the match when he came back underneath Thomas Weaver, pushing the Ipswich defensive line back a couple of metres.

Ryan Foran highlighted how difficult he is to get to the ground in the 13th minute when he burst twelve metres down the left side of the field with the majority of those metres post contact and made his way to within eight metres of the line being stopped.

Ryan Foran is also a strong defender and the Ipswich Jets halfback found that out in the 31st minute of the match when Ryan Foran flew out of the line to monster him just as he was trying to pass to his right. After the tackle Ryan Foran certainly let him know about it.

Ryan Foran also started at left second row in Round Two against the Souths Logan Magpies scoring late in the first half (31st minute) when he received the ball in the left thirteen metres out, bumping off one defender to cross the line out wide and then Ryan Foran was able to bring the ball around closer to the posts.

Ryan Foran made another strong surge in the 41st minute, making thirteen metres down the left side of the field dragging a Souths Logan defender along for the ride.

Ryan Foran showed his desperation in defence in the 55th minute when he along with Oskar Bryant both got underneath the Souths Logan hooker to hold him up over the line after he had tried to sneak over from dummy half to the right of the play the ball.

Ryan Foran once again started at left second row in the Round Three Gold Coast derby against the Burleigh Bears making an early contribution with a run that made twelve metres in the 12th minute of the match from a penalty restart.

Ryan Foran added to his strong match in the 23rd minute with a run that accounted for twenty valuable metres from the kick-off after Blake Mozer had scored. After receiving the ball on the ten metre mark, Ryan Foran was able to get the ball thirty seven metres away from his own line before eventually being wrestled to the ground by multiple Bears defenders.

Late in the first half Ryan Foran was on hand to continue to put pressure on Burleigh when he along with Kaleb Ngamanu was on hand to drag the Burleigh right winger into touch just out from his own line after he took a bomb on the field in the left corner.

In the 57th minute Ryan Foran produced probably his best run of the match with a twenty metre hit-up which including a left foot step to get out of the Seagulls won twenty metre area.

Ryan Foran was also named to start at left second row for Round Four match against the Ipswich Jets and produced a strong performance on the left side of the field, with the first of his multiple contributions coming in just the 5th minute with a run down a short left blindside of twelve metres that to take Tweed Heads across the halfway mark. Later in the same set of six, Ryan Foran made a further fifteen metres to get the Seagulls into their attacking twenty metre zone.

Ryan Foran recorded a try assist in the 19th minute, when he received a pass from Thomas Weaver down a short left blindside and ran downfield before passing to his left to Kruz Remine who once again crossed in the left corner.

Ryan Foran’s slick hands were on display in the 29th minute when he reacted quickly to get his hands down low and to his right to cleanly take an Ipswich grubber kick and then Ryan Foran was able to bring the ball back towards the twenty metre mark.

Ryan Foran also started at left second row in Round Five against the Souths Logan Magpies and was one of the Seagulls try scorers in the 38 – 14 victory.

After being rested in Round Six, Ryan Foran was named at left second row for the Seagulls Semi-final against Wynnum Manly and was in the match early, being involved in the Seagulls first tackle of the match when he chased through a Thomas Weaver kick into the left corner.

Ryan Foran made a strong run in the 31st minute, making twelve metres and getting to within twenty five metres of the Wynnum Manly line.

Ryan Foran recorded a try assist in the 45th minute when backed up a Seagulls break down the left touchline and was on hand to retrieve an inside kick from left winger Elijah Lui and passed to his right to Jaylan De Groot who dived over under the posts.

In the 2021 MM Cup Queensland Grand Final against the Townsville Blackhawks, Ryan Foran once again started at left second row as the Seagulls defeated Townsville 30 – 24 to claim back to back MM Cup Championships.

Ryan Foran was in the match early, making a strong run that accounted for twelve metres in the 7th minute to get Tweed Heads inside the attacking twenty metre area. Ryan Foran then made a start play in the 8th minute when he chased through a Thomas Weaver grubber kick and got to the Townsville fullback who had made it out of the in-goal. Ryan Foran however was able to hold the fullback off the ground and then force him back into the in-goal.

Post the 2021 MM Cup competition, Ryan Foran was back playing for the Murwillumbah Mustangs in the NRRRL U18 competition, with his first appearance coming in Round Six when he started at left second row in the U18 competition as the Mustangs took on the Kyogle Turkeys.

To say that Ryan Foran was outstanding in the match would be an understatement. In addition to scoring a hat trick, Ryan Foran recorded two try assists, two line breaks and two line break assists just to round off a Man of the Match performance.

Ryan Foran’s opening try of his hat trick performance came in the 13th minute when he received the ball on the left forty metres from the line, easily bumping off the initial defender who attempted to engage him before using his right arm to palm off the second. From there Ryan Foran produced a right foot step to easily round the fullback and bring the ball around to put it down under the posts.

Ryan Foran’s second try came in the 26th minute when he ran a great outside shoulder line from eighteen metres out, breaking three tackles on his run to the line and once again was able to bring the ball around to put it down under the posts.

Ryan Foran completed his hat trick in the 48th minute when Riley Lack put up a huge bomb from near midfield which the Kyogle defence could not handle, Ryan Foran charged through to dive on the loose ball in the in-goal.

Ryan Foran recorded the first of his two try assists in the match in the 3rd minute when after receiving the ball forty seven metres out he kept running to his left, using a right arm fend to gain separation from two defenders before getting a pass away to his left for his fullback to dive over in the left corner.

Ryan Foran added a second try assist in the 41st minute when after he was put into a gap by a great ball from Byron Jones on halfway, Ryan Foran ran thirty metres downfield before passing to his left to put the Mustangs replacement left centre over in the left corner.

The 45th minute saw Ryan Foran record a line break assist when the ball was passed in his direction thirty metres out from his own line, Ryan Foran had to reach forward and down low to take receipt of the ball before passing the ball to his left in one motion to put his support runner away on a thirty five metre run down the left touchline.

Ryan Foran broke the line himself in the 51st minute with a twenty metre line break before off-loading to his left with three would be tacklers on the ground in his wake.

After Murwillumbah’s Round Nine match against the Tweed Coast Raiders was postponed, Ryan Foran was named to come off the bench for Round Ten against the Cudgen Hornets.

Round Seven of the NRRRL First Grade competition saw Ryan Foran come off the bench for Murwillumbah and play in the left second row position in their big 60 – 6 victory over Byron Bay.

Ryan Foran also was named to start from the bench in Round Eight against Northern United and was also named on the bench in Round Twelve against Northern United once again when he scored in the 78th minute when he followed through a break, receiving the ball twenty metres out and crossing the line untouched.

Round Thirteen against the Ballina Seagulls saw Ryan Foran named to start at right second row.

In mid-February 2021 Ryan Foran was named at left second row in the school boy Oceanic Opens side for the South Coast school boy QSSRL U18 trial against Broadwater. Following the final round of trials, Ryan Foran was named in the 2021 South Coast U18 school boy QSSRL squad in the left second row position.

Ryan Foran started at left second row in South Coast’s Day One match against Met North getting into the action in just the 2nd minute he took South Coast’s first hit-up of the match after team mate Kaleb Ngamanu had taken a Met North clearing kick on the full inside his own territory.

Ryan Foran also started at left second row on Day Two as South Coast took on Met East and scored in the 10th minute when he ran twenty metres off a Nicholas Hilton off-load and was able to bring the ball around to put it down near the goal posts.

On Day Three against Capricornia Ryan Foran once again start at left second row and had a line break assist when he was able to get a great ball away to his left to Kaleb Ngamanu who made a forty metre line break down the left touchline, then as he was confronted by the cover defence, Kaleb Ngamanu got the ball back inside to Ryan Foran.

Ryan Foran also started at left second row in the Championship Final against Met North, scoring in the 22nd minute when after great work on his inside by Thomas Weaver who had picked up a wickedly bouncing ball and threw a cut-out ball to his left in one motion. Subsequently Ryan Foran ran into space to score wide out on the left.

Ryan Foran also made some strong defensive efforts in the match including in the 16th minute when he along with Thomas Weaver forced Met North back five metres to just out from his own line.

At the completion of the Championships, Ryan Foran was named at left second row in the 2021 QSSRL U18 School Boy Merit Team.

In late August 2021 Ryan Foran was also named at left second row in the 2021 Australian School Boys U18 Merit Team alongside fellow Titans contracted players, Thomas Weaver and Jack Cullen.

2021 also saw Ryan Foran line up once again for PBC State High School in the South East Queensland School Boy Langer Cup competition starting Round One at left second row against Ipswich State High School.

Ryan Foran scored a key try in the match after PBC SHS had fallen behind early. Ryan Foran ran the ball down the left channel in the 24th minute, receiving the ball ten metres out and through sheer strength and determination, Ryan Foran pushed through three defenders to get the ball down with defenders still hanging off him three metres out from the left upright.

In addition to his try, Ryan Foran also made a number of telling runs, firstly in the 11th minute when his strong run made fourteen metres to get within thirty metres of the line, then in the 48th minute, a Ryan Foran jink to the left saw him get to within eight metres of the line after his run started twenty metres out.

Ryan Foran also started at left second row in Round Two against St Mary’s College Toowoomba and was easily the best player on the field in PBC’s big win, scoring a double as well as recording a try assist.

Ryan Foran’s opening try of the match came in just the 8th minute when from twelve metres out from the line on the left side of the field he ran an outside shoulder route and after receiving the pass from Thomas Weaver, Ryan Foran charged through a gap to get the ball down three metres in from the left corner post.

Ryan Foran completed his try scoring double in the 31st minute when after earlier good work from Thomas Weaver and Hunter Plogema, Ryan Foran ran thirty metres untouched to put the ball down next to the left upright.

Ryan Foran recorded his try assist in the 44th minute when he threw a hard flat cut-out pass to his left from just ten metres from the line to put Hunter Plogema into space down the touchline with the PBC left winger getting the ball down in the left corner.

Ryan Foran also made a line break in the 43rd minute when he burst away down the left, charging twenty metres before getting a pass away to his left.

Ryan Foran continued at left second row in Round Three against Coombabah State High School and took the second hit-up of the match and in the 58th minute added a twenty metre run down the left channel to easily get over the halfway mark.

Ryan Foran continued at left second row in the Round Four blockbuster against Marsden State High School with Ryan Foran scoring in the 48th minute when he ran an underneath route down a short left blindside from four metres out after Oskar Bryant had darted to his left out of dummy half and get the ball inside to Ryan Foran.

Ryan Foran’s first key contribution of the match came in the 14th minute when he executed a great ball and all tackle down a short blindside to prevent the Marsden SHS right centre from scoring with Ryan Foran’s tackle stopping his opponent dead a metre from the try line.

Ryan Foran produced another outstanding tackle in the 36th minute when as the Marsden SHS fullback was bringing the ball off his own line, Ryan Foran flew out of marker to his right to smash the fullback and force the ball loose.

Ryan Foran continued at left second row for the much anticipated Round Five local derby against Keebra Park State High School as well as in Round Six against Mabel Park State high School.

After the competition was suspended for a number of weeks due to a Covid 19 lock down, Ryan Foran was named at left second row for PBC State High School in their semi-final against Keebra Park State High School with Ryan Foran taking the second hit-up of the match.

Ryan Foran was on hand in the 12th minute to help prevent a Keebra Park when he along with Thomas Weaver and Keano Kini held up one of the Keebra Park front rowers over the line.

Ryan Foran also produced a smart piece of play in the 49th minute when with Keebra Park on the attack, Ryan Foran produced a great one on one steal. Ryan Foran was not content with that and broke away down field on a sixty metre run where he was eventually brought to ground from behind then metres from the try line. Ryan Foran then got to his feet quickly to affect a quick play the ball with Keano Kini scoring from the resulting play on the opposite side of the field.

In the 2021 Langer Cup Grand Final against Marsden State High School, Ryan Foran was named to start at left second row for PBC and scored a second half double to lead PBC to an impressive 22 – 18 victory.

The first of Ryan Foran’s two tries came in the 42nd minute when Ryan Foran ran out of dummy half down a short left blindside from close to the line. Initially Ryan Foran was held up short of the line but was able to twist clockwise and get the ball down in the left corner.

Ryan Foran completed his double in the 47th minute when he charged over down the left channel from twelve metres out to score seven metres in from the left corner post.

Ryan Foran was also solid defensively in the match, including in the 32nd minute when he stopped the Marsden SHS hooker from scoring with a great try saving tackle.

Post the completion of the 2021 Langer Cup competition, Ryan Foran was named in the second row in the Courier Mail’s 2021 Langer Cup Team of the Season.

Ryan Foran was then named at left second row for PBC SHS in the Queensland Open School Boys Final (Phil Hall Cup) against St Brendan’s College Yeppoon with Ryan Foran scoring one of PBC’s tries in their massive 62 – 0 Grand Final victory.

Ryan Foran scored in the 46th minute when he ran off a Thomas Weaver pass just five metres out from the line and crashed over eight metres in from the left corner post.

Ryan Foran almost had a double but in the 32nd minute he was held up over the line and the ball stripped.

Ryan Foran’s initial contribution in the match came in the 5th minute when he made a twenty metre line break down the left side of the field, getting the ball to the halfway mark before he was put to ground.

At the 2021 PBC Sports Awards Presentation Ryan Foran was awarded the Craig Weston Medal for the PBC State High School Open A Player of the Year.

At the end of the 2021 school boy season, Ryan Foran was named at No. 16 in the Courier Mail Top 60 school boys from the GPS Rugby, AIC Rugby and Langer Cup competitions.

After returning from a long term injury Ryan Foran was named on the Northern Rivers Titans extended bench for Round Three of the 2020 U18 Laurie Daley Cup competition against the Central Coast Roosters. Ryan Foran however ended up starting the match at left second row scoring a double with both tries coming off passes from fellow Titan Thomas Weaver.

Ryan Foran and Thomas Weaver have developed a great understanding on the left over the last couple of seasons and that combination was on display multiple times once again in the 2020 U18 Laurie Daley Cup competition for the Northern Rivers Titans as it was for the 2019 Northern Rivers Titans U16 Andrew Johns Cup Grand Final winning side.

Ryan Foran’s first try in Round Three resulted when he ran an outside shoulder route close to the Central Coast Roosters line to crash over. Ryan Foran scored his second try in the second half when he backed up a Thomas Weaver break to take the pass when Thomas Weaver drew the fullback to run twenty metres to score near the left corner.

Ryan Foran also started at left second row in Round Four against the Greater Northern Tigers and in the Round Five local derby against North Coast scoring the Titans first try when he followed through a Thomas Weaver stab kick to pouch on the ball when the North Coast defence could not handle the bouncing ball.

Also in 2020 Ryan Foran was part of the PBC Langer Cup Open A school boy rugby league squad however due to injury Ryan Foran was not able to take the field for PBC when the competition commenced.

After missing the opening rounds of the competition Ryan Foran was named to start from the bench for the Round Three local derby against Keebra Park and started at left second row in rounds four and five against Keebra Park and Marsden State High Schools respectively.

Ryan Foran started the 2020 Langer Cup Grand Final from the interchange bench for PBC as they defeated Keebra Park 16 – 8 in a high quality match, playing on the left side of the field when he came on.

In the Queensland School Boys Final against Kirwan State High School Ryan Foran was named to start on the bench as PBC travelled to take on their North Queensland based opponents but came in the starting side at left centre late on the day of the match in PBC’s tough 24 – 20 loss.

Ryan Foran played the 2020 club season with Murwillumbah, making his NRRRL First Grade debut in Round Eight when he came off the bench in Round Eight against the Bilambil Jets. Ryan Foran also came off the bench in the 2020 NRRRL First Grade Major Semi-final against the Tweed Coast Raiders, spending time on both sides of the field.

Ryan Foran started from the bench and made some telling second half surges through the centre of the ruck as Murwillumbah prevailed 20 – 18 to earn a spot in the Grand Final. Ryan Foran also came off the bench in the Grand Final against the Tweed Coast Raiders. In the Mustangs 24 – 18 loss, Ryan Foran played in the left second row position when he came on and could have scored a late try when he ran into space from around twenty metres out, instead of just running straight to the line, Ryan Foran guaranteed the Mustangs scored when he passed to left to his left centre.

Ryan Foran was also a key member of the Murwillumbah U18 NRRRL side in 2020 leading them to the Grand Final. Ryan Foran started at right second row and was prominent throughout as the Mustangs went down 28 – 16 to the Cudgen Hornets in a bad tempered Grand Final.

The young Murwillumbah Colts and Titans contracted second rower donned a Titans jersey early in 2019 when he started for the Titans U16 side in their match against the Newcastle Knights Harold Matthews squad in Coffs Harbour in January.

Ryan Foran started the match at left second row and played on the left side of the field for the entire match and in fact was named as the Titans best in incredibly hot conditions.

Ryan Foran was also part of the Titans U15 side that defeated the Western Mustangs six tries to three in March 2018 at Nerang. Just like in this seasons match against the Knights, Ryan Foran started in the second row playing on the left side of the ruck in the first half but then switched to the right side when he came back on in the second highlighting his versatility.

Ryan Foran also started at left second row for the Titans U15’s late in 2018 year when they defeated a Balmain Tigers U15 touring side 16 – 10 at Cudgen.

Along with fellow Murwillumbah High School student Riley Lack, Ryan Foran signed a Titans contract in 2018.

In Round One of the 2019 U18 Andrew Johns Cup competition Ryan Foran started in his usual left second row position for the Northern Rivers Titans in their match against the Newcastle Knights Development Squad and scored a great first half try when he ran a great outside shoulder route and received a good short ball from Thomas Weaver to run thirty metres to score basically untouched.

Round Two of the 2019 Andrew Johns Cup competition saw Ryan Foran once again line up in the left second row position in their match against Parramatta and scored a similar try to what he scored in Round One, once again running a good outside shoulder route and receiving a good pass from half Thomas Weaver.

Round Three against the North Coast Bulldogs saw Ryan Foran start at left second row for the third match in a row but in the first minute took a knock and it looked like his match was over early. Thankfully Ryan Foran was able to come back onto the field later in the first half and scored a typical try of his when he combined on the left with half Thomas Weaver to score. In all three rounds so far to two have combined for tries in very similar fashion.

Ryan Foran also scored in the second half when he charged forty metres down the left touch line to score after receiving a great offload from lock Bailey Cox. Ryan Foran could have scored four in the match, after just failing to handle a difficult pass with the line open and late in the second half was denied a try when he was held up over the North Coast line.

As usual in Round Four against the Central Coast Roosters Ryan Foran started at left second row and scored a first half double. Both tries were similar in nature, with Ryan Foran running an outside shoulder route and being provided with a pass from half Thomas Weaver.

For his first try Ryan Foran crashed over from around five metres out and the second was scored from a Titans scrum win around twenty metres out from the Central Coast line when Ryan Foran split the defensive line and won the race to the try line.

For the fifth round in a row Ryan Foran started at left second row in Round Five against the Greater Northern Tigers and scored once again when he ran off a pass from the dummy half Jordan Gallagher to crash over in the left corner from around four metres out.

Ryan Foran almost had a second, when from a Titans fed scrum ten metres out from his own line, Ryan Foran took the ball first off the scrum, bursting through the defence on an eighty seven metre run only to be dragged down two metres out. The Northern Rivers Titans scored two plays later through front rower Noah Johannssen.

Once again Ryan Foran was outstanding at left second row for the Titans in their 26 – 14 semi-final victory over Penrith especially defensive on the left side of the ruck. In attack Ryan Foran scored yet again and the try again was as a result of his great understanding of the field with Thomas Weaver. The Titans half took the ball to the line and pop a good shot ball to Ryan Foran who ran a good outside shoulder route to crash over from short range.

In the 2019 U16 Andrew Johns Cup Grand Final against the Western Rams Ryan Foran started in the left second row position in the Northern Rivers Titans 18 – 6 victory.

Post the victory Ryan Foran was named on the second row for the New South Wales Country U16 side for their November 2019 three match tour of the United Kingdom and was also named in the New South Wales U16 36 man train on squad and was one of only four New South Wales Country players in the squad, two others being fellow Titans Thomas Weaver and Riley Lack.

The New South Wales Country U16 side played a New South Wales U16 Harold Matthews squad as a curtain raiser to the Penrith/Warriors NRL match on a Friday night at Penrith Park in May. Ryan Foran started the match at left second row.

Impressively less than 48 hours later Ryan Foran lined up for Murwillumbah in their 25 – 24 NRRRL U18 Round Seven win over Byron Bay.

After that match, Ryan Foran was selected in the New South Wales U16 side that defeated a U16 Pasifika team 36 – 6 at Belmore Sports Ground on Sunday 9 June with Ryan Foran starting the match from the bench and came very close to scoring in the second half when he ran onto a pass from Thomas Weaver only to be dragged down just short of the line.

The week after being part of the 2019 U16 Northern Rivers Titans side that won the Andrew Johns Cup Ryan Foran made his U18 NRRRL debut when he came on for Murwillumbah in their 36 – 0 loss to Cudgen in Round Three of the 2019 NRRRL competition.

Ryan Foran scored his first tries in the U18 NRRRL competition in Round Eight against the Tweed Heads Seagulls, scoring a double as Murwillumbah won 28 – 14.

In total in the U18 NRRRL regular season Ryan Foran played in ten matches scoring three tries. In addition to his Round Eight double Ryan Foran also scored in Round Twelve against Lower Clarence.

Ryan Foran’s 2019 NRRRL U18 season ended when his Murwillumbah side were defeated 26 – 10 by Byron Bay in the U18 Elimination Final.

In 2019 Ryan Foran was named joint Player of the Year for the Group 18 U16 Junior Rugby League competition with fellow Titan Thomas Weaver. Considering how the two of them combined on the field it was fitting that they shared the award.

After the completion of the 2018 season Ryan Foran and fellow Group 18 U15 team mates headed overseas to play in the Battlefield Challenge to commemorate the 100 year anniversary of the end of World War I, a competition that the side won including victories against Emory Moor 12 – 6 and Leigh East 18 – 12.

In a warm up match in England prior to the Tournament they defeated a Hemel Stags U16 side and post the Tournament defeated French side Aude Cathare. A number of other Titans players will also be involved in the tour including Keegan Pace, Jack Cullen, Ryan Foran, Reef Sommerville, Keegan Pace and Byron Jones.

To cap off an impressive junior representative year in2018, Ryan Foran was selected in the New South Wales Combined High Schools (CHS) U15 side for the U15 ASSRL Championships and lined up against a number of Titans boys in the two Queensland sides being Queensland Maroon and Queensland White and the New South Wales Combined Catholic Colleges side which contained Titans contracted half back Thomas Weaver amongst other Titans linked players. Titans contracted fullback or centre Rowan Mansfield was a team mate in the NSW CHS U15 side as is fellow Murwillumbah High School student Riley Lack.

Ryan Foran was one of ten Titans contracted U15 players that were involved in the 2018 U15 ASSRL Championships.

At the 2018 Championships Ryan Foran played in four matches being against Queensland Maroon, New South Wales Combined Catholic Colleges twice and New South Wales Combined Independent Colleges, scoring against NSW CCC in his third match of the Championships.

In 2017 Ryan Foran started in the second row for the Group 18 U14 side that competed in the New South Wales Country Rugby League U14 Championships playing three matches against Maitland, Group One and Newcastle in the Northern Plate Final.

Fellow Titans linked youngsters in the 2017 Group 18 U14 side was outstanding Titans contracted half back Thomas Weaver who was also a team mate of Ryan Foran when he played for the Titans U15 Invitational side against the Western Mustangs in early 2018.