Talented junior players not linked to the Titans but maybe should be

The Group 19 U18 2019 Best and Fairest Award has been received by electric Moree Boars half/five eight Adrian Smith. The young man also was the competitions leading point’s scorer with 104 points from ten tries and 32 goals. His ten tries meant he finished third in the competition in that category.

He scored three U18 doubles in matches against the Armidale Rams, Moree Boomerangs and the Glenn Innes Magpies and also scored in matches against Glenn Innes, the Tingha Tigers twice and the Moree Boomerangs.

With the boot Adrian Smith kicked six goals against Tingha in June and kicked five in May also against Tingha.

In the Group 19 U18 Grand Final played yesterday Adrian Smith scored a second half try and kicked two goals but the Boars went down 26-24 to the Tingha Tigers.

Adrian Smith made his Group 19 First Grade debut in May against the Glenn Innes Magpies kicking a late conversion and went on to play in an additional six Group 19 First Grade matches including an outstanding match in July when he scored a hat trick and kicked three goals against Armidale.

He scored a double against Armidale and also scored against the Moree Boomerangs and finished the First Grade season with 40 points from six tries and eight goals.

Adrian Smith also played one Reserve Grade Group 19 match and also scored in that match which was against the Moree Boomerangs and also kicked two conversions in that match.

Gold Coast Rugby League youngster Kruse Remine scored his first GPS First XV try this afternoon when he scored for Brisbane Grammar School in their Round Seven loss 55-7 loss to Nudgee College.

Fellow Gold Coast Rugby League youngster Connor Te Kani converted the try.

Flyer Trezman Banjo scored a hat trick this afternoon for Nudgee College in Round Seven of the GPS School Boy Rugby First XV competition as they defeated Brisbane Grammar School 53-7.

Giant young front rower Linston Tuimavave scored a double this afternoon for Brisbane State High School in Round 7 of the GPS First XV competition but it was not enough for BSHS to come away with a win as they went down 28-22 to Churchie.

He may be contracted to the Queensland Reds until the end of 2020 but at that time the Titans should throw everything at 16 year old TSS First XV centre Jojo Fifita, the exceptional talent scored his 8th try of the GPS First XV season this afternoon as TSS put one hand on the Premiership Trophy on the back of a 54-24 Round 7 win over Gregory Terrace.

Hard running young front rower Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa's double was not enough for his Southport side to prevail in yesterday's U14 Division One Preliminary Final as they went down 22-16 to Runaway Bay.

Outragously talented centre Jojo Fifita has been named in the Queensland Maroon U16 Rugby side.

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Originally Posted by mdrew

He may be contracted to the Queensland Reds until the end of 2020 but at that time the Titans should throw everything at 16 year old TSS First XV centre Jojo Fifita, the exceptional talent scored his 8th try of the GPS First XV season this afternoon as TSS put one hand on the Premiership Trophy on the back of a 54-24 Round 7 win over Gregory Terrace.

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Does anyone know if Liam Hampson is signed with us? Saw a highlights video on YT of him and was pretty impressed

No I don’t believe he is mate

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Originally Posted by Randomologist

Does anyone know if Liam Hampson is signed with us? Saw a highlights video on YT of him and was pretty impressed

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A couple of former Titans Development squad members are continuing their progression in the rugby ranks with both Rhian Stowers and Ronan Kapi being named in the 2019 Queensland Country U19 squad.

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Originally Posted by mdrew

Flyer Trezman Banjo scored a hat trick this afternoon for Nudgee College in Round Seven of the GPS School Boy Rugby First XV competition as they defeated Brisbane Grammar School 53-7.

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Outstanding talent, hopefully stays in rugby league.

Izi Sword. The outstanding young No. 8 moved to Anglican Church Grammar School (Churchie) from Corinfa State High School on a rugby scholarship and was a standout for Churchie in the 2018 GPS representative rugby trials held on the Gold Coast in the No. 13 jersey, being outside centre.

In 2019 Izi Sword started the season playing all six of the Easts Tigers MM Cup matches in the front row.

For Churchie in the GPS School Boy Rugby First XV Izi Sword has started all seven of Churchie’ matches to date at No. 8 and after a tough start Churchie is finishing with a number of victories and are currently sitting mid-table.

In the first round of the 2018 trials where Izi Sword was one of two the stand out No. 13’s on the day with the other being the TSS No. 13 as his Churchie side played round robin matches against TSS and Ipswich Grammar School (IGS).

Also in 2018 Izi Sword played three matches in the Brisbane Premier Rugby Colts II competition, but a bad effort for a 17 year old to play against 20 year olds. Izi Sword’s first Colts II match of the season came in Round One against Logan Central where he started at No. 8 in a 34 – 22 win for Souths.

Izi Sword played inside centre in a Round Two 33 – 12 victory against Easts and in Round Three once again started at inside centre in a 31 – 24 victory against North’s Rugby Club. Post those matches, Izi Sword moved from Corinda State High School in Brisbane’s West to Churchie in East Brisbane.

Throughout his junior career the former Corinda State High School student has played both rugby and rugby league, representing South’s Sunnybank in the later and South Rugby Club in the former. In 2017 Izi Sword played in the GBJRL U16 Division One competition dominating the competition. In 2017 Izi Sword represented City U16’s in their annual rugby match against Country.

Izi Sword is a strong powerfully built young man who runs with pace, speed and power. It would be unfair to categorise that his game is only built on pace and power though as he has a very good right foot step and right hand fend, he can also draw defenders in to give players outside him room. Due to his strength and fend he regularly gets on the outside of his opposite defender forcing the winger to make a decision as to whether to come in on him or stay with his winger.

If he comes in, Izi Sword has the quick hands to get the pass away prior to contact, but also is big and strong enough as well as having very good core strength and balance to absorb the contact and still get the pass to his winger whilst maintaining his running line.

If the opposing winger still out, Izi Sword is definitely quick enough to break into open space although I would not say that he has plus speed, he is quick enough to gain separate from the cover defence however. When you look at his build he may not look like he has a lot of speed, but Izi Sword definitely does.

Izi Sword is not necessarily the quickest off the mark but has very good acceleration and speed once he is moving and can sustain his top speed over an extended period which is very impressive for a player of his size and strong build.

Izi Sword’s defensive technique is one styled on intimidation he will come out of the line when the opportunity presents itself and hit very hard around the chest and drive through is lower body and continue until the tackle is well and truly finished. The positive for Izi Sword is that he does not purely rely on strength and power to hit, timing is also a key attribute to ensure that he arrives at the attacker at around the same time that the ball does, this also reduces the likelihood of his opponent getting on his outside and setting up a two or one down the sideline.

In 2019 Izi Sword has a couple of options, he can play in the Brisbane Premier Rugby Colts competition or the Hastings Deering’s Colts rugby league competition.

Izi Sword was a centre in both rugby and rugby league but over the last season or two he has moved in the forwards, at No. 8 in rugby and in the front row in rugby league and with his size and strength I would anticipate that front row will be his long term position in rugby league.

From a playing style perspective, I can see aspects of the play of Sydney Roosters Zane Tetevano in the way that Izi Sword plays, they both run hard and straight and are heavy hitters in defence.

Every time that I watch Izi Sword playing he flashes exceptional ability, consistency is the only thing needed for Izi Sword to be an even better prospect in either rugby league or rugby.

Very interesting to see Logan Brothers youngster Ezra Howe line up at fullback last weekend for the Brisbane State High School First XV in their tough 28-22 loss to Anglican Church Grammar School, in rugby league for Logan Brothers Ezra Howe normally plays in the second row.

He has played a couple of First XV matches on the wing as well this season and is still just 16 years old.

Showing his versatility Ezra Howe started at outside centre for BSHS yesterday afternoon in Round 8 of the GPS First XV competition as they defeated Brisbane Grammar School 45-21.

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Originally Posted by mdrew

Very interesting to see Logan Brothers youngster Ezra Howe line up at fullback last weekend for the Brisbane State High School First XV in their tough 28-22 loss to Anglican Church Grammar School, in rugby league for Logan Brothers Ezra Howe normally plays in the second row.

He has played a couple of First XV matches on the wing as well this season and is still just 16 years old.

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Gold Coast Rugby League youngster Kruze Remine was a try scorer for the Brisbane Grammar School First XV as they went down 45-21 to Brisbane State High School in Round 8 yesterday afternoon.

Fellow GC rugby league player Connor Te Kani converted two of BGS's tries.