Titan Kai O'Donnell will start from the bench tonight in Burleigh's Queensland Cup trial against Easts at Langland's Park
Titan Kai O'Donnell will start from the bench tonight in Burleigh's Queensland Cup trial against Easts at Langland's Park
A number of Titans linked players will play for the Burleigh in their ISC trial tonight against Easts at Langlands Park, Allan Lockwood will start at fullback, Taine Tuaupiki at five eight, Tyler Szepanowski in the front row and Luke Maiden from the bench.
Also COlts eligible but playing in the trail is winger Reece Tapine.
Making his Australian debut this afternoon in Burleigh's Colts trial is outstanding New Zealand outside back prospect Stanley Farani who will start from the bench for the Bears.
Stanley Farani is a 2018 Auckland U18 representative and also had a storied school boy rugby and rugby league career with Auckland's Pakuranga College. He is Colts eligible again in 2020.
Karl Oloapu is an outstanding five eight/ centre and was one of numerous stand out Titans U14 players in their match last weekend against the Western Mustangs at Mudgeeraba.
In the match that the Titans won 32 – 8 (no conversions were taken), Karl Oloapu played in the left centre position and formed a lethal combination with left second rower William Semu.
In 2018 Karl Oloapu played in the GBJRL U13 Premier Division for the Redcliffe Dolphins and started at five eight in their tough 26 – 12 Grand Final loss to Carina who had in their line-up William Semu.
In late 2018 Karl Oloapu represented Queensland Maori U14’s at the QPICC carnival and the former Wellington New Zealand youngster was also selected in the U13 South East Queensland Merit side.
Northern Rivers Titans results from Round One:
Andrew Johns Cup
Northern Rivers Titans 38 (J De Groot, K Pace, R Mansfield, N Johannssen, O Bryant, R Foran, R Sommerville tries; T Weaver 5 goals) def. Newcastle Knights DS 8 (C Thompson, J Elemes tries)
Laurie Daley Cup
Newcastle Knights DS 34 (R Potts 3, T Lamalama, J Cagney, S Robinson, T Cant tries; S Smith 3 goals) def. Northern Rivers Titans 6 (J Kendall try; N Ewing goal)
William Semu is an outstanding young second rower who proved to be almost unstoppable on the left side of the field for the Titans U14 side last weekend in their 32 – 8 wing over the Western Mustangs.
In addition to starting the match in the second row, William Semu scored an outstanding try and was awarded the Titans player in the match honour. In the match William Semu formed a lethal left side combination with centre Karl Oloapu.
In 2018 William Semu played for Carina in the GBJRL U13 Premier Division competition and started in the second row in the Grand Final with his Carina side coming away victorious 26 – 12 against a Redcliffe side that contained fellow Titans U14 player Karl Oloapu who started that match at five eight.
2018 also saw the Marsden State High School student represent Brisbane Blue in the U13 trials and in 2017 William Semu represent Met East at the Queensland U12 Championships were he was selected in the centres.
You can probably already mark down Titans Noah Johannssen down for try of the year after the try he scored for the Northern Rivers Tians U16 Andrew Johns Cup side on Saturday against Newcastle..
Early in the first half, Newcastle were forced to drop the ball out as a result of an outstanding Thomas Weaver kick and great chase by Rowan Mansfield.
Noah Johnnssen took the ball from Riley Lack near the half way mark and simply powered his way through the Newcastle defence to score near the left upright.
The try was not as a result of Noah Johannssen just breaking the Newcastle line once and scoring, at least twice it appeared that Noah Johannssen would be dragged down but he kept pumping his legs and broke tackle after tackle.
Noah Johannssen also took the hit-up after the Newcastle kick off and once again provided a difficult proposition for the Newcastle defence. Add in a great second half off-load and you have a great game by Noah Johannssen.
A fortnight ago I witnessed one of the most outstanding games by a young centre that I have ever seen by Xavier Atoa.
The outstanding centre was near unstoppable for the Titans U14 side in their big 32 – 8 victory over the Western Mustangs at Mudgeeraba.
In the match Xavier Atoa started at right centre and scored a hat trick including two outstanding long range tries, one in each half. For his first try, Xavier Atoa had moved to the left due to a scrum being packed near the right touch line. Xavier Atoa took a pass from the Titans five eight after a scrum win and split the defence to score from about forty metres out.
Xavier Atoa’s try in the second half was one to behold, Xavier Atoa got the ball in space early, slid through the Western Mustangs left side defence about seventy metres away from the try line and then outpaced the defence to score a great try near the right corner.
Xavier Atoa’s other try was scored in the first half when he chased through a Titans attacking kick and received a great bounce to crash over from short range, he did have a bit of work to do after retrieving the ball and displayed his strength to score.
In 2018 Xavier Atoa played for Souths Sunnybank in the GBJRL U13 Premier Division competition playing primarily at fullback and was also selected in the South East Queensland U13 Merit squad.
In 2017 Xavier Atoa represented Met West at the Queensland U12 Championships were he played in the centres.
The Stretton State College student is more than just a rugby league player however, representing Met West in touch in 2018 and also being a stand out Oztag player, including being named in the All Schools Queensland U13 Oztag team and being named the Junior Male Oztag Player of the Year at the Brisbane awards late last year.
Xavier Atoa has played fullback primarily for Sunnybank in the GBJRL competition, but was simply outstanding for the Titans U14’s earlier this year in the centres and ultimately that is why I believe that in the end he will become a representative level centre in future years.
Last edited by mdrew; 19-02-19 at 09:01 PM.
Great to hear that talented Darius Farmer is likely to play for the Turin their NRL against the Cowboys this weekend. He has long NRL career of him.
Agree Mdrew he is definitely one for the future, along with Darius great to see Garth giving the young blokes a go in the trials to get them experience
Are there any Titans linked players named in any of the Brisbane Stingers U16 squads? Looks like selectors have chosen to stack one team like last year. Wonder how that will go.
Former Titans Development Squad member Oliver Singh is on the move from the Currumbin Eagles to the Tweed Coast Raiders in the NRRRL competition.
In 2018, Oliver Singh played for the Currumbin Eagles in both the GCRL U17 Division One and U19 competitions.
In the U17 Division One competition the half or fullback played in eleven matches scoring 76 points from four tires and 30 goals.
Three of those goals were kicked in the GCRL U17 Division One Grand Final that Currumbin won 30-10 against Runaway Bay with Oliver Singh starting at fullback.
All four of Oliver Singh’s tries came in separate matches against Mudgeeraba, Tweed Heads twice and Burleigh in a semi-final.
With the boot Oliver Singh had a big match in June against Tweed Heads kicking seven conversions to go along with a try.
2018 also saw Oliver Singh play two matches in the GCRL U19 competition, debuting against Helensvale in July when he scored a try and kicked two goals, he also played against Bilambil in August.
The former Marymount College Burleigh Heads student represented the U14 Titans development squad in late 2015, starting at five eight in their victory against Samoa and also in 2014 against the same opposition.
Oliver Sign was a member of 2015 Gold Coast junior rugby league academy and received the Rugby League Encouragement of the year award at the Gold Coast Academy of Sport awards night for 2015.
Oliver Singh will play the 2019 season in the NRRRL competition with the Tweed Coast Raiders and whilst he is still U18 eligible I would anticipate that Oliver Singh will also get an opportunity in First Grade with the defending NRRRL First Grade Premiers as they look to cover the loss of talented half Tahne Robinson who will play for the Tweed Heads Seagulls Colts side this season.