Junior Development

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Titans contracted Zane Harrison continued at halfback for the Tweed Heads Seagulls in Round Eight of the U18 NRRRL competition against Casino RSM and before being given a well-earned break mid-way through the second half Zane Harrison kicked four conversions, including an outstanding conversion from the left touchline in the 22nd minute.

Zane Harrison also recorded two try assists and two line breaks in a big Seagulls victory.

The first of Zane Harrison’s two try assists arrived in the 27th minute when Zane Harrison ran the ball to the left of the play the ball, stepping off his right to give himself some room to throw a long hard cut-out pass to his left to put his left winger into space twenty metres out with his left winger getting the ball down in the left corner.

Zane Harrison recorded his second try assist in the 30th minute when from ten metres inside his own territory Zane Harrison received the ball to the right of the play the ball and immediately charged at the defensive line but that the last moment threw a no look pass back on his inside to Creedence Donovan on the halfway mark with Creedence Donovan racing straight through a gap and proving to be way too quick for the Casino RSM fullback to score seven metres in from the right corner post.

Zane Harrison made his line break in the 27th minute when from thirty five metres out Zane Harrison ran the ball to the defensive line after receiving the ball to the left of the pay the ball, executing left and right foot steps seemingly simultaneously to split the ball. Zane Harrison then ran directly at the Casino RSM fullback but his pass to his right went to ground ten metres out from the try line and directly in front of the goal posts.

Zane Harrison made another line break in the 44th minute with a twenty metres run down the left channel leaving a number of Casino RSM defenders in his wake.

Zane Harrison also executed a good defensive play in the 48th minute when the Casino RSM right second rower tried to force his way over from close range down a short blindside but Zane Harrison along with Creedence Donovan was on hand to initially hold him up and then force him over the touchline just out from the corner post.

On the Friday night prior to the match Zane Harrison received the 2022 Northern Rivers Titans U16 Andrew Johns Cup Coaches Award at the Awards Presentation evening.

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Titans contracted Bailey McConnell started at five eight for the Burleigh Bears GCRL U18 Division One side against the Helensvale Hornets in Round Eleven with Bailey McConnell scoring a smart solo try in the 33rd minute when after Bailey McConnell received the ball from his left twelve metres out and just to the left of the uprights, he initially shaped to put in a short grubber kick to his left but instead Bailey McConnell stepped off his right to beat one defender before straightening up and dart over to score eight metres to the left of the uprights.

Bailey McConnell also recorded a 47th minute line break assist when he ran the ball down a wide left blindside from forty metres out and taking the ball deep into the defensive line before popping a good ball to his left to put Teddy Foster through a gap with the centre then setting up his winger to score.

The 11th minute also saw Bailey McConnell throw the final pass for Teddy Foster to score with Bailey McConnell running the ball down a wide left blindside around twelve metres out before throwing the hard flat pass to his left to Foster.

Bailey McConnell made a line break of his own in the 22nd minute when from thirty metres out and to the left of the play the ball Bailey McConnell stepped back inside off his left foot only to be hit by one of the Hornets front rowers but Bailey McConnell fought to free himself from the tackle and make twelve metres, ten of which were of the post contact variety.

Bailey McConnell made multiple try saving tackles in the match, the first of which came in just the third minute when after the Helensvale right winger broke away down the right touchline Bailey McConnell raced across field to his left grabbing the winger with his right hand and wrestling him down less than a metre from the corner post.

Bailey McConnell made another try saving tackle in the 18th minute when he chased back a long Hornets break through the centre of the field and after one of the Hornets second rowers received the ball around ten metres out and no one in front of him, Bailey McConnell came from the clouds to tackle him from behind less than a metre out from the try line and directly in front of the posts.

Bailey McConnell made a further try saving tackle in the 52nd minute when four metres out from the left corner, Bailey McConnell was able to contact the Hornets right centre and sling him to ground just short of the try line.

Bailey McConnell also did well defensively in the 44th minute when after one of the Hornets split the Bears defensive line through the centre of the field near the halfway mark, Bailey McConnell along with Wailer Whaiapu chased back in cover defence to tackle him from behind just thirteen metres out from the try line.

The just a minute later, Bailey McConnell got hold of the giant Hornet No. 10 and rag dolled him to the ground in a very impressive show of strength and leverage.

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One real positive for the Titans is that multiple contracted players are lining up in the Australian School Boy Championships that start today including seven in the U18 portion, with six representing Qld - Keano Kini at fullback and vice captain, Josh Lynn and half, Josiah Pahulu in the front row, Arama Hau at left second row, Seth Nikotemo at right second row and Immanuel Kalekale from the bench.

The seventh Titans representative is Max Liles who will start at halfback for NSWCCC.

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Nelson Makaafi - second row Qld Maroon and Dallas Ingram - half Qld White are the Titans contracted players playing in the Australian U15 School Boy Championships.

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Titans contracted Nicholas Hilton made his Hastings Deering's Colts debut last weekend for the Tweed Heads Seagulls and is set to come off the bench once again today against the CQ Capra's.

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Great to see Titans contracted EJ Finau named on the Burleigh Colts extended bench for their match today against the Northern Pride.

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One real positive for the Titans is that multiple contracted players are lining up in the Australian School Boy Championships that start today including seven in the U18 portion, with six representing Qld - Keano Kini at fullback and vice captain, Josh Lynn and half, Josiah Pahulu in the front row, Arama Hau at left second row, Seth Nikotemo at right second row and Immanuel Kalekale from the bench.

The seventh Titans representative is Max Liles who will start at halfback for NSWCCC.

How good is that having such a high number of representatives

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For the Byron Bay Devils in the NRRRL U18 competition Jesse Soric continued at halfback in Round Nine against the Bilambil Jets and recorded a try assist in the 12th minute. Jesse Soric took an off-load (after a couple of juggles in his outstretched right hand) around ten metres out and just to the left of the uprights. After Jesse Soric secured the ball he ran towards the posts before executing a great right arm flick pass with two Jets defenders on him to Taylor Whittington who as able to crash over adjacent to the left upright.

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Starting at fullback in Round Nine of the U18 NRRRL competition for the Bilambil Jets against the Byron Bay Devils, Tyrese Bowman had a huge match, scoring a double as well as recording two try assists.

Tyrese Bowman’s opening try came in the 19th minute when as all good fullbacks do, Tyrese Bowman was hovering around just behind the ruck and thus he was perfectly positioned to take an off-load in the centre of the field and around twenty metres out. After receiving the ball Tyrese Bowman exploded off the mark and was just too quick for the defense with Tyrese Bowman scoring under the posts.

Tyrese Bowman completed his double just two minutes later in the 21st minute when from just on halfway Tyrese Bowman ran onto a great left arm around the corner off-load from Will Taylor with Tyrese Bowman subsequently racing away to score.

The first of Tyrese Bowman’s try assists came in the 52nd minute when after Tyrese Bowman chimed into the Jets backline on the left side of the field he threw a cut-out pass to his left when ten metres out from the line with the winger able to score comfortably in the corner.

Tyrese Bowman added a second try assist in the 55th minute when once again he threw a good pass to put his winger away but on this occasion Tyrese Bowman received the ball after the Jets had spun the ball to the right with Tyrese Bowman getting the ball away to his right around forty five metres away from the try line.

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Last night for Woollongabar/Alstonville in the Far North Coast Rugby U14 competition, outstanding talent Cai Garrett started at inside centre and was a try scored in a victory against Lismore.

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Round Nine of the U18 NRRRL competition saw Zachariah Williams start at right centre for the Lower Clarence Magpies 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.

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Bilambil Jet Will Taylor continued at lock in Round Nine of the NRRRL U18 competition against the Byron Bay Devils and took the fourth hit-up of the match.

Will Taylor also recorded two try assists with the first coming in just the 4th minute when after Will Taylor charged onto the ball to the right of the play the ball forty metres out from his own try line, Will Taylor stepped off his left foot to beat two defenders and after being engaged by one defender five metres into Devils territory, Will Taylor produced an exceptional left arm around the corner pass to five eight Hasley McDonald who easily outpaced the Byron Bay cover defence to score.

Will Taylor recorded his second try assist in the 21st minute when once again Will Taylor ran onto the ball to the right of the play the ball from around forty metres from his own line and when he was near the halfway mark Will Taylor popped a great short ball to his right to a flying Tyrese Bowman who raced away to score.

Will Taylor was also strong defensively against the Devils with one of his best defensive efforts coming in the 42nd minute with a heavy front on tackle on the Byron Bay right second rower (No. 12) who was taking a hit-up from a penalty restart near halfway with Will Taylor’s initial contact rocking his bigger opponent backwards.

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Titans contracted Riley Buchanan started in the front row for the Tweed Heads Seagulls in Round Nine of the NRRRL U18 competition against the Murwillumbah Mustangs with Riley Buchanan taking the first hit-up of the match from a penalty restart after Murwillumbah’s kick-off had gone out on the full.

Riley Buchanan produced a couple of outstanding tackles in the match with the first coming in the 9th minute when Riley Buchanan executing a front on crunching tackle on the Murwillumbah right winger who was looking to bring the ball off his own try line.

Riley Buchanan executed another great front on tackle in the 20th with a monster hit on one of the Murwillumbah front rowers just on the halfway mark.

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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, Jalyaln 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 Jalyan 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 divev 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.

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Titans contracted Zane Harrison for the Tweed Heads Seagulls started at halfback in Round Nine of the U18 NRRRL competition against the Murwillumbah Mustangs with Zane Harrison kicking two conversions from three attempts in a hard fought 16 -12 come from behind victory.

Zane Harrison was also involved in the Seagulls 53rd minute try with gave Tweed Heads their first lead of the match when Zane Harrison threw a long flat cut-out pass to Taysharn Cora who then set up his winger to score in the corner. Zane Harrison then stepped to convert the try.

Zane Harrison made a 7th minute line break when from thirty metres out and to the left of the play the ball, Zane Harrison dummied to his inside before executing two left foot steps to get break the defensive line before Zane Harrison was tackled just four metres out and directly in front of the posts.

Zane Harrison also kicked well tactically to keep the Mustangs off balance including in the 21st minute when Zane Harrison executed a sixty metre kick into the right corner with the Murwillumbah winger forced to bring the ball out of his own in-goal and was only able to get the ball two metres away from his own try line.