Junior Development

[mdrew]

Burleigh half Cameron Brown finished with an individual points haul of 22 from two tries and seven goals from ten attempts as the Bears thumped Ipswich 54-12 in Round Five of the Hastings Deering's Colts competition this evening.

[NZTITAN]

In Round One of the Gold Coast Rugby League First Grade competition last weekend, Yorel Alapaki started from the bench for the Southport Tigers as they took on the Currumbin Eagles and he will also started from the bench in Round Two on the weekend against Runaway Bay.

After spending a portion of the 2020/21 offseason trialling for the Wests Tigers, when the 2021 Gold Coast Rugby League competition commenced, Yorel Alapaki started on the bench for the Southport Tigers Doug Lipp Cup Reserve Grade side in Round One of the pre-season against Runaway Bay and also started from the bench in Round Two against Ormeau.

Yorel Alapaki was then named on the interchange bench for the Southport Tigers GCRL First Grade side for Round Three of the pre-season competition against the Tugun Seahawks.

The young hooker, lock or second rower (let’s call him a utility forward) moved over from Auckland at the start of 2019 to play with the Southport Tigers in the Gold Coast Rugby League U18 Division One competition and in the 2020 season was part of the Tweed Heads Seagulls MM Cup squad.

The young man is an inspirational story, as he moved over from South Auckland as a 16 year old and since his move has lived by himself as he attended school and chased his NRL dream.

Yorel Alapaki’s first match of the 2020 season was when he was part of the Tweed Heads Seagulls MM Cup squad that defeated the Souths Logan Magpies MM Cup squad in a trial at Tugun in February.

Yorel Alapaki started Round One of the 2020 MM Cup competition for the Tweed Heads Seagulls from the bench in their winning start to the season against the Northern Pride. Unfortunately that Round One match was the only MM Cup round played to the Covid 19 outbreak which caused so many issues for society in general.

In 2020 Yorel Alapaki was part of their Langer Cup Open A school boy rugby league squad including playing in Keebra Park’s Open A school boy’s first 2020 trial against Ipswich State High School in mid-July that Keebra Park won.

Yorel Alapaki started from the bench in Round One of the Langer Cup against Wavell State High School and also started from the bench in Round Two against Marsden State High School and recording a try assist.

Towards the end of the second half, Yorel Alapaki was operating on the left of the play the ball. After receiving the ball Yorel Alapaki took the ball to the line, and after subtling cutting to his left, threw a good pass to big front rower Isaac Matavelea-Booth who had run an outside shoulder route into a gap to rumble twenty metres to score.

Yorel Alapaki also was named to start from the bench in the Round Four local derby against PBC but ended up starting the match at left second row and produced an outstanding piece of paly early in the match to send Jaiden West over. Yorel Alapaki burst through the line on the left side of the field, surging away from the PBC cover defence, before drawing the fullback and passing to his left to put fullback Jaiden West over.

Yorel Alapaki also came off the bench in Round Five against St Mary’s Toowoomba, scoring his first Langer Cup try in the first half.

With Keebra Park on the attack a metre out from the St Mary’s line, Yorel Alapaki charged onto the ball to the left of the play the ball and went straight through the two immediate St Mary’s defenders to score five metres to the left of the goal posts.

Yorel Alapaki 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.

Yorel Alapaki started the 2020 Langer Cup Grand Final from the bench for Keebra Park as they went down 16 – 8 to PBC in a high quality match.

When rugby league restarted in July 2020, Yorel Alapaki was back in the orange and black of the Southport Tigers lining up for the second season in the GCRL U18 Division One competition. In 2020 for Southport, Yorel Alapaki played primarily at hooker, also he did spend some time at lock as well.

Yorel Alapaki proved to be a bit of a try scorer for Southport in the U18 Division One competition in 2020, especially out of dummy half. Against Ormeau, Yorel Alapaki, who had started the match from the bench, was at dummy half ten metres out from the line. Yorel Alapaki took a quick step out of dummy half to his right, throwing a dummy to the same side of the field. The dummy to his right opened up a seam in the Shearers defence which Yorel Alapaki exploited to spring the ten metres to score next to the left upright.

Over the course of the season, Yorel Alapaki also scored a good try out of dummy half against Helensvale. Yorel Alapaki got into dummy half two metres out from the Hornets line, running out of dummy half to his right, Yorel Alapaki ran about ten metres parallel to the defensive line before taking the first defender to confront him head on, Yorel Alapaki pushed him off front on before diving to his left to get the ball down with two further Helensvale defenders trying in vain to hold him up.

In 2019 Yorel Alapaki started Round One of the Gold Coast Rugby League competition at hooker. Yorel Alapaki then moved to lock for Round Two against Currumbin. Yorel Alapaki scored his first try on the Gold Coast in Round Three against Runaway Bay as Southport prevailed 26 – 14 and kicked his first goal in Round Five.

Yorel Alapaki was back in Auckland playing for Marist Saints against Manurewa All-stars in mid-June 2019 and I had thought that Yorel Alapaki was back in New Zealand for good but he was back starting at hooker for Southport in Round twelve against Tugun and also started at hooker in Round Thirteen against Mudgeeraba.

In total for Southport in the 2019 GCRL U18 Division One regular season competition Yorel Alapaki played in eight matches alternating between lock and hooker (as well as a match or two off the bench), scoring six points as noted above.

Yorel Alapaki also started at lock for Southport in their 28 – 20 U18 Division One Preliminary Final win over Ormeau to progress to the Grand Final against Burleigh and also started at lock in Southport’s 28 -12 Grand Final loss to Burleigh. When the match got ‘physical’ in the second half Yorel Alapaki was certainly in the thick of the action, charging around and making his presence felt both in attack and defence for Southport.

In 2018 Yorel Alapaki played in the Auckland Junior Rugby League U16 competition for Marist Saints. 2018 also saw Yorel Alapaki, who is also an accomplished softball player, represent Howick College in the 2018 New Zealand National Secondary Schools Development Tournament.

In that competition, Yorel Alapaki played in five matches with those matches being against Sir Edmund Hillary College, Onehunga High School twice, Naenae College and Whangaparaoe College. Yorel Alapaki started all five matches at lock for Howick College and scored in both final’s matches being against Onehunga High School and Whangaparaoe College.

Yorel Alapaki’s try against Onehunga High School was a case where he just wanted to score more than the defence wanted to stop him. The Howick College centre on the right, Francis Morrison, cut back inside and ran across field, Yorel Alapaki ran straight at a hole in the defensive line and upon receiving the pass barged his way over adjacent to the right upright dragging a couple of defenders with him.

Yorel Alapaki’s try against Whangaparaoe College could not have been more different to the one discussed above. Yorel Alapaki took a hit-up on the left side of the field about sixty five metres out from the try line and after breaking through the defensive line by running over a defender outpaced the Whangaparaoe College cover defence to score an impressive try.

Late in 2018 Yorel Alapaki was the co-captain of the Auckland Niue U16 side that played an Auckland U16 side, starting that match in the second row. In 2018 Yorel Alapaki was also captain of the Northern side in the New Zealand Development Rugby League Finals held in March.

Yorel Alapaki also represented the Cook Islands in the 2018 U18 Rugby League Oceania Sevens tournament scoring against the Solomon Islands in Round Four.

In 2017 Yorel Alapaki represented the Akarana Falcons U15’s at the New Zealand National Age Championships playing in matches against local rivals the Auckland Vulcans as well as the Northern Swords.

Howick boys checking in . I was actually just watching the 2018 team's tournament games a couple days ago and thought he was definitely our best player there, very keen to hear how he progresses on the GC.

[mdrew]

With the demise of the Ormeau Shearers GCRL First Grade side for this season, I as wondering where talented Coen Rankmore would play but that has been addressed and the talented young man will start in the second row today for the Helensvale Hornets U20 side in their Round Two match against the Burleigh Bears.

[mdrew]

Former Titans junior development squad member and Queensland U16 representative Vito Siaosi will start in the second row today for the Helensvale Hornets Doug Lipp Cuo side in Round Two against Burleigh.

[mdrew]

The Helensvale Hornets make their Gold Coast Rugby League First Grade debut today against Burleigh and one interesting player who will start from the bench today is former TSS stand out Declan Day.

Declan Day was a stand out school boy rugby front rower who after his school boy career came to an end played in the NYC and it will be great to see him line up today in the green and yellow of the Hornets.

[mdrew]

Great to see the the 2021 Tweed Heads Seagulls Victorious MM Cup side presented yesterday at the Tweed Heads Queensland Cup match yesterday.

Well done to all.

[mdrew]

At the recent 2021 U14 Buckley Shield rugby league competition, Ballina Coast High School, which has strong links to the Titans, had a great day winning the Final 46-0 against Tweed River High School.

The Ballina side were led by stand out half Dylan Watkins. The Ballina Coast side also contained a few U13 players including Harrison Clements who played on the wing and forward Baxter Turner.

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Jayden Campbell had a staggering match last night in the Queensland Cup for Tweed Heads.

In addition to his hat trick, Jayden Campbell, whilst playing the entire match ran for a team leading 298 metres (fifty three post contact), had a line break, played the ball at an average speed of 2.39 seconds, made five tackles and defused two bombs.

The most staggering stat however was the fact that he broke SEVENTEEN tackles, yes 17.

He now has broken 53 tackles in just six Queensland Cup match this season.

[mdrew]

Titans contracted Riley Lack started at halfback for the Murwillumbah Mustangs NRRRL First Grade side this afternoon in Round Three of the NRRRL competition, putting in an assured performance as the Mustangs defeated Lower Clarence 64-6.

[mdrew]

It was good to see Noah Croudace score for the Burleigh GCRL U20 side in Round Two yesterday against Helensvale.

Noah Croudace started at fullback with his try coming in the 55th minute when Noah Croudace burst over the line from a Burleigh scrum win with Noah Croudace receiving the ball to the right of the scrum eighteen metres. Unfortunately took a knock to the head as he was putting the ball down.

[mdrew]

Yesterday Jay Blazek also started at lock for Helensvale in Round Two of the GCRL U18 Division One competition against Burleigh, scoring a double in the Hornets impressive victory.

Jay Blazek scored his first try in the 43rd minute from a Helensvale scrum win ten metres in front of the left upright. Jay Blazek picked the ball up from the back of the scrum immediately running to his right, beating the initial tackle before moving parallel to the defensive line. Jay Blazek dummied to his right before straightening up to cross fifteen metres from the right upright.

Jay Blazek added his second try in the 54th minute when he scooped up a Burleigh loose pass forty two metres from the try line and running away to put the ball down under the posts.

After his two try performance Jay Blazek came off the bench for Helensvale in the following match being Round Two of the GCRL U20 competition against Burleigh.

[mdrew]

Big and strong Christian Kiri started at left second row yesterday for Burleigh in Round Two of the GCRL U18 Division One competition as the Bears took on the Helensvale Hornets scoring a strong try in just the third minute of the match.

Christian Kiri received the ball seventeen metres out from the line on the left side of the field, running with the ball in his right hand only. After receiving the ball Christian Kiri cut back to his right then produced a left foot step and then ran through three attempted tackles to score mid-way between the goal posts and corner post on the left side of the field.

Just a minute earlier than when he scored in the 2nd minute, Christian Kiri made a strong ten metre run starting twenty metres out and when he got to ten metres out he was able to offload the ball to his inside.

The 41st minute of the match saw Christian Kiri once again make good metres, on that occasion fourteen, nine of which were post contact, when he took a hit-up to the right of dummy half.

Christian Kiri also made two strong defensive plays in the match including a try saving tackle in the 24th minute when he dived to his left to cut down the Hornets right centre with a copy book low tackle less than two metres out from the try line.

The other defensive effort of Christian Kiri’s that was worth noting came in the 9th minute when he produced a strong front on tackle on the Helnsvale No. 10 with the hit jarring the ball loose.

[Hail Sezer]

Jayden Campbell had a staggering match last night in the Queensland Cup for Tweed Heads.

In addition to his hat trick, Jayden Campbell, whilst playing the entire match ran for a team leading 298 metres (fifty three post contact), had a line break, played the ball at an average speed of 2.39 seconds, made five tackles and defused two bombs.

The most staggering stat however was the fact that he broke SEVENTEEN tackles, yes 17.

He now has broken 53 tackles in just six Queensland Cup match this season.

17? Is that a record?

[mdrew]

Tweed Coast Raider Stevie O’Connor was named to come off the bench yesterday in Round Three of the NRRRL U18 competition against the Ballina Seagulls however he started that match at left centre before playing the second half at fullback.

Stevie O’Connor recorded a try assist in the 56th minute when he looped around behind a set play down a short left blind side receiving the ball thirty metres out and running straight through a gap. Stevie O’Connor drew the Ballina fullback sending a pass to his left to put Fletcher Purcell over in the left corner.

Stevie O’Connor almost had another try assist in the 17th minute when he threw a cut-out pass to his left but he support runner was tackled into touch just short of the line.

Stevie O’Connor showed all of his skills over the course of the match including in the 54th minute when he kicked to the left wing forcing the Ballina fullback to take the ball dead just in front of the Raiders chasers.

In the 23rd minute Stevie O’Connor showed his desperation when he raced back to dive on a Ballina short grubber kick just out from his own line when it looked like the Seagulls chasers would get to the ball first.

[mdrew]

Cudgen Hornet Kobi Walpole started on the left wing in Round Two of the NRRRL U18 competition yesterday against Casino RSM and was prominent early on in the match with his first contribution coming in the opening minute when he took a Casino RSM tactical kick on the full fifteen metres out from his own line. As soon as he took possession, Kobi Walpole ran towards his left, beating two defenders in a twenty metre run down the left touchline.

Kobi Walpole made a further break down the left touchline in the 9th minute when he was able to carry the ball twelve metres.

Kobi Walpole made it three line breaks down the left touchline in the first half when in the 20th minute he broke away down the touchline before offloading on his inside to one of his giant front rowers (No. 20). Kobi Walpole stayed alive, getting the ball back from the front rower and got to within six metres of the line before he was finally stopped.

It was not just with the ball that Kobi Walpole made an impact in the opening minutes, including stopping a Casino RSM try in the 5th minute when he stopped his opposite number just short of the line on the 5th tackle and in the second minute, Kobi Walpole got out of marker quickly to get into the ribs of the RSM fullback and drive him back eight metres and also forcing the ball loose in the tackle.

Unfortunately Kobi Walpole took a head knock early in the second half and was unable to see the match out.