Junior Development

[mdrew]

Cooper Hennessey has been named on the interchange bench for the Tweed Heads Seagulls Colts side for their Round One clash this weekend against the Western Mustangs.

In 2018 Cooper Hennessey had an outstanding season in the GCRL U19 competition, scoring nine tries from thirteen games, with one of those games being the Grand Final.

He started at five eight for Currumbin in the Grand Final as they overcame Southport and scored one of Currumbin’s tries.


In the U19 competition, Cooper Hennessey scored a hat trick in June against Ormeau and also scored in matches against Helensvale twice Beaudesert, Southport twice and Bilambil in the Preliminary Final.

Cooper Hennessey also made his GCRL First Grade debut in 2018 when he came off the bench for Currumbin in Round 15 against Ormeau and he also came off the bench in Round 16 against Tugun.

[mdrew]

Tyrelle Roberts will play the 201o season with the Ballina Seagulls,

The former Casino RSM half had an outstanding year in 2017 in the Group One U15 competition and as a consequence was selected in the Northern Rivers U16 side for the 2018 Andrew Johns Cup competition.

Tyrelle Roberts in fact started at half back in their Round One clash against the U16 Newcastle Knights Development squad with Northern Rivers defeating Newcastle 22 – 12 in difficult slippery conditions.

In the Round One match Tyrelle Roberts kicked three goals from four attempts and also set up a try for exciting young fullback Layne Hardy with a deft chip in the second half. The only goal attempt that Tyrelle Roberts missed was after the fulltime siren from right on the right hand touch line.

In total for Northern Rivers in the Andrew Johns Cup Tyrelle Roberts started at half back on all five of their matches scoring twenty two points in the process, coming from eleven goals, including three goals in matches against Newcastle, Central Coast and the Greater Northern Tigers.

Post the Andrew Johns Cup, Tyrelle Roberts went back to the Group One U16.5 competition, to play for Casino RSM.
In total in his thirteen Group One U16.5 matches in 2018 Tyrelle Roberts scored 140 points from eleven tries and forty eight goals.
Tyrelle Roberts scored a May hat trick against Ballina and scored an April double against Lismore Marist Brothers. He also scored tries against Clarence Coast twice, Lismore Marist Brothers and Ballina twice.

With the boot, Tyrelle Roberts kicked seven against Lismore Marist Brothers to score twenty two points in the match when you add in his double and Tyrelle Roberts kicked six goals in matches against Ballina and Kyogle. In the Ballina Tyrelle Roberts also scored a hat trick to finish the match with twenty four points.

At the completion of the 2018 season Tyrelle Roberts started at half for a Group One U16 side in a match at Cudgen against a Western Mustangs selection in a curtain raiser to a U15 match between the Titans and Balmain and scored one of the best tries that I have ever seen when he chipped twice from seventy metres out to score and exceptional try.

In 2017 Tyrelle Roberts finished the season as the Group One U15 competition’ leading points scorer and fourth leading try scorer. In total in 2017 Tyrelle Roberts scored 84 points from ten tries and twenty two goals. Tyrelle Roberts’s ten tries came from just eleven matches and included doubles against Clarence Coast early in the season and against Clarence Coast later in the season.

From a goal kicking perspective, Tyrelle Roberts kicked six from seven in a July match against Kyogle and five in a match against Clarence Coast when he also scored a double to finish the match with eighteen points.

Tyrelle Roberts also played one U16.5 competition match in 2017 which came against Lismore Marist Brothers in early June where he backed up after playing in the U15 match earlier on the Saturday afternoon.

[mdrew]

Titans contracted Jake Martin makes his debut in the MM Cup competition in Round One this weekend when he starts on the wing for the Tweed Heads Seagulls side against the Western Mustangs.

As a result of his performances over the course of recent seasons, Jake Martin signed a two year deal with the Titans which will take him through his final U18 season in 2019 and his first in the Colts age group in 2020.

Jake Martin’s first match in Titans colours since signing his two year contract was in January of this year when he lined up as part of the Titans U18 squad taking on their U18 SG Ball Newcastle Knights opponents in Coffs Harbour. Jake Martin started the match on the left wing for the Titans.

Jake Martin started off the 2018 season representing North Coast in the U18 Laurie Daley Cup competition, playing in two matches, starting both on the wing, with those matches coming against the Greater Northern Tigers and the Newcastle Knights Development Squad. In that first match against the Greater Northern Tigers Jake Martin scored to mark a positive debut.

For the Grafton Ghosts in the Group Two competition in 2018, Jake Martin wore the blue and white in all three grades. In the Group Two U18 competition, Jake Martin played in nine matches scoring four tries including tries in the regular season against Coffs Harbour and Sawtell.

Jake Martin also played in four Group Two Reserve Grade games, making his debut against Coffs Harbour in May of this year. In those four Reserve Grade matches, Jake Martin had a 50% strike rate with his tries coming against Sawtell and Macksville.

Few 17 year olds make their First Grade debuts regardless of level or region, but in April Jake Martin joined that exclusive list when he came on for Grafton against Macksville.

Over the course of the 2017 season represented the Grafton Ghosts in the U18 Group Two competition and in the U16.5 Group One junior rugby league competition. Along with fellow Grafton Ghosts player, Ben Liyou, Jake Martin attended a Titans weekend Elite Academy camp held at Lennox Heads.

In the 2017 U18 Group Two competition, Jake Martin played in six matches (not bad at all considering he was still U16 eligible) and in those six matches scored three tries including a double against local rivals the South Grafton Rebels and also against Coffs Harbour in July. Jake Martin also played eight matches in the Group One U16.5 competition scoring late in the season against Casino RSM.

In the blue and white of the Grafton Ghosts U15 side in 2016 Jake Martin scored seven tries in twelve matches including scoring four in a match against Clarence Coast in June 2016. His other tries came against Lismore Marist Brothers on two separate occasions and Ballina. Jake Martin also represented the U15 Group One side in the NSW Age Championships in the centres.

Jake Martin has an extensive representative junior rugby league representative resume including representing Group One at the U14 and U15 levels in 2015 and 2016 respectively.

[mdrew]

One of the unsung hero’s of the Northern Rivers Titans U16 side this season has been Titans contracted five eight Riley Lack.

The young Murwillumbah junior had an outstanding 2018 season as well including playing for the Titans U15 Invitational side in a match against the Western Mustangs in March 2018 when he started at fullback.

Riley lack has also played in two additional matches for the Titans since then starting both at five eight, the first being against the Balmain Tigers in late 2018 (Riley Lack spent some time at fullback in the second half of that match) and in January of this year against the Newcastle Knights in Coffs Harbour.

Against the Knights Riley Lack primarily operated on the right side of the field with Thomas Weaver playing on the left. He had a solid match and even though he had the No. 6 on his back fed the ball into the scrum for most of the match but on occasion packed in at lock when the Titans had the scrum feed so that he could distribute the ball from the back of the scrum.

Riley Lack also showed his rugby league intelligence in the match, in the second half a Knights second rower ran at him and was dragging Riley Lack with him, Riley Lack got his hands around the ball and stole it in a one on one tackle around the half way mark to give the Titans good field position. Riley Lack also threw the inside ball to Brody Smitka for his second half try.

In the Thursday Night match at Cudgen in September 2018 against the Balmain Tigers Riley Lack recorded a try assist when late in the first half he threw a great long pass to Titans right winger Timothy Seilaff-Burns who was able to freeze the Balmain defender and then beat him on the outside to score in the right hand corner from close range.

In Round One of the U18 Andrew Johns Cup competition this season, Riley Lack started at five eight for the Northern Rivers Titans in their match against the Newcastle Knights Development Squad and just like for the Titans U16’s operated on right with Thomas Weaver on the left and showcased his footwork on a number of occasions.

Round Two of the 2019 Andrew Johns Cup competition saw Riley Lack once again line up at five eight in their match against Parramatta having an outstanding game including throwing the last pass for two of the Titans tries. In the first half Riley Lack took the ball to his left inside his own half and sliced through the Parramatta defence before getting the ball away to fullback Jaylan DeGroot to score.

Late in the second half, Riley Lack had his second try assist of the match when once again operating on the right, he threw a great cut-out pass to winger Jake Coleman to score untouched.

In the match Riley Lack also showed some good kicking skills forcing a line drop out from a deft right foot kick.

For the third week in a row, Riley Lack started at five eight against the North Coast Bulldogs last Saturday, setting up two tries and kicking two from three conversions, with his only miss being from right on the left touch line.

Riley Lacks first try assist came in the first half when he took the ball right to the defensive line before popping a good short ball to his left to send second rower Nicholas Troy over essentially untouched. In the second half with the Titans pressing Riley Lack took a pass high above his body with the North Coast defence converging, Riley Lack was able to bring the ball down and pop a good short pass to his left, under extreme pressure to fullback Jaylan DeGroot to score under the posts.

Riley Lack was selected in the 2018 New South Wales Combined High Schools U15 side for the U15 ASSRL National Championships. He was named to start from the bench but started a number of matches.

Titan’s team mates in the NSW CHS side were fullback Rowan Mansfield and second rower and fellow Murwillumbah High School student Ryan Foran and was one of nine Titans contracted U15 players that participated in the U15 ASSRL Championships.

Unfortunately a further Titans contracted player in Kaleb Ngamanu was injured on the eve of the Championships and could not take his place in the Queensland Maroon side.

On Day Three in a semi-final against NSW CCC, Riley Lack started the match and kicked two from two including converting a 9th minute try from fellow Titans contracted player Ryan Foran. Unfortunately after leading 8 – 0, NSW CHS went down 10 – 8.

On the final day of the Championships being Day Five, Riley Lack started against NSW CIS kicking two conversions in a 12 – 0 victory for his NSW CHS side.

[mdrew]

The Tweed Colts Round One side contains a number of players new to the Gold Coast including Western Australian fullback Kade McDonald and half Tahne Robinson. Both are outstanding attacking players who should set the entire competition alight this year.

[mdrew]

The Tweed Heads Seagulls Round One MM Cup side looks a strong outfit even with a number of players missing. Players with Titans links include wingers Jack Martin and Noah Gafa, centre Caleb Hodges five eight Kade Hill, front rowers Ben Liyou and Solomon Torrens, second rower Juwan Compain, hooker Jed Edwards, lock Carsil Vaikai and interchange players James Torrens and Ediq Ambrosyev.

[RenegadeGC]

Kea Pere (wing), Kai O'Donnell (lock) and Jaxson Paulo (centre) who trained with the Titans NRL squad over the off-season have been named in the Burleigh Colts side for Round One against Norths this weekend.

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MDrew that Burleigh 20s backline looks incredibly strong. Fair to say almost Cup quality?

On a side note. How do you think both Burleigh and Tweeds MM and 20s will go this season

[mdrew]

Agree mate the Burleigh Colts backline is simply outstanding but I would expect Jaxson, Mikey, Larryon, Luke Maiden, Taine Tuaupiki and Kea Pere will move up reasonably quickly.

I think that both Tweed and Burleigh MM squads are in the top couple of sides and both his press for the top 4. The Burleigh backline looks good as does the Tweed forward pack.

Colts will be hard to guage until MM is over as both Tweed and Burleigh will quickly promote some boys.

MDrew that Burleigh 20s backline looks incredibly strong. Fair to say almost Cup quality?

On a side note. How do you think both Burleigh and Tweeds MM and 20s will go this season

[mdrew]

After three outstanding games at left centre Titans contracted Rowan Mansfield will start at fullback for the Northern Rivers Titans U16 side this Saturday in the Andrew Johns Cup against the Central Coast Roosters.

[RenegadeGC]

Agree mate the Burleigh Colts backline is simply outstanding but I would expect Jaxson, Mikey, Larryon, Luke Maiden, Taine Tuaupiki and Kea Pere will move up reasonably quickly.

I think that both Tweed and Burleigh MM squads are in the top couple of sides and both his press for the top 4. The Burleigh backline looks good as does the Tweed forward pack.

Colts will be hard to guage until MM is over as both Tweed and Burleigh will quickly promote some boys.

Thanks mate. Exciting. Footy season is here haha.

[mdrew]

Well done to Nerang fullback Kyan Murphy who has recently been selected in the South Coast U15 side for this year’s QSSRL U15 Championships.

In 2018 Kyan Murphy played fourteen matches in the U14 Division One competition for the Roosters finishing with 14 tries and 14 goals to record a 2018 points tally of 84.

Kyan Murphy scored a finals hat trick against Ormeau and in that match also kicked five goals for a match haul of 22.

He also scored doubles against Ormeau, Burleigh and Mudgeeraba

[mdrew]

Powerhouse young forward James Pere is on the move and will line up this season with the Nerang Roosters in their U18 side after moving from Coomera and also be a likely First XV starter for TSS in the GPS Schoolboy rugby competition.

He was outstanding in 2018 both in club rugby league and school boy rugby, playing for the TSS U16A side in the GPS rugby competition.

Even though he was U16 eligible in 2018 James Pere played the 2018 GCRL season in the U17 Division Two competition with Coomera playing in nine matches including the U17 Division Two Finals series.

In Week Two of the U17 Division Two finals James Pere started in the centres and scored for Coomera as they went down 28 – 16 to Currumbin.

In the Preliminary Final James Pere scored a try after starting in the centres as Coomera qualified for the Grand Final on the back of a 62 – 4 victory over Jimboomba.

In the U17 Division Two Grand Final James Pere started in the centres as Coomera went down 24 – 18 to Currumbin.

In addition to his two finals tries, James Pere scored ten in the U17 Division Two regular season competition. James Pere scored a hat trick against Jimboomba, doubles against Currumbin in two separate matches and Jimboomba and also scored against Beaudesert.

Early in the 2018 season James Pere represented Gold Coast Vikings Yellow in the South East Queensland U16 Challenge.

For the TSS U16A side this season James Pere played in seven matches missing only Round Two as a result of an injury suffered in Round One against Churchie. James Pere started all seven matches at No. 8.

James Pere scored three GPS U16A tries in 2018, scoring in Round Four against Brisbane Grammar School, Round Seven as a result of a pick and drive against Ipswich Grammar School and Round Nine against Churchie.

Prior to the GPS U16A season proper James Pere started in six of the U16A TSS trial matches starting at No. 8 in five and on the bench in the other which was against Ipswich Grammar School. Trial matches that James Pere played in included matches against Riverview College (Sydney), Somerset College and Ambrose Treacy College.

Prior to heading to TSS James Pere attended Keebra Park and 2016 represented the Gold Coast Vikings at the U14 level and was also selected in one of the South East Queensland U14 representative sides.

In 2016 James Pere was a dominant player for Keebra in the U14 Hancock Cup school boy competition, including scoring a hat trick in a match against Marsden State High School where in the first half he was almost unstoppable running off 2018 Queensland U16 representative Reece Walsh.

James Pere also scored a hat trick the week prior as well against Wavell. After being down 12 – 0 early to Wavell James Pere crashed over to score Keebra’s first try and then produced two more barnstorming runs in the second half to help Keebra Park close out the game 30 – 18. James Pere understandably was also awarded the man of the match honours in that game.

James Pere also represented the Vikings and South East Queensland at the U13 level in 2015.

[mdrew]

For the Northern Rivers Titans U23 side in their Round One match against the Central Coast Roosters this weekend 18 year old half Kel Sheather is set to start at half.

The talented Titans linked young half was still eligible to play in the MM Cup competition in 2108 and in fact was named in the Tweed Heads Seagulls MM Cup squad but in fact has by-passed the U18 competition all together and commenced the 2018 season as the starting half back for the Tweed Heads Seagulls U20 Colts side and scored a good try in Round One against the North’s Devils when he split the North’s defence from around ten metres out when operating on the left side of the field.

Kel Sheather also started Rounds Two where he had a try assist and Three against Victoria and Burleigh respectively at half back. Kel Sheather has primarily played on the left side of the field so far this season for the Tweed Heads Seagulls.

Round Three against Burleigh once again saw Kel Sheather lead Tweed Heads around the field well especially in the second half with the Seagulls coming from behind to beat their local rivals by four points with two late tries.

In total for Tweed Heads in the 2018 Colts competition, Kel Sheather played in eleven matches scoring two tries. In addition to the try noted above against Victoria, Kel Sheather also scored against Wynnum Manly in Round Six.

Kel Sheather started his first eight U20 Hastings Deering’s Colts matches at half back, the last being in Round Eight against the Western Mustangs. In his other three matches being against Ipswich in Round Ten, Redcliffe in Round Thirteen and Wynnum Manly in Round Seventeen, Kel Sheather has started from the interchange bench.

Kel Sheather also played a number of matches in the NRRRL competition this season for Ballina making his NRRRL First Grade debut in June and scoring against Casino RSM. In his eight NRRL First Grade regular season matches in 2018 Kel Sheather has scored 32 points from four tries and eight goals.

Kel Sheather was also heavily involved in Ballina’s NRRRL First Grade final’s series, culminating in Ballina playing the Tweed Coast Raiders in the NRRRL First Grade Grand Final with Ballina going down 24 – 4 against the Tweed Coast Raiders in a physical contest in Ballina.

Kel Sheather started the Grand Final at five eight and operated primarily on the right side of the field for Ballina. He did not get too many chances in attack but acquitted himself well defensively against a Tweed Coast forward pack that sent a lot of traffic his way.

Kel Sheather had a huge match late in the regular season against Lower Clarence in Round Seventeen scoring two tries and kicking eight goals for an individual point’s haul of 24. Kel Sheather’s other regular season tries came in Round Seventeen against Lismore Marist Brothers and Round Seven against Casino RSM.

Kel Sheather also played one NRRRL U18 match being in May against the Tweed Coast Raiders and that day he then backed up for the First Grade match later in the afternoon.

The 2018 season is the second season in which Kel Sheather has been involved in the NRRRL First Grade competition after playing in nine matches in 2017, scoring one try.

The St Johns College Woodlawn half back in 2017 plyed his trade for the Ballina Seagulls in the NRRRL Northern Rivers Rugby League competition playing both first grade and U18’s this season as well as playing for St College Woodlawn in a number of Schoolboy competitions including the GIO Cup. Kel Sheather set up a great try in the semi-finals of the New South Wales Catholic Cup schoolboy competition when a great kick of his in the wet found the chest of centre Jordan Sly but a late try resulted in a 14 – 10 loss to Sydney’s Holy Cross Ryde.

Kel Sheather also scored a 100 metre try and was singled out for special praise by his coach in Woodlawn’s New South Wales GIO Cup Grand Final victory over Patrician Brothers Fairfield in Sydney in late August 2017.

Kel Sheather in 2017 played ten matches in the U18 NRRRL competition scoring 52 points from five tries and sixteen goals. All of his tries have been scored in different games and came against Tweed Coast on two separate occasions, Byron Bay, Casino RSM and Kyogle. Kel Sheather also played nine NRRRL first grade matches and scored his sole try in his third ever first grade match against Byron Bay.

In 2016 Kel Sheather started from the bench for the Northern Country Combined Catholic College side in the NSW CCC trials. Over the last couple of years, the young halfback has not played a great deal of club rugby league for his club side the Ballina Seagulls but has played a fair amount of matches, including the National GIO Cup competition with St Johns College Woodlawn.

Kel Sheather came to prominence in the green of Woodlawn in 2017 when he was part of the NSW CCC Cup Woodlawn side that made the semi-finals of that competition last year. That side included former Titan Sam Elliot and Zac Beecher who has previously played in the MM Cup competition of the Gold Coast.

[mdrew]

At the end of last season I was under the impression that former PBC student Adyn Anguna was headed to rugby but it is great news to see that he has been named on the bench for the Tweed Heads Seagulls Colts Round One side for this weekend’s match against the Western Mustangs.

The big strong powerful young front rower had a great first season on the Gold Coast for the Burleigh Bears in 2017 after moving over from the Cook Islands to attend PBC State High School as part of their Rugby League Excellence Program after starring in a PBC rugby league trial in late 2016 and continued to make strides over the course of the 2018 season.

In 2018 Adyn Anguna concentrated primarily on school boy rugby league for PBC playing in the majority of their matches from the interchange bench including starting their in the Queensland GIO Cup Final against Kirwan State High School and in the National GIO Cup Final against Patrician Brothers College Blacktown with PBC running out 20 – 12 winners.

In addition to playing for PBC Adyn Anguna played in three matches for Currumbin in the Gold Coast Rugby League U19 competition scoring in his first match in that competition this season against Helensvale. Adyn Anguna played against Helensvale twice with his other match against Burleigh

In late 2017 Adyn Anguna was also selected in the Tweed Heads Seagulls 2018 MM Cup squad but he did not play any of Tweed’s MM Cup matches this season.

In 2017 Adyn Anguna was already around 101kg and 188cm played in eight matches for Burleigh in the U17 Division One competition scoring two tries which came in consecutive weeks in July against Mudgeeraba and Helensvale. Adyn Anguna also played two matches for Burleigh in the U17 Division Two competition.

[mdrew]

One talented player that has been named in the Tweed Heads Seagulls Colts Round One side is interchange forward Codey McLaughlin.

He was part of the 2018 Tweed Heads Seagulls MM side and post that competition has played in the GCRL U19, Doug Lipp Cup and First Grade competitions for Runaway Bay.

In the MM Cup competition for Tweed Heads, Codey McLaughlin played in five matches starting all five from the interchange bench and scoring twice. Codey McLaughlin’s first try came in Round Two against Victoria and he followed that with a try in Round Five against the Townsville Blackhawks.

For the U19 Runaway Bay side post the MM Cup competition Codey McLaughlin played in twelve regular season matches scoring six tries. Codey McLaughlin scored a Round Fourteen double against Mudgeeraba and also scored in Round Fifteen against Burleigh and well as in Round Seventeen against Beaudesert. Earlier in the season Codey McLaughlin scored against Bilambil and Ormeau to round out his seasons try scoring.

In the Doug Lipp Cup competition for Runaway Bay Cody McLaughlin played five regular season matches including starting Round Sixteen against Helensvale in the second row and Round Seventeen in the centres against Beaudesert, debuting against Currumbin and April.

Codey McLaughlin scored two regular season Doug Lipp Cup tries including scoring in just his second game at that level against Tugun and also scored in his starting debut against Helensvale in Round Sixteen.

In Week One of the GCRL Finals series, Codey McLaughlin started in the second row as well as scoring for Runaway Bay in their 40 – 12 win over Burleigh in the Doug Lipp Cup competition.

In Week Two of the GCRL Finals series, Codey McLaughlin started in the second row for Runaway Bay once again in their 25 – 4 win against Beaudesert.

Codey McLaughlin also started in the second row for Runaway Bay in the Doug Lipp Cup Preliminary Final against Currumbin with Runaway Bay going down by a solitary point 17 – 16 in a hard fought contest.

Codey McLaughlin made his deserved GCRL First Grade debut in late June coming off the bench for Runaway Bay against Tugun.

Codey McLaughlin played the 2017 season with the Helensvale Hornets in the GCRL U17 Division One competition including starting at five eight in Helensvale’s 34 – 20 Grand Final victory over Ormeau. Over the course of the U17 Division One 2017 season Codey McLaughlin played in thirteen matches scoring four tries in the process with the tries coming against Southport, Mudgeeraba, Runaway Bay and Burleigh.

For Gold Coast Green in the CC Cup competition in 2016, Codey McLaughlin played in all eight matches, starting the seven regular season games at right centre, but he started the quarter final on the right wing. Over the course of the CC season he scored three tries which came against the Easts Tigers in Rounds One and Six and also against Toowoomba in their quarter final loss, he also kicked two conversions in a Round Two win against local rivals Gold Coast White.

In addition in 2016 Codey McLaughlin also represented South East Queensland White in the Queensland Age Championships at the U16 level, and on Day Two scored a try and kicked two conversions in a win against South East Queensland Green and on Day Three kicked three conversions in a big 42-24 victory over the Northern Marlins.