Junior Development

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Ballina Seagulls U15 Group One second rower and Ballina and Far North Coast backrow rugby representative Fynn Jonnson has been selected in the 2022 U16 Andrew Johns Cup train on squad.

The St Francis Xavier College student has also been part of the NSW Country Development Squad.

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Two talented Murwillumbah Colfs juniors have deservedly been named in the 2022 U16 Andrew Johns Cup train on squad talented back Charlie Shepherd and tough forward Aaron Singh-Goesel.

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Lock Darrell Studders is one of a number of talented Marist Brothers Rams juniors that have been selected in the 2022 U16 Andrew Johns Cup train on squad .

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One of the players that have been named in the 2022 U16 Andrew Johns Cup squad is Tweed Heads Seagulls junior Reuben Tamariki.

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In April 2021, Stepharn Holo was named in the U20 Gold Coast Vikings First Grade South East Queensland Chairman’s Challenge initial squad.

Stepharn Holo made his 2021 Hastings Deering’s Colts debut off the bench for Tweed Heads in Round Six against the Easts Tigers and also came off the bench in Round Seven against the Norths Devils.

Stepharn Holo also started on the bench in Round Nine against Wynnum Manly as well as in the Round Eleven local derby against the Burleigh Bears and also in the previously postponed Round Ten match against the Sunshine Coast Falcons.

In 2020 Stepharn Holo selected in the Tweed Heads Seagulls U20 Hastings Deering’s Colts squad.

Steharn Holo started Round One of the 2020 Hastings Deering’s Colts competition in the second row against the Northern Pride and scoring as a result of a powerful surge in the Seagulls impressive first up victory 50 – 20 in their only match before the competition was shut down as they looked to repeat their 2019 success at both the Queensland and National level.

When the 2020 Gold Coast Rugby League competition restarted in August, Stepharn Holo was part of the Ormeau Shearers GCRL First Grade squad starting Round One of the GCRL First Grade competition at lock as the Shearers took on the Tugun Seahawks. Round Two saw Stepharn Holo move to the left second row position against Runaway Bay before moving back to lock for Round Six against the Mudgeeraba Redbacks.

Stepharn Holo started in the front row for the Queensland U16 side in 2017 in Queensland tough 22 – 16 loss to New South Wales. Team mates that night included Titans linked Eli Morgan (second row), Tristian Powell (second row), Will Evans who captained the side from right centre and scoring and left winger Lofi Khan-Pereira who scored two of Queensland’s tries.

In 2017 Stepharn Holo represented South Coast from Coombabah State High School at the U18 QSSRL Championships impressively as a 16 year old and in 2019 was part of the Queensland U18 Emerging Origin Squad. In 2018 Steharn Holo was part of the Queensland Emerging Origin U18 squad.

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What a heck of a year Koopah Walters had. In addition to being named the Grafton Ghosts Group One U14 Best and Fairest the South Grafton high School student was his school's Athletics School age champion, also representing the Northern Region and also won a Bronze Medal at the NSW Age Athletics Championships in the 4x100m.

At South Grafton's Athletics day Koopah Walters broke the 100m school record.

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In 2021 Alex Paisa stood out for the Marsden State High School in the Bronco’s Old Boys School Boy’s Cup competition including starting at right centre in Marsden SHS’s 44 – 12 victory with Alex Paisa scoring Marsden SHS’s second try of the match when he ran off a good ball from right second rower Marlee Smith and was able to bring the ball around to score under the posts. Alex Paisa then stepped up and slotted the conversion with his left foot. Alex Paisa ultimately kicked two conversions in Marsden SHS’s big win.

The former Melton Bronco’s Victoria junior also represented the Met East at the 2021 QSSRL U12 School Boy trials.

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In October 2021 De’Ontae Perese was named in the 2021 Queensland Samoa U18 representative side for the 2021 QPICC Cultural Carnival, starting all four of his matches at the Carnival at halfback, being Match One against Tonga, Match Two against PNG, Match Three against the Cook Islands and Match Four against Queensland Maori, with De’Ontae Perese kicking three conversions in that match.

Round One of the 2021 Langer Cup School Boy Rugby League competition saw De’Ontae Perese initially named to start at five eight for Keebra Park against Marsden State High School however on game day moved to right centre.

De’Ontae Perese then started at five eight in Round Three against Ipswich State High School, scoring in the 47th minute when De’ontae Perese received an off-load six metres from the line and put the ball down under the posts.

DeÓntae Perese then dropped back to the bench for Round Four against St Mary’s College Toowoomba playing in the right centre position when he came on.

De’Ontae Perese made the most of his opportunities in the match scoring one try and coming close to a second.

De’Ontae Perese’s try came in the 38th minute when from twelve metres out De’Ontae Perese darted out of dummy half down a short right blindside and was simply too quick for the St Mary’s defence to crash over ten metres in from the right corner.

As noted above De’Ontae Perese almost scored another try when he chased through a short grubber kick with the referee adjudging that he did not get the ball down cleanly.

De’Ontae Perese also produced a smart piece of play in the 50th minute with a great one on one strip deep inside his own territory from a St Mary’s scrum win.

The Round Five local derby against PBC saw De’Ontae Perese move back into the Keebra Park starting side at right centre and in the 33rd minute produced an exceptional right arm flick off-load to put Levi Jones over in the right corner to kick off Keebra Park’s stunning second half comeback.

De’Ontae Perese moved to start at five eight in Round Six against Wavell State High School.

After the competition was suspended for a number of weeks due to a Covid 19 lock down, De’Ontae Perese was named at five eight for Keebra Park State High School in their semi-final against PBC State High School.

De’Ontae Perese was as good as any Keebra Park player on the field, scoring a great solo try and recording a try assist for Keebra Park’s other try.

De’Ontae Perese scored in the 37th minute. After receiving the ball ten metres out and to the right of the play the ball, De’Ontae Perese dummied to his right before stepping through the PBC defensive line to dive over adjacent to the left upright.

De’Ontae Perese’s try assist came in the 32nd minute when after receiving the ball on the left around ten metres from the line, he threw a great cut out pass to his left which landed on the chest of Elijah Lui who raced over to get the ball down in the left corner.

2021 also saw De’Ontae Perese play for Wynnum Manly in the Greater Brisbane Junior Rugby League U18 competition where he operated primarily in the centres including scoring in the Seagulls semi-final victory against the Norths Devils.

De’Ontae Perese also started at left centre in the 2021 GBJRL U18 Division One Grand Final against Souths Juniors, scoring an impressive hat trick in the Seagulls 40 – 24 Grand Final victory.

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The Tweed Heads Seagulls Junior Rugby League Club was successful in having a few of their juniors named in the 2022 Northern Rivers Titans U16 Andrew Johns Cup squad including talented duo Blake Murphy and Reuben Tamariki.

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Good to see Titans contracted Wailer Whaiapu's leadership skills being recognised with the young man being named one of Keebra Park SHS's 2022 Vice-captains.

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The Northern Rivers Titans U16 and U18 side are on the road for their Round One clashes in early February 2022 when they travel down to Sydney to take on the McArthur Wests Tigers.

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In Round One of the Gold Coast Rugby League U18 Division One competition Esmonde Parangi started at halfback for Runaway Bay as they took on the Mudgeeraba Redbacks, kicking four conversions and recording a try assist in the Seagulls 42 – 6 opening round victory.

Esmonde Parangi’s try assist did not come until the 66th minute but certainly as worth the wait. Esmonde Parangi initially broke the Redbacks line forty metres out by utilising a right foot step and then as the cover defence converged on him Esmonde Parangi threw an exquisite right arm flock pass around the back of a defender to put his right centre over in the corner.

In addition to his solid goal kicking, Esmonde Parangi’s tactical kicking was showcased during the match including a great 40/20 in the 13th minute of the match when he kicked down a short right blind side to put Runaway Bay back onto the attack.

Even though Runaway Bay ended up winning the match well they were under pressure early in the match with Esmonde Parangi being on hand twice to defuse a threat.

On the first occasion in the 22nd minute, Esmonde Parangi tracked back well to defuse a Mudgeeraba attacking kick in front of his own posts and then in the 23rd minute Esmonde Parangi produced a great covering tackle on the Mudgeeraba right centre who looked as if he would score comfortably.

Esmonde Parangi also started at halfback in Round Two against the Southport Tigers with his kicking game late in the late being a key reason why Runaway Bay was able to come away with a hard fought victory.

In the 45th minute, Esmonde Parangi put in a deft right foot chip to the right corner from thirty metres out with Southport being trapped in that corner and in the 47th minute Esmonde Parangi produced an inside pass to a support runner before receiving the ball back and grubbering through the line, forcing Southport to ground the ball in their own in-goal. Runaway Bay scored the match winning try from the subsequent set of six tackles.

Round Five saw Esmonde Parangi start at five eight against Burleigh in their tough one point loss. In addition to kicking a conversion, Esmonde Parangi also recorded a try assist and a great 40/20 in the first half.

Esmonde Parangi’s try assist arrived in the 12th minute when on the last tackle he put in a right foot stab kick from thirteen metres out into the in-goal. The Burleigh defenders made a mess of trying to defuse the kick and Seagulls winger Cody Brose took advantage of the confusion to dive on the ball.

Esmonde Parangi produced another outstanding right foot stab kick in the 46th minute, on that occasion from five metres out with Burleigh forced to take the ball dead and restart by way of a goal line drop out.

Esmonde Parangi kicked his outstanding 40/20 in the 15th minute when from an acute angle down a short right blindside just inside his own forty, Esmonde Parangi was able to find touch fourteen metres out from the line.

Esmonde Parangi showed quick hands in the 6th minute when under pressure he was able to shift to his right to create space for himself and off-load to put Titan Vaikai inside space.

Esmonde Parangi continued at five eight in Round Six against the Currumbin Eagles scoring a great solo try of the 52nd minute of the match. Operating on the right around ten metres from the line, Esmonde Parangi put in a right foot grubber kick for himself and beat the Currumbin defenders to the ball, getting downward pressure on it a metre from the dead ball line.

Esmonde Parangi continued at five eight in Round Seven against the Ormeau Shearers as well as in Round Nine against the Southport Tigers. Esmonde Parangi recorded a try assist against the Tigers in the 24th minute when whilst operating on the right side of the field, from eleven metres out he grubbered into the in-goal for his right second rower to get to the ball easily in front of the Southport fullback.

Round Ten against the Nerang Roosters saw Esmonde Parangi continue at five eight against the Nerang Roosters with one of best moments in the match coming in the 19th minute when Esmonde Parangi took the ball to the right and from thirteen metres out put in a well weighted grubber into the line goal which Nerang had to take dead in-goal.

When rugby league recommenced on the Gold Coast in late August 2021 after the Covid 19 lockdown, Esmonde Parangi was named to start at five eight in Round Eleven against the Helensvale Hornets and was also named at five eight in Round Twelve against the Burleigh Bears as well as in Round Thirteen against the Currumbin Eagles and in Round Fourteen against the Ormeau Shearers.

Round One of the 2021 Gold Coast Rugby League pre-season competition saw Esmonde Parangi start at halfback for the Runaway Bay U20 side that played round robin matches against Burleigh and Helensvale.

Esmonde Parangi came off the bench for Runaway Bay’s Round Eleven U20 match against Helensvale with Esmonde Parangi scoring late in the match when he darted over from dummy half after running to his right after a long break down the right by the Seagulls right centre.

Esmonde Parangi also was named to come off the bench in Round Twelve against the Burleigh Bears and then was also named on the bench for Runaway Bay in Week One of the 2021 GCRL U20 Finals series against the Currumbin Eagles.

Esmonde was also named on the bench for the Seagulls in the 2021 Gold Coast Rugby League U20 Grand Final against the Burleigh Bears.

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At the conclusion of the 2021 season big strong Year Nine front rower Micah Eteru was named on the bench in the 2021 Keebra Park Rugby League Team of the Year.

In October 2021 Micah Eteru was named in the 2022 Burleigh Bears U16 Cyril Connell Cup squad.

Micha Eteru had an outstanding season for Keebra Park in the school boy Walters Cup including a barnstorming performance in the Grand Final loss to PBC with Micah Eteru subsequently being named in the Courier Mail Team of the School Boy Grand Finals in the front row.

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Great effort by Grafton Ghosts fullback Kyron Nipperess to be named the Ghosts 2021 Group One U14 side's Players Player.

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In early November 2021 Will Taylor was named in the 2022 Tweed Heads Seagulls MM Cup squad.

Will Taylor was due to start from the bench for the Northern Rivers Titans in Round One of the 2020 U16 Andrew Johns Cup against the Parramatta Eels at Cudgen but the match was cancelled.

Will Taylor started Round Two of the U16 Andrew Johns Cup from the bench against the Newcastle Knights in Ballina coming on the play in the dummy half role and also started from the bench in Round Three against the Central Coast Roosters.

After missing Round Four, Will Taylor was back on the bench for the Round Five local derby against North Coast once again providing a spark when he came on to play in the dummy half role prior to half time.

Will Taylor played the 2020 season with the Bilambil Jets in the Group 18 U16 competition, in fact Will Taylor was the Club Captain. In the 2020 Group 18 U16 regular season, the Bilambil jets won five matches, scoring 152 points and conceding 118 to finish with a +34 points differential.

The young is from the Bilambil Jets club in Northern New South Wales and captained the Group 18 U15 side at the 2019 New South Wales Country Age Championships held in Port Macquarie in September starting at hooker in all of Group 18’s matches.

After the completion of the Championships Will Taylor was named the 2019 Group 18 U15 representative season’s Best and Fairest player in recognition of his outstanding Championship performances.

Will Taylor started from the bench for the Titans U15 side that defeated a Balmain Tigers U15 Touring side 34 – 16 in early October coming on to play in the dummy half role and crossed the try line in the left corner in the math, but the final pass was called forward.

In 2019 Will Taylor played for the Bilambil Jets in the Group 18 U15 competition and was part of the Grand Final winning side that defeated Byron Bay/Lennox Head in a thriller.

Will Taylor was also part of the PBC School Boy program in 2019 representing his school in a number of school boy competitions including co-captaining the PBC Year Nine Hancock side that erased a 12 – 6 half time deficit to win the final of the Hancock Cup 24 – 18 against Coombabah State High School with Will Taylor playing five eight in the final and operating primarily on the left side of the field for PBC.