Junior Development

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Lofi Khan-Periera is a contracted Titans player who represented South Coast at the 2018 QSSRL U18 Championships in Toowoomba scoring a number of long range tries from the left wing and was in my eyes an unlucky omission from the Queensland U18 QSSRL side which contains fellow Titans contracted, South Coast representative and Keebra Park student David Butler.

Lofi Khan-Periera has played a number of matches for Keebra Park this season including matches against PBC which they lost by two, points, and in wins over Wavell State High School and St Mary’s College who Keebra Park defeated 24 – 18.

Lofi Khan-Periera started the 2018 season off in the MM Cup competition with the Burleigh Bears, playing in all six of Burleigh’s matches, starting four on the wing and two at fullback. Lofi Khan-Periera started the Bears first four matches on the wing before moving to fullback for the Round Six match against the Western Mustangs.

In his six matches Lofi Khan-Periera scored five tries including a Round Six double against the Western Mustangs. Lofi Khan-Periera also scored tries in Rounds One, Three and Four against the Sunshine Coast, Tweed Heads and South’s Logan respectively.

Post the MM Cup, Lofi Khan-Periera has played in one match for the Burleigh U17 Division One side scoring a hat trick against Helensvale.

The young Burleigh Bears winger and current Keebra Park student had a great 2017 season culminating in starting on the wing for Keebra Park in their National GIO Cup Finals success and representing Queensland Murri U16’s in their annual clash against New South Wales Kurri with Titans linked Jesse Brasslin was a team mate.

In the interstate clash held in Newcastle Lofi Khan-Periera scored a double as Queensland Murri went down 16 – 14 in a tight clash. 2017 also saw Lofi Khan-Periera as part of the 2017 U16 Queensland Academy of Sport squad and he also won the Keebra Park 2017 Year 11 Sport Specialisation student of the year award.

In 2017 Lofi Khan-Periera finished on top of the try scoring list in the U16 Division One competition in 2017, finishing with eight tries from twelve matches. Unfortunately for Lofi Khan-Periera he missed the U16 Division One Grand Final with injury as Burleigh were defeated 34 – 4. Lofi Khan-Periera had a great start to the U16 Division One season scoring all eight of his tries through the first five rounds including four tries in a match against Ormeau and a Round One double against Helensvale.

A the commencement of the 2017 season Lofi Khan-Periera represented the Gold Coast Vikings in the U16 South East Queensland pre-season competition and from there made the South East Queensland White U16 side for the Queensland Age Championships. In those Championships, Lofi Khan-Periera had an outstanding campaign, scoring a double on Day Two against Central and a try on Day Three against South East Queensland Green. Lofi Khan-Periera also scored in each of SEQ Whites finals, including against Northern in a semi-final and against SEQ Green in the final which White won 42 – 30.

He is still MM Cup Eligible in 2019 and also will likely get an opportunity in the Hastings Deering’s Colts competition for Burleigh as the 2019 season progresses.

[RenegadeGC]

Great to see young Burleigh player Kai O'Donnell as one of the nominees for Intrust Super Cup Rookie of the year. Was nominated with some outstanding company in Jake Clifford (eventual winner), and Kotoni Staggs (ISC Centre of the Year). Impressive effort for the youngster who is still eligible for U20s next year.

Im sure he will play an integral role off the bench for Burleigh as they enter the finals series in coming weeks.

[mdrew]

Interesting to see Titans contracted Kaleb Ngamanu named at No. 7 for the TSS U15A school boy rugby side for this weekend’s away match against Ipswich Grammar School.

He normally plays in the centres in both rugby and rugby league.

[mdrew]

Big strong young front rower or lock Jayden Sharp won the Gold Coast Junior Rugby League U17 Division One player of the year in 2017 and maintained his impressive form and enhanced his reputation throughout the 2018 season across multiple levels and competitions.

Jayden Sharp started the season in the Burleigh MM Cup side and had a solid Round One on the Sunshine Coast being part of Burleigh’s 52 – 22 MM Cup victory as well as scoring a first half try for the Bears.

In total for Burleigh in the MM Cup competition Jayden Sharp played in all six of Burleigh’s matches starting his first three matches from the interchange bench before breaking into the starting line-up in Round Four. Jayden Sharp then started the final two Burleigh matches in the front row.

Jayden Sharp broke into the Burleigh Hastings Deering’s Colts side for their Round Thirteen match against Ipswich. Jayden Sharp has gone into to play an additional seven Hastings Deering’s Colts matches starting the first three from the interchange bench, and coming into the starting side in the front row in Round 17 against Norths and he has maintained his starting spot in the front row since then.

Jayden Sharp’s sole U20 Colts try to date came in Round Sixteen in the local derby against the Tweed Heads Seagulls.

Post the MM Cup competition Jayden Sharp played a number of Helensvale in the GCRL competition prior to his inevitable promotion to the Burleigh Colts side.

In his first U19 match of the season for Helensvale after the completion of the MM Cup competition Jayden Sharp dominated Beaudesert scoring a hat trick and a fortnight later scored a double against Ormeau. In Round Sixteen with the Burleigh Colts side having a bye, Jayden Sharp was back for Helensvale starting in the front row an scoring his six try against Runaway Bay. In total in the U19 competition Jayden Sharp played in five matches and scored the afore mentioned six tries.

Jayden Sharp made his Doug Lipp Cup debut for Helensvale in early May against Currumbin and scored on debut as well. The following week Jayden Sharp also played in the Doug Lipp Cup this time against Ormeau and also scored. In each of his three Doug Lipp appearances Jayden Sharp was backing up after playing in the U19 match earlier in the day.

[mdrew]

Titans contracted Jaxson Paulo spent a bit of time this season training with the Titans NRL squad on a regular basis at the moment as well as spending the first half of the 2017-18 off season with the Titans NRL squad.

Jaxson Paulo made an outstanding start to the 2018 season as part of the Burleigh Bears U20 Colts side where he started the opening rounds of the competition at left centre.

In addition to scoring In Round One against the Sunshine Coast Falcons when he crossed untouched after running a good line off a Taine Tuaupiki pass, Jaxson Paulo also set up his winger Reece Tapine for an easy try when he was able to run onto a great pass by five eight Taine Tuaupiki and draw the winger for Reece Tapine to cross untouched in the left corner.

The work of Jaxson Paulo in the try may have looked easy but it wasn’t. First Jaxson Paulo had to stay in his position when the prescribed play broke down on the inside, anticipate that Taine Tuaupiki was going to beat his direct opponent, stay onside as Taine Tuaupiki broke free and then draw the winger Sunshine Coast Falcons winger who was coming out of the line quickly looking to shut down Jaxon Paulo’s time. Jaxson Paulo executed all aspects of play precisely and timed appropriately.

Jaxson Paulo’s try came as a result of him staying wide when in broken play five eight Taine Tuaupiki got on the outside of his defender a put a great ball on Jaxon Paulo’s chest for him to score untouched in the left corner.

In Round Two against Redcliffe Jaxson Paulo also kicked two conversions to have eight points in the early going this season. Point’s tallies don’t tell the whole story however, in short Jaxson Paulo has been outstanding through the opening rounds of the Colts competition this season.

The Round Three clash against the Tweed Heads Seagulls saw Jaxon Paulo cross for a double in Burleigh’s four point loss to their local rivals, scoring a try in each half and for that matter being outstanding over the course of the entire match.

Jaxson Paulo’s first try came as a result of a back line move by Burleigh inside Tweed Heads 20 metre line. When the ball got out to Jaxson Paulo on the left side of the field he was able to get outside his opposing centre and hold him off with his right arm to score in the corner.

Jaxson Paulo’s try in the second half could not have been more different to the first. With Burleigh attacking two metres out from the Seagulls try line, Burleigh hooker Zac McCormack went to a short five metre blind side passing to Jaxson Paulo. Jaxson Paulo received the ball three or four metres out from the try line and about the same distance from the left side line. Jaxson Paulo got low disrupting the centre of gravity of the Seagulls defender to barge over for his second try of the afternoon.

In total in the Hasting’s Colts competition for Burleigh Jaxson Paulo has played in twelve matches and scored three tries. Jaxson Paulo scored in Round One against Sunshine Coast, Round Six against Western Mustangs and Round Fourteen against Northern Pride.

From a position perspective, started Burleigh’s first six matches in the centres (specifically left centre), but moved to fullback for Burleigh’s Round Nine match against the Townsville Blackhawks and stayed in the custodian role for the other five Colts matches that he has played in.

Early in the season Jaxson Paulo was promoted to the Burleigh GCRL First Grade side spending the majority of the season to date there. Jaxson Paulo made his GCRL First Grade debut against Tweed Heads in April.

In total in the Gold Coast Rugby League First Grade competition Jaxson Paulo played in ten matches to date and scored three tries. Jaxson Paulo’s first try came against Runaway Bay in his third GCRL First Grade match and he followed that up by scoring against Ormeau a month later. Jaxson Paulo’s third try came in the final regular season round being Round Seventeen against Tugun in a tough 14 – 12 loss.

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When looking at the Titans linked juniors who have played well in 2018, it is hard to go past halfback or five eight Taine Tuaupiki who was in outstanding form for the Burleigh Bears U20 Hastings Deering’s Colt’s side this season and also deservedly played a number of Gold Coast Rugby League First Grade matches with Burleigh.

In Round Two of the Hastings Deering’s Colts competition in a 28 – 20 victory over Redcliffe at Pizzey Park he was as dominant as I have seen a player at that level as her constantly split the Redcliffe defence and directed Burleigh around the field superbly.

In that match, Taine Tuaupiki had the ball on a string and also scored a great try highlighting his speed and elusiveness. Taine Tuaupiki also scored in Round One against the Sunshine Coast Falcons.

In addition to the tries that he has scored in the Colts competition this season Taine Tuaupiki has at least four try assists on the season that I can recall including one from a deft banana grubber kick in Round Two against the Redcliffe Dolphins and three from sublime passes right at the defensive line.

Taine Tuaupiki’s Round One try came as a result of a great short ball to his right side to Titans fellow linked second rower Apiata Neoma-Matenga who went through the line untouched before drawing the fullback and passing back inside to Taine Tuaupiki to score under the posts untouched for an outstanding Burleigh try.

Taine Tuaupiki’s try in Round Two against Redcliffe was as a result of a dummy where after receiving the ball two wide of the ruck on the right side Taine Tuaupiki shaped to pass wider out and then exploded through a gap to score just wide of the right hand upright.

Over the course of the opening rounds Taine Tuaupiki forged a very successful combination on the right side of the field with fellow Titans youngster Apiata Neoma-Matenga which I am sure will lead (and has already) to a lot of line breaks and tries for both over the course of the season.

In total in the Hastings Deering’s Colts competition this season Taine Tuaupiki played in fourteen matches for Burleigh starting all at five eight bar Round Four against Souths Logan when he started from the interchange and has scored six tries and kicked five goals.

As noted above Taine Tuaupiki scored in the opening two rounds of the season against Sunshine Coast and Redcliffe. Taine Tuaupiki has also scored in Round Nine against Townsville, Round Thirteen against Ipswich, Round Fourteen against the Northern Pride and in Round Twenty-One against Wynnum Manly.

Taine Tuaupiki made his Gold Coast Rugby League First Grade debut at five eight against Tweed Heads and prior to his move back to the Burleigh Colts side made three First Grade appearances and recorded a 100% strike rate. Taine Tuaupiki scored a double on debut against Tweed Heads and also scored against Southport.

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Contracted second rower Blake Campbell is held deservedly held in high esteem at the Titans, a club he has been with since he was 13 years old.

This season Blake Campbell started off captaining the Tweed Heads MM Cup side and then has progressed to the Tweed Heads Colts side. Along the way Blake Campbell was selected in the Queensland U18 side and came off the bench in that game but unfortunately took a head knock which reduced his playing time on the interstate match.

Blake Campbell captained the Tweed Heads Seagulls MM Cup side was a standout through the competition including an impressive performance against the North’s Devils in Round One and a dominant individual performance in Victoria against the Thunderbolts which included him scoring a double in a big Tweed Heads victory 42 – 10.

Blake Campbell’s performance in Tweed Heads Round Three win 36 – 6 over the Burleigh Bears was also exceptional.

In total in the MM Cup competition Blake Campbell started in the second row for all of Tweed Heads seven matches including their final’s loss to Souths Logan. Across the seven matches Blake Campbell scored four tries. In addition to the two tries against Redcliffe previously mentioned, Blake Campbell also scored in Round Five against the Townsville Blackhawks and in Round Six against Wynnum Manly.

Blake Campbell broke into the Tweed Heads Seagulls Colts side in their Round Eleven match against the Northern Pride starting the match in the second row. All told in the Hastings Deering’s Cup to date in the 2018 season, Blake Campbell has played in nine matches and just like his debut has started all of those matches in the second row.

Blake Campbell has scored two tries, the first of which came in Round Eighteen against Souths Logan and he also scored against the Mackay Cutters when he ran a good line (outside shoulder route) on the right side of the field to burst through the defence from around ten to twelve metres out and then outpaced the fullback to score.

In the GCRL U19 competition this season for Runaway Bay Blake Campbell has played just the three matches as a result of his Queensland U18 and Tweed Heads MM and Colts commitments but in his second U19 game of the season he scored a double against Ormeau and in his third U19 match the following weekend Blake Campbell converted one of Runaway Bay’s tries in a win against Mudgeeraba.

Blake Campbell made his Doug Lipp Cup debut for Runaway Bay against Currumbin in mid-June after playing in the U19 fixture earlier in the day.

Blake Campbell’s form this season is not a surprise considering his trial form including a standout performance in a trial against the South’s Logan Magpies at Waterford in February. That trial at Waterford was a difficult one for Tweed Heads as they went down to Souths Logan but Blake Campbell was very good that night, and in every match since.

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In the GCRL U19 Final tomorrow between Bilambil and Mudgeeraba a few Titans linked boys will be on display including Bilambil’s Btenton Daley-Holten who will start on the wing.

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After playing the last couple of rounds with the Tweed Heads Seagulls Colts dude including starting on the wing in Round 24, Kiu Nuku-Ngala will start on the wing for Currumbin in Sunday’s U19 final against Southport.

[mdrew]

Titan Apitia Neoma-Matenga started this season as part of the Burleigh Bears U20 Colts side, starting all of his matches in the competition in the second row with the Bears before his inevitable promotion to the Burleigh Gold Coast Rugby League First Grade side.

In total before his promotion to the Burleigh Gold Coast Rugby League First Grade side Apitia Neoma-Matenga played in eight Colts matches scoring three tries.

In Round two against Redcliffe Apitia Neoma-Matenga scored a try and set up another, both instances occurring in Round Two against the Redcliffe Dolphins at Pizzey Park on the Gold Coast.

Apitia Neoma-Matenga’s try in that match came purely as a result of a powerful barn storming run. Apitia Neoma-Matenga who has been lining up on the right side and took a pass off Burleigh five eight Taine Tuaupiki and simply steam rolled over the couple of Redcliffe defenders score just to the right of the goal posts.

Apitia Neoma-Matenga’s try assist came once again on the right side of the field. Running a good inside shoulder route Apitia Neoma-Matenga took a great flat pass off Taine Tuaupiki once again, going through the Redcliffe line untouched about twenty metres out, Apitia Neoma-Matenga could have easily taken on the fullback himself but instead he drew the fullback and passed back to his left to Taine Tuaupiki who was backing up for the young five eight to score under the posts to extend the Burleigh lead.

Apitia Neoma-Matenga established a very good combination with Taine Tuaupiki on the right hand side of the field and over the course of this season with Burleigh in both the Colts competition and the GCRL First Grade competition both have benefitted greatly from it, as has the entire Burleigh Bears team for that matter.

Apitia Neoma-Matenga’s other two tries came in Round Seven and Eight against the Western Mustangs and Victoria respectively.

Apitia Neoma-Matenga was promoted quickly to the Burleigh Gold Coast Rugby League First Grade side, making his debut early in the season, going on to play in ten matches including scoring a double in Round Sixteen against Tugun in probably his best GCRL First Grade match to date.

[mdrew]

In this weekend’s Doug Lipp Cup final’s match between Beaudesert and Runaway Bay a couple of talented youngsters will be on display.

For Beaudesert Shallin Fuller will start at half and for Runaway Bay the talented Codey McLaughlin will start in the second row and Jaylan To’O will start from the bench.

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17 year old Coombabah State High School front rower Kayah Riggs-Noble (Riggs) has been named on the bench for Mudgeeraba for this weekend’s U19 final against Bilambil.

If he gets onto the field it will be his debut match in the U19 competition after playing five matches this season for the Red Backs in the U17 Division One competition.

The powerful young man finished the 2018 season playing a number of matches off the bench for the Burleigh Colts side, an impressive effort for a 17 year old playing in the middle of the field.

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PBC student Caleb Hodges has been named on the bench for Bilambil in tomorrow’s GCRL U19 final against Mudgeeraba, it will be his second U19 match of the season for the 17 year old from just across the border.

For the Tweed Heads Seagulls in the MM Cup competition earlier this season, Caleb Hodges played in four matches scoring for two tries.

Caleb Hodges scored his first try in Round Six against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls and also scored in Tweed Heads semi-final against Souths Logan.

Caleb Hodges was named to start on the interchange bench in Round One but did not make the final 17 but came into the Tweed Heads side in Round Five against the Townsville Blackhawks and stayed in the side for the remainder of the season.

Caleb Hodges started from the interchange bench in Rounds Five and Six and in the centres for Round Seven and the semi-final. Interesting Caleb Hodges was named to start at hooker in Round Six against Wynnum Manly but ended starting from the bench instead in that match.

Caleb Hodges has also played in one GCRL First Grade match this season.

[mdrew]

Outstanding centre prospect Indiha Sautui-Huta will start for Mudgeeraba in their U19 Final clash against Bilambil on the weekend.

The young man has had a big couple of weeks including playing for PBC as they qualified for the Queensland GIO Cup final with a victory in the Queensland semi-final against Ignatius Park 38-16.

This season Indiha Saotui-Huta was part of the Tweed Heads Seagulls MM Cup playing in all six of their matches including their semi-final, starting each on the wing. In his seven matches Indiha Saotui-Huta scored five tries.

Indiha Saotui-Huta’s first try came in Round Three against the Burleigh Bears. Indiha Saotui-Huta followed that up with tries in Rounds Five and Six against Townsville and Wynnum Manly respectively. Indiha Saotui-Huta completed his 2018 MM Cup try scoring with a double in the final regular season being Round Seven against the Easts Tigers.

For Mudgeeraba in the GCRL U19 competition he may have “only” played in six matches but has scored eight tries including four against Beaudesert and doubles against Bilambil and Helensvale

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Southport’s U19 finals side for their match against Currumbin will have a Titans feel to it, including big strong young front rower Samuel Shannon and fullback Callum Boomer starting for the Tigers.

Exciting five eight Zane Harris is also starting for the Southport U19 side.