Junior Development

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Titans linked Connor Williams started off the 2018 season in the Western Mustangs MM Cup side and then transitioned back to the Toowoomba Rugby League competition playing with Southern Suburbs in the U18 competition where he has been an absolute stand out.

In the MM Cup, Connor Williams was involved in all six of the Western Mustangs matches and scored his sole try of the season in Round Six and a huge second half comeback against the Burleigh Bears.

Connor Williams came off the interchange bench in Round One, started at lock in Rounds Three and Four (Western Mustangs had a round two bye) and started in the second row in his remaining matches.

Connor Williams played fifteen matches in the Toowoomba Rugby League U18 competition this season for Southern Suburbs including the finals series.

In those matches Connor Williams scored fourteen tries, ten in the regular season and four in the finals series. In the regular season, Connor Williams scored doubles against Pittsworth, Wattles and Toowoomba Valleys and also scored against Warwick, Pittsworth, Goondiwindi and Gatton.

In the first week of the finals Connor Williams started in the second row as Southern Suburbs overcame South Burnett and in week two of the finals he once again started in the second row and scored as Southern Suburbs progressed with a 36 – 14 win over Gatton.

In the Preliminary Final against Dalby, Connor Williams started in the centres instead of his normal second row position and scored a try in the 2nd minute of the second half as Southern Suburbs defeated Dalby 44 – 4 to progress to the Grand Final.

In the 2018 Toowoomba Rugby League U18 Grand Final Connor Williams started in the centres against Highfields and Districts and was on the winning side as Southern Suburbs won 38 – 10.

Connor William’s first TRL U18 match this season was in Round One against Toowoomba Valleys and then as a result of his MM Cup commitments did not play again in the U18’s until Round Six. In Rounds One and Six Connor Williams started from the inter change bench but since then has started all of his matches in the second row.

Connor Williams also made his Toowoomba Rugby League First Grade debut this season when he started in the centres in July against Highfields and Districts. Connor Williams played two more First Grade matches, starting both in the centres as well against Goondiwindi and Gatton scoring on both occasions as well.

The St Mary’s student was also part of the Darlings Downs U18 side that participated in the U18 QSSRL Championships this year.

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After an outstanding MM Cup campaign in 2017, Titans contracted Luke Maiden this season once again played in the MM Cup for the Western Mustangs in 2018 and just like last year, once that competition concluded he moved to the Western Mustangs Hastings Deering’s Colts squad.

In his second season in the MM Cup with the Western Mustangs Luke Maiden played in all six matches and had a 50% try scoring strike rate. Luke Maiden scored in Rounds One, Five and Seven against Victoria, Sunshine Coast and South’s Logan respectively.

His progression to the Western Mustangs Hastings Deering’s Colts side saw Luke Maiden play in eight matches. Luke Maiden came into the side in Round Eight against Tweed Heads when he started on the interchange bench. Luke Maiden has also started on the interchange bench in Rounds Ten Eleven and thirteen against the Mackay Cutters South’s Logan and the Easts Tigers respectively.

Luke Maiden moved in the starting side in Round Sixteen against Norths starting the match at lock. In total in his eight matches, Luke Maiden started two matches in the front row, one at lock and five from the interchange bench.

Luke Maiden’s sole try of the 2018 Colts season came in Round Fourteen against the Ipswich Jets.

In addition to his Western Mustangs duties at the MM Cup and Colts levels, Luke Maiden also found the time to play for Southern Suburbs in the U18 Toowoomba Rugby league competition including starting in the front row in Round One against Toowoomba Valleys where he scored in Southern Suburbs 26 – 8 victory.

In total for Southern Suburbs in the U18 Toowoomba rugby League competition including the finals series, Luke maiden played in seven matches scoring four tries which came against Toowoomba Valleys, Goondiwindi and South Burnett in the regular season.

In the Preliminary Final against Dalby, Luke Maiden started in the front row and scored a try in the 12th minute of the second half as Southern Suburbs defeated Dalby 44 – 4 to progress to the Grand Final.

In the U18 Toowoomba Rugby League Grand Final against Highfields and Districts Luke Maiden started in the front row in the 38 – 10 win.

In 2018 Luke Maiden also played two Toowoomba Rugby League First Grade matches making his debut against Toowoomba Valleys in late June and also playing against Goondiwindi in late July.

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Titans linked Leslie Hartvigsen’s 2018 season has followed the same course as his 2017 one. He started the season in the MM Cup and then moved immediately to the U20 Colts side for the Western Mustangs.

In the MM Cup this season for the Western Mustangs, Leslie Hartvigsen played in all six of the Western Mustangs matches starting in the second row on each occasion. In those six mates Leslie Hartvigsen had a 50% strike rate with his tries coming in Rounds One, Four and Seven against Victoria, Norths and Souths Logan respectively.

Leslie Hartvigsen made his 2018 Colts debut in Round Ten against the Mackay Cutters starting from the bench and since that time has played in eight additional matches. Leslie Hartvigsen celebrated his 2018 Colts debut by scoring in the Western Mustangs victory over the Cutters and also scored in Round Seventeen against Redcliffe.

Leslie Hartvigsen moved into the starting line-up in Round Thirteen against Easts when he started in the centres and started Rounds Fourteen through Eighteen in the centres as well.

Leslie Hartvigsen also played ten matches in the Toowoomba Rugby League U18 competition this season for Southern Suburbs including the finals series.

In the Toowoomba Rugby League U18 competition this season Lesley Hartvigsen scored eight tries, three in the regular season and five in the finals series. In the regular season, Lesley Hartvigsen scored a double against Pittsworth and also scored against Gatton.

In the first week of the finals Lesley Hartvigsen started from the bench as Southern Suburbs overcame South Burnett and in week two of the finals he started at lock and scored two second half tries as Southern Suburbs progressed with a 36 – 14 win over Gatton.

In the Preliminary Final against Dalby, Leslie Hartvigsen started in the centres and scored a first half hat trick (9th, 30th and 32 minute) as Southern Suburbs defeated Dalby 44 – 4 to progress to the Grand Final.

In the 2018 U18 Toowoomba Rugby League Grand Final Leslie Hartvigsen started in the centres alongside fellow Titans linked centre Connor Williams against Highfields and Districts with Southern Suburbs taking the premiership as a result of a 38 – 10 Grand Final victory.

Lesley Hartvigsen also made his Toowoomba Rugby League First Grade debut this season when he came off the bench for Southern Suburbs against Toowoomba Valleys in late June.

On a number of occasions Lesley Hartvigsen played for Southern Suburbs and then backed up for the Western Mustangs Colts on the same weekend showcasing his stamina and durability.

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Titans Kai O'Donnell and Jai Whitbread named on the bench for Burleigh in their final this week against Redcliffe.

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In the TSS First XV victory 48-38 over Ipswich Grammar School last Saturday, two Burleigh 2018 MM Cup players were acknowledged for their performances. No. 8 Reno Gerrard received an honourable mention from the coaching staff and centre Ronan Kapi was awarded two points from an outstanding player performance perspective.

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Talented Lower Clarence Magpies second rower Cooper Many was a revelation this year for Lower Clarence in the NRRRL U18 competition and as just 17 years old is certainly going to be some sort of player when all is said and done.

Cooper Many started the 2018 season as part of the Northern Rivers Laurie Daley Cup U18 side, playing in four matches, starting all in the second row with those matches coming against the Newcastle Knights Development Squad (on a wet and miserable afternoon for spectators), North Coast, Central Coast Roosters and the Greater Northern Tigers.

From a club perspective in 2018, Cooper Many lined up in the second row for the Lower Clarence Magpies in the U18 NRRRL competition, progressing all the way to the Preliminary Final.

Cooper Many played in sixteen U18 NRRRL matches for the Magpies this season including finals and scored eight regular season tries. Each of Cooper Many’s tries came in individual games including games against Lismore Marist Brothers, Ballina, Murwillumbah, Casino RSM, Cudgen and Evans Head.

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Tough young front rower or second rower Brodie Williams was outstanding for the Lower Clarence Magpies over the course of the 2018 NRRRL U18 competition and as a result also made his NRRRL First Grade debut. After a great season, Lower Clarence were knocked out in the NRRRL U18 Preliminary final going down 30-14 to the Ballina Seagulls over the weekend.

For Lower Clarence in the NRRRL U18 competition Brodie Williams played in sixteen matches including the finals series scoring seven tries, including scoring a hat trick against Tweed Coast in June.

The Round after his hat trick, Brodie Williams, after playing in the U18 fixture earlier in the day, made his deserved NRRL First Grade debut coming onto the field against a massive and experienced Cudgen forward pack.

In addition to team success in 2018, Brodie Williams also received a number of individual accolades, including being awarded the Bernie Donnelly Memorial Shield at the NRRRL Awards night and also finishing second in the NRRRL U18 Player of the Year voting with twelve votes.

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Tough, gritty young Lower Clarence Magpies hooker Thomas Simpson was recently rewarded for his outstanding 2018 season by being awarded the NRRRL U18 Rookie of the Year at the NRRRL Awards night.

To say that Thomas Simpson had an outstanding 2018 would be an understatement.

He started off the season, performing well for Northern Rivers in the inaugural U18 Laurie Daley Cup competition starting at hooker in three matches against North Coast, the Central Coast Roosters and the Greater Northern Tigers, scoring against the Roosters.

For the Lower Clarence Magpies in the U18 NRRRL competition, Thomas Simpson played in fifteen matches including the finals series scoring against Casino RSM and Murwillumbah. Lower Clarence had a great year in the U18 competition progressing all of the way to the Preliminary final which they lost to Ballina 30 – 14 on Sunday after getting within striking distance of the Seagulls just after half time.

At just 17, Thomas Simpson also made three NRRRL First Grade appearances this season, making his debut in May against Northern United and also playing against Murwillumbah and Grand Finalists Ballina in the First Grade competition.

From a junior rugby league representative perspective, Thomas Simpson has represented Group One at the U14 and U15 levels in 2015 and 2016 respectively.

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Titans linked and Grafton Ghosts centre Jake Martin continues to play solidly regardless of the standard of the opponent and that was the case again in 2018 playing for the Grafton Ghosts in the Tooheys New Group Two competition.

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 his debut.

For the Grafton Ghosts in the 2018 Group Two competition, Jake Martin wore the blue and white in all three senior 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 amongst others.

Jake Martin also played in four Group Two Reserve Grade games, making his debut against Coffs Harbour in May. 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 of this year Jake Martin joined that exclusive list when he came on for Grafton against Macksville.

A team mate for the Grafton Ghosts is fellow Titan Ben Liyou.

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Outstanding prospect Corey McLaughlin will start in the second row for Runaway Bay on Sunday against Currumbin in the Doug Lipp Cup Preliminary Final looking to secure their spot in the Grand Final against Mudgeeraba.

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Young half or five eight Tyrese Walker moved to the Gold Coast earlier this season and played the remainder of the 2018 season for the Burleigh Bears in the U19 Gold Coast Rugby League competition and through the regular season rounds finished as the leading try scorer in the competition with fourteen.

Tyrese Walker made his debut on the Gold Coast in Round Five against the Currumbin Eagles when he started from the interchange bench but moved into the starting line-up at five eight in Round Six against Mudgeeraba.

Tyrese Walker played in eleven U19 regular season matches scoring fourteen tries for a strike rate of 127% whilst splitting his time between starting at five eight and in the centres for the Bears. Tyrese walker scored in his second U19 fixture which was in Round Six against Mudgeeraba and he has not stopped scoring ever since.

Tyrese Walker scored four tries to announce himself to the Gold Coast public in Round Seven against Beaudesert an scored a hat trick in late June against Beaudesert once again. Tyrese Walker scored a double in Round Fourteen against Helensvale and in that match also kicked four goals.

Tyrese Walker’s other tries have come against Helensvale, Southport and Ormeau and from late May to mid-July this year scored in every match that he was involved in including the seven tries in the two matches against Beaudesert.

In Week One of the GCRL U19 Finals series, Tyrese Walker started at five eight for Burleigh as they went down 32 – 26 to Mudgeeraba kicking a conversion in the hard fought loss.

For the Bears in the SG Ball competition, earlier this season, Tyrese Walker played in six matches scoring two tries which both came in Round Seven in a 26 – 12 loss to the Cronulla Sharks. Tyrese Walker came into the North Sydney Bears side in Round Two off the interchange bench against the Western Pirates. Tyrese Walker played five matches from the inter change bench but did start at half back in Round Five against Souths Sydney.

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Exciting hooking prospect Cole Geyer has been outstanding this season in both the MM Cup competition and for Currumbin in the U17 Division One competition and he also got an opportunity in the GCRL U19 competition as a result.

In the MM cup competition for the Tweed Heads Seagulls Cole Geyer started at hooker for Tweed Heads opening three matches against Norths, Victoria and Burleigh. His sole MM Cup try of the season came in Round Two against Victoria.

Post the MM Cup competition Cole Geyer transitioned back to the U17 Division One competition and was outstanding over the course of the regular season playing in nine matches and scoring nine tries for a 100% strike rate through the regular season.

Cole Geyer scored three doubles which were against Ormeau, Tweed Heads and Burleigh in the final round of the U17 Division One regular season being Round Eleven. Cole Geyer also scored against Mudgeeraba, Bilambil and Runaway Bay.

In Round One of the GCRL U17 Division One Finals series, Cole Geyer started once again at hooker and was dominant throughout scoring a double as Currumbin defeated Ormeau 18 – 8 in the Qualifying Final to continue their progress towards U17 Division One Premiership success.

In the second round of the GCRL U17 Division One Finals series, started at hooker and made it three tries from two finals matches as he led Currumbin to a 32 – 22 win over Burleigh in a match of exceptional quality.

In the 2018 U17 Division One Grand Final against Runaway Bay, Cole Geyer started at hooker for Currumbin as they overcame the Seagulls to win 30 – 10.

Cole Geyer made his U19 debut for Currumbin in June against Bilambil and played his other U19 match in July against Helensvale.

The Marymount College Burleigh Heads student has represented his school with distinction this season including leading Marymount to victory in the Titans School Boy Open competition and in fact Cole Geyer was named Player of the Competition.

Marymount College defeated Keebra Park C 52 – 6 in the final with Cole Geyer scoring the first try of the game to give Marymount College the lead which they never relinquished.

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In Sunday’s U19 GCRL Preliminary Final, there are a number of talented players on display including for Currumbin front rower Ji Van Heerwaarden and winger Kiu Nuku-Ngala.

Lining up for Bilambil is centre Brenton Daley-Holten and interchange player 17 year old Caleb Hodges.

The winner plays Southport in the Grand Final.

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Group 18 Junior Rugby League grand Final matches this Saturday:

U13: South Tweed V Tweed Heads

U14: Bilambil V Murwillumbah

U15: South Tweed V Byron Bay/Lennox Heads

U16: Bilambil V Cudgen

Good luck to all teams

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Daniel Butterini is a local young centre originally from just south of the border, who is part of the Titans High Performance Program and is also at PBC State High School as part of their Rugby League excellence program. Daniel Butterini was also part of the Titans U15 squad that played against a Balmain Tigers selection late last year, in that match Daniel Butterini spent the majority of the game in the centres.

At the start of this season, Daniel Butterini was part of the Gold Coast Vikings Yellow side that competed in the U16 South East Queensland Challenge and post that competition was called up to be part of the South East Queensland Green side for the Queensland U16 Age Championships playing all four of their matches including the Championship final which SEQ Green won 30 – 18 against SEQ White.

Daniel Butterini played his club rugby league this season with Currumbin playing in twelve U16 Division One matches including the finals series scoring three tries in total, including a double against Mudgeeraba and also scored early in the season against Runaway Bay.

Daniel Butterini started for Currumbin in the U16 Division One Grand Final but was on the losing side with Nerang coming out victorious 24 – 8.

Daniel Butterini also played one match this season in the U17 Division One competition with that match coming against the Bilambil Jets late in the 2018 season.