Junior Development

[mdrew]

Former Titans youngster Caleb Nicholls is back on the Gold Coast after a season with the Newcastle Knights and will line up for the Tweed Heads Seagulls Colts side this season, and will be Colts eligible again in 2020.

Caleb Nicholls headed down to Newcastle for the 2018 season starting the season as part of the Newcastle Knights U18 SG Ball side, playing in six matches in that competition for the Knights, starting all on the left wing and scoring a double in Round Two against the Balmain Tigers.

Caleb Nicholls first try of the match, in the first half was one of the easier ones that he will score when he went over untouched in the left corner after a Knights back line movement. His second try could not have been more different. In the second half Caleb Nicholls got the ball about ten metres out from the Balmain line with two defenders in front out him, he used his strength to hold them off to score in the corner with his legs over the touchline but his strength, balance and body control allowed him to get the ball down before he was knocked into touch in the left corner.

Post the SG Ball competition, Caleb Nicholls played in nine matches for the Maitland Pickers in the Newcastle Rugby League U19 competition including starting on the wing in the Grand Final in their win against Western Suburbs 13-6. In his nine matches, Caleb Nicholls scored three tries for the Pickers.

In 2017 Caleb Nicholls was a standout for the Bilambil Jets on the Gold Coast playing for the Jets in the U17 Division One, U19 and First Grade competitions.

In the U17 Division One competition, Caleb Nicholls played in eleven matches scoring seven tries and kicking eight goals to finish the season with 44 points. Caleb Nicholls scored a hat trick against Mudgeeraba, a double also against Mudgeeraba and also scored single tries against yes Mudgeeraba and Burleigh. With the boot Caleb Nicholls kicked four and three conversions in separate matches against, yes you guessed it Mudgeeraba.

In the 2017 U19 competition, Caleb Nicholls played in nine matches, scoring six tries including a double against Mudgeeraba and tries against Ormeau in two matches, Runaway Bay and Tugun.

With the boot Caleb Nicholls kicked sixteen gaols including six late in the season against Tugun and four against Ormeau early in the season.

Caleb Nicholls made his GCRL First Grade debut in early June 2017 against Southport, playing in four matches in total and scoring against Currumbin and Southport.

In 2016 Caleb Nicholls was part of the New South Wales U16 Emerging Origin Squad and played in the Cyril Connell Cup competition

[Bart]

Yea its a pity the 3 queensland squads dont have a few games amoungst one another would be very interesting

[mdrew]

Burleigh Bears second rower Flynn Daniel is part of the Titans TEDS program and in 2018 played some outstanding rugby league for Burleigh in the U15 Division One competition and for PBC in 2018 which led to his selection in the South Coast U15 side.

From the QSSRL U15 Championships Flynn Daniel was selected for the Queensland U15 White side for the ASSRL U15 Championships. In those Championships Flynn Daniel played in all four of their matches with those matches being against New South Wales Combined Independent Schools, ACT on two occasions and Queensland Maroon.

Flynn Daniel has already played a number of matches in Titans colours including starting at right second row for the Titans U16 side in their match against the Newcastle Knights a fortnight ago and was particularly dangerous running with the ball.

Flynn Daniel also did a mountain of work in defence as well as putting on a couple of good shots on the Newcastle Knights forwards, one in particular mid-way through the first half was an outstanding front tackle on one of the Knights forwards with the impact dislodging the ball on the half way mark, giving the Titans good field position.

Another tackle of note by Flynn Daniel came after a Newcastle Knights second half try. From the kick off the Knights No. 10 charged onto the ball generating significant momentum but Flynn Daniel cut him down in an outstanding front on low tackle with his right shoulder.

In late 2018 Flynn Daniel started in the second row for the Titans U15 side as they defeated a U15 Balmain Tigers touring side 16 - 10. Flynn Daniel operated on the right side of the field for the Titans in the match in his two stints on the field.

Flynn Daniel is also part of the 2019 Queensland U16 Emerging Origin squad, with the squad completing their first camp of the year recently on the Sunshine Coast.

In the 2018 GCRL U15 Division One competition Flynn Daniel played in nine matches including Burleigh’s two finals matches scoring thirteen tries, finishing third on the U15 Division One try scoring list and in fact led all forwards from a try scoring perspective in the 2018 U15 Division One competition.

In Week One of the U15 Division One finals Flynn Daniel started in the second row as Burleigh defeated Southport 72 -2 scoring a hat trick and also started in the second row in Week Two of the finals as Burleigh were knocked out after going down 34 – 24 against Runaway Bay with Flynn Daniel contributing a double for Burleigh.

In addition to the outstanding U15 Division One Finals series noted above, Flynn Daniel scored eight tries in the U15 Division One regular season, including hat tricks against Southport and Coomera and also scored against Currumbin and Robina.

Team mates in Flynn Daniel’s U15 Division One side were fellow Titans contracted youngsters the outstanding lock Bailey Martin and hooker Kaden Somerville.

Flynn Daniel played the 2017 season on the Gold Coast with Burleigh in the U14 Division One competition unfortunately losing the Grand Final 31 – 16 to Ormeau, Flynn Daniel started the Friday night Grand Final in the second row in maroon and white.

Over the course of the 2017 GCJRL U14 Division One competition, Flynn Daniel scored two tries from nine matches played with his tries coming against Nerang in May and against Runaway Bay in mid-July. In 2017 Flynn Daniel was also part of the Gold Coast Academy of Sport Rugby League Excellence Program which wound up for this year in early October.

[mdrew]

Local young backrower Bailey Martin is from the Burleigh Bears junior rugby league club on the Gold Coast and in 2018 signed a two year deal with the Titans.

Bailey Martin has already played in two matches in Titans colours, the first being when he started at lock for the Titans U15 side in their late 2018 match against the Balmain Tigers at Cudgen. Bailey Martin was awarded the Titans best forward award that night.

A fortnight ago, Bailey Martin played his second match in Titans colours starting once again at lock for the Titans U16’s against Newcastle. Bailey Martin was the Titans vice-captain for the match.

In addition to once again confirming that he is an outstanding worker in both attack and defence, Bailey Martin also highlighted his developing ball playing skills. In the second half when the Titans were coming out of their own half, Bailey Martin took the ball for a hit-up but instead of just running into the Newcastle defensive line, he popped a great short ball to Joseph Shannon who charged down the field on a fifty metre run.

In the lead up to the play you could see Bailey Martin pointing to the gap that he wanted Joseph Shannon to run into and then threw the great ball exactly as he had indicated.

Bailey Martin also displayed his toughness during the match. He got hit with a high tackle in the second half, but shook it off to take the first hit-up from the penalty restart. Speaking of restarts Bailey Martin had an incredible start to the second half, taking two hit-ups in the Titans first set of six and then made three matches in a row the first time Newcastle had the ball.

In short Bailey Martin had an outstanding match and must have been at or near the top in terms of the most tackles and hit-ups for the Titans in the match.

Bailey Martin after a stellar 2018 QSSRL U15 Championships where he starred for South Coast at lock picking up a number of Player of the Match awards and was subsequently selected in the Queensland Maroon side for the ASSRL U15 Championships in July.

Bailey Martin was named at lock for Queensland Green who went through the competition undefeated with Bailey Martin involved in each of Queensland Green’s four matches including the Championship final against NSW CCC.

Bailey Martin also started at lock for PBC in their 2018 Walters Cup match against rivals Keebra Park at Pizzey Park with PBC winning 22 – 16 in a tough match where the last ten minutes or so was particularly willing to say the least. I could not see what happened to set it off from where I watched the game but it got very willing especially between both sets of forwards with the game in the balance.

Bailey Martin was also involved in PBC’s 22 – 18 win over Ipswich State High School and their 18 – 16 loss against Marsden at Waterford where the PBC just could not finish Marsden off in the final ten minutes or so of the match.

In the final ten minutes against Marsden Bailey Martin pulled off some outstanding front on tackles against the Marsden forwards and was the PBC forward urging his side on.

Bailey Martin was part of the 2018 U15 Queensland Emerging Origin squad and attended a couple of the camps including one on the Sunshine Coast in February where the U15 squad played a simulated match against the U16 Emerging Origin squad.

Bailey Martin is also part of the 2019 Queensland U16 Emerging Origin squad, with the squad completing their first camp of the year recently.

In previous seasons Bailey Martin has been part of Brisbane Broncos junior development squads but has now signed a contract with his home town NRL club in what can only be considered a coup for the Titans.

For the 2018 season Bailey Martin is once again played for the Burleigh Bears in the Gold Coast Junior Rugby League competition this season at the U15 Division One level and is also represented PBC in their various school boy competitions including against St Mary’s a on the Gold Coast when he started at lock in a tough loss for the Gold Coast school against a well drilled opponent.

In total in the 2018 U15 Division One competition Bailey Martin played in ten matches including the Finals series, scoring three tries in the process. Bailey Martin scored in his first U15 Division One match of the season being Round One against Helensvale and also scored in the regular season against Southport.

In Week One of the 2018 U15 Division One Finals series, Bailey Martin started at lock and scored his third try of the season as Burleigh dismantled Southport 72 – 2.

On Week Two of the Finals Bailey Martin and his Burleigh team mates bowed out on the back of a 34 – 24 loss to Runaway Bay.

In 2018 Bailey Martin also played one match up in the U16 Division One competition with that match being against Currumbin in August.

In 2017 Bailey Martin played for the Burleigh Bears at the U14 Division One level. Bailey Martin was also a member of the dominant U14 Gold Coast Vikings representative who went through the Hill Stumer Championships undefeated after victories against Stingers Red and White and Ipswich.

As a result of his play for the U14 Vikings Bailey Martin was selected in the South East Queensland White side where he was selected in the second row. Bailey Martin also played for PBC in terms of his schoolboy rugby league where they had some good battles against Keebra Park in the U14 age group.

For Burleigh in the U14 Division Side in 2017 Bailey Martin played in ten matches including starting in the front row and scoring for Burleigh in their 31 – 16 Grand Final loss to the Ormeau Shearers. In mid-July Bailey Martin scored a double against Runaway Bay and earlier in the year scored against Runaway Bay again and his first try of the season came in Round Three against Nerang. Bailey Martin also kicked a conversion against grand final opponents Ormeau mid-season. Bailey Martin was also on the bench for one of Burleigh’s U15 Division One semi-finals.

[mdrew]

Video that includes Titan Juwan Compain.

https://www.qrl.com.au/news/2019/02/...-young-talent/

[mdrew]

In matches on the weekend:

U16's. - Northern Rivers Titans 12 defeated North Coast Bulldogs 4.

U18's. - North Coast Bulldogs 20 defeated Northern Rivers Titans 8.

A lot of Titans on display

[mdrew]

The Tweed Heads Seagulls Colts side in 2019 shapes as an outstanding one and contains players who can play a variety of positions with one such player being Liam Cusack. Laim Cusack is also Colts eligible in 2020.

He started the 2018 season off as part of the Northern Rivers U18 Laurie Daley Cup side starting three matches in the centres scoring in his third and final start against the Greater Northern Tigers.

Post the Laurie Daley Cup competition, Liam Cusack had an outstanding campaign for the Cudgen Hornets in the NRRRL U18 competition finishing as the competitions leading try scorer in the regular season. Liam Cusack started the NRRRL U18 Grand Final in the centres but the Hornets hit a red hot Ballina Seagulls side going down 30 – 4 in the decider.

Liam Cusack played twelve U18 NRRRL regular season matches finishing with seventeen tries for a 142% strike rate. Liam Cusack scored hat tricks against Casino RSM and Evans Heads as well as doubles against Lower Clarence in two matches and Murwillumbah.

Liam Cusack’s other three tries came in matches against Lismore Marist Brothers, Kyogle and Murwillumbah.

For Cudgen in the NRRRL U18 competition in 2017 year Liam Cusack played in thirteen matches and has totalled 30 points from seven tries and a single conversion. Liam Cusack crossed for a hat trick against Mullumbimby in May and either side of his hat trick match Liam Cusack scored against Mullumbimby and Evans Heads. His other two tries came in consecutive weeks in late July against Casino RSM and the Tweed Coast Raiders.

In 2016 Liam Cusack played for Gold Coast White in the CC competition. Liam Cusack was also named in the Group 18 U16 representative side for 2016 after representing Group 18 at the U14 and U15 level previously and also playing for the Titans development squads in past years as well. He has to date scored one try in the two CC games that he has played so far this season.

[mdrew]

Natural try scorers are difficult to come by but the Tweed Heads Seagulls 2019 Colts side will have one is its ranks this season with Connah Mills.

Playing in a first grade rugby league competition at just 19 years old is no small feat and that is exactly what winger Connah Mills did for the second season in a row for the Cudgen Hornets in the NRRRL competition in 2018.

Connah Mills played in seventeen NRRRL First Grade matches in 2018 primarily on the wing, finishing with thirteen tries and once again proving that he was one of the toughest and quickest players in the competition.

Connah Mills Scored a hat trick mid-season against Mullumbimby and also scored doubles in consecutive weeks against Murwillumbah and Byron Bay. Connah Mills also scored in matches against Ballina, Northern United, Casino RSM, Lismore Marist Brothers, Kyogle and Tweed Coast.

The young fullback had an outstanding 2017 campaign with the Cudgen Hornets culminating in the youngster starting on the wing in the NRRRL First Grade Grand Final and scoring two tries in Cudgen’s 32 – 24 win over Casino RSM. The week prior Connah Mills scored a try after retrieving a grubber kick in the NRRRL major semi-final to propel Cudgen into the Grand Final. That was after recovering from a high tackle early in the semi-final.

Connah Mills started the 2017 rugby league season in the U18 Nova Skills NRRRL competition for the Cudgen Hornets before being elevated to first grade, playing his debut match on Sunday 4 June against Evans Head scoring two tries to make it a memorable occasion for the young man. All told in first grade in 2017 Connah Mills scored 20 first grade tries from just twelve matches including his finals appearances.

In addition to his tries in the finals, Connah Mills scored seventeen tries in the NRRRL regular season including four tries in the final regular season match against Lower Clarence and the week prior scored a hat trick against Mullumbimby. Mid-season Connah Mills scored a hat trick against Casino RSM. Connah Mills had an outstanding start to his NRRRL first grade career when he scored at least a try in each of his first five first grade matches including doubles in his first two matches against Evans Heads and Kyogle. Only twice did Connah Mills not score in a 2017 first grade match with these matches against Murwillumbah and Tweed Coast.

Connah Mills started off the 2017 season in the NRRRL U18 competition in total scoring four tries from ten appearances, including a mid-season double against Mullumbimby. On four occasions Connah Mills backed up after starting in the U18 match to start on the wing in first grade for Cudgen.

Connah Mills earlier this season played for the East Coast Dolphins U18 squad for the New South Country Championships. The season was not be the first occasion that Connor Mills has gained representative honours, as he has made numerous Group 18 representative sides and in 2014 he was named in the Combined Catholic Colleges Squad.

In 2015 Connah Mills played in the Cyril Connell Cup competition for Gold Coast Green in the CC Cup competition in 2015 Connah Mills spent a fair bit of time playing on the wing and scored a great try against Victoria where he used his evasive skills to generate space for himself down the sideline.

[mdrew]

Classy young Grafton Ghosts fullback Cooper Woods has recently resigned with the Ghosts where he will be lining up for his third season in First Grade at the age of 19.

In 2018 Cooper Woods played fourteen matches at fullback under coach and former NRL player Danny Wicks scoring nine tries.

Cooper Woods scored a Round One hat trick against local rivals South Grafton with his other six tries coming in separate matches. He scored in three consecutive matches in June against South Grafton, Sawtell and Macksville and also scored in other matches against Macksville and twice against Nambucca Heads.

The classy young Grafton Ghosts fullback had a great 2017 campaign for the Grafton Ghosts starring for the U18 Group Two side as well as playing a number of first grade matches primarily on the wing in the Danny Wicks coached side which was awarded the Claytons Cup as the most outstanding New South Wales Country Rugby League Club.

In the Group Two U18 Durbridge Family Trophy Cooper Woods finished the regular season as the leading try scorer and points, scoring 118 points in total from twelve tries and 35 goals. Cooper Woods scored a hat trick against Bellingen and doubles against Coffs Harbour and Macksville. Against Coffs Harbour in late July Cooper Woods scored a try and kicked eight goals in the match.

Cooper Woods played just the one first grade match in the 2017 season which came against Macksville in July when he started on the wing and also scored in a solid Grafton win and he also played four reserve grade matches scoring against Orara Valley and against Woolgoolga kicked seven goals. The 2017 season is the third season that Cooper Woods has played in the U18 competition after he made his U18 debut whilst still eligible for U16’s in early 2015 against the Sawtell Panthers including scoring on debut going on to score four tries that season.

Cooper Woods is no stranger to playing up in competition level after making his Group Two Tooheys New Shield First Grade debut for the Ghosts in May 2016 against Sawtell, going on to play five first grade matches in total. In 2016 Cooper Woods also played four Reserve grade matches scoring 30 points from tries against Coffs Harbour and Woolgoolga a match in which he also kicked five goals. In the U18 competition in 2016, Cooper Woods scored 82 points from seven tries and 27 goals.

2019 is his last year of Colts eligibility but as happened with former Grafton Ghost Anthony Don you do not have to make it by the time you are twenty to still get to the NRL.

[mdrew]

In 2018 half Kobe Whalan once again played for the Southport Tigers in the Gold Coast Rugby League competition playing across three grades including starting the U19 Grand Final at half. Unfortunately the Tigers went down 34 – 20 to Currumbin.

In the U19 competition in 2018, Kobe Whalan played in twelve matches scoring twenty five points from four tries, four goals and a field goal which came against Ormeau in July. His tries included a double against Mudgeeraba as well as scoring against them early in the season and Burleigh. With the boot Kobe Whalan kicked two conversions in August against Currumbin.

In addition to playing in two Doug Lipp Cup matches, Kobe Whalan also played in seven Gold Coast Rugby League First Grade matches, making his debut against Tugun and April when he started a half.

The Southport Tigers youngster started off the 2017 season in the Tweed Heads Seagulls MM side before progressing through the local Gold Coast Rugby League competition at the U19 and first grade levels before being called up to the Tweed heads Seagulls U20 Colts Challenge side towards the end of the season including playing in Tweed’s three finals matches.

In the MM Cup competition for the Tweed Heads Seagulls in 2017 Kobe Whalan started the first three rounds at fullback kicking five goals in those matches including three against the Ipswich Jets in Round One and two in Round Two against Victoria. Kobe Whalan also came off the interchange bench in Round Seven.

Kobe Whalan made his 2017 U20 Colts Challenge debut for the Tweed Heads Seagulls in Round One against the Souths Logan Magpies coming off the interchange bench. Since his Colts debut Kobe Whalan has played in an additional ten matches coming off the bench in all matches except in Round Thirteen when he started on the wing.

In Round Five against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls Kobe Whalan came off the bench to score a second half double playing primarily on the wing in that match. Kobe Whalan came off the interchange bench in all three of the Tweed Heads Seagulls finals matches in addition to the nine regular season matches that he played in outside of starting Round Thirteen on the wing.

Prior to his call up to the Tweed Heads Seagulls Colts side, Kobe Whalan played six matches for the Southport Tigers in the local U19 competition scoring five tries including four against Tugun in his first match at that level. In his last U19 match Kobe Whalan scored against Mudgeeraba. Kobe Whalan also played two first grade matches for the Tigers, making his debut against Ormeau in May and playing his second first grade match the week after against Tweed Heads.

In 2016 Kobe Whalan played for Coombabah State High School in relation to Schoolboy rugby league and spent some time at fullback during Coombabah’s GIO Cup campaign. Kobe Whalan’s younger brother Dakota is also linked to the Titans and will play for Gold Coast Green Vikings at the U16 level in 2017 and started at hooker when Gold Coast Green played an U16 Western Mustangs selection recently.

[mdrew]

Outside back Bayley Desmond had a solid 2018 season which culminated with him starting in the centres for Currumbin as they defeated Southport in the Gold Coast Rugby League U19 Grand Final 34 – 20.

Over the course of the 2018 U19 season, Bayley Desmond scored eight tries from fourteen matches including a stellar patch in August when he scored six tries from just three matches, including a hat trick against Southport, a double against Ormeau and a try against Bilambil. Bayley Desmond aslo scored in matches against Beaudesert and Helensvale.

The young Currumbin Eagles winger in 2017 scored ten tries from thirteen U19 matches in 2017, including scoring doubles against Runaway Bay, Beaudesert and Tugun and as well as tries against Tugun in two matches, Ormeau and Southport.

2017 also say Bayley Desmond make his Gold Coast Rugby League First Grade debut when he played against Southport. In 2017 Bayley Desmond was part of the PBC Open Rugby League side, scoring a try which went viral.

Bayley Desmond was also part of the 2017 Burleigh Bears MM Cup squad earlier this season however he did not play in any MM matches for Burleigh. Previously Bayley Desmond played for Gold Coast Green in the CC Cup competition.

[mdrew]

Good to see St Johns College Woodlawn student Domenic Lisetto continue with rugby league in 2019 after a 2018 season which saw him represent NSW CCC in rugby and then progress to be selected to start at lock for New South Wales Schools II in the NSW U16 Gen Blue Rugby Selection trials.

Domenic Lisetto did also play rugby league in 2018, playing for Ballina after moving over from Lismore Marist Brothers.

In the Group One U16.5 competition Domenic Lisetto played in ten matches for the Seagulls scoring six tries, including a mid-season double against Casino RSM. He also scored on two occasions against both Clarence Coast and Kyogle.

2019 will see Domenic Lisetto play for the Ballina Seagulls in the U18 NRRRL competition as they look to repeat their 2018 Grand Final success when they defeated Cudgen in the Grand Final 30 – 4.

[mdrew]

There is an old adage that rugby league matches are won and lost in the forwards and two players that held to that adage in the Gold Coast Rugby League U19 competition last year were Southport’s Liam Roby and Kiarn Gerrard.

Both had more than solid seasons including starting in the Grand Final, Roby at lock and Gerrard in the front row but unfortunately Southport went down 34 – 20 to Currumbin.

In 2018 Liam Roby played in fourteen U19 matches scoring his sole try of the year against Helensvale in June.

Kiarn Gerrard played in seventeen U19 matches and whilst he did not score was very effective none the less. He also played in six Doug Lipp Cup matches, making his debut in June against Helensvale.

U20 rugby league beckons for both Liam Roby and Kiarn Gerrard in 2019.

[mdrew]

The Casino RSM U18 NRRRL side in 2019 will be a talented outfit and have picked up an impressive player in former Kyogle winger Rocco Partridge.

Rocco Partridge who is part of the 2019 Northern Rivers Titans U18 Laurie Daley cup squad started the 2018 season playing three matches on the wing for the Northern Rivers U16 Andrew Johns Cup squad.

In the Group One U16.5 competition for Kyogle, Rocco partridge played in twelve matches scoring five tries, all of which came in individual matches against Lismore Marist Brothers on three occasions, Ballina and Clarence Coast.

Rocco Partridge also played in six U18 NRRRL matches for Kyogle making his debut in May against Murwillumbah and scored his first U18 NRRRL try against Cudgen in June.

[mdrew]

The Northern Rivers Titans U18 Laurie Daley Cup squad this season will be a very young one with a number of players from the successful 2018 U16 Andrew Johns Cup squad moving up this season.

One player is outstanding ST Johns College Woodlawn second rower Simon Pratt from the Casino RSM club. In 2018 Simon Pratt played in five matches for Northern Rivers in the Andrew Johns Cup competition, scoring one try.

Simon Pratt also played two matches for the New South Wales Country U16 side in 2018 with those matches being against PNG and Lismore and a Titans U16 side in Cudgen.

Post that competition Simon Pratt played in eleven matches for Casino RSM in the Group One U16.5 competition scoring eight tries, including scoring doubles against Ballina in two separate matches. He also scored against Lismore Marist Brothers in two matches, Kyogle and Clarence Coast.

In 2017 Simon Pratt played eight matches, including the Grand Final for Casino RSM in the U15 Group One Junior Rugby League competition scoring just the once which came against Lismore Marist Brothers mid-season. Simon Pratt started in the second row in all eight of his matches.

2017 also saw Simon Pratt represent Group One at the U15 level in the New South Wales Country Age Championships starting all three of his matches in the second row and from St Johns College Woodlawn was selected in the New South Wales Combined Catholic Colleges U15 Northern Region squad once again in the second row. A team mate in the NSW CCC U15 side was Titans contracted outstanding young half back Thomas Weaver.