Junior Development

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In his first NRRRL First Grade match of the season Thomas Vickery scored for Murwillumbah as they defeated Mullumbimby 28-10 in Round 8 last weekend.

The young utility started the 2019 season of starting at five eight in Round One for the Northern Rivers Titans in the U18 Laurie Daley Cup competition against the Newcastle Knights Development Squad.

Thomas Vickery tried his guts out the entire match and setup the Northern Rivers Titans sole try of the match late in the second half. Thomas Vickery was operating on the left side of the field and threw a great cut-out pass to left winger Jahvis Kendall who went over untouched and was even able to bring the ball around by about ten metres or so to make the conversion easier for Thomas Vickery.

Round Two saw Thomas Vickery move to right centre for the Northern Rivers Titans match against the Parramatta Eels.

Round Three saw another position change for Thomas Vickery when he started at fullback against the North Coast Bulldogs in Grafton and converted Cooper Many’s second half try near the left upright.

Round Four against the Central Coast Roosters saw Thomas Vickery on the move again, moving back to right centre where he played in Round Two and converted two of the Northern Rivers Titans three tries.

In Round five against the Greater Northern Tigers Thomas Vickery stayed at centre and added four goals to his points tally in the competition.

Post the 2019 Laurie Daley Cup competition Thomas Vickery started in the U18 NRRRL competition for Murwillumbah kicking four goals as the Colts started their season off with a 36 – 4 victory over the Evans Head Bombers.

In Round Two Thomas Vickery added a try and two goals as Murwillumbah went down 18 – 16 to the Lower Clarence Magpies a side which contained Titans contract stand out Ethan Foster.

To date in the NRRRL U18 competition Thomas Vickery has played in eight matches scoring 40 points from two tries and twenty goals. In addition to the try against Lower Clarence, Thomas Vickery has also scored against Casino RSM.

In 2018 Thomas Vickery played two matches for the Northern Rivers Titans Laurie Daley Cup squad, being Round One against the Newcastle Knights when he started on the wing and in Round Four when he started in the centres against the Central Coast Roosters.

Thomas Vickery had a big game against the Central Coast Roosters scoring a double and also kicking a conversion for a ten point match haul.

In Round Five against the Greater Northern Tigers Thomas Vickery added a try and four goals to his season points tally in a tough four point loss.

Post the 2018 Laurie Daley Cup competition, Thomas Vickery played for Murwillumbah in the NRRRL competition, playing in the U18, reserve grade and first grade competitions over the course of the 2018 season.

In the U18 competition, Thomas Vickery played in eight matches in 2018 scoring twenty points which was made up of two tries and six goals. Both of his tries came against Evans Head in August, a match which also saw him kick four goals to finish with a match total of sixteen points, which accounted for 80% of his season total.

Thomas Vickery played three NRRRL Reserve Grade matches in 2018 as well and in his reserve grade debut for Murwillumbah scored a double against Cudgen.

Thomas Vickery made his deserved NRRRL First Debut as a 17 year old Casino RSM in April and went on to play in eleven First Grade matches, scoring his first try in his third match against Mullumbimby. Thomas Vickery followed that up with a double later in the season against Evans Head, a match which also saw him kick a conversion.

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Since his move from Newcastle second rower Jock Sullivan has been a consistent performer in the GCRL U20 competition, and probably had his best match of the season on the weekend in Round Eight scoring a hat trick for Burleigh as the Bears defeated Helensvale 48-24.

Through his first six matches, Jock Sullivan has a 100% strike rate scoring six tries from as many matches.

Jock Sullivan also has been in and around the Burleigh Hastings Deering’s Colts side this season.

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Giant PBC front rower Jordan Tauali’I scored a double in Round Eight of the U18 NRRRL competition for Tweed Heads last weekend as the Seagulls went down 28-14 to Murwillumbah. His other try in the U18 NRRRL competition this season came against Casino RSM in Round One.

Jordan Tauali’I started the 2019 season of starting in the front row in Round One for the Northern Rivers Titans in the U18 Laurie Daley Cup competition against the Newcastle Knights Development Squad after being named on the bench earlier in the week.

For Round Two against the Parramatta Eels Jordan Tauali’I was once again named on the bench but started for second round in a row and held his own against a giant Parramatta Eels forward pack.

In Round Three Jordan Tauali’I was named on the bench for the third week in a row but also for the third week in a row he started the match in the front row.

In the match Jordan Tauali’I did a lot of work especially in attack, regularly making ground after contact and showed some good stamina in hot conditions at Foster Concurry.

In total for the U18 Northern Rivers Titans Laurie Daley Cup side Jordan Tauali’I played in six matches starting all in the front row.

Post the Laurie Daley Cup Jordan Tauali’I played for the Tweed Heads Seagulls U18 side in the NRRRL U18 competition

Jordan Tauali’I also played for PBC in their Open squad, including starting from the bench in their Round One Allan Langer Cup match against Marsden scoring late in the second half, when he charged onto a pass from Titans contracted dummy half Bailey Martin to crash over near the right upright.

Jordan Tauali’i the giant PBC student was a key member in 2018 season of the Tweed Heads Seagulls U17 Division One side that was competing in the GCRL competition for the first time with Jordan Tauali’i leading the Seagulls to the finals.

In the U17 Division One competition for Teed Heads Jordan Tauali’i played in eleven matches including their final’s match.

In those matches Jordan Tauali’i scored two tries, the first coming in Round One against Bilambil as Tweed Heads celebrated their U17 Division One inclusion with a victory over their closest rivals. Jordan Tauali’i’s other 2018 U17 Division One try was scored against Mudgeeraba in late June.

In Week One of the U17 Division One finals Jordan Tauali’i started in the front row for Tweed Heads who unfortunately went down 42 – 14 to a Carsil Vaikai led Runaway Bay to end what was an encouraging first season in the Gold Coast Rugby League U17 Division One competition.

Jordan Tauali’i has also played a number of matches for the PBC Open side and in particular was effective from the bench against Marsden State High School at Waterford mid-season in a big PBC win.

Jordan Tauali’i started the 2018 season as part of the Northern Rivers U18 Laurie Daley Cup side, playing in three matches starting all in the front row and in the “local derby” against North Coast had a great battle against North Coast front rower Lewis Cooper. The ground literally shook such were the hits against each other in that match.

The three matches that Jordan Tauali’i played in the 2018 Laurie Daley Cup were against North Coast, Central Coast Roosters and the Greater Northern Tigers and he started in the front row in each of those matches.

Jordan Tauali’i had a very solid 2017 season commencing with representing Group 18 at the U16 level and then progressing through to playing for the East Coast Dolphins U16 side in the New South Wales Country Age Championships.

Jordan Tauali’i finished the 2017 season by participating in the Titans U16 High Performance Unit camp in Lennox Heads and starting for the Titans in their U16 match against a Western Mustangs U16 selection.

The Palm Beach Currumbin High School student who is in the Rugby League Excellence program at the school scored two tries for the East Coast Dolphins U16 side earlier this season, both coming in the first round when he scored a double against the Central Coast. East Coast Dolphins U16 team mates included fellow Titans linked youngster Ben Liyou and Kade Hill.

The 2017 East Coast Dolphins U16 side actually made the New South Wales Country U16 final with Jordan Tauali’i starting the final in the front row. Post the final Jordan Tauali’i was named as a starting front rower in the 2017 New South Wales Country U16 side that toured New Zealand’s South Island convincingly winning both matches. Fellow Titans linked youngsters Ben Liyou and Kade Hill were also part of the New South Wales Country U16 touring side.

Jordan Tauali’i was born in Auckland and moved with his family in Australian when he was just 18 months old. In addition to playing rugby league Jordan Tauali’i also played two seasons in rugby with the Currumbin Alligators before moving back to rugby league where he has stayed ever since.

Jordan Tauali’i was also a nominee for the Aquis Sports Person of the Year in 2017. Jordan Tauali’i has also represented Samoa on a number of occasions including in 2015 playing for Samoa U14’s against a Titans U14 Development Squad. The Titans U14’s Development Squad won a hard fought match 28 – 10.

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Titans linked Xavier Atoa, William Semu and Hayden Miller have been named in the Brisbane Blue U14 side for the upcoming SEQ Hill Stumer Championships.

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Titans linked Karl Oloapu has been named in the Brisbane Red U14 side for the upcoming SEQ Hill Stumer Championships.

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Winger Liam Cusack scored his 8th try from just seven NRRRL First Grade matches in Round 8 on Sunday for Murwillumbah as they defeated Mullumbimby 28-10.

In addition to his Round Eight try, Liam Cusack has scored doubles against Ballina (Round Four) and Byron Bay (Round Seven) and also scored against Cudgen (Round Three), Tweed Coast (Round Five) and Casino RSM (Round Six).

Liam Cusack 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.

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Ballina’s Jesse Beauchamp had a big Round Four match in the Group One U16.5 competition last Saturday scoring two tries and kicking five goals as Ballina defeated Clarence Coast 42-0.

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Murwillumbah U18 NRRRL hooker Jonah Whitlam-Rose scored a double in Round Eight on Sunday for Murwillumbah as they defeated Mullumbimby 28-10. The double made it four tires from seven games with his other tries coming against Casino RSM and Byron Bay.

Jonah Whitlam-Rose started the 2019 season of starting at hooker in Round One for the Northern Rivers Titans in the U18 Laurie Daley Cup competition against the Newcastle Knights Development Squad.

Whilst he started the match at hooker, Jonah Whitlam-Rose ended up playing the last part of the match at half and went close to scoring in the matches last couple of minutes but unfortunately he was held up over the line after taking off from dummy half.

Round Two of the 2019 Laurie Daley Cup competition saw Jonah Whitlam-Rose once again line up at hooker in their match against Parramatta as he did in Round Three against the North Coast Bulldogs.

In Round Four against the Central Coast Roosters Jonah Whitlam-Rose started from the bench as he did in Round Five against the Greater Northern Tigers.

When he came on against the Greater Northern Tigers, Jonah Whitlam-Rose made a big difference, spending time both at hooker and half. In addition to making a big break out of dummy half mid-way through the second half, Jonah Whitlam-Rose threw a great cut-out pass to his right to Jahvis Kendall to score out wide untouched.

In 2018 Jonah Whitlam-Rose captained the Northern Rivers U16 Andrew Johns Cup side taking them to the finals in the first year of the competition. In the competition he started at hooker and captained the side in each of their five matches and scored a double in Round One against the Newcastle Knights U16 Development Squad in an outstanding display of dummy half running.

Representative honours are nothing new for the St Joseph’s College Banora Point student, he represented Group 18 at the NSW Country U15 Championships in 2017 in three matches scoring a hat trick against Group 19 and in 2016 represented Group 18 at the U14 level in two matches.

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Burleigh Hastings Deering’s Colts squad member O’Shea Hannaway maintained his 100% strike rate by scoring a double on Sunday in Round Eight of the GCRL U20 competition for Burleigh as they defeated Helensvale 48-24. He has now scored seven tries from as many matches.

Recently O’Shea Hannaway was part of the Gold Coast U20 side that played in the annual South East Queensland Chairman’s Challenge.

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Grafton’s Group One U14 representative Jye Boehme continued his great 2019 season in Round Four last weekend scoring and kicking a conversion but unfortunately his Ghosts side went down 18-16 to Ballina.

Through three games this season in the Group One U14 competition, Jye Boehme has already scored 30 points from 7 tries and a conversion.

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Burleigh Hastings Deering’s Colts squad member, Helensvale’s Alex Drewe continued his outstanding scoring pace on Sunday in Round 8 of the GCRL U20 competition, maintaining his place at the top of the competitions points scoring list by scoring two tries and kicking four from four conversions for the Hornets as they went down 48-24 to Burleigh.

Through the opening eight rounds Alex Drewe has scored 76 points from seven tries and 24 goals.

Recently Alex Drewe was also part of the Gold Coast U20 side that played in the annual South East Queensland Chairman’s Challenge.

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Through the opening four rounds of the Group One U14 competition, Ballina’s Lachlan Offley has already cracked the 50 point mark, breaking that barrier with a try and a conversion in Round Four as Ballina defeated Grafton 18-16.

His 50 points has come from ten tries and five goals in his four matches.

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Burleigh Hastings Deering’s Colts squad member Latrell Howe has for me been the player of the GCRL U20 competition to date this season and was at his best once again in Round Eight starting at five eight and scoring a hat trick as Burleigh defeated Helensvale 48-24.

Through the opening eight rounds he sits atop of the try scoring tally with ten tries from just six matches.

Latrell Howe has played one Hastings Deering’s Colts match for Burleigh this season starting on the wing and with continued strong performances in the local U20 competition will surely get more opportunities.

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Carl Lolohea scored his 4th U18 NRRRL try in just six matches this season when he scored for Ballina in their Round Eight victory against Byron Bay 16-12. His other tries this season have come against Kyogle, Casino RSM and Cudgen.

Carl Lolohea this season also made his NRRRL Reserve Grade debut in Round Seven against the Tweed Coast Raiders.

Carl Lolohea started the 2019 season of starting from the interchange bench in Round One for the Northern Rivers Titans in the U18 Laurie Daley Cup competition against the Newcastle Knights Development Squad.

Round Two of the 2019 Laurie Daley Cup competition saw Carl Lolohea once again start the match from the interchange bench in their match against Parramatta.

Carl Lolohea moved into the starting line-up for the Round Three clash against the North Coast Bulldogs starting the match in the front row and maintained his starting front row spot in Round Four against the Central Coast Roosters where he made some impressive runs making good ground post contact.

As a result of his earlier performances in the U18 Laurie Daley Cup competition Carl Lolohea also started in the front row in Round Five against the Greater Northern Tigers and was rewarded for an outstanding match scoring a powerful try late.

Carl Lolohea took the ball from around twelve metres out from the try line to the left of the play the ball and cut back off his left foot to surge over near the left upright dragging a couple of defenders over the line with him.

Carl Lolohea started the 2018 season as part of the Northern Rivers U16 Andrew Johns Cup side playing in four matches, including games against the Newcastle Knights Development Squad, the Central Coast Roosters, the Greater Northern Tigers and the Western Rams which featured recent Titans signing Jack Smith.

Carl Lolohea also played for Ballina in the Far North Coast U16 Rugby competition starting seven matches in the centres with his first match being in Round Three against Brunswick Valley. IN his seven matches he scored two tries both coming in Round Thirteen against Lismore.

In 2017 Carl Lolohea represented the Group One U15 side in three matches at the New South Wales Country U15 Age Championships.

In the Group One U16.5 competition in 2018 Carl Lolohea played in thirteen matches for Ballina scoring five tries. Each of his tries came in individual matches and came against Lismore Marist Brothers twice, Casino RSM twice and Clarence Coast.

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Titans contracted Rowan Mansfield scored his second try in just three Group One U16.5 matches this season when he scored in Round Four last weekend as his Ballina Seagulls side defeated Clarence Coast 42-0.