Junior Development

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Titans linked Jack Smith will start Round One of the 2020 MM Cup competition for the Tweed Heads Seagulls at fullback against the Northern Pride this weekend.

The young utility late in 2018 signed a scholarship with the Titans from the Forbes Spacemen after playing for the New South Wales Country U16 side against a Titans U16 squad at Cudgen.

Jack Smith started from the bench for the New South Wales Country side in the match with New South Wales Country running out 30 – 10 winners. Jack Smith was also part of the New South Wales Country U16 side that defeated PNG U16’s a couple of days earlier in Ballina in Northern New South Wales as a precursor to the match against the Titans.

Jack Smith in June of 2019 was part of the Titans U18 side that played North Queensland in a curtain raiser to the Titans/Warriors NRL match at Cbus stadium starting that particular match at fullback.

Jack Smith started Round One of the 2019 GCRL U18 Division One at fullback for his new club being the Currumbin Eagles in their match against Burleigh where he was opposed by fellow Titan Will Evans.

In total Jack Smith played in seven regular season matches for Currumbin in the 2019 GCRL U18 Division One competition, playing the majority at fullback although he did play a number of matches at centre, his first being in Round Nine against Helensvale.

Jack Smith also played centre in Round Ten, scoring a hat trick against Bilambil (he converted one of his tries in that match as well) and also from the centre position scored sixteen points from a try and six goals in Round Twelve against Runaway Bay.

Jack Smith also played a number of matches for PBC in their Open A side including starting at fullback in their Langer Cup derby against Keebra Park in June, scoring in the second half. Jack Smith moved into dummy half around ten metres out from the line and threw a big dummy to his left and then took off for the line scoring adjacent to the left upright.

Initially Jack Smith was held up by three defenders but instead of submitting to the tackle spun counter clock wise separating himself from the defenders and falling to his knees. Jack Smith had the presence of mind to note that his hand holding the ball had not touched the ground and thus reached out to put the ball down beside the left upright.

Jack Smith also started at fullback for PBC in their Queensland GIO Cup quarter final win over St Mary’s High School Toowoomba 50 – 6 and was once again at fullback, pulling off two try saving tackles in the GIO Cup semi-final loss to Marsden State High School in heart breaking fashion.

In November 2019 Jack Smith was named the PBC Open Rugby League Most Improved Player at the PBC Sport Awards Night.

Playing in the Group 11 competition for the Parkes Spacemen in 2018 Jack Smith played in both the U16 and U18 competitions over the course of the 2018 season. In the U16 competition Jack Smith spent time at fullback including starting the Grand Final at fullback. Jack Smith also played eight U18 matches scoring a hat trick in his first career U18 match against Dubbo Macquarie.

Jack Smith was also part of the 2018 victorious Western Rams U18 Laurie Daley Cup side and started at lock as they defeated Illawarra South Coast Dragons in the final. Jack Smith started all seven of the matches that he was involved in and scored three tries, including a double against the Wests Tigers and in Round Two he scored against the Riverina Bulls.

In 2017 Jack Smith was selected at fullback for the New South Wales Combined Catholic Colleges side from Red Bend Catholic College starting all of the matches that he played in during the ASSRL U15 Championships

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Noah Croudace is set to start Round One of the 2020 MM Cup competition for the Burleigh Bears on the wing against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls.

The Burleigh and PBC youngster started on the wing for the Titans U16’s and scored as they defeated PNG 60 – 10 in a late 2018 match at Burleigh and also started on the right wing as the Titans U16’s went down 30 – 10 to New South Wales Country U16’s at Cudgen in what can best be described as wet and miserable conditions.

In 2019 Noah Croudace was part of the Burleigh Bears MM Cup squad and was named on an extended bench for Round Four against Townsville but unfortunately did not make the final seventeen but made his debut starting on the wing in Round Six as Burleigh overcame the previously unbeaten Wynnum Manly Seagulls to finish the 2019 season on a high with the 23 – 22 victory.

Noah Croudace played the 2019 season with Burleigh in the GCRL U18 Division One competition playing in six regular season matches, scoring five tries to finish with a strike rate of 83.33%. Noah Croudace had outstanding start to his 2019 U18 Division One campaign scoring doubles in his opening two matches ironically both matches were against Currumbin. Noah Croudace’s other regular season try was against Bilambil in early August.

In Week Two of the U18 Division One Finals series Noah Croudace started on the wing for Burleigh in their victory 34 – 8 against Southport to progress directly to the Grand Final contributing a try to the dominating victory.

In the 2019 GCRL U18 Division One Grand Final against Southport Noah Croudace started on the right wing and had some good moments in the match which turned into a forward slog with the Bears winning 28 – 12 in a physical affair.

2019 also saw Noah Croudace play multiple matches for PBC in both the Langer Cup and GIO Cup competitions including starting on the right wing for PBC in their heart breaking Gold Point GIO Cup Queensland semi-final 23 – 22 loss to Marsden State High School.

In the match Noah Croudace was very effective down the right touchline including making a long break in the first half which almost led to a PBC try.

Early in the 2018 season Noah Croudace represented the Gold Coast Vikings White side in the South East Queensland U16 Challenge, scoring a double, including a try in the last minute to defeat Ipswich.

In 2018 Noah Croudace only played in one U16 Division One match with that match being the Preliminary Final when he started from the bench with Burleigh going down 28 – 26 to Currumbin in a high quality contest.

Unfortunately Noah Croudace was struck down with injury in 2019 while playing for PBC but it is good to see him over the injury now so that he can undertake the MM Cup pre-season with Burleigh with the aim of establishing himself in the team from Round One

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Orlando Swain will start Round One of the 2020 MM Cup competition interestingly in the second row for the Ipswich Jets against the Townsville Blackhawks this weekend.

The Ipswich youngster signed with the Titans in 2018 after a standout campaign with the Queensland Maroon side at the U15 ASSRL Championships. A team mate in the Queensland Maroons side was fellow Titans contracted youngster the outstanding Burleigh lock Bailey Martin who returning quickly from injury.

Orlando Swain’s most recent match for the Titans was when he started at left centre for the Titans U16 squad in their early October 2019 match against PNG U16’s at Pizzey Park scoring in the second half when he ran onto a straight pass from Syris Schmidt to crash over out wide.

In January of 2019 Orlando Swain started at right centre for the Titans U16 side in their match against the Newcastle Knights in Coffs Harbour. Orlando Swain did not keep too many opportunities with the ball in space but was effective none the less in terms of bringing the ball out of the Titans territory.

Orlando Swain also started in the centres for the Titans U15 side in their match against a Balmain Tigers U15 touring squad. Like in the Newcastle match Orlando Swain was partnered in the centres by the equally talented Ezra Ubaldino.

Orlando Swain is also part of the 2019 Queensland U16 Emerging Origin squad, with the squad completing their first camp of the year recently. At that camp, in the opposed session was on the same side as Kaleb Ngamanu and Bailey Martin.

Early in 2019 Orlando Swain was part of the Ipswich side that contested the South East Queensland U16 Championships scoring on Match Day Four in a tough 14 – 4 loss against Gold Coast Vikings White and subsequently was named in the 2019 South East Queensland White U16 side the for the Queensland Age Championships starting in the centres.

Post those Championships Orlando Swain was selected to start at right centre in the Queensland City U16 side in a match that was the curtain raiser to the 2019 Queensland Cup Grand Final but had only limited chances as City went down 44 – 4 to Country. Orland Swain did however make eight tackles at a tackling efficiency of 88.89% as well as running for seventy five metres.

Orlando Swain started in the centre in Round One of the Ipswich Rugby League U16 competition for Norths Ipswich scoring against Fassifern in a 34 – 22 victory and backed that up by scoring a double in Round Two against West End as Norths prevailed 40 – 12.

After missing Round Three Orlando Swain scored again in Round Four as his Norths side defeated Ipswich Brothers 78 – 4.

Orlando Swain also scored in Round Six against the Springfield Panthers and Rounds Nine, Ten and Twelve against West End, Rosewood and Redbank Plains respectively and kicked his only two goals of the season in Round Six against Springfield.

In total in the 2019 Ipswich Rugby League U16 regular season competition, Orlando Swain played in twelve matches scoring eight tries to finish with a 67% strike rate.

In the Ipswich Rugby League U16 Grand Final Orlando Swain started at right centre against Redbank Plains with Norths winning 34 – 26 and Orlando Swain contributing a try to the Premiership victory.

At the late September 2019 Norths Ipswich Junior Rugby League Awards Night, Orlando Swain was awarded the Rod Kelly Junior Representative Player of the Year Award.

Orlando Swain was also part of the Ipswich Grammar School U16A GPS school boy rugby side this season but made his deserved First XV debut on the right wing in Round Eight of the 2019 season against TSS on the Gold Coast.

Orlando Swain had a great debut including a first half try assist when he threw a left arm over the head flick pass to Roosters bound Sam Walker to score in the first half. Even though he was playing on the right wing, Orlando Swain had a licence to roam on the match, regularly chiming into the backline on the left side of the field after set pieces.

Orlando Swain played his second GPS First XV match in Round Nine against Gregory Terrace, once again starting on the right wing and scored his first try when he was on the end of an Ipswich Grammar School movement to score wide out on the right in the first half.

As a result of his outstanding performances on the wing for the 2018 U15 Queensland Maroon side Orlando Swain was selected in the Australian U15 Merit side where he was named on the wing.

Orlando Swain started all four of Queensland Maroon’s matches on the wing and scored two tries, the first coming on Day One against New South Wales Combined High Schools and his second try was in the 4th minute of the final against New South Wales Combined Catholic College, a final which Queensland Maroon won 36 – 10.

The Ipswich Grammar School student this season played for Norths Blue in the 2018 Ipswich U15 competition and through nine matches, including the finals series scored 56 points from twelve tries and four goals.

Orlando Swain scored a hat trick against Fassifern and has also scored doubles against Norths Gold, Rosewood and Redbank. Orlando Swain’s other two tries came against West End and Brothers.

In Week Two of the Ipswich Rugby League U15 Finals series, Orlando Swain started on the wing and scored as his Norths Blue defeated a determined Redbank side 30 – 26 to progress to the Grand Final.

In the Ipswich U15 Grand Final Orlando Swain started on the wing for Norths Blue against West End with Norths Blue going down is a close match 28 – 22 with Orlando Swain scoring one of North’s Blue’s four tries on the Sunday morning.

Orlando Swain has an extensive representative resume including representing the Ipswich Diggers at the U14 level in 2017 and earlier this year represented Met West U15’s.

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Trey Peni will start Round One of the 2020 MM Cup competition for the Burleigh Bears on the wing against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls.

The Titans contracted Keebra Park student originally from the Rockingham Sharks in Western Australia is a classic example of why you should not be concerned about where a young player comes from but be only concerned about their ability on a football field and whether they can reach their full potential, Trey Peni has both area’s covered in spades and the proof is on display each weekend on Gold Coast Rugby League fields.

In late 2018 Trey Peni started in the centres and scored for the Titans U16’s as they defeated PNG 60 – 10 at Pizzey Park and in January of 2019 was part of the Titans U18 squad that played a trial in Coffs Harbour against the Newcastle Knights U18 SG Ball squad.

Trey Peni started the 2019 season as part of the Burleigh Bears MM Cup side coming in to the side on the left wing in Round Three. In the Round Three match against local rivals the Tweed Heads Seagulls Trey Peni scored his first MM Cup try when he pounced on an inch perfect kick from Tweed Heads five eight Brodyn Gudgeon to score close to the left touch line in goal line.

In Round Four against the Townsville Blackhawks Trey Peni recorded a try assist when he took a cross field bomb to his left wing on the full a few metres out from the Townsville line and then under pressure was able to off-load to Eli Morgan who had looped around the back of him to score in the left corner.

In total for Burleigh in the 2019 MM Cup competition, Trey Peni played in four matches starting three on the wing and one, being Round Six in the centres against Wynnum Manly with Burleigh finishing their 2019 MM Cup season off on a high after beating the previously undefeated Seagulls 23 - 22.

Post the 2019 MM Cup competition, Trey Peni played Round One of the 2019 GCRL U18 Division One competition for Nerang scoring in that match as well.

Trey Peni received a deserved call-up to the Burleigh Colts Hastings Deering’s Cup side for their 2019 Round Nine match against Redcliffe and had an outstanding debut scoring a double from the right wing.

In relation to both of his tries, Trey Peni scored by positioning himself well by staying on the side line outside of his direct opponent and as a result having a direct path to the try line. Trey Peni was certainly happy to score his first try, pumping his fist even before crossing the try line. Trey Peni could have had a hat trick but the ball went to Jayden Campbell to score when it could have quite easily have gone to Trey Peni instead.

Trey Peni came back into the Burleigh Colts side starting on the right wing and scoring in Round Twenty against the Western Mustangs when he scored an easy try in the right corner after good work inside by the Burleigh playmakers including Cameron Brown and Jayden Campbell.

In total in the 2019 Hastings Deering’s Colts regular season competition for Burleigh Trey Peni played in four matches starting all on the right wing scoring the three tries noted in the paragraph’s noted above.

Trey Peni’s 2019 Hastings Deering’s Colts season came to an end when he started on the left wing for Burleigh as they went down 23 – 16 to Sunshine Coast in the Preliminary Final.

Trey Peni also performed well for Keebra Park in 2019, including scoring a double in their Round Two Langer Cup victory over Ipswich State High School and started on the right wing in the Langer Cup derby against PBC also scoring a double in the match with both tries coming in the second half.

Trey Peni’s first try came when he retrieved a chip kick and stepped inside the fullback to score and for his second try Trey Peni flew down the right touch line executing a dive to place the ball down in his right hand in the right corner of the field.

Trey Peni also started on the right wing for Keebra Park in their Queensland GIO Cup quarter final win over Coombabah State High School 42 – 12 and also started on the right wing in their tough loss to Wavell State High School in the their Queensland GIO Cup semi-final.

Trey Peni also represented South Coast at the 2019 U18 QSSRL Championships playing on the right wing at the Championships. Trey Peni scored on Day One against Northern in the right corner after outstanding lead up work by fellow Titan James Torrens on his inside.

South Coast went through the Championships undefeated including coming from behind to defeat Northern in the final 22 – 16. Trey Peni was subsequently named in the 2019 Queensland School boy’s side for the Australian U18 School boy Championships.

At the 2019 ASSRL U18 Championships Trey Peni started all of Queensland matches, including the Championship Final on the right wing, scoring in the 10th minute of the second half in Queensland’s second match of the Championships against New South Wales Combined High Schools.

Trey Peni played the 2018 season with the Nerang Roosters in the GCRL U16 Division One competition after moving in the off season from the Coomera Cutters and has started in the centres in all bar one of their matches, scoring five tries and kicking three goals to finish the season with an individual point’s haul of twenty six.

In Round One Trey Peni had an outstanding match scoring four tries and kicking two goals against Runaway Bay and in Round Four also scored a try against Burleigh.

Trey Peni started in the centres in both of Nerang’s 2018 Finals matches being in Week Two when Nerang defeated Currumbin 32 – 22 with Trey Peni converting one of Nerang’s five tries and the Grand Final which Nerang won defeating Currumbin again 24 – 8.

At the start of the 2017 season Trey Peni moved over to the Gold Coast to continue his flourishing rugby league career with Coomera Cutters in the GCRL U15 Division One competition and in 2018 played for the Gold Coast Vikings U16 white squad. In previous years Trey Peni has represented Western Australia at the U12 National Championships and has been a member of the West Coast Pirates Development Squad for a number of seasons.

For the Cutters in the U15 Division Once competition in 2017 Trey Peni played a number of positions including centre and fullback playing in ten matches scoring eight tries and kicking seven goals to finish with 46 points on the season.

Trey Peni had an outstanding start to the 2017 season, scoring seven of his eight tries in a three game stretch from late April to early May, in that span scoring a hat trick against Helensvale and doubles against Currumbin and Burleigh. Five of his seven goals also came in that period. Trey Peni’s other try came late in the season against Nerang.

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Titans contracted Isreal Higgins has been named to start Round One of the 2020 MM Cup competition in the second row against the Northern Pride this weekend

The local young centre or second rower from the Currumbin Eagles junior rugby league club on the Gold Coast as well as PBC has recently signed a multi-year contract with the Titans, moving over from the Sydney Roosters who he was with for a number of seasons.

In a sign of the regard that the Titans hold in him, Isreal Higgins trained with the Titans Rookie Squad in the 2019-20 offseason and played for the Titans Rookie squad against the Tweed Heads Queensland Cup side in early February at Cudgen in wet and slippery conditions.

Isreal Higgins has previously worn a Titans jersey when he started in the second row for the U13 Titans development squad against a Toowoomba U14 selection in late 2015 at Burleigh’s Pizzey Park. In that match Isreal Higgins scored a strong try under the posts when he charged through the Toowoomba forward pack from about ten metres out off a pass from the dummy half at the dressing room end of the ground.

Isreal Higgins had a standout 2019 season which saw him play for the U18 National Championship winning Tweed Heads Seagulls MM Cup side as well as representing Queensland at the ASSRL U18 School Boy Championships from PBC after representing South Coast at the QSSRL U18 School Boy Championships that were held in Toowoomba.

In the MM Cup for Tweed Heads in 2019 Isreal Higgins played in all eight of Tweed Heads matches including starting from the bench in their 28 – 24 Grand Final hard fought victory over the Wynnum Manly Seagulls.

Isreal Higgins started Round One against the Western Mustangs in the second row, scoring his sole ty of the season before moving to the bench for Rounds Two and Three against Townsville and Burleigh respectively. Isreal Higgins started Rounds Four and Five in the centres against Central Queensland and Wynnum Manly before moving back to the bench for the remainder of the season including the Queensland semi-final against Souths Logan and the a fore mentioned fiercely contested Queensland Final against Wynnum Manly.

In the National U18 Championship Final against the Illawarra Steelers, Isreal Higgins started from the bench for Tweed Heads in their 48 – 14 victory. In the match, Isreal Higgins played thirty one minutes, ran for eighty three metres (thirty nine post contact, being an impressive 48.99% of his total running metres) on nine hit-ups, broke a tackle and made eleven tackles at a perfect 100% tackling efficiency including a couple of brutal front on hits.

Also in 2019 Isreal Higgins started in the second row for South Coast in the U18 QSSRL School Boy Championships, from there being named in the Queensland U18 School Boys side for the U18 ASSRL Championships playing a number of matches for Queensland at left centre including scoring in the Championship Final as Queensland defeated NSW Combined Catholic Schools 34 – 10.

To cap off an outstanding 2019 season Isreal Higgins has recently been named in the 2020 U18 Queensland Emerging Origin Squad with fellow Titans Ediq Ambrosyev and Samuel Shannon.

Isreal Higgins was also been a key member of the PBC Open rugby league side over the last couple of seasons including starting in the second row in 2019 in the Langer Cup Final victory and in 2018 was part of the PBC National GIO Cup winning side.

In 2018 Isreal Higgins represented the Queensland U16 side in their annual match against New South Wales starting the match in the second row as the Maroons went down 28 – 14. Prior to his Queensland U16 selection Isreal Higgins started in the second row for the U16 South East Queensland Green side in the Queensland Age Championships.

Also in 2018 Isreal Higgins represented Gold Coast Vikings Yellow in the 2018 South East Queensland U16 Challenge, starting the first four rounds in the second row. Isreal Higgins was also part of the 2018 U16 Queensland Emerging Origin Squad alongside Titans contracted jack of all trades Ediq Ambrosyev.

In 2017 Isreal Higgins played in the U15 age group in the 2017 season for the Currumbin Eagles. Isreal Higgins also represented South Coast at the U15 level in 2017.

Isreal Higgins was only able to play one match for the Currumbin Eagles U15 side in 2017 which was against Southport in April but was selected in the South Coast U15 side for the QSSRL competition after playing well for PBC and them went on to be named in the Queensland White team for the U15 ASSRL Championships.

In 2016 Isreal Higgins represented the Gold Coast Vikings at the U14 level where he was selected at lock for the U14 South East Queensland Age Championships.

For Currumbin in the U14 Division One competition in 2016 Isreal Higgins played in eight matches scoring six tries along the way. Isreal Higgins had a big day out in June 2016 when he scored a hat trick against Mudgeeraba and he also scored in the next two club matches that he played in which were against Burleigh Heads and Coomera. Isreal Higgins other try on the season came against Nerang in the first round of the U14 Division One season proper.

In 2015 Isreal Higgins also was part of the U13 Gold Coast Vikings representative side and also made the South East Queensland U13 side for the Queensland Age Championships where he was selected on the inter change bench.

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Titans contracted Kaleb Ngamanu has been named to start Round One of the 2020 MM Cup competition on the wing against the Northern Pride this weekend.

Kaleb Ngamanu is a Gold Coast based youngster originally from Western Australia where he played two years of rugby league for the Joondalup Giants who moved over to the Gold Coast at the start of 2016 season, making every post a winner since that time in his junior rugby league career and for that matter in school boy rugby for the Southport School (TSS) including the First XV side and has recently signed a new deal with the Titans which will keep him with the club for the next couple of seasons.

Kaleb Ngamanu’s most recent match for the Titans was when he started at fullback for the Titans U16 squad in their early October match against PNG at Pizzey Park and made a great fist of the fullback role.

In January 2019 Kaleb Ngamanu started on the left wing for the Titans U16 side against the Newcastle Knights in Coffs Harbour and was very unlucky not to be awarded a second half try. To be honest I am still unsure why the try was disallowed, he flashed into the back line on the left hand side of the field and broke through two Knights defenders to seemingly score but the try was disallowed I assume for a lost ball.

Kaleb Ngamanu started the match on the left wing but spent some time at fullback midway through the first half when he swapped positions with Rowan Mansfield for a few minutes. In the second half with Rowan Mansfield injured, Kaleb Ngamanu played the entire half at fullback and showed his outstanding speed when he backed up a long break from Joseph Shannon (who had been put into a hole as a result of a great Bailey Martin pass).

In the first half Kaleb Ngamanu produced three outstanding pieces of play including two try saving tackles, the first when the Knights winger burst through the centre of the ruck and Kaleb Ngamanu tracked back and caught him from behind. His second try saving tackle was made in the left corner when he stopped the Knights winger in his tracks about a metre from the try line when the winger looked certain to score.

With the ball Kaleb Ngamanu made an outstanding break down the left touch line when he got outside his direct opponent as a result of a great ball from half Thomas Weaver whilst playing on the left wing in the first half.

On top of all that Kaleb Ngamanu forced at least three errors that I can recall as a result of sheer hard work and effort.

Kaleb Ngamanu signed a multi-year deal with the Titans in early 2018 after a starring on the left wing for the Titans U15 side in their six tries to three win over the Western Mustangs in March 2018 and late in the 2018 season started on the wing for the Titans U15 as they defeated a U15 Balmain Tigers touring side 16 – 10 with Kaleb Ngamanu scoring an outstanding try in the match.

Kaleb Ngamanu scored in around the 6th minute when he flashed down the left touch line untouched and was able to bring the ball around under the posts. For the try Kaleb Ngamanu kept his width and exploded onto a great cut out ball from Thomas Weaver to score from around 30 metres out.

In the match Kaleb Ngamanu also had some other highlights including an outstanding fifty metre second half run when he expertly fielded a low kick and split the defence from his own line, but unfortunately just could not find Thomas Weaver with the inside pass.

Kaleb Ngamanu was also involved in the final Titans try scored by Rowan Mansfield. At the time Kaleb Ngamanu was playing right centre, he took a pass from Jye Gray before drawing the Balmain winger and popping a great ball to Rowan Mansfield to send him down the touch line.

Early in 2019, Kaleb Ngamanu was part of the Gold Coast Vikings U16 side that played in the South East Queensland U16 Challenge and post that championship was named in the South East Queensland U16 train on squad.

Kaleb Ngamanu started on the left wing for the Queensland City U16 side in their match against Queensland Country, playing the entire seventy minutes. Kaleb Ngamanu ran for 45.1 metres in the match and made three tackles at a 75% tackling efficiency.

Kaleb Ngamanu started the 2019 season for Coomera in the GCRL U16 Division One competition, starting in the centres in Round One against Burleigh and scoring in the match which was his one and only GCRL match of the season.

Kaleb Ngamanu kicked off his 2019 school boy rugby campaign for TSS in late April when he was part of the TSS Second XV side that defeated touring New Zealand School New Plymouth Boys High 36 – 0, starting the match at inside centre. Kaleb Ngamanu then was on the bench for the TSS First XV side that went down 31 – 29.

Kaleb Ngamanu made his TSS First XV run on debut in a trial against Brisbane State High School in May with TSS winning 57 – 12.

Kaleb Ngamanu was once against part of the TSS First XV squad for the next set of GPS rugby trials against Brisbane State High School and Gregory Terrace at the TSS campus, in late May with Kaleb Ngamanu named on the bench. TSS won the trial against Gregory Terrace but went down against BSHS in the second match.

Kaleb Ngamanu started TSS’s next trial against Nudgee College in the right wing (No. 14) for the TSS First XV. Kaleb Ngamanu moved to the left wing (No. 11) for the TSS First XV’s next trial against Ipswich Grammar School at Ipswich.

Kaleb Ngamanu started at outside centre for the TSS First XV in their final GPS rugby trial prior to their Round One fixture against Nudgee College with TSS winning 10-5 against Sunshine Coast Grammar School.

In Round One of the 2019 GPS school boy rugby competition, Kaleb Ngamanu started on the right wing for TSS against Nudgee College and was outstanding defensively for TSS, both in terms of initial contact and cover defence.

The ball did not get out to his right wing a great deal but Kaleb Ngamanu did have an outstanding run late in the second half where he dragged a number of Nudgee defenders five or six metres. Kaleb Ngamanu actually crossed the line in the second half but the final pass was called back for being forward. To be fair it was only two or three metres forward.

Kaleb Ngamanu also showcased his hands in Round One taking producing a great contest catch of a TSS box kick under extreme pressure to maintain TSS’s momentum in a pivotal moment of the first half.

Kaleb Ngamanu was also outstanding in Round Two as TSS thrashed Churchie 64 – 7 with Kaleb Ngamanu starting on the right wing but moving into inside centre around the 10 minute mark after an injury.

From that position Kaleb Ngamanu scored his first First XV try of the career. At a set piece about fifteen metres out from the Churchie line, Kaleb Ngamanu originally lined up in the left of the piece but rotated around to the right receiving the ball in space.

Kaleb Ngamanu ran at the opposition defensive line which started to back pedal holding the ball in both hands and after shaping to pass the ball to his right before running through the resultant gap in the line to score mid-way between the touch line and goal post on the right side of the field.

After finishing Round Two at inside centre, Kaleb Ngamanu started there in Round Three against Brisbane State High School. In the first half Kaleb Ngamanu focussed primarily on ball playing for his outside backs but in the second half ran the ball more and came close to scoring twice.

Kaleb Ngamanu also started at inside centre in Round Four against Toowoomba Grammar School in Toowoomba scoring his second try of the season as well as recording a try assist and also being heavily involved in a few others.

Kaleb Ngamanu’s try assist came in the second half and was as a result of a great sleight of hand from a set play. From a TSS scrum win on the Toowoomba Grammar School twenty metre line Kaleb Ngamanu received the ball to the right of the scrum and produced an outstanding no look pop up pass to his right as the TSS left winger looped around to charge through the resultant gap to score adjacent to the left upright.

Kaleb Ngamanu’s try (his second of the season) came late in the match, Kaleb Ngamanu picked up the ball on from the back of a ruck and drove to his left to score from close range to round out a 62 – 3 TSS route.

Round Five against Brisbane Grammar School saw Kelab Ngamanu continue at inside centre scoring for the second week in a row and third for the season. Kaleb Ngamanu’s try can only be considered a superb effort. In the 16th minute of the first half, Kaleb Ngamanu received the ball to the right of the ruck and ran diagonally to his right and used a great fend which literally knocked the Brisbane Grammar School fly half, being Connor Te Kani off his feet.

Once that occurred Kaleb Ngamanu ran through the resultant gap to score mid-way between the goal posts and the right corner flag under pressure from two more BGS defenders.

In Round Six Kaleb Ngamanu started once again at inside centre against fellow unbeaten school Brisbane Boys College at Toowong in Brisbane in essentially what was the GPS First XV Premiership decider between the only remaining unbeaten schools.

Unfortunately Kaleb Ngamanu was forced off the field with a cheek bone injury in the early minutes of the second half in TSS’s 23 – 20 victory in front of a massive crowd at Toowong in Brisbane’s west.

The win ensured that TSS were the 2019 GPS School Boy rugby First XV Champions and it is a touch ironic that it came against BBC which was the school that Kaleb Ngamanu’s two older brothers starred for being Cullen and Jayden Ngamanu.

Kaleb Ngamanu in 2019 was also part of the Queensland U18 Reds Academy Rugby side that defeated Victoria 46 – 18 with Kaleb Ngamanu coming off the bench to play on the right wing and mid-way through the second half set up a try when he drew the Rebels fullback and passed back inside to the Reds outside centre to score after a long run down the right touch line.

2018 saw Kaleb Ngamanu’s selection in the South Coast U15 QSSRL side at the completion of the South Coast Trials. Kaleb Ngamanu was subsequently selected in the Queensland Maroon U15 side for the U15 ASSRL Championships.

Other Titans linked boys to make the 2018 U15 South Coast QSSRL squad included front rower Brody Smitka, centre/second rower Ezra Ubaldino and outstanding backrower Bailey Martin.

As a result of his performance at those Championships Kaleb Ngamanu was selected in one of the two Queensland sides for the Australian Championships. Unfortunately Kaleb Ngamanu was injured in the camp just prior to the U15 ASSRL Championships and was unable to take his place in the Queensland Maroon side.

In late 2018 Kaleb Ngamanu was named in the Gold Coast Vikings U16 Training Squad for the 2019 U16 South East Queensland Challenge.

Kaleb Ngamanu is also part of the 2019 U16 Queensland Emerging Origin squad and in their opposed session was on the same side as Bailey Martin and Orlando Swain.

When he moved over to the Gold Coast, Kaleb Ngamanu started attending Keebra Park State High School making a big impression in their U13 side even though he missed portions of the 2016 season with an injury. Kaleb Ngamanu however was identified by The Southport School (TSS) and for 2017 transferred there standing out in their U14A GPS rugby side in 2017 in Term Three.

In 2018 Kaleb Ngamanu played club rugby league for the Coomera Cutters and obviously for TSS in terms of school boy rugby and for Queensland II in the Australian U16 Rugby Championships.

For Coomera in the U15 Division One competition in 2018 Kaleb Ngamanu has played in six matches scoring three tries. Kaleb Ngamanu scored a Round One double against the Mudgeeraba Redbacks and scored against Runaway Bay in Round Four.

Kaleb Ngamanu played for the TSS U15A side in 2018 playing in four GPS matches and one match against Downlands College. Kaleb Ngamanu started Round One at outside centre against Anglican Church Grammar School and then missed a number of matches before returning once again at outside centre in Round Six against Gregory Terrace.

In Round Seven against Brisbane Boys College Kaleb Ngamanu moved to the open side flanker position before returning to outside centre for Round Nine against Nudgee College. Kaleb Ngamanu also started at outside centre against Downlands College in TSS’s Round Eight bye week.

Prior to the GPS school boy rugby season proper, Kaleb Ngamanu played in a number of trial matches. He started on the bench for the first two trials which were against Far North Coast and Toowoomba Grammar School before moving into the starting side at outside centre for the last four trials against Nudgee, Ipswich Grammar School Ambrose Treacy College and Sunshine Coast Grammar School . In those four appearances in the starting trial sides Kaleb Ngamanu has been partnered in the centres with rugby league youngster Syris Schmidt.

Kaleb Ngamanu also played club rugby on the Gold Coast this season at the U15 level for the Griffith University Colleges side and started at outside centre in the Grand Final which they won 47 – 19 against the Helensvale Hogs and Cbus stadium as a curtain raiser to the Rugby International between Argentina and the Wallabies.

Kaleb Ngamanu played in nine matches for the Griffith University Colleges starting two at outside centre (No. 13) including the Grand Final, one at inside centre (No. 12) and the remainder from the interchange bench. In Round Two against the PBC Alleygators Kaleb Ngamanu kicked three conversions in a big win for Griffith University Colleges.

In October 2018 Kaleb Ngamanu was part of the Queensland II side for the Australian U16 Championships. In Round One Kaleb Ngamanu started on the left wing for Qld II in their big 57 – 5 win over Western Australia.

Round Two against Victoria saw Kaleb Ngamanu once again start on the left wing for Queensland II and scored one of Queensland II’s three tries as they went down 19 – 17 in a tight encounter.

For the Round Three clash against New South Wales I Kaleb Ngamanu swapped to the right wing but unfortunately Queensland II went down 29 – 17.

The 2017 season Gold Coast Junior Rugby League season saw Kaleb Ngamanu play up an age group in the U15 Division One competition after transferring from Southport to the Coomera Cutters. In the U15 Division One competition, Kaleb Ngamanu played in eight matches scoring 28 points in total from three tries and eight goals, with the tries coming against Southport, Helensvale and Nerang. In the match that he scored against his former club Southport, Kaleb Ngamanu also kicked six goals for a sixteen point haul on the night.

Kaleb Ngamanu also played one match for Coomera in the U14 Division Two competition (his regular age group) which was against the Robina Raptors, he then backed up to play for his “regular” U15 Division One side later that Friday night.

2017 also saw Kaleb Ngamanu represent the Gold Coast Vikings at the U14 level and from there going on to make the South East Queensland Green U14 side for the Queensland Age Championships that were held in Toowoomba on July last year. In those Championships, Kaleb Ngamanu scored on each of the first four days, in order against Central, Northern South East Queensland White and Central again.

In 2017 Kaleb Ngamanu played for TSS in the GPS U14A competition, starting all eight of TSS’s matches at outside centre except for Round Nine when he started at fullback against Nudgee College. In those eight matches he scored six tries and was awarded the best back award on three occasions, being against Brisbane State High School in Round One, against Ipswich Grammar School in Round Three and against Gregory Terrace in Round Five.

Kaleb Ngamanu scored a Round Six double against Brisbane Grammar School and also scored against Ipswich Grammar School in Round Three, against Brisbane Boys College in Round Four, against Gregory Terrace in Round Five and against Nudgee College in Round Nine.

Kaleb Ngamanu also scored against Downlands College in a “trial” match when TSS had a GPS Round Seven bye.

Kaleb Ngamanu played the 2016 season for the Southport Tigers at the U14 level splitting time between the U14 Division One and Division Two competitions even though he was still eligible to play in the U13 competition.

Kaleb Ngamanu started off his rugby league journey on the Gold Coast with a bang by making the 2016 U13 Vikings squad after impressing in the trials held in the weekend of 16-17 April 2016 where he played the majority of the trials in the centres after playing almost exclusively at five eight in the Western Australian junior rugby league competition.

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Great to see Geordie Brand named on the bench for the Tweed Heads Colts side for their Round One match on Sunday against the Northern Pride.

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Jordan Lewis has been named to start Round One of the 2020 MM Cup competition on the bench for the Tweed Heads Seagulls against the Northern Pride on Sunday.

The talented Ormeau Shearers youngster has moved around a bit from a position perspective over the last couple of seasons including representing the Gold Coast Vikings at the U13 level in the back row, in 2017 at half and the last two seasons at five eight.

Jordan Lewis played the 2019 season for Ormeau Shearers in the GCRL U16 Division One competition playing in fifteen matches including starting the Grand Final at five eight and kicking the winning penalty goal in Golden Point as Ormeau defeated Coomera 22 – 20.

In total in his fifteen matches, including finals, Jordan Lewis scored 98 points from five tries and 39 goals. His five tries came in separate matches against Currumbin and Coomera, twice and also against Helensvale.

With the boot this season Jordan Lewis kicked eight goals in Round Three against Southport and five on two occasions being against Currumbin and Burleigh.

In the 2018 Gold Coast Rugby League U15 Division One competition for Ormeau, Jordan Lewis finished as both the competitions leading goal kicker with 40 goals and point’s scorer with 116 points.

Over the course of the 2018 Jordan Lewis scored nine tries including doubles against Mudgeeraba and Runaway Bay and also scored in matches against Helensvale, Southport, Coomera and Runaway Bay twice.

With the boot Jordan Lewis kicked six goals in a match on three occasions being against Mudgeeraba (he also scored two tries to finish the match with twenty points), Southport and Coomera.

Jordan Lewis started at five eight in Week One of the U15 Division One Finals series scoring a try and kicking two goals and Ormeau defeated Runaway Bay 28 – 12.

In Week Two of the Finals Jordan Lewis also started at five eight as Ormeau qualified for the Grand Final with a 44 – 6 victory over Coomera with Jordan Lewis contributing a try and six goals.

In the U15 Division One Grand Final Jordan Lewis, once again started at five eight as Ormeau finished a great season by defeating Runaway Bay 38 – 20 in the decider with Jordan Lewis once again at the forefront contributing a try and five goals.

In 2017 the young man had an outstanding season finishing with 117 points from ten tries, thirty eight goals and a field goal in the GCJRL U14 Division One competition including starting at half back, scoring a try, kicking three conversions and a field goal in the U14 Division One Grand Final against victory over Burleigh.

From a try scoring perspective, Jordan Lewis scored four tries in a match in early June kicking five goals in that match to finish with 26 points as well and in May against Runaway Bay in May he scored a hat trick and kicked seven goals for 26 points as well. Jordan Lewis also kicked seven conversions in a victory over Nerang in Round One of the competition and five goals against Runaway Bay in the Preliminary Final.

In 2017 Jordan Lewis represented the U14 Gold Coast Vikings side where he was selected at hooker and from there he was selected in the South East Queensland U14 White side for the Queensland Age Championships which were held in Toowoomba in July 2017.

In 2016 Jordan Lewis primarily came off the interchange bench for the U13 Vikings side including scoring on Day Two in a 58 – 6 victory over the Ipswich Diggers a match in which Titans linked front rower Brody Smitka was outstanding. After those Championships which were held at Carina Jordan Lewis was selected to represent South East Queensland Green at the Queensland Age Championships

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Former Lower Clarence Magpies junior Michael White has been named on an extended bench for the Tweed Heads Seagulls Hastings Deering’s Colts side in their 2020 Round One match against the Northern Pride on Sunday.

Prior to his move up to Tweed Heads Michael White was a stand out in his two seasons in the U18 NRRRL competition with the Magpies playing primarily in the halves in Lower Clarence Black and White.

Michael White is also Colts eligible in 2021

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Oliver Singh is set to start at five eight in Round One of the 2020 Hastings Deering’s Colts competition for the Tweed Heads Seagulls against the Northern Pride on Sunday.

In 2019 Oliver Singh played for the Tweed Coast Raiders in the NRRRL competition making his NRRRL First Grade debut early in the 2019 season playing primarily at half back and for portions of the season was the Raiders primary goal kicker. Oliver Singh was also the mid-season hero for Tweed Coast when he kicked the game winning field goal as they defeated the Kyogle Turkeys 19 – 18 in a nail biting finish.

In 2018 Oliver Singh was part of the Tweed Heads Seagulls MM Cup squad playing in the opening three rounds, starting from the in Rounds One and two against Sunshine Coast and Redcliffe Dolphins respectively. In his third and final match of the 2018 MM Cup season, Oliver Sign stated at five eight against the Tweed Heads Seagulls.

2018 also saw Oliver Singh play two matches in the GCRL U19 competition, debuting against Helensvale in July when he scored a try and kicked two goals, he also played against Bilambil in August.

In the 2017 GCRL U17 Division One competition the half or fullback played in eleven matches scoring 76 points from four tires and 30 goals. Three of those goals were kicked in the GCRL U17 Division One Grand Final that Currumbin won 30-10 against Runaway Bay with Oliver Singh starting at fullback.

All four of Oliver Singh’s tries came in separate matches against Mudgeeraba, Tweed Heads twice and Burleigh in a semi-final. With the boot Oliver Singh had a big match in June against Tweed Heads kicking seven conversions to go along with a try.

In 2017 Oliver Singh played for the Currumbin eagles in their U16 Division One semi-final victory over Burleigh 24 – 22 last Friday night. A team mate in that Friday night’s semi-final win was Titans High Performance Unit member Noah Gafa.

Over the course of the 2017 season with the Currumbin Eagles in the GCJRL U16 Division One competition, Oliver Singh has played in eleven matches including Friday night’s semi-final, scoring two tries and kicking three goals. Oliver Singh’s first try came in Round One against Southport and his second try came in the last round before the finals against Helensvale.

Early in 2017 Oliver Singh was part of the Gold Coast Vikings White U16 side that took part in the South East Queensland U16 pre-season competition and also played half back for Marymount College when they played in the QISRL Confraternity Shield competition in Cairns in July.

Oliver Singh was also part of the Marymount College Open rugby league side that season including their heart breaking GIO Cup loss to Redbank Plains State High School in the last minute. A win in that match would have seen Marymount College progress to the Queensland GIO Cup quarter-finals.

In 2016 Oliver Singh was named the Gold Coast Academy of Sport Future Stars Athlete of the Year.

The former PBC and Marymount College Burleigh Heads student represented the U14 Titans development squad in late 2015 in their victory against Samoa and also in 2014 against the same opposition. Oliver Sign was a member of 2015 Gold Coast junior rugby league academy. He also received the Rugby League Encouragement of the year award at the Gold Coast Academy of Sport awards night for 2015.

Oliver Singh started at five eight for the Titans U14 side in their game against Samoa, and made a good fist of the position. In attack, regardless of the position he is playing, he is quick and strong and has good footwork to beat opposition defenders and then has decent speed, but he is not a burner from a speed perspective.

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Powerful young front rower and former Queensland U16 representative Stepharn Holo was part of the Sydney Roosters junior set-up for a number of season but will line-up for the Tweed Heads Seagulls U20 Hastings Deering’s Colts side in 2020, starting Round One in the second row against the Northern Pride.

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 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 at the U18 QSSRL Championships as a 16 year old and in 2019 was part of the Queensland U18 Emerging Origin Squad.

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Vinncent Takataka will start in the second row in Round One of the 2020 Hastings Deering’s Colts competition for the Tweed Heads Seagulls against the Northern Pride on Sunday.

Vinncent Takatake came into the 2019 Tweed Heads Seagulls U20 Hastings Deering’s Colts side for their Round Two match against the Townsville Blackhawks starting from the bench and maintained his place in the local derby against the Burleigh Bears starting at lock and scoring his sole try of the season.

In total in the 2019 Hastings Deering’s Colts competition Vinncent Takatake played in thirteen matches including their Elimination Final loss to Mackay. Vinncent Takatake started six matches in 2019, four at lock and two in the second row with his first match in the second row coming in Round Nineteen against the Mackay Cutters.

Vinncent Takatake made his Gold Coast Rugby League Doug Lipp Cup debut from the bench in Round Twelve against Currumbin.

Vinncent Takataka also played three GCRL U20 matches for Runaway Bay in 2019 with his total of two points coming when he kicked a conversion against Southport in May.

Vinncent Takataka represented South’s Logan in the 2018 MM Cup competition starting a number of the Magpies matches including their MM Cup Grand Final against North’s and their National Final against Penrith. Earlier in 2018 the former Canterbury Bankstown junior represented South Coast at the U18 QSSRL Championships in Toowoomba where South Coast was defeated by Met East in the Championship final.

In the 2018 MM Cup competition for South’s Logan as noted Vinncent Takataka played in four South’s Logan’s matches. Vinncent Takataka broke into the South’s Logan MM side in Round Three against North’s from the inter change bench and also played off the bench in Round Four against Burleigh. Vinncent Takataka started Round Five against Wynnum Manly in the front row and started the MM Cup Grand Final and U18 National Final in the second row, scoring in the National Final against the Penrith Panthers.

Post those feats, Vinncent Takataka made his debut in the Gold Coast Rugby League U19 competition when he started in the second row for Runaway Bay in Round Eight in their 32-24 win over the Ormeau Shearers. In Round Nine Vinncent Takataka started in the second row once against and scored a double as his Runaway Bay side defeated Beaudesert 32 – 20.

In total in the Gold Coast Rugby League U19 competition in 2018, Vinncent Takataka played in six matches and in addition to the previously mentioned double against Beaudesert also scored against Burleigh and Helensvale in consecutive matches in August 2018.

Vinncent Takataka, prior to his move to Queensland was part of the Canterbury Bulldogs Junior Development set-up for a numbers of years, joining the Bulldogs in their U15 Development Squad in 2015 and progressing to playing for the Bulldogs U16 Harrold Matthews Cup side in 2016. Vinncent’s Takataka’s junior rugby league club in Sydney was the Bankstown Sports Club where he started his rugby league journey in the U12’s

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Ezra Ubaldino is a local young Titans contracted centre or second rower who has named on the extended bench for Burleigh in Round One of the 2020 MM Cup competition against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls on Sunday at Piggabeen.

Ezra Ubaldino’s most recent match for the Titans was when he started in the second row for the Titans U16 squad in their early October 2019 match against PNG at Pizzey Park.

In the early 2019 match against the Newcastle Knights in Coffs Harbour for the Titans U16 side Ezra Ubaldino started at left centre and was his usual hard running hard tackling aggressive self. Ezra Ubaldino did not necessarily have too many opportunities with the ball but did make a good run in the second half.

Ezra Ubaldino got the ball early and was able to get outside his direct opponent who looked to tackle him high. Ezra Ubaldino was able to fend him away as he made about thirty metres down the left touch line.

In March of 2018 Ezra Ubaldino started in the second row for a Titans U15 side that defeated a U15 Western Mustangs selection six tries to three, in that match, Ezra Ubaldino was the Titans best in my opinion that day and also scored a strong second half try.

Ezra Ubaldino started Round One of the 2019 GCRL U16 Division One competition in the centres for Burleigh in their match against Coomera.

Ezra Ubaldino played a total in six regular season matches for Burleigh in the GCRL U16 Division One competition splitting time between the centre and second row scoring four tries including scoring in Round Nine against Currumbin, Round Thirteen against Southport and Round Fourteen against Mudgeeraba.

In the Round Twelve match against Southport, Ezra Ubaldino kicked his first goal of the season and in fact for a number of seasons I believe.

In Week One of the U16 Division One Finals series Ezra Ubaldino started in the centres and scored as Burleigh defeated Helensvale 42 – 20. Ezra Ubaldino also started in the centres in Round Two of the Finals against Coomera.

Ezra Ubaldino made his GCRL U18 Division One debut in Round Ten starting from the bench against Southport.

Ezra Ubaldino made his GCRL U18 Division Two debut in Round Ten starting at lock against the Robina Raptors.

Late in 2018 Ezra Ubaldino was named in the Gold Coast Vikings U16 Training Squad for the 2019 U16 South East Queensland Challenge.

In Match Day One of that competition earlier this season Ezra Ubaldino scored for Gold Coast Vikings U16 White as they defeated Brisbane Green 32 – 10 and also scored on match Day Three.

In the 2018 U16 Division One competition, Ezra Ubaldino played in five matches including the finals scoring four tries. Ezra Ubaldino’s two regular season tries came against Southport and Helensvale.

In week two of the U16 Division One finals series Ezra Ubaldino started in the second row and scored for Burleigh as they overcame a resilient Helensvale side 24 – 18.

In Week Three of the U16 Division One finals series Ezra Ubaldino started in the second row and scored as Burleigh went down 28 – 26 to Currumbin in the Preliminary Final.

In 2018 the PBC student represented South Coast at the U15 ASSRL Championships and from there was selected in the Queensland White side for the ASSRL Championships. In those Championships Ezra Ubaldino played in three matches and achieved a 100% try scoring strike rate after scoring a double against the ACT on Day One and also scoring against the ACT on the final day of the Championships.

In 2017 at the start of this season Ezra Ubaldino transferred from the Currumbin Eagles to the Burleigh Bears where he played in the U15 Division GCJRL competition even though the PBC student was still eligible for the U14 age group. Ezra Ubaldino was part of the Titans U15 side that played a Balmain Tigers selection late in 2017 with the young man being outstanding in that match.

Ezra Ubaldino played nine matches for Burleigh in the GCJRL U15 Division One competition including their semi-final campaign scoring three tries in the process. Ezra Ubaldino scored a double against the Southport Tigers and late in the season also scored against the Coomera Cutters. Ezra Ubaldino also played one match for Burleigh in the U15 Division Two competition against the Ormeau Shearers in May 2017.

2016 saw Ezra Ubaldino represent the Gold Coast Vikings at the U13 level where they went through the Hill Stumer Championships undefeated and from there Ezra Ubaldino was selected in the South East Queensland White side for the Queensland Age Championships. For the Vikings in 2016 Ezra Ubaldino was selected in the centres but for South East Queensland White he was selected in the second row.

At the 2016 Hill Stumer Championships held at Carina, Ezra Ubaldino played in all three of the U13 Vikings matches including scoring a great hat trick in the Sunday game against Ipswich including two long range efforts in a 58 – 6 victory for the Gold Coast youngsters.

In 2014, Ezra Ubaldino represented South Coast in the QPSRL U11 competition, a competition that South Coast dominated and went on to win, scoring 132 and conceding only 12 across the five matches. In those championships, Ezra Ubaldino scored three tries, one each against Capricornia, Sunshine Coast and Met West. Runaway Bay centre Connor Te Kani and Ormeau five eight Syris Schmidt were also part of that South Coast side and all three have continued to take positive steps with their development and look to have a lot of potential to work with moving forward.

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Jaylan To’O will start Round One of the 2020 Hastings Deering’s Colts competition for the Tweed Heads Seagulls at fullback against the Northern Pride this Sunday.

The outstanding Titans contracted youngster’s first official hit out of the 2020 season came when he started from the bench for the Seagulls in their Queensland Cup trial win over the Souths Logan Magpies at Tugun in mid-February.

Jaylan To’O also started from the bench for the Tweed Heads A Grade side in their late February 2020 trial against the Burleigh Bears.

Jaylon To’O missed the opening two rounds of the 2019 Hastings Deering’s Colts competition, but started Round Three for Tweed Heads against the Burleigh Bears at fullback and maintained his place in the starting line-up at fullback for Round Four against the Central Queensland Capra’s.

Jaylon To’O had a particularly impressive match in Round Eleven from fullback against the Northern Pride recording two try assists. Mid-way through the first half, Jaylon To’O got to dummy half around a metre out from the Northern Pride line, he took two quick steps to his right a popped a great short ball to fellow Titan Blake Campbell to crash over.

Jaylon To’O’s second try assist of the match came right on full time when he threw a great long cut out ball this time to his left right onto the chest of Callum Boomer who burst through the gap to score in the last minute of the match.

Jaylon To’O also scored in Round Nineteen against the Mackay Cutters from the fullback position. After a strong run from fellow Titans Blake Campbell, Jaylon To’O got into dummy half around nine metres out in from of the goal posts.

Taking advantage of a quick play the ball, Jaylon To’O took off out of dummy half to his left running at an approximate 45 degree running with the ball in two hands (I know that carry on about that but it really does put the defence in two minds) he took advantage of a dis organised and back peddling defensive lien to charge over to score mid-way between the left goal post and the touch line.

Jaylon To’O added a further try in Round Twenty Two against Souths Logan from the fullback position and also scored from fullback in Round Twenty Three against the Northern Pride.

In relation to his try against the Northern Pride Jaylon To’O received the ball and ran to the right of the play the ball dummying to his right around seven metres out from the line. After contact with the defence, Jaylon To’O spun around 360 degrees clockwise maintaining his balance whilst doing so putting the ball down about seven metres from the left corner post.

Jaylon To’O also had a try assist in the match, once again on the left side of the field Jaylon To’O drew in the defence before putting a pass to his left on the chest of debutant Caleb Hodges who crashed over around five metres from the left corner post.

Jaylon To’O moved to right centre for Tweed Heads Week One Elimination Final loss to the Mackay Cutters 23 – 10 but was one of two Tweed Heads try scorers in the match. Five eight Toby Sexton took the ball down a short blind side and popped a short ball to Jaylon To’O who cruised through a gap and scored from forty metres out untouched.

In total in the 2019 Hastings Deering’s Colts competition Jaylon To’O played in nineteen matches. Including Tweed Heads Elimination Final scoring six tries. Jaylon To’O started all bar one of his 2019 Hastings Deering’s Colts matches at fullback bar Round Ten against the Easts Tigers when he started at five eight.

In the 2019 Hastings Deering’s Colts Player of the Year Award tally Jaylon To’O finished with a solid nine votes.

Jaylon To’O made his Gold Coast rugby League first grade debut in Round Thirteen when he started at half for Runaway Bay against Bilambil and also started at half in Round Fifteen against Ormeau.

Jaylon To’O moved to the wing for his second GCRL First Grade match in Round Sixteen against the Burleigh Bears where he was up against fellow Titan Will Evans.

Jaylan To’O also spent some time in the GCRL U20 competition for Runaway Bay in 2019 including starting at left centre and scoring in Round Seventeen against Helensvale. Jaylon To’O had backed up a break down the left touchline line and was on hand to receive the ball inside to run thirty five metres to score untouched.

Jaylon To’O was one of three Titans U18 try scorers as they overcame a determined New South Wales Country U18 side 14 – 12 in Cudgen in wet conditions in early October 2018. In the match Jaylan To’O also converted one of the Titans tries to account for six of the Titans fourteen points.

Starting in the centres for the Titans U18 side Jaylan To’O had a solid match with his try coming in the second half from a powerful run out of dummy half. With the Titans attacking the line, Jaylan To’O moved into dummy half with the Titans on the attack about two metres from the New South Wales Country line, picking up the ball up and ran to his left barging over taking two NSW Country defenders with him.

Jaylon To’O started the 2018 season as part of the Tweed Heads Seagulls MM Cup squad playing in all seven of Tweed Heads matches including their Week One Final against South’s Logan.

Jaylan To’O started all seven matches from the interchange bench including Round Seven when he was named to start at hooker against Easts but reverted to the bench for the start of the match.

Post the 2018 MM Cup competition, Jaylan To’O played for Runaway Bay in the Gold Coast Rugby League U19 competition playing a variety of positions including fullback and five eight.

In the U19 competition in 2018 Jaylan To’O played in twelve matches finishing with a 50% strike rate. Jaylan To’O scored an early season double against Ormeau and scored a double later in the season against Currumbin. Jaylan To’O’s other 2018 U19 tries came in matches against Ormeau and Burleigh.

In 2018 Jaylan To’O also played in four GCRL Doug Lipp Cup matches, making his debut in June against Tugun. In just his second Doug Lipp Cup match Jaylan To’O scored against Ormeau (he clearly enjoyed playing against Ormeau).

For Runaway Bay in the 2017 U17 Division One competition Jaylan To’O scored a total of 74 points from six tries and twenty-five goals. Jaylan To’O scored a double in Round One against Ormeau and finished the season scoring in each of the last three rounds which were against Ormeau, Mudgeeraba and Helensvale.

With the boot on four occasions did Jaylan To’O kick four goals in a match which were against Bilambil, Ormeau twice and Mudgeeraba. Jaylan To’O made his U19 debut in July against Mudgeeraba and went on to play five matches in total in the Gold Coast U19 competition.

Jaylan To’O also played five matches in the U19 competition in 2017.

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Titans contracted Brock Priestley starts the 2020 season as part of the Tweed Heads Seagulls MM Cup squad, being named on the bench for Round One against the Northern Pride on Sunday.

The former Northern Territory junior converted his outstanding performances since his move to the Gold Coast mid-way through the 2017 season into an opportunity with the Titans U15 Development squad and was part of the side that played against a Balmain Tigers U15 touring side in 2018 with the Titans winning 16 - 10.

As a result of his performances Brock Priestley late in 2018 signed a Titans contract to join an outstanding crop of 2019 U16 players who are contracted to the Titans.

In January of 2019 Brock Priestley started from the interchange bench for the Titans U16 side in their match against the Newcastle Knights U16 Harold Matthews squad and once on the field showcased his ability with an outstanding display especially defensively.

On at least three occasions that I recall, Brock Priestley flew out of marker and got to the Newcastle ball runner prior to them making any ground at all. I am not sure whether I was just not paying attention or not but on each of the occasions that I have noted above, Brock Priestley exploded out of the marker position to his right.

The first involvement that Brock Priestley had in the game was also a moment to remember, Brock Priestley had come on after the Knights had scored their first try and on the subsequent kick return, Brock Priestley and Nicholas Hilton lined up the Knights forward returning the kick-off and hit him front on in an outstanding tackle.

Running with the ball in the match, Brock Priestley showcased some neat and subtle footwork prior to impacting the Newcastle defensive line and on more than one occasion looked to target the area behind the Knights play the ball either by stepping back towards the ruck or by running an inside shoulder route.

On each of the occasions that he used this tactic Brock Priestley made ground and was also in a position for a quick play the ball because by using his footwork and targeting sparely populated areas of the Knights defence he was not gang tackled and thus was able to generate the quick play the ball.

Brock Priestley’s most recent match for the Titans was when he started at right second row for the Titans U16 squad in their early October 2019 match against PNG at Pizzey Park.

Brock Priestley started Round One of the 2019 GCRL U16 Division One competition in the second row for Ormeau against Currumbin.

In total in the GCRL U16 Division One competition for Ormeau Brock Priestley played in nine regular season matches including a big Round Nine match when he started at lock and scored two tries and kicked a conversion against Helensvale.

Brock Priestley also scored against Helensvale in Round Thirteen and in Round Fourteen against Coomera.

In Week two of the U16 Division One Finals series, Brock Priestley started at lock against Currumbin as Ormeau progressed directly to the Grand Final with a solid win.

In the GCRL U16 Division One Grand Final against Coomera, Brock Priestley started at lock had was having a very good game until injury struck late in the match. His Ormeau side went on to win the U16 Division One Grand Final in golden point 22 -20.

This season also saw Brock Priestley play for the Somerset College First XV in the Associated Private Schools competition, being a group of eight schools across the Gold Coast including starting in the Grand Final against All Saints Anglican School. For the first time in the competitions history the Grand Final ended in a 17 all draw with Brock Priestley prominent in attack especially in the second half.

Post the season Brock Priestley was named the Somerset College First XV Best Forward and was also named the 2020 Rugby Captain.

Brock Priestley was named in the 2019 South East Queensland Green U16 side for the Queensland Age Championships starting in the second row for the representative side scoring a first half double on Day Three against South East Queensland White. Post those Championships Brock Priestley was selected in the second row in the Queensland Country U16 side.

Brock Priestley had an outstanding match for Country as they defeated City 44 – 4 with Brock Priestley playing fifty five minutes at right second row. In his fifty five minutes on the field, Brock Priestley ran for 121 metres (thirty four post contact), had a line break early in the second half and made five tackles, one of which was an outstanding tackle early in the first half when he used a perfect technique to smash fellow Titan Brody Smitka just as he received the ball.

For Ormeau in the U15 Division One competition in 2018, including finals matches, Brock Priestley played in twelve matches scoring six tries for a solid 50% strike rate.

In Week One of the U15 Division One of the Finals Brock Priestley started in the centres and scored as Ormeau defeated Runaway Bay 28 – 12. Brock Priestly backed that up in Week Two starting in the centres and scoring once again as the Shearers qualified for the Grand Final with a 44 – 6 win over Coomera.

In addition to his three finals tries (from three finals matches), Brock Priestly scored three U15 Division One regular season tries including a double against Robina and a late June try against Southport.

To cap off an outstanding 2018 season Brock Priestley was named in the Gold Coast Vikings U16 Training Squad of the 2019 U16 South East Queensland Challenge and as a result of his play in that competition Brock Priestley was named in the South East Queensland U16 train on squad.

In addition to playing rugby league for Ormeau in 2018 Brock Priestley also played club rugby on the Gold Coast for the Griffith University Colleges U15 side who won the Grand Final which ended in a 47 – 19 victory over the Helensvale Hogs in a match that was curtain raiser to the Wallabies v Argentina test at Cbus stadium. Brock Priestley started the match at lock.

In total for the Griffith University Colleges U15 side Brock Priestley played in eight matches including the Grand Final starting five and coming off the bench in the remaining three.

Brock Priestley’s first match with the Griffith University Colleges U15 side was in Round Eleven when he started at lock against Wollongbar/Alstonville with his first match from the interchange bench being in Round Fourteen against the Gold Coast Eagles.

Brock Priestley scored two tries for the Griffith University Colleges side, the first coming in Round Fourteen against the Gold Coast Eagles with his second try coming in their semi-final victory over the Helensvale Hogs.

Brock Priestley played his first rugby league game in the Gold Coast in late June 2017 after his move down from the Northern Territory. Brock Priestley played one U14 Division Three match in 2017 for Ormeau scoring a try and kicking two goals against Mudgeeraba.

Brock Priestley in 2017 also played in six U14 Division One matches and scored his first try in that age group actually in the Grand Final when he started a lock as Ormeau overcame Burleigh 31 – 16.

The former Northern Territory youngster moved down to the Gold Coast midway through the 2017 season playing the 2018 season in the GCRL U15 Division One competition for the Ormeau Shearers and enjoyed success straight off the bat, starting the U15 Division One Grand Final in the centres and scoring as the Shearers defeated Runaway Bay 38 – 20 to make it two from two Grand Finals since his arrival on the Gold Coast.

In 2017 prior to his Gold Coast move, Brock Priestley played for the Litchfield Rugby League club in the Harvey Norman U14 competition in Darwin, playing in seven matches and scoring eight tries and kicking nine goals to finish his abridged 2017 season with 50 points, scoring in each of his matches.

Brock Priestley scored doubles against the Palmerston Raiders and the Nightcliff Dragons and also scored against South Darwin in two matches, Darwin Brothers and Litchfield Red.

Brock Priestley in 2017 impressively also played in four U16 matches and scored in just his second match against the Nightcliff Dragons after making his U16 debut a fortnight earlier against the Northern Sharks.

Brock Priestley also played some representative rugby league in the Northern Territory including in 2017 representing the Northern Territory in the U14 Norther Queensland Junior Championships.

Brock Priestley played for the Good Shepherd Lutheran College including being named their Most Valuable Player in the final of the 2015 Palmerston with Good Shephard defeating Bakewell 28 – 12 in the final.