Junior Development

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Former Titans Development Squad member and Gold Coast local Damon Somerville is off contract with the Brisbane Broncos at the end of the 2020 season and it would be great to see him back with the Titans sooner rather than later.

Damon Somerville’s first hit out of the 2020 season was when was involved for the Burleigh MM Side in their trial against the Easts Tigers. Damon Somerville was probably Burleigh’s best in the trial where he played in the centres, primarily left centre.

Damon Somerville started Round One of the 2020 MM Cup competition for the Burleigh Bears at left centre against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls with the Bears going down 28 – 16 to Wynnum Manly in what ended up being the one and only MM Cup Round of the 2020 season.

In late 2019 Damon Somerville was named in the 2020 U18 Queensland Emerging Origin Squad highlighting his ability and standing in the game.

Damon Somerville started the 2019 season with Burleigh in the MM Cup competition, playing in all six of their matches, spending time at both centre and second row. Damon Somerville started in the centres in Rounds One and Five against Norths and Souths Logan respectively, starting in the second row in his remaining four fixtures.

Damon Somerville ended the 2019 MM Cup campaign with two tries with those tries coming in Round Two against Ipswich and Round Four against the Townsville Blackhawks.

Damon Somerville also was part of the South Coast U18 QSSRL side but unfortunately was injured in the QSSRL U18 Championships.

Damon Somerville was also part of the Burleigh U18 Division One side this season but only played a limited number of matches as a result of the arm injury suffered playing for South Coast.

Damon Somerville started in the centres in his first U18 Division One match of the 2019 season in Round Ten and scoring against Currumbin. Damon Somerville moved to fullback for Round Eleven against Runaway Bay, scoring as well in that match and made it three from three when he scored in Round Twelves whilst playing in the centres against Helensvale.

Damon Somerville moved to the second row for Round Thirteen against Bilambil but that did not scoring his scoring run scoring for the 4th match in a row.

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

Damon Somerville was outstanding from the right second row position in the Grand Final for Burleigh scoring an outstanding solo try that showcased power running and a strong fend as he beat at least four Southport defenders to score. Burleigh went on to win the Grand Final 28 – 12.

With his finals tries and those in his three U18 Division One regular season rounds, Damon Somerville scored a try in each of his six 2019 matches.

The 2018 Queensland U16 Emerging Origin Squad member was part of the PBC Rugby League Excellence Program and has been a Burleigh Heads Junior his entire career. Damon Somerville’s younger brother Kaden is contracted to the Titans.

Damon Somerville was an ever present for the PBC side in 2018 playing a key role for the PBC Open side that won the National GIO Cup competition. Damon Somerville primarily came off the bench for PBC playing left second row when he came on.

Damon Somerville in 2018 played four matches in the GCRL U16 Division One competition for Burleigh and certainly made an impact on his way to scoring five tries, including a hat trick against Mudgeeraba and tries against Nerang and Currumbin.

Damon Somerville also played one match at the U17 Division One level which was against Mudgeeraba in May 2018. In that match Damon Somerville was one of the Burleigh try scorers.

Damon Somerville first wore a Titans jersey in 2014 when he started at five eight for the Titans U13 Development Squad in a match against a Toowoomba U14 selection and that morning at Pizzey park he cut Toowoomba apart including scoring a try under the posts with a great show and go splitting the Toowoomba defence from about 40 metres out.

Earlier in 2018 Damon Somerville was part of the Gold Coast Vikings side that played in the South East Queensland U16 pre-season competition. In 2017 Damon Somerville was part of the South Coast U15 side that competed in the U15 QSSRL competition, playing four matches in the centres and from there was selected in the U15 Queensland Maroon side for the U15 ASSRL Championships.

For Queensland Maroon, Damon Somerville played in four matches and scored against Queensland White and ACT.

In 2014 Damon Somerville was part of the Queensland Rugby League U12 side. A team mate in that side was Titans contracted and fellow PBC student Ediq Ambrosyev

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Brisbane based half Cooper Hersom was involved in the Titans U15 Academy matches at Burleigh after being part of the Titans Logan based academy and also in 2019 played for Carina in the GBJRL U14 Division One competition finishing second on the goal kicking tally.

In 2019 Cooper Hersom also represented the Brisbane Red U14 side at the Hill Stumner Championships that were held at Ipswich, starting his four matches at half. Cooper Hersom was also Brisbane Red’s first choice goal kicker across the two day competition.

Against the Gold Coast Vikings U14 side at the Hill Stumner Championships Cooper Hersom scored on outstanding try when he split the Vikings defence to score. Cooper Hersom ran to the right of the field at the defensive line with the ball out of the front of his body threatening to pass until the last possible moment, only to pull the ball back into his body and slice through the defence around fifteen metres out and then Cooper Hersom stepped off his right foot to beat the Vikings fullback who was coming across the field, to score mid-way between the right upright and corner post.

Post those Championships Cooper Hersom was selected for the U14 South East Queensland Green side for the 2019 Queensland Age Championships where he played in all four of their matches, including their 26 – 4 Championship Final victory against Northern.

At the Championships Cooper Hersom kicked seven conversions including a conversion in the Championship Final. Cooper Hersom also kicked three goals in Game Two against Northern, two goals in Game Three against South East Queensland White and in Game One kicked a conversion against Central.

The South East Queensland Green side was not the only representative ide that Cooper Hersom made in 2019 as he was also selected in the Met East U15 QSSRL side.

In 2019 Cooper Hersom was a stand out for his Alexandra Hills State High School Boy’s side starting all of their matches at half back alongside Titans contracted duo Zyroam Taurawa-Herlihy and Gary Whare- Herlihy

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Northern New South Wales youngster Lachlan Offley was involved in the Titans U15 Academy matches at Burleigh in early 2020 and post those round robin matches against other Titans academy sides signed a contract with the Titans which will see him part of the Titans JTS program for the next couple of seasons.

In March 2020 the Alstonville High School student travelled to the Kadina High Campus to compete at the Northern Rivers Zone 15 Years Boys Rugby League Trials. Post those trials Lachlan Offley was selected into the Northern Rivers Zone 15 Years Boys Rugby League Team. 2020 also saw Lachlan Offley trial for the Northern Rivers Zone 15 Years Boys Touch Team.

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Easts Tigers (GBJRL) youngster Zyroam Taurawa-Herlihy early this year signed a contract with the Titans for the next couple of season after his outstanding 2019 performances for the Tigers and in representative sides.

Zyroam Taurawa-Herlihy was also involved in the Titans U15 Academy matches at Burleigh and post those round robin matches signed his contract with the Titans which will see him part of the Titans JTS program for the next couple of seasons.

In 2019 Zyroam Taurawa-Herlihy played for the Easts Tigers in the GBJRL U14 Division One competition alongside fellow Titans contracted player Gary Whare- Herlihy. Zyroam Taurawa-Herlihy played fifteen matches for the Tigers scoring fifty six points from twelve tries and kicking four conversions, playing primarily played in the centres.

In 2019 Zyroam Taurawa-Herlihy was also a stand out for his Alexandra Hills State High School Boy’s side starting all of their matches. For Alexandra Hills Zyroam Taurawa-Herlihy operated primarily in the centres and was probably the stand out player in their Year Ten school boy side.

2019 also saw Zyroam Taurawa-Herlihy selected on the wing in the Brisbane Blue side for the U14 South East Queensland Hill Stumner Championships that were held in Ipswich. Post those Championships Zyroam Taurawa-Herlihy was selected in the South East Queensland U14 White side for the Queensland Age Championships.

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Local young outside back Brock Lennox from the Helensvale Hornets early this year signed a contract with the Titans for the next couple of season after his outstanding 2019 performances for the Hornets and in representative sides.

Brock Lennox was also involved in the Titans U15 Academy matches at Burleigh in early 2019 and post those round robin matches signed his contract with the Titans which will see him part of the Titans JTS program for the next couple of seasons.

In 2019 Brock Lennox played for the Helensvale Hornets in the GCJRL U14 Division One competition finishing the season as one of the competitions leading goal kickers and points scorers overall as he has for a number of seasons in yellow and green. It was a similar situation in 2018 in the GCRL U13 Division One competition.

In 2019 Brock Lennox also represented the Gold Coast Vikings U14 side at the Hill Stumner Championships starting at left centre, that were held at Ipswich and post those Championships was named in the South East Queensland White side for the Queensland U14 Age Championships.

For Queensland White at the Championships, Brock Lennox played in all four of their matches primarily at left centre and kicked five goals including two in the Championships third v fourth 16 – 14 play-off win against Central to round out an impressive 2019 representative season for the Titans contracted centre.

Brock Lennox also kicked two goals in Game One against Northern and one in Game Three against South East Queensland Green when he converted the try of fellow Titans contracted player, second rower Philip Hakaraia-Ngamotu.

In 2018 Brock Lennox played for Merrimac High School in the NRL Gold Coast Titans Year 7/8 Challenge and was in fact named player of the competition after a number of outstanding displays for the Gold Coast based school

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Local young outside back Matthew Barrow from the Jimboomba Thunder early this year signed a contract with the Titans for the next couple of season after his outstanding 2019 performances for the Thunder and in representative sides.

Matthew Barrow was also involved in the Titans U15 Academy matches at Burleigh and post those round robin matches signed his contract with the Titans which will see him part of the Titans JTS program for the next couple of seasons.

In 2018 and 2019 Matthew Barrow played for the Jimboomba Thunder in the GCJRL U13 and U14 competitions being the outstanding performer in those sides including a three try and five goal effort in the 2018 U13 major semi-final 36 – 30 victory over Burleigh finishing the match with a twenty two point individual point haul.

In 2019 Matthew Barrow also represented the Gold Coast Vikings U14 side starting on the left wing at the Hill Stumner Championships that were held at Ipswich and post those Championships was named in the South East Queensland Green side for the Queensland U14 Age Championships.

Matthew Barrow’s two tries in the Championship Final both came in the first half and both were scored wide-out in the left corner. Matthew Barrow’s first try which was also the first try of the match came after a good backline movement put Matthew Barrow in space about twenty five metres out. Matthew Barrow’s initial burst of speed took him past the immediate defender but Matthew Barrow had some work to do close to the line when he broke through a would be around the chest tackle by the Northern fullback who came across to try to knock him into touch about two metres out from the try line.

Matthew Barrow scored his second try of the Championship Final and the half after the half time siren had sounded. Matthew Barrow received a long loop pass to his left wing, which he took twenty metres out and outpaced the cover defence to score in the left corner untouched.

Matthew Barrow finished the Championships with a100% strike rate through his four matches which he started on the left wing, including scoring a double in the Championship Final against Northern in South East Queensland’s 26 – 4 victory . Jack Barrow also scored in Game One against Central and Game Two against Northern.

The young centre or winger (more recently) went on a try scoring blitz in 2017 for the entire U12 Division Two competition season amassing twenty three tries including four tries on four separate occasions which came in the opening two rounds against Mudgeeraba and Parkwood as well as against Southport and Currumbin and five tries in a Round Three clash against the Coomera Cutters. In Round Two against Parkwood, Matthew Barrow also converted five of his own tries and had 102 points on the season.

Matthew Barrow also played one Division One U13 match in 2017 scoring against Coomera in his debut match

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Seems like when the Gold Coast rugby league season comes back in July, the Burleigh and Tweed Heads Queensland Cup players will be allocated to local Gold Coast clubs, that will be a great local competition and will also include the Titans fringe players.

The Gold Coast First Grade competition will also have a new club included being the Mudgeeraba Redbacks.

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It also appears that the Northern NSW competitions such as Group Two and NRRRL are aiming to play an eight round regular season followed by finals, with junior competitions in Group One and Group 18 set also for a shorten season.

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One young player who I am sure is keen to get back onto the field is Keebra Park student Jett Bryce.

The Helensvale Hornet had an outstanding 2019 season including being named in the 2019 U13 South East Queensland development squad and in November 2019 was named the Gold Coast Rugby League U13 Representative Player of the Year.

The young second rower has a big future ahead of him.

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Runaway Bay's big strong young front rower Amare Milford's 2019 was outstanding including starting in the front row for the Gold Coast Vikings U13 Representative side and post that he was named in the U13 South East Queensland Development Squad.

Hopefully Amare Milford will be able to get on the field later this year for Runaway Bay in the GCRL U14 Division One competition.

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Speed out of dummy half is a key trait for hookers in the modern game and one young player on the Gold Coast who has that in shapes is Helenvale's Lennix Teika.

In 2019 Lennix Teika started at hooker for the Gold Coast Vikings U13 representative side and post the Hill Stumer Championships was named in the U13 South East Queensland Development Squad.

Lennix Teika played his club rugby league in the Hornets yellow and green in the GCRL U13 Division One competition as well as playing five games up in the U14 Division One competition.

The young man is also a talented touch plyer, representing Queensland in 2018 and 2019.

In 2018 Lennix Teika was part of the Qld U12 side that won the Championship Final 4-3 against Rockhampton with Lennix Teika being name Player of the Final.

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Southport centre Tyrel Laban had an impressive first season on the Gold Coast playing for the Tigers in three divisions.

In the U13 Division One competition, Tyrel Laban scored thirteen tries from just nine matches (144% strike rate), scoring in each one.

He recorded doubles against Runaway Bay, Ormeau, Coomera twice and Currumbin and also scored against Runaway Bay, Currumbin and Burleigh in separate matches.

Tyrel Laban played in two U14 Division One matches in 2019 as well as five U14 Division Two matches.

He made his U14 Division One debut against Burleigh in June and also played against Mudgeeraba in late July.

His U14 Division Two debut came also in June against Burleigh, in fact that weekend Tyrel Laban played in all three grades. His first U14 Division Two try came in his third match in that competition against Burleigh and he also followed that up with a try in his next match against Nerang.

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Burleigh GCRL U13 Division One centre Sam Stephenson had a great 2019 season which saw him finish with 100 points from fifteen matches and finish second on the competitions try scoring list in the regular season.

In only one game in the regular season being against Ormeau did Sam Stephenson not score in 2019, scoring twenty four tries in his other fourteen games for a strike rate of 160%. He also kicked two goals in Round One against Coomera to hit the 100 point on the season mark.

Sam Stephenson recorded four tries in consecutive rounds against Ormeau and Southport as well as scoring a hat trick against Coomera mid-season.

He also scored three doubles coming against Coomera in two matches and Ormeau with tries against Currumbin twice, Nerang, Runaway Bay twice and Ormeau accounting for the remainder of his tries.

In 2018 in the GCRL U12 Division One competition Sam Stephenson recorded a 100% strike rate from fourteen matches.

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Grafton Ghosts flyer Jye Boehme had an outstanding 2019 season in the Group One U14 competition, finishing as the competitions second leading try scorer with 21 tries from eleven matches (191% strike rate) and added six goals to finish the 2019 season with a points tally of 96.

In only one game did Jye Boehme not score but he did score four tries on two occasions being against Lismore Marist Brothers and Kyogle and he added a hat trick mid-season against Clarence Coast (also kicking two goals in that match).

Jye Boehme also scored doubles against Kyogle, South Grafton and Clarence Coast, with his other tries coming in matches against Ballina on two occasions, Casino RSM and South Grafton.

Jye Boehme also played AFL in 2019, being named the U15 Best and Fairest Runner-up and was part of the Grafton side that defeated Sawtell 60 – 12 in the U15 AFL Grand Final.

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Ormeau Shearers U13 Division One fullback Ryan McCann’s 2019 season was an impressive one including scoring twenty seven tries from his fourteen matches which saw him finish as the competition’s leading try scorer and a strike rate of 193%. With a conversion against Runaway Bay, Ryan McCann scored 110 points on the season.

Ryan Mccann’s season included scoring five tries early in the season against Southport and four tries against Currumbin and Southport. He also scored hat tricks in consecutive matches in June against Runaway Bay and Coomera and recorded doubles against Burleigh on two occasions and Currumbin. His other two tries came against Runaway Bay and Burleigh.