Junior Development

[mdrew]

Elijah Rasiga – He is a second rower who is from the Armidale area and also represented Greater Northern Tigers at the U16 level in the NSW CRL Country Championships earlier this year. He will be in line to represent Group 4 and the Greater Northern Tigers at the U18 level in 2016. He has attended a number of Titans junior development camps and impresses as a big strong backrower, who can also play some centre, even though I think that second row will be his long term position. He is an aggressive defender and can tackle effectively one on one and has some foot work before the line in attack. The only slight negative is that he is usually one of the best players in any side he plays in and thus sometimes takes on too much responsibility thus trying to do too much himself, something that he will be able to adjust to as he makes further representative sides etc. He is likely stay in Armidale for the next couple of years hopefully developing to the point of coming to the Gold Coast to play NYC (if it still exists). From a player comparison perspective, think of Alex Glenn of the Broncos as a backrower with size, speed and strength who would just as happily run over a defender as around them.

The Armidale region is becoming a good development ground with the two Quinlan boys and fullback Corey Alexander hailing from there as well.

[mdrew]

Joseph (Joe) Lole – He is an incredibly fast talented fullback who plays fullback for the Forest Lake Magpies U16 side, who are a junior club in the South West of Brisbane which is in the South’s Logan catchment. He did not play in the CC competition this year but represented South East Queensland U16 championships. He is amazing quick, I mean James Roberts quick! He is the quickest junior player I have ever seen. He however does come up into the line in attack and can also play like a five eight, thus has the skills to be a long term fullback in the modern game who can get the ball sweeping the back of the half/five eight and create over laps. He is incredibly dangerous returning kicks due to his speed and elusiveness and on occasion flat out charges at the defensive line ala a young Karmichael Hunt. He is a solid defender at the back, but his calling card is his speed and elusiveness. Interesting to see whether he can progress to MM next year. I would love to see him in a race with Titan junior Caleb Williams. From a style perspective James Roberts would be a good comparison.

[mdrew]

Blake Lenehan - He is a forward from the West End club in Ipswich who played MM for them this season before graduating to QCup Colts over the last month or so where he has certainly held his own against much older players. He won the Coach’s award for MM this year. He played the entire MM competition in the front row and also plays in the front row in QCup colts abut in the long term projects as a backrower as he is around 187cm and weighs around the 100kg mark. He is a no nonsense type of player who will do a lot of the heavy work in the middle, both in attack and defence. It will be interesting to see where he plays next year, as he is still eligible for MM, but should push for an NYC spot, hopefully. From a player comparison perspective think Tohu Harris of the Melbourne Storm.

[mdrew]

AJ Kepaoa – Is a big powerful centre who has signed recently from Auckland recently, he plays for the Ellerslie-Pakuranga club in Auckland and also plays in the second XV for his school rugby side at outside centre, not bad at all considering his age. Even though he is still eligible for U15’s he recently represented the Auckland Vulcans U16 side in their match against the touring CRL NSW U16 side, which his side won 16 - 12. He also is in the U15 Akarana Performance squad preparing for the up coming NZ age championships. He is a big young man at around 184cm and 88kg and uses that size to run straight and hard, typically running over rather than around his opposition, he does however have a good in and away when he uses it. He is very aggressive in defense and needs to ensure that it is controlled aggression moving forward. In the long term he has a good chance to stay in the centres due to his speed and probably just needs to work on his timing in defense when he looks to come out of the defensive line. Even though he has come over to the Gold Coast as part of our High Performance Junior Development squad, he is likely to stay in NZ for a few years, continuing to play club rugby league and school rugby. Considering that for most of his recent football has been against older players, both in league and union, he has been very durable and playing against older opposition can only enhance his development curve. From a style perspective think Steve Matai of Manly as a reasonable comparison for style purposes.

[mdrew]

Kelepi Faukafa - Is a second rower who has recently signed from the Ipswich area. He played well this year for the Ipswich MM side and is obviously looking to progress to the NYC ranks next year. Since the conclusion of the MM season he has graduated to playing 1st grade in the local Ipswich competition. The Ipswich first grade competition is actually a pretty fair standard and is not for the faint hearted with a lot of big men hitting very hard, thus he is getting a good grounding in playing against men. I have only seen one game of his in 1st grade but he certainly did not look out of place in that contest. I would classify him as a wide running second rower with a solid low tackling technique who seems to have the ability to run into the right holes. He also has some aggression about his game, something that he still displayed against men. From a player comparison perspective think of maybe Mau Mau of Parramatta as a powerful backrower.

[lonegull]

Many thanks once again Mdrew for an insight of some of the juniors coming up in the Titans ranks

[mdrew]

Wipere Takitimu - Is a talented young fullback/centre from the Manawatu region of NZ (HS old stomping ground I believe) who spend the Christmas/New Year period on the Gold Coast training with the Elite Development squad. He has made numerous representative squads both in rugby league and rugby union, including recently being selected in the NZ Maori U15 at centre. In league he is also part of the Mid Central Vipers U15 training squad for the up coming NZ age championships after representing the Manawatu Mustangs. He plays for the powerful Kia Ora club in the region. In union he has represented Manawatu at both the 15 and 7 man versions of the game. He was spotted by the Titans at a joint development camp that the Titans run in conjunction with the Manawatu rugby league. He is a tall athletic fullback/centre with an effortless running style. I have only seen film of him playing but he presently as a gifted athlete with speed and also an understanding of where the gap is going to be. I would suggest that he is likely to stay in NZ for the next few years, and like many young NZ boys continue to play both league and union. Not sure whether his long term future will be at fullback or centre but regardless he looks like an exceptional talent with the world at his feet. Identifying is a little problematic due to the fact that I have not seen him play live but maybe someone like RTS from the roosters and soon Warriors. Again I am only referring to a style comparison that is all.

[mdrew]

Jai Whitbread outstanding in TSS win against BBC in GPS 1st XV this afternoon. Plays centre in rugby but second row in league, real class on and off the field

[mdrew]

In the first two rounds to the GPS rugby Jai Whitbread has already made around ten line breaks very impressive for an inside centre in rugby. projects well for a hard running back rower in league

[RenegadeGC]

In the first two rounds to the GPS rugby Jai Whitbread has already made around ten line breaks very impressive for an inside centre in rugby. projects well for a hard running back rower in league

Still has another year in MM as well. But i think he should be given an opportunity to play 20s next year. Great up and coming player for Titans and possible future captain (is well respected, has great discipline and leads by example.)

[mdrew]

Good to see young Sheaziah Compain on the scoreboard for Tweed colts. he is a young outside back who should be in the running to be part of our NYC squad next year. He was solid in MM earlier this year

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Jerome Veve with his first Qcup colts try for burleigh in their win this afternoon. Also Centre Sam Ross with three goals

[RenegadeGC]

Good to see young Sheaziah Compain on the scoreboard for Tweed colts. he is a young outside back who should be in the running to be part of our NYC squad next year. He was solid in MM earlier this year

- - - Updated - - -

Jerome Veve with his first Qcup colts try for burleigh in their win this afternoon. Also Centre Sam Ross with three goals

Sheaziah has also been running around for Runaway Bay this year. Not sure if he will factor too much into Titans NYC next year, struggled with form in MM this year and wasn't played in the latter end.

Would love to see Jerome get a run in NYC before the season end this year.

[mdrew]

Bostyn Hakaraia – Is a five eight from NZ where he currently attend Mr Albert Grammer School (MAGS) in Auckland. Over the last couple of seasons he has made numerous representative sides including making the NZ U18 high performance squad camp this year. Previously he has represented NZ and NZ Maori at the U16 level and is also part of the Akarana high Performance squad preparing for the up coming NZ age championships. Earlier this year he was over on the Gold Coast training as part of the Titans elite development unit. He is a strongly built five eight with good passing game on both sides with a prodigious kick on him. I am intrigued where his long term future lies as he is a solid five eight with only reasonable speed off the mark. I think that as he moves through the junior age groups, he is still eligible for U18’s in 2016, he may transition to the backrow, on a similar career trajectory to Wade Graham. He is also a goal kicker. He will/should be over on the coast at the end of the year. From a player comparison perspective, I think that he plays like a young Wade Graham.

The Titans are starting to make decent inroads to NZ and not just in the Manawatu region, so well done to the Titans scouting network.

[mdrew]

Kyron Herron – Is a big powerfully built front rower from the Lower Clarence Magpies in the Group One region and is currently playing in their U18 side and is eligible for that same age group again next year. He has previously represented Group One in NSW Country competitions. He runs hard and straight and does not take a backward step even though for most of his junior football he has been playing against older opposition. He can also off load the football both before the line and when he is being tackled, he seems to be one of those players with the innate ability to get his hands free. Whilst this can lead to some mistakes, usually he is very selective about when to pass. In defense, he can certainly hit very hard and for a big boy he has quite decent endurance. Throw into the equation that he can also kick goals and you have a big front rower with diverse skill set. He should be playing U18 football in Group One next year, and may also get an opportunity with the Lower Clarence Magpies first grade side. From a player comparison perspective think Kenny Bromwitch (not Jesse) of the Storm.

[mdrew]

Brenton Daley-Holten – Is a young five eight who is playing U15’s with South Tweed and Tweed River High. Earlier this year he represented Group 18 Under 15’s at the NSW Country U15 age championships. He played a number of games for our junior development squads earlier this year. I believe he is Tyronne Roberts-Davis’s cousin. Whilst it was a difficult championship’s for Group 18, he played well in the three games. For an elusive runner of the football, he still has the ability to set up his outside support and has a solid kicking game. Like all players at the U15 level he should get stronger as he gets older which will assist his defense which is already very good including a good low tackling technique. He is also a sold general play kicker both long and short kicking. Hopefully he gets a chance to play CC next year. From a player comparison perspective a right footed version of Aiden Sezer I believe is reasonable and I think that he has the skill set to stay at five eight in the long term.