Junior Development

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In Round One of the 2021 MM Cup competition on the weekend, Titans contracted Caleb Gould-Waiariki started at hooker against the Souths Logan Magpies and was immediately in the action making the first tackle of the match from the kick-off with Brody Smitka also in on the tackle.

Caleb Gould Waiariki was heavily involved in Burleigh’s opening try of the match when in the 5th minute Joseph Shannon charged onto the ball from around six metres out from the line, cutting to his left immediately prior to receiving the ball from Caleb Gould-Waiariki to take advantage of a big gap. The only defender in the vicinity being the Souths Logan hooker could only hold on for the ride as Joseph Shannon carried him over the try line to get the ball down under the posts at the dressing room end of Pizzey Park.

In the 26th minute of the match Caleb Gould-Waiariki produced what must already be a contender for tackle of the year. Souths Logan Magpies lock Vincent Sefo fly into the ball from close range and looked as if he was going to score under the posts untouched. Caleb Gould-Waiariki however came from the clouds, moving to his right and got hold of Sefo, twisting him clockwise and then as the two players were falling to the ground in the in-goal, Caleb Gould-Waiariki was able to twist under Sefo’s body and keep the ball from getting to the ground. I could use a thousand words to try to describe the tackle but nothing but seeing the tackle can do justice to just how good the tackle was.

in the 53rd minute, Caleb Gould-Waiariki showed that he is always concentrating when after making ten metres and attracting a multitude of Souths Logan Burleigh front rower Joseph Shannon was able to get an off-load away to Caleb Gould-Waiariki who darted another ten metres downfield.

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In Round One of the 2021 MM Cup competition, Titans contracted Jeremaiah Tamepo started on the left wing against the Souths Logan Magpies on Saturday.

In the 25th minute Jeremaiah Tamepo was the catalyst for Delahia Wigmore to score. Jeremaiah Tamepo made a long break down the left touchline which started on the halfway. Jeremaiah Temapo drew the fullback before passing to his left to Delahia Wigmore who ran twenty metres to score.

Jeremaiah Tamepo’s effort in the 29th minute, highlighted his intelligence and positioning on the left wing. Souths Logan were attacking and with the Burleigh fullback on the other side of the field they put in a short grubber kick into the in-goal, Jeremaiah Tamepo identified the threat and positioned himself to be on hand to take possession to prevent the Souths Logan hooker from getting to the ball first.

In the second half the play seemed to be focussed on Burleigh’s right side but credit to jeremaiah Tamepo for going to look for the ball including in the 56th minute when Jeremaiah Tamepo came off his left wing and took a hit-up from a scrum deep in Burleigh’s own territory. Jeremaiah Tamepo took the ball off the back of the scrum making twelve metres down a relatively short right blindside.

Jeremaiah Tamepo’s first hit-out with the 2021 Burleigh Bears MM Cup side came when he started on the left wing in the Bears second trial against the Easts Tigers. In general play the ball did not get out to Jeremaiah Tamepo often but he made a lot of metres bringing the ball out of his own territory. This situation was evidenced in the 60th minute when Jeremaiah Temapo surged twelve metres out of dummy half from inside his own twenty metre line.

Jeremaiah Tamepo also made a great defensive read in the match. In the 45th minute of the match facing an overlap, Jeremaiah Tamepo came off his left wing and crunched the East Tigers right centre just as he received that ball ensuring that there was no opportunity for him to get the ball out to the unmarked Tigers right winger.

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In 2021 Titans contracted EJ Finau is part of the Souths Logan MM Cup squad, starting Round One against the Burleigh Bears in the left second row position last Saturday.

EJ Finau made his first telling contribution in the match with a strong twenty metre charge from a hit-up to the left of the play the ball with the hit-up being the second from a Burleigh goal line drop out to restart play. EJ Finau broke two tackles in the run with more than 50% of his metres being made post contact.

EJ Finau produced another powerful run in the 25th minute, when from a hit-up from a penalty restart, he charged straight at the set Burleigh defensive line and made thirteen metres to get within 30 centremetres of the line through sheer determination and leg drive.

EJ Finau was at his barnstorming best once again late in the first half when he cut in behind the play the ball from a hit-up surging fifteen metres to get Souths Logan to within ten metres of the Burleigh line.

Half time did not halt EJ Finau’s momentum as in the 42nd minute, he once again charged onto the ball bustling his way to a ten metre gain before offloading to his support to keep the ball moving for Souths Logan.

Just five minutes later in the 47th minute another EJ Finau charge resulted in sixteen more metre gained for South Logan down the left by EJ Finau.

In the 52nd minute, EJ Finau took advantage of a good off-load from Sione Fotuaika to gain an additional twenty metres from inside Souths Logan’s own territory.

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After missing Round One of the MM Cup last weekend, it is great to see Titans contracted Arama Hau named at lock for Burleigh in Round Two against the Ipswich Jets.

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It was great to see Northern NSW junior Cooper Many play for the Tweed Heads Seagulls Hastings Deering’s Colts squad in their trial against Burleigh on Saturday.

Cooper Many started from the bench in the trial scoring in the second half of the trial from the left second row position when the ball found him in space and he was able to cross untouched after a ten metre run to put the ball down ten metres in from the left corner post.

With the Lower Clarence Magpies choosing not to play in the 2020 season, Cooper Many moved to the Ballina Seagulls in the NRRRL competition, playing both First Grade and Reserve Grade over the course of the 2020 season.

Cooper Many started in the right second row position for the Ballina NRRRL Reserve Grade side in their 22 – 4 victory over the Bilambil Jets and also started at right second row in Round Two as Ballina went down 26 – 14 to the Marist Brothers Rams and in Round Three in a 28 all draw against Northern United.

With the Ballina NRRRL First Grade side winning by forfeit in Round Nine, Cooper Many started in the front row for the Seagulls Reserve Grade side as they defeated Mullumbimby 38 – 18. Cooper Many also started in the second row in Round Ten against Marist Brothers Lismore.

Cooper Many made his deserved NRRRL First Grade debut off the bench for Ballina in Round Three against Northern United in a big 62 – 10 win for the Seagulls and also in Round Four against the Mullumbimby Giants. Cooper Many was also on the bench for the Round Five NRRRL First Grade match against Marist Brothers Lismore that the Seagulls won 28 – 4.

Round Six of the 2020 NRRRL First Grade competition saw Cooper Many start in the centres as Ballina had a bug 62 – 0 win over Casino RSM. Cooper Many reverted back to the interchange bench for the Seagulls Round Seven 30 – 10 victory over Casino RSM after starting the Reserve Grade fixture between the two teams in the second row.

Cooper Many also started from the bench for the Ballina NRRRL First Grade side in Round Eight as the Seagulls defeated Northern United 52 – 12 after starting in the front row in the earlier Reserve Grade match won by Northern United 20 – 16.

Cooper Many also came off the bench in Round Ten against Marist Brothers Lismore after starting in the second row in the earlier Reserve Grade match scoring in Ballina’s big 54 – 6 victory and also came off the bench in Ballina’s NRRRL First Grade Preliminary Final victory over Casino RSM to qualify for the “Gold” Grand Final.

In the 2020 NRRRL First Grade Gold Grand Final, Cooper Many started from the bench for Ballina as they took on the Marist Brothers Rams.

The Lower Clarence Magpie started the 2019 season as part of the Northern Rivers Titans U18 Laurie Daley Cup squad, his second season in that competition.

Round One saw Cooper Many start in the right centre position for the Northern Rivers Titans in their match against the Newcastle Knights Development Squad.

In Round Two Cooper Many started the match against the Parramatta Eels in the second row and also started in the second row in Round Three against the North Coast Bulldogs and scored a good second half try when he ran a good inside shoulder route from around fifteen metres out to score neat the left upright.

Post the U18 Laurie Daley Cup, Cooper Many transitioned to the NRRRL U18 competition with the Lower Clarence Magpies, his second season in that competition and opened his try scoring account in Round Three scoring a double as the Magpies defeated Kyogle 44 – 0.

Cooper Many had a huge match in Round Fourteen scoring four tries in a big win against Evans Head and also scored a Round Sixteen double against Kyogle.

In total in the NRRRL U18 competition, Cooper Many played in fifteen matches scoring twelve tries to finish as the competitions fifth highest try scorer.

In addition to his Round Three and Round Fourteen tries, Cooper Many also scored a double against Lismore Marist Brothers and Kyogle and also scored against Casino RSM and the Tweed Heads Seagulls.

Cooper Many started the 2018 season as part of the Northern Rivers Laurie Daley Cup U18 side, playing in four matches, starting all in the second row with those matches coming against the Newcastle Knights Development Squad, North Coast, Central Coast Roosters and the Greater Northern Tigers.

From a club perspective in 2018, Cooper Many linked up in the second row for the Lower Clarence Magpies in the U18 NRRRL competition, progressing all the way to the Preliminary Final before falling to the Ballina Seagulls 30 - 14.

Cooper Many played in sixteen U18 NRRRL matches for the Magpies in 2018 including finals and scored eight regular season tries. Each of Cooper Many’s tries came in individual games including games against Lismore Marist Brothers, Ballina, Murwillumbah, Casino RSM, Cudgen and Evans Head.

In 2017 Cooper Many played for the Clarence Coast Magpies in the U16.5 competition and finished as the competitions leading try scorer with ten tries from just twelve matches. Cooper Many scored a hat trick against Ballina and a double against Lismore Marist Brothers.

Cooper Many has previously represented Group One at the U14 and U15 levels in 2015 and 2016 respectively.

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In 2021 Vinncent Takataka is part of the Tweed Heads Seagulls Hastings Deering’s Colts squad once again and started from the bench in their final 2021 trial against the Burleigh Bears last weekend, coming onto the field in the second half to play on the right of the field and made an immediate impact in the 40th minute of the match when after taking the Seagulls line on and making twelve metres was able to off-load a great short ball with defenders all over him to his left to Cameron Campbell to score from two metres out.

Vinncent Takataka really stamped his mark on the second half when he charged onto the ball in the 69th minute from forty metre out from the Burleigh line, bursting through the line with pace and power before veering to the left to round the Burleigh fullback to score next to the left upright.

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Last Saturday Daniel Shannon started in the front row Burleigh in their Hastings Deering’s Colts trial also against the Tweed Heads Seagulls.

To say that Daniel Shannon started the match off like a whirlwind would be an understatement and it all started when he charged onto the ball returning the kick off with a charge that proved that Daniel Shannon does not even consider self-preservation. To add to his impressive opening minute, Daniel Shannon then backed up to take the fifth hit-up in the same set of six, with that hit-up equally as strong as the one from the kick-off.

It was not just running with the ball where Daniel Shannon stood out in the match, his defence was also first rate including a heavy tackle in the 19th minute that forced the ball loose as Tweed Heads were trying to bring the ball out of their own area.

Immediately when he came back onto the field in the second half Daniel Shannon made his presence felt with a strong eleven metre run in the 49th minute and then in the 51st minute Daniel Shannon charged onto the ball from a penalty restart twenty metres out from the line getting to within six metres of the Tweed Heads line before getting a great right arm off-load away to Lachie Adamson six metres out and the hooker was able to dive over after the majority of the Seagulls defenders focussed their attention on Daniel Shannon.

In the 59th minute Daniel Shannon produced yet another big run, this time from the kick-off after team mate Sam McIntyre’s try, and after contact Daniel Shannon was able to off-load to Jacob Hall as Burleigh brought the ball off their own line.

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Dennis Waight started from the bench for Tweed Heads in their final 2021 trial against the Burleigh Bears last Saturday afternoon.

Dennis Waight came into the trial match in the second half at right centre and had his first touch of the ball in the 48th minute when he ran out of dummy half to the right of the play the ball and was able to continue to pump his legs after contact to make sixteen metres.

Dennis Waight ran out of dummy half once again in the 61st minute, this time to his left and once again proved very difficult to pull down in this occasion not being stopped until after Dennis Waight had made thirteen metres.

In the 62nd minute Dennis Waight was able to show that he still knew how to tackle when he came out of the line and literally monster Cameron Brown forcing him back a couple of metres and crunching the Burleigh half into the ground.

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Glenn McGradey started at fullback in the Tweed Heads Seagulls final 2021 Colts trial against the Burleigh Bears last Saturday and highlighted some impressive skills in his time on the field.

Glenn McGradey is just a smart rugby league player and that was on display as early as the 5th minute of the match. After Tony Francis had scored for Burleigh Glenn McGradey had shaped to kick long from the kick-off but as he was moving to the ball, instead put in a short kick to his left as the Burleigh players were backing away thinking that Glenn McGradey was going to kick off long. Tweed Heads front rower Solomon Torrens picked up the short kick just as it crossed the ten metre line.

Just two minutes later, Glenn McGradey showcased his skill set when he set up Tweed Heads opening try of the match. From a scrum win just ten metres out from the Burleigh line, Glenn McGradey received the ball off the back of the scrum on a wide right blindside. Glenn McGradey got on the outside of his direct opponent and forced the Burleigh defender to his right to come out of the line. It was then just a small matter of Glenn McGradey producing a right arm out of the back off-load to put Seagulls centre Nathan Sharp over to score.

Glenn McGradey was at it again in the 17th minute, working once again down a short right blind side. Glenn McGradey was able to work the numbers and once again off-load utilising a right one armed out of the back off-load to put right winger Troy Duckett away down the right touchline.

Glenn McGradey’s exceptional hands were on display in the 31st minute when he moved to his left and forward at full speed to retrieve a hard low stab kick to the right corner by Cameron Brown, Glenn McGradey just made it look so easy.

Glenn McGradey also made a huge thirty metre pass to his left look easy with the ball hitting Burleigh right winger Kalani Skipps on the chest but somehow the pass was called forward, but it was the effortless and accurate pass that stood out.

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Last Saturday Titans contracted Troy Duckett started on the right wing for the Tweed Heads Seagulls Hastings Deering’s Colts squad and started on the right wing in their final 2021 trial against the Burleigh Bears and scored a spectacular first half try.

In the 10th minute of the first half, Charlie Murray received the ball from the dummy half and put up a high cross field pin point bomb to the right corner, with the ball coming down a metre or so from the try line. Troy Duckett as able to time his jump perfectly to get above the Burleigh left winger in Ronin Rio and get the ball down a couple of metres in from the right corner post.

In the 17th minute Troy Duckett made a line break down a short right blind side. Glenn McGradey was able to work the numbers off-load to Troy Duckett who was able to break away down the right touchline. Unfortunately Troy Duckett’s subsequent inside pass after he had drawn the Burleigh fullback was intercepted with a try in the offing.

Troy Duckett showcased his elite speed in the 54th minute. Tweed Heads were on the attack just metres out from the Burleigh line when Bears half back Cameron Brown took an intercept and raced down field. Troy Duckett had to stop, turn and chase and hunted Cameron Brown down tackling him into touch.

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Titans contracted Samuel Shannon started on the interchange bench for the Burleigh Hastings Deering’s Colts side as they took on the Tweed Heads Seagulls in a trial last Saturday at Pizzey Park

Samuel Shannon came off the bench in the 24th minute of the match immediately taking a hit-up to the right of the dummy half making eight metres in the first of multiple charges by the hard as nails young lock.

Samuel Shannon’s hard running style was on display once again just a few minutes later in the 28th minute when he charged into the Seagulls defensive line off the kick-off from Tyler Mahon’s try and then in the 29th minute, Samuel Shannon backed up a break from Cameron Brown, receiving the off-load before getting the ball away to his right to put Tyler Mahon away to score his second try in a five minute span.

Samuel Shannon continued to be heavily involved in the first half and in the last minute of the half charged into the Tweed Heads defensive line once again and on that occasion was able to get an off-load away with his back to the defence.

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Last Saturday Titans contracted TJ Devery started at right second row for the Burleigh Hastings Deering’s Colts trial side against the Tweed Heads Seagulls. TJ Devery wore No. 19 jersey in the match.

When he had the opportunity TJ Devery produced some strong hit-ups in the match with the first of those coming in the 14th minute when he dragged three Seagulls defenders ten metres down field.

When the second half started TJ Devery switched to left second row before moving back to the right late in the match and did not waste time getting involved with a strong sixteen metre charge in the 39th minute that necessitated three Tweed Heads defenders have to commit to the tackle to get TJ Devery onto the ground.

TJ Devery continued to be heavily involved in the match including making multiple tackles in the same set of six in the 68th minute. TJ Devery made two massive tackles in a row, the first on Charlie Murray then a second on Jaylan TO’o before making another tackle later in the same set on Lachlan Hallard.

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Last weekend Titans contracted Ediq Ambrosyev started at hooker for the Tweed Heads Seagulls Hastings Deering’s Colts side in their final trial against Burleigh with Ediq Ambrosyev showcasing his defensive technique in the opening minute of the match when he got his shoulder under the ribs and Burleigh front rower Daniel Shannon and lifting his legs off the ground and putting the front rower on his back.

Ediq Ambrosyev was at his elusive best in the 10th minute of the match with Tweed on the attack in Burleigh’s territory. After an errant pass Ediq Ambrosyev tracked back to retrieve the ball, cutting to the left side of the field and darting eighteen metres downfield only to be eventually caught on the Burleigh twenty metre mark.

Ediq Ambrosyev was at his attacking best once again in the 24th minute of the match. After shaping to pass out of dummy half to his right, Ediq Ambrosyev darted out of dummy half in the same direction, as the defensive line reacted to the run, Ediq Ambrosyev grubber kicked through the line and was very unlucky not to regather the ball and continue to attack.

In his stint on the field in the second half Ediq Ambrosyev switched positions spending time at half back.

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Last week Titans contracted Sam McIntyre started at left second row for the Burleigh Hastings Deering’s Colts trial against the Tweed Heads Seagulls with Sam McIntyre crossing for a second half try.

Sam McIntyre’s try came in the 57th minute when Cameron Brown chipped over the Tweed Heads defensive line forty metres out, regathering the ball and sending a pass to his left to trailing second rower Sam McIntyre who ran twenty metres to dive over untouched.

In the 15th minute of the match Sam McIntyre ran a straight crash line off a short ball from Cameron Brown and was able to get to within ten metres of the Tweed Heads line before being stopped. Sam McInrtyre’s efforts to get to his feet to play the ball quickly were hamstrung by Tweed Heads with Sam McIntyre subsequently receiving a deserved penalty. Sam McIntyre then took the first hit-up from the penalty restart.

In the 17th minute Sam McIntyre produced a smart piece of play that may well have saved a try. Tweed Heads had worked the ball well on a short right blindside with winger Troy Duckett getting away down the right touchline with support on his inside. Troy Duckett drew the fullback and passed back inside but Sam McIntyre was able to track back and get between Troy Duckett and his inside support to intercept the pass to prevent a likely Seagulls try.

When the second half started Sam McIntyre switched sides to play at left second row before moving back to right second row late in the match.

Like he did in the first, Sam McIntyre was able to prevent a try in the second half through intensity and effort. In the 49th minute, Tweed Heads attacked to their right from inside Burleigh twenty metre area and generated space for their left winger down the sideline and from there he chip kicked high into the in-goal but Sam McIntyre tracked back and out jumped the Tweed Heads chasers.

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Titans contracted Tony Francis’s exceptional 2021 season continued last weekend when he started at right centre for Burleigh against Tweed Heads in their final Hastings Deering’s Colts trial at Pizzey Park.

Tony Francis was at his damaging best scoring a first half double as Burleigh rounded out their 2021 Hastings Deering’s trial campaign with a solid win.

It took only four minutes for Tony Francis to score his first try of the match. Tony Francis was able to get on the outside of his direct opponent within ten metres of the try line and from there was able to hold the defender off with his left arm whilst maintaining his balance and running line to score two metres in from the right corner post.

Tony Francis’s second try of the first half came in the 20th minute when Tony Francis received the ball on is inside from Jacob Hall and once gain got outside of his opposing defender and bumping off another to get the ball down four metres in from the right corner post.

In the 24th minute Tony Francis continued his outstanding start to the match with a strong twenty metre charge through centre field, breaking three tackles before three additional Tweed Heads had to commit to the tackle to bring Tony Francis down.

Tony Francis came back onto the field for his second stint in the second half, once again at right centre and it came as no surprise when in the 62nd minute Tony Francis proved exceptionally difficult to stop. Tony Francis made a great bullocking run across field that ultimately made twenty five metres down field breaking four tackles before he was put on the ground.

Tony Francis’s strength was highlighted in the 64th minute when he came in off the right side to bend back Tweed Heads Ben Lihou who ran the ball to Tony Francis’s side of the field.

Tony Francis deservedly took the final hit-up of the match with the final siren sounding just as he was going to ground in his own twenty metre area.