Junior Development

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Titans contracted Kaleb Ngamanu on Saturday started at left centre in the MM Cup Round Three Gold Coast derby against the Burleigh Bears and once again was one of the Seagulls best in their strong derby victory.

Kaleb Ngamanu’s impressive afternoon got underway in just the 6th minute with a perfectly timed and executed driving low tackle after coming out of the line on Burleigh second rower Seth Nikotemo which forced the much bigger player back three metres.

Kaleb Ngamanu added a further great low tackle to his highlight reel in the match with a beautifully executed tackle in the 56th minute of the match when he moved up from a Burleigh scrum win to take down the Burleigh centre less than ten metres out from the Burleigh line and then backed up to make the next tackle.

Kaleb Ngamanu was outstanding defensively against Burleigh but also had some strong runs with the ball with the first of many coming in the 9th minute of the match when he took the ball from the dummy half just a metre out from his own line. Kaleb Ngamanu was able to get the ball out to the ten metre mark with the Burleigh defence rushing at him. Then just four minutes later Kaleb Ngamanu produced another ten metre effort to get the ball away from the try line.

Kaleb Ngamanu continued to show up when his team needed him including in the 34th minute when with Tweed Heads under pressure in their own territory Kaleb Ngamanu surged sixteen metres through the centre of the ruck to get the ball just into Burleigh’s territory.

Late in the first half Kaleb Ngamanu was on hand to continue to put pressure on Burleigh when he along with Ryan Foran was on hand to drag the Burleigh right winger into touch just out from his own line after he took a bomb on the field in the left corner.

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Titans contracted Jeremaiah Tamepo started on the left wing for Burleigh on Saturday in the MM Cup Round Three Gold Coast derby against the Tweed Heads Seagulls scoring in the second half and overall having a very very good game for the Bears including standing up well to a plethora of high kicks directed towards his wing by Thomas Weaver. Although Jeremaiah Tamepo started the match on the left wing, he in fact moved to left centre late in the first half.

Jeremaiah Tamepo’s try came in the 57th minute of the match when he dived over in the left corner after Burleigh lock Arama Hau threw a great right arm off-load to an unmarked Jeremaiah Tamepo to run fifteen metres to score in the left corner.

Jeremaiah Tamepo also worked hard bringing the ball out of his team’s territory including a twelve metre effort in the 19th minute which saw Jeremaiah Tamepo bring the ball out of Burleigh’s twenty metre area.

Once again in the 33rd minute Jeremaiah Tamepo took the responsibility of taking the ball up when he ran the ball back from a kick-off making a solid fourteen metres.

Late in the match Jeremaiah Tamepo had to contend with a Thomas Weaver bomb barrage to his left side of the field, the first coming in the 64th minute but Jeremaiah Tamepo was able to get above the Seagulls chasers to take the ball on the full just out from his own try line and them a couple of minutes later had to replicate the play as another huge bomb came in his direction.

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Titans contracted Thomas Weaver once again started at halfback and captain on Saturday afternoon in the Round Three MM Cup Gold Coast derby against the Burleigh Bears.

In addition to kicking five conversions from six attempts, Thomas Weaver also had two try assist in the match, one from a kick and a second from a deft inside pass. In addition Thomas Weaver’s kicking game regularly kept Burleigh on the back foot.

Thomas Weaver’s first try assist of the match came in just the second minute when moving to his right he put in a deft grubber kick from ten metres out and even though it appeared that Burleigh fullback Syris Schmidt had grounded the ball, after Seagulls second rower Jayden Wright dived on the ball the referee awarded the try.

Thomas Weaver’s second try assist came in the 44th minute when he ran down a short left blind side ten metres out from the line and passed back to his right to put Jaylen De Groot into a yawning gap who was able to bring the ball around to put it down under the posts.

As has become the norm when discussing a Thomas Weaver performance his kicking game cannot go unmentioned, including a great chip kick in the 34th minute to the left wing. The kick forced the Burleigh fullback to reach out when he was trying to take the ball on the full with the ball hitting the fullbacks finger tips and going into touch less than a metre out from the try line.

Early in the second half, in the 42nd minute, Thomas Weaver once again put in a great short chip kick directed to the left corner with the kick precisely placed which forced the defenders to knock the ball dead.

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Titans trialist Joseph Vuna was named in the Tweed Heads Seagulls Round One Queensland Cup side last week but was a late withdrawal and he has been named in the second row for Tweed Heads Round Two match this Sunday against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls.

I think that Joseph Vuna will really surprise some people when he gets some games under his belt.

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After missing the opening three rounds of the 2021 MM Cup competition through injury it is great to see Titans contracted right second rower Brock Priestley named on the Tweed Heads Seagulls extended bench for their Round Four match this Sunday against the Ipswich Jets.

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After missing two rounds of the MM Cup Titans contracted Joseph Shannon is back on the bench for Burleigh in their Round Four match against the Souths Logan Magpies this Sunday.

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One of the Tweed Heads Seagulls best in their undefeated start in the 2021 MM Cup competition is Titans contracted NZ recruit Keano Kini and once again he started on the left wing on Saturday afternoon in the Round Three Gold Coast derby against the Burleigh Bears scoring once again in the Seagulls victory.

As has become the norm, Keano Kini and Jaylen De Groot swapped positions on a number of occasions over the course of the match.

Keano Kini’s try came towards the end of the first half when he followed through a great break by Bailey Martin who off-loaded to his right to find Keano Kini in open space to run twenty metres untouched to score to the left of the uprights after bring the ball around from the left corner under no pressure.

Keano Kini had to be on his game in just the 9th minute of the match when Burleigh right second rower Seth Nikotemo put in a surprise chip ten metres out from the line. Keano Kini had to come off his left wing and dive forward to take the ball on the full less than a minute away from the try line. Keano Kini was then able to stay low to prevent being forced back into the in-goal.

The second half saw Keano Kini break through the Burleigh defensive line seemingly at will with the first of those occasions coming in the 46th minute when Keano Kini darted out of dummy half to his left. As soon as he was clear of the ruck, Keano Kini stepped off his right to get through the line and get Tweed Heads into Burleigh’s territory with Keano Kini making eighteen metres from the run.

Keano Kini broke the Burleigh line once again in the 50th minute. After Burleigh kicked to their right, Jaylan De Groot received the ball on the left and threw a long pass to his right that found Keano Kini in acres of space. Keano Kini stepped off his right to easily break through a fractured Burleigh defensive line, making thirty five metres downfield before finally being held.

Then in the 55th minute Keano Kini made his third line break in just ten minutes when he ran out of dummy half to his left, breaking two tackles before being tackled on the Burleigh forty metre mark after a twenty one metre run.

Unfortunately Keano Kini left the field late with a lower leg injury which will keep him out for a few weeks.

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Outstanding Titans contracted Arama Hau on Saturday started at lock in the MM Cup Round Three Gold Coast derby against the Tweed Heads Seagulls and for me was the best player on the field on the way to recording a try assist and at least two line break assists.

Arama Hau’s first contribution of the match came in the opening tackle of the match when he monstered Tweed Heads lock Jordan Lewis from the penalty restart after Burleigh were penalised for being offside from the kick-off. Arama Hau backed that big tackle up by then tackling Jack Cullen who took the next hit-up of the match.

Over the course of the match against the Seagulls Arama Hau provided extremely difficult to get to the ground and that was the case in the 6th minute when Arama Hau was able to get a great one handed off-load for Brody Smitka to promote the ball forward.

Just three minutes later in the 9th minute Arama Hau produced a big run of eighteen metres. Arama Hau was initially hit by the defence after just eight metres but he just kept fighting forward to gain ten post contact metres.

Arama Hau’s huge match continued in the 12th minute with a ten metre charge before a right arm off-load by Arama Hau to Kaden Somerville enabled Burleigh to continue to make ground.

Just five minutes later in the 17th minute saw Arama Hau once again make significant metres, thuis time twenty metres, breaking three tackles along the journey to get Burleigh just over the halfway mark.

The halftime break did not slow Arama Hau down as in the 41st minute of the match he charged onto the ball to the left of the dummy half for all intents and purposes looking like he was going to take the ball into the defensive line but at the last moment before contact Arama Hau threw a great short ball to his left to C****n Patu in space to record a line break assist.

After Patu was brought down Arama Hau flew onto the ball from Patu’s play the ball engaging the Seagulls defensive line before throwing a great left arm offload to his left to put Travis May into a big gap (another line break assist for Arama Hau) with the Burleigh five eight getting to within ten metres of the try line.

Then in the 53rd minute Arama Hau produced another strong run to the left of the play the ball breaking four tackles on the way to making eighteen metres to get the ball close to the twenty metre mark.

After that exceptional sequence of events most players would have sat back for a couple of minutes but not Arama Hau as in the 57th minute he charged onto the ball on the left side of the field, surging twenty metres including a clockwise spin to break one tackle then Arama Hau threw a great right arm off-load to an unmarked Jeremaiah Temapo to run fifteen metres to score in the left corner.

Arama Hau followed his try assist up in the 63rd minute with yet another strong run on the left before cutting back to the right side of the field and offloading to Tuvalli Khan-Pereira who as able to get the ball to within fifteen metres of the try line. Arama Hau’s run gaining fifteen metres.

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It will be impossible not to cheer for 2021 Burleigh Bears Hastings Deering’s Colts squad member Mason Borg.

The young man attended Keebra Park State High School and even though he training with the rugby league squad for a number of seasons only played his first game of rugby league in 2019 due to illness, coming off the bench in his first ever match to play on the left side of the field.

In 2020 Mason Borg was part of the Keera Park Open A Titans Cup side that defeated Marsden SHS in the final.

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After two seasons back in Victoria, to great to see Pita-Will Purcell half/five eight Pita-Will Purcell back on the Gold Coast and will line up for the Burleigh Bears in the 2021 Hastings Deering’s Colts competition.

In 2020 Pita-Will Purcell was set to be part of the Victorian Thunderbolts U20 Jersey Flegg squad.

In 2019 Pita-Will Purcell was part of the Thunderbolts U18 SG Ball squad playing in six matches, starting all six at five eight. From his six matches, Pita-Will Purcell scored forty six points from a try and twenty one conversions.

Pita-Will Purcell scored in Round Eight against the Western Australian Pirates and in that same match kicked eight conversions to finish with a twenty point individual haul. Pita-Will Purcell kicked five conversions in Round Nine against the Magpies, three conversions in Round Seven against Souths Sydney, two conversions in Rounds Two and Six against the Central Coast Roosters and Parramatta Eels respectively and kicked a conversion in Round One against Manly.

Also in 2019, Pita-Will Purcell was part of the Victorian School Boys U18 side, and was part of the Combined Affiliated States school boy side for the 2019 School Boy Championships with Pita-Will scoring in his second match at the Championships against New South Wales Combined High Schools.

In 2019 when he returned to Voctoria, Pita-Will Purcell played for the Altona Roosters, including playing for the Roosters NRL Victoria First Grade competition and played exceptionally well as an 18 year old against man.

Pita-Will Purcell had some impressive matches, as good as any being in the 2019 NRL Victoria Grand Final qualifier when Pita-Will Purcell kicked a long range game winning field goal to get the Roosters into the Grand Final on the back of a 25 – 24 win over the Werribee Bears.

The Victorian raised 17 year old youngster played for Burleigh in 2018 in the Gold Coast U19 competition and through the opening rounds of the competition playing in a number of backline positions for the Bears.

Pita-Will Purcell was involved in six Rounds of the 2018 GCRL U19 competition, playing a variety of positions for the Bears. In Round One he started the match against the Bilambil Jets on the interchange bench. Round two against Ormeau saw him start in the centres and he was back on the interchange bench in Round Three against Beaudesert.

Round Four saw Pita-Will Purcell start at five eight against Southport. In Round Five Pita-Will Purcell was back at five eight and kicked three from five as Burleigh defeated Currumbin 26 – 22. The day prior he actually started Burleigh’s U17 Division One match at lock.

In Round Six Pita-Will Purcell started on the bench and scored a double and kicked two goals as the Bears defeated Mudgeeraba 34 – 28. The day prior in Round Three of the U17 Division One competition Pita-Will Purcell started from the bench and kicked three goals.

Pita-Will Purcell in 2018 played in five matches in the U19 competition, scored 28 points which have come from two tries and ten conversions, including kicking three from three in Round Four against Southport, he also kicked three goals against Ormeau in Round Two and two in Round One against the Bilambil Jets. Both of Pita-Will Purcell’s tries came in Round Six against Mudgeeraba when he came off the interchange bench and also kicked two goals.

Round Five of the GCRL competition saw Pita-Will Purcell move to the Burleigh U17 Division One side where he started at five eight in their 22 – 20 loss to Ormeau kicking two conversion from four attempts in the match.

In Round Three of the 2018 U17 Division One competition, Pita-Will Purcell came off the bench for Burleigh and kicked three goals in their 38 – 6 win over Mudgeeraba.

In Round Four of the GCRL U17 Division One competition Pita-Will Purcell started at lock against Runaway Bay and in a 32 – 10 victory for the Bears, he continued a try and four conversions from six attempts.

To summarise, Pita-Will Purcell played in four matches at the 2018 U17 Division level scoring a try and kicking nine goals for 22 points and six matches at the U19 level scoring two tries and kicking thirteen goals for a 34 point total.

In 2017 Pita-Will Purcell played his club rugby league for Victoria for the Casey Warriors in the U16 competition. Pita-Will Purcell played thirteen matches and finished as the competitions leading point’s scorer with 106 points. His 106 points was derived from three tries and 47 goals. Pita-Will Purcell’s tries came against the Doveton Steelers, Altona Roosters and Northern Thunder.

Understandably when he kicked 47 goals in just thirteen matches, Pita-Will Purcell had some big matches with the boot, including kicking eleven in a June 2017 match against the Altoona Roosters, seven also against Altona in August and six goals in April 2017 against Doveton.

Pita-Will Purcell also played two matches up in the 2017 Victorian Rugby League U18 competition and had a great U18 debut in July 2017 against the Altona Roosters scoring a try and kicking six goals. His other U18 match in 2017 also came in July against the Eastern Raptors.

Prior to moving to the Burleigh Bears, Pita-Will Purcell represented Victoria in a number of competitions including starting at halfback for their 2016 U15 ASSRL side. In those Championships Pita-Will Purcell was named player of the match on Day One when he scored a try and kicked eight goals against South Australia. On Day Two the former Hallam Senior Secondary College student kicked two goals against Western Australian and on Day Four he scored a try and kicked a conversion against the Northern Territory.

Pita-Will Purcell also represented VictoriaU15’s in 2016 in the New South Wales Championships (no idea why Victoria are invited to compete), in those Championships, Pita-Will Purcell once against played half playing matches against Group 11 and Illawarra.

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I am looking forward to seeing local young former Titans linked utility (halfback/five eight/fullback) Taine Tuaupiki make his Queensland Cup debut off the bench for the Burleigh Bears this weekend in Round Two of the 2021 competition against the Mackay Cutters.

Taine Tuaupiki started from the bench for the Burleigh Queensland Cup sides first 2021 trial when he started on the wing against the Titans at Burleigh in mid-February.

A week later Taine Tuaupiki started at fullback for Burleigh in their Queensland Cup trial against the Easts Tigers, scoring one of the Bears tries in their two point victory, when he backed up on the inside of a Shallin Fuller break to receive the pass from Fuller from his right to dive over midway between the goal posts and corner post on the right side of the field.

In Mid-March 2021 Taine Tuaupiki was part of the Burleigh Bears Nine’s squad that won the Gold Coast Nine’s Annual Competition with a 22 – 20 Final victory.

Taine Tuaupiki started at fullback for the Burleigh A Grade trial against Tweed Heads in late February 2020.

When the 2020 Gold Coast Rugby League competition restarted in August, Taine Tuaupiki was part of the Burleigh Bears side that was looking to repeat their 2019 Premiership success starting Round One of the GCRL First Grade competition against Southport at left centre and provided to be a handful for the Southport defence almost everytime that he touched the ball, finishing the match with two try assists.

Both of Taine Tuaupiki’s try assists came in the second half and on both occasions he set up tries for Will Evans. In relation to his first try assist, Taine Tuaupiki received the ball off the dummy half on the left side of the field, forty metres out from the Southport line after a long break by Jayden Campbell. Taine Tuaupiki took the line on and threw a great one armed around the corner pass to his left to Will Evans who raced the forty metres to score.

Taine Tuaupiki’s second try assist resulted from a more traditional pass to his left to Will Evans after he had made a break down the left side of the field, sending the pass to enable Will Evans an easy thirty five metre run to the line.

After an impressive performance in Round One, Taine Tuaupiki maintained his place at left centre in Round Two against the Currumbin Eagles and scoring in the first half . From a penalty ten metres out, in front of the posts, Burleigh immediately spun the ball to the left and Taine Tuaupiki was able to get on the outside of his direct opponent and score in the left corner.

Taine Tuaupiki moved to fullback for Round Three against the Ormeau Shearers before starting Round Five against the Mudgeeraba Redbacks at left centre and scored a long range seventy metres try donw the left touch line when Burleigh fielded an attacking kick in their own in goal, racing down field before passing to Taine Tuaupiki who ran the remainder of the distance.

After Burleigh had a Round Six bye, Taine Tuaupiki started at left centre once again in Round Seven against Runaway Bay making a couple of sniping runs in the first half.

Taine Tuaupiki was named to start at left centre in Round Eight against the Southport Tigers but in fact started Burleigh’s 23 – 22 win at half back.

In Burleigh’s 2020 Gold Coast Rugby League First Grade Semi-final Taine Tuaupiki started on the right wing against the Southport Tigers.

In the 2020 Gold Coast Rugby League First Grade Grand Final Taine Tuaupiki started on the right wing for Burleigh agaisnt Runaway Bay.

Taine Tuaupiki was in outstanding form for the Burleigh Bears U20 Hastings Deering’s Colt’s side in 2019 and also deservedly played a number of Gold Coast Rugby League First Grade matches with Burleigh.

Taine Tuaupiki started at half for the 2019 Burleigh U20 Hastings Deering’s Colts Round One side as they drew 24 all with Norths at Bishop Park, in total playing in nine games in total scoring five tries, three of which came in Burleigh’s finals campaign.

Taine Tuaupiki started all nine of his 2019 Hastings Deering’s Colts matches, starting four at half, one being Round Six against the Western Mustangs at five eight and the remaining four matches at right centre, with his first start at centre coming in Round Twenty Three against Central Queensland. Taine Tuaupiki followed that up by starting all three of Burleigh’s finals at right centre.

In Round Three against Tweed Heads Taine Tuaupiki scored a good solo try, he received the ball playing on the right side of the ruck around twelve metres out from the line and after stepping off his right foot to create a gap, surged through the Tweed fullbacks tackle right on the try line.

Taine Tuaupiki also scored an outstanding try in Round Ten against the Northern Pride. He received the ball around ten metres out from the Pride line whilst operating on the left side of the field, and after stepping back inside the Pride defence exploded through a small gap in the line to cross near the left upright.

After missing a number of weeks Taine Tuaupiki started Round Twenty Two against Sunshine Coast in the centres for Burleigh and also at right centre in Round Twenty Three against Central Queensland. Taine Tuaupiki terrorised the Capra’s left side defence in the match including making a long break from a scrum but he was bundled into touch a metre out.

In Week Two of the 2019 Hastings Deering’s Colts Finals series, Taine Tuaupiki once again started at left centre and scored a try in each half to propel Burleigh into the Preliminary Final with both of his tries impressive individual efforts.

Taine Tuaupiki’s first try was a seventy metre effort, he received the ball one off the scrum bursting through the initial defensive line with a slight step off both foot, the first coming off his right, before beating the fullback and getting away from a cover defender who looked to grab his jersey collar to score under posts.

Taine Tuaupiki’s second try resulted from a series of side steps on the left of the field. Taine Tuaupiki received the ball wide on the left and immediately stepped twice off his left foot create space and then produced a right foot back towards the side line and accelerated from ten metres out to score.

Taine Tuaupiki’s 2019 Hastings Deering’s Colts season came to an end when he started at left centre for Burleigh as they went down 23 – 16 to Sunshine Coast in the Preliminary Final with Taine Tuaupiki being one of Burleigh’s try scorers in the match.

Playing left centre once again, Taine Tuaupiki received the ball around forty five metres out and ran at the defensive line with the ball out in front in both hands before stepping odd his left foot to beat the initial defender before accelerating away from the defence then beating the fullback and streaking away to score.

In the 2019 Hastings Deering’s Colts Player of the Year Award tally Taine Tuaupiki finished with two votes.

Taine Tuaupiki also played a number of matches for Burleigh in the GCRL First Grade competition including starting at fullback in Round Seven against Tugun. For what I believe was his first match at fullback in that competition, Taine Tuaupiki played quite well and made a number of sniping runs through the centre of the ruck.

Taine Tuaupiki scored his first Gold Coast Rugby League First Grade try of 2019 when he scored in Round Twelve against Southport starting at fullback as the Bears won 34 – 10.

Taine Tuaupiki lined up on the left of the field taking the ball from the dummy half about ten metres out from the Southport line and exploded towards the line, with the ball out in front of his body in two hands, after a quick dummy to his left, Taine Tuaupiki sliced through two Tigers defenders to score half way between the touch line and left upright.

In total for Burleigh in the GCRL First Grade competition Taine Tuaupiki, including Finals played in four matches this season.

In Round Two of the 2018 Hastings Deering’s Colts competition in a 28 – 20 victory over Redcliffe at Pizzey Park he was as dominant as I have seen a player at that level as he constantly split the Redcliffe defence and directed Burleigh around the field superbly.

In that particular match, Taine Tuaupiki had the ball on a string and also scored a great try highlighting his speed and elusiveness. Taine Tuaupiki also scored in Round One against the Sunshine Coast Falcons.

In addition to the tries that he has scored in the Colts competition in 2019 Taine Tuaupiki had at least four try assists on the season that I can recall immediately including one from a deft banana grubber kick in Round Two against the Redcliffe Dolphins and three from sublime passes right at the defensive line in various matches.

Taine Tuaupiki’s Round One try came as a result of a great short ball to his right side to Titans fellow linked second rower Apiata Neoma-Matenga who went through the line untouched before drawing the fullback and passing back inside to Taine Tuaupiki to score under the posts untouched for an outstanding Burleigh try.

Taine Tuaupiki’s try in Round Two against Redcliffe was as a result of a dummy where after receiving the ball two wide of the ruck on the right side Taine Tuaupiki shaped to pass wider out and then exploded through a gap to score just wide of the right hand upright.

Over the course of the opening rounds Taine Tuaupiki forged a very successful combination on the right side of the field with fellow Titans youngster Apiata Neoma-Matenga which I am sure will lead (and has already) to a lot of line breaks and tries for both over the course of the season.

In total in the Hastings Deering’s Colts competition this season Taine Tuaupiki played in fourteen matches for Burleigh starting all at five eight bar Round Four against Souths Logan when he started from the interchange and has scored six tries and kicked five goals.

As noted above Taine Tuaupiki scored in the opening two rounds of the season against Sunshine Coast and Redcliffe. Taine Tuaupiki has also scored in Round Nine against Townsville, Round Thirteen against Ipswich, Round Fourteen against the Northern Pride and in Round Twenty-One against Wynnum Manly.

Taine Tuaupiki made his Gold Coast Rugby League First Grade debut at five eight against Tweed Heads and prior to his move back to the Burleigh Colts side made three First Grade appearances and recorded a 100% strike rate. Taine Tuaupiki scored a double on debut against Tweed Heads and also scored against Southport.

Taine Tuaupiki started the 2017 season in the Tweed Heads Seagulls MM Cup side and upon completion of the competition progressed to the Tweed Heads Seagulls U20 Colts Challenge side. From a representative perspective Taine Tuaupiki has represented South East Queensland at the U16 level in 2016 was one of the key reasons that Coombabah State High School had such a great GIO Cup run which finished in heart breaking fashion against Keebra Park.

For the 2017 Tweed Heads Seagulls MM Cup side Taine Tuaupiki played all six matches at half back including scoring in Round Two against Victoria. Immediately upon completion of the MM Cup competition, Taine Tuaupiki was drafted into the Tweed Heads Seagulls U20 Colts Challenge side and except for Round Six which he missed, he played every match. Taine Tuaupiki started Rounds One to Five at fullback scoring tries in Round Two against Easts, Round Three against Redcliffe and Round Five against Wynnum Manly.

Taine Tuaupiki switched to five eight in Round Seven, making an immediate impact scoring against the North’s Devils and except for Round Ten where he started from the interchange bench, Taine Tuaupiki started at five eight, scoring doubles in Round Eight against Ipswich and Round Thirteen in a comeback win against the Easts Tigers. Taine Tuaupiki also scored against the Sunshine Coast Falcons in Round Twelve. Taine Tuaupiki also started at five eight in Round Fourteen through Sixteen.

In the 2017 finals series Taine Tuaupiki started in Tweed Heads three matches, starting Week One at five eight before starting at half back in Tweed Heads second final and their Preliminary Final loss. Isaac Worboys started at five eight in the last two Seagulls Finals matches of 2017.

In 2016, Taine Tuaupiki played for Runaway Bay in the U17 Division One GCJRL competition where his side finished as the minor premiers, however they were beaten 18 – 12 in the Grand Final by Burleigh. Taine Tuaupiki started the 2016 Grand Final at half back.

Over the course of the 2016 U17 Division One season, Taine Tuaupiki scored five tries and conversion and field goal to finish with a total points tally of 23 on the season with the field goal coming in a semi-final against Burleigh.

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In Round One of the 2021 Cyril Connell Cup, Titans contracted Keebra Park student Wailer Whaiapu started from the bench for the Burleigh Bears side as they took on the Souths Logan Magpies, going down 38 – 8.

Wailer Whaiapu moved to start at lock in the Round Three local derby against the Tweed Heads Seagulls on Saturday making an immediate impact with a strong 2nd tackle of the match when he drove through the Tweed Heads player with his left shoulder.

From a ball running perspective Wailer Whaiapu was also a solid contributor for Burleigh including a strong effort in the 11th minute, making eleven metres to get the ball forty metres out and winning a penalty when the Seagulls defence would not allow him to get to his feet for a quick play the ball.

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Titans linked PBC student Will Saunders started Round One of the 2021 Cyril Connell Cup at hooker as the Seagulls took on the Ipswich Jets and put in an outstanding display being far and away the best player on the field in Burleigh’s eight point victory. Such was Will Saunders performance that he was deservedly named as the Seagulls best in the Round One match.

Will Saunders also started at hooker in the Round Three local derby against the Burleigh Bears last Saturday putting on a dummy half clinic in the Seagulls comprehensive 33 – 6 victory.

Will Saunders came close to getting his name on the scoreboard in the 5th minute of the match when he was tackled inches short of the line on the right side of the field.

Will Saunders produced another good dart out of dummy half in the 69th minute when he took off out of dummy half to his left before off-loading. The referee deemed that Will Saunders was hit late after passing the ball with Tweed Heads being awarded the penalty with a bit of a scuffle ensuing due to the late contact.

Even though he was not the biggest player on the field Will Saunders is also an effective defender and that was born out in the 25th minute when Will Saunders hit Bears second rower Junior Filimaua with a strong tackle as he was defending right on his try line with the ball coming loose as a result of Will Saunders initial contact.

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In the Round Three local CC Cup local derby Titans linked PBC student Jonah Beaven started at lock for Tweed Heads and took the 4th hit-up of the match after Burleigh kicked off. Then to emphasise his work ethic after Tweed Heads kicked on the last tackle, Jonah Beaven was the first Seagulls player down field to tackle the Burleigh fullback returning the ball. To prove that was no fluke, Jonah Beaven was first downfield just a couple of minutes later to once again tackle the Burleigh fullback in relation to the Seagulls second clearing kick.

Jonah Beaven continued the trend of him terrorising the Burleigh fullback when in the 11th minute, along with Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa he crunched him as he was trying to dart through the centre of the ruck.

Jonah Beaven added a great ball and all tackle to his game resume in the 17th minute when he moved out of marker to his left to hit Burleigh front rower Samuel McAllister.

Whilst it may appear from the commentary that Jonah Beaven’s contribution to Tweed Heads victory was solely based on his defence that certainly was just case as could be seen in the 46th minute when Jonah Beaven charged into the Burleigh defensive line making thirteen metres on the second hit-up from the kick-off to Matthew Barrow’s try, to get the ball thirty three metres out from his own line. Jonah Beaven then backed that run up with the 4th hit-up from the same set of six making another eighteen metres to great the ball near to the twenty metre mark.

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Titans contracted Keebra park student Philip Hakaraia-Ngamotu started at right second row on Saturday for Burleigh in the Round Three local derby against the Tweed Heads Seagulls and made an immediate impression with a strong first up tackle on giant Seagulls front rower Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa.

Towards the end of the match in the 57th minute, Philip Hakaraia-Ngamotu produced for me what as his best tackle of the match when he hit Tweed Heads second rower Max Murphy front on, stopping the Seagulls player dead in his tracks just two metres from the try line.

Philip Hakaraia-Ngamotu also had a number of strong runs in the match, the first of which came in the 22nd minute with a ten metre effort to get Burleigh into Seagulls territory. Philip Hakaraia-Ngamotu then backed that run up two tackles later with the speed of his run too quick for the defence who were penalised for being offside.

Philip Hakaraia-Ngamotu produced another strong effort in the 28th minute with a run from a Burleigh penalty restart, initially taking the ball eighteen metres out from the line and getting to within three before being wrestled down by multiple Seagulls defenders. Then in the 37th minute Philip Hakaraia-Ngamotu continued his hard running afternoon with a run of fourteen metres that once again got him to within a couple of metres of the try line.

Philip Hakaraia-Ngamotu showcased his outstanding speed for a big strong second rower in the 47th minute with a huge fifty metre charge down the right side of the field. After receiving the ball thirty metres out from his own line Philip Hakaraia-Ngamotu easily bumped off the first attempted tackle to break into space, outpacing the Seagulls cover defence. As he got to about twenty metres out from the try line Philip Hakaraia-Ngamotu tried to set up his support on his inside but just as he was about to pass to his left the ball was stripped out of his grasp with Burleigh being awarded a penalty as a result.