Junior Development

[mdrew]

In 2021 Jaylan To’O is part of the Tweed Heads Seagulls Hastings Deering’s Colts squad and started at five eight in their recent 2021 trial against the Burleigh Bears. Jaylan To’O was in everything good for the Seagulls and for me was their best player in the match, including a desperate tackle in the 43rd minute to prevent Burleigh dummy half Cole Geyer from scoring.

Jaylan To’o’s first official hit out of the 2020 season came when he started from the bench for the Tweed Heads Seagulls in their Queensland Cup trial win over the Souths Logan Magpies at Tugun in mid-February in wet conditions just south of the New South Wales border.

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

Jaylan To’O started Round One of the 2020 Hastings Deering’s Colts competition for the Tweed Heads Seagulls at fullback against the Northern Pride with the Seagulls recording a big 50 – 20 win in what ended up being the only Round of the competition before its cancellation.

When rugby league restarted on the Gold Coast Jaylan To’O started Round One of the Gold Coast Rugby League competition at five eight for Runaway Bay against the Mudgeeraba Redbacks before moving to left centre in Round Two against the Ormeau Shearers, a match that saw him score his first try since the resumption of play as Runaway Bay and Ormeau played out a hard fought twenty all draw.

Jaylan To’O maintained his starting spot at right centre in Round Four against the Southport Tigers as well as in Round Five against the Tugun Seahawks before moving to the left wing in Round Six against the Currumbin Eagles, scoring the opening try of the match when Jaylan To’O was on the end of a back line movement which saw him dive over in the left corner from close range being around two metres or so out from the line.

Jaylan To’O, after being originally named in the centres for Runaway Bay in their Round Eight GCRL First Grade match against the Ormeau Shearers actually started on the left wing scoring four tries as the Seagulls recorded a 22 – 12 victory with all four of his tries coming in the second half of the match and all four were scored in (or near) the left corner.

Jaylan To’O’s first try of the match came when he received a long cut out pass around fifteen metres out from the Shearers line, Jaylan To’O charged towards the line but pulled up a metre or so short when it was clear that the cover defence would take him into touch. Jaylan To’O waited until the last possible second then stepped off his left foot that sent the first cover defender flying past and then a second left foot step sent the second defender flying past as well for Jaylan To’O to be able to bring the ball around a few metres from the corner post.

Jaylan To’O scored again not long later when once again he received a long cut out pass and produced a left foot step to beat his opposite winger before diving over in the tackle of an Ormeau cover defender. In what was clearly the theme of his four tries, for his third try Jaylan To’O once again received a long cut out pass around ten metres out. Jaylan To’O flew onto the pass and beat the despairing dive of his opposing down the left touchline to score in the left corner.

In relation to his third and final try of the match, Runaway threw the ball out to Jaylan To’O’s side of the wing and the Seagulls left centre dragged in the Ormeau winger giving Jaylan To’O space down the touchline, just prior to the corner post, Jaylan To’O stepped off his left foot sending two defenders flying past him and then Jaylan To’O to put the ball down five metres in from the left corner post.

After his Round Eight four try haul Jaylan To’0 also started on the left wing in Round Nine against Tugun and scored once again when he was on the end of a Seagulls back line to score from close range in the left corner.

In Runaway Bay’s 2020 Gold Coast Rugby League First Grade Semi-Final against the Mudgeeraba Redbacks, Jaylan To’O started on the left wing.

In the 2020 Gold Coast Rugby League First Grade Grand Final Jaylan To’O started on the left wing for Runaway Bay against Burleigh as the Seagulls came away from Cbus stadium as 2020 Gold Coast Rugby League First Grade Premiers.

Jaylan To’O missed the opening two rounds of the 2019 U20 Hastings Deering’s Colts competition, but started Round Three for Tweed Heads against the Burleigh Bears at fullback and maintained his place in the starting line-up at fullback for Round Four against the Central Queensland Capra’s.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Jaylan To’O moved to right centre for Tweed Heads 2019 Hastings Deering’s Colts Week One Elimination Final loss to the Mackay Cutters 23 – 10 but was one of two Tweed Heads try scorers in the match. Five eight Toby Sexton took the ball down a short blind side and popped a short ball to Jaylan To’O who cruised through a gap and scored from forty metres out untouched.

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

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

Jaylan To’O made his Gold Coast rugby League first grade debut in Round Thirteen of the 2019 season when he started at half for Runaway Bay against Bilambil and also started at half in Round Fifteen against the Ormeau Shearers.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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



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

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

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

Jaylan To’O also played five matches in the U19 GCRL competition in 2017 an impressive feat for a seventeen year old.

[mdrew]

Aggressive front rower Daniel Shannon will no doubt lead from the front for the Burleigh Hastings Deering’s Colts squad when the season starts in early April.

The local former Titan’s linked young 183cm, 105kg front rower who in 2020 continued to develop his game for the with Southport in the Gold Coast Rugby League competition after an outstanding 2019 season as part of the Burleigh Bears U20 Hastings Deering’s Colts squad.

In early March 2021 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.

Daniel Shannon was set to will line up for the second season in a row in 2020 for the Burleigh Hastings Deering’s Colts squad before the competitions demise after Round One.

From a trivia perspective Daniel Shannon’s brothers Samuel and Joseph are contracted to the Titans and are also both front rowers/locks. All three brothers are big strong hard tough young men who clearly love the physical aspects of rugby league. I love watching them play, all three are aggressive and throw their weight around on the field in all aspects of the game.

With the cancellation of all competitions run by the Queensland Rugby League, Daniel Shannon played the 2020 Gold Coast Rugby League competition with the Southport Tigers, starting Round One of the GCRL First Grade competition from the bench as the Tigers took on the Burleigh Bears.

Daniel Shannon also started from the bench in Round Three against the Mudgeeraba Redbacks, Round Four against Runaway Bay and Round Five against the Currumbin Eagles.

Daniel Shannon moved into the Southport starting side in the front row for the Tigers Round Six match against the Tugun Seahawks and maintained his starting front row position for Round Seven against Ormeau.

Daniel Shannon also started in the front row in Round Eight against Burleigh scoring a first half try when he charged onto a pass from the dummy half to the right of the play the ball, crashing over with two defenders engaged with him from five metres out.

Daniel Shannon followed up his Round Eight try scoring feats, starting Round Nine against the Mudgeeraba Redbacks. In the final regular season round of the 2020 Gold Coast Rugby League First Grade competition being Round Ten, Daniel Shannon started in the front row as the Tigers took on the Tugun Seahawks.

In Southport’s 2020 GCRL First Grade Preliminary Final loss against Burleigh, Daniel Shannon started in the front row.

At the Southport Tigers Awards Night, Daniel Shannon won two major First Grade Awards being the 2020 Southport Tigers First Grade Rookie of Year as well as the 2020 Southport Tigers First Grade Best Forward.

In the 2019 Hastings Deering’s Colts competition, Daniel Shannon played in fifteen matches for Burleigh including finals and scored his first Colts try of the season in Round Twenty against the Western Mustangs.

Daniel Shannon came into the 2019 Burleigh Hastings Deering’s Colts side in Round Nine against Redcliffe starting from the bench and also started from the bench in his other fourteen matches for the Bears.

In relation to his try against the Western Mustangs in Round Twenty Daniel Shannon received the ball from dummy half Zac McCormack close to the line with heavy defence in front of him, but he used his footwork to cut back towards the play the ball where the defence had not moved off the line and Daniel Shannon used his size and power to crash over.

Daniel Shannon’s 2019 Hastings Deering’s Colts season came to an end when he started on the interchange bench for Burleigh as they went down 23 – 16 to Sunshine Coast in the Preliminary Final.

Daniel Shannon played the last rounds of the 2019 Hastings Deering’s Colts competition alongside younger brother Samuel in the Burleigh side.

In the 2019 Gold Coast Rugby League U20 competition Daniel Shannon played in eight matches including starting in the front row in Round Eleven against Burleigh when he scored a double which were his first tries of the 2019 season.

Daniel Shannon’s first try was a short range effort when he took the ball about three metres out from the line on the right side of the ruck to crash over. His second try came from around ten metres out this time on the left side of the ruck when he ran a good outside shoulder route and was put through a big gap.

Daniel Shannon also had a try assist in the match when he split the Burleigh line thirty metres out from his own line on the left side of the field, charging forty metres before drawing the fullback to send his support over untouched.

One thing that I did notice in the match was that Daniel Shannon ball played a lot before the line, on every occasion on the right side of the ruck.

Daniel Shannon’s other 2019 Gold Coast Rugby League U20 try came later in the season against Mudgeeraba.

In 2019 Daniel Shannon also made his Gold Coast Rugby League First Grade debut when he started in the front row against Bilambil in Round Two.

Daniel Shannon also played in two QTOP Doug Lipp Cup matches in 2019 for Southport with those matches being against Burleigh in June and Mudgeeraba in late August.

In 2019 Daniel Shannon was also selected in the Gold Coast Vikings U20 side for the South East Queensland U20 Challenge.

For Burleigh in the 2018 MM Cup competition, Daniel Shannon played in all six matches starting five in the front row and coming off the bench in Round Three in the local derby against the Tweed Heads Seagulls.

Daniel Shannon scored just the one try in the MM Cup in 2018 which was against Redcliffe in Round Two in an impressive Burleigh win at Pizzey Park.

Post the 2018 MM Cup competition, Daniel Shannon played for Southport and played in nine matches in the U19 competition and three in the Doug Lipp Cup competition.

Daniel Shannon came into the Southport U19 side in Round Three starting in the front row in a 22 all draw against Bilambil and also started in the front row in seven other matches before his Colts promotion. In Round 16 with the Burleigh Colts side having a bye Daniel Shannon lined up in the front row against Currumbin in a tough 26 – 16 loss.

Daniel Shannon scored two U19 GCRL regular season tries, the first came in early July against Currumbin and then Daniel Shannon scored his second try in the following round against Mudgeeraba.

In Week One of the 2018 GCRL U19 Finals series, Daniel Shannon started in the front row for Southport as they defeated Bilambil 34 – 8.

In Week two of the GCRL U19 Finals series, Daniel Shannon once again started in the front row for Southport against Currumbin with the Tigers winning 20 - 14.

In the 2018 U19 Grand Final Daniel Shannon started once again in the front row for Southport against Currumbin but unfortunately Southport went down 34 – 20, Daniel Shannon however was very good for the Tigers that Sunday afternoon.

Daniel Shannon made his Doug Lipp Cup debut in Round Three of the 2018 season he started in the second row for Southport against Bilambil. Daniel Shannon also started in Round Five in fact starting in the centres on that occasion against the Helensvale Hornets and also played against Mudgeeraba in June.

It was an impressive effort from Daniel Shannon to start in the front row in the U19 match in Rounds Three and Five and them back up to start in the Doug Lipp Cup matches immediately after.

Daniel Shannon was deservedly promoted to the Burleigh Hastings Deering’s Colts side for their 2018 Round 17 match against Norths starting the match from the bench on a tough day for Burleigh that afternoon.

In total in the 2018 Hastings Deering’s Colts competition, Daniel Shannon played in four matches, starting all from the bench.

Daniel Shannon was also selected in the 2018 Queensland Indigenous U18 side for the QPIIC Championships in October at Beenleigh.

In 2017 Daniel Shannon played for the Southport Tigers in the Gold Coast Rugby League competition specifically at the U17 and U19 levels. Daniel Shannon also represented the Queensland Indigenous side in 2017 at the QPICC carnival at Beenleigh in October.

Daniel Shannon alternated between the U17 Division Two and U19 levels for Southport in 2017, playing six matches in each competition and had a very busy weekend. On Saturday Daniel Shannon lined up for the Southport U19 side coming off the interchange bench in their semi-final loss 21 – 14 to Currumbin and on Sunday started in the front row for Southport in their 21 – 14 Grand Final loss to Burleigh.

In the 2017 U17 Division Two competition, Daniel Shannon crossed for two tries on the season, the first coming against Coomera in July and the second in early August against Helensvale.

In 2016 Daniel Shannon was part of the Gold Coast White CC side for this season, starting the last two matches off the bench. He played the 2015 season with the Mudgeeraba Redbacks where he scored three tries across the ten matches that he played at the U15 Division One level and he also played seven matches up at the U16 Division Two level, where Daniel Shannon mainly came off the bench.

Daniel Shannon also represented Murri United in the Queensland Murri tournament in late 2015 and was in fact selected in the Queensland U15 Murri side which toured Fiji and won all three of their matches on that tour.

[mdrew]

Cole Geyer, the son of former Melbourne Storm outside back Matt Geyer has been of the best players on the Gold Coast in the last couple of season and in 2021 deservedly gets a further opportunity with the Burleigh Bears in the Hastings Deering’s Colts competition.

Cole Geyer’s first 2021 hit-out was in late January when he started at hooker for the Burleigh Bears Hastings Deering’s Colts side that went down 32 – 20 (no conversions) to a Titans U19 side. Cole Geyer was busy in his time on the field and kicked a great 40/20 in the first half out of dummy half with his right foot.

In his second stint in the second half, Cole Geyer highlighted why he is a star on the rise, scoring one try and setting up another. For anyone that saw Cole Geyer play for the Currumbin Eagles in the 2020 GCRL First Grade competition, his try would not have been a surprise. Cole Geyer packed in at lock in a scrum where Burleigh had the scrum feed ten metres out from the Titans line. Cole Geyer picked the ball up from the back of the scrum and darted to his left and was simply just too quick for the Titans defenders to three metres to the right of the uprights in the 76th minute of the match.

Minutes earlier Cole Geyer recorded a try assist when he put a Burleigh runner through a gap to score under the posts from ten metres out. Once again Cole Geyer packed in at lock and once again picking the ball up at the back of the scrum and darting to his right parallel to the Titans defensive line before popping a short pass to his left to put the Bears forward over under the posts.

Cole Geyer started the Burleigh Queensland Cup sides first 2021 trial when he started from the bench against the Titans at Burleigh in mid-February making an impact when he came on to play in the dummy half role for the final fifteen minutes of the match.

Cole Geyer very nearly added his name in the Burleigh try scoring list in the match when in the 72nd minute he raced out of dummy half to his right from five metres out but was tackled by Tannah Boyd who was able to twist Cole Geyer onto his back and hold him up directly under the goal posts.

Cole Geyer was in fact the reason that Burleigh were in such a good attacking position. A minute earlier Cole Geyer ran to his left out of dummy half grubber kicking through the Titans line as the defence moved up. It appeared that Cole Geyer would regain position and progress down field but he was tackled prior to taking possession thus Burleigh were awarded a penalty for that transgression.

Cole Geyer started from the bench in the Bears 2021 Hastings Deering’s Colts trial against the Easts Tigers with Cole Geyer initially playing at lock when he came on before moving into the dummy half role later in the first half.

As usual Cole Geyer was heavily involved in everything and was one of the Bears try scorers when he darted out of dummy half to his left from three metres out and diving between two defenders to score mid-way between the corner post and goal posts on the left side of the field.

Earlier in the match, Cole Geyer also darted out of dummy half, once again to his left to make fifteen metres downfield.

Midway through the first half, Cole Geyer showcased his ability to kick out of dummy half when from close range Cole Geyer produced a right foot stab kick into the in-goal which had to be forced dead by the Tigers fullback.

Cole Geyer’s kicking out of dummy half was displayed once again in the second half, when in the 30th minute of that half, Cole Geyer produced a right foot stab kick out of dummy half to the left of the ruck. The kick was ideally weighted into the in-goal and forced the Easts Tigers defence to take the ball dead and have to restart by way of a goal line drop out.

When he came back onto the field in the second half, Cole Geyer moved straight into the dummy half role for Burleigh an as usual was involved in almost everything including a strong twenty metre run through the centre of the ruck out of dummy half. Cole Geyer moved a step out of dummy half to his right, dummying in that direction before straightening up and making that a fore mentioned twenty metres to be brought down ten metres short of the line.

The following week in the Burleigh Hastings Deering’s Colts trial against the Tweed Heads Seagulls, Cole Geyer moved into the starting side at hooker.

One of the most difficult skills for a hooker to master is the ability to kick out of dummy half but that is certainly one skill that Cole Geyer has in his tool box and he displayed it in the 18th minute of the match with a right foot one step kick out of dummy half that found the turf travelling fifty metres for Tweed Heads fullback Glenn McGradey to pick the ball up on his own goal line. As you would expect, Cole Geyer was the first Burleigh player down field to make the tackle on McGradey.

Late in the first half Cole Geyer moved to lock and in the 31st minute whilst running on the right side of the field stepped off his left foot to make a half break and consequently was able to make thirteen hard fought metres.

Cole Geyer was back in the dummy role in the second half and it was a darted out of there in the 43rd minute to his right and then a show and go that got Cole Geyer to within two metres of the Seagulls line directly in front of the posts and an outstanding twenty metre run. Only a desperate tackle from Tweed five eight Jaylan To’O that prevented Cole Geyer from scoring.

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

Cole Geyer started Round One of the 2020 Hastings Deering’s Colts competition for the Burleigh Bears at hooker against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls scoring as Burleigh started their campaign with a first up victory.

When rugby league on the Gold Coast restarted in late July 2020 Cole Geyer played for the Currumbin Eagles in the Gold Coast Rugby League First Grade competition and after a Round One bye, Currumbin took on Burleigh in Round Two with Cole Geyer starting the match on the bench.

When he came on late in the first half Cole Geyer played in the dummy half role and was outstanding leading his forwards onto the ball and also caused some concern for the Burleigh defence with some darting runs out of dummy half.

Cole Geyer also started from the bench in Round Three against the Tugun Seahawks once again producing an outstanding performance when he came on in the dummy half role. Scoring a try and also recording a try assist.

Cole Geyer’s try came in the second half when he packed in at lock with Currumbin twenty metres out from the Tugun line. Cole Geyer picked up the ball from the base of the score taking off to his right. As usual Cole Geyer ran with the ball out in front of his body in two hands. The Tugun defence backed off and Cole Geyer burst through two defenders to score under the posts under pressure from the Seahawks fullback.

Cole Geyer’s try assist came in the first half. At dummy half close to the Tugun line, Cole Geyer skipped out of dummy half to his right and threw a perfectly weighted pass to his lock who ran into a gap to score just to the right of the posts.

Cole Geyer came off the bench once again in Round Four against the Ormeau Shearers scoring a double as the Eagles defeated the Shearers 28 - 22.

Cole Geyer’s first try of the match that he scored in the first half was an exceptional long range individual effort. Cole Geyer was at dummy half sixty metres out from the Shearers line two metres in from the left touch line. When the ball was played Cole Geyer darted out of dummy half to his left down the left touch line before stepping off his left foot to beat the Shearers fullback and outpace the cover defence to score a simply outstanding individual try.

Cole Geyer scored his second try of the match in the second half to break a twelve all dead lock. Cole Geyer darted out of dummy half to his right from a metre out to score next to the right upright for an opportunist try for the Eagles.

Cole Geyer also started from the bench for Currumbin’s Round Five GCRL First Grade match against the Southport Tigers before making his starting debut at hooker in Round Six against the Runaway Bay Seagulls and maintaining his starting hooker role in Round Seven against the Mudgeeraba Redbacks.

In Round Eight against the Tugun Seahawks Cole Geyer started at hooker and scored all three of Currumbin’s tries in their 20 – 18 loss, one in the first half and the other two in the second.

The first of Cole Geyer’s three tries resulted when Cole Geyer took off out of dummy half to the right of the play the ball around seven metres from the line. Cole Geyer ran at a 45 degree angle towards the goal posts, but stopped on the spot before cutting back towards the area behind the play the ball finding a gap and diving over. In fact Cole Geyer scored further to the left of the field than where the play the ball occurred.

Cole Geyer’s second try was also a close range effort. Cole Geyer darted out of dummy half to the right of the play the ball from around three metres out, throwing a big dummy to his right as soon as he had cleared the ruck. As the defence slid to their left as a result of the dummy, Cole Geyer straightened up and dived over adjacent to the right upright.

Cole Geyer’s final try came when he darted out of dummy half to the right once again from around twelve metres out after a quick play the ball and took off straight towards the try line with the defence still back peddling. Such was the speed that Cole Geyer took off that he had dived over well before the majority of Tugun defenders had made it back onside.

After his Round Eight hat trick, Cole Geyer also started at hooker in Round Nine against the Burleigh Bears recording two try assists and was heavily involved in another as the Eagles won in the final minutes of the match.

Cole Geyer’s two try assist came in the second half with the first coming when he skipped out of dummy half to his right, throwing a short flat pass to interchange forward Ji Van Heerwaarden to crash over under the posts from close range. Cole Geyer’s second try assist resulted from a twenty metre long cut out pass to the left out of dummy half to find his left winger in space to score in the left corner.

Cole Geyer was also heavily involved in Currumbin’s match winning try when he threw a long cut out pass once again to his left for Currumbin to get on the outside of the Burleigh compressed defensive line.

Cole Geyer added a further try in Round Ten being the final GCRL First Grade regular season round in a big Currumbin win against Ormeau. Cole Geyer’s try came in the second half when he darted out of dummy half to his right, stopping quickly before cutting straight through the centre of the ruck to score from twenty five metres out.

Cole Geyer could have had a second try, when he backed up on the inside and received the ball once the fullback was drawn in running forty metres to the line. Instead of putting the ball down, Cole Geyer waited in the in goal passing to his brother Nash Geyer to score. Normally I am not a fan of this but earlier in the match his father Matt Geyer (Melbourne Storm) had scored so by giving the ball to his brother it was an incredible situation where a father and two sons played in the same match and also all three scored.

In the Gold Coast Bulliten’s 2020 Gold Coast Rugby League Team of the Year Cole Geyer was named on the bench.

Cole Geyer started the 2019 season off with the Burleigh MM Cup side for the second year in a row in the MM Cup (Cole Geyer played for the Tweed Heads MM Cup side in 2018), playing in all six matches, starting five at hooker and one, being Round Five against Souths Logan at lock.

In the final round against the previously unbeaten Wynnum Manly Seagulls Cole Geyer scored in a tight 23 – 22 Burleigh win. With Burleigh attacking right on the Wynnum Manly line, they were spread out to the right, instead Cole Geyer threw what could only be described as an extravagant dummy to score from close range from dummy half. Cole Geyer also scored two tries against Norths in Round One.

At the end of season awards, Cole Geyer was named 2019 Burleigh MM Cup Players Player Award for the talented hooker.

Post the 2019 MM Cup competition Cole Geyer moved back to play for Currumbin in the GCRL competition, bypassing the U18 Division One competition all together to start in the U20’s. Cole Geyer came off the bench in Round Six before moving into the starting side in Round Seven at hooker, scoring a hat trick as Currumbin defeated Burleigh 52 – 28.

Two of his tries were simply outstanding individual efforts. In the first half, Cole Geyer took the ball from dummy half running to his left around forty metres out from the Burleigh line, he broke through the initial defensive line as a result of a dummy (Cole Geyer ran with the ball out in front of his body in two hands) and a step.

As he was coming to the fullback Cole Geyer showed outstanding speed by literally running around him and then did the same to the Burleigh left winger who came back to try to tackle him to score in the right corner. The play started on the left side of the field, highlighting Cole Geyer’s speed across the ground.

Cole Geyer’s try in the second half was no less impressive, Cole Geyer packed in at lock in a scrum with a Currumbin feed around sixty metres out from the Burleigh line. Cole Geyer picked up the ball from the back of the scrum running to his right.

Once again Cole Geyer ran with the ball out in front of his body in two hands, putting the defence in doubt as to his intentions. As he was coming to the defensive line Cole Geyer just took off through a gap and then outpaced the cover defence in a sixty metre sprint to the try line to score out wide on the right.

Cole Geyer also scored in Round Eight when he came off the bench for Currumbin in their 26 – 24 loss to Runaway Bay. Cole Geyer’s try was the final one of the match, with Currumbin behind and attacking the Runaway Bay line, Cole Geyer shaped to pass to his left but instead ran to his right with the ball out in front in two hands (I know that I harp on it but so few players do it) but instead of passing Cole Geyer cut off his right foot on an approximately 45 degree angle with score under the posts.

Cole Geyer also had two try assists in the match, in relation to the first, with Currumbin a metre out from the Runaway Bay line, Cole Geyer shaped to throw a long pass behind his forward running what looked like just run through but instead Cole Geyer double pumped throwing a soft pass, in a great sleight of hand to his forward to score near the right upright.

Cole Geyer’s second try assist was no less impressive, Cole Geyer shaped to pass to his left, where Currumbin had a backline spread out, but instead ran down a short blind side (maybe four metres) and put in a grubber from around thirty five metres out for his right winger to dive on. Both try assists came in the first half.

Cole Geyer also came off the bench in the GCRL U20 major Semi-final as Currumbin fell 26 – 12 to Burleigh and also started from the bench in the Preliminary Final against Runaway Bay with the Eagles prevailing 20 – 16 to progress to the Grand Final against Burleigh.

In total in the 2019 GCRL U20 competition, including finals Cole Geyer played in six matches scoring the four tries noted above.

Across the 2019 season Cole Geyer also played in five GCRL U18 Division One matches for Currumbin, scoring against Mudgeeraba in late May.

Cole Geyer made his Hastings Deering’s Colts debut when he started at lock for Burleigh in Round Twelve against the Sunshine Coast Falcons.

Cole Geyer also started at hooker for the Titans U18 side’s early October 2019 match at Pizzey Park against PNG scoring a long range individual try out of dummy half. Cole Geyer ran out of dummy half to the right of the play the ball, running right through the centre of the PNG ruck before outpacing the cover defence to score under the posts in the first half.

2018 also saw Cole Geyer play for Marymount College in their various school boy rugby league competitions including the Titans Cup including a high quality match against Keebra Park in the Final of the competition. Cole Geyer captained the 2018 Marymount College open rugby league side from hooker.

The young hooker was outstanding in 2018 in both the MM Cup competition and for Currumbin in the U17 Division One competition and Cole Geyer also got an opportunity in the GCRL U19 competition as a result.

In the 2018 MM cup competition for the Tweed Heads Seagulls Cole Geyer started at hooker for Tweed Heads opening three matches against Norths, Victoria and Burleigh. His sole MM Cup try of the 2018 season came in Round Two against Victoria.

Post the 2018 MM Cup competition Cole Geyer transitioned back to the 2018 U17 Division One competition and was outstanding over the course of the regular season playing in nine matches and scoring nine tries for a 100% strike rate through the regular season.

Cole Geyer scored three doubles which were against Ormeau, Tweed Heads and Burleigh in the final round of the U17 Division One regular season being Round Eleven. Cole Geyer also scored against Mudgeeraba, Bilambil and Runaway Bay.

In Round One of the 2018 GCRL U17 Division One Finals series, Cole Geyer started once again at hooker and was dominant throughout scoring a double as Currumbin defeated Ormeau 18 – 8 in the Qualifying Final to continue their progress towards Currumbin’s 2018 U17 Division One Premiership success.

In the second round of the GCRL U17 Division One Finals series, started at hooker and made it three tries from two finals matches as he led Currumbin to a 32 – 22 win over Burleigh in a match of exceptional quality.

In the 2018 U17 Division One Grand Final against Runaway Bay, Cole Geyer started at hooker for Currumbin as they overcame the Seagulls to win 30 – 10 in an outstanding display by the Eagles in the final game of the season.

Cole Geyer made his U19 debut for Currumbin in June against Bilambil and played his other U19 match in July against Helensvale.

The former Marymount College Burleigh Heads student has represented his school with distinction this season including leading Marymount to victory in the Titans School Boy Open competition and in fact Cole Geyer was named Player of the Competition.

Marymount College defeated Keebra Park C 52 – 6 in the final with Cole Geyer scoring the first try of the game to give Marymount College the lead which they never relinquished.

Cole Geyer also represented Marymount College at the 2018 Confraternity Shield and was the Spirit Award winner for Marymount College in the competition. Cole Geyer started at hooker in all six of Marymount College’s matches.

In the Qualifying rounds Marymount College defeated Marist College Ashgrove 24 – 10 in Round One and Rockhampton Grammar School 17 – 10 in Round Two before drawing 18 all with St Brendan’s College Yeppoon in Round Three.

They lost their Qualifying final 24 – 16 to Cathedral College before bouncing back to defeated St Augustine’s College Cairns 24 – 6 and in their final match of the competition suffered a 24 – 22 defeated to Rockhampton Grammar School.

The talented young Currumbin Eagles hooker had an outstanding 2017 rugby league season both from a club and school boy perspective. For his Currumbin side Cole Geyer started at hooker in their 34 – 4 grand Final win over Burleigh scoring a try and also proudly represented his school side being Marymount College in a number of school boy competitions including the GIO Cup when they lost in the last minute to Redbank Plains State High School in a great match which easily could have ended in Marymount’s favour.

Over the course of the 2017 U16 Division One season for Currumbin Cole Geyer played in twelve matches scoring eight tries. Cole Geyer had an outstanding start to the season scoring in each of his five games against Southport, Ormeau, Runaway Bay, Helensvale and Ormeau again. In the match against Helensvale, Cole Geyer in fact crossed for a double. Later in the season Cole Geyer also scored against Runaway bay and as noted scored against Burleigh in the U16 Division One Grand Final.

At the 2017 Queensland Independent Secondary Schools Rugby League (QISSRL) Carnival held at Padua College in Brisbane, Marymount College in fact were the Bob Linder trophy winners beating fellow Gold Coast School Aquinas College in the final and also the QRL Referees Fair Play Award Winners. In the QISSRL Carnival, Cole Geyer played in all six of Marymount’s matches scoring in a tough 16 – 8 loss to St Augustines College Cairns.

[mdrew]

In 2021 Juwan Compain is part of the 2021 Tweed Heads Seagulls Hastings Deering’s Colts squad and started in the left second row position in their recent trial against the Burleigh Bears. Juwan Compain made some strong runs over the course of the match with one of his best being a strong effort down the left where he made ten metres, many of which were post contact in the 33rd minute.

Juwan Compain was on a Titans NRL Development contract in 2020 and spent the 2019/20 NRL pre-season training with the Titans NRL squad.

When Juwan Compain returned to rugby league he played for the Currumbin Eagles in the 2020 Gold Coast Rugby League U20 competition, including starting the 2020 GCRL U20 Grand Final at right second row as the Eagles took on the Helensvale Hornets.

In the final regular season round of the 2020 Gold Coast Rugby League First Grade competition being Round Ten, Juwan Compain started from the bench for the Currumbin Eagles as they took on the Ormeau Shearers.

To cap off an outstanding 2019 season Juwan Compain, in late December was named in the 2020 Queensland U20 Emerging Origin Squad.

In May 2019 Juwan Compain was selected in the Queensland U18 side for their annual interstate match against their New South Wales counter parts in a State or Origin curtain raiser where Juwan Compain started at lock in Queensland’s big win.

Juwan Compain was at his classy best in the U18 representative match which came as no surprise to people who have seen Juwan Compain develop for PBC and for junior representative sides for a number of years.

In the Interstate match, Juwan Compain played the entire seventy minutes of the match in the right second row position, running for 60.9 metres (23.9 post contact) and made ten tackles at a 90.9% tackling efficiency.

In early 2019 Juwan Compain started in the second row for the Titans U18 side against the Newcastle Knights SG Ball squad in Coffs Harbour on an exceptionally hot Sunday afternoon and had a typically strong match on the right side of the field.

Juwan Compain also started at right second row for the Titans U18 side in their big win over PNG at Pizzey Park in October 2019 with Juwan Compain scoring a first half try when he ran on to a good pass to charge over mid-way between the touch line and the right goal post at the dressing shed end of Pizzey Park.

Juwan Compain kicked off the 2019 season off starting in the second row for the Burleigh MM Cup side’s Round One match against the Western Mustangs and had a huge match including scoring a double in Tweed Heads big 58 – 18 victory.

Both of Juwan Compain’s tries, one in each half were whilst he was playing in the right second row position for Tweed Heads. For his first try Juwan Compain received an inside pass from fullback Reece Walsh and for his second Juwan Compain ran a great outside shoulder route to score out wide near the right corner.

Juwan Compain also was heavily involved in the first try of the match when he was able to generate a quick play the ball after a storming run in the second minute of the match which allowed hooker Jed Edwards to dive over from dummy half from close range.

In total in the 2019 MM Cup competition, Juwan Compain played in all nine of Tweed Head’s matches starting all at right second row including both the Queensland Grand Final against Wynnum Manly and the National U18 final against the Illawarra Steelers.

In Tweed Heads impressive semi-final win over Souths Logan, Juwan Compain was credited with a try assist. Playing right second rower, Juwan Compain threw a great inside ball to his left for fullback Reece Walsh to score near the right upright.

Juwan Compain also had a try assist in the Queensland MM Cup Grand Final victory over the Wynnum Manly Seagulls. Late in the first half Juwan Compain received a great short ball from Solomon Torrens and charged down field drawing the Wynnum Manly fullback to send five eight Kade Hill away to score under the posts.

Juwan Compain extended his try assist record in the National U18 Championship match against Illawarra. After some good work on his inside, Juwan Compain charged down field from his right second row position to draw the Illawarra fullback to send Reece Walsh away to score under the posts in the second half to extend Tweed Heads lead.

Juwan Compain played the entire seventy minutes in the 2019 U18 National Final, running for 140 metres (forty post contact), broke two tackles, played the ball at an average speed of 2.9 seconds and made thirteen tackles at a tackling efficiency of 86.7%.

At the Tweed Heads Seagulls Awards night Juwan Compain was awarded the 2019 Tweed Heads Seagulls MM Cup Coaches award and in the 2019 MM Cup Player of the season voting Juwan Compain finished with five votes.

Juwan Compain made his Hastings Deering’s Colts debut in Round Eleven of the 2019 season for Tweed Heads against the Northern Pride and wasted no time in getting his hands on the ball. From a penalty from the kick off Juwan Compain, playing right second row, charged straight at the Northern Pride defence to show that he deserved his place at that level.

Juwan Compain made his first line break later in the first half, when he broke through the Northern Pride defence to charge down field on the right for what was ultimately a forty metre run before he was dragged down from behind.

Juwan Compain scored his first Hastings Deering’s Colts try in Round Thirteen against the Sunshine Coast Falcons when he scored in the second half. The ball was spun to the right by Tweed Heads, with Juwan Compain receiving the ball about ten metres out, spearing through the Falcons left side defence to score out wide.

Juwan Compain also scored in Round Seventeen of the Colts competition when he scored in the 2nd minute of the second half against Burleigh and added another try in Round Twenty Two against Souths Logan.

Operating on the right against Souths Logan, Juwan Compain, after receiving the ball from the inside engaged his immediate defender before spinning counter clock wise 360 degrees to score wide out in the attempted tackle of the Magpies defender.

Juwan Compain made his Queensland Cup debut starting in the centres for Tweed Heads in Round Fourteen of the 2019 season when the Seagulls travelled to Port Moresby to play the PNG Hunters, playing all 80 minutes of the match. In those 80 minutes Juwan Compain ran for 52 metres (nineteen post contact), broke two tackles, played the ball at an average speed of 3.27 seconds and made ten tackles at a tackling efficiency of 90.91%.

Juwan Compain was also part of the Tweed Heads Seagulls Queensland Cup side in Round Fifteen, starting from the bench against the Townsville Blackhawks, playing in the right second row position when came on late in the first half, scoring not long after he came on when he received an inside ball from half Luke Jurd to score under the posts after a ten metre burst.

In total in the Round Fifteen match against Townsville, Juwan Compain gained thirty two minutes of invaluable experience, running for twenty one metres (four post contact), broke two tackles, played the ball at an average speed of 3.52 seconds and also made eleven tackles.

In total in his two 2019 Queensland Cup matches for the Tweed Heads Seagulls Juwan Compain played 112 minutes out of a possible 160 minutes (70%), ran for seventy three metres (twenty four post contact) and made twenty tackles at a solid tackling efficiency of 82.1%.

Juwan Compain’s 2019 Queensland Cup per game totals included playing fifty six minutes, running for 36.5 metres and made ten tackles. Thus per eighty minutes, Juwan Compain, in the 2019 Queensland Cup competition ran for 52.14 metres and made 14.29 tackles.

Juwan Compain played a number matches for Titans Development Squad in the U13 age group back in 2014 before signing with the Broncos but it is great to see him back in Titans colours for the next three seasons at least.

Juwan Compain was selected in the Australian School Boys side for their Great Britain tour late in the 2018 season after starring for the Queensland U18 School boy side in the ASSRL Championships. In those Championships Juwan Compain started all four of Queensland matches in the second row scoring on Day One against New South Wales Combined High Schools and was one of two vice captains of the Queensland side.

For the Australian School Boys side on their England tour, Juwan Compain scored in their third match of their UK Tour in a 30 – 18 win at Manchester Regional Arena against the Lancashire Academy. Juwan Compain started in four of the five matches that the Australian School Boys played in the UK including starting in the second row in both of the International’s against the England Academy side.

In 2018 Juwan Compain was also part of the Queensland U18 Emerging Origin squad and received a Rugby League Excellence Award for National Representation at the 2018 PBC Sports Awards night.

Juwan Compain was also recently been selected in the 2019 U18 Queensland Emerging Origin Squad with fellow Titans Tristian Powell and Lofi Khan-Periera.

For the Tweed Heads Seagulls in the 2018 MM Cup competition Juwan Compain played in all seven of their matches including their semi-final loss to Souths Logan. Juwan Compain started in the second row in each of the seven matches scoring two tries which came against Burleigh in Round Three and Wynnum Manly in Round Six.

Juwan Compain also played in one Hastings Deering’s Colts U20 match in 2018 when he started in the second row for Tweed Heads in their Round 16 local derby match against Burleigh.

Juwan Compain only played in one club match in 2018 for Currumbin in the U17 Division One competition which was against Helensvale midseason.

Juwan Compain was superb for the PBC Open Rugby League side in 2018 and in two of the matches that I saw being against Keebra Park and Marsden SHS was the most dominant player on the field from my perspective.

In the Queensland GIO Cup semi-final against Ignatius Park, Juwan Compain was once again in outstanding form terrorising the Ignatius Park defence on the left side of the ruck.

In the Queensland GIO Cup final against Kirwan State High School, Juwan Compain started in the second row scoring a second half try as PBC were victorious 32 – 26 to qualify for the National GIO Cup Final.

Juwan Compain also started in the second row for PBC in the GIO Cup National Final against Patrician Brothers College Blacktown and became a 2018 GIO Cup National Champion on the back of a PBC 20 – 12 victory.

In 2017 Juwan Compain was part of the U16 Queensland Academy of Sport squad and has previously represented Queensland at the U12 level.

Early in 2017 Juwan Compain, represented the Gold Coast Vikings White side in the South East Queensland U16 pre-season competition, scoring in Round Five against Gold Coast Green. After the completion of that competition, Juwan Compain was selected in the South East Queensland U16 training squad.

In 2016 from PBC, Juwan Compain represented South Coast at the QSSRL U15 Championships scoring against Sunshine Coast and from there was selected to represent the Queensland Maroon U15 school bot side at the ASSRL U15 championships.

Juwan Compain has previously played for the Titans Development Squads including at the U13 level when they played against Marsden State High School at Pizzey Park in 2014, from memory I believe that Juwan Compain played in the centres that day.

Also in that Titans U13 side was Will Evans who was a standout at fullback for the Titans. It is great to see the two talented young men back with the Titans for the 2019 season and beyond.

Juwan Compain also played club rugby on the Gold Coast in the U14 and U14 age groups.

[mdrew]

Even though he has been named in the Burleigh 2021 Hastings Deering’s Colts side, it would not surprise at all if Titans contracted Tristian Powell starts at a level above.

The young backrower spent three seasons in the Brisbane Broncos Junior Development system but after a break out 2018 which saw him play a number of MM Cup matches for Norths as a 17 year old and also representing Queensland at the ASSRL U18 Championships Tristian Powell has recently inked a two year deal with the Titans and spent the recent off-season training with the Titans NRL squad.

After spending the 2020/21 off-season training with the Titans NRL squad Tristian Powell’s first 2021 hit-up came in mid-February when he started from the bench for the Titans in their first trial against the Burleigh Bears coming on for the second half at lock. Tristian Powell as in fact named to start at lock but moved to the bench to accommodate Herman Ese Ese coming into the Titans starting side.

Mid-way through the second half, Tristian Powell also scored his first try in a Titans jersey when he received the ball and charged ten metres towards the line but was brought down less than a metres away from the line.

Defensively Tristian Powell had some outstanding moments in the match including a try saving tackle in the 56th minute of the match when a last ditch tackle on Burleigh’s Shallin Fuller prevented a try after Tristian Powell had moved quickly to his left.

Tristian Powell was on hand once again in the 62nd minute to prevent another try when his heavy contact after moving to his right saved another try.

A week later Tristian Powell started from the bench for Burleigh in their Queensland Cup trial against the Easts Tigers. Tristian Powell then started at lock for Burleigh Second’s side in their final 2021 Queensland Cup trial against the Tweed Heads Seagulls.

Tristian Powell started from the bench in the Titans first NRL trial of 2020 against Burleigh at Pizzey Park in an impressive senior rugby league debut. In total in the match Tristian Powell ran for 106 metres (thirty five post contact) and made fifteen tackles.

Tristian Powell started from the interchange bench for Burleigh in their final Queensland Cup trial against the Tweed Heads Seagulls.

Tristian Powell started Round One of the 2020 Hastings Deering’s Colts competition for the Burleigh Bears in the second row against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls.

When the 2020 Gold Coast Rugby League competition restarted in August, Tristian Powell 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 from the interchange bench.

After an impressive performance off the bench in Round One, Tristian Powell was promoted to the starting line up at right second row in Round Two against the Currumbin Eagles and maintained his place as the starting right second rower for Round Three against the Ormeau Shearers.

In Round Four against the Tugun Seahawks Tristian Powell started at right second row again and scored in a 66 – 0 victory. Tristian Powell’s try was a result of an impressive hard straight run three passes of the ruck as Burleigh threw the ball to the right. Tristian Powell took the ball twenty metres out and ran straight between two defenders and gave the defensive line no chance.

Tristian Powell also started at right second row in Round Five against the Mudgeeraba Redbacks, in Round Seven against Runaway Bay and in Round Eight against Southport, a match that saw him score a second half when he charged onto the ball from a pass off the dummy half to crash over adjacent to the right uprights from three metres out.

Tristian Powell continued his run of second row starts in Round Nine of the GCRL First Grade competition against the Currumbin Eagles and was involved in Allan Lockwood’s first half try when he got the ball quickly to Allan Lockwood when he was in space.

In the final regular season round of the 2020 Gold Coast Rugby League First Grade competition, being Round Ten, Tristian Powell started in the second row for the Bears against the Mudgeeraba Redbacks.

In Burleigh’s 2020 Gold Coast Rugby League First Grade Semi-final Tristian Powell started at right second row against the Southport Tigers.

Tristian Powell also started at right second row for the Burleigh Bears against the Runaway Bay Seagulls in the 2020 Gold Coast Rugby League First Grade Grand Final.

Tristian Powell was a member of the 2019 Queensland U18 Emerging Origin squad. Subsequently Tristian Powell was selected in the Queensland U18 side for their annual match against their New South Wales counter parts in a State or Origin curtain raiser starting in the front row.

Tristian Powell was immediately in the action in the match taking the second hit-up and winning a penalty for Queensland when he was held down too long as he fought to get a quick play the ball.

In the Interstate match, Tristian Powell played fifty five minutes of the match, running for 102.9 metres (32.3 post contact), had an offload and made a team leading twenty two tackles at a 88% tackling efficiency.

Tristian Powell played in five matches for Burleigh in the 2019 MM Cup competition starting all in the front row. Deservedly Tristian Powell was also named the 2019 Burleigh MM Cup Player of the Year.

In Round Four against Townsville, Tristian Powell was credited with a try assist when he popped a good short ball to his left for left second rower George Etuala-Noa to run into a yawning gap to score from around eight metres out.

Instead of playing Round Six in the 2019 MM Cup, Tristian Powell was promoted to the Burleigh U20 Hastings Deering’s Colts side starting in the second row against Wynnum Manly and celebrated his debut by scoring in the Bears big 50 – 20 victory.

Tristian Powell also had an outstanding game in Round Nine against Redcliffe playing right second row and was heavily involved in two of Burleigh’s tries. His first try involvement was when he off-loaded out the back of his hand to his right for Jayden Campbell to score and in relation to the second once again in a tackle Tristian Powell was able to get his arms free to offload to his right to Jayden Campbell who then drew the fullback for debutant Trey Peni to score his first Colts try.

Tristian Powell was also outstanding in Round Ten against the Northern Pride when he was at least the equal of any forward on the field, both in attack and defence.

Tristian Powell added a try assist in Round Twenty One against the Northern Powell when he produced a great right arm off-load to Shallin Fuller to score under the posts in the first half.

In Week Two of the Finals Tristian Powell scored an outstanding try in Burleigh’s 42 – 12 win against Norths after starting the match in the front row. Tristian Powell burst onto a pass on the right side of the field about twenty five metres out, running a slight inside shoulder route before rounding the fullback to scored adjacent to the right upright.

Tristian Powell’s 2019 Hastings Deering’s Colts season came to an end when he started in the front row for Burleigh as they went down 23 – 16 to Sunshine Coast in the Preliminary Final

In total in the 2019 Hastings Deering’s Colts competition, Tristian Powell played in seventeen matches scoring two tries.

As noted above Tristian Powell came into the Burleigh Colts side in Round Six in the second row and went on to start in seven matches in the second row, one at lock being Round Eleven against Central Queensland, Round Sixteen from the interchange against Souths Logan and the remaining eight in the front row including Burleigh’s three 2019 finals. Tristian Powell’s first start in the front row came in Round Seventeen in the local derby against Tweed Heads.

In the 2019 Hastings Deering’s Colts Player of the Year Award tally Tristian Powell finished with three votes.

Tristian Powell was also part of the Titans U18 side that played North Queensland in the Titans v Warriors curtain raiser in June.

During the Round Nineteen Hastings Deering’s Colts bye week, Tristian Powell turned out for Burleigh in the GCRL U20 competition, starting from the bench and scoring in a Bears 40 – 14 win over Runaway Bay.

To cap off an outstanding 2019 season Tristian Powell, in late December was named in the 2020 Queensland U20 Emerging Origin Squad.

In the MM Cup competition in 2018 Tristian Powell played in six matches for the Norths Devils including their semi-final victory against the Mackay Cutters and North’s Grand Final loss to Souths Logan.

Tristian Powell started the opening two rounds of the season in the front row and Round Three against Souths Logan from the interchange bench before missing a number of matches, coming back into the side from the bench for Round Seven and the subsequent finals series.

In his six matches Tristian Powell had a try scoring strike rate of 50% with his tries coming in Round Two against Central Queensland, Round Three against Souths Logan and Round Seven against Townsville.

Over the course of the 2018 season Tristian Powell represented Met North at the U18 ASSRL Championships starting all of their matches in the front row and from there represented Queensland at the ASSRL U18 Championships.

Tristian Powell is another product of the GPS school boy rugby system playing the 2017 and 2018 seasons for the Nudgee College First XV side, spending a lot of time at outside centre in the blue and white hoops of Nudgee College.

In 2017, his first at Nudgee after moving down from Toowoomba, Tristian Powell represented Brisbane Grey in the South East Queensland U16 pre-season competition, scoring in Round Three of the competition against Brisbane Blue and also was selected in the Queensland U16 side, starting the annual interstate match against New South Wales in the second row along fellow St Mary’s student hooker Jake Simpkin.

In 2016 Tristian Powell represented Darling Downs at the U15 QSSRL Championships, starting at lock. In those Championships he scored on Day Four against Sunshine Coast and on Day One was named the Darling Downs Player of the Match against South Coast.

In 2016 Tristian Powell captained the St Mary’s College U15A side that won the Devere Cup beating Mountain Creek High School 42 – 10 in the final at Bishop with Tristian Powell scoring a strong second half try for the Toowoomba based school.

[mdrew]

After multiple impressive seasons on the Gold Coast Carsil Vaikai deservedly signed a contract with the Titans in 2017 and is thankfully contracted to the Titans until the end of the 2021 season.

The big strong young Titans contracted Runaway Bay Seagull second rower or lock continues to develop his game at an exceptional rate over the course of recent seasons including a stand out 2019 campaign for the Tweed Heads Seagulls MM squad including as their captain, leading them to Queensland and National U18 success and also receiving individual recognition by being selected in the Queensland U18 side for their annual interstate match against their New South Wales counterparts.

From a trivia perspective Carsil Vaikai was in 2019 selected in the Australian Mixed Netball side highlighting his stamina, athleticism and ball skills. In another piece of information Carsil Vaikai’s younger brother (the wonderfully named) Titan Vaikai is a former Titans junior development squad member.

In 2021 Carsil Vaikai was on the bench for the Tweed Heads Seagulls Hastings Deering’s Colts trial against the Burleigh Bears.

Carsil Vaikai is contracted to the Titans until the end of the 2021 rugby league season and was part of the Titans Rookie Squad that played the Tweed Heads Seagulls Queensland Cup side in early February 2020 in wet and slippery conditions. Even though the Titans Rookie squad went down in that match they performed exceptionally well against a Tweed Heads side that contained a number of Queensland Cup veterans.

Carsil Vaikai started Round One of the 2020 Hastings Deering’s Colts competition for the Tweed Heads Seagulls at lock against the Northern Pride as they started what they hoped would be a successful season with a resounding 50 – 20 victory. Unfortunately the remainder of the 2020 Hastings Deering’s Colts season was cruelled by the Covid 19 pandemic.

With the cancellation of all competitions run by the Queensland Rugby League, Carsil Vaikai played the 2020 Gold Coast Rugby League competition with his junior club being the Runaway Bay Seagulls, starting Round One of the GCRL First Grade competition at lock as the Seagulls took on the Mudgeeraba Redbacks.

Carsil Vaikai celebrated his Gold Coast Rugby League debut with a try as Runaway Bay defeated 32 – 20. In relation to the try, Carsil Vaikai was operating on the right side of the field and ran a good outside shoulder route and was put into a gap by his five eight to run five metres to score mid-way between the right goal post and right corner post.

After his outstanding GCRL debut Carsil Vaikai understandably started at lock in Round Two against Ormeau. After missing a number of rounds, Carsil Vaikai was set to come back into the Runaway Bay side in Round Six, starting from the bench against Currumbin however ultimately was not in the game day seventeen for the match.

Round Seven saw Carsil Vaikai named to start at lock for Runaway Bay in their match against the Burleigh Bears and also started at lock in Round Eight against the Ormeau Shearers. Round Nine saw a position change with Carsil Vaikai starting in the front row against the Tugun Seahawks.

In the 2020 Gold Coast Rugby League First Grade Grand Final Carsil Vaikai was on the bench for Runaway Bay as they defeated the Burleigh Bears at Cbus Stadium.

In January of 2019 Carsil Vaikai started at lock for the Titans U18 side in their Coffs Harbour match against Newcastle and scored an outstanding first half try when he barged over carrying two or three Knights forwards with him from around ten metres out.

Carsil Vaikai also started at lock for the Titans U18 side in their big win over PNG at Pizzey Park in early October 2019 producing a dominant display of power rugby league as the Titans were far too good for their opponents in a big Titans victory.

In May 2019 Carsil Vaikai was selected in the Queensland U18 side for their annual match against their New South Wales counter parts in a State or Origin curtain raiser where he started from the bench coming on late in the first half playing in the backrow.

In the Interstate U18 match Carsil Vaikai played twenty five minutes, running for ten metres and made ten tackles at a 90.9% tackling efficiency.

Carsil Vaikai started at lock in Round One of the 2019 MM Cup competition as Tweed Heads smashed the Western Mustangs 58 – 18 in a one sided affair with Carsil Vaikai being particularly effective defensively.

In total in the 2019 MM Cup competition, Carsil Vaikai captained all eight of Tweed Heads matches starting all in at lock in all including both their semi-final against Souths Logan and Grand Final victory over Wynnum Manly. In the 2019 MM Cup Player of the season voting Carsil Vaikai finished with three votes.

In the Grand Final Carsil Vaikai against Wynnum Manly was simply outstanding leading from the front as he did in the National U18 Grand Final leading Tweed Heads to a big 48 – 14 win against the Illawarra Steelers.

Carsil Vaikai played fifty seven minutes in the National Final, running for 145 metres (forty seven post contact), broke two tackles, played the ball at an average speed of 3.64 seconds and made fourteen tackles at a tackling efficiency of 73.7%.

Carsil Vaikai made his Hastings Deering’s Colts debut in Round Eleven of the 2019 season for the Tweed Heads Seagulls against the Northern Pride. After originally being named on the bench, Carsil Vaikai in fact started the match at hooker, acquitting himself well in that role for the first twenty minutes before reverting to the backrow for the remainder of the match.

Unfortunately for Carsil Vaikai the match was his only Hastings Deering’s Colts match of the 2019 season.

Carsil Vaikai played for the Tweed Heads Seagulls MM Cup side in 2018 playing in six of their seven matches, including their semi-final loss to eventual champions South’s Logan. Carsil Vaikai started at lock in the Seagulls first four matches, before missing Round Six. Carsil Vaikai came back into the side in Round Seven off the bench and also came off the bench against Souths Logan in Tweed Heads semi-final loss.

Carsil Vaikai scored one try in the MM Cup competition which came in Round Three against the Burleigh Bears. On that occasion, Carsil Vaikai received the ball from the dummy half to the left of the play the ball and crashed over from around ten metres out carrying two Burleigh defenders across the line with him.

Post the MM Cup competition, Carsil Vaikai played for Runaway Bay in the 2018 Gold Coast Rugby League U17 Division One completion.

In total in the U17 Division One competition in 2018 Carsil Vaikai played in ten matches four of which were finals matches. Carsil Vaikai started all ten of his U17 Division One matches at lock.

In Week One of the Finals series Runaway Bay defeated Tweed Heads 42 -14 and won again in Week Two 24 – 18 against Ormeau with Carsil Vaikai starting both of those finals at lock.

Carsil Vaikai picked a great time to scored his first and only try of the U17 Division One season when he scored in Runaway Bay’s 34 – 22 Preliminary Final victory over Burleigh.

Unfortunately for Carsil Vaikai and Runaway Bay they ran into a red hot Currumbin side in the 2018 U17 Division One Grand Final going down 30 – 10 to an Eagles side that contained amongst others fellow Titans contracted player Noah Gafa.

Carsil Vaikai was also part of the 2018 Coombabah State High School Opens side that made the Queensland Cup Quarter Finals after a one point win over fellow Gold Coast School Marymount College 17 - 16.

Carsil Vaikai moved to Runaway Bay from Helensvale for the start of the 2017 season, and played the majority of the 2017 season with Runaway Bay in the U16 Division One competition, but also played four matches in the U17 Division One competition where he made an immediate impact.

In the U16 Division One competition in 2017 Carsil Vaikai played in fourteen matches scoring his sole try against his former club in July and in the last regular season round Carsil Vaikai converted a late Runaway Bay try.

Carsil Vaikai also played four matches in the 2017 U17 Division One competition and across those four matches scored three tries including a try on debut against Burleigh and also tries against Ormeau and Helensvale. On all four occasions that Carsil Vaikai played in the U17 competition he was backing up after playing in the U16 competition earlier in the night.

Carsil Vaikai was also part of the Gold Coast Vikings Green U16 side that played in the 2017 U16 pre-season competition, scoring against Ipswich in Week Four in a tough 42 – 6 loss. Carsil Vaikai scored a barging try in Week Three when Gold Coast Green defeated Brisbane Grey at North Ipswich Reserve.

Carsil Vaikai had a solid season in 2016, at club, schoolboy and representative level, including representing the South Coast U15 side at the QSSRL State U15 championships. For his Helensvale Hornets club side he crossed for three tries in eight matches in the U15 Division One competition, with the tries coming against Runaway Bay, Beaudesert and eventual premiers Burleigh.

Carsil Vaikai also played one match up at the U16 Division One level in 2016 also against eventual premiers Burleigh in May 2016.

As noted Carsil Vaikai was selected in the 2016 South Coast U15 side that went through the U15 QSSRL competition undefeated through their four matches in the competition. Other Titans linked members of the U15 South Coast side included five eight Jessie Brasslin. Carsil Vaikai also started in the second row when the Titans U15 side were narrowly defeated 22 – 18 by a Balmain Tigers side in a trial game on the Gold Coast.

[mdrew]

After an outstanding 2020 season with PBC in the Langer Cup, Troy Duckett deservedly signed a contract with the Titans in November 2020 and is set to start the 2021 season with the Tweed Heads Seagulls Hastings Deering’s Colts side.

In early January 2021 Troy Duckett started on the left wing for the Titans U19 side in their annual match against the Newcastle Knights in Coffs Harbour with the Titans recording an impressive 40 – 6 victory.

Early in the second half Troy Duckett produced an outstanding heads up play to prevent a Newcastle penalty kick from finding touch. Troy Duckett jumped from the field of play and was a long way over the touch line when he took the ball on the full and threw it back over his head in one movement to get possession back for the Titans.

In 2021 Troy Duckett was part of 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 McGrady 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.

The flying youngster moved up to the Gold Coast from Coffs Harbour midway through the 2018 season and made an immediate impact in the GCRL U16 Division One competition for Currumbin and as a result was selected in the Tweed Seagulls MM Cup squad for the 2019 season.

Troy Duckett started Round One of the 2020 MM Cup competition for the Tweed Heads Seagulls on the left wing against the Northern Pride as they started what they hoped at the time would be their title defence with a resounding 50 – 20 victory.

Also in 2020 Troy Duckett was part of the PBC Langer Cup Open A squad, where he operated primarily on the left wing. Troy Duckett started on the left wing for the PBC A side that played against the PBC B side in PBC’s first trial after the Covid 19 pandemic.

Troy Duckett started Round One of the Langer Cup on the right wing as PBC took on Ipswich State High School and also started on the right wing in Round Two against Wavell State High School and Round Three against St Mary’s Toowoomba where he scored a try and also recorded a try assist.

Tory Duckett’s try was a highlight reel effort when he rose above the Toowoomba defence to take a Ryan Rivett bomb on the full and crash over early in the second half of PBC’s 16 – 6 win. Troy Duckett’s try assist also came in the second half. Once again he rose above the St Mary’s defence to take a Thomas Weaver bomb on the full. The St Mary’s defence held him up and started pushing him back, but Troy Duckett was able to pop a short pass to Reef Somerville who dived over in the left corner to extend PBC’s lead.

The Round Four local derby against Keebra Park saw Troy Duckett move to fullback starting the match there before moving to the left wing for the second half. It was in that second half that Troy Duckett came into his own scoring two tries in a short space of time to put PBC in front for the first time in the match.

Both of Troy Duckett’s tries came when he stayed on his wing, outside his direct opponent, receiving long cut out passes on both occasions and then he used his speed to fly down the left touch line to score. For his first try Troy Duckett ran ten metres to score from a pass from Thomas Weaver and ran twenty five metres for his second after receiving a cut out pass from Xavier Savage.

Troy Duckett also started Round Five against Marsden State High School at fullback and like in Round Four moved to the left wing for the start of the second half but Troy Duckett moved back to fullback early in the second half when Xavier Savage was injured.

Troy Duckett also started on the left wing for PBC as they qualified for the 2020 Langer Cup final on the back of an impressive 34 – 6 victory over Ipswich State High School scoring the opening try of the match when he stayed on his touch line line to dive over from close range to score in the left corner after receiving a cut out pass from Thomas Weaver.

Troy Duckett started the 2020 Langer Cup Grand Final on the left wing for PBC as they defeated Keebra Park 16 – 8 in a high quality match and scoring in the left corner after taking a great cut out pass from Thomas Weaver around five metres out from the line.

In the Queensland School Boys Final against Kirwan State High School Troy Duckett started on the left wing as PBC travelled to take on their North Queensland based opponents but unfortunately went down 24 - 20.

In Round One of the 2019 MM Cup season Troy Duckett started on the left wing for the Tweed Heads Seagulls as they defeated the Western Mustangs 18 – 14.

In total in the 2019 MM Cup competition, Troy Duckett played in all nine of Tweed Heads matches starting all on the right wing bar one including their semi-final victory over Souths Logan. In Round Five against Wynnum Manly Troy Duckett made his sole start away from the right wing when he started at fullback.

Troy Duckett also started both the 2019 Queensland MM Cup Grand Final against Wynnum Manly and the National U18 Grand Final against the Illawarra Steelers on the right wing coming out on the winning side in both matches.

In the National Final (Tweed Heads won 48 – 14 to be crowned National U18 Champions) Troy Duckett played the entire seventy minutes running for sixty five metres (eighteen post contact), played the ball at an average speed of 3.78 seconds and made four tackles at an 80% tackling efficiency.

Troy Duckett made his 2019 club rugby league debut in Round Eight of the GCRL U18 Division One competition starting at fullback and scoring as his Currumbin side defeated Helensvale 16 – 10. Troy Duckett moved to the wing for the next two rounds adding his second try of the season in Round Ten against Bilambil later in the season.

In total in the 2019 GCRL U18 Division One regular season competition Troy Duckett played in five matches scoring the a fore mentioned two tries to finish with a 40% strike rate.

Troy Duckett was also part of the PBC Open A rugby league side in 2019 including starting on the left wing in the Langer Cup derby against Keebra Park in June.

Troy Duckett also started on the right wing for PBC in their heart breaking Gold Point GIO Cup Queensland semi-final 23 – 22 loss to Marsden State High School and came close to scoring the first try of the match but he was unable to ground the ball after suffering a horror bounce in the right corner after a Toby Sexton kick.

In late September Troy Duckett was named in the Tweed Heads Seagulls 2020 MM Cup squad for the second season in a row.

2019 also saw Troy Duckett take part in the 2019 Koori Knockout Rugby League Championships held in Tuggerah on the Central Coast of NSW, playing in the U17 Division for the Kempsey Sharks team.

Playing at fullback Troy Duckett had a successful first day with Kempsey who defeated both Koori Brothers United 28 - 0 and 2829 CAB Next Gen Coonamble 24 - 0 and progress to the semi-finals. In the semi-final Kempsey were up against previously undefeated Wijadjuri United, but were successful once again winning 20 - 12 to progress the Grand Final.

In the Grand Final Kempsey upset the Western Koori Eels side 12-10 to become 2019 Under 17s Koori Knockout Champions.

In late 2018 Troy Duckett started in the centres for the Titans U16 side and scored a hat trick as the Titans defeated PNG 60 – 10 with the youngster running rampant is slippery conditions at Pizzey Park.

Troy Duckett started the 2018 season as part of the North Coast U16 Andrew Johns Cup side, playing in three matches in that competition, starting each at fullback with those matches coming against Central Coast, Northern Rivers and the Newcastle Knights Development Squad.

In the 2018 GCRL U16 Division One competition with Currumbin playing a total of twelve matches including finals matches and scoring nine tries to finish with a 75% strike rate. Troy Duckett scored doubles against Southport on two separate occasions and also against Burleigh. Troy Duckett’s other three tries came against Mudgeeraba in two separate matches and Runaway Bay.

Earlier in 2018 Troy Duckett started on the bench for the New South Wales U16 Kurri side in their annual match against Queensland Murri with Queensland prevailing on that occasion.

In 2017 Troy Duckett represented Group Two at the U15 level playing three matches and scoring against Group 21.

[mdrew]

New Zealand born front rower Isaac Matalavea-Booth, in October 2020 signed a one year extension with the Titans that takes his contract with the Titans up until the end of the 2021 rugby league season and see him training with the Titans U20 squad over the course of the 2021 season as well as being part of the Burleigh Bears Hastings Deering’s Colts squad.

In early January 2021 Isaac Matalavea-Booth started in the front row for the Titans U19 side in their annual match against the Newcastle Knights in Coffs Harbour as the Titans ran away with the match in the second half to record an impressive 40 – 6 victory after leading 16 – 6 at half time.

Isaac Matalavea-Booth was in the action almost immediately, being involved in a solid hit in the second tackle after the Titans kicked off. Also involved in the tackle were Samuel Shannon and Ediq Ambrosyev. Isaac Matalavea-Booth was involved in a further heavy tackle just two minutes later when he and Brock Priestley belted the Knight left winger who had come off his wing forcing him five metres backwards before driving him into the ground.

Isaac Matalavea-Booth and Brock Priestley combined once again in a heavy tackle early in the second half when they combined to heavily tackle a Knights player from a twenty metre restart, with the initial contact forcing the ball loose.

It was not just in the centre of the ruck where Isaac Matalavea-Booth was effective defensively, early in the second half, Issac Matalavea-Booth found himself on the fringes of the ruck on the Titans left side of the field with the Knights attacking the line from close range. The Newcastle five eight identified that Isaac Matalavea-Booth was on a one on one situation with him and tried to beat him on the outside. Isaac Matalavea-Booth however tracked across the field and hit the Knights five eight around the shoulders, knocking him down immediately, which was in fact only a metre out from the Titans line.

Over the course of his stints on the field Isaac Matalavea-Booth was particularly effective in forcing the Knights forward pack to use multiple resources to bring him down and with his quick play the balls, the Titans play makers were regularly able to exploit the additional space that Isaac Matalavea-Booth afforded them.

Isaac Matalavea-Booth was deservedly the Titans first try scorer of the match when he charged onto an Ediq Ambrosyev pass out of dummy half to the left of the play the ball from ten metres out. When Isaac Matalavea-Booth caught sight of the try line, literally no-one on earth was going to stop him from scoring as he planted the ball down adjacent to the right upright.

Over the course of the match Isaac Matalavea-Booth was a difficult for the Knights defensive to stop and that was highlighted when Isaac Matalavea-Booth charged into the Newcastle defensive line when he returned the second half kick-off and made twenty five metres through sheer size and power. A quick play the ball from Isaac Matalavea-Booth led to more metres being gained by Samuel Shannon.

Isaac Matalavea-Booth was at it again in the 8th minute of the second half making eighteen metres, the majority of which were post contact metres with Isaac Matalavea-Booth twisting and turning and bullocking his way downfield, eventually being brought down only after four Knights defenders had to commit themselves to the tackle.

Unbelievably for a big front rower Isaac Matalavea-Booth was still charging at the Knights defensive line in the last couple of minutes, including a big charge and subsequent off-load to Xavier Stowers who then got the ball away to TJ Devery who was held up. Make no mistake however if Isaac Matalavea-Booth’s stamina was not as impressive as it was the Titans would not have had that late match opportunity.

A week after the match against the Newcastle Knights Isaac Matalavea-Booth once again lined up for the Titans U19’s starting in the front row as the Titans took on a Burleigh Hastings Deering’s Colts squad with the Titans winning 32 – 20 with no conversions attempted.

Like against Newcastle Issac Matalavea-Booth was exceptional for the Titans both in attack and defence including a late first half try assist and he almost had a second just minutes later after making his initial impact in the match making a strong hit-up, being the third of the match after the Knights kicked off.

Isaac Matalavea-Booth’s try assist come in the 37th minute of the first half. Isaac Matalavea-Booth charged onto the ball to the right of the play the ball from thirteen metres out for the Bears line, heading directly at the posts. After initially being held, Isaac Matalavea-Booth was able to get his right arm free and was able to get a great flick pass away to Oskar Bryant who was backing up on the inside from dummy half who was able to dive over next to the left upright after rounding one Burleigh defender.

Just minutes later Isaac Matalavea-Booth charged into space, getting a strong one armed (right arm) offload away across his body to his left to Thomas Weaver for what seemed was going to be another Titans try but a desperate knock down of a Titans pass by a Burleigh defender put paid to the Titans attacking play.

Isaac Matalavea-Booth also had a number of kick return metres in the match. Late in the first half, Isaac Matalavea-Booth got his hands down low and cleanly took possession when Burleigh grubber kicked not far out from the Titans line, Isaac Matalavea-Booth took possession and then rumbled four metres down field.

Defensively Isaac Matalavea-Booth produced one of the best tackles in the first half when he crunched one of the Burleigh forwards late in the half. Isaac Matalavea-Booth hit him from the left side around chest high and driving his opponent diagonally backwards for at least five metres.

Just weeks after Isaac Matalavea-Booth suited up for the Titans against Burleigh, Isaac Matalavea-Booth was in a Burleigh jersey lining up for the Bears in a 2021 Hastings Deering’s Colts trial against the Easts Tigers at Langlands Park. Starting in the front row in the second half Isaac Matalavea-Booth was one of Burleigh’s best, alongside fellow contracted Titan Tony Francis in the match that ended up in a twenty all draw.

Isaac Matalavea-Booth was outstanding in his two second half stints but it was a hit-up in the 71st minute of the match in his second stint in the half that summed up not just Isaac Matalavea-Booth’s match but his 2021 season to date.

Isaac Matalavea-Booth charged onto the ball to the right of the play the ball and surged an incredible thirty five metres up field, breaking eight tackles in the process. It looked as if on at least two occasions that Isaac Matalavea-Booth’s momentum would be stopped but on each occasion Isaac Matalavea-Booth produced another effort to keep the run going. Isaac Matalavea-Booth received the ball on his own twenty metre line and was eventually stopped five metres into Easts territory.

Isaac Matalavea-Booth the first of his many second half hit-ups in the opening minutes of the second half when he took a hit-up to the right of the play the ball, jinking off his left foot prior to contact with the line and making ten metres before three defenders had to commit to the tackle to bring him to the ground.

Just a few minutes later, Isaac Matalavea-Booth made another strong surge, making a further ten metres and once again it took three Tigers defenders to get him under control, even those three defenders however could not get Isaac Matalavea-Booth to the ground.

Once again in the 15th minute, Isaac Matalavea-Booth took the ball into the Tigers defensive line, this time making fifteen metres from a hit-up that started in his own twenty metre area.

Isaac Matalavea-Booth made his presence felt in defence with some huge hits in the second half, the first of which came in the 9th minute of the second half when he came in from the left side of the Easts Tigers giant left winger, dropping him to the ground immediately contact was made.

Isaac Matalavea-Booth did not leave it too long to make another strong tackle, this time on the Easts Tigers right centre (No. 4) when he got in under his ribs and drove him back three metres before driving the centre into the ground.

The following week in the Burleigh Hastings Deering’s Colts trial against the Tweed Heads Seagulls, Isaac Matalavea-Booth was once again in the starting side in the front row. Isaac Matalavea-Booth was into the match early taking the second hit-up of the match after Burleigh had received the ball from the kick-off and then backed up to take the fourth hit-up in the same set of six.

In his second stint of the match in the second half Isaac Matalavea-Booth threw his weight around including in the 65th minute when he monstered Tweed Heads and Titans front rower Solomon Torrens in a tackle and that I can assure people is not an easy thing to do.

The giant young front rower from originally Auckland New Zealand headed over to the Gold Coast in early November 2019 chasing his rugby league dream and to play for the Burleigh Bears MM Cup side in 2020 and well as attend Keebra Park for his senior year of school and be part of their open A Langer Cup school boy rugby league squad that ultimately lost the Grand Final against PBC.

Not long after arriving in Australia Isaac Matalavea-Booth signed a one year contract with the Titans to immediately become part of the impressive Junior Titans system (JTS) and in mid-December 2019 was part of the Titans contracted junior players squad that undertook a training session with the Titans NRL squad. In the post training session photo Isaac Matalavea-Booth towered over most if not all of even the Titans NRL squad members, highlighting his size attribute.

Isaac Matalavea-Booth’s first match in a Titans jersey came against the Newcastle Knights SG Ball (U18) side in January 2020 in Coffs Harbour when he came off the bench in the Titans 24 – 10 loss, however when he was on the field Isaac Matalavea-Booth proved difficult for the Knights defenders to get onto the ground. The only hope that the Knights had to get Isaac Matalavea-Booth to the ground was to gang tackle him and chop his legs out from under him.

Isaac Matalavea-Booth started Round One of the 2020 MM Cup competition for the Burleigh Bears in the front row as the Bears went down to the Wynnum Manly Seagulls once again proving difficult to put on the deck until multiple defenders were allocated to the tackle each time that he ran the ball at the Seagulls defensive line.

After the 2020 Round One MM Cup match Isaac Matalavea-Booth headed back to New Zealand for the Covid 19 lock down but returned to Australia in early June 2020 to continuing his schooling at Keebra Park and his training as part of the Titans JTS program.

Also in 2020 Isaac Matalavea-Booth was part of the Keebra Park Langer Cup Open A school boy squad, where he operated in the front row including starting Round One of the competition in the front row against Wavell State High School.

Isaac Matalavea-Booth also started in the front row in Keebra Park’s Round Two match against Marsden State High School and scored his first try on Australian soil. Late in the match, Issac Matalavea-Booth ran a good outside shoulder route to receive the ball twenty metres out and rumbled to the try line crashing over mid-way between the corner post and goal posts on the left side of the field with two Marsden defenders hanging off him.

Isaac Matalavea-Booth continued his run of front row starts in a Round Three 22 – 16 win over Ipswich State High School, in the Round Four local derby against PBC as well as in Round Five against St Mary’s Toowoomba.

Isaac Matalavea-Booth also started in the front row as Keebra Park qualified for the 2020 Langer Cup Grand Final on the back of a big win over Wavell State High School.

Isaac Matalavea-Booth started the 2020 Langer Cup Grand Final in the front row for Keebra Park as they went down 16 – 8 to PBC in a high quality match producing one or two impressive one armed off loads in his two stints on the field.

When Community Rugby League re-commenced on the Gold Coast Isaac Matalavea-Booth played for Burleigh in the Gold Coast Rugby League U18 Division One competition, starting in the front row in the Bears matches, including in the 2020 GCRL U18 Division One Grand Final against the Currumbin Eagles.

Isaac Matalavea-Booth also played a number of matches for Burleigh in the Gold Coast Rugby League U20 competition including coming off the bench in Round Nine against Currumbin and he was on the bench for the Burleigh U20 sides Preliminary Final against Helensvale, which the Bears lost 26 – 24 on the last play of the match, to fall agonisingly short of a Grand Final appearance.

Isaac Matalavea-Booth was outstanding in 2019 for Auckland’s Pakuranga College and at the 2019 SAS College Rugby League Awards Night was named in the front row in the 2019 Premier First XIII Team of the Year which was a deserved acknowledgement of his performances for Pakuranga College and even more meritorious considering Isaac Matalavea-Booth was just 17 years old throughout the season.

From a club rugby league perspective in 2019 in New Zealand, Isaac Matalavea-Booth played for the Manurewa Club in the Auckland U17/18 Open competition playing in thirteen matches scoring five tries and kicking a conversion to finish the 2019 season with twenty two points.

One of his thirteen games one was the 2019 Auckland Rugby League U17/18 Grand Final with Isaac Matalavea-Booth starting in the front row for Manurewa, but unfortunately they went down 22 – 14 to the Marist Saints in a high quality physical (very) encounter.

Isaac Matalavea-Booth also represented the Tao Samoa U18 side in 2019 in their annual match against the New Zealand U18’s starting in the front row and also started in the front row for the Tao Samoa U16’s against New Zealand U16’s in 2018. In fact the first time that Isaac Matalavea-Booth represented Tao Samoa was at the U13 level in 2014 and also represented Tao Samoa at the U15 level in 2016 I believe.

In 2019 Isaac Matalavea-Booth who previously was part of the New Zealand Warriors Development Academy represented the Auckland based Counties Manukau Stingrays representative side in the New Zealand National Youth U17 Tournament starting in the front row in all five of their matches including their semi-final victory over the Akarana Falcons and the U17 National Youth Final victory 24 – 20 against the South Island Scorpions.

Isaac Matalavea-Booth scored two tries in the pool portion of the 2019 U17 National Youth Tournament with those tries coming in Match One against the Wellington Orcas and Match Three against the Northern Swords.

In 2017 Isaac Matalavea-Booth represented Counties Manukau at the U15 National Youth Tournament starting in the front row in his two matches for the Stingrays.

[mdrew]

Klese Haas, the younger brother of Brisbane Broncos, New South Wales State of Origin and Australian International front rower Payne Haas joined the Titans NRL 2020/21 pre-season training squad for a portion of the off season at least and at just 18 years old, Klese Haas certainly has the potential to be a very positive addition to the Titans Junior Development ranks over the coming seasons.

Klese Haas will start the 2021 season as part of the Tweed Heads Seagulls Hastings Deering’s Colts squad.

Another of Klese Haas’s older brothers, Jonah Haas was previously a member of Titans junior development squads, including playing a number of matches in Titans colours and was also a very solid No. 8 for the TSS First XV GPS school boy rugby side a number of years ago.

In 2021 Klese Haas was part of the Tweed Heads Seagulls Hastings Deering’s Colts squad and started in the second row in their final 2021 trial against the Burleigh Bears.

In 2020 Klese Haas spent time at both right second row and right centre for Keebra Park State High School in the Langer Cup Open A school boy competition and played his club rugby league for the Bilambil Jets in the NRRRL competition, playing a number of NRRRL First Grade matches as well as matches in the NRRRL U18 competition for the Jets.

Klese Haas started Round One of the 2020 Langer Cup Open A school boy competition in the right second row position for Keebra Park State High School against Wavell State High School scoring late in the match as Keebra Park suffered a surprise first up loss to the north Brisbane based school in the South East Queensland school boy Open A rugby league competition.

Klese Haas’s try against Wavell SHS came when he took the ball from a Keebra Park penalty kick after a drop out infringement from Wavell. Klese Haas took the ball to the right of where the tap kick had taken place, breaking four tackles in his ten metre run to get the ball down a metre to the right of the goal post with an additional two Wavell defenders trying in vain to drag Klese Haas back from getting the ball down over the line.

After being Keebra Park’s 18th man in Round Two of the Langer Cup competition against Marsden State High School and missing Round Three against Ipswich State High School, Klese Haas started at right second row in Rounds Four and Five of the Langer Cup competition against local rivals PBC and St Mary’s College Toowoomba respectively.

In Keebra Park’s big 2020 Langer Cup semi-final victory over Wavell SHS, Klese Haas started at right centre and scored a late second half try, when after receiving the ball, Klese Haas immediately stepped inside his opposite defender before cutting back towards the outside before beating the Wavell SHS fullback who was coming across on the inside to get the ball down five metres in from the right corner post.

Klese Haas also started the 2020 Langer Cup School Boy Grand Final at right centre as Keebra Park went down to local rivals PBC in a high quality match at Langlands Park in Brisbane.

Post the 2020 Langer Cup Grand Final, Klese Haas was named in the second row in the Courier Mail 2020 Langer Cup Team of the Year and was named the 15th best school boy rugby league/rugby player in South East Queensland in 2020 also by the Courier Mail. In fact the Courier Mail nominated Klese Haas the best Queensland school boy that had not been signed by an NRL club at the start of the Langer Cup competition in 2020.

When Community Rugby League re-started in July 2020, Klese Haas lined up for the Bilambil Jets in the NRRRL competition, playing for the Jets in both the NRRRL First Grade and NRRRL U18 competitions.

In the 2020 NRRRL U18 competition, Klese Hass played in two matches, both coming before the competition was split into the Green and Gold divisions due to Covid 19 and the related border restrictions, with Bilambil playing in the Green Division. Klese Haas started Round One of the initial competition at lock against Ballina and also started at lock in Round Six against the Tweed Coast Raiders.

Klese Haas made his NRRRL First Grade debut off the bench in Round One of the 2020 competition against Ballina before making his first NRRRL First Grade start at centre against the Murwillumbah Mustangs in Round Two. Klese Haas also started in the centres in Round Four against Tweed Coast and Round Five against Cudgen before coming off the bench in Round Six against the Tweed Coast Raiders once again.

Klese Haas has already played International Rugby League when he started from the bench for the Philippines National Rugby League side in a 46 – 16 loss to Italy in Sydney in 2019 at just 17 years of age.

In 2019 Klese Haas played for the Robina Raptors in the Gold Coast Rugby League U18 Division Two competition and was probably the best player in the competition over the course of the 2019 season and had an outstanding match in the Preliminary Final scoring in the Raptors 18 – 16 win over the Currumbin Eagles to progress to the Grand Final.

Klese Haas started the majority of his 2019 U18 Division Two matches for the Robina Raptors at lock including starting in that position in the 2019 U18 Division Two Grand Final against the Burleigh Bears. For me in the Grand Final Klese Haas was the clear stand out player of the match in the 2019 U18 Division Two Grand Final as he was for the vast majority of the 2019 season.

In late 2019 Klese Haas was selected in the 2020 Tweed Heads Seagulls MM Cup squad, but was not part of their 2020 Round One game day seventeen, which unfortunately ended up being the only round of the MM Cup in 2020.

[mdrew]

Auckland New Zealand born second rower TJ Devery signed a multi-year with the Titans and will play the 2021 season on the Gold Coast after being part of the 2020 New Zealand Warriors U18 SG Ball side prior to the competition’s early demise as a result of the Covid 19 pandemic.

In January 2021 TJ Devery played his first match in a Titans jersey when he started from the bench for the Titans U19 side in their annual match at Coffs Harbour against the Newcastle Knights. TJ Devery had some very very good moments both in attack and defence when he came on in the right second row position as the Titans dominated to record a 40 – 6 victory after leading by 16 -6 at half time.

Late in the second half however, TJ Devery moved over to the left and also late in the second half he was held up over the line adjacent to the left goal post coming agonisingly close to scoring in his first match in a Titans jersey.

A week after the match against the Newcastle Knights TJ Devery once again lined up for the Titans U19’s as they took on a Burleigh Hastings Deering’s Colts squad at Burleigh Juniors, coming off the bench with the Titans winning once again, this time 32 – 20 in a match that saw no conversions attempted.

TJ Devery producing a powerful display in the match including a strong line break late in the first half. TJ Devery initially split the Bears defensive line after receiving an inside pass from Thomas Weaver. After a twenty metre charge, TJ Devery was able to get the ball away to his left to Ryan Foran and then got the ball back from Ryan Foran before producing an exceptional off-load to his right to Jaylan De Groot. The sequence may not have led to a try for the Titans but it was a stunning sequence none the less.

Defensively in addition to a couple of heavy front on solo tackles, TJ Devery produced an outstanding cover defending tackle in the 33rd minute of the match. The Bears right winger had gotten outside his direct opponent and seemed certain to make a lot of distance down the left touch line but TJ Devery came across to his left making a diving covering defending around the legs tackle just inside Titans territory.

TJ Devery made his first appearance for the Burleigh Hastings Deering’s Colts side when he started at right second row in the Bears trial against the Easts Tigers which finished in a twenty all draw. In his second stint of the match in the second half, TJ Devery swapped sides to play in the right second row position.

The following week in the Burleigh Hastings Deering’s Colts trial against the Tweed Heads Seagulls, TJ Devery was once again in the starting side at right second row in the No. 19 jersey.

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.

TJ Devery also had an impressive late 2020 representative season in New Zealand as well performing well in a number of junior representative sides in previous years.

After missing Round One of the 2020 U18 SG Ball competition, TJ Devery started Round Two from the bench for the New Zealand Warriors against the Canberra Raiders. When he came on TJ Devery played forty one minutes, running for thirty two metres (ten post contact) and made sixteen tackles at a tackling efficiency of 88.89%.

TJ Devery also started on the bench in Round Three against the North Sydney Bears, for the second week in a row playing forty one minutes. In that time TJ Devery ran for twenty four metres (seven post contact) and made twenty two tackles at a tackling efficiency of 95.65%.

Round Four against the Cronulla Sharks saw TJ Devery come off the bench for his third match in a row, playing forty four minutes when he came on as well as scoring his first career U18 SG Ball try. TJ Devery played forty four minutes, ran for sixty one metres (fifteen post contact), made a line break, broke two tackles and made nineteen tackles at a tackling efficiency of 95%.

TJ Devery scored for the second match in a row in Round Five against the Parramatta Eels when he started from the bench once again playing a total of twenty seven minutes. In that time, TJ Devery ran for fifty four metres (ten post contact), broke a tackle and made ten tackles at a 100% tackling efficiency.

TJ Devery made his first start in Round Six starting in the second row against the Illawarra Steelers which was ultimately the final round of the 2020 SG Ball competition before the Covid 19 pandemic close down. In his first start, TJ Devery played the entire seventy minutes of the match in the second row, running for forty metres (fifteen post contact) and made an impressive twenty seven tackles at a tackling efficiency of 90%.

In total in the 2020 U18 SG Ball competition for the New Zealand Warriors, TJ Devery played in five matches, finishing with a 40% try scoring strike rate. TJ Devery was on the field for 221 out of a possible 350 minutes (63.14%), made a line break, broke three tackles, ran for 211 metres, fifty seven of which were post contact (27.01%) and made ninety four tackles at a tackling efficiency of more than solid 93.07%.

TJ Devery’s 2020 SG Ball per game averages included playing 44.2 minutes, running for 42.2 metres and making 18.8 tackles. Per seventy minutes (the length of an SG Ball match) in 2020 in the SG Ball competition TJ Devery ran for 66.38 metres and made 29.57 tackles.

Late in 2020 TJ Devery was named to start from the bench for the New Zealand Club U18 side when they took on a New Zealand Schools U18 side at Mt Smart Stadium, however ultimately TJ Devery started the representative match at right second row for the New Zealand Club side as they defeated Schools 34 - 22.

TJ Devery took the final kick to attempt to the conversion for the Club sides final try. Unfortunately for TJ Devery the kick from out wide to the left went wide. Interestingly in the match, TJ Devery on occasion was used as a link player between the NZ U18 Club side’s forwards and backs on the right side of the field rather than being utilised primarily being a ball runner.

Also late in 2020 TJ Devery started at right second row for the Auckland U18 representative side that took on their South Island U18 rivals. Another member of the Auckland U18 representative side was fellow new Titans signing Sam McIntyre who was also a team mate of TJ Devery’s in the New Zealand U18 Club side. In fact the two were the NZ U18 Club side’s second row pairing with TJ Devery on the right and Sam McIntyre on the left.

In 2019 TJ Devery was part of the New Zealand Rugby League U18 Talent Development Program (TDP) and at their 2019 camp started in the second row for Team Lauititi in the trial match on the last day of the camp which has become an annual event.

In 2019 TJ Devery was part of the Akarana Falcons U17 Auckland representative side for the 2019 U17 National Youth Tournament, playing in four matches for the Falcons with those matches coming against the Wai-Coa Bay Colts, the Central Vipers, the Auckland Vulcans and the Counties Manukau Stingrays.

At the conclusion of the 2019 U17 National Youth Championships, TJ Devery was named in the U17 Tournament Merit Team.

TJ Devery also represented the Akarana Falcons at the 2018 U17 National Youth Tournament and as a 16 year old made the U17 Tournament Merit Team as well. TJ Devery also started in the second row for the Falcons in their Tournament Final victory over the Auckland Vulcans.

Prior to the final TJ Devery also played in matches against the Northern Swords where he scored a try and kicked a conversion, the Central Vipers, the Auckland Vulcans where he scored once again and the Counties Manukau Stingrays.

In 2018 TJ Devery played for the Te Atatu Roosters in the Auckland Rugby League U16 competition and was in fact named Player of the Season. In 2018 the Rutherford College student represented the New Zealand Residents U16 side, starting in the second row against Toa Samoa U16’s.

TJ Devery made his representative debut in 2017 at the U15 National Youth Tournament when he was selected in the Akarana Falcons U15 side for the Tournament and as he was in 2018 and 2019 TJ Devery was named in the Tournament Merit side, in 2017 in the U15 age group.

TJ Devery started the 2017 U15 National Youth Tournament Final in the second row and kicked a key penalty goal in the second half as the Falcons defeated the Auckland Vulcans 10 – 8.

[mdrew]

Former Casino RSM junior Solomon Torrens is contracted to the Gold Coast Titans until the end of the 2021 season and is currently part of the Titans U20 Rookie Squad.

Impressively Solomon Torrens was one of a number of Titans rookie players that trained with the Titans NRL squad in the first five week block of the 2020/21 NRL pre-season.

In 2021 Solomon Torrens is part of the Tweed Heads Seagulls Hastings Deering’s Colts squad and started in the front row in their final 2021 trial against the Burleigh Bears.

The Titans contracted powerful front rower or second rower has had an impressive start to his career in Titans colours being involved in late 2018 in matches for the Titans U18 side against PNG and New South Wales Country and also was part of the Titans U18 side in January 2019 that played against the Newcastle Knights.

Solomon Torrens spent the 2019/20 off season training with the Titans Rookie Squad as well as training with the Tweed Heads Seagulls Queensland Cup squad and was part of the Titans Rookie Squad that played the Tweed Heads Seagulls Queensland Cup side in early February 2020. Whilst the Titans Rookie squad went down in the match they all obtained outstanding experience playing against hardened Queensland Cup veterans.

Solomon Torrens also started from the bench for the Tweed Heads A Grade side in their late February 2020 trial against the Burleigh Bears which was played as a curtain raiser to the Titans against Burleigh NRL trial at Pizzey Park.

Solomon Torrens started Round One of the 2020 Hastings Deering’s Colts competition for the Tweed Heads Seagulls from the bench against the Northern Pride making a big impression on the match when he came on late in the second half producing a number of outstanding runs as soon as he came on through the centre of the ruck, playing in the front row.

When the Gold Coast Rugby League restarted in early August 2020, Solomon Torrens started on the bench for the Tugun Seahawks in Round One of the Gold Coast Rugby League First Grade competition against the Ormeau Shearers.

Solomon Torrens was outstanding in the match scoring a double as the Seahawks defeated Ormeau 52 – 28. Both of Solomon Torrens were as a result of powerful charges. Solomon Torren’s first try come in the first half, when, operating on the left Solomon Torrens charged onto the ball around ten metres out bursting through two defenders in the Ormeau front line before he dragged the fullback over the line with him.

Solomon Torren’s try in the second half was even better. Solomon Torrens received the ball twenty metres out bursting through the initial defensive line and then spun 360 degrees clockwise to twist past another defender before bumping off the Ormeau fullback to score next to the right upright, for an outstanding individual effort.

After his outstanding performance in Round One Solomon Torrens also started from the bench in Round Two against the Mudgeeraba Redbacks and in Round Three against the Currumbin Eagles and scored the winning try in the dying seconds.

With Tugun four points down late in the match, they flung the ball to the right and Solomon Torrens flew onto the ball from twenty metres, crashing through the initial defensive line and then straight over the fullback to score under the posts to win the match for the Seahawks.

Round Four saw Solomon Torrens once again start from the bench for Tugun against the Burleigh Bears but in Round Five Solomon Torrens moved into the Seahawks starting side at lock against Runaway Bay.

Solomon Torrens moved back to start on the bench for the Seahawks in their Round Six match against the Southport Tigers before moving back into the starting line-up at right second row in Round Eight against Currumbin where he was partnered by James Torrens.

In the Seahawks 20 – 18 victory against the Eagles, Solomon Torrens recorded two try assists, one in each half. In essence both were identical. On both occasions Solomon Torrens was operating on the right side of the field, done short blind sides within ten metres of the Currumbin try line. On both occasions when Solomon Torrens received the ball he held the ball up just a fraction before producing short passes to his right, on the first occasion to his right winger and the second to his right centre for them to score.

Solomon Torrens also started in the right second row position against the Runaway Bay Seagulls in Round Nine. In the final regular season round of the 2020 Gold Coast Rugby League First Grade competition being Round Ten, Solomon Torrens started at right second row as the Seahawks took on the Southport Tigers.

In March 2019 Solomon Torrens was selected in the South Coast U18 side for the 2019 QSSRL U18 Championships and started in the front row for South Coast in the QSSRL U18 Championships. One Day One of the Championships, Solomon Torrens was his typical hard charging self, scoring when he collected a grubber kick that had bounced around through a number of feet to score near the right upright.

South Coast went through the Championships undefeated including coming from behind to defeated Northern in the final 22 – 16.

Solomon Torrens was subsequently named in the Queensland School boy’s side for the Australian School boy Championships and in fact was named Player of the Tournament.

Solomon Torrens was the captain of the 2019 Queensland U18 ASSRL side playing in all of his Queensland’s matches starting in either the front row or second row although he did miss some matches with an injury sustained early .

Solomon Torrens played in all eight matches for the Tweed Heads Seagulls MM Cup side in 2019 and was particularly impressive in their semi-final win against Souths Logan including being heavily involved in the Seagulls first try.

Operating on the left, Solomon Torrens used impressive late footwork to get outside of the Magpies right second rower and get the ball to the outside, leading directly to a try for fellow Titan, centre Caleb Hodges.

In the 2019 MM Cup Grand Final against Wynnum Manly Solomon Torren was one of Tweed Heads best and scored the match sealing try late in the second half when Solomon Torrens cut back in after receiving the ball and crashing over for an outstanding try.

Solomon Torrens also had an impressive 2019 MM Cup match in Round Six against the Mackay Cutters contributing two tries as the Seagulls went on a scoring spree to demolish the Cutters 72 – 0.

Solomon Torrens first try of the match (both were scored in the second half) was scored as a result of a powerful charge. Solomon Torrens was operating to the right of the play the ball, receiving the ball fourteen metres out from the line and after bumping off the initial defender with a front on hit, dragged three defenders over the line with him to get the ball down five metres from the left upright.

Solomon Torrens second try, which ended up being the final try in the rout resulted when Solomon Torrens had the ball two metres out from the line in contact with a number of defenders. Solomon Torrens was able to spin counter clockwise to gain some separation and as a result Solomon Torrens was able to reach out with the ball in his right hand to get the ball down right on the try line.

Solomon Torrens was also at his rampaging best in the 2019 National U18 Grand Final for the Tweed Heads Seagulls against the Illawarra Steelers proving to be a real handful for the Steelers defence every time he took the ball up.

Solomon Torrens played thirty six minutes in the National U18 Final, running for an incredible 150 metres (forty six post contact), broke two tackles, played the ball at an average speed of 3.83 seconds and made fourteen tackles at a tackling efficiency of 87.5%.

Solomon Torrens started Round Two of the 2019 Langer Cup for PBC on the bench against St Mary’s in Toowoomba but when he was injected into the match mid-way through the first half, Solomon Torrens put PBC on the front foot with some big charges through the middle and started at lock against Keebra Park producing similar results from his strong charges.

2019 also saw Solomon Torrens start in the front row for the Titans U18 side in their match against the North Queensland Cowboys that was played as the curtain raiser to the Titans verses Warriors NRL match in June 2019 at Cbus Stadium where Solomon Torrens led from the front for the Titans against a massive Cowboys forward pack in a very physical encounter.

The powerfully built young forward has moved up in 2018 from Northern New South Wales and has made an immediate impression at PBC State High School and for me was the best player on the field when PBC defeated Keebra Park 26 – 22 in the Langer Cup (Open Age Group) recently. The match was a high quality affair but Solomon Torrens was a class apart with his powerful running on the fringes of the ruck for PBC that night.

Solomon Torrens started that match at lock and was dominant throughout regularly making metres through the centre of the ruck as well as on the right side of the ruck. For me Solomon Torrens performance on the Wednesday night against Keebra Park was the best performance I have seen from a school boy since watching Ryan James destroying everyone when he was in his senior year also at PBC seven or eight years ago now.

The former Casino RSM junior generated a lot of buzz around him as a result of his great season in the U16.5 Group One junior rugby league competition in 2017 and it was certainly deserved. As a result Solomon Torrens was selected in the Tweed Heads Seagulls U18 MM Cup squad for the 2018 version of the competition.

For Tweed Heads in the 2018 MM Cup competition Solomon Torrens played in two matches being Rounds One and Two against Norths and Victoria respectively coming off the inter change bench on both of those occasions.

When the 2018 MM Cup competition reached its conclusion, in addition to playing for PBC Solomon Torrens played for the Bilambil Jets in the Gold Coast Rugby League U17 Division One competition. Round One saw Solomon Torrens start in the front row as the Jets lost 20 – 18 to the Tweed Heads Seagulls.

Solomon Torrens was back in the U17 Division One competition in Round Three of the 2018 season when he came off the interchange bench. In Round Four Solomon Torrens started from the interchange bench for Bilambil and scored in their tough 18 – 10 loss to Currumbin.

In Round Five of the 2018 Gold Coast Rugby League competition, Solomon Torrens deservedly made his Gold Coast Rugby League First Grade debut when he started in the centres for the Bilambil Jets in their 26 – 18 loss to the Tugun Seahawks. Making your GCRL First Grade debut at just 17 is an impressive feat indeed for a player at such a young age.

For Casino RSM in the 2017 U16.5 Group One JRL competition, Solomon Torrens averaged just under a try a match on his way to scoring nine tries from just eleven matches (81.82% strike rate) including a great first two rounds when he scored a hat trick in Round One against Ballina and a Round Two double against Lismore Marist Brothers.

Prior to his move to Casino RSM, Solomon Torrens played for the Kyogle Turkeys including at 2016 at the U15 level where he scored five tries across 10 ten matches, including a hat trick against Clarence Coast, and also tries against Marist Brothers on two separate occasions. Unfortunately Solomon Torrens U15 side has had a difficult season and finished last.

Solomon Torrens also played eight matches up in the U16.5 age group in 2016, scoring two tries in the process, one being in his first match in that age group against Grafton and the second against Casino RSM who Solomon Torrens joined in the following season.

[mdrew]

Even though he has been named in the Burleigh 2021 Hastings Deering’s Colts side, it would not surprise at all if Titans contracted Lofi Khan-Pereira starts at a level above.

The young Burleigh Bears winger and former Keebra Park High School student signed a contract with the Titans as a fifteen year old in 2016 after also spending time in the Brisbane Broncos Junior Development System at the same time he was part of the Titans Junior Development Program.

In 2018 Lofi Khan-Periera signed a new three year NRL Development contract with the Titans after the expiration of his initial two year contract.

After spending the 2020/21 off-season training with the Titans NRL squad Lofi Khan-Periera’s first 2021 hit-up came in mid-February when he started on the right wing for the Titans in their first trial against the Burleigh Bears putting in an impressive performance.

In fact Lofi Khan-Pereira should have had his name on the try scoring list when Tremain Spry produced a piece of individual brilliance midway through the first half when he threw a beautiful right arm flick pass to put Lofi Khan-Pereira over in the corner but somehow the pass was ruled forward.

Lofi Khan-Periera’s first line break came early in the first half when he was put away down the right touch line by Tremain Spry, after a forty metre run Lofi Khan-Periera passed back inside to his left to an unmarked Jayden Campbell but the pass could not be taken.

In an impressive sign, in the fourteen minute, Lofi Khan-Periera tracked back to retrieve a kick and when he took possession was confronted by a straight line of Burleigh kick chasers. Lofi Khan-Periera just put his head down and charged straight at the oncoming defenders making fifteen valuable metres to get over the twenty metre line.

In the third minute of the second half, Lofi Khan-Pereira came off his wing and took a solid hit-up, bringing the ball out of his own territory making twelve metres through centre field.

Lofi Khan-Periera also showcased his express pace in the first half when he had to stop, turn and chase and still caught Burleigh speedster Troy Leo within forty metres.

Lofi Khan-Pereira showed safe hands in the 28th minute when he leapt high to take a Tannah Boyd on the full in heavy traffic just short of the try line but was held up on the sixth tackle.

A week later Lofi Khan-Pereira started from the bench for Burleigh in their Queensland Cup trial against the Easts Tigers.

Lofi Khan-Pereira then started on the wing for Burleigh Second’s side in their final 2021 Queensland Cup trial against the Tweed Heads Seagulls and was one of the best players on the field on the way to scoring two spectacular second half tries.

Lofi Khan-Pereira’s first try resulted from a kick to Lofi Khan-Pereira’s right wing with the ball sitting up perfectly for him to streak away to score. Lofi Khan-Pereira’s second try also came from a kick, this time from Ngangarra Barker who grubbered to the right wing with the ball once again sitting up perfectly for Lofi Khan-Pereira to run onto it in full flight to cross for his second try of the half.

Burleigh, in the 72nd minute of the match went to Lofi Khan-Pereira’s right wing once again with a kick but even though the Tweed Heads left winger got to the ball first Lofi Khan-Pereira was able to get hold of him and drag him into touch.

Lofi Khan-Pereira in fact could have had a second half hat trick when he almost grabbed an intercept off Jack Cook but he could not quite get to the ball, if he had it was shut the gate for try number three.

Lofi Khan-Pereira showcased his leaping ability in the opening minutes of the match when he leapt high to take a Tweed Heads attacking bomb to his wing on the full to defuse a dangerous situation.

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

Lofi Khan-Periera spent at least part of the 2019/20 off-season training with the Titans NRL squad where his speed caught the attention of seasoned NRL players such as Ryan James who commented at the time that Lofi Khan-Periera was easily the fastest player in the Titans 2020 NRL pre-season training squad.

Ryan James’s comments on Lofi Khan-Periera’s speed were backed up on multiple occasions with him regularly being the fastest player in the Titans NRL pre-season timed speed sessions. Lofi Khan-Periera has been timed (with proper equipment) at an impressive speed of 36.5 km/hour which would make him the second fastest player even in the NRL, just 0.4 km/hour behind the Bronco’s Xavier Coates.

Lofi Khan-Periera’s best timed speed during a match was 36.5km per hour in Round One of the 2020 Gold Coast Rugby League First Grade competition for the Burleigh Bears against the Southport Tigers.

Lofi Khan-Periera started from the bench in the Titans first NRL trial of the 2020 season against Burleigh at Pizzey Park with the young flyer getting a touch or two under his belt in his first official senior game of rugby league.

Lofi Khan-Periera also started on the left wing for the Burleigh A Grade side in their late February 2020 trial against the Tweed Heads Seagulls.

Lofi Khan-Periera started Round One of the 2020 Hastings Deering’s Colts competition for the Burleigh Bears at right centre against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls and scoring a scintillating try down the right touch line showcasing his plus speed and evasion skills as Burleigh started their campaign with a first up victory.

When the 2020 Gold Coast rugby league competition started in August Lofi Khan-Periera was part of the Burleigh First Grade squad starting Round One against Southport on the right wing.

Burleigh defeated Southport 32 – 4 with Lofi Khan-Periera scoring a try in each half to finish the match with a double. Lofi Khan-Periera’s first try was in fact the first try of the match, he received a long cut out pass from Jayden Campbell, taking the ball five metres out from the Southport try line. When he received the ball Lofi Khan-Periera was stationary and had about two metres to move from a touch line perspective. Lofi Khan-Periera looked like he was going to step inside but in fact ended up beating the defender on the outside with a subtle effective move.

Lofi Khan-Periera’s second half try was the polar opposite of his first try. Southport were attacking the Burleigh line but an errant pass went to ground and Lofi Khan-Periera was on hand to retrieve the ball and sprint seventy five metres to score under the posts untouched.

After an impressive performance in Round One, Lofi Khan-Periera maintained his place on the right wing in Round Two against the Currumbin Eagles and scored his second double in as many matches. Lofi Khan-Periera’s first try came when he stayed on his wing to take a long pass to cross out wide. Lofi Khan-Periera’s second try was a long range seventy five metres intercept when he outpaced the cover defence after jumping up to take the intercept well above his head.

Lofi Khan-Periera also started on the right wing in Round Three against the Ormeau Shearers scoring a double for the third week in a row. One of Lofi Khan-Periera’s tries was a long range effort when he backed up a break by the Burleigh right centre with Lofi Khan-Periera looming up on the inside to take the pass and run fifty metres to score.

Round Four against Tugun saw Lofi Khan-Periera once again start on the right wing for Burleigh and he added a hat trick to his unbelievable start to the 2020 GCRL First Grade season. Lofi Khan-Periera’s first try was a long range team effort. Tugun were on the attack but lost the ball ten metres out from the Burleigh line, Bears half back Josh Rogers ran the ball back down the field before throwing a long pass to his right to find Lofi Khan-Periera in space and he ran forty metres before producing a big dive to score.

Lofi Khan-Periera’s second try was a ninety metres intercept effort early in the second half, with the Tugun defence no chance to catch him as he easily scored under the posts. Lofi Khan-Periera’s third and final try was one of the easier ones that he will ever score when he crossed after a Burleigh back line movement to the right. The Burleigh right centre could have scored but instead made sure that Lofi Khan-Periera got his hat trick.

Lofi Khan-Periera also started on the right wing in Round Five against the Mudgeeraba Redbacks and whilst he did not score in the Bears 20 – 18 loss did record a try assist when the ball came in his direction from a Burleigh scrum win. After breaking down the right touch line, Lofi Khan-Periera put in a right foot kick just as he was about to be taken into touch for Dallas Wells to retrieve and score.

After Burleigh had a Round Six bye, Lofi Khan-Periera started Round Seven against Runaway Bay on the bench for Burleigh coming onto the right wing.

Lofi Khan-Periera started for the Titans U18 side in their match at Coffs Harbour against the Newcastle Knights SG Ball side in January 2019 and was also part of the Titans side that easily accounted for PNG in October 2019 at Pizzey Park. The Titans side were just too big, strong and fast for their opponents that Friday night.

Lofi Khan-Periera was in late 2018 selected in the 2019 U18 Queensland Emerging Origin Squad with fellow Titans Will Evans, Tristian Powell and Juwan Compain all of whom also training with the Titans 2020 off-season NRL squad.

Subsequently Lofi Khan-Periera was selected in the 2019 Queensland U18 side for their annual match against their New South Wales U18 counter parts in a Game One State or Origin curtain raiser starting on the left wing and scoring Queensland’s second try of the match.

The ball was moved out to the left to Lofi Khan-Periera who had to jump up to take the ball well above his head in both hands before sprinting the twelve metres to the left corner, diving the last couple of metres to score. Interestingly Lofi Khan-Periera dived with the ball in his right hand instead of his left (very similar to how Corey Oates scored later in the night in the State of Origin match).

In the 2019 Interstate match against New South Wales, Lofi Khan-Periera played the entire seventy minutes of the match on the left wing, running for 77.9 metres (nine post contact), broke three tackles, made a line break which resulted in his try and had a 100% tackling efficiency.

Lofi Khan-Periera started the 2019 MM Cup season for Burleigh on the wing but moved to fullback for Round Three against the Tweed Heads Seagulls where he stayed for Round Four against the Townsville Blackhawks. In total in the 2019 MM Cup competition Lofi Khan-Periera played in four matches for Burleigh starting two on the wing and two at fullback.

Post the 2019 MM Cup Lofi Khan-Periera was named on an extended bench for the Burleigh Hastings Deering’s Colts side for their Round Ten match against the Northern Pride. In fact Lofi Khan-Periera ended up starting the match on the right wing and almost scored with his first touch, when he took a great cut out pass from Jayden Campbell to flash down the right touch line only to be brought down three metres out from the right corner.

Lofi Khan-Periera switched sides in Round Eleven starting on the left wing against the Central Queensland Capra’s scoring his first try in the Colts competition. Lofi Khan-Periera’s first Colts try will be one of the easier ones that he scores when he was able to dive over untouched after receiving a pass from Reece Tapine around two metres out from the Capra’s line.

Lofi Khan-Periera continued on the left wing in Round Fifteen against Ipswich, including a great run of around fifty metres down the left touch line, showing great hands to take the pass but unfortunately his pass inside just could not reach Jayden Campbell.

Lofi Khan-Periera scored his second Colts try in Round Sixteen against Souths Logan when he scooted out from dummy half to the left of the play the ball from around three metres out to dive over.

Lofi Khan-Periera scored his third Hastings Deering’s Colts try of the 2019 season in the Round Seventeen local derby against Tweed Heads when he stayed on his left wing and after receiving the ball streaked past his opposite winger who was defending a couple of metres inside him and outpaced the cover defence to score in the left corner in an impressive piece of running.

Lofi Khan-Periera scored his first Hastings Deering’s Colts double in Round Nineteen scoring Burleigh’s first two tries against Redcliffe.

Lofi Khan-Periera’s first try was an opportunist one, Cameron Brown put up a midfield and when it was mishandled by the Redcliffe fullback, Lofi Khan-Periera was on hand to scoop the ball up and run thirty five metres untouched to score.

Lofi Khan-Periera’s second try spanned 110 metres, Jayden Campbell retrieved the ball literally on the dead goal line, before exploding down field and then off loaded to Lofi Khan-Periera who had backed up on the inside to run fifty metres to score once again untouched.

Lofi Khan-Periera also had a try assist in the match in the second half when after he made a break down the left wing, put in a deft banana kick back inside with his right foot into the in-goal area for Jayden Campbell to dive on it to score.

Lofi Khan-Periera maintained his try scoring purple patch in Round Twenty against the Western Mustangs when he was on hand to dive on a Cameron Brown kick into the in goal for the Bears first try of many in the match.

Lofi Khan-Periera’s purple patch hit a new high in Round Twenty One against the Northern Pride when he scored a hat trick.

For his first try which came in the first half Lofi Khan-Periera was on the end of a chain of short passes by Burleigh and he raced over in the left corner after a ten metre run to score under pressure from the Northern Pride fullback.

Lofi Khan-Periera’s second try and first of the second half resulted from him using his speed to back up a break from Will Evans who was able to off-load for Lofi Khan-Periera to score in the corner untouched.

Lofi Khan-Periera’s third try was also scored in the left corner, Lofi Khan-Periera received the ball in an overlap situation and came inside a fraction as the Easts fullback was coming over in cover defence, Lofi Khan-Periera’s movement was enough to slow the fullback, once that occurred Lofi Khan-Periera swerved back to the outside to score highlighting his outstanding speed and acceleration.

Lofi Khan-Periera almost scored four tries in the match. He made a long break after taking the ball for what looked like a hit up to bring the ball out of their own territory but he used his speed and footwork to split the defence through the middle going on a sixty metre run before being brought down.

Lofi Khan-Periera scored once again in Round Twenty Two against the Sunshine Coast Falcons to maintain his unbelievable try scoring streak. After a chain of passing that ended with Lofi Khan-Periera is space down the left touchline, Lofi Khan-Periera put in a grubber kick to prevent going into touch and then showed outstanding speed to get to the ball around the Falcons fullback who was trying to shield the ball just as it was about to go touch in goal.

In total in the 2019 Hastings Deering’s Colts competition for Burleigh Lofi Khan-Periera played in nine matches, starting all on the wing scoring eleven tries for a strike rate of 122%.

To cap off an outstanding 2019 season Lofi Khan-Periera, in late December was named in the 2020 Queensland U20 Emerging Origin Squad.

Lofi Khan-Periera started on the wing for the Titans U18 side in their late 2018 victory over the PNG U18 side at Burleigh and also started there and scored one of the Titans three tries as they defeated NSW Country U18’s the flowing week at Cudgen.

In the match against New South Wales Country U18’s Lofi Khan-Periera started on the right wing with his try being an intercept try which covered approximately 98 metres.

Lofi Khan-Periera represented South Coast at the QSSRL U18 Championships in Toowoomba in 2018 scoring a number of long range tries from the left wing and was in my eyes an unlucky omission from the Queensland U18 QSSRL side.

Lofi Khan-Periera played a number of matches for Keebra Park in 2018 season including matches against PBC which they lost by two, points, and in wins over Wavell State High School and St Mary’s College who Keebra Park defeated 24 – 18. Keebra Park were knocked out at the Queensland Quarter Final stage by Marsden State High School in a bit of an upset.

Lofi Khan-Periera also played one or two matches for the Keebra Park B side and was awarded one point in the Open B Best Player Award race.

Lofi Khan-Periera started the 2018 season off in the MM Cup competition with the Burleigh Bears, playing in all six of Burleigh’s matches, starting four on the wing and two at fullback. Lofi Khan-Periera started the Bears first four matches on the wing before moving to fullback for the Round Six match against the Western Mustangs.

In his six matches Lofi Khan-Periera scored five tries including a Round Six double against the Western Mustangs. Lofi Khan-Periera also scored tries in Rounds One, Three and Four against the Sunshine Coast, Tweed Heads and South’s Logan respectively.

Post the MM Cup, Lofi Khan-Periera played in one match for the Burleigh U17 Division One side this season and made the most of it by scoring a hat trick against Helensvale.

In 2017 Lofi Khan-Periera was one of multiple standouts for the Keebra Park Open Rugby League side in their great GIO Cup run. Lofi Khan-Periera started on the left wing for Keebra Park in their Queensland GIO Cup Final win over Marsden State High School and also starting on the left wing in Keebra Park’s 25 – 12 National GIO Cup Final victory over Westfield Sports High.

Lofi Khan-Periera had an outstanding National GIO Cup Final scoring Keebra Park’s first try in just the third minute when after the ball was swept wide to the left by Keebra Park. When the ball came to Lofi Khan-Periera he found himself in space and was able to outpace the Westfield Sports High cover defence on a ten metre run to the line to put the ball down just inside the left corner post after beating his direct opponent with a right arm fend.

Lofi Khan-Periera also produced a bit of brilliance in the lead up to Keebra Parks second try in the National Final in the 6th minute, when immediately after receiving he flicked the ball back inside with his right arm to his centre who broke into space who ultimately scored after putting through a grubber kick when he got to the fullback.

Lofi Khan-Periera had a great 2017 season representing Queensland Murri U16’s in their annual clash against New South Wales Kurri with former Titans linked hooker Jesse Brasslin being a team mate in the match.

In the interstate clash held in Newcastle Lofi Khan-Periera scored a double as Queensland Murri went down 16 – 14 in a tight clash. 2017 also saw Lofi Khan-Periera as part of the 2017 U16 Queensland Academy of Sport squad and he also won the Keebra Park 2017 Year 11 Sport Specialisation student of the year award.

In 2017 Lofi Khan-Periera finished on top of the try scoring list in the U16 Division One competition in 2017, finishing with eight tries from twelve matches. Unfortunately for Lofi Khan-Periera he missed the U16 Division One Grand Final with injury as Burleigh were defeated 34 – 4.

Lofi Khan-Periera had a great start to the U16 Division One season scoring all eight of his tries through the first five rounds including four tries in a match against Ormeau and a Round One double against Helensvale.

At the commencement of the 2017 season Lofi Khan-Periera represented the Gold Coast Vikings in the U16 South East Queensland pre-season competition and from there made the South East Queensland White U16 side for the Queensland Age Championships.

In those Championships, Lofi Khan-Periera had an outstanding campaign, scoring a double on Day Two against Centre and a try on Day Three against South East Queensland Green. Lofi Khan-Periera also scored in each of SEQ Whites finals, including against Northern in a semi-final and against SEQ Green in the final which White won 42 – 30.

As a result of his play over the last couple of seasons Lofi Khan-Periera was identified by both the Titans and the Broncos but has signed a deal with the Titans after being in both NRL team’s development squads.

Lofi Khan-Pereira has also represented Samoa on multiple occasions including being named Samoan U14 player of the tournament in 2015 at the QPICC championships.

Lofi Khan-Periera was also named in the Queensland Murri Probable’s side after the 2016 Queensland Murri championships.

[mdrew]

Great to see Greg Marzhew back starting on the wing for Burleigh in their Round Two Queensland Cup match this afternoon.

[mdrew]

Auckland New Zealand born youngster Sam McIntyre has signed a two year deal with the Titans after an outstanding late 2020 representative season in New Zealand after starting the 2020 season as part of the Newcastle Knights U18 SG Ball squad before heading back to New Zealand once Covid 19 hit in full force.

In January 2021 Sam McIntyre played his first match in a Titans jersey when he started from the bench for the Titans U19 side in their annual match at Coffs Harbour against the Newcastle Knights with the Titans dominating the match, especially in the second half to record a 40 – 6 victory after leading 16 – 6 at half time.

Initially when he came on Sam McIntyre played on the right before moving to the left side of the field in the second half. It was on the left side of the field where Sam McIntyre scored, when he ran into a gap and was fed a pass down a short blind side by Oskar Bryant to charge ten metres to score when he ran over the Knights fullback to ensure that he got the ball down to be awarded his first try in his first game in a Titans jersey.

Sam McIntyre also produced an outstanding run in the match in the 5th minute of the second half. After a break down the right touchline by Samuel Shannon, the Titans spun the ball back to the left, with Sam McIntyre receiving the ball then immediately stepping off his right to beat one defender and drag two more another ten metres. After a quick Sam McIntyre play the ball the Titans crossed in the left corner but the play was called back for an earlier forward pass.

Sam McIntyre also produced a smart piece of attacking play mid-way through the second half. Sam McIntyre was taking a hit-up to the right of the play the ball when he Knights defender flew out of the line trying to put a big hit on him, but Sam McIntyre saw him coming stepping off his left with the Knights defender clutching at thin air. Sam McIntyre was then able to make an additional six metres as well as getting a subsequent quick play the ball, when things could have been substitutionally different but for his quick foot work.

A week after the match against the Newcastle Knights Sam McIntyre once again lined up for the Titans U19’s as they took on a Burleigh Hastings Deering’s Colts squad with the Titans winning 32 – 20 with no conversions attempted.

Sam McIntyre started the match from the bench before coming on at half time playing the entire second half in the left second row position and shortening up a few of the Bears forwards with heavy hits to the ribs. Similiarly when he ran the ball in the second half, Sam McIntyre left a couple of Bears in his wake after dropping his shoulder into then when they attempted to tackle him.

Sam McIntyre made his first appearance for the Burleigh Hastings Deering’s Colts side when he started at left second row in the Bears trial against the Easts Tigers which finished in a twenty all draw. Sam McIntyre made some strong runs in the match including a big run from the kick-off after Branden Amundsen scored the Bears first try of the match.

Late in the first half, Sam McIntyre almost scored his first try since moving to the Gold Coast when he cut back inside to beat one defender and surge towards the line, but he was eventually brought down two metres short of the line.

Sam McIntyre also highlighted in the first half his intelligence when he chased through a mid-field bomb. It would have been easy for Sam McIntyre to charge through and tackle the Easts fullback whilst he was still in the air taking the ball, but Sam McIntyre recognised this and held his momentum to tackle the Easts fullback just as his feet hit the ground.

When Sam McIntyre came onto the field in the second half for his second stint in the match, he swapped sides to play in the left second row position and once again displayed his intelligence when in the 24th minute of the second half, he anticipated an Easts Tigers off-load through the centre of the ruck, getting in between the Tigers players to take an intercept and make eight metres up the field before being stopped.

The following week in the Burleigh Hastings Deering’s Colts trial against the Tweed Heads Seagulls, Sam McIntyre was once again in the starting side at left second row and crossed 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 tracked 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 to take the ball on the full and prevent a try. Sam McIntyre then raced back to the centre of the twenty metre line to take the restart and take the ball forward.

In early November 2020 Sam McIntyre captained the New Zealand Club U18 side that took on a New Zealand Schools U18 side at Auckland’s Mt Smart Stadium, scoring twice in the first half as his New Zealand U18 Club side prevailed 34 - 22 in a high quality hotly contested encounter.

When the sides were announced Sam McIntyre was in fact named at hooker for the NZ U18 Club side but in the end started the match in the left second row position. Fellow new 2021 Titans signing TJ Devery started at right second row for the NZ U18 Club side to make it an all Titans second row for the New Zealand U18 club side.

Sam McIntyre’s first try which was also the first try of the match, resulted from his quick footwork. Sam McIntyre received the ball on the left side of the field around five metres out from the line with the defence rushing up, Sam McIntyre stepped off his left foot to beat the first defender before a second step opened up a small gap to the try line around three metres out, Sam McIntyre got down low and burrowed his way over to get the ball down ten metres away from the left upright.

Sam McIntyre’s second try was also scored in the first half. Sam McIntyre’s Club side had a play the ball less than a metre out from the School’s line. It looked like Sam McIntyre was going to take a hit up to the right of the play the ball but at the last second the dummy half put in a short kick into the in goal. Sam McIntyre kept running into the in goal and he found himself near the ball. In a sign of his maturity, Sam McIntyre took his time to make sure that he grounded the ball properly after he had immediately absorbed the fact that he had time on his side.

Also in early November 2020 Sam McIntyre captained the Auckland U18 side that took on their South Island rivals, once again starting that representative match at left second row and was one of Auckland’s try scorers as they came from behind to defeat the Southern Zone 27 – 16. Fellow 2021 Titans signing TJ Devery was also part of the Auckland U18 representative side, starting the match at right second row.

Sam McIntyre scored from close range in the match. The ball was taken down a short blind side with Sam McIntyre receiving the ball four metres out from the line but at the time was stationary. Sam McIntyre engaged the initial defender chest on, forcing him backwards before cutting to his right and getting down low and forcing his way over five metres in from the left corner post.

To put an exclamation point on his outstanding 2020 season, Sam McIntyre was named the 2020 New Zealand Rugby League U18 Player of the Year, a tremendous honour for the young man prior to his move to the Gold Coast.

As noted above in the introductory comments Sam McIntyre started the 2020 season as part of the Newcastle Knights U18 SG Ball squad playing in their five matches before the competition was suspended due to the Covid 19 pandemic. Sam McIntyre started all five of his matches for the Knights from the bench, although I note that in Round One against the Manly Sea Eagles, Sam McIntyre had initially been named to start in the front row but actually started the match from the bench.

Sam McIntyre’s other 2020 U18 SG Ball matches were against the Western Australian Pirates (Round Three), the Canterbury Bulldogs (Round Four), St George Dragons (Round Five) and the Central Coast Roosters in Round Six. For completeness Newcastle had a bye in Round Two.

In 2020 Sam McIntyre also played for the Northcote Tigers in the Auckland Rugby League competition after returning to New Zealand from Australia when the Covid 19 pandemic hit and international travel was immediately curtailed.

In 2019 Sam McIntyre was part of the Birkenheads College school boy rugby league side that defeated Southern Cross Campus 26 – 4 in the Grand Final of the Senior A SAS College Rugby League School Boy Championships, starting the match at left second row. Sam McIntyre was a key driving force in getting Birkenheads College back into school boy rugby league.

Sam McIntyre was one of Birkenheads College try scorers in the match, scoring under the posts in the opening minutes of the second half. Sam McIntyre received the ball from the dummy half around seven metres out from the line. Sam McIntyre immediately stepped off his left foot, before stepping back off his right. Two additional left foot steps and a left arm fend brought Sam McIntyre to within two metres of the Southern Cross line. Sam McIntyre engaged one defender front on and when two additional defenders got hold of him, Sam McIntyre spun clockwise and then slammed the ball down under the posts with his left arm.

In 2018 Sam McIntyre was a member of the Akarana Falcons U17 representative side that took part of the New Zealand U17 Youth Tournament with Sam McIntyre starting the Tournament final at lock as his Akarana Falcons side defeated Counties Manukau 30 – 26 in the Final.

[mdrew]

Ben Liyou is a young player from the originally Grafton Ghosts club in Northern New South Wales who has been part of the Titans junior development program since the age of just 13 years old and in November 2020 resigned with the Titans for a further two years which will take him through to the end of the 2022 season.

Impressively Ben Liyou was one of a number of Titans rookie players that trained with the Titans NRL squad in the first five week block of the 2020/21 NRL pre-season.

In 2018 Ben Liyou signed a two year deal with the Titans which saw him move to the Gold Coast continue his rugby league career at the start of the 2019 season once his schooling in Grafton was complete.

In 2021 Ben Liyou was part of the Tweed Heads Seagulls Hastings Deering’s Colts squad and started in the front row in their final 2021 trial against the Burleigh Bears and was immediately in the action making the first tackle of the match on the charging Burleigh front rower Daniel Shannon.

In the 5th minute of the match Ben Liyou produced a strong twenty metre run after Tweed Heads got the ball back after retrieving a short kick-off to display that Ben Liyou is more than just a solid defensive player. Ben Liyou produced another strong twenty metre run off the kick-off after Seagulls team mate Troy Duckett’s try and then also took another strong hit-up on the fourth tackle in the same set of six.

Ben Liyou spent the 2019/20 off season training with the Tweed Heads Seagulls U20 Colts side but did spend some sessions with the Seagulls Queensland Cup side and was part of the Titans Rookie Squad that played the Tweed Heads Seagulls Queensland Cup side in early February 2020, starting the match in the Titans forward pack.

Ben Liyou started Round One of the 2020 Hastings Deering’s Colts competition for the Tweed Heads Seagulls in the front row against the Northern Pride scoring an impressive double, one try in each half through sheer guts and determination in the Seagulls big first up win with both tries being a lesson in hard work and effort as the Seagulls prevailed 52 – 20. Unfortunately Round One was the only round of the 2020 Hastings Deering’s Colts played prior to the competition’s cancellation due to the Covid 19 pandemic.

Ben Liyou made his Gold Coast Rugby League First Grade debut for the Currumbin Eagles in Round Six against Runaway Bay, coming off the bench in the match. When he came off the bench Ben Liyou operated in the right second row position for the Eagles.

Ben Liyou also started from the bench in Round Seven against the Mudgeeraba Redbacks before making his career first GCRL First Grade start when he started in the second row for Currumbin against the Tugun Seahawks in Round Eight.

Round Nine against the Burleigh Bears saw Ben Liyou drop back from the starting line up to start on the bench for the Eagles.

Ben Liyou also played a number of matches in 2020 in the Doug Lipp Cup competition for the Currumbin Eagles, including starting in the front row in the Grand Final of that competition against the Tugun Seahawks.

In early 2019 Ben Liyou started from the bench for the Titans U18’s in their annual match at Coffs Harbour against the Newcastle Knights U18 SG Ball squad which ended five tries all even though for me the Titans were clearly the better side that afternoon.

When he came on mid-way through the first half, Ben Liyou started on the left side of the field but moved over to the right side for the second half whilst playing in the second row.

Ben Liyou was more than solid defensively in the match, covering across field well and even though he was not the biggest forward on the field, his initial contact was more than impressive even against far bigger forwards from the Knights.

With the ball Ben Liyou ran a couple of very good outside shoulder routes when he was operating on the right side of the field in the second half, on one occasion almost breaking through the Knights line as a direct result of the line he ran.

Ben Liyou started in the unfamiliar front row position for the 2019 Tweed Heads Seagulls MM Cup side in their 58 – 18 Round One victory over the Western Mustangs.

Ben Liyou’s first 2019 MM Cup try came in Round Three against Burleigh. Tweed Heads five eight Kade Hill put in a grubber kick for Ben Liyou to follow through and dive on to score under the posts with the ball very close, being inches, to the dead ball line.

Ben Liyou also scored in Round Six against the Mackay Cutters in a Seagulls 72 – 0 victory. Ben Liyou scored the Seagulls second try of the match when he took a pass off dummy half Ediq Ambrosyev around twelve metres out from the line and on a diagonal run to the line was just too quick and powerful for the Cutters defence with Ben Liyou putting the ball down just to the left of the right upright.

In total in the 2019 MM Cup competition, Ben Liyou played in all nine of Tweed Heads matches starting all in the front row including their semi-final and Grand Final victory over Wynnum Manly and their U18 National Final victory against Illawarra 48 – 12 (no head gear in the National Final however that meant it took a minute for me to pick him out).

Ben Liyou played thirty nine minutes in the National Final against Illawarra, running for ninety nine metres (forty post contact), played the ball at an average speed of 3.56 seconds and made a team leading nineteen tackles at a tackling efficiency of an impressive 95%.

Ben Liyou made his Hastings Deering’s Colts debut in Round Eleven against the Northern Pride starting the match in the front row, playing significant minutes in Tweed Head’s 35 – 16 victory and also started in the front row in Round Twelve of that competition.

Ben Liyou also started in the in the front row in Round Thirteen against the Sunshine Coast Falcons, scoring his first try when he ran hard and straight to crash over just to the left of the uprights after receiving the ball around nine metres out from the line.

In total in the 2019 Hastings Deering’s Colts competition, Ben Liyou played in twelve matches (all in a row) including their Elimination Final loss to Mackay, starting all in the front row and as noted above scored in Round Thirteen against Sunshine Coast.

Impressively Ben Liyou also spent some time training with the Titans NRL side in 2019 which clearly shows the high regard the Titans hold him in. At the 2019 Titans NRL Awards night Ben Liyou was awarded the inaugural Titans TEDS award.

In late 2018 Ben Liyou was part of the Titans U18 side that won matches against PNG and New South Wales Country U18’s starting in the second row on both occasions and in those matches spent some time playing on the left side of the field instead of playing on the right where he played for the Grafton Ghosts and Northern Rivers earlier in 2018.

Early in 2018 Ben Liyou was part of the North Coast U18 Laurie Daley Cup side starting in the second row in all four of their matches and scoring one try which came against Northern Rivers in Round Two.

Ben Liyou was one of the North Coast’s standout players across the Championships constantly challenging the defensive line, normally operating on the right side of the field.

Ben Liyou had been a Grafton Ghosts player throughout his entire career and that did not change in 2018. Ben Liyou started the 2018 season in the U18 Group two competition and at just 17 years old made his Tooheys New Group Two First Grade debut in Round Three against the Macksville Sea Eagles.

Ben Liyou made his Group Two First Grade debut playing left centre against Macksville even though he had been playing in the second row exclusively over the last couple of seasons in the Group One Junior Rugby League competition prior to his debut.

Post his debut Ben Liyou made three additional Group Two First Grade appearances and in Round Ten in a big win against Macksville had a try assist late in the first half when he broke through the line and set up half Jake Frame for a try on the cusp of half time.

In the 2018 U18 Group Two competition, Ben Liyou played in eight matches, scoring six tries and kicking two goals for a point’s tally on the season to date of 28. Ben Liyou scored a double in Round One against local rivals the South Grafton Rebels, also kicking his season’s two goals in the match. He also scored a double against the Rebels in a 33 – 12 Round Nine win.

Ben Liyou’s other two tries came against Bellingen in Round Five and in Round Six against the league leaders and previously undefeated Coffs harbour side.

In late October 2017 Ben Liyou was also awarded the Aquinas Titans Sportsperson of the Year award at a gala dinner at the Southport Yacht Club showcasing the esteem that Ben Liyou was held in by the Titans.

Ben Liyou played the 2017 season at the U16.5 level for the Ghosts as well as playing three matches at the U18 level for Grafton in the Group Two U18 competition. Ben Liyou also attended a Titans Elite Academy session that was held at Lennox Heads late in 2017, another Grafton Ghost in centre Jake Martin was also an attendee.

Ben Liyou was also part of the East Coast Dolphins U16 side that performed well at the New South Wales Country Championships making the Championship final and as a result was selected for the U16 New South Wales Country side that played two matches in New Zealand as part of a South Island Tour. The NSW Country U16 side won both of their tour matches.

Previously Ben Liyou has represented the Titans in a number of development squad matches including in 2014 when he came off the bench in a match against a Samoan side playing in the second row.

With his try and two goals in a Grafton Ghosts 24 - 4 win over Ballina Ben Liyou finished the U16.5 regular season competition as the leading point’s scorer with 62 points from ten matches. Ben Liyou scored eight tries and kicked fifteen goals. From a try scoring perspective Ben Liyou scored doubles against Casino RSM in June and also against Ballina in July. Ben Liyou also started in the second row in Grafton’s two finals matches against the Clarence Coast Magpies and the Grand Final against Casino RSM.

As a 16 year old Ben Liyou also played three matches for the 2017 Grafton Ghosts U18 side in the Group Two competition, with his Group Two U18 debut coming in April 2017 against the Sawtell Panthers. Ben Liyou’s other two games were against Sawtell again in June and Coffs Harbour in July 2017.

In the 2016 U16 New South Wales Country Championships Ben Liyou scored three tries in their way to the Final where the East Coast Dolphins U16 side lost in extra time to the Western Rams. In that Grand Final Ben Liyou started in the second row and another Titans linked youngster Kade Hill started at half. Ben Liyou scored a double in the East Coast Dolphins 44-0 semi-final win over the Bidgee Bulls and he also scored in Round One against the Central Coast.

In 2016 Ben Liyou was the U15 Group One’s top try scorer with 18 tries from 12 matches to finish five tries clear of the next highest try scorer. Ben Liyou also started at lock for the 2016 Group One U15 representative side that had some good wins over the course of the New South Wales Country Age Championships. Ben Liyou has previous experience in a Titans jersey when he came off the bench in late 2015 in a U14 contest against Samoa.

For the Ghosts in the 2016 U15 competition, Ben Liyou started off the season with a bang scoring seven tries in the first three rounds, including a four try haul against Kyogle and a double against Minor Premiers Clarence Coast. Over the course of the season, Ben Liyou scored five other doubles which came against Ballina on three separate occasions, Lismore Marist Brothers and Kyogle. In April Ben Liyou also played one match at the U16.5 age group against Kyogle backing up after playing in the U15’s earlier in the day.