Junior Development

[mdrew]

Led by an all Titans front row of Ben Liyou, Ediq Ambrosyev and Solomon Torrens the Tweed Heads Seagulls Colts side defeated Wynnum Manly in a recent trial.

[ja4220]

Titans partnered school PBC also qualified for the Bronco's Cup after going down in the Tonie Carroll Cup final to Marsden SHS.

Great to see the two Titans partnered schools play in the final and the third Titans partnered school, being Keebra Park also qualified for the Bronco's Cup after going down in their Tonie Carroll Cup semi-final to PBC.

Not bad at all to see all three of the Titans partnered school's make the Tonie Carroll Cup semi-finals and all qualify for the Bronco's Cup.

Just out of interest, do we have anything in place at Coombabah SHS? I know they are on the fringe of the elite competitions, but they seem to have a good program and develop kids well.

[mdrew]

The Titans are still involved I mate, but it is not as formal as with PBC, Keebra Park and Marsden. There are still more than a few Titans boys across all of the grades including the likes of Joseph Shannon and Caleb Gould-Waiariki.

Just out of interest, do we have anything in place at Coombabah SHS? I know they are on the fringe of the elite competitions, but they seem to have a good program and develop kids well.

[mdrew]

Titans contracted Ben Liyou looks set to captain the Tweed Heads Seagulls Hastings Deering's Colts side this season.

A great choice for the front rower who joined the Titans Development squad as a 13 year old and has excelled ever since.

[Mr Bods]

What’s Tom Weaver been up to with his footy this year so far?

[mdrew]

Tom Weaver has captained the Tweed Heads MM Cup side to be undefeated through the opening four rounds and also has been named in the South Cost Open school boy squad for the Queensland school boy championships.

As always he has been his classy self and if anything his kicking game, which is already near NRL level. The biggest improvement for me this season has been his outstanding defence.

What’s Tom Weaver been up to with his footy this year so far?

[Mr Bods]

Do you think it’s time for a QCup appearance then??

[mdrew]

Personally no mate, I would move him up to Colts after the MM Cup finishes though and let him finish school with all of the matches that involves and then next year let him off the leash.

Do you think it’s time for a QCup appearance then??

[mdrew]

Young PBC outside back Ray Puru has deservedly signed a contract with the Titans and is certainly a long term prospect with outstanding speed and potential.

The talented Titans contracted PBC student started on the right wing for the PBC Hancock Cup School Boy Grand Final side that went down in heart breaking fashion 26 – 24 to Marsden State High School who kicked a penalty goal after the final siren.

Ray Puru scored an impressive double in the match with the first of his two tries coming early in the second half when he produced an outstanding in and away to beat the Marsden left winger down the blind side to dive over in the right corner. The play appeared to be a set move from the back of a scrum with Will Saunders picking up the ball from the back of a scrum ten metres out before getting it quickly and early to Ray Puru to turn his speed and elusiveness into an outstanding try.

Ray Puru’s second try came late in the match when his scintillating speed was on display once again. Ray Puru was on the end of a PBC backline movement starting in their own territory. Ray Puru had to back track to take the long pass to his wing around eighty five metres out from the Marsden SHS line. When he spun around after collecting the ball Ray Puru exploded down the right touch line beating the initial desperate Marsden defenders with sheer pace. To beat the fullback Ray Puru produced and outstanding left arm fend and then was able to dive over ten metres in from the right corner post to level the scores at 24 all.

Ray Puru also scored in Round Four against Forest Lake State High School when he crossed in the left corner untouched from ten metres out after some good work in his inside by hooker Will Saunders. The second half of the match also saw Ray Puru make an outstanding run after fielding a kick off. Ray Puru took the ball near the right touch line bring the ball towards the centre of the field before stepping off his left foot to beat the initial defensive line before he was brought down after a thirty metre effort.

Ray Puru also scored in Round Three against Coombabah State High School when he was on hand to get the ball down in the right corner after diving full stretch to get his hands on the ball after the Coombabah left side defence misjudged a PBC kick to the wing, allowing Ray Puru to get to the ball just before it went touch in goal.

In early October 2020 Ray Puru was part of the Titans Gold Coast based U14 side that played a trial match against a Titans NRRRL U14/U15 squad with the match being played at Cbus Stadium, giving the young players a great experience with the players wearing Titans jerseys for the match.

[mdrew]

Tall, powerhouse front rower Joseph Pouniu from the North Lakes club in Brisbane’s north signed has signed with the Titans and shapes as a young man with a big future ahead of him.

In 2020 Joseph Pouniu played for the North Lakes Kangaroos in the GBJRL U14 Division One competition who finished third on the ladder, winning six out of their ten matches. North Lakes scored 242 points and conceded 124 to finish with a points differential of +118.

North Lakes moved through the Finals series to the Grand Final qualifier against Carina with the match ending in a 22 all draw but Carina went through to the Grand Final as they had scored first in the match.

In the tough match, Joseph Pouniu scored two tries, one on each half as North Lakes season ended one match short of the Grand Fina.

Joseph Pouniu’s first try came in just the 7th minute of match. With North Lakes on the attack, Joseph Pouniu was positioned to the left of the play the ball which occurred in the right corner, Joseph Pouniu initially received the ball two passes off the ruck and immediately offloaded to his front row partner who was to his left.

Joseph Pouniu then looped around behind his front row partner to receive the ball around ten metres out, Joseph Pouniu then ran to his left before dummying in that direction before putting the ball under his arm and burst through to drag two defenders over the line to score ten metres in from the left corner post. Joseph Pouniu then ran the ball back from the subsequent Moreton Bay kick-off.

Joseph Pouniu’s arrived in the 21st minute of the second half when he barged over from six metres out. Joseph Pouniu got down low for force his way over five metres to the right of the goal posts.

Joseph Pouniu was involved in the 2020 Grand Final qualifier early, taking the first hit-up of the match after Carina kicked the ball off to get the match underway with Joseph Pouniu getting the ball back to close to the twenty metre mark.

In addition to scoring two tries, Joseph Pouniu almost set up one towards the end of the first half. Joseph Pouniu backed up a break by his front row partner and got the offload and was immediately engaged by the defence, Joseph Pouniu however was able to maintain his balance and throw a right arm out the back of his hand off-load to a team mate but they were brought down less than a metre from the try line.

Joseph Pouniu continued on unabated in the second half of the Preliminary Final with a try saving tackle in the early minutes. Defending on the try line, Joseph Pouniu moved quickly to his left to engage and man handle to Carina right centre to prevent a try being scored.

Also early in the second half Joseph Pouniu produced an offload that ultimately led to a try in the corner by the North Lakes left winger. A couple of minutes later Joseph Pouniu put up a spiralling midfield bomb and then was the first North Lakes player down field to tackle the Carina fullback.

In the 19th minute Joseph Pouniu continued to work hard, making twelve metres from the second hit-up from a North Lakes penalty restart.

In late September 2020 Joseph Pouniu produced another strong match against Moreton Bay starting with taking the 4th hit-up from North Lakes first set of six making twelve metres. Then in the 3rd minute, Joseph Pouniu charged to within a metre of the try line and won a penalty when Moreton Bay stripped the ball. Joseph Pouniu then got back to take the hit-up from the penalty restart once again only being dragged down a metre from the line, with North Lakes scoring from the next play.

In the 5th minute Moreton Bay had to commit five defenders to eventually get Joseph Pouniu to the ground and then in the 22nd minute, Joseph Pouniu barged fifteen metres downfield into the Moreton Bay twenty metre area from a penalty restart.

Interspersed with these efforts, Joseph Pouniu hit one of the Moreton Bay front rowers hard stopping him in his tracks less than a metre from the try line to stop him from scoring.

In the second half Joseph Pouniu took the second hit-up after Moreton Bay kicked off and what a hit-up it was. After receiving the ball, Joseph Pouniu charged straight through the middle of the Moreton Bay defensive line, breaking easily through the first line and then under heavy pressure from the cover defence threw a great one arm (right arm) pass to his left to his front row partner who also broke through to take the ball into the Moreton Bay twenty metre area.

Towards the end of the second half, Joseph Pouniu, from around twelve metres out was able to get within a foot of the try line and after Joseph Pouniu produced a quick play the ball, North Lakes scored in the left corner from the next play.

Just five minutes later it was a similar situation, after a strong run that one again finished within less than a metre of the try line, Joseph Pouniu produced another quick play the ball that ended with his front row partner scoring under the posts.

In late August 2020, it was the Redcliffe Dolphins that bore the brunt of Joseph Pouniu’s strength and power, including scoring a try late in the first half.

Joseph Pouniu’s try came around the 24th minute of the first half when he lined up to the right of the play the ball twenty metres out from the try line. When the first received took possession, Joseph Pouniu ran an underneath route and charged towards the left corner beating four tackles. Near the try line Joseph Pouniu propped on the spot to let to defenders sail past before veering back to his right and cross eight metres from the left corner post with two defenders trying in vain to prevent Joseph Pouniu from getting the ball down.

After North Lakes kicked off Joseph Pouniu made the 3rd and 4th tackles of the match and continued to dominate from there on.

That domination continued in the 6th minute when Joseph Pouniu made a strong run to the left of the ruck before offloading of his left and then Joseph Pouniu backed up to take the next hit-up. Then in the 9th minute Joseph Pouniu off-loaded once again (right arm offload) this time to his right after a strong hit-up from a twenty metre tap restart, with Joseph Pouniu making ten metres before offloading.

In the 16th minute, Joseph Pouniu lined up to the right of the play the ball but after the first received took possession he cut back underneath the play to break four tackles and make around twenty metres to eventually be tackled near the left touchline.

Joseph Pouniu’s dominance continued in the second half with Joseph Pouniu taking the third hit-up off the Redcliffe kick-off to break through the Redcliffe line and then round the Dolphins fullback to his right and was then still able to produce a right arm off-load to his five eight to get North Lakes onto the attack well into Redcliffe territory.

Redcliffe found it near impossible to stop Joseph Pouniu from off-loading the ball and that proved to be the case once again in the 7th minute of the second half when Joseph Pouniu took the ball right into the line but was still able to produce a right arm off-load to his left to send North Lakes on a long attacking raid well into Dolphins territory.

In addition to starting the match well, Joseph Pouniu also finished the match well with a charge to the right of the play the ball starting from inside his own twenty metre area. After initially being brought down by two defenders, Joseph Pouniu was not held and after getting to his feet threw off another defender before exploding off the mark downfield once again rounding the fullback and getting yet another off-load away.

As was the case on multiple occasions in 2019 and 2020, Joseph Pouniu’s impressive defence is over shadowed due to how damaging he is running the ball but a tackle towards the end of the match when he got low and drove his right shoulder into the Redcliffe hooker highlighted that Joseph Pouniu can be just as damaging without the ball as he is with it.

Another team that had their hands full in trying to contain Joseph Pouniu was Souths Acacia Ridge who in early August 2020 struggled and Joseph Pouniu made them pay with a late first half try as well as an outstanding individual try in the early minutes of the second half.

In relation to his try in the first half, Joseph Pouniu lined up on the left side of the field, receiving the ball two passes off the ruck ten metres from the line, Joseph Pouniu simply was not going to be stopped and he crashed over eight metres to the left of the uprights.

In the early moments of the second half, Joseph Pouniu scored a solo try and you would be hard pressed to see a better individual effort. Joseph Pouniu received the ball off the dummy half to the right of the play the ball and burst through the Souths line sixty metres out. After easily outpacing the cover defence, Joseph Pouniu just as easily rounded the Souths fullback and scored an absolutely impressive solo try seven metres to the left of the uprights.

Joseph Pouniu became immediately involved in the match taking the second hit-up after Souths kicked up, making ten metres to get the ball out to the forty metre mark. Joseph Pouniu then backed up to take the 4th hit-up of the match.

Joseph Pouniu followed those two hit-ups with another strong run from the Souths kick-off after North Lakes opening try of the match, making a further fifteen metres. Then in the 9th minute, Joseph Pouniu produced another damaging effort that accounted for an additional twenty five from a run that included six tackle breaks to get the ball to within one metre of the try line with North Lakes scoring from the next play in the right corner.

In the 18th minute Joseph Pouniu burst straight through the centre of the Souths Magpies ruck, making approximately twenty metres before a right arm offload found his locked who was able to continue the North Lakes attack.

Joseph Pouniu’s attack on the Souths defensive line continued in the second half in the 12th minute when he burst into a gap on his own thirty metre mark charging downfield before offloading to his left around twenty five metres out from the try line.

Joseph Pouniu is not just about speed, strength and power, he is also an intelligent young man with that being confirmed in the 28th minute of the second half when Joseph Pouniu produced a one on one strip inside Souths Acacia Ridge’s own twenty metre mark with North Lakes scoring in the right corner two tackles later.

Even though Joseph Pouniu’s defence was overshadowed by his attack, I am certain that the Souths replacement front rower (No. 17) did not see it that way when Joseph Pouniu crunched him with a big front on tackle in the 13th minute of the first half.

In 2019 Joseph Pouniu started in the Grand Final and was one of North Lakes try scorers in their Grand Final victory over Logan Brothers with his try coming in the 12th minute of the second half. Joseph Pouniu was on the left side of the field and received the ball after the ball went through hands from the right with Joseph Pouniu receiving the ball five metres out and diving over ten metres in from the left corner post.

Joseph Pouniu then ran the ball back from the subsequent kick-off, breaking at least eight tackles in a bumping run to get the ball out to thirty five metres out from the North Lakes line.

In addition to his try, Joseph Pouniu also recorded a Grand Final try assist where came mid-way through the first half. Joseph Pouniu took the ball off the dummy half to the right of the play the ball, after drawing the defence in, Joseph Pouniu threw a long pass to his left to put his left winger over in the left corner. Joseph Pouniu then took the hit-up off the kick off.

Joseph Pouniu’s first contribution in the Grand Final came almost immediately when he made a strong tackle, which was just the second tackle of the match after North Lakes had kicked off.

Joseph Pouniu’s first hit-up of the Grand Final came in the 4th minute when he made fifteen metres when he received the ball to the right of the dummy half to get the ball up to near the halfway mark.

Joseph Pouniu showcased some very good hands ten minutes into the first half. Logan Brother’s kicked-off after North Lakes scored the opening try of the Grand Final with the ball skidding of the green towards Joseph Pouniu, just before it got to him, the ball bounced high above his head. Joseph Pouniu jumped up to take the ball right on the goal line in two hands. Joseph Pouniu then ran the ball back at the Logan Brothers line, getting the ball forty two metres out from his own line, in a run that included five broken tackles.

To round off an impressive first half of the Grand Final, Joseph Pouniu once again made a damaging run from a Logan Brothers kick off and once again Joseph Pouniu dragged defenders all the way back to the forty metre mark.

Even the half time break could not slow Joseph Pouniu down with the young front rower taking the first hit-up from the Logan Brothers kick-off to start the second half. Joseph Pouniu broke two tackles and made twenty metres down the left side of the field just a few minutes later in the 6th minute of the second half.

Then in the 9th minute, Joseph Pouniu skittled Logan Brothers defenders at will, breaking six tackles in a single run of twenty two metres that initially started to the right of a North Lakes scrum win. After receiving the ball, Joseph Pouniu cut back towards the right and getting to metres into Logan Brothers territory.

Joseph Pouniu then have an exclamation mark on his impressive performance in the Grand Final in the 25th minute of the second half when he received the ball on his own line. After dummying to his right, Joseph Pouniu surged downfield, breaking four tackles as he got the ball out to the thirty eight metre mark.

A lot of the analysis of Joseph Pouniu’s Grand Final performance has revolved around his attack but his defence was also outstanding including a tackle mid-way through the second half when Joseph Pouniu monstered the Logan Brothers half back forcing him back ten metres before the referee called held.

In the 2019 GBJRL U13 Grand Final qualifier against Carina, Joseph Pouniu also had a strong match, making an impact in the opening minutes when he made twelve metres, breaking three tackles along the way when he ran the ball to the right of a North Lakes scrum win. Then in the 5th minute Joseph Pouniu made a further run that made fifteen minutes to take the ball out of North Lakes territory and over the halfway mark.

In the 7th minute of the match, Joseph Pouniu showed that he was not just a bash and barge type of player when he engaged the defensive line and got away a good offload to his starting front row partner around the halfway mark.

Just like in the Grand Final, Joseph Pouniu was also dominant defensively in the match against Carina including in just the 4th minute when he made two strong tackles in a row and on both occasions Joseph Pouniu got low to gain leverage and force the Carina attacked backwards after stopping their initial momentum with strong initial contact.

In the 22nd minute, Joseph Pouniu showed great hands when a Carina kick-off was let bounce, the ball bounced back towards the Carina chasers but Joseph Pouniu raced towards the ball and reaching out and initially juggling he ball just as the Carina defence arrived. Then after securing the ball, Joseph Pouniu was still able to get the ball back to near the forty metre mark.

From the second half Carina kick-off, Joseph Pouniu continued to prove difficult to bring down with Joseph Pouniu breaking four tackles to get the ball back to near the forty metre mark. Joseph Pouniu did not slow down as the second half wore on when in the 21st minute of the half, Joseph Pouniu received the ball two passes to the left of the dummy half and from his own forty metre mar, Joseph Pouniu marched the ball twenty five metres into Carina territory.

Josiah Pouniu also had a strong match in July 2019 when he ran rampant against Moreton Bay, including scoring early in the first half. In just the 4th minute of the match, Joseph Pouniu received the ball ten metres out from the Moreton Bay line from the dummy half to the right of the play the ball. Joseph Pouniu, from a near stationary start bumped off two defenders, pushing another backwards before getting the ball down under the posts.

Even though is try came in just the 4th minute of the match, even that was not the first major contribution that Joseph Pouniu had made in the match. In just the 1st minute, Joseph Pouniu got within two metres of the Moreton Bay try line directly in front of the posts, after Moreton Bay had last the ball from their kick-off return.

The in the 3rd minute, in the set of six after North Lakes first try, Joseph Pouniu brought the ball back to the half-way with a strong fifteen metre run after receiving the ball to the right of the dummy half.

Joseph Pouniu continued his strong match in the 9th minute with another run that brought the ball out of his own territory and then in the 16th minute, Joseph Pouniu ran the ball into the defensive line to the right of the play the ball, initially being hit by three Moreton Bay defenders, as Joseph Pouniu continued to fight in the tackle, he spun clockwise and just kept pumping his legs, making ten metres all up before four Moreton Bay defenders had to commit to the tackle to finally get Joseph Pouniu on the ground.

Early in the second half Joseph Pouniu continued to cause havoc for the Moreton Bay defence running off an inside ball to make ten metres to bring the ball out of his own twenty metre area and then in the 16th minute of the second half Joseph Pouniu charged directly through the centre of the Moreton Bay defence, making twenty metres and showcasing impressive speed.

Late in the first half Joseph Pouniu displayed that he is really a half at heart when he last minute of the half he put in a right foot kick to the left corner.

Also in 2019 Joseph Pouniu represented Brisbane Red U13’s in the front row at the Hill Stumer South East Queensland Junior Rugby League Championships, and post those Championships was selected in the South East Queensland Training Squad.

[mdrew]

Ormeau Shearer Ryan McCann has been a stand out player for his age group in the Gold Coast rugby league competition for the last couple of seasons and this year has signed with the Titans.

In 2020 Ryan McCann played for the Ormeau Shearers in the Gold Coast Rugby League U14A Division One competition with the Shearers winning two of their eight matches to finish 5th. Ormeau scored 134 points and conceded 190 to have a -56 points differential.

In 2019 Ryan McCann also played for the Ormeau Shearers in the GCRL U13 Division One competition.

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

Ryan McCann’s season included scoring five tries early in the season against Southport and four tries twice being against Currumbin and Southport. Ryan McCann also scored hat tricks in consecutive matches in June 2019 against Runaway Bay and Coomera and recorded doubles against Burleigh on two occasions and Currumbin. Ryan McCann’s other two tries came against Runaway Bay and Burleigh.

[mdrew]

Young PBC outside back Ray Puru has deservedly signed a contract with the Titans and is certainly a long term prospect with outstanding speed and potential.

The talented Titans contracted PBC student started on the right wing for the PBC Hancock Cup School Boy Grand Final side that went down in heart breaking fashion 26 – 24 to Marsden State High School who kicked a penalty goal after the final siren.

Ray Puru scored an impressive double in the match with the first of his two tries coming early in the second half when he produced an outstanding in and away to beat the Marsden left winger down the blind side to dive over in the right corner. The play appeared to be a set move from the back of a scrum with Will Saunders picking up the ball from the back of a scrum ten metres out before getting it quickly and early to Ray Puru to turn his speed and elusiveness into an outstanding try.

Ray Puru’s second try came late in the match when his scintillating speed was on display once again. Ray Puru was on the end of a PBC backline movement starting in their own territory. Ray Puru had to back track to take the long pass to his wing around eighty five metres out from the Marsden SHS line. When he spun around after collecting the ball Ray Puru exploded down the right touch line beating the initial desperate Marsden defenders with sheer pace. To beat the fullback Ray Puru produced and outstanding left arm fend and then was able to dive over ten metres in from the right corner post to level the scores at 24 all.

Ray Puru also scored in Round Four against Forest Lake State High School when he crossed in the left corner untouched from ten metres out after some good work in his inside by hooker Will Saunders. The second half of the match also saw Ray Puru make an outstanding run after fielding a kick off. Ray Puru took the ball near the right touch line bring the ball towards the centre of the field before stepping off his left foot to beat the initial defensive line before he was brought down after a thirty metre effort.

Ray Puru also scored in Round Three against Coombabah State High School when he was on hand to get the ball down in the right corner after diving full stretch to get his hands on the ball after the Coombabah left side defence misjudged a PBC kick to the wing, allowing Ray Puru to get to the ball just before it went touch in goal.

In early October 2020 Ray Puru was part of the Titans Gold Coast based U14 side that played a trial match against a Titans NRRRL U14/U15 squad with the match being played at Cbus Stadium, giving the young players a great experience with the players wearing Titans jerseys for the match.

[mdrew]

Ormeau Shearers fullback or halfback Nayte Saaga has been a stand out player for his age group in the Gold Coast rugby league competition for the last couple of seasons and now has signed with the Titans.

Nayte Saaga also attends Keebra Park State High School as part of their Titans partnered Elite Rugby League Program.

In 2020 Nayte Saaga played for the Ormeau Shearers in the Gold Coast Rugby League U14A Division One competition with the Shearers winning two of their eight matches to finish 5th. Ormeau scored 134 points and conceded 190 to have a -56 points differential.

In 2019 Nayte Saaga played for the Coomera Cutters in the GCRL U13 Division One competition.

For the Cutters in the 2019 GCRL U13 Division One competition, Nayte Saaga scored an impressive 11 tries from 15 appearances, being a strike rate of 73.33%. Nayte Saaga also kicked six goals to finish the season with 56 points.

Nayte Saaga scored doubles against Runaway Bay and Burleigh with his remaining seven tries coming in individual matches against Nerang, Southport, Currumbin twice, Runaway Bay and Burleigh.

With the boot Nayte Saaga’s best performance was against Burleigh in the Preliminary Final when he kicked three goals.

In addition to being a talented rugby league player Nayte Saaga is also an outstanding Oztag player, including in 2019 being named in the U13 Australian Oztag High Performance Squad.

In 2020 Nayte Saaga played for the Queensland Rebels in the Queensland U14 Oztag Super Series after being selected for the Rebels after starring for the Miami Raptors.

In 2019 Nayte Saaga played in the Queensland U13 Oztag Super Series with the Queensland Force after being selected from the City Centurions. Nayte Saaga was in fact named in the Super Series All Star Team and was also named as the U13 Most Valuable Player.

[mdrew]

In early January 2021 Sam Stephenson was part of a small group of Titans 2021 U15 players who after attending a Titans camp, trained with the Titans NRL squad. Post that Titans camp Sam Stephenson signed a contract that will keep him with the Titans for the next couple of seasons.

Early February 2021 saw Sam Stephenson make it through the first stage of the South Coast U15 QSSRL trials when he was named in the U15 Oceania school boy U15 squad. Following the final round of trials, Sam Stephenson was named in the 2021 South Coast U15 school boy QSSRL squad.

The powerful Titans contracted left second rower was a constant handful for opposing sides in the 2020 Renouf Cup school boy side and Sam Stephenson was one of the reasons that PBC made it all the way to the Renouf Cup Grand Final. Unfortunately PBC went down in heart breaking fashion 10 – 8 to Marsden State High School with the Brisbane based school scoring a late try in the left corner saw PBC lose in heart breaking fashion.

As noted above 2020 saw Sam Stephenson play for PBC in the 2020 Renouf Cup school boy competition, including starting at left second row in the Grand Final against fellow Titans partnered school, Marsden State High School.

Sam Stephenson was prominent for PBC throughout the regular season rounds of the 2020 Renouf School Boy Cup scoring or recording a try assist (on three occasions both) in each of the five 2020 Renouf Cup regular season rounds.

In Round One as PBC went down to eventual their Grand Final opponents Marsden State High School, Sam Stephenson showed the rest of the competition what they would be up against when in the first half he broke the Marsden Right side defensive line with a powerful run that started in his own territory and was able, under heavy pressure get a great pass away to his left on the halfway mark to centre Tyler Small who ran fifty metres to score in a tough 44 – 20 loss.

Round Two as PBC defeated Keebra Park State High Schol 22 – 20 saw Sam Stephenson score a try as well as recording another try assist. The try assist resulted from powerful surge to break through the Keebra Park right side defense around seventy metres out with Sam Stephenson charging forty metres down field before drawing the fullback and passing to his left to send Tyler Small away down the left touch line.

Sam Stephenson’s Round Two try came in the second half. PBC threw the ball from one side of the field to the other, Sam Stephenson received the ball as PBC started to through the ball back to the right, shaking off one attempted tackle before veering to his right and charging fifteen metres to score five metres to the left of the uprights.

Sam Stephenson added two tries and two try assists to his outstanding 2020 Renouf Cup season in Round Three as PBC defeated Coombabah State High School 40 – 12.

Sam Stephenson’s first try assist of the match came after he broke through the Coombabah defese around seventy metres out before drawing the fullback and passing to his right to his half back who was able to score under the posts. Sam Stephenson’s second try assist came after another long break, this time starting sixty metres out with Sam Stephenson charging down field and then drawing the fullback and passing to his left to send Tyler Small away to score.

Sam Stephenson’s first try of the match came thrugh sheer brute strength and power. Sam Stephenson took the ball from a PBC penalty tap ten metres out from the Coombabah line and charged straight and hard to crash over five metres to the left of the uprights.

Sam Stephenson’s second try of the match was scored near where he put the ball down for his fist one. After sending the ball to the right, the ball came back to the ball, finding Sam Stephenson in space and he ran twelve metres to dive over.

PBC defeated Forest Lake State High School 22 – 4 with Sam Stephenson scoring and adding another try assist in Round Four. Sam Stephenson’s try assist was as a result of a one armed offload to his left winger to score after Same Stephenson broke through the line.

Sam Stephenson scored in the match when he broke through the line on the left side of the field, before veering to his left away from the cover defence to score ten metres in from the left corner post.

Sam Stephenson finished off the 2020 Renuf Cup regular season in Round Five against Wavell, PBC won the match 28 – 12 with his fifth try of the season when he did what he had done all season and that was to break through the oppositions right side defence. Agaisnt Wavell, Sam Stephenson broke the line from around thirty metres and was unstoppable on his way to score PBC’s first try of the match.

In early October 2020 Sam Stephenson was part of the Titans Gold Coast based U14 side that played a trial match against a Titans NRRRL U14/U15 squad with the match being played at Cbus Stadium, giving the young players a great experience in Titans colours with the added bonus that they played in Titans jerseys.

In 2019 Sam Stephenson played for Burleigh in the Gold Coast Rugby League U13 Division One competition starting the Grand Final against Helensvale at left centre. Unfortunately Burleigh went down in the Grand Final 26 – 22.

In taking into account his Grand Final loss Sam Stephenson had an outstanding 2019 Gold Coast U13 Division One season which saw him finish with 100 points from fifteen matches and finish second on the competitions try scoring list in the regular season.

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

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

Sam Stephenson also scored three doubles coming against Coomera in two matches and Ormeau with tries against Currumbin twice, Nerang, Runaway Bay twice and Ormeau accounting for the remainder of his 2019 tries.

Also in 2019 Sam Stephenson represented the Gold Coast Vikings U13 representative side at the Hill Stumer Championships which were held in Ipswich with Sam Stephenson named on the bench for the Vikings.

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

[mdrew]

Exciting second row or lock Isaac Togia who hails from the Ipswich region is a Titans signing and let there be no doubt, the Titans have snared a seriously talented young player.

In 2020 Isaac Togia played for Goonda Black in the Ipswich Rugby League U14 competition with Goonda Black winning all ten of their 2020 matches, scoring a staggering 506 points and conceding just 32 to finish with a positive points differential of +474.

Isaac Togia had some big match in 2020 for Goonda Black including scoring five tries in Round Eight as Goodna Black defeated Redback Red 58 – 10. Isaac Togia also scored four tries in Rounds Four and Six against Goodna Blue (62 – 0) and Swifts Blue (68 – 0) respectively.

Isaac Togia previously played for the Springfield Panthers Junior Rugby League Club who also played in the Ipswich Rugby League competition.

In 2019 Isaac Togia represented the Ipswich Diggers U13’s in the second row at the Hill Stumer South East Queensland Junior Rugby League Championships, and post those Championships was selected in the South East Queensland Training Squad.

Isaac Togia is also a more than impressive rugby player and currently attends Ipswich Grammar School and plays rugby in the GPS school boy rugby competition. In 2020 in the GPS U14A competition and in 2019 in the U13A competition, Isaac Togia was a stand out for the Ipswich based school, playing at outside centre (No. 13).

Isaac Togia has also represented Ipswich Grammar School in the GPS Athletics Championships in 2019 and 2020.

2019 also saw Isaac Togia play for the Ipswich Rangers rugby club who played in the Brisbane U13A Brisbane Junior Rugby competition, once again playing outside centre.

For the Ipswich Rangers, Isaac Togia played at outside centre (No. 13) and finished the 2019 season on fire. In the BJR U13A 2019 regular season Isaac Togia had a huge Round Ten match, scoring five tries against Sunnybank Green and also scored a double in Round Eight against Souths Black.

Isaac Togia also scored in each of his three finals matches in 2019, being in Week One of the Finals against Souths Black, Week Two against Easts Blue and Week Three against Norths Blue in the Rangers two point loss.

Also in 2019 Isaac Togia was selected in the Brisbane Red side for the Queensland XV’s State Rugby Championships.