Junior Development

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Atunaisa Pahulu Jnr started at right centre in just his second match in Australia for Southport in Round Two of the GCRL U18 Division One competition against Runaway Bay over the weekend and in just the 2nd minute of the match he made a strong burst of fourteen metres from a hit-up to the right of the dummy half with Atunaisa Pahulu Jnr initially receiving the ball just eight metres out from his own line.

Then in the 5th minute Atunaisa Pahulu Jnr broke two tackles when running the ball off a Tigers scrum win, making sixteen strong metres with at least half of those post contact metres. Atunaisa Pahulu Jnr made another strong run from a Southport scrum win in the 7th minute making a further ten metres.

Atunaisa Pahulu Jnr hard working start to the match continued when he took the second hit-up from the kick-off after the first Southport try making ten metres to get the ball outside of his own twenty metre area.

The 18th minute saw Atunaisa Pahulu Jnr record a line break directly from the kick-off after Southport’s second try. Southport let the kick-off bounce and it actually bounced back towards the oncoming Runaway Bay chasers. Atunaisa Pahulu Jnr charged forward retrieving the ball at full speed and then ran straight through two defenders to get the ball back to the forty metre line.

Atunaisa Pahulu Jnr continued to highlight that he can run all sorts of routes when in the 22nd minute he came back underneath one of his playmakers running to his left and backing sixteen metres to get within twenty metres of the try line.

Just a minute later in the 23rd minute, Atunaisa Pahulu Jnr ran out of dummy half once again getting within two metres of the line after a strong fourteen metre run after running to his right.

Atunaisa Pahulu Jnr had a line break assist in the match as well when in the 33rd minute he moved over to the left side of the field for a set move off the back of a scrum, drawing in both his immediate defender as well as the Seagulls right winger to put his own winger away down the left touchline.

Whilst he was one of the most dangerous ball runners in the match, Atunaisa Pahulu Jnr did not ignore his defensive duties, including in the 28th minute when he made a strong tackle on the Seagulls fullback who had run down a short right blindside.

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It was good to see Titans contracted Seth Nikotemo start from the bench for Runaway Bay as they took on Southport in Round Two of the GCRL U18 Division One competition.

Seth Nikotemo lined up at right second row when he came on and scored in the 36th minute of the match.

Seth Nikotemo pounced on a Seagulls dropped ball that had been knocked back, picking the ball up ten metres out, Seth Nikotemo was able to hold off one defender with his left arm as he charged towards the line, getting the ball down in the right corner.

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As a result of this weekend’s Burleigh Hastings Deering’s Colts bye week, Titans contracted Tristian Powell moves to the Burleigh Gold Coast Rugby League side, being named to start at lock in Round Three against the Mudgeeraba Redbacks

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.

Round One of the 2021 Hastings Deering’s Colts competition saw Tristian Powell start in the front row for the Burleigh Bears when they took on the Easts Tigers and he took the first hit-up of the match after the Tigers had kicked off.

Tristian Powell came close to scoring himself in the 8th minute he ran an underneath route making ten metres to get within two metres of the try line. With Burleigh scoring later in the same set of six tackles through Sam McIntyre. From the subsequent Easts kick-off, Tristian Powell took the first hit-up getting the ball back to near the twenty metre mark.

Tristian Powell made a further strong run from the kick-off after Lofi Khan-Pereira’s try getting the ball back to the eighteen metre mark. Then in the 60th minute took yet another hit-up, dummying to his right before making thirteen metres to get within twelve metres of the line.

Tristian Powell’s strength and endurance was only enhanced by the training that he did with the Titans NRL squad and his constant effort through Round One against Easts proved that. In addition to all that he had previously done in the match, Tristian Powell in the 66th minute continued to work hard with a twelve metre run after a Ronin Rio intercept.

Tristian Powell’s strength was not just displayed running with the ball but also in defence including in the 67th minute when after the Tigers right winger broke through the line and when he tried to step Tristian Powell he was monstered by the big front rower.

Tristian Powell also started in the front row in the Round Two local derby against the Tweed Heads Seagulls, getting involved in the first tackle of the match on Tweed Heads front rower Ben Liyou alongside team mates, Jayden Sharp and Blake Campbell.

In the 54th minute Tristian Powell was involved in one of the stranger tries that you will see. After Burleigh had kicked off after a Tweed Heads try, the ball hit the right goal post on the full bouncing back into the field. Tristian Powell had run downfield from the kick-off and was able to retrieve the ball on the bounce and get to within eleven metres of the line. Replacement hooker Vaka Sikahele ran from dummy half after Tristian Powell had played the ball to score.

In the set of six after the try Tristian Powell was able to make an additional ten metres down a short left blindside on the second tackle and then made a further fifteen metres from a hit-up on the 4th tackle of the same set.

Tristian Powell also started in the front row in Round Three against the Western Mustangs but moved back to start in the second row in Round Four against the Norths Devils.

Tristian Powell also started in the second row in Round Five against the Ipswich Jets and scored his first try of the season in the Bears big win.

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Titans contracted Syris Schmidt will start at No. 10 (fly half) on Saturday for TSS in the opening set of 2021 GPS school boy rugby First XV trials as TSS play round robin matches against Churchie and Gregory Terrace.

Fellow Titans contracted TSS students, Kaleb Ngamanu and Nic Hilton are on stand-by for the matches which is understandable as both will line up for the South Coast Open school boy rugby league side for the U18 QSSRL Championships next week.

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Toby Sexton was deservedly named in the Titans extended bench for Round Eleven this weekend for the Titans home match against the Canterbury Bulldogs.

Toby Sexton’s first 2021 hit-out came in mid-February when he started at five eight for the Titans in their first trial against the Burleigh Bears. Whilst a lot of the play went to the left with Toby Sexton on the right, he did have some good moments in the match in both attack and defence.

Toby Sexton produced an impressive line break in in the 35th minute of the match when after receiving the ball from Erin Clark he stepped off his left foot beat two defenders and break through the centre of the Burleigh ruck, making thirty five metres before being brought down by the fullback.

Toby Sexton also made a long run in the 69th minute when he backed up on the inside of a Tremain Spry break from a Titans scrum win inside their own twenty. Once he received the ball toby Sexton stepped off his left to beat one defender running twenty metres downfield before off-loading to his left.

A minute later, Toby Sexton almost caught the Burleigh defence napping when, on the sixth tackle, Toby Sexton dummied to his left and took off towards the line from ten metres out, only to be brought down just centremetres short of the try line.

Defensively Toby Sexton produced an outstanding front on tackle in the 21st minute jarring the ball lose to gain a Titans scrum feed.

The following week Toby Sexton started from the bench for the Titans in their final 2021 NRL trial against the New Zealand Warriors at Lismore. Toby Sexton played the final quarter of the Titans 12 all draw with the Warriors and produced a good right foot kick to the right corner to force the Warriors to drop out from their own line.

In his time on the field Toby Sexton ran for twenty eight metres (twelve post contact), played the ball at an average speed of 3.17 seconds and had a 100% tackling efficiency whilst making ten tackles.

As he has been in previous seasons, Toby Sexton was allocated to the Tweed Heads Seagulls when the Titans allocated their players to their Gold Coast based feeder clubs with Toby Sexton part of the Seagulls squad for their final Queensland Cup trial against local rivals, being the Burleigh Bears, starting the match at halfback and scoring late in the first half when he stepped his way through the Burleigh defence to score under the posts.

Toby Sexton controlled Tweed heads attack well in the match and also kicked well including forcing a Burleigh goal line drop out with a well weighted grubber in the 20th minute of the first half which Kurtis Rowe was forced to dive on in his own in-goal.

Toby Sexton was also perfect with the boot kicking three conversions from as many attempts including a great kick from the sideline to convert a Ryland Jacobs first half try as well as converting his own first half try.

Toby Sexton made his Queensland Cup debut in Round One of the 2021 season when he started at halfback for the Tweed Heads Seagulls against the Central Queensland Capra’s.

Toby Sexton had an outstanding debut including scoring in the second half as Tweed Heads came back from a half time deficit. Toby Sexton ran across field to the right and sliced through the Capra’s line from around twenty metres out to dive over ten metres from the right upright.

Playing all eighty minutes of the match, Toby Sexton ran for sixty six metres (twelve post contact), broke one tackle, played the ball at an average speed of 3.6 seconds and made twenty two tackles at a tackling efficiency of 95.65%.

As a result of his outstanding Round One match, Toby Sexton also was set to start at halfback in Round Two against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls however Covid protocols were initiated and Toby Sexton had to withdraw from the side.

Toby Sexton was back starting at halfback for Tweed Heads in Round Three against the Souths Logan Magpies and once again was impressive collecting two try assists, with both tries being scored by Sam McIntyre in the Seagulls 40 – 24 victory.

Toby Sexton’s first try assist came in the 12th minute, when from forty metres out he ran to the right before stepping off his right foot to get through the line. As the cover got to Toby Sexton he was able to get away a great right arm offload away to Sam McIntyre who was able to score under the posts.

Toby Sexton’s second try assist of the match arrived in the second half when took the ball into the defensive line before putting in a right foot grubber kick which after it passed through the line, sat up ideally for Sam McIntyre to take at full pace to score.

Playing the entire eighty minutes Toby Sexton ran for sixty three metres (fifteen post contact), made a line break, kicked seven times for 145 metres and made twenty one tackles at a tackling efficiency of 91.3%.

Toby Sexton continued at halfback in Round Four against the Burleigh Bears, scoring once again as well as recording a try assist for Joseph Vuna and also being heavily involved in the Seagulls opening try of their 16 – 12 victory.

Toby Sexton’s try was not in any sense of the word a regulation one. Tweed Heads kicked into the Burleigh in goal with Bears half Guy Hamilton retrieving the ball and bringing it back into play. Toby Sexton engaged Hamilton a couple of metres out from the ball and did a great job of holding him off the ground and when help arrived they started to push Hamilton back towards the in-goal. In the course of being dragged towards the in-goal the ball came loose with Toby Sexton retrieving the ball above his head and putting it down under the posts.

Toby Sexton’s try assist came in the second half when he took the ball to the line on the right, putting in a grubber through the Bears line with the ball sitting up for Joseph Vuna to charge through to retrieve and get the ball down wide out on the right.

Playing the entire eighty minutes, Toby Sexton in addition to his try and try assist ran for thirty two metres (five post contact), broke a tackle, played the ball at an average speed to 3.28 seconds and made twenty seven tackles at a tackling efficiency of 90%. Toby Sexton also kicked on seven occasions making 145 metres in the process.

Toby Sexton started once again at halfback in Round Five against the Redcliffe Dolphins, recording another try assist when he took the ball to the line on the right before popping a good short ball to his right to put Joseph Vuna over from close range. Playing all eighty minutes, Toby Sexton made eleven tackles and kicked on four occasions making 162 metres.

Toby Sexton continued his run of starts at halfback in Round Six against the Ipswich Jets. In his eighty minutes on the field, Toby Sexton had a line break assist, played the ball at an average speed of 3.37 seconds, made nineteen tackles at a 95% tackling efficiency and kicked on five occasions, making 101 metres.

Toby Sexton also started at halfback in Round Seven against the Northern Pride recording a try assist when he put in a chip kick for Jayden Campbell to retrieve on the first bounce and race away to score.

Playing all eighty minutes, Toby Sexton ran for sixty seven metres (eight post contact), played the ball at an average speed of 3.09 seconds, made twenty four tackles at a 96% tackling efficiency and kicked on twelve occasions making 245 metres.

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Even though Jayden Campbell was still on an NRL Development contract at the time, he was deservedly named on the Titans extended bench for the Titans NRL Round Nine match against the Wests Tigers. Whilst he did not make the final seventeen for the match, Jayden Campbell did travel to Sydney with the NRL squad and also undertook the warm-up with the side prior to the match.

Jayden Campbell was also named on the Titans extended bench for Round Ten against the Penrith Panthers as well as for Round Eleven this weekend against the Canterbury Bulldogs.

After spending the 2020/21 off-season training with the Titans NRL squad Jayden Campbell’s first 2021 hit-out came in mid-February when he started at fullback for the Titans in their first trial against the Burleigh Bears. Jayden Campbell almost scored in the match when he backed up a Lofi Khan-Pereira break down the right touchline but the pass back inside to Jayden Campbell just could not be taken.

Jayden Campbell made a plethora of half breaks in the match seemingly poking his nose through the line every time that he touched the ball but he did break the line in the 31st minute when he came forward at full speed to take a Burleigh dropped ball and got to within three metres of the line after initially retrieving the ball twenty five metres from the line.

Also Jayden Campbell almost made a line break from his first kick return of the second half. Jayden Campbell retrieved the ball and skipped to his right only to be just caught as he was accelerating through a gap.

In the 49th minute Jayden Campbell came forward at full speed to take a midfield bomb on the full and then blew through the on rushing defensive line but was rounded up when he skipped to his right with only one defender to beat.

Jayden Campbell also handle his defensive assignments well including being one of four Titans on hand to hold up Burleigh front rower Luke Page just centremetres from the try line mid-way through the second half. Jayden Campbell was in try saving mode again in the 72nd minute when the covering tackle that he made in the right corner with Jonas Pearson stopped the Burleigh left winger from scoring in the corner.

After multiple seasons with the Burleigh Bears, Jayden Campbell moved to the Tweed Heads Seagulls when the Titans allocated their players to their Gold Coast based feeder clubs with Jayden Campbell starting at fullback in the Seagulls final Queensland Cup trial against local rivals, being the Burleigh Bears.

Jayden Campbell was in the match early making a number of critical defensive reads in the opening minutes as the Seagulls found themselves defending their own line for most of the opening ten minutes.

Jayden Campbell’s elusiveness was on display for all to see early in the second half when in his own in-goal, he retrieved a Tannah Boyd attacking kick and produced a devastating step to get out of the in-goal, making ten further metres before being brought down.

Jayden Campbell made his Queensland Cup debut in Round One of the 2021 season when he started at fullback for the Tweed Heads Seagulls against the Central Queensland Capra’s and what a debut the young man had, including breaking a staggering fifteen tackles as well as contributing a try assist and a line break assist.

Jayden Campbell’s try assist came during the Seagulls second half fight back. Jayden Campbell chimed into the backline on the right side of the field, receiving the ball twelve metres out from the line. Upon receiving the ball Jayden Campbell cut to his right, taking a couple of steps parallel to the defensive line which momentarily froze them in place and then put a short ball to his right into the chest of Tremain Spry who burst over the try line ten metres in from the right corner post.

In addition to the stats noted above, Jayden Campbell whilst playing the entire eight minutes ran for 127 metres (twenty seven post contact and thirty five from kick returns), played the ball at an average speed of 3.55 seconds and made five tackles at a tackling efficiency of 83.33%.

As a result of his outstanding Round One match, Jayden Campbell was set to start at fullback in Round Two against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls however Covid protocols were initiated and Jayden Campbell had to withdraw from the side.

Jayden Campbell was back starting at fullback for Tweed Heads in Round Three against the Souths Logan Magpies scoring his first career Queensland Cup try in the 57th minute in the Seagulls impressive 40 – 26 victory, a match which saw him once again play all eighty minutes.

Jayden Campbell’s career first Queensland Cup try was certainly worth the wait. Tweed Heads were attacking inside the Magpies twenty and spun the ball from left to right, with Jayden Campbell receiving to the right of the uprights twenty metres out from the line. Jayden Campbell took the ball right to the line, before putting in a right foot grubber kick which was ideally weighted with Jayden Campbell flying through to ground the ball in the in-goal next to the right upright in between two Souths Logan defenders.

In addition to his try Jayden Campbell made a team leading 168 metres (thirty two post contact), made a line break, broke five tackles, played the ball at an average speed of 3.68 seconds, kicked once making fourteen metres and made three tackles.

Jayden Campbell continued at fullback in Round Four against his former club, the Burleigh Bears once again playing all eighty minutes as Tweed Heads prevailed 16 – 12 in a tight encounter.

In his eighty minutes, Jayden Campbell ran for eighty eight metres (thirty nine post contact), made a team leading five tackle breaks, played the ball at an average speed of 3.41 seconds and made a tackle.

Jayden Campbell started once again at fullback in Round Five against the Redcliffe Dolphins and scored another outstanding solo try, Jayden Campbell also recorded a try assist in the Seagulls impressive 28 – 16 victory.

Jayden Campbell’s try came in the first half when he came forward to take a bomb on the full eight two metres out from the line. As soon as he took the ball, Jayden Campbell stepped off his left to beat one defender before a right foot step saw him break into space before he easily rounded the fullback to his left and then Jayden Campbell easily outpaced the cover defence to score ten metres in from the left corner post.

Jayden Campbell’s try assist also came in the first half and once again was impressive. Jayden Campbell chimed into the backline as Tweed Heads spun the ball to the right, receiving the ball twenty metres out and took the ball right to the line before throwing a cut out pass to his right to put his winger over in the corner.

Playing the entire eighty minutes, Jayden Campbell ran for a team leading 217 metres (twenty three post contact), broke a team leading eleven tackles, played the ball at an average speed of 2.82 seconds and made six tackles at a 100% tackling efficiency.

After missing Round Six as a result of being in the Titans 19 man NRL travelling squad against the Wests Tigers, Jayden Campbell started at fullback in Round Seven against the Northern Pride, scoring a hat trick in an 18 all draw.

Jayden Campbell’s first try came in the first half when he chimed into the Seagulls backline on the right, receiving the ball twenty metres out. When he received the ball, Jayden Campbell slipped with a defender going right over the top of him. Jayden Campbell bounced to his feet, cutting back to his left. As he came to the next set of defenders, Jayden Campbell put in a grubber into the in-goal between defenders and raced through to dive on the ball to the left of the uprights.

Jayden Campbell scored his second try once again down the right when he chased through a Toby Sexton chip kick, getting to the ball just prior to the onrushing Pride fullback and racing away to score under the posts.

Jayden Campbell completed his hat trick when he sliced through the Northern Pride defence, fifty metres out, easily stepping the fullback to once again run away to score under the posts.

Jayden Campbell ran for a team leading 298 metres (fifty three post contact), broke the defensive line, broke a team leading (and staggering) seventeen tackles, defended two kicks, played the ball at ana average speed of 2.39 seconds and made five tackles at a 100% tackling efficiency.

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Talented Coombabah Year 7/8 half Hunter Wilson led his school to a solid 20-12 win against Marymount College in their Round Five Titans Cup match this evening.

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Young front rower Zachairiah Siulepa has moved over to the Gold Coast from Western Australia to play for the Burleigh Bears in the 2021 GCRL U18 Division One competition, starting Round One of that competition against the Nerang Roosters in the front row.

Zachairiah Siulepa dropped back to start from the bench in Round Two last weekend as the Bears took on the Helensvale Hornets coming on late in the first half, playing in the front row and not long after coming on the field Zachairiah Siulepa made his presence felt with a strong tackle on the Helensvale right second rower. The 33rd minute then saw Zachairiah Siulepa monster one of the Hornets interchange forwards.

Zachairiah Siulepa almost scored his first try since his move to the Gold Coast when in the 34th minute he rumbled forward from ten metres out from the try line and it took four Helensvale defenders to hold him up over the line adjacent to the left upright.

In 2019 Zachairiah Siulepa was part of the Western Australian U15 School Boys side that played in the U15 ASSRL U15 National Championships scoring in Western Australia’s second match of the Championships against Victoria when he got low and was too strong for the Victorian defence close to the try line with Zachairiah Siulepa getting the ball down next to the right upright.

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The 2021 season to date for Titans contracted Darius Farmer:

Darius Farmer’s first 2021 hit-out came in mid-February when he started in the front row for the Titans in their first trial against the Burleigh Bears. Darius Farmer actually crossed the line in the early going in the match but his try was called back for an obstruction as he was adjudged to have run behind a team mate in the lead up.

Over the course of the match Darius Farmer highlighted his strength including when in the 11th minute he held and then forced back Burleigh front rower Luke Page when it looked likely Page would score from close range. Darius Farmer was also heavily involved defensively including flattening Burleigh half Guy Hamilton with a rib rattling hit early in the match.

Round Eight of the 2021 NRL competition saw Darius Farmer named on the Titans extended bench for their match against the Brisbane Bronco’s.

After multiple seasons with the Burleigh Bears, Darius Farmer moved to the Tweed Heads Seagulls when the Titans allocated their players to their Gold Coast based feeder clubs with Darius Farmer part of the Seagulls Seconds squad for their final Queensland Cup trial against local rivals, being the Burleigh Bears with Darius Farmer starting in the front row and producing some huge hits in defence in his time on the field.

Darius Farmer made his Queensland Cup debut for the Tweed Heads Seagulls in Round One of the 2021 season when he started on the bench for the Seagulls against the Central Queensland Capra’s.

Even though he was only in the field for thirty minutes of the match, Darius Farmer certainly made his presence felt running for seventy four metres (twenty seven post contact), broke one tackle, played the ball at an average speed for 3.45 seconds and had a 100% tackling efficiency whilst making eight tackles.

Darius Farmer also was set to come off the bench in Round Two against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls however Covid protocols were initiated and Darius Farmer had to withdraw from the side.

Darius Farmer was back coming off the bench for Tweed Heads in Round Three against the Souths Logan Magpies and recorded his first career Queensland Cup try in the 70th minute when he ran a straight crash line from three metres out. After contacting the defence, Darius Farmer spun counter clockwise to twist his way over next to the right upright.

Whilst Darius Farmer only played the final twenty nine minutes of the match, he certainly made the most of each minute, running for ninety eight metres (thirty nine post contact), made a line break, broke a team leading six tackles and made ten tackles of his own.

Darius Farmer continued operating from the bench in Round Four against the Burleigh Bears in this match playing seventeen minutes. In that time Darius Farmer ran for thirty nine metres (ten post contact), broke a tackle, played the ball at an average speed of 4.07 seconds and made eight tackles at a 100% tackling efficiency.

Darius Farmer started once again from the bench in Round Five against the Redcliffe Dolphins, playing thirty nine minutes, running for eighty two metres (forty two post contact), played the ball at an average speed of 3.85 seconds and made twenty three tackles at a tackling efficiency of 88.46%.

Darius Farmer also was named to start from the bench in Round Six against the Ipswich Jets however he in fact started the match at lock, playing twenty two minutes. In that time Darius Farmer ran for thirty seven metres (eleven post contact), played the ball at an average speed of 4.43 seconds and made eleven tackles at a tackling efficiency of 91.67%.

Darius Farmer was also named to start from the bench in Round Seven against the Northern Pride, however once again he started the match at lock, playing thirty three minutes, running for ninety five metres (forty two post contact), broke a tackle, played the ball at an average speed of 3.67 seconds and made fourteen tackles.

Darius Farmer has moved into the Tweed Heads starting side in Round Eight against the Easts Tigers, being named to start the match in the front row.

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The 2021 season to date for Titans NRL Development contract holder Tony Francis:

The powerhouse former Marsden State High School centre, five eight or fullback is a Titans contracted youngster who started training with the Titans after a number of seasons in the Brisbane Bronco’s junior development system after moving to Brisbane from Sydney where he was part of the Manly Sea Eagles Junior Development Program.

In January 2021 Tony Francis was part of the Titans U19 squad that took on the Newcastle Knights in their annual match in Coffs Harbour, starting the match at left centre with the Titans recording an impressive victory 40 – 6 against the Knights.

Tony Francis’s first involvement in the match was when he chased through a Thomas Weaver midfield high kick and crunched the Knights fullback just as he took possession of the ball.

Tony Francis performed exceptionally well in the match, scoring in the second half when he charged onto a pass from Oskar Bryant down a short blind side, running over a defender before getting the ball down under heavy pressure.

Tony Francis proved a handful for the Knights right sided defence on multiple occasions in the match including a bustling first up run when he beat two Knights defenders to make his presence in the match felt. Tony Francis was at it again late in the first half when he surged fifteen metres down field, a majority of which was post contact metres when he ran off a good pass from Oskar Bryant who had darted out of dummy half.

Tony Francis also had some good moments defensively in the match, including a heavy well timed hit on the Knights right centre (No. 3) early in the match. From a Newcastle scrum win the Knights threw the ball out to their right, with a long pass being thrown to the right centre. Tony Francis identified the situation early and come out of the line to hit the Knights centre front on just a fraction after the ball got to the centre. Tony Francis drove his shoulder literally through the centres chest , stopping all of the Knights, and the centres, momentum.

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

Tony Francis did not take long to make an impact in the match, taking a strong hit-up in the opening set of six from the kick with a twelve metre surge down the left side of the field.

Just minutes later, Tony Francis had an even bigger impact on the match when he charged into a gap, receiving a good pass from Jaylan De Groot in the process to charge fifteen minutes to get the ball down five metres in from the left corner after a twelve metre burst.

Tony Francis was again in the action in the 25th minute of the first half with yet another strong charge down the left of twenty metres after being put into a gap by Thomas Weaver.

Tony Francis followed up his 25th minute line break with an even more impressive thirty five metre effort just five minutes later when he rumbled downfield, initially bumping off two defenders who had tried to tackle him chest on. Tony Francis then got rid of two further defenders in quick succession with right arm fends.

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

Tony Francis was one of the Bears try scorers when he crossed for a powerful try late in the first half. Tony Francis came back underneath Cameron Brown who had run to his right and passed back to Tony Francis who received the ball ten metres out charging onto the ball and beating three defenders to score ten metres away from the left upright.

Tony Francis also had a first half line break assist, when he showed quick hands to catch and pass to his left to put the Burleigh left winger into space down the left touchline for a thirty metre gain.

Earlier in the match, in the 25th minute to be precise, Tony Francis made a strong ten metre charge when he, like he did for his try, ran on underneath play with Cameron Brown to make a ten metre gain.

Defensively Tony Francis was also very strong in the match including a big front on tackle in the 27th minute of the first half on his opposing centre which forced the Easts Tigers centre sideways.

When he came back onto the field late in the second half, Tony Francis showed his versatility, playing right centre.

The following week in the Burleigh Hastings Deering’s Colts trial against the Tweed Heads Seagulls, Tony Francis was once again in the starting side but this time at right centre and was once again as his damaging best scoring a first half double as Burleigh rounded out their 2021 Hastings Deering’s trial campaign with a solid win.

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

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

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

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

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

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

In early May 2021 a Titans U19 side travelled to North Queensland to play an U19 Cowboys selection in a curtain raiser to a Cowboys v Broncos NRL match with Tony Francis starting the match at right centre for the Titans.

Round One of the 2021 Hastings Deering’s Colts competition saw Tony Francis start at right centres for the Burleigh Bears when they took on the Easts Tigers with Tony Francis scoring for the Bears in their 42 – 24 opening round victory.

Tony Francis scored in the 30th minute, once again highlighting his speed and power. After some good work on his inside by his forward’s Tony Francis cut to his left to run an underneath route and receive the hand off from TJ Devery. From there Tony Francis literally ran over the Easts fullback to slam the ball down over the line ten metres in from the right corner post.

Whilst he cannot be put down for a try assist Tony Francis was involved in Will Evans 50 minute try all be it in a unique way. On his inside, Cameron Brown identified that there was space to the right and threw a long cut out pass. The ball was not going to reach Tony Francis on the full so in an effort to retain possession Tony Francis tried to trap the ball with his left foot, but instead to stopping the ball dead, the ball spun of his foot to the left and directly into the path of Will Evans who picked up the ball ten metres out and was able to dive over between defenders to score near the right corner.

In the 29th Tony Francis highlighted his explosiveness when he took the tap kick from a Burleigh twenty metre restart, bursting twelve metres downfield with three Easts forwards trying to drag him to the ground.

Tony Francis showed his wide ranging skill set in the 64th minute with a run that started near the left wing and finished on the opposite side of the field. Initially when he received the ball Tony Francis was forty metres out and hemmed in on three sides, Tony Francis pulled back and cut back towards the centre of the field twice, when he was confronted a third time Tony Francis exquisitely put in a left foot chip that he followed through a retrieved on the first bounce before offloading to his left.

Whilst his effort did not produce a try or line break it was just a little window to how much skill this young man has.

Tony Francis produced a more traditional run in the 76th minute when after dummying to his right, Tony Francis put the ball under his arm on the halfway mark and after getting on the outside of his direct opponent made fifteen metres of valuable ground.

Tony Francis made a statement defensively in the 34th minute when he along with TJ Devery made a heavy driving tackle in the East forward unlucky enough to run the ball towards them from a Burleigh kick-off. Tony Francis added to his defensive credentials in the 42nd minute when he made the correct decision to come out of the line when he was facing an overlap to smash the Easts halfback just as he was about to pass to his right and spring the overlap.

The 77th minute saw Tony Francis continue to be strong defensively when a great one on one wrapping tackle on the East left centre nullified a promising Tigers attacking raid.

Tony Francis also started at right centre in the Round Two local derby against the Tweed heads Seagulls and in the 16th minute with Burleigh under pressure, took some of that pressure off coming infield to take a hit-out of his own twenty metre area, with the ten metres that Tony Francis made all hard metres.

Tony Francis made additional hard earned ground in the 25th minute when he broke two tackles on the way to making ten metres down the right side of the field.

Tony Francis moved to left centre for Round Three against the Western Mustangs, scoring in the second half in Burleigh’s thirty point victory. Toby Francis moved into dummy half in the 66th minute five metres out from the try line and five metres in from the left touchline. After picking up the ball Tony Francis ran to his left, down the short blind side and powered his way over in the left corner.

After missing Round Four due to playing for the Titans U19 side, Tony Francis was named to start Round Five against the Northern Pride at left centre however he was a late scratching from the match.

[DIEHARD]

David Fifita, Tanah Boyd share secrets to schoolboys success with next generation of Keebra Park players
https://www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au/

Titans stars David Fifita and Tanah Boyd received a warm welcome from the current crop of players who hope to one day follow in the footsteps of their NRL heroes.

KEEBRA Park royalty returned to their old stomping ground on Thursday for the school’s Langer Cup jersey presentation.

Titans stars David Fifita and Tanah Boyd received a warm welcome from the current crop of players who hope to one day follow in the footsteps of their NRL heroes.

But for all the open mouths and high fives from the 2021 contingent it was Fifita who was most excited at the return.

“I wish I could do it all again,” he mused.

“It’s so good being back where it all started – for us in 2013.

“To be back on this field brings back heaps of memories.”

Fifita and Boyd were part of the all-conquering 2017 team which went undefeated en route to a 25-12 win over Westfield Sports High in the GIO Schoolboys Cup national final.

That age group lost just three games in five years – testament not just to the talent but also the “brotherhood” the team built during its time at school.

“We’re all still so close to this day,” Fifita said.

“I just wish we could all come back, honestly. That year was just so special and I think that’s why we won it, because we were so tight.

“We did everything on the field and off the field together – share each other’s food, cheat off each other in class … everything.”

As bottom-age seniors, Fifita and Boyd were part of the 2016 team which surrendered the lead after the siren to Westfield in the national final.

Twelve months later, with a team that – on paper – was not as strong, Fifita and Boyd piloted Keebra’s run to redemption.

“In ‘16 we had quality players like Payne (Haas), Moeaki (Fotuaika) and Tom (Mikaele) who are now all playing first grade,” Boyd said.

“But the year after – our year – we had all come through from grade eight together and just had that bond which I think helped get us over the line.”

The Titans duo looked at home on their old training field and promised to get to as many home Langer Cup matches as possible.

“ I’ve already looked – the round three game they play at Southport. We’ll be there and I’ll run water,” Fifita said.

[mdrew]

2020 New Zealand U16 and Future Warriors representative Matthew Logopati will start from the bench this weekend in Round Three of the GCRL U!8 Division One side from the bench for Runaway Bay against Nerang.

The young man from Canterbury NZ started in the second row last night for Coombabah in their Titans Cup Year11/12 Division One match against Marymount College.

[mdrew]

Titans contracted Riley Lack will play his third position in as many weeks in the NRRRL First Grade competition in Round Three this weekend when he starts at five eight for Murwillumbah in their derby against Mullumbimby.

Riley Lack came off the bench in Round One and started at halfback last weekend in Round Two.

Impressively Riley Lack is still U18 eligible this season.

[mdrew]

Former Western Australian youngster Quinton Dalton will start at halfback this weekend for Burleigh in Round Three of the GCRL U18 Division One competition as the Bears take on Mudgeeraba.

in 2019 Quinton Dalton was a Western Australian U15 representative and can play anywhere in the backline and is also a very talented goal kicker.

[mdrew]

Titans contracted Jaylan De Groot made his Hastings Deerings Colts debut for Tweed Heads this afternoon in their 30-18 win over Easts.