Junior Development

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After missing a number of weeks due to school boy representative commitments, Titans contracted Michael Roberts was back at fullback for Bilambil’s Round Five match against the Kyogle Turkeys on Sunday, with Michael Roberts dominant in the Jets victory and for me he was a class above everyone else on the field in the Jets victory, a large part due to his performance.

Michael Roberts was outstanding from the opening whistle scoring two tries, setting up another as well as kicking six conversions, including one from right on each touch line.

Michael Roberts scored his first try in the 25th minute when after lining up to the right of a Jets scrum he kicked downfield and chased through putting the Kyogle fullback under pressure. As a consequence the fullback fumbled the ball with Michael Roberts being on hand to kick the ball through a second time with the ball then sitting up perfectly for him to collect the ball and put it down under the posts.

Michael Roberts completed his double just three minutes later in the 28th minute when from a set move twenty metres out from the line, Michael Roberts shot out from behind the play the ball to receive an inside pass from five eight William James, immediately producing a right foot step to beat one and broke through a further three tackles on the way to the line.

Michael Roberts could easily have had a hat trick in the match but in just the second minute after he had dummied to his right to break the Kyogle defensive line thirty five metres out and priding an exquisite left foot step to beat the fullback was held up by the cover defence.

Michael Roberts recorded his try assist in the 4th minute when he ran into the defensive line on the left side of the field double pumping the ball to his left to put Makenzie MacGrarrigal into a big gap just three metres from the line.

Michael Roberts also made an explosive play in the 14th minute when he came forward to take a Kyogle clearing kick on the full, easily beating the first Turkey’s chaser before running straight over two more to make twenty five metres to get the ball to near the halfway mark.

Then in the 20th minute, Michael Roberts saw that the Kyogle fullback was out of position and kicked deep from fifty five metres out with the ball pulling up perfectly in goal, Michael Roberts along with Kai Smallwood was the first Jets played downfield to tackle the fullback just three metres into the field of play.

That was not the only time in the match that Michael Roberts showcased his long kick game as in the 23rd minute, Michael Roberts from a drop out from his own goal line kicked the ball sixty five metres.

It was not all about attack in the match for Michael Roberts as in the 40th minute, the Kyogle No. 17 burst through the line, making a long break but Michael Roberts came from nowhere to tackle him from behind just three metres from the try line.

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The Titans have unfairly been criticised for not being involved enough with Keebra Park SHS not that clearly is no longer the case with the formal partnership.

Further evidence is the Keebra Park Round One Langer Cup side that plays fellow Titans partnered school Marsden SHS.

Titans in the Keebra Park Round One starting side are front rower Immanuel Kalekale, right second rower Seth Nikotemo and Arama Hau and coming off the bench will be strike centre Jeremaiah Tamepo.

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Titans contracted Isaac Matalavea-Booth made his starting Colts debut for Burleigh in the front row in Round Six on Saturday afternoon against the Townsville Blackhawks and was in the action immediately, taking the hit-up from the kick-off and then backing that run up by then hitting the ball up on the fourth tackle of the same set of six.

The match also saw Isaac Matalavea-Booth score a good try in the 58th minute when after he received the ball seventeen metres out from the line to the left of the play the ball, Isaac Matalavea-Booth ran diagonally towards the defensive line, dummying to his left before bursting through the line to crash over five metres from the left upright.

Isaac Metalevel-Booth certainly made the best of his opportunity to start and that continued in the 15th minute with a twelve metres run that brought the ball out to his own forty metre mark. The in the 17th minute, Isaac Metalevel-Booth charged head long into the Townsville defence from a Blackhawks drop out.

Isaac Metalevel-Booth made another strong run in the 70th minute, making fourteen metres to the halfway, with 60% of the metres made post contact.

Isaac Metalevel-Booth was still going strong in the 75th minute making a further ten metres from the set of six after Cameron Brown’s second intercept try of the match and then he took another hit-up just two tackles later.

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PBC chase their third straight Langer Cup School Boy Championship tonight in Round One against Ipswich SHS and the side is full of outstanding Titans players including Thomas Weaver (captain and halfback), Reef Sommerville (right centre), Michael Roberts (right wing), Tanu Nona (hooker), Jack Cullen (front row), Ryan Foran (left second row), Brock Priestley (right second row) and coming from the bench will be Bailey Martin and Reico Ratana.

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I am really looking forward to seeing how Marsden SHS go in Round One of the Langer Cup School Boy competition against fellow Titans partnered school Keebra Park today.

Lining up for Marsden are Titans contracted 15/16 year old’s William Semu on the left wing and Dominique Sandow at five eight.

Also in the side is Titans contracted Xavier Stowers who will start in the front row and EJ Finau who will play left second row when he comes off the bench.

Another stand out Titans contracted youngster on the Marsden extended bench is Taelon Te-Whiu Hopa.

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Titans NRL Development contract holder, Tristian Powell started in the front row for the Burleigh First Grade side for their Round Four GCRL match against the Southport Tigers on Saturday night with Tristian Powell starting in the front row and scoring twice as the Bears routed Southport 88 – 0, yes that score is correct!

Tristian Powell scored in the 71st and 76th minutes with both tries in many respects similar in nature. In the 71st minute, Tristian Powell, after the ball had been thrown around by the Bears close to the try line, took it upon himself to charge at the line from five metres out, spinning counter clockwise after he had engaged the defensive line near the try line to get the ball down whilst being tackled by three defenders five metres from the right upright.

In the 76th minute, this time from eight metres out, Tristian Powell beat two defenders to once again get the ball down near the right upright.

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Round One of the 2021 Langer Cup School Boy Rugby League competition tonight sees Nathaniel Cama named on the Keebra Park extended bench against Marsden State High School.

In 2020 Nathaniel Cama was set to be part of the Keebra Park Open A Langer Cup school boy rugby league side however the Covid 19 pandemic meant that Nathaniel Cama returned to New Zealand and did not return to Australia for the start of the Term Three 2020 school year when the Langer Cup competition was due to commence.

In Auckland Nathaniel Cama started at left centre for the Marist Saints U17/18 side in Round Two of the Auckland Rugby League competition against the Pakurangi Kingz with Marist Saints winning the match 42 - 6. Nathaniel Cama moved to right centre for Round Three as Marist Saints defeated Manurewa 42 – 4.

Nathaniel Cama moved to the interchange bench for Round Four against the Pakuranga Kingz as the Marist Saints recorded a big victory. Nathaniel Cama was back in the Marist Saints starting side at right centre for Round Five against the Otahuhu Leopards.

Round Six saw Nathaniel Cama move to start in the forwards in Round Six as the Marist Saints defeated the Waitemata Seagulls 42 – 4 which was the final round before a further shut down of community rugby league in New Zealand.

Before moving over to Australia (he travelled from Logan to attend Keebra Park State High School every day) Nathaniel Cama spent two seasons in Auckland powerhouse school St Paul’s First College XIII school boy rugby league side, making his First XIII debut as a 15 year old in 2018.

In late 2019 Nathaniel Cama started at left centre for St Pauls College in their SAS College First XIII 28 – 6 Final victory over Southern Cross Campus.

In October 2019 Nathaniel Cama started in the centres and scored for the Toa Samoa U16 side as they defeated a New Zealand U16 side 26 – 20 in their annual match. The New Zealand U16 side contained Titans contracted half Keano Kini.

Also in 2019 Nathaniel Cama was selected in the New Zealand U16 Talent Development Program (TDP) and on the last day of the camp that was held in early 2019 started in the centres for Team Papalií in the trial that was held in the last day of camp, but they went down 24 – 16 to Team Fisher-Harris. Later in the 2019 season Nathaniel Cama was named in the New Zealand U16 Wider Squad alongside Titans contracted Keano Kini.

Nathaniel Cama’s 2019 representative program also included starting on the left wing for the Auckland Vulcans U16 side that played a Future Warriors U16 squad in a curtain raiser to an NRL match in Auckland between the Warriors and North Queensland. Titans contracted Keano Kini started at half for the Auckland Vulcans U16 side.

In the 2019 Auckland U16 club competition Nathaniel Cama played ten matches for the Waitemata Seagulls and opposed Titans Keano Kini and Levon Pure on a number of occasions.
The Waitemata Seagulls and Nathaniel Cama progressed all of the way to the Auckland Rugby League U16 Preliminary Final where they went down 24 – 12 to an outstanding Keano Kini lead Marist Saints side.

Finally in 2019 Nathaniel Cama was part of the Arakana Falcons U17 representative side as part of a busy year for the centre or winger.

In 2018 Nathaniel Cama represented the Auckland Vulcans U15 representative side at the New Zealand U15 National Youth Championships starting at left centre in all five of their matches including their 16 – 14 Championship Final victory over the South Island Scorpions.

In the 2018 New Zealand National U15 Youth Final Nathaniel Cama scored an acrobatic diving try of the left corner from close range down a short blind side. Nathaniel Cama received the ball about two metres out from the line and two metres in from the left touch line and dived from around that far out with the ball in his left hand extended out from his body and put the ball down with the same hand in the corner with the rest of his body high in the air.

Post those Championships Nathaniel Cama was named in the 2018 U15 National Youth Championship Merit Team.

In 2017 Nathaniel Cama represented Fiji at the Pasicifica Youth Cup scoring two tries for the Fiji U15 side, with those tries coming against the Cook Islands and Niue.

Nathaniel Cama’s first taste of representative rugby league came in 2016 when he was part of the Auckland North U13 representative rugby league side and in 2017 was part of the Auckland North U14 representative side.

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Round One of the 2021 Langer Cup School Boy Rugby League competition this afternoon saw De’Ontae Perese initially named to start at five eight for Keebra Park against Marsden State High School however on game day moved into the centres.

The Covid 19 situation had a huge impact across the board including in relation to schooling. In March De’Óntae Perese headed back to New Zealand to see out the lock down but did not return to Australia.

In Round One of the Auckland Rugby League U17/18 Open competition De’Ontae Perese started at half back kicked six goals for the Otahuhu Leopards as they defeated Mt Albert Lions Blue 52 – 4. De’Ontae Perese also started at half in Round Two as the Otahuhu Leopards had a big win over the Waitemata Seagulls. Round Three once again saw De’Ontae Perese start at half back against the Mt Albert Lions.

De’Ontae Perese continued his run of starts at half back in Round Four against the Mt Albert Lions and in Round Five against Marist Saints as well as in Round Six in win against Manurewa.

In March 2020 De'ontae Perese was selected in the under 18 NZtag team (Kiwi Tag Blacks) that was due to compete in the Trans-Tasman Series.

In 2019 De’Ontae Perese had an outstanding season both from a club perspective in the Auckland Open U16 competition playing for the Pakuranga Kingz and also being on the bench for the Samoa U16 side that had an historic win against the New Zealand U16 side in late 2019.

For the Pakuranga Kingz in the 2019 Auckland U16 competition De’Ontae Perese finished as their leading points scorer including a big Round One match when he scored and kicked two conversions against the Papatoetoe Panthers.

In addition to his 2019 achievements noted above, in 2019 De’Ontae Perese also started at half for the Auckland South U16 Auckland Region of Origin side in their three matches against the Auckland South Region of Origin side. De’Ontae Perese kicked two conversions in Match One of the three match series.

Also in 2019 De’Ontae Perese was part of the U17 Counties Manukau training squad for the 2019 New Zealand U17 National Youth Tournament.

De’Ontae Perese represented the Counties Manukau Stingrays U15 side at the 2018 New Zealand U15 National Youth Tournament playing in a match against the Wellington Orca’s and in two matches against the Akarana Falcons.

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Titans contracted Xavier Stowers will start his first match in anger this afternoon for his new school Marsden SHS (he moved from Ipswich Grammar School) against Keebra Park in Round One of the 2021 Langer Cup school boy competition in the front row.

Below is a summary of his 2021 season to date:

In January 2021 Xavier Stowers 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 40 - 6. When he was in the field, Xavier Stowers played in the centre of the ruck and had some good moments including a late second half offload to his right.

Xavier Stowers also recorded two huge tackles in a row including one when he caught the Newcastle player from behind, stopping him in his tracks when the Knights player looked odds on to score. It was an impressive effort by Xavier Stowers who refused to give up and through sheer force of will got himself to the right spot to make an outstanding tackle.

Xavier Stower’s endurance and determination came to the fore in the 25th minute of the second half. Newcastle were on the attack ten metres from the line and sent the ball to the right with the Knights playmaker putting in an attacking kick back behind the play the ball. Xavier Stowers who was initially defending on the opposite side of the ruck, tracked the play across field, was perfectly placed to eliminate the threat. Xavier Stowers however did not just take the tackle, after breaking two tackles, Xavier Stowers off-loaded with his right arm to his right to Thomas Weaver who made an additional twenty metres down field.

Xavier Stowers desperation was also highlighted earlier in the second half when he held on to the Burleigh hooker with only his right arm, eventually dragging him to the ground. If Xavier Stowers had not held on to the hooker, he would have had a free run to the Titans fullback with plenty of support as well.

Of all the good moments that I have noted in relation to Xavier Stowers first match in a Titans jersey, another one for me at least optimises who Xavier Stowers is as a player. In the 31st minute of the second half Xavier Stowers took a regulation hit-up mid-field. The Knights defensive line got up quickly, making initial contact with Xavier Stowers just two metres into his run, but through strength and determination, Xavier Stowers was able to make an additional seven metres post contact. Not many players would have been able to maintain their balance and body control after the type of initial contact that he was subject to and still make additional ground, Xavier Stowers however is definitely one of the few that can.

A week after the match against the Newcastle Knights Xavier Stowers 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.

Xavier Stowers had a huge match when he was on the field producing a number of damaging charges including a great run off the Bears kick off from Reef Sommerville’s second try of the match with the run a great twenty metre surge, with the majority of the metres made post contact.

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 Xavier Stowers starting the match on the bench for the Titans.

In Round One of the 2021 MM Cup competition, Xavier Stowers was named to start on the bench for the Ipswich Jets against the Tweed Heads Seagulls but ended up starting the match in the front row and in fact was involved in the first tackle of the match after Ipswich kicked the ball off.

The 9th minute saw the damage that Xavier Stowers can do running with the ball when he charged onto the ball to the right of the dummy half bustling his way twelve metres before eventually being brought down just ten metres away from the try line.

Xavier Stowers was at it again just a minute later when he took the ball from a Tweed Heads drop out charging thirty five metres to get inside the Seagulls twenty before being forced to play the ball. The 23rd minute saw yet another strong run from Xavier Stowers shewing up a further twelve metres (eight post contact) to get within five metres of the Tweed Heads line.

Defensively over the course of the match, Xavier Stowers defence was just as strong as his ball running with probably his best moment from a defensive perspective coming in the 57th minute when he came out of the line and monstered Seagulls five eight Harrydon Wilson. Xavier Stowers had crunched Wilson before he even knew what was going on and with Tweed Heads just ten metres out from the line, Xavier Stowers tackle completely shut down all of the momentum.

Xavier Stowers was immediately back on his feet at marker and moved to his right to tackle Seagulls front rower Jack Cullen around the legs with a copy book low tackle.

Xavier Stowers also started in the front row in Round Two against the Burleigh Bears, scoring the Jets first try in their tough loss and had a huge opening few minutes including scoring a powerhouse try in just the 6th minute of the match.

Xavier Stowers try showcased everything that is good about his game, that being size, strength, speed and power. Ipswich restarted from a penalty ten metres out from the Bears line, just to the left of the uprights. Xavier Stowers received the ball ten metres out, running directly at the defensive line before cutting back towards the uprights, pushing off one Bears defender before spinning counter clockwise to beat two more defenders before carrying three more Burleigh defenders across the line to smash the ball down a metre to the left of the uprights.

Xavier Stowers first major contribution to the game came in just the 3rd minute with a strong ten metre charge to get Ipswich into the Burleigh forty metre area. Xavier Stowers then made significant ground in just the 5th minute. Xavier Stowers initially ran to the left of the play the ball before offloading to his left. Xavier Stowers then backed up and get the ball back from the Jets player that he had passed to, making fifteen more metres before offloading for the second time in the same movement this time to his hooker who was trailing the play through the centre of the field.

Xavier Stowers continued to make ground running the ball including in the 39th minute when he made eleven metres to get Ipswich inside the Burleigh twenty metre area.

It was not just running with the ball that made Xavier Stowers so impressive in the match, defensively he was also very strong, including a heavy tackle where he monstered Syris Schmidt who was taking a hit-up in his own territory. Xavier Stowers literally engulfed Syris Schmidt and forced the fullback backwards a number of metres.

The in the 64th minute Xavier Stowers put a massive hit on Burleigh second rower Delihia Wigmore twenty metres out from the line with the Burleigh player taking a bit of time to recover from the big hit. Then just two minutes later Xavier Stowers smashed Burleigh Jaxon Yow as he was running across field just outside the Burleigh forty metre area.

Xavier Stowers was named on the interchange bench in Round Three against the Souths Logan Magpies and in Round Four against the Tweed Heads Seagulls. Xavier Stowers came into the match at half time, wasting no time getting involved by taking the first hit-up of the second half after Tweed Heads kicked off the second half to get the ball out to near the twenty metre mark.

Only two minutes later in the 38th minute, Xavier Stowers one again broke tackles after making thirteen metres from a hit-up to the left of the dummy half to get two metres over the halfway mark.

Then in the 43rd minute Xavier Stowers once again ran to the left of the dummy half before cutting back towards the play the ball to make thirteen metres. Xavier Stowers bounced quickly to his feet but was dragged back down and subsequently was awarded a penalty. From the next set of six after the penalty restart, Xavier Stowers was back in the action, getting to within ten metres of the try line before twisting and offloading with his right arm to Josiah Pahulu who got within two metres of the line before finally being stopped.

Even though Ipswich were out of the match with ten minutes to go, that did not dissuade Xavier Stowers from his task and in the 62nd minute, Xavier Stowers made eleven metres from a hit-up to the right of the play the ball with more than 50% of the metres that he made from the run were post contact.

Round Five against the Burleigh Bears saw Xavier Stowers named on the Jets extended bench however he ended up starting the match from the bench and he also started from the bench in Round Six against the Souths Logan Magpies.

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Standout Titans contracted junior William Semu will start on the left wing in Round One of the 2021 School Boy Langer Cup competition for Marsden SHS as they take on fellow Titans partnered school Keebra Park.

Below is a quick summary of his outstanding 2021 season to date:

In January 2021 William Semu was part of a Titans U17 side that took on a Newcastle Knights side in what has become an annual match at Coffs Harbour, starting the match at left centre. William Semu’s selection in the match is all the meritorious considering that he was still U16 eligible in 2021. William Semu had an impressive match for the Titans who came away from the match as deserved victors 32 – 20.
William Semu’s first touch of the match came early in the first half when he ran out of dummy half after a Keano Kini break. William Semu ran out of dummy half to the right, making fifteen metres and then playing the ball quickly with the Titans scoring through Seth Nikotemo as a result.

William Semu was also part of the South Logan Magpies U16 Cyril Connell Cup squad in 2021, starting their trial against Wynnum Manly at Capalaba at right second row and played the majority of the match that the Magpies won six tries to one.

William Semu also started at right second row in Souths Logan’s final 2021 Cyril Connell Cup trial against the Tweed Heads Seagulls, putting on an incredible display of power running and brutal tackling on the way to scoring two second half tries and in fact William Semu probably should have scored a hat trick but with the line open he could not take a long looped pass around ten metres out from the try line which to be fair the ball dropped towards his feet quickly.

William Semu’s first try came in the opening minutes of the third quarter when he ran onto the ball from around twelve metres out down a wide blindside on the right of the field and simply carried two defenders over the line to score five metres in from the right corner.

William Semu scored his second try in the fourth quarter when once again he ran the ball down a wide right blindside, William Semu received the ball twenty metres out from the Seagulls line and ran on an angle towards the right corner post, just before the line William Semu straightened easily beating the Seagulls left winger to score near the right corner.

William Semu also had an outstanding run in the first corner when he surged forty metres down the sideline beating at least four defenders.

As noted William Semu as also superb defensively in the match and it was in fact his defence that set up his first try. From the kick-off of the third quarter, William Semu smashed the Tweed Heads front rower returning the kick off, in the process jarring the ball lose. William Semu scored from the resultant set of six.

After William Semu could not get to the pass that could have led to his hat trick, William Semu took his frustration out on the next Tweed Heads runner, almost cutting the front rower in half as he was trying to bring the ball away from his own line.

In the first quarter of the match William Semu showcased all that his good about his game when he chased through a long Magpies kick to the right corner. The Tweed Heads winger was trying to bring the ball away from his own line, but William Semu got hold of him and strong armed him back into the in-goal to gain a restart for his team by way of a Tweed Heads goal line drop out.

William Semu started Round One of the 2021 Cyril Connell Cup competition at right second row as was his usual dominating self against the Burleigh Bears. In Round Two against the Ipswich Jets William Semu moved to the bench for the start of the match, coming on to score in the Magpies big victory.
Round Five against the Tweed Heads Seagulls saw William Semu once against start from the bench.

In late April 2021 Will Semu was named in the Metropolitan East Open School Boy side, an impressive effort for a sixteen year old when the majority of the other squad members were eighteen year olds.

William Semu started from the bench in Met East’s Day One match against the Sunshine Coast, slotting into left centre when he came on and got his Championships off to a great start by scoring in the 16th minute when he was on the end of a Met East passing movement with William Semu crashing over in the left corner.

William Semu started at left centre on Day Three of the Championships against Met West and made a powerful charge in the early minutes making ten metres after he ran out of dummy half to the right. Just a few minutes later William Semu made eleven metres from a penalty restart. Then late in the first half William Semu made a strong sixteen metre charge down the left touchline taking the ball ten metres into Met West territory.

The half time break did not slow William Semu down as early in the second half he made a superb charge cutting back to his right towards the play the ball from ten metres out, eventually being put to ground less than a metres from the try line. William Semu then played the ball quickly with Met East scoring as a result.

The Day Four fifth place play-off match against South Coast William Semu start the match at left centre and he almost scored in the opening minutes when he received a long cut-out pass from Dominique Sandow but unfortunately William Semu was bundled into touch desperately close to the left corner.

Not long after, William Semu almost become the provider when after receiving the ball near the left touchline he cut back inside then skipped back to his outside, drawing the right winger to seemingly put his left winger over but William Semu’s final pass was adjudged to have gone forward.

Then late in the first half, William Semu made an outstanding run of twenty eight metres with the run that included six tackle breaks originating from twenty five metres out from his own line.

Round One of the 2021 Langer Cup School Boy Rugby League competition saw William Semu start on the left wing against Keebra Park.

In relation to club rugby league in 2021, William Semu moved from Carina to the Souths Magpies in the GBJRL U16 Division One competition.

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Standout Titans contracted front rower/lock Josiah Pahulu will start at lock today for Ipswich Grammar School in Round One of the Langer Cup competition when they are at home to PBC.

Below is a run down of Josiah Pahulu’s 2021 season to date:

In January 2021 Josiah Pahulu started at right second row for the Titans U17 side in their annual match at Coffs Harbour against the Newcastle Knights with Josiah Pahulu producing a dominating performance in the impressive Titans 32 – 20 victory in both attack and defence. In a sign of the high regard that the Titans have in Josiah Pahulu, he was acting captain for periods of the match.

One tackle in particular stood out in the match, Newcastle were bringing the ball off their own try line when Josiah Pahulu moved up and got in and under the ribs of the ball runner with his left shoulder. Josiah Pahulu drove the Knights forward back three metres and put him on his back, taking all momentum out of the Knights set of six.

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 Josiah Pahulu starting the match on the bench for the Titans.

Josiah Pahulu commenced his 2021 MM Cup campaign for the Ipswich Jets starting at lock against the Western Mustangs and also started at lock in the Jets second MM Cup trial against the Easts Tigers.

In Round One of the 2021 MM Cup competition, Josiah Pahulu was named to start in the front row against the Tweed Heads Seagulls but ended up starting the match at lock and was in the action almost immediately when he made solid contact on fellow Titans contracted forward Ryan Foran who has making just the third hit-up of the match.

One of the best of Josiah Pahulu’s carriers with the ball came in the 10th minute of the match when he took the ball to the right of the dummy half and dragged defenders around ten metres before being stopped less than ten metres away from the try line.

As he was in the first half it did not take long for Josiah Pahulu to get involved in the second with a strong second hit-up of the second half.

Round Two against the Burleigh Bears saw Josiah Puhulu started at lock and a strong charge which made eleven metres into the Bears ten metre zone was a sign of things to come. Josiah Pahulu produced a further strong run in the 26th minute with a charge into Burleigh’s territory that accounted for fifteen metres.

Early in the second half Josiah Pahulu was everywhere for the Jets looking to get them back into the match, starting with a strong charge from just the second hit-up of the second half. A minute later Josiah Pahulu once again took the ball into the Burleigh defensive line, making ten metres to get the ball of the Ipswich twenty metre zone and then from a penalty restart made a further ten metres, then from the third tackle in that same set of six was yet another run of around ten metres.

Josiah Pahulu continued his strong second half performance in the 53rd minute with a powerful run that netted eighteen metres to get the bell within twelve metres of the Bears try line. Even with the match out of Ipswich’s reach, Josiah Pahulu continued to keep trying as was evidenced by a fifteen metre rumble through centre field in the 68th minute of the match.

Josiah Pahulu was named in the front row in Round Three against the Souths Logan Magpies and was one of the Jets best on the way to making 128 metres, with a fair percentage of those metres being post contact metres.

Josiah Pahulu also started in the front row in Round Four against the Tweed Heads Seagulls and was one of the best players on the field. Josiah Pahulu made an immediate impact in the match with a strong twelve metre run over the halfway mark in Ipswich’s first set of six in the match and continued on from there.

In just the 3rd minute of the match, Josiah Pahulu produced another strong charge of the ball down a short blindside on the left to bring the ball over the halfway mark, making twelve metres and then Josiah Pahulu made a further fifteen metres later in the same set of six tackles that took the Jets into their attacking twenty metre zone.

Even the incredibly hot conditions that the match was played in could not stop Josiah Pahulu as in the 9th minute, Josiah Pahulu once again ran the ball into the Tweed Heads defensive line, making a strong run to the twenty metre mark and was then awarded a penalty after the Tweed Heads defensive line refused to allow him to his feet to get a quick play the ball.

Then in the 15th minute, Josiah Pahulu made an impressive eighteen metre charge from an Ipswich penalty restart to get Ipswich to near their attacking twenty metre zone. Josiah Pahulu once again proved difficult to handle in the 26th minute making thirteen metres over the halfway and once again was awarded a penalty after the Seagulls defence laid all over him to prevent the quick play the ball.

After playing the entire thirty five minutes of the first half Josiah Pahulu was back into the action when he took the second hit-up of the second half to get the bell to the Ipswich thirty metre line.

Josiah Pahulu then produced his best run of the match in the 38th minute when he charged onto the ball near the half way mark, tearing through the centre of the Seagulls ruck and running over the Tweed Heads fullback before being dragged down from behind around ten metres out.

After that long line break Josiah Pahulu did not rest on his laurels and was back in the action in the 59th minute with a fifteen metre run to get the ball to the forty metre mark.

Defensively Josiah Pahulu was also exceptional against Tweed Heads producing a number of crunching tackles including in the 42nd minute on Tweed Heads forward Bailey Martin but it was a tackle in the 40th minute that really stood out for me. Coming out from their own territory, Ipswich turned the ball over with it being picked up by Seagulls winger Kruz Remine who darted away, somehow Josiah Pahulu willed himself to chase back and drag the Seagulls winger down from behind less than ten metres away from the try line even though the winger had a head start on Josiah Pahulu.

The match also showed that Josiah Pahulu does not just put his head down and run at the line. In the 67th minute, Josiah Pahulu received the ball on the left side of the field and charged at the line, but just before he was set to contact the defence, Josiah Pahulu propped and send a well weighted pass to his left to put Xavier Stowers into a big gap making ten more metres.

Josiah Pahulu also started in the front row in Round Five against the Burleigh Bears with for me Josiah Pahulu was one of the Jets best.

Josiah Pahulu got close to scoring a deserved try in the match but in the 9th minute, lost the ball over the line trying to get the ball to the ground and also in the 13th minute, Josiah Pahulu got within centremetres of the line after a twelve metre burst on the left side of the field.

In the 14th minute, Josiah Pahulu proved that he does not just run the ball in attacking situations when he made eleven metres from a hit-up getting the ball outside of his own twenty metre area.

Josiah Pahulu did not take much time at all to get involved in the match making thirteen metres from an Ipswich penalty restart to get within five metres of the try line. Josiah Pahulu made a further fourteen metres in the 5th minute when he took the second hit-up after Burleigh kicked off following Ipswich’s first try of the match.

Just two minutes later in the 7th minute, Josiah Pahulu once again ran at the Burleigh line from ten metres out from a Jets penalty restart and it took five Burleigh defenders to halt his progress perilously close to the try line.

In the 23rd minute, with Ipswich well on top, Josiah Pahulu ensured that the Jets started their set after a try on the front foot when he took the hit-up from the kick-off, making twelve metres to get the ball over his own twenty metre area.

Josiah Pahulu made his presence felt in defence when in the 23rd minute he smashed Burleigh left winger Shannon Donaldson with a big front on tackle knocking the winger who was making his MM Cup debut three metres backwards.

Josiah Pahulu was at it again in the 24th minute when he rocked Burleigh front rower VJ Semu who was returning a kick-off, knocking the ball loose in the process.

Josiah Pahulu was involved in an earth trembling collision when in the 58th minute he smashed into fellow Titan Arama Hau when he was returning a Burleigh kick-off with the contact stopping both players in their tracks, it was great to see and let’s call the outcome a draw!

Josiah Pahulu followed that heavy collision up in the 65th minute with a twelve metre charge that was the second run from a Burleigh kick-off with Josiah Pahulu once again getting the ball over his own thirty metre mark.

Round Six being the final regular season round of the 2021 MM Cup competition saw Josiah Pahulu named to start in the front row against the Souths Logan Magpies however he was a late scratching from the match.

At the 2021 Ipswich Jets MM Cup Presentation Night, Josiah Pahulu was deservedly named the 2021 Ipswich Jets Most Valuable Player.

Post the 2021 MM Cup competition, Josiah Pahulu played for the Springfield Panthers in the Ipswich Rugby League U17 Division One competition with his first appearance for the Panthers coming in Round Four when Josiah Pahulu started in the second row against Goonda Black.

Josiah Pahulu captained the Springfield Panthers side in Round Six against Brothers Ipswich, starting in the front row and scoring two tries in their impressive 36 – 8 victory.

2021 also saw Josiah Pahulu line up once again for Ipswich State High School in the South East Queensland School Boy Langer Cup competition starting Round One at lock against PBC.

2021 also saw Josiah Pahulu represent Met West at the QSSRL U18 Championships, playing with distinction in the front row.

[mdrew]

He may have been on the losing side last night but left centre 2021 saw Joseph Tupuse was outstanding for the Keebra Park Year Nine school boy rugby league side that went down to fierce local rivals PBC.

In the match Joseph Tupuse scored Keebra Park’s opening try of the match in the 21st minute when he received the ball five metres out from the try line and three metres in from the left touch line. Initially Joseph Tupuse looked as if he was going to head towards the left touchline but quickly pushed off one defender and cut back towards centre field. After running across field for approximately ten metres, Joseph Tupuse straightened up and burst through three would be defenders to score a powerful solo try.

Just two minutes prior to his try, Joseph Tupuse made two runs that got Keebra park good field position to attack the PBC line. On the first occasion in the 19th minute Joseph Tupuse made a bustling twenty two metres, breaking three tackles to get the ball thirty eight metres out and PBC were too desperate to slow the play the ball down and gave away a penalty.

From the set of six from the penalty Joseph Tupuse charged down the right side of the field, making sixteen metres only being stopped three metres short of the line.

[mdrew]

With Jayden Campbell named to make his NRL debut this weekend, below is a review of his 2021 season to date:

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.

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 in Round Eleven against the Canterbury Bulldogs.

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 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.

Jayden Campbell continued at fullback in Round Eight against the Easts Tigers and once again was outstanding including scoring once again and also recording a try assist and two line break assists.

Jayden Campbell scored when he looped around the back of the Tweed Heads movement to the right, receiving an “out the back” pass from Toby Sexton flying straight through a gap twenty five metres out. Jayden Campbell produced a prodigious left foot step to easily beat the fullback and run around to score under the posts.

Jayden Campbell’s try assist came when he chimed into the Seagulls backline as they spun the ball to the right, with Jayden Campbell taking the ball into the line and passing to his right to put Tremain Spry into a big gap twenty metres out, with Tremain Spry then producing a right foot step to beat the Tigers fullback to score.

Jayden Campbell also had a line break in the match. After receiving the ball five metres out from his own line, Jayden Campbell literally running around the Easts left side defence, flying down the right touchline making seventy five metres before being brought to ground twenty metres from the line.

In addition to everything else, Jayden Campbell ran for a team leading 264 metres (thirty two post contact), broke a team leading six tackles, playing the ball at an average speed of 3.16 seconds and made three tackles, missing none.

[mdrew]

Titans partnered schools Marsden and Keebra Park played tonight in Round One of the Langer Cup and in a VERY physical match Marsden prevailed 36 - 0.

[mdrew]

Big win for PBC over Ipswich SHS tonight in Round One of Langer Cup 44-12.

Thomas Weaver and Oskar Bryant should return for Round Two next week.