Junior Development

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They may have had an up and down start to the 2021 Langer Cup school boy competition but Coombabah SHS side has as good a front row pairing as any of the "bigger" sides with Titans contracted Joseph Shannon and former NZ U16 rep K-CI Newton-Whare leading the way.

The two will once again start in the front row tomorrow night in Round Five against St Mary's College Toowoomba.

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After spending time in the NRL bubble Tony Francis will be able to continue his progression to the NRL with the Titans this weekend for Burleigh in the Hastings Deering's Colts competition when he lines up in the centres against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls.

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Great to see Titans contracted Bailey Martin has recovered after missing Round Four of the Langer Cup last week with the exceptional defender and vastly underrated ball runner being named on the bench for PBC in tomorrow nights Langer Cup local derby against Keebra Park at Pizzey Park.

I have said it before and I will say it again, Bailey Martin is the best U18 defender in Queensland full stop, and probably in Australia if I am being honest. His defensive technique is simple, repeatable and exceptionally effective, with the best aspect being his head placement.

Bailey Martin is a throw back type defender if you will when a great low tackle that cuts the attacker down in a heart beat was something to be celebrated.

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Round Five of the school boy Langer Cup competition tomorrow throws up some outstanding individual match-ups with one of the best being in the Round Five match between Marsden SHS and Mabel Park SHS with Marsden's stand out Titans contracted U16 left centre is up against Mable Park SHS's NZ recruit and former NZ junior age representative Atunaisa Pahulu Jnr (right centre) will face off in what should be an outstanding individual battle.

Both young men are big, strong, tough, powerful and most importantly are exceptionally skillful.

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Titans contracted duo Kaleb Ngamanu (inside centre) and Syris Schmidt (No. 10) have deservedly been named in the GPS First XV school boy rugby Team of the Week after their exploits last weekend for TSS in Round One against Brisbane Grammar School.

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The 2021 season to date for Kennyon Elisaia-Thomas:

The young five eight in late 2020 was selected in the 2020/21 Titans Group One Elite Academy Squad.

Kennyon Elisaia-Thomas started Round One of the 2021 Group One U15 competition at five eight as the Clarence Coast Magpies took on the Ballina Seagulls.

Kennyon Elisaia-Thomas also started at five eight in Round Two against the South Grafton Rebels kicking a conversion in the Magpies 24 – 12 victory. Round Three against the Ballina Seagulls saw Kennyon Elisaia-Thomas once again start at five eight.

Kennyon Elisaia-Thomas moved to fullback for Round Nine against South Grafton and scored two tries and kicked one conversions in the Magpies 32 – 12 victory.

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Yesterday afternoon Titans JTS squad member Levi Bannon continued his outstanding Renouf Cup form for Marsden SHS in Round Six against Keebra Park State High School including a 31st minute try assist when from thirty metres out he put in a right foot chip kick towards the right side of the field with the ball sitting up ideally for his centre to retrieved the ball on the first bounce to race away to score.

Levi Bannon was also heavily involved in the plays leading up to Marsden SHS’s last minute try under the posts that levelled the scores at 18 all.

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Tonight’s PBC against Keebra Park Langer Cup match has some outstanding battles looming with one of the best being PBC and Titans contracted front rower Jack Cullen up against fellow Titans contracted front rower in Immanuel Kalekale from Keebra Park. The ground will shake when those two crash into each other.

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PBC run a lot of plays to their left where Titans contracted Ryan Foran is stationed, alternatively Keebra Park got to their right a lot to fellow Titan Seth Nikotemo, thus a key battle with be between the two hard running, skilful second rowers.

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In the modern game, the dummy half role is key and tonight against Keebra Park, PBC have two outstanding Titans contracted dummy halves. Oskar Bryant will start the match for PBC and then Tana Nona will come off the bench to give him a spell. A real positive for PBC is that when Oskar Bryant comes back onto the field for his second stint, it is likely that Tanu Nona will stay on the field in a running forward role, a role that he fills well.

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Midway through the 2021 season Toby Sexton extended his NRL contract with the Titans through to the end of the 2024 season and is set to make his NRL debut this weekend in Round Nineteen against the St George Dragons. Previously Toby Sexton was named in the Titans extended bench in Round Eleven of the 2021 season 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.

Toby Sexton continued at halfback in Round Eight and whilst playing the entire match was in everything, recording two try assists, a line break and a line break assist.

Toby Sexton’s first try assist came when he threw an “out the back” pass to put Jayden Campbell into space in the first half and then in the second half, Toby Sexton came back underneath Liam Hampson who had run to his right, with Toby Sexton breaking through the line and drawing the fullback and passing to his right to put Brayden McGrady over under the posts.

In addition to everything else, Toby Sexton ran for sixty two metres, played the ball at an average speed of 3.91 seconds and had a 100% tackling efficiency whilst making fifteen tackles.

Round Nine against the Norths Devils saw Toby Sexton line up at halfback. Playing the entire eighty minutes, Toby Sexton ran for sixty three metres (ten post contact), broke a tackle, played the ball at an average speed of 2.93 seconds and made nineteen tackles at a tackling efficiency of 90.48%.

Toby Sexton continued at halfback in Round Ten against the Mackay Cutters, playing all eighty minutes, running for 113 metres (twenty three post contact), made a two line break, broke three tackles, played the ball at an average speed of 3.2 seconds, kicked on six occasions for 198 metres and made seventeen tackles at a tackling efficiency of 89.47%.

Toby Sexton continued at halfback for Round Eleven against Redcliffe, once again playing the entire eighty minutes of the match. In that time Toby Sexton ran for sixty four metres (thirteen post contact), played the ball at an average speed of 4.06 seconds and made twenty five tackles at a tackling efficiency of 92.59%.

Toby Sexton recorded two try assists in the match against the Dolphins, the first when he put in a short right foot stab kick to the left wing where Tremain Spry was on hand to dive on the ball in the left corner. Toby Sexton’s second try assist came in the 74th minute when he squeezed a grubber kick into the in goal down the left channel with Herman Ese’ese charging through to dive on the ball to lock the scores up at twelve all.

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The 2021 season to date for Titans contracted Iszac Fa’asuamaleaui:

The younger brother of 2021 Titans NRL signing and 2021 Queensland State of Origin star Tino Fa’asuamaleaui joins the Titans and like like his older brother came up through the Melbourne Storm and Sunshine Coast Falcons junior development systems. Iszac Fa’asuamaleaui spent part of the 2020/21 off-season training with the Titans NRL squad.

Iszac Fa’asuamaleaui’s first action in 2021 came when he started from the bench for Burleigh in their Queensland Cup trial against the Easts Tigers.

Iszac Fa’asuamaleaui then started in the front row for Burleigh Second’s side in their final 2021 Queensland Cup trial against the Tweed Heads Seagulls.

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

Round One of the 2021 Hastings Deering’s Colts competition saw Iszac Fa’asuamaieaui to start from the bench for the Burleigh Bears when they took on the Easts Tigers however he was a late scratching from the final Seventeen.

In Round Two Iszac Fa’asuamaieaui was named on Burleigh’s extended bench for the local derby against the Tweed Heads Seagulls however came onto the bench late in the week, coming on in the 25th minute of the first half.

The 26th minute saw Iszac Fa’asuamaieaui make his first tackle of the match when he hit Seagulls fullback Brenton Daley-Holten and dorve him two metres backwards, then from marker Iszac Fa’asuamaieaui did the same thing to Jaylan To’O post the play the ball.

Iszac Fa’asuamaieaui took his first hit-up in the 30th minute making ten metres to get the ball thirty five metres away from his own try line. Iszac Fa’asuamaieaui made a further strong run on the 32nd minute from the kick-off after Cole Geyer’s try, throwing self-preservation out the window to get the ball twenty two metres out from his own line.

After missing a number of weeks, Iszac Fa’asuamaieaui started Round Five against the Northern Pride at left centre. Iszac Fa’asuamaieaui then started from the bench in Round Six against the Townsville Blackhawks and almost scored with his first touch of the ball when he charged at the line from just two minutes out but just as he was about to put the ball down under the posts, it was knocked from his grasp.

Iszac Fa’asuamaieaui started from the bench in Round Seven against the Central Capra’s and recorded a 58th minute try assist when forty five metres from the line he threw an offload from above his head to Tuvalli Khan-Pereira who raced down the right touchline beating one Capra’s cover defender with a strong left arm fend to score in the right corner.

Iszac Fa’asuamaieaui continued off the bench in Round Eight against the Redcliffe Dolphins and was one of the Bears try scorers in their last minute loss and also came off the bench in Round Nine against the Mackay Cutters and in the Round Eleven local derby against the Tweed Heads Seagulls.

Iszac Fa’asuamaieaui has also been named on the bench for the previously postponed Round Ten clash against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls this weekend.

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The 2021 season to date for TuValli-Afoa Khan-Pereira:

In January 2021 Tuvalli Khan-Pereira was part of the Titans U19 squad that took on the Newcastle Knights in their annual match in Coffs Harbour, with the Titans emerging from the match as the victors in a dominating display 40 - 6. When he came on Tuvalli Khan-Pereira operated outwide on both the left and right sides of the field, scoring in the second half in the Titans victory.

Tuvalli-Afoa Khan-Pereira also recorded a number of smart heads up efforts in the match, including late in the first half. Newcastle were awarded a penalty and kicked for touch. Tuvalli-Afoa Khan-Pereira could have been excused for taking the opportunity to have a rest but instead, he kept his head in the match and was able to take the ball on the full when the Knights kicker tried to make too much ground with the kick, with Tuvalli-Afoa Khan-Pereira preventing the kick from finding touch to get the ball back for the Titans.

In the second half when Newcastle kicked for touch from a penalty once again, Tuvalli-Afoa Khan-Pereira was on hand when Troy Duckett produced a spectacular piece of play to prevent another Knights kick finding touch. When he took possession Tuvalli-Afoa Khan-Pereira was able to return the ball thirteen metres back towards the Newcastle line.

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

Tuvalli-Afoa Khan-Pereira started the match from the bench before coming on to play right centre in the second half, producing a great piece of work in th e62nd minute of the match to track back quickly to recover the ball from a Bears attacking kick with a Burleigh try appearing immenent.

In late 2020 Tuvalli-Afoa Khan-Pereira was named in the 2021 Burleigh Bears MM Cup squad after also being part of the squad in 2020, starting the one and only round of the 2020 MM Cup competition on the right wing against Wynnum Manly.

Tuvalli Khan-Pereira’s first hit-out with the 2021 Burleigh Bears MM Cup side came when he started at right centre in the Bears second trial against the Easts Tigers, scoring an early second half try in Burleigh’s 20 – 12 (no conversions taken) victory.

Tuvalli Khan-Pereira’s try was well worked by Burleigh. Travis May kicked towards the right wing with the kick being picked up by Levi Jones who got the ball back inside to Tuvalli Khan-Pereira who dived over in the right corner.

Tuvalli Khan-Pereira was in the match early in just the 6th minute he threw the final pass to Levi Jones to score in the right corner after hooker Caleb Gould-Waiariki had broken the Easts line from dummy half and was able to find Tuvalli Khan-Pereira who had backed up in his outside.

In the 14th minute of the match Tuvalli Khan-Pereira made the first of his two try saving tackles of the match when he tracked his opposite number across field to his right and brought him down with a ball and all tackle centremetres short of the line.

In the 53rd minute Tuvalli Khan-Pereira produced a piece of defensive brilliance in the right corner when just as the Easts Tigers left winger was diving in mid-air to put the ball down in the corner, Tuvalli Khan-Pereira dived full length from three metres away to knock the ball loose from the wingers grasp to prevent what looked like a certain try. What a way to bring up your second try saving tackle of the match.

In Round One of the 2021 MM Cup competition, Tuvalli Khan-Pereira started at right centre against the Souths Logan Magpies. Tuvalli Khan-Pereira did not have too many opportunities in the match but in the 54th minute, he was able to get outside his direct opponent and throw a one armed (right arm) offload to winger Levi Jones after attracting the Souths Logan left winger but unfortunately the ball could not be taken with the line open.

Tuvalli Khan-Pereira also started at right centre in Round Two against the Ipswich Jets and was one of the Bears try scorers in their impressive 44 – 16 victory.

Tuvalli Khan-Pereira’s match started in interesting fashion when he took the Ipswich kick off on the full but had his legs taken out whilst he was still in the air, flipping onto his back. Fortunately Tuvalli Khan-Pereira was not injured and was awarded the penalty for being tackled in the air.

Tuvalli Khan-Pereira’s try came in the 67th minute when a pass to the right cut-out Tuvalli Khan-Pereira to find Levi Jones on the right wing, near the right corner Levi Jones passed the ball inside to Tuvalli Khan-Pereira who dived over in the corner to score the final try of the match.

Tuvalli Khan-Pereira shined defensively in the match including a great ball and all tackle in just the 3rd minute on the Ipswich right centre which stopped him in his tracks. Tuvalli Khan-Pereira added a further outstanding tackle to his resume when he cut down his opposing centre with an outstanding low tackle moving to his left.

In the 67th minute Tuvalli Khan-Pereira’s defence continued to be impregnable with a massive front on tackle on the Ipswich No. 20 which forced the ball loose and immediately put Burleigh back on the attack.

Tuvalli Khan-Pereira once again started at right centre in the Round Three Gold Coast derby against the Tweed Heads Seagulls. Whilst early in the match the ball did not find him in much space, Tuvalli Khan-Pereira was still able to contribute in attack including a strong ten metre run in the 10th minute to get the ball to the halfway mark.

Tuvalli Khan-Pereira did however to produce a smart piece of play in the 65th minute that led to a line break for Levi Jones down the right wing when he caught a pass on his inside and then got a quick pass away to Jones.

Tuvalli Khan-Pereira was originally named to start at right centre for Round Four match against the Souths Logan Magpies however in fact started the match at fullback. Tuvalli Khan-Pereira enjoyed the extra space afforded to him at fullback scoring one of the Bears four tries.

Tuvalli Khan-Pereira also started at fullback in Round Five against the Ipswich Jets and was one of the Bears try scorers as they recorded an astonishing come from behind victory.

Tuvalli Khan-Pereira scored in the 40th minute when Caleb Gould-Waiariki burst out of dummy half to his right, thirty five metres out from the line, beating two defenders before a step off his left got him through the line and then he was able to draw the fullback and offload to Tuvalli Khan-Pereira. When he received the ball it certainly was not simply a case of Tuvalli Khan-Pereira coasting to the line, he had to fight through three defenders before being able to get the ball down next to the left upright.

Burleigh were immediately under pressure in the opening moments of the match and but for Tuvalli Khan-Pereira and team mates, Arama Hau an Seth Nikotemo Ipswich would have opened the scoring in the 4th minute when the Ipswich No. 10 was held up over the line.

Tuvalli Khan-Pereira’s defence was once again called upon in the 11th minute when he along with Syris Schmidt converged on the Ipswich right winger who had made a break down the touchline. The initial contact by the two Bears players kept the Jets winger off the ground and they then were able to force him into touch.

After being heavily involved defensively, Tuvalli Khan-Pereira was finally able to get some room to move with the ball in the 16th minute when he ran the ball from a Burleigh scrum win, making fifteen metres down the right to get within ten metres of the try line.

Tuvalli Khan-Pereira showcased his innate ability to be at the right place at the right time in the 43rd minute, when Delahia Wigmore ran out of dummy half to his right, breaking three tackles and then producing a great off-load to his left to find Tuvalli Khan-Pereira who was able to get the ball inside the Jets forty metre area.

Round Six being the final regular season round of the 2021 MM Cup competition saw Tuvalli Khan-Pereira once again line up at fullback in the local derby against the Tweed Heads Seagulls.

Tuvalli Khan-Pereira’s first significant impact on the match came in the 13th minute when he got into dummy half and was able to bring the ball upfield thirteen metres from inside his own territory.

The first of two line breaks that Tuvalli Khan-Pereira made in the match came in the 27th minute when he split the Seagulls line from a Bears scrum win. Tuvalli Khan-Pereira received the ball from the base of the scrum to the right and got on the outside out the Tweed Heads widest left side defender, making thirty metres down the right touchline and it looked as if Tuvalli Khan-Pereira would score in the right corner but he was bundled into touch less than a metre from the right corner post.

Tuvalli Khan-Pereira’s second line break came in the 43rd minute and once again came when he made a break off a Bears scrum win. Once again Tuvalli Khan-Pereira received the ball from the base of the scrum but this time to the left of where the scrum was packed and once again was able to made nineteen metres down the left touchline only to be bundled into touch close to the left corner post.

Impressively after Burleigh’s 2021 MM Cup campaign came to an end, Tuvalli Khan-Pereira moved directly to the Burleigh Hastings Deering’s Colts squad, starting Round Three off the bench in their big victory against the Western Mustangs.

Tuvalli Khan-Pereira moved into the Burleigh starting side at right centre for Burleigh’s Round Four match against the Norths Devils, scoring a double as the Bears went down 34 – 22 to the Norths Devils.

Tuvalli Khan-Pereira also started at right centre in Round Five against the Ipswich Jets, scoring once again as the Bears recorded a big victory.

Tuvalli Khan-Pereira continued his run of starts at right centre against the Townsville Blackhawks and the match saw Tuvalli Khan-Pereira continue his try scoring run as well when in the 77th minute Tuvalli Khan-Pereira, after receiving the ball twenty metres out was able to get on the outside of his direct opponent and then dummying as he approached the Townsville left winger to crash over out wide to seal the Burleigh win.

Tuvalli Khan-Pereira also had a line break and a line break assist in the 22nd minute when he was able to get away down the right touchline, getting over the halfway mark before he produced an outstanding right arm flick pass to right winger Kalani Skipps who was able to break away before passing to Bryson Vaovosa to score.

Tuvalli Khan-Pereira’s efforts continued in the 27th minute with a good fourteen metres run before being stopped eight metres from the line. The 32nd minute saw Tuvalli Khan-Pereira make a further twelve metres, on that occasion getting within ten metres of the try line.

Tuvalli Khan-Pereira continued at right centre in Round Seven against the Central Queensland Capra’s, scoring the Bears final try of the match in their big win as well as recording a first half try assist.

Tuvalli Khan-Pereira scored in the 58th minute when he received a great over the top off-load from Iszac Fa’asuamaleaui forty five metres from the line and raced down the right touchline beating one Capra’s cover defender with a strong left arm fend to score in the right corner.

Tuvalli Khan-Pereira recorded his try assist in the 16th minute with a great catch and pass down a right blindside Burleigh raid to put Kalani Skipps over in the right corner.

Tuvalli Khan-Pereira continued at right centre in Round Eight against the Redcliffe Dolphins, scoring in the Bears tough two point last minute loss and also started at right centre in Round Nine against the Mackay Cutters.

Tuvalli Khan-Pereira is also set to start at right centre in the previously postponed Round Ten match against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls this weekend.

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The 2021 season to date for Titans contracted Vaka Sikahele:

The dynamic young New Zealand born hooker has signed with the Titans JTS program and headed over to Australia to be part of the Burleigh Bears 2021 Hastings Deering’s Colts squad after an outstanding career in New Zealand including representative honours as well as an outstanding school boy career with St Pauls Callege and prior to that Wesley College.

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 Vaka Sikahele starting the match at hooker in his first match in a Titans jersey.

After being injured in a pre-season training mishap, Vaka Sikahele was named on Burleigh’s extended bench for the Round Two local derby against the Tweed Heads Seagulls but moved onto the bench late in the week and celebrated by scoring in his Hastings Deering’s Colts debut.

Vaka Sikahele scored one of the stranger tries that you will see from a run out of dummy half in the 54th minute. 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 was able to retrieve the ball on the bounce and get to within eleven metres of the line. Vaka Sikahele got into dummy half and ran to his left with the Tweed Heads defence in disarray to dive over between two defenders mid-way between the goal posts and corner post on the left side of the field.

Vaka Sikahele came onto the field late in the first half, with his first run out of dummy half coming just a few minutes later in the 34th minute when ran to his left, breaking the Seagulls line and making twenty metres, beating four defenders along the way to get the ball to within forty metres of the try line.

In addition to some impressive runs and distribution out of dummy half Vaka Sikahele was also good defensively including in the 44th when he along with Isaac Matalavea-Booth hit and stopped Seagulls front rower Ben Liyou just centre metres out.

Vaka Sikahele also started from the bench in Round Three against the Western Mustangs coming into the match in the dummy half role towards the end of the first half. Vaka Sikahele was in the action almost immediately running out of dummy half to his right down a blaindside and took the ball ten metres to the line before passing to his right to Cole Geyer who then quickly got the ball out to his right for Ronin Rio to dive over in the right corner.

After missing Round Four due to playing for the Titans U19 side, Vaka Sikahele started Round Five against the Northern Pride from the bench.

Vaka Sikahele was on the bench once again in Round Six against the Townsville Blackhawks, coming into the match towards the end of the first half in a running forward role before spending time at dummy half in the second half. Vaka Sikahele made the most of both of the roles that he played in the match and in the 51st minute, whislt palying as a running forward made thirteen metres, the majority post contact, to get the ball to the halfway mark.

Vaka Sikahele was back in the starting side at hooker in Round Seven against the Central Queensland Capra’s before starting from the bench in Round Eight against the Redcliffe Dolphins and in Round Nine against the Mackay Cutters.

Vaka Sikahele also started at hooker in the Round Eleven local derby against the Tweed Heads Seagulls and scored a double with his tries coming in the 16th and 55th minutes. In the 16th minute Vaka Sikahele moved into dummy half seven metres from the line and then drated to his right before stepping back to his left to beat the Seagulls marker before crashing through two more defenders who had stationed themselves on the try line.

Vaka Sikahele scored his second try in the 59th minute when once again he darted out of dummy half to his right, on this occasion from 32 metres out. After getting around the markers Vaka Sikahele cut back to his left to the area behind the play the ball and then was easily outpace the Seagulls defence to score under the post.

Vaka Sikahele has also been named to start at hooker in the previously postponed Round Ten match against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls.

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The 2021 season to date for Titans contracted Klese Haas:

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

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

In 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 Klese Haas starting the match at right second row in his first match in a Titans jersey.

In 2021 Klese Haas was part of the Tweed Heads Seagulls Hastings Deering’s Colts squad and started round One at right centre against the Souths Logan Magpies. Klese Hass’s initial involvement in the match came in the second minute, when he along with Vinncent Takatake brought down the the Souths Logan fullback who had brought the ball out of his own in-goal from a Seagulls attacking kick.

Klese Haas in fact came close to scoring when in the 61st minute a strong run off a Seagulls scrum win accounted for twenty five metres with Klese Haas getting to within three metres of the line.

Klese Haas almost got over the line again in the 66th minute when a strong ten metre effort got Klese Haas to within centremetres of the line.

Klese Haas was due to start at right centre in Round Two in the local derby against the Burleigh Bears however he ended up starting the match at right second row with his first involvement preventing a Burleigh try when he intercepted a Burleigh pass literally right on his own line and was able to bring the ball back thirty metres. If Klese Hass had not intercepted the pass, Burleigh would have scored in the right corner.

Klese Haas added to his contribution to the Seagulls 32 – 24 victory in the 20th minute when he was able to force his way into the Burleigh twenty metre area with a hard fought ten metres of ground.

Klese Hass moved into dummy half in the 28th minute, making twelve metres after running the ball to the right and getting into the tweny metre attacking zone.

Klese Haas got within a metre of scoring his first Colts try in the 44th minute when he received the ball to the right of the play the ball, running in that direction before cutting back to the left and getting to within a metre of the line after breaking three tackles.

Klese Haas proved to be dangerous running with the ball once again in the 61st minute when he packed into a scrum at lock, after picking up the ball from the base of the scrum, Klese Hass ran to the right fending off two would be defenders with his left arm, making twelve metres to get to within two metres of the halfway mark.

Klese Haas also started at right second row in Round Three against the Redcliffe Dolphins.

After missing Round Four due to playing for the Titans U19 side, Klese Haas started Round Five against the Northern Pride at right second row and scored his first Hastings Deering’s Colts try in the Seagulls 40 – 18 victory.

Klese Haas continued his run of starts at right second row in Round Six against the Easts Tigers and in Round Seven against the Norths Devils.

Round Eight against the Mackay Cutters, saw Klese Haas move to right centre and scoring in the Seagulls tough loss.

Klese Haas then moved back to right second row for Round Nine against Wynnum Manly and continued there in the Round Eleven local derby against the Burleigh Bears as well as in this weekend’s previously postponed Round Ten match against the Sunshine Coast Falcons.

Klese Haas started in the second row in the Seagulls final 2021 trial against the Burleigh Bears.