Originally Posted by
mdrew
The short answer mate is that on the Coast and in Northern NSW the Titans were not necessarily the first option but as a result of Jamie McCormack and the JTS Program the Titans have been able to keep the best of the local juniors in Titans colours.
If you look at the three schools that have Titans official partnerships the best talent are all contracted to the Titans (not all but most) being PBC, Keebra Park and Marsden.
It is not just getting players signed however it is also their development. A prime example is Immanuel Kalakale who was impressive but raw when he signed but as a result of the JTS Program he has exploded to become the form front rower in the Langer Cup alongside fellow Titan Josiah Pahulu from Ipswich.
Also some of the so called "lesser names" have developed incredibly under Jamie McCormack's tutilige such as Reef Sommerville.
I know that I am biased but for me the Titans have easily the best Junior Development Program in Queensland and the only program that could be considered on par in Australia is Penrith. You just have to look at the recent Northern Rivers cohort that includes Tom Weaver, Jack Cullen, Ryan Foran and Reef Sommerville amongst others.
Also the best Queensland/Australian U16 player is a Titan in William Semu, the young man is a freak as is destroying the predomintly U18 Langer Cup competition on a weekly basis.
Similiarly the best U18 player in Australia in Tom Weaver is also a Titan.
Then look at Keano Kini who was considered the best NZ U16 player in recent memory and was being chased by literally every NRL club and also more than a few NZ Super Rugby clubs including the Auckland Blues. What did he do, he signed with the Titans and is developing into an absolutely star of the future.
The you can consider an out of the box signing like Xavier Stowers who was a stand out rugby No. 8 for Ipswich Grammar School in the GPS First XV rugby competition but the Titans snared him and he moved to Marden where he is developing on an exponential curve due to Jamie McCormack and the JTS Program.