Junior Development

[mdrew]

Rowan Mansfield (fullback) and Jesse Beauchamp (half) will line-up for Ballina in Round Twelve of the NRRRL U18 competition against Murwillumbah today and then both are due to be on the bench for the Reserve Grade clash in the following match.

Both Rowan Mansfield and Jesse Beauchamp were recently part of the Titans U18 NRRRL Invitational side that played a Titans U17 JTS squad at CBus Stadium in an NRL curtain-raiser.

[mdrew]

Titans contracted front rower Kyhan Weir has been named to start for the Ballina Seagulls today in Round Thirteen of the NRRRL U18 competition and then the young man who was part of the Titans U19 squad that recently took on a North Queensland Cowboys U19 squad in Townsville in an NRL curtain-raiser will be on the bench for this afternoon's NRRL First Grade match also against the Mustangs.

Should he get on the field, Kyhan Weir will face off against fellow Titans contracted forward Ryan Foran who is set to start at left second row for Murwillumbah.

[mdrew]

Titans contracted Blake Forder with a good first half try for Murwillumbah as they lead Ballina 10-4 in today's NRRRL U18 match.

[mdrew]

Titans contracted Kyhan Weir with a strong second half including a try under the posts from dummy half to help Ballina to a 20-16 win over Murwillumbah in today's U18 NRRRL match.

[mdrew]

Yesterday Titans contacted Kyhan Weir started in the front row for Ballina in Round Thirteen of the NRRRL U18 competition against Murwillumbah and had a big match, especially in the second half, including scoring a key try for the Seagulls in the tight four point victory. Kyhan Weir was in the match almost immediately when after a Murwillumbah error from the kick-off Kyhan Weir took the third hit-up after Ballina’s penalty restart.

Kyhan Weir’s try came in the 34th minute when he crashed over under the posts from close range after running to his right out of dummy half.

Kyhan Weir played the entire sixty minutes of the match in the front row and even in the closing minutes of the match with Ballina clinging to a four point lead, Kyhan Weir led the way for the Seagulls, including in the 56th minute with a big ten metre charge on the third tackle from the kick-off to Kye Cooper’s try that gave Ballina the lead. Kyhan Weir, at the end of his run, tried to get to his feet for a quick play the ball but was held down and deservedly won a penalty which allowed Ballina to get the ball deep into Murwillumbah territory.

Even in the final minute of the match, Kyhan Weir continued his strong match, with two strong hit-ups in that final minute to ensure Ballina’s victory.

[RavShamrock]

Hey md I'd like to get your thoughts on our very best hooker prospect and when we should expect his presence in our top squad? i think you mention we had someone coming into the development squad but is he the guy we should be getting excited about or is there another?
cheers

ps. once again sorry mate if you've already been over this.

[mdrew]

The Titans have a few hookers in the JTS squad including Oskar Bryant who will, I believe will be on a Development contract next season who is probably the top hooker in the program, but to to fair to him he is three odd years away.

Another hooker in the U18 ranks is Tanu Nona who has been outstanding this season for Cudgen in the NRRRL U18 competition and PBC in the Langer Cup and is also U18 eligible in 2022.

A smoky for me is Vaka Sikahele who came over from NZ after signing with the Titans and has been in outstanding form for Burleigh in the Hastings Deering's Colts competition and is also Colts eligible in 2022.

In the younger age groups, Corey Pearce and Will Saunders are good dummy half prospects but are obviously a long way away from the NRL due to their youth.

Hey md I'd like to get your thoughts on our very best hooker prospect and when we should expect his presence in our top squad? i think you mention we had someone coming into the development squad but is he the guy we should be getting excited about or is there another?
cheers

ps. once again sorry mate if you've already been over this.

[RavShamrock]

Thanks md very much appreciated.
Just a quick read up about Vaka and sounds like he has speed off the mark to burn which is defiantly a big attraction.
cheers

[mdrew]

On the weekend Jordan Gallagher who recently was part of a Titans NRRRL U18 side that played at CBus Stadium started at halfback for the South Grafton Rebels in Round Fifteen of the Group Two U18 competition, kicking two conversions against Coffs Harbour.

[mdrew]

Damon Coldwell started at left centre for Ballina on Saturday for Ballina in Round Thirteen of the U18 NRRRL competition against the Murwillumbah Mustangs, scoring one try and also making a strong line break.

Damon Coldwell scored in the 44th minute when he was able to twist his way over from dummy half to get the ball down in the right corner.

Damon Coldwell made a strong 36th minute line break of twenty five metres down the left touchline after receiving a good ball from his inside by Rowan Mansfield.

[mdrew]

Murwillumbah’s Brandon Williams started at halfback on Saturday in Round Thirteen of the U18 NRRRL competition against the Ballina Seagulls recording a try assist for the opening try of the match in the 7th minute when he threw a long cut out pass to his left to Blake Forder who received the ball around ten metres to get the ball down in the left corner untouched.

[mdrew]

Ballina’s Kye Cooper who recently played for a Titans U17 side against a Titans JTS U16 selection at Cbus Stadium in an NRL curtain-raiser, continued at right centre in Round Thirteen of the NRRRL U18 competition against Murwillumbah scoring a key try in the 53rd minute when he was on hand to take possession of a kick into the in-goal that the Murwillumbah defence could not deal with by letting the ball bounce, with Kye Cooper getting the ball down in the right corner.

In addition to his try, Kye Cooper made a 14th minute line break down the right touchline of twenty five metres.

[mdrew]

Saturday’s Round Thirteen U18 NRRRL match against the Ballina Seagulls saw Murwillumbah’s Titans contracted Riley Lack continue at five eight and recording two try assists as well as kicking three conversions.

Riley Lack’s first try assist came in the 17th minute when after receiving the ball around sixteen metres out whilst operating on the right side of field, Riley Lack cut back off his right foot towards mid-field, breaking a number of tackles before getting a right arm off-load away close to the line for Mustangs front rower Chad Jones to force his way over under the posts.

Riley Lack added his second try assist in the 48th minute and once again Riley Lack received the ball on the right side of the field before cutting back towards mid-field and once again was able to great another great right arm off-load away, on this occasion to his hooker who was able to get over the line next to the left upright.

Riley Lack also produced a great kick-off in the 45th minute when he hit the kick-off towards the left touchline, with the ball bouncing less than a foot from the touchline and ten metres out. Riley Lack set up a try from the subsequent Murwillumbah restart.

[mdrew]

Ballina’s Titans contracted Lachlan Offley on Saturday started on the right wing in Round Thirteen against Murwillumbah and did some very good things in the Seagulls four point victory. Whilst he did not score himself in the match, Lachlan Offley was heavily involved in Ballina’s 11th minute try. Jesse Beauchamp put up a mid-field bomb which Murwillumbah let bounce with the ball bouncing back towards the Ballina chasers. The ball got out to Lachlan Offley’s right wing with the flyer darting down the right wing. When confronted by the cover defence, Lachlan Offley put in a right foot grubber kick back inside which was collected by Ballina to score.

Lachlan Offley produced another smart piece of play in the 44th minute when he identified that there was space behind his own defensive line, after Murwillumbah identified the same thing and put in a chip kick, Lachlan Offley was able to get back and jump high to take the kick on the full and then was awarded a penalty when he was tackled in the air.

Lachlan Offley also worked hard in running the ball, including a strong twelve metres effort out of dummy half in the 10th minute to get the ball out of his own twenty metre area.

[mdrew]

Titans contracted Blake Forder started at left centre on Saturday for Murwillumbah in Round Thirteen of the U18 NRRRL competition against the Ballina Seagulls, scoring the opening try of the match in the 7th minute when he took a long cut out pass whilst in space on the left side of the field from Brandan Williams around ten metres to get the ball down in the left corner untouched.

Blake Forder was also strong defensively in the match in the left centre position including a great ball and all try saving tackle in the 43rd minute when he stopped his direct opponent on the spot with strong initial contact.