Junior Development

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The 2021 season to date for Kai Smallwood:

In Round One of the 2021 NRRRL U18 competition, Kai Smallwood started at halfback for the Bilambil Jets as they took on the Murwillumbah Mustangs operating on the left side of the field in the Jets 24 – 18 first up victory.

Kai Smallwood recorded a try assist in the 32nd minute of the match when from twenty five metres out he dummied to his right and got halfway through the line before offloading to a flying support runner to score wide out.

Kai Smallwood also started at halfback in Round Two against the Tweed Coast Raiders recording another try assist in the Jets 22 – 16 victory.

In the 32nd minute, Kai Smallwood took the ball down a wide right blindside dummying to both sides of his body before looking once again to his outside and held the ball up nicely before putting his right centre into a gaping hole and from there the centre raced thirty metres to score in the right corner.

Kai Smallwood added a darting run down a left blindside in the 25th minute to his match highlight reel, making eighteen metres in the process.

Kai Smallwood continued his run of starts at halfback in Round Three against Northern United having an exceptional match in the Jets big 44 – 4 win. For me, Kai Smallwood was easily the best player on the field, scoring two tries and recording three try assists as well as kicking six conversions to finish with an individual points haul of twenty points, being 45% of Bilambil’s total points in the match.

Kai Smallwood scored his first try in the 20th minute of the match with Kai Smallwood passing the ball to his right and then backing up on the inside to receive the ball back and then Kai Smallwood was able to run thirty metres untouched to put the ball down under the posts.

Kai Smallwood added his second try in the 32nd minute when once again he was operating on the right,. Kai Smallwood ran the ball down a short right blind side, running at the lien from ten metres out. Kai Smallwood dummied to his right before slicing through the line to score five metres in from the right corner post.

Kai Smallwood’s initial try assist came in just the 11th minute when he received the ball on the left side of the field, dummying to his inside before popping a good short pass to his left to put Connor Jenner into a gap five metres out with the second rower diving over.

Kai Smallwood added his second try assist in the in the 17th minute. After receiving the ball on the right, Kai Smallwood double pumped his pass to put Jye Brady into a gap with the lock running twenty metres to score.

The 47th minute say Kai Smallwood record his third try assist when he threw a long cut out pass to his right that was taken by Jye Brady who comfortably scored.

Kai Smallwood could have had a fourth try assist when he drifted to his left to put Cooper Jenner into a gap five metres out but his final pass was called forward.

Kai Smallwood continued at halfback in Round Four as the Jets took on the Cudgen Hornets in their local derby with Kai Smallwood involved in the opening minute of the match when he put up a towering bomb on the 5th tackle that forced the Cudgen fullback to bring the ball out of his own in-goal.

Kai Smallwood also started at halfback in Round Five against the Kyogle Turkeys and was everywhere recording a try assist and three line break assists.

Kai Smallwood’s try assist came in the 17th minute when he through a cut-out pass to his right to put his right second rower over wide out.

The first of Kai Smallwood’s three line break assist came in the 35th minute when he ran the ball to the left side of the field to put William James into a gap and then just three minutes later in the 38th minute, this time on the right side of the field, Kai Smallwood ran the ball and whilst holding off one defender through a right arm flick pass for his right second rower to charge twenty metres downfield.
Kai Smallwood’s third line break assist came in the 55th minute when a good cut-out pass to his right put his right centre into a yawning gap.

It was not all about just setting of others in the match for Kai Smallwood as in the 14th minute he took the line on himself when he ran the ball on the right, dummying to the same direction to slice through the defensive line before a left foot step enabled Kai Smallwood to beat another defender before he was eventually brought to ground after making eighteen metres.

Kai Smallwood also produced an enthusiastic piece of play in the 20th minute when he chased hard a Michael Roberts kick that bounced in the Kyogle in-goal to, along with Michael Roberts, tackle the Kyogle fullback three metres out from his own line.

Continuing at halfback in Round Six against Kai Smallwood added another try assist and line break to his exceptional 2021 season.

In the 27th minute, after receiving the ball on the right, Kai Smallwood drafted across field in the same direction, drawing in the defence and throwing a good ball to put his right centre into a gap and over from twenty metres.

Kai Smallwood took it upon himself to break the Casino RSM line in the 29th minute when he produced a show and go to split the line but his pass inside once he was through the line went to ground.

Interestingly Kai Smallwood was named at lock in Round Nine against the Byron Bay Devils with the jersey number change paying dividends with Kai Smallwood scoring a double.

Kai Smallwood scored his opening try in the 16th minute of the match through a great solo effort. Kai Smallwood received the ball when he was operating as first receiver twenty metres from the line and to the right of the play the ball. After dummying to his right, Kai Smallwood put in a short grubber through the line, regathering ten metres out before stepping off his left foot near the try line to beat a cover defender before getting across the line ten metres in from the right corner post.

Kai Smallwood’s second try came in the 36th minute when he backed up on the inside of a long break down the left channel by William James. As the cover defence converged on him, William James kicked inside and Kai Smallwood was on the spot to retrieve the ball to run fifteen metres to score.

Kai Smallwood continued at lock in Round Ten against the Marist Brothers Rams as well as in Round Eleven against the Ballina Seagulls before moving back to halfback for Round Twelve against the Tweed Coast Raiders when he scored one try and set up another.

Kai Smallwood himself in the 45th minute when whilst operating on right side of the field, twenty five metres out from the line, Kai Smallwood put in a short grubber for himself with Kai Smallwood retrieving the ball in front of the fullback and then was able to bring the ball around to put it down under the posts.

Kai Smallwood also recorded a 60th minute try assist when after receiving the ball on the right put Caleb Case into a gap with the centre crossing on the right side of the field.

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The 2021 season to date for Titans contracted TJ Devery:

In January 2021 TJ Devery 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. TJ Devery had some very very good moments both in attack and defence when he came on in the right second row position as the Titans dominated to record a 40 – 6 victory after leading by 16 -6 at half time.

Late in the second half however, TJ Devery moved over to the left and also late in the second half he was held up over the line adjacent to the left goal post coming agonisingly close to scoring in his first match in a Titans jersey.

A week after the match against the Newcastle Knights TJ Devery 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.

TJ Devery producing a powerful display in the match including a strong line break late in the first half. TJ Devery initially split the Bears defensive line after receiving an inside pass from Thomas Weaver. After a twenty metre charge, TJ Devery was able to get the ball away to his left to Ryan Foran and then got the ball back from Ryan Foran before producing an exceptional off-load to his right to Jaylan De Groot. The sequence may not have led to a try for the Titans but it was a stunning sequence none the less.

Defensively in addition to a couple of heavy front on solo tackles, TJ Devery produced an outstanding cover defending tackle in the 33rd minute of the match. The Bears right winger had gotten outside his direct opponent and seemed certain to make a lot of distance down the left touch line but TJ Devery came across to his left making a diving covering defending around the legs tackle just inside Titans territory.

TJ Devery made his first appearance for the Burleigh Hastings Deering’s Colts side when he started at right second row in the Bears trial against the Easts Tigers which finished in a twenty all draw. In his second stint of the match in the second half, TJ Devery swapped sides to play in the right second row position.

The following week in the Burleigh Hastings Deering’s Colts trial against the Tweed Heads Seagulls, TJ Devery was once again in the starting side at right second row in the No. 19 jersey.

When he had the opportunity TJ Devery produced some strong hit-ups in the match with the first of those coming in the 14th minute when he dragged three Seagulls defenders ten metres down field before they were able to halt his forward momentum.

When the second half started TJ Devery switched to left second row before moving back to the right late in the match and did not waste time getting involved with a strong sixteen metre charge in the 39th minute that necessitated three Tweed Heads defenders have to commit to the tackle to get TJ Devery onto the ground.

TJ Devery continued to be heavily involved in the match including making multiple tackles in the same set of six in the 68th minute. TJ Devery made two massive tackles in a row, the first on Charlie Murray then a second on Jaylan TO’o before making another tackle later in the same set on Lachlan Hallard.

Round One of the 2021 Hastings Deering’s Colts competition saw TJ Devery start at right second row for the Burleigh Bears when they took on the Easts Tigers and in fact was the first Bears player to touch the ball in the 2021 Colts season as the Bers recorded a first up 42 – 24 victory which to be fair was more comprehensive than that score line would initially suggest.

For the kick-off TJ Devery lined up on the touchline right at the corner post. The Easts kick-off was a bit of a mongrel kick, bouncing just in front of TJ Devery who maintained his composure to not try to dive forward to attempt to take the kick-off on the full, instead waiting for it to bounce.

As rugby league ball do, the ball bounced to the right towards the touchline but TJ Devery was able to recover the ball and after teetering with both feet close to the touchline was able to flick the ball back to Bears five eight Bryson Vaovasa.

TJ Devery’s first hit-up of the match came in the 3rd minute when he ran to the right of the play the ball, making ten metres to get the ball twenty metres out from his own line.

In the 30th minute TJ Devery was involved in Toby Francis’s try. After receiving an offload from his left, TJ Devery ran to his right and brought Tony Francis back underneath, handing off the ball to the powerhouse centre ten metres out, with Tony Francis doing the rest from there.

From the Burleigh set of six after the Tony Francis try TJ Devery took the 3rd hit-up of the set, dragging defenders with him to get over the thirty metre line. Then just plays later TJ Devery made a big fifteen metre surge to get within five metres of the try line.

TJ Devery made a statement defensively in the 34th minute when he along with Tony Francis made a heavy driving tackle in the East forward unlucky enough to run the ball towards them from a Burleigh kick-off.

TJ Devery also was named to start at right second row in the Round Two local derby against the Tweed Heads Seagulls, however he was a late scratching from the match.

TJ Devery was back for Round Three starting on the bench against the Western Mustangs.

After missing a number of rounds, TJ Devery came off the bench in Round Seven against the Central Queensland Capra’s with prevailing 42 – 28 in a high scoring contest.

TJ Devery also came off the bench in the previously postponed Round Ten match against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls and scored the Bears only try in the match in the 33rd minute when he burst onto a good pass from his left from Isaac Matalavea-Booth to crash over under the posts from eight metres out.

TJ Devery made his Gold Coast Rugby League First Grade debut off the bench for Burleigh in Round Seven against the Currumbin Eagles.

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The 2021 season to date for Titans contracted Blake Forder:

In January 2021 Blake Forder started on the left wing for the Titans U17 side in their annual match at Coffs Harbour against the Newcastle Knights with the Titans recording an impressive victory in the contest 32 - 20.

As noted, Blake Forder started the match on the left wing, but in the second half, spent a lot of time at fullback, regularly hunting around just behind the play the ball when the Titans were in possession of the ball.

Blake Forder produced an impressive moment in the second half, when he made a twenty five metre charge when he received the ball on the left two passes of the back of the scrum. Blake Forder ran at the line with the ball in two hands and shaped to pass to his right on a number of occasions before pulling the ball back in prior to contact with the defensive line and made another ten metres post contact.

When he moved to fullback in the second half, Blake Forder continually showed exceptional positioning in the custodian role taking numerous Knights clearing kicks on the full, but it was two instances late in the match, that really showcased his positional ability at the fullback position.

With just on three minutes to go in the match and the Knights down by twelve points Newcastle kicked for touch from a penalty with the Knights kicker looking to make as much ground as possible but Blake Forder was on hand to cut the ball off before it went into touch and then was able to bring the ball back twenty metres to around the halfway mark.

In the last minute of the match, Blake Forder was once again positioned perfectly and was able to get across to a Knights chip kick and bundle the ball into touch less than a metre out from the Titans line. If Blake Forder did not get there when he did, one of three Knights players would have retrieved the ball and scored in their left corner.

In June 2021 Blake Forder was part of a Titans U17 side that played a Titans Northern Rivers U18 squad at Cbus Stadium as a curtain raiser to the Titans Round Fourteen NRL match against the Sydney Roosters with Blake Forder scoring towards the end of the second half in the right corner after good work by multiple players on his inside.

Blake Forder started on the right wing for the Northern Rivers Titans U18 Laurie Daley Cup side for their Round One match against the Wests Tigers before moving to fullback late in the second half with Blake Forder contributing an early second half try to the victory.

Blake Forder was consistently in the action in the match, including being getting over the line early in the match with a great winding run off his right wing only to be penalised for a (seemed harshly) for a double movement after a great winding run off his right wing.

Blake Forder was also heavily involved in Michael Robert’s first try of the match, early in the first half. Half Harvey Moase kicked towards the right wing with the ball taking a wicked bounce, Blake Forder flew through and toe’d the ball forward for Michael Roberts to pick up on the bounce and crash over under the posts.

As noted Blake Forder scored early in the second half when after receiving a pass from Michael Roberts he stepped back inside and after juggling the ball got it down wide out on the right near the corner post.

Blake Forder also showcased some outstanding hands in the match, including a situation when he misjudged a Wests Tigers kick off, coming in too far, Blake Forder had to stop and dive backwards full length, taking the ball over his shoulder as you was diving in the same direction as the ball. If Blake Forder had not been able to pull off such as spectacular take, the ball would have likely gone dead and the Wests Tigers would have gotten it back from the restart.

Defensively Blake Forder also had some good moments in the match, including in the 51st minute of the match, when he along with Michael Roberts grabbed hold of the Wests Tigers left winger and dragged him eight metres into touch to force a Northern Rivers Titans scrum feed.

After his outstanding Round One performance, in no surprise Blake Forder also started Round Two against local rivals the North Coast Bulldogs at Nambucca Heads on the right wing.

After missing Round Three Blake Forder was back on the right wing for Round Four at Lismore against the Central Coast Roosters and scored in the 67th minute of the match when he dived on a deft right foot grubber into the in-goal in the right corner from Harvey Moase.

Blake Forder continued on the right wing in Round Five against the Newcastle Knights and whilst the ball did not find him too often, Blake Forder did have some good moments including a great in and away off a Northern Rivers Titans scrum win in the 48th minute with Blake Forder surging thirty metres down field.

Blake Forder however did almost get his name on the try sheet but was held up near the right corner in the 55th minute, then in the dying minutes of the match Blake Forder once against broke the Knights line off a Northern Rivers Titans scrum win after receiving the ball to the right of the scrum directly off the back of the scrum.

Post the 2021 U18 Laurie Daley Cup competition, Blake Forder played for the Murwillumbah Mustangs in the U18 NRRRL Competition starting Round One at five eight against the Bilambil Jets.

Operating on the right side of the field Blake Forder proved to be a handful for the Jets defence including twice in the first half developing an overlap when he beat his opposing defender on the outside before dragging in the outside defender, but unfortunately on both occasions Blake Forder’s pass to his winger went to ground with a try in the offing.

After Murwillumbah had a number of byes back to back, Blake Forder started on the right wing in Round Six against the Kyogle Turkeys before moving to fullback in the second half.

Whilst playing on the right wing in the first half, Blake Forder recorded a 14th minute try when he was on the end of a Mustang backline movement and raced over in the right corner to score after receiving the ball fourteen metres from the try line.

In addition to a myriad of other impressive moments Blake Forder also recorded two line breaks in the match with the first coming in the 29th minute when from a standing start fifty five metres from the line, Blake Forder raced down the right touchline cutting back inside twice to break tackles before pushing out of a third and cutting back towards the touchline before eventually being take to ground after making thirty five metres.

Blake Forder made his second line break of the match in the 56th minute when whilst operating at fullback he looped around to the left after a Mustangs scrum win slicing through the Kyogle defence from thirty metres out and getting to within two metres of the line before his momentum was halted.

Blake Forder first, of many, significant contributions to the Mustangs victory came in just the 5th minute when he ran the ball back strongly from the kick-off after Murwillumbah’s opening try.

Then in the 41st minute Blake Forder made twelve metres from a hit-up to the left of the dummy half. Blake Forder made a further eighteen metres in the 48th minute from a winding run where he stepped off his left foot on two occasions.

Blake Forder rounded out his impressive match in the 53rd minute when he swooped on a dropped ball by Kyogle to make fifteen metres, breaking four tackles along the way.

Blake Forder once again started at fullback In Round Eight against Marist Brothers, scoring an outstanding solo long range try in the Mustangs victory. In the 47th minute a scrum was packed with a Murwillumbah feed ninety metres out from their try line, Blake Forder ran onto the ball after the ball was passed to him to the right from the base of the scrum. Blake Forder blew between two Rams defenders and easily outpaced the cover defence on his ninety metre run to put the ball down under the posts.

Blake Forder continued at fullback in Round Ten against the Cudgen Hornets before starting Round Twelve against Northern United at right centre before moving to fullback in the second half, a match that saw Blake Forder produce one of the best line breaks that I have ever seen that included breaking six tackles.

In the 49th minute Blake Forder retrieved a Northern United clearing kick fifteen metres out from his own line and ran to his right side, as he approached the chasers, Blake Forder stepped off his right to break two tackles before two left foot steps in quick succession back towards centre field saw Blake Forder break to further tackles. Blake Forder then cut back to his right, bumping out of one tackle, before another left foot step broke another tackle, Blake Forder then shrugged off another Northern United defender who tried to tackle him around his shoulders before passing to his right to Matthew Bollard who then off-loaded to Riley Lack who scored in the right corner.

Blake Forder continued in the centres, specifically left centre, in Round Thirteen 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.

In late March 2021 Blake Forder was part of Diocesan of Lismore Opens Squad that attended the Northern Country Catholic Colleges Rugby League Selection Trial that were held at Smithtown with Blake Forder playing on the wing in the trials.

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The 2021 season to date for Titans contracted Seth Nikotemo:

In January 2021 Seth Nikotemo started at left second row for the Titans U17 side in their annual match at Coffs Harbour against the Newcastle Knights with the Titans recording an impressive 32 – 20 victory in hot and steamy conditions.

Seth Nikotemo could not have been more impressive in the match including scoring the Titans opening try of the match in just the second minute. Seth Nikotemo charged onto a pass from half Bailey McConnell around eight metres out and could not be stopped as he barged his way over to score the first try of the match.

Seth Nikotemo added a second try in the second half when he charged onto a Keano Kini pass to charge over from six metres out.

In June 2021 Seth Nikotemo started at right second row for a Titans U17 side that played a Titans Northern Rivers U18 squad at Cbus Stadium as a curtain raiser to the Titans Round Fourteen NRL match against the Sydney Roosters.

Playing right second row, Seth Nikotemo had an outstanding match including a first half try assist when from twenty metres out, Seth Nikotemo took the ball to the line before offloading to his right to put his right centre into a gap and over ten metres in from the right corner.

Seth Nikotemo’s first hit-out with the 2021 Burleigh Bears MM Cup side came when he started in the right second row position in the Bears second trial against the Easts Tigers.

Seth Nikotemo produced a strong tackle in the 63rd minute of the match when he and Ezra Ubaldino combined to smash the Easts second rower who had tried to run the ball off the back of an Easts Tigers scrum win. The contact forced the ball lose for a Titans scrum feed with Syris Schmidt scoring from the resultant set of six tackles.

In Round One of the 2021 MM Cup competition, Seth Nikotemo started at right second row against the Souths Logan Magpies, putting in a solid performance in Burleigh’s impressive 38 – 28 victory.

In the 20th minute Seth Nikotemo showed just who hard he always tries when Burleigh dropped the ball whilst on the attack, the ball was scooped up by the Souths Logan left winger and it looked for all money that he was going to streak away to score, but Seth Nikotemo turned and chased and took the wingers legs from under him in a copy book cover defending tackle.

Seth Nikotemo was strong defensive once again in the 29th minute when he hit the Souths Logan No. 15 with a strong front on tackle as the Souths Logan player was returning a forced goal line drop out by Burleigh. Seth Nikotemo’s initial forced the ball loose to take all of the pressure off the Burleigh defence.

Just prior to half time Seth Nikotemo produced his third impressive defensive play of the half when he produced a great low tackle on Souths Logan’s Ezra Mam who looked like he was through the gap and set to score.

Seth Nikotemo also started at right second row in Round Two against the Ipswich Jets and had his first touch early when he took the hit-up from the penalty restart after Burleigh received a penalty from the kick-off. Seth Nikotemo was then on hand to take the 4th hit-up in the same set of six. Seth Nikotemo then backed up to take another hit-up in the 4th minute of the match.

Seth Nikotemo continued his strong efforts running the ball in the 18th minute when he produced a strong effort of thirteen metres down the left side of the field, winning a penalty as a result of not being allowed to get to his feet quickly to play the ball. Seth Nikotemo then backed up to take the hit-up from the resultant penalty restart.

In the 47th minute, Seth Nikotemo continued his strong match with a run that made thirteen metres for Burleigh to get the ball out to the forty metre mark and then Seth Nikotemo was awarded a penalty for the Jets defence not allowing him to get to his feet for a quick play the ball.

Seth Nikotemo showed his athleticism in the 54th minute when Ipswich restarted the match with a short high kick-off to their left after Jeremaiah Tamepo scored for Burleigh. Seth Nikotemo jumped high to take the kick on the full under heavy pressure above the Ipswich players chasing the ball through. Seth Nikotemo then did not rest on his laurels taking a hit-up later in the same set of six tackles.

Seth Nikotemo’s side of the field was targeted for another short high Jets kick-off in the 67th minute after Tuvalli Khan-Pereira’s try but once again Seth Nikotemo was up to the task, jumping high to take the ball on the full. When he hit the ground, Seth Nikotemo spun clockwise to break through the Jets defensive line and was able to get the ball twenty metres upfield into Jets territory and then provided a good offload to Kaden Sommerville to keep the movement going.

Seth Nikotemo added to his impressive performance in the 69th minute with a great low left shoulder tackle on rampaging Ipswich Jets lock Josiah Pahulu, with the tackle cutting the fellow Titans legs out from under him.

Seth Nikotemo once again started at right second row in the Round Three Gold Coast derby against the Tweed Heads Seagulls. In the 9th minute of the match, Seth Nikotemo took the Tweed Heads defence by surprise when as he ran at the line from ten metres out on the right side of the field he put in a great chip kick. But for a diving Keano Kini the kick would have resulted in a Burleigh try.

Seth Nikotemo continued his strong contribution in the 11th minute with a bustling run of thirteen minutes which got Burleigh within three metres of Tweed Heads line.

Seth Nikotemo also had a strong match defensively in the local derby and produced an outstanding tackle in the last play of the first half with a great front on hit on Seagulls Keano Kini who close to the Burleigh line looped around behind Thomas Weaver, but Seth Nikotemo read the play and crunched Kini just after he received the ball.

Seth Nikotemo was also named to start at right second row for Round Four match against the Souths Logan Magpies

Seth Nikotemo also started at right second row in Round Five against the Ipswich Jets with Seth Nikotemo recording a second half try assist.

Seth Nikotemo’s try assist came in the 52nd minute when Seth Nikotemo received the ball from his left. As soon as he took possession was immediately under pressure from a Jets defender, but Seth Nikotemo maintained his composure and was able to get the ball over the top of the engaged defender to an unmarked Hunter Ploegsma who crossed after a ten metre run.

Seth Nikotemo continued his solid match with a 66th minute run that accounted for fifteen metres of ground to get Burleigh into Jets territory.

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

With the Ipswich defensive line under all sorts of pressure in the early minutes of the match, it was with his defence that enabled Seth Nikotemo to make an impact. In the 13th minute Seth Nikotemo produced a driving tackle on Ipswich front rower Josiah Pahulu, stopping his momentum with his initial and then driving him back. Following that in the same set of six, Seth Nikotemo smashed the Ipswich left centre forcing the ball loose through the contact.

Early in the second half Seth Nikotemo was able to maintain Burleigh’s early momentum in the half with a strong ten metre run that finished twenty eight metres out and culminated with an exceptionally quick play the ball.

Round Six being the final regular season round of the 2021 MM Cup competition saw Seth Nikotemo once again line up at right second row in the local derby against the Tweed Heads Seagulls with Seth Nikotemo scoring a double in the Bears last minute 34 – 30 victory.

Seth Nikotemo’s opening try came in the 18th minute when from dummy half, Bears hooker Caleb Gould-Waiariki put in a short right foot kick through the Seagulls line with right second rower Seth Nikotemo timing his run perfectly to get the ball down easily on the right side of the field.

Seth Nikotemo’s second try came in the 65th minute and got Burleigh within two points of the Seagulls. Seth Nikotemo ran a good line on the right, receiving a short pass from Caleb Gould-Waiariki from his left. As he hit the Seagulls defensive line, Seth Nikotemo twisted clockwise to gain separation actually being caught up and falling to the ground, but Seth Nikotemo quickly realised that he was not held and dived over ten metres to the right of the uprights.

Evan before he scored his first try of the match, Seth Nikotemo was having a strong match including a strong run in the 13th minute when he easily pushed off one defender and dragged another to make twelve metres and get within six metres of the try line. After Seth Nikotemo’s quick play the ball Ezra Ubaldino was able to score for Burleigh on the opposite side of the field.

From the 4th hit-up from the kick-off restart for his first try, Seth Nikotemo made a strong fifteen metre run to within ten metres of the try line after Tweed Heads were penalised from the kick-off.

With Burleigh chasing the match in the 63rd minute, Seth Nikotemo made a hard twelve metres, pushing off one would be defender to get the ball thirty metres away from the try line.

Round Two of the Gold Coast Rugby League U18 Division One competition saw Seth Nikotemo start from the bench Runaway Bay against the Southport Tigers with Seth Nikotemo lining up at right second row when he came on with Seth Nikotemo scoring in the 36th minute of the match.

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

After missing Round Three due to his school boy representative commitments with South Coast, Seth Nikotemo was named on the bench for Round Four against the Helensvale Hornets and was also named on the bench for Round Seven against the Ormeau Shearers.

Round Nine against Southport saw Seth Nikotemo start at left second row with the hard running second rower scoring a double for the Seagulls in their 40 – 30 victory.

Seth Nikotmo scored his opening try in the 14th minute he ran into space twenty metres from the line. Seth Nikotemo pushed off the Southport right winger who had tried to come off his wing and then Seth Nikotemo ran straight over the Tigers lock to get the ball down five metres in from the left corner post.

Seth Nikotemo then scored in the 52nd minute when he ran a straight hard line from eight metres out, forcing his way over ten metres from the left upright. Seth Nikotemo initially was hit by the Southport defence three metres from the line and in fact backed his way from there and then twisted to get the ball down.

In February 2021 Seth Nikotemo took part in the South Coast Open school boy trials and was named in the second row in the South Coast Open A school boy side as a result of his impressive trial performances.

Seth Nikotemo started South Coast’s Day One match against Met North at right second row and scored in just the 11th minute of the match when he ran into a gap wide on the right, diving over to score ten metres in from the right corner post.

His 11th minute try was certainly not Seth Nikotemo’s first contribution in the match, that occurred in the 6th minute when his first hit-up of the match got him to within six metres of the try line.

Seth Nikotemo was also a key contributor to South Coast’s strong defensive effort in the match including in the 42nd minute when a strong tackle on the Met North left centre forced the ball loose to stop all of the momentum that they had built up.

Seth Nikotemo started the 2021 QSSRL U18 School Boy Championship Final at right second row and took the first South Coast of the match from a penalty restart.

Seth Nikotemo started the Championship Final against Met North at right second row and in the 18th minute made a strong run of thirteen minutes to get to within five metres of the try line.

2021 also saw Seth Nikotemo line up once again for Keebra Park PBC State High School in the South East Queensland School Boy Langer Cup competition starting Round One at right second row against Marsden State High School.

Seth Nikotemo also started at right second row in Round Two against Mabel Park State High School as well as in Round Three against Ipswich State High School, a match that saw him with make a strong run in the 23rd minute when he made sixteen metres from a penalty restart

Seth Nikotemo continued at right second row in Round Four against St Mary’s College Toowoomba and had a strong match including scoring in the 55th minute when he charged onto a Connor Te Kani pass down the right channel, holding off a number of defenders to score ten metres in from the right corner post.

The Round Five local derby against PBC saw Seth Nikotemo continue at right second row and he also started at right second row in Round Six against Wavell State High School.

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The 2021 season to date for Titans contracted Aama Hau:

In January 2021 Arama Hau started from the bench for the Titans U17 side in their annual match at Coffs Harbour against the Newcastle Knights and was outstanding when he came on with a number of powerful charges as the Titans came away with an impressive 32 – 20 victory.

In his time on the field Arama Hau worked on both the left and right sides of the ruck and as noted above produced some outstanding charges, none more impressive one than late in the first half when from the left second row position Arama Hau surged twenty metres downfield with most of the ground that he made being accounted for post contact. Late in the second half, Arama Hau produced another outstanding run, charging fifteen metres downfield after receiving a before the line off-load from Joseph Shannon.

Early in the second half Arama Hau showcased his off-loading skills when he produced an outstanding one armed (right arm) off load with Shane Davis-Caldwell with three defenders trying to get him onto the ground. Late in the match, Arama Hau produced another outstanding one armed off-load this left with his left arm when he was able to offload to Shane Davis-Caldwell.

Arama Hau put an exclamation mark on his attacking performance with a great twenty metre charge from the Titans set of six after Keano Kini’s try when he knocked Newcastle forwards backwards as he steamed through the centre of the ruck.

Defensively Arama Hau was also effective, including a try saving tackle mid-way through the second half. The Knights attacker actually got over the Titans line right under the posts, but before he could get the ball down, Arama Hau literally just lifted him off the ground and drove him back, crunching him into the ground back in the field of play.

Even late in the match, Arama Hau continued to work hard and with Newcastle looking to bring the ball off their own line, Arama Hau made three impressive tackles in a row to force the Knights to kick from their own twenty. Arama Hau’s first tackle in the three tackle sequence was a huge front on hit on the Knights second rower No. 11 which stopped him in his tracks.

From the subsequent play the ball, Arama Hau monstered the Knights No. 17 rag dolling him backwards and then to complete the sequence Arama Hau took the legs out from under the No. 20 before he had made any ground at all to mean that in the three tackle sequence, Newcastle had not made any ground at all.

In June 2021 Arama Hau had a distinction of captaining a Titans U17 JTS squad that played at Cbus Stadium against a Titans Northern Rivers U18 selection, with the match being played as a curtain raiser to the Titans Round Fourteen NRL match against the Sydney Roosters.

Arama Hau had an outstanding match including a great offload after he charged downfield thirty metres before getting his right arm free and offloading to his left to Keano Kini who raced away from forty five metres out to score.

Arama Hau’s first hit-out with the 2021 Burleigh Bears MM Cup side came when he started at lock in the Bears second trial against the Easts Tigers.

Arama Hau had a very impressive trial building into the match in the opening minutes with a great charge in just the 2nd minute of the match, making eight metre post contact. Arama Hau was at it again in the 12th minute of the match when another powerful charge from inside his own territory netted sixteen hard fought metres. As he tried to get to his feet after the strong run Arama Hau was held down thus winning the Titans well deserved penalty.

Arama Hau continued his great running in the 33rd minute with another strong carry, making a further twelve metres, plenty of which was post contact. Arama Hau impressively in the final minute was still running as hard as he had in the opening minutes, making a further twelve metres in his last hit-out of the match.

Arama Hau was just as effective defensively in the match including a huge front on tackle on the Easts No. 20 in the 25th minute just saw the ball jolted lose such was the force of Arama Hau’s initial contact on the ball carrier.

Also in the 50th minute, Arama Hau came out of the line when defending on the right of the ruck to smash his opposite number dropping him on the spot as he was trying to bring the ball out of his own territory.

After missing Round One of the 2021 MM Cup competition Arama Hau was named to start at lock for Round Two against the Ipswich Jets and was one of the Bears try scorers in their impressive 44 – 16 victory.

Arama Hau had a strong first half with his try coming in the 10th minute of the match. Arama Hau ran the ball to the right, starting his run from eleven metres out. Arama Hau cut back off his left foot on two occasions getting Arama Hau in the area behind the play the ball and once there Arama Hau straightened out to burst through and score three metres from the left upright.

A minute prior to scoring, Arama Hau was also part of a long Burleigh break down the left side of the field. Arama Hau took the ball off Caleb Gould-Waiariki who was the dummy half and after a bustling ten metre, run off-loaded to Caleb Gould Waiariki who darted thirty metres down field with Arama Hau scoring just two tackles later.

Arama Hau continued his powerful running post his try, including in the 13th minute when he charged to his right, making ten metres before offloading to his right to Tuvalli Khan-Pereira to keep the movement going in the Ipswich Jets twenty metre area.

In the 46th minute, Arama Hau continued to be almost unstoppable with a seventeen metre run from a play the ball restart with at least eleven of those metres post contact as he fought with the Jets defenders who found it difficult to get Arama Hau to the ground.

Arama Hau was at it again in the 63rd minute with a skilful display of his hand/eye co-ordination. With Ipswich on the attack close to the line, the Jets five eight put in a hard grubber kick, Arama Hau got low and scooped the ball up from around ankle height cleanly five metres out and immediately accelerated to get the ball to near the twenty metre mark and take all of the pressure of the Burleigh defence.

Arama Hau just could not be kept out of the match and in the 66th minute, produced a winding run that made ten metres, breaking two tackles along the way to get the ball to the Ipswich twenty metre mark.

Even with the match won, Arama Hau just kept going and in the 69th minute, Arama Hau made twelve more metres to add to his impressive match total, with the effort bringing the ball out to the twenty metre mark.

Arama Hau once again started at lock in the Round Three Gold Coast derby against the Tweed Heads Seagulls and for me was the best player on the field on the way to recording a try assist and at least two line break assists.

Arama Hau’s first contribution of the match came in the opening tackle of the match when he monstered Tweed Heads lock Jordan Lewis after Burleigh were penalised for being offside from the kick-off. Arama Hau backed that tackle up by then tackling Jack Cullen who took the next hit-up.

Over the course of the match against the Seagulls Arama Hau provided extremely difficult to get to the ground and that was the case in the 6th minute when Arama Hau was able to get a great one handed off-load for Brody Smitka to promote the ball forward.

Just three minutes later in the 9th minute Arama Hau produced a big run of eighteen metres. Arama Hau was initially hit by the defence after just eight metres but he just kept fighting forward to gain ten post contact metres.

Arama Hau’s huge match continued in the 12th minute with a ten metre charge before a right arm off-load by Arama Hau to Kaden Somerville enabled Burleigh to continue to make ground.

Just five minutes later in the 17th minute saw Arama Hau once again make significant metres, this time twenty metres, breaking three tackles along the journey to get Burleigh just over the halfway mark.

The halftime break did not slow Arama Hau down as in the 41st minute of the match he charged onto the ball to the left of the dummy half for all intents and purposes looking like he was going to take the ball into the defensive line but at the last moment before contact Arama Hau threw a great short ball to his left to C****n Patu in space to record a line break assist.

After Patu was brought down Arama Hau flew onto the ball from Patu’s play the ball engaging the Seagulls defensive line before throwing a great left arm offload to his left to put Travis May into a big gap (another line break assist for Arama Hau) with the Burleigh five eight getting to within ten metres of the try line.

Then in the 53rd minute Arama Hau produced another strong run to the left of the play the ball breaking four tackles on the way to making eighteen metres to get the ball close to the twenty metre mark.

After that exceptional sequence of events most players would have sat back for a couple of minutes but not Arama Hau as in the 57th minute he charged onto the ball on the left side of the field, surging twenty metres including a clockwise spin to break one tackle then Arama Hau threw a great right arm off-load to an unmarked Jeremaiah Temapo to run fifteen metres to score in the left corner.

Arama Hau followed his try assist up in the 63rd minute with yet another strong run on the left before cutting back to the right side of the field and offloading to Tuvalli Khan-Pereira who as able to get the ball to within fifteen metres of the try line. Arama Hau’s run gaining fifteen metres.

Arama Hau was also named to start at lock for Round Four match against the Souths Logan Magpies.

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

Arama then rocked the entire Cbus stadium with a huge hit on the Ipswich lock early in the first half who had run an underneath route running right into the shoulder of Arama Hau who certainly did not miss.

Arama Hau was involved in an even bigger earth trembling collision when in the 58th minute he smashed into Ipswich front rower and fellow Titan Josiah Pahulu after 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!

In the 51st Arama Hau contribution to the Bears comeback victory moved to his running game when he produced a strong run into the defensive before he spun around and got away a right arm offload to Delahia Wigmore who was able to get to within five metres of the try line.

Arama Hau then backed that effort up by taking the hit-up after Wigmore had played the ball, offloading once again, this time to his right, two further passes to the right later, Burleigh scored near the right corner.

Round Six being the final regular season round of the 2021 MM Cup competition saw Arama Hau once again named at lock in the local derby against the Tweed Heads Seagulls however he was a late scratching from the match.

Post the 2021 MM Cup competition, Arama Hau once again played for Nerang in the Gold Coast Rugby League competition with his first appearance coming in Round Two of the U18 Division One competition when he started at five eight against the Currumbin Eagles.

I am not sure whether Arama Hau has ever played at five eight before but he had an outstanding match from the position and could not have started the match any better including fielding the kick off in his own in-goal and then he backed that up by taking the second hit-up of the match to get the ball thirty metres away from his own line.

Arama Hau recorded a try assist in the match in the 42nd minute when he drifted across field to his right and put his right centre Taniela Lotaki into a gap sixteen metres out.

One of the key features of Arama Hau’s match was his off-loading, the Eagles just could not handle it. Arama Hau’s first off-load came in the 7th minute when after taking the line on, Arama Hau was able to get the ball away to his hooker. The in the 12th minute, Arama Hau once again charged at the line to get within two metres before he was able to get his right arm free and off-load to Dorian Lotaki.

Another Arama Hau off-load came in the 29th minute when he ran the ball into the Currumbin defensive line and then was able to get his right arm free to offload to his fullback, Arama Hau stayed alive subsequently getting the ball back from the fullback and then Arama Hau burst through two tackles and once again producing a right arm off-load to get the play going.

Arama Hau took another hit-up in the 42nd minute to the left of the dummy half out to the thirty metre line before once again producing a right arm offload to his fullback to back a further ten metres.

In the 25th minute Arama Hau once again took the Currumbin line on with his effort starting just four metres out from his own line with Arama Hau getting the ball out to the twenty metre line before he was tackled. Arama Hau was subsequently awarded a penalty when he was prevented from getting to his feet. Arama Hau took a quick tap, making a further ten metres, before you guessed it, he offloaded once again with his right arm.

Just three minutes later in the 38th minute, Arama Hau one again produced a right arm offload after engaging the defensive line, on that occasions inside the attacking twenty metre area. In the 48th minute a right arm flock pass from Arama Hau after he had engaged the line from a Nerang scrum win enabled his right centre to make ten metres.

Arama Hau put an exclamation mark on his match in the 57th minute when he charged at the defensive line, making twelve metres before offloading to one of his front rowers with the pass coming less than ten metres from the try line.

Arama Hau started at halfback in Round Three against Runaway Bay and scored as the Roosters recorded a 22- 4 win.

Arama Hau scored once again in Round Four after moving to five eight as his Roosters side defeated the Ormeau Shearers 30 – 14.

In Round Five against the Southport Tigers, Arama Hau came off the bench in the Roosters 34 – 12 victory and also come off the bench in Round Six against the Helensvale Hornets, before moving back into the starting side at five eight in Round Seven against Mudgeeraba.

Arama Hau also continued at five eight in Round Nine against the Currumbin Eagles and scored a double in Nerang’s hard fought loss.

Round Ten against the Runaway Bay Seagulls saw Arama Hau start at right centre and score one of the individual tries of the year to date in the 50th minute.

Arama Hau originally received the ball forty five metres from the line to the right of the play the ball and initially shaped to pass to his right before cutting back to his left. Subsequent left and right foot steps saw Arama Hau beat two defenders and then he produced a great right arm flick offload to his trailing fullback. Arama Hau then kept alive to get the ball back from the fullback ten metres out. Aram Hau then proceeded to beat four defenders to crash over adjacent to the left upright to score a try few others would have even come close to scoring.

Arama Hau moved to halfback against the Burleigh Bears and had a very solid game and almost got his name on the try scoring list in the 15th minute when he charged into the ball from fifteen metres out but he was eventually held up under the posts.

The Burleigh match also saw Arama Hau record a 36th minute try assist when he ran to his right before throwing a no look short pass to his right second rower to run into a gap to score near the posts.

Arama Hau showed his intelligence in the 20th minute when after finding himself in dummy half on the final tackle close to the line, put in a short right foot grubber kick to force Burleigh to restart from a goal line drop out.

In February 2021 Arama Hau took part in the South Coast Open school boy trials and was named on the bench for the South Coast Open A school boy side as a result of his trial performances, however he did not end up playing for South Coast in the Championships.

2021 also saw Arama Hau line up for Keebra Park PBC State High School in the South East Queensland School Boy Langer Cup competition starting Round One at lock against Marsden State High School.

Arama Hau could barely have gotten involved earlier in the match as in just the 2nd minute of the match, Arama Hau charged onto the ball, making twelve metres before getting his right arm free and getting away on off-load ten metres out directly in front of the posts. Arama Hau then took another hit-up just two tackles later.

With Keebra Park under intense pressure in the 8th minute, Arama Hau produced a try saving tackle on Marsden second rower Jieye Mauai who had charged at the try line from close range.

Arama Hau also started at lock in Round Two against Mabel Park State High School, making a strong twelve metre run from the fourth hit-up of the match and then in the 56th minute, Arama Hau made a big run on the left side of the field making fifteen metres before producing a sublime right arm off-load with three defenders on him.

Arama Hau continued at lock in Round Three against Ipswich State High School and had a big match including an initial contribution in the 10th minute when he made a strong fifteen metres over the halfway mark and then was able to off-load. Arama Hau made a further strong run in the 14th minute when he made twelve metres with at least 60% of those metres post contact.

Arama Hau continued his strong match in the second half, including in the 47th minute when he charged through a gap near halfway before off-loading to his left. Keebra Park scored later in the same play when De’ontae Perese received an off-load six metres from the line and put the ball down under the posts.

From the set of six from the above mentioned try, Arama Hau made a further twenty five metres and once again was able to off-load, on that occasion to Blake Mozer.

Arama Hau continued at lock in Round Four against St Mary’s College Toowoomba and also started at lock in the Round Five local derby against PBC.

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The 2021 season to date for Titans contracted Vaka Sikahele:

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 defender’s 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 blindside 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, whilst playing 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 darted 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 was also 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 Elijah Lui:

Elijah Lui started on the wing for the Tweed Heads Seagulls MM Cup side in their first 2021 trial which was against the Easts Tigers at Langland’s Park as Tweed Heads commenced their season with an impressive 28 – 12 victory.

In the Tweed Heads Seagulls MM Cup sides second trial against Burleigh, Elijah Lui started the second half on the right wing. Elijah Lui produced some impressive runs off his wing when Tweed Heads were bringing the ball out of their own territory. In relation to those runs, Elijah Lui literally just ran flat out at the line. Elijah Lui also leapt high to take a huge spiralling mid-field bomb on the pull, highlighting both his leap and safe hands.

Elijah Lui had some other good moments in the match, one being when he chased through a long Seagulls kick to the left corner, Elijah Lui charged downfield and along with Reef Sommerville and Reico Ratana got to the Burleigh fullback and dragged him back into the in-goal area, forcing Burleigh to drop the ball out from their own line.

In Round One of the 2021 MM Cup competition, Elijah Lui was named as the Seagulls 18th man against the Ipswich Jets and was named on the Seagulls extended bench for Round two against the Souths Logan Magpies as well as for Round Three against the Burleigh Bears.

Elijah Lui was also named on the Seagulls extended bench for their Round Four match against the Ipswich Jets and for Round Five against the Souths Logan Magpies.

Elijah Lui came into the Seagulls side, starting at fullback for the final regular season round of the 2021 MM Cup competition in the local derby against the Burleigh Bears.

After initially being named on the Tweed Heads extended bench for the 2021 MM Cup semi-final against Wynnum Manly, Elijah Lui in fact started the match on the left wing, making the most of his promotion with an outstanding second half try.

Elijah Lui’s try came in the 56th minute of the match. When he backed up on the inside of a long Thomas Weaver break down the left touchline. As he approached the fullback, Thomas Weaver kicked the ball forward with Elijah Lui outpacing the Wynnum Manly defence. As he approached the ball and the try line, the ball sat up perfectly for Elijah Lui who took the ball and dived over.

Prior to his try, Elijah Lui made a strong run out of dummy half to the right, making fifteen metres after cutting back behind the play the ball making fifteen metres to get the ball outside his own thirty metre area.

Elijah Lui was also heavily involved in Jaylan De Groot’s 45th minute try when after being put away down the left touchline by a great Kaleb Ngamanu pass put in an inside kick which Ryan Foran retrieved and passed to his right to Jaylan De Groot who dived over under the posts.

Not long before his involved in the afore mentioned Jaylan De Groot try, Elijah Lui made another line break when he was put away down his wing by Kaleb Ngamanu only for Elijah Lui to be tackled less than ten metres from the try line.

In the 2021 MM Cup Queensland Grand Final against the Townsville Blackhawks, Elijah Lui once again started on the left wing as the Seagulls won the MM Cup Grand Final for the second (played) season in a row.

In February 2021 Elijah Lui took part in the South Coast Open school boy trials and was named on the wing in the South Coast Open A school boy side as a result of his trial performances.

Elijah Lui started South Coast’s Day One match against Met North on the right wing and in just the 2nd minute of the match made a ten metre run down the left sideline to get to within eight metres of the try line. Elijah Lui displayed calm nerves and courage in the 13th minute when he came forward to take a difficult kick-off on the full under intense pressure.

Round One of the 2021 Langer Cup School Boy Rugby League competition saw Elijah Liu start at fullback for Keebra Park State High School against Keebra Park.

Elijah Liu also started at fullback in Round Two against Mabel Park and almost scored in the 9th minute when he chimed into the backline on the left side of the field however he was held up in the left corner.

Elijah Liu made a line break in the 25th minute when he came forward to take a Mabel Park dropped ball just ten metres from his own line and sliced through the defence, making fifty five metres from before being tackled from behind, Elijah Liu then attempted to get to his feet quickly but was held down and was awarded a penalty as a result.

Round Three against Ipswich State High School saw Elijah Lui named on the bench for Keebra Park but he was back in the starting side on the left wing for Round Four against St Mary’s College Toowoomba.

The Round Five local derby against PBC saw Elijah Lui continue on the left wing and scored Keebra Park’s opening try in the match in the 23rd minute with a try in the left corner after he had taken the cut-out pass above is head.

Elijah Lui came close to a second try in the 37th minute when after a great off-load from Immanuel Kalekale Elijah Lui raced down the left touchline and kicked forward for himself when confronted by PBC fullback Keano Kini. Keani Kini got back to the ball first but Elijah Lui was able to force Keani Kini into the in-goal to force a goal line drop out.

Elijah Lui continued on the left wing in Round Six against Wavell State High School and scored three first half tries as Keebra Park held on to win 18 – 16.

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The 2021 season to date for Kovi Ngan-Woo:

In Round One of the 2021 NRRRL U18 competition, Kovi Ngan-Woo was initially named to start from the interchange bench for the Bilambil Jets as they took on the Murwillumbah Mustangs but in fact started the match in the front row and was one of the Jets best in their 24 – 18 victory.

Kovi Ngan-Woo was named on the interchange bench in Round Two against the Tweed Coast Raiders.

Kovi Ngan-Woo was named in the starting line-up in the front row in Round Three against Northern United, making the most of his starting spot by scoring in just the second minute of the match when he charged straight through the Northern United defensive line from ten metres to crash over mid-way between the corner post and goal posts on the left side of the field.

Kovi Ngan-Woo had already started the match strongly by taking the second hit-up of the match, making a solid fourteen metres. Then from the kick-up after his second minute try, Kovi Ngan-Woo once again charged at the Northern United line, making ten more metres.

Kovi Ngan-Woo made further metres from another kick-off (Kai Smallwood try) in the 34th minute, making fifteen metres when he charged straight at the giant Northern United forward pack.

Kovi Ngan-Woo continued in the front row in Round Four as the Jets took on the Cudgen Hornets in their local derby and was immediately in the action making a strong run from the kick-off.

Kovi Ngan-Woo also started in the front row in Round Five against the Kyogle Turkeys producing a great run from a standing start in the 16th minute making twelve metres to get the ball twenty metres out from the try line.

Kovi Ngan-Wood also started in the front row in Round Six against Casino RSM making the first of numerous strong charges from the fourth hit-up of the match. Kovi Ngan-Woo’s best run of the match came in the 20th minute when he burst onto the ball to the right of the dummy half forty metres from his own line. As soon as he took possession Kovi Ngan-Woo cut down to his left towards the soft spot behind the play the ball and took advantage of the space to race thirty metres downfield with three defenders left in his wake.

Kovi Ngan-Woo dropped back to the bench for Round Nine against the Byron Bay Devils and also came off the bench in Round Ten against the Marist Brothers Rams, in Round Eleven against the Ballina Seagulls and Round Twelve against the Tweed Coast Raiders.

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The 2021 season to date for Harvey Moase:

In June 2021 Harvey Moase was part of a Titans U18 Northern Rivers squad that played the Titans U17 JTS squad at Cbus Stadium in a curtain raiser to the Titans Round Fourteen NRL match against the Sydney Roosters with Harvey Moase starting the match at halfback and drawing praise for his performance from Titans Development Staff.

Harvey Moase started at halfback for the 2021 Northern Rivers Titans U18 Laurie Daley Cup side for their Round One match against the Wests Tigers and had an outstanding match which saw him cross for a second half double.

Harvey Moase’s first try came early in the second half, when after kicking towards the right corner, he was on hand when a heavy tackle from Michael Roberts dislodged the ball from the Wests Tiger’s fullbacks grasp, under Harvey Moase being on the spot to pick the ball up and race away to score under the posts.

Later in the second half Harvey Moase scored his second try when he backed up fullback Ben Moyle who had split the Wests Tigers line through the centre of the ruck. Ben Moyle drew the fullback to send Harvey Moase away in score under the posts in the 57th minute. Harvey Moase then proceeded to convert his own try.

Harvey Moase was also heavily involved in Michael Robert’s first try of the match, early in the first half. Harvey Moase kicked towards the right wing with the ball taking a wicked bounce, right winger Blake Forder flew through and toe’d the ball forward for Michael Roberts to pick up on the bounce and crash over under the posts.

Over the course of the match, Harvey Moase’s tactical kicking into the right corner kept the Wests Tigers on the back foot and midway through the second half, Harvey Moase’s kick travelled into the in-goal and as a result of a strong Michael Roberts tackle, the West Tigers fullback could not get back into the field of play, thus forcing a goal line drop out.

After his outstanding Round One performance, Harvey Moase also started Round Two against local rivals the North Coast Bulldogs at Nambucca Heads at half back and produced another solid display and another try as the Titans went down to the Bulldogs.

Harvey Moase scored early in the first half when he produced a winding run back to the left side of the field, which included a right foot step before straightening up to dive over under the posts under heavy pressure. Harry Moase made his try scoring run after receiving a pass from fullback ben Moyle after initially passing to Moyle on the right side of the field.

Harvey Moase also continued to showcase his tactical kicking in the match, including a pin point kick towards the left corner in the 19th minute of the first half which came down less than a metre from the North Coast line when the Titans defence right there to drag the catcher back into the in-goal for a Northern Rivers Titans restart.

Harvey Moase also produced an outstanding kick in the 21st minute of the first half, this time to the right corner, once again the ball came down close to the North Coast line with the Bulldogs left winger unable to take the ball cleanly.

Harvey Moase also started at halfback in Round Three against the Greater Northern Tigers once again highlighting his tactical kicking including a smart short kick into the in-goal in just the third minute of the match to force the Tigers to restart by way of the goal line drop out.

From the resultant set of six after the drop out, Harvey Moase had a try assist when he put up a pinpoint kick to the right corner which found Harry Sivewright on the chest for him to score untouched.

Harvey Moase also started at halfback in Round Four at Lismore against the Central Coast Roosters, kicking three conversions including converting Blake Forder’s 67th minute try from the right touchline. Harvey Moase in fact set up Blake Forder’s try with a deft right foot grubber into the in-goal in the right corner.

A minute earlier Harvey Moase had forced the Central Coast fullback to take the ball dead when he put in a right foot grubber kick into the in-goal. Harvey Moase set up Blake Forder’s try from the resultant restart.

Harvey Moase continued at halfback in Round Five against the Newcastle Knights and produced a great try saving tackle in the opening minutes of the second half when he scrambled to his right to get to the Newcastle fullback and prevent a try. Harvey Moase made another try saving tackle in the second half of the match in the 63rd minute when he got low and stopped the Newcastle No. 14 when he tried to sneak over from dummy half from close range to the right of the play the ball.

Harvey Moase started at halfback for the Cudgen Hornets in Round One of the NRRRL U18 competition, kicking five conversions and recording two try assists as the Hornets defeated the Tweed Coast Raiders 38 – 6.

Harvey Moase’s opening try assist of the match came in the 33rd minute when he ran the ball down a short left blind side, taking the ball all of the way to the line before throwing a cut out pass to his left to his left winger to dive over in the corner. Harvey Moase then produced to kick the conversion from right on the touchline.

Harvey Moase recorded his second try assist in the 51st minute when he put in a right foot stab kick to the right for Cudgen to score once again.

Harvey Moase was also heavily involved in a Cudgen try in the 15th minute when he put in a chip kick to the right wing which was retrieved by Cudgen with right centre Jett Forbes ultimately racing away to score.

Harvey Moase also started at halfback in Round Two against Casino RSM kicking four conversions, including one from five metres in from the left touchline in the 11th minute and recording two try assists in the Hornets solid victory.

Harvey Moase’s first try assist was recorded in the 21st minute when he ran the ball down a short left blindside ten metres out and throwing a cut out pass to put his support runner over in the left corner.

Harvey Moase added his second try assist of the match in the 28th minute when he took the ball to the line and threw a short ball to his inside to put Darcy Townsend through the line and subsequently score.

Harvey Moase made a strong run of his own in the 58th minute when he received the ball on the right but ran a winding route back to the left, breaking five tackles before off-loading the ball.

Harvey Moase continued at halfback in Round Four in the local derby against the Bilambil Jets and after missing Round Five, Harvey Moase was back at halfback and kicked two conversions in Round Six against Byron Bay.

Harvey Moase continued at halfback in Round Seven against the Marist Brothers Rams, kicking four conversions in Cudgen’s victory including an outstanding kick from the right touchline in the 52nd minute to convert a Tobey Carpenter try.

Harvey Moase also started at halfback in Round Eight against the Kyogle Turkeys and kicked nine conversions from ten attempts (90% strike rate) in the Hornets comprehensive victory.

In addition to his outstanding goal kicking, Harvey Moase was heavily involved in multiple Hornets tries with the first of those involvements coming in just the 3rd minute when he took the ball to the line on the right side of the field near the halfway mark, putting his right second rower, Rohan Beggs, into a gap with the right second rower subsequently drawing the Kyogle fullback to send Jett Forbes on a twenty metres run to put the ball down under the posts.

Harvey Moase also recorded a line break assist in the lead up to Dominic Bowman’s 9th minute try when he put Jett Forbes into a gap with the right centre subsequently drawing the Kyogle fullback to send right winger Dominic Bowman over in the right corner.

Harvey Moase continued at halfback in Round Ten against the Murwillumbah Mustangs.

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The 2021 season to date for Taniela Mapusua-Lotaki:

Round One of the 2021 Langer Cup School Boy Rugby League competition saw Taniela Mapusua-Lotaki named to start at right centre of Keebra Park against Marsden State High School however on the day of the game he moved back to the bench and ultimately did not participant in the match.

Taniela Mapusua-Lotaki started at right centre in Round Two against Mabel Park State High School producing a strong run of fifteen metres from just the third hit-up of the match.

Round Three against Ipswich State High School saw Taniela Mapusua-Lotaki named on the bench for Keebra Park but moved into the start side at left centre for Round Four against St Mary’s College Toowoomba, a match in which Taniela Mapusua-Lotaki was comfortably the best player on the field including scoring an impressive double.

Taniela Mapusua-Lotaki’s opening try came in just the second minute of the match when he charged into a gap from six metres out off a Connor Te Kani pass.

Taniela Mapusua-Lotaki scored his second try in the 39th minute as a result of another strong charge down the left channel with Taniela Mapusua-Lotaki bursting through the St Mary’s defensive line ten metres out to get the ball down twelve metres in from the left corner post.

The 7th minute also saw Taniela Mapusua-Lotaki make himself a handful for the St Mary’s right sided defence with a twenty metre burst down the left channel.

The Round Five local derby against PBC saw Taniela Mapusua-Lotaki continue at left centre and score in the 47th minute with a ten metre run to the line down the left channel.

Taniela Mapusua-Lotaki was also heavily involved in Elijah Lui’s 37th minute line break when he was on hand to receive an off-load from his inside by Immanuel Kalekale with Taniela Mapusua-Lotaki then off-loading to his left to Elijah Lui who broke away down the left touchline.

Taniela Mapusua-Lotaki continued at right centre in Round Six against Wavell State High School.

In Round One of the 2021 Gold Coast Rugby League U18 Division One competition, Taniela Mapusua-Lotaki started at lock for the Nerang Roosters as they faced the Burleigh Bears.

Round Two against the Currumbin Eagles saw Taniela Mapusua-Lotaki move to right centre, with the move paying big dividends for the Roosters.

Taniela Mapusua-Lotaki had an outstanding match, including scoring in the 42nd minute of the match. Taniela Mapusua-Lotaki received a pass from Arama Hau who had drifted across to his right, with Taniela Mapusua-Lotaki hitting a hole sixteen metres out. Taniela Mapusua-Lotaki easily pushed off the first Eagles defender before initiating contact with another defender and spinning clockwise to break the contact before beating the fullback and then Taniela Mapusua-Lotaki was able to bring the ball around closer to the posts before placing it down.

Taniela Mapusua-Lotaki recorded a line break assist when in the 38th minute, after beating one defender Taniela Mapusua-Lotaki produced a right arm flock pass to his winger to race down the right touchline only for the winger to bundled into touch just short of the try line.

Taniela Mapusua-Lotaki did well in the 11th minute when he somehow was able to stay in the field of play down the right touchline after being passed the ball with no room to move. Somehow Taniela Mapusua-Lotaki was able to maintain his balance and stay away from the touchline even after contact, breaking three tackles in the process.

The 29th minute saw Taniela Mapusua-Lotaki make an impressive twelve metres including breaking two tackles after cutting back to his left after receiving the ball to the right of the play the ball.

Taniela Mapusua-Lotaki added another strong run to his outstanding match in the 32nd minute when he was able to get out of his own twenty metre area after running out of dummy half to the right from just two metres out from his own line. Taniela Mapusua-Lotaki added a strong fighting twelve metre run in the 57th minute.

Whilst Taniela Mapusua-Lotaki was outstanding running the ball, he was equally effective defensively including in the 14th minute when he smashed the Currumbin left winger who was trying to return a Nerang chip kick.

Taniela Mapusua-Lotaki produced another great defensive hit in the 19th minute when he smashed the Currumbin fullback just as he was taking possession with the ball flying loose as a result of Taniela Mapusua-Lotaki’s initial contact. Taniela Mapusua-Lotaki then made ten metres from the second tackle after the turnover that he generated from the big tackle.

Taniela Mapusua-Lotaki was not finished terrorising the Currumbin defence there when in the 22nd minute when the Currumbin left second rower the ball down a short blindside he ran directly into Taniela Mapusua-Lotaki’s right shoulder and was stopped dead two metres away from the try line.

Just three minutes later in the 25th minute, Taniela Mapusua-Lotaki was on hand to hold up the Eagles left centre over the line. Taniela Mapusua-Lotaki saved another try in the 34th minute when once again he held up the Currumbin left centre, on this occasion ten metres from the right goal post.

Taniela Mapusua-Lotaki’s outstanding defence continued in the second half including a strong tackle from the second half kick-off.

The Currumbin left centre bore the brunt of Taniela Mapusua-Lotaki’s strength once again in the 41st minute when Taniela Mapusua-Lotaki hit the centre, immediately stopping him in his tracks then driving him three metres backwards. Then from marker Taniela Mapusua-Lotaki followed the next run, producing a driving left shoulder low tackle.

Taniela Mapusua-Lotaki continued at right centre in Round Three against Runaway Bay and then after missing a number of rounds, started at right second row in Round Nine against the Currumbin Eagles before being named on the bench in Round Ten against the Runaway Bay Seagulls.

Taniela Mapusua-Lotaki moved to right centre in Round Ten against the Burleigh Bears scoring one try and setting up another.

Taniela Mapusua-Lotaki scored in the 21st minute when he barged over to get the ball down under the posts from five metres out after taking possession off the dummy half to the left of the play the ball.

Taniela Mapusua-Lotaki’s try assist came in the 41st minute when whilst operating down a short right blindside, Taniela Mapusua-Lotaki he put in a short grubber kick which was collected by one of Nerang’s interchange players to score in the right corner.

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The 2021 season to date for Titans contracted Philip Hakaraia-Ngamotu:

In June 2021, Philip Hakaraia-Ngamotu was a member of the Titans JYS U16 side that drew with a Titans U17 Northern Rivers Academy side at Cbus Stadium in a curtain raiser to the Titans NRL fixture against Manly.

In late October 2020, Philip Hakaaraia-Ngamotu was named in the Gold Coast Rugby League U16 Cyril Connell Cup Academy Squad and when the split occurred Philip Hakaaraia-Ngamotu was named in the Burleigh Bears Cyril Connell Cup squad.

Philip Hakaaraia-Ngamotu started in the second row in the Bears first 2021 U16 Cyril Connell Cup trail in early February 2021 against the Tweed Heads Seagulls Cyril Connell Cup squad and came off the bench in their second trial against the Easts Tigers.

In Round One of the 2021 Cyril Connell Cup, Philip Hakaaraia-Ngamotu started in the second row for the Bears side as they took on the Souths Logan Magpies and scored a strong try late in the match dragging two Souths Logan defenders over the line with him to score in the right corner.

Philip Hakaaraia-Ngamotu received the ball down a short blind side approximately six metres out from the line, beating two defenders who had rushed out of the line, once past those two defenders Philip Hakaaraia-Ngamotu surged towards the line, dragging another two defenders along for the ride to get the ball down three metres in from the right corner post at the car park end of Pizzey Park.

Philip Hakaraia-Ngamotu also started at right second row in the Round Three local derby against the Tweed Heads Seagulls and made an immediate impression with a strong first up tackle on giant Seagulls front rower Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa.

Towards the end of the match in the 57th minute, Philip Hakaraia-Ngamotu produced for me what as his best tackle of the match when he hit Tweed Heads second rower Max Murphy front on, stopping the Seagulls player dead in his tracks just two metres from the try line.

Philip Hakaraia-Ngamotu also had a number of strong runs in the match, the first of which came in the 22nd minute with a ten metre effort to get Burleigh into Seagulls territory. Philip Hakaraia-Ngamotu then backed that run up two tackles later with the speed of his run too quick for the defence who were penalised for being offside.

Philip Hakaraia-Ngamotu produced another strong effort in the 28th minute with a run from a Burleigh penalty restart, initially taking the ball eighteen metres out from the line and getting to within three before being wrestled down by multiple Seagulls defenders. Then in the 37th minute Philip Hakaraia-Ngamotu continued his hard running afternoon with a run of fourteen metres that once again got him to within a couple of metres of the try line.

Philip Hakaraia-Ngamotu showcased his outstanding speed for a big strong second rower in the 47th minute with a huge fifty metre charge down the right side of the field. After receiving the ball thirty metres out from his own line Philip Hakaraia-Ngamotu easily bumped off the first attempted tackle to break into space, outpacing the Seagulls cover defence. As he got to about twenty metres out from the try line Philip Hakaraia-Ngamotu tried to set up his support on his inside but just as he was about to pass to his left the ball was stripped out of his grasp with Burleigh being awarded a penalty as a result.

Round Five against the Ipswich Jets saw Philip Hakaraia-Ngamotu once against named to start at right second row however he was a late scratching from the match.

2021 also saw Philip Hakaraia-Ngamotu once again represent Keebra Park State High School in school boy rugby league, starting Round One of the Walters Cup against Marsden State High School at right second row.

Philip Hakaraia-Ngamotu also started Round Two against Redcliffe State High School at right second row and was involved in the opening tackle of the match and then also made the fourth tackle of the match.

Philip Hakaraia-Ngamotu continued his strong start to the match in the 8th minute with a strong fourteen run down the right channel.

Philip Hakaraia-Ngamotu also played some matches in the Langer Reserve competition in 2021 including starting from the bench in Round Six against PBC State High School.

Philip Hakaraia-Ngamotu was named to make his Langer Cup Open A debut in Round Six against Wavell State High School at right second row and what a debut it was with Philip Hakaraia-Ngamotu scoring just seven seconds into the match, yes seven seconds is correct.

Keebra Park SHS kicked off with the ball going high and it was subsequently caught by the wind. The ball came down on the twenty metre mark but was dropped by Wavell SHS with Philip Hakaraia-Ngamotu coming through and picking the ball up in one motion whilst at full speed. Philip Hakaraia-Ngamotu then veered slightly to his right and then charged over between two defenders to get the ball down mid-way between the goal posts and corner post on the right side of the field.

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The 2021 season to date for Titans contracted Jeremaiah Tamepo:

In January 2021 Jeremaiah Tamepo started on the left wing for the Titans U17 side in their annual match at Coffs Harbour against the Newcastle Knights, with the Titans recording an impressive victory over their fellow NRL rivals 32 - 20.

In general play the ball did not get out to Jeremaiah Tamepo too often on the left wing, but it did on one occasion in the first half and it appeared that Jeremaiah Tamepo had scored a barging try in the left corner but the touch judge had called a pass earlier in the movement forward.

Whilst the ball may not have gotten out to him Jeremaiah Tamepo went looking for work regularly and made some telling runs out of dummy half as the match progressed.

Jeremaiah Tamepo’s first hit-out with the 2021 Burleigh Bears MM Cup side came when he started on the left wing in the Bears second trial against the Easts Tigers. In general play the ball did not get out to Jeremaiah Tamepo often but he made a lot of metres bringing the ball out of his own territory. This situation was evidenced in the 60th minute when Jeremaiah Temapo surged twelve metres out of dummy half from inside his own twenty metre line.

Jeremaiah Tamepo also made a great defensive read in the match. In the 45th minute of the match facing an overlap, Jeremaiah Tamepo came off his left wing and crunched the East Tigers right centre just as he received that ball ensuring that there was no opportunity for him to get the ball out to the unmarked Tigers right winger.

In Round One of the 2021 MM Cup competition, Jeremaiah Tamepo started on the left wing against the Souths Logan Magpies.

In the 25th minute Jeremaiah Tamepo was the catalyst for Delahia Wigmore to score. Jeremaiah Tamepo made a long break down the left touchline which started on the halfway. Jeremaiah Temapo drew the fullback before passing to his right to Delahia Wigmore who ran twenty metres to score.

Jeremaiah Tamepo’s effort in the 29th minute, highlighted his intelligence and positioning on the left wing. Souths Logan were attacking and with the Burleigh fullback on the other side of the field they put in a short grubber kick into the in-goal, Jeremaiah Tamepo identified the threat and positioned himself to be on hand to take possession to prevent the Souths Logan hooker from getting to the ball first.

In the second half the play seemed to be focussed on Burleigh’s right side but credit to Jeremaiah Tamepo for going to look for the ball including in the 56th minute when Jeremaiah Tamepo came off his left wing and took a hit-up from a scrum deep in Burleigh’s own territory. Jeremaiah Tamepo took the ball off the back of the scrum making twelve metres down a relatively short right blindside.

Jeremaiah Tamepo also started on the left wing in Round Two against the Ipswich Jets and was one of the Bears try scorers in their impressive 44 – 16 victory.

Jeremaiah Tamepo’s try came in the 53rd minute when he was on the end of a Burleigh backline movement to the left with Jeremaiah Tamepo receiving the ball unmarked five metres out from the line and was able to jog over untouched.

Jeremaiah Tamepo handled the early pressure easily when he leapt above everyone to take an Ipswich bomb to his left wing easily on the full ten metres out from his own try line.

Once again in the 5th minute, Jeremaiah Tamepo had to be on his game when his opposite winger temporarily got on his outside, down the left touchline but Jeremaiah Tamepo was able to track back and make a copy book low covering tackle to reign the jets winger in.

Jeremaiah Tamepo continued his strong defensive efforts in the 21st minute when he, with the assistance of Caleb Gould-Waiariki haltered the momentum of the Ipswich Jets right winger and then dragged him into touch forty metre out from the try line.

Jeremaiah Tamepo showed that he is not just all about strength when it comes to defence, when from the kick-off to the second half, he made a text book low tackle on the giant Ipswich No. 19 who was returning the kick-up, it would have been an ideal tackle to showcase in any rugby league coaching manual. Jeremaiah Tamepo followed that tackle up with a strong kick return after Ipswich kicked downfield from the final tackle in that same set of six.

Jeremaiah Tamepo just could not stay out of the match early in the second half and in the 43rd minute swooped on an Ipswich dropped ball, sprinting twenty eight metres down the left touch line before being rounded up.

Jeremaiah Tamepo once again started on the left wing in the Round Three Gold Coast derby against the Tweed Heads Seagulls scoring in the second half and overall having a very very good game for the Bears including standing up well to a plethora of high kicks directed towards his wing by Thomas Weaver. Although Jeremaiah Tamepo started the match on the left wing, he in fact moved to left centre late in the first half.

Jeremaiah Tamepo’s try came in the 57th minute of the match when he dived over in the left corner after Burleigh lock Arama Hau threw a great right arm off-load to an unmarked Jeremaiah Tamepo to run fifteen metres to score in the left corner.

Jeremaiah Tamepo also worked hard bringing the ball out of his team’s territory including a twelve metre effort in the 19th minute which saw Jeremaiah Tamepo bring the ball out of Burleigh’s twenty metre area.

Once again in the 33rd minute Jeremaiah Tamepo took the responsibility of taking the ball up when he ran the ball back from a kick-off making a solid fourteen metres.

Late in the match Jeremaiah Tamepo had to contend with a Thomas Weaver bomb barrage to his left side of the field, the first coming in the 64th minute but Jeremaiah Tamepo was able to get above the Seagulls chasers to take the ball on the full just out from his own try line and them a couple of minutes later had to replicate the play as another huge bomb came in his direction.

Jeremaiah Tamepo was also named to start on the left wing for Round Four match against the Souths Logan Magpies and was one of the Bears try scorers in their tough loss to the Magpies.

Jeremaiah Tamepo also started on the left wing in Round Five against the Ipswich Jets and made his presence felt in the 3rd minute when Ipswich manufactured an overlap to their left side, but Jeremaiah Tamepo identified that the overlap was developing and came out of the line quickly to hit the Ipswich left centre just as he received the ball to shut down the movement on the spot.

With Burleigh under pressure early in the match, Jeremaiah Tamepo came off his wing in the 12th minute to take pressure off his forwards, taking a hit-up from a Burleigh play the ball restart with Jeremaiah Tamepo able to make twelve valuable metres.

Jeremaiah Tamepo came close to scoring in the 17th minute when he was able to get away near the left corner but only the intervention of three Ipswich defenders were able to stop him and bundle him into touch just a metre short of the line.

With Burleigh under pressure towards the end of the match, in the 66th minute to be precise, Jeremaiah Tamepo came all the way from his left wing to the right side of the field to help Burleigh bring the ball out of their own territory with the resultant hit-up making ten metres to get Burleigh out to near their own thirty metre line.

Round Six being the final regular season round of the 2021 MM Cup competition saw Jeremaiah Tamepo named once again line up on the left wing in the local derby against the Tweed Heads Seagulls however he ended up starting the match at left centre.

From the left centre position Jeremaiah Tamepo took the first Burleigh run of the match when from a scrum win in his own territory Jeremaiah Tamepo was able to make ten metres. Jeremaiah Tamepo was involved again in the 13th minute with a strong twelve metre run out of dummy half and after not being allowed to his feet quickly Jeremaiah Tamepo was awarded a penalty.

From left centre once again in the 50th minute Jeremaiah Tamepo made a bumping run of fifteen metres to get the bell thirty five metres away from his own try line.

In Round One of the Gold Coast Rugby League U18 Division One competition, Jeremaiah Temapo started at right centre for the Nerang Roosters as they faced the Burleigh Bears and was one of the Roosters try scorers in their impressive first up victory.

Jeremaiah Temapo moved to left centre in Round Two against the Currumbin Eagles with his first touch of the ball coming when he took the 4th hit-up of the match after Currumbin kicked off. Then in the 4th minute Jeremaiah Tamepo ran out of dummy half from inside his own twenty metre area, breaking three tackles in the effort.

Jeremaiah Temapo made a line break in the 52nd minute when he broke through the defensive line down a short left blindside making thirty metres before getting the ball away to his left.

Jeremaiah Temapo produced a line break assist in the 6th minute when he was able to put his left winger Haizyn Mellars away on a twenty five metre run down the left touchline.

Round Three against Runaway Bay saw Jeremaiah Tamepo have a signature match from left centre, scoring four of the Roosters five tries as they defeated Runaway Bay 22 – 4.

Jeremaiah Temapo scored once again in Round Four from his left centre position as his Roosters side defeated the Ormeau Shearers 30 – 14.

Jeremaiah Temapo continued at left centre In Round Five against the Southport Tigers, scoring a double in the Roosters 34 – 12 victory before moving to right centre in Round Nine against the Currumbin Eagles.

In Round Nine against the Runaway Bay Seagulls Jeremaiah Temapo once again started at left centre and he had a big game, including scoring a double in the Roosters impressive victory.

Jeremaiah Temapo scored his first try in just the 7th minute when he burst onto the ball ten metres out, breaking one tackle to get the ball down seven metres in from the left corner post.

Jeremaiah Temapo’s second try came in the 44th minute and it was certainly a spectacular effort. Nerang had a scrum feed deep on their own territory. Once the scrum was won, the Roosters spun the ball to their left with Jeremaiah Temapo receiving the ball less than ten metres from his own line, Jeremaiah Temapo ran over his direct opponent and from there outpaced the cover defence to dive over five metres in from the left corner post.

Jememaiah Temapo continued at left centre in Round Ten against the Burleigh Bears.

In early March 2021 Jeremaiah Tamepo was named in the South Coast Open school boy rugby squad however he did not end up playing for South Coast in the Championships.

Round One of the 2021 Langer Cup School Boy Rugby League competition saw Jeremaiah Tamepo initially named on the bench for Keebra Park against Marsden State High School however Jeremaiah Tamepo ended up starting the match on the right wing.

Jeremaiah Tamepo moved to left centre for Round Two against Mabel Park State High School and was one of Keebra Park’s try scorers in their 30 – 14 victory.

Jeremaiah Tamepo’s try came in the 33rd minute when he received a cut-out pass from Connor Te Kani when he was still eight metres and as he engaged the defence just short of the try line, Jeremaiah Tamepo spun clockwise to get the ball down whilst still engaged with defenders from metres from the left corner.

Jeremaiah Tamepo almost scored a second try in the 45th minute when he leapt above the defence to take a chip kick to his side of the field on the full and he pushed to within centremetres of the line before he was stopped.

In the 24th minute, Jeremaiah Tamepo recorded a line break in the 24th minute when he burst twenty metres down the left touchline but unfortunately he as adjudged to have put his left on the touchline around the halfway mark.

Jeremaiah Tamepo also started at right centre in Round Three against Ipswich State High School before dropping back to the bench for Round Four against St Mary’s College Toowoomba and was also on the bench for the Round Five local derby against PBC.

In Round Six against Wavell State High School, Jeremaiah Temapo moved into the Keebra Park SHS side at left centre.

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The 2021 season to date for Titans contracted Immanuel Kalekale:

Immanuel Kalekale made his first appearance in a Titans jersey for the Titans U17 side that played their annual match against the Newcastle Knights in Coffs Harbour in January 2021 starting the match from the bench.

Immanuel Kalekale made a positive impact when he came on as the Titans were impressive in their 32 – 20 victory including an exceptional charge late in the match where he made at least thirteen metres through the middle of the Knights forward pack. Overall it was an impressive Titans debut for Immanuel Kalekale punctuated by some powerful hit-ups and a high work rate in both attack and defence.

Immanuel Kalekale’s first hit-out with the 2021 Burleigh Bears MM Cup side came when he started on the bench in the Bears second trial against the Easts Tigers. Immanuel Kalekale did not come into the match until the final twenty metres, playing in the front row but what a cameo appearance he made.

Immanuel Kalakale’s initial contribution was a strong twenty metre charge directly into the heart of the Tigers forward pack off a Titans penalty restart just inside Easts territory. Immanuel Kalekale contributed another strong charge in the 65th minute when he took the hit-up from the Easts Tigers kick-off from Syris Schmidt’s try. In the same set of six Immanuel Kalekale made fifteen more metres from another hit-up and was awarded a penalty when the Easts Tigers defence did not allow him to his feet quickly enough.

In Round One of the 2021 MM Cup competition, Immanuel Kalekale started from the bench against the Souths Logan Magpies and as him did in the trial against Easts, Immanuel Kalekale produced an impressive display starting with a moment in the 28th minute when a ball was kicked into his shins, Immanuel Kalekale retrieved the bouncing ball bursting twenty metres downfield from a standing start, breaking two tackles along the way. The second attempted tackle actually tripped Immanuel Kalekale who went to ground but was not held and whilst siting down he was able to off-load for Burleigh to make more metres.

In the final minute of the first half after Burleigh had absorbed a significant amount of pressure, Immanuel Kalekale was the release valve for the pressure with a strong ten metre run which commended from within his own twenty metre area, breaking four tackles to give Burleigh some breathing space.

After missing a number of weeks, Immanuel Kalekale was named on the Bears extended bench for Round Five against the Ipswich Jets however started the match from the bench and scoring as Burleigh overcame a 20 – 0 first half deficit to record a 44 – 26 win.

Immanuel Kalekale’s try in the 32nd minute was one of the more impressive front row tries that I have seen. Immanuel Kalekale received the ball twelve metres out from the try line to the left of the play the ball with a set defensive line in front of him. Immanuel Kalekale engaged the initial defender with a left arm fend ten metres out before engaging two additional defenders five metres out. Initially it looked like the three Jets defenders would be able to get Immanuel Kalekale to the ground but he kept fighting the defenders and was able to get the ball down under the posts.

In relation to club rugby league in 2021 Immanuel Kalekale lined up for the Nerang Roosters in the Gold Coast Rugby League U18 Division One competition with his first appearance for the Roosters coming in Round Three when he started from the bench as the Roosters defeated Runaway Bay 22 - 4.

In Round Five against the Southport Tigers, Immanuel Kalekale started at lock in the Roosters 34 – 12 victory before being named on the bench in Round Seven against Mudgeeraba. Round Ten against the Runaway Bay Seagulls saw Immanuel Kalekale named to start from the bench however he was a late scratching from the match.

Immanuel Kalekale moved to lock in Round Ten against the Burleigh Bears and scored a strong try in the 15th minute and also kicked Nerang’s final conversion of the match with the kick being taken just to the left of the uprights.

In the 15th minute Immanuel Kalekale charged onto the ball from six metres out to the left of the dummy half and dragged four defenders over the line to get the ball down next to the right upright.

Immanuel Kalekale produced another powerful run in the 55th minute from deep inside his own territory of thirty five metres with Immanuel Kalekale then producing a great right arm off-load to keep Nerang’s momentum going.

Immanuel Kalekale was also named to start in the front row in Round Six against Wavell State High School.
In February 2021 Immanuel Kalekale took part in the South Coast Open school boy trials and was subsequently named in the South Coast Open A school boy side as a result of his outstanding trial performances, however he did not end up lining up for South Coast in the Championships.

2021 also saw Immanuel Kalekale line up for Keebra Park PBC State High School in the South East Queensland School Boy Langer Cup competition starting Round One in the front row against Marsden State High School.

Immanuel Kalekale started Round Two against Mabel Park State High School in the front row and one of Keebra Park’s try scorers in their 30 – 14 victory with his try coming in the 15th minute when he charged onto the ball from three metres, skittling a number of defenders to get the ball down four metre to the right of the uprights.

Immanuel Kalekale made another big charge in in the 45th minute when he broke four tackles to get to within two metres of the line and then in the 49th minute Immanuel Kalekale came out of the line to put on a big front on hit in what was probably the best tackle of the match.

Immanuel Kalekale also started in the front row in Round Three against Ipswich State High School and made the opening tackle of the match after Keebra Park had kicked off. Immanuel Kalekale made the first of multiple strong runs in the 4th minute with hard charge and off-load to Blaze Mozer and then he was at it again in the 10th minute with another strong charge.

Immanuel Kalekale was named to continue in the front row in Round Four against St Mary’s College Toowoomba however he was a late omission from the Keebra Park side.

The Round Five local derby against PBC saw Immanuel Kalekale named to start in the front row and put in a dominating performance to lead Keebra Park to an impressive come from behind victory.

Immanuel Kalekale was simply devastating running the ball but it was two off-loads that also brought Immanuel Kalekale to prominence in the match, including an off-load in the 38th minute after he kept fighting in a tackle. Immanuel Kalekale was able to get his right arm free and off-load to his left to Delahia Wigmore who cut back to his right into space to score from ten metres out.

Immanuel Kalekale’s other significant off-load came in the 37th minute and came when he charged onto the ball on the left side of the field and whilst in contact with the line got a great right arm off-load away to left centre Taniela Mapusua-Lotaki who then off-loaded to Elijah Lui who broke away down the left touchline.

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The 2021 season to date for Taine Tuaupiki:

Taine Tuaupiki is a local young former Titans linked utility (halfback/five eight/fullback) who was named to make his Queensland Cup debut off the bench for the Burleigh Bears in Round Two of the 2021 competition against the Mackay Cutters, unfortunately Taine Tuaupiki was a late scratching from the match.

Deservedly however Taine Tuaupiki made his Queensland Cup debut for Burleigh off the bench in Round Six as the Bears defeated Norths 36 – 0.

Taine Tuaupiki came off the bench to play twenty one minutes and in that time ran for forty two metres (eight post contact), broke two tackles, played the ball at an average speed of 4.37 seconds and also made a tackle.

Taine Tuaupiki also was named to start on the bench against the Ipswich Jets in Round Seven however he was a late scratching.

Taine Tuaupiki started from the bench for the Burleigh Queensland Cup sides first 2021 trial when he started on the wing against the Titans at Burleigh in mid-February.

A week later Taine Tuaupiki started at fullback for Burleigh in their Queensland Cup trial against the Easts Tigers, scoring one of the Bears tries in their two point victory, when he backed up on the inside of a Shallin Fuller break to receive the pass from Fuller from his right to dive over midway between the goal posts and corner post on the right side of the field.

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

In 2021 Taine Tuaupiki was part of the Burleigh Bears GCRL First Grade side for the pre-season competition, playing at fullback in those rounds, including in Round Two against Runaway Bay.

In Round Two of the Gold Coast Rugby League First Grade Pre-season competition Taine Tuaupiki started at fullback as Burleigh defeated Runaway Bay with Taine Tuaupiki one of the Bears try scorers.

Taine Tuaupiki’s try was a long range effort in the second half when he backed up a ling Burleigh break that was made down the left side with Taine Tuaupiki being positioned nicely back through the centre of the ruck to receive that ball and running forty metres to score under the posts untouched.

Taine Tuaupiki added a second half try assist when he chimed into the Burleigh backline to the right, skipping to his outside to draw in two defenders and throw a good short pass to his right to Lochlyn Sheldon who ran straight through the resultant gap to score after a twenty metre run.

Taine Tuaupiki continued at fullback in Round Three of the GCRL First Grade Pre-season competition as Burleigh took on the Currumbin Eagles and recorded two try assists as Burleigh completed their GCRL First Grade pre-season campaign with a 26 – 6 victory.

Taine Tuaupiki’s first try assist came when he took the ball to the line on the left and thre a cut out pass in the same direction to put his left winger over in the corner. Taine Tuaupiki’s second try assist came on that occasion on the right when he took the ball to the line down a short right blind side, throwing a good short ball to his right twenty metre out to put his right winger over.

Taine Tuaupiki started Round Two of the Gold Coast Rugby League First Grade competition at fullback against Helensvale and scored in the 50th minute when he received the ball two passes off the ruck as the ball was spun to the left with Taine Tuaupiki receiving the ball eighteen metres out. As he approached the defensive line, Taine Tuaupiki dummied to left left to break through the line and then stepped off his left to beat the Hornets fullback to score.

Against Mudgeeraba in Round Three Taine Tuaupiki once again started at fullback, scoring once again as well as setting up another. Taine Tuaupiki scored in the 24th minute when he received the ball from a Burleigh scrum win sixteen metres out, Taine Tuaupiki ran to his left dummying once before cutting through the line to score ten metres in from the left corner.

Taine Tuaupiki’s incredible 2021 season continued in Round Four when from fullback he scored a hat trick as Burleigh routed Southport 88 – 0.

Taine Tuaupiki’s first try came in the 13th minute of the match when he used his speed to slice through the Southport defensive line on the left side of the field and then was simply too quick for the fullback to score two metres from the left upright.

In the 23rd minute Taine Tuaupiki scored once again after some great work by right winger Will Evans. Will Evans took a kick on the full just out from his own line and then raced sixty metres down the right touchline before kicking back towards centre field with the ball sitting up nicely for Taine Tuaupiki who ran thirty metres to score next to the left upright.

Taine Tuaupiki completed his hat trick in the 58th minute when he backed up a break by the dummy half through centre field forty five metres out, breaking through one attempted jersey grab before veering to his right to round the Southport fullback to score.

In addition to his hat trick, Taine Tuaupiki also recorded three try assists, a line break and a line break assist in the big Burleigh victory.

The 27th minute of the match saw Taine Tuaupiki record the first of his three try assist when he put in a right foot stab kick towards the right corner with Regan Ogle racing through to get the ball down.

Taine Tuaupiki’s second try assist came in the 44th minute when he joined the Burleigh backline and
after engaging the defensive line on the right side of the field, Taine Tuaupiki was held by the defence with his back towards the goal line but he was able to pop a right arm off-load to Brett Stratton to dive over.

Taine Tauapiki’s third and final try assist of the match came in the 54th minute when after receiving the ball he cut back towards the goal posts getting within two metres of the try line before off-loading to Shallin Fuller who was able to dive over.

After his Round Four heroic’s. Taine Tauaupiki understandably also started at fullback in Round Five against Runaway Bay throwing the final pass for Will Evans try in the right corner in the first half. Taine Tuaupiki also started at fullback in Round Seven against the Currumbin Eagles.

Taine Tuaupiki scored once again from the fullback position in Round Nine against Helensvale when in the 5th minute Taine Tuaupiki sliced through the Hornets left sided defence from ten metres out to score near the right upright.

Round Eleven against the Mudgeeraba Redbacks saw Taine Tuaupiki continue at fullback with Taine Tuaupiki scoring one try and setting up another.

Taine Tuaupiki scored in the 49th minute when after receiving the ball two passes off the dummy half on the left side of the field twenty metres out, Taine Tuaupiki ran at the line before cutting back towards centre field. With the Mudgeeraba defensive stationary, Taine Tauapiki ran back to his right parallel to the line. Near centre field, Taine Tuaupiki dummied to his right before stepping off his right foot and as a consequence sliced through the defensive line ten metres out and ran around to put the ball down under the posts.

Taine Tuaupiki’s try assist came in the 69th minute when after receiving the ball, Taine Tauapiki threw a long cut out pass to right winger Lofi Khan-Pereira who raced over to score in the right corner.

Taine Tuaupiki moved to five eight for Round Twelve against the Tugun Seahawks and recorded a 10th minute try assist when from a scrum Taine Tuaupiki received the ball twenty five metres out and to the right and was able to get on the outside of his immediate opponent and draw in the Tugun left winger to send Lofi Khan-Pereira over in the right corner.

Taine Tuaupiki continued at five eight in Round Eleven against Runaway Bay.

In April 2021, Taine Tuaupiki was named in the Gold Coast Vikings First Grade South East Queensland Chairman’s Challenge initial squad.

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The 2021 season on date for Jayden Sharp:

Jayden Sharp made his first 2021 appearance when he came off the bench for the Burleigh Hastings Deering’s Colts side in their twenty all draw against the Easts Tigers at Langland’s Park with Jayden Sharp scoring late in the first half when he charged onto a pass from Cole Geyer to the left of the play the ball from three metres out, spinning counter clockwise to force his way over adjacent to the left upright.

Jayden Sharp had made a strong fifteen metre surge earlier in the first half, with the majority of the metres made post contact.

Jayden Sharp was also impressive defensively in his first stint on the field in the trial including a big tackle (the first that he made after coming on) in the 24th minute of the first half. Jayden Sharp produced another strong hit, this time in the second half when from a Burleigh kick-off Jayden Sharp’s initial contact forced the ball loose from the Easts Tigers forwards grasp as he was returning the kick-off.

The following week in the Burleigh Hastings Deering’s Colts trial against the Tweed Heads Seagulls, Jayden Sharp moved into the starting side at lock and contributing to the Bears victory including a strong run in the 56th minute where he made fifteen metres with the highlight of the line being when he knocked the Tweed Heads hooker backwards.

Round One of the 2021 Hastings Deering’s Colts competition saw Jayden Sharp start at lock and captain the Burleigh Bears when they took on the Easts Tigers with Jayden Sharp taking the 3rd hit-up of the match.

Jayden Sharp made another strong hit-up in the 7th minute when he made eleven hard metres to get the ball into the Bears twenty attacking zone after Easts had lost the ball in a tackle. In the 14th minute, Jayden Sharp made a further fourteen metres to get Burleigh over the halfway after receiving the ball to the left of the dummy half.

Jayden Sharp continued to work hard in the 16th minute when he made twelve more metres getting the ball to the thirty metre mark on the second hit-up after Lofi Khan-Pereira’s 14th minute try.

Jayden Sharp did a lot of defence in the match including a strong front on driving tackle in the 77th minute on one of the Easts Tigers second rowers that sat him on his back.

To cap off a very solid captain’s performance when the 67th minute he raced through to get hold of an errant Tigers pass forty metres out from their line. Instead of just submitting to a tackle, Jayden Sharp whilst under pressure from two defenders, offloaded to his left by way of a left arm flick pass to Cameron Brown who after some expert stepping by both him and Lofi Khan-Pereira scored a spectacular try in the left corner.

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

Jayden Sharp first major impact running the ball came in the 14th minute when the Burleigh captain was able to make fifteen metres downfield after receiving the ball on his own twenty before offloading to his right to Daniel Shannon.

Jayden Sharp also started at lock in Round Three against the Western Mustangs but started Round Four in the front row against the Norths Devils.

Jayden Sharp also started in the front row in Round Five against the Ipswich Jets and after two weeks with the Burleigh GCRL First Grade side Jayden Sharp came off the bench in Round Eight against the Redcliffe Dolphins in the Bears tough two point last minute loss.

After playing a number of matches for the Burleigh GCRL First Grade side, Jayden Sharp was back at lock in Round Nine against the Mackay Cutters.

Jayden Sharp deservedly stepped up to the Burleigh Bears Gold Coast Rugby League First Grade side for their Round Four match, with Jayden Sharp starting from the bench as the Bears routed Southport 88 – 0. Jayden Sharp also started from the bench in Round Five against Runaway Bay.

Jayden Sharp made his starting Gold Coast Rugby League starting debut in the front row in Round Nine against the Helensvale Hornets before dropping back to the bench for Round Eleven against the Mudgeeraba Redbacks, match that saw Jayden Sharp score his first GCRL First Grade try in the 26th minute when he took a hit-up to the right of the dummy half and ten metres from the line directly in front of the goal posts.

After receiving the ball Jayden Sharp produced a slight jink off his left foot to wrong foot two defenders. When he was just a few metres from the line, Jayden Sharp got hit in a heavy tackle but was able to maintain his balance long enough to reach out and put the ball down with his right arm next to the right upright.

Jayden Sharp continued in the front row in the previously postponed Round Eight match against Tugun as well as in Round Eleven against Runaway Bay.