Junior Development

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Jykoven Torrens has started at hooker all season and that was the same last weekend for Casino RSM in Round Twelve of the Group One U14 competition against the Ballina Seagulls with Jykoven Torrens scoring an impressive hat trick.

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From the bench in Round Twelve against the Clarence Coast Magpies last weekend in Round Twelve of the Group One U14 competition Grafton Ghosts Beau Hartmann crossed for a hat trick in the Ghosts big win.

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Last weekend in Round Twelve of the Group One U16 competition former Titans Junior Development Squad member Keaton Stutt moved to hooker for the Grafton Ghosts scoring a double in the Ghosts eight point win.

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Last weekend in Round of the Group One U16 competition, Marist Rams Leeton Smith started at halfback against the Kyogle Turkeys scoring once again in the Rams loss.

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Last weekend Ballina’s Dylan Watkins continued at fullback in Round Twelve of the Group One U14 competition against Casino RSM and scored eighteen individual points from four tries and a conversion.

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The 2021 season to date for Titans contracted Riley Lack:

In January 2021 Riley Lack started from the bench for the Titans U19 side in their annual match at Coffs Harbour against the Newcastle Knights. When he came on, Riley Lack played five eight and operated on the right side of the field as the Titans ran away with the match in the second half to records a well-deserved 40 – 6 victory.

Riley Lack started the second half playing at five eight on the right side of the field and was involved to the Titans first try of the second half when he threw a good quick pass to his right to Brock Priestley, who subsequently offloaded to Reef Sommerville, with a spectacular Jaylan De Groot try resulting from a Reef Sommerville kick back inside.

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

Riley Lack started the match on the bench, coming on at half time and playing at five eight for the Titans on the right side of the field. As he did against the Knights, Riley Lack played an understated role against the Bears, doing a lot of the little things such as looking for his support runs and chasing downfield in relation to Titans tactical kicking. It was a similar situation from a defensive perspective for Riley Lack against the Bears.

Probably Riley Lack’s most effective tactical kick in the match came in the 68th minute of the match, when Riley Lack received the ball down a short left blind side just inside his own half. Riley Lack put in a long right foot kick down the left touchline with the ball bouncing up in the in-goal forcing the Burleigh fullback to play at the ball. The Burleigh fullback was caught inside his own ten metre line with Riley Lack one of the first Titans players down field forcing the Bears fullback towards the Titans right side defence.

In November 2020 Riley Lack was named in the powerful 2021 Tweed Heads Seagulls MM Cup squad.

Riley Lack started from the bench for the Tweed Heads Seagulls MM Cup side in their first 2021 trial which was against the Easts Tigers at Langland’s Park and was one of the Seagulls best in their 28 – 12 first up victory.

In Tweed Heads second 2021 MM Cup trial against Burleigh that Tweed Heads comprehensively one, Riley Lack played the first half at five eight, operating on the left side of the field, putting in a noteworthy performance, including an outstanding solo try, a try assist, a big hand in another Seagulls try and well as producing an astute kicking display.

Riley Lack’s outstanding solo try was certainly worth the wait, operating on the right, Riley Lack received a low pass from his right as Tweed Heads were set up to the left. To catch the ball, Riley Lack had to dive forward to take the low pass. As soon as he had hit the ground, Riley lack was back on his feet and cut back to his right in the direction of where the pass had come from. Riley lack was confronted with a line of Burleigh defenders but expertly grubbered through the line and get the perfect bounce to retrieve the ball with no loss of momentum and go through and put the ball down untouched just to the right of the uprights.

Riley Lack’s try assist came late in the first half when he put in a pin point kick to the left wing which hit left winger Kruze Rimene on the chest and Rimene was able to fall over the line from two metres out and a metre in from the left corner post.

Riley Lack was also heavily involved in left winger Kruze Rimene’s first try of the match. Tweed Heads spun the ball to the left side of the field, when Riley Lack received the ball he threw a long twenty metre cut-out pass to his left that found left centre Campbell Watchairs in space, who then put Kruze Rimene over in the left corner.

As noted above, Riley Lack produced an assured kicking display in the first half, including an impressive early match kick that forced Burleigh to restart through a goal line drop out. Riley Lack took the ball on the sixth tackle off the dummy half and ran to the line before grubbing through the Bears line. The ball hit the left goal post and by the time the Bears fullback gained possession in his own in-goal there was nowhere for him to go and thus he was pinned there.

Riley Lack also started at five eight in Tweed Heads final 2021 MM Cup final against the Souths Logan Magpies at Logan scoring the Seagulls final try in a 32 – 8 (no conversions) victory.

Late in the fourth quarter Jaylan De Groot burst down the right touchline after good work on his inside. As he was being hemmed in by the Souths Logan fullback and cover defence Jaylan De Groot grubbered kicked with his right foot inside with the kick perfectly weighted for Riley Lack who was tracking the play on the inside to get downward pressure on the ball to be awarded a try, the final one of the eight that Tweed Heads scored in the match.

Unfortunately was hit in the head a fraction after he got the ball down, forcing him off the field. The Souths Logan player responsible was put on report for the high hit. Unfortunately the head knock that he suffered in scoring the try meant that Riley Lack missed Round’s One and two of the 2021 MM Cup competition.

Riley Lack was back in the Tweed Heads Seagulls MM Cup side, starting at five eight in their Round Three local derby against Burleigh and did not miss a beat alongside Thomas Weaver, scoring one try and assisting in another in the Seagulls comprehensive victory.

Riley Lack scored in the 26th minute of the match when he chased through a kick out of dummy half midfield by Blake Mozer, Riley Lack got the ball just before the Burleigh fullback toeing the ball forward before retrieving the ball down low three metres from the line diving over to score fifteen metres in from the right corner post.

Riley Lack’s try assist came in just the 14th minute of the match when he ran the ball down a right blindside around twenty metres out from the line and as the defence converged on him, Riley Lack produced a great right arm out of the back of his hand flick pass to put Jayden Wright into a gap to cross for his second try of the match.

Riley Lack was also named to start at five eight for Round Four match against the Ipswich Jets and saved a try in just the 7th minute of the match when he chased down the Ipswich left winger bringing him down with a great diving low tackle along the touchline.

Riley Lack was named to start at five eight in Round Five against the Souths Logan Magpies however was a late scratching.

Riley Lack then started at five eight for the Seagulls for the final regular season round of the 2021 MM Cup competition in the local derby against the Burleigh Bears and converted the Seagulls first two tries of the match.

Riley Lack worked hard in both attack and defence in the match and in the 56th minute made a good defensive play when he raced off his own try line to get up into the face of Burleigh’s Seth Nikotemo with the pressure meaning the Bears second rower could not maintain possession.

After missing Tweed Head’s semi-final victory over Wynnum Manly, Riley Lack was the 18th man for the 2021 MM Cup Grand Final against the Townsville Blackhawks.

In Round Two of the 2021 NRRRL U18 competition, Riley Lack started at five eight for the Murwillumbah Mustangs and kicked eight conversions as the Mustangs accounted for Northern United.

After Murwillumbah had a number of byes back to back, Riley Lack started at five eight in Round Six against the Kyogle Turkeys, kicking five conversions in the Mustangs big victory.

Riley Lack was also involved in Ryan Foran’s second try of the match when he put up a huge bomb from near midfield which the Kyogle defence could not handle, Ryan Foran charged through to dive on the loose ball in the in-goal.

Riley Lack also started at five eight in Round Seven against Byron Bay, kicking two conversions in the Mustangs 20 – 0 victory. Riley Lack also recorded a try assist when he put in a chip kick down a right blindside which was taken on the full by his right winger who raced away to score.

Riley Lack continued at five eight in Round Eight against Marist Brothers Lismore, kicking four conversions from five attempts in the Mustangs victory.

After Murwillumbah’s Round Nine match against the Tweed Coast Raiders was postponed, Riley Lack was back at five eight for Round Ten against the Cudgen Hornets. Riley Lack was in the match in the first minute when he put up a huge bomb sixty metres out from the line and after bouncing once that ball amazingly hit the cross bar and then bounced into the in-goal with Cudgen subsequently trapped there and was forced to drop the ball out to restart the match.

Riley Lack also produced another kick in the match that had a positive impact for the Mustangs when in the 45th minute he put in a chip kick from twenty metres out that Cudgen’s Reef Sommervile was forced to take over the dead ball line.

Riley lack came very close to scoring in the first half of the match after a slicing run to his left but unfortunately the ball was knocked out of his grasp just as he was crossing the line. Also Riley Lack showcased his speed in the first half when he chased Cudgen’s Jett Forbes down field after the Hornets right centre took an intercept twenty metres from his own line and took off but Riley Lack rounded him up still twenty metres from the try line.

Riley Lack continued at five eight in Round Twelve against Northern United and had a day out, scoring one try, kicking an exceptional ten from ten, including conversions from both sidelines and also recorded three try assists.

Riley Lack scored in the 49th minute, after a superb break from inside his own territory by Blake Forder, Riley Lack received the ball on the right and was able to get the ball down in the right corner.

Riley Lack’s opening try assist of the match came in the 29th minute he cut back inside off his right foot and was able to offload to Cooper Wolf who crashed over from close range.

Riley Lack added his second try assist in the 35th minute when from thirty five metres out he put in a right foot chip kick which sat up perfectly for Matthew Bollard to race through and retrieve the ball and he was able to bring the ball around and put it down under the posts.

Riley Lack recorded his third and final try assist in the 41st when he fed a scrum running to the left and executing an old fashioned run around with Brandon Williams before putting his support runner through a huge gap thirty five metres out.

Round Thirteen against the Ballina Seagulls saw Riley Lack continue at five eight and recording two try assists as well as kicking three conversions.

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

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

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

In Round Two of the NRRRL First Grade competition, Riley Lack came off the bench and kicked a late first half conversion against Northern United after kicking eight conversions in the U18 match earlier in the day.

Round Three of the NRRRL First Grade competition saw Riley Lack start at halfback for the Mustangs as they had a big win over the Lower Clarence Magpies.

Round Four of the 2021 NRRRL First Grade competition saw Riley Lack moved to five eight for their local derby against the Mullumbimby Giants with Riley Lack recording a second half try assist when he spilt the Giants defence around the halfway mark as he ran to his left. Once Riley Lack was through the line he drew the fullback before passing to his left to put fullback Liam Cusack over untouched.

In Round Twelve of the NRRRL Reserve Grade competition, Riley Lack came off the bench against Northern United and Riley Lack also came off the bench in Round Thirteen against the Ballina Seagulls.

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The 2021 season to date for Titans contracted Brock Priestley:

In early January 2021 Brock Priestley started at right second row for the Titans U19 side in their annual match against the Newcastle Knights in Coffs Harbour, a match that the Titans dominated, especially in the second half to record a 40 – 6 victory.

Brock Priestley was solid throughout the match both in attack and defence and early in the second half was involved in a spectacular Jaylan De Groot try. Down a short blind side fifty five metres out from the Newcastle line, Brock Priestley received a short pass from Riley Lack. Noting that there was space to his right, Brock Priestley immediately upon getting the ball threw a great short pass to Reef Sommerville putting him into space, with Jaylan De Groot scoring when he was on hand to retrieve a Reef Sommerville kick back inside.

Brock Priestley was also solid defensively in the match with a number of tackles standing out including a tackle in the third minute where Brock Priestley and Isaac Matalavea-Booth belted the Knight left winger who had come off his wing forcing him five metres backwards before driving him into the ground.

Brock Priestley and Isaac Matalavea-Booth combined once again in a heavy tackle early in the second half when they combined to heavily tackle a Knights player from a twenty metre restart, with the initial contact forcing the ball loose.

Another impressive (and critical) tackle that Brock Priestley made came early in the second half. Defending on the right, Brock Priestley came out of the line to make a ball and all tackle on the Newcastle halfback around twenty metres out from the try line. If Brock Priestley had not came out of the line and made the tackle or allowed an offload, Newcastle would have developed a one man overlap against the Titans right sided defensive line with the Titans defensive line back peddling close to their own line.

A week after the match against the Newcastle Knights Brock Priestley once again lined up for the Titans U19’s starting at right second row as the Titans took on a Burleigh Hastings Deering’s Colts squad with the Titans winning 32 – 20 with no conversions attempted.

As he did against Newcastle Brock Priestley produced some smart pieces of play for the Titans including some impressive footwork in the first half to get in between two defenders and still Brock Priestley was able to get his right arm free to get an off-load away out of the back of his right arm to enable Reef Sommerville to progress the ball further down field, impressively Brock Priestley got to his feet to take the next hit-up afte the off-load.

Brock Priestley’s speed was highlighted in the 17th minute of the first half against the Bears. Brock Priestley packed into a scrum with a Bears feed in the second row. When the Bears won the scrum, Cole Geyer, who is probably the quickest hooker in the Gold Coast Rugby League, ran the ball to Brock Priestley’s right off the back of the scrum. After breaking from the scrum Brock Priestley chased Cole Geyer down tackling him from behind and dislodging the ball.

Later in the first half Brock Priestley showcased his line running ability when he ran a great inside shoulder line, making ten metres with the run finishing inside the Bears twenty metre zone.

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 Brock Priestley starting the match on the bench for the Titans.

In November 2020 Brock Priestley was named in the powerful Tweed Heads Seagulls 2021 MM Cup squad.

Brock Priestley started at right second row in Tweed Heads final 2021 MM Cup final against the Souths Logan Magpies at Logan but was forced off the field with a knee injury in the final quarter.

After missing the opening three rounds of the 2021 MM Cup competition due to the injury suffered in the Seagulls final trial against Souths Logan, Brock Priestley was named on the Seagulls extended bench for their Round Four match against the Ipswich Jets.

Brock Priestley was also originally named on the Seagulls extended bench in Round Five against the Souths Logan Magpies however Brock Priestley came onto the bench late in the week and was one of the Seagulls try scorers in their big victory.

Brock Priestley moved into the Seagulls starting side at left second row and captain for the Seagulls for the final regular season round of the 2021 MM Cup competition in the local derby against the Burleigh Bears.

Brock Priestley led from the front over the course of the match with Brock Priestley getting involved early by taking the 3rd hit-up of the match, making ten metres downfield. Brock Priestley wasted little time getting involved again when in the 7th minute Brock Priestley made twelve metres starting from inside his own twenty metres and then was not allowed to his feet and received a penalty as a result.

Brock Priestley made another strong run in the 38th minute when he received the ball on the left side of the field in space and was able to make twenty metres down the left touchline to get the ball out to thirty three metres from his own line.

Brock Priestley was then named on the bench for the Seagulls Semi-final against Wynnum Manly, playing right second row when he came onto the field and scoring a first half try. Brock Priestley’s try came in the 27th minute when he ran into a gap from five metres out to score.

Brock Priestley continued his strong match in the 37th minute with a fifteen metre effort and offload to back to within five metres of the Wynnum Manly line. Brock Priestley produced another strong run in the 65th minute when he made twenty metres down the right side of the field to get the ball within thirty metres of the try line after beating three defenders.

In the 2021 MM Cup Queensland Grand Final against the Townsville Blackhawks, Brock Priestley moved into the Seagulls starting line-up, starting the Grand Final at right second row scoring one of the Seagulls first half tries in their 30 – 24 Grand Final success.

Brock Priestley scored in the 21st minute when he ran a straight crash line from five metres out off a Harrydon Wilson pass to score ten metres in from the right corner.

Brock Priestley did not take long to make his mark on the Grand Final when in the 9th minute he chased through a Harrydon Wilson grubber kick and trapped the Blackhawks fullback in the in-goal to force a goal line drop out.

With just two minutes to go, being in the 68th minute, Brock Priestley produced a telling run off a Harrydon Wilson pass to get within three metres of the line and then was on his feet quickly to effect a blindingly quick play the ball which allowed replacement hooker Blake Mozer to dart over from dummy half to get Tweed Heads back into the match.

In Round One of the Gold Coast Rugby League U18 Division One competition Brock Priestley was named to start from the bench for Ormeau as they took on the Helensvale Hornets. However he in fact started the match at left second row and was one of the Shearers try scorers in their 20 – 14 loss to the Hornets.

Brock Priestley scored in the 48th minute of the match when he received the ball as Ormeau spun the ball to the left, sixteen metres out from the line. As soon as he received the ball, Brock Priestley cut factionally inside, before stepping off his right foot to burst through two defenders and then Brock Priestley carried three more Helensvale defenders across the line to get the ball down twelve metres in from the left corner post.

Brock Priestley’s first hit-up of the match came when he took the hit-up from a penalty restart in the 4th minute when he was able to make twelve metres against a set defensive line. The in the 6th minute, Brock Priestley made at least eight post contact metres with a strong run that got Ormeau to near forty metres from the try line.

Brock Priestley made a further strong run in the 23rd minute that resulted in Brock Priestley offloading the ball to his left with his left winger subsequently crossing in the corner.

Brock Priestley also got across the line a second time in the 37th minute when from twenty metres out he broke a number of tackles before eventually being dragged down a couple of metres sort of the line.

Brock Priestley then switched to five eight for Round Five against the Currumbin Eagles, kicking a conversion in the Shearers 30 – 10 loss. The nin previously postponed Round Eight match against the Helensvale Brock Priestley came off the bench and was one of the Shearers try scorers in their victory.

Round Eleven against the Nerang Roosters saw Brock Priestley named at right second row for the Shearers.

In mid-February 2021 Brock Priestley was named at right second row in the school boy Oceanic Opens side for the South Coast school boy QSSRL U18 trial against Broadwater and was named on the bench in the South Coast Open A school boy side as a result of his trial performances.

Brock Priestley started from the bench for South Coast in their Day One match against Met North coming on towards the end of the first half and in the 26th minute a fifteen metre run from him got the ball to twelve metres out from the line. After playing the ball, Brock Priestley kept in the match, getting an off-load after South Coast had run out of dummy half with Brock Priestley carrying two defenders to within two metres from the line.

Brock Priestley started the Championship Final against Met North from the bench but came into the match at around the ten minute mark playing at right second row and in the 26th minute came out of the line to put on a big hit, then from the matrker position, Brock Priestley tacked back to dive on a Met North grubber kick just out from his own line.

Brock Priestley almost scored in the Championship Final in the 35th minute when he broke the line but was tackled fractionally short of the line.

2021 also saw Brock Priestley line up once again for PBC State High School in the South East Queensland School Boy Langer Cup competition starting Round One at right second row against Ipswich State High School.

Brock Priestley’s first hit-up of the match was literally the first hit-up of the match with the Ipswich kick-off fell short with Brock Priestley moving forward to take the ball on the full and run it back. Brock Priestley then took the fourth hit-up in the same set of six.

Brock Priestley made a line break in the 45th minute when he burst eighteen metres downfield down the right channel and he made another line break down the right channel in the 56th minute, on that occasion making twenty metres.

Brock Priestley showed in the 35th minute that he does not just tuck the ball under his arm and run when he off-loaded to his right to Jett Forbes just prior to engaging the Ipswich SHS defensive line.

Brock Priestley’s defence was also on song in the match as was evidenced in just the second minute when he executed a great low tackle on the Ipswich hooker just as he was just about to explode through a gap.

Brock Priestley also started at right second row in Round Two against St Mary’s College Toowoomba, making the second tackle of the match over PBC kicked off and then in the 7th minute Brock Priestley made twelve metres when he ran the ball into a set St Mary’s College defensive line line from a penalty restart.

Brock Priestley’s second half started the same way his first half went with a strong run from the return of the St Mary’s second half kick-off.

Brock Priestley continued at right second row in Round Three against Coombabah State High School and whilst the ball did not get to his side of the field often he made some telling contributions from a defensive perspective inlduing a huge front on tackle in the 18th minute on Coombabah SHS interchange second rower Matthew Logopati.

Brock Priestley was named to continue at right second row in the Round Four blockbuster against Marsden State High School however he was a late scratching from the PBC side.

Brock Priestley was also named to start at right second row for the much anticipated Round Five local derby against Keebra Park State High School and had some good moments incuding a great short off-load to his right in the 16th minute and then in the 32nd Brock Priestley executed a great try savinf tackle.

Brock Priestley continued at right second row in Round Six against Mabel Park State high School.

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Marist Rams half Matthew Robson had a big match last weekend in Round Twelve of the Group One U16 competition scoring four tries as the Rams defeated South Grafton 42 - 12.

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Today in Round Thirteen of the Group One U15 competition Noah Waldock looks set to continue at five eight for the Ballina Seagulls against the Grafton Ghosts.

Last weekend in Round Twelve Noah Waldock also started at five eight and was one of Ballina's try scorers in their 20-18 loss to Casino RSM.

Noah Waldock has recently moved to five eight after spending the majority of the season at fullback.

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Last weekend's Round Twelve Group One U16 match between the Grafton Ghosts and Clarence Coast Magpies was a high quality with the teams being unable to be separated in the 12 all draw.

Titans linked Clarence Coast front rower AJ Hickling was outstanding in the match, scoring both of the Magpies tries.

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Jordan Gallagher continues at halfback and captain of the South Grafton Rebels U18 Group Two side tomorrow when they take on Macksville.

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The 2021 season to date for Titans contracted Jack Cullen:

In early January 2021 Jack Cullen started in the front row for the Titans U19 side in their annual match against the Newcastle Knights in Coffs Harbour which the Titans dominated to come away with a 40 – 6 victory.

Jack Cullen was in the action almost immediately, being involved in a solid hit in the third tackle after the Titans kicked off, with the tackle driving the Newcastle opponent sideways. Also involved in the tackle was Ryan Foran.

Jack Cullen produced sound telling hit-ups over the course of the match including his first hit-up of the match which came in the Titans second set of six tackles when he bent the middle the Knights defensive line backwards. Jack Cullen produced a further strong hit-up late in the first half when he charged eighteen metres through the centre of the Knights ruck, leaving two Knights defenders in his wake.

Whilst Jack Cullen’s game is built on a hard charging mentality but Jack Cullen also has some subtly in his game and that trait was showcased late in the second half. It appeared that Jack Cullen was taking a hit-up, but at the last moment, popped a great short pass to his right to Samuel Shannon to put the lock into a gap with Jaylan De Groot scored later in the same movement.

Defensively in the match against Burleigh Jack Cullen also had some very good moments, including a try saving tackle in the 16th minute of the second half. Newcastle played the ball thirty centremetres from the Titans with Jack Cullen defending fractionally to the right of the play the ball. The Knights dummy half looked to dive over the line out of summy half on the opposite side of the ruck to Jack Cullen but just as he was about to get the ball down, Jack Cullen willed himself across the ruck to get his hand in to dislodge the ball with the Knights dummy half already in the air in the Titans in-goal.

A week after the match against the Newcastle Knights Jack Cullen once again lined up for the Titans U19’s starting in the front row as the Titans took on a Burleigh Hastings Deering’s Colts squad with the Titans winning 32 – 20 with no conversions attempted.

Jack Cullen was immediately in the match, charging into the Knights defense from the kick and bending back the Burleigh defensive line and then Jack Cullen took the 4th hit-up in the first set of six in the match.

Jack Cullen was at it again just minutes later when, after the first Titans try that was scored by Tony Francis, he once again took the hit-up off the Burleigh kick-off and once again Jack Cullen smashed into the Bears defensive line and once again threatened to go straight through it.

Jack Cullen, in the 63rd minute was heavily involved in Brody Smitka’s try. In the 63rd minute of the match, Brody Smitka followed Jack Cullen who was hitting the ball up to the left of the play the bal, just prior to contact with the defensive line, Jack Cullen popped a good short ball to Brody Smitka who went straight through a gap after receving the ball twenty metres out. Brody Smitka promptly rounded the Bears fullback to score next to the left upright.

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 Jack Cullen starting the match in the front row for the Titans.

In November 2020 Jack Cullen was named in the Tweed Heads Seagulls 2021 MM Cup squad.

In the Tweed Heads Seagulls MM Cup sides second trial against Burleigh, Jack Cullen started the second half in the front row even though he wore the No. 13 jersey.

Jack Cullen also started in the front row in Tweed Heads final 2021 MM Cup final against the Souths Logan Magpies at Logan producing a player of the match performance including scoring two third quarter tries in a 32 – 8 Seagulls victory.

Jack Cullen’s first of his two second half tries came in the 5th minute of the third quarter. Standing two passes off the ball the ball on the right side of the ruck, Jack Cullen came back underneath Riley Lack who had run to his right. Jack Cullen beat two defenders in the ten metres to the line before spinning clockwise with two defenders holding onto him to score ten metres to the left of the uprights.

Jack Cullen’s second try of the match and of the third quarter came from a relatively simple hit-up, he ran to the left of the play the bell three metres out, receiving the ball from Blake Mozer before veering a fraction to his left to score mid-way between the corner post and goal posts on the left side of the field.

The sequence of events involving Jack Cullen after his first try deserves to be written in detail as it perfectly encompasses all that is Jack Cullen. From the kick-off after his third quarter try, Jack Cullen took the ball up once again and was hit with a heavy shoulder charge which saw the Souths Logan player on report. After Tweed Heads kicked for touch from the penalty, Jack Cullen was on hand once again to charge into the defensive line and made twelve more metres.

At the end of that set of six, Tweed Heads kicked to their right corner to try to pin Souths Logan there. On the third tackle of that Souths Logan set, their lock took a hit up to the left of the play the ball. Jack Cullen flew out of the line from the Souths Logan locks right hitting with around the chest with significant power. As a result the ball came lose and Tweed Heads regained possession from the subsequent scrum.

Jack Cullen was immediately in the match, taking part in the first tackle of the match along with Ryan Foran when the two Titans contracted forwards brought down Souths Logan front rower and fellow Titans contracted player Sione Fotuaika.

One of Jack Cullen’s many stand out moments in the match came from the kick off after Tweed Heads first try. From the kick off Jack Cullen burst through the Souths Logan defensive line, keeping his balance once through the line even though his weight was well forward. Jack Cullen then as the Souths Logan defence converged sent a great off-load whilst running at full speed to his left to Campbell Watchairs who sprinted seventy metres only to be brought down metres from the Souths Logan try line. Two tackles later Tweed Heads scored in the opposite corner, but the try as Jack Cullen’s. There is no doubt about that.

Jack Cullen then took the hit-up from the kick off after that Campbell Watchairs try, with Souths Logan defenders coming from everywhere to try to put a big hit on him. Jack Cullen was hit high in the tackle and was awarded a penalty as a result. In typical Jack Cullen style he got up totally unfazed by what had happened and just got on with the game.

In Round One of the 2021 MM Cup competition, Jack Cullen started in the front row against the Ipswich Jets and charged into the Ipswich defensive line for the first of many occasions including taking the 4th hit-up of the match.

Jack Cullen also started in the front row in Round Two against the Souths Logan Magpies and made his presence felt in just Tweed Head’s second set of the match, charging fourteen metres to take the ball into Souths Logan territory.

Jack Cullen was on the charge once again just minutes later taking the hit-up from the kick-off to Keano Kini’s try to get the ball back to the Tweed Heads twenty metre line after taking on an onrushing Souths Logan defensive line.

A strong run in the 63rd minute almost produced a try when he flew onto the ball in the twenty metre area, getting partially through the Souths Logan line before throwing a right arm off-load to Jaylan De Groot who was backing up on his left with Jaylan De Groot getting within metres of the line. Jaylan De Groot in fact was held down and awarded a penalty which Thomas Weaver then kicked to put Tweed Heads eight points in front with six minutes to go.

Jack Cullen almost scored a deserved try in the 67th minute when he received that ball twelve metres out from the Souths Logan line to the left of the play the ball. Jack Cullen dummied to his left and burst through the line but in the end was held up by three Magpies defenders, preventing Jack Cullen from getting the ball down.

Jack Cullen showed his desperation in defence in the 52nd minute when he along with Reico Ratana both chased hard and made a last ditch tackle on the Souths Logan fullback who had burst through the centre of the field off an offload. In the 57th minute Jack Cullen produced another piece of outstanding defence when he hit the Souths Logan No. 11 front on dislodging the ball with Souths Logan on the attack.

Jack Cullen once again started in the front row in the Round Three Gold Coast derby against the Burleigh Bears and as usual made his presence felt in the match early with a big run to the right of the dummy half on just the second hit up of the match, making thirteen metres. Jack Cullen then backed up to take the 4th hit-up in the same set of six to get Tweed Heads within five metres of the Burleigh line directly in front of the posts.

Jack Cullen continued to make ground throughout the match including a strong 18th minute hit-up when he cut back off his left foot making fifteen metres before the Burleigh defence dragged him down on the halfway line.

Jack Cullen added to his impressive statistics in the match with the hit-up in the 25th minute from the kick off to Keano Kini’s ty making thirteen post contact metres to get the Seagulls immediate solid field position.

In the 62nd minute, Jack Cullen made twelve more metres to get Tweed Heads on the attack inside Burleigh’s twenty metre mark and then in the 65th minute and another charge that made ten metres got the Seagulls out of their twenty metre area as the match went from end to end.

Jack Cullen was also named to start in the front row for Round Four match against the Ipswich Jets scoring and generally dominating against a giant Ipswich Jets forward pack.

Jack Cullen scored his try in the last minute of the first half when he ran a 45 degree angled run to the right of the dummy half to barge over midway between the goal posts and corner post on the right side of the field.

Even prior to scoring Jack Cullen proved to be more than a handful for the Jets defence including a strong twelve metre effort at the 14 minute mark when he burst onto the ball to the left of the play the ball in the set of set from the kick-off after Kruz Remine’s first of four tries.

Once again in the 23rd minute Jack Cullen charged into the Jets defensive line, on that occasion making fourteen metres into the Ipswich twenty metre zone.

Jack Cullen also started in the front row in Round Five against the Souths Logan Magpies as Tweed Heads won again.

After being rested in Round Six, Jack Cullen was named in the front row for the Seagulls Semi-final against Wynnum Manly and was in the match early, being involved in the Seagulls first tackle of the match when he chased through a Thomas Weaver kick into the left corner.

Jack Cullen produced a series of strong runs, including in the 54th minute, making fifteen metres out of his own twenty metre area.

In the 2021 MM Cup Queensland Grand Final against the Townsville Blackhawks, Jack Cullen was named to start in the front row however he was ruled out late in the week due to a suspension from the semi-final against Wynnum Manly.

In mid-February 2021 Jack Cullen was named in the front row in the school boy Oceanic Open’s side for the South Coast school boy QSSRL U18 trial against Broadwater. Following the final round of trials, Jack Cullen was named in the front row in the 2021 South Coast U18 school boy QSSRL squad.

Jack Cullen started in the front row in South Coast’s Day One match against Met North.

Jack Cullen also started in the front row on Day Two as South Coast took on Met East and scored in the 37th minute when he barged over from ten metres out to score under the posts.

Also in the 4th minute, Jack Cullen produced a strong charge of twelve metres to get the ball to within ten metres of the try line.

Jack Cullen started in the front row once again on Day Three against Capricornia making a strong hit-up in the opening set of six in the match. Jack Cullen made another strong hit-up in the set of six after South Coast’s opening try.

Jack Cullen started the 2021 QSSRL U18 School Boy Championship Final in the front row and took the second South Coast of the match from a penalty restart. Jack Cullen followed that run up in the 6th minute with a twelve metre charge out of his own twenty metre area.

The 25th minute Jack Cullen made another strong run from the kick-off after Ryan Foran had scored. Jack Cullen also took the hit-up from the second half kick off.

At the completion of the Championships, Jack Cullen was named in the front row in the 2021 QSSRL U18 School Boy Merit Team.

2021 also saw Jack Cullen line up once again for PBC State High School in the South East Queensland School Boy Langer Cup competition starting Round One in the front row against Ipswich State High School with the powerful front rower taking the third hit-up of the match after Ipswich SHS had gotten the match underway.

It took only until the 14th minute for Jack Cullen to make another significant contribution when he made fourteen touch metres to get the ball to within twenty eight metres of the line as a result of a bustling effort. Jack Cullen recorded another strong run in the 52nd minute when he charged into the Ipswich SHS defensive line from a goal line drop-out.

Jack Cullen also started in the front row in Round Two against St Mary’s College Toowoomba, recording a try assist in the 21st minute when after charging into the defensive line, Jack Cullen produced a right arm off-load with three defenders engaged with him to fullback Michael Roberts who dived over next to the left upright.

Jack Cullen was immediately in the match, making the first tackle after PBC kicked off in conjunction with Tanu Nona. Jack Cullen then in the 10th minute made a huge charge from the kick-off from PBC’s opening try of the match, scored by Ryan Foran.

Jack Cullen continued in the front row in Round Three against Coombabah State High School and made a twenty metre charge from the kick-off and then also took the third hit-up of the match. Jack Cullen added a strong fourteen metre effort in the 10th minute and then in the 15th minute Jack Cullen rumbled forward eighteen metres to get the ball within thirty metres of the try line. Jack Cullen followed those efforts up with a nineteen metre run down the left channel from the set of six after the Keano Kini try.

Jack Cullen continued in the front row in the Round Four blockbuster against Marsden State High School and scored in the 51st minute of PBC’s six point victory when he ran onto a great pass from front row partner Kaden Somerville to crash over next to the left upright.

Jack Cullen also started in the front row in the much anticipated Round Five local derby against Keebra Park State High School as well as in Round Six against Mabel Park State high School.

Jack Cullen was named to make his Hastings Deering’s Colts debut for the Tweed Heads Seagulls in Round Eleven of the 2021 competition against the Burleigh Bears. Jack Cullen made the most of his debut scoring in the 70th minute of the Seagulls impressive 38 – 22 victory when from three matres out Jack Cullen forced his way over next to the left upright.

Jack Cullen was also the catalyst of a Tweed Heads try in the 37th minute James Torrens was the beneficiary of some great initial work from Jack Cullen who produced a great one arm off-load for Tweed Heads to break the line inside Tweed Heads territory.

Jack Cullen also came off the bench in the previously postponed Round Eleven match against the Sunshine Coast Falcons.

[mdrew]

The 2021 season to date for Titans contracted Ryan Foran:

In early January 2021 Ryan Foran started at left second row for the Titans U19 side in their annual match against the Newcastle Knights in Coffs Harbour with Ryan Foran scoring in the first half in the Titans impressive 40 – 6 victory.

From a play the ball a metre out from the Newcastle line, Ryan Foran charged onto the ball, cutting back towards the play the ball and receiving a pass from hooker Ediq Ambrosyev who had darted out of dummy half to the left side of the field. Ryan Foran was immediately confronted by two Knights defenders but as soon as he made contact, Ryan Foran Spun 360 degree clockwide to break contact and then was able to dive over to score around mid-way between the gola post and corner post on the left side of the field.

Ryan Foran was in the action almost immediately, being involved in a solid hit in the third tackle after the Titans kicked off, with the tackle driving the Newcastle opponent sideways. Also involved in the tackle was Jack Cullen.

Ryan Foran’s first touch of the ball in attack came a minute or so later when he came back underneath Thomas Weaver, running directly over one defender before being brought down after a twelve metre charge.

A week after the match against the Newcastle Knights Ryan Foran once again lined up for the Titans U19’s starting at left second row as the Titans took on a Burleigh Hastings Deering’s Colts squad with the Titans winning 32 – 20 with no conversions attempted.

It did not take long for Ryan Foran in make an impact in the match when he produced a strong fifteen surge down the left side of the field on the second tackle of the set of six after the Titans first try.

Ryan Foran was one of the Titans first half try scorers in the 32 – 20 victory, when he dived over from close range near the left corner in the 20th minute of the match after receiving a long pass out of dummy half from Thomas Weaver with the pass finding Ryan Foran outside the widest Burleigh defender on that side of the field.

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 Ryan Foran starting the match on the bench for the Titans.

In November 2020 Ryan Foran was named in the Tweed Heads Seagulls 2021 MM Cup squad.

Ryan Foran started from the bench for the Tweed Heads Seagulls MM Cup side in their first 2021 trial which was against the Easts Tigers at Langland’s Park and was one of the Seagulls best in their 28 – 12 first up victory.

In the Tweed Heads Seagulls MM Cup sides second trial against Burleigh, Ryan Foran started the second half at left second row recording an impressive late match line break and a subsequent try assist.

Mid-way through the second half Ryan Foran steamed onto the ball forty eight metres out from the line, utilising a slight step off his left foot to break through the Burleigh defensive line and then Ryan Foran positioned his support in Keano Kini perfectly to draw the fullback and pass to his left for Kini to sprint twenty five metres to put the ball down under the posts.

Ryan Foran was involved early in the set of six from the kick restart of the second half, taking two hit-ups including a twenty five metre burst down the left side of the field that included breaking two tackles. Later in the second half, Ryan Foran once again proved difficult to stop for the Burleigh right sided defence when he charged eighteen metres before three defenders eventually brought him to ground.

Ryan Foran also started at left second row in Tweed Heads final 2021 MM Cup final against the Souths Logan Magpies at Civic Park in Logan.

Ran Foran was immediately in the match, taking part in the first tackle of the match along with Jack Cullen when the two Titans contracted forwards brought down Souths Logan front rower and fellow Titans contracted player Sione Fotuaika who had taken the hit-up from the kick-off.

Ryan Foran was also part of an impressive Tweed Heads Seagulls attacking sequence in the second minute of the third quarter. Keano Kini produced a great right arm around the corner off-load to Ryan Foran who charged fifteen metres downfield before drawing a defender and passing to his left to Kaleb Ngamanu who raced thirty metres downfield before being bundled into touch just metres short of the left corner post.

Late in the third quarter, Ryan Foran charged into the Souths Logan Magpies defence from a penalty restart making an impressive twenty metres, at least half of which post contact, with the run finishing inside the Souths Logan Magpies twenty metre area.

In Round One of the 2021 MM Cup competition, Ryan Foran started at left second row against the Ipswich Jets and was in the action on just the third hit-up of the match when he came back underneath Thomas Weaver, pushing the Ipswich defensive line back a couple of metres.

Ryan Foran highlighted how difficult he is to get to the ground in the 13th minute when he burst twelve metres down the left side of the field with the majority of those metres post contact and made his way to within eight metres of the line being stopped.

Ryan Foran is also a strong defender and the Ipswich Jets halfback found that out in the 31st minute of the match when Ryan Foran flew out of the line to monster him just as he was trying to pass to his right. After the tackle Ryan Foran certainly let him know about it.

Ryan Foran also started at left second row in Round Two against the Souths Logan Magpies scoring late in the first half (31st minute) when he received the ball in the left thirteen metres out, bumping off one defender to cross the line out wide and then Ryan Foran was able to bring the ball around closer to the posts.

Ryan Foran made another strong surge in the 41st minute, making thirteen metres down the left side of the field dragging a Souths Logan defender along for the ride.

Ryan Foran showed his desperation in defence in the 55th minute when he along with Oskar Bryant both got underneath the Souths Logan hooker to hold him up over the line after he had tried to sneak over from dummy half to the right of the play the ball.

Ryan Foran once again started at left second row in the Round Three Gold Coast derby against the Burleigh Bears making an early contribution with a run that made twelve metres in the 12th minute of the match from a penalty restart.

Ryan Foran added to his strong match in the 23rd minute with a run that accounted for twenty valuable metres from the kick-off after Blake Mozer had scored. After receiving the ball on the ten metre mark, Ryan Foran was able to get the ball thirty seven metres away from his own line before eventually being wrestled to the ground by multiple Bears defenders.

Late in the first half Ryan Foran was on hand to continue to put pressure on Burleigh when he along with Kaleb Ngamanu was on hand to drag the Burleigh right winger into touch just out from his own line after he took a bomb on the field in the left corner.

In the 57th minute Ryan Foran produced probably his best run of the match with a twenty metre hit-up which including a left foot step to get out of the Seagulls won twenty metre area.

Ryan Foran was also named to start at left second row for Round Four match against the Ipswich Jets and produced a strong performance on the left side of the field, with the first of his multiple contributions coming in just the 5th minute with a run down a short left blindside of twelve metres that to take Tweed Heads across the halfway mark. Later in the same set of six, Ryan Foran made a further fifteen metres to get the Seagulls into their attacking twenty metre zone.

Ryan Foran recorded a try assist in the 19th minute, when he received a pass from Thomas Weaver down a short left blindside and ran downfield before passing to his left to Kruz Remine who once again crossed in the left corner.

Ryan Foran’s slick hands were on display in the 29th minute when he reacted quickly to get his hands down low and to his right to cleanly take an Ipswich grubber kick and then Ryan Foran was able to bring the ball back towards the twenty metre mark.

Ryan Foran also started at left second row in Round Five against the Souths Logan Magpies and was one of the Seagulls try scorers in the 38 – 14 victory.

After being rested in Round Six, Ryan Foran was named at left second row for the Seagulls Semi-final against Wynnum Manly and was in the match early, being involved in the Seagulls first tackle of the match when he chased through a Thomas Weaver kick into the left corner.

Ryan Foran made a strong run in the 31st minute, making twelve metres and getting to within twenty five metres of the Wynnum Manly line.

Ryan Foran recorded a try assist in the 45th minute when backed up a Seagulls break down the left touchline and was on hand to retrieve an inside kick from left winger Elijah Lui and passed to his right to Jaylan De Groot who dived over under the posts.

In the 2021 MM Cup Queensland Grand Final against the Townsville Blackhawks, Ryan Foran once again started at left second row as the Seagulls defeated Townsville 30 – 24 to claim back to back MM Cup Championships.

Ryan Foran was in the match early, making a strong run that accounted for twelve metres in the 7th minute to get Tweed Heads inside the attacking twenty metre area. Ryan Foran then made a start play in the 8th minute when he chased through a Thomas Weaver grubber kick and got to the Townsville fullback who had made it out of the in-goal. Ryan Foran however was able to hold the fullback off the ground and then force him back into the in-goal.

Post the 2021 MM Cup competition, Ryan Foran was back playing for Murwillumbah in the NRRRL U18 competition, with his first appearance coming in Round Six when he started at left second row in the U18 competition as the Mustangs took on the Kyogle Turkeys.

To say that Ryan Foran was outstanding in the match would be an understatement. In addition to scoring a hat trick, Ryan Foran recorded two try assists, two line breaks and two line break assists.

Ryan Foran’s opening try of his hat trick performance came in the 13th minute when he received the ball on the left forty metres from the line, easily bumping off the initial defender who attempted to engage him before using his right arm to palm off the second. From there Ryan Foran produced a right foot step to easily round the fullback and bring the ball around to put it down under the posts.

Ryan Foran’s second try came in the 26th minute when he ran a great outside shoulder line from eighteen metres out, breaking three tackles on his run to the line and once again was able to bring the ball around to put it down under the posts.

Ryan Foran completed his hat trick in the 48th minute when Riley Lack put up a huge bomb from near midfield which the Kyogle defence could not handle, Ryan Foran charged through to dive on the loose ball in the in-goal.

Ryan Foran recorded the first of his two try assists in the match in the 3rd minute when after receiving the ball forty seven metres out he kept running to his left, using a right arm fend to gain separation from two defenders before getting a pass away to his left for his fullback to dive over in the left corner.

Ryan Foran added a second try assist in the 41st minute when after he was put into a gap by a great ball from Byron Jones on halfway, Ryan Foran ran thirty metres downfield before passing to his left to put the Mustangs replacement left centre over in the left corner.

The 45th minute saw Ryan Foran record a line break assist when the ball was passed in his direction thirty metres out from his own line, Ryan Foran had to reach forward and down low to take receipt of the ball before passing the ball to his left in one motion to put his support runner away on a thirty five metre run down the left touchline.

Ryan Foran broke the line himself in the 51st minute with a twenty metre line break before off-loading to his left with three would be tacklers on the ground in his wake.

After Murwillumbah’s Round Nine match against the Tweed Coast Raiders was postponed, Ryan Foran was named to come off the bench for Round Ten against the Cudgen Hornets.

Round Seven of the NRRRL First Grade competition saw Ryan Foran come off the bench for Murwillumbah and play in the left second row position in their big 60 – 6 victory over Byron Bay.

Ryan Foran also was named to start from the bench in Round Eight against Northern United and was also named on the bench in Round Twelve against Northern United once again when he scored in the 78th minute when he followed through a break, receiving the ball twenty metres out and crossing the line untouched.

Round Thirteen against the Ballina Seagulls saw Ryan Foran named to start at right second row.

In mid-February 2021 Ryan Foran was named at left second row in the school boy Oceanic Opens side for the South Coast school boy QSSRL U18 trial against Broadwater. Following the final round of trials, Ryan Foran was named in the 2021 South Coast U18 school boy QSSRL squad in the left second row position.

Ryan Foran started at left second row in South Coast’s Day One match against Met North getting into the action in just the 2nd minute he took South Coast’s first hit-up of the match after team mate Kaleb Ngamanu had taken a Met North clearing kick on the full inside his own territory.

Ryan Foran also started at left second row on Day Two as South Coast took on Met East and scored in the 10th minute whne he ran twenty metres off a Nicholas Hilton off-load and was able to bring the ball around to put it down near the goal posts.

On Day Three against Capricornia Ryan Foran once again start at left second row and had a line break assist when he was able to get a great ball away to his left to Kaleb Ngamanu who made a forty metre line break down the left touchline, then as he was confronted by the cover defence, Kaleb Ngamanu got the ball back inside to Ryan Foran.

Ryan Foran also started at left second row in the Championship Final against Met North, scoring in the 22nd minute when after great work on his inside by Thomas Weaver who had picked up a wickedly bouncing ball and threw a cut-out ball to his left in one motion. Subsequently Ryan Foran ran into space to score wide out on the left.

Ryan Foran also made some stong defensive efforts in the match including in the 16th minute when he along with Thomas Weaver forced Met North back five metres to just out from his own line.

At the completion of the Championships, Ryan Foran was named at left second row in the 2021 QSSRL U18 School Boy Merit Team.

2021 also saw Ryan Foran line up once again for PBC State High School in the South East Queensland School Boy Langer Cup competition starting Round One at left second row against Ipswich State High School.

Ryan Foran scored a key try in the match after PBC had fallen behind early. Ryan Foran ran the ball down the left channel in the 24th minute, receiving the ball ten metres out and through sheer strength and determination, Ryan Foran pushed through three defenders to get the ball down with defenders still hanging off him three metres out from the left upright.

In addition to his try, Ryan Foran also made a number of telling runs, firstly in the 11th minute when his strong run made fourteen metres to get within thirty metres of the line, then in the 48th minute, a Ryan Foran jink to the left saw him get to within eight metres of the line after his run started twenty metres out.

Ryan Foran also started at left second row in Round Two against St Mary’s College Toowoomba and was easily the best player on the field in PBC’s big win, scoring a double as well as recording a try assist.

Ryan Foran’s opening try of the match came in just the 8th minute when from twelve metres out from the line on the left side of the field he ran an outside shoulder route and after receiving the pass from Thomas Weaver, Ryan Foran charged through a gap to get the ball down three metres in from the left corner post.

Ryan Foran completed his double in the 31st minute when after earlier good work from Thomas Weaver and Hunter Plogema, Ryan Foran ran thirty metres untouched to put the ball down next to the left upright.

Ryan Foran recorded his try assist in the 44th minute when he threw a hard flat cut-out pass to his left from just ten metres from the line to put Hunter Plogema into space down the touchline with the PBC left winger getting the ball down in the left corner.

Ryan Foran also made a line break in the 43rd minute when he burst away down the left, charging twenty metres before getting a pass away to his left.

Ryan Foran continued at left second row in Round Three against Coombabah State High School and took the second hit-up of the match and in the 58th minute added a twenty metre run down the left channel to easily get over the halfway mark.

Ryan Foran continued at left second row in the Round Four blockbuster against Marsden State High School with Ryan Foran scoring in the 48th minute when he ran an underneath route down a short left blindside from four metres out after Oskar Bryant had darted to his left out of dummy half and get the ball inside to Ryan Foran.

Ryan Foran’s first key contribution of the match came in the 14th minute when he executed a great ball and all tackle down a short blindside to prevent the Marsden SHS right centre from scoring with Ryan Foran’s tackle stopping his opponent dead a metre from the try line.

Ryan Foran produced another outstanding tackle in the 36th minute when as the Marsden SHS fullback was bringing the ball off his own line, Ryan Foran flew out of marker to his right to smash the fullback and force the ball loose.

Ryan Foran continued at left second row for the much anticipated Round Five local derby against Keebra Park State High School as well as in Round Six against Mabel Park State high School.

[mdrew]

Great to see the Titans beat a number of other NRL clubs to the signature of Coombabah SHS's Izayah Petrichvich.

[mdrew]

One player in the Group One U15 competition that I have not touched on this season is Grafton Ghosts Joshua Donovan-Skinner and one match where all of his considerable talents was on display was recently in Round Eleven against Casino RSM.

Starting the match at fullback Joshua Donovan-Skinner was heavily involved in a lot of the good things that the Ghosts did in their victory, including a strong sequence in just the 7th minute of the match. From a Grafton scrum win fifteen metres out from the line, Joshua Donovan-Skinner positioned himself to the right of the scrum, after receiving the ball after Grafton won the scrum, Joshua Donovan-Skinner took the ball to the line before executing a good short pass to his right to a charging Lockie McLaughlin who was dragged down just short of the line.

Joshua Donovan-Skinner continued to loop around to the right, receiving the ball after Lockie McLaughlin played the ball. After receiving the ball from the dummy half Joshua Donovan-Skinner threw a long cut-out pass to his right to put his unmarked right centre over in the right corner. Joshua Donovan-Skinner then stepped up to convert the try that he set up from the right touchline.

Joshua Donovan-Skinner recorded another try assist in the 49th minute when after receiving the ball on the left side of the field, he threw a cut out pass in the same direction to put his five eight over in the left corner.

Joshua Donovan-Skinner continued his strong match in the 26th minute when he produced another strong run after chiming into the backline on the right with Joshua Donovan-Skinner getting through the line before getting an off-load away with his left arm.

Joshua Donovan-Skinner made another line break in the 34th minute on that occasion from a kick return. The ball initially went over Joshua Donovan-Skinner’s head forcing him to track back and collect the ball twenty metres out and in front of his own posts. After retrieving the ball Joshua Donovan-Skinner ran to his right and was able to get outside the Casino RSM defensive line and charge thirty metres down the right touchline. Joshua Donovan-Skinner was eventually tackled near the halfway mark and after a scuffle that included the majority of players on the field, Joshua Donovan-Skinner was awarded a penalty.

In addition to kicking three conversions, Joshua Donovan-Skinner came close to scoring himself for the Ghosts when in the 56th minute when he received the ball near the halfway mark and put up a mid-field bomb, Joshua Donovan-Skinner chased the kick through himself and was on the spot to recover the ball after it was dropped by the Casino RSM fullback. Joshua Donovan-Skinner retrieved possession around twenty metres of the try line and got within two metres of the try line before being dragged down right in front of the posts.