Junior Development

[Titanic]

Good article on the QRL website about Isaac Matalavea-Booth.

Thanks for sharing mdrew ... will certainly be watching that space. Takes quite a bit to dwarf Tino and seems like he's attracted the attention outside of our family so I hope we can hold on to him. I admit to being much more confident these days of keeping the ones we want as I feel the JTS and pathways have really kicked in to gear.

[mdrew]

Great to see Tyrell Waka-Rhind resign with the Titans for a further two seasons.

In October 2021 Tyrell Waka-Rhind was named in the 2021 Queensland Samoa U18 representative side for the 2021 QPICC Cultural Carnival, starting all four of his matches at the Carnival at hooker, being Match One against the Cook Islands, Match Two against PNG, Match Three against Samoa and Match Four against Tonga.

The solidly built, lightning quick young dummy half 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.

Tyrell Waka-Rhind started the match from the bench and was one of the Titans try scorers, with the Titans U17’s emerging impressive 32 – 20 victors (no conversions were taken in the match) in hot, slippery and steamy conditions.

To be fair, the Titans final winning margin certainly flattered the Knights, with the Titans, including Tyrell Waka-Rhind being far too good with the gulf in class between the two teams being a lot wider that the final score appeared to indicate.

When he came on mid-way through the first half Tyrell Waka-Rhind operated in the dummy half role for the Titans, as he also did in his second half stint on the field. Tyrell Waka-Rhind scored for the Titans towards the end of the first half.

Tyrell Waka-Rhind moved into acting half less than a metre out from the Knights line. When he took control of the ball, Tyrell Waka-Rhind darted to his right then spun 360 degrees clockwise to generate space and a consequent gap that Tyrell Waka-Rhind used to dive over to score adjacent to the right upright.

Tyrell Waka-Rhind almost scored a second try just minutes later, when once again he darted out of dummy half to the right of the play the ball from less than a metre out. That time however Tyrell Waka-Rhind was stopped just centremetres away from the line on the final tackle.

It was not just in attack where Tyrell Waka-Rhind impressed in the match, he was also more than effective defensively in the Knights match. Early in the second half Tyrell Waka-Rhind hit the Knights left second rower front on, driving forward with his left shoulder, with the initial contact lifting the second rower off his feet, with Tyrell Waka-Rhind then driving him hard into the ground for a two metre loss of ground from the point of initial contact for his much bigger Knights opponent.

In June 2021 Tyrell Waka-Rhind 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.

In 2021 Tyrell Waka-Rhind was part of the Norths Devils MM Cup squad and started Round One from the bench (he had been named earlier in the week to start the match at hooker) as the Devils took on Wynnum Manly. When Tyrell Waka-Rhind came on in the 19th minute he slotted into the dummy half role for the Devils. In his second stint on the field in the second half, Tyrell Waka-Rhind also operated out of dummy half.

In the 31st minute Tyrell Waka-Rhind almost got on the Norths try scoring list when he darted out of dummy half to his right from three metres out but was held up after the Seagulls defence turned Tyrell Waka-Rhind onto his back to prevent him from getting the ball down.

Round Two saw Tyrell Waka-Rhind initially named to start from the interchange bench against the Easts Tigers, but on the day of the game Tyrell Waka-Rhind moved into the starting side and scored the Devils final try of the match in the dying minutes, the 68th minute to be exact in a 42 – 20 Devils victory when he darted over from close range after darting out of dummy half.

Tyrell Waka-Rhind also started at hooker for Norths in Round Three against the Redcliffe Dolphins and in Round Four against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls as well as in Round Five against the Easts Tigers when he scored in the opening minutes of the Devils 26 all draw.

Round Six being the final regular season round of the 2021 MM Cup competition saw Tyrell Waka-Rhind line up at hooker and score in the 59th minute against Redcliffe.

In May 2021 Tyrell Waka-Rhind represented Met North at the QSSRL Open school boy Championships as captain and started their Day One match against South Coast at hooker.

2021 also saw Tyrell Waka-Rhind line up for Wavell State High School in the South East Queensland School Boy Langer Cup competition with Tyrell Waka-Rhind representing Wavell at the 2021 Langer Cup launch.

Tyrell Waka-Rhind also started at hooker on Day Two as Met North took on South Coast Maroon and scored in the 6th minute when he ran out of dummy half to his right from within two metres of the line. As soon as he felt contact, Tyrell Waka-Rhind spun clockwise and was able to reach out with right hand to get the ball down under heavy pressure.

Tyrell Waka-Rhind scored once again on Day Three against Northern, scoring under the posts late in the second half after he ran out of dummy half to his left, burrowing over from two metres out.

Tyrell Waka-Rhind also started at hooker in the Championship Final against the South Coast making a typical dart out of dummy half to his left in the 12th minute, a run which made twelve metres.

In 2021 Tyrell Waka-Rhind was part of the Wavell State High School Langer Cup squad once again starting Round One at hooker against St Mary’s College Toowoomba.

When he made his Open A debut for Wavell SHS in 2020 Tyrell Waka-Rhind was the 862nd player to wear a Wavell SHS jersey.

Tyrell Waka-Rhind also started at hooker in Round Two against Coombabah State High School and was one of Wavell’s try scorers in Wavell SHS’s big win when in the 13th minute Tyrell Waka-Rhind raced out of dummy half to the right of the play the ball to burrow over from eight metres to get the ball down on the left side of the field.

Tyrell Waka-Rhind also started at hooker in Round Three against Marsden State High School as well as in Round Four against Mabel Park State High School and Round Five against Ipswich State High School as well as in Round Six match against Keebra Park State High School.

In late August 2021, Tyrell Waka-Rhind was named in the Queensland City U17 squad for a two match series against a Queensland U17 Country squad with Tyrell Waka-Rhind starting the match from the bench, coming on towards the end of the first half to play in the dummy half role in his time on the field.

Playing thirty six minutes of the match, Tyrell Waka-Rhind ran for twenty nine metres (seventeen post contact), broke a tackle and made nine tackles of his own at a 90% tackling efficiency.

In 2020 Tyrell Waka-Rhind played for the Norths Devils in the GBJRL U16 Division One competition and started at hooker and scored in the second half in the Devils 24 – 10 Grand Final victory over the Redcliffe Dolphins.

Tyrell Waka-Rhind’s try came in the 47th minute of the Grand Final when he burrowed over under the posts, darting over from dummy half from a metre out, after taking off to his left from the play the ball.

Whilst Threll Waka-Rhind did not necessarily get too many opportunities to run out of dummy half, when he did he made the most of the opportunity including in the 49th minute when he darted out of dummy half to his left to make sixteen metres through the centre of the ruck to get the ball to within thirty metres of the try line.

In addition to be dangerous running the ball out of dummy half, Tyrell Waka-Rhind was also strong defensively in the Grand Final. Tyrell Waka-Rhind’s defensive contribution started early in the first half with a big front-on tackle driving left shoulder tackle on one of the Redcliffe front rowers (No. 10) who was trying in vain to bring the ball out of his own half.

Then in the 26th minute, Tyrell Waka-Rhind executed a supurb low tackle on the Redcliffe fullback who was hunting across field towards the left side of the field but was immediately cut down by Tyrell Waka-Rhind’s supurb grass cutting tackle. Then from the subsequent play the ball, Tyrell Wara-Rhind executed a great driving right shoulder front on tackle on the giant Redcliffe No. 16, who made the fatal mistake of running straight at Tyrell Waka-Rhind.

Tyrell Waka-Rhind also had a strong match for Norths in their 54 – 8 Preliminary Final victory against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls, starting at hooker and scoring in the second half of the Devils big win.

Tyrell Waka-Rhind scored in the 69th minute of the Preliminary Final when he ran to his right out of dummy half from thirty five metres out from the Seagulls line. With the Wynnum Manly defensive line still moving backwards to get onside, Tyrell Waka-Rhind stepped off his right foot to run straight through a gap in the line in the area behind the play the ball. Tyrell Waka-Rhind then beat the fullback by veering to his left, ultimately diving over adjacent to the left upright.

Tyrell Waka-Rhind could have quite easily have finished the match with a double but late in the first half he was held up over the line after another smart run out of dummy half to his right.

Another smart run out of dummy half down a short left blindside saw Tryell Waka-Rhind record a line break assist when he drew a defender and passed to his left to put his left centre away down the left touch line before he was tackled thirty metres downfield.

Tyrell Waka-Rhind set the tone for his match in terms of running out of dummy half in the 14th minute of the first half to his left, initially stepping off his left before two right foot steps from Tyrell Waka-Rhind got him past three defenders and make twelve metres before he was able to offload to his five eight who was able to make an additional ten metres.

Even though he was impressive in attack in the Preliminary Final against Wynnym Manly, Tyrell Waka-Rhind’s defence was also just impressive, even though to a casual observer it may have been over shadowed.

In the 27th minute of the match, whilst pinned on his own line with Wynnum Manly attacking, Tyrell Waka-Rhind tracked quickly to his right to hit the Seagulls left second rower over the top to prevent a try and then made another strong tackle, this time after moving to his left to stop another Seagulls try scoring opportunity.

As noted above Tyrell Waka-Rhind had an outstanding 2020 GBJRL U16 Division One finals series, but he was also outstanding in the Covid shortened regular season.

In Round Three against ultimate Grand Final opponents, Redcliffe Tyrell Waka-Rhind scored a try in each half as Norths prevailed 26 – 12.

Tyrell Waka-Rhind’s first try in Round Three came in the 25th minute of the match when he crossed after running out of dummy half to his left from two metres out twisting counter clockwise and fighting all of the way to get the ball down under the posts.

Tyrell Waka-Rhind completed his double in the 24th minute of the second half when he got the ball down next to the right upright after he darted out of dummy half to his right from eight metres.

Just prior to his second half try, Tyrell Waka-Rhind showed the Dolphins defence what was due to occur when he made thirteen metres after running to his left out of dummy half to get to the Redcliffe twenty metre line.

Once again Tyrell Waka-Rhind was more than solid defensively in the match including in the 13th minute when he put a good left shoulder shot on the Redcliffe left centre, nearly cutting the No. 3 in half as he tried to manouver through the centre of the Devils ruck.

Tyrell Waka-Rhind continued his strong form in Round Four against Wynnum Manly scoring a first half double as Norths recorded a big 58 – 6 victory.

Tyrell Waka-Rhind only had to wait 9 minutes to score the first of his two tries when after dummying to his right, Tyrell Waka-Rhind ran out of dummy half to his left from three metres out, diving over between two defenders who had not moved off their line as a result of falling for Tyrell Waka-Rhinds dummy in the opposite direction.

Tyrell Waka-Rhind’s second try came only seven minutes later in the 16th minute when a three metre dart from dummy half to his right saw Tyrell Waka-Rhind force his way over to score.

In addition to his runs out of dummy half to score twice, Tyrell Waka-Rhind also provided a number of others dummy half runs of note including in relation to the third playy the ball after Wynnum Manly kicked off after he scored in the 9th minute. Tyrell Waka-Rhind took off to his left with the Seagulls defence still backpeddling. Tyrell Waka-Rhind made fifteen metres through the centre of the ruck and after being eventually tackled was held down and awarded a penalty with the Seagulls offender sinned binned for a professional foul.

Also in the 15th minute, just prior to his second try, Tyrell Waka-Rhind ran to his right out of dummy half, making fifteen metres over the halfway mark and was once again awarded a penalty when he was held down by the Seagulls defence.

In the 18th minute of the second half Tyrell Waka-Rhind showed that he does not just run out of dummy half in attacking positions when he dummied to his right whilst at dummy half before running in the same direction and making twenty metres from inside his own twenty metre area.

Round Five against Aspley saw Tyrell Waka-Rhind add another try to his 2020 tally when he crossed in the 28th minute of the second half. Tyrell Waka-Rhind moved into dummy half two metres from the Aspley line. Immediately upon picking up the ball, Tyrell Waka-Rhind ran to the left out of dummy half, and due to the speed of his run, Tyrell Waka-Rhind was able to get on the outside of the A defender to score on the left side of the field.

In just the 8th minute of the first half Tyreel Waka-Rhind made his mark on the match with a run of ten metres after running out of dummy half to his left and then he was able to draw one of the Aspley defenders out of the defensive line and offload a good short ball to his left to his five eight who was able to promote the ball further downfield.

In the 6th minute of the seond half Tyrell Waka-Rhind continued to inhance his reputation when he ran to his right out of dummy half before stepping off his left twice with his fifteen metre effort fainally ending on the opposite side of the ruck.

Also in the 17th minute of the second half, Tyrell Waka-Rhind was able to make a further sixteen metres through the centre of the Aspley ruck after a dart out of dummy half to his right.

Not only did Tyrell Waka-Rhind score a try but he also saved one in the 5th minute of the second half with a great last ditch tackle on the giant Aspley No. 19 to stop him in his tracks with the try line beckoning.

Round Six against Souths Acacia Ridge saw Tyrell Waka-Rhind add a hat trick to his already impressive try scoring tally with his first try coming in just the 4th minute of the match when after dummying to his left from dummy half two metres out, Tyrell Waka-Rhind ran in the same direction getting on the outside of the Souths A defender to twist over fifteen metres in from the left corner post.

Tyrell Waka-Rhind had to wait until the second half to score his second try of the match when he ran out of dummy half to his right twenty five metres out from the line. Tyrell Waka-Rhind stepped off his right foot to bring through the Magpies initial defensive line and then with no one in front of him, Tyrell Waka-Rhind was able to score under the posts.

Tyrell Waka-Rhind completed his hat trick in the 23rd minute of the second half when he scored under the posts once again after producing a left foot step to comprehensively beat the Souths fullback. Tyrell Waka-Rhind had gotten through to the fullback after running to his right out of dummy half twenty metres out and literally just ran through the centre of the Souths ruck defence untouched.

Early in the second half Tyrell Waka-Rhind was not too far away from scoring another try when he burst through the defence out of dummy half ocne again racing thirty three metres before just being dragged down twelve metres out from the line.

Against Logan Brothers in Round Eight, Tyrell Waka-Rhind added another try from dummy half when in the 27th minute of the first half, he ran through a gap in the defensive line ten matres out and to his left before stepping off his left foot to beat the fullback to score on the left side of the field midway between the goal posts and corner post.

Round Ten against the Redcliffe Dolphins saw Tyrell Waka-Rhind finish the 2020 GBJRL U16 Division One regular season with a try and a try assist in North’s close 18 – 16 loss.

Tyrell Waka-Rhind scored in the early minutes of the match when from dummy half he dummied to his right before running out of dummy half in the same direction at a 45 degree angle to score mid-way between the corner post and goal post on the left side of the field.

The 6th minute of the second half from dummy half on the halfway mark, Tyrell Waka-Rhind bolted out of dummy half to his left, sliding through the defensive line before drawing the Dolphins fullback and passing to his left to his five eight who easily outpaced the cover defence to score.

In 2019 Tyrell Waka-Rhind was selected in the Queensland White side for the U15 ASSRL Championships and also in 2019 Tyrell Waka-Rhind was named in the backline for the Queensland White u15 Junior Gold Cup Rugby side.

2018 saw Tyrell Waka-Rhind named on the wing for the Samoan U14 side for the QPIIC Carnival and in 2017 he was named at fullback in the New Zealand Maori All-Tournament Team.

In 2016 the former Wavell State high School student represented Queensland at the U12 Australian Primary School Rugby League Championships.

[mdrew]

Tamihana Ratima who is from the Hawara Hawks and Patea Area High School in the central area of the New Zealand North Island late last year signed a contract with the Titans that will take him through until the end of the 2024 season being the final season of his schooling at Marsden State High School and U18 eligibility.

Tamihana Ratima recently arrived in Australia and attended Titans partnered Marsden State High School this week, meeting coaches etc and is likely to play in the School Boy Walters Cup competition. Tamihana Ratima will also play for the Souths Logan Magpies in the 2022 U16 Cyril Connell Cup competition.

Tamihana Ratima had an outstanding 2021 rugby league campaign for both the Hawara Hawks and in representative rugby league representing the Taranaki Maori U15 Representative side.

Impressively Tamihana Ratima also represented the Mid-Central Vipers U16 side at the 2021 New Zealand U16 National Youth Tournament even though he was still U15 eligible and had a particularly impressive match on Day One of the Tournament against the South Island Scorpions, starting the Vipers 24 – 20 victory on the right wing, scoring an early second half double.

Tamihana Ratima scored his first try in the 29th minute of the match when he received the ball ten metres out on the right touchline. Tamihana Ratima stepped off his right foot to come back inside away from the touchline and then Tamihana Ratima straightened up to crash over between three Scorpions defenders eight metres in from the right corner post.

Tamihana Ratima completed his double just four minutes later in the 33rd minute and his try was for all intents and purposes a carbon copy of his first try, once again with Tamihana Ratima receiving the ball on the right touchline ten metres out and then cutting back inside to crash over out wide on the right.

Tamihana Ratima also scored against the Wellington Orca’s when in just the 3rd minute Tamihana Ratima dived over in the right corner after a sweeping move from the Vipers that started on the opposite side of the field to where Tamihana Ratima was situated.

Tamihana Ratima also started the 2021 National Youth U16 Tournament Grand Final for the Mid-central Vipers on the right wing in a 22 – 10 victory against the South Island Scorpions.

In early 2021 Tamihana Ratima was part of the New Zealand Warriors U15 Development Squad attending a number of Development camps over the course of the 2021 season that were run by former New Zealand Warriors and New Zealand International Stacey Jones.

2021 was not the first season that Tamihana Ratima had achieved representative honours as in 2019 and 2020 he represented the Taranaki Junior Representative Rugby League side in the U13 and U14 age groups respectively.

[mdrew]

Tom Neale’s first 2022 hit-out will be tomorrow for the Burleigh Hastings Deering’s Colts sides first trial and he starts at halfback in a trial match against a Titans U19 side at Pizzey Park.

Thomas Neale was named to start at halfback for Burleigh in round One of the 2021 Gold Coast Rugby League U20 competition against the Currumbin Eagles however he started at halfback for the Bears Doug Lipp Cup side against the Tugun Seahawks and then started in the centres for the Burleigh GCRL First Grade side against the same opponents.

After missing a significant portion of the 2021 season Thomas Neale was named on the bench in Round Twelve of the GCRL U20 competition on the bench for Burleigh against the Runaway Bay Seagulls before moving into the Burleigh starting side at five eight for Round Thirteen against the Helensvale Hornets with Thomas Neale recording two try assist on both occasions running to his left to put Noah Gafa through the line to score with those tries coming in the 40th and 56th minutes of Burleigh’s victory.

Thomas Neale then continued at five eight in Round Fourteen against the Runaway Bay Seagulls, recording another two try assists, the first of which came in the 32nd minute when Thomas Neale backed up a Jake Kearton break to receive the off-load and as he approached the fullback, Thomas Neale kicked forward for his halfback to collect and score.

Thomas Neale’s second try assist came in the 59th minute when he drifted to his left to put Noah Gafa into a gap and from the there the Burleigh second rower was just too big and strong to stop.

Thomas Neale also started at five eight in Burleigh Week One Final’s victory against the Helensvale Hornets and scored in the 33rd minute as well as recording two try assists.

Thomas Neale scored after running onto a good ball to the right of the dummy half breaking the line sixty metres out. Thomas Neale dummied on his inside to round the Helensvale fullback and had just enough speed to get to the line.

Thomas Neale’s opening try assist came in just the 5th minute when from ten metres out he ran at the line on the left drawing in two defenders before putting Noah Gafa into a huge gap wide on the left.

Thomas Neale’s second try assist came in the 34th minute when he put in a short grubber from ten metres out for his left centre to dive on the ball in the in-goal.

Thomas Neale also started at five eight in the 2021 GCRL U20 Preliminary Final against the Currumbin Eagles, scoring in the 22nd minute and kicking a 70th conversion as Burleigh qualified for the 2021 GCRL U20 Grand Final on the back of a 24 – 12 victory.

Thomas Neale scored when after receiving the ball on the left around ten metres from the line, he immediately stepped off his left foot to beat one defender before running back to his left, pushing off a second defender, spinning clockwise to break contact and then crashing over ten metres from the left upright under ppressure from another defender.

Thomas Neale also threw the last pass in the other three tries that Burleigh scored in the Preliminary Final, the first occasion of which was in the 30th minute when Thomas Neale passed to his left from eight metres out to Noah Gafa who beat three defenders to score on the left. Thomas Neale combined once again with Noah Gafa, throwing the final pass once again to the powerful Burleigh left second rower for him score in the 57th minute.

Then in the 60th minute after feeding a scrum ten metres out from the Currumbin line and ten metres in from the left touchline, Thomas Neale allowed the lock to pick up the ball as he moved down the blindside taking the ball to the line and putting his left winger over in the corner.

Thomas Neale also started at five eight for Burleigh in the 2021 Gold Coast Rugby League U20 Grand Final against the Runaway Bay Seagulls with Thomas Neale scoring a double in Burleigh’s 32 – 16 Premiership victory.

Thomas Neale’s opening Grand Final try came in the 16th minute when after receiving the ball around twenty five metres out on the left side of the field, Thomas Neale dummied to his left before slicing between two defenders. Thomas Neale was grabbed by the collar on the try line but he was able to force his way over to get the ball down seven metres in from the left corner post.

Thomas Neale completed his Grand Final double in the 63rd minute when he stepped off his left after receiving the ball fifteen metres out before cutting back to his left and out-pacing the cover defence to slam the ball down with his right arm mid-way between the goal posts and corner post on the left side of the field.

In addition to his two tries Thomas Neale also made a number of other darting runs in the Grand Final, the first of which came in the 12th minute when Thomas Neale stepped inside one defender and was able to make fifteen metres to get the ball to thirty metres out from his own try line.

The 37th minute of the Grand Final saw Thomas Neale a line break assist to his Grand Final record when after receiving the ball twenty two metres from the line on the left, Thomas Neale stepped off his left foot to gain space and then passed back across his body to his left to put Naoh Gafa into a gap with the left second rower then off-loading to put Nelson Ewing in to score under the posts.

Thomas Neale also had a good moment in the 23rd minute when he chased through a Burleigh chip kick with Thomas Neale putting the Runaway Bay fullback Carn Connell under severe pressure with the Seagulls fullback unable to take possession for Burleigh to go back on the attack deep inside Runaway Bay territory.

Thomas Neale also showcased his short kicking game in the 69th minute of the Grand Final when he put in a short chip kick towards the left corner. Initially it appeared as if the ball would go over the touchline near the left corner but the ball took a wicked bounce and had to be taken dead in goal by the Runaway Bay right winger. Burleigh scored from the subsequent Runaway Bay goal line drop out.

Thomas Neale played the 2020 season as part of the Burleigh Gold Coast Rugby League U20 side, spending time both at dummy half and half back and was particularly impressive in Round Seven scoring a try and making multiple other sniping runs as the Bears defeated the Seagulls 36 – 18.

Thomas Neale also had an outstanding Round Nine match against Currumbin scoring an early first half try when he followed through a kick to score fifteen metres in from the left touch line. It was in fact Thomas Neale started the movement that led to the try when he threw a cut out pass to the Burleigh left centre who ultimately kicked back inside for Thomas Neale.

Thomas Neale also played well for Burleigh in their last minute 26 – 24 U20 GCRL Preliminary Final loss to Helensvale. Thomas Neale was one of Burleigh’s try scorers in the match, when in the first half, he darted out of dummy half to score down a short blind side.

Thomas Neale also had a try assist in the 2020 Preliminary Final when he put in a well weighted right foot kick to the left conrer for his left winger to take the ball on the full and get the ball down in the left corner.

Tom Neale started the 2019 season as part of the Tweed Heads Seagulls MM Cup squad, coming into the side in Round Four when he started from the bench against Central Queensland, Tom Neale also started from the bench in Rounds Five and Six against Wynnum Manly and the Mackay Cutters respectively.

From a club perspective, Tom Neale played for Burleigh in the 2019 GCLR U18 Division One competition including starting the Grand Final at half and scoring as the Bears defeated Southport 28 – 12 in a tough encounter.

Tom Neale’s try in the 2019 GCRL U18 Division One Grand Final was an impressive individual effort. From a Burleigh scrum win twenty five metres out from the Southport line, Tom Neale received the ball to the left of the scrum from the Burleigh lock and immediately ran across field perpendicular to the defensive line and dummied inside to the Burleigh fullback who had come back underneath. Tom Neale immediately after the dummy brought the ball back into his body before beating the Southport Tigers half back by slipping under his outstretched left arm to sprint the remaining twenty metres to score on the left side of the field mid-way between the corner post and goal post on the left side of the field.

In total in the 2019 GCRL U18 Division One competition in 2019 Tom Neale played in eleven matches scoring eighteen points from four tries and a late season conversion against Mudgeeraba. In addition to his Grand Final try Tom Neale also scored against Ormeau, Runaway Bay and the Helensvale Hornets.

In 2018 Tom Neale played in twelve matches for Burleigh in the GCRL U17 Division One competition scoring three tries across the journey with those tries coming against Helensvale, Bilambil and Ormeau.

[mdrew]

Luke Kofutua’s first 2022 hit-out is set to be tomorrow evening for the Burleigh Hastings Deering’s Colts side in their first trial when he starts from the bench in a trial match against a Titans U19 side at Pizzey Park.

The former Western Australian raised youngster took the opportunity to move across to the Gold Coast to continue his sporting career at Keebra Park State High School for the start of the 2018 season and made an immediate impact being selected on the bench for the South Coast U15 QSSRL side after the early season trials.

In 2022 Luke Kofutua will move back from rugby to rugby league and line up for Burleigh in the Hastings Deering’s Colts competition.

In 2020 Luke Kofutua played for the Nerang “Flying” Bulls in the Gold Coast District Rugby U17 competition, playing primarily off the bench but he did start a number of matches at No. 8.

In 2019 Luke Kofutua was selected in the Queensland White U16 representative side for the National U16 Rugby Championships, scoring in Queensland White’s first match of the Championships against Western Australia.

Even though Luke Kofutua spent time at Keebra Park State High School, he also spent time at Ipswich Grammar School playing school boy rugby in the vaunted GPS school boy rugby competition.

Even though he was still eligible to play at the U15 age group, Luke Kofutua has started off the 2018 season in the U16 Division One competition with the Southport Tigers and started Round Two (Southport had a Round One bye) against Burleigh from the interchange bench in Southport’s 22 – 4 victory in a hard fought clash. After his debut, Luke Kofutua played in an additional nine matches for the Southport U16 Division One side in 2018.

Luke Kofutua also played club rugby on the Gold Coast this season, playing for the Griffith University Colleges U15 side and started at No. 8 and scored a try in their 47 – 29 Grand Final victory that was played as a curtain raiser to the Rugby International between the Wallabies and Argentina on the Gold Coast a fortnight ago.

Luke Kofutua played in fifteen of Griffith University Colleges matches, seven at No. 8, five at open side flanker (No. 7), one at blind side flanker (No. 6) and one from the bench.

In those fifteen appearances, Luke Kofutua scored four tries, being in Round Three and Twelve against Bond Pirates, Round Nine and Fourteen against the Gold Coast Eagles.

In Western Australia, Luke Kofutua was a talented junior rugby player from Perth’s Thornlie State High School and in 2017 was selected in the Western Australian U14 State Championship rugby side. Luke Kofutua played No. 8 for the Kalamunda Junior Rugby club in Perth at the U14 level in 2017. Kalamunda were defeated in the Preliminary final 13 – 5 of that competition last year.

[mdrew]

Jovahn Te Aroiti’s first 2022 hit-out comes tomorrow for the Burleigh Hastings Deering’s Colts side in their first trial when he starts from the bench in a trial match against a Titans U19 side at Pizzey Park.

In Round One of the 2021 Gold Coast Rugby League First Grade competition Jovahn Te Aroiti started from the bench for the Runaway Bay Seagulls as they took on the Mudgeeraba Redbacks.

Jovahn Te Aroiti was one of the Seagulls try scorers in the match when the received the ball from the dummy half who had run down a short right blind side, with Jovahn Te Aroiti receiving the ball eight metres out and crashing over five metres in from the right corner post.

Jovahn Te Aroiti also started from the bench in Round Two against the Southport Tigers and scored for the second week in a row when he was on hand to dive on a gruuber kick to the left with Jovahn Te Aroiti racing through to easily get to the ball and get it down ten metres to the left of the goal posts.

Jovahn Te Aroiti continued from the bench in Round Four as the Seagulls took on the Helensvale Hornets as well as in Round Five against the Burleigh Bears and Round Six against the Currumbin Eagles.

After a Covid 19 disruption, Jovahn Te Aroiti also came off the bench in Round Nine against the Southport Tigers in what was Isreal Folou’s debut match for Southport as well as in Round Ten against the Tugun Seahawks.

Jovahn Te Aroiti also started on the bench after the GCRL First Grade season recommenced for Round Eleven against Henelsvale and also came off the bench in Round Thirteen against the Currumbin Eagles.

Jovahn Te Aroiti then dropped back to start in the front row for Runaway Bay in Round Fourteen of the Gold Coast Rugby League U20 competition against the Currumbin Eagles.

The Gold Coast local moved up to the Hastings Deering’s Colts competition in 2020 lining up for the Burleigh Bears U20 Hastings Deering’s Colts squad, starting from the bench, playing in the middle of the field when he came on in Round One against Wynnum Manly as Burleigh started their campaign with a first up victory in what ended up being the one and only Round of the Hastings Deering’s Colts competition in 2020.

Jovahn Te Aroiti played three matches off the bench for the Tweed Heads Seagulls MM Cup side in 2019 being Rounds Two, Four and Five against Townsville, Central Queensland and Wynnum Manly respectively.

Post the 2019 MM Cup competition Jovahn Te Aroiti played for Runaway Bay in the Gold Coast Rugby League competition playing matches in four separate competitions being the U18 Division One, U20, Doug Lipp Cup and First Grade competitions.

In the 2019 U18 Division One competition Jovahn Te Aroiti has played in eight matches for Runaway Bay. In the U20 competition Jovahn Te Aroiti played in one match and in the Doug Lipp Cup competition Jovahn Te Aroiti played in three matches.

In the 2019 GCRL First Grade competition Jovahn Te Aroiti made his debut in late June 2019 against Southport and went on to play in additional three regular season matches.

The young front rower or second rower had an outstanding season in 2018 including starting in the front row for the PBC Open schoolboy side as they beat all comers to win the National GIO Cup competition with a victory over Patrician Brothers College Blacktown in the National Final.

Jovahn Te Aroiti was also a Premiership winner in the 2018 Brisbane U17 Rugby Premiership playing for the Nerang Bulls in that competition, interestingly spending time in the centres there.

In 2017 Jovahn Te Aroiti played for Helensvale in the GCRL U16 Division One competition playing in thirteen matches and he also played in one U17 Division One match against Runaway Bay.

In the 2015 season, Jovahn Te Aroiti alternated between playing for his proper age group being U14’s and playing up an age group in the U15’s. At the U14 Premier level he scored one try and at the U15 level he scored two tries across Division 1 and Division 2.

Jovahn Te Aroiti also started on the bench for the Titans U14 development squad in their recent match against Samoa. When he came on, Jovahn Te Aroiti played in the second row, specifically right second row.

Jovahn Te Aroiti also represented the Gold Coast Vikings, Kookaburra’s and South East Queensland U14’s during the 2015 season, starting in the second row for those representative sides in their various junior representative competitions.

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Sione Fotuaika’s first 2022 hit-out will be tomorrow for the Burleigh Hastings Deering’s Colts sides first trial and he starts from the bench in a trial match against a Titans U19 side at Pizzey Park.

In October 2021 Sione Fotuaika was named in the Tonga U18 representative side of the QPICC Cultural Carnival starting Round One of the Carnival from the bench against PNG.

In fact Sione Fotuaika started from the bench in all five of his matches at the Carnival including Samoa’s 22- 12 Grand Final victory against PNG.

Sione Fotuaika scored one try at the Carnival with the try coming in Match Four against Queensland Maori.

In January 2021 Sione Fotuaika started from the bench for the Titans U19 side in their annual match at Coffs Harbour against the Newcastle Knights and worked hard both in attack and defence in his stints on the field in the Titans 40 – 6 victory.

It appears that Sione Fotuaika was spent a lot of the offseason in the gym as he looks bigger and stronger than he did in 2021 and he used that additional size and strength well throughout the match including late in the match when from around twelve metres out, the Knights defence was barely able to prevent him from scoring, finally holding him up just a metre away from the line.

Another aspect of the Sione Fotuaika’s game that was impressive was the speed of his play the ball, with that speed translating into momentum for the Titans. Impressively in the 30th minute of the first half, Sione Fotuaika won a penalty for the Titans when he was just too quick for the Knights defenders who had no choice but to give away a penalty for holding Sione Fotuaika down with their defensive line still back peddling.

A week after the match against the Newcastle Knights Sione Fotuaika 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 with Sione Fotuaika starting the match on the bench, coming on at half time and playing the entire second half in the front row.

In 2021 Sione Fotuaika was also part of the Souths Logan Magpies MM Cup squad and started the Magpies final MM Cup trial in the front row against the Tweed Heads Seagulls.

Sione Fotuaika had the privilege of taking the hit-up off the kick off producing a strong charge before being brought down Tweed Heads Seagulls and fellow Titans contracted forwards Ryan Foran and Jack Cullen.

Sione Fotuaika continued to make his presence felt just minutes later when he smashed Seagulls half Thomas Weaver who had looked to run the ball down a short blindside. Sione Fotuaika’s hit had his fellow Titans contracted player on his haunches for a few minutes.

Sione Fotuaika also produced another strong charge from the kick-off after Souths Logan’s one and only try of the match in the opening minutes and then produced another strong first quarter charge making twelve metres before being rested until coming back on in the final quarter.

In Round One of the 2021 MM Cup competition, Sione Fotuaika started in the front row against the Burleigh Bears making his presence felt in the match on just the second hit after Burleigh had kicked off with Sione Fotuaika charging ten metres downfield. Sione Fotuaika made a further ten metres in the 9th metre with another straight charge into the heart of the Burleigh forward pack.

In the 52nd minute, Sione Fotuaika once again gained an impressive amount of ground before off-loading to his left to fellow Titan EJ Finau to gain an additional twenty metres from inside their own territory.

Round Two against the Tweed Heads Seagulls saw Sione Fotuaika move to the bench and he also started from the bench in Round Three against the Ipswich Jets.

Round Four against the Burleigh Bears saw Sione Fotuaika move back to the Magpies extended bench for their match against the Burleigh Bears and for Round Five against the Tweed Heads Seagulls.

In late May 2021 Sione Fotuaika was part of the Met East QSSRL Open School Boy representative side and started in the front row in their Day One match against Sunshine Coast with the strong front rower scoring an easy try in the 38th minute when he put the ball down under the posts after a great pass from his hooker to stroll over from close range.

Sione Fotuaika was part of the Marsden State High School Rugby League Excellence Program in 2021 and came into the Marsden SHS side for Round Three against Wavell State High School, coming off the bench and working hard, including in the 43rd minute with a strong run over the halfway mark and then Sione Fotauika was able to off-load with his right arm to Braden Teilua.

Sione Fotuaika started Round One of the Langer Cup Reserve Grade Competition in the front row against Keebra Park and scored an outstanding solo try in the 42nd minute. Sione Fotuaika received the ball to the left of the play the ball, twelve metres out from the line initially skipping to his left, before engaging the defensive line. Sione Fotuaika shrugged off the first defender who engaged him before cutting back to his right, breaking five tackles to force his way over under the posts.

Sione Fotuaika also started in the front row in Round Two against Ipswich State High School and then started from the bench in the Round Four blockbuster against PBC State High School coming into the match at around the twenty minute mark to operate in the front row.

Sione Fotuaika once again started from the bench in Round Five against Mabel Park State High School before weight of performances led to his elevation to the starting line-up in the front row against Coombabah State High School.

After the competition was suspended for a number of weeks due to a Covid 19 lock down, Sione Fotuaika was named as an emergency for Marsden SHS in their semi-final against Ipswich State High School.

In the 2021 Langer Cup Grand Final against PBC State High School, Sione Fotuaika was named on the bench for Marsden SHS.

Sione Fotuaika played the 2020 season starting primarily in the front row for the Marsden State High School Langer Cup Open A school boy side after moving over from New Zealand for the start of the 2020 school year and rugby league season.

Sione Fotuaika had the opportunity to go to Keebra Park but decided to go to Mardsen to forge his own legacy away from the school where his three older brothers all attended and excelled in rugby league.

Sione Fotuaika started Round One of the 2020 Langer Cup competition in the front row against PBC and also started Round Two against his brothers former school, being Keebra Park. Sione Fotuaika moved to the bench for Round Three against Wavell State High School.

Whilst Sione Fotuaika was named to start from the bench in Round Four against Ipswich State High School he ended up starting the match in the front row. Round Five saw Sione Fotuaika move to start at lock for the match against PBC.

Early in 2020 Sione Fotuaika was part of the Souths Logan U18 MM Cup squad, starting Round One which was the only round of the competition that was played from the bench as the Magpies went down 26 – 20 against the Western Mustangs.

Prior to his arrival in Australia Sione Fotuaika made numerous junior age representative sides in New Zealand as well as being part of the New Zealand Warriors junior development set up for a number of seasons prior to hime signing with the Titans JTS program.

In eary 2019 Sione Fotuaika was part of the New Zealand U16 National Talent Development Program (TDP) and at the end of the camp was part of the Fisher-Harris U16 team that played a trial. 2019 also saw Sione Fotuaika named in the New Zealand Residents U16 wider squad.

In New Zealand Sione Fotuaika attended Papatoetoe High School representing them in various school boy competitions and also played for the Waitemata Seagulls in the Auckland rugby league competition.

In 2018 Sione Fotuaika started in the front row in his five matches for the Auckland Vulcans representative side in the New Zealand U15 National Youth Tournament.

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Noah Gafa’s first 2022 hit-out will be tomorrow for the Burleigh Hastings Deering’s Colts sides first trial and he starts at lock in a trial match against a Titans U19 side at Pizzey Park.

When the Gold Coast Rugby League competition commenced in 2021, Noah Gafa started at left second row for the Burleigh Bears U20 GCRL side as they played a Pre-season Round One round robin against Helensvale and Runaway Bay.

Across all matches of the round robin and all teams, Noah Gafa was easily the best player on display and dominated in his second match against Helensvale scoring a hat trick which showcased his size, strength, speed and power.

Noah Gafa’s first try came in the 6th minute of the match when he showcased impressive footwork to beat one Hornets defender before crashing over adjacent to the posts.

Noah Gafa scored his second with the 23rd minute when he surged onto an offload from teammate and lock Max Brady to crash over.

Noah Gafa’s hat trick was completed in the 29th minute when he was just too big and strong close to the try line, crashing over two passes off the ruck to score in what was the final play of the match.

In Round Three of the GCRL U20 Pre-season competition, Noah Gafa started from the bench as Burleigh played the Currumbin Eagles.

Noah Gafa then started at left second row in Round Nine against the Helensvale Hornets and also started at left second row in Round Ten agaisnt Runaway Bay and also against Currumbin in the previously postponed Round Eight fixture.

With the Burleigh GCRL First Grade side having a bye in Round Thirteen, Noah Gafa started at left second row for the Burleigh U20 side in Round Thirteen against the Helensvale Hornets scoring two tries in a dominant display.

Noah Gafa scored the first of his two tries in the 40th minute when he charged through a gap from six metres out off a Thomas Neale pass.

Noah Gafa added his second try in the 56th minute, once again off Thomas Neale pass, on that occasion from eighteen metres out with Noah Gafa veering to his left to round the Helensvale fullback once he had broken thourhg the Hornets main defensive line.

Noah Gafa also made a 26th minute line break once again off a Thomas Neale pass when from forty metres out Noah Gafa surged through a gap on the left before getting the ball away to his left centre who was brought to ground three metres short of the try line.

Noah Gafa then continued at left second row in Round Fourteen against the Currumbin Eagles and scored a double for the second week in a row.

Noah Gafa scored his first try in the 9th minute when Noah Gafa cut back to his right after receiving the ball on the left side of the field and charged through the Runaway Bay defensive line to score under the posts.

Noah Gafa added his second try in the 59th minute when he was presented with a great pass from Thomas Neale to charge over on the left side of the field from twenty metres out.

Noah Gafa was also named at left second row in Week One of the 2021 GCRL U20 Finals series against the Helensvale Hornets with Noah Gafa scoring a first half double.

Noah Gafa’s opening try came in just the 5th minute when from ten metres out he ran into a huge gap wide on the left after receiving a good ball from his right from Thomas Neale.

Noah Gafa completed his first half double in the 28th minute with a long range effort. Noah Gafa’s try started deep inside Burleigh own twenty metre area with Noah Gafa running eighty metres untouched down the left touchline after getting a great right arm off-load from his right from Jake Kearton.

Noah Gafa also started at left second row in the 2021 GCRL U20 Preliminary Final against the Currumbin Eagles scoring twice as Burleigh qualified for the 2021 GCRL U20 Grand Final on the back of a 24 – 12 victory.

Noah Gafa scored his first try in the 29th minute when from eight metres out Noah Gafa received a pass from Thomas Neale and then beat three defenders to score on the left side of the field, twelve metres in from the left corner post.

Noah Gafa completed his double in the 56rh minute when he combined once again with Thomas Neale to crash over from five metres out, ten metres in from the left corner post.

Noah Gafa also started at left second row for Burleigh in the 2021 Gold Coast Rugby League U20 Grand Final against the Runaway Bay Seagulls with Noah Gafa off-loading on a number of occasions, the first if which occurred in the 30th minute when he was able to off-load the ball to his left centre.

Noah Gafa also recorded a 37th minute try assist in the Grand Final when after charging into a gap from twenty metres out and cutting back towards the goal posts, Noah Gafa was able to off-load in a tackle to Nelson Ewing who darted the remaining five metres to dive over under the posts. Noah Gafa then made a great charge from the subsequent kick-off.

Noah Gafa then added a further try assist in the 69th minute when after running onto the ball down the left channel fifteen metres from the try line, Noah Gafa ran at the Seagulls defensive line before throwing a good short ball to his left to put Zac Edwards over near the left corner.

Noah Gafa also produced a smart piece of play in the 62nd minute with a great one on one strip as Runaway Bay were trying to bring the ball out of their own territory. After stripping the ball Noah Gafa was able to promote the ball an additional five metres with Burleigh scoring before the same set of six was completed.

Noah Gafa moved up to the Burleigh GCRL First Grade side in Round Eleven against Runaway Bay when he started from the bench but moved into the starting side at left second row in Round Twelve against Runaway Bay.

With the Burleigh GCRL U20 and First Grade sides having a bye in Week One of the Finals, Noah Gafa started at left second row in Burleigh’s Doug Lipp Cup Week One final against the Southport Tigers.

Noah Gafa also started the Doug Lipp Cup replayed Final for Burleigh at left centre against the Southport Tigers.

After Mullumbimby had an NRRRL Round One bye, Noah Gafa started Round Two at left centre agaisn the Cudgen Hornets.

In April 2021, Noah Gafa was named in the U20 Gold Coast Vikings First Grade South East Queensland Chairman’s Challenge initial squad.

Noah Gafa started Round One of the 2020 Hastings Deering’s Colts competition for the Tweed Heads Seagulls at left centre against the Northern Pride and scoring when he held off his opposing centre in the Seagulls first up victory as they looked to replicate their 2019 success. Unfortunately that desire was cruelled by the Covid 19 pandemic.

When rugby league restarted in late July 2020 Noah Gafa moved to the NRRRL competition to play for the Mullumbimby Giants and started at right centre as they went down 26 - 12 to the Byron Bay Devils in Round Two of the NRRRL First Grade competition.

With restrictions continuing to bite, Noah Gafa made his GCRL First Grade debut at left second row in Round Four for the Burleigh Bears and scored a double as the Bears defeated the Tugun Seahawks 66 – 0.

Noah Gafa scored his first try in the first half when he was on hand to receive a pass from Jordan Scott after a Burleigh charge down to score from close range. Noah Gafa’s second try came in the second half and resulted from a Noah Gafa strat hard run from three metres out when he ran off a pass from the dummy half to the left of the play the ball.

As a result of this outstanding GCRL First Grade debut in Round Four, Noah Gafa started at left second row once again in Round Five against the Mudgeeraba Redbacks.

Noah Gafa also played multiple matches for Burleigh in the 2020 GCRL U20 competition including an outstanding performance in Round Six against the Helensvale Hornets when he started at left second row and scoring an outstanding try when he charged through the defensive line from around ten metres out from the line before running over the the Hornets fullback to score a powerful try in the first half.

Noah Gafa was also heavily involved in one of Burleigh’s second half tries when he burt through the centre of the Helensvale forward pack before off-loading to his right, with Burleigh scoring from a subsequent kick forward.

Noah Gafa also had a impressive match, starting at left second row in Burleigh’s last minute Preliminary Final loss 26 – 24 to Helensvale. Noah Gafa provided difficult to stop in the match including multiple right arm offloads when he was engaged with the defensive line) usually he had his back to the defensive line and was able to get his right arm above his head to offload). Noah Gafa also produced a long line break through the centre of the ruck in the dying minutes of the match.

In January of 2019 Noah Gafa started at right centre for the Tians U18’s in their match against the Newcastle Knights. Midway through the first half however when Will Evans moved to fullback as a result of an injury reshuffle, Noah Gafa moved to the other side of the field to right centre where he remained for the duration of the match.

Noah Gafa also started at left centre for the Titans U18 side in their big win over PNG at Pizzey park in early October 2019 and was one of multiple Titans try scorers in the match when he crossed untouched after running an inside shoulder route from close range (ten metres). The Titans were far too big and strong for the PNG side that Friday noght at Pizzey Park.

After missing Round One Noah Gafa started Round Two of the 2019 MM Cup competition on the left wing for Tweed Heads against the Townsville Blackhawks and certainly made an impact including scoring the final try of the match to ensure that Tweed Heads came away from the game on the winning side.

In the 2019 Round Three MM Cup local derby against Burleigh Noah Gafa scored for the second match in a row. Playing left centre Noah Gafa split the Burleigh defence from about fifty five metres out and was just too quick for the cover defence to score out wide for the Seagulls first try of the match in their close victory over their local rivals.

Noah Gafa missed the remainder of the 2019 MM Cup competition post the Round Three derby agaisnt the Tweed Heads Seagulls.

After missing a number of weeks through injury Noah Gafa made his way back onto the field in Round Eight of the 2019 GCRL U18 Division One competition starting on the bench for Burleigh against Tugun. Noah Gafa made his first start of the season in Round Nine lining up in the centres against Currumbin.

In total for Burleigh in the 2019 GCRL U18 Division One regular season competition Noah Gafa played in five regular season matches scoring his first try and only try in the regular season rounds in Round Thirteen against Bilambil.

Noah Gafa started in the centres for Burleigh in their 34 -4 U18 Division One Week Two Finals victory over Southport 34 – 4 to progress directly to the Grand Final.

Noah Gafa started the Grand Final against Southport at left centres scoring twice in Burleigh’s 28 – 12 win.

Both of Noah Gafa’s two Grand Final tries came from short range in the second half, on each occasions the Burleigh dummy half’s (Try One – Lachlan Adamson, Try Two – Dakota Whalan) took the ball down a short blind side and passed to Noah Gafa who powered onto the ball on both occasions to score, for the first try Noah Gafa was able to bring the ball all of the way around to put the ball down under the posts.

Noah Gafa made his first Hastings Deering’s Colts appearance of the 2019 season in Round Nineteen when he started in the centres against the Mackay Cutters and also started in the centres in Round Twenty against the Ipswich Jets and in Round Twenty Three against the Northern Pride when Noah Gafa started at right centre once again.

Prior to the 2018 Gold Coast Rugby League season proper, Noah Gafa was part of the 2018 Tweed Heads Seagulls MM Cup squad playing in all seven of their matches including their final’s match against South’s Logan.

Noah Gafa started his first five matches in the centres before starting from the interchange bench in Round Seven against Easts and then again in the semi-final against South’s Logan.

In the 2018 MM Cup competition Noah Gafa scored two tries, coming against the Victorian Thunderbolts in Round two and against the Townsville Blackhawks in Round Five.

Noah Gafa made his Hastings Deering’s Colts debut for the Tweed Heads Seagulls in Round Sixteen of the 2018 season against Burleigh starting in the centres and started on the wing in Round Seventeen against Wynnum Manly scoring two tries in an impressive display especially when you are talking about a 17 year old playing against 20 year olds.

Noah Gafa also started on the wing in Round Eighteen against the Souths Logan Magpies and in the centres in Round Twenty against the Mackay Cutters in round out his four Colts matches that season.

For Currumbin in the 2018 Gold Coast Rugby League U17 Division One competition, Noah Gafa made on outstanding start starting in the centres in each of his six matches and scoring a total of nine tries along the way for a 150% strike rate.

Noah Gafa scored a hat trick against Tweed Heads in Round Five and also scored against Mudgeeraba, Helensvale, Ormeau and Bilambil in the opening four rounds to lead the U17 Division One try scoring list. Noah Gafa’s other regular season try came against Burleigh in Round Six.

Noah Gafa was heavily involved in Currumbin’s 2018 final’s campaign which culminated with Noah Gafa starting in the second row in the Grand Final with Currumbin prevailing 30 – 10 over a Runaway Bay side which was led by fellow Titans contracted youngster Carsil Vaikai.

Noah Gafa scored one of his nine tries in the finals crossing in Week Two of the finals in a 32 – 22 Currumbin win over Burleigh.

Noah Gafa was also in outstanding form for PBC in 2018 including being involved in their matches against Keebra Park 22 – 20 win, Ipswich State High School 24 – 18 win and Marsden State High School 38 – 10 win in the Langer Cup competition when he started at left centre and scored two second half tries.

Noah Gafa was also involved in PBC’s Queensland GIO Cup Quarter Final and semi-final victories, including scoring a double in the semi-final victory over Ignatius Park. Noah Gafa’s first try came early in the first half when he ran an outside shoulder route close to the try line and received a good ball from hooker Jed Edwards to crash over.

Noah Gafa’s second try came late in the second half. After a break from PBC half Thomas Dearden, Noah Gafa backed up to receive the pass from Dearden and outpaced the defence to score untouched.

In the Queensland GIO Cup final against Kirwan State High School Noah Gafa started at left centre, partnering fellow Titans contracted player Will Evans as PBC overcame Kirwan State High School 32 – 26 to qualify for the National GIO Cup Final. In a great sign for the Titans both Noah Gafa and Will Evans scored doubles in the win with one of the tries the two combining for Noah Gafa to cross out wide in the second half.

Noah Gafa started at left centre for PBC in the GIO Cup National Final against Patrician Brothers College Blacktown with PBC becoming National GIO Cup Championships with a 20 – 12 win with Noah Gafa damaging on the left side of the field.
Post the National GIO Cup final Noah Gafa was part of the PBC touring side that went to Fiji and was part of the PBC side that defeated a Fijian U18 side, fellow Titan Will Evans was also in the PBC side that won by around thirty odd points.
In the 2017 U16 GCJRL Division One competition, Noah Gafa scored 38 points for the Currumbin Eagles which has come from eight tries and three goals. All three of Noah Gafa’s goals came in the one match in June against the Ormeau Shearers.

From a try scoring perspective, Noah Gafa had a great run of four matches from April 28 to May 26 2017 where he scored in all four matches which, in order, where against Ormeau, Runaway Bay, Helensvale and against Ormeau a second time.

Noah Gafa also scored a hat trick against Burleigh in August against Burleigh and the match prior to that scored against Helensvale. Currumbin were the deserved Grand Final winners in the 2017 GCJRL U16 Division One competition, with Noah Gafa starting in the second row in their 34 – 4 Grand Final victory over Burleigh.

In 2017 Noah Gafa was also a key member of the PBC Open Rugby League side that performed so will in the GIO Cup competition and in fact he scored in their tough Queensland GIO Cup semi-final loss to Marsden State High School 22 – 20.

Earlier in 2017 season, Noah Gafa was selected in the Gold Coast Vikings Green U16 side for their South East Queensland U16 pre-season competition and in 2013 Noah Gafa was selected in the Queensland U12 side with fellow Titan Alofiana Khan-Periera.

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Damon Somerville’s first 2022 hit-out comes tomorrow evening for the Burleigh Hastings Deering’s Colts side in their first trial in late January when he starts at left centre in a trial match against a Titans U19 side at Pizzey Park.

After missing significant time through injury it was great to see Damon Somerville start on the right wing for the Burleigh Bears Hastings Deering’s Colts side in their 2021 Round Seventeen victory against Ipswich with Damon Somerville celebrating has return with a double.

Damon Somerville only had to wait until the 5th minute to cross the line. The play that led to Damon Somerville’s opening try started inside Bureigh territory when Tuvalli Khan-Pereira burst through the Ipswich left sided defensive line. It initially looked as if Tuvalli Khan-Pereira was going to pass to his inside but at the last minute passed to his right to Damon Somerville. Damon Somerville skipped out of a tackle metres from the right corner post and then was able to bring the ball around to put it down under the posts.

Damon Somerville’s second try came in the 50th minute and it will be one of the easier ones that he scores. Tuvalli Khan-Pereira did well on the inside, drawing in the Ipswich left winger and passing to Damon Somerville who jogged over from seven metres out, putting the ball down under absolutely no pressure.

The match also saw Damon Somerville record a try assist in the 23rd minute for Cameron Brown. In fact Cameron Brown started the movement from just inside his own territory when he threw a cut-out pass to his right to put Tuvalli Khan-Pereira into a gap. Tuvalli Khan-Pereira subsequently got the ball away to Damon Somerville who then passed inside to Cameron Brown who raced away to score under the posts.

Damon Somerville also made a line break in the 38th minute when from a Burleigh scrum win, Damon Somerville looped around to the left side of the field, breaking through the line before getting the ball away to Cameron Brown who subsequently off-loaded to Tony Francis who made twenty metres down the left touchline.

Damon Somerville then moved to left centre for the rescheduled Round Thirteen match against the Sunshine Coast Falcons with Damon Somerville scoring in the 22nd minute of the match.

Damon Somerville continued at left centre in Round Fourteen against the Northern Pride setting up one try and making a long line break.

In the 12th minute Damon Somerville ran the ball down the left side of the field after a Burleigh scrum win, getting on the outside of his opposite number before drawing the Northern Pride right winger to put Tony Francis over in the left corner.

Damon Somerville almost set up another Burleigh try in the 29th minute when after making a break down the left touchline he kicked back inside before going into touch but the ball just went dead in goal before the Burleigh chasers could get to it.

Damon Somerville’s line break came in the 38th minute. With the Northern Pride on the attack they moved the ball to their right with Damon Somerville coming out of the line to take an intercept ten metres from his own line and raced sixty metres downfield before being tackled from behind with unfortunately coming loose when he hit the ground.

Damon Somerville’s first hit out of the 2020 season was when was involved for the Burleigh MM Side in their trial against the Easts Tigers. Damon Somerville was probably Burleigh’s best in the trial where he played in the centres, primarily left centre.

Damon Somerville started Round One of the 2020 MM Cup competition for the Burleigh Bears at left centre against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls with the Bears going down 28 – 16 to Wynnum Manly in what ended up being the one and only MM Cup Round of the 2020 season.

Also in 2020 Damon Somerville was part of the PBC Langer Cup Open A school boy rugby league squad, where he operated primarily at right centre. Damon Somerville was in fact the PBC rugby league captain.

In late 2019 Damon Somerville was named in the 2020 U18 Queensland Emerging Origin Squad highlighting his ability and standing in the game.

Damon Somerville started the 2019 season with Burleigh in the MM Cup competition, playing in all six of their matches, spending time at both centre and second row. Damon Somerville started in the centres in Rounds One and Five against Norths and Souths Logan respectively, starting in the second row in his remaining four fixtures.

Damon Somerville ended the 2019 MM Cup campaign with two tries with those tries coming in Round Two against Ipswich and Round Four against the Townsville Blackhawks.

Damon Somerville also was part of the South Coast U18 QSSRL side but unfortunately was injured in the QSSRL U18 Championships.

Damon Somerville was also part of the Burleigh U18 Division One side this season but only played a limited number of matches as a result of the arm injury suffered playing for South Coast.

Damon Somerville started in the centres in his first U18 Division One match of the 2019 season in Round Ten and scoring against Currumbin. Damon Somerville moved to fullback for Round Eleven against Runaway Bay, scoring as well in that match and made it three from three when he scored in Round Twelves whilst playing in the centres against Helensvale.

Damon Somerville moved to the second row for Round Thirteen against Bilambil but that did not scoring his scoring run scoring for the 4th match in a row.

In Week Two of the U18 Division One Finals series Damon Somerville started in the centres for Burleigh in their victory 34 – 8 against Southport to progress directly to the Grand Final contributing a try to the dominating victory.

Damon Somerville was outstanding from the right second row position in the Grand Final for Burleigh scoring an outstanding solo try that showcased power running and a strong fend as he beat at least four Southport defenders to score. Burleigh went on to win the Grand Final 28 – 12.

Thirty metres out from the Southport line Damon Somerville received the ball from Titan Ryan Rivett and immediately straightened up his running line and then stepped off his left foot to create space to his right and on the outside of the immediate Tigers defender, breaking the attempted jersey tackle by the Southport left centre and then immediately stepping to beat a second defender and then beating a third with strength before dragging two defenders over the line with him to score an outstanding solo try ten metres in from the left touch line.

With his finals tries and those in his three U18 Division One regular season rounds, Damon Somerville scored a try in each of his six 2019 matches.

The 2018 Queensland U16 Emerging Origin Squad member was part of the PBC Rugby League Excellence Program and has been a Burleigh Heads Junior his entire career. Damon Somerville’s younger brother Kaden is contracted to the Titans.

Damon Somerville was an ever present for the PBC side in 2018 playing a key role for the PBC Open side that won the National GIO Cup competition. Damon Somerville primarily came off the bench for PBC playing left second row when he came on.

Damon Somerville in 2018 played four matches in the GCRL U16 Division One competition for Burleigh and certainly made an impact on his way to scoring five tries, including a hat trick against Mudgeeraba and tries against Nerang and Currumbin.

Damon Somerville also played one match at the U17 Division One level which was against Mudgeeraba in May 2018. In that match Damon Somerville was one of the Burleigh try scorers.

Damon Somerville first wore a Titans jersey in 2014 when he started at five eight for the Titans U13 Development Squad in a match against a Toowoomba U14 selection and that morning at Pizzey park he cut Toowoomba apart including scoring a try under the posts with a great show and go splitting the Toowoomba defence from about 40 metres out.

Earlier in the 2018 season Damon Somerville was part of the Gold Coast Vikings side that played in the South East Queensland U16 pre-season competition. In 2017 Damon Somerville was part of the South Coast U15 side that competed in the U15 QSSRL competition, playing four matches in the centres and from there was selected in the U15 Queensland Maroon side for the U15 ASSRL Championships.

For the Queensland Maroon U15 ASSRL side, Damon Somerville played in four matches and scored against Queensland White and ACT.

In 2014 Damon Somerville was part of the Queensland Rugby League U12 side which was the first of many representative sides that Damon Somerville has made. A team mate in that side was fellow PBC student Ediq Ambrosyev. Damon Somerville has also represented Gold Coast Viking at the U13 and U14 levels to round out an extensive representative junior rugby league resume.

[Hail Sezer]

Look forward to seeing Damon play tomorrow. I think he should be contracted to the JTS and if he had more luck with injury over the last few years I'd say he would be on an NRL development contract whether it be with us or someone else.

[DIEHARD]

'Super Saturday' at Burleigh beckons for Future Titans
https://www.titans.com.au/news/2022/...tans-tomorrow/

Generation next will be on display as the Gold Coast Titans host 'Super Saturday' at Pizzey Park, Burleigh tomorrow afternoon.

The Club's Future Titans program will be put to the test as five matches of footy showcasing the next wave of Titans talent take on representative teams from across the region and a junior Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs side.

With matches across 16s, 17s, 18s and 19s age groups there is no doubt you will see a number of these young men lining up for the Titans' NRL side in the coming seasons.

As the NRL side's pre-season draws to a close, it has been a first for many of the young men on display tomorrow.

2021 Australian Schoolboys Ryan Foran, Jack Cullen and Tom Weaver all spent time in the NRL squad during pre-season with Weaver now a full-time development player outside the squad's top 30 players.

Fellow young guns Oskar Bryant and Jaylyn De Groot have also trained with the top side and will be on show tomorrow.

De Groot in particular has impressed during his extended stint with the NRL side.

With the entire Future Titans program having just completed a 3 month pre-season tomorrow is the chance to put all that hard work to show and for the under 16s it is the first time they will pull on the famous Titans colours.

Elite Player Development Manager, Jamie McCormack, said the games are a great opportunity to reward all the hard work the squad had put into the last three months.

"We are really excited by the group we have coming through and this game allows them to put their hard work to the test, McCormack said."

"These matches give our younger players and most talented players a real physical and competitive challenge against some bigger and older bodies in a lot of cases.

"We were due to play the Newcastle Knights recently but Covid ruined that plan, but to get to play on the Gold Coast at the home of one of our affiliate clubs is a fantastic opportunity."

Entry is free and the Titans encourage all Members and fans to come along and support the day.

Date: Saturday 29th January

Venue: Pizzey Park, Burleigh Seniors

Game Times

1pm U16s – Northern Rivers Titans v Tweed Seagulls
2.15pm U18s – Northern Rivers Titans v Tweed Seagulls
3.45pm U16s – Future Titans v Canterbury Bulldogs
5.15pm – Future Titans U17s v Burleigh Bears U18s
6.45pm – Future Titans U19s v Burleigh Bears U21s

[mdrew]

Tuvalli Khan-Pereira’s first 2022 hit-out comes tomorrow evening for the Burleigh Hastings Deering’s Colts side in their first trial in late January when he starts at right centre in a trial match against a Titans U19 side at Pizzey Park.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Tuvalli Khan-Pereira also started at right centre in the previously postponed Round Ten match against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls.

After a Covid 19 enforced hiatus, Tuvalli Khan-Pereira was named to start at right centre in Round Sixteen against the Ipswich Jets. In addition to scoring in the 59th minute of the match, Tuvalli Khan-Pereira also recorded three try assists in Burleigh’s big 78 – 20 victory.

Tuvalli Khan-Pereira scored in the 59th minute when Damon Somerville was tackled four metres short of the line. As he was being tackled, Damon Somerville dumped the ball back with Tuvalli Khan-Pereira picking the ball up and cutting back towards centre field before straightening his run to beat two defenders on his way to the line with Tuvalli Khan-Pereira getting the ball down ten metres in from the right corner post.

Tuvalli Khan-Pereira’s first try assist came in the just the 5th minute for Damon Somerville. The play that led to Damon Somerville’s opening try started inside Bureigh territory when Tuvalli Khan-Pereira burst through the Ipswich left sided defensive line. It initially looked as if Tuvalli Khan-Pereira was going to pass to his inside but at the last minute passed to his right to Damon Somerville. Damon Somerville skipped out of a tackle metres from the right corner post and then was able to bring the ball around to put it down under the posts.

Tuvalli Khan-Pereira’s recorded his second try assist in the 50th minute when after receiving the ball around sixteen metres out, Tuvalli Khan-Pereira was able to draw in the Ipswich left winger and pass to to right to put Damon Someerville over for one of the easiest tries that he will ever score.

Tuvalli Khan-Pereira recorded his third try assist in the 55th minute when he backed up a break by Samuel Shannon from deep inside his own territory with Tuvalli Khan-Pereira taking an off-laod from Samuel Shannon. Tuvalli Khan-Pereira broke away drawing the Ipswich fullback before passing to Tyler Mahon who raced away to score under the posts.

Tuvalli Khan-Pereira also was heavily involved in Cameron Brown’s 23rd minute try. In fact Cameron Brown started the movement from just inside his own territory when he threw a cut-out pass to his right to put Tuvalli Khan-Pereira into a gap. Tuvalli Khan-Pereira subsequently got the ball away to Damon Somerville who then passed inside to Cameron Brown who raced away to score under the posts.

The 79th minute saw Tuvalli Khan-Pereira also heavily involved in Daniel Shannon’s try under the posts when he chased through a Cameron Brown chip kick to take the ball and off-load to his inside (when he was facing his own try line) to Tyler Mahon who could have scored himself but instead passed to Daniel Shannon who get the ball down under the posts.

Tuvalli Khan-Pereira also made a line break in the 70th minute, surging thirty five metres down the right channel before being ankle tapped from behind.

Tuvalli Khan-Pereira was also named to start at right centre in the rescheduled Round Thirteen match against the Sunshine Coast Falcons as well as in Round Fourteen against the Northern Pride with Tuvalli Khan-Pereira making two line breaks.

In the 30th minute Tuvalli Khan-Pereira made a thirty five metre line break that including breaking four tackles down the right side of the field to get within two metres of the halfway mark.

Tuvalli Khan-Pereira’s second line break came in the 58th minute when he made a twenty metre line break from a Burleigh scrum win before being tackled near the halfway mark.

After Burleigh were eliminated from the 2021 Hastings Deering’s Colts competition, Tuvalli Khan-Pereira made his Gold Coast Rugby League First Grade debut for Burleigh in Round Fourteen against the Currumbin Eagles at right centre with Tuvalli Khan-Pereira scoring a first half double.

Tuvalli Khan-Pereira scored his first try in the 27th minute of the first half when after Burleigh put up a mid-field bomb which was not taken on the full by Currumbin. The Burleigh halfback ran through to take possession before off-loading to his right to Tuvalli Khan-Pereira who ran fifteen metres to score.

Tuvalli Khan-Pereira added his second try just a few minutes later in the 30th minute in the set of six after his first try with the try being very similar to his first try. Once again Burleigh put up a mid-final bomb and on this occasion the Burleigh right second rower regained possession before passing to his left to Tuvalli Khan-Pereira who had an easy ten metre run to the line.

His GCRL First Grade debut match also saw Tuvalli Khan-Pereira record two try first half try assist, on both occasions setting up his older brother Lofi Khan-Pereira.

Tuvalli Khan-Pereira’s only had to wait three minutes to record his first try assist. Burleigh put up a mid-field bomb which Tuvalli Khan-Pereira took on the full around forty metres out, pushing off one defender and then cutting to to his right and after he had initiated contact with the defensive line, Tuvalli Khan-Pereira threw a great right arm flick off-load to his borther Lofi Khan-Pereira who raced twenty five metres to score.

Tuvalli Khan-Pereira’s second try assist came in the 19th minute when after receiving the ball near the halfway mark to the right of a Burleigh scrum win, Tuvalli Khan-Pereira got on the outside of his direct opponent forcing the Currumbin winger to commit. Once the winger came off his wing, Tuvalli Khan-Pereira drew him in and passed to his right to older brother Lofi Khan-Pereira once again to send him on a forty five metre untouched run down the right sideline to score.

In 2020 Tuvallio Khan-Pereira was part of the Keebra Park Open A Langer Cup school boy side and also was part of the Burleigh Bears U18 Division One side that went down 18 – 0 to Currumbin in the Grand Final, starting the decider at fullback.

In the 2020 Langer School Boy Cup competition Tuvalli-Afoa Khan-Pereira started Round One at right centre against Wavell State High School and maintained his place there in Round two against Marsden State High School when in a 24 – 0 Keebra Park victory Tuvalli-Afoa Khan-Pereira scored his first try of the 2020 Langer Cup competition when he pounced on the ball in the in goal when the Marsden winger dropped a cross field bomb.

Tuvalli-Afoa Khan-Pereira once again started at right centre in Round Three against Ipswich State High School and scored the match winning try late in the second half. After leading 18 – 0, Keebra Park saw their lead wittled down to 18 – 16 before Tuvalli-Afoa Khan-Pereira received a pass when he was on the outside of his immediate defender to run seven metres untouched to dive over in the right corner to clinch a 22 – 16 victory.

In the Round Four local derby against PBC, Tuvalli-Afoa Khan-Pereira continued is 2020 Langer Cup run of starts at right centre as Keebra Park went down 22 – 18 after leading 18 – 0 early in the first half. In the final 2020 Langer Cup regular season round, being Round Five against St Mary’s Toowoomba Tuvalli-Afoa Khan-Pereira also started at right centre as Keebra Park qualified for the finals on the back of a big win.

Tuvalli-Afoa Khan-Pereira moved to fullback for Keebra Park’s semi-final against Wavell State High School and had a big game especially in the first half when he recorded two try assists as Keebra Park qualified for the Grand Final on the back of a 32 – 8 victory.

For all intents and purposes both of Tuvalli-Afoa Khan-Pereira’s try assists were identical, on each occasion the ball was spread to Keebra Park’s left with Tuvalli-Afoa Khan-Pereira chiming into the backline and providing the final pass for his left winger Levi Jones to cross in the left corner.

Tuvalli-Afoa Khan-Pereira also started at fullback for Keebra Park as they went down 16 – 8 to PBC in the 2020 Langer Cup Grand Final.

In 2019 Tuvalli-Afoa Khan-Pereira was heavily involved on the representative scene including being named in the Queensland U16 side for their interstate match against New South Wales but unfortunately was unable to participate in the match.

2019 also saw Tuvalli-Afoa Khan-Pereira start at right centre and captain the Queensland Murri U16 side as they defeated New South Wales Kurri 28 – 20.

Tuvalli-Afoa Khan-Pereira also started at fullback for the 2019 Queensland U16 City side against Queensland Country and scored City’s sole try in their loss. Tuvalli-Afoa Khan-Pereira played all sixty minutes of the match, making a team leading ninety five metres (twelve post contact) with seventy seven of those metres generated from kick returns. Tuvalli-Afoa Khan-Pereira also had a line break, a tackle break and made eight tackles from the fullback position.

In relation to his try Tuvalli-Afoa Khan-Pereira was operating on the left side of the field when he received the ball two passes from the play the ball twenty five metres out in space. Tuvalli-Afoa Khan-Pereira then accelerated and ran a straight diagonal route to score ten metres in from the left corner post untouched.

In 2018 Tuvalli-Afoa Khan-Pereira represented the South Coast U15 side at the QSSRL Championships, going on to representing the Queensland White side at the U15 ASSRL National Championships and was a key member of the side that won the National Championship with Tuvalli-Afoa Khan-Pereira subsequently being named in the 2018 Australian U15 Merit side.

Tuvalli Khan-Pereira was a standout for both Burleigh and Keebra Park over the course of the 2017 season. Tuvalli-Afoa Khan-Pereira started at fullback for Burleigh in the U14 Division One Grand Final however they were defeated by Ormeau 31 – 16 with Tuvalli-Afoa Khan-Pereira scoring.

Tuvalli-Afoa Khan-Pereira also represented a Titans U15 side late 2017 that played against a Balmain Tigers selection. Well done Titans as the U15 side had some very very good players in it, including like Tuvalli-Afoa Khan-Pereira a number of exceptionally talented youngsters who were U14 eligible at the time of the match. Tuvalli-Afoa Khan-Pereira has also been named in the Queensland U15 Emerging Origin squad.

Over the course of the GCJRL U14 Division One season, Tuvalli-Afoa Khan-Pereira finished as the competitions leading try scorer with eighteen tries from just ten matches. Tuvalli-Afoa Khan-Pereira scored four tries in a late season match against Runaway Bay and scored a hat trick against them in the first Round. Tuvalli-Afoa Khan-Pereira also scored a hat trick against Ormeau early in the season.

Tuvalli-Afoa Khan-Pereira was also a standout performer for Keebra Park in their U14 Michael Hancock Cup side that went through the 2017 competition undefeated including defeating PBC in the Cup Final.

In addition, Tuvalli-Afoa Khan-Pereira represented the Vikings at the U14 Hill Stumer Championships where he played mainly in the centres and where the U13 Vikings were undefeated and from there was selected in the U14 South East Queensland Green side for the Queensland Age Championships.

For the Vikings in 2016, Tuvalli-Afoa Khan-Pereira scored three tries over the three matches that the Vikings played, including scoring in both matches on Day One on the Saturday, including a double in a big win over Brisbane Red and also scoring against Brisbane White. For SEQ Green Tuvalli-Afoa Khan-Pereira played in all of their matches. In 2016 Tuvalli-Afoa Khan-Pereira was also named Keebra Park’s U13 MVP and was named in the second row in the 2016 team of the year.

Tuvalli-Afoa Khan-Pereira also was part of the 2016 Keebra U13 Renouf Cup side that performed so well in that competition and scored an incredible number of tries including fifteen in the first five weeks alone. Against Marsden in Round Five he scored four tries and backed that up with a hat trick in Round Seven against Alexandria Hills and in the Round of Sixteen scored a great sixty metre try when he burst through the Ipswich defensive line to score untouched.

At the Keebra Sports Specialisation Awards night in 2016, Tuvalli-Afoa Khan-Pereira was awarded the U13 Player of the Year Award and was also named in the Keebra Team of the Year in the second row along with Renouf Cup and Vikings team mate Syris Schmidt who was named at five eight.

In 2015 he was named in Keebra Park’s team of the year where he was named in the centres, a position he played a lot for Keebra in the U13 age group. Other Titans linked boys who made the Keebra Park 2015 team of the year included AJ Brimson who was named at five eight. His older brother Lofi has also signed with the Titans.

[mdrew]

Titans contracted Ryder Williams has been named in the Tamaki Ki Te Raki (north) side for the upcoming U16 Shaun Johnson Cup.

[mdrew]

TJ Devery’s first 2022 hit-out comes today for the Burleigh Hastings Deering’s Colts side in their first trial in late January when he starts in the front row in a trial match against a Titans U19 side at Pizzey Park.

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 U19 side. 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 once again 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 also came off the bench in Round Seventeen against Ipswich after the late season Covid 19 lockdown and was one of Burleigh’s try scorers in the Bears 78 – 20 victory.

TJ Devery scored in the 66th minute when he ran an inside shoulder route off a Cameron Brown pass whilst operating on the left side of the field with TJ Devery initially receiving the ball ten metres from the line and crashing over next to the left upright.

TJ Devery also recorded a try assist against Ipswich in the 68th minute when he threw a good short ball to his right to put Isaac Matalavea-Booth over next to the right upright.

TJ Devery was also named to start from the bench in the rescheduled Round Thirteen match against the Sunshine Coast Falcons as well as in Round Fourteen against the Northern Pride playing in the right second row position when he was on the field.

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

TJ Devery also had an impressive late 2020 representative season in New Zealand as well performing well in a number of junior representative sides in previous years.

After missing Round One of the 2020 U18 SG Ball competition, TJ Devery started Round Two from the bench for the New Zealand Warriors against the Canberra Raiders. When he came on TJ Devery played forty one minutes, running for thirty two metres (ten post contact) and made sixteen tackles at a tackling efficiency of 88.89%.

TJ Devery also started on the bench in Round Three against the North Sydney Bears, for the second week in a row playing forty one minutes. In that time TJ Devery ran for twenty four metres (seven post contact) and made twenty two tackles at a tackling efficiency of 95.65%.

Round Four against the Cronulla Sharks saw TJ Devery come off the bench for his third match in a row, playing forty four minutes when he came on as well as scoring his first career U18 SG Ball try. TJ Devery played forty four minutes, ran for sixty one metres (fifteen post contact), made a line break, broke two tackles and made nineteen tackles at a tackling efficiency of 95%.

TJ Devery scored for the second match in a row in Round Five against the Parramatta Eels when he started from the bench once again playing a total of twenty seven minutes. In that time, TJ Devery ran for fifty four metres (ten post contact), broke a tackle and made ten tackles at a 100% tackling efficiency.

TJ Devery made his first start in Round Six starting in the second row against the Illawarra Steelers which was ultimately the final round of the 2020 SG Ball competition before the Covid 19 pandemic close down. In his first start, TJ Devery played the entire seventy minutes of the match in the second row, running for forty metres (fifteen post contact) and made an impressive twenty seven tackles at a tackling efficiency of 90%.

In total in the 2020 U18 SG Ball competition for the New Zealand Warriors, TJ Devery played in five matches, finishing with a 40% try scoring strike rate. TJ Devery was on the field for 221 out of a possible 350 minutes (63.14%), made a line break, broke three tackles, ran for 211 metres, fifty seven of which were post contact (27.01%) and made ninety four tackles at a tackling efficiency of more than solid 93.07%.

TJ Devery’s 2020 SG Ball per game averages included playing 44.2 minutes, running for 42.2 metres and making 18.8 tackles. Per seventy minutes (the length of an SG Ball match) in 2020 in the SG Ball competition TJ Devery ran for 66.38 metres and made 29.57 tackles.

Late in 2020 TJ Devery was named to start from the bench for the New Zealand Club U18 side when they took on a New Zealand Schools U18 side at Mt Smart Stadium, however ultimately TJ Devery started the representative match at right second row for the New Zealand Club side as they defeated Schools 34 - 22.

TJ Devery took the final kick to attempt to the conversion for the Club sides final try. Unfortunately for TJ Devery the kick from out wide to the left went wide. Interestingly in the match, TJ Devery on occasion was used as a link player between the NZ U18 Club side’s forwards and backs on the right side of the field rather than being utilised primarily being a ball runner.

Also late in 2020 TJ Devery started at right second row for the Auckland U18 representative side that took on their South Island U18 rivals. Another member of the Auckland U18 representative side was fellow new Titans signing Sam McIntyre who was also a team mate of TJ Devery’s in the New Zealand U18 Club side. In fact the two were the NZ U18 Club side’s second row pairing with TJ Devery on the right and Sam McIntyre on the left.

In 2019 TJ Devery was part of the New Zealand Rugby League U18 Talent Development Program (TDP) and at their 2019 camp started in the second row for Team Lauititi in the trial match on the last day of the camp which has become an annual event.

In 2019 TJ Devery was part of the Akarana Falcons U17 Auckland representative side for the 2019 U17 National Youth Tournament, playing in four matches for the Falcons with those matches coming against the Wai-Coa Bay Colts, the Central Vipers, the Auckland Vulcans and the Counties Manukau Stingrays.

At the conclusion of the 2019 U17 National Youth Championships, TJ Devery was named in the U17 Tournament Merit Team.

TJ Devery also represented the Akarana Falcons at the 2018 U17 National Youth Tournament and as a 16 year old made the U17 Tournament Merit Team as well. TJ Devery also started in the second row for the Falcons in their Tournament Final victory over the Auckland Vulcans.

Prior to the final TJ Devery also played in matches against the Northern Swords where he scored a try and kicked a conversion, the Central Vipers, the Auckland Vulcans where he scored once again and the Counties Manukau Stingrays.

In 2018 TJ Devery played for the Te Atatu Roosters in the Auckland Rugby League U16 competition and was in fact named Player of the Season. In 2018 the Rutherford College student represented the New Zealand Residents U16 side, starting in the second row against Toa Samoa U16’s.

TJ Devery made his representative debut in 2017 at the U15 National Youth Tournament when he was selected in the Akarana Falcons U15 side for the Tournament and as he was in 2018 and 2019 TJ Devery was named in the Tournament Merit side, in 2017 in the U15 age group.

TJ Devery started the 2017 U15 National Youth Tournament Final in the second row and kicked a key penalty goal in the second half as the Falcons defeated the Auckland Vulcans 10 – 8.

[mdrew]

Sam McIntyre’s first 2022 hit-out comes today for the Burleigh Hastings Deering’s Colts side in their first trial in late January when he starts at left second row in a trial match against a Titans U19 side at Pizzey Park.

In January 2021 Sam McIntyre 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 with the Titans dominating the match, especially in the second half to record a 40 – 6 victory after leading 16 – 6 at half time.

Initially when he came on Sam McIntyre played on the right side of the field before moving to the left side of the field in the second half. It was on the left side of the field where Sam McIntyre scored, when he ran into a gap and was fed a pass down a short blind side by Oskar Bryant to charge ten metres to score when he ran over the Knights fullback to ensure that he got the ball down to be awarded his first try in his first game in a Titans jersey.

Sam McIntyre also produced an outstanding run in the match in the 5th minute of the second half. After a break down the right touchline by Samuel Shannon, the Titans spun the ball back to the left, with Sam McIntyre receiving the ball then immediately stepping off his right to beat one defender and drag two more another ten metres. After a quick Sam McIntyre play the ball the Titans crossed in the left corner but the play was called back for an earlier forward pass.

Sam McIntyre also produced a smart piece of attacking play mid-way through the second half. Sam McIntyre was taking a hit-up to the right of the play the ball when he Knights defender flew out of the line trying to put a big hit on him, but Sam McIntyre saw him coming stepping off his left with the Knights defender clutching at thin air. Sam McIntyre was then able to make an additional six metres as well as getting a subsequent quick play the ball, when things could have been substantially different but for his quick foot work.

A week after the match against the Newcastle Knights Sam McIntyre 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.

Sam McIntyre started the match from the bench before coming on at half time playing the entire second half in the left second row position and shortening up a few of the Bears forwards with heavy hits to the ribs. Similarly when he ran the ball in the second half, Sam McIntyre left a couple of Bears in his wake after dropping his shoulder into then when they attempted to tackle him.

Sam McIntyre made his first appearance for the Burleigh Hastings Deering’s Colts side when he started at left second row in the Bears trial against the Easts Tigers which finished in a twenty all draw. Sam McIntyre made some strong runs in the match including a big run from the kick-off after Branden Amundsen scored the Bears first try of the match.

Late in the first half, Sam McIntyre almost scored his first try since moving to the Gold Coast when he cut back inside to beat one defender and surge towards the line, but he was eventually brought down two metres short of the line.

Sam McIntyre also highlighted in the first half his intelligence when he chased through a mid-field bomb. It would have been easy for Sam McIntyre to charge through and tackle the Easts fullback whilst he was still in the air taking the ball, but Sam McIntyre recognised this and held his momentum to tackle the Easts fullback just as his feet hit the ground.

When Sam McIntyre came onto the field in the second half for his second stint in the match, he swapped sides to play in the left second row position and once again displayed his intelligence when in the 24th minute of the second half, he anticipated an Easts Tigers off-load through the centre of the ruck, getting in between the Tigers players to take an intercept and make eight metres up the field before being stopped.

The following week in the Burleigh Hastings Deering’s Colts trial against the Tweed Heads Seagulls, Sam McIntyre was once again in the starting side at left second row and crossed for a second half try.

Sam McIntyre’s try came in the 57th minute when Cameron Brown chipped over the Tweed Heads defensive line forty metres out, regathering the ball and sending a pass to his left to trailing second rower Sam McIntyre who ran twenty metres to dive over untouched.

In the 15th minute of the match Sam McIntyre ran a straight crash line off a short ball from Cameron Brown and was able to get to within ten metres of the Tweed Heads line before being stopped. Sam McIntyre’s efforts to get to his feet to play the ball quickly were hamstrung by Tweed Heads with Sam McIntyre subsequently receiving a deserved penalty. Sam McIntyre then took the first hit-up from the penalty restart.

In the 17th minute Sam McIntyre produced a smart piece of play that may well have saved a try. Tweed Heads had worked the ball well on a short right blindside with winger Troy Duckett getting away down the right touchline with support on his inside. Troy Duckett drew the fullback and passed back inside but Sam McIntyre was able to tracked back and get between Troy Duckett and his inside support to intercept the pass to prevent a likely Seagulls try.

When the second half started Sam McIntyre switched sides to play at left second row before moving back to right second row late in the match.

Like he did in the first, Sam McIntyre was able to prevent a try in the second half through intensity and effort. In the 49th minute, Tweed Heads attacked to their right from inside Burleigh twenty metre area and generated space for their left winger down the sideline and from there he chip kicked high into the in-goal but Sam McIntyre tracked back and out jumped the Tweed Heads chasers to take the ball on the full and prevent a try. Sam McIntyre then raced back to the centre of the twenty metre line to take the restart and take the ball forward.

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 Sam McIntyre starting the match at left second row for the Titans.

Round One of the 2021 Hastings Deering’s Colts competition saw Sam McIntyre Powell start at left second row for the Burleigh Bears when they took on the Easts Tigers with Sam McIntyre scoring the Bears opening round victory.

Sam McIntyre’s try came in just the 6th minute of the match. Burleigh half, Cameron Brown took the ball to the line on the 5th tackle, getting to ten metres out before putting in a right foot stab kick to his left. The kick was ideally weighted, pulling up perfectly in the in-goal for left second rower Sam McIntyre to dive on the ball to score Burleigh’s first try of the 2021 Hastings Deering’s Colts season.

An impressive part of the try was that Sam McIntyre recognised early in his chase that he had time to make sure that he got the ball down correctly. When he got near the ball Sam McIntyre slowed things down, waiting until the ball was on the ground before getting downward pressure on it instead of trying to ground the ball whilst it was still in the air.

Sam McIntyre got his first touch in the first minute of the match when he took the 4th hit-up of the match to passes off to the left of the ruck and was able to get the ball out of the Bears own twenty metre area.

In addition to running the ball strongly throughout the match, Sam McIntyre was also on hand to prevent an early Easts try in the 4th minute when he along with Cole Geyer stopped the Tigers hooker short of the try line after he had tried to dive over from close range. Sam McIntyre and Cole Geyer were to the right of the play the ball, and when the Easts hooker tried to dive over, they got low to stop him short.

Late in the first half Sam McIntyre was able to get the ball to forty metres out from the try line with an effort that accounted for ten hard metres. Just a few minutes later Sam McIntyre continued to work chasing through an Easts dropped ball that went backwards, belting the East halfback who had gone back to retrieve the ball.

It was all about Sam McIntyre’s effort in the 44th minute when somehow he willed himself to back up a break by Lofi Khan-Pereira who flew sixty metres down the left touchline leaving defenders and his own team mates behind. Somehow Sam McIntyre was able to stay close enough to get an offload from Will Evans who had picked up Lofi Khan-Pereira’s inside pass with Sam McIntyre only being stopped five metres from the try line.

Sam McIntyre’s impressive match continued in the 57th minute when he gained a further twelve metres, the last three with his back towards the try line, to get the ball twenty five metres out from his own line.

Then in the 60th minute Sam McIntyre took the second hit-up after an Easts Tigers drop out, making fourteen metres after receiving the ball to the right of the dummy half to get the ball within twenty five metres of the try line.

Sam McIntyre’s thirst for work continued in the 63rd minute with a ten metre run out to the twenty four metre mark out from his own line and then Sam McIntyre took another hit-up two tackles later in the same set of six.

Sam McIntyre was still going strong in the 75th minute when he made a further thirteen metres to get the ball over his own thirty metre mark.

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

Sam McIntyre was back at left second row for Round Three against the Western Mustangs, scoring the Bears second try of the match in the 10th minute. Burleigh hooker Cole Geyer broke through the Western Mustangs defensive line near the halfway mark before offloading to his left to half Cameron Brown who then offloaded to Same McIntyre who cut off his left foot immediately upon receipt of the ball to run over the Mustangs fullback to score midway between the goal posts and corner post on the left side of the field.

After missing Round Four due to playing for the Titans U19 side, Sam McIntyre was named to start Round Five against the Northern Pride at left second row however was a late scratching from the match.

Sam McIntyre also missed Round Six back was back, starting at left second row in Round Seven against the Central Queensland Capra’s as well as in Round Eight against the Redcliffe Dolphins.

Sam McIntyre moved back to the bench for Round Nine against the Mackay Cutters but was back starting at left second row in the Round Eleven local derby against the Tweed Heads Seagulls as well as in the previously postponed Round Ten match against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls.

After a Covid 19 enforced hiatus, Sam McIntyre was named to start at left second row in Round Sixteen against the Ipswich Jets. Sam McIntyre was in the match from the opening minute after taking the opening tackle of the match in conjunction with Isaac Matalavea-Booth.

Sam McIntyre was also named to start at left second row in the rescheduled Round Thirteen match against the Sunshine Coast Falcons as well as in Round Fourteen against the Northern Pride with Sam McIntyre involved in the opening tackle of the match from the kick-off.

The match also saw Sam McIntyre have a running battle with the Northern Pride five eight with Sam McIntyre winning the battle after the Northern Pride five eight was sent to the sin bin for ten minutes for taking a tackle on Sam McIntyre too far.

Sam McIntyre’s initial contribution to Burleigh’s 46 – 0 victory came in the 15th minute with a great fifteen metre run to get within a metre of the try line. Sam McIntyre was immediately to his feet quickly to play the ball with Lachlan Adamson scoring from dummy half.

The opening minutes of the second half saw Sam McIntyre make another strong run and he then took another good hit-up in the 48th minute and being awarded a penalty against the Northern Pride five eight. Sam McIntyre then charged onto the ball from the penalty restart and that is when the five eight was sent to the sin bin.

Sam McIntyre continued to make ground in the 53rd minute with a fifteen metre run out of his own twenty metre area and then in the 56th minute Sam McIntyre made a twenty metre down the left channel before off-loading to his five eight.

At the 2021 Queensland Rugby League Awards Night Sam McIntyre finished with three votes for the Hastings Deering’s Colts Player of the Season Award.

In early November 2020 Sam McIntyre captained the New Zealand Club U18 side that took on a New Zealand Schools U18 side at Auckland’s Mt Smart Stadium, scoring twice in the first half as his New Zealand U18 Club side prevailed 34 - 22 in a high quality hotly contested encounter.

When the sides were announced Sam McIntyre was in fact named at hooker for the NZ U18 Club side but in the end started the match in the left second row position. Fellow new 2021 Titans signing TJ Devery started at right second row for the NZ U18 Club side to make it an all Titans second row for the New Zealand U18 club side.

Sam McIntyre’s first try which was also the first try of the match, resulted from his quick footwork. Sam McIntyre received the ball on the left side of the field around five metres out from the line with the defence rushing up, Sam McIntyre stepped off his left foot to beat the first defender before a second step opened up a small gap to the try line around three metres out, Sam McIntyre got down low and burrowed his way over to get the ball down ten metres away from the left upright.

Sam McIntyre’s second try was also scored in the first half. Sam McIntyre’s Club side had a play the ball less than a metre out from the School’s line. It looked like Sam McIntyre was going to take a hit up to the right of the play the ball but at the last second the dummy half put in a short kick into the in goal. Sam McIntyre kept running into the in goal and he found himself near the ball. In a sign of his maturity, Sam McIntyre took his time to make sure that he grounded the ball properly after he had immediately absorbed the fact that he had time on his side.

Also in early November 2020 Sam McIntyre captained the Auckland U18 side that took on their South Island rivals, once again starting that representative match at left second row and was one of Auckland’s try scorers as they came from behind to defeat the Southern Zone 27 – 16. Fellow 2021 Titans signing TJ Devery was also part of the Auckland U18 representative side, starting the match at right second row.

Sam McIntyre scored from close range in the match. The ball was taken down a short blind side with Sam McIntyre receiving the ball four metres out from the line but at the time was stationary. Sam McIntyre engaged the initial defender chest on, forcing him backwards before cutting to his right and getting down low and forcing his way over five metres in from the left corner post.

To put an exclamation point on his outstanding 2020 season, Sam McIntyre was named the 2020 New Zealand Rugby League U18 Player of the Year, a tremendous honour for the young man prior to his move to the Gold Coast.

As noted above in the introductory comments Sam McIntyre started the 2020 season as part of the Newcastle Knights U18 SG Ball squad playing in their five matches before the competition was suspended due to the Covid 19 pandemic. Sam McIntyre started all five of his matches for the Knights from the bench, although I note that in Round One against the Manly Sea Eagles, Sam McIntyre had initially been named to start in the front row but actually started the match from the bench.

Sam McIntyre’s other 2020 U18 SG Ball matches were against the Western Australian Pirates (Round Three), the Canterbury Bulldogs (Round Four), St George Dragons (Round Five) and the Central Coast Roosters in Round Six. For completeness Newcastle had a bye in Round Two.

In 2020 Sam McIntyre also played for the Northcote Tigers in the Auckland Rugby League competition after returning to New Zealand from Australia when the Covid 19 pandemic hit and international travel was immediately curtailed.

In 2019 Sam McIntyre was part of the Birkenheads College school boy rugby league side that defeated Southern Cross Campus 26 – 4 in the Grand Final of the Senior A SAS College Rugby League School Boy Championships, starting the match at left second row. Sam McIntyre was a key driving force in getting Birkenheads College back into school boy rugby league.

Sam McIntyre was one of Birkenheads College try scorers in the match, scoring under the posts in the opening minutes of the second half. Sam McIntyre received the ball from the dummy half around seven metres out from the line. Sam McIntyre immediately stepped off his left foot, before stepping back off his right. Two additional left foot steps and a left arm fend brought Sam McIntyre to within two metres of the Southern Cross line. Sam McIntyre engaged one defender front on and when two additional defenders got hold of him, Sam McIntyre spun clockwise and then slammed the ball down under the posts with his left arm.

In 2018 Sam McIntyre was a member of the Akarana Falcons U17 representative side that took part of the New Zealand U17 Youth Tournament with Sam McIntyre starting the Tournament final at lock as his Akarana Falcons side defeated Counties Manukau 30 – 26 in the Final.