Junior Development

[Hail Sezer]

Great to see Tweed Heads CC Cup hooker Ayden Byrnes named in the Courier Mail Round Four CC Cup Team of the Week.

Not bad at all for a young man on debut, of course he also scored on debut to cap off a great performance by the PBC student.

Has this bloke given any wraps to Armani Wetini-Nngaropo yet? That kid is showing some traits I don't think I've ever seen in a half at that age group, and that's after I've seen all of Walker/Dearden/Boyd/Sexton/Mam/Weaver etc. playing at that age

[mdrew]

Has this bloke given and wraps to Armani Wetini-Nngaropo yet? That kid is showing some traits I don't think I've ever seen in a half at that age group, and that's after I've seen all of Walker/Dearden/Boyd/Sexton/Mam/Weaver etc. playing at that age

Absolutely agree mate, Amarni has been a revelation since his move from NZ.

[mdrew]

On Sunday morning Titans contracted Zane Harrison then continued at captain and halfback of the U16 Andrew Johns Cup Northern Rivers Titans side in the twice delayed final round being Round Five against the Newcastle Knights in Grafton with Zane Harrison scoring a 55th minute try to sealed the match and set the Northern Rivers Titans into the 2022 U16 Andrew Johns Cup Final’s series.

Zane Harrison’s 55th minute try was a good effort from a Northern Rivers Titans scrum win around thirty five metres out with Zane Harrison scoring under the posts to put the Titans level with Callum Bowles kicking the conversion to put the Titans into the 2022 U16 Andrew Johns Cup Final’s series.

Zane Harrison was actually the reason that the scrum was packed where it was with a Northern Rivers Titans feed. The play prior to the scrum saw Zane Harrison put up a high bomb towards the left corner with the Newcastle right winger taking the ball just out from his own line and raced downfield until Zane Harrison hit him with a good tackle that knocked the ball loose and forced a knock-on.

[mdrew]

Kea Pere was named to start at right centre for the Burleigh Bears in Round One of the 2022 Queensland Cup competition against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls however when the Titans players who did not play in Round Two of the NRL dropped back, Kea Pere moved back to the bench but he came into the match early on the left wing as a result of a Lofi Khan-Pereira HIA.

Kea Pere was one of the Bears try scorers in the Bears first up win when he crossed in the 52nd minute when after receiving a good ball from his inside as a result of a catch and pass from Taine Tuaupiki, Kea Pere raced twelve metres down the right touchline to score in the right corner.

[mdrew]

Matthew Bollard started on the left wing for the Northern Rivers Titans U18 side in Round Four of the Laurie Daley Cup on the weekend against the Central Coast Roosters and in the twice delayed final round being Round Five against the Newcastle Knights in Grafton with Matthew Bollard scoring in a tough day for the Titans.

Whilst Matthew Bollard started the match on the left wing he moved to fullback in the second half at it was from that position that Matthew Bollard scored when in the 56th minute when he was able to break away and score five metres from the right corner post.

[mdrew]

Tristian Powell was named to start in the front row for the Burleigh Bears in Round One of the 2022 Queensland Cup competition being his Queensland Cup debut to become Burleigh Player No. 380 against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls however when the Titans players who did not play in Round Two of the NRL dropped back, Tristian Powell moved back to the bench.

Tristian Powell played thirty five minutes against the Seagulls, running for eighty two metres (thirty post contact), broke three tackles, played the ball at an average speed of 3.54 seconds and made thirteen tackles at a 100% tackling efficiency.

[mdrew]

Well done to the Northern Rivers Titans U16 Andrew Johns Cup squad who will face the St George Dragons side away this weekend.

Titans Zane Harrison and Riley Buchanan no doubt will be in the side.

[mdrew]

On Sunday morning Titans contracted Sam Stephenson started at left centre in Round Four of the Cyril Connell Cup against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls and made a number of line breaks, with the first coming in just the 4th minute of the match when Sam Stephenson burst through the Wynnum Manly righted sided defensive line down the left channel, making twenty two metres.

Sam Stephenson made another line break in the 49th minute when he broke through the Wynnum Manly right sided defensive line making twenty five metres, breaking three tackles along the way.

Sam Stephenson also produced a strong defensive effort in the 47th minute when after Wynnum Manly put in a cross kick to their right, Sam Stephenson smashed the Seagulls right winger just after he took possession of the ball ten metres out from the line.

[mdrew]

Taine Tuaupiki was named to start at fullback for the Burleigh Bears in Round One of the 2022 competition against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls and in the Bears first up win, Taine Tuaupiki certainly filled up the stats sheet by scoring one try, setting up two more and also recording a number of line break assists.

Taine Tuaupiki scored in the 27th minute when after Burleigh made a line break down the right touchline, Taine Tuaupiki backed up through the centre of the field, receiving the ball around thirty five metres out and immediately stepping off his left foot to beat the last remaining Wynnum Manly defender and then racing away to score untouched.

Taine Tuaupiki’s first try assist of the match came in the 44th minute when after chiming into the Burleigh backline on the right side of the field, Taine Tuaupiki ran towards the right corner and at the last moment, Tony Francis cut back inside with Taine Tuaupiki delivering the pass with Tony Francis subsequently crashing over.

Just eight minutes later in the 52nd minute Taine Tuaupiki recored his try assist, once again chiming into the backline but on this occasion on the left side of the field, with Taine Tuauapiki chiming into the backline with the Easts right winger jamming in but Taine Tuaupiki executed a great catch and pass to his right to put Kea Pere a straight run to get the ball down in the right corner.

Playing the entire eighty minutes at fullback Taine Tuaupiki ran for 106 metres (eighteen post contact), had two line break assists, played the ball at an average speed of 3.69 second and made two tackles, missing none.

[mdrew]

Titans contracted Amarni Wetini-Ngaropo then continued at five eight for Burleigh on Sunday morning in Round Four of the CC Cup against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls with Amarni Wetini-Ngaropo kicking one conversion, recording a try assist and making a line break.

In the 33rd minute Amarni Wetini-Ngaropo whilst operating down a short left blindside initially ran the ball away from the touchline to his right before cutting back to his left and even in heavy traffic Amarni Wetini-Ngaropo popped a good short ball from four metres out from the line to his left to Anton Whaiapu who crashed over wide out on the left. Amarni Wetini-Ngaropo then stepped up to convert the try.

Amarni Wetini-Ngaropo made his line break in the 48th minute when he ran the ball on the left side of the field, stepping twice off his left foot to get to the outside of the Wynnum Manly right sided defensive line and then Amarni Wetini-Ngaropo burst away down the left touchline getting within five metres of the left corner but unfortunately his pass back inside went forward.

Amarni Wetini-Ngaropo never gave up in the match and even with only a couple of minutes to go Amarni Wetini-Ngaropo was still at it, making a twelve metres winding run to get within fifteen metres of the try line.

Amarni Wetini-Ngaropo was also solid defensively including along with Anton Whaiapu and Ray Puru he held the Wynnum Manly five eight over the try line in the 39th minute.

[mdrew]

Titans contracted Lofi Khan-Periera was named to start on the left wing for the Burleigh Bears in Round One of the 2022 competition against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls but unfortunately Lofi Khan-Pereira was only able to play sixteen minutes before coming off with a HIA and was not able to return to the field. However in those minutes Lofi Khan-Pereira ran for fourteen metres (five post contact) and played the ball at an average speed of 3.52 seconds.

[mdrew]

For the Burleigh MM Cup side on Sunday Taniela Mapusua-Lotaki was named to continue on the right wing in Round Four against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls however a late change saw Taniela Mapusua-Loatki start the match from the bench with Taniela Mapusua-Lotaki coming off the bench in the 16th minute to play at left centre and putting in an outstanding performance.

Taniela Mapusua-Lotaki made a great ball and all try saving tackle in the 28th minute right on the try line when he stopped the Wynnum Manly right centre in his tracks and thus preventing what appeared to be a sure fire Seagulls try.

Taniela Mapusua-Lotaki pulled off another strong tackle in the 57th minute when along with Josiah Pahulu, he smashed the Easts Tigers front rower who as taking the kick-off return.

Taniela Mapusua-Lotaki made a strong charge of fifteen metre, at least nine of which were post contact after receiving the ball to the right of the play the ball in the process getting the ball out of Burleigh’s twenty metre defensive area in the 28th minute.

Then in the 37th minute Taniela Mapusua-Lotaki made a strong run of sixteen metres, nine of which were post contact, from a Burleigh penalty tap restart. Taniela Mapusua-Lotaki took another Burleigh tap restart from a penalty in the 59th minute and once again made significant ground, on this occasion sixteen metres to get the ball within twelve metres of the try line against a Tigers set defensive line.

[mdrew]

Luke Jones's move up to the PBC SHS as part of his Titans contract has paid immediate dividends with the young man named in the South Coast School Boy U15 Representative Side for this year's QSSRL U15 State Championships.

[mdrew]

Titans contracted Bailey McConnell continued at halfback for Burleigh on Sunday in Round Four of the MM Cup against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls and made a good winding run in the 30th minute when whilst operating on the left side of the field and twenty metres out from the line, Bailey McConnell initially ran to his left, beating one defender before he cut back to his right and using his speed and elusiveness to get to within two metres of the line before being tackled directly in front of the posts.

Bailey McConnell was involved in Burleigh best try scoring movement of the match in the 41st minute when after he received and off-load from Josiah Pahulu he promoted the ball onto Arama Hau put after a strong run and right arm off-load put Karauria Stokes-Mahara over in the right corner.

- - - Updated - - -

[mdrew]

The Tugun Seahawks are now part of the Gold Coast Junior Rugby League competition and the Tugun U14 Division One side had a great start to their 2022 Grading campaign with a good 16-6 victory over the Currumbin Eagles last weekend.