Junior Development

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Round One of the 2022 Langer Cup School Boy competition on Wednesday night saw Titans contracted Keano Kini start at fullback for PBC State High School against Marsden State High School and put in a Player of the Match performance including scoring a great double in a big PBC SHS 44 – 0 victory.

Keano Kini’s opening try in the 12th was an absolute blinder. Keano Kini received the ball fifty five metres out from the line to the left of the play the ball. Upon receipt of the ball Keano Kini ran back to the right towards the centre of the field and to get through the line executed wicked right foot step. Once through the line Keano Kini easily outpaced the cover defence before another outstanding right foot step gave the Marsden SHS fullback no chance with Keano Kini racing past to dive over next to the left upright.

Keano Kini completed his double in the 56th minute when after PBC SHS spun the ball to the left Keano Kini flew onto the ball after cutting underneath Josh Lynn. Keano Kini received the ball off Josh Lynn twelve metres out and to the left of the uprights but whilst still two metres from the line crashed into the Marsden SHS hooker with Keano Kini reaching out with the ball in his right arm to slam the ball down under the posts.

The match also saw Keano Kini record a number of try assists with the first of those coming in the 19th minute when after receiving the ball to the left of the play the ball Keano Kini veered slightly to his left to draw in one defender an then throw a great short ball in the same direction to send Brady Turner through a gap and subsequently score from twenty metres out near the left corner post.

Then in the 27th minute Keano Kini threw the final pass for Michael Roberts try. Keano Kini chimed into the PBC SHS backline on the left and after looking to split the line himself Keano Kini was able to keep his right arm off the ground as he was being spun around in a tackle and then execute a right arm off-load to Michael Roberts who came back inside to crash over.

Keano Kini recorded his third try assist in the 37th minute after having the foresight to get his feet back into the in-goal and take a Marsden SHS bomb on the full. Keano Kini then raced out to the twenty metre mark to take a quick tap restart. Keano Kini exploded through the middle of the Marsden SHS defensive line and after making twenty three metres was caught from behind but Keano Kini was able to keep his right arm free and off-load to his left to Jett Forbes who raced fifty seven metres untouched to score.

In fact in the 32nd minute Keano Kini once again positioned himself well to take a bomb on the full I the in-goal and looked to have burst through the Marsden SHS defensive line from the quick twenty metre tap restart but the referee ruled that one of the PBC SHS players was in front of Keano Kini so brought him back to take the tap restart a second time.

Keano Kini’s opening contribution for PBC SHS came in the 4th minute with his first run of the match when he made ten metres whilst bringing the ball off his own try line. Keano Kini made a strong run out of dummy half in the 15th minute when after he ran to his right making fifteen metres to thirty metres out.

Keano Kini’s ability to position himself correctly came to the fore in the 9th minute when with Marsden SHS on the attack Keano Kini raced to his left to take a Marsden SHS grubber kick on the bounce on his own try line and even with the chase coming through Keano Kini was able to promote the ball to ten metres away from the line.

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For me one of the most impressive players in the Gold Coast Rugby League U18 Division One competition this season has been Ormeau Shearers second rower Loko Jnr Pasifiki Tonga and after missing a round or two it is great to see him back in the second rower for the Shearers match tomorrow against Runaway Bay.

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Great to see Titans contracted Beau Hartmann named for the Grafton Ghosts Group One U15 side for this mornings match against the Clarence Coast Magpies.

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Today's Group One U14 match between the Kyogle Turkeys and the South Grafton Rebels features two outstanding backrow talents with the Turkeys Malachy Laarhoven lining up against outstanding Rebels second rower Noah Reti.

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Callum Bowles was one of the key figures in the Northern Rivers Titans U16 Andrew Johns Cup Premiership success earlier this season and and tomorrow he is set to come off the bench for the Grafton Ghosts in his debut Group Two U18 match against Macksville.

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Great to see Lockie McLaughlin named at lock for the Grafton Ghosts Group One U16 side for today's Round Six match against the Ballina Seagulls.

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After his heroics for PBC SHS on Wednesday night no one would have excused Will Taylor if he put his feet up and had a rest this weekend but true to form Will Taylor has been named at lock for the Bilambil Jets for tomorrow's U18 NRRRL local derby against the Cudgen Hornets.

Will Taylor has also been penciled in to start on the bench for the Jets in their NRRRL First Grade match later tomorrow afternoon against the Evans Heads Bombers.

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In addition to being a stand out rugby league player for the Ballina Seagulls in the Group One Junior Rugby League competition Cai Garrett plays rugby of the Far North Coast U14 competition and last night for Wollongbar/Alstonville in Round Six against Lennox Head Cai Garrett wore the No. 15 jersey and was on of his team's try scorers.

Earlier in the season Cai Garrett scored a Round Two hat trick from inside centre against Ballina and also scored in Round Five against Casuarina Beach.

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Former Northern Pride Colts outside back Jayson Mura makes his Hastings Deering's Colts debut this afternoon for Burleigh against the Easts Tigers.

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Great to see Titan Vaka Sikahele back for the Burleigh Hastings Deeing's Colts side this afternoon when he starts from the bench against the Easts Tigers.

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Titans contracted Dallas Ingram has made a winning start to his TSS rugby career with his U15A side beating Brisbane State High School 15-10 in a GPS School Boy rugby trial with Dallas Ingram playing inside centre in the trial.

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Titans contracted Nicholas Hilton started at No. 8 today for the TSS First XV and led from the front as TSS defeated Brisbane State High School 44-14 in a GPS School Boy Rugby trial on the Gold Coast today.

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Titans contracted Larry Siala was once again dominant for St Edmunds College this afternoon in the AIC First XV School Boy rugby competition in a 27-17 win over Villanoa College.

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It shapes as a great battle in the halves today when the Tweed Head Seagull take on the Lower Clarence Magpies in the NRRRL U18 competition with PBC's Langer Cup two try hero and Titans contracted Zane Harrison starting at half for the Seagulls and outstanding newcomer Kaleb Hope starting at five eight for the Magpies.

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No doubt the NRRRL U18 local derby between the Bilambil Jets and Cudgen Hornets was penciled into diaries as soon as the draw came out and today's derby will be as hard fought as ever,

One of the Hornets players who may well have a strong influence on the outcome is Titans contracted and PBC SHS Langer Cup captain Tanu Nona who has been named on the bench.