Junior Development

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Noah Waldock has been named to start on the wing for a Northern Rivers Titans U17 squad that takes on a Titans U16 JTS side at Cbus Stadium as a curtain-raiser to the Titans NRL Round Fourteen against the Souths Sydney Rabbitohs this weekend.

In early December 2021 Noah Waldock was named in the 2022 Northern Rivers Titans U16 Andrew Johns Cup Train-on Squad.

Round One of the 2022 U16 Andrew Johns Cup competition saw Noah Waldock start on the right wing for the Northern Rivers Titans side against the Macquarie Wests Tigers in Sydney’s west. In the second half Noah Waldock spent time closer to the action, including feeding the ball when the Northern Rivers Titans had the scrum feed.

Noah Waldock was not far from scoring in the 29th minute when after receiving the ball on his right wing in space around twenty metres out, as the cover defence came across, Noah Waldock cut inside off his wing and was only dragged down just a metre short of the try line.

Noah Waldock continued his hard working match in the 35th minute when he came off his wing to make a strong run of fifteen metres to the halfway mark through the centre of the field.

Noah Waldock showed his hard working attributes when in the 51st minute he came off his right wing to take some of the pressure off his forwards when he took a hit-up to the right of the dummy half with Noah Waldock making a hard twelve metres to get the ball just into the Wests Tigers territory.

The Macquarie Wests Tigers ran a lot of traffic at Noah Waldock’s right wing and he more than held his own, the first of a number of occasions being in the 9th minute when he executed a good low tackle not far out from his own try line on his opposite number from a Wests Tigers scrum feed.

Noah Waldock also started on the right wing in the Round Two local derby against the North Coast Bulldogs and scored an outstanding try in the 26th minute.

In the 26th minute Noah Waldock received a ball from his inside from fullback Harry Chadburn who had chimed into the backline on the right side of the field. After taking the ball seventeen metres out, Noah Waldock immediately cut inside off his right foot beating three North Coast defenders before Noah Waldock cut back to his right and burst over between two defenders to get the ball down mid-way between the goal posts and right corner post.

Noah Waldock also produced an excellent try saving tackle in the 19th minute of the match, when after facing an overlap Noah Waldock stayed with the North Coast left centre and drove him over the touchline just centremetres out from the corner post.

Round Three against the Greater Northern Tigers saw Noah Waldock move closer to the action and to the opposite side of the field, starting the match at left centre and also started at left centre in Round Four against the Central Coast Roosters, before switching to right centre in the twice delayed final round being Round Five against the Newcastle Knights in Grafton.

Noah Waldock recorded a 40th minute try assist when after receiving the ball around twenty five metres out from the line Noah Waldock ran slightly to his right to draw in the Newcastle left winger and pass to his right to put Samuel Petch into clear space to score in the right corner to get the Titans back into the match which they ultimately won 24 – 22 to progress to the 2022 U16 Andrew Johns Cup Final’s series.

Noah Waldock then was named to continue at right centre for the Northern Rivers Titans Week One Final against St George however a late change saw Noah Waldock start the match on the right wing. Noah Waldock along with Callum Bowles and Billy Kilduff made the opening tackle of the match after the Titans kicked-off to get the match underway.

Noah Waldock also started on the right wing for the Northern Rivers Titans in the 2022 U16 Andrew Johns Cup Grand Final against the Wests Tigers with Noah Waldock making a key line break in the 46th minute from a Northern Rivers Tians scrum win just twenty metres out from his own line. Noah Waldock was able to break three tackles whilst running forty metres downfield before being caught. Noah Waldock’s effort set up a key try for Billy Kilduff on the final tackle of the set of set that Noah Waldock got off to such a great start.

A couple of weeks after his U16 Andrew Johns Cup success with the Northern Rivers Titans, Noah Waldock was named on the left wing for the Ballina Seagulls in their Round One U18 NRRRL clahs against the Kyogle Turkeys even though Noah Waldock was still U16 eligible. Noah Waldock then moved to the right wing for the second half.

Noah Waldock had an outstanding debut scoring an impressive double with his first try coming in the 21st minute when after being on the end of a Seagulls backline movement to his left side of the field Noah Waldock stepped inside two defenders to dive over five metres in from the left corner post.

Noah Waldock completed his double in the 53rd minute with a strong solo effort that started near halfway when Noah Waldock was put away down the right touchline. When in space Naoh Waldock stepped back inside off his right foot to get past one defender before another right foot step wrong footed another defender with Noah Waldock diving over to get the ball down mid-way between the goal posts and corner post on the right side of the field.

In addition to his two tries Noah Waldock also made a line break in the 15th minute when after taking a Turkey’s clearing kick on the full near the halfway line on his left wing, Noah Waldock ran back towards the centre of the field, bumping off one defender before straighteneing up. Just as he was about to break into open space Noah Waldock was tackled from behind, dropping down to his knees but as he was held Noah Waldock regained his feet and overall made twenty five metres.

Noah Waldock was in the action early taking Ballina’s second hit-up of the match when from twenty one metres from his own try line and to the left of the dummy half Noah Waldock ran the ball twenty metres after beating one defender with a left foot step and fending off another.

Even against opponents in the main two years older than him Noah Waldock put his hand up to bring the ball out of Ballina territory including i the 10th miute when he came off his wing to take the ball to the left of the dummy half and was able to break one tackle in a run that took Ballina twenty metres downfield.

Noah Waldock made a strong run out of dummy half to the 40th minute aafter running to his left making eighteen metres to get within five metres of the defensive line.

Noah Waldock also had a strong match defensively with Noah Waldock making a standout front on tackle in the 26th minute on the Kyogle right centre.

Naoh Waldock was to continue on the left wing in Round Two against the Byron Bay Devils as well as in Round Three against theKyogle Turkeys however the match had to be postponed due to wet weather. Noah Waldock also started on the left wing in Round Six against the Tweed Heads Seagulls.

Round One of the 2022 Group One U16 competition saw Noah Waldock start at five eight for the Ballina Seagulls against the Marist Rams with Noah Waldock kicking one of Ballina’s conversions.

Naoh Waldock continued at five eight in Round Two against the Grafton Ghosts, scoring ten of the Seagulls eighteen points from a try and thre conversions from as many attempts.

The 2018 New South Wales U12 rugby league representative Noah Waldock (from St Francis Xavier College Ballina) continued his rise in the junior rugby league ranks in 2021 with a great season for the Ballina Seagulls in the Group One U15 competition as well as playing a number of matches up an age group in the Group One U16.5 competition.

In late March 2021 Noah Waldock was part of Diocesan of Lismore U15 Squad that attended the Northern Country Catholic Colleges Rugby League Selection Trial that were held at Smithtown with Noah Waldock playing at fullback in the trials.

In Round One of the 2021 Group One U15 competition Noah Waldock started at fullback and was Ballina’s captain as the Seagulls took on the Clarence Coast Magpies.

Noah Waldock also started at fullback in Round Two against Marist Brothers, scoring a double in the Seagulls 38 – 0 victory and also started at fullback in Round Five against Casino RSM.

Noah Waldock continued at fullback in Round Six against the Clarence Coast Magpies, scoring a double in Ballina’s 34 – 0 victory and scored once again in Round Seven against the Grafton Ghosts after also starting the match at fullback. Noah Waldock also started at fullback in Round Eight against the Grafton Ghosts.

Noah Waldock dropped back to the bench in Round Eleven against the South Grafton Rebels, but dominated when he came on, including scoring a hat trick.

Round Twelve against Casino RSM saw Noah Waldock start at five eight and he also started at five eight in Round Thirteen against the Grafton Ghosts and was one of the Seagulls try scorers in their two point loss.

Noah Waldock started Round One of the 2020 Group One U14 competition at fullback and was one of Ballina’s try scorers as they went down 14 – 12 to Casino RSM. Noah Waldock also started at fullback in Round Two as Ballina defeated South Grafton 14 – 12 and once again in Round Three in a 24 – 8 loss to the Clarence Coast Magpies.

Noah Waldock added a try and a goal from fullback in Round Four against Kyogle as the Seagulls defeated the Turkeys 48 – 4. Noah Waldock also started at fullback in Round Five against the Clarence Coast Magpies.

In Round Six Noah Waldock continued his run of starts at fullback and scored a try and kicked a conversion as Ballina defeated Grafton 20 – 14. Also starting at fullback, Noah Waldock scored a double and kicked a conversion in Round Seven as Ballina defeated Casino RSM 32 – 0.

Noah Waldock’s try scoring form continued in Round Eight, when from the fullback position once again he scored a double as Ballina defeated Casino RSM 32 – 0. Noah Waldock also started at fullback in Round Nine as Ballina defeated South Grafton 20 – 10 and Round Ten against the Clarence Coast Magpies.

In total in the Group One U14 regular season Noah Waldock scored six tries and kicked two conversions for a twenty eight point haul from his ten matches.

As noted above, Noah Waldock also played a number of matches in the 2020 Group One U15 competition, backing up from the U14 match earlier in the day, including in Round One when he started on the right wing against Casino RSM and in Round Two when he also started on the right wing against South Grafton, a match that Ballina won 28 - 0. Noah Waldock then started from the bench in Round Three against the Clarence Coast Magpies.

Noah Waldock also started from the bench in Round Five against the Clarence Coast Magpies scoring a double when he came on, with those tries being his first in the U15 competition as well as in Round Six against the Grafton Ghosts and Round Seven against Casino RSM.

After playing in the U14 match earlier in the day, Noah Waldock then started in the centres in Ballina’s Round Eight 36 – 18 loss to Casino RSM. It was the same situation in Round Nine when after starting at fullback in Round Eight in the U14 match, Noah Waldock started in the centres as Ballina defeated South Grafton 38 – 14 in the U15 match. Round Ten also saw Noah Waldock came off the bench in the U15 match after starting at fullback in the earlier U14 fixture.

Noah Waldock started from the bench for Ballina in the 2020 Group One U15 Grand Final against Casino RSM.

Noah Waldock finished his impressive 2019 season in the Group One U13 competition third on the try scoring list with thirteen tries from just eleven matches (118% strike rate), second on the goal kicking tally (thirteen goals) and second overall from a points scoring perspective (seventy eight points) to average just on seven points per match.

Noah Waldock is currently part of the Titans 2020 Group One Academy squad that was training on a weekly basis in Ballina on Tuesday’s in Northern New South Wales and hopefully this is just the start of a long and fruitful association with the Titans for Noah Waldock.

Noah Waldock had a great 2019 Group One U13 Round One scoring a hat trick and kicking a conversion against South Grafton and followed that up with a Round two double against Casino RSM. Noah Waldock added further doubles against Clarence Coast and Casino RSM later in the season as well as scoring in matches against Lismore Marist Brothers (three separate matches including finals) and Kyogle.

From a goal kicking perspective, Noah Waldock kicked three goals against Lismore Marist Brothers and kicked two conversions in matches against Casino RSM, Clarence Coast and Grafton over the course of the 2019 season.

In 2019 Noah Waldock also played five matches in the Group One U14 competition making his debut in May against Clarence Coast. Noah Waldock played in the U13 match immediately prior to all five of his U14 appearances in 2019.

In 2018 Noah Waldock Scored thirty six points from seven U12 Group One matches scoring eight tries (114% strike rate) and kicking two goals. Six of his tries came from doubles against Lismore Marist Brothers, Casino RSM and Grafton.

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Ryan McCann has been name to start on the right wing for the Titans JTS U16 squad that take on a Northern Rivers Titans U17 squad at Cbus Stadium this weekend as a curtain-raiser to the Titans NRL Round Fourteen against the Souths Sydney Rabbitohs.

In late January 2022 Ryan McCann started on the right wing for the Titans U16 side in a match at Pizzey Park against the Sydney Bulldogs.

In mid-December 2021 Ryan McCann had the opportunity to train with the Titans NRL squad in a joint training session between the Titans NRL squad and the Titans JTS Program Squads.

In late October 2021 Ryan McCann was named in the 2022 Souths Logan Magpies U16 Cyril Connell Cup side and after the Magpies had a Round One bye, Ryan McCann was named on the right wing for Round Two against the Burleigh Bears and was set to continue on the right wing in Round Three against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls however he was a game day scratching from the match.

Ryan McCann moved to the left wing for Round Four against the Redcliffe Dolphins and he made the most of the position switch with an opportunist try in the 8th minute when he swooped on a dropped ball by the Dolphins thirty three metres out from the line. After taking possession Ryan McCann outpaced the Redcliffe right second rower down the left touchline and then was able to bring the ball around to put it down under the posts.

Ryan McCann was then named to continue on the left wing in Round Five against the Easts Tigers once again showcased his express pace when he was on the end of the Souths Logan backline movement to his side of the field in the 27th minute when after receiving the ball thirty metres out and with limited space down the touchline, Ray McCann burnt off the Tigers defence to score in the left corner.

Round One of the 2022 Langer Cup School Boy competition saw Ryan McCann start on the right wing for Coombabah State High School against Redcliffe State High School.

Ryan McCann also started on the right wing in Round Two against Keebra Park State High School with Ryan McCann doing well in the 39th minute to take the Keebra park SHS fullback Karauria Stokes in touch just inside Coombabah SHS territory after the fullback had threatened to break through the defensive line.

In 2021 Ryan McCann also played for Coombabah State High School in the Walters Cup competition and in Round Three against PBC SHS scored what was surely the fastest try scored in 2021 regardless of which competition you are referring to when he scored inside the opening twelve seconds (yes seconds) of the kick-off.

Lining up at left centre, Ryan McCann followed through the Coombabah SHS kick-off which took a wicked bounce back towards Coombabah SHS. Ryan McCann got to the ball first and then was able to beat two PBC defenders and then carried another over the line to slam the ball down with his right arm seven metres in from the left corner post.

2021 also saw Ryan McCann play for Logan Brothers in the Greater Brisbane Junior Rugby League U15 Division One competition for Logan Brothers where he operated primarily on the wing, including starting on the right wing in the GBJRL U15 Division One Grand Final against Moreton Bay.

Even though Logan Brothers went down 20 – 10 in the Grand Final Ryan McCann had a strong match including a 39th minute line break of twenty metres through centre field after he was on hand to receive an off-load with Ryan McCann getting to within twenty metres of the try line.

Ryan McCann’s elite top end speed was showcased in the 34th minute of the Grand Final when he cahsed down the Moreton Bay halfback who had taken an intercept deep in his own territory. It looked as if he would race eighty metres to score but Ryan McCann after stopping and turning to chase made up a huge amount of ground to tackle the Moreton Bay halfback from behind and prevent a certain try.

In 2020 Ryan McCann played for the Ormeau Shearers in the Gold Coast Rugby League U14A Division One competition with the Shearers winning two of their eight matches to finish 5th on the ladder. Ormeau scored 134 points and conceded 190 to have a -56 points differential.

In 2019 Ryan McCann also played for the Ormeau Shearers in the GCRL U13 Division One competition. Ryan McCann’s 2019 season was certainly an impressive one including scoring twenty seven tries from his fourteen matches which saw him finish as the competition’s leading try scorer and a strike rate of a staggering 193%. With a conversion against Runaway Bay, Ryan McCann scored 110 points on the season.

Ryan McCann’s 20219 season included scoring five tries early in the season against Southport and four tries twice being against Currumbin and Southport once again. Ryan McCann also scored hat tricks in consecutive matches in June 2019 against Runaway Bay and Coomera and recorded doubles against Burleigh on two occasions and Currumbin. Ryan McCann’s other two tries came against Runaway Bay and Burleigh.

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Joseph Pouniu has been named to start in the front row for the Titans JTS U16 squad that took on a Northern Rivers Titans U17 squad at Cbus Stadium as a curtain-raiser to the Titans NRL Round Fourteen against the Souths Sydney Rabbitohs.

In late January 2022 Joseph Pouniu started in the front row for the Titans U16 side in a match at Pizzey Park against the Sydney Bulldogs with Joseph Pouniu taking the first hit-up of the match for the Titans in just the 2nd minute of the match.

Joseph Pouniu made another strong charge in the 38th minute from a penalty restart he made an impressive fourteen metres against a set Bulldogs defensive line.

In mid-December 2021 Joseph Pouniu had the opportunity to train with the Titans NRL squad in a joint training session between the Titans NRL squad and the Titans JTS Program Squads.

Round One of the 2022 U16 Cyril Connell Cup saw Joseph Pouniu named in the front row for the Redcliffe Dolphins against the Easts Tigers however the match rained out due to a once in a decade rain event. The Round One match against Easts was re-scheduled in Round Three with Josiah Pouniu once again being named in the front row.

Joseph Pouniu was also named in the front row for Round Two against the Tweed Heads Seagulls and scored in the 55th minute when he crashed over from around five metres out and to the left of the play the ball with Joseph Pouniu spinning counter clockwise right on the try line to get the ball down with authority under the posts.

Such was the quality of Joseph Pouniu’s performance that he was named as a reserve in the Courier Mail’s Cyril Connell Cup Round Two Team of the Week.

After Redcliffe had a Round Three Joseph Pouniu was back in the front row for Round Four against the Souths Logan Magpies with Joseph Pouniu probably scoring the easiest try that he is ever scored and is ever likely to. In the 18th minute Joseph Pouniu chased through a short grubber kick into the in-goal. It looked as if the Magpies would handle the kick but instead the ball was lost with the ball bouncing straight to Joseph Pouniu who just had to get his hands down low, take the ball and place it down underneath the goal posts.

Joseph Pouniu continued in the front row in Round Five against the Norths Devils with Joseph Pouniu putting in an exceptional performance which deservedly saw him named in the front row in the Courier Mail CC Cup Round Five Team of the Week.

In total in the 2022 U16 Cyril Connell Cup competition Joseph Pouniu ran for the 13th most metres being 450 metres at an average of 113 metres per game and also made two line breaks.

In late March 2022 Joseph Pouniu was named to attend the Queensland Rugby League Positional Skills Day as part of the Sunshine Coast Falcons Squad.

In late May 2022 Joseph Pouniu also represented Wide Bay in the U18 QSSRL School Boy Championships.

In 2020 Joseph Pouniu played for the North Lakes Kangaroos in the GBJRL U14 Division One competition who finished third on the ladder, winning six out of their ten matches. North Lakes scored 242 points and conceded 124 to finish with a points differential of +118.

North Lakes moved through the 2020 Finals series to the Grand Final qualifier against Carina with the match ending in a 22 all draw but Carina went through to the Grand Final as they had scored first in the Preliminary Final.

In the tough match, Joseph Pouniu scored two tries, one on each half as North Lakes season ended in heart breaking fashion prematurely.

Joseph Pouniu’s first try came in just the 7th minute of Preliminary Final. With North Lakes on the attack, Joseph Pouniu was positioned to the left of the play the ball which occurred in the right corner, Joseph Pouniu initially received the ball two passes off the ruck and immediately offloaded to his front row partner who was to his left.

Joseph Pouniu then looped around behind his front row partner (an old fashioned run around) to receive the ball approximately ten metres out, Joseph Pouniu then ran to his left before dummying in the same direction before putting the ball under his arm and bursting through the defensive line to drag two defenders over the line to score ten metres in from the left corner post. Joseph Pouniu then ran the ball back from the subsequent Carina kick-off.

Joseph Pouniu’s second try arrived in the 21st minute of the second half when he barged over from six metres out. Joseph Pouniu got down low for force his way over five metres to the right of the goal posts.

Joseph Pouniu was involved in the 2020 Grand Final qualifier early, taking the first hit-up of the match after Carina kicked the ball off to get the match underway with Joseph Pouniu getting the ball back to close to the twenty metre mark to give North Lakes a solid foundation to get their first set of six underway.

In addition to scoring two tries, Joseph Pouniu also set up one towards the end of the first half. Joseph Pouniu backed up a break by his front row partner and got the offload and was immediately engaged by the defence, Joseph Pouniu however was able to maintain his balance and throw a right arm out the back of his hand off-load to a team mate but they were brought down less than a metre from the try line.

Joseph Pouniu continued on unabated in the second half of the Preliminary Final with a try saving tackle in the early minutes of the half. Defending on the try line, Joseph Pouniu moved quickly to his left to engage and man handle the Carina right centre to prevent a try being scored.

Also early in the second half Joseph Pouniu produced an offload that ultimately led to a try in the corner by the North Lakes left winger. A couple of minutes later Joseph Pouniu put up a spiralling midfield bomb to highlight that all players are halfbacks at heart, and then was the first North Lakes player down field to tackle the Carina fullback.

In the 19th minute Joseph Pouniu continued to work hard, making twelve metres from the second hit-up from a North Lakes penalty restart after Carina had infringed in the play the ball.

In late September 2020 Joseph Pouniu produced another strong match against Moreton Bay starting with taking the 4th hit-up from North Lakes first set of six making twelve metres in the process. Then in the 3rd minute, Joseph Pouniu charged to within a metre of the try line and won a penalty when Moreton Bay stripped the ball with more than one defender in the tackle. Joseph Pouniu then got back to take the hit-up from the penalty restart once again only being dragged down a metre from the line, with North Lakes scoring from the next play.

In the 5th minute Moreton Bay had to commit five defenders to eventually get Joseph Pouniu to the ground and then in the 22nd minute, Joseph Pouniu barged fifteen metres downfield into the Moreton Bay twenty metre area from a penalty restart.

Interspersed with these efforts, Joseph Pouniu hit one of the Moreton Bay front rowers hard stopping him in his tracks less than a metre from the try line to stop him from scoring.

In the second half Joseph Pouniu took the second hit-up after Moreton Bay kicked off and what a hit-up it was. After receiving the ball, Joseph Pouniu charged straight through the middle of the Moreton Bay defensive line, breaking easily through the first line and then under heavy pressure from the cover defence threw a great one arm (right arm) pass to his left to his front row partner who also broke through to take the ball into the Moreton Bay twenty metre area.

Towards the end of the second half, Joseph Pouniu, from around twelve metres out was able to get within a foot of the try line and after Joseph Pouniu produced a quick play the ball, North Lakes scored in the left corner from the next play.

Just five minutes later it was a similar situation, after a strong run that one again finished within less than a metre of the try line, Joseph Pouniu produced another quick play the ball that ended with his front row partner scoring under the posts.

In late August 2020, it was the Redcliffe Dolphins that bore the brunt of Joseph Pouniu’s strength and power, including Joseph Pouniu scoring a try late in the first half.

Joseph Pouniu’s try came around the 24th minute of the first half when he lined up to the right of the play the ball twenty metres out from the try line. When the first receiver took possession, Joseph Pouniu ran an underneath route and charged towards the left corner beating four tackles. Near the try line (and corner post) Joseph Pouniu propped on the spot to let two defenders sail past before veering back to his right and crossing eight metres from the left corner post with two defenders trying in vain to prevent Joseph Pouniu from getting the ball down.

After North Lakes kicked off Joseph Pouniu made the 3rd and 4th tackles of the match and continued to dominate in both attack and defence from there on.

That domination continued in the 6th minute when Joseph Pouniu made a strong run to the left of the ruck before offloading of his left and then Joseph Pouniu backed up to take the next hit-up. Then in the 9th minute Joseph Pouniu off-loaded once again (right arm offload) this time to his right after a strong hit-up from a twenty metre tap restart, with Joseph Pouniu making ten metres before offloading.

In the 16th minute, Joseph Pouniu lined up to the right of the play the ball but after the first received took possession he cut back underneath the play to break four tackles and make around twenty metres to eventually be tackled near the left touchline.

Joseph Pouniu’s dominance continued in the second half with Joseph Pouniu taking the third hit-up off the Redcliffe kick-off to break through the Redcliffe line and then round the Dolphins fullback to his right and was then still able to produce a right arm off-load to his five eight to get North Lakes onto the attack well into Redcliffe territory.

Redcliffe found it near impossible to stop Joseph Pouniu from off-loading the ball and that proved to be the case once again in the 7th minute of the second half when Joseph Pouniu took the ball right into the line but was still able to produce a right arm off-load to his left to send North Lakes on a long attacking raid well into Dolphins territory.

In addition to starting the match well, Joseph Pouniu also finished the match well with a charge to the right of the play the ball starting from inside his own twenty metre area. After initially being brought down by two defenders, Joseph Pouniu was not held and after getting to his feet threw off another defender before exploding off the mark downfield once again rounding the fullback and getting yet another off-load away.

As was the case on multiple occasions in 2019 and 2020, Joseph Pouniu’s impressive defence is over shadowed due to how damaging he is running the ball but a tackle towards the end of the match when he got low and drove his right shoulder into the Redcliffe hooker highlighted that Joseph Pouniu can be just as damaging without the ball as he is with it.

Another team that had their hands full in trying to contain Joseph Pouniu was Souths Acacia Ridge who in early August 2020 struggled and Joseph Pouniu made them pay with a late first half try as well as an outstanding individual try in the early minutes of the second half.

In relation to his try in the first half, Joseph Pouniu lined up on the left side of the field, receiving the ball two passes off the ruck ten metres from the line, Joseph Pouniu simply was not going to be stopped and he crashed over eight metres to the left of the uprights.

In the early moments of the second half, Joseph Pouniu scored a solo try and you would be hard pressed to see a better individual effort. Joseph Pouniu received the ball off the dummy half to the right of the play the ball and burst through the Souths line sixty metres out. After easily outpacing the cover defence, Joseph Pouniu just as easily rounded the Souths fullback and scored an absolutely impressive solo try seven metres to the left of the uprights.

Joseph Pouniu became immediately involved in the match taking the second hit-up after Souths kicked up, making ten metres to get the ball out to the forty metre mark. Joseph Pouniu then backed up to take the 4th hit-up of the match.

Joseph Pouniu followed those two hit-ups with another strong run from the Souths kick-off after North Lakes opening try of the match, making a further fifteen metres. Then in the 9th minute, Joseph Pouniu produced another damaging effort that accounted for an additional twenty five from a run that included six tackle breaks to get the ball to within one metre of the try line with North Lakes scoring from the next play in the right corner.

In the 18th minute Joseph Pouniu burst straight through the centre of the Souths Magpies ruck, making approximately twenty metres before a right arm offload found his locked who was able to continue the North Lakes attack.

Joseph Pouniu’s attack on the Souths defensive line continued in the second half in the 12th minute when he burst into a gap on his own thirty metre mark charging downfield before offloading to his left around twenty five metres out from the try line.

Joseph Pouniu is not just about speed, strength and power, he is also an intelligent young man with that being confirmed in the 28th minute of the second half when Joseph Pouniu produced a one on one strip inside Souths Acacia Ridge’s own twenty metre mark with North Lakes scoring in the right corner two tackles later.

Even though Joseph Pouniu’s defence was overshadowed by his attack, I am certain that the Souths replacement front rower (No. 17) did not see it that way when Joseph Pouniu crunched him with a big front on tackle in the 13th minute of the first half.

In 2019 Joseph Pouniu started in the GBJRL U13 Division One Grand Final and was one of North Lakes try scorers in their Grand Final victory over Logan Brothers with his try coming in the 12th minute of the second half.

Joseph Pouniu was on the left side of the field and received the ball after the ball went through hands from the right with Joseph Pouniu receiving the ball five metres out and diving over ten metres in from the left corner post after getting on the outside of his immediate Logan Brothers opponent.

Joseph Pouniu then ran the ball back from the subsequent kick-off, breaking at least eight tackles in a bumping run to get the ball out to thirty five metres out from the North Lakes line.

In addition to his try, Joseph Pouniu also recorded a Grand Final try assist which came mid-way through the first half. Joseph Pouniu took the ball off the dummy half to the right of the play the ball, after drawing the defence in, Joseph Pouniu threw a long pass to his left to put his left winger over in the left corner. Joseph Pouniu then took the hit-up off the kick off.

Joseph Pouniu’s first contribution in the Grand Final came almost immediately when he made a strong tackle, which was just the second tackle of the match after North Lakes had kicked off.

Joseph Pouniu’s first hit-up of the Grand Final came in the 4th minute when he made fifteen metres when he received the ball to the right of the dummy half to get the ball up to near the halfway mark.

Joseph Pouniu showcased some very good hands ten minutes into the first half. Logan Brother’s kicked-off after North Lakes scored the opening try of the Grand Final with the ball skidding of the green towards Joseph Pouniu, just before it got to him, the ball bounced high above his head. Joseph Pouniu jumped up to take the ball right on the goal line in two hands. Joseph Pouniu then ran the ball back at the Logan Brothers line, getting the ball forty two metres out from his own line, in a run that included five broken tackles.

To round off an impressive first half of the Grand Final, Joseph Pouniu once again made a damaging run from a Logan Brothers kick off and once again Joseph Pouniu dragged defenders all the way back to the forty metre mark.

Even the half time break could not slow Joseph Pouniu down with the young front rower taking the first hit-up from the Logan Brothers kick-off to start the second half. Joseph Pouniu broke two tackles and made twenty metres down the left side of the field just a few minutes later in the 6th minute of the second half.

Then in the 9th minute, Joseph Pouniu skittled Logan Brothers defenders at will, breaking six tackles in a single run of twenty two metres that initially started to the right of a North Lakes scrum win. After receiving the ball, Joseph Pouniu cut back towards the right and getting to metres into Logan Brothers territory.

Joseph Pouniu then have an exclamation mark on his impressive performance in the Grand Final in the 25th minute of the second half when he received the ball on his own line. After dummying to his right, Joseph Pouniu surged downfield, breaking four tackles as he got the ball out to the thirty eight metre mark.

A lot of the analysis of Joseph Pouniu’s Grand Final performance has revolved around his attack but his defence was also outstanding including a tackle mid-way through the second half when Joseph Pouniu monstered the Logan Brothers half back forcing him back ten metres before the referee called held.

In the 2019 GBJRL U13 Grand Final qualifier against Carina, Joseph Pouniu also had a strong match, making an impact in the opening minutes when he made twelve metres, breaking three tackles along the way when he ran the ball to the right of a North Lakes scrum win. Then in the 5th minute Joseph Pouniu made a further run that made fifteen minutes to take the ball out of North Lakes territory and over the halfway mark.

In the 7th minute of the match, Joseph Pouniu showed that he was not just a bash and barge type of player when he engaged the defensive line and got away a good offload to his starting front row partner around the halfway mark.

Just like in the Grand Final, Joseph Pouniu was also dominant defensively in the match against Carina including in just the 4th minute when he made two strong tackles in a row and on both occasions Joseph Pouniu got low to gain leverage and force the Carina attacked backwards after stopping their initial momentum with strong initial contact.

In the 22nd minute, Joseph Pouniu showed great hands when a Carina kick-off was let bounce, the ball bounced back towards the Carina chasers but Joseph Pouniu raced towards the ball and reaching out and initially juggling he ball just as the Carina defence arrived. Then after securing the ball, Joseph Pouniu was still able to get the ball back to near the forty metre mark.

From the second half Carina kick-off, Joseph Pouniu continued to prove difficult to bring down with Joseph Pouniu breaking four tackles to get the ball back to near the forty metre mark. Joseph Pouniu did not slow down as the second half wore on when in the 21st minute of the half, Joseph Pouniu received the ball two passes to the left of the dummy half and from his own forty metre mar, Joseph Pouniu marched the ball twenty five metres into Carina territory.

Josiah Pouniu also had a strong match in July 2019 when he ran rampant against Moreton Bay, including scoring early in the first half. In just the 4th minute of the match, Joseph Pouniu received the ball ten metres out from the Moreton Bay line from the dummy half to the right of the play the ball. Joseph Pouniu, from a near stationary start bumped off two defenders, pushing another backwards before getting the ball down under the posts.

Even though is try came in just the 4th minute of the match, even that was not the first major contribution that Joseph Pouniu had made in the match. In just the 1st minute, Joseph Pouniu got within two metres of the Moreton Bay try line directly in front of the posts, after Moreton Bay had last the ball from their kick-off return.

The in the 3rd minute, in the set of six after North Lakes first try, Joseph Pouniu brought the ball back to the half-way with a strong fifteen metre run after receiving the ball to the right of the dummy half.

Joseph Pouniu continued his strong match in the 9th minute with another run that brought the ball out of his own territory and then in the 16th minute, Joseph Pouniu ran the ball into the defensive line to the right of the play the ball, initially being hit by three Moreton Bay defenders, as Joseph Pouniu continued to fight in the tackle, he spun clockwise and just kept pumping his legs, making ten metres all up before four Moreton Bay defenders had to commit to the tackle to finally get Joseph Pouniu on the ground.

Early in the second half Joseph Pouniu continued to cause havoc for the Moreton Bay defence running off an inside ball to make ten metres to bring the ball out of his own twenty metre area and then in the 16th minute of the second half Joseph Pouniu charged directly through the centre of the Moreton Bay defence, making twenty metres and showcasing impressive speed.

Late in the first half Joseph Pouniu displayed that he is really a half at heart when he last minute of the half he put in a right foot kick to the left corner.

Also in 2019 Joseph Pouniu represented Brisbane Red U13’s in the front row at the Hill Stumer South East Queensland Junior Rugby League Championships, and post those Championships was selected in the South East Queensland Training Squad.

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Oscar Laffranchi has been named to start in the front row for the Titans JTS U16 squad that took on a Northern Rivers Titans U17 squad at Cbus Stadium as a curtain-raiser to the Titans NRL Round Fourteen against the Souths Sydney Rabbitohs.

In late 2021 Oscar Laffranchi played his first match in a Titans jersey when he played for the Titans U15 JTS Squad in a trial in hot and steamy conditions which challenged the players fitness and stamina but not their enthusiasm.

In late January 2022 Oscar Laffranchi started in the front row for the Titans U16 side in a match at Pizzey Park against a Sydney Bulldogs U16 Development squad.

In late 2021 Oscar Laffranchi was named in the Burleigh Bears U16 Cyril Connell Cup competition.

Round One of the 2022 U16 Cyril Connell Cup saw Oscar Laffranchi named in the front row for the Burleigh Bears against the Tweed Heads Seagulls with Oscar Laffranchi taking the third hit-up of the match after Tweed Heads had kicked off.

Oscar Laffranchi was also named in the front row for Round Two against the Souths Logan Magpies with Oscar Laffranchi making his first hit-up within the opening minute of the match to get the ball inside the Bears attacking twenty metre area after Burleigh retrieved the ball after kicking the ball off to get the match underway.

Oscar Laffranchi continued in the front row in Round Three against the Norths Devils and had a solid match including a strong tackle in the 8th minute on the Norths right centre with Oscar Laffranchi’s initial contact forcing the ball loose.

Oscar Laffranchi then continued in tgeh front row in Round Four against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls with Oscar Laffranchi making a strong run from the kick-off to Nayte Saaga’s 2nd minute try.

Oscar Laffranchi was named on the bench for the Bears opening 2022 Cyril Connell Cup trial against local rivals the Tweed Heads Seagulls after playing for the Titans against the Burleigh MM Cup side in late January 202. The trial saw Oscar Laffranchi operating in the front row in the second half after coming on at halftime and making some strong runs through the centre of the Seagulls ruck.

Oscar Laffranchi then started in the front row for Burleigh in their final 2022 trial against the Western Clydesdales operating on the left side of the field.

In late 2021 Oscar Laffranchi was named in the Miami Raptors Oztag side for the 2022 Queensland U16 Junior State Cup held in late February 2022.

Oscar Laffranchi played the 2021 season for Burleigh in the Gold Coast Rugby League U15 Division One competition including being involved in the Grand Final when the two Burleigh sides played each other in the decider.

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Isaac Togia has been named to start at right second row for the Titans JTS U16 squad that took on a Northern Rivers Titans U17 squad at Cbus Stadium as a curtain-raiser to the Titans NRL Round Fourteen against the Souths Sydney Rabbitohs.

In late January 2022 Isaac Togia started at left second row for the Titans U16 side in a match at Pizzey Park against the Sydney Bulldogs and Isaac Togai was involved in the opening tackle of the match after the Titans had kicked off to get the match underway.

In mid-December 2021 Isaac Togia had the opportunity to train with the Titans NRL squad in a joint training session between the Titans NRL squad and the Titans JTS Program Squads.

In late October 2021 Isaac Togia was named in the Ipswich Jets 2022 U16 Cyril Connell Cup squad and after the Jets had a Round One bye, Isaac Togia was named in the second row for Round Two against the Burleigh Bears and scored the line in just the 14th minute of the match. Only twenty metres out from his own try line, Isaac Togia packed in at lock for a scrum with an Ipswich Jets feed. After picking up the ball, Isaac Togia ran to his right and literally just ran eighty metres untouched to five over under the posts.

Isaac Togia continued at right second row in Round Three against the Sunshine Coast Falcons playing strongly yet again, with his first strong effort with the ball coming in just the 5th minute when Isaac Togia making a strong twelve metres when he ran to his right out of dummy half to get the ball within thirty metres of the try line.

Isaac Togia also had a very good match from a defensive perspective including a big tackle in the 6th minute when Isaac Togia drove his right shoulder through the Falcons lock. Then just three tackles later Isaac Togia made a strong driving tackle on the Falcon’s left centre forcing him back around three metres.

Isaac Togia continued at right second row in Round Four against the Wide Bay Bulls, scoring once again in a big Jets victory. In the 24th minute on the second tackle after a Jets scrum win ten metres from the line and fifteen metres in from the right touchline Isaac Togia moved into dummy half and once he collected the ball Isaac Togia ran to his left, engaging two defenders still six metres from the line. Upon the engagement with the two Bulls defenders Isaac Togia spun 360 degrees counter clockwise to gain separation before charging over the get the ball down under the posts with four Wide Bay defenders trying in vain to prevent Isaac Togia from scoring a strong solo try.

Isaac Togia also started at right second row in Round Five against the Western Clydesdales with Isaac Togia scoring in the 48th minute when from around ten metres out and ten metres in from the right touchline, Isaac Togia ran to his left out of dummy half and proved far too strong for the Clydesdales defence to crash over under the posts.

In total in the 2022 U16 Cyril Connell Cup competition Isaac Togia ran for the 7h most metres being 502 metres at an average of 126 metres per game and also made three line breaks. Isaac Togia also made the 13th most tackles with sixty eight tackles.

Post the 2022 U16 Cyril Connell Cup competition Isaac Togia once again played for Goodna in the Ipswich Rugby League competition, starting at right second row in Round One of the U17 Division One competition against the Springfield Panthers with Isaac Togia scoring a first up hat trick in a big Goodna victory.

Isaac Togia was named to continue at right second row in Round Two against Norths Ipswich however a late schange saw Isaac Togia start from the bench with Isaac Togia scoring in a 22 – 12 Goodna victory.

At the completion ofhte Round Two match Isaac Togia was the equal leading try scorer in the 2022 Ipswich Rugby League U17 Division One competition with four tries from two matches to have a 200% early season strike rate.

Isaac Togai was also named at right second row in Round Three against Swifts/Rosewood however the match ended up being forfeited by Swifts/Rosewood.

In late March 2022 Isaac Togia was named to attend the Queensland Rugby League Positional Skills Day as part of the Ipswich Squad.

In 2021 Isaac Togia once again lined up for the Goodna Eagles in the Ipswich Rugby League U15 Division One competition, operating primarily in the second row for the Eagles.

As he did in 2020 Isaac Togia had some big matches for Goodna Black in 2021 including a two try effort in Round Two as Goodna defeated Norths Blue 62 – 0. Isaac Togia also scored a double in Round Seven against Brothers Blue after starting the match from the bench.

Isaac Togia moved into the Eagles starting side in the second row in Round Eight against Swifts and had a huge Friday night scoring five tries and converting Goodna’s final try of the match in their 78 – 6 victory. Isaac Togia then started from the bench in Round Eleven against Swifts and was also named on the bench for Round Twelve against Norths Ipswich.

Isaac Togia started on the bench for Goonda Black in week one of the Ipswich U15 Division One Final’s series against Ipswich Brothers Blue scoring in the 40th and 60th minutes in Goodna’s big win. Isaac Togia also stepped up to convert the try that he scored in the 60th minute.

Isaac Togia also started from the bench in the 2021 Ipswich U15 Division One Grand Final against Norths Blue with Isaac Togia scoring in the 10th minute as Goonda recorded a big 2021 Grand Final victory.

Isaac Togia played for Ipswich Grammar School one again in 2021 in the GPS School Boy Rugby U15A competition.

In 2020 Isaac Togia played for Goonda Black in the Ipswich Rugby League U14 competition with Goonda Black winning all ten of their 2020 matches, scoring a staggering 506 points and conceding just 32 to finish with a positive points differential of an incredible +474.

Isaac Togia had some big match in 2020 for Goonda Black including scoring five tries in Round Eight as Goodna Black defeated Redback Red 58 – 10. Isaac Togia also scored four tries in Rounds Four and Six against Goodna Blue (62 – 0) and Swifts Blue (68 – 0) respectively.

Isaac Togia previously played for the Springfield Panthers Junior Rugby League Club who also play in the Ipswich Rugby League competition.

In 2019 Isaac Togia represented the Ipswich Diggers U13’s in the second row at the Hill Stumer South East Queensland Junior Rugby League Championships, and post those Championships was selected in the South East Queensland Training Squad.

Isaac Togia is also a more than impressive rugby player and currently attends Ipswich Grammar School and plays rugby in the GPS school boy rugby competition. In 2020 in the GPS U14A competition and in 2019 in the U13A competition, Isaac Togia was a stand out for the Ipswich based school, playing at outside centre (No. 13).

Isaac Togia has also represented Ipswich Grammar School in the GPS Athletics Championships in 2019 and 2020.

2019 also saw Isaac Togia play for the Ipswich Rangers rugby club who played in the Brisbane U13A Brisbane Junior Rugby competition, once again playing outside centre.

For the Ipswich Rangers, Isaac Togia played at outside centre (No. 13) and finished the 2019 season on fire. In the BJR U13A 2019 regular season Isaac Togia had a huge Round Ten match, scoring five tries against Sunnybank Green and also scored a double in Round Eight against Souths Black.

Isaac Togia also scored in each of his three finals matches in 2019, being in Week One of the Finals against Souths Black, Week Two against Easts Blue and Week Three against Norths Blue in the Rangers two point loss.

Also in 2019 Isaac Togia was selected in the Brisbane Red side for the Queensland XV’s State Rugby Championships.

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Cooper Bai has been named to start at lock for the Titans JTS U16 squad that took on a Northern Rivers Titans U17 squad at Cbus Stadium as a curtain-raiser to the Titans NRL Round Fourteen against the Souths Sydney Rabbitohs.


The powerful young lock or second rower from the Burleigh Bears Junior Rugby League club was part of the Titans U13 side that took on a Western Mustangs side at Mudgeeraba in February 2019, his first match in a Titans jersey.

In early January 2021 Cooper Bai was part of a small group of Titans 2021 U15 players who after attending a Titans camp, trained with the Titans NRL squad. Post that camp Cooper Bai signed a contract that will keep him with the first NRL club that his father played for.

In late January 2022 Cooper Bai started at lock for the Titans U16 side in a match at Pizzey Park against the Sydney Bulldogs with Cooper Bai being involved in the second tackle of the match along with Corey Pe****.

In October 2021 Cooper Bai was named in the powerful Burleigh Bears U16 Cyril Connell Cup squad however Cooper Bai ultimately pulled out of the Burleigh side prior to Round One.

In late 2021 Cooper Bai was named in the Miami Raptors Oztag side for the 2022 Queensland U16 Junior State Cup.

In November 2021 Cooper Bai was named in the Miami Raptors U16 2022 State Cup Oztag squad and in October of the same year represented Marymount College at the 2021 Queensland All Schools Oztag Championships and at the end of the Championships was named in the Year Ten Boys First XVI All Schools Championship Team.

Even though he was still U15 eligible in June 2021, Cooper Bai was a member of the Titans JTS U16 Development side that drew with a Titans U17 Northern Rivers Academy side at Cbus Stadium in a curtain raiser to the Titans NRL fixture against Manly, playing lock in his time on the field. Cooper Bai was one of only two 15 year old’s in the Titans U16 JTS squad with the other being Sam Stephenson.

Cooper Bai played for the Gold Coast based Marymount College once again in 2021 including in the Titans Cup Boys Year Nine/Ten Boys Division One competition and had a big Round Two match against St Michael’s College. Whilst Cooper Bai did not score in Marymount College’s 38 – 0 win he made some telling runs with the ball, none better than in the second half when he took a hit-up from a St Michael’s College kick-off and charged over the halfway mark before being stopped with Marymount College scoring two plays later.

Early February 2021 saw Cooper Bai make it through the first stage of the South Coast U15 QSSRL School Boy Representative Trials.

In 2021 Cooper Bai played for the Burleigh Bears in the Gold Coast Rugby League U15 Division One competition, playing for Burleigh Marron and started at right second row in their 2021 U15 Division One Grand Final victory against Burleigh White.

Cooper Bai put an exclamation mark on the Grand Final in the 59th minute with an outstanding long range try. Near the halfway mark Cooper Bai chased through a short grubber kick with Cooper Bai retrieving the ball thirty five metres out from the line. Cooper Bai was initially tackled ten metres from the line but was not held and quickly got to his feet and stepped off his left foot and crashed over mid-way between the corner post and goal posts on the right hand side of the field.

Cooper Bai also performed strongly in the 2021 GCRL U15 Division One Major Semi-final, once again starting at right second row for the Bears against the Helensvale Hornets and recording a try assist towards the end of the second half when after breaking through the Helensvale left sided defensive line near the halfway mark Cooper Bai positioned his right winger, drawing the Hornets fullback and passing to his right to put his winger over in the right corner.

Cooper Bai also had a strong match at right second row in Round Ten against the Coomera Cutters, a match that saw Cooper Bai make a strong line break mid-way through the second half when from just inside his own territory Cooper Bai burst through the centre of the Cutters defensive line and ran thirty five metres before drawing the Coomera fullback and passing to his right to his winger who unfortunately was dragged into touch just short of the right corner.

Cooper Bai also played for the Titans in early October 2020 when he was part of the Titans U14 squad that played a Titans U14/15 NRRRL Development squad at Cbus Stadium.

In 2020 Cooper Bai was part of the Burleigh Bears U14 Division One side in the Gold Coast Rugby League competition. Burleigh finished the 2020 season going down 40 – 0 in the play-off round to Helensvale. The Burleigh U14 Division One side finished the regular season with six wins from their seven matches, scoring 250 points and conceding only thirty four to have an impressive +216 points differential.

From a trivia perspective, Cooper Bai is the son of former Titans, Melbourne Storm and PNG International winger Marcus Bai.

Early in the 2019 season Cooper Bai was named in the Gold Coast Vikings U13 squad starting in the second row for the Vikings. After the completion of the competition, Cooper Bai was selected in the 2019 South East Queensland U13 training squad.

Cooper Bai started in the second row for Burleigh in Round One of the 2019 GCRL U13 Division One competition against Coomera but also spent time in the centres this season for Burleigh.

In total for Burleigh in the 2019 GCRL U13 Division One competition regular season, Cooper Bai played in ten matches scoring four tries including a Round Six double against Currumbin as well as tries in Rounds One and Three against Coomera and Nerang respectively.

In Round One of the finals Copper Bai started in the second row and scored for Burleigh as they went down 24 – 22 to Ormeau and also started in the second row in Week Three being their Preliminary Final victory.

In the GCRL U13 Division One Grand Final Cooper Bai started at left second row and had a very good second half but Burleigh ended up going down 26 – 22 to the Helensvale Hornets in a high quality affair.

Cooper Bai also played school boy rugby league in 2019 and at the Marymount College Sports Awards Presentation Night he was named as U13/14 Sky Best Back and U15/16 Blue Best and Fairest.

In 2018 Cooper Bai played for Burleigh in the U12 Division One competition playing in twelve matches, scoring thirty points from three tries and nine goals, including scoring Burleigh’s only try in their 28 – 6 U12 Division One Grand Final loss to Helensvale. Copper Bai started the Grand Final in the second row, scoring in the first half for the Bears.

In addition to his 2018 Grand Final try Cooper Bai scored against Runaway Bay and Coomera. Interestingly, all of his nine conversions were kicked in separate matches over the course of the 2018 season.

2018 also saw Cooper Bai captain the Marymount Catholic Primary School side in the NRL Development Cup Final played at Suncorp Stadium with the Gold Coast school running out 16 – 12 winners against Cairns West Primary School.

Cooper Bai started the match at lock and scored Marymount’s Catholic Primary School’s first try when he cut back inside the Cairns West defence to score under the posts to level the score up at 6 all in the first half.

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Anton Whaiapu has been named to start from the bench for the Titans JTS U16 squad that took on a Northern Rivers Titans U17 squad at Cbus Stadium as a curtain-raiser to the Titans NRL Round Fourteen against the Souths Sydney Rabbitohs.

In October 2021 Anton Whaiapu was named in the powerful 2022 Burleigh Bears U16 Cyril Connell Cup squad and after a great season with the Bears in that competition Anton Whaiapu signed a contract the Titans until the end of the 2023 season.

Round One of the 2022 U16 Cyril Connell Cup saw Anton Whaiapu named at left second row for the Burleigh Bears against the Tweed Heads Seagulls however he was a game day scratching from the match.

Anton Whaiapu was then named on the Bears extended bench for Round Two against the Souths Logan Magpies before moving onto the bench proper on the morning of the match. Anton Whaiapu came off the bench in the twenty minute mark to operate at left second row.

Round Three against the Norths Devils saw Anton Whaiapu move into the Bears starting side at left second row with Anton Whaiapu making a big opening tackle of the match with his left shoulder after Burleigh had kicked-off to get the match underway.

Anton Whaiapu then continued at left second row in Round Four against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls with Anton Whaiapu scoring his first try of the 2022 Cyril Connell Cup season when in the 33rd minute Anton Whaiapu crashed over from four metres out ten metres in from the left corner post.

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

Anton Whaiapu was named at lock for the Bears opening 2022 trail against the Tweed Heads Seagulls with Anton Whaiapu being involved in the opening two tackles of the match after Burleigh had kicked off to get the match underway.

Anton Whaiapu produced a smart piece of play in the 16th minute when down the left channel near halfway Anton Whaiapu threw a great short ball to his left to put his left centre away and then Anton Whaiapu backed up to receive the ball back with Anton Whaiapu then being brought down just centremetres short of the try line.

Anton Whaiapu also produced a big front one tackle in the 24th minute just inside his own territory with the ball coming loose as a result of Anton Whaiapu’s heavy contact and Burleigh taking possession.

Anton Whaiapu then came off the bench to play in the front row for Burleigh in their final 2022 Cyril Connel Cup trial at Pizzey Park against the Western Clydesdales with Anton Whaiapu crashing over from ten metres out to score five metres from the right goal post in the final minute of the match to earn Burleigh an 8 all draw in a match that saw no kicks at goal.

2022 also saw Anton Whaiapu continue at Keebra Park State High School, starting Round One of the School Boy Walters Cup competition at lock against Ipswich State High School.

At the conclusion of the 2021 season the outstanding back row prospect and Year Nine student was named on the bench in the 2021 Keebra Park Rugby League Team of the Year. The fact that Anton Whaiapu was named on the bench is a great indicator of the quality and depth of the Titans Partnered Keebra Park State High School’s Rugby League Excellence Program.

From a trivia perspective Anton Whaiapu is the younger brother of Titans contracted and fellow Keebra Park SHS student Wailer Whaiapu.

Anton Whaiapu’s selection in the Keebra Park SHS Team of the Year was on the back of a number of outstanding performances for the Keebra Park SHS Hancock Cup School Boy side including an outstanding performance in their heart breaking 16 -12 Grand Final loss to PBC SHS.

The Grand Final saw Anton Whaiapu record a try assist and convert both of Keebra Park SHS’s tries. In just the 5th minute from ten metres out and to the left of the play the ball, Anton Whaiapu received the ball from his dummy half and put in a stab kick towards the right goal post with the ball bouncing up perfectly for Tyrel Laben to collect the ball and crash over next the afore mentioned right goal post.

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Dahnte Te Whiu-Hopa was named to start from the bench for the Titans JTS U16 squad that took on a Northern Rivers Titans U17 squad at Cbus Stadium as a curtain-raiser to the Titans NRL Round Fourteen against the Souths Sydney Rabbitohs.

In late January 2022 Dahnte Te Whiu-Hopa started from the bench for the Titans U16 side in a trial match at Pizzey Park against a Sydney Bulldogs U16 selection with Dahnte Te Whiu-Hopa coming onto the field at halftime.

In late March 2022 Dahnte Te Whiu-Hopa was named in the Met East U15 QSSRL School Boy Representative side from Marsden SHS.

In October 2021 Dahnte Te Whiu-Hopa was named in the Queensland Maori U14 side for the 2021 QPICC carnival starting Round One of the Cultural Carnival in the second row against Tonga. Dahnte Te Whiu-Hopa was also named captain of the Maori U14 side and was one of Maori’s try scorers.

Dahnte Te Whiu-Hopa in total in the 2021 U14 QPICC Carnival played in five matches, starting all in the second row and in addition to his Match One try, Dahnte Te Whiu-Hopa also scored in the Grand Final against Samoa.

Dahnte Te Whiu-Hopa scored in the 5th minute of the Grand Final when whilst operating at left second row Dahnte Te Whiu-Hopa ran onto a short ball from his inside from eight metres out to dive over ten metres in from the left corner post.

In 2019 Dahnte Te Whiu-Hopa attended Coombabah State High School and was part of the Year Eight Coombabah side that defeated Forest Lake State High School 36 – 16 in the Renouf Cup Grand Final with Dahnte Te Whiu-Hopa starting the Grand Final in the front row and he was also adjudged Player of the Match after a dominating display.

Dahnte Te Whiu-Hopa’s first (and surely not last) taste of representative rugby league came in 2019 as part of the Queensland White U12 side that were the first team in the history of the Australian U12 School Championship to go through the Championships undefeated.

Dahnte Te Whiu-Hopa had an outstanding carnival including scoring a hat trick in Queenland’s 50 – 10 semi-final victory over Victoria. Dahnte Te Whiu-Hopa went one better in Queensland’s 62 – 0 Quarter Final victory over South Australia scoring four tries and converting one and on Day One of the Championships, Dahnte Te Whiu-Hopa scored a double against Victoria as Queensland started in winning fashion 24 - 4.

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Titans contracted Larry Siala has a huge match tomorrow when he lines up for St Edmunds College in the final round of the AIC School Boy Rugby First XV competition when his school takes on St Lawrence's College.

Both teams are undefeated with the winner becoming the 2022 AIC First XV Premiers.

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Nelson Makaafi has been named to start from the bench for the Titans JTS U16 squad that took on a Northern Rivers Titans U17 squad at Cbus Stadium as a curtain-raiser to the Titans NRL Round Fourteen against the Souths Sydney Rabbitohs.

In late May 2022 Nelson Makaafi represented the South Coast U15 School Boy side at the QSSRL U15 Championships starting Match One against Northern at right second row and scoring a great forty metre try in the 40th minute and after crossing the try line near the right corner was able to bring the ball around to put it down near the right goal post.

Nelson Makaafi also started at right second row in Match Two against Met North and for me was South Coast’s best in a tough loss. Nelson Makaafi almost scored in South Coast’s opening run of the match when he got within two metres of the try line near the right corner after South Coast’s opening kick-off went into touch.

Nelson Makaafi then made a great try saving tackle in the 15th minute when after the Met North fullback broke through the South Coast defensive line from deep inside his own territory, it looked as if he would race seventy metres to score but Nelson Makaafi chased hard through centre field and caught the fullback from behind in a great display of speed and effort.

Nelson Makaafi also produced an outstanding chase in the 17th minute of the abridged match when with South Coast deep on the attack the Met North right centre took an intercept and raced away. Initially the Met North centre tried to cut in from the right touchline towards centre field but once again Nelson Makaafi chased hard through centre field and kept forcing the Met North centre wider and wider out.

As a result of his performance for South Coast, at the conclusion of the Championships Nelson Makaaafi was named in the 2022 QSSRL U15 Maroon School Boy Representative side.

2022 also saw Nelson Makaafi once again play for PBC State High School starting at right second row in Round One of the School Boy Hancock Cup competition against Marsden State High School with Nelson Makaafi making the first of his telling runs in the 12th minute when from two passes to the right of a PBC scrum win twenty metres out Nelson Makaafi ran to his right and got within six metres of the try line before multiple defenders were forced to engage him and bring him to ground.

Nelson Makaafi made another strong run in the 41st minute when from thirty five metres out and two passes to the right of another PBC SHS scrum win, Nelson Makaafi burst downfield to make an impressive twenty five metres, breaking two tackles along the way.

Nelson Makaafi also started at right second row in the following round against Ipswich State High School.

In 2021 Nelson Makaafi was part of the Titans Partnered PBC State High School’s Renouf Shield School Boy rugby league side and started the Grand Final at right second row against fellow Titans partnered Marsden State High School and executed a key try saving tackle in the dying moments of the match to preserve PBC SHS’s tight 8 – 4 lead which they ultimately held onto to for the remainder of the match.

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Tashahn Cora has been in outstanding form for the Tweed Heads Seagulls NRRRL U18 side this season alternating between the centres and fullback and on the weekend will line up for the Titans Northern Rivers U17 squad that will take on a Titans U16 JTS side and in the match will lien up against some of his Tweed Heads Seagulls team mates.

Tashahn Cora comes into the match in great form after scoring a hat trick last weekend for the Seagulls against the Lower Clarence Magpies.

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The Titans JTS U16 side will have to be on their toe's tomorrow against the Titans Northern Rivers U17 with the hugely talented Waylon Caldwell starting at five eight.

The Casino RSM youngster is not just tough and aggressive but a superb ball runner.

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There are a number of intriguing prospects playing for the Titans Northern Rivers U17 side tomorrow in an NRL curtain-raiser at CBus including Noah Hill who will start at fullback.

Noah Hill has been impressive this season for the Murwillumbah Mustangs in the U18 NRRRL competition, spending the majority of his time at centre but last time out he started at five eight for the Mustangs.

In addition to being a good ball runner Noah Hill has also been Murwillumbah's primary goal kicker this season.

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Isaac Harrison has been named to start at lock for a Northern Rivers Titans U17 squad that takes on a Titans U16 JTS side at Cbus Stadium as a curtain-raiser to the Titans NRL Round Fourteen against the Souths Sydney Rabbitohs.

In early December 2021 Isaac Harrison was named in the 2022 Northern Rivers Titans U16 Andrew Johns Cup Train-on Squad.

Round One of the 2022 U16 Andrew Johns Cup competition saw Isaac Harrison start at lock for the Northern Rivers Titans side against the Macquarie Wests Tigers in Sydney’s west and Isaac Harrison also started at lock in Round Two against the North Coast Bulldogs with Isaac Harrison taking the third hit-up of the match after the North Coast Bulldogs had kicked off to get the match underway.

Isaac Harrison continued at lock for Round Three against the Greater Northern Tigers and as in Round Four against the Central Coast Roosters and in the twice delayed final round being Round Five against the Newcastle Knights in Grafton with Isaac Harrison scoring his first try of the season, and what a critical try it was in the 51st minute.

With the Titans attacking a metre out and directly in front of the goal post the dummy half ran to his left with Isaac Harrison cutting back against the grain and coming underneath to receive the ball just three metres from the line. Isaac Harrison was hit by two defenders still a metre from the line but refused to be denied to force his way over to get the ball down under the posts.

Isaac Harrison then continued at lcok for the Northern Rivers Titans Week One Final against St George and was in the match early with a great front on driving tackle on the St George lock in just the 3rd minute.

Isaac Harrison also started at lock for the Northern Rivers Titans in the 2022 U16 Andrew Johns Cup Grand Final against the Wests Tigers with Isaac Harrison recording a 23rd minute line break assist in the Titans great last minute 24 – 22 Grand Final victory when after a good run he was able to off-load to his right to Jackson Bennett who broke away down the right channel to get the ball over the halfway mark.

Isaac Harrison showed what he is all about in the 39th minute with a desperate covering tackle on his opposite number to force the ball loose just twenty metres out from the try line.

The 2022 season saw Isaac Harrison play for the Tweed Heads Seagulls U18 side in the NRRRL U18 competititon, even though he was still U16 eligible, starting Round One of the competition at lock against the Byron Bay Devils.

One of Isaac Harrison’s best runs of the match came in the 37th minue with a great charge from the kick-off from Creedence Donovan’s opening try with Isaac Harrison able to get the ball over the twenty metre mark.

Isaac Harrison was also strong defensively as was evidenced in the 39th minute with a big tackle on his opposite number to stop a try from being scored.

Isaac Harrison also started at lock in Round Two against the Cudgen Hornets and in the 7th minute along with Jye Brady smashed Cudgen front rower Ty Kilpatrick forcing him back around four metres. Isaac Harrison backed up that strong tackle three tackles later in the same set of six with a big tackle on the Cudgen hooker.

Isaac Harrison then made a strong run in the 17th minute when he ran the ball from the left of the dummy half with Isaac Harrison making thirteen metres to get the ball ten metres into Cudgen territory.

Isaac Harrison continued his strong running in the 25th minute with a big fourteen metre charge down the left channel from inside his own territory.

Isaac Harrison also started at lock in Round Six against the Ballina Seagulls.

The northern New South Wales young front rower was a member of the 2021 Titans U15 Elite Academy squad.

In mid-February 2021 Isaac Harrison played in a Titans U15 Invitational Trial at Burleigh, a trial which included only the best of the 2021 Titans U15 squad members.

In May 2021 Isaac Harrison was part of the South Coast U15 QSSRL School Boy representative side, starting the Championship Final against Met West at lock.

In 2021 Isaac Harrison continued at PBC as part of the school’s Elite Rugby League Program and made a strong impression after coming off the bench for the PBC Walters Cup side in their Round One 16 all draw against Ipswich State High School.

Isaac Harrison also started from the bench in Round Two against Forest Lake State High School.

In 2020 Isaac Harrison played in the front row for the Tweed Heads Seagulls U14 side in the Group 18 junior rugby league competition with the Seagulls going through the ten regular season rounds undefeated, scoring 316 points and conceding just sixty four to finish the regular season with +252 points differential from their ten matches to record an average winning margin of just above twenty five points.

As a result of their outstanding season the Tweed Heads Seagulls U14 side qualified for the Grand Final against the Tugun Seahawks. Tweed Heads prevailed in the 2020 decider 30 – 4 with Isaac Harrison starting the Grand Final victory in the front row. Isaac Harrison was in my opinion one of the best players on the field in the Grand Final producing some outstanding hit-ups including one outstanding run after the Seagulls first try of the match when he skittled multiple Tugun defenders in a twenty metre charge directly through the centre of the Seahawks forward pack.

Isaac Harrison also played in Group 18 Grand Finals in 2019 in the U13 age group and in 2018 in the U12 age group.

Isaac Harrison attends PBC as part of their Rugby League Excellence Program and in 2020 was part of the PBC Year Nine Hancock Cup side that progressed through to the Grand Final and post the completion of the school boy competition was awarded a Future Reds Award at the PBC Sports Awards night. Unfortunately PBC went down in the Hancock Cup Grand Final to Marsden State High School.

[mdrew]

It will be a great day for the Harrison family tomorrow when their sons line up against each other for the first time when the Titans U16 JTS side play a Titans Northern Rivers U17 squad.

Zane will start at five eight for the Titans U16's and Isaac will start at lock for the Northern Rivers U17's.

Earlier this year both were key members of the Grand Final winning Northern Rivers Titans U16 Andrew Johns Cup squad.