Junior Development

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The rescheduled Round Four NRRRL U18 match against the Ballina Seagulls saw Lower Clarence Magpies Zachariah Williams named at right centre with Zachariah Williams scoring a double.

The first of Zachariah Williams two tries arrived in just the 2nd minute when after Reece Warburton received the ball in the centre of the field around ten metres out and immediately ran to his right and after he had drawn in the widest Seagulls defender Reece Warburton got a right arm over the head off-load away to Zachariah Williams who scored mid-way between the goal posts and corner post on the right side of the field after cutting to his inside near the try line to let a Ballina flew past him.

Zachariah Williams also scored in the 19th minute when he took a cross kick on the full from his halfback with Zachariah Williams literally just having to fall down to score mid-way between the goal posts and corner post on the right side of the field.

Zachariah Williams made a line break in the 31st minute when after receiving the ball near the halfway mark, Zachariah Williams was grabbed by the Ballina defensive however as he was being spun around in the tackle, Zachariah Williams broke free of two defenders and ultimately made forty metres down the left touchline.

Zachariah Williams also did more than his fair share of work from a defensive perspective including making three tackles in a row between the 15th and 16th minutes including a heavy hit on the Ballina front rower No. 10.

Zachariah Williams also executed a smart play with a one on one strip forty metres out when he stole the ball from the Ballina interchange player No. 16.

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Cudgen Hornet’s Ethan Hickey continued at hooker in for the rescheduled Round Four U18 NRRRL match against the Bilambil Jets and once again Ethan Hickey did a lot of the little things well that sometimes go unrecognised for example in the 19th minute when Ethan Hickey charged down an attempted Bilambil clearing kick with Cudgen taking possession from the charge down just inside Jets territory.

Ethan Hickey was also one of the Hornets try scorers when he scored next to the right uprights when after receiving an off-load from Max Liles in the 45th minute, Ethan Hickey, from twenty metres out dummied his way past one defender to score.

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The rescheduled Round Four NRRRL U18 match against the Lower Clarence Magpies saw Ballina’s Desmond Ferguson named at halfback with Desmond Ferguson scoring two tries and kicking two conversions in a 46 – 16 Seagulls victory with Desmond Ferguson’s 25th minute conversion of one of Riley Lyons tries coming from right on the right touchline.

Desmond Ferguson scored the first of his two tries in the 41st minute when Desmond Ferguson from thirty metres out ran to his left before putting in a right foot chip over the top of the defensive line for himself with Desmond Ferguson running forward to retake possession and score ten metres to the left of the uprights. Desmond Ferguson then stepped up to convert his own try.

Desmond Ferguson added a second try in the 44th minute when after receiving an off-load from his left second rower (No. 12) sixty metres out, Desmond Ferguson just had a straight run to the try line with Desmond Ferguson getting the ball down ten metres from the left corner post.

Desmond Ferguson also recorded a 30th minute line break assist when from thirty five metres out and in the centre of the field, Desmond Ferguson ran to his right before double pumping a pass to his right to put his replacement second rower (No. 16) with the backrower tackled five metres out after a thirty metre line break.

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For the Tweed Heads Seagulls Creedence Donovan moved to five eight in the rescheduled Round Four NRRRL U18 match against the Murwillumbah Mustangs with Creedence Donovan scoring a double in a strong Seagulls victory as well as a try assist and a line break.

Creedence Donovan scored his opening try in the 55th minute when Zane Harrison put in a right foot stab kick which bounced up perfectly in the in-goal for Creedence Donovan to collect and five metres to the left of the uprights.

Creedence Donovan scored his second try in the 58th minute when after minute Zane Harrison ran the ball to the left after receiving the from the dummy half to his right thirty metres out from his own line with Zane Harrison taking the ball right to the line before throwing an inside ball to a flying Creedence Donovan who burst through a gap, beating the fullback by veering to his left to run away to score mid-way between the goal posts and corner post on the left side of the field.

Creedence Donovan had come very close to scoring prior to his first try in the 52nd minute which in many respects was a trial run for a basically identical play that ultimately led to Creedence Donovan scoring in the 58th minute. Just like in the 58th minute Zane Harrison ran the ball to the left after receiving the from the dummy half to his right thirty metres out from his own line with Zane Harrison taking the ball right to the line before throwing an inside ball to a flying Creedence Donovan who burst through a gap, beating the fullback and two other defenders before being tackled from behind just two metres out from the line and directly in front of the goal posts.

Creedence Donovan’s try assist came inside the opening minute of the match after Murwillumbah had knocked on from the kick-off. From a Tweed Heads scrum win ten metres out and directly in from of the posts, Creedence Donovan ran to the left after receiving the ball and ran deep into the defensive line drawing two defenders before off-loading to his left to put Taysharn Cora into a gap with the fullback scoring wide out on the left.

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In late July 2022 Kaleb Ngamanu started at left centre for a Titans U19 side that played their annual match against the North Queensland Cowboys that was played as a curtain raiser at Cbus Stadium to the Titans Round Twenty NRL match against the Canberra Raiders with Kaleb Ngamanu recording a try assist in the 22nd minute when after good work on his inside by Jaylen De Groot, Kaleb Ngamanu received the ball ten metres out from the try line and then drew the fullback to put Keano Kini over in the left corner.

Kaleb Ngamanu made a strong run in the 47th minute when a strong run down a short left blindside with Kaleb Ngamanu making sixteen metres being tackled five metres out with Kaleb Ngamanu doing very well to stay in the field of play with multiple defenders trying in vain to get him into touch.

Kaleb Ngamanu made another strong run in the 52nd minute with a sixteen metre run down a left blindside to get the ball ten metres into North Queensland territory.

Kaleb Ngamanu’s initial significant contribution in the match was form a defensive perspective and came in the 5th minute when Kaleb Ngamanu ran to his right to make a great covering tackle on the Cowboys right winger who had broken away down the touchline.

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In late July 2022 Jaylan De Groot started on the left wing for a Titans U19 side that played their annual match against the North Queensland Cowboys that was played as a curtain raiser at Cbus Stadium to the Titans Round Twenty NRL match against the Canberra Raiders with Jaylan De Groot scoring a second half double.

Jaylen Dr Groot scored his opening try in the 47th minute when he dived over in the left corner after receiving a good ball from his inside from Ryan Foran.

Jaylen De Groot added a second try in the 53rd minute when he was put over in the left corner by way of a good ball from Keano Kini.

Jaylen De Groot also had a big hand in Keano Kini’s 22nd minute try after he had swapped with Keano Kini to spend time at fullback. As the Titans played the ball forty five metres out and on the left side of the field, Jaylan De Groot who had stationed himself behind the play the ball ran to his left and after receiving the ball from the dummy half, Jaylen De Groot drew in one defender and then got the ball away to his left to Kaleb Ngamanu who subsequently put Keano Kini over in the left corner.

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In late July 2022 Keano Kini started at fullback for the U19 Future Titans Squad that played a North Queensland Cowboys U19 squad at Cbus Stadium as a curtain-raiser to the Round Twenty NRL match between the Titans and the Canberra Raiders with Keano Kini, in my opinion, being the best player on the field with a three try, one try assist effort in a Player of the Match performance.

Keano Kini scored his opening try in the 11th minute and what an absolutely superb solo try it was. Keano Kini took a North Queensland clearing kick in the centre of the field twenty metres out and immediately right to his right, running parallel to the defensive line before stepping off his right foot to burst between two defenders to race away downfield. As he approached the fullback near the halfway mark Keano Kini shaped to pass to his inside before stepping off his right foot to beat the fullback with Keano Kini then racing away to score in the right corner.

Keano Kini scored his second try just four minutes later in the 15th minute when he backed up a line break by Jack Cullen to receive the ball after Jack Cullen had drawn the fullback with Keano Kini racing away to score under the posts.

Keano Kini completed his hat trick in the 22nd minute when after good work from near the halfway mark from Jaylen De Groot, Keano Kini dived over in the left corner from close range after Kaleb Nagamanu had drawn the Cowboys fullback and passed to Keano Kini.

Keano Kini’s try assist came in the 53rd minute when Kenao Kini received the ball around ten metres out on the left side of the field, Keano Kini cut to his outside, drawing in the Cowboys winger and got the ball away to his right to put Jaylen De Groot over to score in the left corner.

Keano Kini also made a line break in the 29th minute when he received the ball on the halfway mark after cutting back underneath Thomas Weaver with Keano Kini stepping off his right foot to isolate and beat one defender with Keano Kini making twenty metres through the centre of the field as a result.

Keano Kini made a further line break in the 63rd minute when from twenty eight metres out on the left side of the field, Keano Kini dummied to his outside before slicing through only to be tackled four metres out from the try line.

Keano Kini also did well in the 35th minute when after running onto the ball to the right of the play the ball, Keano Kini was able to get halfway through the line before getting away a good right arm off-load.

Keano Kini got a further off-load away in the 57th minute when after running the ball on the left side of the field twenty metres from the try line Keano Kini stepped off his left foot before getting an off-load away to his right to Oskar Bryant.

Keano Kini also had a strong match defensively starting inside the opening minute of the match when after the Cowboys fullback had made a line break through the centre of the field from the Titans first clearing kick of the match, Keano Kini took him in a great low one on one tackle near the halfway mark.

Then in the 6th minute along with Ryan Foran and Thomas Weaver, Keano Kini made a strong tackle on the North Queensland right second rower to prevent him from scoring just to the left of the uprights on the last tackle.

Kenao Kini made a great take of a high Cowboys bomb in the 46th minute with Keano Kini leaping high to take the ball on the full just out from his own try line with Keano Kini subsequently being awarded a penalty for being tackled in the air.

In the 21st minute Keano Kini when just six metres out from his own try line took a Cowboys kick on the full over his head with Keano Kini breaking two tackles as he promoted the ball to twenty six metres out from his own line.

Whilst Kenao Kini played the majority of the match at fullback, he did spend time on the left wing after swapping with Jaylan De Groot.

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Titans contracted Nicholas Hilton continued at No. 8 and vice-captain for the TSS First XV in Round Three of the School Boy GPS First XV competition against Toowoomba Grammar School with Nicholas Hilton making a strong run from the back of a TSS scrum win thirty five metres out with Nicholas Hilton running to his right, making fifteen metres before recycling the ball with TSS scoring from the next phase with TSS going onto win 19 – 17.

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The rescheduled Round Four NRRRL U18 match against the Ballina Seagulls saw Reece Warburton named at fullback for the Lower Clarence Magpies with Reece Warburton recording a try assist in just the 2nd minute of the match. Reece Warburton received the ball in the centre of the field around ten metres out and immediately ran to his right and after he had drawn in the widest Seagulls defender Reece Warburton got a right arm over the head off-load away to Zachariah Williams who score mid-way between the goal posts and corner post on the right side of the field.

Reece Warburton also recorded a 35th minute line break assist when Reece Warburton threw a long cut-out pass to his left from on the halfway mark with the Magpies left winger racing thirty five metres down the left touchline before he was brought to ground.

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After starting at halfback for a Titans Northern Rivers U18 squad that played a Future Titans U17 side in a Titans against Canberra NRL match at Cbus Stadium on the Saturday, Harvey Moase started at halfback for the Cudgen Hornets in the rescheduled Round Four NRRRL U18 match against the Bilambil Jets with Harvey Moase scoring twenty of the Hornets forty four points by way of scoring two tries and kicking six conversions from eight attempts.

Harvey Moase scored the first of his two tries in the 7th minute when he started the movement back near the halfway mark and of course finished it by scoring under the posts. Harvey Moase received the ball to the right of the play the ball and threw a hard flat pass to his right to Jett Forbes who made a line break before getting the ball away to his winger. After Jett Forbes got the ball back from the winger he off-loaded to his inside to Harvey Moase ten metres out after Harvey Moase had backed up the line break on the inside. Harvey Moase then stepped up to convert his own try.

Harvey Moase scored his second try in the 37th minute when he chased through a Max Liles and Harvey Moase was on the spot to take the ball on the bounce after the Jets fullback got a terrible bounce with Harvey Moase collecting the ball and running twenty five metres to dive over under the posts. Harvey Moase then stepped up to convert his own try.

Harvey Moase also recorded a try assist in the 34th minute when from the left of the play the ball and ten metres out, Harvey Moase threw a long cut-out pass to put his left winger over in the corner.

Harvey Moase literally made a significant impact on the match in the opening seconds when his kick-off to start the match was dropped by the Jets in the in-goal necessitating a Bilambil goal line drop-out.

Harvey Moase also did well in the 10th minute when he identified that Bilambil were going to put in a chip from their right side of the field to the left with Harvey Moase getting back to take the chip kick on the full just out from the try line with Harvey Moase then finding the ground to ensure that he was not dragged back into the in-goal.

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The rescheduled Round Four NRRRL U18 match against the Lower Clarence Magpies saw Noah Waldock named at fullback for the Ballina Seagulls with Noah Waldock scoring in the 16th minute when after receiving the ball from his inside whilst on the left side of the field, Noah Waldock dummied to his left before stepping off his left foot with Noah Waldock then able to bring the ball around to put it down seven metres to the left of the uprights.

Noah Waldock also recorded a 10th minute try assist when he threw the final pass to his right centre from five metres out for him to score near the corner post.

Noah Waldock added a line break in the 12th minute when after receiving a good ball from on the halfway mark from Kye Cooper, Noah Waldock made a twenty five metre line break.

Noah Waldock then did well in the 49th minute when he ran back to take possession on a long Magpies clearing kick in his own in-goal on the left side of the field. As the Lower Clarence chasers converged Noah Waldock ran to the opposite side of the posts whilst still in the in-goal before Noah Waldock straightened up and was able to get the ball twenty metres out from his own try line.

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Former New Zealand Junior Age Representative Cairo Rangihuni-Ruri will start from the bench for the Marsden SHS Langer Cup side this afternoon against Ipswich SHS.

The second rower, in his first season in Australia has really made me sit up and take notice.

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After starting at fullback for a Titans Northern Rivers U18 squad that played a Future Titans U17 side in a Titans against Canberra NRL match at Cbus Stadium on the Saturday, Stevie O’Connor started at fullback for the Cudgen Hornets in the rescheduled Round Four NRRRL U18 match against the Bilambil Jets with Stevie O’Connor scoring in the 58th minute when after receiving the ball thirty metres out and near the right touchline, Stevie O’Connor cut inside and after stepping off his right foot on three separate occasions and breaking three tackles, Stevie O’Connor speared his way over to score five metres to the left of the uprights.

Stevie O’Connor then recorded a line break and line break assist in the same play in the 29th minute when after Max Liles received an off-load sixty five metres out and immediately ran towards the centre of the field and after making fifteen metres off-loaded the ball in a tackle to Stevie O’Connor who after dummying to his right beat one defender before veered to his left to round the fullback before Stevie O’Connor got an off-load away to his left to Max Liles who got all of the way to ten metres out from the try line.

Stevie O’Connor recorded another line break in the 42nd minute from just ten metres out from his own try line. In fact Stevie O’Connor almost dropped the pass from the dummy half but was able to trap the ball against his hip with his right hand before securing possession. Once possession was secured Stevie O’Connor ran to his right before dummying his way between two defenders before getting a great off-load away to his right as he was being flung to ground after making thirty five metres.

The match also saw Stevie O’Connor execute a number of great takes of the ball, the first being in the 44th minute when he leapt high to take a Kai Smallwood bomb on the full under heavy pressure ten metres out from his own line and in front of his posts.

Then in the 47th minute a Bilambil kick-off came very close to hitting the cross bar on the full but Stevie O’Connor was able to keep focussed knocking the ball double handed up in the air before securing possession.

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After starting at lock for the future Titans U17 side that played a Titans Northern Rivers U18 squad in a Titans against Canberra NRL match at Cbus Stadium on the Saturday, Jaylen Taewa started at lock for the Bilambil Jets in the rescheduled Round Four U18 NRRRL match against the Cudgen Hornets with Jaylen Taewa scoring in the 54th minute when after receiving the ball to the left of the play the ball around eight metres out, Jaylen Taewa immediately stepped off his left foot before holding one defender off with his left arm to crash over in a tackle next to the left upright.

It was clear from as early as the 2nd minute that Jaylen Taewa was in for a big game when he made a twenty metre charge from the halfway mark after running onto the ball to the eight of the play the ball.

Jaylen Taewa also made a strong run in the 54th minute just prior to his try when he charged fifteen metres through the centre of the field to get the ball into Hornets territory.

Jaylen Taewa executed the tackle of the match in the 27th minute when he smashed Cudgen fullback Stevie O’Connor front on, knocking him off his feet as he was trying to bring the ball out of his own twenty metre area.

Jaylen Taewa showed a previously hidden skill in the 43rd minute when from thirty metres out from his own try line and to the right of the play the ball, Jaylen Taewa put in a great long, low and hard right foot kick that was only fielded on the bounce inside the ten metre mark.

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After starting from the bench for the Future Titans U19 side squad that played a North Queensland Cowboys U19 side in a Titans against Canberra NRL match at Cbus Stadium on the Saturday, Max Liles started at five eight for the Cudgen Hornets in the rescheduled Round Four NRRRL U18 match against the Bilambil Jets.

Max Liles recorded the try assist and what a heck of a run it was by Max Liles before he threw the final pass for Jett Forbes to score. Initially Max Liles received the ball from the dummy half ten metres out from the try line to the right of the uprights and ran to his left, dummying to an inside runner before pulling up to assess his options before running twenty five metres parallel to the defensive line towards the right corner and once he enticed one defender out of the line Max Liles threw a sharp ball to his right to put Jett Forbes through.

Max Liles recorded a second try assist in the 37th minute when from forty five metres out from his own line and to the left of the play the ball Max Liles put in a long raking left foot kick which took a horror bounce just in front of the Bilambil fullback with Harvey Moase racing through the retrieve the ball on the bounce and run twenty five metres to score under the posts.

Max Liles then recorded a line break and line break assist in the same play in the 29th minute when after Max Liles received an off-load sixty five metres out and immediately ran towards the centre of the field and after making fifteen metres off-loaded the ball in a tackle to Stevie O’Connor who after dummying to his right beat one defender before veered to his left to round the fullback before Stevie O’Connor got an off-load away to his left to Max Liles who got all of the way to ten metres out from the try line.

Max Liles was also heavily involved in Ethan Hickey’s 45th minute try when from sixty metres out Max Liles threw a long cut-out pass to his right to Jett Forbes away down the right touchline with Max Liles backing up on the inside so that when Jett Forbes off-loading to his inside, Max Liles was on the spot to take possession on the bounce and off-load to his left in one motion to Ethan Hickey who ran twenty metres to score next to the right upright.

Max Liles showcased his off-loading skills in the 41st minute when after receiving the ball from the dummy half from his left, Max Liles ran the ball to the right and threw a great left arm low around the corner pass to Jett Forbes. Max Liles then did not rest on his laurels and backed up to get the ball back from Forbes with Max Liles then running the ball towards the centre of the field before putting in a left foot grubber kick towards the left with Bilambil subsequently being tackled just a metre out from their own try line.