Junior Development

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Ayden Byrnes moved to the bench for Round Four of the Laurie Daley Cup for the Northern Rivers Titans against the Northern Tigers and after coming onto the field in the 43rd minute Ayden Byrnes scored a great solo try in the 43rd minute from thirty five metres out Ayden Byrnes ran the ball down a short left blindside and just prior to the defensive line Ayden Byrnes put in a smart right foot chip kick for himself with Ayden Byrnes darting through to retrieve the ball with Ayden Byrnes then getting rid of the Northern Tigers fullback to score four metres to the left of the uprights.

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After Tweed Heads had a Round One bye Jaylen Taewa was named on the bench in Round Two of the 2023 U18 Mal Meninga Cup against the Brisbane Tigers with Jaylen Taewa coming onto the field to operate in the front row in the 23rd minute.

Jaylan Taewa made a strong line break in the 38th minute when after receiving an off-load from his left when thirty eight metres out from his own try line, Jaylen Taewa rumbled downfield and got to withing twenty eight metres of the try line.

Jaylen Taewa also did well in the 58th minute when he held up the Tigers front rower No. 8 over the try line and then from the subsequent play the ball Jaylen Taewa hit the Tigers No. 3 with a great tackle.

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After Tweed Heads had a Round One bye Titans contracted Matthew Barrow was named on the left wing in Round Two of the 2023 U18 Mal Meninga Cup against the Brisbane Tigers with Matthew Barrow scoring in the eight minute with a ten metre run down the left touchline to score in the left corner.

Matthew Barrow also did well in the 34th minute when he came off his wing to take a hit-up to bring the ball out of his own territory with Matthew Barrow able to make ten metres through the centre of the field from the left of the play the ball to the forty metre mark.

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Titan Kaleb Smith started at five eight for the Northern Rivers Titans in Round Four of the Andrew Johns Cup against the Northern Tigers with Kaleb Smith scoring in the 42nd minute when from twelve metres out and to the right of the play the ball Kaleb Smith initially shaped to pass to his right before stepping off his right foot and surging forward to crash over to score ten metres to the right of the uprights.

Kaleb Smith also recorded a line break assist in the 29th minute when Kaleb Smith put right second rower Cruz Dangerfield through a gap down the right channel just inside Northern Rivers territory with Cruz Dangerfield making sixteen metres.

Kaleb Smith also did well in the 34th minute when after tracking back onto his own twenty metre defensive area, Kaleb Smith collected a Tigers attacking kick and as he ran the ball towards the centre of the field Kaleb Smith broke three tackles as he promoted the ball twelve metres.

Kaleb Smith along with Jakequan Roberts-Walsh made a great try saving tackle on the Tigers left centre just six metres in from the Titans right corner post to hold up the hard charging centre in the 17th minute.

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Great to see Titans contracted Devin Bates-Wellington named on the bench for the Tweed Heads Seagulls CC Cup side for this weekend's Round Three match against the Redcliffe Dolphins.

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Good to see Titans contracted Wailer Whaiapu named on the Burleigh Bears extended bench for this weekend's Round Three MM Cup match against the Easts Tigers.

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He may only be 15 but Keebra Park SHS student Royal Tiato has been named on the wing this weekend for the Ipswich Jets U16 CC Cup side for their Round Three match against the Clydesdales.

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Titans contracted Jimmy McCombie continued as captain and halfback for the Northern Rivers Titans in Round Four of the NSWRL U16 Andrew Johns Cup against the Northern Tigers with Jimmy McCombie recording two try assists in a big Northern Rivers Titans victory.

Jimmy McCombie’s initial try assist came in just the 2nd minute when from eight metres out from the try line and just to the left of the uprights Jimmy McCombie threw a great long cut-out pass to his left to put Owen Woods over to score in the left corner.

Jimmy McCombie added his second try assist in the 48th minute when he ran the ball to the left of the play the ball and when he was thirty five metres out from the try line Jimmy McCombie drew a defender out of the defensive line and threw a great short ball to his left to Jed Mulcahy who burst through a gap, beat the fullback to score mid-way between the goal posts and corner post on the left side of the field.

Jimmy McCombie made a good run in the 34th minute when from twenty two metres out and to the right of the play the ball Jimmy McCombie dummied and stepped his way to six metres out in the centre of the field.

Jimmy McCombie highlighted the efficiency of his kicking game in the opening minute of the match when from five metres inside his own territory Jimmy McCombie put in a searching right foot kick into the right corner with the kick too good for the Tigers fullback who knocked the ball on with the Titans scoring from the subsequent set of six tackles.

Jimmy McCombie made a strong tackle in conjunction with Beau Hartmann in the 33rd minute on the Tigers right centre (No. 4), driving him backwards three metres.

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After Tweed Heads had a Round One 2023 MM Cup bye Isaiah Scanlon was named in the front row and captain of the Seagulls side in Round Two of the 2023 U18 Mal Meninga Cup against the Brisbane Tigers in Brisbane with Isaiah Scanlon scoring in the 47th minute when he ran onto a good short ball from his left from Jett Jackson with Isaiah Scanlon running six metres to dive over to score three metres to the left of the uprights.

Isaiah Scanlon had almost scored earlier in the match in just the second minute of the match when after charging onto the ball to the right of the play the ball from ten metres out Isaiah Scanlon cut back behind the play the ball but Isaiah Scanlon was held up over the try line ten metres in from the right corner post.

Isaiah Scanlon took the second hit-up of the match after the Tigers had kicked off to get the math underway with Isaiah Scanlon able to get the ball over the twenty metre mark. Then in the 10th minute Isaiah Scanlon made a strong run from the kick-off from Matthew Barrow’s try with Isaiah Scanlon getting the ball over the twenty metre mark with Isaiah Scanlon then being awarded when he was not allowed to his feet in a timely fashion. Isiah Scanlon then took the hit-up from the subsequent penalty tap re-start.

In the 45th minute Isaiah Scanlon ran onto the ball to the right of the play the ball from twenty metres out from his own try line with Isaiah Scanlon making ten strong metres. Then just two minutes later in the 47th minute Isaiah Scanlon from the right of the play the ball and thirty metres out from the try line Isaiah Scanlon engaged the defensive line and after making fourteen metres Isaiah Scanlon was able to get an off-load away to his right to Jett Jackson.

Then in the 52nd minute from ten metres out from his own try line and in the centre of the field Isaiah Scanlon was able to make twelve metres with the majority of his metres being of the post contact variety.

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Titans contracted Beau Hartmann was named at left centre in Round Four of the Andrew John Cup for the Northern Rivers Titans against the Greater Northern Tigers with Beau Hartmann scoring an outstanding solo try in the 51st minute when from sixteen metres out from his own try line Beau Hartmann moved into dummy half and ran to his right and after breaking through three attempted tackles as he broke through the initial Tigers defensive line with Beau Hartmann then veering to his left to round the fullback with Beau Hartmann then too fast for the cover defence to score under the posts.

Beau Hartmann also did a lot of the heavy lifting as was evidenced in the 21st minute when from a penalty tap two metres out from the try line Beau Hartmann, after tapping the ball, forged his way to twenty metres out.

Beau Hartmann made a further strong run from deep inside his own territory in the 28th minute when from the centre of the field and just three metres out from his own try line Beau Hartmann ran to his right and got the ball seventeen metres out from the try line.

Then in the 29th minute Beau Hartmann ran the ball from forty metres out and to the left of a Northern Rivers scrum win from an underneath route to get the ball withing twenty two metres away from the try line.

Beau Hartmann also had a very good defensive match against the Northern Tigers including in the 8th minute on the Tigers right centre (No. 3) ten metres out from the try line with the Tigers centre unable to hold onto the ball after Beau Hartmann had hit him.

Beau Hartmann made another strong tackle in conjunction with Jimmy McCombie in the 33rd minute on the Tigers right centre (No. 4), driving him backwards three metres.

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Matari Donovan has started the 2023 season off as part of the Burleigh Bears U18 MM Cup squad.

Matari Donovan was named on the Bears extended bench for Round One of the 2023 U18 Mal Meninga Cup competition against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls however a late change saw Matari Donovan start the match on the left wing.

The move paid dividends in the 19th minute when Matari Donovan chased through a Ryder Williams right outside of the foot grubber kick with Matari Donovan getting to the ball first just prior to the dead ball line mid-way between the goal posts and corner post on the left side of the field.

Matari Donovan had earlier made a line break in the 8th minute when from near the halfway mark Matari Donovan burst twenty five metres down the left touchline with Matari Donovan then putting in a right foot kick towards the centre of the field as the fullback came across in cover defence.

Matari Donovan also started on the left wing for Round Two against the Souths Logan Magpies however mid-way through the first half Matari Donovan swapped to the right wing.

Matari Donovan scored against the Magpies in the 65th minute with a ten metre burst to score in the left corner after Sam Stephenson had drawn the fullback.

Matari Donovan also had a line break in the 41st minute when from on the halfway mark Ryder Williams threw a cut-out pass to his left to put Matari Donovan on a fifteen metre burst down the left touchline.

Matari Donovan’s initial contribution in the match came after just twelve seconds (yes seconds) when from the second play of the match Ryder Williams received the ball to the left of the dummy half inside his own twenty metre area and then threw a cut-out pass to his left to put left centre Sam Stephenson who then was able to draw a Magpies defender and get the ball away to Matari Donovan who flashed down the left wing but unfortunately put a foot on the touchline near the halfway mark after being hit by a Magpies cover defender.

Matari Donovan did well defensively in the 51st when whilst facing an overlap Matari Donovan raced out of the defensive line ten metres from the try line to tackle the Magpies right centre just as he received the pass from his inside.

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Austin Marsters is a 2022 Auckland U16 Rugby League Representative lock forward who played his club rugby league in New Zealand with the outstanding and exceptionally well regarded Marist Saints Rugby League in Auckland and in 2023 Austin Marsters has moved over to Australia and is part of the 2023 Burleigh Bears U18 MM Cup squad. Austin Marsters will also be MM Cup eligible in 2024.

Austin Marsters first game for the Bears was in their opening 2023 MM Cup trial against the Souths Logan Magpies at Burleigh Juniors as part of the Titans Annual Super Saturday series of matches.

Austin Marsters started from the bench in the Bears third and final trial against the Brisbane Tigers with Austin Marsters coming onto the field to operate in the dummy half role in the 20th minute.

Austin Marsters was named to start from the bench in Round One of the 2023 U18 Mal Meninga Cup competition for the Bears against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls with Austin Marsters coming onto the field to operate at dummy half in the 27th minute.

Austin Marsters scored a strong solo try out of dummy half in the 41st minute when from thirteen metres from the try line Austin Marsters ran to his right out of dummy half down a right blindside. After being engaged by one defender Austin Marsters was spun around and when facing his own try line Austin Marsters kept backing up and even with four defenders on him, Austin Marsters was able to spin to his left (left going backwards) and get the ball down three metres in from the right corner post.

In the second half of the match Austin Marsters had some outstanding defensive moments including in the 38th minute when along with Zyroam Tauruwa-Herlihy and Bailey McConnell, Austin Marsters made a strong try saving tackle right on the try line on the Wynnum Manly right second rower (No. 12) to stop him from scoring mid-way between the goal posts and corner post on the left side of the field.

Then in the 66th minute the same three players once again produced a further try saving tackle on the Wynnum Manly halfback also right on the try line and on the right side of the field after the Seagulls halfback had tried to step his way through the Bears defensive line.

Austin Marsters was back to his feet immediately and then from the marker position moved to his right and smashed the Wynnum Manly No. 11 to execute yet another try saving tackle.

Austin Marsters also started from the bench in Round Two against the Souths Logan Magpies with Austin Marsters coming onto the field to operate as a running back rower in the 24th minute.

Austin Marsters scored in the 46th minute when after the Magpies left winger lost a Bailey McConnell kick backwards into the in-goal Austin Marsters raced through to ground the ball ten metres in from the right corner post.

The match also saw Austin Marsters kick a conversion from his only attempt in the 68th minute when he converted Bailey McConnell’s second try of the match from ten metres to the left of the goal posts.

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Daniel Rakena was named to start on the bench in Round One of the 2023 U16 Cyril Connell Cup competition for the Burleigh Bears against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls with Daniel Rakena coming on at halftime at five eight to operate on the right side of the field.

Daniel Rakena added a new dimenson to the Bears attack including a 56th minute try assist when after receiving the ball twenty metres out and to the left of the play the ball Daniel Rakena took the ball to the defensive line before throwing a long cut out pass to his left to put his winger over to score to get Burleigh back into the match.

Daniel Rakena also recorded a line break assist in the 39th minute when to the left of the play the ball and forty five metres out from his own try line Daniel Rakena took the ball deep into the Wynnum Manly defensive line before throwing a hard flat cut-out pass to his left to put centre Isaac Cullen in a gap.

Daniel Rakena almost did it again in the 49th minute with a smart cut-out pass to his left on the halfway mark with Isaac Cullen once again the receipant but just as he was accelerating Issac Cullen was caught from behind by the back of his jersey.

Daniel Rakena showcased his kicking skills in the 50th minue when from just outside his forty metre area Daniel Rakena drove a right foot kick into touch sixteen metres out from the Wynnum Manly try line.

Daniel Rakena’s performance saw him named on the bench in the 2023 CC Cup Round One Team of the Round.

Daniel Rakena moved into the Bears starting side at five eight for the Burleigh Bears for Round Two of the MM Cup against the Souths Logan Magpies with Daniel Rakena recording an important try assist in the 43rd minute when after receiving the ball to his right and on the left side of the field Daniel Rakena ran the ball to his left and after putting doubt into the Magpies defensive line as to whether he would run the ball or pass Daniel Rakena threw a good short ball to his left to a charging Luke Jones who ran through a gap to score untouched eight metres in from the left corner post.

Daniel Rakena showcased his strong kicking game in the 7th minute when from forty metres out from own try line Daniel Rakena put in a hard low right foot kick into the in-goal in the in-goal with the Magpies fullback barely able to get the ball out of his in-goal area.

Daniel Rakena put in a further good kick in the 51st minute when from the right of the play the ball and thirty five metres out from his own try line Daniel Rakena went for a 40/20 kick towards the right touchline with the kick putting the Magpies winger under pressure with the winger taking the ball into touch twenty one metres out from the try line with the Bears scoring from the subsequent set of six tackles.

Daniel Rakena made a good low tackle in the 22nd minute on a charging Magpies No. 15 just twelve metres out from his own try line just in front of the left upright. Daniel Rakena smart defensive play in the 23rd minute when after the Magpies put in a kick towards the left corner Daniel Rakena smartly waited until the ball was batted back to the Magpies right centre Daniel Rakena grabbed him just as he took possession with Daniel Rakena taking him into touch just out from the try line to effect a change over.

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PLEASE NOTE THAT ISAIAH’ S SURNAME IS SPELT WITH AN “A” BUT THIS CREATES AN ISSUE THUS @ WILL BE USED INSTEAD OF THE ‘A” IN ISAIAH’S SURNAME.

In late 2022 Titan Isaiah F@galilo was named in the powerful Burleigh Bears U18 Mal Meninga Cup squad for the second season in a row with Isaiah F@galilo starting at hooker in the Bears first 2023 MM Cup trial against the Souths Logan Magpies at the Annual Titans Super Saturday series of matches with Isaiah F@galilo providing his usual spark out of dummy half for the Bears in their strong first half performance.

Isaiah F@galilo was named to start at hooker in Round One of the 2023 U18 Mal Meninga Cup competition for the Bears against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls.

Isaiah F@galilo also started at hooker in Round Two against the Souths Logan Magpies with Isaiah F@galilo making a line break in the 26th minute when from the centre of the field and thirty metres out from his own try line Isaiah F@galilo ran to his right out of dummy half and after going straight through the centre of the Magpies defensive line Isaiah F@galilo when he was three metres inside his own territory was able to get an off-load away to his right to Bailey McConnell who was able to get the ball over the halfway mark.

Isaiah F@galilo also recorded a 20th minute line break assist when from forty metres out from his own try line and in the centre of the field Isaiah F@galilo ran to his right out of dummy half and when he ran to the halfway mark Isaiah F@galilo was able to isolate a Magpies defender and get a smart ball away to Cooper Bai who surged downfield and was only caught when he was a metre or two from the try line.

Isaiah F@galilo showed as game awareness and positional sense in the 15th minute when Isiah F@galilo did very well to retrieve a rebounding Souths Logan grubber kick towards the in-goal with Isaiah F@galilo gaining possession for the Bears just three metres out from his own try line and neat the left corner.

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After missing Round One Titans contracted Jack Schmidt was named in the front row for Round Two of the 2023 U18 Mal Meninga Cup for the Burleigh Bears against the Souths Logan Magpies with Jack Schmidt making a strong run in the 41st minute which accounted for eighteen metres with Jack Schmidt’s run from near his own twenty metre mark with the last ten metres of Jack Schmidt’s run coming when he was moving backwards and engaged with three defenders.

Jack Schmidt made another strong run in the 49th minute from the kick-off to Austin Marsters try with Jack Schmidt getting the ball over the twenty metre mark.