Junior Development

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Titans contracted Nelson Makaafi continued at right second for PBC SHS in Round Five of the School Boys Walters Cup against Stretton State College with Nelson Makaafi scoring in the 49th minute when after a PBC SHS line break through the centre of the field Nelson Makaafi loomed up on the left and after receiving the off-load Nelson Makaafi ran forty metres to put the ball down over the try line mid-way between the try line and goal posts on the left side of the field.

Nelson Makaafi also made a line break in the 17th minute from two passes to the right of the play the ball and twenty two metres from his own try line, Nelson Makaafi skipped to his right and rumbled downfield to the forty three metre mark

Nelson then recorded a second line break in the 28th minute when after picking up a Stretton State College knock on two metres inside their territory Nelson Makaafi showed very food speed to race downfield and was only brought to ground four metres out from the try line and three metres in from the right touchline.

Earlier in the match in the 8th minute from the right of the play the ball and three metres inside his own territory, Nelson Makaafi ran the ball to eleven metres inside Stretton State College territory. Then in the 28th minute from the left of the play the ball Nelson Makaafi was able to get the ball from his own thirty metre mark to within nine metres of the halfway mark.

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Titans contracted Gazniah To’omaga continued at five eight for Keebra Park SHS in Round Five of the School Boy Walters Cup against Wavell SHS with Gazniah To’omaga making a line break in the 35th minute when from inside his own territory Gazniah To’omaga ran onto a short pass from his left from Tomasi Vaitai with Gazniah To’omaga charging over the halfway mark.

Gazniah To’omaga also recorded a line break assist in the 39th minute when to the left of the play the ball and after making twelve metres down the left channel, Gazniah To’omaga threw an over the top cut-out pass to his left to put his left winger away down the touchline on a thirty metre run.

Gazniah To’omaga worked a short left blindside in the 21st minute when from thirty metres from the try line, Gazniah To’omaga got a good short ball away to his left to his centre away down the left channel.

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Titans contracted Jai Billish continued at halfback for Keebra Park SHS in Round Five of the School Boy Walters Cup against Wavell SHS with Jai Billish scoring a double in a 20 all draw.

Jai Billish scored his first try in the 37th minute when from two passes to the right of the play the ball and thirteen metres out, Jai Billish initially dummied to his outside before stepping off his right foot to create space to score midway between the goal posts and corner post on the right side of the field.

Jai Billish completed his double in the 46th minute when from the right of the play the ball twelve metres out, Jai Billish cut inside off his right foot to beat the initial Wavell SHS defender before cutting back to the outside off his left foot to dive over to score mid-way between the goal posts and corner post on the right side of the field.

Jai Billish ran the ball well in just the 2nd minute of the match when from the left of the play the ball Jai Billish carried the ball from twenty seven metres out from his own try line to within eight metres of the halfway mark.

Jai Billish made a good defensive effort in the 29th minute with a good covering tackle near the right touchline after the Wavell SHS right centre had made a line break from deep inside his own territory.

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In early March 2023 Marlee Smith was named in the Met East U15 School Boy Rugby League Representative Squad even though Marlee Smith is still U14 eligible in 2023 with Marlee Smith starting from the bench on Day One against Met West and coming onto the field to operate at right second row at the start of the second half.

Marlee Smith made a strong run in the 44th minute from the left of the play the ball from his own thirty eight metre mark to within two metres of the halfway mark.

Marlee Smith also started from the bench on Day Two against Peninsula with Marlee Smith operating at right second row when he came onto the field late in the first half.

Marlee Smith moved into the Met East starting line-up at right second row on Day Three against Darling Downs with Marlee Smith making a strong run in the 44th minute when from a penalty tap restart forty metres out from his own try line with Marlee Smith carrying the ball to six metres inside Darling Downs territory.

Earlier in the 39th minute Marlee Smith made a fifteen metre run to ten metres of the halfway mark down the left channel.

Marlee Smith then started from the bench in the 2023 QSSRL U15 School Boy Grand Final against South Coast with Marlee Smith doing well in the 35th minute when from the left of the play the ball and twelve metres out from his own try line Marlee Smith charged forward to get the ball twenty eight metres out from the try line with Marlee Smith then executing a lightning quick play the ball to generate significant momentum for Met East.

Earlier in the 12th minute Marlee Smith made a strong twelve metre run that got the ball four metres into South Coast territory.

Marlee Smith also played Oztag in 2023 with Marlee Smith named in the 2023 Super Series Queensland Fury U15 Representative squad.

2022 saw Marlee Smith continue to play for the Coomera Cutters in the Gold Coast Junior Rugby League U13 Division One competition, with Marlee Smith leading the Cutters to a Grand Final appearance against the Burleigh Bears with Marlee Smith starting the Grand Final at left second row as Coomera prevailed 18 -16 in an absorbing, tight and high quality Premiership decider between two very talented teams.

Marlee Smith scored a great solo try in the Grand Final in the 19th minute when Marlee Smith moved into dummy half with the play the ball around thirty metres out and on the right side of the field. After running to his right Marlee Smith kept charging at a back peddling Burleigh left sided defensive line and when ten metres out from the try line Marlee Smith burst through three attempted tackles before veering to his left to easily beat the Burleigh fullback with Marlee Smith then able to bring the ball around with his left arm raised in the air to put the ball down next to the right upright.

Marlee Smith also recorded a line break assist in the when after Marlee Smith took the ball to the right of the play the ball fifty six metres out Marlee Smith threw a good short ball to his right to a hard charging Fabion Cowan who burst through a gap on the halfway mark, with Fabion Cowan breaking three tackles as he promoted the ball to the twenty metre mark. Then from the subsequent Fabion Cowan play the ball, Marlee Smith charged into the ball to the right of the play the ball to get within eight metres of the try line after running hard down a short right blindside.

In the opening minute of the second half Marlee Smith took the second hit-up after Burleigh kicked off with Marlee Smith charging onto the ball to the right of the play the ball with Marlee Smith able to get the ball thirty four metres away from his own try line with his run commencing twenty metres out.

Marlee Smith made a critical run with the game on the line in the 50th minute when with the play the ball just five metes out from his own try line and in the centre of the field, Marlee Smith ran onto the ball to the right of the play the ball and was able to get the ball over the twenty metre mark to relieve a lot of pressure on the Coomera side.

Marlee Smith also had a strong defensive Grand Final including in the 9th minute when along with Denzel Silby, Marlee Smith hit one of the Burleigh front rowers (No. 10) in a great joint front on tackle forty metres out from the Cutters try line with the fore of the contact immediately forcing the ball loose. Marlee Smith then picked up the ball and made eight metres downfield.

Marlee Smith made another strong tackle in the 54th minute with a heavy hit on one of the Bears forwards who was returning a Coomera kick-off with Marlee Smith then backing up to make the next tackle as well after lining up at marker.

Then in the 58th minute with Coomera still up by two points Marlee Smith made the most critical play of the Grand Final when Marlee Smith raced to his right to execute an exceptional try saving tackle on Burleigh halfback Murphy Phillips to bring him down five metres short of the try line after he had sliced through the Cutters defensive line. To be honest I have no idea who Marlee Smith willed himself to get across the field to make the tackle but he did with the tackle essentially winning the Grand Final for the Coomera Cutters.

Marlee Smith also showcased his kicking skills in the Grand Final when in the 7th minute from five metres inside his own territory Marlee Smith put in a big right foot kick with the Burleigh fullback tackled just five metres out from his own try line as a result of the distance that Marlee Smith was able to generate.

Marlee Smith also started at left second row in the GCRL U13 Division Final against the Runaway Bay Seagulls with Marlee Smith recording the first of his two try assists in the 30th minute when from eight metres out Marlee Smith got the ball away to his right to put Riley Prendergast into space and over to score just in from the right corner post.

Marlee Smith recorded his second try assist in the 33rd minute when from forty metres out Marlee Smith put in a right foot kick which took a wicked bounce near the try line with the Runaway Bay fullback unable to collect the ball with one of the Coomera chasers able to dive on the ball under the posts to score. Marlee Smith then stepped up to convert the try that he had assisted on.

Marlee Smith also had a strong match in the middle of the GCRL U13 Division One season against the Helensvale Hornets with Marlee Smith scoring in the 7th minute with a hard straight charge from eight metres out and to the left of the play the ball with Marlee Smith crashing over to score eight metres to the right of the uprights.

Marlee Smith also recorded a try assist in the 38th minute when he made a fifty five metre line break down the left touchline with Marlee Smith then drawing the fullback and passing to his right to Jeval Pitman who raced away to score under the posts.

Marlee Smith also scored in an early season match against the Helensvale Hornets when after backing up a long break down the left touchline by Siu Pulepule, Marlee Smith received the ball on the inside of the front rower with Marlee Smith racing forty metres to easily score under the posts.

2022 also saw Marlee Smith line-up once again for Marsden State High School with Marlee Smith lining up for Marsden SHS in the School Boy Renouf Shield competition.

In September 2022 Marlee Smith was named in the South Queensland Māori U14 Tuakana representative squad.

The exciting second row prospect was named on the interchange bench in the 2021 Marsden State High School Rugby League of the Year. The fact that Marlee Smith was named on the bench really does highlight the quality and depth of the Titans Partnered Elite Rugby League Excellence Program at Marsden SHS.

In late 2021 Marlee Smith was named in the Coomera Chiefs Oztag side for the 2022 Queensland U14 Junior State Cup.

For Marsden State High School in 2021 Marlee Smith played in the Bronco’s Old Boys Competition including starting at right second row in Marsden SHS’s 44 – 12 Grand Final victory against Ipswich State High School with Marlee Smith throwing the last pass to put Alex Paisa over for Marsden SHS’s second try in the Grand Final which they went on to dominate.

Just after throwing the final pass for Alex Paisa’s try Marlee Smith, in the 8th minute made a long forty metres line break down the right touchline with the run starting thirty metres out from his own line. As he approached the Ipswich SHS fullback Marlee Smith was able to get the ball away to his right with the move leading to a long range Marsden State High School try.

Marlee Smith had another outstanding match earlier in the 2021 Bronco’s Old Boys season against Ipswich State High School once again with Marlee Smith scoring one try, setting up another as well as producing a great line break.

Marlee Smith from the left second row position scored in the 26th minute when from twenty metres out on the left side of the field Marlee Smith ran into a gap off a great ball from ZJ Watene. After palming off the Ipswich SHS fullback Marlee Smith put the ball down ten metres in from the left corner post.

Marlee Smith only had to wait until the 4th minute of the match to record his try assist when after breaking the line thirty five metres out, Marlee Smith drew the Ipswich SHS fullback and passed to his left to put left centre Chris Vaimili over for the first of his five tries in the match.

Marlee Smith broke through the Ipswich SHS right sided defence once again in the 18th minute when he split the gap between two defenders and surged twenty metres to just over halfway down the left channel.

One of Marlee Smith’s best school matches in the 2021 Bronco’s Old Boys Cup was against Keebra Park SHS when after starting the match at left second row Marlee Smith scored an outstanding double, in fact Marlee Smith came close to scoring a hat trick but was held up in just the 4th minute of the match.

Marlee Smith scored the first of his two tries in the 12th minute when burst over from twelve metres out after receiving an off-load from his inside and crashing over in the left corner. Marlee Smith scored his second try in the 45th minute and once again he scored it in the left corner after he received a cut-out pass from his inside.

Marlee Smith also scored in Round Two in the 2021 Bronco’s Old Boys Cup against Forest Lake State High School when mid-way through the first half he was on the end of a Marsden SHS backline movement to the right with Marlee Smith receiving the ball in a mile of space and he had an easy fifteen run to the line.

2021 also saw Marlee Smith represented Met East at the QSSRL school boy U12 Championships with Marlee Smith subsequently named in the 2021 Queensland School U12 Rugby League Merit Team.

Marlee Smith was also named in the 2021 Queensland Māori U12 Rugby League Representative Merit Team.

In late November 2021 Marlee Smith represented the U13 Tonga Team at the 3PTAG (non-contact modified rugby league) Cultural Touch Tournament held at Marsden SHS.

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Bailey McConnell with two tries in the first half for PBC SHS to lead 12-0 at halftime against Keebra Park SHS.

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Bailey McConnell with two tries in the first half for PBC SHS to lead 12-0 at halftime against Keebra Park SHS.

Now a Bailey McConnell try assist for Sam Stephenson has extended PBC SHS's lead.

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PBC too good against Keebra Park. Things got a touch out of hand at the end with Keebra Park finishing with three in the sin bin and PBC SHS two.

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Titan Joseph Shannon moved into the Bears HDC starting line-up at lock for Round Twelve against the Redcliffe Dolphins with Joseph Shannon making a line break in the 40th minute when whilst defending his on his own try line with the Dolphins play the ball close to the line, Joseph Shannon darted off his try line and intercepted the pass from the dummy half and after charging twenty metres downfield Joseph Shannon off-loaded the ball to his right.

Joseph Shannon made his initial strong run of the match in the 6th minute from the left of the play the ball with Joseph Shannon getting to within six metres of the try line in front of the posts before off-loading to his left. Then in the 24th minute from two passes to the left of the play the ball and forty metres out from his own try line Joseph Shannon was able to get the ball four metres inside Dolphins territory.

Joseph Shannon made another good run in the 29th minute through the centre of the field from the left of the play the ball with Joseph Shannon getting the ball from twenty three metres of the try line to ten metres out.

Joseph Shannon was at it again in the 39th minute with a charge from the right of the play the ball and eight metres inside Redcliffe territory to thirty metres out with Joseph Shannon then getting a left arm flick off-load away to his left. Then in the 71st minute from thirty metres out and to the right of the play the ball, Joseph Shannon cut back behind the play the ball to thirteen metres of the try line.

The 78th minute saw Joseph Shannon make ten metres from an effort from thirty metres out from his own try line and to the left of the play the ball to the forty metre mark.

When the final siren sounded with the Bears leading by two Joseph Shannon found the ball in his hands and forty metres from his own try line with Joseph Shanoon then turning back and runnigns towards his own try line before kicking the ball over his own dead ball line to bring the match to its conclusion.

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Titans contracted Jeremaiah Temapo moved to the left wing for the Burleigh Bears Round Twelve of the HDC against the Redcliffe Dolphins with Jeremiah Temapo scoring twice in a two points Bears victory.

Jeremaiah Temapo scored his opening try in the 19th minute with a six metre run down the left touch line to put the ball down in the corner after receiving a cut-out pass from his inside.

Jeremaiah Temapo completed his double in the 60th as a result of a comfortable eleven metre to score in the left corner.

Jeremaiah Temapo also made a line break in the 34th minute when after receiving the ball five metres inside Redcliffe territory Jeremaiah Temapo charged down the left touchline and after engaging the Dolphins fullback fifteen metres out, Jeremaiah Temapo carried him to within three metres of the try line near the left touchline.

The 13th minute saw Jeremaiah Temapo from the right of the play the ball and twenty three metres from the try line run onto the ball and get to within eleven metres of the try line and ten metres in from the left touchline.

Jeremaiah Temapo then made a strong run from a Bears scrum win in the 38th minute and after receiving the ball to the left of the scrum when eighteen metres out from his own try line Jeremaiah Temapo broke a tackle and after being engaged by two more defenders twenty eighty metres out, Jeremaiah Temapo carried both of them thirteen metres downfield to within nine metres of the halfway mark.

The 49th minute saw take another hit-up to the left of a Burleigh scrum win twenty metres out from his own try line and after breaking two tackles with 70% of the metres being post contact, Jeremaiah Temapo made fifteen metres before being awarded a penalty for a leg pull.

In the 70th minute after picking up a Redcliffe grubber kick twenty two metres out from his own try line and five metres in from the left touchline, Jeremaiah Temapo, after letting one defender fly past him, ran the ball back towards the centre of the field to within ten metres of the halfway mark and was awarded a penalty after he was hit high.

Jeremaiah Temapo rounded out his strong match with a run from two passes to the left of the dummy ahlf from eighteen metres out from his own try line to thirty metres out.

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Will Sheridan started at lock for the Byron Bay Devils in Round Ten of the NRRRL U18 competition against the Kyogle Turkeys with Will Sheridan scoring in the 38th minute when with the play the ball seventeen metres out, Will Sheridan ran out of dummy half to his right down a short blindside and after being hit by three defenders nine metres out Will Sheridan spun away from them clockwise before crashing into three defenders on the try line, this time spinning counter clockwise to get the ball down ten metres in from the right corner post.

Will Sheridan almost scored a second try in the 50th minute when after running out of dummy half from sixteen metres out, Will Sheridan looked to have dived over to score in the left corner but the referee ruled that Will Sheridan had lost possession of the ball just prior to the try line.

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Great to see Titans contracted Nayte Saaga start at lock yesterday for Keebra Park in the Langer Reserve competition against PBC SHS with Nayte Saaga being the best player on the field including scoring the match winning try.

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Bo Peisley moved to halfback for Round Ten of the NRRRL U18 competition for the Murwillumbah Mustangs against the Casino Cougars with Bo Peisley having another big match including scoring a try and kicking four conversions.

Bo Peisley scored after just thirty five seconds when Bo Peisley backed up a line break through the centre of the field to take possession of the ball from an off-load from his right with Bo Peisley then racing thirty five metres to score under the posts with Bo Peisley then converting his own try.

Bo Peisley also recorded a try assist in the 18th minute when from the right of the play the ball and ten metres out Bo Peisley put in a right foot grubber kick towards the right corner with the ball collected by his right centre to score twelve metres in from the right corner post. Bo Peisley also converted that try.

The 12th minute saw Bo Peisley record a line break assist when from thirty metres from his own try line Bo Peisley threw a short pass to his left to put Aaron Singh-Goesel into a gaping hole to get the ball four metres into Casino territory.

Bo Peisley then came off the bench in the First Grade match later in the afternoon also against the Casino Cougars with Bo Peisley scoring a try and kicking four conversions including a conversion from the left touchline in the 73rd minute after coming onto the field to operate at dummy half in the 34th minute.

Bo Peisley scored in the 75th minute when he backed up a line break through the centre of the field to score under the posts after receiving the ball ten metres out.

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Kanititeiti Sikahele started at lock for the Burleigh Bears in Round Ten of the GCRL U18 Division One competition against the Coomera Cutters with Kanititeiti Sikahele making a crunching tackle for the kick-off to force a Cutters knock on twenty metres from the try line with Burleigh scoring from the subsequent scrum.

Kanititeiti Sikahele also started at lock in Round Eleven against the Southport Tigers with Kanititeiti Sikahele scoring in the 19th minute when after starting his run to the left of the play the ball, Kanititeiti Sikahele cut back to his right to crash over from five metres out to get the ball down ten metres to the right of the uprights.

The 13th minute saw Kanititeiti Sikahele run onto the ball to the right of the play the ball from twenty three metres out from his own try line to thirty nine metres out. Then in the 51st minute from the left of the play the ball from thirty metres from his own try line, Kanititeiti Sikahele got the ball to within seven metres of the halfway mark.

Kanititeiti Sikahele rounded out a strong match in the 54th minute with a right arm around the corner off-load after carrying the ball from the left of the dummy half from his own thirty metre mark to six metres of the halfway mark.

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Aaron Singh-Goesel started at left second row for the Murwillumbah Mustangs in Round Ten of the NRRRL U18 competition against the Casino Cougars with Aaron Singh-Goesel recording a try assist in the 23rd minute when from twenty two metres out to the right of the play the ball Aaron Singh-Goesel burst through two attempted tackles and when he was ten metres out from the try line Aaron Singh-Goesel drew the fullback and passes to his right to his fullback who scored under the posts.

Aaron Singh-Goesel made a 12th minute line break assist when from thirty metres from the Mustangs try line Bo Peisley threw a short pass to his left to put Aaron Singh-Goesel into a gaping hole to get the ball four metres into Casino territory.

Aaron Singh-Goesel also recorded a line break assist in the 12th minute as a result of a good catch and pass to his right from eighteen metres out from his own try line to put his left centre away down the left touchline to ten metres inside Casino territory.

Aaron Singh-Goesel also in the 26th minute from the left of a Mustangs scrum win ran the ball from twenty metres from his own try line to thirty five metres out.

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Hard working PBC SHS front rower Charlie Wood could not have done any more yesterday against Keebra Park SHS in the Renouf Shield and was one of the reasons for PBC SHS's 16-10 victory.