Junior Development

[mdrew]

A Titans U15 side played against Western Mustangs at Nerang a few weeks ago winning six tries to three. Front rower Brody Smitka, centres Rowan Mansfield, five eight Jed Bignell, half Tom Weaver and second rower Ezra Ubaldino amongst others were very good. Hail Sezer was there as well so he may have other names

mdrew is there a Titans U15 Rep Team?
If so are you aware of any games they have played this year?

[Mr Bods]

A Titans U15 side played against Western Mustangs at Nerang a few weeks ago winning six tries to three. Front rower Brody Smitka, centres Rowan Mansfield, five eight Jed Bignell, half Tom Weaver and second rower Ezra Ubaldino amongst others were very good. Hail Sezer was there as well so he may have other names

Thanks mdrew. You are always the man.
I’m specifically wanting to know about the development of a big forward Josh Gilbert.
I’ve seen him play games where he single handedly destroys oppositions however I’m wondering how he shapes up when up against higher quality and sizeable opponents.

[mdrew]

Burleigh MM and Colts highlights:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ESwmFLTr_3o

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IyZPhI3xuw4

[mdrew]

Connor Williams and Henry Abdul-Rahman in the Darling Downs U18 side, thanks to Bart for the heads up

[mdrew]

Titans contracted powerhouse Ethan Foster scored two tries on the weekend for Northern Rivers U16's. His tries are at 52m 12s and his great second one is at 1h 22m 17s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHbijBg4-sA

[mdrew]

GC Vikings u13 and U14 training squads came out a day early. Well done to all.

https://www.rlgc.com.au/single-post/...quad-Announced

[ALX25]

GC Vikings u13 and U14 training squads came out a day early. Well done to all.

https://www.rlgc.com.au/single-post/...quad-Announced

Looks like some issues with the sides that the GCRL will need to fix (i.e. communication), otherwise people will look at other sports.

[mdrew]

Round 4 fixtures for the U16 South East Queensland pre-season challenge to be held on Saturday March 24 at Redcliffe

Ipswich v Gold Coast White 2pm
Brisbane Red v Gold Coast Yellow 3pm

[mdrew]

Good to see Titans Rookie Squad member Jaxson Paulo having a great start to the season including an outstanding display for Burleigh Colts in Round One against the Sunshine Coast Falcons when he scored a try himself and set up winger Reece Tapine for another. His performance in Round Two last weekend against Redcliffe was also very good.

At the start of the season Jaxson Paulo moved from left wing to left centre and has performed well since, including spending time in the off season training with the NRL squad. He may even sneak a Queensland Cup match or two for Burleigh before seasons end.

[Mr Bods]

mdrew-heard something a bit different today. That Jordan Tauali’i might be off to the USA for a College American Football Scholarship. Any truth in this?

[mdrew]

Haven't heard that mate, but I will see what I can find out

mdrew-heard something a bit different today. That Jordan Tauali’i might be off to the USA for a College American Football Scholarship. Any truth in this?

[mdrew]

Another young Titans Rookie Squad member having a solid start to the 2018 season is Tweed Heads Seagulls Colts player Ben Thomas. After copping a knock in Tweed’s trial against Souths Logan, Ben Thomas has played two solid Colts matches starting both. He has started both Rounds in eth front row even though he giving away a lot of size and scored a second half double on the weekend against a giant Victorian forward pack.

[mdrew]

Some incredible statistics from two of the younger Titans through two NRL matches:

Jai Arrow is averaging 181 metres and 27.5 tackles (80% tackling efficiency) and Max King is averaging 118 metres and 17.5 tackles (98% tackling efficiency), very impressive from the two youngsters.

A couple of other young Titans have also been solid including Keegan Hipgrave making 21 tackles (77.8% tackling efficiency) and 83 metres, with 20 of those post contact on the weekend and Morgan Boyle is averaging 75 running metres (26.5 post contact) and fourteen tackles (80% tackling efficiency), not a bad young core to build an NRL pack around.

Also Phillip Sami is averaging 133.5 metres and has a try, two line breaks and eleven tackle breaks on the season.

[mdrew]

Jed Bignell the young five eight who performed so well for the Titans U15 side at Nerang a couple of weeks ago, including scoring a good first quarter try under the posts by beating a number of Western Mustangs players with a number of steps, has moved from the Western Downs region and will play for Northern Suburbs in the Ipswich junior rugby league U15 competition.

The Ipswich junior rugby league competition will line up this weekend for the third round of their pre-season competition with the regular season kicking off in a fortnight.

[mdrew]

Queensland Cup Statistics for Titans Junior Players for Round Two:

Tyrone Roberts-Davis - wing (Burleigh)

- One try
- 80 minutes played
- 101 running metres
- 35 post contact metres
- 10 runs
- Four tackle breaks
- 100% tackling efficiency

Jai Whitbread - interchange (Burleigh)

- 94 running metres
- 12 runs
- 34 post contact metres
- Two tackle breaks
- 15 tackles at 88.24% tackling efficiency

Kiah Cooper – wing (Tweed)

- 80 minutes played
- 32 running metres
- 13 post contact metres
- Five tackles at 83.33% tackling efficiency

Tony Matautia –lock (Tweed)

- 35 minutes played
- 39 running metres
- 14 post contact metres
- 17 tackles at 94.44% tackling efficiency

Moeaki Fotuaika - front row (Tweed)

- 167 running metres (led team and most in the game)
- 53 post contact metres (led team and most in the game)
- 1 line break
- 29 tackles at 96.67% tackling efficiency (second best on team, leader had 30 tackles)
- 56 minutes played
- 2 off loads
- Six times used as a decoy
- Nine times he supported the ball carrier