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  1. #961
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    Laz Sua. (Revised). Laz Sua started the 2019 season as part of the Souths Logan Hastings Deering’s Colts side playing in five matches for the Magpies before heading back to play in the GCLR First Grade competition with the Ormeau Shearers with his first match being in Round 16 against Currumbin when he came off the bench. Laz Sua also came off the bench in Round Seventeen.

    Laz Sua made his first start since coming back to Ormeau in Round Eighteen when he started at hooker against Southport.

    Laz Sau started off the 2019 season with the Souths Logan Magpies U20 Hastings Deering’s Colts side, playing his first match in Round Three against Norths when he started the match in the front row.

    In total for Souths Logan Laz Sua played in five Hastings Deering’s Colts matches this season, starting three in the front row, one at lock being Round Five against Burleigh and one from the interchange bench which was in Round Six against the Northern Pride.

    The powerful nuggetty young Gold Coast local had an outstanding 2018 season. Even in the 2018 pre-season Laz Sua was in outstanding form. In Tweed Heads MM trial against Souths Logan at Waterford, the Seagulls were on the back foot for the first two quarters but Laz Sua’s introduction made a significant difference and when he was on the field he provided momentum through his hit-ups and defensive starch and that was just a trial!

    In the MM Cup season proper in 2018 Laz Sua started in the front row of all seven of Tweed Head’s matches including their semi-final against South’s Logan. Laz Sua did not score any tries in the MM Cup this season, but was rewarded for his outstanding effort in Round Five against the Townsville Blackhawks when he converted Tweed Heads final try in a big 72 – 6 victory.

    After Tweed Heads finals elimination, Laz Sua moved directly to the Tweed Heads Seagulls Colts side starting in his debut in the front row in Round Ten against Ipswich and came off the bench in Round Eleven against the Northern Pride who were top of the table at that point. Round Twelve saw Laz Sua once again start on the bench. He was also on the bench for the Seagulls in Rounds Thirteen and Seventeen to Twenty Four.

    Laz Sua moved to the Gold Coast Rugby League competition in Round Eight of that competition, coming off the interchange bench for the Ormeau Shearers who unfortunately suffered a 74 – 12 loss to a rampaging Bilambil Jets side. In total Laz Sua played in five GCRKL First Grade matches in 2018.

    In 2017 in addition to playing for Keebra Park, Laz Sua was selected in the South Coast U18 side and from there was selected in the Queensland U18 Open Schoolboy side for the ASSRL Championship including scoring a try on Day Three in a 28-18 loss to New South Wales Combined Catholic Colleges.

    Laz Sua and his Keebra Park Open team mates had an outstanding 2017 GIO Cup campaign with the Gold Coast based school winning the National final with Laz Sua starting the final in eth second row and playing on the left side of the field against Westfield’s Sports High School.

    Laz Sua was also a member of the Tweed Heads Seagulls MM Cup side for the 2017 version of that competition and played for Queensland Samoa U18 squad for the QPICC tournament that was held in October 2017.

    Laz Sua played in club football in 2017 with the Ormeau Shearers across a number of competitions including the U17 Division One competition, U19’s, the Doug Lipp Cup and five first grade matches. In the U17 Division One competition, Laz Sua played in five matches scoring three tries including a double against Burleigh with his other try coming against Mudgeeraba. In the U19 competition, Laz Sua has played in nine matches scoring against Runaway Bay in June and also kicking a late conversion against Mudgeeraba.

    Laz Sua made his Doug Lipp Cup debut in June against Tugun and celebrated by scoring on debut. Playing first grade at any level as a 17 year is no mean feat and Laz Sua achieved that feat on Sunday June 18 2017 when he came on from the interchange bench against Currumbin. His other first grade matches came against Runaway Bay, Bilambil, Currumbin again and Southport.

    During the 2016 season Laz Sua was selected as a result of his good form to represent Queensland at the U16 level. Unfortunately for Laz Sua he only got a handful of minutes on the field when he came on late and played in the dummy half role.

    In relation to his club rugby league on the Gold Coast in 2016 he played six matches for the Ormeau Shearers club in the U16 Division One competition and scored three tries in limited action, including scoring against eventual premiers Burleigh on two separate occasions and also against Helensvale.

    For Gold Coast White in the CC Cup competition in 2016, Laz Sua played in all six of their games, splitting his time evenly between starting at hooker and at lock. He started at hooker in Rounds One, Six and Seven and started at lock in the other three games. He also crossed for two tries which came in Rounds One and Two, against Souths Logan and Gold Coast Green respectively.

    In addition, after the completion of the 2016 season he was a late replacement in the Team Toa side where he came off the bench in their loss to a NSW New Zealand side. In 2016 he was also a member of the QAS squad and in 2015 made the Queensland Maroon U15 side for the ASSRL U15 championships after playing a leading role for South Coast at the U15 QSSRL championships where he played the majority of his matches in the centres.

    In attack, regardless of the position he is playing, he is quick and strong and has good footwork to beat opposition defenders and then has very good speed, not necessarily speed off the mark, but definitely has good top end speed once he gets moving. In relation to his play at hooker his passing is reasonably crisp, especially to the right side, but on occasion he passes in two movements, the first being a straightening motion with a distinct second motion being the delivery of the pass, on other occasions he does pass directly from the ground in one fluid motion, like he would be doing as a rugby half.

    Laz Sua does like to run from dummy half and his strength and speed does compensate if there are no gaps in the defensive line. Once tackled he immediately starts fighting to get a quick play the ball in an effort to maintain momentum.

    In terms of wider positions, such as in the back row or at centre, he can and will take on defenders and look to run over them, when he stays wide, like he did for Keebra good things happen for his team.

    Defensively Laz Sua is more than strong enough to defend in the middle of the ruck and quick enough to defend on the fridges. In the centre of the ruck he sets a strong base to create the necessary leverage to defend against larger forwards.

    When defending out wide, he is better in an up and in type defensive scheme rather than a sliding defensive structure. Laz Sua is also extremely fit thus getting back into the defensive line is no issue for him over the course of the entire game.

    Laz Sua will play out the 2019 season with the Ormeau in the Gold Coast Rugby League First Grade competition gaining invaluable experience against men. Laz Sua is still Colts eligible in 2020 and it will be interesting to see if he chooses to play for one of the two Gold Coast clubs, or goes back to Souths Logan.

    The big question for he is where Laz Sua’s long term future lies. I know that he has played a fair bit of front row this year for Souths Logan and in 2018 in the MM Cup and Colts but there are skills in his game which suggest a future in a wider playing position such as in the back row is the ideal position for him.

    Laz Sua has a diverse range of skills to take advantage of and with a reduction of the inter change currently being fore shadowed a player of his type will become very valuable. Regardless of the position that he is playing, Laz Sua also has outstanding endurance and shapes as an 80 minute player now.

    He may not be as big as the player I am using as a playing comparison but for me Laz Sua has a playing style similar to North Queensland’s versatile John Asiata. Both have intriguing skills and a hardness to their play that compels others to follow their lead.

  2. #962
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    Kel Sheather. (Revised) Ballina Seagulls 19 year old half Kel Sheather started Round One of the New South Wales Country U23 competition at half for the Northern Rivers Titans against the Central Coast Roosters.

    In the match, Kel Sheather did not have too many chances with the ball but was outstanding defensively, especially in relation to two plays in the first half. The first was when faced with a big overlap, he flew out of the line at the Central Coast half forcing a mistake and saving a try.

    In the second instance, Kel Sheather tracked a Titans clearing kick and hit the Central Coast fullback in an outstanding front on tackle, jolting the ball loose, with the Titans scoring in the next set of six.

    In the match Kel Sheather kicked one conversion which was a great kick from the left touchline.

    In Round Two against the Greater Northern Tigers Kel Sheather also started at half once again and kicked three conversions in a good Northern Rivers Titans win. He also started at half in the Northern Rivers Titans U23 side’s semi-final against the South Coast Dragons finishing the match kicking three conversions form four attempts in their twenty point loss.

    As in previous seasons, Kel Sheather played for the Ballina Seagulls in the NRRRL First competition but due to the presence of Jamie Lyon as captain/coach and five eight, Kel Sheather in fact started in the centres in Round One against Kyogle and contributed a try to Ballina’s 40 – 18 victory over the Turkey’s.

    With Jamie Lyon coming on board as Ballina’s NRRRL First Grade captain/coach, Kel Sheather has moved to the centres for the majority of the season playing in thirteen matches to date, scoring five tries. Kel Sheather has missed a number of matches recently due to injury.

    Kel Sheather’s tries have all come in separate matches against Kyogle twice, Lismore Marist Brothers, Northern United and Cudgen.

    The talented young half was still eligible to play in the MM Cup competition in 2108 and in fact was named in the Tweed Heads Seagulls MM Cup squad but in fact has by-passed the U18 competition all together and commenced the 2018 season as the starting half back for the Tweed Heads Seagulls U20 Colts side and scored a good try in Round One against the North’s Devils when he split the North’s defence from around ten metres out when operating on the left side of the field.

    Kel Sheather also started Rounds Two where he had a try assist and Three against Victoria and Burleigh respectively at half back. Kel Sheather has primarily played on the left side of the field so far this season for the Tweed Heads Seagulls.

    Round Three against Burleigh once again saw Kel Sheather lead Tweed Heads around the field well especially in the second half with the Seagulls coming from behind to beat their local rivals by four points with two late tries.

    In total for Tweed Heads in the 2018 Colts competition, Kel Sheather played in eleven matches scoring two tries. In addition to the try noted above against Victoria, Kel Sheather also scored against Wynnum Manly in Round Six.

    Kel Sheather started his first eight U20 Hastings Deering’s Colts matches at half back, the last being in Round Eight against the Western Mustangs. In his other three matches being against Ipswich in Round Ten, Redcliffe in Round Thirteen and Wynnum Manly in Round Seventeen, Kel Sheather has started from the interchange bench.

    Kel Sheather also played a number of matches in the 2018 NRRRL competition for Ballina making his NRRRL First Grade debut in June and scoring against Casino RSM. In his eight NRRL First Grade regular season matches in 2018 Kel Sheather scored 32 points from four tries and eight goals.

    Kel Sheather was also heavily involved in 2018 Ballina’s NRRRL First Grade final’s series, culminating in Ballina playing the Tweed Coast Raiders in the 2018 NRRRL First Grade Grand Final with Ballina going down 24 – 4 against the Tweed Coast Raiders in a physical contest in Ballina.

    Kel Sheather started the Grand Final at five eight and operated primarily on the right side of the field for Ballina. He did not get too many chances in attack but acquitted himself well defensively against a Tweed Coast forward pack that sent a lot of traffic his way.

    Kel Sheather had a huge match late in the regular season against Lower Clarence in Round Seventeen scoring two tries and kicking eight goals for an individual point’s haul of 24. Kel Sheather’s other regular season tries came in Round Seventeen against Lismore Marist Brothers and Round Seven against Casino RSM.

    Kel Sheather also played one 2018 NRRRL U18 match being in May against the Tweed Coast Raiders and that day he then backed up for the First Grade match later in the afternoon.

    The 2018 season was the second season in which Kel Sheather has been involved in the NRRRL First Grade competition after playing in nine matches in 2017, scoring one try.

    The St Johns College Woodlawn half back in 2017 plyed his trade for the Ballina Seagulls in the NRRRL Northern Rivers Rugby League competition playing both first grade and U18’s this season as well as playing for St College Woodlawn in a number of Schoolboy competitions including the GIO Cup. Kel Sheather set up a great try in the semi-finals of the New South Wales Catholic Cup schoolboy competition when a great kick of his in the wet found the chest of centre Jordan Sly but a late try resulted in a 14 – 10 loss to Sydney’s Holy Cross Ryde.

    Kel Sheather also scored a 100 metre try and was singled out for special praise by his coach in Woodlawn’s New South Wales GIO Cup Grand Final victory over Patrician Brothers Fairfield in Sydney in late August 2017.

    Kel Sheather in 2017 played ten matches in the U18 NRRRL competition scoring 52 points from five tries and sixteen goals. All of his tries have been scored in different games and came against Tweed Coast on two separate occasions, Byron Bay, Casino RSM and Kyogle. Kel Sheather also played nine NRRRL first grade matches and scored his sole try in his third ever first grade match against Byron Bay.

    In 2016 Kel Sheather started from the bench for the Northern Country Combined Catholic College side in the NSW CCC trials. Over the last couple of years, the young halfback has not played a great deal of club rugby league for his club side the Ballina Seagulls but has played a fair amount of matches, including the National GIO Cup competition with St Johns College Woodlawn.

    Kel Sheather came to prominence in the green of Woodlawn in 2017 when he was part of the NSW CCC Cup Woodlawn side that made the semi-finals of that competition last year. That side included former Titan Sam Elliot and Zac Beecher who has previously played in the MM Cup competition of the Gold Coast.

    In attack his initial burst of speed off the mark is the first attribute that you will notice when you see him play, he has a dynamic initial burst however he does not have an extra gear to move to when he is in open space. Coupled with a very good step off both feet, although he seems to step off his right foot on a more regular basis, Kel Sheather’s speed enables him to make breaks however his lack of plus top end speed does impact on his ability to score from his own breaks.

    Kel Sheather’s initial burst off the mark was the primary reason for his try in Round One against the North’s Devils. He received the ball on the left side of the play the ball about ten metres out from the North’s line. Kel Sheather ran across field with the ball out in front of him in both hands and when the North’s defensive line hesitated not knowing whether he would run or pass, Kel Sheather stepped off his left foot and exploded through a small gap to score with the North’s fullback trying in vain to make the tackle as Kel Sheather dived across the line to score near the left upright.

    Kel Sheather can and will beat defenders in the inside with a step and if the defensive line is staggered a dummy and go, presents multiple headaches for the opposition’s defensive strategies and also backs up well.

    It is these attributes that means Kel Sheather is a threat to run every time he is at dummy half and opposing defences must that that into account, for if the markers do but work hard or there are slow moving forwards he has the ability to exploit that on each occasion, like he did against North’s.

    A good left foot step in Round Two against the Victorian Thunderbolts highlighted the effectiveness of his step to create opportunities. With a couple of minutes to go in the match, Kel Sheather took the ball on the field (where he has primarily played) stepped off his left foot to elude a defender who had rushed out of the line and then popped a good short inside ball to Ben Thomas who scored near the posts. The try from Kel Sheather’s perspective involved good footwork in limited space and then appropriate timing, direction and weight on his pass to set up Ben Thomas for the try.

    In previous year’s he has run quite a lot but last year and so far this season he has seemingly taken a step back and become more of an organising type of halfback, but he still takes on the line when he sees an opportunity as was evidenced in Round One against North’s.

    At present, one area for him to continue to develop is his play making skills, including putting his runners holes gaps. I am not suggesting that play making skills are currently under developed but an improvement in that area will enable his speed and footwork to play better in game situations as defensive lines start to focus in his runners and thus leave more space for him.

    Kel Sheather continues to refine his passing especially to his left and has thrown a number of good passes this season, none more so than a good long spiral to left centre Lee Turner which put him outside his defender and then Lee Turner just had to draw the winger and pass Gerard Ah Nau for his first try in the left corner and his first in Seagulls colours since his move from Group 20.

    From a goal kicking perspective, he is very effective near the posts, his strike rate last year was a touch above 90% and will have his moments where he kicks then in bunches from the sideline as well. I am not sure whether he will be a team’s primary goal kicker going forward, but it is certainly not out of the question that he will not be either.

    In defence, due to his size he is obviously not going to come up with the big hit but reads the play well enough and can hold his own when defending much bigger players. When confronted with forwards running directly at him on the fringes of the ruck he will get in front of them and use his shoulder in an effort to contain them until defensive help arrives. He does have an aggressive streak in him when defending and this holds him in good stead when defending against wide running back rowers.

    Kel Sheather is still Colts eligible in 2019 and may wish to test himself once again in the Hastings Deering’s U20 Colts competition with the Tweed Heads Seagulls.

    From a position perspective, Kel Sheather made a good fist of half back with the Tweed Heads Seagulls Colts side in 2018 and in the NRRRL First Grade competition and clearly has made great strides in his game management and ball playing skills and thus there is no reason to consider a move from half back.

    Whilst Kel Sheather has played in the centres this season for Ballina in the NRRRRL First Grade competition with Jamie Lyon coming on board, his future certainly lies closer to the action.

    With his evolving game management and ball playing skills to compliment his running game a player comparison to young Melbourne Storm half back Brody Croft is not unwarranted. Like Croft Kel Sheather is also a very good goal kicker as well as tactical kicker.

    Kel Sheather certainly has an intriguing skill set and has come on in leaps and bounds this season in Colts and has adapted to the size and speed of the older players he is up against very quickly indeed.

    Kel Sheather certainly has had to deal with a very steep learning curve this season in the centres but he has handled it with aplomb which bodes well for the future.

  3. #963
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    Jordan Sly. After an outstanding 2018 NRRRL U18 season Ballina’s Jordan Sly moved to the Evans Heads Bombers for the 2019 season seeing plenty of NRRRL First Grade action in both the centres and second row.

    Jordan Sly’s debut for Evans head came in Round One of the NRRRL First Grade competition against Murwillumbah and he made a great start to his NRRRL First Grade career, scoring on debut. Since that time, Jordan Sly has played an additional thirteen NRRRL First Grade matches and added goals against Lismore Marist Brothers and Byron Bay.

    In 2018 Jordan Sly produced a Man of the Match performance for Ballina in the NRRRL U18 Grand Final as they defeated Cudgen 30-4.

    Jordan Sly finished as the 2018 NRRRL U18 competitions leading point’s scorer with 142 regular season points from eight tries and 55 goals from thirteen matches.

    Jordan Sly scored a double against Lismore Marist Brothers and with the boot had some big matches kicking eight goals twice with those matches being against Murwillumbah and Marist Brothers where he finished the match with 24 points when he add in his two tries.

    The former St John’s College Woodlawn student has an exceptional 2017 rugby league campaign that including being part of the Ballina Seagulls U18 side that won the U18 NRRRL grand Final 28 -18 over Casino RSM and starting in the centres for Woodlawn as they won the New South Wales GIO Trophy Final with a 36 -26 win over Patrician Brothers Fairfield.

    For the Ballina Seagulls in the 2017 U18 NRRRL competition, Jordan Sly finished both as one of the top try scorers and points scorers with 122 points in the regular season. Jordan Sly from a try scoring perspective scored a hat trick against Mullumbimby and a double against Murwillumbah. In the match against Mullumbimby, Jordan Sly also kicked eight goals for twenty eight points for the match. Against Evans Heads in July, Jordan Sly scored 18 points from a try and seven goals and he also kicked six goals against Casino RSM in June.

    Jordan Sly also scored a number of tries over the course of the season for St Johns College Woodlawn including a ty in the New South Wales GIO Trophy Final against Patrician Brothers College Fairfield and also against Sydney School Holy Cross Ryde in another School boy competitions semi-final.

    Due to his size and speed Jordan Sly is almost impossible to stop one on one in the competitions that he has played in so far in his career, with his favourite move being an in and away to beat his opposing number on the outside and then using his acceleration to break the game apart. Jordan Sly does not just have top end speed, he has very good acceleration off the mark as well and is coupled with a solid fend meaning defensive players cannot get into the tackle before defensive help arrives.

    On the majority of occasions Jordan Sly runs with the ball out in front of his body with both hands means defences cannot key in whether he is going to run or pass or for that matter which foot he is going to step off. This obviously creates a significant degree of doubt in the minds of defenders and led to situations where either his direct opponent or other defenders rushed out of the line, creating space which Jordan Sly was able to exploit across the NRRRL U18 competition this season.

    Defensively Jordan Sly can defend against any size opponent, from small quick outside backs to big strong powerful backrowers running wide of the ruck. Jordan Sly more than strong enough to handle his defensive duties. Jordan Sly uses this strength to move up and hit just under the ribcage, redirecting the momentum of the ball carrier and thus eliminating the attacking threat in the short term.

    Defending out in the centres, Jordan Sly sets a good base and uses his leg strength to direct his strength through the core of his body into his opponent. Purely from a skill and physical attribute perspective he seems more suited to a sliding defensive methodology rather than an up and in style, but this is more conjecture from me rather than a fact based argument.

    Jordan Sly is still U20 (Colts) eligible in 2020 and it will be interesting to see after a season in the NRRRL competition playing against men will wet his appetite to head up to the Gold Coast to push for a spot with either the Tweed Heads or Burleigh Hastings Deering’s Colts squad come 2020.

    Jordan Sly is just a talented athlete with size and speed and as he fills out his strength and power will continue to develop. Jordan Sly has a frame that can add a fair degree of muscle mass yet maintain his speed, a potent combination.

    Jordan Sly is ideally suited to playing in the centres, especially with his speed and projects as a strike centre moving forward, although he can certainly handle playing in the second row as well.

    Joseph Manu from the Sydney Roosters for me has a similar skill set to Jordan Sly as a young player who has all of the skill and physical attributes, specifically speed and strength to succeed in rugby league, he just needs more experience and he has certainly gotten some this season playing in the NRRRL First Grade competition.

  4. #964
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    Titan Vaikai. (Revised) The superbly named big, strong young front rower from the Runaway Bay junior rugby league club had a solid 2018 rugby league season across school boy, club and representative competitions,, including starting in the front row for a Titans U15 Invitational side against the Western Mustang at Nerang in March 2018 with the Titans winning the match six tries to three.

    Titan Vaikai also started from the bench for the Titans U15 side as they defeated a U15 Balmain Tigers touring side 16 – 10 later in 2018.

    This season Titan Vaikai moved to Brisbane Grammar School on a rugby scholarship and he is currently playing in the front row in their GPS School boy First XV.

    Titan Vaikai however has played in three GCRL U16 Division One matches for Runaway Bay with the first of those matches coming in May against Southport. This season Titan Vaikai has also played in matches against Burleigh, Coomera and Mudgeeraba.

    For Runaway Bay in the 2018 Gold Coast Rugby League U15 Division One competition Titan Vaikai started in the front row in all fifteen of the matches that he played including Finals series matches, scoring three tries along the way.

    Titan Vaikai’s tries came against Robina and in consecutive weeks against Burleigh and Ormeau.

    Titan Vaikai started in the front row in all four of Runaway Bay’s finals matches including starting in the front row in the U15 Division One Grad Final, unfortunately Runaway Bay went down to Ormeau 38 – 20.

    In Week One of the finals Runaway Bay went down to Ormeau 28 – 12, then bounced back to win 34 – 24 in Week Two against Burleigh before defeating Coomera 58 – 14 in the Preliminary Final to qualify for the U15 Division One Grand Final.

    Titan Vaikai also played one match in the 2018 U16 Division One competition this season which was against Mudgeeraba in June. Titan Vaikai had played in the U15 Division One match earlier in the night.

    The former Coombabah State High School student represented South Coast at the U15 QSSRL Championships early in 2018.

    In addition to playing for Runaway Bay in the 2018 GCRL U15 Division One competition, Titan Vaikai play club rugby on the Gold Coast for the Griffith University Colleges U15 side and was the team’s co-captain with his side winning the premiership with a 47 – 19 victory over the Helensvale Hogs in a match that was curtain raiser to the Wallabies v Argentina test at Cbus stadium.

    In total for Griffith University Colleges, Titan Vaikai played in twelve matches, starting ten matches and coming off the bench twice. Titan Vaikai started seven matches at lock, including the Grand Final, two matches at tight head prop and one at loose head prop and scored one try which was against Wollongbar/Alstonville in Round One.

    The young Coombabah State High School student was a strong contributor in his schools Hancock Cup campaign in 2017 and was also a strong presence for Runaway Bay in the GCJRL U14 Division Once competition.

    In the 2017 U14 Division One competition for Runaway Bay in 2017 Titan Vaikai played in ten matches and even though he did not score in that competition he none the less was a strong presence. Titan Vaikai also played two matches in the U15 Division Two competition for Runaway Bay playing against Helensvale on both occasions and in their second encounter scored his sole try of the 2017 season.

    Titan Vaikai represented the U14 Gold Coast Vikings side early in the 2017 season and consequently made the South East Queensland U14 train on squad and from there was selected in the South East Queensland White U14 side for the Queensland Age Championships.

    Titan Vaikai is a big strong young front rower who is a powerful runner of the football, who knows only one way and that is straight ahead and has shown flashes of the ability to offload once he has impacted the defensive line or has crashed through it.

    For a big front rower Titan Vaikai does actually have quite decent speed and footwork, certainly above average for a player of his size, although he does not necessarily use it all of the time but certainly enough to push through the defensive line on occasion.

    His good footwork enables Titan Vaikai to step prior to the line, creating little half breaks which enhances his ability to off-load the football. In the Titans U15 game, Titan Vaikai was more than just a workhorse and used his deft foot work, mentioned above, to bend the Toowoomba defensive line back regularly on a very very hot afternoon.

    In defence Titan Vaikai is a big hitter of that there is no doubt and every tackle that he makes is felt by the ball runner and he is also good from a wrestling perspective once the tackle has been completed. Titan Vaikai is obviously suited to defending in the centre of the ruck rather that the fringes and will understandably have some trouble with nippy runners out of dummy half.

    His calling card though is the strength and power to effectively engage the opposing forward early in their run and use his natural strength to win the forward battle in the centre of the ruck. Titan Vaikai can defensively handle any one on one battle that presents itself as was evidenced in the Titans U15 game.

    At times in games Titan Vaikai really does prevent opposing gaining any ground at all through the centre of the ruck. It is now a matter of extending the duration of his ruck dominance.

    Titan Vaikai has taken up a three year full rugby scholarship at GPS school, Brisbane Grammar starting this season and will be a very good addition to their developing rugby program where he will play in the front row.

    t is a great opportunity for the young man and post his school years will have options in both rugby league and rugby to consider. Brisbane Grammar school has a solid tradition of bringing Gold Coast rugby league boys through their rugby program.

    In addition to Titan Vaikai, Brisbane Grammar School have also brought in Gold Coast Rugby League player Connor Te Kani, JT Manuofetoa , Kruse Remine and Xavier Collins.

    Last season Dennis Waight (ACT Brumbies) and Dee Jarn Asi (North Queensland Cowboys), both of whom have previously played matches for Titans Development Squads were part of the Brisbane Grammar School First XV at outside centre and fly half respectively and previously Emile Tuimavave has been a Brisbane Grammar School First XV player as a prop.

    It is great to see however that Titan Vaikai has continued to play for Runaway Bay in the Gold Coast rugby league competition this season.

    From a player comparison perspective for Titan Vaikai consider a comparison from a playing perspective style to young Newcastle Knights front row twins Daniel and Jacob Saifiti as a big strong young man, who if he continues to work hard on his mobility and stamina as Titan Vaikai gains experience may be able to harness all of the considerable physical and skill attributes that he has at his disposal.

  5. #965
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    Kade McDonald. In recent season a number of youngsters from the Western Australian region have moved over to the Gold Coast to continue their rugby league career and 2019 was no different with South Perth Lions utility Kade McDonald moving over to be part of the Tweed Heads Seagulls U20 Hastings Deering’s Colts squad starting Rounds One and Two against the Western Mustangs and Townsville Blackhawks respectively at fullback.

    After the opening two rounds of the 2019 Hastings Deering’s Colts competition Kade McDonald came off the bench for Currumbin in the GCRL U20 competition and certainly made an impact when he came on scoring a hat trick as Currumbin prevailed 29-24 in a close match against Burleigh.

    Kade McDonalds first try came when the ball was spun out wide to the right by Currumbin close to the Burleigh line, when Kade McDonald received the ball he stepped off his right foot to breach the defensive line. For his second try Kade McDonald would space down the right try line to score in the corner.

    Kade McDonald’s third and final try was as a result of a piece of individual brilliance, with the scores locked at 22 all, Burleigh went for a short kick off, Kade McDonald took the ball on the full and spun back to towards the left touch line confusing the defence before sprinting untouched seventy metres to score the match sealing try for Currumbin.

    Post that match Kade McDonald moved back to Western Australia to play in the Western Australian Smarter than Smoking First Grade Premiership competition with the South Perth Lions, being the same club he played with prior to moving to the Gold Coast.

    Since his return to Western Australia Kade McDonald has played in eleven matches, his first coming in early May against the Rockingham Sharks. Kade McDonald took a little bit of time to find his feet but in the last three weeks has rediscovered his try scoring groove scoring a double in each match, including last weekend against the Joondalup Giants, and in the rounds prior against the Freemantle Roosters and Willagee Bears.

    Kade McDonald’s other tries since his return have been in matches against the Willagee Bears, Joondalup Giants, Ellenbrook Rabbitohs and North Beach Sea Eagles.

    Kade McDonald played a lot of rugby league in 2018 starting the season as part of the Western Pirates U18 SG Ball side. In that competition, Kade McDonald played in the opening three rounds Starting round One against Parramatta at half, in Round Two against North Sydney on the wing and in Round Three at five eight against the Central Coast Roosters. Kade McDonald scored a try and kicked a conversion against the Roosters and kicked a conversion against Parramatta.

    In the 2018 Western Australian Rugby League competition for the South Perth Lions, Kade McDonald played in both the Pirates Youth Cup U18 competition and the Smarter than Smoking First Grade Premiership.

    In the 2018 Western Australian U18 competition, Kade McDonald finished as the competitions leading, try scorer, goal kicker and overall point’s scorer scoring 208 points from just fourteen matches to average 14.86 points per match.

    Kade McDonald scored twenty three tries only missing out from crossing in one match which was against the North Beach Sea Eagles (he did kick two conversions in that match however). Kade McDonald scored hat tricks against the Joondalup Giants and North Beach Sea Eagles and doubles against the North Beach Sea Eagles in two matches, Kalamunda Bulldogs in two matches and the Joondalup Giants.

    With the boot Kade McDonald kicked twelve goals in a July match against the Joondalup Giants and eleven early in the season also against the Giants.

    In the Pirates Youth Cup U18 Grand Final last year, Kade McDonald scored a try and kicked six goals for a sixteen point haul in a thrilling 31 – 30 win against the Kalamunda Bulldogs.

    In the Western Australian U18 competition in 2017 Kade McDonald played in nine matches scoring 140 points from nineteen tries and thirty two goals. Kade McDonald in fact made his U18 debut in 2016 as a 16 year old and even back then it was clear that he was a player of substantial promise.

    2018 also saw Kade McDonald make his Western Australian First Grade debut and what a debut season he had, finishing with eighteen tries from just twenty matches, finishing as the competitions second leading try scorer and the Rookie of the year honours.

    Kade McDonald, playing on the wing (where he played the majority of his first grade matches in 2018) scored a double on debut against the Freemantle Roosters and also scored a mid-season double against the Roosters as well. The remainder of Kade McDonalds Western Australian First Grade tries came in individual matches for South Perth.

    Kade McDonald is by no means a big rugby league player and relies on his speed and mobility to create opportunities on the field. His speed off the mark, acceleration and top end speed are all in the plus category.

    If Kade McDonald sees a gap he is through it before the defensive line can react. His plus speed manifests itself in two distinct ways, first when returning kicks, Kade McDonald regularly gets the ball on the full and then explodes through the smallest of gaps in the defensive teams kick chase and secondly when a forward takes the ball up through the centre of the ruck, Kade McDonald is always in support and if he gets an off load he can accelerate through the resultant gap.

    Kade McDonald does not necessarily have a big step but has an outstanding swerve which he uses when confronted with the fullback. He will run directly at the fullback to slow his lateral momentum and then swerve around him the second the fullback’s momentum stops or slows.

    As a defender, like his attack due to his smaller size, Kade McDonald relies on his speed, timing and technique. Kade McDonald has an outstanding low tackling technique which he uses against all players running at him and he will move forward from the fullback to cut down the time that the opposition has to make a decision with the ball.

    Kade McDonald started Round One and Two of the 2019 Hastings Deering’s Colts competition at fullback and is also Colts eligible in 2020 so it will be interesting to see if he gives the East Coast another go or stays in Western Australia..

    In 2018 in the Western Australian U18 competition, Kade McDonald played mainly at half or five eight, in the First Grade competition on the wing and in three different positions in three separate matches for the Western Pirates in the SG Ball competition.

    Kade McDonald is not the biggest player running around by any means and with how most teams are using wingers these days I think that Kade McDonald will end up at fullback, in the halves or even at hooker this season and beyond.

    Dare I say it, early in his senior rugby league career, Kade McDonald may well be an ideal interchange player, being one that can come on a play multiple positions such as in the halves, fullback, hooker or wider out on the wing if necessary and add some speed, enthusiasm and evasiveness to the side when he comes on regardless of the position that he would occupy.

    From a player comparison perspective, taking into account that I think that he will ultimately play in the halves I can see aspects of the play of South Sydney and former New South Wales State of Origin and Australian half Adam Reynolds in the play of Kade McDonald all be it that Kade McDonald has more speed, both off the mark and at the top end than Reynolds (in fact a lot more speed to be totally honest).

    When I am talking speed off the mark I am talking Jake Granville or Matt Parcell type speed if not a touch more, thus my thoughts are that Kade McDonald may be able to spend some time at hooker especially as the opposing teams forwards begin to tire towards the end of each half.

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    Ryan Rivett. (Revised) One of the more exciting young play makers in the Titans TEDS program is Burleigh half Ryan Rivett who is January of this season was part of the Titans U18 side that played a Newcastle Knights U18 SG Ball side in Coffs Harbour.

    Ryan Rivett started at half for the Burleigh MM Cup side in their Round One match with the Norths Devils with Ryan Rivett contributing a try in in Burleigh’s great comeback to draw 38 all with the Devils.

    Ryan Rivett started all six of Burleigh’s MM Cup matches at half, and had an outstanding match in Round Six against the previously unbeaten Wynnum Manly Seagulls scoring a try, kicking three goals and also the game winning field goal with less than two minutes on the clock.

    Ryan Rivett’s try resulted from a piece of individual brilliance. The ball was spun to the right of the field, Ryan Rivett received the ball with pressure to his right, he stepped quickly back inside to get through the initial defensive line before scoring under extreme pressure from Wynnum Manly defenders.

    Post the MM Cup competition Ryan Rivett played for Burleigh in the new GCRL U18 Division One competition starting Round One against Currumbin at half, scoring a try and kicking three goals in the match.

    Ryan Rivett also scored a try and kicked three goals in Round Two against Helensvale and followed that up by kicking five goals in Round Four against Ormeau and four goals in Round Six against Runaway Bay.

    In total before injury struck, Ryan Rivett played in five U18 Division One matches for Burleigh scoring 38 points from two tries and fifteen goals.

    Ryan Rivett was also a stand out in 2019 for PBC early, including playing a starring role in their Round One Langer Cup victory over Marsden State High School, including scoring in the second half when he stepped back inside off his right foot to break through the initial defensive line before diving over.

    Ryan Rivett also started at half in Round Two of the Langer Cup competition one again at half as PBC defeated St Mary’s 18-12. PBC were not at their best but Ryan Rivett still led the side around the field will and kicked well both from a tactical and attacking perspective.

    Unfortunately injury cruelled his season and Ryan Rivett is not likely to play again until 2020.

    Early in the 2019 season, Ryan Rivett was selected in the South West U18 side for the QSSRL U18 Championships after the South Coast trials starting at half for that side.
    The Titans contracted half spent the 2018 season playing for Burleigh in the U16 Division One competition but also got an opportunity in the U17 Division One competition as well.

    Ryan Rivett started at half back and scored a hat trick for the Titans U16 side in a 60 – 10 win over PNG at Pizzey Park and was named by the coaches as the player of the match. Ryan Rivett also started in the halves for the Titans U16’s in their 30 – 10 to New South Wales Country U16’s and kicked a second half conversion in the match.

    In the U16 Division One competition, Ryan Rivett played in twelve matches including the finals series scoring 101 point from eight tries, thirty four goals and a field goal (kicked against Southport).

    From a regular season try scoring perspective, Ryan Rivett scored a double against Runaway Bay and also scored against Helensvale, Mudgeeraba in two separate matches and against Southport.

    Ryan Rivett’s best goal kicking match was against Mudgeeraba in June when he kicked six and on three occasions he kicked four goals in a match.

    In Week Two of the U16 Division One Finals series, Ryan Rivett started at half back for Burleigh as they defeated Helensvale 24 – 18. In the Friday night match Ryan Rivett scored a try and kicked four from four.

    In Week Three of the GCRL Finals series being the Preliminary Finals, Ryan Rivett was certainly busy. On the Friday night he started at half back in the U16 Division One match, scoring as Burleigh went down 28 – 26 to Currumbin.

    Ryan Rivett then started at five eight for the Burleigh U17 Division One side, scoring a try and kicking three second half conversions but unfortunately Burleigh went down to a rampant Runaway Bay side 34 – 22 to end their season.

    Ryan Rivett made his U17 Division One debut against Mudgeeraba in late May 2018 starting the match at half back and running riot on the way to scoring a hat trick. In his second and final U17 Division One match of 2018 Ryan Rivett kicked two goals against Helensvale.

    Ryan Rivett has also recently been selected in the 2018 Queensland Indigenous U16 side for the QPIIC Championships to be held in October in Beenleigh.

    Ryan Rivett was part of the Gold Coast Vikings White U16 side that played in the South East Queensland U16 Challenge early in the season and recently was named joint winner of the GCRL U16 Representative Player of the Year.

    The nippy young Burleigh Bears half back’s outstanding 2017 season culminated in him putting on a Titans jersey for the Titans U15 side that took on a Balmain Tigers selection at Cudgen late last year, 2017 also saw Ryan Rivett be part of the Gold Coast Academy of Sport Excellence Program.

    Over the course of the GCJRL 2017 U15 Division One competition for Burleigh Ryan Rivett played in thirteen matches scoring five tries, kicking nine goals and a field goal for 39 points on the 2017 season. All of Ryan Rivett’s tries came in individual matches against Southport on two occasions, Coomera on two occasions and Helensvale.

    Ryan Rivett’s field goal came late in the season against Coomera. Ryan Rivett started off the season as Burleigh goal kicker, kicking four in a match against Southport and the following week, three against Coomera. All of his season’s goals came in the first four rounds of the competition.

    In attack, Ryan Rivett generally plays an understated role, focussing more on the distribution and game management aspects of his role as a half. A key attribute to how Ryan Rivett plays is his ability to organise and direct his team around the field as well as adjusting his game to the specific situations encountered within a game.

    Ryan Rivett will though take the line on when the opportunity arises however, but as noted his best attribute is that of a game manager with the ability to draw defenders out of the line and put his runners into the subsequent hole that is generated. Ryan Rivett has decent speed off the mark and quick twitch feet in confined space but does not have explosive acceleration or high top end speed.

    From a kicking perspective Ryan Rivett has a solid kicking game, with reasonable distance and accuracy on all types of kicks, from kicking for field position or from an attacking perspective as well as tactically for field position. I am sure that moving forward focussing on his kicking skills will be a key focus area both from a distance and accuracy perspective.

    In defence, due to his size Ryan Rivett is obviously not going to come up with the big hit but reads the play well and can hold his own when defending much bigger players through sheer force of will. He is also very vocal on the field always talking and encouraging his side both in attack and defence.

    Ryan Rivett transitioned to the U18 Division One competition in the Gold Coast Junior Rugby League competition for Burleigh post the MM Cup competition and is also MM Cup eligible in 2020 where he will be a key member of the Bears side.

    From a long term position perspective, based on his skill set and size, halfback seems to be Ryan Rivett’s ideal position going forward and a talented game manager at that. After saying what I just said it would be interesting to see how Ryan Rivett would solid at hooker with his decent speed off the mark and his solid kicking and passing game.

    From a player comparison perspective, think along the lines of Manly half Daly Cherry Evans as an intelligent skilful player who will be the catalyst for most of the good things that his team does and is faster between the ears than his foot speed.

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    Dion Tavita-Matavale. Over the course of the 2019 Ipswich Rugby League U20 competition to date Dion Tavita-Matavale has been the standout player and currently has scored eight tries more than the next contender for the top try scorer award.

    For Brothers Ipswich in the U20 competition this season Dion Tavita-Matavale has currently scored twenty tries from just twelve matches (167%) only twice not crossing the line in a match. Dion Tavita-Matavale scored a mid-season hat trick against the Redbank Plains Bears and has scored four hat tricks including against Redback on three occasions and also against the Goodna Eagles.

    Dion Tavita-Matavale has been on a tear lately scoring eleven of his twenty tries in the last four rounds.

    This season also saw Dion Tavita-Matavale make his Ipswich Rugby League A Grade debut when he came on against Norths Ipswich in May and in late June played his second A Grade match against the Swifts Bluebirds.

    Dion Tavita-Matavale has also played in four Ipswich Rugby League Reserve Grade matches scoring in his first against the West End Bulldogs.

    In 2018 Dion Tavita-Matavale played in nineteen U19 matches in the Ipswich Rugby League competition scoring thirteen tries and kicking sixty five goals to finish the season with 182 points.

    Dion Tavita-Matavale also played in six Ipswich Reserve Grade matches in 2018 finishing with one try.

    The young Northern Suburbs Ipswich Tigers centre has had outstanding 2017 campaign including being involved in the Ipswich Jets MM Cup squad which is not bad at all for a 17 year old who is still MM eligible in 2018.

    Dion Tavita-Matavale played one game for the Ipswich Jets MM cup side which came in Round One against the Tweed Heads Seagulls when he started on the right wing.

    For the Northern Suburbs Ipswich Tigers in the 2017 First National Premier U17 competition in the Ipswich Rugby League, Dion Tavita-Matavale scored three tries from fifteen matches and also kicked 26 goals for a total points haul in the season of 64. Dion Tavita-Matavale’s tries all came early in the 2017 season in three consecutive matches against Redbank Plains Red, Brothers Blue and the West End Bulldogs. Dion Tavita-Matavale’s influence extended far beyond his try scoring statistics however.

    Due to his size and speed Dion Tevita-Matavale is almost impossible to stop one on one in the competitions that he has played in so far in his career, with his favourite move being an in and away to beat his opposing number on the outside and then using his acceleration to break the game apart. Dion Tevita-Matavale does not just have top end speed, he has very good acceleration off the mark as well and is coupled with a solid fend meaning defensive players cannot get into the tackle before defensive help arrives.

    On the majority of occasions Dion Tevita-Matavale runs with the ball out in front of his body with both hands means defences cannot key in whether he is going to run or pass or for that matter which foot he is going to step off. This obviously creates a significant degree of doubt in the minds of defenders and led to situations where either his direct opponent or other defenders rushed out of the line, creating space which Dion Tevita-Matavale was able to exploit across the Ipswich Rugby league competition this season.

    Defensively Dion Tavita-Matavale can defend against any size opponent, from small quick outside backs to big strong powerful backrowers running wide of the ruck. Dion Tavita-Matavale more than strong enough to handle his defensive duties. Dion Tavita-Matavale uses this strength to move up and hit just under the ribcage, redirecting the momentum of the ball carrier and thus eliminating the attacking threat in the short term.

    Defending out in the centres, Dion Tevita-Matavale sets a good base and uses his leg strength to direct his strength through the core of his body into his opponent. Purely from a skill and physical attribute perspective he seems more suited to a sliding defensive methodology rather than an up and in style, but this is more conjecture from me rather than a fact based argument.

    Dion Tavita-Matavale is still Colts eligible in 2020 and it will be interesting to see whether he pushes for a spot in the Ipswich Jets Hastings Deering’s Colts squad.

    Without doubt, Dion Tavita-Matavale has the speed and power to stay in the centres long term and whilst he may not score a significant number of tries will certainly attract defenders and also be a solid defensive centre as well.

    Joseph Manu from the Sydney Roosters for me has a similar skill set to Dion Tavita-Matavale as a young player who has all of the skill and physical attributes, specifically speed and strength to succeed in rugby league.

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    Toby Sexton. The Gold Coast local who has just signed a three year contract with the Titans has had an outstanding 2019 season, including captaining the PBC Open side, being named 18th man for the Queensland U18 side, being selected in the Australian School Boys side after starring for the Queensland School Boys side and of course signing with the Titans.

    Toby Sexton started the 2019 season playing for Tweed Heads in the MM Cup competition starting at half back in all of their nine matches including both the Queensland Grand Final victory over Wynnum Manly and the National U18 Final victory over the Illawarra Steelers.

    In those nine matches Toby Sexton’s sole try came in the National Final against Illawarra and over the course of the season he kicked thirty seven goals to finish with 78 points. On two occasions in 2019 Toby Sexton kicked nine goals in a match being in Round One against the Western Mustangs when he kicked nine from ten and in Round Six against the Mackay Cutters when he kicked nine from twelve.

    Toby Sexton will play for the Australian School Boys side in their one off match at Redcliffe Stadium against a New Zealand U19 side in a curtain raiser to the Queensland Cup Grand Final.

    Toby Sexton also played in the MM Cup in 2018 also for Tweed Heads, starting all seven of their games at five eight, including their semi-final loss to Souths Logan. In those seven matches Toby Sexton scored five tries, including scoring in the semi-final. Toby Sexton also scored against Norths in Round One, Victoria in Round two, Townsville in Round Three and Wynnum Manly in Round Six.

    From a goal kicking perspective in 2018 Toby Sexton kicked forty two goals, kicking nine goals in a match on two occasions with those being in Round Five against Townsville and in Round Six against Wynnum Manly.

    Toby Sexton in 2019 had a heavy schedule playing for PBC, in the MM Cup and representative commitments thus he did not play in any club matches on the Gold Coast. In 2018 however Toby Sexton played in two matches for Currumbin in the U17 Division One competition kicking six goals in his first match against Mudgeeraba and then backing that up by kicking three in a June 2018 match against Burleigh.

    In 2018 Toby Sexton was also a key member of the PBC Open Rugby League side that took all before them winning both the Queensland GIO Cup Final and the National GIO Cup Final. Like this season Toby Sexton was PBC’s primary goal kicker.

    Toby Sexton also played well for PBC in their 2017 GIO Cup campaign including kicking a goal in their tough 22 – 20 Queensland semi-final loss to Marsden State High School.

    Over the course of the 2017 U16 Division season, Toby Sexton finished at the competitions leading point’s scorer with 85 points from three tries, thirty six goals and a field goal which came against Helensvale in May. Toby Sexton’s three tries came from a double early in the season against Runaway Bay and a late season try against Runaway Bay as well.

    With the boot in 2017 Toby Sexton had a couple of big matches including kicking seven goals in Round One against Southport and six in a mid-season match against Ormeau as well as five goals in a match on three other occasions.

    In 2015 Toby Sexton represented South Coast U15’s and from there was selected at five eight for the Queensland White side for the ASSRL U15 Championships. On Day One of the championships Toby Sexton kicked three goals in a win over New South Wales Combined Independent Schools and on Day Six kicked four in a big win over ACT.

    In attack Toby Sexton’s calling card is his organisational and passing skills more so than his running game. His speed would probably considered average for a half/five eight but he will throw a dummy and run when opposing defences are focussed on his support runners and provide him with opportunities. Toby Sexton also does not have quick twitch feet, thus his step is more average than say a plus side step like AJ Brimson’s.

    Toby Sexton also has a good long passing game thus enabling the ball to get out to his back line quickly when they are set deep. He develops a good spiral on the ball and is able to lead his outside backs onto the ball through putting the ball out in front of them. Toby Sexton will also take the ball to the line and delay the pass as long as possible to his support runners when necessary in an effort to prise open gaps in the defensive line.

    Assisting his play is the fact that Toby Sexton makes the decision what to do with the ball quickly thus enabling the ball to get out wide or when the ball needs to be turned back inside. In short he looks to dictate what the defensive line needs to do to combat his sides attack rather than waiting to see how the opposition is looking to defend at a particular time in a game.

    One aspect that is notable is how he directed the team around the field in difficult conditions and he looked to manage the game to take account of those conditions. Toby Sexton always maintains his composure on the field and does not yell or scream but obviously gets his message across to his team mates with a calm presence.

    Toby Sexton is also a very good goal kicker with both good range and accuracy, his statistics over the last two seasons for both PBC and Tweed Heads in the MM Cup clearly bear that out. Like his general play kicking which is also outstanding, I would suggest that he is a real chance to be his side’s primary goal kicker regardless of the level progressing into the future.

    Defensively Toby Sexton has decent size for a half or five eight, and probably would be considered an average sized player if not a touch more for his age and position. This is a facet which assists in him being an effective defender for his position both in terms of initial contact and the ability to wrap up the ball to prevent offloads.

    Toby Sexton will play the 2020 season in the Hastings Deering’s Colts competition, likely with Tweed Heads but playing for Burleigh is definitely not out of the question either. I would also anticipate that Toby Sexton will also likely get an opportunity at the Gold Coast Rugby League First Grade level and potentially even in the Queensland Cup to start to test himself against men a few of whom will have had previous Queensland Cup and/or NRL experience.

    One thing is for sure though and that his Toby Sexton will spend the entire off season with the Titans NRL squad and thus the timeline that I envisage above may very well be far too conservative.

    From a position perspective, Toby Sexton plays the same way whether he is wearing the No.6 or No. 7 jersey and there is no way known that a coach would consider moving him away from the halves.

    Toby Sexton is just so calm and assured on the field and just seems to have a lot of time to do what he wants, whether that is run, pass or kick and to that extent Toby Sexton is more than a bit like Cooper Cronk.

    Toby Sexton is probably the calmest junior rugby league player that I have seen on the field and it is no wonder that a number of coaches have identified his leadership qualities and put him in that position in their teams in relation to club, school and representative sides.

    Toby Sexton certainly has the leadership attributes and demeanour to be an NRL captain if not a representative level one in the coming years.

    It is great to see a current Australian School Boys and Queensland U18 squad member player elect to sign with the Titans, it is certainly proof that the Titans Development system is working and of course the fact that Toby Sexton is a local junior is an added outstanding bonus.

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    Keano Kini. The dynamic half is a Titans contracted youngster and New Zealand U16 representative from Auckland New Zealand who played this season for Marist Saints in the Auckland U16 Open Rugby League competition. Keano Kini moved to the Marist Saints from the Northcote Tigers where he had previously played his entire junior rugby league with before the 2019 season. Keano Kini attends Auckland’s Rosmini College.

    In the 2019 Auckland U16 Open competition, Keano Kini has had some outstanding matches this season, including scoring twenty eight points from three tries and kicking eight goals against Mangere East Hawks and eighteen points from two tries and five goals against the Te Atatu Roosters.

    Being Marist Saints primary goal kicker meant that Keano Kini was one of the Auckland U16 Open competitions leading point’s scorers over the course of the 2019 season.
    Keano Kini started at half for Marist Saints in their 24- 12 semi-final win over the Waitemta Seagulls to progress to the Auckland U16 Open Grand Final.

    In the 2019 Auckland U16 Open Grand Final Keano Kini started at half for Marist Saints against the Pakuranga Kingz with Marist Saints coming away with a 22 – 8 victory, with Keano Kini kicking three conversions from four attempts.

    Keano Kini also set up Marist Saints first try of the Grand Final. Early in the first half, Keano Kini, was operating on the right side of the field two off the ruck. After receiving the ball is space, Keano Kini ran at the line with the ball out in front of his body in two hands, accelerating as he went. Impressively Keano Kini ran at the gap between two defenders, drawing both before popping a great short ball to his right for his fullback to surge over.

    Also in 2019 Keano Kini started at half and kicked a conversion for the Auckland U16 side in their NRL curtain raiser in May this year against an U16 Future Warriors side.

    Keano Kini was part of an Auckland side that toured Australian in July 2019 playing a number of matches including a match on the Gold Coast against a Keebra Park select side.

    In 2018 Keano Kini represented the Akarana Falcons at the New Zealand U15 National Youth Tournament including kicking four conversions on Day One against the Wellington Orca’s.

    Rugby League recognition is not new to Keano Kini who in 2016 was named MVP of the U13 2016 ARL Jets camp, also making the merit squad from the camp and playing for the Auckland U13 side.

    2016 also saw Keano Kini named MVP of the Auckland Rugby League Regional Representative season.

    In addition to also dabbling in rugby Keano Kini is also an outstanding athlete being named U13 Auckland Athlete of the year for his exploits in other sports such as tennis and athletics.

    Incredibly Keano Kini attended a Titans meet and great session in 2014 at the home of the Northcote Tigers. Obviously the Titans players there made a positive impression that day.

    Even though Keano Kini has plus acceleration off the mark and above average top speed, his primary focus on a football field is to direct his side around the field, putting his side where they need to be to maintain pressure on the opposition.

    Holding the ball out in front of his body in both hands enables Keano Kini to put doubt into the minds of the opposing defensive line and thus he can dummy and run if there is a gap in the defensive line or put his support runners into gaps or for that matter get the ball out to his back line as quickly as possible.

    Getting the ball out to the back line quickly is no issue for Keano Kini as he has a very good long passing technique which delivers the ball quickly and accurately to the right place. Keano Kini’s decisive nature also means that when the ball needs to get out to his back line he will get it out there quickly to give his outside backs as much space as possible to work with prior to contact with the opposing defensive line.

    In defence, due to his size Keano Kini is obviously not going to come up with the big hit but reads the play well and can more than hold his own when defending much bigger players and against players with similar size is very aggressive when finishing off his tackles and slowing the resultant play the ball down. Keano Kini is also very vocal on the field always talking and encouraging his side.

    Keano Kini is also a very good goal kicker with both good range and accuracy and as a consequence I would suggest that he is likely to be his side’s primary goal kicker regardless of the level he progresses to into the future.

    Keano Kini also has a very good short attacking kicking game with a positive being that he will go right to the line before dropping the ball to his foot, add to the fact that he regularly runs with the ball out in front of his body in both hands, he gives defensive lines a lot to consider, is Keano Kini going to kick, run or pass, a defensive line that anticipates incorrectly will be scrambling to recover before he makes them pay for their error in judgement.

    Like with his goal kicking Keano Kini has a real opportunity to be his team’s primary tactical kicking option going forward.

    Keano Kini’s season with Marist Saints in the Auckland Rugby League U16 Open competition came to a positive conclusion with their Grand Final victory and going forward Keano Kini should also be part of the Akarana Falcons side that takes part of the 2019 New Zealand National Youth Championships U17 tournament later in the year.

    It will be interesting to see where Keano Kiri plays in 2020, will he move over to the Gold Coast where he would be in line to play in the MM Cup competition for either Tweed Heads or Burleigh and attend PBC or Keebra Park or does Keano Kiri stay in New Zealand for another year where he will be in line to play in the New Zealand National U17 Youth Championships for the Akarana Falcons was well as in the Auckland Rugby League U17 competition.

    Keano Kini has played half for the duration of his young career to date and there is nothing in the way that he plays to indicate any necessity for that situation to change.

    My NRL player comparison for Keano Kini is fellow New Zealander, Cronulla Sharks and New Zealand International Shaun Johnson as a comparison from a playing stand point. Like Shaun Johnson, Keano Kiri has a wicked side step and plus acceleration.

    No one can predict the future but how Keano Kini’s game develops over the coming years will be something that I will be keeping a very close eye on especially in relation to his ball playing and game management skills which will be outstanding supplements to Keano Kiri’s outstanding attacking skills.

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    Jonah Whitlam-Rose. The young Titans linked hooker played for South Tweed in the Group 18 Junior Rugby League competition at the U16 level in 2018 and is a player with a maturity and leadership qualities beyond his years that are on display every time he runs onto a field.

    Jonah Whitlam-Rose started the 2019 season of starting at hooker in Round One for the Northern Rivers Titans in the U18 Laurie Daley Cup competition against the Newcastle Knights Development Squad.

    Whilst he started the match at hooker, Jonah Whitlam-Rose ended up playing the last part of the match at half and went close to scoring in the matches last couple of minutes but unfortunately he was held up over the line after taking off from dummy half.

    Round Two of the 2019 Laurie Daley Cup competition saw Jonah Whitlam-Rose once again line up at hooker in their match against Parramatta as he did in Round Three against the North Coast Bulldogs.

    In Round Four against the Central Coast Roosters Jonah Whitlam-Rose started from the bench as he did in Round Five against the Greater Northern Tigers.

    When he came on against the Greater Northern Tigers, Jonah Whitlam-Rose made a big difference, spending time both at hooker and half. In addition to making a big break out of dummy half mid-way through the second half, Jonah Whitlam-Rose threw a great cut-out pass to his right to Jahvis Kendall to score out wide untouched.

    Post the Laurie Daley Cup competition Jonah Whitlam-Rose played for Murwillumbah in the U18 NRRRL competition, scoring his first try in a Round Six win against Casino RSM 22 – 16.

    In total for Murwillumbah in the NRRRL U18 competition Jonah Whitlam-Rose played in sixteen matches, scoring eight tries scoring against Byron Bay and in Round Seventeen scored against Byron Bay and in Round Eighteen against Tweed Heads.

    Jonah Whitlam Rose’s other 2019 NRRRL U18 tries included a double against Tweed Heads and also tries against Casino RSM, Byron Bay, Tweed Coast and Lismore Marist Brothers.

    Jonah Whitlam-Roses season ended on Sunday in the U18 NRRRL Elimination Final when Murwillumbah went down 26 – 10 to Byron Bay.

    Jonah Whitlam-Rose made his NRRRL First Grade debut in Round Twelve coming off the bench for Murwillumbah as they defeated Evans Heads 52 – 16 with Jonah Whitlam-Rose marking the occasion by scoring on debut.

    In 2018 Jonah Whitlam-Rose captained the Northern Rivers U16 Andrew Johns Cup side taking them to the finals in the first year of the competition. In the competition he started at hooker and captained the side in each of their five matches and scored a double in Round One against the Newcastle Knights U16 Development Squad in an outstanding display of dummy half running.

    Representative honours are nothing new for the St Joseph’s College Banora Point student, he represented Group 18 at the NSW Country U15 Championships in 2017 in three matches scoring a hat trick against Group 19 and in 2016 represented Group 18 at the U14 level in two matches.

    From an attacking stand point, Jonah Whitlam-Rose has solid distribution skills in relation to his passing skills to either side of his body and uses a solid, repeatable passing technique to ensure consistency, thus enabling his forwards and play makers to have confidence that his passes will find the mark with the appropriate velocity and angle attached on every occasion.

    Where Jonah Whitlam-Rose really stands out in terms of attacking play, is his speed out of dummy half, he is extremely quick and has very good footwork to take advantage of tiring forwards, using a step off both feet.

    Around the try line Jonah Whitlam Rose is also very good at making the right decision whether the go himself or pass, where he gets down low and drives with his legs. He scored a number of tries this season both from running from dummy half close to the line as well as backing up forwards and getting the offload. When in open space Jonah Whitlam-Rose is very quick and can finish off his own breaks all be it over reasonably short distances, a rare skill for a hooker.

    From a defensive perspective he is a very solid tackler who makes good initial contact and is able to generate momentum through his core and drive into his opponent with enough force to redirect the momentum of the ball carrier. He has both a solid low tackling technique as well as having the functional strength to make ball and all tackles effectively against the biggest of forwards looking to target him in the defensive line.

    He is also very quick out of the marker position and will get to forwards how are running one out before they can generate any momentum. In short he defends like a backrower and certainly if he finds himself on the fringes of the ruck, Jonah Whitlam-Rose has the lateral movement and anticipation to also defend against smaller quicker halves looking to exploit a perceived speed advantage.

    2019 was Jonah Whitlam-Rose’s last being U18 eligible and in 2020 if he stays in the NRRRL will surely be an NRRRL First Grade regular for Murwillumbah but it would not surprise at all if he throws his hat in the ring for an opportunity with the Tweed Heads Seagulls Hastings Deering’s Colts squad.

    With his speed and elusiveness out of dummy half coupled with his leadership ability and ability to lead and direct his side around the field, Jonah Whitlam-Rose is ideally suited to the hooking role.

    Even though he is a touch stockier and not quite as quick off the mark, Jonah Whitlam-Rose reminders me from a playing style perspective of North Queensland Cowboys hooker Jake Granville. Both can get their sides on the front foot with a timely run out of dummy half but both also have the ability to lead their sides forwards onto the ball.

    I would argue though that Jonah Whitlam-Rose is more selective in his dummy half runs than Granville and always run with a plan in mind rather than running just for the sake of it.

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    Matthew Kinchin. (Updated) The Runaway Bay front row/lock has quietly put together a very solid 2019 season spanning the GCRL U20, Doug Lipp Cup and First Grade competitions.

    Even though he was U18 eligible this season, Matthew Kinchin started off the season in the GCRL U20 competition, to date playing in six matches and scoring against Currumbin and Southport in Round Nineteen last weekend.

    Matt Kinchin’s try in that match came as a result of him diving over from dummy half down the shortest blind that you will ever see, I am serious when I say that the ball was played within a foot of the touchline. Matthew Kinchin dummied to pass to his right before putting the ball down in the left corner. Matt Kinchin had in fact set up the break which led to the play the ball so close to the line with a deft pass down the left side of the field.

    Matthew Kinchin also had a try assist in the match when he got through the line about twenty metres out and got the ball away to the fullback to score.

    Matthew Kinchin progressed to the Doug Lipp Cup competition making his debut in early June and has gone on to play in nine more Doug Lipp Cup matches.

    Matthew Kinchin made his GCRL First Grade debut the same day that he made his Doug Lipp Cup debut and has since played two more GCRL First Grade matches with those matches being against Southport and Currumbin.

    Against Currumbin in Round Twenty last weekend Matthew Kinchin started at lock in both the Doug Lipp Cup match and the First Grade match.

    In 2018 Matthew Kinchin played eleven matches in the GCRL U17 Division One competition scoring four tries.

    In the U16 Division One competition in 2017, Matthew Kinchin scored three tries from his eleven matches including a Round One try against Ormeau and tries in separate matches against Helensvale. In relation to his matches in the U17 Division One competition Matthew Kinchin on all three occasions played in the U17 match after playing in the U16 match earlier.

    In the U17 Division One competition also in 2017 Matthew Kinchin scored in his third and final match against Mudgeeraba.

    In 2017 Matthew Kinchin also represented Gold Coast Vikings Green in the South East Queensland U16 pre-season competition and after that competition was selected in the South East Queensland U16 Training Squad.

    Previous seasons has seen Matthew Kinchin make a number of U14 representative sides including the Vikings and South East Queensland. Matthew Kinchin also started on the bench for the Titans U14 Development Squad late in 2015 against a giant Samoan side, a match which the Titans won 28 - 10.

    In attack Matthew Kinchin is not going to break a large amount of tackles, or off load a miracle pass but he will go about his role which is to make ground in the middle of the ruck in an understated fashion.

    Matthew Kinchin does not have quick feet in terms of a step before the line but does use some subtle movement so as not to present himself purely as a straight running target. He just works hard including fighting to get quick play the balls over taking the ball up.

    In defence Matthew Kinchin is not necessarily a big hitter, preferring to make sure that the tackle is made and is very effective both in terms of initial contact and also coming in a wrapping up the football, he also covers inside well when balls are turned back inside on the fringe of the ruck, even late in games when he has every right to be worn out, but Matthew Kinchin somehow wills himself to get there and make the tackle.

    When at marker Matthew Kinchin works hard and always gets out of marker quickly to put pressure on the kicker, but then somehow gets back quickly to take his turn to bring the ball out from his own territory.

    The one thing that will stand out once you have watched Matthew Kinchin play in a number of games is the amount of defence he does. After watching him in a couple of games, you will just shake your head, because you will notice that it is the Number 8 or 10 making yet another tackle.

    Matthew Kinchin will probably not stand out as he progresses up the age groups, which has nothing to do with his ability, it is just the way he plays the game. He will take hit ups and tackle all day and do all of the little things necessary to help his team succeed, including working hard out of the marker position.

    Matthew Kinchin will have two years of U20 Colts eligibility starting in 2020 and it is hard to envisage a scenario where he will not be in either the Tweed Heads Seagulls and Burleigh Bears Hastings Deering’s Colts squad in 2020.

    In terms of position, Matthew Kinchin is a front rower or lock full stop nothing else needs to be said.

    From a player comparison perspective a player with an incredibly similar playing style is new Gold Coast Titan Jarred Wallace as a front rower who will probably take a little while to develop but will be a hard working player who knows his role within a team and does not deviate from it regardless of the circumstances of the match.

    Matthew Kinchin may never be a star but will work hard to a team player and get the most of his ability. Young players with more natural ability will fall by the way side while Matthew Kinchin will not due to his professionalism and understanding of his role and his understanding and adherence to it.

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    Ethan Foster. (Revised) The powerhouse youngster was earlier this season part of the Titans U18 side that played a trial against the Newcastle Knights U18 SG Ball side in Coffs Harbour, in the match Ethan Foster proved very difficult for the Knights to handle especially on the fringes of the ruck.

    Ethan Foster who signed a Titans development contract in 2017 started the 2019 season at right second row in Round One for the Northern Rivers Titans in the U18 Laurie Daley Cup competition against the Newcastle Knights Development Squad.

    Overall Ethan Foster was probably the Northern Rivers Titans best in the match, just shading lock Simon Pratt. Ethan Foster was very effective defensively and even though in attack he did not get the ball in space was regularly able to bump off the first defender and make significant ground after contact.

    In Round Two Ethan Foster moved from his right second row position to start at lock in their match against the Parramatta Eels. Like in Round One against Newcastle Ethan Foster did not have too many opportunities in attack but did make a number of telling runs with positive post contact metres and defensively was more than sound especially in the first half when defending on his try line.

    Round Three saw Ethan Foster start in a third position in as many rounds starting in the front row against the North Coast Bulldogs.

    In Round Four against the Central Coast Roosters Ethan Foster started from the bench but was outstanding when he was on the field including a powerful try. Ethan Foster took the ball front dummy half around ten metres out from the Central Coast line in the left corner.

    Ethan Foster charged into the Central Coast defence, and was able to drag four defenders over to score an impressive try that was a result of sheer determination.

    Ethan Foster also started from the bench in Round Five against the Greater Northern Tigers.

    Post the 2019 U18 Laurie Daley Cup, Ethan Foster was back playing for the Lower Clarence Magpies in the U18 NRRRL Cup competition including scoring a double in Round Fourteen against Evans Head and a scored a double and kicked three goals in Round Sixteen against Kyogle.

    In total in the 2019 NRRRL U18 competition, Ethan Foster played in fourteen matches scoring nine tries and kicking four goals for a season’s point’s tally of forty four.

    Ethan Foster scored three doubles which came against Lismore Marist Brothers, Evans Head and Kyogle and also scored in matches against Kyogle, Casino RSM and Evans Head.

    With the boot, Ethan Foster kicked his first goal of the season against Evans Head in early July and followed that up with three goals in a match against Kyogle, a match that saw him also score a double to finish that particular match with fourteen points.

    Ethan Foster’s 2018 playing debut was starting in the centres for the Northern Rivers U16 Andrew Johns Cup side who went on to defeat Newcastle 22 – 12 on a wet and cold morning in Northern New South Wales in Round One of that competition.

    Prior to his signing with the Titans, Ethan Foster had also been invited to be part of the Newcastle Knights Junior Development program.

    In the 2018 Andrew Johns Cup competition for Northern Rivers Ethan Foster played in all four of Northern Rivers matches, starting two in the centres and two in the second row. In those four matches, Ethan Foster scored three tries, scoring a double in Round Three against the Central Coast Roosters and in Round Four against the Greater Northern Tigers.

    The two tries in Round Three against the Central Coast were simply outstanding including his second try when he took the ball from around 40 metres out and just smashed his way through the defensive, stepped past the fullback and outpaced the cover defence.

    In the Group One U16.5 competition this season Ethan Foster played thirteen matches for Clarence Coast including the finals series finishing as the competitions leading point’s scorer with 139 points from sixteen tries, thirty seven goals and a field goal. Ethan Fosters sixteen tries also meant that he finished as the Group One U16.5 competitions leading try scorer.

    On five occasions Ethan Foster scored two tries in a match, with those matches being against Kyogle, Casino RSM (on two occasions), Lismore Marist Brothers and Ballina. Only once was Ethan Foster kept scoreless in the Group One U16.5 competition in 2019 which was in an early season match against Ballina.

    With the boot Ethan Foster kicked eight on a match against Lismore Marist Brothers in late May, finishing the match with twenty four points when you add in his two tries and on three occasions, against Kyogle, Ballina and Casino RSM he kicked four goals in a match.

    On the first weekend of the Group One U16.5 final series this season, Ethan Foster scored a double and kicked four from four in a 24 – 16 win for Clarence Coast over Casino RSM.

    Unfortunately for Ethan Foster and his Group One U16.5 Clarence Coast team mates they were defeated by Casino RSM in the Grand Final.

    Ethan Foster also played four U18 NRRRL regular season matches for Lower Clarence making his debut against Lismore Marist Brothers in late April. Ethan Fosters first U18 NRRRL points came in his fourth match win he kicked a conversion against the Ballina Seagulls.

    Ethan Foster has recently been named in the Northern Rivers Titans U18 squad for the 2019 Laurie Daley Cup competition.

    In 2017 Ethan Foster represented Group One U15’s at the New South Wales Age Championships. In those Championships Ethan Foster started in the centres in all three matches, scoring a double of Round One in a big win against Group 19.

    The big strong young Titans contracted centre/second rower has made a seamless move from the Grafton Ghosts junior rugby league club to the Clarence Coast at the start of the 2016 season in the Group One Junior Rugby League. Over the last couple of seasons at Clarence Coast, he has teamed with the talented Julian Torrens to form a lethal pairing who have pushed Clarence Coast up the ladder in recent seasons.

    For the Clarence Coast Magpies in 2017 Ethan Foster scored fourteen tries from eleven matches to be the competitions leading point’s scorer. Ethan Foster started the season off with a hat trick against Kyogle and scored another hat trick later in the season against Marist Brothers. Ethan Foster also kicked three conversions to finish the U15 season off with 62 points.

    Ethan Foster also made his U16.5 Group One JRL debut in 2017 when he lined up in that age group against Ballina in early June after playing in the U15 clash earlier in the day.

    In 2016 Ethan Foster topped the try scoring list in the U14 competition with an incredible 33 tries from just 16 matches. Ethan Foster also kicked 27 goals to also finish top of the points scoring list with 186 points. Ethan Foster scored four tries in a match on two separate occasions against Lismore Marist Brothers and also scored six hat tricks which came against Ballina, Kyogle twice, and Casino RSM twice and also against Grafton.

    Ethan Foster also had some big matches with the boot in 2016 including kicking five conversions in a match against Marist Brothers and on three occasions kicked four conversions in a match. 2016 is not an anomaly in terms of try scoring, in 2015 for Grafton at the U13 level he scored 14 tries across ten matches, including hat tricks against the South Grafton Rebels and Kyogle and doubles against his new team Clarence Coast and Casino RSM.

    Ethan Foster plays his schoolboy rugby league for MacLean High School and was part of their U14 CHS side that defeated Evans Head High School in the first round of the competition in MacLean in 2016, in fact he was the U14 MacLean High School rugby league captain that year.

    Ethan Foster opened the scoring for MacLean High School in only the second minute with an unstoppable run from about 20 metres out and carried a couple of defenders across the line to score and crossed again later in the first half off a great short ball from Julian Torrens after front rower and former Titans development squad member Elijah Winitana make a rampaging run and got a quick play the ball.

    Ethan Foster scored again early in the second half, again charging through the defence. MacLean won the match 46 – 4. In September 2016, Ethan Foster and his Maclean High School U14 team mates dominated the U14 DEX round robin competition, with empathetic victories over South Grafton HS and McCauley College. Ethan Foster was named player of the series.

    Ethan Foster is a big strong powerful young man who really does run flat out into the defensive line. In previous seasons he did not really use any foot work prior to the line but will drop his shoulder into the opposing defenders and will continually pump his legs in an effort to rain as much ground as possible, in first grade some forwards drop to the ground immediately when contact is made looking for the quick play the ball, but Ethan Foster does not subscribe to that theory at all, he continues to pump his legs, and will on a regular basis break free of that contact through effort and determination alone.

    Even though it is a small sample size, I saw a different methodology when Ethan Foster ran the ball in the Andrew Johns Cup competition this season. Playing in the centres in two of the matches, Ethan Foster ran with more of a “jink” in his stride on occasion cutting back towards where the ball was coming from. I am talking just subtle movement which nicely straightened up the attack when the ball was being sent out wide.

    Ethan Foster has exceptional speed off the mark and when he gets into open space has above average top end speed for a forward and can finish off a lot of breaks by himself.

    Where he is quite effective is close to the line where Ethan Foster just powers through defenders to cross the line. When his team start to use him as decoy he will become an even bigger asset to his team as at the moment defensive lines key into him when he is running, leaving space out wide. He will also take a majority of the hit-ups off kick offs as well.

    When he does run wider of the ruck Ethan Foster is more than good at running the right line, he will run at gaps rather than just trying to run over the opposition.

    Defensively the situation is similar Ethan Foster is a big strong powerful young man and he uses that to hit very hard and is more than capable of handling even the biggest of opposing forwards one on one.

    Ethan Foster will go for long stretches of games dominating the centre of the ruck (for that matter on the fringes as well) and is able to limit the ground made by opposing forward packs almost single handedly. Ethan Foster is also adept at slowing the play the ball down.

    Ethan Foster is also very mobile for his size and is good at mirroring the movement of smaller players and rarely seems to get caught on the back foot due to his above average lateral mobility for his size.

    Ethan Foster when defending against smaller players does an outstanding job and maintaining a lower body position with his legs underneath him which allows him to not be unbalanced when committing to the tackle and also enables him to rapidly change direction if the opponent is looking to use footwork against him.

    Ethan Foster is still eligible for the U18 NRRRL competition in 2020 and will likely to continue to play with the Lower Clarence Magpies as well as spending his second season with the Northern Rivers Titans U18 Laurie Daley Cup side.

    In terms of position, over the last couple of season before this one, Ethan Foster played both in the centres and in the second row but this season seemingly has made the move to second row permanently.

    From a player comparison perspective it is a big call but he really does have a frame that enables explosive and powerful running of the ball and thus I am going to sight former Titan, Canberra Raider and now Central Capra’s Dave Taylor as a player that Ethan Foster runs like.

    Ethan Foster runs like when Dave Taylor was motivated, his initial acceleration for a big player is exceptional as his speed when he impacts the defensive line, the difference is that Ethan Foster is always motivated to do his best for his team and will no doubt realise his immense potential and harness his phenomenal skill set in the coming years.

    It is great to see the Titans getting a few players from Northern New South Wales signed especially when you consider that in last year’s New South Wales Country Origin side eight players had links to the Northern Rivers region.

    The Titans are slowly but surely building and developing a talented group of young players in their ranks and Ethan Foster is as good as any of them.

    Ethan Foster is just a talented powerful player with a significant amount of untapped potential still to be harnessed and a very impressive complete skill set at his disposal.

  13. #973
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    Mdrew do you think that Ethan Foster could go alright in ISC ? Also what height is he ??
    #TitansThruNThru #WeAreReady

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    He is around the 180cm mark mate, I would think that he would need another year or so before the ISC.

    The positive that I see in regards to Etan Foster is that for a big strong young player he realised early that you can not just rely on physical attributes.

    Quote Originally Posted by Bayside Titan View Post
    Mdrew do you think that Ethan Foster could go alright in ISC ? Also what height is he ??

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    Quote Originally Posted by mdrew View Post
    He is around the 180cm mark mate, I would think that he would need another year or so before the ISC.

    The positive that I see in regards to Etan Foster is that for a big strong young player he realised early that you can not just rely on physical attributes.
    Cheers mate.

    Also I have been looking through your posts , but is there any ( Ethan could be one of them ) players that are there abouts like David Fafita and Haas at all in terms of size and ability ?? Is Farmer in that mould etc ??
    #TitansThruNThru #WeAreReady


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