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  1. #2356
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    Gad (Semu) Tata. In early February 2024 Gad Tata was named in the final Tweed Heads Seagulls U17 Cyril Connell (CC) Cup squad.

    Gad Tata arrives on the Gold Coast from the Bay of Plenty region with Gad Tata attending Katikati College.

    Prior to his arrival on the Gold Coast the young centre had an impressive representative resume in New Zealand including playing for the Coastline region at the 2023 New Zealand Rugby League National Youth Championships and in 2022 playing for the 2022 Kotahitangu U15 Representative side.
    One of the reasons Gad Tata is so successful on a football field is his exceptional speed and elusiveness, he is the fastest player I have ever seen on a field and when you add in his elusiveness, he is a nightmare for opposing defences. In relation to his elusiveness the thing that makes it play even better is his ability to change direction with no loss of speed, this enables him to use the sideline exceptionally well with an in and away, all three of his first half tries against Ipswich in Round Thirteen last weekend are a testament to this skill.
    When the opposing defender’s momentum slows just for a split second, Gad Tata is away down the sideline and will not get caught and also regularly also beats the fullback who no matter how fast they are cannot recover the ground.
    Gad Tata is also adept at making ground out of dummy half. Once he has picked the ball up he simply explodes out of there and targets a gap between opposing forwards and looks to accelerate through it. If the defenders look to jersey grab or make an arm tackle, Gad Tata simply bursts through it and into the space behind the ruck.
    Gad Tata is not a big player at all and the obvious question is whether he is strong enough to handle the defensive side of rugby league at the higher levels, I would argue that the answer is absolutely yes. In defence against the bigger outside backs running around, Gad Tata looks to cut down the time that they have to gain momentum thus eliminating the size differential as a defensive aspect to take into consideration.
    At the opposite end of the spectrum when opposing a quick winger, Gad Tata will show them the side line and use his speed advantage to force the opponent towards the touch line, with their only real option to slow and try to come back inside towards Gad Tata and the cover defence.
    From a courage stand point Gad Tata also passes any objective measurement that can be considered when evaluating this criterion. He will stand his ground under the high ball and is one of the first players to take a run out of dummy half when the ball needs to be brought out of his side’s own end.
    Gad Tata also has the speed to show his opponent the sideline and cut him down and has the recovery speed to turn and chase if a break is made either on his side of the field or for that matter the other side.

    Gad Tata started the 2024 season as part of the Tweed Heads Seagulls U17 CC Cup squad before Gad Tata will move onto club and school boy rugby league in Queensland.

    In New Zealand, outside a handful of matches at lock Gad Tata played exclusively in the centres and that is where I am of the opinion where Gad Tata’s future lies.

    Gad Tata is not a giant of a centre but is tall and has speed to burn and well as outstanding balance and body control thus a player comparison to Titans winger Lofi Khan-Pereira is not unreasonable at all.

  2. #2357
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    Billy Tonkin. Round One of the 2024 MM Cup competition saw Billy Tonkin start from the bench for the Tweed Heads Seagulls against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls with Billy Tonkin scoring in the 65th minute when after receiving a long cut-out pass from his left sixteen metres out from the try line, Billy Tonkin stepped inside off his right foot to beat one defender and get the ball down wide out on the right side of the field.

    Round Two of the 2024 U19 Mal Meninga (MM) Cup competition saw Billy Tonkin move into the starting side at right centre for the Tweed Heads Seagulls against the Brisbane Tigers.

    In 2023 Billy Tonkin was an ever present at inside centre (No. 12) for the TSS First XV GPS School Boy Rugby side. In 2022 Billy Tonkin started at inside centre for the TSS Second XV.

    In 2021 Billy Tonkin was part of the Burleigh Bears Cyril Connell Cup squad with Billy Tonkin primarily coming off the bench for the Bears that season.

    Billy Tonkin is a tall young man but he is exceptionally quick, with a lot of his tries coming from long range efforts originating from his own territory, as once he gets into the clear Billy Tonkin is unlikely to be caught by the opposition cover defence.

    Due to his size and speed Billy Tonkin is very difficult 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.

    Billy Tonkin does not just have top end speed, he also has very good acceleration off the mark as well. His fend is decent and as Billy Tonkin puts on more muscle it will become more effective due to his long reach, meaning opposing defensive players cannot get close enough to combat him by impacting on his balance and running line in one on one situations before defensive help arrives.

    With his height and reach Billy Tonkin should also be able to refine his ability to offload the ball in tackles, making him even harder to defend against . Obviously as a result of his height he is good under the high ball both in attacking and defensive situations and for his height is comfortable fielding the ball low to the ground from grubber kicks into or through the line.

    Defensively Billy Tonkin is solid at wrapping the ball up and will continue to refine his technique as he progresses and also when to come out of the line in an effort to limit the time and space of the opposition as well as ensuring that due to his height he keeps his tackles down against opposing centres who are usually not as tall. Billy Tonkin does however slide well in defence and has the speed to cover opposition line breaks very well.

    2024 saw Billy Tonkin commence the season as part of the Tweed Heads Seagulls U19 MM Cup squad.

    Billy Tonkin has played the majority of his rugby league career to date in the centres and with his combination of size, speed, strength and power Billy Tonkin has a legitimate chance to stay in the centres long term. If Billy Tonkin however out grows the centre position in the future a move to the second row could be a real difference maker for Billy Tonkin’s future.

    I appreciate that I am going back quite a while with this comparison but with his ability to run the ball in one hand and good footwork prior to the line, an apt comparison for Billy Tonkin may well be Queensland State of Origin great Gene Miles especially early in his career when he played in the centres before he moved into the second row. Billy Tonkin is just difficult to tackle full stop, end of story.

  3. #2358
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    Aiden Gersh. In late September 2023 Aiden Gersh was named in the 2024 Northern Rivers Titans U16 Andrew Johns Cup squad with Aiden Gersh part of the Northern Rivers Titans U16 squad that defeated the Greater Northern Tigers in their first 2024 trial.

    Round One of the 2024 U16 Andrew Johns Cup competition saw Aiden Gersh named in the front row for the Northern Rivers Titans against the Newcastle Knights with Aiden Gersh running onto the ball to the left of the dummy half in the 2nd minute to get the ball from forty metres from the try line to within twenty eight metres.

    Aiden Gersh also started in the front row in Round Two against the Central Coast Roosters with Aiden Gersh scoring in the 56th minute when after running onto a great short ball from his right from Billy Mulheron, Aiden Gersh charged twelve metres and carried the Central Coast fullback over the try line with him to get the ball down three metres to the left of the goal posts.

    A minute earlier in the 55th minute Aiden Gersh charged onto the ball to the left of the dummy half to carry the ball from his own twenty three metre mark out to the thirty seven metre mark.

    Aiden Gersh also started in the front row in Round Four against the Northern Tigers with Aiden Gersh making the fourth hit-up of the match from the left of the play the ball to carry the ball from ten metres inside his own territory to two metres into Tigers territory.

    The 15th minute saw Aiden Gersh make a strong kick-off return to get the ball out to the thirty two metre mark and a tackle later from the right of the play the ball Aiden Gersh was able to make a further fourteen metres to within three metres of the halfway mark, breaking a tackle along the way.

    In the 52nd minute after receiving an off-load fourteen metres from the try line charged towards the try line only to be tripped up just two metres short and just to the right of the goal posts. Then in the 56th minute Aiden Gersh made a good Tigers goal line drop-out return back to the twenty seven metre mark with Aiden Gersh running straight over the top of one defender in his journey.

    Defensively Aiden Gersh made a big driving right shoulder tackle on his opposing front rower in the centre of the field and thirty two metres from the try line.

    Aiden Gersh continued in the front row in the Round Five local derby against the North Coast Bulldogs with Aiden Gersh coming close to scoring in the 59th minute but unfortunately Aiden Gersh lost the ball over the try line when directly under the posts after a hard straight run from the right of the play the ball from six metres from the try line.

    Aiden Gersh made his initial run of the match inside the opening minute when from the left of the play the ball Aiden Gersh bustled his way from twenty metres from the try line to within five metres before being brought to ground in front of the posts with at least 70% of Aiden Gersh’s metres being post his contact with the North Coast Bulldogs defensive line.

    The 4th minute saw Aiden Gersh make a strong kick-off return to get the ball to the nineteen metres mark with Aiden Gersh making another good kick-off return in the 16th minute to get the ball to the twenty three metres mark. Then in the 13th minute from the left of the play the ball Aiden Gersh ran the ball from twenty two metres to within eleven metres of the try line.

    Aiden Gersh also started in the front row in the rescheduled Round Three match against the St George Dragons with Aiden Gersh scoring in the 15th minute with a hit and clockwise spin after running onto the ball from six metres out to score for metres to the left of the goal posts.

    After taking the opening hit-u[p of the match to get the ball to the eighteen metres mark, Aiden Gersh made a second kick-off return in the 4th minute to get the ball to the twenty two metre mark. Then in the 39th minute from the right of the play the ball Aiden Gersh carried the ball from forty seven metres from the try line to thirty four metres out.

    The Mullumbimby youngster commenced training with the Titans JTS Program and was part of the Titans 2022 U14 JTS High Performance Academy Group 18 squad that commenced training in November 2022.

    In early December 2022 Aiden Gersh played for the Titans U14 Group 18 Academy against the Titans U14 Group One Academy in a trial match at Ballina with both teams wearing Titans jerseys in a great initiative for the players from both Titans squads.

    In late September 2023 Aiden Gersh was named in the 2024 Northern Rivers Titans U16 Andrew Johns Cup squad.

    In 2023 Aiden Gersh continued to play for the Mullumbimby Colts in the Group 18 U15 competition with Aiden Gersh named the 2023 Colts U15 Best Back and Aiden Gersh also received the Players Player Award.

    In 2022 Aiden Gersh played for the Mullumbimby Giants in the Group 18 U14 competition with Ryder Nelson being named the 2022 Mullumbimby Giants U14 Best Defensive Player. Impressively 2022 was Aiden Gersh’s first year of playing rugby league.

    Aiden Gersh also played rugby league for Mullumbimby High School and in the U14 Buckley Shield School Boy Rugby League Competition Aiden Gersh put in several Player of the match performances, including against Newcastle’s Kurri Kurri High School and Erskine Park High School neat Penrith in Sydney’s West. Aiden Gersh’s first match for Mullumbimby High School came in Round One of the 2022 U14 Buckley Shield School Boy Competition came in a victory against Ballina Coast High School.

    Aiden Gersh also represented Mullumbimby High School and with fellow 2022 Titans JTS U14 Group 18 Elite Academy squad member Ryder Nelson was a member of the winning 4 x 100 relay team at the North Coast Athletics Carnival. Aiden Gersh along with Ryder Nelson then went on to run the 4 x 100 metre relay event at the New South Wales Schools Age Athletic Championships.
    Aiden Gersh is a powerful runner of the ball who runs with a slight jink, usually off his right foot, in his step prior to impacting the defensive line and from when he receives the ball until he hits the defensive line Aiden Gersh is able to build up significant momentum.
    Aiden Gersh displays outstanding speed both off the mark and over an extended distance when in the clear for a player his size. Also when Aiden Gersh has impacted the defensive line he continues to pump his legs and gain extra metres after contact.
    As noted Aiden Gersh is a solidly built young front rower with a low centre of gravity, which makes him quite difficult to tackle. Like his footwork Aiden Gersh will show flashes of the ability to off load the ball and with experience this attribute will continue to develop both in terms of when he has impacted the defensive line and prior to contact.
    Aiden Gersh’s lateral movement is outstanding for a front rower and he is powerful enough to combat the largest of opponents looking to run through the centre of the ruck. Aiden Gersh also has the functional strength to combat attackers on a one on one basis. His initial contact is outstanding as is his ability to put any size attacker quickly and effectively on the ground and effectively slow down the speed of the play the ball.
    2024 will see Aiden Gersh continue to play for the Murwillumbah Colts in the Group 18 U16 Junior Rugby League competition in just his third year of playing rugby league. Aiden Gersh will also continue to play rugby league for Mullumbimby High School in a stacked school boy rugby league team. Aiden Gersh started the 2024 season as part of the Northern Rivers Titans U16 Andrew Johns Cup squad.

    Aiden Gersh has played the majority of the last couple of seasons either at lock or in the front row as a solidly built powerful young man, and thus Lincoln Mitchell is likely to stay in the front row for the duration of his rugby league career.

    From a player comparison perspective for Aiden Gersh, think of someone along the lines of New Zealand International and Redcliffe Dolphin Kenny Bromwich as a hard working forward who is more than a solid player but will also on occasion flash some plus skills and speed.

    Like Kenny Bromwich, Aiden Gersh has very underrated late and quick footwork just prior to engaging the defensive line which enables Aiden Gersh to push through gaps in the defensive line and making a solid amount of post contact metres regardless of the size of the opposition forward pack.

  4. #2359
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    Chase Penna. In late September 2023 Chase Penna was named in the 2024 Northern Rivers Titans U16 Andrew Johns Cup squad with Chase Penna part of the Northern Rivers Titans side that defeated the Greater Northern Tigers in their first 2024 trial.

    Round One of the 2024 U16 Andrew Johns Cup competition saw Chase Penna named at lock for the Northern Rivers Titans against the Newcastle Knights with Chase Penna doing well in the 16th minute when with the Titans defending on their own try line the Knights put in a short grubber kick into the in-goal but Chase Penna anticipated the kick and moved backwards to collect the ball off the ground eight metres into the in-goal area, but Chase Penna wanted more and continued to run to his left and was able to get the ball four metres back into the field of play near his left touchline.

    Chase Penna then started from the bench in Round Two against the Central Coast Roosters with Chase Penna coming onto the field in the 23rd minute.

    Chase Penna made multiple strong runs against Central Coast including a good sequence in the 50th minute when after running onto the ball to the left of a twenty metre restart and making ten metres, Chase Penna ran onto the ball two tackles later two passes to the left of the play the ball to get the ball to within thirty metres of the try line before getting an off-load away to his left to keep the play going.

    Chase Penna then started from the bench in Round Four against the Northern Tigers and after coming onto the field mid-way through the second half Chase Penna did well in the 55th minute when after carrying the ball from the halfway to fortress from the try line to the right of the dummy half Chase Penna executed a right arm flock pass whilst in contact with the defensive line to his right to Ryder Nelson who subsequently put Tye Hogan-Collins away down the right touchline. Two tackles later Chase Penna got an additional off-load away when ten metres out from the try line.

    Chase Penna continued from the bench in the Round Five local derby against the North Coast Bulldogs with Chase Penna scoring in the 38th minute when after taking possession of the ball ten metres to the left of the play the ball Chase Penna dummied to his left before stepping off his left foot and after also using a left arm fend to beat a defender Chase Penna executed a goose step before crashing over to score ten metres in from the right corner post. Chase Penna then carried the ball from the subsequent North Coast kick-off to get the ball out to the twenty two metre mark.

    Chase Penna made the first of his two line breaks in the 19th minute when Chase Penna ran onto an off-load from Billy Mulheron from his right on the halfway mark with Chase Penna running to within twenty three metres of the try line but unfortunately his pass from his right went to ground.

    Chase Penna made his second line break in the 45th minute and once again it was as a result of a Billy Mulheron off-load with Chase Penna charging through a gap after receiving the ball six metres inside his own territory to run the ball through the centre of the field and into North Coast territory.

    The 41st minute saw Chase Penna carry the ball to the right of the play the ball from thirty metres from his own try line to forty three metres out after dummying to his right and then in the 50th minute also from the right of the dummy half Chase Penna was able to crash and barge his way from twenty two metres from the try line to six metres out before getting a right arm off-load away to his left.

    Chase Penna also started from the bench in the rescheduled Round Three match against the St George Dragons with Chase Penna operating in the dummy half role after coming onto the field late in the first half.

    In the 39th minute Chase Penna ran out of dummy half to his left from thirty four metres from the try line and after crashing and barging his way to within ten metres of the try line Chase Penna was able to get his right arm free and get an off-load away to his right to Bully Mulheron.

    In early November 2022 Chase Penna commenced training with the Titans JTS U14 Group 18 Academy. And in early December 2022 Chase Penna played in a trial match for the Titans U14 Group 18 Academy in Ballina against the Titans U14 Group One Academy with both teams wearing Titans jerseys.

    In late September 2022 Chase Penna was part of a Titans U14 side that played a Titans U15 Invitational NRRRL side at Piggabeen in Tweed Heads with the Titans U14 side prevailing in a high quality contest.

    Chase Penna played his club rugby league in 2022 with the Tweed Heads Seagulls U14 side in the Group 18 Junior Rugby League competition. In the 2022 Group 18 U14 competition the Tweed Heads Seagulls had a 50% record, winning five matches and losing five, with the Seagulls scoring 186 points and conceding 150 to finish with a +36 points differential.

    Chase Penna is not the biggest forward running around but runs the ball like the rest of his game, tough and uncompromising. Chase Penna gets back deep and charges onto the ball from the dummy half with Chase Penna able to generate significant forward momentum and speed prior to engaging the defensive line with Etan Alcorn displaying no thoughts of self-preservation as he hits the defensive line by way of dropping his shoulder into the first defender looking to engage him.

    Chase Penna does have a degree of subtly in relation to running the ball at the defensive line with Chase Penna utilising slight sideways movement to both his left and right to ensure that he is not an easy target for defenders, thus Chase Penna has a slightly unconventional and awkward running style which enables him to break tackles on a regular basis.

    Defensively Chase Penna has an exceptional front on tackling technique that includes appropriate head placement and an overall simple and repeatable technique including when Chase Penna is under stress and/or fatigue. Chase Penna’s tackling technique also enables him to engage attackers with either shoulder which also contributes to Chase Penna’s judicious head placement when making a front on tackle.

    2024 will see Chase Penna move up to the U16 Group 18 Junior Rugby League competition, once again with the Tweed Heads Seagulls with Chase Penna also potentially playing a number of matches in the NRRRL U18 competition for the Seagulls as well in 2024.

    Chase Penna is a solidly built young man with a low centre of gravity and also the requisite speed and late footwork to potentially develop into a solid hard working rugby league backrower including potentially at lock. Chase Penna started the 2024 season as part of the Northern Rivers Titans U16 Andrew Johns Cup squad.

    From an NRL player comparison perspective for Chase Penna, I can really see aspects of the play of Titans NRL utility forward Erin Clark as a player who provides a spark in both attack and defence when Chase Penna is on the field with a feisty and aggressive take no prisoner’s nature in the way that Chase Penna plays from both an attacking and defensive perspective.

  5. #2360
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    Tama (Te Ahorangi) Darlington. The 2023 Waitako New Zealand U18 representative was named at halfback for the Burleigh Bears in Round One of the 2023 U19 Mal Meninga (MM) Cup against the Souths Logan Magpies with Tama Darlington converting Jett Bryce’s 13th minute try from four metres to the left of the goal posts to record his first official points in Australia.

    Tama Darlington did well defensively in the 68th minute when he along with Sunny Kama and Brady Turner tackled and then held the Souths Logan left centre up and force him four metres back into the Magpies in-goal area. Tama Darlington then did even better defensively when along with Sunny Kama, he held up the Souths Logan left second rower (No. 11) over the try line midway between the goal posts and corner post on the right side of the field to stop a Magpies try.

    Tama Darlington then started from the bench in Round Two against the Redcliffe Dolphins with Tama Darlington coming onto the field to operate in the dummy half role in the 42nd minute and in the 45th minute Tama Darlington ran out of dummy half to his left to run the ball from twenty metres from his own try line to thirty two metres out.

    Tama Darlington is a slightly built half/hooker who is more of an organising type of player rather than a running player at this stage of his career. Tama Darlington can be seen directing his forwards when and where to run and seemingly makes it clear that Tama Darlington is in charge of directing the team around the field and adhering to the game plan.

    Tama Darlington’s passing from both sides of his body is crisp and accurate and also when passing to both sides Tama Darlington generates good spin and distance whilst maintaining accuracy.

    Tama Darlington does not take the line on that often but based on his play in the 2019 MM Cup competition and for Burleigh this season, he can and will take on forwards when he sees that they are isolated in the edges of the ruck, although his passing percentage would be much higher than his running percentage, at an estimate I would say 85% passing, 15% running.

    Tama Darlington just seems to have a knack of knowing when to pass, what type of pass to throw and also be able to weight the pass very well from either dummy half or one off the ruck.

    Tama Darlington seems to be quite quick off the mark and seems to have a good right foot step, when he gets into space Tama Darlington really does work progressively though his options as he does not seem to have the top end speed to finish off breaks himself.

    Where Tama Darlington projects very well is in the defensive aspects of rugby league, in essence he is a very good defender for the half back position and by extrapolation hooker, this includes against opposing halves who will try to use footwork and evasion to beat him or against big wide running forwards. Against forwards running directly at him, Tama Darlington has a good compact low tackling technique and rarely looks to tackle above the waist.

    2024 sees Tama Darlington start the season off as part of the Burleigh Bears MM Cup squad with Tama Darlington then moving to club rugby league on the Gold Coast.

    Tama Darlington is a bit of a spark plug and with his nimble feet, passing skills and take no prisoners attitude Tama Darlington is clearly comfortable playing at halfback or in the dummy half role but if forced to make a decision I would think that ultimately Tama Darlington will settled at hooker.

    From an NRL player comparison perspective for Tama Darlington think maybe someone like the St George Dragons, Queensland State of Origin and Australian International hooker or half Ben Hunt, especially in terms of Tama Darlington’s passing game and his show and go when Tama Darlington has the ball. Also like Hunt, Tama Darlington is a strong tactical kicker of the ball and a solid goal kicker as well as overall game manager.

  6. #2361
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    Mason Broadhurst. The young fullback/centre currently attends the Titans partnered Rockhampton Grammar School.

    In late 2023 Mason Broadhurst was named in the 2024 Central Queensland Capra’s U17 Cyril Connell Cup Squad.

    Round Four of the U17 CC Cup competition saw Mason Broadhurst start on the left wing for the Central Queensland Capra’s against the Mackay Cutters with Mason Broadhurst scoring in the 56th minute when after the ball was spun from a Capra’s scrum win on the opposite side of the field Mason Broadhurst received the ball eighteen metres out from his own try line with Mason Broadhurst then getting on the outside of his opposite winger to race away down the left touchline to score untouched ten metres in from the left corner post.

    Mason Broadhurst’s speed plays very well on a rugby league field and he is quite quick down the sidelines with a good in and away to beat defenders on the outside and will not get caught from behind if he gets into open space.

    In addition to his speed Mason Broadhurst seems to have the ability to “freeze” his direct opponent with his ability to step off both feet before accelerating around them usually on the touchline side although his situational awareness and innate understanding of where the touch line is means that he understands when he should cut back inside thus not to risk being forced into touch.

    I really like the way that Mason Broadhurst runs at full speed regardless of the situation. When he has made a break Mason Broadhurst runs at the full back at full pace and does not look to be too cute by trying to out think the opposing fullback. By running at speed directly at the fullback, Mason Broadhurst, not only stops the lateral momentum of the fullback but also reduces the time that the fullback has to make a decision on how to defend against Mason Broadhurst.

    Like most of the modern day wingers Mason Broadhurst also has the ability to find the try line in some unlikely situations where it appears that there is no way he could possibly get the ball down without going into touch. His straight line speed would be considered plus plus, Mason Broadhurst is just incredibly quick both off the mark and when he is in motion.

    Mason Broadhurst has very good hands low to the ground on grubber kicks or when defenders drop bombs and uses his reach to get to the ball quickly before defenders. Mason Broadhurst will also chase general play kicks with vigour trying to improve the effectiveness of his teams kicking game as well as gaining better field position for his team as the opposition are forced to use up tackles to get out of their own territory.

    Mason Broadhurst just seems to have the uncanny ability to take advantage of even the most remote opportunity to score, which ultimately is a trait that is naturally occurring rather than a process or mindset that can be taught or developed in any significant way.

    In addition Mason Broadhurst is also deceptively effective running out of dummy half trying to gain field position when bringing the ball out of their own territory. Normally running to the right of the play the ball (Mason Broadhurst is a left winger to be fair), Mason Broadhurst just seems to almost always make the initial defender miss.

    In terms of running the ball back from kicks, similarly Mason Broadhurst just seems to make the initial defender miss often. What I also like in terms of kick returns is that Mason Broadhurst does not jog after the ball, thus allowing the defence to converge, Mason Broadhurst sprints after the ball to collect it and then makes an immediate decision whether to look to run around the defensive line if it is a short line or is staggered or just run the ball directly into the defensive line to make as much ground as possible.

    Defensively one area that Mason Broadhurst has impressed me is his ability to defend against any size opponent, from small quick opposing outside backs to big strong powerful centres or backrowers running wider of the ruck in his direction.

    Mason Broadhurst seemingly has more strength that his size and body shape would dictate, and he 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.

    When he is outnumbered from a defensive perspective, Mason Broadhurst has the ability to mirror the movement of the attacker with the ball and hold off committing to the tackle, thus forcing the attacker to commit to a course of action (either run the ball themselves or draw Mason Broadhurst and pass.

    This attribute of Mason Broadhurst’s puts the pressure back onto the attacker and puts Mason Broadhurst in a far better position to negate the paly himself or at the very least buys Mason Broadhurst’s team mates time to come across in cover defence. Mason Broadhurst is just a smart defender in all types of situations and that holds him in very good stead into the future.

    Regardless of where and how he defends Mason Broadhurst sets a good base and uses his leg strength to direct his strength through the core of his body into his opponent. Mason Broadhurst just intuitively knows how to defend from a timing and technique perspective and rarely loses contact with the attacker once he has engaged them defensively.

    Mason Broadhurst uses this contact to redirect the momentum of the attacker towards the touch line. Mason Broadhurst also gets low and this is able to get underneath any fend that is looking to hold Mason Broadhurst off from him initiating contact with the body of his opponent and thus further disrupt his momentum.

    Mason Broadhurst will continue to play rugby league for Rockhampton Grammar School in 2024.

    Thus with his tall frame, good positioning and ability to pick the correct time to chime into the backline I believe that Mason Broadhurst’s best position is at fullback, although his skill set suggests that Mason Broadhurst could also play either centre or on the wing more than comfortably.

    Mason Broadhurst is not a giant of a centre/fullback or winger from an overall size perspective, relying more on guile and outright speed and elusiveness to be a try scoring threat and to that extent an NRL player comparison to South Sydney Rabbitohs and New South Wales State of Origin centre Campbell Graham is more than a reasonable and appropriate one.

    Both Graham and Mason Broadhurst are not the giant centre/winger or fullback that the modern game seems to currently (or certainly did) crave but they are smart as well as cunning and ultimately very very successful at finding their way to the try line even when on first glance their chances appeared unlikely when they initially received the ball.


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