Darius Farmer. (Revised) He is a young second rower originally from Ipswich who signed with the Titans initially as a 15 year old and has previously represented Queensland at the U16 level in 2015 starting in the second row in the annual interstate match. Darius Farmer originally signed with the Titans in 2015 after being part of the Sydney Roosters Junior Summer Training squad in 2014.

Darius Farmer has recently signed a two year NRL deal with the Titans which will surely encompass his NRL debut, likely sooner rather than later and his training in the 2020 offseason was outstanding highlighting his return to full fitness after his great recovery from his 2019 serious health concerns.

In Round Sixteen against the St George Dragons Darius Farmer was deservidly named on the Titans extended bench, however did not make the Titans final seventeen for the match. Darius Farmer was also named on the Titans NRL extended bench for Round Eighteen against the Brisbane Bronco’s, Round Nineteen against Manly and Round Twenty against the Newcastle Knights.

Darius Farmer’s first 2020 appearance was for the Titans in the 2020 NRL 9’s 18 man tournament in Perth in February. In the Titans opening match against the Canberra Raiders, Darius Farmer ran for twenty four metres on two carries and made four tackles.

Darius Farmer made a further twenty four metres from three runs and a tackle in Game Two against the Wests Tigers. In the Titans semi-final loss to North Queensland Darius Farmer ran for thirty eight metres on three carries, broke a tackle and made two tackles of his own.

In total in the 2020 NRL Nine’s tournament, Darius Farmer played in three matches, ran for eighty six metres from eight runs, broke a tackle and made seven tackles at a high tackling efficiency.

Darius Farmer started at lock for the Titans first NRL trial of 2020 against Burleigh at Pizzey Park and performed well in the new position for him running for an impressive 135 metres (twenty seven post contact), broke a tackle and made twenty six of his own.

Darius Farmer started from the interchange bench for Burleigh in their final Queensland Cup trial against the Tweed Heads Seagulls.

Darius Farmer started Round One of the 2020 Queensland Cup competition for the Burleigh Bears from the bench against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls but had an impressive match after coming on in the 30th minute of the first half. Some of his charges into the teeth of the Seagulls defensive line were very impressive indeed and on each occasion fought to produce a quick play the ball to keep the Bears on the front foot.

In total in the match Darius Farmer was on the field for thirty six minutes, ran for an impressive ninety nine metres (thirty six post contact), broke three tackles, played the ball at an average speed of 4.01 seconds and made seven tackles.

In late June 2020 Darius Farmer was part of the Titans side that played an eleven on eleven match against the Bronocs at Suncopr Stadium prior to the same sides NRL match, with the match ending in a 16 all draw.

Darius Farmer started from the interchange bench in the Titans first NRL trial of 2019 against the Norther Queensland Cowboys on the Sunshine Coast.

In Round One of the 2019 Queensland Cup competition, Darius Farmer came off the bench for Burleigh against PNG playing 26 minutes, took two hit-ups for 26 metres, 11 post contact, broke two tackles, had a play the ball average of 3.48 seconds and made nine tackles missing only one.

Darius Farmer made his second Queensland Cup appearance of the season in Round Ten for Burleigh as they thrashed the Northern Pride 43 – 0. Starting from the bench Darius Farmer played 23 minutes, ran for forty four metres (an impressive 50% of those post contact) on five hit-ups, broke a tackle, played the ball at an average speed of 4.19 seconds and made ten tackles at a 100% tackling efficiency.

Darius Farmer also started from the bench in Round Eleven of the Queensland Cup for Burleigh as they defeated Central Queensland. Darius Farmer played 29 minutes, running for 35 metres (16 post contact), played the ball at an average of 4.25 seconds and made four tackles.

After Round One Darius Farmer moved back to the Burleigh Colts Hastings Deering’s Colts U20 side for Rounds Two and Three starting in the second row on both occasions.

Darius Farmer came back into the Burleigh Hasting’s Deering Colts side in Week Two of the 2019 Finals starting at right second row in Burleigh’s 42 – 12 win against Norths.

In the 2019 Hastings Deering’s Colts Player of the Year Award tally Darius Farmer finished with three votes from a very limited number of matches, being four in total.

Darius Farmer was promoted to the Burleigh Gold Coast Rugby League First Grade side starting in the second row in Round Three of that competition for the Bears in their 28 – 8 win over the Currumbin Eagles.

Darius Farmer also started in the second row in Round Four against Bilambil and in fact scored his first career GCRL First Grade try. With Burleigh attacking close to the Bilambil line, Darius Farmer flew onto the ball from around two metres out to crash over the top of three defenders to get the ball down.

After missing an extended period of time during the 2019 season, it was great to see Darius Farmer back in the Burleigh Bears Gold Coast Rugby League First Grade side when he came off the bench in Round Nineteen against Southport, narrowly missing out on scoring in the second half when he chased through a Burleigh short attacking kick but could not quite ground the ball in the in goal. When he came on Darius Farmer operated on the right side of the field.

Darius Farmer also started from the bench in Round Twenty being the final 2019 regular season round against Ormeau in a big 64 – 12 Burleigh win.

In total in the Gold Coast Rugby League season in 2019 Darius Farmer played in seven Gold Coast Rugby League regular season First Grade matches for the Bears.

In the Gold Coast Rugby League First Grade Finals series Darius Farmer started at right second row for Burleigh in their Grand Final qualifying final against Currumbin scoring in an outstanding second half display.

Darius Farmer ran a crash line from around eight metres from the line and spun 360 degrees counter clock wise to crash over mid-way between the uprights and corner post on the right side of the field.

Darius Farmer also started at right second row as Burleigh won the GCRL First Grade Grand Final by defeating Southport 30 -12 scoring a try in each half in the deserved Bears victory.

Darius Farmer’s try in the first half resulted from him following through a short grubber kick on the right side of the field. Darius Farmer ran a crash line from around eighteen metres from the line on the right side of the field to crash over mid-way between the uprights and corner post on the right side of the field for his second try in the second half.

In 2019 Darius Farmer was also selected in the Gold Coast Vikings First Grade side for the South East Queensland U20 Challenge but in the end was not part of the side that won the competition due to his elevation to the Burleigh Queensland Cup side prior to that competition starting.

Darius Farmer has had an outstanding 2018 season including making his Queensland Cup debut in Round 18 off the bench for the Burleigh Bears in their 40 – 28 loss to Redcliffe coming on in around the 24th minute of the second half making a couple of solid tackles including one try saving tackle late as Redcliffe looked certain to score. Prior to his introduction into the match, Darius Farmer was deservedly acknowledged by commentator Scott Sattler for his outstanding talent and associated potential.

In his debut Queensland Cup match in Round Eighteen against Redcliffe Darius Farmer played 19 minutes, running for 14 metres, six post contact from two hit-ups and made eleven tackles at a tackling efficiency of 84.62%.

Prior to his Queensland Cup call up Darius Farmer has spent the majority of the 2018 season playing for Burleigh in the Gold Coast Rugby League First Grade competition, but has also played a number of matches for the Burleigh Hastings Deering’s Colts side the last of which was in Round 17 against the Norths Devils.

Due to injury Darius Farmer missed the start of the 2017 season but played the majority of the season with the Tweed Heads Seagulls Colts side but also made his NYC debut with the Titans as well as representing New Zealand U18’s with former Titans team mate Jaxson Paulo.

Darius Farmer started in the second row for New Zealand in their match against the Australian School Boys in September in New Zealand playing on the left side of the field with Jaxon Paulo who played on the left wing. Even though New Zealand lost the International Darius Farmer matched up well with Australian School Boy star David Fifita who lined up on the right hand side of the field for the Australian Schoolboys.

Prior to the International match against the Australian School Boys Darius Farmer represented the New Zealand U18 Taurahere side (NZ eligible players playing in Australia) against the New Zealand Residents U18 side. Darius Farmer was one of a number Titans players named in the Taurahere side with the others being former Titans Jaxson Paulo, Reihana Marsh and 2019 Titans NRL Player of the Year Moeaki Fotuaika, although only Darius Farmer and Jaxon Paulo played in the match with both then progressing to the New Zealand U18 side.

In 2017 Darius Farmer made his NYC debut with the Titans in Round Twenty against Penrith, almost scoring with his first touch of the ball after coming off the interchange bench and in Round Twenty-Two Darius Farmer started at lock against the Broncos. In 2017 Darius Farmer went on to play in Rounds Twenty Five and Twenty Six against the Bulldogs and Roosters respectively, on both of those occasions starting off the interchange bench.

In total in the NYC competition Darius Farmer was on the field for 150 minutes, ran for 170 metres from twenty hit-ups and made forty four at a tackling efficiency of 72%. Darius Farmer’s 2017 NYC per game averages included playing 37.5 minutes, running for 43 metres and making eleven tackles.

Darius Farmer’s best match from a running perspective was against the Panthers on his NYC debut when he ran for 78 metres and in Round Twenty Six against the Roosters he made thirteen tackles in limited minutes.

Darius Farmer missed the MM Cup competition but after spending the 2016 off season training with the Titans NYC squad including playing a couple of NYC trials for example against the Melbourne Storm at Langland’s Park, Darius Farmer was back for the start of the U20 Colts Challenge competition and played in twelve matches for Tweed Heads in that competition starting in the second row in every match that he played except for Round Four when he started at lock. Darius Farmer scored twice in the Colts competition including scoring in just the third minute of the Round One clash against South’s Logan. His other try came in Round Five against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls.

During the 2016 season Darius Famer played for the Gold Coast White MM side scoring a try in Round Three against the Easts Tigers. He started all of the matches he played for Gold Coast White in the second row. In addition he also made his Queensland Cup Colts debut for the Ipswich Jets in Round 15 scoring a hat trick against Toowoomba and starting in the centres. Darius Farmer started in the centres as well for the other three games that he played for the Ipswich Jets in the Colts competition, being from Rounds 23 to 25 and in Round 24 against the Tweed Heads Seagulls scored a double.

Darius Farmer is a tall, rangy exceptional athlete and this can be seen when he is running with the football. In his carries he rarely takes a hit up without movement, he uses foot work prior to the line to look to break through as well as cutting either cutting back in behind the play the ball or cutting out towards the smaller defenders on the fringes of the ruck.

Darius Farmer runs ‘fast’ into the defensive and his foot work prior to the line enables him to get partly through the line quite often, certainly more so than you would expect for a backrower taking the ball through the centre of the ruck. One reason for this is that he is a smart footballer, he does not try to run over defenders, but he runs at the gaps between defenders and uses his running speed to break through if defenders only use their arms on the tackle.

Darius Farmer does not necessarily have a great top end speed, but he is certainly fast enough to get through to the full back prior to the arrival of the cover defence. Darius Farmer would be one of the faster back rowers running around in Queensland as can be evidenced by the fact that he handled the centre position well at the Queensland Cup Colts level.

Playing on the right hand side of the field seemingly more often, means that his right foot step and his fending using his left hand are the effective attributes, but based on his physical attributes, his skill set and his understanding of how to play the game means that I have no doubt that these attributes are transferrable to playing on the left hand side of the field.

In defence Darius Farmer regularly is the first player up to target the ball carriers, even though he is not one of the bigger forwards in his team and will make solid initial contact as well as having the ability of defending one on one.

As could be seen in the U16 development squad game a couple of season ago now, when the opportunity presents Darius Farmer has the ability to hit very hard, by setting a good base and driving through his lower body and core into his opponent.

Ultimately though Darius Farmer is a strong defender with a good front on technique and good lateral movement to track and defend against smaller opponents either on the fringes or centre of the ruck.

Unfortunately the 2020 season were very difficult for players like Darius Farmer as they did not have the Queensland Cup to push their case. I note however that Darius Farmer played for the Titans in the Nine’s and was named on the extended bench for the last few rounds of the 2020 NRL season and in fact travelled with the tema on a number of occasions.

I truly believe however if Darius Farmer gets an opportunity he would excel in the NRL in 2021.

I would expect that due to his size, speed and skill attributes that Darius Farmer will continue to play in the back row for the foreseeable future and even though he seems to play more on the right side of the field at present, there is nothing to suggest he will not transition into a player who can play on both sides of the ruck equally effectively.

It was interesting however to see Darius Farmer play at lock for the Titans first 2020 NRL trial against the Burleigh Bears at Pizzey Park.

I appreciate that Darius Farmer played some Queensland Cup Colts matches for the Ipswich Jets as a 17 year old previously in the centres and was very effective there but I do not envisage that was in any way a sign of things to come especially the way that Darius Farmer has developed in the second row over the last two seasons.

In fact Darius Farmer has gotten bigger and stronger over the last couple of seasons training with the Titans NRL squad, but impressively has not lost any of his outstanding speed and mobility.

From a player comparison perspective, the young Canterbury Bulldogs version of Sonny Bill Williams (or early All Black version) springs to mind as an appropriate playing style comparison, when you see the combination of the skill set Darius Farmer possesses and the rare athletic ability, add in a touch of aggression and you have a young player of immense potential who plays the game seemingly at a different pace to most of the players around him.

The Titans are building a core group of young forwards such as Moeaki Fotuaika, Keegan Hipgrave, Sam Stone, Jai Whitbread and the 2021 signings of Tino Fa’asuamaleaui and David Fifita.

Darius Farmer may just be the next player, and potentially the best to join that “core” group of young forwards in Titans colours for the foreseeable future.