My take on our top juniors

[mdrew]

Nelson Makaafi. The young backrower deservedly signed a multi-year contract with the Titans in early 2022 after a strong 2021 season at the Titans partnered Palm Beach Currumbin (PBC) State High School.

In 2021 Nelson Makaafi was part of the Titans Partnered PBC State High School’s Renouf Shield School Boy rugby league side and started the Grand Final at right second row against fellow Titans partnered Marsden State High School and executed a key try saving tackle in the dying moments of the match to preserve PBC SHS’s tight 8 – 4 lead which they ultimately held onto to for the remainder of the match.

The speed and power in terms of how Nelson Makaafi runs the ball is the outstanding feature of his game, he takes the ball to the line with speed, especially off the mark, but he does not just put his head down and rush forward, Nelson Makaafi uses quick and subtle footwork prior to the line and seems to targets the gaps between defenders and will actively seek out opposing forwards who are slow to move up or are sitting back on their heels.

When the opposition are on the back foot Nelson Makaafi will target the smaller defenders on the edge of the ruck, looking to isolate them and burst through and for a young bloke of his size Nelson Makaafi has very good speed over the medium term and has the strength to drag defenders with him post contact.

I would consider that Nelson Makaafi’s speed would be above average for a backrower but plays faster as a result of him timing his runs so well that the dummy half can present a flat pass to him and also as a result of the power that Nelson Makaafi runs at. What is also in the above average to plus category in relation to Nelson Makaafi is his speed off the mark.

Nelson Makaafi’s offloading ability is also improving as he refines his game and gains experience. Earlier in his junior career, he was almost too good at offloading compared to his team mates as he would pop some passes that they were not expecting but as he has matured and the quality of the opposition and his own team has increased so has the selective nature of his off-loading.

The defensive side of Nelson Makaafi’s game is similarly impressive, Nelson Makaafi does not just charge wildly up looking for a huge hit but is calculating in where and when to hit. Nelson Makaafi drives hard with his legs and always uses his shoulder, placing it correctly and then uses his core body strength to drive into his opponent.

Nelson Makaafi sets a strong lower base by setting his legs and generating force by driving through the tackle with his lower body, gaining leverage and momentum to complete the tackle. Nelson Makaafi is also comfortable making contact with either shoulder and maintains good head position regardless of the type of tackles he makes.

2022 will see Nelson Makaafi progress to the Palm Beach Currumbin SHS’s Hancock Cup School Boy rugby league side.

With his speed, both off the mark and over extended distances definitely in the plus category for a forward I think that Nelson Makaafi has the attributes to be very effective in the second row (likely on the right) for a number of years if not for the duration of his rugby league career.

Nelson Makaafi has outstanding physical attributes and a rapidly developing skill set and it is just a matter of time for him to figure out how best to use them to dominate on a rugby league field and when he does opposition teams regardless of quality should look out.

Even though he may play on the opposite side of the field at present, Nelson Makaafi’s playing style is similar to that of Titans NRL left second rower Beau Fermor, both have above average to plus speed for a second rower and similarly both have just a natural overall feel for playing in the second row in rugby league.

[mdrew]

Caleb Te Momo. The young man started at left second row for the Burleigh Bears in Round One of the 2022 Gold Coast Rugby League U18 Division One competition and put is a solid performance in the Bears first up 26 – 18 loss to the Southport Tigers.

Caleb Te Momo also started at left second row in Round Two against the Nerang Roosters and once again had some good moments for the Bears in a very good forward battle that continued over the course of the entire match. Caleb Te Momo was also set to start at left second row against Mudgeeraba in Round Three however the Redbacks ended up forfeiting the match late in the week.

In late 2021 Caleb Te Momo was named in the 2022 Burleigh Bears MM Cup squad and he is also MM Cup eligible in 2023. Whilst Caleb Te Momo did not play in any of the Bears MM Cup matches in 2022 no doubt the valuable experience he gained served Caleb Te Momo well in 2022 and will put him into a good position for selection in the Burleigh 2023 MM Cup squad.

In 2021 Caleb Te Momo played for the Burleigh Bears in the U16 Cyril Connell Cup, starting Round One against the Souths Logan Magpies at lock before coming off the bench in Round Three in the local derby against the Tweed Heads Seagulls.

Caleb Te Momo was back in the Burleigh starting side for Round Five against the Ipswich Jets with Caleb Te Momo scoring in the 12th minute of a big Bears victory.

Caleb Te Momo is a powerful runner of the ball who runs with a slight jink, usually off his left foot, in his step prior to impacting the defensive line and from when he receives the ball until Caleb Te Momo hits the defensive line he is able to build up significant momentum.

Caleb Te Momo displays outstanding speed both off the mark and over an extended distance when in the clear for a player his size. Also when Caleb Te Momo has impacted the defensive line he continues to pump his legs and gain extra metres after contact.

As noted Caleb Te Momo is a solidly built young lock or second rower with a low centre of gravity, which makes him quite difficult to tackle. Like his footwork Caleb Te Momo 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.

Caleb Te Momo’s lateral movement is above average for a second rower and he is powerful enough to combat the largest of opponents looking to run through the centre of the ruck or a touch wider as well. Caleb Te Momo also has the functional strength to combat attackers on a one on one basis. His initial contact is outstanding as is his ability to quickly and effectively put any size attacker on the ground and effectively slow down the speed of the play the ball.

Another impressive aspect of Caleb Te Momo ’s play from a defensive stand point is the speed at which he gets around the field, in the games that I have seen him play, Caleb Te Momo is always in and around the ball, constantly getting low to disrupt the momentum of the attackers.

Caleb Te Momo will play the remainder of the 2022 season with the Burleigh Bears in the Gold Coast Rugby League U18 Division One competition and in 2023 no doubt will push for a spot in the Burleigh Bears MM Cup squad after being part of the train-on squad in 2022.

Caleb Te Momo has played the majority of the last couple of seasons either at lock or in the second row as a solidly built powerful young man, and with his speed, both off the mark and over extended distances definitely in the plus category for a forward I think that Caleb Te Momo has the attributes to be very effective in the second row (likely on the left side) for a number of years if not for the duration of his rugby league career.

From a player comparison perspective for Caleb Te Momo, think of someone along the lines of New Zealand International and Melbourne Storm’s (soon to be Redcliffe Dolphin) Kenny Bromwich as a hard working forward who will be a solid player but will also on occasion flash some plus skills and speed.

Like Kenny Bromwich, Caleb Te Momo has very underrated late and quick footwork just prior to the line which enables him 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.

[mdrew]

Taylan To’o. The young backrower from Titans partnered Marsden State High School, in late March 2022 signed a three year deal with the Titans.

In 2021 Taylan To’o played for Marsden SHS in the Year Eight Renouf Shield School Boy competition, starting at lock in their tough 8 – 4 Grand Final loss to PBC SHS.

Prior to the Renouf Shield Grand Final Taylan To’o had some strong matches for Marsden SHS in the preliminary rounds including a strong performance in the semi-final against Keebra Park SHS with a 14th minute try assist when Taylan To’o, whilst operating on the left side of the engaged the defensive line around six metres out for the try line before off-loading to his left to put his left centre over to score near the corner.

Taylan To’o showcased his goal kicking skills in Round Seven against Ipswich SHS with three conversions in Marsden SHS’s big win with Taylan To’o showing a relaxed, simple and effective right foot goal kicking technique.

Taylan To’o is a strong, powerful runner of the ball and once he has generated momentum he is very difficult to stop and regularly has been able to drag defenders with him after initial contact has been made, thus making significant post contact metres.

Once he is in space, Taylan To’o actually has very good top end speed, I would consider it above average when analysing his speed from a rugby league forward’s perspective, to add to the difficulties for the defensive line, Taylan To’o runs with a high knee lift and also has a powerful right hand fend.

Defensively the most impressive aspect of Taylan To’o’s play is his ability to make effective tackle after effective tackle. For the Sawtell Panthers in the 2021 Group Two U14 competition Taylan To’o continually made up to three and four tackles in a row on multiple occasions.

Whilst his stamina is impressive, so is Taylan To’o’s initial contact, he uses his strength and leverage to hit the ball carrier hard forcing momentum changes to the ball carrier immediately upon impact from Taylan To’o.

Taylan To’o is also adept at wrapping up the ball and preventing offloads as he uses his functional strength to engage ball carriers. Defensively in a covering role he is also very effective as even though he is a big strong forward Taylan To’o has very good catch up speed and a solid low tackling technique from a side aspect.

In 2022 Taylan To’o will continue to play for Marsden SHS, moving up to the Hancock Cup School Boy Rugby League competition.

Whilst he very quick for his size, Taylan To’o, with his height and strength looks certain to stay in the forwards for the duration of his rugby league career and with his ever developing ball skills, Taylan To’o will almost certainly play the role of the new age lock who is a link between his team’s forward pack and backline.

Taylan To’o is an intriguing and in some ways unique prospect in the Titans JTS Program and with the size, speed and power combination of someone like Penrith Panthers and New South Wales State of Origin’s Isiah Yeo as a player who just looks a class apart from the majority of other players on the field. If anything Taylan To’o has more size and speed (a fair bit more speed to be fair) than Yeo.

[mdrew]

Kanititeiti Sikahele. The young man is the younger brother of Titans contracted Vaka Sikahele and like his older brother Kanititeiti Sikahele attended St Pauls College in Auckland before heading over to the Gold Coast.

Kanititeiti Sikahele started at hooker and put in an assured and composed performance out of dummy half for the Nerang Roosters in Round One of the 2022 Gold Coast U18 Division One competition as the defending champions got their campaign underway on the back of a comprehensive 42 – 10 victory over the Mudgeeraba Redbacks.

Kanititeiti Sikahele also started at hooked in Round Two against the Burleigh Bears and once again put in an assured performance including throwing the last pass to his right from very close to the try line to lead Xavier Collins onto the ball to subsequently crash over to score in the 14th minute of the Roosters big win near the left upright.

Kanititeiti Sikahele continued at hooker in Round Three against the Southport Tigers in a match that saw Nerang loss their first match of the season.

From an attacking stand point, Kanititeiti Sikahele 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 have confidence that his passes will find the mark with the appropriate velocity attached on every occasion.

From a speed perspective I would consider that Kanititeiti Sikahele’s speed when running out of dummy half is a touch above average for a dummy half but plays faster as he has become adept at running at the right time and focusses heavily when the markers are out of position, thus Kanititeiti Sikahele either makes ground himself putting his team on the front foot or draws a penalty, in both scenario’s he generates momentum for his side through the skill and intelligence Kanititeiti Sikahele has.

The impressive thing about when Kanititeiti Sikahele runs out of dummy half is the fact that he does not run to the same side of the ruck all of the time, Kanititeiti Sikahele will make a judgement on where the defence is the weakest and respond accordingly. Some hookers always run out of dummy half in the same direction, Kanititeiti Sikahele is definitely not one of those, which show that Kanititeiti Sikahele has a high level of intelligence.

From a defensive perspective Kanititeiti Sikahele 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 his shoulder with enough force to redirect the momentum of the ball carrier. Kanititeiti Sikahele 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.

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

Kanititeiti Sikahele will play the remainder of the 2022 season with the Nerang Roosters in the Gold Coast Rugby League U18 Division One competition as they look to replicate their 2021 U18 Division One Premiership success.

Whilst Kanititeiti Sikahele has a bit of size for a hooker, with his speed and distribution out of dummy half it is clear to me that Kanititeiti Sikahele has the attributes and mentality to stay in the hooking role into the future. Also Kanititeiti Sikahele just looks so calm and assured in the dummy half role and no doubt that then rubs off his team mates. Similarly Kanititeiti Sikahele just seems to have all the time in the world to distribute the ball as he sees fit out of dummy half.

Former Manly and Tongan International hooker, Manase Fainu is probably a good player comparison from a size perspective as well as style as well for Kanititeiti Sikahele. Like Fainu, Kanititeiti Sikahele is lightning quick out of dummy half with the added knack of being able to pick the right time to run from the dummy half position. Kanititeiti Sikahele’s distribution skills should also not be underrated either.

[mdrew]

Jayviah Nomotu. Round Four of the 2022 U18 Mal Meninga Cup competition saw Jayviah Nomotu named on the Burleigh Bear extended bench against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls and whilst he was not in the final game Day Seventeen it was a sign of the high esteem that Jayviah Nomotu is held in.

Jayviah Nomotu made his MM Cup debut in Round Six against the Redcliffe Dolphins when he started at right centre with Jayviah Nomotu having some good moments in his debut including a strong run of ten metres in the 28th minute down a wide right blindside off a Burleigh scrum win near halfway.

Jayviah Nomotu made a further strong run in the 54th minute when he was able to make twelve metres down a short right blindside.

Jayviah Nomotu was also named at right centre in the Round Seven local derby against the Tweed Heads Seagulls.

Jayviah Nomotu is also MM Cup eligible in 2023 and the experience that he gained in 2022 training with the Burleigh squad will be a huge benefit for Jayviah Nomotu’s future.

In 2021 Jayviah Nomotu started at left centre in all three of the Burleigh Bears U16 Cyril Connell Cup matches which were against the Souths Logan Magpies (Round One), the Tweed Heads Seagulls (Round Three) and against the Ipswich Jets in Round Five with Jayviah Nomotu scoring in the 6th and 15th minutes in a big Burleigh victory in a match that was a curtain raiser to the Titans v Knights NRL match.

Jayviah Nomotu scored his first try in the 7th minute when he received the ball in space twenty metres out and ten metres in from the left touchline. Jayviah Nomotu stepped off his left foot to beat his immediate opponent before stepping off his right to beat the Jets fullback and score twelve metres in from the left corner post.

Jayviah Nomotu completed his double in just the 15th minute with a long range 70 metre try. The ball found Jayviah Nomotu in acres of space and ran untouched to the Jets fullback. As he approached the fullback Jayviah Nomotu moved the ball into both running with the ball out in front of his body with support both on the inside and out. When the Ipswich fullback cheated to cover the support on the inside, Jayviah Nomotu ran past him to score.

The outstanding feature of the attacking game of Jayviah Nomotu is his ability to continue to make ground after initial contact with the defensive line especially when he isolates a defender and attacks him in a one on one situation.

Jayviah Nomotu will continue to pump his legs post contact and if a defender looks to engage him around the chest Jayviah Nomotu has the core strength to shrug off the defender and continue with limited loss of momentum. A solid hard straight fend is also a key component of his ability to make ground after contact.

Jayviah Nomotu’ s speed off the mark and for that matter his speed overall can probably be consider a tick above average but plays faster as a result of his strength, power and the aggressiveness when he runs the ball. Jayviah Nomotu is certainly not shy in relation to initiating contact with the defensive line.

The best strategy for defending against Jayviah Nomotu is for the defence to get up on him before he has the opportunity to generate momentum, the flip side of that is that Jayviah Nomotu has the ability to skip to the outside if the defender is not on him as he receives the ball. If he has time and space, Jayviah Nomotu can be devastating when running with the ball as was evidenced in the 2021 Cyril Connell Cup Round Five match against the Ipswich Jets.

Defensively Jayviah Nomotu can defend against any size opponent, from small quick outside backs to big strong powerful backrowers running wide of the ruck. Jayviah Nomotu is more than strong enough to handle his defensive duties on a one on one basis and effectively seal off an entire side of the field which is a rare feat for a player so early in their rugby league career.

Jayviah Nomotu uses his 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, Jayviah Nomotu sets a good base and uses his leg strength to direct his power through the core of his body into his opponent.

Jayviah Nomotu will play the remainder of the 2022 season in the Gold Coast Rugby League U18 Division One competition and in 2023 no doubt will push for a spot in the Burleigh Bears MM Cup squad after also being part of the squad in 2022.

Jayviah Nomotu is just a natural and talented athlete with size, speed and explosiveness and as he fills out his strength and power will only continue to develop. Jayviah Nomotu has a frame that can seemingly add a fair degree of muscle mass yet maintain his speed, a potent sign for the future to be sure. Jayviah Nomotu is ideally suited to playing in the centres in rugby league and with his speed and power projects as a strike centre moving forward and a very good one at that.

New Zealand International Joseph Manu from the Sydney Roosters, for me has a similar skill set to Jayviah Nomotu as a centre who has all of the skill and physical attributes, specifically speed and strength to succeed in rugby league, Jayviah Nomotu just needs more experience and he is certainly getting that as Jayviah Nomotu trains with the Burleigh Bears MM Cup squad.

[mdrew]

Max Liles. Max Liles is an exceptionally talented young five eight from Northern New South Wales who in early 2022 signed a multi-year contract with the Titans.

Max Liles started the 2022 season with the Northern Rivers Titans in the U18 Laurie Daley Cup competition and post that competition and even though he was still U18 eligible Max Liles made his Hastings Deering’s Colts debut for the Tweed Heads Seagulls in their Round Four match against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls with Max Liles converting tries from Kyhan Weir and Charlie Murray in a tough day for the Seagulls.

Max Liles was then named on the Seagulls extended bench for Round Six against the Northern Pride.

In the 2022 U18 Laurie Daley Cup competition Max Liles started all five of the Northern Rivers Titans matches at five eight scoring in the 38th minute in Round Two against the North Coast Bulldogs and kicking two conversions from as many attempts in Round Five against the Newcastle Knights.

Max Liles also played for Cudgen Hornets in the 2022 U18 NRRRL competition for the second season in a row, starting Round Three against Casino RSM at five eight.

Max Liles scored in the 10th minute when he swooped on a Casino RSM dropped ball inside their own twenty metre area with Max Liles racing eighteen metres to score mid-way between the goal posts and corner post on the left side of the field.

The first of Max Liles line breaks came in just the 4th minute of the match when from thirty five metres out from his own line, Max Liles burst away down the left touchline making thirty five metres of his own but unfortunately his pass to his right went to ground with a try in the offing.

Max Liles produced an outstanding field of play in the 49th minute when after a Casino RSM try Max Liles leapt high to take the Hornets short kick-off on the full just after it had travelled the required ten metres. Max Liles was then able to promote the ball a further twenty metres downfield after taking possession from the short kick-off.

Max Liles also played for the Cudgen Hornets in the 2021 NRRRL U18 competition, starting all bar one of his match at five eight with the only other position being at halfback when he started there in the Round Four local derby against the Bilambil Jets.

Max Liles scored three tries in the 2021 NRRRL U18 competition, one first coming in Round Three against Casino RSM when he backed up a break and raced thirty five metres to score in the left corner.

In addition to scoring in Round Seven against the Marist Rams, Max Liles also scored against the Murwillumbah Mustangs in Round Ten when after receiving the ball around sixteen metres out and to the left of the play the ball, Max Liles executed three left foot steps to get back to the right side of the field, Max Liles then dummied to his right and sliced through the defensive line to score twelve metres in from the right corner post.

I really like the way that Max Liles plays in attack, he will try different things and play what is in front of him rather than stick to the same tactics over and over again. In many respects Max Liles is very unpredictable when he gets the ball, he is adept at running himself when presented with an appropriate opportunity and has a very good turn of speed off the mark and similarly can throw some superb passes to his support runners if they find themselves running into a gap.

Currently Max Liles is probably a touch better runner of the ball then ball player and can step off both feet and is quite strong for his size and will shrug off larger defenders if they try to go high and try to wrap up the ball without committing to the tackle properly or with an incorrect tackling technique.

Max Liles is able to drift across field and then just takes off through any gaps in a staggered defensive line. When he looks to take advantage of an overlap on the blind side and is adept at drawing in outside defenders to give his winger a clear path to the line by creating a two on one situation.

Max Liles has exquisite timing on his passes and is able to weight them perfectly as well and can do so from either side of his body. Adding in this is that Max Liles can stop on a dime even travelling at full speed and pop the short pass, thus it looks for all money that he is going to run the ball thus the defence converges and then the ball is delivered to a support runner who is through a hole before the defensive line can readjust.

Max Liles also runs with the ball out in front of his body in both hands which is another reason why the defensive line is unable to determine exactly what he is going to do before the play is executed or develops in front of them.

Defensively Max Liles is a very solid strong young man with exceptional functional strength to go along with an innate understanding of the attacking strategies of rugby league thus he is able to anticipate what an attacking side is looking to do with the ball and then be in the best position to negate it.

Max Liles has a very good low tackling technique which is simple and repeatable and effective against all size opponents and thus there is no need for a defensive minder on his side of the field.

Defensively Max Liles uses his size to good effect, he drives with his shoulder into his opponent and has very good timing in terms of when to come out of the line and certainly has the speed to readjust and chase if his timing is slightly off and his opposing player gets on his outside.

Max Liles on an individual level has the body control to redirect quickly and mirror the movement of the opposing attackers and anticipate what vector the attack comes from and innately understands when to allow the attacking play to develop in from of him and when to come out of the line to disrupt the attacking play prior to its formation.

Like when he has the ball in his hands, there is nothing that Max Liles cannot do in relation to kicking a rugby league ball. Max Liles is an exceptional tactical kicker with range and accuracy and he can put up pin point bombs and perfectly weighted grubber kicks into the in goal.

In short if you can name a type of rugby league kick, Max Liles can execute it with precision including goal kicking with his right foot kicking style having both outstanding range and accuracy. In New Zealand Max Liles regularly converted tries in both rugby league and rugby from both sidelines with equal aplomb. The fact that Max Liles is a left foot kicker only enhances the effectiveness of his tactical kicking.

Max Liles is also a solid left foot goal kicker with solid range and accuracy however I am unsure whether he will be a team’s first choice goal kicker, regardless Max Liles will be a very good back up option at the very worst.

Max Liles will complete the 2022 season, likely playing more matches for the Tweed Heads Seagulls Hastings Deering’s Colts side as well as for the Cudgen Hornets in the NRRRL U18 competition. 2023 no doubt will see Max Liles become a permanent member of the Tweed Heads Seagulls Hastings Deering’s Colts starting side.

Max Liles is a five eight, end of story, he has always played there are no doubt always will. The fact that he is a left foot kicker adds to his effectiveness.

For me with his ability to slip through gaps in the defensive line especially close to the line and a solid repeatable defensive technique, Max Liles has a playing style similar to that of Canterbury Bulldog and former Penrith Panthers five eight and occasional centre Matt Burton as an outstanding player who finds his way to the try line on a regular basis. The fact that both Max Liles and Burton play on the left side of the field and are both left foot kickers only reinforces the accuracy of the playing style comparison for me.

[mdrew]

Jesse Soric. The Byron Bay Devils junior and Keebra Park SHS student is part of the Titans Northern Rivers Development Program.

Jesse Soric started the 2022 season as a member of the Byron Bay Devils U18 NRRRL side, starting Round One against the Tweed Heads Seagulls at halfback.

Jesse Soric also started at halfback in Round Two against the Ballina Seagulls with Jesse Soric scoring a double in wet conditions.

Jesse Soric’s opening try came in just the 4th minute when from around twenty metres out and to the right of the play the ball Jesse Soric received the ball and initially shaped to kick before stepping off his right foot before another right foot step saw Jesse Soric get to within ten metres of the try line. Jesse Soric was initially held short of the line but he kept fighting the tackle and forced his way over to score under the posts.

Jesse Soric’s second try came in the 60th minute when near the line Tyler Whittington forced out an off-load, Jesse Soric picked the ball from the ground and cut to his left to dive over, once again under the posts.

In 2021 Jesse Soric was a member of the Northern Rivers Titans U16 Andrew Johns Cup squad, starting the opening two rounds at five eight before coming off the bench in the final three rounds with Jesse Soric scoring in Round One against the McArthur Wests Tigers.

Jesse Soric also played for the Byron Bay Devils in 2021 in the NRRRL U18 competition, playing in eight matches, starting five matches at five eight, two from the bench and also one match at halfback.

In his eight matches Jesse Soric scored twice, the first coming in Round Two against Northern United and second in Round Thirteen against Casino RSM.

In attack, Jesse Soric 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 Jesse Soric 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, including where his team is situated on the field and which team has the momentum.

Jesse Soric is just a superb passer of the ball in all aspects, from accuracy, direction, weighting and also importantly timing of when to pass. Normally half backs and five eight, even at the NRL level have a clear preference in terms of passing to one side of their body, and normally it is easy to recognise. In relation to Jesse Soric however his passing to either side of his body is exquisite and simply amazing to watch.

Jesse Soric literally just flicks his wrists and the ball flies out of his hands like a perfectly aimed bullet. I personally do not recall seeing a young play maker which such outstanding command and control in relation to his passing game.

Jesse Soric’s passing game is just so natural and precise and really is impressive for such a young player and certainly bodes well for his future in a play making role whether that is at five eight or half back.

The confidence Jesse Soric’s passing ability has on his team mates surely cannot be understated. Jesse Soric’s team mates can run various lines and run into gaps confidently knowing that the pass that they receive from Jesse Soric will be perfectly weighted and directed to give them the best opportunity to either break the line or make ground before or after contact.

Another plus attribute that Jesse Soric has is his calmness on the field. Regardless of the situation of the match or where his team is on the field or the pressure of the score board, Jesse Soric just seems to always stay calm and this is able to execute his plan. I use the word plan as Jesse Soric also seems to do things with purpose rather than just pass the ball on to a support player. With Jesse Soric there is no jogging across field and obviously calling a runner back underneath.

Everything that Jesse Soric does, he does for a reason and he does it with a calmness and assuredness that exerts a positive influence on his team mates regardless of how stressful the situation is on the field from a position on the field perspective or time pressures that his team were under. I can only imagine that Jesse Soric would be a very coachable young man who would have no trouble at all following a game plan regardless of its complexity.

The other issue around game plans in the context of Jesse Soric is that he clearly has the intelligence to modify the game plan as the match unfolds if he identifies nuisances or specific changes which would enhance the effectiveness of the team’s performance. Another reason to suggest that Jesse Soric is extremely coachable.

Jesse Soric 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. Jesse Soric 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 Jesse Soric 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. Like his passing game, Jesse Soric’s kicking game comes across as so fluid and effective.

Defensively Jesse Soric is a very strong young man with exceptional functional strength for any position let alone a half/five eight, to go along with an innate understanding of the attacking strategies of rugby league thus he is able to anticipate what an attacking side is looking to do with the ball and then be in the best position to negate it.

Jesse Soric has a very good low tackling technique which is simple and repeatable and effective against all size opponents and thus there is no need for a defensive minder on Jesse Soric’s side of the field. In short just like his attacking play Jesse Soric is an outstanding defender.

Jesse Soric will complete the 2022 as part of the Byron Bay Devils U18 NRRRL side and Jesse Soric is also U18 eligible in 2023. Jesse Soric will also play for Keebra Park State High School in 2022 and will push for selection in the Keebra Park SHS Langer Cup Open A Squad.

From a position perspective, Jesse Soric plays the same way whether he is wearing the No. 6 or No. 7 jersey and there is no way known that I could see that a coach would consider moving him away from either the halves positions.

With his calm demeanour and outstanding kicking game Jesse Soric very much reminds me of current Titans NRL player Toby Sexton although Jesse Soric is taller. Both Jesse Soric and Sexton have a calmness about them when they are playing and rarely ever seemed rushed in performing their role for their team.

[ALX25]

Cooper Cracknell. The young Ipswich based front rower played his first match in Titans colours in December 2021 when he started in the front row for the Titans U14 JTS side in shockingly hot conditions.

Unfortunately signed by the Rabbitohs.

[mdrew]

Noah Vakararawa. In Round One of the 2022 Group One U15 competition Noah Vakararawa started at lock for the Kyogle Turkeys against the Casino RSM Cougars and scored a hat trick in the Turkeys strong first up victory.

The St Johns College Woodlawn student also played for the Turkeys in 2021 and in fact was named the Kyogle Turkeys 2021 Group One U14 Best and Fairest Player.

Running with the football, Noah Vakararawa has good footwork prior to the line and does not often just put his head down and run straight but uses his solid footwork to try to work the gaps between defenders rather than trying to simply run over them.

Noah Vakararawa has very good speed off the mark but not necessarily great high end speed, but he will work hard and make the most of his ability. The key to his running is his ability to drop his shoulder into the defenders at the right moment, to go along with his late foot work. These attributes make Noah Vakararawa very difficult to tackle and he can rarely be stopped one on one.

Throw in a decent turn of pace off the mark and you have a player who is difficult for a defensive line to combat. Keebra Park had all sorts of trouble defending against him and he seemed to break at least one tackle every time he ran the ball that Wednesday night. He was just an absolute powerhouse over the course of the entire match.

Defensively Noah Vakararawa hits very hard and usually aims for just under the ribcage and is certainly someone opposing forwards look for when running the ball up and is adept at making sure the opposition do not get quick play the balls, read that Noah Vakararawa is very good at winning the wrestling battle in the ruck, he is a naturally strong young man.

Noah Vakararawa defends in the centre of the ruck and seems best suited in the long run defending there and adds a degree of intimidation to any forward pack he plays for. Against Keebra Park he dominated their giant forward pack for large stretches of the match.

Noah Vakararawa really does know how to tackle effectively, as he sets a strong base to create the necessary leverage to defend against larger forwards and then explodes through his core. Throw in a touch of aggression and you have someone in Noah Vakararawa who can dominate a game defensively and is able to seal off one side of the ruck on his own.

Noah Vakararawa no doubt continue to work on his strength and lateral movement as he progresses but his work ethic and motivation is such that continued hard work is not an issue for Noah Vakararawa.

Noah Vakararawa will play the remainder of the 2022 season with the Kyogle Turkeys in the Group One U15 competition and also line-up for St Johns College Woodlawn in their various school boy competitions in northern New South Wales and beyond.

Noah Vakararawa is a big strong young man with size, speed and impressive footwork and no doubt with his raw but developing ball skills should develop into a very very good modern day lock.

From a player comparison perspective, someone that I think that Noah Vakararawa has a similar playing style to is North Queensland Cowboy and Tongan International (former New Zealand International) Jason Taumalolo as a wrecking ball of a forward who can break open and dominate a game on his own.

Noah Vakararawa just oozes class and the scary thing is that I do not think that he has even come close to realising his potential and likely will not until he plays at a higher level on a regular basis.

[mdrew]

Seth Gundry. The local fullback was named in the 2022 South Coast U15 School Boy side for the QSSRL Championships and started Match One against Northern at fullback before moving to the right wing for the second half.

Seth Gundry scored a good solo try in the 10th minute when with the play the ball twelve metres out Seth Gundry moved into dummy half running to his left and burst through three defenders to cross the try line five metres to the left of the uprights.

Seth Gundry could not have been in the match any earlier when he took the Northern kick-off on the full and then brought his front rower onto the ball. Seth Gundry then got back into position and from two passes to the left of the play the ball took the second hit-up of the match to get the ball more than thirty metres away from his own try line.

Seth Gundry also did well in the 37th minute when after right centre Te Iri Mokaraka had taken possession from a Marley McLaren cross kick he got the ball away to Seth Gundry who was stationed on the right touchline around twelve metres out. Seth Gundry cut back inside and after a winding run was only stopped two metres short of the try line.

Seth Gundry was also strong defensively against Northern including a great one on one tackle on a rampaging No. 15 who had split the defensive line and tried (and failed) to run over the top of Seth Gundry.

Seth Gundry also started at fullback in Match Two against Met North with Seth Gundry’s kick-off placed ideally and going into touch fifteen metres out with South Coast getting the ball back in great field position as a result.

Seth Gundry also made a line break in the 19th minute when he was able to break the Met North defensive line when returning a kick from deep inside his own twenty metre area.

As a result of his performance for South Coast, at the conclusion of the Championships Seth Gundry was named in the 2022 QSSRL U15 Maroon School Boy Representative side for the ASSRL U15 School Boy Rugby League National Championships.

In attack Seth Gundry’s speed off the mark is the first attribute that you will notice when you see him play live. Only watching him play live will do his speed off the mark justice, watching him play live, it is great to see when he takes off. Seth Gundry also has an extra gear once he is through the defensive line and has the ability and endurance to maintain his speed over a long distance.

Couple his speed with a very good right foot step and you have a young player in Seth Gundry who seemingly makes breaks at will. Seth Gundry 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 he also backs up any line breaks well. Yes I know that Seth Gundry is still very young but he has absolutely blazing speed already, which would have to be considered in the plus-plus category.

At present due to his age and quality of competition, Seth Gundry does not play as a fullback who receives the ball “out the back” from the half/five eight, but he is usually one of the better players in all of the teams that he has played on to date, thus I have no doubt that his passing and decision making skills will improve in these situations as he matures as a player.

Seth Gundry also has very good hands for such a young player and when he retrieves the ball from an opponent’s kick he simply just takes off and is difficult for the opposition to get his hands on.

Defensively Seth Gundry is definitely not a monster but will get his body in front of bigger attackers and hold the line until help arrives. In the main Seth Gundry does not allow his opposite number on the outside but will show them the sideline and then use the limited space against the attacker. Seth Gundry will probably never be considered a plus defender but continued strength work will allow him to better combat the giant opponents that look to run directly over him.

Seth Gundry will complete the 2022 season off in the Gold Coast Rugby League U15 Division One competition.

Taking into account his speed off the mark and his solid passing skills, I am leaning towards fullback as the ultimate landing sport for Seth Gundry where if everything falls into place, he could develop into a dynamic runner of the ball from the fullback position who could cause a degree of havoc towards the end of each half as opposing forward packs fatigue as well as being able to direct his team around the field and play within the game plan as a ball player like all modern day fullbacks need to be.

Burleigh’s Queensland Cup fullback Taine Tuaupiki, who trained with the Titans NRL squad in the 2021/22 off-season with his smaller stature but outstanding courage and ball running skills both when chiming into the backline, hunting for space through the centre of the ruck or hovering behind the play the ball, is an ideal player comparison for Seth Gundry.

Seth Gundry shapes as an outstanding ball runner and underrated ball player and defender from the fullback position. Some people may overlook Seth Gundry because he is not the biggest or strongest player on the field, but that would be a serious mistake to be sure.

[mdrew]

Te Iri Mokaraka. The Gold Coast junior was named in the 2022 South Coast U15 School Boy side for the QSSRL School Boy Championships and started Match One of the Championships against Northern at right centre.

Te Iri Mokaraka did very well in the 37th minute when after Marley McLaren kicked towards the right corner with the ball being retrieved by South Coast right centre Te Iri Mokaraka around twelve metres out. Te Iri Mokaraka was then able to get the ball away to his right to Seth Gundry who cut back inside and was able to get within two metres of the try line.

Te Iri Mokaraka then executed a strong run in the 42nd minute down a short right blindside with Te Iri Mokaraka able to make fifteen metres breaking two tackles along the way.

Te Iri Mokaraka also started at right centre in Match Two against Met North with Te Iri Mokaraka making a strong run in the 4th minute when after receiving the ball around twenty metres out and on the right side of the field, Te Iri Mokaraka was able to advance the ball to within six metres of the try line.

Te Iri Mokaraka also did well in the 13th minute when from just thirty metres out from his own line Te Iri Mokaraka was able to make fifteen metres through the centre of the ruck after receiving the ball to the right of the play the ball. After being awarded a penalty for a high tackle Te Iri Mokaraka took the tap restart and was able to make a further fifteen metres.

The 10th minute saw Te Iri Mokaraka execute a strong driving right shoulder tackle essentially on his own try line on the Met North left second rower. Te Iri Mokaraka’s initial contact was around a metre from the line but Te Iri Mokaraka was then able to drive the second rower back a number of metres.

Te Iri Mokaraka then did well in the 21st minute when he was able to make around twelve metres through centre field after cutting infield from the right side of the field.

Then in the 22nd minute Te Iri Mokaraka chased a South Coast attacking kick hard and was able to trap the Met North fullback in the in-goal.

As a result of his performance for South Coast, at the conclusion of the Championships Te Iri Mokaraka was named in the 2022 QSSRL U15 White School Boy Representative side for the ASSRL U15 School Boy Rugby League National Championships.

2022 also saw Te Iri Mokaraka attend The Southport School (TSS) and was named to start at outside centre in TSS’s U15A first GPS trial against Brisbane Grammar School however the match was ultimately cancelled.

Te Iri Mokaraka has good size and on his day is a powerful and determined runner who will crash through tackles with sheer force of will. He runs with power and even though he does run straight on he will drop his body into the first defender and will bump off the first tackler regularly with limited loss of momentum.

In terms of speed, Te Iri Mokaraka has what I would consider above average speed for a for centre and whilst he does not have an extra gear when he breaks into open space, Te Iri Mokaraka has the ability to sustain his speed for the duration of his runs meaning that a lot of the line breaks that Te Iri Mokaraka makes ends up in him crossing the try line.

In terms of beating a defender other than with strength and power, Te Iri Mokaraka has a good in and away and can hold defenders off his body with a strong fend with either hand and Te Iri Mokaraka is also able to drift across the field looking to set up his support runners if/when a hole develops in the defensive line.

In relation to the defensive aspects of rugby league, Te Iri Mokaraka is a very aggressive defender who focusses heavily on the physical contact of the defensive side of the game. Te Iri Mokaraka has a hard tough streak and will definitely not shirk contact in any circumstance.

The majority of time Te Iri Mokaraka is an aggressive defender who aims to dominate his immediate opponent when they have the ball and will finish off every tackle he makes with authority and Michael Robert will also ensure that his opponent will not get a quick play the ball.

Te Iri Mokaraka will complete the 2022 in the Gold Coast Rugby League U15 Division One competition as well as play for TSS in the GPS school boy rugby competition.

Te Iri Mokaraka is just a natural and talented athlete with size, speed and explosiveness and as he fills out his strength and power will only continue to develop. Te Iri Mokaraka has a frame that can seemingly be able to add a fair degree of muscle mass yet maintain his plus speed, a potent sign for the future to be sure.

Te Iri Mokaraka is ideally suited to playing in the centres in rugby league and with his size, speed and power projects as a strike centre moving forward and a very good one at that who could play on either the left or right sides of the field although at present Te Iri Mokaraka is probably better suited to the right side.

From an NRL player comparison perspective, Te Iri Mokaraka has eerily similar traits to former South Sydney Rabbitohs, Queensland State of Origin and Australian International star centre Greg Inglis. Like Inglis, Te Iri Mokaraka is a big strong powerful centre who will not be beaten in a one on one contest in attack or defence.

Te Iri Mokaraka is just a powerful young man who is only now learning how to translate and direct that natural strength and power consistently on a rugby league field. Te Iri Mokaraka has made huge strides to realising his potential over the last eighteen months and there is plenty more to come.

[mdrew]

Isaac Cullen. The Gold Coast local and Helensvale Hornets junior was named in the 2022 South Coast U15 School Boy side for the QSSRL Championships and started Match One against Northern on the left wing before moving to fullback in the second half.

Isaac Cullen made a great line break in the 21st minute when after tracking back to take a Northern clearing kick on the full twenty five metres out from his own try line Isaac Cullen ran back towards the left touchline beating two defenders with right arm fends before bursting fifty five metres down the left touchline.

Isaac Cullen made another line break in the 45th minute when whilst operating at fullback he came forward to take a grubber kick ten metres out from his own try line. After taking possession of the ball Isaac Cullen ran the ball back towards the centre of the field and after breaking a number of tackles was able to get the ball to thirty two metres out from his own line.

Isaac Cullen also did very well again in the 34th minute when deep inside his own territory Isaac Cullen ran to his left out of dummy half beating a number of tackles as he got the ball over the halfway mark.

Isaac Cullen also started on the left wing in Match Two against Met North and in the 13th minute showed his poise under pressure when near his own try line he leapt high above the Met North chasers to take a high bomb to his wing on the full.

Isaac Cullen then executed a strong right shoulder tackle on the Met North right centre coming off his wing to smash the centre just metres out from the try line to prevent what looked a certain Met North try.

Then in the 21st minute of the abridged match Isaac Cullen executed an exceptionally smart piece of play when after he chased through an attacking kick into the left corner, Isaac Cullen along with his left centre engaged the Met North winger around six metres out from the try line, but when his team mate dropped off the tackle, Isaac Cullen executed a one on one steal to gain possession for South Coast in great field position.

As a result of his performance for South Coast, at the conclusion of the Championships Isaac Cullen was named in the 2022 QSSRL U15 White School Boy Representative side for the ASSRL U15 School Boy Rugby League National Championships.

2022 was not the first occasion where Isaac Cullen has made representatives sides, for example in 2021 Isaac Cullen played for the Maori U14 Representative side at the QPICC Carnival and in 2019 Isaac Cullen represented the South Coast U12 School Boy side.

Isaac Cullen is exceptionally quick and explosive, with absolutely outstanding speed, easily in the plus category, both off the mark and when he gets into open space, teams in recent seasons just could not handle him when he had the ball in his hands.

Isaac Cullen also can step off both feet exceptionally well and also has a great swerve whilst maintaining his top speed and momentum. Isaac Cullen when he makes a break, alters his line to run directly at the fullback to stop his lateral momentum, once the opposition fullback’s momentum has stopped Isaac Cullen has then has them at his mercy and can use one of the multiple options that he has to beat the fullback all ends up.

On many occasions when he made a break, Isaac Cullen’s support could not keep up and thus he used his incredible footwork and speed to beat the opposing fullback all by himself. There is nothing that he cannot do running the ball and it is only now about developing his ball playing skills to make his footwork and running ability even more lethal, in attack Isaac Cullen also played up in the line quite often.

In addition Isaac Cullen also has the ball playing skills to set up his support runners and get them lines to run into when defenders came out of the line to negate his time with the ball in hand. He obviously was a key target for defences but Isaac Cullen understands that he cannot do it all himself and thus became adept at drawing defenders out of the line and putting his support runners into the subsequent hole. As Isaac Cullen’s play making skills continue to evolve, the attacking possibilities for both Isaac Cullen and his team are endless.

In terms of running the ball back from kicks, Isaac Cullen’s timing and anticipation means that he gets to a lot of balls on the full and makes a quick decision whether to run the ball flat out back into the oncoming defenders or look to create an opportunity by running across field. Regardless he is an absolute handful to tackle with his speed and evasion skills.

Defensively in the fullback position Isaac Cullen understandably he does not make a huge amount of tackles but the ones he makes are the ones that need to be made. If an attacker runs directly at him, he will come forward to cut down the time the attacker has to make a decision and he will hit very hard and does not fall for a dummy in those situations.

An impressive attribute that Isaac Cullen does have is ability to force attackers who are in open space to try to beat him down the side line. Isaac Cullen will stay inside the attacker and force him in the required direction and then use his timing, closing speed and anticipation to make the tackle, usually forcing the attacker into touch.

Isaac Cullen will play out the 2022 Gold Coast Junior Rugby League season with the Helensvale Hornets in the U15 Division One competition and Isaac Cullen will also continue to play for Coombabah State High School in the Titans linked school’s various South East Queensland School Boy competitions.

At 192cm and 71 kg Isaac Cullen has more than a bit of height about him and seems ideally suited to operating at fullback both now and into the future. I must admit however with his ability under the high ball and his outstanding broken field running the thought of Isaac Cullen on a wing is tantalising.

Isaac Cullen also does not lack courage as can be evidenced by his courage under the high ball as well as his defence against attackers who are charging directly at him after they have broken through the initial defensive line.

With his beautifully balanced running style, elite speed, developing ball playing, tackle breaking ability and the fact that he plays the game with just a natural affinity, Isaac Cullen’s playing style is eerily similar to that of Tom Trbojevic as a taller player with speed and strength as well as the ability to be a regular try scorer.

Like Tom Trbojevic Isaac Cullen just looks like he is playing at a pace far quicker than the players around him and has the same explosiveness off the mark as Trbojevic and his sense of timing, anticipation and plus top end speed present as similar to Trbojevic as well, he is just as natural on a rugby league field.

[ALX25]

Was impressed with the work rate from Gundry in the first game. Touch footy background?

South Coast definitely had quality in the spine.

[mdrew]

Jacoebi Murphy. The superbly talented centre attended Keebra Park State High School in 2022 as part of the Keebra Park SHS Renouf Cup School Boy Rugby League side.

Jacoebi Murphy started Round One against Ipswich SHS at right centre.

Jacoebi Murphy started Round Three against Mabel Park State High School at right centre and scored an impressive double in a big Keebra Park SHS victory.

Jacoebi Murphy’s opening try came in the 13th minute when after receiving a pass from his inside that put him into space around twenty metres out from the try line, Jacoebi Murphy executed a bit of a goose step as the Mabel Park SHS fullback came across but Jacoebi Murphy was too good and got the ball down ten metres in from the right corner post.

Jacoebi Murphy completed his double in the 27th minute when he picked up a Mabel Park SHS dropped ball, pushed off one defender with a left arm fend and then raced sixty five metres to score under the posts.

Jacoebi Murphy’s first of multiple significant contributions to Keebra Park SHS’s victory came in just the 2nd minute when after receiving an off-load Jacoebi Murphy was able to promote the ball twelve metres from inside his own territory.

Jacoebi Murphy is a big strong super quick centre with an effortless running style with a classic centres build with the ability to stand up his direct opposite and then beat him with pace on the outside, something that is rare in the modern game. Jacoebi Murphy has used this skill set on multiple occasions on the right side of the field. Jacoebi Murphy has a very strong fend which prevents opposing centres getting in on him and forcing him towards the sideline.

Even though he has size, strength and power in the centre position, Jacoebi Murphy does look for his outside support when confronted with the fullback, even though he is more than capable of beating fullbacks one on one if need be and certainly does on occasion when he outpaces his support players.

When the defence is sliding Jacoebi Murphy will cut inside and when the defence is playing an up and up style he has the plus speed and agile footwork to get on the outside of his direct opponent and beat him for speed to exploit the gap created.

In terms of his speed, in all aspects it would be considered at the above average in terms of speed off the mark, top end speed and sustainability. Another aspect where Jacoebi Murphy is also very good is his ability to run out of dummy half. His size strength speed and power coupled with his plus footwork enables Jacoebi Murphy to make a significant amount of ground out of dummy half and also gives his forward a breather.

Defensively Jacoebi Murphy is constantly is in a position to disrupt the attacking movement of the opposition. Jacoebi Murphy is more than capable of defending in either an up and in or sliding methodology. The other point I will make is that he certainly does not shirk contact, both in attack or defence.

2023 will see Jacoebi Murphy move up to the Hancock Cup School Boy Rugby League competition with Keebra Park State High School.

Jacoebi Murphy has the requisite size, speed, strength and power to be a long term rugby league centre, and a very good one at that.

With his combination of size and speed a comparison for Jacoebi Murphy of North Queensland Cowboys and Queensland State of Origin outside back Hamish Tabuai-Fidow is certainly not unwarranted.

[mdrew]

Royal Taito. The hard running second rower attended Keebra Park State High School in 2022 as part of the Keebra Park SHS Renouf Cup School Boy Rugby League side.

Royal Taito started Round One against Ipswich SHS at left second row.

Royal Taito also started Round Two against Redcliffe State High School at left second row and scored a great solo try in the 26th minute when after receiving a good ball from his right Royal Taito burst between two defenders who had no hope of stopping them and then Royal Taito raced seventy metres to score under the posts with no defenders in sight.

Royal Taito also made a line break in the 18th minute when he burst through a gap after receiving the ball two passes to the left of the play the ball with Royal Taito making eighteen metres before being tackled twelve metres out from the try line.

Royal Taito started Round Three against Mabel Park State High School at left second row and made the opening two tackles of the match after Keebra Park SHS had kicked off. In affecting the second tackle of the match Royal Taito picked up a dropped ball by Mabel Park SHS thirty metres from the line and immediately turned and charged towards the try line breaking three tackles to get to ten metres out from the try line and directly in front of the goal posts. Royal Taito then executed an exceptionally quick play the ball with Keebra Park SHS scoring through half Harvey Smith scoring as a result.

Royal Taito also did well in the 45th minute when he took possession from a Mabel Park SHS kick-off and was able to progress the ball thirty metres downfield, breaking three tackles in the process.

From a club rugby league perspective Royal Taito played for Redback Plains in the Ipswich Rugby League U14 competition in 2022 and had a couple of big matches including a hat trick in Round One against West End.

Royal Taito also had doubles in Rounds Three and Eight against Brothers and Round Seven against the Springfield Panthers.

Whilst Royal Taito played at left second row for Keebra Park SHS, he played at left centre for Redbank Plains.

The pace and power in terms of how Royal Taito runs the ball is the outstanding feature of his game, Royal Taito takes the ball to the line with speed, but he does not just put his head down and rush forward, he uses quick and subtle footwork prior to the line and seems to targets the gaps between defenders and will actively seek out opposing defenders who are slow to move up.

When the opposition are on the back foot Royal Taito will target the smaller defenders on the edge of the ruck or wider out and burst through and for a big young bloke he has very good speed over the medium term and has the strength and power to drag defenders with him.

I would consider that Royal Taito’s speed would be considered above average for a second rower but plays faster as a result of him timing his runs so well that the dummy half can present a flat pass to him and also as a result of the power that he runs at. When playing in the second row Royal Taito’s speed can be considered in the plus category.

Royal Taito also has a very powerful fend especially with his right hand as traditionally Royal Taito has lined up on the left side of the field whether Royal Taito is playing in the centres or in the second row.

The defensive side of his game is similarly effective, Royal Taito does not just charge wildly up looking for a huge hit (well maybe sometimes but not often) but is cold and calculating in where and when he hits. Quite a few of his tackles resulted in a knock on by the opposition as the ball came loose as a result of the impact of the tackle, Royal Taito just hits so hard so regularly, so effectively and with precision.

Royal Taito drives hard with his legs and always uses his shoulder and core body strength to drive into his opponent and force them off balance or off their running line.

With his strength, long limbs and defensive technique Royal Taito should likely always be considered a plus defender regardless of age group or quality of opponent. Royal Taito also has some aggression (more than some on occasion) in his game which he will need to ensure that he moderates it and channels it correctly which I am sure will come with additional experience. Working with the Keebra Park SHS coaches will not hurt with that process at all.

2023 will see Royal Taito move up to the Hancock Cup School Boy Rugby League side for Keebra Park State High School as well as play in the Ipswich Rugby League U15 Division One competition for Redbank Plains.

With his size and speed with a touch more growth and development to come in both categories, Royal Taito I believe will develop into a more than solid rugby league second rower with the requisite size in relation to current rugby league trends. Royal Taito also has the body type to add additional muscle mass to his frame without compromising his overall mobility or speed whilst adding strength and power.

A player with a similar playing style for me for Royal Taito would be Parramatta Eels and New South Wales State of Origin second rower Ryan Matherson as a tall young man with some speed and power in his running game.