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  1. #886
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    Matt Buttenshaw. The Crafty half back is a Titans TEDS program member who at just 18 years old made his NRRRL First Grade debut over the course of the 2018 season.

    Matt Buttenshaw started off the 2018 season playing for Northern Rivers in the inaugural New South Wales Country U18 Laurie Daley Cup competition starting in a different position in each of his three games. In Round One he started at half, in Round Three at fullback against North Coast and Round Four saw Matt Buttenshaw start at five eight against the Greater Northern Tigers, a match that saw him score in the 26th minute of the first half in a tough Northern Rivers loss.

    For Ballina in the NRRRL U18 competition, Matt Buttenshaw played in six matches, in his third year in the competition after making his U18 debut as a 16 year old in 2016. Matt Buttenshaw was one of the try scorers for Ballina as they defeated Cudgen in the U18 NRRRL Grand Final.

    Matt Buttenshaw made his NRRRL First Grade debut in April 2018 against Cudgen post the U18 Laurie Daley Cup competition.

    Over the last couple of seasons Matt Buttenshaw has had success at the schoolboy level for St Johns College Woodlawn, including this season when Woodlawn defeated Newman Technical College Port Macquarie 4 – 0 in the New South Wales Combined Catholic Colleges Plate Final and in 2017 when St John’s College Woodlawn won the New South Wales GIO Trophy.

    In attack Matt Buttenshaw’s calling card is his organisational and passing skills more so than his running game. His speed would probably considered average for a half/five eight but he will throw a dummy and run when opposing defences are focussed on his support runners and provide him with opportunities.

    Matt Buttenshaw also does not have quick twitch feet, thus his step is more average. He seems like he maintains his composure on the field and does not yell or scream but obviously gets his message across to his team mates with a calm presence.

    Matt Buttenshaw also has a good long passing game thus enabling the ball to get out to his back line quickly when they are set deep. Matt Buttenshaw develops a good spiral on the ball and is able to lead his outside backs onto the ball through putting the ball out in front of them.

    Matt Buttenshaw will also take the ball to the line and delay the pass as long as possible to his support runners when necessary. Matt Buttenshaw looks to dictate what the defensive line needs to do to combat his sides attack rather than waiting to see how the opposition is looking to defend at a particular time in a game.

    Defensively whilst not being the biggest player running around, Matt Buttenshaw is effective as a result of his sound low tackling technique where he can quickly bring down attackers due to the fact that he will go in low, he is also adept at tracking the ball across field to be in the right place if outside attackers cut back inside.

    Matt Buttenshaw has moved up to the Gold Coast for the 2019 season and will be part of the Tweed Heads Seagulls U20 Hastings Deering’s Colts squad as well as the Titans TEDS program. Matt Buttenshaw will also be Colts eligible in 2020.

    As was evidenced in the U18 Laurie Daley Cup this season, Matt Buttenshaw can play a number of positions including half, fullback and five eight, but with his scheming nature and ability to set up his support runners, I believe that Matt Buttenshaw will ultimately end up at half back.

    For me, Matt Buttenshaw has a playing style similar to that of Manly and Australian International half Daly Cherry-Evans as a half who is able to steer his side around the field and even though he is not necessarily fast can make a break himself if opposition defences make the incorrect assumption that he will never run himself and only ever pass or kick

  2. #887
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    Jesse Arthurs. Jesse Arthurs has returned to the Gold Coast as part of the Titans NRL squad after a 2018 season that saw him split time between the New South Wales Intrust Super Cup competition and U20 Jersey Flegg competition with the North Sydney Bears.

    Jesse Arthurs attended Keebra Park State High School and played a few matches with Titans Development Squads prior to his move to the Melbourne Storm NYC side for the 2017 season before moving to Souths Sydney for the 2018 season.

    In the 2018 New South Wales Intrust Super Cup competition with the North Sydney Bears, Jesse Arthurs played in six matches scoring seven tries to finish with a strike rate of 117%.

    Jesse Arthurs made his New South Wales Intrust Super Cup in Round Thirteen against the St George Dragons. In the match Jesse Arthurs started at fullback, played the entire 80 minutes, running for 48 metres, fourteen of which were post contact (29.17%)

    Jesse Arthurs played Rounds Sixteen and Eighteen on the wing with those matches against the Wyong Roos and Newton Jets, before he moved back to fullbacks for Rounds Twenty Two, Twenty Three and Twenty Four.

    Jesse Arthurs first New South Wales Intrust Super Cup try came in Round Sixteen against the Wong Roos, he also scored single tries in Rounds Eighteen against Newton and Round Twenty Three against the Canterbury Bulldogs and scored doubles in Rounds Twenty Two and Twenty Four against the Magpies and Warriors respectively. In the Round Twenty Four match against the Warriors he also kicked three goals.

    In total in his six New South Wales Intrust Super Cup matches for Norther Sydney Jesse Arthurs ran for 451 metres, 113 of which were post contact (25.06%), had seventeen tackle breaks including eight against the Warriors in Round Twenty Four, eight line breaks, a try assist in Round Twenty Two against the Magpies, had 136 kick return metres and made seventeen tackles at a tackling efficiency of 60.71%.

    Jesse Arthurs 2018 New South Wales Intrust Super Cup per game averages included playing 80 minutes, running for 75.1 metres, 22.6 metres post contact (30.09%), returning kicks 22.7 metres making 2.8 line breaks and making 2.8 tackles.

    In Round Twenty Two against the Western Suburbs Magpies, Jesse Arthurs ran for 136 metres, fifty six being kick return metres and in Round Twenty Three against Canterbury made six tackles at a tackling efficiency of 85.71%.

    In 2018 Jesse Arthurs also played three U20 Jersey Flegg matches for the North Sydney Bears being Rounds Seventeen, Nineteen and Twenty against the Sydney Roosters (opposing fellow Titans NRL training squad member Tremain Spry), St George Dragons and the Mounties. Jesse Arthurs started at fullback in all three matches and scored against the Sydney Roosters.

    In 2017 Jesse Arthurs was named as the best back for the Melbourne Storm NYC side and in 2016 was a New Zealand U18 Award finalist. 2016 also saw Jesse Arthurs attend the NZRL Taurahere on the Gold Coast and started at fullback for the Toa Squad which was a squad made up of Queensland based New Zealand eligible U18 players. Fellow Titans Darius Famer and Jaxson Paulo were also part of the Toa Squad.

    Jesse Arthurs is more than quick enough to take advantage of any space that he is given down the touchline by opposing outside backs. His bread and butter play in the centres is a good in an away to hold the defender and beat him on the outside, Jesse Arthurs then has the ability to draw and pass to his winger if the opposing winger looks to come in, thus creating an overlap on the outside.

    When playing on the wing Jesse Arthurs always seems to stick to the sideline which means his inside attackers will know where he is at all times, thus allowing them to confidently off load the ball if an overlap is created. I have not seen him score any highlight reel tries that seem to be the norm for modern day wingers but he will score the tries that he needs to.

    Defensively Jesse Arthurs may not be an intimidating presence but does look to push up quickly to reduce the time afforded to the opposition when they are on the attack. He also has the speed to turn and chase in cover defence when breaks are made on the inside of him.

    Jesse Arthurs also has quite a good leap to go up and attack the ball when defending against kicks.

    Jesse Arthurs is part of the Titans 30 man NRL squad but I think will find it hard to immediately break into the Titans NRL side and as such will likely start the 2019 season with either the Burleigh or Tweed Heads sides in the Queensland Cup where based on his past form he should cross the line on a regular basis.

    Of course Jesse Arthurs will get an opportunity in the 2019 NRL trials so he will get an opportunity to showcase his attacking attributes in front of the Titans decision makers so I guess you just never know, with some outstanding NRL trial form, anything is possible and that is one of the great things about sport.

    Jesse Arthurs played almost exclusively at fullback in 2019, barring one match for Norther Sydney on the wing in the New South Wales Intrust Super Cup, but for me I would prefer him to play on the wing where I believe that his attacking skills such as has elusiveness, support skills and jumping attributes would play more to his sides advantage.

    Jesse Arthurs has a bit of height about him but is not necessarily thick of build, but regardless is an attacking threat running with the ball on the end of a backline or returning kicks and thus for me a reasonable NRL player comparison for him is new Parramatta Eels recruit and New South Wales State of Origin winger Blake Ferguson.

    Like Ferguson, Jesse Arthurs also has the ability to come in off his wing and take a number of dummy half runs to help his side when they are coming out of their own end.

    The offseason training with the Titans NRL squad will certainly be a positive to relation to Jesse Arthurs building his muscle mass which no doubt will help him defensively.

  3. #888
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    Any word on how the 16’s and 18’s went against Newcastle?

  4. #889
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    Newcastle 4 tries to Titans 3 tries, no kicks taken in 16's.

    In 18's it was five tries all

    Quote Originally Posted by ja4220 View Post
    Any word on how the 16’s and 18’s went against Newcastle?

  5. #890
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    Travis Turnbull. The exceptionally talented young fullback/half is back in the Toowoomba region after spending time in recent seasons with the Parramatta Eels, Norther Queensland Cowboys and Brisbane Broncos.

    His Toowoomba return to his junior club Toowoomba Valleys sees him selected in the Toowoomba Clydesdales Representative side for their upcoming match against Brisbane Wests.

    Travis Turnbull started Round One of the 2018 Colts competition for Redcliffe at fullback against Souths Logan, but then as a result of injury did not return to the Redcliffe side until Round Thirteen when he came off the bench against Tweed Heads. Travis Turnbull also started from the bench in Rounds Fourteen and Sixteen against Norths and Wynnum and in Rounds Seventeen and Eighteen started at fullback against the Western Mustangs and Burleigh Bears.

    In 2017 Travis Turnbull was as close to unstoppable as you could get in the Toowoomba Rugby League U18 and First Grade competitions for Toowoomba Valleys and in the Hutchies A Grade competition scored a staggering 80 points from just five matches, including scoring twenty Four points against Brothers Toowoomba in early July.

    In 2017 Travis Turnbull was a key member of the Western Mustangs U18 MM Cup side that won the competition. 2017 also saw Travis Turnbull start at fullback for the Queensland U18 side, scoring a try and kicking four conversions as the maroons suffered a one point loss. Team mates that night included Titans NRL hopefuls Kea Pere and Tremain Spry.

    The former Toowoomba Valleys U15 captain and St Gregory’s College student also represented Queensland at the U16 level in 2015 when he started the annual interstate match at half, scoring a try and kicking a conversion. Travis Turnbull has also represented the Queensland Indigenous U16 side as well as numerous Toowoomba and Mustangs representative sides.

    It is hard to put in words just how talented Travis Turnbull is in terms of running the ball, he has outstanding speed both off the mark which I would consider in the plus plus category and top end speed which must be considered plus regardless of position. Travis Turnbull with his speed is able to exploit even small gaps in the defensive line with an exceptional step off either foot and incredible acceleration as well as outstanding body control.

    It is that speed trait which opens up his incredible ball playing skills as well. Teams start to focus heavily on Travis Turnbull when he has the ball with outside defenders looking to come in to assist that they open up holes wider out in the defensive line that Travis Turnbull can exploit.

    He 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 Travis Turnbull 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.

    Travis Turnbull also runs with the ball in both hands which is another reason why the defensive line is unable to determine exactly what Travis Turnbull is going to do.

    Like when he has the ball in his hands, there is nothing that Travis Turnbull cannot do in relation to kicking the ball. Travis Turnbull is an exceptional tactical kicker with range and accuracy, 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, Travis Turnbull can execute it with precision.

    Defensively Travis Turnbull is a very 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.

    Travis Turnbull 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 Travis Turnbull’s side of the field. In short just like his attacking play Travis Turnbull is an outstanding defender.

    As noted Travis Turnbull will play the upcoming for Toowoomba Valleys in the Toowoomba Rugby League Hutchies A Grade competition but is still U20 eligible so it will be interesting to see if he spends any time at all with the Western Mustangs Colts side.

    From a position perspective, Travis Turnbull has played fullback, five eight and halfback at both club and representative level over the years and all three are potential landing spots for the exceptionally talented young man. Looking into my crystal ball however I would lean towards Travis Turnbull making the grade at halfback as any coach would want the ball in his hands as much as possible.

    Todd Carney formerly of the NRL and former New South Wales State of Origin representative is a good comparison from a playing style perspective as an exceptionally talented young player who can do it all, he can split the line himself with an exceptional step and speed off the mark or put a support runner through a gap with a deft pass and also an above average defender on the fringes of the ruck.

    Travis Turnbull over the last couple of years has had the weight of expectation on his shoulders as the next big thing coming out of Queensland but on the field for his various clubs and Queensland Travis Turnbull has consistently delivered and there is no reason to think that now he is back home in Toowoomba that his game will not continue to develop and blossom, surely at some stage an NRL opportunity will open up for this outstanding talent

  6. #891
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    Tremain Spry. The former Ipswich State High School student is currently training with the Titans NRL squad looking to secure a coveted NRL Development contract.

    In 2018 Tremain Spry played for the Sydney Roosters in the U20 Jersey Flegg competition, across the season playing in fourteen matches in red, white and blue.

    Tremain Spry started Round One against the Sharks at fullback and Round Two against the Mounties on the wing before missing a number of rounds with injury coming back for Round Seven on the wing against Manly. Tremain Spry stayed on the wing until Round Thirteen when he moved into the centres against Penrith and stayed there for the remainder of the 2018 season.

    Prior to his move to the centres, Tremain Spry scored a single try which came in Round Eight against the Mounties, but post his move to the centres Tremain Spry scored seven tries from eight matches.

    Tremain Spry scored doubles in Round Fourteen against the Newcastle Knight and in Rounds Twenty-Three against the Wests Tigers and also scored in Rounds Thirteen, Seventeen and Eighteen against Penrith, North Sydney and Manly respectively.

    In Round Twenty in a match against the North Sydney Bears, Tremain Spry was up against fellow Titans NRL trialist Jesse Arthurs, Jesse Arthurs was one of the Bears try scorers that afternoon.

    In 2017 Tremain Spry started on the wing for the Queensland U18 side in their match against traditional rivals New South Wales. On the opposite wing that night for Queensland was fellow Titans NRL hopeful Kea Pere.

    Also in 2017 Tremain Spry was a standout for Ipswich State High School especially in the Langer Cup including scoring a memorable try against Wavell State High School. Leevai Sutton who was part of the Titans U18 side in their recent matches against PNG and New South Wales Country was Ipswich State High School’s fullback that season with Tremain Spry playing in the centres.

    2017 also saw Tremain Spry play for the Ipswich Jets in the MM Cup competition where he primarily played at fullback.

    Tremain Spry has very good speed off the mark, which I would consider above average for a centre and can break to the outside quickly, couple that with long arms, which he uses to great effect with a powerful fend makes him difficult to tackle. When opposing centres are able to get hold of him, Tremain Spry usually is able to maintain his balance and keeps an arm free, looking to offload to either his inside or outside support.

    Tremain Spry has more tools though than just an in and away, he will also use his size and strength to run straight over smaller opposing centres as well as also having the skill to step back inside of the defender if he is pushing to the outside too early.

    Tremain Spry also has a powerful fend which served him well in the NYC competition and in fact has been the reason for at least two of his line breaks this season when his opposing centre has gone high and he has just palmed him off with seemingly little effort. His natural strength is just an impressive attribute.

    A real positive for me is that Tremain Spry can also run a good inside shoulder line due to the fact that he maintains his spacing in the back line and will quickly identify where his direct opponent is ling up to determine whether it is appropriate to run an inside or outside shoulder line or a “crash” line for that matter, he certainly has the courage to run that line regularly which not everybody has.

    As you would expect, due to his size and strength, Tremain Spry is a very good defender regardless of position. He will not necessarily hit hard but is definitely aggressive and he is very good at mirroring the movement of the opposing centre and wrapping him up ball and all. He is also quick enough to recover and chase if the opposing centre gets on the outside and his long reach is also a positive attribute in those situations.

    From a team defensive methodology stand point, Tremain Spry seems to be very comfortable in a sliding defensive scheme where he can use his speed and body control to their best advantage in though he can be an intimidating presence when he chooses to come out of the line to interrupt the attacking movement immediately prior to its development.

    As noted above Tremain Spry is currently training with the Titans NRL squad and come the 2019 season will line up for the Tweed Heads Seagulls most likely starting in the Hastings Deering’s U20 Colts competition before potentially making his Queensland Intrust Super Cup debut as the 2019 season progresses.

    Tremain Spry spent time at fullback on the wing and in the centres in the Sydney Roosters U20 Jersey Flegg side in 2018 but it is hard to go past how effective that he was when he moved to the centres for the Roosters especially from an attacking perspective and as such I would like to see him tested in the centres at the Queensland Cup level at least before there is any thought of him being moved as good centres are such a precious commodity in the NRL in the modern age.

    A player with a similar playing style to Tremain Spry is for me St George Dragons 2018 rookie, Zac Lomax, both are far stronger than they look and have outstanding attacking abilities and under rated defensive attributes at their disposal

  7. #892
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    Jed Edwards. (Revised) The local young hooker is a recent addition to the Titans ranks only signing late in 2018 and also in late in 2018 was selected in the Tweed Heads Seagulls MM Cup squad for the upcoming 2019 version of the U18 competition after playing a number of matches for the Tweed Heads MM Cup side early in the 2018 season.

    A fortnight ago Jed Edwards played his first match in Titans colours when he started from the bench for the Titans U18 side as they took on the Newcastle Knights U18 SG Ball squad in Coffs Harbour. In both halves, Jed Edwards came onto the field mid-way through alternating with Ediq Ambrosyev.

    As per usual Jed Edwards provided good service to his forwards when he came onto the field leading them onto the ball and capped a solid first outing for the Titans scoring a second half try when he darted out of dummy half from a play the ball a few metres from the Newcastle line to score between two back peddling Knights forwards half way between the goals posts and touch line on the left side of the field.

    Jed Edwards also had a try assist when in the first half he ran across field out of dummy half about two metres from the Newcastle try line and put his forward into a hole for them to crash over for a short range try.

    Jed Edwards came into the 2018 Tweed Heads MM Cup side in Round Five against the Townsville Blackhawks starting at hooker and also started at hooker in Rounds Six, Seven and in the first week of the finals against Wynnum Manly, Easts and Souths Logan respectively.

    For Burleigh in the GCRL U17 Division One competition in 2018 Jed Edwards played only the one match which was against Helensvale in May.

    Where Jed Edwards really shone in 2018 was for PBC starting in all of their matches including both the Queensland Final against Kirwan and the National GIO Final against Patrician Brothers College Blacktown. In the Queensland Final Jed Edwards scored late in the first half to level the scores when he was on the spot to retrieve a good short kick from PBC half Thomas Dearden.

    In the Queensland GIO Cup semi-final victory over Ignatius Park, Jed Edwards set up one of fellow Titan Noah Gafa’s first of two tries which came early in the first half when he ran an outside shoulder route close to the try line and received a good ball from Jed Edwards to crash over.

    For PBC Jed Edwards started all of their matches this season playing the majority of the first half before rotating with Nelson Grove, Jed Edwards normally then came back on mid-way through the second half to finish out the match.

    To say that Jed Edwards had an outstanding 2017 season would be an absolute understatement. The youngster played a key hand in the success of the Parramatta Eels U16 Harrold Matthews side and then represented New South Wales in the annual U16 interstate match against Queensland as one of six young players in the match from both sides who had a Gold Coast background with the majority being from the Burleigh Bears.

    Jed Edwards started at hooker in all ten of Parramatta’s Harrold Matthews matches this season (Round One was washed out) including starting both their Qualifying and Preliminary Finals. In those matches Jed Edwards scored five tries which came against St George in Round One, Balmain in Round Two, the Cronulla Sharks in Round Seven, Central Coast in Round Eight and North Sydney in Round Ten.

    Jed Edwards is a vocal dummy half with a goal to lead his team around the field and determine when the forwards take the ball up and when the ball is directed out to the backline. Jed Edwards looks to lead his forwards onto the ball and provides a flat pass to enable his forwards to time their run onto the ball. Jed Edwards aims to be the team’s general from dummy half and control the pace of the match and the axis from which his team directs their attack and also from what part of the field.

    Running with the ball Jed Edwards has above average speed off the mark, probably in the above average category for a hooker and normally runs off the back of a big run from one of his forwards so that he runs when the defensive line is still retreating back to their 10 metre mark. Jed Edwards also has a good step off either foot to assist when he is looking to take advantage of a slow or tired forward in the centre of the ruck.

    Jed Edward’s defence for a hooker is quite exceptional, for a smaller forward he is a hard hitter and can defend effectively one on one against far larger forwards, he sets a good base with his lower body and explodes upwards with his shoulders to drive opposing forwards backwards and is also very good at slowing the play the ball down.

    His intensity means that Jed Edwards will track the play across and thus is in a good position when the ball is passed back inside, Jed Edwards is also adept at harassing kickers from the marker position. He literally looks to tackles everything that moves in the centre of the ruck.

    Jed Edwards will start the 2019 season as the potential starting hooker for the Tweed Heads Seagulls MM Cup side and post that competition will line up for Burleigh in the Gold Coast Rugby League U18 competition and it would not surprise if Jed Edwards makes the transition to the Tweed Heads U20 Hastings Deering’s Colts side quite quickly upon the completion of the MM Cup competition.

    Jed Edwards will also be back at PBC for his senior year as they look to replicate their 2018 Queensland and National GIO Cup success.

    Jed Edwards has spent the majority of his junior rugby league career exclusively at hooker and I can see no justification for an alteration to that particular situation as he moves forward in his rugby league career.

    From a player comparison perspective, due to his distribution, running, defence and the speed and intensity that he plays the game at, a playing style akin to Danny Buderis formerly of the Knights is an appropriate comparison for Jed Edwards I would suggest

  8. #893
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    Kaleb Ngamanu. (Revised) He is a Gold Coast based youngster originally from Western Australia where he played two years of rugby league for the Joondalup Giants who moved over to the Gold Coast at the start of 2016 season, making every post a winner since that time in his junior rugby league career and for that matter in school boy rugby for the Southport School (TSS).

    In January of this year Kaleb Ngamanu started on the left wing for the Titans U16 side against the Newcastle Knights in Coffs Harbour and was very unlucky not to be awarded a second half try. To be honest I am still unsure why the try was disallowed, he flashed into the back line on the left hand side of the field and broke through two Knights defenders to seemingly score but the try was disallowed I assume for a lost ball.

    Kaleb Ngamanu started the match on the left wing but spent some time at fullback midway through the first half when he swapped positions with Rowan Mansfield for a few minutes. In the second half with Rowan Mansfield injured, Kaleb Ngamanu played the entire half at fullback and showed his outstanding speed when he backed up a long break from Joseph Shannon (who had been put into a hole as a result of a great Bailey Martin pass).

    In the first half Kaleb Ngamanu produced three outstanding pieces of play including two try saving tackles, the first when the Knights winger burst through the centre of the ruck and Kaleb Ngamanu tracked back and caught him from behind. His second try saving tackle was made in the left corner when he stopped the Knights winger in his tracks about a metre from the try line when the winger looked certain to score.

    With the ball Kaleb Ngamanu made an outstanding break down the left touch line when he got outside his direct opponent as a result of a great ball from half Thomas Weaver whilst playing on the left wing in the first half.

    On top of all that Kaleb Ngamanu forced at least three errors that I can recall as a result of sheer hard work and effort.

    Kaleb Ngamanu signed a multi-year deal with the Titans in early 2018 after a starring on the left wing for the Titans U15 side in their six tries to three win over the Western Mustangs in March 2018 and late in the 2018 season started on the wing for the Titans U15 as they defeated a U15 Balmain Tigers touring side 16 – 10 with Kaleb Ngamanu scoring an outstanding try in the match.

    Kaleb Ngamanu scored in around the 6th minute when he flashed down the left touch line untouched and was able to bring the ball around under the posts. For the try Kaleb Ngamanu kept his width and exploded onto a great cut out ball from Thomas Weaver to score from around 30 metres out.

    In the match Kaleb Ngamanu also had some other highlights including an outstanding fifty metre second half run when he expertly fielded a low kick and split the defence from his own line, but unfortunately just could not find Thomas Weaver with the inside pass.

    Kaleb Ngamanu was also involved in the final Titans try scored by Rowan Mansfield. At the time Kaleb Ngamanu was playing right centre, he took a pass from Jye Gray before drawing the Balmain winger and popping a great ball to Rowan Mansfield to send him down the touch line.

    2018 also saw Kaleb Ngamanu’s selection in the South Coast U15 QSSRL side at the completion of the South Coast Trials. Kaleb Ngamanu was subsequently selected in the Queensland Maroon U15 side for the U15 ASSRL Championships.

    Other Titans linked boys to make the 2018 U15 South Coast QSSRL squad included front rower Brody Smitka, centre/second rower Ezra Ubaldino, front row Titan Vaikai, outstanding backrower Bailey Martin and second rower Flynn Daniel.

    As a result of his performance at those Championships Kaleb Ngamanu was selected in one of the two Queensland sides for the Australian Championships. Unfortunately Kaleb Ngamanu was injured in the camp just prior to the U15 ASSRL Championships and was unable to take his place in the Queensland Maroon side.

    In late 2018 Kaleb Ngamanu was named in the Gold Coast Vikings U16 Training Squad for the 2019 U16 South East Queensland Challenge.

    When he moved over to the Gold Coast, Kaleb Ngamanu started attending Keebra Park State High School making a big impression in their U13 side even though he missed portions of the 2016 season with an injury. Kaleb Ngamanu however was identified by The Southport School (TSS) and for 2017 transferred there standing out in their U14A GPS rugby side in 2017 in Term Three.

    This season Kaleb Ngamanu played club rugby league for the Coomera Cutters and obviously for TSS in terms of school boy rugby and for Queensland II in the Australian U16 Rugby Championships.

    For Coomera in the U15 Division One competition in 2018 Kaleb Ngamanu has played in six matches scoring three tries. Kaleb Ngamanu scored a Round One double against the Mudgeeraba Redbacks and scored against Runaway Bay in Round Four.

    Kaleb Ngamanu played for the TSS U15A side in 2018 playing in four GPS matches and one match against Downlands College. Kaleb Ngamanu started Round One at outside centre against Anglican Church Grammar School and then missed a number of matches before returning once again at outside centre in Round Six against Gregory Terrace.

    In Round Seven against Brisbane Boys College Kaleb Ngamanu moved to the open side flanker position before returning to outside centre for Round Nine against Nudgee College. Kaleb Ngamanu also started at outside centre against Downlands College in TSS’s Round Eight bye week.

    Prior to the GPS school boy rugby season proper, Kaleb Ngamanu played in a number of trial matches. He started on the bench for the first two trials which were against Far North Coast and Toowoomba Grammar School before moving into the starting side at outside centre for the last four trials against Nudgee, Ipswich Grammar School Ambrose Treacy College and Sunshine Coast Grammar School . In those four appearances in the starting trial sides Kaleb Ngamanu has been partnered in the centres with rugby league youngster Syris Schmidt.

    Kaleb Ngamanu also played club rugby on the Gold Coast this season at the U15 level for the Griffith University Colleges side and started at outside centre in the Grand Final which they won 47 – 19 against the Helensvale Hogs and Cbus stadium as a curtain raiser to the Rugby International between Argentina and the Wallabies.

    Kaleb Ngamanu played in nine matches for the Griffith University Colleges starting two at outside centre (No. 13) including the Grand Final, one at inside centre (No. 12) and the remainder from the interchange bench. In Round Two against the PBC Alleygators Kaleb Ngamanu kicked three conversions in a big win for Griffith University Colleges.

    In October 2018 Kaleb Ngamanu was part of the Queensland II side for the Australian U16 Championships. In Round One Kaleb Ngamanu started on the left wing for Qld II in their big 57 – 5 win over Western Australia.

    Round Two against Victoria saw Kaleb Ngamanu once again start on the left wing for Queensland II and scored one of Queensland II’s three tries as they went down 19 – 17 in a tight encounter.

    For the Round Three clash against New South Wales I Kaleb Ngamanu swapped to the right wing but unfortunately Queensland II went down 29 – 17.

    The 2017 season Gold Coast Junior Rugby League season saw Kaleb Ngamanu play up an age group in the U15 Division One competition after transferring from Southport to the Coomera Cutters. In the U15 Division One competition, Kaleb Ngamanu played in eight matches scoring 28 points in total from three tries and eight goals, with the tries coming against Southport, Helensvale and Nerang. In the match that he scored against his former club Southport, Kaleb Ngamanu also kicked six goals for a sixteen point haul on the night.

    Kaleb Ngamanu also played one match for Coomera in the U14 Division Two competition (his regular age group) which was against the Robina Raptors, he then backed up to play for his “regular” U15 Division One side later that Friday night.

    2017 also saw Kaleb Ngamanu represent the Gold Coast Vikings at the U14 level and from there going on to make the South East Queensland Green U14 side for the Queensland Age Championships that were held in Toowoomba on July last year. In those Championships, Kaleb Ngamanu scored on each of the first four days, in order against Central, Northern South East Queensland White and Central again.

    In 2017 Kaleb Ngamanu played for TSS in the GPS U14A competition, starting all eight of TSS’s matches at outside centre except for Round Nine when he started at fullback against Nudgee College. In those eight matches he scored six tries and was awarded the best back award on three occasions, being against Brisbane State High School in Round One, against Ipswich Grammar School in Round Three and against Gregory Terrace in Round Five.

    Kaleb Ngamanu scored a Round Six double against Brisbane Grammar School and also scored against Ipswich Grammar School in Round Three, against Brisbane Boys College in Round Four, against Gregory Terrace in Round Five and against Nudgee College in Round Nine.

    Kaleb Ngamanu also scored against Downlands College in a “trial” match when TSS had a GPS Round Seven bye.

    Kaleb Ngamanu played the 2016 season for the Southport Tigers at the U14 level splitting time between the U14 Division One and Division Two competitions even though he was still eligible to play in the U13 competition.

    Kaleb Ngamanu started off his rugby league journey on the Gold Coast with a bang by making the 2016 U13 Vikings squad after impressing in the trials held in the weekend of 16-17 April 2016 where he played the majority of the trials in the centres after playing almost exclusively at five eight in the Western Australian junior rugby league competition.

    Kaleb Ngamanu is a smooth powerful runner of the ball who seems to glide across the field effortlessly and certainly has an extra gear in relation to the speed he possesses as well as plus speed off the mark. In the centre position, he has the ability to stand up his direct opposite and then beat him with pace on the outside, something that is becoming increasingly rare in the modern game.

    When he gets the ball early from his inside play makers, Kaleb Ngamanu is incredibly difficult to deal with one on one, as whilst his speed has already been noted, he is also a powerful runner who has the power to also break tackles through sheer power and not just rely on his speed to beat his opponent.

    Kaleb Ngamanu had a very solid match for the Titans U15 side at Nerang in March playing on the left wing outside of JT Manuofetoa who was also outstanding on the day. In fact their combination was responsible for Kaleb Ngamanu’s try that Sunday when they used their numbers perfectly to send Kaleb Ngamanu down the left touch line in the second half for him to score in the corner to open up the Titans lead.

    For the Titans I would really have liked to see Kaleb Ngamanu operate in the centres but on the day the exceptionally talented Rowan Mansfield and the a fore mentioned JT Manuofetoa started in the centres and excelled so you can understand Kaleb Ngamanu operating on the wing in the match.

    That Sunday morning against the Western Mustangs at Nerang I was also impressed by the amount of runs Kaleb Ngamanu took from dummy half helping the Titans bring the ball out of their own end. The outstanding feature of his paly however for the Titans was his spacing out wide. Kaleb Ngamanu stayed on the touch line and was regularly able to exploit room down the touch line when space was created by JT Manuofetoa and halves, Jed Bignell and Thomas Weaver on his inside.

    In terms of chasing attacking kicks Kaleb Ngamanu has a very good leap and uses his forward momentum well to get above defenders, where the majority of the time he looks to catch the ball rather than hit it back to his team’s advantage, in my opinion that is not a bad thing at all.

    Kaleb Ngamanu also 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. Kaleb Ngamanu will also chase general play kicks with vigour trying to improve the effectiveness of his teams kicking game.

    Like all well coached youngsters Kaleb Ngamanu displays a sound defensive technique and a disciplined approach both from an individual and team perspective. From a defensive technique perspective Kaleb Ngamanu uses his shoulder well to disrupt the momentum of the ball carrier and does not “jumper” grab but rather drives through the tackle with his shoulder both in regards to a front on tackle or a side on tackle

    Kaleb Ngamanu will play the 2019 Gold Coast Junior Rugby League season with the Coomera Cutters in the U16 Division One competition and will be part of the Gold Coast Vikings U16 squads for the 2019 South East Queensland U16 Challenge.

    Kaleb Ngamanu will also continue to play school boy rugby with TSS, next season in the U16A competition once again likely at outside centre and it would not surprise at all to see Kaleb Ngamanu get a run in the TSS First XV this year at some stage even if it is just a taste of game time off the bench over the course of the nine rounds.

    TSS has one bye in those nine rounds but traditionally play Downlands College on that weekend and it is that match where Kaleb Ngamanu may just get his first taste of First XV rugby for TSS.

    From a position perspective, even though Kaleb Ngamanu spent the majority of his formative years in Western Australia playing five eight for me I believe that he will play in the centres long term and develop into a smooth moving elusive runner of the ball and quite an efficient and effective defender as well.

    Obviously the time spent at five eight in Western Australia will only enhance his ball skills and assist in creating space for his support players wider out. I just think that Kaleb Ngamanu’s running skills will be better suited to playing in the centres or on the wing rather than imposing added pressure to be a play maker at fullback where it does not necessarily come as naturally as when he is running the ball out wider of the ruck.

    I really am a proponent of youngsters playing multiple different sports, in this case in relation to Kaleb Ngamanu rugby at a high level in the GPS school boy competition and in the GCRU club competition.

    The “second” sport whether it is touch or rugby assists in the skill set development of the player and provides exposure to different critical skill sets, tactical game situations and coaching philosophies amongst other benefits.

    From a player comparison perspective, consider the game of Cronulla Sharks fullback and Queensland State of Origin and Australian International winger Valentine Holmes in relation to Kaleb Ngamanu as a player who attacks the game full on and has the speed, timing, anticipation, skill and confidence to make things happen with or without the ball in his hands.

  9. #894
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    Ediq Ambrosyev. (Revised) He is a young utility who early last year signed a two year deal to join the Titans TEDS Program after also being part of the Broncos Elite Junior Program for a number of seasons.

    In January of this year Ediq Ambrosyev started at hooker for the Titans U18 side against the Newcastle Knights U18 SG Ball squad in Coffs Harbour and provided great service and outstanding running out of dummy half and also scored when he took advantage of some tired Newcastle defence to his left close to their own line in the first half when he darted out of dummy half to score under the posts.

    Ediq Ambrosyev started both halves at hooker, all be it in different coloured head gear and mid-way through each half alternated with Jed Edwards in the dummy role.

    Ediq Ambrosyev was part of the 2018 Queensland Academy of Sport U16 squad and was late last year named as part of the 2018 U16 Emerging Origin squad that finished their first camp on the Sunshine Coast in February. Ediq Ambrosyev also started for the Titans in an U15 match against the Balmain Tigers in late 2017 at Cudgen and also represented the Titans in late 2015 against a Toowoomba U14 side.

    Prior to the commencement of the 2018 Gold Coast Rugby League season, Ediq Ambrosyev starred for the U16 Gold Coast Vikings White side in the South East Queensland U16 Championship and post that competition was been named in South East Queensland U16 Green squad.

    At the 2018 Queensland Age Championships for U16 SEQ Green Ediq Ambroysev played three matches at hooker. Titans linked team mates in the SEQ Green side were Daniel Butterini and William Parslow all of whom played in the Championship final with Ediq Ambroysev scoring a good try with a snipping run in the first half.

    Ediq Ambrosyev was named to start from the interchange bench for the Queensland U16 side when they play New South Wales at Suncorp Stadium but in fact ended up starting the match at hooker. Fellow Titan Samuel Shannon (inter change) was also in the Queensland side.

    For the Currumbin Eagles in the Gold Coast Rugby League U16 Division One competition this season Ediq Ambrosyev was in outstanding form in the regular season finishing with a strike rate of 113% through eight matches. In all of those matches Ediq Ambrosyev has started at five eight.

    Ediq Ambroysev’s tries in the regular season came against Mudgeeraba, Helensvale, Runaway Bay and Nerang in a match that was played as a curtain raiser to the Titans verses South Sydney NRL match at Cbus Stadium recently. Ediq Ambrosyev continued his try scoring trend in Round Six against Southport, the only difference is that he scored a hat trick in that match.

    Post the hat trick Ediq Ambrosyev also scored against Mudgeeraba and Southport. In only one regular season game did Ediq Ambrosyev not score which was in the final regular season round against Southport.

    In the 2018 GCRL U16 Division One Finals series, Ediq Ambrosyev started at five eight in all four of Currumbin’s matches including their Grand Final loss 24 – 8 against Currumbin. He did however have a great time against Burleigh in two Finals matches being a Week One victory 30 – 14 and a 28 -26 Preliminary Final victory scoring doubles in each of those matches.

    Ediq Ambrosyev has also been in outstanding form for PBC including scoring the match winning try against Keebra Park in their Langer Cup match at Pizzey Park and was also involved in their 24 – 18 victory over Ipswich State High School. Ediq Ambrosyev also played for PBC in their Langer Cup match against Marsden State High School at Waterford which ended in a 38 – 10 win for the Gold Coast based school.

    Ediq Ambrosyev was also part of the Titans U16 side that played matches against PNG and New South Wales Country U16’s and in fact scored against NSW Country on a wet afternoon at Cudgen.

    Over the course of the 2017 season Ediq Ambrosyev played in the U15 Division One competition on the Gold Coast with the Coomera Cutters, playing in a total of eight matches, including scoring a hat trick late in the season against Burleigh and early in the season also scored against the Southport Tigers.

    The PBC student also represented South Coast in the 2017 QSSRL U15 Championships and from there was selected in the Queensland U15 White side for the ASSRL U15 national Championships. In those Championships Ediq Ambrosyev crossed on Day Two in a 44 – 0 victory over the ACT.

    In 2016 Ediq Ambrosyev was part of the dominant Gold Coast Vikings U14 side that went through the 2016 Hill Stumer Championships undefeated playing a number of positions over the course of the three matches that the Vikings played including playing on the wing in the Sunday match against the Ipswich Diggers. Post Hill Stumer Championships, Ediq Ambrosyev was named on the inter change bench for the U14 South East Queensland Green team for the Queensland Age Championships.

    Previously Ediq Ambrosyev represented Qld at the U12 level, where he was selected in the second row. In Ediq Ambrosyev also started from the inter change bench for the U13 Titans development squad in a game against an U14 Toowoomba selection.

    In that development squad match Ediq Ambrosyev played a significant portion of the game in the centres, scoring two tries including an 80m run away intercept try when he raced down the left hand side of Pizzey park with the Toowoomba defenders chasing in vain.

    It is hard to put in words just how talented Ediq Ambrosyev is in terms of running the ball, he has
    outstanding speed both off the mark which I would consider in the above average category. Ediq Ambrosyev with his speed is able to exploit even small gaps in the defensive line with an exceptional step off either foot and incredible acceleration as well as outstanding body control. It is that speed trait which opens up his incredible ball playing skills as well.

    Teams start to focus heavily on Ediq Ambrosyev when he has the ball with outside defenders looking to come in to assist that they open up holes wider out in the defensive line that he can exploit.

    He 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 Ediq Ambrosyev 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.

    Ediq Ambrosyev also runs with the ball in both hands which is another reason why the defensive line is unable to determine exactly what he is going to do.

    Ediq Ambrosyev has an outstanding short kicking game especially in relation to perfectly weighted grubber kicks into the in goal. One such short kick very nearly led to a try for the Titans in their match against Newcastle in the second half.

    Defensively Ediq Ambrosyev is a very 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.

    Ediq Ambrosyev 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.

    2019 sees Ediq Ambrosyev part of the Tweed Heads Seagulls MM Cup squad and post that competition he will play for the Currumbin Eagles in the Gold Coast Rugby League U18 competition as well as for PBC in their Langer Cup and GIO Cup School Boy Rugby League campaigns as they look to back up their outstanding 2018 success.

    It will be interesting to see where the PBC coaches play Ediq Ambrosyev as Jed Edwards is also returning in 2019, but regardless it is more than likely that Ediq Ambrosyev will be in PBC’s top seventeen this season.

    Positionally it appeared that Ediq Ambrosyev would move to hooker but in 2018 he played five eight for Currumbin and well as the Vikings, so it is not possible at this stage to bet against him staying at five eight for the duration.

    I do note however that he did play at hooker for South East Queensland Green U16’s in the Queensland Age Championships and of course for the Titans U18 against Newcastle.

    Although Ediq Ambrosyev may ultimately end up at hooker, the longer he plays at five eight the better his play in the hooking role will become if that is where he ultimately ends up.
    Ediq Ambrosyev is a natural on a rugby league field regardless of position with his ability to size up a situation and invariably take the correct option. To that extent for me he has a playing style similar to that of Cronulla Sharks and former New South Wales State of Origin representative Matt Moylan (I appreciate that they play in different positions) is an appropriate comparison as an outstanding player who has all of the skills and temperament to be able to turn a game on its head with a piece of individual brilliance just like he did in the U15 Queensland Championship final and numerous times since in both club and representative matches.

  10. #895
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    Thomas Weaver. (Revised) The talented young half back from Cudgen in Northern New South Wales signed a two year contract with the Titans in 2018 and recently started at half for the Titans U16’s and captaining the side in their match at Coffs Harbour against the Newcastle Knights and was involved in the first play of the game being the opening tackle after the kick off on the Knights front rower with team mates, Brody Smitka and Ryan Foran.

    Like in previous matches for the Titans Junior Development sides, Thomas Weaver was in the thick of the action against the Knights directing the Titans around the field and scored a good solo try in the second half when he stepped off his left foot about ten metres out from the Newcastle Knights line and beat two or three defenders, plus dragged one over the line to score just to the left of the goal posts for the Titans first try of the match.

    Against the Knights Thomas Weaver operated primarily on the left side of the field with five eight Riley Lack operating on the right. When the Titans had a scrum feed, Thomas Weaver played as the first receiver with Riley Lack feeding the scrum.

    Just like he has in a number of matches, Thomas Weaver had the ball on a string and included in his outstanding passing game was a great cut out pass to left winger Kaleb Ngamanu who got outside his direct opponent and sprinted down the touch line on a 40 metre run before passing the ball inside to centre Ezra Ubaldino.

    I do want to site a specific example or two of Thomas Weaver’s tenacity, late in the first half he put in a great kick from around 30 metres out from the Newcastle line with the ball pulling up a metre short of touch in goal, instead of sitting back resting on his laurels, Thomas Weaver was the first Titan down the field and made the tackle to trap the Knights fullback in the in goal.

    It was a similar situation for the Titans captain in the second half, he put in a kick from around forth metres out which held up a metre or so from the touch in goal making the Knights fullback have to play the ball and whilst on that occasions he did get out of his in-goal, once again Thomas Weaver was the first Titan down the field to make the tackle.

    Just to round off his outstanding kicking display in the match, one of his kicks for touch in the second half made around fifty metres, it was just an outstanding kick and put the Titans well and truly on the attack.

    In March of 2018 Thomas Weaver captained and started at half back for a Titans U15 Invitational side that defeated a Western Mustangs U15 side six tries to three (no goal kicks were taken) with Thomas Weaver being one of a number of stand outs for the Titans.

    In the match against the Western Mustangs he formed a solid combination with five eight Jed Bignell. To be honest, it was clear in that match that Thomas Weaver was the leader of the team, he dictated the Titans tempo and controlled the play well from a game management perspective determining who got the ball, where the play was to and the ultimate aim of the particular set up six tackles and was the Titans primary tactical kicker.

    Thomas Weaver also had a try assist in the match when he threw an outstanding flat ball to left centre JT Manufeoata who ran into a whole to score out wide in the first half. Thomas Weaver was also the Titans primary tactical kicker in the match.

    Late in the 2018 season Thomas Weaver started at half back for the Titans U15 as they defeated a U15 Balmain Tigers touring side 16 – 10 with Thomas Weaver being prominent throughout including throwing a great cut-out ball to winger Kaleb Ngamanu to score in around the 6th minute when he flashed down the left touch line untouched and was able to bring the ball around under the posts to help back Thomas Weaver’s conversion a whole lot easier.

    Thomas Weaver was also involved in Rowan Mansfield second half match sealing try against Balmain throwing the first of a chain of passes through five eight Jye Gray to Kaleb Ngamanu who put Rowan Mansfield into a gap down the sideline. Rowan Mansfield used an outstanding in and away to beat the Balmain fullback to score untouched after a seventy metre run just to the right of the goal posts. Once again making Thomas Weaver’s conversion attempt a whole lot easier.

    Thomas Weaver almost scored himself in the match when he was backing up an outstanding fifty metre second half run from Kaleb Ngamanu when he expertly fielded a low kick and split the defence from his own line, but unfortunately just could not find Thomas Weaver with the inside pass.

    Clearly Thomas Weaver and Kaleb Ngamanu have developed a good rapport which hopefully continues all the way to the NRL.

    2018 also saw Thomas Weaver represent Group 18 in the New South Wales Country Age Championships scoring a try and kicking eight goals in his three Championship matches. Thomas Weaver scored against Group 21 and also kicked six goals in that match to finish with sixteen points and also kicked two goals in a tough 16 all draw with Group Two.

    In April of 2018 Thomas Weaver was selected in the Northern Region New South Wales Combined Catholic Colleges (CCC) U15 side for the New South Wales trials. Thomas Weaver was the half back in the side after being selected from St Joseph’s College Benora Point.

    After those trials Thomas Weaver has been selected in the New South Wales Combined Catholic Colleges U15 team for the ASSRL U15 Championships where he will be up against the Queensland Maroon and White sides which both contain Titans contracted boys.

    After the completion of the 2018 season Thomas Weaver and fellow Group 18 U15 team mates headed overseas to play in the Battlefield Challenge to commemorate the 100 year anniversary of the end of World War I, a competition that the side won including victories against Emory Moor 12 – 6 and Leigh East 18 – 12.

    In a warm up match in England prior to the Tournament they defeated a Hemel Stags U16 side and post the Tournament defeated French side Aude Cathare. A number of other Titans players will also be involved in the tour including Keegan Pace, Jack Cullen, Ryan Foran, Byron Jones and Bailey Cox. On the tour Thomas Weaver won a number of Player of the Match awards.

    Thomas Weaver is also an outstanding touch player who has represented his region with distinction in multiple touch competitions and tournaments in both Queensland and New South Wales including last year’s Queensland Championships.

    The Titans contracted young half backs 2017 rugby league commitments ended when he was part a the Titans U15 Invitational side that played against a Balmain Tigers side at Cudgen and even though they were defeated the young Titans players put in a great effort on the night against a primarily older Balmain Tigers side.

    Thomas Weaver and his U14 Cudgen Hornets side had a great club campaign in the 2017 Group 18 junior rugby league competition going through the U14 competition undefeated with their skill and discipline on show in every match.

    The outstanding young Group 18 half back was a constant threat to opposing defences in the New South Wales Country Age Championships early in 2017 where Group 18 were defeated in the U14 Final with Thomas Weaver scoring Group 18’s sole try in the final and then he converted his own try. In two of the preliminary rounds Thomas Weaver kicked two goals apiece including a local derby against Group One to finish with a points total of 14 over the course of the Championships.

    Earlier in 2017 year Thomas Weaver was selected in the Northern Region Combined Catholic Colleges side at half back representing St Joseph’s College Benora Point. In 2015 Thomas Weaver was selected in the New South Wales U12 side for the Australian U12 Championships and that same year after being named Player of the Final for Cudgen in the Group 18 U12 competition was also named as the U12 Group 18 Player of the Season.

    Even though Thomas Weaver has plus acceleration off the mark and above average top speed, his primary focus on a football field is to direct his side around the field, putting his side where they need to be to maintain pressure on the opposition. Holding the ball out in front of his body in both hands enables Denver Taylor to put doubt into the minds of the opposing defensive line and thus he can dummy and run if there is a gap in the defensive line or put his support runners into gaps.

    This trait was in evidence in this year’s Titans U16 match against Newcastle when he dummied and stepped off his left foot to score the Titans first try of the match.

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

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

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

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

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

    Thomas Weaver play the 2019 junior rugby league season with the Cudgen Hornets in the Group 18 U16 competition who will be looking to continue their recent premiership success once again in 2018 as well as playing for St Joseph’s College Benora Point.

    2018 will also see Thomas Weaver see Thomas Weaver be a key member of a talent laden Northern Rivers Titans U16 side that will play in the 2019 Andrew Johns Cup. Other Titans contracted/linked players in the U16 Northern Rivers Titans side are centre Keegan Pace, fullback/five eight Riley Lack, fullback Rowan Mansfield, front rower Jack Cullen and second rower Ryan Foran.

    From a position perspective with his speed and rapidly developing ball playing, game management and tactical kicking skills, Thomas Weaver has an opportunity to develop into a very talented young player who could play either half back or five eight equally well. The more that Thomas Weaver has the ball in his hands the better it is for his entire team

    Mitchell Moses of the Parramatta Eels with his wide ranging and developing skill set is for me a very good player comparison for the talented Thomas Weaver including the way that he commands the ruck area in attack.

    Like Mitchell Moses, Thomas Weaver has a wide variety of skills which he is developing and whilst they may not all develop at the same pace or a linear fashion, they surely will all be above average to plus attributes when it is all said and done.

    Thomas Weaver is rapidly developing into a very talented young play maker indeed and certainly a player to keep an eye on as he progresses through the Titans junior development ranks

  11. #896
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    Ben Liyou. (Revised) He is a young player from the Grafton Ghosts who last year signed a two year deal with the Titans which saw him move to continue his rugby league career in 2019.

    Recently Ben Liyou started from the bench for the Titans U18’s in their match at Coffs Harbour against the Newcastle Knights U18 SG Ball squad which ended five tries all.

    When he came on mid-way through the first half, Ben Liyou started on the left side of the field but moved over to the right side for the second half.

    Ben Liyou was more than solid defensively in the match, covering across field well and even though he was not the biggest forward on the field, he initial contact was more than impressive.

    With the ball Ben Liyou ran a couple of very good outside shoulder routes when he was operating on the right side of the field in the second half.

    In October 2017 Ben Liyou was also awarded the Aquinas Titans Sportsperson of the Year award at a gala dinner at the Southport Yacht Club showcasing the esteem that he is held in at the Titans.

    In late 2018 Ben Liyou was part of the Titans U18 side that won matches against PNG and New South Wales Country U18’s starting in the second row on both occasions and in those matches spent some time playing on the left side of the field instead of playing on the right where he played for the Grafton Ghosts and Northern Rivers earlier in 2018.

    Early in 2018 Ben Liyou was part of the North Coast U18 Laurie Daley Cup side starting in the second row in all four of their matches and scoring one try which came against Northern Rivers in Round Two. Ben Liyou was one of the North Coast’s standout players across the Championships constantly challenging the defensive line, normally operating on the right side of the field.

    Ben Liyou has been a Grafton Ghosts player throughout his entire career and that did not change in 2018. Ben Liyou started the season in the U18 Group two competition and at just 17 years old made his Tooheys New Group Two First Grade debut in Round Three against the Macksville Sea Eagles. He made his debut playing left centre even though he has been playing in the second row exclusively over the last couple of seasons.

    Post his debut Ben Liyou made three additional Group Two First Grade appearances and in Round Ten in a big win against Macksville had a try assist late in the first half when he broke through the line and set up half Jake Frame for a try on the cusp of half time.

    In the 2018 U18 Group Two competition, Ben Liyou played in eight matches, scoring six tries and kicking two goals for a points tally on the season to date of 28. Ben Liyou scored a double in Round One against local rivals the South Grafton Rebels, also kicking his season’s two goals in the match. He also scored a double against the Rebels in a 33 – 12 Round Nine win.

    Ben Liyou’s other two tries came against Bellingen in Round Five and in Round Six against the league leaders and previously undefeated Coffs harbour side.

    Ben Liyou played the 2017 season at the U16.5 level for the Ghosts as well as playing three matches at the U18 level for Grafton in the Group Two U18 competition. Ben Liyou also attended a Titans Elite Academy session that was held at Lennox Heads late in 2017, another Grafton Ghost in centre Jake Martin was also an attendee.

    Ben Liyou was also part of the East Coast Dolphins U16 side that performed well at the New South Wales Country Championships making the Championship final and as a result was selected for the U16 New South Wales Country side that played two matches in New Zealand as part of a South Island Tour. The NSW Country U16 side won both of their tour matches.

    Previously Ben Liyou has represented the Titans in a number of development squad matches including in 2014 when he came off the bench in a match against a Samoan side playing in the second row.

    With his try and two goals in a Grafton Ghosts 24-4 win over Ballina Ben Liyou finished the U16.5 regular season competition as the leading point’s scorer with 62 points from ten matches. Ben Liyou scored eight tries and kicked fifteen goals. From a try scoring perspective Ben Liyou scored doubles against Casino RSM in June and also against Ballina in July. Ben Liyou also started in the second row in Grafton’s two finals matches against Clarence Coast and the Grand Final against Casino RSM.

    As a 16 year old Ben Liyou also played three matches for the Grafton Ghosts U18 side in the Group Two competition, with his U18 debut coming in April against the Sawtell Panthers. His other two games were against Sawtell again in June and Coffs Harbour in July 2017.

    In the U16 New South Wales Country Championships Ben Liyou scored three tries in their way to the Final where the East Coast Dolphins U16 side lost in extra time to the Western Rams. In that Grand Final Ben Liyou started in the second row and another Titans linked youngster Kade Hill started at half. Ben Liyou scored a double in the East Coast Dolphins 44-0 semi-final win over the Bidgee Bulls and he also scored in Round One against the Central Coast.

    In 2016 Ben Liyou was the U15 Group One’s top try scorer with 18 tries from 12 matches to finish five tries clear of the next highest try scorer. Ben Liyou also started at lock for the Group One U15 representative side that had some good wins over the course of the New South Wales Country Age Championships. Ben Liyou has previous experience in a Titans jersey when he came off the bench in late 2015 in a U14 contest against Samoa.

    For the Ghosts in the U15 competition, Ben Liyou started off the season with a bang scoring seven tries in the first three rounds, including a four try haul against Kyogle and a double against Minor Premiers Clarence Coast. Over the course of the season, Ben Liyou scored five other doubles which came against Ballina on three separate occasions, Lismore Marist Brothers and Kyogle. In April Ben Liyou also played one match at the U16.5 age group against Kyogle backing up after playing in the U15’s earlier in the day.

    Ben Liyou is a tall rangy type of player with a solid passing game, which is understandable due to his experience at five eight, from my perspective his passing to his right hand side is a little better than to his left. Where he excels though is his running with the ball, as noted he is a tall young man who really did dominate opposing backline line defences and regularly carried opposing players with him before off-loading to his support players.

    Ben Liyou’s speed is quite good for his height and has the body shape to add additional muscle mass without compromising either his straight line speed or his mobility with or without the ball in his hands.

    In an U13 Titans development squad game against Samoa in late 2015 and considering he conceded a lot of weight to the opposition, he was very effective and making ground, mainly on the fringes of the ruck, where he used his footwork to get between defenders and make ground. The development squad game was a tough game and even with the step up in overall class of the game, Ben Liyou did well.

    The only issue for his defence is that due to his height he needs to make sure he does not let his tackles slip up too high when defending against smaller opposition and in the Group One competition he had no problem at all dealing with opposition forwards running on the fringes of the ruck.

    In the development squad game, he obviously defended in the centre of the ruck and showed a quite decent low tackling technique and held his own even though he conceded weight to the opposing forward pack. The technique that Ben Liyou showed in that game has only been developed and refined in the subsequent years.

    Moving to the 2019 season, Ben Liyou is still be U18 eligible and you will see him in a Tweed Heads Seagulls jersey in the MM Cup competition next year. I would also anticipate the Ben Liyou will also make his way into the Tweed Heads Colts side sooner rather than later in 2019.

    If he does not move immediately to the Tweed Heads Seagulls Colts side it appears that Ben Liyou will play for Murwillumbah in the NRRRL competition and even though he would be U18 eligible I would anticipate should Ben Liyou play for the Mustangs he will move immediately into their First Grade side.

    From a position perspective, as noted Ben Liyou played a significant amount of rugby league at five eight in his junior career, but I can really see his move to the second row as a permanent one into the future.

    From a player comparison perspective think along the lines of someone like South Sydney veteran John Sutton as a player who played a lot of their junior football at five eight before transitioning to the back row and developing into a solid ball playing forward who can pop a short pass to his supports both prior to the line and when engaged with the defensive line as well as defending effectively.

    Make no mistake however Ben Liyou also has the ability to break the defensive line himself through hard running and just as importantly running the correct line including both an inside shoulder and outside shoulder line as was evidenced against the Newcastle Knights.

    Ben Liyou also has outstanding leaderships and presents not just as a potential NRL captain one day but a club or representative level captain as well.

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    Will Evans. The Gold Coast youngster and former Queensland U16 representative has moved from to the Titans after the expiration of his two year contract with the Brisbane Broncos in a coup for the Titans in terms of “bringing back the farm”.

    Recently Will Evans started at right centre for the Titans U18 side against the Newcastle Knights SG Ball squad in Coffs Harbour which ended in a draw, however from my perspective (and yes I am biased) the Titans were clearly the better side for the entire match.

    Will Evans moved to fullback mid-way through the first half, with Noah Gafa taking his place at right centre and stayed there for the remainder of the match.

    Will Evans first touch of the ball against the Knights was an impressive run in the first set of six for the Titans when he made twenty odd metres from a short right side play dragging a couple of Newcastle Knights defenders with him.

    The current PBC student actually played for the Titans Junior Development Squads for a number of years including at the U13 level in 2014 when the Titans played Marsden State High School in October of that year at Pizzey Park. That afternoon Will Evans starred in the fullback position and ripped the Marsden defence apart on multiple occasions and also covered very well defensively when necessary.

    In 2018 Will Evans played for Burleigh in the GCRL U17 Division One competition and in his seven matches in the regular season scored eight tries primarily from the fullback position. Will Evans scored doubles against Ormeau and Tweed Heads and has also scored against Runaway Bay, Bilambil, Helensvale and Currumbin.

    Will Evans started at fullback in both of Burleigh’s U17 Division One Finals matches against Currumbin and Runaway Bay.

    In addition Will Evans was a key member of the 2018 PBC Opens Rugby League side playing right centre in most of their matches this season and was particularity impressive in wins against fierce rivals Keebra Park and also in a big PBC win against Marsden State High School at Waterford in the depths of winter. Against Marsden he was exceptional especially out of dummy half.

    Will Evans also started at right centre for PBC against Ipswich State High School in the GIO Cup Queensland Quarter Finals held at Wynnum Manly earlier this week, a match that PBC were victorious in to progress to the Queensland semi-finals. In the match Will Evans did not get many opportunities with the ball but was very solid defensively as PBC scored literally in the last minute of a close contest to progress to the next round.

    Will Evans was outstanding in both the Queensland GIO Cup final and also in the National GIO Cup final against Patrician Brothers Fairfield including being names Player of the National Final.

    In 2017 Will Evans started at right centre for the Queensland U16 team as well as receiving a PBC on field Rugby League Achievement Award. Will Evans also represented Queensland in 2015 when he was part of the Queensland Maroon side for the ASSRRL U15 National Championships and in those Championships was the Queensland Maroons Player of the Match on Day Three in a big win against New South Wales Combined Catholic Colleges. Will Evans contributed a try to that victory for Queensland Maroon.

    From the fullback position Will Evans presents as a silky smooth player, who looks like he glides across the field picking and choosing his time to get involved and wants to have the ball in his hands when the game is on the line.

    In attack Will Evans does not just stand at the back waiting for the “block” plays to occur. When his forwards are bringing the ball out of their own territory, Will Evans is always in and around the ball looking for an offload and the opportunity to explode downfield as a result of outstanding speed off the mark and a wicked step off either foot.

    Will Evans has outstanding balance and body control which enables him to break a lot of tackles through the centre of the ruck. Opposing defenders to key line him up when he is either running from dummy half or taking an offload and his explosiveness means that defenders are regularly reduced to grasping at him with an arm which Will Evans regularly is able slice through and continue his run.

    Will Evans speed is hard to quantify. Will Evans does not necessarily look like he is moving quickly especially when he is open space but players who I consider who have above average to plus speed do not often take ground from him at all in a foot race.

    The one thing Will Evans also seems to be able to do well, is to step back inside without the loss of his speed or forward momentum, opposing defenders seem to push out quickly when he has the ball expecting him to look to beat them on their outside, if they come across to far, Will Evans has a very good step back inside especially off his right foot when running to the left and if the inside defenders are not quick enough to cover across he has the speed to make a clean break in those circumstances.

    Similarly when an opposing defender looks to come out of the line quickly to put pressure on him, Will Evans’s quick twitch feet means that he can step off either foot quickly to negate the attempt to cut down his time. In short he is a very talented attacking player who looks to beat his opponent with speed and guile rather than purely by brute strength.

    Will Evans is also very effective in making ground from dummy half. Like when Justin Hodges used to go into dummy half, defences know that he is going to run but still have trouble preventing him from making a lot of ground, it really does defy logic in terms of the ground that he makes out of dummy half considering his smaller stature.

    In defence Will Evans has good strength, and certainly looks to come forward to stop the attack before it has time to fully develop once a break has been made. Will Evans also has the ability to show the attacker the sideline and is confident that his speed will enable him to get across to make the tackle which he invariably does.

    Will Evans is also effective at wrapping the ball up and he does slide well in defence and has the speed to cover opposition line breaks very well when he is playing in the centres.

    2019 should see Will Evans as a key member of the Burleigh Bears MM Cup side and he will be hard to keep out of the Queensland U18 side next year as well.

    It would not surprise in fact if Will Evans bypasses the MM Cup competition all together in 2019 and starts for the Burleigh Colts side. Even if he doesn’t move immediately to Colts it will not take Will Evans too long at all to make his way into the Colts side at the end of the MM Cup competition.

    After the completion of the MM Cup competition, if he does not immediately move to the Burleigh Colts squad, Will Evans will play for Burleigh in the Gold Coast Rugby League competition and more than likely will also play for their GCRL U20 side and perhaps even make his GCRL First Grade debut such is Will Evans maturity.

    When I first saw Will Evans play as a 13 year old, even back then it seemed that fullback was his ideal position but in the last couple of years, especially in relation to school boy and representative rugby league, Will Evans has played almost exclusively in the centres, specifically at right centre and is very effective running out of dummy half.

    I however think that Will Evans best position is at fullback where he can see the entire field and thus is a position to inject himself from there where and when the opportunities arise.

    A very knowledgeable visitor to this site actually suggested that Will Evans would make a more than effective half back. I admit that that was a scenario that I had not really considered but one that is a more than interesting one to contemplate as Will Evans inevitably moves to the senior rugby league ranks on the Gold Coast and beyond.

    From an NRL player comparison perspective Will Evans has a number of similarities to St George Dragons fullback Matt Dufty. Will Evans does not have the top end speed of Matt Dufty (although he is a lot quicker than he looks) but is just as explosive off the mark and has the same innate ability to make the first defender miss in the congestion in the middle of the ruck or wider out in the backline, it is just an uncanny skill you either have or you don’t and Will Evans definitely has it in spades and Titans fans will have the pleasure of seeing it in action over the coming seasons.

  13. #898
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    Juwan Compain. The former PBC State High School second rower late in 2018 signed a three year deal with the Titans in a major coup for the club and continues the Titans recent success at bringing Gold Coast players back to the Titans, “buying” back the farm if you will.

    Recently Juwan Compain started in the second row for the Titans U18 side against the Newcastle Knights SG Ball squad in Coffs Harbour on an exceptionally hot Sunday afternoon and had a typically strong match.

    Juwan Compain played a number matches for Titans Development Squad in the U13 age group back in 2014 before signing with the Broncos but it is great to see him back in Titans colours for the next three seasons at least.

    Juwan Compain was selected in the Australian School Boys side for their Great Britain tour later in the 2018 year after starring for the Queensland U18 School boy side in the ASSRL Championships. In those Championships Juwan Compain started all four of Queensland matches in the second row scoring on Day One against New South Wales Combined High Schools and was one of two vice captains of the Queensland side.

    For the Australian School Boys side on their England tour, Juwan Compain scored in their third match of their UK Tour in a 30 – 18 win at Manchester Regional Arena against the Lancashire Academy. Juwan Compain started in four of the five matches that the Australian School Boys played in the UK including starting in the second row in both of the International’s against the England Academy side.

    In 2018 Juwan Compain was also part of the Queensland U18 Emerging Origin squad and received a Rugby League Excellence Award for National Representation at the 2018 PBC Sports Awards night.

    Juwan Compain was also recently been selected in the 2019 U18 Queensland Emerging Origin Squad with fellow Titans Will Evans, Tristian Powell and Lofi Khan-Periera.

    For the Tweed Heads Seagulls in the 2018 MM Cup competition Juwan Compain played in all seven of their matches including their semi-final loss to Souths Logan. Juwan Compain started in the second row in each of the seven matches scoring two tries which came against Burleigh in Round Three and Wynnum Manly in Round Six.

    Juwan Compain has also played in one Hastings Deering’s Colts U20 match in 2018 when he started in the second row for Tweed Heads in their Round 16 local derby match against Burleigh.

    Juwan Compain only played in one club match in 2018 for Currumbin in the U17 Division One competition which was against Helensvale midseason.

    Juwan Compain was been superb for the PBC Open Rugby League side in 2018 and in two of the matches that I saw being against Keebra Park and Marsden SHS was the most dominant player on the field from my perspective.

    In the Queensland GIO Cup semi-final against Ignatius Park, Juwan Compain was once again in outstanding form terrorising the Ignatius Park defence on the left side of the ruck.

    In the Queensland GIO Cup final against Kirwan State High School, Juwan Compain started in the second row scoring a second half try as PBC were victorious 32 – 26 to qualify for the National GIO Cup Final.

    Juwan Compain also started in the second row for PBC in the GIO Cup National Final against Patrician Brothers College Blacktown and became a 2018 GIO Cup National Champion on the back of a PBC 20 – 12 victory.

    In 2017 Juwan Compain was part of the U16 Queensland Academy of Sport squad and has previously represented Queensland at the U12 level.

    Early in 2017 Juwan Compain, represented the Gold Coast Vikings White side in the South East Queensland U16 pre-season competition, scoring in Round Five against Gold Coast Green. After the completion of that competition, Juwan Compain was selected in the South East Queensland U16 training squad.

    In 2016 from PBC, Juwan Compain represented South Coast at the QSSRL U15 Championships scoring against Sunshine Coast and from there was selected to represent the Queensland Maroon U15 school bot side at the ASSRL U15 championships.

    Juwan Compain has previously played for the Titans Development Squads including at the U13 level when they played against Marsden State High School at Pizzey Park in 2014, from memory I believe that Juwan Compain played in the centres that day.

    Also in that Titans U13 side was Will Evans who was a standout at fullback for the Titans. It is great to see the two talented young men back with the Titans for the 2019 season and beyond.

    Juwan Compain also played club rugby on the Gold Coast in the U14 and U14 age groups I believe but his future is firmly in rugby league and luckily for Titans supporters on the Gold Coast.

    Rarely can you find a young player who is equally at home running on both sides of the ruck but that is what a team has with Juwan Compain, he runs a superb inside or outside shoulder line and his excellent footwork enables him to step off either foot to enable him to cut back against the movement of the defensive line to take advantage of gaps back on the inside of his direct opponent.

    For a big strong young man, Juwan Compain also has above average (to plus) speed, not just off the mark but also when he is in clear space, when he makes a break Juwan Compain is more than capable of going the distance and normally easily out paces the cover defence.

    Juwan Compain is not just a strong runner of the ball he as noted above has excellent footwork prior to the line and also some very good short passing both before the line and when in contact with a defender.

    Juwan Compain in schoolboy rugby league and junior age groups was a magnet for defenders and is adept at identifying when multiple defenders are vectoring towards him and identifying the appropriate force to be applied to his passing.

    Juwan Compain also waits until the last possible second to off load the ball and most of the time he does not telegraph his pass to enable defences the readjust before the ball is passed.

    On a lot of his runs Juwan Compain rather than trying to step his opposite number will really look to initiate the contact and then use his strength to hold the defender off his body to either push through the tackle or draw in the next defender to create space for his outside support.

    Whilst his ball running skills are the first thing that you will likely notice when seeing Juwan Compain play his defence is equally effective even though it may not be as noticeable at first glance.

    Defensively Juwan Compain has a hard edge to his play and his initial contact is more than sufficient to redirect the momentum of the ball carrier either in the centres or when defending in the forwards. Juwan Compain sets a very good base which he uses to explode into the ball carrier looking to use their own momentum against them.

    Juwan Compain good situation awareness also enables him to be well positioned when he is defending against smaller quicker players on the fringes of the ruck and he endeavours to minimise the time available for the opposing attacker to generate speed and to utilise their footwork.

    Juwan Compain is also able to change direction quickly to adjust to the directional changes of the attacker especially when he is marking up against multiple attackers running in his direction where he will hold his ground to let the play to develop in front of him before committing to a specific defensive course of action.

    In 2019 Juwan Compain will be once again eligible for the MM Cup competition and has been named in the Tweed Heads squad which is a scary proposition for opposing teams but it would not surprise at all to see him bypass the MM Cup competition all together and start the season in the U20 Hastings Deering’s Colts competition with the Tweed Heads Seagulls such is his skill level and maturity.

    Some Queensland Cup matches for Tweed Heads in 2019 is definitely not out of the question for Juwan Compain such is his maturity, both from a physical and mental perspective and skill set.

    Also it would surprise at all if Juwan Compain does not make his NRL debut prior to the expiration of his current three year Titans contract.

    In 2019 Juwan Compain will be part of the U18 Emerging Origin squad and barring injury it will be extremely difficult for Selectors to keep him out of the Queensland U18 side when it is named midway through the season.

    For me, with his physical attributes and skill set indicates that Juwan Compain will settle into the back row as his long term position with no need for a positional switch and will be a representative level second rower.

    From a style perspective think of a someone along the lines of Brisbane Bronco boom rookie David Fifita as an intense aggressive well-rounded backrower with the ability to break the line by himself or as a result of running a good line, Juwan Compain then has enough speed to break into space prior to looking for his support players.

    Like Fifita, Juwan Compain is also an extremely efficient and effective defender who will hit hard when the opportunity presents itself and looks to always dominate his opponents both mentally and physically in all aspects of the game.

    Juwan Compain has a huge future ahead of him in the NRL and also from a representative perspective and shapes as a corner stone of the Titans NRL forward pack for many years to come.

    I am not sure that Juwan Compain can replicate of matching David Fifita’s success of reaching the NRL when still U18 eligible but if he does not match that feat, it will not be by much however.

    Juwan Compain is right up there with the very best rugby league players running around for his age in Australia as is evidenced by his selection and subsequent performances for the Australian School Boys Rugby League side that toured the UK in November and December 2018 and for PBC in their successful 2018 Queensland and National GIO Cup campaigns.

    On that tour Juwan Compain started both of the International matches against the England Academy in the second row as well as two of the other three tour matches.

    The thing that impresses me the most about Juwan Compain is his rapid and sustained improvement over the last couple of seasons, improvement that shows no sign of slowing down as he surges towards the NRL at an increasingly rapid rate and the fact that his probable NRL debut will be in Titans colours will make it even more exciting.

    The Titans 2019 U18 cohort is as good as any squad in the NRL as well evidenced by their match earlier this year against the Newcastle Knights in Coffs Harbour with Juwan Compain being a key reason (but not the only one) for that high ranking.

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    Thank you so so much mdrew for posting all of the latest news. It is a very satisfying and important topic.
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    Kurtis Dark. A very interesting recruit for the Tweed Heads Seagulls Queensland Cup side in 2019 is former Newcastle Knights U20 goal kicking second rower Kurtis Dark.

    Kurtis Dark was with Newcastle since the age of 15 and played the last two seasons in their U20 side, but in 2018 did make his NSW Intrust Super Cup debut when he started in the second row in Round 17 against Newtown.

    In the match, Kurtis Dark played his usual left second row position, playing the entire 80 minutes, running for a touch over 120 metres and made an impressive 38 tackles at a tackling efficiency of 82.6%, not a bad debut at all for a 20 year old against NRL veterans.

    Kurtis Dark kicked one goal from two attempts with the goal being an outstanding goal from right on the left touch line, with the kick being even more impressive in that he is a left foot kicker and thus it was from his non-preferred side. He also had one general play kick which went for in excess of fifty six metres.

    Kurtis Dark played all bar one of Newcastle’s U20 Jersey Flegg matches in 2018 (the only match he missed was when he was promoted to the NSW Intrust Super Cup), playing in a total of twenty two matches including three finals, starting all in the second row.

    Kurtis Dark scored four tries which came against the Wests Tigers in Round Two, the Cronulla Sharks in Round Six, the Parramatta Eels in Round 20 and the Warriors in Round 22.

    With the boot, Kurtis Dark was outstanding in 2018 kicking 87 goals from 105 attempts for a 2018 conversion percentage of 82.86%.

    On three occasions in 2018 Kurtis Dark kicked nine goals in a match, being against Manly in Round One (9 from 10), the Warriors in Round Fifteen (9 from 9) and the Warriors again in Round Twenty Two (9 from 10).

    Kurtis Dark is a second rower who whilst has played primarily on the left also has the ability to play on the right as well as he did on a number of occasions for the Newcastle Knights U20 Jersey Flagg side last season.

    Kurtis Dark runs a good outside shoulder line and his excellent footwork enables him to step off either foot to enable him to cut back against the movement of the defensive line to take advantage of gaps back on the inside of his direct opponent.

    For a big strong young man, Kurtis Dark also has above average speed, not just off the mark but also when he is in clear space, when he makes a break Kurtis Dark is more than capable of going the distance and normally easily out paces the cover defence.

    Kurtis Dark is not just a strong runner of the ball he as noted above has excellent footwork prior to the line and also some very good short passing both before the line and when in contact with a defender. Kurtis Dark in schoolboy rugby league and junior age groups was a magnet for defenders and is adept at identifying when multiple defenders are vectoring towards him and identifying the appropriate force to be applied to his passing.

    Kurtis Dark also waits until the last possible second to off load the ball and most of the time he does not telegraph his pass to enable defences the readjust before the ball is passed.

    On a lot of his runs Kurtis Dark rather than trying to step his opposite number will really look to initiate the contact and then use his strength to hold the defender off his body to either push through the tackle or draw in the next defender to create space for his outside support.

    Defensively Kurtis Dark has a hard edge to his play and his initial contact is more than sufficient to redirect the momentum of the ball carrier. Kurtis Dark sets a very good base which he uses to explode into the ball carrier looking to use their own momentum against them.

    His good situation awareness also enables him to be well positioned when he is defending against smaller quicker opponents and he endeavours to minimise the time available for the opposing attacker to generate speed and to utilise their footwork.

    Kurtis Dark is also able to change direction quickly to adjust to the directional changes of the attacker especially when he is marking up against multiple attackers running in his direction where he will hold his ground to let the play to develop in front of him before committing to a specific defensive course of action.

    Kurtis Dark will play the 2019 season with the Tweed Heads Seagulls and it will be interesting to see how many Queensland Cup matches he gets under his belt, after his outstanding New South Wales Intrust Super Cup debut for the Newcastle Knights last season.

    If Kurtis Dark is not in the Tweed Heads Queensland Cup squad for any given match he will play for the Byron Bay Devils in the NRRRL First Grade competition.

    With his size, speed and impressive left hand off load, Kurtis Dark looms as an intriguing second row prospect and it is great to see that he has chosen to move to the Gold Coast in an effort to continue his rugby league career.

    A current NRL player with a similar playing style for me is Newcastle Knights second rower Lachlan Fitzgibbon. Like Fitzgibbon Kurtis Dark shapes as a talented young second rower who just needs the right opportunity to highlight his burgeoning and impressive skill set, hopefully it will be this season with the Tweed Heads Seagulls.


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