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  1. #1291
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    Liam Cusack. (Updated) He is a young centre from Northern New South Wales for the Cudgen Hornets club who had an outstanding season in the 2019 NRRRL First Grade competition for Murwillumbah.

    2020 also saw Liam Cusack play for the Murwillumbah Mustangs in the NRRRL First Grade competition where he played primarily on the right wing and as has been the case across recent seasons was a noted try scorer including scoring a double in Round Four against the Cudgen Hornets, on both occasions when he was on the end of back line movements to score in the left corner.

    Liam Cusack also had a try assist in the second half of the match when, after making a break down the left touch line and which engaged with the cover defence was able to get his left arm free to produce a one armed off load to his fullback to crash over.

    Liam Cusack also scored in Round Five against the Tweed Coast Raiders in a 18 – 16 Mustangs victory. Liam Cusack’s try came when he took a long cut out pass five metres out from the line to cross in the left corner. Liam Cusack also had a second try when he broke the Tweed Coast line sixty metres out as the half time siren sounded but was dragged into touch less then a metres out from the left corner.

    Liam Cusack added a further two tries from the left wing position for Murwillumbah as they defeated the Bilambil Jets 36 – 6 in Round Seven and also scored in Round Eight against the Tweed Coast Raiders.

    Liam Cusack also started on the left wing in the 2020 NRRRL First Grade Major Semi-final against the Tweed Coast Raiders with Liam Cusack scoring when he took an intercept in the first half and racing seventy metres to score.

    Liam Cusack also on the left wing in Murwillumbah’s 2020 NRRRL Preliminary Final last minute 20 – 18 victory over the Bilambil Jets as well as in the 2020 NRRRL Green Grand Final which the Mustangs lost 24 – 18 to the Tweed Coast Raiders in a high quality match.

    In sixteen NRRRL First Grade regular season matches for Murwillumbah in 2019, Liam Cusack scored twenty three tries for a regular season strike rate of 144%.

    Liam Cusack scored hat tricks in Round Ten against Tweed Heads and in Round Nine against Kyogle and doubles against Byron Bay (Round Seven) and Ballina (Round Four). Liam Cusack added four tries in Round Eighteen against Mullumbimby to ensure that he finished the 2019 season at the NRRRL First Grade competitions leading try scorer.

    In only Round One against Evans Head did Liam Cusack not score with his other tries so far this season coming in Round Two against Cudgen, Round Five against Tweed Coast, Round Six against Casino RSM and Round Eight against Mullumbimby.

    Liam Cusack added two more tries to his 2019 tally when he scored a double in Week One of the NRRRL First Grade Finals as Murwillumbah progressed to Week Two on the back of a 40 – 6 win over Casino RSM.

    Liam Cusack started the 2018 season off as part of the Northern Rivers U18 Laurie Daley Cup side starting three matches in the centres scoring in his third and final start against the Greater Northern Tigers.

    Post the Laurie Daley Cup competition, Liam Cusack had an outstanding campaign for the Cudgen Hornets in the NRRRL U18 competition finishing as the competitions leading try scorer in the regular season. Liam Cusack started the NRRRL U18 Grand Final in the centres but the Hornets hit a red hot Ballina Seagulls side going down 30 – 4 in the decider.

    Liam Cusack played twelve U18 NRRRL regular season matches finishing with seventeen tries for a 142% strike rate. Liam Cusack scored hat tricks against Casino RSM and Evans Heads as well as doubles against Lower Clarence in two matches and Murwillumbah.

    Liam Cusack’s other three tries came in matches against Lismore Marist Brothers, Kyogle and Murwillumbah.

    For Cudgen in the NRRRL U18 competition in 2017 year Liam Cusack played in thirteen matches and has totalled 30 points from seven tries and a single conversion. Liam Cusack crossed for a hat trick against Mullumbimby in May and either side of his hat trick match Liam Cusack scored against Mullumbimby and Evans Heads. His other two tries came in consecutive weeks in late July against Casino RSM and the Tweed Coast Raiders.

    In 2016 Liam Cusack played for Gold Coast White in the CC competition. Liam Cusack was also named in the Group 18 U16 representative side for 2016 after representing Group 18 at the U14 and U15 level previously and also playing for the Titans development squads in past years as well. He has to date scored one try in the two CC games that he has played so far this season.

    Liam Cusack is an agile runner of the football who relies on his decent speed and elusiveness to make it difficult for larger opponents to line him up. When lining up at fullback he always makes himself available for offloads in the centre of the ruck. One thing that impresses me is that he does not jog after the ball when it is kicked down field, Liam Cusack will flat out sprint to get there either on the full or as quickly as possible, thus eliminating the effectiveness of the oppositions kicking game. When he retrieves the ball he makes a decision quickly about where to look to run around a staggered defensive line or to run straight in an effort to make as much ground as possible.

    Liam Cusack has the ability to sweep around the back of the ruck and also pop up in supporting in the middle of the ruck, either running himself or looking for offloads from his forwards and use his footwork against big tiring forwards. His passing game is solid and on occasion he drifts across the field looking for runners to run into holes and has the ability to “freeze” the defensive line, making to easier for his support runners. Also his hands at fullback are quite safe and dependable when collecting kicks.

    Liam Cusack is not the biggest or necessarily strongest player but will take the hit when needing to make the tackle in the last line of defence and uses the sideline well to redirect the opposition towards the sideline. He is also effective at forcing the attacker to make a decision with the football rather than allowing them the time and opportunity to progressively work through their options.

    Moving to the 2021 season Liam Cusack should one again be a key member of the Murwillumbah First Grade side.

    From a position perspective, Liam Cusack has also played some football and half, five eight and centre as well as fullback, but for me Liam Cusack has found his niche on the left wing.

    From a player comparison perspective, think of someone along the lines of for St George Dragons and New Zealnad International winger Jason Nightingale as a solid player across the board.

  2. #1292
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    Caleb Nicholls. The former Titans junior development squad member played the 2020 season will the Murwillumbah Mustangs in the NRRRL First Grade competition playing primarily on the right wing, including starting the physical Round Five match against the Tweed Coast Raiders.

    In the match against the Raiders Caleb Nicholls recorded a try assist, when Murwillumbah, from fifty metres out ran the ball down a short blind side, the ball went through the hands of Ked Hill to Thomas Vickery who put Caleb Nicholls into space down the right touch line. Caleb Nicholls then drew the fullback and passed back inside to Thomas Vickery who scored out wide.

    Caleb Nicholls also started on the right wing in Round Six as Murwillumbah defeated the Bilambil Jets 36 – 6 and once again in Round Seven as the Mustangs thumped Cudgen 44 – 8 and in Round Eight as the Mustangs went down 18 – 10 to the Bilambil Jets.

    Caleb Nicholls also started on the right wing in the 2020 NRRRL First Grade Major Semi-final against the Tweed Coast Raiders scoring the first try of the match when he was on hand to retrieve a cross kick to his wing that was dropped by the Tweed Coast left winger early in the match.

    Caleb Nicholls moved to right centre for the 2020 NRRRL First Grade Preliminary Final and was his aggressive self as Murwillumbah booked a Grand Final berth on the back of a last minute 20 – 18 victory.

    Caleb Nicholls moved back to the right wing for Murwillumbah in the 2020 NRRRL Green Grand Final, but unfortunately the Mustangs went down 24 – 18 against the Tweed Coast Raiders.

    The former Titans contracted youngster was back on the Gold Coast after a season with the Newcastle Knights and lined up line up for the Tweed Heads Seagulls U20 Colts side in 2019 and was be U20 Colts eligible once again in 2020.

    In Round One of the 2019 season for Tweed Heads against the Western Mustangs Caleb Nicholls started in the centres in an 18 – 14 Seagulls victory. Caleb Nicholls started at left centre again in Round Two against the Townsville Blackhawks and scored the Seagulls first try late in the first half.

    In total in the 2019 Hastings Deering’s Colts competition to date Caleb Nicholls has played in five of Tweed Heads six matches, starting the opening three in the centres before moving to the interchange bench for Round Four. After missing Round Five, Caleb Nicholls was back for Round Six against the Mackay Cutters once again starting from the interchange bench.

    Caleb Nicholls headed down to Newcastle for the 2018 season starting the season as part of the Newcastle Knights U18 SG Ball side, playing in six of the eleven matches in that competition for the Knights, starting all on the left wing and scoring a double in Round Two against the Balmain Tigers.

    Caleb Nicholls first try of the match, in the first half was one of the easier ones that he will score when he went over untouched in the left corner. His second try could not have been more different. In the second half Caleb Nicholls got the ball about ten metres out from the Balmain line with two defenders in front out him, he used his strength to hold them off to score in the corner with his legs over the touchline but his strength, balance and body control allowed him to get the ball down before he was knocked into touch.

    Post the SG Ball competition, Caleb Nicholls played in nine matches for the Maitland Pickers in the Newcastle Rugby League U19 competition including starting on the wing in the Grand Final in their 13 – 6 win against Western Suburbs. In his nine matches, Caleb Nicholls scored three tries.

    In 2018 Caleb Nicholls was also part of the All Saints College Maitland Rugby League Open side that performed so well in the NRL School Boys Cup competition where he played the majority of his matches in the centres.

    In a 34 – 16 Round One win against St Gregory’s College Campbelltown Caleb Nicholls kicked five conversions from six attempts. Round Two saw Caleb Nicholls score in another 34 – 16 win this time against Matraville Sports High and Caleb Nicholls scored again in All Saints College Maitland’s 32 – 20 Quarter Final Victory against Sydney’s Holy Cross Ryde.

    2018 also saw Caleb Nicholls represent the Newcastle/Maitland U18 rugby league side in the centres in the New South Wales Northern Region Combined Catholic College trials, where one of his opponents from the Lismore side was Titans contracted half Matt Buttenshaw who will also be part of the Tweed Heads Seagulls Colts squad this season.

    In 2017 Caleb Nicholls was a standout for Bilambil on the Gold Coast playing for the Jets in the U17 Division One, U19 and First Grade competitions, on occasions playing multiple matches in those grades over the course of the weekend.

    In the U17 Division One competition, Caleb Nicholls played in eleven matches scoring seven tries and kicking eight goals to finish the season with 44 points. Caleb Nicholls scored a hat trick against Mudgeeraba, a double also against Mudgeeraba and also scored single tries against yes Mudgeeraba and Burleigh.

    With the boot Caleb Nicholls kicked four and three conversions in separate matches against, yes you guessed it Mudgeeraba.

    In the 2017 U19 competition, Caleb Nicholls played in nine matches, scoring six tries including a double against Mudgeeraba and tries against Ormeau in two matches, Runaway Bay and Tugun.

    With the boot Caleb Nicholls kicked sixteen gaols including six late in the season against Tugun and four against Ormeau early in the season.

    Caleb Nicholls made his GCRL First Grade debut in early June 2017 against Southport, playing in four matches in total and scoring against Currumbin and Southport.

    In 2016 Caleb Nicholls was part of the New South Wales U16 Emerging Origin Squad and played in the Cyril Connell Cup competition.

    In attack Caleb Nicholls is very effective especially when he gets the ball early and as able to generate momentum in his frame to look to dominate his immediate opponent, he has decent speed off the mark but obviously the more time he had before he impacted the defensive line the more ground Caleb Nicholls was able to make.

    The majority of time, Caleb Nicholls immediate mind set is to look to run over his direct opponent rather than necessarily run around or step them.

    Defensively Caleb Nicholls is intriguing, he has the size to hit hard defensively but also has a solid repeatable low tackling technique. In short Caleb Nicholls is equally effective in defending against larger wingers who look to run over the top of him and the smaller wingers looking to use speed and guile to beat him on the outside.

    Caleb Nicholls does have a decent in and away move and a solid fend which he can use to his advantage but as noted his first reaction seems to be to use his size to try to steam roll his direct opponent.

    2021will see Caleb Nicholls continue to line up for Murwillumbah in the NRRRL First Grade competition but I still think that Caleb Nicholls has the potential and skill set, as well as size to be able to forge a career in the Queensland Cup.

    I really liked how Caleb Nicholls played in the centres in 2017 and prior but over the last couple of seasons Caleb Nicholls has played almost exclusively on the wing including for the Newcastle Knights U18 SG Ball side, the Maitland Pickers and Murwillumbah this season. Although I do note that he played in the centres in relation to school boy rugby league in 2018.

    A player with a similar playing style for me for Caleb Nicholls would be Cronulla Sharks outside back Ricky Leutele, they are both around the same size and look to use their size and speed to their advantage to dominate the opponent directly in front of them.

  3. #1293
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    Thomas Vickery. After spending the recent off season training with the Melbourne Storm U20 side left centre Thomas Vickery could not have done any more in Murwillumbah's 38-36 loss to the Bilambil Jets on Sunday in Round Two of the NRRRL First Grade competition scoring a double and kicking six from six to finish with twenty points. Before his Round Two heroics Thomas Vickery had also started Round One at left centre against the Tweed Coast Raiders.

    Thomas Vickery also crossed in Round Five against the Tweed Coast in a Mustangs two point 18 – 16 vicory and has been the case all season Thomas Vickery started the match at left centre. Murwillumbah, from fifty metres out ran the ball down a short blind side, the ball went through the hands of Ked Hill to Thomas Vickery who put Caleb Nicholls into space down the right touch line. Caleb Nicholls then drew the fullback and passed back inside to Thomas Vickery who scored out wide.

    Thomas Vickery added a further try from the right centre position in Round Six as Murwillumbah defeated Bilambil 36 – 6. Thomas Vickery contributed sixteen of the Mustangs forty four points in Round Seven in a 44 – 8 win against the Bilambil Jets scoring a hat trick and kicking two goals from the centre position and also scored in Round Eight.

    Thomas Vickery also started at left centre in the 2020 NRRRL First Grade Major Semi-final against the Tweed Coast Raiders also starting there as Murwillumbah defeated Bilambil 20 – 18 in the dying minutes in the Preliminary FInal. In the Mustangs 2020 NRRRL Green First Grade Grand Final loss to the Tweed Coast Raiders 24 – 18, Thomas Vickery once again started at left centre.

    The young utility started the 2019 season of starting at five eight in Round One for the Northern Rivers Titans in the U18 Laurie Daley Cup competition against the Newcastle Knights Development Squad.

    Thomas Vickery tried his guts out the entire match and setup the Northern Rivers Titans sole try of the match late in the second half. Thomas Vickery was operating on the left side of the field and threw a great cut-out pass to left winger Jahvis Kendall who went over untouched and was even able to bring the ball around by about ten metres or so to make the conversion easier for Thomas Vickery.

    Round Two saw Thomas Vickery move to right centre for the Northern Rivers Titans match against the Parramatta Eels.

    Round Three saw another position change for Thomas Vickery when he started at fullback against the North Coast Bulldogs in Grafton and converted Cooper Many’s second half try near the left upright.

    Round Four against the Central Coast Roosters saw Thomas Vickery on the move again, moving back to right centre where he played in Round Two and converted two of the Northern Rivers Titans three tries.

    In Round five against the Greater Northern Tigers Thomas Vickery stayed at centre and added four goals to his points tally in the competition.

    Post the 2019 Laurie Daley Cup competition Thomas Vickery started in the U18 NRRRL competition for Murwillumbah kicking four goals as the Colts started their season off with a 36 – 4 victory over the Evans Head Bombers.

    In Round Two Thomas Vickery added a try and two goals as Murwillumbah went down 18 – 16 to the Lower Clarence Magpies a side which contained Titans contract stand out Ethan Foster.

    In the 2019 NRRRL U18 competition, Thomas Vickery played in fifteen matches scoring ninety six points from four tries and forty goals. In only one U18 NRRRL match in 2019 did Thomas Vickery not get his name on the scoreboard with the Cudgen Hornets being the side that held Thomas Vickery scoreless.

    In addition to his Round Two try against Lower Clarence, Thomas Vickery has also scored against Tweed Coast in two separate matches and also against Ballina in early July 2019.

    With the boot, Thomas Vickery kicked five goals in a late July match against Cudgen, kicked four twice, being against the Evans Head Bombers and the Byron Bay Devils and kicked three goals in a match on six occasions.

    Thomas Vickery’s forty goals was enough to see him finish as the NRRRL U18 competitions third leading goal kicker and his ninety six points meant that he finished 4th in the total points scored category.

    Thomas Vickery played his first NRRRL First Grade match of the 2019 in Round Eight against Mullumbimby scoring in a Mustangs 28 – 10 victory.

    Thomas Vickery has also played in three NRRRL regular season Reserve Grade matches in 2019 with his debut coming early in August against Tweed Coast, scoring in that match.

    Thomas Vickery also started on the wing for Murwillumbah in the Week Two Reserve Grade Final’s and scored as Murwillumbah went down 14 – 6 to the Tweed Coast Raiders. Thomas Vickery also scored in his third NRRRL Reserve Grade match which was against Byron Bay in early August.

    Thomas Vickery also started on the wing in the NRRRL Reserve Grade Preliminary and was one of Murwillumbah’s try scorers as they bowed out after going down 26 – 24 to Casino RSM.

    Thomas Vickery was also part of the Keebra Park Langer Cup squad in 2019 including starting on the left wing in the Gold Coast derby against PBC and scoring a first half hat trick. For all intents and purposes all three tries were similar with Thomas Vickery staying on his touch line and showing impressive speed down the touch line to score, including on one occasion when he got a clip across the ear for his troubles after he had put the ball down.

    Thomas Vickery also started on the left wing for Keebra Park in their Queensland GIO Cup quarter final win over Coombabah State High School 42 – 12 as well as their GIO Cup Queensland semi-final loss to Wavell State High School.

    In 2018 Thomas Vickery played two matches for the Northern Rivers Titans Laurie Daley Cup squad, being Round One against the Newcastle Knights when he started on the wing and in Round Four when he started in the centres against the Central Coast Roosters.

    Thomas Vickery had a big game against the Central Coast Roosters scoring a double and also kicking a conversion for a ten point match haul.

    In Round Five against the Greater Northern Tigers Thomas Vickery added a try and four goals to his season points tally in a tough four point loss.

    Post the 2018 Laurie Daley Cup competition, Thomas Vickery played for Murwillumbah in the NRRRL competition, playing in the U18, reserve grade and first grade competitions over the course of the 2018 season.

    Thomas Vickery played his first NRRRL First Grade match of the 2019 season in Round Eight scoring against Mullumbimby.

    In the 2018 U18 competition, Thomas Vickery played in eight matches in 2018 scoring twenty points which was made up of two tries and six goals. Both of his tries came against Evans Head in August, a match which also saw him kick four goals to finish with a match total of sixteen points, which accounted for 80% of his season total.

    Thomas Vickery played three NRRRL Reserve Grade matches in 2018 as well and in his reserve grade debut for Murwillumbah scored a double against Cudgen.

    Thomas Vickery made his deserved NRRRL First Debut as a 17 year old Casino RSM in April and went on to play in eleven First Grade matches, scoring his first try in his third match against Mullumbimby. Thomas Vickery followed that up with a double later in the season against Evans Head, a match which also saw him kick a conversion.

    Thomas Vickery is not the biggest rugby league player running around but do not take his lack of size in any way as a lack of ability or courage, he has a lot of both, which is on display each time he runs onto the field. With the ball he is a very good distributor and will take the ball to the line in an effort to set up his supports.

    Thomas Vickery is adept at drawing an opposing defender out of the defensive line and then putting his support runner through the resulting gap. In terms of his speed, I would suggest that an appropriate definition of his speed would be that he is quick off the mark but does not have an extra gear when he breaks into open space.

    In previous seasons when I have seen him play he sometimes took the line on himself too much, but the times that I have seen him play more recently Thomas Vickery has become more selective about when to pass and when to run. Thomas Vickery’s passing game is solid but seems to be slightly better when he is passing to the right side of the field.

    Thomas Vickery is also very vocal on the field always talking and encouraging his side both in attack and defence. Thomas Vickery also has a touch of aggressiveness about his play on occasion which showed in the Northern Rivers Titans U18 Round two match against the Parramatta Eels early in 2019.

    Thomas Vickery is not the biggest player but even when defending in the front line will tackle using his shoulder which assists when defending against larger forwards operating on the fringes of the ruck.

    Whilst not the biggest Thomas Vickery is strong and tough enough to effectively tackle one on one against opposing halves and with his solid speed and foot work he can cover a lot of ground as he tracks the ball across the field. Thomas Vickery is certainly not going to be a liability in defence for his team and is more than willing to take on bigger forwards.

    When defending at fullback Thomas Vickery forces the opposition to make a decision with the football rather than letting the attackers come to him with time on their side and at fullback has very safe hands and will get to a lot of kicks on the full thus enabling his team to start their set of six with good field position, courage is also not an issues for the young Gold Coast junior.

    Thomas Vickery has played multiple positions over the last couple of seasons but has settled in the centres this season for Murwillumbah in the NRRRL First Grade competition.

    If Thomas Vickery does not push for an opportunity in the 2021 Queensland Cup competition he will continue to be a stand out performer for the Murwillumbah Mustangs in the NRRRRL First Grade competition.

    From a player comparison perspective in relation to Thomas Vickery, think of someone along the lines of current Newcastle Knights and former St George Dragons fullback Kurt Mann as just a solid, safe and dependable player across the board who can play a variety of positions in the backline from fullback all the way through to the halves.

  4. #1294
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    Kade Hill. (Revised) He is a young half/five eight from Northern New South Wales who has been part of the Titans junior development set up in the NRRRL region and attended a Titans Elite Academy Camp that was held for 18 young Titans contracted players at Lennox Heads in late 2017.

    Kade Hill played the 2020 season will the Murwillumbah Mustangs in the NRRRL First Grade competition playing primarily at five eight including in a physical encounter in Round Five when Kade Hill scored an outstanding individual try. With Murwillumbah on the attack, Kade Hill received the ball off the dummy half to the right of the play the ball. Kade Hill took the ball on breaking two tackles five metres out from the line before stepping off his right foot to beat the Raiders fullback and was able to bring the ball around to put it down under the posts.

    Kade Hill also started at five eight in the 2020 NRRRL First Grade Major Semi-final against the Tweed Coast Raiders with Kade Hill forcing a line drop out in the second half with a deft chip kick in the second half.

    Kade Hill continued his good for in the 2020 NRRRL First Grade Preliminary Final scoring a first half try and setting up Murwillumbah’s last minute try that propelled them to a 20 – 18 victory to seal a Grand Final berth. Kade Hill’s try came in the first half when he was operating on the left side of the field down the short side, Kade Hill got on the outside of his immediate defender after dummying to his right and held off a defender with his left arm to score from ten metres out.

    With just seconds to go in the match, Kade Hill recorded the critical try assist that propelled Murwillumbah into the 2020 NRRRL Green First Grade Grand Final when he put in a well weighted short chip kick to the right wing, for Titans contracted Riley Lack to take on the full and dive over out wide.

    Kade Hill also played from the five eight position in the NRRRL Green 2020 First Grade Grand Final but unfortunately Murwillumbah went down 24 – 18 to the Tweed Coast Raiders.

    Kade Hill started the 2019 season at five eight for the Tweed Heads Seagulls 2019 MM side playing in a total of seven games starting all at five eight.

    Kade Hill had two try assists in Round Three both from kicks with Ben Liyou and Caleb Hodges the try recipients with the Caleb Hodges try coming in the last minute of the match to win the match for Tweed Heads.

    Kade Hill added another try assist in Round Four when Tweed Heads travelled to Central Queensland to take on the Capra’s. Kade Hill received the ball about ten metres out and holding the ball in two hands, dummied inside before throwing a cut out lob pass to his left to Caleb Hodges who scored near the left corner flag.

    2019 also say Kade Hill make the 2019 South Coast U18 side from Keebra Park State High School.

    In 2018 Kade Hill played five matches for the Murwillumbah Mustangs in the NRRRL U18 competition scoring two tries in the process, with those tries coming against the Tweed Coast Raiders and Kyogle.

    Kade Hill also represented Keebra Park in a number of their school boy competitions in 2018.

    Over the course of the 2017 season Kade Hill along with two other Titans linked youngsters in second rower Ben Liyou and Jordan Tauali’i stood out for the East Coast Dolphins U16 side which made the New South Wales Country U16 Age Championship final and also along with his two team mates made the New South Wales Country U16 side that were undefeated on a two match tour of New Zealand’s South Island playing an U17 Canterbury selection as well as a West Coast selection in Greymouth. Kade Hills was able to cross for a double in their semi-final victory over the Bidgee Bulls and recently he was named the Group 18 U16 Player of the Year.

    During the 2016 season, Kade Hill represented Group 18 at the U15 level where he played at half back partnering talented five eight Mitchell Malone. Kade Hill as also part of the Titans squad that played the Balmain Tigers in an U15 trial match on the Gold Coast late in 2016.

    For Group 18 in 2016, Kade Hill played in two matches being against Group 21 and Group Three over the course of the 18/19 June weekend and scored a good solo try on the Sunday against Group Three.

    In 2016 Kade Hill also represented the North Coast in a match against the Hunter Region in the New South Wales Greater Northern Rugby League Exchange competition scoring a very good individual try in the process showcasing his speed off the mark and deft right foot step.

    In 2015 Kade Hill represented Group 18 in the U14 age group. He played his schoolboy rugby league with Murwillumbah High School in Northern NSW. Kade Hill is a multi-sport athlete, as he also played cricket where he seemed to be a decent spin bowler and played touch football as well highlighting his versatility.

    In attack Kade Hill has above average to plus speed off the mark but does not necessary have an extra gear in open space, but he is able to sustain his top speed over considerable distance. In confined space, he has very good footwork, including a good step off both feet.

    Kade Hill can beat defenders in the inside with a step and if the defensive line is staggered a dummy and go, presents multiple headaches for the opposition’s defensive strategies.

    At present, one area for him to continue to develop is his play making skills, including putting his runners, whether they are backrowers or centres into holes. With experience however there is nothing to suggest that these type of play making skills will not develop over time as we are talking about still young blokes here.

    As games progress Kade Hill is very good at identifying tired forwards in the defensive line, and he will target them accordingly. Presumably as a result of his time playing touch football, Kade Hill plays what is in front of him rather than just play to a set game plan, which is a sign of a young player with a good understanding of the game.

    In defence, due to his size Kade Hill is obviously not going to come up with the big hit but reads the play well enough and can hold his own when defending much bigger players. When confronted with forwards running directly at him on the edge of the ruck, Kade Hill will get in front of them and use his shoulder in an effort to contain them until defensive help arrives.

    Due to his speed off the mark Kade Hill is also a very good cover defender as he tracks the ball across the field and has a solid low tackling technique from the side.

    Moving forward to the 2021 season Kade Hill is still U20 eligible nad thus I would anticipate that he would be a real chance at being part of the Tweed Heads Seagull U20 Hastings Deering’s Colts squad.

    From a position perspective, with his footwork, speed off the mark and developing play making skills, he certainly has the attributes to stay in the halves, either at five eight or half. I do not think that Kade Hill has ever played there but I would be intrigued to see how he would go at fullback, purely from a physical and skill attribute perspective rather than an analysis of his current play.

    From a player comparison perspective, think of former Titan and Manly Sea Eagle Kane Elgey as a developing ball player and game manager with very good speed and evasion in confined space. At this stage in his career Kade Hill does not have the size of Kane Elgey but he still has plenty of growing and filling out to do.

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    Jedd Windle. The Byron Bay/Lennox Head backrower represented the Group 18 U14 side in 2018 in the New South Wales Country Age Championships and post those Championships was selected as part of the Titans 2018/19 Group 18 U15 Development Squad and was involved in the Titans U15 sides that took on another Titans side as well as the Western Mustangs in early February at Mudgeeraba.

    Jedd Windle came into the U16 Northern Rivers Titans U16 Andrew Johns Cup side in Round Three against the Central Coast coming off the bench in the match spending time in the front row in his time on the field.

    Even though he was U16 eligible, Jedd Windle started the 2020 season (in late July) as part of the Byron Bay U18 NRRRL side starting Round One against Cudgen at right second row and also started at right second row in Round Four against Marist Brothers Lismore. In Round Seven against Casino RSM Jedd Windle also started in the second row as the Devils defeated Casino RSM 30 – 20.

    Round Nine of the 2020 NRRRL U18 competition saw Jedd Windle start in the second row and score for Byron Bay as they defeated Marist Brothers Lismore 28 – 14. Jedd Windle also started in the second row in Round Ten against Ballina.

    In Byron Bay’s 2020 NRRRL U18 Gold Preliminary Final against Marist Brothers Lismore, Jedd Windle started at left second row and scored as Byron Bay went down in extra time in an exceptional match in which neither team deserved to lose.

    Jedd Windle scored in the first half when he received a pass when he was outside of the last Marist defender nad he was able to run fifteen metres to score eight metres in from the left corner. Jedd Windle almost scored a second try, but after darting out of dumy half to the left was stopped millimetres short of the line.

    Late in the 2019 season Jedd Windle represented Group 18 at the U15 New South Wales Country Age Championships in Port Macquarie being named in the front row for the 2019 New South Wales Country Age Championships.

    In May 2019 Jedd Windle was named in the NSW Country U15 Gold side for the NSW Rugby Age Championships after representing the Far North Coast Dolphins in the 2019 NSW Country Championships held in Lismore.

    Jedd Windle also represented the Northern region NSW CCC U15 rugby league side at their trials held in May 2019 in Sydney after the Ballina Coast High School student stood out for the Far North Coast side in the Northern Trials.

    In the 2018 U14 New South Wales Country Age Championships for Group 18 Jedd Windle played in all three of Group 18’s matches which were against Group’s 21, Four and Two.

    In 2018 Jedd Windle also played rugby for Lennox Head in the Far Norther Coast U14 competition playing in twelve matches including their semi-final loss to Wollongbar/Tweed. He started all bar one match, being Round Eleven against Lismore when he started from the bench at No. 8 and was outstanding on his way to scoring thirteen tries and kicking twelve conversions.

    Jedd Windle scored hat tricks against Lismore in Rounds Six and Eight and scored doubles against Lismore in Round two and Wollongbar/Tweed in Round Twelve. Jedd Windle’s other tries came against Wollongbar/Tweed in Rounds Three, Five and Nine.

    With the boot Jedd Windle kicked three conversions against Lismore in Round Two and against Wollongbar/Tweed in Round Twelve.

    Jedd Windle is by no means the biggest second rower running around but he really does throw himself into the defensive line. Jedd Windle’s normal running line seems to be on a slight angle away from the ruck and as noted on occasion he will veer back towards the ruck, I would not call it a step but more of a change to his running angle rather than a specific change of running direction.

    Jedd Windle can also run a very good outside shoulder route and 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.

    Jedd Windle also has very good late and quick foot work which enables him to change direction quickly allowing him to readjust where he is running to take advantage of either a late developing hole in the defensive line or where the defensive line is repositioning late. Jedd Windle’s speed can certainly be considered above average for a backrower.

    Whilst his ball running skills are the first thing that you will likely notice when seeing Jedd Windle play his defence is equally effective even though it may not be as noticeable at first glance. Defensively Jedd Windle has a hard edge to his play and Jedd Windle’s initial contact is more than sufficient to redirect the momentum of the ball carrier either in the centres or when defending in the forwards.

    Jedd Windle sets a very good base which he uses to explode into the ball carrier looking to use their own momentum against them. Jedd Windle is also adept at finishing off the tackle and slowing the subsequent play the ball down.

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

    Jedd Windle 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 Jedd Windle will hold his ground to let the play to develop in front of him before committing to a specific defensive course of action.

    Even though Jedd Windle was U16 eligible in 2020 he spent the season playing for the Byron Bay Devils U18 NRRRL side and will more than likely continue to play in that competition once again in 2021. Jedd Windle should also be very competitive in looking to gain a place in the 2021 Northern Rivers Titans U18 Laurie Daley Cup side.

    Jedd Windle’s game is not just about his size and speed, he has an indefinable quality about the way he plays in terms of his ability to understand what his team needs over the course of the match and respond accordingly, whether that is a straight run into the defence or a big tackle to fire up his team mates.

    From a style perspective think of a someone along the lines of Brisbane Bronco 2020 captain and New Zealand International second rower Alex Glenn 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.

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

    Jedd Windle was born to play rugby league, it is as simple as that.

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    Daniel Butterini. (Revised) He is a local young centre originally from just south of the border, who has previously been part of the Titans High Performance Program and also at PBC State High School as part of their Rugby League excellence program.

    Daniel Butterini was named to start in the centres for the Northern Rivers Titans in Round One of the 2020 U18 Laurie Daley Cup against the Parramatta Eels at Cudgen however the match was cancelled due to the wet conditions.

    Daniel Butterini started Round Two of the U18 Laurie Daley Cup at left centre against the Newcastle Knights in Ballina.

    Daniel Butterini also started at left centre in Round Three against the Central Coast Roosters and had a huge match on the way to scoring a hat trick. In relation to his first try, Daniel Butterini received the ball wide out to the left of the field after a Northern Rivers Titans scrum win fifteen metres out from the Central Coast line and immediately cut back inside twice to crash over five metres from the left upright.

    Daniel Butterini scored his second try when he was on the spot to take a Thomas Weaver kick when it bounced perfectly. Daniel Butterini was able to take the bouncing ball above his head and place it down a metre inside the dead ball line.

    Daniel Butterini scored his third and final try from a twenty metre dash out of dummy half. With the Central Coast defence back peddling Daniel Butterini got into dummy half and ran to the right of the play the ball producing a left foot step near the try line to wrong foot the remaining defenders to dive over mid-way between the corner post and the left goal post.

    Daniel Butterini also started at left centre in Round Four against the Greater Northern Tigers adding a try assist to his 2020 stats sheet. Daniel Butterini cut inside off his left foot with the Titans on the attack and it looked like he would score himself but had his legs taken out from under him. Daniel Butterini was not held however and flicked the ball out of the back of his right hand when he was on his knees to Jaylon DeGroot to score.

    Daniel Butterini also started at left centre in the Round Five local derby against North Coast scoring in the first half when he ran into a gap on the left side of the field and took a ball from Thomas Weaver who had drifted across the field.

    Also in 2020 Daniel Butterini was part of the PBC Langer Cup Open school boy rugby league Open A squad for the Term Three school boy rugby league competition. In PBC’s first trial after the Covid 19 pandemic, Daniel Butterini started at left second row for the PBC A side that played against the PBC B side.

    Daniel Butterini started Round One of the Langer Cup at right second row as PBC took on Ipswich State High School and also started in the second row in Round Two against Wavell State High School and in Round Three against St Mary’s Toowoomba.

    Daniel Butterini also started at right second row in the Round Four local derby against Keebra Park and also started in that same position in Round Five against Marsden State High School, scoring PBC’s first try of the match and also recording a second half try assist.

    Daniel Butterini’s try came early in the first half when he was on hand to dive on a grubber kick from Ryan Rivett. Daniel Butterini’s try assist was certainly not a conventional one, on the last tackle, PBC put up a hopeful cross field kick towards the left, Daniel Butterini took the ball on the full and was able to be a one armed, right arm pass over his head to his support to score in the left hand corner of the field.

    Daniel Butterini also started at left second row for PBC as they qualified for the 2020 Langer Cup final on the back of an impressive 34 – 6 victory over Ipswich State High School.

    Daniel Butterini started the 2020 Langer Cup Grand Final at left second row for PBC as they defeated Keebra Park 16 – 8 in a high quality match scoring PBC’s first try of the match when he ran a great line into a gap from round five metres out from the line to take a pass from Thomas Weaver to put the ball down five metres in from the left corner post.

    In the Queensland School Boys Final against Kirwan State High School Daniel Butterini started at left second row as PBC travelled to take on their North Queensland based opponents with PBC going down 24 - 20.

    Daniel Butterini played the 2020 season will the Murwillumbah Mustangs in the NRRRL First Grade competition playing primarily at lock including an outstanding performance in Round Four against Cudgen and an equally impressive performance in a physical Round Six match against the Tweed Coast Raiders. Daniel Butterini also started at lock in Round Eight against the Bilambil Jets.

    Daniel Butterini also started at lock in the 2020 NRRRL First Grade Major Semi-final against the Tweed Coast Raiders and also in the Preliminary Final, with Daniel Butterini scoring a critical try with five minutes remaining to get back into the match that they eventually won with a last minute try 20 – 18 to progress into the Grand Final.

    Daniel Butterini’s late match try was an outstanding solo affair. With just five minutes to go, Daniel Butterini took a hit-up to the right of the play the ball, immediately cutting back behind the play the ball and holding off a defender as he ran parralell to the defensive line with his left arm. When he was able to break free of the defender Daniel Butterini stepped off his left foot to get through the Bilambil defensive line and was able to outpace the cover defence to dive over next to the left upright.

    Daniel BUtterini started at lock in the 2020 NRRRL First Grade Grand Final against the Tweed Coast Raiders, scoring a second half try, however that could not prevent Murwillumbah going donw 24 – 18 in the decider.

    Daniel Butterini’s Grand Final try was yet another impressive individual effort. Daniel Butterini was on hand to retrieve a grubber kick that the Mustangs put in that rebounded off Raiders feet. When he collected the ball, Daniel Butterini ran across field to his left palming off three defenders with his right arm. When his progress was bloakced by additional defenders, Daniel Butterini propped and turned back to his right, using his left arm to fend off two more defenders before straightening up to score just to the right of the uprights to get Murwillumbah back to within six points.

    Whilst Daniel Butterini lined up primarily for the Murwillumbah Mustangs NRRRL First Grade side in 2020, he did start in the back row in the NRRRL U18 Green Grand Final as the Mustangs went down 28 – 16 to the Cudgen Hornets, and then backed up to start at lock in the 2020 NRRRL First Grade Grand Final.

    In 2019 Daniel Butterini was part of the Tweed Heads Seagulls MM Cup squad however did not feature in any of their matches.

    Daniel Butterini was on song in Round Two of the 2019 GCRL U18 Division One competition scoring a try and kicking five goals for Currumbin as they defeated Bilambil 30-4. Daniel Butterini started the match in the centres for the Eagles.

    In total for Currumbin in the 2019 GCRL U18 Division One competition Daniel Butterini played in six matches before making a move to Murwillumbah in the NRRRL U18 competition.

    Daniel Butterini’s first match for Murwillumbah in the U18 NRRRL competition was in Round Thirteen against Lower Clarence with his first NRRRL U18 try coming in Round Fourteen against Ballina and his second in the regular season finale being Round Eighteen against Tweed Heads. In total Daniel Butterini played in five regular season matches to finish with a 40% strike rate.

    His 2019 NRRRL U18 campaign ended when Murwillumbah were defeated 26 – 10 by the Byron Bay Devils in the Elimination Final.

    Daniel Butterini made his NRRRL First Grade debut in Round Seventeen of the 2019 season for Murwillumbah against Byron Bay and added to that in Week One of the NRRRL First Grade Finals series when he came off the bench in a 40 – 6 win over Casino RSM.

    Daniel Butterini in 2019 was once again part of the PBC Open A rugby league side including starting from the bench in the Langer Cup A derby against Keebra Park in June.

    Daniel Butterini was also part of the Titans U15 squad that played against a Balmain Tigers selection late in 2017 year, in that match Daniel Butterini spent the majority of the game in the centres, left centre in particular.

    At the start of the 2018 season, Daniel Butterini was part of the U16 Gold Coast Vikings Yellow side that competed in the U16 South East Queensland Challenge and post that competition was called up to be part of the South East Queensland Green side for the Queensland U16 Age Championships playing all four of their matches including the Championship final which SEQ Green won 30 – 18 against South East Queensland White.

    Daniel Butterini played his club rugby league in 2018 with the Currumbin Eagles playing in twelve U16 Division One matches including the finals series scoring three tries in total, including a double against Mudgeeraba and also scored early in the season against Runaway Bay.

    Daniel Butterini started for Currumbin in the U16 Division One Grand Final but was on the losing side with opponents Nerang coming out victorious 24 – 8.

    Daniel Butterini also played one match in 2018 in the U17 Division One competition with that match coming against the Bilambil Jets late in the 2018 season.

    Daniel Butterini was selected this season in the South Coast U15 QSSRL side in 2017. Earlier in the 2017 season Daniel Butterini was also selected in the Group 18 U15 squad after representing Group 18 at the U14 level in 2016 where he played primarily at fullback in the New South Wales Country Age Championships.

    In late 2015 Daniel Butterini was named on the wing for the Titans U13 development squad for their match against a Toowoomba U14 selection, but unfortunately he did not participate in the match due to injury. In 2014 Daniel Butterini was named in the New South Wales North Coast U12 rugby league side from the Burringbar Public School in Murwillumbah.

    For a centre, Daniel Butterini is a strong young man who does not rely just on his size and speed and using his natural running balance to either engage the opposing defenders and off load, run either an inside or outside shoulder route or an in and away to slow the forward momentum of the defender and accelerate on the outside.

    For a player of his size, Daniel Butterini also has a very good passing game especially to his right side. When the ball is passed out to the back line, Daniel Butterini is very good at straitening up the attacking vector of his team and pass to his outside supports if they have room to move further out wide.

    From a speed perspective Daniel Butterini has above average speed for both his size and position and when he breaks into open space, he will rarely be caught from behind other than from only the fastest of opponents and he is also very good at positioning his support players when he gets to the fullback. The only possible question about Daniel Butterini’s speed is whether it will stay at or near the above average category as he matures and inevitably fills out.

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

    For me when I saw him play for either PBC, Burleigh, Murwillumbah or the Northern Rivers Titans U18 side Daniel Butterini was the defensive leader of the three quarter line and other defenders keyed off him in terms of whether to use an up and in methodology and slide to the outside.

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

    In 2021 Daniel Butterini will have two seasons of Colts eligibility in front of him and it is hard not to see a situation where Daniel Butterini is not part of the Tweed Heads Seagulls U20 Hastings Deering’s Colts squad.

    Daniel Butterini has played primarily in the centres throughout his junior rugby league career but has spent some time in the second row the last two seasons. For me though it is too early to write Daniel Butterini off in terms of not being able to stay in the centres long term.

    A player with a similar playing style for me for Daniel Butterini would be former Cronulla Sharks and Melbourne Storm centre Ricky Leutele, they are both around the same size and look to use their size and speed to their advantage to dominate the opponent directly in front of them.

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    Kai Smallwood. In early October 2020 Kai Smallwood was part of the Titans Group 18 U16 Invitational side that played a trial match against a Titans squad with the match being played at Cbus Stadium, giving the young players a great experience with an added bonus that the players wore Titans jerseys.

    For the late starting 2020 Group 18 club season, Kai Smallwood moved to South Tweed where he was named as U16 captain and was a stand out in Round One as the Bears defeated the Cudgen Hornets 36 – 26.

    After an outstanding 2020 Group 18 U16 regular season Kia Smallwood also starred in South Tweed’s Grand Final victory 20 – 16 over Murwillumbah, with Kia Smallwood being named Player of the Grand Final after starting the match in the halves.

    In the regular season in the 2020 Group 18 U16 season, South Tweed won seven games and lost three, along the way scoring 210 points and conceding 160 to finish with a +50 points differential.

    In early in October 2019 the quick stepping young half or five eight was part of a Titans U14/15 NRRRL Invitational side that played the Titans U14 Gold Coast/Brisbane Academy side in a development match at Tweed Heads Seagulls Piggabeen ground with Kai Smallwood’s side going down 32 – 10 in an exciting and entertaining match.

    It was great to see Kia Smallwood named on the extended bench for the Round Five local derby against the North Coast Bulldogs even though he did not make the final seventeen for the match. His selection showed that he was there or there abouts and his rugby league projection continues to be on track.

    Kai Smallwood was part of the Group 18 representative U15 side that played at the 2019 New South Wales Country Age Championships held in Port Macquarie in September. In those Championships Kai Smallwood started in the halves in all three of Group 18’s matches and scoring eighteen points in the process to finish as Group 18’s leading point’s scorer at the Championships.

    Kai Smallwood scored on Day Two against Newcastle, kicking three goals in that match as well to finish with ten points in an 18 all draw. On Day One Kai Smallwood kicked three goals against Central Coast and then backed that up by kicking a conversion later in the day against Group Three.

    Late in the 2019 season Kai Smallwood was named the 2019 Group 18 U15 representative teams best back.

    Kai Smallwood played the 2019 club rugby league season with Bilambil in the Group 18 U15 competition and in fact was named player of the Grand Final as Bilambil defeated Byron Bay/Lennox Head in a high quality encounter.

    In late 2019 Kai Smallwood headed to Sydney to trial for the 2020 New South Wales Koori U16 side with fellow Titan Michael Roberts.

    Kai Smallwood also represented Group 18 in 2018 at the U14 level at the New South Wales Age Championships. In 2018 Kai Smallwood scored a double in Group 18’s first match against Group 21.

    From an attacking perspective at this stage of his career Kia Smallwood is more of a runner of the ball rather than necessarily being an organiser but certainly there are flashes that show Kia Smallwood is more than capable of being an organiser and leading his side around the field taking into account the game plan and state of the game.

    Kia Smallwood’s regularly looks to take the line on himself with above average to near plus speed off the mark as well as exceptional evasive skills to complement his speed off the mark, Kia Smallwood is especially effective later in halves when the big forwards start to visibly fatigue.

    In the second half of last year, Kia Smallwood started to balance his game more and started to become more of a distributor and play maker. Kia Smallwood has always had this ability but as he has progressed up in age groups you can see that his understanding the game and his role in it with a more balanced approach to strategy and the game plan.

    Defensively Kia Smallwood is a feisty young man whose attitude and effectiveness in defence defies his size. He will take on any size opponent and even against the biggest of opponents will get in front of them and aim to fit them as hard as possible. Against opponents closer to his size Kia Smallwood will aggressively make the tackle and let his opponent know about it.

    From a position perspective, Kia Smallwood is only small in stature but with his organisational skills developing and speed off the mark nearing the plus category I believe that his best position as he transitions to senior rugby league is in the half back position. It would be interesting to see how Kia Smallwood would go at fullback with his elusive running style however.

    It will be interesting to see where Kai Smallwood plays in 2020, he will likely play for one of the Northern New South Wales clubs in the NRRRL U18 competition and Kia Smallwood is also a potential U18 Laurie Daley Cup Northern Rivers Titans squad member and will also be U18 eligible in 2022.

    For me Kai Smallwood has a similar playing style to that of former Titan and current English Super League player Albert Kelly. Like Kelly Kai Smallwood has the speed off the mark to be able to exploit gaps and also has a bit of unpredictability about him which keeps defensive lines honest especially when he runs with the ball in two hands.

    With continued development of his play making and passing skills Kai Smallwood has intriguing potential for the coming seasons. Kia Smallwood is a solid goal kicker as well and a developing tactical kicker who has the potential to be his side’s first choice kicker in both disciplines in future seasons.

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    Ben Thomas. (Revised) He is a local former Titans contracted player who spent the 2018-19 off-season training with the Titans NRL squad and in 2020 was part of the Tweed Heads Seagulls Queensland Cup squad before the seasons cancellation.

    With the cancellation of all competitions run by the Queensland Rugby League, Ben Thomas played the 2020 Gold Coast Rugby League competition with the Southport Tigers, starting Round One of the GCRL First Grade competition in the front row as the Tigers took on the Bureigh Bears and also started in the front row in Round Three against the Mudgeeraba Redbacks scoring and recording two try assists.

    Ben Thomas’s try came in the first half when he ran into a gap forty metres out before rounding the fullback to score under the posts. Both of Ben Thomas’s try assists came in the second half and both down the right side of the field. In relation to his first try assist Ben Thomas broke through the first line of the defence before putting in a short right footed kick which after hitting legs resulted in a Southport try.

    Ben Thomas’s second try assist was more “normal” when once again he was in space and drew the last Mudgeeraba defender to send his right centre (Lee Turner) away to score.

    Ben Thomas continued his run of starts for Southport in their Round Four match against Runaway Bay however he started the match at right second row before moving back to the front row for Round Five against the Currumbin Eagles.

    Ben Thomas moved to left second row for Round Eight as the Tigers went donw 23 – 22 to the Burleigh Bears and also started at left second row in Round Nine against the Mudgeeraba Redbacks.

    In the final regular season round of the 2020 Gold Coast Rugby League First Grade competition being Round Ten, Ben Thomas started from the bench as the Tigers took on the Tugun Seahawks.

    In Southport’s 2020 GCRL Sem-final against Burleigh, Ben Thomas started from the bench as the Tigers fell one win short of a Grand Final berth.

    Ben Thomas started from the interchange bench in the Titans first NRL trial of 2019 against the North Queensland Cowboys on the Sunshine Coast and had more than a number of positive contributions when he came on.

    Ben Thomas started Round One of the 2019 Hastings Deering’s Colts U20 competition in the front row for Tweed Heads in their Round One match with the Western Mustangs and scored Tweed Heads first try of the match in the 21st minute of the first half as Tweed Heads prevailed 18 – 14.

    Ben Thomas added to his 2019 try scoring tally in Round Four against Central Queensland scoring a double both from close range where he was able to use his strength to get across the line on each occasion.

    Ben Thomas also scored in Round Nine against Redcliffe when operating on the left he ran a good inside/outside line into a gap and rumbled thirty five to score out wide on the left.

    In total in the 2019 Hastings Deering’s Colts competition, Ben Thomas played in seventeen matches before injury struck, scoring four tries including a try in the second last minute in Round Twenty against Ipswich which led to Tweed Heads escaping the match with a 24 all draw.

    Ben Thomas also had a try assist in the match when he broke through he Ipswich defence whilst playing left second row, running forty metres before drawing the fullback.

    At the late September Tweed Heads Seagulls Presentation Night Ben Thomas was awarded the 2019 Tweed Heads Seagulls Hastings Deering’s Colts Players Player Award and also received four points in the 2019 Hastings Deering’s Colts Player of the Year Award tally.

    After taking a knock in a 2018 trial at Waterford where he left the field against South’s Logan it was good to see Ben Thomas start the 2018 season being named in the front row for the opening three rounds of the Hastings Deering’s U20 Colts competition for the Tweed heads Seagulls and in Round Two against the Victorian Thunderbolts in Melbourne scored a second half double in the Seagulls 36 – 16 loss.

    In total in the 2018 Hastings Deering’s Colts competition for Tweed Heads Ben Thomas has played in eighteen matches scoring six tries including the second half double against Victoria noted previously. Ben Thomas also scored a double against the Easts Tigers in Round Twenty One. Ben Thomas’s other tries came in Round Seventeen against Wynnum Manly and in Round Twenty Four against the Easts Tigers.

    Ben Thomas has started in the front row on six occasions, at lock twice and in the second row in his other eleven Colts matches.

    In addition to his matches with Tweed Heads in the Colts competition, Ben Thomas has also made four Gold Coast Rugby League First Grade appearances, making his debut against Tugun in June. Ben Thomas scored in his second First Grade match against Bilambil.

    Ben Thomas started off the 2017 season representing the Tweed Heads Seagulls in the MM Cup competition before moving to the Tweed Heads U20 Colts Challenge side and also making his NYC debut for the Titans in Round Fifteen against South Sydney.

    In addition to the match against South Sydney in Round Fifteen, Ben Thomas also played in Round Sixteen against the Wests Tigers on both occasions coming off the interchange bench. Ben Thomas only played 26 minutes in Round Fifteen and 24 in Round Sixteen but the experience was I am sure invaluable.

    Against South Sydney Ben Thomas ran for 47 metres on seven hit-ups and also made twelve tackles without missing any. Against the Wests Tigers, Ben Thomas took two hit-ups for fourteen metres and also made eight tackles.

    For Tweed Heads in the MM Cup competition in 2017 Ben Thomas only played in one match but he certainly made the most of it with a second half hat trick in Round Seven against the North’s Devils when he started from the interchange bench.

    Ben Thomas started the first five rounds of the 2017 U20 Colts Challenge competition in the second row for the Tweed Heads Seagulls but missed a fair bit of the season with injury but he was able to make it back for the Round Fifteen clash against the Western Mustangs.

    In the first five rounds Ben Thomas had a big impact scoring four tries including a double in Round Three against Redcliffe and tries in Round Two against Easts and in Round Five against Wynnum Manly. Ben Thomas also scored in all three of Tweed’s final’s matches in 2017 when he scored against Redcliffe, Easts and Norths. In total in 2017 Ben Thomas played in ten U20 Colts matches starting all in the second row, scoring eight tries in the process.

    In 2016 Ben Thomas was part of the Gold Coast White MM side who progressed all the way to the semi-finals before being beaten 13 – 10 by North’s. Ben Thomas scored four tries in the MM Cup competition for Gold Coast White in 2016, scoring doubles in Round Five against Gold Coast Green with both tries coming in the second half and Round Seven against the Easts Tigers.

    Of the eight matches that he played in the MM competition in 2016, Ben Thomas started six from the interchange bench including the two semi-finals. Ben Thomas’s first start was in Round Six against South’s Logan, he also started the Round Seven class against the Easts Tigers before playing the two semi-finals off the bench.

    Upon completion of the MM competition in 2016, Ben Thomas transitioned back to the U17 Division One competition with the Beaudesert Kingfishers, where a team mate was fellow Gold Coast White player and fellow former Titans contract local junior Charlie Gee. For the Kingfishers Ben Thomas played in eight matches and scored against Currumbin.

    In 2015, Ben Thomas a stellar year in CC competition finishing with a team leading eight tries across the games and winning the Queensland Cyril Connell Cup player of the year award. As a result of his good form in the CC competition, he was selected on the bench for the Queensland U16 side who went on to defeat NSW in Sydney in a State of Origin curtain raiser. Titan’s team mates that night were winger (now backrower) Reihana Marsh and second rower Darius Farmer.

    Ben Thomas also started at lock for the U16 Titans development squad in their 2015 against Samoa, where with Titans contracted Darius Farmer he was the Titans best for me in conditions best suited for forwards. He was also named best forward when the Titans U15 development squad played the Wests Tigers late in 2014. Balmain forward Paul Sironan was the judge of the player awards that night.

    Ben Thomas is a hard running backrower who is impressive at running good lines on the fringes of the ruck and constantly picks the right holes to run into thus making the play makers on his team look good. Where he really excels though is his footwork, he has very good late and quick foot work which enables him to change direction quickly allowing him to readjust where he is running to take advantage of either a late developing hole in the defensive line or where the defensive line is repositioning late.

    Even when he is taking a hit up in the centre of the ruck, his feet are always moving and he is constantly making slight corrections to his running direction and he is also able to maintain his speed regardless of the multiple directional changes. He seems just to run at a faster pace than other forwards on the field.

    These attributes lead to a lot of line breaks and he has the speed to convert them into tries himself. As a result of his foot work he does seem to get hit high reasonably often as defenders are not able to react quickly enough to the change in the directional aspects of his running.

    These critical attributes mean that Ben Thomas is difficult to target and runs at a very fast pace into the defensive line but the fluidity of his directional changes means he is a difficult target to get hold of for defenders. In the Samoan game in late 2015 you could see how his running angles changed as the game progressed from a duration perspective as well as momentum perspective.

    As opposing forwards tire his directional changes go from cutting to the fringes of the ruck to cutting back behind the play the ball as gaps appear as forwards becoming increasingly slower to get back into the defensive line due to fatigue.

    Late in the Round Two Colts competition in 2019, Ben Thomas took advantage of a gap on the fringes of the ruck to score his second try of the day for the Seagulls. Tweed half Kel Sheather took the ball wide of the ruck, stepped a defender and sent a good inside ball to Ben Thomas who had run a good line into a big gap and was able to outpace the inside defenders and crash over near the posts in the Victorian fullback’s tackle.

    Ben Thomas’s defensive technique revolves around timing and execution. Ben Thomas’s head placement is always correctly positioned and he always drives with his shoulder and never just jersey grabs. Ben Thomas also tackles with both shoulders effectively as well.

    The impressive thing for me also is that Ben Thomas never seems to bounce off the ball when he makes a front on tackle meaning his target area and the ability to hit the area on a regular basis is exceptional and quite rare in the modern version of rugby league.

    Another defensive aspect that I have noted is that Ben Thomas does not just make one tackle at a time, he makes a series of tackles one after another all as clinical and effective as the one before. His lateral speed is quite good due to his quick twitch feet and thus he is effective at defending against smaller dynamic runners out of dummy half as well as half backs and five eights running of the fringes looking to isolate forwards.

    Unfortunately Ben Thomas had his 2019 season cut short with a shoulder injury that required surgery but he was fit and ready to go for the start of the 2020 season where he is part of the Tweed Heads Seagulls Queensland Cup squad before things went pear shaped. 2021 however should see Ben Thomas once again in the Tweed Heads Seagulls Queensland Cup squad.

    Whilst Ben Thomas has played in the front row (or at least been named there) for a fair portion of the 2019 season I see no reason why he will not play in the second row where he has played also all of his junior football bar some other brief stints in the centres in previous seasons as well as in parts of the 2020 season. At 185cm and 103kg Ben Thomas has the ideal size to be a rugby league second rower.

    Ben Thomas has the look of a very talented youngster with a playing style similar to that of St George Dragons second rower Tyson Fizzell as a powerful and hard runner on the fringes of the ruck with good late footwork and one who also has a hard edge defensively coupled with a very determined hard working attitude.
    Last edited by lonegull; 22-10-20 at 03:06 PM.

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    Brock Hamill. (Updated) He is a young local red headed backrower originally from the Southport Tigers rugby league club and also played for Keebra Park in relation to his schoolboy football and for Burleigh in the MM Cup competition. At the U13 level a number of seasons ago Brock Hamill also played a game or two for the Titans Development Squads at Redlands.

    Brock Hamill started from the bench for the Tweed Heads A Grade side in their late February 2020 trial against the Burleigh Bears in his first hit out back on the Gold Coast since returning from Sydney.

    With the cancellation of all competitions run by the Queensland Rugby League, Brock Hamill played the 2020 Gold Coast Rugby League competition with the Southport Tigers, starting Round One of the GCRL First Grade competition at lock as the Tigers took on the Bureigh Bears and also starting at lock in Round Three against Mudgeeraba, in Round Four against Runaway Bay and Round Five against the Currumbin Eagles.

    Brock Hamill continued his run of starts at lock in Round Six against the Tugun Seahawks and also in Round Seven against Ormeau. In the final regular season round of the 2020 Gold Coast Rugby League First Grade competition being Round Ten, Brock Hamill started at lock as the Tigers took on the Tugun Seahawks.

    In Southport’s 2020 GCRL Preliminary Final against Burleigh, Brock Hamill started at lock as the Tigers fell one win short of a Grand Final berth.

    In the Gold Coast Bulliten’s 2020 Gold Coast Rugby League Team of the Year, Brock Hamill was named on the bench.

    In 2019 Brock Hamill played nine matches for the Bulldogs in the Jersey Flegg competition starting in the front row in Round two against the Parramatta Eels. Brock Hamill also started in Rounds Three and Four when he started at lock against the Wests Tigers and North Sydney Bears respectively. Brock Hamill’s remaining matches were from the bench including the Bulldogs two 2019 finals which were against the Knights and Roosters.

    Also in 2019 Brock Hamill played fourteen matches for the Moorebank Rams in the Sydney Shield competition coming into the side in Round Six when he started at hooker against the Bulls. Brock Hamill started his first three 2019 Sydney Shield matches at hooker before starting at lock in Round Eleven against the BR Eagles.

    In total Brock Hamill started four in his eleven matches at hooker, nine at lock, including Week Two of the Finals against the Saints and one being Round Nineteen against the Bulls from the bench.

    Brock Hamill had a great start to the 2019 Sydney Shield competition scoring in his first four matches including a Round Eleven double against the BR Eagles. His Round Six, Seven and Eight tries were against the Bulls, Owls and Magpies.

    In 2018 Brock Hamill was diagnosed with cancer but before his treatment started Brock Hamill made his debut off the bench for the Bulldogs Jersey Flegg side scoring a double against Manly.

    From Keebra Park Brock Hamill represented South Coast at the U18 level in 2016 and 2017and in 2017 was selected in the Queensland School boy’s side for the Australian School boys Championships. South Coast won every match by more than 40 points including beating Met North 74 – 4 in the final.

    Brock Hamill has also been a key part of the Keebra Park Open side that won the GIO Cup in 2017 including being part of the Keebra Park side that won their Queensland semi-final over the The Cathedral College 74 – 0.

    For the Burleigh Bears MM Cup side in 2017, Brock Hamill started in all six of their matches starting Rounds One and Two in the second row, Round Three in the front row and Rounds Four to Six at lock.

    Brock Hamill played his club rugby league for the Southport Tigers primarily at the U19 level in 2017 but also played two matches in the Doug Lipp Cup competition, making his debut in that competition in April against Burleigh with his other Doug Lipp Cup match coming in June against Bilambil. In the U19 competition, Brock Hamill to date has played in seven matches, scoring doubles against Runaway Bay and Burleigh and in his first match of the season in that age group scored against Mudgeeraba.

    In 2017 Brock Hamill was a stand out for the Keebra Park Open Rugby League side in their great GIO Cup run. Brock Hamill started at lock for Keebra Park in their Queensland GIO Cup Final win over Marsden State High School and also started at lock in Keebra Park’s 25 – 12 National GIO Cup Final victory over Westfield Sports High.

    Brock Hamill made an immediate impact in the National Final. Keebra Park kicked off and the Westfield front rower charged directly at Brock Hamill who hit him with a superb left choulder tackle to put the front rower on his back. It was a tackle that set the tone for the remainder of the match.

    Post the 2017 season Brock Hamill was understandably named at lock in the Keebra Park Rugby League 2017 Team of the Year.

    Over the course of his junior career, Brock Hamill made a number of junior representative sides including U13 and U14 Gold Coast Vikings squads and represented South Coast at the U15 level. Brock Hamill was also named in the U18 South Coast squad for the 2017 U18 QSSRL championships, along with five other Keebra Park team mates.

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

    Brock Hamill does not have great speed off the mark or necessary great high end speed, but he will work hard and make the most of his ability. He actually does have a decent off load usually with his right hand when he has impacted the defensive line and regularly showcases this in game situations.

    Defensively Brock Hamill can certainly hit very hard, usually aiming for just under the ribs and first intention is to lock up the ball to prevent offloads. He has above average lateral mobility for a forward and due to the fact that he bends his hips when looking to make a tackle Brock Hamill is usually is able to wrap up the smaller attackers without his tackles slipping up to around the head or neck, and thus giving away penalties.

    Brock Hamill’s ability to successfully defend against these types of attackers as well as having the technique to defend against larger forwards is one of a number of reasons that I consider that Brock Hamill is a plus defender.

    After two seasons with the Canterbury Bulldogs in Sydney playing for their junior representative sides Brock Hamill wase back playing on the Gold Coast in 2020 and once again playing for the Southport Tigers and in 2021 will be in black and gold once again.

    From a position perspective even though he spent some time playing in the front row earlier in his junior career, Brock Hamill has spent the last couple of seasons playing in the back row and to a lesser extent hooker, and that is where I would envisage he will stay for the remainder of his rugby league career. For completeness Brock Hamill spent the entirety of the 2020 GCRL First Grade season starting at lock for Southport.

    From a player comparison perspective, someone along the lines of former Brisbane Broncos, Queensland State of Origin and Australian International backrower Cory Parker may be a good comparison from a style perspective as a solid back rower who plays the game hard and with all-out effort.

    Brock Hamill has overcome a significant health scare already in his life got back on the field so it would be difficult not to cheer for the red headed backrower in the next season or two as he looks to break into the Queensland Cup. Every league regardless of standard needs players like Brock Hamill and it is great to see him back on the Gold Coast.

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    Codey McLaughlin. (Revised) He started Round One of the 2020 Hastings Deering’s Colts competition for the Tweed Heads Seagulls from the bench against the Northern Pride as the Seagulls started up their campaign with a win.

    With the cancellation of all competitions run by the Queensland Rugby League, Codey McLaughlin played the 2020 Gold Coast Rugby League competition with the Runaway Bay Seagulls, starting Round One of the GCRL First Grade competition from the bench as the Seagulls took on the Mudgeeraba Redbacks.

    Codey McLaughlin also started from the bench for Runaway Bay in Round Two against the Ormeau Shearers, Round Four against the Southport Tigers and Round Five against the Tugun Seahawks. After missing a number of matches, Codey McLaughlin came off the bench once again in Round Eight against the Ormeau Shearers and Round Nine against the Tugun Seahawks.

    In the 2020 Gold Coast Rugby League First Grade Grand Final Codey McLaughlin was on the bench for Runaway Bay as they took on the Burleigh Bears with the Seagulls coming out on top in the decider that was played at Cbus stadium.

    Codey McLaughlin deservedly started the 2019 season with the Tweed Heads Seagulls Hastings Deering’s Colts squad playing in all twenty of Tweed Heads matches including their Elimination Final loss to Mackay, splitting time between starting on the bench and starting in the front row for the Seagulls.

    Codey McLaughlin started the first two rounds of the 2019 season from the interchange bench before moving into the starting side for Round Three against Burleigh and also started in the front row in Round Five against Wynnum Manly.

    Codey McLaughlin’s first Colts try of the season came in Round Four against Central Queensland and he also scored in Round Eleven when he followed through a short attacking kick out of dummy half from Josh Sexton to dive on the ball near the touch in goal.

    In a Hastings Deering’s Colts bye week, Codey McLaughlin started from the bench and scored for Runaway Bay as they defeated Southport 40-26 in Round Seven of the Gold Coast Rugby League U20 competition.

    His try was a good one too, late in the second half, Cody McLaughlin took a hit up to the left of the play the ball around ten metres out from the Southport line. It looked for all money that he was held and he even got his right arm free over his head looking to offload (he had be turned around and was facing his own try line), but instead he spun around breaking away from the three defenders that had hold of him to crash over.

    Codey McLaughlin also scored in Round Twelve of the GCRL U20 competition matches when he scored out wide on the left side of the field untouched after some good work inside of him after starting the match in the front row.

    Codey McLaughlin was part of the 2018 Tweed Heads Seagulls MM side and post that competition has played in the GCRL U19, Doug Lipp Cup and First Grade competitions for Runaway Bay.

    In the 2018 MM Cup competition for Tweed Heads, Codey McLaughlin played in five matches starting all five from the interchange bench and scoring twice. Codey McLaughlin’s first try came in Round Two against Victoria and he followed that with a try in Round Five against the Townsville Blackhawks.

    For the 2019 U19 Runaway Bay side post the MM Cup competition Codey McLaughlin played in twelve regular season matches scoring six tries. Codey McLaughlin scored a Round Fourteen double against Mudgeeraba and also scored in Round Fifteen against Burleigh and well as in Round Seventeen against Beaudesert. Earlier in the season Codey McLaughlin scored against Bilambil and Ormeau to round out his seasons try scoring.

    In the Doug Lipp Cup competition for Runaway Bay Cody McLaughlin played five regular season matches including starting Round Sixteen against Helensvale in the second row and Round Seventeen in the centres against Beaudesert, debuting against Currumbin and April.

    Codey McLaughlin scored two regular season Doug Lipp Cup tries including scoring in just his second game at that level against Tugun and also scored in his starting debut against Helensvale in Round Sixteen.

    In Week One of the GCRL Finals series, Codey McLaughlin started in the second row as well as scoring for Runaway Bay in their 40 – 12 win over Burleigh in the Doug Lipp Cup competition.

    In Week Two of the GCRL Finals series, Codey McLaughlin started in the second row for Runaway Bay once again in their 25 – 4 win against Beaudesert.

    Codey McLaughlin also started in the second row for Runaway Bay in the Doug Lipp Cup Preliminary Final against Currumbin with Runaway Bay going down by a solitary point 17 – 16 in a hard fought contest.

    Codey McLaughlin made his deserved GCRL First Grade debut in late June coming off the bench for Runaway Bay against Tugun.

    Codey McLaughlin played the 2017 season with the Helensvale Hornets in the GCRL U17 Division One competition including starting at five eight in Helensvale’s 34 – 20 Grand Final victory over Ormeau. Over the course of the U17 Division One 2017 season Codey McLaughlin played in thirteen matches scoring four tries in the process with the tries coming against Southport, Mudgeeraba, Runaway Bay and Burleigh.

    For Gold Coast Green in the CC Cup competition in 2016, Codey McLaughlin played in all eight matches, starting the seven regular season games at right centre, but he started the quarter final on the right wing. Over the course of the CC season he scored three tries which came against the Easts Tigers in Rounds One and Six and also against Toowoomba in their quarter final loss, he also kicked two conversions in a Round Two win against local rivals Gold Coast White.

    In addition in 2016 Codey McLaughlin also represented South East Queensland White in the Queensland Age Championships at the U16 level, and on Day Two scored a try and kicked two conversions in a win against South East Queensland Green and on Day Three kicked three conversions in a big 42-24 victory over the Northern Marlins.

    From an attacking perspective, Codey McLaughlin has a wide running mindset for a backrower with a very good turn of speed once he breaks through the line. Like all good running backrowers though, he takes his share of runs in the middle of the ruck but he is impressive at running good lines on the fringes of the ruck and constantly picks the right holes to run into although he is not averse to running straight over people if the need arises either.

    From the games that I have seen him play Codey McLaughlin normally runs to the right side of the field, and will run wider out and look to come back on the inside shoulder of the opposition defence on the edge of the ruck, looking for situations where the opposition inside defenders are slow to come across.

    His determination is one aspect that enables him to be in the right place at the right time. He is a hard runner and does not give up on the run until the opposition puts him on the ground, as a consequence, he makes a lot more metres for his team than he has a right to and with his determination he will also on occasion break clear of the defenders totally. I would consider that he runs ‘tough’ with the ball in his hands.

    For Tweed Heads in the MM Cup competition, Codey McLaughlin defended both in the edge of the ruck and well as through the middle. Codey McLaughlin was quietly effective in both situations from both a quality and quantity perspective.

    Codey McLaughlin’s initial contact is solid and is more than enough to stop the momentum of the ball carrier and effect tackles one on one. He is also effective at wrapping the ball up and preventing offloads.

    While Codey McLaughlin hits he hits hard, but I would not call it aggressive per say, but he is just tough in his approach to his defence. I do not necessarily think that Codey McLaughlin’s defensive work will stand out because he is not going to come up with a huge hit which will get the crowd on its feet, but he will do a lot of work and will likely always finish at or near the top of the tackle count regardless of the level and standard of football he is playing.

    Codey McLaughlin will play the 2021 season with the Runaway Bay Seagulls in the Gold Coast Rguby League First Grade competition as he looks to break into the Tweed Heads Seagulls Queensland Cup squad in 2021 or beyond.

    Earlier in his junior rugby league career Codey McLaughlin played a lot in the centres and even spent some time at fullback but this season, especially in relation to playing for Runaway Bay in the GCRL First Grade competition has played almost exclusively in the front row, and he has looked very good there.

    From a style comparison perspective for Codey McLaughlin, the current NRL player that stands out for me is New South Wales State of Origin and St George front rower Paul Vaughan.

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    Isaac Lee. (Revised) He is a tall rangy centre/second rower originally from Lismore Marist Brothers in the Northern River Regional Rugby League and originally signed with the Titans round the age of 15.

    After spending the 2019 season as part of the Newcastle Knights U20 Jersey Flegg side, Isaac Lee is moving back to Northern new South Wales where he played for the Lismore Marist Brothers Rams, his junior club, with his father, former Cronulla Sharks front rower Danny Lee the new Rams first grade coach. Isaac Lee’s young brother Henry Lee is a Titans linked player who will play for Marist Brothers in the U18 NRRRL competition in 2020.
    Isaac Lee started Round One of the 2020 NRRRL competition at right centre against Casino RSM and scored as the Rams emerged victorious 16 - 10. Isaac Lee also started at right centre in Round Two as the Rams went down 28 – 16 to the Ballina Seagulls.
    Isaac Lee had a big match in Round Three of the NRRRL First Grade competition scoring a hat trick from the right centre position as the Rams defeated Byron Bay 52 – 0. Isaac Lee moved to right second row for Round Four and scored once again as the Rams had a big win over Casino RSM.

    Isaac Lee continued starting at right second row in Round Five against Ballina, as the Rams went down 28 – 4 and in Round Six in a 34 – 22 loss to Northern United.

    Isaac Lee continued at right second row in Round Eight in a Ram 36 – 14 victory over Northern United to reverse their previous loss a fortnight prior to the same side. Isaac Lee also started in the second row and scored in Round Nine as the Rams overcame Casino RSM.
    In Round Ten against Ballina, Isaac Lee was in the second row once again and scored both in the Rams tries as they finished the 2020 NRRRL First Grade regular season with a 10 all draw.
    Isaac Lee also started in the second row in the NRRRL Preliminary Final against Northern United scoring an impressive hat trick in the Rams 32 – 22 win to take them to the 2020 NRRRL Gold Grand Final against Ballina.

    In the 2020 NRRRL Gold First Grade Grand Final, Isaac Lee started at left second row as the Rams went down to Ballina. Isaac Lee scored the Rams second try of the Grand Final when he charged onto a ball down a left blind side breaking through two tackles to score five metres in from the left touch line.

    For Newcastle in the 2019 U20 Jersey Flegg competition, Isaac Lee played in six matches, starting three in the second row, the first of which was in Round Two against Penrith and three from the bench. Isaac Lee’s sole try in the competition came in Round Twenty Two against the Norths Sydney Bears.

    Isaac Lee also played in one match in the Newcastle Rugby League First Grade competition in 2019 with that match coming against Lakes United in May when Isaac Lee was playing for South Newcastle.

    In 2018 Isaac Lee was a key member of the Tweed Heads Seagulls U20 Hastings Deering’s Colts side and over the last half of the season was in outstanding form operating in the left centre position.

    In 2018 for the Seagulls Colts side Isaac Lee was involved in sixteen matches, coming into the side in Round Three on the interchange bench against the Burleigh Bears. After Tweed Heads had a Round Four bye, Isaac Lee was in the starting line for Round Five and has there ever since. In Rounds Five and Seven Isaac Lee started in the second row but in Rounds Six Wynnum Manly Isaac Lee moved to the centres and has been there ever since.

    In 2018 Isaac Lee has scored seven tries including in Round Five against the Townsville Blackhawks and in Round Seven against the Easts Tigers when he scored after making a break down the left side of the field and in Round Ten in a 52 – 22 wing against the Ipswich Jets.

    Isaac Lee has hit a purple patch of form towards the end of the season and in a three match span from Rounds Twenty to Twenty Two scored four tires, including a double against the Mackay Cutters and tries against Easts and Victoria.
    Late in the Gold Coast Rugby League First Grade season Isaac Lee made his First Grade debut for Tweed Heads against Southport starting on the interchange bench in Round Thirteen as the Seagulls prevailed 26 – 22.
    Isaac Lee made his GCRL First Grade starting debut in the final round of the regular season, being Round Seventeen when he started in the centres for Tweed Heads in a 32 – 16 loss to Runaway Bay.
    Isaac Lee also started in the centres in the opening week of the finals for Tweed Heads as they went down 37 – 16 to Runaway Bay.
    From a trivia perspective he is the son of former Cronulla Sharks front rower Danny Lee, all be it he is a completely different body shape and playing style to his front row father.
    For the 2017 Tweed Heads Seagulls MM Cup side Isaac Lee started in the centres in all six matches and scored against Victoria in Round Two, against the Western Mustangs in Round Three and in Round Six scored against local rivals the Burleigh Bears.
    Upon completion of the 2017 MM Cup competition, Isaac Lee transitioned immediately to Tweed Heads U20 Colts Challenge side and a had great Round One scoring a hat trick inside 20 minutes in the first half against Souths Logan in Round One. Isaac Lee also started in the centres in Round Two before he missed Rounds Three to Six with injury before coming back into the side in Round Seven starting in the centres.
    In addition to his hat trick in Round One, Isaac Lee scored a double in Round Ten against the Burleigh Bears and also scored in Rounds Thirteen to Sixteen against Easts, Redcliffe, the Western Mustangs and South Logan respectively.
    Isaac Lee was also involved in all three of the Seagulls 2017 finals matches starting on the interchange in Week One of the finals against Redcliffe and on the wing in Weeks two and Three of the finals against Easts and Norths. In those two finals matches Isaac lee scored a double against Norths and also scored Easts in Week Two. In total in the Colts competition in 2018 for Tweed Heads Isaac Lee scored twelve tries to average a try a match.
    Isaac Lee started five matches in the centres, four in the second row, two on the wing and one from the interchange bench highlighting his versatility. Isaac Lee had previously spent some time at fullback in the NRRRL competition in previous seasons.
    In the NRRRL competition in 2016, Isaac Lee played for the Lismore Marist Brothers Rugby League club at both the U18 and Novaskill NRRRL First Grade level. In the U18 competition where Isaac Lee alternated between centre and fullback, he scored ten tries from twelve matches including doubles against the Murwillumbah Colts and the Ballina Seagulls.
    Isaac Lee made his First Grade debut on June 5 2016 against Cudgen and played in four other matches scoring a try against the Tweed Coast Raiders in his third match in the top grade. In the 2016 First Grade competition Isaac Lee alternated between fullback, wing and centre in his five matches.
    Isaac Lee also represented NSW Combined Catholic Colleges Northern U18’s in 2016 and played for St Johns College Woodlawn in numerous Schoolboy competitions throughout New South Wales. In addition to starting at centre in the late 2015 U16 development squad game against Samoa, he also played in the U15 development squad game against the Balmain Tigers late in 2014, where he was named best back by Balmain Tigers coaching and development staff in their loss.
    Over the course of the last couple of years you can see the difference, additional size has made, not in relation to the style of play but to Isaac Lee’s effectiveness as a hard running centre. Isaac Lee has always been a straight running centre, who is not afraid to run over rather than around his opponent, but with increased size and strength Isaac Lee’s effectiveness hasdefinately increased exponentially.
    Isaac Lee regularly gets half way through the line and with his length is very effective in getting his hands free to off load, including offloading with one hand and has a decent fend to complement his offloading abilities.
    Normally though due to his length and speed he regularly attracts multiple defenders leaving opportunities for him to set up his outside support. Due to his length, he is effective both in attacking high attacking kicks as well as defusing them. He is better with high kicks rather than kicks along the ground.
    Defensively Isaac Lee’s increased strength has meant that he is even more effective in the defensive aspects of the game, and can handle one on one situation’s against wide running opposition backrowers as well as smaller faster opposition backline players with his combination of strength and speed.
    Isaac Lee seems to rarely over commit in defence allowing the play to develop in front of him before committing to any particular defensive strategy.
    The above paragraph would suggest that Isaac Lee is more suited to a sliding defensive methodology, but he is also able to defend using an up and in style of defensive strategy just as effectively. This ability to alternative between the two key defensive methodologies, depending on, the state of the game and where the game is situated on the field is an invaluable attribute for a potential NRL player to have.
    Isaac Lee played the 2020 season with the Lismore Marist Brothers Rams in the NRRRL First Grade competition and it will be interesting to see if in 2021 or 2022 Isaac Lee looks to break into the Queensland Cup competition with the Tweed Heads Seagulls. At 22 years old, Isaac Leed is just coming into his own and is more than capable of making an impact at the Queensland Cup level as early as 20021.

    Isaac Lee spent a significant portion of his junior rugby league career in the centres and even spent some time at fullback in the NRRRL First Grade competition in 2016 but over the last couple seasons has played almost exclusively in the second row and looks certain to stay there in the long term starting in 2020 with the Lismore Rams.

    For me a current NRL player with a similar skill set and playing style is to Isaac Lee is Penrith Panthers young gun Isiah Yeo as a multi-talented player who continues to develop his game through shear hard work. Like Yeo, Isaac Lee is also a tall forward who is developing the ability to use his length to his advantage.

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    Allan Lockwood. (Revised) He is a former fullback or centre who is originally from the Kempsey area, but moved to the Gold Coast to continue his career with the Titans at the start of 2016 as a part of the Titans High Performance Unit.

    After originally looking like he may be on the move up the Queensland coast Allan Lockwood started the 2020 season as part of the Burleigh Bears Queensland Cup squad and started at right centre for the Burleigh A Grade side in their late February 2020 trial against the Tweed Heads Seagulls.

    Allan Lockwood’s first appearance in the 2020 Gold Coast Rugby League First Grade competition came when he started in the centres for the Burleigh Bears in their Round Five match against the Mudgeeraba Redbacks. In Round Eight Alan Lockwood came off the bench of the Bears agaisnt the Southport Tigers.

    Allan Lockwood moved into the Burleigh starting side in the centres against the Currumbin Eagles in Round Nine starting at left centre and scoring when he received a ball from Tristian Powell in space, running forty metres to score the play the ball after a Jayden Campbell break.

    In the final regular season round of the 2020 Gold Coast Rugby Leauge First Grade competition, being Round Ten, Allan Lockwood started at left centre for the Bears against the Mudgeeraba Redbacks.

    In Burleigh’s 2020 Gold Coast Rugby League First Grade Semi-final Alan Lockwood started at left centre against the Southport Tigers.

    Alan Lockwood also started at left centre for the Burleigh Bears against the Runaway Bay Seagulls in the 2020 Gold Coast Rugby League First Grade Grand Final, with the Bears going down in the decider which was held at Cbus Stadium.

    Allan Lockwood started Round One of the 2019 Hastings Deering’s Colts competition in the second row for Burleigh and scored a second half try as Burleigh came from the clouds to draw 24 all with Norths at Bishop Park, Nundah.

    After also playing in the second row in Round Two, in Round Three Allan Lockwood started at right centre scoring in a big Burleigh win against the Tweed Heads Seagulls. Allan Lockwood got outside his direct opponent ten metres out from the line and put on a solid left arm fend to create separation with the defender and then powered to the line to score out wide.

    Allan Lockwood scored a similar try to the one noted above in Round Four against Townsville, on that occasion Allan Lockwood once again playing right centre got the ball early from half Cameron Brown and straightened up the attack “freezing” his direct opponent before cutting to the outside and holding his opponent off with a powerful left arm fend to score out wide.

    Allan Lockwood was on the score board again in Round Ten against the Northern Pride. Operating at right centre Allan Lockwood received the ball around ten metres out from the Pride line with a lot of defence in front of him. Allan Lockwood was able to break through the initial contact and barge over dragging a defender with him.

    Allan Lockwood also had a try assist in the Round Ten match when he drew the Northern Pride left side defence to send Kea Pere over in the right corner untouched.

    Allan Lockwood added a further try in Round Nineteen against Redcliffe. Playing right centre, Allan Lockwood made a long break down the right touchline of about fifty metres after beating his direct opponent on the outside. After a quick play the ball the ball was spun to the other side of the field and then back again with Allan Lockwood on hand to finish the work that he had started moments before.

    Allan Lockwood also scored in Round Twenty against the Western Mustangs when he received the ball in space at right centre and took advantage of a back peddling defence to easily score out wide near the right corner post.

    In Week Two of the Finals Allan Lockwood started at right centre in Burleigh’s 42 – 12 win against Norths.

    Allan Lockwood’s 2019 Hastings Deering’s Colts season came to an end when he started at right centre for Burleigh as they went down 23 – 16 to Sunshine Coast in the Preliminary Final.

    In total, including Finals, Allan Lockwood played in twelve Hastings Deering’s Colts matches for Burleigh, splitting time between right centre, right second row and the bench.

    Impressively in 2019 Allan Lockwood made his International debut when he started in the centres for Lebanon against a Fiji side full of NRL players in June. Allan Lockwood played the entire 80 minutes, running for 86 metres (19 post contact), broke four tackles, played the ball at an average speed of 3.5 seconds and made twenty three tackles at an impressive tackling efficiency of 92%.

    In 2018 Allan Lockwood alternated between playing for Burleigh in the U20 Hastings Deering’s Cup and the Bears Gold Coast Rugby League First Grade side.

    Allan Lockwood started the 2018 season in the Burleigh Colts side playing in twelve matches in totals and scoring three tries. Allan Lockwood scored a double in Round Fourteen against the Northern Pride and also scored in Round Twenty Three against Townsville.

    Allan Lockwood started the opening two rounds at fullback. After missing Round Four Allan Lockwood was back in the Burleigh Colts side in Round Five against Souths Logan starting on the wing and also playing on the wing in Rounds Six and Seven.

    After playing a number of matches for the Burleigh GCRL First Grade side, Allan Lockwood came back into the Burleigh Colts side in Round Thirteen against Ipswich, starting in the centres and stayed in the centres for the remainder of the season.

    Allan Lockwood made his Gold Coast Rugby League First Grade debut against Tweed Heads in April. Over the course of the 2018 GCRL First Grade competition, Allan Lockwood played eight matches for Burleigh scoring three tries which came against Ormeau, Bilambil and Runaway Bay.

    The 2017 season saw Allan Lockwood play for Burleigh in the MM Cup competition and upon competition of that competition, the talented youngster made a successful transition to the Burleigh Colts side playing a number of matches at fullback and in the centres. Allan Lockwood also played a number of matches in Gold Coast Rugby League competition for the Bilambil Jets.

    For Burleigh in the 2017 MM competition, Allan Lockwood played in five of their six matches missing only Round Three. Allan Lockwood started the first two rounds at fullback and then played in the centres in Rounds Four, Five and Six. Allan Lockwood came into the Burleigh Colts side in Round Two starting at fullback.

    For the Burleigh Bears in the U20 Colts Challenge competition in 2017, Allan Lockwood played in thirteen of Burleigh’s fifteen matches scoring three tries the first of which came in Round Five against the Sunshine Coast Falcons.

    Allan Lockwood’s other two tries came in consecutive matches in Round Nine against the Western Mustangs and Round Ten against Tweed Heads. Allan Lockwood started at fullback in his first four Colts matches and then transitioned to the centres for his remaining matches in that competition.

    For Bilambil in the Gold Coast U19 competition, Allan Lockwood played in eight matches including starting in the centres in Bilambil’s 34 – 20 Grand Final victory over Tugun. In those eight matches Allan Lockwood scored five tries which all came in two consecutive matches the first when he scored a hat trick against Currumbin and in his next U19 match Allan Lockwood scored against Mudgeeraba. Allan Lockwood made his Gold Coast Rugby League A Grade debut in August against Burleigh.

    Allan Lockwood played the 2016 season with the Burleigh Bears in the U17 Division One competition and started at fullback in their 18 – 12 Grand Final victory. Over the course of the season for Burleigh, Allan Lockwood played in ten matches, scoring seven tries including a double against Currumbin in Round One and a double against Grand Final opponents Runaway Bay mid-way through the season.

    Allan Lockwood also played for Gold Coast White in the 2016 CC Cup competition where he played both at five eight and in the centres scoring two tries in the process.

    In early 2016 he captained the NSW Koori’s U16 side in their annual Murri v Koori U16 interstate clash, with the match finishing in a 16 all draw. For young Lockwood this was the second year in a row that he represented NSW Kurri in this annual match. From a trivia perspective, he is related to Greg Inglis, a cousin I believe.

    Allan Lockwood is a silky smooth 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, Allan Lockwood 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, Allan Lockwood 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.

    The one thing Allan Lockwood 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, he has a very good step back side 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, his 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.

    From the games that I have seen of his, you can just sense the uncertainty in the defensive line when Allan Lockwood receives the ball with space to manoeuvre. Allan Lockwood must be a half/five eight’s dream in that teams will look to get up onto him quickly, potentially leaving space for them to dummy and run.

    Also when the team is struggling Allan Lockwood can just make something happen out of nothing even against a set defensive line, he can just drift across the field and then explode into any gaps that he can see develop.

    Defensively Allan Lockwood was quite impressive last season and you could see that his physical development of the last couple of seasons has paid dividends. He has always had a solid tackling technique but with additional muscle mass, his initial contact is a lot stronger and he really can redirect the momentum of the ball carrier.

    At fullback Allan Lockwood will come forward when a break is made and force the attacking player to make a quick decision as to what to do, if they try to take him on, Allan Lockwood will make them pay for it.

    Allan Lockwood will be a member of the Burleigh Bears Queensland Cup side for the upcoming 2021 season.

    From a position perspective, even though he played some five eight in CC in previous seasons and fullback for Burleigh in both MM and Colts competitions and even a match to two this season in the backrow, for me I believe that he has the ability to play in the centres long term and develop into a smooth moving elusive runner of the ball and quite an effective defender.

    Obviously any time that he spends at five eight or fullback will only enhance his ball skills and assist in creating space for his support players.

    Allan Lockwood obviously also has leadership skills to be selected as the NSW U16 Koori captain. The quote below is from U16s Indigenous All Stars chairman of selectors and former Gold Coast Seagull centre Scott Mieni.

    “He has always shown outstanding leadership and his ability is second to none and that is why he has also been selected to captain the side.”

    From a player comparison perspective, think of someone also the lines of former, Bronco, Qld State of Origin and Australian centre Steve Renouf in the context of how Allan Lockwood plays the game, being that of an exceptionally talented attacking player and a dedicated, hardworking person all around.

  13. #1303
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    Will Brimson. The older brother of Titans star AJ Brimson is a talented player in his own right. After a solid career in the NYC competition with the Brisbane Bronco’s Will Brimson started to carve out a career in the Queensland Cup with the Wynnum Manly Seagulls in 2017.

    After taking a two year break from rugby league Will Brimson is looking to make his mark in 2020 with the Tweed Heads Seagulls and at only 24 years old there is plenty more to come for the backline utility.

    Will Brimson’s first match of the season came in Tweed Heads first “official” trial against Souths Logan when he started from the bench as the Seagulls prevailed seven tries to three at Tugun in wet conditions.

    Will Brimson also started at five eight for Tweed Heads in their Queensland Cup trial against Burleigh.

    In his first Queensland Cup match in two years, Will Brimson started Round One of the 2020 Queensland Cup competition for the Tweed Heads Seagulls at five eight against the Northern Pride impressing whilst playing the entire eighty minutes.

    Will Brimson ran for 117 metres (twenty post contact), kicked on three occasions for seventy five metres, broke three tackles, played the ball at an average speed of 3.99 seconds and made eight tackles at a tackling efficiency of 88.89%.

    With the cancellation of the 2020 Queensland Cup competition Will Brimson played the season in the Gold Coast Rugby League competition with the Mudgeeraba Redbacks in their inaugural GCRL First Grade competition including starting Round One for the Redbacks at five eight against the Runaway Bay Seagulls and also started at five eight against Tugun in Round Two.

    Will Brimson continued his run of starts at five eight in Round Three as the Redbacks took on Southport and also in Round Five against Burleigh when he scored the Redbacks first try in their great 20 – 18 come back victory. Operating on the right, Will Brimson was able to work his way through the Bears defensive line before reaching out to put the ball down with his right arm.

    Will Brimson also started at five eight for the Redbacks in Round Six against the Ormeau Shearers scoring a double, one in each half and also recording a second half try assist. Will Brimson’s first try of the match came when he received a long pass from dummy half Brent Woolf close to the line. Initially Will Brimson shaped to pass to his right but a gap opened up immediately in front of him and Will Brimson too advantage to score under the posts.

    Will Brimson’s second half try came when he ran the ball to the right and sliced through the Ormeau defence from forty metres out to once again score under the posts. Will Brimon’s try assist was a good sleight of hand, he ran the ball to the line cutting late to run parallel to the defensive line before popping a great short ball to his right to put his centre away for a forty five metre try.

    After his Round Six herorics Will Brimson also started at five eight for Round Seven against the Currumbin Eagles scoring a double for the second week in a row and also had two try assists in the Redbacks victory. Will Brimson’s try came in the first half after he received a pass around seven metres out from his front rower, Will Brimson threw a big dummy to his right before producing a right foot step that broke the defensive line open for Will Brimson to cross the try line to the right of the uprights and he wa able to bring the ball around to put it down under the posts.

    Both of Will Brimson’s try assists came in the first half with the first being the result of one of the longest passes that I have seen. Operating on the right around twenety metres out Will Brimson threw a long high cut out pass to his right from just to the right of the goal posts that hit the chest of the Redbacks right winger who was on the right touch line in space and crossed out wide. Will Brimson’s second try assist resulted when he put in a deft left foot stab kick for his right winger to dive on it after Currumbin could not clean the ball up in their in goal.

    In the Gold Coast Bulliten’s 2020 Gold Coast Rugby League Team of the Year, Will Brimson was named at five eight.

    Will Brimson joined the Wynnum Manly Seagulls for the start of the 2017 season after graduating from the NYC competition at the end of the 2016 season playing in sixteen matches in his debut Queensland Cup season. In those matches Will Brimson scored tries in Round Two against the Northern Pride and in Round Eighteen against the Central Queensland Capra’s. Will Brimson started eleven matches at five eight, two at half, one in the centres and his remaining matches from the interchange bench.

    In total in the Queensland Cup in 2017, Will Brimson played 1 124 minutes, running for 810 metres and made 162 tackles. His 2017 per game averages included playing 70 minutes running for 51 metres and making 10 tackles. In Rounds Fourteen and Seventeen Will Brimson ran for 103 metres with the games being against Tweed Heads and South’s Logan.

    Will Brimson spent three years in the Bronco’s NYC side, being from 2014 through to 2016 playing forty matches in total, the majority of those at halfback. In 2016 Will Brimson scored nine tries and averaged 49 metres and fourteen tackles and game. He had similar averages in 2015 from nineteen matches.

    In relation to his play making ability, Will Brimson Currie has both a very good long and short passing game and generates very good spin on the ball which aids accuracy in relation to his passing. Another aspect that is very good is that there is no discernible difference in relation to his passing to either his left or right, in both instances he rotates his body well. In relation to his short passing Will Brimson will run right to the line and present his outside runners with good pop passes which enables them to run right into gaps in the defensive line.

    Defensively Will Brimson is also a strong presence on the field and more than held his own over the course of the 2017 season even against the largest of opposing forwards looking to target him on the fringes of the ruck. He gets low and generates significant leverage with his lower body and drives into his opponent with a strong effect. Against opposing halves Will Brimson uses his lateral mobility to mirror their movement to ensure that they do not get on his outside and he is disciplined enough not to come out of the line and maintain the proper defensive spacing.

    Will Brimson will line up again in the Queensland Cup competition for the Tweed Heads Seagulls in 2021.

    From a position perspective, I think that he has the ability to stay at five eight being 188cm and 92kg. Will Brimson is a bit bigger than his younger brother and thus has the size to handle the defensive burden of giant backrowers running at him all day.

    From an attacking perspective the quality of Will Brimson’s ability to put runners into holes developed exponentially as the 2017 Queensland Cup season progressed and I am looking forward to seeing him play in the Queensland Cup in 2021.

    For me an NRL player with a similar playing style to that of Will Brimson is former Penrith Panther, New South Wales State of Origin and Australian International five eight James Maloney, being that of a solid talented all round five eight who will surprise a defensive line with some very good short balls when it looks for all money like he is going to run himself. If history is any indication however Will Brimson is a better front on defender than James Maloney.

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    Henry Lee. The young backrower is currently linked to the Titans through of the Titans northern New South Wales Group One Development Squad.

    Henry Lee was named to start from the interchange bench for the Northern Rivers Titans in Round One of the 2020 U18 Laurie Daley Cup against the Parramatta Eels at Cudgen however the match was cancelled due to the wet conditions that impacted northern New South Wales that weekend early in the year.

    Henry Lee started Round Two of the U18 Laurie Daley Cup from the bench against the Newcastle Knights in Ballina providing a high level of enthusiasm when he came on and was named as the 18th man for the Round Five local derby against North Coast although he did not take the field in the match.

    Post the Laurie Daley Cup competition Henry Lee played the 2020 NRRRL U18 competition with the Marist Brothers Rams including starting Round One at left second row against Casino RSM and also started in the left second row position in Round Two against Ballina as well as in Round Three against Byron Bay, Round Four against Casino RSM and Round Five against Ballina.

    After being involved in a number of the Marist Brothers Rams NRRRL First Grade matches, Henry Lee was back in the Rams U18 side starting in the second row in Round Nine in a 28 – 14 loss to Byron Bay.

    Henry Lee made his deserved NRRRL First Grade debut in Round Six of the 2020 competition when he started in the centres and scored as the Rams went down 34 – 22 to Northern United and also started in the centres in Round Eight as the Rams reversed their previous loss to Northern united to record a 36 – 14 victory.

    Henry Lee continued his run of NRRRL First Grade starts in the centres in Round Nine against Casino RSM and also started there in Round Ten against the Ballina Seagulls. Henry Lee also started in the centres in the NRRRL Preliminary Final against Northern United.

    In the 2020 NRRRL Gold First Grade Grand Final, Henry Lee started at left centre as the Rams went down to Ballina.

    The young second rower (and occasional centre or five eight) from the Lismore Marist Brothers club in the Group One Junior Rugby League competition had an outstanding season in the 2019 U16.5 Group One competition culminating in him being deservedly named the 2019 Lismore Marist Brothers U16.5 Player of the Year.

    From a trivia perspective Henry Lee is the younger brother of former Titans NYC player Isaac Lee and his father is former Cronulla Sharks NRL player Danny Lee. Isaac Lee has moved back from Newcastle and will play for Lismore in the NRRRL First Grade competition where he was coached by his father who takes over the Rams fisrt grade side in 2020.

    Henry Lee started off the 2019 rugby league season as part of the all-conquering U16 Andrew Johns Northern Rivers Titans squad. When he came on (or started) Henry Lee operated at right second row.

    Henry Lee started Round One of the Andrew Johns Cup on the bench against the Newcastle Knights Development squad. After missing Rounds Two and three Henry Lee started Round Four against the Central Coast Roosters in the second row before reverting back to the bench for Round Five against the Greater Northern Tigers, the Andrew Johns Cup semi-final win over Penrith and the Grand Final victory 18 – 6 against the Western Rams.

    Henry Lee’s sole try of the campaign came in Round Five against the Greater Northern Tigers when he chased through a bomb from Thomas Weaver and after the ball was dropped by the fullback, Henry Lee was on hand to dive on the ball before it went dead in goal.

    For Lismore Marist Brothers in the 2019 Group One U16.5 Junior Rugby League competition Henry Lee played in nine regular season matches scoring seven tries for a strike rate of 77.77%. Henry Lee scored doubles against Lismore Marist Brothers Gold and Casino RSM as well as scoring in matches against Kyogle, Ballina and Lismore Marist Brothers Gold.

    In Week One of the Group One U16.5 Finals series, Henry Lee scored for Lismore Marist Brothers Gold as they qualified for the Grand Final by defeating South Grafton 32 – 0. Unfortunately for Henry Lee his side lost the Grand Final to Ballina 21 – 14.

    Some of Henry Lee’s tries this season were quite outstanding including a ninety one metre effort against Kyogle. Henry Lee took the ball to the right of the play the ball which initially looked like a simple hit-up to get Lismore Marist Brothers out of trouble, but three right foot steps later and a sixty metre run down the left touch line produced an outstanding Henry Lee try.

    Henry Lee also scored an outstanding try against Lismore Gold when he took the ball fifty metres out down a short left side blind side, bursting through two initial attempted tackles before stepping inside the fullback to score with the fullback vainly attempting to tackle him.

    Playing five eight Henry Lee also scored two impressive tries against Casino RSM. Henry Lee’s first try came down the left of the field when he ran into a gap forty metres out and was able to round the Casino RSM fullback to bring the ball around to put it down near the left goal post.

    Henry Lee’s second try against Casino RSM came after a ten metre run when he took the ball off the dummy half near the Casino RSM line. On his way to scoring midway between the corner post and goal post on the left side of the field, Henry Lee broke three tackles and dragged additional defenders across the line.

    In 2018 in the Group One U15 competition for Lismore Marist Brothers Henry Lee ended the season with a strike rate of 100% from twelve matches. Henry Lee scored doubles against South Grafton in two separate matches. Henry Lee amongst others also scored against Clarence Coast, Ballina, South Grafton and Kyogle twice.

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

    When the opposition are on the back foot Henry Lee will target the smaller defenders on the edge of the ruck and burst through and for a young bloke he has very good speed over the medium term to long term and has the strength to drag defenders with him post contact.

    I would consider that Henry Lee’s speed would be considered above average for a backrower but plays faster as a result of him timing his runs so well that the dummy half can present a flat pass to him and also as a result of the power that he runs at.

    Henry Lee’s impressive speed was showcased on multiple occasions in 2019. In addition to his 91 metres try discussed previously, Henry Lee showcased his speed when he backed up his five eight against Ballina, receiving an inside pass to score next to the right upright, with the try spanning sixty five metres.

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

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

    Henry Lee sets a strong lower base by setting his legs and generating force by driving through the tackle with his lower body, gaining leverage and momentum to complete the tackle.

    Henry Lee was eligible to play in the Group One U16.5 competition again in 2020 but instead started the 2020 season playing in the NRRRL U18 competition for Lismore Marist Brothers as well as making his NRRRL First Grade debut.

    In 2021 Henry Lee is still U18 eligble and is a likely member of the U18 Laurie Daley Cup Northern Rivers Titans side and will also likely add to the number of NRRRL First Grade games that he made with the Lismore Marist Brothers Rams.

    After playing for the Northern Rivers Titans U16 Andrew Johns Cup side in 2019, Henry Lee progressed to the Northern Rivers Titans U18 Laurie Daley Cup squad in 2020 which whilst young was a skilful, competitive squad before the competition was cancelled with just one regular season match to go and the Northern Rivers Titans side sitting on top of the table undefeated.

    Henry Lee is not necessarily the biggest second rower running around but has the tenacity and body shape to add weight without compromising his speed and mobility thus I can see Henry Lee continuing in the second row (he currently spends time both on the left and the right) in coming years but it also would not surprise if he spends time in the centres as well.

    Henry Lee did spend time at five eight this season for Lismore Marist Brothers and that can only help in the long term from a skills and game management perspective.

    Henry Lee reminds me of Titans second rower Sam Stone, both are similar from a body shape perspective as well as the way that they play rugby league.

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    Layne Hardy. In 2020 Layne Hardy was once again played in the NRRRL U18 competition but moved to the Ballina Seagulls from the Kyogle Turkeys including starting at fullback and scoring in Round Five as the Seagulls went down 18 – 14 to the Marist Brothers Lismore Rams. Layne Hardy moved to right centre for Round Four as the Seagulls went down 26 – 12 to Casino RSM.

    Layne Hardy also started in the centres in Round Seven as the Seagulls defeated Casino RSM 32 – 16. After missing Round Eight, Layne Hardy started Round Nine against Byron Bay from the bench as Ballina recorded a 24- 12 victory.

    In Ballina’s 52 – 18 2020 NRRRL U18 Gold Preliminary Final victory over Casino RSM, Layne Hardy was on the bench.

    In the 2020 NRRRL U18 Gold Grand Final Layne Hardy started on the right wing for Ballina as they took on the Marist Brothers Rams. Interestingly across the sixty minutes of the match, Layne Hardy alternated on a number of occasions with Liam Green, moving to the right centre position.

    It was from the right centre position that Layne Hardy scored from when he received the ball in space to rumble fifteen metres to score ten metres in from the right corner post. In the Grand Final Layne Hardy also threw the final pass to Liam Green for Ballina’s third try in their 30 – 18 Grand Final win over the Rams.

    The outstanding fullback started the 2019 season off with a bang scoring often in the 2019 NRRRL U18 competition with the Kyogle Turkeys and finished the season with a strike rate of 60% through his fifteen matches.

    Layne Hardy scored a Round One doubles against Ballina, also scored against the Tweed Heads Seagulls in Round Three and followed that up with a double in Round Five against Evans Head as well as scoring in Round Eleven against Ballina, Round Sixteen against Lower Clarence and Round Seventeen against Lismore Marist Brothers.

    2019 is the second season that Layne Hardy has played in the U18 NRRRL competition after playing two matches in 2018, including scoring a double on debut against Casino RSM.

    In 2018 Layne Hardy played in eleven matches for Kyogle in the Group One U16.5 competition scoring eight tries and kicking four goals for a total point’s haul of forty.

    The talented young Kyogle Turkeys fullback was outstanding when he starred for 2018 Northern Rivers against Newcastle in Round One in the U16 Andrew Johns Cup including scoring a great second half try from a Tyrelle Roberts chip in their 22 – 12 victory.

    In total in the Andrew Johns Cup in 2018, Layne Hardy played in all five of the Northern Rivers matches and in addition to the Round One ty against Newcastle, Layne Hardy also scored against the Central Coast Roosters.

    Layne Hardy’s selection in the Northern Rivers side in 2018 was the second season in a row that he achieved representative selection as in 2017, he was selected at fullback for the Group One representative side for the New South Wales Age Championships.

    In those championships, Layne hardy started all three of Group One’s matches at fullback scoring three tries in the process with all three tries coming in Group One’s Round One match against Group 19.

    In relation to his club rugby league in 2017, Layne Hardy represented the Kyogle Turkey’s in the Group One U15 competition, contributing 36 points from seven tries and four goals. Layne Hardy had an outstanding start to the 2017 season, scoring in his first three matches, which were against Clarence Coast and against Casino RSM in two separate matches.

    In late June 2017, Layne Hardy scored a double against Clarence Coast and followed that up a week later when he scored once again against Casino RSM. Layne Hardy final try came late in the season against Ballina. From a goal kicking perspective all of Layne Hardy’s goals came in different matches towards the conclusion of the season.

    In 2014 Layne Hardy attended school in Kyogle and starred for Kyogle Primary School as part of their Matt King Shield side who finished as runners up with Layne Hardy being named the competitions Best and Fairest.

    Layne Harding is a smooth 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. When returning kicks, 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.

    In Round One of the 2018 Andrew Johns U16 Cup against Newcastle Layne Hardy showed his impressive acceleration and speed when he outpaced the defence to retrieve a deft chip kick from Northern Rivers half back Tyrelle Roberts.

    In what was a planned moved, Tyrelle Roberts stood two passes wide of the ruck on the right hand side of the field and chipped back across his body, Layne Hardy timed his run perfectly and retrieved the ball and outpaced the Newcastle cover defence to score a crucial second half try.

    Also in Round One against Newcastle, Layne Hardy regularly chimed into the backline, usually on the right side of the field and either made ground himself or set up his outside support, on one occasion setting up right winger Kailis Fourmile-Bolt for a try scoring run to the right corner.

    The one thing Layne Harding 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, he has a very good step back side 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, his 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.

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

    An impressive attribute that Layne Hardy does have he is ability to force attackers in the clear to try to beat him down the side line. He will stay inside the attacker and force him in the needed direction and then use his timing and anticipation to make the tackle, usually forcing the attacker into touch.

    Against Newcastle in the 2018 Andrew Johns Cup in Round One this attribute was on display late in the match with Newcastle only six points behind. Layne Harding pulled off a great try saving tackle in the right hand corner of the field closest to the grand stand when it looked for all money like the Newcastle winger would score in the corner and possibly tie to game up. Layne Hardy got across nicely to tackle the Newcastle winger into touch and alleviate the threat.

    It will will be interesting to see where Layne Hardy plays in 2021 as 2020 was his final year of U18 eligibility. Layne Hardy has the size, speed and power to be a difference maker in the 2021 Hastings Deering’s Colts U20/21 competition for Tweed Heads. If Layne Hardy stays in the NRRRL competition in 2021, he should make his NRRRL First Grade debut, the question is whether he would play for Kyogle where he palyed his junior rugby league or for Ballina for whom he played for in 2021.

    Layne Hardy has spent a lot of game time in recent seasons at fullback, centre and on the wing, but I really liked the way he played on the wing late in the 2020 NRRRL U18 season for Ballina, and even though I believe that Layne Hardy will play in the centres for the next couple of seasons, I thing that his best position will ultimately be on the wing.

    Layne Hardy has put on some size over the last season or two, with a current NRL player comparison is for me, Penrith Panthers right winger, Brian To’O. Both are solidly built players with a low centre of gravity and pwerful runners who are difficult to handle especially when they run out of dummy half.


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