My take on our top juniors

[mdrew]

Kel Sheather. (Revised) Ballina Seagulls 19 year old half Kel Sheather started Round One of the New South Wales Country U23 competition at half for the Northern Rivers Titans against the Central Coast Roosters.

In the match, Kel Sheather did not have too many chances with the ball but was outstanding defensively, especially in relation to two plays in the first half. The first was when faced with a big overlap, he flew out of the line at the Central Coast half forcing a mistake and saving a try.

In the second instance, Kel Sheather tracked a Titans clearing kick and hit the Central Coast fullback in an outstanding front on tackle, jolting the ball loose, with the Titans scoring in the next set of six.

In the match Kel Sheather kicked one conversion which was a great kick from the left touchline.

In Round Two against the Greater Northern Tigers Kel Sheather also started at half once again and kicked three conversions in a good Northern Rivers Titans win. He also started at half in the Northern Rivers Titans U23 side’s semi-final against the South Coast Dragons finishing the match kicking three conversions form four attempts in their twenty point loss.

As in previous seasons, Kel Sheather played for the Ballina Seagulls in the NRRRL First competition but due to the presence of Jamie Lyon as captain/coach and five eight, Kel Sheather in fact started in the centres in Round One against Kyogle and contributed a try to Ballina’s 40 – 18 victory over the Turkey’s.

With Jamie Lyon coming on board as Ballina’s NRRRL First Grade captain/coach, Kel Sheather has moved to the centres for the majority of the season playing in fourteen matches regular season matches scoring seven tries. Kel Sheather has missed a number of matches due to injury but came back into the Ballina First Grade side in time for the Final’s series in Round Eighteen against Byron Bay.

Kel Sheather scoring a final regular season round (Round 18) double against Byron Bay with the remainder of his tries coming in separate matches against Kyogle twice, Lismore Marist Brothers, Northern United and Cudgen.

Kel Sheather added a further try in Week Two of the NRRRL First Grade Finals when he scored for Ballina as they defeated Murwillumbah 30 – 20 to progress directly to the 2019 NRRRL First Grade Grand Final.

In the NRRRL First Grade Grand Final Kel Sheather started at right centre and scored one of Ballina’s tries when he ran into a gap to score from twenty metres out as Ballina defeated Murwillumbah 38 – 18.

The talented young half was still eligible to play in the MM Cup competition in 2108 and in fact was named in the Tweed Heads Seagulls MM Cup squad but in fact has by-passed the U18 competition all together and commenced the 2018 season as the starting half back for the Tweed Heads Seagulls U20 Colts side and scored a good try in Round One against the North’s Devils when he split the North’s defence from around ten metres out when operating on the left side of the field.

Kel Sheather also started Rounds Two where he had a try assist and Three against Victoria and Burleigh respectively at half back. Kel Sheather has primarily played on the left side of the field so far this season for the Tweed Heads Seagulls.

Round Three against Burleigh once again saw Kel Sheather lead Tweed Heads around the field well especially in the second half with the Seagulls coming from behind to beat their local rivals by four points with two late tries.

In total for Tweed Heads in the 2018 Colts competition, Kel Sheather played in eleven matches scoring two tries. In addition to the try noted above against Victoria, Kel Sheather also scored against Wynnum Manly in Round Six.

Kel Sheather started his first eight U20 Hastings Deering’s Colts matches at half back, the last being in Round Eight against the Western Mustangs. In his other three matches being against Ipswich in Round Ten, Redcliffe in Round Thirteen and Wynnum Manly in Round Seventeen, Kel Sheather has started from the interchange bench.

Kel Sheather also played a number of matches in the 2018 NRRRL competition for Ballina making his NRRRL First Grade debut in June and scoring against Casino RSM. In his eight NRRL First Grade regular season matches in 2018 Kel Sheather scored 32 points from four tries and eight goals.

Kel Sheather was also heavily involved in 2018 Ballina’s NRRRL First Grade final’s series, culminating in Ballina playing the Tweed Coast Raiders in the 2018 NRRRL First Grade Grand Final with Ballina going down 24 – 4 against the Tweed Coast Raiders in a physical contest in Ballina.

Kel Sheather started the Grand Final at five eight and operated primarily on the right side of the field for Ballina. He did not get too many chances in attack but acquitted himself well defensively against a Tweed Coast forward pack that sent a lot of traffic his way.

Kel Sheather had a huge match late in the regular season against Lower Clarence in Round Seventeen scoring two tries and kicking eight goals for an individual point’s haul of 24. Kel Sheather’s other regular season tries came in Round Seventeen against Lismore Marist Brothers and Round Seven against Casino RSM.

Kel Sheather also played one 2018 NRRRL U18 match being in May against the Tweed Coast Raiders and that day he then backed up for the First Grade match later in the afternoon.

The 2018 season was the second season in which Kel Sheather has been involved in the NRRRL First Grade competition after playing in nine matches in 2017, scoring one try.

The St Johns College Woodlawn half back in 2017 plyed his trade for the Ballina Seagulls in the NRRRL Northern Rivers Rugby League competition playing both first grade and U18’s this season as well as playing for St College Woodlawn in a number of Schoolboy competitions including the GIO Cup. Kel Sheather set up a great try in the semi-finals of the New South Wales Catholic Cup schoolboy competition when a great kick of his in the wet found the chest of centre Jordan Sly but a late try resulted in a 14 – 10 loss to Sydney’s Holy Cross Ryde.

Kel Sheather also scored a 100 metre try and was singled out for special praise by his coach in Woodlawn’s New South Wales GIO Cup Grand Final victory over Patrician Brothers Fairfield in Sydney in late August 2017.

Kel Sheather in 2017 played ten matches in the U18 NRRRL competition scoring 52 points from five tries and sixteen goals. All of his tries have been scored in different games and came against Tweed Coast on two separate occasions, Byron Bay, Casino RSM and Kyogle. Kel Sheather also played nine NRRRL first grade matches and scored his sole try in his third ever first grade match against Byron Bay.

In 2016 Kel Sheather started from the bench for the Northern Country Combined Catholic College side in the NSW CCC trials. Over the last couple of years, the young halfback has not played a great deal of club rugby league for his club side the Ballina Seagulls but has played a fair amount of matches, including the National GIO Cup competition with St Johns College Woodlawn.

Kel Sheather came to prominence in the green of Woodlawn in 2017 when he was part of the NSW CCC Cup Woodlawn side that made the semi-finals of that competition last year. That side included former Titan Sam Elliot and Zac Beecher who has previously played in the MM Cup competition of the Gold Coast.

In attack his initial burst of speed off the mark is the first attribute that you will notice when you see him play, he has a dynamic initial burst however he does not have an extra gear to move to when he is in open space. Coupled with a very good step off both feet, although he seems to step off his right foot on a more regular basis, Kel Sheather’s speed enables him to make breaks however his lack of plus top end speed does impact on his ability to score from his own breaks.

Kel Sheather’s initial burst off the mark was the primary reason for his try in Round One against the North’s Devils. He received the ball on the left side of the play the ball about ten metres out from the North’s line. Kel Sheather ran across field with the ball out in front of him in both hands and when the North’s defensive line hesitated not knowing whether he would run or pass, Kel Sheather stepped off his left foot and exploded through a small gap to score with the North’s fullback trying in vain to make the tackle as Kel Sheather dived across the line to score near the left upright.

Kel Sheather can and will beat defenders in the inside with a step and if the defensive line is staggered a dummy and go, presents multiple headaches for the opposition’s defensive strategies and also backs up well.

It is these attributes that means Kel Sheather is a threat to run every time he is at dummy half and opposing defences must that that into account, for if the markers do but work hard or there are slow moving forwards he has the ability to exploit that on each occasion, like he did against North’s.

A good left foot step in Round Two against the Victorian Thunderbolts highlighted the effectiveness of his step to create opportunities. With a couple of minutes to go in the match, Kel Sheather took the ball on the field (where he has primarily played) stepped off his left foot to elude a defender who had rushed out of the line and then popped a good short inside ball to Ben Thomas who scored near the posts. The try from Kel Sheather’s perspective involved good footwork in limited space and then appropriate timing, direction and weight on his pass to set up Ben Thomas for the try.

In previous year’s he has run quite a lot but last year and so far this season he has seemingly taken a step back and become more of an organising type of halfback, but he still takes on the line when he sees an opportunity as was evidenced in Round One against North’s.

At present, one area for him to continue to develop is his play making skills, including putting his runners holes gaps. I am not suggesting that play making skills are currently under developed but an improvement in that area will enable his speed and footwork to play better in game situations as defensive lines start to focus in his runners and thus leave more space for him.

Kel Sheather continues to refine his passing especially to his left and has thrown a number of good passes this season, none more so than a good long spiral to left centre Lee Turner which put him outside his defender and then Lee Turner just had to draw the winger and pass Gerard Ah Nau for his first try in the left corner and his first in Seagulls colours since his move from Group 20.

From a goal kicking perspective, he is very effective near the posts, his strike rate last year was a touch above 90% and will have his moments where he kicks then in bunches from the sideline as well. I am not sure whether he will be a team’s primary goal kicker going forward, but it is certainly not out of the question that he will not be either.

In defence, due to his size he 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 fringes of the ruck he will get in front of them and use his shoulder in an effort to contain them until defensive help arrives. He does have an aggressive streak in him when defending and this holds him in good stead when defending against wide running back rowers.

Kel Sheather’s Colts eligibility is now completed and his next step will likely be either stay with Ballina in the NRRRL First Grade competition or test himself on the Gold Coast likely starting in the First Grade competition before looking for a Queensland Cup opportunity.

From a position perspective, Kel Sheather made a good fist of half back with the Tweed Heads Seagulls Colts side in 2018 and in the NRRRL First Grade competition and clearly has made great strides in his game management and ball playing skills and thus there is no reason to consider a move from half back.

Whilst Kel Sheather has played in the centres this season for Ballina in the NRRRRL First Grade competition with Jamie Lyon coming on board, his future certainly lies closer to the action.

With his evolving game management and ball playing skills to compliment his running game a player comparison to young Melbourne Storm half back Brody Croft is not unwarranted. Like Croft Kel Sheather is also a very good goal kicker as well as tactical kicker.

Kel Sheather certainly has an intriguing skill set and has come on in leaps and bounds this season in Colts and has adapted to the size and speed of the older players he is up against very quickly indeed.

Kel Sheather certainly has had to deal with a very steep learning curve this season in the centres but he has handled it with aplomb which bodes well for the future.

[mdrew]

Terry-Jack Smart. The young man from the Northlands region of New Zealand (the area north of Auckland) will be heading over to Australia to look to fulfil his rugby league dream starting with being selected in the Tweed Heads Seagulls MM Cup squad in 2019. Terry-Jack Smart however did not play in any of Tweed Heads matches in their successful 2019 campaign.

Terry-Jack Smart arrived in Australia with an outstanding junior resume including selection in Northlands U15 and U17 sides that played in the New Zealand National Championships and selection in multiple merit sides.

Terry-Jack Smart had a successful start to his time in Australia starting in the front row and scoring a hat trick for Southport in the GCRL U18 Division One competition, however his Southport side went down 16 – 14 to Helensvale.

Terry-Jack Smart moved to the second row for Round Two against Currumbin scoring a double in their 18 – 10 win and also scored a double in Round Eleven against Currumbin playing in the second row.

In total in 2019 Terry-Jack Smart played in thirteen U18 Division One matches for Southport and in addition to his tries noted above also scored in Round Four against Burleigh and Round Nine against Mudgeeraba as well as adding a double later in the season against Currumbin.

Terry-Jack Smart also started in the front row and scored a double for Southport as they progressed to the Grand Final on the back of a 28 – 20 Preliminary Final win over Ormeau.

In the Grand Final Terry-Jack Smart started in the front row as Southport went down 28 – 12 against Burleigh in a physical forward contest.

In 2019 Terry-Jack Smart was also part of the Keebra Park Langer Cup squad including starting in the front row in the Gold Coast derby against PBC.

Terry-Jack Smart also started in the front row for Keebra Park in their Queensland GIO Cup quarter final win over Coombabah State High School 42 – 12.

2019 also saw Terry-Jack Smart also play one Kennards Hire Debbie Marzella Competition match against Robina in June.

In 2018 in New Zealand, Terry-Jack Smart played in two competitions in the Northlands Region being the U17 Sam McKendry Cup and the Adam Blair Northtec Schoolboy Cup.

In the 2018 Sam McKendry Cup Competition, Terry-Jack Smart played for the Takahiwai Rugby League Club and scored an impressive sixteen tries from just nine matches (178% strike rate) to finish the competition’s leading point scored by a staggering eight tries.

Included in his sixteen tries were five in a match against the Hikurangi Stags and also a hat trick against the Stags late in the season, Terry-Jack Smart also scored a late season double against the Stags and an early season double against Nga Tama Toa.

In the Adam Blair Northtec Schoolboy competition, Terry-Jack Smart led Bream Bay College to an 18 – 16 win in the Competition Final starting at five eight and scoring as Bream Bay College defeated Whangarei Boys High School in just their second year in the competition.

In total in the School Boy competition Terry-Jack Smart played in six matches and scored eight tries to also lead that competitions try scoring list. In the opening two rounds Terry-Jack Smart scored hat tricks with those matches coming against Tauraroa Area School/Otamatea High School and Dargaville High School. In addition to his try in the final Terry-Jack Smart also scored against Whangarei Boys High School in a pool match.

Terry-Jack Smart represented the Northern Swords U17 side this season at the North Islands District U17 Tournament and was in fact named in the Tournament Merit Team for the second time after being named in the U15 Tournament merit side in 2016.

Terry-Jack Smart was named in the Northern Swords U17 side that contested the 2018 U17 New Zealand National Youth Tournament which started on October 1, with the Northern Swords in Group D and played round robin matches against the Akarana Falcons, the South Island Scorpions and the Central Vipers.

In Round One Terry-Jack Smart started at lock for the U17 Northern Swords who went down 46 – 0 to the Akarana Falcons. Round Two saw Terry-Jack Smart start once again at lock as the Northern Swords took on the Southern Zone Scorpions with the Northern Swords going down 56 – 10.

Round Three saw Terry-Jack Smart start at lock for the third match (and day) in a row as the Northern Swords defeat the Central Vipers 28 – 20 to record their first win of the tournament.

The win propelled the Northern Swords U17’s to the 5th to 8th play-offs with their first match being against the Wai-Coa Bay side with Terry-Jack Smart named on the bench in the 28 – 20 loss.

In the Northern Swords 7th against 8th play-off match against the Central Vipers, Terry-Jack Smart started at lock as the Northern Swords U17 side finished the Tournament with a 26 – 14 loss.

Terry-Jack Smart has also previously represented the Northern Swords at the U15 level including winning a number of plyer of the match awards at the 2016 U15 New Zealand National Youth Tournament.

You do not often find a young player who is equally at home running on both sides of the ruck but that is what a team has with Treey-Jack Smart, he runs a very good outside shoulder line and his above average footwork enables him to step off either foot to enable him to cut back against the movement of the defensive line to take advantage of gaps back on the inside of his direct opponent if an inside defender is slow to come across in defence.

For a big strong young man, Treey-Jack Smart also has above average speed, not just off the mark but also when he is in clear space, when he makes a break Treey-Jack Smart is more than capable of going the distance and normally out paces the cover defence on the way to the try line.

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

On a lot of his runs Treey-Jack Smart 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 support players.

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

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

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

Terry-Jack Smart will I am sure be part of either the be part of either the Tweed Heads Seagulls or Burleigh Bears Hastings Deering’s Colts squad in 2020 and will also be Colts eligible in 2021.

In New Zealand Terry-Jack Smart played either lock or five eight this season and even played a match or two on the wing and this season he played in the front row for both Southport and Keebra Park.

To be honest I am not sure whether he has the size to stay at lock or front row or the ball playing skills to play five eight but for me Terry-Jack Smart has the intensity and desire to forge a rugby league career in the second row where he might be a touch undersized compared to some but will make up for it through intensity and sheer hard work and effort.

Terry-Jack Smart for me has a similar playing style to 2019 Parramatta Eels second rower Tepai Moeroa who will make the move to the New South Wales Waratah’s in 2020. Both just work all day and have an effective front on running style.

[mdrew]

Daniel Shannon. (Revised) He is a local Titan’s linked young front rower who this season continued to develop his game for the Burleigh Bears Hastings Deering’s Colts side and with Southport in the Gold Coast Rugby League competition.

In the 2019 Hastings Deering’s Colts competition, Daniel Shannon played in fifteen matches including finals and scored his first Colts try of the season in Round Twenty against the Western Mustangs.

Daniel Shannon came into the Burleigh Hastings Deering’s Colts side in Round Nine against Redcliffe starting from the bench and also started from the bench in his other fourteen matches.

In relation to his try against the Western Mustangs Daniel Shannon received the ball from dummy half Zac McCormack close to the line with heavy defence in front of him, but he used his footwork to cut back towards the play the ball where the defence had not moved off the line and Daniel Shannon used his size and power to crash over.

Daniel Shannon’s 2019 Hastings Deering’s Colts season came to an end when he started on the interchange bench for Burleigh as they went down 23 – 16 to Sunshine Coast in the Preliminary Final.

Daniel Shannon played the last rounds of the 2019 Hastings Deering’s Colts competition alongside younger brother Samuel in the Burleigh side.

In the Gold Coast Rugby League U20 competition Daniel Shannon played in eight matches including starting in the front row in Round Eleven against Burleigh when he scored a double which were his first tries of the 2019 season.

Daniel Shannon’s first try was a short range effort when he took the ball about three metres out from the line on the right side of the ruck to crash over. His second try came from around ten metres out this time on the left side of the ruck when he ran a good outside shoulder route and was put through a big gap.

Daniel Shannon also had a try assist in the match when he split the Burleigh line thirty metres out from his own line on the left side of the field, charging forty metres before drawing the fullback to send his support over untouched.

One thing that I did notice in the match was that Daniel Shannon ball played a lot before the line, on every occasion on the right side of the ruck.

Daniel Shannon’s other 2019 Gold Coast Rugby League U20 try came later in the season against Mudgeeraba.

In 2019 Daniel Shannon also made his Gold Coast Rugby League First Grade debut when he started in the front row against Bilambil in Round Two.

Daniel Shannon also played in two QTOP Doug Lipp Cup matches in 2019 for Southport with those matches being against Burleigh in June and Mudgeeraba in late August.

In 2019 Daniel Shannon was also selected in the Gold Coast Vikings U20 side for the South East Queensland U20 Challenge.

For Burleigh in the 2018 MM Cup competition, Daniel Shannon played in all six matches starting five in the front row and coming off the bench in Round Three in the local derby against the Tweed Heads Seagulls.

Daniel Shannon scored just the one try in the MM Cup this season which was against Redcliffe in Round Two in an impressive Burleigh win at Pizzey Park.

Post the MM Cup competition, Daniel Shannon played for Southport and played in nine matches in the U19 competition and three in the Doug Lipp Cup competition.

Daniel Shannon came into the Southport U19 side in Round Three starting in the front row in a 22 all draw against Bilambil and also started in the front row in seven other matches before his Colts promotion. In Round 16 with the Burleigh Colts side having a bye Daniel Shannon lined up in the front row against Currumbin in a tough 26 – 16 loss.

Daniel Shannon scored two U19 GCRL regular season tries, the first came in early July against Currumbin and then Daniel Shannon scored his second try in the following round against Mudgeeraba.

In Week One of the GCRL U19 Finals series, Daniel Shannon started in the front row for Southport as they defeated Bilambil 34 – 8.

In Week two of the GCRL U19 Finals series, Daniel Shannon once again started in the front row for Southport against Currumbin with the Tigers winning 20 - 14.

In the U19 Grand Final Daniel Shannon started once again in the front row for Southport against Currumbin but unfortunately Southport went down 34 – 20, Daniel Shannon however was very good for the Tigers that Sunday afternoon.

Daniel Shannon made his Doug Lipp Cup debut in Round Three this year when he started in the second row for Southport against Bilambil. Daniel Shannon also started in Round Five in fact starting in the centres on that occasion against Helensvale and also played against Mudgeeraba in June.

It has been an impressive effort from Daniel Shannon to start in the front row in the U19 match in Rounds Three and Five and them back up to start in the Doug Lipp Cup matches immediately after.

Daniel Shannon was deservedly promoted to the Burleigh Hastings Deering’s Colts side for their Round 17 match against Norths starting the match from the bench on a tough day for Burleigh.

In total in the 2018 Hastings Deering’s Colts competition to date, Daniel Shannon played in four matches, all from the bench.

Daniel Shannon has also recently been selected in the 2018 Queensland Indigenous U18 side for the QPIIC Championships to be held in October.

In 2017 Daniel Shannon played for the Southport Tigers in the Gold Coast Rugby League competition specifically at the U17 and U19 levels. Daniel Shannon also represented the Queensland Indigenous side in 2017 at the QPICC carnival at Beenleigh in October.

Daniel Shannon has alternated between the U17 Division Two and U19 levels for Southport in 2017, playing six matches in each competition and had a very busy weekend. On Saturday Daniel Shannon lined up for the Southport U19 side coming off the interchange bench in their semi-final loss 21 – 14 to Currumbin and on Sunday started in the front row for Southport in their 21 – 14 Grand Final loss to Burleigh. In the 2017 U17 Division Two competition, Daniel Shannon crossed for two tries on the season, the first coming against Coomera in July and the second in early August against Helensvale.

In 2016 Daniel Shannon was part of the Gold Coast White CC side for this season, starting the last two matches off the bench. He played the 2015 season with the Mudgeeraba Redbacks where he scored three tries across the ten matches that he played at the U15 Division One level and he also played seven matches up at the U16 Division Two level, where he mainly came off the bench.

Daniel Shannon also represented Murri United in the Queensland Murri tournament in late 2015 and was in fact selected in the Queensland U15 Murri side which toured Fiji and won all three of their matches on that tour alongside Jesse Brasslin.

Running with the football, Daniel Shannon 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. He 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.

Daniel Shannon has a decent off load when he has impacted the defensive line as well although to date in U20 Colts competition he has not shown it much, concentrating more on making ground in the centre of the ruck.

The key to his running is his ability to drop his shoulder into the defenders at the right moment, to go along with his late foot work. These attributes make Daniel Shannon very difficult to tackle and he can rarely be stopped one on one. Throw in a decent turn of pace off the mark and you have a player who is difficult for a defensive line to combat.

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

Daniel Shannon defends in the centre of the ruck and seems best suited in the long run defending there and adds a degree of intimidation to any forward pack he plays for.

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

For a front rower his lateral movement is more than reasonable. Daniel Shannon is also quite effective when defending at marker, and does not use it as a chance to have a break and will chase hard from the position.

Come 2020 Daniel Shannon will be in the Burleigh Hastings Deering’s Colts squad for the second season in row.

Due to his size and strength he I believe will continue to play his football in the front row in the long term although he could likely play in the second row for the next couple of years adequately.

From a player comparison perspective, think of someone along the lines of New Zealand Warriors and New Zealand International second rower/front rower Adam Blair as a solid hard working forward who has a more than decent off load in him as well as extremely aggressive tackling and running styles.

[mdrew]

Sam Stone. The 21 year old former local junior (Burleigh Bears) and Junior Kangaroo was a mid-season signing from Newcastle and is contracted to the Titans until the end of the 2020 season after signing his eighteen month contract.

Sam Stone made his NRL debut with the Newcastle Knights in 2017, playing in sixteen matches, he added two more NRL matches in 2018 to take his total to date to eighteen.

In his sixteen NRL matches in 2017, Sam Stone ran for 585 metres (36.6 metres per game), scored two tries, had two line breaks and made 353 tackles (22 per match) at a tackling efficiency of 92.89%.

In his two NRL matches in 2018, Sam Stone ran for 101 metres (50.5 metres per game) and made forty tackles (twenty per game) at a tackling efficiency of 95.24%.

Prior to signing with the Titans, Sam Stone played for Newcastle in the New South Wales Canterbury Cup side alternating between starting in the second row or from the bench.

After signing with the Titans in late June Sam Stone began his time back on the Gold Coast starting in the second row for Burleigh in Round Fifteen of the Queensland Cup against Townsville.

In the match, Sam Stone played all 80 minutes, running for 91 metres (36 post contact), broke three tackles, played the ball at an average speed of 4.85 seconds and made twenty seven tackles at an impressive tackling efficiency of 96.49%.

In Round Sixteen of the Queensland Cup Sam Stone started from the bench for Burleigh against Souths Logan scoring his first career Queensland Cup try and his first since signing with the Titans when he was on hand to dive on a loose ball after the Souths Logan defence could not mop up a kick into their in goal.

Sam Stone played thirty minutes in the match, at right second row, running for forty five metres (fourteen post contact), played the ball at an average speed of 3.5 seconds and made nine tackles at a 90% tackling efficiency.

Sam Stone also came off the bench in Round Seventeen against Tweed Heads. In the derby Sam Stone played forty six minutes at right second row, running for ninety one metres, an impressive forty six of which (50.55%) were post contact, played the ball at an average speed of 3.87 seconds, broke a tackle and made twenty tackles at a 100% tackling efficiency.

Sam Stone was promoted to the Titans NRL side, coming off the bench in Round Eighteen against the Melbourne Storm for his first Titans appearance coming on in the 21st minute and playing the remaining 59 minutes at right second row.

In that time Sam Stone ran for 88 metres (25 post contact), played the ball at an average speed of 3.65 seconds and made thirty tackles at an 85.71% tackling efficiency.

Sam Stone made his first NRL start for the Titans when he started at right second row in Round Nineteen against the Brisbane Broncos, playing seventy minutes.

In that time, Sam Stone, ran for twenty eight metres (eight post contact), played the ball at an average speed of 2.79 seconds and made 33 tackles at a tackling efficiency of 89.19%.

Sam Stone moved to left second row in Round Twenty away to the Sydney Roosters playing 63 minutes including to right second row in the second half.

In that time Sam Stone ran for 65 metres (24 post contact), played the ball at an average speed of 4.11 seconds and made forty three tackles at a 94.56% tackling efficiency.

Sam Stone moved back to start at right second row in Round Twenty One against St George, playing 60 minutes. In that time he ran for 101 metres (45 post contact), played the ball at an average speed of 3.63 seconds and made twenty three tackles at a tackling efficiency of 92%.

Sam Stone moved back to left second row in Round Twenty Two against the Parramatta Eels playing 51 minutes on that side of the field. In that time he ran for 47 metres (22 post contact), played the ball at an average speed of 3.5 seconds and made thirty three tackles at a tackling efficiency of 89.19%.

In Round Twenty three away to the Melbourne Storm Sam Stone played all 80 minutes at left second row running for 84 metres (37 post contact), played the ball at an average speed of 3.78 seconds and made thirty five tackles at a 92.1% tackling efficiency.

The Titans were away to Newcastle in Round Twenty Four with Sam Stone starting and playing all 80 minutes at left second row. Sam Stone ran for 38 metres (twelve post contact), broke a tackle, played the ball at an average speed of 3.72 seconds and made 32 tackles at a 86.5% tackling efficiency.

Sam Stone also started at left second row in the Titans last NRL match of the season being Round Twenty Five against the St George Dragons once again playing the entire match.

In his 80 minutes on the field, Sam Stone ran for 105 metres (an impressive 48 of which were post contact), broke three tackles, played the ball at an average speed of 3.48 seconds and made forty three tackles at a 95.56% tackling efficiency.

In total in his eight NRL games in 2019 Sam Stone played 543 minutes, offloaded the ball four times, ran for 560 metres and made 272 tackles at a tackling efficiency of 88.2%.

Sam Stone’s per game averages included playing 67 minutes, running for seventy metres and making thirty four tackles.

The table below compares Sam Stone’s 2017, 2018 and 2019 per game averages:

2017 NRL* 2018 NRL* 2019 Q Cup 2019 NRL

Games played 16 2 1 8

Minutes per game 32.42 37.5 30 67

Runs per game 5 6 6 7.3

Metres made per game 36.6 50.5 45.4 70

Tackles per game 22 20 9 34

· Playing for the Newcastle Knights

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

When the opposition are on the back foot Sam Stone 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 and has the strength to drag defenders with him.

I would consider that Sam Stone’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.

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

Sam Stone 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.

Sam Stone is contracted to the Titans until the end of the 2020 and thus like everybody else will be looking to impress new coach Justin Holbrook in the off-season. One thing is for certain and that is that most spots will be up for grabs and Sam Stone will be in the mix to start in the second row come Round One of the 2020 NRL competition and add to his eight NRL matches in 2019 and twenty six in his career to date.

Sam Stone’s 194 cm, 102 kg frame is ideal for him to continue playing in the second row where he has played his entire career, including his twenty six career NRL matches to date. An off season under new coach Justin Holbrook may just be what Sam Stone needs to add some additional weight to his frame without compromising his speed and mobility.

A current NRL player with a similar playing style for me is Sam Stone’s former team mate being Newcastle Knights second rower Lachlan Fitzgibbon. Like Fitzgibbon Sam Stone shapes as a talented young second rower who just needs the right opportunity to highlight his burgeoning skill set.

Sam Stone showed flashes of the ability to be an NRL regular for a number of years in 2019 and with an offseason with the Titans under his belt should continue to progress in 2020 under new coach Justin Holbrook.

[mdrew]

Jai Whitbread. (Revised) The former Gold Coast Titans and Northern Rivers junior was signed late in 2017 by the Titans on a Top 30 two year contract and recently signed a new two year NRL deal deservedly so after standout performances for the Brisbane Broncos NYC side in 2016 and 2017 as well as a storied school boy rugby career with the Southport School (TSS) in the GPS First XV School boy rugby competition where he played primarily at outside centre.

As a local junior it was great to see Jai Whitbread make his NRL debut for the Titans in 2018 when he came off the bench in Round 18 against the Sydney Roosters making a more than positive impression in limited minutes on the field.

In total in his NRL debut in 2018 Jai Whitbread played 18 minutes running for 32 metres, 10.5 of those post contact and made nine tackles at a tackling efficiency of 81.8% in a solid debut for the 186cm 107kg Titans junior and South Tweed Bears product.

Jai Whitbread’s second NRL match came in Round Five of 2019 season against Penrith and he played a key role in the Titans 30 – 24 victory. In his 38 minutes on the field Jai Whitbread ran for 93 metres, 34 post contact, played the ball at an average speed of 3.13 seconds and made 23 tackles at a tackling efficiency of 95.8%.

Jai Whitbread was also on the bench for the Titans in Round Six against the Newcastle Knights, playing 39 minutes, running for 130 metres (37 post contact), broke three tackles and made twenty two tackles at a 100% tackling efficiency.

In Round Seven against the Wests Tigers, starting from the bench again Jai Whitbread played thirty five minutes, ran for 66 metres (29 post contact) and made thirty tackles at a tackling efficiency of 96.77%.

Jai Whitbread was back in the Titans NRL side for their Round Ten match against Canterbury, once again starting on the bench. In his 27 metres on the field, Jai Whitbread ran for 95 metres (41 post contact), played the ball at an average speed of 3.27 seconds and made eighteen tackles at a tackling efficiency of 81.81%.

In his first career NRL start (he started at lock), Jai Whitbread had a very solid outing in Round Eleven against Manly playing 35 minutes. In that time he ran for 106 metres (41 post contact), broke a tackle, played the ball at an exceptional average of 2.96 seconds and made twenty two tackles at a 100% tackling efficiency.

Jai Whitbread made his second career NRL start in Round Twelve at lock in a two point loss to North Queensland, playing just 18 minutes. In those 18 minutes Jai Whitbread ran for 37 metres (eleven post contact) and made seventeen tackles at a 100% tackling efficiency.

Jai Whitbread was back on the bench for Round Thirteen against the Brisbane Broncos but continued his impressive form in his 41 minutes on the field. In those minutes, he ran for 73 metres (13 post contact), broke three tackles, played the ball at an average speed of 3.12 seconds and made twenty nine tackles at a tackling efficiency of 96.67%.

Jai Whitbread also started from the bench in Round Fourteen against the New Zealand Warriors, playing thirty metres, running for 74 metres (34 post contact), breaking a tackle, playing the ball at an average speed of 3.42 seconds and making twenty five tackles at a tackling efficiency of 92.59%.

In his third NRL start in Round Fifteen against Manly when he started at lock, Jai Whitbread played 39 minutes, running for 83 metres (twenty five post contact), broke a tackle, played the ball at an average speed of 3.23 seconds and made thirty two tackles at a tackling efficiency of 91.93%.

Round Seventeen of the NRL saw Jai Whitbread move back to the bench for the match against Penrith and playing twenty nine minutes after coming on at half time. In that time, Jai Whitbread ran for 97 metres (38 post contact), broke two tackles, played the ball at an average speed of 3.33 seconds and made twenty tackles at an impressive tackles efficiency of 96.26%.

Jai Whitbread resumed his starting lock position in the NRL in Round Eighteen against the Melbourne Storm playing 53 minutes where he ran for 94 metres (23 post contact), broke two tackles, played the ball at an average speed of 3.4 seconds and made twenty eight tackles at a tackling efficiency of 93.33%.

Jai Whitbread moved back to the bench for Round Nineteen against the Brisbane Broncos, playing forty nine minutes, running for 99 metres (34 post contact), broke two tackles, played the ball at an average speed for 2.94 seconds and made thirty four tackles at a tackling efficiency of 87.18%.

Jai Whitbread started at lock in Round Twenty away to the Sydney Roosters playing 65 minutes, running for 113 metres (45 post contact), broke two tackles, played the ball at an average speed of 3.41 seconds and made forty tackles at an impressive 97.56% tackling efficiency.

Round Twenty One against the St George Dragons saw Jai Whitbread start in the front row, playing 58 minutes, running for 109 metres (48 post contact), playing the ball at an average speed of 3.15 seconds and making an exceptional forty three tackles at a 97.72% tackling efficiency.

Jai Whitbread started from the bench in Round Twenty Two against Parramatta playing 37 minutes, running for 79 metres (31 post contact), broke a tackle, played the ball at an average speed of 3.31 seconds and made twenty three tackles at a tackling efficiency of 95.8%.

In Round Twenty three against the Melbourne Storm Jai Whitbread came off the bench once again playing thirty two minutes, running for 31 metres (fourteen post contact, played the ball at an average of 2.87 seconds and made seventeen tackles at a 94.4% tackling efficiency.

Away to the Newcastle Knights in Round Twenty Four Jai Whitbread came off the bench to play fifty minutes, running for 94 metres (39 post contact), broke a tackle, played the ball at an average speed of 3.11 seconds and made 37 tackles at a perfect 100% tackling efficiency.

Jai Whitbread also started from then bench for the Titans last NRL match of the season being Round Twenty Five against the St George Dragons playing just twenty three minutes.

In that time Jai Whitbread ran for 66 metres (25 post contact), played the ball at an average speed for 2.99 seconds and made seventeen tackles at a 94.4% tackling efficiency.

In total in the NRL in 2019, Jai Whitbread played eighteen matches, playing 792 minutes, running for 1 547 metres, broke seventeen tackles, off loaded the ball twice and made 477 tackles at a tackling efficiency of 93.2%.

Jai Whitbread’s 2019 NRL per game averages included playing 44 minutes, running for 86 metres from 9.1 hit ups and making 26.5 tackles.

Jai Whitbread started the 2019 season proper coming off the bench for the Burleigh Queensland Cup side in their 10 – 0 win over PNG. In his 38 minutes on the field Jai Whitbread took ten carries for 116 metres, 57 post contact (49.14%), broke two tackles and had a play the ball average of a more than decent 3.22 seconds.

Defensively Jai Whitbread had a tackling efficiency of 95.24% making 20 effective tackles, missing only one.

Jai Whitbread also came off the bench in Round Two against the Ipswich Jets and had a big game including scoring a first half try. Jai Whitbread showed some good speed off the mark to take the ball around twelve metres out from the line and showed good speed off the mark to split the Jets defence to score under the posts.

In his forty six minutes on the field, Jai Whitbread ran for 111 metres (29 post contact, had a team leading two line breaks, broke four tackle, played the ball at an average of 3.1 seconds all whilst making eleven tackles at a 100% tackling efficiency.

In Round Three of the Queensland Cup against Tweed Jai Whitbread started from the bench for the third match in a row but made the most of his 34 minutes on the field, in that time Jai Whitbread made 81 metres (34 post contact) from nine hit-ups, broke a tackle, played the ball in an average time of 2.9 seconds and made an impressive 29 tackles at a 100% tackling efficiency.

After being in the 21 man Titans NRL squad for a number of weeks, Jai Whitbread made his first Queensland Cup start of the season in Round Five when he started at lock in their 38 - 22 win against Souths Logan and scored his second 2019 try in the process.

Jai Whitbread played a season high 63 minutes, ran for 153 metres (51 post contact), broke the line on two occasions, broke a team leading nine tackles, played the ball at an average speed of 3.19 seconds and made a team leading twenty six tackles at a tackling efficiency of 96.30%.

In relation to his try, Jai Whitbread received the ball from the dummy half about ten metres out from the Souths Logan line, when he made contact with the defensive line, Jai Whitbread spun clock wise 360 degrees to break through the initial contact before he pushed past the Magpies fullback to score just to the right of the goal posts.

After his performances in the opening two rounds of the 2019 Queensland Cup for Burleigh Jai Whitbread was deservedly rewarded by being named on the Titans extended bench for Round Two in the NRL against the Cronulla Sharks.

In total in the Queensland Cup in 2019, Jai Whitbread played 189 minutes in four matches, scored two tries, broke sixteen tackles, ran for 464 metres and made 86 tackles at a tackling efficiency of 96.2%.

Even though Jai Whitbread was still eligible to play U20’s in 2018 he started the season with the Burleigh Bears Queensland Cup side, starting ten of his 12 matches to date from the interchange and starting two being Rounds 13 and 14 against Ipswich and the Northern Pride respectively.

Jai Whitbread scored his sole try to date in Round Three against Tweed Heads and also getting a try assist in that match when he broke through the Tweed Heads defensive line before passing to half back Jamal Fogerty to score.

Jai Whitbread broke the Tweed Heads line right through the middle of the ruck on about his own 20 metre line and showed quite good pace especially on the wet and muddy field to draw the fullback and pass to his right to Fogerty near the half way line.

Jai Whitbread’s try against the Tweed Heads Seagulls can be put down solely to perservence. A long break was made and the ball spun wide late in the first half but Jai Whitbread, who once again showed quite decent speed kept up with the play nicely and was rewarded for his efforts when he received an inside pass from Jamal Fogerty, Jai Whitbread had the presence of mind to also bring the ball around to score close to the left upright.

In Round Four against the South’s Logan Magpies, Jai Whitbread suffered concussion like symptoms and had to be replaced when he was hit by a shoulder charge by Souths Logan interchange and Brisbane Bronco’s contracted front rower, Thomas Flegler who was immediately sent off. Jai Whitbread was however named for Burleigh’s Round Five match against the Central Queensland Capra’s.

Over the course of the recent off-season, Jai Whitbread started on the interchange bench in all of the Titans NRL trials and was one of the Titans best in their NRL trial loss to the Brisbane Bronco’s in Toowoomba as well as a solid performer against the Warriors on the Sunshine Coast a fortnight later.

In the Queensland Cup in 2018 season through his thirteen matches Jai Whitbread played 444 minutes for Burleigh, making 1 092 metres, 357 of those post contact (32.69%) and made 220 tackles at a tackling efficiency of 90.1%.

Jai Whitbread averaged 34 minutes, just over seven hit-ups for 78.8 metres and 17 tackles. Jai Whitbread has also been credited with fifteen tackle breaks and a line break (the one that led to Jamal Fogerty’s try in Round Three) a try assist this season and four offloads.

Jai Whitbread had a standout match in Round Thirteen against the Ipswich in his first starting appearance having career highs (at that time) in multiple categories including minutes (70), running metres (166) and tackles (31).

In Round 19 a week after his NRL debut Jai Whitbread was outstanding for the Bears as they defeated Central Queensland 24 – 14. Starting from the bench Jai Whitbread played 36 minutes, running for a career high 146 metres, 57 post contact, also a career high, broke three tackles and made 16 tackles at a tackling efficiency of a perfect 100%.

In Round One of 2018 against the Sunshine Coast Falcons in his debut Queensland Cup match, Jai Whitbread played 32 minutes, making 57 metres from six hit-ups, 13 of those post contact and sixteen tackles at a tackling efficiency of 88.89%.

In Round Two against the Redcliffe Dolphins, Jai Whitbread played 33 minutes, making 94 metres from twelve hit-ups, 34 of those post contact and fifteen tackles at a tackling efficiency of 88.25%.

In addition to his try and try assist in Round Three against the Tweed Heads Seagulls, Jai Whitbread played 33 minutes, making 79 metres from six hit-ups, 16 of those post contact and fifteen tackles at a tackling efficiency of 100% in a more than solid display in wet and windy conditions at Tweed Heads in a solid Burleigh victory 32 – 12 where fellow Titans NRL contracted youngster Tyrone Roberts-Davis also scored for Burleigh.

In Round Four Jai Whitbread started on the interchange bench for the fourth match in a row this time against a giant South’s Logan Magpies pack and played 34 minutes, running for 77 metres, twenty two of those post contact on nine carries and made 13 tackles at a tackling efficiency of 92.86%, yet another solid game for the South Tweed junior even taking into account being knocked out by a deemed shoulder charge. Jai Whitbread was also credited with one tackle break.

The table below compares Jai Whitbread’s 2018 and 2019 per game averages:

2018 Q Cup 2018 NRL 2019 Q Cup 2019 NRL

Games played 13 1 4 18

Minutes per game 34.25 18 47.3 44

Runs per game 7.8 6 9.2 9.1

Metres made per game 84 32 116 86

Tackles per game 16.92 9 20.5 26.5

In 2017 Jai Whitbread was the 18th man for the New South Wales U20 State of Origin side and in 2018 was named in the starting side but withdrew as a result of a hand injury. Jai Whitbread in addition to his rugby league commitments is studying a Bachelor’s Degree in Clinical Phycology so he is also a very intelligent young man.

Jai Whitbread who originally hails from the Tamworth region of New South Wales and played his junior rugby league with the South Tweed Bears in the Group 18 junior rugby league competition and played a First Grade trial with the Broncos in February 2017 when he came off the bench against the Ipswich Jets in Ipswich.

In 2017 Jai Whitbread played in twenty three matches for the Broncos NYC side including their finals matches, starting twenty one of those matches in the front row and the other two matches being Rounds Four and Five from the interchange bench. On those matches Jai Whitbread scored two tries which came against the Wests Tigers in Round Eleven and against Newcastle in the Bronco’s first final match this season.

Jai Whitbread’s 2017 per match averages included 118 running metres on 12 hit-ups and 26 tackles (90% tackling efficiency) in just over 55 minutes. On sixteen occasions Jai Whitbread ran for more than 100 metres including an incredible effort in Round Eleven against the Wests Tigers when he ran for 201 metres. On sixteen occasions also Jai Whitbread made more than twenty tackles including Round Eleven against Wests Tigers when he made 47 tackles. Over the course of the 2017 NYC season Jai Whitbread also made six line breaks and off loaded the ball on seven occasions.

In 2016 whilst still U18 eligible, in fact he represented New South Wales U18 that year, Jai Whitbread made twenty one NYC appearances for the Broncos starting in the front row thirteen matches and coming off the interchange bench in eight more. His 2016 per match season averages included 78 running metres on 8.5 hit ups and 21 tackles (92% tackling efficiency) in 45 minutes.

Jai Whitbread’s two 2016 NYC tries came in Round Eight against the Rabbitohs and Rounds Twenty Six against the Sydney Roosters. His best running metre performance in 2016 was in Round Twenty Two against the Dragons and defensively Jai Whitbread in Round Seventeen made 35 tackles with no misses against the Melbourne Storm.

The 186cm 107kg Jai Whitbread was a former Titans contracted junior from just south of the Border and played for New South Wales at the U16 and U18 levels and also CC and MM Cup for Gold Coast based squads in previous seasons. At the start of the 2016 season Jai Whitbread was signed by the Broncos after a successful GPS rugby career with the Southport School where he played three years in the school’s First XV and making a number of GPS representative sides. Interestingly Jai Whitbread played school boy rugby in the centres but in rugby league has played either front row, lock or second row exclusively.

Jai Whitbread is a hard running forward who is very good at running the right line including both and inside shoulder and outside shoulder line and consistently hits the pass off either the dummy half or play maker flat thus generating his best possible speed and momentum to hit the defensive line at full speed.

Where he really excels though is his footwork, Jai Whitbread 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.

Jai Whitbread’s try in Round Two of the 2019 Queensland Cup competition against the Ipswich Jets perfectly illustrated the analysis noted above.

Jai Whitbread is adept at cutting back behind the play the ball area when the markers do not work hard and make ground as a result. When the Broncos NYC side were in the attacking area, Jai Whitbread was regularly used to draw the defence into the centre of the ruck thus stretching the defensive line out wide to allow the backline more room to move. Jai Whitbread also accepted the responsibility of regularly taking the first hit-up from kick offs and was regularly the first forward to take a hit-up after an opposition tactical kick.

Even when he is taking a hit up in the centre of the ruck, Jai Whitbread’s feet are always moving and he is constantly making slight corrections to his running vector and he is also able to maintain his speed regardless of those multiple directional changes. He seems just to run and think 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.

Jai Whitbread’s speed is probably a bit above average but it is the speed that he is able to generate from only a few paces which makes it play faster from a defenders perspective. Obviously playing high level school boy rugby for TSS has assisted in the development of this particular attribute.

Defensively he hits very hard and had one of the better defensive technique s in the NYC competition this season. Jai Whitbread’s technique revolves around timing and execution. Jai Whitbread’s head is almost always correctly positioned and he always drives with his shoulder and never just jersey grabs. From the matches that I have seen Jai Whitbread also tackles with both shoulders equally effectively.

The impressive thing for me also is that Jai Whitbread 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 quite exceptional for a reasonably inexperienced forward.

Another defensive aspect that I noted during the 2019 season was that Jai Whitbread 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.

In addition Jai Whitbread continues to display the leadership attributes that you like to see in a player/person, not just in junior rugby league, but across any level of our game and the community. He shapes as someone who has the attributes to be not just an NRL captain but also a club captain one day and a well-respected one at that. A better role model you will not find.

As noted Jai Whitbread has signed a Top 30 contract and cemented a spot in the Titans top Seventeen this season and with the improvement that he showed in his first NRL season there is no reason to suggest that he will not play an expanded role in 2020 under Justin Holbrook.

Even though I would still prefer to see Jai Whitbread spend some time in the second row it seems almost certain that Jai Whitbread is considered a front row/lock and with his mobility, work ethic, foot work and intelligence in the above average category for all attributes.

In many respects Jai Whitbread has a similar playing style to that of two other former Gold Coast youngsters who are now back on the Gold Coast after stints with the Broncos that being Jai Arrow and Keegan Hipgrave.

Like both Keegan Hipgrave and Jai Arrow, Jai Whitbread is a mobile yet powerful forward who is not just a tackling machine but also a player who has far more to his attacking game than just putting his head down and running straight into the defensive line.

Make no mistake the three mentioned including Jai Whitbread and the outstanding Moeaki Fotuaika are the future of the Gold Coast Titans forward pack for the next ten years or so. They are all hard working, skilful young men with leadership skills who you can look to build an NRL club around.

[mdrew]

Tupou Lolohea. The powerful youngster had an extraordinary 2019 season in the NRRRL competition for the Ballina Seagulls across all three senior grades.

Tupou Lolohea started off the season in the NRRL U18 competition, before progressing through the NRRRL Reserve Grade competition all the way to the NRRRL First Grade competition.

Tupou Lolohea made his First Grade debut in the 2019 NRRRL competition for Ballina in Round One against Kyogle and scored his first tries in Round Seven when he scored a double after starting on the wing against the Tweed Coast Raiders. Tupou Lolohea made his NRRRL First Grade debut after playing in the U18 match earlier in the day.

In total in the 2019 NRRRL First Grade regular season competition Tupou Lolohea played in three matches scoring three tries including his Round Seven double against the Tweed Coast Raiders noted above and also scoring in Round Eight against Northern United.

Tupou Lolohea made his Reserve Grade debut in Round Four scoring against Murwillumbah after playing in the U18 match earlier in the day and he added a double against the Tweed Coast Raiders in early August to have a 100% strike rate in his three 2019 Reserve Grade matches.

In total in the 2019 NRRRL regular season U18 Grade competition Tupou Lolohea played in fifteen matches scoring thirteen tries to finish the regular season with a 86.67% strike rate and was Ballina’s leading try scorer.

Tupou Lolohea scored hat tricks in consecutive rounds being Rounds Two and Three against Casino RSM and Tweed Heads Seagulls respectively and scored at least a try a match through the opening seven rounds, including a Round One double against Kyogle. Tupou Lolohea also scored in Round Seventeen against Tweed Coast.

In Week Two of the NRRRL U18 Finals Tupou Lolohea was part of the Ballina side, starting at right second row that defeated Cudgen 26 – 20 to progress directly to the Grand Final.

In the 2019 NRRRL U18 Grand Final Tupou Lolohea started in the right second row position and terrorised his Cudgen opponents continually throughout the match as Ballina won 24 – 6 drawing away in the second half after a tight first half.

In addition to playing rugby league in the NRRRL competition in 2019 Tupou Lolohea played in the Far North Coast First Grade Rugby competition for Ballina. Playing primarily either right wing (No. 11) or outside centre (No. 13) Tupou Lolohea scored multiple tries including doubles in Rounds Two, Seven, Nine and Fourteen against Southern Cross University , Bangalow, Casino and Casino respectively.

Tupou Lolohea also scored in Round Eight against Byron Bay and Round Ten against Wollongbar Alstonville and Round Seventeen against Byron Bay once again.

In the Far North Coast First Grade Rugby Major Semi-final Tupou Lolohea started at outside centre and was one of Ballina’s try scorers as they went down 55- 14 to Wollongbar Alstonville.

In the Far North Coast First Grade Rugby Preliminary Final Tupou Lolohea was once again at try scorer from outside centre as Ballina bowed out one win short of a Grand Final berth losing to Casuarina.

2019 also saw Tupou Lolohea selected to represent the U20 New South Wales Country Colts Cockatoos.

Tupou Lolohea also played ten matches in the Far North Coast First Grade Rugby competition in 2018, starting nine and coming off the bench in the other and like this season normally lining up for Ballina on the right wing but spent more and more time at outside centre as the 2018 season reached its conclusion.

Tupou Lolohea in 2019 and for that matter 2018 regularly played rugby for Ballina in the Far North Coast Rugby First Grade competition on the Saturday before backing up on Sunday for Ballina in the NRRRL Rugby League competition and then normally starting the U18 match before backing up for either the First Grade (on the majority of occasions) or Reserve Grade match as well.

I am not sure that I can characterise in words just how hard Tupou Lolohea runs, he just flies at the line at full speed (which is significant) and drops his shoulder into the first defender who looks to engage him and then he keeps pumping his legs, which enables him to break through the initial tackle or at worst gain significant ground post contact.

These traits and the fact that Tupou Lolohea can absorb significant punishment and maintain his running line and balance I think is one of the reasons (plus his speed of course) that coaches want Tupou Lolohea on the wing or at outside centre in rugby.

For me however Tupou Lolohea is fat more than a player who just runs straight and hard, he has good late footwork prior to the defensive line, which is why he is so damaging on the fringes of the ruck and also is developing his off-loading skills on an exponential curve.

For his size Tupou Lolohea has above average to plus speed and when he breaks through the defensive line has the speed to convert his own breaks into tries on a regular basis as was evidenced this season both in rugby league and rugby.

Defensively Tupou Lolohea has a very good front on tackling technique with his shoulder and rarely gets caught front on in relation to the initial contact. From his time on the wing in both rugby and rugby league Tupou Lolohea has developed the requisite skills to work through his progressions when defending one on one against smaller players on the fringes of the ruck.

In those instances Tupou Lolohea maintains his balance and does not rush forward but waits until the attacker commits to a course of action and then mirrors the action to effect the tackle.

2019 saw the end of Tupou Lolohea’s time in the U18 ranks but clearly he has the skill, temperament and physical capabilities to go a long way in the game as a consequence it would be great to see him the Hastings Deering’s Colts competition came the start of the 2020 season although to be fair rugby is also certainly a career option for him.

Tupou Lolohea was outstanding regardless of what position that he played in 2019 in rugby league, whether it be in the centres or second row in the U18 competition or on the wing in the First Grade and Reserve Grade competitions.

From a rugby perspective in 2019 Tupou Lolohea played almost exclusively at outside centre (No.13) for the Ballina First Grade side in the Far North Coast Rugby competition although he did play a number of matches on the left wing.

Whilst I can understand why it wold be tempting to have on the wing in rugby league, with his ability to return the ball with power and handle a lot of punishment, I think that he has an incredible career in front of him in the second row with his size, speed and power best utilised there.

From an NRL player comparison perspective I would consider a player comparison with Penrith Panthers and Fijian International destructive second rower Viliame Kikau as more than appropriate. Both are exceptionally destructive on the fringes of the ruck and take a power of stopping by defences and are rarely after to be tackled effectively by just one defender due to their power running and offloading ability.

It is patently unfair to say that Tupou Lolohea has come from nowhere this season but his development this season has exponentially increased in both rugby league and rugby. The sky is the limit for this powerhouse young man and all he needs is more game time on the field.

[mdrew]

Ziah Piggott. The young Titans linked fullback was one of the players that represented one of the Titans U15 squads that played each other and a Western Mustangs selection at Mudgeeraba in February.

Ziah Piggot played the 2019 season with Kyogle in the Group One competition, playing in both his regular U15 age group and also playing a number of matches “up” in the U16.5 competition.

In the 2019 Group One U15 competition Ziah Piggott played nine regular season matches for Kyogle scoring fourteen tries (156% strike rate) including a big match in Round Four when he scored four tries against Lismore Marist Brothers in a 36 – 14 win for the Turkeys. In fact Ziah Piggott finished five tries clear on the Group One U15 top try scorers list such was the outstanding season that Ziah Piggott had.

Ziah Piggott also had a big Round Six match scoring four tries for Kyogle as they defeated Clarence Coast 38 - 12.

Ziah Piggott’s other 2019 Group One regular season U15 tries included a double against Casino RSM and he also scored against came against Ballina, Lismore Marist Brothers, Casino RSM and Clarence Coast.

Ziah Piggott added a further U15 try in Week One of the Group One finals series but unfortunately Kyogle fell 26 – 10 to Ballina.

Ziah Piggott’s 2019 season came to an end when Kyogle went down 18 – 12 to Clarence Coast in the 2019 Group One U15 Preliminary Final.

Ziah Piggott in 2019 also represented the Group One U15 representative side at the New South Wales Country Age Championships starting all three of their matches in the centres scoring three tries including a double in his second match of Day One against Group 19. Ziah Piggott also scored on Day Two against Central Coast.

In the 2018 Group One U16.5 competition Ziah Piggott played in nine matches, his debut being against Clarence Coast in Round Two scoring on debut. In addition to his Round Two try, Ziah Piggott also scored against Lismore Marist Brothers Blue in Round Four and he also scored a double against Lismore Marist Blue in Round Twelve.

In relation to all of his 2019 Group One U16.5 matches, Ziah Piggott played in the fixture after playing in the U15 match earlier in the day.

Ziah Piggott was named in the centres for the 2019 Group One U15 Taipans for the New South Wales Country Age Championships that were held in Port Macquarie in late September. Ziah Piggott scored a double in Group One’s Northern Plate 40 – 10 win over Group 19 and scored again in Group One’s Northern Plate semi-final loss 38 – 12 to Central Coast.

In 2018, Ziah Piggott played fifteen matches including starting the Grand Final at fullback in the Group One U14 competition, scoring twenty tries (133% strike rate), including scoring a hat trick in Round Two against Clarence Coast.

Mid-season in 2018, Ziah Piggott had an incredible string of five straight games where he scored a double in each match with those matches coming in order against Grafton, Ballina, Casino RSM, Lismore Marist Brothers and Clarence Coast.

2018 also saw Ziah Piggott play one match in the Group One U15 competition scoring a double on debut against the South Grafton Rebels in July after playing in the U14 fixture earlier in the day.

Ziah Piggott represented the Group One U14 representative side in 2018, starting at fullback in all five of their matches in the New South Wales Country U14 Age Championships including scoring in their Plate Final victory against Group Nine 22 – 18, with Ziah Piggott’s try the one that gave the lead to Group One for good late in the second half.

For a taller fullback Ziah Piggott is very quick off the mark and when the ball is being brought out of his teams half he is always around the forwards looking for off loads but as evidenced by one of his tries he also can play the way a lot of the current fullbacks play when they receive the football “out the back” from the half or five eight.

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

In terms of his defence, one thing that stood out to me when have seen him play is when the opposition makes a break Ziah Piggott moves forward looking to cut down the time of the attacking player, which is quite impressive for such a young player. Due to his length, Ziah Piggott is good also at defending the high ball.

Ziah Piggott will play the 2020 season with Kyogle in the Group One U16.5 competition and may well also feature in a number of matches for Kyogle in their U18 NRRRL squad. Ziah Piggott has already left school and is working full time thus he has a maturity level probably higher than the majority of players his age.

2020 should see Ziah Piggott as part of the Northern Rivers Titans U16 Andrew Johns Cup squad who will be looking to repeat their 2019 success.

Ziah Piggott has been a fullback his entire junior rugby league career to date and whilst that is likely to continue to as least the medium term it would not surprise if Ziah Piggott moves to the wing or even to the centres as he nears the senior rugby league ranks.

On the wing Ziah Piggott’s length, balance and body control would be a great asset in terms of the ability of modern day wingers to score the incredible try or two and it is a similar situation in the centres.

From a player comparison perspective for Ziah Piggott, I would say a reasonable comparison to Josh Duggan of the Cronulla Sharks would be fair as a player who is a very good runner of the football and who has the confidence to back himself in both attack and defence regardless of the situation of the game. Like Duggan, Ziah Piggott can more than comfortably handle playing both at fullback and in the centres.

As harsh as it sounds though, Ziah Piggott is far more durable that Josh Duggan though and will more than likely continue to be as his career progresses.

[mdrew]

Henry Lee. The young second rower from the Lismore Marist Brothers club in the Group One Junior Rugby League competition had an outstanding season in the U16.5 culminating in him being named Lismore Marist Brothers U16.5 Player of the Year. Henry Lee is currently part of the Titans Group One Development Squad.

Henry Lee started off the 2019 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 club 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 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 he does not just put his head down and rush forward, he uses quick and subtle footwork prior to the line and seems to targets the gaps between defenders and will actively seek out opposing 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 and has the strength to drag defenders with him.

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 19 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, He 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 is eligible to play in the Group One U16.5 competition again in 2020 but will likely spend a significant portion of the season playing in the NRRRL U18 competition for Lismore Marist Brothers.

After playing for the Northern Rivers Titans U16 Andrew Johns Cup side in 2019, Henry Lee will likely progress to the Northern Rivers Titans U18 Laurie Daley Cup squad in 2020 which whilst young should be a skilful, competitive squad and he will also U18 eligible in 2021.

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

[mdrew]

Lachlan Offley. The scintillating Ballina fullback had an incredible 2019 season in the Group One U14 competition including being part of their Grand Final winning side, a side that were named the Group One Junior Rugby League Team of the Year.

In early in October Lachlan Offley 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 playing well as the NRRRL side went down 32 – 10 in an entertaining and high quality match.

This season for the outstanding Ballina side that went through the 2019 season undefeated Lachlan Offley scored a staggering 122 points from just ten matches to average 12.2 points per game.

Lachlan Offley scored twenty seven tries scoring in every match to finish with a ridiculous strike rate of 270% to finish the season as the competitions leading try scorer (five ahead of Titan Kye Cooper) and second leading point’s scorer overall.

Lachlan Offley scored an incredible five tries in a midseason match against Kyogle and scored six doubles, including doubles in each of the first three rounds of the competition which were against South Grafton, Casino RSM and Clarence Coast. His other hat tricks came against Clarence Coast and Lismore Marist Brothers.

Lachlan Offley added a double against South Grafton late and also scored against Grafton on two occasions. With the boot Lachlan Offley primarily converted his own tries including kicking two conversions in Round Two against Casino RSM (one of his hat trick matches).

Lachlan Offley also played in five Group One U15 matches this season and was not overawed by playing up an age group as in those five matches he finished with a strike rate of 140%.

Lachlan Offley scored in his Group One U15 debut against Clarence Coast in May and then scored doubles in his final three U15 matches of the season which were against Lismore Marist Brothers, Kyogle and Clarence Coast.

Post the Group One season, Lachlan Offley was named at fullback for the Group One U14 representative side that played in the New South Wales Country Age Championships at Port Macquarie with Lachlan Offley scoring in Group One’s 14 all draw against Maitland on Day One, match that saw Group One progress as a result of scoring first in the match.

In 2018 Lachlan Offley proved that his 2019 season was not an isolated occurrence by finished the Group One U13 season with 110 points from twenty one tries and thirteen goals.

Lachlan Offley scored four tries twice in 2018 being against Clarence Coast and Casino RSM. Lachlan Offley also scored a late season hat trick against Kyogle and scored doubles against Grafton, South Grafton and Clarence Coast. Lachlan Offley’s remaining 2018 tries came against Kyogle, Grafton, Casino RSM and Lismore Marist Brothers.

With the boot in 2018 Lachlan Offley kicked three goals in Round Two against South Grafton (scored a double in the match also) and kicked two in four other matches which were against Casino RSM and Lismore Marist Brothers twice against each, with his remaining goals coming against Kyogle and Grafton.

Lachlan Offley is exceptionally quick and explosive, with exceptional speed, both off the mark and when he gets into open space, teams in the Brisbane Premier Colts Competition just could not handle him when he had the ball. He also can step off both feet exceptionally well and also has a great swerve whilst maintaining top speed.

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

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

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

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

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

Lachlan Offley will play the 2020 season with Ballina in the Group One U15 competition where they will the team to beat once again and will likely get a couple of U16.5 matches as well which he is more than equipped to handle comfortably.

From a representative perspective Lachlan Offley should represent Group One once again being in the U15 age group in 2020.

Regardless of the number on his back Lachlan Offley is an exciting runner of the ball combining speed, elusiveness, evasion, balance and body control. To that extent I believe that ultimately Lachlan Offley’s best position is at fullback where he will get the ball with space to work with prior to the defensive line and look to exploit any gaps that he identifies as he works through his options.

Lachlan Offley just looks like he is playing at a pace far quicker than the players around him and dare I say it I can see similar attributes to that of Newcastle Knights and Queensland State of Origin star fullback Kayln Ponga in the play of Lachlan Offley.

Lachlan Offley has the same explosiveness off the mark as Ponga and his sense of timing, anticipation and plus top end speed present as similar to Ponga as well, he is just as natural on a rugby league field

[mdrew]

Patrick McGinn. One of the better young rugby league players currently running around in Queensland is Pittsworth’s outside back Patrick McGinn.

Patrick McGinn had a coming out party in 2019 starring for the Western Mustangs MM Sup side before graduating to the Western Mustangs Hastings Deering’s Colts side for the final two regular season rounds.

The 2019 Pittsworth SHS School Captain Started all six of the Western Mustangs MM Cup matches in 2019, starting the first four rounds on the left wing before moving to fullback for the final two rounds of the competition.

Patrick McGinn ended his 2019 MM Cup campaign with a 100% strike rate including an impressive hat trick against the Northern Pride in Round Two. Patrick McGinn also scored in Round Three against Sunshine Coast, Round Four against the Easts Tigers and Round Six against Central Queensland.

Patrick McGinn’s first try of his hat trick against the Norther Pride was a seventy metre sprint down the left touch line after he received the ball outside his direct opponent, at one stage being just as he crossed the half way mark, it looked like Patrick McGinn would be caught by the Northern Pride fullback, but he put on an extra burst of speed at the right moment just as the fullback was reaching out. From there Patrick McGinn had a direct passage to the try line.

Patrick McGinn’s second try was an impressive piece of individual brilliance. The Western Mustangs put up a bomb to Patrick McGinn’s wing. At full pace, Patrick McGinn jumped into the air on the Northern Pride’s wingers inside, easily getting above the winger to take the ball on the full. Impressively when he landed Patrick McGinn did not miss a beat and he sprinted the twelve metres to score.

Patrick McGinn’s third and final try against the Northern Pride resulted from a good piece of deception. Patrick McGinn received the ball right on the touch line about thirteen metres out from the line. Around six metres out, as the defence was coming across, Patrick McGinn momentarily slowed, looking like he was going to cut back inside. This subtle movement froze the defenders momentum. Just as this occurred, Patrick McGinn accelerated down the side line to score in the left corner.

Patrick McGinn made his Hastings Deering’s Colts debut in Round Twenty Two starting on the wing and scoring in the 36th minute against Redcliffe and also started on the wing against Sunshine Coast in Round Twenty Three being the final regular season round.

In between the conclusion of the MM Cup and his Colts appearances, Patrick McGinn played for Pittsworth in the Toowoomba Rugby League U18 competition playing nine matches, finishing with fifteen tries, twenty nine goals and a field goal (kicked against Goondiwindi mid-season) to account for his season points tally of 119.

Patrick McGinn scored in eight of his nine matches, only not scoring his the final regular season round being Round Eighteen against South Burnett, but he did kick three conversion that day to have scored in every Toowoomba Rugby League U18 match that he played in.

Patrick McGinn scored hat tricks against Toowoomba Brothers and Wattles and scored doubles against Oakey, Goondiwindi and Highfields, with his other tries coming against Highfields, Toowoomba Souths and Gatton.

From a goal kicking perspective, Patrick McGinn kicked six goals against Wattles and five in his first TRL U18 match of the 2019 season against Oakey.

Patrick McGinn finished the Toowoomba Rugby League U18 competition with some big individual points tallies in games including scoring twenty four points late in the season against Wattles (three tries and six goals), twenty against Brothers mid-season (three tries and four goals) and early in the season he scored eighteen points against Oakey (two tries and five goals).

In the Toowoomba Rugby League U16 competition in 2018 Patrick McGinn played in fifteen matches for Pittsworth scoring seventy points from twelve tries and eleven goals including a hat trick against Oakey and doubles against Highfields and Souths.

Patrick McGinn played in two age groups over the course of the 2016 rugby league season. He played the entire year in his “correct” age group being the U14’s but also played seven matches up at the U15 age group and acquitted himself well in those matches. For Pittsworth at the U14 level he scored 15 tries to finish fourth on the try scoring list for the U14 competition and when you add three conversions, Patrick McGinn finished with 56 points on the season.

At the U14 level he finished with four hat tricks which came against Brothers on three separate occasions and also against Highfields, thus 60% of his seasons tries came against Brothers. Of the seven matches that Patrick McGinn also played in the U15 competition he backed up from his U14 match on six of those occasions. In his seven matches at the U15 level he scored three tries which came against South’s, Highfields and Valleys. He mainly played five eight at the U14 level and centre at the U15 level.

Patrick McGinn has also represented the South West Mustangs over the last few seasons, being U13’s in 2015 and U14’s in 2016, on both occasions he was selected in the centres for the Central Division Championships, this year he scored a solitary try in those championships against the Wide Bay Bulls. He was also a previous cross country age champion at Pittsworth State High School for his age group.

The reason Patrick McGinn is so successful on a football field is his exceptional speed and elusiveness, he is the fastest player I have ever seen on a field and when you add in his elusiveness, he is a nightmare for opposing defences. In relation to his elusiveness the thing that makes it play even better is his ability to change direction with no loss of speed, this enables him to use the sideline exceptionally well with an in and away.

When the opposing defender’s momentum slows just for a split second, Patrick McGinn is away down the sideline and will not get caught and also regularly also beats the fullback who no matter how fast they are cannot recover the ground.

Patrick McGinn also has a very good leap as was evidenced against the Northern Pride in Round Two of the MM Cup competition when he leapt above the fullback. When he gets an uninterrupted run at the ball, few opposing fullbacks will out leap him.

In defence against the bigger outside backs running around, Patrick McGinn looks to cut down the time that they have to gain momentum thus eliminating the size differential as a defensive aspect to take into consideration.

At the opposite end of the spectrum, this season in the MM Cup competition Patrick McGinn was also up against fellow speedster’s and he was similarly effective against those type of players as well.

It is scary to think that Patrick McGinn is MM Cup eligible once again in 2020 and is likely to start the 2020 season there before quickly progressing to the Hastings Deering’s Colts competition with the Western Mustangs.

Patrick McGinn has spent time at fullback, centre and wing in 2019 but with his straight line speed and ability to maintain his balance and body control along the side line I think that ultimately he will play on the wing but I would think that for at least the next couple of seasons, Patrick McGinn will continue to play both at fullback and in the centres and gain valuable experience in those positions.

- - - Updated - - -

Patrick McGinn. One of the better young rugby league players currently running around in Queensland is Pittsworth’s outside back Patrick McGinn.

Patrick McGinn had a coming out party in 2019 starring for the Western Mustangs MM Sup side before graduating to the Western Mustangs Hastings Deering’s Colts side for the final two regular season rounds.

The 2019 Pittsworth SHS School Captain Started all six of the Western Mustangs MM Cup matches in 2019, starting the first four rounds on the left wing before moving to fullback for the final two rounds of the competition.

Patrick McGinn ended his 2019 MM Cup campaign with a 100% strike rate including an impressive hat trick against the Northern Pride in Round Two. Patrick McGinn also scored in Round Three against Sunshine Coast, Round Four against the Easts Tigers and Round Six against Central Queensland.

Patrick McGinn’s first try of his hat trick against the Norther Pride was a seventy metre sprint down the left touch line after he received the ball outside his direct opponent, at one stage being just as he crossed the half way mark, it looked like Patrick McGinn would be caught by the Northern Pride fullback, but he put on an extra burst of speed at the right moment just as the fullback was reaching out. From there Patrick McGinn had a direct passage to the try line.

Patrick McGinn’s second try was an impressive piece of individual brilliance. The Western Mustangs put up a bomb to Patrick McGinn’s wing. At full pace, Patrick McGinn jumped into the air on the Northern Pride’s wingers inside, easily getting above the winger to take the ball on the full. Impressively when he landed Patrick McGinn did not miss a beat and he sprinted the twelve metres to score.

Patrick McGinn’s third and final try against the Northern Pride resulted from a good piece of deception. Patrick McGinn received the ball right on the touch line about thirteen metres out from the line. Around six metres out, as the defence was coming across, Patrick McGinn momentarily slowed, looking like he was going to cut back inside. This subtle movement froze the defenders momentum. Just as this occurred, Patrick McGinn accelerated down the side line to score in the left corner.

Patrick McGinn made his Hastings Deering’s Colts debut in Round Twenty Two starting on the wing and scoring in the 36th minute against Redcliffe and also started on the wing against Sunshine Coast in Round Twenty Three being the final regular season round.

In between the conclusion of the MM Cup and his Colts appearances, Patrick McGinn played for Pittsworth in the Toowoomba Rugby League U18 competition playing nine matches, finishing with fifteen tries, twenty nine goals and a field goal (kicked against Goondiwindi mid-season) to account for his season points tally of 119.

Patrick McGinn scored in eight of his nine matches, only not scoring his the final regular season round being Round Eighteen against South Burnett, but he did kick three conversion that day to have scored in every Toowoomba Rugby League U18 match that he played in.

Patrick McGinn scored hat tricks against Toowoomba Brothers and Wattles and scored doubles against Oakey, Goondiwindi and Highfields, with his other tries coming against Highfields, Toowoomba Souths and Gatton.

From a goal kicking perspective, Patrick McGinn kicked six goals against Wattles and five in his first TRL U18 match of the 2019 season against Oakey.

Patrick McGinn finished the Toowoomba Rugby League U18 competition with some big individual points tallies in games including scoring twenty four points late in the season against Wattles (three tries and six goals), twenty against Brothers mid-season (three tries and four goals) and early in the season he scored eighteen points against Oakey (two tries and five goals).

In the Toowoomba Rugby League U16 competition in 2018 Patrick McGinn played in fifteen matches for Pittsworth scoring seventy points from twelve tries and eleven goals including a hat trick against Oakey and doubles against Highfields and Souths.

Patrick McGinn played in two age groups over the course of the 2016 rugby league season. He played the entire year in his “correct” age group being the U14’s but also played seven matches up at the U15 age group and acquitted himself well in those matches. For Pittsworth at the U14 level he scored 15 tries to finish fourth on the try scoring list for the U14 competition and when you add three conversions, Patrick McGinn finished with 56 points on the season.

At the U14 level he finished with four hat tricks which came against Brothers on three separate occasions and also against Highfields, thus 60% of his seasons tries came against Brothers. Of the seven matches that Patrick McGinn also played in the U15 competition he backed up from his U14 match on six of those occasions. In his seven matches at the U15 level he scored three tries which came against South’s, Highfields and Valleys. He mainly played five eight at the U14 level and centre at the U15 level.

Patrick McGinn has also represented the South West Mustangs over the last few seasons, being U13’s in 2015 and U14’s in 2016, on both occasions he was selected in the centres for the Central Division Championships, this year he scored a solitary try in those championships against the Wide Bay Bulls. He was also a previous cross country age champion at Pittsworth State High School for his age group.

The reason Patrick McGinn is so successful on a football field is his exceptional speed and elusiveness, he is the fastest player I have ever seen on a field and when you add in his elusiveness, he is a nightmare for opposing defences. In relation to his elusiveness the thing that makes it play even better is his ability to change direction with no loss of speed, this enables him to use the sideline exceptionally well with an in and away.

When the opposing defender’s momentum slows just for a split second, Patrick McGinn is away down the sideline and will not get caught and also regularly also beats the fullback who no matter how fast they are cannot recover the ground.

Patrick McGinn also has a very good leap as was evidenced against the Northern Pride in Round Two of the MM Cup competition when he leapt above the fullback. When he gets an uninterrupted run at the ball, few opposing fullbacks will out leap him.

In defence against the bigger outside backs running around, Patrick McGinn looks to cut down the time that they have to gain momentum thus eliminating the size differential as a defensive aspect to take into consideration.

At the opposite end of the spectrum, this season in the MM Cup competition Patrick McGinn was also up against fellow speedster’s and he was similarly effective against those type of players as well.

It is scary to think that Patrick McGinn is MM Cup eligible once again in 2020 and is likely to start the 2020 season there before quickly progressing to the Hastings Deering’s Colts competition with the Western Mustangs.

Patrick McGinn has spent time at fullback, centre and wing in 2019 but with his straight line speed and ability to maintain his balance and body control along the side line I think that ultimately he will play on the wing but I would think that for at least the next couple of seasons, Patrick McGinn will continue to play both at fullback and in the centres and gain valuable experience in those positions.

[mdrew]

Christian Kiri. A young player who I knew nothing about prior to the commencement of the 2019 Gold Coast Rugby League season was Coomera Cutters U16 Division One left second rower Christian Kiri.

In 2019 Christian Kiri played sixteen matches for Coomera scoring just the one try which came against Burleigh in May but his contribution and skill set on display, including an outstanding U16 Division One Grand Final display far exceeded his try scoring tally.

Unfortunately Coomera went down in the Grand Final 22 – 20 as a result of an Ormeau penalty goal kicked in golden point after the scores were locked 20 all at the conclusion of the match in regular time.

In addition to playing rugby league in 2019, Christian Kiri played for the Helensvale Hogs in the 2019 Gold Coast Rugby U16 competition and also represented the Gold Coast Cyclones U16 representative rugby side.

Prior to playing for Coomera in the GCRL U16 Division One competition in 2019 Christian Kiri played in the 2018 Ipswich Rugby League U15 competition for the Springfield Panthers scoring six tries and kicking one conversion in ten matches.

In 2017 in the Ipswich Rugby League U14 competition, Christian Kiri played limited matches but had a huge season in 2016 in the Ipswich Rugby league U13 Development Cup competition scoring seventeen tries from eleven matches and scored seven tries from four matches in the Ipswich Rugby League U13 competition.

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

Christian Kiri shows some more than reasonable pace when in the clear for a player his size and certainly in terms of his speed off the mark Christian Kiri has some decent speed for a front rower. Also when he has impacted the defensive line he continues to pump his legs and gain extra metres after contact.

As noted he is a solidly built young second rower with outstanding footwork Christian Kiri and also shows will show flashes of the ability to off load the ball and with experience this attribute will continue to develop both in terms of when he has impacted the defensive line and prior to contact.

His lateral movement is outstanding for a big second rower and he is powerful enough to combat the largest of opponents looking to run through the centre of the ruck yet has the mobility to be an effective defender on the fringes of the ruck as well.

Another impressive aspect of Christian Kiri’s play from a defensive stand point is the speed at which he gets around the field, for a player of his size, Christian Kiri has more than decent speed and mobility.

Christian Kiri will play the 2020 season in the Gold Coast Rugby League U18 Division One competition once again for the Coomera Cutters and is U18 eligible again in 2021. Christian Kiri will also more than likely continue to play rugby in 2020 including club, representative and school boy rugby on the Gold Coast.

With his size, speed and power, Christian Kiri shapes as the ideal rugby league second rower as he progresses up the Gold Coast Junior rugby league ranks towards senior rugby league.

From an NRL player comparison perspective for Christian Kiri would consider a player comparison with Penrith Panthers destructive left second rower and Tongan International Viliame Kikau as more than appropriate. Both are exceptionally destructive on the fringes of the ruck on the left side and take a power of stopping by defences no matter how organised their defensive pattern is.

[mdrew]

LT Anae. Over the course of the 2019 Gold Coast Rugby League season one player who impressed me as much as anybody else when I saw him play was Ormeau Shearers left second rower LT Anae including a great performance in Ormeau’s 22 - 20 U16 Division One Grand Final victory over Coomera in golden point as a result of a penalty goal from right next to the goal posts.

LT Anae who started the 2019 season in the Gold Coast Vikings U16 set up played in fifteen GCRL U16 Division One matches this season scoring six tries with those tries coming individually in matches against Southport, Mudgeeraba, Helensvale (two matches), Burleigh and Coomera.

In 2018 LT Anae also played for Ormeau playing in the GCRL U15 Division One competition and finishing his eleven matches with four tries including a mid-season double against Southport and also tries against Runaway Bay and the Robina Raptors.

From the games that I have seem play LT Anae normally runs to the left 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.

Another key aspect of his running game is that he runs fast into the defensive line. I know all forwards run hard (well most) but in addition to that, LT Anae runs fast and does not slow down when he impacts the defensive line. From my perspective this is a critical trait and one that is all too rarely seen, even in a lot of first grade games it looks like forwards are running up to the defensive line in slow motion, LT Anae is not one of those forwards. An example of what I mean is that if you look at say the Roosters forward pack they run at speed and it makes a huge difference to the ground that can be made through the centre of the ruck.

LT Anae 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’.

LT Anae’s calling card from a defensive perspective is his strength and power to effectively engage the opposing forward early in their run and use his natural strength to win the forward battle in the centre of the ruck.

LT Anae can defensively handle any one on one battle that presents itself, especially early in games and in fact will dominate the centre of the ruck in stretches of games with power coupled with a simple, effective front on technique.

LT Anae will play the 2020 season in the Gold Coast Rugby League U18 Division One competition once again for the Ormeau Shearers and is U18 eligible again in 2021 when he will be pushing hard for an MM Cup spot with either Tweed Heads or Burleigh.

With his size, speed and power, LT Anae shapes as the ideal rugby league second rower as he progresses up the Gold Coast rugby league ranks.

From an NRL player comparison perspective, LT Anae has more than a passing similarity from a playing perspective to Manly Sea Eagles second rower Curtis Sironen, both are hard straight runners of the ball who play with intensity in both attack and defence.

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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 will play 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.

For Newcastle in the 2019 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 Norths Sydney.

Isaac Lee also played in one match in the Newcastle Rugby League First Grade competition in 2019 with that match against Lakes United in May when he 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 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. He 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 his effectiveness has 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 his 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 will play the 2020 season with the Lismore Marist Brothers Rams in the NRRRL First Grade competition and it will be interesting to see if in a year or so he looks to break into the Queensland Cup competition with the Tweed Heads Seagulls.

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 two seasons has played almost exclusively in the second row and looks certain to stay there in the long term.

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.

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Aiden Kennedy. (Updated) The giant young front rower who spent part of the 2019 season with the Tweed Heads Seagulls in the Hastings Deering’s Colts competition will move back to where is junior rugby league career started when he lines up alongside twin brother Lachlan for Lismore Marist Brothers in the NRRRL First Grade competition in 2020.

After a settling in season for the Western Mustangs in 2018 Aiden Kennedy played his first match for the Tweed Heads Seagulls Colts side in Round Twenty, coming off the bench and scoring against Ipswich.

The try was a typical Aiden Kennedy try, with Tweed Heads close to the line, Aiden Kennedy charged onto the ball to the right of the play the ball and the Ipswich defence had no hope of stopping him from there.

Aiden Kennedy made his first Hastings Deering’s Colts start of 2019 when he started in the front row against Souths Logan, scoring a double in the Seagulls big win in Round Twenty One. Aiden Kennedy took the first hit up of the match from the kick off and things continued to go well for the remainder of the match, scoring a try in each half.

Aiden Kennedy’s first half try was a relatively straight forward affair. He ran onto the ball from close range to the left of the play the ball and then was able to spin counter clock wise when the Souths Logan defence was trying to hold him up to get the ball down under the posts.

Aiden Kennedy’s second try was as a result of a twenty metre run. Tweed Heads sent the ball to the left of the play the ball then the Tweed Heads half passed inside to Aiden Kennedy who ran through a huge gap. When he got to the fullback, Aiden Kennedy threw a huge exaggerated dummy to his left which the Souths Logan fullback fell for and Aiden Kennedy was able to rumble the remainder of the way to the try line to score adjacent to left upright.

Aiden Kennedy had an interrupted 2019 season playing only a handful of matches in the NRRRL competition for Byron Bay before his Hastings Deering’s Colts debut. Aiden Kennedy played his first NRRRL First Grade match of 2019 in May against Kyogle and scored his first NRRRL try in Reserve Grade against Murwillumbah in early August.

For the Western Mustangs U20 Colts squad in 2018, Aiden Kennedy played in ten matches, coming into the side in Round Twelve against the Townsville Blackhawks. Aiden Kennedy played a further four matches from the bench before breaking into the starting side in the front row in Round Eighteen against the Northern Pride celebrating his elevation with a double. Aiden Kennedy also scored in Round Twenty One against Victoria.

Prior to making his Colts debut for the Western Mustangs in 2018, Aiden Kennedy also played in one Toowoomba Rugby League First Grade match when he ran on for Pittsworth against Dalby in March 2018.

The young front rower from Northern New South Wales has had a solid 2017 in the U18 NRRRL competition averaging a try a match in the nine matches that he played for Lismore Marist Brothers, including scoring a hat trick in April against Byron Bay and also a double in June against Cudgen.

Aiden Kennedy also played in four NRRRL First Grade matches in 2017, making his debut in late July against the Byron Bay Devils scoring two tries which came against Lower Clarence in his second First Grade gam and also against Murwillumbah in his fourth. In the 2016 season Aiden Kennedy scored nineteen tries in sixteen matches including four tries in a late season match against Murwillumbah and a hat trick against Lower Clarence.

He is another St Johns College Woodlawn student and thus played matches in various school boy competitions with them including the National GIO Cup competition. Aiden Kennedy along with his twin brother started in the front row for St Johns College Woodlawn in their tough 14 – 10 loss to Sydney School Holy Cross Ryde in the semi-final of the New South Wales Catholic Cup.

From St Johns College Woodlawn Aiden Kennedy represented New South Wales Combined Catholic Colleges in the 2016 and 2017 ASSRL U18 Championships and also represented NSWCCC in the U15 age group previously.

Aiden Kennedy is a hard running player who never seems to just put his head down and runs straight, he always uses a slight step prior to contacting the defensive line, coupled with the fact that he drops his shoulder into defenders, means that he is a bit of a handful to tackle and he is not often knocked back onto his heals. He is also good at maintaining his momentum after impacting the defensive line.

Aiden Kennedy seems to have a high work rate and I would suggest that he would normally be at or near the top of his team’s statistics in terms of the number of hit ups he makes and on occasion runs a very good inside shoulder route to supplement his other attacking attributes. He does not off-load the ball much however and probably never be one based on how he asked to play the game.

Defensively Aiden Kennedy aims hits very hard and usually hits around the top of the ball region and is certainly someone opposing forwards look for when running the ball up and is adept at making sure the opposition do not get quick play the balls by using wrestling techniques well. Last year his speed and mobility seemed to have increased and as a consequence he was better able to mirror the opposition attackers more effectively.

Aiden Kennedy will probably not make a large amount of hits that are going to knock opposing forwards backwards, but opposing forwards are going to feel everyone and start to look out for where he is in the defensive line.

2019 was Aiden Kennedy’s last being U20 eligible and as noted previously will line up for the Lismore Marist Brothers Rams in the 2020 NRRRL First Grade competition where he will be coached by former Cronulla Shark Danny Lee.

From a position perspective, Aiden Kennedy seems to have the skill attributes and mentality to stay in the front row as he moves through the upper echelons of junior rugby league towards senior rugby league competitions.

Aiden Kennedy is a big strong tough rugby league front rower with a touch of aggressiveness in his game and therefore from an NRL player comparison perspective, I would suggest that a better player comparison for Aiden Kennedy would be Titans and Queensland State of Origin front rower Jarrod Wallace as a front rower who will continue to take the ball up all day long and also be very effective at it as well and one who is a touch underrated defensively in terms of how hard his initial contact is in defence.

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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.

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 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, he has the ability to stand up his direct opposite and then beat him with pace on the outside, something that is becoming increasingly rare in the modern game.

When he gets the ball early from his inside play makers, 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 Colt’s eligibility came to an end at the conclusion of this season and it appears that Allan Lockwood is on the move and will play the 2020 season with the Whitsunday Brahaman’s.

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.