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  1. #1201
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    Samuel Shannon. In a sign of the regard that the Titans hold in him, Samuel Shannon trained with the Titans Rookie Squad in the 2019-20 offseason and was part of the Titans Rookie squad that played against the Tweed Heads Queensland Cup side in early February in wet conditions at Cudgen.

    Samuel Shannon started from the interchange bench for the 2019 Burleigh MM Cup side in their Round One match with the Norths Devils with Samuel Shannon contributing a try in in Burleigh’s great comeback to draw 38 all with the Devils.

    In total in the 2019 MM Cup competition, Samuel Shannon played in all six of Burleigh’s matches starting the first four rounds from the interchange bench before moving into the starting side in the front row against Souths Logan in Round Five and also starting in the front row in Round Six against Wynnum Manly in Burleigh’s last MM Cup match of the season.

    2019 also saw the Robina State High School student represent South Coast at the U18 QSSRL Championships starting from the interchange bench in South Coast’s matches in Toowoomba.

    Samuel Shannon was named on the Burleigh’s Hastings Deering’s U20 extended bench for their Round Fifteen match against Ipswich and made his first appearance in that competition from the bench on Round Nineteen against Redcliffe and also came off the bench (on both occasions brother Daniel also started from the bench) in Round Twenty against the Western Mustangs scoring his first Colts try of the season in that match.

    For his try Samuel Shannon ran a crash route from close range to the right of the play the ball and once he received the pass out of dummy half from Zac McCormack he was just too big strong and wanted to score more that the Western Mustangs defence wanted to stop him.

    Samuel Shannon also spent time in the U18 Division One competition for Southport in 2019 including starting from the bench in their 28 – 20 Preliminary Final win over Ormeau and starting in the front row in their 28 – 12 Grand Final loss to Burleigh where he was at the forefront of the forward battle that raged over the course of the entire match.

    In total Samuel Shannon played seven matches for Southport in the 2019 Gold Coast Rugby League U18 Division One competition including the two finals noted above.

    To cap off an outstanding 2019 season Samuel Shannon was named in the 2020 U18 Queensland Emerging Origin Squad with fellow Titans Ediq Ambrosyev and Isreal Higgins.

    The powerfully built Southport and Titans youngster started off the 2018 season in fine form being a stand out for the Gold Coast Vikings Viking’s White U16 side that played in the South East Queensland U16 pre-season competition.

    From that competition Samuel Shannon was selected at lock for the South East Queensland White U16 side for the 2018 Queensland Age Championships and through his dominant performances in Mackay was selected on the bench for the Queensland U16 side that were narrowly defeated by New South Wales. Fellow Titan Ediq Ambrosyev (hooker) was also part of the Queensland U16 side.

    For South East Queensland White U16 Samuel Shannon started all four of their matches at lock including their Championship final loss to South East Queensland Green.

    Samuel Shannon played in eight 2018 U16 Division One matches in the GCRL competition with Southport and through the regular season had a 50% strike rate. Samuel Shannon’s four tries came against Burleigh, Helensvale, Runaway Bay and Currumbin.

    Samuel Shannon’s 2018 club season came to an end in the U16 Division One Elimination final when Southport were defeated 44 – 4 by Helensvale, a match that Samuel Shannon started at lock.

    In 2017 Samuel Shannon was selected in the Queensland White U15 side for the ASSRL U15 Schoolboys Championships after playing for South Coast in the QSSRL U15 Championships held in Cairns. Samuel Shannon started primarily from the bench for South Coast after making the side from Robina State High School.

    In 2017 Samuel Shannon played for the Southport Tigers in the U15 Division One GCJRL competition and performed strongly including scoring a double in Round Two against the Helensvale Hornets. In total in 2017 Samuel Shannon played eight matches scoring five tries to have a solid season in black and orange.

    The pace and power in terms of how Samuel Shannon runs the ball is the outstanding feature of his game, he takes the ball to the line with speed and 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 he will target the smaller defenders on the edge of the ruck and burst through and for a big young bloke he has very good speed over the medium term and has the strength to drag defenders with him.

    I would consider that his speed would be considered above average for his position 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. Samuel Shannon also runs a very good inside shoulder line to add variety to his running game.

    With his low centre of gravity coupled with his speed and power, Samuel Shannon is a difficult proposition for defensives and is able to draw in multiple defenders and still get a quick play the ball to gain forward momentum for his side on a regular basis.

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

    Samuel Shannon 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 through his shoulders. In short Samuel Shannon is an outstanding defensive player both from a technique and initial contact perspective.

    Samuels Shannon’s initial contact is outstanding and more than enough to stop or redirect the momentum of the ball carrier and he is also able to his functional strength to slow the play the ball down sufficiently to allow his team’s defensive line to re-establish itself for the next play the ball.

    Samuel Shannon has been named in the Burleigh MM Cup squad for 2020 and post the completion of that competition will play for Southport in the GCRL U18 Division One and U20 competitions if he does not make the immediate jump to the Hastings Deering’s Colts competition.

    Samuel Shannon played a number of matches off the bench for the Burleigh Hastings Deering’s Colts squad in 2019 and will certainly add to those matches in 2020.

    Samuel Shannon currently presents as a strong hard running powerfully built lock or front row and that will likely continue as he progresses through the junior rugby league ranks on the Gold Coast. For me at least playing lock is different to playing in the front row and I am more than pleased to see Samuel Shannon playing at lock where his skill set for me at least is far better suited.

    Samuel Shannon is far more than just a bash and barge type of player and can certainly develop into a difference maker in coming years.

    New Zealand International James Fisher-Harris of the Penrith Panthers with his power coupled with his non-stop movement (and motor) when running the ball into the defensive line as well as the intensity in his defence is an apt NRL player comparison for Samuel Shannon.

    Samuel Shannon is an outstanding young forward prospect for the Titans and is as good as any player for his age running around on rugby league fields in Australia or New Zealand.

  2. #1202
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    Ediq Ambrosyev. (Revised) He is a local young utility who has signed a two year deal to join the Titans JTS Program in 2018 after also being part of the Broncos Elite Junior Program for a number of seasons.

    In a sign of the regard that the Titans hold in him, Ediq Ambrosyev trained with the Titans Rookie Squad in the 2019-20 offseason and started from the bench coming on to play in the dummy half role for the Titans Rookie squad against the Tweed Heads Queensland Cup side in early February at Cudgen in wet conditions.

    In January 2019 Ediq Ambrosyev started at hooker for the Titans U18 side against the Newcastle Knights U18 SG Ball squad in Coffs Harbour and provided great service and outstanding running out of dummy half and also scored when he took advantage of some tired Newcastle defence to his left close to their own line in the first half when he darted out of dummy half to score under the posts.

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

    Ediq Ambrosyev started on the bench for the 2019 Tweed Heads Seagulls MM Cup side in their Round One match with the Western Mustangs with Ediq Ambrosyev contributing a second half try in a big 58 – 18 Seagulls win.

    Ediq Ambrosyev’s Round One try was one of the strangest that I have ever seen. After Tweed Heads lost the ball whilst attacking the Western Mustangs line, the Western Mustangs fullback retrieved the ball and kicked it downfield, assuming that the referee would stop play. The referee deemed that the kick downfield constituted the Western Mustangs taking their advantage and ruled play on.

    Tweed Heads winger Troy Duckett prevented the ball from going into touch before offloading to centre Caleb Hodges who in a tackle offloaded to Ediq Ambrosyev who beat two defenders in a forty run to the line to score midway between the touchline and uprights on the left side of the field.

    After also starting from the bench in their Round Two victory over the Townsville Blackhawks, Ediq Ambrosyev moved into the starting line-up at hooker for the Round Three local derby against the Burleigh Bears.

    In total in the 2019 MM Cup competition, Ediq Ambrosyev played in all eight of Tweed Heads matches starting two from the bench and six at hooker including both their semi-final and Grand Final victory over Wynnum Manly. In the 2019 MM Cup Player of the season voting Ediq Ambrosyev finished with two votes.

    In the Grand Final Ediq Ambrosyev scored Tweed Heads second try in just the 2nd minute when he pounced on a dropped bomb and was also named player of the final. Post-match Ediq Ambrosyev was named Player of the Match in the Queensland MM Cup Grand Final.

    Ediq Ambrosyev was equally effective in the U18 National Championship match against the Illawarra Steelers, constantly snipping in the centre of the field from dummy half.

    Ediq Ambrosyev played fifty five nine minutes in the National Final, running for thirty three metres (ten post contact), broke a tackle, played the ball at an average speed of an exceptional 2.4 seconds and made nineteen tackles at a tackling efficiency of 73.1%.

    Early in the 2019 season, Ediq Ambrosyev was selected in the South Coast U18 side for the QSSRL U18 Championships starting primarily from the interchange bench in the U18 QSSRL Championships.

    At the Championships Ediq Ambrosyev was outstanding including scoring a first half hat trick on Day Three as South Coast went through the Championships undefeated including coming from behind to defeated Northern in the final 22 – 16. Ediq Ambrosyev was subsequently named in the Queensland School boy’s side for the Australian School boy Championships.

    At the 2019 ASSRL U18 Championships Ediq Ambrosyev started all of his Queensland matches at dummy half.

    Post the MM Cup competitions Ediq Ambrosyev went back to playing for Currumbin, starting Round Six of the GCRL U18 Division One competition at five eight and scoring as Currumbin defeated Ormeau 38 - 12. Ediq Ambrosyev made it two tries from as many matches when he scored coming off the bench in Round Nine against Burleigh.

    In total for Currumbin in the GCRL U18 Division One regular season competition, Ediq Ambrosyev played in three matches scoring fourteen points from two tries and he also kicked three goals in Round Thirteen against Tugun.

    Ediq Ambrosyev’s tries came in his first two U18 Division One matches of the season against Ormeau and Burleigh.
    Ediq Ambrosyev in 2019 was once again part of the PBC Open A rugby league side including starting from the interchange bench in the Langer Cup derby against Keebra Park in June.

    Ediq Ambrosyev also started at hooker for PBC in their Queensland GIO Cup quarter final win over St Mary’s High School Toowoomba 50 – 6 scoring in the second half. Edqi Ambrosyev darted out of dummy half to his right and was just too quick for the St Mary’s defence running ten metres to score.

    In the second half of the match, Ediq Ambrosyev actually spent some time in the halves for PBC as the coach rang the changes with PBC well on top.

    Ediq Ambrosyev was a solid performer for PBC when he started at hooker in their tough Gold Point loss in the Queensland GIO Cup semi-final loss to Marsden State High School.

    Ediq Ambrosyev made his Hastings Deering’s Colts debut In Round Twenty Three against the Northern Pride starting on the bench and scoring in the 29th and 38th minutes of the match as Tweed Heads qualified for the finals on the back of a 36 – 10 win. When he came on Ediq Ambrosyev played in the dummy half role.

    His try in the first half was a typical Ediq Ambrosyev try, the play before Ediq Ambrosyev brought a forward onto the ball from dummy half and after a quick play the ball Ediq Ambrosyev dived over to his left out of dummy half from close range to score his debut try in his debut game under the posts.

    Ediq Ambrosyev played his second Hastings Deering’s Colts match for Tweed Heads in their Week One Elimination Final loss to the Mackay Cutters 23 – 10 starting from the bench and when came off the bench provided his usual spark.

    To cap off an outstanding 2019 season Ediq Ambrosyev was named in the 2020 U18 Queensland Emerging Origin Squad with fellow Titans Isreal Higgins and Samuel Shannon.

    Ediq Ambrosyev was part of the 2018 Queensland Academy of Sport U16 squad and was late last year named as part of the 2018 U16 Emerging Origin squad that finished their first camp on the Sunshine Coast in February 2018.

    Ediq Ambrosyev also started for the Titans in an U15 match against the Balmain Tigers in late 2017 at Cudgen and also represented the Titans in late 2015 against a Toowoomba U14 side, a match which saw him score two tries including a long range effort in the second half after he took an intercept to run eighty metres to score. In that particular match Ediq Ambrosyev played left centre.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Ediq Ambrosyev is also a talker on the field, constantly willing his forwards onto the ball and is also constantly chirping when he is in the defensive line for his forwards to push off the line quickly with him. Ediq Ambrosyev also backs up his talk through is actions.

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

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

    2019 saw Ediq Ambrosyev part of the Tweed Heads Seagulls MM Cup squad and he will be a member of that side once again in 2020. Post the MM Cup Ediq Ambrosyev will play for the Currumbin Eagles in the GCRL U18 Division One competition and also likely to play in the GCRL U20 competition as well but it is almost certain that he will add to his handful of 2019 late season Hastings Deering’s Colts matches for Tweed Heads.

    Positionally it appeared that Ediq Ambrosyev would move to hooker but in 2018 he played five eight for Currumbin and well as the Vikings, but noting his play at hooker for South East Queensland Green U16’s in the Queensland Age Championships and of course for the Titans U18 against Newcastle who indicate that hooker will be Ediq Ambrosyev’s primary position going forward.

    Ediq Ambrosyev is a natural on a rugby league field regardless of position with his ability to size up a situation and invariably take the correct option. Ediq Ambrosyev reminds me of Brisbane Broncos hooker/half Jake Turpin as a tough combative dummy half who will back himself and not die wondering as well has being a leader on the field through both his actions and words.

  3. #1203
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    Nicholas Hilton. Titans contracted Nicholas Hilton has already played a number of matches in Titans colours including when he started at lock for the Titans U15 side that defeated a Balmain U15 side 34 – 16 in early October 2019 with Nichols Hilton deservedly being named Titans Player of the Match.

    Nicholas Hilton’s most recent match for the Titans was when he started at lock for the Titans U16 side in their annual match against the Newcastle Knights Harold Matthews Cup (U16) side in January 2020 in Coffs Harbour. In addition to leading his side to a well-deserved victory, Nicholas Hilton was named the Titans best in the match.

    Nicholas Hilton also started from the bench for the Titans U16 side in their match against the Newcastle Knights early in 2019 even though he was still U15 eligible at the time of the match.

    In the match Nicholas Hilton took a knock and had to come off but in his time on the field, Nichols Hilton certainly made an impact in defence with a couple of bone crunching tackles. Two in particular stood out, the first was when he flew out of the marker position and smashed the Newcastle No. 10 with a text book side on hit and on the kick-off return after the Knights first try, Nicholas Hilton and Brock Priestley lined up the Knights runner and both hit him front on at the same time in an outstanding tackle which shook the entire ground.

    The powerful young front rower also started from the bench for the Titans U15 side in late 2018 as they defeated a U15 Balmain Tigers touring side 16 – 10 even though he was still U14 eligible in 2018.

    Nicholas Hilton came on for the Titans U15’s mid-way through the first half against Balmain making an immediate impact with his size and enthusiasm including defending well right on the try line just after coming into the match.

    The Titans gave away a penalty which put the Tigers on the attack but after making a superb front on tackle from the penalty restart, Nicholas Hilton made two tackles in a row and then still got up quickly to get back to the line to plug a gap. One of those tackles included crunching the Balmain half in a heavy tackle.

    Nicholas Hilton commenced the 2019 GCRL U15 Division One season starting in the front row for Nerang in their Round One match against Ormeau.

    In total in the GCRL U15 Division One regular season, Nicholas Hilton played in eleven matches scoring three tires including a double against Ormeau and also scoring late in the season against Helensvale.

    In Week Two of the U15 Division One Finals series, Nicholas Hilton started at lock for Nerang against Runaway Bay with Nerang going down 20 – 0.

    In the U15 Division One Preliminary Final Nicholas Hilton was outstanding on the way to scoring a double to lead Nerang to the Grand Final on the back of a 22 – 18 win over Helensvale.

    In the 2019 GCRL U15 Division One Grand Final Nicholas Hilton started at lock and had a strong game as his Nerang side defeated Runaway Bay 36 – 22.

    At the late September Gold Coast Rugby League Presentation Night, Nicholas Hilton was named as the 2019 U15 Player of the Year.

    2019 also saw Nicholas Hilton represent South Coast at the U15 QSSRL Championships where South Coast went through undefeated to win the Championships and subsequently Nicholas Hilton was named in the Queensland Maroons side for the U15 ASSRL Championships.

    Nicholas Hilton started all of Queensland Maroons matches at lock including an impressive performance on Day Two against New South Wales Combined High Schools and in all reality an even better performance especially defensively on Day Three against New South Wales Combined Catholic Colleges.

    Nicholas Hilton was also a stand-out performer for Coombabah State High School in their various U15 schoolboy rugby league competitions in 2019 although he will move to TSS and play GPS school boy rugby there in 2020.

    Nicholas Hilton played the 2018 season for the Nerang Roosters in the GCRL U14 Division One competition finishing with a 50% strike rate through twelve matches. Nicholas Hilton also kicked three goals mid-season against Ormeau to finish the season with thirty points.

    Nicholas Hilton scored a double against Burleigh and also scored in matches against Coomera, Beaudesert, Ormeau and Mudgeeraba.

    Nicholas Hilton started in the front row in all three of Nerang’s U14 Division One Finals matches including their 28 – 12 Preliminary Finals loss to Coomera which ended their season.

    Earlier this season Nicholas Hilton was part of the Gold Coast Vikings U14 side that swept all before them in the South East Queensland U14 Championships and from there went on to represent South East Queensland Green in the Queensland Age Championships, starting of the Green’s matches in the front row.

    Nicholas Hilton Hua scored one try in the 2018 U14 Championships scoring on Day One as SEQ Green defeated SEQ White 20 – 14, fellow Titans that also scored in that match were Joseph Shannon and Arama Hau.

    Recently Nicholas Hilton was selected in the Queensland Academy of Sport U15 Emerging Origin Squad.

    Nicholas Hilton also represented the Gold Coast Vikings U13’s in 2017 scoring against the Ipswich Diggers in the Vikings opening match of those Championships.

    Nicholas Hilton is a powerfully built young front rower with a tall powerful frame and speed, which makes him quite difficult to tackle as he is also adept at dropping his shoulder into defenders as he impacts the defensive line.

    There is no subtlety to his game, he runs straight and hard, with the only concession to this being a slight step off his left foot in occasion prior to impacting the defensive line. One thing that Nicholas Hilton does do will however is continuing to pump his legs once his initial momentum is halted by the defensive line.

    Nicholas Hilton makes more metres than he should as a result and also forces defending teams to commit multiple defensive assets to stopping his forward progress. Nicholas Hilton is also adept at getting a quick play the ball regardless of the number of defenders that are involved in tackling him.

    Like his attacking game, Nicholas Hilton’s defensive methodology is simply constructed and enacted. Nicholas Hilton moves up and hits the ball carrier as hard as he can, as often as he can, full stop. Nicholas Hilton is best suited to defending in the centre of the ruck and that is where you will almost always find him and for a solidly built young player.

    Nicholas Hilton moves well in terms of moving up and back in defence. His lateral movement is also actually quite reasonable for a front rower or lock as well.

    Impressively for me, over the course of the 2019 season, both club and representative, Nicholas Hilton’s defence has gone to another level both from a technique and initial contact perspective.

    Nicholas Hilton will play the 2020 season with Nerang in the GCRL U16 Division One competition and surely will be one of the two U16 Gold Coast Vikings representative teams for the 2020 U16 South East Queensland pre-season challenge.

    Nicholas Hilton is on the move in 2020 heading to TSS where he will play rugby in 2020 likely starting the season off in the U16A school boy side before pushing for a place in the TSS First XV alongside fellow Titan Kaleb Ngamanu.

    I am not aware whether Nicholas Hilton has played rugby previously but I would assume that he will play No. 6 (blind side flanker) for TSS or possibly as a result of his outstanding mobility and ball skills for his size Nicholas Hilton may also play at No. 8. Regardless I have no doubt that attending TSS and playing in the GPS school boy rugby competition will be of huge benefit to Nicholas Hilton going forward.

    The GPS school boy rugby competition is an outstanding competition and Nicholas Hilton’s participation in it in 2020 and beyond cannot be anything but a positive for both Nicholas Hilton and the Titans moving forward. TSS gets an immediate benefit as well of course.

    Nicholas Hilton has played the majority of the last couple of seasons in the front row but with his speed, both off the mark and over extended distances definitely in the plus category for a forward I think that Nicholas Hilton has the attributes to be very effective in the second row (likely on the left side) for a number of years if not for the duration of his rugby league career.

    Coming up with a current NRL player for comparison purposes has been a touch difficult as few have Nicholas Hilton’s combination of speed and skill for their size. One possible NRL player comparison is North Queensland Cowboys and Queensland State of Origin player Coen Hess, although Nichols Hilton is not as big as Hess.

    The more I thought however, Nicholas Hilton for me plays very much like former New Zealand All Blacks great and captain and No. 8 Keiron Reed. Both are superb skilful players with size and speed but both are exemplary leaders as well.

  4. #1204
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    Kedan Chan-Tung. The elusive Titans contracted outside back started at fullback for the Titans U18 side in their January 2020 match against the Newcastle Nights U18 SG Ball side scoring the Titans first try of the match and recording a try assist for the Titans second. Kedan Chan-Tung was deservedly named the Titans best back for his outstanding performance in the match.

    Kedan Chan-Tung scored the Titans first try of the match early in the first half. With the Titans having a scrum feed around forty metres out from the Newcastle line, Kedan Chan-Tung lined up two passes off the back of the scrum to the right of the field.

    After the Titans scrum win, Kedan Chan-Tung received the ball early running at the Newcastle line on a slight angle to the right of the field. Critically Kedan Chan-Tung ran at the line with the ball out in front of his body in two hands putting a degree of doubt in the Knights defensive line.

    As he approached the defensive line, Kedan Chan-Tung shaped to pass the ball to his right but instead pulled the ball back in and slid through a gap in the line and easily outpaced the Knights cover defence in a forty metre run to the line.

    Late in the second half, Kedan Chan-Tung chased through a Thomas Weaver bomb, leaping over the Knights defence to take the ball on the full around three metres from the Knights line. With no way to get to the line Kedan Chan-Tung flicked the ball out of the back of his right hand to the left side of the field to an unmarked Jahreem Bula to dive over in the left corner untouched.

    Kedan Chan-Tung started the 2019 season off in the Ipswich Jets MM Cup squad starting Round One against the Townsville Blackhawks at five eight in the Jets impressive victory and also started at five eight in Round Two against Burleigh where he played against a multitude of Titans team mates.

    In total for the Ipswich Jets 2019 MM Cup squad Kedan Chan-Tung played in all six of their matches starting all at five eight.

    Kedan Chan-Tung started Round One of the GPS School boy First XV competition at fullback for Ipswich Grammar School contributing two tries as IGS had a big win over Brisbane State High School.

    Kedan Chan-Tung’s first try came about when he was on hand after a long break to take the ball and dive over close to the line. His second try came from a scrum move and after receiving the ball he flew thirty five metres down the left touch line to score out wide, unfortunately not long after that he limped off with what looked like an ankle injury, missing Round Two as a result.

    Kedan Chan-Tung was back at fullback for Round Three against Toowoomba Grammar School contributing a try to the IGS victory. The ball was spun out to the left, Kedan Chan-Tung received the ball in space, dummied to his left and strolled over from fifteen metres out.

    Kedan Chan-Tung also had a try assist in the match, he fielded a kick on the full on the half way mark, and simply spilt the Toowoomba Grammar School defence right through the centre of the ruck, he could have beaten the fullback who was flat footed but instead he threw a long pass to his left to his winger who crossed out wide untouched.

    Kedan Chan-Tung also produced an outstanding break in the second half, he folded around the back of the play on the left side of the field and after receiving the ball produced a great right arm field to gain separation before stepping off his left foot to break the line and charge down the centre of the field for a thirty metre run before the Toowoomba defence converged.

    Kedan Chan-Tung moved to outside centre for Round Four against Nudgee College and whilst me may not have had the space he did at fullback still as a major contributor including scoring his 4th try of the season when he pounced on a mistake by the Nudgee fullback to score late in the first half.

    In Round Five against Brisbane Boys College, Kedan Chan-Tung started at fullback and had a busy afternoon, making at least three try saving tackles in the first half alone as well as standing in at half back when IGS were reduced to 14 men in the first half.

    With the ball Kedan Chan-Tung did not get too many opportunities after the opening minutes, but his first run of the match was outstanding when he broke three BBC tackles returning a kick in general play.

    Kedan Chan-Tung was at his elusive best from fullback in Round Six against Anglican Church Grammar School scoring a try and setting up one both in the second half but Ipswich Grammar School went down 24 – 22 in a bit of an upset.

    In relation to his try assist Kedan Chan-Tung took the ball in the right field and took the ball right to the line, copping a hit to the ribs for his trouble before popping a great short ball for his outside centre to slice through a gap to score.

    Kedan Chan-Tung had a lot of work to do for his try, he received the ball once again on the right side of the field from Sam Walker, stepping off his right foot immediately upon receipt of the ball to get inside the immediate Churchie defender before accelerating over the ten metres to the line to dive over under pressure from three cover defenders.

    After an Ipswich Grammar School Round Seven bye Kedan Chan-Tung started Round Eight against TSS at fullback and was dangerous as the match ended in an exciting 29 all draw with both teams having chances that they could not convert.

    In Round Nine being the final round of the GPS School Boy First XV competition, Kedan Chan-Tung had two try assists from fullback both when he drew the Gregory Terrace fullback and passed to Roosters bound Sam Walker to score.

    Post the GPS season Kedan Chan-Tung was named in the U18 Reds Academy Maroon side for a double header at Nudgee College in late September with Kedan Chan-Tung starting the match against the News South Wales Waratahs Academy from the bench.

    In December 2019 Kedan Chan-Tung was part of the Queensland Maroons Boys U17 side that took part in the National Youth 7’s Championships on the Sunshine Coast.

    On Day One of the Championships Kedan Chan-Tung came off the bench in Queensland Maroons wins over Western Australian and Northern Territory and on Day Two came off the bench in Queensland I’s final pool match victory against Victoria.

    Kedan Chan-Tung also came off the bench in Queensland Maroons semi-final win 31 – 12 against Queensland White as well as their Championship final loss 17 – 14 to New South Wales One.

    Earlier in 2019 Kedan Chan-Tung was part of the Titans U18 side in their match at Coffs Harbour against the Newcastle Knights U18 SG Ball squad which ended five tries all. The match was the first for Kedan Chan-Tung in Titans colours and I am sure not the last.

    The Ipswich Grammar School student had an outstanding season in the 2018 U16 GPS School boy rugby competition which saw him being selected in the U16 Queensland Reds Rugby side after representing Queensland at the U15 level in 2017 with the Queensland side winning the Championships with a 69 – 10 win over the Sydney Rays.

    Kedan Chan-Tung had an outstanding 2018 season which started with his selection in the Ipswich U16 side and through to his selection in the South East Queensland White U16 side for the Queensland Age Championships where he was initially named on the interchange bench but regardless spent a lot of time on the field.

    Kedan Chan-Tung played the 2018 season with Northern Suburbs in the Ipswich U17 competition (he was U16 eligible) scoring seven tries from eleven matches. In 2017 in the Ipswich U15 competition Kedan Chan-Tung scored fourteen tries from just eleven matches.

    Kedan Chan-Tung had a couple of seasons on the Gold Coast playing for the Helensvale Hornets with those seasons being in 2013 and 2014.

    Kedan Chan-Tung has above average to plus top end speed and acceleration off the mark, and is more than quick enough to take advantage of any space that he is given down the touchline by opposing wingers.

    One good think about his play in attack is that Kedan Chan-Tung stays on his wing and is regularly outside his opposite number allowing his inside players to be able to find him in attack and in the games that I have seen he stays back and does not over run the players that are inside of him.

    Kedan Chan-Tung seems to be aware of his skill set as he does not take chances with the sideline and does his utmost to ensure that he is not taken over the sideline and knows when to cut back inside rather than taking his opposite number on along the touchline.

    Kedan Chan-Tung will also come in and take his fair share of hit ups to give his forwards a rest, when the ball needs to be brought out of his end of the field even though he is not the biggest or strongest player. In the situations previously described he runs at the defensive line from dummy half with vigour and is definitely not intimidated by the size of any defender in front of him.

    In terms of defence, Kedan Chan-Tung is solid and seemingly understands the attributes of his opposite number to the extent that he alters his defensive positioning if he is against speedy, elusive wingers as against larger more straight running wingers.

    The 2020 season will see Kedan Chan-Tung play for the Ipswich Jets MM Cup for the second season in a row. Kedan Chan-Tung will also be back at Ipswich Grammar School and barring injury is a lock to the IGS First XV fullback in the GPS school boy First XV rugby competition.

    I am a huge fan of the GPS School boy competition with in the main it’s attacking philosophy and thus being in that environment for a number of years in relation to skill development, discipline etc. will no doubt have a positive impact on Kedan Chan-Tung both on and off the field into the future.

    With his school boy rugby and rugby league representative commitments Kedan Chan-Tung may not play a great deal of club rugby league in Ipswich but if he does play Kedan Chan-Tung will likely suit up once against for Northern Suburbs in the Ipswich Rugby League U18 competition where if this season is any indication, he will be one of the most exciting players in the competition.

    Kedan Chan-Tung has played primarily at fullback for Ipswich Grammar School in school boy rugby but more so in the centres or five eight in rugby league. With his combination of elusiveness, speed and body control I can envisage a future at fullback in rugby league and his performance for the Titans U18 side in January 2020 all but confirms that.

    From an NRL player comparison perspective, when seeing Kedan Chan-Tung in full flight you are seemingly looking at a mirror image for New Zealand Warriors and New Zealand test International fullback Roger Tuivasa-Sheck. Like Tuivasa-Sheck, Kedan Chan-Tung has above average to plus top end speed, balance and body control when he has the ball in his hands.

    Simply put Kedan Chan-Tung looks like he is gliding across the field, Kedan Chan-Tung also has an extra gear to accelerate to and literally just explodes through gaps. When he is either returning a kick or hunting around the centre of the ruck looking for am off load, Kedan Chan-Tung just accelerates to full speed in a split second and leaves multiple defenders grasping to thin air behind him.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Will Brimson will line up again in the Queensland Cup competition for the Tweed Heads Seagulls where he should only get better and better in each match that he plays in after being out of the game for two years, last playing for the Wynnum Manly Queensland Cup side in 2017.

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

    From an attacking perspective the quality of Will Brimson’s ability to put runners into holes developed exponentially as the 2017 Queensland Cup season progressed and I am looking forward to seeing him play once he finds his feet in 2020.

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

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    Fabien Puletua Kiri. The giant 193cm, 107kg New Zealand born front rower was a star junior in New Zealand before initially making his name in the 2017 NYC competition for the Canberra Raiders and after a season with the Redcliffe Dolphins in 2019 is part of the Tweed Heads Seagulls 2020 Queensland Cup squad.

    Fabien Puletua Kiri’s first official hit out of the 2020 season came when he started from the bench for the Seagulls in their Queensland Cup trial win over the Souths Logan Magpies at Tugun in mid-February.

    After moving up to Brisbane from New South Wales, Fabien Puletua Kiri played for the Redcliffe Dolphins in the Brisbane A Grade Premiership, although he was named on the extended bench on a couple of occasions for the Redcliffe Queensland Cup side but did not make his debut in 2019.

    Fabien Puletua Kiri came into the Redcliffe Brisbane A Grade side in Round two, coming off the bench against the Wests Panthers, going on to play in fourteen matches, scoring three tries. In addition to scoring a double in Round Fourteen against Wynnum Manly Fabien Puletua Kiri also scored in Round Seventeen against the Wests Panthers.

    Fabien Puletua Kiri moved into the Redcliffe starting line-up in Round Four against Wynnum Manly when he started in the second row going onto make six additional starts in the second row. Fabien Puletua Kiri’s other 2019 start was in Round Twelve when he started at lock against the Wests Panthers.

    In 2018 Fabien Puletua Kiri played for the Goulburn Valley Workers in the Canberra Region First Grade rugby league competition scoring in Round Four against the Queanbeyan Kangaroo’s and in Round Nine against the Yass Magpies.

    2018 also saw Fabien Puletua Kiri make three appearances off the bench for the Mounties in the New South Wales Canterbury Cup competition, with his first appearance coming in Round Ten against Newtown. Fabien Puletua Kiri was also involved in Mounties matches in Round Eleven against the Wentworthville Magpies and Round Twelve against the Penrith Panthers.

    In 2017 Fabien Puletua Kiri started in the front row for the Junior Kiwis in their loss to the Junior Kangaroos.

    In 2017 Fabien Puletua Kiri was part of the Canberra Raiders NYC side playing in twenty two matches in a row after coming into the Raiders side off the bench in Round Three against the Wests Tigers. Fabien Puletua Kiri made his first start of the 2017 NYC season in Round Nine when he started in the front row against the Canterbury Bulldogs. In total Fabien Puletua Kiri made nine starts in the front row in 2017 coming off the bench in his other matches.

    In his twenty two NYC matches in 2017 Fabien Puletua Kiri scored two tries, his first coming in Round Twelve against the Sydney Roosters. Fabien Puletua Kiri scored his other try in Round Nineteen against the St George Dragons.

    In 2016 for the Canberra Raiders NYC side Fabien Puletua Kiri played in sixteen matches starting all from the bench after coming into the side in Round Nine against the Penrith Panthers. Fabien Puletua Kiri’s sole NYC try in 2016 came against the Bulldogs in Round Twelve.

    Prior to moving over to Canberra, Fabien Puletua Kiri was a representative regular in New Zealand including representing the Mid-Central Vipers at the U15 level and was also part of the Warriors junior development set-up for a number of years.

    Fabien Puletua Kiri runs exceptionally hard and there is little subtlety to his running, it is straight and hard and another positive is that he will not just run upright, he will drop his should into the defender making it difficult if not impossible for him to be stopped easily or by a single defender. His running style means that he throws self-preservation out of the window, and fires up his team mates with his charges at full speed into a set forward defensive line.

    Fabien Puletua Kiri will on occasion take advantage of slow defenders by angling back behind the play the ball, but outside of that he just flat out runs full throttle every time he touches the ball and runs fast and will fight for a quick play the ball every time.

    If anything Fabien Puletua Kiri is more effective in the second half of games where his running style begins to wear down the opposition. Fabien Puletua Kiri runs very much front on and perpendicular to the defensive line and uses his strong lower body to power through tackles.

    With the power that he has in his legs when opposing defenders try to tackle him around the legs, it is almost impossible for them to bring Fabien Puletua Kiri down quickly which enables him to either break the tackle completely or to off load to his support runners as he pushes through the defensive line. When they look to tackle him around the chest Fabien Puletua Kiri’s upper body strength enables him to absorb the initial contact and also to maintain his balance and momentum.

    Defensively Fabien Puletua Kiri is able to engage and defeat opposing attacker one on one regardless of size. He does not just charge up trying to hit attacker’s chest on but Fabien Puletua Kiri is clinical about how and where he hits the opponent and sets a solid base with his legs and drives directly into their body. In short Fabien Puletua Kiri is a difference marker with his defence.

    Even though Fabien Puletua Kiri does not necessary have great straight speed, his lateral movement is very good and on the majority of occasions is able to mirror the movement of smaller attacker looking to exploit a perceived speed and/or mobility difference.

    Fabien Puletua Kiri defends in the centre of the ruck and is best suited in the long run defending there and adds a degree of intimidation to any forward pack he plays for. Like with his attack his functional strength and his height with its associated leverage benefits aids his defensive game by being able to generate leverage in his tackles and he can therefore quickly get the attacker off balance.

    In 2020 Fabien Puletua Kiri is part of the Tweed Heads Seagulls Queensland Cup squad and should push for immediate playing time when the competition kicks off in earnest.

    At 193cm and 107kg Fabien Puletua Kiri is a big strong young man but also flashes some impressive mobility on occasion. I think that with his size and strength to go along with a bit of a mean streak, Fabien Puletua Kiri is destined to play in the front row for the remainder of his rugby league career.

    For me Fabien Puletua Kiri has a playing style reminiscent of former Titans junior and current Brisbane Bronco (all be it injured) Keenan Palasia, both are big and strong but are also mobile front rowers with a hard edge about the way that they play rugby league.
    Last edited by mdrew; 28-02-20 at 07:03 PM.

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    Tristin Powell. The young backrower spent three seasons in the Brisbane Broncos Junior Development system but after a break out 2018 which saw him play a number of MM Cup matches for Norths as a 17 year old and also representing Queensland at the ASSRL U18 Championships Tristian Powell has recently inked a two year deal with the Titans and will spend part of the current off-season training with the Titans NRL squad.

    Tristian Powell started from the bench in the Titans first NRL trial of 2020 against Burleigh at Pizzey Park last night.

    Tristian Powell was a member of the 2019 Queensland U18 Emerging Origin squad. Subsequently Tristian Powell was selected in the Queensland U18 side for their annual match against their New South Wales counter parts in a State or Origin curtain raiser starting in the front row.

    Tristian Powell was immediately in the action in the match taking the second hit-up and winning a penalty for Queensland when he was held down too long as he fought to get a quick play the ball.

    In the Interstate match, Tristian Powell played fifty five minutes of the match, running for 102.9 metres (32.3 post contact), had an offload and made a team leading twenty two tackles at a 88% tackling efficiency.

    Tristian Powell played in five matches for Burleigh in the 2019 MM Cup competition starting all in the front row. Deservedly Tristian Powell was also named the 2019 Burliegh MM Cup Player of the Year.

    In Round Four against Townsville, Tristian Powell was credited with a try assist when he popped a good short ball to his left for left second rower George Etuala-Noa to run into a yawning gap to score from around eight metres out.

    Instead of playing Round Six in the 2019 MM Cup, Tristian Powell was promoted to the Burleigh U20 Hastings Deering’s Colts side starting in the second row against Wynnum Manly and celebrated his debut by scoring in the Bears big 50 – 20 victory.

    Tristian Powell also had an outstanding game in Round Nine against Redcliffe playing right second row and was heavily involved in two of Burleigh’s tries. His first try involvement was when he off-loaded out the back of his hand to his right for Jayden Campbell to score and in relation to the second once again in a tackle Tristian Powell was able to get his arms free to offload to his right to Jayden Campbell who then drew the fullback for debutant Trey Peni to score his first Colts try.

    Tristian Powell was also outstanding in Round Ten against the Northern Pride when he was at least the equal of any forward on the field, both in attack and defence.

    Tristian Powell added a try assist in Round Twenty One against the Northern Powell when he produced a great right arm off-load to Shallin Fuller to score under the posts in the first half.

    In Week Two of the Finals Tristian Powell scored an outstanding try in Burleigh’s 42 – 12 win against Norths after starting the match in the front row. Tristian Powell burst onto a pass on the right side of the field about twenty five metres out, running a slight inside shoulder route before rounding the fullback to scored adjacent to the right upright.

    Tristian Powell’s 2019 Hastings Deering’s Colts season came to an end when he started in the front row for Burleigh as they went down 23 – 16 to Sunshine Coast in the Preliminary Final

    In total in the 2019 Hastings Deering’s Colts competition, Tristian Powell played in seventeen matches scoring two tries.

    As noted above Tristian Powell came into the Burleigh Colts side in Round Six in the second row and went on to start in seven matches in the second row, one at lock being Round Eleven against Central Queensland, Round Sixteen from the interchange against Souths Logan and the remaining eight in the front row including Burleigh’s three 2019 finals. Tristian Powell’s first start in the front row came in Round Seventeen in the local derby against Tweed Heads.

    In the 2019 Hastings Deering’s Colts Player of the Year Award tally Tristian Powell finished with three votes.

    Tristian Powell was also part of the Titans U18 side that played North Queensland in the Titans v Warriors curtain raiser in June.

    During the Round Nineteen Hastings Deering’s Colts bye week, Tristian Powell turned out for Burleigh in the GCRL U20 competition, starting from the bench and scoring in a Bears 40 – 14 win over Runaway Bay.

    To cap off an outstanding 2019 season Tristian Powell, in late December was named in the 2020 Queensland U20 Emerging Origin Squad.

    In the MM Cup competition in 2018 Tristian Powell played in six matches for the Norths Devils including their semi-final victory against the Mackay Cutters and North’s Grand Final loss to Souths Logan.

    Tristian Powell started the opening two rounds of the season in the front row and Round Three against Souths Logan from the interchange bench before missing a number of matches, coming back into the side from the bench for Round Seven and the subsequent finals series.

    In his six matches Tristian Powell had a try scoring strike rate of 50% with his tries coming in Round Two against Central Queensland, Round Three against Souths Logan and Round Seven against Townsville.

    Over the course of the 2018 season Tristian Powell represented Met North at the U18 ASSRL Championships starting all of their matches in the front row and from there represented Queensland at the ASSRL U18 Championships.

    Tristian Powell is another product of the GPS school boy rugby system playing the 2017 and 2018 seasons for the Nudgee College First XV side, spending a lot of time at outside centre in the blue and white hoops of Nudgee College.

    In 2017, his first at Nudgee after moving down from Toowoomba, Tristian Powell represented Brisbane Grey in the South East Queensland U16 pre-season competition, scoring in Round Three of the competition against Brisbane Blue and also was selected in the Queensland U16 side, starting the annual interstate match against New South Wales in the second row along fellow St Mary’s student hooker Jake Simpkin.

    In 2016 Tristian Powell represented Darling Downs at the U15 QSSRL Championships, starting at lock. In those Championships he scored on Day Four against Sunshine Coast and on Day One was named the Darling Downs Player of the Match against South Coast.

    In 2016 Tristian Powell captained the St Mary’s College U15A side that won the Devere Cup beating Mountain Creek High School 42 – 10 in the final at Bishop with Tristian Powell scoring a strong second half try for the Toowoomba based school.

    The first thing that you will notice when you see Tristian Powell on a football field is his size, speed and athleticism that he exhibits every time that he is around the ball. Running with the ball he is effective running wide of the ruck where he can utilise his speed and power more effectively by targeting individual defenders rather than running at a set defensive line where defenders will be converging from multiple axis simultaneously.

    Tristian Powell also has the speed to finish off movements himself when he gets into space.

    I am not saying that he is not effective running in the centre of the ruck but his effectiveness multiples exponentially running on the fringes of the ruck and another positive is that he is effective running both on the left or right of the field.

    In addition to his speed, which I would suggest is above average to plus for a second rower Tristian Powell has a powerful fend and thus he can keep defenders from getting into his body enabling him to maintain his balance and running line and thus he has a stable base from which to look to offload.

    Defensively Tristian Powell’s athleticism also shows out, his strength enables him to handle the biggest of forwards on a one on one basis and his athleticism particularly in relation to his lateral movements enables him to deal with smaller quick stepping halves how look to try to exploit and perceived speed advantage.

    When the opportunity presents Tristian Powell has the ability to hit very hard, by setting a good base and driving through his lower body and core into his opponent.

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

    Tristian Powell is currently training with the Titans NRL squad which is a great achievement for such a young player. He will likely start the 2020 season as part of the Burleigh Hastings Deering’s Colts squad but should push for Queensland Cup selection with the Bears as the season progresses. Selection in the 2020 Queensland U20 State of Origin squad is also well within Tristian Powell’s grasp.

    I appreciate that Tristian Powell played the opening rounds of the MM Cup competition for Burleigh earlier this season in the front row but with his speed, footwork and athleticism I would prefer, for the short to medium term at least to see Tristian Powell play in the second row where he can operate on the fringes of the ruck.

    At 184cm and 97kg, Tristian Powell has the requisite size and speed combination to be an asset on the fringes of the ruck more so than playing in the front row where he would be confined more towards the middle of the field.

    When Tristian Powell started for the Burleigh Hastings Deering’s Colts side in the second row this season you could see the damage that he was able to do on the fringes of the ruck, a circumstance that helped me confirm my opinion.

    A current NRL player with a similar playing style to Tristian Powell for me is the Titans own Keegan Hiprgave. Both are very hard running , very quick players on the fringes of the ruck who also can really cut players in half defensively all while playing big minutes in a match.

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    Jed Edwards. (Revised) The local young hooker is a recent addition to the Titans ranks only signing late in 2018 and has spent part of the current off-season training with the Titans NRL squad.

    Jed Edwards commenced his 2020 season starting at hooker for the Titans Rookie Squad that played a Tweed Heads Seagulls Queensland Cup selection at Cudgen in wet and slippery conditions.

    Jed Edwards started from the bench in the Titans first NRL trial of 2020 against Burleigh at Pizzey Park last night, coming on in the second half in the dummy half role.

    In late 2018 Jed Edwards was selected in the Tweed Heads Seagulls MM Cup squad for the 2019 version of the U18 competition after playing a number of matches for the Tweed Heads MM Cup side early in the 2018 season.

    Jed Edwards started Round One of the 2019 MM Cup competition at hooker for Tweed Heads as they defeated the Western Mustangs 58 – 18 with Jed Edwards contributing a double in the victory. Jed Edwards first try came in just the second minute of the match, when after a strong run by Juwan Compain, Jed Edwards scooted over from dummy half with Western Mustangs defenders all over the place as a result of the quick play the ball by the afore mentioned Juwan Compain.

    Jed Edwards scored again from dummy half midway through the first half. Once again running out of dummy half to his left, Jed Edwards took off about twenty metres out and after bumping off an attempted front on tackle crashed over near the uprights.
    In the second half Jed Edwards made a great break through the centre of the ruck and was able to offload to Ryan Rivett who was able to continue to progress the ball.

    Unfortunately Jed Edwards 2019 MM Cup campaign ended as a result of a broken arm. Jed Edwards came back from injury to start at hooker for the South Coast U18 side at the QSSRL U18 Championships but unfortunately suffered another broken arm on Day One of those Championships.

    In 2019 Jed Edwards was co-captain of the PBC Open side with fellow Titan Toby Sexton and in November 2019 Jed Edwards was the PBC Reds Award recipient for the player who best epitomises the PBC culture.

    In early 2019 Jed Edwards played his first match in Titans colours when he started from the bench for the Titans U18 side as they took on the Newcastle Knights U18 SG Ball squad in Coffs Harbour. In both halves, Jed Edwards came onto the field mid-way through alternating with Ediq Ambrosyev.

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

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

    Early in the 2019 season, Jed Edwards was selected in the South Coast U18 side for the QSSRL U18 Championships and started at hooker on Day One of the U18 QSSRL Championships but unfortunately missed the remainder of the Championships through injury.
    In 2018 Jed Edwards came into the Tweed Heads MM Cup side in Round Five against the Townsville Blackhawks starting at hooker and also started at hooker in Rounds Six, Seven and in the first week of the finals against Wynnum Manly, Easts and Souths Logan respectively.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Jed Edwards will start the 2020 season in the Tweed Heads U20 Hastings Deering’s Colts side and may well also get an opportunity in the Gold Coast Rugby League First Grade competition to start to play against men. A Queensland Cup debut is also not out of the question for him.

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

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

  9. #1209
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    Will Evans. The Gold Coast youngster and former Queensland U16 representative moved to the Titans after the expiration of his two year contract with the Brisbane Broncos in a coup for the Titans in terms of “bringing back the farm” and Will Evans is currently training with the Titans NRL squad in the 2020 off-season training squad.

    Will Evans commenced his 2020 season starting at right centre for the Titans Rookie Squad that played a Tweed Heads Seagulls Queensland Cup selection at Cudgen in wet and slippery conditions.

    Will Evans then started on the right wing for the Burleigh Queensland Cup side in their 2020 trial against the Titans at Pizzey Park on Friday night. Late in the match when he had moved to left centre, Will Evans almost scored a long range try when he took an intercept whne the Titans were attacking down their right side. Will Evans ran 90 metres but was brought down a metre out by a flying Jayden Campbell.

    In early 2019 Will Evans started at right centre for the Titans U18 side against the Newcastle Knights SG Ball squad in Coffs Harbour which ended in a draw, however from my perspective (and yes I am biased) the Titans were clearly the better side for the entire match.

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

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

    Will Evans also started at right centre for the Titans U18 side in their big win over PNG at Pizzey park in early October 2019 and he had an impressive try assist in the first half when he produced an impressive right arm flick pass.

    Will Evans made his Queensland Cup debut starting on the right wing against PNG in Port Moresby in Round Twenty of the 2019. Will Evans played the entire 80 minutes in the match, running for 85 metres (22 post contact, 31 from kick returns and six from dummy half), broke a tackle, played the ball at an average speed of 2.93 seconds and made three tackles.

    Will Evans played his second Queensland Cup match when he started on the left wing for Burleigh in Week One of the Finals, scoring in the 4th minutes as the Bears held on to beat Wynnum Manly 34 – 32.

    Will Evans try came down the left side and after receiving an off load was able to dive over from close range.

    In his 80 minutes on the field, Will Evans ran for forty one metres (thirteen post contact), had a line break and tackle break, played the ball at an average speed of 3.52 seconds and had a 100% tackling efficiency.

    In total in his two Queensland Cup matches in 2019, Will Evans played 160 minutes, ran for 126 metres at a per game average of 63.5 metres, had 35 post contact metres, broke two tackles and made seven tackles at a tackling efficiency of 77.78%.

    Will Evans also made his International debut in 2019 when he was named in the Wales 23 man squad for the World Nines held in Sydney in October. Will Evans played in two matches for Wales, both on the second day of the Tournament. Will Evans started at left centre against France in his first match and came off the bench later the same day against Lebanon.

    In his first match against France Will Evans played 18 minutes, making twenty six metres (eleven post contact) from three runs, played the ball at an average speed of 4.71 seconds and made six tackles at a 100% tackling efficiency.

    In his second match against Lebanon, Will Evans also played eighteen minutes, running for twenty four metres (ten post contact) from two runs, broke a tackle, played the ball at an average speed of 3.6 seconds and made a team leading eight tackles.

    Will Evans commenced the 2019 season off starting in the centres for the Burleigh MM Cup sides Round One match against the Western Mustangs with the Bears prevailing 58 - 18. Will Evans continued to play at right centre for the majority of the MM Cup competition but moved to fullback for Burleigh’s Round Five match against the Souths Logan Magpies. That match was the last that Will Evans played at fullback as he moved back to the centres for Round Six.

    Will Evans sole try in the 2019 MM Cup competition came in Round Two as Burleigh defeated the Ipswich Jets. In the 2019 MM Cup Player of the season voting Will Evans finished with seven votes.

    Post the MM Cup competition, Will Evans started the club season at fullback for Burleigh in the GCRL U18 Division One competition in their Round One match against Currumbin before moving into the centres for Round Two.

    Will Evans was then promoted to the Burleigh GCRL U20 side, starting in the centres in Round Seven and scoring on debut as Burleigh went down to Currumbin 52 – 28.

    Will Evans try came in the second half, he received the ball in space outside the Currumbin left winger around twenty metres out from the Burleigh line. Will Evans used a left arm fend to get rid of the Currumbin left winger before holding off the Currumbin left centre, once again with a left arm fend to score right in the right corner.

    Will Evans was named on an extended bench for the Burleigh Hastings Deering’s Colts side for their Round Ten match against the Northern Pride but did not make the game day seventeen.

    Will Evans however made his deserved Hastings Deering’s Colts debut for Burleigh in Round Eleven against the Central Queensland Capra’s starting on the right wing and scoring in a 28 -10 Bears victory. In a Burleigh backline movement to the right, Will Evans stayed outside his opponent and sprinted past him to score untouched over receiving a cut out ball form fullback Jayden Campbell.

    Will Evans moved to right centre for Round Twelve against the Sunshine Cost Falcons and was heavily involved in the last minutes of Burleigh’s one point win. With time running down Will Evans made a break down the right side of the field running for approximately twenty five metres. After his quick play the ball and a subsequent one by Cameron Brown, Jayden Campbell had the time to slot the game winning field goal.

    Will Evans continued at right centre in Round Thirteen against the Easts Tigers, scoring his second Colts try of the season when he crossed in the 4th minute of the match. Will Evans early try was as a result of him staying outside his direct opponent and when he received the ball was able to score untouched in the right corner of Pizzey Park.

    Will Evans also had a try assist in the match, he took the ball to the line and was able to pop a ball out the back of his right arm once engaged with the defensive line to send right winger Josh Somerville over untouched in a great piece of play.

    Will Evans also played at right centre in Round Fifteen against Ipswich scoring his third Colts try from his opening four matches when he crossed in the second half. Will Evans received the ball only around five metres out from the line and got on the outside of his direct opponent before diving over with two Ipswich defenders hanging off him.

    Will Evans continued to enhance his growing reputation in Round Sixteen scoring a double against Souths Logan with both tries coming in the last ten minutes of a 38 – 16 Burleigh win. Will Evans first try came after he shrugged off a Souths Logan defender who looked to tackle him as Will Evans was receiving the ball and for his second Will Evans ran o good straight line and was put into a gap to score from twenty metres out.

    The Round Seventeen Gold Coast derby against Tweed Heads was no impediment to Will Evans scoring surge when he received the ball at right centre and after getting outside of his opposite number, held off the giant Tweed Heads right centre, and I mean giant, being Gerard Ah-Nau with a strong left arm fend and maintaining his balance to score in the right corner.

    Will Evans may not have scored in Round Nineteen against Redcliffe but once again he did influence the score board with a try assist. Playing left centre, he got outside his direct opponent running twenty metres before drawing the fullback and passing inside to Cameron Brown, who in fact threw him the previous pass, to score.

    Will Evans also had a try assist in Round Twenty One against the Northern Pride playing left centre. Will Evans made a break down the left touch line of about forty metres but was tackled by the Tigers fullback and another cover defender but had the presence of mind to get his arms free to off-load to his left to fellow Titan contracted player Lofi Khan-Periera to score in the corner in the second half.

    The line break noted above was one of three that Will Evans made in the match with the other two coming in the second half. On each occasions Will Evans got on the outside of his direct opponent to generate long big gains down the left touch line. In relation to the first one he barged straight over the Northern Pride half who tried to stop him and bar a jumper grab by the Pride right second rower in the second one, Will Evans likely would have run sixty five metres to score.

    Will Evans scored once again in Round Twenty Two against the Sunshine Coast Falcons and added a further try in Round Twenty Three against Central Queensland when he followed through after a smart piece of play from half Cameron Brown to score in the left corner after an eighty metre movement by Burleigh.

    Will Evans could have actually had a double in the match, but early in the first half was held up right in the left corner after a powerful surge from around ten metres out was defeated by three Central Queensland Carpa’s defenders, just.

    In Week Two of the Finals Will Evans started on the left wing in Burleigh’s 42 – 12 win against Norths and started on the wing in the Preliminary Final against Sunshine Coast.

    Will Evans’s 2019 Hastings Deering’s Colts season came to an end when he started on the left wing for Burleigh as they went down 23 – 16 to Sunshine Coast in the Preliminary Final.

    In total in the 2019 Hastings Deering’s Colts competition, Will Evans played in twelve matches scoring seven tries to finish the 2019 Colts season with a strike rate of 58.34%.

    Of his twelve matches Will Evans started four on the wing and the remaining eight matches in the centres.

    In the 2019 Queensland Rugby League Hastings Deering’s Colts Player of the Year Award tally Will Evans finished with six votes.

    Will Evans made his Gold Coast Rugby League First Grade debut in Round Sixteen starting on the left wing for Burleigh against Runaway Bay and scoring to cap a great debut. The ball was spun out to the left and after retrieving the ball on the bounce Will Evans stepped back inside his opposite number before crossing out wide in the left corner in just the 11th minute of his debut.

    Will Evans also started on the left wing in Round Seventeen against Currumbin scoring a double to continue to enhance his already sky rocketing reputation. Will Evans scored his first try of the match in just the 6th minute.

    Will Evans received the ball about ten metres out from the try line near the left touch line. With little room to move and with two defenders in front of him, Will Evans took the first defender on running straight over him before using his strength to get the ball down with two Currumbin defenders desperately trying to hold him up.

    Will Evans scored his second try in the second half and once again it was his strength that got him there. Will Evans received a long floating pass and charged down the left touch line once against from about ten metres out. About a metre or two out from the line Will Evans has hit by two cover defenders but was able to maintain his balance to reach out with his right arm to get the ball down just before he was pushed into touch.

    Will Evans was part of the 2019 U18 Queensland Emerging Origin squad as well highlighting the high regard that Will Evans is held in in the Queensland Rugby League community.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    2019 saw Will Evans as a key member of the Burleigh Bears MM Cup side and post the competition of that competition he made the jump to the Hastings Deering’s Colts competition and ultimately to the Queensland Cup and then to the World Nines.

    Will Evans has two years of Colts eligibility remaining starting in 2020 and will spend the off season training with the Titans NRL squad. I do not envisage a situation where Will Evans will not start the 2020 season with Burleigh in the Queensland Cup competition and it would not surprise at all if Will Evans plays a number of NRL trials in 2020 and maybe even makes his NRL debut over the course of the 2020 NRL season.

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

    I however think that Will Evans best position is at fullback where he can see the entire field and thus is a position to inject himself from there where and when the opportunities arise. At 177cm and 91kg Will Evans certainly has the size to handle himself regardless of position however.

    A very knowledgeable visitor to this site actually suggested that Will Evans would make a more than effective half back. I admit that that was a scenario that I had not really considered but one that is a more than interesting one to contemplate as Will Evans inevitably moves towards the NRL.

    From an NRL player comparison perspective Will Evans has a number of similarities to St George Dragons fullback Matt Dufty. Will Evans does not have the top end speed of Matt Dufty (although he is a lot quicker than he looks) but is quick off the mark and has the same innate ability to make the first defender miss in the congestion in the middle of the ruck or wider out in the backline, it is just an uncanny skill you either have or you don’t and Will Evans definitely has it in spades and Titans fans will have the pleasure of seeing it in action over the coming seasons in the NRL potentially as early as 2020.

  10. #1210
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    Toby Sexton. The Gold Coast local who has recently signed a three year contract (the first year being an NRL Development contract) with the Titans has had an outstanding 2019 season, including captaining the PBC Open school boy side, being named 18th man for the Queensland U18 side, being selected in the Australian School Boys side after starring for the Queensland School Boys side at the U18 ASSRL Championships and of course signing with the Titans which will see him in Titans colours for the next three seasons at least.

    Toby Sexton is currently participating in his first NRL pre-season with the Titans as part of his Titans NRL Development contract and has drawn rave reviews already from coaching staff including head coach Justin Holbrook who has been impressed by his work ethic. Similarly Assistant Coach Jim Dymock has been impressed with Toby Sexton’s calmness and maturity.

    Toby Sexton commenced his 2020 season starting at five eight for the Titans Rookie Squad that played a Tweed Heads Seagulls Queensland Cup selection at Cudgen in wet and slippery conditions and even in those conditions put in an assured kicking display that is already of an NRL standard.

    Toby Sexton started at five eight for the Titans first NRL trial of 2020 against Burleigh at Pizzey Park on Friday night scoring in what was his senior debut when he backed up to put the ball down under the posts..

    Toby Sexton started the 2019 season playing for Tweed Heads in the MM Cup competition starting at half back in all of their nine matches including both the Queensland Grand Final victory over the Wynnum Manly Seagulls and the National U18 Final victory over the Illawarra Steelers.

    In those nine matches Toby Sexton’s sole try came in the National Final against Illawarra and over the course of the season he kicked thirty seven goals to finish with 78 points and average 8.67 points per game.

    On two occasions in 2019 Toby Sexton kicked nine goals in a match being in Round One against the Western Mustangs when he kicked nine from ten and in Round Six against the Mackay Cutters when he kicked nine from twelve.

    Toby Sexton played the entire seventy minutes in the U18 National Final against Illawarra, running for 127 metres (eighteen post contact), made a line break, broke two tackles, played the ball at an average speed of 3.7 seconds and made ten tackles at a perfect tackling efficiency of 100%.

    In the 2019 MM Cup Player of the season voting Toby Sexton finished with five votes.

    Toby Sexton started at five eight for the 2019 Australian School Boys side in their one off match at Redcliffe Stadium against a New Zealand U19 side in a curtain raiser to the 2019 Queensland Cup Grand Final with the Australian side winning a physical contest 36 – 20.

    Toby Sexton played the entire seventy minutes, running for twenty six metres (nine post contact), had a try assist and a line break assist, broke two tackles and made twenty tackles at a tackling efficiency of an impressive 95.5% especially taking into account the size of the New Zealand forwards running at him for the entire match.

    In August 2019 Toby Sexton also started at half for PBC in their Queensland GIO Cup quarter final win over St Mary’s High School Toowoomba 50 – 6.

    In the first half alone, Toby Sexton in addition to kicking four from five had three try assists, with each coming on the left side of the field. On all three occasions Toby Sexton played shallow and held the ball to the last moment before sending his support runners into gaps to score.

    Twice Brendan Paiakura was the beneficiary when he ran into gaps close to Toby Sexton but on the other occasion in the first half, Toby Sexton threw a long cut out pass right onto the chest of fellow Titan Caleb Hodges who ran into a yawning gap forty metres from the line out pacing the St Mary’s cover defence to score.

    In the first half Toby Sexton also forced a St Mary’s goal line drop out with a pin point kick from around thirty five metres out to force another set of six, from which Caleb Hodges try resulted.

    For the match, Toby Sexton ended up kicking seven goals from nine attempts.

    Toby Sexton then went on to play a key role in PBC’s 2019 Langer Cup semi-final and Grand Final victories stating both final at half back.

    Toby Sexton was a solid performer for PBC starting at half and kicking three from four in their tough Gold Point loss in the Queensland GIO Cup semi-final loss to Marsden State High School.

    Toby Sexton made his Hastings Deering’s Colts debut In Round Twenty Three of the 2019 season against the Northern Pride starting at five eight as Tweed Heads qualified for the finals on the back of a 36 – 10 win.

    Toby Sexton played his second Hastings Deering’s Colts match for Tweed Heads Week One Elimination Final loss to the Mackay Cutters 23 – 10 starting at five eight and scoring his first career try in the match.

    Toby Sexton’s try was one of the best of the season, he took the ball to the right of the play the ball fifty nine metres out from the line, he took the ball right to the line before producing an impressive right armed over the shoulder dummy to his right before swerving through a gap back towards the play the ball.

    Ediq Ambrosyev roamed up on Toby Sexton’s left as he approached but when the fullback cheated towards Ediq Ambrosyev, Toby Sexton dummied once again and then outpaced the defence to score adjacent to the left upright.

    Toby Sexton also recorded a try assist in the match, he took the ball down a short blind side on the right side of the field, taking the ball right into the line before popping a great short ball to his right finding Jaylon To’O in a big gap who ran forty metres to score untouched.

    In the 2019 Hastings Deering’s Colts Player of the Year Award tally Toby Sexton finished with three votes and at the 2019 PBC Sports Awards Night was the joint winner of the Craig Weston Medal for the PBC Open Best and Fairest Player.

    Toby Sexton also played in the MM Cup in 2018 also for Tweed Heads, starting all seven of their games at five eight, including their semi-final loss to Souths Logan. In those seven matches Toby Sexton scored five tries, including scoring in the semi-final. Toby Sexton also scored against Norths in Round One, Victoria in Round two, Townsville in Round Three and Wynnum Manly in Round Six.

    From a goal kicking perspective in 2018 Toby Sexton kicked forty two goals, kicking nine goals in a match on two occasions with those being in Round Five against Townsville and in Round Six against Wynnum Manly.

    Toby Sexton in 2019 had a heavy schedule playing for PBC, in the MM Cup and representative commitments thus he did not play in any club matches on the Gold Coast. In 2018 however Toby Sexton played in two matches for Currumbin in the U17 Division One competition kicking six goals in his first match against Mudgeeraba and then backing that up by kicking three in a June 2018 match against Burleigh.

    In 2018 Toby Sexton was also a key member of the PBC Open Rugby League side that took all before them winning both the Queensland GIO Cup Final and the National GIO Cup Final. Like this season Toby Sexton was PBC’s primary goal kicker.

    Toby Sexton also played well for PBC in their 2017 GIO Cup campaign including kicking a goal in their tough 22 – 20 Queensland semi-final loss to Marsden State High School.

    Over the course of the 2017 U16 Division season, Toby Sexton finished at the competitions leading point’s scorer with 85 points from three tries, thirty six goals and a field goal which came against Helensvale in May. Toby Sexton’s three tries came from a double early in the season against Runaway Bay and a late season try against Runaway Bay as well.

    With the boot in 2017 Toby Sexton had a couple of big matches including kicking seven goals in Round One against Southport and six in a mid-season match against Ormeau as well as five goals in a match on three other occasions.

    In 2015 Toby Sexton represented South Coast U15’s and from there was selected at five eight for the Queensland White side for the ASSRL U15 Championships. On Day One of the championships Toby Sexton kicked three goals in a win over New South Wales Combined Independent Schools and on Day Six kicked four in a big win over ACT.

    In attack Toby Sexton’s calling card is his organisational and passing skills more so than his running game. His speed would probably considered average for a half/five eight but he will throw a dummy and run when opposing defences are focussed on his support runners and provide him with opportunities. Toby Sexton also does not have quick twitch feet, thus his step is more average than say a plus side step like AJ Brimson’s.

    Toby Sexton also has a good long passing game thus enabling the ball to get out to his back line quickly when they are set deep. He develops a good spiral on the ball and is able to lead his outside backs onto the ball through putting the ball out in front of them. Toby Sexton will also take the ball to the line and delay the pass as long as possible to his support runners when necessary in an effort to prise open gaps in the defensive line.

    Assisting his play is the fact that Toby Sexton makes the decision what to do with the ball quickly thus enabling the ball to get out wide or when the ball needs to be turned back inside. In short he looks to dictate what the defensive line needs to do to combat his sides attack rather than waiting to see how the opposition is looking to defend at a particular time in a game.

    One aspect that is notable is how he directed the team around the field in difficult conditions and he looked to manage the game to take account of those conditions. Toby Sexton always maintains his composure on the field and does not yell or scream but obviously gets his message across to his team mates with a calm presence.

    Toby Sexton is also a very good goal kicker with both good range and accuracy, his statistics over the last two seasons for both PBC and Tweed Heads in the MM Cup clearly bear that out. Like his general play kicking which is also outstanding, I would suggest that he is a real chance to be his side’s primary goal kicker regardless of the level progressing into the future.

    Defensively Toby Sexton has decent size for a half or five eight, and probably would be considered an average sized player if not a touch more for his age and position. This is a facet which assists in him being an effective defender for his position both in terms of initial contact and the ability to wrap up the ball to prevent offloads. Defensively Toby Sexton has the ability to be a solid above average NRL defender in eth coming years.

    Toby Sexton will play the 2020 season in the Hastings Deering’s Colts competition for the Tweed Heads Seagulls and is also Colts eligible in 2021. I would also anticipate that Toby Sexton will also likely get an opportunity at the Gold Coast Rugby League First Grade level (and potentially even in the Queensland Cup) in 2020 to start to test himself against men a few of whom will have had previous Queensland Cup and/or NRL experience.

    One thing is for sure though and that is Toby Sexton is spending the entire off season with the Titans NRL squad and thus the timeline that I envisage above may very well be far too conservative for the young man, certainly in relation to how well Toby Sexton has handled the rigours of his first NRL pre-season.

    From a position perspective, Toby Sexton plays the same way whether he is wearing the No. 6 or No. 7 jersey and there is no way known that a coach would consider moving him away from the halves.

    Toby Sexton is just so calm and assured on the field and just seems to have a lot of time to do what he wants, whether that is run, pass or kick and to that extent Toby Sexton is more than a bit like Cooper Cronk.

    Toby Sexton is probably the calmest junior rugby league player that I have seen on the field EVER and it is no wonder that a number of coaches have identified his leadership qualities and put him in that position in their teams in relation to club, school and representative sides, for example he co-captained the PBC Open school boy side in 2019.

    Toby Sexton certainly has the leadership attributes and demeanour to be an NRL captain if not a representative level one in the coming years.

    It is great to see an Australian School Boys and Queensland U18 squad member player elect to sign with the Titans, it is certainly proof that the Titans Development system is working and of course the fact that Toby Sexton is a local junior is an added outstanding bonus.

  11. #1211
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    Taine Tuaupiki. (Revised) He is a local young Titans linked utility (halfback/five eight/fullback) who started at fullback for the Burleigh A Grade trial against Tweed Heads in late February 2020.

    Taine Tuaupiki was in outstanding form for the Burleigh Bears U20 Hastings Deering’s Colt’s side in 2019 and also deservedly played a number of Gold Coast Rugby League First Grade matches with Burleigh.

    Taine Tuaupiki started at half for the 2019 Burleigh U20 Hastings Deering’s Colts Round One side as they drew 24 all with Norths at Bishop Park, in total playing in nine games in total scoring five tries, three of which came in Burleigh’s finals campaign.

    Taine Tuaupiki started all nine of his 2019 Hastings Deering’s Colts matches, starting four at half, one being Round Six against the Western Mustangs at five eight and the remaining four matches at right centre, with his first start at centre coming in Round Twenty Three against Central Queensland. Taine Tuaupiki followed that up by starting all three of Burleigh’s finals at right centre.

    In Round Three against Tweed Heads Taine Tuaupiki scored a good solo try, he received the ball playing on the right side of the ruck around twelve metres out from the line and after stepping off his right foot to create a gap, surged through the Tweed fullbacks tackle right on the try line.

    Taine Tuaupiki also scored an outstanding try in Round Ten against the Northern Pride. He received the ball around ten metres out from the Pride line whilst operating on the left side of the field, and after stepping back inside the Pride defence exploded through a small gap in the line to cross near the left upright.

    After missing a number of weeks Taine Tuaupiki started Round Twenty Two against Sunshine Coast in the centres for Burleigh and also at right centre in Round Twenty Three against Central Queensland. Taine Tuaupiki terrorised the Capra’s left side defence in the match including making a long break from a scrum but he was bundled into touch a metre out.

    In Week Two of the 2019 Hastings Deering’s Colts Finals series, Taine Tuaupiki once again started at left centre and scored a try in each half to propel Burleigh into the Preliminary Final with both of his tries impressive individual efforts.

    Taine Tuaupiki’s first try was a seventy metre effort, he received the ball one off the scrum bursting through the initial defensive line with a slight step off both foot, the first coming off his right, before beating the fullback and getting away from a cover defender who looked to grab his jersey collar to score under posts.

    Taine Tuaupiki’s second resulted from a series of side steps on the left of the field. Taine Tuaupiki received the ball wide on the left and immediately stepped twice off his left foot create space and then produced a right foot back towards the side line and accelerated from ten metres out to score.

    Taine Tuaupiki’s 2019 Hastings Deering’s Colts season came to an end when he started at left centre for Burleigh as they went down 23 – 16 to Sunshine Coast in the Preliminary Final with Taine Tuaupiki being one of Burleigh’s try scorers in the match.

    Playing left centre once again, Taine Tuaupiki received the ball around forty five metres out and ran at the defensive line with the ball out in front in both hands before stepping odd his left foot to beat the initial defender before accelerating away from the defence then beating the fullback and streaking away to score.

    In the 2019 Hastings Deering’s Colts Player of the Year Award tally Taine Tuaupiki finished with two votes.

    Taine Tuaupiki also played a number of matches for Burleigh in the GCRL First Grade competition including starting at fullback in Round Seven against Tugun. For what I believe was his first match at fullback in that competition, Taine Tuaupiki played quite well and made a number of sniping runs through the centre of the ruck.

    Taine Tuaupiki scored his first Gold Coast Rugby League First Grade try of 2019 when he scored in Round Twelve against Southport starting at fullback as the Bears won 34 – 10.

    Taine Tuaupiki lined up on the left of the field taking the ball from the dummy half about ten metres out from the Southport line and exploded towards the line, with the ball out in front of his body in two hands, after a quick dummy to his left, Taine Tuaupiki sliced through two Tigers defenders to score half way between the touch line and left upright.

    In total for Burleigh in the GCRL First Grade competition Taine Tuaupiki, including Finals played in four matches this season.

    In Round Two of the 2018 Hastings Deering’s Colts competition in a 28 – 20 victory over Redcliffe at Pizzey Park he was as dominant as I have seen a player at that level as he constantly split the Redcliffe defence and directed Burleigh around the field superbly.

    In that match, Taine Tuaupiki had the ball on a string and also scored a great try highlighting his speed and elusiveness. Taine Tuaupiki also scored in Round One against the Sunshine Coast Falcons.

    In addition to the tries that he has scored in the Colts competition this season Taine Tuaupiki had at least four try assists on the season that I can recall including one from a deft banana grubber kick in Round Two against the Redcliffe Dolphins and three from sublime passes right at the defensive line.

    Taine Tuaupiki’s Round One try came as a result of a great short ball to his right side to Titans fellow linked second rower Apiata Neoma-Matenga who went through the line untouched before drawing the fullback and passing back inside to Taine Tuaupiki to score under the posts untouched for an outstanding Burleigh try.

    Taine Tuaupiki’s try in Round Two against Redcliffe was as a result of a dummy where after receiving the ball two wide of the ruck on the right side Taine Tuaupiki shaped to pass wider out and then exploded through a gap to score just wide of the right hand upright.

    Over the course of the opening rounds Taine Tuaupiki forged a very successful combination on the right side of the field with fellow Titans youngster Apiata Neoma-Matenga which I am sure will lead (and has already) to a lot of line breaks and tries for both over the course of the season.

    In total in the Hastings Deering’s Colts competition this season Taine Tuaupiki played in fourteen matches for Burleigh starting all at five eight bar Round Four against Souths Logan when he started from the interchange and has scored six tries and kicked five goals.

    As noted above Taine Tuaupiki scored in the opening two rounds of the season against Sunshine Coast and Redcliffe. Taine Tuaupiki has also scored in Round Nine against Townsville, Round Thirteen against Ipswich, Round Fourteen against the Northern Pride and in Round Twenty-One against Wynnum Manly.

    Taine Tuaupiki made his Gold Coast Rugby League First Grade debut at five eight against Tweed Heads and prior to his move back to the Burleigh Colts side made three First Grade appearances and recorded a 100% strike rate. Taine Tuaupiki scored a double on debut against Tweed Heads and also scored against Southport.

    Taine Tuaupiki started the 2017 season in the Tweed Heads Seagulls MM Cup side and upon completion of the competition progressed to the Tweed Heads Seagulls U20 Colts Challenge side. From a representative perspective Taine Tuaupiki has represented South East Queensland at the U16 level in 2016 was one of the key reasons that Coombabah State High School had such a great GIO Cup run which finished in heart breaking fashion against Keebra Park.

    For the 2017 Tweed Heads Seagulls MM Cup side Taine Tuaupiki played all six matches at half back including scoring in Round Two against Victoria. Immediately upon completion of the MM Cup competition, Taine Tuaupiki was drafted into the Tweed Heads Seagulls U20 Colts Challenge side and except for Round Six which he missed, he played every match. Taine Tuaupiki started Rounds One to Five at fullback scoring tries in Round Two against Easts, Round Three against Redcliffe and Round Five against Wynnum Manly.

    Taine Tuaupiki switched to five eight in Round Seven, making an immediate impact scoring against the North’s Devils and except for Round Ten where he started from the interchange bench, Taine Tuaupiki started at five eight, scoring doubles in Round Eight against Ipswich and Round Thirteen in a comeback win against the Easts Tigers. Taine Tuaupiki also scored against the Sunshine Coast Falcons in Round Twelve. Taine Tuaupiki also started at five eight in Round Fourteen through Sixteen.

    In the 2017 finals series Taine Tuaupiki started in Tweed Heads three matches, starting Week One at five eight before starting at half back in Tweed Heads second final and their Preliminary Final loss. Isaac Worboys started at five eight in the last two Seagulls Finals matches of 2017.

    In 2016, Taine Tuaupiki played for Runaway Bay in the U17 Division One GCJRL competition where his side finished as the minor premiers, however they were beaten 18 – 12 in the Grand Final by Burleigh. Taine Tuaupiki started the 2016 Grand Final at half back.

    Over the course of the 2016 U17 Division One season, Taine Tuaupiki scored five tries and conversion and field goal to finish with a total points tally of 23 on the season with the field goal coming in a semi-final against Burleigh.

    If anything Taine Tuaupiki looks like he has put on a bit of size over the recent off season but a huge positive is that his outstanding speed off the mark has not been compromised at all nor has his elusiveness in general.

    In attack, Taine Tuaupiki’s speed off the mark is the first attribute that you will notice when you see him play, he has a dynamic initial burst off the mark. He does not seem to have an extra gear once he is through the defensive line, but has the ability to maintain his speed over a reasonable distance. Coupled with a very good step off both feet, his speed enables him to make breaks. His try in Round Two detailed above highlighted his speed off the mark.

    Taine Tuaupiki 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 Taine Tuaupiki 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.

    In Round Twenty One against Wynnum Manly Taine Tuaupiki’s step and speed resulted in scoring a good try. He received the ball about ten metres out from the Wynnum Manly line, drifted across field a touch and then stepped back inside the B defender and accelerated in outpace the cover defence.

    It was a similar instance in Round Twenty Four against Easts, Taine Tuaupiki went on a great run using his outstanding foot work to beat multiple defenders and then threw a great pass to give Sean garner a solon passage to the line.

    Holding the ball out in front of his body in both hands enables Taine Tuaupiki to put doubt into the minds of the opposing defensive line and thus me can dummy and run if there is a gap in the defensive line or put his support runners into gaps. His decisive nature also means that when the ball needs to get out to his back line he will get it out there quickly to give his outside backs as much space as possible to work with prior to contact with the opposing defensive line.

    Getting the ball out to the back line quickly is no issue for Taine Tuaupiki as he has a very good long passing technique which delivers the ball quickly and accurately to the right place at the right time from either side of his body.

    The one thing that has stood out through the U20 Colts competition this season is Taine Tuaupiki’s willingness to take the ball right to the line before passing. A couple of examples highlight this including a number of plays in Round Two against Redcliffe and again in Round Twenty One against Wynnum Manly.

    On one occasion, Taine Tuaupiki operating on the right popped a great short ball to New Zealand born centre Mikey Williams who as a result had a big 50 metre run down the field which led directly to a try to Reece Tapine on the opposite side of the field on the next play. Also against Redcliffe Taine Tuaupiki took the ball to the line and popped a short ball to Apiata Neoma-Matenga who scored after a barn storming run just right of the uprights at the ‘hill’ end of Pizzey Park.

    I have noted a couple of very good plays from Taine Tuaupiki when he has been operating on the right side of the field, but it would be patently unfair to suggest that he cannot operate on the left equally effectively.

    In Round One against the Sunshine Coast Falcons, Taine Tuaupiki in fact set up two tries down the left side of the field, on both occasions he got outside his opposite defender and presented left centre Jaxson Paulo with passes directly to his chest leading him onto the ball nicely. On the first occasion Jaxson Paulo scored untouched and the second Jaxson Paulo drew the Falcons winger for Reece Tapine to score also untouched.

    Taine Tuaupiki also has a solid kicking game both from a tactical and attacking perspective and in Round two against Redcliffe got a try assist when in broken play and facing the sideline, Taine Tuaupiki put in a right footed banana grubber kick that was perfectly weighted to the in goal for Burleigh fullback Corey Alexander to dive on the ball in the in goal area and score.

    In Round Twenty One against Wynnum Manly a deft kick by Taine Tuaupiki was perfectly weighted for halfback Harry Fitzhugh to score under the posts. Similarly in Round Twenty Four against Wynnum Manly, a perfectly weight Taine Tuaupiki set up a try under the posts for half Cameron Brown.

    In defence, Taine Tuaupiki reads the play very well and can hold his own when defending much bigger players. When confronted with forwards running directly at him in the centre of the ruck he will get in front of them and use his shoulder in an effort to contain them until defensive help arrives.

    Taine Tuaupiki does have an aggressive streak in him when defending and this holds him in good stead when defending in the centre of the ruck. His additional size and strength this season has certainly assisted Taine Tuaupiki defensively this season.

    Taine Tuaupiki will push for a sport in the Burleigh Bears Queensland Cup side in 2020.

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

    From a player comparison perspective for Taine Tuaupiki the speed, footwork, game management and passing skills of St George Dragons play maker Corey Norman are comparable. If anything Taine Tuaupiki’s running and passing skills and to a lesser extent his game management skills have already exceed those of Corey Norman.

    Taine Tuaupiki is a young player of immense potential who has had an outstanding 2019 rugby league season and appears destined for higher honours in rugby league and is on the fast track to an NRL berth almost certainly in the coming years. Let’s hope that it is a Titans jersey.

    Through the Hastings Deering’s Colts U20 Cup competition and the GCRL First Grade competition over the last few seasons Taine Tuaupiki has been an absolute stand out in his own right for Burleigh and the scary part is that Taine Tuaupiki has barely even scratched the surface of the immense potential that he possesses.

    Taine Tuaupiki is an outstanding talent for the Titans and with players like him coming through the ranks the future for the Titans shines very bright indeed.

  12. #1212
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    Joseph (Joe) Ngere. The 198cm, 117kg powerhouse front rower joins the Tweed Heads Seagulls 2020 Hastings Deering’s Colts squad after a number of seasons with the Souths Sydney Rabbitohs which saw him play in their U16 Harold Matthews, U18 SG Ball and be part of the U20 Jersey Flegg squad’s in recent seasons.

    Joseph Ngere was originally signed by Souths Sydney from the Northlands region of New Zealand when he was playing for Otaua Valley with Joseph Ngere coming to prominence after being named Player of the Day for Otaua Valley as they defeated a touring Australian U16 side being the Wooden Valley Rams (Canberra region) 28 – 18.

    That same year Joseph Ngere was named in the 2015 Adam Blair Cup school boy’s representative XIII, not a bad effort at all for a 15 year old school boy just starting out on his rugby league journey against players who in the main were two or three years older.

    In 2019 Joseph Ngere was part of the Rabbitohs U20 Jersey Flegg squad but did not play in any official matches over the course of the season in that competition.

    In 2018 Joseph Ngere started the opening four rounds for the Rabbitohs U18 SG Ball side starting each in the second row before missing the remainder of the 2018 SG Ball season.

    In 2017 Joseph Ngere played in five matches for the Rabbitohs U18 SG Ball side with his first appearance being of the bench in Round Two against the Manly Sea Eagles. Joseph Ngere moved into the second row in Round Three against the Cronulla Sharks remaining there for the remainder of his 2017 SG Ball matches including Round Five when he scored against the Western Pirates. The try against the Western Pirates was his first in Souths Sydney Rabbitohs colours.

    Joseph Ngere moved over to Sydney in 2016 lining up for the Souths Sydney U16 Harold Matthews side, making his Australian debut off the bench in Round One against the Sydney Roosters, making his first start in the front row in Round Five against the Newcastle Knights. In total Joseph Ngere made three starts in the front row with his remaining six matches off the bench.

    As noted Joseph Ngere is a big and I mean big strong front rower who is a powerful runner of the football, who knows only one way and that is straight ahead and can offload once he has impacted the defensive line or has crashed through it, in addition Joseph Ngere is quite effective when his team is attacking close to the try line.

    Joseph Ngere can either take the ball himself, and when he gets low he is very difficult to stop or he can run as a decoy and attract defenders away from the real axis of attack. For a big front rower Joseph Ngere does actually have quite decent speed, mobility and footwork, certainly well above average for a player of his size.

    Defensively Joseph Ngere hits very hard and his technique revolves around timing and execution. Joseph Ngere’s head is almost always correctly positioned and he always drives with his shoulder and never just jersey grabs at an opponent. From the matches that I have seen Joseph Ngere also tackles with both shoulders equally effectively.

    The impressive thing for me also is that Joseph Ngere never seems to bounce off the ball (or the man) 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.

    Joseph Ngere will play the 2020 season with the Tweed Heads Seagulls U20 Hastings Deering’s Colts squad and from there will look to take the next step towards signing with an NRL side if the opportunity presents.

    Even though Joseph Ngere is a big strong powerful young man, his mobility meant that in previous seasons he has spent time in the second row but moving forward Joseph Ngere will more than likely line up in the front row and be one that can bend (or break) a defensive line for any team that he plays for.

    From a player comparison perspective, Joseph Ngere has a similar playing style to fellow Northlands front rower, being North Queensland Cowboys NRL Development Squad player and former Townsville Blackhawk’s Hastings Deering’s Colts and Queensland Cup player Wiremu Greig. Both New Zealand born youngsters combine height, size, power and speed into their frames and only know one way to run and that is straight into the heart of an opposing defensive line.

    Joseph Ngere is a big strong talented player but has had a number of injuries in recent seasons, if he can have an injury free run in 2020, it will be very interesting to see just how well Joseph Ngere performs including if he can push towards a Queensland Cup debut before the 2020 season reaches its conclusion.

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    Stepharn Holo. The powerful young front rower and former Queensland U16 representative was part of the Sydney Roosters junior set-up for a number of season but will line-up for the Tweed Heads Seagulls U20 Hastings Deering’s Colts side in 2020.

    Stepharn Holo started in the front row for the Queensland U16 side in 2017 in Queensland tough 22 – 16 loss to New South Wales. Team mates that night included Titans Eli Morgan (second row),Tristina Powell (second row), Will Evans who captianed the side from right centre and scoring and left winger Lofi Khan-Pereira who scored two of Queensland’s tries.

    In 2017 Stepharn Holo represented South Coast at the U18 QSSRL Championships as a 16 year old and in 2019 was part of the Queensland U18 Emerging Origin Squad.

    Stepharn Holo is a big strong front rower who is a powerful runner of the football, who knows only one way and that is straight ahead and can offload once he has impacted the defensive line or has crashed through it, in addition Stepharn Holo is quite effective when his team is attacking close to the try line. Stepharn Holo can either take the ball himself, and when he gets low he is very difficult to stop or he can run as a decoy and attract defenders away from the real axis of attack further out.

    For a front rower Stepharn Holo does actually have quite decent speed and footwork, certainly well above average for a player of his size. Stepharn Holo does however seem to carry the ball in his right hand away from his body.

    Stepharn Holo’s movement prior to engaging the defensive line is actually quite impressive, from the moment that he receives the ball from the dummy half he is moving subtly from side to side thus not allowing defences to key in on him.

    Stepharn Holo is obviously suited to defending in the centre of the ruck rather that the fringes and will understandably have some trouble with nippy runners out of dummy half. Stepharn Holo’s calling card though is the 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.

    Stepharn Holo can defensively handle any one on one battle that presents itself. At times in games in the Queensland Cup he really does prevent opposing gaining any ground at all through the centre of the ruck.

    As previously noted Stepharn Holo will play the 2020 season with the Tweed Heads Seagulls U20 Hastings Deering’s Colts side and is also Colts Eligible in 2021.

    With his size and lower centre of gravity, Stepharn Holo is the ideal build to be an effective rugby league front rower both now and into the senior ranks of rugby league in coming seasons.

    Stepharn Holo has a playing style for me that is very similar to that of Brisbane Bronco’s front row enforcer Matthew Lodge. Both are hard uncompromising front rowers who look to physically intimidate and dominate their opposition every time that they meet an opponent in either attack or defence.

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    Tana Heron. Tana Heron was named on an extended bench the Northern Rivers Titans in Round One of the 2020 U16 Andrew Johns Cup against the Parramatta Eels at Cudgen however the match was cancelled due to the wet conditions.

    Tana Heron started Round Two of the U16 Andrew Johns Cup from the bench against the Newcastle Knights in Ballina coming into the match late in the first half and operating in the middle of the field in his two stints in the match. Round Three against the Central Coast Roosters saw Tana Heron named on an extended interchange bench however he did not make the final 17 player squad for the match.

    Round Four against the Greater Northern Tigers this Saturday sees Tana Heron back in the Northern Rives Titans match day 17 starting from the bench.

    In 2019 Tana Heron started in the second row for the Group One U15 representative side at the New South Wales Country Age Championships and also represented Group One at the U14 level in 2018 primarily coming off the interchange bench in that season.

    In 2019 Tana Heron played for the Kyogle Turkeys in the Group One U15 competition scoring twenty four points from four tries and four goals in eleven matches.

    From an attacking perspective he is a big young man who will run straight and hard, but at this stage of his junior career he does not have a great deal of footwork to utilise prior to the line to prevent defences from focussing on him without the threat of late changes of direction. Due to his size however Tana Heron can absorb a lot of punishment and continue to make ground.

    Where he does show flashes of ability is in relation to offloads, during games Tana Heron will pop some very good passes to his supports but he will continue to work on being more selective in his offloads. Regardless he does not shirk contact and seems the more physical the contest the more Tana Heron enjoys himself.

    In defence Tana Heron is not an overly big hitter but definitely makes solid initial contact and is very effective at targeting the football in order to reduce the possibility of off loads. For a front rower his lateral movement is solid meaning that he can make tackles against smaller attackers running out of dummy half or on the back of off loads.

    Post the 2020 U16 Andrew Johns Cup competition Tana Heron will line up for the Kyogle Turkeys in the Group One U16.5 competition and may even sneak a match or two in the NRRRL U18 competition as the season progresses.

    Even though Tana Heron has spent time in the second row in recent season, with his size and hard straight running I anticipate that the young man will ultimately find his niche in the front row for any team that he plays on into the future.

    With his size and running style I believe a player comparison with North Queensland Cowboys and former New South Wales State of Origin and Australian International front rower Jordan McLean is more than appropriate for Tana Heron

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    Kaya Anapa. The powerful front rower has moved down from Townsville where he attended Kirwan State High School and will part of the Keebra Park Open Rugby League side for the GIO and Langer Cup school boy competitions in 2020.

    In 2019 Kaya Anapa was a key member of Kirwan’s Queensland GIO Cup Final win over Marsden State High School and also their GIO Cup National Final 16 – 10 win over Westfield Sports High, scoring in both Final’s victories.

    The pace and power in terms of how Kaya Anapa runs the ball is the outstanding feature, he takes the ball to the line with speed, but he does not just put his head down and rush forward. He uses 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.

    Kaya Anapa’s movement prior to engaging the defensive line is actually quite impressive, from the moment that he receives the ball from the dummy half he is moving subtly from side to side thus not allowing defences to key in on him.

    When the opposition are on the back foot Kaya Anapa will target the smaller defenders on the edge of the ruck and burst through and for a big young bloke he has very good speed over the medium term and has the strength to drag defenders with him after contact has been made.

    Close to the line Kaya Anapa was very effective for Kirwan State High School and scored a number of tries from reasonably close range near the goal posts, including in the GIO Cup Queensland and National Finals where he just carried multiple opposing forwards over the line with him.

    Kaya Anapa is aggressive in defence whether he is defending in the centre of the ruck or wider on the fringes, and due to his natural strength is more than capable of defending one on one and can and will stop even the biggest opposing forwards in their tracks and targets the area around where the attackers carry the football.

    Kaya Anapa’s speed and lateral movement means that he will not be beaten by light stepping halves trying to take advantage of tiring forwards or the opposition running out of dummy half. For a big front rower Kaya Anapa has impressive mobility and speed, especially off the mark.

    In addition to playing for Keebra Park in the Langer and GIO Cup competitions amongst others in 2020, Kaya Anapa will line up for the Easts Tigers in the MM Cup competition and may even play a match or two for the Tigers in the U20 Hastings Deering’s Colts competition post the MM Cup.

    Kaya Anapa was exceptional from the bench for Kirwan State High School in 2019 coming on and playing significant minutes in the front row and he will surely continue in that position as his rugby league career progresses to the senior ranks over the next season or two.

    Whilst Kaya Anapa was used primarily off the bench for Kirwan in their successful GIO Cup campaign in 2019, it should not be considered a given that Kaya Anapa’s role going forward will be as an impact player coming off the bench, he is more than capable of playing very effectively whilst playing extended minutes thus without doubt Kaya Anapa is a quality starting option for any team.

    From an NRL player comparison perspective, a player with a similar skill set and playing style to Kaya Anapa is former Brisbane Bronco’s front rower George Fai who is currently playing rugby. Both Kaya Anapa and Fai are hard powerful ball runners who will also hit hard from a defensive perspective.


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