Riley Lack. The young Murwillumbah centre or fullback is a Titans contracted player who is having an outstanding 2018 season to date including playing for the Titans U15 Invitational side that took on a Western Mustangs selection at Nerang in March.

Riley Lack was also selected in the New South Wales Combined High Schools U15 side for the U15 ASSRL National Championships. He was named to start from the bench but started a number of matches.

Titan’s team mates in the NSW CHS side are fullback Rowan Mansfield and second rower and fellow Murwillumbah High School student Ryan Foran and was one of nine Titans contracted U15 players that participated in the U15 ASSRL Championships.

Unfortunately a further Titans contracted player in Kaleb Ngamanu was injured on the eve of the Championships and could not take his place in the Queensland Maroon side.

On Day Three in a semi-final against NSW CCC, Riley Lack started the match and kicked two from two including converting a 9th minute try from fellow Titans contracted player Ryan Foran. Unfortunately after leading 8 – 0, NSW CHS went down 10 – 8.

On the final day of the Championships being Day Five, Riley Lack started against NSW CIS kicking two conversions in a 12 – 0 victory for his NSW CHS side.

Riley Lack has also been selected in the Group 18 U15 side that will head to France later in the year to play in the Battlefield Challenge to commemorate the 100 year anniversary of the end of World War I. Fellow Titans contracted players Thomas Weaver, Ryan Foran and Josh Gilbert are also part of the touring party.

In 2017 Riley Lack represented Group 18 at the U14 level in the New South Wales Country Age Championships, playing three matches in the centres and scoring against Group One.

Riley Lack is a quick centre with a fluid running style with a classic centres build with the ability to stand up his direct opposite and then beat him with pace on the outside. In term of his play, the in and away is his bread and butter, he has very good speed off the mark and can break to the outside quickly, couple that with long arms, which he uses to great effect with a powerful fend makes him difficult to tackle. When opposing centres are able to get hold of him, he usually is able to maintain his balance and keeps an arm free, looking to offload.

Riley Lack has more tools though than just an in and away, he will also use his strength to run straight over smaller opposing centres as well as also having the skill to step back inside of the defender if he is pushing to the outside too early. What Riley Lack is also adept at doing is timing his pass to his outside supports if the outside defender looks to come in and help defend him allowing an overlap to develop.

Riley Lack will not necessarily hit hard in defence, but he is very good at mirroring the movement of the opposing centre and wrapping him up ball and all. He is also quick enough to recover and chase if the opposing centre gets on the outside and his long reach is also a positive attribute in those situations. From a team defensive methodology stand point, Riley Lack seems to be very comfortable in a sliding defensive scheme where he can use his speed and body control to their best advantage.

Riley Lack will play out the 2018 season with the Murwillumbah Colts in the Tweed Byron Group 18 U15 competition and is also a likely 2018 Group 18 U15 representative for the New South Wales Country Age Championships which are scheduled to be held in September this year.

Riley Lack can play either centre or fullback, and I am leaning more towards a permanent spot in the centres for the Northern New South Wales youngster, but only just.

For me with his ability to slip through gaps in the defensive line especially close to the line and a solid repeatable defensive technique, Riley Lack has a playing style similar to that of Titans centre Dale Copley as a solid reliable player who find is way to the try line on a regular basis.