My take on our top juniors

[mdrew]

Larry Siala. The Ipswich based giant of a young man signed a three year contract with the Titans in early 2020 and has a heck of a lot more potential to unlock from his powerful frame. Larry Siala is already 195cm and 100kg but he is also an outstanding athlete with elite level speed, strength and mobility amongst other physical attributes.

To be fair though, Larry Siala is not just an athlete he is also an outstanding rugby league player with enormous potential as well.

Such is Larry Siala’s potential, various meida outlets have compared Larry Siala’s physical attributes and playing style to that of Australian International front rower Payne Haas.

Even Payne Haas himself has said publically that Larry Siala amazed him with his size, speed, power and skill when he attended a training session that Larry Siala was also attending.

Larry Siala played the 2020 season when it started in late July in the U15 Ipswich Rugby League Competition starting Round One in the front row as his Norths Blue side defeated Norths Gold 66 – 6 before moving to start in the second row in Round Two as Norths Blue defeated the Redback Plains Bears 28 – 0.

Larry Siala moved back to start in the front row in Round Four as Norths Blue defeated the Redbank Plains Bears 38 – 4 as well as in Round Five when Norths Blue went down 30 – 26 to the Goodna Eagles to record their first loss of the season.

Larry Siala moved back to start in the front row in Round Six as Norths Blue defeated the Redback Plains Bears 22 – 20 and also in Round Seven in a big 56 – 30 win for Norths Blue against Norths Gold. Larry Siala also started in the front row in Round Eight as his Norths Blue side defeated Norths Gold 78 – 4.

Round Nine saw Larry Siala once again line up in the front row for Norths Blue as they went down 32 – 0 to the Goodna Eagles.

In November 2020 Larry Siala was named in the 2021 Ipswich Jets Cyril Connell Cup squad.

The big strong young front rower was one of a number of standouts for the Titans U14 side that defeated the Western Mustangs 32 – 8 in February 2019 at Mudgeeraba and also started in the front row for the Titans U14 side that defeated a Titans NRRRL U14/15 Invitational side 32 – 10 in early October 2019. The match was Larry Siala’s first and definitely not last in a Titans jersey.

On that extremely hot Saturday in February 2019 at Mudgeeraba Larry Siala had a simply outstanding match constantly making ground with the ball through the centre of the ruck and as a result of his late footwork prior to the line made major metres post contact and also got away a few more than impressive off-loads usually one handed right ones at that.

I can also recall a couple of huge hits that he put on a couple of Western Mustangs forwards with a couple of the hits forcing the ball loose as a result of the initial contact by Larry Siala. Larry Siala really did stand out as a young player on the rise in that match.

Larry Siala’s second match for the Titans was when he started in the front row for the Titans U14 side that played a Titans U14/15 Invitational side in late 2019 at Tweed Heads and was outstanding as his Titans U14 side defeated the Titans Invitational side 44 – 10 with Larry Siala regularly making post contact metres through the centre of the ruck.

Larry Siala was selected in the 2019 Ipswich Diggers U14 representative side for the Hill Stumer Championships playing both in the second row and front row in the Diggers three matches that were held at North Ipswich Reserve.

After the completion of the competition, Larry Siala was selected in the 2019 South East Queensland Green U14 squad for the Queensland Age Championships. At the Championships, Larry Siala was named on the interchange bench. Over the course of his four games at the Championships, Larry Siala highlighted his aggressiveness especially in defence spending time in both the front row and second row.

The St Edmunds College (Ipswich) student played in the Ipswich Junior Rugby League competition, in 2019 playing for Norths Ipswich in the U14 age group.

In the 2019 U14 Ipswich pre-season competition Larry Siala played in three matches scoring five tries (167% strike rate), including a hat trick against Goodna Black in Round Three and a Round Two hat trick against Brothers Ipswich White. Larry Siala’s five tries were enough to finish the pre-season as the competitions equal second leading try scorer.

Larry Siala started Round One of the 2019 Ipswich Rugby League U14 competition in the front row, scoring for Ipswich Norths in their 14 – 10 loss to Goodna Black. Larry Siala backed that up by also scoring in Round Two against the Springfield Panthers as Norths won 44 – 0.

Larry Siala made it three tries from as many matches when he scored again in Round Three as Norths defeated Brothers Ipswich 24 – 8. Larry Siala also scored in Round Six against Goodna and Round Eight against Ipswich Brothers.

In total in the 2019 Ipswich Rugby League U14 regular season competition, Larry Siala played in twelve matches scoring eight tries for a 67% strike rate starting all twelve of his matches for Norths in the front row.

In Week One of the Ipswich Rugby League 2019 U14 Finals Series Larry Siala started in the front row for Norths against Goodna with Norths going down 20 -10. Larry Siala also started in the front row in Week Two of the Finals against Brothers Ipswich being their Preliminary Final victory.

In the 2019 U14 Ipswich Rugby League Grand Final Larry Siala started in the front row against Goodna Black with Ipswich Norths going down 14 - 12.

Larry Siala made his Ipswich Rugby League U15 debut in Round Nine of 2019 against Swifts Bluebirds celebrating the occasion by scoring in Norths big 58 – 8 win.

Larry Siala also played school boy rugby and rugby league in 2019 for St Edmunds College in the AIC competitions playing lock in rugby league and was simply a class above the other players in the U14 school boy rugby league competition AIC competition that was played in Term Three of the 2019 school year. In particular Larry Siala was outstanding in Round Four producing a Player of the Match performance in a win against Marist College Ashgrove. Larry Siala was also outstanding against Iona College.

The 2019 AIC school boy rugby league was the first that was played for quite a significant period of time. The primary winter sport at AIC schools was rugby until 2019 when rugby league was re-introduced to AIC schools.

Larry Siala’s St Edmunds College Year Nine side finished the 2019 AIC rugby league competition with five wins from their six matches (one bye) to finish second on the table. St Edmunds College defeated Villanova 38 – 0 in Round One, defeated St Laurences College 44 – 4 in Round Two, won 38 – 0 in Round Three against St Patricks College Chorncliffe and Marist College Ashgrove 20 – 14 in Round Four.

Larry Siala and his St Edmunds College side suffered their only loss of the season in Round Six when they were defeated by eventual champions Iona College 22 -8 before finshing their season with a 38 – 4 win in Round Seven against Padua College.

Larry Siala started in the front row in the 2018 U13 Ipswich Grand Final and scored a try as Norths prevailed 26 – 22 in a close contest against Goodna Black.

In total in the 2018 U13 season, Larry Siala played in fourteen matches scoring twenty one tries for a strike rate of an impressive 150%.

In 2017 Larry Siala represented Met West in the QSSRL U12 Championships being his first taste of representative rugby league.

Larry Siala is a tallish front rower with plus speed for his position, in fact his speed would be above average for a forward regardless of position. Larry Siala uses this speed to impact the defensive at top speed. Larry Siala does not necessarily get back deep, but his plus speed off the mark as well as plus top speed enables him to still fit the line hard.

Larry Siala runs very front on at present but will lower his body into the defenders as the commit to the tackle, and through a combination of size, speed and determination regularly bumps the first defender off when they try to tackle Larry Siala around the chest area.

Once he impacts the defensive line Larry Siala also is adept at redirecting his momentum to address the next defender who is coming in the defend him.

In defence Larry Siala is regularly is the first player up to target the ball carriers, even though he is one of the bigger forwards in his team and will make solid initial contact as well as having the ability of defending one on one and win the wrestling battle to slow down the play the ball.

Larry Siala is not averse to looking for the big hit but does have a good front on defensive technique and decent agility and lateral movement when looking to tackle smaller opponents, his technique is also quite decent for a taller player and he gets low in defence to look to mitigate the possibility of his tackles slipping up around the hard and neck area of shorter opponents.

Larry Siala played the 2020 season for Ipswich Norths Blue in the Ipswich U15 competition. In relation to school sport, Larry Siala played school boy rugby league for St Edmunds College in the AIC U15A competition and also play rugby league for St Edmunds College in Term Three of 2020 in the AIC school boy rug.

In 2021 larry Siala will move up to the Ipswich Rugby League U17 competition as well as continuing to play rugby and rugby league for St Edmunds College. Larry Siala will also be involved in the 2021 Ipswich Jets U16 Cyril Connell Cup squad.

Larry Siala is a big strong powerful young man who at 15 years old is already 190cm and 100kg with outstanding attributes such as size, strength, speed, mobility and power and as such seems destined to stay in the front row for the duration of what should be a long and prosperous rugby league career.

Joe Ofahenguae of the Brisbane Broncos and Queensland State of Origin side is a solid NRL player comparison for Larry Siala in my opinion, at this stage of his career, both are hard running forwards and both are more athletic and skilful than they are given credit for by casual watchers of rugby league.

For me however Larry Siala has more potential to unlock than the a fore mentioned Bronco’s NRL player used for comparison purposes and it may be a touch unfair but Larry Siala shows flashes of play that are not dissimilar to those displayed by Brisbane Bronco, New South Wales State of Origin and Australian International front rower Payne Haas who as previously noted he has already been compared to in the National media.

Larry Siala understandably has a long way to go to get to the NRL (as does every player in the U15 age group for that matter) but wow he really made me sit up and take notice with his performances for the Titans U14 sides in 2019, Larry Siala was simply dominant in both matches and even in the hot conditions in those matches played a significant portion of the matches without being interchanged.

Larry Siala really is an outstanding talent and the more games that he gets under his belt the more comfortable and confident he will become with that added experience. 2019’s representative exposure with the Ipswich Diggers and South East Queensland Green U14 sides in their respective Championships as well as his matches for the Titans will hold him in good stead for his future endeavours on a rugby league field, starting as early as 2021.

[mdrew]

Ryan Foran. The outstanding left second rower is part of a cohort of young northern New South Wales juniors coming through the ranks together who are rapidly making a name for themselves in the Titans outstanding JTS program run by Jamie McCormack.

In November 2020 Ryan Foran was named in the Tweed Heads Seagulls 2021 MM Cup squad.

After returning from a long term injury Ryan Foran was named on the Northern Rivers Titans extended bench for Round Three of the U18 Laurie Daley Cup competition against the Central Coast Roosters. Ryan Foran however ended up starting the match at left second row scoring a double with both tries coming off passes from fellow Titan Thomas Weaver.

Ryan Foran and Thomas Weaver have developed a great understanding on the left over the last couple of seasons and that combination was on display multiple times once again in the 2020 U18 Laurie Daley Cup competition for the Northern Rivers Titans as it was for the 2019 Northern Rivers Titans U16 Andrew Johns Cup Grand Final winning side.

Ryan Foran’s first try in Round Three resulted when he ran an outside shoulder route close to the Central Coast Roosters line to crash over. Ryan Foran scored his second try in the second half when he backed up a Thomas Weaver break to take the pass when Thomas Weaver drew the fullback to run twenty metres to score near the left corner.

Ryan Foran also started at left second row in Round Four against the Greater Northern Tigers and in the Round Five local derby against North Coast scoring the Titans first try when he followed through a Thomas Weaver stab kick to pouch on the ball when the North Coast defence could not handle the bouncing ball.

Also in 2020 Ryan Foran was part of the PBC Langer Cup Open A school boy rugby league squad however due to injury Ryan Foran was not able to take the field for PBC when the competition commenced.

After missing the opening rounds of the competition Ryan Foran was named to start from the bench for the Round Three local derby against Keebra Park and started at left second row in rounds four and five against Keebra Park and Marsden State High Schools respectively.

Ryan Foran started the 2020 Langer Cup Grand Final from the interchange bench for PBC as they defeated Keebra Park 16 – 8 in a high quality match, playing on the left side of the field when he came on.

In the Queensland School Boys Final against Kirwan State High School Ryan Foran was named to start on the bench as PBC travelled to take on their North Queensland based opponents but came in the starting side at left centre late on the day of the match in PBC’s tough 24 – 20 loss.

Ryan Foran played the 2020 club season with Murwillumbah, making his NRRRL First Grade debut in Round Eight when he came off the bench in Round Eight against the Bilambil Jets. Ryan Foran also came off the bench in the 2020 NRRRL First Grade Major Semi-final against the Tweed Coast Raiders, spending time on both sides of the field.

Ryan Foran started from the bench and made some telling second half surges through the centre of the ruck as Murwillumbah prevailed 20 – 18 to earn a spot in the Grand Final. Ryan Foran also came off the bench in the Grand Final against the Tweed Coast Raiders. In the Mustangs 24 – 18 loss, Ryan Foran played in the left second rwo position when he came on, and could have scored a late try when he ran into space from around twenty metres out, instead of just running straight to the line, Ryan Foran guaranteed the Mustangs scored when he passed to left to his left centre.

Ryan Foran was also a key member of the Murwillumbah U18 NRRRL side in 2020 leading them to the Grand Final. Ryan Foran started at right second row and was promanent throughout as the Mustangs went down 28 – 16 to the Cudgen Hornets in a bad tempered Grand Final.

The young Murwillumbah Colts and Titans contracted second rower donned a Titans jersey early in 2019 when he started for the Titans U16 side in their match against the Newcastle Knights Harold Matthews squad in Coffs Harbour in January.

Ryan Foran started the match at left second row and played on the left side of the field for the entire match and in fact was named as the Titans best in incredibly hot conditions.

Ryan Foran was also part of the Titans U15 side that defeated the Western Mustangs six tries to three in March 2018 at Nerang. Just like in this seasons match against the Knights, Ryan Foran started in the second row playing on the left side of the ruck in the first half but then switched to the right side when he came back on in the second highlighting his versatility.

Ryan Foran also started at left second row for the Titans U15’s late in 2018 year when they defeated a Balmain Tigers U15 touring side 16 – 10 at Cudgen.

Along with fellow Murwillumbah High School student Riley Lack, Ryan Foran signed a Titans contract in 2018.

In Round One of the 2019 U18 Andrew Johns Cup competition Ryan Foran started in his usual left second row position for the Northern Rivers Titans in their match against the Newcastle Knights Development Squad and scored a great first half try when he ran a great outside shoulder route and received a good short ball from Thomas Weaver to run thirty metres to score basically untouched.

Round Two of the 2019 Andrew Johns Cup competition saw Ryan Foran once again line up in the left second row position in their match against Parramatta and scored a similar try to what he scored in Round One, once again running a good outside shoulder route and receiving a good pass from half Thomas Weaver.

Round Three against the North Coast Bulldogs saw Ryan Foran start at left second row for the third match in a row but in the first minute took a knock and it looked like his match was over early. Thankfully Ryan Foran was able to come back onto the field later in the first half and scored a typical try of his when he combined on the left with half Thomas Weaver to score. In all three rounds so far to two have combined for tries in very similar fashion.

Ryan Foran also scored in the second half when he charged forty metres down the left touch line to score after receiving a great offload from lock Bailey Cox. Ryan Foran could have scored four in the match, after just failing to handle a difficult pass with the line open and late in the second half was denied a try when he was held up over the North Coast line.

As usual in Round Four against the Central Coast Roosters Ryan Foran started at left second row and scored a first half double. Both tries were similar in nature, with Ryan Foran running an outside shoulder route and being provided with a pass from half Thomas Weaver.

For his first try Ryan Foran crashed over from around five metres out and the second was scored from a Titans scrum win around twenty metres out from the Central Coast line when Ryan Foran split the defensive line and won the race to the try line.

For the fifth round in a row Ryan Foran started at left second row in Round Five against the Greater Northern Tigers and scored once again when he ran off a pass from the dummy half Jordan Gallagher to crash over in the left corner from around four metres out.

Ryan Foran almost had a second, when from a Titans fed scrum ten metres out from his own line, Ryan Foran took the ball first off the scrum, bursting through the defence on an eighty seven metre run only to be dragged down two metres out. The Northern Rivers Titans scored two plays later through front rower Noah Johannssen.

Once again Ryan Foran was outstanding at left second row for the Titans in their 26 – 14 semi-final victory over Penrith especially defensive on the left side of the ruck. In attack Ryan Foran scored yet again and the try again was as a result of his great understanding of the field with Thomas Weaver. The Titans half took the ball to the line and pop a good shot ball to Ryan Foran who ran a good outside shoulder route to crash over from short range.

In the 2019 U16 Andrew Johns Cup Grand Final against the Western Rams Ryan Foran started in the left second row position in the Northern Rivers Titans 18 – 6 victory.

Post the victory Ryan Foran was named on the second row for the New South Wales Country U16 side for their November 2019 three match tour of the United Kingdom and was also named in the New South Wales U16 36 man train on squad and was one of only four New South Wales Country players in the squad, two others being fellow Titans Thomas Weaver and Riley Lack.

The New South Wales Country U16 side played a New South Wales U16 Harold Matthews squad as a curtain raiser to the Penrith/Warriors NRL match on a Friday night at Penrith Park in May. Ryan Foran started the match at left second row.

Impressively less than 48 hours later Ryan Foran lined up for Murwillumbah in their 25 – 24 NRRRL U18 Round Seven win over Byron Bay.

After that match, Ryan Foran was selected in the New South Wales U16 side that defeated a U16 Pasifika team 36 – 6 at Belmore Sports Ground on Sunday 9 June with Ryan Foran starting the match from the bench and came very close to scoring in the second half when he ran onto a pass from Thomas Weaver only to be dragged down just short of the line.

The week after being part of the 2019 U16 Northern Rivers Titans side that won the Andrew Johns Cup Ryan Foran made his U18 NRRRL debut when he came on for Murwillumbah in their 36 – 0 loss to Cudgen in Round Three of the 2019 NRRRL competition.

Ryan Foran scored his first tries in the U18 NRRRL competition in Round Eight against the Tweed Heads Seagulls, scoring a double as Murwillumbah won 28 – 14.

In total in the U18 NRRRL regular season Ryan Foran played in ten matches scoring three tries. In addition to his Round Eight double Ryan Foran also scored in Round Twelve against Lower Clarence.

Ryan Foran’s 2019 NRRRL U18 season ended when his Murwillumbah side were defeated 26 – 10 by Byron Bay in the U18 Elimination Final.

In 2019 Ryan Foran was named joint Player of the Year for the Group 18 U16 Junior Rugby League competition with fellow Titan Thomas Weaver. Considering how the two of them combined on the field it was fitting that they shared the award.

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

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

To cap off an impressive junior representative year in2018, Ryan Foran was selected in the New South Wales Combined High Schools (CHS) U15 side for the U15 ASSRL Championships and lined up against a number of Titans boys in the two Queensland sides being Queensland Maroon and Queensland White and the New South Wales Combined Catholic Colleges side which contained Titans contracted half back Thomas Weaver amongst other Titans linked players. Titans contracted fullback or centre Rowan Mansfield was a team mate in the NSW CHS U15 side as is fellow Murwillumbah High School student Riley Lack.

Ryan Foran was one of ten Titans contracted U15 players that were involved in the 2018 U15 ASSRL Championships.

At the 2018 Championships Ryan Foran played in four matches being against Queensland Maroon, New South Wales Combined Catholic Colleges twice and New South Wales Combined Independent Colleges, scoring against NSW CCC in his third match of the Championships.

In 2017 Ryan Foran started in the second row for the Group 18 U14 side that competed in the New South Wales Country Rugby League U14 Championships playing three matches against Maitland, Group One and Newcastle in the Northern Plate Final.

Fellow Titans linked youngsters in the 2017 Group 18 U14 side was outstanding Titans contracted half back Thomas Weaver who was also a team mate of Ryan Foran when he played for the Titans U15 Invitational side against the Western Mustangs in early 2018.

For his age group Ryan Foran is a tall athlete and this can be seen when be he is running with the ball. In his hit ups Ryan Foran carries the ball with pace and is very good at running on the fringes of the ruck.

Ryan Foran uses foot work prior to the line to look to break through as well as cutting either cutting back in behind the play the ball or cutting out towards the smaller defenders on the fringes of the ruck.

One trait that stands out every time that you see him play is that Ryan Foran runs with speed into the defensive line and his foot work prior to the line enables him to get partly through the line on a number of occasions. Ryan Foran does not try to run over defenders, but he runs at the gaps between defenders and uses his running speed to break through if defenders only use their arms in the tackle.

In relation to the defensive aspects of his game Ryan Foran is an exceptional cover defender. With his above average to plus speed for his position he is able to track the ball across the field and be in a position to make the cover defending tackle if breaks are made.

From a front on tackling perspective Ryan Foran has a solid repeatable technique which he can use against attackers of any size. The keys to his technique are his timing and anticipation as well as correct head placement. So many defenders in either rugby or rugby league have no idea about head placement but Ryan Foran is not one of them.

Another impressive aspect from a defensive stand point for Ryan Foran is the fact that he came make multiple tackles one after another and then still be in position to track the ball across the field, he has exceptional stamina from an aerobic capacity stand point including the ability to consistently sprint short distances time and again in a short time span whilst maintaining his positioning on the field.

Ryan Foran moved to PBC in 2020 and was set to be a key piece in their Langer Cup and GIO Cup school boy rugby league campaign in 2021 as well and in 2021 Ryan Foran is part of the 2021 Tweed Heads Seagulls MM Cup squad.

Post the 2021 MM Cup competition Ryan Foran will line up once again for Murwillumbah in the NRRRL competition and whilst he will still be U18 eligible it is likely that Ryan Foran will add to his 2020 NRRRL First Grade matches and in fact it would not surprise if Ryan Foran plays the entire season in the NRRRL First Grade competition.

Ryan Foran has a bit of height about him and the frame to add muscle mass over the coming seasons without compromising his speed or lateral mobility, to that end it is likely that he will stay in the second row for the coming seasons and one that is comfortable operating on either side of the ruck .

Ryan Foran has a similar playing style to that of Sydney Roosters and New South Wales State of Origin second rower Angus Creighton who like Ryan Foran normally plays on the left side of the field and who can defend either in the centre of the ruck or a little wider out as a foil for his half and five eight.

Ryan Foran is an outstanding prospect who appears set to have a long and productive NRL career ahead of him.

[mdrew]

Oskar Bryant. The young red headed hooker signed a multi-year contract with the Titans after an outstanding 2019 season with the Andrew Johns Cup premiership winning U16 Northern Rivers Titans side and his subsequent selection in the New South Wales Country U16 side which successfully undertook a three match tour of the United Kingdom in October 2019.

In November 2020 Oskar Bryant was named in the powerful Tweed Heads Seagulls 2021 MM Cup squad.

Oskar Bryant was named to start at hooker for the Northern Rivers Titans in Round One of the 2020 U18 Laurie Daley Cup against the Parramatta Eels at Cudgen however the match was cancelled due to the incredibly wet conditions in the area at that time.

Oskar Bryant started Round Two of the U18 Laurie Daley Cup at hooker against the Newcastle Knights in Ballina and was impressive including a great break through the centre of the ruck in the first half of around forty metres before he drew the Knights fullback to send fullback Jaylan DeGroot away to score.

Oskar Bryant also started at hooker in Round Three against the Central Coast Roosters and in Round Four against the Greater Northern Tigers recording a try assist when he threw the last pass to Noah Johannssen to score in the first half.

Oskar Bryant also started at hooker for the Round Five local derby against the North Coast Bulldogs and was his usual busy self in the centre of the ruck in both attack and defence.

One of the most recent matches that Oskar Bryant played in a Titans jersey was when he started from the bench for the Titans U18 side in their annual match against the Newcastle Knights SG Ball (U18) side in Coffs Harbour in January 2020.

Oskar Bryant started Round One of the 2020 NRRRL U18 competition at hooker as Cudgen travelled to Byron Bay to take on the Devils and also started at hooker in Round Three against the Bilambil Jets and in Round Five against the Bilambil Jets. After missing a number of rounds, Oskar Bryant started Round Eight against the Tweed Coast Raiders at hooker.

In Cudgen’s 2020 NRRRL U18 Major semi-final loss against Murwllumbah Oskar Bryant started at hooker and also started at hooker as Cudgen qualified for the 2020 NRRRL U18 Grand Final on the back of a 24 – 16 Preliminary Final victory over the Bilambil Jets.

Oskar Bryant recorded a first half try assist in the match when he darted out of dummy half to his right from fifty metres out, splitting the Jets defence right down the middle before drawing the fullback passing to his left to send his support runner away to score.

Oskar Bryant also started at hooker in the 2020 NRRRL U18 Grand Final and produced some telling dummy half runs through the centre of the ruck as Cudgen became Premiers on the back of a 28 – 16 win over Murwillumbah in a bad tempered match.

Oskar Bryant made his deserved NRRRL First Grade debut for the Cudgen Hornets in Round Six starting at half back against the Tweed Coast Raiders.

In a sign of the faith that Cudgen have in him, Oskar Bryant started from the bench in the Hornets 2020 NRRRL First Grade Elimination Final loss to the Bilambil Jets.

Also in 2020 Oskar Bryant was part of the PBC Langer Cup Open A school boy rugby league squad, where he operated primarily in the dummy half role. In PBC’s first trial after the Covid 19 pandemic, Oskar Bryant started at hooker for the PBC A side that played against the PBC B side.

Oskar Bryant started Round One of the Langer Cup on the bench as PBC took on Ipswich State High School and made an instant impact when he came on late in the first half, making a break through the centre of the ruck after running out of dummy half to the right of the play the ball. PBC scored two plays later with the Keebra Park defence still in disarray after Oskar Bryant’s line break.

Oskar Bryant was at it again early in the second half when he kicked down the centre of the field from dummy half, with the kick travelling sixty metres forcing the Ipswich fullback to bring the ball out of the in goal, with Oskar Bryant being one of the tacklers who brought him down less than a metre out. From the subsequent play the ball three PBC defenders, including Oskar Bryant forced the Keebra Park defender back into the in goal to force a goal line drop out.

Oskar Bryant in fact crossed the line in the second half when close to the line he dummied to his right before diving over but the potential try was called back when Reef Sommerville was adjudged (I am not sure why) to have interfered with the marker.

Oskar Bryant also started from the bench in Round Two of the 2020 Langer Cup and made a big difference when he came on, scoring in both halves in the 18 all draw. Oskar Bryant’s first try came in the dying moments of the first half. Oskar Bryant took off out of dummy half to his left charging five metres to score between two Wavell defenders fifteen metres to the left of the up rights.

Oskar Bryant completed his double mid-way through the second half. Two metres out from the line just to the left of the up rights, Oskar Bryant got into dummy half and after skipping out to his left, Oskar Bryant shaped to pass to his left (it was not a dummy per say) before diving over.

After missing Round Three Oskar Bryant started from the bench in the Round Four local derby against Keebra Park and also started from the bench in Round Five against Marsden State High School and recorded a second half try assist when he produced some good footwork and pass out of dummy half to put his older brother Parker over under the posts.

Oskar Bryant also started on the bench for PBC as they qualified for the 2020 Langer Cup final on the back of an impressive 34 – 6 victory over Ipswich State High School.

Oskar Bryant started the 2020 Langer Cup Grand Final from the bench row for PBC as they defeated Keebra Park 16 – 8 in a high quality match impressing with his high energy performance and also his short kicking game out of dummy half which resulted twice in Keebra Park having to restart play from a drop out.

In the Courier Mail 2020 Langer Cup Team of the Year, Oskar Bryant was named in starting side at hooker and in the Courier Mail 2020 Top 30 South East Queensland school boy rugby/rugby league list Oskar Bryant was named at No. 12.

In the Queensland School Boys Final against Kirwan State High School Oskar Bryant started on the bench as PBC travelled to take on their North Queensland based opponents and as usual added urgency and enthusiasm to the PBC when he came in into the dummy half role.

Oskar Bryant was also one of PBC’s try scorers in their 24 – 20 loss. Late in the second half, Oskar Bryant went into dummy half a metres out from the line. When the ball was played, Oskar Bryant took a couple of steps out of dummy half to the right of the play the ball and threw an extravagant dummy to his right only dive over next to the left upright. When I say next to the left upright, I literally mean right next to the left upright and it looked left he hit the upright as he was forcing his way over with two defenders trying to prevent him from scoring.

Oskar Bryant’s first match for the Titans was when he started on the interchange bench for the Titans U16 squad in their early October match against PNG at Pizzey Park with the Titans running out big winners in the match.

In the 2019 U16 Andrew Johns Cup competition, Oskar Bryant started at hooker in all of the Northern Rivers Titans matches also scoring four tries including a double against the Greater Northern Tigers in Round Five and tries against and Newcastle in Round One and Central Coast in Round Four.

Post that competition, Oskar Bryant was selected at hooker in the 2019 New South Wales Country U16 side and started at hooker for them as they took on the U16 New South Wales Harold Matthew Cup representative side in a curtain raiser to the Penrith/Warriors NRL match at Penrith Park.

Oskar Bryant was Country’s sole try scorer in the match when he dived over from close range in the second half to the Country within two points. Oskar Bryant also received the Players Player Award post-match.

After that match, Oskar Bryant was selected in the New South Wales U16 side that defeated a U16 Pasifika team 36 – 6 at Belmore Sports Ground on Sunday 9 June with Oskar Bryant starting the match on the bench.

Oskar Bryant was part of the New South Wales Country U16 side that embarked on a three match tour of the United Kingdom flying out in mid-November from Sydney. In Game One of the tour Oskar Bryant started at hooker and had a try assist as NSW Country defeated the Community Lions 62 – 0.

In the first half Oskar Bryant took off from dummy half splitting the defence directly down the middle from around seventy metres out from the line and drew the fullback before sending a pass away to his left to send the NSW fullback away to score under the posts. Oskar Bryant also started Game Two at hooker as the NSW Country side defeated the Leeds Rhino’s 32 – 10.

Oskar Bryant also started at hooker in Game Three of the New South Wales Country U16’s tour of the UK as they finished undefeated on the back of a 62 – 6 victory over a British Community Lions squad consisting of players from the Lancashire and Cumbria region of England.

Post the 2019 Andrew Johns Cup competition, Oskar Bryant moved directly to the NRRRL U18 side even though he was still U16 eligible, starting from the bench in Round Three and scoring a double against Murwillumbah to cap an outstanding debut. Oskar Bryant also scored in Round Five against Ballina when once again he started from the bench.

Oskar Bryant made his first NRRRL U18 start in Round Fourteen against Byron Bay starting the match against the Devils at hooker and scoring as well and added a further try in Round Sixteen against Murwillumbah.

Oskar Bryant kicked his first NRRRL U18 goals in Round Eleven when he kicked three goals for as many attempts for Cudgen as they drew 18 all with Casino RSM.

In total in the 2019 NRRRL U18 regular season competition this season Oskar Bryant played in eight matches, scoring twenty two points from four tries and three goals.

Oskar Bryant was also part of the dominant Cudgen 2019 U16 Group 18 side that won their Grand Final 44 – 6 against Byron Bay/Lennox Head.

Prior to 2019 Oskar Bryant represented Group 18 twice, at the U15 level in 2018 and in the U14’s in 2017.

Oskar Bryant was also part of the St Joseph’s College Benora Point school boy rugby league side in 2019 and picked up a couple of Player of the Match awards in their matches including in the Grand Final of the New South Wales All Schools U16 competition.

The team travelled to Sydney for the 75th year of the competition. After not winning a game in 2018 the Banora Point U16 side defeated Bega 32 - 6 and then Red Bend Forbes who won it last year 18 - 0 in their opening two matches.

A forfeit from the Manly district, Banora Point Mulwaree 18 - 0 in the semi-fianl.The Grand Final against Wadalba from the Central Coast was a tough contest and after trailing 4 -nil early Banora Point scored two tries for a 10 - 4 victory with, as previously noted, Oskar Bryant being named Palyer of the Final.

In 2018 from St Joseph’s College Banora Point Oskar Bryant was chosen from the Lismore Diocese to represent the U15 Northern Country Catholic Colleges Presidents squad.

Oskar Bryant is an extremely talented all round hooker, who excels at all three critical aspects of the modern day hooker, those being his distribution out of dummy half, selective running out of dummy half and defending in the centre of the ruck.

In terms of his distribution out of dummy half, Oskar Bryant is efficient in his passing and there is little wasted movement as he passes in one motion off the ground rather than two distinct movements like many hookers where they first stand then pass.

In the games that I have seen there is no discernible difference between his passing from either side of his body, and his passes are crisp and flat and also Oskar Bryant can pass a reasonable distance off the ground when the first receiver is standing a little wider of the play the ball.

Where Oskar Bryant is also extremely effective is leading his forwards onto the ball, he passes in front of the forward ensuring no loss of momentum to the run. In short Oskar Bryant is a very good game manager from the hooking position.

Where Oskar Bryant really stands out in terms of attacking play, is his speed out of dummy half, he is extremely quick and has exceptional footwork to take advantage of tiring forwards, using a step off both feet.

Oskar Bryant wins a lot of penalties by running at forwards who are offside, if the offside forward is called out of the play he has the speed to break into open space and has the pace to make it difficult for the cover defence to get to him.

Around the try line Oskar Bryant is also very good at making the right decision whether the go himself for the try line or pass, where he gets down low and drives with his legs. Due to the pace that Oskar Bryant plays the game at and his speed he is always available in terms of backing up in the centre of the ruck, when forwards get their arms free.

Oskar Bryant’s defence for a hooker is exceptional, for a smaller forward Oskar Bryant 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.

Oskar Bryant’s intensity means that he will track the play across and thus is in a good position when the ball is passed back inside. Oskar Bryant literally tackles everything that moves in the centre of the ruck.

Oskar Bryant moved to PBC in 2020 and will be a key piece in their GIO Cup and Langer Cup school boy rugby league campaigns in 2021 and in Oskar Bryant is a member of the 2021 Tweed Heads Seagulls MM Cup squad.

Post the 2021 MM Cup competition, Oskar Bryant will line up once again for the Cudgen Hornets in the NRRRL competition and will surely add to his tally of 2020 NRRRL First Grade matches even though he will still be U18 eligible.

Oskar Bryant is an outstanding dummy half both in terms of his distribution and his running and there is no doubt that he will stay there for the long term.

Oskar Bryant is by no means a big rugby league player but is a tough, hard all effort type of dummy half and on that basis a player comparison to Cronulla Sharks hooker Blayke Brailey is a more than fair and appropriate one from my perspective.

[mdrew]

Bailey Martin. (Revised) He is a local young backrower from the Burleigh Bears junior rugby league club on the Gold Coast who is a Titans contracted player originally signing as a 15 year old in 2018. Prior to that Bailey Martin had been part of both the Titans and Brisbane Broncos junior development squads. Bailey Martin is currently contracted to the Titans until the end of the 2021 season.

Bailey Martin has already played in a number of matches in Titans colours, the first being when he started at lock for the Titans U15 side in their late 2018 match against the Balmain Tigers at Cudgen. Bailey Martin was awarded the Titans best forward award that night.

In early 2019, Bailey Martin played his second match in Titans colours starting once again at lock for the Titans U16’s against Newcastle. Bailey Martin was the Titans vice-captain for the match.

In addition to once again confirming that he is an outstanding worker in both attack and defence, Bailey Martin also highlighted his developing ball playing skills. In the second half when the Titans were coming out of their own half, Bailey Martin took the ball for a hit-up but instead of just running into the Newcastle defensive line, he popped a great short ball to his right to Joseph Shannon who charged down the field on a fifty metre run.

In the lead up to the play you could see Bailey Martin pointing to the gap that he wanted Joseph Shannon to run into and then threw the great ball exactly as he had indicated.

Bailey Martin also displayed his toughness during the match. Bailey Martin got hit with a high tackle in the second half, but shook it off to take the first hit-up from the penalty restart.

Speaking of restarts Bailey Martin had an incredible start to the second half, taking two hit-ups in the Titans first set of six and then made two or three tackles in a row the first time Newcastle had the ball.

In short Bailey Martin had an outstanding match and must have been at or near the top in terms of the most tackles and hit-ups for the Titans in the match.

In November 2020 Bailey Martin was named in the Tweed Heads Seagulls 2021 MM Cup squad.

Unfortunately Bailey Martin suffered a shoulder injury playing in the 2019 City verses Country U16 match but was named in the 2020 South Coast Oceania U18 trial side as a result of a medical dispensation due the the shoulder injury he suffered in 2019.

Bailey Martin started training with the Cudgen Hornets U18 NRRRL side in June 2020 and team mates in the side included fellow Titans Thomas Weaver, Oskar Bryant, Jack Cullen and Reef Sommerville amongst others.

Bailey Martin unfortunately missed Round One of the 2020 NRRRL U18 competition due to injury but made his first NRRRL U18 appearance when he started from the bench in Round Three against the Bilambil Jets. Bailey Martin moved into the starting side in the front row in Round Four against Murwillumbah and in Round Five against the Bilambil Jets.

After missing a number of rounds, Bailey Martin started Round Eight against the Tweed Coast Raiders in the front row.

In Cudgen’s 2020 NRRRL U18 Major semi-final loss against Murwllumbah Bailey Martin started in the front row. Bailey moved to the bench as was at his hard working best as Cudgen qualified for the 2020 NRRRL U18 Grand Final on the back of a 24 – 16 Preliminary Final victory over the Bilambil Jets.

Bailey Martin also came off the bench in the GRadn Final as Cudgen became the 2020 NRRRL U18 Green Premiers on the back of a 28 – 16 win over Murwillumbah with Bailey Martin tackling everything that moved in the decider.

Also in 2020 Bailey Martin was part of the PBC Langer Cup Open A school boy rugby league squad, where he operated primarily at lock. In PBC’s first trial after the Covid 19 pandemic, Bailey Martin started at lock for the PBC A side that played against the PBC B side. Unfortunately due to injury Bailey Martin missed PBC’s Langer Cup Round One match against Ipswich State High School.

Bailey Martin came back into the PBC Open Langer Cup side, coming off the bench in Round Two against Wavell State High School and operating as a running forward when he came on in the first half. Bailey Martin was unlucky not to score late in the second half after making a break but a desperate tackle by the Wavell fullback meant he could not ground the ball when he was over the line.

Bailey Martin also started from the bench in Round Three of the Langer Cup against St Mary’s Toowoomba coming onto the field mid-way through the first half playing at lock for PBC as they maintained their unbeaten start to the 2020 Langer Cup competition on the back of a hard fought 16 – 6 victory.

Bailey Martin moved in the PBC starting line at lock for the Round Four Langer Cup local derby against Keebra Park State High School but moved back to the bench for Round Five against Marsden State High School.

Bailey Martin also started on the bench for PBC as they qualified for the 2020 Langer Cup Grand final against Keebra Park on the back of an impressive 34 – 6 victory over Ipswich State High School. Bailey Martin was impressive in the match after coming on towards the end of the first half, especially defensively.

Bailey Martin however also produced an outstanding hit-up early in the second half breaking multiple tackles when he took the ball up just inside the Ipswich end on the left side of the field. As usual Bailey Martin smartly cut back behind the play the ball when he took possession of the ball catching defenders not moving up and made them pay with a twenty metre run.

Bailey Martin started the 2020 Langer Cup Grand Final from the bench for PBC as they defeated Keebra Park 16 – 8 in a high quality match, playing at lock when he came on and literally tackled everything that moved in his stint on the field.

In the Queensland School Boys Final against Kirwan State High School Bailey Martin started on the bench as PBC travelled to take on their North Queensland based opponents and as usual tackled everything that moved when he came on to play in the middle of the field as PBC went down 24 – 20 in tough circumstances.

Early in the 2019 season Bailey Martin represented the Gold Coast Vikings Yellow U16’s scoring on Match Day Four against Brisbane Green in a big 44 – 4 victory for the Gold Coast side. Post that competition Bailey Martin was named in the South East Queensland U16 train on squad.

Subsequently Bailey Martin was named in the 2019 South East Queensland Green U16 side for the Queensland Age Championships starting for them at lock. Post those Championships Bailey Martin was selected at lock in the Queensland City U16 Origin side to play Queensland Country U16 Origin side.

Unfortunately Bailey Martin only lasted twenty five minutes before a shoulder injury forced him off the field, but he made the most of his time on the field including a great second effort with the ball which almost led to him scoring under the posts in the opening minutes.

In his twenty five minutes on the field however in the U16 interstate match, Bailey Martin ran for thirty two minutes (six post contact), had a line break assist, broke a tackle and made fifteen very solid tackles at a tackling efficiency of 88.24%.

Bailey Martin was named to start Round One of the 2109 GCRL U16 Division One competition in the front row for Burleigh in their match against Coomera but due to injuries started in the second row as he did in Round Two.

In total in the 2019 GCRL U16 Division One regular season competition, Bailey Martin played in six regular season matches alternating between the front row and the second row scoring against Helensvale in late May.

In Week One of the 2019 Finals series, Bailey Martin came off the bench around the twenty minute mark (he had come off the bench for PBC in their GIO Cup Queensland quarter final win three days prior) and scored a double as the Bears defeated Helensvale 42 – 20.

Bailey Martin made his GCRL U18 Division One debut in Round Six against Runaway Bay starting from the bench as the Bears won 28 – 6. Bailey Martin came on around the 15 minute mark, playing the remainder of the match at lock for the Bears on that occasion.

Impressively for Bailey Martin he was selected on the bench for the PBC Open A side for their first 2019 Langer Cup match against Wavell State High School, not bad at all for a 16 year old. Bailey Martin came on in the first half in the dummy half role and played exceptionally well in his approximately 45 minutes on the field, including setting up a try when he darted out of dummy half before giving a good short ball to his front rower.

Bailey Martin also made a good twenty break through the centre of the ruck when he took advantage of a back peddling Marsden defensive line to break into the clear.

Round Two of the Langer Cup saw Bailey Martin start the afternoon playing lock for the PBC Reserve Grade side but after playing impressively and scoring Bailey Martin was removed from the game in preparation for the Open A match.

In the Open A match Bailey Martin came on at half time in PBC’s 18-12 and was his typical self, tackling everything that moved with his outstanding tackling technique.

Defensively Bailey Martin stood up to every challenge that the big Marsden forwards threw at him, he really did defend well and for he Bailey martin has the best defensive technique in the Titans development system.

Bailey Martin was also involved off the bench for the PBC Opens Round Three and Four Langer Cup matches against Ipswich State High School and Wavell State High School.

Bailey Martin also deservedly started from the bench in the Langer Cup derby against Keebra Park in June scoring PBC’s final try as they prevailed 34 – 26, coming on late in the first half. Bailey Martin also scored PBC’s final try of the match to seal the result for PBC.

Bailey Martin took a hit up from around ten metres out from the line to the left of the play the ball, running with the ball in two hands out in front of his body, this essentially froze the Keebra Park defenders on their try line which Bailey Martin exploited to dive over near the left upright with just six minutes left in the match.

Bailey Martin also started from the bench for PBC in their Queensland GIO Cup quarter final win over St Mary’s High School Toowoomba 50 – 6 coming into the match late in the first half initially playing in the backrow.

Bailey Martin started from the bench for PBC in their GIO Cup Queensland Cup semi-final against Marsden State High School and scored a first half try but unfortunately PBC went down in golden point 23 – 22. In a sign of how highly he is thought up, Bailey Martin was brought back onto the field in the dying minutes and extra time.

Getting back to his try, Bailey Martin showed outstanding speed to score over forty metres, receiving an inside pass from Toby Sexton and producing a great left arm fend on the initial Marsden defender before showing the Marsden fullback a clean pair of heels to score adjacent to the right upright.

Bailey Martin after a stellar 2018 QSSRL U15 Championships where he starred for South Coast at lock picking up a number of Player of the Match awards and was subsequently selected in the Queensland Maroon side for the ASSRL U15 Championships in July.

Bailey Martin was named at lock for Queensland Green who went through the competition undefeated with Bailey Martin involved in each of Queensland Green’s four matches including the Championship final against NSW CCC.

Bailey Martin also started at lock for PBC in their 2018 Walters Cup match against rivals Keebra Park at Pizzey Park with PBC winning 22 – 16 in a tough match where the last ten minutes or so was particularly willing to say the least. I could not see what happened to set it off from where I watched the game but it got very willing especially between both sets of forwards with the game in the balance.

Bailey Martin was also involved in PBC’s 22 – 18 win over Ipswich State High School and their 18 – 16 loss against Marsden at Waterford where the PBC just could not finish Marsden off in the final ten minutes or so of the match.

In the final ten minutes against Marsden Bailey Martin pulled off some outstanding front on tackles against the Marsden forwards and was the PBC forward urging his side on.

Bailey Martin was part of the 2018 U15 Queensland Emerging Origin squad and attended a couple of the camps including one on the Sunshine Coast in February where the U15 squad played a simulated match against the U16 Emerging Origin squad.

Bailey Martin was also part of the 2019 Queensland U16 Emerging Origin squad, with the squad completing their first camp of the year on the Sunshine Coast. At that camp in the opposed session was on the same side as Kaleb Ngamanu and Orlando Swain.

In previous seasons Bailey Martin has been part of Brisbane Broncos junior development squads but has now signed a contract with his home town NRL club in what can only be considered a coup for the Titans.

For the 2018 GCRL season Bailey Martin is once again played for the Burleigh Bears in the Gold Coast Junior Rugby League competition this season at the U15 Division One level and is also represented PBC in their various school boy competitions including against St Mary’s High School on the Gold Coast when he started at lock in a tough loss for the Gold Coast school against a well drilled opponent.

In total in the 2018 U15 Division One competition Bailey Martin played in ten matches including the Finals series, scoring three tries in the process. Bailey Martin scored in his first U15 Division One match of the season being Round One against Helensvale and also scored in the regular season against Southport.

In Week One of the 2018 U15 Division One Finals series, Bailey Martin started at lock and scored his third try of the season as Burleigh dismantled Southport 72 – 2.

On Week Two of the Finals Bailey Martin and his Burleigh team mates bowed out on the back of a 34 – 24 loss to Runaway Bay.

In 2018 Bailey Martin also played one match up in the U16 Division One competition with that match being against Currumbin in August.

In 2017 Bailey Martin played for the Burleigh Bears at the U14 Division One level. Bailey Martin was also a member of the dominant U14 Gold Coast Vikings representative who went through the Hill Stumer Championships undefeated after victories against Stingers Red and White and Ipswich.

As a result of his play for the 2017 U14 Vikings Bailey Martin was selected in the South East Queensland White side where he was selected in the second row. Bailey Martin also played for PBC in terms of his schoolboy rugby league where they had some good battles against Keebra Park in the U14 age group.

For Burleigh in the U14 Division One Side in 2017 Bailey Martin played in ten matches including starting in the front row and scoring for Burleigh in their 31 – 16 Grand Final loss to the Ormeau Shearers. In mid-July Bailey Martin scored a double against Runaway Bay and earlier in the year scored against Runaway Bay again and his first try of the season came in Round Three against Nerang. Bailey Martin also kicked a conversion against grand final opponents Ormeau mid-season. Bailey Martin was also on the bench for one of Burleigh’s U15 Division One semi-final campaign.

Bailey Martin is a hard running backrower who is impressive at running the right line including both and inside shoulder and outside shoulder line and consistently hits the pass off either the dummy half or play maker flat thus generating his best possible speed and momentum to hit the defensive line.

Where he really excels though is his footwork, Bailey Martin has very good late and quick foot work which enables him to change direction quickly allowing him to readjust where he is running to take advantage of either a late developing hole in the defensive line or where the defensive line is repositioning late.

A try against Ipswich in the U13 Hill Stumer Championships in 2016 was a perfect example of this. Receiving the ball off the dummy half around 10 metres out, Bailey Martin cut back in towards the ruck and was easily able to break through the set Ipswich defensive line to score a well thought out try by the young man. The try may have looked easy but Bailey Martin identified that the Ipswich defensive line was not moving up in a uniform manner and Bailey Martin was able to quickly identify this and exploit it to his advantage all in a split second.

Even when he is taking a hit up in the centre of the ruck, Bailey Martin’s feet are always moving and he is constantly making slight adjustments to his running angle and he is also able to maintain his speed regardless of the multiple directional changes. He seems just to run at a faster pace than other forwards on the field. These attributes lead to a number of line breaks and he has the speed to convert them into tries himself in the main.

Bailey Martin’s speed is probably a touch above average for a forward but it is the speed that he is able to generate from only a few paces which makes it play faster from a defenders perspective as he gets to the defensive line quicker than the defenders anticipate and thus they are unable to set themselves properly for the initial contact meaning Bailey Martin can bend the line back regularly even though he is not the biggest forward running around.

Defensively Bailey Martin hits very hard and had the best pure defensive technique of the U14 players at the U14 Hill Stumer Championships bar none. Bailey Martin’s technique revolves around timing and execution. Bailey Martin’s head is always correctly positioned and he always drives with his shoulder and never just jersey grabs.

Bailey Martin also tackles with both shoulders equally effectively as well. The impressive thing for me also is that Bailey Martin never seems to bounce off the ball when he makes a front on tackle meaning his target area and the ability to hit the area on a regular basis is exceptional. This is no fluke in relation to Bailey Martin, this is clearly as a result of an outstanding technique as well as determination and dedication to his craft.

Another defensive aspect that I first noted during the 2017 season and in subsequent seasons including for the South Coast U15 side a couple of seasons ago is that Bailey Martin does not just make one tackle at a time, he makes a series of tackles one after another all as clinical and effective as the one immediately prior.

Bailey Martin’s lateral speed and mobility is quite good due to his quick twitch feet and thus he is effective at defending against smaller dynamic runners out of dummy half as well as half backs and five eights running of the fringes looking to isolate forwards.

For me Bailey Martin is the best defender in his age group in Queensland bar none, and has been so for a number of seasons especially in defending on the fringes of the ruck whether he is operating as the A or B defender.

Bailey Martin has transferred to the Cudgen Hornets in Northern New South Wales who play in the NRRRL U18 competition and will play for the Hornets in 2021 and will also be a key member of the Tweed Heads Seagulls MM Cup 2021 squad as well as playing for PBC and once again there should be some very good battles in that age group with fellow Titans linked schools Keebra Park and Coombabah State High Schools.

With the confidence that the PBC coaching staff have in him it would not surprise if Bailey Martin has a senior leadership role in the PBC Open side in their 2021 school boy GIO Cup and Langer Cup campaigns.

After the competition of the 2021 MM Cup competition, Bailey Martin will line up for the Cudgen Hornets in the NRRRL competition and even though he will be U18 eligible, I have no doubt that 2021 will see Bailey Martin make his NRRRL First Grade debut for the Hornets.

From a long term position perspective, I believe that he will continue to play in the back row when all is said and done. I appreciate that Bailey Martin played a number of matches in the front row in 2017 but he has too much skill and foot work to be considered as a bash and barge type of player in that position.

I will admit however that his play at hooker for the PBC Open side in 2019 has me very intrigued. With his speed off the mark and already decent ball skills (additional repetitions at hooker would only enhance them) and the ability to tackle all day that may well be just where Bailey Martin’s future lies.

Thinking further with the new rules since the NRL recommenced after the Covid 19 shut down, Bailey Martin with his footwork, ball playing skills and speed of the mark, is ideally suited to exploit them. Bailey Martin’s ability to slot into the dummy half role is once again perfectly suited to the exploitation to the new rules.

From an NRL player comparison perspective, with his touch above average speed and quick late footwork that Bailey Martin has displayed over recent seasons I think that an appropriate player comparison is Sydney Roosters lock Victor Radley with the potential to be a lot more on top of that as well. You could also throw in Cameron Murray of the Souths Sydney Rabbitohs when you are looking for an NRL player to compare Bailey Martin to.

Like Radley, Bailey Martin is also developing the ability to fill in at dummy half if and when the need arises and play that position at a very high level as well.

Bailey Martin is not the flashiest player running around in his age group by a long shot but there is no junior rugby league player on the Gold Coast or in Queensland for that matter that has improved as much as Bailey Martin has over the last couple of seasons and rewards for his hard work and dedication and now deservedly starting to shine through for the Gold Coast local with his contract with the Titans.

Bailey Martin has always been an outstanding defender, I believe that he is currently the best defender for his age in Queensland (and has been for a couple of seasons) if not all of all junior age groups in Queensland but it his attack has really come on over the last two seasons or so, especially in relation to his late footwork and the outstanding lines that he runs especially in relation to the inside shoulder line that he executes flawlessly.

No one is more deserving of success both on and off the field than this talented young man who continues to shine.

[mdrew]

Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa. In early 2020 the Gold Coast local junior signed a contract with the Titans that will see him in Titans colours for the next three seasons at least after being a member of the Titans JTS program for the last season or two.

In 2020 Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa attended Marsden State High School as part of their Rugby League Excellence Program playing in the Marsden State High School Hancock Cup side starting all matches at lock and to say he was simply outstanding across the competition would be a massive understatement. A 2020 Hancock Cup team mate was William Semu who was a fellow Titans contracted player.

In Round One of the 2020 Hancock Cup against PBC Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa started at lock, playing the entire sixty minutes of the match and was dominant throughout including an incredible sixty metre run in the second half where he brushed aside multiple PBC defenders.

Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa also contributed a second half try assist to Marsden’s big win. In the second half with Marsden on the attack on the last tackle, Marsden threw the ball to the right and a long pass found Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa. Instead of just trying something unconventional Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa got on the outside of his opposing PBC defender before drawing the PBC left winger to give his Marsden State High School team mate an unimpeded run to the try line.

In Round Two against Forest Lake State High School Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa was even more dominat contributing two tries to another big Marsden State High School big win. Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa’s first try which came in the first half was impressive. Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa chased a Marsden tactical kick down field, the PBC fullback tried to beat him with footwork but Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa got hold of him and stripped the ball in a one on one tackle racing twenty metres to score.

Whilst his first try may have had some subtlty about it, Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa’s second half try did not. From a tap from a penalty twenty metres out from the Forest Lake line, Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa took the hit up and smashed through the PBC forward pack to smash the ball down with his right arm just to the right of the uprights to score a try few players, regardless of age level or quality of the opposition ever could even contemplate scoring.

Round Four against Wavell State High School saw Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa start once again at lock and he had a huge match scoring a try (and came close to scoring two others) and recording a try assist as Marsden scored a bg win against their fellow Brisbane based school.

Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa’s try came in the first half, with Marsden State High School on the attack, Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa took a pass off the dummy half to the left of the play the ball around ten metres out and charged straight through the Wavell defence to score.

Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa’s try assist also came in the first half when on the last tackle he took the ball to the line and threw a well timed short pass to his left to fellow Titan contracted player William Semu who ran straight into a gap to score to the left of the uprights.

In a sign of Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa’s confidence and skill set, the first half saw Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa take the ball to the line and just prior to contact, put in a perfectly weighted chip kick which he regathered before off laoding to his right. Whilst a try did not result from the play (it almost did) the sequence highlights the extraordinary skill set of this young man with the promise of a lot more to come.

Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa was also prominent in Round Five against Coombabah State High School and early in the first half was held up over the try line after a strong surge from ten metres out. The match also saw Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa kick one conversion from two attempts. Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa comfortably kicked his first attempt at goal from around fifteen metres to the left of the up rights before just missing his second attempt from the left touch line.

In the second half Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa executed one of the most outstanding tackles that I have ever seen. Coombabah kicked into touch from a penalty, taking the tap restart on the half way mark passing twice to a forward to take a hit up, Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa hit with with a supurb right shoulder tackle just after the Coomabah forward received the ball. It was a great tackle.

In the 2020 Hancock Cup Grand Final Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa started at lock and played the entire match as Marsden prevailed 26 – 24 as a result of an after the siren penalty goal. In the match Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa played a fair bit of first receiver, primarily on the left looking to link with fellow Titan William Semu but also operated in the first receiver role on the right as well.

It was from the first receiver role on the right that Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa was involved in Marsden’s second try of the match when he threw a long pass to his right to create space for the Marsden right side outside backs.

Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa also produced a smart piece of play to score Marsden’s first try of the match. With PBC trying to bring the ball off their own try line Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa darted out of marker to the right of the play the ball as the PBC runner ran in that direction. Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa grabbed hold of the PBC runner, ripping the ball free on a one on one strip to then spin counter clock wise and crash over five metres to the left of the uprights.

After the competition of the preliminary rounds of the Hancock Cup and prior to the final Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa made the move to the Marsden State High School Walters Cup side coming off the bench in their 14 – 12 semi-final victory over Keebra Park to progress to the Grand Final against PBC.

Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa had in fact started earlier in the Walters Cup season when he started at lock against Wavell State High School.

Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa was also part of the Marsden State High School rugby league program in 2019 playing in their Renouf Cup side and dominated in a number of matches including a dominant performance against PBC including charging down the right touch line to score after beating multiple PBC defenders on the way to the line.

In late October 2020, Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa was named in the Gold Coast Rugby League U16 Cyril Connell Cup Academy Squad.

The big strong young local Southport front rower was in devastating form for the Tigers in the GCRL U14 Division One competition in 2019 producing a number of performances across the season that were as dominating as I have ever seen from a junior front rower.

For Southport in the 2019 GCRL U14 Division One regular season competition Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa played in nine matches scoring eleven tries (122% strike rate) including a Round Three hat trick against Currumbin and doubles in Round Ten and Round Twelve against Ormeau and Mudgeeraba respectively.

Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa also scored in matches against Runaway Bay on two separate occasions, Helensvale and Beaudesert to account for his eleven tries.

In Week One of the 2019 GCRL U14 Division One Finals series Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa started in the front row in Southport’s 26 - 22 loss to Runaway Bay.

In Week two of the 2019 U14 Division One Finals series, Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa started in the front row and scored a hat trick against the Mudgeeraba Redbacks as Southport progressed to the Preliminary Final.

In the Preliminary Final against Runaway Bay, Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa once again started in the front row and scored a double as Southport fell 22 – 16 to Runaway Bay to end their season one win short of the Grand Final.

After performing well for the Gold Coast Vikings U14 side at the 2019 Hill Stumer Championships held at Ipswich this season, Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa started in the front row for the South East Queensland White side at the Queensland U14 Age Championships where he was a handful for opposing defences in each of South East Queensland Whites matches.

Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa started all four of South East Queensland White’s matches in the front row and scored when he crashed over after an outstanding powerful charge against Central on Day Two of the Championships.

In early October 2019 Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa was named on the bench for the 2019 Nga Hau e Wha Maori Tournament U14 Boys Merit Team at the completion of that tournament with Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa once again prominent.

Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa also plays Oztag and early in 2020 was named U14 Most Valuable Player for the 2019/20 Oztag season for the Labrador Rabbits. Not a bad effort at all for a big strong rugby league front rower, but one with impressive footwork and mobility as is evidenced by his performances in Oztag. Continuing to play Oztag will only continue to enhance Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa’s mobility and use of footwork.

Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa is a hard straight running big strong front rower who is very good at running the right line including both and inside shoulder and outside shoulder line and consistently hits the pass off either the dummy half or play maker flat thus generating his best possible speed and momentum to hit the defensive line at full speed.

Where Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa really excels though is as noted above, his footwork, Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa has very good late and quick foot work which enables him to change direction quickly allowing him to readjust where he is running to take advantage of either a late developing hole in the defensive line or where the defensive line is repositioning late.

Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa is adept at cutting back behind the play the ball area when the markers do not work hard and make ground as a result. When the Southport side were in the attacking area, Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa was regularly used to draw the defence into the centre of the ruck thus stretching the defensive line out wide to allow the backline more room to move.

Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa also accepted the responsibility of regularly taking the first hit-up from kick offs and was regularly the first forward to take a hit-up after an opposition tactical kick.

Even when he is taking a hit up in the centre of the ruck, Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa ’s feet are always moving and he is constantly making slight corrections to his running vector and he is also able to maintain his speed regardless of those multiple directional changes.

Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa ’s speed is probably a bit above average but it is the speed that he is able to generate from only a few paces which makes it play faster from a defenders perspective.

Defensively Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa hits very hard and had one of the better defensive technique s in the GCRL U14 Division One competition this season. Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa ’s technique revolves around timing and execution.

Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa ’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 Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa also tackles with both shoulders equally effectively and equally as hard.

The impressive thing for me also is that Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa 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. That aspect of his play means that Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa has a solid and repeatable defensive technique.

Another defensive aspect that I noted during the 2019 season was that Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa does not just make one tackle at a time, he makes a series of tackles one after another all as clinical and effective as the one before. For a big strong young front rower Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa has outstanding stamina.

Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa lateral speed is quite good for a front row prospect (I would agrue it is in a plus range for a front rower) due to his quick twitch feet and thus he is effective at defending against smaller dynamic runners out of dummy half as well as half backs and five eights running of the fringes looking to isolate forwards.

Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa will play the 2021 season with Southport in the GCRL U16 Division One competition as well as continue to play school boy rugby league. Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa has also been named in the 2021 Gold Coast Rugby League U16 Cyril Connell Cup squad.

2021 will see Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa become a key member of the Marsden State High School GIO Cup and Langer Cup school boy rugby league campaigns as a 16 year old. Late in the 2020 school year, Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa commenced training with the Marsden State High School Open side which is a good indicator that he will move directing into the Marsden GIO Cup and Open A Langer Cup sides in 2021.

Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa is a big strong powerful young man with outstanding mobility for his size, who has been a standout lock in both club and representative sides over the last two or three years on the Gold Coast and at Marsden State High School and seems destined to be an NRL calibre, if not higher, front rower or lock in coming years.

I would argue that even though there is little difference between lock and front row the way that rugby league is currently played, although I note that the 2020 new rules may just bring back the traditional lock forward, that Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa is better suited to playing lock and that would enable him to move to either side of the ruck to involve himself when he sees an opportunity and thus is less constrained to relation to where and when he involces himself.

The more that Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa can involve himself in the play when he sees an opportunity to exploit the better for him and his team.

Like most middle forwards Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa also has a touch of aggression in his game and looks to dominate opposing forward packs both physically and mentally on every occasion in both attack and defence.

From a player comparison perspective, someone that I think that Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa has a similar playing style to is North Queensland Cowboy and New Zealand International lock Jason Taumalolo as a wrecking ball of a forward who can break open and dominate a game on his own. Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa also has outstanding ball skills both before the defensive line, whilst engaged with it and once he has broken through it.

Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa just oozes class and the scary thing is that I do not think that he has even come close to realising his potential and likely will not until Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa plays at a higher level on a regular basis a scary thought indeed for opposition sides in coming years. Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa just looks like a long term representative level front rower/lock.

Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa is an outstanding signing for the Titans and is a player with an almost limitless ceiling as well as having a very high floor. The fact that Taelon Te Whiu-Hopais a local Gold Coast junior who chose to sign with the Titans after knocking back other offers from a number of other NRL clubs only adds to the excitement around this talented young front rower/lock.

Make no mistake players with the type of skill, size and potential that Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa has end up being the corner stone of NRL and representative level forward packs.

Few young front rowers or locks in the modern day get to the NRL at a young age as traditionally it takes a bit longer for the players playing in that position to physically mature to cope with the demands of playing in the front row but Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa may very well be the exception to that long standing rule.

[mdrew]

Thomas Weaver. (Revised) The extremely talented young half back from the Cudgen Hornets Junior Rugby League club in Northern New South Wales recently signed a new multi-year contract with the Titans and to cap off an outstanding 2019 season Thomas Weaver was named in the New South Wales 2020 Future Blues Squad and in fact I believe is the youngest member of the elite representative squad.

In November 2020 Thomas Weaver was named in the exceptionally talented Tweed Heads Seagulls 2021 MM Cup squad.

In early 2020 Thomas Weaver started at half for the Titans U18 side in their annual match against the Newcastle Knights SG Ball (U18) side in Coffs Harbour. Thomas Weaver had a try assist late in the second half when he put up a bomb towards the left corner which the Northern Rivers Titans scored from.

Kedan Chan-Tung chased through Thomas Weaver’s perfectly weighted bomb, which landed two metres out from the Knights line, 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 who was playing on the left wing to dive over in the left corner untouched.

Thomas Weaver was named to start at half back for the Northern Rivers Titans in Round One of the 2020 U18 Laurie Daley Cup against the Parramatta Eels at Cudgen however the match was cancelled due to the wet conditions on that weekend.

Thomas Weaver started Round Two of the U18 Laurie Daley Cup at half against the Newcastle Knights in Ballina kicking an outstanding nine from nine in the match. Thomas Weaver also showcased his outstanding tactical kicking skills in the match with a 40/20 plus a great forty five metre kick to trap the Knight fullback in his own in-goal.

Thomas Weaver also started at half back in Round Three against the Central Coast Roosters recording three try assists in the Northern Rivers Titans twenty six point victory. Thomas Weaver also kicked one conversion from two attempts in the win.

Thomas Weaver’s first try assist of the match was identical to many that he recorded last season. Thomas Weaver took the ball to the left of the field, close to the Central Coast line and threw a great pass to Titans left second rower and favourite target Ryan Foran who ran an outside shoulder route to crash over.

Thomas Weaver recorded a second try assist in the first half when a bomb that he put up to the left corner bounced perfectly for centre Daniel Butterini to put the ball down a metre inside the field of play.

Thomas Weaver’s third and final try assist of the match came in the centre half. He ran the ball to the right of the field shapes to pass but instead stepped off his left foot to break the line and drew the fullback to send Ryan Foran away to score near the left corner.

Thomas Weaver also started at half back in Round Four against the Greater Northern Tigers filling up the stats sheet with a try, a try assist and one goal from as many attempts as well as some strong defence.

In relation to his try, Thomas Weaver ran to the right of the play the ball with the ball in two hands. As he approached the defensive line on a forty five degree angle, Thomas Weaver dummied to his left stepping back inside off his left foot to slice through the Tigers line, when he came to the fullback, Thomas Weaver once again to comprehensively beat the fullback to score mid-way between the side line and goal posts on the left side of the field.

Thomas Weaver recorded a try assist in the first half when he ran to the left and popped a pass back to his right to send fullback Jaylan DeGroot into a big gap to score.

Thomas Weaver also started at half in the Round Five local derby against North Coast having an outstanding match in the twenty six all draw finishing with four try assists and five goals from six attempts including a pressure penalty goal with two minutes remaining in the match in lock the scores up at twenty six all.

The penalty goal in itself was not necessarily in itself a difficult kick with the kick being take from around fifteen metres to the left of the uprights, but with the game in the balance and the Titans unbeaten record on the line, it was certainly a pressure kick that Thomas Weaver easily kicked, showing no sign of nerves. His only miss was from right on the left touch line.

Thomas Weaver’s first try assist was scored by Ryan Foran, running to the left side of the field, Thomas Weaver put in a right footed stab kick which North Coast could not handle and Ryan Foran was on hand to score. His second try assist was also from a first half kick. Thomas Weaver clearly aimed for the left upright from seventeen metres out hitting it perfectly and Reef Somerville was on the spot to score next to the left upright.

An impressive aspect in relation to the two kicks that Thomas Weaverput in was that they were to opposite sides of the field, once again displaying just how good Thomas Weaver’s tactical kicking already is.

Thomas Weaver’s third try assist of the first half came when he drifted to his left and popped a great ball to a hard charging Daniel Butterini to burst into a gap and run twenty metres to score on the left side of the field. Thomas Weaver’s fourth and final try assist was a critical on elate in the match when he threw a long cut out pass to his left over the head of defenders to left winger Keegan Pace who scored in the left corner.

Thomas Weaver started training with the Cudgen Hornets U18 NRRRL side in June 2020 and team mates in the side included fellow Titans Bailey Martin, Jack Cullen and Reef Sommerville amongst others.

Thomas Weaver started Round One of the 2020 NRRRL U18 competition at half back as Cudgen travelled to Byron Bay to take on the Devils with Thomas Weaver scoring one of Cudgen’s three tries in their 14 – 10 victory.

Thomas Weaver was easily the best player on the field as Cudgen booked a place in the NRRRL U18 Green Grand Final scoring a double, kicking three conversions, a critical forty metre penalty goal and forcing two line drop outs in a 24 – 16 Preliminary Final win over the Bilambil Jets.

Thomas Weaver’s first try of the match came when he ran out of dummy half, running at a 45 degree angle at the line with the ball out in front of his body in two hands and shaped to pass before sliding through the defensive line to score.

Thomas Weaver received a long pass out of dummy half to score his second try. Once he received the ball from the dummy half Thomas Weaver immediately straightened up his run to slip through the Bilambil line that was sliding across the field to score adjacent to the left upright.

Thomas Weaver was also outstanding in the 2020 NRRRL U18 Green Grand Final, scoring one try, setting up two others, kicking four from five conversions including one from the left touchline in the second half and also kicking a 40/20 which ultimately led to a Cudgen try in the fist half.

Thomas Weaver’s try was an opportunist one, when he was on hand to pick up a bouncing ball after the Hornets had put in a grubber kick. The ball was bouncing off a number of legs, before Thmas Weaver scooped it up close to the line. Initially it appeared that Thomas Weaver had been stopped prior to the line but he was able to keep his arm holding the ball off the ground, being his right and then reach out with that arm to put the ball down ten metres in from the right touch line.

Both of Thomas Weaver’s try assist came in the first half and both were as a result of long cut out passes to his left to his support players. Really the only differene between the two passes was that the cut out pass to Jaylan De Groot was a touch longer.

Thomas Weaver made his NRRRL First Grade debut in Round Three when he started at five eight against the Bilambil Jets, recording a try assist and kicking two conversions in the Hornets victory. Thomas Weaver’s try assist came when he took the ball on the right side of the field and put in a grubber kick, which was pounched on by a Cudgen chaser after it rebounded off multiple legs. Both of Thomas Weaver’s conversions were exceptional kicks from the right touch line and were outstanding efforts.

After initially being named to start at five eight Thomas Weaver started from the bench in Round Four of the NRRRL First Grade competition kicking four goals from five attempts including an outstanding kick from the right touch line for his second conversion of the day against Murwillumbah as Cudgen won 28 – 20.

Round Five saw Thomas Weaver start at half back against the Bilambil Jets and scored his career first NRRRL First Grade try as well as kicking a conversion both in the second half as the Hornets went down 22 - 18.

Thomas Weaver also played in Round Eight of the 2020 NRRRL First Grade competition, starting from the bench against the Tweed Coast Raiders, kicking a conversion as the Hornets went down 18 – 14.

In a sign of the faith that Cudgen have in him, Thomas Weaver started at five eight in the Hornets 2020 NRRRL First Grade Elimination Final loss to the Bilambil Jets with Thomas Weaver kicking one from two conversions.

Also in 2020 Thomas Weaver, in his first year at PBC, was part of the PBC Langer Cup Open A school boy rugby league squad, where he operated primarily in the halves on the left side of the field.

Thomas Weaver started Round One of the Langer Cup at half back as PBC took on Ipswich State High School putting in an outstanding display in a PBC 22 – 10 victory, scoring a try, kicking three from three conversions, recording a try assist and throwing the final pass to his left on both occasions for Damon Sommerville’s two tries.

Thomas Weaver scored his try early in the first half and the try was in fact the first of the match. Thomas Weaver took the ball two passes off the ruck on the left side of the field ten metres out from the line, dummying to his outside before slicing through the defence and diving over under pressure from two Ipswich defenders.

The try assist that Thomas Weaver recorded came late in the match and sealed the PBC victory. Thomas Weaver got into dummy half throwing a dummy to his right before breaking through the centre of the ruck from sixty metres out. Thomas Weaver beautifully drew the fullback before sending front rower Xavier Williamson away to score under the post to seal the win. The try was one of the three that Thomas Weaver converted.

Thomas Weaver also started at half back in Round Two against Wavell State High School and filled up the stats sheet once again, recording two conversions and a late match penalty goal which tied the score at 18 all, recording a try assist, forcing a goal line restart and making a first half try saving tackle when he came from the clouds to crash into the Marsden five eight who was set to score Thomas Weaver literally came from nowhere to make the tackle.

Thomas Weavers try assist came early in the match when, operating to the left of the play the ball, Thomas Weaver put in a deft right foot kick from twenty metres out. The ball bounced perfectly up two metres out from the try line for the PBC left winger not to have to break stride to take the ball on his chest and dive over.

PBC’s Round Three Langer Cup match against St Mary’s Toowoomba also saw Thomas Weaver start at half back and kick two conversions from three attempts as PBC maintained their winning start to the 2020 Langer Cup competition.

In addition to his two conversions, Thomas Weaver forced to goal line restarts with short attacking kicks into the left corner which the St Mary’s defence had no choice but to take over the dead ball line. Also late in the first half, Thomas Weaver split the St Mary’s defence from a subtle dummy half to his left. It appears that he would score when he beat the fullback but Thomas Weaver was brought down just short of the line.

Thomas Weaver was also heavily involved in Reef Somerville’s second half try. Thomas Weaver put up an ideally weighted bomb to the right corner. Troy Duckett rose high to take the ball on the full and as he was being pushed back was able to pop the ball to Reef Somerville who crossed in the right corner.

Thomas Weaver also started at half back in the Round Four local derby against Keebra Park scoring one try, creating two others and kicking three from four conversions. Thomas Weaver’s try came late in the first half and at a critical point in the match. With PBC down 14 – 0 and PBC on the attack, Thomas Weaver took the ball on the right of the play the ball and took the line on himself from ten metres out. Thomas Weaver dummied twice to his left before breaking two tackles spinning counter clock wise to get to the line under heavy pressure and twisted further to get the ball down with two Keebra Park defenders hanging off him.

Both of Thomas Weaver’s try assist came in the second half and both were down the left side of the field. In relation to his first try assist, Thomas Weaver received the ball off the dummy half ten metres out from the Keebra Park line just to the left of the uprights and accelerated towards the defensive line before pulling up quickly and stepping subtly to put Daniel Butterini into a gap with a superbly weighted and timed pass.

Thomas Weaver’s second try assist just minutes later was no less impressive, once again with PBC on the attack also around ten metres out from the line, Thomas Weaver once again received the ball off the dummy half and immediately threw a great fifteen metres cut out pass to his left to winger Troy Duckett to score in the left corner. The key to the pass was not just its length it was also the speed it was thrown as the pass got to Troy Duckett so quickly that the Keebra Park right winger had absolutely no time to readjust and get to Troy Duckett before he scored.

Thomas Weaver continued at half back in Round Five against Marsden State High School, kicking four conversions from five attempts, including an outstanding first half effort from the left touch line, with his only miss in the second half also from the left touch line. To be fair the miss only barely missed.

Thomas Weaver also recorded two try assists which where for all intents and purposes identical, with one coming in each half. On both occasions, Thomas Weaver received the ball on the left side of the field, running at the ball to engage the defenders before throwing a long cut out pass to his left to Diane Mariner on both occasions to score in the left corner. The key to both tries was that Thomas Weaver looked to take the line on and thus hold the defenders in place and not just slide to cover the outside support runners.

Thomas Weaver also started at half back for PBC as they qualified for the 2020 Langer Cup final on the back of an impressive 34 – 6 victory over Ipswich State High School kicking five from six conversions and also throwing the final pass for PBC’s opening three tries of the match.

Thomas Weaver’s first try assist came early in the first half when he took the ball right to the line on the left side of the field before throwing a long cut out pass to left winger Troy Duckett who dived over from close range. Thomas Weaver’s third try assist, which came early in the second half was similar to his first with the recipient on that occasion being Deindre Mariner.

Thomas Weaver’s second try assist came in the first half, once again on the left side of the field, after shaping to throw a long pass, Thomas Weaver held the ball up to put fullback Jaylan De Groot into a gap and he was able to step the Ipswich fullback to bring the ball around to score under the posts.

Thomas Weaver started the 2020 Langer Cup Grand Final at half back for PBC as they defeated Keebra Park 16 – 8 in a high quality match kicking a conversion from the left touch line and a key penalty goal early in the second half, recording two try assists and also forcing Keebra Park to restart play on three occasions from drop outs as a result of outstanding attacking kicks, forcing Keebra Park to make the ball dead.

Both of Thomas Weaver’s try assists came in the first half and both on the left side of the field and like multiple other occasions in the Langer Cup in 2020, Thomas Weaver took the ball right to the line before off-loading to his left.

For his first try assist, Thomas Weaver put a great short pass to a charging Daniel Butterini who was running an outside shoulder route into a gap and his second was a long looping cut out pass to Troy Duckett to dive over in the corner.

Understandably Thomas Weaver was named the Player of the 2020 Langer Cup Final.

In the Tally for the Justin Hodges Medal for the Langer Cup Player of the Year, Thomas Weaver received two votes in Round One against Marsden State High School.

In the Courier Mail 2020 Langer Cup Team of the Year, Thomas Weaver was named in starting side at half back and in the Courier Mail 2020 Top 30 South East Queensland school boy rugby/rugby league list Thomas Weaver was named at No. 3 and in fact was the top rated rugby league player with the top two places being taken by rugby players.

In the Queensland School Boys Final against Kirwan State High School Thomas Weaver started at half back as PBC travelled to take on their North Queensland based opponents scoring a second half try and kicking two conversions in PBC’s 24 – 20 loss.

Thomas Weaver’s try came when he was operating on the left side of the field and he received the ball two posses wide of the ruck. Immediately when he received the ball Thomas Weaver ran at the line with the ball out in front of him in two hands, producing a great show and go to beat the defender directly in front of him before getting the ball down in the tackle of the Kirwan fullback fifteen metres in from the left corner post.

In early 2019 Thomas Weaver started at half for the Titans U16’s and captaining the side in their match at Coffs Harbour against the Newcastle Knights and was involved in the first play of the game being the opening tackle after the kick off on the Knights front rower with team mates, Brody Smitka and Ryan Foran.

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

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

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

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

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

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

In June of 2019, Thomas Weaver started at half for the Titans U18 side in their match against North Queensland that was played as the curtain raiser to the Titans/ Warriors NRL match in June, an impressive feat considering that the majority of the players that he was up against were already 18 years old.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

In Round One of the 2019 U18 Andrew Johns Cup competition Thomas Weaver started at half back for the Northern Rivers Titans in their match against the Newcastle Knights Development Squad and like in matches described above, captained the side and pulled the strings for the Titans in their big 38 – 8 victory and contributed five goals from seven attempts.

Thomas Weaver can really throw a great long pass and showcased that once again for the Titans in Round One when he set winger Matthew Avery away down the left touch line. The match also saw Thomas Weaver force three drop out with outstanding kicks each coming from around thirty metres out from the Newcastle line each pulling up in the Newcastle in goal.

Thomas Weaver also had a first half try assist when he drifted to his right and threw a great short ball to left second rower and fellow Titans contract player Ryan Foran who charged thirty metres to score late in the first half.

Round Two of the 2019 Andrew Johns Cup competition saw Thomas Weaver once again line up at half in their match against Parramatta and yet again he had an outstanding match scoring twenty four points from two tries and eight conversions from nine attempts.

Both of Thomas Weaver’s tries were from backing up plays. In his first half try, Thomas Weaver threw a great cut out ball to his left to send winger Jack Field away and then backed up to receive a pass back from the winger to score. Thomas Weaver’s try in the second half came when he backed up a break from interchange forward Byron Jones to score.

Thomas Weaver also had a try assist when he drifted to his left and put left second rower Ryan Foran on his way to the try line, a try which was eerily similar to the try that the two put on in Round One against Newcastle.

As in Round One Thomas Weaver also had the ball on a string from a kicking perspective, with both of his first two kicks of the game being outstanding, the first trapping the Parramatta fullback a metre out from his own line where he had to dive to the ground or he would have been either pushed into touch and back into the in-goal in the left corner and the second even better forcing a drop out.

Thomas Weaver’s outstanding game included two try saving tackles in the second half helping to keep the Northern Rivers Titans line intact. On the first occasion he held a Parramatta player up in the left corner after making up an impressive amount of ground and in the second instance, after a long Parramatta break, Thomas Weaver stripped the ball from the Eels centre when he looked set to score.

Thomas Weaver also started at half in the Round Three local derby against the North Coast Bulldogs and added another three try assists to his outstanding 2019 Andrew Johns Cup campaign. Two of his three try assists, one in the first half and the other in the second where eerily similar. Thomas Weaver took the ball down a short blind side close to the North Coast line and on each occasion threw a cut out pass to winger Jack Field (Craig Field’s son) to score.

Thomas Weaver’s other try assist was providing a good pass to left second rower Ryan Foran to crash over. In each of the first three rounds Thomas Weaver and Ryan Foran have combined on the left side of the field for a Ryan Foran try.

In Round Four against the Central Coast Roosters Thomas Weaver started again at half and captain and well once again was special, with five conversion and an incredible six try assists, five from passes and one from a kick.

Thomas Weaver impressively garnered a try assist in each of Titans left centre Keegan Pace’s three first half tries. In Keegan Pace’s first and third tries, Thomas Weaver drifted across field, forcing the Central Coast defence to back pedal and then found a straight running Keegan Pace with a great pass to his left.

The other try assist in the first half for a Keegan Pace try was when Thomas Weaver split the Central Coast defence on his own twenty metres through a hard straight and when confronted with the fullback, Thomas Weaver popped a good ball back across his right shoulder to send Keegan Pace away to score under the posts.

Thomas Weaver was also involved in two tries in the first half for Titans left second rower Ryan Foran. Thomas Weaver and Ryan Foran combined for a try in each of the opening three rounds but combined for two in Round Four.

For Ryan Foran’s first try, Thomas Weaver took the ball quickly to his left about five metres out from the Central Coast line and passed to Ryan Foran who ran an outside shoulder route to score. In the second try, Thomas Weaver ran to his left from a scrum win and again with Ryan Foran running an outside shoulder route found him with a pass for Ryan Foran to run twenty metres to score.

In the second minute of the second half Thomas Weaver got his sixth try assist of the afternoon when be put in a good grubber kick near the posts which the Central Coast defence could not defuse with the Titans pouncing on the mistake to score under the posts.

Thomas Weaver also forced a Central Coast line drop out in the match after a great klick from around forty metres out with Titans left centre Keegan Pace making the tackle in the Central Coast in-goal.

Thomas Weaver also started at half back in Round Five against the Greater Northern Tigers adding five conversions to his points tally and another try assist when he grubbered into the in goal area for Riley Lack to score the first try of the match.

Thomas Weaver could have scored two tries of his own in the second half from scrum moves but on each occasion he was dragged down just short of the line. On each occasion Thomas Weaver Thomas Weaver looped around five eight Riley Lack putting the defensive line under pressure but unfortunately was on each occasion dragged down just shy of the try line.

Thomas Weaver was also dominant in the Northern Rivers Titans semi-final victory over Penrith scoring a double and kicking three conversions from five attempts. In relation to his first try Thomas Weaver was the recipient of an outstanding piece of work from second rower Ryan Foran. Ryan Foran charged down a Penrith kick and passed immediately to Thomas Weaver upon retrieving the ball for Thomas Weaver to sprint forty five metres to score.

Thomas Weaver’s second try came just two minutes after the first. Thomas weaver backed up through the centre of the ruck after an outstanding run from lock Bailey Cox, who offloaded to fullback Jaylan De Groot who was able to find Thomas Weaver to space to race away and score an outstanding team try.

Thomas Weaver could in fact have finished the match with at least a hat trick but was adjudged to have knocked on when attempting to ground the ball from a kick after the siren to conclude the first half.

Thomas Weaver also had a try assist in the match. Operating on the left of the field close to the Penrith line, Thomas Weaver took the ball right to the line before popping a good short ball to his left to Ryan Foran to crash over.

In the 2019 U16 Andrew Johns Cup Grand Final against the Western Rams Thomas Weaver started at half captaining the side to an 18 – 6 victory, contributing ten points from a try and three conversions from three attempts. Thomas Weaver also had a try assist when he threw a good flat ball for lock Bailey Cox to crash over for the first try of the match.

In the second half, Thomas Weaver scored after receiving a pass from fullback Jaylan DeGroot. DeGroot had field a kick on his own try line with the Western Rams on the attack and then offloaded to Thomas Weaver to sprint ninety metres to score under the posts. As a result of his performance, Thomas Weaver was named player of the final.

Post the victory Thomas Weaver was named at halfback for the New South Wales Country U16 side for their November 2019 three match tour of the United Kingdom and was also named in the 2019 New South Wales U16 36 man train on squad and was one of only four New South Wales Country players in the squad, two others being fellow Titans Riley Lack and Ryan Foran.

Thomas Weaver flew out for the United Kingdom tour from Sydney in mid-November 2019 and started Game One of the tour at half also captaining the side scoring twenty points from an individual perspective from a try and eight goals in a Player of the match performance as New South Wales Country U16’s won big 62 – 0 win over the U17 UK Community Lions. Thomas Weaver also had a try assist with a pin-point kick to Rowan Mansfield’s left wing for the fellow Titan’s contracted player to score.

Thomas Weaver’s try in the match come in the second half when he was operating on the left of the field two passes off the ruck. Thomas Weaver took the ball and immediately dummied to his left before a subtle left foot step put him into space around ten metres out and Thomas Weaver was able to sprint the remainder of the way to dive over adjacent to the left upright and then converted his own try.

Thomas Weaver also started at half in Game Two of the tour as the Country U16 side defeated the Leeds Rhino’s 32 – 10. Thomas Weaver also had his second try assist from kicks in as many games when he grubbered through for Jock Brazell to score after thirty minutes mid-way between the corner post and goal post on the left side of the field.

Thomas Weaver also had another try assist in the match when he threw a good short ball to his left which sent his ball runner on a twelve metre uninterrupted run to the line touching down ten metres from the left upright.

Thomas Weaver added a third try assist in the match late when he put up a bomb to the right corner which could not be held by Leeds with Reef Sommerville picking up the pieces to crash over in the right corner.

In the final match of New South Wales Country U16’s UK tour Thomas Weaver produced yet another dominant performance after captaining the NSW Country side from half back scoring a double and kicking seven tries from nine attempts to score twenty two points as NSW Country defeated the Community Lions 62 – 6.

Both of Thomas Weaver’s tries came in the second half, the first when he split the defence through an individual effort mid-way through the half and the second when he scored after a great offload from Bayley Cox with four minutes remaining.

Thomas Weaver also had a try assist in the match when he scooped up a louse pass before drawing a defender to send fellow Titan Riley Lack on a ten metre run to score.

The New South Wales Country U16 side played a New South Wales U16 Harold Matthews squad as a curtain raiser to the Penrith/Warriors NRL match on a Friday night at Penrith Park in May. Thomas Weaver started the match at half back.

Even though the NSW Country side went down 16 – 6, Thomas Weaver who captained the side was outstanding including converting Country’s only try of the match which was scored by fellow Titans contracted player, hooker Oscar Bryant.

It was his defence that stood out in the match with Thomas Weaver making two try saving tackles, the first in the first half was a classic cover defending tackle down the right touchline and the second was when he tracked back to stop one of the giant Harold Matthews forwards, Thomas Weaver rounded him up from behind dragging him down with the assistance of fellow Titan Rowan Mansfield.

After that match, Thomas Weaver was selected in the New South Wales U16 side that defeated a U16 Pasifika team 36 – 6 at Belmore Sports Ground on Sunday 9 June with Thomas Weaver starting the match at five eight.

At the Northern Rivers Awards night held in April, Thomas Weaver received the 2019 Players Player Award for the U16 Andrew Johns Cup side. Thomas Weaver then added the Ron Lanesbury Medal to his collection for the 2019 U16 Andrew Johns Cup Player of the Year.

Jst a week after the Andrew Johns Cup final Thomas Weaver made his NRRRL U18 debut in Round Three for Cudgen, starting on the wing against Murwillumbah and scored a try and kicked four goals from seven attempts in an outstanding debut as his Cudgen side defeated the Murwillumbah Colts 36 – 0.

In Round Four of the NRRRL U18 competition, Thomas Weaver moved into five eight and kicked three goals from five attempts as Cudgen defeated Byron Bay 26 – 10.

Round Five of the NRRRL U18 competition saw Thomas Weaver start at five eight and he kicked three from three as the Hornets defeated Ballina 18 – 12.

After missing time with an injury Thomas Weaver came back into the Cudgen NRRRL U18 side for their Round Fifteen match against Kyogle which Cudgen won 64 – 0 and kicked three goals in Round Seventeen against Murwillumbah to prove that he was definitely over his injury.

In total in the 2019 NRRRL U18 regular season competition, Thomas Weaver played in eight matches scoring thirty six points from two tries and fourteen goals, with his tries coming against Murwillumbah and Kyogle.

Thomas Weaver added a goal in his point’s tally as Cudgen defeated Lismore Marist Brothers 24 – 10 in Week One of the NRRRL U18 Finals series and was also involved in Week Two of the Finals as Cudgen went down 26 – 20 against Ballina kicking two conversions in the match.

In the Week Three Final, being the NRRRL U18 Preliminary Final Thomas Weaver scored a try and kicked three conversions from as many attempts as Cudgen booked their place in the 2019 U18 NRRRL Grand Final against Ballina with a 24 – 4 win over Byron Bay.

Thomas Weaver came off the bench in the first half of the NRRRL U18 Grand Final plying five eight when he came on as Cudgen went down 24 – 6 to Ballina in a match which was closer than the score line indicates.

Thomas Weaver was also part of the dominant Cudgen 2019 U16 Group 18 side that won their Grand Final 44 – 6 against Byron Bay/Lennox Head.

In 2019 Thomas Weaver was named joint Player of the Year for the Group 18 U16 Junior Rugby League competition with fellow Titan Ryan Foran.

Thomas Weaver was also part of the St Joseph’s College Benora Point school boy rugby league side in 2019 including a member of the side that won the Grand Final of the New South Wales All Schools U16 competition.

The team travelled to Sydney for the 75th year of the competition. After not winning a game in 2018 the Banora Point U16 side defeated Bega 32 - 6 and then Red Bend Forbes who won it last year 18 - 0 in their opening two matches.

A forfeit from the Manly district, Banora Point Mulwaree 18 - 0 in the semi-fianl. The Grand Final against Wadalba from the Central Coast was a tough contest and after trailing 4 - nil early Benora Point scored two tries for a 10 - 4 victory.

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

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

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

Thomas Weaver started at half back for the NSW CCC side in the National U15 Championship Final against Queensland White. Thomas Weaver kicked a conversion in their loss against a Queensland White side for whom fellow Titans contracted player Orlando Swain was one of Queensland’s try scorers.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

This trait was in evidence in this year’s Titans 2019 U16 match against Newcastle when he dummied and stepped off his left foot to score the Titans first try of the match.

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

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

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

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

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

Thomas Weaver moved to PBC in 2020 as part of the Rugby League Excellence program and was a key key piece in their Langer Cup school boy rugby league Open A campaign and in relation to representative rugby league played for the ultra-talented Northern Rivers Titans U18 Laurie Daley Cup side.

Unbelievably Thomas Weaver is U18 once again in 2021 and will be part of the Tweed Heads Seagulls MM Cup squad next season as well as continuing at PBC in their GIO Cup and Langer Cup campaigns, likely in a leadership role. It would not surprise at all if after the 2021 MM Cup concludes, Thomas Weaver moves directly up to the Tweed Heads Seagulls Hastings Deering’s Colts side such is his level of maturity and competitiveness.

Should Thomas Weaver head back to the NRRRL competition Thomas Weaver will line up for the Cudgen Hornets once again, more than likely playing 202a in the NRRRL First Grade competition even though he will still be U18 eligible.

From a position perspective with his speed and rapidly developing ball playing, game management and tactical kicking skills, Thomas Weaver has an opportunity to develop into a very talented young player who can play half back at the NRL or representative level at a young age. The more that Thomas Weaver has the ball in his hands the better it is for his entire team as was evidenced multiple times over recent seasons.

Thomas Weaver is just an outstanding player and one that I cannot think of a current NRL player with similar attributes. For comparison purposes however, Thomas Weaver controls and his side around the field and kicks and passes at the Cooper Cronk level.

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

Thomas Weaver does far more however than control play, he will take the defensive line on regularly and to that extent an ideal comparison when Thomas Weaver runs the ball is Cronulla Sharks and New Zealand International half Shaun Johnson. I would argue however that Thomas Weaver’s speed off the mark and ultimate top end speed eclipses that of Johnston and by a fair margin.

Thomas Weaver is rapidly developing into a very talented young play maker indeed and certainly a player to keep an eye on as he progresses through the Titans junior development ranks. Thomas Weaver is an exceptional talent with a maturity level beyond his young age and shapes as a player who can make the jump to the NRL straight out of high school. In that basis Thomas Weaver may move into the Titans Top 30 NRL squad as early as 2022.

The other exceptional trait that Thomas Weaver possesses is outstanding leadership and it is no wonder that the Titans selected Thomas Weaver to captain their U15, U16 and U18 sides over the last three seasons and that he captained the outstanding 2019 U16 Andrew Johns Cup Northern Rivers Titans side, New South Wales Country U16 side and the 2020 U18 Northern Rivers Titans Laurie Daley Cup side.

Thomas Weaver’s leadership skills are far more than just being the captain of a team, Thomas Weaver has all the hall marks of not just an NRL captain or even a club captain but a representative level one as well.

From a leadership perspective in rugby league, the best I have seen is Cameron Smith and Wally Lewis, Thomas Weaver’s leadership skills are in that same category, he will back his team mates no matter what but at the same time will let them know when they have to change their attitude, behaviour or the way that they are conducting themselves on the field from a playing or attitude perspective.

I am more than comfortable associating the word Ïnspirational”to Thomas Weaver’s leadership attributes, it suits him perfectly.

[mdrew]

Josiah Pahulu. The powerful forward (he can play multiple positions in the forward pack) signed a new three year contract with the Titans in early October 2020.

Josiah Pahulu initially signed with the Titans in early 2019 after starring for one of the two Titans U15 Invitational sides that played a round robin series of matches at Mudgeeraba in February 2019. The other team in the round robin was a Western Mustangs representative side.

Josiah Pahulu started Round One of the 2020 Langer Cup school boy rugby league competition at lock against PBC and in Round Two against St Mary’s Toowoomba. Josiah Pahulu also started at lock and was the best player on the field in Round Three as Ipswich SHSH went down 22 – 16 against Keebra Park. Some of Josiah Pahulu’s defence was simply outstanding with his initial contact impressive as was his ball running including a couple of kick off returns.

Josiah Pahulu started the Langer Cup semi-final against PBC in the front row and even though Ipswich State High School went down 34 – 6, Josiah Pahulu had an outstanding match including a great run from the opening kick off and some outstanding defence including a supurb hit mid-way through the first half.

In the Courier Mail 2020 Langer Cup Team of the Year, Josiah Pahulu was named on the interchange bench and in the Courier Mail 2020 Top 30 South East Queensland school boy rugby/rugby league list he was named at No. 23.

At the Ipswich State High School 202p Sports Awards Night, Josiah Pahulu was named Player of the Season, Best Forward and Best Senior Rugby League Player.

In November 2020, Josiah Pahulu was named in the 2021 Ipswich Jets MM Cup squad and Josiah Pahulu is also MM Cup eligible in 2022.

The powerful, ball of muscle Josiah Pahulu was a member of the 2019 Queensland U15 Emerging Origin Squad and was also part of the Titans U16 side starting in the right second row position in their annual match against the Newcastle Knights Harold Matthews Cup (U16) side in Coffs Harbour in January 2020.

The Titans came away from the match with an 18 – 14 victory in wet conditions and some of the charges (and tackles for that matter) that Josiah Pahulu made were just outstanding especially some of his kick-off returns.

In addition, one of his hit-ups when Josiah Pahulu took the ball from the dummy half he was exceptional and accounted for twenty five odd valuable metres the majority of which were post contact, with the Newcastle Knights half amongst others vainly trying to drag Josiah Pahulu down to no avail.

In early 2020 Josiah Pahulu was selected in the Ipswich Diggers U16 representative side for the U16 South East Queensland Challenge which unfortunately was concelled due to the Civid 19 pandemic. Josiah Pahulu would have played matches against Gold Coast (two) and Brisbane based (three) sides in the Challenge. All of those sides were set to contain multiple Gold Coast Titans contracted players as well.

In early October 2019 Josiah Pahulu was part of the Titans U15 side that played a Balmain Tigers U15 side at Piggabeen in Northern New South Wales with the Titans starting in the second row and producing an outstanding display to win 36 – 14 with Josiah Pahulu starting the match in the right second row position for the Titans and producing some powerful charges into the Balmain Tigers defence including from restarts, both kick offs and drop outs from their in-goal.

Josiah Pahulu was one of the standouts for the Titans U15 sides in their February 2019 matches against another Titans side and the Western Mustangs at the U15 level at Mudgeeraba where he started at lock and produced an outstanding display of rugby league.

In the match, Josiah Pahulu scored a barnstorming try against the other Titans side, taking the ball off the dummy half on the right side of the field and crashing over from around ten metres out from the try line.

Josiah Pahulu made another powerful run of about thirty metres later in the day when he took a short pass inside his own twenty metre line and smashed his way to around the half way line before being brought down in a tackle that required multiple defenders to complete.

Josiah Pahulu also had two try assists in his matches, both coming from off-loads close to the opponents try line, on each occasion the support player was able to score reasonably easily. The first pass was popped out around one a metre from the line with Josiah Pahulu engaged with three defenders and the second was when he got halfway through the line before offloading.

As a result of his performances in the Titans games noted above and over recent seasons for the Springfield Panthers in the Ipswich Junior Rugby League competition and Ipswich State High School, Josiah Pahulu, in early 2019 originally signed a multi-year contract with the Titans then in October 2020 signed a new three year deal with the Titans.

Early in the 2019 season Josiah Pahulu trialled for a spot in the Met West U15 rugby league side and to say he was dominant at the trials would be an understatement including an outstanding try when he received an inside ball easily broke through the defensive line before scoring under the posts from around thirty five metres out.

Josiah Pahulu represented Met West, where for me was the stand out Met West player at the 2019 U15 QSSRL Championships, in particular Josiah Pahulu was outstanding in matches against Peninsula and Met East. Subsequently Josiah Pahulu was selected in the Queensland White side for the 2019 U15 ASSRL Championships.

At the 2019 ASSRL U15 Championships Josiah Pahulu played primarily in the right second row position for the Queensland White side, playing particularly on Day Two against New South Wales Combined High Schools.

Late in 2019 Josiah Pahulu was also named in the Ipswich Diggers U15 Development Squad. Josiah Pahulu was also a standout player for the Ipswich State High School Year Ten side in 2019 playing primarily in the front row for the Ipswich based school leading them to the Quarter Finals of the Brisbane Broncos Cup competition.

In 2018 Josiah Pahulu played for Springfield Panthers Black in the Ipswich U14 competition playing in ten matches and scoring eight tries for an 80% strike rate including a try in the Grand Final that his Springfield side was able to win 24 – 4 against the Redbank Plains Bears.

2018 also saw Josiah Pahulu represent Met West at the U14 level and from there he was selected in the South East Queensland U14 side for the Queensland Age Championships, where he played all four of their matches starting each in the front row.

In 2017 Josiah Pahulu represented the Ipswich Diggers at the U13 level and prior to that Josiah Pahulu represented Toa Samoa in a two day tournament in Auckland. In 2017 Josiah Pahulu was also named the Springfield Panthers International Player of the Year.

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

When the opposition are on the back foot Josiah Pahulu 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 Josiah Pahulu’s speed would be considered about average for a backrower (plus when he is playing in the front row) 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 Josiah Pahulu runs at.

Even though Josiah Pahulu gets back a long way and charges onto the ball to generate spped, he actually has good speed off the mark and ulilises that trait when he runs out of dummy half or when he takes an off load with limited momentum.

Regularly Josiah Pahulu gets a quick play the ball as in a lot of his charges he gets partially through the defensive line but it is also due to his functional strength and powerful leg drive. On occasion players who fight for every metre, such as Josiah Pahulu that impacts on the play the ball, but that is not the case with Josiah Papulu as a result of his core strength as he can move defenders off him by using the power in his legs and twisting appropriately.

Josiah Pahulu is also very effective close to the opposition try line with his ability to burst through tackles. If the defenders do not rush off their line Josiah Pahulu will just drag them across the try line with brute force and power.

With his continued development of which running lines he can utilise, such as running an inside shoulder line when close to the opposition try line Josiah Pahulu will become even more effective and will be an asset to the entire team as defences compress their line to combat his running thus leaving more room our wide for his play makers to exploit.

Simply put Josiah Pahulu is a brute of a ball runner. With his stocky powerful frame, low centre of gravity and bullocking front on running side Josiah Pahulu is an intimidating runner who excels in terms of returning the ball from kick off and drop outs when he is able to build up momentum and the fact that he nevers slows his speed when he hits the line.

The defensive side of his game is similarly impressive, Josiah Pahulu does not just charge wildly up looking for a huge hit but is calculating in where and when to hit. Quite a few of his tackles resulted in a knock on by the opposition as the ball came loose as a result of the impact of the tackle, he just hits so hard.

Josiah Pahulu drives hard with his legs and always uses his shoulder and core body strength to drive into his opponent. With his strength and technique Josiah Papulu should likely always be considered a plus defender regardless of the quality of opponent that he is up against.

Impressive Josiah Papulu is one of a rare breed of bigger forwards that can defend equally as well in the centre of the ruck and on the fringes. With his lateral mobility Josiah Papulu can mirror the movement of attackers and is able to change direction quickly whilst maintaining balance and body control.

Having a sound repeatable defensive technique also aids Josiah Papulu in being able to effectively defend against a variety of different types of attackers in multiple game situations. Similiarly Josiah Papulu is a start young man and he is not fooled or distracted by attempted feits by the attacking team and Josiah Papulu concentrates on his role in the defensive line and is also able to diagnose attacking plays directed at him and is able to quickly work through his options and make the correct defensive read.

Josiah Pahulu will play the 2021 season with the Springfield Panthers in the Ipswich U17 competition and will also play for Ipswich State High School in the GIO Cup and Langer Cup school boy rugby league competitions after starring for the Langer Cup side 2020.

Josiah Pahulu is also a member of the Ipswich Jets 2021 MM Cup side and is also MM Cup eligible in 2022.

Josiah Pahulu has spent time in the second row in previous seasons including for the Titans against Balmain and Newcastle but I believe going forward that he will find his niche at either lock or in the front row and be a dominant representative level one at that.

I know that people see the front row positions and lock as interchangeable these days but I still think that playing lock enables a player to move around the field in attack more and pick and choose where and when to inject himself into the game, thus to that extent I would prefer to see Josiah Papulu in the No. 13 jersey.

Josiah Pahulu is as near a carbon copy for Brisbane Broncos and Samoan International forward Tevita Pangai Jnr as I have ever seen. Both are unbelievably powerful players who can smash through a defensive line themselves with speed and subtle last quick foot work and then have the outstanding speed and mobility to convert their own breaks into points.

In defence Pangai Jnr and Josiah Papulu have strength, power and an outstanding front on tackling technique which means an opposition player will know that they have been hit and hit hard. Equally impressively both can make multiple hard tackles in a row and both shown the ability to completely take over matches for stretches on their own in both attack and defence.

I would argue however that Josiah Pahulu is far less prone to penalties, brain explosions or errors that Tevita Pangai Jnr due to his relative calmness on the field which should not however be mistaken for anything but a cold calculating mind set and steely fire and determination on Josiah Papulu’s behalf.

The Titans have a very special player on their hands with Josiah Pahulu, of that there can be absolutely no doubt, definitely no doubt at all.

[Titanic]

That's a big wrap on Pahulu mdrew ... thanks once again for your efforts throughout this most extraordinary year ... very much appreciated and looking forward to turning the corner into 2021.

[mdrew]

Nicholas Hilton. In early 2019 the young man who is an outstanding talent and a local junior signed a multi-year contract with the Titans that will keep him locked up with the Titans until the end of the 2021 season.

Nicholas Hilton certainly already has the hall marks of a representative level player and captain in years to come. Already Nicholas Hilton’s leadership skills have been identified and utilised by the Titans and Gold Coast junior representative sides on numerous occasions over recent seasons.

In November 2020 Nicholas Hilton was named in the powerful Tweed Heads Seagulls 2021 MM Cup squad.

From a school boy rugby perspective Nicholas Hilton started at No. 6 (blind side flanker) for the TSS First XV in their internal trial in mid-July 2020 even though he was still eligible for the TSS U16A school boy side. Nicholas Hilton also started at No. 6 against Nudgee College being the first trial TSS had against another GPS school. Nicholas Hilton was immediately in the match against Nudgee taking the kick off and was exceptional overall in the match including an incredible workrate in muddy and slippery conditions.

Nicholas Hilton also started at No. 6 in the TSS First XV’s final trial against Anglican Church Grammar School on the Gold Coast where his work rate around the ground stood out once again.

Round One of the GPS school boy rugby First XV competition proper saw Nicholas Hilton start at No. 6 for TSS against Brisbane State High School (BSHS) and such was his performance that Nicholas Hilton received a coaches honourable mention after the match. Two pieces of play in the match highlight all of the good qualities that Nicholas Hilton possesses in abundant quantities. Nicholas Hilton’s work rate and quality of play, both in attack and defence was simply outstanding over the course of the entire sixty minutes of the match.

The first piece of outstanding play came early in the match, Nicholas Hilton through sheer hard running broke through the BSHS line and under heavy pressure off loaded to front rower Carson Latu who ran thirty metres to score.

In the second half, after a TSS try, Nicholas Hilton waited under a high BSHS kick off with what seemed like the entire BSHS forward pack bearing down on him. Nicholas Hilton was immediately smashed as soon as he caught the ball by two BSHS forwards, but maintained his composure to quickly recycle the ball before the BSHS forwards could get back onside leading to a seventy metre try to star TSS centre Jojo Fifita down the blind side from the resultant TSS possession.

Nicholas Hilton also started at No. 6 in Round Two against Toowoomba Grammar School and Round Three against Brisbane Grammar School. In the pivotal 2020 GPS school boy rugby First XV Round Four match against Brisbane Boys College Nicholas Hilton once again started at No. 6 and received one vote by the TSS coaches in the Player of the Year awards.

Round Four saw Nicholas Hilton continue in the No. 6 jersey for TSS against Gregory Terrace on the Gold Coast as he did in Round Five against Ipswich Grammar School.

Post the TSS GPS First XV rugby season Nicholas Hilton was named as the 2020 First XV’s best defender.

TSS had a Round Six bye but the TSS First XV side played a “trial” against Downlands College with Nicholas Hilton starting the match at No. 6 (blind side flanker) and was on the winning side as TSS finished their 2020 season with a 50 – 24 victory.

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 Tigers U15 touring side 34 – 16 in early October 2019 at Cudgen with Nichols Hilton deservedly being named the Titans Player of the Match after an outstanding display.

Nicholas Hilton also scored in the match when he charged from twelve metres out into the Balmain defensive line dragging three defenders with him to get the ball down just to he left of the goal posts for a strong Titans try.

One of Nicholas Hilton’s most recent matches 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, something that he has deservedly done on a number of occasions already. Nicholas Hilton also captained the Titans side that afternoon.

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, not that you would have known from his performance, such was its quality over the course 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 Nicholas Hilton flew out of the marker position and smashed the Newcastle No. 10 with a text book side on hit.

The second instance was when from 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. Nicolas Hilton hit him from the right and Brock Priestley from the left.

The powerful young front rower or lock 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, something else that he has done on a number of occasions.

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.

In February 2020 Nicholas Hilton was named in the Gold Coast Vikings U16 Training Squad for the 2020 South East Queensland pre-season challenge but unfortunately the competition had to be cancelled due to the pandemic just days prior to its commencement.

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 2019 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.

In late 2019 Nicholas Hilton moved to TSS on a rugby scholarship playing in Round Eight against Ipswich Grammar School (IGS) in the U15A match scoring from a pick and drive to cap off his start to his career at TSS in the GPS school boy rugby competition as TSS defeated Ipswich Grammar School 45 - 5.

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 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.

In 2018 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 at Carina in Brisbane.

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, Nicholas Hilton 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 through sheer hard work and effort.

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 impressively gone to another level both from a technique and initial contact perspective.

Another area where Nicholas Hilton has a plus attribute is in relation to his leaderships skills. Nicholas Hilton is a strong confident personality and that translates to a leader on and off the field, this is a trait that you cannot teach, you either have it or you don’t.

Even if he is not the nominated captain on the field Nicholas Hilton is a leader regardless of which team he is lining up for and acts accordingly. The confidence that his team mates have in Nicholas Hilton is just extraordinary.

Clearly the Titans brains trust agree as Nicholas Hilton has captained Titans junior development sides on a number of occasions already.

Nicholas Hilton will play the 2021 season with Nerang in the GCRL U18 Division One competition and will also be part of the Tweed Heads Seagulls MM Cup next season as well.

Nicholas Hilton will continue to play school boy rugby in 2021 in the TSS First XV alongside fellow Titans Kaleb Ngamanu (contracted) and Syris Schmidt (previously linked).

I am not sure whether Nicholas Hilton has played rugby previous to the 2019 season but he palyed the entire 2020 GPS First XV rugby season at No. 6 (blind side flanker) and in 2021 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 and the Titans going forward.

The GPS school boy rugby competition is an outstanding competition in relation to multiple aspects such as quality and ensuring that the boys are well rounded in all aspects on and off the field. 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. The TSS First XV side 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.

[mdrew]

Kaleb Ngamanu. (Revised). The exciting fullback, centre or winger originally signed with the Titans as a 15 year old in 2018 and since has signed a contract extension to ensure that the Titans have one of the most outstanding strike players in Queensland regardless of whether you are talking about rugby league or rugby in their outstanding JTS program.

Multiple NRL clubs as well as the Queensland Reds Super Rugby side were chasing Kaleb Ngamanu so it is certainly a mark of confidence that Kaleb Ngamanu extended his deal with the Titans in the face of so many rival offers from both codes.

From a trivia perspective Kaleb Ngamanu is the younger brother of former Queensland Reds Super Rugby and Brisbane Boys College First XV stand outs Jayden and Cullen Ngamanu. The fact that is older brothers played at BBC meant that it was I am sure bitter sweet when Kaleb Ngamanu was part of the TSS First XV that knocked BBC out of the GPS School Boy First XV title race in late 2019 at BBC’s Toowong campus in an outstanding game of school boy rugby that was in the balance until the final minute of the match. Unfortunately Kaleb Ngamanu was not able to see out the match as a result of a jaw injury that he suffered near half time.

In November 2020 Kaleb Ngamanu was named in the powerful Tweed Heads Seagulls 2021 MM Cup squad.

Kaleb Ngamanu started Round One of the 2020 MM Cup competition for the Tweed Heads Seagulls on the left wing against the Northern Pride scoring in the 14th minute of the first half as the Seagulls recorded a big first up victory. Unfortunately the Seagulls chase for repeat Queensland and National U18 success in 2020 was hamstrung by the Covid 19 pandemic.

In early July 2020 Kaleb Ngamanu was part of the TSS Senior Squad that undertook a three day rugby camp prior to the commencement of the 2020 GPS School Boy Rugby First XV competition and played the 2020 GPS school boy First XV season as a full colours TSS rugby representative.

Kaleb Ngamanu started at No. 12 (inside centre) as well as being named vice captain for the TSS First XV in their internal trial in mid-July 2020 and also started at inside centre against Nudgee College being the first trial TSS had against another GPS school. Kaleb Ngamanu was also the TSS vice captain for that trial as well.

Against Nudgee Kaleb Ngamanu had some very good moments including putting in the kick that resulted in the try that put TSS in front for good with two minutes to go. Kaleb Ngamanu received the ball to the right of the break down on around the half way mark and put in a right foot kick along the ground into space behind the Nudgee line, after the ball was retrieved by TSS, Jojo Fifita dived over out wide to seal a TSS 24 – 21 victory.

Kaleb Ngamanu also started at No. 12 and was also vice captain in the TSS First XV’s final trial against Anglican Church Grammar School on the Gold Coast. Kelab Ngamanu made numerous linke breaks in the match, including one in the first half off a TSS line out win when he split the Churchie defence running forty metres but he could not quite set up his support runer, being Jojo Fifita.

Also in the first half, Kaleb Ngamanu produced an outstanding series of playes which ended in a TSS try. With Churchie on the attack, Kaleb Ngamanu ripped the ball away from a Churchie attacker, retrieved it and went on a fifrty metre run down the left touch line. When he was eventually tackled, Kaleb Ngamanu recycled the ball quickly for Jye Gray to grubber through the disorganised Churchie line to score under the posts.

Round One of the GPS school boy rugby First XV competition proper saw Kaleb Nagmanu start at No. 12 and run on as TSS vice captain against Brisbane State High School. Round Two against Toowoomba Grammar School saw Kaleb Ngamanu move to outside centre (No. 13), scoring his first try of the season when he backed up on the inside after a one on one steal by Syris Schmidt to run forty metres to score. Kaleb Ngamanu laos made a thirty metre break early in the match which generated momentum for TSS eventually leading to Syris Schmidt slicing through the Toowoomba Grammar School defence to score.

Kaleb Ngamanu started at outside centre and vice captain once again in Round Three against Brisbane Grammar School recording a critical try assist late in the match when he burst through two defenders down a short blind side charing thirty metres before offloading to his right to his winger to score a key try in a 20 – 15 TSS victory.

In the pivotal 2020 GPS school boy rugby First XV Round Four match against Brisbane Boys College Kaleb Ngamanu moved back to inside centre. In Round Four against Gregory Terrace Kaleb Ngamanu moved back to No. 13 (outside centre) for the home match making a critical break down the right touch line in the dying moments of the match. TSS received a penalty from the next phase which Syris Schmidt kicked after the final siren to secure a 23 – 22 victory. Kaleb Ngamanu received one vote by the TSS coaches in the TSS First XV 2020 Player of the Season voting.

Kaleb Ngamanu continued at outside centre (No. 13) for Round Five against Ipswich Grammar School.

TSS had a Round Six bye but the TSS First XV side played a “trial”against Downlands College with Kaleb Ngamau starting at No. 13 and was vice-captain once again and was on the winning side as TSS finished their 2020 season with a 50 – 24 victory.

Kaleb Ngamanu also represented TSS in the 2020 GPS schools Athletics Competition as part of the TTS 4 x 100 metre Open Relay team. Kaleb Ngamanu ran the third leg of the relay for TSS who finished 7th in a time of 44.69 seconds.

Kaleb Ngamanu is originally from Western Australia where he played two years of rugby league for the Joondalup Giants who moved over to the Gold Coast at the start of 2016 season, making every post a winner since that time in his junior rugby league career and for that matter in school boy rugby for the Southport School (TSS) including the First XV side and in 2019 signed a new contract with the Titans which will keep him with the club for the next couple of seasons.

One of Kaleb Ngamanu’s most recent matches for the Titans was when he started at fullback for the Titans U16 squad in their early October 2019 match against PNG at Pizzey Park and made a great fist of the fullback role regularly chiming into the Titans back line as they easily accounted for the PNG U16 side 44 – 12.

In January 2019 Kaleb Ngamanu started on the left wing for the Titans U16 side against the Newcastle Knights U16 Harold Matthews squad in Coffs Harbour and was very unlucky not to be awarded a second half try. To be honest I am still unsure why the try was disallowed, Kaleb Ngamanu flashed into the back line from the fullback position on the left hand side of the field and broke through two Knights defenders to seemingly score but the try was disallowed I assume for a lost ball but to be honest, from my vantage point it seemed like a certain try.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Early in 2019, Kaleb Ngamanu was part of the Gold Coast Vikings U16 side that played in the South East Queensland U16 Challenge and post that championship was named in the South East Queensland U16 train on squad.

Kaleb Ngamanu started on the left wing for the Queensland City U16 side in their match against Queensland Country U16’s, playing the entire seventy minutes. Kaleb Ngamanu ran for 45.1 metres in the match and made three tackles at a 75% tackling efficiency. It was just one of those frustrating matches for a winger as the ball just did not go out Kaleb Ngamanu’s way but credit to him, Kaleb Ngamanu certainly went looking to get involved as often as possible.

Kaleb Ngamanu started the 2019 season for the Coomera Cutters in the GCRL U16 Division One competition, starting in the centres in Round One against Burleigh and scoring in the match which was his one and only GCRL match of the season.

Kaleb Ngamanu kicked off his 2019 school boy rugby campaign for The Southport School (TSS) in late April 2019 when he was part of the TSS Second XV side that defeated the touring New Zealand School New Plymouth Boys High 36 – 0, starting the match at inside centre. Kaleb Ngamanu then was on the bench for the TSS First XV side that went down 31 – 29 also against New Plymouth Boys High.

Kaleb Ngamanu made his TSS First XV run on debut in a trial against Brisbane State High School in May 2019 with TSS winning 57 – 12.

Kaleb Ngamanu was once against part of the TSS First XV squad for the next set of GPS rugby trials against Brisbane State High School (BSHS) and Gregory Terrace at the TSS campus on the Gold Coast, in late May 2019 with Kaleb Ngamanu named on the bench. TSS won the trial against Gregory Terrace but went down against BSHS in the second match.

Kaleb Ngamanu started TSS’s next trial against Nudgee College in the right wing (No. 14) for the TSS First XV. Kaleb Ngamanu moved to the left wing (No. 11) for the TSS First XV’s next trial against Ipswich Grammar School at Ipswich.

Kaleb Ngamanu started at outside centre for the TSS First XV in their final GPS rugby trial prior to their Round One fixture against Nudgee College with TSS winning 10 - 5 away to Sunshine Coast Grammar School.

In Round One of the 2019 GPS school boy rugby competition season proper, Kaleb Ngamanu started on the right wing for TSS against Nudgee College and was outstanding defensively, both in terms of his initial contact and cover defence.

In the match the ball did not get out to his right wing a great deal but Kaleb Ngamanu did have an outstanding run late in the second half where he dragged a number of Nudgee defenders five or six metres. Kaleb Ngamanu actually crossed the line in the second half but the final pass was called back for being forward. To be fair it was only two or three metres forward.

Kaleb Ngamanu also showcased his hands in Round One taking producing a great contest catch of a TSS box kick under extreme pressure to maintain TSS’s momentum in a pivotal moment of the first half.

Kaleb Ngamanu was also outstanding in Round Two as TSS thrashed Churchie 64 – 7 with Kaleb Ngamanu starting on the right wing but moving into inside centre around the 10 minute mark after an injury.

From that position Kaleb Ngamanu scored his first First XV try of the career. At a set piece about fifteen metres out from the Churchie line, Kaleb Ngamanu originally lined up in the left of the piece but rotated around to the right receiving the ball in space.

Kaleb Ngamanu ran at the opposition defensive line which started to back pedal holding the ball in both hands and after shaping to pass the ball to his right Kaleb Ngamanu ran hrough the resultant gap in the line to score mid-way between the touch line and goal post on the right hand side of the field.

After finishing Round Two at inside centre, Kaleb Ngamanu started there in Round Three against Brisbane State High School. In the first half Kaleb Ngamanu focussed primarily on ball playing for his outside backs but in the second half ran the ball more and came close to scoring twice.

Kaleb Ngamanu also started at inside centre in Round Four against Toowoomba Grammar School in Toowoomba scoring his second try of the season as well as recording a try assist and also being heavily involved in a few others.

Kaleb Ngamanu’s try assist came in the second half and was as a result of a great sleight of hand from a set play. From a TSS scrum win on the Toowoomba Grammar School twenty metre line Kaleb Ngamanu received the ball to the right of the scrum and produced an outstanding no look pop up pass to his right as the TSS left winger looped around to charge through the resultant gap to score adjacent to the left upright.

Kaleb Ngamanu’s try (his second of the season) came late in the match, Kaleb Ngamanu picked up the ball on from the back of a ruck and drove to his left to score from close range to round out a 62 – 3 TSS route.

Round Five against Brisbane Grammar School saw Kaleb Ngamanu continue at inside centre scoring for the second week in a row and third for the season. Kaleb Ngamanu’s try can only be considered a superb effort. In the 16th minute of the first half, Kaleb Ngamanu received the ball to the right of the ruck and ran diagonally to his right and used a great fend which literally knocked the Brisbane Grammar School fly half (now at Keebra Park), being Connor Te Kani off his feet.

Once that occurred Kaleb Ngamanu ran through the resultant gap to score mid-way between the goal posts and the right corner flag under pressure from two more BGS defenders for a simply outstanding individual try.

In Round Six Kaleb Ngamanu started once again at inside centre against fellow unbeaten school Brisbane Boys College at Toowong in Brisbane in essentially what was the GPS First XV Premiership decider between the only remaining unbeaten schools.

Unfortunately Kaleb Ngamanu was forced off the field with a cheek bone injury in the early minutes of the second half in TSS’s 23 – 20 victory in front of a massive crowd at Toowong in Brisbane’s west that knocked BBC out of the GPS First XV Premiership race.

The win ensured that TSS were the 2019 GPS School Boy rugby First XV Champions and it is a touch ironic that it came against BBC which was the school that Kaleb Ngamanu’s two older brothers starred for being Cullen and Jayden Ngamanu.

Kaleb Ngamanu in 2019 was also part of the Queensland U18 Reds Academy Rugby side that defeated Victoria 46 – 18 with Kaleb Ngamanu coming off the bench to play on the right wing and mid-way through the second half set up a try when he drew the Rebels fullback and passed back inside to the Reds outside centre to score after a long run down the right touch line.

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

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

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

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

Kaleb Ngamanu is also part of the 2019 U16 Queensland Emerging Origin squad and in their opposed session was on the same side as fellow Titans Bailey Martin and Orlando Swain.

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

In 2018 Kaleb Ngamanu played club rugby league for the Coomera Cutters and obviously for TSS in terms of school boy rugby and for Queensland II in the Australian U16 Rugby Championships.

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

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

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

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

Kaleb Ngamanu also played club rugby on the Gold Coast in 2018 season at the U15 level for the Griffith University Colleges side and started at outside centre in the Grand Final which they won 47 – 19 against the Helensvale Hogs and Cbus stadium as a curtain raiser to the 2018 Rugby International between Argentina and the Wallabies.

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

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

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

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

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

Kaleb Ngamanu also played one match for Coomera in the 2017 U14 Division Two competition (his regular age group) which was against the Robina Raptors, he then backed up to play for his “regular” U15 Division One side later that Friday night.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Kaleb Ngamanu had a very solid match for the Titans U15 side at Nerang in March 2018 playing on the left wing outside of JT Manuofetoa who was also outstanding on the day. In fact their combination was responsible for Kaleb Ngamanu’s try that Sunday when they used their numbers perfectly to send Kaleb Ngamanu down the left touch line in the second half for him to score in the corner to open up the Titans lead.

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

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

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

Kaleb Ngamanu also has very good hands low to the ground on grubber kicks or when defenders drop bombs and uses his reach to get to the ball quickly before defenders. Kaleb Ngamanu will also chase general play kicks with vigour trying to improve the effectiveness of his teams kicking game.

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

Kaleb Ngamanu was set to play the 2021 Gold Coast Junior Rugby League season with the Coomera Cutters in the U18 Division One competition.

Kaleb Ngamanu will also continue to play school boy rugby with TSS, in 2021 once against in their First XV once again likely at inside centre (No. 12) and a likely leadership role. 2021 will also see Kaleb Ngamanu line up for the Tweed Heads Seagulls MM Cup squad for the second season in a row.

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

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

I really am a proponent of youngsters playing multiple different sports, in this case in relation to Kaleb Ngamanu rugby at a high level in the GPS school boy rugby First XV competition and there is absolutely no doubt Kaleb Ngamanu’s time in that competition has accelerated his development exponentially.

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

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

No NFL dreams please Kaleb Ngamanu!

[mdrew]

William Semu. The Brisbane based young second rower signed a multi-year contract with the Titans in early 2020 that will see him in Titans colours for the next couple of seasons at least. A great signing for the Titans which will no doubt pay handsome dividends for both the Titans and Willima Semu over coming seasons.

In 2020 William Semu attended Marsden State High School as part of their Rugby League Excellence Program playing in the Hancock Cup school boy rugby league competition across a number of positions including fullback and second row even though in previous seasons he was more known exclusively known as a second rower. A 2020 Hancock Cup team mate was Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa who was a fellow Titans contracted player.

In Round One of the 2020 Hancock Cup against PBC William Semu was outstanding as Marsden went on to record a big win with William Semu scoring a second half try in the match. With Marsden attacking the line around three metres out, William Semu called the ball off the dummy half down a short blind side on the left ofteh field and beat three defenders, including one with a spin move to score in the left corner.

In Round Two against Forest Lake State High School, William Semu also started at fullback (yes fullback) and was once again a key contributor to Marsdens big win including scoring for the second 2020 Hancock Cup match in a row.

With Marsden on the attack ten metres out from the Forest Lake try line on the right of the field William Semu was standing behind the play the ball. Just as the ball was played William Semu took off to the right of the play the ball. Once he received the ball off the dummy half William Semu charged straight at the line and ran straight over the top of the initial defender before bringing the ball around to place it under the posts.

Round Four against Wavell State High School saw William Semu move to the left second row position and he had a huge match scoring a hat trick (and came close to scoring two others late in the match) as Marsden State High School had a big win against their Brisbane school rivals.

William Semu’s first try which was in fact the first try of the match was an outstanding long range individual effort by the talented young man. William Semu came back underneath the Marsden five eight on the left side of the field and burst through the Wavell defence forty five metres out from the Wavell line and easily rounded the fullback to bring the ball around to put it down under the goal posts.

William Semu’s second try of the first half came when he ran into a gap ten metres out from the Wavell State High School try line on the left side of the field off a well timed and weighted pass from fellow Titan contracted player, Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa. As soon as William Semu received the ball he stepped off his right foot to ensure that the gap stayed directly in front of him and then no-one was going to prevent him from scoring mid-way between the corner post and goal post on the left side of the field.

William Semu completed his hat trick in the second half. With a scrum with a Marsden feed ten out from the line and ten metres in from the left touch line William Semu packed in at lock. William Semu picked up the ball at the base of the scrum and took off to the left down the short blind side and brushing off two defenders to score in the left corner.

William Semu, playing left second row added a further Hancock Cup try in Round Five against Coombabah State High School when once again he packed into a scrum with a Marsden feed at lock ten metres out from the line and ten metres in from touch. William Semu picked up the ball from the base of the scrum running to his left down the blind side and crashed over between two Coombabah defenders. The try was identical to a try that William Semu scored in Round Four against Wavell State High School.

William Semu could have had a double in the match, but after an oustanding run when he took the ball fifty metres out and stepping off his right foot to beat the initial defensive line. A strong right arm fend saw William Semu beat the fullback and stumble in the tackle before getting to his feet but the ball was stripped out over the try line.

In the Hancock Cup Grand Final against PBC William Semu started at left second row in Marsden’s after the final siren 26 – 24 win and produced some outstanding runs including one memorable one midway through the hfirst half when after taking the ball off a Marsden Penalty restart charged directly through the PBC defensive line making twenty five metres through pur strength and power.

William Semu imposed his incredible skill on the match in the first half. Marsden put up a bomb towards William Semu’s side of the field. William Semu leapt above the PBC defence to take the contested ball on the full around eighteen metre out. William Semu maintained his balance when he landed and took off towards the try line. When he grabbed by the PBC defence, William Semu produced a top quality off load to his left with his right arm to send his support over for Marsden’s third try of the match.

After the competition of the preliminary rounds of the Hancock Cup and prior to the Grand Final William Semu made the move to the Marsden State High School Walters Cup side coming off the bench in their 14 – 12 semi-final victory over Keebra Park to progress to the Grand Final against PBC, scoring a first half try.

Keebra Park put in a short attacking kick which was fielded in the in goal by the Marsden fullback who took off down the left touch line, as the cover defence came across he passed inside to William Semu who had loomed up and sprinted fifity metres to score in the left corner.

In the 2020 Walters Cup Grand Final William Semu started at right centre for Marsden State High School as they defeated PBC with William Semu deservedly named player of the match on the back of a two try performance and setting up Marsden’s opening try.

As noted above, William Semu got the try assist for Marsden’s first try when after being tackled low, produced a perfect right armd flick pass to his right winger to race eighteen metres to score.

William Semu scored his first try of the match in the first half in a brutal display of size, speed, power and aggressiveness. William Semu backed up a break by the Marsden right winger. Once William Semu received the pass on the inside he immediately cut back towards the touch line around twenty metres out. On his way to the line, William Semu produced two powerful and aggressive left arm fends to literally throw off two attempted tackles before diving over for an outstanding try.

William Semu’s second try of the match which came in the second half was a long range solo effort when he swooped on a PBC error running eighty five metres, easily outpacing the PBC defence to score under the posts at the Easts League Club end of Langlands Park.

In the Courier Mail 2020 Top 30 South East Queensland school boy rugby/rugby league list William Semu who was the youngest player on the list was named at No. 26.

The outstanding young second rower proved to be almost unstoppable on the left side of the field for the Titans U14 side in February 2019 in their 32 – 8 win over the Western Mustangs at Mudgeeraba in February 2019 and in fact was named the Titans best in the match that saw him score an outstanding individual try down the left side of the field that left a number of Western Mustangs on the ground in his wake. In the match William Semu formed a lethal left side combination with centre Karl Oloapu.

WIlliam Semu nd also started in the left second row position for the Titans U14 side that defeated a Titans NRRRL U14/15 Invitational side 32 – 10 in early October 2019 in a thoroughly entertaining and high quality match.

William Semu played for Carina in the 2019 GBJRL U14 Division One competition where a team mate was fellow Titans contracted player Hayden Miller. In total for Carina William Semu played in thirteen matches scoring three tries to finish with a 23.01% strike rate.
William Semu made his return from injury in Round Ten of the GBJRL U14 Division One competition against Souths Acacia Ridge and started the match in the No. 7 jersey. Throughout the match, William Semu operated on the left side both in attack and defence and made some good plays, including one outstanding run down the left touch line which looked like leading to an outstanding long range individual try but unfortunately William Semu just put his foot on the touch line to stymie an outstanding move.

With Carina in front late in the game against the previously undefeated South Acacia Ridge side, William Semu also pulled off some outstanding defence on his own try line, constantly turning back the Souths attack.

William Semu was heavily involved in Carina’s 2019 U14 GBJRL Finals series including their Major Semi-final victory over Souths Acacia Ridge and started at left second row in the Grand Final once again against Souths Acacia Ridge but unfortunately Carina went down 28 – 4.

In the Grand Final however William Semu has more than solid especially defensively including an outstanding try saving tackle right on his own try line to save what looked like a certain Souths Acacia Ridge try.

William Semu was due to represent the Brisbane Blue U14 side at the 2019 Hill Stumer Championships but was forced to miss the Championships where he was named in the second row for the Brisbane Blue side due to a wrist injury.

Post the GBJRL competition William Semu was named in the 2019 U14 Queensland Samoa side for the 2019 QPICC Championships. William Semu started in the U14 Final for Samoa as they went down 8 – 6 to PNG but scored a double in Round Three (one try in each half) also against PNG.

2019 also saw William Semu co-captain the Marsden State High School Broncos Challenge Year Eight school boy rugby league side, highlighting his leadership attributes and the esteem that William Semu is held in across the rugby league world.

In 2018 William Semu played for Carina in the GBJRL U13 Premier Division competition and started in the second row in the Grand Final with his Carina side coming away victorious 26 – 12 against a Redcliffe side that contained former Titans linked U14 player Karl Oloapu who started the match at five eight for the Dolphins.

2018 also saw the Marsden State High School student represent Brisbane Blue in the U13 trials and in 2017 William Semu represent Met East at the Queensland U12 Championships were he was selected in the centres.

William Semu is an outstanding athlete and this can be seen when be he is running with the football. In his carries William Semu rarely takes a hit up without movement, he uses foot work prior to the line to look to break through as well as cutting either cutting back in behind the play the ball or cutting out towards the smaller defenders on the fringes of the ruck.

William Semu runs ‘fast’ into the defensive and his foot work prior to the line enables him to get partly through the line quite often, certainly more so than you would expect for a backrower taking the ball through the centre of the ruck. One reason for this is that he is a smart footballer, he does not try to run over defenders, but he runs at the gaps between defenders and uses his running speed to break through if defenders only use their arms on the tackle.

William Semu does not necessarily have a great top end speed, but he is certainly fast enough to get through to the full back prior to the arrival of the cover defence.

Playing on the left hand side of the field seemingly more often, means that his left foot step and his fending using his right hand are the effective attributes, but based on his physical attributes, his skill set and his understanding of how to play the game means that I have no doubt that these attributes are transferrable to playing on the left hand side of the field.

In defence William Semu regularly is the first player up to target the ball carriers, even though he is not one of the bigger forwards in his team and will make solid initial contact as well as having the ability of defending one on one.

When the opportunity presents William Semu 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 he 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.
William Semu will play the 2021 season in the U16 GBJRL Division One competition.

2021 will see William Semu become a key member of the Marsden State High School GIO Cup and Langer Cup Open A school boy rugby league campaigns as a 16 year old. Late in the 2020 school year, William Semu commenced training with the Marsden State High School Open side which is a good indicator that he will move directing into the Marsden GIO Cup and Open A Langer Cup school boy sides in 2021.

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

I appreciate that William Semu also spent time in the halves for Carina in the 2019 GBJRL U14 Division One competition this season but I firmly believe that second row, specifically left second row is his ideal position moving forward.

Potentially William Semu may also be able to play in the centres like he did for the Met East U12 representative side in 2017. To be perfectly honest William Semu would be a potent force at left centre with his size, speed and strength.

Interestingly in 2020 for Marsden William Semu played a number of matches at fullback and certainly did not look out of place with his ball running, defence and ability to lead and direct Marsden around the field. William Semu also spent time in the centres for the Marsden State High School Walters Cup side, including a two try Player of the Match effort in the 2020 Walters Cup Grand Final.

From a style perspective think of a someone along the lines of new Titans 2021 signing, former Brisbane Bronco, Queensland State of Origin and Australian International second rower David Fifita as an intense aggressive exceptionally talented well-rounded backrower with the ability to break the line by himself or as a result of running a good line, William Semu then like Fifita has more than enough speed to break into space prior to looking for his support players if he can not go all of the way, which they both have the speed to do.

In the Hancock Cup (and some matches in the Walters Cup) in 2020 for Marsden anyone watching William Semu play could have been excused for thinking that they were watching Penrith Panthers fullback or centre Christian Creighton running around such was William Semu’s class in that competition and position being fullback and centre.

Like David Fifita, William Semu is also an extremely efficient and effective defender who will hit hard when the opportunity presents itself and looks to always dominate his opponents both mentally and physically in all aspects of the game. Similarly both William Semu and Fifita play the left second row position although there is no doubt that both could also swap over and play on the right side of the field as well, as both have done at times in 2020.

Put simply William Semu is just an outstanding talent in both rugby (both fifteen man and 7’s) and rugby league and the sky is the limit in terms of just how far he could go in his rugby league career and it great that the start of that journey (and hopefully end) will be with the Titans.

[mdrew]

Noah Gafa. (Revised) The young centre or second rower was deservedly part of the Titans JTS program for a number of seasons, signing a deal with the Titans during the 2017 season and continues to go from strength to strength whether Noah Gafa is playing in the second row or wider out in the centres.

To be sure Noah Gafa can play both positions at a high level with the evidence on display over the last couple of seasons in both club and school boy rugby league.

Noah Gafa started Round One of the 2020 Hastings Deering’s Colts competition for the Tweed Heads Seagulls at left centre against the Northern Pride and scoring when he held off his opposing centre in the Seagulls first up victory as they looked to replicate their 2019 success. Unfortunately that desire was cruelled by the Covid 19 pandemic.

When rugby league restarted in late July 2020 Noah Gafa moved to the NRRRL competition to play for the Mullumbimby Giants and started at right centre as they went down 26 - 12 to the Byron Bay Devils in Round Two of the NRRRL First Grade competition.

With restrictions continuing to bite, Noah Gafa made his GCRL First Grade debut at left second row in Round Four for the Burleigh Bears and scored a double as the Bears defeated the Tugun Seahawks 66 – 0.

Noah Gafa scored his first try in the first half when he was on hand to receive a pass from Jordan Scott after a Burleigh charge down to score from close range. Noah Gafa’s second try came in the second half and resulted from a Noah Gafa strat hard run from three metres out when he ran off a pass from the dummy half to the left of the play the ball.

As a result of this outstanding GCRL First Grade debut in Round Four, Noah Gafa started at left second row once again in Round Five against the Mudgeeraba Redbacks.

Noah Gafa also played multiple matches for Burleigh in the 2020 GCRL U20 competition including an outstanding performance in Round Six against the Helensvale Hornets when he started at left second row and scoring an outstanding try when he charged through the defensive line from around ten metres out from the line before running over the the Hornets fullback to score a powerful try in the first half.

Noah Gafa was also heavily involved in one of Burleigh’s second half tries when he burt through the centre of the Helensvale forward pack before off-loading to his right, with Burleigh scoring from a subsequent kick forward.

Noah Gafa also had a impressive match, starting at left second row in Burleigh’s last minute Preliminary Final loss 26 – 24 to Helensvale. Noah Gafa provided difficult to stop in the match including multiple right arm offloads when he was engaged with the defensive line) usually he had his back to the defensive line and was able to get his right arm above his head to offload). Noah Gafa also produced a long line break through the centre of the ruck in the dying minutes of the match.

In January of 2019 Noah Gafa started at right centre for the Tians U18’s in their match against the Newcastle Knights. Midway through the first half however when Will Evans moved to fullback as a result of an injury reshuffle, Noah Gafa moved to the other side of the field to right centre where he remained for the duration of the match.

Noah Gafa also started at left centre for the Titans U18 side in their big win over PNG at Pizzey park in early October 2019 and was one of multiple Titans try scorers in the match when he crossed untouched after running an inside shoulder route from close range (ten metres). The Titans were far too big and strong for the PNG side that Friday noght at Pizzey Park.

After missing Round One Noah Gafa started Round Two of the 2019 MM Cup competition on the left wing for Tweed Heads against the Townsville Blackhawks and certainly made an impact including scoring the final try of the match to ensure that Tweed Heads came away from the game on the winning side.

In the 2019 Round Three MM Cup local derby against Burleigh Noah Gafa scored for the second match in a row. Playing left centre Noah Gafa split the Burleigh defence from about fifty five metres out and was just too quick for the cover defence to score out wide for the Seagulls first try of the match in their close victory over their local rivals.

Noah Gafa missed the remainder of the 2019 MM Cup competition post the Round Three derby agaisnt the Tweed Heads Seagulls.

After missing a number of weeks through injury Noah Gafa made his way back onto the field in Round Eight of the 2019 GCRL U18 Division One competition starting on the bench for Burleigh against Tugun. Noah Gafa made his first start of the season in Round Nine lining up in the centres against Currumbin.

In total for Burleigh in the 2019 GCRL U18 Division One regular season competition Noah Gafa played in five regular season matches scoring his first try and only try in the regular season rounds in Round Thirteen against Bilambil.

Noah Gafa started in the centres for Burleigh in their 34 -4 U18 Division One Week Two Finals victory over Southport 34 – 4 to progress directly to the Grand Final.

Noah Gafa started the Grand Final against Southport at left centres scoring twice in Burleigh’s 28 – 12 win.

Both of Noah Gafa’s two Grand Final tries came from short range in the second half, on each occasions the Burleigh dummy half’s (Try One – Lachlan Adamson, Try Two – Dakota Whalan) took the ball down a short blind side and passed to Noah Gafa who powered onto the ball on both occasions to score, for the first try Noah Gafa was able to bring the ball all of the way around to put the ball down under the posts.

Noah Gafa made his first Hastings Deering’s Colts appearance of the 2019 season in Round Nineteen when he started in the centres against the Mackay Cutters and also started in the centres in Round Twenty against the Ipswich Jets and in Round Twenty Three against the Northern Pride when Noah Gafa started at right centre once again.

Prior to the 2018 Gold Coast Rugby League season proper, Noah Gafa was part of the 2018 Tweed Heads Seagulls MM Cup squad playing in all seven of their matches including their final’s match against South’s Logan.

Noah Gafa started his first five matches in the centres before starting from the interchange bench in Round Seven against Easts and then again in the semi-final against South’s Logan.

In the 2018 MM Cup competition Noah Gafa scored two tries, coming against the Victorian Thunderbolts in Round two and against the Townsville Blackhawks in Round Five.

Noah Gafa made his Hastings Deering’s Colts debut for the Tweed Heads Seagulls in Round Sixteen of the 2018 season against Burleigh starting in the centres and started on the wing in Round Seventeen against Wynnum Manly scoring two tries in an impressive display especially when you are talking about a 17 year old playing against 20 year olds.

Noah Gafa also started on the wing in Round Eighteen against the Souths Logan Magpies and in the centres in Round Twenty against the Mackay Cutters in round out his four Colts matches that season.

For Currumbin in the 2018 Gold Coast Rugby League U17 Division One competition, Noah Gafa made on outstanding start starting in the centres in each of his six matches and scoring a total of nine tries along the way for a 150% strike rate.

Noah Gafa scored a hat trick against Tweed Heads in Round Five and also scored against Mudgeeraba, Helensvale, Ormeau and Bilambil in the opening four rounds to lead the U17 Division One try scoring list. Noah Gafa’s other regular season try came against Burleigh in Round Six.

Noah Gafa was heavily involved in Currumbin’s 2018 final’s campaign which culminated with Noah Gafa starting in the second row in the Grand Final with Currumbin prevailing 30 – 10 over a Runaway Bay side which was led by fellow Titans contracted youngster Carsil Vaikai.

Noah Gafa scored one of his nine tries in the finals crossing in Week Two of the finals in a 32 – 22 Currumbin win over Burleigh.

Noah Gafa was also in outstanding form for PBC in 2018 including being involved in their matches against Keebra Park 22 – 20 win, Ipswich State High School 24 – 18 win and Marsden State High School 38 – 10 win in the Langer Cup competition when he started at left centre and scored two second half tries.

Noah Gafa was also involved in PBC’s Queensland GIO Cup Quarter Final and semi-final victories, including scoring a double in the semi-final victory over Ignatius Park. Noah Gafa’s first try came early in the first half when he ran an outside shoulder route close to the try line and received a good ball from hooker Jed Edwards to crash over.

Noah Gafa’s second try came late in the second half. After a break from PBC half Thomas Dearden, Noah Gafa backed up to receive the pass from Dearden and outpaced the defence to score untouched.

In the Queensland GIO Cup final against Kirwan State High School Noah Gafa started at left centre, partnering fellow Titans contracted player Will Evans as PBC overcame Kirwan State High School 32 – 26 to qualify for the National GIO Cup Final. In a great sign for the Titans both Noah Gafa and Will Evans scored doubles in the win with one of the tries the two combining for Noah Gafa to cross out wide in the second half.

Noah Gafa started at left centre for PBC in the GIO Cup National Final against Patrician Brothers College Blacktown with PBC becoming National GIO Cup Championships with a 20 – 12 win with Noah Gafa damaging on the left side of the field.
Post the National GIO Cup final Noah Gafa was part of the PBC touring side that went to Fiji and was part of the PBC side that defeated a Fijian U18 side, fellow Titan Will Evans was also in the PBC side that won by around thirty odd points.
In the 2017 U16 GCJRL Division One competition, Noah Gafa scored 38 points for the Currumbin Eagles which has come from eight tries and three goals. All three of Noah Gafa’s goals came in the one match in June against the Ormeau Shearers.

From a try scoring perspective, Noah Gafa had a great run of four matches from April 28 to May 26 2017 where he scored in all four matches which, in order, where against Ormeau, Runaway Bay, Helensvale and against Ormeau a second time.

Noah Gafa also scored a hat trick against Burleigh in August against Burleigh and the match prior to that scored against Helensvale. Currumbin were the deserved Grand Final winners in the 2017 GCJRL U16 Division One competition, with Noah Gafa starting in the second row in their 34 – 4 Grand Final victory over Burleigh.

In 2017 Noah Gafa was also a key member of the PBC Open Rugby League side that performed so will in the GIO Cup competition and in fact he scored in their tough Queensland GIO Cup semi-final loss to Marsden State High School 22 – 20.

Earlier in 2017 season, Noah Gafa was selected in the Gold Coast Vikings Green U16 side for their South East Queensland U16 pre-season competition and in 2013 Noah Gafa was selected in the Queensland U12 side with fellow Titan Alofiana Khan-Periera.

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

For a player of his size, Noah Gafa also has a very good passing game especially to his left side as you would anticipate from a left sided player in the main. When the ball is passed out to the back line, Noah Gafa is very good at straitening up the attacking vector of his team and pass to his outside supports if they have room to move further out wide.

From a speed perspective has above average to plus speed for both his size and position and when he breaks into open space, he will not be caught from behind other than from only the quickest of opponents and he is also very good at positioning his support players when he gets to the fullback. The only possible question about Noah Gafa’s speed is whether it will stay at or near the plus category as he matures and inevitably fills out.

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

Naoh Gafa also has long arms which assist him in defending when opposing players break to his outside, Noah Gafa can extend and hold before bringing his shoulder into play to complete the tackle.

Other defenders key off Noah Gafa in terms of whether to use an up and in methodology and slide to the outside. Noah Gafa on an individual level has the body control to redirect quickly and mirror the movement of the opposing attackers and anticipate what vector the attack comes from and innately understands when to allow the attacking play to develop in from of him and when to come out of the line to disrupt the attacking play prior to its formation.

Noah Gafa is U20 Hastings Deering’s Colts eligible again in 2021 but instead of playing in the Hastings Deering’s Colts competition has chosen to play the 2021 season with the Mullumbimby Giants in the NRRRL First Grade competition.

From a position perspective, Noah Gafa has played well in the centres in recent seasons including in 2019 for Tweed Heads in the MM Cup competition and Burleigh where he has played left centre in the Gold Coast Tugby League U18 Division One competition, but there is just something about the way that Noah Gafa plays that suggests that he will ultimately end up in the second row but not necessarily for a few years though.

As a young player Noah Gafa seemingly has it all, size, strength, size and power and uses those attributes to his advantage on a football field. For me a current rugby league player with similar attributes and a similar playing style is Manly’s backrower Joel Thompson, as a big strong player who can transition between centre (certainly in his younger years) and second row.

I think that just like Joel Thompson, Noah Gafa’s skill set will ultimately play better in the second row over the long term but that is definitely not set in stone by any stretch of the imagination that Noah Gafa needs to move from the centres, he certainly provided that in 2019 and the early part of the 2020 season that he is quick enough to defensively handle the rigours of playing at left centre and Noah Gafa will always be an outstanding attacking player wider out.

[mdrew]

Ethan O’Neill. Prior to his move to up Tweed Heads from Sydney to play for the Seagulls 2020 Queensland Cup side the former Marcellin College Randwick student spent five years in the Sydney Roosters junior system, playing the 2019 season in the NSWRL U20 Jersey Flegg competition.

Ethan O’Neill started from the bench for the Tweed Heads A Grade side in their late February 2020 trial against the Burleigh Bears.

From a trivia perspective, Ethan O’Neill is the son of former Brisbane Bronco’s and Queensland State of Origin fullback, Julian O’Neill.

With the cancellation of all competitions run by the Queensland Rugby League, Ethan O’Neill played the 2020 Gold Coast Rugby League competition with the Southport Tigers, starting Round One of the GCRL First Grade competition at right second row as the Tigers took on the Bureigh Bears.

Ethan O’Neill moved to left centre for Southport for their Round Three match against the Mudgeeraba Redbacks scoring and recording a try assist. Ethan O’Neill’s try came in the second half when a cut out pass found him in space to run twenty metres to score.

Ethan O’Neill produced a start piece of play in the first half, when he broke the line on the left of the field only to be ankle tapped, as he was getting to his feet, Ethan O’Neill flicked the ball out of his left hand to send Callum Boomer away down the left touch line for score for his try assist.

Ethan O’Neill also started at left centre in Round Four against Runaway Bay and Round Five against the Currumbin Eagles.

In the final regular season round of the 2020 Gold Coast Rugby League First Grade competition being Round Ten Ethan O’Neill started at left centre as the Tigers took on the Tugun Seahawks.

In Southport’s 2020 GCRL Sem-final against Burleigh, Ethan O’Neill started at left centre.

For the Roosters in 2019, Ethan O’Neill played in twelve Jersey Flegg matches starting the season in the centres before moving to the second row in Round Twenty Two against the New Zealand Warriors and staying there for Round Twenty Four against the Rabbitohs.

Ethan O’Neill started the 2019 season off as the Roosters primary goal kicker, kicking seventeen from twenty (85% conversions rate) through the opening six rounds, before injury, including a six from seven effort in Round Two against the Manly Sea Eagles. Ethan O’Neill returned from injury in Round Fifteen against the Sea Eagles but did not take back the goal kicking duties upon his return.

Ethan O’Neill scored in Round Three against the Parramatta Eels and also scored in Round Twenty Two against the Warriors to account for his two 2019 Jersey Flegg tries.

In 2018 Ethan O’Neill was only able to play in one U20 Jersey Flegg match for the Roosters when he started in the second row in Round Eight against the Mounties.

In 2017 Ethan O’Neill started in all eleven of the Roosters U18 SG Ball matches, starting the eight regular season rounds in the second row before starting the Roosters three finals matches in the centres including their Preliminary Final loss to the Parramatta Eels. Ethan O’Neill’s sole try of the 2017 SG Ball season came in Round Eight against the Newcastle Knights.

Ethan O’Neill’s first season in the U18 SG Ball competition was in 2016 when he played in five matches for the Roosters coming into the side on the bench in Round Three against the West Coast Pirates.

Ethan O’Neill started on the wing in Round Five against St George scoring his first career SG Ball try before moving to the centres for Round Seven against the Centurions and Round Eight against the Magpies when he scored his second try of the season. Ethan O’Neill’s third 2016 came in Round Ten when he scored after coming off the bench in Round Ten against the Parramatta Eels.

Ethan O’Neill’s first season at the Roosters was in 2015 when he was part of their U16 Harold Matthews squad playing in all nine of the Roosters matches starting four in the second row including Round One against Parramatta one at lock (Round Three against the Raiders), Round Five against the Steelers on the wing and one in the centres in Round Seven against the Rabbitohs.

In those nine matches Ethan O’Neill crossed for five tries including a Round Three double against the Raiders and also scored in Round Six against Penrith, Round Eights against the Wests Tigers and Round Nine against the Norths Sydney Bears.

In a fascinating situation in 2015 Ethan O’Neill has named in the centres for both the Queensland and New South Wales U16 side for their match against each other.

Of course Ethan O’Neill also had a very impressive school boy rugby league career with Marcellin College Randwick including in 2015 leading Marcellin College Randwick to a win in the New South Wales Combined Catholic College Grand Final.

Ethan O’Neill split his playing time in 2019 both in the centres and in the second row and in either position is a strong runner of the football. Whilst in does not have blinding speed off the mark, Ethan O’Neill does have decent speed overall but I would not consider it at the plus level and can break tackles by running over his direct opposite defender.

Ethan O’Neill also utilises a very good fend, when he gets to the outside of his direct opponent, this prevents defenders from getting under his ribs and thus Ethan O’Neill can maintain his running line under defensive pressure.

One skill that Ethan O’Neill does possess when playing in the centre position is a decent in and away and he will wait until the last possible minute to step to commit the defender before getting on his outside.

When he plays second row Ethan O’Neill has got very good feet, in terms of not just charging straight at the set defensive line. Ethan O’Neill uses foot work before and after the defensive line to assist in breaking tackles and is adept at offloading in traffic.

In terms of his defence, Ethan O’Neill obviously during the course of the 2019 season, defended in the second row but obviously his skill set indicates that defending wider out in the centres does not cause him too many issues at all. Ethan O’Neill’s initial contact is more than solid and is more than enough to stop the momentum of the ball carrier. He is also effective at wrapping the ball up and preventing offloads.

Ethan O’Neill is a solid left footed goal kicker who is unlikely to end up as a team’s primary goal kicker but is more than good enough to be a secondary option if an injury befalls the primary goal kicking option during the course of a particular match.

Ethan O’Neill was part of the 2020 Tweed Heads Seagulls Queensland Cup squad and will be looking to break into the Seagulls Queensland Cup backline in 2021. Ethan O’Neill has also resigned to play for the Southport Tigers in the Gold Coast Rugby League First Grade competition.

Ethan O’Neill primarily played either in the centres or the second row in his time at the Roosters but ultimately I think that his best opportunity to back into the Queensland Cup with Tweed Heads is in the centres. Personally I just do not think that he has the overall size to be a first choice second rower in the Queensland Cup.

For me, Ethan O’Neill has a playing style similar to that of former Roosters club mate Billy Smith who burst onto the NRL scene in the centres with the Roosters in 2019, like Smith Ethan O’Neill just works exceptionally hard.

[mdrew]

Oliver Singh – (Updated) He is a local young utility player, who has played a number of positions over his junior rugby league career, including hooker, half five eight and also fullback.

Oliver Singh started at five eight in Round One of the 2020 Hastings Deering’s Colts competition for the Tweed Heads Seagulls against the Northern Pride.

When Community Rugby League re-commenced in 2020, Oliver Singh played for the Currumbin Eagles in the GCRL U20 competition and had a big season including starting the GCRL U20 Grand Final at half back for the Eagles against the Helensvale Hornets. Oliver Singh kicked three goals from four attempts in the Grand Final and was named Player of the Match as Currumbin became 2020 Premiers on the back of a 22 – 20 victory.

Oliver Singh was also heavily involved in three of Currumbin’s tries in the Grand Final. On the first occasion, Oliver Singh to the ball on the right side of the field, two passes off the ruck and ran at the Helensvale line from round twenty metres out with the ball out in front of his body in both hands. Just prior to contact, Oliver Singh produced an exquisite on look inside pass to Tyler Mahon who flew through the resultant gap to score.

Oliver Singh’s other two 2020 Grand Final try involvements were as a result of pinpoint kicks. On the first of those occasions, Oliver Singh’s right foot kick towards the the right side of the field (it landed midway between the goal posts and touch line ten metres out) was spilled by the Helensval defence for right second rower Charlie Murray to retrieve the ball and crash over under the posts.

In the second half, Oliver Singh once again put in a kick to the right, this time coming down a metre out from the line, the Helensvale winger tries to get away from the goal line but lost the ball, with the ball being picked up by Max Mallory to dive over near the right corner.

In 2019 Oliver Singh played for the Tweed Coast Raiders in the NRRRL competition making his NRRRL First Grade debut early in the 2019 season playing primarily at half back and for portions of the season was the Raiders primary goal kicker. Oliver Singh was also the mid-season hero for Tweed Coast when he kicked the game winning field goal as they defeated the Kyogle Turkeys 19 – 18 in a nail biting finish in the First Grade fixture.

In 2018 Oliver Singh was part of the Tweed Heads Seagulls MM Cup squad playing in the opening three rounds, starting from the in Rounds One and two against Sunshine Coast and Redcliffe Dolphins respectively. In his third and final match of the 2018 MM Cup season, Oliver Sign stated at five eight against the Tweed Heads Seagulls.

2018 also saw Oliver Singh play two matches in the GCRL U19 competition, debuting against Helensvale in July when he scored a try and kicked two goals, he also played against Bilambil in August.

In the 2017 GCRL U17 Division One competition the half or fullback played in eleven matches scoring 76 points from four tires and 30 goals. Three of those goals were kicked in the GCRL U17 Division One Grand Final that Currumbin won 30-10 against Runaway Bay with Oliver Singh starting at fullback.

All four of Oliver Singh’s tries came in separate matches against Mudgeeraba, Tweed Heads twice and Burleigh in a semi-final. With the boot Oliver Singh had a big match in June against Tweed Heads kicking seven conversions to go along with a try.

In 2017 Oliver Singh played for the Currumbin eagles in their U16 Division One semi-final victory over Burleigh 24 – 22 last Friday night. A team mate in that Friday night’s semi-final win was Titans High Performance Unit member Noah Gafa.

Over the course of the 2017 season with the Currumbin Eagles in the GCJRL U16 Division One competition, Oliver Singh has played in eleven matches including Friday night’s semi-final, scoring two tries and kicking three goals. Oliver Singh’s first try came in Round One against Southport and his second try came in the last round before the finals against Helensvale.

Early in 2017 Oliver Singh was part of the Gold Coast Vikings White U16 side that took part in the South East Queensland U16 pre-season competition and also played half back for Marymount College when they played in the QISRL Confraternity Shield competition in Cairns in July.

Oliver Singh was also part of the Marymount College Open rugby league side that season including their heart breaking GIO Cup loss to Redbank Plains State High School in the last minute. A win in that match would have seen Marymount College progress to the Queensland GIO Cup quarter-finals.

In 2016 Oliver Singh was named the Gold Coast Academy of Sport Future Stars Athlete of the Year.

The former PBC and Marymount College Burleigh Heads student represented the U14 Titans development squad in late 2015 in their victory against Samoa and also in 2014 against the same opposition. Oliver Sign was a member of 2015 Gold Coast junior rugby league academy. He also received the Rugby League Encouragement of the year award at the Gold Coast Academy of Sport awards night for 2015.

Oliver Singh started at five eight for the Titans U14 side in their game against Samoa, and made a good fist of the position. In attack, regardless of the position he is playing, he is quick and strong and has good footwork to beat opposition defenders and then has decent speed, but he is not a burner from a speed perspective.

Although his speed off the mark is not in the plus category, Oliver Singh is effective at creating immediate space when combined with a good dummy. In relation to his play at hooker his passing is reasonably crisp, especially to the right side, which mirrors his play in the halves.

Oliver Singh has a solid all round kicking game regardless of whether he is playing in the halves or hooker but like most young general play kickers he just needs to ensure that he does not try to kick the ball too hard and lose accuracy as a result on occasion he does take a little while to get his kicks away and this is something that he may need to work on, but when not rushed he does generate reasonable distance and accuracy.

With likely continued improvement and experience, Oliver Singh has a ceiling of being a team’s primary tactical kicking option, and his floor is that of a more than effective secondary option.

Oliver Singh can also kick out of dummy half when playing at the hooker position and will chase very hard to prevent the opposition from making ground in relation to kick returns. His right foot kick is not huge but seems to be very accurate and normally finds the ground rather than defenders on the full.

Prior to this year, he was the primary kicker for his club side as well as the Titans U13 development squad, but this year that situation changed and he kicked a lot less, which for me was a little surprising as he showed both range and accuracy in the past as a goal kicker, including a couple of great kicks from the sideline in the 2014 season.

Defensively Oliver SIngh is more than strong enough to defend in the middle of the ruck and quick enough to defend on the fridges, thus his defensive abilities will not dictate his eventual long term position. In the centre of the ruck he sets a strong base to create the necessary leverage to defend against larger forwards.

When defending in the halves, Oliver Singh due to his low centre of gravity and tackling technique can effectively engage wide running forwards as well as having the footwork and lateral movement to contain and eliminate the threat of smaller stepping players breaching the defensive line.

It will be interesting to see where Oliver Singh plays in 2021, will he continue with the Tweed Heads Seagulls U20/21 Hastings Deering’s Colts side or will he play in the Gold Coast Rugby League First Grade competition for the Currumbin Eagles.

A long term position perspective is an interesting one, even though Oliver Singh played a number of games in the halves in the NRRRL over the last two seasons and for the Currumbin U20 side in 2020, based on his build and passing skills, I can legitimately see a case for him to transition to hooker full time in the years to come.

Playing both in the halves at fullback and at hooker for the next couple of years though is the most likely scenario as he works on his passing and game management skills before any decision needs to be made to limit him to playing one position. Versatility is a good trait to have as a young player making your way through the junior grades.

From a player comparison perspective think someone along the lines of former Titan Matt Srama as a solid all round player who played a lot of his junior football in the halves and who will probably not stand out, but does a lot of little things well and likely provide a legitimate kicking option out of dummy half and having the endurance to be an 80 minute player.

[mdrew]

Noah Waldock. 2018 New South Wales U12 rugby league representative Noah Waldock (from St Francis Xavier College Ballina) continued his rise in the junior rugby league ranks in 2020 with a great season for the Ballina Seagulls in the Group One U14 competition as well as playing a number of matches up an age group in the Group One U15 competition.

Noah Waldock started Round One of the Group One U14 competition at fullback and was one of Ballina’s try scorers as they went down 14 – 12 to Casino RSM. Noah Waldock also started at fullback in Round Two as Ballina defeated South Grafton 14 – 12 and once again in Round Three in a 24 – 8 loss to the Clarence Coast Magpies.

Noah Waldock added a try and a goal from fullback in Round Four against Kyogle as the Seagulls defeated the Turkeys 48 – 4. Noah Waldock also started at fullback in Round Five against the Clarence Coast Magpies.

In Round Six Noah Waldock continued his run of starts at fullback and scored a try and kicked a conversion as Ballina defeated Grafton 20 – 14. Also starting at fullback, Noah Waldock scored a double and kicked a conversion in Round Seven as Ballina defeated Casino RSM 32 – 0.

Noah Waldock’s try scoring form continued in Round Eight, when from the fullback position once again he scored a double as Ballina defeated Casino RSM 32 – 0. Noah Waldock also started at fullback in Round Nine as Ballina defeated South Grafton 20 – 10 and Round Ten against the Clarence Coast Magpies.

In total in the Group One U14 regular season Noah Waldock scored six tries and kicked two conversions for a twenty eight point haul from his ten matches.

As noted above, Noah Waldock also played a number of matches in the 2020 Group One U15 competition, backing up from the U14 match earlier in the day, including in Round One when he started on the right wing against Casino RSM and in Round Two when he also started on the right wing against South Grafton, a match that Ballina won 28 - 0. Noah Waldock then started from the bench in Round Three against the Clarence Coast Magpies.

Noah Waldock also started from the bench in Round Five against the Clarence Coast Magpies scoring a double when he came on, with those tries being his first in the U15 competition as well as in Round Six against the Grafton Ghosts and Round Seven against Casino RSM.

After playing in the U14 match earlier in the day, Noah Waldock then started in the centres in Ballina’s Round Eight 36 – 18 loss to Casino RSM. It was the same situation in Round Nine when after starting at fullback in Round Eight in the U14 match, Noah Waldock started in the centres as Ballina defeated South Grafton 38 – 14 in the U15 match. Round Ten also saw Noah Waldock came off the bench in the U15 match after starting at fullback in the earlier U14 fixture.

Noah Waldock started from the bench for Ballina in the 2020 Group One U15 Grand Final against Casino RSM.

Noah Waldock finished his impressive 2019 season in the Group One U13 competition third on the try scoring list with thirteen tries from just eleven matches (118% strike rate), second on the goal kicking tally (thirteen goals) and second overall from a points scoring perspective (seventy eight points) to average just on seven points per match.

Noah Waldock is currently part of the Titans 2020 Group One Academy squad that was training on a weekly basis in Ballina on Tuesday’s in Northern New South Wales and hopefully this is just the start of a long and fruitful association with the Titans for Noah Waldock.

Noah Waldock had a great 2019 Group One U13 Round One scoring a hat trick and kicking a conversion against South Grafton and followed that up with a Round two double against Casino RSM. Noah Waldock added further doubles against Clarence Coast and Casino RSM later in the season as well as scoring in matches against Lismore Marist Brothers (three separate matches including finals) and Kyogle.

From a goal kicking perspective, Noah Waldock kicked three goals against Lismore Marist Brothers and kicked two conversions in matches against Casino RSM, Clarence Coast and Grafton over the course of the 2019 season.

In 2019 Noah Waldock also played five matches in the Group One U14 competition making his debut in May against Clarence Coast. Noah Waldock played in the U13 match immediately prior to all five of his U14 appearances in 2019.

In 2018 Noah Waldock Scored thirty six points from seven U12 Group One matches scoring eight tries (114% strike rate) and kicking two goals. Six of his tries came from doubles against Lismore Marist Brothers, Casino RSM and Grafton.

Noah Waldock is an agile ball runner who relies on his outstanding speed and elusiveness to make it difficult for larger opponents to line him up rather than brute strength. When lining up at fullback he always makes himself available for offloads in the centre of the ruck where his quick twitch feet can cause some damage as opposing forwards start to tire.

Noah Waldock has above average to plus speed but not absolute blazing speed, relying instead on his positioning to compensate. When he retrieves the ball, Noah Waldock makes a decision quickly about where to look to run around a staggered defensive line or to run straight in an effort to take the yards on offer.

An aspect of his play that is very good is Noah Waldock’s ability to chime into the back line )like an old style fullback) and use his elusiveness to slip through the line, when he comes into the back line, it seems to be mainly when the attacking play is being directed towards the left hand side of the field. I note also that as soon as he breaks into space Noah Waldock starts working through his options in relation to whether he should run himself or look to set up his support players.

Noah Waldock is also outsanding when he is loitering in the middle of the ruck waiting for an off-load. With his speed off the mark and short sharp steeping ability in limited space, when Noah Waldock is able to get an offload in the centre of the ruck, he is normally though the initial defensive line before the defense has any chance to regroup.

If Noah Waldock breaks through the initial defensive line and is able to run directly at the fullback, it almost always results in a try. With the opposing fullback stuck on the spot with a total loss of lateral movement, Noah Waldock is able to exploit the fact that he can step, swerve etc with no loss of forward momentum to his absolute advantage.

Also Noah Waldock is adept at disguising which way he is going to step thus creating more doubt and confusion in the mond of the fullback who is looking to stop him from scoring in the last line of defence.

Also his hands at fullback are safe for a young player regardless of the type of kick put towards him. His other calling card is his positioning, he always seems to be the right place at the right time, to defuse bombs, attacking short kicks, potential 40/20 kicks etc. Noah Waldock can on occasion get caught a little shallow but relies on his timing and anticipation to compensate when tracking balls that have been kicked when the intention of going over his head.

From a goal kicking perspective, Noah Waldock has outstanding leg strength and outstanding accuracy which suggests that he will likely to be his side’s primary goal kicking option regardless of level. I would equate his goal kicking to that of current Titans first choice goal kicker Michael Gordon.

Noah Waldock will take a hit defensively when needing to make the tackle in the last line of defence and will focus exclusively on the ball carrier, forcing the attacking player to make the decision of what to do with the ball, rather than proving the attacker the avenue to make an easier decision.

Noah Waldock is also adept at using the sideline to restrict the attacking options of any opponent who makes a break. To be more effective defensively Noah Waldock will need to add additional muscle to his frame as he only has a slight build at present, although he does have some height and seemingly has the body type to add muscle mass without compromising his speed and elusiveness.

Noah Waldock does also have exceptional hands when short attacking kicks are put in and is elusive enough when he retrieves the ball to get out of the touch in goal when it appears that that task is unlikely in fact once or twice in 2019 Noah Waldock took the ball from his own in goal nearly the length of the field.

Noah Waldock will play the 2021 season in the Group One U15 competition with the Ballina Seagulls and would have also been part of the Group One U15 representative side for the 2021 New South Wales Country Age Championships.

With his outstanding timing and speed Noah Waldock is a lock to play in the back line in rugby league with the only question of whether that is in the centres, wing or at fullback. From a purely positional perspective, I believe that he is ultimately best suited to playing at fullback with his decisive running in relation to kick returns and his outstanding acceleration when Noah Waldock is hunting through the centre of the ruck.

The player comparison is not perfect from a purely style perspective (especially running style) but Noah Waldock has the top end speed, acceleration, positioning and elusiveness of Sydney Roosters, New South Wales State of Origin and Australian International fullback James Tedesco.

Like Tedesco when Noah Waldock gets the ball you stand up just that much straighter just waiting to see what he will do and you are rarely disappointed with what Noah Waldock produces at any given time. I do note again that their running styles are in essence fundamentally different however but the results are certainly not.