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  1. #901
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    Tremain Spry. The former Ipswich State High School student spent the off-season training with the Titans NRL squad looking to secure a coveted NRL Development contract.

    Tremain Spry started from the interchange bench in the Titans first NRL trial this season against the Norther Queensland Cowboys on the Sunshine Coast. In the NRL trial Tremain Spry had a tough initiation but after that settled down putting in a solid performance in a match not conducive to outside backs.

    Tremain Spry played for the Burleigh Bears Queensland Cup side in their Queensland Cup trial the week prior against the Souths Logan Magpies.

    Tremain Spry will also start from the bench for the Titans second and final NRL trial when they take on Brisbane on the Gold Coast this weekend.

    In 2018 Tremain Spry played for the Sydney Roosters in the U20 Jersey Flegg competition, across the season playing in fourteen matches in red, white and blue.

    Tremain Spry started Round One against the Sharks at fullback and Round Two against the Mounties on the wing before missing a number of rounds with injury coming back for Round Seven on the wing against Manly. Tremain Spry stayed on the wing until Round Thirteen when he moved into the centres against Penrith and stayed there for the remainder of the 2018 season.

    Prior to his move to the centres, Tremain Spry scored a single try which came in Round Eight against the Mounties, but post his move to the centres Tremain Spry scored seven tries from eight matches.

    Tremain Spry scored doubles in Round Fourteen against the Newcastle Knight and in Rounds Twenty-Three against the Wests Tigers and also scored in Rounds Thirteen, Seventeen and Eighteen against Penrith, North Sydney and Manly respectively.

    In Round Twenty in a match against the North Sydney Bears, Tremain Spry was up against fellow Titans NRL trialist Jesse Arthurs, Jesse Arthurs was one of the Bears try scorers that afternoon.

    In 2017 Tremain Spry started on the wing for the Queensland U18 side in their match against traditional rivals New South Wales. On the opposite wing that night for Queensland was fellow Titans NRL hopeful Kea Pere.

    Also in 2017 Tremain Spry was a standout for Ipswich State High School especially in the Langer Cup including scoring a memorable try against Wavell State High School. Leevai Sutton who was part of the Titans U18 side in their recent matches against PNG and New South Wales Country was Ipswich State High School’s fullback that season with Tremain Spry playing in the centres.

    2017 also saw Tremain Spry play for the Ipswich Jets in the MM Cup competition where he primarily played at fullback.

    Tremain Spry has very good speed off the mark, which I would consider above average for a centre and can break to the outside quickly, couple that with long arms, which he uses to great effect with a powerful fend makes him difficult to tackle. When opposing centres are able to get hold of him, Tremain Spry usually is able to maintain his balance and keeps an arm free, looking to offload to either his inside or outside support.

    Tremain Spry has more tools though than just an in and away, he will also use his size and strength to run straight over smaller opposing centres as well as also having the skill to step back inside of the defender if he is pushing to the outside too early.

    Tremain Spry also has a powerful fend which served him well in the NYC competition and in fact has been the reason for at least two of his line breaks this season when his opposing centre has gone high and he has just palmed him off with seemingly little effort. His natural strength is just an impressive attribute.

    A real positive for me is that Tremain Spry can also run a good inside shoulder line due to the fact that he maintains his spacing in the back line and will quickly identify where his direct opponent is ling up to determine whether it is appropriate to run an inside or outside shoulder line or a “crash” line for that matter, he certainly has the courage to run that line regularly which not everybody has.

    As you would expect, due to his size and strength, Tremain Spry is a very good defender regardless of position. He will not necessarily hit hard but is definitely aggressive and he is very good at mirroring the movement of the opposing centre and wrapping him up ball and all. He is also quick enough to recover and chase if the opposing centre gets on the outside and his long reach is also a positive attribute in those situations.

    From a team defensive methodology stand point, Tremain Spry seems to be very comfortable in a sliding defensive scheme where he can use his speed and body control to their best advantage in though he can be an intimidating presence when he chooses to come out of the line to interrupt the attacking movement immediately prior to its development.

    As noted above Tremain Spry trained the offseason with the Titans NRL squad and come the start of the 2019 season proper will line up for the Tweed Heads Seagulls most likely starting in the Hastings Deering’s U20 Colts competition before more than likely making his Queensland Intrust Super Cup debut as the 2019 season progresses after already playing a Queensland Cup trial with the Seagulls against Souths Logan.

    Tremain Spry spent time at fullback on the wing and in the centres in the Sydney Roosters U20 Jersey Flegg side in 2018 but it is hard to go past how effective that he was when he moved to the centres for the Roosters especially from an attacking perspective and as such I would like to see him tested in the centres at the Queensland Cup level at least before there is any thought of him being moved as good centres are such a precious commodity in the NRL in the modern age.

    A player with a similar playing style to Tremain Spry is for me St George Dragons 2018 rookie, Zac Lomax, both are far stronger than they look and have outstanding attacking abilities and under rated defensive attributes at their disposal.

  2. #902
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    Luke Jurd. He joins the Tweed Heads Seagulls Queensland Cup squad for the 2019 season after spending a number of seasons with the Cronulla Sharks. Luke Jurd started the Tweed Heads Seagulls second Queensland Cup trial at half against Burleigh.

    In 2018, Luke Jurd played for the Cronulla Sharks U20 Jersey Flegg side, playing in every match that Cronulla were involved in being twenty matches including four finals matches, including starting the Grand Final that Cronulla won 22 – 12 against Penrith from the interchange bench.

    Luke Jurd started Cronulla’s first twelve matches at five eight before moving to the interchange bench for Cronulla’s remaining twelve 2018 matches including their four finals matches.

    Coming off the interchange bench, Luke Jurd played a variety of positions including in the halves, hooker and even spent some time in the backrow for the Cronulla Sharks.

    Luke Jurd scored two 2018 U20 Jersey Flegg tries, the first coming in Round Thirteen against the Canterbury Bulldogs and the second in Round Twenty Four against the Wests Tigers.

    Late in 2018 Luke Jurd toured South Africa with the Australian Universities Rugby League side and scored in their first tour match against a West Province XIII side in Cape Town in a big 72 – 6 Australian Universities victory.

    Luke Jurd was part of the New South Wales University side that were beaten by Queensland Universities 52 – 12 earlier in 2018 but played well enough to be selected in the Australian side alongside his brother as one of only a handful of New South Welshmen in the Australian side.

    In 2017 Luke Hurd was in fact named to make his New South Wales Intrust Super Cup debut with the Newtown Jets but unfortunately had to withdraw from the match late in the week due to injury.

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

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

    As games progress Luke Jurd is very good at identifying tired forwards in the defensive line, and he will target them accordingly. A great trait that Luke Jurd already displays is that he will play what is in front of him rather than just play to a set game plan, which is a sign of a young player with a good understanding of the game.

    When confronted with forwards running directly at him on the edge of the ruck, Luke Jurd will get in front of them and use his shoulder in an effort to contain them until defensive help arrives. Due to his speed off the mark Luke Jurd is also a very good cover defender as he tracks the ball across the field and has a solid low tackling technique from the side

    Luke Jurd will play the upcoming 2019 season with the Tweed Heads Seagulls Queensland Cup side and is in the running for a spot in the Seagulls Round One side after starting the final trial against Burleigh at half.

    Luke Jurd has played in the halves the majority of his career in the New South Wales Junior Representative competitions and it appears likely that that is where he will play in 2019 for Tweed Heads, but it would also not surprise if Luke Jurd spends sometime in the dummy half role over the course of the 2019 season.

    2019 Gold Coast Titans signing Ryley Jacks for me is a similar type of player to Luke Hurd, both are solid players who can play either of the halves positions and both have the where with all and confidence to also be an effective dummy half should the need arise.

  3. #903
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    Harvey Moase. The young Cudgen Hornets half represented the Group 18 U14 side in 2018 in the New South Wales Country Age Championships and post those Championships was selected as part of the Titans 2018/19 Group 18 U15 Development Squad.

    In February of this year Harvey Moase started at half back for one of the Titans two U15 sides in their round robin matches against each other and the Western Mustangs with the youngster leading his Titans side around well in very hot conditions.

    In the U14 New South Wales Country Age Championships for Group 18 Harvey Moase started at half in all three of Group 18’s matches which were against Group’s 21, Four and Two kicking conversion against Group Two.

    Harvey Moase has above average speed both off the mark which I would consider in the plus category and top end speed. Harvey Moase with his speed is able to exploit gaps in the defensive line with a very good step off either foot and incredible acceleration as well as outstanding body control.

    Harvey Moase has very good timing on his passes and is able to weight them perfectly as well and can do so from either side of his body. Harvey Moase also runs with the ball in both hands which is another reason why the defensive line is unable to determine exactly what Harvey Moase is going to do.

    Harvey Moase has a very good kick on him and also has good accuracy to go with the power that he generates. His kicking game suggests he will be a real 40/20 threat as he matures and progresses. Harvey Moase also gets his kicks away quickly thus not allowing the defenders to put an undue amount of pressure on him.

    Harvey Moase does have some subtly though in his kicking, he is adept at grubber kicking into the opposition in goal line as well as putting appropriate weight on his chip kicks, in an effort to get a repeat set of tackles. In short he is a very good tactical kicker, who is above average in all aspects and flashes plus ability in a few attributes such as range and weighting of the kicks.

    Defensively Harvey Moase is a very strong young man with solid functional strength to go along with an innate understanding of the attacking strategies of rugby league thus he is able to anticipate what an attacking side is looking to do with the ball and then be in the best position to negate it. Harvey Moase also has a very good low tackling technique which is simple and effective against all size opponents.

    Harvey Moase will play the 2019 season with the Cudgen Hornets in the Group 18 U15 competition and will be in line to represent Group 18 in the U15 age group at the 2019 New South Wales Country Age Championships.

    With his ability to see the entire field as if he has a bird eye view of it and his ability to guide and direct his side around the field, adhering precisely to the game plan, Harvey Moase is ideally to controlling a side from the half back position.

    Harvey Moase definitely reminds me of Sydney Roosters five eight Brock Lamb. Like Lamb, Harvey Moase is composed under pressure, with an above average kicking game, both tactical and attacking and underrated running and passing skills.

  4. #904
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    Jedd Windle. The Byron Bay/Lennox Head backrower represented the Group 18 U14 side in 2018 in the New South Wales Country Age Championships and post those Championships was selected as part of the Titans 2018/19 Group 18 U15 Development Squad and was involved in the Titans U15 sides that took on another Titans side as well as the Western Mustangs in February at Mudgeeraba.

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

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

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

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

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

    Jedd Windle can also run a very good outside shoulder route and rather than trying to step his opposite number will really look to initiate the contact and then use his strength to hold the defender off his body to either push through the tackle or draw in the next defender to create space for his outside support.

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

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

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

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

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

    Jedd Windle will play the 2019 season with Byron Bay/Lennox Head Hornets in the Group 18 U15 competition and will also be in line to represent Group 18 in the U15 age group at the 2019 New South Wales Country Age Championships.

    It will also be interesting to see if Jedd Windle continues to play rugby for Lennox Head in the Far North Coast U16 competition (there is no U15 age group) this season as well.

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

    From a style perspective think of a someone along the lines of Brisbane Bronco, Queensland State of Origin and Australian backrower Matt Gillett as an intense aggressive well-rounded backrower with the ability to break the line by himself or as a result of running a good line.

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

  5. #905
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    Jake Lenard. (Updated) The young second rower from the Clarence Coast Magpies club in Northern New South Wales was part of the Titans U15’s that played against another Titans and Western Mustangs sides at Mudgeeraba in February.

    In 2018, Jake Lenard finished as the Group One U14 competitions second leading try scorer with twenty one tries from just fifteen matches (140%), scoring in all but two of those matches, with those matches being against Ballina and Kyogle.

    Jake Lenard scored four tries in a mid-June match against Casino RSM and scored a hat trick against Grafton in July 2018. Jake Lenard also scored four doubles which were against Casino RSM in two separate matches, Kyogle and Grafton.

    Jake Lenard also played four matches in the Group One U15 competition in 2018, making his debut against Casino RSM in early April and celebrated by scoring a double. He had also scored a double earlier in the day in the U14 match.

    Jake Lenard went on to play a total of six U15 Group One matches in 2018 and in addition to his debut double also scored against Casino RSM once again later in the season and against Kyogle.

    Jake Lenard also played in five matches for the Group One U14 representative side in 2018, playing in five matches in their New South Wales Country U14 Championship campaign including starting from the bench in their Plate Final 22 – 18 victory over Group 9.

    In 2017 Jake Lenard a few other positions from the Clarence Coast Magpies junior rugby league club in the Group One Junior Rugby League competition in Northern New South Wales continued his outstanding try scoring feats throughout the 2017 Group One JRL U13 competition, where the former U12 New South Wales representative scored a staggering 35 tries in just eleven games. Understandably Jake Lenard leads the try scoring list for his age group.

    Jake Lenard scored six tries in a May match against Grafton and five against Ballina in August. In addition Jake Lenard scored four tires twice, coming against Kyogle and Casino RSM and also hat tricks against Casino RSM, Marist Brothers, Ballina and Grafton. Jake Lenard in 2017 played two matches in the U14 Group One JRL competition with those matches being against Ballina and South Grafton.

    Scoring tries is not a foreign experience for Jake Lenard as in 2016 at the U12 level he scored 20 tries from ten matches. To round off his points scoring this season, Jake Lenard also converted one of his tries in the Round Two clash against Casino RSM.

    Jake Lenard is a very calm player on the field even though he plays the game at a very high speed and is most effective on the edge of the ruck. His style of play is that of a wide running player with above average to plus speed. I would actually argue that in fact a better definition of his speed would be well above average, and I am talking the speed of an outside back not a backrower.

    Jake Lenard is exceptionally quick off the mark, but what makes him even more impressive from a speed perspective is that when he gets into space, he has an extra gear again, making it almost impossible for the cover defence to catch him once he is open space.

    Jake Lenard is almost untouchable when he runs on the fringes of the ruck and uses his foot work to beat defenders with a variety of moves, including a step off both feet and a very good in and away. Couple those two aspects with a very good fend and you have a young player who causes nightmares for a defensive line.

    Jake Lenard is not a player but he runs with pace, strength and power every time he touches the ball. I have not seen a great deal of him off loading the football, but the ball skills that he possess would suggest this particular will develop into a plus skill over time.

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

    Jake Lenard’s speed and lateral movement means that he will not be beaten by light stepping halves trying to take advantage of tiring forwards or the opposition running out of dummy half. Due to his speed and athleticism Jake Lenard covers across the field well, thus putting him in a good position to make the tackle when the ball is turned back inside from the halves.

    Jake Lenard will play for the Clarence Coast Magpies in the Group One Junior Rugby League U15 competition in 2018 and will also more than likely represent Group One at the U15 level in the New South Wales Country Championships.

    From a position perspective I concede that I have no idea where Jake Lenard will actually end up, he can literally play anywhere from centre to second row and a few other positions, but ultimately I would consider that Jake Lenard will end up a devastating second rower in rugby league.

    From a player comparison perspective for Jake Lenard, a young Brisbane Bronco’s version of Alex Glen, with more speed, springs to mind as an appropriate comparison, when you see the combination of the skill set he possesses and his athletic ability and of course intensity.

  6. #906
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    Kade McDonald. In recent season a number of youngsters from the Western Australian region have moved over to the Gold Coast to continue their rugby league career and 2019 is no different with South Perth Lions utility Kade McDonald moving over to be part of the Tweed Heads Seagulls U20 Hastings Deering’s Colts squad starting Rounds One and Two against the Western Mustangs and Townsville Blackhawks respectively at fullback.

    In Round Two of the Gold Coast Rugby League competition Kade McDonald came off the bench for Currumbin and scored a hat trick as the Eagles defeated Burleigh 29-24.

    Kade McDonald played a lot of rugby league in 2018 starting the season as part of the Western Pirates U18 SG Ball side. In that competition, Kade McDonald played in the opening three rounds Starting round One against Parramatta at half, in Round Two against North Sydney on the wing and in Round Three at five eight against the Central Coast Roosters. Kade McDonald scored a try and kicked a conversion against the Roosters and kicked a conversion against Parramatta.

    In the 2018 Western Australian Rugby League competition for the South Perth Lions, Kade McDonald played in both the Pirates Youth Cup U18 competition and the Smarter than Smoking First Grade Premiership.

    In the 2018 Western Australian U18 competition, Kade McDonald finished as the competitions leading, try scorer, goal kicker and overall point’s scorer scoring 208 points from just fourteen matches to average 14.86 points per match.

    Kade McDonald scored twenty three tries only missing out from crossing in one match which was against the North Beach Sea Eagles (he did kick two conversions in that match however). Kade McDonald scored hat tricks against the Joondalup Giants and North Beach Sea Eagles and doubles against the North Beach Sea Eagles in two matches, Kalamunda Bulldogs in two matches and the Joondalup Giants.

    With the boot Kade McDonald kicked twelve goals in a July match against the Joondalup Giants and eleven early in the season also against the Giants.

    In the Pirates Youth Cup U18 Grand Final last year, Kade McDonald scored a try and kicked six goals for a sixteen point haul in a thrilling 31 – 30 win against the Kalamunda Bulldogs.

    In the Western Australian U18 competition in 2017 Kade McDonald played in nine matches scoring 140 points from nineteen tries and thirty two goals. Kade McDonald in fact made his U18 debut in 2016 as a 16 year old and even back then it was clear that he was a player of substantial promise.

    2018 also saw Kade McDonald make his Western Australian First Grade debut and what a debut season he had, finishing with eighteen tries from just twenty matches, finishing as the competitions second leading try scorer and the Rookie of the year honours.

    Kade McDonald, playing on the wing (where he played the majority of his first grade matches in 2018) scored a double on debut against the Freemantle Roosters and also scored a mid-season double against the Roosters as well. The remainder of Kade McDonalds Western Australian First Grade tries came in individual matches for South Perth.

    Kade McDonald is by no means a big rugby league player and relies on his speed and mobility to create opportunities on the field. His speed off the mark, acceleration and top end speed are all in the plus category.

    If Kade McDonald sees a gap he is through it before the defensive line can react. His plus speed manifests itself in two distinct ways, first when returning kicks, Kade McDonald regularly gets the ball on the full and then explodes through the smallest of gaps in the defensive teams kick chase and secondly when a forward takes the ball up through the centre of the ruck, Kade McDonald is always in support and if he gets an off load he can accelerate through the resultant gap.

    Kade McDonald does not necessarily have a big step but has an outstanding swerve which he uses when confronted with the fullback. He will run directly at the fullback to slow his lateral momentum and then swerve around him the second the fullback’s momentum stops or slows.

    As a defender, like his attack due to his smaller size, Kade McDonald relies on his speed, timing and technique. Kade McDonald has an outstanding low tackling technique which he uses against all players running at him and he will move forward from the fullback to cut down the time that the opposition has to make a decision with the ball.

    Kade McDonald started Round One and Two of the 2019 Hastings Deering’s Colts competition at fullback. Kade McDonald is also Colts eligible in 2020.

    In 2018 in the Western Australian U18 competition, Kade McDonald played mainly at half or five eight, in the First Grade competition on the wing and in three different positions in three separate matches for the Western Pirates in the SG Ball competition.

    Kade McDonald is not the biggest player running around by any means and with how most teams are using wingers these days I think that Kade McDonald will end up at fullback, in the halves or even at hooker this season and beyond.

    Dare I say it, early in his senior rugby league career, Kade McDonald may well be an ideal interchange player, being one that can come on a play multiple positions such as in the halves, fullback, hooker or wider out on the wing if necessary and add some speed, enthusiasm and evasiveness to the side when he comes on regardless of the position that he would occupy.

    From a player comparison perspective, taking into account that I think that he will ultimately play in the halves I can see aspects of the play of South Sydney and former New South Wales State of Origin and Australian half Adam Reynolds in the play of Kade McDonald all be it that Kade McDonald has more speed, both off the mark and at the top end than Reynolds (in fact a lot more speed to be totally honest).

    When I am talking speed off the mark I am talking Jake Granville or Matt Parcell type speed if not a touch more, thus my thoughts are that Kade McDonald may be able to spend some time at hooker especially as the opposing teams forwards begin to tire towards the end of each half.
    Last edited by mdrew; 02-04-19 at 09:16 PM.

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    Jahvis Kendall. The young Tugun Seahawks and PBC centre started the 2019 season of starting on the left wing in Round One for the Northern Rivers Titans in the U18 Laurie Daley Cup competition against the Newcastle Knights Development Squad.

    In the match Jahvis Kendall did not get a lot of ball coming his way but did well with what he got and was on hand to score the Northern Rivers Titans only try in the match late in the second half. Jahvis Kendall stayed on his left wing and received a good cut out pass from Titans five eight Thomas Vickery and crossed untouched and was even able to take the ball closer to the posts for the conversion which was subsequently kicked by Thomas Vickery.

    Round Two of the 2019 Laurie Daley Cup competition saw Jahvis Kendall once again line up on the wing in their match against Parramatta in Sydney, but unfortunately he had limited opportunities in the match.

    Round Four saw Jahvis Kendall back in the side for the match against the Central Coast Roosters starting on the right wing which is also where he started in Round Five against the Greater Northern Tigers scoring out wide after a great cut out pass from Jonah Whitlam-Rose.

    Jahvis Kendall represented Group 18 on a regular basis in his junior rugby league career, including playing on the wing for the Group 18 U15 side in 2017 in the New South Wales Country U15 Championships in matches against Maitland, Group 19 and Group 2 and kicked a conversion against Group 19.

    2017 also saw Jahvis Kendall represent Group 18 in an U16 match against Group One in a curtain raiser to a New South Wales Country U23 V Scotland match with Jahvis Kendall starting the match on the wing.

    In 2016 Jahvis Kendall represented Group 18 at the New South Wales Country U14 Championships scoring a try and kicking two goals in a match against Group 21 and also playing in the centres against Newcastle.

    Even though he does not have great top end speed Jahvis Kendall is quick enough to take advantage of any space that he is given down the touchline by opposing wingers. One good thing about his play in attack is that he stays on his wing and is regularly outside his opposite number allowing his inside players to be able to find him in attack and in the games that I have seen he stays back and does not over run the players that are inside of him.

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

    In terms of defence, Jahvis Kendall is solid and seemingly understands the attributes of his opposite number to the extent that he alters his defensive positioning if he is against speedy, elusive wingers and against larger wingers.

    Post the Laurie Daley Cup I anticipate that Jahvis Kendall will be part of the Tweed Heads Seagulls U18 side that will compete in the new Gold Coast Rugby League U18 competition.

    Jahvis Kendall will also be part of the PBC Open rugby league team in 2019 which will be looking to replicate their 2018 Queensland and National GIO Cup success.

    Over the course of his junior rugby league career, Jahvis Kendall has split his playing time between the wing and in the centres. Ultimately however I anticipate that Jahvis Kendall will ultimately play the majority of his rugby league career on the wing.

    I am reminded of the Titans own Anthony Don when I watch Jahvis Kendall play, he may not be as good in the air as Don (not sure anyone in the NRL is) but like Don he is not the fastest winger running around but invariably is in the right position at the right time to take advantage of any opportunities that present and like Don, Jahvis Kendall typically plays on the right side of the field.

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    Kye Cooper. The exciting young Lismore Marist Brothers fullback is an outstanding addition to the Titans TEDS Program and is another outstanding junior from Northern New South Wales making his mark with the Titans.

    Kye Cooper had an outstanding 2018 season for Lismore Marist Brothers in the New South Wales Group One U13 competition, scoring in all thirteen of his matches to finish the season as the competitions, leading point’s scorer, leading goal kicker and second leading try scorer.

    All told Kye Cooper scored 240 points from just thirteen matches (18.5 points per game average). He scored 40 tries (308% strike rate) and also kicked 40 goals.

    Kye Cooper scored five tries in a match on two occasions, being against Kyogle in May 2018 and Clarence Coast in August. He also scored four tries in four matches which came against Casino RSM, Clarence Coast, South Grafton and Kyogle.

    Kye Cooper scored hat tricks against South Grafton and Ballina and doubles against Grafton in two matches and Ballina. Grafton and Ballina were the only teams able to keep Kye Cooper to one try in a game.

    With the boot, Kye Cooper kicked nine in a July match against Kyogle and eight the following round against Clarence Coast. In those two matches Kye Cooper finished with impressive individual totals. In the match against Kyogle, along with his nine goals he scored four tries to points the match with 34 points and in addition to his eight goals scored five tries to finish the match against Clarence Coast with 36 points.

    Let’s cut to the chase, when Kye Cooper runs the ball, he is exceptionally quick and explosive, with exceptional speed, both off the mark and when he gets into open space, teams in his age group in the Group One junior competition just could not handle him when he had the ball. He also can step off both feet exceptionally well and also has a great swerve whilst maintaining top speed.

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

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

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

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

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

    The upcoming 2019 season will see Kye Cooper line up once again in Lismore Marist Brothers colours in the Group One U14 competition and Kye Cooper should also be one of the first players selected in the Group One U14 representative side in the 2019 New South Wales Country Age Championships.

    Regardless of the number on his back Kye Cooper is an exciting runner of the ball combining speed, elusiveness, balance and body control. To that extent I believe that ultimately his best position will be at fullback where he will get the ball with space to work with prior to the defensive line and look to exploit any gaps that he surveys.

    From my perspective, a talented, unselfish attacking player with similar attributes is Brisbane Broncos five eight Anthony Miford. Like Milford, Kye Cooper has great acceleration to go along with a wicked sidestep and the play making skills to make opposition teams pay if defences look to focus too much on him.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Thomas Vickery played multiple positions for the Northern Rivers Titans U18 side this season including five eight, centre and fullback but ultimately I believe that he ends up as a fullback in the senior rugby league ranks.

    Thomas Vickery will play the remainder of the 2019 season in the NRRRL competition with Murwillumbah and even though he has started in the NRRRL U18 competition, I would anticipate that Thomas Vickery will play a lot of NRRRL First Grade for the Mustangs in an NRRRL First Grade competition which with an influx of players this season should be a competition of quite a high standard.

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

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    Desmond Ferguson. The young Ballina Seagulls fullback or winger and Ballina Coast High School student was selected in the Titans 2018/19 Group 18 U15 Development Squad. 2018 saw Desmond Ferguson represent Group One in the 2018 U14 New South Wales Country Age Championships.

    Desmond Ferguson finished the 2018 Group One U14 season as the competitions leading point scorer with 87 points from four tries, 35 goals and a field goal which he kicked in August against the Kyogle Turkeys.

    Desmond Ferguson’s tries came from an early season double against Lismore Marist Brothers, he also scored against them a couple of rounds later and against Kyogle.

    With the boot Desmond Ferguson kicked six goals in a match on two occasions with those matches against Lismore Marist Brothers and Casino RSM.

    In the U14 New South Wales Country Age Championships for Group One Desmond Ferguson in all four of Group One’s matches including the Northern Plate Final against Group 19 which Group One won 38 – 12. In the final Desmond Ferguson scored a try and kicked two goals.

    Desmond Ferguson also played club rugby in 2018 in two separate competitions being the U14 Far North Coast competition for Wollongbar/Alstonville where a team mate was fellow Titans Development Squad member and Ballina Coast High School student Damon Coldwell and the Gold Coast U15 rugby competition also for Wollongbar/Alstonville with Damon Coldwell once again being a team mate.

    In the 2018 U14 Far Norther Coast competition, Desmond Ferguson played in eight matches, including starting the Grand Final at fullback in their 15 – 0 loss against Casuarina/Tweed and scored four tries and kicked sixteen conversions to finish the 2018 season with 48 points.

    Desmond Ferguson scored a Round Seven double against Lismore, scoring against Lismore once again in Round Ten and scored his final try of the season in their Week One Finals victory over Lennox Head.

    With the boot, Desmond Ferguson kicked five conversions in a match on two occasions being Rounds Seven and Ten on both occasions against Lismore.

    Desmond Ferguson’s first Far North Coast U14 match was in Round Five against Lennox Head when he started from the bench and broke into the starting side at fullback starting in Round Six against Casuarina/Tweed staying there for the remainder of the season except for Round Nine against Lennox Head when he started from the bench.

    In 2018, Desmond Ferguson also played four matches for Wollongbar/Alstonville in the Gold Coast Rugby U15 competition starting on the right wing on all four occasions. He came into the side in Round Three against the Gold Coast Eagles and also played matches against Casino, the PBC Alleygators and Surfers Dolphins.

    Desmond Ferguson is very quick down the sidelines with a good in and away to beat defenders on the outside and will not get caught from behind if he gets into open space. I would not say that he has blazing speed but he does have decent top end speed and is unlikely to get caught from behind by anyone but the absolute quickest of opponents. Desmond Ferguson’s best attribute from an outside back perspective is his ability to keep his width and be available for his team mates, when the opposing defender cheats inside.

    When the ball is moved out the back line, he stays on his line, and a lot of the tries that he scored is when he was able to beat his opposite defender when they had come in just a fraction.

    When playing in the centres Desmond Ferguson looks to draw in the winger to try to create space down the touch line for the attackers outside him, but when he does have enough pace, when he is able to get outside his opposing defender and make line breaks when the defensive winger stays out. Thus from what I have seen he has very good situational awareness in attack from either the centre or wing positions.

    In defence, Desmond Ferguson is not the strongest player but will certainly look to hold his line defensively. I have not often see him come in when he did not need to, preferring to stay on his oppose number and trusting his teams inside and outside defenders. From my perspective at least, his skill set in defence is more suited to a sliding defence structure rather than an up and in one.

    Desmond Ferguson will play the 2019 season with the Ballina Seagulls in the Group One U15 competition and will be in line to represent Group One in the U15 age group at the 2019 New South Wales Country Age Championships to be held later this year. Desmond Ferguson will also be a key member of the Ballina Coast High School U15 Rugby League side this season.

    It will also be interesting to see if Damon Coldwell continues to play rugby for Wollongbar/Alstonville in the Far North Coast U16 competition (there is no U15 age group) this season as well. Desmond Ferguson however may play for Wollongbar/Alstonville in the Gold Coast Rugby U15 competition.

    In 2018 Desmond Ferguson played primarily wing or fullback, but with his straight line speed and ability to operate in limited space, Desmond Ferguson has the makings of an outstanding try scoring, goal kicking rugby league winger, although I think that it is likely that he will continue to play both at fullback or in the centres for the foreseeable future.

    For me how Desmond Ferguson plays is similar to the playing style of former Titan, PNG International captain and English Super League player David Mead as a talented winger who whilst he can score regularly also pops up regularly in the centre of the ruck giving his forwards a breather with a hit up or bringing the ball back on a kick return with a fearless approach.

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    Jacob Tinsley. The talented young Logan Brothers hooker is currently part of the Titans TEDS program and started at hooker for the Titans U14 side that defeated the Western Mustangs 32 – 8 at Mudgeeraba in February of this year.

    In that match, Jacob Tinsley played the entire first half and then came back onto the field mid-way through the second half to finish out the match for the Titans.

    Jacob Tinsley had a couple of impressive plays in the match including an outstanding 40/20 when he stepped to his right out of dummy half and put the ball into the right corner of the field.

    Jacob Tinsley also played a part in one of the Titans second half tries when right on the Western Mustangs line he scooted out of dummy half to his left before popping the ball back inside to one of the Titans front rowers to crash over.

    In 2018 Jacob Tinsley played nineteen matches for Logan Brothers in the U13 Premier Division of the GBJRL competition, the last being as Logan Brothers fell 40 – 10 to Redcliffe in the Preliminary Final.

    Earlier in the 2018 season Jacob Tinsley started at hooker for Logan Brothers in their mid-season Chairman’s Trophy match against Carina with Logan Brothers going down in that match 26 – 18.

    2018 also saw Jacob Tinsley named in the South East Queensland U13 representative side and in 2017 he represented Met West U12’s from Greenbank State High School being named as lock for the Queensland U12 School Boy Championships.

    Jacob Tinsley 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, Jacob Tinsley 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 he can pass a reasonable distance off the ground when the first receiver is standing a little wider of the play the ball.

    Where Jacob Tinsley 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 he is a very good game manager from the hooking position.

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

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

    Jacob Tinsley will play the 2019 season for the outstanding Logan Brothers Club in the GBJRL U14 Premier Division competition and also surely will be pushing for a spot in one of the Brisbane Stingers U14 squads for the 2019 South East Queensland Age Championships and post that the Queensland U14 Age Championships.

    Even though he has played some lock in the past, for example for Met West at the U12 level in 2017, for Logan Brothers, Jacob Tinsley has played exclusively at hooker and that is likely where he will stay in the long term both from a club and representative perspective I would argue. That was certainly evidenced by the way that he played for the Titans U14’s against the Western Mustangs in February 2019.

    From a player comparison perspective for Jacob Tinsley think someone along the lines of former Newcastle Knights, New South Wales Origin and Australian hooker Danny Buderis .

    Like Buderis, Jacob Tinsley is a hard working player with outstanding leadership skills, a diverse skill set, including the ability to kick out of dummy half and someone that his team mates will appreciate playing with.

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    Caleb Nicholls. The former Titans contracted youngster is back on the Gold Coast after a season with the Newcastle Knights and will line up for the Tweed Heads Seagulls U20 Colts side this season, and will be U20 Colts eligible once again in 2020.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    2019 will see Caleb Nicholls continue to line up for what is shaping as a very strong Tweed Heads Seagulls Colts squad. Caleb Nicholls is also Colts eligible in 2020.

    I really liked how Caleb Nicholls played in the centres in 2017 and prior but last season he played exclusively on the left wing for the Newcastle Knights U18 SG Ball side and for the Maitland Pickers, primarily left wing as well and therefore it is probable/likely that is where he will play in 2019. Although I do note that he played in the centres in relation to school boy rugby league in 2018.

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

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    Damon Coldwell. The outstanding young Lismore Marist Brothers flyer played an incredible amount of football in 2018 both rugby league and rugby and 2019 figures to be a similar situation for the Ballina Coast High School student with his selection in the Titans 2018/19 Group 18 U15 Development Squad.

    Damon Coldwell as a solid contributor to the Titans U15 side that played a fellow Titans side and Western Mustangs side at Mudgeeraba in February 2019.

    2018 also saw Damon Coldwell represent Group One in the 2018 U14 New South Wales Country Age Championships.

    From a club rugby league perspective, Damon Coldwell played the 2018 season with Lismore in the U14 Group One competition, finishing as the competitions fourth highest try scorer with 17 tries from just fourteen matches finishing with a 121% strike rate.

    Damon Coldwell scored a late season hat trick against Grafton and doubles against Casino RSM, Kyogle, Grafton and Ballina two matches in consecutive matches in July 2018. Damon Coldwell also scored in matches against Ballina, Kyogle and Clarence Coast.

    In addition Damon Coldwell played in three Group One U16.5 matches in 2018, making his debut against Kyogle in May and also playing in matches against South Grafton and Casino RSM over the course of the season.

    In the U14 New South Wales Country Age Championships for Group One Damon Coldwell played in all four of Group One’s matches including the Northern Plate Final against Group 19 which Group One won 38 – 12. In the Final Damon Coldwell scored an outstanding hat trick and also scored earlier in the Championships against Newcastle, a try which he scored with five minutes to go to seal the victory for Group One.

    Damon Coldwell also played club rugby in 2018 in two separate competitions being the U14 Far North Coast competition for Wollongbar/Alstonville where a team mate was fellow Titans Development Squad member and Ballina Coast High School student Desmond Ferguson and the Gold Coast U15 rugby competition also for Wollongbar/Alstonville with Desmond Ferguson once again being a team mate.

    In the 2018 U14 Far Norther Coast competition, Damon Coldwell played in eight matches, including starting the Grand Final in the centres in their 15 – 0 loss against Casuarina/Tweed and scored sixteen tries.

    Damon Coldwell scored four tries in Round Ten against Lismore, hat tricks against Lennox Head in Rounds Five and Nine and also scored doubles in matches against Lismore in Rounds Four and Seven and against Lennox Head in the first week of the Finals.

    Damon Coldwell came into the U14 Wollongbar/Alstonville side in Round Four against Lismore starting on the bench. He started on the right wing in Round Five against Lennox Head for his first start before starting on the bench again in Round Seven against Lismore.

    Damon Coldwell broke into the starting side for good in Round Eight against Casuarina/Tweed when he started in the centres where he stayed for the remainder of the season.

    In 2018, Damon Coldwell also played eight matches for Wollongbar/Alstonville in the Gold Coast Rugby U15 competition playing his first match in Round Two against the Helensvale Hogs celebrating with a try after starting the match on the right wing.

    Damon Coldwell also scored a double in Round Nine against Casino and also scored in Rounds Three and Eight against the Gold Coast Eagles and PBC Alleygators respectively.

    Damon Coldwell played four matches on the right wing, one on the left wing (Round Three against the Gold Coast Eagles) and three at outside centre in Rounds Eight to Ten against PBC Alleygators, Casino and Surfers Dolphins respectively.

    2018 also saw Damon Coldwell represent Far North Coast region in touch alongside Titans contracted Rowan Mansfield.

    From a running perspective, Damon Coldwell just seems to glide across the field and it appears effortless, no matter who is chasing him, they will not catch Damon Coldwell, I am talking James Roberts type of pace but he has a much more effortless running style to that of the current Brisbane Bronco.

    Damon Coldwell does not necessarily have a side step per say, it is more of a swerve and he has a number of variations, with the scary part being that there is absolutely no loss of speed at all, making him incredibly difficult to stop when he is in open space and is moving towards a fullback who is near stationary.

    Damon Coldwell’s passing skills are also developing into those of the highest quality, he can pass equally well from either side of his body and can throw every type of pass imaginable, he can chime into a back line at full pace and then decelerate quickly to maintain his balance a pop a good short ball to his supports, he can throw a great spiral pass to his backline or he can quickly anticipate the numbers a throw a great cut out pass to exploit over laps.

    Defensively Damon Coldwell also stands out, with his closing speed and recovery speed he makes an impact on that side of the ball as well. With his speed, Damon Coldwell has the luxury of being able to stand a touch deeper than some fullbacks yet still be able to close quickly to negate breaks by reducing the decision making time of the attacking player.

    Similar to the attributes that make Damon Coldwell such an effective defender, Damon Coldwell is as you would expect a great returner of the ball. His sense of timing, speed and anticipation means that he gets to a lot of kicks on the full and then accelerates looking to exploit any gaps on the kick chase.

    Damon Coldwell exceptional lateral movement and sure hands means that he is a danger to make a large amount of ground from short attacking kicks by the opposition as he comes forward at full speed and retrieves with absolutely no loss of momentum and then will surprise the attacking team well before they can reorganise the defensive line.

    Damon Coldwell will play the 2019 season with Lismore Marist Brothers in the Group One U15 competition and will be in line to represent Group One in the U15 age group at the 2019 New South Wales Country Age Championships. Damon Coldwell will also be a key member of the Ballina Coast High School U15 Rugby League side this season.

    It will also be interesting to see if Damon Coldwell continues to play rugby for Wollongbar/Alstonville in the Far North Coast U16 competition (there is no U15 age group) this season as well. Damon Coldwell however may play for Wollongbar/Alstonville in the Gold Coast Rugby U15 competition.

    The 2018 season saw Damon Coldwell play in the centres and on the wing in both rugby and rugby league but with his outstanding speed, body control and balance, I would think that he will be given every opportunity to stay in the centres long term.

    If for whatever reason a move away from centre is considered, Damon Coldwell projects as an outstanding try scoring winger who if he gets the ball early will tear opposing defences apart, you just have to consider what he did in the New South Wales Country U14 Plate Final as an indicator of Damon Coldwell’s immense potential.

    Damon Coldwell is an exciting try scoring outside back with exceptional speed, balance and body control and thus can be favourably compared to Broncos and New South Wales State of Origin centre James Roberts.

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    Noah Johannssen. The young front rower from the South Tweed Bears club in Northern New South Wales made his deserved Titans debut when he came off the bench for the Titans in their U16 clash against the Newcastle Knights in January of this year in very very hot conditions.

    In the match, Noah Johannssen had spells on the field in both halves and took the ball into the Knights defensive line with a hard straight running mentality and also was on hand to back up at every opportunity including taking a good one hand pass from Joseph Shannon in the first half to get the ball into the Knights twenty metre defensive area.

    In Round One of the U18 Andrew Johns Cup competition this season, Noah Johannssen started in the front row for the Northern Rivers Titans in their match against the Newcastle Knights Development Squad and to say he had a dominant first half would be a massive understatement.

    You can probably already mark down Noah Johannssen down for try of the year at any level. Early in the first half, Newcastle were forced to drop the ball out, Noah Johannssen took the ball from Riley Lack who fielded the drop out near the half way mark and simply powered his way through the Newcastle defence to score near the left upright.

    The try was not as a result of Noah Johannssen just breaking the Newcastle line once and scoring, at least twice it appeared that Noah Johannssen would be dragged down but he kept pumping his legs and broke tackle after tackle on his way to the line.

    Noah Johannssen also took the hit-up after the Newcastle kick off and once again provided a difficult proposition for the Newcastle defence. Add in a great second half off-load and you have a great game by Noah Johannssen.

    Round Two of the 2019 Andrew Johns Cup competition saw Noah Johannssen once again line up in the front row in their match against Parramatta and was once again heavily involved making ground in the centre of the ruck, making significant metres post contact.

    Noah Johannssen also made a great heads up play in the second half when after one of the Parramatta front rowers made a strong run, Noah Johannssen stripped the ball in a one on one tackle and then charged fifteen metres in the opposite direction to totally change the momentum of the match.

    Noah Johannsson also had a solid match in Round Three against the North Coast Bulldogs once again starting the match in the front row alongside fellow Titan Jack Cullen.

    Noah Johannsson also started in the front row in Round Four against the Central Coast Roosters and had a huge match especially in attack when he consistently made significant metres post contact and also had a try assist. In the last minute of the match, Noah Johannssen broke through the Central Coast line, drawing the fullback to send Northern Rivers Titans right centre Blake Marrison away for the Titans to top the fifty point mark.

    Noah Johannsson also started in the front row in Round Five against the Greater Northern Tigers and was near unstoppable constantly gaining ground after contact and scored a deserved first half try when he powered over after a long break from Ryan Foran. The break from Ryan Foran was from a scrum thus the effort of Noah Johannsson to break from the scrum and run eighty metres to take the ball and subsequently score was certainly impressive.

    Noah Johannsson also had a strong match against a huge Penrith pack in the Titans 26 – 14 semi-final victory with Noah Johannsson forcing the defence to commit multiple defensive resources every time he took the ball into the defensive line.

    In the 2019 U16 Andrew Johns Cup Grand Final against the Western Rams Noah Johannsson started in the front row in the 18 – 6 victory and was certainly a key part in the outstanding victory.

    Post the victory Noah Johannsson was named on the interchange bench for the New South Wales Country U16 side for their November two match tour of the United Kingdom.

    Incredibly the day after the Andrew Johns Cup final, Noah Johannsson was part of the Tweed Heads Seagulls U18 NRRRL side that defeated Kyogle 24 – 16 in Round two of the NRRRL U18 competition, talk about a young man who obviously just loves playing rugby league.

    Noah Johannssen was also involved Rounds Two and Three of the U18 NRRRL competition with the Tweed Heads Seagulls U18 side.

    In the Group 18 U15 competition in 2018, Noah Johannssen was part of the South Tweed Premiership winning side with the Bears defeating Byron Bay Lennox Head 22 – 16 in the Grand Final.

    Over the previous two seasons Noah Johannssen has represented Group 18 at the U14 and U15 levels.

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

    For a big front rower Noah Johannssen does actually have quite decent speed and footwork, certainly well above average for a player of his size. He does however seem to carry the ball in his right hand away from his body which whilst it can make offloading easier once he engages the defensive line it can lead to a number of dropped balls when opposing defenders engage him.

    Noah Johannssen is obviously suited to defending in the centre of the ruck rather that the fringes and will understandably have some trouble with nippy runners out of dummy half. His calling card though is the strength and power to effectively engage the opposing forward early in their run and use his natural strength to win the forward battle in the centre of the ruck.

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

    Noah Johannssen has started the post Andrew Johns Cup competition time in the Tweed Heads Seagulls U18 side that plays in the U18 NRRRL competition and it would be an outstanding achievement for the 16 year old to play the entire season against players in the main two years older than him.

    Noah Johannssen is a giant of a young man but also has outstanding mobility for a player of his size and strength and certainly will continue to play in the front row in any team, representative, school boy or club, that he is involved in for the remainder of what is shaping to be an outstanding rugby league career.

    What really stands out for me in relation to Noah Johannssen is his exceptional mobility and stamina for a player of his size and strength it is truly and impressive trait.

    From a player comparison perspective for Noah Johannssen, consider someone along the same lines of Wests Tigers and New Zealand International’s Ben Matelino and Russell Packer as no nonsense types of front rowers with size, strength and power and a hard tough uncompromising attitude to go along with other attributes.

  15. #915
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    Dayton To’a. The Coomera youngster started on the interchange bench for the Titans U16’s in their January 2019 match s at Coffs Harbour against the Newcastle Knights. The match was Dayton To’a’s first call up to the Titans junior development ranks.

    Dayton To’a played the second half on the left wing for the Titans and took the ball up with vigour on a number of occasions. In one instance he left a few Knights forwards on the ground behind him and produced a quick play the ball which led to a long break by hooker Caleb Gould-Waiariki right through the centre of the ruck and after the Titans second try scored by front rower Brody Smitka took the ball on the full from the kick up and just flew into the Newcastle line causing havoc once again.

    In late 2018 Dayton To’a was selected in the Gold Coast Vikings U16 train on squad for the 2019 South East Queensland U16 Challenge and was a solid performer in that competition.

    In 2016 for Keebra Park, Dayton To’a was part of the successful Renouf Cup U13 side who won that particular competition. For the Renouf Cup U13 Keebra Park side Dayton To’a spent time at hooker and played very well over the course of the season, including scoring a double in a Round Two 42 – 10 victory over Ipswich State High School and was dangerous out of dummy half all afternoon that day.

    In Round Four in a 20 – 6 victory over Wavell State High School in 2016, it was Dayton To’a’s defence that came to the fore as the Wavell forwards constantly ran in his direction but he held firm for the entire match. Dayton To’a also kicked two conversions that afternoon. A Round Five win against Marsden State High School once again saw Dayton To’a cause havoc out of dummy half especially late in each half as the big Marsden forwards tired noticeably in the heat.

    Dayton To’a is powerfully built young man who runs with pace and power. It would be unfair to categorise that his game is only built on pace and power though as he has a very good right foot step and right hand fend. For his build, he is very quick down the sidelines with a good in and away to beat defenders on the outside and will not get caught from behind if he gets into open space.

    Whilst his speed off the mark cannot be considered explosive Dayton To’a has good top end speed once he gets moving. In addition to his speed he seems to have the ability to “freeze” his direct opponent with his ability to step off both feet before accelerating around them.

    On the wing, with his low centre of gravity Dayton To’a is able to come in and take runs through the centre of the ruck, and effective runs at that. Dayton To’a will take off from dummy half and use his foot work make a lot of the “tough” yards.

    Dayton To’a’s defensive game is one built on intimidation he will come out of the line when the opportunity presents itself and hit very hard around the chest and drive through is lower body and continue until the tackle is well and truly finished.

    The positive for Dayton To’a is that he does not purely rely on strength and power to hit, timing is also a key attribute to ensure that he arrives at the attacker at around the same time that the ball does, this also reduces the likelihood of injury to himself or the defender getting on his outside setting up a two or one.

    The start of 2019 saw Dayton To’a play for the Gold Coast Vikings U16 sides and he will also play for Coomera in the Gold Coast Rugby League U16 Division One competition.

    Dayton To’a will also be involved in various school boy rugby league competitions with the Keebra Park Open Rugby League side, including the GIO Cup amongst others.

    To be honest, I have absolutely no idea what Dayton Toa’s best position will be, for the simple reason he can practically play in any position on the field from hooker through to the halves and even wider out as well.

    Making a projection however, I think that based on what I saw for the Titans U16’s against Newcastle, playing on the wing where he can take a lot of pressure off his forwards and be an intimidating defensive presence cannot be discounted as his career progresses.

    From a player comparison perspective for Dayton To’a think former Canterbury Bulldogs and Wests Tigers winger Matthew Utai , he may not have amazing speed etc. but he is very difficult to tackle due to his build and strength and as someone who will regularly be able to come in and take pressure off his forwards with some bullocking runs as was evidenced in the Titans U16 match against the Newcastle Knights in February this year.


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