My take on our top juniors

[mdrew]

Jye Davis. In June 2021 the five eight from Lismore Marist Brothers was part of a Titans U18 Northern Rivers squad that played the Titans U17 JTS squad at Cbus Stadium in a curtain raiser to the Titans Round Fourteen NRL match against the Sydney Roosters with Jye Davis starting the match at five eight and drawing praise for his performance from Titans Development Staff.

Jye Davis started the season as part of the 2021 Northern Rivers Titans U18 Laurie Daley Cup squad, coming into the side at five eight in Round Three againt the Northern Tigers and made the most of his opportunity by scoring in the 63rd minute of the match.

Jye Davis moved back to the bench in Round Four against the Central Coast Roosters and scored once again in the 42nd minute before also coming off the bench in Round Five against the Newcastle Knights.

Jye Davis played the 2021 season with the Marist Brothers Rams in the NRRRL U18 competition starting Round One at halfback against Northern United, contributing a try and a try assist to the Rams first up victory.

Jye Davis scored in the 55th minute when whilst he was defending on the left side of the field, Jye Davis took an intercept and ran seventy five metres down the left touchline to score in the left corner.

Jye Davis recorded a try assist in the 15th minute when he ran the ball down a short left blindside, drawing the defence in before popping a short ball to his left to put Lachlan Watts over in the left corner.

Jye Davis moved to five eight in Round Two against Casino RSM, scoring once again in the 32nd minute when he barged over the line from three metres out down a short left blindside.

Jye Davis continued his run of scoring in each round in Round Three against Kyogle corssing twice from five eight. Jye Davis’s opening try came in the 22nd minute when after receiving the ball eighteen metres out, Jye Davis stepped off his left to get the through the defensive line before getting down low to force his way over next to the right upright.

Jye Davis completed his double in the 41st minute when he bobbed up on the right side of the field, breaking four tackles to get over the line mid-way between the corner post and goal posts on the right side of the field.

Jye Davis also started at five eight in Round Four against Ballina as well as in Round Five against the Tweed Coast Raiders, a match which saw Jye Davis cross in the 48th minute. After receiving the ball to the left of the play the ball, Jye Davis produced a weaving ten metre run that saw him beat four defenders to score fifteen metres out from the right goal post.

Jye Davis continued his outstanding season at five eight in Round Six against the Byron Bay Devils, with the outstanding five eight prospect scoring in the 42nd minute when he stopped a gap in the Devils line and raced into dummy half, running to his left from eighteen metres out and was able to beat three defenders to score next to the left upright.

Jye Davis continued at five eight in Round Seven against the Cudgen Hornets and in Round Eight against the Murwillumbah Mustangs where he recorded a try assist when in the 42nd minute, whilst operating on the right side of the field, Jye Davis popped a good short ball to his right from eight metres out to put right second rower Henry Lee into a gap and over the line.

Jye Davis continued at five eight in Round Ten against the Bilambil Jets and was heavily involved in Henry Lee’s 38th minute after Henry Lee had run a straight crash line from ten metres out down a right blindside after Jye Davis had cut from the openside back to the right blindside.

Round Twelve against Casino RSM saw Jye Davis continued at five eight.

In early 2021 Jye Davis also took part in the Northern Country Lismore Diocese Rugby League Representative trials.

In 2019 Jye Davis also played rugby and was selected in the New South Wales County U16 Representative side.

It is hard to put in words that do justice to just how talented Jye Davis is especially in terms of running the ball, he has outstanding speed both off the mark which I would consider in the plus plus category and top end speed which must be considered above average regardless of position.

Jye Davis with his speed is able to exploit even small gaps in the defensive line with an exceptional step off either foot, Jye Davis also has incredible acceleration as well as outstanding balance and body control. It is that exceptional speed trait which opens up time and space for his incredible (and still evolving) ball playing skills as well.

Teams automatically start to focus heavily on Jye Davis when he has the ball with outside defenders looking to come in to assist that then open up holes wider out in the defensive line that Jye Davis can readily exploit.

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

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

Like when he has the ball in his hands, there is nothing that Jye Davis cannot do in relation to kicking the ball. Jye Davis is an exceptional tactical kicker with range and accuracy, he can put up pin point bombs and perfectly weighted grubber kicks into the in goal. In short if you can name a type of rugby league kick, Jye Davis can execute it with precision.

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

Jye Davis has a very good low tackling technique which is simple and repeatable and effective against all size opponents and thus there is no need for a defensive minder on Jye Davis’s side of the field. In short just like his attacking play Jye Davis is an outstanding defender.

Another area where Jye Davis has a plus attribute is in relation to his leadership skills. He is a strong confident personality and that translates to a leader on and off the field and you can see that the other players gravitate towards him.

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 Jye Davis is a leader regardless of which team he is lining up for and acts accordingly both on and off the field.

In 2022 Jye Davis will either look to break into a Hastings Deering’s Colts squad, likely with either Tweed Heads or Burleigh or move up to the NRRRL First Grade competition with the Marist Brothers Rams. Jye Davis is also Colts eligible in 2023.

Jye Davis has played both five eight and fullback in both club and representative rugby league over the last couple of seasons and there is a legitimate case that Jye Davis could play either position at a higher level. Due to his elite ball playing ability and ball running I am erring on Jye Davis’s best position going forward being at five eight but only just, only just.

With his outstanding skill set coupled with his size and speed combination Jye Davis is simply a player of immense potential and the play of Parramatta Eels NRL boom rookie five eight Dylan Brown is a more than fair and accurate comparison.

Both Jye Davis and Brown have the ability to play to a set game plan as well as playing what is in front of them and unlike some current NRL halves have the youthful courage to look to win the match rather than trying not to lose it.

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Cooper Love. In June 2021 the hooker from Lismore Marist Brothers was part of a Titans U18 Northern Rivers squad that played the Titans U17 JTS squad at Cbus Stadium in a curtain raiser to the Titans Round Fourteen NRL match against the Sydney Roosters.

Cooper Love played the 2021 season with the Marist Brothers Rams in the NRRRL U18 competition starting Round One at hooker against Northern United and scoring in the 35th minute when he dived over untouched from dummy half to the left of the play the ball from less than two metres out down a very skinny and unattended left blindside.

Cooper Love also had a try assist in the 26th minute when he put in a right foot grubber kick out of dummy half into the in-goal with Harry Sivewright the beneficiary of a great bounce to score ten metres in from the right corner post.

Rounds two and Three against Casino RSM and Kyogle saw Cooper Love once again start at hooker and score in both matches.

Against Casino RSM Cooper Love scored in the 35th minute with a four metre dart out of dummy half to his right, with the craft hooker getting the ball down under the posts.

Against Kyogle Cooper Love scored in the 6th minute with a smart piece of individual brilliance. Cooper Love moved into dummy half the the play the ball forty metres from the line and two metres in from the left touchline. When the ball was played Cooper Love exploded down the short left blindside catching the Turkey’s defence totally off guard and from there Cooper Love was too quick for the cover defence score a great individual try down the left touchline.

Cooper Love also started at hooker against Ballina in Round Four as well as in Round Five and Six against the Tweed Coast Raiders and Byron Bay respectively with Cooper Love scoring in both of those matches as well.

Against Tweed Coast Cooper Love scored in the 51st minute with a two metre dart out of dummy half to his left enabled him to get the ball over the line.

Against Byron Bay Cooper Love scored in the 62nd minute once again with a run out of dummy half to his right from three metres out. The match also saw Cooper Love record a 56th minute try assist with a great short ball to his right to put Henry Lee over after Cooper Love had drawn in the defence after running out of dummy half to his right.

Cooper Love continued at hooker in Round Seven against against the Cudgen Hornets and in Round Eight against the Murwillumbah Mustangs as well as in Round Ten against the Bilambil Jets where he scored in the 14th minute when after receiving an offload from Jye Davis eighteen metres out and in the open side of the ruck, Cooper Love cut back down the blindside and then was able to bring the ball around closer to the goal posts.

Round Twelve against Casino RSM saw Cooper Love come off the bench for the Rams and scored in the 44th minute of the match. Cooper Love, who moved into the dummy half role when he came on, found himself at dummy half seventy metres from the line and after picking the ball up ran to his right before cutting back to the area behind the play the ball and got through the the defensive line before offloading to his right to a support and then continued to back-up and received the ball back when his team mate drew the fullback with Cooper Love racing away to score on the right side of the field.

Cooper Love had a solid season in the 2020 NRRL U18 competition for the Rams, including starting the Grand Final at hooker against the Ballina Seagulls. In the abridged 2020 NRRRL U18 season Harry Sivewright started at hooker in all of his matches for Marist Brothers.

In 2022 Cooper Love will either look to break into a Hastings Deering’s Colts squad, likely with either Tweed Heads or Burleigh or move up to the NRRRL First Grade competition with the Marist Brothers Rams. Cooper Love will also be Colts eligible in 2023 as well.

Cooper Love is a clever, tallist hooker whose playing style reminds me of Wests Tigers rooke rake, Jake Simpkins. Both Cooper Love and Simpkins are smart as well as tough both in terms of attack and defence.

From a speed perspective I would consider that Cooper Love’s speed when running out of dummy half is probably slightly above average for a hooker, but plays faster as he has become adept at running at the right time and focusses heavily when the markers are out of position, thus he either makes ground putting his team on the front foot or draws a penalty, in both scenario’s Cooper Love generates momentum for his side through the skill and intelligence he has.

From a defensive perspective Cooper Love is a very solid tackler who makes good initial contact and is able to generate momentum through his core and drive into his opponent with enough force to redirect the momentum of the ball carrier. Cooper Love has both a solid low tackling technique as well as having the functional strength to make ball and all tackles effectively against the biggest of forwards looking to target him in the defensive line.

Cooper Love is also very quick out of the marker position and will get to forwards who are running one out before they can generate any momentum. In short Cooper Love defends like a backrower and certainly if he finds himself on the fringes of the ruck, Cooper Love has the lateral movement and anticipation to also defend against smaller quicker halves looking to exploit a perceived speed advantage.

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Jesse Beauchamp. In June 2021 the hooker from the Ballina Seagulls was part of a Titans U18 Northern Rivers squad that played the Titans U17 JTS squad at Cbus Stadium in a curtain raiser to the Titans Round Fourteen NRL match against the Sydney Roosters.

Jesse Beauchamp started the season as part of the 2021 Northern Rivers Titans U18 Laurie Daley Cup squad, coming into the side on the bench in Round Two againt the North Coast Bulldogs and maintaining his spot there in Round Three against the Northern Tigers. After missing Round Four Jesse Beauchamp also came off the bench in Round Five against the Newcastle Knights.

Jesse Beauchamp played the 2021 season with Ballina Seagulls in the NRRRL U18 competition starting Round One at hooker agaisnt the Kyogle Turkeys. Jesse Beauchamp continued at hooker from rounds two to four against Byron Bay, Tweed Coast and Marist Brothers respectively before starting Round Five against Casino RSM at halfback with Jesse Beauchamp also captaining the Seagulls side in that match.

In that span, Jesse Beauchamp scored his first try of the 2021 NRRRL U18 season in the 9th minute of Round Three against the Tweed Coast Raiders when he ran out of dummy half to his left to easily get the ball over the line from a metre out.

Jesse Beauchamp was set to continue at hooker in Round Eight against Northern United however he ended up starting the match at halfback and was involved in everything for the Seagulls, finishing the match with a double.

Jesse Beauchamp’s first try of the match came in the 30th minute when he backed up a break through centre field by one of his forwards. Jesse Beauchamp received the offload thirty-five metres from the try line and after wrong footing two Northern United defenders Jesse Beauchamp put the ball down mid-way between the corner post and goal posts on the left side of the field.

Jesse Beauchamp’s second try came in the 43rd minute when he darted out of dummy half to his right from three metres out to score next to the right upright. It is only fair however to note that for a line break by Jesse Beauchamp the play prior, he would not have been in a position to score. Near the halfback mark, Jesse Beauchamp split the Northern United defence through the middle of the ruck before off-loading to Kyhan Weir who had loomed up on his right. It was from Kyhan Weir’s quick play the ball that Jesse Beauchamp took the opportunity to score from dummy half.

Jesse Beauchamp then continued at halfback in Round Eleven against the Bilambil Jets and made a significant contribution to the Seagulls final try in their 30 – 0 when from just inside his own terrirtoy he put up a high mid-field bomg which was dropped by the Jets twenty metres out from their own line with the ball bouncing perfectly for the Seagulls replacement left winger to scoop it up and comfortably under the posts.

Jesse Beauchamp continued at halfback in Round Twelve against the Byron Bay Devils scoring three tries and also recording two try assists.

Jesse Beauchamp’s opening try came in the 23rd minute when on the left Jesse Beauchamp put in a right foot grubber kick for himself from just five metres out and after regathering the ball Jesse Beauchamp got the ball down mid-way between the corner post and goal post on the left side of the field.

Jesse Beauchamp scored his second try in the 25th minute when Jesse Beauchamp backed up on the inside when Ballina left centre Damon Coldwell made a long line break down the left touchline, receiving an inside pass around thirty metres out. Jesse Beauchamp was then able to bring the ball around to score under the posts.

Jesse Beauchamp completed his hat trick in the 51st minute when after picking up the ball after picking up the ball from the base of the scrum he ran to his left and simply sliced through the right side of the Byron Bay scrum defence and from there Jesse Beauchamp was just too quick for the cover defence to dive over ten metres in from the left cover defence.

Jesse Beauchamp almost had another try in the match but in the 44th minute he was held up directly under the posts.

Jesse Beauchamp recorded his first try assist in the 34th minute when whilst operating on the left, Jesse Beauchamp put in a right foot stab kick which sat of for his left second rower to run onto and then bring the ball around to put it down under the posts.

Jesse Beauchamp then recorded his second try assist in the 60th minute when he threw a long cut out pass to his left to put Damon Coldwell on the outside of the Byron Bay defence and from there no one was going to stop Damon Coldwell from scoring.

Jesse Beauchamp made his NRRRL Reserve Grade debut in Round Twelve of the 2021 competition when he came off the bench against the Byron Bay Devils.

Jesse Beauchamp had a solid season in the 2020 NRRL U18 competition for the Seagulls, including starting the Grand Final at hooker against Marist Brothers.

In the 2020 NRRRL U18 regular season, Jesse Beauchamp started at hooker in all of his matches for Ballina, except for Round Seven when he came off the bench against Byron Bay. Jesse Beauchamp scored a double in the Seagulls semi-final victory over Casino RSM and also scored in Round Four against the same opponent.

Jesse Beauchamp is a talented all be it small all-round hooker, who excels at the critical aspect of distribution of the football and game management out of dummy half. In terms of his distribution out of dummy half, he is efficient and effective in his passing and there is no wasted movement or energy as he passes in one motion off the ground rather than two distinct movements like many hookers where they first stand then pass.

There is no discernible difference between Jesse Beauchamp’s passing from either side of his body, and his passes are crisp and flat. Jesse Beauchamp certainly is not the biggest or fastest hooker but he will look to run from dummy half when the opportunity presents but he is not going to be a big running threat moving forward.

His defence for a hooker is solid and whilst Jesse Beauchamp is certainly on the small side but that is no hindrance to how he currently plays the game, nor to his ability to reach his true long term potential. He does not hit hard from a contact perspective but due to his very good low technique he can defend effectively one on one against far larger forwards, Jesse Beauchamp sets a good base with his lower body to absorb the impact when confronting large forwards.

Jesse Beauchamp’s intensity and constant effort means that he will track the ball across the field and thus is in a good position when the ball is passed back inside as well as tackle all match. Jesse Beauchamp literally looks to tackle everything that moves in the centre of the ruck even though he is always the smallest forward on the field, and I mean always, he is also one of the toughest though.

In 2022 Jesse Beauchamp will either look to break into a Hastings Deering’s Colts squad, likely with either Tweed Heads or Burleigh or move up to the NRRRL First Grade competition with the Ballina Seagulls. Jesse Beauchamp will also be Colts eligible in 2023 as well.

With his smart distribution and judicious running out of dummy half coupled with being solid defensively, hooker is clearly Jesse Beauchamp’s best position both now as well as into the future. For completeness, it should be noted that for Ballina in 2021 in the NRRRL U18 competition, Jesse Beauchamp also spent time at halfback and handled the position change with aplomb.

From a player comparison perspective, due to his size and tenacity, a playing style and comparison akin to former Gold Coast Titan fan favourite Nathan Friend would be appropriate from a style, courage and determination perspective for Jesse Beauchamp.

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Jye Brady. In June 2021 the lock/second rower from the Bilambil Jets was part of a Titans U18 Northern Rivers squad that played the Titans U17 JTS squad at Cbus Stadium in a curtain raiser to the Titans Round Fourteen NRL match against the Sydney Roosters.

Jye Brady played the 2021 season with Bilambil Jets in the NRRRL U18 competition starting Round One in the second row against the Murwillumbah Mustangs with Jye Brady scoring in the 47th minute when he burst through a gap on the right side of the field after receiving an off-load from Kai Smallwood. A Mustangs defender grabbed hold of Jye Brady while he was still twelve metres from the line but Jye Brady just carried the defender all of the way to the line to get the ball down ten metres in from the right corner post.

Jye Brady moved to the front row for Round Two against the Tweed Coast Raiders before starting Round Three at lock and scoring twice against Northern United.

Jye Brady’s opening try against Northern United came in the 17th minute when Jye Brady ran into a gap on the right side of the field and after receiving a double pumped pass Kai Smallwood, Jye Brady ran twenty metres to score.

Jye Brady completed his double in the 47th minute when he received a long cut out pass once again from Kai Smallwood to score comfortably.

Jye Brady moved to the second row for the Round Four local derby against the Cudgen Hornets and also started in the second row and scored once again in Round Five against Kyogle with his try coming in the 11th minute with an eight metre run to get the ball down twelve metres in from the right corner post.

Round Six against Casino RSM saw Jye Brady drop back to start from the bench and he also started from the bench in Round Nine against the Byron Bay Devils and in Round Ten against the Marist Brothers Rams before moving back into the Jets starting side at right second row in Round Eleven against the Ballina Seagulls and also started at right second row in Round Twelve against the Tweed Coast Raiders.

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

When the opposition are on the back foot Jye Brady will target the smaller defenders on the edge of the ruck and burst through and Jye Brady has very good speed over the medium term and has the strength to drag defenders with him.

I would consider that Jye Brady’s speed would be considered above average for a backrower but plays faster as a result of him timing his runs so well that the dummy half can present a flat pass to him and also as a result of the power that he runs at.

Jye Brady’s offloading ability is also improving as he refines his game. Earlier in his career, he was almost too good at offloading compared to his team mates as he would pop some passes that they were not expecting but as he has matured and the quality of the opposition and his own team has increased so has the selective nature of his offloading.

In defence Jye Brady uses his size and strength to make very solid initial contact and certainly can take on all opposing forwards one on one. Jye Brady is not averse to looking for the big hit but does have a good front on defensive technique, maintaining decent leverage and reasonable agility and lateral movement when looking to tackle smaller opponents on the edge of the ruck.

In 2022 Jye Brady will either look to break into a Hastings Deering’s Colts squad, likely with either Tweed Heads or Burleigh or move up to the NRRRL First Grade competition with the Bilambil Jets. Jye Brady will also be Colts eligible in 2023 as well.

Whilst Jye Brady has regularly played in every position in the forward pack outside of hooker, with his sped and hole running ability on the edges of the ruck, second row, specifically right second row appears to be the ideal position for Jye Brady going forward.

A current NRL player with a similar playing style for me for Jye Brady is Newcastle Knights second rower Lachlan Fitzgibbon. Like Fitzgibbon Jye Brady shapes as a talented young second rower who just needs the right opportunity to highlight his power running, hard tackling and burgeoning skill set overall.

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Harry Sivewright. In June 2021 the fullback/centre from Lismore Marist Brothers was part of a Titans U18 Northern Rivers squad that played the Titans U17 JTS squad at Cbus Stadium in a curtain raiser to the Titans Round Fourteen NRL match against the Sydney Roosters.

Harry Sivewright started the season as part of the 2021 Northern Rivers Titans U18 Laurie Daley Cup squad, starting Round One of the competition at right centre against the Wests Tigers before moving to the right wing in Round two against North Coast Bulldogs.

Harry Sivewright maintained his spot on the right wing for Round Three against the Northern Tigers and scored his first try of the competition when he crossed in the 13th minute. Harry Sivewright moved back to the centres for Round Four against the Central Coast Roosters before starting Round Five against the Newcastle Knights at fullback.

Harry Sivewright played the 2021 season with Marist Brothers Lismore in the NRRRL U18 competition starting Round One at right centre and scoring a hat trick and kicking a conversion against Northern United.

Harry Siveright’s opening try came in just the first minute of the match after Kaleb Makings chimed into the backline on the right side of the field, taking the ball all the way to the line before passing to his right to put centre Harry Siveright into a gap with the right centre diving over five metres in from the right corner post.

In the 12th minute Kaleb Makings once again chimed into the Rams backline on the right side of the field and once again put Harry Siveright into a hole with the right centre able to bring the ball around to near the right goal post with Kaleb Makings comfortably kicking the conversion.

Harry Siveright completed his hat trick in the 26th minute when he chased through a grubber kick from his dummy half to easily get the ball down.

In the 37th minute Harry Siveright could have had a fourth when he made a break down the right touchline but as the cover defence was coming across, his pass back inside went to ground.

Harry Sivewright also started at right centre in Round Two against Casino RSM as well as in Round Three against Kyogle, with Harry Sivewright scoring in that match as well.

After missing Round Four, Harry Sivewright once again started at right centre in Round Five against the Tweed Coast raiders before starting Round Six against Byron Bay at fullback.

Harry Sivewright continued at fullback in Round Seven against the Cudgen Hornets and in Round Eight against the Murwillumbah Mustangs. Round Twelve however saw Harry Sivewright move to five eight against Casino RSM.

Harry Sivewright made his NRRRL First Grade debut in Round Twelve when he came off the bench against Casino RSM.

In early 2021 Harry Sivewright also took part in the Northern Country Lismore Diocese Rugby League Representative trials.

The St Johns College Woodlawn student had a solid season in the 2020 NRRL U18 competition for the Rams, including starting the Grand Final in the centres against the Ballina Seagulls.

In the abridged 2020 NRRRL U18 season Harry Sivewright started in the centres in all of his matches for Marist Brothers, scoring in Round Six against Byron Bay and in the Preliminary Final against Ballina.

Harry Sivewright has also played rugby and in 2019 was named at fullback for the New South Wales Country U16 side.

Harry Sivewright 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, Harry Sivewright usually is able to maintain his balance and keeps an arm free, looking to offload.
Harry Sivewright 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.
A real positive for me is that Harry Sivewright 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.
As you would expect, due to his size and strength, Harry Sivewright is a very good defender regardless of position. Harry Sivewright 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, Harry Sivewright 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 comes out of the line.

In 2022 Harry Sivewright will either look to break into a Hastings Deering’s Colts squad, likely with either Tweed Heads or Burleigh or move up to the NRRRL First Grade competition with the Marist Brothers Rams. Harry Sivewright will also be Colts eligible in 2023 as well.

Harry Sivewright has played both in the centres (mainly right centre) and at fullback in both club and representative rugby league over the last couple of seasons and there is a legitimate case that Harry Sivewright could play either position at a higher level but by the barest of margins, with his line running ability I think that Harry Sivewright’s best position going forward will be at right centre and a try scoring one at that.

From an NRL player comparison perspective for Harry Sivewright, either of the Morris brothers would be good from a playing comparison perspective, that being as a centre who has a myriad of ways to beat you one on one as well as the great ability to set up his support players.

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Noah Reti. The giant youngster from the South Grafton Rebels in the Group One U13 competition had a huge 2021 season with the Rebels and proved impossible for opposing defences to stop on any sort of regular basis.

Starting all of his matches in the second row for the Rebels, Noah Reti scored hat tricks in Round Two against the Clarence Coast Magpies, Round Four against Ballina and Round Six against Marist Brothers.

Noah Reti also scored doubles in Round Three against Clarence Coast and also scored in Round One (Kyogle), Round Five (Ballina), Round Six (Ballina).

Noah Reti continued in the second row in Round Eight against Kyogle and added four tries to his 2021 tally. Round Nine against Clarence Coast saw Noah Reti once again start in the second row and for the second week in a row score four tries.

Noah Reti also played for the South Grafton Rebels in 2020 in the Group One U12 competition, starting almost exclusively in the front row for the Rebels and finished the 2020 Group One U12 season, scoring eleven tries and kicking two conversions from nine matches, with his conversions coming in Round Six against Kyogle and Round Seven against Grafton.

Noah Reti scored a hat trick against Grafton in Round Seven and scored doubles in Rounds Four and Ten, on both occasions against Casino RSM. Noah Reti also scored against Ballina (Round Two), Kyogle (Round Three), Grafton (Round Five) and Clarence Coast in Round Six.

For a big strong young man, Noah Reti also has above average (to plus) speed, not just off the mark but also when he is in clear space, when he makes a break Noah Reti is more than capable of going the distance and normally easily out paces the cover defence.

Noah Reti is not just a strong runner of the ball he as noted above has excellent footwork prior to the line and also some very good short passing both before the line and when in contact with defenders in the defensive line.

On a lot of his runs Noah Reti 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.

Whilst his ball running skills are the first thing that you will likely notice when seeing Noah Reti play his defence is equally effective even though it may not be as noticeable at first glance.

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

Noah Reti’s good situation awareness also enables him to be well positioned when he is defending against smaller quicker players on the fringes of the ruck and he endeavours to minimise the time available for the opposing attacker to generate speed and to utilise their footwork but moving up quickly but at the same time maintaining his balance.

Noah Reti 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 he will hold his ground to let the play to develop in front of him before committing to a specific defensive course of action.

Noah Reti will play the 2022 season with the South Grafton Rebels in the Group One U14 competition. Representative rugby league is also beckoning for Noah Reti as well.

Whilst Noah Reti played in the front row in 2020 (and was very successful there), moving to the second row where he is able to run a bit wider of the ruck has propelled Noah Reti’s game to another level and whilst he may well end up in the front row in years to come, playing in the second row in the short term is, for me the best situation for Noah Reti.

With his size, speed and power, how Noah Reti plays is eerily similar to Titans and Queensland State of Origin standout Tino Fa’asuamaleaui.

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Nicholas Troy. In June 2021 the second rower from the Ballina Seagulls was part of a Titans U18 Northern Rivers squad that played the Titans U17 JTS squad at Cbus Stadium in a curtain raiser to the bizarre Titans Round Fourteen NRL match against the Sydney Roosters.

Nicholas Troy started the season as part of the 2021 Northern Rivers Titans U18 Laurie Daley Cup squad, starting Round One of the competition at lock against the Wests Tigers before moving to the front row for Round Two against the North Coast Bulldogs and maintaining his spot there in Round Three against the Northern Tigers. Nicholas Troy then moved to the second row in Round Four against the Central Coast Roosters.

Nicholas Troy played the 2021 season with Ballina Seagulls in the NRRRL U18 competition starting Round One at left second row against Kyogle with Nicholas Troy being one of the Seagulls try scorers in their 54 – 4 first up victory.

Nicholas Troy scored in the 35th minute he ran a good line to run straight through the defensive line twelve metres out and then Nicholas Troy produced a left foot step to beat the Turkey’s fullback right on the try line and then as he bringing the ball closer to the posts in-goal ran into a defender but still comfortably got the ball down.

Nicholas Troy continued in the second row in Round Two against Byron Bay and Round Three against the Tweed Coast Raiders, a match which saw him score a double.

Nicholas Troy’s opening try came in the 24th minute with a straight twelve metre run to the right of the dummy half, getting the ball down next to the right upright.

Nicholas Troy scored his second try in the 46th minute when he ran onto a pass from hooker Jesse Beauchamp fourteen metres from the line. Nicholas Troy was actually held by the Tweed Coast fullback by one leg was able to reach out and put the ball over the line.

Nicholas Troy also started in the second row in Round Four against Marist Brothers and in Round Five against Casino RSM.

Round Eight against Northern United saw Nicholas Troy move to lock with the move in no way impacting on Nicholas Troy’s contribution to Ballina’s big win.

Nicholas Troy then moved back to the right second row position for Round Eleven against the Bilambil Jets and was one of the Seagulls try scorers in their impressive 30 – 0 victory. Nicholas Troy scored in the 41st minute when he ran a hard straight line from sixteen metres out, breaking through two tackles on the way to getting the ball down five metres in from the right corner post.

Nicholas Troy continued at right second row in Round Twelve against the Byron Bay Devils.

Nicholas Troy also played one Laurie Daley Cup match for the Northern Rivers Titans in 2020, coming off the bench in Round Five against the North Coast Bulldogs.

Nicholas Troy had a solid season in the 2020 NRRL U18 competition for the Seagulls, including starting the Grand Final in the second row against Marist Brothers.

In the 2020 NRRRL U18 regular season, Nicholas Troy spent time at both lock and second row for Ballina, scoring in Round Seven against Byron Bay and also in the Seagulls semi-final victory over Casino RSM.

Nicholas Troy takes the ball to the line with speed, but he does not just put his head down and rush forward, he uses quick and subtle footwork prior to the line and seems to target the gaps between defenders and will actively seek out opposing defenders who are slow to move up.

When the opposition are on the back foot Nicholas Troy will target the smaller defenders on the edge of the ruck or wider out and burst through and for a big young bloke he has very good speed over the medium term and has the strength and power to drag defenders with him.

I would consider that Nicholas Troy’s speed would be considered above average for a second rower but plays faster as a result of him timing his runs so well that the dummy half can present a flat pass to him and also as a result of the power that he runs at. Nicholas Troy also has a very powerful fend especially with his right hand.

The defensive side of his game is similarly effective, Nicholas Troy does not just charge wildly up looking for a huge hit (well maybe sometimes but not often) but is cold and calculating in where and when he hits. Nicholas Troy drives hard with his legs and always uses his shoulder and core body strength to drive into his opponent and force them off balance or off their running line.

With his strength and technique Nicholas Troy should likely always be considered a plus defender regardless of age group or quality of opponent.

In 2022 Nicholas Troy will either look to break into a Hastings Deering’s Colts squad, likely with either Tweed Heads or Burleigh or move up to the NRRRL First Grade competition with the Ballina Seagulls. Nicholas Troy will also be Colts eligible in 2023 as well.

Nicholas Troy has played the majority of the last couple of season in the second row in both club and representative sides and whilst he has also spent time at lock and even in the front row, I am of the firm belief that second row is clearly Nicholas Troy’s best position both now and in the future.

From an NRL player comparison perspective in relation to Nicholas Troy, think of Parramatta Eels and former New Zealand Warriors tough hard aggressive second rower Isaiah Pappalli as a good comparison for Nicholas Troy, both just charge at the line without fear but also with some subtle footwork that can be on occasion be forgotten and really try to hit as hard as possible in every tackle that they make.

[mdrew]

Darcy Townsend. In June 2021 the young lock from the Cudgen Hornets was part of a Titans U18 Northern Rivers squad that played the Titans U17 JTS squad at Cbus Stadium in a curtain raiser to the Titans Round Fourteen NRL match against the Sydney Roosters.

Darcy Townsend played the 2021 season with the Cudgen Hornets in the NRRRL U18 competition starting Round One at lock against the Tweed Coast Raiders with the solidly built young man scoring in the 12th minute with a bizarre try. With Cudgen attacking within a metre of the line on the left side of the field, the Cudgen dummy half put in a grubber kick towards the posts with the ball bouncing off a defender, right into the arms of Darcy Townsend who was following the ball through and was able to bring the ball around to score under the posts.

After Cudgen had a Round Two bye, Darcy Townsend also started at lock in Round Three against Casino RSM with Darcy Townsend scoring in the 28th minute when he charged onto an inside pass forty five metres from the line and then showed exceptional speed to get to the Casino RSM fullback before easily beating him by veering around him to the left to cross under the posts.

Darcy Townsend also started at lock in Round Five against Byron Bay and continued there in Round Seven against the Marist Brothers Rams with Darcy Townsend recording a try assist in the 5th minute when after receiving the ball to the left of the play the ball, taking the ball to the line before popping a good short ball to his left to Bailey Roberts who crashed over from six metres.

Round Eight against the Kyogle Turkeys, saw Darcy Townsend shift to the bench against the Kyogle Turkeys. Darcy Townsend certainly made the most of his time on the field when he came on, including scoring in the 41st minute as a result of him charging onto a short ball from his right from Jett Forbes to fly through a gap and then easily round the Kyogle fullback to score under the posts.

In Round Ten against the Murwillumbah Mustangs Darcy Townsend moved to left second row and had a strong game including a try assist in the 50th minute when he got a great right arm off-load away eight metres from the line to Cooper Camby who was able to get the ball down in the left corner.

Darcy Townsend made his deserved NRRRL First Grade debut off the bench for the Hornets in Round Eight in a 62 – 0 Cudgen victory over the Kyogle Turkeys.

In 2019 Darcy Townsend 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.

Darcy Townsend is a hard running backrower who really does look to run straight over people and is a solidly built forward with a low centre of gravity making him a difficult proposition to tackle for opposing defences. He may not look it but Darcy Townsend is actually quite quick especially off the mark and will surprise a defence line in terms of how fast he gets to them and thus he is in a position to bump off the initial defender who on occasion has been unable to set up for the tackle properly.

I would suggest Darcy Townsend’s speed is above average for a back rower however. Darcy Townsend also has a very good left hand fend to add to his stocky frame and good strength. Darcy Townsend’s low centre of gravity and power make him a difficult proposition to defend against, regardless of where he lines up in attack.

Defensively Darcy Townsend hits very hard and is adept at making sure the opposition do not get quick play the balls. Darcy Townsend also has a touch of aggression in his play and definitely finishes off each tackle that he is involved in.

Darcy Townsend is equally adept at defending in the centre of the ruck as he is defending on the fringes and his initial contact is more than sufficient to make an impact on the ball carrier’s momentum. I have noticed as his junior career has progressed that Darcy Townsend’s defensive technique in the forwards had improved immensely and he sets a good stable base with his lower body, which he them used to explode into the attacker.

In 2022 Darcy Townsend will either look to break into a Hastings Deering’s Colts squad, likely with either Tweed Heads or Burleigh or move up to the NRRRL First Grade competition with the Cudgen Hornets. Darcy Townsend will also be Colts eligible in 2023 as well.

Darcy Townsend is a solidly built forward with surprising speed for his size and boy shape and whilst there is no doubt he could play in the second row I believe that lock is the best position for Darcy Townsend. At Lock Darcy Townsend can roam around a touch more, injecting himself into the match when he sees an opportunity.

From a style perspective, a player that stands out with a similar playing style in relation to Darcy Townsend, especially in terms of attack is former Titan Greg Bird as a tough nuggetty back rower with above average footwork prior to the line to add to solid speed for a backrower and someone who is aggressive (very aggressive) in defence. With Darcy Townsend in a team, that team will definitely not lack aggression in both attack and defence in the centre of the field, that is definitely for certain.

[mdrew]

Cooper Camby. In June 2021 the centre from the Cudgen Hornets was part of a Titans U18 Northern Rivers squad that played the Titans U17 JTS squad at Cbus Stadium in a curtain raiser to the Titans Round Fourteen NRL match against the Sydney Roosters.

Cooper Camby played the 2021 season with the Cudgen Hornets in the NRRRL U18 competition starting Round One at left centre against the Tweed Coast Raiders and was one of the Hornets try scorers in their big victory.

Cooper Camby’s try came in just the 4th minute of the Round One match when he ran through a gap down the left channel from five metres out in get the ball down five metres in from the left corner post.

Cooper Camby continued at left centre in Round Three against Casino RSM, scoring a double in Cudgen’s 40 – 18 victory.

Cooper Camby’s opening try came in the 9th minute when he ran into a gap on the left from six metres out, with Copper Camby spinning counter clockwise right on the try line to gain separation from the fullback to get the ball down nine metres in from the left corner.

Cooper Camby scored his second try of the match in the 18th minute when initially he was defending twenty metres from his own line. The Casino RSM halfback put in a grubber kick to the left side of the field with Cooper Camby taking the ball over his right shoulder and then outpaced the defence to run eighty metres down the left wing and then was able to bring the ball around to place the ball under the posts.

Cooper Camby also started at left centre in Round Four against the Bilambil Jets, scoring a double once again in Cudgen’s victory against their closest rivals.

Cooper Camby’s opening try came in the 5th minute when he was on the end of a Hornets passing movement to the left and received the ball in space and was able to comfortably run ten metres to score in the left corner. Cooper Camby added his second try in the 38th minute when he was put into a gap by Harvey Moase and ran twenty metres to score easily.

Cooper Camby continued at left centre in Round Five against the Byron Bay, once again scoring a double. Cooper Camby’s opening try came in the 6th minute of the match when he burst thirty metres down the left touchline and was able to hold off the Byron Bay halfback with left arm, maintaining his balance to get the ball over the line in the left corner.

Cooper Camby scored his second try in the 45th minute when after receiving the ball, Cooper Camby stepped off his left to beat one defender before a second left foot step beat another. As he ran at the fullback, Cooper Camby looked to his left to his support but instead he dummied in that direction with that deception fooling the fullback and then Cooper Camby brought the ball around to score under the posts.

Cooper Camby continued at left centre in Round Seven against the Marist Brothers Rams and in Round Eight against the Kyogle Turkeys where in the 48th minute Cooper Camby made a fifty metre break down the left touchline.

Cooper Camby continued at left centre in Round Ten against the Murwillumbah Mustangs and scored in the 50th minute when he received a great right arm off-load from Darcy Townsend eight metres from the line and Cooper Camby was able to get the ball down in the left corner.

Cooper Camby also continued to play for PBC in 2021, playing primarily in the Langer Reserve competition and had an exceptional match in Round Four against Marsden State High School when from his left centre position he was one of PBC’s try scorers when he was able to reach out to get the ball down.

Cooper Camby also started at left centre in Round Six against Keebra Park with Cooper Camby scoring PBC’s opening try of the match in just the 2nd minute of the match when after PBC, on the last tackle, spun the ball to their right, the ball came back to Cooper Camby on the left around eight metres out. Cooper Camby was confronted immediately by a defender and subsequently put in a short grubber kick for himself, regathering the ball just short of the line and getting the ball down near the left corner.

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

When the opposition are on the back foot Cooper Camby will target the smaller defenders on the edge of the ruck and burst through and for a young player Cooper Camby has very good speed over the medium term and has the strength to drag defenders with him.

I would consider that Cooper Camby’s speed would be considered above average for a backrower but plays faster as a result of him timing his runs so well that the dummy half can present a flat pass to him and also as a result of the power that he runs at. What is in the above average to plus category in relation to Cooper Camby is his speed off the mark.

Cooper Camby’s offloading ability is also improving as he refines his game. Earlier in his junior career, he was almost too good at offloading compared to his team mates as he would pop some passes that they were not expecting but as he has matured and the quality of the opposition and his own team has increased so has the selective nature of his offloading.

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

Cooper Camby sets a strong lower base by setting his legs and generating force by driving through the tackle with his lower body, gaining leverage and momentum to complete the tackle. Cooper Camby is also comfortable making contact with either shoulder and also maintains good head position regardless of the type of tackles he makes.

Cooper Camby is once again U18 eligible in 2022 and he may look to push for a spot in either the MM Cup competition or the Laurie Daley Cup competition. From a club perspective, no doubt Cooper Camby will once again line up for the Cudgen Hornets in the NRRRL U18 competition.

Whilst Cooper Camby has played exclusively in the centres for Cudgen in the NRRRL U18 competition in 2021, he has played a fair bit of second row, previously in the Group 18 competition as well as for PBC in various school boy competitions and even though he has been outstanding in the centres for Cudgen I can not help but think that going forward Cooper Camby’s best position will be in the second row.

Identifying an NRL player with a similar playing style to Cooper Camby was an interesting such is his diverse skill set and physical characteristics as well as the ability to play both in the centres are second row equally effectively.

Ultimately however I consider that Titans NRL second left rower and occasional centre Beau Fermor is a more that fair comparison in relation to Cooper Camby. Both Fermor and Cooper Camby are talented athletes with above average speed as well as endurance and both can play a number of positions at an above average level.

[mdrew]

Damian Wilson. In June 2021 the front rower from the Kyogle Turkeys was part of a Titans U18 Northern Rivers squad that played the Titans U17 JTS squad at Cbus Stadium in a curtain raiser to the Titans Round Fourteen NRL match against the Sydney Roosters.

Damian Wilson started the season as part of the 2021 Northern Rivers Titans U18 Laurie Daley Cup squad, starting Round One of the competition on the bench against the Wests Tigers and also started from the bench in Round Two against the North Coast Bulldogs.

After missing Round Three Damian Wilson came off the bench once again in Round Four against the Central Coast Roosters before moving into the starting side in the front row in Round Five against the Newcastle Knights.

After starting off the 2021 season in the NRRRL U18 competition with the Kyogle Turkeys, Damian Wilson made his NRRRL First Grade debut in Round Seven when he started at right second row against the Tweed Coast Raiders and continued in the second row in Round Eight against the Cudgen Hornets as well as in Round Nine against Northern United.

Damian Wilson then continued at right second row in Round Ten against the Mullumbimby Giants, in Round Eleven against the Byron Bay Devils and in Round Twelve against the Lower Clarence Magpies.

Damian Wilson played the 2021 season with the Kyogle Turkeys in the NRRRL U18 competition starting Round One at lock against the Ballina Seagulls before moving to the second row in Round Three against Marist Brothers Rams.

Damian Wilson also started in the second row in Round Four and scored in an impressive two point win against Casino RSM with his try coming in the 47th minute when he received the ball down a short left blindside less than ten metres from the line. After receiving the ball Damian Wilson propped on the spot to let one defender fly past before surging towards the line and carry three defenders over the line with him.

Damian Wilson also recorded a great line break in the 18th minute when he ran twenty five metres down the left channel to skittling defenders to get to within five metres of the line. Kyogle then scored from his quick play the ball.

Round Eight Damian Wilson named on the bench against the Cudgen Hornets and he was also named on the bench in Round Nine against Northern United with Damian Wilson scoring in the first half when he broke two tackles to score from ten metres out, getting the ball down eight metres in from the right corner post.

Damian Wilson was also named to come off the bench in Round Eleven against the Byron Bay Devils but was back in the Turkey’s starting side at right second row in Round Thirteen against the Evans Head Bombers.

With the disarray that was the Covid 19 impacted 2020 NRRRL season, Damian Wilson lined up for Casino RSM, playing six matches for the Cougars, starting all in the front row, including the Preliminary Final against Ballina, except Round Five against the Byron Bay Devils where he started at lock and scored his sole try of the 2020 NRRRL U18 season.
Damian Wilson is a powerful runner of the ball who runs with a slight jink, usually off his right foot, in his step prior to impacting the defensive line and from when he receives the ball until he hits the defensive line Damian Wilson is able to build up significant momentum.
Damian Wilson displays outstanding speed both off the mark and over an extended distance when in the clear for a player his size. Also when Damian Wilson has impacted the defensive line he continues to pump his legs and gain extra metres after contact.
As noted, Damian Wilson is a solidly built young front rower with a low centre of gravity, which makes him quite difficult to tackle. Like his footwork Damian Wilson will show flashes of the ability to off load the ball and with experience this attribute will continue to develop both in terms of when he has impacted the defensive line and prior to contact.
Damian Wilson’s lateral movement is outstanding for a forward and he is powerful enough to combat the largest of opponents looking to run through the centre of the ruck. Damian Wilson also has the functional strength to combat attackers on a one on one basis. His initial contact is outstanding as is his ability to quickly and effectively put any size attacker on the ground and effectively slow down the speed of the play the ball.
Another impressive aspect of Damian Wilson ’s play from a defensive stand point is the speed at which he gets around the field, in the games that I have seen him play, he is always in and around the ball, constantly getting low to disrupt the momentum of the attackers.
In 2022 Damian Wilson will either look to break into a Hastings Deering’s Colts squad, likely with either Tweed Heads or Burleigh or move up to the NRRRL First Grade competition with the Marist Brothers Rams.

Damian Wilson is perfectly suited to the second row in rugby league with his size, aggressiveness and speed. I do note however that Damian Wilson has played a lot of rugby league in the front row in the last year or two in relation to representative rugby league and to a lesser extent in club rugby league, but for me I believe that he can stay in the second row for the short to medium term at least where he can operate wider of the ruck and use his late footwork more to his and his teams advantage.

With his solid frame, aggressiveness and above average speed for his position Damián Wilson’s style of play reminds me of North Queensland Cowboys front rower/second rower Thomas Gilbert. Both are powerful ball runners who also relish the hard contact work while defending and running the ball for that matter.

[mdrew]

Jack Elmore. In June 2021 the front rower from Lismore Marist Brothers was part of a Titans U18 Northern Rivers squad that played the Titans U17 JTS squad at Cbus Stadium in a curtain raiser to the Titans Round Fourteen NRL match against the Sydney Roosters.

Jack Elmore started the season as part of the 2021 Northern Rivers Titans U18 Laurie Daley Cup squad, starting Round One of the competition in the front row against the Wests Tigers.

After missing Round Two, Jack Elmore came off the bench in Round Three against the Northern Tigers as well as in Round Four against the Central Coast Roosters.

Jack Elmore played the 2021 season with Marist Brothers Lismore in the NRRRL U18 competition starting Round One at lock against Northern United, with the powerful young man scoring in the 38th minute when he barged over running straight from a pass he received two metres out to get the ball down next to the left upright.

Jack Elmore moved to the front row in Round Two against Casino RSM before moving back to lock in Round Three against Kyogle. Jack Elmore continued at lock in Round Four against Ballina and showed some skill with a short grubber kick into the in-goal to force Ballina into a drop out after they had to take the ball dead.

Jack Elmore started Round Five against the Tweed Coast Raiders at lock before moving to right second row in Round Six against Byron Bay as well as Round Seven against the Cudgen Hornets and in Round Eight against the Murwillumbah Mustangs.

Jack Elmore scored in the 16th minute of the Round Seven match when he charged onto a pass to the left of the play the ball that occurred a metre from the line with Jack Elmore fighting his way over next to the left goal post.

Jack Elmore moved to the front row for Round Ten against the Bilambil Jets but was back at lock for Round Twelve against Casino RSM.

In early 2021 Jack Elmore also took part in the Northern Country Lismore Diocese Rugby League Representative trials.

Jack Elmore is a big strong powerful aggressive young man and uses these attributes when he runs with the ball, he will take the line on and look to drop his shoulder into the defender who is looking initiate contact.

Jack Elmore can also off load the football both before the line and when he is being tackled, he seems to be one of those players with the innate ability to get his hands free, or more accurately his right hand free.

Jack Elmore is always the player standing back deep from kick ups to take the first hit up and will charge straight at the line. Jack Elmore also is quite quick for a big young bloke, both in terms of explosive speed off the mark and agile from a footwork perspective but also with speed over an extended distance.

In defence, Jack Elmore can certainly hit very hard and for a solidly built player has quite decent endurance thus allowing him to get back quickly into the defensive line play after play. Where he is also very good, due to his good athletic skills is for a front rower/lock is effectively tackling smaller attackers in the centre of the ruck. Jack Elmore does not fall for dummies and is difficult to step as he mirrors the lateral movement of the attacker to effectively wrap up the opposing player.

In 2022 Jack Elmore will either look to break into a Hastings Deering’s Colts squad, likely with either Tweed Heads or Burleigh or move up to the ever improving NRRRL First Grade competition with the Marist Brothers Rams.

Jack Elmore is s solidly built young man with a powerful frame and a low centre of gravity which makes it difficult for defenders to get him to ground when he runs straight and hard and thus clearly continuing in the front row/lock is clearly the best position into the future for Jack Elmore.

With his size and deft subtle late footwork whilst running the ball, I can see some similarities from a playing perspective between Jack Elmore and New Zealand Warrior, former Manly Sea Eagle and New Zealand International Addin Fonua-Blake. Both Jack Elmore and Fonau-Blake are young men who play with intensity and their hearts on their sleeves as well as being hard running young front rowers. To be fair Jack Elmore is smaller physically than Fonua-Blake but their playing style and intensity I would argue are the same.

[mdrew]

Ryan McCann. The young Ormeau Shearers centre has been a stand out player for his age group in the Gold Coast rugby league competition for the last couple of seasons and in early 2021 signed a multi-year contract with the Titans.

In 2020 Ryan McCann played for the Ormeau Shearers in the Gold Coast Rugby League U14A Division One competition with the Shearers winning two of their eight matches to finish 5th on the ladder. Ormeau scored 134 points and conceded 190 to have a -56 points differential.

In 2019 Ryan McCann also played for the Ormeau Shearers in the GCRL U13 Division One competition. Ryan McCann’s 2019 season was certainly an impressive one including scoring twenty seven tries from his fourteen matches which saw him finish as the competition’s leading try scorer and a strike rate of a staggering 193%. With a conversion against Runaway Bay, Ryan McCann scored 110 points on the season.

Ryan McCann’s 20219 season included scoring five tries early in the season against Southport and four tries twice being against Currumbin and Southport once again. Ryan McCann also scored hat tricks in consecutive matches in June 2019 against Runaway Bay and Coomera and recorded doubles against Burleigh on two occasions and Currumbin. Ryan McCann’s other two tries came against Runaway Bay and Burleigh.

In terms of his attacking play Ryan McCann is a smooth beautifully balanced natural runner of the ball who has above average to plus top end speed and good evasiveness to get on the outside of his opposing defender with a decent fend that enables him to keep opposing defenders at a distance and away from his body.

Ryan McCann is also adept at straitening up the axis of attack one he has received the ball when he chimes into the back line to ensure his outside supports have room to move and exploit any advantages identified.

Ryan McCann has quite a good step, predominately off the left foot, so he certainly has the skills to adjust his running line as required.

Ryan McCann does not have the size or strength to run over the top of opposing defenders thus he needs to use his speed and guile to make an impact and the earlier he gets the ball the better but as noted just needs to straighten up the attack on occasion.

Defensively Ryan McCann has a very good low tackling technique, he is by no means a big player but his defensive low tackling technique is very good, he can defend opposing centres one on one, and is one of the better low tacklers I have seen in junior rugby league. Tackling around the legs seems to have become a lost art, but when done right it is in my opinion it is still the most effective way of defending.

Ryan McCann will play the 2021 season with the Ormeau Shearers in the GCRL U15 Division One competition.

Ryan McCann is an absolute flyer with impressive evasive skills as well and for that reason I am of the belief that his best position going forward will be in the centres, however there is no doubt that Ryan McCann could also play on the wing at a high level as well.

From a player comparison perspective for Ryan McCann, think of someone along the lines of the South Sydney and Queensland State of Origin centre Dane Gagai as a smooth moving centre who is elusive and difficult to defend against as a result.

[mdrew]

Jeff Tatupu. After starting the 2021 season as part of the Sydney Roosters SG Ball squad, the former Wavell State High School second rower moved to the Gold Coast in time to start Round Eleven of the 2021 Hastings Deering’s Colts competition for the Burleigh Bears in the local derby against the Tweed Heads Seagulls.

Jeff Tatupu moved into the Burleigh Hastings Deering’s Colts starting line-up at right second row in the previously postponed Round Ten match against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls.

Jeff Tatupu started the 2021 season as part of the Sydney Roosters SG Ball side with his first appearance coming in Round Five against the Cronulla Sharks when he came off the bench. Jeff Tatupu also came off the bench in Rounds Six (Norths Sydney Bears) and Eight (Parramatta Eels) before breaking into the starting side in the front row in Round Nine against the Canberra Raiders. Jeff Tatupu also started in the front row in the Roosters semi-final loss to the Illawarra Steelers.

In 2020 Jeff Tatupu started from the bench in the one and only round of the MM Cup competition for the Norths Devils.

2020 also saw Jeff Tatupu become a member of the Magere East SAS Fox Memorial Premiership side in the Auckland Rugby League competition.

In 2019 Jeff Tatupu played for Wavell State High School in their school boy competitions including the Langer Cup and also played for the Norths Devils in the MM Cup competition starting Round One against the Burleigh Bears from the bench. In fact Jeff Tatupu started all of his 2019 MM Cup matches for Norths from the bench.

Jeff Tatupu has already represented Tao Samoa on a number of occasions including the U18 side in 2020 and in 2018 Jeff Tatupu was a member of the Tao Samoan U16 side and scored in a match against a New Zealand Resident U16 side.

Running with the football, Jeff Tatupu has good footwork prior to the line and does not often just put his head down and run straight but uses his solid footwork to try to work the gaps between defenders rather than trying to simply run over them. He does not have great speed off the mark or necessary great high end speed, but he will work hard and make the most of his ability.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Jeff Tatupu will play out the 2021 season with the Burleigh Bears in the Hastings Deering’s Colts competition and is also Colts eligible in 2022.

Over the last couple of seasons Jeff Tatupu has alternated between playing in the front row and second row but moving forward with the speed of the modern game I anticipate that Jeff Tatupu will transition to the front row on a full time basis.

A current NRL player with a similar playing style to Jeff Tatupu is Cronulla Sharks front rower Toby Rudolf. Both Jeff Tatupu and Rodolf play with almost no thought of self-preservation and charge head long in the opposition defensive line and also try to put a big hit on in defence as often as possible.

[mdrew]

Leeton Smith. The young man from Lismore was brought into the Titans JTS Program in July 2021 after an outstanding start to the 2021 Group One U16 season, with Leeton Smith the Marist Rams in that competition.

Leeton Smith started Round One against the Grafton Ghosts in the second row and also started in the second row in Round Two against the Clarence Coast Magpies.

Leeton Smith continued in the second row in Round Three against Casino RSM with Leeton Smith having a break out match scoring his first try of the 2021 season and he also kicked his first conversion of the season when he converted his own try.

Leeton Smith moved to halfback in Round Five against the Kyogle Turkeys with the move paying immediate dividends with Leeton Smith scoring fourteen of the Rams eighteen points from two tries and three goals.

Round Six against the Grafton Ghosts saw Leeton Smith’s outstanding season continue as from the halfback position once again Leeton Smith scored two tries and kicked a conversion.

In both Rounds Seven and Eight against Kyogle and Clarence Coast respectively, Leeton Smith from the halfback position scored a try and converted that try in both matches.

Leeton Smith style of play is that of a player with above average speed for the position. I would actually argue that in fact a better definition of his speed would be well above average to plus, and I am talking the speed of an outside back not a backrower.

Leeton Smith 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.

Defences had all sorts of trouble trying to contain him in his club football over the last couple of seasons, both in terms of him taking the ball up into the centre of the ruck, but Leeton Smith was almost untouchable when he ran 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 as well as simply running over people. Couple those two aspects with a very good fend and you have a young player in Leeton Smith who causes nightmares for a defensive line.

Leeton Smith runs with pace, strength and power every time he touches the ball during a game. I have not seen a great deal of him off loading the football to date, but the ball skills that he possess would suggest this particular will develop into a plus skill over time, although at this stage of his career it is not a necessity. Leeton Smith’s attention to detail would also strongly suggest that he will continue to develop his off-loading and ball skills across the board.

Due to his size and strength, Leeton Smith is a very good defender regardless of position. Leeton Smith will not necessarily hit hard, but he is very good at mirroring the movement of the opposition and wrapping him up ball and all.

Leeton Smith 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, Leeton Smith seems to be very comfortable in a sliding defensive scheme where he can use his speed and body control to their best advantage.

In 2022 Leeton Smith will move up to the NRRRL U18 Marist Brothers Rams squad and will also push for a spot in the 2022 Northern Rivers Titans U18 Laurie Daley Cup squad. Leeton Smith will also be U18 eligible in 2023.

Leeton Smith primarily played second row and halfback in the Group One U16 competition in 2022 but with the skill set that he has I believe that Leeton Smith’s best position is that of a ball playing type of lock who can be a link between his forwards and backs as well as a good runner of the ball in his own right.

From a player comparison perspective, Leeton Smith reminds me a lot of Titan Tyrone Peachey as a player who just seems to know when and how to break tackles and find his way to the try line even when that task looks near to impossible.

[mdrew]

Sunny Kama. The talented centre who attends PBC state High School signed a contract with the Titans in 2021 after a stellar campaign with the South Coast U15 School Boy representative side that culminated with South Coast wining the QSSRL U15 Championship on the back of a 28 – 20 win in the Championship Final against Met West.

On an individual level Sunny Kama, who played at right centre for South Coast, including in the afore mentioned Championship Final, was named on the wing in the 2021 QSSRL U15 Merit Team alongside more than a few of his South Coast team mates such as Zane Harrison and Riley Buchanan.

In club rugby league in 2021 Sunny Kama played for the Burleigh Bears in the Gold Coast Rugby League U15 Division One competition.

Whilst in does not have blinding speed off the mark, Sunny Kama does have more than decent top end speed and can break tackles by running over his direct opposite defender as well as using a very good fend, when he gets to the outside, this prevents defenders from getting he under his ribs and thus he can maintain his running line under defensive pressure.

One skill that Sunny Kama does possess when playing in the centre position is a decent in and away especially from the right hand side of the field. He will wait until the last possible minute to step to commit the defender before getting on his outside and using his strength and power to break the initial defensive line.

Sunny Kama 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 Sunny Kama 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 down the sideline.

2022 will see Sunny Kama play for the Burleigh Bears in the GCRL U16 Division One competition and he will also be in line to represent either Burleigh or Tweed Heads in the U16 Cyril Connell Cup competition. Sunny Kama will also continue to play for PBC in their various school boy rugby league competitions.

Sunny Kama is a centre, full stop, and a very very good one at that. There is no doubt that Sunny Kama could also play on the wing at a high level but there is absolutely no reason at the present time at least to consider that Sunny Kama’s future lies anywhere but in the centres.

Whilst Sunny Kama has at least recently played more on the right side of the field, there is no doubt that the skill set that Sunny Kama possesses to transferrable to the left side of the field equally as well.

With his hard straight running and strong initial defensively contact, I can see aspects of the play of Titans centre Esan Marsters in Sunny Kama’s play. Like Marsters, Sunny Kama is a strong presence in the three quarter line both in attack and defence and can break a game open with a powerful run and fend or a dominant tackle.