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  1. #1621
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    Jordan Lewis (Stewart-Lewis). The talented Ormeau Shearers youngster has moved around a bit from a position perspective over the last couple of seasons including representing the Gold Coast Vikings at the U13 level in the back row, in 2017 at half and the last two seasons at five eight, lock and hooker.

    Jordan Lewis started at lock for the Tweed Heads Seagulls MM Cup side in their first 2021 trial which was against the Easts Tigers at Langland’s Park as Tweed Heads commenced their season with an impressive first up 28 – 12 victory.

    In Tweed Heads second 2021 MM Cup trial against Burleigh that Tweed Heads comprehensively one, Jordan Lewis played the first half at lock, using his strong left foot to kick the ball off to get the match under way and came back on late in the second half also operating at lock in his second spell of the match.

    Jordan Lewis was initially named to start from the bench in Tweed Heads final 2021 MM Cup final against the Souths Logan Magpies at Logan however he actually started the match at lock and scored in just the second minute of the match. In addition to his try, Jordan Lewis also kicked a conversion and recorded a try asssit in the Seagulls last minute loss

    As noted Jordan Lewis scored in the 2nd minute when he moved into dummy half with the play the ball a metre out from the line to the left of the goal posts. After picking up the ball, Jordan Lewis took a step to the left throwing a dummy in the same direction before barging over to get the ball down over the line.

    Jordan Lewis’s try assist came in the 11th minute when he threw a great shortball to his left to put Jesse Jackson into a gap from close to the Burleigh line.

    Jordan Lewis was in the match early taking the second hit-up of the match after Burleigh kicked off.

    From a club perspective in 2021 Jordan Lewis is part of the Ormeau Shearers U18 Division One squad, starting Round One of the pre-season at hooker and kicked four conversions from as many attempts as the Shearers got their 2021 season underway with a 24 – 16 win over the Currumbin Eagles.

    For Round Two of the 2021 GCRL U18 Division One pre-season competition, Jordan Lewis moved to five eight against the Southport Tigers.

    In Round One of the Gold Coast Rugby League U18 Division One competition Jordan Lewis started at five eight for Ormeau as they took on the Helensvale Hornets and kicked a conversion in the Shearers 20 – 14 loss. Jordan Lewis kicked the conversion in the 23rd minute and it was a great kick from right on the left touchline.

    Jordan Lewis moved to hooker for Round Two against the Mudgeeraba Redbacks kicking five conversions in the Shearers victory. Jordan Lewis also produced some smart work out of dummy half in the 11th minute when he ran to his left and threw a long cut out pass to Cooper Blackwell to score in the corner.

    Jordan Lewis made it three different starting positions in the opening three rounds when he moved to lock in Round Three against the Southport Tigers scoring twelve of the Shearers points in the 16 all draw from two tries and two conversions from three attempts.

    Jordan Lewis started in his fourth different position in the opening four rounds when he moved to fullback and kicked one conversion in the Shearers Round Four 30 – 14 loss to the Nerang Roosters.

    Jordan Lewis then switched to left second row for Round Five against the Currumbin Eagles, kicking a conversion in the Shearers 30 – 10 loss.

    Jordan Lewis moved to five eight for Round Six against the Burleigh Bears, scoring a try and kicking three conversions in the Shearers two point loss. Jordan Lewis scored in the 37th minute when from the left side of the ruck and field, twenty metres from the line, Jordan Lewis put in a left foot grubber kick back towards the goal posts. An Ormeau chaser stripped the ball and Jordan Lewis was in the right place to pick the ball up and dive over adjacent to the right upright. Jordan Lewis then stepped up to convert his own try.

    Jordan Lewis then started at lock in Round Nine against the Mudgeeraba Redbacks and in Round Ten against the Southport Tigers when he scroed fourteen of the Shearers thirty points from a try and five conversions.

    Jordan Lewis continued at lock in the previously postponed Round Eight match against the Helensvale Hornets with Jordan Lewis scoring one try and kicked three conversions in the Shearers victory.

    Jordan Lewis was on the move from a position perspective once again to start at hooker in Round Eleven against the Nerang Roosters.

    When rugby league recommenced on the Gold Coast in late August 2021 after the Covid 19 lockdown, Jordan Lewis was named to start at fullback for Ormeau in Round Eleven against the Nerang Roosters with Jordan Lewis kicking three goals in the Shearers six point loss.

    Jordan Lewis was named to continue at fullback in Round Twelve against the Currumbin Eagles however he ended up starting the match at hooker.

    Jordan Lewis was on the move again, starting at halfback in Round Thirteen against the Burleigh Bears. Jordan Lewis was the Shearers hero in the match, kicking a thirty five metre penalty goal from just to the left of the uprights after the final siren to win the match 22 – 20. Earlier in the 58th minute Jordan Lewis had kicked a key conversion to lock the scores up at 20 all.

    Jordan Lewis also recorded a try assist in the match when in the 45th minute he ran to his right ten metres from the line and threw an inside pass to his right centre who scored under the posts. Jordan Lewis then stepped up to convert the try.

    Jordan Lewis also made a line break in the 49th minute when he ran out of dummy half less than a metre from his own line, getting the ball to thirty metres away from the try line.

    Jordan Lewis also produced a smart piece of play in the 55th minute with a one on one strip as Burleigh were bringing the ball away from their own line. Jordan Lewis stripped the ball twelve metres from the line and was able to get within two metres. Ormeau scored two tackles later to lock the scores up at twenty all.

    Jordan Lewis then was on the move again in Round Fourteen against the Runaway Bay Seagulls starting at lock, scoring a try and kicking four conversions in the Shearers 32 – 16 victory.

    Jordan Lewis scored in the 21st minute when after receiving a long pass from his right, Jordan Lewis, from twelve metres out cut back towards the play the ball to crash over ten metres in from the left corner post.

    Jordan Lewis also started at lock in Week One of the 2021 GCRL U18 Division One Final’s against the Burleigh Bears. Jordan Lewis certainly filled up the stats sheet in the Shearer’s 25 – 16 victory by scoring a try, kicking four conversions from as many attempt as well as kicking a last minute field goal.

    Jordan Lewis scored in the 55th minute when after receiving the ball to the left of the dummy half, Jordan Lewis ran at the line before throwing a dummy to his left and then was able to force his way over with three defenders hanging off him to get the ball down five metres to the left of the uprights.

    Jordan Lewis also started at lock in Week Two of the Finals against the Currumbin Eagles and kicked four conversions from as many attempts as Ormeau progressed.

    Jordan Lewis also started at lock in the 2021 GCRL U18 Division One Preliminary Final against the Nerang Roosters kicking a penalty goal as the Shearers season came to an end after going down 18 – 16.

    Jordan Lewis started Round One of the 2020 MM Cup competition on the bench for the Tweed Heads Seagulls against the Northern Pride and scoring in the Seagulls big first up victory.

    Also in 2020 Jordan Lewis was part of the Coombabah State High School Langer Cup Open A school boy rugby league squad for the Term Three school boy rugby league competition playing against fellow Gold Coast schools PBC and Keebra Park.

    In July 2020 Jordan Lewis started at right second row for the Coombabah Open A Langer Cup side in their Langer Cup qualifying match against St Mary’s in Toowoomba and kicked three goals from four attempts in their loss.

    After being knocked out of the Langer Cup, Jordan Lewis and his Coombabah State High School team mates took part of the Gee Cup school boy competition, going through the competition as the undefeated Southern Division Champions and taking on Mabel Park State High School in the 2020 Gee Cup Grand Final that was held at Langland’s Park.

    In the 2020 Gee Cup Grand Final that Coombabah SHS won 50 – 8 Jordan Lewis started at lock, scoring a try, setting up another and kicking seven goals in a player of the match performance.

    Jordan Lewis’s try came late in the match when he split the Mabel Park SHS line on the left side of the field and spun clockwise to beat the fullback and bring the ball around closer to the goal posts to make it easier to convert his own try.

    Jordan Lewis’s try assist resulted from a pass to his right drawing the fullback after he broke the defensive line through the centre of the ruck.

    Jordan Lewis played the 2019 season for Ormeau Shearers in the GCRL U16 Division One competition playing in fifteen matches including starting the Grand Final at five eight and kicking the winning penalty goal in Golden Point as Ormeau defeated Coomera 22 – 20.

    In total in his fifteen matches, including finals, Jordan Lewis scored 98 points from five tries and 39 goals. His five tries came in separate matches against Currumbin and Coomera, twice and also against Helensvale.

    With the boot this season Jordan Lewis kicked eight goals in Round Three against Southport and five on two occasions being against Currumbin and Burleigh.

    In the 2018 Gold Coast Rugby League U15 Division One competition for Ormeau, Jordan Lewis finished as both the competitions leading goal kicker with 40 goals and point’s scorer with 116 points.

    Over the course of the 2018 Jordan Lewis scored nine tries including doubles against Mudgeeraba and Runaway Bay and also scored in matches against Helensvale, Southport, Coomera and Runaway Bay twice.

    With the boot Jordan Lewis kicked six goals in a match on three occasions being against Mudgeeraba (he also scored two tries to finish the match with twenty points), Southport and Coomera.

    Jordan Lewis started at five eight in Week One of the U15 Division One Finals series scoring a try and kicking two goals and Ormeau defeated Runaway Bay 28 – 12.

    In Week Two of the Finals Jordan Lewis also started at five eight as Ormeau qualified for the Grand Final with a 44 – 6 victory over Coomera with Jordan Lewis contributing a try and six goals.

    In the U15 Division One Grand Final Jordan Lewis, once again started at five eight as Ormeau finished a great season by defeating Runaway Bay 38 – 20 in the decider with Jordan Lewis once again at the forefront contributing a try and five goals.

    In 2017 the young man had an outstanding season finishing with 117 points from ten tries, thirty eight goals and a field goal in the GCJRL U14 Division One competition including starting at half back, scoring a try, kicking three conversions and a field goal in the U14 Division One Grand Final against victory over Burleigh.

    From a try scoring perspective, Jordan Lewis scored four tries in a match in early June kicking five goals in that match to finish with 26 points as well and in May against Runaway Bay in May he scored a hat trick and kicked seven goals for 26 points as well. Jordan Lewis also kicked seven conversions in a victory over Nerang in Round One of the competition and five goals against Runaway Bay in the Preliminary Final.

    In 2017 Jordan Lewis represented the U14 Gold Coast Vikings side where he was selected at hooker and from there he was selected in the South East Queensland U14 White side for the Queensland Age Championships which were held in Toowoomba in July 2017.

    In 2016 Jordan Lewis primarily came off the interchange bench for the U13 Vikings side including scoring on Day Two in a 58 – 6 victory over the Ipswich Diggers a match in which Titans linked front rower Brody Smitka was outstanding. After those Championships which were held at Carina Jordan Lewis was selected to represent South East Queensland Green at the Queensland Age Championships.

    Jordan Lewis is not necessarily the quickest half running around but he does have some reasonable speed off the mark, which is complemented by the fact that he runs at the right moment, for example when he is drifting across field he will dummy and run when defenders anticipate the pass rather than focussing on him running the ball. Jordan Lewis’s ability to put runners into holes complements his ability to run with the ball.

    Jordan Lewis’s defence for a half is very good 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 into his opponent and is also very good at slowing the play the ball down. His intensity means that Jordan Lewis will track the play across and thus is in a good position when the ball is passed back inside or a break wider out is made.

    Jordan Lewis will play the 2022 season in the U20 competition and if he does not make either the Tweed Heads Seagulls or Burleigh Bears Hastings Deering’s Colts squad, Joradn Lewis will line up for the Ormeau Shearers in the Gold Coast Rugby League U20 competition.

    A final position perspective is an interesting one, in previous seasons Jordan Lewis spent a fair bit of time in the second row but in recent seasons he played in various positions including half back and hooker making a good fist of them as well. On that basis it is hard to go past Jordan Lewis staying at half for at least the short term although with the revised rules playing lock is certainly but out of the question for Jordan Lewis.

    Jordan Lewis may also get an extended opportunity to make his mark at hooker over the coming years. Dare I saw it, but Jordan Lewis looks like the perfect NRL interchange player with his developing ability to play in the halves, at hooker and as a running back rower.

    From a rugby league player comparison perspective, I think that the play of Canterbury Bulldogs and New Zealand International five eight Keiran Foran is a good comparison for Jordan Lewis, as a solidly built, strong running, hardworking utility with under rated play making skills.
    Last edited by mdrew; 02-11-21 at 05:53 PM.

  2. #1622
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    Henry Lee. The young backrower was previously linked to the Titans through of the Titans northern New South Wales Group One Development Squad.

    In June 2021 Henry Lee 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.

    Henry Lee started at right second row for the 2021 Northern Rivers Titans U18 Laurie Daley Cup side for their Round One match against the Wests Tigers at Ballina and also started at right second row in Round Two against local rivals the North Coast Bulldogs at Nambucca Heads.

    Henry Lee also started at right second row in Round Three against the Greater Northern Tigers and made a strong run of a penalty restart early in the second half when he came off the long run to charge into the Greater Northern Tigers set defensive line.

    Just minutes later Henry Lee produced a smart piece of play from the Northern Rivers Titans kick-off from Jye Davis’s try. Henry Lee was starting on the left sideline just in front of the goal line. With the kick off coming his way, Henry Lee ensured that his left foot was in touch and then took the kick on the full to get a penalty for the Northern Rivers Titans back on the halfway.

    Henry Lee moved to the front row for Round Four at Lismore against the Central Coast Roosters and as usual threw his weight around in both attack and defence. One instance stood out in the match when in the 54th minute, Henry lee came flying out of the line looking for a big hit, the Central Coast Roosters forward had a look at the flying Henry Lee and dropped the ball cold.

    Henry Lee was back at right second row in the physical Round Five encounter against the Newcastle Knights and made his presence felt in just the 15th minute with a strong twenty metre charge through centre field.

    Henry Lee did not let the halftime break slow him down when he flew onto the ball from the second half kick-off return. Henry Lee’s hard running paid off in the 56th minute when he charged straight onto a pass five metres from the Knights line to crash over. Henry Lee was then on hand again to take a strong hit-up from the kick-off over his try.

    At the 2021 Northern Rivers Titans Awards Night, Henry Lee was presented with the 2021 U18 Laurie Daley Cup Player’s Player Award.

    Post the 2021 U18 Laurie Daley Cup competition, Henry Lee was back playing for Marist Brothers Rams Lismore in the NRRRL competition, starting at five eight in Round One of the 2021 NRRRL U18 competition against Northern United.

    In the Round One match, Henry Lee made a good fist of playing five eight whilst operating on the left side of the field. Henry Lee played primarily as a running five eight and in the 11th minute charged thirty five metres down the left touchline before being brought to ground just five metres away from the try line.

    Henry Lee made another strong run in the 19th minute made a sixteen metres run before being able to off-load the ball. The 29th minute saw Henry Lee make another line break of thirty five metres once again down the left touchline after the line break came after he had dummied to his left.

    Henry Lee moved to lock for Round Two of the 2021 NRRRL U18 competition as the Rams took on Casino RSM and was also effective, including a strong thirty five metre run down the right touchline in the first half before he was brought down by a copy book low tackle by the Casino RSM fullback.

    After missing Round Three, Henry Lee started in the second row in Round Four against the Ballina Seagulls. Henry Lee then missed a further couple of weeks before coming back into the Rams side for Round Eight against the Murwillumbah Mustangs at right second row. In the 42nd minute of the Round Eight match, Henry Lee scored the Rams opening try of the match when from eight metres out Henry Lee was put into a gap by Jye Davis who whilst operating on the right popped a good short ball to his right from eight metres out to put into the gap and over the line.

    Henry Lee continued at right second row in Round Ten against the Bilambil Jets with Henry Lee scoring a double. Henry Lee scored his first try in the 38th minute when he ran 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.

    Henry Lee added his second try in the 60th minute when he received the ball twelve metres from the line, palming off one with his left arm before diving over in the right corner.

    Round Twelve against Casino RSM saw Henry Lee start at right centre.

    In Round One of the NRRRL First Grade competition Henry Lee started from the bench against Northern United, after starting at five eight in the U18 match earlier in the day.

    Henry Lee also came off the bench in Round Two of the NRRRL First Grade competition against Casino RSM after starting at lock in the U18 match against the same opponent earlier in the day.

    In late March 2021 Henry Lee was part of Diocesan of Lismore Opens Squad that attended the Northern Country Catholic Colleges Rugby League Selection Trial that were held at Smithtown.

    Henry Lee was named to start from the interchange bench for the Northern Rivers Titans in Round One of the 2020 U18 Laurie Daley Cup against the Parramatta Eels at Cudgen however the match was cancelled due to the wet conditions that impacted northern New South Wales that weekend early in the year.

    Henry Lee started Round Two of the 2020 U18 Laurie Daley Cup from the bench against the Newcastle Knights in Ballina providing a high level of enthusiasm when he came on and was named as the 18th man for the Round Five local derby against North Coast although he did not take the field in the match.

    Post the Laurie Daley Cup competition Henry Lee played the 2020 NRRRL U18 competition with the Marist Brothers Rams including starting Round One at left second row against Casino RSM and also started in the left second row position in Round Two against Ballina as well as in Round Three against Byron Bay, Round Four against Casino RSM and Round Five against Ballina.

    After being involved in a number of the Marist Brothers Rams NRRRL First Grade matches, Henry Lee was back in the Rams U18 side starting in the second row in Round Nine in a 28 – 14 loss to Byron Bay.

    Henry Lee made his deserved NRRRL First Grade debut in Round Six of the 2020 competition when he started in the centres and scored as the Rams went down 34 – 22 to Northern United and also started in the centres in Round Eight as the Rams reversed their previous loss to Northern united to record a 36 – 14 victory.

    Henry Lee continued his run of NRRRL First Grade starts in the centres in Round Nine against Casino RSM and also started there in Round Ten against the Ballina Seagulls. Henry Lee also started in the centres in the NRRRL Preliminary Final against Northern United.

    In the 2020 NRRRL Gold First Grade Grand Final, Henry Lee started at left centre as the Rams went down to Ballina.

    At the Marist Brothers Rams 2020 Awards Night, Henry Lee was named the 2020 Rams Best New Club Player.

    The young second rower (and occasional centre or five eight) from the Lismore Marist Brothers club in the Group One Junior Rugby League competition had an outstanding season in the 2019 U16.5 Group One competition culminating in him being deservedly named the 2019 Lismore Marist Brothers U16.5 Player of the Year.

    From a trivia perspective Henry Lee is the younger brother of former Titans NYC player Isaac Lee and his father is former Cronulla Sharks NRL player Danny Lee. Isaac Lee has moved back from Newcastle and will play for Lismore in the NRRRL First Grade competition where he was coached by his father who takes over the Rams fisrt grade side in 2020.

    Henry Lee started off the 2019 rugby league season as part of the all-conquering U16 Andrew Johns Northern Rivers Titans squad. When he came on (or started) Henry Lee operated at right second row.

    Henry Lee started Round One of the Andrew Johns Cup on the bench against the Newcastle Knights Development squad. After missing Rounds Two and three Henry Lee started Round Four against the Central Coast Roosters in the second row before reverting back to the bench for Round Five against the Greater Northern Tigers, the Andrew Johns Cup semi-final win over Penrith and the Grand Final victory 18 – 6 against the Western Rams.

    Henry Lee’s sole try of the campaign came in Round Five against the Greater Northern Tigers when he chased through a bomb from Thomas Weaver and after the ball was dropped by the fullback, Henry Lee was on hand to dive on the ball before it went dead in goal.

    For Lismore Marist Brothers in the 2019 Group One U16.5 Junior Rugby League competition Henry Lee played in nine regular season matches scoring seven tries for a strike rate of 77.77%. Henry Lee scored doubles against Lismore Marist Brothers Gold and Casino RSM as well as scoring in matches against Kyogle, Ballina and Lismore Marist Brothers Gold.

    In Week One of the Group One U16.5 Finals series, Henry Lee scored for Lismore Marist Brothers Gold as they qualified for the Grand Final by defeating South Grafton 32 – 0. Unfortunately for Henry Lee his side lost the Grand Final to Ballina 21 – 14.

    Some of Henry Lee’s tries this season were quite outstanding including a ninety one metre effort against Kyogle. Henry Lee took the ball to the right of the play the ball which initially looked like a simple hit-up to get Lismore Marist Brothers out of trouble, but three right foot steps later and a sixty metre run down the left touch line produced an outstanding Henry Lee try.

    Henry Lee also scored an outstanding try against Lismore Gold when he took the ball fifty metres out down a short left side blind side, bursting through two initial attempted tackles before stepping inside the fullback to score with the fullback vainly attempting to tackle him.

    Playing five eight Henry Lee also scored two impressive tries against Casino RSM. Henry Lee’s first try came down the left of the field when he ran into a gap forty metres out and was able to round the Casino RSM fullback to bring the ball around to put it down near the left goal post.

    Henry Lee’s second try against Casino RSM came after a ten metre run when he took the ball off the dummy half near the Casino RSM line. On his way to scoring midway between the corner post and goal post on the left side of the field, Henry Lee broke three tackles and dragged additional defenders across the line.

    In 2018 in the Group One U15 competition for Lismore Marist Brothers Henry Lee ended the season with a strike rate of 100% from twelve matches. Henry Lee scored doubles against South Grafton in two separate matches. Henry Lee amongst others also scored against Clarence Coast, Ballina, South Grafton and Kyogle twice.

    The pace of Henry Lee when he runs the ball is the outstanding feature of his game, he takes the ball to the line with speed, but Henry Lee 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 Henry Lee will target the smaller defenders on the edge of the ruck and burst through and for a young bloke he has very good speed over the medium term to long term and has the strength to drag defenders with him post contact.

    I would consider that Henry Lee’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.

    Henry Lee’s impressive speed was showcased on multiple occasions in 2019. In addition to his 91 metres try discussed previously, Henry Lee showcased his speed when he backed up his five eight against Ballina, receiving an inside pass to score next to the right upright, with the try spanning sixty five metres.

    Henry Lee’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 Henry Lee’s game is similarly impressive, Henry Lee does not just charge wildly up looking for a huge hit, but is calculating in where and when to hit. Henry Lee drives hard with his legs and always uses his shoulder and core body strength to drive into his opponent.

    Henry Lee 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.

    Henry Lee was eligible to play in the Group One U16.5 competition again in 2020 but instead started the 2020 season playing in the NRRRL U18 competition for Lismore Marist Brothers as well as making his NRRRL First Grade debut.

    In 2022 Henry Lee will aim to cement his place in the Marist Rams NRRRL First Grade side.

    Henry Lee is not necessarily the biggest second rower running around but has the tenacity and body shape to add weight without compromising his speed and mobility thus I can see Henry Lee continuing in the second row (he currently spends time both on the left and the right) in coming years but it also would not surprise if he spends time in the centres as well.

    Henry Lee did spend time at five eight this season for Lismore Marist Brothers and that can only help in the long term from a skills and game management perspective.

    Henry Lee reminds me of Titans second rower Sam Stone, both are similar from a body shape perspective as well as the way that they play rugby league.

  3. #1623
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    Jasper Whalley. Round One of the 2021 Group One U14 competition saw Jasper Whalley start in the centre for the Clarence Coast Magpies against the Ballina Seagulls and he was one of the Magpies scorers as they defeated Ballina 34 – 8.

    Jasper Whalley also started in the centres in Round Two against the South Grafton Rebels and was one of the Magpies try scorers in their 26 – 6 victory. Starting in the centres once again in Round Four against Kyogle, Jasper Whalley added a hat trick to his already impressive 2021 season.

    Jasper Whalley added a further try in Round Seven after stating in the centres once again against Casino RSM. Round Eight against Marist Brothers saw Jasper Whalley score a hat trick in a big Magpies victory.

    Jasper Whalley continued in the centres in Round Nine against South Grafton and was one of the Magpies try scorers in their 44 – 6 victory and also started in the centres in Round Eleven against the Kyogle Turkeys.

    Jasper Whalley continued in the centres in Round Twelve against the Grafton Ghosts and crossed for a double in the match. Jasper Whalley also started in the centres in Round Thirteen against Casino RSM, scoring a hat trick in the Magpies big 58 – 22 victory.

    Jasper Whalley finished the abridged 2021 Group One U14 regular season as the competitions fifth leading try scorer with fifteen tries.

    The young Clarence Coast Magpies centre had a start to remember in the 2020 Group One U13 rugby league competition scoring often for the Magpies and maintained his form throughout the 2020 season as a whole.

    Jasper Whalley scored doubles in the opening two rounds of the 2020 Group One U13 competition against the South Grafton Rebels and the Ballina Seagulls respectively and added a further try in Round Four against the Grafton Ghosts to record a 167% strike rate through the opening three rounds of the competition. For completeness the Round Three match between Clarence Coast and Grafton was a washout when heavy rain blanketed the area.

    Jasper Whalley added a further try in Round Five against the Ballina Seagulls in a 34 – 22 Magpies victory, starting in the centres once again and also scored in Round Six in a 30 – 22 win over Casino RSM, starting the match as he has all season in the centres.

    Jasper Whalley maintained his record of starting in the centres and also maintained his try scoring record with a double against Kyogle in Round Seven and also scoring in Round Nine against the Kyogle Turkeys. Jasper Whalley also started in the centres in Round Ten, being the final regular season round against Ballina with the match finishing in a 24 all draw.

    Jasper Whalley had an outstanding 2020 Group One U13 regular season scoring ten tries in just eight matches to finish the season with a strike rate of 125%.

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

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

    Jasper Whalley will not necessarily hit hard in defence, but he is very good at mirroring the movement of the opposing centre and wrapping him up ball and all. Jasper Whalley 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, Jasper Whalley seems to be very comfortable in a sliding defensive scheme where he can use his speed and body control to their best advantage.

    Jasper Whalley will play for the Clarence Coast Magpies in the Group One U15 competition in 2022.

    With his ability to get on the outside of his opponent with limited room to move and also a solid dependable and repeatable tackling technique I think that centre will be Jasper Whalley’s primary position as he progresses through the junior rugby league ranks at Clarence Coast and also likely at representative level over the coming seasons. There is no doubt however that Jasper Whalley would be equally at home wider out on the wing if circumstances warranted a move there at any time into the future.

    For me with his ability to slide through gaps in the defensive line especially close to the line and a solid repeatable defensive technique, Jasper Whalley has a playing style similar to that of Titans NRL centre Dale Copley as a reliable centre who is able to find is way to the try line on a regular basis and is also more than sound defensively.

  4. #1624
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    Jake Lateo. 2021 saw Jake Lateo play for PBC in the Walters Cup competition, including starting the Grand Final against Keebra Park State High School at lock.

    It was not just in the Walters Cup that Jake Lateo had a strong match, he also played well after also starting at lock in Round Three against Coombabah State High School.

    Jake Lateo also had a strong match against Wavell State High School, with Jake Lateo being the primary goal kicker in PBC’s 22 – 6 win, with Jake Lateo kicking three conversions from four attempts, including a 40th minute conversion from the left touchline. Jake Lateo also kicked conversions in the 44th and 46th minutes.

    In late 2021 Jake Lateo trialled for the Burleigh MM Cup Squad, playing the trial at five eight.

    The talented Titans linked PBC student (formerly of Benora Point State School in northern New South Wales) started at five eight for the 2020 PBC Hancock Cup school boy Grand Final side that went down in heart breaking fashion 26 – 24 to Marsden State High School at Langlands Park with the Brisbane based school kicking the winning penalty goal after the final siren had sounded.

    Jake Lateo scored an impressive try late in the second half. Operating on the left, Jake Lateo threw a bueatiful long cut out pass to PBC left winger Bailey Simpson who after running down the left touch line kicked inside. Jake Lateo backed up in the inside retrieving the ball close to the Marsden line under heavy pressure. To create space for himself to separate from the defenders close to him, Jake Lateo spun 360 degrees counter clockwise and was able to force his way over from close range fifteen metres from the left goal post to get PBC within four points in the dying stages of the hard fought Grand Final.

    Jake Lateo was also heavily involved in PBC’s try that was scored right on the half time siren by fullback Creedence Donovan when he was able to beat a tackle and start the movement down a short blind side near the right touch line around seventy metres out from the Marsden SHS try line that led to Creedence Donovan ultimately scoring under the posts.

    Jake Lateo not only had a very good Hancock Cup Grand Final but also had a number of stand out matches in the regular rounds of the 2020 Hancock Cup including an impressive match against Wavell State High School in Round Five when Jake Lateo recorded three try assists in PBC’s impressive victory.

    Jake Lateo’s first try assist came as he split the Wavell SHS defence with a left foot step off a PBC scrum win, running sixty metres before drawing the fullback and passing to his left to fullback Creedence Donovan who had loomed up on his outside. Jake Lateo was also heavily involved in another Creedence Donovan first half try when he put up a big mid-field bomb which was let bounce by Wavell and Creedence Donovan flew through to get to the ball on the bounce.

    Jake Lateo’s third and final try assist of the match came in the second half, when Jake Lateo ran to the left of the field, ten metres out from the line and brought his left second rower back underneath to crash over next to the left uprights.

    In Round Four against Forest Lake State High Sschool Jake Lateo scored as well as recording a further two try assists. Jake Lateo’s try was a hard working effort when he took the ball from the dummy half around ten metres out to the left of the play the ball, cutting back towards the area behind the play the ball to run between two defenders to score near the posts.

    Jake Lateo’s two try assists were very different, the first came from a good stab kick to the left for PBC to pounce and the second from a long cut out pass to his left winger who was in space, five metres out from the line. The pass must have travelled around fifteen metres and Jake Lateo put it directly on the chest of his winger.

    In early October 2020 Jake Lateo was part of the Titans Gold Coast based U14 side that played a trial match against a Titans NRRRL U14/U15 squad with the match being played at Cbus Stadium, giving the young players a great experience including wearing Titans jerseys in the match.

    In 2019 Jake Lateo played for the Group 18 U14 representative side at the New South Wales Country Age Championships, playing primarily on the wing.

    In attack, Jake Lateo generally plays an understated role, focussing more on the distribution and game management aspects of his role as a half. A key attribute to how Jake Lateo plays is his ability to organise and direct his team around the field as well as adjusting his game to the specific situations encountered within a game, including where his team is situated on the field and which team has the momentum.

    Jake Lateo is just a superb passer of the ball in all aspects, from accuracy, direction, weighting and also importantly timing of when to pass. Normally half backs and five eight, even at the NRL level have a clear preference in terms of passing to one side of their body, and normally it is easy to recognise. In relation to Jake Lateo however his passing to either side of his body is exquisite and simply amazing to watch.

    Jake Lateo literally just flicks his wrists and the ball flies out of his hands like a perfectly aimed bullet. I personally do not recall seeing a young play maker which such outstanding command and control in relation to hs passing game.

    Jake Lateo’s passing game is just so natural and precise and really is impressive for such a young player and certainly bodes well for his future in a play mking role whether that is at five eight or half back.

    The confidence Jake Lateo’s passing ability has on his team mates surely cannot be understated. Jake Lateo’s team mates can run various lines and run into gaps confidently knowing that the pass that they receive from Jake Lateo will be perfectly weighted and directed to give them the best opportunity to either break the line or make ground before or after contact.

    Another plus attribute that Jake Lateo has is his calmness on the field. Regardless of the situation of the match or where his team is on the field or the pressure of the score board, Jake Lateo just seems to always stay calm and this is able to execute his plan. I use the word plan as Jake Lateo also seems to do things with purpose rather than just pass the ball on to a support player. With Jake Lateo there is no jogging across field and obviously calling a runner back underneath.

    Everything that Jake Lateo does, he does for a reason and he does it with a calmness and assuredness that exerts a positive influence on his team mates regardless of how stressful the situation is on the field from a position on the field perspective or time pressures that his team were under. I can only imagine that Jake Lateo would be a very coachable young man who would have no trouble at all following a game plan regardless of its complexity.

    The other issue around game plans in the context of Jake Lateo is that he clearly has the intelligence to modify the game plan as the match unfolds if he identifies nuisances or specific changes which would enhance the effectiveness of the team’s performance. Another reason to suggest that Jake Lateo is extremely coachable.

    Jake Lateo will though take the line on when the opportunity arises however, but as noted his best attribute is that of a game manager with the ability to draw defenders out of the line and put his runners into the subsequent hole that is generated. Jake Lateo has decent speed off the mark and quick twitch feet in confined space but does not have explosive acceleration or high top end speed.

    From a kicking perspective Jake Lateo has a solid kicking game, with reasonable distance and accuracy on all types of kicks, from kicking for field position or from an attacking perspective as well as tactically for field position. Like his passing game, Jake Lateo’s kicking game comes across as so fluid and effective.

    Defensively Jake Lateo is a very strong young man with exceptional functional strength for any position let alone a half/five eight, 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.

    Jake Lateo 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 Jake Lateo’s side of the field. In short just like his attacking play Jake Lateo is an outstanding defender.

    In 2022 Jake Lateo will move up to the PBC Open squads and will push for a spot in the Langer Cup Open A squad.

    From a position perspective, Jake Lateo plays the same way whether he is wearing the No. 6 or No. 7 jersey and there is no way known that I could see that a coach would consider moving him away from either the halves positions. Interestingly though Jake Lateo played lock at PBC in 2022 and more than impressed in that position.

    With his calm demeanour and outstanding kicking game Jake Lateo very much reminds me of current Titans NRL player Toby Sexton although Jake Lateo is taller. Both Jake Lateo and Sexton have a calmness about them when they are playing and rarely ever seemed rushed in performing their role for their team.

  5. #1625
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    Christian Kiri. A young player who I knew literally nothing about prior to the commencement of the 2019 Gold Coast Rugby League season was Coomera Cutters forward Christian Kiri but he quickly made me realise my mistake with his outstanding performances for the Cutters including an outstanding 2019 GCRL U16 Division One finals series.

    In late October 2020, Christian Kiri was named in the 2021 Burleigh MM Cup squad and came off the bench in their first 2021 MM Cup trial against the Tweed Heads Seagulls.

    In Round One of the 2021 MM Cup competition, Christian Kiri was named 18th man against the Souths Logan Magpies before moving onto the interchange bench for Round Two against the Ipswich Jets.

    Christian Kiri came into the match in the second half, playing in the front row and making a number of strong runs, the most impressive of which came in the 52nd minute with an incredible run from a penalty restart for Ipswich being off-side from a kick-off. Christian Kiri charged onto the ball initially engaging the defence eight metres into his run, but Christina Kiri continued to pump to break away from the three defenders who initially had confronted him. Christin Kiri was eventually brought to the ground after making twenty one metres on the best hit-up of the match.

    Christian Kiri produced another strong run in the 55th minute with a run that got Burleigh into the Jets territory. After making twelve metres, Christian Kiri was brought down but was awarded a penalty when the Jets defenders tried to slow the play the ball down too much.

    Christian Kiri once again started from the bench in the Round Three Gold Coast derby against the Tweed Heads Seagulls and also started from the bench in Round Four against the Souths Logan Magpies.

    Christian Kiri was named to start from the bench in Round Five against the Ipswich Jets but ultimately was moved to the Bears extended bench late in the week and did not participate in the match.

    In Round One of the 2021 Gold Coast Rugby League U18 Division One competition Christina Kiri started at left second row for the Burleigh Bears after moving over from the Coomera Cutters as the Bears took on the Nerang Roosters.

    Christian Kiri also started at left second row in Round Two as the Bears took on the Helensvale Hornets scoring a strong try in just the third minute of the match.

    Christian Kiri received the ball seventeen metres out from the line on the left side of the field, running with the ball in his right hand only. After receiving the ball Christian Kiri cut back to his right then produced a left foot step and then ran through three attempted tackles to score mid-way between the goal posts and corner post on the left side of the field.

    Just a minute earlier than when he scored in the 2nd minute, Christian Kiri made a strong ten metre run starting twenty metres out and when he got to ten metres out he was able to offload the ball to his inside.

    The 41st minute of the match saw Christian Kiri once again make good metres, on that occasion fourteen, nine of which were post contact, when he took a hit-up to the right of dummy half.

    Christian Kiri also made two strong defensive plays in the match including a try saving tackle in the 24th minute when he dived to his left to cut down the Hornets right centre with a copy book low tackle less than two metres out from the try line.

    The other defensive effort of Christian Kiri’s that was certainly worth noting came in the 9th minute when he produced a strong front on tackle on the Helensvale No. 10 with the hit jarring the ball loose.

    Christian Kiri then continued at left second row in Round Three against the Mudgeeraba Redbacks.

    After missing a number of rounds, Christian Kiri was due back in Round Ten, when he was set to start in the front row for the Bears against the Mudgeeraba Redbacks however Mudgeeraba ended up forfeiting the match. Christian Kiri then came off the bench against the Nerang Roosters before being named to move into the Burleigh starting line-up at right second row in Round Eleven against the Southport Tigers.

    After the Covid 19 enforced lock down, Christian Kiri was named at left centre for Round Eleven against the Southport Tigers before moving back to start in the front row in Round Twelve against the Runaway Bay Seagulls.

    Christian Kiri also started in the front row in Round Thirteen against the Ormeau Shearers, scoring one try and coming close to a second when in the 48th minute after a ten metre run was held up over the line.

    Christian Kiri scored an outstanding solo try in just the 2nd minute of the match when after he burst onto the ball thirty five metres out from the line on the left side of the field, Christian Kiri beat the Shearers fullback with a step off his left foot to get the ball down midway between the corner post and goal post on the left side of the field.

    Christian Kiri then initially was named to drop back to the bench against the Currumbin Eagles in Round Fourteen before starting the match at lock.

    Christian Kiri then started at left second row for Burleigh in Week One of the 2021 GCRL U18 Division One Finals against the Ormeau Shearers with Christian Kiri scoring in the 7th minute when from ten metres out he charged at the line and was able to drag two defenders over the line to get the ball down three metres in from the left corner post.

    Christian Kiri started off his 2020 sporting campaign starting in the forward pack for Gold Coast based Somerset College in their First XV 32 – 15 trial win over Brisbane based Ambrose Treacy College in very wet conditions with Christian Kiri standing out in both attack and defence dominating portion of the game on his own.

    When Community Rugby League re-commenced on the Gold Coast in 2020 Christian Kiri played for Burleigh in the Gold Coast Rugby League U18 Division One competition, after moving over from the Coomera Cutters, including starting in the front row in the 2020 GCRL U18 Division One Grand Final against the Currumbin Eagles.

    In 2019 for the Coomera Cutters in the GCRL U16 Division One competition Christian Kiri played sixteen matches for Coomera scoring just the one try which came against Burleigh in May but his contribution and skill set on display, including an outstanding U16 Division One Grand Final display far exceeded his try scoring tally.

    Unfortunately Coomera went down in the Grand Final 22 – 20 as a result of an Ormeau penalty goal kicked in golden point after the scores were locked 20 all at the conclusion of the match in regular time.

    In the Grand Final Christian Kiri was one of a number of forwards from both sides that stood out with his hard straight running on the left side of the field in what was a brutal forward battle which threatened to boil over more than once. It is fair to say I absolutely loved being there to see it and for me that Grand Final and the U15 Division One Grand Finals were for me the best two matches of the GCRL Junior Grand Finals.

    In addition to playing rugby league in 2019, Christian Kiri played for the Helensvale Hogs in the 2019 Gold Coast Rugby U16 competition and also represented the Gold Coast Cyclones U16 representative rugby side scoring against Downlands in Game Four of that competition, where Christian Kiri spent time at outside centre (No. 13).

    Prior to playing for Coomera in the GCRL U16 Division One competition in 2019 Christian Kiri played in the 2018 Ipswich Rugby League U15 competition for the Springfield Panthers scoring six tries and kicking one conversion in ten matches whilst alternating between starting in the front row and second row.

    In 2017 in the Ipswich Rugby League U14 competition, Christian Kiri played limited matches but had a huge season in 2016 in the Ipswich Rugby league U13 Development Cup competition scoring seventeen tries from eleven matches and scored seven tries from four matches in the Ipswich Rugby League U13 competition.
    Christian Kiri 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 Christian Kiri is able to build up significant momentum.

    When Christian Kiri approaches the defensive line he does not continue to run uptight but dips his body (chest) into the first defender confronted whilst usually means Christian Kiri makes post contact metres and invariably means the opposition side needs to allocate an additional defender to complete the tackle.
    Christian Kiri’s mobility also means that he is usually able to get a quick play the ball. Interestingly Christina Kiri rarely ends up underneath defenders in tackles and this also assists him in obtaining a quick play the ball.

    Christian Kiri shows some more than reasonable pace when in the clear for a player his size and certainly in terms of his speed off the mark Christian Kiri has some decent speed for a second rower or front rower. Also when he has impacted the defensive line Christian Kiri continues to pump his legs and gain extra metres after contact.
    As noted he is a solidly built young second rower with outstanding footwork Christian Kiri and also shows 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.

    His lateral movement is outstanding for a big second rower and he is powerful enough to combat the largest of opponents looking to run through the centre of the ruck yet has the mobility to be an effective defender on the fringes of the ruck as well.

    Another impressive aspect of Christian Kiri’s play from a defensive stand point is the speed at which he gets around the field, for a player of his size, Christian Kiri has more than decent speed and mobility.

    Christian Kiri, in 2022 should push for a spot in the Burleigh Bears Hastings Deering’s Colts squad and will also be Colts eligible in 2023.

    With his size, speed and power, Christian Kiri shapes as the ideal rugby league second rower as he progresses up the Gold Coast Junior rugby league ranks towards senior rugby league.

    From an NRL player comparison perspective for Christian Kiri would consider a player comparison with Penrith Panthers destructive left second rower and Tongan International Viliame Kikau as more than appropriate. Both are exceptionally destructive on the fringes of the ruck on the left side and take a power of stopping by defences no matter how organised their defensive pattern is.

  6. #1626
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    LT Anae. In 2021 LT Anae is part of the Ormeau Shearers U18 Division One squad, starting Round Two of the pre-season on the bench against the Southport Tigers.

    In Round One of the Gold Coast Rugby League U18 Division One competition LT Anae from the bench for Ormeau as they took on the Helensvale Hornets.

    LT Anae moved into the Shearers starting side in the second row for Round Two against the Mudgeeraba Redbacks scoring in the 26th minute when he cut back to his left from ten metres out, breaking three tackles to get the ball down next to the right upright.

    Lt Anae also broke through the Redbacks line in the 41st minute and passed to his right but unfortunately the ball went to ground.

    LT Anae also start at right second row in Round Three against the Southport Tigers as well as in Round Four against Nerang with LT Anae scoring in the Shearers 30 – 14 loss.

    LT Anae continued at right second row in Round Five against the Currumbin Eagles but moved up to the front row for Round Six against the Burleigh Bears and in the 18th minute produced a spectacular piece of play when he followed through a Shearers mid-field bomb. No one wanted to take the ball on the full but LT Anae, at full pace, charged through to take the ball on the full and then broke four tackles as he made a further thirty metres downfield.

    Lt Anae also started in the front row in Round Seven against Runaway Bay before dropping back to the second row in Round Nine against the Mudgeeraba Redbacks and also started in the second row in Round Ten against the Southport Tigers as well as the previously postponed Round Eight match against the Helensvale Hornets.

    When rugby league recommenced on the Gold Coast in late August 2021 after the Covid 19 lockdown, LT Anae was named to start on the bench for Ormeau in Round Eleven against the Nerang Roosters before moving into the starting side in the front row in Round Twelve against the Currumbin Eagles.

    LT Anae was on the move again, starting at right second row in Round Thirteen against the Burleigh Bears and continued in the second row in Round Fourteen against the Runaway Bay Seagulls.

    LT Anae also started at right second row in Week One of the 2021 GCRL U18 Division One Final’s against the Burleigh Bears. LT Anae then moved to the bench for Week Two of the Finals against the Currumbin Eagles.

    LT Anae then moved back into the starting side at right second row in the 2021 GCRL U18 Division One Preliminary Final against the Nerang Roosters.

    Over the course of the 2019 Gold Coast Rugby League season one player who impressed me as much as anybody else when I saw him play was Ormeau Shearers right second rower LT Anae.

    Lt Anae started off his 2020 sporting campaign starting in the forward pack for Gold Coast based Somerset College in their First XV 32 – 15 trial win over Brisbane based Ambrose Treacy College in very wet conditions with LT Anae providing a strong physical presence in the match in both attack and defence.

    LT Anae played the 2020 Gold Coast Rugby League with the Ormeau Shearers in the U18 Division One competition and was dominant in a number of matches including Round Seven against Mudgeeraba when he scored a strong try when he ran onto a pass around ten metres out from the line and dragged a number of Redbacks defenders over the line with him to score next to the right uprights.

    LT Anae’s outstanding 2019 rugby league season included a great performance in Ormeau’s 22 - 20 U16 Division One Grand Final victory over Coomera in golden point as a result of a penalty goal from right next to the goal posts.

    LT Anae who started the 2019 season in the Gold Coast Vikings U16 set up played in fifteen GCRL U16 Division One matches this season scoring six tries with those tries coming individually in matches against Southport, Mudgeeraba, Helensvale (two matches), Burleigh and Coomera.

    In 2018 LT Anae also played for Ormeau playing in the GCRL U15 Division One competition and finishing his eleven matches with four tries including a mid-season double against Southport and also tries against Runaway Bay and the Robina Raptors.

    It should also be noted that LT Anae is also a very good basketballer who plays for the Coomera City Warriors in the North Coast Basketball Association and has done so for a number of seasons including in the 2019/20 U20 A and Men’s A Grade competitions before their premature closure.

    In Round One of the 2019/20 Summer Season LT Anae had a particularly impressive game in the Boys U20 A competition scoring nineteen points from nine two points shots and a free throw as Coomera held on to defeat SSC 52 – 51 after LT Anae put the Warriors ahead 51 – 41 late in the match with a two point conversion. Round Two saw LT Anae score five points from a two point and three point shot in a one point Warriors loss to CAC.

    In total in the 2019/20 U20 A summer competition, prior to its shut down for Coomera City LT Anae played in eleven matches, averaging 6.27 points per game (ppg) including scoring nineteen against SSC and thirteen against CAC

    Lt Anae also played in the 2019/20 Open A Men’s Gold Coast Basketball competition in that competition LT Anae averaged 2.8 ppg including a season high eight points against St Stephens Chargers.

    In 2020 LT Anae also played for the North Gold Coast Seahawks Navy side in two competitions being the U18 Boys Development Cup and the U18 Boys Division three/four State Championships.

    In the U18 Boys Division three/four State Championships LT Anae played in seven matches averaging 6.14 ppg including scoring eleven against Ipswich and eight against Caboolture in the last match that he played.

    In the U18 Boys Development Cup LT Anae played in six matches scoring an average of 9 ppg. LT Anae’s first six matches of the Cup were outstanding including a sixteen point effort against the SWM Pirates, fourteen against SC Phoenix and ten against Toowoomba.

    From the games that I have seem play LT Anae normally runs to the left side of the field and will run wider out and look to come back on the inside shoulder of the opposition defence on the edge of the ruck, looking for situations where the opposition inside defenders are slow to come across. His determination is one aspect that enables him to be in the right place at the right time.

    Another key aspect of his running game is that he runs fast into the defensive line. I know all forwards run hard (well most) but in addition to that, LT Anae runs fast and does not slow down when he impacts the defensive line. From my perspective this is a critical trait and one that is all too rarely seen, even in a lot of first grade games it looks like forwards are running up to the defensive line in slow motion, LT Anae is not one of those forwards.

    An example of what I mean is that if you look at say the Roosters forward pack they run at speed and it makes a huge difference to the ground that can be made through the centre of the ruck.

    LT Anae is a hard runner and does not give up on the run until the opposition puts him on the ground, as a consequence, he makes a lot more metres for his team than he has a right to and with his determination he will also on occasion break clear of the defenders totally. I would consider that he runs ‘tough’.

    LT Anae’s calling card from a defensive perspective is his 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.

    LT Anae can defensively handle any one on one battle that presents itself, especially early in games and in fact will dominate the centre of the ruck in stretches of games with power coupled with a simple, effective front on technique.

    It will be interesting to see where LT Anae plays in 2022, he may push for a spot in the Burleigh Bears Hastings Deering’s Colts squad or he may continue to play for the Ormeau Shearers in the Gold Coast Rugby League competition, likely starting in the Shearers U20 side before pushing to move up through the Doug Lipp competition to the Gold Coast Rugby League First Grade competition.

    , being a group of eight schools across the Gold Coast region that play in Term Two of the school year.

    With his size, speed and power, LT Anae shapes as the ideal rugby league second rower as he progresses up the Gold Coast rugby league ranks.

    From an NRL player comparison perspective, LT Anae has more than a passing similarity from a playing perspective to New Zealand Warriors and former Manly Sea Eagles second rower Curtis Sironen, both are hard straight runners of the ball who play with relentless intensity in both attack and defence.

  7. #1627
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    Jonah Beaven. In late October 2021 Jonah Beaven was named in the 2022 Burleigh Bears MM Cup squad and is also MM Cup eligible in 2023.

    In late October 2020, Jonah Beaven was named in the Gold Coast Rugby League U16 Cyril Connell Cup Academy Squad and when the split occurred Jonah Beaven was named in the Tweed Heads Cyril Connell Cup squad.

    Jonah Beaven started at lock in the first two quarters for the Seagulls in their final 2021 trial against the Souths Logan Magpies before coming back onto the field in the fourth quarter to line up at lock one again.

    Jonah Beaven started Round One of the 2021 Cyril Connell Cup at lock as the Bears took on the Ipswich Jets also started at lock in the Round Three local derby against the Burleigh Bears and as his all action self in the comprehensive 33 – 6 Seagulls victory.

    In the Round Three local derby Jonah Beaven took the 4th hit-up of the match after Burleigh kicked off. Then to emphasise his work ethic after Tweed Heads kicked on the last tackle, Jonah Beaven was the first Seagulls player down field to tackle the Burleigh fullback returning the ball. To prove that was no fluke, Jonah Beaven was first downfield just a couple of minutes later to once again tackle the Burleigh fullback in relation to the Seagulls second clearing kick.

    Jonah Beaven continued the trend of him terrorising the Burleigh fullback when in the 11th minute, along with Taelon Te Whiu-Hopa he crunched him as he was trying to dart through the centre of the ruck.

    Jonah Beaven added a great ball and all tackle to his game resume in the 17th minute when he moved out of marker to his left to hit Burleigh front rower Samuel McAllister.

    Whilst it may appear from the commentary that Jonah Beaven’s contribution to Tweed Heads victory was solely based on his defence that certainly was just case as could be seen in the 46th minute when Jonah Beaven charged into the Burleigh defensive line making thirteen metres on the second hit-up from the kick-off to Matthew Barrow’s try, to get the ball thirty three metres out from his own line. Jonah Beaven then backed that run up with the 4th hit-up from the same set of six making another eighteen metres to great the ball near to the twenty metre mark.

    Round Five against the Souths Logan Magpies saw Jonah Beaven once against start at lock.

    In 2021 Jonah Beaven once again was part of the PBC School Boy Rugby League Elite Program starting Round One of the Walters Cup competition in the front row against Ipswich State High School and scoring a key PBC try in the 16 all draw.

    In the 37th minute, after PBC hooker Will Saunders had run to the right out of dummy half close to the Ipswich SHS line, Jonah Beaven cut back underneath, getting the pass five metres out and continuing his run to his left before straightening up after he had gotten to the other side of the play the ball to force his way over from a second effort (he had initially looked as if he was going to be held up) five metres in from the left corner post.

    Jonah Beaven was immediately in the match, taking the hit-up from the kick-off. Jonah Beaven made another strong run from the kick-off to PBC’s first try of the match in the 11th minute with Jonah Beaven breaking straight through the Ipswich SHS line to get the ball to forty two metres out from his own line.

    Jonah Beaven added a great right arm off-load to his match highlight reel in the 19th minute directly in front of the posts to show everyone watching that he has every skill in the book.

    Jonah Beaven also started in the front row in Round Two against Forest Lake State High School and scored for the second match in a row. Jonah Beaven scored in the 30th minute when he charged onto the ball from twelve metres out to the right of the play the ball, immediately cutting back towards the soft spot in the defensive line behind the play the ball and reaching out with his right arm to get the ball down, breaking five tackles along the way.

    Jonah Beaven’s contribution to PBC’s 28 – 6 started in the first set of six in the match when he took the fourth hit-up after Forest Lake SHS kicked off, with Jonah Beaven making fifteen metres. Then in the 24th minute, Jonah Beaven made a strong twenty metre run before off-loading to his left to Ray Puru who then set up his centre to score down the left side of the field.

    Jonah Beaven also started in the front row in Round Three against Coombabah State High School making a number of strong runs, including in the 14th minute when he charged twenty metres through the centre of the ruck before being able to off-load and then in the 38th minute Jonah Beaven burst twenty two metres downfield to get over the halfway mark.

    Jonah Beaven continued starting in the front row in Round Six against Keebra Park State High School and in the final round after the Covid 19 lockdown against Wavell SHS when he took PBC’s opening hit-up of the match.

    Jonah Beaven also started in the front row in PBC’s semi-final victory over Wavell State High School with Jonah Beaven taking the hit-up off the kick-up.

    Jonah Beaven also produced a smart piece of play in the 13th minute when with Wavell SHS bringing the ball out of their own territory Jonah Beaven produced a great one on one strip and then was awarded a penalty when the Wavell SHS defenders would not allow him to get to his feet to play the ball.

    The 2021 Walters Cup Grand Final against Keebra Park SHS saw Jonah Beaven named to start in the front row.

    Impressively Jonah Beaven started Round One of the Gold Coast Rugby League U18 Division One competition from the bench for the Mudgeeraba Redbacks as they took on Runaway Bay at home.

    When he came into the match mid-way through the first half Jonah Beaven lined up at right centre for the Redbacks and could not have been more impressive against players who in the main were two years older than him.

    Jonah Beaven came onto the match at a time when his side was under pressure but he made an immediate impact with his defence when in the 26th minute he made a strong tackle on the Runaway Bay left winger from a Seagulls twenty metre restart and then made another strong tackle being he 4th in the same set of six with the same Runaway Bay winger bearing the brunt of that tackle as well.

    The 28th minute saw Jonah Beaven continued his strong defensive match when from a Runaway Bay scrum win he produced a strong one on one tackle on the Seagulls left centre and then from marker crunched the Runaway Bay left winger who had attempted to run out of dummy half.

    Then in the 46th minute from a kick-up Jonah Beaven crunched the Runaway Bay forward (No. 16) who was bringing the ball back with an impressive front on tackle.

    Running with the ball Jonah Beaven also did some good work including in the 25th minute when he was able to make ten metres when bringing the ball out of his own twenty metre area. In the 50th minute, Joanh Beaven was able to make eight metres out of dummy half after running to his left to get Mudgeeraba to near twenty metres out from the try line.

    To cap off a very impressive outing, in the 59th minute, Jonah Beaven ran the ball after a Redbacks penalty restart, making ten metres to be tackled ten metres out and directly in front of the posts. Jonah Beaven got to his feet for an exceptionally quick play the ball with the Redbacks scoring as a result from the subsequent play the ball.

    The talented Titans linked PBC student started in the front row for the PBC Hancock Cup School Boy Grand Final side that went down in heart breaking fashion 26 – 24 to Marsden State High School who kicked a penalty goal after the final siren.

    Jonah Beaven was deservedly named the 2020 Hancock Cup Grand Final Player of the Match after taking on the giant Marsden State High School forward pack for the entire fifty minutes of the match in a tireless display and courage and all out effort. Jonah Beaven did not have the size of his opponents but he made up for that with all out effort and sheer intensity.

    Jonah Beaven not only had a very good Hancock Cup Grand Final but also had a number of stand out matches in the regular rounds of the Hancock Cup including an impressive match against Wavell State High School when he once again took on and excelled against other giant forward pack. It was the same situation against Keebra Park as well in the regular rounds of the 2020 Hancock Cup competition.

    Joanh Beaven also also impressive in Round Four against Forest Lake State School including a thirty metre charge through the centre of the Forest Lake ruck. After a quick play the ball by Jonah Beaven PBC moved the ball to the left, scoring soon after.

    Jonah Beaven was unlucky not to score in Round Three of the 2020 Hancock Cup against Coombabah State High School when he was held up adjacent to the right upright after a strong ten metre run into the teeth of the Coombabah SHS forward pack.

    In 2019 Jonah Beaven played for the Mudgeeraba Redbacks in the Gold Coast Rugby League U14 Division One competition as well as representing the Gold Coast Vikings U14 representative side at the Hill Stumer Championships that were held in Ipswich with Jonah Beaven starting the Vikings matches at lock. Post those Championships, Jonah Beaven was selected in the U14 South East Queensland Training Squad.

    Running with the football, Jonah Beaven 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 although you can see that when he gets fired up all subtlety and thoughts of self-preservation goes out the window and he becomes a giant wrecking ball.

    Jonah Beaven 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. Jonah Beaven actually does have a decent off load usually with his right hand when he has impacted the defensive line as well and regularly showcases this in game situations.

    In game situations Jonah Beaven is also showcasing his ability to offload prior to the defensive line, a skill that he has developed and incorporated is recent seasons.

    As you would expect, due to his size and strength, Jonah Beaven is a very good defender, for his size he will not necessarily hit hard (he certainly can however when the opportunity presents), but he is very good at mirroring the movement of the opposing centre and wrapping him up ball and all.

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

    His long reach is also a positive attribute in those situations and also when moving up into the defensive line as Jonah Beaven can disrupt passing lanes on the fringes of the ruck.

    Jonah Beaven is the defensive leader of the Nerang U16 Division One BBC three quarter line and other defenders keyed off him in terms of whether to use an up and in methodology and slide to the outside.

    Jonah Beaven on an individual level has the body control to redirect quickly and mirror the movement of the opposing attackers and anticipate what vector the attack comes from and innately understands when to allow the attacking play to develop in from of him and when to come out of the line to disrupt the attacking play prior to its formation.

    In 2022 Jonah Beaven will move up to the PBC Langer Cup squad. 2022 will also see Jonah Beaven move up to the Gold Coast Rugby League U18 Division One competition and he will also push for a spot in the 2022 Burleigh Bears MM Cup squad and Jonah Beaven will also be MM Cup eligible in 2023.

    Whilst Jonah Beaven played primarily in the front row for PBC in the Hancock Cup school boy competition in 2020, with his rangy build for his size, I think that Jonah Beaven has the physical attributes and skill set to be inpressive second rower operating wider of the ruck than just charging through the middle.

    From a playing style perspective for Jonah Beaven, the one NRL player comparison that stands out for me is former Queensland State of Origin and North Queensland and Titans second rower Gavin Cooper, as a rangy, mobile, wide running backrower with some toughness, hardness and underrated skill in his impressive game. Similiarly Penrith’s Isiah Yeo (although Jonah Beaven is no where near as tall) is also an apt player comparison as a multi-talented player who continues to develop his game through shear hard work.

  8. #1628
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    Jake Kearton. The young front rower was part of the Burleigh Bears Hastings Deering’s Colts squad in 2021.

    Jake Kearton made his Gold Coast Rugby League First Grade debut off the bench in the previously postponed Round Eight match against Tugun. Jake Kearton maintained his place on the bench for Round Ten against Runaway Bay as well as in the rescheduled Round Twelve match against Runaway Bay.

    Jake Kearton then was named to start from the bench in Round Fourteen against the Currumbin Eagles.

    When the Gold Coast Rugby League competition commenced, Jake Kearton started in the front row for the Burleigh Bears U20 GCRL side as they played a Pre-season Round One round robin against Helensvale and Runaway Bay.

    In Round Three of the GCRL U20 Pre-season competition, Jake Kearton started from the bench as Burleigh played the Currumbin Eagles.

    Round One of the 2021 GCRL U20 season proper saw Jake Kearton started in the front row for the Bears as they took on the Currumbin Eagles with Jake Kearton one of the Bears try scorers in the 34 – 20 first up loss.

    Jake Kearton also started in the front row and captained the Burleigh side in Round Six against the Helensvale Hornets and showcased his strength in the 12th minute when he grabbed the Helensvale fullback and forced him back into the in-goal area.

    Starting in the front row once again in Round Seven against Runaway Bay, Jake Kearton had a strong match scoring a hat trick in Burleigh’s four point loss. Jake Kearton’s opening try came in the 34th minute when he ran into a gap twelve metres out and then rounding the Seagulls fullback to score ten metres from the left upright.

    Jake Kearton added his second try in the 38th minute when he charged onto the ball to the right of the dummy half from ten metres out, stepping off his right foot to barge over next to the left upright. Jake Kearton then completed his hat trick in the 44th minute when he broke three tackles from five metres out to once again get the ball down adjacent to the left upright.

    Jake Kearton continued in the front row and captain in Round Ten against Runaway Bay scoring a double, with his opening try coming in the 27th minute when he ran onto the ball to the left of the dummy half from twelve metres out. Jake Kearton produced a slight jink to his left and then carried four defenders over the line with him to score under the posts.

    Jake Kearton completed his double with an outstanding solo effort in the 63rd minute. Jake Kearton received the ball fifty two metres out running to the left of the play the ball. As he approached the defensive line, Jake Kearton stepped off his left foot to get between two defenders and surged downfield. With only the Runaway Bay fullback to beat, Jake Kearton dummied to his left and then continued downfield to score near the left upright.

    After the Covid 19 enforced lock down, Jake Kearton started in the front row for Round Eleven against the Currumbin Eagles with Jake Kearton scoring late in the match when he charged ten metres, breaking two tackles to get the ball down next to the left upright.

    Jake Kearton also started in the front row and captain in Round Twelve against Runaway Bay and also captained the Burleigh side from the front row position in Round Thirteen against the Helensvale Hornets with Jake Kearton scoring an outstanding solo try in the 10th minute.

    Jake Kearton ran onto the ball to the right of the play the ball seventy five metres away from the try line and upon receipt of the ball immediately cut back to the area behind the play the ball splitting a gap between two defenders. Jake Kearton then showed very good speed to maintain a gap between himself and the Helensvale defenders chasing him from behind. As he approached the Helensvale fullback, Jake Kearton shaped to pass to his right and as soon as the fullback’s momentum shifted in that direction, Jake Kearton pulled the ball back in and raced to the line getting the ball down adjacent to the left upright.

    Jake Kearton then continued in the front row in Round Fourteen against the Runaway Bay Seagulls and was involved in one Burleigh try when after taking a hit-up from deep inside his own territory Jake Kearton was able to get part way through the Seagulls defensive line before presenting the ball to Thomas Neale by way of a right arm off-load to his left.

    Jake Kearton was also named in the front row in Week One of the 2021 GCRL U20 Finals series against the Helensvale Hornets with Jake Kearton scoring in the 60thth minute from twelve metres out on the right side of the field. Jake Kearton initially juggled the pass but after securing possession he beat three tackles to crash over mid-way between the goal post and corner post on the right side of the field.

    Jake Kearton also recorded a try assist in the 28th minute for a long range Burleigh effort. The try started deep inside Burleigh own twenty metre area with Noah Gafa running eighty metres untouched down the left touchline after getting a great right arm off-load from his right from Jake Kearton.

    Jake Kearton also started in the front row in the 2021 GCRL U20 Preliminary Final against the Currumbin Eagles.

    Jake Kearton also started in the front row for Burleigh in the 2021 Gold Coast Rugby League U20 Grand Final against the Runaway Bay Seagulls.

    At the 2021 Burleigh Bears Awards Presentation, Jake Kearton was awarded the GCRL U20 Players Player Awards.

    In April 2021, Jake Kearton was named in the U20 Gold Coast Vikings First Grade South East Queensland Chairman’s Challenge initial squad.

    Jake Kearton started the 2020 season in the Burleigh Bears MM Cup squad starting Round One of the competition in the front row against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls.

    Also in 2020 Jake Kearton was part of the PBC Langer Cup Open A school boy rugby league squad, including starting Round One of the competition on the bench as PBC took on Ipswich State High School. Jake Kearton was having a strong match for PBC until he broke his ribs in a tackle, impacting the rest of his 2020 season.

    When Community Rugby League re-commenced on the Gold Coast Jake Kearton played for Burleigh in the Gold Coast Rugby League U18 Division One competition for the second season in a row, including starting in the second row in the 2020 GCRL U18 Division One Grand Final against the Currumbin Eagles.

    Jack Kearton moved down from Mackay State High School to attend PBC at the start of 2018 and was part of the Titans U16 squad played against PNG and New South Wales Country U16 sides in September 2018. The match against PNG was held at Pizzey Park Burleigh and the New South Wales Country match at Cudgen.

    Jack Kearton played one match for Burleigh in the MM Cup competition in 2019 with that match being in Round Five when he came off the bench in Round Five against Souths Logan.

    In 2019 Jake Kearton played his club rugby league on the Gold Coast for Burleigh in the GCRL U18 Division One competition playing ten regular season matches, primarily starting at lock and scored four tries including a Round Nine double against Currumbin just days after the PBC/Keebra Langer Cup match. Jack Kearton also scored against Ormeau earlier in the season and against Mudgeeraba in Round Fourteen.

    In Week Two of the 2019 GCRL U18 Division One Finals series, Jake Kearton started at lock as Burleigh defeated Southport 34 – 4 to progress directly to the Grand Final.

    Jack Kearton started at lock in Burleigh’s 28 -12 U18 Division One Grand Final win over Southport 28 -12 and had strong stints in each half.

    Jake Kearton in 2019 was also part of the PBC Open A rugby league side including starting from the bench (he had been named to start) in the Langer Cup derby against Keebra Park in June and was heavily involved when he came on.

    Jake Kearton was also part of the PBC side for their Queensland GIO Cup quarter final win over St Mary’s High School Toowoomba 50 – 6 coming off the bench in that match and also came off the bench in PBC’s semi-final loss to Marsden State High School.

    Jack Kearton, even though he was eligible for the U16 age group played for the Mudgeeraba Redbacks U17 Division One side in 2018, starting in the second row in their Round One match against Currumbin.

    In 2017 Jake Kearton was part of the Capricornia U15 side that took part in the QSSRL U15 championships. In those Championships he played primarily in the second row but has played in the front row for PBC this season in their Year Ten side although he did miss the recent Walter Cup match won by PBC against Keebra Park by two points through illness.

    Running with the football, Jack Kearton 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 although you can see that when he gets fired up all subtlety and thoughts of self-preservation goes out the window and he becomes a giant wrecking ball.

    Jack Kearton 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. Jack Kearton actually does have a decent off load usually with his right hand when he has impacted the defensive line as well and regularly showcases this in game situations.

    Defensively Jack Kearton can certainly hit very hard, usually aiming for just under the ribs and first intention is to lock up the ball to prevent offloads. He can however on occasion try to tackle too front on which can lead to situations where the opposing forward can bounce off him, but I have no doubt with the Colts coaching that he will be getting they will have this corrected in short order.

    Jack Kearton has quite reasonable lateral mobility for a larger forward and due to the fact that he bends his hips when looking to make a tackle he is usually is able to wrap up the smaller attackers without his tackles slipping up to around the head or neck, and thus giving away penalties. Jack Kearton can however get fired up and really cause havoc defensively.

    In 2022 Jake Kearton will look to break into the Burleigh Bears U20 Hastings Deering’s Colts squad.

    Jack Kearton has spent time in both the front row, lock and second row this season and last and even though I anticipate that he will continue to play both positions for the next couple of seasons, I believe that as he continues to mature physically Jack Kearton will ultimately end up in the front row on a full time basis.

    From a player comparison perspective in relation to Jake Kearton, consider someone along the lines of the St George Dragons and New South Wales State of Origin front rower Paul Vaughan as a big strong mobile forward who hits the defensive line hard when he runs as well as the opposition when they are running the ball.

  9. #1629
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    Will Saunders. In late October 2020, Will Saunders was named in the Gold Coast Rugby League U16 Cyril Connell Cup Academy Squad and when the split occurred Will Saunders was named in the Tweed Heads Cyril Connell Cup squad.

    Will Saunders started at hooker in the first quarter for the Seagulls in their final 2021 trial against the Souths Logan Magpies before coming back onto the field in the fourth quarter to line up at hooker one again. Over the course of the two quarters that he played Will Saunders defended well against the giant Magpies forward pack.

    Will Saunders started Round One of the 2021 Cyril Connell Cup at hooker as the Bears took on the Ipswich Jets and put in an outstanding display being far and away the best player on the field in Burleigh’s eight point victory. Such was Will Saunders performance that he was deservedly named as the Seagulls best in the Round One match.

    Will Saunders also started at hooker in the Round Three local derby against the Burleigh Bears putting on a dummy half clinic in the Seagulls comprehensive 33 – 6 victory. Will Saunders came close to getting his name on the scoreboard in the 5th minute of the match when he was tackled inches short of the line on the right side of the field.

    Will Saunders produced another good dart out of dummy half in the 69th minute when he took off out of dummy half to his left before off-loading. The referee deemed that Will Saunders was hit late after passing the ball with Tweed Heads being awarded the penalty with a bit of a scuffle ensuing due to the late contact.

    Even though he was not the biggest player on the field Will Saunders is also an effective defender and that was born out in the 25th minute when Will Saunders hit Bears second rower Junior Filimaua with a strong tackle as he was defending right on his try line with the ball coming loose as a result of Will Saunders initial contact.

    Round Five against the Souths Logan Magpies saw Will Saunders once against start at hooker and scored in the 10th minute of the match as the Seagulls recorded a last minute victory.

    In 2021 Will Saunders continued at PBC as part of the school’s Elite Rugby League Program and made a strong impression after starting at hooker for the PBC Walters Cup side in their Round One 16 all draw against Ipswich State High School.

    Will Saunders made the first of his trademark runs out of dummy half in the 18th minute when made ten metres after darting out of dummy half to his right.

    Will Saunders then in the 48th minute highlighted that even though he is not the biggest player he has functional strength when he made a great driving tackle on one of the giant Ipswich SHS front rowers just five metres out from his own line, directly in front of his own posts.

    Will Saunders also started at hooker in Round Two against Forest Lake State High School and he was once again at his scheming best as early as the 5th minute when he darted out of dummy half to his right getting through the line before off-loading to Zane Harrison not strangely his pass was called forward. Will Saunders, in the 29th minute made another run out of dummy half once again to his right, on that occasion making eighteen metres.

    Will Saunders continued at hooker in Round Three against Coombabah State High School scoring one and coming close to a second in an all-round impressive display.

    Will Saunders scored in the 14th minute when he darted out of dummy half to his right to burrow his way over from two metres out, getting the ball down on the right side of the field mid-way between the goal posts and corner post.

    As noted Will Saunders almost scored another try but in the 7th minute he was held up over the line after attempting to score from dummy half.

    Two runs out of dummy half to the right of the play the ball from Will Saunders were also key points in two further tries. On the first occasion, in the 39th minute, Will Saunders ran out of dummy half to his right making fifteen metres before off-loading to Jac Finnigan who then off-load to the PBC right centre with Jac Finnigan receiving the ball back from the centre and then off-loaded the ball back to the same player to score.

    In the 47th minute, once again Will Saunders darted out of dummy half down a short right blindside ten metres from the line, drawing a defender before getting the ball away to Zane Harrison who threw an out the back pass to Ray Puru who put his right winger in the corner.

    Will Saunders also had an outstanding match from hooker in Round Four against Marsden State High School and also started at hooker in Round Five against Keebra Park State High School.

    Will Saunders continued at hooker in Round Six against Redcliffe State High School with the talented hooker having a very good match including scoring in the 55th minute when he chased through an attacking grubber kick from Zane Harrison to dive on the ball under the posts with the referee consequently blowing the whistle to award the try.

    Will Saunders also started at hooker in the final round after the Covid 19 hiatus against Wavell State High School and scored in the 42nd minute of the match when he darted out of dummy half to his right and charging twelve metres to crash over seven metres in from the right corner post.

    Will Saunders also started at hooker in PBC’s semi-final victory over Wavell State High School.

    The 2021 Walters Cup Grand Final against Keebra Park SHS saw Will Saunders to start at hooker and score a great solo try in the dying minutes of PBC’s 30 – 12 victory. Will Saunders’s Grand Final involvement was immediate when he made the opening tackle of the match in conjunction with Jaylen Tawea.

    In the 46th minute PBC were working the ball out of their own territory and still ten metres from the halfway mark. As he had done all match, Will Saunders moved into dummy half picking up the ball and running out of dummy half, exploding through the heart of the defensive line and then used his speed to veer to his left around the Keebra park fullback to dive over adjacent to the left upright.

    Ealirer in the Grand Final, in the 25th minute to be precise Will Saunders made fifteen metres through the centre of the field after running to his right out of dummy half.

    The talented Titans linked PBC student started at hooker for the PBC Hancock Cup School Boy Grand Final side that went down in heart breaking fashion 26 – 24 to Marsden State High School who kicked a penalty goal after the final siren.

    Throughout the Grand Final Will Saunders took on the giant Marsden forward pack and was the deserved scorer of PBC’s first try of the match, when from close range he darted out of dummy half to the right of the play the ball to force his way over ten metres in from the left corner post.

    Will Saunders was also heavily involved in PBC’s try early in the second half when he picked up the ball from the back of a scrum ten metres out before getting it early to Ray Puru down the blind side for the flying winger to score in the right corner. The play seemed to be a perfectly performed set play by PBC.

    Will Saunders was at his nippy best in Round Three of the 2020 Hancock Cup competition against Coombabah State High School when he darted to his right out of dummy half from around three metres out and was able to get the ball down with two defenders trying to hold him up.

    Will Saunders also scored for PBC in their Round Two match agaisnt Keebra Park State High School. When PBC put in a clearing kick from their own territory, Will Saunders followed the kick through down the centre of the field. Keebra Park could not retrieve the ball on the full, letting it bounce and it was taken by PBC down the right touchline and Will Saunders was correctly positioned to get the inside pass to run twenty metres to score around fifteen metres to the right of the uprights. If Will Saunders had not chased the kick as hard as he did, PBC and of course himself would not have scored the try.

    In early October 2020 Will Saunders was part of the Titans Gold Coast based U14 side that played a trial match against a Titans NRRRL U14/U15 squad with the match being played at Cbus Stadium, giving the young players a great experience with an added bonus that the teams played the match in Titans jerseys.

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

    Where Will Saunders 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 Will Saunders is a very good game manager from the hooking position.

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

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

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

    Will Saunders’s defence for a hooker is exceptional, for a smaller forward Will Saunders 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.

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

    In 2022 Will Saunders will move up to the PBC Langer Cup school boy rugby league squad and will also be pushing for a spot in the 2022 Tweed Heads Seagulls MM Cup squad and Will Saunders will also be MM Cup eligible in 2023.

    Will Saunders certainly projects as an 80 minute hooker, who will be known for his organisational and distribution skills as well as his courage and determination. Will Saunders is not a flashy player but he is undoubtedly appreciated by his team mates due to his calm and measured approach to how he plays the dummy half role and the courage he shows in leading by example when taking on much larger opposition continually.

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

  10. #1630
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    Jykoven Torrens. After Casino RSM had a Round One bye, Jykoven Torrens started at hooker in Round Two of the 2021 Group One U14 season against the Kyogle Turkeys and also started at hooker in Round Three against Marist Brothers Rams, scoring a double in a big Casino RSM victory.

    Jykoven Torrens scored once again in Round Four against Grafton after starting the match at hooker and continued at hooker in Round Five against Ballina and in Round Seven against the Clarence Coast Magpies. Jykoven Torrens also started at hooker in Round Eight against South Grafton as well as in Round Nine against Kyogle with Jykoven Torrens one of Casino RSM’s try scorers.

    Jykoven Torrens also started at hooker in Round Ten against the Marist Rams scoring a double in Casino RSM’s six point loss. Jykoven Torrens also recorded a try assist against the Rams.

    Jykoven Torrens scored his opening try in the 45th minute when from close range he darted out of dummy half to his left to force his way over close to the right upright.

    Jykoven Torrens completed his double in the 51st minute when after packing into a scrum at lock ten metres from the line that was being fed by Casino RSM. Jykoven Torrens picked up the ball from the back of the scrum and immediately raced to the right down a wide blindside bursting through one tackle to get the ball down ten metres in from the right corner post.

    It was clear from just the 3rd minute of the match that Jykoven Torrens was switched on after he made a great line break. From deep inside his own territory Jykoven Torrens ran out of dummy half to his left and utilised a left foot step on two occasions to get on the outside of the Rams defence and burst forty five metres down the right touchline before he was finally brought to great just fifteen metres out from the tryline.

    Also from the hooking position, Jykoven Torrens scored a hat trick in Round Twelve against the Ballina Seagulls.

    Jykoven Torrens was also named to start at hooker in Round Thirteen against the Clarence Coast Mapgpies, scoring a double in an outstanding dummy half running display.

    The talented young right second rower, hooker or centre had a great start to the 2020 Group One U13 rugby league competition for Casino RSM scoring three tries in the opening two rounds. Jkyoven Torrens turned his impressive start into a heck of a 2020 Group One season as a whole.

    In Round One against the Ballina Seagulls Jykoven Torrens scored a double starting the match in the centres and he added a further try against the Kyogle Turkeys in Round Two after moving into the second row.

    Jykoven Torrens moved to hooker in Round Three against Grafton but that did not stop his try scoring feats as he scored a double but Casino RSM went down 26 – 14 to the Ghosts.

    Jykoven Torrens stayed at hooker for Round Four against South Grafton and dominated scoring four tries as Casino RSM defeated the Rebels 42 – 4. Also starting at hooker in Round Five against Kyogle Jykoven Torrens scored once again in a 30 – 16 loss.

    In Round Six against Clarence Coast Jykoven Torrens once again started at hooker and scored a hat trick however Casino RSM went down 30 – 22 to the Magpies. Jykoven Torrens added a further two tries to his tally as Casino RSM went down 34 – 20 to Ballina in Round Seven.

    Jykoven Torrens’s exceptional 2020 season continued in Round Eight when he added a further double in a 24 – 12 loss to the Ballina Seagulls. Jykoven Torrens also started at hooker in Round Nine against the Grafton Ghosts.

    In the final regular season round of the 2020 Group One U13 competition being Round Ten, Jykoven Torrens started at hooker once again and scored four tries as Casino RSM defeated South Grafton 40 – 4.

    In total in the 2020 Group One U13 regular season competition Jykoven Torrens scored twenty one tries from just ten games to finish the regular season with a 210% strike rate.

    Jykoven Torrens was also outstanding for Casino RSM in the 2019 Group One U12 competition playing in eleven matches and was a multiple try scorer as well.

    Jykoven Torrens played the 2019 U13 Group One rugby league competition for Casino RSM and in 2021 Jykoven Torrens will play in the Group One U14 competition.

    Jykoven Torrens also had a great 2019 year from an athletics perspective at Casino Public School including making the schools athletics team for the North Coast Regional Athletics Championships.

    At the Championships Jykoven Torrens was named the Senior Boys Champion after winning the 200m and 800m events and he was also a member of the Casino Public School 4 x 100m relay time that took all before them winning each of their races, including the final. Also in the 2km race, Jykoven Torrens ran a solid time of just on ten minutes.

    Post the North Coast Regional Athletic Championships, Jykoven Torrens was selected in the North Coast Team for the New South Wales PSSA State Athletics Carnival in both the North Coast 4 x 100m relay team for the 100m sprint individual event.

    In the 100m event, Jykoven Torrens made the sem-finals, before running 12.77 seconds in the race to quality for the U12 100 metre NSW State Final. Jykoven Torrens ran 12.99 seconds in the final to finish a very credible seventh.

    As part of the North Coast 4 x 100m relay team, Jykoven Torrens and his team ran 52.58 seconds to quality of the U12 NSW State Final, running 54.09 seconds in the Final.

    Rarely can you find a young player who is equally at home running on both sides of the ruck but that is what a team has with Jykoven Torrens, he runs a superb inside or outside shoulder line and his excellent footwork enables him to step off either foot to enable Jykoven Torrens to cut back against the movement of the defensive line to take advantage of gaps back on the inside of his direct opponent.

    Jykoven Torrens also has above average (to plus) speed for a second rower, not just off the mark but also when he is in clear space, when he makes a break Jykoven Torrens is more than capable of going the distance and normally easily out paces the cover defence.

    Jykoven Torrens 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 a defender.

    Jykoven Torrens in schoolboy rugby league and junior age groups was a magnet for defenders and is adept at identifying when multiple defenders are vectoring towards him and identifying the appropriate force to be applied to his passing.

    Jykoven Torrens also waits until the last possible second to off load the ball and most of the time he does not telegraph his pass to enable defences the readjust before the ball is passed.

    On a lot of his runs Jykoven Torrens 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 Jykoven Torrens play his defence is equally effective even though it may not be as noticeable at first glance.

    Defensively Jykoven Torrens 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. Jykoven Torrens sets a very good base which he uses to explode into the ball carrier looking to use their own momentum against them.

    Jykoven Torrens 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.

    Jykoven Torrens 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.

    Jykoven Torrens in 2021 will play in the Group One U15 competition once again for Casino RSM.

    Jykoven Torrens can play both at hooker and in the second row effectively and his future will surely be in one of those two positions, it is just a matter of which one.

    For me a current NRL player with similar attributes and a similar playing style to Jykoven Torrens North Queensland Cowboys utility forward Reuben Cotter as a player who can transition between multiple positions in the forward pack although I think that just like Reuben Cotter, Jykoven Torren’s skill set plays slightly better in the second row taking all things into account.

    In saying that however Jykoven Torrens playing hooker and centre is certainly not a bad thing at all and can only help his career and development of his game overall in the long run. Skills and experience in different positions can only be a good thing for young rugby league players.

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    Chad Jones. In early October 2020 the front rower was part of a Titans Group 18 U16 Invitational side that played a trial match against a Titans squad with the match being played at Cbus Stadium, giving the young players a great experience with an added bonus that the players from both side wore Titans jerseys.

    Chad Jones started Round One of the 2021 NRRRL U18 competition in the front row for the Murwillumbah Mustangs as they took on the Bilambil Jets with Chad Jones taking the first hit-up of the match from the kick-up and subsequently won a penalty.

    Chad Jones also started in the front row in Round Two as the Mustangs had a big win against Northern United.

    After Murwillumbah had a number of byes in consecutive weeks, Chad Jones started in the front row in Round Six against the Kyogle Turkeys, scoring a try and also converting the Mustangs final try of the match from directly in front of the posts.

    Chad Jones scored in the 22nd minute of the match when, after receiving the ball eight metres out from the line to the right of the play the ball, he cut back towards his left and carried four defenders over the line with him and then Chad Jones took the hit-up from the kick off after his own try. Chad Jones added a further strong charge in the 48th minute to get the ball to near the halfway mark.

    In the 55th minute Chad Jones added a big tackle to his match highlights when along with Byron Jones he smashed the Kyogle No. 10 with the ball flying loose as a result.

    Round Seven against the Byron Bay Devils saw Chad Jones continue in the front row for the Mustangs. After Murwillumbah’s Round Nine match against the Tweed Coast Raiders was postponed, Chad Jones was back in the front row for Round Ten against the Cudgen Hornets and started from the bench in Round Twelve against Northern United producing a great line break and try assist in the 52nd minute when he burst through the middle of the Northern United defence and showed good pace to get to and draw the fullback to get the ball away to his right to his support who ran fifty metres untoucherd to score under the posts.

    Chad Jones was due back in the starting side in the front row in Round Thirteen against the Ballina Seagulls however the match was a casualty of a snap Covid 19 lockdown.

    In the 2020 Group 18 U16 competition Chad Jones played for the Cudgen Hornets. In the regular season in the 2020 Group 18 U16 season, Cudgen won two games and lost eight, along the way scoring 138 points and conceding 244 to finish with a -106 points differential.

    Post the competition of the 2020 Group 18 season, Chad Jones was named as the joint Cudgen Hornets Junior Representative Player of the 2020 season.

    Chad Jones started the 2020 season as part of the Northern Rivers Titans U16 Andrew Johns Cup squad starting in the front row in three of the four matches that the Titans played in the front row and was also named to start Round One in the front row against the Parramatta Eels but that match was washed out.

    Chad Jones started in the front row against the Central Coast Roosters (Round Three), the Greater Northern Tigers (Round Four) and the North Coast Bulldogs in Round Five. In Round Two against the Newcastle Knights, Chad Jones came off the bench for the Titans.

    2020 also saw Chad Jones play one match for the Cudgen Hornets U18 NRRRL side being the final regular season round when he came off the bench against the Tweed Coast Raiders.

    In 2019 Chad Jones played for the Group 18 U15 representative side at the New South Wales Country Age Championships, playing primarily in the front row.

    Chad Jones 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. Chad Jones 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 Chad Jones does actually have quite decent speed and footwork, certainly well above average for a player of his size. Chad Jones 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.

    Chad Jones 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. Chad Jones’s calling card though is the strength and power to effectively engage the opposing forward early in their run and use his natural strength to win the forward battle in the centre of the ruck.

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

    Chad Jones will play the 2022 season with the Murwillumbah Mustangs in the NRRRL U18 competition and also look to break into the 2022 Northern Rivers Titans U18 Laurie Daley Cup side.

    Chad Jones is a front rower pure and simple, always has been and surely always will be, regardless of where and how far his career takes him.

    For me a solid NRL comparison for Chad Jones is former Wests Tigers and New Zealand International front rower Russell Packer as a front rower who regularly crashes head long into the defensive line but does have some subtle footwork which seems to get largely over looked, as for that matter is his solid defensive technique and impressive functional strength.

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    Ty Kilpatrick. In early October 2020 the front rower was part of a Titans Group 18 U16 Invitational side that played a trial match against a Titans squad with the match being played at Cbus Stadium, giving the young players a great experience with an added bonus that the players wore Titans jerseys.

    In June 2021, Ty Kilpatrick was a member of the Titans U17 Northern Rivers Academy side that drew 28 all with a Titans JTS U16 side at Cbus Stadium in a curtain raiser to the Titans NRL fixture against Manly.

    In Round One of the NRRRL U18 competition, Ty Kilpatrick started in the front row for the Cudgen Hornets as they got their season under way with a solid victory.

    Ty Kilpatrick also started in the front row in Round Two against Casino RSM and had an impressive second stint on the field in the second half. Not long after returning to the field in the 42nd minute, Ty Kilpatrick made three tackles in a row and then in the 53rd put a great shot in the Casino left second rower.

    Ty Kilpatrick continued in the front row in Round Four in the local derby against the Bilambil Jets as well as in Round Five against Byron Bay. Round Eight against the Kyogle Turkeys, saw Ty Kilpatrick shift to the bench against the Kyogle Turkeys.

    Ty Kilpatrick moved back into the starting side in the front row for Round Ten against the Murwillumbah Mustangs.

    In the 2020 Group 18 U16 competition Ty Kilpatrick played for the Cudgen Hornets. The 2020 U16 Group 18 Cudgen Hornets finished the regular season winning two games and losing eight, along the way scoring 138 points and conceding 244 to finish with a -106 points differential. Post the season Ty Kilpatrick was named the Cudgen Hornets Group 18 U16 Best Forward and was also named as the joint Cudgen Hornets Junior Representative Player of the 2020 season.

    Ty Kilpatrick also played a number of matches for the Cudgen Hornets NRRRL U18 side in 2020 coming into the side after the competition was split into two (Northern and Southern Conferences) due to the Queensland border restrictions. Ty Kilpatrick’s first match was off the bench against the Murwillumbah Mustangs in the “new” Round One and he also started from the bench in Round Two against Bilambil.

    Ty Kilpatrick started the next three rounds at left centre being against Bilambil (Round Three), Tweed Coast (Round Four) and Murwillumbah in Round Five.

    In Round Six against the Tweed Coast Raiders, Ty Kilpatrick moved back to start from the bench and Ty Kilpatrick also started from the bench in the 2020 NRRL U18 Major Semi-final against the Murwillumbah Mustangs.

    Ty Kilpatrick came off the bench in the 2020 NRRRL U18 Grand Final playing right second row as the Hornets defeated Murwillumbah 28 – 16 in a bad tempered match.

    Ty Kilpatrick started the 2020 season as part of the Northern Rivers Titans U16 Andrew Johns Cup squad starting all four of the matches the Titans played in the front row and was also named to start Round One in the front row against the Parramatta Eels but that match was washed out due to heavy rain in the lead-up to the match.

    Ty Kilpatrick started in the front row against the Newcastle Knights (Round Two), the Central Coast Roosters (Round Three), the Greater Northern Tigers (Round Four) and the North Coast Bulldogs in Round Five.

    In 2019 Ty Kilpatrick played for the Group 18 U15 representative side at the New South Wales Country Age Championships, playing primarily coming off the bench and also represented Group 18 in 2018 at the U14 level.

    The long striding Ty Kilpatrick is at his best when he is operating in the fringes of the ruck where he can exploit gaps in the defensive line with his size and speed. When he runs Ty Kilpatrick is all arms, legs, knees and elbows and with his long stride and strong fend is a difficult proposition for defenders to handle in the context of getting him to the ground.

    Ty Kilpatrick’s leg drive and determination also enables him to be equally effective in relation to operating in traffic where he gets his body height low he can shrug off would be tacklers by dropping his shoulder into the defender just as he starts to commit to the tackle, Ty Kilpatrick can then redirect his momentum and proceed down the field post contact.

    In terms of overall speed, whilst a touch above average for his position, Ty Kilpatrick when in space will be caught by cover defenders but he is quick enough to maintain separation until he has progressively worked through his options and invariably makes the right decision with the ball.

    Defensively Ty Kilpatrick is adept at wrapping up the ball carrier and his initial contact is underrated as his primary function and goal is to wrap up the ball to prevent off loads. His stamina is such that you will see Ty Kilpatrick make multiple tackles in a short space of time and then immediately make himself available to take a hit up.

    Ty Kilpatrick will play the 2022 season with the Cudgen Hornets in the NRRRL U18 competition and Ty Kilpatrick is also push for a spot in the 2022 Northern Rivers Titans U18 Laurie Daley Cup Squad.

    Evn though Ty Kilpatrick played in the front row and even in the centres in the NRRRL U18 competition I believe that as his rugby league career continues to progress Ty Kilpatrick will settle in the second row.

    With his mobility and hardworking mentality Ty Kilpatrick’s playing style reminds me of new Brisbane Bronco’s and former Penrith Panthers second rower Luke Capewell who it should be remembered has been 18th man for the Queensland State of Origin side on a number of occasions in recent season.

    Both are hardworking players who give everything they have every time that they step onto a rugby league field doing a lot of the little things well and will sometimes be unfairly overlooked by everyone but their team mates and coaching staff.

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    Shane Davis-Caldwell. In early October 2020 the talented fullback or centre (and occasional five eight) was part of a Titans Group 18 U16 Invitational side that played a trial match against a Titans squad with the match being played at Cbus Stadium, giving the young players a great experience with an added bonus that the players wore Titans jerseys in the match. Post that match, Shane Davis-Caldwell signed a two year contract with the Titans which will see him thorugh his two U18 eligible seasons.

    In January 2021 Shane Davis-Caldwell started at five eight for the Titans U17 side in their annual match at Coffs Harbour against the Newcastle Knights, with the Titans recording an impressive win in the match with Shane Davis-Caldwell servicing his back line well from the right side of the field in the 32 – 20 victory. Shane Davis-Caldwell also converted three of the Titans tries.

    After missing Round One of the 2021 U18 Laurie Daley Cup competition, Shane Davis-Caldwell started Round Two against local rivals the North Coast Bulldogs at left centre. Shane Davis-Caldwell had some good moments in the match, including a great kick chase mid-way through the first half when he was able to grab the North Coast fullback by the collar from behind and rag doll him to the ground.

    Shane Davis-Caldwell almost found himself on the try scorers list in the 18th minute of the match, but the North Coast defence was able to hold him up after he forced his way over near the left corner.

    Shane Davis-Caldwell also started at left centre in Round Three against the Greater Northern Tigers and was hevily involved in the Titans second try of the match when from a scrum win Shane Davis-Caldwell cut inside before offloading in the movement that led to a try in the left corner.

    Shane Davis-Caldwell moved to right centre in Round Four at Lismore against the Central Coast Roosters and also started at left centre in Round Five against the Newcastle Knights.

    In late 2020 Shane Davis-Caldwell was announced as part of the South East Queensland Magic U17 side for the 2021 Queensland Murri Carnival.

    In the 2020 Group 18 U16 competition Shane Davies-Caldwell played a number of matches late in the 2020 season for the South Tweed Bears including the Grand Final with the Bears defeating Murwillumbah 20 – 16 in the decider.

    In the regular season in the 2020 Group 18 U16 season, the South Tweed Bears won seven games and lost three, along the way scoring 210 points and conceding 160 to finish with a +50 points differential.

    Prior to moving to South Tweed Shane Davies-Caldwell played a number of match for the Kempsey Dragons in the Group Three Junior Rugby League competition with his last match for the Dragons being in Round Six when he came off the bench.

    Shane Davies-Caldwell had a great start to the 2020 Group Three U16 season with the Kempsey Dragons starting the opening two rounds of the competition at half back and scoring in both as well as kicking three conversions in Round One against the Taree Panthers and a conversion in Round Two against Forster Tuncurry.

    Shane Davies-Caldwell started the 2020 season as part of the North Coast Bulldogs U16 Andrew Johns Cup squad starting at fullback in all five of their matches which were against Central Coast (Round One), the Parramatta Eels (Round Two), the Greater Northern Tigers (Round Three), the Newcastle Knights (Round Four) and the Northern Rivers Titans in Round Five.

    Shane Davies-Caldwell had a particularly successful match in Round Three against the Greater Northern Tigers when he kicked six conversions from as many attempts and also kicked three conversions in Round Four against the Newcastle Knights as well as kicking conversion’s in Round Two and Five.

    In late 2019 Shane Davies-Caldwell was selected in the 2020 New South Wales U16 Indigenous Squad. Also in late 2019 Shane Davies-Caldwell was named the 2019 Kempsey Dragons Rising Star Award winner.

    In 2019 Shane Davies-Caldwell played for the Group Two U15 representative side at the 2019 New South Wales Country Age Championships, including scoring a try and kicking three gaols in the 2019 U15 Trophy Final that Group Two won 22 – 6 against the Central Coast Roosters. Whilst Shane Davies-Caldwell wore the number one jersey in the match, he spent a significant portion of the match at right centre, and it was from that position in the second half where his try came from when he picked up a dropped ball by Central Coast to run fifty five metres to score untouched and in fact was able to bring the ball around to put it down in the goal posts.

    When he runs the ball, Shane Davies-Caldwell is exceptionally quick and explosive, with exceptional speed, both off the mark and when he gets into open space. Shane Davies-Caldwell 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, Shane Davies-Caldwell’s 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 Shane Davies-Caldwell cannot do running the ball and it is only now about developing his ball playing skills, which to be fair improved exponentially as this season has progressed to make his footwork and running ability even more lethal.

    In addition Shane Davies-Caldwell 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. He obviously was a key target for defences but Shane Davies-Caldwell 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, Shane Davies-Caldwell’s 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 Shane Davies-Caldwell is an absolute handful to tackle with his speed and evasion skills.

    Defensively in the fullback position Shane Davies-Caldwell 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 Shane Davies-Caldwell does have is ability to force attackers who are in open space to try to beat him down the side line. Shane Davies-Caldwell 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.

    Shane Davies-Caldwell will likely play the 2022 season in the NRRRL U18 competition for either Cudgen or Bilambil. Shane Davies-Caldwell is also likely a member of the 2022 Northern Rivers Titans U18 Laurie Daley Cup Squad.

    Even though Shane Davies-Caldwell played at half back early in the 2020 club rugby league season for the Kempsey Dragons, for me a better pointer to a potential future from a position perspective for Shane Davies-Caldwell was his play at fullback in the 2020 U16 Andrew Johns Cup for the North Coast Bulldogs.

    For me Shane Davies-Caldwell has a similar playing style to that of former Titan and current English Super League half/fullback Albert Kelly. Like Kelly, Shane Davies-Caldwell has the speed off the mark to be able to exploit gaps in the defensive line and also has a bit of unpredictability about him which keeps defensive lines honest especially when Shane Davies-Caldwell runs with the ball in two hands directly at the line.

    With continued development of his play making and passing skills Shane Davies-Caldwell has intriguing potential for the coming seasons. Shane Davies-Caldwell is a solid goal kicker as well and a developing tactical kicker who has the potential to be his side’s first choice kicker in both disciplines in future seasons.

  14. #1634
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    Jaylen Taewa. Jaylen Taewa was named in the second row for the Northern Rivers Titans U16 Andrew Johns Cup side for their Round One match against the Wests Tigers. In a great situation, Jaylen Taewa’s twin brother Jury was the other starting second rower for the Northern Rivers Titans. Jaylen Taewa worked hard in the match, playing significant minutes in the match and worked hard especially in defence against the Wests Tigers giant forward pack.

    Jaylen Taewa also started in the second row, specifically right second row in Round Two against local rivals the North Coast Bulldogs in Nambucca Heads as well as in Round Three against the Greater Northern Tigers.

    The Round Three match was Jaylen Tawea’s best of the season to that point, impressing in both attacking and defence, deservedly scoring in the second half when he charged onto a pass to the left of the ruck to crash over from close range right next to the right upright.

    Jaylen Taewa was on song early in the first half with a twelve metre surge into the heart of the Greater Northern Tigers forward pack.

    Defensively Jaylen Taewa was also very strong in the match including a desperate one armed tackle in the 23rd minute on the Greater Northern Tigers fullback to prevent a line break.

    Jaylen Taewa continued at right second row in Round Four against the Central Coast Roosters, a match that was played as a curtain raiser to the Titans/Warriors NRL trial in Lismore and also started at right second row in Round Five against the Newcastle Knights.

    Jaylen Taewa and produced one of the better tackles that I saw in the competition in the match when with his left shoulder he smashed the Newcastle forward who was bringing the ball back after the Northern Rivers Titans had been forced into a goal line drop out. Not long later Jaylen Taewa followed that up with a strong hit in the Newcastle No. 15 front on.

    2021 also saw Jaylen Tawea play for PBC in the Walters Cup competition, including starting the Grand Final against Keebra Park SHS at left second row in PBC’s 30 – 12 victory.

    Jaylen Tawea was easily the best and most dominant and best player on the field in the Grand Final scoring a try and kicking three conversions and a penalty goal in the 39th minute.

    Jaylen Tawea scored in the 42nd minute of the match in the left corner from close range down a short left blindside after receiving a great off-load from his inside by front rower Reshawn Anderson. Jaylen Tawea then stepped up to convert his own try from right on the left touch line.

    Jaylen Tawea could not have had a better start to the Grand Final, making the opening tackle of the match from the kick-off in conjunction with Will Saunders and then also in Keebra Park’s opening set of six, Jaylen Tawea hit the Keebra Park SHS five eight with a great driving left shoulder tackle.

    The first of multiple strong runs from Jaylen Tawea came in the 13th minute when he burst onto the ball down the left channel, making eighteen metres into Keebra Park territory.

    Jaylen Tawea made another strong run in the 35th minute when he made a fifteen metre charge to get the ball within ten metres of the try line with Jaylen Tawea being awarded a subsequent penalty for a ten metre infringement. Then in the 38th minute Jaylen Tawea got inside the Keebra Park SHS ten metre area once again after another fifteen metre charge.

    Post the Walters Cup Grand Final, Jaylen Tawea was named in the second row in the Courier Mail Tema of the Grand Finals.

    It was not just in the Walters Cup that Jaylen Tawea had a strong match, he also played well after also starting at left second row in Round Three against Coombabah State High School.

    In early October 2020 the young second rower was part of the Titans Group 18 U14/15 side that played a trial match against a Titans Gold Coast U14 squad with the match being played at Cbus Stadium, giving the young players a great experience with an added bonus that the players wore Titans jerseys.

    In the 2020 Group 18 U15 competition Jaylen Taewa played for the Bilambil Jets including starting in the Jets 14 – 6 Grand Final victory over Byron Bay/Lennox Head and being Player of the Match in the Grand Final.

    In the 2020 Group 18 U15 regular season the Bilambil Jets went through winning all ten of their matches, scoring 242 points and conceding 72 to finish the season with a +242 points differential.

    In 2019 Jaylen Taewa played for the Group 18 U14 representative side at the New South Wales Country Age Championships, playing primarily in the second row.

    Jaylen Taewa is a powerful runner of the ball and once he has generated momentum he is very difficult to stop and regularly has been able to drag defenders with him after initial contact has been made.

    Once he is in space, Jaylen Taewa actually has very good speed, I would consider it above average when analysing his speed from a rugby league forward’s perspective, to add to the difficulties for the defensive line, he runs with a high knee lift and also has a powerful right hand fend.

    Defensively the most impressive aspect of Jaylen Taewa’s play is his ability to make effective tackle after effective tackle. For the Bilambil Jets in 2020 in the Group 18 U16 competition he continually made up to three and four tackles in a row on multiple occasions.

    Whilst his stamina is impressive, so is Jaylen Taewa’s initial contact, he uses his strength and leverage to hit the ball carrier hard forcing momentum changes to the ball carrier.

    Jaylen Taewa is also adept at wrapping up the ball and preventing offloads as he uses his functional strength to engage ball carriers. Defensively in a covering role he is also very effective as even though he is a big strong forward Jaylen Taewa has very good catch up speed and a solid low tackling technique from a side aspect.

    Jaylen Taewa will play the 2022 season with the Bilambil Jets in the NRRRL U18 competition and is also U18 eligible in 2023. Jaylen Taewa is also a member of the 2022 Northern Rivers Titans U18 Laurie Daley Cup Squad.

    With his size, speed and strength combination, Jaylen Taewa is the ideal modern day rugby league second rower.

    A near perfect NRL player comparison for Jaylen Taewa is boom New Zealand Warriors rookie second rower Eliesa Katoa. Both Jaylen Taewa and Katoa are big strong and powerful and can break tackles seemingly at will. Similiarly both are hard hitters defensively but also have a solid tackling technique including placing their head appropriately.

  15. #1635
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    Cameron Brown. (Revised) He is a talented young local half back who was heavily involved late in the 2018 season with the Burleigh Bears Colts side and played just as well in the 2019 Colts competition for Burleigh this season and was set to play his third season with the Burleigh Colts side in 2020.

    Cameron Brown made his first 2021 appearance when he started at halfback for the Burleigh Hastings Deering’s Colts side in their trial against the Easts Tigers that ended in a twenty all draw with Cameron Brown scoring a 90 metres intercept try in the second half as well as being heavily involved in multiple other positive plays for the Bears.

    Cameron Brown also produced some smart pieces of play in the match, including in the 24th minute when he smartly blacked an attacking grubber kick with his left foot, picking the ball up and making a couple of additional metres to ease the pressure on his team.

    Cameron Brown was at it again in the 33rd minute of the first half when he tracked back to retrieve an Easts chip kick, after retrieving the ball Cameron Brown burst through the fractured Easts defensive line running sixty metres before looking to offload to his left to his fullback, but unfortunately the ball went to ground.

    In the early minutes of the second half, Cameron Brown who operated on the left side of the field in the match showed that he is not adverse to taking the line on, when he dummied to his left then stepping off his right foot to beat one defender before being collared, Cameron Brown however was able to get his arms free to offload to keep the play going.

    The following week in the Burleigh Hastings Deering’s Colts trial against the Tweed Heads Seagulls, Cameron Brown was once again in the starting side at halfback. Cameron Brown showcased his elite kicking skills in just the 2nd minute of the match when he put a right footed stab kick into the Tweed Heads in-goal forcing a line drop out.

    Cameron Brown added a try assist to his impressive performance in the 45th minute when a long cut out pass to his right put Kalani Skipps into space down the left touchline and from there the winger was able to dive over in the corner.

    Cameron Brown just could not be kept out of the match and that continued in the 54th minute when he intercepted an errant pass four metres out from his own line, racing sixty seven metres down the left touchline before being dragged into touch.

    Cameron Brown added a second try assist in the match when in the 57th minute, Cameron Brown chipped over the Tweed Heads defensive line forty metres out, regathering the ball and sending a pass to his left to trailing second rower Sam McIntyre who ran twenty metres to dive over untouched.

    Round One of the 2021 Hastings Deering’s Colts competition saw Cameron Brown start at halfback and captain for the Burleigh Bears when they took on the Easts Tigers with Cameron Brown scoring the Bears opening round victory. When you add in his five conversions, Cameron Brown finished the match with a fourteen point individual haul and that does not include his try assists.

    Cameron Brown’s 67th minute try was certainly one for the ages and is an early contender for try of the year. After retrieving a lost Tigers ball Jayden Sharp offloaded to Cameron Brown forty metres out from the line. When he received the ball Cameron Brown darted to his left beating one defender before producing a right arm flick pass to Lofi Khan-Pereira.

    After Lofi Khan-Pereira broke one tackle he passed the ball back to Cameron Brown who was still ten metres away from the line. Cameron Brown stepped off his left to allow two cover defenders to flew past him before putting his head down and going flat out towards the line and diving over seven metres in from the left corner.

    Cameron Brown recorded a try assist in just the 6th minute of the match. Operating on the left, Cameron Brown took the ball to the line on the 5th tackle, getting to ten metres out before putting in a right foot stab kick to his left. The kick was ideally weighted, pulling up perfectly in the in-goal for left second rower Sam McIntyre to dive on the ball to score Burleigh’s first try of the 2021 Colts season.

    Cameron Brown added another try assist in the 14th minute he threw a cut out pass to his left ten metres from the try line, putting the ball onto the chest of Lofi Khan-Pereira’ who then flew down the left wing to dive over in the left corner.

    Cameron Brown added a line break assist in the 44th minute when he took the ball to the line and threw a fifteen metre cut-out pass to his left to hit Lofi Khan-Pereira away down the left touchline.

    A further line break assist came in the 56th minute when once again Cameron Brown took the ball right to the line before firing a hard flat cut-out pass to Lofi Khan-Pereira who after running forty metres down the left touchline passed to Zane Prophert who scored in the left corner. Cameron Brown then converted the try from the left touchline.

    Cameron Brown was also involved in Will Evans 50th minute try. Cameron Brown had the ball midfield ten metres out and in front of the posts. After he stopped room on the right Cameron Brown threw a long cut-out pass in that direction, but the pass fell short with Tony Francis knocking the ball with his foot into the path of Will Evans who picked the ball up and ran ten metres to score near the right corner.

    In addition to his great kick for Sam McIntyre’s 6th minute try, Cameron Brown produced another good kick in the 14th minute, this time a spiralling mid-field bomb that could not be handled by the Easts fullback. Cameron Brown had chased his own kick, to retrieve the ball after Easts had dropped it and beat two defenders to get to twenty metres out from the try line.

    Cameron Brown produced a heads up play to take all of the pressure of the Burleigh line in the 66th minute when he darted through to dive on a loose Tigers pass just out from his own line just after Easts had received a six again call.

    Cameron Brown also started at halfback and captain in the Round Two local derby against the Tweed Heads Seagulls with Cameron Brown kicking four conversions from as many attempts as well as a try assist in the Bears 32 – 24 loss.

    Cameron Brown’s try assist came on the last play of the match when he ran to his right and put his five eight into a gaping hole fifteen metres out with the try coming next to the right upright.

    Cameron Brown also recorded a line break assist, when in the 30th minute a catch and pass under pressure to his right saw the Burleigh burst through a gaping hole in the Seagulls defensive line.

    Cameron Brown also saved a try when late in the first half he along with Isaac Matalavea-Booth held Seagulls replacement hooker Jed Edwards up over the line after he had run from dummy half from ten metres out looking to score under the posts.

    Cameron Brown also started at halfback in Round Three against the Western Mustangs, finishing the match with an individual points haul of twenty two from two tries and seven conversions from ten attempts.

    Cameron Brown’s opening try came in the 7th minute, when he backed up a Lofi Khan-Pereira break of thirty metres down the left touchline and drew the Western Mustangs fullback and passed inside to his right to Cameron Brown who scored ten metres in from the left corner post, stumbling most of the way. It as in fact Cameron Brown that threw the cut-out pass that put Lofi Khan-Pereira away down the left touchline line to get the try scoring move under way.

    Cameron Brown completed his double in the 27th minute when he backed up through the centre of the ruck and was on hand to retrieve a Will Evans inside kick on the bounce to run twenty metres untouched to score.

    In addition to his two tries, Cameron Brown also recorded multiple try assists with the first coming in the 10th minute. Burleigh hooker Cole Geyer broke through the Western Mustangs defensive line near the halfway mark before offloading to his left to Cameron Brown who then offloaded also to his left to Same McIntyre who cut off his left foot immediately upon receipt of the ball to run over the Mustangs fullback to score.

    Cameron Brown recorded a further try assist in the 13th minute when he put up a right foot bomb that came down five metres out and the same distance from the right goal post. The bomb was dropped by the Mustangs fullback with Blake Campbell on hand to collect the ball and dive over.

    Cameron Brown recorded another try assist in the 19th minute, when he saw the Mustangs fullback was out of position and even though he was just five metres out from his own line, kicked long downfield aiming towards the left wing. After the ball had bounced three times, left winger Lofi khan-Pereira flew through the retrieve the ball at full speed just in front of the Western Mustangs fullback and race away to dive over under the posts.

    Cameron Brown’s fourth and final try assist of the match came in the 60th minute when after receiving the ball three passes off the play the ball, Cameron Brown put in a right foot stab kick to the left corner and even though it took a wicked high bounce, Lofi Khan-Pereira was able to take the ball above his head and get it down in the left corner.

    Cameron Brown continued at halfback in Round Four against the Norths Devils, kicking three conversions from four attempts as the Bears succumbed to the Devils 34 - 22.

    Cameron Brown also started at halfback in Round Five against the Ipswich Jets finishing the match with an individual points haul of twenty two points from two tries and seven conversions from ten attempts.

    Cameron Brown also started at halfback in Round Six against the Townsville Blackhawks, once again being one of the Bears best and contributing two tries and two conversions to Burleigh’s victory.

    Both of Cameron Brown’s tries were long range intercept efforts, the first of which came in the 28th minute, with Cameron Brown taking the intercept when defending on the left and running ninety metres to score. Cameron Brown’s second intercept try of the match was a seventy metre effort in the 71st minute which gave Burleigh back the lead after Townsville had hit the front just minutes earlier.

    Cameron Brown’s kicking game was on song in the match with the first of a number of good kicks coming in the 16th minute when from dummy half Cameron Brown grubber kicked towards the posts from the left side of the field with Townsville forced to take the ball dead in-goal.

    The Blackhawks had to take another Cameron Brown kick dead in-goal in the 26th minute after he had grubber kicked into the in-goal once again.

    Cameron Brown continued at halfback and captain in Round Seven against the Central Queensland Capra’s, kicking six conversions from eight attempts in Burleigh’s big victory.

    Cameron Brown also recorded a 76th minute try assist when he chased through a Tyler Mahon midfield bomb, getting a great bounce when it bounced back to him. Cameron Brown immediately, from thirty five metres out, kicked towards the right corner with the kick perfectly weighted for Kalani Skipps to score in the right corner.

    Cameron Brown was also involved in Burleigh’s 53rd minute try when he chipped to the left wing for Lofi Khan-Pereira who took possession and off-loading inside with Jakob Hall scoring under the posts later in the movement.

    Cameron Brown continued at halfback in Round Eight against the Redcliffe Dolphins, kicking three conversions from four attempts in the Bears tough two point last minute loss.

    Cameron Brown also started at halfback in Round Nine against the Mackay Cutters kicking a conversion in Burleigh’s loss and in Round Eleven against the Tweed Heads Seagulls, Cameron Brown also started at halfback and kicked three goals from four attempts in Burleigh’s 38 – 22 loss.

    Cameron Brown also started at halfback in the previously postponed Round Ten match against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls kicking one conversion from one attempt when he converted TJ Devery’s 33rd minute try from directly in front.

    Cameron Brown also started at halfback and captain in Round Twelve against the Souths Logan Magpies.

    At the time of the enforced Covid 19 lockdown Cameron Brown was sitting third on the 2021 Hastings Deering’s Colts points scoring list with 112 points from seven tries and forty two goals.

    When the 2021 Hastings Deering’s Colts competition restarted, Cameron Brown started at halfback in Round Seventeen against the Ipswich Jets with Cameron Brown scoring twenry points in the Bears huge victory from a try and eight goals.

    Cameron Brown scored in the 23rd minute and in fact he started the movement that led to his try from just inside his own territory when he threw a cut-out pass to his right to put Tuvalli Khan-Pereira into a gap. Tuvalli Khan-Pereira subsequently got the ball away to Damon Somerville who then passed inside to Cameron Brown who raced away to score under the posts.

    Cameron Brown was also named to start at halfback in the rescheduled Round Thirteen match against the Sunshine Coast Falcons as well as in Round Fourteen against the Northern Pride.

    The Round Fourteen match against the Northern Pride saw Cameron Brown record three try assists, all from kicks, the first of which came in just the 3rd minute when he put in a short grubber which front rower Iszac Fa’asuamaieaui dived in to score just before the ball went dead in goal.

    Cameron Brown’s second try assist came in the 60th minute when he put in a chip kick to the right wing which Brent Barnes took on the full with the winger then diving over to score in the right corner.

    In the 35th minute when from the right side of the field twenty five metres out, Cameron Brown kicked back towards the posts. Samuel Shannon chased the ball through taking the ball on the full three metres and crashed over.

    Cameron Brown also threw the last pass for Tristian Powell’s 78th minute try.

    At the 2021 Queensland Rugby League Awards Night Cameron Brown came 4th in the voting for the Hastings Deering’s Colts Player of the Season after finishing with twelve votes.

    After Burleigh were eliminated from the 2021 Hastings Deering’s Colts competition, Cameron Brown played for Helensvale in Round Fourteen of the GCRL First Grade competition against the Southport Tigers.

    Cameron Brown started Round One of the 2020 Hastings Deering’s Colts competition for the Burleigh Bears at half against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls scoring ing as Burleigh started their 2021 campaign with a first up victory.

    Cameron Brown made his Gold Coast Rugby League First Grade debut in Round Three of the 2020 season against the Ormeau Shearers originally named to start off the bench and scoring in Burleigh’s 48 – 26 victory but Cameron Brown in fact started the match at half back and scored when a stab kick he put through rebounded off the left upright for him to collect and dive over.

    Cameron Brown maintained his spot as Burleigh’s starting half back in their Round Four match against the Tugun Seahawks.

    Cameron Brown played the majority of the Gold Coast Rugby League season in the U20 competition with Helensvale including starting at half back and captaining the Hornets side in the 2020 GCRL U20 Grand Final against the Currumbin Eagles. Cameron Brown kicked two conversions in the Grand Final but it was not enough as Helensvale went down 22 – 20.

    Cameron Brown also scored in the Grand Final when he ran out of dummy half, darting down a short right blind side acrobatically diving full length with the ball in his right hand to get the ball down just inside the right corner post.

    Cameron Brown was also heavily involved in another of Helensvale’s Grand Final tries. Cameron Brown received the ball operating on the right and was immediately under pressure, stepping off his right foot to beat the initial defender. Once he had gained space to operate, Cameron Brown darted back to his right, putting in a right foot chip kick which was coming down ten metres out and ten metres in from touch. Helensvale right centre Brent Barnes was able to take the ball on the full and offload to Harrison Trathen to score in the right corner.

    Cameron Brown also produced an outstanding play in the Grand Final when one of his kick off’s hit the cross bar on the first bounce, ultimately going dead to force Currumbin to drop out from their own goal line for Helensvale to get the ball back.

    Cameron Brown was one of the key reasons that Helensvale got to the Grand Final, starring in the Hornets last minute Preliminary Final victory against Burleigh contributing three conversions and a try assist to the 26 – 24 nail biting victory. Cameron Brown’s try assist came when he put in a well weighted right foot stab kick for his left winger to cross wide out.

    Cameron Brown also produced a key play in the dying minutes. After Burleigh scored with less than three minutes to go to lead 24 – 22, Cameron Brown’s short high kick off to the left was not handled by Burleigh and was retrieved by Helensvale just beyond the ten metre line. Helensvale’s game winning try in the left corner came in the set of six following the Hornets getting the kick off back.

    Over the course of the 2020 GCRL U20 regular season, Cameron Brown was as good as any player in the competition, including an outstanding display in Round Eight against the Mudgeeraba Redbacks which saw him score one try and provide try assists for two others.

    Cameron Brown’s first try assist came when he put in a right foot stab kick into the left corner for his winger to score. The key to the try was that Cameron Brown took the ball right to the line before kicking and thus not telegraphing the kick.

    Cameron Brown’s second try assist also came from a kick, but in totally different circumstances to the first. Cameron Brown backed up a long break through the centre of the ruck, getting a late offload from his front rower. Cameron Brown stopped on the spot as he was being surrounded by defenders and actually backtracked to his right to regain separation. After assessing his options, it appeared that Cameron Brown would look to break through three defenders, but instead from forty metres out put in an outstanding right foot chip kick to his left winger to score.

    Cameron Brown’s Round Eight try was no less impressive than his second try assist. From twenty metres out from his own line, Cameron Brown put in a supurb chip kick that hit his left winger on the chest. Instead of sitting back and admiring his work, Cameron Brown backed up on the inside and received a pass from his left winger, veering around one defender to then outpace the cover defence to score an outstanding try.

    Cameron Brown also scored an impressive try in Round Six against the Burleigh Bears when he chased through a grubber kick and even though it appeared that the Burleigh fullback had the ball covered, Cameron Brown did not give up on the play, diving full length to beat the fullback to the ball, getting downward pressure on the ball under the posts.

    Cameron Brown played in all twenty two of Burleigh’s 2019 Hastings Deering’s Colts matches including their three finals in2019 scoring twelve tries for a 54.45% strike rate. Prior to Round Ten (tries post that noted below) Cameron Brown scored in Round One against Norths, Round Eight against the Western Mustangs and Round Nine against Redcliffe.

    One of Cameron Brown’s tries came in Round Ten against the Northern Pride. Cameron Brown had come off the bench to play the dummy half role and was able to dive over from close range to his right in the second half to score.

    Cameron Brown also scored in Round Eleven against the Central Capra’s when he followed through his own bomb and retrieved the ball after it was mishandled to score under the posts for Burleigh’s first try.

    Cameron Brown had an outstanding match in Round Fifteen against Ipswich constantly sniping at the Jets defensive line and scored a try of his own when he intercepted a pass to run ninety metres to score, with no defender able to keep up with him over the journey.

    Cameron Brown also recorded another try assist when he grubbered for Reece Tapine to score and was also heavily involved in tries for Lofi Khan-Periera and Will Evans.

    Cameron Brown also scored in Round Seventeen against Tweed Heads as a result of a good individual effort. He received the ball to the right of the play the ball around fourteen metres out from the line and after shaping to pass to his backline to his right, stepped off his right foot to get through the initial defensive line and then used another right foot step to round the fullback to score under the posts.

    Cameron Brown added a further try in Round Nineteen against Redcliffe when after sending a great ball to his left to allow Will Evans to get outside his man, he backed up on the inside to get the pass back from Will Evans to score untouched.

    Cameron Brown maintained his try scoring pace in Round Twenty against the Wester Mustangs when he backed up a break by fullback Jayden Campbell to score a long range try.

    Cameron Brown also had a try assist in the match when he grubbered into the in goal for the Burleigh left winger to dive on the ball. The kick was a lot harder than it looked as when he kicked it with the outside of his right foot Cameron Brown was running directly towards the left touch line.

    Cameron Brown scored for the third match in a row when he scored in Round Twenty One against the Northern Pride when he was on hand to dive on a Zac McCormack kick. Zac McCormack took a couple of steps to his left out of dummy half close to the line and put in a deft left foot kick into the in goal for Cameron Brown to dive on it after it bounced off the legs of a few Northern Pride defenders.

    Cameron Brown added a double in Round Twenty Three against the Central Queensland Capra’s. Cameron Brown’s first try (and the first of the match) resulted from him following through a short attacking kick from Shallin Fuller to get to the ball first about a metre from the dead goal line.

    Cameron Brown’s second try (and last of the match)was an opportunist one, Central Queensland were throwing the ball around with less than a minute to go and as they threw it out to their left, Cameron Brown was on hand to take the intercept and run twenty metres to score.

    Cameron Brown also had a try assist in the match and a spectacular one at that. Central Queensland were on the attack and put through a short grubber kick about twenty metres out, Cameron Brown trapped the ball with his left foot, picking it up and running seventy metres before the defence converged, Cameron Brown evaded the defence long enough for Will Evans to loop around behind him and score in the left corner.

    In Week Two of the 2019 Hatings Deering’s Colts Finals Cameron Brown started at half in Burleigh’s 42 – 12 win against Norths.

    Cameron Brown’s 2019 Hastings Deering’s Colts season came to an end when he started at half for Burleigh as they went down 23 – 16 to Sunshine Coast in the Preliminary Final.

    Cameron Brown played a number of positions for Burleigh in the 2019 Hastings Deering’s Colts competition starting eighteen at half, two at hooker, being Rounds Two and Three against Ipswich and Tweed Heads, one at five eight being Round Five against Souths Logan and Round Ten against the Northern Pride from the bench.

    In addition to the tries noted above Cameron Brown has also scored against Norths in Round One, the Western Mustangs in Round Eight and Redcliffe in Round Nine.

    From a position perspective so far this season, Cameron Brown has played half, five eight (one match being Round Five against Souths Logan), hooker and came off the bench in one match being Round Ten against the Northern Pride.

    Cameron Brown started at half in Round One against Norths, before moving to hooker for Rounds Two and Three against Ipswich and Tweed Heads respectively.

    In total Cameron Brown has started eleven matches at half, one at five eight, one from the bench and the other two matches at hooker.

    In an early season Hastings Deering’s Colts competition bye week, Cameron Brown, instead of having the weekend off started at five eight for Helensvale in their GCRL Round Seven U20 match against Mudgeeraba and scored in the Hornets 38 – 32 victory.

    Cameron Brown also started at five eight in Round 12 of the GCRL U20 competition, scoring a double against Currumbin. Both tries highlighted Cameron Brown’s ability to run the ball and he also had a try assist when he put Brent Barnes through a gap on the right side of the field.

    During the Hasting Deering’s Colts Round Eighteen bye week, Cameron Brown was back in the Helensvale U20 side at half and added to his try scoring tally with another try as the Hornets defeated Runaway Bay 32 - 26.

    The try was a long range intercept. Cameron Brown flew out of the line as Runaway Bay were throwing the ball around taking the intercept and running ninety metres to score under the posts. As soon as he took the intercept it was shut the gate, no one was going to catch him.

    Cameron Brown came into the Burleigh Colts side in Round Eleven of 2018 against Easts starting from the interchange bench and went on to play an additional nine Colts matches, splitting time between starting in the halves and from the interchange bench. Cameron Brown started five matches, the first being in Round Twelve against the Mackay Cutters.

    Cameron Brown scored four Colts tries in 2018, including a Round Twenty Four double against Easts and tries in Round Twenty and Eighteen against Victoria and Redcliffe respectively. Whether or not it really means anything, all of Cameron Brown’s tries came in matches where he started.

    Cameron Brown has played for Helensvale for a number of seasons and this year was no different lining up for the Hornets in the GCRL U19 competition. In the U19 competition, Cameron Brown played in nine matches, scoring seven tries.

    Cameron Brown had an outstanding start to the U19 competition in 2018, scoring in his first five matches including a double against Southport and tries against Beaudesert, Currumbin and Ormeau in two separate matches. Cameron Brown also scored a late season try against Bilambil.

    Late in 2017 Cameron Brown was named in the Burleigh 2018 MM Cup squad but he did not play in any MM Cup matches this season.

    For Helensvale in the 2017 GCRL U17 Division One competition Cameron Brown played in thirteen matches in total including starting at half back in the Hornets 34 – 20 Grand Final win over Ormeau scoring to cap off a great match. In addition to his try in the Grand Final Cameron Brown scored another ten tries to finish third on the try scoring ladder for the U17 Division One competition including scoring a hat trick against Mudgeeraba in May and a double in June against Grand Final opponents Ormeau. Cameron Brown also scored in Helensvale’s other finals match which was against Bilambil.

    Cameron Brown is only slight of build 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. Cameron Brown 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 Cameron Brown’s speed would be that he is quick off the mark but does not have an extra gear when he breaks into open space.

    Cameron Brown will back his judgement and take the game on especially when the game is on the line. Assisting his play is the fact that Cameron Brown makes the decision what to do with the ball quickly thus enabling the ball to get out wide quickly.

    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 this season Cameron Brown has become more selective about when to pass and when to run. His passing game is solid but seems to be slightly better when he is passing to the right side of the field.

    Cameron Brown has a good short kicking game but he does not have the strongest leg in terms of kicking deep but is accurate and regularly finds the ground to enable the chasers to get down field to enhance his team’s field position.

    Defensively I like the way that he takes the line on, Cameron Brown is aggressive and attacks the ball carrier rather than waiting for the attackers to come to him. He clearly looks to limit the time opposition players have to generate momentum before they get to him.

    Against players similar in size or reasonably close to it, Cameron Brown is very aggressive and makes sure that he finishes off every tackle in an effort to win every one on one individual battle against his opponent.

    Cameron Brown should progress to the Burleigh Bears Queensland Cup squad in 2022 and whilst he may have to bide his time to make his Queensland Cup debut, there is no doubt in my mind that that debut will come some time in 2022.

    Whilst he is waiting for his Queensland Cup debut, Cameron Brown should be a stand out in the 2022 Gold Coast Rugby League for the Helensvale Hornets in their second season in the Gold Coast Rugby League First Grade competition.

    I would think that regardless of what level of competition rugby league takes Cameron Brown that he will be in a No. 7 jersey as a tough feisty half back. Gaining experience at hooker however can only be a positive for Cameron Brown as he would a coach’s dream in terms of being able to cover multiple positions effectively. At 175cm and 75kg Cameron Brown is more than capable of handling himself in either role or potentially even at fullback should the need for him to play there arise.

    For me a current NRL player with a similar playing style to that in Cameron Brown is Sydney Roosters and New South Wales State of Origin five eight Luke Keary being that of a solid talented all round half who will surprise a defensive line with some very good short balls when it looks for all money like he is going to run himself.

    Also like Keary, Cameron Brown has more speed that defensive lines give him credit for and that is a recipe for disaster for them.


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