My take on our top juniors

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Dylan Butcher. In early December 2021 Dylan Butcher played in a Titans U14 Development Squad Trial where two Titans U14 Development Squads played against each other with both wearing different coloured Titans jerseys to give the young men a feeling of achievement by wearing an NRL type of jersey.

In 2021 Dylan Butcher played for the Mullumbimby Giants in the Group 18 U14 competition, being named the 2021 Murwillumbah Colts Group 18 U14 Best Forward.

In the 2021 Group 18 U14 competition the Mullumbimby Giants won two of their nine matches, scoring 156 points and conceding 276 to finish with a points deferential of -120.

Dylan Butcher also played for the Mullumbimby Giants in the Group 18 U13 competition being named the 2020 Murwillumbah Colts Group 18 U13 Best and Fairest and Best Forward.

Running with the ball, Dylan Butcher 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.

Dylan Butcher 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. Dylan Butcher 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 Dylan Butcher is also showcasing his ability to offload prior to the defensive line, a skill that he has developed and incorporated is recent seasons.

Defensively Dylan Butcher can certainly hit very hard, usually aiming for just under the ribs and first intention is to lock up the ball to prevent offloads.

Dylan Butcher has more than reasonable lateral mobility for a 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. Dylan Butcher can however get fired up and really cause havoc defensively.

Dylan Butcher will play the 2022 season with the Mullumbimby Giants in the Group 18 U15 competition.

With his hard working mentality and hard running and tough tackling attributes Dylan Butcher seems destined to stay in the second row long term.

Dylan Butcher has a similar playing style to that of Titans second rower and New Zealand International Kevin Proctor as a second rower who can defend either in the centre of the ruck or a little wider out as a foil for his half or five eight, a defensive minder if you will.

Also like a young Kevin Proctor Dylan Butcher is also a strong ball runner who can regularly break tackles and has more than decent speed (a young Kevin Proctor I am referring to of course) once he is through the line.

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Cohen Bateman. Kyogle Turkeys halfback Cohen Bateman played the 2021 season with the Kyogle Turkeys in the Group One U14 competition, playing in ten matches, starting all at halfback.

In his ten matches Cohan Bateman scored thirty eight points from eight tries (80% strike rate) and three conversions.

Cohen Bateman had an outstanding start to the 2021 Group One U14 season scoring four tries in the opening three rounds, with a Round One double against the South Grafton Rebels and tries in Rounds Two and Three against Casino RSM and the Ballina Seagulls respectively.

Cohan Bateman also scored a double in Round Ten against the Ballina Seagulls and tries in Round Nine against Casino RSM and Round Twelve against the Lismore Marist Brothers Rams.

With the boot Cohan Bateman kicked two conversions in Round Nine against Casino RSM, including converting his own try and also kicked a Round Six conversion against the South Grafton Rebels.

Cohan Bateman also played for the Kyogle Turkeys in 2020 in the Group One U13 competition. In the 2020 season Cohan Bateman played on eight matches, starting one in the centres being Round Two against Casino RSM, one off the bench in Round Nine against the Clarence Coast Magpies and his remaining six matches at fullback.

With the ball Cohan Bateman is a very good distributor and will take the ball to the line in an effort to set up his supports. Cohan Bateman is particularly adept at using the short or blind side when he sees an opportunity to exploit an overlap or a tired forward resting there.

Cohan Bateman will back his judgement and take the game on, assisting his play is the fact that he makes the decision what to do with the ball quickly thus enabling the ball to get out wide quickly. Cohan Bateman has decent speed off the mark and quite a good step off both feet as well as a good swerve.

Cohan Bateman reads the play well from a defensive perspective and can hold his own when defending much bigger players. When confronted with forwards running directly at him on the edge of the ruck, Cohan Bateman will get in front of them and use his shoulder in an effort to contain them until defensive help arrives.

Aiding this is the fact that Cohan Bateman has a decent, simple and repeatable low tackling technique which enables him to bring down opposing forwards quite quickly thus negating the time they have to off load the ball.

2022 will see Cohan Bateman line-up once again for the Kyogle Turkeys in the Group One U15 competition with representative honours definitely not out of the question for Cohan Bateman over the course of the 2022 season.

Cohan Bateman has played the majority of his junior rugby league career to date in the halves although in 2020 Cohan Bateman played the majority of the season at fullback, and with his speed off the mark and developing game management and ball playing skills it seems a likely scenario that Cohen Bateman will continue in the halves for the foreseeable future.

With his ability to size up a situation and make a quick decision whether to run or pass, Cohan Bateman reminds me of former Titans halfback and new Canberra Raider Jamal Fogerty. Like Fogerty, Cohan Bateman is a solid all round player who makes good things happen for his team when he is around the ball.

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Riley Prendergast. The talented Coomera Cutters Gold Coast Rugby League left second rower had an outstanding season in the U12 Gold Coast Rugby League Division One competition and shapes as one the players to keep an eye on in coming seasons.

Riley Prendergast had some very impressive games in 2021 and I have attempted to capture as best I can some of his many impressive try scoring moments for the Cutters.

Against Runaway Bay in late July 2021 Riley Prendergast scored his first try of the match when after he received the ball thirty five metres out and to the left of the play the ball Riley Prendergast ran to his left, slicing between two Seagulls defenders with Riley Prendergast then straightening up to freeze the fullback. Riley Prendergast then utilised a right foot step to beat the fullback and then Riley Prendergast kept running to his left and put the ball down in his right hand eight metres in from the left corner post.

Riley Prendergast scored his second try of the match early in the second half. After receiving the ball two passes to the left of the play the ball, Riley Prendergast cut back towards the left touchline down a left blindside from twenty five metres out, breaking three tackles before engaging the Runaway Bay fullback. Riley Prendergast muscled his way past the fullback and reached out with the ball in his left arm, slamming the ball down five metres in form the left corner post.

Riley Prendergast completed his hat trick mid-way through the second row with a great solo effort. Riley Prendergast received the ball to the left of the field from a penalty tap restart and ran towards the left touchline around thirty metres from the line. After getting on the outside of the Runaway Bay defence Riley Prendergast outpaced three Runaway Bay cover defenders down the left touchline before taking on the Seagulls fullback. Riley Prendergast tried to beat the fullback on the outside but the fullback grabbed hold of Riley Prendergast’s jersey spinning him 360 degrees clockwise but Riley Prendergast was able to maintain his compose and upon completion of the spin get the ball down in the left corner.

Against the Nerang Roosters Riley Prendergast was at his try scoring best in the second half when non the final tackle Riley Prendergast received the ball off the dummy half down a left blindside twelve metres out and after beating his opposite defender on his outside with a strong right arm fend Riley Prendergast dived over to score in the tackle of the Seagulls fullback in the left corner.

Riley Prendergast continued his try scoring exploits against the Mudgeeraba Redbacks when after receiving the ball two passes to the left of the play the ball and five metres from the line, Riley Prendergast just rumbled his way forward and with four defenders trying to stop him Riley Prendergast reached out to get the ball down with an extended left arm to score adjacent to the right upright.

Riley Prendergast added a second try in the second half when from thirty five metres out he ran to his left getting rid of two defenders with right arm fends before stepping off his right to get to the outside of another. With only one defender to beat Riley Prendergast chose to go the shortest route, running straight over the top of the Redbacks right winger to score in the left corner.

Riley Prendergast scored his third try of the match on that occasion running to his right and breaking four tackles in a thirty run to the line with Riley Prendergast putting the ball down mid-way between the goal posts and corner post on the right side of the field.

Riley Prendergast made in four tries in the match when after receiving the ball twenty five metres out and on the left side of the field Riley Prendergast initially charged between two defenders before cutting back to his right to beat two more. As he closed in on the try line Riley Prendergast veered back to his left to score seven metres in from the left corner post.

Riley Prendergast continued his strong 2021 campaign against the Ormeau Shearers with an incredible five try effort, two in the first half and three in the second.

Riley Prendergast’s first try of the match was an outstanding forty metre effort down the left touchline after Riley Prendergast had received the ball three passes to the left of the uprights. As he ran at the defensive line Riley Prendergast dummied on multiple occasions to his left as the Shearers defence kept back peddling but in the end he ran around the Shearers defensive line and then was too fast for the cover defence and after crossing the try line Riley Prendergast was able to take the ball ten metres closer to the goal posts.

Riley Prendergast added a second first half try and in many respects the try was a near carbon copy of his first try. Once again Riley Prendergast received the ball on the left, on this occasion twenty five metres out and from a long cut-out pass from his halfback, but like his opening try Riley Prendergast got on the outside of the Shearers defensive line and scored easily in the left corner.

Riley Prendergast’s first of three second half tries was a long range sixty metre effort. Riley Prendergast charged at the line dummying to his left in a number of occasions before bursting through the defensive line and from there Riley Prendergast was just too fast for the Ormeau cover defence to score comfortably.

Riley Prendergast’s fourth try was another long range effort on this occasion encompassing seventy five metres. After receiving an off-load deep inside his own territory Riley Prendergast raced downfield before cutting off his left foot to beat two desperate cover defenders and raced past the referee who had fallen over his own feet to score five metres to the left of the uprights.

Like his other two second half tries, Riley Prendergast third second half try and fifth overall of the match was yet another long range solo effort. Riley Prendergast initially received the ball to the left of the play the ball but immediately cut back to his right back to get to the other side of the play the ball. As he straightened up his run Riley Prendergast juggled the ball on a number of occasions but ultimately was able to maintain possession and race way to score five metres to the left of the uprights with defenders desperately trying to make up ground to no avail when it was all said and done.

For his age group Riley Prendergast is am outstanding athlete and this can be seen when be he is running with the ball. In his hit ups Riley Prendergast carries the ball with pace and is very good at running on the fringes of the ruck especially on the left side.

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

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

In relation to the defensive aspects of his game Riley Prendergast is an exceptional cover defender. With his above average to plus speed for his position he is able to track the ball across the field and be in a position to make the cover defending tackle if breaks are made. Some of Riley Prendergast’s cover defence, including multiple try saving efforts, in 2021 simply had to be seen to be believed and would make anyone’s highlight reel including NRL players.

From a front on tackling perspective Riley Prendergast has a solid repeatable technique which he can use against attackers of any size. The keys to his technique are his timing and anticipation as well as correct head placement. So many defenders in either rugby or rugby league have no idea about head placement but Riley Prendergast is not one of them and for such a young player already has a very good defensive technique, which is a very encouraging situation.

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

With his size, speed and hard running Riley Prendergast is a more than impressive young rugby league second rower and whilst I ultimately believe that Riley Prendergast will finally settle permanently in the second row it would not surprise me at all if Riley Prendergast spends a fair bit of time in the centres as he progresses through the Junior Rugby League ranks with the Coomera Cutters and also in School Boy Rugby League.

Riley Prendergast will play the 2022 season in the Gold Coast Rugby League U13 Division One competition with the Coomera Cutters and is a young player definitely worth keeping an eye on in the coming years.

Riley Prendergast in many respects has a similar playing to style to Brisbane Bronco’s NRL second rower TC Robati. Like Robati, Riley Prendergast is just a terror on a rugby league field, running the ball and defending with a ferocity and intensity that is almost unrivalled at his age level.

I appreciate that Riley Prendergast is only very young and there is a long way for him to go, but I am impressed with the fact that Riley Prendergast has the rugby league basics bedded down already especially in terms of defensive technique, including correct head placement.

Also the fact that Riley Prendergast is not the biggest player running around means that he is certainly not relying on physical characteristics to dominate matches but on his intelligence and will to win.

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Javon Andrews. In 2021 Javon Andrews attended the Titans partnered Marsden State High School, playing for the school’s Walters Cup School Boy side, operating in the halves in Marsden SHS’s matches.

Early in 2021 Javon Andrews represented Met East in the QSSRL U15 School Boy Championships and post those Championships Javon Andrews was named at five eight in the 2021 QSSRL U15 Merit Team. Playing for Met East Javon Andrews started all of their matches at five eight and primarily operated on the left side of the field.

2021 also saw Javon Andrews play for Logan Brothers in the GBJRL U15 Division One competition but unfortunately Logan Brothers went down in the Grand Final.

In late 2022 Javon Andrews was named in the 2022 Souths Logan Magpies U16 Cyril Connell Cup Squad.

In 2022 Javon Andrews will continue at the Titans Partnered Marsden State High School and will push for playing time in the Langer Cup Open A School Boy side.

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

Javon Andrews also runs with the ball in both hands which is another reason why the defensive line is unable to determine exactly what Javon Andrews is going to do as he keeps multiple options open to utilise when an opportunity presents itself.

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

Javon Andrews also 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 Javon Andrews’s side of the field. In short just like his attacking play Javon Andrews is an outstanding defender.

Javon Andrews will start the 2022 season playing for the Souths Logan Magpies U16 Cyril Connell Cup and post that representative competition Javon Andrews will continue to play for the outstanding Logan Brothers Club in the Greater Brisbane Junior Rugby League U16 Division One competition.

Javon Andrews has played the majority of his junior (and school boy) rugby league in the halves whether that be wearing the No. 6 and No. 7 jersey and with his ability to execute a game plan, direct his side around the field and run the ball himself when an opportunity presents itself, Javon Andrews appears set to stay in the halves for the foreseeable future.

The caveat on that is that Javon Andrews is a bigger halfback/five eight but in saying that with his mobility and ball skills I believe that he can stay in the halves but if not a ball playing lock role such as that played by South Sydney Rabbitohs Cameron Murray is not out of the question. Staying in the halves for a moment, his ball playing and passing skills remind me of New Zealand Warriors and New Zealand International Shaun Johnson.

Javon Andrews does not have the same type of outstanding step as Johnson and can run the ball effectively if the opportunity presents itself and to that extent his body shape and ball running reminds me of a young version of Karmichael Hunt when he has spent some time in the halves for the Brisbane Bronco’s and at inside centre for the Queensland Reds and New South Wales Waratah’s.

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Fatumalosi Nelu. The powerfully built young front rower has joined the outstanding Titans JTS Program after previously being part of the Brisbane Bronco’s Junior Development System for a season or two.

Fatumalosi Nelu currently attends the Titans Partnered Keebra Park State High School as part of their Rugby League Excellence Program, playing for Keebra Park SHS in the 2021 school boy Walters Cup competition.

In late 2021 Fatumalosi Nelu was named in the powerful 2022 Souths Logan Magpies U16 Cyril Connell Cup Squad.

Fatumalosi Nelu is a big powerful young man who whilst using his size to his advantage by running hard and straight, does have quite decent footwork prior to the defensive line, which he uses to cut back behind the play the ball to take advantage of defenders who are slow to get back into the defensive line.

Fatumalosi Nelu continually put his hand up all day to take the ball up and has a very quick play the ball so that his team can maintain momentum. One area that Fatumalosi Nelu seems to have the capacity to develop based on his size, skills and footwork is the ability to off load before the line, an example of what I am meaning is how the Canterbury Bulldogs forward pack used to use those small offloads to each other prior to the defensive line. Fatumalosi Nelu has shown glimpses of having the skills to utilise the same type of skills if the opportunities arise. Fatumalosi Nelu developing this skill with only enhance his effectiveness.

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

Although clearly he is more effective in the centre of the ruck, as most front rowers are, Fatumalosi Nelu’s raw natural functional strength means that he is also dominant when looking to slow the play the ball down by winning the wrestling battle on the ground.

Fatumalosi Nelu will start the 2022 season playing for the Souths Logan Magpies U16 Cyril Connell Cup against Burleigh and the Tweed Heads Seagulls before playing club Rugby League in the U16 Age Group.

Fatumalosi Nelu will also continue to play for the Titans Partnered Keebra Park State High School in 2022 and will push for playing time in the Langer Cup Open A School Boy competition along with multiple fellow Titans forwards such as Seth Nikotemo, Wailer Whaiapu, Arama Hau and Immanuel Kalekale just to name a few.

Fatumalosi Nelu is a strong solidly built young man with a reasonably low centre of gravity but at the same time Fatumalosi Nelu has an abundance of speed, Strength, power and mobility and looks to have the ideal build and skill set to play in the front row at a high level in coming seasons.

New Zealand International James Fisher-Harris of the Penrith Panthers with his power running coupled with his non-stop movement (and motor) when running the ball into the defensive line as well as the intensity and strong initial contact in his defence is an apt NRL player comparison for the exceptionally talented Fatumalosi Nelu.

Like Fisher-Harris, Fatumalosi Nelu can and does play substantial minutes in a match and projects as one of the few NRL level middle third forwards that could play the entire minutes of a match without being substituted with Fatumalosi Nelu being able to play those minutes at an extremely high quality level as well.

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Ryder Nelson. In early December 2021 Ryder Nelson played in Titans U14 Development Squad matches with the two Titans Development Squads playing each other and then in early January 2022 Ryder Nelson attended the Titans U15 Elite Development Camp.

From trivia perspective Ryder Nelson is the young brother of Cooper Nelson who has also been involved in Titans Development Squad matches.

In 2021 Ryder Nelson played for the Mullumbimby Giants in the Group 18 U13 competition, being named the 2021 Murwillumbah Colts Group 18 U13 Best Back.

In the 2021 Group 18 U13 competition the Mullumbimby Giants won six of their nine matches, scoring 194 points and conceding 104 to finish with a points deferential of +90.

Ryder Nelson also played for the Mullumbimby Giants in the Group 18 U12 competition being named the 2020 Murwillumbah Colts Group 18 U12 Best and Fairest and Players Player.

Ryder Nelson’s style of play is that of a wide running centre or fullback with above average to plus speed for the position. Ryder Nelson is exceptionally quick off the mark, but what makes him even more impressive from a speed perspective is that when he gets into space, he has an extra gear again, making it almost impossible for the cover defence to catch him once he is open space.

Defences had all sorts of trouble trying to contain him in the Group 18 U13 competition in 2021, both in terms of him taking the ball up into the centre of the ruck, but he was almost untouchable when he ran on the fringes of the ruck and Ryder Nelson used his foot work to beat defenders with a variety of moves, including a step off both feet and a very good in and away as well as simply running over people. Couple those two aspects with a very good fend and you have a young player who causes nightmares for a defensive line.

For a player of his size, Ryder Nelson runs with pace, strength and power every time he touches the ball during a game. For a young player, he seems to have a good understanding of when to off load the ball, currently most of his off loads occur when he is part way through the defensive line and can get his right arm free to pass to his outside support runners.

When you see Ryder Nelson play, the first thing that you will notice is his speed which is in the plus plus category and plays that way on a rugby league field. His speed is one of, but certainly not the only reason for Ryder Nelson’s success. When you add in his elusiveness, Ryder Nelson is a nightmare for opposing defences.

In relation to his elusiveness the thing that makes it play even better is Ryder Nelson’s ability to change direction with no loss of speed, this enables him to use the sideline exceptionally well with an in and away. When the opposing defender’s momentum slows just for a split second, Ryder Nelson is away down the sideline and will not get caught and also regularly also beats the fullback who no matter how fast they are cannot recover the ground.

Ryder Nelson is aggressive in defence and due to his natural strength is more than capable of defending one on one and can and will stop even the biggest opposing players in their tracks. His speed and lateral movement means that he will not be beaten by light stepping halves trying to take advantage of tiring back line players, Ryder Nelson also does a very good job of keeping his hands down in situations where he is tracking smaller, quicker players. Ryder Nelson also has a quite a good defensive technique and thus does not use purely brute strength but timing and technique as well to be effective in defence.

Ryder Nelson will play the 2022 season with the Mullumbimby Giants in the Group 18 U14 competition.

Ryder Nelson has absolutely blazing speed but he is definitely more than just a young man with exceptional straight line speed. Ryder Nelson just has the innate ability to beat a player one on one whether that be by way of an in and away, an exceptional step of either foot or a strong fend. With his speed and elusiveness Ryder Nelson shapes as having the potential to be either an exciting rugby league player playing either in the centres or at fullback.

Forcing myself to make a judgement, I think that with his ability to artfully step his y through the centre of the ruck and his explosive speed off the mark, Ryder Nelson is likely to finally settle at fullback.

For me with his express pace and ability to almost always beat the first defender, Ryder Nelson reminds me a bit of Titans and Queensland State of Origin star AJ Brimson. Both Brimson and Ryder Nelson are exceptionally quick and explosiveness off the mark and also are incredibly difficult to tackle whether they are running through the centre of the ruck, returning kicks or with room to move wider out in the backline.

Both also are underrated defensively and similarly both are courageous under the high ball.

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Peter Patuua. The New Zealand born front rower is on his way over to Australia for 2022 to be part of the Titans linked Coombabah State High School Rugby League Excellence Program and be part of their Open A School Boy Langer Cup side.

The De La Salle College Auckland student arrives in Australia with significant junior rugby league experience under his belt already including in 2020 representing the U15 Tamaki Makarau Representative Side and the Manerewa Marlins.

2019 saw Peter Patuua become a Niue Pacific Cup U14 representative and in 2019 Peter Patuua represented the Niue Pacific Cup U13 side. Also in 2019 Peter Patuua was part of the Auckland South U13 Representative Side that played an Auckland North U13 side in a Region of Origin style format.

Peter Patuua is a big, strong, solidly built young front rower with size, power and a low centre of gravity, which makes him quite difficult to tackle, especially in a one on one situation when he is running directly at an opponent.

There is little subtlety to his game, Peter Patuua runs straight and hard, with the only slight concession to this being a slight step off either foot on occasion prior to the initial contact with the defensive line. Simply put Peter Patuua runs straight and hard and continues to pump his legs until he is forced to the ground, even then Peter Patuua will fight to get to his feet and play the ball quickly to maintain the momentum for his team.

One thing that Peter Patuua does do will however is continuing to pump his legs once his initial momentum is temporarily halted by the defensive line, Peter Patuua makes more metres than he should as a result and also forces defending teams to commit multiple defensive assets to stopping his progress. In those circumstances Peter Patuua is adept at getting to his feet quickly and playing the ball quickly.

When opponents try to go higher and tackle him around the chest, Peter Patuua is able to shrug them off and maintain his momentum forward and as a consequence teams have to commit multiple resources to stop him. Even though he is normally brought to ground by multiple defenders, Peter Patuua is adept at getting to his feet quickly to execute a quick play the ball to maintain his team’s momentum.

The best way to look to combat Peter Patuua when he runs the ball is to tackle him around the legs but even then Peter Patuua is adept at dropping his shoulder at the opportune moment to make even that type of tackle difficult to execute on the big strong young man.

Peter Patuua does not necessarily have a real off load to his attacking game, but that is not his role, his role is to take the ball into the heart of the opposition’s defensive line and make as many metres as possible.

Like his attacking game, Peter Patuua’s defensive attributes and execution are relatively simple, he moves up and hits the ball carrier as hard as he can, as often as he can, full stop. Peter Patuua is obviously best suited to defending in the centre of the ruck and that is where you will almost always find him and for a solidly built young player, Peter Patuua moves well in terms of moving up and back in defence including his lateral mobility.

2022 will see Peter Patuua play for Coombabah State High School in the Open A Langer Cup competition and he will also be at Coombabah SHS for his senior of school in 2023.

Peter Patuua will also play in the 2022 Gold Coast Rugby League U18 Division One competition and Peter Patuua is also U18 eligible in 2023 a year which may well see Peter Patuua push for an MM Cup spot with either the Tweed Heads Seagulls or the Burleigh Bears.

From an ultimate position perspective Peter Patuua at 185cm and 112kg is a powerfully built front rower with a low centre of gravity and surprising mobility especially in relation to lateral mobility. With that size and straight running mindset, Peter Patuua is a prototypical rugby league front rower that that is where the young man has played his entire rugby league career to date.

With the a fore mentioned powerful, solid frame and low centre of gravity a player comparison to Penrith Panthers front rower Moses Leota is not at all unreasonable in relation to Peter Patuua. Like Leota, Peter Patuua has the same fearless hard charging, take no prisoners running style and attitude as the Penrith Panthers front rower.

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Boston Riggs-Albert. The New Zealand born second rower is on his way over to Australia in 2022 to be part of the Titans linked Coombabah State High School Rugby League Excellence Program and be part of their Open A School Boy Langer Cup side.

Boston Riggs-Albert arrives in Australia with an impressive rugby league resume already in his back pocket including representing the Manurewa Marlins. In 2020 the Aorere College student and Papatoete Panther was named in the second row in the New Zealand Maori U15 Tama All-Tournament Team.

In 2019 Boston Riggs-Albert was a Niue Pacific Cup U14 representative and also represented the Tamaki Makaurau U14 side and in 2018 Boston Riggs-Albert was part of the Auckland South U13 Representative Side that played an U13 Auckland South Selection.

Boston Riggs-Albert’s style of play is that of a wide running back rower (and occasional centre) with quite good speed for the position. Boston Riggs-Albert is quick off the mark and can maintain his top speed over a reasonable distance and also has a good fend and can step off both feet both in space and in tight situations.

The side step he has is not a big step but is quick and subtle enough to keep defenders off balance. Boston Riggs-Albert will also continue to pump his legs once he makes initial contact with the defensive line and will fight for every yard. Once his momentum is stopped, Boston Riggs-Albert will fight for a quick play the ball to maintain his team’s momentum.

Boston Riggs-Albert is an aggressive defender whether he is defending in the centre of the ruck or on the fringes, and due to his natural strength is more than capable of defending one on one and can stop even the biggest opposing forwards in their tracks and targets the area around the chest after setting a solid base to project his momentum into the ball carrier. Boston Riggs-Albert also has above average to plus lateral mobility and thus he will not be over matched against smaller agile opponents.

2022 will see Boston Riggs-Albert play for Coombabah State High School in the Open A Langer Cup School Boy competition and will also be at Coombabah SHS in 2023 for his senior year of High School.

Boston Riggs-Albert will also play in the 2022 Gold Coast Rugby League U18 Division One competition and Boston Riggs-Albert is also U18 eligible in 2023, a year which may well see Boston Riggs-Albert push for an MM Cup spot with either the Tweed Heads Seagulls or the Burleigh Bears.

Boston Riggs-Albert has played both in the centres (to a lesser extent) and in the second row and whilst he is probably a touch light to play fulltime in the second row in Australia as soon as he gets here at around 183cm and 85kg, but Boston Riggs-Albert has the body shape to add significant muscle mass without compromising his elite athleticism and straight line speed.

I would anticipate that upon his arrival in Australia Boston Riggs-Albert will alternate between the centres and second row but as he acclimatises to Australian conditions and training regimes Boston Riggs-Albert should transition to the second row on a full-time basis.

The game of New Zealand Warrior and New Zealand International second rower and occasional centre Tohu Harris is probably a more than reasonable and apt comparison from a playing style perspective for the talented Boston Riggs-Albert.

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Cai Garrett. The young Ballina Seagulls second rower (and occasional centre, especially in 2020) had a great 2021 season in the Group One U12 competition and whilst Cai Garrett is very very young he shapes as a player to follow in coming seasons as he continues his rugby league journey.

Cai Garrett played in eleven 2021 Group One U12 matches for Ballina scoring a staggering thirty three tries to finish with a 300% try scoring strike rate. Understandably Cai Garrett finished as the competitions leading try scorer, finishing fifteen tries in front of the 2021 Group One competitions second leading try scorer.

Impressively Cai Garrett only failed to score in one match in the Group One U12 competition in 2021 which came against Casino RSM in Round Twelve. Cai Garrett started all eleven of his matches for Ballina in the second row.

Cai Garrett amazingly scored five tries in a match on three separate occasions in 2021, being in Round Four against the South Grafton Rebels, Round Nine against the Marist Brothers Rams (he also converted one of his own tries for his only conversion of 2021) and Round Thirteen against the Grafton Ghosts.

Cai Garrett also scored four hat tricks in 2021 including in three matches in a row from Round Six to Round Eight against the Clarence Coast Magpies, Grafton Ghosts and Casino RSM respectively.

Cai Garrett scored two tries in a match against Clarence Coast in Round One, against the Kyogle Turkeys in Round Three and in Round Five against Casino RSM.

In short when Cai Garrett scored his first try of a match in the 2021 Group One U12 competition for the Ballina Seagulls, he invariably when on to score more.

The 2021 try scoring season was not an aberration for Cai Garrett as in 2020 in the Group One U11 season also for the Ballina Seagulls Cai Garrett scored a once again competition leading eighteen tries including a hat trick in Ballina’s 36 – 10 Grand Final victory against the Kyogle Turkeys, when Cai Garrett starting the Grand Final in the centres.

Cai Garrett is a fast powerful young man who whilst using his size to his advantage by running hard and straight, he does have quite decent footwork prior to the defensive line, which he uses to cut back behind the play the ball to take advantage of defenders who are slow to get back into the defensive line.

Where Cai Garrett’s game has really continued to develop over the 2020 and 2021 seasons is his ability to play wider of the ruck. With his speed and strength wider of the ruck Cai Garrett attracts multiple defenders and thus is in a position to use his developing ball skills to set up his outside supports early in a match.

When defences start to try to anticipate that Cai Garrett is going to pass then he can use his speed to crash through the defensive lien as no defender is going to be able to handle him one on one by themselves and I mean no defender.

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

Cai Garrett will play the 2022 season with the Ballina Seagulls in the Group One U13 competition where once again Cai Garrett will no doubt be one of the better players in the competition in Ballina’s Blue and White.

If you were looking to build a modern day rugby league second rower, you could not have a better template to work with than Cai Garrett as he has the requisite size, strength, speed and power to be a difference maker. I have not seen Cai Garrett play anywhere other than in the second row other than a couple of matches in the centres in 2020, and to be honest I do not expect to either moving forward.

St George Dragons tough, hard and fast second rower Tariq Sims is a more than reasonable comparison for Cai Garrett. Both Sims and Cai Garrett are strong and powerful but at the same time have outstanding speed and hit the line very very hard and can either run over the top of a defender or at the gap between two defenders.

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Te Hurinui Apanui Twidle. In mid-December 2021 Te Hurinui Apanui Twidle attended a joint training session that the Titans NRL squad had with other members of the outstanding Titans JTS Academy Program.

Te Hurinui Apanui Twidle is originally from the Waikato Region of New Zealand’s North Island and Te Hurinui Apanui Twidle has represented the Upper Central Zone in various New Zealand National Youth Championships including in the U15 level in 2019 which included Te Hurinui Apanui Twidle scoring a try and kicking three conversions on Match Day Two of those Championships.

In the Waikato Region Te Hurinui Apanui Twidle played for the Turangawaewae Rugby League Club in the club competition.

In 2020 Te Hurinui Apanui Twidle played for the New Zealand Residents U16 Representative side and was one of the Residents try scorers in their big 42 – 6 victory over a New Zealand Maori U17 selection that included Titans contracted Keano Kini who started the match at fullback for New Zealand Maori.

Starting the match at halfback for the U16 New Zealand residents, Te Hurinui Apanui Twidle scored a seventy metre try in the 49th minute of the match, when after receiving an off-load from his right Te Hurinui Apanui Twidle accelerated from a standing start to burst through two Maori defenders before veering to his right to get past the fullback and from there Te Hurinui Apanui Twidle was too quick for the cover defence to dive over eight metres in from the right corner post.

In attack, Te Hurinui Apanui Twidle 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 Te Hurinui Apanui Twidle 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. Te Hurinui Apanui Twidle’s 2019 performances are a testament to those attributes.

Te Hurinui Apanui Twidle 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. Te Hurinui Apanui Twidle has above average speed off the mark and quick twitch feet in confined space but does not have explosive acceleration or high top end speed, but Te Hurinui Apanui Twidle’s top speed in space can certainly be considered in the above average range.

When Te Hurinui Apanui Twidle does take on the line, he just has this amazing ability to slice through a defensive line, seemingly at will. It is hard to put into words exactly what I mean but Te Hurinui Apanui Twidle takes the ball and immediately commences to run parallel to the defensive line with the ball out in front of his body in two hands and then he is just able to slide/slice between two defenders with a subtle step normally off his left foot and then Te Hurinui Apanui Twidle accelerates through the line and into space.

What is described above looks deceptively simply but I can assure people that it is not, it is just that Te Hurinui Apanui Twidle makes it look so simple and it is a credit to him that Te Hurinui Apanui Twidle has sliced through defences like this his entire career regardless of the quality of the opposition.

From a kicking perspective Te Hurinui Apanui Twidle has a more than solid kicking game, with above average 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. I am sure that moving forward focussing on his kicking skills will be a key focus area both from a distance and accuracy perspective and there is no doubt that Te Hurinui Apanui Twidle has the ability to be a team’s primary tactical kicking option now and into the future.

Like his tactical kicking Te Hurinui Apanui Twidle is also an outstanding right foot goal kicker with range and accuracy including from wide out. Like his tactical kicking, and for that matter the way that he slides through defences, Te Hurinui Apanui Twidle makes it look easy due to his calm and relaxed demeanour on the field including when the game is on the line.

In defence, due to his size Te Hurinui Apanui Twidle is obviously not going to come up with the big hit but reads the play well and can more than hold his own when defending much bigger players through sheer force of will. Te Hurinui Apanui Twidle is also very vocal (in a very positive way) on the field always talking and encouraging his side both in attack and defence.

In 2022 Te Hurinui Apanui Twidle is U18 eligible and will play the season in the Gold Coast Rugby League U18 Division One competition.

In his time in the junior leagues and junior representative sides in New Zealand Te Hurinui Apanui Twidle has played exclusively at either five eight or halfback and with his ball skills those positions are where Te Hurinui Apanui Twidle appears likely to continue for the foreseeable future and he transitions to Australian conditions and training regimes.

I am going back a few years but a player with a similar playing style and skill attributes to Te Hurinui Apanui Twidle for me is former Penrith great, New Zealand Warrior, New South Wales State of Origin and Australian International Greg Alexander.

Both Alexander and Te Hurinui Apanui Twidle make the task of managing the game plan and directing their team around the field from the half back (or five eight) position look easy and natural and both seemingly have as much time as they need to accomplish the required task expertly. Also both Alexander and Te Hurinui Apanui Twidle can exploit even the smallest gaps in the defensive line with electric speed off the mark.

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Waaka Hepi. Titans Partnered Keebra Park State High School quite rightly attracts players from all over Australia to the school to work on their game as part of Keebra Park SHS’s Rugby League Excellence Program and mid-way through the 2021 the next in a long line of talented Western Australian juniors arrived at the school in the form of Waaka Hepi.

The centre or second rower arrived at Keebra Park State High School after representing the Western Australian Southern Pride U17 Representative side earlier in 2021 after also representing the Southern Pride U15 Representative Side in 2020.

The second half of the 2021 season saw Waaka Hepi make his debut for Keebra Park SHS and he also played for the Nerang Roosters in the Gold Coast Rugby League U16 Division One competition.

The move to Queensland also paid immediate dividends for Waaka Hepi from a representative perspective with Waaka Hepi making the Queensland Maori South U16 side that won in the Queensland Maori U16 Championships and from there Waaka Hepi represent Queensland Maori U16’s at the QPICC Cultural Carnival.

In Western Australia the former Rockingham High School student played his club rugby league with the Willagee Bears including starting at lock in their 2020 U16 Western Australian Rugby League Grand Final against the South Perth Lions.

Big strong and powerful are the words that immediately come to mind when watching Waaka Hepi play. From an attacking perspective Waaka Hepi is a straight hard runner when he has the ball in hand.

Waaka Hepi has shown the ability to run both an inside and outside shoulder route impressively on both sides of the field and he runs both routes with pace and power and attracts multiple defenders to try to stop him on each occasion. When Waaka Hepi impacts the defensive line he drops his shoulder into the defenders and regularly bumps off multiple defenders in a single run that leads to multiple post contact metres being gained.

Waaka Hepi has a vicious and aggressive tackling style he really looks to come out of the line and literally smash his opposite number as hard as possible and on a regular basis. Waaka Hepi does however have more than decent lateral mobility which enables him to readjust if his opposite number gets on the outside and Waaka Hepi, once he gets moving have above average straight line speed which enables him to close the distance to the attacker.

2022 will see Waaka Hepi continue at the Titans partnered Keebra Park State High School and Waaka Hepi will look to force his way into the Keebra Park SHS Langer Cup Open A side and will also continue at Keebra Park SHS in 2023 for his senior year of schooling.

Waaka Hepi will also continue at the Nerang Roosters where he will move up to the Roosters GCRL U18 Division One side where the Roosters will look to replicate their 2021 44 – 12 Grand Final success against the Helensvale Hornets. Waaka Hepi is also U18 eligible in 2023 and no doubt Waaka Hepi will put himself in the frame for a spot in either the Tweed Heads Seagulls or Burleigh Bears MM Cup Squad in 2023.

At a still growing 190cm and 92kg Waaka Hepi is already big and strong and whilst Waaka Hepi is also still fast enough to continue to play in the centres in the short term, I do not think a permanent move to the second row is too far away for Waaka Hepi and to be honest that move is likely to occur over the course of the 2022 season as Waaka Hepi continues his strength and conditioning program with the Keebra Park SHS Rugby League Excellence coaching staff.

Waaka Hepi is a big strong second rower (or centre) will surprising speed, mobility and elusiveness for his size and as a consequence an NRL player comparison to the Wests Tigers and soon to be North Queensland Cowboy Luciano Leilua is not unreasonable in relation to Waaka Hepi. Waaka Hepi has a similar level of aggressiveness to the Wests Tigers second rower in both attack and defence.

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Carlos Tarawhiti. The big, strong powerful front rower from Auckland has moved over to the Gold Coast and in 2022 will play for the Tweed Heads Seagulls Hastings Deering’s Colts side and Carlos Tarawhiti is also Colts eligible in 2023.

Impressively, in 2021 Carlos Tarawhiti who was still U18 eligible played in the New Zealand National Youth U20 competition for the Auckland Blue’s including starting in the inaugural Grand Final in the front row as his Auckland side went down 18 – 14 against Central Districts.

In fact Carlos Tarawhiti started all of his 2021 New Zealand U20 competition matches for the Auckland Blue’s in the front row and whilst he was outstanding at charging at the defensive line, probably Carlos Tarawhiti’s best moment of the competition came in a match against the South Island Scorpions when after receiving the ball to the right of the play the ball and approximately fifteen metres out, Carlos Tarawhiti stepped off his right foot to beat an onrushing defender.

Once he had stepped inside the Scorpions defender, Carlos Tarawhiti straightened up and put in a right foot grubber kick into the in-goal. Carlos Tarawhiti followed the ball through and was on hand to make the tackle in the fullback and trap him in the in-goal area.

From 2018 to 2020 Carlos Tarawhiti was part of the Future Warriors Program including playing for the Warriors SG Ball U18 side in 2020 as a 17 year old. Carlos Tarawhiti started the opening two rounds of the 2020 SG Ball season off the bench, with those matches being against the Victorian Thunderbolts in Round One and the Canberra Raiders in Round Two.

Also in 2020 the former Botany Downs College student was part of the Katahitanga U17 side at the New Zealand Maori tournament, starting the final in the front row and scored a strong try in the 43rd minute. Carlos Tarawhiti received an inside pass approximately twenty five metres out from the line and beat two defenders, the first with a left arm fend and the second with a right arm fend and then Carlos Tarawhiti raced away to dive over under the posts.

Carlos Tarawhiti also had a big representative year in 2019 when he was part of the Counties Manukau U17 representative side and also started two matches in the front row for the Future Warriors U16 side with those matches against the Newcastle Knights and an Auckland Vulcans side that contained Titans contracted Keano Kini.

Carlos Tarawhiti is a big powerful young man who whilst using his size to his advantage by running hard and straight, does have quite decent footwork prior to the defensive line, which he uses to cut back behind the play the ball to take advantage of defenders who are slow to get back into the defensive line.

An area where Carlos Tarawhiti has really improved over the last two season is in relation to his off-loads in previous seasons he did not off load too much but this season he really has been able to get his arms free and get away some telling off-loads. Carlos Tarawhiti continually put his hand up all day to take the ball up and has a very quick play the ball so that his team can maintain momentum.

One area that he did not seem to use too often this year but does seem to have the capacity to develop based on his size, skills and footwork is the ability to off load before the line, an example of what I am meaning is how the Canterbury Bulldogs forward pack uses those small offloads prior to the line. Carlos Tarawhiti has shown glimpses of having the skills to utilise the same skills if the opportunities arise, developing this skill with only enhance his effectiveness.

In defence Carlos Tarawhiti uses his size and strength to make very solid initial contact and certainly can take on all opposing forwards one on one. He is not averse to looking for the big hit but does have a good front on defensive technique, maintaining decent leverage and reasonable agility and lateral movement when looking to tackle smaller opponents on the edge of the ruck, although clearly he is more effective in the centre of the ruck, as most front rowers are. Carlos Tarawhiti’s raw natural strength means that he is also dominant when looking to slow the play the ball down.

As noted above Carlos Tarawhiti will play the 2022 season with the Tweed Heads Seagulls Hastings Deering’s Colts side and is also Colts eligible in 2023.

At 183cm and 112kg Carlos Tarawhiti is a big strong front rower who seems destined to stay in the front row for the duration of his rugby league career but in saying that Carlos Tarawhiti has decent speed, mobility and footwork and thus is more than just a one dimensional front rower who just runs straight.

With his smaller height but solid frame and decent foot work Carlos Tarawhiti is not dis-similar to the Titans own Queensland State of Origin front rower Moeaki Fotuakia. Carlos Tarawhiti’s footwork is probably not as elite as Fotuaika’s in the front row position but is still above average for his position.

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Corey Cassidy-Natano. The Titans have brought over former Kelston Boys High First XV rugby standout Corey Cassidy-Natano. The young fullback has an outstanding pedigree in both rugby and rugby league in Auckland including being named in 2020 in the Auckland Blues Super Rugby U17 Development Squad. Corey Cassidy-Natano was also named in the 2021 Auckland Blues U18 squad.

From a rugby league perspective in 2021 Corey Cassidy-Natano, even though he was still U18 eligible, started at fullback for the Auckland White U20 side for the 2021 New Zealand U20 National Championships including a great performance including scoring in Round One against Waicoa Bay.

Corey Cassidy-Natano scored in the 33rd minute when after joining the backline on the left side of the field, Corey Cassidy-Natano received the ball around ten metres out and immediately skipped to his outside to beat the closest defender before racing to his left to dive over to score in the left corner.

Earlier in the match in the 15th minute Corey Cassidy-Natano made a fifty metre line break down the left touchline after receiving an off-load twenty metres out from his own try line. When he was hemmed in on the left touchline at the end of his line break, Corey Cassidy-Natano was able to off-load to his inside to his trailing left centre.

Corey Cassidy-Natano almost added a try assist to his solid match in the 12th minute when after chiming into the backline on the right side of the field, receiving the ball twelve metres out, Corey Cassidy-Natano took the ball to the line before throwing a good ball to his right to put his right centre into a big gap but unfortunately the centres was held up over the try line.

2021 also saw Corey Cassidy-Natano play for the Kelston Boys High School Boy Rugby First XV, spending time at both fullback and inside centre (second five eight).

Corey Cassidy-Natano is just a smooth mover, he can create for himself or others and if a defensive line does not chase a kick in one straight line the young Kiwi flyer will simply cut them apart. Corey Cassidy-Natano’s speed is in the plus plus category and when accompanied with exceptional body control and balance he is a handful for defensives especially when the defensive line is not set.

Just like his explosive speed off the mark, Corey Cassidy-Natano’s body and body control are in the plus plus category as is his ability to step off both feet and can, just like Benji Marshall in his heyday, step multiple times in a small time frame and area to change both his direction and momentum as well as defenders.

Corey Cassidy-Natano also has exceptional hands when defending against kicks especially when low short attacking kicks are put in, Corey Cassidy-Natano attacks the ball at full speed aiming to get there prior to the arrival of the attacks and look to make ground while the opposition are still in an attacking mode. Once or twice in 2021 for Auckland White Corey Cassidy-Natano made at least 30 metres or so after retrieving the ball in the in goal area and similarly gets back into the field of play from seemingly impossible positions.

Defensively Corey Cassidy-Natano is more than strong enough to confront any attacker who has broken through the initial defensive line and if he is caught out of position has dynamic closing speed to address this situation. When a break has been made, Corey Cassidy-Natano’s primary objective is to more forward to reduce the time available for the attacker to work through is options. Corey Cassidy-Natano is also effective at maintaining his composure and taking the player with the ball and not fall for any dummies, he makes an opposing team earn the ground that they make.

2022 will see Corey Cassidy-Natano line up in the Hastings Deering’s Colts competition and he will also be Colts eligible in 2023.

Corey Cassidy-Natano, outside a number of matches for the Kelston Boys High School First XV school boy rugby side at inside centre, has played at fullback in rugby and rugby league, including for Auckland White U20’s in 2021 and that is where I believe his best opportunity is for Corey Cassidy-Natano to progress his game to the higher levels.

From an NRL player comparison perspective, when seeing Corey Cassidy-Natano in full flight you are seemingly looking at a mirror image for former New Zealand Warriors and New Zealand International and soon to be Auckland Blues Super Rugby fullback Roger Tuivasa-Sheck.

Like Tuivasa-Sheck, Corey Cassidy-Natano has above average to plus top end speed (and speed off the mark), balance and body control when he has the ball in his hands. Every time that he touches the ball Corey Cassidy-Natano is a threat to break the line himself or manufacture something his team mates.

Simply put Corey Cassidy-Natano looks like he is gliding across the field when he is running with the ball and Corey Cassidy-Natano also has an extra gear he uses to accelerate and literally just explodes through gaps. When he is either returning a kick or hunting around the centre of the ruck looking for am off load, Corey Cassidy-Natano just accelerates to full speed in a split second and leaves multiple defenders grasping at thin air behind him when he space to operate in.

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Seth Nikotemo. The local junior and Keebra Park student signed a multi-year contract with the Titans in 2019 after being one of the best juniors for his age group on the Gold Coast for multiple season’s prior. In positive news for the Titans Seth Nikotemo resigned with the Titans for an additional two years in late 2020 that will take him up to the end of the 2022 season, his last as an U18 eligible player and also covers his senior year at Keebra Park State High School.

In mid-December Seth Nikotemo had the opportunity to train with the Titans NRL squad in a joint training session between the Titans NRL squad and the Titans JTS Program Squads.

In late October 2021 Seth Nikotemo was named in the talented Burleigh Bears 2022 U18 MM Cup squad for the second season in a row.

In January 2021 Seth Nikotemo started at left second row for the Titans U17 side in their annual match at Coffs Harbour against the Newcastle Knights with the Titans recording an impressive 32 – 20 (no goal kicks taken) victory in hot and steamy conditions.

Seth Nikotemo could not have been more impressive in the match including scoring the Titans opening try of the match in just the second minute of the match. Seth Nikotemo charged onto a pass from half Bailey McConnell around eight metres out and could not be stopped as he barged his way over to score the first try of the match.

Seth Nikotemo added a second try in the second half when he charged onto a Keano Kini pass to charge over from six metres out.

In June 2021 Seth Nikotemo started at right second row for a Titans U17 side that played a Titans Northern Rivers U18 squad at Cbus Stadium as a curtain raiser to the Titans Round Fourteen NRL match against the Sydney Roosters.

Playing right second row, Seth Nikotemo had an outstanding match including a first half try assist when from twenty metres out, Seth Nikotemo took the ball to the line before offloading to his right to put his right centre into a gap and over ten metres in from the right corner.

Seth Nikotemo’s first hit-out with the 2021 Burleigh Bears MM Cup side came when he started in the right second row position in the Bears second trial against the Easts Tigers.

Seth Nikotemo produced a strong tackle in the 63rd minute of the match when he and Ezra Ubaldino combined to smash the Easts second rower who had tried to run the ball off the back of an Easts Tigers scrum win. The contact forced the ball lose for a Titans scrum feed with Syris Schmidt scoring from the resultant set of six tackles.

In Round One of the 2021 U18 MM Cup competition, Seth Nikotemo started at right second row against the Souths Logan Magpies, putting in a solid performance in Burleigh’s impressive 38 – 28 victory.

In the 20th minute Seth Nikotemo showed just who hard he always tries when Burleigh dropped the ball whilst on the attack, the ball was scooped up by the Souths Logan left winger and it looked for all money that he was going to streak away to score, but Seth Nikotemo turned and chased and took the wingers legs from under him in a copy book cover defending tackle.

Seth Nikotemo was strong defensive once again in the 29th minute when he hit the Souths Logan No. 15 with a strong front on tackle as the Souths Logan player was returning a forced goal line drop out by Burleigh. Seth Nikotemo’s initial forced the ball loose to take all of the pressure off the Burleigh defence.

Just prior to half time Seth Nikotemo produced his third impressive defensive play of the half when he produced a great low tackle on Souths Logan’s Ezra Mam who looked like he was through the gap and set to score.

Seth Nikotemo also started at right second row in Round Two against the Ipswich Jets and had his first touch early when he took the hit-up from the penalty restart after Burleigh received a penalty from the kick-off. Seth Nikotemo was then on hand to take the 4th hit-up in the same set of six. Seth Nikotemo then backed up to take another hit-up in the 4th minute of the match.

Seth Nikotemo continued his strong efforts running the ball in the 18th minute when he produced a strong effort of thirteen metres down the left side of the field, winning a penalty as a result of not being allowed to get to his feet quickly to play the ball. Seth Nikotemo then backed up to take the hit-up from the resultant penalty restart.

In the 47th minute, Seth Nikotemo continued his strong match with a run that made thirteen metres for Burleigh to get the ball out to the forty metre mark and then Seth Nikotemo was awarded a penalty for the Jets defence not allowing him to get to his feet for a quick play the ball.

Seth Nikotemo showed his athleticism in the 54th minute when Ipswich restarted the match with a short high kick-off to their left after Jeremaiah Tamepo scored for Burleigh. Seth Nikotemo jumped high to take the kick on the full under heavy pressure above the Ipswich players chasing the ball through. Seth Nikotemo then did not rest on his laurels taking a hit-up later in the same set of six tackles.

Seth Nikotemo’s side of the field was targeted for another short high Jets kick-off in the 67th minute after Tuvalli Khan-Pereira’s try but once again Seth Nikotemo was up to the task, jumping high to take the ball on the full. When he hit the ground, Seth Nikotemo spun clockwise to break through the Jets defensive line and was able to get the ball twenty metres upfield into Jets territory and then provided a good offload to Kaden Sommerville to keep the movement going.

Seth Nikotemo added to his impressive performance in the 69th minute with a great low left shoulder tackle on rampaging Ipswich Jets lock Josiah Pahulu, with the tackle cutting the fellow Titans legs out from under him.

Seth Nikotemo once again started at right second row in the Round Three Gold Coast derby against the Tweed Heads Seagulls. In the 9th minute of the match, Seth Nikotemo took the Tweed Heads defence by surprise when as he ran at the line from ten metres out on the right side of the field he put in a great chip kick. But for a diving Keano Kini the kick would have resulted in a Burleigh try.

Seth Nikotemo continued his strong contribution in the 11th minute with a bustling run of thirteen minutes which got Burleigh within three metres of Tweed Heads line.

Seth Nikotemo also had a strong match defensively in the local derby and produced an outstanding tackle in the last play of the first half with a great front on hit on Seagulls Keano Kini who close to the Burleigh line looped around behind Thomas Weaver, but Seth Nikotemo read the play and crunched Kini just after he received the ball.

Seth Nikotemo was also named to start at right second row for Round Four match against the Souths Logan Magpies

Seth Nikotemo also started at right second row in Round Five against the Ipswich Jets with Seth Nikotemo recording a second half try assist.

Seth Nikotemo’s try assist came in the 52nd minute when Seth Nikotemo received the ball from his left. As soon as he took possession was immediately under pressure from a Jets defender, but Seth Nikotemo maintained his composure and was able to get the ball over the top of the engaged defender to an unmarked Hunter Ploegsma who crossed after a ten metre run.

Seth Nikotemo continued his solid match with a 66th minute run that accounted for fifteen metres of ground to get Burleigh into Jets territory.

Burleigh were immediately under pressure in the opening moments of the match and but for Seth Nikotemo and team mates, Arama Hau and Tuvalli Khan-Pereira, Ipswich would have opened the scoring in the 4th minute when the Ipswich No. 10 was held up over the line.

With the Ipswich defensive line under all sorts of pressure in the early minutes of the match, it was with his defence that enabled Seth Nikotemo to make an impact. In the 13th minute Seth Nikotemo produced a driving tackle on Ipswich front rower Josiah Pahulu, stopping his momentum with his initial and then driving him back. Following that in the same set of six, Seth Nikotemo smashed the Ipswich left centre forcing the ball loose through the contact.

Early in the second half Seth Nikotemo was able to maintain Burleigh’s early momentum in the half with a strong ten metre run that finished twenty eight metres out and culminated with an exceptionally quick play the ball.

Round Six being the final regular season round of the 2021 MM Cup competition saw Seth Nikotemo once again line up at right second row in the local derby against the Tweed Heads Seagulls with Seth Nikotemo scoring a double in the Bears last minute 34 – 30 victory.

Seth Nikotemo’s opening try came in the 18th minute when from dummy half, Bears hooker Caleb Gould-Waiariki put in a short right foot kick through the Seagulls line with right second rower Seth Nikotemo timing his run perfectly to get the ball down easily on the right side of the field.

Seth Nikotemo’s second try came in the 65th minute and got Burleigh within two points of the Seagulls. Seth Nikotemo ran a good line on the right, receiving a short pass from Caleb Gould-Waiariki from his left. As he hit the Seagulls defensive line, Seth Nikotemo twisted clockwise to gain separation actually being caught up and falling to the ground, but Seth Nikotemo quickly realised that he was not held and dived over ten metres to the right of the uprights.

Evan before he scored his first try of the match, Seth Nikotemo was having a strong match including a strong run in the 13th minute when he easily pushed off one defender and dragged another to make twelve metres and get within six metres of the try line. After Seth Nikotemo’s quick play the ball Ezra Ubaldino was able to score for Burleigh on the opposite side of the field.

From the 4th hit-up from the kick-off restart for his first try, Seth Nikotemo made a strong fifteen metre run to within ten metres of the try line after Tweed Heads were penalised from the kick-off.

With Burleigh chasing the match in the 63rd minute, Seth Nikotemo made a hard twelve metres, pushing off one would be defender to get the ball thirty metres away from the try line.

Round Two of the Gold Coast Rugby League U18 Division One competition saw Seth Nikotemo start from the bench for Runaway Bay against the Southport Tigers with Seth Nikotemo lining up at right second row when he came on with Seth Nikotemo scoring in the 36th minute of the match.

Seth Nikotemo pounced on a Seagulls dropped ball that had been knocked back, picking the ball up ten metres out, Seth Nikotemo was able to hold off one defender with his left arm as he charged towards the line, getting the ball down in the right corner.

After missing Round Three due to his school boy representative commitments with South Coast, Seth Nikotemo was named on the bench for Round Four against the Helensvale Hornets and was also named on the bench for Round Seven against the Ormeau Shearers.

Round Nine against Southport saw Seth Nikotemo start at left second row with the hard running second rower scoring a double for the Seagulls in their 40 – 30 victory.

Seth Nikotmo scored his opening try in the 14th minute he ran into space twenty metres from the line. Seth Nikotemo pushed off the Southport right winger who had tried to come off his wing and then Seth Nikotemo ran straight over the Tigers lock to get the ball down five metres in from the left corner post.

Seth Nikotemo then scored in the 52nd minute when he ran a straight hard line from eight metres out, forcing his way over ten metres from the left upright. Seth Nikotemo initially was hit by the Southport defence three metres from the line and in fact backed his way from there and then twisted to get the ball down.

When rugby league recommenced on the Gold Coast in late August 2021 after the Covid 19 lockdown, Seth Nikotemo was named to start from the bench in Round Eleven against the Helensvale Hornets.

Interestingly in Round Twelve against the Burleigh Bears, Seth Nikotemo was named to start at right centre with Seth Nikotemo handling the position change well including a strong sixteen run down the right side of the field in just the third minute with Seth Nikotemo’s forward momentum finally being stopped just seven metres short of the line.

Seth Nikotemo made another strong run down the right channel in the 13th minute when from a Runaway Bay scrum win Seth Nikotemo made twenty metres before the ball came lose when he was within ten metres of the try line.

Seth Nikotemo also started at right centre in Round Thirteen against the Currumbin Eagles scoring one try and also making a line break.

Seth Nikotemo scored in the 35th minute of the match when a heavy Runaway Bay tackle forced the ball loose on Seth Nikotemo’s side of the field. Seth Nikotemo went back and collected the dropped ball thirty metres from the line and as soon as he turned back towards the try line he was confronted by the Currumbin left winger who he quickly dispatched. Seth Nikotemo subsequently raced down the right touchline and dived over in the right corner.

Seth Nikotemo’s line break came in the 13th minute of the match with Seth Nikotemo receiving the ball from a Runaway Bay scrum win forty two metres from the line. Seth Nikotemo was able to beat a number of defenders before off-loading to his right to his right centre.

Seth Nikotemo continued at right centre in Round Fourteen against the Ormeau Shearers.

In February 2021 Seth Nikotemo took part in the South Coast Open school boy trials and was named in the second row in the South Coast Open A school boy side as a result of his impressive trial performances.

Seth Nikotemo started South Coast’s Day One match against Met North at right second row and scored in just the 11th minute of the match when he ran into a gap wide on the right, diving over to score ten metres in from the right corner post.

His 11th minute try was certainly not Seth Nikotemo’s first contribution in the match, that occurred in the 6th minute when his first hit-up of the match got him to within six metres of the try line.

Seth Nikotemo was also a key contributor to South Coast’s strong defensive effort in the match including in the 42nd minute when a strong tackle on the Met North left centre forced the ball loose to stop all of the momentum that they had built up.

Seth Nikotemo started the 2021 QSSRL U18 School Boy Championship Final at right second row and took the first South Coast of the match from a penalty restart.

Seth Nikotemo started the Championship Final against Met North at right second row and in the 18th minute made a strong run of thirteen minutes to get to within five metres of the try line.

2021 also saw Seth Nikotemo line up once again for Keebra Park PBC State High School in the South East Queensland School Boy Langer Cup competition starting Round One at right second row against Marsden State High School.

Seth Nikotemo also started at right second row in Round Two against Mabel Park State High School as well as in Round Three against Ipswich State High School, a match that saw him with make a strong run in the 23rd minute when he made sixteen metres from a penalty restart

Seth Nikotemo continued at right second row in Round Four against St Mary’s College Toowoomba and had a strong match including scoring in the 55th minute when he charged onto a Connor Te Kani pass down the right channel, holding off a number of defenders to score ten metres in from the right corner post.

The Round Five local derby against PBC saw Seth Nikotemo continue at right second row and he also started at right second row in Round Six against Wavell State High School.

After the competition was suspended for a number of weeks due to a Covid 19 lock down, Seth Nikotemo was named at right second row for Keebra Park State High School in their semi-final against PBC State High School.

At the 2021 Keebra Park State High School Sports Awards Night Seth Nikotemo was named in the second row in the 2021 Keebra Park Team of the Year.

In late August 2021, Seth Nikotemo was named in the Queensland City U17 squad for a two match series against a Queensland U17 Country squad with Seth Nikotemo starting the match at left second row and scoring in the 19th minute of the match when after playing the ball twenty metres out from the line, Seth Nikotemo backed up on the inside after the City left winger darted down a short blindside. Seth Nikotemo juggled the inside pass above his head but was able to eventually take possession and round the Country fullback and then was able to bring the ball around to put it down under the posts.

Seth Nikotemo also recorded a 9th minute try assist when he threw the last pass to his left to Josh Lynn to run away to score after Seth Nikotemo had run forty metres after charging into a gap from inside his own territory off a Blake Mozer pass.

Playing fifty six minutes Seth Nikotemo ran for 109 metres (thirty post contact), broke three tackles and made nine tackles at a 90% tackling efficiency.

In 2020 Seth Nikotemo captained the Keebra Park Open Titans Cup side including in a Round Two win against Marymount College.

Playing left second row Seth Niketimo also scored in the Round Two match when he chased through a kick that was put up on the half way mark, Seth Nikotemo retrieved the ball 40 metres out dummied past the initial defender before running directly over the Marymount fullback. Seth Niketemo fact lost his balance and literally crawled the last six metres to score.

Seth Nikotemo made his Langer Cup debut off the bench for Keebra Park off the bench against PBC playing in the left second row position when he came on. Seth Nikotemo also started from the bench in Round Five against St Mary’s College Toowoomba, playing on the right when he came on and scored a try in each half in an outstanding performance.

Seth Nikotemo’s first try was as a result of an outstanding straight power run from ten metres out. Connor Te Kani was operating on the right and received the ball two passes off the ruck and ran the ball parallel to the defensive line and threw a short no look pass to a straight running Seth Niketemo who went straight through a gap to score from ten metres out.

Seth Nikotemo’s second try came late in the match once again down the right side of the field. On the last tackle, Blake Scott took the ball down a short blind side, off-loading to Seth Nikotemo who was standing still at the time, he was able to step off his right foot but was held by one leg but Seth Nikotemo was able to reach out and put the ball down with his right arm to score a much deserved double.

Seth Nikotemo also started on the bench as Keebra Park qualified for the 2020 Langer Cup Grand Final on the back of a big win over Wavell State High School operating on the right side of the field when he came on early in the first half.

Seth Nikotemo was on the bench for Keebra Park in the 2020 Langer Cup Grand Final as they went down 16 – 8 to PBC in a high quality match, but he did not make it onto the field.

Seth Nikotemo played the 2020 Gold Coast Rugby League with Runaway Bay in the U16 Division One competition and was dominant in a number of matches including Round Six against Helensvale and Round Eight against Ormeau. Seth Nikotemo was outstanding in Round Eight against Ormeau operating on the left including an impressive break around the half way line before off-loading to his left to his left centre who scored one of his three tries.

In late October 2020, Seth Nikotemo was named in the 2021 Burleigh MM Cup squad.

The big strong young Titans contracted forward had a more than solid 2019 season for both Runaway Bay and Keebra Park State High School as well as for the Titans U15 side in their matches which book ended Seth Nikotemo’s successful 2019 rugby league season.
Seth Nikotemo was part of the Titans U16 side that defeated the Newcastle Knights U16 Harold Matthews side in Coffs Harbour in January 2020, 18 -14 in wet and slippery conditions with Seth Nikotemo being heavily involved in the forward battle in the middle of the field. In the conditions the match ended up being a tough hard fought forward battle which suited Seth Nikotemo just fine and it certainly showed in his performance.
Seth Niketemo also started in the second row of the Titans U15 side that defeated a Balmain Tigers U15 touring side 34 – 16 in early October 2019 performing strongly in the impressive Titans win and was near, if not the Titans best on the night.

One of Seth Nikotemo’s most recent matches for the Titans was when he started in the second row for the Titans U16 side in their annual match against the Newcastle Knights Harold Matthews Cup (U16) side in January 2020 in Coffs Harbour with the Titans coming away with a hard fought 18 – 14 victory.

In February 2020 Seth Nikotemo was named in the Gold Coast Vikings U16 Training Squad for the 2020 U16 South East Queensland Pre-season Challenge where he would have been a certain selection in one of the two Gold Coast Vikings squads that were due to participate but the Challenge was cancelled in the week leading up to the start of the Challenge.

For Runaway Bay in the 2019 GCRL U15 Division One competition Seth Nikotemo played in eleven regular season matches scoring his first try in Round Thirteen against Ormeau and following that up with a try in Round Fourteen being the last regular season round against Helensvale.

Seth Niketemo also kicked two goals from as many attempts in the regular season with both coming against Helensvale in early June in a Seagulls victory with from my recollection both goals coming in the second half.

In Week Two of the 2019 GCRL U15 Division One finals Seth Nikotemo started for Runaway Bay against Nerang teaming with fellow Titan Joseph Shannon in the front row as Runaway Bay progressed to the Grand Final on the back of a 20 – 0 Friday night win.

In the 2019 GCRL U15 Division One Grand Final Seth Nikotemo started the match in the front row once again with Joseph Shannon, scoring an outstanding first half try for the Seagulls. In the end though Runaway Bay went down 36 – 22 to Nerang in a tense physical encounter especially in the forwards.

In relation to his try in the 2019 U15 Division One Grand Final Seth Niketemo charged onto the ball off the dummy half around eighteen metres out from the try line to the right of the play the ball cutting back behind the play the ball just a fraction almost immediately upon receipt of the ball and such was his speed that Seth Niketemo broke through the initial defensive line before it could start to move up in a coherent fashion and the fullback was no match for him either as Seth Niketemo crashed over mid-way between the left corner post and goal posts.

Seth Nikotemo made his GCRL U16 Division One debut in Round Fourteen against Helensvale when he came off the bench after playing and scoring in the U15 Division One match earlier in the evening. Seth Niketemo handled the step up in age group with aplomb.

2019 also saw Seth Nikotemo represent the South Coast U15 side that played in the QSSRL U15 Championships held in Ipswich with South Coast going through the Championships undefeated and Seth Nikotemo played a key role in that positive outcome.

In 2018 the former 2016 Queensland U12 representative started the season for Runaway Bay in the Gold Coast Rugby League U14 Division One competition before moving to the U15 Division One competition with the Seagulls before the half way mark of the season.

In the GCRL U14 Division One competition in 2018, Seth Nikotemo played in seven matches scoring in the final regular season round against Ormeau and also late in the season kicked a conversion against Burleigh.

Seth Nikotemo made his 2018 U15 Division One debut in June of that year against Burleigh and went on to play in ten matches. Seth Nikotemo started all of Runaway Bay’s U15 Division One Finals matches on the bench including the Grand Final and scored as the Seagulls went down 38 – 20 to a powerful Ormeau Shearers side.

Running with the football, Seth Nikotemo 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.

Seth Nikotemo 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. Seth Nikotemo 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 Seth Nikotemo is also showcasing his ability to offload prior to the defensive line, a skill that he has developed and incorporated is recent seasons.

Defensively Seth Nikotemo can certainly hit very hard, usually aiming for just under the ribs and first intention is to lock up the ball to prevent offloads.

Seth Nikotemo has more than reasonable lateral mobility for a 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. Seth Nikotemo can however get fired up and really cause havoc defensively.

Seth Nikotemo will play the 2022 Gold Coast Rugby League season with the Runaway Bay Seagulls at the U18 Division One level and is shaping to be a key member of the Burleigh Bears MM Cup side in 2022 as well for the second season in a row.

Seth Nikotemo has been a front rower a fair bit in recent seasons but in 2021 showed what he can do in the second row and with his ability to hit the defensive line with speed and power along with similar attributes in defence, I think that Seth Niketomo has a real chance of playing second row into the future.

From an NRL player comparison perspective in relation to Seth Nikotemo, consider someone along the lines of former Canterbury Bulldogs and former St George Dragons and New South Wales State of Origin front rower Paul Vaughan as a big strong tough mobile forward who hits the defensive line hard when he runs as well as the opposition when they are running the ball. I will note however that from an overall size perspective Seth Nikotemo is smaller than Vaughan.

Like Vaughan, Seth Nikotemo is a throwback to the old style of forward who does not try to be too fancy, just effective, very effective. With his hard working attitude, Seth Nikotemo also has the leadership skills to be a potential NRL captain one day.

[mdrew]

Sunny Kama. In mid-December 2021 Sunny Kama had the opportunity to train with the Titans NRL squad in a joint training session between the Titans NRL squad and the Titans JTS Program Squads.

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

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

In October 2021 Sunny Kama was named in the powerful Burleigh Bears U16 Cyril Connell Cup squad.

Also in 2021 Sunny Kama was part of the PBC State High School Hancock Cup school boy rugby league side including starting at right centre in the 2021 Hancock Cup Grand Final against local rivals Keebra Park State High School.

Understandably Keebra Park State High School did not allow Sunny Kama much room to run the ball but as the Grand Final progressed Sunny Kama became more and more effective, including in the 38th minute when Sunny Kama ran an underneath route, making twenty five metres to get the ball into Keebra Park SHS territory.

Sunny Kama made another strong run just three minutes later in the 41st minute, making twenty more metres to once again get the ball into Keebra Park SHS territory after once again running an underneath route back through the centre of the ruck. Such was the speed and power of Sunny Kama’s run that the Keebra Park defenders were forced to hold him down to allow their defensive line to reset, but they held him down for too long with Sunny Kama being awarded a penalty as a result.

Then with PBC leading by four points with time running down and with PBC trapped in their own territory with less than a minute to go in the match, Sunny Kama charged onto the ball to the right of the dummy half, making twenty metres through the centre of the ruck and getting the ball once again in Keebra Park SHS territory and ease the pressure on PBC.

At the completion of the Grand Final, Sunny Kama was named Player of the Match and was also named at right centre in the Courier Mail Team of the Grand Finals.

Whilst Sunny Kama started the Grand Final at right centre, he also spent time at left centre over the course of the 2021 Walters Cup competition, including starting at left centre in Round Three against Coombabah State High School.

Another strong match of Sunny Kama’s from the right centre position in 2021 came against Keebra Park State High School with Sunny Kama coming close to scoring for PBC in the dying minutes but he was held up by desperate Keebra Park defence in the right corner.

Sunny Kama also had a strong Renouf Shield match against Marsden State High School including scoring in the 38th minute when he was put away to score near the right corner by Sam Stephenson in a strong PBC SHS victory.

Sunny Kama also scored in Round Two against Wavell State High School, scoring in the 23rd minute when he was on hand to receive on off-load from his right second rower who taken a bomb on the full and then off-loaded to Sunny Kama as he was being tackled by two defenders.

In 2021 Sunny Kama played for the Burleigh Bears in the Gold Coast Rugby League U15 Division One competition, playing for Burleigh Marron and started at right centre in their 2021 U15 Division One Grand Final victory against Burleigh White.

One of Sunny Kama’s best moments in the Grand Final came in the opening minutes of the second half when he split the Burleigh White right sided defensive line. Burleigh Maroon had a scrum feed fifteen metres inside their own territory with Sunny Kama receiving the ball from the lock before cutting to his right before straightening up and slicing between two defenders. Sunny Kama raced away only to brought down by the Burleigh White fullback around fifteen metres from the try line after an outstanding run of fifty metres.

Whilst the ball did not get out to the right side very often, Sunny Kama went looking for the ball including in the 25th minute when he took a hit-up on the opposite side to where he lined up, making twenty metres and then was tripped up when he was trying to get to his feet quickly to be awarded a penalty.

Sunny Kama was also strong defensively in the Grand Final including in the 18th minute when he came out of the line to smash the Burleigh White fullback who had chimed into the backline much to his detriment.

Sunny Kama also produced a smart piece of play in the 37th minute when he swooped on a Burleigh White dropped ball, picking up the bouncing ball down low and at full speed with Sunny Kama making a further ten metres before he was dragged down from behind.

Sunny Kama also performed strongly in the 2021 GCRL U15 Division One Major Semi-final, once again starting at right centre for the Bears against the Helensvale Hornets with Sunny Kama scoring a strong 21st minute try. From around sixteen metres out Sunny Kama cut back underneath his halfback, receiving the ball and continued to run to his left. Sunny Kama broke four tackles before crashing over with a number of Hornets defenders hanging off him to get the ball down near the left goal post.

Sunny Kama also had a strong match at right centre in Round Ten against the Coomera Cutters, a match that saw Sunny Kama make an early second half line break when he burst fifteen metres down the right channel to get to around twenty metres from the try line.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

For me however Sunny Kama’s ceiling is far far higher than that of the Titans Top 30 NRL centre.