My take on our top juniors

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Beau Hartmann. Beau Hartmann deservedly signed a contract with the Titans in 2022 that will keep him with the Titans for the next three seasons being up to the end of Beau Hartmann’s U18 eligibility.

In October 2022 Beau Hartmann was named in the 2023 Northern Rivers Titans U16 Andrew Johns Cup squad.

In early May 2022 Beau Hartmann started from the bench for the Titans JTS U16 squad that took on a Northern Rivers Titans U17 squad at Cbus Stadium as a curtain-raiser to the Titans NRL Round Fourteen match against the Souths Sydney Rabbitohs.

Then in late September 2022 Beau Hartmann started for a Titans U15 Northern Rivers Invitational side against a Titans U14 at Piggabeen in Northern New South Wales. Even though his side went down to an impressive Titans U14 side, Beau Hartmann was one of the best for the Titans U15 Invitational side.

After missing the early rounds of the 2022 Group One U15 competition, Round Six saw Beau Hartmann named in his usual No. 17 jersey as his Grafton Ghosts took on the Clarence Coast Magpies with Beau Hartmann one of the hosts try scorers. Beau Hartmann also scored in Round Seven against Casino RSM. Beau Hartmann then scored a double in Round Nine against the Clarence Coast Magpies.

Beau Hartmann then scored doubles in Rounds Twelve and Thirteen against the Kyogle Turkeys and Marist Rams respectively before scoring a hat trick in Round Fourteen against Casino RSM.

Week One of the 2022 Group One U15 Finals saw Beau Hartmann line up for the Grafton Ghosts against the Marist Rams with Beau Hartmann scoring a double in a Seagulls 18 – 8 victory.

Beau Hartmann also lined -up for the Grafton Ghosts in the 2022 Group One U15 Preliminary Final against the Clarence Coast Magpies with Beau Hartmann one of the Ghosts try scorers in a touch extra time 44 – 30 loss.

Beau Hartmann finished the 2022 Group One U15 season as the competition’s fourth leading try scorer with fourteen tries and the sixth leading points scorer with fifty six points.

2022 also saw Beau Hartmann named in the U15 North Coast School Boy Rugby League Representative side from South Grafton High School.

The tall, fast and powerful Grafton Ghosts Group One U14 left centre or second rower (normally left sided in either position anyway) had an impressive 2021 season including in Round Ten when he scored four tries for the Ghosts against traditional and cross town rivals the South Grafton Rebels.

The four tries that he scored in the Round Ten match meant that Beau Hartmann had scored thirteen tries in the 2021 Group One U14 competition through the opening ten rounds at a 130% strike rate.

Beau Hartmann who has started from the bench (or at the least named there) in all of his matches in the 2021 season also scored two hat tricks which came in Round Six against the Marist Rams and Round Eight against the Kyogle Turkeys.

Beau Hartmann also scored doubles in Round Seven against the Ballina Seagulls and Round Eleven against Casino RSM and Beau Hartmann also crossed the try line in Round One also against the Marist Rams.

Against Casino RSM in Round Eleven, Beau Hartmann scored the first of his two tries with an outstanding long range individual effort in the 9th minute when from seventy metres out Beau Hartmann received the ball on the left side of the field. As soon as he took possession of the ball, Beau Hartmann accelerated through a gap directly between two Casino RSM defenders before running around the fullback to his right and then Beau Hartmann was able to get the ball down under the posts.

Beau Hartmann recorded the second of his two tries in the 25th minute when after receiving the ball fifteen metres out and on the right side of the field, Beau Hartmann sliced through the Casino RSM before stepping off his left foot to beat the fullback and then brought the ball around to score next to the right upright.

Beau Hartmann also broke the Casino RSM line in the 21st minute with a strong twenty metre effort down the left side of the field before producing a good left arm off-load to keep the play going.

From the bench in Round Twelve against the Clarence Coast Magpies, Beau Hartmann crossed for a hat trick in the Ghosts big win.

Beau Hartmann continued in the No. 16 jersey in Round Thirteen against the Ballina Seagulls, scoring a double for the Ghosts in their nail biting 27 – 26 victory.

Beau Hartmann finished the abridged 2021 Group One U14 regular season as the competition’s second leading try scorer with twenty tries for a strike rate of close to 200%.

Post the completion of the Group One U14 season Beau Hartmann was named the Grafton Ghosts Group One U14 Most Consistent Player.

Beau Hartmann also scored two tries in the Group One U15 competition with both tries coming from a double in Round Nine against Casino RSM.

Beau Hartmann started at left centre in Round Eleven of the Group One U15 competition against Casino RSM after playing in the U14 match earlier in the day and showed that he could comfortably handle the step up in age group with an assured performance including a strong twenty metre line break to get the ball over the halfway mark through the centre of the field.

Beau Hartmann was also named to start from the bench in Round Thirteen against the Ballina Seagulls.

2021 also saw Beau Hartmann excel in both Athletics and Swimming at school, zone, region and state level. In relation to swimming Beau Hartmann was the South Grafton High School Age Champion, represented his zone, region as well as state, being New South Wales.

From an Athletics perspective Beau Hartmann won a Bronze Medal at the New South Wales Age Athletics Championship in the 4 x 100 metre relay.

Beau Hartmann also played for the Grafton Ghosts in 2020 in the Group One U13 competition, operating primarily in the centres including starting in the centres in the 2020 Group One U13 Grand Final against Ballina with Beau Hartmann starring in the Grafton’s Grand Final win, including scoring an impressive hat trick in a dominant display.

In the 2020 Group One U13 regular season Beau Hartmann scored fifteen tries including an outstanding four try effort in Round Five against the South Grafton Rebels. Beau Hartmann scored hat tricks in Rounds One and Ten, on both occasions against the Kyogle Turkeys. Beau Hartmann also scored doubles in Round Seven against South Grafton and Round Nine against Casino RSM and also scored in Round Three against Casino RSM.

Beau Hartmann also attends South Grafton High School and has been an impressive performer in Athletics and Swimming amongst other sports at various levels in addition to rugby league.

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

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

Defensively the most impressive aspect of Beau Hartmann’s play is his ability to make effective tackle after effective tackle. For the Grafton Ghosts in the 2021 Group One U14 competition he continually made up to three and four tackles in a row on multiple occasions.

Whilst his stamina is impressive, so is Beau Hartmann’s initial contact, he uses his strength and leverage to hit the ball carrier hard forcing momentum changes to the ball carrier immediately upon impact.

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

2023 will see Beau Hartmann line-up once again for the Grafton Ghosts in the Group One U16 competition and no doubt Beau Hartmann will also play a number of matches up an age group in the Group Two U18 competition. Beau Hartmann will also be a part of the U16 Andrew Johns Cup Northern Rivers Titans squad in 2023.

Whilst Beau Hartmann played the majority of the 2022 season in the centres for Grafton, with his size and speed I believe that ultimately Beau Hartmann will settle in the second row and a very good one at that. For completeness I note that Beau Hartmann also played in the centres as well in 2021 “up an age group” in the Group One U15 competition.

Beau Hartmann is an intriguing and in some ways unique prospect in the Titans catchment area with the size, speed and power combination of someone like Penrith Panthers and New South Wales State of Origin’s Isiah Yeo as a player who just looks a lass apart from the majority of other players on the field. If anything Beau Hartmann has more speed (a fair bit more speed) than Yeo.

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Nayte Saaga. The young fullback, five eight or halfback has been a stand out player for his age group in the Gold Coast rugby league competition for the last couple of seasons and as a result in early 2021 signed a multi-year contract with the Titans.

In late September 2022 Nayte Saaga was named in the 2023 Burleigh Bears MM Cup Squad and Nayte Saaga is also MM Cup eligible in 2024.

In late January 2022 Nayte Saaga started from the bench for the Titans U16 side in a match at Pizzey Park against the Sydney Bulldogs. Nayte Saaga came onto the field at around the ten minute mark to play in the dummy half role before later in the match operating at five eight on the right side of the field for the Titans.

In early May 2022 Nayte Saaga started from the bench for the Titans JTS U16 squad that took on a Northern Rivers Titans U17 squad at Cbus Stadium as a curtain-raiser to the Titans NRL Round Fourteen against the Souths Sydney Rabbitohs.

In late September 2022 Nayte Saaga started at hooker for a Titans U16 side against a Sydney Roosters U16 side at Pizzey Park.

In late September 2022 Nayte Saaga also started at hooker for the Titans U16’s in their annual Anthony Laffranchi Cup match against the Balmain Tigers with Nayte Saaga scoring in just the second minute of the match when Nayte Saaga chased through a Zane Harrison grubber kick with Nayte Saaga diving on the ball in the goal mid-way between the goal posts and corner post on the left side of the field.

In mid-December 2021 Nayte Saaga 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 October 2021 Nayte Saaga was named in the exceptionally talented Burleigh Bears U16 Cyril Connell Cup squad.

Round One of the 2022 U16 Cyril Connell Cup saw Nayte Saaga named at hooker for the Burleigh Bears against the Tweed Heads Seagulls with Nayte Saaga coming close to scoring in the 28th minute when he was held up over the try line after trying to burrow over from close range after running to his right out of dummy half.

Nayte Saaga’s first significant contribution came in just the 2nd minute when near mid-field he took a quick tap over Burleigh had been awarded a penalty, running to his right, making fifteen metres before he produced a great right arm flick pass to Jac Finnigan.

Nayte Saaga was also named at hooker for Round Two against the Souths Logan Magpies, scoring in the opening minutes of the second half from dummy half. Nayte Saaga moved into dummy half three metres from the line and directly in front. After throwing an extravagant dummy half to his left, Nayte Saaga ran to his right, diving over between two defenders to score under the posts.

Nayte Saaga made the first of his trademark darts out of dummy half inside the opening minute of the match when from just inside the Bears attacking twenty metre area, he ran out of dummy half to his right making eight metres before off-loading to his right.

Nayte Saaga continued at hooker in Round Three against the Norths Devils as well as being named at hooker in Round Four against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls however a late change saw Nayte Saaga start the match at halfback and operate on the right side of the field.

Nayte Saaga scored the opening try of the match in just the 2nd minute when he moved into dummy half around ten metres out from the try line and ten metres in from the left touchline. Nayte Saaga initially ran to his left before cutting back to his right behind the play the ball and then darting over to get the ball down mid-way between the corner post and goal posts on the left side of the field.

Nayte Saaga was named on the bench for the Bears opening 2022 trail against the Tweed Heads Seagulls with Nayte Saaga coming into the match late in the first half, spending the remainder of the first half in the dummy half role.

Nayte Saaga scored in just the 5th minute of the second half when he backed up a long break in the 35th minute by Sam Stephenson who then drew the fullback and passed to his right to send Nayte Saaga over for a great Burleigh long range try.

Nayte Saaga scored his second try of the trial in the 55th minute when he darted out of dummy half to his left from five metres out. Nayte Saaga then stepped off his left foot to dive over between two defenders to score next to the left upright.

In fact the reason that Burleigh were in the position that they were was as a result of Nayte Saaga himself. On the play prior to him scoring from dummy half, Nayte Saaga received the ball from the dummy half and to the right of the play the ball and put his right second rower into a gap with a good short ball to his right. Nayte Saaga then went into dummy half and scored from the resultant play the ball.

Nayte Saaga also almost scored in the 46th minute when after receiving an offload ten metres out from the line from his right, Nayte Saaga skipped to his right to beat one defender, before veering back to his left to beat a second. Nayte Saaga then put his head down and took off for the line but was brought to ground directly in front of the goal posts less than a metre out.

Nayte Saaga then started at halfback for Burleigh in their final 2022 trial against the Western Clydesdales operating on the left side of the field with Nayte Saaga showcasing his elite kicking skills in the 17th minute when from twenty five metres out and down a wide left blindside, Nayte Saaga put in a perfectly weighted left foot grubber kick into the in-gaol and then Nayte Saaga was the first Bears played downfield to trap the Clydesdales winger in the in-goal.

Round One of the 2022 Langer Cup School Boy Reserve competition saw Nayte Saaga start at five eight for Keebra Park SHS against Ipswich SHS with Nayte Saaga scoring one try and setting up another.

Nayte Saaga scored in the 40th minute when Nayte Saaga got the ball to his left down a wide left blindside to his right second rower then Nayte Saaga backed up on the inside to get the ball back around ten metres from the line. Nayte Saaga then stepped off his right foot to beat the Ipswich SHS fullback to score five metres in from the left corner post.

Nayte Saaga recorded a try assist in the 11th minute when from twelve metres out and just to the left of the uprights, Nayte Saage put in a left foot grubber into the in-goal with the ball taking a perfect bounce for Jett Bryce to race through and score.

Nayte Saaga started Round Three of the 2022 School Boy Langer Cup Reserve competition at five eight for Keebra Park SHS against Marsden SHS with Nayte Saaga recording a 34th minute try assist when from around twenty five metre out and to the left of the play the ball Nayte Saaga threw a great short ball to his left to Jett Bryce who charged through the gap and put the ball down under the posts.

Nayte Saaga then did well in the 11th minute when he ran the ball down a short left blindside and after cutting inside away from the left touchline, Nayte Saaga was able to get the ball away to his right to Jett Bryce who was able to get the ball over the halfway mark.

Nayte Saaga did well defensively in the 18th minute when he along with Kobie Mackay-Taylor and Zyroam Taurawa-Herlihy held up the Marsden SHS right centre over the try line near the left corner.

2022 also saw Nayte Saaga play for the Burleigh Bears White side in the Gold Coast Junior Rugby League U16 Division One competition, leading the Bears to a Grand Final appearance against the Helensvale Hornets with Nayte Saaga starting the Grand Final at halfback and scoring fourteen of the Bears twenty two points in their tough loss from two tries and three conversions.

Nayte Saaga scored his opening try in the Grand Final in the 15th minute when whilst defending on the right side of the field and facing an overlap Nayte Saaga stepped forward to take an intercept forty eight metres out from the try line with Nayte Saaga beating the Hornets cover defence to dive over three metres in from the right corner post.

Nayte Saaga completed his double in the 59th minute when after moving into dummy half with the play the ball two metres out and mid-way between the corner post and goal posts on the right side of the field, Nayte Saaga ran to his left out of dummy half to force the ball down ten metres to the right of the uprights. Nayte Saaga then stepped up to convert his own try.

Nayte Saaga had almost scored earlier in the Grand Final 4th minute when from the left of the play the ball and twelve metres out Nayte Saaga executed a left foot step and was able to get to the try line but multiple Helensvale defenders were able to force him to have Nayte Saaga play the ball a metre out from the try line.

Nayte Saaga also recorded a Grand Final line break assist in the 18th minute when from thirty metres out and to the right of the play the ball inside Burleigh’s defensive twenty metre area Nayte Saaga cut across field to his right and send a good short ball away in the same direction to put right second rower Jac Finnigan into a gap.

In addition to scoring two tries Nayte Saaga also saved one when in the 29th minute Nayte Saaga raced across to his left to tackle the Helensvale right winger into touch just out from the left corner.

Nayte Saaga made a second try saving tackle in the 48th minute with once again Nayte Saaga effecting the tackle on the Helensvale right winger, on this occasion eight metres out from the left corner.

Nayte Saaga also started at halfback in Week One of the Finals against the Helensvale Hornets with Nayte Saaga scoring one try and recording a try assist for a second as the Bears progressed straight through to the Grand Final.

Nayte Saaga scored in the 10th minute from eight metres out and to the right of the play the ball when after the pass from the dummy half to Nayte Saaga dribbled along the ground, Nayte Saaga scooped the quickly rolling ball up and dived over to score ten metres in from the right corner. Nayte Saaga then stepped up to convert his own try.

Nayte Saage recorded his try assist in the 48th minute when after taking the Hornets defensive line on to the right of the play the ball with Nayte Saaga’s run taking him over the halfway mark then as he was going to ground Nayte Saaga got a great ball away to Ray Puru who burst through the ruck and beat the fullback to dive over to score next to the right upright. Nayte Saaga then converted the try that he was heavily involved in.

September 2022 saw Nayte Saaga named in the Queensland Samoa Southern Sharks U16 representative side. Post the 2022 Queensland Samoa Championships, Nayte Saaga was named in the Queensland Samoa U16 representative side to play in the 2022 QPICC Carnival with Nayte Saaga starting Round One of the QPICC Carnival at five eight against the Cook Islands with Nayte Saaga kicking a conversion after the final siren from five metres to the left of the uprights.

Nayte Saaga also recorded a try assist in the 17th minute with the pass of the Carnival. Nayte Saaga fed the ball into a scrum ten metres out and ten metres in from the right touchline and after putting the ball into the scrum Nayte Saaga moved away from the scrum down the right blindside and after receiving the ball from the base of the scrum, Nayte Saaga ran down the blindside and when three metres out and after drawing in both defenders, Nayte Saaga threw a superb right arm flick pass to put his winger over to score in the right corner.

Nayte Saaga then recorded a line break assist in the 25th minute when from thirty five metres out and to the right of the paly the ball, Nayte Saaga deep into the defensive line and double pumped a pass to his right before throwing a great ball to send his right winger away down the touchline.

Nayte Saaga also did well in the 34th minute when he chased through a short Ryder Williams chip kick with the sitting up perfectly for Nayte Saaga to race through and retrieve on the bounce.

Nayte Saaga scored in Queensland Samoa’s semi-final victory against Queensland Māori and kicked another conversion in Round Two also against Queensland Māori.

Nayte Saaga then started the Grand Final against PNG at five eight as Samoa surged away to win 26 – 0.

Nayte Saaga scored in the 25th minute of Samoa’s semi-final victory against Queensland Māori when after receiving the ball sixteen metres out from the try line and from the left of the play the ball near the centre of the field. After taking possession Nayte Saaga dummied to his left and at the same time stepped off his left foot. When still around eight metres out, Nayte Saaga shrugged off one defender who had tried to grab him around the collar with Nayte Saaga then beating a second defender before carrying a third over the try line to get the ball down next to the left upright.

Nayte Saaga also recorded a 3rd minute line break when from forty metres out from his own line, Nayte Saaga charged onto a good short ball from his right from Mason Barber with Nayte Saaga charging forty metres downfield before being brought to ground from behind.

Nayte Saaga attended The Southport School (TSS) in 2021 after previously attending Keebra Park State High School as part of their Titans partnered Elite Rugby League Program. In fact towards the end of 2021 Nayte Saaga moved back to Keebra Park State High School.

In May 2021 Nayte Saaga was part of the South Coast U15 QSSRL School Boy representative side, starting the Championship Final against Met West at five eight, scoring the 23rd minute. Nayte Saaga scored when he took advantage of a quick play the ball to race at the line after receiving the ball to the left of the play the ball and sprint at the still back peddling defence from twelve metres out. Nayte Saaga only concession to his straight charge was a slight jink of his left foot before crashing over between two defenders who did not have the time to even got off their own line.

Nayte Saaga also had a try assist in the second half when he received an off-load from his left by Ray Puru who had split the line from thirty metres out. After receiving the off-load ten metres out Nayte Saaga who got to within two metres of the line before he offloaded to his left for Jett Bryce to dive over fifteen metres in from the left corner post.

Nayte Saaga made a strong start in the Championship Final when in the 6th minute he made a good run after cutting back to his right and off-loading to his front rower to push forward then early in the second half, in the 26th minute, Nayte Saaga made a darting twelve metre run down a side left blindside.

On Day One against Met West Nayte Saaga started at five eight and was heavily involved in Jett Bryce’s 38th minute try when he put in a chip kick to the left wing which was collected by Izayah Petricevich who off-loaded in one movement to Jett Bryce to run away to score under the posts. Nayte Saaga then converted the try.

Nayte Saaga produced a smart piece of play in the 11th minute when his kick-off after Met West’s opening try of the match went dead in goal, forcing Met West into a drop out from under the posts, South Coast scored from the subsequent set of six.

In the 29th minute, Nayte Saaga produced a strong run of eighteen metres to get the ball to near to the halfway mark.

Day Two saw Nayte Saaga once again start at five eight against Capricornia, kicking two conversions and displayed his enthusiasm in the opening minute when he chased through a Zane Harrison kick to trap the Capricornia fullback in his own in-goal.

One thing that will stand out when he are watching Nayte Saaga play is his kicking game and in the 16th minute Nayte Saaga kicked a 40/20 that any NRL top level kicked would have been proud off. Nayte Saaga received the ball thirty four metres out from his own line and twenty metres in from the left touchline and put in a hard left foot kick that that he kicked low and hard, going to touch in front of the desperate Capricornia fullback eighteen metres out from the try line.

Nayte Saaga once again started at five eight on Day Three against Met North recording a line break assist in the opening minute of the match when he took the ball to the line on the left side of the field and double pumped sending a short ball to his left to put Jett Bryce into a gap, with the right second rower running forty metres downfield before off-loading himself to Joseph Tupuse.

Nayte Saaga had a second try assist in the 31st minute when he took the ball to the line before throwing a cut-out pass to left centre Joseph Tupuse to rumble fifty metres downfield but unfortunately his inside pass went to ground.

Over the course of the Championships, Nayte Saaga showed that he is an outstanding kicked of the ball whether that be long raking left foot tactical to short chip kicks as well as goal kicking and on Day Two he showed that he can also put in impressive short kick-offs with two short kicks retrieved by team mates. The first short kick-off was from the kick-off to start the second half (it may have been taken by the wind but I will give it to Nayte Saaga) that was retrieved by Zane Harrison and the second was in the 46th minute with Riley Buchanan taking advantage. Nayte Saaga also kicked a conversion in the first half.

Nayte Saaga’s first official commitment with the TSS U15A side in 2021 being his attendance at a rugby skills day that was held towards the end of May. Nayte Saaga first official appearance in the Red and Blue in late May 2021 when he started at No. 10 (fly half) for the U15A side in TSS’s first full trial against Ipswich Grammar School.

Nayte Saaga also started at fly half in the TSS U15A second full GPS trial against Nudgee College as well as in the full scale trial against Brisbane Boys College. In TSS’s final trial before the commencement of the 2021 GPS school boy rugby season, Nayte Saaga also started at fly half against the PBC Alleygators. Then with the TSS U15A side having a Round One bye, Nayte Saaga lined up at No. 10 in a trial against a South Coast U15 representative side.

Round Two away to Anglican Church Grammar School saw Nayte Saaga named at fly half for the TSS U15A side with Nayte Saaga scoring in his TSS debut but unfortunately his side went down 31 -24.

With the majority of TSS sides having a bye week, Nayte Saaga was named at No. 10 in an away match against Brisbane State High School. Post that round Nayte Saaga returned to Keebra Park State High School for the remainder of 2021.

In 2021 Nayte Saaga moved from the Ormeau Shearers to the Burleigh Bears in the Gold Coast Rugby League U15 Division One competition, playing for Burleigh White and started at halfback in the 2021 U15 Division One Grand Final, kicking one conversion from two attempts in their loss to Burleigh Maroon with his conversion coming from directly in front of the posts in the 44th minute when he converted Koda Young’s second half try.

Nayte Saaga was involved in the Grand Final recording a line break assist in the 1st minute of the match when he ran to his right and brought Jac Finnigan underneath him with Jac Finnigan breaking through the Burleigh Maroon line, making forty metres before he was tackled.

The 8th minute of the Grand Final saw Nayte Saaga record a try assist when from ten metres from the line down a wide left blindside, Nayte Saaga threw a cut-out pass to his left to put Luka Skipps int space with the Burleigh White left centre scoring wide out on the left.

Nayte Saaga showcased his kicking game in the 46th minute of the Grand Final when he put up a towering mid-field bomb which could not be handled by the Burleigh Maroon fullback to put Burleigh White on the attack.

Nayte Saaga also had a strong match in Round Ten against the Coomera Cutters when he started at five eight and provided a strong ball playing presence in the Bears 42 – 12 victory including scoring a great solo try late in the second half.

Nayte Saaga received the ball off the dummy half and to the right of the play the ball and immediately attacked the Cutters left sided defensive line from twenty metres out. Just as he was about to engage the defensive line, Nayte Saaga put in a very short grubber kick for himself which bounced up perfectly for him just through the line with Nayte Saaga then able to dive over five metres to the left of the uprights.

In addition to his try Nayte Saaga threw the last pass which was an inside ball to put his fullback over near the left corner towards the end of the first half. Nayte Saaga had a further try assist late in the second half when he put in a left foot chip kick back towards the left touchline with Burleigh collecting the ball on the bounce with the Bears left centre diving over in the left corner.

Nayte Saaga made a line break of his own in the first half when he was able to get away down the left touchline off a good Jac Finnigan pass. After getting through the initial Cutters defensive line, Nayte Saaga cut back towards centre field and before being put to ground was able to off-load to his inside to keep Burleigh on the front foot and will all of the momentum.

Nayte Saaga continued his strong game when he made a smart play late in the second half when Nayte Saaga put in a great short kick-off which just went the required distance with Burleigh able to retrieve. Sam Stephenson scored later in the same set of six tackles.

Nayte Saaga also continued his strong form in Round Eleven, once again starting at five eight on that occasion against the Helensvale Hornets with Nayte Saaga scoring in the 15th minute of the match. The play the prior to Nayte Saaga scoring was a long break by the Burleigh fullback who was dragged down from behind ten metres out from the line. Nayte Saaga received the ball from the dummy half and to the right of the play the ball and scooted ten metres to dive over next to the left upright.

Nayte Saaga also recorded a line break early in the second half against the Hornets when after he received an off-load thirty metres from his own try line, Nayte Saaga burst downfield getting to the halfway mark before a right arm flick off-load found Sam Stephenson who was backing up Nayte Saaga to his right.

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

In 2019 Nayte Saaga played for the Coomera Cutters in the GCRL U13 Division One competition. In that competition, Nayte Saaga scored an impressive 11 tries from 15 appearances, being a strike rate of 73.33%. Nayte Saaga also kicked six goals to finish the season with 56 points.

Nayte Saaga scored doubles against Runaway Bay and Burleigh with his remaining seven tries coming in individual matches against Nerang, Southport, Currumbin twice, Runaway Bay and Burleigh.

With the boot Nayte Saaga’s best performance was against Burleigh in the Preliminary Final when he kicked three goals.

In addition to being a talented rugby league player Nayte Saaga is also an outstanding Oztag player, including in 2019 being named in the U13 Australian Oztag High Performance Squad.

In 2020 Nayte Saaga played for the Queensland Rebels in the Queensland U14 Oztag Super Series after being selected for the Rebels after starring for the Miami Raptors.

In 2019 Nayte Saaga played in the Queensland U13 Oztag Super Series with the Queensland Force after being selected from the City Centurions. Nayte Saaga was in fact named in the Super Series All Star Team and was also named as the U13 Most Valuable Player.

It is hard to put in words just how talented Nayte Saaga is in terms of running the ball, he has outstanding speed both off the mark which I would consider in the plus plus category and top end speed which must be considered plus regardless of position. Nayte Saaga with his speed is able to exploit even small gaps in the defensive line with an exceptional step off either foot and incredible acceleration as well as outstanding body control.

It is that speed trait which opens up his incredible ball playing skills as well. Teams start to focus heavily on Nayte Saaga when he has the ball with outside defenders looking to come in to assist that they open up holes wider out in the defensive line that Nayte Saaga can exploit.

Nayte Saaga 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 Nayte Saaga 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.

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

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

Defensively Nayte Saaga 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.

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

Nayte Saaga will play the 2023 season with the Burleigh Bear in the GCRL U18 Division One competition as well as with Burleigh in the U18 Mal Meninga Cup South East Queensland representative competition. Nayte Saaga is also MM Cup eligible in 2024.

Nayte Saaga will be back at Keebra Park in 2023, pushing for immediate playing time in their Open A school boy side for the 2023 Langer Cup School Boy competition.

I am a touch conflicted in terms of where Nayte Saaga’s best position on a rugby league field is (or ultimately will be). I could legitimately make an argument that Nayte Saaga’s best position is at halfback/five eight as the more he has the ball in his hands the better, but also at fullback where Nayte Saaga can see the entire field and pick and choose where and when he should get involved to maximise his impact for his team’s benefit.

If push comes to shove, I will lean ever so slightly towards Nayte Saaga ending up at halfback or five eight but there is no doubt Nayte Saaga also has immense potential at hooker where Nayte Saaga could also easily handle the rigours of the dummy half role in both attack and defence.

With his speed off the mark, elusiveness and innate play making ability in the halves, Nayte Saaga’s playing style is eerily similar to that of Sydney Roosters boom rookie Sam Walker. Both Nayte Saaga and Walker just seem to have all of the time in the world to make their decisions and just seem to be playing at a speed far in excess to players around them and also a play or two in front of them as well.

To be fair though, Nayte Saaga does not have the same type of speed off the mark as Walker and is a bigger body shape but my comparison refers to their ability to read and react to defences when they have the ball in their hands.

[mdrew]

Tremain Spry. The former Ipswich State High School student spent the 2018 off-season training with the Titans NRL squad looking to secure a coveted NRL Development contract but went one better and signed a two year NRL contract with the Titans which took him through to the end of the 2020 season and subsequently signed further two year contract that extended his stay with the Titans until the end of the 2022 NRL season. Currently Tremain Spry is training with the Titans in their 2022/23 off-season program.

Tremain Spry started the Titans first 2022 NRL trial against the Brisbane Bronco’s at Cbus Stadium on the left wing before moving to right centre in the second half with the match seeing Tremain Spry scoring a try in each half to record an impressive double.

Tremain Spry scored his first try in the 23rd minute when after some good work on his inside by Jojo Fifita, Tremain Spry flew sixty five metres down the left touchline including outpacing Bronco’s right winger Selwyn Cobbo to dive over near the left corner.

Tremain completed his double in the 43rd minute when he comfortably collected a Jaylan De Groot short grubber kick to put the ball down ten metres in from the right corner post.

Tremain Spry also recorded a try assist in the 58th minute when after the ball was spun out to his right side of the field, Tremain Spry immediately upon receipt of the ball from his left Tremain Spry threw the ball back in the direction from where it came to Jaylan De Groot to score from ten metres out wide out on the right side of the field.

In total in the trial against the Bronco’s Tremain Spry ran for 170 metres (twenty eight post contact), broke three tackles, played the ball at an average speed of 3.33 seconds and made a tackle without missing one.

In the Titans second and final 2022 trial in Redcliffe against the New Zealand Warriors Tremain Spry was named on the bench.

Tremain Spry made his return to the Queensland Cup for the Tweed Heads Seagulls at right centre in Round Seventeen being the local derby against the Burleigh Bears and whilst playing the entire match Tremain Spry ran for fifty nine metres (fifteen post contact), played the ball at an average speed of 2.85 seconds and made twelve tackles at a tackling efficiency of 85.71%.

Tremain Spry continued at right centre in Round Eighteen against the Northern Pride and whilst playing all eighty minutes of the match Tremain Spry ran for 108 metres (twenty eight post contact), broke two tackles, played the ball at an average speed of 2.7 seconds and made four tackles.

Tremain Spry was also named at right centre in Round Nineteen against the Townsville Blackhawks with Tremain Spry scoring a double with Tremain Spry’s opening try coming in the 10th minute when after receiving the ball around twelve metres out and on the right side of the field Tremain Spry ran at the defensive line, dummying to his right before slicing through a gap to get the ball down five metres in from the right corner post.

Tremain Spry completed his double in the 73rd minute when he ran a hard straight line to get the ball five metres out and in a gap to score seven metres in from the right corner post.

Playing all eighty minutes, Tremain Spry ran for eighty six metres (twenty five post contact), broke five tackles, played the ball at an average speed of 3.54 seconds and made four tackles.

Such was Tremain Spry’s performance, he was named in the centre in the Queensland Rugby League Round Nineteen Queensland Cup Team of the Week.

Tremain Spry continued at right centre in Round Twenty against the Easts Tigers with Tremain Spry scoring in the 65th minute with a fourteen metre charge to score twelve metres in from the right corner post after holding off one Tigers defender with a left arm fend.

Playing the entire match Tremain Spry ran for eighty five metres (twenty four post contact), broke three tackles, played the ball at an average speed of 2.53 seconds and made eleven tackles at a tackling efficiency of 91.67%.

Tremain Spry started at right centre for the Tweed Heads Seagulls in their Queensland Cup Week One Final against the Easts Tigers and whilst playing all eighty minutes of the match Tremain Spry ran for seventy three metres (thirty two post contact), recorded a line break assist, made a line break of his own, played the ball at an average speed of 3.69 seconds and made seven tackles at a tackling efficiency of 87.5%.

Tremain Spry also started at right centre in Week Two of the Finals against the Sunshine Coast Flacons and in his seventy nine minutes on the field Tremain Spry ran for 106 metres (twenty nine post contact), broke a team leading five tackles, played the ball at an average speed of 3.09 seconds and made six tackles.

In total in the 2022 Queensland Cup competition Tremain Spry played in six matches scoring three tries. Tremain Spry also recorded a try assist, broke sixteen tackles, made five line breaks, made forty four tackles at a tackling efficiency of 77.2% and ran for 518 metres at a per game average of eighty six metres.

After missing a significant portion of the 2022 season, Tremain Spry started from the bench of the Helensvale Hornets in the rescheduled Round Seven GCRL First Grade match against the Runaway Bay Seagulls with Tremain Spry coming on to operate at right centre and score in the 66th minute.

Tremain Spry received the ball in space on the right eighty metres out and charged down the right touchline. As the fullback came across in cover defence, Tremain Spry put in a grubber kick and amazingly multiple players from both teams over ran the ball with Tremain Spry regaining possession to crash over to score mid-way between the goal posts and corner post on the right side of the field.

Tremain Spry’s first 2021 hit-out came in mid-February when he started at right centre for the Titans in their first trial against the Burleigh Bears. Tremain Spry’s had an outstanding match, scoring one try as well as a number of other touches of class.

Tremain Spry’s try came in the 35th minute when he charged onto the ball twenty metres out from the line. Tremain Spry shaped to pass to his right but as the defence started to back peddle Tremain Spry brought the ball back in to score wide out on the right.

One of those touches of class came early in the first half when he showcased quick hands to his right to put Lofi Khan-Pereira into space down the right touchline. Whilst it did not lead to a try, Tremain Spry produced a piece of individual brilliance midway through the first half when he threw a beautiful right arm flick pass to put Lofi Khan-Pereira over in the corner but somehow the pass was ruled forward.

Tremain Spry, in the 69th minutes proved to be a continuing handful for the Burleigh defence when he broke their left sided defence from a Titans scrum win inside their own twenty. Tremain Spry was able to get on the outside of his opposing defender before holding him off with his left arm and passing the ball inside to his left to Toby Sexton who was backing up.

Tremain Spry broke the Burleigh line once again in the 78th minute and once again it was down the right side of the field when he was able to make twenty metres after receiving the pass from a Titans scrum win deep in their own territory.

Tremain Spry also defended well in the match, including heavy contact on the Burleigh No. 18 with the ball coming loose as a result just metres away from his own try line to defuse a threatening Burleigh opportunity.

The following week Tremain Spry started from the bench for the Titans in their final 2021 NRL trial against the New Zealand Warriors at Lismore. Tremain Spry played at right centre in the final quarter of the Titans 12 all draw, running for seventeen metres (eight post contact), played the ball at an average speed to 2.8 seconds and made four tackles at a 100% tackling efficiency.

As he has been in previous seasons, Tremain Spry was allocated to the Tweed Heads Seagulls when the Titans allocated their players to their Gold Coast based feeder clubs with Tremain Spry part of the Seagulls squad for their final Queensland Cup trial against local rivals, being the Burleigh Bears, starting the match at right centre.

Tremain Spry started at right centre in Round One of the 2021 Queensland Cup season for the Tweed Heads Seagulls against the Central Queensland Capra’s, scoring one try and setting up another. Tremain Spry’s try came in the second half when he ran onto a good short ball from Jayden Campbell to charge over from ten metres out to get the ball down ten metres in from the right corner post.

Tremain Spry’s try assist also came on the second half and was a result of him getting on the outside of his direct opponent. Tremain Spry got to the outside five metres from the line and likely could have scored himself but instead passed to his right to put Taylor Walters over in the right corner.

Playing all eighty minutes of the match, Tremain Spry ran for eighty two metres (twenty six post contact) had a line break for his try, the afore mentioned try assist, broke three tackles, played the ball at an average speed of 3.28 seconds and made fifteen tackles.

As a result of his outstanding Round One match, Tremain Spry was also due to start at right centre in Round Two against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls however Covid protocols were initiated and Tremain Spry had to withdraw from the side.

After also missing a number of rounds, Tremain Spry started at right centre in Round Six against the Ipswich Jets, recording two try assists as the Seagulls defeated the Jets 32 – 26. Tremain Spry’s first try assist came when he ran the ball down a short right blindside and held the ball up to put his right winger over in the corner. Tremain Spry’s second try assist came when he followed through a Toby Sexton bomb, and after initially dropping the ball backwards he offloaded to a support who dived over from close range.

Playing the entire eighty minutes Tremain Spry ran for 103 metres (twenty eight post contact), made a line break, broke a tackle, played the ball at an average speed of 2.36 seconds and made eight tackles.

Tremain Spry also was named to start at right centre in Round Seven against the Northern Pride however he was a late omission from the Seagulls side.

Tremain Spry was also named to start at right centre in Round Eight against the Easts Tigers, scoring a double in the Seagulls big win.

Tremain Spry’s first try came after Jayden Campbell chimed into the Seagulls backline as they spun the ball to the right, with Jayden Campbell taking the ball into the line and passing to his right to put Tremain Spry into a big gap twenty metres out, with Tremain Spry then producing a right foot step to beat the Tigers fullback to score.

Tremain Spry’s second try came in the second half when with Easts running the ball, Darius Farmer smashed the Tigers halfback front on with the ball immediately coming loose, Joseph Vuna swooped on the ball, running around forty metres before getting away on overhead pass to his right to an unmarked Tremain Spry who easily scored under the posts.

In addition to his double, Tremain Spry ran for 144 metres (thirty post contact), broke three tackles, played the ball at an average speed of 3.82 seconds and made seven tackles at a tackling efficiency of 87.5%.

Round Nine against the Norths Devils once again saw Tremain Spry line up at right centre. Playing the entire eighty minutes, Tremain Spry ran for 124 metres (forty two post contact), made a team leading seven tackles breaks, played the ball at an average speed of 3.08 seconds and made twelve tackles.

Tremain Spry continued at right centre in Round Ten against the Mackay Cutters, scoring in the 5th minute when he found himself in acres of space on the right after receiving the ball forty five metres from the line. As he neared the line, Tremain Spry stepped off his left to beat the fullback to score out wide on the right.

Playing all eighty minutes, Tremain Spry ran for a team leading 170 metres (thirty four post contact), made a team leading two line breaks, broke a team leading five tackles, played the ball at an average speed of 2.92 seconds and made seven tackles.

Tremain Spry moved to the left wing for Round Eleven against Redcliffe, scoring in the Seagulls two point victory. Tremain Spry scored when he dived on a short grubber kick in the left corner.

Playing the entire eighty minutes, Tremain Spry ran for 108 metres (forty three post contact), broke a tackle, played the ball at an average speed of 3.18 seconds and made a tackle.

Tremain Spry was back at right centre in Round Twelve against the Souths Logan Magpies however the game was postponed due to a Covid 19 lockdown and Tremain Spry was also named at right centre for the Round Thirteen local derby against the Burleigh Bears.

Once again playing the entire eighty minutes, Tremain Spry ran for fifty three metres, made a line break, broke five tackles, played the ball at an average speed of 3.17 seconds and made sixteen tackles at a tackling efficiency of 94.12%.

Tremain Spry continued at right centre in Round Fourteen against the Sunshine Coast Falcons playing the entire eighty minutes and scoring an impressive hat trick.

Tremain Spry's first try came in just the second minute from his first touch of the ball when he beat his opposing centre BJ Au***a-Toomaga on the outside and was too fast for the closing defence to cross from 30 metres.

Tremain Spry’s second try was déjà vu, although this time he beat Au***a-Toomaga with a left-handed fend then shook off two more tacklers near the line.

Tremain Spry's third came in the dying moments when he stepped inside, then out, and pushed off defenders again in a show of class from 25 metres.

In addition to his hat trick, Tremain Spry ran for 136 metres (seven post contact), made three line breaks, broke a team leading ten tackles, played the ball at an average speed of 3.48 seconds and made nine tackles at a 100% tackling efficiency.

Tremain Spry continued at right centre in Round Sixteen against PNG. Playing the entire match Tremain Spry ran for fifty nine metres (sixteen post contact), broke four tackles and made nine tackles at a 90% tackling efficiency.

In Round Nineteen against the Northern Pride Tremain Spry also started at right centre and once again played the entire eighty minutes, running for ninety nine metres (thirty nine post contact), broke five tackles and made six tackles of his own at a 67% tackling efficiency.

Round Twenty saw Tremain Spry continue at right centre against the Norths Devils. In his eighty minutes Tremain Spry ran for 128 metres (forty one post contact), broke four tackles and made ten tackles at an 67% tackling efficiency.

Tremain Spry continued at right centre against the Redcliffe Dolphins, once again playing the entire match. Tremain Spry ran for 105 metres (forty two post contact), made a line break, broke four tackles and made eight tackles at an 89% tackling efficiency.

In his final match of the 2021 Queensland Cup season Tremain Spry played the entire Round Twenty Two match against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls, running for seventy eight metres (thirty three post contact), had two tackles breaks and made seven tackles at a 69% tackling efficiency.

In total in the 2021 Queensland Cup season Tremain Spry played fifteen matches and scored ten tries to finish with a 67% tackling efficiency. In addition Tremain Spry recorded three try assist, broke sixty six tackles, made elven line breaks, made 129 tackles at a tackling efficiency of 81.6% and ran for 1 581 metres at an average of 105 metres per game.

Tremain Spry made his NRL debut on the left wing for the Titans in Round Nine of the 2020 NRL season against the New Zealand Warriors at Cbus Stadium. After a tough first touch Tremain Spry settled down to play the entire eighty minutes of the match. In his debut Tremain Spry ran for ninety three metres (forty one post contact), broke two tackles, played the ball at an average speed of 2.93 seconds and made seven tackles at an 87.5% tackling efficiency.

Tremain Spry played his second career NRL game in Round Ten against the Melbourne Storm being named once again on the left wing and once again played all eighty minutes of the match. Tremain Spry ran for sixty three metres (twenty one post contact), played the ball at an average speed of 3.64 seconds and made five tackles at an 83.33% tackling efficiency.

After starting in the NRL in Round Nine and Ten, Tremain Spry was named on the Titans extended bench for Round Eleven against the Penrith Panthers and was also named on the Titans extended bench for Round Sixteen against the St George Dragons.

Tremain Spry was also named on the Titans NRL extended bench for Round Eighteen against the Brisbane Bronco’s however late in the week moved into the Titans starting line-up at right centre, playing the entire match. Tremain Spry ran for ninety four metres (twenty eight post contact), broke a tackle, played the ball at an average speed of 3.5 seconds and made eleven tackles at a tackling efficiency of 84.62%.

Round Nineteen against Manly saw Tremain Spry start at left centre before moving to the left wing due to injuries playing the entire eight minutes and scoring his first NRL try when he followed through a grubber kick to bring the ball around to near the posts. Tremain Spry also scored a further try when he took at intercept running ninety metres but was brought down inches short in the left corner.

In the match Tremain Spry ran for 152 metres (twenty two post contact), played the ball at an average speed of 2.97 seconds and had a 100% tackling efficiency whilst making eight tackles.

Tremain Spry started on the left wing in Round Twenty against the Newcastle Knights and had an outstanding match that included three try assists as well as a big hand in another.

Tremain Spry’s first try assist in the match came when he broke down the left touch line and was able to pass inside to his right to Ashley Taylor to score. Tremain Spry’s second try assist came early in the second half when he took a chip kick on the full and made a break down the touch line before passing inside once again to Ashley Taylor to score in a move that covered eighty metres.

In relation to his third try assist, after a break down the left touch line, Tremain Spry stood in the tackle of the Knights fullback and offloaded to Kevin Proctor who rumbled fifty metres to score. As noted above Tremain Spry was also heavily involved in Brian Kelly’s try just on half time when he jumped from in the field of play and get the ball back inside to Kelly before his feet touched the ground.

In the Newcastle match, Tremain Spry ran for 194 metres (thirty seven metres), made three line breaks, broke two tackles, played the ball at an average speed of 3.34 seconds and made three tackles at a 100% tackling efficiency.

In total in the NRL in 2020 Tremain Spry played in five NRL matches, playing all eighty minutes in each, scored his first NRL try, had three assist, all of which came in Round Twenty, broke five tackles, rand for 599 metres (119 metre average) and made thirty four tackles at a tackling efficiency of 79.2%.

Tremain Spry’s first 2020 appearance was for the Titans in the 2020 NRL 9’s 18 man tournament in Perth in February. In the Titans opening match against the Canberra Raiders, Tremain Spry ran for thirty metres on three runs and made two tackles at a 100% tackling efficiency. In the Titans quarter final victory over Manly Tremain Spry ran for thirty eight metres from three hit-ups and broke a team leading five tackles.

In total in the 2020 NRL Nine’s tournament, Tremain Spry played in two matches, ran for sixty eight metres from six runs, broke five tackles and made two of his own.

Tremain Spry started from the bench in the Titans first NRL trial of 2020 against Burleigh at Pizzey Park. In the match Tremain Spry ran for forty four metres, an impressive twenty one of which were post contact, broke three tackles and made eleven tackles.

Tremain Spry also started at right centre for Tweed Heads in their final Queensland Cup trial against Burleigh. Tremain Spry did however miss out on Round One of the 2020 Queensland Cup competition which ended up being the only round prior to the cancellation of the competition due to the Covid 19 pandemic.

In late June 2020 Tremain Spry was part of the Titans side that played an eleven on eleven match against the Broncos at Suncorp Stadium prior to the same sides NRL match, with the match ending in a 16 all draw scoring one of the Titans four tries in the match.

Tremain Spry’s try came early in the second half when he flew onto a pass from Toby Sexton who had himself received an off load from Sam Stone who had made the initial break in the Bronco’s defensive line.

In early July 2020 Tremain Spry was part of a Titans side that played a Cronulla Sharks side in a nine a side match as a curtain raiser to the same teams playing Round Eight of the NRL, scoring the Titans first two tries in the match that ended in a 26 all draw.

Tremain Spry’s tries came in the 8th and 10th minutes of the match with Tremain Spry playing on the left side of the field and for each of his tries Tremain Spry combined well with Toby Sexton. Tremain Spry’s second try in particular was an outstanding effort when he scored after a thirty metre angled run where he held the ball in one hand in his charge to the line. Tremain Spry also had a try assist when in the second held after being put through a gap by Toby Sexton, Tremain Spry put Kea Pere away down the left for the first of Kea Pere’s three second half tries.

Tremain Spry started from the interchange bench in the Titans first 2019 NRL trial against the North Queensland Cowboys on the Sunshine Coast. In the NRL trial Tremain Spry had a tough initiation but after that settled down putting in a solid performance in a match not conducive to outside backs due to the weather conditions. Tremain Spry played for the Burleigh Bears Queensland Cup side in their Queensland Cup trial the week prior against the Souths Logan Magpies.

Tremain Spry also started from the bench for the Titans second and final NRL trial when they took on Brisbane on the Gold Coast where his outstanding potential was on display on a number of occasions.

Tremain Spry was also part of the Queensland U20 squad starting the match against New South Wales that was the Third State of Origin curtain raiser on the wing.

In the 2019 season proper Tremain Spry started the season with the Tweed Heads Seagulls Queensland Cup side, starting in the centres in Round One against the PNG Hunters at Tweed Heads.

Playing left centre Tremain Spry played the entire 80 minutes taking nine runs for 92 metres, 36 post contact, had an off-load, broke four tackles and had a play the ball average of 3.91 seconds. Defensively Tremain Spry made nine tackles missing only one.

Tremain Spry had a huge match in Round Two scoring a double, and just missing a third. His first try resulted when he took possession after Townsville fullback Zac Santo spilt a grubber under pressure from Keegan Hipgrave for Tremain Spry to dive over under the posts.

Tremain Spry’s second try resulted when he ran into a gap five metres out in the second half and was presented with a good ball by Tweed Heads five eight Lindon McGrady. Late in the match Tremain Spry could have had his third when he took an intercept whilst defending on his own line but was dragged down five metres out after a ninety three metres run.

Playing right centre Tremain Spry ran for a team leading 177 metres, twenty six post contact, and fifteen from dummy half, had a line break, broke three tackles, played the ball at an average of 4.04 seconds, had an offload and made six tackles.

Due to injury Tremain Spry played only 31 minutes of Tweed Head’s Round Three Queensland Cup match against Burleigh. In his time on the field he ran for 31 metres, broke a tackle, had an offload and played the ball in an average time of 4.25 seconds. Tremain Spry also made three tackles at a 100% tackling efficiency whilst once again playing right centre.

After playing only 21 minutes in Round Three and missing Round Four Tremain Spry was back in the Tweed Heads Seagulls Queensland Cup side for Round Five and scored the Seagulls only try in their 32-6 loss to Wynnum Manly.

Playing on the right Tremain Spry played the entire 80 minutes running for 115 metres (13 post contact), made a line break, broke two tackles, played the ball at a team leading average speed of 3.01 seconds and made a tackle.

Tremain Spry’s try was one of the easier ones that he will score, he ran into a huge gap around seventy metres out to score under the posts untouched.

In Round Six of the Queensland Cup for Tweed Heads against the Mackay Cutters, Tremain Spry scored his fourth try of the season, when Tweed Heads spread the ball to the right, Tremain Spry got outside of his direct opponent and scored untouched from around twenty metres out.

Playing the full game at right centre, Tremain Spry ran for 103 metres (twenty post contact), had a line break, line break assist, a try assist when he set up a try for Taylor Walters, broke a team leading six tackles, played the ball at an average speed of 3.97 seconds and had an 80% tackling efficiency in the match.

In Round Seven against Redcliffe Tremain Spry started at right centre and played the entire 80 minutes. In that time Tremain Spry ran for 45 metres (twenty post contact), broke two tackles, played the ball at an average speed of 2.82 seconds and made thirteen tackles at a tackling efficiency of 81.3%.

In Round Eight of the Queensland Cup Tremain Spry played right centre and scored his fourth try of the season for Tweed Heads against the Ipswich Jets and as usual played the entire 80 minutes. In that time he ran for 84 metres (25 post contact), broke two tackles, had a line break assist, played the ball at an average of 3.05 seconds and made three tackles.

In Round Nine of the Queensland Cup, Tremain Spry started at right centre once again playing the entire 80 minutes against Norths. He ran for 121 metres (43 post contact), broke two tackles, played the ball at an average speed of 3.35 seconds and made thirteen tackles.

Round Ten saw Tremain Spry score a double against the Easts Tigers from right centre. In his 80 minutes on the field, Tremain Spry ran for 142 metres (21 post contact), broke four tackles, played the ball at an average speed of 4.18 seconds and made five tackles at a 100% tackling efficiency.

Tremain Spry’s first try of the match was a seventy metre effort in the first half. He received the ball early, slicing through the Tigers left side defence before easily rounding the fullback to score under the posts and for his second try Tremain Spry was on the spot to clean up a dropped kick to score untouched in the right corner in the second half.

In Round Eleven Tremain Spry started at right centre once again playing the entire 80 minutes against the Northern Pride. He ran for 55 metres (15 post contact), broke two tackles, played the ball at an average speed of 3.24 seconds and made ten tackles.

In Round Twelve against Souths Logan from the right centre position Tremain Spry in his 80 minutes on the field ran for 92 metres (37 post contact), had a line break assist, broke three tackles, played the ball at an average speed of 3.6 seconds and made six tackles a 75% tackling efficiency.

In a tough Round Thirteen loss against the Sunshine Coast Falcons, Tremain Spry playing right centre in his 80 minutes, ran for 78 metres (nineteen post contact), broke a tackle, played the ball at an average speed of 3.66 seconds and made eight tackles.

Tremain Spry moved to five eight for Tweed’s Round Fourteen match against the PNG Hunters in Port Moresby scoring his eighth try of the 2019 season. Tremain Spry played the entire 80 minutes, running for 89 metres (eighteen post contact), broke two tackles, played the ball at an average of 4.37 seconds and made eight tackles at an 80% tackling efficiency.

Tremain’s try was an impressive one, he received the ball on the right side of the field, dummied to the immediate Hunters to get through the initial line before popping a great short ball to Kalani Going who charged thirty metres down field before passing back inside to Tremain Spry to score.

Tremain Spry moved back to right centre for Round Fifteen against Ipswich, once again playing the entire 80 minutes. In that time he ran for 97 metres (twenty post contact), broke two tackles, played the ball at an average speed of 3.35 seconds and made seven tackles.

After missing Round Sixteen as a result of the U20 State of Origin match, Tremain Spry was back starting at right centre in Round Seventeen against Burleigh, once again playing all eighty minutes. In that time, Tremain Spry ran for 39 metres (six post contact), broke two tackles, played the ball at an average speed for 4.57 seconds and made eight tackles at an 80% tackling efficiency.

Tremain Spry started at right centre again in Round Eighteen against the Central Queensland Capra’s playing the entire eight minutes. Tremain Spry ran for 126 metres (38 post contact), had a line break, broke four tackles, played the ball at an average speed of 3.68 seconds and made three tackles.

Tremain Spry as usual started at right centre in Round Nineteen against the Mackay Cutters again playing all 80 minutes. In that time he ran for 95 metres (41 post contact), broke a tackle, played the ball at an average speed for 3.42 seconds and had a 100% tackling efficiency whilst making his eleven tackles.

Tremain Spry also started at right centre in Round Twenty against the Ipswich Jets once again playing all 80 minutes. In the match, Tremain Spry ran for 59 metres (22 post contact), broke three tackles, played the ball at an average speed for 3.56 seconds and made six tackles at a 75% tackling efficiency.

After missing Round twenty One, Tremain Spry was back at right centre for Round Twenty two against Souths Logan playing the entire match. Tremain Spry ran for 79 metres (fourteen post contact), broke three tackles, played the ball at an average speed of 3.56 seconds and made fourteen tackles.

Tremain Spry scored his 8th try of the season in Round Twenty Three against the Northern Pride from right centre when he jumped up between two Pride defenders to retrieve the ball and score a relatively easy try.

In addition to his try, Tremain Spry played all 80 minutes, running for 124 metres (36 post contact), broke three tackles, made a line break, played the ball at an average speed of 3.74 seconds and made fourteen tackles.

In total in the Queensland Cup in 2019, Tremain Spry played twenty matches, nineteen of which he played all eighty minutes, Tremain Spry came off injury in the 31st minute of the other match meaning that he was on the field for a total of 1 551 minutes out of a possible 1 600 meaning that Tremain Spry was on the field 97% of the possible time that he could have been on there for.

In those minutes, Tremain Spry scored nine tries, had two try assists, broke fifty two tackles, made six line breaks, made 154 tackles at a tackling efficiency of 73.1% and ran for 1 854 metres.

Tremain Spry’s 2019 Queensland Cup per game averages included playing 77.6 minutes, running for 92.7 metres, making 7.7 tackles and breaking 2.6 tackles. Thus per eighty minutes, Tremain Spry in 2019, ran for 95.57 metres and made 7.94 tackles.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Also in 2017 Tremain Spry was a standout for Ipswich State High School especially in the Langer Cup including scoring a memorable try against Wavell State High School. Leevai Sutton who was part of the Titans U18 side in their late 2018 matches against PNG and New South Wales Country was Ipswich State High School’s fullback that season with Tremain Spry playing in the centres.

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

Tremain Spry has very good speed off the mark, which I would consider above average for a centre and can break to the outside quickly, couple that with long arms, which he uses to great effect with a powerful fend makes him difficult to tackle.
Tremain Spry’s best timed speed during a match was 34km per hour in Round Ten of the 2020 NRL competition for the Titans against the Melbourne Storm.

When opposing centres are able to get hold of him, Tremain Spry usually is able to maintain his balance and keeps an arm free, looking to offload to either his inside or outside support.
Tremain Spry has more tools though than just an in and away, he will also use his size and strength to run straight over smaller opposing centres as well as also having the skill to step back inside of the defender if he is pushing to the outside too early.
Tremain Spry also has a powerful fend which served him well in the NYC competition and in fact has been the reason for at least two of his line breaks this season when his opposing centre has gone high and he has just palmed him off with seemingly little effort. His natural strength is just an impressive attribute.
A real positive for me is that Tremain Spry can also run a good inside shoulder line due to the fact that he maintains his spacing in the back line and will quickly identify where his direct opponent is ling up to determine whether it is appropriate to run an inside or outside shoulder line or a “crash” line for that matter, Tremain Spry certainly has the courage to run that line regularly which not everybody has.
As you would expect, due to his size and strength, Tremain Spry is a very good defender regardless of position. He will not necessarily hit hard but is definitely aggressive and he is very good at mirroring the movement of the opposing centre and wrapping him up ball and all. He is also quick enough to recover and chase if the opposing centre gets on the outside and his long reach is also a positive attribute in those situations.

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

As noted above Tremain Spry is currently training with the Titans NRL squad and will push for immediate playing time in the NRL come the start of the 2023 season. If he does not start the 2023 season in the NRL Tremain Spry will start the season with the Tweed Heads Seagulls Queensland Cup side.

Tremain Spry spent time at fullback, on the wing and in the centres in the Sydney Roosters U20 Jersey Flegg side in 2018 but it is hard to go past how effective that he was when he moved to the centres for both the Roosters in late 2018 and Tweed Heads in 2019 to 2021 especially from an attacking perspective and at 187cm and 98kg Tremain Spry is more than strong and powerful enough to make the right centre position his own in the NRL for the Titans in 2023.

Obviously for the Titans in the NRL in 2020 and 2021 Tremain Spry played both in the centres and on the wing, showing potential in both positions in his five NRL matches to date and with hopefully a few more on the horizon in either of those positions in 2023.

From an NRL player comparison perspective, Tremain Spry has eerily similar traits to former South Sydney Rabbitohs, Queensland State of Origin and Australian International star centre Greg Inglis. Like Inglis, Tremain Spry is a big strong powerful centre or winger who will not be beaten in a one on one contest in attack or defence.

Tremain Spry is just a powerful young man who is only now learning how to translate and direct that natural strength and power consistently on a rugby league field. Tremain Spry made huge strides to realising his potential in 2020 and there is plenty more to come and all things remaining equal Tremain Spry will have a long and prosperous career in Titans colours re-starting in 2023.

[mdrew]

Chris Vaimili. In early November 2022 Chris Vaimili commenced training with the Titans JTS Logan based U14 Academy in a big coup for the Titans.

At the 2022 Marsden SHS Rugby League Specialisation Awards, Chris Vaimili was named in the centres in the 2022 Marsden SHS Rugby League Team of the Year after an exceptional season for Marsden SHS in the Renouf Shield School Boy Rugby League competition with Marsden SHS progressing all of the way to the Grand Final against Keebra Park SHS.

2022 also saw Chris Vaimili once again line up for the Logan Brothers Junior Rugby League club in the GBJRL U13 Division One competition including starting at fullback in the Elimination Final victory 54 – 4 against Norths Juniors with Chris Vaimili kicking a conversion in the big Logan Brothers win.

The 2022 GBJRL U14 Division One Grand Final saw Chris Vaimili named at start at fullback for Logan Brothers against the Redcliffe Dolphins with Logan Brothers scoring an impressive 26 – 14 victory in a high quality match.

Chris Vaimili also started at fullback in the Preliminary Final against the Souths Acacia Ridge Magpies with Chris Vaimili scoring a double in a big Logan Brothers victory.

Chris Vaimili also started at fullback in the Week Two Semi-Final match against the Redcliffe Dolphins with Chris Vaimili recording a try assist in the 46th minute when from a Logan Brothers scrum win in the centre of the field and around twenty metres out, Chris Vaimili running to his right drawing in the Dolphins left winger before putting his right winger over in the corner.

Chris Vaimili had some impressive matches for Logan Brothers including a two try effort against the Waterford Demons. Chris Vaimili’s opening try of the match came when Chris Vaimili received the ball on the right side of the field and from twenty metres out Chris Vaimili cut off his right foot to break the defensive line to score six metres to the right of the uprights.

Chris Vaimili’s second try came after he picked up a dropped Waterford ball in the centre of the field and broke two tackles on his way to scoring under the posts.

Chris Vaimili finished the GBJRL U13 Division One season as the competition’s third leading try scorer with an impressive sixteen tries.

The exceptionally talented strike centre played for Titans partnered Marsden State High School in the 2021 Bronco’s Old Boys Cup, including scoring a double from left centre in the 2021 Grand Final as Marsden accounted for Ipswich State High School 46 – 12.

Chris Vaimili scored his opening try of the Grand Final just the 3rd minute of the match when he received a pass from his inside from Storm Enoka with Chris Vaimili crossing five metres in from the left corner.

Chris Vaimili completed his double in the 15th minute when once again he received a pass from his inside from Storm Enoka with Chris Vailmili diving over in the left corner.

Then early in the second half, Chris Vaimili made a strong line break down the left touchline from inside his own territory to get well over the halfway mark but making twenty five metres.

At the 2021 Marsden State High School Rugby League Excellence Awards, Chris Vaimilli was named in the centres in the Marsden State High School Team of the Year and was also awarded the Junior Boys Sports Person of the Year. The fact that Chris Vaimilli kept William Semu out of the starting side really does highlight the quality and depth of the Titans Partnered Rugby League Excellence Program.

After the completion of the Walters Cup Grand Final Chris Vaimili was named at left centre in the Courier Mail Team of the School Boy Grand Finals.

It was not just in the 2021 Bronco’s Old Boys Grand Final where Chris Vaimili excelled, in the regular season also against Ipswich State High School, Chris Vaimili had a “career” match scoring a staggering four tries in a big Marsden SHS victory.

Chris Vaimili’s first try came in just the 4th minute when he backed up a break by Marlee Smith to receive the off-load and dive over in the left corner.

Chris Vaimili’s second try came in the 15th minute when once again he dived over in the left corner after being on the end of a good ball from Jeremaih Toko who had chimed into the back line on the left.

The 19th minute saw Chris Vaimili complete his hat trick when after receiving a cut-out pass from ZJ Watene, Chris Vaimili charged into a big gap before utilising a left foot step to beat the Ipswich SHS fullback to put the ball down mid-way between the goal posts and corner post on the left side of the field.

Chris Vaimili made it four tries in the match in the 38th minute when after receiving the ball thirty five metres out from the try line and breaking the defensive line down the left touchline before cutting off his left foot and outpacing the cover defence to get the ball down mid-way between the goal posts and corner post on the left side of the field.

Chris Vaimili almost scored a fifth try in the 34th minute when from a Marsden SHS scrum win five metres inside their own territory Chris Vaimili charged onto the ball, running an inside shoulder route, going straight through the Ipswich SHS right sided defence with Chris Vaimili racing away only to be brought down just three metres out from the try line.

2021 also saw Chris Vaimili named in the Queensland School Boy U12 Rugby League Merit Team after representing Met East in the trials.

Chris Vaimiki’s main attribute when you see him play is his foot work, it is absolutely outstanding at right centre. Chris Vaimili can step off both feet and put multiple combinations of steps together in a short space of time and a small radius to get out of difficult situations and still make ground.

Chris Vaimili’s speed off the mark would have to be considered above average and whilst his top end speed may not necessarily be elite he can sustain it over an extended distance. He also has a solid low centre of gravity type build and also a decent fend complicating the task of defending against him.

Regardless of where Chris Vaimili receives the ball he is a strong attacking player. If he gets an off load from a forward through the middle he is through the gap before the defence can react, if he gets the ball in space out wide he makes it difficult for the opposing defender to get a clean shot at him. Seemingly like all modern day outside backs Chris Vaimili has exceptional balance and body control enabling him to score some truly impressive tries along the touchline as a result of outstanding balance and body control.

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

Chris Vaimili has the body control to redirect quickly and mirror the movement of the opposing attackers and anticipate what vector the attack comes from and understands when to allow the attacking play to develop in from of him and when to come out of the line to disrupt the attacking play prior to its formation and execution.

2023 will see Chris Vaimili continue at Marsden State High School when he will move up to the Hancock Cup School Boy Rugby League Competition. Chris Vaimili will laos continue to play for Logan Brothers in the GBJRL U14 Division One competition.

Chris Vaimili is big, strong, tall, powerful and fast and is just the prototypical modern day rugby league strike centre. I must admit though, watching Chris Vaimili play at fullback for Logan Brothers in 2022 tempered my singular thought that Chris Vaimili was a pure centre, heck Chris Vaimili was very good at fullback as well, very very good.

With his size, strength, speed and power Chris Vaimili is eerily similar to New Zealand Warriors rookie centre Rocco Berry. Both Berry and Chris Vaimili just ooze talent and seem destined to have long and successful rugby league careers ahead of them, not just at the NRL but at the representative level as well.

Chris Vaimili is just an exceptional rugby league talent.

[mdrew]

Joseph Pouniu. The 195cm tall, 100kg+, powerhouse front rower from the North Lakes Kangaroo’s Junior Rugby League club in Brisbane’s northern suburbs signed a multi-year contract with the Titans in early 2021 after being a stand out junior in Brisbane both at club and representative level for a number of seasons prior to his signing with the Titans.

In late January 2022 Joseph Pouniu started in the front row for the Titans U16 JTS side in a match at Pizzey Park against the Sydney Bulldogs with Joseph Pouniu taking the first hit-up of the match for the Titans in just the 2nd minute of the match.

Joseph Pouniu made another strong charge in the 38th minute from a penalty restart he made an impressive fourteen metres against a set Bulldogs defensive line.

In early May 2022 Joseph Pouniu also started in the front row for the Titans JTS U16 squad that took on a Northern Rivers Titans U17 squad at Cbus Stadium as a curtain-raiser to the Titans NRL Round Fourteen against the Souths Sydney Rabbitohs with Joseph Pouniu charging over to score late in the second half.

In late September 2022 Joseph Pouniu also started in the front row for a Titans U16 side against a Sydney Roosters U16 side at Pizzey Park. Joseph Pouniu was also part of the Titans U16 squad that defeated a Balmain Tigers U16 side 40 – 8 to win the Annual Anthony Laffranchi Cup.

In mid-December 2021 Joseph Pouniu 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.

Round One of the 2022 U16 Cyril Connell Cup saw Joseph Pouniu named in the front row for the Redcliffe Dolphins against the Easts Tigers however the match rained out due to a once in a decade rain event in South-East Queensland. The Round One match against Easts was re-scheduled in Round Three with Josiah Pouniu once again being named in the front row.

Joseph Pouniu was also named in the front row for Round Two against the Tweed Heads Seagulls and scored in the 55th minute when he crashed over from around five metres out and to the left of the play the ball with Joseph Pouniu spinning counter clockwise right on the try line to get the ball down with authority under the posts.

Such was the quality of Joseph Pouniu’s performance that he was named as a reserve in the Courier Mail’s Cyril Connell Cup Round Two Team of the Week.

After Redcliffe had a Round Three Joseph Pouniu was back in the front row for Round Four against the Souths Logan Magpies with Joseph Pouniu probably scoring the easiest try that he is ever scored and is ever likely to. In the 18th minute Joseph Pouniu chased through a short grubber kick into the in-goal. It looked as if the Magpies would handle the kick but instead the ball was lost with the ball bouncing straight to Joseph Pouniu who just had to get his hands down low, take the ball and place it down underneath the goal posts.

Joseph Pouniu continued in the front row in Round Five against the Norths Devils with Joseph Pouniu putting in an exceptional performance which deservedly saw him named in the front row in the Courier Mail CC Cup Round Five Team of the Week.

In total in the 2022 U16 Cyril Connell Cup competition Joseph Pouniu ran for the 13th most metres in the competition being 450 metres at an impressive average of 113 metres per game and also made two line breaks.

In late March 2022 Joseph Pouniu was named to attend the Queensland Rugby League Positional Skills Day as part of the Sunshine Coast Falcons Squad.

In late May 2022 Joseph Pouniu also represented Wide Bay in the U18 QSSRL School Boy Championships, an outstanding effort for a 16 year old against in the main 18 year old competition.

In 2020 Joseph Pouniu played for the North Lakes Kangaroos in the GBJRL U14 Division One competition who finished third on the ladder, winning six out of their ten matches. North Lakes scored 242 points and conceded 124 to finish with a points differential of +118.

North Lakes moved through the 2020 Finals series to the Grand Final qualifier against Carina with the match ending in a 22 all draw but Carina went through to the Grand Final as they had scored first in the Preliminary Final.

In the tough match, Joseph Pouniu scored two tries, one on each half as North Lakes season ended in heart breaking fashion prematurely.

Joseph Pouniu’s first try came in just the 7th minute of Preliminary Final. With North Lakes on the attack, Joseph Pouniu was positioned to the left of the play the ball which occurred in the right corner, Joseph Pouniu initially received the ball two passes off the ruck and immediately offloaded to his front row partner who was to his left.

Joseph Pouniu then looped around behind his front row partner (an old fashioned run around) to receive the ball approximately ten metres out, Joseph Pouniu then ran to his left before dummying in the same direction before putting the ball under his arm and bursting through the defensive line to drag two defenders over the line to score ten metres in from the left corner post. Joseph Pouniu then ran the ball back from the subsequent Carina kick-off.

Joseph Pouniu’s second try arrived in the 21st minute of the second half when he barged over from six metres out. Joseph Pouniu got down low for force his way over five metres to the right of the goal posts.

Joseph Pouniu was involved in the 2020 Grand Final qualifier early, taking the first hit-up of the match after Carina kicked the ball off to get the match underway with Joseph Pouniu getting the ball back to close to the twenty metre mark to give North Lakes a solid foundation to get their first set of six underway.

In addition to scoring two tries, Joseph Pouniu also set up one towards the end of the first half. Joseph Pouniu backed up a break by his front row partner and got the offload and was immediately engaged by the defence, Joseph Pouniu however was able to maintain his balance and throw a right arm out the back of his hand off-load to a team mate but they were brought down less than a metre from the try line.

Joseph Pouniu continued on unabated in the second half of the Preliminary Final with a try saving tackle in the early minutes of the half. Defending on the try line, Joseph Pouniu moved quickly to his left to engage and man handle the Carina right centre to prevent a try being scored.

Also early in the second half Joseph Pouniu produced an offload that ultimately led to a try in the corner by the North Lakes left winger. A couple of minutes later Joseph Pouniu put up a spiralling midfield bomb to highlight that all players are halfbacks at heart, and then was the first North Lakes player down field to tackle the Carina fullback.

In the 19th minute Joseph Pouniu continued to work hard, making twelve metres from the second hit-up from a North Lakes penalty restart after Carina had infringed in the play the ball.

In late September 2020 Joseph Pouniu produced another strong match against Moreton Bay starting with taking the 4th hit-up from North Lakes first set of six making twelve metres in the process. Then in the 3rd minute, Joseph Pouniu charged to within a metre of the try line and won a penalty when Moreton Bay stripped the ball with more than one defender in the tackle. Joseph Pouniu then got back to take the hit-up from the penalty restart once again only being dragged down a metre from the line, with North Lakes scoring from the next play.

In the 5th minute Moreton Bay had to commit five defenders to eventually get Joseph Pouniu to the ground and then in the 22nd minute, Joseph Pouniu barged fifteen metres downfield into the Moreton Bay twenty metre area from a penalty restart.

Interspersed with these efforts, Joseph Pouniu hit one of the Moreton Bay front rowers hard stopping him in his tracks less than a metre from the try line to stop him from scoring.

In the second half Joseph Pouniu took the second hit-up after Moreton Bay kicked off and what a hit-up it was. After receiving the ball, Joseph Pouniu charged straight through the middle of the Moreton Bay defensive line, breaking easily through the first line and then under heavy pressure from the cover defence threw a great one arm (right arm) pass to his left to his front row partner who also broke through to take the ball into the Moreton Bay twenty metre area.

Towards the end of the second half, Joseph Pouniu, from around twelve metres out was able to get within a foot of the try line and after Joseph Pouniu produced a quick play the ball, North Lakes scored in the left corner from the next play.

Just five minutes later it was a similar situation, after a strong run that once again finished within less than a metre of the try line, Joseph Pouniu produced another quick play the ball that ended with his front row partner scoring under the posts.

In late August 2020, it was the Redcliffe Dolphins that bore the brunt of Joseph Pouniu’s strength and power, including Joseph Pouniu scoring a try late in the first half.

Joseph Pouniu’s try came around the 24th minute of the first half when he lined up to the right of the play the ball twenty metres out from the try line. When the first receiver took possession, Joseph Pouniu ran an underneath route and charged towards the left corner beating four tackles. Near the try line (and corner post) Joseph Pouniu propped on the spot to let two defenders sail past before veering back to his right and crossing eight metres from the left corner post with two defenders trying in vain to prevent Joseph Pouniu from getting the ball down.

After North Lakes kicked off Joseph Pouniu made the 3rd and 4th tackles of the match and continued to dominate in both attack and defence from there on.

That domination continued in the 6th minute when Joseph Pouniu made a strong run to the left of the ruck before offloading of his left and then Joseph Pouniu backed up to take the next hit-up. Then in the 9th minute Joseph Pouniu off-loaded once again (right arm offload) this time to his right after a strong hit-up from a twenty metre tap restart, with Joseph Pouniu making ten metres before offloading.

In the 16th minute, Joseph Pouniu lined up to the right of the play the ball but after the first received took possession he cut back underneath the play to break four tackles and make around twenty metres to eventually be tackled near the left touchline.

Joseph Pouniu’s dominance continued in the second half with Joseph Pouniu taking the third hit-up off the Redcliffe kick-off to break through the Redcliffe line and then round the Dolphins fullback to his right and was then still able to produce a right arm off-load to his five eight to get North Lakes onto the attack well into Redcliffe territory.

Redcliffe found it near impossible to stop Joseph Pouniu from off-loading the ball and that proved to be the case once again in the 7th minute of the second half when Joseph Pouniu took the ball right into the line but was still able to produce a right arm off-load to his left to send North Lakes on a long attacking raid well into Dolphins territory.

In addition to starting the match well, Joseph Pouniu also finished the match well with a charge to the right of the play the ball starting from inside his own twenty metre area. After initially being brought down by two defenders, Joseph Pouniu was not held and after getting to his feet threw off another defender before exploding off the mark downfield once again rounding the fullback and getting yet another off-load away.

As was the case on multiple occasions in 2019 and 2020, Joseph Pouniu’s impressive defence is over shadowed due to how damaging he is running the ball but a tackle towards the end of the match when he got low and drove his right shoulder into the Redcliffe hooker highlighted that Joseph Pouniu can be just as damaging without the ball as he is with it.

Another team that had their hands full in trying to contain Joseph Pouniu was Souths Acacia Ridge who in early August 2020 struggled and Joseph Pouniu made them pay with a late first half try as well as an outstanding individual try in the early minutes of the second half.

In relation to his try in the first half, Joseph Pouniu lined up on the left side of the field, receiving the ball two passes off the ruck ten metres from the line, Joseph Pouniu simply was not going to be stopped and he crashed over eight metres to the left of the uprights.

In the early moments of the second half, Joseph Pouniu scored a solo try and you would be hard pressed to see a better individual effort. Joseph Pouniu received the ball off the dummy half to the right of the play the ball and burst through the Souths line sixty metres out. After easily outpacing the cover defence, Joseph Pouniu just as easily rounded the Souths fullback and scored an absolutely impressive solo try seven metres to the left of the uprights.

Joseph Pouniu became immediately involved in the match taking the second hit-up after Souths kicked up, making ten metres to get the ball out to the forty metre mark. Joseph Pouniu then backed up to take the 4th hit-up of the match.

Joseph Pouniu followed those two hit-ups with another strong run from the Souths kick-off after North Lakes opening try of the match, making a further fifteen metres. Then in the 9th minute, Joseph Pouniu produced another damaging effort that accounted for an additional twenty five from a run that included six tackle breaks to get the ball to within one metre of the try line with North Lakes scoring from the next play in the right corner.

In the 18th minute Joseph Pouniu burst straight through the centre of the Souths Magpies ruck, making approximately twenty metres before a right arm offload found his locked who was able to continue the North Lakes attack.

Joseph Pouniu’s attack on the Souths defensive line continued in the second half in the 12th minute when he burst into a gap on his own thirty metre mark charging downfield before offloading to his left around twenty five metres out from the try line.

Joseph Pouniu is not just about speed, strength and power, he is also an intelligent young man with that being confirmed in the 28th minute of the second half when Joseph Pouniu produced a one on one strip inside Souths Acacia Ridge’s own twenty metre mark with North Lakes scoring in the right corner two tackles later.

Even though Joseph Pouniu’s defence was overshadowed by his attack, I am certain that the Souths replacement front rower (No. 17) did not see it that way when Joseph Pouniu crunched him with a big front on tackle in the 13th minute of the first half.

In 2019 Joseph Pouniu started in the GBJRL U13 Division One Grand Final and was one of North Lakes try scorers in their Grand Final victory over Logan Brothers with his try coming in the 12th minute of the second half.

Joseph Pouniu was on the left side of the field and received the ball after the ball went through hands from the right with Joseph Pouniu receiving the ball five metres out and diving over ten metres in from the left corner post after getting on the outside of his immediate Logan Brothers opponent.

Joseph Pouniu then ran the ball back from the subsequent kick-off, breaking at least eight tackles in a bumping run to get the ball out to thirty five metres out from the North Lakes line.

In addition to his try, Joseph Pouniu also recorded a Grand Final try assist which came mid-way through the first half. Joseph Pouniu took the ball off the dummy half to the right of the play the ball, after drawing the defence in, Joseph Pouniu threw a long pass to his left to put his left winger over in the left corner. Joseph Pouniu then took the hit-up off the kick off.

Joseph Pouniu’s first contribution in the Grand Final came almost immediately when he made a strong tackle, which was just the second tackle of the match after North Lakes had kicked off.

Joseph Pouniu’s first hit-up of the Grand Final came in the 4th minute when he made fifteen metres when he received the ball to the right of the dummy half to get the ball up to near the halfway mark.

Joseph Pouniu showcased some very good hands ten minutes into the first half. Logan Brother’s kicked-off after North Lakes scored the opening try of the Grand Final with the ball skidding of the green towards Joseph Pouniu, just before it got to him, the ball bounced high above his head. Joseph Pouniu jumped up to take the ball right on the goal line in two hands. Joseph Pouniu then ran the ball back at the Logan Brothers line, getting the ball forty two metres out from his own line, in a run that included five broken tackles.

To round off an impressive first half of the Grand Final, Joseph Pouniu once again made a damaging run from a Logan Brothers kick off and once again Joseph Pouniu dragged defenders all the way back to the forty metre mark.

Even the half time break could not slow Joseph Pouniu down with the young front rower taking the first hit-up from the Logan Brothers kick-off to start the second half. Joseph Pouniu broke two tackles and made twenty metres down the left side of the field just a few minutes later in the 6th minute of the second half.

Then in the 9th minute, Joseph Pouniu skittled Logan Brothers defenders at will, breaking six tackles in a single run of twenty two metres that initially started to the right of a North Lakes scrum win. After receiving the ball, Joseph Pouniu cut back towards the right and getting to metres into Logan Brothers territory.

Joseph Pouniu then have an exclamation mark on his impressive performance in the Grand Final in the 25th minute of the second half when he received the ball on his own line. After dummying to his right, Joseph Pouniu surged downfield, breaking four tackles as he got the ball out to the thirty eight metre mark.

A lot of the analysis of Joseph Pouniu’s Grand Final performance has revolved around his attack but his defence was also outstanding including a tackle mid-way through the second half when Joseph Pouniu monstered the Logan Brothers half back forcing him back ten metres before the referee called held.

In the 2019 GBJRL U13 Grand Final qualifier against Carina, Joseph Pouniu also had a strong match, making an impact in the opening minutes when he made twelve metres, breaking three tackles along the way when he ran the ball to the right of a North Lakes scrum win. Then in the 5th minute Joseph Pouniu made a further run that made fifteen minutes to take the ball out of North Lakes territory and over the halfway mark.

In the 7th minute of the match, Joseph Pouniu showed that he was not just a bash and barge type of player when he engaged the defensive line and got away a good offload to his starting front row partner around the halfway mark.

Just like in the Grand Final, Joseph Pouniu was also dominant defensively in the match against Carina including in just the 4th minute when he made two strong tackles in a row and on both occasions Joseph Pouniu got low to gain leverage and force the Carina attacked backwards after stopping their initial momentum with strong initial contact.

In the 22nd minute, Joseph Pouniu showed great hands when a Carina kick-off was let bounce, the ball bounced back towards the Carina chasers but Joseph Pouniu raced towards the ball and reaching out and initially juggling he ball just as the Carina defence arrived. Then after securing the ball, Joseph Pouniu was still able to get the ball back to near the forty metre mark.

From the second half Carina kick-off, Joseph Pouniu continued to prove difficult to bring down with Joseph Pouniu breaking four tackles to get the ball back to near the forty metre mark. Joseph Pouniu did not slow down as the second half wore on when in the 21st minute of the half, Joseph Pouniu received the ball two passes to the left of the dummy half and from his own forty metre mar, Joseph Pouniu marched the ball twenty five metres into Carina territory.

Josiah Pouniu also had a strong match in July 2019 when he ran rampant against Moreton Bay, including scoring early in the first half. In just the 4th minute of the match, Joseph Pouniu received the ball ten metres out from the Moreton Bay line from the dummy half to the right of the play the ball. Joseph Pouniu, from a near stationary start bumped off two defenders, pushing another backwards before getting the ball down under the posts.

Even though is try came in just the 4th minute of the match, even that was not the first major contribution that Joseph Pouniu had made in the match. In just the 1st minute, Joseph Pouniu got within two metres of the Moreton Bay try line directly in front of the posts, after Moreton Bay had last the ball from their kick-off return.

The in the 3rd minute, in the set of six after North Lakes first try, Joseph Pouniu brought the ball back to the half-way with a strong fifteen metre run after receiving the ball to the right of the dummy half.

Joseph Pouniu continued his strong match in the 9th minute with another run that brought the ball out of his own territory and then in the 16th minute, Joseph Pouniu ran the ball into the defensive line to the right of the play the ball, initially being hit by three Moreton Bay defenders, as Joseph Pouniu continued to fight in the tackle, he spun clockwise and just kept pumping his legs, making ten metres all up before four Moreton Bay defenders had to commit to the tackle to finally get Joseph Pouniu on the ground.

Early in the second half Joseph Pouniu continued to cause havoc for the Moreton Bay defence running off an inside ball to make ten metres to bring the ball out of his own twenty metre area and then in the 16th minute of the second half Joseph Pouniu charged directly through the centre of the Moreton Bay defence, making twenty metres and showcasing impressive speed.

Late in the first half Joseph Pouniu displayed that he is really a half at heart when he last minute of the half he put in a right foot kick to the left corner.

Also in 2019 Joseph Pouniu represented Brisbane Red U13’s in the front row at the Hill Stumer South East Queensland Junior Rugby League Championships, and post those Championships was selected in the South East Queensland Training Squad.

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

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

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

On a lot of his runs Joseph Pouniu rather than trying to step his opposite number will really look to initiate the contact and then use his strength to hold the defender off his body to either push through the tackle or draw in the next defender to create space for his outside support.

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

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

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

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

Joseph Pouniu will play the 2023 season in the GBJRL U17 Nev Blair Division One competition and no doubt will line-up for the Redcliffe Dolphins in the 2023 U18 MM Cup competition with Joseph Pouniu also MM Cup eligible in 2024.

Joseph Pouniu does not just have outstanding size (195cm), strength and power, he also possess exceptional speed for a big young man. With that combination, Joseph Pouniu has the ideal, physical and skill attributes as well as the correct mentality to be a representative level NRL player in coming years.

Joseph Pouniu was very good in 2021 and even better in 2022 and that augers well for his future development over the coming seasons. Few front rows get to the NRL at a young age, Joseph Pouniu may very well be the exception to that typical rule.

The attributes and mentality attributed to Joseph Pouniu are easily ones that are also attributed to Titans captain, Queensland State of Origin and Australian International stand out front rower Tino Fa’asuamaleaui and in fact their playing styles overall are not dis-similar at all and neither as are their overall physical attributes.

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

In late January 2022 Ryan McCann started on the right wing for the Titans U16 side in a match at Pizzey Park against the Sydney Bulldogs.

In early May 2022 Ryan McCann also started on the right wing for the Titans JTS U16 squad that took on a Northern Rivers Titans U17 squad at Cbus Stadium as a curtain-raiser to the Titans NRL Round Fourteen against the Souths Sydney Rabbitohs.

In late September 2022 Ryan McCann then started in the right wing for a Titans U16 side against a Sydney Roosters U16 side at Pizzey Park.

In mid-December 2021 Ryan McCann 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 Ryan McCann was named in the 2022 Souths Logan Magpies U16 Cyril Connell Cup side and after the Magpies had a Round One bye, Ryan McCann was named on the right wing for Round Two against the Burleigh Bears and was set to continue on the right wing in Round Three against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls however he was a game day scratching from the match.

Ryan McCann moved to the left wing for Round Four against the Redcliffe Dolphins and Ryan McCann made the most of the position switch with an opportunist try in the 8th minute when he swooped on a dropped ball by the Dolphins thirty three metres out from the line. After taking possession Ryan McCann outpaced the Redcliffe right second rower down the left touchline and then was able to bring the ball around to put it down under the posts.

Ryan McCann was then named to continue on the left wing in Round Five against the Easts Tigers and once again showcased his express pace when he was on the end of the Souths Logan backline movement to his side of the field in the 27th minute when after receiving the ball thirty metres out and with limited space down the touchline, Ray McCann burnt off the Tigers defence to score in the left corner.

Round One of the 2022 Langer Cup School Boy competition saw Ryan McCann start on the right wing for Coombabah State High School against Redcliffe State High School.

Ryan McCann also started on the right wing in Round Two against Keebra Park State High School with Ryan McCann doing well in the 39th minute to take the Keebra park SHS fullback Karauria Stokes in touch just inside Coombabah SHS territory after the fullback had threatened to break through the defensive line.

Ryan McCann continued on the right wing in Round Three against PBC State High School.

Ryan McCann then started on the right wing in Round Four against Mabel Park State High School with Ryan McCann scoring mid-way through the second half when after taking a cross field kick Ryan McCann raced sixty metres down the right touchline to score Coombabah SHS’s opening try of the match.

Ryan McCann also started on the right wing in Round Five against Marsden State High School with Ryan McCann scoring Coombabah SHS’s only try of the match inside the opening two minutes when from sixty metres out Ryan McCann took an intercept after initially knocking the ball up in the air with his right hand. After Ryan McCann had secured possession he raced away down the right touchline to score in the right corner.

Ryan McCann continued on the right wing in Round Six against Ipswich SHS, then after missing Round Seven Ryan McCann was back on the right wing in Coombabah SHS’s Quarter Final against Ipswich SHS with Ryan McCann making a good covering tackle in the 6th minute when he ran down and tackled his opposite winger from behind after Ryan McCann had faced an overlap.

Ryan McCann continued playing for Logan Brothers in 2022 in the GBJRL U16 Division One competition and had an outstanding match from fullback in the Elimination Final against the Moreton Bay Raiders with Ryan McCann scoring a hat trick.

Ryan McCann also started at fullback in the Week Two Semi-Final against Carina.

Earlier in the 2022 GBJRL U16 Division One competition Ryan McCann scored twice in Round Nine against Aspley and Ryan McCann also scored in Rounds Seven and Fourteen against Redcliffe, Round Two against Aspley, the rescheduled Round Five against Norths and Round Thirteen against the Souths Acacia Ridge Magpies.

At the 2022 Logan Brothers Presentation Day, Ryan McCann was named the 2022 Logan Brothers joint International Player of the Year.

In 2021 Ryan McCann also played for Coombabah State High School in the Walters Cup competition and in Round Three against PBC SHS scored what was surely the fastest try scored in 2021 regardless of which competition you are referring to when he scored inside the opening twelve seconds (yes seconds) of the kick-off.

Lining up at left centre, Ryan McCann followed through the Coombabah SHS kick-off which took a wicked bounce back towards Coombabah SHS. Ryan McCann got to the ball first and then was able to beat two PBC defenders and then carried another over the line to slam the ball down with his right arm seven metres in from the left corner post.

2021 also saw Ryan McCann play for Logan Brothers in the Greater Brisbane Junior Rugby League U15 Division One competition for Logan Brothers where he operated primarily on the wing, including starting on the right wing in the GBJRL U15 Division One Grand Final against Moreton Bay.

Even though Logan Brothers went down 20 – 10 in the Grand Final Ryan McCann had a strong match including a 39th minute line break of twenty metres through centre field after he was on hand to receive an off-load with Ryan McCann getting to within twenty metres of the try line.

Ryan McCann’s elite top end speed was showcased in the 34th minute of the Grand Final when he chased down the Moreton Bay halfback who had taken an intercept deep in his own territory. It looked as if he would race eighty metres to score but Ryan McCann after stopping and turning to chase made up a huge amount of ground to tackle the Moreton Bay halfback from behind and prevent a certain try.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Ryan McCann will play the 2023 season with Logan Brothers in the GBJRL U17 Division One Nev Blair Shield competition. Ryan McCann will also push for a spot in the always talented South Logan Magpies U18 Mal Meninga Cup competition. Ryan McCann is also MM Cup eligible in 2024.

2023 will also see Ryan McCann return to Coombabah SHS with Ryan McCann a certainty to be once again a key member of the school’s Langer Cup side.

Ryan McCann is an absolute flyer with impressive evasive skills as well and for that reason I am of the belief that his best position going forward will be in the centres, however there is no doubt that Ryan McCann could also play on the wing at a high level as well. It should be noted that Ryan McCann was outstanding at the fullback for Logan Brothers in 2022.

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

[mdrew]

Jury Taewa. In early November 2021 Jury Taewa signed a professional contract with the Gold Coast Titans.

In late September 2022 Jury Taewa was named in the powerful 2023 Burleigh Bears U18 MM Cup squad.

In late January 2022 Jury Taewa started from the bench for the Titans U18 side in a match at Pizzey Park against the Burleigh MM Cup side with Jury Taewa coming onto the field around the eighteen minute mark to play in the front row.

In late July 2022 Jury Taewa was part of the U17 Future Titans Squad that defenders a Titans U18 Northern Rivers Squad 36 – 8 at Cbus Stadium as a curtain-raiser to the Round Twenty NRL match between the Titans and the Canberra Raiders.

In late 2021 Jury Taewa was named in the 2022 Northern Rivers Titans U18 Laurie Daley Cup squad and is also U18 eligible in 2023.

Round One of the 2022 U18 Laurie Daley Cup competition saw Jury Taewa start from the bench for the Northern Rivers Titans side against the Macquarie Wests Tigers in Sydney’s west with Jury Taewa coming onto the field to play in the front row for his opening stint late in the first half.

Early in the second half in the 40th minute Jury Taewa was heavily focussed in his defensive assignment when whilst he was at marker right on his own try line he stayed focussed and was able to stay low to hold up the Wests Tigers hooker who had tried to sneak over the try line from dummy half and from close range.

After missing Round Two and Three Jury Taewa was back in Round Four, coming off the bench against the Central Coast Roosters.

Jury Taewa returned to PBC State High School in 2022 starting Round One of the Langer Cup School Boy competition against Marsden SHS in the front row and took the second hit-up of the match after Marsden SHS had kicked off.

Jury Taewa produced another strong run in the 32nd minute when from the left of the play the ball Jury Taewa cut back to his right after receiving the ball and whilst in contact with the defensive line Jury Taewa was able to produce a left arm flick off-load to extend the play.

Jury Taewa used his size to his advantage in the 5th minute with a heavy defensive hit over the top of the Marsden SHS lock knocking him backwards and just a minute later smashed the same player again with another strong hit.

Jury Taewa also started in the front row in Round two against Redcliffe State High School and scored in the 30th minute from around six metres out after receiving a long pass from the dummy half from his left with Jury Taewa getting down low and barging his way over one defender to score mid-way between the corner post and goal posts on the right side of the field.

After the mid-season break, Jury Taewa started in the front row in Round Four of the Langer Reserve competition against Ipswich State High School with Jury Taewa doing well in the 16th minute to hold up his opposite number over the try line.

Jury Taewa also started in the front row in Round Five against Mabel Park SHS as well as in Round Six in the local derby against Keebra Park SHS with Jury Taewa making a strong charge from a kick-off in the 30th minute after Ray Puru scored with Jury Taewa returning the ball to thirty metres out from his own try line.

Jury Taewa continued in the front row in Round Seven against Wavell SHS with Jury Taewa making two strong hit-ups inside the opening two minutes. Jury Taewa also made a strong charge from the kick-off to Creedence Donovan’s second try of the match with Jury Taewa able to get the ball twenty eight metres away from his try line in the 11th minute.

In the 12th minute Jury Taewa made a strong driving tackle on the Wavell SHS lock and then in the 14th minute smashed the Wavell SHS No. 10 in another big tackle.

Jury Taewa then started in the front row for PBC SHS in the 2022 Langer Reserve Semi-final against Keebra Park SHS.

The 2022 School Boy Langer Reserve Grand Final saw Jury Taewa start in the front row for PBC SHS against Marsden SHS with Jury Taewa along with Creedence Donovan making a desperate try saving tackle in the left corner in the 48th minute with PBC SHS up by only six points.

In 2022 Jury Taewa started the season playing for the Bilambil Jets in the NRRRL U18 competition and started Round One of the competition from the bench against the Murwillumbah Mustangs.

Interesting Jury Taewa was named to start in the front row for the Nerang Roosters side for Round Nine of the Gold Coast Rugby League U18 Division One side against the Burleigh Bears with Jury Taewa celebrating his first match in Roosters Red, White and Blue by scoring in the 9th minute when from ten metres out and to the left of the play the ball Jury Taewa charged onto the ball and was able to work his way over to score under the posts with a number of Burleigh defenders hanging off him.

Jury Taewa then made a great charge from the subsequent kick-off to his own try and was awarded a penalty when he was held down too long in the tackle.

Jury Taewa was at it again in the 33rd minute with a line break when after receiving the ball from the dummy half from his left Jury Taewa cut back to the soft spot directly behind the play the ball and broke three tackles before finally being brought to ground just two minutes from the try line.

Jury Taewa then made a strong charge from the kick-off to Xavier Collins try with Jury Taewa getting the ball back to the thirty metre mark. Jury Taewa then made a further strong charge in the 51st minute and once again it was a great kick-off return from Immanuel Kalekale’s great try with once again Jury Taewa getting the ball over the twenty metre mark.

Jury Taewa also started in the front row in Round Ten against the Southport Tigers and took the third hit-up of the match to promote the ball to the halfway mark. Jury Taewa made another strong run in the 43rd minute when he ran onto the ball from his own forty metre mark making seventeen metres to get the ball into Southport territory with the last twelve metres of Jury Taewa’s run being backwards.

Jury Taewa continued in the front row in Round Eleven against the Helensvale Hornets with Jury Taewa making the 2nd hit-up of the match. Jury Taewa then made strong hit-up from Eren Eden’s 17th minute try with Jury Taewa making twenty five metres after receiving the ball on his own try line.

Jury Taewa made another strong run in the 21st minute with a fifteen metres effort from the left of the play the ball with Jury Taewa getting the ball over the halfway mark as a result.

Jury Taewa was held up over the try line in the 21st minute after charging at the line from five metres out.

Jury Taewa also started in the front row in Round Twelve against the Helensvale Hornets.

Jury Taewa then continued in the front row in Round Thirteen against the Runaway Bay Seagulls with Jury Taewa taking the second hit-up of the match.

Then in the 47th minute Jury Taewa made a twenty metre charge through the centre of the field to get the ball ten metres into Runaway Bay territory, breaking three tackles along the way.

In the 3rd minute of the match Jury Taewa executed a smart one on one steal to immediately put Nerang on the attack thirty five metres away from the try line.

Jury Taewa continued in the front row in in Round Fourteen against the Ormeau Shearers with Jury Taewa scoring in the 58th minute when he ran onto the ball two passes to the right of the play the ball from ten metres out and after engaging the defensive line Jury Taewa spun 360 degrees clockwise and then after being held just out from the try line Jury Taewa reached out to put the ball down in his right hand whilst being held up by three Ormeau defenders.

Jury Taewa made a number of strong runs in the match including in the 10th minute with a twelve metre charge to his own forty metre line after running onto the ball to the right of the play the ball.

Jury Taewa then moved to right second row in Round Sixteen against the Burleigh Bears with Jury Taewa making a try saving tackle in the 12th minute on Burleigh’s Bailey McConnell with Jury Taewa slinging the halfback to ground just five metres out from the try line.

Jury Taewa then started at right second row in Round Seventeen against the Southport Tigers.

Jury Taewa then started in the front row in the 2022 Week Two GCRL U18 Division One Major Semi-final against the Currumbin Eagles with Jury Taewa scoring in the 26th minute when from nine metres out Jury Taewa charged onto a pass from his right to crash over under the posts.

Then in the 56th minute Jury Taewa made a run (and line break) of the match. From a Helensvale kick-off after a Jeremaiah Temapo try Jury Taewa took possession just five metres out from his own try line and charged at the oncoming Hornets defenders with Jury Taewa crashing between two of them and charging thirty seven metres downfield.

Jury Taewa then started in the front row in the 2022 GCRL U18 Division One Preliminary Final against the Helensvale Hornets with Jury Taewa taking the second and fourth hit-ups of the match after Helensvale had kicked off.

Jury Taewa also made a strong charge in the 50th minute making eighteen metres out from a run to the right of the play the ball that ended twenty metres out from the try line.

The 2022 Gold Coast Rugby League U18 Division One Grand Final saw Jury Taewa start in the front row for the Nerang Roosters with Jury Taewa taking the opening hit-up of the match from the kick-off with Jury Taewa able to get the ball to twenty three metres away from his own try line.

Jury Taewa made a further strong charge in the 23rd minute when from a Nerang penalty tap restart twenty metres out from the try line, Jury Taewa charged into the Helensvale set defensive line with Jury Taewa rumbling to within eight metres of the try line.

Jury Taewa also had a strong Grand Final from a defensive perspective with Jury Taewa making a huge front on tackle in the 7th minute on his opposite number as the Hornets were trying to bring the ball out of their own twenty metre mark. Then in the 16th minute Jury Taewa executed a second great front on tackle rocking the Hornets forward backwards once again.

In mid-December 2021 Jury Taewa 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.

Jury Taewa was named in the left second row position for the Northern Rivers Titans U16 Andrew Johns Cup side for their Round One match against the Wests Tigers. In a great situation for his family, Jury Taewa’s twin brother Jaylen was the other starting second rower on the right side for the Northern Rivers Titans.

Disappointingly Jury Taewa suffered a head knock in the first half of the match and was unable to take any further part in the match which was an unfortunate situation as Jury Taewa was having a very solid match to that point.

After missing Rounds Two and Three as a result of his Round One head knock, Jury Taewa was back in the Northern Rivers Titans squad for Round Four against the Central Coast Roosters in Lismore as a curtain raiser to the Titans against Warriors NRL trial. Jury Taewa came onto the field mid-way through the first half, playing in his usual left second row position.

Jury Taewa also started from the bench in Round Five against the Newcastle Knights coming on to play left second row mid-way through the first half.

Jury Taewa made his NRRRL U18 debut off the bench in Round Ten against the Marist Brothers Rams with Jury Taewa playing left second row when he came onto the field.

2021 saw Jury Taewa play for PBC in the Walters Cup competition, including starting the Grand Final against Keebra Park State High School from the bench with Jury Taewa coming into the match towards the end of the first half to operate in the second row.

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

In the 2020 Group 18 U15 competition Jury Taewa played for the Bilambil Jets including being part of the Jets side that won the Grand Final 14 – 6 against Byron Bay/Lennox Head.

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

In 2019 Jury Taewa played for the Group 18 U14 representative side at the New South Wales Country Age Championships, playing primarily coming off the bench, playing in the second row when he came on.

Jury Taewa’s determination is one aspect that enables him to be in the right place at the right time. He is a hard runner and does not give up on the run until the opposition puts him on the ground, as a consequence, he makes a lot more metres for his team than he has a right to and with his determination he will also on occasion break clear of the defenders totally. I would consider that he runs ‘tough’ with the ball in his hands.

For Bilambil, Jury Taewa has defended both in the edge of the ruck and well as through the middle. Jury Taewa was quietly effective in both situations from both a quality and quantity perspective. Jury Taewa’s initial contact is solid and is more than enough to stop the momentum of the ball carrier and effect tackles one on one. Jury Taewa is also effective at wrapping the ball up and preventing offloads.

When Jury Taewa hits he hits hard, but I would not call it aggressive per say, but he is just tough in his approach to his defence. I do not necessarily think that Jury Taewa’s defensive work will stand out because he is not going to come up with a huge hit which will get the crowd on its feet, but Jury Taewa will do a lot of work and will likely always finish at or near the top of the tackle count regardless of the level and standard of football he is playing.

Jury Taewa will play the 2023 season with the Nerang Roosters in the GCRL U18 Division One competition. From a representative perspective it will be interesting to see where Jury Taewa lines up in 2023, will Jury Taewa be a member of the 2022 Northern Rivers Titans U18 Laurie Daley Cup Squad or will Jury Taewa push for a spot in the U18 Mal Meninga Cup with either Tweed Heads or Burleigh.

Jury Taewa will also return to PBC SHS in 2023 where Jury Taewa will push for a spot in the school’s always outstanding Langer Cup School Boy Rugby League squad.

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

From a player comparison perspective for Jury Taewa, someone with a similar playing style that could be used for a comparison perspective would be current Sydney Roosters front rower Matthew Lodge as a strong hard running, hard tackling aggressive and effective front rower.

[mdrew]

Dallas Ingram. In late January 2022 after signing a multi-year contract with the Titans, Dallas Ingram started from the bench for the Titans U16 side in a trial match at Pizzey Park against a Sydney Bulldogs U16 squad for his first of likely many matches in Titans colours.

In late September 2022 Dallas Ingram was named in the 2023 Burleigh Bears U16 Cyril Connell Cup representative squad.

In late May 2022 Dallas Ingram represented the South Coast School Boy side at the U15 QSSRL School Boy Championships starting Match One against Northern at halfback with Dallas Ingram making a 10th minute line break when after receiving the ball on the left around thirty five metres out broke through the Northern defensive line to get the ball within eleven metres of the try line before he was stopped.

Dallas Ingram recorded another line break in the 15th minute when he dummied to his left down a short blindside around twenty five metres out and burst through the defensive line getting to three metres from the line. Dallas Ingram was back to his feet in a heartbeat after being tackled with South Coast scoring in the left corner with the Northern defence still in disarray.

In the 46th minute Dallas Ingram recorded a try assist when after receiving the ball from his right off the dummy half Dallas Ingram took the ball into the defensive line before throwing a great inside pass to his lock who was able to score next to the left upright.

In the 39th minute Dallas Ingram recorded a line break assist when whilst just inside his own territory Dallas Ingram ran to his left and brought centre Joseph Tupuse underneath with the left centre able to find a gap as a result.

Dallas Ingram also started at halfback in Match Two against Met North.

As a result of his performance for South Coast, at the conclusion of the U15 ASSRL Championships Dallas Ingram was named in the 2022 QSSRL U15 White School Boy Representative side and just prior to the commencement of the Championships, Dallas Ingram was named by the Courier Mail as one of the Top 50 U15 Rugby League players in Australia.

Dallas Ingram started match One of the ASSRL U15 Championships at halfback for Queensland White against NSW CIS with Dallas Ingram scoring Queensland White’s opening try of the Championships in the 22nd minute when after receiving the ball to the right of the play the ball, Dallas Ingram was able to slice between two defenders to score mid-way between the goal posts and corner post on the right side of the field from ten metres out.

Dallas Ingram also did well defensively including in the 31st minute with a strong one on one tackle near the try line after the NSW CIS left centre made a long break.

Whilst Dallas Ingram started the match at halfback he spent portions of the second half operating in the dummy half role.

Dallas Ingram also started at halfback in Queensland White’s second match of the Championships against NSW CHS with Dallas Ingram recording a line break assist inside the opening minute when as first received Dallas Ingram received the ball to the right of the play the ball and ran down a short blindside five metres into NSW CHS territory. Running across field Dallas Ingram was able to draw one defender out of the line and throw a good short ball to his right to the Queensland right centre who burst through the resultant gap to draw the fullback to put the Queensland right winger over to score.

Unfortunately Dallas Ingram suffered an injury the match at kept him out of both rugby league and rugby for multiple months.

2022 also saw Dallas Ingram attend The Southport School (TSS) and was named to start at inside centre in TSS’s U15A first GPS trial against Brisbane Grammar School however the match was ultimately cancelled.

Dallas Ingram was also named at inside centre for the TSS U56A sides second scheduled trial against Brisbane State High School as well as the third scheduled trial against Gregory Terrace at the Shark Tank with TSS recording an impressive 35- 7 victory.

After a long term injury that saw him miss the majority of the 2022 GPS School Boy Rugby season Dallas Ingram was able to return off the bench in Round Nine against Ipswich Grammar School.

The electric young halfback hails from the Darling Downs and plays his club rugby league for Toowoomba Valleys, in 2021 in the Toowoomba Rugby League U14 competition. A team mate in that 2021 Toowoomba Valleys U14 side was fellow 2022 Titans signing Ryan Johnson.

Dallas Ingram’s first taste of representative rugby league came in 2019 when he represented Darling Downs at the Queensland U12 Primary School Boy Rugby League Championships. From there Dallas Ingram was selected as captain for the Queensland White side for the National Championships with Queensland White defeating Queensland Maroon 16 – 10 in the Championship Final.

Dallas Ingram in 2019 has also represented the Cooks Islands in relation to representative rugby league in the U12 age group.

Dallas Ingram is a multi-sport athlete and has also excelled in rugby and boxing with Dallas Ingram already winning Queensland Boxing Championships and Gold Glove Championships.

It is hard to put in words just how talented Dallas Ingram is in terms of running the ball, he has outstanding speed both off the mark which I would consider in the plus plus category and top end speed which must be considered plus regardless of position. Dallas Ingram with his speed is able to exploit even small gaps in the defensive line with an exceptional step off either foot and incredible acceleration as well as outstanding body control.

It is that speed trait which opens up his incredible ball playing skills as well. Teams start to focus heavily on Dallas Ingram when he has the ball with outside defenders looking to come in to assist that they open up holes wider out in the defensive line that Dallas Ingram can exploit.

Dallas Ingram 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 Dallas Ingram 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.

Dallas Ingram also runs with the ball in both hands which is another reason why the defensive line is unable to determine exactly what Dallas Ingram is going to do. If Dallas Ingram sees a gap he is through it before the defensive line can react also when a forward takes the ball up through the centre of the ruck, Dallas Ingram is always in support and if he gets an off load he can accelerate through the resultant gap.

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

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

Defensively Dallas Ingram 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.

As a defender, like his attack due to his smaller size, Dallas Ingram relies on his speed, timing and solid defensive technique. Dallas Ingram has a very good low tackling technique which is simple and repeatable and effective, including head placement against all size opponents and thus there is no need for a defensive minder on Dallas Ingram’s side of the field. In summary just like his attacking play Dallas Ingram is an outstanding defender for his size and position.

2023 will see Dallas Ingram line up for the Burleigh Bears in the U16 Cyril Connell Cup competition and Dallas Ingram will also return to TSS in 2023 where whilst it is likely that Dallas Ingram will play in the TSS U16A side, a spot in the TSS First XV squad in 2023 for Dallas Ingram is definitely out of the question.

With his speed off the mark, ability to put his runners through holes, direct his team around the field and his competitive and combative nature, Dallas Ingram is an ideal rugby league halfback and the more that Dallas Ingram has the ball in his hands the better for his team.

An NRL player comparison for Dallas Ingram proved to be an interesting exercise, but ultimately I believe an appropriate player comparison for Dallas Ingram is Penrith and New South Wales State of Origin half Nathan Cleary. Dallas Ingram is smaller and a lot quicker (especially off the mark) than Cleary but has the same type of intensity and will be win, game management and leadership attributes as the Panthers representative and Premiership winning half.

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Sam McAlister. In late September 2022 Sam McAlister was named in the 2023 Burleigh Bears U18 MM Cup squad for the second season in a row.

In late January 2022 Sam McAlister started from the bench for the Titans U18 JTS side in a trial match at Pizzey Park against the Burleigh Bears MM Cup side for his first match in Titans colours as he trialled for a Titans JTS contract.

Sam McAlister came into the Titans U18 match in around the 22nd minute and made an immediate impact with a strong tackle from a Titans kick-off with Sam McAlister’s strong front on initial contact knocking the ball loose from the grasp of the Burleigh front rower who as returning the kick-off.
Sam McAlister also made a strong tackle in the 37th minute when he from front on made a driving tackle on the Burleigh No. 17.

Sam McAlister then made his first hit-up in a Titans jersey in the 29th minute with a great run that accounted for an impressive eighteen metres through the centre of the Burleigh forward pack to get the ball eight metres into Burleigh territory after running onto the ball to the left of the dummy half.

In late 2021 Sam McAlister was named in the powerful Burleigh Bears MM Cup squad and Sam McAlister is also MM Cup eligible in 2023.

Sam McAlister was named to make his MM Cup debut from the bench in the rescheduled Round One match against the Easts Tigers at Bishop Park in a match that saw Burleigh finish their season with a 30 – 18 victory.

Sam McAlister was named on the bench for the Burleigh Bears second 2022 trial against the Tweed Heads Seagulls after playing for the Titans against the Burleigh MM Cup side in late January 2022 with Sam McAlister coming off the bench to play in the front row in the 23rd minute and Sam McAlister taking his first hit-up just a minute later in the 24th minute of the match.

Sam McAlister made a further strong run in the 27th minute when he charged onto the ball from the Tweed Heads kick-off to Arama Hau’s outstanding solo try in the left corner with Sam McAlister getting the ball over the twenty metre mark.

Halftime did not slow down Sam McAlister with the young man taking the opening hit-up off the Tweed Heads Seagulls second half kick-off and Sam McAlister was able to get the ball out to the twenty metre mark after a determined run.

Sam McAlister started in the front row for the Burleigh Bears against the Southport Tigers in Round One of the 2022 Gold Coast Rugby League U18 Division One competition with Sam McAlister taking two hit-ups in the opening set of six tackles after Southport had kicked off to get the match underway.

Sam McAlister also started in the front row in Round Two against the Nerang Roosters and was also set to start in the front row in Round Three against Mudgeeraba however the Redbacks ultimately forfeited the match.

Round Four of the GCRL U18 Division One competition saw Sam McAlister continue in the front row against the Helensvale Hornets with Sam McAlister making a strong run in the 14th minute from the kick-off to Bailey McConnell’s try with Sam McAlister running the ball over the twenty metre mark on the kick-off return.

Sam McAlister followed that run up in the 16th minute with a great low tackle moving to his left on the Helensvale five eight who had gotten part way through a gap before Sam McAlister closed it convincingly and quickly on him.

Sam McAlister continued in the front row in Round Five against the Ormeau Shearers and was involved in the opening tackle of the match after Burleigh had gotten the match underway by kicking off.

Sam McAlister also started in the front row in Round Eight against the Southport Tigers with Sam McAlister taking the second hit-up of the match and then backing up to take the fourth hit-up as well.

Round Eleven saw Sam McAlister move back to the bench against the Helensvale Hornets with Sam McAlister coming onto the field into the front row in the 14th minute with Sam McAlister making a strong run in the 32nd minute to the right of the play the ball with Sam McAlister making twelve metres to get the ball to within twenty metres of the try line.

Sam McAlister made another strong run in the 38th minute, making a further sixteen metres after receiving the ball to the right of the play the ball.

Sam McAlister also started in the front row in Round Thirteen against the Currumbin Eagles before Sam McAlister moved to right second row in Round Sixteen against the Nerang Roosters with Sam McAlister making a great try saving tackle in the 41st minute on a rampaging Nerang No. 8 three metres out and five metres to the right of the uprights.

Sam McAlister moved to left second row in Round Fifteen against the Southport Tigers with Sam McAlister making a strong charge from the kick-off to Bailey McConnell’s 24th minute try with Sam McAlister able to get the ball twenty five metres out from his own try line.

The 2022 GCRL U18 Division One Week One Semi-final saw Sam McAlister start at left second row for the Burleigh Bears against the Currumbin Eagles.

Sam McAlister moved to the front row in Week Two of the Finals against the Helensvale Hornets with Sam McAlister taking the opening hit-up of the match.

In 2022 Sam McAlister once again lined up for the Marymount College Open First XIII School Boy Rugby League side including in the Titans Cup Year 11/12 Boys Division One School Boy Rugby League competition for the second year in a row.

Sam McAlister started Round Two of the 2022 Titans Cup Year 11/12 Division One competition at left second row against Marsden SHS with Marymount College in a tough encounter in wet and slippery conditions.

Sam McAlister also started in the front row in Round Five as Marymount College dominated the second half to beat Keebra Park SHS.

After leading Marymount College to the Titans Cup School Boy Year 11/12 title, Sam McAlister lined up at left second row in a play-off match against Brisbane’s Stretton College with the winner making the School Boy Langer Cup Quarter Finals with Sam McAlister scoring as double in a Marymount College 36 – 8 victory.

Sam McAlister’s opening try arrived in the 18th minute when Sam McAlister charged onto the ball from eighteen metres out in front of the posts and to the left of the play the ball. After receiving the pass Sam McAlister cut of his left foot slightly breaking through three attempted tackles to force the ball down four metres to the right of the uprights.

Sam McAlister completed his double in the 36th minute when he barged his way over under the posts after running onto the ball from eight metres out and to the left of the play the ball.

Sam McAlister also threw the final pass for Cooper Bail to score in the 7th minute when Sam McAlister drew the last Stretton College defender on the left and got the ball away in the same direction to Cooper Bai.

The first of Sam McAlister’s strong runs in the match came in just the 2nd minute with a fifteen metre effort through the centre of the field to get the ball into Stretton College territory. Sam McAlister made a further strong charge in the 22nd minute from the kick-off from Cooper Bai’s second row.

Sam McAlister also had a defensively strong match including in the 16th minute with a heavy front on tackle on the Stretton College front rower (No. 8) who was bringing the ball back from a kick-off.

Sam McAlister then started at left second row in Marymount College’s Langer Cup Quarter Final against Keebra Park SHS with Sam McAlister taking the second and fourth hit-ups of the match after Keebra Park SHS had kicked off.

Sam McAlister was also part of the Marymount College Confraternity Carnival side and at the competition of the carnival Sam McAlister was awarded the Marymount College Spirit Award.

In 2021 Sam McAlister was part of the Burleigh Bears U16 Cyril Connell Cup squad, starting Round One in the front row against the Souths Logan Magpies. Sam McAlister also started in the front row in Rounds Three and Five against the Tweed Heads Seagulls and Ipswich Jets respectively.

2021 also saw Sam McAlister play for Gold Coast based Marymount College including in the Titans Cup and Confraternity Shield School Boy Competitions.

In the Titans Cup Boys Year 11/12 Division One competition, Sam McAlister had a big match against Aquinas College with Sam McAlister scoring a second half double off the bench in a big Marymount College victory.

Sam McAlister’s opening try come in the 32nd minute when he charged over from eight metres out from a straight run to the left of the dummy half with Sam McAlister getting the ball down with two Aquinas College defenders hanging off him seven metres to the right of the uprights.

Sam McAlister completed his double just four minutes later in the 36th minute when he crashed over under the posts from five metres out after receiving the ball two passes off the play the ball that had occurred to his left.

From a club rugby league perspective in 2021, Sam McAlister played for the Burleigh Bears in the GCRL U16 Division One competition, including starting the Grand Final against the Southport Tigers in the front row.

In the 2021 Gold Coast Rugby League U16 Division One Grand Final Sam McAlister could not have gotten in the match earlier than he did when he was involved in the opening tackle of the match after Burleigh had kicked off to get the Grand Final underway. Sam McAlister also made a strong tackle from Burleigh’s second kick-off of the Grand Final after Southport’s opening try.

Sam McAlister’s opening hit-up of the Grand Final came in the 4th minute of the match when he hit-up brought the ball out of his own twenty metre area. Perhaps Sam McAlister’s best hit-up of the Grand Final came in the 7th minute when after receiving the ball off the dummy half to the right of the play the ball twenty metres from the line, Sam McAlister bustled his way to within two metres of the try line and directly in front of the right goal post before his forward momentum was finally stopped.

Running with the football, Sam McAlister 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 trying to run over them.

Sam McAlister 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. Sam McAlister actually does have a decent off load when he has impacted the defensive line as well when the opportunity presents.

Defensively Sam McAlister is not a big hitter, usually aiming for just under the ribs and first intention is to lock up the ball to prevent offloads. One area where is quite effective whether he is defending on the fringes of the ruck or in the centre of the ruck including when Sam McAlister is defending at marker, is against smaller attackers who look to use their foot work.

Sam McAlister has quite reasonable lateral mobility for a front row forward and due to the fact that he also is not that tall, usually is able to wrap up the smaller attackers without his tackles slipping up to around the head or neck region.

2023 will see Sam McAlister play for the Burleigh Bears MM Cup side. At the competition of the 2023 MM Cup competition Sam McAlister will line up for the Burleigh Bears U18 Division One side for the second season in a row and Sam McAlister will also continue to play for Marymount College in the Titans Cup and Confraternity Shield School Boy competitions as well as pushing for a spot in the School Boy Langer Cup Quarter Finals.

Sam McAlister has played the majority of his junior and school bout rugby league career to date in the front row and whilst he is certainly not the biggest front rower running around, Sam McAlister with his high work rate and determination there is a more than reasonable opportunity that Sam McAlister to stay in the front row long term.

From an NRL player comparison perspective for Sam McAlister, consider how Melbourne Storm and Queensland State of Origin front rower Christian Welch plays. Like Welch, Sam McAlister is an all effort type of player, who will make the occasional error, but makes up for them with non-stop hard work and effort.

Like Welch Sam McAlister is never going to be a flashy type of player, but to be sure every successful team needs at least one player in their forward pack like Sam McAlister in their forward pack to do a lot of the heavy and dirty work which eases the pressure for the other forwards in the team.

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Oscar Laffranchi. In late September 2022 Titan Oscar Laffranchi was named in the powerful 2023 Burleigh Bears U18 Maal Meninga Cup Squad and Oscar Laffranchi is also MM Cup eligible in 2024.

In late 2021 Oscar Laffranchi played his first match in a Titans jersey when he played for the Titans U15 JTS Squad in a trial in very hot, humid and steamy conditions which challenged the players fitness and stamina but not their enthusiasm.

In late January 2022 Oscar Laffranchi started in the front row for the Titans U16 side in a match at Pizzey Park against a Sydney Bulldogs U16 Development squad.

In early May 2022 Oscar Laffranchi also started in the front row for the Titans JTS U16 squad that took on a Northern Rivers Titans U17 squad at Cbus Stadium as a curtain-raiser to the Titans NRL Round Fourteen clash against the Souths Sydney Rabbitohs with the Titans U16 side coming out victors against a gallant opposition.

In July 2022 Oscar Laffranchi was named in the Southern Stars U16 Oztag Representative side for the National Championships.

In late 2021 Oscar Laffranchi was named in the Burleigh Bears U16 Cyril Connell Cup competition’s squad.

Round One of the 2022 U16 Cyril Connell Cup saw Oscar Laffranchi named in the front row for the Burleigh Bears against the Tweed Heads Seagulls with Oscar Laffranchi taking the third hit-up of the match (and season) after Tweed Heads had kicked off to get the match underway.

Oscar Laffranchi was also named in the front row for Round Two against the Souths Logan Magpies with Oscar Laffranchi making his first hit-up within the opening minute of the match to get the ball inside the Bears attacking twenty metre area after Burleigh retrieved the ball after kicking the ball off to get the match underway.

Oscar Laffranchi continued in the front row in Round Three against the Norths Devils and had a solid match including a strong tackle in the 8th minute on the Norths right centre with Oscar Laffranchi’s initial contact forcing the ball loose, resulting in a knock on.

Oscar Laffranchi then continued in the front row in Round Four against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls with Oscar Laffranchi making a strong run from the kick-off return from Nayte Saaga’s early 2nd minute try.

Oscar Laffranchi was named on the bench for the Bears opening 2022 Cyril Connell Cup trial against local rivals the Tweed Heads Seagulls after playing for the Titans against the Burleigh MM Cup side in late January 2022. The trial saw Oscar Laffranchi operating in the front row in the second half after coming on at halftime and making some strong runs through the centre of the Seagulls defensive line.

Oscar Laffranchi then started in the front row for Burleigh in their final 2022 trial against the Western Clydesdales operating on the left side of the field.

2022 also saw Oscar Laffranchi line-up for Marymount College in the Titans Cup School Boy competition as well as the 2022 School Boy Confraternity Shield Carnival.

In late 2021 Oscar Laffranchi was named in the Miami Raptors Oztag side for the 2022 Queensland U16 Junior State Cup held in late February 2022. Oscar Laffranchi was then named in the Southern Storm U13 Oztag Representative side for the 2022 Junior National Oztag Championships held in Coffs Harbour.

Oscar Laffranchi played the 2021 season for Burleigh in the Gold Coast Rugby League U15 Division One competition including being involved in the Grand Final when the two Burleigh sides played each other in the decider.

Running with the football, Oscar Laffranchi 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. Oscar Laffranchi does not have great speed off the mark or necessary great high end speed, but he will work extremely hard and make the most of his ability. Oscar Laffranchi actually does have a decent off load when he has impacted the defensive line as well.

Defensively Oscar Laffranchi is not a big hitter per say and usually aiming for just under the ribs and first intention is to lock up the ball to prevent offloads and stop the momentum of the ball carrier as soon as possible.

One area where Oscar Laffranchi is quite effective whether he is defending on the fringes of the ruck or in the centre of the ruck including when he is defending at marker, is defending against smaller attackers who look to use their foot work against him in one on one situations.

Oscar Laffranchi has quite reasonable lateral mobility for a middle forward and due to the fact that he also is not necessarily that tall, Oscar Laffranchi 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.

In 2023 Oscar Laffranchi will start the season as part of the Burleigh Bears U18 Mal Meninga Cup squad with Oscar Laffranchi also MM Cup eligible in 2024. Post the MM Cup competition Oscar Laffranchi will line up in the Gold Coast Rugby League U18 Division One competition also for the Burleigh Bears.

Oscar Laffranchi will also return to Marymount College in 2023 where he will be a corner stone of Marymount College’s Titans Cup and Confraternity Shield School Boy campaigns as well as pushing for a spot in the School Boy Langer Cup Quarter Finals should Marymount College be successful in the Titans Cup competition.

Like his father Anthony, Oscar Laffranchi is a forward who is equally at home in the front row or the second row but Oscar Laffranchi probably projects slightly better in the second row (just like his father) moving forward in his rugby league career with his decent foot work and solid (and at times surprising) speed for a modern day rugby league middle forward.

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Qubin Anderson. The talented ball playing lock or five eight attended Keebra Park State High School in 2022 as part of the Keebra Park SHS Renouf Cup School Boy Rugby League Grand Final winning side.

Round One of the Renouf Cup against Ipswich SHS saw Qubin Anderson start at lock with Qubin Anderson scoring inside the opening two minutes when from a play the ball in front of the posts Qubin Anderson received the ball off the dummy half to the right. Qubin Anderson executed a stutter step to get to his right and then Qubin Anderson dummied to his right before he sliced between two defenders to score five metres in from the right corner post for a type of try that is quickly becoming a trademark of Qubin Anderson’s game.

Qubin Anderson started Round Two against Redcliffe State High School also at lock with Qubin Anderson scoring in the 18th minute when from twelve metres out and to the right of the dummy half Qubin Anderson shaped to pass to his left but instead stepped off his right foot to slice through the defensive line and dive over to score ten metres to the right of the uprights.

Qubin Anderson also started at lock in Round Three against Marsden SHS with Qubin Anderson scoring an outstanding solo try in the 10th minute in Round Four against Mabel Park SHS.

Qubin Anderson received the ball to the right of the play the ball fifty five metres out, stepping off his right foot and then almost immediately off his left to break through the Mabel Park SHS defensive line. Qubin Anderson then easily rounded the fullback by running to his right and scoring a great solo try in the right corner.

Qubin Anderson continued at lock in Round Five against Forest Lake State High School with Qubin Anderson recording two try assists in a big Keebra Park SHS victory.

The first of Qubin Anderson’s try assists came in the 17th minute when Qubin Anderson received the ball to the right of the play the ball just inside his own territory and after taking the ball to the line Qubin Anderson threw a good short ball to his right to put second rower Royal Taito into a gap and run fifty metres to score.

Qubin Anderson recorded a second try assist in the 31st minute when once again he set up a try for Royal Taito. When he was forty metres out from his own try line and with the play the ball in the centre of the field, Qubin Anderson took possession to the left of the play the ball and after taking the ball to the line, once again got a short ball away to Royal Taito who burst through the defensive line to score next to the left upright.

Qubin Anderson also recorded a 19th minute line break when after receiving the ball to the left of the play the ball forty metres out from his own try line, Qubin Anderson stepped off his left foot twice to beat a number of tackles to get the ball ten metres into Forest Lake SHS territory.

Qubin Anderson continued at lock in Round Six against PBC State High School with Qubin Anderson scoring in the 49th minute when after receiving the ball to the left of the play the ball around fifteen metres out from the try line and in front of the posts, Qubin Anderson ran to his left before stepping off his left foot to beat two defenders to get through the defensive line to get the ball down eight metres to the left of the uprights.

Qubin Anderson also recorded a line break assist/try assist in the 34th minute when after receiving the ball to the left of the play the ball Qubin Anderson floated across the field to his left and popped a good short ball to a charging Royal Taito who burst through a gap on the halfway mark with Royal Taito then stepping the PBC SHS fullback to score under the posts.

Qubin Anderson started the 2022 School Boy Renouf Cup Grand Final against Ipswich SHS at lock with Qubin Anderson making a line break in the 32nd minute when from twenty five metres out and to the right of the play the ball Qubin Anderson dummied to his right before stepping off his right foot and getting through the defensive line with Qubin Anderson being brought to ground two metres out from the try line. Qubin Anderson was able to get to his feet to execute a quick play the ball with Keebra Park SHS scoring from the play the ball in the right corner.

At the 2022 Keebra Park SHS Rugby League Specialisation Awards, Qubin Anderson was named at lock in the 2022 Keebra Park SHS Rugby League Team of the Year.

2022 also saw Qubin Anderson play for the Southport Tigers in the Gold Coast Junior Rugby League U14 Division One competition, leading the Tigers to a Grand Final appearance against the Burleigh Bears with Qubin Anderson starting the Grand Final at five eight with the Tigers winning a tight Grand Final contest.

Qubin Anderson also had a strong match in Round Fourteen against the Beaudesert Kingfishers with Qubin Anderson operating at five eight on his usual left side of the field for the Tigers.

In September 2022 Qubin Anderson was named in the South Queensland Maori U14 Tuakana representative squad.

Qubin Anderson arrived at Keebra Park SHS in 2021 by way of Canterbury New Zealand where Qubin Anderson was a junior age representative for a number of seasons.

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

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

The one thing that Qubin Anderson also seems to be able to do well, is to step back inside without the loss of his speed or forward momentum, opposing defenders seem to push out quickly when he has the ball expecting him to look to beat them on their outside, if they come across to far, he has a very good step back side and if the inside defenders are not quick enough to cover across he has the speed to make a clean break in those circumstances.

Similarly when an opposing defender looks to come out of the line quickly to put pressure on him, his quick twitch feet means that he can step off either foot quickly to negate the attempt to cut down his time. In short he is a very talented attacking player who looks to beat his opponent with speed and guile rather than purely by brute strength.

Defensively Qubin Anderson is solid at wrapping the ball up and slides well in defence and has the speed to cover opposition line breaks very well.

2023 will see Qubin Anderson move up to the Hancock Cup School Boy Rugby League competition for Keebra Park SHS with Qubin Anderson also in line to push for a spot in the South Coast QSSRL U15 School Boy Representative squad.

Qubin Anderson will also line up once again for the Southport Tigers in the GCRL U15 Division One competition.

Qubin Anderson, with his ability to run the ball and his ball playing ability to be a great link between his forwards and backs, looks an ideal modern day rugby league lock.

From an NRL player comparison perspective for Qubin Anderson think along the lines of someone like Souths Sydney Rabbitohs and New South Wales State of Origin lock Cameron Murray.

Like Murray, Qubin Anderson is developing into a very solid ball playing forward who can pop a short pass to his supports both prior to the line and when engaged with the defensive line as well as running the ball effectively as well.

Qubin Anderson just looks to be a natural footballer with an innate ability to know where and when to pass the ball as well as having a hard edge in defence.

[mdrew]

Isaac Togia. The powerhouse second row, centre or lock (and rugby outside centre) who hails from the Ipswich region signed a multi-year contract with the Titans in early 2021 and let there be no doubt, the Titans have snared a seriously talented young player in Isaac Togia.

In late January 2022 Isaac Togia started at left second row for the Titans U16 side in a match at Pizzey Park against the Sydney Bulldogs and Isaac Togia was involved in the opening tackle of the match after the Titans had kicked off to get the match underway.

In early May 2022 Isaac Togia also started at right second row for the Titans JTS U16 squad that took on a Northern Rivers Titans U17 squad at Cbus Stadium as a curtain-raiser to the Titans NRL Round Fourteen against the Souths Sydney Rabbitohs with Isaac Togia scoring in the 10th minute after backing up a line break from fellow second rower Cooper Bai.

In mid-December 2021 Isaac Togia 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 Isaac Togia was named in the Ipswich Jets 2022 U16 Cyril Connell Cup squad and after the Jets had a Round One bye, Isaac Togia was named in the second row for Round Two against the Burleigh Bears and scored in just the 14th minute of the match. Only twenty metres out from his own try line, Isaac Togia packed in at lock for a scrum with an Ipswich Jets feed. After picking up the ball from the base of the scrum, Isaac Togia ran to his right and literally just ran eighty metres untouched to dive over under the posts.

Isaac Togia continued at right second row in Round Three against the Sunshine Coast Falcons playing strongly yet again, with his first strong effort with the ball coming in just the 5th minute when Isaac Togia making a strong twelve metres when he ran to his right out of dummy half to get the ball within thirty metres of the try line.

Isaac Togia also had a very good match from a defensive perspective including a big tackle in the 6th minute when Isaac Togia drove his right shoulder through the Falcons lock. Then just three tackles later Isaac Togia made a strong driving tackle on the Falcon’s left centre forcing him back around three metres.

Isaac Togia continued at right second row in Round Four against the Wide Bay Bulls, scoring once again in a big Jets victory. In the 24th minute on the second tackle after a Jets scrum win ten metres from the line and fifteen metres in from the right touchline Isaac Togia moved into dummy half and once he collected the ball Isaac Togia ran to his left, engaging two defenders still six metres from the line. Upon the engagement with the two Bulls defenders Isaac Togia spun 360 degrees counter clockwise to gain separation before charging over the get the ball down under the posts with four Wide Bay defenders trying in vain to prevent Isaac Togia from scoring a strong solo try.

Isaac Togia also started at right second row in Round Five against the Western Clydesdales with Isaac Togia scoring in the 48th minute when from around ten metres out and ten metres in from the right touchline, Isaac Togia ran to his left out of dummy half and proved far too strong for the Clydesdales defence to crash over under the posts.

In total in the 2022 U16 Cyril Connell Cup competition Isaac Togia ran for the 7h most metres in the competition, being 502 metres at an average of 126 metres per game and also made three line breaks. Isaac Togia also made the 13th most tackles of the competition with sixty eight tackles at an average of just under fourteen tackles per match.

Post the 2022 U16 Cyril Connell Cup competition Isaac Togia once again played for Goodna in the Ipswich Rugby League competition, starting at right second row in Round One of the U17 Division One competition against the Springfield Panthers with Isaac Togia scoring a first up hat trick in a big Goodna victory.

Isaac Togia was named to continue at right second row in Round Two against Norths Ipswich however a late change saw Isaac Togia start from the bench with Isaac Togia scoring in a 22 – 12 Goodna victory.

At the completion of the Round Two match Isaac Togia was the equal leading try scorer in the 2022 Ipswich Rugby League U17 Division One competition with four tries from two matches to have a 200% early season strike rate.

Isaac Togia was also named at right second row in Round Three against Swifts/Rosewood however the match ended up being forfeited by Swifts/Rosewood.

In late March 2022 Isaac Togia was named to attend the Queensland Rugby League Positional Skills Day as part of the Ipswich Squad.

In 2021 Isaac Togia once again lined up for the Goodna Eagles in the Ipswich Rugby League U15 Division One competition, operating primarily in the second row for the Eagles.

As he did in 2020 Isaac Togia had some big matches for Goodna Black in 2021 including a two try effort in Round Two as Goodna defeated Norths Blue 62 – 0. Isaac Togia also scored a double in Round Seven against Brothers Blue after starting the match from the bench.

Isaac Togia moved into the Eagles starting side in the second row in Round Eight against Swifts and had a huge Friday night scoring five tries and converting Goodna’s final try of the match in their 78 – 6 victory. Isaac Togia then started from the bench in Round Eleven against Swifts and was also named on the bench for Round Twelve against Norths Ipswich.

Isaac Togia started on the bench for Goonda Black in week one of the Ipswich U15 Division One Final’s series against Ipswich Brothers Blue scoring in the 40th and 60th minutes in Goodna’s big win. Isaac Togia also stepped up to convert the try that he scored in the 60th minute.

Isaac Togia also started from the bench in the 2021 Ipswich U15 Division One Grand Final against Norths Blue with Isaac Togia scoring in the 10th minute as Goonda recorded a big 2021 Grand Final victory.

Isaac Togia played for Ipswich Grammar School one again in 2021 in the GPS School Boy Rugby U15A competition.

In 2020 Isaac Togia played for Goonda Black in the Ipswich Rugby League U14 competition with Goonda Black winning all ten of their 2020 matches, scoring a staggering 506 points and conceding just 32 to finish with a positive points differential of an incredible +474.

Isaac Togia had some big match in 2020 for Goonda Black including scoring five tries in Round Eight as Goodna Black defeated Redback Red 58 – 10. Isaac Togia also scored four tries in Rounds Four and Six against Goodna Blue (62 – 0) and Swifts Blue (68 – 0) respectively.

Isaac Togia previously played for the Springfield Panthers Junior Rugby League Club who also play in the Ipswich Rugby League competition.

In 2019 Isaac Togia represented the Ipswich Diggers U13’s in the second row at the Hill Stumer South East Queensland Junior Rugby League Championships, and post those Championships was selected in the South East Queensland Training Squad.

Isaac Togia is also a more than impressive rugby player and currently attends Ipswich Grammar School and plays rugby in the GPS school boy rugby competition. In 2020 in the GPS U14A competition and in 2019 in the U13A competition, Isaac Togia was a stand out for the Ipswich based school, playing at outside centre (No. 13).

Isaac Togia has also represented Ipswich Grammar School in the GPS Athletics Championships in 2019 and 2020.

2019 also saw Isaac Togia play for the Ipswich Rangers rugby club who played in the Brisbane U13A Brisbane Junior Rugby competition, once again playing outside centre.

For the Ipswich Rangers, Isaac Togia played at outside centre (No. 13) and finished the 2019 season on fire. In the BJR U13A 2019 regular season Isaac Togia had a huge Round Ten match, scoring five tries against Sunnybank Green and also scored a double in Round Eight against Souths Black.

Isaac Togia also scored in each of his three finals matches in 2019, being in Week One of the Finals against Souths Black, Week Two against Easts Blue and Week Three against Norths Blue in the Rangers two point loss.

Also in 2019 Isaac Togia was selected in the Brisbane Red side for the Queensland XV’s State Rugby Championships.

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

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

Isaac Togia does not necessarily have plus top end speed, but he is certainly more than fast enough, but at full speed as well as off the mark to get through to the full back prior to the arrival of the cover defence.

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

There is no doubt in my mind that playing outside centre in the GPS school boy rugby competition has helped Isaac Togia become much more comfortable playing on both sides of the field, as unlike rugby league in its current iteration, in rugby, centres more to the opposite side of the field depending upon where the set piece is located, read that as the centres almost always line up together on the open side of the field.

In defence Isaac Togia regularly is the first player up to target the ball carriers, even though he is not always one of the bigger forwards in his team and will make solid initial contact as well as having the ability of defending one on one.
When the opportunity presents Isaac Togia has the ability to hit very hard, by setting a good base and driving through with his lower body and core into his opponent. Ultimately though Isaac Togia is a strong defender with a good, simple, effective and repeatable front on technique, including head placement and good lateral movement to track and defend against smaller opponents either on the fringes or centre of the ruck.
Isaac Togia will play the 2023 season with the Goonda Eagles in the Ipswich Rugby League U17 Division One competition once again.

Isaac Togia will also play the 2023 GPS school boy rugby season with Ipswich Grammar School where Isaac Togia will push for immediately play time in the Ipswich Grammar School First XV. If Isaac Togia does not immediately break into the Ipswich Grammar School First XV, Isaac Togia will start the season in the U16A competition.

In the current way that rugby league is being played, a rugby league second rower needs, size, speed, strength, power and stamina, well let’s just say they need everything. Those are all attributes that Isaac Togia possesses in quantities more than sufficient for Isaac Togia to present as a rugby league second rower with near unlimited potential.

Playing in the GPS school boy rugby competition in the centres, specifically outside centre, for Ipswich Grammar School is only going to help Isaac Togia in his rugby league journey with the Titans as he progresses towards the NRL.

With his size, strength and speed combination, I am more than comfortable to compare Isaac Togia’s playing style to that of rampaging Titans and Queensland State of Origin second rower David Fifita. Both Fifita and Isaac Togia are just about impossible to stop when they receive the ball early on the fringes of the ruck and seem to be able to break tackles and score almost at will.

[mdrew]

Jett Flatley. In late 2022 Jett Flatley commenced training with the 2022 Titans U14 Group One JTS Academy squad.

Round One of the 2022 Group One U14 competition saw Jett Flatley start at left second row for the Ballina Seagulls against the Marist Rams with Jett Flatley scoring in the Seagulls first up victory. Jett Flatley also scored in Round Nine against the South Grafton Rebels and in Round Fourteen against the Marists Rams.

In Week One of the 2022 Group One U14 Finals series Jett Flatley started in the second row for the Ballina Seagulls against the South Grafton Rebels with Jett Flatley scoring a double in a Seagulls 22 – 10 victory.

Jett Flatley also started in the second row in the Preliminary Final against the Kyogle Turkeys with Jett Flatley scoring two tries once again as the Seagulls progressed to the Grand Final.

Jett Flatley started in the second row and had another try scoring double in Ballina’s tough 2022 Group One U14 Grand Final loss against Casino RSM.

Jett Flatley finished the 2022 Group One U14 competition with ten tries to finish equal fifth in that particular category and Jett Flatley also finished as the competition’s seventh leading points scorer with forty points as a result of his ten tries.

In 2022 Jett Flatley, after starting from the bench for the Lismore/Armidale representative squad at the U15 Northern Country trials at Tamworth, following Lismore Diocesan selection trials at Xavier College, Ballina, Jett Flatley was named in the 2022 U15 Northern College Combined Catholic College School Boy Rugby League Representative squad for the New South Wales U15 School Boy Championships an impressive feat considering Jett Flatley was still U14 eligible in 2022.

Round One of the 2021 Group One U13 competition saw Jett Flatley start in the second row for Ballina against in the Clarence Coast Magpies, scoring a hat trick in the Seagulls 58 – 0 win. Jett Flatley also captained the Ballina Seagulls side.

Round Two against the Marist Brothers Rams Lismore saw Jett Flatley start once again in the second row and he was one of the Seagulls try scorers in their 66 – 0 victory.

Jett Flatley also started in the second row in Round Three against the Kyogle Turkeys with the impressive youngster scoring a double as the Seagulls went down 28 – 10. In Round Four against South Grafton, Jett Flatley scored a hat trick after starting the match in the second row.

Jett Flatley continued in the second row in Round Five in the local derby against the South Grafton Rebels, kicking a conversion in the Ghosts 28 – 16 victory. From the second row position in Round Six against the Clarence Coast magpies, Jett Flatley scored two more tries and also kicked a conversion in Ballina’s 52 – 0 victory.

Jett Flatley dropped back to start from the bench in Round Nine against Marist Brothers, kicking a conversion in his time on the field and then once against started in the second row in Round Ten against the Kyogle Turkeys and in Round Eleven against the South Grafton Rebels. Jett Flatley then started from the bench in Round Twelve against the Clarence Coast Magpies before being named to start in the second row in Round Thirteen against the Clarence Coast Magpies, scoring a try and kicking two conversions in the Seagulls 46 – 12 victory.

The talented Ballina Seagulls second rower was a key member of the Seagulls 2020 U12 side that won the Group One U12 Grand Final 36 – 0 against the Kyogle Turkeys with Jett Flatley scoring a try and kicking a conversion in the match.

Jett Flatley started in all eleven of Ballina’s 2020 matches, including in the Grand Final and in those eleven matches, scored forty eight points from nine tries and six conversions, with all six conversions coming in separate matches and in the main were situations when Jett Flatley converted a try of his own.

Jett Flatley finished the 2020 Group One U12 abridged regular season on a high, scoring a hat trick against the Clarence Coast Magpies in Round Ten and also scored a double in Round Six against the Grafton Ghosts. Jett Flatley also scored against South Grafton in Round Two and Clarence Coast once again in Round Five.

In Round Two against the South Grafton Rebels, Jett Flatley was barely touched by the Rebels defence, scoring from forty metres out after receiving the ball from the dummy half from his left. After receiving the ball Jett Flatley ran through a South Grafton defence that had barely moved off their line and then beat the cover defence with sheer pace to dive over three metres in from the right corner post.

One of Jett Flatley’s Round Ten three tries was as good of a long range solo try that I have seen in any junior age group ever. Jett Flatley received the ball four passes from the play the ball as Ballina spun the ball to their left. When Jett Flatley received the ball he was only fifteen metres out from his own line and just five metres in from the left touchline. Jett Flatley stepped off his left foot to beat one defender before veering back towards the left touchline, breaking five tackles as he broke into space still sixty metres from the try line. Even though three Magpies defenders gave chase they could not take any ground at all off Jett Flatley and he was able to dive over in the left corner to score an outstanding try.

I have noted two outstanding solo tries to look to highlight the skill set that Jett Flatley possesses, but I could also note multiple instances of outstanding defence over the course of 2020 which would also go a long way to describing just how good Jett Flatley is. Some of the tackles against Kyogle, Casino RSM and the Clarence Coast Magpies were simply outstanding with Jett Flatley hitting hard and often with both his left and right shoulders.

Jett Flatley is a big 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 Jett Flatley’s game has really developed over the last couple of seasons his ability to play wider of the ruck, which is where he is primarily playing for the Ballina this season. With his size and strength wider of the ruck Jett Flatley attracts defenders and thus is in a position to use his ball skills to set up his outside supports early in a match. When defences start to try to anticipate that Jett Flatley is going to pass then he can use his size and power to cash through the defensive lien as no defender is going to be able to handle him one on one by themselves.

In defence Jett Flatley uses his size and strength to make very solid initial contact and certainly can take on all opposing forwards one on one. Jett Flatley 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.

Jett Flatley will play the 2023 season with the Ballina Seagulls in the Group One U15 competition and Jett Flatley will also be in line to return to the NSW CCC U15 School Boy Representative side for the second season in a row.

If you were looking to build a modern day rugby league second rower, you could not have a better template to work with than Jett Flatley as he has the requisite size, strength, speed and power to be a difference maker. I have not seen Jett Flatley play anywhere other than in the second row and to be honest I do not expect too either.

Melbourne Storm, former St George Dragons and New South Wales State of Origin tough, hard second rower Tariq Sims is a more than reasonable comparison for Jett Flatley. Both Sims and Jett Flatley are big strong and powerful but at the same time have outstanding speed and hit the line very very hard.

[mdrew]

Noah Reti. On November 8, 2021, Noah Reti started training a couple of days a week with the Titans JTS program with Noah Reti’s first appearance in a Titans jersey in a match coming in early December 2021 when two Titans U14 Development Squads played each other with Noah Reti dominating in a high quality match.

In mid-December 2021 Noah Reti was one of approximately ninety members of the Titans JTS Program to took part in a joint training session with the Titans NRL squad.

Round One of the 2022 Group One U14 Junior rugby League competition saw Noah Reti start in the second row for the South Grafton Rebels against the Clarence Coast Magpies however due to a wet field the match was postponed. Noah Reti was also named in the second row in Round Two against Casino RSM.

Noah Reti was then at his destructive best in Round Eight against the Marist Rams with Noah Reti scoring four of the Rebels six tries in a big South Grafton victory. Noah Reti then scored a double in Round Eleven against the Kyogle Turkeys.

Noah Reti also scored in Rounds Twelve, Fourteen and the in the rescheduled Round Two match against Casino RSM on all occasions.

In Week One of the 2022 Group One U14 Finals series Noah Reti started in the second row for the South Grafton Rebels against the Ballina Seagulls.

Even though he was still U14 eligible in 2022 Noah Reti played a number of matches in the Group One U15 competition with the first of those appearance being in Round Two when he was named on the bench for the South Grafton Rebels against Casino RSM.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Noah Reti also started in the second row in Round Ten against the Clarence Coast Magpies, scoring a staggering five tries in the Rebels impressive victory.

From the second row position in Round Eleven against the Ballina Seagulls, Noah Reti scored an outstanding hat trick in a tough South Grafton four point loss. Noah Reti also started in the second row in Round Twelve against Casino RSM with Noah Reti proving to be close to unstoppable on the way to scoring on four occasions.

Understandably Noah Reti was also named to start in the second row in Round Thirteen against the Marist Rams, scoring one of the three Rebels tries in the match.

Noah Reti finished the abridged 2021 Group One U13 regular season as the competitions leading try scorer with thirty six tries to record a try scoring strike rate in excess of 300%.

Round Thirteen of the Group One U14 competition saw Noah Reti named to start from the bench against the Marist Rams in his first match of 2021 “up an age group”.

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

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

On a lot of his runs Noah Reti rather than trying to step his opposite number will really look to initiate the contact and then use his strength to hold the defender off his body to either push through the tackle or draw in the next defender to create space for his outside support.

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

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

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

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

Noah Reti will play the 2023 season with the South Grafton Rebels in the Group One U15 competition. Representative U15 School Boy rugby league is also beckoning for the ultra-talented Noah Reti sooner rather than later in 2023.

Whilst Noah Reti played in the front row in 2020 (and was very successful there), moving to the second row where he is able to run a bit wider of the ruck in 2021 and 2022 and the move has propelled Noah Reti’s already impressive game to another level and whilst he may well end up in the front row in years to come, playing in the second row in the short term (and potentially the long term) is, for me the best situation for Noah Reti.

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

[mdrew]

Harrison Clements. Round One of the 2022 Group One U14 competition saw Harrison Clements start at right second row for the Ballina Seagulls against the Marist Rams with Harrison Clements scoring in the Seagulls first up victory. Harrison Clements also scored in Round Eight against the Ballina Seagulls.

Harrison Clements then had a big match in Round Fourteen scoring an impressive four tries in Round Fourteen against the Marist Rams.

In Week One of the 2022 Group One U14 Finals series Harrison Clements started in the second row for the Ballina Seagulls against the South Grafton Rebels.

Harrison Clements also started in the second row in the Preliminary Final against the Kyogle Turkeys with Harrison Clements scoring two tries as the Seagulls progressed to the Grand Final.

Harrison Clements then started in the second row in Ballina’s tough Group One U14 Grand Final loss against Casino RSM.

Harrison Clements finished the 2022 Group One U14 competition with nine tries to finish sixth in that category and also finished as the competition’s ninth leading points scorer with thirty six points as a result of his nine tries.

Impressively Harrison Clements also played a number of matches two age groups up in the Group One U16 competition for Ballina, including starting Round Thirteen against Marist Blue on the right wing and scoring in an impressive Group One U16 debut.

In Week One of the 2022 Group One U16 Finals series Harrison Clements started on the wing for the Ballina Seagulls against Casino RSM.

2022 also saw Harrison Clements play once again for Ballina Coast High School, starting Round One of the U14 Buckley Shield School Boy competition in the second row with Harrison Clements scoring towards the end of the first half but unfortunately Ballina Coast HS went down 16 – 8 in the knock out competition to Mullumbimby High School.

Round One of the 2021 Group One U13 competition saw Harrison Clements start in the second row for Ballina against the Clarence Coast Magpies and scored a double as the Seagulls started their Premiership defence on the back of a 58 – 0 win.

Round Two against the Marist Brothers Rams Lismore saw Harrison Clements started once again in the second row and scoring a hat trick as Ballina defeated the Rams 66 – 0.

Harrison Clements also started in the second row in Round Three against Kyogle when he also captained the Ballina side. In Round Four against South Grafton Harrison Clements scored a double after starting the match in the second row.

Harrison Clements continued his try scoring exploits in Round Five against South Grafton, scoring a double after starting the match in his usual second row position. Harrison Clements scored once again in Round Six against the Clarence Coast Magpies after once again starting the match in the second row. Harrison Clements also started in the second row in Round Nine against Marist Brothers and then once against started in the second row in Round Ten against the Kyogle Turkeys.

The Round Eleven match against the South Grafton Rebels saw Harrison Clements come off the bench and score one of the Seagulls tries in their four point win. Harrison Clements moved back into the Ballina starting side in Round Twelve against the Clarence Coast Magpies, scoring a double in Ballina’s victory.

Harrison Clements was also named to start in the second row in Round Thirteen against the Clarence Coast Magpies scoring once again as the Seagulls thumped the Magpies 46 – 12.

In May 2021, Harrison Clements was part of the Ballina Coast High School’s U14 Buckley Shield school boy rugby league side that won the Grand Final 46 – 0 against Tweed River High School after Dylan Watkins started the match on the wing.

In the two earlier matches of the Buckley Shield Ballina Coast High School defeated Kingscliffe High School 48 – 0 and Tweed River High School 36 – 6.

The talented Ballina Seagulls second rower was a key member of the Seagulls 2020 U12 side that won the Group One U12 Grand Final 36 – 0 against the Kyogle Turkeys with Harrison Clements scoring in the decider.

Harrison Clements started from the bench in all eleven of Ballina’s 2020 matches, scoring eleven tries to average a try a match and obviously a 100% strike rate.

Harrison Clements started the 2020 Group One U12 season off in fine style scoring a hat trick against Casino RSM and added a double in Round Nine against the South Grafton Rebels.

Harrison Clements remaining 2020 Group One U12 tries came in Rounds Five and Ten (Clarence Coast), Six (Grafton Ghosts) and Seven and Eight (Casino RSM).

In 2020 in the Group One U12 competition, Harrison Clements made a habit of scoring long range solo tries with a Round Five try against the Clarence Coast Magpies, perfectly highlighting my contention.

Harrison Clements received the ball from his halfback whilst stationary and eighty metres away from the try line. As soon as he received the ball Harrison Clements exploded off the mark cutting back to the soft spot behind the play the ball, bursting easily through the Magpies defence and from there Harrison Clements extended the gap between him and the Clarence Coast chasers to be able to slow down and gently place the ball under the posts.

Another example of a Harrison Clements special, came against South Grafton in Round Nine but in that occasion Harrison Clements “only” ran seventy five metres to score. Harrison Clements received the ball four passes off the play the ball as Ballina spun the ball to their right, as soon as he received the ball, Harrison Clements used his speed to get on the outside of the last Rebels left side defender and from there it was shut the gate as Harrison Clements ran down the right touchline and such was the buffer that he had, Harrison Clements was able to comfortably bring the ball around and place it down under the goal posts.

The tall, long striding Harrison Clements is at his best when he is operating in the fringes of the ruck where he can exploit gaps in the defensive line with his size and speed. When he runs Harrison Clements is all arms, legs, knees and elbows and with his long stride and strong fend is a difficult proposition for defenders to handle in the context of getting him to the ground prior to Harrison Clements being in a position to off load the ball effectively. Harrison Clements has solid ball playing skills for a big forward including being able to pass prior to contact with the defensive line as well as when in contact.

Harrison Clements’s leg drive and determination also enables him to be equally effective in relation to operating in traffic where as long as he gets his body height low he can shrug off would be tacklers by dropping his shoulder into the defender just as he starts to commit to the tackle, Harrison Clements can then redirect his momentum and proceed down the field on a different vector to the one he was on prior to contact. For a player his size Harrison Clements can quickly get to his feet both in the context of getting a quick play the ball.

The other key feature of Harrison Clements’s attacking play is his ability to off load the ball, he can pop a very good short ball from either side of his body but is very effective at keeping his right arm free when in contact with the defensive line and off load a well-timed and appropriately weighted pass to his support runners who have the confidence in him to be hitting the gaps at full speed.

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

Defensively Harrison Clements is adept at wrapping up the ball carrier and his initial contact is underrated as his primary function and goal is to wrap up the ball to prevent off loads. As previously noted after making a tackle Harrison Clements is quick to his feet to either look for a turnover or get to the next breakdown. His stamina is such that you will see Harrison Clements make multiple tackles in a short space of time and then immediately make himself available to take a hit up.

Harrison Clements will play the 2023 season with the Ballina Seagulls in the Group One U15 competition. Harrison Clements will also return to Ballina Coast High School and play for the school’s U15 side in their multiple school boy competitions, including the Buckley Shield and U15 School Boy representative honours are also probable for Harrison Clements in 2023.

Harrison Clements is a tall young man and will take some time to fully grow into his frame and thus in the short term, whilst his best position is in the second row, Harrison Clements could no doubt with his speed play out wide either in the centres or even on the wing. I am still of the opinion however that ultimately Harrison Clements will end up as a tall, skilful, fast and highly mobile second rower.

I note for completeness that Harrison Clements also played some matches on the wing of the Group One U16 competition for the Ballina Seagulls.

Brisbane Bronco and former Queensland State of Origin winger Corey Oates is actually quite a solid comparison for Harrison Clements from a playing perspective as a hard running player who will light up a match with his ability to crash through tackles and score some very good long range tries. I appreciate that Corey Oates has looked to move to the second row on a number of occasions with varying degrees of success but I do not think that Harrison Clements will have any issues moving to the second row at all on a full time basis.