My take on our top juniors

[Whats Doing]

Thanks WD, would hopefully think a match couple of reports would be done on the titans website and a few pictures of the games or a video of highlights

A video of highlights would be good. You would love Donte with his tries

[mdrew]

Majah-Rose (Majah) Peachey. Majah Peachey had been one of the stand-out players (if not the absolute stand out player) in the Western Australia Junior Rugby League competition for the last couple of seasons and after Majah Peachey played for the Western Australian U15 School Boys Representative side at the U15 ASSRL School Boy Championships in Redcliffe whilst Majah Peachey was still U14 eligible, the young second rower/centre signed a multi-year contract with the Titans in early 2023.

Majah Peachey lined up in a Titans jersey in mid-April 2023 when Majah Peachey started at left second row for a Titans U16 JTS squad that played a touring Auckland U16 side at Cbus Stadium as a curtain-raiser to the Titans NRL Round Seven match against the Brisbane Bronco’s.

Majah Peachey was named to start at right second row in Round One of the 2023 U16 Cyril Connell Cup competition for the Wynnum Manly Seagulls against the Burleigh Bears with Majah Peachey making a line break in the 53rd minute when from forty two metres out from the try line Majah Peachey picked up a dropped Burleigh ball and ran to his right with Majah Peachey using a left arm fend to comprehensively get rid of one defender before charging down the right touchline before being tackled just sixteen metres out.

In the 19th minute from two passes to the right of a Wynnum Manly scrum win and forty metres out Majah Peachey, after receiving the ball easily beat the initial Bears defender with a left arm fend before carrying three more defenders ten metres downfield.

Majah Peachy made a further strong run in the 33rd minute when from twenty eight metres out from his own try line Majah Peachey charged onto the ball to the right of the play the ball and carried a number of defenders thirteen metres downfield.

From a Wynnum Manly penalty tap in the 41st minute forty metre out from the try line Majah Peachey took the responsibility of taking the hit-up with Majah Peachey making ten metres, seven of which were post contact.

Majah Peachey made another thirteen metres in the 44th minute with a strong run to the left of the play the ball that ended when Majah Peachey was tackled forty one metres out from his own try line.

Majah Peachey along with Christian Rivers made the opening tackle of the match after Wynnum Manly had kicked off to get the season underway. Majah Peachey then back up to run to his right from marker to also make the next tackle.

Then in the 21st minute Majah Peachey made a smart play whilst at marker with Majah Peachey getting around the Bears player who had played the ball to disrupt the Bears dummy half forcing him to knock the ball on thirty two metres away from his own try line.

After missing Round Two Majah Peachey was named at right second row in Round Three against the Souths Logan Magpies with Majah Peachey making a try saving tackle inside the opening minute of the match when along with Tawa-Dean Simpkins they tackled the Souths Logan left centre just two metres out from the try line and ten metres in from the right corner post.

In addition to his 1st minute try saving tackle Majah Peachey made another strong tackle in the 8th minute on the Magpies left centre from a Magpies scrum win thirty metres out. Majah Peachey was momentarily wrong footed but he quickly regained his balance to make a strong one on one tackle.

Majah Peachey made another defensive effort in the 29th minute when after one of the Magpies players made a long line break through the centre of the field Majah Peachey chased back and tackled the attacker from behind just ten metres out from the Seagulls try line.

Majah Peachey continued his strong defensive match in the 48th minute when after being isolated on the right side of the ruck against the South Logan halfback Majah Peachey did a great job mirroring the movements of the quick stepping halfback to bring him to ground twelve metres out from the try line.

Then in the 51st minute Majah Peachey raced back to make a try saving tackle just ten metres out from the Seagulls try line with Majah Peachey tackling the attacker from behind after he had initially been ankle tapped.

Impressively after playing the entire match in the extreme heat and with the game already lost Majah Peachey still made three tackles in a row in the 57th minute with the Magpies deep on the attack.

Majah Peachey’s initial strong run of the match came in the 6th minute with a fifteen metre run down the right channel from twenty five metres out to ten metres out with 67% of Majah Peachey’s metres being post contact metres.

Then in the 9th minute Majah Peachey ran onto the ball to the right of the play the ball from forty metres out from his own try line with Majah Peachey bumping off two defenders to get seven metres inside Magpies territory. Then in the 15th minute Majah Peachey made ten metres to the right of a Wynnum Manly scrum win in the centre of the field and ten metres out from their own try line with Majah Peachey’s speed catching the Magpies defence off-side with a penalty ensuing.

In the 18th minute from the second hit-up after a Seagulls penalty tap restart Majah Peachey charged onto the ball thirty two metres out from his own try line with Majah Peachey able to poke his nose through the Magpies defensive line as he surged eight metres inside Magpies territory with 50% of Majah Peachey metres being post contact metres.

Then in the 19th minute from five metres inside his own territory Majah Peachey ran onto the ball to the right of the play the ball and got the ball ten metres inside Magpies territory after running straight over the top of the Souths Logan lock.

Just a minute later in the 20th minute from a Wynnum Manly twenty metre tap restart Majah Peachey charged onto the ball and was engaged by the Magpies defensive line after making eight metres. At that point all bar one of the Magpies defenders dropped off the tackle as one tried a one on one steal but Majah Peachey was able to hold onto the ball and then break away from the defender and make ten more metres.

Majah Peachey made another strong run in the 33rd minute from twenty metres out from his own try line and after running into the ball to the right of the play the ball Majah Peachey was able to make sixteen metres against a set Magpies defensive line. Then after a penalty later in the same set of six tackles Majah Peachey ran off the back fence from the penalty tap restart from five metres inside Magpies territory with Majah Peachey getting to thirty two metres out from the try line.

Then in the 41st minute from the left of the play the ball and twenty metres from his own try line Majah Peachey made sixteen metres off the back of Majah Peachey refusing to submit in the tackle with Majah Peachey continuing to pump his legs to make additional metres.

Then in the 45th minute from a Wynnum Manly penalty tap restart eight metres inside his own territory Majah Peachey punched the ball twelve metres inside Souths Logan territory.

Majah Peachey’s performance saw him named at right second row in the 2023 Courier Mail CC Cup Round Three Team of the Week.

Majah Peachey then moved to left second row in Round Four against the Tweed Heads Seagulls with Majah Peachey scoring in the 4th minute when after receiving the ball on the left side of the field and eight metres from the try line Majah Peachey carried two defenders over the try line to get the ball down five metres in from the left corner post.

Majah Peachey almost scored a second try in the 49th minute only to be held up over the try line when after receiving the ball three metres out from the try line and to the left of the play the ball Majah Peachey ran the ball back to his right before being held up mid-way between the goal post and corner post on the left side of the field.

Majah Peachey first strong run of the match came in just the 3rd minute from a Wynnum Manly penalty tap restart Majah Peachey charged onto the ball two metres inside his own territory with Majah Peachey breaking five tackles as he got the ball within twenty eight metres of the try line.

Then in the 5th minute from the first hit-up from the kick-off after his own try Majah Peachey ran the ball back to the twenty metre mark before stepping off his right foot to get on the outside of his opposite defender with Majah Peachey then making a twenty metre line break down the left touchline.

Majah Peachey continued his strong match in the 23rd minute with a charge from the left of the play the ball and ten metres out from his own try line with Majah Peachey running the ball towards the centre of the field and after shrugging off the Tweed Heads five eight Majah Peachey straightened up his run through the centre of the field to get the ball up to the twenty metre mark.

In the 27th minute Majah Peachey charged onto the ball from a Wynnum Manly penalty tap restart thirty four metres out from his own try line with Majah Peachey eventually being tackled on the halfway mark.

Majah Peachey made a try saving tackle in the 26th minute on the Tweed Heads halfback with as the halfback was diving over to score under the posts, from his back right quadrant Majah Peachey came over the top with his right hand hitting the ball and forcing it loose just centre metres from the ground.

Majah Peachey then produced a smart piece of play in the 48th minute when from the marker position Majah Peachey was able to harass the Tweed Heads dummy half forcing him to knock the ball on and turning the ball over to put Wynnum Manly immediately on the attack.

Majah Peachey continued at left second row in Round Five against the Brisbane Tigers with Majah Peachey scoring an outstanding solo try in the 19th minute when from two passes to the left of a Wynnum Manly scrum win in the centre of the field and twenty metres out, Majah Peachey received the ball and stepped off his right foot to beat the Tigers right centre (No. 3) with pace before a left arm fend beat the Tigers right winger with Majah Peachey then racing down the left touchline to dive over to score in the left corner.

Then from the second hit-up from the subsequent kick-off, from twenty metres out from his own try line Majah Peachey charged onto the ball to the right of the play the ball and then immediately cut back to his right with Majah Peachey breaking two tackles as Majah Peachey rumbled twenty metres down the left touchline.

Majah Peachey also recorded a try assist in the 39th minute when after receiving the ball six metres out and on the left side of the field, Majah Peachey drew in two defenders and got an off-load away to his left for his winger to score in the corner.

From the subsequent kick-off Majah Peachey took the first hit-up and after charging over the top of one defender and holding another off with a left arm fend the ball was stripped from Majah Peachey’s grasp after he had gotten to the thirty metre mark.

Majah Peachey also recorded a line break assist in the 53rd minute when from a play the ball twenty metres out from the Wynnum Manly try line and in the centre of the field Majah Peachey received the ball to the right of the play the ball and after running to his right to get on the outside of one defender Majah Peachey stepped off his left foot to beat another defender before drawing the Tigers left winger and passing to his right to put his winger away down the right touchline.

Majah Peachey was in the match in the opening seconds when he was involved in the opening tackle of the match after Wynnum Manly had kicked off.

The first of Majah Peachey’s strong runs in the match came in the 7th minute when two passes to the left of a Wynnum Manly scrum win Majah Peachey received the ball ten metres from his own try line and after Majah Peachey broke three tackles he was forced onto his knees but as he was not held Majah Peachey got back to his feet quickly and beat another two defenders to get within five metres of the halfway mark.

Majah Peachey did very well defensively in the 52nd minute when after the Tigers left centre (No. 4) made a line break through the centre of the field Majah Peachey chased him down from behind to bring him to ground forty metres out from the Tigers try line.

Majah Peachey made a smart play in the 45th minute by way of a one on one strip in the centre of the field with the Tigers on the attack just twenty metres out from the try line. Majah Peachey, after stripping the ball was able to make five metres downfield.

Majah Peachey also started at left second row in Round Seven against the Redcliffe Dolphins however Majah Peachey moved to right second row in the early minutes of the second half before switching back to the left not long after.

The 9th minute saw Majah Peachey record a line break and try assist in relation to the same run. After receiving the ball from on off-load on his inside three metres inside Redcliffe territory near the left touchline, Majah Peachey was then able to use a left arm fend to get on the outside of the Dolphins eight winger and then charge down the left touchline. After getting to within thirteen metres of the try line Majah Peachey was engaged by the Redcliffe fullback and another defender but Majah Peachey was able to get his right arm free and after raising it above his head Majah Peachey was able to get an off-load away to his left for his winger to score in the left corner.

Majah Peachey almost scored himself in the 23rd minute only to be held up over the try line mid-way between the goal posts and corner post on the left side of the field after Majah Peachey had received the ball ten metres out and stepped off his left foot to beat one defender before being held up over the try line by three more.

Majah Peachey recorded another line break in the 36th minute when after taking possession of the ball twenty seven metres out from the try line and down a left blindside Majah Peachey burst through the attempted tackle of two defenders before charging down the left touchline to within eleven metres of the try line.

Majah Peachey recorded his third line break in the 53rd minute when after receiving the ball from his right and forty metres out from his own try line Majah Peachey burst through the gap between two defenders and charged down the left channel and only being brought to ground twenty five metres out from the try line.

Majah Peachey’s first strong hit-up of the match came in the 4th minute when from a Wynnum Manly penalty tap restart five metres inside his own territory with Majah Peachey then stepping off his right foot to beat a charging defender as Majah Peachey got the ball five metres into Dolphins territory.

Majah Peachey engaged the Redcliffe right sided defensive line once again in the 45th minute when after receiving the ball twenty metres out two passes to the left of the play the ball Majah Peachey was hit by two defenders almost immediately but Majah Peachey was able to extract himself from their attempted tackles and continue his run down the left channel with Majah Peachey then able to get his left arm free above his head a execute a flick off-load to his left winger.

Majah Peachey finished the 2023 CC Cup season equal second in terms of line breaks with six. Majah Peachey also ran for 635 metres at a per game average of 127 metres and recorded two try assists.

Majah Peachey’s performances over the course of the 2023 U16 Cyril Connell Cup season saw Majah Peachey named on the bench in the 2023 Courier Mail Cyril Connell Cup Maroon Team of the Season.

2023 will also see Majah Peachey line up in the Walters Cup School Boy Rugby League competition for Mabel Park State High School.

Even though Majah Peachey was still U14 eligible in 2022 he played for the Rockingham Sharks in the Western Australian U15 Junior Rugby League Competition including starting in the second row in the Sharks 20 – 10 Grand Final victory over the South Perth Lions.

In late 2022 Majah Peachey played in the U14 Queensland Māori trials and was named the Tuakana South and West Most Valuable Player with Majah Peachey subsequently named in the 2022 Queensland Māori U14 squad for the QPICC Cultural Carnival that was held in Beenleigh in Brisbane’s south.

2022 also saw Majah Peachey play for Rockingham High School in a number of School Boy Western Australian Rugby League competitions.

Majah Peachey, in 2021 played for the Rockingham Sharks in the Western Australian U14 Junior Rugby League competition (U13 eligible at the time) and Majah Peachey had a strike rate in the vicinity of a staggering 300%. Majah Peachey was also named the 2021 Western Australian Junior Rugby League Player of the U14 Grand Final.

2022 was not the first representative side that Majah Peachey was selected in as in 2019 Majah Peachey was selected in the Western Australian U12 Primary School Team.

Majah Peachey is an outstanding athlete and this can be seen when he is running with the football. In his carries Majah Peachey 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.

Majah Peachey 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, Majah Peachey does not try to run over defenders, but Majah Peachey runs at the gaps between defenders and uses his running speed to break through if defenders only use their arms on the tackle.

Majah Peachey does not necessarily have a great top end speed, but he is certainly more than fast enough 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.

In defence Majah Peachey 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 Majah Peachey has the ability to hit very hard, by setting a good base and driving through his lower body and core into his opponent. Ultimately though Majah Peachey is a strong defender with a good front on technique and good lateral movement to track and defend against smaller opponents either on the fringes or centre of the ruck.

2023 saw Majah Peachey move over from Western Australia to Queensland with Majah Peachey being U15 eligible. Majah Peachey will also play school boy rugby league in Queensland as well as line up in club U15 Division One competitions after starting the 2023 season as a key member of the 2023 Wynnum Manly Seagulls U16 Cyril Connell Cup squad. Majah Peachey will also line-up for Mabel Park SHS in the School Boy Walters Cup competition.

Majah Peachey is a big, strong and powerful young man who also has outstanding speed and thus I believe that Majah Peachey will continue to operate very effectively in the second row although I the short term at least Majah Peachey will also be able to play in the centres at a very high level.

[mdrew]

Storm Enoka. Storm Enoka was named to start at right centre in Round One of the 2023 U16 Cyril Connell Cup competition for the Wynnum Manly Seagulls against the Burleigh Bears.

Storm Enoka was also named at right centre in Round Two against the Norths Devils before starting from the bench in Round Three against the Souths Logan Magpies with Storm Enoka coming onto the field to operate at left second row in the 24th minute with Storm Enoka providing a spark off the bench when he came onto the field for the Seagulls.

In early March 2023 Storm Enoka was named in the Met East QSSRL U15 School Boy Rugby League Representative Squad out of Marsden SHS.

2022 saw Storm Enoka play for the Southport Tigers in the Gold Coast Junior Rugby League U14 Division One competition, with Storm Enoka leading the Tigers to a Grand Final appearance against the Burleigh Bears.

Storm Enoka started the Grand Final at left second row and once again put in a dominant display in the Tigers 18 - 14 tight and hard fought victory against a gallant Burleigh Bears side.

Storm Enoka scored the opening try of the Grand Final in just the 6th minute when after good work on his inside by ZJ Watene, Storm Enoka received the ball from his inside and had an easy three metre run to the try line to score nine metres in from the left corner post to give the Tigers a lead that they never relinquished.

In the set of six from the Burleigh kick-off from his 6th minute try, Storm Enoka made another strong run of ten metres down the left channel with Storm Enoka getting the ball over thirty metres from his own try line.

Storm Enoka then in the 10th minute from the left of a Tigers scrum win and twelve metres short of the halfway mark, charged eighteen metres down the left channel with Storm Enoka breaking four tackles in his effort.

Then just a minute later in the 11th minute Storm Enoka after receiving an off-load thirty eight metres out from his own try line was able to get the ball five metres over the halfway mark breaking two more tackles in that effort.

Storm Enoka made a further strong run in the 43rd minute when to the left of a Southport scrum win and just three metres out from his own try line when he received the pass, Storm Enoka ran the ball down the left channel to get the ball to his own sixteen metre mark.

Storm Enoka also had some strong defensive moments in the Grand Final including a strong one on one tackle on the Burleigh right centre just inside Southport territory.

Storm Enoka also had a strong match in Round Fourteen against the Beaudesert Kingfishers with Storm Enoka making a great line break in the 20th minute when Storm Enoka received the ball to the left of a Southport scrum win thirty eight metres out with Storm Enoka then breaking four tackles as he got the ball within two metres of the try line before finally being dragged to ground.

Storm Enoka also scored a second half double with his first try coming in the 44th minute when from twelve metres out Storm Enoka burst onto a good short ball from his right to crash between two defenders and bring the ball around to score under the posts.

Storm Enoka scored his second try in the 51st minute when with the play the ball around eight metres out and near the left touchline, Storm Enoka charged onto the ball to the right of the play the ball and was just too big, strong and powerful for the defence breaking four tackles as he crashed over ten metres in from the right corner post.

Storm Enoka also recorded a try assist in the 57th minute when after receiving the ball in space down the left channel Storm Enoka drew in the Beaudesert right winger to put Alysus Willis away to score in the left corner.

At the 2022 Marsden SHS Rugby League Specialisation Awards, Storm Enoka was named on the bench in the 2022 Marsden SHS Rugby League Team of the Year.

In September 2022 Storm Enoka was named in the South Queensland Māori U14 Tuakana representative squad starting Round One of the QPICC Carnival in the second row against Queensland Tonga. Storm Enoka also started in the second row in Maori’s four other matches including their Grand Final victory against Queensland PNG U14’s.

In addition to scoring in the Grand Final, Storm Enoka scored a hat trick in a dominant display in the semi-final against Samoa and Storm Enoka also scored in Round Two against Samoa to finish as the U14 Carnival’s equal leading try scorer.

Storm Enoka scored his first of three tries in the semi-final against Queensland Samoa in the 7th minute when after receiving the ball from his inside around thirty five metres out, Storm Enoka initially crossed the try line wide out on the left but smartly Storm Enoka took the opportunity to bring the ball all of the way around to put it down comfortably under the posts.

Storm Enoka scored his second try in the 14th minute with a forty metre run from a pass from his inside with Storm Enoka once again able to bring the ball around to score under the posts.

Storm Enoka then completed his hat trick in the 33rd minute when after receiving the ball fourteen metres out and seven metres in from the left touchline. After taking possession Storm Enoka cut off his left foot and crashed over the top of two Samoan defenders who were racing across with Storm Enoka forcing the ball down over the try line five metres in from the left corner post.

Storm Enoka was part of the 2021 Marsden State High School Bronco’s Old Boys Cup side, including starting in the second row in the 2021 Bronco’s Old Boys Cup Final against Ipswich SHS with Storm Enoka deservedly being named Player of the Match after scoring one try and throwing the last pass for two more.

Storm Enoka scored in the 26th minute of the Grand Final when from thirty five metres out down the left channel, Storm Enoka charged through a gap and getting to the line before pushing off the Ipswich SHS fullback and putting the ball down midway between the goal posts and corner post on the left side of the field.

As noted, Storm Enoka threw the final pass for two of Marsden’s first half tries being in the 3rd and 11th minutes. On both occasions, Storm Enoka received the ball on the left side of the field and got to the outside of his direct opponent, drawing in another before passing to his left to centre Chris Vaimili who crossed out wide.

Storm Enoka also had a strong Bronco’s Old Boys Semi-final against PBC SHS including a 15th minute try when he charged onto a great short ball from ZJ Watene down the left side of the field with Storm Enoka putting the ball down eight metres in from the left corner post. Storm Enoka almost had a second try in the semi-final but was held up over the line in the 17th minute.

In Round One of the 2021 Bronco’s Old Boys competition Storm Enoka from the left second row position scored one of the most outstanding solo tries that I have ever seen. In the 48th minute Storm Enoka received an off-load forty metres out down the left channel and immediately shrugged off one defender who had attempted to tackle around the chest. Storm Enoka then broke through two more attempted tackles before a straight right arm palm got rid of another.

Eventually Storm Enoka was brought down from behind from behind just six metres out and directly in front of the posts. The Redcliffe SHS fullback who made the tackle dropped off the tackle which Storm Enoka identified immediately and got to his feet just prior to being grabbed by his right foot. Storm Enoka would not be denied however and dove forward to slam the ball down with his right hand under the posts.

Prior to his spectacular solo try Storm Enoka had scored a more conventional try in the 18th minute when he ran the ball from fifteen metres out down a short left blindside and was just too big and strong for the Redcliffe State High School right sided defence with Storm Enoka manhandling a number of defenders as he forced his way over to get the ball down eight metres in from the left corner post.

At the 2021 Marsden State High School Rugby League Excellence Awards, Storm Enoka was named in the second row in the Marsden State High School Team of the Year and was also named the 2021 Junior Boys “Don’t mess with Marsden” Award winner.

After the completion of the Renouf Cup Grand Final Storm Enoka was named in the second row in the Courier Mail Team of the School Boy Grand Finals.

In early November 2021 Storm Enoka played one match for the U14 Queensland Māori representative side at the QPICC Carnival with that match being the Grand Final when Storm Enoka came off the bench as Māori went down by two points.

The powerhouse rugby flanker or No. 8 was part of the 2021 Gold Coast Invitational U13 King of Country Rugby side that won the Tournament with Storm Enoka scoring a strong try on Day One against the USQ Saints.

Storm Enoka scored in the first half against USQ when he received the ball on the left side of the field twenty eight metres out from the line, immediately getting to the outside of the defensive line and then using a strong left arm fend to keep the defence off him as he charged down the left touchline to score in the left corner.

Storm Enoka recorded a try assist on Day Two against Far North Coast when he ran into space on the right and could have scored himself but five metres from the line passed to his right winger to score in the corner.

In late November 2021 Storm Enoka represented the U13 Tonga Team at the 3PTAG (non-contact modified rugby league) Cultural Touch Tournament held at Marsden SHS.

In 2020 Storm Enoka played for the Coomera Crushers in the GCDRU U12 competition, having a dominant season across the board including from a try scoring perspective.

Storm Enoka scored a hat trick in Round Four against the Yatala Rams and also scored doubles in three matches, being in Rounds One, Two and Three against the Helensvale Hogs (Rounds One and Three) and Bond Pirates (Round Two). Storm Enoka also scored in Round Five against Surfers Paradise.

Storm Enoka is a tall, rangy exceptional athlete and this can be seen when he is running with the football. In his carries he 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.

Storm Enoka runs ‘fast’ into the defensive and his foot work prior to the line enables him to get partly through the line quite often, as well as breaking the line regularly, 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, Storm Enoka does not try to run over defenders, but he runs at the gaps between defenders and uses his running speed to break through if defenders only use their arms on the tackle.

Storm Enoka does not necessarily have a great top end speed, although he is certainly no slouch, but he is certainly fast enough 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, means that his right foot step and his fending using his left 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 left hand side of the field.

In defence Storm Enoka regularly is the first player up to target the ball carriers, even though he is not 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.

As could be seen in the Kings of Country Tournament when the opportunity presents Storm Enoka has the ability to hit very hard, by setting a good base and driving through his lower body and core into his opponent.

Ultimately though Storm Enoka is a strong defender with a good front on technique and good lateral movement to track and defend against smaller opponents either on the fringes or centre of the ruck.

Storm Enoka, in 2023 will continue to play rugby league for the Southport Tigers in the Gold Coast Rugby League U15 Division One competition as well as playing for Marsden State High School in the Walters Cup school boy rugby league competition.

Storm Enoka is a big strong powerful athlete with the size, speed and strength combination that is perfectly suited to playing in the second row at an exceptionally high level in relation to how rugby league is currently played.

Storm Enoka’s playing style, with his speed and size is not dis-similar to that of former Titans Top 30 NRL contracted second rower Darius Farmer. Both Farmer and Storm Enoka are outstanding players with their futures all in front of them.

[mdrew]

ZJ Watene. 2022 saw ZJ Watene 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 ZJ Watene starting the Tigers 18 – 14 hard fought Grand Final victory at halfback.

ZJ Watene recorded a try assist in just the 6th minute of the Grand Final when after receiving a pass from his right when he was around twelve metres out and near the centre of the field, ZJ Watene ran to his left with the ball out in front of his body in two hands. By holding the ball as he did and threatening to pass to his left, ZJ Watene was able to draw in the Burleigh right centre and when he was around three metres out from the try line, ZJ Watene got a good ball away to his left to put Storm Enoka over nine metres in from the left corner post.

ZJ Watene was also heavily involved in Calais Hallett-Wharewaka’s 26th minute try. From near halfway ZJ Watene put in a left foot kick downfield and then chased hard and as the Burleigh fullback tried to beat him near the touchline, ZJ Watene grabbed the Bears player who desperately flung the ball back inside as ZJ Watene was taking him over the left touchline with Calais Hallett-Wharewaka picking up the errant pass and racing twenty five metres to dive over in the left corner.

ZJ Watene also had a strong match in Round Fourteen against the Beaudesert Kingfishers with ZJ Watene scoring a first half double with ZJ Watene’s opening try of the half coming in the 13th minute when ZJ Watene backing up on the inside of a Tigers line break on the left side of the field with ZJ Watene receiving the ball and racing thirty metres to score untouched under the posts.

ZJ Watene scored his second try of the first half in the 19th minute and in relation to this try ZJ Watene did it all himself. ZJ Watene stepped off his left foot to beat the fullback after breaking through the Beaudesert defensive line with ZJ Watene then racing away to score next to the right upright.

ZJ Watene then made a line break in the 49th minute when after Southport let a Beaudesert clearing kick bounce, it bounced back towards the Southport try line with ZJ Watene swooping onto the ball fifty metres out and raced thirty five metres downfield before off-loading to his left to his winger.

In September 2022 ZJ Watene was named in the South Queensland Māori U14 Tuakana representative squad starting Round One of the QPICC Carnival at halfback against Queensland Tonga.

ZJ Watene also started at halfback in Queensland Maori’s other four matches including their Grand Final victory against PNG.

The exciting prospect was named at halfback in the 2021 Marsden State High School Rugby League of the Year. The fact that ZJ Watene kept Cassius Cowley out of the halfback spot in the Team of the Year really does highlight the quality and depth of the Titans Partnered Rugby League Excellence Program.

For Marsden State High School in 2021 ZJ Watene played in the Year Seven Bronco’s Old Boys Competition including starting at halfback in Marsden SHS’s 44 – 12 Grand Final victory against Ipswich State High School with ZJ Watene scoring in the 18th minute when he followed through a kick by his halves partner to receive the ball to the right of his five eight who retrieved the ball with ZJ Watene running twelve metres to get the ball down ten metres to the right of the uprights.

ZJ Watene also recorded a try assist in the Grand Final when in the 27th minute ZJ Watene took the ball to the defensive line on the left side of the field twenty five metres from the try line and threw a great ball to his left to put Storm Enoka through a big gap with the powerhouse left second rower taking the ball all of the way to the try line.

ZJ Watene added a line break assist in the 38th minute once again on the left ZJ Watene put Storm Enoka through a gap once again with a good short ball to his left.

Post the Old Boys Cup Grand Final ZJ Watene was named at halfback in the 2021 Courier Mail Team of the School Boy Grand Finals.

ZJ Watene also had a strong Bronco’s Old Boys Semi-final against PBC SHS including a 15th minute try assist when he took the ball to the line down the left side of the field before popping a great short ball to his left to put Storm Enoka over eight metres in from the left corner post.

ZJ Watene also scored a try and recorded two try assist’s in the regular season rounds against Ipswich State High School.

ZJ Watene scored in the 9th minute when he chased through a grubber kick from his halves partner with ZJ Watene grounding the ball in the in-goal directly behind the goal posts.

ZJ Watene’s opening try assist was recorded in the 26th minute when from twenty metres out on the left side of the field Marlee Smith ran into a gap off a great ball from ZJ Watene to put the ball down ten metres in from the left corner post.

A second try assist for ZJ Watene came in the 18th minute when from thirty five metres out and running to the left side of the field ZJ Watene threw a long cut out pass to his left to put left centre Chris Vaimili away for his third of five tries in the match.

Early in the season against Redcliffe State High School ZJ Watene once again led Keebra Park SHS around the field well and also kicked well including a 40/20 in the 11th minute with fullback Kingston Seve scoring in the subsequent set of six.

In late 2022 ZJ Watene was also named in the 2022 U14 Boys 3P Tag Tournament Team at the completion of the carnival that was held at Marsden SHS.

In attack ZJ Watene’s calling card is his organisational and passing skills more so than his running game. ZJ Watene’s speed would probably considered average to a tick above for a half/five eight but he will throw a dummy and run when opposing defences are focussed on his support runners and provide him with opportunities. ZJ Watene also does not have quick twitch feet per say, thus his step is more average than say a plus side step like AJ Brimson’s.

ZJ Watene also has a good long passing game thus enabling the ball to get out to his back line quickly when they are set deep. He develops a good spiral on the ball and is able to lead his outside backs onto the ball through putting the ball out in front of them. ZJ Watene will also take the ball to the line and delay the pass as long as possible to his support runners when necessary in an effort to prise open gaps in the defensive line.

Assisting his play is the fact that ZJ Watene makes the decision what to do with the ball quickly thus enabling the ball to get out wide or when the ball needs to be turned back inside. In short, he looks to dictate what the defensive line needs to do to combat his sides attack rather than waiting to see how the opposition is looking to defend at a particular time in a game.

One aspect that is notable is how ZJ Watene directs the team around the field in difficult conditions and he looked to manage the game to take account of those conditions. ZJ Watene always maintains his composure on the field and does not yell or scream but obviously gets his message across to his team mates with a calm assured presence.

Defensively ZJ Watene has decent size for a half or five eight, and probably would be considered an average sized player if not a touch more for his age and position. This is a facet which assists in him being an effective defender for his position both in terms of initial contact and the ability to wrap up the ball to prevent offloads. Defensively ZJ Watene has the ability to be a solid above average NRL defender in eth coming years.

2023 will see ZJ Watene move up to the Hancock Cup school boy competition for Marsden State High School. ZJ Watene will also continue to play in the Gold Coast Junior Rugby League competition for the Southport Tigers in the U15 Division One competition.

With his ability to size up an opportunity in terms of whether to run or pass in an instant as well as his competitive nature, ZJ Watene is the prototypical new age rugby league half back, and one who will certainly not crack under pressure, in fact ZJ Watene seems to thrive on it.

Some players in key positions such as in the halves or fullback, want to not lose matches, ZJ Watene is on the absolute opposite end of the spectrum, he wants the ball in his hands with the game on the line, wanting to win the game rather than being worried about losing it. Very few players at any level of any sport, even at the professional level, have that sort of mentality. Only a handful of people really thrive under pressure (a lot say they do but..) ZJ Watene appears to be one of them.

ZJ Watene is a superb organiser and game manager who has an “old head on young shoulders” and ZJ Watene is ideally suited to the half back role in modern day rugby league.

With his calm demeanour and assured passing and kicking game ZJ Watene has a playing style that is not dis-similar to that of Titans NRL half Toby Sexton. Both are cool and calm under pressure that rubs off on the players around them. Like Sexton, ZJ Watene’s game really does have synergetic effects for his team mates and team as a whole.

[mdrew]

Jahzayis Perenara-Livapulu. In late March 2023 Jahzayis Perenara-Livapulu signed a three year contract with the Titans out of Stretton State College.

Jahzayis Perenara-Livapulu lined up in a Titans jersey in mid-April 2023 when Jahzayis Perenara-Livapulu started on the left wing for a Titans U16 JTS squad that played a touring Auckland U16 side at Cbus Stadium as a curtain-raiser to the Titans NRL Round Seven match against the Brisbane Bronco’s with the Future Titans U16’s recording a strong victory.

Even though he was still U15 eligible in 2023 Jahzayis Perenara-Livapulu started all of the Brisbane Tigers U16 Cyril Connell Cup matches at left centre with Jahzayis Perenara-Livapulu scoring on three occasions from his six matches to record a 50% try scoring strike rate over the course of the 2023 CC Cup season.

Jahzayis Perenara-Livapulu scored his first 2023 CC Cup try in Round Two against the Tweed Heads Seagulls in the 3rd minute when after receiving the ball from his inside when twenty two metres out from the try line, Jahzayis Perenara-Livapulu charged towards the left corner holding one defender off with a strong right arm fend with Jahzayis Perenara-Livapulu then getting the ball down two metres in from the left corner post.

Jahzayis Perenara-Livapulu scored his second try in Round Four against the Redcliffe Dolphins in the 53rd minute when from two metres from the try line Jahzayis Perenara-Livapulu ran to his left out of dummy half to crash over mid-way between the goal posts and corner post on the left side of the field.

Jahzayis Perenara-Livapulu added a third try in the 55th minute of the Round Six match against the Souths Logan Magpies when after receiving the ball around five metres out on the left side of the field Jahzayis Perenara-Livapulu initially juggled the ball before taking clean possession and driving over to score two metres in from the left corner post.

In early 2023 Jahzayis Perenara-Livapulu was named in the Met West U15 School Boy Rugby League Representative side for the QSSRL State Championships.

2023 also saw Jahzayis Perenara-Livapulu played for the Souths Magpies in the GBJRL U15 Division One competition.

It is hard to put in words just how talented Jahzayis Perenara-Livapulu is in terms of running the ball, he has outstanding speed both off the mark which I would consider in the plus category and top end speed which must be considered plus regardless of position. Jahzayis Perenara-Livapulu 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 balance and body control.

It is that speed trait which opens up his incredible ball playing skills as well. Teams start to focus heavily on Jahzayis Perenara-Livapulu 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 Jahzayis Perenara-Livapulu can exploit.

Jahzayis Perenara-Livapulu 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 Jahzayis Perenara-Livapulu 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.

Jahzayis Perenara-Livapulu also runs with the ball in both hands which is another reason why the defensive line is unable to determine exactly what Jahzayis Perenara-Livapulu is going to do. If Jahzayis Perenara-Livapulu 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, Jahzayis Perenara-Livapulu is always in support and if he gets an off load he can accelerate through the resultant gap.

Jahzayis Perenara-Livapulu does not necessarily have a big step but has an outstanding swerve which he uses when confronted with the fullback. Jahzayis Perenara-Livapulu 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.

Defensively Jahzayis Perenara-Livapulu 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.

2023 will see Jahzayis Perenara-Livapulu see out the season with the Souths Magpies in the GBJRL U15 Division One competition as well as continue to play for the Stretton State College Year Nine Team in their various South East Queensland School Boy competitions.

Jahzayis Perenara-Livapulu has the size, speed, strength, mobility and defensive capabilities to make a very good rugby league centre long term. Jahzayis Perenara-Livapulu really does show flashes of real ability, especially in terms of slicing through defensive lines. Once he develops consistency to go with his undoubted natural ability the sky is the limit for Jahzayis Perenara-Livapulu.

With his height and speed Jahzayis Perenara-Livapulu has a playing style akin to that of talented Penrith Panthers, New South Wales State of Origin and Samoan International fullback or centre and former Australian school boy’s rugby league sensation Stephen Crichton. Both Creighton and Jahzayis Perenara-Livapulu have height and speed as well as the ability to negotiate their way through congestion when at first glance there did not appear to be any room to move at all. Both Creighton and Jahzayis Perenara-Livapulu also have outstanding hands from a ball control, passing and kick retrieval perspective.

The scary part is that both Jahzayis Perenara-Livapulu and Creighton have the capacity to add additional muscle mass (a fair bit too in Jahzayis Perenara-Livapulu’s case) without at all impacting on their speed, balance and body control. Both Creighton and Jahzayis Perenara-Livapulu also have outstanding hand eye co-ordination and spacial awareness to add to all of the other outstanding attributes that they have at their disposal.

With continued rugby league experience under his belt, Jahzayis Perenara-Livapulu could be a very very special talent indeed for the Titans.

[mdrew]

Alex Leapai (Jnr). The giant young front rower in early 2023 signed a three year deal with the Titans in a major coup to bring him to the Gold Coast after Alex Leapai spent a number of seasons playing for the Sydney Roosters Junior Development sides.

Alex Leapai started all of the Souths Logan Magpies 2023 MM Cup matches in the front row and Alex Leapai was also a prolific try scorer for the Magpies, scoring on five occasions from his six matches to recorded a strike rate of 83.33%.

Alex Leapai scored his first try of the 2023 MM Cup season in Round Two against the Burleigh Bears when in the 50th minute Alex Leapai charged onto the ball to the left of the play the ball when ten metres out from the try line with Alex Leapai stepping off his left foot and carrying three Bears defenders over the try line to score mid-way between the goal posts and corner post on the right side of the field.

Alex Leapai scored twice in Round Five against the Tweed Heads Seagulls with Alex Leapai’s opening try coming in the 2nd minute of the match when on the final tackle Alex Leapai charged onto the ball from five metres out and to the right of the play the ball with Alex Leapai spinning counter clockwise to gain separation from two defenders are get the ball down next to the left upright.

Alex Leapai completed his double in the 45th minute when he crashed over from five metres out and to the right of the dummy half after running underneath his dummy half had had run to his right with Alex Leapai getting the ball down two metres to the left of the uprights.

Alex Leapai also scored a double in Round Six against the Brisbane Tigers, scoring on the first occasion in the 10th minute when after initially lining up to the right of the play the ball, Alex Leapai ran to the right side of the ruck as the ball was being played and after receiving the ball from the dummy half Alex Leapai straightened up his run and then carried three Tigers defenders over the try line to get the ball down ten metres in from the left corner post.

Alex Leapai scored his second try in the 16th minute when he crashed over to score under the posts after receiving the ball to the right of the play the ball and four metres out from the try line.

Alex Leapai finished the 2023 MM Cup season running for 750 metres at an average of 125 metres per game and made five line breaks.

Alex Leapai’s performances saw him named in the front row in the 2023 Courier Mail MM Cup Team of the Year.

2023 also saw Alex Leapai line up for Mabel Park SHS in the School Boy Langer Cup competition after also playing in the Langer Cup for Mabel Park SHS in 2022 when Alex Leapai lined up in the front row in all of Mabel Park SHS’s matches.

In 2022 Alex Leapai played for the Sydney Roosters in the U17 Harold Matthews Cup competition with Alex Leapai starting multiple matches for the Roosters in the front row including their finals campaign.

In late 2022 in the News Corp Publications Top 50 U18 Rugby League Players in Australia Alex Leapai came in at Number 35.

The young front rower acts as the heartbeat of his team through the centre of the field. Ever reliable, Alex Leapai gets on with his job with minimal fuss. Whilst Alex Leapai runs hard at the defensive line he has some subtly about his running style and Alex Leapai has an outstanding off-load which Alex Leapai able to execute when engaged by multiple defenders.
In 2022 Alex Leapai once again dominated the competition because of his game breaking plays with his offloads, line breaks and tackle busts. The opposition repeatedly struggled to get Alex Leapai down to the ground, with his quick play-the-balls resulting in plenty of momentum for his playmakers.

Alex Leapai has a huge engine, playing more minutes than just about every other prop in the competition and Alex Leapai also proved to be incredibly reliable and consistent throughout the 2022 season.

Alex Leapai’s line speed in defence sets the standard which the rest of his teammates follow and Alex Leapai’s heavy initial contact also is outstanding. After moving up quickly, Alex Leapai drives hard into the opposition forward with his shoulder and Alex Leapai will then finish off the tackle on the ground, winning the wrestle as they say to slow down the momentum of the opposition play the ball and subsequent attacking play.

Defensively Alex Leapai also tracks the ball across the field well to ensure that he is in position to make the tackle if the opposition play makers bring a ball runner back underneath. That is something that not all young forwards do on a regular basis.

2024 will see Alex Leapai line up in the Hastings Deering’s Colts competition with Alex Leapai also Colts eligible in 2024. However it would not surprise at all if Alex Leapai makes a very quick progression to the 2024 Queensland Cup competition once he has an NRL pre-season with the Titans under his belt.

Already at 193cm and an imposing 115kg and with above average to plus speed and mobility for his vaunted size Alex Leapai has the ideal physical characteristics of a modern day rugby league front rower both now as well as into the future.

From a player comparison perspective for Alex Leapai, think of someone along the lines of a young version of Sydney Roosters and New Zealand International Jarred Warea-Hargreaves and a big strong powerful front rower who is as skilful as he is intimidating.

[mdrew]

Julius Matiu-Matiseni. 180cm and 85kg New Zealand born centre Julius Matiu-Matiseni has signed with the Titans until the end of the 2025 season which is the season when Julius Matiu-Matiseni’s U18 eligibility is exhausted and his High School years are completed as well.

In New Zealand Julius Matiu-Matiseni attends Tamaki College as well as playing for the Ellerslie Eagles Rugby League club.

Julius Matiu-Matiseni just oozes class on the field he is able to break tackles at will but also understands when it is more appropriate to draw his opponent and pass. Similarly defensively Julius Matiu-Matiseni clearly has a strong appreciation of the defensive aspect of the game in that he knows when to come in and when to slide and let the play develop prior to committing.

Granted I have not seen a great deal of Julius Matiu-Matiseni but he seems to be able to line up on both sides of the field and as a result could also play on the wing and even it fullback moving forward. Heck Julius Matiu-Matiseni at fullback would open up some interesting attacking possibilities for his team that is for sure.

Julius Matiu-Matiseni has very good and explosive speed off the mark, which I would consider above average to plus for a centre and can break to the outside quickly, couple that with long arms, which Julius Matiu-Matiseni uses to great effect with a powerful fend makes him difficult to tackle in any one on one situation.
When opposing centres are able to get hold of him, Julius Matiu-Matiseni usually is able to maintain his balance and keeps an arm free, looking to offload to either his inside or outside support.
Julius Matiu-Matiseni 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 the defender is pushing to the outside too early.
Julius Matiu-Matiseni also has a powerful fend which has served him well in recent seasons with his natural strength is just another impressive attribute in his ****nal.
A real positive for me is that Julius Matiu-Matiseni 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, Julius Matiu-Matiseni certainly has the courage to run that line regularly which not everybody has.
As you would expect, due to his size and strength, Julius Matiu-Matiseni is a very good defender regardless of position. He will not necessarily hit hard but is definitely aggressive and Julius Matiu-Matiseni is very good at mirroring the movement of the opposing centre and wrapping him up ball and all.

Julius Matiu-Matiseni 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, Julius Matiu-Matiseni 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 Julius Matiu-Matiseni chooses to come out of the line to interrupt the attacking movement immediately prior to its development.

Julius Matiu-Matiseni is U15 eligible in 2023 and representative level and school boy rugby league is also on the table for Julius Matiu-Matiseni in 2023.

Julius Matiu-Matiseni is a big, strong and powerful young man already at 180cm and 85kg but make no mistake Julius Matiu-Matiseni also has electric speed, balance and body control and shapes as a generational type of rugby league centre when he fully develops both from a skill and physical perspective.

Julius Matiu-Matiseni is a solidly built centre with outstanding timing, anticipation, elusiveness and speed. No doubt Julius Matiu-Matiseni could also comfortably handle playing a number of other positions but with his speed, ability to read and react to defences and power Julius Matiu-Matiseni will no doubt get a long look at centre before any potential move is considered.

For completeness Julius Matiu-Matiseni has played in the second row on occasion in New Zealand but with his speed and power Julius Matiu-Matiseni will no doubt be given every opportunity to stay in the centres for as long as possible, if not for the duration of what seems set to be an impressive rugby league career.

Manly Sea Eagles fullback or centre Toltau Koula with his outstanding speed and elusiveness is for me a great (and accurate) NRL player comparison for Julius Matiu-Matiseni. Both Koula and Julius Matiu-Matiseni are solidly built players but have express speed, timing and anticipation as well as near unlimited NRL and higher potential.

[mdrew]

Donte Tahuhu-Wilson. Donte Tahuhu-Wilson lined up in a Titans jersey in mid-April 2023 when Donte Tahuhu-Wilson started from the bench for a Titans U16 JTS squad that played a touring Auckland U16 side at Cbus Stadium as a curtain-raiser to the Titans NRL Round Seven match against the Brisbane Bronco’s.

In limited time off the bench for the Titans U16’s against Auckland Donte Tahuhu-Wilson was absolutely outstanding as he scored in the second half by running a smart inside line off a Jimmy McCombie pass.

In 2022 Donte Tahuhu-Wilson attended an U14 camp that the Titans ran in New Zealand with Donte Tahuhu-Wilson being named by the Titans Development Staff as the camp’s Most Valuable Player. Donte Tahuhu-Wilson also tested exceptionally well at the camp including recording the highest vertical jump of all participants. Donte Tahuhu-Wilson also attended New Zealand camps run by other NRL clubs as well including the Melbourne Storm where he also stood out due to his athletic ability.

Donte Tahuhu-Wilson is from the Canterbury region of New Zealand ,attending St Thomas of Canterbury College and playing for the Hornby Hornets Rugby League club and in addition to making numerous Canterbury regional representative sides Donte Tahuhu-Wilson was named in the New Zealand Māori U13 Merit side in 2021 and the New Zealand Māori U14 Merit side in 2022.

From an attacking stand point, Donte Tahuhu-Wilson has solid distribution skills in relation to his passing skills to either side of his body and uses a solid, repeatable passing technique to ensure consistency, thus enabling his forwards and play makers have confidence that his passes will find the mark with the appropriate velocity attached on every occasion.

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

The impressive thing about when Donte Tahuhu-Wilson runs out of dummy half is the fact that he does not run to the same side all of the time, he will make a judgement on where the defence is the weakest and respond accordingly.

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

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

Donte Tahuhu-Wilson will play in New Zealand in 2023 at the U15 level for St Thomas of Canterbury College and playing for the Hornby Hornets Rugby League club in the Canterbury region.

With his distribution skills out of dummy half, his speed and guile running the ball out of dummy half and his rock solid defence in the centre of the field, I ultimately believe that hooker will be the position that Donte Tahuhu-Wilson is best suited to playing both now and into the future.

Donte Tahuhu-Wilson, with his speed out of dummy half and his ability to make the right decision in terms of when to run and when to pass reminds me of South Sydney and New South Wales State of Origin hooker Damien Cook. Like Cook, Donte Tahuhu-Wilson is a very strong defender in the centre of the ruck for his size with the ability to make multiple tackles at a row.

[Whats Doing]

I saw Donte in that match against Auckland and I agree he was outstanding. The thing that impressed me the most was his footwork which was just scintillating and combined with his speed, he is a brilliant stacking footballer.

[mdrew]

Bodhi Sharpley. The young front rower signed with the Titans in early 2023 after a strong 2023 MM Cup season with the Toowoomba Clydesdales.

After the Toowoomba Clydesdales had a Round One bye Bodhi Sharpley started in the front row in Rounds Two, Three and Four against the Wide Bay Bulls, Ipswich Jets and Sunshine Coast Falcons respectively. Then after missing Round Five Bodhi Sharpley started from the bench in Rounds Six and Seven against the Jets and Falcons.

Bodhi Sharpley scored one try in the 2023 MM Cup competition with that try coming in the 37th minute of Round Seven against Sunshine Coast when from three metres out and to the right of the play the ball Bodhi Sharpley charged onto a hard flat pass from the dummy half to crash over four metres to the left of the uprights.

In early 2023 Bodhi Sharpley was named in the Darling Downs School Boy Open Representative side with Bodhi Sharpley starting in the front row and captain on Day One against Northern with Bodhi Sharpley named Darling Downs best.

Bodhi Sharpley also started in the front row and captain on Day Two against Peninsula as well as in Round Three against Wide Bay and Day Four against Met North to round out the Championships for the young forward.

In 2023 Bodhi Sharpley continued to play for Toowoomba Brothers in the Toowoomba Junior Rugby League U17 competition with Bodhi Sharpley spending time both in the front row and second row with Bodhi Sharpley scoring in Round Three against Toowoomba Souths.

In April 2023 Bodhi Sharpley was selected to attend the Queensland Rugby League Skills Day for the Western Clydesdales.

In 2022 Bodhi Sharpley captained the Toowoomba Clydesdales in the Cyril Connell Cup competition with Bodhi Sharpley starting in the second row in all of the Clydesdales matches.

2022 also saw Bodhi Sharpley play for Toowoomba Brothers in the Toowoomba JRL U16 competition with Bodhi Sharpley starting at lock in all of Brothers regular season matches with Bodhi Sharpley scoring doubles in Round Two and Seven against Highfields and Gatton respectively.

In the finals series Bodhi Sharpley moved to five eight including starting there in the Grand Final against Dalby with Bodhi Sharpley scoring a double in Week One of the Finals against Gatton.

Bodhi Sharpley is a on nonsense old fashion type of front rower or second rower who has a solid skill set across the board. From an attacking perspective Bodhi Sharpley runs hard and straight and also has the ability to get away a good off-load if the opportunity presents itself but ultimately Bodhi Sharpley’s primary goal is to make as much ground as possible, including post contact and then execute a quick play the ball to maintain his team’s momentum.

Like when he is running with the ball, Bodhi Sharpley has a no nonsense defensive mentality. Bodhi Sharpley moves up quickly and after setting himself hits the opposition hard when they run the ball in the middle of the ruck. Bodhi Sharpley will then finish off the tackle by driving his opponent hard into the ground with Bodhi Sharpley then able to smartly slow the play the ball down by forcing his opponent onto his back whilst retaining his leverage in the on ground wrestle.

Bodhi Sharpley is also effective at coming over the top in a tackle when one of his team mates has taken the opposing attacker low, Bodhi Sharpley will come over the top to wrap the ball up to prevent off-loads before finishing off the tackle on the ground.

Bodhi Sharpley will play out the 2023 season with Toowoomba Brothers in the TJRL U17 competition and in 2024 Bodhi Sharpley will line-up for the Toowoomba Clydesdales once again in the MM Cup competition.

Outside of a number of matches at five eight in late 2022 for Toowoomba Brothers Bodhi Sharpley has played lock, front row or second row and I can see that situation changing any time soon, however when Bodhi Sharpley moves into the senior rugby league ranks I envisage that Bodhi Sharpley will settle permanently in the front row.

From a playing style perspective for Bodhi Sharpley, think along the lines of the Christian Welsh of the Melbourne Storm and the Queensland State of Origin side as a front rower with good footwork both in attack and defence and an all effort type of mentality who will do all of the little things that team mates and coaches love as a result.

[mdrew]

Kason Tuai. The young man previously from the Melton Bronco’s in the Victorian Junior Rugby League competition joins the Titans partnered Keebra Park State High School Elite Rugby League Excellence Program in 2023.

Round One of the 2023 School Boy Hancock Cup competition saw Kason Tuai start on the wing in Round One for Keebra Park SHS against Wavell SHS. Kason Tuai also started on the wing in Round Two against Ipswich SHS.

In the 2022 U14 Victorian Junior Rugby League competition Kason Tuai has operated primarily at right centre for the Melton Bronco’s with Kason Tuai scoring hat tricks in Round Three against the Waverley Oakleigh Panthers, Round Four against the Altona Roosters and Round Fifteen against the Northern Thunder.

Kason Tuai also scored doubles in Round Ten against the Casey Warriors and Round Thirteen also against the Casey Warriors.

Kason Tuai finished as the 2022 Victorian Rugby League U14 regular season competition’s fifth leading try scorer with fourteen tries and a strike rate of approximately 100%.

The 2022 Victorian U14 Grand Final saw Kason Tuai named at start at right centre for the Melton Bronco’s against the Altona Roosters with Kason Tuai scoring in the second half of a 26 – 12 Melton Bronco’s come from behind Grand Final victory.

Kason Tuai scored in the second half when after receiving the ball to the right of the play the ball sixty four metres out, Kason Tuai cut to his right to get on the outside of his opposite centre and used a left arm fend to break away with Kason Tuai then racing down the right touchline before Kason Tuai cut inside to beat the fullback and race away to score under the posts.

Kason Tuai also recorded a second half try assist when after receiving a right arm flick off-load from his inside from fullback Cornelius Kelsall, Kason Tuai executed a great catch and pass to his right to put his right winger over from close range.

In 2022 Kason Tuai represented the Staughton College School Boy Rugby League side in the Cameron Smith Shield competition.

Kason Tuai also played for the Melton Bronco’s in the 2021 Victorian Junior Rugby League Covid impacted U13 competition scoring ten tries in a limited number of matches.

From an attacking perspective Kason Tuai is a straight hard runner when he has the ball in hand, he runs a “crash” line if you will. Kason Tuai has also shown the ability to run both an inside and outside shoulder route and he runs both with pace and power and attracts multiple defenders to try to bring him down, a quick play the ball is also a key feature of Kason Tuai’s play.

When he impacts the defensive line Kason Tuai drops his shoulder into the defenders and regularly bumped off multiple defenders in a single run. Another key attribute which was mentioned earlier is that he is also a talented all be it an underrated distributor when defenders look to come in on him to shut down the play.

Kason Tuai understands that his style of play means that he attracts multiple defenders and he has become adept at delayed sleight of hand passes right at the defensive line which meant that the defensive line could not react to the aspect change in time to prevent ground being made by the support runner.

Due to his strength and fend Kason Tuai regularly gets on the outside of his opposite defender forcing the winger to make a decision as to whether to come in on him or stay with his direct opponent. If defenders come in on him, Kason Tuai has the quick hands to get the pass away prior to contact.

Kason Tuai also is big and strong enough as well as having very good core strength and balance to absorb the contact and still get the pass to his winger whilst maintaining his running line so that he does not force his outside supports closer to the touch line than they need to be. This also forces defenders to make a quick decision in relation to how they address this situation that they are confronted with.

If the opposing winger stays out, Kason Tuai is definitely quick enough to break into open space although I would not say that he has plus speed, but Kason Tuai is more than quick enough to gain separate from the cover defence. When you look at Kason Tuai’s build he may not look like he has a lot of speed, but he definitely does. Kason Tuai may not necessarily be the quickest off the mark but has very good acceleration once he is moving and can sustain his top pace over an extended period.

Devastating would be the appropriate way to describe the defensive style of Kason Tuai, he regularly comes out the line to literally smash the attacker coming at him. When an attacker is running directly at Kason Tuai he will explode quickly out of his stance coming forward quickly thus preventing the opposing defender from either getting a pass wider out or for that matter bracing himself for the upcoming contact.

A lot of bigger outside backs attempt to come out of the line a few occasions a match when the opportunity presents itself but Kason Tuai seemingly does it four or five times a match. As a result of his timing and anticipation it is not often that an attacking can either skip to the outside or get a pass away to a support runner. Kason Tuai just seems to have that knack of arriving just as his opponent receives the ball.

In saying what I have above however when necessary Kason Tuai is able to slide out and wait for the play to develop in front of him and is able to hold his momentum to the outside well in case his direct opponent looks to cut back inside as he is sliding out. Either way Kason Tuai has a solid defensive technique in relation to side on tackles and can also turn and chase in cover defence if necessary.

Kason Tuai has moved up to the Gold Coast in 2023 to attend the Titans partnered Keebra Park SHS Elite Rugby League Specialisation Program and is playing in Keebra Park SHS’s famous colours in their numerous 2023 School Boy Rugby League competitions including the Hancock Cup School Boy Rugby League competition. Kason Tuai will also play club rugby league on the Gold Coast in the highly competitive GCRL U15 Division One competition.

With his height and speed Kason Tuai looks like a natural born centre with the ability to be a legitimate strike centre and there are very few of them running around regardless of age group or competition. There is also little doubt that Kason Tuai would also be a revelation at fullback with the opportunity to see the entire field and pick and choose when to inject himself into a match on his terms.

Isreal Folau is the player that Kason Tuai reminds me of on the rugby league field. Like Folau, Kason Tuai seemingly has it all, size, strength, speed and power as well as the ability to harness them all and exploit it on the field in a variety of game situations especially when the ball is in Kason Tuai’s hands.

[mdrew]

Rory McInnes. The Casino RSM Cougars youngster was part of the Titans JTS Elite Development Program and was part of the Titans 2022 U14 JTS High Performance Academy Group One squad that commenced training in November 2022 in Ballina on a weekly basis.

In early December 2022 Rory McInnes played for the Titans U14 Group One Academy squad in a trial against the Titans U14 Group 18 Academy squad in a trial match at Ballina with both teams wearing Titans jerseys. Rory McInnes in fact captained the Titans U14 Group One Academy side to a victory against the Group 18 Titans Academy Side in a high quality encounter.

Rory McInnes then continued on with the Titans Development Squad attending four sessions in February 2023 as part of a Titans combined Tweed – Ballina U14 Development Squad.

In early March 2023 Rory McInnes was named at halfback in the Lismore Diocesan U15 School Boy Rugby League Representative Team to attend the Northern Country selection trials at South West Rocks out of St Mary’s Catholic College Casino.

Rory McInnes played the 2022 season with Casino RSM in the Group One U14 competition with Rory McInnes starting the Grand Final at halfback and captain with Rory McInnes leading from the front and scoring a smart try as Casino RSM defeated the Ballina Seagulls 32 – 20 in the hotly contested Premiership decider.

In addition to his Grand Final try in 2022 in the Group One U14 competition Rory McInnes also scored against the Marist Rams Lismore in Round Six of the 2022 Group One U14 competition.

Rory McInnes also played for Casino RSM in 2021 in the Group One U13 competition with Rory McInnes finishing the season with an individual points haul of forty six points from ten tries and three conversions which Rory McInnes kicked in Round Two against the Kyogle Turkeys, Round Five against the Clarence Coast Magpies and Round Ten against the Marist Rams.

Rory McInnes scored a hat trick in Round Three against the Marist Rams and added a double in Round Seven against the Clarence Coast Magpies. Rory McInnes also scored against the Kyogle Turkeys in Rounds Two and Nine, against the Marist Rams in Rounds Six and Ten and in Round Five against the Clarence Coast Magpies.

Rory McInnes also played at halfback for Casino RSM in the 2020 Group One U12 competition with Rory McInnes scoring against the South Grafton Rebels in Rounds Six and Ten with Rory McInnes also scoring in Round Six against the Clarence Coast Magpies.

Rory McInnes also kicked two conversions in 2020 with the first of those conversions coming in Round One against the Ballina Seagulls with Rory McInnes’s other conversion coming in Round Six against the Kyogle Turkeys.

Whilst Rory McInnes’s forte is his game management and leadership abilities, Rory McInnes is a good ball runner in his own right with Rory McInnes possessing above average speed both off the mark and top end speed. Rory McInnes has the speed to be able to exploit even small gaps in the defensive line with a strong step off either foot and acceleration as well as outstanding balance and body control.

It is that speed trait which opens up Rory McInnes’s incredible ball playing skills as well. Teams start to focus heavily on Rory McInnes 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 Murphy Phillips can exploit by either popping a short ball to the outside or if the entire defensive line moves up and in Rory McInnes will throw a long hard flat cut-out pass to get his outside backs on the outside of the last opposition defender.

Rory McInnes 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 Rory McInnes 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.

Rory McInnes also runs with the ball in both hands which is another reason why the defensive line is unable to determine exactly what Rory McInnes is going to do on any given possession. If Rory McInnes 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, Rory McInnes is always in support and if he gets an off load he can accelerate through the resultant gap.

When he has broken through the initial defensive line Rory McInnes 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. Rory McInnes is also adept at setting up his support runners with Rory McInnes holding the ball to the last moment before passing the ball to ensure that the opposing fullback cannot move off him prematurely to tackle Rory McInnes’s support runner.

Defensively as Rory McInnes is a taller type of half back and he has the size and leverage to be a very good defender on the edge of the ruck and for want of a better term Rory McInnes is his team’s defensive quarter back. Rory McInnes controls and managers his team’s line speed and directs the defenders around him in terms of whether to employ a sliding defensive scheme or enact an up and in defensive methodology.

On an individual level Rory McInnes’s initial contact is strong and he will drive his shoulder through any size opponent that makes the decision to run directly at him with Rory McInnes then finishing the tackle by regularly driving his opponent into the ground and then Rory McInnes, with his high centre of gravity and length is able to slow the play the ball down by holding his opponent on the ground with his weight and body placement.

Against a backline opponent looking to take him on one on one on the fringes of the ruck Rory McInnes, with his high level lateral mobility is able to mirror the movement of the attacker and with his quick twitch feet Rory McInnes is rarely beaten by an opponent who is looking to beat him by stepping past him either on the outside or to the inside.

Rory McInnes will play the 2023 season with Casino RSM in the Group One U15 competition as well as school boy rugby league in Northern New South Wales.

Simply put Rory McInnes is a halfback. The more the ball is in Rory McInnes hands the better for everyone. No doubt that Rory McInnes could play a number of different positions but why anyone would even consider moving such a talented young player from halfback would be absolutely beyond me.

With his ability to size up an opportunity in terms of whether to run or pass in an instant as well as his competitive nature, Rory McInnes is the prototypical new age rugby league half back, and one who will certainly not crack under pressure, in fact Rory McInnes seems to thrive on it, the more the better.

Some players in key positions such as in the halves or fullback, want to not lose matches rather than to try to win them, Rory McInnes is on the absolute opposite end of the spectrum, he wants the ball in his hands with the game on the line, wanting to win the game rather than being worried about losing it. Very few players at any level of any sport, even at the professional level, have that sort of mentality. Only a very small handful of people really thrive under intense pressure (a lot say they do but...) Rory McInnes appears to be definitely one of them.

Rory McInnes is a superb organiser and game manager who has old head on young shoulders as the saying goes and Rory McInnes is ideally suited to the half back role in rugby league.

An NRL player comparison for Rory McInnes proved to be an interesting exercise, but ultimately, I believe an appropriate player comparison for Rory McInnes is Cronulla Sharks five eight Nicco Hynes. Rory McInnes has the same type of intensity, will to win, game management and leadership attributes as the Sharks representative five eight. Rory McInnes also has some similarities to former Titans NRL half or five eight Kane Elgey.

Team mates follow Rory McInnes through the sheer force of his will and pure effort, regardless of whether Rory McInnes is the captain or not. Rory McInnes’s leadership skills are far more than just being the captain of a top level team, Rory McInnes has all the hall marks of not just an NRL captain or even a club captain but a representative level one as well, including at the State and International level.

From a leadership perspective in rugby league, the best two leaders I have seen and probably has ever been Cameron Smith and Wally Lewis. Rory McInnes’s leadership skills are right up there in that same overall category, he will back his team mates no matter what but at the same time will let them know when they have to change their attitude, behaviour or the way that they are conducting themselves on the field from a playing or attitude perspective as the match progresses.

[mdrew]

Simione Tauelangi. The young man from the Melton Bronco’s in the Victorian Junior Rugby League competition joins the Titans partnered Keebra Park SHS Elite Rugby League Excellence Program in 2023 and beyond.

In early March 2023 Simione Tauelingi was named in the South Coast School Boy U15 Rugby League Representative Team with Simione Tauelingi starting from the bench on Day One against Sunshine Coast.

Simione Tauelingi also started from the bench on Day Two against Northern with Simione Tauelingi lining up at left centre in the second half.

Simione Tauelingi then moved into the South Coast starting side at left centre on Day Three against Met North with Simione Tauelingi scoring in the 7th minute with a ten metre run to get the ball down three metres in from the left corner post after receiving a pass from his right from Kalani Patu.

Simione Tauelingi also recorded a line break assist in the 41st minute when from the left of the play the ball down a short blindside Simione Tauelingi made eighteen metres downfield to get eight metres inside Met North territory before getting an off-load away to his left to Cornelius Kelsall who made a long line break down the left touchline.

Then in the 45th minute to the left of a South Coast scrum win eighteen metres out from the try line after receiving the ball Simione Tauelingi continued to run to his left before cutting back to his right after making fifteen metres to prevent being taken over the sideline.

Simione Tauelingi then started at left centre in the 2023 QSSRL U15 School Boy Grand Final against Met East with Simione Tauelingi making a try saving tackle in 31st minute on the Met East right centre just two metres out from the try line and just in from the left touchline.

Round One of the 2023 School Boy Hancock Cup competition saw Simione Tauelingi start in the second row in Round One for Keebra Park SHS against Wavell SHS. Simione Tauelingi also started in the second row in Round Two against Ipswich SHS.

In the 2022 U14 Victorian Junior Rugby League competition Simione Tauelingi has operated primarily at left centre for the Melton Bronco’s with Simione Tauelingi scoring four tries in Round One against the Sunberry Tigers with Simione Tauelingi adding a hat trick in Round Eight against the Frankston Raiders.

Simione Tauelingi also scored doubles in Round Seven against the Northern Thunder and Round Thirteen against the Casey Warriors. Simione Tauelingi also scored in Round Fifteen against the Northern Thunder once again.

Simione Tauelangi finished as the 2022 Victorian Rugby League U14 regular season competition’s equal fourth leading try scorer with sixteen tries at a strike rate of over 100%.

The 2022 Victorian U14 Grand Final saw Simione Tauelangi named at start at left centre for the Melton Bronco’s against the Altona Roosters with Simione Tauelangi scoring in the second half of a 26 – 12 Melton Grand Final come from behind victory.

Simione Tauelangi scored in the second half when from sixty metres out Simione Tauelangi got on the outside of his opposing defender and race away down the left touchline to score a great long range try.

Simione Tauelingi also played for the Melton Bronco’s in the 2021 Victorian Junior Rugby League Covid impacted U13 competition scoring seven tries in a limited number of matches.

Simione Tauelingi is also an outstanding athlete including breaking the Victorian U13 200 metre sprint record in 2021 when he ran a time of 25.84 seconds.

For a centre, Simione Tauelingi is a strong, powerful young man who does not rely just on his size and speed by using his natural running gait and balance to either engage the opposing defenders and off load, run either an inside or outside shoulder route or an old fashioned in and away to slow the forward momentum of the direct defender with Simione Tauelingi able accelerate to the outside of the defender.

For a player of his size, Simione Tauelingi also has a very good passing game, when the ball is passed out to the back line, Simione Tauelingi is very good at straitening up the attacking vector of his team and pass to his outside supports if they have room to move further out wide as a result of the defence pushing in. Obviously playing mostly at left centre Simione Tauelingi more often than not passes to his left but his simple and repeatable passing technique is no doubt transferrable to passing to the right side as well.

From a speed perspective Simione Tauelingi has plus speed for both his size and position and when he breaks into open space, he will not be caught from behind other than from only the fastest of opponents and Simione Tauelingi is also very good at positioning his support players when he gets to the fullback. The only possible question about Simione Tauelingi ’s speed is whether it will stay at the plus category as he matures and inevitably fills out. I am betting it does.
Defensively Simione Tauelingi uses his size to good effect, he drives with his shoulder into his opponent and has very good timing in terms of when to come out of the line and certainly has the speed to readjust and chase if his timing is slightly off and his opposing centre gets on his outside.

Simione Tauelingi on an individual level has the balance, body control and anticipation to redirect quickly and mirror the movement of the opposing attackers and anticipate what vector the attack will come from and innately understands when to allow the attacking play to develop in from of him and when and if to come out of the line to disrupt the attacking play prior to its formation.

Simione Tauelingi has moved up to the Gold Coast in 2023 to attend the Titans partnered Keebra Park State High School Elite Rugby League Specialisation Program and Simione Tauelingi will play in Keebra Park SHS’s famous blue and maroon colours in their numerous 2023 School Boy Rugby League competitions with South Coast U15 QSSRL School Boy Representative honours obtained in 2023 for Simione Tauelingi.

Simione Tauelingi has played almost exclusively at left centre in his junior rugby league career to date and it is highly unlikely that his move to the Gold Coast and Keebra Park SHS will impact on that. At left centre Simione Tauelingi has the size, speed and elusiveness to be a very difficult proposition for opposing defences to handle.

With his size, speed and power Simione Tauelingi’s playing style is not dis-similar to that of standout Penrith Panther NRL left centre Izac Tago, both Tago Simione Tauelingi and just ooze class and potential and just have something about them when you watch them play the game. To be fair though Simione Tauelingi is going to end up being physically bigger than the Panthers centre.

[mdrew]

Christian Rivers. Christian Rivers was named to start in the front row in Round One of the 2023 U16 Cyril Connell Cup competition for the Wynnum Manly Seagulls against the Burleigh Bears with Christian Rivers along with Majah Peachey making the opening tackle of the match after Wynnum Manly had kicked off to get the season underway.

Christian Rivers made another strong run in the 47th minute when from ten metres out from the try line and to the left of the play the ball Christian Rivers rumbled forward to get within a metres of the try line mid-way between the goal posts and corner post on the left side of the field.

Christian River’s performance saw him named in the front row in the 2023 CC Cup Round One Team of the Round.

Christian Rivers was also named in the front row in Round Two against the Norths Devils however he was a late scratching from the match.

Christian Rivers then started at lock in Round Three against the Souths Logan Magpies with Christian Rivers making a desperate try saving tackle in the 2nd minute on the Magpies hooker a metre out from the try line mid-way between the goal posts and corner post on the right side of the field after the hooker had tried to sneak over from dummy half.

Christian Rivers made another tackle in the 11th minute charge back in cover defence to tackle the Souths Logan five eight from behind ten metres out from the try line after a thirty metre line break.

Christian Rivers executed another strong tackle in the 18th minute when with Souths Logan on the attack just ten metres out from the Seagulls try line, Christian Rivers raced out of the defensive line and smashed his opposite number just as he received the ball directly in front of the goal posts.

Christian Rivers produced a smart piece of play when lined up at marker in the 8th minute when he reached around the Magpies player who played the ball to hit the hands of the dummy half and force a knock on.

Christian Rivers then moved to the bench for Round Four against the Tweed Heads Seagulls with Christian Rivers coming onto the field to operate in the front row once again.

Christian Rivers also started from the bench in Round Seven against the Redcliffe Dolphins and after coming onto the field to operate in the front row late in the first half.

Christian Rivers made a strong run in the 26th minute from the right of the play the ball three metres inside Dolphins territory with Christian Rivers making twelve metres against a set Dolphins defensive line.

In early March 2023 Christian Rivers was named in the South Coast U15 School Boy Rugby League Representative side with Christian Rivers starting in the front row on Day One against Sunshine Coast with Christian Rivers being named the South Coast’s best player in their first up victory.

Christian Rivers scored for South Coast in the 32nd minute when from the left of the play the ball Christian Rivers burrowed over from three metres out to get the ball down despite numerous defenders trying to stop him two metres to the right of the uprights.

After taking the opening hit-up of the match and getting the ball two metres over the twenty metre mark Christian Rivers made a line break in the 38th minute when after charging onto the ball to the left of the play the ball Christian Rivers broke three tackling whilst making thirty metres before being tackled ten metres from the try line.

Earlier in the 28th minute Christian Rivers made a strong kick-off return out to the twenty five metre mark.

Christian Rivers also started in the front row on Day Two against Northern with Christian Rivers scoring in the 9th minute when with the play the ball a metre out and to the right of the goal posts Jai Billish ran out of dummy half to his right with Christian Rivers running an underneath route to crash over to score eight metres to the right of the uprights.

A minute earlier in the 8th minute Christian Rivers had charged onto the ball to the right of the play the ball from forty metres out to get to twenty six metres out from the try line. Then in the 11th minute Christian Rivers ran onto the ball to the right of the play the ball when thirty five metres out and Christian Rivers able to get the ball four metres into Northern territory.

Christian Rivers continued in the front row on Day Three against Met North with Christian Rivers scoring in the 4th minute when with the play the ball less than a metre from the try line Jai Billish ran out of dummy half to his right with Christian Rivers running an underneath route and after receiving the ball from Jai Billish by way of an inside pass Christian Rivers crashed over to score three metres to the right of the uprights.

The 12th minute saw Christian Rivers run onto the ball to the right of the play the ball from twenty metres out with Christian River’s constant pumping of his legs getting him to within four metres out from the try line and five metres to the right of the uprights.

Then in the 29th minute from three metres inside Met North territory and to the left of the play the ball and after engaging the defensive line and breaking away from one defender Christian Rivers continued to run to his left to get twenty two metres out near the left touchline.

Christian Rivers then started in the front row in the 2023 QSSRL U15 School Boy Grand Final against Met East with Christian Rivers scoring the match winning try in the 46th minute with a surge from the right of the dummy half and four metres out and even after Christian Rivers was held a metre short he forced his way over to score adjacent to the right upright. Then from the ensuing kick-off Christian Rivers carried the ball back to twenty eight metres out.

In the 5th minute of the Grand Final from the left of the play the ball and twelve metres inside his own territory Christian Rivers rumbled forward and carried the ball two metres into Met East territory.

Then in the 34th minute from a South Coast penalty tap restart from his own twenty metre mark Christian Rivers carried the ball to within ten metres of the halfway mark and then two tackles later Christian Rivers made another fifteen metres running the ball.

At the conclusion of the Grand Final Christian Rivers was named South Coast’s best player in the match .

Christian Rivers finished the 2023 QSSRL U15 School Boy Rugby League Queensland Championships as the equal leading try scorer with four tries and Christian Rivers was also equal fifth in terms of overall points scored with sixteen points as a result of Christian Rivers four tries.

At the completion of the Championships Christian Rivers was named in the 2023 Queensland U15 Maroon School Boys Rugby League side to contest the 2023 Australian U15 School Boys Rugby League Championships.

Round One of the 2023 Walters Cup School Boy competition saw Christian Rivers named in the front row for Keebra Park SHS against Ipswich SHS with Christian Rivers doing well to take possession of the opening kick-off with Christian Rivers initially trapping the bouncing ball between his legs with then Christian Rivers being awarded a penalty for a high tackle after running the ball back into the Stretton State College defensive line.

Christian Rivers then made a line break in the 21st minute when from a kick-off return Christian Rivers broke through the Stretton State College defensive line eighteen metres out from the Keebra Park SHS try line with Christian Rivers charging all of the way to within ten metres of the halfway mark.

Then in the 23rd minute Christian Rivers came close to scoring under the posts after a twelve metre charge by the referee ruled that Christian Rivers had lost the ball over the try line before being able to get the ball to the ground.

In late 2022 Christian Rivers was named as the Keebra Park SHS 2022 Hancock Cup School Boy Rugby League Player of the Year and Christian Rivers was also named on the bench in the 2022 Keebra Park SHS Rugby League Team of the Year, two absolutely outstanding achievements to say the least for the talented young forward.

In 2022 Christian Rivers started in the front row in all of Keebra Park SHS’s Hancock Cup school boy Rugby League matches, making a strong impression in each and every one of them. The 2022 Keebra Park SHS forward pack was exceptional and Christian Rivers was one of the key reasons that they dominated the majority of the forward packs that took Keebra Park SHS on.

2022 also saw Christian Rivers play for the Wynnum Manly Seagulls in the GBJRL U4 Division One competition including starting in the second row in the Grand Final loss against the Redcliffe Dolphins.

Christian Rivers proved to be a try scorer of note for the Wynnum Manly Seagulls in 2022 including scoring four doubles, the first of which came in Round Ten against Aspley, then Christian Rivers scored a double in Round Twelve against the Easts Tigers.

In the GBJRL U14 Division One competition regular season Christian Rivers also scored in Round Three against Aspley, Round Eight against the Norths Devils, Round Nine against Logan Brothers and Round Thirteen against the Redcliffe Dolphins.

Christian Rivers had a particularly strong 2022 GBJRL U14 Division One competition Finals series, scoring doubles in the Qualifying and Preliminary Finals, on both occasions in victories against Logan Brothers.

Christian Rivers is a big strong hard running young forward who really punishes defensive lines with his strength and power. For a big young man Christian Rivers also has the ability to run wider of the ruck targeting the smaller defenders.

I would argue that Christian Rivers speed for a front row/second row/lock is above average bordering on plus and with that he runs with exceptional power and regularly drops his chest into the initial defender in the opposition defensive line.

Christian Rivers also has a powerful fend with either arm and does not look to just hold off his opponent but actually look to push them physically away from his body. The final piece of the puzzle for Christian Rivers is developing his off-loading skills and whilst he has shown flashes of this skill attribute with continued experience and selectivity the ability to off load both prior to the line and once engaged will certainly come.

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

Christian Rivers speed and lateral movement means that he will not be beaten by light stepping halves trying to take advantage of tiring forwards or the opposition running out of dummy half. I have noted that Christian Rivers is aggressive and seems to want to win every one on one battle and Christian Rivers invariably does.

2023 has seen Christian Rivers move up to the Keebra Park SHS Walters Cup School Boy side and Christian Rivers will also continue to play for the Wynnum Manly Seagulls in the GBJRL U15 Division One competition. QSSRL U15 South Coast School Boy Rugby League Representative honours was also obtained by Christian Rivers in 2023.

Interestingly Christian Rivers started all of Keebra Park SHS’s 2022 Hancock Cup School Boy matches in the front row and all of Wynnum Manly’s GBJRL U14 Division One matches in the second row. Ultimately though I believe that Christian Rivers will settle in the front row but similarly I am of the firm opinion that at least for the next couple of seasons, Christian Rivers will be able to continue to operate in the second row very successfully whether that is in relation to school boy, representative or club rugby league.

In many respects Christian Rivers has a similar playing style to that of Titans NRL, Queensland State of Origin and Tongan International front rower Moeaki Fotuaika. Both Fotuaika and Christian Rivers are solidly built young men with deceptive speed, late subtle and deceptive footwork and vastly under rated ball skills as well as defensively they are both very good.

[mdrew]

Cooper Young. The young front rower originally from Beenleigh SHS is currently on a Rugby League Scholarship at the Titans partnered Marsden SHS’s Elite School Boy Rugby League Academy with Cooper Young recently named in the Met East U15 QSSRL School Boy Rugby League Representative squad for the ASSRL U15 State Championships.

Even though he is still U15 eligible in 2023 Cooper Young started the season off as part of the Wynnum Manly Seagulls U16 Cyril Connell Cup squad with Cooper Young starting Round One from the bench against the Burleigh Bears.

Cooper Young, after also coming off the bench in Round Two made his first start in Round Three against the Souths Logan Magpies when Cooper Young started in the front row. Cooper Young then maintained his place in the Seagulls starting side in the front row for the next two rounds before Cooper Young finished the 2023 CC Cup competition coming off the bench in Round Seven against the Redcliffe Dolphins.

Cooper Young celebrated his Round Three starting debut by scoring for Wynnum Manly in the 36th minute of Round Three against the Souths Logan Magpies when after receiving an off-load from his halfback from his left, Cooper Young crashed over from six metres out between two Magpies defenders to get the ball down three metres to the left of the goal posts.

2023 also sees Cooper Young play for Marsden SHS in the Walters Cup School Boy Rugby League competition.

As noted, Cooper Young is a big strong front rower who is a powerful runner of the football, who knows only one way and that is straight ahead and Cooper Young has shown flashes of the ability to off-load once he has impacted the defensive line or has crashed through it. Cooper Young is still developing the ability to off-load prior to the defensive line but no doubt with a Titans JTS pre-season under his belt, Cooper Young will quickly develop that skill as a result of his will to succeed.

For a big front rower Cooper Young does actually have quite decent speed, mobility and footwork, certainly well above average for a player of his size and age. This good footwork enables Cooper Young to step prior to the line, usually back towards the centre of the ruck targeting the area behind the play the ball with Cooper Young creating little half breaks which enhances the ability to off-load the football.

Cooper Young’s core body strength also enables him to make significant ground after contact dragging defenders with him and if an opposition does not get hold of his legs, Cooper Young is apt to break free of the initial defenders all together.

With his size and speed combination Cooper Young also is adept at getting a quick play the ball once he is brought to ground, Cooper Young literally just pushes away the defenders and gets to his feet and gets on with the game through the quick play the ball.

In defence Cooper Young is happy to go for the big hit often but not to the detriment to his team. Cooper Young is actually quite selective about when to go for the big hit as against making sure the tackle is completed.

Cooper Young is obviously suited to defending in the centre of the ruck rather that the fringes and will understandably have some trouble with nippy runners out of dummy half although his lateral movement is quite good for a front rower and Cooper Young is also disciplined to keep his arm for straying high in the tackle.

Cooper Young’s calling card though is the strength and power to effectively engage the opposing forward early in their run and use his natural strength to win the forward battle in the centre of the ruck. Cooper Young can defensively handle any one on one battle that presents itself over the course of a match.

Cooper Young started the 2023 season off with the Wynnum Manly Seagulls in the CC Cup competition and Cooper Young is also Cyril Connell Cup eligible in 2024. Cooper Young will also play school boy rugby league for Marsden SHS in 2023.

Cooper Young is a big strong young man with more than decent speed, strength and mobility and thus seems set to have a long rugby league career in from of him as a front rower.

With his size and running style I believe a player comparison with Brisbane Bronco’s and Queensland State of Origin front rower Thomas Flegler is more than appropriate in relation to Cooper Young.

Both Flegler and Cooper Young are big, tall, strong and powerful runners of the ball who run very much front on into the defensive line but do drop their body into the first defender that confronts them enabling them to make significant post contact metres before being brought down, a circumstance that is usually requiring of more than one defender to accomplish appropriately and for their size both are able to generate quick play the balls on a regular basis.