My take on our top juniors

[mdrew]

Antioch Faitala-Mariner. The Brisbane based Titans contracted centre or winger signed a multi-year contract at the start of the 2019 year after some impressive displays for the Titans Logan based junior development squads. In positive news for the Titans Antioch Faitala-Mariner resigned with the Titans for an additional couple of seasons in late 2020. Antioch Faitala-Mariner then resigned once again in early 2022 to maintain his continued long term association with the Titans with the Titans soon to reap the dividends of the resigning of Antioch Faitala-Mariner.

In late July 2023 Antioch Faitala-Mariner started at left centre for a Titans U19 side that travelled to Townsville to play a Cowboys U19 side in an NRL curtain-raiser with Antioch Faitala-Mariner making good metres in the 14th minute to the left of the play the ball to carry the ball from eight metres out from his own try line to twenty five metres out.

The 17th minute saw Antioch Faitala-Mariner run onto the ball to the right of the play the ball from eight metres inside his own territory to seven metres inside North Queensland territory. Then in the 41st minute from two passes to the left of a Titans scrum win fourteen metres out, Antioch Faitala-Mariner surged to within two metres of the try line near the left touchline.

In the 59th minute from the right of the play the ball and twenty seven metres out from his own try line Antioch Faitala-Mariner continued to pump his legs and through sheer force of will get the ball to within ten metres of the halfway mark. Two minutes later in the 61st minute Antioch Faitala-Mariner once again carried the ball into the Cowboys defensive line from deep inside his own territory to get the ball from eight metres from his try line to twenty two metres out after taking possession of the ball to the right of the play the ball.

Antioch Faitala-Mariner made a smart defensive read in the 51st minute when whilst facing a two person overlap, Antioch Faitala-Mariner charged forward out of the defensive line to wrap up the North Queensland No. 11 fifteen metres out from the Titans try line.

In January 2023 Antioch Faitala-Mariner started at right centre for the Titans U19 side in their annual match at Coffs Harbour against the Newcastle Knights with Antioch Faitala-Mariner making a strong run in the 11th minute to the right of a Titans scrum win with Antioch Faitala-Mariner making ten metres after taking possession of the ball just ten metres out from his own try line.
Round One of the 2023 Hastings Deering’s Colts season saw Antioch Faitala-Mariner name at right centre for the Easts Tigers against the Western Clydesdales.
Round Seven against the Central Queensland Capra’s saw Antioch Faitala-Mariner start on the left wing with Antioch Faitala-Mariner scoring in the 78th minute when after receiving a long cut-out pass from his inside Antioch Faitala-Mariner had an easy five metre to cross the try line wide out on the left with Antioch Faitala-Mariner then able to bring the ball around seven metres closer to the goal posts.
Antioch Faitala-Mariner then moved to left centre for Round Eight against the Redcliffe Dolphins.
Antioch Faitala-Mariner also started at right centre in Round Ten against the Ipswich Jets with Antioch Faitala-Mariner scoring in the 60th minute with a twenty metre run after receiving the ball in space to score mid-way between the goal posts and corner post on the right side of the field.
Antioch Faitala-Mariner continued at right centre in Round Eleven against the Northern Pride with Antioch Faitala-Mariner scoring in the 45th minute when after charging onto the ball to the right of the play the ball seven metres inside Northern Pride territory Antioch Faitala-Mariner burst through two attempted tackles and as he approached the fullback Antioch Faitala-Mariners shaped to pass to his left but instead Antioch Faitala-Mariner ran himself and after breaking away from a jersey grab from behind Antioch Faitala-Mariner dived over five metres to the right of the uprights.
Antioch Faitala-Mariner also started at right centre in Round Twelve against the Tweed Heads Seagulls with Antioch Faitala-Mariner recording a try assist in the 16th minute when after receiving the ball down a right blindside eighteen metres from the try line, Antioch Faitala-Mariner ran the ball to ten metres out and after drawing in the Seagulls left winger, Antioch Faitala-Mariner off-loaded to his right to put his winger over to score in the corner.
Antioch Faitala-Mariner also made a line break in the 52nd minute when after picking up a Tweed Heads knock on eight metres out from his own try line, Antioch Faitala-Mariner charged downfield and after breaking a tackle just inside Seagulls territory, Antioch Faitala-Mariner was able to get the ball to within eighteen metres of the try line.
The 35th minute saw Antioch Faitala-Mariner, from two passes to the right of the play the ball and from thirty three metres out from his own try line, was able to get the ball to within five metres of the halfway mark before getting an off-load away to his left.
Antioch Faitala-Mariner then started at left centre in Round Fifteen against the Ipswich Jets with Antioch Faitala-Mariner scoring the first of his two tries in the 9th minute by way of a ninety metre intercept to race away and put the ball down under the goal posts.
Antioch Faitala-Mariner completed his double in the 45th minute when after receiving a cut-out pass from his inside Antioch Faitala-Mariner had a twelve metre run down the left touchline to put the ball down in the left corner.
Antioch Faitala-Mariner also recorded a try assist in the 61st minute when after making a line break down the left touchline from forty metres out, Antioch Faitala-Mariner drew the Ipswich fullback and passed inside to his right to Lachlan West to score wide out on the left.
Antioch Faitala-Mariner also made a good run in the 23rd minute from the left of the play the ball to get the ball from twenty one metres out from his own try line to thirty seven metres out.
Antioch Faitala-Mariner also did well in the 20th minute when after chasing through a Tigers bomb Antioch Faitala-Mariner grabbed hold of the Jets fullback just in the field of play and dragged back into the in-goal to force an Ipswich goal line drop-out.
The 30th minute saw Antioch Faitala-Mariner make a big front on tackle on the Jets right centre on the try line to prevent a Jets try with Antioch Faitala-Mariner able to force his opponent a metre backwards after he had stopped his momentum.
Antioch Faitala-Mariner also started at left centre in the Preliminary Final against the Redcliffe Dolphins and the Grand Final against the Townsville Blackhawks.
In late 2022 Antioch Faitala-Mariner was named in the 2023 Easts Tigers Hastings Deering’s Colts squad and Antioch Faitala-Mariner is also Colts eligible in 2024 after playing a number of matches in the Colts competition for the Tigers in 2022 whilst he was still U18 eligible.

In late January 2022 Antioch Faitala-Mariner started from the bench for the Titans U18 side in a match at Pizzey Park against the Burleigh MM Cup side.

In late July 2022 Antioch Faitala-Mariner started at right centre for the U19 Future Titans Squad that played a North Queensland Cowboys U19 squad at Cbus Stadium as a curtain-raiser to the Round Twenty NRL match between the Titans and the Canberra Raiders.

In mid-December 2021 Antioch Faitala-Mariner was one of the Titans JTS Program players that took part in a joint training session with the Titans NRL squad.

In October 2021 Antioch Faitala-Mariner was named in the 2022 Easts Tigers U18 MM Cup squad for the second season in a row.

Antioch Faitala-Mariner’s first match for the East Tigers MM Cup side in 2022 was in late January 2022 when Antioch Faitala-Mariner was part of the Tigers squad that went down 32 – 16 to a Melbourne Storm Development Squad.

After missing the opening two rounds of the 2022 MM Cup season, Antioch Faitala-Mariner started at left centre for the Tigers in Round Three against the Redcliffe Dolphins and came close to scoring in the first half when he charged onto the ball from ten metres out but Antioch Faitala-Mariner was stopped just centremetres short of the line in the left corner.

Antioch Faitala-Mariner was named to continue at left centre in Round Four against the Tweed Heads Seagulls however a late change saw Antioch Faitala-Mariner drop back to be the Tigers 18th man.

Antioch Faitala-Mariner was also named to start at left centre in Round Five against the Souths Logan Magpies and Antioch Faitala-Mariner’s performance was more than good enough to be named in the centres in the Courier Mail MM Cup Round Five Team of the Week.

Antioch Faitala-Mariner then continued at left centre in Round Six against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls as well as in the rescheduled Round One match against the Burleigh Bears.

Antioch Faitala-Mariner scored what I can only describe as an “odd” try against the Bears in the 34th minute. Antioch Faitala-Mariner was chasing a kick into the left corner when the Burleigh winger tries to trap the ball with his foot but the ball came off his leg way too hard and rebounded back to the Tigers left second rower who then flicked the ball to his left to an unmarked Antioch Faitala-Mariner who was able to cruise around eight metres. Just prior to the try line the Burleigh fullback was able to get to Antioch Faitala-Mariner and hold him around the legs and it seemed like it was in slow motion that Antioch Faitala-Mariner fell over the line to score just metres in from the left corner post.

Antioch Faitala-Mariner made his Hastings Deering’s Colts debut for the Easts Tigers in Round Seventeen of the 2022 season when Antioch Faitala-Mariner started on the right wing against the Tweed Heads Seagulls.

Week One of the 2022 Hastings Deering’s Colts Final saw Antioch Faitala-Mariner also start on the right wing in the Elimination Final against the Tweed Heads Seagulls once again.

In late April 2022 Antioch Faitala-Mariner was named in the 2022 Queensland Rugby League U18 Emerging Origin Squad.

Also in 2022 Antioch Faitala-Mariner played a number of matches for the Carina Tigers in the Brisbane Rugby League Premier U20 competition including starting the Grand Final against the Brighton Roosters at right centre.

In January 2021 Antioch Faitala-Mariner started at right centre for the Titans U17 side in their annual match at Coffs Harbour against the Newcastle Knights with Antioch Faitala-Mariner having the opportunity to showcase his blazing speed on a number of occasions with the Titans deserved 32 – 20 victory.

In 2021 Antioch Faitala-Mariner was part of the Easts Tigers U18 Mal Meninga squad and started on the wing in their 26 – 12 trial victory over the Ipswich Jets.

In Round One of the 2021 MM Cup against the Redcliffe Dolphins, Antioch Faitala-Mariner moved to fullback and also started at fullback in Round Two against the Norths Devils and in Round Three against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls.

Antioch Faitala-Mariner was also named to start at fullback in Round Four against the Redcliffe Dolphins but in fact started the match in the centres and also started in the centres in Round Five against the Norths Devils scoring his first try of the 2021 MM Cup season in the Tigers 26 all draw.

Round Six being the final regular season round of the 2021 MM Cup competition saw Antioch Faitala-Mariner line up in the centres against Wynnum Manly.

In November 2020 Antioch Faitala-Mariner was named in the Easts Tigers 2021 MM Cup squad and he will also be MM Cup eligible in 2022.

The explosive winger was part of a Titans U15 side that played against another Titans U15 side and a Western Mustangs U15 selection at Mudgeeraba in February 2019 in a round robin set of matches and subsequent to those matches signed a contract linking the winger to the Titans until the end of the 2021 season.
In January 2020 Antioch Faitala-Mariner was part of the Titans U16 side that played and defeated a Newcastle Knights U16 Harold Matthews side in Coffs Harbour 18 – 14 in an outstanding display by the Titans.
In early 2020 Antioch Faitala-Mariner was selected in the Brisbane Stingers U16 trial squad for the U16 South East Queensland pre-season Challenge after some impressive early season performances unfortunately however the competition was cancelled as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic in the week leading up to the commencement of the competition.

Also in 2020 Antioch Faitala-Mariner was part of the Brisbane State High School GPS school boy First XV side starting round One at outside centre (No. 13) against TSS, starting there as well in round Two against Gregory Terrace and for that matter for the remainder of the season.

In 2020 Antioch Faitala-Mariner was also a member of the Brisbane State High School’s Athletics squad that participated the 2020 GPS Athletics Carnival. At the carnival Antioch Faitala-Mariner represented Brisbane State High School in three track events.

Antioch Faitala-Mariner ran 12.07 seconds in the 100 metre U16 sprint, ran the second leg in the U16 4 x 100 metre relay with Brisbane State High School recording a time of 45.31 seconds and ran the final leg of the Brisbane State High School 4 x 400 metres relay team that finished 4th in a time of 3 minutes 59.01 seconds.

In early October 2019 Antioch Faitala-Mariner was part of the Titans U15 side that played a Balmain Tigers U15 side at Piggabeen in Northern New South Wales with the Titans winning 34 – 16 in impressive fashion with Antioch Faitala-Mariner starting on the right wing for the Titans and coring an impressive individual try. From a Titans scrum win around thirty metres out, Antioch Faitala-Mariner received the ball to the left of the scrum win, stepping off his left foot to beat the initial defender before beating the Balmain fullback with an effortlessly quick swerve to his left to score essentially untouched.

The powerful young winger hails from the Easts Tigers club in Brisbane’s East and played one match for the GBJRL U15 Division One Tigers side in 2019 before moving up to play the remainder of the 2019 season with the Tigers in the GBJRL U16 Division One side scoring two tries in his thirteen matches in that competition.

To be selected to move up to the U16 Division One side is a real feather in Antioch Faitala-Mariner’s cap as the U15 Division One side went all the way to the Grand Final but the Easts Tigers hierarchy identified that he could handle the step up in age and they were proved correct with their assessment over the course of the 2019 season.

Antioch Faitala-Mariner also played rugby in 2019, playing for Brisbane State High School in the GPS U15A competition and was also selected in the Queensland Maroon side for the 2019 Queensland Junior U15 Gold Cup competition.

Antioch Faitala-Mariner played for the Easts Tigers in the 2018 GBJRL U14 Premier Division competition in 2018 including starting in the Grand Final that Easts won 26 – 20 against a Norths Devils side that included fellow Titan contracted U15 player, centre Shannon Subritzky-Stewart.

In 2018 Antioch Faitala-Mariner was also part of the South East Queensland Green U14 side that took part of the Queensland U14 Age Championships and started on the wing in the final that ended in a 16 all draw against South East Queensland White. In total for the 2018 South East Queensland U14 Green side, Antioch Faitala-Mariner played in all four of their matches starting all of them on the wing.

In rugby Antioch Faitala-Mariner represented Met East in the Queensland U12 Rugby Championships in 2016 and was named as their player of the match against Sunshine Coast on Day Two of those Championships.

Plus plus straight line speed with outstanding balance and body control are the primary attributes that Antioch Faitala-Mariner possesses on a football field. It would be extremely unfair to purely put Antioch Faitala-Mariner’s success down to purely his speed, he is also has a very good in and away with a solid right fend.

One thing that Antioch Faitala-Mariner also does well is change the axis of the attack just prior to receiving the ball, when at full speed Antioch Faitala-Mariner would adjust the angle of his run immediately prior to receiving the ball and target the gap between his opposition winger and the outside centre and with his speed Antioch Faitala-Mariner was regularly able to explode through the resultant gap. When returning kicks Antioch Faitala-Mariner hunts across field before cutting back and looking to exploit a fractured defensive line with speed and power.

Regardless of where he receives the ball Antioch Faitala-Mariner is an exceptional attacking player. If he gets an off load from a forward through the middle he is through the gap before the defence can react, if he gets the ball in space out wide he is make it very difficult for the opposing defender to get a clean shot at him and if Antioch Faitala-Mariner gets the ball from a kick, if the defensive line is not straight in the chase he can make significant ground both before and after contact.

Seemingly like all modern day outside backs Antioch Faitala-Mariner has exceptional balance, spacial awareness and body control enabling him to score some amazing tries along the touchline with for all intent sand purposes the only part of his body in the field up play is the hand that he uses to put the ball down.

With his speed off the mark and elusiveness Antioch Faitala-Mariner should also be very productive running out of dummy half where he can gain immediate separation from the marks with his speed and then gain momentum with his power and make ground as a result through the centre of the ruck, especially when brining the ball out of his own territory.

Defensively Antioch Faitala-Mariner 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. Other defenders keyed off him in terms of whether to use an up and in methodology and slide to the outside.

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

Antioch Faitala-Mariner was going to be HDC eligible in 2024 but with the demise of that competition in 2024 Antioch Faitala-Mariner’s path to the NRL will likely start in either the Gold Coast or Brisbane Rugby League U20 competitions before moving onto first grade in either of those competitions before potentially Antioch Faitala-Mariner moves up to the Queensland Cup and hopefully the NRL with the Gold Coast Titans.

With his speed and try scoring ability Antioch Faitala-Mariner seems destined to be an outstanding rugby league centre (more likely) or winger who has the potential to be an NRL regular reasonably quickly and potentially a representative level one as well if things break his way.

In many respects potentially the best NRL player comparison for Antioch Faitala-Mariner is the Titans own centre or winger and former Queensland State of Origin winger Phillip Sami. Like Sami, Antioch Faitala-Mariner is an exciting ball runner who should also be a prolific try scorer at the NRL level including multiple exciting spectacular and long range ones as well as being an outstanding kick returner and under rated defender on the wing or in the centres.

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

In early 2023 Jury Taewa was named in the Met East School Boy Open Representative side with Jury Taewa starting in the front row on Day One against South West with Jury Taewa taking the opening hit-up of the match and was able to get the ball twenty five metres away from his own try line.

Then in the 11th minute Jury Taewa put on a huge hit on one of the South West front rowers near the halfway mark to stop his opposite on the spot.

Jury Taewa then started from the bench on Day Two against South Coast.

Jury Taewa also started from the bench on Day Three against Met West with Jury Taewa coming onto the field to operate in the front row in the 11th minute with Jury Taewa making a strong hit-up from a penalty tap restart in the 36th minute from thirty metres out to get the ball to within twelve metres of the try line.

Jury Taewa continued off the bench on Day Four against Met West and after coming onto the field to operate in the front row in the 9th minute Jury Taewa scored in the 14th minute with an eight metre charge to the left of the play the ball with Jury Taewa being spun around so that his back was towards the try line but Jury Taewa then was able to twist around and get the ball down six metres to the left of the uprights.

2023 saw Jury Taewa move from PBC SHS to Marsden SHS with Jury Taewa starting Round One of the 2023 School Boy Langer competition off the bench against his former school.

Jury Taewa was also named on the bench for Round Two against Keebra Park SHS with the match played at Cbus Stadium as a curtain-raiser to the Titans Round Fifteen NRL match against the Wests Tigers with Jury Taewa coming onto the field in the 11th minute to play in the front row and just two minutes later in the 13th minute Jury Taewa charged onto the ball to the right of the play the ball with Jury Taewa making twenty metres to get the ball within sixteen metres of the try line.

Jury Taewa then moved into the starting side in the front row in Round Three against Caloundra SHS with Jury Taewa making the first hit-up of the match to twenty five metres out from the try line after a ten metre run.

Jury Taewa also started in the front row in Round Four against Wavell SHS with Jury Taewa involved in the opening tackle of the match that saw the Wavell SHS front rower grabbed by multiple Marsden SHS players, including Jury Taewa and being force back eight metres to three metres from his own try line in front of the goal posts.

Jury Taewa also made a strong tackle in the 46th minute with a crunching tackle in the Wavell SHS hooker on the try line and ten metres in from the right touchline with Jury Taewa’s heavy tackle over the top forcing a knock on.

Jury Taewa also made a strong kick-off return in the 44th minute to get the ball out to the twenty six metre mark.

Jury Taewa then continued in the front row in Round Five against Redcliffe SHS which was played at Dolphin Oval as an NRL curtain raiser in a match between the Dolphins and Penrith with Jury Taewa making a strong kick-off return in the 53rd minute to get the ball out to the twenty three metre mark.

Jury Taewa then came off the bench in the Round Six Logan derby against Mabel Park SHS with Jury Taewa coming onto the field in the 18th minute to play in the front row with Jury Taewa almost immediately making his first run from a goal line drop-out return to bring the ball back to within twenty six metres of the try line in the centre of the field.

The 23rd minute then saw Jury Taewa take another hit from two passes to the right of the dummy half making twelve metres to get the ball to within eleven metres of the try line directly in front of the posts.

Unfortunately Jury Taewa’s match was cut short just before halftime when after a huge collision between Alex Leapai and Jury Taewa both player were taken to hospital and the match abandoned. Fortunately both players subsequently received the all clear.

Jury Taewa was then named on the bench for the Semi-final against PBC SHS with Jury Taewa coming onto the field to operate in the front row in the 16th minute.

In early December 2022 Jury Taewa took part in a joint training session between the Titans JTS contracted players and the Titans NRL off-season training squad.

In late September 2022 Jury Taewa was named in the powerful 2023 Burleigh Bears U18 MM Cup squad with Jury Taewa being part of the Bears squad for their first trial against the Souths Logan Magpies at Burleigh Juniors as part of the Titans Annual Super Saturday.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

In 2024 Jury Taewa will transition to the Hastings Deering’s Colts competition most likely with the Burleigh Bears or Tweed Heads Seagulls with Jury Taewa having multiple years of Colts eligibility commencing in 2024.

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

From a player comparison perspective for Jury Taewa, someone with a similar playing style that could be used for a comparison perspective would be former Manly Sea Eagles, Sydney Roosters and Brisbane Bronco’s front rower Matthew Lodge as a strong hard running, hard tackling aggressive and effective front rower.

[mdrew]

Junior Filimaua. The Helensvale Hornets junior signed with the Titans mid-way through the 2023 season.

Junior Filimaua started the 2023 season as part of the Tweed Heads Seagulls MM Cup squad, and after Tweed Heads had a Round One Bye, Junior Filimaua started from the bench in Round Two against the Brisbane Tigers. Junior Filimaua also started from the bench in the Seagulls five other 2023 MM Cup matches.

Post the MM Cup competition Junior Filimaua played for the Helensvale Hornets in the 2023 Gold Coast Rugby League U18 Division One competition with Junior Filimaua starting at right second row in Round One against the Currumbin Eagles with Junior Filimaua scoring in the 5th minute of the match when he chased through an attacking grubber kick from his inside with Junior Filimaua grounding the ball in the in-goal eight metres to the right of the uprights.

Junior Filimaua scored once again in Round Three against the Burleigh Bears with Junior Filimaua charging onto the ball from four metres out and to the left of the play the ball with Junior Filimaua hitting the defenders and spinning clockwise to get the ball down under the posts.

Junior Filimaua then scored a double in Round Four against the Coomera Cutters with Junior Filimaua scoring the first of his two tries in the 43rd minute when after picking up a pass on the bounce to the right of the play the ball and four metres from the try line, Junior Filimaua charged at the try line and after being spun onto his back Junior Filimaua was able to put the ball down in his left arm to score next to the right upright.

Junior Filimaua completed his double in the 47th minute when after backing up a Hornets line break down the right side of the field, Junior Filimaua received an off-load from his right and had a twenty metre run to put the ball down under the posts.

Round Nine against the Coomera Cutters saw Junior Filimaua recorded a try assist in the 60th minute when Junior Filimaua ran the ball to the left of the play the ball with Junior Filimaua drawing in a number of defenders before getting a pass away to his left as Junior Filimaua was going to ground for his left centre to score in the corner.

Junior Filimaua also recorded a line break assist in the 7th minute when after charging down the left channel from his own territory Junior Filimaua got an off-load away to his left for his left centre to race away down the left touchline with the same player scoring after a number of passes further down the field.

Junior Filimaua continued at left second row in Round Twelve against the Southport Tigers with Junior Filimaua making the second hit-up of the match to the left of the dummy half to get the ball thirty two metres away from his own try line.

Junior Filimaua followed up with another strong run in the 6th minute from a Helensvale penalty tap restart from thirty six metres out to get the ball to within nineteen metres of the try line. Then in the 13th minute from the right of the play the ball twenty five metres out from his try line, Junior Filimaua targeted the area behind the play the ball as he carried the ball to within ten metres of the halfway mark.

Junior Filimaua also made a strong run down the left channel in the 29th minute and after commencing his run thirty metres out, Junior Filimaua ran straight over the top of one defender to get the ball to eighteen metres from the try line.

Junior Filimaua started at right second row in the Week One Elimination Final against the Coomera Cutters with Junior Filimaua scoring a great solo try in the 47th minute when after picking up a pass in the first bounce from his right in the centre of the field twenty two metres from the try line, Junior Filimaua ran to his right before stepping off right foot bursting between two defenders with Junior Filimaua breaking an attempted jersey tackle with Junior Filimaua comfortably pushing past another defender to score seven metres to the right of the goal posts.

Junior Filimaua made the fourth hit-up of the match to get the ball from his own twenty two metre mark out to the thirty four metre mark.

In the 5th minute from a Helensvale penalty restart Junior Filimaua carried the ball from forty two metres from the try line to within twenty nine metres. Then in the 9th minute from the left of the play the ball the speed of Junior Filimaua’s run saw him catch the Cutters defensive line off-side after running the ball from six metres out from his own try line to thirteen metres out before the penalty was awarded.

Also in the 14th minute from the right of the play the ball Junior Filimaua was able to promote the ball from fifteen metres out from his own try line to twenty eight metres out. Junior Filimaua, in the 23rd minute ran onto a pass to the left of the dummy half and was able to promote the ball from twenty nine metres out from his own try line to the halfway mark.

Junior Filimaua followed up with another run to the left of the play the ball to get the ball within eighteen metres of the try line after commencing his run thirty one metres out with Junior Filimaua then awarded a penalty for ruck interference after he was brought to ground by multiple Coomera defenders.

Junior Filimaua has some real speed when he runs the ball and impressively targets the area between defenders rather than trying to run over them. Junior Filimaua can also run a variety of running lines, including both an inside shoulder and outside shoulder route and also does some good work when he cuts back underneath one of his play makers to run an underneath route.

From a speed perspective Junior Filimaua in in the above average category with Junior Filimaua’s overall mobility being in the same category as his speed. Junior Filimaua also has the frame to also add muscle mass without impacting on his speed and mobility attributes.

In addition to his speed and line running Junior Filimaua also has a strong fend in his repertoire which he incorporates into almost every run that he takes in a match especially when Junior Filimaua runs wider of the play the ball.

From a defensive perspective Junior Filimaua is all about technique, technique and more technique. Junior Filimaua’s technique revolves around timing and execution. Junior Filimaua’s head is always correctly positioned and he always drives with his shoulder and never just jersey grabs. Junior Filimaua does not just make one tackle at a time, he makes a series of tackles one after another all as clinical and effective as the one immediately prior.

Junior Filimaua also tackles with both shoulders equally effectively as well. The impressive thing for me also is that Junior Filimaua never seems to bounce off the ball when he makes a front on tackle meaning his target area and the ability to hit the area on a regular basis is exceptional. This is no fluke in relation to Junior Filimaua, this is clearly as a result of an outstanding technique as well as determination and dedication to his craft.

2024 will see Junior Filimaua MM Cup eligible once again with Junior Filimaua set to be a key member of the Tweed Heads Seagulls MM Cup squad and with the age change for the MM Cup Junior Filimaua will also be MM Cup eligible in 2025. Junior Filimaua will also line -up once again for the Helensvale Hornets in the GCRL U18 Division One competition.

Junior Filimaua’s ultimate position on a rugby league field looks set to be in the second row with his ability to run good attacking lines wide of the ruck.

Penrith Panthers, New South Wales State of Origin and Australian International second rower Liam Martin I think is a very good player comparison for Junior Filimaua. Both Martin and Junior Filimaua may be thought of as undersized for an NRL second rower but both are very good ball runners who run at holes in a defensive line rather than trying to run over opponents. Also both Martin and Junior Filimaua are very good defenders who will have a high tackling efficiency and both can and will hit very hard in the tackle when the opportunity presents.

[mdrew]

Grange Womal. The Brothers Mackay halfback prospect signed with the Titans midway through the 2023 Mackay Junior Rugby League U15 season.
Grange Womal captained the Mackay Brothers side from the halfback position to an unbeaten season including starting the Grand Final against the Moranbah Miners and Major Semi-final against Sarina at halfback.
Grange Womal, over the course of the 2023 season scoring sixty four points from six tries and twenty conversions. Grange Womal scored doubles in Round Three against Sarina and Round Twelve against the Brahmans.
From a goal kicking perspective Grange Womal kicked six conversions in Round Twelve against the Brahmans in a match that saw Grange Womal finish with an individual points tally of twenty points (two tries as well) and five conversions in Round Fourteen against Magpies. Grange Womal also kicked three conversions in Round Six against Norths and Round Seven against Wests.
At the Mackay Brothers 2023 Awards Presentation Grange Womal was named the 2023 Mackay Brothers junior rugby league player with the most potential.
In 2022 Grange Womal played for Toowoomba Brothers Blue in the Mackay U14 competition, finishing the season with forty points from three tries and fourteen conversions, with the most conversions that Grange Womal kicked in a single match being four, which occurred on three separate occasions.
Grange Womal scored in Rounds Four, Ten and Twelve against Wests, Brothers White and Wanderers respectively.
Grange Womal’s calling card from an attacking perspective is his passing and game management abilities. In terms of his running game, Grange Womal is not going to be known as someone that is going to beat a defender with speed, but Grange Womal does very good foot work that he uses to good effect in tight spaces or when the opposing defensive line is fractured.

Grange Womal has a very good step off both feet and can put together combinations of steps over a short distance to break free of situations where he is seemingly surrounded by defenders. Also maybe it’s only me, but Grange Womal seemed to rarely take a big hit when running through the centre of the ruck due to his elite footwork.

Going back to his speed briefly, as noted Grange Womal is not overly quick, but he does have some reasonable speed off the mark, which is complemented by the fact that he runs at the right moment, for example when he is drifting across field he will dummy and run when defenders anticipate the pass rather than focussing on him running the ball. Grange Womal’s running skills compliment his ability to put runners into holes rather than the other way around.

Grange Womal’s kicking game is very accurate, and even though he is not a big player he can generate very good distance on his kicks whilst at the same time not losing any accuracy, thus Grange Womal finds the ground for a lot of his kicks. Grange Womal can also kick pin point bombs, allowing plenty of time for his chasers to get to the ball as it is coming down close to the try line.

Grange Womal is also a more than decent goal kicker but I have not seen enough of him in a goal kicking sense to have a firm opinion either wat as to whether Grange Womal can be a front line goal kicker for his side moving forward.

Defensively Grange Womal tackles well low and that is seemingly his main tactic against wide running forwards rather than trying to tackle them ball and all and potentially being bumped off. Grange Womal’s quick feet and sense of timing and anticipation enable him to see plays developing in front of him quickly and Grange Womal is able to adjust and look to shut down the attacking play prior to it fully developing. In short, Grange Womal is quite a solid defender in the half or five eight position.
Grange Womal will play the ball 2024 season with Mackay Brothers in the Mackay Junior Rugby League U16 competition.
Grange Womal has played all of his junior rugby league at halfback and with his organisational skills and infectious enthusiasm Grange Womal will surely continue at halfback for the duration of his rugby league career.
With his ability to size up what is going on around him and subsequently seemingly always taking the right option whether that is to run, pass or kick, Grange Womal has a playing style similar to Melbourne Storm and New Zealand International halfback and former Titan Jahrome Hughes. Both Hughes and Grange Womal seem to be everywhere on the field in an attacking sense and invariably both are at the centre of all of the good attacking moments of their respective teams.

[Titanic]

Shout out and thank you to mdrew for the countless hours he puts into compiling the various threads and answering questions throughout the season … very much appreciated you good thing!!!

[mdrew]

Roy Tatupu. In late September 2023 Roy Tatupu was named in the 2024 Burleigh Bears U19 Mal Meninga Cup squad.

Roy Tatupu will move over from Auckland New Zealand where in both 2022 and 2023 Roy Tatupu played for the Mt Albert Grammar School (MAGS) School Boy Rugby First XV with Roy Tatupu playing fullback for MAGS with Roy Tatupu also the regular goal kicker.

In 2022 at just 17 years old Roy Tatupu played fullback for the Auckland Rugby U18 representative side and also in 2022 Roy Tatupu was selected in the Auckland Blues Super Rugby U18 Development Squad.

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

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

Roy Tatupu also has exceptional hands when defending against kicks especially when low short attacking kicks are put in, Roy Tatupu attacks the ball at full speed aiming to get there prior to the arrival of the attacks and look to make ground while the opposition are still in an attacking mode. On more than a few occasions for the Mount Albert Grammar School First XV in 2022 and 2023 Roy Tatupu made at least 30 metres or so after retrieving the ball in the in goal area and similarly gets back into the field of play from seemingly impossible positions.

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

2024 will see Roy Tatupu start the season with the Burleigh Bears U19 MM Cup squad.

Roy Tatupu played School Boy First XV and U18 representative rugby at fullback in New Zealand and I would think that fullback is also Roy Tatupu’s best position in rugby league.

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

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

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

[Whats Doing]

MDrew,

Is Roy Tatupu contracted to anyone and if not should the Titans move quickly

[mdrew]

MDrew,

Is Roy Tatupu contracted to anyone and if not should the Titans move quickly

I don't believe that he is contracted at the moment, but he is certainly one to watch early next year, being a part of the Auckland Blue Super Rugby set up as a 17 year is no mean feat.

[mdrew]

Zac Kumbamong. In late February 2023 Zac Kumbamong signed a two year contract with the Titans that will take him up to the end of the 2024 season.

In January 2023 Zac Kumbamong started frontt the bench for the Titans U17 side in their annual match at Coffs Harbour against the Newcastle Knights with Zac Kumbamong scoring for the Titans after coming onto the field mid-way through the first half.

In the 45th minute received an off-load from his right from Nayte Saaga just five metres out from the try line with Zac Kumbamong able to shrug off two defenders to dive over to score next to the left upright. Zac Kumbamong was in fact the reason why the Titans were in such a good attacking position as the play before him scoring saw Zac Kumbamong make a twelve metre surge through the centre of the field to within eight metres of the try line and then after he had played the ball Zac Kumbamong stayed alaert to take the pass from Nayte Saaga and crash over to score. Zac Kumbamong then made a great charge from the Knights kick-off from his own try.

Zac Kumbamong also started from the bench a week later for the Titans U17’s against the Brisbane Bronco’s U17’s on the Gold Coast with Zac Kumbamong coming onto the field mid-way through the opening half and working hard in both attack and defence.

In early March 2023 Zac Kumbamong was named in the South Coast School Boy Rugby League Open Representative side for the 2023 QSSRL Championships with Zac Kumbamong coming off the bench on Day One of the Championships against Capricornia with Zac Kumbamong coming onto the field to play in the front row in the 19th minute and almost immediately Zac Kumbamong made a strong run making twelve metres from the left of the play the ball to ten metres inside Capricornia territory.

Zac Kumbamong also started from the bench on Day Two against Met East with Zac Kumbamong playing in the front row after coming onto the field in the 20th minute with Zac kumbamong making a try saving tackle in the 43rd minute on the Met East hooker who had tried to get over the try line after running out of dummy half to his left but Zac Kumbamong was able to stop him short of the try line and directly in front of the posts.

Zac Kumbamong also started from the bench on Day Three against Sunshine Coast with Zac Kumbamong lining up in the front row after coming off the bench in the 9th minute.

Zac Kumbamong then started on the bench in the 2023 QSSRL Open School Boy Grand Final against Capricornia with Zac Kumbamong playing in the front row after coming onto the field in the 11th minute.

Zac Kumbamong came close to scoring under the posts in the 12th minute but after a twelve metre charge to the right of the play the ball Zac Kumbaomg was held up over the try line by multiple defenders.

Zac Kumbamong then made a strong run in the 25th minute from forty metres out from the try line to twenty eight metres out after running onto the ball to the right of the play the ball. Then in the 46th minute from the right of the play the ball once again Zac Kumbamong carried the ball from five metres inside Capricornia territory to twenty six metres from the try lien with 60% of the metres post contact.

Round One of the 2023 School Boy Langer Cup competition saw Zac Kumbamong named in the front row for Keebra Park SHS against Ipswich SHS with Zac Kumbamong taking the second hit-up of the match from the right of the play the ball.

Zac Kumbamong was also named in the front row for Round Two against Marsden SHS with the match played at Cbus Stadium as a curtain-raiser to the Titans Round Fifteen NRL match against the Wests Tigers with Zac Kumbamong making a good run in the 6th minute making eleven metres within two metres of the halfway mark from the right of the play the ball.

In the 45th minute Zac Kumbamong carried the ball from fourteen metres out from try line within two metres of the try line from a Keebra Park SHS penalty tap restart and after being awarded a penalty at the end of his run, Zac Kumbamong took the hit-up from the penalty that he was awarded.

Zac Kumbamong continued in the front row in Round Three against Redcliffe SHS with Zac Kumbamong making a strong hi-up in the 10th minute when from the right of the play the ball and two passes to the right of the play the ball Zac Kumbamong charged at the defensive line and carried the ball from twenty six metres to within eleven metres of the try line breaking three tackles and with 70% of the metres being post contact.

Zac Kumbamong then started at right second row in Round Four against Caloundra SHS with Zac Kumbamong making a twelve metre run down the right channel in the 9th minute that came to a conclusion eighteen metres out from the try line after Zac Kumbamong had broken two tackles.

Zac Kumbamong made a further strong run in the 36th minute from the left of the play the ball with Zac Kumbamong making fourteen metres from forty two metres out from the try line to twenty eight metres out. Zac Kumbamong then executed a quick play the ball that allowed Isaiah F@galilo to make significant metres out of dummy half.

Zac Kumbamong was also named at right second row in Round Five against Wavell SHS with Zac Kumbamong making a strong run from a Keebra Park SHS penalty tap restart with Zac Kumbamong getting the ball from thirty two metres out from the try line to eighteen metres out.

Zac Kumbamong also started at right second row in the Round Six Gold Coast derby against PBC SHS and in the 32nd minute from the right of the dummy half Zac Kumbamong was able to get the ball to within three metres of the halfway mark after starting his run from thirty six metres out from his own try line.

Zac Kumbamong also made a good run in the 41st minute and after running onto the ball to the left of the play the ball Zac Kumbamong was able to carry the ball from thirty seen metres out from his own try line to the halfway mark.

Zac Kumbamong then moved to the bench in Round Seven against Mabel Park SHS with Zac Kumbamong coming onto the field to operate in the front row in the 19th minute and in the 27th minute on the right of the play the ball Zac Kumbamong ran an underneath route from twenty four metres from the try line to get the ball to eight metres from the try line in the centre of the field.

The 23rd minute saw Zac Kumbamong make a crunching front on tackle on one of the Mabel Park SHS forwards, driving him back a number of metres to sixteen metres out and in the centre of the field.

After Keebra Park SHS finished fifth on the 2023 School Boy Rugby League Langer Cup table after the completion of the regular season, Zac Kumbamong started in the front row for Keebra Park SHS in their Quarter Final clash against PBC SHS with Zac Kumbamong making a good run in the 8th minute from the right of the dummy half to get the ball from the halfway mark to ten metres into PBC SHS territory, Unfortunately Zac Kumbamong suffered a leg injury a couple of minutes later and was not able to take any further part in the match.

In late September 2022 Zac Kumbamong was named in the powerful 2023 Burleigh Bears U18 Mal Meninga Cup Squad and Zac Kumbamong is also MM Cup eligible in 2024.

Zac Kumbamong started at left second row in the Bears third and final trial against the Brisbane Tigers with Zac Kumbamong scoring in the 12th minute when after receiving the ball from his right, Zac Kumbamong charged twelve metres to cross the try line wide out on the right with Zac Kumbamong then able to bring the ball around a further ten metres.

Zac Kumbamong was named to start at right second row in Round One of the 2023 U18 Mal Meninga Cup competition for the Bears against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls however a late change saw Zac Kumbamong start the match in the front row with Zac Kumbamong making a strong sixteen metre run in the 66th minute with around 75% of the metres made being post contact.

Zac Kumbamong them moved to start at left second row for Round Two against the Souths Logan Magpies with Zac Kumbamong making a strong front on tackle on the Souths Logan right second rower (No. 11) with the hit rocking the Magpies second rower backwards on his own twenty metre mark.

Zac Kumbamong made a strong run in the 30th minute from the right of the play the ball from thirty two metres out from the try line with Zac Kumbamong able to get the ball to the twenty metre mark with Zac Kumbamong then effecting a lightning quick play the ball.

In the 68th minute Zac Kumbamong made a further twelve metre charge down the left channel to get the ball within three metres of the halfway mark.

Zac Kumbamong then started in the front row in Round Six against the Redcliffe Dolphins with Zac Kumbamong along with Jack Schmidt making the opening tackle of the match.

The 17th minute saw Zac Kumbamong get a good off-load away to his hooker when five metres inside Redcliffe territory with Isaiah F@galilo able to make a fifteen metres line break as a result.

Zac Kumbamong also started in the front row in the Round Seven local derby against the Tweed Heads Seagulls with Zac Kumbamong making the opening tackle of the match along with Kanititeiti Sikahele.

Then in the 10th minute along with Sam McAlister, Zac Kumbamong saved a try when they were able to prevent the Tweed Heads hooker from forcing his way over from dummy half from close range and three metres to the right of the uprights.

The 2023 MM Cup season saw Zac Kumbamong average 19.5 tackles per match.

In early Arpil 2023 Zac Kumbamong was named in the Queensland Rugby League U17 Positional Skills Day squad.

Zac Kumbamong started at right second row for the Helensvale Hornets in Round Two of the GCRL U18 Division One competition against the Southport Tigers with Zac Kumbamong scoring in the 54th minute when after receiving the ball ten metres out wide out on the right, Zac Kumbamong stepped off his right foot to move away from the right touchline with Zac Kumbamong crashing through three defenders to get the ball down ten metres in from the right corner post.

Zac Kumbamong did well defensively in the 48th minute with a try saving tackle on the Tigers left second rower to hold the ball up over the try line.

Zac Kumbamong then moved to left second row in Round Three against the Burleigh Bears with Zac Kumbamong coming close to scoring for the second week in a row in the 15th minute only to be held up mid-way between the goal posts and corner post on the left side of the field after a six metre run.

Zac Kumbamong made a strong run in the 7th minute from a penalty tap restart with Zac Kumbamong running the ball from his own twenty metre mark and getting the ball thirty four metres away from the try line.

Then in the 10th minute Zac Kumbamong made fifteen metres down the left channel before getting a right arm off-load away to his left when twenty metres out from the try line.

Zac Kumbamong then started at right second row in Round Eight against the Burleigh Bears with Zac Kumbamong making his first strong run of the match inside the opening minute when from a Helensvale penalty tap restart Zac Kumbamong carried the ball from three metres inside his own territory to ten metres into Burleigh territory.

Then in the 14th minute from the left of the play the ball Zac Kumbamong was able to promote the ball from ten metres inside Burleigh territory to twenty six metres from the try line. Zac Kumbamong then made a further strong run in the 19th minute from twenty two metres from his own try line to thirty five metres out after running onto the ball to the left of the play the ball.

The 23rd minute then saw Zac Kumbamong get within six metres of the try line after running onto the ball to the left of the play the ball to the left of the play the ball from twenty seven metres out with at least 65% of the metres that Zac Kumbamong made being post contact with the Hornets defensive line.

Zac Kumbamong continued his strong match in the 33rd minute when from two passes to the right of a Hornets scrum win twenty eight metres from the try line Zac Kumbamong was able to get the ball to within fifteen metres of the try line.

Zac Kumbamong highlighted that he is prepared to be all of the little things foe his team in the 42nd minute when he chased through a kick from inside Helensvale territory and after the Bears fullback let the ball bounce, Zac Kumbamong jumped above multiple players from both teams to retrieve the ball around twenty metres from the try line.

Zac Kumbamong also made the tackle of the match in the 57th minute when he smashed the Bears halfback in a huge tackle eight metres from the Helensvale try line and directly in front of the goal posts.

Zac Kumbamong continued at right second row in Round Nine against the Coomera Cutters with Zac Kumbamong scoring a hat trick in a big Hornets victory.

Zac Kumbamong scored his first try in the 14th minute when after receiving the ball two passes to the right of the play the ball, Zac Kumbamong bumped off one defender immediately upon receipt of the ball with Zac Kumbamong bumping off another still eight metres short then Zac Kumbamong pushed between two more defenders to score under the posts.

Zac Kumbamong scored his second try in the 27th minute as a result of a ten metre run to the right of the play the ball with Zac Kumbamong crossing the try line wide out on the right side of the field with Zac Kumbamong then bringing the ball around to put it down adjacent to the right upright.

Zac Kumbamong completed his hat trick in the 44th minute when after moving into dummy half with the play the ball just centremetres from the try line Zac Kumbamong bullied his way over to score to the left of the play the ball with Zac Kumbamong getting the ball down seven metres in from the right corner post.

Zac Kumbamong also made a line break in the 29th minute when after the Cutters put in a short kick off to their left Zac Kumbamong took the kick-off on the full around sixteen metres from the halfway facing his own try line. Upon turning around Zac Kumbamong broke three tackles as he got over the halfway mark with Zac Kumbamong then stepping off his left foot to beat the Coomera fullback before getting a right arm off-load away to his left.

In just the 2nd minute of the match Zac Kumbamong made a strong run from a Helensvale penalty tap restart after kicking the ball out over the right touchline with Zac Kumbamong receiving the ball on the halfway mark and rumbling downfield to within twenty nine metres from the try line. Then from another penalty tap restart in the 14th minute Zac Kumbamong carried the ball from eight metres inside his own territory to seven metres inside Coomera territory.

Then in the 32nd minute Zac Kumbamong carried the ball from the left of the play the ball and twenty two metres out from his own try line to thirty six metres out.

Round Eleven against the Currumbin Eagles saw Zac Kumbamong put in a dominating display from the right second row position on his way to scoring two barnstorming tries.

Zac Kumbamong scored the first of his two tries in the 11th minute when from two passes to the right of the play the ball and ten metres from the try line Zac Kumbamong beat two defenders immediately upon receive of the ball and when he was still three metres from the try line Zac Kumbamong burst through two more defenders to get the ball down ten metres to the right of the uprights.

Zac Kumbamong completed his double in the 50th minute when from two passes to the right of the play the ball and fourteen metres out, Zac Kumbamong subtly stepped off his right foot to beat one defender with Zac Kumbamong then beating another with a right foot step and then bursting between two defenders to score under the posts.

The 8th minute saw Zac Kumbamong run onto the ball to the left of the play the ball from five metres inside his own half and get the ball ten metres inside Currumbin territory. Then in the 13th minute from the right of the play the ball Zac Kumbamong was able get the ball from twenty metres out from his own try line to thirty seven metres out with 65% of the metres that Zac Kumbamong made being post contact metres.

Zac Kumbamong also did well in the 47th minute when after Currumbin had charged down a Helensvale clearing kick deep inside Hornets territory, Zac Kumbamong was on hand to race back and pick up the ball twenty metres out from his own try line and running back towards it. After taking possession Zac Kumbamong ran to his right and got the ball to within eight metres of the halfway mark.

Zac Kumbamong continued at right second row in Round Twelve against the Southport Tigers and inside the opening minute of the match from a Helensvale penalty tap restart Zac Kumbamong carried the ball from ten metres inside Southport territory to within twenty three metres of the try line. Then in the 34th minute to the right of the play the ball and twenty metres out from the try line, Zac Kumbamong cut back inside on three occasions before being brought to ground three metres out and in front of the right upright.

The 38th minute from another Hornets penalty tap restart saw Zac Kumbamong charge onto the ball to metres inside Tigers territory and get the ball to thirty two metres from the try line. Then in the 51st minute from the right of the play the ball Zac Kumbamong threw off one defender before cutting back to his left to get within six metres of the try line.

Zac Kumbamong also played Oztag in 2023 with Zac Kumbamong named in the 2023 Queensland Schools Oztag Year Eleven Mixed All Stars School Merit Team.

The Keebra Park SHS front row or right second row started from the bench for a Titans U16 side in late September 2022 against a Sydney Roosters U16 side at Pizzey Park with Zac Kumbamong scoring under the posts after a determined run from twelve metres out and to the right of the uprights. Zac Kumbamong received the ball to the left of the play the ball and stepped off his right foot to crash over to score seven metres to the right of the goal posts at the car park end of Pizzey Park.

Zac Kumbamong’s try was one of eight that the Titans U16 JTS squad scored in their highly impressive 32 – 8 victory against the Roosters.

Zac Kumbamong was also part of the Titans U16 squad that defeated the Balmain Tigers 40 – 8 to win the annual Anthony Laffranchi Cup between the two teams in very convincing fashion in Northern New South Wales.

2022 also saw Zac Kumbamong play for the Helensvale Hornets in the GCRL U16 Division One competition including starting in the front row in the Hornets 32 – 22 Grand Final victory against the Burleigh Bears with Zac Kumbamong recording a try assist in the 54th minute when after receiving the ball on the left side of the field thirty five metres out from his own try line Zac Kumbamong charged through a big gap before using a left arm fend to get rid of the Burleigh right winger. Zac Kumbamong then when still forty metres out from the try line drew the Bears fullback before passing to his right to Disharne Tonihi who raced away to score under the posts.

Zac Kumbamong also made a try saving tackle in the match when in the 14th minute Zac Kumbamong when defending on his own try line got low and hit the Burleigh dummy half who had tried to sneak over from dummy half with Zac Kumbamong’s initial contact forcing the Bears player to knock the ball on with the try line in sight.

Zac Kumbamong also started in the front row in Helensvale’s 16 -12 Preliminary Final victory against the Southport Tigers as well as Week One of the Final’s against Burleigh White with Zac Kumbamong scoring against the Bears in the 24th minute when after he received an off-load around eight metres out from the try line Zac Kumbamong forced his way over to score ten metres in from the left corner post.

Zac Kumbamong also had a big late season Round Thirteen match against the Coomera Cutters with Zac Kumbamong scoring an impressive double.

Zac Kumbamong scored his opening try in the 32nd minute when from a Helensvale penalty tap restart fifteen metres out from the try line, Zac Kumbamong charged onto the ball crashing through three attempted tackles with Zac Kumbamong carrying two more defenders to crash over under the posts.

Zac Kumbamong scored his second try in the 58th minute when after Helensvale made a line break down the right touchline directly from a Coomera kick-off, Zac Kumbamong backed up on the inside with Zac Kumbamong receiving the off-load from his right twenty metres out with Zac Kumbamong carrying a Cutters defender ten metres to score ten metres to the right of the uprights.

Zac Kumbamong also scored in Round Five against the Southport Tigers in the 38th minute when after receiving an off-load twelve metres out from the try line, Zac Kumbamong surged forward to crash over eight metres in from the left corner post.

Also in 2022 Zac Kumbamong started at right second row in all of Keebra Park SHS’s Walters Cup matches at right second row including Keebra Park SHS’s 2022 Walters Cup School Boy Grand Final victory over Marsden SHS.

Zac Kumbamong’s only try of his 2022 School Boy season came in the 27th minute of Round Two against Forest Lake SHS when Zac Kumbamong received a cut-out pass from his inside from Ryder Williams with Zac Kumbamong having an easy uninterrupted twelve metre run to the try line to put the ball down ten metres in from the right corner post.

Zac Kumbamong also started at right second row in the inaugural Queensland School Boys Year Ten Championship Final against Kirwan SHS with Zac Kumbamong doing well in the 9th minute when he was able to collect a bouncing Kirwan SHS kick-off with Zac Kumbamong forced to tip toe along the sideline with Zac Kumbamong able to get the ball thirty metres away from his own try line.

Perhaps Zac Kumbamong’s best run of the match came in the 29th minute when from a Keebra Park SHS penalty restart twenty metres out and in the centre of the field, Zac Kumbamong ran to his right and broke three tackles to get the ball within five metres of the try line with Zac Kumbamong being awarded a penalty for being held down too long. Zac Kumbamong then charged onto the ball from then penalty restart to get within two metres of the try line.

Zac Kumbamong started the 2022 season off as part of the Burleigh Bears U16 Cyril Connell Cup competition coming off the bench in Round Three against the Norths Devils as well as in Round Four against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls.

In October 2022 Zac Kumbamong was named co-captain of the PNG U16 QPICC squad starting all five of PNG’s matches at the Carnival at right second row including their tough Grand Final loss to Samoa. Zac Kumbamong scored in Round Two against Queensland Tonga in a tight two point 10 – 8 victory for PNG.

At the completion of the QPICC Carnival Zac Kumbamong was named Queensland PNG’s Best U16 Player at the Carnival.

Zac Kumbamong also played Oztag in 2022 as part of the Coomera Chiefs U16 side that played in the 2022 Queensland Junior State Cup.

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

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

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

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

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

2024 will see Zac Kumbamong return to Keebra Park SHS with Zac Kumbamong looming to be a key member of the Keebra Park SHS Langer Cup Open A School Boy side. Zac Kumbamong will also playing in the 2024 MM Cup competition with Zac Kumbamong moving from Burleigh to the Tweed Heads Seagulls. Zac Kumbamong is also MM Cup eligible in 2025.

From a club perspective in 2024 Zac Kumbamong will continue to line up for the Helensvale Hornets in the Gold Coast Rugby League U18 Division One competition.

Zac Kumbamong was outstanding in the front row for the Helensvale Hornets in the GCRL U16 Division One competition in 2022 and was equally effective at right second row for Keebra Park SHS in 2022 in the Walters Cup, but ultimately with his late foot work, speed and low centre of gravity, I believe that Zac Kumbamong’s best position moving forward will be in the front row even though Zac Kumbamong will almost certainly continue to play in the second row for the next couple of seasons.

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

Also both Fotuaika and Zac Kumbamong are extremely hard workers, unassuming and dedicated to being the best that they can be, both on and off the field.

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Ezrah Tangianu. The young man from the Melton Bronco’s in the Victorian Junior Rugby League competition joins the Keebra Park SHS Elite Rugby League Excellence Program in 2023.

Round One of the 2023 School Boy Renouf Cup competition saw Ezrah Tangianu start at five eight for Keebra Park SHS against Wavell SHS. Ezrah Tangianu also started at five eight in Round Two against Ipswich SHS.

In Round Three against Marsden SHS Ezrah Tangianu recording a try assist in the 5th minute when from the left of the play the ball, Ezrah Tangianu threw a hard flat pass to his left from eight metres out to put his left centre, Ike Billish over to score ten metres in from the left corner post.

Ezrah Tangianu continued at five eight in Round Four against Redcliffe SHS with Ezrah Tangianu kicking two conversions from as many attempts.

Ezrah Tangianu also recorded a try assist in the 12th minute when from the left of the play the ball around twenty metres out Ezrah Tangianu put in a right foot kick back to the right side of the ruck with his right second rower racing through to collect the ball on the second bounce to score four metres to the right of the uprights.

Ezrah Tangianu also started at five eight in Round Five against Mabel Park SHS with Ezrah Tangianu kicking a conversion from three metres to the left of the goal posts in the 42nd minute.

Ezrah Tangianu then started from the bench in Round Six against St Mary’s College Toowoomba with Ezrah Tangianu kicking the first of his two conversions in the 43rd minute from eight metres to the right of the goal posts. Ezrah Tangianu then kicked his second conversion from three metres in from the left touchline in the 46th minute.

Ezrah Tangianu also started off the bench in the Round Seven Gold Coast School Boy derby against PBC SHS.

Ezrah Tangianu played for the Runaway Bay Seagulls in 2023 in the GCRL U14 Division One competition including starting at fullback and kicking the match winning field goal in extra time in the 19 – 18 Grand Final victory against the Coomera Cutters. In the 8th minute of extra time Ezrah Tangianu positioned himself behind the play the ball and after receiving a bullet pass out of dummy half Deshawn Crompton, Ezrah Tangianu slotted the Grand Final winning field goal from eighteen metres out and directly in front with Coomera Cutters players desperately trying to charge the kick down.

Ezrah Tangianu also kicked an 8th minute conversion in the Grand Final from four metres to the right of the goal posts.

Ezrah Tangianu also recorded a try assist in the 8th minute Ezrah Tangianu put in a cross kick from the left side of the field towards the goal posts and after the ball bounced in the in-goal, the ball ricocheted off a number of legs before Xavier Takatainga was able to dive on the ball to score four metres to the right of the goal posts.

Ezrah Tangianu recorded a second try assist in the 47th minute when after taking possession to the left of the dummy half Ezrah Tangianu ran the ball to twelve metres from the try line and threw a cut-out pass to his left to Matt Stone to score the first of his two tries.

In the 29th minute from the right of the play the ball Ezrah Tangianu stepped off his right foot on two occasions to cut back to the left to get from sixteen metres out from the try line to within five metres.

Ezrah Tangianu put in another good kick in the 45th minute when from the right of the play the ball down a wide right blindside twenty five metres out, Ezrah Tangianu put in a right foot chip kick over the top which was lot by Coomera and picked up by another Cutters player in an off-side position for Runaway Bay to be awarded the penalty.

Ezrah Tangianu did well in the 4th minute to take a high Coomera bomb on the full two metres out from his own try line and just to the right of the goal posts with Ezrah Tangianu then beating two tackles as he carried the ball to seventeen metres away from the try line.

The 17th minute saw Ezrah Tangianu run out of dummy half to his right from twenty nine metres out from his own try line to forty one metres out.

Ezrah Tangianu started at fullback in the Week Three Preliminary Final against the Burleigh Bears with Ezrah Tangianu kicking two conversions with the first kicked in the 29th minute from five metres to the left of the goal posts, with Ezrah Tangianu kicking his second conversion in the 42nd minute from ten metres in from the right touchline.

Ezrah Tangianu also recorded to try assists with the first coming in the 42nd minute when from twenty five metres out from the try line Ezrah Tangianu put in a right foot high kick to the right with was taken on the full by the Seagulls right winger to score ten metres in from the right corner post.

Ezrah Tangianu added a second try assist in the 57th minute when from the left of the play the ball and ten metres out from the try line, Ezrah Tangianu threw a high, cut-out pass to his left to put his winger over to score in the corner.

Just prior to his second try assist, Ezrah Tangianu put in a good kick in the 56th minute from the centre of the field and twelve metres out towards the right corner and after the ball came down a metre short of the try line the Burleigh winger who had taken the ball on the full was forced back into the in-goal area, requiring a Bears goal line drop-out to get the match restarted.

Ezrah Tangianu continued at fullback in the Week Two Final against the Southport Tigers with Ezrah Tangianu scoring in the 44th minute when after receiving the ball sixteen metres out and to the right of the play the ball Ezrah Tangianu ran to his right and just kept running to score in the left corner.

Ezrah Tangianu also kicked six conversions with the first coming in the 9th minute from nine metres in from the left touchline, with Ezrah Tangianu kicking his second conversion in the 12th minute from ten metres in from the right touchline.

Ezrah Tangianu kicked his third conversion in the 15th minute from mid-way between the goal posts and corner post on the left side of the field with Ezrah Tangianu’s fourth conversion kicked in the 20th minute from next to the right upright. Ezrah Tangianu kicked his best conversion in the 23rd minute from the right touchline with Ezrah Tangianu then kicking his sixth conversion in the 38th minute from mid-way between the goal posts and corner post on the left side of the field.

Ezrah Tangianu also recorded two try assists with the first coming in the 23rd minute when Ezrah Tangianu ran the ball deep into the defensive line to the right of the play the ball and when he was ten metres out from the try line, Ezrah Tangianu threw a cut-out pass to his right to put his winger over in the right corner.

Ezrah Tangianu recorded his second try assist in the 38th minute when from ten metres out and to the left of the dummy half Ezrah Tangianu threw a looping cut-out pass to his left to his left centre who cut inside to score mid-way between the goal posts and corner post on the left side of the field.

Ezrah Tangianu added a line break to his impressive match in the 11th minute when Ezrah Tangianu stepped off his left foot from the left of the play the ball and forty metres out from the try line with Ezrah Tangianu darting to within three metres of the try line.

In August 2023 Ezrah Tangianu was named in the South Queensland Māori U14 Tuakana Representative squad.

In May 2023 Ezrah Tangianu was named in the Gold Coast Junior Rugby U14 Representative squad.

At the 2023 Queensland Country Rugby Championships Ezrah Tangianu started at fullback for the U14 South Queensland Boys Representative side in Round One against Central Queensland Boys with Ezrah Tangianu kicking a conversion. Ezrah Tangianu also started at fullback in Round Three against the Queensland Country Barbarians side.

Ezrah Tangianu then moved to the bench for Round Four against North Queensland. In the 2023 Queensland Country U14 Final Ezrah Tangianu started at fullback and scored and kicked a conversion as South Queensland defeated Central Queensland to be named Championship winners.

At the completion of the Championships Ezrah Tangianu was named in the 2023 Queensland Country U14 Representative side.

In the 2022 U14 Victorian Junior Rugby League competition Ezrah Tangianu has alternated between five eight and halfback and has been a prolific goal kicker including kicking eight conversions in Round Eight against the Frankston Raiders. Ezrah Tangianu also kicked five conversions in Round Thirteen against the Casey Warriors and four conversions in Rounds One and Four against the Sunberry Tigers and Northern Thunder respectively.

Ezrah Tangianu also scored a try in Round Seven against the Northern Thunder.

The 2022 Victorian U14 Grand Final saw Ezrah Tangianu named at start at halfback for the Melton Bronco’s against the Altona Roosters and kick two conversions in a 26 -12 Grand Final victory.

Ezrah Tangianu also played in the 2022 Victorian Junior Rugby League U13 competition with his first appearance coming in Round Thirteen against the Waverly Oakleigh Panthers with Ezrah Tangianu starting the match at halfback and scored two tries and kicked seven conversions to finish the match with an individual points haul of twenty two points in a 60 – 0 victory.

In attack, Ezrah Tangianu generally plays an understated role for his side, focussing more on the distribution and game management aspects of his role as a half. A key attribute to how Ezrah Tangianu plays is his ability to organise and direct his team around the field as well as adjusting his game to the specific situations encountered within a game.

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

From a kicking perspective Ezrah Tangianu has a solid kicking game, with reasonable distance and accuracy on all types of kicks, from kicking for field position or from an attacking perspective. I am sure that moving forward focussing on Ezrah Tangianu’s kicking skills will be a key focus area both from a distance and accuracy perspective.

In defence, due to his size Ezrah Tangianu is obviously not going to come up with the big hit but reads the play well and can hold his own when defending much bigger players. Ezrah Tangianu is also very vocal on the field always talking and encouraging his side both in attack and defence, this is obviously one of the reasons that Ezrah Tangianu is so highly thought of at the junior level.

Ezrah Tangianu will play in Keebra Park SHS’s famous blue and maroon colours in the 2024 Hancock Cup School Boy Rugby League competition with Ezrah Tangianu also pushing for South Coast U15 QSSRL Representative School Boy honours in 2024.

Ezrah Tangianu will also continue to play club rugby league on the Gold Coast in the GCRL U15 Division One competition once again for the Runaway Bay Seagulls.

Ezrah Tangianu is not the biggest junior rugby league player running around but Ezrah Tangianu has the play making ability and ball skills to be a very solid rugby league half or five eight going forward. Ezrah Tangianu also has the ball running ability to keep an opposing team’s defensive line honest and Ezrah Tangianu is also very very good kicker of the ball both in terms of tactical kicks to gain field position or attacking kicks inside his team’s attacking zone.

I would consider that that Manly and Queensland State of Origin halfback Daly Cherry-Evans has a playing style akin to that of Ezrah Tangianu, being of a skilled player with a very good all round kicking game to compliment his other game management skills. Add to that a decent step and average to slightly above average speed and you have a player in Ezrah Tangianu with a wide range of skills at his disposal that make the players around him better.

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Charlie Wood. 2023 saw Charlie Wood continue to attend PBC SHS with Charlie Wood play in the School Boy Rugby League Renouf Cup competition with Charlie Wood starting in the front row including an outstanding performance in Round Seven against local rivals Keebra Park SHS with Charlie Wood coming close to scoring in the 21st minute when from thirteen metres out, Charlie Wood kicked up the ball from the back of a PBC SHS scrum win and after running to his left, Charlie Woods was held up over the try line two metres in from the left corner post.

Charlie Wood’s initial strong run against Keebra Park SHS came in the 11th minute from the left of the play the ball with Charlie Wood able to promote the ball from four metres out from his own try line to twenty eight metres out.

The 26th minute saw Charlie Wood make a strong kick-off return to carry the ball out to the twenty three metre mark. Then in the 28th minute from the left of the play the ball Charlie Wood ran the ball from five metres inside his own territory to ten metres into Keebra Park SHS territory.

Charlie Wood scored in the 2023 School Boy Rugby League Renouf Cup competition against Redcliffe SHS when after picking up the ball from the back of a PBC SHS scrum win approximately sixteen metres out Charlie Wood ran to his right and was able to force his way over to score under the posts.

2023 also saw Charlie Wood continue to play for the Bilambil Jets in the Group 18 U14 competition with Charlie Wood named on the bench for the Jets in the Grand Final against Cudgen Green.

In late 2022 Charlie Wood commenced training with the 2022 Titans U14 Group 18 JTS Academy squad and in early December 2022 Charlie Wood was part of the Titans U14 Group 18 JTS Academy side that played against a Titans U14 Group One JTS Academy side in Ballina in a trial match with both team’s wearing Titans jerseys for an even better experience for both of the Titans JTS Academy squad members.

2022 saw Charlie Wood play for the Bilambil Jets in the Group 18 U13 competition with Charlie Wood starting at lock in the Jets 2022 Grand Final victory over the Tweed Heads Seagulls with Charlie Wood outstanding in the Jets 32 -4 Grand Final victory.

Charlie Wood’s initial taste of representative rugby league came in 2021 when he was selected in the North Coast School Boy U12 Representative Side out of Banora Point Primary School.

Running with the ball, Charlie Wood has good footwork prior to the line and never just puts his head down and run straight but Charlie Wood uses his solid footwork to try to work the gaps between defenders rather than trying to simply run over them although you can see that when he gets fired up all subtlety and thoughts of self-preservation goes out the window and Charlie Wood becomes a powerful wrecking ball.

Charlie Wood does not have great speed off the mark or necessary great high end speed, but Charlie Wood will work hard and make the most of his overall speed which to be fair is still a tick above average for a second rower.

Defensively Charlie Wood can certainly hit very hard, usually aiming for just under the ribs and Charlie Wood’s first intention is to lock up the ball to prevent offloads from a defensive perspective with Charlie Wood being exceptionally effecent at that task.

Charlie Wood has outstanding lateral mobility for a forward and due to the fact that he bends his hips when looking to make a tackle he is usually is able to wrap up the smaller attackers without his tackles slipping up to around the head or neck, and thus giving away penalties. Charlie Wood can however get fired up and really cause havoc defensively with some very heavy initial defensive contact..

2024 will see Charlie Wood continue to play for the Bilambil Jets in the Group 18 U15 competition as well as school boy rugby league with PBC SHS in the School Boy Rugby league Hancock Cup competition.

Charlie Wood’s ultimate position on a rugby league field looks set to be in the second row with his ability to run good attacking lines wide of the ruck. I appreciate that Charlie Wood spent a significant portion of the 2022 Group 18 U13 season at lock and the 2024 season in the front row but ultimately I am of the believe that Charlie Wood is better suited to operating in the second row for the foreseeable future at the very least.

From a playing style perspective for Charlie Wood, 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.

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Ricco Watititi. In late September 2023 Ricco Waitititi was named in the 2024 Northern Rivers Titans U18 Laurie Daley Cup squad.

Round One of the 2023 NRRRL U18 season Ricco Waitititi start at right centre for the Tweed Heads Seagulls against the Casino Cougars with Ricco Waitititi scoring in the 11th minute when after backing up a line break Ricco Waitititi received the ball from his left when twenty two metres out from the try line with Ricco Waitititi racing away to score under the posts untouched.

Ricco Waitititi also made a line break in the 35th minute when after receiving the ball on the right side of the field on the halfway mark Ricco Waitititi raced thirty five metres down the right touchline before passing back inside to his five eight who was tackled six metres out with the Seagulls scoring from the subsequent play the ball.

Ricco Waitititi had done well earlier in the match in the 7th minute when from the right of the play the ball twenty five metres out from his own try line, Ricco Waitititi carried the ball to within eight metres of the halfway mark with Ricco Waitititi then being awarded a penalty for being held down too long in the tackle.

Ricco Waitititi also started at right centre in Round Two against the Ballina Seagulls with Ricco Waitititi doing well in the 9th minute with a strong from the left of the play the ball from thirty five metres out from his own try line with Ricco Waitititi able to promote the ball to the halfway mark.

Ricco Waitititi continued at right centre in Round Three against the Bilambil Jets with Ricco Waitititi recording a try assist in the 6th minute when after backing a line break Ricco Waitititi received the ball from his left seven metres from the halfway mark and then after running twenty seven metres downfield Ricco Waitititi got a right arm around the corner off-load away to his left back to where the ball came for his team mate to score under the posts.

Ricco Waitititi was involved in another try in the 27th minute when from the left of the play the ball and near the centre of the field, Ricco Wiatititi charged onto the ball from twenty five metres out and cut off his left foot before immediately stepping off his right before being tackled two metres out in front of the left upright and then as a result of Ricco Waitititi’s quick play the ball one of the Tweed Heads forward crashed over.

Ricco Waititi made a line break of his own in the 29th minute when after receiving the ball in space forty metres out from his own try line, Ricco Waitititi was able to make a twenty metre line break into Bilambil territory.

Ricco Waititi continued at right centre in Round Four against the Murwillumbah Mustangs.

Ricco Waitititi also started at right centre in Round Five against the Byron Bay Devils with Ricco Waitititi recording a try assist in the 19h minute with a smart catch and pass to his right from three metres from the try line with put his right winger over to score in the corner.

The 25th minute saw Ricco Waitititi receive the ball two passes to the left of a Tweed Heads scrum win ten metres out from his own try line and after spinning 360 degrees counter clockwise after engaging the defensive line Ricco Waitititi was able to continue his run to get within thirteen metres of the halfway mark.

Ricco Waitititi also started at right centre in Round Six against the Tweed Coast Raiders with Ricco Waitititi scoring in the 24th minute when after receiving a pass from his left twelve metres out Ricco Waitititi continued to run towards the right corner with Ricco Waitititi then able to get the ball down to score four metres in from the right corner post.

Ricco Waitititi continued at right centre in Round Seven against the Cudgen Hornets with Ricco Waitititi making a strong run in the 36th minute from a Seagulls penalty tap restart with Ricco Waitititi making seventeen metres after commencing his run on the halfway mark.

Ricco Waitititi also started at right centre in Round Ten against the Lower Clarence Magpies with Ricco Waitititi recording two try assists with the first coming in the 4th minute when on the right side of the field five metres out, Ricco Waitititi drew the Magpies left winger to him and off-loaded to his right to put his winger over in the right corner.

Ricco Waitititi recorded his second try assist in the 31st minute when after a ten metre run down the right side of the field, Ricco Waitititi got an above the head right arm flick off-load away to his right winger when twenty three metres out to put his winger (No. 20) over to score in the corner.

Ricco Waitititi had an initial influence on the match inside the opening minute with Ricco Waitititi chasing through an attacking Tweed Heads grubber kick to grab the Magpies left winger just in the field of play with Ricco Waitititi dragging the winger back into the in-goal area to force a goal line drop-out.

Then in the 27th minute from the left of the play the ball and four metres inside his own territory Ricco Waitititi was able to get the ball ten metres inside Lower Clarence territory.

Ricco Waitititi produced another right arm flick off-load to his right from twenty metres out in the 35th minute.

Ricco Waitititi also started at right centre in Round Eleven against Northern United. Ricco Waitititi continued at right centre in Round Fourteen against the Byron Bay Devils.

Ricco Waitititi also started at right centre in Round Fifteen against the Ballina Seagulls with Ricco Waitititi scoring in the 5th minute when after receiving the ball ten metres out from the right of a Tweed Heads scrum win Ricco Waitititi ran the required distance to score in the right corner untouched.

Ricco Waititi also came close to scoring in the 27th minute when after receiving a pass that was just behind him twenty metres out, Ricco Waitititi charged to within two metres of the try line with part of Ricco Waitititi’s run being with Ricco Waitititi pinning the ball to his back before regaining full control, ten metres to the right of the goal posts.

Ricco Waitititi continued at right centre in Round Sixteen against Northern United with Ricco Waitititi recording the first of his two try assists in the 30th minute when after receiving the ball on the right side of the field Ricco Waitititi ran the ball from thirteen metres from the try line to within eight metres of the try line with Ricco Waitititi then drawing the Northern United left winger to put his right winger over to score in the corner.

Ricco Waitititi recorded his second try assist in the 56th minute when after receiving the ball down a short left blindside on the halfway mark, Ricco Waitititi ran ten metres downfield before drawing a defender and off-loading to his left to Micah Leaupepe Perkins who beat the fullback to score in the left corner.

Inside the opening minute of the match Ricco Waitititi ran the ball from the left of the dummy half to get the ball from twenty three metres out from his own try line to thirty seven metres out.

The Week Two NRRRL U18 Qualifying Final saw Ricco Waitititi continue at right centre against the Murwillumbah Mustangs with Ricco Waitititi forcing a Murwillumbah goal line drop-out in the 24th minute. After the Seagulls spun the ball to their left, a pass from his inside bounced in front of Ricco Waitititi and smartly instead of trying to pick up the ball under pressure, Ricco Waitititi instead toed the ball forward twenty four metres out with Ricco Waitititi putting pressure on the Mustangs fullback who was forced to kick the ball over the dead ball line to require a goal line drop-out.

Ricco Waitititi also started at right centre in the Preliminary Final against the Murwillumbah Mustangs with Ricco Waitititi making a good run to the right of the play the ball in the 6th minute to carry the ball from eighteen metres out from his own try line to thirty metres out.

In early December 2021 Ricco Watititi was named in the 2022 U16 Northern Rivers Titans Andrew Johns Cup Train-on Squad.

Round One of the 2022 U16 Andrew Johns Cup competition saw Ricco Waititi start at left centre for the Northern Rivers Titans side against the Macquarie Wests Tigers in Sydney’s west with Ricco Watititi throwing the last pass in the 24th minute for Blake Togo-Murphy to dive over in the left corner.

Ricco Watititi also was strong defensively in the match including in the 51st minute when he produced a big front on tackle when the Wests Tigers ran in his direction after winning a scrum from their own feed. Ricco Watititi’s initial contact forced the ball loose to cancel out all of the Wests Tigers momentum.

Ricco Watititi also started at left centre in the Round Two local derby against the North Coast Bulldogs with Ricco Watititi making a strong contribution in the 15th minute by gaining fifteen metres from a Northern Rivers Titans penalty restart.

Round Three against the Greater Northern Tigers saw Ricco Watititi move closer to start the match at left second row with Ricco Watititi producing a strong run in the 30th minute making ten metres from his own twenty metre mark down the left channel.

Ricco Watititi then moved back to start at left centre in Round Four against the Central Coast Roosters with Ricco Watititi throwing the final pass for Blake Togo-Murphy’s 50th minute try in the left corner.

Ricco Watititi then continued at left centre in the twice delayed final round being Round Five against the Newcastle Knights in Grafton with Ricco Watititi scoring in just the 5th minute of the match when he charged onto a good short ball from Zane Harrison from eight metres out to burst over five metres in from the left corner post.

Ricco Watititi then continued at left centre for the Northern Rivers Titans Week One Final against St George and was in the match early with a great front on driving tackle on the St George left centre in just the 3rd minute.

Ricco Watititi was also involved in Blake Togo-Murphy’s brilliant 9th minute team try. After Hudson Towell split the St George through the centre of the ruck from dummy half sixty metres out from the line, Harry Chadburn loomed up on his left and then burst away before getting the ball away to his left to Ricco Watititi who as able to get the ball back to the inside by way of an overhead pass to Zane Harrison who raced to twelve metres out before he got the pass away to his right for Blake Togo-Murphy to dive over near the left corner.

Ricco Watititi also started at left centre for the Northern Rivers Titans in the 2022 U16 Andrew Johns Cup Grand Final against the Wests Tigers and what a match the young man had including making the line break and subsequently off-load in the last minute of the match to put Zane Harrison over for the Grand Final winning try.

In the 59th minute and with just twenty seconds left in the Grand Final the ball was spun out to the left with Ricco Watititi receiving the ball around sixty five metres from the try line, Ricco Watititi immediately got on the outside of his opposing defender before barging over another defender, then a left arm fend beat another before Ricco Watititi raced thirty five metres downfield. When confronted by the fullback, Ricco Watititi beat him with a left foot step before being engaged by two cover defenders.

Ricco Watititi continued to fight in the tackle and was spun around with his back to the try line but that did not stop Ricco Watititi who continued to make ground moving backwards before he got his right arm free and with his right arm above his head got the ball away inside to his right to Zane Harrison who raced fifteen metres to score five metres from the left upright to tie the scores. Callum Bowles after the siren conversion then won the Grand Final for the Titans in dramatic fashion.

Just minutes earlier in the 57th minute Ricco Watititi made another line break down the left touchline from sixty metres out, racing twenty five metres before off-loading to the inside to Zane Harrison who made another twenty metres before being brought to ground.

Ricco Watititi made a significant contribution to the Northern Rivers Titans cause in just the 11th minute when he along with Harry Chadburn held up the Wests Tigers right centre to prevent the Tigers getting away to a big lead early in the match.

Ricco Watititi continued his great defensive match in the 42nd minute when he along with Harry Chadburn chased a Titans clearing kick downfield and was able to force the Wests Tigers right winger six metres backwards in a dominant tackle.

In 2022 even though he was still U16 eligible Ricco Watititi was part of the Tweed Heads Seagulls U18 NRRRL side, starting Round One against the Byron Bay Devils at left second row. in an outstanding 20 – 12 first up victory.

One of Ricco Watititi’s best runs in the match came in the 30th minute with an eighteen metres line break down the left channel to get the ball into the Seagulls attacking twenty metre area on the last tackle.

Ricco Watititi showed that even though most of his opponents were two years is senior he had no qualms belting them in defence as was evidenced in the 32nd minute with a strong front on tackle on the Byron Bay right centre with Ricco Waitititi’s initial contact forcing the ball loose and immediately putting Tweed Heads deep on the attack.

Round Two against the Cudgen Hornets saw Ricco Waitititi move to start at right centre against the Cudgen Hornets with Ricco Waitititi scoring the match winning try in the 58th minute when he burst over from close range five metres in from the right corner post.

Ricco Waititit was also heavily involved in a Seagulls 20th minute try when after he received a pass from his left from Creedence Donovan, Ricco Waitititi from twenty metres out got halfway through the defensive line and was able to execute a right arm flick pass to Creedence Donovan who looped around behind him with Creedence Donovan then able to get an off-load away to put his right centre over in the corner.

Ricco Waitititi started off the match with a strong defensive effort in the 9th minute when he came out of the defensive line to smash the Hornets five eight inside Cudgen’s attacking twenty metre area.

Ricco Waitititi then started at left centre in Round Seven against the Lower Clarence Magpies, scoring in the Seagulls 50 – 0 in the 26th minute when he burst through a gap thirty metres out by way of a good ball from his inside by Creedence Donovan with Ricco Waitititi easily brushing off the Lower Clarence on the way to putting the ball down under the posts.

Ricco Waitititi also recorded a 5th minute try assist and it certainly was not of the average variety. From his inside Creedence Donovan when ten metres out from the line threw a high cut out pass intended for his left winger but the ball was touched in flight by Lower Clarence with the ball then bouncing in front of Ricco Waitititi who then just as he was being pushed over the left touchline flicked the ball back inside and right into the hands of his left winger who dived over in the left corner from close range.

Ricco Waitititi made a strong line break in the 33rd minute when he was on the end of a Seagulls backline movement to his side of the field just sixteen metres out from his own line and after he received the ball in space Ricco Waitititi raced down the left touchline line before finally being tackled after a forty metre sojourn down the touchline.

Ricco Waitititi also recorded an 18th minute line break assist when after receiving the ball Ricco Waitititi ran at the Magpies right winger, drawing him in and then passing to his left to put his winger away down the sideline on a twenty metre run.

Ricco Waitititi’s initial contribution in the match came in the 5th minute when after receiving the ball wide out on the left Ricco Waitititi cut inside off his left foot from thirty metres out and when engaged by the defensive line was able to get a left arm flick off-load away.

Ricco Waitititi then continued at left centre in Round Eight against Casino RSM with Ricco Waitititi recording a 22nd minute try assist when after finding himself in space down the left side of the field, Ricco Waitititi drew the Casino RSM fullback and got the ball away to his left winger who raced ten metres to dive over in the left corner.

Ricco Waitititi then moved to right second row for Round Nine against the Murwillumbah Mustangs and continued at right second row in Round Ten against the Kyogle Turkeys with Ricco Waitititi making a 16th minute line break against the Turkeys when from thirty five metres out from his own line Ricco Waitititi burst through the defensive line and raced fifty metres downfield before off-loading to fullback Creedence Donovan.

Ricco Waitititi then moved to right centre in Round Twelve against the Bilambil Jets with Ricco Waitititi held up over the try line in the 32nd minute.

Ricco Waitititi then continued at right centre in Round Thirteen against the Bilambil Jets for the second round in a row. Ricco Waitititi then continued at right centre in the rescheduled Round Four match against the Murwillumbah Mustangs with Ricco Waitititi making a great covering tackle in the 6th minute when he chased down from behind the Mustangs right winger who had made a break down the touchline with Ricco Waitititi grabbing his jersey from behind with his right hand and rag dolling him to the ground ten metres out from the try line.

Ricco Waitititi then did well in the 47th minute to get down low and take a hard grubber kick from Murwillumbah just out from the try line with Ricco Waitititi then finding the ground to ensure that he was not dragged back in the in-goal.

Ricco Waitititi also started at right centre in the Week One Qualifying Final against the Murwillumbah Mustangs with Ricco Waititi scoring in the 17th minute 17th minute when after Creedence Donovan received a pass from his right after a Seagulls line break from just inside their own territory Creedence Donovan then got a pass away to his inside to Ricco Waitititi who then raced thirty metres to score in the right corner.

2021 saw Ricco Watititi play for the Tweed Heads Seagulls Junior Rugby League Club in the Group 18 U15 competition and at the Tweed Heads Seagulls Junior Presentations, Ricco Watititi was named the International Player with the Most Potential.

The Tweed Heads Seagulls junior was part of the Titans U14 squad that played a Western Mustangs selection in February 2019 at Mudgeeraba and also in 2019 was named in the Group 18 U14 representative side playing in the centres at the 2019 New South Wales Country Age Championships.

In early in October 2019 Ricco Watititi was part of a Titans U14/15 NRRRL side that played the Titans U14 Gold Coast/Brisbane Academy side in development match at Tweed Heads Piggabeen complex with the NRRRL side going down 32 – 10 in a competitive and highly entertaining game of rugby league.

Ricco Watititi played the 2019 season with the Tweed Heads Seagulls U14 side that played in the Northern New South Wales Group 18 junior rugby league competition.

In 2018 Ricco Waititi was selected in the Gold Coast Cyclones U12 side for the Queensland Age Rugby Championships.

For a centre, Ricco Watititi is a big strong young man who does not rely just on his size and speed and 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 in and away to slow the forward momentum of the defender and accelerate on the outside.

For a player of his size, Ricco Watititi also has a very good passing game, when the ball is passed out to the back line, Ricco Watititi 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.

From a speed perspective Ricco Watititi has above average 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 he is also very good at positioning his support players when he gets to the fullback. The only possible question about Ricco Watititi ’s speed is whether it will stay at or near the plus category as he matures and inevitably fills out.
Defensively Ricco Watititi 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.

For me when I have seen him play for Tweed Heads junior rugby league sides Ricco Watititi was the defensive leader of the three quarter line and other defenders keyed off him in terms of whether to use an up and in methodology and slide to the outside.

Ricco Watititi on an individual level has the 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.

Ricco Watititi will start the 2024 season as a member of Northern Rivers Titans U18 Laurie Daley Cup squad with Ricco Watititi then likely to line up once again for the Tweed Heads Seagulls in the NRRRL U18 rugby league competition for the third season in a row.

Ricco Watititi is a big strong young man and would be considered a “tall” centre for his age group but has the speed and mobility to stay in the centres long term, but if not he would seemingly be able to transition to the second row seamlessly.

With his height and straight and hard running style Ricco Watititi’s playing style is reminiscent of Melbourne Storm centre Reimis Smith. Both Ricco Watititi and Smith are tall, strong centres with a variety of moves in their attacking ****nal to beat opposing centres on a one on one basis.

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Jayden Wright. In June 2021 Jayden Wright signed a multi-year contract with Titans and on November 1, 2022, Jayden Wright commenced training in the Titans NRL off-season program on a train and trial basis with Jayden Wright taking part in the pre-Christmas portion of the Titans NRL off-season program.

Round One of the 2023 Hastings Deering’s Colts season saw Jayden Wright named in the front row for the Tweed Heads Seagulls against the Townsville Blackhawks with Jayden Wright scoring in the 61st minute under the posts off a Max Liles pass when thirty metres out from the try line. Jayden Wright then produced a strong run from the subsequent Blackhawks kick-off.
The first of a number of strong runs from Jayden wright came in the 8th minute from the kick-off from the Seagulls opening try with Jayden Wright able to get the ball two metres over the twenty metre mark.
Jayden Wright executed a smart play in the 53rd minute with a one on one strip of the Blackhawks hooker with Townsville on the attack and just out from the try line.
Jayden Wright also started in the front row in Round Three against the Toowoomba Clydesdales with Jayden Wright making the second hit-up of the match and getting the ball to within ten metres of the halfway mark.

Jayden Wright crossed the try line in the 19th minute next to the left upright however the pass from his right was ruled forward by the referee. Earlier in the 14th minute Jayden Wright had made fourteen metres from the left of the play the ball and twenty metres out from his own try line with Jayden Wright then being awarded a penalty for being held down too long in the tackle.

Then in the 16th minute Jayden Wright backed up a Tweed Heads line break to receive an off-load from his five eight and made fourteen metres before being tackled twenty two metres out from the try line.

Jayden Wright continued in the front row in Round Four against the Souths Logan Magpies with Jayden Wright recording a line break assist in the 48th minute when after engaging the defensive line Jayden Wright was able to get his right arm above his head and get the ball away to his left to Jaylan De Groot who burst twenty metres through the centre of the field.

Earlier in the 15th minute Jayden Wright made fourteen metres down the right channel to get the ball within ten metres of the halfway mark.

Jayden Wright then moved to start at left second row in Round Five against the Ipswich Jets with Jayden Wright scoring in the 24th minute as a result of a six metre charge on the left side of the field with Jayden Wright getting the ball down three metres in from the left corner post.

Jayden Wright also recorded a line break that led to a Tweed Heads try in the 13th minute when from thirty metres out from his own try line and to the left of the play the ball Jayden Wright burst straight through the centre of the Jets defensive line and after charging forty five metres through the centre of the field Jayden Wright got a pass away to his right to Jordan Lewis who subsequent passed the ball to Max Liles who score the first of his two tries under the posts.

Jayden wright had taken the third hit-up of the match with Jayden Wright getting the ball thirty eight metres away from the Seagulls try line with Jayden Wright then being awarded a penalty for being held down too long and not allowed to his feet to play the ball.

Jayden Wright then moved back to the front row for Round Six against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls with Jayden Wright along with Oskar Bryant making the opening tackle of the match from the kick-off.

Jayden Wright continued in the front row in Round Eight against the Central Queensland Caprs’s.

Jayden Wright also started in the front row in Round Nine against the Mackay Cutters with Jayden Wright making the second hit-up of the match to get the ball twenty nine metres out from his own try line.

Jayden Wright also made a strong kick-off return in the 61st minute to get the ball thirty metres out from the Tweed Heads try line.

The Round Ten local derby against the Burleigh Bears saw Jayden Wright continue in the front row.

Jayden Wright also started in the front row in Round Eleven against the Norths Devils with Jayden Wright making a strong run in the 15th minute from the left of the play the ball to get the ball from fifteen metres from his own try line to thirty metres away.

Jayden Wright continued in the front row in Round Twelve against the Brisbane Tigers with Jayden Wright scoring in the 76th minute when Jayden Wright ran onto a short, sharp pass from Tanu Nona from his right and after receiving the ball four metres out, Jayden Wright spun clockwise to crash over to score ten metres in from the right corner post.

Jayden Wright took the third hit-up of the match to get the ball from his own twenty metre mark to the thirty four metre mark. Then in the 5th minute Jayden Wright ran onto the ball to the left of the play the ball from ten metres inside his own territory to eight metres inside Tigers territory.

Jayden Wright made an additional strong run in the 20th minute from the left of the play the ball with Jayden Wright able to carry the ball from ten metres from the halfway to three metres inside Tigers territory.

Jayden Wright then made a strong goal line drop-out return in the 73rd minute and after taking possession of the ball forty two metres out Jayden Wright was able to get the ball to within twenty four metres of the try line with Jayden Wright then awarded a penalty for the ball being stripped from his grasp with more than one defender involved in the tackle.

Jayden Wright also started in the front row in the Round Thirteen top of the table match against the Redcliffe Dolphins with Jayden Wright taking the opening hit-up of the match from the kick-off. Jayden Wright also made the fifth hit-up of the match to get the ball four metres into Redcliffe territory. Jayden Wright made a second kick-off return in the 12th minute to get the ball out to the twenty metre mark.

Jayden Wright produced a good defensive play in the 69th minute when he was involved in holding up the Redcliffe No. 14 over the try line next to the right upright on the final tackle.

Jayden Wright showcased all of his skills in the 79th minute when after receiving the ball to the left of the uprights on the final tackle Jayden Wright put in a right foot grubber kick from ten metres out to the right forcing the Redcliffe to play at the ball.

Jayden Wright then moved to left second row in Round Fourteen against the Northern Pride with Jayden Wright coming close to scoring in the 23rd minute only to be held up over the try line ten metres in from the left touchline after a four metre surge at the try line from an off-load from his inside from his lock forward.

Earlier in the 4th minute from a Tweed Heads penalty restart Jayden Wright was able to get the ball from thirty eight metres from the try line to twenty four metres out. Then in the 41st minute from the left of the play the ball Jayden Wright ran the ball from three metres inside Northern Pride territory to thirty three metres out from the try line. The 45th minute then saw Jayden Wright run onto the ball to the right of the play the ball from thirty two metres to within three metres of the halfway mark.

Jayden Wright was back in the front row for the Round Fifteen local derby against the Burleigh Bears with Jayden Wright making the opening hit-up from the kick off to get the ball out to the twenty metre mark.

Jayden Wright then did well in the 20th minute when Jayden Wright when defending on his own line moved forward quickly and took an intercept off the Burleigh dummy half and then was able to get the ball out to the eleven metre mark.

Jayden Wright continued in the front row in Round Sixteen against the Sunshine Coast Falcons with Jayden Wright scoring a double as Tweed Heads secured the 2023 HDC Minor Premiership.

Jayden Wright score his opening try in the 77th minute with a hard straight run from six metres out from an inside pass from Elliott Speed to crash over between three defenders to get the ball down seven metres in from the right corner post.

Jayden Wright scored his second try in the 80th minute when Jayden Wright followed through a Tweed Heads grubber kick into the in-goal and after dealing with a high bounce of the ball Jayden Wright took possession and got the ball down under the posts.

Jayden Wright also made a line break in the 74th minute when after running onto a good ball from his left from Nicholas Hilton surged froward from the halfway mark to thirty metres from the try line with his run incorporating a counter clockwise spin.

Jayden Wright had taken the second hit-up of the match to get the ball to the twenty six metres mark and also backed up to take the fourth hit-up to carry the ball to within five metres of the halfway mark.

Jayden Wright followed up with another run in the 11th minute from the right of the play the ball from his own twenty three metre mark out to the thirty seven metre mark. Then in the 76th minute from the left of the play the ball Jayden Wright was able to promote the ball from twenty seven metres out from his own try line to forty two metres out.

Jayden Wright produced a smart piece of play in the 24th minute with a one on one strip twenty metres out and in the centre of the field and after stealing the ball Jayden Wright got within two metres of the try line before being stopped.

Jayden Wright also started in the front row in Week One of the Finals against the Burleigh Bears with Jayden Wright taking the initial hit-up of the match from the kick-off, with Jayden Wright then backing up to also take the fifty run of the math to get the ball within two metres of the halfway mark.

In the 11th minute from the left of the play the ball Jayden Wright charged onto the ball thirty five metres out and was able to get the ball twenty one metres away from the try line. Then in the 45th minute from the left of the play the ball Jayden Wright made sixteen metres after commencing his run forty metres out from the try line.

The 52nd minute then saw Jayden Wright, from the right of the dummy half get the ball to the thirty metre mark after commencing his run eighteen metres out. Then in the 54th minute from once again to the right of the play the ball Jayden Wright was able to carry the ball from his own thirty eight metre mark to the halfway mark.

Jayden Wright executed the tackle of the match in the 51st minute with a massive left shoulder hit on the Burleigh replacement front rower No. 17 forcing a knock on three metres from the try line and just to the left of the goal posts.

Jayden Wright continued in the front row in the Preliminary Final against the Townsville Blackhawks with Jayden Wright running an underneath route to the right of the play the ball to get the ball from forty seven metres out from the try line to thirty four metres out early in the second half.

In a Hastings Deering’s Colts bye week Jayden Wright lined up for the Currumbin Eagles in Round Twelve of the GCRL First Grade competition against the Tugun Seahawks with Jayden Wright coming off the bench to operate in the front row in the 51st minute with Jayden wright immediately making a kick-off return to get the ball out to the twenty metre mark.

The 53rd minute then saw Jayden Wright run an underneath route from the right of the dummy half and get the ball from thirty metres from the try line to nineteen metres out. Then in the 56th minute from two passes to the right of the dummy half Jayden Wright charged onto the ball from his own forty metre mark to get the ball two metres into Tugun territory.

The 61st minute then saw Jayden Wright, from the left of the play the ball and ten metres inside his own territory get the ball seven metres into Seahawks territory. In the72nd minute Jayden Wright made thirteen metres from his own twenty three metre mark and the left of the play the ball, then from the right of the play the ball in the 79th minute Jayden Wright carried the ball from thirty three metres from the try line to twenty one metres out.

In early December 2022 Jayden Wright took part in a joint annual training session between the Titans JTS Squad players and the Titans NRL squad at the Titans main training centre.

In late 2022 Jayden Wright was named in the 2023 Tweed Heads Seagulls Hastings Deering’s Colts squad for the second season in a row after an injury interrupted 2022 season.

2022 saw Jayden Wright continue to train with the Titans JTS Program and Jayden Wright also did a number of training sessions with the Titans Rookie squad over the course of the 2022 off-season.

In late January 2022 Jayden Wright started at right centre for the Titans U19 side in a match at Pizzey Park against the Burleigh Hastings Deering’s Colts side with the first of Jayden Wright’s key contributions coming in the 8th minute with a strong, important one on one tackle on Burleigh’s Damon Sommerville just four metres out from the try line.

The ball did not necessarily go out to Jayden Wright’s right side of the field too often, it was good to see Jayden Wright go looking for the ball including in the 19th minute when he was able to make twelve metres down the right channel to get the ball within twenty metres of the try line.

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

Jayden Wright started the 2022 season as part of the Tweed Heads Seagulls Hastings Deering’s Colts squad and is also Colts eligible in 2023.

After missing Round One of the 2022 Hastings Deering’s Colts competition (in the end the match was delayed in any event) Jayden Wright was named at right second row for the Round Two local derby against the Burleigh Bears and was immediately in the action by making the opening tackle of the match after Tweed Heads had kicked off to get the match underway.

In the 6th minute Jayden Wright charged onto the ball down a wide right blindside and was able to make around sixteen metres to get the ball around thirty metres out from his own try line. Jayden Wright was at it again in the 49th minute with a sixteen metre charge down the right channel before being tackled on the halfway mark with at least 50% of the metre that Jayden Wright made being post contact metres.

Jayden Wright continued at right second row in Round Three against the Townsville Blackhawks looking to build on an impressive Round two outing but unfortunately Jayden Wright suffered a shoulder injury early in the first half which forced him to leave the field and kept him out long term.

Jayden Wright started the Seagulls opening 2022 trial against the Burleigh Bears at right second row with the Seagulls going down 48 – 0 in a tough start to the 2022 season. Jayden Wright however had a few good defensive moments in the match including a big tackle on Burleigh interchange player Ezra Ubaldino.

Jayden Wright also made a good defensive play in the 8th minute when he raced back in cover defence to make a desperate try saving tackle on Burleigh right centre Tuvalli Khan-Pereira who looked like he was going to race away to score from near halfway.

Jayden Wright made an early contribution in just the 3rd minute with a run accounting for eighteen metres down the left channel to get the ball into Burleigh territory.

Jayden Wright started the 2021 season as part of the Tweed Heads Seagulls MM Cup squad, playing Rounds One and Two against the Ipswich Jets and Souths Logan Magpies respectively at right second row.

In Round Three against Burleigh, Jayden Wright also started at right second row, scoring a double in the Seagulls victory. Jayden Wright’s first try came in the opening minute of the match when he was on hand to force the ball in the in-goal after Burleigh had failed to defuse a kick to his side of the field. Jayden Wright’s second try of the match was a result of him running through a gap and getting a pass from Riley Lack in the 12th minute from fourteen metres out to score ten metres from the left corner.

After dropping back to the bench for Round Four and Five against Ipswich and Souths Logan respectively, Jayden Wright then started Round Six at right second row once again.

Jayden Wright then came off the bench in both the 2021 MM Cup semi-final against Wynnum Manly and the MM Cup Grand Final against the Townsville.

Jayden Wright also scored in a 2021 MM Cup trial against Burleigh when he scored in the opening minutes of the match from the left second row position when he ran into a gap, receiving a good ball from Keano Kini to score from ten metres out, getting the ball down five metres in from the left corner post.

2021 also saw Jayden Wright represent South Coast at the QSSRL U18 School Boy Championships and post those Championships, Jayden Wright was named on the bench in the 2021 QSSRL U18 School Boy Merit Team.

After starting Round One of the 2021 Langer Cup school boy competition at lock for PBC against Ipswich State High School, Jayden Wright started Rounds Two and Three against St Mary’s College Toowoomba and Coombabah State High School respectively from the bench, coming into the right second row position when he came on.

Jayden Wright was named to continue on the bench in the Round Four blockbuster against Marsden State High School however Jayden Wright started the match at right second row.

Jayden Wright moved to lock for the much anticipated Round Five local derby against Keebra Park State High School and came close to scoring on a number of occasions in the first half of the absorbing local derby.

Jayden Wright continued at lock in Round Six against Mabel Park State high School and had a big match particularly in defence with a couple of heavy hits including a huge hit in the first half just as the Mabel Park SHS five eight was off-loading the ball. Jayden Wright hit him with a great tackle knocking the five eight a couple of metres backwards after he was hit by Jayden Wright directly under his right rib cage.

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

In the 14th minute, Jayden Wright along with Keano Kini, Michael Roberts and Oskar Bryant held up Blake Mozer over the line.

In the 2021 Langer Cup Grand Final against Marsden State High School, Jayden Wright was named to start at lock for PBC and had a strong match in PBC’s hard fought victory.

Post the completion of the 2021 Langer Cup competition, Jayden Wright was named as an emergency in the Courier Mail’s 2021 Langer Cup most impressive rookies.

Jayden Wright was then named at lock for PBC in the Queensland Open School Boys Final (Phil Hall Cup) against St Brendan’s College Yeppoon with Jayden Wright making the opening tackle of the match from the kick-off in conjunction with Jack Cullen.

Jayden Wright, once again with Jack Cullen put on another strong hit in the 9th minute with the initial contact forcing the ball loose near the forty metre mark.

Jayden Wright was almost one of PBC’s try scorers in the Langer Cup Grand Final when he was held up in the 14th minute after a strong straight run at the try line from close range.

In 2021 Jayden Wright played for the Currumbin Eagles in the GCRL U18 Division One competition, starting all of the matches that he played in at right second row.

Jayden Wright’s opening try of the 2021 GCRL U18 Division One season came in Round Six against Runaway Bay when in the 13th minute, Jayden Wright followed through a Travis May chip taking the ball above his head in his right hand and then dragged the Seagulls fullback over the line to get the ball down in the right corner.

Jayden Wright scored his second try of the season in Round Seven against the Burleigh Bears in the 47th minute when he chased through a grubber kick, diving on the ball close to the dead ball line.

Jayden Wright continued at right second row in Round Nine against the Nerang Roosters and scored a double in the Eagles impressive victory.

Jayden Wright then continued at right second row in Round Ten against the Helensvale Hornets, scoring a double in the Eagles big 44 – 6 win. Jayden Wright scored his first try in the 7th minute when he was on hand to pick up a kick over the defensive line and after picking up the ball twenty five metres out, Jayden Wright burst down the right touchline to dive over in the corner.

Jayden Wright completed his double in the 55th minute when he burst onto the ball down the right channel thirty metres from the line and was just too fast and powerful for the Hornets defence to score ten metres in from the right corner post.

Jayden Wright also started at right second row in Round Twelve against the Ormeau Shearers with Jayden Wright scoring in the first half in the Eagles big win.

After being a late withdrawal in Round Thirteen, Jayden Wright was named once again to start at right second row in Round Fourteen against the Burleigh Bears with Jayden Wright scoring in the 9th minute when from ten metres out Jayden Wright tip toe’d down the right touchline to dive over in the right corner getting the ball down one handed with his right arm after he dived at the line from two metres out.

Jayden Wright also started at right second row in Week One of the 2021 GCRL U18 Division One Final’s for Currumbin against the Helensvale Hornets scoring the second of the Eagles two tries in the 46th minute when he charged onto the ball from twenty metres out, spinning counter clockwise to get the ball down mid-way between the corner post and goal post on the right side of the field.

Jayden Wright continued at right second row in Week Two of the Finals against the Ormeau Shearers.

At the end of the 2021 season, Jayden Wright was named at No. 30 in the Courier Mail Top 60 school boys from the GPS Rugby, AIC Rugby and Langer Cup competitions.

Jayden Wright made his Gold Coast Rugby League U20 debut for Currumbin in Round Seven when he started at right second row against the Burleigh Bears.

Jayden Wright is a 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, Jayden Wright 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.

Like one or two others recently mentioned Jayden Wright 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.

Jayden Wright 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. Jayden Wright does not necessarily have a great top end speed, but he is certainly fast enough to get through to the full back prior to the arrival of the cover defence.

Playing on the right hand side of the field more often, means that Jayden Wright’s right foot step and his fending using his left hand are the more 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.

Where his greatest impact on a game is going to be is his defence. Jayden Wright has a great tackling technique and a hard hitting aggressive style to go with it. It is not a reckless style where he runs in trying to pull off the biggest hit possible, it is a calculating style where Jayden Wright uses a great technique to hit the opposition just under the rib cage to devastating effect.

Jayden Wright, in 2023, with the demise of the Hastings Deering’s Colts competition will likely line up for the Currumbin Eagles in the Gold Coast Rugby League First Grade competition as Jayden Wright pushes for a Queensland Cup opportunity with the Tweed Heads Seagulls.

Jayden Wright played a variety of positions in his formative years of rugby league but over the last couple of seasons, playing exclusively in the front row, and on occasion at lock, Jayden Wright’s performances have gone to another level.

Jayden Wright is big and strong with a great motor and to that extent Jayden Wright’s playing style is not dis-similar to the Titans own NRL front rower Jaimen Jolliffe, with a better off-load.

[mdrew]

Kedan Chan-Tung. He is an outstanding talent in both rugby and rugby league from Ipswich that the Titans snared a couple of years ago and still post that time the exciting fullback or five eight has gone from strength to strength in both codes, with the potential of significantly more to come for the outstanding prospect.

Round Three of the 2023 Gold Coast Rugby League First Grade competition saw Kedan Chan-Tung start at fullback for the Burleigh Bears against the Helensvale Hornets with Kedan Chan-Tung scoring in the 34th minute when after receiving the ball six metres out from the try line and wide out on the left side of the field Kedan Chan-Tung cut back towards the goal posts only to be caught by two defenders still two metres from the try line but Kedan Chan-Tung would not be denied and fought in the tackle and was able to spin and get the ball down under the posts.

Kedan Chan-Tung also started at fullback in Round Seven against the Runaway Bay Seagulls with Kedan Chan-Tung scoring in the 24th minute when after taking possession of the ball nine metres out and to the right of the play the ball Kedan Chan-Tung sliced between two defenders to get the ball down whilst being tackled ten metres in from the right corner post.

Kedan Chan-Tung had earlier made a line break inside the opening minute of the match that almost led to a Bears try when from the left of the dummy half and on the halfway mark Kedan Chan-Tun stepped off his right foot back to the area behind the dummy half with Kedan Chan-Tung from there making a line break before, when confronted by the Seagulls fullback, Kedan Chan-Tung put in a right foot grubber kick with the outside of his right foot but unfortunately the Bears right winger was unable to collect the bouncing ball around a metre from the try line.

The 64th minute saw Kedan Chan-Tung take possession of the ball to the right of the play the ball and when he was ten metres from the try line Kedan Chan-Tung put in a right foot grubber kick into the in-goal and after the ball was tapped back into the in-goal gaol area by Burleigh the Seagulls fullback was trapped in-goal to force a Runaway Bay goal line drop-out.

Kedan Chan-Tung forced a second goal line drop-out in the 78th minute when from thirty metres out and down a short right blindside Kedan Chan-tung put a right foot chip over the top with Runaway Bay forced to knock the ball dead.

Kedan Chan-Tung then moved to five eight in Round Eight against the Helensvale Hornets with Kedan Chan-Tung scoring in the 5th minute when after receiving the ball to the right of the play the ball and twenty metres out, Kedan Chan-Tung looked up and after seeing space in front of him, Kedan Chan-Tung accelerated into the space with Kedan Chan-Tung then veering to his right to round the Hornets fullback to score ten metres to the right of the uprights.

In the 39th minute to the right of the play the ball Kedan Chan-Tung was hit hard on the halfway mark almost as soon as he took possession of the ball but Kedan Chan-Tung was able to bounce off the defender and after circling back towards the centre of the field, Kedan Chan-Tung was able to make fifteen metres as he broke three tackles over the course of the journey.

Kedan Chan-Tung also started at five eight in Round Nine against the Currumbin Eagles.

Kedan Chan-Tung then moved back to fullback in Round Ten against the Tugun Seahawks with Kedan Chan-Tung making a number of try saving tackles, the first of which coming in the 11th minute when Kedan Chan-Tung raced to his left to hold up the Seahawks left second rower (No. 12) ten metres in from the right corner post.

Kedan Chan-Tung made a further try saving tackle in the 14th minute when once again Kedan Chan-Tung raced to his left to hit the Tugun right winger and knock the ball from his grasp as he was about to put the ball down in the corner.

Kedan Chan-Tung also made a line break in the 61st minute when after tracking back to collect a dropped ball ten metres out from his own try line, Kedan Chan-Tung turned around and burst straight through the centre of the ruck and when in open space Kedan Chan-Tung stepped off his left foot twice to beat defenders with Kedan Chan-Tung then running back towards the centre of the field and was tackled twenty eight metres out from the try line.

Kedan Chan-Tung continued at fullback in Round Eleven against the Southport Tigers with Kedan Chan-Tung scoring twice in a tough match for the Bears.

Kedan Chan-Tung scored his opening try in the 27th minute when wit hteh play the abll three metres out Kedan Chan-Tung ran to his right out of dummy half down a short blindside and after dummying to his right Kedan Chan-Tung was caught by two defenders but was able to reach out with his right arm to get the ball down two metres in from the right corner post.

Kedan Chan-Tung completed his double in the 38th minute with Kedan Chan-Tung receiving the ball thwleve metres out as the Bears spun the ball to the right with Kedan Chan-Tung hit by a defender still four metrs from the try line byt Kedan Chan-Tung was able to maintain his balance and running line to reach out with his right arm to get the ball down nine metres in from the right corner post.

Kedan Chan-Tung also started at fullback in Round Fourteen against the Currumbin Eagles with Kedan Chan-Tung scoring in the 52nd minute when after receiving the ball two passes to the right of a Burleigh scrum win ten metres from the try line, Kedan Chan-Tung ran to his right and used a left arm fend to get on the outside of his opposing defender to score two metres in from the right corner post.

Kedan Chan-Tung recorded the first of his two try assists in the 7th minute with a good catch and pass to his right from twelve metres form his winger to score in the right corner.

Kedan Chan-Tung recorded his second try assist in the 33rd minute when after receiving a pass from his right forty four metres out, Kedan Chan-Tung burst down the left and when twenty metres out, Kedan Chan-Tung drew the fullback and passed to his left for his winger to score in the left corner.

Kedan Chan-Tung also made a 44th minute line break when after taking a Currumbin kick on the full eight metres out from his own try line and near the right touchline, Kedan Chan-Tung broke two tackles as he raced down the right touchline to carry the ball thirty metres downfield.

Kedan Chan-Tung then started at fullback in the Week Two Elimination Final against the Tugun Seahawks with Kedan Chan-Tung running the ball to the left of the dummy half in the 50th minute to get the ball from three metres inside Seahawks territory to within thirty metres of the try line.

2023 saw Kedan Chan-Tung play for the Burleigh Bears with Kedan Chan-Tung starting Round One of the Hastings Deering’s Colts competition at five eight for the Bears against the Easts Tigers with Kedan Chan-Tung making a line break in the 20th minute when from dummy half and the play the ball thirty eight metres from the try line Kedan Chan-Tung ran himself down a short left blindside and was able to get within two metres of the try line as he broke two tackles but unfortunately the ball was knocked from Kedan Chan-Tung’s grasp with the try line looming in front of him.

Keden Chan-Tung then recorded a line break assist in the 36th minute from twenty metres from his own try line Kedan Chan-Tung ran the ball to the left before throwing an inside ball to put his fullback on a long run downfield.

Kedan Chan-Tung then moved to start at halfback in Round Four against the Mackay Cutters.

Kedan Chan-Tung then started at five eight in Round Five against the Toowoomba Clydesdales with Kedan Chan-Tung recording a line break assist in the 19th minute when after running to his left when thirty metres out from the try line, Kedan Chan-Tung threw a smart cut-out pass to his left to put Jeremaiah Temapo down the left touchline.

Kedan Chan-Tung then moved to fullback in Round Six against the Ipswich Jets with Kedan Chan-Tung scoring in the 64th minute when after receiving an off-load from Sam McIntyre from his right after a long line break by the lock Kedan Chan-Tung raced away to put the ball down four metres to the left of the uprights.

Kedan Chan-Tung had come close to scoring in the 32nd minute only to be held up five metres to the right of the uprights after a darting run from twelve metres that included a clockwise spin to break two tackles.

Earlier in the 5th minute Kedan Chan-Tung had made a good run from thirty five metres out from his own try line and to the left of the play the ball with Kedan Chan-Tung carrying the ball three metres into Jets territory.

Kedan Chan-Tung then continued at fullback in Round Seven against the Souths Logan Magpies in a curtain raiser to the Titans against Souths Round Fourteen match at Cbus Stadium with Kedan Chan-Tung scoring in just the 2nd minute when after chiming into the backline on the left side of the field Kedan Chan-Tung received the ball ten metres out and sliced between two defenders and even though he was brought to ground just short of the try line Kedan Chan-Tung was able to roll over and get the ball down ten metres in from the left corner post.

Kedan Chan-Tung also made a darting run in the 13th minute from the left of the play the ball with Kedan Chan-Tung carrying the ball from twenty five metres out from his own try line with forty metres out.

After a number of matches with Burleigh Gold Coast Rugby League First grade side Kedan Chan-Tung was back for Round Thirteen against the Northern Pride with Kedan Chan-Tun scoring in the 71st minute when after the Northern Pride lost the ball on the Burleigh try line it was picked up by the Bears No. 15 picked up the ball and ran back towards the centre of the field with Kedan Chan-Tung timing his run perfectly to receive the off-load fifteen metres out and in front of the posts with Kedan Chan-Tung then racing eighty five metres while being chased by two defenders to dive over to score seven metres in from the right corner post.

Kedan Chan-Tung also recorded a try assist in the 16th minute when after taking receipt of the ball from the left of a Burleigh scrum win twenty metres out, Kedan Chan-Tung skipped to his left to get away from one defender and after drawing in a second defender Kedan Chan-Tung threw a cut-out pass to his left to Jeremaiah Temapo who after running over the top of his opposing winger slammed the ball down in the left corner.

Kedan Chan-Tung then recorded a second try assist in the 34th minute when to the left of the dummy half Kedan Chan-Tung threw an overhead cut-out pass to put his left centre over to score ten metres in from the left corner post.

Kedan Chan-Tung made it three try assists for the match in the 62nd minute when after backing up a Burleigh line break through the centre of the field, Kedan Chan-Tung received the ball from his right and as he was being dragged down from behind Kedan Chan-Tung off-loaded the ball to his left for his left second rower to score.

Inside the opening minute of the match Kedan Chan-Tung made a good kick-off return to get the ball to twenty two metres out from his own try line after taking possession of the ball ten metres out. Then in the 46th minute Kedan Chan-Tung ran the ball from the left of the dummy half from his own twenty three metres mark to four metres inside Northern Pride territory with Burleigh then awarded a penalty when a support player was tackled without the ball.

Kedan Chan-Tung also started at fullback in the Round Fifteen local derby against the Tweed Heads Seagulls with Kedan Chan-Tung recording a try assist in the 15th minute when from twelve metres out and to the left of the play the ball Kedan Chan-Tung threw an overhead cut-out pass to his left winger Jeremaiah Temapo who was able to rumble down the left touchline to score in the corner.

Earlier in the 5th minute Kedan Chan-Tung had come close to scoring himself when after running to his right out of dummy half from nine metres out Kedan Chan-Tung was held up over the try line ten metres in from the right corner post.

Week Two of the 2023 Hastings Deering’s Colts Final saw Kedan Chan-Tung start at fullback against the Redcliffe Dolphins with Kedan Chan-Tung running out of dummy half to his left in the 15th minute to get the ball from his own twenty metre mark out to the thirty five metre mark before Kedan Chan-Tung was awarded a penalty for ruck interference. Then in the 38th minute from the left of the play the ball Kedan Chan-Tung ran the ball through the centre of the field from forty metres out to within twenty seven metres of the try line.

Impressively Kedan Chan-Tung was one of a number of Titans rookie players that trained with the Titans NRL squad in the first five week block of the 2020/21 NRL pre-season.

The elusive Titans contracted outside back started at fullback for the Titans U18 side in their January 2020 match against the Newcastle Nights U18 SG Ball side scoring the Titans first try of the match and recording a try assist for the Titans second. Kedan Chan-Tung was deservedly named the Titans best back for his outstanding performance over the course of the match.

Kedan Chan-Tung scored the Titans first try of the match early in the first half. With the Titans having a scrum feed around forty metres out from the Newcastle line, Kedan Chan-Tung lined up two passes off the back of the scrum to the right of the field around about in line with the uprights.

After the Titans scrum win, Kedan Chan-Tung received the ball early running at the Newcastle line on a slight angle, probably around 30 degress, to the right of the field. Critically Kedan Chan-Tung ran at the line with the ball out in front of his body in two hands putting a degree of doubt in the Knights defensive line.

As he approached the defensive line, Kedan Chan-Tung shaped to pass the ball to his right but instead pulled the ball back into his body quickly and slid expertly through a small gap in the defensive line and easily outpaced the Knights cover defence in a forty metre run to the line, scroring around fifteen metres from the right corner post.

Late in the second half, Kedan Chan-Tung chased through a Thomas Weaver bomb, leaping over the Knights defence to take the ball on the full around three metres from the Knights line. With no way to get to the line Kedan Chan-Tung flicked the ball out of the back of his right hand to the left side of the field to an unmarked Jahreem Bula to dive over in the left corner untouched.

Kedan Chan-Tung started Round One of the 2020 MM Cup competition at five eight for the Ipswich Jets against the Townsville Blackhawks. 2020 was the second season in a row that Kedan Chan-Tung has been the starting five eight for the Ipswich Jets MM Cup side scoring twice the first half as Ipswich started off their campaign with an impressive first up victory.

Fellow Titans contracted player Orlando Swain was also a try scorer in that match for the Jets, in fact Orlando Swain scored the Jets first try of the match, with Kedan Chan-Tung scoring the second.

Mid-way through the 2020 season Kedan Chan-Tung commenced training with the Titans U20 Rookie Squad on a regular basis, such is the regard that the Titans hold him in.

In 2020 Kedan Chan-Tung also played rugby in Brisbane, playing for the Sunnybank Dragons in the Colts I competition operating primarily at No. 10 but also some matches at fullback.

Kedan Chan-Tung had a particularly impressive match in Round Four when he started at fullback against Wests. Early in the second half Kedan Chan-Tung produced a great run beating at least four defenders before producing an outstanding off load to Samuel Samu who scored under the posts.

Kedan Chan-Tung started the 2019 season off in the Ipswich Jets MM Cup squad starting Round One against the Townsville Blackhawks at five eight in the Jets impressive victory and also started at five eight in Round Two against the Burleigh Bears where he played against a multitude of Titans team mates.

In total for the Ipswich Jets 2019 MM Cup squad Kedan Chan-Tung played in all six of their matches starting all at five eight.

In 2019 Kedan Chan-Tung started Round One of the GPS School boy First XV school boy rugby competition at fullback for Ipswich Grammar School (IGS) contributing two tries as IGS had a big win over Brisbane State High School.

Kedan Chan-Tung’s first try came about when he was on hand after a long break to take the ball and dive over close to the line. His second try came from a scrum move and after receiving the ball he flew thirty five metres down the left touch line to score out wide, unfortunately not long after that he limped off with what looked like an ankle injury, missing Round Two as a result.

Kedan Chan-Tung was back at fullback for Round Three against Toowoomba Grammar School contributing a try to the IGS victory. The ball was spun out to the left, Kedan Chan-Tung received the ball in space, dummied to his left and strolled over from fifteen metres out.

Kedan Chan-Tung also had a try assist in the match, he fielded a kick on the full on the half way mark, and simply spilt the Toowoomba Grammar School defence right through the centre of the ruck, he could have beaten the fullback who was flat footed but instead he threw a long pass to his left to his winger who crossed out wide untouched.

Kedan Chan-Tung also produced an outstanding break in the second half, he folded around the back of the play on the left side of the field and after receiving the ball produced a great right arm field to gain separation before stepping off his left foot to break the line and charge down the centre of the field for a thirty metre run before the Toowoomba defence converged.

Kedan Chan-Tung moved to outside centre for Round Four against Nudgee College and whilst me may not have had the space he did at fullback still as a major contributor including scoring his 4th try of the GPS First XV season when he pounced on a mistake by the Nudgee fullback to score late in the first half.

In Round Five against Brisbane Boys College, Kedan Chan-Tung started at fullback and had a busy afternoon, making at least three try saving tackles in the first half alone as well as standing in at half back when IGS were reduced to 14 men in the first half as a result of a yellow card handed to the IGS No. 9.

With the ball Kedan Chan-Tung did not get too many opportunities after the opening minutes, but his first run of the match was outstanding when he broke three BBC tackles returning a kick in general play.

Kedan Chan-Tung was at his elusive best from fullback in Round Six against Anglican Church Grammar School scoring a try and setting up one both in the second half but Ipswich Grammar School went down 24 – 22 in a bit of an upset.

In relation to his try assist Kedan Chan-Tung took the ball in the right field and took the ball right to the line, copping a hit to the ribs for his trouble before popping a great short ball for his outside centre to slice through a gap to score.

Kedan Chan-Tung had a lot of work to do for his try, he received the ball once again on the right side of the field from Sam Walker, stepping off his right foot immediately upon receipt of the ball to get inside the immediate Churchie defender before accelerating over the ten metres to the line to dive over under pressure from three cover defenders.

After an Ipswich Grammar School Round Seven bye Kedan Chan-Tung started Round Eight against TSS at fullback and was dangerous as the match ended in an exciting 29 all draw with both teams having chances that they could not convert.

In Round Nine being the final round of the GPS School Boy First XV competition, Kedan Chan-Tung had two try assists from fullback both when he drew the Gregory Terrace fullback and passed to Roosters bound Sam Walker to score.

Post the GPS season Kedan Chan-Tung was named in the U18 Reds Academy Maroon side for a double header at Nudgee College in late September with Kedan Chan-Tung starting the match against the News South Wales Waratahs Academy from the bench.

In December 2019 Kedan Chan-Tung was part of the Queensland Maroons Boys U17 side that took part in the National Youth 7’s Championships on the Sunshine Coast.

On Day One of the Championships Kedan Chan-Tung came off the bench in Queensland Maroons wins over Western Australian and Northern Territory and on Day Two came off the bench in Queensland I’s final pool match victory against Victoria.

Kedan Chan-Tung also came off the bench in Queensland Maroons semi-final win 31 – 12 against Queensland White as well as their close, hard fought Championship final loss 17 – 14 to New South Wales One.

Earlier in 2019 Kedan Chan-Tung was part of the Titans U18 side in their match at Coffs Harbour against the Newcastle Knights U18 SG Ball squad which ended five tries all. The match was the first for Kedan Chan-Tung in Titans colours and I am sure not the last.

The Ipswich Grammar School student had an outstanding season in the 2018 U16 GPS School boy rugby competition which saw him being selected in the U16 Queensland Reds Rugby side after representing Queensland at the U15 level in 2017 with the Queensland side winning the Championships with a 69 – 10 win over the Sydney Rays.

Kedan Chan-Tung had an outstanding 2018 season which started with his selection in the Ipswich U16 side and through to his selection in the South East Queensland White U16 side for the Queensland Age Championships where he was initially named on the interchange bench but regardless spent a lot of time on the field.

Kedan Chan-Tung played the 2018 season with Northern Suburbs in the Ipswich U17 competition (he was U16 eligible) scoring seven tries from eleven matches. In 2017 in the Ipswich U15 competition Kedan Chan-Tung scored fourteen tries from just eleven matches.

Kedan Chan-Tung had a couple of seasons on the Gold Coast playing for the Helensvale Hornets with those seasons being in 2013 and 2014.

Kedan Chan-Tung has above average to plus top end speed and acceleration off the mark and is more than quick enough to take advantage of any space that he is given down the touchline by opponents.

One good think about his play in attack is that Kedan Chan-Tung stays wide and does not come in to crowd the ball carrier and is regularly outside his opposite number allowing his inside players to be able to find him in attack and in the games that I have seen he stays back and does not over run the players that are inside of him.

Kedan Chan-Tung seems to be aware of his skill set as he does not take chances with the sideline and does his utmost to ensure that he is not taken over the sideline and knows when to cut back inside rather than taking his opposite number on along the touchline.

Kedan Chan-Tung will also come in and take his fair share of hit ups to give his forwards a rest, when the ball needs to be brought out of his end of the field even though he is not the biggest or strongest player. In the situations previously described he runs at the defensive line from dummy half with vigour and Kedan Chan-Tung is definitely not intimidated by the size of any defender in front of him, regularly making significant post contact metres.

In terms of defence, Kedan Chan-Tung is solid and seemingly understands the attributes of his opposite number to the extent that he alters his defensive positioning if he is against speedy, elusive wingers as against larger more straight running opponents.

The 2020 season saw see Kedan Chan-Tung play for the Ipswich Jets MM Cup, starting at five eight for the second season in a row, well Round One at least before the season was cancelled after the opening round.

I would suggest that barring the termination of the competition Kedan Chan-Tung would have been a certainly to play a number of matches for the Ipswich Jets Hastings Deering’s Colts U20 side post the competition of the MM Cup.

In 2024 Kedan Chan-Tung will continue to play for the Burleigh Bears in the Gold Coast Rugby League First Grade competition as Kedan Chan-Tung pushes for an opportunity in the Queensland Cup with either the Burleigh Bears or Tweed Heads Seagulls..

Kedan Chan-Tung played primarily at fullback for Ipswich Grammar School in school boy rugby but more so in the centres or five eight, especially in the MM Cup in rugby league in 2019 and in the one round of 2021. 2020 saw Kedan Chan-Tung line up at five eight for the Sunnybank Dragons in the high quality U20 Brisbane Premier Colts I competition, an impressive feat for a young man who was still U18 eligible.

2023 saw Kedan Chan-Tung primarily play fullback for the Burleigh HDC and GCRL First Grade sides although Kedan Chan-Tung did play a handful of matches in the GCRL First Grade competition at five eight, however I am of the opinion that fullback is both Kedan Chan-Tung’s best position now as well as into the future.

With his combination of elusiveness, speed and body control I can envisage a future at fullback in rugby league and his performance for the Titans U18 side in January 2020 all but confirmed that for me. There is no doubt though that Kedan Chan-Tung getting experience at No. 10 in Colts rugby in 2020 will develop his skills especially in relation to his tactical kicking and game management skills.

From an NRL player comparison perspective, when seeing Kedan Chan-Tung in full flight you are seemingly looking at a mirror image for New Zealand Warriors and New Zealand test International fullback Roger Tuivasa-Sheck.

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

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

Kedan Chan-Tung is an outstanding talent and he screams NRL calibre every time that I see him play. Some players take a bit longer to get noticed by NRL clubs such as Taine Tuaupiki, could Kedan Chan-Tung be the next in line, I would not bet against that occurance.

[mdrew]

Josiah Pahulu. The powerful forward (Josiah Pahulu can play multiple positions in the forward pack, but mainly front row and lock) signed a new three year contract with the Titans in early October 2020 but then Josiah Pahulu had his contract upgraded in late November 2021 with his new contract taking in training with the Titans NRL squad.

Then on November 1, 2022, Josiah Pahulu commenced training in the Titans NRL off-season program with Josiah Pahulu resigning not long afterwards to the end of the 2025 season including being promoted to a Titan NRL Development contract for the 2023 season and a titans Top 30 NRL contract for 2024 and 2025.

Multiple Titans NRL players and coaches noted in various interview’s that Josiah Pahulu was one of the standouts in the Titans 2022/23 NRL off-season training programs which was no surprise at all for anyone who has seen Josiah Pahulu play over the last couple of years.

With the Titans affiliating with the Ipswich Jets in 2024 Josiah Pahulu was quickly named as one of the Titans players that will line up for the Ipswich Jets if not required for the NRL in the Queensland Cup competition.

Josiah Pahulu was named on the bench for the Titans NRL side in their opening 2023 trial against the Brisbane Bronco’s on the Sunshine Coast with Josiah Pahulu coming onto the field in the second half and making a real impact including a great smart play in the 70th minute when with the Bronco’s on the attack less than two metres from the Titans try line, one of the Bronco’s forwards off-loaded the ball but Josiah Pahulu who was already involved in the tackle reached around with his right arm to make contact with the ball then in a superb bit of thinking then kicked the ball back towards the Titans defensive line before it bounced to constitute a knock on to regain possession for the Titans. I must admit that I have never seen anything like Josiah Pahulu’s effort in my entire time watching rugby league.

In his time on the field Josiah Pahulu ran for sixty one metres (thirty three post contact – in excess of 50%), broke a tackle, played the ball at the lightning quick average speed of 3.3 seconds and made eight tackles at a 100% tackling efficiency.

2023 saw Josiah Pahulu return to the Burleigh Bears with Josiah Pahulu named to make his Queensland Cup debut in Round Three of the 2023 competition off the bench for the Bears against the Redcliffe Dolphins and what a debut the young forward had.

After coming onto the field in the 24th minute Josiah Pahulu was immediately into the action with a hit-up from thirty eight metres out from his own try line and to the left of the play the ball with Josiah Pahulu cutting off his right foot just prior to the defensive line to get the ball to the halfway mark.

Then in the 28th minute from ten metres out from his own try line and to the left of the play the ball Josiah Pahulu was able to get the ball over the twenty metre mark against a determined Dolphins defensive line.

Josiah Pahulu continued his strong Queensland Cup debut in the second half with a strong run in the 50th minute when from the right of the play the ball twenty metres out from his own try line and in the centre of the field Josiah Pahulu broke a tackle as he made fourteen metres. Then in the 55th minute two passes to the left of the dummy half Josiah Pahulu executed a lightning quick play the ball after making twelve metres to twenty metres out from the try line.

In the 59th minute Josiah Pahulu took a hit-up from twelve metres out from his own try line to the left of the play the ball and after engaging the Dolphins defensive line Josiah Pahulu was able to get his left arm free and get an off-load away to his left.

Josiah Pahulu also acquitted himself well defensively including a strong tackle in the 44th minute with a driving tackle on the Redcliffe No. 16 as he was trying to get the ball away with Josiah Pahulu’s effort forcing a Redcliffe knock on. Then after Burleigh had taken possession Josiah Pahulu took the next hit-up to the right of the play the ball with Josiah Pahulu making ten metres.

Then in the 79th minute the Redcliffe No. 16 made a half break from thirty metres out from his own try line but Josiah Pahulu willed himself to his left to bring the Dolphins ball runner down from behind to force a loos pass which the Bears were able to pick up and go immediately onto the attack.

Playing forty five minutes Josiah Pahulu ran for 152 metres (thirty four post contact), broke a tackle, played the ball at a lightening quick 2.72 seconds and made fifteen tackles at a tackling efficiency of 93.75%.

Josiah Pahulu made his return from a long injury lay off from the bench in Round Twenty one against the Mackay Cutters with Josiah Pahulu making good metres in the 34th minute from the left of the play the ball from his own thirty seven metre mark to get the ball four metres into Mackay territory with 60% of Josiah Pahulu’s metres being post contact.

The 36th minute then saw Josiah Pahulu charge onto the ball to the left of the play the ball to carry the ball from the halfway mark to thirty nine metres out, then a minute later in the 37th minute from a Burleigh penalty restart Josiah Pahulu get the ball from twenty eight metres out from the try line to fourteen metres out.

Josiah Pahulu completed a good return from injury in the 42nd minute with a carry through the centre of the field and from the left of the play the ball from thirty eight metres from the try line to the twenty two metre mark.

Playing nineteen minute Josiah Pahulu ran for fifty four metres (twenty eight post contact), played the ball at an average speed of 3.22 seconds and made thirteen tackles at a tackling efficiency of 86.67%.

Josiah Pahulu also started from the bench in Round Twenty two against the Townsville Blackhawks and after coming onto the field in the 31st minute Josiah Pahulu made a good kick-off return out to the twenty metre mark.

The 40th minute saw Josiah Pahulu, from the right of the play the ball, carried the ball from his own twenty two metre mark out to the thirty five metre mark. Josiah Pahulu also did well in the 54th minute when Josiah Pahulu swooped on a dropped Townsville ball and returned the ball to thirty metres out from the try line.

Playing thirty minutes Josiah Pahulu ran for forty two metres (seventeen post contact), played the ball at an average speed of 3.88 seconds and made fourteen tackles at a tackling efficiency of 93.33%.

In total in the 2023 Queensland Cup competition Josiah Pahulu played in three matches playing a total of ninety four minutes with Josiah Pahulu running for 250 metres at an average of eighty three metres per match with 84.5 of those metres post contact. Josiah Pahulu also broke four tackles, recorded an off-load and made forty five tackles at a tackling efficiency of 91.8%.

Josiah Pahulu started from the bench in the Bears late February 2023 Queensland Cup trial against the Tweed Heads Seagulls with Josiah Pahulu coming onto the field in the 34th minute with Josiah Pahulu making his presence felt immediately with a strong tackle one one of the Burleigh forwards.

Josiah Pahulu could not have made a more impressive start to the second half with a powerhouse run from the Seagulls kick-off with Josiah Pahulu easily getting the ball over the twenty metre mark.

Josiah Pahulu also made a strong hit-up in the 48th minute that led to a Burleigh try when from ten metres out from the try line and to the left of the play the ball Josiah Pahulu got to within three metres of the try line and afer the Seagulls defence could not get him to the ground Josiah Pahulu got away a smart left arm off-load to Vaka Sikahele who continued the movement towards the left side of the field for the Bears to score wide out. Josiah Pahulu then made a strong charge over the twenty metre mark from the resultant kick-off.

Then in the 51st minute Josiah Pahulu broke two tackles as he promoted the ball from six metres inside his own territory to eight metres into Tweed Heads territory.

In early February 2023 Josiah Pahulu was named in the 2023 Queensland Rugby League Emerging Origin U19 squad.

2023 also saw Josiah Pahulu named on the bench in the Courier Mail School Boy Rugby League Langer Cup Team of the 2020’s.

In early December 2022 Josiah Pahulu took part in a joint training session betweed the Titans JTS contracted players and the Titans NRL squad.

Josiah Pahulu initially signed with the Titans in early 2019 after starring for one of the two Titans U15 Invitational sides that played a round robin series of matches at Mudgeeraba in February 2019. The other team in the round robin was a Western Mustangs representative side. That afternoon was the firsty occasion that I saw Josiah Pahulu play. I was impressed that day and I have been impressed in every match of Josiah Pahulu’s that I have seen since.

In early May 2022 Josiah Pahulu was named in the Queensland U19 Rugby League Representative side for their annual match against New South Wales with Josiah Pahulu starting the match from the interchange bench. Josiah Pahulu came onto the field in the 25th minute and impressively played the remainder of the match.

Impressively Josiah Pahulu was named by the Courier Mail as the 2022 Ipswich Rugby League best junior rugby league talent.

In late July 2022 Josiah Pahulu was part of the Titans U19 squad that played a North Queensland Cowboys squad as a curtain raiser to the Titans NRL Round Twenty match against Canberra at Cbus Stadium with Josiah Pahulu more than holding his own against a giant Cowboys forward pack.

In late January 2022 Josiah Pahulu started in the front row for the Titans U19 side in a match at Pizzey Park against the Burleigh Hastings Deering’s Colts side with Josiah Pahulu being involved in the opening tackle of the match after Tom Weaver kicked off to get the match underway.

Josiah Pahulu also executed a great front on tackle in the 10th minute on TJ Devery when he drove his right shoulder into the Burleigh forward forcing him back a number of metres.

The first of a number of strong hit-ups by Josiah Pahulu in the match came in the 14th minute when he charged to near to the twenty metre mark off the kick-off to Ryan Foran’s opening try. The halftime break did not slow Josiah Pahulu down and the 56th minute he made a strong eleven metre charge to the right of the dummy half to get the ball to the twenty metre mark.

Josiah Pahulu continued his strong match in the 58th minute making twelve metres to get the ball to five metres into Burleigh territory after receiving the ball to the right of the play the ball. As soon as he was brought to ground, Josiah Pahulu immediately fought to get to his feet for a quick play the ball but after being denied that opportunity, Josiah Pahulu was awarded a deserved penalty after being held down. From the subsequent set of six tackles, Josiah Pahulu took the second hit-up, getting the ball to fifteen metres out.

Another strong charge from Josiah Pahulu came in the 62nd minute, on that occasion making ten metres to get the ball twenty out from the try line.

In late July 2022 Josiah Pahulu started in the front row for a Titans U19 side that played their annual match against the North Queensland Cowboys that was played as a curtain raiser at Cbus Stadium to the Titans Round Twenty NRL match against the Canberra Raiders with Josiah Pahulu making strong charge in the 12th minute from the kick-off return from Keano Kini’s opening try.

Josiah Pahulu made a further strong kick-off return in the 25th minute from the kick-off from another Keano Kini try with Josiah Pahulu able to promote the ball to twenty eight metres out from his own try line.

Josiah Pahulu was also strong defensively against the Cowboys including a great hit in the 56th minute on the North Queensland left centre as he attempted to bring the ball out of his own twenty metre mark.

In mid-December 2021 Josiah Pahulu had the opportunity to train with the Titans NRL squad in a joint training session between the Titans NRL squad and the Titans JTS Program Squads where Josiah Pahulu spent a fair portion of the joint session working with David Fifita.

Josiah Pahulu made his Hastings Deering’s Colts debut from the bench in the Round Two local derby against the Tweed Heads Seagulls coming onto the field at around the 24 minute mark to play in the front row with Josiah Pahulu’s first run coming just after he came on when he made eight metres after taking possession to the right of the play the ball.

Then in the 29th minute Josiah Pahulu made a strong run from a Burleigh penalty restart with Josiah Pahulu making eight metres into the teeth of the Seagulls forward pack but when he was taken to ground, Josiah Pahulu was not held and was back to his feet in a flash and was able to make a further six metres.

Josiah Pahulu produced a further strong run in the 34th minute when after picking up a loose ball from Burleigh he was able to make twelve metres to get the ball back to near the halfway mark.

In the 48th minute Josiah Pahulu almost was able to put Samuel Shannon over after he got an away a good off-load to Samuel Shannon but he was in the end Samuel Shannon was held up over the line.

Josiah Pahulu kept pumping his legs post contact with the defensive line in the 61st minute when he got within two metres of the try line after a strong fifteen metre burst.

As he is quickly becoming known for Josiah Pahulu just keeps going and going on matter what and that was the case in the 69th minute when he willed himself to his left to tackle Thomas Weaver who had beaten one tackle and set sail for the try line five metres out and directly under the posts but Josiah Pahulu got there to make the tackle and prevent the try.

Josiah Pahulu also started from the bench in Round Three against the Western Clydesdales and in the 38th minute Josiah Pahulu scored his first Colts try of his career in the 39th minute after coming onto the field to play in the front row mid-way through the first half.

Josiah Pahulu scored in the 39th minute when he ran off an off-load from Isaac Matalavea-Booth with Josiah Pahulu running to his left after receiving the ball before straightening up to crash over five metres to the left of the uprights.

Josiah Pahulu also recorded a try assist in the 28th minute when after receiving a pass to his right off the dummy half just eight metres from the line, Josiah Pahulu moved to his left before throwing a good short ball to his left to a charging Isaac Matalavea-Booth who was able to crash over from close range.

Josiah Pahulu was once again named on the bench for Burleigh in Round Five against the Souths Logan Magpies however he was a late scratching from the match due to his selection in the Queensland U19 squad.

In late October 2021 Josiah Pahulu was named in the Ipswich Jets 2022 U18 MM Cup squad with Josiah Pahulu looking certain to be the corner stone of the Jets powerful forward pack. However in early 2022 Josiah Pahulu transferred to the Burleigh Bears MM Cup squad for the 2022 MM Cup season.

Round One of the 2022 MM Cup competition saw Josiah Pahulu named on the bench for the Burleigh Bears against the Easts Tigers however the match was rained out due to extreme weather conditions.

Josiah Pahulu was then named to start on the bench for Round Two against the Souths Logan Magpies. After coming on in the 17th minute, there was no doubt that Josiah Pahulu was comfortably the Bears best in their ten point loss, including a great eighteen metre charge from the Souths Logan kick-off to Xavier Asi’s early second half try.

Even in the final minute with Burleigh down by ten Josiah Pahulu was not about to give up and charged onto a pass from the dummy half to the left of the play the ball, rumbling sixteen metres downfield, at least 50% of which were post contact metres to get the ball within thirty metres of the try line. The match saw Josiah Pahulu run for a match leading 173 metres.

Josiah Pahulu also had a big match defensively and in the 69th minute he chased through a long Burleigh clearing kick, smashing the Souths Logan Magpies fullback who was returning the ball with the ball coming loose as a result and Burleigh getting the subsequent scrum feed.

Josiah Pahulu also was named to start from the bench in Round Three against the Norths Devils however Josiah Pahulu in fact started the match in the front row and had a huge game including scoring a barnstorming try in the 28th minute when Josiah Pahulu charged onto the ball from ten metres out and to the right of the play the ball and just to the left of the uprights. After taking possession Josiah Pahulu cut back to his left bumping off one defender and then Josiah Pahulu crashed over between four defenders.

Josiah Pahulu could not have gotten into the match any quicker when he took the first hit-up from the kick-off getting the ball out to the twenty metre mark. Josiah Pahulu made a further strong run in the 3rd minute with Josiah Pahulu making another thirteen hard yards.

The 21st minute saw Josiah Pahulu once again attack the North’s line when he charged onto a Bear penalty tap restart thirty metres from the try line with Josiah Pahulu initially cutting back to his left upon receipt of the ball. After getting rid of two would be tacklers, Josiah Pahulu ran across field to his right before straightening up and being tackled thirteen metres out. Josiah Pahulu then executed an exceptionally quick play the ball with VJ Semu scoring from the resultant play.

Only three minutes later in the 24th Josiah Pahulu made another strong run from a penalty tap restart making twelve metres to get the ball within eight metres of the try line and then once again Josiah Pahulu’s exceptionally quick play the ball led to a try to EJ FInau on the next play.

Josiah Pahulu was then at it again from the kick-off to EJ Finau’s try with yet another great charge from the back fence in the 26th minute. Then from the kick-off after he scored in the 28th minute, Josiah Pahulu took the second hit-up and once again bent the North’s Devils defensive line backwards.

Then in the 63rd minute Josiah Pahulu from a penalty restart charged at the defensive line from inside Devils territory. Just as he was about to engage the defensive line Josiah Pahulu slipped, going to ground. One defender went over the top of him so Josiah Pahulu was back onto his feet in an instant and continued towards the try line, getting to within five metres before the referee finally called held, even if Josiah Pahulu disagreed.

Josiah Pahulu’s dominant performance saw him named in the front row in the Courier Mail U18 Mal Meninga Cup Round Three Team of the Week.

Josiah Pahulu then continued in the front row in Round Four against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls and once again was one of Burleigh’s best in their come from behind 40 – 24 victory.

Josiah Pahulu’s initial key contribution came in the 4th minute from the kick-off after Wynnum Manly’s opening try when Josiah Pahulu along with Joseph Shannon hit the Seagulls forward with the ball coming loose as a result of the contact. Burleigh scored their opening try of the match from the resultant set of six.

Josiah Pahulu made a strong charge in the 29th minute from a Burleigh penalty restart with Josiah Pahulu bending the defensive line back and then Josiah Pahulu was able to get his left arm free and off-load to Dorian Mapusua-Lotaki who was able to promote the ball five metres further Josiah Pahulu immediately got to his feet and took the hit-up from Dorian Mapusua-Lotaki’s play the ball, making a further thirteen metres and breaking one tackle along the way.

The halftime break certainly did not stop Josiah Pahulu which was shown when he took the third hit-up of the second half after the Seagulls had kicked off.

Another right arm off-load from Josiah Pahulu in the 41st minute was part of the Bears best move of the match that ultimately led to a try by Karauria Stokes-Mahara score in the left corner.

Josiah Pahulu ran the ball around twenty five metres out and to the right of the play and it looked for all money that Wailer Whaiapu would take the line on but after committing a number of defenders he threw a great ball to Josiah Pahulu who had worked into space on Wailer Whaiapu’s right. Josiah Pahulu engaged the defensive line and whilst still engaged with one defender Josiah Pahulu got a right arm off-load away to Bailey McConnell who promoted the ball to Arama Hau who then off-loaded for Karauria Stokes-Mahara dive over in the corner.

Josiah Pahulu got another off-load away in the 43rd minute when after charging onto the ball to the right of the dummy half Josiah Pahulu getting the ball out of his own twenty metre area he got his left arm free with three defenders engaged and got the ball away to Wailer Whaiapu.

Josiah Pahulu also scored in the 48th minute when he burst onto an off-load near the line and kept his legs pumping and for a moment it appeared that he had scored by the referee adjudged that he was brought down short of the line, but Josiah Pahulu did not dwell on not scoring and got to his feet immediately with his quick play the ball assisting in Dorian Mapusua-Lotaki being able to dive over from dummy half.

Josiah Pahulu showed that he is not all about powerful hard running in the 51st minute when he received an off-load that he was not excepting and was immediately hit by two defenders but Josiah Pahulu maintained his compose and got an off-load away to Bailey McConnell to extend the movement.

Josiah Pahulu pulled off a strong tackle in the 57th minute when along with Taniela Mapusua-Lotaki he smashed the Easts Tigers front rower who as taking the kick-off return.

Such was the quality of Josiah Pahulu’s performance that he was named in the front row in the Courier Mail’s MM Cup Round Four Team of the Week. That was the second round in a row that Josiah Pahulu was named in the front row in the Courier Mail Team of the Week.

Josiah Pahulu continued in the front row in Round Six against the Redcliffe Dolphins with Josiah Pahulu scoring a deserved try in the 29th minute. With Burleigh playing the ball less than a metres from the try line, Josiah Pahulu lined up to the right of the play the ball, receiving a short pass from the dummy half which came to him just over his left shoulder with the direction of the pass forcing Josiah Pahulu to turn completely around to have his back to the try line. That did not deter Josiah Pahulu however as he backed his way towards the line. As he got to the line, Josiah Pahulu spun to his left to get the ball down right on the try line and just to the left of the uprights.

Josiah Pahulu’s first hit-up was the second of the match with Josiah Pahulu making twelve metres by way of a half break after he had a received a good short ball from his right from Wailer Whaiapu. As is his want Josiah Pahulu was looking for a quick play the ball and after being denied that opportunity was awarded a deserved penalty.

Josiah Pahulu continued his strong start to the match in the 8th minute with a fifteen metre charge from a penalty restart with his run into the Dolphins set defensive line commencing on his own twenty metre mark.

In the 25th minute Josiah Pahulu took on the Devils defensive line one again in the 25th minute when after receiving the ball twenty two metres from the try line, Josiah Pahulu broke three tackles as he got to within three minutes of the try line directly in front of the goal posts.

I have noted a number of outstanding runs from Josiah Pahulu but probably Josiah Pahulu’s best run of the match came in the 50th minute when from a penalty tap re-start Josiah Pahulu broke five tackles in a twenty five metre charge with Josiah Pahulu getting the ball from inside his own territory to just thirty metres from the line.

As a result of his outstanding performance Josiah Pahulu was once again named in the front row in the Mal Meninga Cup Round Six Courier Mail Team of the Week.

Through the opening six rounds of the 2022 U18 Mal Meninga Cup competition Josiah Pahulu had run for the 7th most metres being 536 metres at an average of 179 metres per match and also made a line break.

Josiah Pahulu was also named to start in the front row in the Round Seven local derby against the Tweed Heads Seagulls but was a late scratching when he was called up to the Burleigh Hastings Deering’s Colts side.

Josiah Pahulu was also named to start in the front row in the rescheduled Round One match against the East Tigers and once again Josiah Pahulu putting in a Player of the Match performance including an outstanding first half try.

In the 16th minute Josiah Pahulu stationed himself two passes to the right of the play the ball and then cut back underneath Bailey McConnell, taking possession twelve metres from the try line, Josiah Pahulu stepped off his right foot to beat one defender before straightening up and making contact with a defender four metres out. From there Josiah Pahulu kept battling and forced his way over the try line after being twisted around and landing on his back but Josiah Pahulu was able to get the ball down on his third attempt ten metres to the left of the uprights.

Josiah Pahulu was still fired up from his try when he ran back the resultant kick-off getting the ball twenty two metres away from his own try line.

Josiah Pahulu got himself into the match early by taking Burleigh’s third hit-up of the match in the 2nd minute. Josiah Pahulu made a further strong run in the 6th minute from the 2nd run after Burleigh’s opening try with Josiah Pahulu taking possession twenty metre out and to the left of the play the ball and getting the ball over the thirty metre mark.

Josiah Pahulu led from the front and through his actions and not words in the 11th minute when after three tackles Burleigh were only six metres out from their own line, Josiah Pahulu took it upon himself to do something about that when he charged onto the ball to the right of the play the ball with Josiah Pahulu getting the ball all of the way to his own twenty metre mark with at least ten of the fourteen metres that Josiah Pahulu post contact.

Josiah Pahulu had a number of positive defensive moments in the match including in the 11th minute when he along with Seth Nikotemo sandwiched the Tigers halfback just metres from the try line after he had stepped past one Bears defender who had raced out of the line.

Josiah Pahulu made a further strong run in the 15th minute once again getting the ball over his own twenty metre mark, Josiah Pahulu was then awarded a penalty after not being allowed to his feet in a timely fashion.

Josiah Pahulu was literally everywhere in the match and in the 39th minute made a ball and all tackle on the Easts left winger with the ball popping up in the air, Josiah Pahulu nabbed the ball at its apex just inside his own territory and even with Tigers players all around him Josiah Pahulu was still able to get the ball five metres into Tigers territory.

Getting the ball back to the twenty metre mark is the goal from a kick-off return and Josiah Pahulu certainly matched that goal in the 57th minute as the Bears looked to stay in front in a seesawing second half.

Josiah Pahulu was also named in the front row in the 2022 MM Cup Courier Mail Team of the Season.

Josiah Pahulu was also named the 2022 Burleigh Bears MM Cup Best and Fairest.

Josiah Pahulu’s first match in a Bear’s jersey came when he started on the bench coming on to play in the front row in the 23rd minute of Burleigh’s February 2022 trial against the Western Clydesdales with Josiah Pahulu producing a dominate display for his new team.

Josiah Pahulu’s first touch of the ball came almost immediately after coming on when he charged onto the ball from a kick-off after a Burleigh’s third try of the match. Josiah Pahulu made a further strong charge in the 28th minute when from the right of the dummy half, Josiah Pahulu got the ball to within five metres of the halfway after a fifteen metre run and Josiah Pahulu was then awarded a penalty when he was not allowed to his feet in a timely fashion.

Halftime time certainly did not slow Josiah Pahulu as in the 53rd minute Josiah Pahulu charged to five metres inside the Western Clydesdales territory after making fifteen metres from the left of the dummy half.

Josiah Pahulu produced a great bit of skill in the 62nd minute with from the left of the dummy half Josiah Pahulu produced a great catch and pass to his left to put his team mate into a hole in the defensive line.

Defensively Josiah Pahulu also had a strong game, an example being in the 37th minute when he produced a try saving tackle less than five metres from the try line on the right side of the field from behind. Josiah Pahulu was actually at marker and kept tracking the ball to the left and was on hand to save a try when the Clydesdales attacked had stepped his way through the Bears defensive line.

In late May 2022 Josiah Pahulu also represented Met West in the U18 QSSRL School Boy Championships starting both of Met West’s matches in the front row and at the conclusion of the Championships Josiah Pahulu was named in the 2022 Queensland Open School Boy Rugby League Representative side and just prior to the commencement of the Championships, Josiah Pahulu was named by the Courier Mail as the tenth best U18 Rugby League player in Australia.

Josiah Pahulu started in the front row in Queensland’s opening round of the Championships against the Australian Capital Territory with Josiah Pahulu scoring Queensland’s opening try of the Championships in the 8th minute when he received the ball two passes to the left of the play the ball. The ball to Josiah Pahulu was fractionally behind him and whilst twenty one metres out from the try line, Josiah Pahulu spun 360 degrees clockwise before bursting through two tackles and charging over to score six metres in from the left corner post. As Josiah Pahulu was charging towards the try line the ACT fullback was coming across but he wanted no part of trying to stop Josiah Pahulu from scoring.

Then from the subsequent kick-off Josiah Pahulu charged onto the ball and got the ball thirty five metres away from the try line before being awarded a penalty with Josiah Pahulu then taking a hit-up from the subsequent penalty restart.

Josiah Pahulu had a strong start to the match, taking Queensland’s first hit-up to get the ball over the halfway mark and then also ran the ball on the 5th tackle in the same set and after making contact with the defensive line Josiah Pahulu was able to get away a left arm off-load with his back towards the try line.

Josiah Pahulu continues his strong match in the 34th minute with a strong charge to the right of the play the ball that got the ball thirty metres away from his own try line.

Josiah Pahulu also started in the front row in Match Two being the semi-final against NSW CIS with Josiah Pahulu taking the opening hit-up of the match. Then in the 5th minute Josiah Pahulu made a strong charge in the 5th minute when after running onto the ball to the right of the play the ball Josiah Pahulu made a tough twelve metres which saw Josiah Pahulu get the ball ten metres into NSW CIS territory.

Josiah Pahulu continued his strong match in the 34th minute from his own twenty metre mark with Josiah Pahulu making fifteen metres after taking possession to the right of the play the ball.

Josiah Pahulu also started at in the front row in Queensland U18 ASSRL Championships Grand Final victory over NSW CHS with Josiah Pahulu making the third tackle of the match with Josiah Pahulu’s heavy contact forcing the ball loose and putting Queensland immediately onto the attack.

Josiah Pahulu made another strong tackle in the 6th minute with a huge front-on hit on the NSW CHS right second rower with Josiah Pahulu’s heavy contact forcing the NSW second rower back a number of metres.

Josiah Pahulu added a further strong tackle in the 35th minute when he smashed one of the NSW front rower around thirty five metres out from the try line. Then after the front rower tried to get an off-load away which went straight up in the air, Josiah Pahulu smartly got to his feet to take the ball on the full and completely change the momentum of the match early in the second half.

I have mentioned Josiah Pahulu’s defence but Josiah Pahulu was also outstanding running the ball, always making himself available and one of Josiah Pahulu’s strongest runs came in the 48th minute when a strong charge from his own thirty metre mark and after engaging the defensive line, Josiah Pahulu got away a good left arm off-load after running onto the ball to the left of the play the ball.

Josiah Pahulu’s outstanding performances over the course of the 2022 ASSRL U18 Championships saw Josiah Pahulu noted by the Courier Mail by being named on various other lists including one of the “Best Mobile Big Men”.

Josiah Pahulu’s performances over the course of the 2022 ASSRL U18 Championships saw Josiah Pahulu named in the Australian School Boys Squad for their Fijian tour with Josiah Pahulu presented with the No. 8 jersey prior to heading to Fiji.

Josiah Pahulu started in the front row for the Australian School Boys side in their match against Fiji Schools with Australia recording a big win.

Round One of the 2022 Langer Cup School Boy competition saw Josiah Pahulu start in the front row and captain for Ipswich State High School against Keebra Park State High School with Josiah Pahulu putting in an outstanding performance to lead from the front as Ipswich SHS recorded an impressive first up 24 – 16 victory.

Josiah Pahulu also started in the front row and captain in Round two against Mabel Park State High School with Josiah Pahulu once again putting in a powerful performance in another big Ipswich SHS victory.

After the mid-season break, Josiah Pahulu started from the bench in Round Four against PBC State High School coming onto the field in the 23rd minute to operate in the front row and in the seven minutes until the halftime break Josiah Pahulu made an impressive five hit-up, accounting for in excess of fifty metres gained.

Josiah Pahulu’s dominance continued in the second half including in the 39th minute with a strong charge and off-load and then in the 43rd minute Josiah Pahulu made twenty tough metres to forty metres out after taking possession to the right of the play the ball.

Josiah Pahulu continued in the front row in Round Five against Wavell SHS as well as in Round Six against Coombabah SHS and Round Seven against Marsden State High School.

Josiah Pahulu also started in the front row and captain for Ipswich SHS in their Quarter Final against Coombabah SHS with Josiah Pahulu outstanding in his two stints on the field.

The first of multiple exceptional runs from Josiah Pahulu came in the 4th minute with Josiah Pahulu made a great eighteen metre charge to his own forty metre mark with around 75% of the run made up of post contact metres after running onto the ball to the left of the play the ball.

Then in the 9th minute Josiah Pahulu once again charged onto the ball to the left of the play the ball with Josiah Pahulu making twenty two metres to get the ball just into Coombabah SHS territory.

Josiah Pahulu added a further strong run in the 15th minute by making twenty more metres and breaking three tackles as he charged from his own forty metre mark to forty metres out from the try line.

Josiah Pahulu was just as outstanding in his second stint on the field as was evidenced in the 54th minute when from an Ipswich SHS penalty tap restart Josiah Pahulu made a twenty metre charge to get within five metres of the try line with at least 50% of Josiah Pahulu’s metres post contact.

Josiah Pahulu also started in the front row in the 2022 Langer Cup Semi-Final against Marsden SHS.

Josiah Pahulu started in the front row in the 2022 School Boy Langer Cup Grand Final against PBC SHS with Josiah Pahulu putting in a dominating performance including an exceptional solo try mid-way through the first half when from an Ipswich SHS penalty tap restart fifteen metres out and towards the right touchline, Josiah Pahulu charged onto the ball and immediately cut towards the centre of the field and broke through a number of attempted tackles to score under the posts.

It was clear from the opening minutes that Josiah Pahulu was in for a big match when in the 9th minute made a hard charge for the left of the play the ball with Josiah Pahulu getting the ball from two metres inside his own territory to twelve metes inside PBC SHS territory.

Josiah Pahulu made a great play in the 51st minute when with the Grand Final in the balance PBC SHS put up a bomb from inside their attacking twenty metre area towards the Ipswich SHS left corner. Joshua Pahulu willed himself across field and jumped high amongst a myriad of players from both teams to take the ball on the full just a metre out from his own try line.

At the completion of the 2022 Langer Cup season Josiah Pahulu was named in the front row in the Courier Mail Langer Cup Team of the Year.

Josiah Pahulu then started in the front row and captain as Ipswich SHS took on Ignatius Park SHS in the 2022 Queensland School Boys Final with Josiah Pahulu leading from the front once again as Ipswich SHS became the 2022 Queensland School Boy Champions with Josiah Pahulu deservedly raising the trophy as captain and leader of the Ipswich SHS team.

Josiah Pahulu also started in the front row and captain for Ipswich SHS in the Australian School Boy Championship match against Patrician Brothers Fairfield.

At the end of the 2022 season Josiah Pahulu was named in the front row in the Ipswich State High School Team of the Year.

Josiah Pahulu was also named as the fifth best School Boy Rugby League or Rugby School Boy player in the 2022 Courier Mail Top 30 school boys.

In October 2021 Josiah Pahulu was named in the 2021 Queensland Samoa U18 representative side for the 2021 QPICC Cultural Carnival, starting all four of his matches at the Carnival at lock and captain, being Match One against Tonga, Match Two against PNG, Match Three against the Cook Islands and Match Four against Queensland Maori.

Josiah Pahulu scored twice at the Carnival being against the Cook Islands in Match Three and Queensland Maori in Match Four. Josiah Pahulu’s try against the Cook Islands was a typically powerful effort. In the 27th minute with Samoa on the attack Josiah Pahulu stationed himself directly behind the play the ball. After the dummy half picked up the ball, Josiah Pahulu ran to the right of the play the ball, receiving the ball five metres out. Near the line Josiah Pahulu stepped off his right foot to dive over on the right side of the field mid-way between the corner post and goal posts.

In January 2021 Josiah Pahulu started at right second row for the Titans U17 side in their annual match at Coffs Harbour against the Newcastle Knights with Josiah Pahulu producing a dominating performance in the impressive Titans 32 – 20 victory in both attack and defence. In a sign of the high regard that the Titans have in Josiah Pahulu, he was acting captain for periods of the match.

One tackle in particular stood out in the match, Newcastle were bringing the ball off their own try line when Josiah Pahulu moved up and got in and under the ribs of the ball runner with his left shoulder. Josiah Pahulu drove the Knights forward back three metres and put him on his back, taking all momentum out of the Knights set of six.

In early May 2021 a Titans U19 side travelled to North Queensland to play an U19 Cowboys selection in a curtain raiser to a Cowboys v Broncos NRL match with Josiah Pahulu starting the match on the bench for the Titans.

Then in June 2021 Josiah Pahulu started at lock for a Titans U17 JTS squad that played at Cbus Stadium against a Titans Northern Rivers U18 selection, with the match being played as a curtain raiser to the Titans Round Fourteen NRL match against the Sydney Roosters.

Josiah Pahulu commenced his 2021 MM Cup campaign for the Ipswich Jets starting at lock against the Western Mustangs and also started at lock in the Jets second MM Cup trial against the Easts Tigers.

In Round One of the 2021 MM Cup competition, Josiah Pahulu was named to start in the front row against the Tweed Heads Seagulls but ended up starting the match at lock and was in the action almost immediately when he made solid contact on fellow Titans contracted forward Ryan Foran who has making just the third hit-up of the match.

One of the best of Josiah Pahulu’s carriers with the ball came in the 10th minute of the match when he took the ball to the right of the dummy half and dragged defenders around ten metres before being stopped less than ten metres away from the try line.

As he was in the first half it did not take long for Josiah Pahulu to get involved in the second with a strong second hit-up of the second half.

Round Two against the Burleigh Bears saw Josiah Pahulu started at lock and a strong charge which made eleven metres into the Bears ten metre zone was a sign of things to come. Josiah Pahulu produced a further strong run in the 26th minute with a charge into Burleigh’s territory that accounted for fifteen metres.

Early in the second half Josiah Pahulu was everywhere for the Jets looking to get them back into the match, starting with a strong charge from just the second hit-up of the second half. A minute later Josiah Pahulu once again took the ball into the Burleigh defensive line, making ten metres to get the ball of the Ipswich twenty metre zone and then from a penalty restart made a further ten metres, then from the third tackle in that same set of six was yet another run of around ten metres.

Josiah Pahulu continued his strong second half performance in the 53rd minute with a powerful run that netted eighteen metres to get the bell within twelve metres of the Bears try line. Even with the match out of Ipswich’s reach, Josiah Pahulu continued to keep trying as was evidenced by a fifteen metre rumble through centre field in the 68th minute of the match.

Josiah Pahulu was named in the front row in Round Three against the Souths Logan Magpies and was one of the Jets best on the way to making 128 metres, with a fair percentage of those metres being post contact metres.

Josiah Pahulu also started in the front row in Round Four against the Tweed Heads Seagulls and was one of the best players on the field. Josiah Pahulu made an immediate impact in the match with a strong twelve metre run over the halfway mark in Ipswich’s first set of six in the match and continued on from there.

In just the 3rd minute of the match, Josiah Pahulu produced another strong charge of the ball down a short blindside on the left to bring the ball over the halfway mark, making twelve metres and then Josiah Pahulu made a further fifteen metres later in the same set of six tackles that took the Jets into their attacking twenty metre zone.

Even the incredibly hot conditions that the match was played in could not stop Josiah Pahulu as in the 9th minute, Josiah Pahulu once again ran the ball into the Tweed Heads defensive line, making a strong run to the twenty metre mark and was then awarded a penalty after the Tweed Heads defensive line refused to allow him to his feet to get a quick play the ball.

Then in the 15th minute, Josiah Pahulu made an impressive eighteen metre charge from an Ipswich penalty restart to get Ipswich to near their attacking twenty metre zone. Josiah Pahulu once again proved difficult to handle in the 26th minute making thirteen metres over the halfway and once again was awarded a penalty after the Seagulls defence laid all over him to prevent the quick play the ball.

After playing the entire thirty five minutes of the first half Josiah Pahulu was back into the action when he took the second hit-up of the second half to get the bell to the Ipswich thirty metre line.

Josiah Pahulu then produced his best run of the match in the 38th minute when he charged onto the ball near the half way mark, tearing through the centre of the Seagulls ruck and running over the Tweed Heads fullback before being dragged down from behind around ten metres out.

After that long line break Josiah Pahulu did not rest on his laurels and was back in the action in the 59th minute with a fifteen metre run to get the ball to the forty metre mark.

Defensively Josiah Pahulu was also exceptional against Tweed Heads producing a number of crunching tackles including in the 42nd minute on Tweed Heads forward Bailey Martin but it was a tackle in the 40th minute that really stood out for me. Coming out from their own territory, Ipswich turned the ball over with it being picked up by Seagulls winger Kruz Remine who darted away, somehow Josiah Pahulu willed himself to chase back and drag the Seagulls winger down from behind less than ten metres away from the try line even though the winger had a head start on Josiah Pahulu.

The match also showed that Josiah Pahulu does not just put his head down and run at the line. In the 67th minute, Josiah Pahulu received the ball on the left side of the field and charged at the line, but just before he was set to contact the defence, Josiah Pahulu propped and send a well weighted pass to his left to put Xavier Stowers into a big gap making ten more metres.

Josiah Pahulu also started in the front row in Round Five against the Burleigh Bears with for me Josiah Pahulu was one of the Jets best.

Josiah Pahulu got close to scoring a deserved try in the match but in the 9th minute, lost the ball over the line trying to get the ball to the ground and also in the 13th minute, Josiah Pahulu got within centremetres of the line after a twelve metre burst on the left side of the field.

In the 14th minute, Josiah Pahulu proved that he does not just run the ball in attacking situations when he made eleven metres from a hit-up getting the ball outside of his own twenty metre area.

Josiah Pahulu did not take much time at all to get involved in the match making thirteen metres from an Ipswich penalty restart to get within five metres of the try line. Josiah Pahulu made a further fourteen metres in the 5th minute when he took the second hit-up after Burleigh kicked off following Ipswich’s first try of the match.

Just two minutes later in the 7th minute, Josiah Pahulu once again ran at the Burleigh line from ten metres out from a Jets penalty restart and it took five Burleigh defenders to halt his progress perilously close to the try line.

In the 23rd minute, with Ipswich well on top, Josiah Pahulu ensured that the Jets started their set after a try on the front foot when he took the hit-up from the kick-off, making twelve metres to get the ball over his own twenty metre area.

Josiah Pahulu made his presence felt in defence when in the 23rd minute he smashed Burleigh left winger Shannon Donaldson with a big front on tackle knocking the winger who was making his MM Cup debut three metres backwards.

Josiah Pahulu was at it again in the 24th minute when he rocked Burleigh front rower VJ Semu who was returning a kick-off, knocking the ball loose in the process.

Josiah Pahulu was involved in an earth trembling collision when in the 58th minute he smashed into fellow Titan Arama Hau when he was returning a Burleigh kick-off with the contact stopping both players in their tracks, it was great to see and let’s call the outcome a draw!

Josiah Pahulu followed that heavy collision up in the 65th minute with a twelve metre charge that was the second run from a Burleigh kick-off with Josiah Pahulu once again getting the ball over his own thirty metre mark.

Round Six being the final regular season round of the 2021 MM Cup competition saw Josiah Pahulu named to start in the front row against the Souths Logan Magpies however he was a late scratching from the match.

At the 2021 Ipswich Jets MM Cup Presentation Night, Josiah Pahulu was deservedly named the 2021 Ipswich Jets Most Valuable Player.

Post the 2021 MM Cup competition, Josiah Pahulu played for the Springfield Panthers in the Ipswich Rugby League U17 Division One competition with his first appearance for the Panthers coming in Round Four when Josiah Pahulu started in the second row against Goonda Black.

Josiah Pahulu captained the Springfield Panthers side in Round Six against Brothers Ipswich, starting in the front row and scoring two tries in their impressive 36 – 8 victory.

Josiah Pahulu moved to lock in Round Seven against Brother Blue and scored the final try of the match in the Panthers victory.

Round Ten against Norths Blue saw, Josiah Pahulu moved to the second row for the Panthers with Josiah Pahulu scoring the Panthers opening try in their 24 – 14 victory. Josiah Pahulu then continued in the second row in Round Eleven against Goodna Black, scoring twice in the Panthers 26 – 8 victory.

Round Twelve against Redbank Plains Red saw Josiah Pahulu once again start in the second row.

Josiah Pahulu finished the abridged 2021 Ipswich U17 Division One regular season as the competitions second leading try scorer.

In the opening round of the Ipswich Rugby League U17 Division One Finals series, Josiah Pahulu started in the second row for the Springfield Panthers against North’s Blue.

2021 also saw Josiah Pahulu line up once again for Ipswich State High School in the South East Queensland School Boy Langer Cup Open A competition starting Round One at lock against PBC SHS.

Ipswich SHS had a tough first 2021 Langer Cup outing but Josiah Pahulu scored a deserved try in the 19th minute when he charged over from dummy half to his left from close range, rumbling over one PBC defender to get the ball down adjacent to the right upright.

Another one of Josiah Pahulu’s best moments of his match was Josiah Pahulu’s huge charge into the PBC line from the second half kick-off.

Josiah Pahulu also started at lock in Round Two against Marsden State High School and whilst his team were soundly beaten, Josiah Pahulu more than held his own against the giant Marsden SHS forward pack.

Josiah Pahulu continued at lock in Round Three against Keebra Park State High School taking the third hit-up of the match and then in the 11th minute, Josiah Pahulu made a hard eleven metres from an Ipswich SHS penalty restart from inside their own twenty metre area.

Josiah Pahulu then moved to the front row for Round Four against Coombabah State High School and continued in the front row in Round Five against Wavell State High School as well as in Round Six against St Mary’s College Toowoomba, a match that saw Josiah Pahulu once again dominate including a great charge and right arm off-load down the left side of the left that led directly to Ipswich State High School’s opening try of the match in their 36 – 6 victory.

After the competition was suspended for a number of weeks due to a Covid 19 lock down, Josiah Pahulu was named in the front row for Ipswich State High School in their semi-final against Marsden State High School with Josiah Pahulu twice taking a hit-up in Ipswich SHS’s first set of six in the match.

Then in the 41st minute, Josiah Pahulu made a great eighteen metre run, breaking three tackles along the way to get the ball into Marsden State High School territory.

Post the completion of the 2021 Langer Cup competition, Josiah Pahulu was named on the bench in the Courier Mail’s 2021 Langer Cup Team of the Season and in the Queensland Rugby League 2021 MM Cup Player of the Year Award Josiah Pahulu was awarded two votes.

Post the Langer Cup competition Josiah Pahulu was named in the front row in the 2021 Ipswich State High School Team of the Tear.

2021 also saw Josiah Pahulu represent Met West at the QSSRL U18 Championships, playing with distinction in the front row.

At the end of the 2021 season, Josiah Pahulu was named at No. 23 in the Courier Mail Top 60 school boys from the GPS Rugby, AIC Rugby and Langer Cup competitions.

In late August 2021, Josiah Pahulu was named in the Queensland City U17 squad for a two match series against a Queensland U17 Country squad with Josiah Pahulu starting the match from the bench coming on midway through the first half and making an immediate impact from a defensive perspective.

Playing twenty nine minutes Josiah Pahulu ran for fifty eight metres (twenty two post contact) and made fourteen tackles at a 93.33% tackling efficiency.

Josiah Pahulu started Round One of the 2020 Langer Cup school boy rugby league competition at lock against PBC and in Round Two against St Mary’s Toowoomba. Josiah Pahulu also started at lock and was the best player on the field in Round Three as Ipswich SHSH went down 22 – 16 against Keebra Park. Some of Josiah Pahulu’s defence was simply outstanding with his initial contact impressive as was his ball running including a couple of kick-off returns.

Josiah Pahulu started the Langer Cup semi-final against PBC in the front row and even though Ipswich State High School went down 34 – 6, Josiah Pahulu had an outstanding match including a great run from the opening kick-off and some outstanding defence including a superb hit mid-way through the first half.

In the Courier Mail 2020 Langer Cup Team of the Year, Josiah Pahulu was named on the interchange bench and in the Courier Mail 2020 Top 30 South East Queensland school boy rugby/rugby league list he was named at No. 23.

At the Ipswich State High School 2020 Sports Awards Night, Josiah Pahulu was named Player of the Season, Best Forward and Best Senior Rugby League Player. Late in 2020 Josiah Pahulu was also named in the front row in the 2020 Ipswich State High School Rugby League Team of the Year.

In November 2020, Josiah Pahulu was named in the 2021 Ipswich Jets MM Cup squad and Josiah Pahulu is also MM Cup eligible in 2022.

The powerful, ball of muscle Josiah Pahulu was a member of the 2019 Queensland U15 Emerging Origin Squad and was also part of the Titans U16 side starting in the right second row position in their annual match against the Newcastle Knights Harold Matthews Cup (U16) side in Coffs Harbour in January 2020.

The Titans came away from the match with an 18 – 14 victory in wet conditions and some of the charges (and tackles for that matter) that Josiah Pahulu made were just outstanding especially some of his kick-off returns.

In addition, one of his hit-ups when Josiah Pahulu took the ball from the dummy half he was exceptional and accounted for twenty five odd valuable metres the majority of which were post contact, with the Newcastle Knights half amongst others vainly trying to drag Josiah Pahulu down to no avail.

In early 2020 Josiah Pahulu was selected in the Ipswich Diggers U16 representative side for the U16 South East Queensland Challenge which unfortunately was cancelled due to the Covid 19 pandemic. Josiah Pahulu would have played matches against Gold Coast (two) and Brisbane based (three) sides in the Challenge. All of those sides were set to contain multiple Gold Coast Titans contracted players as well.

In early October 2019 Josiah Pahulu was part of the Titans U15 side that played a Balmain Tigers U15 side at Piggabeen in Northern New South Wales with the Titans starting in the second row and producing an outstanding display to win 36 – 14 with Josiah Pahulu starting the match in the right second row position for the Titans and producing some powerful charges into the Balmain Tigers defence including from restarts, both kick offs and drop outs from their in-goal.

Josiah Pahulu was one of the standouts for the Titans U15 sides in their February 2019 matches against another Titans side and the Western Mustangs at the U15 level at Mudgeeraba where he started at lock and produced an outstanding display of rugby league.

In the match, Josiah Pahulu scored a barnstorming try against the other Titans side, taking the ball off the dummy half on the right side of the field and crashing over from around ten metres out from the try line.

Josiah Pahulu made another powerful run of about thirty metres later in the day when he took a short pass inside his own twenty metre line and smashed his way to around the half way line before being brought down in a tackle that required multiple defenders to complete.

Josiah Pahulu also had two try assists in his matches, both coming from off-loads close to the opponents try line, on each occasion the support player was able to score reasonably easily. The first pass was popped out around one a metre from the line with Josiah Pahulu engaged with three defenders and the second was when he got halfway through the line before offloading.

As a result of his performances in the Titans games noted above and over recent seasons for the Springfield Panthers in the Ipswich Junior Rugby League competition and Ipswich State High School, Josiah Pahulu, in early 2019 originally signed a multi-year contract with the Titans then in October 2020 signed a new three year deal with the Titans.

Early in the 2019 season Josiah Pahulu trialled for a spot in the Met West U15 rugby league side and to say he was dominant at the trials would be an understatement including an outstanding try when he received an inside ball easily broke through the defensive line before scoring under the posts from around thirty five metres out.

Josiah Pahulu represented Met West, where for me was the stand out Met West player at the 2019 U15 QSSRL Championships, in particular Josiah Pahulu was outstanding in matches against Peninsula and Met East. Subsequently Josiah Pahulu was selected in the Queensland White side for the 2019 U15 ASSRL Championships.

At the 2019 ASSRL U15 Championships Josiah Pahulu played primarily in the right second row position for the Queensland White side, playing particularly on Day Two against New South Wales Combined High Schools.

Late in 2019 Josiah Pahulu was also named in the Ipswich Diggers U15 Development Squad. Josiah Pahulu was also a standout player for the Ipswich State High School Year Ten side in 2019 playing primarily in the front row for the Ipswich based school leading them to the Quarter Finals of the Brisbane Broncos Cup competition.

In 2018 Josiah Pahulu played for Springfield Panthers Black in the Ipswich U14 competition playing in ten matches and scoring eight tries for an 80% strike rate including a try in the Grand Final that his Springfield side was able to win 24 – 4 against the Redbank Plains Bears.

2018 also saw Josiah Pahulu represent Met West at the U14 level and from there he was selected in the South East Queensland U14 side for the Queensland Age Championships, where he played all four of their matches starting each in the front row.

In 2017 Josiah Pahulu represented the Ipswich Diggers at the U13 level and prior to that Josiah Pahulu represented Toa Samoa in a two day tournament in Auckland. In 2017 Josiah Pahulu was also named the Springfield Panthers International Player of the Year.

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

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

I would consider that Josiah Pahulu’s speed would be considered about average for a backrower (plus when he is playing in the front row) but plays faster as a result of him timing his runs so well that the dummy half can present a flat pass to him and also as a result of the power that Josiah Pahulu runs at.

Even though Josiah Pahulu gets back a long way and charges onto the ball to generate speed, he actually has good speed off the mark and utilises that trait when he runs out of dummy half or when he takes an off load with limited momentum.

Regularly Josiah Pahulu gets a quick play the ball as in a lot of his charges he gets partially through the defensive line but it is also due to his functional strength and powerful leg drive. On occasion players who fight for every metre, such as Josiah Pahulu that impacts on the play the ball, but that is not the case with Josiah Pahulu as a result of his core strength as he can move defenders off him by using the power in his legs and twisting appropriately.

Josiah Pahulu is also very effective close to the opposition try line with his ability to burst through tackles. If the defenders do not rush off their line Josiah Pahulu will just drag them across the try line with brute force and power.

With his continued development of which running lines he can utilise, such as running an inside shoulder line when close to the opposition try line Josiah Pahulu will become even more effective and will be an asset to the entire team as defences compress their line to combat his running thus leaving more room our wide for his play makers to exploit.

Simply put Josiah Pahulu is a brute of a ball runner. With his stocky powerful frame, low centre of gravity and bullocking front on running side Josiah Pahulu is an intimidating runner who excels in terms of returning the ball from kick off and drop outs when he is able to build up momentum and the fact that he never slows his speed when he hits the line.

The defensive side of his game is similarly impressive, Josiah Pahulu does not just charge wildly up looking for a huge hit but is calculating in where and when to hit. Quite a few of his tackles resulted in a knock on by the opposition as the ball came loose as a result of the impact of the tackle, he just hits so hard.

Josiah Pahulu drives hard with his legs and always uses his shoulder and core body strength to drive into his opponent. With his strength and technique Josiah Pahulu should likely always be considered a plus defender regardless of the quality of opponent that he is up against.

Impressive Josiah Pahulu is one of a rare breed of bigger forwards that can defend equally as well in the centre of the ruck and on the fringes. With his lateral mobility Josiah Pahulu can mirror the movement of attackers and is able to change direction quickly whilst maintaining balance and body control.

Having a sound repeatable defensive technique also aids Josiah Pahulu in being able to effectively defend against a variety of different types of attackers in multiple game situations. Similarly Josiah Pahulu is a start young man and he is not fooled or distracted by attempted feints by the attacking team and Josiah Pahulu concentrates on his role in the defensive line and is also able to diagnose attacking plays directed at him and is able to quickly work through his options and make the correct defensive read.

Unfortunately Josiah Pahulu’s 2023 season has been cut short by injury but Josiah Pahulu will be primed for a big 2024 season in the Queensland Cup with the Ipswich Jets if not in the Titans NRL side.

Josiah Pahulu has spent time in the second row in previous seasons including for the Titans against Balmain and Newcastle but I believe going forward that Josiah Pahulu will find his niche at either lock or in the front row and be a dominant representative level one at that.

I know that people see the front row positions and lock as interchangeable these days but I still think that playing lock enables a player to move around the field in attack more and pick and choose where and when to inject himself into the game, thus to that extent I would prefer to see Josiah Pahulu in the No. 13 jersey.

Josiah Pahulu is as near a carbon copy of former Canterbury Bulldogs and Brisbane Broncos, Penrith Panthers and Samoan International forward Tevita Pangai Jnr as I have ever seen. Both Pangai Jnr and Josiah Pahulu are unbelievably powerful players who can smash through a defensive line themselves with speed and subtle late quick foot work and then have the outstanding speed and mobility to convert their own breaks into long range tries.

In defence both Pangai Jnr and Josiah Pahulu have strength, power and an outstanding front on tackling technique which means an opposition player will know that they have been hit and hit hard. Equally impressively both can make multiple hard tackles in a row and both shown the ability to completely take over matches for stretches on their own in both attack and defence.

I would argue however that Josiah Pahulu is far less prone to penalties, brain explosions or silly errors that Tevita Pangai Jnr due to his relative calmness on the field which should not however be mistaken for anything but a cold calculating mind set and steely fire and determination on Josiah Papulu’s behalf.

The Titans have a very special player on their hands with Josiah Pahulu, of that there can be absolutely no doubt, definitely no doubt at all. Josiah Pahulu projects as a young player who can break into the NRL at an early age and then have the maturity, intensity and skill to stay there for a long, long time.