Talented junior players not linked to the Titans but maybe should be

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Kalemb Hart. The Coffs Harbour Comets junior and former Wavell State High School and Brisbane Broncos NYC centre has moved up to Toowoomba for the 2018 season joining Toowoomba Valleys.

The 19 year old centre got off to a bit of a slow start in the Toowoomba Rugby League First Grade competition this season scoring just a single try in his first four matches which came against Wattles. His last three matches however have been the complete opposite, Kalemb Hart has scored seven tries in the three game span including scoring a hat trick in Round Eleven against Gatton and doubles in Rounds Nine and Ten against Highfields and Dalby respectively.

Kalemb Hart spent part the 2017 season as part of the Brisbane Broncos NYC side, playing in two matches. He started Round Eleven in the centres against the Wests Tigers and on the wing against the Sydney Roosters in Round Thirteen where team mates included current Titans NRL contracted players Jai Whitbread and Keegan Hipgrave.

Kalemb Hart also played a number of matches with the North’s Devils U20 Colts side in 2017, including starting on the wing in the Grand Final against the Redcliffe Dolphins. Even though he was on the losing side that Sunday afternoon, Kalemb Hart was one of the Devils Grand Final tries scorers.

In total in the U20 Colts competition for Norths in 2017, Kalemb Hart played in nine matches, including North’s three final’s matches scoring five tries. Kalemb Hart’s tries in addition to his Grand Final try came in Rounds One, Three, Fifteen and Sixteen against Easts, Sunshine Coast, Burleigh and Wynnum Manly respectively.

Kalemb Hart started Round One in the centres and his remaining eight matches on the wing for the Norths Devils Colts in 2017.

In 2016 Kalemb Hart represented Met North in the U18 QSSRL Championships making the Queensland U18 ASSRL side at fullback and in 2014 was part of the New South Wales U16 side that also contained Jai Whitbread. Kalemb Hart represented Group Two on a number of occasions including in 2012 at the U14 level and 2013 at the U15 level.

In terms of his attacking play Kalemb Hart is a smooth runner of the ball who has above average to plus top end speed and good evasiveness to get on the outside of his opposing defender with a decent fend that enables him to keep all but the strongest outside backs at a distance and away from his body thus allowing Kalemb Hart to maintain his balance to either make additional ground or to off load the football.

When playing at centre Kalemb Hart just needs to be aware to straighten up the axis of attack on occasion to ensure his outside supports have room to move and exploit any advantages identified. He has quite a good step, predominately off the right foot, so Kalemb Hart certainly has the skills to adjust his running line as he gains more experience and develops a better rapport with his teams play makers and progresses to a higher level in competition.

Defensively Kalemb Hart has a technique and timing that has evolved to combat larger centres, he gets up on the ball carrier quickly and chops their legs out from under them before they can transfer the ball correctly and look to unload. When an attacker gets on his outside, Kalemb Hart uses his exceptional recovery speed to get to the attacker before they can reach their top speed and gain additional ground.

Kalemb Hart is still eligible to play for the Western Mustangs in the Hasting’s Deering’s U20 Colts side this season but the most likely scenario for the remainder of the 2018 season is that Kalemb Hart continues to develop and star in the centres for Toowoomba Valleys and based on his recent try scoring exploits will be at or near the top of the Toowoomba First Grade try scoring tally come season’s end.

It will be interesting to see if Kalemb Hart is looking for a Queensland Cup spot come 2019. His outstanding speed and freakish try scoring ability will hold him in good stead if he chases an opportunity.

Back in his Coffs Harbour Comets days Kalemb Hart was a centre but he has moved around a bit since, playing a number of matches at fullback and on the wing through his school boy rugby league career with Wavell State High School, the Bronco’s NYC side, North’s Colts and through to playing for Toowoomba Valleys in the TRL First Grade competition this season.

I would anticipate that with a run of full fitness, Kalemb Hart will find his niche in the centres as a result of his outstanding speed and freakish try scoring ability when he is fully fit and motivated.

In many respects the way Kalemb Hart plays on a football field resembles that of former Titans and current Manly outside back Brian Kelly as a quick hard running centre with some intriguing try scoring potential moving forward.

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A.J Sausoo. The young Goonda Eagles centre is having an outstanding 2018 campaign in the Ipswich Rugby League U19 competition including leading the try scoring tally through the first half of the season.

Playing in the centres for Goodna the Samoan Junior Age Representative has played ten matches in the Ipswich U19 competition and one reserve grade match as well. AJ Sausoo made his Reserve Grade debut against Swifts Bluebirds early in the season.

In the U19 competition AJ Sausoo has played in ten matches scoring twelve tries to have a 2018 strike rate of 120%. Only once this season has a team kept AJ Sausoo from scoring, the team being Brothers Ipswich, in that match however AJ Sausoo did kick two conversions.

Over the course of the 2018 season AJ Sausoo has scored three doubles which have come against the Fassifern Bombers, the Eastern Cobra’s and the Rosewood Roosters. When you add in his four conversions, AJ Sausoo has scored 56 points on the season.

In 2016 AJ Sausoo played for Ipswich in the Cyril Connell (CC) Cup competition.

AJ Sausoo is a strong powerfully built young man who runs with pace, speed and power. It would be unfair to categorise that his game is only built on pace and power though as he has a very good right foot step and right hand fend, he can also draw defenders in to give players outside him room.

Due to his strength and fend he regularly gets on the outside of his opposite defender forcing the winger to make a decision as to whether to come in on him or stay with his winger. If he comes in, AJ Sausoo has the quick hands to get the pass away prior to contact, but also is big and strong enough as well as having very good core strength and balance to absorb the contact and still get the pass to his winger whilst maintaining his running line.

If the opposing winger still out, AJ Sausoo is definitely quick enough to break into open space although I would not say that he has plus speed, he is quick enough to gain separate from the cover defence however. When you look at his build he may not look like he has a lot of speed, but AJ Sausoo definitely does.

AJ Sausoo is not necessarily the quickest off the mark but has very good acceleration and speed once he is moving and can sustain his top speed over an extended period which is very impressive for a player of his strong build.

AJ Sausoo’s defensive technique is one styled on intimidation he will come out of the line when the opportunity presents itself and hit very hard around the chest and drive through is lower body and continue until the tackle is well and truly finished.

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

AJ Sausoo will play out the 2018 season with the Goonda Eagles in the Ipswich Rugby League U19 competition and may also get an opportunity to add to his reserve grade debut as the 2018 season progresses.

In 2019 AJ Sausso should see himself in contention for a spot in the Ipswich Jets Colts side for the Hasting’s Deering’s Cup competition and will be eligible for that competition once again in 2019.

With his combination of speed and power AJ Sausoo is the prototypical centre in the modern game although as shown late in the Colt Challenge competition he is also more than a handful when playing in the backrow.

New Zealand Warriors and New Zealand International Solomon Kata is the closest NRL player that I can envisage that AJ Sausoo has a similar playing style too, that being of a hard running aggressive type of player who relishes the contact, the harder the better both in attack and defence and is absolutely fearless in both aspects of the game of rugby league.

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Outstanding Wests Rugby left winger Shea Lalagavesi, scored five tries this afternoon in the Brisbane Premier Colts I competition as his Wests side defeated Logan City 50-14. He is the leading try scorer in the competition.

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Luc Lyndon. The young TSS No. 7 was a key member of the TSS U16A GPS school boy rugby side on 2017 and has recently been named in the TSS First XV squad for the upcoming GPS Rugby season.

In TSS’s First XV trials this season to date Luc Lyndon has played in four First XV matches coming off the bench on each occasion in matches against New Zealand’s Westlake Boys High, Bond University Colts and both GPS Trial’s.

Luc Lyndon has also played in three TSS Second XV trials, starting at No. 7 against Sydney’s Riverview College and at No. 8 against Toowoomba Grammar School and Nudgee College.

For the TSS U16A side last season, Luc Lyndon started at No. 7 (open side flanker)in all eight of TSS matches as they went through the 2017 GPS U16A season undefeated and were also awarded the Scoobie Bryer Trophy as the most successful TSS side of the 2017 season.

In his eight 2017 U16A matches Luc Lyndon scored two tries both of which came in Round Three against Ipswich Grammar School.

In late 2017 Luc Lyndon was selected in the Queensland White U16 Rugby side for the National Championships and played club rugby on the Gold Coast for the Bond University Pirates.

Luc Lyndon is not a stranger to rugby league, playing two matches in 2016 for the Currumbin Eagles in the U15 Division One competition where a team mate was Titans contracted Noah Gafa.

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

For a loose forward, Luc Lyndon also has above average speed, not just off the mark but also when he is in clear space, when he makes a break Luc Lyndon is more than capable of going the distance and normally easily out paces the cover defence.

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

Luc Lyndon in schoolboy rugby is a magnet for defenders and is adept at identifying when multiple defenders are vectoring towards him and identifying the appropriate force to be applied to his passing. Luc Lyndon also waits until the last possible second to off load the ball and most of the time he does not telegraph his pass to enable defences the readjust before the ball is passed.

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

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

His good situation awareness also enables him to be well positioned when he is defending against smaller quicker opponents and he endeavours to minimise the time available for the opposing attacker to generate speed and to utilise their footwork.

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

Luc Lyndon will be part of the TSS First XV side in the GPS School Boy Rugby competition this season. Even though he is part of the First XV Squad and will see plenty of First XV playing time, Luc Lyndon will likely start the majority of matches in the TSS Second XV and then come off the bench in the First XV.

Luc Lyndon is only in Year Eleven so 2019 will be the year that he almost certainly locks up the TSS First XV No. 7 jersey and is involved in the GPS School Boy Rugby representative sides.

Looking at it from a rugby league perspective, Luc Lyndon is a high work rate type of player with some quite impressive speed for a forward and it is for that reason I would envisage that Luc Lyndon would make an outstanding second rower in rugby league if he were to change codes.

From a player rugby league comparison perspective for Luc Lyndon consider current New Zealand Warrior or Titan Kevin Proctor, as someone who is just a solid, effective and no nonsense rugby league player who is more effective than want a casual review of a game will show.

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Lachlan McInnes. The young half was a key member of the TSS U16A GPS school boy rugby side on 2017 and has recently been named in the TSS First XV squad for the upcoming GPS Rugby season.

In TSS’s First XV trials this season to date Lachlan McInnes has played in four matches starting from the interchange bench on each occasion with the matches being against Westlake Boys High from New Zealand, Bond University Colts and both GPS Trials.

Lachlan McInnes has also played in three TSS Second XV trials, starting at half against Sydney’s Riverview College, Toowoomba Grammar School and Nudgee College.

For the TSS U16A side last season, Lachlan McInnes started at half back and captained the side in all eight of their matches as they went through the 2017 GPS U16A season undefeated and were also awarded the Scoobie Bryer Trophy as the most successful TSS Rugby side of the 2017 season. Lachlan McInness was also awarded the TSS U16A best defender award from an individual perspective.

Lachlan McInnes scored three tries in the U16A competition for TSS with the three tries coming in consecutive rounds against Gregory Terrace, Brisbane Grammar School and Nudgee College.

In terms of running the ball, it is not something that Lachlan McInnes necessarily did a lot of during the 2016 GPS rugby season, especially with the likes of the talented Jesse Grey amongst others in the TSS U16A back line outside him, but when he does run he has reasonable speed off the mark and a subtle but still pronounced step, but Lachlan McInnes’s running of the ball is likely going to be a compliment to his passing and tactical kicking game rather than his primary skill however the ability to keep defences honest by taking running opportunities when they present themselves is still a critically important attribute in either rugby or rugby league.

His calling card moving forward is clearly going to be his passing game, and this is what will set up the other parts of his game such as taking the line on and also differentiate him from other young play makers.

From what I have seen he is not overly quick off the mark but still will be able to make some line breaks when teams focus on him passing and ignore him in terms of running the football especially as games progress into the second half.

Lachlan McInnes’s defence for a half is very good for a half he is a hard hitter and can defend effectively one on one against far larger forwards, he sets a good base with his lower body and explodes upwards with his shoulders into his opponent and is also very good at slowing the play the ball down.

His intensity means that he will track the play across and thus is in a good position when the ball is passed back inside. You can certainly understand why he was awarded the 2017 TSS U16A best defender award.

Lachlan McInnes will be part of the TSS First XV side in the GPS School Boy Rugby competition this season. Even though he is part of the First XV Squad and will see plenty of First XV playing time, Lachlan McInnes will likely start the majority of matches in the TSS Second XV and then come off the bench in the First XV.

Lachlan McInnes is only in Year Eleven so 2019 will be the year that he almost certainly locks up the TSS First XV No. 9 jersey and is involved in the GPS School Boy Rugby representative sides even though they are due to be selected using different criteria then.

Lachlan McInnes has an outstanding passing game and is also an outstanding game manager and to that extent if he were to change codes, Lachlan McInnes would be an outstanding rugby league half back prospect.

With his evolving running game to compliment his game management and ball playing skills a Nathan Cleary comparison is for Lachlan McInnes not unwarranted.

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Jock Thompson. The young TSS No. 6 or 8 was a key member of the TSS U16A GPS school boy rugby side on 2017 and has recently been named in the TSS First XV squad for the upcoming nine round GPS Rugby season.

In TSS’s First XV trials this season to date Jock Thompson has played in six matches, including four starts at No. 6 (Blindside Flanker) and coming off the bench in the other two. Jock Thompson’s starts were against Toowoomba Grammar School, Bond University Colts and in the two GPS Trials and he came off the bench against New Zealand’s Westlake Boys High and Sydney’s Riverview College.

For the TSS U16A side last season, Jock Thompson started at No. 8 in the final five rounds of the season, coming into the side in Round Four against Brisbane Boys College as they went through the 2017 GPS U16A season undefeated and were also awarded the Scoobie Bryer Trophy as the most successful TSS Rugby side of the 2017 season.

Jock Thompson certainly made an impact in his five matches scoring four tries, including a double in Round Six against Brisbane Grammar School. His other two tries came in Round Five against Gregory Terrace and Round Nine against Anglican Church College (Churchie).

In late 2017 Jock Thompson was named in the Queensland U16 Red Rugby side for the National U16 Championships and in 2015 he was part of the Queensland Country U14 team that played their City counterparts at Ballymore.

The young giant’s best attribute from an attacking perspective is his off-loading ability primarily with his right hand. He will attack the edge of the ruck looking to isolate a defender and keep his right arm free to off load. If his support runner is on his inside he has the strength to maintain contact with the defensive line and pop a short pass. If his support is on his outside Jock Thompson is adept at flicking the ball out of the back of his hand a la Sonny Bill Williams.

Whilst Jock Thompson is a powerful runner on both sides of the ruck he primarily off loads when running to the right side, the sample size that I have seem is likely not conclusive so it is not clear whether this hypothesis will hold up with additional observations.

Jock Thompson runs with the primary intention to engage the defensive line front one, he does not over complicate the task and runs straight and hard getting his shoulders down low just prior to contact. His broad shoulders and strong frame back him a difficult proposition to handle. As noted he looks to isolate a defender, if that defender goes low Jock Thompson will off load with his right arm and if the defender looks to tackle him around the chest, Jock Thompson will initiate the contact and continue to pump his legs to either gain as much ground as possible or to break the tackle completely through sheer force of will.

Whilst Jock Thompson does not have anything more than average speed for his position his high knee lift and the constant pumping of his legs means that he will break through the initial defensive line more often than you think likely. Jock Thompson also has decent mobility which enables him to get to his feet quickly once he has been tackled aiding in the continuation of the momentum that he has established for his team.

Defensively the aggressive nature of the initial contact made by Luke Moretti is the primary component of his defensive methodology, in short Luke Moretti attacks opposition runners front on. Jock Thompson looks for the big front on hit as often as possible but does have a good front on defensive technique, maintaining decent leverage and reasonable agility and lateral movement when looking to tackle smaller opponents on the edge of the ruck, although clearly he is more effective in the centre of the ruck, as most front rowers are.

Jock Thompson looks to obtain both physical and mental dominance over his opponents in all aspects of the game and as you would except with an aggressive player of his size Jock Thompson will also win the ground wrestle on the vast majority of occasions.

Jock Thompson is part of this season’s TSS First XV and based on his trial form is a real chance to start a number of matches in the First XV. If he is not in the starting XV in any given round Jock Thompson will start in the Second XV match and then be on the bench for the First XV.

Jock Thompson, even though I think that he is better at No. 8 will play this season at No. 6 due to the fact that 2018 Burleigh MM Cup player Reno Gerrard has a lock in the TSS First XV No. 8 jersey this season.

Jock Thompson is only in Year Eleven so 2019 will be the year that he almost certainly locks up the TSS First XV No. 8 jersey and is involved in the GPS School Boy Rugby representative sides even though they are due to be selected using different criteria then.

Jock Thompson plays in the No. 8 position in rugby and has also spent time at No. 6 (blind side flanker) but in relation to rugby league with his desire to initiate contact in the centre of the field, Jock Thompson shapes as a front rower who has the added ability to off load the ball to the benefit of his team with his long right arm.

The best current NRL player comparison I can think of for Jock Thompson is South Sydney enforcer and England test International Sam Burgess. Jock Thompson like Burgess looks to lead and inspire his team mate s through heavy contact with the opposition whether that is with the ball or with a big hit in defence and he will not back down from anyone.

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Hamish Roberts. The young TSS centre was a key member of the TSS U16A GPS school boy rugby side on 2017 and has recently been named in the TSS First XV squad for the upcoming GPS Rugby season.

In TSS’s First XV trials this season to date Hamish Roberts has played in six matches, starting two matches on the right wing (No. 14) and three on the left wing (No. 11). Hamish Roberts also started the first trial against New Zealand’s Westlake Boys High from the interchange bench.

Hamish Robert’s right wing starts came against Sydney’s Riverview High and GPS Trial One, and on the left against Toowoomba Grammar School, GPS Trial Two and Bond University Colts.

For the TSS U16A side last season, Hamish Roberts played in six matches in the GPS U16A competition, starting on four occasions and coming off the bench in two other rounds.

Hamish Roberts started the opening two rounds at outside centre then came off the bench in Rounds Five and Six before starting on the right wing in Rounds Eight and Nine as they went through the 2017 GPS U16A season undefeated and were also awarded the Scoobie Bryer Trophy as the most successful TSS Rugby side of the 2017 season.

Hamish Roberts scored two tries in 2017 which came in Rounds Two and Eight against Toowoomba Grammar School and Nudgee College.

The former Nerang Bulls junior was a Queensland Country U14 Rugby representative in 2015.

A powerful runner of the ball is the way that the attacking aspects of Hamish Roberts play can be described, whilst the majority of occasions he runs hard, fast and straight he also has a very good in and away to beat defenders and on occasion over the course of the schoolboy representative and GPS season he stepped back on the inside of his opposite defender when they overcommitted to the outside.

Hamish Roberts is not necessarily a quick twitch athlete in the context of a quick late step or speed off the mark but he is no slouch either but it would be fair to say that his attacking game is first and foremost about hard straight running to draw in defenders to create space for others.

Defensively the area that he has impressed me the most is his ability to defend against any size opponent, from small quick outside backs to big strong powerful backrowers running wide of the ruck.

Hamish Roberts seemingly has more strength that his size would indicate, and he uses this strength to move up and hit just under the ribcage, redirecting the momentum of the ball carrier and thus eliminating the attacking threat in the short term.

Hamish Roberts is part of this season’s TSS First XV and based on his trial form is a real chance to start a number of matches in the First XV likely on the left wing. If he is not in the starting XV in any given round Hamish Roberts will start in the Second XV match and then be on the bench for the First XV.

Hamish Roberts is only in Year Eleven so 2019 will be the year that he almost certainly locks up a TSS First XV jersey, whether that is on either wing or outside centre and is a more than reasonable chance to be involved in the GPS School Boy Rugby representative sides even though they are due to be selected using different criteria then.

Even though he can player at No. 13, 2018 Burleigh MM Cup and Former Titans Development Squad stand out Ronan Kapi has that jersey locked up in the TSS First XV side so Hamish Roberts will be pushing for a starting First XV jersey on either wing although I would expect that he will play at No. 13 outside centre were he to play in any Second XV matches this coming season. I do except him to be selected on the left wing come Round One in July however.

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Jesse Grey. The young TSS student was a key member of the TSS U16A GPS school boy rugby side in relation to the 2017 GPS School Boy and has recently been named in the TSS First XV squad for the upcoming GPS Rugby season which starts next month.

In TSS’s First XV trials this season to date Jesse Grey has played in four matches starting all four which came against Westlake Boys High from New Zealand, Toowoomba Grammar School and both GPS Trials at inside centre (No. 12).

For the TSS U16A side last season, Jesse Grey split time between fly half (No. 10) and inside centre (No. 12)playing in all eight TSS U16A matches as they went through the 2017 GPS U16A season undefeated and were also awarded the Scoobie Bryer Trophy as the most successful TSS Rugby side of the 2017 season.

Jesse Grey started at fly half (No. 10) in Rounds Five and Nine against Gregory Terrace and Nudgee College respectively and started at inside centre in the other six TSS matches.

In the U16A GPS competition in 2017 Jesse Grey scored three tries, including a Round Nine double against Churchie and a try in Round One against Brisbane State High School to bookmark the GPS season from a try scoring perspective.

The former PBC student was part of the Queensland U16 White side that played in last year’s National Championships and is a former Queensland U15 Gold Cup representative from the Surfers Paradise Rugby Club but now plays for the Bond University Pirates.

When the ball is passed to him early, Jesse Grey straightens the attack up well, meaning he does not run himself or his support out of room. Even though he has speed in the centre position, he does look for his outside support when confronted with the fullback, even though he is more than capable of beating fullbacks one on one if need be.

Jesse Grey seemingly has an innate ability to make the right decision when he has the football, in terms of running or passing and when he passed he got the ball out to his outside backs quickly giving them room to move.

Jesse Grey is quite an elusive runner of the ball and some good foot work in confined space. He will take on the line regularly and has a very good step off both feet but his left foot step seems to be the preferred step based on the games that I have seen at least. He is always around the ball and thus is always available to back up a break by a forward or when they get their hands free.

Jesse Grey’s passing game is what I would consider above average and he will drift across the field looking for runners to run into holes and has the ability to hold the defensive line in place as he develops the play in front of them, making to easier for his support runners to get a clear passage through the line, especially when a defender comes out of the line and commits to him.

Jesse Grey will also wait until the last possible moment to release the football. His best attribute in his passing game is the speed, timing and accuracy when he passes to his outside backs. He gets a very good spiral on the ball from both sides of his body and leads his outside attackers into the ball, enabling them to maintain the momentum of their run.

A key attribute to how Jesse Grey plays is his ability to organise and direct his team around the field as well as adjusting his game to the specific situations within a game.

From a defensive perspective Jesse Grey is a very solid tackler who makes good initial contact and is able to generate momentum through his core and drive into his opponent with enough force to redirect the momentum of the ball carrier.

Jesse Grey has both a solid low tackling technique as well as having the functional strength to make ball and all tackles effectively against the biggest of forwards looking to target him in the defensive line when coming off the back of a ruck or maul or set pieces such as scrums or line-outs.

Jesse Grey is part of this season’s TSS First XV and based on his trial form is a real chance to start a number of matches in the First XV. If he is not in the starting XV in any given round Jesse Grey will start in the Second XV match and then be on the bench for the First XV in the following match.

Even though he can player at No. 10, Campbell Pereta has that jumper locked down so Jesse Grey will push for the No. 12 (Inside Centre) where he would form a centre pairing with 2018 Burleigh MM Cup and Former Titans Development Squad stand out Ronan Kapi, although Tyler Wright is potentially the first player who will get an opportunity in the No. 12 jersey when the season starts in July.

Jesse Grey is only in Year Eleven this year so 2019 will be the year that he almost certainly locks up the TSS First XV No. 12 or No. 10 jersey and is involved in the GPS School Boy Rugby representative sides even though they are due to be selected using different criteria from next season.

Even though he could probably play fullback or even centre in either code, with his ability to run the ball as well as set up his support runners, I could envisage a career at five eight in rugby league for Jesse Grey.

Kane Elgey for me is a rugby league player that Jesse Grey plays similar too. Like Elgey, Jesse Grey likes taking the ball right to the line before passing and also he has a very good long passing game where he can cut out a number of players and still put the ball exactly where he wants to.

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Ezra Gibson. The young five eight started the 2018 season off in the SG Ball U18 competition in Sydney with the North Sydney Bears and since the completion of that competition has moved back to the Group Three competition playing for the Port City Breakers.

After starring in the Group Three U18.5 competition, the Port City Breakers coaches gave him an opportunity in the Group Three First Grade competition and he has not looked back since. After a couple of matches coming off the bench Ezra Gibson was promoted to the starting line-up at five eight and has stayed there ever since.

For the North Sydney Bears in the U18 SG Ball competition, Ezra Gibson played in five of the Bears nine matches. He started Round One against Manly in the centres before missing four rounds. He came back into the North Sydney side in Round Six starting at half back and also started there in the final three rounds of the competition.

Ezra Gibson’s two 2018 SG Ball tries came in the final two rounds being Rounds Eight and Nine coming against the Roosters and Raiders respectively.

In the Group Three U18.5 competition, Ezra Gibson made his 2018 debut in late April against the Forster Tuncurry Hawks and has gone on to play three other matches in that grade. In his four matches, Ezra Gibson has scored 30 points from five tries and five goals.

Ezra Gibson scored doubles against the Macleay Valley Mustangs and the Taree City Bulls, with his other try coming against the Wauchope Blues.

Ezra Gibson made his Group Three First Grade debut against het Wauchope Blues in early May coming off the bench after playing in the U18.5 fixture earlier in the day. To date Ezra Gibson has appeared in five Group Three First Grade matches and scored his first career First Grade try in his fourth match against the Port Macquarie Sharks.

In attack, as already noted Ezra Gibson is a half/five eight who is a reasonably dynamic runner of the football who excels in taking on the defensive line with good footwork around the ruck, looking to seek out bigger slower forwards when they are caught on the edge of the ruck. Ezra Gibson has good speed off the mark, but does not necessary have high top end speed to individually exploit his own breaks and thus needs to look to off load once he breaks through the defensive line.

When his backline is set deep, Ezra Gibson can see an overlap or a another play developing he will get the ball out quickly and effectively, using his solid passing skills from both sides of his body, where he will put the football out in front of his runners. His long passing game is reasonably good from an accuracy perspective, but something that can be worked on.

Possibly the best feature of his passing game, is when he takes the ball to the line and holding the ball until the last possible moment looking to draw in the defender on his outside and putting a forward/centre running into the resulting hole.

Ezra Gibson is not the biggest player but even when defending in the front line will tackle using his shoulder which assists when defending against larger forwards operating on the fringes of the ruck. Whilst not the biggest he is strong and tough enough to effectively tackle one on one against opposing halves and with his solid speed and foot work he can cover a lot of ground as he tracks the ball across the field. Ezra Gibson is certainly not going to be a liability in defence for his team and is more than willing to take on bigger forwards.

Ezra Gibson will play out the 2018 season with the Port City Breakers in the Group Three First Grade competition.

Ezra Gibson is currently starting at five eight for the Breakers in First Grade and he played the majority of his 2018 SG Ball matches at half back so there is no doubt that he will have the number 6 or 7 on his back as he progresses in rugby league.

Apparently a number of NRL clubs including St George have expressed an interest in the youngster so it seems likely that he will be either playing in the Hastings Deering’s Colts or U20 Sydney based Jersey Flegg competition come the start of the 2019 season.

With his ability to size up a situation and make a quick decision whether to run or pass, Ezra Gibson reminds me of Burleigh Bears stand out half back and former Titan Jamal Fogerty. Like Fogerty, Ezra Gibson is a solid all round player who makes good things happen for his team when he is around the ball.

[mdrew]

Ilaisa Droasese. The 18 year old Fiji rugby player has moved over from Cuvu College to continue his rugby career in Australia, making his Brisbane Premier Colts debut in Round Thirteen on the weekend.

Ilaisa Droasese started at fullback for Wests in the Brisbane Premier Colts I competition in their big 46 – 7 win over Norths and celebrated his debut by scoring an impressive hat trick.

Before his move to Brisbane Ilaisa Droasese won the Lote Tuqiri Medal (Best Player Award) in the Uprising Youth 7s at the 2018 Mana Whey Fijian Coral Coast 7s tournament at Lawaqa Park, Sigatoka Fiji. The 18-year-old Togovere native was rewarded for his brilliant play over the course of the competition.

Ilaisa Droasese was the toast of his side when he scored the winning try in sudden death in the Cup final beating Wesley Fijians 10-5.

After the final he was quoted in the Fiji Times:

“I took the ball and did not think about anything else but to score for my team I am happy to be given this award as I did not expect to come this far What I have achieved today has pushed me to achieve greater things in life. I feel enlighten to be recognised in the game I love”.

Ilaisa Droasese made his name for Cuvu College leading his school side to the 2017 National Fiji school’s final playing first five eight including scoring in their semi-final victory.

Ilaisa Droasese is a tall powerful young man with the length to cause matchup problems for a defensive line. The key for Ilaisa Droasese is to get the ball early and look to run through his opposite number if there is no room to move down the sideline.

When there is room down the side line , Ilaisa Droasese has the above average to plus speed to break into open space and with his long lean limbs is able to hold his opposing winger away from his body with a strong fend enabling him to maintain his balance and running line even when under pressure.

Ilaisa Droasese also has the size and speed to come in off his wing and give his forwards a breather through powerful runs through the centre of the ruck and on those occasions commits multiple defenders. With his length and leaping ability Ilaisa Droasese is also an asset in the kicking game and when he gets a decent shot at the ball will be rarely beaten in the air.

When he gets the ball early from his inside play makers, Ilaisa Droasese is incredibly difficult to deal with one on one, as whilst his speed has already been noted, he is also a powerful runner who has the power to also break tackles through sheer power and not just rely on his speed to beat his opponent, in short he has a myriad of moves to break through the defensive line regardless of the defensive methodology that they are incorporating.

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

Similarly when an opposing defender looks to come out of the line quickly to put pressure on him, Ilaisa Droasese’s his quick twitch feet means that he can step off either foot quickly to negate the attempt to cut down his time.

Ilaisa Droasese’s defensive technique is one styled on intimidation he will come out of the line when the opportunity presents itself and hit very hard around the chest and drive through is lower body and continue until the tackle is well and truly finished.

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

Ilaisa Droasese will finish the 2018 season with the Brisbane Wests Rugby Club in the Brisbane Premier Colts I competition and whilst I am not aware that he has ever played rugby league he definitely has all of the attributes that you would be looking for in a rugby league outside back.
The 18 year old Ilaisa Droasese is just an outstanding athlete regardless of position and I think that the decision by the Wests Colts coaches to put him at fullback was an outstanding one as he can play what’s in front of him without the confines of playing to a set game plan.

In saying that I certainly can envisage Ilaisa Droasese playing on the wing, in the centres or at fullback in rugby league but with his pace, power and elusiveness a spot on the wing would seem the ideal scenario for the young Fijian.

An NRL player comparison for Ilaisa Droasese is with his powerful running style and penchant to come forward and aim to smash attackers is reminiscent of Parramatta Eels winger Semi Radraraha.

Ilaisa Droasese just has so much speed, power and athleticism that it is difficult not to day dream about how good he could be on a rugby league field especially with speed, size and power such a sought after commodity he is one to at least consider to don a rugby league jersey.

[mdrew]

Lachlan Tennison-Woods. (Revised) The young Marist College Ashgrove rugby centre is a young man who has played in the blue of the famous Fortitude Valleys Junior Rugby League Club as well as playing schoolboy rugby in the Association of Independent Colleges (AIC) competition.

Lachlan Tennison-Woods was also named in the 2017 Stingers U16 Rugby League Red squad as well as being selected in the Australian U16 Rugby Merit team on the right wing.

2018 was the second season that Lachlan Tennison-Woods has played for Marist College Ashgrove First XV side and also the second year in a row he has played for the AIC representative side in the Queensland Schools Rugby Championships.

Prior to the AIC school boy season Lachlan Tennison-Woods played in five matches for the North’s Devils MM Cup side starting on the wing on each occasion although he did not play in either North’s semi-final or Grand Final. Lachlan Tennison-Woods scored two tries the first of which came in Round two against Central Queensland and in Round Four against the Western Mustangs.

Once you have seen Lachlan Tennison-Woods run with the ball on a football field, you probably will not see anyone move as well as he does. He has an effortless running style seemingly gliding over the field and has what can only be considered plus plus speed both from an acceleration and top speed perspective, I am talking James Roberts type speed.

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

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

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

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

Defensively Lachlan Tennison-Woods is solid at wrapping the ball up and just needs to refine his technique as he progresses and also when to come out of the line in an effort to limit the time and space of the opposition. He will need to continue to get stronger and maintain his speed to stay at centre, and potentially become a legitimate strike centre, but there is nothing in his performances to date that suggests that he will not be able to.

Lachlan Tennison-Woods is currently representing the AIC representative side at the Queensland Schools Rugby Trials and played very well on Day one as AIC defeated the Queensland Combined High Schools side

Lachlan Tennyson-Woods has been a stand out in both rugby and rugby league in the centres for the last couple of season and is unlikely to see anything different from a position perspective as he progresses and harnesses is amazing skill set.

From a style perspective, think of someone along the lines of James Roberts of the Broncos and the New South Wales State of Origin side in relation to playing style as a legitimate strike centre with the ability to make breaks from anywhere but also can handle the defensive side of the game.

[mdrew]

Jojo Fifita. (Revised) I try not to get too intrigued when I see talented young players at the U13 level but sometimes you see a player that just stands out not just from a skill perspective but from also from the perspective of a young player who just seems to innately understand how to play the game, a natural if you will.

I would argue that I have seen only very few players at this young an age that you would put into this category, but I was dragged along early to a 2017 TSS match, in time to see the U14A side play and by the end of that season I was making sure to get there early to see an amazingly talented young TSS centre play named Jojo Fifita, I will doing the same again this coming season with the added bonus of seeing talented Titans contract Kaleb Ngamanu operating in the same side.

Obviously you cannot get too carried away as a spectator as so much will change as young players progress such as injuries, schooling competing priorities etc. but this young man was a real handful every match that I was lucky enough to see him play for TSS.

A team mate of Jojo Fifita in 2017 was centre partner and Titans contracted Kaleb Ngamanu. They will likely line-up again in the centres in 2018 in the U15A GPS school boy competition when the season proper kicks off in July.

Even though the GPS school boy rugby season has not kicked off yet, Jojo Fifita has already played a number of matches for TSS. Jojo Fifita started on the bench for the first two trials which were against Far North Coast and Toowoomba Grammar School before moving into the starting side at fullback for the last three trials against Nudgee, Ipswich Grammar School and Ambrose Treacy College.

In 2017, Jojo Fifita started in all eight Rounds of the GPS U14A competition, starting the first three rounds at inside centre before switching to fullback for the remainder of the season. In his eight matches Jojo Fifita scored an incredible fourteen tries, crossing in every match.

Jojo Fifita scored a hat trick in Round two against Toowoomba Grammar School and four doubles which came against Ipswich Grammar School, Brisbane Boys College, Brisbane Grammar School and Churchie, in Rounds Three, Four, Six and Nine respectively.

Jojo Fifita also scored in Round One against Brisbane State High School, Round Five against Gregory Terrace and in Round Eight against Nudgee College.

Jojo Fifita is not just a try scorer and on four occasions last school boy rugby season, he was named at the TSS U14A best back. He was awarded the honour against Toowoomba Grammar School, Brisbane Boys College and Churchie in Rounds Tow, Four and Nine respectively as well as against Downlands College.

To cap off an incredible U15A season for TSS, Jojo Fifita started at outside centre for TSS when they played a “trial” against Downlands College during their Round Seven bye. In that match, Jojo Fifita scored a staggering seven tries.

The 2015 Gold Coast Academy of Sport Rugby participant and TSS outside centre represented the U13 Brisbane Green side at the 2016 Queensland Age Rugby championships and from there was selected in the City side for their annual clash against a Country U13 side in a curtain raiser to a Queensland Reds Super Rugby clash which the City side won.

Jojo Fifita also is a star athlete and a top class sprinter at the 100m and 200m distances as well as being a good discus thrower and competed in the Queensland State Athletic championships in Townsville representing the South Coast region at the sprint distances mentioned as well as the South Coast relay team.

In 2016 for the TSS U13A side Jojo Fifita was deservedly nominated for the TSS Best Junior Footballer of the year award after the 2016 GPS season where he scored four tries, including a hat trick against Brisbane Grammar School in Round Five in a comprehensive 52 – 24 victory and also scored in the final match, being Round Nine against Brisbane State High School in a tough loss for TSS. I was lucky enough to also see him play in Round Eight against Anglican Church Grammar School where he was a handful for the Churchie defence every time that he touched the ball.

In attack one of the positives in rugby compared to league is the space that centres have, when the ball is given to them early they seem to have a lot more room to move and this is something that Jojo Fifita has exploited this season in eth GPS competition. Against Brisbane Grammar School in Round Five he got the ball early and expertly stepped the opposing centre on the inside and out paced the cover defence to the try line.

Whilst he is a big strong powerful young centre, he also has a myriad of attacking moves, including a great in and away, and also being able to cut back on the inside of his defender if they over commit to the outside, as was evidenced by his three tries against Brisbane Grammar School as well as some good breaks against Churchie.

From what I have seen I would consider that his speed would in the plus category if not in the plus plus category for a centre, add his power and strong fend and you really have a young centre that could develop in anything on a football field. I concede that I know little about the attacking strategies and philosophies of the TSS rugby coaches but he seems to run slightly better when he lines up on the right hand side of the field, his spacing, line running and ability to beat his opposite number on the inside seems a little more instinctive from that side of the field.

Jojo Fifita must be a five eight’s dream, when he gets the ball early he causes real havoc for the defensive line whether he is playing in the centres or at fullback.

Defensively he hits very hard and constantly is in a position to disrupt the attacking movement of the opposition. Extrapolating his skill set to a rugby league setting, I would suggest that he would be more than capable to adapt and excel in either an up and in or sliding methodology.

The other point I will make is that he certainly does not shirk contact, both in attack or defence and similarly in committing to the break down in rugby, he will put his head over the ball to protect the ball when TSS have it and also clear out aggressively when looking for the turn over for TSS. The GPS matches are keenly contested regardless of the age group and the rucks and mauls are not for the faint hearted as young men represent their schools with pride.

Jojo Fifita will be part of the U15A TSS side for the upcoming 2018 GPS rugby season where he will form a lethal backline with Titans contracted Kaleb Ngamanu and Gold Coast Rugby League stand out Syris Schmidt.

TSS started their 2018 GPS U15A campaign in Round One against Anglican Church Grammar School at home on 21 July after a final trial away to Sunshine Coast Grammar School the week prior to the GPS First XV Round One fixture. Jojo Fifita has been named on the bench for the final trial along with a number of likely starters for Round One including Titans contracted Kaleb Nganamu.

From a position perspective, Jojo Fifita currently plays either in the centres or fullback for both TSS and representative rugby sides such as the Cyclones and South Coast and as a result it is impossible to determine at this stage whether his future lies at fullback or in the centres, he is simply outstanding in both positions.

He just looks a natural on a football field and if he can have a bit of luck with injuries etc. the sky is the limit for the talented young athlete.

From a player comparison perspective, I will once again qualify my comments that when I am making a player comparison I am talking about a playing style rather than potential career path. For me Jojo Fifita has a little bit of South Sydney Rabbitoh, Queensland State of Origin captain and Australian Test centre Greg Inglis in his game. On his day he can be a bullocking runner who can just break a game open individually.

Clearly players at this age have a long way to go and you have to be careful not to get too carried away but sometimes you just come across a young player who looks a natural, Jojo Fifita is one such player and all you can do is wish him the best going forward.

[mdrew]

Below is a short list of players that impressed in the three days of Queensland Schools Rugby Trials. All would look good in a Titans jersey:

Zac Hogan - AIC No. 10 from Marist College Ashgrove, calm composed player who is adept at leading his side around the field and just seems to have all the time in the world to make decisions.

Roger Maliu – Queensland Combined High Schools wing who displayed outstanding hands on the wing and at 17 is playing for Logan in the Queensland Premier Colts competition. He has played seven Colts II matches and one in Colts I, not bad at all for a schoolboy to play at that level of competition.

Shaquille McLeod – AIC fullback who was the standout out player on Day One in the AIC against Combined High Schools match won by AIC 10-7. He is a former Rockhampton rugby league junior.

Dayne Shadlow - Cathedral College Rockhampton student who also plays rugby league in Rockhampton and is still just 16 years old, playing No. 10 for the Queensland Combined High Schools side. He is an outstanding runner of the ball and has an exquisite and selective passing game and cut the AIC side apart on Day one, scary considering he was playing against a number of players two years older than him.

Bailey Tautau – A former Norths Devils rugby league player who was outstanding on Day Two of the trials and attends St Jospeh’s Nudgee College and will start as their No. 8 when the GPS competition starts in a couple of weeks.

[Bayside Titan]

Hi mdrew. What are your thoughts on Tom Farr from Rocky ? Looks like a real prospect also signed with Penrith I believe ?

https://www.theroar.com.au/tv/one-of...ign=affiliates

[mdrew]

For a player of his pace he has a solid build mate and is quick even though he does not necessarily look quick per say.

Solid defender who is better is a sliding defensive scheme rather than an up and up style.

For me he has a playing style similar to Canberra's Jarrod Crocker.

Hi mdrew. What are your thoughts on Tom Farr from Rocky ? Looks like a real prospect also signed with Penrith I believe ?

https://www.theroar.com.au/tv/one-of...ign=affiliates