Junior Development

Harry Chadburn started at five eight for the Bilambil Jets in the NRRRL U18 Preliminary Final against the Tweed Coast Raiders with Harry Chadburn kicking an outstanding 40/20 in the 56th minute from the right of the play the ball and thirty seven metres from his own try line with Harry Chadburn driving his low hard kick to his right with the ball taking one bounce over the try line thirteen metres from the right corner post.

Harry Chadburn came close to scoring in the 30th minute when from the left of the play the ball and fourteen metres from the try line Harry Chadburn continued to run to his left and was able to force his way over the try line seven metres in from the left corner post only to be forced back into the field of play by four Tweed Coast defenders.

After receiving the ball from the dummy half from his right thirty metres from the try line Harry Chadburn broke a tackle as he continued to run to his left to get within seventeen metres of the try line. Then in the 21st minute Harry Chadburn darted through the centre of the field thirty metres from the try line before getting a short right arm flick off-load away to his right.

The 45th minute saw Harry Chadburn put up a high mid-field centre field bomb forty five metres from the try line towards the right corner with the Tweed Coats left winger dropping the ball with the Jets recovering possession sixteen metres from the try line. Harry Chadburn put up another high mid-field bomb in the 49th minute from the right of the play the ball and forty metres from the try line which was knocked on by the Tweed Coast fullback and require a goal line drop-out to restart the match.

Harry Chadburn saved what looked a certain Raiders try in the 33rd minute when after the Tweed Coast dummy half made a line break through the centre of the field and set sail for the try line Harry Chadburn came from the clouds to bring the Raiders hooker down from behind just two metres out from the try line and directly in front of the posts.
 
Zac Murphy started at halfback for the Southport Tigers in the GCRL U18 Division One Grand Final against the Helensvale Hornets with Zac Murphy making a line break in the 32nd minute when after receiving a pass to the left of a Tigers scrum win forty seven metres from the try line Zac Murphy continued to run to his left as he dummied twice to inside runners with Zac Murphy then dummying to his left before slicing between two defenders to make a line break down the left touchline before being tackled into touch just five metres from the left corner post.

In just the 2nd minute of the Grand Final from the left of the play the ball Zac Murphy stepped off his left foot from twelve metres from the try line to get within two metres eight metres in from the left corner post. Also from the left of the play the ball in the 6th minute Zac Murphy bumped away from one defender as he stepped his way from twenty two to within five metres of the try line wide on the right side of the field with Zac Murphy then awarded a penalty after being hit by a shoulder charge. Plus in the 30th minute from the left of the play the ball Zac Murphy stepped off his left foot once again as he ran from forty one metres from his try line to eight metres into Helensvale territory.
 
Austin Marsters started at lock for the Southport Tigers in the GCRL U18 Division One Grand Final against the Helensvale Hornets and in the 6th minute from the left of the play the ball and thirty two metres from the try line Austin Marsters beat two defenders as he carried the ball through the centre of the field to within twenty metres of the try line.

Also from the left of the play the ball in the 35th minute from a standing start Austin Marsters carried the ball through the centre of the field from twenty one to within ten metres of the try line.

Austin Marsters made a good defensive effort in the 13th minute when along with Tama Darlington, Austin Marsters was able to hold up the Hornets front rower No. 10 over the try line five metres to the right of the posts. Then in the 35th minute Austin Marsters smashed the Hornets fullback when he was bringing the ball back from a Southport twenty metre return dropping him cold with his right shoulder.
 
Joshua Siulepa started in the front row for the Southport Tigers in the GCRL U18 Division One Grand Final against the Helensvale Hornets and in the 4th minute from the left of the play the ball Joshua Siulepa crashed into the Hornets defensive line to carry the ball from forty two to twenty nine metres from the try line before getting a left arm off-load away to his right with his back to the try line.

A 9th minute Joshua Siulepa kick-off return saw the ball returned to the twenty eight metres through the centre of the field and then in the 17th minute from the left of the play the ball Joshua Siulepa was able to make seventeen metres to get to twenty five metres from the try line after breaking a tackle. Also in the 30th minute from the left of the play the ball Joshua Siulepa broke an additional two tackles as he ran the ball from twenty six to forty one metres from the try line.

After running to his left from a Southport penalty restart in the 43rd minute Joshua Siulepa carried the ball the required twelve metres to get to the try line with Joshua Siulepa then awarded a penalty for an illegal strip just as he was able to place the ball over the try line three metres to the left of the uprights. Also in the 53rd minute from the left of the play the ball Joshua Siulepa broke a tackle once again as he carried the ball from twenty one to within nine metres of the try line.
 
Tama Darlington started at hooker for the Southport Tigers in the GCRL U18 Division One Grand Final against the Helensvale Hornets with Tama Darlington recording a try assist in the 7th minute when from dummy half with the play the ball a metre from the try line Tama Darlington moved to his right before bringing his giant front rower No. 8 back underneath to crash over to score ten metres in from the left corner post.

Tama Darlington came close to scoring himself in the 12th minute with a short range drat out of dummy half just to the right of the posts after dummying to his left but Tama Darlington was adjudged to have lost the ball before grounding.

Tama Darlington made his initial foray out of the dummy half in the Grand Final in the 4th minute with a dart to his right through the centre of the field from twenty to ten metres from the try line. Then in the 9th minute Tama Darlington also ran out of dummy half to his right from twenty to forty metres from the try line. Also in the 25th minute ran to his right out of dummy half once again through the centre of the field from thirty seven to twenty three metres from the try line.

It was to his right once again that Tama Darlington ran out of dummy half in the 36th minute to run the ball from the halfway to forty metres out with his run incorporating a counter clockwise spin. Tama Darlington then went to his left out of dummy half in the 40th minute and after dummying to his left twice Tama Darlington got within two metres front of the posts from twenty metres out.

Tama Darlington did well defensively in the 13th minute when along with Austin Marsters he was able to hold the Hornets front rower No. 10 up over the try line five metres to the right of the posts. Then in the 29th minute Tama Darlington held up over the try line the Hornet replacement dummy half No. 14 just to the right of the posts. Also in the 33rd minute along with Micah Eteru, Tama Darlington grabbed the Hornets replacement front rower No. 20 five metres from the try line and rag dolled him back into the in-goal to force a Hornets goal line drop-out.

Tama Darlington drove a right foot kick-off in the 52nd minute to his left with the ball taking one bounce over the top of a Helensvale defender and going into touch twenty five metres from the try line to give the ball back to the Tigers in a good attacking position.
 
Joshua Siulepa was back in the Southport Tigers starting line up in the front row in Round Six of the GCRL U18 Division One competition against the Currumbin Eagles with Joshua Siulepa recording a line break assist in the 41st minute when after running the ball to the right of the play the ball from thirty five metres from his try line to the halfway mark Joshua Siulepa was able to get a right arm off-load away to his left to put Tama Darlington into open space.

From the left of the play the ball in the 26th minute a bumping Joshua Siulepa run saw the ball moved from twenty two to thirty seven metres from the try line and then in the 36th minute Joshua Siulepa propelled the ball through the centre of the field from forty one to twenty eight metres from the try line.
 
Kanititeiti Sikahele started at lock for the Burleigh Bears in the 2024 GCRL U20 Grand Final against the Runaway Bay Seagulls with Kanititeiti Sikahele scoring in the 47th minute directly under the posts by way of a four metre charge to the left of the play the ball with Kanititeiti Sikahele stepping off his left foot to get over the try line.

Kanititeiti Sikahele had come close to scoring earlier in the Grand Final in just the 2nd minute when he was held up over the try line eight metres to the left of the posts after a four metre effort from the play the ball.

Kanititeiti Sikahele also recorded a try assist in the 22nd minute when after running the ball from twelve to four metres from the try line to the right of the play the ball Kanititeiti Sikahele threw a smart short pass to his right to put his right second rower over to score eight metres to the right of the posts.

From the right of the play the ball in the 6th minute Kanititeiti Sikahele ran the ball through the centre of the field from thirty to forty six metres from the try line. Then in the 34th minute after receiving an off-load from his right forty five metres from his try line Kanititeiti Sikahele was able to get the ball eight metres into Seagulls territory. Also in the 36th minute Kanititeiti Sikahele once again ran the ball through the centre of the field from the right of the dummy half to get from twelve to twenty six metres from the try line.

Kanititeiti Sikahele was involved in a good interchange of play with Sam McAlister in the 49th minute when after Sam McAlister ran onto the ball to the right of the dummy half from thirty eight to forty six metres from the try line he got an off-load away to Kanititeiti Sikahele who broke three tackles in a run from four metres inside his half to to twelve metres into the Seagulls half before Kanititeiti Sikahele got a right arm off-load away to his left back to Sam McAlister who ran the ball to within thirty three metres of the try line.

Kanititeiti Sikahele did well defensively in the 30th minute when along with Sam McAlister he held up the Runaway Bay front rower No. 20 over the try line ten metres to the left of the posts.
 
Joshua Siulepa came off the bench for the Southport Tigers to operate in the front row in the second half of Round Five of the GCRL U18 Division One competition against the Beaudesert Kingfishers and in the 33rd minute from the left of the play the ball Joshua Siulepa ran the ball through the centre of the field from thirty to thirty six metres from the try line before getting a right arm off-load away to his left with his back to the try line. Then in the 47th minute from the right of the play the ball but to the left of the posts Joshua Siulepa got the ball from thirty one to forty three metres from the try line.
 
Sam McAlister started from the bench for the Burleigh Bears in the 2024 GCRL U20 Grand Final against the Runaway Bay Seagulls coming onto the field to operate in the front row in the 16th minute and made his initial run of the Grand Final short after from the left of the play the ball to get from six metres inside his half to nine metres into Runaway Bay territory.

From the left of the play the ball in the 21st minute Sam McAlister carried the ball through the centre of the field from twenty to ten metres of the try line and then in the 26th minute Sam McAlister also ran the ball through the centre of the field from the left of the play the ball from thirty eight to within two metres of the try line. Also in the 34th minute from the left of the play the ball and forty six metres from the try line Sam McAlister was able make ten metres before getting an off-load away to his right.

Sam McAlister ran an underneath line to the right of the play the ball in the 40th minute to move the ball from the halfway fourteen metres inside Seagulls territory through the centre of the field. Sam McAlister also ran an underneath line to the left of the play the ball through the centre of the field in the 44th minute to promote the ball from six metres inside his half to ten metres into Runaway Bay’s. Then Sam McAlister came close to scoring in the 52nd minute by way of a short straight hard charge from the left of the play the ball only to be stopped centremetres short of the try line seven metres to the right of the posts.

Sam McAlister was involved in a good interchange of play with Sam McAlister in the 49th minute when after Sam McAlister ran onto the ball to the right of the dummy half from thirty eight to forty six metres from the try line he got an off-load away to Kanititeiti Sikahele who broke three tackles in a run from four metres inside his half to to twelve metres into the Seagulls half before Kanititeiti Sikahele got a right arm off-load away to his left back to Sam McAlister who ran the ball to within thirty three metres of the try line.

Sam McAlister did well defensively in the 30th minute when along with Kanititeiti Sikahele he held up the Runaway Bay front rower No. 20 over the try line ten metres to the left of the posts.
 
Ryder Nelson had an outstanding 2024 playing at fullback for the TSS U16A side and this season should see Ryder Nelson make his First XV debut.

Ryder Nelson is starting the 2025 as a member of the U18 Northern RIvers Titans U18 Laurie Daley Cup squad and started on the wing in the first trial against the Northern Tigers.
 
I am really looking forward to seeing the development of Judah Marsden this season for both the Tweed Heads Seagulls U17 CC Cup squad and for TSS and do not be surprised if he forces his way into a GPS School Boy Rugby First XV debut for TSS.
 
Zac Murphy started at halfback for the Southport Tigers in Round Five of the GCRL U18 Division One competition against the Beaudesert Kingfishers and in the 9th minute from the left of the play the ball and sixteen metres from the try line Zac Murphy deliberately hesitated upon receipt of the ball before accelerating to full speed to get within two metres of the try line and ten metres from the left corner post. Then in the 26th minute from the left of the play the ball Zac Murphy stepped off his left foot and ran from five metres inside his half to eight metres into Beaudesert’s.

Zac Murphy made a try saving tackle in the 7th minute when he followed a Kingfishers line break and held back until the Hornets support runner he was tracking received the ball and then hit him in the centre of the field and twenty seven metres from the try line.
 
Kaiya Tafea moved over to the Gold Coast to attend The Southport School (TSS) and the outstanding youngster tomorrow started at No. 8 for the TSS U14A side after starting on the bench last week in the first trial against Ambrose Treacy College.

Kaiya Tafea then started at open side flanker for the TSS U14A side in a trial against Downlands College before moving to No. 8 in an early June trial against Anglican Church Grammar School.

Early August 2024 saw Kaiya Tafea named in the 2024 Reds Academy U14 South East Queensland Barbarians representative squad with Kaiya Tafea starting from the bench on Match Day One against Brisbane White.

In 2023 Kaiya Tafea represented the Auckland U13 South side against Auckland North in the 2023 Region of Origin U13 series.
 
Reico Ratana came off the bench to operate at left second row for the Tugun Seahawks in the 2024 GCRL First Grade Grand Final against the Currumbin Eagles with his initial run coming almost immediately from the right of the play the ball through the centre of the field from six metres inside his half to six metres into Currumbin’s.

In the 70th minute from the right of the play the ball and through the centre of the field Reico Ratana was able to run the ball from forty seven to thirty four metres from the try line and then in the 79th minute also from the right of the play the ball and through the centre of the field Reico Ratana made eleven metres out to twenty metres from hie try line. A minute later in the 80th minute from the right of the play the ball and through the centre of the field once again Reico Ratana carried the ball from the halfway to forty metres from the try line.
 
Tanu Nona came off the bench to operate at dummy half for the Tugun Seahawks in the 33rd minute of the 2024 GCRL First Grade Grand Final against the Currumbin Eagles with Tanu Nona scoring the first of his two Grand Final tries in the 38th minute with a run out of dummy half to his right from two metres out to force his way over the try line and get the ball down eleven metres to the left of the posts.

Tanu Nona made it two Grand Final tries in the 62nd minute when after picking up the ball at the back of a Tugun centre field scrum win twenty metres from the try line Tanu Nona dummied to his right before pinning his ears back and diving over to score mid-way between the goal posts and corner post on the right side of the field.

Tanu Nona made his first foray out of dummy half within a minute of coming onto the field in the 33rd minute, running to his left through the centre of the field from twenty to thirty one metres out. Tanu Nona then ran out of dummy half to his right in the 44th minute to move the ball from forty to thirty metres from the try line after breaking a tackle. Tanu Nona also ran out of dummy half to his right in the 50th minute to promote the ball from thirty to thirteen metres from the try line after stepping off his right foot to make the half break.

Tana Nona then rounded out a strong Grand Final in the final minute with a run out of dummy half to hid right through the centre of the field from forty to twenty nine metres from the try line.
 
Coastline Rugby League and Bethlehem College second rower Ephraim Baker-Taingahue is on his way over to the Gold Coast to finish his schooling and chase his rugby league dream with Ephraim Baker-Taingahue U17 eligible in 2025.
 
Tauranga Boys College, Tauranga Whalers and Coastline Representative half Tauranga Whalers Khobi Edwards will be attending school on the Gold Coast this season and is U16 eligible.

In 2024 Khobi Edwards played for the New Zealand Warriors U15 side in a number of trials.
 
Riley Buchanan started in the front row for the Bilambil Jets in the 2024 NRRRL U18 Grand Final against the Byron Bay Devils and in the 7th minute from the right of the play the ball Riley Buchanan carried the ball through the centre of the field from thirty to eighteen metres of the try line.

From the right of the play the ball once again in the 16th minute Riley Buchanan was able to get the ball from forty metres from his try line to the halfway mark. Then in the 32nd minute after running an underneath line to the left of the play the ball Riley Buchanan made twelve metres from thirty six metres from his try line. Also in the 38th minute from the right of the play the ball Riley Buchanan was able to get the ball from thirty six metres from his try line and get to within four metres of the halfway mark.

A minute later in the 39th minute from a Bilambil penalty restart Riley Buchanan ran the ball from forty seven to thirty three metres from the try line. Then in the 44th minute from two passes to the right of the dummy half Riley Buchanan promoted the ball from the halfway mark to thirty seven metres from the try line.

Riley Buchanan did what he does best in the 18th minute when he flew out of the Bilambil defensive line and executed a big right shoulder tackle on the Byron Bay lock in the centre of the field and thirty metres from the try line. Riley Buchanan then made a big left shoulder tackle in the 44th minute on the Byron Bay right second rower No. 11 in the centre of the field and forty one metres from the try line.
 
Powerhouse front rower Peter Ngaoire-Finau arrives on the Gold Coast in 2025 with the 15 year old wrecking ball who in New Zealand represented the Mangere East Hawks, Hakula, Auckland, the Cook Islands and Aorere College looking to force his way into the reckoning of an NRL club in the Titans backyard.
 
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