Revealed: Huge injuries bring six new faces into the Gold Coast Vikings side
A plethora of injuries to key men have ensured the Gold Coast will have their backs against the wall, but six new players are eager to counter that. FIRST LOOK AT THE TEAM HERE >>
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On the back of a pair of shock Ormeau triumphs has come a pivotal moment for Coen Rankmore, with the Shearers junior earning his maiden stripes with the Gold Coast Vikings.
The hard running edge forward is perhaps the biggest winner from his side’s surprise victories over Mudgeeraba and Southport — two outfits all but locked for a finals run for the Rugby League Gold Coast premiership.
Of coach Wayne Forbes’ Vikings team who won the South Queensland Chairman’s Challenge, six men have been forced out of this Saturday’s clash against a formidable Townsville unit.
Rankmore is the beneficiary of one of those losses, with Tigers lock Brandon Russell to miss the state decider with a broken foot.
But Forbes was confident the young Shearer had the tools to thrive in the representative arena — whether he starts or comes off the bench, however, will be determined throughout the side’s three-day training camp.
And he said Rankmore’s commitment to Ormeau had culminated in a just reward for the club’s vision to foster their own talent into the top level.
“We’re going to give Coen Rankmore from Ormeau a crack; Ormeau have got some good scalps recently so it’s a reward for his contribution to those wins,” Forbes said.
“Little things like that (giving chances to club juniors) start to put the club on the map and it’s great. Not that it’s a criteria, but that makes it all clubs have been represented throughout the (Vikings) campaign which is really cool.
“He’s got a high work rate, he seems to want to be involved all the time and I like that competitiveness about him.”
Joining Rankmore as the new faces within the Vikings unit are Burleigh duo Connor Carey and Reece McKenzie-O’Brien, Southport’s Ben Thomas, Tugun centre Tim Cassidy and hooker Jack Cook.
Both Carey and Cassidy have been brought in to forge a brand new centre pairing, with Currumbin Eagle Jakob Smith out with a knee injury and Sherwin Tanabi unable to take part due to Queensland Cup commitments with the Papua New Guinea Hunters.
Thomas will then replace Bears forward Blake Campbell who has gone down with an achilles tendon concern, and his club teammate Scott is also out with a broken thumb.
Forbes appreciates a heavily favoured Townsville side to give them a daunting challenge on their own home turf, with a host of Blackhawks QCup affiliated players such as Michael Carroll and Edene Gebbie joined by former New Zealand Warrior Sione Lousi in their triumphant Foley Shield squad.
But the Vikings mentor believes his new dummy-half in Cook could provide the x-factor needed to cause an upset.
Cook has recently returned from a stint playing in France, only arriving back in Australia a couple of weeks ago and scoring a double on his Tugun Seahawks comeback.
Forbes said he would offer a very similar presence to their Chairman’s Challenge captain in Scott, while bringing a heap of experience playing in foreign areas.
“He’s quality, so it’s certainly an x-factor we are looking for,” he said.
“I think they (Cook and Scott) are very similar, both talkers and both very competitive, and the service they give is what you need those players.”
GOLD COAST VIKINGS TEAM VS TOWNSVILLE
1. Zac Beecher (Tugun), 2. Josh Bukowski (Mudgeeraba), 3. Conor Carey (Burleigh), 4. Tim Cassidy (Tugun), 5. Queille Murray (Runaway Bay), 6. Keanu Te Kiri (Tugun), 7. Zane Harris (Southport), 8. Matthew Koellner (Tugun), 9. Jack Cook (Tugun), 10. Joe Duffy (Burleigh), 11. Ben Thomas (Southport), 12. Lochlyn Sheldon (Burleigh), 13. Coen Rankmore (Ormeau), 14. Reece McKenzie-O’Brien (Burleigh), 15. Denzal Ngati (Southport), 16. Brock Hamill (Southport), 17. Liam Clark (Helensvale)
League Analysis: Flyers cry for NRL chance, injury-cruelled gun returns
— July 18
As one young flyer made an impressive NRL debut, his Burleigh counterpart was continuing his own meteoric rise among the elite.
With Tweed Seagulls rookie and rugby union convert Jojo Fifita tearing up the Gold Coast Titans flank, Bears youngster Alofiana Khan-Pereira was celebrating his second hat-trick of the Queensland Cup campaign.
His exploits took his season tries to 16 from just 13 appearances, as Burleigh downed the Townsville Blackhawks 30-16.
The three linebreaks he made among his 151 running metres also took his 2022 tally to 16, putting him on top of the competition for both tries and breaks.
Pace has perhaps been the trademark of the 20-year-old’s game, previously clocked as the Bears fastest player — reaching speeds of up to 36km/hr.
Titans coach Justin Holbrook showed on Saturday night he would be willing to give players opportunities to impress given their spiral towards wooden spoon contention, and if he was seeking attacking class then Khan-Pereira could be an option to help shake things up.
Burleigh coach and former Newcastle mentor Rick Stone said he had no doubt that if given the chance Khan-Pereira — who is contracted within the Titans Top 30 squad — would handle the added intensity of first-grade football.
While he said the young prospect was far from the finished product, this being his maiden state league campaign, playing alongside veteran centre Sami Sauiluma had quickly developed his decision making and comfort performing among the upper echelon.
“He comes up with plays and when he gets in the clear he’s hard to catch, and he’s been outside Sami who’s been really unselfish feeding him the ball really well and he’s benefited from that,” Stone said.
“He’s got tougher, physically he’s grown a bit and he’s matured; his yardage carries are a real highlight of his game now and they never used to be.
“Physically he can get a little bit stronger and bigger, his positional play and defensive decision making process in general (can improve) and that al comes with experience playing senior footy.
“If given a chance I’m sure he’d do well, it’s up to Justin whether he thinks he’s ready. That will be up to them, but I’m sure he’d do well with a chance.
“I’m not saying he’s the finished product, but he’s definitely still got some x-facto and could change a game.”
While Khan-Pereira has set about thrusting himself into the NRL selection frame, Fifita did his chances to long-term inclusion no harm with a stirring debut against the Broncos.
Despite the Titans going down 16-12, the 19-year-old finished with 168m from 15 carries, as well as four tackle busts and a brilliant linebreak late in the contest coming out of his own in-goal.
All the more impressive given his cross-code switch only truly began this year in what has been his maiden full-season in rugby league.
And Holbrook was quick to praise the emerging talent when asked if Fifita would be given the chance to cement a spot on his wing.
“Definitely, I thought he handled it really well. He made some great decisions in attack and defence and credit to him, he hasn’t played the game long,” Holbrook said.
“For us to have the confidence to put him in I thought he did himself, his family and the club proud.”
BOOTH STAKES CLAIM TO NUMBER NINE JUMPER FULL-TIME
A horror run of injuries had threatened to derail Aaron Booth’s return to the Gold Coast, but the resilient dummy-half cast it all behind him to at last don the Titans colours.
After six games with the Melbourne Storm, the Palm Beach Currumbin alumni announced his homecoming for the 2022 season, intent on cementing himself in the Titans number nine jumper.
Shoulder injuries in the pre-season and another setback in the opening round of the Queensland Cup kept him out of action, however he has since managed to string together seven consecutive appearances for Burleigh to put himself in the frame for higher honours.
That moment came in the Titans 16-12 defeat to the Brisbane Broncos, during which Booth made a game high 41 tackles with just two misses.
While he will no doubt be eager to run the ball more, having made just one carry in the contest, Booth’s Titans debut was the by-product of at last instilling confidence in his own body.
Injuries have become synonymous with the 26-year-old hooker’s career, having missed the entire 2018 campaign with an ACL tear, but the man himself said his rise back to the top came from finally believing he was physically capable to meeting the rigours of NRL football.
“I came here with the plan for it (my debut) to happen sooner, but a few injuries sort of changed those initial plans,” Booth said.
“But I always knew it would come together at some stage; obviously I’ve been getting some games on the park with Burleigh in the QCup and it’s been going well.
“It’s just confidence within my own body, because I did have a little run of injuries through the pre-season and I hurt myself in Round 1 for Burleigh.
“To string the games together just gives me confidence to perform and know that I’m going to be able to give my all to the team.
“It’s a little bit of confidence with myself and the players around me; them knowing I’ve had a good run of games and played well gives them confidence in me to be next to them out there.”
Despite a noticeably improved effort against the Broncos, the defeat keeps the Gold Coast planting in dangerous wooden spoon territory with seven rounds still to play.
However with first-choice rake Erin Clark making a successful shift to the bench where he has been used as a middle forward, Booth senses an opportunity to claim the dummy-half job as his own.
Clark’s inclusion through the forward rotation very nearly proved to be the point of difference for the Titans on Saturday night, running for 153m from just 11 carries to go with seven tackle busts and 29 tackles.
Now the spot at the ruck will be Booth’s to lose, as he seeks to salvage some respite out of what has been a poor campaign on the Glitter Strip.
“It is a big opportunity, there’s a run of games still to go, and the year is still (seven) games to go,” Booth said.
“I’m looking forward to getting a run of games together and try to turn what has been a disappointing year into a solid finish and give some light at the end of the tunnel.
“I feel confident to take the spot and finish strong.”
SURPRISE HOOKER BEHIND HUGE WIN
He may have come through the ranks as a middle forward, but Southport enforcer Piki Te Ora Rogers proved to be a jack of all trades on Sunday.
With Tigers star and former NRL hooker Sione Katoa out of the contest against Helensvale, Rogers assumed the number nine jumper had even helped himself to a try in a 52-16 triumph.
Improvement has been evident in the Hornets ever since coach Paul Bergman took the reigns three weeks ago. But after what appeared to be a promising start as the two sides largely traded tries, Southport simply could not be contained come the second stanza.
Helensvale centre Liam Joseph was the only man to cross for more than one try, as the Tigers shared the spoils in a clinical back-end to the clash, with brothers John and Eni Folau scoring in the same game for the second time in the 2022 season.
SHEARERS HUMBLED IN FINALS TIGHTROPE WALK
They headed into the clash with a chance to unseat Runaway Bay in the top five, but now the Ormeau Shearers will be forced to fight to get their season off life support.
After a breakthrough win over Southport last week, the Shearers were humbled by the Tugun Seahawks in a 52-6 drubbing, as Tongan winger Samiu Latu wrecked havoc out wide.
The former Test flyer helped himself to a double for last year’s grand finalists, while lock Jack Cook also crossed for two tries of his own. Ormeau will still have every chance to pip the Seagulls at the post, despite fifth placed Runaway Bay still having games in hand.
The Shearers’ remaining games are all winnable, with Helensvale and Currumbin — the only two sides beneath them on the ladder — book ending what could be the most crucial clash of the season against the Seagulls.
EAGLES FALL SHORT OF SHOCK VICTORY
For a period on Sunday afternoon, the Currumbin Eagles appeared destined to claim a huge scalp as they found themselves up by 10 points against Mudgeeraba.
However as has been the theme of the Redbacks campaign, they found a way to battle back from the brink.
Mudgeeraba overcame their deficit, inspired by a double to Eagles winger Zio Johnson, to emerge 30-22 victors and hold their place within the Rugby League Gold Coast top four. Six different try scorers shared the points for the Redbacks, as a second-half rally was completed by former NRL star Zeb Taia.
With huge clashes against Tugun, Southport and Burleigh ahead of Mudgeeraba, a loss to the Eagles could have seriously dented their finals hopes. Now, they have the chance to announce themselves as the biggest threat come finals.
DEFENDING CHAMPIONS PUT ON A CLINIC
They were clinical from start to finish, and with that the Burleigh Bears reminded the rest of the Rugby League Gold Coast competition they were still very much the top dogs.
Doubles to Ryan Wescombe and Michael Walit stole the show for the defending champions, as they charged to a comprehensive 36-4 win over Runaway Bay.
It took until the 80th minute for Seagulls fullback Jack Ward to get his side on the board, as the absence of stars Tyler Han and Aaron Booth proved too much to overcome.
Runaway Bay still have games up their sleeve due to wet weather postponements throughout the season, however they will no doubt be breathing a sigh of relief that Ormeau could not overcome Tugun.
Nevertheless, with the two sides due to clash in the final rounds, both outfits will be approaching every contest as a must win.
KELLY’S RETURN FALLS SHORT FOR TWEED
Brian Kelly may have found himself on the outer of the Titans side, but he did all he could to force his way back into Justin Holbrook’s side upon his Queensland Cup return.
While the livewire centre was unable to manufacturer a win for Tweed, going down to the Sunshine Coast Falcons 26-18, he did make an individual statement.
Kelly’s 223 running metres from 21 carries highlighted his desire to make an impact, and with that a comeback to the NRL side could be the on the cards.
The Seagulls forward pack were largely beaten through the middle, with edge forward Joshua Patson the only starter to surpass 100 running metres. He finished with 152m from just 13 carries, and was well rewarded with two tries.
However the Tweed bench proved to be an exciting point of difference that very nearly salvaged a win on the road, with Craig Garvey (119m, 23 tackles), Reece Summer (118m, 17 tackles) and Reuben Porter (112m) all injecting some spark.
Plans revealed for revolutionary Coast competition
- July 7, 2022
Tweed Seagulls CEO Matt Francis has revealed the club are in the midst of collaborating with community clubs to bring a women’s competition to the Gold Coast and Northern Rivers.
Francis was speaking after Tweed hosted a Leaders in League breakfast to celebrate the growth of women’s rugby league at the club while officially opening the female specific facilities at Piggabeen.
Junior growth has been on an upward trajectory in 2022 on the Glitter Strip, with the launch of the Karina Brown Cup giving under-12 girls their own competition for the first time — with eight teams taking part.
School participation has also been at an all time high, with the likes of Keebra Park State High School fielding multiple teams in the Titans Schools League.
However as it stands there is no senior women's club-based outlet, with the best of the best moving straight into the representative pathways at Tweed and the Burleigh Bears.
Francis said the Seagulls have already been working with Runaway Bay to strengthen their female pathways, with plans to put NRLW stars and club ambassadors Tarryn Aiken and Georgia Hale at various local clubs to conduct development clinics.
He said the hope was that with such dedicated support being filtered to the next generation, that would in turn foster a women’s season to rival that of the men.
“We don’t have formal affiliates, but what we do with all our junior clubs and schools is form relationships where we can assist with the development of a player,” Francis said.
“If I use Currumbin, (Gold Coast Titan) Zara Canfield used to play juniors with Xavier Coates. If they come play with us, we’d love her to be able to go back to Currumbin Eagles.
“That’s our relationship, we help nurture their players and then hopefully they will maintain that relationship with their community club. That’s still in its infancy, and that’s what we’re working with.
“We had a great relationship with Runaway Bay this year, but we’re looking to work with Mudgeeraba, to work with Robina, to work with Cudgen, wherever there is interest.
“With Taryn Aiken and Georgia Hale as Seagulls ambassadors, we’re working with junior community clubs in Southeast Queensland and northern NSW to assist in the development so we can have local competitions for women as well.”
Given the limited chances they have had to play at their home venue following the Covid-19 chaos last year and the floods of early 2022, Francis described Wednesday morning’s festivities as a long overdue celebration, and took the chance to announce a quartet of Seagulls to win scholarships assisting their on and off field pursuits.
Tweed QRLW and Keebra Park halfback Chantay Kiria-Ratu, Seagulls hooker Lailee Phillips and veteran debutant Carly McGrath were among the winners, while 15-year-old Peta Brember was rewarded with one in the disabilities sport space.
Francis said these scholarships would enable the club’s athletes to have “two plan As” in life rather than a plan B should rugby league not work out.
He said their hopes to now expand the women’s game had already accelerated owing to a new relationship forged seeking to transition players into full contact rugby league.
“Here at Tweed we’ve just formed a partnership with New South Wales Rugby League to help promote contact sport,” Francis said.
“Up to this stage it’s been predominantly non-contact at the senior level, but the interest in that is phenomenal.
“There’s games this weekend with 300 players coming along for their first opportunity, we’ve got a club like Currumbin Eagles looking to establish a women’s team next year and with the schools we just see continual growth.
“When we started off we struggled to get a side, this year we had over 60 players involved in our representative teams.
“We’re just making sure we’ve got the proper coaches in place, so they’re learning the skills and they start to learn about strength and conditioning and diet. And then we introduce them at an appropriate time to the contact sport they are ready for.”
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