TEEN TITAN RAISES THE BAR FOR BURLEIGH

THE “Baby” Burleigh Bears have shown their claws by shocking the Southport Tigers in the opening round of the Rugby League Gold Coast A-grade competition, with a 32-4 win.

Few could have predicted the one-sided nature of the contest, as a Burleigh side with an average age of just 21 outscored the Tigers six tries to one in the 2019 grand final rematch.

Teen Titan Alofiana Khan-Pereira crossed for two tries on his A-grade debut on the left wing, while 19-yearold Intrust Super Cup prospect Will Evans matched him with two tries on the right flank.

Burleigh coach Matt Foster denied he had undersold the talent at his disposal during the preseason.

“I didn’t tell a fib, I said they were young and I was excited to see how they’d go,” the Englishman said.

“Effort was the secret to their success, and energy – it was as simple at that.

“The result came off the back of hard work. I suppose it’s a testament to how hard they trained during the COVID shutoff that allowed us to compete at a higher intensity level and for longer than Southport did.

“You don’t win 32-4 against good opposition without everyone playing well, but our pack really did take it to them.

“You could see they were a little undercooked physically and that was the difference.

“What I do expect is a Southport team ready for finals at the back end, as they improve.

“All the ingredients are there, they were just underdone in Game 1.”

Former Tweed Under-20s winger Harley Wood crossed for Southport’s sole try.

At Tugun, two tries to 95game South Sydney Rabbitoh Fetuli Talanoa headlined the Seahawks’ 52-28 win over Ormeau Shearers on Sunday.

Talanoa’s double was matched by two tries to former PBC prop Solomon Torrens, now contracted to the Titans, and another two to centre Timothy Cassidy.

Conner Toia crossed for his first try in Ormeau’s colours after making the move from Burleigh Bears this season.

Runaway Bay’s Guy Hamilton has shot to the top of the A-grade leading pointscorer race with two tries and four conversions against Mudgeeraba.

His 16-point tally accounted for half his team’s points in a 32-20 win.

Picture: GLENN HAMPSON Titans youth member Alofiana Khan-Pereira is proving he has speed as well as agility after scoring two tries in his A-grade debut match.