DRAGONS JUNIORS THREAD

[Desperate Dragon]

one of our posters said

one is a brother
one is a cousin

big boys for their age

Viliami is the younger brother.
Tyrone is a cousin.

 

[redv13]

he is a unit isnt he

and maybe taller than Hame ?

Redv13 any thoughts re possible to move across to the Dragons?

Setefano played Harold Matts for us in 2020 and 2021 then moved over to Souths.

 

[TheRev]

Do wonder if there are any ill feelings or issues around the club, Amone and his brother/cousin.. I don't think we did anything wrong in the whole affair.. we kept Junior around until it was basically taken out of our hands by the NRL.

 

[Auntie.Gerald]

So if we gathered the SG Ball forwards from both squads that are most regarded 17yrs, 18yrs old. It appears we went very deep with the next cycle of middles ie props / locks vs edge backrow.

The stand outs below:

PROPS
Pasifiki Tonga
Hutchinson
Cyrus Stanley-Trail
Latu
Ackers
Amone.V
Amone.T
Meafou
Munro

EDGE BACKROW -
Halangahu
Treweek

.......................

I suppose this makes sense given we have highly rated edge backrowers who are only 19yr olds already:

Egan
Stewart (who was a lock and has been asked to play edge backrow this season)
Tsougranis

 

[justadragon]

Do wonder if there are any ill feelings or issues around the club, Amone and his brother/cousin.. I don't think we did anything wrong in the whole affair.. we kept Junior around until it was basically taken out of our hands by the NRL.

It wasnt the club that caused the Amone drama, it was Amones stupidity, the club was more than fair keeping him on the way we did, somewhat at the expense of Sullivan. The only ill feeling should be the fact that Amone has showed no remorse at all for his criminal act.

 

[blacksafake]

Do wonder if there are any ill feelings or issues around the club, Amone and his brother/cousin.. I don't think we did anything wrong in the whole affair.. we kept Junior around until it was basically taken out of our hands by the NRL.

The whole mess was all on Amone.
However seeing all these latest articles about him with no mention of admitting guilt or any kind of remorse does leave the door open for some ill feelings I suppose.

 

[baggygreen man]

That No 10 has silky hands

Loko Jr, impressive ball skills for a hulking prop.

 

[baggygreen man]

Latu

Latu and Loko not only bend the line they also have the ability to put a player into a gap. Take Latu's neat handoff for the winning Hammoud try almost on the buzzer.

 

[TheRev]

The whole mess was all on Amone.
However seeing all these latest articles about him with no mention of admitting guilt or any kind of remorse does leave the door open for some ill feelings I suppose.

Yaa 100% its all on Amone, but if we had of kicked him out, instead of standing by him for the year during court proceedings.. he might not see it that way. I think the relationship is probably as good as it could be...

 

[Ronnie Dobbs]

So if we gathered the SG Ball forwards from both squads that are most regarded 17yrs, 18yrs old. It appears we went very deep with the next cycle of middles ie props / locks vs edge backrow.

The stand outs below:

PROPS
Pasifiki Tonga
Hutchinson
Cyrus Stanley-Trail
Latu
Ackers
Amone.V
Amone.T
Meafou
Munro

EDGE BACKROW -
Halangahu
Treweek

.......................

I suppose this makes sense given we have highly rated edge backrowers who are only 19yr olds already:

Egan
Stewart (who was a lock and has been asked to play edge backrow this season)
Tsougranis

Remember 20 years ago when we were such a prop factory that Brett White couldn’t get an NRL game. Ben Ross. Ian Donnelly. Brian Norrie. Bull Bailey. Ryles. Poore. Ashton Sims. Brent Kite came to us as a reserve grade back rower.

All came from us. A lot of first graders at the least there.

Hopefully the same again.

 

[Parko1310]

Illawarra Steelers SG Ball star halfback Kade Reed ‘confident’ after NRL pre-season with Dragons​

Training alongside the NRL Dragons in pre-season, emerging superstar halfback Kade Reed got a glimpse at what he’s working towards. Now back in SG Ball, he’s looking to keep rising to the top.
Kevin Merrigan

3 min read
February 8, 2024 - 2:26PM
News Corp Australia Sports Newsroom
https://archive.md/W1OFO#share-tools

Kade Reed in action for the Illawarra Steelers. Picture: Warren Gannon Photography
There aren’t many more highly touted juniors in the Illawarra region than Kade Reed.
Whether it’s at club or rep level, Reed is a constant name-drop from coaches when it comes to players to watch in their sides, with 2024 no exception as he takes up the halfback responsibility for the Illawarra Steelers in SG Ball.
What’s different about Reed this season, however, is that he’s coming straight off the back of a pre-season with the St George Illawarra Dragons NRL side, a terrific opportunity for the 17-year-old which has seen him come to SG Ball oozing with confidence.
“That was awesome for me, just learning everyday and training with those guys, it’s hard to put into words,” Reed said.
“Just being in there and training with guys like Ben Hunt, I’ve been watching him my whole life, so being there alongside him was awesome.”

Kade Reed on the burst for the Steelers in the opening round of SG Ball against the Rabbitohs. Picture: Warren Gannon Photography
Shaun Timmins, head coach of the Steelers SG Ball side, highlights how the exposure to the high level has benefited his star halfback.
“I just think the confidence that he’s brought back to the group, being able to train and handle it with the NRL boys for a few months has really benefited him,” Timmins said.
“He’s a great young player, still only a kid, he can play SG Ball for two years.
“He’s got a good kicking game, a nice running game, but you can tell he’s just come back with a lot of confidence.”
Joining Reed in Dragons camp for the pre-season was a number of the Illawarra’s top rugby league prospects, including Steelers teammates Hayden Buchanan, as well as Reed’s halves partner Lykhan King-Togia, a partnership which showed promising signs in Illawarra’s round one victory.

A selection of Dragons juniors who trained alongside the NRL squad during pre-season: (L-R) Finau Latu, Kade Reed and Hayden Buchanan. Picture: Richard Dobson
“That’s the other positive thing, Lykhan has done the full pre-season with NRL too, so they’ve been playing a lot together during the off-season at a high level there with the NRL boys,” Timmins said.
“It’s a good combo, Kade is a genuine no. 7, while Lykhan is a bit bigger, a bit more of a ball-running five-eighth with nice kicking and passing too.”

Really impressed with the small amount I've seen of Reed so far. Caught my eye last year when he was playing for South Coast Dragons, just has really nice hands, good running game. A little small so I'm sure will need to beef up but he's only 17. Did well in the SG Ball game too judging only from the highlights. His only issue going forward for mine will be that size, but time is still on his side.

 

[TheRev]

It's really hard to get a gauge on Reed or King-Togia yet.. like they are 10 years from their peak as halfbacks.. and its very hard to pick a winner, I mean they have good moments and all.. but its not just the physical stuff.. you can't really rush them either.. so we probably still need to chase a marquee half for 2025 or 2026.. depending a little on just how well Hunt/KFlan go.

 

[Ronnie Dobbs]

It's really hard to get a gauge on Reed or King-Togia yet.. like they are 10 years from their peak as halfbacks.. and its very hard to pick a winner, I mean they have good moments and all.. but its not just the physical stuff.. you can't really rush them either.. so we probably still need to chase a marquee half for 2025 or 2026.. depending a little on just how well Hunt/KFlan go.

I’m going out to Bruce for a look at the Steelers boys tomorrow.

I’ll let you know how they go.

 

[Ronnie Dobbs]

Illawarra Steelers SG Ball star halfback Kade Reed ‘confident’ after NRL pre-season with Dragons​

Training alongside the NRL Dragons in pre-season, emerging superstar halfback Kade Reed got a glimpse at what he’s working towards. Now back in SG Ball, he’s looking to keep rising to the top.
Kevin Merrigan

3 min read
February 8, 2024 - 2:26PM
News Corp Australia Sports Newsroom
https://archive.md/W1OFO#share-tools

Kade Reed in action for the Illawarra Steelers. Picture: Warren Gannon Photography
There aren’t many more highly touted juniors in the Illawarra region than Kade Reed.
Whether it’s at club or rep level, Reed is a constant name-drop from coaches when it comes to players to watch in their sides, with 2024 no exception as he takes up the halfback responsibility for the Illawarra Steelers in SG Ball.
What’s different about Reed this season, however, is that he’s coming straight off the back of a pre-season with the St George Illawarra Dragons NRL side, a terrific opportunity for the 17-year-old which has seen him come to SG Ball oozing with confidence.
“That was awesome for me, just learning everyday and training with those guys, it’s hard to put into words,” Reed said.
“Just being in there and training with guys like Ben Hunt, I’ve been watching him my whole life, so being there alongside him was awesome.”

Kade Reed on the burst for the Steelers in the opening round of SG Ball against the Rabbitohs. Picture: Warren Gannon Photography
Shaun Timmins, head coach of the Steelers SG Ball side, highlights how the exposure to the high level has benefited his star halfback.
“I just think the confidence that he’s brought back to the group, being able to train and handle it with the NRL boys for a few months has really benefited him,” Timmins said.
“He’s a great young player, still only a kid, he can play SG Ball for two years.
“He’s got a good kicking game, a nice running game, but you can tell he’s just come back with a lot of confidence.”
Joining Reed in Dragons camp for the pre-season was a number of the Illawarra’s top rugby league prospects, including Steelers teammates Hayden Buchanan, as well as Reed’s halves partner Lykhan King-Togia, a partnership which showed promising signs in Illawarra’s round one victory.

A selection of Dragons juniors who trained alongside the NRL squad during pre-season: (L-R) Finau Latu, Kade Reed and Hayden Buchanan. Picture: Richard Dobson
“That’s the other positive thing, Lykhan has done the full pre-season with NRL too, so they’ve been playing a lot together during the off-season at a high level there with the NRL boys,” Timmins said.
“It’s a good combo, Kade is a genuine no. 7, while Lykhan is a bit bigger, a bit more of a ball-running five-eighth with nice kicking and passing too.”

Really impressed with the small amount I've seen of Reed so far. Caught my eye last year when he was playing for South Coast Dragons, just has really nice hands, good running game. A little small so I'm sure will need to beef up but he's only 17. Did well in the SG Ball game too judging only from the highlights. His only issue going forward for mine will be that size, but time is still on his side.

Keen to have a look at him tomorrow. Only 17! A boy. He look a good one though. Game sense, vision and competitiveness are traits you can’t coach. He looks pretty zippy too.

Plenty of time to develop physically. Exciting to at least see some prospects coming through and, just as importantly, their pathway being identified and nurtured through NRL squad exposure and training.

Mary and Hook wouldn’t have even known who these kids were.

 

[denis preston]

Keen to have a look at him tomorrow. Only 17! A boy. He look a good one though. Game sense, vision and competitiveness are traits you can’t coach. He looks pretty zippy too.

Plenty of time to develop physically. Exciting to at least see some prospects coming through and, just as importantly, their pathway being identified and nurtured through NRL squad exposure and training.

Mary and Hook wouldn’t have even known who these kids were.

Mary didn’t even attend Reggie games let alone our junior Rep sides. How he got away with that…. You know

 

[Ronnie Dobbs]

Mary didn’t even attend Reggie games let alone our junior Rep sides. How he got away with that…. You know

That’s why we are where we are mate.

 

[randomdragon]

Keen to have a look at him tomorrow. Only 17! A boy. He look a good one though. Game sense, vision and competitiveness are traits you can’t coach. He looks pretty zippy too.

Plenty of time to develop physically. Exciting to at least see some prospects coming through and, just as importantly, their pathway being identified and nurtured through NRL squad exposure and training.

Mary and Hook wouldn’t have even known who these kids were.

Keep an eye out for Daniel meafou no.13 too mate he’s a gun

 

[Ronnie Dobbs]

Mary didn’t even attend Reggie games let alone our junior Rep sides. How he got away with that…. You know

“Dimitri…….the Reserves coach”

 

[Ronnie Dobbs]

Keep an eye out for Daniel meafou no.13 too mate he’s a gun

Send me through anything in particular mate. I’ll happily scout them all for you.

 

[AyiosYiorgos]

both 2nd rowers as well