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Dureau savouring opportunity to make grade with mate

Frederick

Frederick

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Staff member
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27,660
Dureau savouring opportunity to make grade with mate
By BRETT KEEBLE

HE is likely to keep his spot for Newcastle's game against Manly at EnergyAustralia Stadium on Saturday night but halfback Scott Dureau does not expect to stay in first grade all season.

As had been widely tipped in the lead-up to the game against Canberra at EAS last Saturday, Dureau was promoted from a seven-man bench into the run-on side and played halfback alongside long-time friend and teammate Jarrod Mullen, who moved from half to five-eighth.

Utility Chris Bailey, originally named at pivot, was dropped to the NSW Cup side to make way for Dureau but is expected to be named today in an extended squad to face Manly.

Coach Brian Smith indicated Mullen and Dureau would be retained for the showdown with the Sea Eagles, giving 21-year-old Dureau a chance to avenge a 50-16 loss to Manly in his NRL debut at Bluetongue Stadium last August.

"The ideal is to get a nice mix of a bit of continuity but don't overload them," Smith said. "I wasn't unhappy. I thought both of them showed some good signs and their combination was pretty good, but there's a truckload of improvement in them as well."

Smith said Luke Walsh "did some nice things" in Newcastle's NSW Cup win over Balmain Ryde but was unlikely to force his way into the NRL squad just yet.

But Walsh will get another shot at some stage and Dureau said he had no problem with Smith experimenting with the halves.

"It's all about building a career," Dureau said.

"If he sees fit for me to have a week or two off here and there, that's fine, and hopefully I'll be a better player for it in the long run."

As the smoke cleared from the pre-game fireworks last Saturday, a beaming Dureau could not contain his enjoyment as he and Mullen embraced before kick-off.

Dureau and 20-year-old Mullen grew up together in Taree, they did Year 11 and 12 together at St Francis Xavier College after Dureau followed Mullen to Newcastle, via Port Macquarie, then Dureau joined the Knights' junior program in 2003 a year after Mullen.

"We were just pumping each other up because me and Mullo have been best mates for years and we've dreamt about playing first grade together one day, so it was awesome to come together like it did," Dureau said.

"Everyone was buzzing before the game and it was an awesome feeling getting that first win in first grade. "It was unbelievable, even just running out in front of that home crowd for the first time in first grade. It was something special."

Mullen was pleased to share Dureau's first win in first grade.

"We've played heaps of footy together and practically grown up together at Taree, we both moved to Newcastle, went to school together, played a lot of footy in juniors together, and now we've played first grade together . . . I loved every minute of it," Mullen said.
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Spike

Spike

First Grade
Messages
7,115
It's certainly an edge when your two halves know each others games so well as Mullen and Dureau do. They would have a communication and combination between each other out on the field that can normally takes years to form under regular circumstances. It's like the Johns brothers all over again.
 
Newie is God's Country

Newie is God's Country

Bench
Messages
3,813
Give them time. Scotty has plenty of potential as does Walshy. We are very blessed. Sadly both Scotty and Walshy are destined to be starting halfbacks so we will eventually lose one. Will we ever stop producing these super halfback talents? I hope not!
 
R

roopy

Referee
Messages
27,980
Hanscholo said:
Didnt Walsh and Mullen play a lot of football together for Wests too? Or am i tripping.
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All three of them have played plenty of footy together, and the Walsh/Dureau half/5/8 combination works bloody well too.
Dureau is a year older and the smartest of the three - and i reckon the playmaking skill the three picked up at a young age came from Scotty picking up a hell of a lot from his 5/8 brother Luke, who was a standout in our 2001 Flegg and 2002 PL sides, and passing all those skills on to his young mates.
 
Karmawave

Karmawave

Bench
Messages
4,950
At least Dureau realises he isn't going to be in first grade all year ;-) It should cushion his fall... :p

Brett Keeble interestingly rated Durea a 6 in his SMH ratings, which for the Knights, was equal lowest rating with McManus, Naiqama and Taia ( Steve Simpson not included although weirdly enough he got a 5 rating from Keeble - I guess he got a point for every minute played :lol: )
 
antonius

antonius

Coach
Messages
10,104
Karmawave said:
At least Dureau realises he isn't going to be in first grade all year ;-) It should cushion his fall... :p

Brett Keeble interestingly rated Durea a 6 in his SMH ratings, which for the Knights, was equal lowest rating with McManus, Naiqama and Taia ( Steve Simpson not included although weirdly enough he got a 5 rating from Keeble - I guess he got a point for every minute played :lol: )
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Geez you're reminding me of someone, and it isn't Brad.
 
perverse

perverse

Referee
Messages
26,766
Karmawave said:
At least Dureau realises he isn't going to be in first grade all year ;-) It should cushion his fall... :p

Brett Keeble interestingly rated Durea a 6 in his SMH ratings, which for the Knights, was equal lowest rating with McManus, Naiqama and Taia ( Steve Simpson not included although weirdly enough he got a 5 rating from Keeble - I guess he got a point for every minute played :lol: )
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not sure what mcmanus did wrong to deserve a measly 6. did everything that was asked of him in defense, put in a nice little kick for a try... and naiquama probably hsould have been closer to 7 too tbh. taia i agree with though, i wasn't overly impressed with his game at all.

the fact that simmo got a 5 pretty much sums it up tbh. article credibility is very very low.
 
Karmawave

Karmawave

Bench
Messages
4,950
To be honest, I think he got the rankings spot on.

Simpson should not have been given a 5 though. In other games rated by the SMH, you will notice people injured early on ( like Benji Marshall ) didn't get a rating at all.
 
perverse

perverse

Referee
Messages
26,766
dureaus game was also much better than tony de las heras... but in the context of the rest of the ratings it is closer to the mark than my initial reaction.
 
Pika

Pika

Bench
Messages
3,641
Niquama threatened often and was great in defence.

Scored on debut.

Not sure what more you could ask from him.
 
R

roopy

Referee
Messages
27,980
Pika said:
Niquama threatened often and was great in defence.

Scored on debut.

Not sure what more you could ask from him.
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I agree - he was the second most impressive backline player after Kidley.
 
Big Tim

Big Tim

First Grade
Messages
6,500
Karmawave said:
At least Dureau realises he isn't going to be in first grade all year ;-) It should cushion his fall... :p

Brett Keeble interestingly rated Durea a 6 in his SMH ratings, which for the Knights, was equal lowest rating with McManus, Naiqama and Taia ( Steve Simpson not included although weirdly enough he got a 5 rating from Keeble - I guess he got a point for every minute played :lol: )
Click to expand...

Keeble is a turd.
 
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