Kade Reed has only played a handful of games in the NSW Cup. IMO, that is not enough games against men. Before the season began, I wanted Reed to only play in the NSW Cup this year, and perhaps get a sniff of first grade in the last three or four games.
What I fear with Reed is he makes an earlier debut, then struggles in defence and not quite into the rhythm of his attack. And sadly some Dragons would come to a premature conclusion that Reed is not good enough.
Joey Walsh is like 185cm 92kg and doing his apprenticeship
just cause Alf was 72kg and 5”5 or Toovey same weight and 5”6 doesn’t mean Kade is ready at a similar weight……they were guns and ready to rock as tough nuggets not 180ish cms and lean as for same weight
I went to school with Tooves and he was hitting like a man at 15yrs old
we have to get this right and not throw Kade into lion pit…….well that’s if we want him to be our long term starting 7
LKT showed with 2024 and 4 games then 2025 and 16 games u can’t just flat to the floor an arc of performance up and to the right for young 19yr old half
so many have had to bide their time at so many clubs and even Sam Walker got dropped twice for reconstruction to his game at the mighty Roisters
I’m super comfortable that Reeds trajectory has to be managed and managed for the long term hence his extension to end of 2028 and just fighting with what we have for now even though that sucks
80mins week week out in the ridiculously intense fast paced NRL 6 again would burn him out just yet
imagine the explosive wahs edge backrowers just targeting Reed all day long and others like Kikau …….omg !!!
doesn’t mean after this crazy souths roosters etc cycle he won’t be given time
but not yet
that would be murder next few weeks
even Braith and his panel said so and they know more than us and Braith wants to stick a red hot poker up the Dragons arse at any chance and he pulled back on Reed to early……. So to speak