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Legend, much appreciatedI gotchu
Three months after wanting out of the club, Jayden Sullivan may now hold the key to St George Illawarra’s hopes getting back into finals contention.
Sources have told The Daily Telegraph that the Dragons have begun planning for the possibility of a season without Talatau ‘Junior’ Amone, who could be stood down by the NRL following his alleged hammer attack on a rooftop last November.
The young five-eighth has been charged with recklessly causing grievous bodily harm, which carries a maximum 14-year jail sentence that could invoke the NRL’s no-fault stand-down policy.
That would immediately open the door for Sullivan to nail the starting spot he craves, having dramatically backflipped on a request to be released from the remaining three years of his deal during the off-season.
Young Dragons half Jayden Sullivan.
Sullivan, 21, was heavily linked with a move to Canterbury before withdrawing his release request. Now, with Amone due to face court on January 18 and his playing future uncertain beyond that, teammates have backed Sullivan to partner Ben Hunt in the halves.
“If called upon I’m sure he would do a really good job for us,” veteran utility Moses Mbye said on Tuesday.
“I think Sully (Sullivan) is ready to play first grade. He got a taste of it last year and the year before and he did a really good job for us.”
Amone resumed pre-season training when the squad returned from the new-year break last week as he awaits his day in court.
The 20-year-old was arrested after allegations he armed himself with a hammer and joined his father in confronting two roofing contractors near their family home in Warrawong.
The club is no stranger to losing players to the league’s stand-down policy, having been forced to be without forward Jack de Belin for more than two years.
With or without Amone, front-rower Blake Lawrie said the players had no excuses not to perform this season and emerge as a finals contender.
Talatau Amone.
“(Junior has) been good at training... I’m not commenting much on that,” Lawrie said.
“Obviously make sure he’s doing alright, but that’s about it.
“We’ve got a job to do. We’ve got to go out there and win games. We’ve got no excuses for us as a club. We’ve had our fair share of ups and downs over the last couple of years.
“We’ve got to go out there and get this club back to playing finals and give our fans what they deserve.”
The team is set to start trials against UK champions St Helens and then South Sydney next month with the club’s halves options running pretty thin.
The versatile Mbye could be another option for coach Anthony Griffin to consider, while second-rower Jack Bird has also previously spent time at the scrumbase.
Mbye, a former Queensland representative, has had experience in the halves at his previous stops in Canterbury and the Wests Tigers.
“Whoever gets that No.6 jersey, if Junior does get stood down, they’ll deserve it,” Lawrie said.
“They’ll put their best foot forward throughout the trials and training and come round one, whoever’s there, I’ll have full faith in them.”
The potential unavailability of Amone comes after it was revealed incumbent fullback Cody Ramsey is also battling illness.
www.foxsports.com.au
Are the Nights still wanting to off-load Frizell?
Even if he was pos , he wouldn’t return to the Dragons . Plus Griffin would not be the coach to bring out the best in what remains of his career .
plus he would be to young for hook
Particularly Thompson & Tapau. Either our recruitment has better options just about signed up or they really are incompetent.
1000% Hook puts Mbye at 5/8th as certain as death and taxesI gotchu
Three months after wanting out of the club, Jayden Sullivan may now hold the key to St George Illawarra’s hopes getting back into finals contention.
Sources have told The Daily Telegraph that the Dragons have begun planning for the possibility of a season without Talatau ‘Junior’ Amone, who could be stood down by the NRL following his alleged hammer attack on a rooftop last November.
The young five-eighth has been charged with recklessly causing grievous bodily harm, which carries a maximum 14-year jail sentence that could invoke the NRL’s no-fault stand-down policy.
That would immediately open the door for Sullivan to nail the starting spot he craves, having dramatically backflipped on a request to be released from the remaining three years of his deal during the off-season.
Young Dragons half Jayden Sullivan.
Sullivan, 21, was heavily linked with a move to Canterbury before withdrawing his release request. Now, with Amone due to face court on January 18 and his playing future uncertain beyond that, teammates have backed Sullivan to partner Ben Hunt in the halves.
“If called upon I’m sure he would do a really good job for us,” veteran utility Moses Mbye said on Tuesday.
“I think Sully (Sullivan) is ready to play first grade. He got a taste of it last year and the year before and he did a really good job for us.”
Amone resumed pre-season training when the squad returned from the new-year break last week as he awaits his day in court.
The 20-year-old was arrested after allegations he armed himself with a hammer and joined his father in confronting two roofing contractors near their family home in Warrawong.
The club is no stranger to losing players to the league’s stand-down policy, having been forced to be without forward Jack de Belin for more than two years.
With or without Amone, front-rower Blake Lawrie said the players had no excuses not to perform this season and emerge as a finals contender.
Talatau Amone.
“(Junior has) been good at training... I’m not commenting much on that,” Lawrie said.
“Obviously make sure he’s doing alright, but that’s about it.
“We’ve got a job to do. We’ve got to go out there and win games. We’ve got no excuses for us as a club. We’ve had our fair share of ups and downs over the last couple of years.
“We’ve got to go out there and get this club back to playing finals and give our fans what they deserve.”
The team is set to start trials against UK champions St Helens and then South Sydney next month with the club’s halves options running pretty thin.
The versatile Mbye could be another option for coach Anthony Griffin to consider, while second-rower Jack Bird has also previously spent time at the scrumbase.
Mbye, a former Queensland representative, has had experience in the halves at his previous stops in Canterbury and the Wests Tigers.
“Whoever gets that No.6 jersey, if Junior does get stood down, they’ll deserve it,” Lawrie said.
“They’ll put their best foot forward throughout the trials and training and come round one, whoever’s there, I’ll have full faith in them.”
The potential unavailability of Amone comes after it was revealed incumbent fullback Cody Ramsey is also battling illness.
That is what I am thinking as well, but he may (which I doubt) put Sully in the bench to cover for hooker or half which should be the other way around as Mbye would be perfect for the bench spot.
I hope you’re wrong Slippery but history tells us this is the more likely scenario. I’d be playing him at 5/8 or half and sticking with him. Roosters have 2 of the smallest halves in the comp and they have come along nicely under the tutelage of a good coach.
In fact I forgot that Ramsay is out Hook will put Mbye at Fullback and Bird at 5/8th
Good to hear that the big man is looking fit and raring to go in season ‘23 .
Unfortunately we need a dominant frontrower, not a spokesman.
I dunno. Someone needs to lead the discussion group when the opposition scores.
You can say that this came straight from the horse’s mouth !
hope your right ol fela , but if he has a breakout year you do realize that will be followed by a 2 or 3 year extension.You can say that this came straight from the horse’s mouth !
Arron Woods to have one of his very best years in this his final season with the Dragons and the NRL itself - fingers cross .
