Promising Juniors Thread.

[Ryan]

Very much so, hit some from the sideline in recent weeks! But I dont think he will be in NSW Cup till next year.. could be wrong ofcourse.. but I think SG into Flegg this year.. maybe they throw him in for a token cup game later in the season?

But who knows right.. what if Glover or LKT break a leg tomorrow or half way through the season... maybe they promote early...

In a perfect world he'll get the whole of this year in lower grades and be in and out of first grade in 2026 before being the regular halfback in 2027.

I think if LKT stays, he will be an excellent partner for Reed. Forwards are set even if Latu leaves. Couchmans, Egan, Tonga, Halangahu, Stewart, Tsougranis and more just a year or less away from them. Halves we have Reed and LKT. Finau and Lawson the wings. Buchanan worries me a bit. Very talented but a bit small for a centre. Can that big Illawarra winger in SG Ball become a centre? I'm not giving up on Rumble as a centre either but not so confident about his fullback prospects.

 

[Mailroomsgi]

Ideally Reed plays flegg most of this year and next year he has a full season in cup and see how he goes from there.
Just needs to add some size which should partially happen as he ages from 18-21

 

[Ryan]

Ideally Reed plays flegg most of this year and next year he has a full season in cup and see how he goes from there.
Just needs to add some size which should partially happen as he ages from 18-21

He not the smallest halfback already. I think you are being a bit conservative . I'm thinking he plays some NSW Cup toward the end of this year. But lets see how he goes from now.

 

[TheRev]

I think you are both talking about a very similar timeline (injuries willing), Flegg in 2nd half of 2025 and starting NSW Cup Halfback for 2026 (will still be very young mind you). 2027 is something we would figure out later.... we would need Nostradamus to predict all the variables that will happen between now and then.

During that time they might well promote him up a grade early just for a taste.. or to cover injury.. and who knows what happens from there.. the script is definitely just a draft at this stage.

 

[Just a Mug Fan]

I think if he has other offers, hes gone after round 5 or whatever the date is.. but if he actually legit kills it..

He'll be lucky to be back on the field by Rd 7

I wondered if just getting a very rare opportunity at that level excited him.. even better he had less than 24hrs notice I assume so no time to overly think it

Kade knew Friday but still opted to play Ball first.

 

[Edward]

Very much so, hit some from the sideline in recent weeks! But I dont think he will be in NSW Cup till next year.. could be wrong ofcourse.. but I think SG into Flegg this year.. maybe they throw him in for a token cup game later in the season?

But who knows right.. what if Glover or LKT break a leg tomorrow or half way through the season... maybe they promote early...

The complete halfback!

 

[Morgan]

In a perfect world he'll get the whole of this year in lower grades and be in and out of first grade in 2026 before being the regular halfback in 2027.

I think if LKT stays, he will be an excellent partner for Reed. Forwards are set even if Latu leaves. Couchmans, Egan, Tonga, Halangahu, Stewart, Tsougranis and more just a year or less away from them. Halves we have Reed and LKT. Finau and Lawson the wings. Buchanan worries me a bit. Very talented but a bit small for a centre. Can that big Illawarra winger in SG Ball become a centre? I'm not giving up on Rumble as a centre either but not so confident about his fullback prospects.

The most important thing is to not hand them a virtual premiership trophy before almost all of them are yet to play first grade.

 

[jodragon40]

The most important thing is to not hand them a virtual premiership trophy before almost all of them are yet to play first grade.

What's wrong with virtual trophies? I have two sitting on my mantelpiece for winning the tipping 2 yrs running.

 

[AyiosYiorgos]

What's wrong with virtual trophies? I have two sitting on my mantelpiece for winning the tipping 2 yrs running.

Nothing wrong with that, my claim to fame this week is we won the Beer Comp, best of the rest in OzTag!!!

 

[jodragon40]

Nothing wrong with that, my claim to fame this week is we won the Beer Comp, best of the rest in OzTag!!!

Well done young man

 

[Ryan]

The most important thing is to not hand them a virtual premiership trophy before almost all of them are yet to play first grade.

There is something to be said for expecting too much too soon but I think on a forum we are allowed to speculate. Just as long as the coaching staff and teammates don't do it.

 

[Mailroomsgi]

@justa any update on Marley Maclarens performance for Burleigh?

Cheers

 

[Just a Mug Fan]

@justa any update on Marley Maclarens performance for Burleigh?

Cheers

Good organising game involved in everything, the kid is a genuine 7
Kicked a 40/20
2 try assists with sweet passes, I'd give him 3, didn't throw final pass but laid on the try with another sweet ball.
He's a busy 7 does a lot of D, first up on kick chases.

 

[AyiosYiorgos]

Stewart’s sights set on becoming NRL’s latest Lion

Rising Dragons forward and Gerringong Lions product Hamish Stewart is relishing his second NRL pre-season and move into the club's top 30.

www.dragons.com.au

Few rugby league nurseries boast a profile quite like that of the Gerringong Lions on NSW’s picturesque South Coast.

Paul Quinn became the club’s first Kangaroo in 1963 before Michael Cronin – whom Gerringong’s famous oceanside Oval is named after – joined him a decade later and Rod Wishart in 1991.


The Sims family were introduced to the NRL in the 2000s with brothers Ashton, Tariq, and Korbin all representing Fiji at World Cups as sister Ruan grew into one of sport’s eminent female pioneers.

In more recent years, the likes of Jackson Ford, Reuben Garrick, and Tyran Wishart have grown into regular first graders with a host of other Lions scattered throughout lower grades sides across the country.

Had you turned the television over to the Charity Shield on Saturday afternoon, there’s a strong chance you’d have seen a collection of Gerringong products plying their trade.

Dylan Egan, Hayden Buchanan, and Hamish Stewart – who is a cousin of Ford – all donned the famous Red V whilst Ashton Ward, the Dragons’ Jersey Flegg Player of the Year in 2024, took to the field for South Sydney.

“Rugby league’s definitely a way of life down there,” Hamish said.

Gerringong juniors Hamish Stewart, Dylan Egan, Ashton Ward & Hayden Buchanan get together following the Dragons' Charity Shield victory (via @gerringonglions).
“Gerringong’s been successful down in Group 7 for a number of years and I put it down to the older boys. Blokes like Nathan Ford and Rixon Russell, they’ve driven the standard for us young boys. We trained with them coming through. They were in and around the system and they didn’t quite make it, but they know what it takes. They’ve pretty much nurtured us to compete and train hard. They’ve shown us the way.”

Hamish’s three older sisters are hockey standouts – including Grace who co-captained the Hockeyroos at the 2024 Paris Olympics – but he grew up around rugby league thanks in large part to dad Scott.

Scott has spent the past 22 years with the Dragons working in wellbeing, administration, and coaching roles whilst also managing to coach Gerringong to back-to-back first grade premierships.
“He’s my harshest critic. Sometimes, he annoys me,” Hamish laughed.

“He’s a good judge of the game. He’s been around for a long time, so I listen to him as much as I can. He watches and he knows what it takes for someone to make the NRL.”
Off the field, Hamish spends time surfing and last year became a qualified carpenter but, with the 20-year-old now at the back end of his second NRL preseason, has had to put the tools down for a bit.

“I do a few jobs here and there,” he said.

“You’ve really got to look after your body through pre-season and you’ve got to make sure that training’s your main focus. There’s days where you wake up sore and you don’t really want to come in but having a good group of boys like we do have this year makes it a lot easier.”
Hamish has come along in leaps and bounds since undergoing his first NRL preseason 12 months ago owing it to an increasing level of comfort and understanding.

“The first year really, you don’t know what it takes,” he said.

“It was definitely nerve-wracking. They don’t wait for you, so you’ve got to stay with the pace and challenge yourself each and every day… You’re really just looking and learning and then, this year, you can really put it into practice and come in flying. Last year, I was a bit modified because I had my shoulder injury but, this year, I’ve had a full preseason under my belt. I can really feel that when I’m playing.”
The presence of childhood friend and now carpool partner Dylan Egan has made the transition into the NRL squad easier for Hamish.

The duo came through at Gerringong together before filtering into the Illawarra system at the same time with both spending two seasons playing Harold Matthews Cup and SG Ball prior to making Jersey Flegg and NSW Cup debuts.

“Me and Dyl played all our junior footy together. We were in a pretty good side growing up,” Hamish said.

“I’ve always enjoyed playing with Dyl. You knew when Dyl was getting ready in the sheds with you, you’re in with a good chance of winning. He always competes. He’s a hard worker… It’s surreal driving up together, playing in the Charity Shield together. It’s just awesome. He nearly put me away for a try, but unfortunately my eyes lit up too much.”
Hamish and Dylan have both taken a big step towards a hopeful NRL debut this year earning promotions from the club’s development list up to the NRL squad.

“I feel like I am ready, but there’s still a lot of quality ahead of me,” Hamish said.

“I’ve just got to keep playing well and if the opportunity comes, I’ve got to take it and do my job for the team and rip in.”

 

[Eric]

Stewart’s sights set on becoming NRL’s latest Lion

Rising Dragons forward and Gerringong Lions product Hamish Stewart is relishing his second NRL pre-season and move into the club's top 30.

www.dragons.com.au

Few rugby league nurseries boast a profile quite like that of the Gerringong Lions on NSW’s picturesque South Coast.

Paul Quinn became the club’s first Kangaroo in 1963 before Michael Cronin – whom Gerringong’s famous oceanside Oval is named after – joined him a decade later and Rod Wishart in 1991.


The Sims family were introduced to the NRL in the 2000s with brothers Ashton, Tariq, and Korbin all representing Fiji at World Cups as sister Ruan grew into one of sport’s eminent female pioneers.

In more recent years, the likes of Jackson Ford, Reuben Garrick, and Tyran Wishart have grown into regular first graders with a host of other Lions scattered throughout lower grades sides across the country.

Had you turned the television over to the Charity Shield on Saturday afternoon, there’s a strong chance you’d have seen a collection of Gerringong products plying their trade.

Dylan Egan, Hayden Buchanan, and Hamish Stewart – who is a cousin of Ford – all donned the famous Red V whilst Ashton Ward, the Dragons’ Jersey Flegg Player of the Year in 2024, took to the field for South Sydney.

“Rugby league’s definitely a way of life down there,” Hamish said.

Gerringong juniors Hamish Stewart, Dylan Egan, Ashton Ward & Hayden Buchanan get together following the Dragons' Charity Shield victory (via @gerringonglions).
“Gerringong’s been successful down in Group 7 for a number of years and I put it down to the older boys. Blokes like Nathan Ford and Rixon Russell, they’ve driven the standard for us young boys. We trained with them coming through. They were in and around the system and they didn’t quite make it, but they know what it takes. They’ve pretty much nurtured us to compete and train hard. They’ve shown us the way.”

Hamish’s three older sisters are hockey standouts – including Grace who co-captained the Hockeyroos at the 2024 Paris Olympics – but he grew up around rugby league thanks in large part to dad Scott.

Scott has spent the past 22 years with the Dragons working in wellbeing, administration, and coaching roles whilst also managing to coach Gerringong to back-to-back first grade premierships.
“He’s my harshest critic. Sometimes, he annoys me,” Hamish laughed.

“He’s a good judge of the game. He’s been around for a long time, so I listen to him as much as I can. He watches and he knows what it takes for someone to make the NRL.”
Off the field, Hamish spends time surfing and last year became a qualified carpenter but, with the 20-year-old now at the back end of his second NRL preseason, has had to put the tools down for a bit.

“I do a few jobs here and there,” he said.

“You’ve really got to look after your body through pre-season and you’ve got to make sure that training’s your main focus. There’s days where you wake up sore and you don’t really want to come in but having a good group of boys like we do have this year makes it a lot easier.”
Hamish has come along in leaps and bounds since undergoing his first NRL preseason 12 months ago owing it to an increasing level of comfort and understanding.

“The first year really, you don’t know what it takes,” he said.

“It was definitely nerve-wracking. They don’t wait for you, so you’ve got to stay with the pace and challenge yourself each and every day… You’re really just looking and learning and then, this year, you can really put it into practice and come in flying. Last year, I was a bit modified because I had my shoulder injury but, this year, I’ve had a full preseason under my belt. I can really feel that when I’m playing.”
The presence of childhood friend and now carpool partner Dylan Egan has made the transition into the NRL squad easier for Hamish.

The duo came through at Gerringong together before filtering into the Illawarra system at the same time with both spending two seasons playing Harold Matthews Cup and SG Ball prior to making Jersey Flegg and NSW Cup debuts.

“Me and Dyl played all our junior footy together. We were in a pretty good side growing up,” Hamish said.

“I’ve always enjoyed playing with Dyl. You knew when Dyl was getting ready in the sheds with you, you’re in with a good chance of winning. He always competes. He’s a hard worker… It’s surreal driving up together, playing in the Charity Shield together. It’s just awesome. He nearly put me away for a try, but unfortunately my eyes lit up too much.”
Hamish and Dylan have both taken a big step towards a hopeful NRL debut this year earning promotions from the club’s development list up to the NRL squad.

“I feel like I am ready, but there’s still a lot of quality ahead of me,” Hamish said.

“I’ve just got to keep playing well and if the opportunity comes, I’ve got to take it and do my job for the team and rip in.”

No wonder they let Ward go. He looks tiny. Buchanan is a bit of a concern in that regard as well.

 

[Chris M]

No wonder they let Ward go. He looks tiny. Buchanan is a bit of a concern in that regard as well.

Dragons have had so many of these very talented but too small to play their natural game in first grade players over the last 10 years.

• Jackson Ford. Very talented backrower but built like a good hooker.
• Dufty
• Ramsey
• Sloan

I'm sure there are some others as well.

 

[RedVHeartbeat]

Forwards are set even if Latu leaves. Couchmans, Egan, Tonga, Halangahu, Stewart, Tsougranis

That may be Flannos list, but Latu would eat Egan, Tsougranis, Stewart for breakfast. He is as vital for our future as his two A S team mates and must be extended to keep away poachers.

 

[Chris M]

That may be Flannos list, but Latu would eat Egan, Tsougranis, Stewart for breakfast. He is as vital for our future as his two A S team mates and must be extended to keep away poachers.

He has more talent but there is also value for money and dedication to being the best he can. Also different kind of player to Egan and Tsougranis. They are much better on a edge and he is much better in the middle.

But yeah, hopefully the Dragons can keep him. Give him a taste of NRL this year, full-time in the 17 next year with JDB having one more year starting on the bench. Egan and Nick T backrow. Maybe they are better value for money than Su'A and Luciano is a bit fat. He might struggle to play fist grade much past 30. Tonga and Stewart props. Maybe Liddle to stay on a bit longer to play hooker until when or if that Jersey Flegg hooker is ready. Is it Kyan Hj....... something?

 

[TheRev]

Photos can be deceiving.. but for me its Egan the only one that looks small in the photo, given hes a forward and he appears smaller than the much younger Buchanan who we notice isnt quite big enough to play centre for the top grades yet. Similar to how MMolo looks actually if you see him side by side with his teammates, Mick runs hard too.. size I think is all thats missing for him.

However.... ive never noticed Egan struggle to carry the ball up.. his carries are as tough as anyone.. but the size thing might explain why its hard for him to break tackles.. be interesting to see where he ends up size-wise in another 1-2 years.... assuming we do extend him of course... which I think we will given he seems popular with the coaching staff.. but we do need to fit him and NickT next year in the 30, along with possible 2nd rowers in Stewart, and RyanC.. so it depends how Stewart and Ryan are classified by then (I think we will learn more this year about them).. but it could be a lot of 2nd rowers, even with RFM/Eisenhuth gone.

 

[Eric]

Photos can be deceiving.. but for me its Egan the only one that looks small in the photo, given hes a forward and he appears smaller than the much younger Buchanan who we notice isnt quite big enough to play centre for the top grades yet. Similar to how MMolo looks actually if you see him side by side with his teammates, Mick runs hard too.. size I think is all thats missing for him.

However.... ive never noticed Egan struggle to carry the ball up.. his carries are as tough as anyone.. but the size thing might explain why its hard for him to break tackles.. be interesting to see where he ends up size-wise in another 1-2 years.... assuming we do extend him of course... which I think we will given he seems popular with the coaching staff.. but we do need to fit him and NickT next year in the 30, along with possible 2nd rowers in Stewart, and RyanC.. so it depends how Stewart and Ryan are classified by then (I think we will learn more this year about them).. but it could be a lot of 2nd rowers, even with RFM/Eisenhuth gone.

Damn! You are right. I looked at the pic and thought it was Kade Reed.