Mug Fan
SGI NSW Cup
Still has to face the judiciary, due to amount of changes hearing was put back to next week.
If he is found guilty of all charges(I don't believe he is) he won't be playing any reps.
Promising Juniors Thread.
- Thread starter RedVHeartbeat
- Start date
Still has to face the judiciary, due to amount of changes hearing was put back to next week.
If he is found guilty of all charges(I don't believe he is) he won't be playing any reps.
Mug Fan
SGI NSW Cup
A few of our academy boys.
www.dragons.com.au
Dragons Academy wraps up for 2025
We look at the Dragons Academy as they go through their final session for 2025.
www.dragons.com.au
TheRev
SGI NSW Cup
far out I dunno what he's been accused of but sounds really serious if its more than 1 incident... cross fingers and hope for the best..
Mug Fan
SGI NSW Cup
For those who watch Bar TV,,16s GF at 5:50 has a lot of our Pathways players
Burton, Tausala, Halangahu Duffy
Berghus, Chase, Fitzgerald Amone
Burton, Tausala, Halangahu Duffy
Berghus, Chase, Fitzgerald Amone
RedVHeartbeat
SGI NSW Cup
Bar was charging an extra $15 to watch that U16 GF. What an effing rip off.
The Halangahu mentioned has to be Jakes kid brother. Hope he is wearing a Saints jumper next season like his big brother.
The Halangahu mentioned has to be Jakes kid brother. Hope he is wearing a Saints jumper next season like his big brother.
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RedVHeartbeat
SGI NSW Cup
The kid has to face a raft of charges. Like what? Dont tell we have another 'bad boy' on our hands.
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Eric
Staff
Is this the right thread for this comment?
Watching the Bullgrubs vs Melbourne, I was very impressed by that Bullgrubs winger in the U20s NSW Origin team. He easily overshadowed Buchanan. In the NRL I maybe wouldn't bet my life but would bet the house if I had one Buchanan will go much further in the NRL. In the limited age games, big but otherwise useless players go far. In the open age they don't go far at all.
Watching the Bullgrubs vs Melbourne, I was very impressed by that Bullgrubs winger in the U20s NSW Origin team. He easily overshadowed Buchanan. In the NRL I maybe wouldn't bet my life but would bet the house if I had one Buchanan will go much further in the NRL. In the limited age games, big but otherwise useless players go far. In the open age they don't go far at all.
Mailroomsgi
SGI Jersey Flegg
Asher Chapman with a hatrick for the junior Waratahs v the junior brumbies
Good little player
Good little player
Mug Fan
SGI NSW Cup
Mason Andrews has been selected in the NSW Blues 17s to play Warrington on Saturday
Patron Saint
SGI Junior League
AUCKLAND GRAMMAR SCHOOL RUGBY ROKKO WALKER SIGNS WITH THE DRAGONS
Fatima Kdouh
Daily Telegraph
23 October
The elite rugby schoolboys joining NRL pathways.
St George Illawarra have pulled off a huge pathways coup, snapping up one of New Zealand’s hottest schoolboy rugby union prospects from All Blacks factory, Auckland Grammar School.
In the latest sign of the NRL’s growing appeal in the rugby union-mad nation, Rokko Walker, a First XV five-eighth at the prestigious Auckland Grammar School, has agreed to join the Dragons on a four-year deal.
Described as a ‘blue chip talent’, Walker, who was on the radar of both rugby codes, will join the St George Dragons Harold Matthews Cup (under-17) set-up in Sydney.
He’ll also attend the prestigious Cranbrook School in Bellevue Hill, making him the latest of a growing number of league prospect in an NRL pathways system to join in a rugby union program at an elite private school.
Walker’s defection follows in the footsteps of Sydney Roosters youngster James Finegan, the son of Wallabies legend Owen Finegan, who has opted to pursue a chance at an NRL career over rugby union.
Like Finegan, Walker also has some impressive pedigree in the 15-man game.
The 16-year-old is the son of former Highlanders five-eighth Willie Walker, who also played in England’s top rugby division for Gloucester and Worcester.
“I played professionally for about 18 years, I played at the Highlanders, played for New Zealand Maori, and also spent time in France, played in Italy, in Japan, had about six years in England towards the back end of my career,” Willie Walker said.
“So Rokko has always been in and around rugby.
“Then he had an opportunity, a couple of years ago, to play alongside some friends in a rugby league tournament at the National Maori tournament.
“That’s where that journey for him has taken off, and he hasn’t actually played in terms of league outside of those tournaments. He’s really just played rugby.”
It was at a Maori rugby league tournament where Walker captured the attention of veteran player agent and Pacific Sports Management owner Gavin Orr.
“I met with his parents, Michelle and Willie over lunch. Willie not only played but was the coach of the Auckland Blues women’s team and now he’s part of the Black Ferns coaching set-up,” Orr said.
“So you can imagine the pull to stay in rugby would have been quite strong for Rokko.
“But his mother just said, ‘hey Willie, it’s not about you anymore. It’s about your son, and if he wants to play league, let him play league.”
Willie conceded Rokko’s new-found love for the other code did come as a shock.
“Yeah, it was a little bit of a head turner for me at the time,” Willie said.
“I was just thinking, does he really want to play ‘that game’ over rugby union.
“In the end, we were pretty open to it. It’s just another opportunity for him to do whatever he wants to do. And if he goes and excels at it, then cool.
“I understand that as a coach myself, I don’t want parents influencing kids when it comes to stuff we are trying to teach.
“So I try not to let my opinion on things influence Rokko.”
Such are his talents, Rokko quickly ascended through ranks, making his First XV debut at just 15 years old at Auckland Grammar School, which has produced more All Blacks than any other school in New Zealand, including the likes of rugby great Grant Fox and current star Rieko Ioane.
Walker’s quick elevation into the First XV side at such a young age is a feat rarely achieved at prestigious union schools in New Zealand.
“It’s very uncommon actually, to be playing for XV’s in that year of school and at that age, because he’s a year young for his grade as well,” Willie said.
“I don’t think there would be many kind of 15 year olds around the country playing at that level.”
To continue his rugby league education, Orr believed a move across the ditch to Australia was the crucial next step in his development, despite some initial interest from the Warriors.
It didn’t take long before NRL clubs started to take notice of the 188cm (6-foot-2) teenager, who is not only skilful but also a speed demon.
Elite rugby schoolboys signed to NRL clubs
The talented Australian and New Zealand rugby schoolboys signed to NRL clubs
“Coming over to Australia is important for his league career, because, as I said to him and the family, ‘if you want to learn about rugby league, you should come to a country that’s very rugby league focused,” Orr said.
“He had landed on the radar of Ian Millward, who was at the Dragons and we met to discuss his transition.
“They were looking at someone who could play in the spine, at one, six or seven.
“Rokko fits that bill, whether it’s at fullback or five-eighth.”
Rokko and Willie aren’t the only Walkers with sporting pedigree. Rokko’s mother Michelle also represented New Zealand in hockey, while older brother Parma is carving out his path to professional sport over in America.
Parma, who was also a promising rugby prospect, is on a golf scholarship at Highland College in Illinois.
“Parma is currently playing golf over in America, and he’s on a scholarship,” Willie said.
“He is a very good rugby player too, he played First XV at Westlake Boys High School but in his final year of school just said, ‘I don’t want to play rugby. I want to have a look at golf’.
“So that what he is doing.
“But again, like with Rokko, its just an opportunity to study and to go and do what he loves, which is play golf every day.”
Rokko will arrive in Australia later this year when he will join the NRL side for pre-season training, giving coach Shane Flanagan a first hand look at the talented teenager.
Meanwhile, South Sydney have snared their own Kiwi teenage cross-code talent in Saumaki Saumaki. Rated as one of the top rugby prospects in New Zealand, and a product of the famed Nelson College, the First XV loose head forward has signed a two-year deal with the Rabbitohs.
Fatima Kdouh
Daily Telegraph
23 October
The elite rugby schoolboys joining NRL pathways.
St George Illawarra have pulled off a huge pathways coup, snapping up one of New Zealand’s hottest schoolboy rugby union prospects from All Blacks factory, Auckland Grammar School.
In the latest sign of the NRL’s growing appeal in the rugby union-mad nation, Rokko Walker, a First XV five-eighth at the prestigious Auckland Grammar School, has agreed to join the Dragons on a four-year deal.
Described as a ‘blue chip talent’, Walker, who was on the radar of both rugby codes, will join the St George Dragons Harold Matthews Cup (under-17) set-up in Sydney.
He’ll also attend the prestigious Cranbrook School in Bellevue Hill, making him the latest of a growing number of league prospect in an NRL pathways system to join in a rugby union program at an elite private school.
Walker’s defection follows in the footsteps of Sydney Roosters youngster James Finegan, the son of Wallabies legend Owen Finegan, who has opted to pursue a chance at an NRL career over rugby union.
Like Finegan, Walker also has some impressive pedigree in the 15-man game.
The 16-year-old is the son of former Highlanders five-eighth Willie Walker, who also played in England’s top rugby division for Gloucester and Worcester.
“I played professionally for about 18 years, I played at the Highlanders, played for New Zealand Maori, and also spent time in France, played in Italy, in Japan, had about six years in England towards the back end of my career,” Willie Walker said.
“So Rokko has always been in and around rugby.
“Then he had an opportunity, a couple of years ago, to play alongside some friends in a rugby league tournament at the National Maori tournament.
“That’s where that journey for him has taken off, and he hasn’t actually played in terms of league outside of those tournaments. He’s really just played rugby.”
It was at a Maori rugby league tournament where Walker captured the attention of veteran player agent and Pacific Sports Management owner Gavin Orr.
“I met with his parents, Michelle and Willie over lunch. Willie not only played but was the coach of the Auckland Blues women’s team and now he’s part of the Black Ferns coaching set-up,” Orr said.
“So you can imagine the pull to stay in rugby would have been quite strong for Rokko.
“But his mother just said, ‘hey Willie, it’s not about you anymore. It’s about your son, and if he wants to play league, let him play league.”
Willie conceded Rokko’s new-found love for the other code did come as a shock.
“Yeah, it was a little bit of a head turner for me at the time,” Willie said.
“I was just thinking, does he really want to play ‘that game’ over rugby union.
“In the end, we were pretty open to it. It’s just another opportunity for him to do whatever he wants to do. And if he goes and excels at it, then cool.
“I understand that as a coach myself, I don’t want parents influencing kids when it comes to stuff we are trying to teach.
“So I try not to let my opinion on things influence Rokko.”
Such are his talents, Rokko quickly ascended through ranks, making his First XV debut at just 15 years old at Auckland Grammar School, which has produced more All Blacks than any other school in New Zealand, including the likes of rugby great Grant Fox and current star Rieko Ioane.
Walker’s quick elevation into the First XV side at such a young age is a feat rarely achieved at prestigious union schools in New Zealand.
“It’s very uncommon actually, to be playing for XV’s in that year of school and at that age, because he’s a year young for his grade as well,” Willie said.
“I don’t think there would be many kind of 15 year olds around the country playing at that level.”
To continue his rugby league education, Orr believed a move across the ditch to Australia was the crucial next step in his development, despite some initial interest from the Warriors.
It didn’t take long before NRL clubs started to take notice of the 188cm (6-foot-2) teenager, who is not only skilful but also a speed demon.
Elite rugby schoolboys signed to NRL clubs
The talented Australian and New Zealand rugby schoolboys signed to NRL clubs
“Coming over to Australia is important for his league career, because, as I said to him and the family, ‘if you want to learn about rugby league, you should come to a country that’s very rugby league focused,” Orr said.
“He had landed on the radar of Ian Millward, who was at the Dragons and we met to discuss his transition.
“They were looking at someone who could play in the spine, at one, six or seven.
“Rokko fits that bill, whether it’s at fullback or five-eighth.”
Rokko and Willie aren’t the only Walkers with sporting pedigree. Rokko’s mother Michelle also represented New Zealand in hockey, while older brother Parma is carving out his path to professional sport over in America.
Parma, who was also a promising rugby prospect, is on a golf scholarship at Highland College in Illinois.
“Parma is currently playing golf over in America, and he’s on a scholarship,” Willie said.
“He is a very good rugby player too, he played First XV at Westlake Boys High School but in his final year of school just said, ‘I don’t want to play rugby. I want to have a look at golf’.
“So that what he is doing.
“But again, like with Rokko, its just an opportunity to study and to go and do what he loves, which is play golf every day.”
Rokko will arrive in Australia later this year when he will join the NRL side for pre-season training, giving coach Shane Flanagan a first hand look at the talented teenager.
Meanwhile, South Sydney have snared their own Kiwi teenage cross-code talent in Saumaki Saumaki. Rated as one of the top rugby prospects in New Zealand, and a product of the famed Nelson College, the First XV loose head forward has signed a two-year deal with the Rabbitohs.
Mug Fan
SGI NSW Cup
Justadragon
SGI Jersey Flegg
Looks like we are really focusing on our pathways, and so we should, thats where our stars are coming from. Development and retention is now the key.
Mailroomsgi
SGI Jersey Flegg
Souths have really pulled their finger out in the last 18 months pathways wise, some of the signings their making are top notch
Im a big fan of signing kids from NZ, it’s such a rugby league goldmine if you can convince them to toss union for league and live over here
On top of that going to one of the most prestigious schools in the country all expenses paid is extremely enticing.
Would love to see us do this sort of thing more often
Im a big fan of signing kids from NZ, it’s such a rugby league goldmine if you can convince them to toss union for league and live over here
On top of that going to one of the most prestigious schools in the country all expenses paid is extremely enticing.
Would love to see us do this sort of thing more often