The St George-Illawarra Dragons High Performance unit visited the region last Tuesday.
Dragons Recruitment Officer and Manager Brian Keegan brought the HPU Program locally for the first time.
Ben Haran, Dragons HPU Program Head Coach and Coordinator, had one of the Dragons’ favourite sons, Dean Young, former Premiership Captain and Dragons stalwart, who has recently retired after many years of service to the Red V, making the trip north too.
Dean and Ben cast a close eye over the North Coast’s playing talents and identify and work closely with them.
Some of these players experienced being the next generation of proud young Dragons.
Certainly the St George Dragons and the Illawarra Steelers Elite NRL Junior Development squads were in great hands, with Dean and Co having played under the guidance of one of the best coaches of the modern era, Wayne Bennett.
Twelve CRL Academy Program players were chosen from the North Coast and Northern Rivers areas to be put under the microscope. The following players have been selected for the High Performance Program: FLANAGAN, Jake (17), CLARK, Jared (17), HAYES, Jack (17), MILLAR Nicholas (17), HOBAN, Jake (17), SHEPPARD, Zac (17), McGRATH, Samuel (17), CURTLY, Scott (16), MCDONAGH, Jayden (17),WELSH, Jack (17), DONNELLY, Myles (17), GARNER, Luke (17).
