Cairns teen making the most of Sharks apprenticeship
Dantoray Lui may not be swimming with any actual sharks as settles back into life on Sydney’s southern beaches, but the 18-year-old is no stranger to stepping into the deep end in pursuit of his rugby league dreams.
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Dantoray Lui may not be swimming with any actual sharks as settles back into life on Sydney’s southern beaches, but the 18-year-old is no stranger to stepping into the deep end in pursuit of his rugby league dreams.
The White Rock resident returned to Sydney earlier this month to continue his development as a member of the Cronulla Sharks’ junior squads.
Lui signed a development contract with the club following a breakout 2019 season in which he made his Cairns and District Rugby League A-grade debut for Brothers, became a mainstay for the Pride’s under-20s side as a 17-year-old, and led Trinity Bay State High School’s open rugby league team to the statewide NRL Schoolboy Trophy.
The young playmaker said the experience had put him in good stead to succeed in NSW.
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“I think playing against guys that were older, who had more experience and were bigger and stronger than me allowed me to improve my game and take it up another level,” Lui said.
“I played a few games back in the under-18s at the end of last season and I could see how much it did for me and how much I improved.”
He said, while halfback or five-eighth were his preferred positions, he was committed to turning himself into a utility player if it meant furthering his dream of an NRL career.
“For me, it’s all about the learning experience,” he said.
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“I want to work on my defence and improve my tackling technique, and hopefully I can put on some more muscle.”
The 2019 Northern Pride Mal Meninga Cup Player of the Year had plans to lock down a spot in the Sharks’ under-18 SG Ball side this season, but off-season knee surgery and the global COVID-19 pandemic forced him to put that goal on hold.
Excited to be getting his NRL dream back on track, Lui said he was hopeful of returning to the field sooner rather than later.
But with the NSWRL having cancelled nine competitions, including the SG Ball Cup, for the 2020 season, his time on the field could be limited.
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“I think they’re going to be doing these development games, just for us to play throughout the year,” he said.
“I’m just hoping to learn something and do a bit of fitness while I’m at it to stay in shape, and then hopefully on to the under-20s for the pre-season.”
Lui said he would explore his options with playing community rugby league, with several senior competitions making their return across Sydney this week.
Originally published as Cairns teen making the most of Sharks apprenticeship