NRL 2023: The sons of rugby league legends turning heads in junior footy
St George Illawarra has a pair of famous names impressing in the junior ranks and one has already caught the eye of other NRL sides. Check out our sons of guns special
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The apple never falls far from the tree, as DAVID RICCIO shows with these emerging young football stars with familiar names. These are the sons of former NRL stars with bright futures in rugby league.
Ethan O’Neill - Rabbitohs
A second rower coming off a successful season with the Central Queensland Capras in the QLD Cup last season. Has played 28 games of QLD Cup football, scoring nine tries. Has Rabbitohs pedigree being the son of former Australian and Queensland State of Origin player Julian O’Neill. A strong pre-season saw Ethan included in the Bunnies trial match against the Sea Eagles last weekend.
Toby Rodwell - Roosters
16-years-old and with an increasing reputation, Toby is the son of former Illawarra Steelers and NSW Origin centre Brett Rodwell. Rated one of the best halfbacks for his age in the country, Toby has already been snapped up by the Roosters. The SG Ball talent was named co-captain for the City under-16’s side last year and delivered a man of the match performance.
Sam Healey - Sharks
The son of a great Cronulla clubman in Mitch Healey. A hooker unlike his father who called five-eighth home, Sam is on a development contract at the Sharks, but that may soon change after he showed serious promise in Cronulla’s trial win over Newcastle last weekend. Quick with beautiful hands, Sam is highly-regarded by the Sharks.
Kade Dykes - Sharks
Son of Cronulla legend Adam Dykes who has had his 2023 season shattered by season-ending knee surgery. Last year, Kade knocked back interest from the Bulldogs and Dolphins to ink a two-year deal with the Sharks. An attacking fullback, centre or five-eighth, the Sharks are backing him to return with vengeance in 2024.
Jett Cleary - Panthers
The Cleary family name rolls on at Penrith. The younger brother of champion Panthers halfback Nathan and youngest son of Penrith head coach Ivan.
A halfback and goalkicker, just like his brother, Jett is developing strongly through the lower grades, playing under-16’s Harold Matthews Cup for Penrith.
Bayden Moran - Panthers
The Penrith SG Ball backrower has enjoyed a terrific pre-season, backing up the internal belief at the Panthers that he can follow in his father’s footsteps and progress all the way to the NRL. Bayden, an under-16 NSW Indigenous squad member, is the son of Dennis Moran, the talented utility who played 36-games for Parramatta between 1997 and 2000, before going onto play 148-games in the English Super League.
Max Plath - Broncos
A Wynnum Manly rookie, Max is following in the footsteps of his father and Broncos icon John Plath.
In a sign of things to come, Max spent the summer impressing Brisbane coach Kevin Walters on a train and trial deal with the Broncos.
Like his Dad, Max brings a wealth of versatility to the squad, given he can play five-eighth, halfback, hooker and lock.
Nate Berrigan - Dolphins
A member of the Dolphins Academy, the son of former NRL player Barry, and the nephew of Broncos and Queensland Origin utility Shaun Berrigan. Like his dad, Nate has a high work ethic which contributed to his selection as a back rower in last year’s Queensland under 15 team. Nate has been signed by the NRL’s newest franchise as an NRL prospect who will also play in Redcliffe’s under 16 Connell Challenge side.
Lachlan Vella - Eels
The son of former NSW Origin, Test and Eels hardman Michael, Lachlan is wearing the blue and gold just like his Dad. Developing through the lower grades of the Eels Harold Matthews Cup team, Lachlan is big enough to play in the forwards, but has also shown his versatility by playing in the centres.
Judah Galuvao - Panthers
The son of Penrith premiership-winning forward Joe Galuvao, Judah continues to rise through the lower grades (Harold Matthews Cup) of the club his Dad called home between 2002 and 2005. Like father, like son, Judah is a hard-running forward who has a terrific offload.
Zach Fittler - Roosters
The teenager is still a long way away from first grade, but his stocks are on a rapid rise after playing up an age division in the (under-17) Harold Matthews competition for the Roosters in 2022. The son of NRL legend Brad was also outstanding for NSW in the under-16s rugby union national championship last October. The 105kg talent is recognised as a future star after being included in the NSW Origin pathways camp last November.
Haizyn Mellars - Rabbitohs
Mellars, 18, is the son of former Sharks, Roosters and Warriors player Vince Mellars and former New Zealand Olympian and national basketball representative Charmian Mellars. A very talented basketballer himself, Haizyn converted to rugby league in 2020 and his early impression has proven devastating. Haizyn was selected in the 2022 Queensland Emerging Origin squad and represented the Queensland under 18s Schoolboys in 2022. As a result he was offered an NRL training contract to train alongside the club’s best players for the current pre-season, which will then progress to a development contract in 2024 and a top 30 position in 2025.
Jed Stuart - Raiders
After rising through the rugby union ranks — just like his famous father Ricky — Jed has crossed codes to join the Raiders lower grades. The Aussie Sevens recruit is much taller than his dad — who was a champion halfback — and it’s the 21-year-old’s height and in particular his leap and catch, which was developed playing union, that has led to good judges in the nation’s capital suggesting Jed could prove an aerial asset on the wing at some point this season.
Jake Fulton - Sea Eagles
The Fulton name lives on at Manly. The grandson of league immortal Bob Fulton and youngest son of former NRL player Brett, Jake is a talented young utility with the club‘s SG Ball (under-19) team. Jake is the younger cousin of Zac Fulton, who made his NRL debut for the Sea Eagles last year.
Braelan Marsh - Dolphins
Braelan is the son of former Queensland State of Origin series winning hooker PJ Marsh, who played 158 NRL matches, mainly with Parramatta. Marsh’s son also plays dummy half and has been signed to the Dolphins Academy. Marsh was a Queensland under-12 and Queensland under 15 representative.
Aaymon Fitzgibbon - Dragons
Aaymon, a Thirroul Butchers junior, recently extended his future with the same club his dad and grandfather (Alan) also began their careers. Playing five-eighth for Illawarra’s SG Ball team, Aaymon is a strong defender and not surprisingly, a student of the game. Depending on his progression, it will be interesting to see if he ends up at the Sharks with his Dad Craig in the future.
Hudson Bailey - Dragons
An SG Ball teammate of Aaymon Fitzgibbon at Illawarra, Hudson is showing all the traits of his father, former NSW and Test front-rower Luke Bailey. A hard-running lock forward with a fearless attitude, Hudson has already caught the attention of several rival clubs.
Kayden Civoniceva - Dolphins
One of the game‘s greatest forwards now has his own pride and joy to cheer on with 15-year-old Kayden progressing strongly through the Redcliffe nursery. Like his Dad Petero, Kayden also plays front row and has been strong with the Redcliffe Dolphins under 16 Connell Challenge team this season.
Matt Arthur - Eels
Matthew is a tenacious hooker holding down his position in Parramatta’s SG Ball (under-19) team. Renowned for his toughness, Matt – the younger brother of Eels player Jake and youngest of Eels coach Brad Arthur’s brood – made headlines as a 12-year-old when he famously left former star Jarryd Hayne behind during a long-distance running drill.
Tom Rodwell - Sharks
Scored four tries in one game of Jersey Flegg last year, Tom is a powerfully built centre-winger, much like his father, former NSW Origin centre Brett Rodwell. A brother of Toby’s, Tom is in contention to make his first grade debut in 2023 after being elevated to the Sharks NRL training squad. The 20-year-old showed his readiness for the NRL with a strong trial performance, which included a try, against the Knights last weekend.
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