Shute Shield 2021: Dean Blore, brother of Shawn Blore, a Warringah rugby convert

He spent his life playing rugby league but then hit a roadblock to the NRL. Now this former young star is flourishing in a new sport he didn’t even know the rules of this time last year.

Dean Blore in the NSW Cup back in 2019. Blore is now trying his hand at rugby union.

It’s a name well known to league lovers.

Shawn Blore plays for the Wests Tigers and is a former Penrith Panther.

Brother Dean was also a league talent, a head-turning junior and schoolboy who represented New Zealand in under 18s and was contracted to the Penrith Panthers.

Now the later is a code-hopper, swapping league for rugby union, signing on with a new Shute Shield side and loving the challenge.

Brothers Shawn and Dean Blore played against each other as junior in the 2018 Junior Kangaroos v Junior Kiwis game.

DEAN BLORE GOES FROM PENRITH PANTHERS NRL TO RUGBY

“I didn’t get the chance in NRL I’d hoped. I was top 30 with Penrith but injuries didn’t help me, three reconstructions on my shoulder, two on the right one on the left,’’ Blore said.

“After I did my shoulder I went back to training but things just didn’t work out with injury and COVID and then the NSW Cup got canned for us fellas on the fringe.

“Ivan (Cleary, Penrith coach) was straight with me and said we won’t be able to play you, so I left.’’

Through a friend, Blore headed to watch the Penrith Emus Shute Shield team coached by former rugby league guru John Muggleton who played State of Origin and for the Balmain Tigers and Parramatta Eels before coaching both league and union.

“It was mad. It was fun,’’ Blore said.

“I went down with mates and ended up playing the whole (Shute Shield) season.

“I’ve never played rugby union before and Muggo, he just shifted me around and I ended up playing more at No.10.

Gordon, who went on to win the 2020 Shute Shield, against Warringah last season. Pic: Karen Watson

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“It was just a lot of fun, good to play football with my old school mates who I haven’t played with since primary school.’’

But the shift to rugby came with challenges for the young footballer.

“It was a little weird. When I first started playing I had to ask the refs can I do this or can I do that,’’ he said.

“Some of the refs were teaching me the rules while we were actually playing.”

Warringah in action in last year’s Shute Shield.

WARRINGAH RATS SIGN FORMER PENRITH PANTHER

Blore has showed so much talent in the 15 aside game he was approached to make the move from the Penrith Emus to the Warringah Rats for the 2021 season.

He has also shifted house to work at Beacon Hills Public and The Beach School in Allambie Heights as a Student Learning Officer.

“Mike (Ruthven, Warringah Rats coach) and I just chatted and he said come down and have a crack and I thought I’d give it a go,’’ said the 22-year-old.

“I moved to Dee Why two months ago and I’m working here, help kids out in class. It’s fun. I love it.’’

Blore, a Samoan rugby league international in league, said he sees the move as both a second chance and a fresh start.

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