Warilla-Lake South Gorillas and Illawarra Steelers gun Dreau Clark crowned Group 7 under-18s player of the year
Exciting Illawarra rugby league prospect Dreau Clark has capped off a stellar season in under-18s with the player of the year award. Hear from the emerging superstar.
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Exciting Illawarra rugby league prospect Dreau Clark has capped off a stellar 2023 season by being crowned Group 7’s player of the season in the under-18s with the Warilla-Lake South Gorillas.
Clark is hard to miss on the footy field, being taller than most halves his age and sporting his frosty blonde hair.
Where the 17-year-old really stands out though is in his footy ability, which the young gun believes has gone to a whole new level this season.
“Playing for the Steelers at the start of the year really helped me elevate my game to a whole new level,” Clark said.
“I had a lot of confidence coming back to club level, having had that little head start on most of the boys around me.
“The confidence, combined with just being happy to play with my mates, helped me play some of my best footy.”
Clark finished two points clear of his nearest rival in Gerringong’s Cooper Harrison in the player of the year voting to be crowned champion.
“It was a little unexpected, it caught us all off guard a bit,” Clark said.
“I was a bit speechless and a bit emotional actually, it’s nice to have the hard work pay off.
“I think it’s just my confidence that’s gone through the roof this year … I just feel at home with the ball in my hands.”
Coaching Dreau at the Gorillas is his father, Leigh Clark, who praised his son for his leadership and star quality for the Warilla side this year.
“He’s the organiser, the one who keeps everyone together and ticking,” Leigh Clark said.
“He’s got a cool head under pressure … his running game is definitely a strength as well. He’s got that backrower mentality of always being there to back up when someone is making a break.”
Clark was a backrower for the Steelers in the Harold Matthews Cup earlier this year, before reverting to five-eighth with the Gorillas.
The young gun isn’t looking to commit himself to any one position going forward, rather keeping his options open.
“It’s tough to say … I’ll be going back into the backrow with the Steelers, but five-eighth has given me a lot, so given the opportunity I’d love a crack at playing there,” Clark said.
“There’s always the option of maybe moving into a ball-playing lock role, we’ll have to see.”
Clark finished joint top try scorer in the league alongside Berry’s Charles Heidke with 22, with none more important than his grand final double that helped his side mount a 24-20 comeback against the undefeated Gerringong Lions.
“That was just one of the greatest days, you probably couldn’t have scripted it any better,” Clark said.
“Having been at the club since I was six years old, being surrounded by all my mates, and to do it in such a gutsy way, it’s a core memory for sure.”
Clark is contracted with the Dragons for the next two years and will be hoping to play some SG Ball Cup footy come next season.
“It’s just about taking it one small step at a time,” Clark said.
“SG Ball is a big goal to achieve, I would be playing up and age as well, which not many people do.
“Once that finishes, it’ll be back to the Gorillas to hopefully go back-to-back in the under-18s, maybe get a crack at first grade as well.”
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