Former Parramatta teammates Jeff Robson and Joel Reddy to reunite at the Dapto Canaries this season
THEY helped steer Parramatta to the grand final in 2009 and after eight years will reunite for Dapto Canaries in the Illawarra competition. Dapto dogs, anyone?
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IT has been an eight year wait, but former Parramatta teammates Jeff Robson and Joel Reddy will join forces again.
In a huge boost for country rugby league, Robson has signed with the Dapto Canaries in the Illawarra competition.
The former Eels halfback will replace ex-NRL playmaker Beau Henry, who has signed with Wentworthville after two successful seasons with Dapto.
Robson and Reddy played in Parramatta’s grand final loss against Melbourne in 2009.
Now the pair will line up for Dapto in a strong Illawarra competition, which will feature former NRL stars like Glenn Stewart and Willie Tonga (Wests) in 2018.
Reddy can’t wait to team up with Robson, revealing it has been his long-term plan to play alongside with his former Parramatta teammate.
“I’ve been trying to get Robbo to Dapto since I joined the club a few years ago,” Reddy said.
“I think country footy is a great way to transition post NRL to the rest of your life and that is what I told him.
“You can enjoy some footy with your mates and keep fit while working.
“I think Robbo had a few options. One of them was not to play at all, but he said his body still feels all right so he’d thought he’d give it a crack.
“He wasn’t always playing NRL, so it’s good for him to stick with a team and not have to worry about all the outside stuff.
“Robbo won’t be in that constant battle of thinking, ‘where am I playing this week’ like in the NRL.”
Reddy also recommended Dapto has the perfect club for Robson to establish a new life post his NRL career.
He said the Illawarra competition allows players to maintain their fitness, while having more time for work and family commitments.
“Plus, we have a lot of good guys at the club,” he said.
“Former Dragons and Titans prop Michael Henderson is the captain-coach and we’ve also got Keith Lulia, who played a bit of first grade as well.
“We also have a lot of local guys and a good mix of older and younger guys.”
Fuelled by star signings like Stewart and Tonga, Reddy believes the Illawarra competition will be at its strongest in 2018.
He says the region’s emerging talent will greatly benefit from working alongside ex-NRL players.
“I think it’s great for country footy,” he said.
“The Illawarra comp is really good. You get the ex-NRL players, but we are not going back to try and make first grade again.
“We are going back to give back to the game and help some of the younger players coming through the grades.
“We can give them some tips on what it takes to play in the NRL. Hopefully a few young players can then move on to bigger and better things.
“I know I was excited when I heard a quality player like Glenn Stewart was going to be playing. It just adds to the competition.”
FAMILY AFFAIR
Adam Clydsdale’s grandfather will go down as one of Maitland’s greatest players, so it’s only fitting the former Knights and Raiders hooker has signed with the Pumpkin Pickers this season.
Don “Bandy” Adams is a Maitland Hall of Famer who was selected to tour with the 1956-57 Kangaroos to France and England while playing for the club.
It’s an impressive slice of history that prompted Clydsdale to follow in his grandfather’s footsteps and play for the Pumpkin Pickers.
The former Knights, Raiders and Sharks No. 9 will team up with former Newcastle prop Dane Tilse, who captains Maitland.
ROSELLAS STILL KEEN ON NU’UAUSALA
Wests coach Matt Lantry remains hopeful of signing former Roosters and Canberra wrecking ball Frank-Paul Nu’uausala in 2019.
Lantry had his sights set on Nu’uausala for this season, but the former New Zealand international still has a year on his contract at Wigan in the English Super League.
“At this stage it’s unlikely Frank will come across for this season, but that is not to say something won’t happen for us down the track,” Lantry said.
“He has got to work through a few things with Wigan. He is still contracted for this year and it appears he is going to fulfil his obligations.
“But Frank’s wife is from Newcastle, so they were always going to move back here.
“2018 would have been great, but 2019 is more realistic for us.”
Nu’uausala played 184 NRL games for the Roosters and Raiders from 2007 to 2016, while he represented the Kiwis on 15 occasions.