NRL 2021: Roosters land another junior star in Camden Rams product Lachlan Dooner

A personal sales pitch by skipper James Tedesco has helped the Roosters snare another budding star from his old stomping ground at Camden.

James Tedesco with Camden product and new Roosters signing Lachlan Dooner.

The James Tedesco seal of approval has helped the Roosters secure yet another junior star.

Lachlan Dooner is still just 15 but it’s a name to keep an eye on after the Camden junior agreed to join the Tricolours set-up last week.

Dooner, a talented centre, comes from a similar background to Tedesco — both are Macarthur juniors and Dooner attends renowned rugby league nursery St Gregory’s College, Tedesco’s alma mater.

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James Tedesco with Camden product and new Roosters signing Lachlan Dooner.

It was these links, and a personal sales pitch from the Test and Origin superstar himself, that helped the Roosters land Dooner ahead of several other clubs.

With Trent Robinson, another Rams and St Greg’s alumni, also boasting strong links to the area the Camden to Coogee pipeline is in rude health.

Rangy, athletic and blessed with excellent ball skills, Dooner can play fullback, centre and in the halves and has the size to potentially switch to the forwards once he physically matures.

The junior set-up for next season is yet to be confirmed but Dooner will likely form part of the club’s Harold Matthews side, which is again expected to be an Under 17s competition.

Lachlan Dooner is likely to play in the Roosters’ Harold Matthews team next year. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Dooner played in the centres for Combined Catholic Colleges at the NSW Schoolboy Championships in June, scoring a try and kicking five goals in a thumping 42-8 win over Combined Independent Schools.

He also crossed for a try in the 18-14 victory over Combined High Schools.

Smart judges considered him extremely unlucky to miss selection in the team of the tournament, especially given he was unfamiliar with the position when the tournament began.

The Tricolours have become one of the NRL’s best clubs when it comes to junior development with the likes of Sam Walker, Egan Butcher and Joseph Suaalii all making their mark in 2021.