NRL 2022: Kade Dykes to earn debut with Cronulla Sharks

Cronulla’s fresh face has an old name with a third-generation Shark set to make his debut for the club on Saturday.

Rookie Sharks fullback Kade Dykes will cap an extraordinary week by making his NRL debut just days after knocking back two of the game’s most influential figures in Wayne Bennett and Phil Gould.

In a week the rising star will never forget, Dykes will become a third-generation Shark after being chosen in the No. 1 jumper in a sold-out local derby against St George-Illawarra at PointsBet Stadium on Saturday night.

Incredibly, Dykes will become just the second third-generation player to play for the same club as his father and grandfather in the game’s history, following on from Manly’s Zac Fulton last week.

Replacing injured Sharks fullback Will Kennedy, the son of 183-game Shark, Adam Dykes, and grandson to former Cronulla backrower John Dykes, the 20-year-old has been rewarded for both his blistering NSW Cup form and loyalty to the black, white and blue.

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Kade Dykes is set to make his NRL debut with the Sharks. Picture: Brett Hemmings/Getty Images

Nearing the end of his current Sharks deal, Dykes had spent the past month in negotiations with the Sharks, Dolphins and Bulldogs.

It’s understood both Bennett and Gould offered the elusive ball-runner, who can also play centre or five-eighth, the promise of a cherished first grade fullback spot in 2023 at The Dolphins and Canterbury.

Hugely respectful of both Bennett and Gould’s rugby league intellect and standing within the game, the decision to leave Cronulla, the club he grew-up supporting, weighed heavily on young Dykes.

Yet last Thursday, the De La Salle local junior walked through the front door of his family home with tears in his eyes, to inform his parents, “I’m staying at the Sharks.”

Former Sharks legend Adam Dykes (R) with his son, Kade (L). Picture: Tim Hunter.

Dykes agreed to terms on a new two-year deal until the end of 2025 with Cronulla on Monday, the excitement of a new deal surpassed only by Sharks coach Craig Fitzgibbon informing the prodigious talent his dream would be achieved against the Dragons, on of all days, Cronulla Old Boys Day.

Following hugs and high-fives from the entire Sharks NRL squad, the rookie immediately phoned his emotional mum and dad.

“My wife (Nicole) hasn’t stopped crying through sheer pride,’’ Adam told The Daily Telegraph.

“We’re extremely proud because we know how hard he’s worked. He’s got here through determination and hard work.

“Of course, to play for the club that his dad and grandfather played for, is pretty special.

“To be playing in a local derby in front of a full house on Old Boys Day, Dad and I will both be in the stands, for sure.

“The whole family is just so proud of him and thankful to Fitzy (Fitzgibbon), who has been tremendous for Kade.”

A Cronulla local junior, just like his skilful father who debuted for the Sharks as an 18-year-old in 1995, Dykes has impressed the entire Sharks coaching staff with his development, particularly over the past six weeks with sizzling performances for Newtown in the NSW Cup.

Dykes has outgunned Fitzgibbon’s other fullback option, Lachie Miller, for the chance to make his debut.
Dykes has scored eight tries in 13-games for the Jets, while also producing nine try assists in 13 games, with an average of five tackle busts per-game.

He is also averaging 130 run metres per game.

SMITH REVEALS UNUSUAL STORM PUNISHMENT

Melbourne Storm star Brandon Smith says he was banished from his teammates and forced to train by himself as “punishment” for his three-game ban for abusing a referee.

The hooker will face Gold Coast at AAMI Park on Friday night in his first game back since labelling referee Adam Gee a ‘cheating bastard’ during a loss to Cronulla.

He said he was only now training with his teammates again since his three-week ban was handed down.

“I haven’t really trained with the squad yet so I don’t know what it feels like to be back yet,” Smith said.

“I had a little bit of a training session with them the other day, but this will be my first proper one this week.

“I’ve been getting punished so I’ve been a bit off to the side doing training with the fitness guy.”

Brandon Smith has spoken out about his unusual punishment (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

When asked if it was normal for a player to not be training with the squad when fit, Smith said:

“No, that’s not the norm, that’s quite special.

“I think it was just a sort of just getting punished for not putting the team first.

“It’s been pretty hard and a bit of a grind.

“Waking up early and training by yourself, it gets pretty boring.

“But just being able to hang out with the boys now makes me a lot more grateful for being in a team sport.”

Smith, who will join the Sydney Roosters at the end of the year, said he believed the club was trying to send him a message.

“I think that’s what the whole isolation for the three weeks was trying to teach me,” he said.

“Just making you feel guilty for your actions by taking away what you love most.

“And for me with footy that’s playing with my mates and my friends and enjoying it.

“They kind of took that away from me and it sucks.

“I got to hang out with the fitness coach and he’s not that much fun either.”

Storm has been decimated by injuries this year but still remain fourth on the ladder, and Smith said there was still strong belief within the club.

“It’s been a weird old year for all of us, we’ve got heaps of injuries,” he said.

“It’s no surprise it’s going to be a little bit of a hard one this year.

“We’ve lost Welchy (Christian Welch), Reimis (Smith), George (Jennings) and Paps (Ryan Papenhuyzen) for the season and that’s four of our best 13.

We’ve got numerous other injuries coming through and they are excuses, but I’m willing to make those excuses now as we’ve had like 16 pretty bad injuries this year and we’ve only got like a 26-man squad.

“We’re still fourth, which is the crazy thing that we’ve been able to keep ourselves in the fight.”

Originally published as NRL 2022: Kade Dykes to earn debut with Cronulla Sharks