Nightcliff Dragons bolster ranks with big additions in Merritt brothers
NIGHTCLIFF Dragons have further bolstered their ranks for the 2021 NRL NT season with the addition of mobile forward players Will and Rodney Merritt from NSW.
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NIGHTCLIFF Dragons have further bolstered their ranks for the 2021 NRL NT season with the addition of mobile forward players Will and Rodney Merritt from NSW.
Bringing experience and skill, both should prove to be handy pick-ups for a side looking to push for a strong 2021 result.
Rodney played under-18s with the Dragons and at under-20s level with the Rabbitohs in the NYC competition.
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In more recent times the pair have plied their trade in the strong Group 6 competition.
And they’re already settling in enjoying the sights of Darwin and looking forward for their first opportunity to get on the field in Nightcliff colours against the Sharks in Round 1 today.
“It’s a beautiful place, a good change for us and we’re looking forward to playing for Nightcliff,” Rodney Merritt told the NT News.
“We’ve been in contact with the club since around January and now we’re face-to-face with the club and things are rolling.
“I’m looking to bring some experience from the clubs and comps I’ve been in and help some of the boys that have been up here their whole lives and show them a few tricks.”
The duo will join fellow key recruit and former Canterbury Bulldog, Brent Crisp, who has taken on a player-assistant coach role at the club this season.
These signings have given Nightcliff coach Reg Rose plenty to be excited about ahead of the season, with the three interstate recruits bringing plenty of experience and skill.
“We needed new players, we needed something different to what we had last year as you don’t go forward without something new,” Rose said.
“The Merritt boys will bring aggression, a bit of size and experience so I am excited to see what they can do in this competition.
“Brent has been a big help coaching bringing some outstanding ideas, and on the field he will take our team to another level with his ability being invaluable.
“Sharks will have a strong side this weekend and we know they’ve recruited well. So we will have to be on our game and be up for the challenge against them.”
Nightcliff president Mark Wright was also rapt with the signings, feeling the duo would give the side a boost not only for the coming season but potentially for seasons to come.
“We’re over the moon and rapt to have them both on board for the coming season as mobile utility forwards,” Wright said.
“We’ve spent plenty of time talking to them and for us they will be long-term project players having moved their families up to the Territory, so it’s a big bonus for us.
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“We’re going along nicely as a club at the moment. We have not got big expectations at this stage of the season.
“But we do hope to reach finals and hopefully improve on last year.
“There are plenty of players returning to the club alongside our new recruits.
“And with our good crop of juniors we have a healthy mix of experience and talent.”
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