Revealed: All the NT News Rising Star nominations after a thrilling 2021-22 NTFL season
Who will win the 2021-22 NTFL Rising Star award? SEE ALL THE 2021-22 RISING STAR NOMINEES HERE
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THE NT News Rising Star acknowledges the best and brightest young guns in the NTFL with a nominee selected after each round and the overall winner selected at the end of the season.
The NT News Rising Star award is in its 25th year and carries a $500 prize for the winner announced at the end of the season.
Previous winners include AFL players Xavier and Raphael Clarke (St Kilda), Matthew Whelan (Melbourne) and Brandan Parfitt (Geelong) with last year’s winner being Ryan Warfe from Palmerston.
Read below to see the nominees from every round of the season. Check in each Wednesday to spot the latest nominee.
ROUND 18 - ETHAN BOWDEN (ST MARY’S)
ST MARY’S young gun Ethan Bowden showed off his skills with a strong final-round performance earning himself the round 18 NT News Rising Star nomination.
The Saints youngster is the latest member of his famous footballing family to make an impression at the top level of the NTFL.
At under-18s level he is an onballer but has spent his time at Premier League level learning the game as a small forward and on the wing.
But playing just his third Premier League game of the season against Wanderers he looked right at home in a Saints side out to prove a point. And it was his positioning and work rate which allowed him to cap off a fine personal effort with a goal, his first of the season.
St Mary’s coach Anthony Vallejo said the young Bowden was constantly improving his game and was developing plenty of skills at the top level.
“He’s a terrific kid who has really taken his opportunity to play Premier League with both hands,” Vallejo said.
“He’s a skilful player who can use both his left and right foot and works really hard.
“His hardness around the ball is one of his key attributes.
“He’s really worked on his fitness training with both the 18s and us. He takes in all our feedback, works really hard and is always looking to improve, just a great kid to coach.
“At the moment we’re giving him a feel of Premier League footy but we can see him develop into an onballer in the mould of Nate Paredes.”
Bowden becomes the fourth Saint to be given a Rising Star nomination in the 2021-22 NTFL season following Isaiah Baldock, Braith Hodges and Xavier Vallejo.
All 18 of the Rising Star nominations have now been selected, with the winner to be announced during the Nichols Medal.
ROUND 17 - ENRIQUE ANDREWS (PALMERSTON MAGPIES)
A SHOW of poise and pace has earned Palmerston Magpies debutant Enrique Andrews the Round 17 NT News Rising Star nomination.
Andrews is one of Palmerston’s leading under-18s junior products and after a bout of misfortune finally made his senior debut in the Magpies’ backline.
He showed off all the attributes needed of a player of his position providing run and carry, tackling prowess and ample amounts of speed.
A chase down of Wanderers’ pace man Simon Bates was also highlighted as one of the plays of the week and showed
Palmerston coach Josh Heath praised the young gun both for his ability on the field as well as his commitment to improving his game off the field.
“He working hard on the track and after being lucky enough to get the call up fit in very nicely in our backline,” Heath said.
“He provided plenty of run and carry, hit his targets, had good poise, good decision making and showed his closing speed when he chased down Simon Bates.
“He’s always very engaged when it comes to training and that’s one of the biggest reasons we gave him the call up. He’s consistently turning up and training with the senior team.”
Andrews becomes the third Rising Star nomination from the Magpies in the 2021-22 season following Clarence Baird in Round 3 and Waylon Davey in Round 10.
And it’s this young group which Heath and Palmerston will look to form their squad around for seasons to come.
“He’s got his place. He’s got plenty of run and provides has plenty of flair in the backline,” Heath said.
“This upcoming group is what we will be looking to build our squad around going forward.”
ROUND 16 - ADDISON DOHNT (WARATAH)
WARATAH wing Addison Dohnt showed his leg speed and hardness to limit the effectiveness of his St Mary’s opposition and earned himself the Round 16 2021-22 NTFL Rising Star nomination.
Dohnt made his premier league debut in the 2020-21 season and with a further five games now under his belt this season is improving all the time.
While he may not have picked up the most touches he imposed himself well in and around the contest to limit the potency of elite wing Lachie Taylor.
The wing has plenty of leg speed and came right through the club’s age grade systems following in the footsteps of his father who also played at the club.
Waratah coach Ryan Ayres praised his young guns ability to be effective both on and off the ball but above all noted his hard work and eagerness to learn each week.
“He’s a really coachable kid and really dedicated to his footy,” Ayres said.
“I think the biggest thing from the weekend was the work he put in to limit the run of (Saints’) Lachie Taylor who has been one of the standouts wings this season.
“But it’s his work rate on and off the field that really catches the eye, his willingness to learn and improve and the fact he’s always listening out for what he needs to do to improve.
“He has a really good attitude and uses his leg speed to get him in and around the contest and is improving all the time.”
Dohnt is the first Waratah to be nominated for the Rising Star award in the 2021-22 season but the club isn’t short of potential risers including Oliver Poulson and Xavier Blitner.
For Tahs it was not the result they were anticipating on the weekend against Saints though Ayres confirmed the club was still confident of the direction they were heading.
“Obviously not the result we wanted but we had eight changes with Covid disruptions so not the ideal preparation,” Ayres said.
“But we make no excuses, Saints were the better side on the day and for us we’re still highly confident we have the personnel to go all the way.”
ROUND 15 - CADE ABALA (DARWIN BUFFALOES)
DARWIN Buffaloes’ versatile young gun Cade Abala had another big performance in torrential conditions and in doing so earned himself the round 15 Rising Star nomination.
The young Buff got his premier league start at the end of the 2020-21 season and has continued to kick on in his latest season of footy.
Conditions weren’t the greatest for any player on the weekend with a torrential storm having a massive impact on the flow of play but Abala weathered the conditions and stood up.
Originally a small forward, Abala has made the move down back where he is thriving and getting the chance to show his physicality in the contest.
He’s known for his evasiveness and toughness around the ball, traits that have his move to the backline fluid. Coach Cam Stokes said the young gun had impressed in the side all season and had consistently shown his willingness to compete at every contest.
“He has played some great footy for us this season and his skills are really coming a long way,” Stokes said.
“The main thing has been his attitude in embracing that role change. It’s not always easy making that change but he’s taken to it really well.
“He’s taken to the guys around him like Kevin Maroney and loves the hard stuff. He loves the role of picking up the small forward and is in at every contest.
“He’s lightning quick, evasive, tough and competitive. As a defender you never want to lose the one on ones and he embodies that with his ability to be in every contest.
“He’s definitely part of that group we will be building our future around. He is small in stature but is a really big presence down back.”
Abala is the second Buffalo to pick up a Rising Star nomination after Tyrese Raymond in round 8.
ROUND 14 - XAVIER VALLEJO (ST MARY’S)
THE 2021-22 NTFL season has revealed another talent of the Vallejo name with speedy youngster Xavier Vallejo picking up the Round 14 NT News Rising Star nomination.
There’s no doubting that the 17-year-old comes from good stock with his father and coach Anthony Vallejo being a premiership captain and his uncle Iggy Vallejo set the league record for matches played at 361.
And now he is starting to make a name for himself in his first season of premier league whether it’s kicking a goal in his Round 1 debut or being among the top tacklers for his side each week.
He has come up through the Saints ranks from under-12s and could still play at under-18s level for two more years.
The young Vallejo played what is expected to be his last game of the NTFL season on the weekend and while it wasn’t a win against Nightcliff showed plenty of signs of the skills he has.
He now heads back to school studying at Xavier College but with his speed and developing skills he could very well become a future mainstay for the Green Machine.
“He’s worked really hard with speed probably being his biggest asset, he’s been working hard on his skills and his attitude is really good in training,” Coach Anthony Vallejo said.
“I’m probably his biggest critic, and I’ve always been conscious not to show any favouritism towards him.
“To his credit he is well aware of the situation and has taken to it really well. I’ve had to
He’s learning the game really well on the wing but I can see him developing into a half back flank.
“Full credit to the senior boys as well, they’ve welcomed him in with open arms. He’s run water for them for a number of years and now he gets to play with them.”
Vallejo becomes the third Saint to be nominated in the 2021-22 NTFL season following Isaiah Baldock and Braith Hodges.
Southern Districts young gun and Round 5 nominee Jaeden Watts looked impressive once again with a thrilling display in his side’s win over Darwin Buffaloes.
ROUND 13 - PETER POLITIS (NIGHTCLIFF TIGERS)
A CONFIDENT and assured display in difficult circumstances has earned Nightcliff’s Peter Politis the NTFL Round 13 Rising Star award.
The young talent made his senior debut in Round 5 and with five further games now under his belt he has more than made a place for himself within the premiership outfit.
He’s a forward known for his goal kicking pedigree in the under-18s but also has also played on the wing where his versatility and athleticism is put to good use.
Nightcliff struggled in the opening half against Districts and in an extreme rarity for them did not post any points in the opening quarter after what was a disrupted prep for every club.
But they roared back into action in the second half of the game to take the win and Politis was one of the players to really step up in that period to regain the game.
As well as playing all his footy at Nightcliff, Politis has long been a mainstay on the junior tennis scene winning his maiden title in the 2020 NT Open.
Coach Chris Baksh was proud of the young gun’s week on week improvement crediting his confidence as one of his key assets.
“I’m really proud with him. He nearly got a stint last year but other commitments got in the way but this year has really hit the ground running,” Baksh said.
“He just improves every week and his confidence has really become a big asset of his.
“I sort of put it on him at half time against Districts and he alongside of the other young guys really stepped up from there and played really well to close out the game.
“He’s a very coachable kid, he always asks for feedback which he probably gets from his tennis background, just a great guy to coach.”
Politis is the third Nightcliff player to get a Rising Star nomination this season following Wade Derksen and Jamie Jones.
ROUND 12 - BRAITH HODGES (ST MARY’S)
ST MARY’S junior Braith Hodges’ hard work and talent has impressed coaches and fellow players alike and in Round 12 of the 2021-22 NTFL season it has earned him a Rising Star nomination.
The 19-year-old came through the St Mary’s junior system and was identified as a talent at the age of 16 when he was first picked for the senior side by then coach Ricky Nolan.
He has only furthered his craft and talent since then showing coaches that he is a player that can fill multiple positions.
Hodges comes from good stock being the nephew of Nichols Medalist Jason Jones and son of former Thunder coach Andrew Hodges.
The young gun who fits in across the field has come through talent pathways such as NT Thunder and also played for Xavier College.
He’s currently studying physiotherapy interstate but plays for and continues to impress for his junior club when he gets the chance during his holidays.
St Mary’s coach Anthony Vallejo was full of praise for the young gun who shows plenty of hard work and commitment on both the field and training track.
And in a game where St Mary’s showed talent across the field Hodges once more showed his talent stepping up in the half back flank.
“He’s a junior that has come through our ranks and is one of the most coachable, hardest working kids you could ask for. I can’t speak highly enough about him,” Vallejo said.
“He plays with us over his holidays and works hard all the time, he’s always among the first on the field and one of the last off and that is something that has really impressed us.
“He can play in a number of positions and showed that on the weekend playing half back flank when he was originally going to play on the wing.
“We would love to keep him as long as possible but we know that his education comes first. He’s just a great talent.”
From St Mary’s Xavier Vallejo was another young gun to step up with a big game upon his return to the side while Darwin Buffaloes’ Cade Abala had a strong game against Palmerston.
ROUND 11 - TOM BOUSTEAD (SOUTHERN DISTRICTS)
TOM Boustead becomes the latest Southern Districts player to earn a 2021-22 Rising Star nomination following a strong and composed performance in the backline in Round 11.
The 17-year-old defender who recently completed his time at Prince Alfred College in Adelaide found himself lining up on AFL legend Eddie Betts of Palmerston at Norbuilt Oval.
But Boustead stepped up to the challenge and held his own against sporting royalty earning himself a place in Districts’ best for the match.
The young gun has already shown his leadership capabilities in the club’s junior ranks winning the under-18s leadership award last season and being elevated to under-18s co-captain for this year.
However, it is the seniors where has spent a lot of his time this season noted for his decision making and eagerness to learn.
Southern Districts under-18s coach Alister Young credited the developing star as someone who could influence the play both on and off the ball with his decision making and leadership.
“He has taken the opportunity to play in the seniors with both hands,” Young said.
“His leadership qualities have been really good and he still makes it down to all the under-18s games even if he’s not playing to help out.
“He’s been incredible this season. His footy has come a long way but it’s his attitude that sets him apart. He’s always talking to the senior guys to find out how he can improve.
“It would have been a great experience for him to play on someone like Betts. He’s doing more than enough to hold his spot each week and his decision making is well ahead of his years.”
Boustead becomes the third Southern Districts player to win a Rising Star nomination in the 2021-22 season following Will Rowlands and Jaeden Watts.
ROUND 10 – WAYLON DAVEY (PALMERSTON MAGPIES)
WAYLON Davey’s goal sense and drive to improve has earned him plenty of time in the spotlight in his first senior games and it has also earned him the Round 10 NT News Rising Star nomination.
Davey made his first appearance at Cazalys Arena in Round 9 kicking a big snap goal with his first touch of the ball and has since racked up five goals from two appearances.
That’s no small feat for a 15-year-old small forward who finds himself looking right at home sharing the forward line with AFL legend Eddie Betts.
Around the field he’s a constant driving for the ball always eager to put himself in the contest for his side.
His skills probably come as little surprise to those that know his pedigree with five uncles who have played in the AFL being Alwyn and Aaron Davey and Steven, Daniel and Shannon Motlop.
And that ability as well as eagerness to train and learn are what prompted Palmerston coach Josh Heath to give the newest Davey an opportunity in the premier league straight from under-16s.
“He’s been great, we’ve been really impressed, kicking five goals in his first two games have really put him into the spotlight,” Heath said.
“We knew he had the skills and the forward nous. He’s a true finisher who reads the play off the pack and has great goal sense, knowing exactly where the goals are.
“Part of the reason he got the opportunity comes from how well he trains. He listens, stays involved and turns up. Those silky skills you see on the field are also there during training.
“What we know about Palmerston is that there’s a lot of talented young players and what I want to do is cultivate and nurture the youth that we have here.”
Palmerston are developing a fine group of youngsters in their ranks with last year’s Rising Star winner Ryan Warfe now a core member of the squad.
Clarence Baird received a nomination earlier in the season while Clay Shadforth, Elijah Davey and Leo Holtz are all exciting prospects.
ROUND 9 – WILL ROWLANDS (SOUTHERN DISTRICTS)
COMPOSED Southern Districts young gun Will Rowlands is the round 9 Rising Star nominee following a dynamic NTFL debut where he more than held his own against the reigning premiers.
The 16-year-old midfielder played all his junior footy at Southern Districts and saw that through to making his senior debut in round 9.
Rowlands has only gone up and up in the footy world over the past couple of years since moving to Ross Trevor College in Adelaide.
There he has played for the Norwood under-16s side and was this year named the runner-up for their best and fairest.
He has since featured in the Allies Squad in the under-19 Championships and was also selected as a South Australia under-17s player.
His NTFL debut was no walk in the park coming up against a side full of experienced campaigners in three-time premiers Nightcliff Tigers.
But Rowlands held his own against Nichols medal winners keeping his cool and showing his composure to help his side to what beforehand may have seemed like an unlikely win.
Southern Districts Under-18s coach Allister Young said that it was his decision making even under pressure that set Rowlands apart.
“He’s a good kid, very down to earth and is very coachable but what sets him apart is his decision making,” Young said.
“Decision making is something you have or you don’t and he has it, it just comes naturally to him and there were plenty of examples of that on the weekend.
“To get the runners up at Norwood just goes to show that what he did on the weekend was nothing out of the ordinary, something we all knew at Districts.
“He came out in his first senior game against the three time premiers and just played his game. It’s a massive tick in his book to produce that performance in those circumstances.
“I’m super proud. He looks to have held his spot in the senior side which is great.”
Father Jamie Rowlands said his son was a passionate sportsman who had also tried his hand at cricket and rugby union.
“It runs in the blood, he’s a talented sportsman who just has a passion for playing the game,” Rowlands said.
“He’s just a general sports lover and that’s something we could see from a very young age, he has plenty of toughness about him so it’s great to see him finding success in his passion.”
ROUND 8 – TYRESE RAYMOND (DARWIN BUFFALOES)
SPEEDY and agile wing Tyrese Raymond held his own in a tough NTFL debut for the Darwin Buffaloes.
And that show of talent in what promises to be the first of many outings with the first grade side has earned him the Round 8 Rising Star nomination.
On debut he picked up a number of touches winning the ball on the wing and topped off his performance with a fourth quarter goal.
Raymond, now 16, made his NTFL premier league debut with the Palmerston Magpies in the 2020-21 season as a 15-year-old.
He made the move to the Buffaloes this season becoming a mainstay of the under-18s where he would catch the eye of the senior squad.
And though it wasn’t a win for his Buffs against the Nightcliff Tigers he managed to handle himself against the bigger bodies.
Buffaloes coach Cameron Stokes called Raymond a talented young player who had more than deserved the call up to the first team.
“It was his debut on the weekend and he played well on the wing picking up a fair few touches and managed to finish up with a goal,” Stokes said.
“He came over to us this season and has been playing with our 18s who have started well and he’s been great there and probably deserved a chance on that form.
“He’s trained well. He came into that game against a tough Nightcliff side full of bigger bodies and handled himself really well.
“He’s just very talented. He offers a lot of speed and agility and this is just the first of many games for him.”
Other strong performers this week included Waratah duo Jack Cattanach and Alexander Arruchio Academy player Oliver Poulson who also made his debut in round 8.
ROUND 7 – JAMIE JONES (NIGHTCLIFF TIGERS)
CONSISTENT young gun Jamie Jones has nailed his position in the Nightcliff setup and this week has also nailed down the Round 7 NT News Rising Star nomination.
The 18-year-old key position player has been lauded week after week for his attention to detail and composure in the NTFL’s top side.
Jones has played all his age grade footy at the Tigers and after a couple of cameos in the 2020-21 season has this season cemented his place in the setup.
He has proven himself a versatile player with the ability to play both down back in defence and further up if needed.
And Jones once again impressed in his sides 10.16 (76) to 6.6 (42) win over Palmerston Magpies at Cazalys Oval.
Nightcliff coach Chris Baksh said his young charge’s was holding his spot in the side with composure that hides his
“He attacks the ball and has plenty of composure when playing both in defence and further up,” Baksh said.
“He’s not afraid to switch it up when he needs to, showing his versatility, and is a very coachable young guy with a terrific attitude.
“He’s adapted to this level really well playing a couple of roles in defence and is more than holding his spot back there. He has a bright future.”
Jones joins Wade Derksen as the second Nightcliff young up and comer to be nominated for the 2021-22 Rising Star award.
Despite one game being called off due to extreme weather there was still plenty of potential nominees in Round 7 including Jones’ Nightcliff teammates Tadgh Evans and Peter Politis who are both finding their feet at the top level.
ROUND 6 – N/A
ROUND 5 – JAEDEN WATTS (SOUTHERN DISTRICTS)
IF bloodlines are any guide to a footballer’s playing stature then Southern Districts wingman-forward Jaeden Watts has a big future in the game.
The round 5 NT News Rising Star nominee is the nephew of former Brisbane Lions and Gold Coast Suns utility Jared Brennan, a player often seen in defence, up forward or in the ruck for the AFL clubs.
Fast forward to 2021 and 18-year-old Watts is in the same company at NTFL Premier League level, assisting first choice Districts ruckman Pat Gallow with centre bounce and boundary throw-in duties in between wing and goal kicking duties.
Districts coach Matt Cannard has been rapt with his young charge’s work rate and ability to contest against bigger bodied opponents.
“We played him in the ruck the last couple of weeks where normally he is a wingman-half forward type,’’ Cannard said.
“He can also play down back, so he’s a bit of a utility for us and he plays his role pretty well and at only 18, so he was quite good for us again.’’
Cannard is fully aware of Watts’ football pedigree and comparisons with his uncle.
“Hopefully he continues to push his case forward in what might be his draft year,’’ he added.
Round 5 presented a number of potential nominees, beginning with St Mary’s Benny Browne, the club’s under-18 best and fairest in a premiership season in 2020-21.
ROUND 4 – LLOYD JOHNSTON (WANDERERS)
WANDERERS have unearthed a Mitchell Taylor lookalike in running defender Lloyd Johnston and they’re more than happy with the comparison.
Particularly when 17-year-old Johnston dominates across half back in the manner Taylor has for a number of years for the NTFL Eagles.
Capable of big marks, hard running and finding teammates with accurate foot and handpassing, Johnston is the Round 4 nomination for the NT News’ Rising Star.
Named in Wanderers’ best players in the three games he has played in his debut season in league football, Johnston’s consistency in the key defensive role has not gone unnoticed.
A product of the Eagles’ junior program, he was prolific against Palmerston at TIO Stadium where he played a sweeping role that often turned defence into attack.
His coach Aaron Motlop said Johnston was adaptable with his ability to play in the ruck or up forward as the situation demanded.
“Guys of his age can play in a variety of positions, but with Lloyd finding his way in league footy we want to establish him in a particular role,’’ Motlop added.
“We know he plays across half back very well, where he has been good for us all season.
“Lloyd’s got a really good concept of knowing when to defend and when to attack and that’s really rare for a young man just coming into senior footy.
“He already has the unique ability to understand when he has to play really tight and when to zone off and become an attacking option.’’
Johnston’s nomination comes on top of another four-quarter performance by St Mary’s utility Xavier Vallejo, who was named in the club’s best players
ROUND 3 – CLARENCE BAIRD (PALMERSTON MAGPIES)
CLARENCE Baird’s rise and rise as a Premier League defender with NTFL club Palmerston is of a number of innovations at Magpieland.
Out of finals football for more than a decade, 19-year-old Baird, one of three brothers to wear the black and white jumper, has given the Magpies plenty of reasons to fly.
Handed the difficult task of holding down the crucial full back position the Magpie young gun has grabbed the opportunity with both hands.
He has done enough to win the round 3 NT News Rising Star nomination after a superb performance in the last line of defence.
It was no coincidence Baird’s calmness under pressure and ability to nullify the free-wheeling Darwin Buffalo forwards played a big role in his side’s 41-point win.
First year Magpie coach Josh Heath said his young side was buzzing with players like Baird, his brother Jason, defender Steven Lampton and Justin Cooper leading the way.
“Clarence has been going really well at full back, he can play against the talls and run with the smalls while matching up on opponents just as well,” Heath said.
“He’s good in the air and his run and carry out of defence is fantastic.”
Baird’s nomination completes a successful round 3 for the Magpies where they upset highly favoured Darwin Buffaloes and provided the Rising Star.
Consecutive wins have eluded the Magpies for a long time, November 2018 was the last time they claimed four premiership points on back to back Saturdays.
ROUND 2 – WADE DERKSEN (NIGHTCLIFF TIGERS)
HOME is where the heart is and for Nightcliff ruckman Wade Derksen, Darwin and the NT Football league fit nicely into that category.
The 20-year-old was thrown into the ruck by his coach Chris Baksh for the Battle of the Beaches clash against Waratah and won a Rising Star nomination in return.
It was a nice chance from Covid affected Melbourne and a constant flow of injuries, including ankle, shoulder, foot and knee problems that curtailed his appearances for Essendon’s VFL side.
“I’ve been out of the game for a while, which makes it great to be back playing footy,” Derksen said.
“I got a couple of kicks, which was good, but I’m rapt to be playing footy after being down south.
“I’ll just keep training hard and trying to get a kick in the ruck, up forward, down back and even on the wing, wherever the coach puts me.
“I’m pretty happy we got the win and I’m back playing for Nightcliff again with players I grew up with.”
A Tiger for life since following dad, Mark, into a yellow and black jumper, Derksen’s plans to play some footy in Melbourne after moving there three years ago were thrown into chaos when injury and the Covid pandemic intervened.
“Things didn’t work out with being injured and Covid and everything else,” he said.
“I didn’t really call it quits with footy, but I did have a think about the importance of family.”
ROUND 1 – ISAIAH BALDOCK (ST MARY’S)
ISAIAH Baldock made his Premier League debut count with St Mary’s when he won the round 1 nomination for the 2021-22 NT News Rising Star award.
The 17-year-old started forward before being switched to a back pocket by stand-in Karl Gundersen, where he was an outstanding contributor in the Saints’ 12-point win over reigning premiers Nightcliff.
Given the task on 2018-19 Chaney medalist and dual premiership player Liam Holt-Fitz among a handful of opponents, Baldock finished the game as one of his side’s best players.
“It was pretty hot out there and I’m talking about getting your hands on the footy,” he said.
“You had to go in and get the footy, and decide in a few seconds what you wanted to do with it, there was no time to make up your mind.
“I always knew league footy was going to be fast and hard, and that’s the way it turned out.”
Baldock’s football pedigree can be traced back to his father, Richard, and grandfather Peter, who both had long careers at Banks and Waratah.
First round matches produced notable performances from the league’s young players including Baldock’s teammates Xavier Vallejo, Kobe Hodges and Ben Brown.
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