Official Kade Dykes

[bort]

In 2023 he wasn't confident enough to sell tickets to the gun show

 

[BurgoShark]

Wow he looks much bigger in the 2023 pre-season photos compared to the 2023 pre-season photos.

Haha - I swear I typed 2024. Gremlins!

 

[Gumby]

Bulking up to play in the centres

 

[Seenoevil]

A lot of people have been commenting on how big Kade looks.

Found some pics to compare.

2023 pre-season.

2023 pre-season.

2024 Pre-Season

View attachment 29878

View attachment 29879

John Wayne's guns

 

[Sir Chadley]

Bulking up to play in the centres

I actually like this idea. Not sure if will happen Round 1 as I think Kade will need some games under his belt in Cup before starting NRL I reckon. Not because of his inexperience but his return from injury.

But I would not be against a 1-7 like this:

Kennedy
Katoa
Dykes
Ramien
Mulitalo
Trindall
Hynes

Sifa to bench.

Then Kade can cover 1, 6 or 7 as well.

 

[bort]

I actually like this idea. Not sure if will happen Round 1 as I think Kade will need some games under his belt in Cup before starting NRL I reckon. Not because of his inexperience but his return from injury.

But I would not be against a 1-7 like this:

Kennedy
Katoa
Dykes
Ramien
Mulitalo
Trindall
Hynes

Sifa to bench.

Then Kade can cover 1, 6 or 7 as well.

If he wasn't being seriously considered for round 1 as perceived not ready yet then he probably wouldn't spend a huge amount of preseason focused on an 'out of position' role. Have to focus on Talakai, or Tracey/Iro/Hiroti if they are going to be our round 1 guy.
Would then also make sense for Dykes to be Cup 6 (or 1) not centre. So for him to come in later someone would have to lose the job and he outperform the guy playing Cup there (and/or a 'proven' cover for position like Tracey).

So certainly possible but I think a less likely path if he was to not be seriously considered through preseason.

In saying that he has a full preseason and trials - no particular reason he can't be ready for NRL round 1.
Plenty of blokes through history have come into NRL year after an injury or even all the guys who had no footy due to covid.
Don't ask me to name them, but it feels true.

 

[Gumby]

Sometimes you just need to find a way to get someone in the side. Dykes has some serious talent which we have all seen. Yes i think we start him in nsw cup for the first few months to get him back to full fitness etc.. However if his form skyrockets then he must find a way into the 17.

 

[BurgoShark]

If he wasn't being seriously considered for round 1 as perceived not ready yet then he probably wouldn't spend a huge amount of preseason focused on an 'out of position' role. Have to focus on Talakai, or Tracey/Iro/Hiroti if they are going to be our round 1 guy.
Would then also make sense for Dykes to be Cup 6 (or 1) not centre. So for him to come in later someone would have to lose the job and he outperform the guy playing Cup there (and/or a 'proven' cover for position like Tracey).

So certainly possible but I think a less likely path if he was to not be seriously considered through preseason.

In saying that he has a full preseason and trials - no particular reason he can't be ready for NRL round 1.
Plenty of blokes through history have come into NRL year after an injury or even all the guys who had no footy due to covid.
Don't ask me to name them, but it feels true.

McInnes?

It would be interesting to know if there were any players who debuted in early 2022 after not been part of an NRL squad at all in 2020 and 2021.

Hazelton would be the closest to this type of guy who I can think of. Played 2020 Presidents Cup for Glebe. Sat out 2021. Debuted round 12 2022.

 

[bort]

McInnes?

It would be interesting to know if there were any players who debuted in early 2022 after not been part of an NRL squad at all in 2020 and 2021.

Hazelton would be the closest to this type of guy who I can think of. Played 2020 Presidents Cup for Glebe. Sat out 2021. Debuted round 12 2022.

For Dykes - has done NRL squad training before, has even played NRL before, so I think someone ticking at least the first box to start a season of NRL after a season off injured (even for a younger guy) wouldn't be that crazy (obviously plenty of more experienced guys have done it).

Per your question though, it's pretty niche, another later in season debutant but I thought maybe Jojo Fifita. Not in list of Titans original 28 for 2021 but is by August, so well before his round 18 debut the next year. Presumably was in their bubble.

Also wondered Tass... 2022 made nrl debut round 6.... he had a Brisbane dev contract in 2021 and Bulldogs top 30 in 2020

I guess Lachie Miller made his debut without having been in and NRL squad before that year... debut round 11 so beats Hazelton by a game...

 

[Johnny B Goode]

I actually like this idea. Not sure if will happen Round 1 as I think Kade will need some games under his belt in Cup before starting NRL I reckon. Not because of his inexperience but his return from injury.

But I would not be against a 1-7 like this:

Kennedy
Katoa
Dykes
Ramien
Mulitalo
Trindall
Hynes

Sifa to bench.

Then Kade can cover 1, 6 or 7 as well.

I think Stonestreet gets a chance this year. He is good across the backline.

 

[BurgoShark]

For Dykes - has done NRL squad training before, has even played NRL before, so I think someone ticking at least the first box to start a season of NRL after a season off injured (even for a younger guy) wouldn't be that crazy (obviously plenty of more experienced guys have done it).

Per your question though, it's pretty niche, another later in season debutant but I thought maybe Jojo Fifita. Not in list of Titans original 28 for 2021 but is by August, so well before his round 18 debut the next year. Presumably was in their bubble.

Also wondered Tass... 2022 made nrl debut round 6.... he had a Brisbane dev contract in 2021 and Bulldogs top 30 in 2020

I guess Lachie Miller made his debut without having been in and NRL squad before that year... debut round 11 so beats Hazelton by a game...

I guess that is correct for the criteria I gave, but would he be a guy who sat out due to Covid? Were RU 7's were playing in 2020/2021? Did they just do the Olympics (July and August 2021) or were they playing throughout?

 

[bort]

I guess that is correct for the criteria I gave, but would he be a guy who sat out due to Covid? Were RU 7's were playing in 2020/2021? Did they just do the Olympics (July and August 2021) or were they playing throughout?

I expect they had tournaments throughout, although I don't care to check haha

 

[BurgoShark]

Found one (kind of) Alec MacDonald.

Was Wynnum u20's.
- Sat out 2020
- Played u20's and some Q Cup in 2021 (we actually got to run some comps up here that year)
- Debuted Round 1, 2022.

Haven't found anyone from NSW who had to also sit out 2021 though.

 

[Sevshark]

A lot of people have been commenting on how big Kade looks.

Found some pics to compare.

2023 pre-season.

2023 pre-season.

2024 Pre-Season

View attachment 29878

View attachment 29879

Has grown into his neck at the very least.

 

[Wiz]

Sometimes you just need to find a way to get someone in the side. Dykes has some serious talent which we have all seen. Yes i think we start him in nsw cup for the first few months to get him back to full fitness etc.. However if his form skyrockets then he must find a way into the 17.

It’s either Trindall or Kennedy.

And whoever it is he’s going to be real good to take their spot and that’s exactly where you want to be as a team