Pathways Thomas Dellow

SF said:
Someone told me he's going to be in the Top 30 next year. It was a Chinese whispers type source though, so don't put your house on it (could easily be a future year). Does seem a bit early still. Currently signed until end of 2027 (https://www.sharks.com.au/news/2024/10/22/sharks-bolster-squad-depth-with-player-re-signings/)
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I didn’t notice he has actually been added to Top 30. My source was right 🙃

www.nrl.com

2026 NRL Signings Tracker: Storm snare Isaako; Sharks land Trout

Melbourne Storm has announced the signing of Dolphins outside back and goal-kicker Jamayne Isaako on a two-year deal for the 2027 and 2028 seasons.
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Bad head knock for Tommy today.

Head clash with a teammate (Koroitimana) both tackling low. Burt players went off. Dellow the worse of the two. He had to be assisted from the field.

Will be cat 1 for sure. Won’t play next week.

If he hasn’t turned 19 yet he would be out the following week too, but the Sharks have a bye.
 
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This has been discussed elsewhere. Adding to the Dellow thread.

Dellow was moved up to Flegg in round 4, with two rounds left to play in the SG Ball season. He is the first player since Fitzgibbon started coaching to do this, and only the second player in the last 10 years (Xerri the first). We already knew Dellow is highly rated; this is yet another confirmation.

The SG Ball team being eliminated from finals contention and the injury to Alex Challenor possibly both contributed to this decision.

The SG Ball season is finished now. Dellow the only confirmed player moving up so far. I assume there will be others. Keep an eye on Flegg TLT over the next few weeks.
 
Hearing a lot of good things about this fellow, I haven’t seen him play though. Could someone let me know his strengths? Any comparisons to any current NRL players if he realises his potential!
 
Sir Chadley said:
Hearing a lot of good things about this fellow, I haven’t seen him play though. Could someone let me know his strengths? Any comparisons to any current NRL players if he realises his potential!
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There was a young fellow called Dellow......
 
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@Sir Chadley he's a beast. He's turning 19 this year.

In his turning 17 season
- Aussie schoolboys
- Cronulla Junior rep player of the year

In his turning 18 season
- ASSRL player of the Aussies schoolboys carnival
- Captained the Aussies schoolboys
- Ranked #1 school-aged player in Australia
- Played 4 Flegg games
- Dau Medal and Ampol Best All Rounder Award from Endeavour College (there are approximately 80-100 NRL junior rep players at the school)
- NSW Combined High Schools Blue award for sporting excellence (best athlete in NSW across all sports)

In his turning 19 season.
- Added to NRL top 30
- Captained SG Ball
- Moved to Flegg before the end of the SG Ball season
- Starter in Flegg round 5

As far as his skillset goes he is exactly what you want in a young forward. His work rate is insane. He will play the whole game, take 30 hit-ups, make 50 tackles and still be the first guy to put his hand up for the next carry. I've seen an article which compares him to Isaah Yeo, but that's a bit of a weak comparison. He does do a lot of tip-on plays and is developing his passing game, but I wouldn't describe him as a "ballplaying lock" and he doesn't ball play at the line often. It's more just that he can do that passing role if his coach needs him to - like McInnes can for the Sharks or Hosking can for the Jets. It's a feature of his game but not necessarily a defining feature. Also - even though he's not huge he is built like a tank and quick for a middle. He's aggressive in defence and he wins contact on both sides of the ball.

For NRL comparisons I would say a combination of Jack Williams and peak Jack de Belin. High energy like JW with the square JdB body and a passing game. A young Gallen is also a fair comparison in terms of body shape and work rate, though Gal was an edge player back then and the game has changed a lot since 2001. Gal debuted just before his 20th birthday and was an NRL regular in his turning 21 season. I could see Dellow following his path in that regard.

The SG Ball team was pretty ordinary this season. The work rate was there for Dellow but overall the forwards struggled and their hookers and halves weren't great - so watching SG Ball games in isolation he wasn't that impressive. It's a completely different story in Flegg. The halves and hooker in that team are organized and the rest of the forward pack excel in their roles, so Dellow slots in perfectly and was one of the best players on the weekend just gone (round 6).
 
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Thanks mate, that sounds great. I know 19 is young but we do hear of other 18 or 19 year olds debuting at other clubs. I’m sure we’ve had a few in the past as well.

I know he’s only just upgraded to Flegg but if he is that good, is there any chance we could see him in NRL this year especially with the new 6 man bench?

Or is it going to be a steady as we go approach?

I mean, let me propose a drastic scenario. Cam’s ACL develops complications, Jesse C is out for a month or so and Tommy and BHU suffer injuries. If we absolutely had to, could he step up?
 
Sir Chadley said:
Thanks mate, that sounds great. I know 19 is young but we do hear of other 18 or 19 year olds debuting at other clubs. I’m sure we’ve had a few in the past as well.

I know he’s only just upgraded to Flegg but if he is that good, is there any chance we could see him in NRL this year especially with the new 6 man bench?

Or is it going to be a steady as we go approach?

I mean, let me propose a drastic scenario. Cam’s ACL develops complications, Jesse C is out for a month or so and Tommy and BHU suffer injuries. If we absolutely had to, could he step up?
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Most of the guys who debut young are backs. They are more likely to get there on their athletic ability and attacking instincts and then round out their details later; for forwards the details are more important early. Even in NSW/QLD Cup 18-19 year old forwards are rare.

Could Dellow sit on a 6 man bench and maybe get 10 minutes? Anything is possible. For him to jump NSW Cup completely would be almost unheard of though. Putting it in perspective if he plays 5 Jets games this year that would still put him 2-3 years ahead of every other Sharks forward prospect and from my point of view would put him at the top of the prospect list ahead of Ison, Gabrael, Williams and Pollard.

In the scenario you have mentioned above there are several others who would get the call before him, and not just middles. I think players like Berrell and Jones would be used as running forwards before Dellow. I also think Alex Challenor was ahead of Dellow for this year based on the trials and Flegg team selections, but he is out injured for much of the year so Dellow may have leapfrogged him. Challenor is one year older. He has a different body shape to Dellow and is a different style player but has almost as impressive a resume and is also a high work rate / high energy player.
 
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Sir Chadley said:
Thanks again mate. My scenario was purely hypothetical of course but from what you’ve said it looks like Dellow could be a player we could all get excited about in the future. 2027 or 2028 maybe.
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Yeah for sure. He's a gun, but very young. As always, I think most fans get excited about the 18-21 year old guys with big long-term potential but often overlook the 22-24 year old guys who are more ready now. If Dellow becomes a regular Jets player in 2027 and NRL player in 2028 he will still be ahead of the curve compared to most players and on a similar timeline to Pat Carrigan.

Today (when healthy)

Puru is better than Pollard
Hosking is better than Dellow
Vea'ila is better than Gabrael
Fearnley is better than Fa'atili
Jones is better than everyone else under 22.
 
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Sharks NRL Prospects said:
Yeah for sure. He's a gun, but very young. As always, I think most fans get excited about the 18-21 year old guys with big long-term potential but often overlook the 22-24 year old guys who are more ready now. If Dellow becomes a regular Jets player in 2027 and NRL player in 2028 he will still be ahead of the curve compared to most players and on a similar timeline to Pat Carrigan.

Today (when healthy)

Puru is better than Pollard
Hosking is better than Dellow
Vea'ila is better than Gabrael
Fearnley is better than Fa'atili
Jones is better than everyone else under 22.
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Fans rate prospects like Leonardo Dicaprio dates, by about 21 it is time to start looking younger, they are past it and have no future
 
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