Debutant Kade Reed Ready to Shine for St George Illawarra Dragons
Young halfback Kade Reed has firmly dismissed any concerns about his ability to handle the physical demands of the NRL, as he prepares for his debut with the St George Illawarra Dragons. Co-captain Clint Gutherson has expressed strong confidence in Reed, predicting the 20-year-old will make an immediate impact for the struggling team, which currently sits at the bottom of the ladder.
Reed's Rise Under Interim Coach Dean Young
Reed emerges as a key beneficiary of the recent team shake-up orchestrated by interim coach Dean Young, who has selected him to start in the halves for Saturday's match against the Sydney Roosters. This move sees Reed replacing Kyle Flanagan, who was demoted to the bench following the sacking of his father, former coach Shane Flanagan. In the final weeks of his tenure, Shane Flanagan faced increasing pressure to introduce Reed into the lineup but often cautioned about the young player's defensive capabilities against larger opponents.
Confidence in Training and Physical Readiness
Despite potential challenges from Roosters forwards like Angus Crichton and Victor Radley, Reed is quick to quash fears about his physical readiness. He points to his daily training sessions with Dragons back-rowers Luciano Leilua and Jaydn Su'a as crucial preparation. "I think tackling Looch and Su'a every day for the last two years has definitely helped," Reed said. "In a way, it doesn't get a lot harder than those two, and doing that consistently has been a significant factor in my development."
Gutherson's Support and Expectations
Gutherson, who is currently sidelined due to injury, believes Reed is more than capable of handling what could be a baptism of fire in the intense Anzac weekend clash at Allianz Stadium. "What a memory it's going to be for him, and if he goes out there and plays well, it's going to just skyrocket him," Gutherson remarked. He emphasized the importance of team support, adding, "We just need to be able to support him and get around him to ensure he's ready to go."
Team Dynamics and Flanagan's Situation
Gutherson also highlighted the need for the Dragons to use Shane Flanagan's dismissal as a turning point to revive their campaign, especially after losing their past 11 games dating back to the end of 2025. He expressed sympathy for Kyle Flanagan following his bench demotion, stating, "I've spoken to Kyle the last couple of days to make sure he's alright as a person. There are bigger things in life than rugby league, but it's about looking after each other. He's still an important part of our squad, and we need to stay around him."
Gutherson noted that Kyle Flanagan remains on the bench and could still play, underscoring the team's focus on unity and support during this transitional period.
