Adam Clune, Shaun Sauni-Esau, Max Feagai and Mat Feagai are the new names to join the Dragons through their development program.
The Dragons now have completely filled their development roster spots by signing the quartet, following recent additions in utility Hayden Lomax and five-eighth Jayden Sullivan.
NRL development players train full-time with the Top 30 squad, but aren't available for first-grade selection before June 30. Jason Saab and Jackson Ford were 2019 NRL debutants who were examples of development program success.
"We use all six of our development player squad positions as it is part of our pathways' philosophy when it comes to our local juniors and our systems," Director of Rugby League Pathways and List Management Ian Millward told the club's website.
"With the advancement now of Jason Saab, Eddie Blacker and Joe Lovodua into our Top 30, we had positions within the squad to fill. All six of our development players have excitedly come through our pathways system and high performance unit.
Clune spent the offseason abroad in Kenya. The playmaker has been rewarded by Illawarra for his impressive premiership-winning-season with the NSW Canterbury Cup Dragons side.
"Adam came through our junior representative teams and Under-20s a number of years ago and has featured in Canterbury Cup since, where he's been one of the competition's prominent players," Millward said.
Sauni-Esau has a long-standing junior history which includes competing in the Canterbury Cup.
"2019 saw him kick it to another level and play a number of reserve grade games. Shaun is a genuine left centre โ which is rare as most centres these days prefer playing on the right โ so we're particularly excited about that," Millward said.
"In a full-time environment, he'll really blossom as he gets more experience playing against men."
Both outside backs, the Feagais (Max & Mat) also look to make their impact known in 2020.
"[Max and Mat] have had an unbelievable 2019. They're originally from Leeton but have been in our pathways since Harold Matthews and have advanced from there," Millward said.
I’m so excited to see these young guys come on in junk time this year for maybe 10 minutes, probably out of position, and not seeing them develop into regular first grade players for the Dragons before another club buys them just as they become valuable contributors.
I would love to see Millward put on the table what he thinks the team will look like in say 4 years time. Then we can compare it against the one that actually happens and see that no none of those players are still with the Dragons.
Have the Dragons entered one of those Phil Gould 5 year plans yet?
Turn it up Butters, You’re being a tad cynical about the situation. Whilst the Saints have indeed lost/let go some good young players, they can’t keep all of them can they? Only Reece Robson would be considered a real loss, but I couldn’t see him ousting Cameron McInnes, and he is no longer a bench player, hence his move to the Cowboys where he has a great chance of becoming their top hooker. Reuben Garrick was in the mix for first grade in 2018, but the club chose Jason Saab and I believe they chose the right player. There’s more young talent coming through and it won’t be long before Joe Lovodua, Adam Clune amd Shaun Sauni-Esau are playing first grade. I believe their is light at the end of the tunnel, but people need to be patient and hope the club can get the coaching shambles sorted out.
Itโs been 9 years since Bennett left the place in a mess. How patient do fans need to be. Dufty and Field are prodigious talents and both have not been developed and looking to be offloaded. Leilua is one of only 2 players in the team who can create something from nothing regularly. Fair call on Robson. But weโre pumping money into players like graham and Norman and getting very little out of it. I donโt know how the f$&@ you canโt be cynical at this point. Budgielegs buddy we came 15th in 2019 and havenโt been a genuine contender since 2011. There comes a time when you have to focus on results and stop making excuses.
There are flaws in the defensive capabilities of Matt Dufty & Jai Field butters. They have been playing grade football for at least 3 years and should know how to tackle by now. I agree they are prodigious talents, but what good is it when opposing players run through them and around them, and Corey Norman is not much better. I don’t believe the coaching is totally responsible for these weaknesses, and it’s common knowledge that Dufty has an attitude problem.
I have been cynical about the Saints many times before, but I am happy that the young development players are being recognised and I feel confident that most of them will play first grade at some stage in the not-too-distant future. The club can’t go out and buy multiple marquee players until such players as Ben Hunt, James Graham and Corey Norman are gone, which could be sooner than we think. The Ben Hunt situation makes me feel sick. The club could sign two very capable halfbacks for what this average individual is being paid, but at least we have Adam Clune to put pressure on him.
I don’t think any Dragons supporters would be happy with what has happened since Skeletor left, but I don’t believe Mary is totally to blame. The team has had some rotten luck along the way and some players haven’t pulled their weight either.
I am predicting that Mary will be on his last chance in 2020, and if the team aren’t firing he won’t last the season. I know how you feel butters, believe me I do, but at this stage we have to wait until next season to see what happens. I am glad to see the club is grooming young backs and some forwards too. Watch out for Eddie Blacker next season, and with a fair rub of the green I think the team will do much better next year. They usually do when nobody is giving them any hope.
Well budgielegs the one thing different this year the coaching situation has at least had a shake up and hopefully Flanagan can get some starch into the woeful defense. However, losing Widdop is a huge blow and I doubt De Belin will be found not guilty. If the coaches can get the best out of Norman and Hunt and the whole team lifts its attitude and doesn’t spit the dummy if De Belin loses, they could do fairly well, but at this stage I still think they’ll be a bottom 2 club again. Titans won’t be on the bottom, bulldogs are potential top 8 IMO, tigers will be better, Cowboys have picked up some good buys and could get Mitchell or Holmes, IMO Warriors and dragons will fight for the spoon. I hope I’m wrong, but it’ll take a quantum leap in performance and attitude and I’m not convinced that even if it happens it won’t only last half a season.
I agree with you Daffy 100%. With Widdop gone and the current De Belin situation which doesnโt look good I can also see the Dragons and Warriors fighting out the wooden spoon. The off season shake up has completely missed the plot because that useless clueless coach is still there, McGregor should have been the first one sacked.
Now I’m reading Lomax is meeting with Knights, another gun will leave next year for sure if he doesn’t lock down a permanent centre or fullback spot. McDudor will put him on the wing for sure.
@budgie – I understand where you are coming from in terms of the developmental signings & agree.
But I am also fully with butters – I can’t see any improvement with no change of Head Coach or signing of genuine First Grade Players..
If Clune plays out of his skin it still wont dislodge Norman or Hunt. The days of dropping these ‘marque’ players to Reserve Grade if someone is playing better are long gone. They have a First Grade spot locked up all year & they know it !!
If us supporters make enough noise in the right places and to the right people, we might just get something done. I am confident that Adam Clune will play first grade in 2020.