An outstanding pre-season has seen local junior Kurt Dillon rewarded with a full-time Sharks contract for the 2017 season.
Dillon, who played with the Sharks Intrust Super Premiership partners the Newtown Jets over the past two seasons, has trained with the NRL squad since November last year and has impressed Sharks coach Shane Flanagan with his attitude and effort at the next level.
“Kurt is a 22-year-old front rower who never gave up,” Flanagan said. “After playing for Newtown last year we brought him in for our NRL pre-season and he has trained very well. He is deserving of a chance and the full time contract is a good reward for him.”
After coming through the junior rep and NYC ranks at the Sharks Dillon’s rugby league then went ‘part time’ as he completed a green keeping apprenticeship with Green Options, the company contracted to look after not only Southern Cross Group Stadium but also a number of high quality sporting facilities around the country.
While tending to fields and manicuring the grass during the day, Dillon trained with the Jets of an evening and obviously made an impression on the right people playing in the Intrust Super Premiership of a weekend, culminating in the opportunity to train fulltime with the 2016 NRL premiers.
Tough and fit, now with the opportunity to focus on his rugby league career, Dillon is looking forward to taking his game to the next level.
"It is a great opportunity to be joining the club at such an important time in their history,” Dillon told MAP Sports in a recent interview. “The boys had a tremendous 2016 and will be doing everything in their power to be the first team to go back to back with an NRL premiership.
“I am just stoked to be involved, and being exposed to this level will hopefully be the catalyst for me taking the next step with my rugby league."
Dillon played strongly in the Sharks recent NRL trial match against the Broncos in Brisbane and adds depth to the Sharks squad in the front row position.
