Kade Reed describes it as “just another game for me”.
Despite it being his NRL debut, with the No.7 on his back, in the biggest club game of the year, after replacing the son of the coach who just parted ways with the club.
And yet, the new St George Illawarra halfback has no qualms about stepping up and leading a winless side around the park against the Roosters on Anzac Day in front of a full house at Allianz Stadium.
“I obviously had a goal coming into this year that I wanted to play NRL,” Reed said. “Whether that was early or late, it didn’t bother me.
“I wanted to make sure that when I was called upon I was ready. I’m ready.”
There are baptisms of fire, and then there is Reed’s NRL debut.
His height and weight aren’t currently listed on his NRL profile page, but after meeting him in the flesh, it’s obvious he’ll be giving away plenty to every other player on the field.
And not only will he be playing in one of the biggest club games of the year, but Reed will have to deal with the likes of the Roosters’ representative back-rower Angus Crichton constantly running at him. But the 20-year-old is – on the surface at least – unfazed.
“I think tackling [teammates] Looch [Luciano Leilua] and [Jaydn] Su’A every day for the last two years has definitely helped,” he said.
“In a way, it doesn’t get a lot harder than those two, doing that every day. I think that’s definitely been a big thing.”
Reed’s debut is the first big selection call for interim coach Dean Young. After taking over the job from Shane Flanagan, his first act was to demote Flanagan’s son, Kyle, to the bench. Given the axing – and the number of halfbacks the club has released in recent years – it has made the Dragons No.7 jersey one of the most scrutinised of all. Not that Reed is perturbed.
“To be honest, it hasn’t felt like that,” he said. “I haven’t felt all that external pressure.
“The boys have just been so confident in me and Dean’s so confident in me, so that just takes away all that pressure and just releases it.
“They just want me to go out and play my game, so it doesn’t bother me.”
That’s what he did when impressing during a pre-season trial against Newcastle, and again at the club’s new headquarters at Fairy Meadow on Wednesday. During the opposed session, the club’s SG Ball captain spotted a gap, grubbered in behind the line and regathered to score.
“[Young] just wants me to play my game,” Reed said.
“My natural game is being on the ball and getting the boys around, so he just wants me to do what I’ve been doing in [NSW] Cup. He has really given me the opportunity to do that and has let the boys around me help me with that … Just another game to me.”
As for taking Kyle Flanagan’s spot, Reed insists there have been no hard feelings.′
“It’s been fine,” he said. “Kyle’s always been really good to me and still is. He’s obviously disappointed, but he’s happy for me at the same time.
“Nothing’s changed between me and Kyle, we’ve always had a good relationship, and we still do.”
Forward Ryan Couchman, returning after serving a four-game suspension for a hip-drop tackle on Eels forward J’maine Hopgood, will start for the Red V for the first time alongside twin brother Toby. Asked if he will be playing a bodyguard role for Reed, Ryan Couchman said: “You’ll have to find out. I’m not sure. I’ll try my best. That’s the plan.”
Other teammates are adamant Reed will handle the big occasion.
“He’s got a massive future,” co-captain Clint Gutherson said. “What better time to come in than the Anzac game against the Roosters. It will be something he will remember forever.
“We’ve got to get around him and support him. Obviously it’s a big decision, but we have full faith in Reedy going out there and getting the job done and leading us around.”
So stunning is Reed’s rise that he was once a ballboy for an Illawarra Cutters team that included current teammate Damien Cook.
“It’ll be pretty special to run out there with him, knowing I used to ballboy,” Reed said. “It’ll be pretty surreal.”
