A tumultuous week in Wollongong has led to significant changes within the Dragons, as Kade Reed prepares to make his NRL debut this Saturday in the halves.
In a pivotal move, Reed will take the place of Kyle Flanagan, marking one of the first decisive actions by interim coach Dean Young following Shane Flanagan's departure.
Dragons captain Clint Gutherson addressed the recent developments on Wednesday, reflecting on Flanagan's exit as head coach and the implications of his son's benching, emphasizing the need for unity among the players during these challenging times.
Reed is ready to embrace this significant opportunity, which has arrived sooner than anticipated. However, he insists he has been preparing for this moment for quite a while.
"It's been fine," Reed stated regarding his dynamic with Kyle Flanagan.
"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, and nothing's changed between Kyle and me. We've always had a good relationship, and we still do."
"I obviously had a goal coming into this year that I wanted to play in the NRL."
"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."