Sharks Jersey Flegg lock Tom Dellow is still pinching himself after pulling on a Blues jersey in the U19 State of Origin.
The young lock was Cronulla's 2024 Junior Rep Player of the Year, the Australian Schoolboys captain last year, and was recently a member of Josh Jackson’s U19 New South Wales side, a team full of the Blues’ best and brightest young guns.
“It was disappointing with the result on the night, but I loved it,” Dellow said of a game in which his NSW side went down to Queensland 28-14.
“The experience was once in a lifetime, especially with a great group of boys around us. We all got along really well, and it was an unreal week.”
Dellow and his NSW 19’s teammates also embraced the chance to train against the senior Blues’ Origin side in the lead-up.
“It didn’t feel real. Like you see Nathan Cleary, Payne Haas, all the icons of the game and then training against them. It was pretty cool. I think they put a few good shots on us, and particularly me,” Dellow laughed.
The local junior is a product of the Endeavour Sports High School program and has been a captain throughout the Cronulla juniors, now this year, the lifelong Sharks fan is living his dream and training with Craig Fitzgibbon’s top squad.
“I’ve learnt so much, and I keep learning every day. All the big boys have been really good to me as well. Everyone’s saying hi, everyone’s talking to you. I think that’s why people always say there’s such a good culture here, because there is. I can say it first-hand now.”
Sharks Development & Pathways Manager Glenn Brailey has seen Dellow grow through the grades and is a big fan.
“He’s a good kid. He comes from a great family, and he’s a local junior from the Como Crocs. We’re really proud of him and his progression and look forward to helping him and seeing him flourish in the future,” Brailey said.
Another nine young Cronulla pathways players will represent either NSW Combined High Schools (CHS) or NSW Combined Independent Schools (CIS) in under 18’s and under 16’s teams in the upcoming ASSRL national carnival, which will take place from July 4-11.
