bones
Bones Knows
Sea Eagles set to run the tape over forward
Matthew McInerney 10th January 2013 9:00 AM
Jarrad Day is training this week with NRL heavyweights Manly Sea Eagles in Sydney.
HE HAS been described as a man mountain, a gentle giant and a man with the world at his feet.
A gentleman with a great attitude that has impressed onlookers from an early age.
Physically dominant on the field while remaining grounded enough to be a smart, confident leader.
They are just some of the descriptions offered when local rugby league talent Jarrad Day comes up in conversation.
The 17-year-old forward is in Sydney this week after catching the eye of scouts from the Manly Sea Eagles earlier this year.
It's not the first time Day has appeared on a recruiter's radar.
Day's progress has been closely monitored for at least the last five years when he was first spotted by NRRRL development officer Michael Donnelly.
"We've been keeping an eye on him for the last few years," Donnelly said.
"He's a big lad with a lot of potential and it's great to see him get an opportunity with an NRL club."
Day has worn the colours of the Grafton Ghosts with pride since he was just five-years old.
Being the biggest player on the paddock has had its advantages along the way, as Day has dominated front-row opponents ever since.
"There's no doubting his size and ability that's for sure," Donnelly said.
"Jarrad's the sort of bloke you'd want to have on your side and not just because he's one of the bigger guys there.
"He's a very clean, fair player that'll always go the extra yard to help his teammates."
Day's never-say-die attitude was on show when he represented the Northern Rivers against a representative Samoan team in early December.
During the best-of-three game series, Day injured his knee but despite the trainers' best efforts, Day refused to leave the field for attention.
"We tried to get him to come off but he wanted to stay out there," Donnelly said.
"He ended up powering through it and would only come off when he was completely spent.
"Even then we used him in 10-minute bursts and he wouldn't come off until he was history."
While choosing to stay on the field while injured is usually frowned upon, Day's toughness is lauded as one of his greatest attributes.
"I think he was worried about letting his teammates down," Donnelly said.
"It also shows the type of player he is and it's probably what will separate him from the other kids training with him at Manly.
"The hot weather will suit him because while the others will get tired and throw the towel in he'll just keep powering on."
His toughness has been widely acknowledged, yet Donnelly said the 192cm, 100kg forward's real skill is his ability to find the gap.
"I keep talking about the game against Samoa but he did it all," Donnelly said.
"When the team was up against it and was struggling to make ground, Jarrad would pop up and make plenty of metres.
"A lot of players tend to line up an opposition player and go straight at them but Jarrad was one that could get through it."
Matthew McInerney 10th January 2013 9:00 AM
Jarrad Day is training this week with NRL heavyweights Manly Sea Eagles in Sydney.
HE HAS been described as a man mountain, a gentle giant and a man with the world at his feet.
A gentleman with a great attitude that has impressed onlookers from an early age.
Physically dominant on the field while remaining grounded enough to be a smart, confident leader.
They are just some of the descriptions offered when local rugby league talent Jarrad Day comes up in conversation.
The 17-year-old forward is in Sydney this week after catching the eye of scouts from the Manly Sea Eagles earlier this year.
It's not the first time Day has appeared on a recruiter's radar.
Day's progress has been closely monitored for at least the last five years when he was first spotted by NRRRL development officer Michael Donnelly.
"We've been keeping an eye on him for the last few years," Donnelly said.
"He's a big lad with a lot of potential and it's great to see him get an opportunity with an NRL club."
Day has worn the colours of the Grafton Ghosts with pride since he was just five-years old.
Being the biggest player on the paddock has had its advantages along the way, as Day has dominated front-row opponents ever since.
"There's no doubting his size and ability that's for sure," Donnelly said.
"Jarrad's the sort of bloke you'd want to have on your side and not just because he's one of the bigger guys there.
"He's a very clean, fair player that'll always go the extra yard to help his teammates."
Day's never-say-die attitude was on show when he represented the Northern Rivers against a representative Samoan team in early December.
During the best-of-three game series, Day injured his knee but despite the trainers' best efforts, Day refused to leave the field for attention.
"We tried to get him to come off but he wanted to stay out there," Donnelly said.
"He ended up powering through it and would only come off when he was completely spent.
"Even then we used him in 10-minute bursts and he wouldn't come off until he was history."
While choosing to stay on the field while injured is usually frowned upon, Day's toughness is lauded as one of his greatest attributes.
"I think he was worried about letting his teammates down," Donnelly said.
"It also shows the type of player he is and it's probably what will separate him from the other kids training with him at Manly.
"The hot weather will suit him because while the others will get tired and throw the towel in he'll just keep powering on."
His toughness has been widely acknowledged, yet Donnelly said the 192cm, 100kg forward's real skill is his ability to find the gap.
"I keep talking about the game against Samoa but he did it all," Donnelly said.
"When the team was up against it and was struggling to make ground, Jarrad would pop up and make plenty of metres.
"A lot of players tend to line up an opposition player and go straight at them but Jarrad was one that could get through it."