Right from the outset in 2020, Cody Ramsey was one of many young stars who took the rugby league world by storm at the NRL Nines in Perth as he helped the Dragons to a Grand Final berth against the North Queensland Cowboys. The Orange product was deservedly named in the Team of the Tournament.
The 20-year-old Ramsey came through the St George Illawarra junior representative system among the club’s most promising crop of talent in recent memory, including Jayden Sullivan, Aaron Schoupp and Feagai twins Max and Matthew. Each of them were members of the successful Steelers’ side who defeated Manly-Warringah 34-23 in the 2019 UNE SG Ball Cup Grand Final.
Throughout that season Ramsey scored or had a hand in countless four-pointers from almost anywhere on the park, whether it was a dangerous kick return in broken field, support play through the middle-third, blinding speed in open space or a diving finish in the corner.
Ramsey went on to play the rest of 2019 in St George Illawarra’s Jersey Flegg Cup side and 18 tries later was named the Under-20s Player of the Year for the Red V. By the end of the season Ramsey had proved he was capable of making it in the NRL as the opportunity came to train with Paul McGregor’s top squad.
Just like Ramsey’s beginning to the 2020 season, his debut NRL game in Round 18 at WIN Stadium against Canberra couldn’t have started any better. The rookie winger caught the ball out wide within metres from the line for the first touch of his career before manoeuvring around his opposite number to score the opening try of the match, all in front of his friends and family in attendance.
The Dubbo CYMS junior will now enter the next season with three first grade games under his belt and can lock in an outside back spot at the Dragons after Jason Saab and Euan Aitken left the club at the end of 2020.
St George Illawarra fans can certainly look forward to bigger and better things for Ramsey as he looks gain more NRL experience in 2021.
