It was 2012 and a six-year-old Kade Reed found himself alongside young men fighting to realise their rugby league dream in his role as ballboy for the Illawarra Cutters.
One of those young men was a zippy 20-year-old from Helensburgh by the name of Damien Cook.
The two now find themselves alongside one another once more slogging through the summer heat as a part of the Dragons NRL squad’s preseason training block in what has proven a full circle moment for the local duo.
With his two older brothers handy footballers in their own right and his father involved with the Illawarra’s junior committee, Reed – a self-proclaimed “footy head” – had his path laid out for him when he first ran out for the Western Suburbs Red Devils as a four-year-old.
Fast forward to the back end of 2023 and a 17-year-old Reed learnt that he’d be stepping up into an NRL preseason with his childhood club for the first time – a key milestone for the diminutive halfback.
“Footy was everything we’ve ever done, so I was just born into it,” Reed said.
“I’ve always been a massive footy fan, a massive Dragons fan… Being alongside first graders when I was 17 literally still going to school once or twice a week was pretty nerve-wracking but it was pretty cool.
"Kyle’s (Flanagan) been pretty been good for me. He’s really helped and Jacob Liddle as well. I’ve always been a Dragons supporter and coming to WIN Stadium and watching them. Now, I’m here training with them and going to get coffees with them which is pretty cool.”
Reed is one of several of the crop of rookies to have progressed through the club’s pathways system with the Steelers.
His first taste of the system came in his early teenage years with the club’s junior academy before he spent two seasons playing Harold Matthews Cup and made the leap up to SG Ball this past year.
“It was a good year but I think I had two injuries there during the season and the team had a lot too,” he said.
“We had maybe 10 go down. I think we probably could have gone a little bit deeper, but it’s hard to say. It was a good year for me personally, but it was just a bit disrupted with the injuries.”
After the Steelers’ SG Ball season ended in week one of the postseason, Reed went back to play with Wests’ first grade outfit in the Illawarra’s Harrigan Premiership.
2024 Player Highlights: Kade Reed
Despite turning just 18 in March and nursing several injuries, Reed grew into an integral member of Wests’ squad – which featured former NRL players Tautau Moga, George Jennings, and Dane Chisholm – in their run towards the Illawarra premiership.
The teenager’s ability to not only perform alongside grown men but excel is a testament to his toughness and captures the footballing aptitude he possesses.
“It’s pretty tough when you’re only young. It’s definitely different,” he said.
“The physicality is just a different level because they’re men. We had a lot of ex-NRL players and Thirroul had a couple ex-NRL players as well. It was nice to end the season with a good win though.”
Since then, the Dragons coaching staff have put him and his teammates through their paces over the past month and a half but Reed maintains that the body is in strong condition heading into Christmas.
“I’m feeling fit. The body’s a bit sore and tired but it’s definitely feeling good. No proper injuries, just soreness,” he said.
“[The recruits] have been awesome. Just the experience they bring. Obviously, they’ve all played 200-plus games, played Origin, played for Australia, so it's pretty cool. I’ve watched them for nearly my whole life… We have got an awesome coaching staff too. They’re all very experienced and know what it takes to win and to be the best.”
2025 looms as a key year for Reed as he looks to make the leap up to Jersey Flegg and beyond after he completes his second season of SG Ball with Illawarra.
“We should have a pretty strong SG Ball team again, so hopefully we go deep. I just want to play good, consistent footy and stay injury-free,” he said.
“After SG Ball, hopefully go to Flegg and just see what happens from there… There is a good opportunity at the moment. I’m still a bit away, but I think it’s definitely a good opportunity for me.”
