The Dragons are pleased to announce that promising teenager Cyrus Stanley-Traill has inked a four-year deal with the club.
The deal will see the 17-year-old begin training with the top squad in 2025 before being upgraded to a development deal in 2026 and earning a spot in the NRL squad in 2027.
Stanley-Traill has been named in the Dragons' SG Ball Cup squad for the upcoming season.
Having played his first football with Hurstville United, Stanley-Traill is "very stoked" to have signed the deal.
"I'm very stoked to sign with the Dragons," Stanley-Traill said.
"I started here as junior, so I'm pretty excited to be joining them for the next four years... I've loved the coaching staff and the help and support that they've given me for the past few years. I've really seen what being a Dragon is all about, just being on time to training and the attitude that they bring to the sessions and the energy. I've really absorbed all of that stuff and really developed my confidence as a player."
I've really seen what being a Dragon is all about, just being on time to training and the attitude that they bring to the sessions and the energy. I've really absorbed all of that stuff and really developed my confidence as a player.
Alongside his coaches, Stanley-Traill heaped praise on his family members for the role that they have played in getting him to this point in his rugby league journey.
"I have to shoutout my parents for the sacrifices that they've made for me. Also, my grandparents, just raising me as a kid. I give it all back to them, especially my grandfather," he said.
"To Kyle [Stanley]; he's my uncle and he's done so much for me as well."
Since linking up with the Dragons pathways system in 2021 after several years under the Bulldogs system, Stanley-Traill has built strong relationships with many of his teammates; a number of which are currently undergoing preseason training with the NRL squad.
The Endeavour Sports High School product was on hand at the squad's training session at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium last week, where he drew inspiration from some of his teammates.
"I've played with a few boys in representatives. I've played with Kade Reed, Loko Tonga, Finau Latu, Hayden Buchanan, Corey Ackers," he said.
"I'm happy for them, you know. It's what you want to see: your friends striving for the best. Just watching today has gotten me ready. I'm thinking, 'I'm ready to do this'."
Dragons Recruitment Director Ian Millward is very pleased with the progress Stanley-Traill has shown and says that the decision to reward him with a four-year deal was an indication of that.
"He's a player that's continued to evolve and shown huge potential - that's why the four-year deal is there," Millward said.
"There were other clubs in the race for him... He's very raw-boned, but we think he's got a really strong character and he's got some great attributes that will turn him into a high-class player.
"Unfortunately, he got an injury on the eve of the Australian Schoolboys Championships this year. He would've made it; he was pretty gutted by that... He's got a great frame, plenty of growth left in him. All his key indicators, at the moment through our high performance, are being hit. We wanted to reward him. He's just one of a lot of forwards we've got coming through at the moment that we're really excited about."
