Family photos...

[ism22]

Thought I'd share a family photo...

[Rooster1908]

Are you the old grey bald bloke with there back to us?

[Michael Jones]

SKD may get a job back at the Sydney Roosters - signed as Hull KR's Assistant Coach until 2026.

I am sure they can find him a role if he returns to Australia.

[Inflictor]

SKD may get a job back at the Sydney Roosters - signed as Hull KR's Assistant Coach until 2026.

I am sure they can find him a role if he returns to Australia.

Our ball control assistant.
Do as I say not as I do.

FFS

[bondi.boy]

Our ball control assistant.
Do as I say not as I do.

FFS

He was magic in the 2013 GF.

[JAF]

He was magic in the 2013 GF.

Also played most of the game with a broken jaw ... LEGEND!

[theGman]

Our ball control assistant.
Do as I say not as I do.

FFS

Rocks and diamonds type of player.

Was it him who threw that long ball on the kick return in a major semi against the Broncos which lead to them scoring?
Heart in mouth moment.

[horrie hastings]

Rocks and diamonds type of player.

Was it him who threw that long ball on the kick return in a major semi against the Broncos which lead to them scoring?
Heart in mouth moment.

Yes rocks and diamonds, the above example as you mentioned and also earlier that year when we had Souths on the ropes, he dropped a simple ball over the line which would have put Easts up by a good score but then Souths came back and we paid for that dropped ball.
Then there are the diamonds, the Grand Final try while playing with the broken jaw and the intercept try against the Tigers in the 2010 qualifying final in extra time to win us the match.
Could be absolutely frustrating one game and be a match winner the next.

[theGman]

Yes rocks and diamonds, the above example as you mentioned and also earlier that year when we had Souths on the ropes, he dropped a simple ball over the line which would have put Easts up by a good score but then Souths came back and we paid for that dropped ball.
Then there are the diamonds, the Grand Final try while playing with the broken jaw and the intercept try against the Tigers in the 2010 qualifying final in extra time to win us the match.
Could be absolutely frustrating one game and be a match winner the next.

Thanks HH.
Those moments are etched into my mind forever.
Toops early on in his career was heart in mouth stuff also. He had this habit of trying to offload early on in the tackle count.

[bondi.boy]

last night I googled him to see what he is and how he is now.
Up came a topless photo of him, looked like Maori tattooed body...and in his arms a beautiful baby girl Kaia.
Family photo so lovely.
Photo date Aug 2024.

[ism22]

Our ball control assistant.
Do as I say not as I do.

FFS

So like throw mad cutout passes... not 'cutout passes' that cut out your teammates and instead go to Darius Boyd for a full length try, making the biggest flog ever look like a hero?

Gawd I wish I was Darius Boyd. Luckiest nothing player ever!!!

[bondi.boy]

Now ...we have a team *full* of rocks and diamonds players.
"errors-central" if you like.

They play well for the first 10-15 minutes of matches, then the mistakes start.
SKD had nothing on the current lot.

[Inflictor]

We may take the piss out SKD but he is much loved.

Spent a couple of years at the Knights before retiring from the NRL.

Did the lap of retirees at the 2019 GF in his Roosters tie from memory and got a massive cheer from all the chook supporters there.

224 games and 121 tries and 625 dropped balls. Gotta love the bloke.

FFS

[Michael Jones]

SKD was an Arthur Beetson signing as was Jake Friend back in the day. The Warriors told SKD he wasn't even in the top 100 prospects. Was very close to becoming a Panther if not for his name being spelt incorrectly.

I think SKD would qualify as a Roosters Junior.

No sure how many Kids would come home and say Dad I want to go Australia to chase a dream of possibly playing top level sport let alone their parents and sibling going with them to virtually start from scratch in a new country.

Rejected by Warriors, one-way ticket to Australia and naming mix-up

Shaun Kenny-Dowall was 15 when he was cut by the Warriors.

He wasn't in their plans.

Too small, underdeveloped and not even rated in their top 100 prospects.

Despite making junior representative teams, as well as the three-hour round trip from Hamilton to Auckland to train with the Warriors' development squad three-times a week, the outside back was axed.

"That was my dream at the time, to play for the Warriors and the Kiwis and it all came crashing down," Kenny-Dowall told the Our Town Our Team podcast.

"I was going there for a couple of months (to Warriors junior development training) and they sort of cut me from the squad.

"It was pretty tough. I was training for a couple of months and they were watching my development and the way I was training, my physical attributes and they sort of said; 'we don't think you're developed enough for your age in New Zealand compared to other players your size and age'. They said, 'we're going to let you go' and that was that.

"I was really disappointed. It was shattering at that age. In New Zealand there's only one league team and that's all I really wanted to do."

It was the rejection that prompted a massive decision.

It was life changing.

"There was a big accommodation board at the information center," he explained.

"I remember seeing Coogee backpackers had a free shuttle.

"We were pretty tight on money, so we jumped on the free shuttle.

"We were probably there for about two months."

Having signed up to play for the Clovelly Dolphins, Kenny-Dowall was living life on a budget and working hard.

Sleeping on bunk beds, using communal showers and on a diet of cheap burgers, eggs and baked beans, Kenny-Dowall was doing what he had to in order to survive.

From flipping burger at Hungry Jacks to an assistant as a jewellery maker, the New Zealand international was digging in to help his family save up to rent a house.

"It wasn't my parents intention to move over," he explained.

"My dad initially followed us over to make sure we were set up and he got to Sydney and realised how amazing the eastern suburbs were.

"He decided pretty early on he was going to go home and try and convince my mum and little sister to move over. They moved over a couple of months later.

"I was really fortunate. To have that close-knit bond of family and support really helped my case to push on to bigger things."

Playing park football with the Crocodiles, the junior club had an affiliation with the Sydney Roosters.

It was through this link that the door opened for Kenny-Dowall to join the Tricolours.

We were allowed to go and train at the Roosters gym," he said.

"From 4pm we could go and train in their gym for free. We were 16 and we'd see all the first graders there in the gym.

"That's how I first started. We got associated with the SG Ball coaches."

But while he was on the Roosters' radar, Penrith also got a sniff.

In fact, he'd agreed to join the Panthers but a mistake with the name on his paperwork, coupled with compassion, saw him back out of the deal.

"I'd pretty much signed with Penrith. I think I did,"

"I stopped going to the Roosters gym, obviously, and they enquired to Clovelly, where's Shaun?

"I think there was a mix up with my name because I registered with my passport, it says Shaun Kenny but I was saying Shaun Kenny-Dowall. They got the names mixed up, so they never pursued me.

"It was a mix up and they said; 'we're really interested, we're going to offer you a contract' and because my parents had moved over and settled in Coogee, I ended up getting out (of the Panthers deal) on compassionate grounds."

[Bates]

There was an element of heart in mouth every time Billy Smith touched the ball at the back end of the season.

Not good for ones blood pressure.