![\"Adrian](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/4ab4a6c753559951c26e831e823d71d29090f818.png\")
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April 22, 2026 \u2014 2:11pm<\/p>\n
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Remove items from your saved list<\/a> to add more.<\/p>\n Save this article for later<\/p>\n Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime.<\/p>\n Got it<\/p>\n AAA<\/p>\n Kade Reed describes it as \u201cjust another game for me\u201d.<\/p>\n Despite it being his NRL debut, with the No.7 on his back, in the biggest club game of the year, after replacing the son of the coach who just parted ways with the club.<\/p>\n And yet, the new St George Illawarra halfback has no qualms about stepping up and leading a winless side around the park against the Roosters on Anzac Day in front of a full house at Allianz Stadium.<\/p>\n \u201cI obviously had a goal coming into this year that I wanted to play NRL,\u201d Reed said. \u201cWhether that was early or late, it didn\u2019t bother me.<\/p>\n \u201cI wanted to make sure that when I was called upon I was ready. I\u2019m ready.\u201d<\/p>\n There are baptisms of fire, and then there is Reed\u2019s NRL debut.<\/p>\n His height and weight aren\u2019t currently listed on his NRL profile page, but after meeting him in the flesh, it\u2019s obvious he\u2019ll be giving away plenty to every other player on the field.<\/p>\n And not only will he be playing in one of the biggest club games of the year, but Reed will have to deal with the likes of the Roosters\u2019 representative back-rower Angus Crichton constantly running at him. But the 20-year-old is \u2013 on the surface at least \u2013 unfazed.<\/p>\n \u201cI think tackling [teammates] Looch [Luciano Leilua] and [Jaydn] Su\u2019A every day for the last two years has definitely helped,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cIn a way, it doesn\u2019t get a lot harder than those two, doing that every day. I think that\u2019s definitely been a big thing.\u201d<\/p>\n Reed\u2019s debut is the first big selection call for interim coach Dean Young. After taking over the job from Shane Flanagan, his first act was to demote Flanagan\u2019s son, Kyle, to the bench. Given the axing \u2013 and the number of halfbacks the club has released in recent years \u2013 it has made the Dragons No.7 jersey one of the most scrutinised of all. Not that Reed is perturbed.<\/p>\n \u201cTo be honest, it hasn\u2019t felt like that,\u201d he said. \u201cI haven\u2019t felt all that external pressure.<\/p>\n \u201cThe boys have just been so confident in me and Dean\u2019s so confident in me, so that just takes away all that pressure and just releases it.<\/p>\n \u201cThey just want me to go out and play my game, so it doesn\u2019t bother me.\u201d<\/p>\n That\u2019s what he did when impressing during a pre-season trial against Newcastle, and again at the club\u2019s new headquarters at Fairy Meadow on Wednesday. During the opposed session, the club\u2019s SG Ball captain spotted a gap, grubbered in behind the line and regathered to score.<\/p>\n \u201c[Young] just wants me to play my game,\u201d Reed said.<\/p>\n \u201cMy natural game is being on the ball and getting the boys around, so he just wants me to do what I\u2019ve been doing in [NSW] Cup. He has really given me the opportunity to do that and has let the boys around me help me with that … Just another game to me.\u201d<\/p>\n As for taking Kyle Flanagan\u2019s spot, Reed insists there have been no hard feelings.\u2032<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s been fine,\u201d he said. \u201cKyle\u2019s always been really good to me and still is. He\u2019s obviously disappointed, but he\u2019s happy for me at the same time.<\/p>\n \u201cNothing\u2019s changed between me and Kyle, we\u2019ve always had a good relationship, and we still do.\u201d<\/p>\n Forward Ryan Couchman, returning after serving a four-game suspension for a hip-drop tackle on Eels forward J\u2019maine Hopgood, will start for the Red V for the first time alongside twin brother Toby. Asked if he will be playing a bodyguard role for Reed, Ryan Couchman said: \u201cYou\u2019ll have to find out. I\u2019m not sure. I\u2019ll try my best. That\u2019s the plan.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"Kade](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/181ee386ea995b4fc71c7ad34f5bf8fa0e7b7132.jpeg\")
Kade Reed (left) will be giving away plenty of size in his NRL debut.NRL Photos<\/p>\n![\"Kade](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/5332d38091df5387ae34ea1dd27dd7b980a90cf5.jpeg\")
Kade Reed and Dean Young at training on Wednesday.AAP<\/p>\n![\"Kade](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/2ee50e258448e30c999d0b71ce604f08c3430aff.jpeg\")
Kade Reed produced a standout performance against Newcastle in the pre-season.NRL Photos<\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/db7028ddc980721f8f148b21065593dd0822cbdf.jpeg\")
The Dragons at training on Wednesday.AAP<\/p>\n
![\"Kyle](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/65ae2b15c53ef97729ebbf89fc7cb61064ed396d.jpeg\")
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