Fletcher Rooney and 17 year olds in first grade

[NRLandSL]

If a kid is debuting at 17 odds are they are probably going to be special.

Very Few players Debut at 17 and the few that have in recent years have done great things. Jack Welsby and Joseph Suaalii both debuted at 17 and are already some of the best on the planet. The Other guy I have seen debut at 17 is Jack Sinfield who is already looking a great young half. I may forgetting a few others but odds are if your debuting that young you are likely going to do great things.

In the last SL game of the season Castleford debuted Fletcher Rooney, a young Full back, and I have only just discovered he is only 17. I didn’t get to watch the game but I heard he had a very good game under tough circumstances.

I thought I’d make this thread just in case he turns out to be a superstar. Also if there are any Castleford fans who know more about him and have watched him play in reserve/youth games, I would be very keen to hear about him. Any information would be much appreciated. It’s a pretty rare phenomenon and I’m sure he’s destined for great things.

Edit- Also worth Mentioning Jason Taumalolo who was the last 17 old to debut in the NRL before the rule change, who of course is now an all time great.

Edited December 21, 2023 by NRLandSL

[NRLandSL]

Also I wonder how many 16 year olds have played pro rugby league this century. Of course Famously Jordan Rankin and I know that Jake Bradley for Whitehaven Debuted at 16 aswell, but I wonder if there is any others. 

[Nate90]

34 minutes ago, NRLandSL said:

Also I wonder how many 16 year olds have played pro rugby league this century. Of course Famously Jordan Rankin and I know that Jake Bradley for Whitehaven Debuted at 16 aswell, but I wonder if there is any others. 

Scott Moore perhaps?

[NRLandSL]

19 minutes ago, Nate90 said:

Scott Moore perhaps?

Yeah wow, he debuted only a few months after his 16 birthday aswell, crazy.

[sentoffagain2]

    John Bateman was only 17 when he made his SL debut against Catalan.

[NRLandSL]

6 minutes ago, sentoffagain2 said:

    John Bateman was only 17 when he made his SL debut against Catalan.

there you go, Bateman, Welsby, Suaalii, Taumalolo. All some of the best players on the planet, if Rooney is even a fraction as good those guys he will be fantastic.

[barnyia]

Was faz not 16 when he debuted? Lucas Albert? 

[M j M]

Sinfield (Kevin) was 16 when he made his Leeds debut in 1997.

[jacksy]

Richard Horne was 16

[graveyard johnny]

Sualli? over rated hyped up garbage - good riddance to ARU

Jeff Grayshon was 12 when he debuted from t bench for Dewsbury

it were foggy so coach said "gerr on big lad nubdy el notice thas sneaked on "

he had already done his paper round and milk round int morning on foot in bare feet but that didnt stop him making 84 tackles in last 20mins 

when he got home his mother belted him round ear ole for coming home wi muddy knees and made him wash all team kit with a toothbrush (no bristles mind)

things were certainly different in them days- try telling yung uns today  that today though - sualli my arze

[Agbrigg]

I think a certain Jamie Rooney also made his debut at a very young age for Fev, Anyone know if they are related

[Alffi 7]

Think Warrington wise Currie and Thewlis debuted at 17, for balance Warren Stevens also made his debut at 17 and didn’t quite have the same impact!

[Agbrigg]

Dont know if it was his debut, but Kevin Brown made an early first team apperance on Sky. He only looked about 12yrs and Stevo gave him a watch

[Industria ditat]

Steve McCurrie made his debut for Widnes when he was 16

[EastLondonMike]

Didn’t Andrew Ettingshausen make his debut at 16? He was still at school, I remember that.

[Pulga]

Israel Folau debuted at 17.

[EastLondonMike]

One from History, Harold Wagstaff debuted at 15. But not the youngest to debut, according to Wiki - Harold Edmundson being the youngest, also 15.

[The Phantom Horseman]

There's a history of 17-year-olds playing in the Challenge Cup Final. Fev had two in 1983 (Alan Banks & Paul Lyman), and Andy Farrell, Shaun Edwards and Francis Cummins all did so too.

[welshmagpie]

22 hours ago, barnyia said:

Was faz not 16 when he debuted? Lucas Albert? 

Why didn’t Lucas quite hit the promised heights in your opinion mate? 

[HullWire]

John Duffy at Warrington was 16 when he debuted

[barnyia]

2 hours ago, welshmagpie said:

Why didn’t Lucas quite hit the promised heights in your opinion mate? 

Too much too young maybe,  lots of coach changes, bad influences, not given enough game time, one bad game and you're back as third/fourth choice. Not moving to a UK club when he had the chance as he didn't want to. 

Cesar Rougé is going through the same thing now, as did morgue, the French players seem to come second to more experienced overseas halves, which is understandable in a title chasing team, 

Lucas is finding is confidence again at carcassonne, 

[Lowdesert]

On 21/12/2023 at 15:41, jacksy said:

Richard Horne was 16

Think it was the day before his 17th birthday mate!

[BroncoFan]

Harry Newman I think played on the wing v Wigan at 17.

[daz39]

Off the top of my head the Senior twins and Mike Lawrence made their debuts for Fartown at 17, Possibly Jake Connor too.

[Gates1]

Craig Huby was a month or so after his 17th birthday when he made his SL debut for Cas at prop.

Jason QuareQuare debuted at 17, blazing away for a distance try with his first touch.

Edited December 22, 2023 by Gates1