Dylan stars in Bears debut
DYLAN Phythian’s plans to catch the eye of Gold Coast Titans figureheads couldn’t have got off to a better start in his Intrust Super Cup debut for Burleigh.
Wearing the No.6 in the absence of Dallas Wells (leg), Phythian scored inside two minutes at Pizzey Park, though the Bears ultimately fell 28-24 to Norths to surrender the competition lead.
Phythian – pronounced “Fithian” – is upfront that the past two years have not been ideal for his three-game NRL career, with a pair of ACL injuries followed by a 12-match drug suspension that cost him his Newcastle contract.
Having served his time and secured a whirlwind move to Burleigh on the eve of the June 30 transfer deadline, the 22-year-old is glad to be headed into a new chapter.
“To get away and start fresh with a good bunch of blokes up here, it’s going to be good to put it all in the past and concentrate on footy here for the rest of the year,” he said.
Phythian makes no secret of the fact he wants a return to the top grade, potentially with Burleigh’s affiliate club the Titans.
“Yeah, that is a long-term dream obviously but for now it’s just me focusing on the Bears and getting a premiership here would be nice,” he said.
Phythian left the field in the 72nd minute with a minor leg issue but should be right to take his place against Redcliffe next Saturday.
Coach Jimmy Lenihan was happy with Phythian’s first impression.
“Obviously he is going to be a work in progress just with us – it’s hard to come into a new team and synch in straight away, certainly around the halves,” Lenihan said. “He did good.”
Brothers Dallas and Henare Wells (shoulder) could be back on deck soon; Sami Sauiluma is suspended for one more game; but many of their other big names are several weeks from returning including Jamal Fogarty, Blake Leary and Jamie Dowling. Once full-strength, it will be interesting to see where utility Phythian fits in, given even he isn’t sure what his best position is.
“The only position I haven’t played is prop,” he laughed.
“I do enjoy fullback and the halves but the last couple of weeks I have played in the middle too so I think once my fitness gets up I wouldn’t mind playing in there.”