Banned Knight is back Bears offer a lifeline
BURLEIGH have handed former Newcastle NRL player Dylan Phythian a lifeline and are set to rush him into their Intrust Super Cup lineup this weekend.
Phythian was a highly regarded prospect but has just three top grade games to his name following two seasonending ACL injuries and then being cut by the Knights after a second illicit drugs strike that triggered an automatic 12-match ban.
The 22-year-old only returned to the field late last month for his junior club Lakes United before an opportunity with Burleigh suddenly arose.
The Bears were tipped off last week by former player turned Knights cult hero Nathan Ross.
The club subsequently sought a character reference from Newcastle coach Nathan Brown and got the green light – that Phythian was a good kid who had simply made mistakes.
By late Friday night – a day before the June 30 deadline – Phythian was flying into the Gold Coast.
He ran out for Burleigh’s Rugby League Gold Coast Agrade side on Sunday, scoring a try in an impressive 60minute stint at lock.
More commonly a fullback, hooker or half, he is likely to make his ISC debut on Saturday against Norths.
The timing could not be better given Burleigh may have three more additions to their swelling unavailability list with Jesse Savage (neck) to miss four weeks, Sami Sauiluma facing a two-game suspension for dangerous contact and a call to be made later in the week on Dallas Wells (leg).
“At the moment he could probably play anywhere from fullback to lock,” Lenihan said of Phythian.
“If Dallas is out, he might jump in the halves.
“If Dallas is OK, he probably will jump on the bench.
“He is certainly a welcome addition. At this point in the season, we are probably lucky to get him.
“He is someone who has played a little bit of first grade – we’re not bringing blokes here at this time of the year not to play Cup for us.”
Burleigh also gave a lifeline to Savage, who was embroiled in a drug saga at Cronulla last year.