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JUST a few days after the defection of champion fullback Darius Boyd to Newcastle, St George Illawarra are on the verge of losing their most outstanding young prospect to Wayne Bennett at the Knights next season.
Teenage centre Alex McKinnon, who looked a potential star for the Dragons against Gold Coast on Friday night, is set to follow Boyd and Bennett to Newcastle.
The Dragons' supercoach last night confirmed Newcastle had been negotiating with McKinnon, who scored two tries against the Titans in a stunning first-grade debut.
"The fact he's looking to go to Newcastle next year has nothing to do with me," Bennett insisted when it was put to him that Dragons fans could get the impression he was stealing the club's best young prospect.
"The kid's from Scone and he came to St Gregory's a couple of years ago in grade seven. He's from up that way and he still goes home just about every weekend to see his girlfriend and his family.
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"I deliberately stayed right out of this one because I'm not going to stuff St George around, I guarantee you that. That's not my go.
"Even when our people at St George told me he wanted to go to Newcastle, I told them to deal with it themselves.
"If he wants to go back to Newcastle because that's where his family are, I'm not going to say that he can't go there.
"He's entitled to the right of playing where he wants to do. I'm not talking to the kid, I'm not talking to his manager, I'm not talking to anyone because I'm still employed by the Dragons."
St George Illawarra chief executive Peter Doust last night said there was never a suggestion Bennett would steal the club's best talent to try to win a premiership in Newcastle.
"I know Wayne very well and he's not that sort of person," Doust said.
"Because of his wonderful record and achievements in the game, it's only natural some players are going to want to follow him.
"Darius Boyd is the best example of that but in young McKinnon's case, he's keen to be closer to his family and the Knights' recruitment people have been talking to him for some time.
"I would still like to think that we are a chance of keeping him."
McKinnon played NSW under-18s last year and is regarded as one of the best young prospects in the NRL.
He has played most of his football as a lock or second-rower in Toyota Cup, but he played right centre on Friday night in Mark Gasnier's regular position.
He looked outstanding in a beaten side against the Titans.
He ran great angles and looked a threat whenever he touched the football. He was also strong in defence.
Teenage centre Alex McKinnon, who looked a potential star for the Dragons against Gold Coast on Friday night, is set to follow Boyd and Bennett to Newcastle.
The Dragons' supercoach last night confirmed Newcastle had been negotiating with McKinnon, who scored two tries against the Titans in a stunning first-grade debut.
"The fact he's looking to go to Newcastle next year has nothing to do with me," Bennett insisted when it was put to him that Dragons fans could get the impression he was stealing the club's best young prospect.
"The kid's from Scone and he came to St Gregory's a couple of years ago in grade seven. He's from up that way and he still goes home just about every weekend to see his girlfriend and his family.
Start of sidebar. Skip to end of sidebar.
End of sidebar. Return to start of sidebar.
"I deliberately stayed right out of this one because I'm not going to stuff St George around, I guarantee you that. That's not my go.
"Even when our people at St George told me he wanted to go to Newcastle, I told them to deal with it themselves.
"If he wants to go back to Newcastle because that's where his family are, I'm not going to say that he can't go there.
"He's entitled to the right of playing where he wants to do. I'm not talking to the kid, I'm not talking to his manager, I'm not talking to anyone because I'm still employed by the Dragons."
St George Illawarra chief executive Peter Doust last night said there was never a suggestion Bennett would steal the club's best talent to try to win a premiership in Newcastle.
"I know Wayne very well and he's not that sort of person," Doust said.
"Because of his wonderful record and achievements in the game, it's only natural some players are going to want to follow him.
"Darius Boyd is the best example of that but in young McKinnon's case, he's keen to be closer to his family and the Knights' recruitment people have been talking to him for some time.
"I would still like to think that we are a chance of keeping him."
McKinnon played NSW under-18s last year and is regarded as one of the best young prospects in the NRL.
He has played most of his football as a lock or second-rower in Toyota Cup, but he played right centre on Friday night in Mark Gasnier's regular position.
He looked outstanding in a beaten side against the Titans.
He ran great angles and looked a threat whenever he touched the football. He was also strong in defence.
LOL@StMERGE
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