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Tyrell Sloan is making a case for NRL players remaining eligible for the Koori Knockout at a time when critics are using him as a case against it.<\/p>\n
\u201cBro, we don\u2019t do it for the footy, we do it for our community. That\u2019s what I want everyone to know,\u201d Sloan said. \u201cIt\u2019s not about the footy at the end of the day. It\u2019s about my mob getting together, that\u2019s the biggest corroboree.<\/p>\n
\u201cEveryone comes together from 10 to 12 hours away. Those little kids, we get to put a smile on their face. At the end of the day, that\u2019s what it\u2019s about.\u201d<\/p>\n
One person who wasn\u2019t smiling after the 51st and latest edition of the Koori Knockout was Shane Flanagan. The new St George Illawarra coach had a detailed pre-season program to transform Sloan into the hardened fullback the club needs him to be for the 2024 season.<\/p>\n
Those plans went awry when Sloan injured his ankle at Tuggerah\u2019s Central Coast Regional Sporting Complex two months ago. It wasn\u2019t the only mishap from the Koori Knockout.<\/p>\n
Josh Addo-Carr became embroiled in a fight that ultimately cost him a Kangaroos jersey.<\/p>\n
Despite NRL players being targets of rough play, Sloan believes they should be allowed to continue to participate in the event next year.<\/p>\n
\u201cDefinitely. I know there\u2019s a risk and reward, and I\u2019m first-hand [proof] \u2013 I\u2019m injured from the knockout,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Tyrell Sloan says NRL players should be allowed to participate in the Koori Knockout, despite the Dragons fullback being injured in the recent event.<\/span>Credit: <\/span>Janie Barrett<\/cite><\/p>\n \u201cYeah, I\u2019m frustrated by it, but I do have a lot of time until round one comes, and it could have been a worse injury, it could have been a less injury.<\/p>\n \u201cBut at the end of the day, my focus is putting a smile on those kids\u2019 faces and making sure that I leave a good impression on them.<\/p>\n \u201cAs I said, it\u2019s not always about the footy, it\u2019s about the next generation coming through.<\/p>\n \u201cHow it\u2019s set up right now is amazing. There\u2019s over 64 men\u2019s teams, there\u2019s a lot of kids teams, a lot of women\u2019s teams and there is a lot of care there.<\/p>\n \u201cPeople just think it\u2019s black fellas, turning up and playing footy and getting their head bashed in.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s a lot of doctors there. I went and saw the physios there straight after I did my ankle and it\u2019s set up how an NRL carnival will be set up. It\u2019s nothing different.<\/p>\n \u201cThe footy is a lot tougher. I\u2019ll tell you that from experience, you get your head taken off. But it\u2019s fun. You get that contact that you don\u2019t usually get. The refs are a bit more lenient.<\/p>\n \u201cThe game\u2019s changed and I like playing knockout footy because it is tougher. I just keep coming back to those kids, man, it\u2019s just all about them.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s not always about the footy, it\u2019s about the next generation coming through.\u201d<\/p>\n Sloan is at a crossroads. Through the course of his 36 NRL appearances, the 21-year-old has shown enough potential to warrant a call-up to the Prime Minister\u2019s XIII side that beat Papua New Guinea in September. However, the Dapto Canaries junior has also struggled for consistency and conceded that criticism of his defence has been warranted.<\/p>\n Having played through the pain of a thumb injury last season, the latest syndesmosis setback is an untimely one. Flanagan\u2019s plans to take Sloan to a \u201cdark place\u201d during the pre-season to toughen him up have been put on hold at a time when the coach is making a pitch for Roosters star Joseph Manu to be the long-term Dragons No.1.<\/p>\n There is also internal competition for the custodian role from Zac Lomax, who is an option for the opening-round clash against the Titans.<\/p>\n Tyrell Sloan is preparing for a big 2024 season.<\/span>Credit: <\/span>Getty<\/cite><\/p>\n Pointing to his difficult upbringing \u2013 his parents spent much of his youth in jail \u2013 Sloan said he was not afraid of a challenge.<\/p>\n \u201cNo, no way brother,\u201d said Sloan, who aims to be fit for the trial matches. \u201cLook at my background, it\u2019s easy. Footy, it\u2019s an escape for myself. Away from life, there\u2019s a lot of harder things, what\u2019s going on in the world, than footy at the moment \u2026<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s always lots of competition, and it\u2019s something that I don\u2019t really stress about because, at the end of the day, I back my ability. But, then again, it\u2019s whatever\u2019s best for the team.<\/p>\n \u201cWe haven\u2019t been performing where we need to be for the last three years that I\u2019ve been in grade. I really want to step up and make that position mine.\u201d<\/p>\n Cronulla\u2019s Will Kennedy was maligned for his lack of toughness and defence when he came into first grade. Under the tutelage of Flanagan, Kennedy established himself as a genuine NRL No.1, and the hope is that the premiership-winning mentor will help Sloan go to the same level. Improving his defence will be a major focus.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s something I do lack, I\u2019ll be honest,\u201d Sloan said.<\/p>\n \u201cI do lack there. I do save tries too, though. There\u2019s moments there where I\u2019m good and there\u2019s moments there where I\u2019m bad.<\/p>\n \u201cYou are your own worst critic, and sometimes I come out of a tackle feeling for myself. And not just myself, but letting my team down. That\u2019s the main focus, that I want to be that person that, if there\u2019s a line break, I can be depended on to make that tackle.\u201d<\/p>\n Sports news, results and expert commentary.<\/i><\/b> Sign up for our Sport newsletter<\/i><\/b>.<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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