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On the verge of an historic winning streak in Australia's under-20 league competition, it's a heady time for Kapiti talent Dallas Graham - but the excitement is just beginning.
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While he's relishing Sydney club Wests Tigers' seven game winning streak in the NRL's Holden Cup competition, the 20- year-old is licking his lips at what next year holds for him, after securing a two-year contract with the club's NRL side.
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When his second Holden Cup season comes to an end in September, he'll get about a month to recover, and travel home to see family in Kapiti, before he joins the NRL squad for preseason training in November. In January and February, he will play trial matches for his chance to earn an NRL debut.
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Graham's contract follows an exciting season with the Tigers' juniors, where the front rower has been making a name for himself as a hard working and talented footballer.
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His under-20 Tigers team beat Penrith Panthers 30-18 on Sunday, to notch up their seventh straight victory in the Holden Cup - a club record- equalling feat that now has them third on the table - a point behind the leaders, with nine rounds to play.
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Tomorrow they will look to go one better when they meet 11th-placed Manly Sea Eagles who they beat 36-16 earlier in the season, though Graham said they would be tougher at home at Brookvale Oval.
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It has been an exciting time for Graham, who just three years ago captained Kapiti College's XV rugby team in his last year in high school.
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His league experience had been limited to a season with the Kapiti Bears in 2009, before another stint in 2011, after the rugby season, from which he was selected for a Wellington schoolboy competition, and then a spot at Australia's Keebra Park High School at the end of the year.
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The school fed players into the Tigers and his 2012 season for Keebra paved the way for his under-20s contract last year.
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He played 23 games of the 26-round season in 2013, and his team finished fifth in the round robin.
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"Last year gave me a good taste of what it's all about and how I should go about it and this year it's just allowed me to rip in and show them what I've got.
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"I'm loving it. We're winning as well and you've got to enjoy winning."
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He said his coaching and teammates at the Tigers had helped his game hugely, and with his coaches happy with his performance, he was growing in confidence.
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Since being in Australia he has played in the front row.
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"I love playing front row. It's right in the middle of everything. I get to do all the hard, dirty work, which is what I love to do."
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Standing 190cm and weighing about 105kg, he said he was "pretty average for a NYC front rower".
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He said his strength was his fitness.
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Coach Andrew Webster said Graham was a hard worker, "extremely tough and physical".
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"He's got a great work ethic. He can get through a lot of work on the field and play big minutes, but it's quality. He loves to lead the pack by example.
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"He's explosive with his carries. It takes three or four of them to pull him down at a time.
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"His biggest asset is his defence, his ability to win every tackle that he's involved in, he's fantastic like that."
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He said Graham's contract to train first grade next season was "huge".
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Front rowers usually took a little longer to get their opportunity, "but Dallas without a doubt, I'm sure if he has a season like he's had this year, he'll play NRL next year."
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Webster said Graham started every game this season and played about 60 minutes on average, "probably the most minutes of any front rower in the competition".
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Graham averaged more than 120m per game, and made 33.3 tackles per game. His 4.1 metres after contact average was among the top five in the competition.
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The under-20s was a part- time job and Graham started a four-year diesel mechanic apprenticeship last year, but he will be fulltime at league from November.
>
"I'm excited. I just can't wait to get started, and working hard to reach my dreams."
>
He already feels proud of where he has come, but an NRL debut would be the "cherry on top."
>
Another goal was to make the Junior Kiwis side.
>
"Hopefully I'll be in the squad this year."
http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/local-papers/kapiti-observer/10251226/Kapiti-prop-scores-NRL-contract
>
While he's relishing Sydney club Wests Tigers' seven game winning streak in the NRL's Holden Cup competition, the 20- year-old is licking his lips at what next year holds for him, after securing a two-year contract with the club's NRL side.
>
When his second Holden Cup season comes to an end in September, he'll get about a month to recover, and travel home to see family in Kapiti, before he joins the NRL squad for preseason training in November. In January and February, he will play trial matches for his chance to earn an NRL debut.
>
Graham's contract follows an exciting season with the Tigers' juniors, where the front rower has been making a name for himself as a hard working and talented footballer.
>
His under-20 Tigers team beat Penrith Panthers 30-18 on Sunday, to notch up their seventh straight victory in the Holden Cup - a club record- equalling feat that now has them third on the table - a point behind the leaders, with nine rounds to play.
>
Tomorrow they will look to go one better when they meet 11th-placed Manly Sea Eagles who they beat 36-16 earlier in the season, though Graham said they would be tougher at home at Brookvale Oval.
>
It has been an exciting time for Graham, who just three years ago captained Kapiti College's XV rugby team in his last year in high school.
>
His league experience had been limited to a season with the Kapiti Bears in 2009, before another stint in 2011, after the rugby season, from which he was selected for a Wellington schoolboy competition, and then a spot at Australia's Keebra Park High School at the end of the year.
>
The school fed players into the Tigers and his 2012 season for Keebra paved the way for his under-20s contract last year.
>
He played 23 games of the 26-round season in 2013, and his team finished fifth in the round robin.
>
"Last year gave me a good taste of what it's all about and how I should go about it and this year it's just allowed me to rip in and show them what I've got.
>
"I'm loving it. We're winning as well and you've got to enjoy winning."
>
He said his coaching and teammates at the Tigers had helped his game hugely, and with his coaches happy with his performance, he was growing in confidence.
>
Since being in Australia he has played in the front row.
>
"I love playing front row. It's right in the middle of everything. I get to do all the hard, dirty work, which is what I love to do."
>
Standing 190cm and weighing about 105kg, he said he was "pretty average for a NYC front rower".
>
He said his strength was his fitness.
>
Coach Andrew Webster said Graham was a hard worker, "extremely tough and physical".
>
"He's got a great work ethic. He can get through a lot of work on the field and play big minutes, but it's quality. He loves to lead the pack by example.
>
"He's explosive with his carries. It takes three or four of them to pull him down at a time.
>
"His biggest asset is his defence, his ability to win every tackle that he's involved in, he's fantastic like that."
>
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\
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He said Graham's contract to train first grade next season was "huge".
>
Front rowers usually took a little longer to get their opportunity, "but Dallas without a doubt, I'm sure if he has a season like he's had this year, he'll play NRL next year."
>
Webster said Graham started every game this season and played about 60 minutes on average, "probably the most minutes of any front rower in the competition".
>
Graham averaged more than 120m per game, and made 33.3 tackles per game. His 4.1 metres after contact average was among the top five in the competition.
>
The under-20s was a part- time job and Graham started a four-year diesel mechanic apprenticeship last year, but he will be fulltime at league from November.
>
"I'm excited. I just can't wait to get started, and working hard to reach my dreams."
>
He already feels proud of where he has come, but an NRL debut would be the "cherry on top."
>
Another goal was to make the Junior Kiwis side.
>
"Hopefully I'll be in the squad this year."
http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/local-papers/kapiti-observer/10251226/Kapiti-prop-scores-NRL-contract
