On January 15, all four Illawarra Steelers junior rep teams participated in a club-wide pathways training session conducted by the St George Illawarra Dragons at UOW. Among the wave of new talents present was 18-year-old Tom Kirk, who is making a name for himself as a standout winger in the Steelers’ junior ranks.
A tall, athletic winger with a positive attitude and a desire to improve, Kirk’s journey began at six with the Shellharbour Sharks. He switched to Collegians for the under-11 season before catching the eye of representative selectors in his mid-teens.
Kirk is entering his fourth season in Steelers colours, having shown promise in his first few years playing in the Harold Matthews Cup in 2022 and 2023 and SG Ball in 2024. Despite a setback last season due to injuries, Kirk remains optimistic about his future and his team’s prospects for this season.
“This is my fourth year, and I’ve enjoyed every second of it. I had a good chat with the boys who’ve been through this from the first year of Matts, and now it’s our final year. We’re trying to make the most of it,” Kirk said.
“A premiership would be unreal this year. It’s a goal for the whole team.”
Learning Curve
Kirk’s development took a significant step forward during the off-season when he trained with the St George Illawarra Dragons during their pre-season. Spending one day a week with the NRL squad was a great opportunity for the young winger.
“I love every second of it. Being with the NRL boys was a massive step up, but I enjoyed every moment of it. I’m learning, listening, and asking as many questions as I can,” Kirk shared.
“The effort that the NRL boys put into themselves in every drill is something I want to implement into my own game.”
Kirk’s experience with the Dragons has been invaluable, especially when it comes to the professionalism and drive shown by the top-level players.
“The way they conduct themselves is impressive. The effort they put into every drill — it’s something I want to bring into my own game. The NRL boys have been fantastic, and they invest a lot of time into us to see us succeed,” he explained.
Higher Honours
Kirk is focused on making the most of his time with the SG Ball squad in 2025 and has his sights set on a potential NSW Blues Under-19 call-up.
“My goal is to make that team. I feel like I’ve solidified myself as a winger now, although I can play both fullback and wing.
But I’m enjoying my time on the wing and improving my skills each week,” Kirk said.
Beyond SG Ball, Kirk hopes to get the call-up to play Jersey Flegg for the Dragons again after getting a taste of that opportunity towards the end of last season.
“Last year was a great experience. The step up was massive. ‘Timmo’ and ‘Piggy’ (SG Ball Coach Shaun Timmins and assistant coach Mark Riddell) have been outstanding for all the boys, just picking their brains and learning from their experience at the highest level,” he said.
“They’re running the pathways team, and a lot of the boys are looking forward to it.”
Kirk is staying grounded despite the challenges and pressure of playing at an elite level.
“I don’t have too many expectations going into it. I’m just taking it game by game, seeing where I stand. I’m hoping to see if the pre-season training paid off and to learn from whatever happens.”
The Steelers take on the Sydney Roosters in their last Pre-season trials at Central Coast this Saturday, January 18.
Words: Angelina Raula
Illawarra Steelers v Sydney & Central Coast Roosters | Berkeley Oval, Berkeley Road, Berkeley Vale
Field 1
NSW Regional Representative Competition
10:30am – Laurie Daley Cup (Illawarra South Coast Dragons U18 Boys)
NSWRL Junior Reps
11:55am – Harold Matts Cup (Under 17 Boys)
1:45pm – SG Ball Cup (Under 19 Boys)
Field 2
NSW Regional Representative Competition
10:30am – Andrew Johns Cup (Illawarra South Coast Dragons U16 Boys)
NSWRL Junior Reps
11:45am – Lisa Fiaola Cup (Under 17 Girls)
1:00pm – Tarsha Gale Cup (Under 19 Girs)