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Brandon Wakeham will wear the No.6 jersey for the Bulldogs in the season-opener on Thursday night.
The 21-year-old has been in a neck-and-neck race with Jack Cogger, but Wakeham confirmed on Monday that he got the nod from coach Dean Pay.
“I got the news last week, I’m pretty happy and excited. I didn’t think I was going to get it but hopefully I play good on Thursday, try to cement my spot there for the rest of the year,” he said.
“We came into training last Saturday and (Pay) just put the team lists up on the board and I was there, No.6.
“I thought I played pretty good during the trials and put my best foot forward. I thought still at the end it was probably hard for ‘Deano’ to choose the No.6.
“I’m happy that he chose me and hopefully I won’t let the team and boys down.”
Despite two strong performances in the trials, the quietly spoken local junior still expected to see Cogger partnering Lachie Lewis in the halves because of the combination they formed in the back end of last season.
“Those boys finished last year off in the top grade and I thought ‘Deano’ would just go with them again in those early rounds and I’d have to play good footy in Canterbury Cup.”
His halves partner Lachie Lewis was equally surprised to see Wakeham’s name on the team list.
“I was (surprised). We trialled both times with ‘Cogs’, that was the starting side, they both had equal minutes. I was surprised, but that’s what head coaches are for. I believe in Dean and on Thursday we’ll see if he’s made the right choice,” Lewis said.
“I feel comfortable with ‘Wakes’ and I can’t wait to play. He’s a good fella and I hope we all play well so that things don’t turn around and we start pointing fingers.”
When Wakeham got the good news, he wasted no time in letting his family know. His mum – a diehard Bulldogs fan – was the most excited and has already cleared her schedule for the occasion.
“She always gets carried away, she gets nervous and stuff and she was probably jumping up and down at work,” Wakeham said.
“She said ‘I’ve got to go tell my work that I’m not working Thursday now,’ so she’s taking the day off to come and support me. She’s loved the dogs ever since she was born, my whole family go for the Bulldogs so they’ll all be there.”
Securing a starting spot in Round 1 is a big deal for any emerging player. But for this through-and-through Bulldog it’s a dream come true.
Wakeham idolised Sonny Bill Williams growing up and he made sure everyone knew it.
“I remember being a young kid living in Chester Hill, I wrote Sonny Bill Williams’ name up on the brick wall outside the house. Mum and dad weren’t too happy with that.
“I would have been maybe five, or six. It probably would have been after the 2004 grand final.
Back then SBW was the emerging talent in Belmore with the world ahead of him.
Now, 16 years later, the little boy who wrote a player’s name on a wall with black texter is the emerging talent and has the opportunity to cement himself as the future of the club.
“I really want to play consistent footy, especially in this first quarter of the season. With Kieran Foran, hopefully he’s back early and hopefully I can cement my spot there for the future and for the rest of this year.”
With the responsibility of a starting half, he will undoubtedly face some challenges.
At just 82 kilos, Lewis believes his young teammate will be targeted by the opposition. But he also backs him to stand his ground.
“He needs to work on his defence because they’re going to target him. He’s a young kid in the halves. Halves have it bad enough as is but he’ll rise to that challenge,” Lewis said.
“He’s got great skill, though he has big shoes to fill obviously with Kieran (Foran), we’ll all take a bit of that load and he’ll go do his part.”
When Wakeham takes the field on Thursday night it will be in front of a packed Bankwest Stadium against old rivals the Eels.
He knows what he’ll be coming up against but the likes of a 123 kilo Junior Paulo or a two metre tall Shaun Lane won’t scare Wakeham off from having a bit of bite about him.
“I think all the small guys are pretty chirpy and love to throw out those one-liners throughout the game. It’s good to have a laugh on the field when you’re tired and struggling.
“It depends how we’re going. If we’re going all right and doing a few good things, a few of them might get a spray from me but I don’t want to get carried away and not focus on the game.”
https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nr...p/news-story/72673d0228a9befdbd660761c47554cd
The 21-year-old has been in a neck-and-neck race with Jack Cogger, but Wakeham confirmed on Monday that he got the nod from coach Dean Pay.
“I got the news last week, I’m pretty happy and excited. I didn’t think I was going to get it but hopefully I play good on Thursday, try to cement my spot there for the rest of the year,” he said.
“We came into training last Saturday and (Pay) just put the team lists up on the board and I was there, No.6.
“I thought I played pretty good during the trials and put my best foot forward. I thought still at the end it was probably hard for ‘Deano’ to choose the No.6.
“I’m happy that he chose me and hopefully I won’t let the team and boys down.”
Despite two strong performances in the trials, the quietly spoken local junior still expected to see Cogger partnering Lachie Lewis in the halves because of the combination they formed in the back end of last season.
“Those boys finished last year off in the top grade and I thought ‘Deano’ would just go with them again in those early rounds and I’d have to play good footy in Canterbury Cup.”
His halves partner Lachie Lewis was equally surprised to see Wakeham’s name on the team list.
“I was (surprised). We trialled both times with ‘Cogs’, that was the starting side, they both had equal minutes. I was surprised, but that’s what head coaches are for. I believe in Dean and on Thursday we’ll see if he’s made the right choice,” Lewis said.
“I feel comfortable with ‘Wakes’ and I can’t wait to play. He’s a good fella and I hope we all play well so that things don’t turn around and we start pointing fingers.”
When Wakeham got the good news, he wasted no time in letting his family know. His mum – a diehard Bulldogs fan – was the most excited and has already cleared her schedule for the occasion.
“She always gets carried away, she gets nervous and stuff and she was probably jumping up and down at work,” Wakeham said.
“She said ‘I’ve got to go tell my work that I’m not working Thursday now,’ so she’s taking the day off to come and support me. She’s loved the dogs ever since she was born, my whole family go for the Bulldogs so they’ll all be there.”
Securing a starting spot in Round 1 is a big deal for any emerging player. But for this through-and-through Bulldog it’s a dream come true.
Wakeham idolised Sonny Bill Williams growing up and he made sure everyone knew it.
“I remember being a young kid living in Chester Hill, I wrote Sonny Bill Williams’ name up on the brick wall outside the house. Mum and dad weren’t too happy with that.
“I would have been maybe five, or six. It probably would have been after the 2004 grand final.
Back then SBW was the emerging talent in Belmore with the world ahead of him.
Now, 16 years later, the little boy who wrote a player’s name on a wall with black texter is the emerging talent and has the opportunity to cement himself as the future of the club.
“I really want to play consistent footy, especially in this first quarter of the season. With Kieran Foran, hopefully he’s back early and hopefully I can cement my spot there for the future and for the rest of this year.”
With the responsibility of a starting half, he will undoubtedly face some challenges.
At just 82 kilos, Lewis believes his young teammate will be targeted by the opposition. But he also backs him to stand his ground.
“He needs to work on his defence because they’re going to target him. He’s a young kid in the halves. Halves have it bad enough as is but he’ll rise to that challenge,” Lewis said.
“He’s got great skill, though he has big shoes to fill obviously with Kieran (Foran), we’ll all take a bit of that load and he’ll go do his part.”
When Wakeham takes the field on Thursday night it will be in front of a packed Bankwest Stadium against old rivals the Eels.
He knows what he’ll be coming up against but the likes of a 123 kilo Junior Paulo or a two metre tall Shaun Lane won’t scare Wakeham off from having a bit of bite about him.
“I think all the small guys are pretty chirpy and love to throw out those one-liners throughout the game. It’s good to have a laugh on the field when you’re tired and struggling.
“It depends how we’re going. If we’re going all right and doing a few good things, a few of them might get a spray from me but I don’t want to get carried away and not focus on the game.”
https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nr...p/news-story/72673d0228a9befdbd660761c47554cd
