Bulldogs’ Biondi-Odo to line up in Lightning Challenge
Rowan Sparkes,
rowan.sparkes@news.com.au, The Cairns Post
July 25, 2020 5:56pm
Everything Bailey Biondi-Odo does is just a step towards his goal of signing an NRL contract.
At least, that’s the way he sees it.
The Innisfail product and Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs junior development player had a dream start to the 2020 season, earning selection in the Bulldog’s NRL Nines squad and coming off the bench in a couple of pre-season trial matches.
With a glimpse of the top level lighting a fire in his belly, the 18-year-old halfback was determined to make his mark with the Bulldogs’ under-20s in the Jersey Flegg Cup competition.
Innisfail product and Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs junior development player Bailey Biondi-Odo, 18. PICTURE: STEWART McLEAN
But, after just one round, his hopes of a breakout year were dashed as the coronavirus pandemic forced NSWRL to cancel nine competitions, including the Jersey Flegg Cup, for the 2020 season.
Next month, Biondi-Odo will finally get the opportunity to return to the field to get some valuable game time in the one-off Lightning Challenge rugby league series.
“(Northern Pride coach Ty Williams) text me and asked if I wanted to have a run, which I was pretty keen to do,” he said.
“It’ll be good to get back out there.”
Innisfail product and Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs junior development player Bailey Biondi-Odo, 18. Picture: Supplied
While it won’t quite be a chance to impress his NRL club, the ever-determined Biondi-Odo was willing to take every opportunity to improve his game in the coronavirus-affected season, in the hope it can help him realise his NRL dream in the long run.
“I’m always looking to improve everything,” he said.
“I think there’s always room for improvement in every part of your game, but defence is probably the biggest thing for me at the moment.
“I want to get out there and just focus on some of those things like after I hit, making sure I stick and staying connected and stuff like that.”
Innisfail product and Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs junior development player Bailey Biondi-Odo, pictured playing for Parramatta Eels’ Jersey Flegg Cup side in 2019 prior to joining the Bulldogs. Picture: Parramatta Eels/Supplied
Biondi-Odo said he didn’t know when he would be heading back to Sydney, as it was in the hands of the Bulldogs, but he was hopeful of being there for another pre-season with the club in November.
“It’s kind of weird times, but I’m just going to keep training, keep my body right, keep myself right and see what happens from there.
“I’d like to get back down there as soon as I can, but I’ll just have to wait and see what happens with everything.”
Biondi-Odo will be hoping the absence of this year’s Jersey Flegg Cup competition doesn’t have too much of an impact on his promising career trajectory.
“It’s been a weird year,” he said.
Innisfail product and Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs junior development player Bailey Biondi-Odo, 18. Picture: Supplied
“I thought I was going really well when I was training with grade and then got a call up to the Nines, and I was looking to have a really good year.
“I got a seven-week pre-season in my contract and after the seven weeks they wanted me to train for the whole pre-season, then after the pre-season they wanted me to play in the Nines, then after that I played in a couple of trial games.
“I’ve just been training my way up, so hopefully I can go back and keep doing that.
“I’m not sure when I’ll be back (in Sydney), but I’m just focusing on myself and my body, keeping it intact and trying to put on a bit more weight.”
The Lightning Challenge will kick off on August 8 at Barlow Park.
