Fittler knocks back Kangaroos job; Dragons lose another rising star to Souths

Sydney Morning Herald

2 days ago

Glover had also combined well with Lyhkan King-Togia at reserve grade level, with the latter chosen to partner Kyle Flanagan in the top squad in recent months. Feeling his pathway was blocked and being off contract at the end of the season, Glover has signed a two-year deal with the Rabbitohs.
Wayne Bennett feels Glover has the potential to become a regular first grader and the chance to learn under the veteran coach proved irresistible.
The Dragons also recently lost another exciting prospect, forward Finau Latu, to Canterbury. Latu, a member of the 2023 Australian Schoolboys squad, had already signed with the Bulldogs from 2026 and the Red V granted him an immediate release before the June 30 transfer window closed.
Shane Flanagan described the scrutiny on his son as 'unfair' after his side's win over Parramatta amid calls from some critics for him to be dropped. Kyle scored a try and performed strongly against the Eels, but it's unlikely to be enough to silence his detractors if he can't hold his form during the run to the finals.
Glover won the Hastings Deering Colts player of the year award while at Brisbane Tigers for the best player in the Queensland Cup. The halfback moved south to the Bulldogs, struggled with homesickness, suffered a turf toe injury that wiped him out for most of the 2023 season, but stuck it out and came back in time to be part of Canterbury's Jersey Flegg-winning side.
He shifted to the Dragons, where he has been among the stats leaders in the NSW Cup, but will leave in the belief he will fulfil his NRL dream at Souths.
'The next step is to play NRL,' Glover said in an interview in April.
'I can't do too much until I get picked, so my main focus is to play consistent Cup footy and try to steer my team to victories.
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'I'm just trying to stay involved and do the best I can.'
Asked at the time about the prospect of having to leave the Red V due to a lack of opportunities, Glover said: 'If there's a better opportunity for me to play consistent first grade, I would enjoy the challenge of taking up the next step to another level.'
That will come at the 'Pride of the League'. The Lewis Dodd experiment doesn't appear to have paid off for Souths, Bud Sullivan is technically only at the club while on loan from Wests Tigers, Cody Walker is in the twilight of his career, while Jamie Humphreys is still establishing himself as a first grader.