Griffith's Drury Low struggled to break into the Canberra Raiders side but looks set for a big year with the Bulldogs.
Rugby league
GRIFFITH product Drury Low could step into the shoes of banished NRL star Ben Barba when he makes his Canterbury-Bankstown debut on Saturday.
The 22-year-old local has been named on the wing for the Bulldogs' opening round match against North Queensland. But Low is a specialist fullback and there is suspicion coach Des Hasler will swap him with Steve Turner, who has been handed the No.1 jersey in Barba's absence.
Wherever he plays, Low's elevation into the Bulldogs side caps a meteoric rise for the young gun from New Zealand.
After playing his junior football with the Yenda Blueheelers, Low and his family moved to Melbourne, where he was part of the Storm's academy team.
Yenda Blueheelers secretary Sam Panarello said: "He was only a young kid with us, but you just knew that if he applied himself, he had all the attributes speed, the capacity to grow into a decent size."
It wasn't long until he was snapped up by the Canberra Raiders, where he made two NRL appearances, including a double on debut.
Low's manager Paul Sutton is surprised it's taken so long for the electric No.1 to crack into the big time.
"I thought he'd be playing NRL before now," he said.
"I always thought he's had the talent.
"He's got exceptional speed and I think that's going to a gift for him to be able play NRL for a long time.
"Obviously he's fortunate Ben Barba isn't playing, but sometimes you just need the opportunity."
