RUGBY LEAGUE
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It's a heavy tag to carry for any young player, but Dragons young gun Euan Aitken doesn't mind being earmarked as the game's next big thing - in fact, he takes it as a compliment.
The departure of Jack Bird - another young star and local junior - to Cronulla this year attracted plenty of angst from Dragons fans.
But there's no shortage of supporters who will tell you the club has kept the pick of the bunch in the 19-year-old Pambula product.
The chorus includes veteran halfback Benji Marshall - he took the game by storm himself as an 18-year-old more than a decade ago - and superstar fullback Josh Dugan. Both have tipped Aitken to make his NRL debut this year.
It's high praise from some good judges but the 2014 Junior Kangaroo has taken it in his stride during his first full NRL preseason.
"I don't take any of it as pressure," Aitken said.
"I just feel like it's a reflection of how I'm training and interacting with the boys.
"It's always good positive feedback to hear that from guys like that."
Coach Paul McGregor has no shortage of options in the centres, with new recruit Dane Nielsen, Peter Mata'utia, Charly Runciman and Dylan Farrell.
The Dragons NYC Player of the Year is confident he has put himself in the frame as the competition heats up ahead of the club's trial matches.
"It is a little bit tough at the start because you're playing with a lot of players you used to look up to when you were a young player," Aitken said.
"It takes a little while but you've definitely got to stand up and back your own ability.
"There's always going to be a pecking order with the older, experienced players, but I'm definitely going to put my best foot forward and try to change that. I've been training in the centres and that's where I'm looking to play next year."
Junior Kiwi Adam Tuimavave-Gerrard, who joined the club from the Warriors this year, is another player in the frame for a berth in the centres.
And McGregor is looking to bring young blood through following the departure of Brett Morris.
The Roosters benefited from the emergence of Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and Daniel Tupou leading up to their 2013 triumph, while young guns Dylan Walker, Alex Johnston and Kirisome Auva'a played key roles in South Sydney Rabbitohs' premiership charge last year.
The Dragons have retained eight players from their 2014 NYC side and McGregor said bringing young talent through the backs has proven a key ingredient in premiership success in recent seasons.