RUGBY LEAGUE
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When it comes to front-rowers, the opinions of Craig Young and Steve Roach hold considerable weight.
Both were NSW and Australian legends - and both have been impressed by Dragons young gun Jack Stockwell.
It was Dragons assistant coach Young who first spotted a 15-year-old Stockwell playing for the Picton Magpies.
Roach said he had a "huge opinion" of the 21-year-old in his Mercury column last year.
Stockwell admitted it was good to know he was turning the right heads.
"He [Roach] was a great front-rower so it's a big honour to be noticed by somebody like that," Stockwell said. "And Craig's always been there from the start for me so it's been great having him here as well."
Stockwell made his first grade debut at just 20 in round 11 of the 2012 season, a year in which he was also named at prop in the NSW Cup Team of the Year.
Despite a host of junior rep honours and solid form leading up to his debut, the 2009 Australian Schoolboy still remembers the huge leap that he made.
"I'd done a pre-season with first grade so I sort of knew what to expect from the impact and the speed but nothing really prepares you for that first game," Stockwell said.
"I think I was blowing out after five minutes.
"Even playing 20s all those weeks before that, you just don't realise how hard and fast it is until you get out there."
Now with 23 NRL appearances to his name, Stockwell is far more comfortable in the top grade and feels ready to step up in a young Dragons forward pack.
"I was starting to feel pretty confident by the end of the season [2013]," he said. "That's just giving me a stepping stone now for next year.
"Hopefully I've got a foothold in there and can work hard to get one of those starting positions."
The Dragons have lost the likes of Beau Scott, Jeremy Smith and Michael Weyman recently and are looking for someone to stamp themselves as a dominant, physical presence in their pack.
At 192cm tall and 106kg, Stockwell is determined to be that man.
"It's about getting in there training hard and leading by example," he said.
"That's what you've got to do if you want to be the top front-rower at any club.
"You've got to stand up and take charge and that's something I'll be looking to do next year.
"I'm looking to cement that starting spot and to hopefully be a dominant presence."
Stockwell said he was excited at the prospect of playing alongside new faces Joel Thompson, Mike Cooper and former St Gregory's Campbelltown teammate Matt Groat.
"It's great to get all the new boys in," he said.
"This week the atmosphere and vibe around the place has lifted dramatically from having the new faces around.
"I'm sure as we get stuck in to pre-season we'll really start coming together."
