RUGBY LEAGUE
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Ask anyone inside St George Illawarra's camp, and the inclusion of Yaw Kiti Glymin in this week's line-up was no surprise.
The only shock is that it took this long for the 21-year-old to make his NRL debut.
Glymin has been selected on a wing for Saturday's meeting with North Queensland at WIN Stadium.
He's one of a handful of players to get the call-up from Illawarra Cutters as the Dragons lose up to half a dozen men through Origin, injury and illness.
Glymin played juniors with Arncliffe Scots and worked his way through the Dragons' development system.
Over the past two years he's become a try-scoring machine in the reserve grade NSW Cup competition.
His athletic ability and his hard work hasn't gone unnoticed by the club's captain.
"Kiti's an exciting player," Ben Creagh said. "He's very strong, very fast, very powerful, and he finally gets his opportunity.
"He's been in the wings for a few years now in the Dragons system. He's playing extremely good footy at the moment, so it's good to see him get an opportunity."
Veteran forward George Rose met Glymin when the former landed in Wollongong after signing with the Dragons last year.
He's played alongside the young talent for the Cutters and has no doubts Glymin can step up to NRL level.
"He's one guy who has really impressed me from the start of pre-season," Rose said.
"He's got a lot of talent."
Glymin is off-contract this year and could potentially be playing for an extension with the club.
If he re-signs, he will need to fight it out with a host of other players for a spot in the backline.
The Dragons this week acquired Melbourne backline utility Kurt Mann.
Mann will join the club from next season.
Peter Mata'utia, who has struggled to lock down a spot in the first grade team since joining the Dragons in 2014, says the plethora of backline options will keep players on their toes.
"It's healthy competition for our club," Mata'utia said.
"I never feel like I've got a starting spot, just play every week like I have to make the team the next week.
"I know Kurt from Newcastle, he's my little mate.
"He's going to be a great asset to our team."