‘I won't leave because of DCE': Rising Roosters half commits future
Rodwell and his father aren't the only talented footballers in the family. Older brother Tom, who turns 24 in September, has been a standout for the Roosters' NSW Cup side. The winger has scored a league-best 15 tries and is second for line breaks (13) and third for post-contact metres (669).
The pair have long harboured an ambition to play together in the NRL.
'Definitely, playing with your brother or against him, it's pretty cool,' Rodwell said.
'But to be together, even just playing a couple of [NSW] Cup games with him, it's been awesome. We definitely debrief after the game when we're eating dinner.'
Rodwell won't be the only talented playmaker on show on Thursday night. His halves partner, Mitch Woods, has been touted as the long-term Canterbury No.7 long before Lachlan Galvin arrived at the club.
NSW under-19s coach Josh Jackson, who was also Woods' coach when the Bulldogs won the Jersey Flegg competition last year, believes he has a promising future.
'He's a great, hard-working kid,' Jackson said. 'No ego, humble, very keen to learn. Very impressive.
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'He's a great communicator, one of the strengths of his game is getting a team around the park. He's got a great running game as well, he's definitely a run threat.'
Asked what his progression to first grade looks like given the club also has Galvin, Matt Burton, Toby Sexton and fellow young gun Cassius Tia on its books, Jackson said: 'That's above my pay grade.
'I'm sure the club won't want to rush Mitch, they will let him develop and get ready for that. I'm sure the ones above me will look after that.'
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