Dillon & Sironen Signs for 2019-20
5th September 2018
The South Sydney Rabbitohs have signed prop Kurt Dillon until the end of the 2020 season and utility Bayley Sironen for the 2019 season.
Dillon, 24, joins the Rabbitohs from the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks where he made his NRL debut against the St George Illawarra Dragons in round six this year. The young front rower has shown he has a bright future ahead of him, having represented 2018 NSW Residents and being named in the 2017 NSW Intrust Super Premiership Team of the Year. Dillon has been a consistent performer in the Newtown Jets ISP side this season, playing 12 games and averaging 114.2 metres, with his last performance against the Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles in round 21 showing his high work rate with 29 tackles and 121 metres (51 post-contact) in just 55 minutes. Dillon has made four NRL appearances so far in 2018 and will add to the Rabbitohs' front row rotation in the coming seasons.
Sironen, 21, will join the Rabbitohs from the Wests Tigers where he has played two NRL games, making his first grade debut against the North Queensland Cowboys in round 25 of the 2017 season. Sironen has played at the elite levels of age group representative football, having played alongside current Rabbitohs Robert Jennings, Tyrell Fuimaono and Connor Tracey for the Australian Schoolboys in 2014, as well as representing the NSW under 20s in 2016, NSW Residents in 2018 and was named in the NSW Emerging Blues squad this year. The youngster has proved his utility value this season for the Western Suburbs Magpies ISP side, playing 23 matches covering lock, second row, halfback, five-eighth and as a bench utility throughout the season, averaging 29 tackles per game. In his final match for the Magpies, Sironen put in a tradesman-like performance, running for 80 metres and managed a whopping 49 tackles in 70 minutes in the 18-14 semi final loss to Wyong. Sironen follows in the footsteps of his father Paul and brother Curtis in playing first-grade football and will add valuable depth to the Rabbitohs across the park in 2019.
Rabbitohs Head Coach Anthony Seibold was excited at the prospect of having two exciting youngsters at the Club. "Both Kurt and Bayley played NSW Residents this year, which shows they are consistent performers at that level below first grade," Coach Seibold said. "They have both made their NRL debuts and have shown great potential, and that is why we have given them an opportunity to join our Club and push for spots in our top 17. We know they can improve as footballers in our environment and we're looking forward to working with them during the pre-season ahead of 2019."
Kurt Dillon
Date of Birth - 8th August 1994
Height: 190cm
Weight: 107kg
Position - Prop
Junior Club - De La Selle Caringbah
Previous Clubs - Cronulla-Sutherland (2018)
Rep Honours - NSW Residents (2018)
NRL Games - 4 (4 for the Sharks)
NRL Debut - Sharks vs Dragons, WIN Stadium, 13 April 2018 (Round 6)
Bayley Sironen
Date of Birth - 23rd December 1996
Height: 186cm
Weight: 95kg
Position - Utility
Junior Club - Holy Cross Rhinos
Previous Clubs - Wests-Tigers (2017)
Rep Honours - Australian Schoolboys (2014)
NSW under 20s (2016)
NSW Residents (2018)
NSW Emerging Blues (2018)
NRL Games - 2 (2 for the Sharks)
NRL Debut - Tigers vs Cowboys, Campbelltown Sports Stadium, 25 August 2017 (Round 25)