If You Are Good Enough, You Are Old Enough, And Jayden Is
Jayden Steele is the Murrumburrah School Captain and the 17 year old has also just joined a select club of Rugby League players who have made their First Grade debuts before they have reached adulthood.
As the old saying goes, ‘if you’re good enough you’re old enough’, and that’s the case with Jayden.
Not only is Jayden very good, he’s also mature enough, and wants it enough!
He trains hard and works on his strength at the Harden Hard Rock Gym, often with his father, Kai, by his side.
Unlike many boys his age, Jayden knows he has to fuel himself by eating well, doing cardio and taking part in whatever footy is available. He really is doing it all.
After just two weeks of the 2026 season, Jayden got a call up from Gundy coach, Hayden Ashcroft, to see if Jayden would line up on the Wing for Gundagai.
The Tigers are last year’s Premiers, and the backline on the weekend was unchanged from that side except Tobey Dasey is now at Yass, and Jayden looking like he may be able to hold down a position if he continues his upward trend.
The Tigers left as winners at 36-0, but that didn’t stop Tumut from trying to pepper the young fella with plenty of high balls during the match to test him out. Unfortunately for them, it didn’t work. After receiving his jumper on the Friday night and popping it on that weekend, the young man from Harden (who is now a Gundagai Tiger) did a sound job in what can turn into a nasty and physical grudge match against the Group 9 competitions’ oldest rivals.
The Times caught up with Kai, Jayden’s father, who has spent more than three decades in the refereeing ranks and whose family has been heavily involved officiating the sport of Rugby League for decades more as well as playing the game.
He said, “He went there as a 15-year-old. He played at Harden all the way through until Under 14s. He started as a five-year-old. But then, because kids moved away, he just didn’t have his age and so there was no option to play at Harden.”
“At that stage, there [were] options to go to the closer towns, they had enough players.
“And he wanted to go help a team that was struggling for numbers, so they didn’t have to suffer through what he had to. He just wanted to improve a team, basically. He met those guys through a Rise program, and he got on really well with them, and the friendship sort of started from there, and then when it came to the point of not looking like getting a team, he rang up the coach and he invited him to come over there.”
From here, Jayden played 15s, where they won the premiership for the first time. Up until that day, Gundagai had always fallen in the runner up position to Young. He played fullback.
In 2025, Jayden went into 16s and went back-to-back in the premiership again with Sullivan Cup.
From there, Jayden went into the 18s with Gundagai and has recently completed Round One before he got the call up to go to First Grade. “He was playing in the fullback role for 18s at the start of the season. He’s played fullback 15s, 16s, and then the one game in 18s,” said Kai.
Kai has seen more footy than most and done so from a closer perspective.
“I’m probably one of his hardest critics. But I thought he had a solid game,” he said.
“Just a real solid game. He was mistake free and did everything he was told, basically what he was expected to do.”
As Kai saw it, the game unfolded with a lot of attack on the opposite side of the field. Stationed on the left-hand wing side, a lot of play went to the right where the points were scored.
“Although Gundagai were quite dominant in the game, he was put under a lot of pressure because they kept trying to kick to him to test the young fellow out. He didn’t get a chance or an opportunity to score a try this week. But he tried to pinch one near the end. He tried to have a little dummy half scoot, and he wasn’t too far away,” he said.
“I think the way Jayden sees it, it was a surprise and a shock to get the call up, and he felt really privileged to wear the First Grade jumper. If he only plays the one game, so be it, but I don’t think he did anything to hurt his chances to ever get picked again. If he doesn’t get picked this week, he wouldn’t be disappointed. He knows he’s basically in top flight footy now, so it’s a week-to-week type of performance based on who is available and everything else”.
Gundagai hasn’t had 18s for a while, and Kai said the club looks to be enjoying seeing a junior pathway available.
“Jayden wouldn’t be where he is without those Gundagai teammates and his coaches and trainers that have looked after him over at Gundagai, as well as other places. It is hard to thank everyone, but, as a 14-year-old, he was going up and training with the Hawks, and Hally would take him under his wing,” said Kai.
“There’s circumstances and people go, “Oh, why doesn’t he play for the Hawks?” and I said, “We went over there to play his own age footy. You’re only going to play under 18s once, or twice if you’re lucky enough to play it when you’re a young fella. And unfortunately, the Hawks don’t have the junior pathway to keep them there. “Jayden was happy with the inclusion in the side and was nervous to begin with, but that soon disappeared when he dodged a couple of defenders.”
The Times also spoke to Jayden about his whirlwind experience.
“It felt pretty surreal. I just woke up in the morning and my 18s coach asked for my phone number and gave it to the First Grade coach, Hayden Ashcroft, and I got a call later that day and he called asking, ‘do you want to play first grade for us?’” He said.
“It just felt pretty surreal. I was a bit amazed, shocked, definitely didn’t expect it. And just also proud of myself [for] just getting the opportunity.
Jayden had to ask Kai and mum Karen but knew he was ready to go.
“Well, I did kind of tell the coach on the phone that I’d be right to play. I kind of didn’t really give them (mum and dad) an option. But then I did go home and still asked mum and dad if they were okay with it. So, yes, there was a bit of input,” he said.
“I was a bit nervous at first, and then I caught my first touch of the ball, I beat a defender or two, and then I realised that I’m ready and the physicality was definitely more than what I’ve got from 18s, especially in some of those tackles, just giving you shit on the ground.
“Other than that, I handled it pretty well, so physicality wasn’t too much of a problem.”
Last year was probably a bit of a stumbling block year with a couple of injuries, although it’s clear that Jayden has bounced back after a strong off season.
Kai said, “From my point of view, it’s probably for Jayden, he really put in in the off season. Just the physicality. To get his body right from the injuries. He has improved physically with all of that. He’s worked pretty hard.”
“He also went over just recently to Hawaii for rugby tens.
“He has been to New Zealand the last two years in a row. He went to New Zealand back when he was 15 for Rugby Sevens. And then he went back in December last year and he played in the global Rugby Sevens, which is an 18s, as a 16 year-old.
“We have recently come back on April 8 after spending seven days in Hawaii, playing for the Australian Raptors in a Rugby Tens tournament, which was 18s as well.”
Jayden said, “We went pretty good. We went 8 and 0”.
Jayden said he wanted to thank a few people who had helped him over the years.
“The support of my teammates and my coaches are the real reason that I was able to crack first grade. They really helped my game and just made me feel welcome and just gave me a foot in the club and that’s really all I needed,” he said.
“Mum and dad have done plenty of k’s down that road to Gundagai over the years and I thank them for that, but now that I’ve got my P’s, I don’t have to worry about that.”
Kai said, “We are a football family through and through. My mother and my Nan and Pop, they are incredibly proud as well as myself and Karen, and Karen’s mum. We’re incredibly proud of what he’s been to achieve. And he’s actually played first grade now and he’s got that one over me because I never played first grade. I refereed it instead.”
“I’ve been inundated with messages, wishing him congratulations and good luck. Jayden appreciates it all. He’s quite a humble sort of a kid. I think being school captain this year, he’s sort of coming out of his shell a little bit. He’s had a lot of jumpers and a lot of history.”
Another Harden local who joined the select club of playing First Grade at a young age is Chris Beal.
There have been a few who made debuts early, but Beal was a standout.
Funnily enough he has worked with Kai for years and has been following Jayden’s career. He had high praise for the 17-year-old and hopes the best for him.
Beal went to the Raiders as a teenager, but his professional career was cut short by a number of horrendous knee injuries which required knee reconstructions and gruelling Physio to get back. He did it four times.
When asked about the similarities and what it meant for Jayden’s future, he was very positive.
Chris said, “I just turned 16 and I played a couple games. I played 16s and I played reserve grade. I did that for a couple of weeks and then after that I played first grade and I didn’t play
16s that day. I just played the full game of first grade.”
Beal made the decision to play at least half a game of U18s with his mates where he would sometimes come off at half-time and then play First Grade.
I did that in the 18s because I wanted to play footy with my mates. So, I just played a bit of both in the 18s,” he said.
Childhood friends Beal and Binalong local, Ashley Dyball, were in the all-conquering Riverina side which won the Country Championships and launched several NRL careers.
“He (Ashley) was Second Row in our Riverina team, and the following year played Fullback for the Hawks. He might have trained there, because we had no Fullback at training and then we needed one for the weekend and because he trained there, he just ended up playing there and did a good job of it. So, he ended up playing a fair bit of the season there,” said Beal.
“I played mainly wing, I played a bit of Centre and a bit of Fullback, but I was on the Wing
and then he was Second Row for Riverina.
“And then the next year, when we were in 18s, we ended up playing both, because we both wanted to play with our mates while we’re in 18s, so we played both for the year.
“Originally, I made my first grade debut as a 16-year-old and was still eligible for 16s.
“I’ve worked with Kai, and I kept track on Jayden’s footy career, his journey and, yes, I was actually only recently thinking it would be great to see him play First Grade soon, because I haven’t seen him play for a while but heard he is quite handy. So, it was good to see him get his debut with a strong club as well.. which could make it a bit harder, so that was good.
“It was good to see that he played well and hopefully he gets plenty more opportunity because I think it’ll be great for him. Once you’re playing against men, it does toughen you up, and your game does improve a fair bit because there’s strong players across the park, so you have to. It does improve you and he’ll go well, if he keeps his head down and works hard, he will go really well.”
According to Beal, it was great to see the young fella get an opportunity and said he hopes Jayden can get more.
“I saw him at junior League on Saturday and had a quick chat and he seemed pretty confident, which was good. He’s a good supporter of footy and he helps with the younger ages, if need be. I think he helps with the 14s Girls training there. He is always happy to put up his hand and help out,” he said.
“So even though he’s playing for Gundagai he still really supports footy in town here, so it’s great to see he’s getting some success.
“He’s a Hawk first and foremost, but he’s a Tiger as well. He’s a good kid who helps out with footy and great to see him have a crack and hopefully he gets plenty more. Would have been a good
game too, Gundagai versus Tumut. A local derby, so they wouldn’t have put him in on a game like that if they didn’t think he was capable.”
With praise from one of Harden’s best over the last quarter century, there is no doubt, Jayden has a big future.
The Times received a list of sides Jayden has played for over the last few years (supplied below).
If there’s NRL or Rugby scouts out there, they may be able to sign a very capable, talented and grounded young man.
Tries
James MORGAN
Will HERRING
Wilson HAMBLIN
James MORGAN
Meli DRAU
Benjamin HANNAN
Tyron GORMAN
Conversions
Tyron GORMAN
Tyron GORMAN
Tyron GORMAN
Tyron GORMAN
Final Score 36-0. Reserves 24-4 Gundagai. U18s 12-6 Gundagai. League Tag 32-0.
Primary Positions:
Fullback | Wing
Secondary Positions: Centre | Utility
Preferred Codes: Rugby League | Rugby Union | Rugby 7’s
RUGBY LEAGUE EXPERIENCE
2026 – Group 9 First Grade Debut for Gundagai v Tumut at Tumut (3rd May) Position: Wing
2026 – Gundagai Tigers Group 9 U18’s v Junee at Gundgai (Senior Club Debut 19th April)
Position: Fullback
2026 – CHS Riverina Open’s – Rugby League
Position: Wing
2025 – Riverina Bulls U18’s | Laurie Daley Cup
PreSeason Squad
2025 – Riverina Bulls | Andrew Johns Cup
Positions: Fullback / Wing
2025 – Canberra Raiders U16’s Vikings
Development Squad
2025 – CHS Riverina Open’s – Rugby League
Position: Fullback
2024–2025 – St George Illawarra Dragons
Development Academy
2025 – Group 9 U16’s Premiership Winners | Sullivan Cup
Club: Gundagai Tigers
2025 – Invited Trial: Canberra Raiders & Illawarra Steelers
Harold Matthews Cup
Withdrew due to injury
2024 – Canberra Raiders U15’s Gold Development Program
2024 – CHS Riverina U15’s – Rugby League
Position: Fullback
2024 – Group 9 U15’s Premiership Winners
Club: Gundagai Tigers
2024 – NSWRL RISE Program | Group 9 U15’s
Selected Fullback – Exhibition Match
Played a State of Origin Game 1 CurtainRaiser
2020–2023 – HardenBoorowa Bushhawks | U11’s–U14’s
2013–2019 – Harden Junior Hawks | U6’s–U10’s
RUGBY UNION EXPERIENCE
2026 – Raptors U18’s Rugby 10’s Squad
Selected for Hawaii Tour
2026 – CHS Riverina Open’s – Rugby Union
Positions: Fullback (To be played in June)
2025 – NSWCHSSA U16’s Rugby Union Representative
Position: Wing
Southern Inland Rugby Union (SIRU) Representative
2023 – U14’s Southern State Championships (Outside Centre)
2024-2026 U16’sx2 U/18’s NSW Junior State Championships (Outside Centre / Fullback)
2025 – CHS Riverina Open’s – Rugby Union
Positions: Fullback / Centre
2025 – SIRU U16’s Premiership Winners
Club: Young Yabbies
2025 – Brumbies Super U16’s National Squad
Selected – withdrew due to injury
2024 – Brumbies U16’s Extended Squad
Selected at 15 years of age
Position: Outside Centre
2024 – Temora Tuskers U16’s
Position: Outside Centre
Club RunnersUp | Awarded Best Back
2023 – Began playing Rugby Union at 14 years of age with the Young Yabbies
RUGBY 7’s EXPERIENCE
2025 – Southern Sports Academy (SSA) U18’s
New Zealand Global Youth 7’s Tournament
Selected at 16 years of age (youngest in squad)
2023–2026 – Southern Sports Academy (SSA) U16’s Rugby 7’s
Selected four consecutive years
2024 – Darwin Hot 7’s – Southern Sports Academy U16’s
Age Group Winners
2024 – Sportslink Travel / Brumbies / ARAU U15’s Development Tour (NZ)
Competed in Auckland 7’s Tournament
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