When teenager Lyhkan King-Togia trots onto the WIN Stadium surface on Sunday afternoon, it will cap off a meteoric rise for the boy from country Queensland.
King-Togia began the year playing SG Ball Cup with the Steelers helping to guide them to the finals before transitioning into Jersey Flegg.
He lasted just four games before earning a call-up to Knock-On Effect NSW Cup level where he has made 11 appearances across five-eighth and fullback.
“The boys in Cup have been heaps good for my development and so has Woolfy (head coach Ben Woolf),” King-Togia said.
“He's a great coach. I've gone from different positions, but it didn't really affect me because the boys always got around me and made the role easier for me, so nothing but praise for them.”
The middle of five brothers, King-Togia grew up in Dalby – a rural town a little over 50 miles west of Toowoomba – playing his junior football with the Dalby Devils.
“We're all boys, we're a real tight group,” he said.
“We're all close and they've helped me keep my head in the game… I’m just heaps grateful.”
King-Togia linked up with the Dragons pathways system last year after being spotted by Dragons Recruitment Director Ian Millward at a schools carnival in Queensland.
“I really like being here. It was a good decision to move and it's good to debut at the Dragons,” King-Togia said.
“It's a good club and we're going in the right direction. Hopefully, we can keep going… Debuting was definitely a goal. I wasn't expecting it, but I'm just heaps grateful to be getting the opportunity and getting the rewards for the hard work.”
Come Sunday, King-Togia’s focus is on notching a vital pair of competition points as the side enters the home stretch of the season.
“I'm just grateful for the opportunity and really excited to get out there and hopefully get the win for the boys,” he said.
“It's a big game for our season; I just want to do a job and get the win.”
