RUGBY LEAGUE
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TWINS Glenn and Troy Dumbrell have a passion for speed, but it has nothing to do with hot cars or racetracks.
The 22-year-old Dumbrell brothers will be two of the fastest players in the Group Nine premiership this year and this could spell double trouble for rivals of Kangaroos.
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Troy made a slashing impact as a centre or winger with the Wagga club last year and will have Glenn as a team-mate in the Group Nine season starting on Anzac Day.
Like his fleet-footed sibling, Glenn is also pacesetter, but plays in the forwards.
Fresh from playing with the Sydney Roosters feeder club Newtown for the past two years, Glenn yesterday admitted he was a match in speed for his footballing double.
“I’d have it over him (Troy) for the first 20 metres, but he’d blitz me over 100m,” Glenn said yesterday.
“That’s the reason he’s a back and I’m a hooker.
“I also like better in the middle (of the ground).”
Amid expectations of Roos taking a run for the Group Nine title this year, Glenn Dumbrell is thrilled to be part of the action.
“I’m excited about playing in Group Nine,” he said.
“The calibre of blokes coming into Group Nine is pretty amazing.
“Look at (Shaun) Ainscough (at Southcity). He’s come straight from the Super League.
“Tumbarumba has apparently also recruited really well.
“I think it’s going to be a terrific competition.”
Born and bred in Boorowa, the Dumbrells were schooled at Yanco Agricultural High School and played their junior football with now defunct Yanco-Wamoon.
Their paths, however, later parted and they have not played together since their late teens.
“I went straight to Sydney after I left Yanco Ag,” Glenn said.
“I played for the Roosters under 20s then had a couple of more years with them (Roosters).
“I never debuted (in the NRL) but had two pretty good years with Newtown (in the NSW Cup).”
Recalling how Jake Friend has stonewalled his chances of breaking into the NRL mainstream, Glenn admitted he ultimately elected to seek another career path.
“It’s pretty cut-throat (NRL) and you also need a bit of luck,” he said.
“What actually made up mind was the Roosters wanted to me to put on weight, but I just couldn’t get there.”
Frustrated, Dumbrell, who is a dashing dummy-half runner, made a momentous change in direction.
“I decided to go to uni and do a degree,” he said.
“It just happened that the science course I wanted to do was at Wagga (CSU).”
Set to shortly start his science studies, Dumbrell is also in the midst of pre-season training with Kangaroos under coach Andrew Hinchcliffe.
“We’ve been having good fitness sessions, but Hinchy is trying to do things a bit smarter this year,” he said.
“He reckons a few of the blokes ran out of steam towards the end of last season.”
The betting is this won’t be a problem with the dynamic Dumbrells in 2013.
FAST FACTS
Dumbrells debut
Who: Kangaroos v Brothers
When: Anzac Day
Where: Robertson Oval