Dragons’ Young Gun Hamish Stewart Tipped for Future Captaincy
St George Illawarra Dragons’ promising young talent, Hamish Stewart, has only one season of National Rugby League (NRL) under his belt, but he’s already being earmarked for leadership by the club’s senior players. At just 21 years old, the midfielder has garnered significant praise from co-captains Damien Cook and Clint Gutherson, who believe he possesses all the qualities to one day wear the captain’s armband for the Dragons.
“I think he’d be a great future captain of the Dragons,” stated Cook, highlighting the impact Stewart has already made. Gutherson echoed these sentiments, emphasising Stewart’s deep connection to the club. “Hamish bleeds red and white,” Gutherson explained. “His dad [Scott] has been here [involved with the club] for 25 years, he’s been around this club since he was six years old, and they are the type of players you want leading clubs – it’s definitely in the future for him.”
Stewart himself was taken aback by the leadership talk, expressing his gratitude. “It flatters me to hear that,” he admitted, while enjoying breakfast in Las Vegas. “Obviously, I’d love to do it, I’ve still got a lot to learn, and if it comes, it comes.” He remains focused on learning from the experienced leaders. “I’m happy to keep learning off ‘Gutho’ and ‘Cooky’. We’ve got great young leaders at the club. But captaining the club one day would be cool.”
Stewart represents the new wave of talent at the Dragons, a group that includes close mate Dylan Egan, the Couchman brothers, Toby and Ryan, and Jacob Halangahu. While expectations for the Dragons to contend for a title this year are modest, the potential of players like Stewart and Egan suggests brighter times are ahead for the club.
Stewart’s initial ambition for his debut season was simply to play one NRL game. He surpassed this significantly, featuring in 19 matches, including a full 80-minute performance in an unfamiliar edge position against Cronulla. Beyond just feeling comfortable within the NRL squad, Stewart has found his voice, actively contributing in training sessions and team meetings.
“Last year I was nervous at training, and all I wanted to do was train and play well and show the guys what I had,” Stewart reflected. “Now I’m in first grade, I enjoy training more. Gutho and Cooky do a lot of the talking, and the coaches want us to give them more help. They’ve said to me the boys respect me, I’m a natural talker, I should help out, so I’m trying to.”
Coach Shane Flanagan has also noticed Stewart’s development. “This year he’s still a rookie, but he’s more confident, he’s talking up a bit more in team meetings,” Flanagan observed. “I like his temperament, he’s calm, he knows his footy – he’s got a good footy IQ – and he just loves his footy.” Flanagan highlighted Stewart’s impressive work rate and versatility. “He’s one of those kids who could probably play 80 minutes in the middle, which is rare. But we won’t burn him early in the season [with minutes]. If we get an injury, we know we can rely on him to get those minutes out because of his motor.” Regarding captaincy, Flanagan added, “That [captaincy] is a fair way down the track, but he’s growing in that space.”
The club’s faith in Stewart is evident in his extended contract, securing him until the end of 2029, despite rumoured interest from the Sydney Roosters late last season.
Stewart’s upbringing in Gerringong saw him involved with the local footy scene from a young age, even claiming an unofficial record for most games as a ballboy for the renowned Group 7 side. His first formal suit was a gift from the Dragons upon his arrival last year. Off the field, Stewart enjoys golf and recently participated in the Dragons’ golf day in Vegas, even managing to win $100 from his mate Egan – in American dollars, no less.
The influence of new coaching staff member Mick Ennis is also being felt. Ennis has drawn comparisons between Stewart and Egan and a young Josh Jackson and Dale Finucane, both of whom went on to captain NRL clubs. Stewart has also been likened to a younger Isaah Yeo due to his physical build and playing style.
Dylan Egan, who is recovering from a ruptured ACL, was present in Vegas to fulfil media duties and is expected to return to the field in May.
Stewart’s sporting prowess extends to his family. His older sister, Grace, is a decorated Olympian, having represented Australia in hockey at the Rio, Tokyo, and Paris Games. Stewart humorously noted his absence from these events due to his football commitments. “She played in Rio, Tokyo and Paris, but I went to none of them – I had to play footy,” he said. “I didn’t want to miss any game time for Gerringong or Illawarra.”
Stewart also acknowledged the valuable lessons learned from Jack de Belin, his predecessor in the No. 13 jersey. De Belin’s departure after more than a decade at the Dragons left a void, but the club clearly sees Stewart as the natural successor.
Damien Cook, who is off contract at the end of the year but keen to continue playing, is confident in Stewart’s potential to fill the captaincy role once he and Gutherson move on. “He’s a good person for starters,” Cook stated. “He puts his best foot forward, he’s always training well, and he’s very coachable.” Cook emphasised Stewart’s receptive nature to advice. “A good trait of a leader is someone who listens well. He loves to take advice, he loves to listen, and he cares. They’re all great traits of a future leader.”
Cook concluded by reiterating his strong belief in Stewart’s readiness. “He’s been thrown into first grade quickly, he had a lot of game time, but he stood up to that challenge,” Cook said. “You never want to put any pressure of putting that tag on him too early, but if you’re asking me for my honest opinion, like I said, I think he’d be a great future captain of the Dragons.”
