Naughton Signs with the Roosters : Thu Oct 31, 2013 12:44 pm  

CURTIS Naughton wanted to play English Super League.

But Bradford, they said no. Told him he wasn’t ready. So the teenage fullback packed his bags, flew halfway around the world and yesterday morning agreed to terms with reigning NRL premiers, the Sydney Roosters.

"This is what I’ve always dreamt about," Naughton told The Daily Telegraph outside Roosters headquarters, moments after his meeting.

"It’s just come about a bit sooner than I expected."

Still only 18, Naughton is already shaping as key member of the Roosters Generation Next.

More than just an extremely gifted athlete, this young Bradford Academy Squad member also boasts the type of confidence required to walk out on the Bulls with two years to run on your contract. Despite initially telling English press he was moving to Australia to follow mum Lynne, who is emigrating here around Christmas, the Dewsbury product yesterday revealed there was more to his decision than just a strong family bond.

onfirming he had fallen out with Bulls coach Francis Cummins, the teen, from the same neighbourhood as the Burgess brothers, said he now wanted the opportunity to forge his own name Down Under.

"Playing in Australia has always been my goal," Naughton said.

"So while I’d signed with the Bulls for three years, when all the stuff started happening I thought to myself 'OK, let’s go now'."

Asked what that "stuff" was, the young gun courted by no less than six NRL clubs continued: "I wasn’t getting played in first grade when I should’ve been.

"They (the coaching staff) had signed me to be part of the full-time squad. But why? They weren’t playing me.

"I didn’t know why last year and I still don’t know because no one ever told me. Plus being stuck in the Academy team, which is like an under 19s competition, it just didn’t feel like my game was improving.

"So I left. I’ll be playing in the Holden Cup next year which I’m really looking forward to because it will be a real step up.

"And from there, I just want to keep improving. I’ve played a game in the English Super League and my goal is definitely the NRL."

Naughton is no stranger to Australia, having holidayed here in 2011 - driving a campervan from Cairns to Melbourne with his brother Daniel, 23, and father Tony.

"Interesting experience,’’ he said with a laugh.

"It was a very small camper so thankfully my brother, my dad and I, we all get on well.

"I come from a big Catholic family which, in the north of England, means you play rugby league. I actually grew up about 10 minutes away from the Burgess brothers.

"They’re a fair bit older than me so by the time I joined the Bradford Academy, Sam had moved on, But the twins were still at the club."

So did the Burgess hype of 2013 play a part in his decision?

"Oh, definitely," Naughton said.

"What they’ve done here with Souths, it’s been massive news back home.

"I’ve been watching all their games on TV and it’s been great to see. It’s all people talk about where I’m from. Watching their success, it helped convince me to make the move myself."

Interesting to read the comments about him falling out with FC. Seems like that's two of our younger players he has now managed to p!ss off to the point that they leave the club.

Re: Naughton Signs with the Roosters : Thu Oct 31, 2013 12:49 pm  

Sounds like a right Billy Big Time to me. Regardless of whether he has the potential or not, he'll clearly never be as good as he thinks he is. Sonny Bill Williams and Sam Tomkins aren't as good as Curt seems to think he is.

He's been on Twitter like he's a massive deal too. At some point, he'll come back down to earth with a massive thump.

Re: Naughton Signs with the Roosters : Thu Oct 31, 2013 1:11 pm  

I agree to a point but he says he didn't know why he wasn't playing which is a concern. I'd expect every player who's not in the team to understand what they need to do to make the 1st team and he's insinuating nobody told him.

He's a great prospect and let's be honest, at that age having a few NRL clubs after you is going to give your self confidence a huge boost...rightly or not.

Good luck to him and let's hope if/when he comes back to super league that we are in a position to get him back.

Re: Naughton Signs with the Roosters : Thu Oct 31, 2013 1:14 pm  

Northern Lad wrote:

Good luck to him and let's hope if/when he comes back to super league that we are in a position to get him back.

I suspect that's highly unlikely. He seems to be burning his bridges from our side of it, and you get the feeling that if it isn't Wigan, Warrington or Leeds coming banging on his door, on their knees, he wouldn't entertain it.

Re: Naughton Signs with the Roosters : Thu Oct 31, 2013 1:20 pm  

HamsterChops wrote:

I suspect that's highly unlikely. He seems to be burning his bridges from our side of it, and you get the feeling that if it isn't Wigan, Warrington or Leeds coming banging on his door, on their knees, he wouldn't entertain it.

I'm sure it's been mentioned that we are likely to have an agreement in place with him due to releasing him from his contract, that we have first refusal should he return. You never know by the time that happens there could be a new coach in place and all this is forgotten.

My bigger concern is this isn't the only article we've seen, or rumour we've heard that players are falling out with Cummins. Is there a culture he's dealing with or a man management problem.

Re: Naughton Signs with the Roosters : Thu Oct 31, 2013 1:29 pm  

Nice to see he can finally be honest 12,000 miles away?

Did he think FC was going to drop Kearney to make room for him?

Re: Naughton Signs with the Roosters : Thu Oct 31, 2013 1:58 pm  

Northernrelic wrote:

Nice to see he can finally be honest 12,000 miles away?

Did he think FC was going to drop Kearney to make room for him?

Kearney missed quite a few games last season and FC played Foster at fullback. Obviously FC did not think Naughton was ready for the first team, and I agree. Look at Jamie Shaul over at Hull - only just breaking into the first team setup and he is 3 years older than Curtis.
But despite that, Naughton claims he had no idea why he wasn't being picked, which as someone else has suggested this is a bit of a concern. Unless he's making stuff up, which I wouldn't rule out tbh.

At the end of the day we've lost a cracking prospect at least two years earlier than we contractually should have done. I can see us eventually playing Kear at FB once Brett moves on, which can't be that far away in all honesty. It's a shame Naughton couldn't see further than his immediate future, I suspect he would have been our first choice fullback within the next 2 or 3 years and now instead he will be playing in the aussie reserves with pretty much zero chance of making the first team. I will be amazed if we see Curtis in the first team even once during his current 2 year contract with them.

Re: Naughton Signs with the Roosters : Thu Oct 31, 2013 3:18 pm  

Trouble is will he start badmouthing Trent Robinson when he doesn`t drop Minicello?
Why does he have to start badmouthing and say the story re his mother was a scam!!
I hope I`m wrong because he was a good prospect but I think he could be trouble and upset other players. Just watched the Slammin Sam video, I think he ought to watch it and see what not only a great player Sam is but also how he conducts himself.

Re: Naughton Signs with the Roosters : Thu Oct 31, 2013 3:30 pm  

Cocky git. Sounds like we are well rid.

[Bulliac]

Re: Naughton Signs with the Roosters : Thu Oct 31, 2013 3:43 pm  

Well, as everyone knows, the best time to play anybody is when they're around 18 - you might as well get the best out of them whilst they still know everything..