Atlas in arms, Kerr set for Dragons with heart full
Joel Gould |
Dolphins prop Josh Kerr has found Wollongong on the map again and will bring a very special Atlas with him when he rejoins St George Illawarra next year.
It has been a huge week for the 29-year-old. Kerr and fiancee Dijana welcomed infant son Atlas into the world, and Josh signed a two-year contract with the Dragons in what he described as “a great deal”.
The Redcliffe junior always dreamed of playing with the Dolphins in the NRL and this year has been at his barnstorming best, his silky offloads a major contributor to the side’s surge to eighth on the ladder.
The Dolphins did not have the salary-cap space for the big unit in 2026 due to their almost full forward roster, and he will return to the club where it all began.
“It has been a fairytale to play for my home-town team in the NRL,” Kerr told AAP.
“I grew up thinking Queensland Cup was the pinnacle. Then I got to be coached by the super coach Wayne Bennett at Redcliffe in the NRL. I was so grateful.
“I love the Dragons. They gave me my first opportunity and allowed me to live out my NRL dream. I am really excited at the prospect of going back.
“The Dolphins had no cap space for me. I was gutted and heartbroken because I’d done everything they wanted me to, but they put the club first.
“CEO Terry Reader and Woolfy (coach Kristian Woolf) did everything they could to keep me, but they said I had to look after my family. A few clubs were interested, which I won’t name out of respect, but the Dragons came in late.”
Kerr is keen to reunite with Dragons coach Shane Flanagan, who was an assistant when he left. Flanagan will no doubt note the change in him.
“When I was struggling I leant on Shane a lot for coaching advice. He helped me a lot. He is a tough coach and I need that in my life,” Kerr said.
“Since I’ve come home to Queensland I have bought my first house, got engaged, had my first kid and I’m playing the best football of my career.
“I left the Dragons as a boy. I have become a man and I get the opportunity to go back and be a better man and player.”
The significance of his son’s name Atlas is a beautiful story that speaks of history, hopes and dreams. Kerr has Scottish and Indigenous heritage, and more besides.
“I always wanted to give my kids big, powerful names,” Kerr said.
“Atlas was a Titan in Greek mythology tasked with holding up the heavens on his shoulders. I want to have a big family and I wanted my firstborn son to have a name like Atlas with that responsibility of being the big brother.
“My first thought is to make sure he has a roof over his head and a bellyful of food, as does Dijana.
“Dijana was born in Belgrade in Serbia. There was a civil war and her hard-working parents came here as refugees and built a life and raised a family in Wollongong.
“My mother (who is Indigenous) doesn’t know who her real father is. Apparently he was also Yugoslavian, so I always joke with Dijana that it would be funny if I was her cousin.”
Up-beat Kerr is the Seinfeld of the NRL. You could write an entire story on his one-liners and monologues. He is facing a breach notice and proposed $10,000 fine from the NRL for tongue-in-cheek comments he made about referee Ashley Klein’s refereeing in the State of Origin decider, but is unable to comment until the matter is finalised
AAP
