A couple of moments after posing for the photos that accompany this story, a woman approached Jonah Glover. “Are you a model?” she asked.
Glover, slightly embarrassed by the attention, shook his head. “Would you like to be?,” she asked.
It’s not the first time a talent scout has seen something in Glover. And there is every chance that, even if nothing comes from the offer to pose in the catalogue of a multinational brand, the young halfback is about to become a much more recognisable figure.
Glover will attend his first official training session with his new team South Sydney on Friday, after a breakout year in the NSW Cup with St George Illawarra.
After earning Hastings Deering Colts player-of-the-year honours at Easts Tigers in 2022, and then being part of the Canterbury Bulldogs’ premiership-winning Jersey Flegg side a year later, Glover moved to the Red V.
Playing in the halves alongside Lyhkan King-Togia and then Lachlan Ilias, Glover helped steer the Dragons to the reserve grade grand final. However, an anticipated NRL debut proved elusive when he couldn’t unseat King-Togia or Kyle Flanagan.
“It was a good year in Cup at the Dragons, I really enjoyed my time, but I felt like I was never going to make the NRL at the Dragons, so I moved to the Rabbitohs,” Glover said.
“It was hard to get a look in. I felt like I played pretty well, but just didn’t get the opportunity to play.
‘I felt like I played pretty well, but just didn’t get the opportunity.’
Jonah Glover on his time at the Dragons
“Hopefully, next year I’ll be able to make a stand and make my NRL debut.”
Glover will compete with Jamie Humphreys, Ashton Ward, and Bud Sullivan for the right to partner Cody Walker in the halves after signing a two-year deal. The chance to play alongside Walker, and be coached by Wayne Bennett, was too good an opportunity to pass up.
“I’m pretty excited,” Glover said. “[Bennett] was actually a pretty big factor because obviously, I’m from Queensland and he was coaching the Queensland side.
“I was like, ‘Man, I would love to be coached by him’ and as soon as I heard that it was possible to go to the Rabbitohs, I was like ‘Where do I sign?’”
With 48 games of reserve grade experience, the 22-year-old believes he will be ready if handed the No.7 jersey and a first-grade debut when the Souths open their campaign against the Dolphins at Suncorp Stadium. “Yeah, 100 per cent,” he said.
“Playing so many Cup games, you get an understanding of what it’s like playing against men, you can continue to grow and get better.
“I’m a bit of a footy nerd, so I watch a lot of NRL, and even watching some players in the NRL, I feel like I can do what they’re doing.
“Obviously, I haven’t been tested yet, but when I get the chance I’ll be ready.”
One of his first opportunities to impress will be in the traditional Charity Shield pre-season trial against his former club.
When Clint Gutherson first turned up at the Dragons, he made an immediate impression by winning a five-kilometre run up Mt Keira. The player hot on his heels was Glover.
If Glover can impress Bennett with his fitness and skill over the summer to earn an NRL debut, the Dragons may rue losing him.
“So as long as I have a good pre-season and the coach likes me, then I should hopefully get a crack at sometime next year or round one,” he said.
As to being randomly sounded out about modelling work, Glover said: “Honestly, that’s the first time in my whole life that’s ever happened to me. I never really take photos of myself, so that was the first weird part. She came out of nowhere. We’ll see what happens.”
Discussion about this post