Sport
23 August, 2025
Talking Twenty Special: Jaden Kelly
A look back at his path to Group 20 stardom, his battles with the Mallee Men and his future at TLU
JADEN Kelly is a name synonymous with the Tullibigeal-Lake Cargelligo Sharks and Group 20 Rugby League.
Since his debut almost two decades ago, Kelly has regularly produced the freakish, the otherworldly, dominating defences around the district and dazzling with more four-pointers and try assists than there are miles between Solar Mad Stadium and the Lake Recreation Ground.
In an exclusive interview with Battlers ‘Jado’ tells of the ups and downs of his stellar career across the Riverina.
Kelly’s rise to Group 20 stardom began with a year at Lake in 2008, before he spent the 2009 season plying his trade with the Wagga Kangaroos in Group 9, before returning to coach TLU in 2010.
“I came back [to Lake Cargelligo] and had a year with my mates in 2008,” he said.
“I was still living in Wagga [at the time], and then I moved back to Wagga Kangaroos for a year in 09, [before returning to] Lake in 2010 to coach the boys there.”
The path to success began almost immediately, with the Sharks assembling a strong squad and a game plan capable of competing with the top sides of the time in Leeton, West Wyalong and Griffith Waratahs.
“In 2012 we made the grand final, but it was a bit of a build up,” Kelly said.
“In 2010 we made the first semi and then in 2011 we got put out in the prelim by Wyalong, so I guess that set up a bit of the rivalry for us.”
“Then in 2012 we obviously played in the grand final and they put a bit of a score on us.
“I think the pressure of going so long without a premiership, I think it was 38 years, and we had a lot of pressure on us and couldn't get the win.”
The loss was a tough one for the towns to take.
Since their one and only premiership at that point in 1974, Tullibigeal-Lake Cargelligo had made just two Grand Finals, a 1987 loss to the John Barnhill-coached Darlington Point-Coleambally, and a 1989 heartbreak against their perennial foes in the Mallee Men.
However, the pain of the defeat spurred the Sharkies on, with the side emerging late in the season from a strong field to take the title with a 26-10 win over Leeton.
Kelly was awarded the Barry Hails Medal as best afield.
“2013 was pretty surreal, it was awesome,” he said.
“Like I said, I think it was the first one in 39 years.
“It was a pretty good comp that year, West Wyalong, Yenda and obviously Leeton, in 2013 they were definitely the benchmark.
“I can't remember who we played in the first semi, but I think Bidgee Hurricanes might have been around that year as well, it was either them or Point.
“There were five handy sides, and Leeton and Yenda played a pretty tough prelim the week before for like 90 minutes [which] probably put us in good stead, being fresh for the grand final, and yeah, we finally broke the drought.”
The following year was dominated by West Wyalong, who looked set to march to a third title in four years entering the Grand Final undefeated, before falling to Waratahs 22-18 at the final hurdle; the Griffith side then turned their title into two the following year.
TLU returned to the big dance for a rain-soaked showdown, again against the Mallee Men, this time triumphing 14-8, though Kelly was playing in Group 9 at the time.
“I didn't play that year.
“I moved to Wagga for work so timing was not on my side that year, and I actually missed that one, but that was good, the boys got the win.
“We've had a pretty long run of rivalry with West Wyalong for a long time.
“I think Lake has played off the top of head maybe 5 or 6 grand finals, and I think four were against West Wyalong.
“I played for Roos again that year, just for the one year I was over there working, and then I moved back and played for Lake again.”
Since that famous victory however, the Sharks have struggled in the top grade, with the side collecting the wooden spoon in 2023, and enduring some of its toughest days since the merged outfit joined the competition in 1970.
However, Kelly said there is a light at the end of the tunnel, with some talented players emerging to fill the side’s famous black, white and blue jerseys over the past few seasons.
“The club is definitely in the position to get out of the ashes a little bit and improve, but unfortunately just the culture of life in general these days, footy is not the main important thing in young fellas’ lives,” he said.
“If they committed and put in and trained and were fair dinkum about their footy, we could probably do pretty well.
“We've got a pretty handy roster this year, we just can't get them all on the park at the same time.
“I think just if they commit a little bit better, anything could happen.
“Even this year, if we get all our squad together, we're good enough to compete.”
When it comes to best and fairest winners, the pedigree out at Lake is unmatched in Group 20, with namesake Ray Thorpe (four), his son Nathan Morris (one), Chris Marland (two), Brent Pike (one) and the great Harry Sanson (one) all having taken home season honours throughout their careers.
Despite having collected three Ray Thorpe Medals of his own in 2010, 2014 and 2018, a tally second only to the great ‘Snowy’ himself, Kelly said that while the personal accolades are nice, his favourite footballing memories will be the triumphs with his Sharks teammates.
“Obviously those awards are nice, but nothing comes close to winning a comp with your mates,” he said.
“That was by far the best thing to do in footy, by a long way.
“Winning comps is what everyone plays for.”
Despite reaching the golden age of 38, Kelly is still remarkably at the peak of his powers, dominating for the Sharks on Sundays while also proving a more than handy Australian rules player for the Lake Cargelligo Tigers on Saturdays with 100 goals across a four club rules career.
However, Kelly said that while he hasn’t made his mind up, the end of one of the more remarkable local football careers in recent memory is on the horizon.
“I take every year as it comes,” he said.
“Hopefully I won't be playing past my 40th birthday, put it that way, that's two years away.
“I haven't really got an answer for you mate, but hopefully not too much longer.”
However long into the future he makes the call, ‘Jado’ will retire as a legend of Group 20, and a once in a generation talent.
TALLON SMITH
Read More: West Wyalong
