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The Dragons finished 16th in 2023, but new coach Shane Flanagan is determined to avoid opting for short-term solutions and believes there is enough talent in the squad to rise from the NRL cellar next season.
Prop Hame Sele is returning home on a three-year deal, while Kyle Flanagan will re-unite with his father for at least the next two seasons, but the 2016 premiership winning mentor won’t be rushed into signing any player who could become surplus to requirements in 2025.
Former Storm forward Tom Eisenhuth will be among those aiming to prove themselves after being signed on a one-year deal, while the late pickup of Raymond Faitala-Mariner from the Bulldogs adds depth both in the middle of the park and in the second row.
A number of current St George Illawarra players are also off contract at the end of next season, including Tyrell Sloan, Jaydn Su’A, Jack de Belin, the Feagai twins, Mat and Max, the Molo brothers, Francis and Michael, and Ben Murdoch-Masila.
Jack Bird and Dan Russell have mutual options in their contracts, while the immediate playing future of five-eighth Talatau Amone is uncertain.
Flanagan will be looking closely at those players to determine whether they are part of his plans for 2025 and beyond, alongside the likes of Ben Hunt, Zac Lomax, Moses Suli, Mikaele Ravalawa, Blake Lawrie, Jacob Liddle and the Couchman twins, Ryan and Toby.
Having missed out on Tonga prop Addin Fonua-Blake, he will be hoping to lure some big-name recruits to the club who can have an impact on the team’s performances.
The Dragons also have a crop of highly rated juniors coming through who are expected to be pushing for NRL selection in 2025, headed by Hamish Stewart, Dylan Egan and Cyrus Stanley-Traill.
As far as 2024 goes, much will again depend on Hunt, who has consistently been St George Illawarra’s best player in recent seasons but asked for a release mid-year after the departure of coach Anthony Griffin.
