Recruitment and Retention for 2025

[GCRV]

Crown Sports Management is proud to announce that Jacob Halangahu has signed an upgraded and extended contract with the St George Illawarra Dragons!

Jacob’s hard work, dedication, and talent have earned him this well-deserved opportunity, and we can’t wait to see him continue to develop and make an impact in the Red V.

Jake will be top 30 for 26, 27

 

[Mailroomsgi]

They’ve got the future of the edge backrow sorted nicely with Halangahu Top 30 for 26’ and ‘27 and Stanley Trail Development 26’ and Top 30 27’.

Timeline works with Leilua and Sua both coming off at the end of 26’ IIRC

 

[TheRev]

They’ve got the future of the edge backrow sorted nicely with Halangahu Top 30 for 26’ and ‘27 and Stanley Trail Development 26’ and Top 30 27’.

Timeline works with Leilua and Sua both coming off at the end of 26’ IIRC

Are they gonna sign Egan beyond this year do you think? And NickT I think is included for 2026.. im not sure what theyre gonna do tbh.. Halangahu was meant to be a few years off.. CST Maybe plays middle.. I dunno..

Even this weekend this issue will come up.. if Egan drops back, you'd think Egan and NickT probably start with Halangahu off the bench or playing middle maybe.. like I dunno how this next year or so works.

 

[Mailroomsgi]

Nice problem to have, Egan’s solid but i just think his ceiling is a lot lower than the other edge backrowers we have, If I had to say yes or no to Egan re-signing I’d say no.

I am interested to see who they target for the middle once Eisenhuth, Molo x 2, JDB, Lawrie all move on at the end of the year (JDB may extend 1 more year). Sele’s injuries make him a massive question mark

It would be reckless to let that many players in one position to go and expect juniors alone to cover the losses. I’m sure they’ve got 3-4 guys in mind + whoever becomes available they can target

 

[jodragon40]

They’ve got the future of the edge backrow sorted nicely with Halangahu Top 30 for 26’ and ‘27 and Stanley Trail Development 26’ and Top 30 27’.

Timeline works with Leilua and Sua both coming off at the end of 26’ IIRC

The future looks bright in relation to our edges forwards but we really need 2 decent bookends within the next year

 

[TheRev]

There are a lot of players retiring or being let go this year.. but there are also a lot of young 2nd row and props that we cant really support all at once... as it is I was looking at the make-up of our squad recently, and we are already very middle heavy.. with very little depth in positions like halves and centres.

I also do think we will aim for atleast 1 more hardened prop to replace JDB or Klemmer in either 2026 or 2027... before we start to rely on the Couchmans and Tonga/Stewart as mainstays.

The other thing messing up our squad balance is guys like Rava, Mick, Lawrie, Fifita chewing up spots and that we dont really intend to develop or use in 1st grade.. Eisenhuth and RFM to a lesser degree, atleast we are ok to use them in the 17 for depth.. but this would be their final year also. And ofcourse Sele, but all clubs have a player in an injury rut.. sometimes thats just life.

I wouldn't mind letting Egan go myself.... if.. in weeks/months to come we find out that Halangahu is coming on much faster than we had hoped for.. but Egan is still young and I think Flanno really likes that reliable player.. tbh I really want to see him play this year also.. a year older now.. and then Nick.. well at his best hes a standout too and very aggressive.. but Top30 is a big call.. I just hope we dont have to make decisions quite yet.... we are basing a lot already on 1 nsw cup game.

 

[Just a Mug Fan]

We have 17 forward in the squad ATM why can't we keep the 10 young ones, still gives us 7 expirence Su'A Luch and 5 middles, even by the time guys like Weatherall, Meafou come thru Couchman will have 3 or 4 years and be part of experienced players.

 

[Mailroomsgi]

Guess it just depends on how the guys develop. If the Couchman’s develop the way we think they will it takes a huge amount of pressure off.

Interested to see how it all plays out

 

[TheRev]

If the Couchman’s develop the way we think they will it takes a huge amount of pressure off.

I felt like the couchmans were the key to our success (or failure).. a lot of forwards dont really come on till they are 23-24.. including JDB.. but I also recall Host, Sele, Ford etc.. really struggled in early years and were not holding their own in 1st grade.... not even sure if they would make it at all... and it was really hard to keep picking or extending their contracts..... and if the Couchies needed that long we were in real strife.. i.e. we really couldnt keep protecting the 2 of em... on top of having the wave of 19-20 years olds behind them also needing development.. thankfully.. Toby is exceeding expectations already at 21yrs of age.. I dont feel like we need to cover for him at all.. Ryan i thought was ready too and thats a real let down.. but if he got there this year he should be good for next year too.

 

[TheRev]

We have 17 forward in the squad ATM why can't we keep the 10 young ones, still gives us 7 expirence Su'A Luch and 5 middles, even by the time guys like Weatherall, Meafou come thru Couchman will have 3 or 4 years and be part of experienced players.

Is it 17 forwards not including hookers? So 19 forwards, 11 backs? Thats what we have now actually.. though again we are definitely carrying a few more forwards than almost every other club when I looked at it.. and if we shed say 2 wingers, and replaced them with depth for half and centre.. that might get us closer to the goal. And we can try to hide a few more depth players in development positions.

But your plan would be a bit of a changing of the guard in terms of forwards, right now we have 9 'old' middles + 2 couchies, potentially ur taking it down to 5 + 2 couchies.. but also tbf.. we are carrying around 4 oldies that we dont really want to use..

As Mailroom says.. its interesting.. and I feel like Flanno sometimes 'goes with the flow' of opportunity also.. not completely rigid.

 

[GCRV]

Hoping for more good news today and into the next week.
Rava goes to Souths effective immediately.
Frank Molo released effective immediately.
Klemmer signed, effective immediately.
Latu extended.

 

[Edward]

Hoping for more good news today and into the next week.
Rava goes to Souths effective immediately.
Frank Molo released effective immediately.
Klemmer signed, effective immediately.
Latu extended.

Probably a couple of others Flanno wouldn't mind offloading though not sure who he would have in mind to bring in. Frank Molo for Klemmer is a no brainer and I heard somewhere Lawson was in line for a top 30 spot. Based on his game in the trials, I think this is a good idea.

 

[Red T]

Will Rava be playing this week for Souths ? He will have a chip on his shoulder if he does play. I hear Rorters want Molo. If Rava leaves then make Rorters pay a transfer fee.

 

[TheRev]

Looks like Ravalawas deal is more of a 1-season loan deal.. but i suppose it enables us to get Klemmer now (https://archive.md/fEPL2)

Dont love it cause we still have to sort him out at some pt.. so we can move Lawson or whoever in... and Top30 will be super tight in 2026.. but.. is what it is.. and atleast hes gonna be engaged and not loafing for the year.

 

[Chris M]

Looks like Ravalawas deal is more of a 1-season loan deal.. but i suppose it enables us to get Klemmer now (https://archive.md/fEPL2)

Dont love it cause we still have to sort him out at some pt.. so we can move Lawson or whoever in... and Top30 will be super tight in 2026.. but.. is what it is.. and atleast hes gonna be engaged and not loafing for the year.

Aren't Mike Molo, Tom E, Egan, JDB, Allan, Fifita, RFM all off contract at the end of this year? Why will 2026 be tight? I hope JDB and Egan are re-signed. 1 year for JDB, 2 for Egan and that should leave plenty of room for promotion and an import or 2.

 

[Mailroomsgi]

Egan definitely hasn’t earned a 2 year extension to his top 30 deal. Wait and see how he goes this year because we have backrowers coming out the wazoo and don’t need another one kicking around the top 30

 

[Ryan]

Egan definitely hasn’t earned a 2 year extension to his top 30 deal. Wait and see how he goes this year because we have backrowers coming out the wazoo and don’t need another one kicking around the top 30

He should be in the team ahead of RFM.

 

[RedVHeartbeat]

The coach is building a decent roster

What are our plans for Finau Latu. Is he seen as a slower developer than Jake even tho he is older. I see Latu as a damaging edgie for us down the track. Tho he has played mostly lock since arriving, being brutally honest, he does not have the defensive intent or the technique required of a Firsts lock. Needs some extensive lessons from Jack to remedy that. Could say the same for Halangahu.

 

[Chris M]

What are our plans for Finau Latu, why hasnt he been extended too. A year older than Jake to my knowledge and a more skillful player imo. Then again JH may be seen as developing quicker than FL. I see Latu as andamaging edgie down the track.

Different kinds of players. Jake seems like a perfect edge forward and Latu seems like a perfect lock. But now Jake is signed, need to get Latu extended ASAP.

 

[Just a Mug Fan]

Rava out Klemmer in

Mikaele Ravalawa has been released for the rest of the 2025 season, but remains contracted with the Dragons for 2026.

Under the agreement, the winger will leave the Dragons immediately before returning to the club for the 2026 pre-season.

The Dragons are pleased to announce the signing of David Klemmer for the rest of the 2025 season.

The 31-year-old front-rower has featured in 19 Tests, 14 Origins and 238 first grade games.

“I’ve said publicly we are looking to bolster our middle forward stocks for this season so David is a great pick-up for us,” said Dragons Coach Shane Flanagan.

“He’s a different body shape to what we’ve got in our forward pack currently and also brings some great experience at Test, Origin and club level.”