Recruitment and Retention for 2026

[Eric]

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​ ​ ​ ​ The Dragons are delighted to announce a two-year contract extension for Dragons Academy graduate Dylan Egan. The new deal will keep the 20-year-old in the Red V until at least the end of the 2027 season. The club can also confirm the Gerringong Lions junior will make his NRL debut for the Red V this week. “Dylan has been on a path towards NRL for a long time and it’s great to be able to both extend his contract at the club and give him an NRL debut at the same time,” said Dragons Head Coach Shane Flanagan. “He’s a local junior who has come right through our pathways and Academy system. “As a player he’s got a big motor and can play on an edge or in the middle. “He’s got a great work ethic and a smart approach to his game and we’re really pleased to be able to extend his time at the club.”

Good luck to him, beginning his week.

 

[Mailroomsgi]

always good to see a local junior make their debut, we really need one of these young guns to have a breakout year if we are going to give the top 8 a shake this year so fingers crossed and good luck to him, he’s earned it

 

[Eric]

always good to see a local junior make their debut, we really need one of these young guns to have a breakout year if we are going to give the top 8 a shake this year so fingers crossed and good luck to him, he’s earned it

I know they aren't locals but now we need King-Togia and Latu extended.

 

[TheRev]

I do wonder if Egan will start, but maybe not for his debut game... was hoping Katoa was injured but hes been named.. maybe thats part of the problem.

 

[GCRV]

I do wonder if Egan will start, but maybe not for his debut game... was hoping Katoa was injured but hes been named.. maybe thats part of the problem.

Katoa shouldn't be a problem if we were well coached. They should be worrying about Su'A and Leilua but no....... These two also need a kick up the backside. Just because we have bigger problems doesn't mean they haven't been disappointing. Maybe next year we can go with Egan and Halangahu.

 

[Mailroomsgi]

I know they aren't locals but now we need King-Togia and Latu extended.

Can’t see it happening, Latu would be a priority extension for mine but LKT I’d wait and see how he progresses in cup. I think he needs to get more involved. Almost like Ah Kee for St George Harold Matt’s who’s on ball all the time

 

[Mailroomsgi]

Scott Bailey reporting dragons are out of the race for DCE as ‘club insiders’ don’t believe he would relocate from manly to wollongong.

I guarantee if we gave him 1.2m reasons per year to relocate he would do it just like gutho has moving to Thirroul

 

[Chris M]

Can’t see it happening, Latu would be a priority extension for mine but LKT I’d wait and see how he progresses in cup. I think he needs to get more involved. Almost like Ah Kee for St George Harold Matt’s who’s on ball all the time

Well, he's a 5/8, not a halfback. I think he gets his hands on the ball about as much as all good 5/8s. He's formed a good combination with Glover.

 

[RedV01]

Scott Bailey reporting dragons are out of the race for DCE as ‘club insiders’ don’t believe he would relocate from manly to wollongong.

I guarantee if we gave him 1.2m reasons per year to relocate he would do it just like gutho has moving to Thirroul

1.2 million for someone who will be 37 next year to partner with a fullback who will be 33 and a hooker who will be 36? Am I right about those ages? Just going off the top of my head. Even Kyle Flanangan who has the 5/8 spot locked up as no matter what is getting near 30. Maybe the club can also offer Reg Gasnier 1.5 mil a season to come out of retirement for 2 years. I know he passed away. Doesn't matter. Flanno can at least make an offer.

 

[AyiosYiorgos]

Finau Latu in demand.

 

[TheRev]

cross fingers.. in truth im more excited about him than Tonga or Halangahu.. but it is what it is.. does sound like his management is going to be asking top dollar, so its up to us to decide if hes good enough to pay it on top of all our other young middles.

The other tricky thing is his age.. just 18.. its probably the contract after this where the real difficulty keeping him would be... as hes becoming a real first grader.

 

[Edward]

cross fingers.. in truth im more excited about him than Tonga or Halangahu.. but it is what it is.. does sound like his management is going to be asking top dollar, so its up to us to decide if hes good enough to pay it on top of all our other young middles.

The other tricky thing is his age.. just 18.. its probably the contract after this where the real difficulty keeping him would be... as hes becoming a real first grader.

 

[Eric]

cross fingers.. in truth im more excited about him than Tonga or Halangahu.. but it is what it is.. does sound like his management is going to be asking top dollar, so its up to us to decide if hes good enough to pay it on top of all our other young middles.

The other tricky thing is his age.. just 18.. its probably the contract after this where the real difficulty keeping him would be... as hes becoming a real first grader.

I really hope we can keep him but there is a theory a super fit, hardworking lock who plays a lot of minutes but on less money and isn't such a weapon in attack is a better balance for the team. Leave some of these attacking weapon backrowers coming through the grades more freedom to do their thing.

 

[Just a Mug Fan]

Finau Latu in demand.

View attachment 567

Mick doing his jobs with meetings coming up this week.

 

[AyiosYiorgos]

Mick doing his jobs with meetings coming up this week.

Hopefully he does a great job and gets him to sign an extension with us.
Would love to be in these meetings..

 

[Mailroomsgi]

Latu news by the Mole sounds like Agent talk to drum up more interest with round 6 deadline close, not worried about the situation really. His best mates are at the club and his family’s moved to the gong.

If we want to keep him we’ll keep him (we definitely should be keeping him IMO)

If we decide to let one of the most talented young forwards in the country (in a position we are desperately lacking) go then that says it all really

 

[Dave03]

Latu news by the Mole sounds like Agent talk to drum up more interest with round 6 deadline close, not worried about the situation really. His best mates are at the club and his family’s moved to the gong.

If we want to keep him we’ll keep him (we definitely should be keeping him IMO)

If we decide to let one of the most talented young forwards in the country (in a position we are desperately lacking) go then that says it all really

It's not the end of the world if he leaves, we've got tons of forwards coming through the system. If we pay top $$$ to all of them, we'll hardly keep any. I hope we keep him but not stuffing our salary cap for him either. Reality is we're not going to keep all of them but we can't put all our eggs in one basket either.

 

[AyiosYiorgos]

It's not the end of the world if he leaves, we've got tons of forwards coming through the system. If we pay top $$$ to all of them, we'll hardly keep any. I hope we keep him but not stuffing our salary cap for him either. Reality is we're not going to keep all of them but we can't put all our eggs in one basket either.

Reality is we should be keeping the better ones and he is right up there with the most talented if not THE most talented we have, so it's a no brainer, re the salary cap, don't think by signing him we stuff our salary cap even if we paid him slightly overs, our top 30 is currently stacked with a host of younger players, Loko, Stewart, Egan , Jake(next year) etc wouldn't be on big money currently if they're thats cap mismanagement.

 

[AyiosYiorgos]

Francis Molo cleared to join Dolphins as contractual spat comes to an end​

Former Maroon Francis Molo is heading back to Queensland with the long running contractual dispute between the wantaway Dragon and his club finally resolved.
Michael Carayannis and Peter Badel

less than 2 min read
March 26, 2025 - 1:39PM
News Sport Network
https://archive.md/LOLf7#comments

NRL: The NRL 360 panel rack their brains over why the St George Illawarra Dragons granted an immediate release to Francis Molo.
The Francis Molo saga is set to finally come to an end enabling the former Queensland prop to make his Dolphins debut next week.
The prolonged stand-off between Molo and his former club St George Illawarra has all but been resolved which will allow Molo to take up a deal to join the Dolphins.
The contract at the Dolphins is until the end of next season. Molo had agreed to join the Dolphins shortly after his release from St George Illawarra.

NRL 2024 RD15 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles v St. George Illawarra Dragons - Francis Molo. Picture: NRL Photos
However, he was delayed from linking with the Dolphins after the Dragons and Molo were involved in yet another dispute - this time on how the six figure sum owed by Molo should be paid back.
The Dragons wanted Molo to pay back the money directly while the Molo camp were hoping for Dolphins could repay the money as part of a transfer fee. However, the transfer fee would not have given the Dragons any salary cap relief.
Molo should be right to play for the Dolphins in their round five clash against the Titans.

 

[Mailroomsgi]

We are shedding a few players like Eisenhuth,Allan and Mick Molo at the end of the season who can be replaced by the younger guys who have a lot more to add to the first grade side this time next year.

The way I look at it is, if we miss out on Latu. Who are we going to sign or attract that is better or will be better than him in 2-3 years time?

The answer is probably no one