St George Illawarra Dragons speedster Tyrell Sloan has spoken on his imminent departure from Wollongong after signing a deal with the Castleford Tigers in the Super League for 2027.
Sloan admitted he would prefer to stay in the NRL, but with the Red V undergoing a strong recruitment drive, it's left Sloan without a deal with the Dragons next year as the club undergoes a major rebuild.
The Dragons will welcome Scott Drinkwater, Kodi Nikorima, Keaon Koloamatangi, Luke Metcalf, Phillip Sami, and Connor Watson to the club, while farewelling Sloan, Damien Cook, Mathew Feagai, Luciano Leilua, and Jaydn Su'A, with others expected to follow.
The club picked up its fourth win of the season, and first back-to-back wins of the year after a late fightback from the Tigers resulting in a 24-22 victory for the Dragons.
Sloan has picked up some quality form on the left wing for the Dragons, with some of the game's best handing the Wollongong junior the ultimate praise.
“I can't believe he's going to the Super League; he's too good a player to be leaving the NRL at this age,” Andrew Johns said of Sloan on Nine's coverage.
“Eight games, eight tries. He has absolutely top-end speed. He's been bouncing around at fullback and wing, but I think left wing's his spot. There's a real player in Tyrell Sloan; I think he's found his spot.”
Sloan wasn't able to lock down the fullback jersey in Shane Flanagan's reign at the club and found himself in and out of the first-grade side.
New coach Dean Young has instilled belief in Sloan to continue with a role in the NRL team, finding his home on the wing and providing the Dragons with some much-needed lethal attack.
“(My confidence has come from) Dean, definitely Youngy, just the way he backs me,” Sloan told Nine following full-time.
“He's been able to have those tough conversations but also help me learn from what I've done and my mistakes. Just having him in my corner (is great) and finally having a great coach that's backing me.”
Sloan is set to link up with former Dragons assistant Ryan Carr, head coach of the Castleford outfit.
However, strange circumstances have led Carr to step away on leave while an investigation by the club gets underway, leaving his future at the Tigers in doubt.
Reports emerged Tigers boss Chris Chester has assured the incoming recruits the club is headed in the right direction, with Sloan admitting remaining in the NRL would be his first choice.
“It's something I didn't want to do, but unfortunately that's how the footy world works and the decision was made a few months ago, and there's a bit in the background going on with Carry over there,” Sloan added.
“It's a tough decision to leave home, but I'm looking forward to it, particularly with having Cookie over there too.”
The Dragons' second consecutive win edges them closer to jumping off the bottom of the ladder, with the gap between them and second-last Broncos closing to two wins.
