St George Illawarra Dragons prop Emre Guler has been released from the remainder of his playing contract with the club, effective immediately.
Guler was off-contract at the end of this year with the Dragons, and it has long been reported that he would not be re-signed.
The 28-year-old joined the club from the Canberra Raiders at the start of 2025, and has had a mixed stint with the joint venture amid their struggles, which currently see the side sitting at the bottom of the NRL ladder.
Guler started the year in first grade under Shane Flanagan, but struggled to put in the performances that would keep him in the team, seeing his minutes reduced and then finally being axed to the bench in Round 11, and then out of the side altogether after Round 13.
Injuries have meant he returned off the bench in Round 17 against his former club the Raiders, before he also played in Rounds 22, 23 and 24.
He was named to play this Saturday against the Canterbury Bulldogs by now permanent head coach Dean Young, but will not take his place in the game, with News Corp revealing on Wednesday morning that he has been released to join Wakefield Trinity with immediate effect.
Guler has already signed a contract with the English club from the start of 2027.
Neither club have confirmed the news at this stage, but it's believed Guler said his goodbyes to his teammates this morning and will fly to the United Kingdom this week.
In the English Super League, clubs have until August 21 to add to their squad for the year, unlike in the NRL when the deadline is at the end of July, allowing the club to pick up Guler on a new deal.
The Dragons, who can still avoid the wooden spoon if they win their final three games of the year and have other results go their way, will likely shuffle Toby Couchman back into the starting side as a result of Guler's departure, with forward reserves Blake Lawrie or Luciano Leilua likely to come onto the six-man bench.
Guler has played 33 games for the Dragons since joining the club.
