The St George Illawarra Dragons 2026 campaign has gone from bad to worse, with reports surfacing that rising star Loko Pasifiki Tonga has put in a formal bid with the Red V to negotiate with rival clubs.
The owner of his management company, former NRL star Mat Rogers, has given an insight into the potential release of the client at Rogers Sports Management.
Pasifiki Tonga is not a direct client of Rogers', although he lifted the lid on SEN's 1170 Sportsday, suggesting that the bid to speak with rivals is because he feels he hasn't been given a crack in first grade despite showing strong signs he's ready for the jump to the NRL.
"He's a tremendous young man," he said on SEN 1170 Sportsday.
"He played 10 games for the Dragons last year. He had a big off-season.
"He came back last week, ran for 250 metres, 70 post contact metres, scored a try.
"They've obviously got an opinion of him that, he's not up to scratch.
"He doesn't feel like he's being developed and I guess we agree.
"It's not a good sign for St George. You've got Jaydn Su'a walking out the door, you've got a young kid who's just totally flabbergasted at the way he's been sort of treated and not coached.
"He doesn't know what to do. That's the problem.
"Whether or not they will (let him go), they might dig their heels in, they've got some more pressing issues in relation to winning games of football.
"There's a very frustrated young man there who's busting his butt and he's playing the house down and scored two tries in the three matches he's played."
The towering enforcer made 10 appearances for the Red V in 2025, including a try, averaging 74 run metres, and totalling 169 tackles at close to 98 per cent efficiency when in the top grade.
Despite being contracted until the end of 2027, we may see an influx of clubs looking for his signature.
"He thinks he deserves an opportunity, and now it's not sour grapes, he just feels like he's not being told what to do," Rogers added.
"I can't get better because I don't know where they want me to work to get better... and there's a team that's 0 and 6, and they won't make a change.
"A player of his stature... in the game, 19-20- years old, 115 kg, 6'5, runs like the wind, I'm sure he'll be on the radar of many other clubs."
Despite the club going zero and six to start the year, few changes have been made to the side.
Pressure is mounting on coach Shane Flanagan to get them back on track for season 2026, with their next challenge coming against the Rabbitohs on Saturday.
