Rising St George Illawarra Dragons star Loko Pasifiki Tonga will remain at the club, seemingly for as long as Dean Young is the head coach.
That is the latest revelation made, with a secret clause added to his new deal with the Red V that ties him to the joint-venture through to the end of 2029.
News Corp are reporting there is a secret clause in that contract which will allow Pasifiki Tonga to look around for a new home if Young is not the head coach of the club anytime between now and when that contract expires.
Pasifiki Tonga has had something of an intriguing year in the contract space at the Dragons.
The rising talent is rated as one of the best young forwards in the game, and has shown it during the second half of the year, having previously played junior State of Origin for New South Wales.
It was with great concern earlier in the year for the Dragons then that he had requested a release from the club, owing to the fact he wasn't getting playing time under Shane Flanagan.
Limited to a role in the NSW Cup, Pasifiki Tonga's request for a release was eventually withdrawn, with Dean Young handing him more minutes in an interim capacity after Flanagan's departure.
Young was then announced as the permanent coach of the Dragons, and Pasifiki Tonga, alongside other young forwards Jacob Halangahu, Toby Couchman and brother Ryan Couchman, all decided to re-sign within a matter of weeks.
It was an enormous show of faith in the club's future direction from the quartet of rising stars, with the Red V also locking up a number of external signings for next year as they look to fix their attack, led by spine stars Luke Metcalf, Kodi Nikorima and Scott Drinkwater.
Speaking to Channel Nine shortly after his re-signing, Pasifki Tonga's manager revealed Young was the reason he re-signed.
"For Loko, (the decision to re-sign) was about who was coaching the club,” Craig Clifton said at the time.
“Dean is getting the best out of Loko as a front-rower. Loko trusted that Dean would bring the players in to that great forward pack so that the club can improve.
“His goal is to work hard and keep that starting position. He will do his job.
“He loves the club, he wants to be there and he wants the club to be successful. He is very happy to be part of the Dragons' rejuvenation that seems to be occurring down there for 2027 and beyond.”
The prop finished the year with 18 first-grade appearances, running for 117 metres per game despite limited minutes in many of them, while he also tackled at 97 per cent.
