A groundswell of support from fans hasn't been enough to stop Tyrell Sloan from departing the St George Illawarra Dragons at the end of 2026, but the outside back has promised he will be back in the NRL one day.
The winger, who is one of three Dragons joining English club the Castleford Tigers next year, has been viewed as the most likely to backflip on the deal.
While Sloan himself has said he will honour the contract, rumours started some weeks ago when coach Ryan Carr - who worked with Sloan at the Dragons as an assistant coach and then interim head coach - was let go.
Sloan has made it clear on more than one occasion he doesn't want to leave, although well noted defensive and ball handling issues ultimately saw the Dragons fail to offer him a new deal.
His form in recent weeks has turned something of a corner, and it has led to suggestions he should have been offered a new deal.
A stunning two-point field goal in the final minutes of the Dragons' Round 27 win against the Parramatta Eels - their third in five starts to end the season despite being locked in to the wooden spoon during the run - added to the question marks.
The outside back, speaking to ESPN, said he will be back in the NRL one day.
"I don't reckon it'll be the last time you see me in the NRL. I'll definitely be back," Sloan told the publication.
"Regardless of what jersey I put on, I'll always have the Red V at heart."
Sloan, a Dragons junior who progressed through the club's pathways before his debut, said he would always have the Red V at heart, with his comments indicating his departure is still not set in stone.
"I guess it hasn't really sunk in, the possibility of leaving," he said.
"If I'm not here, I'll be watching the Red V from afar and cheering them on because, at the end of the day, it's always going to be a big part of my career and they'll always have my heart, for sure."
The winger and fullback, now 24 years of age, has played 97 games for the Dragons since debuting in 2021, and has also had two appearances for the Indigenous All Stars, and one for the Prime Minister's XIII.
He has 59 NRL tries to his name, and will look to add to that in the future if he does indeed return to the NRL, either with the Red V or another club.
