Where could each off-contract Dragons player land?

The St George Illawarra Dragons are in trouble. That statement should be one all rugby league fans can agree with. Winless this season, in fact, winless in their last ten NRL matches, dating back to August of last year. Shane Flanagan is holding on to his job by the skin of his teeth and the club has introduced a well-reported-on retention freeze for all off-contract players. With Jaydn Su'a confirming his departure to the Parramatta Eels, that means there could be up to nine more players leaving the Red V at the end of the year. A total roster clean out is exactly what the Dragons need, but let's turn the focus away from the Dragons for a moment and focus on what the future could hold for these nine off-contract players. Damien Cook Dragons' co-captain and seasoned veteran, Damien Cook, was on the verge of inking a contract extension for the 2027 season before the freeze put it on hold. Now he finds himself in limbo not knowing if he will remain a Saint in 2027. At 34 years old, it's fair to say Cook is in his twilight years. He has been one of the better performers for the Dragons this season. However, with Jacob Liddle waiting in the wings, it was surprising the club was willing to extend Cook in the first place. It looks most likely that, once the freeze is lifted, Cook will re-sign for one more season. If he weren't to stay at the Dragons, though, it's hard to see Cook relocating out of Sydney, and a move back to the South Sydney Rabbitohs could be on the cards. The Rabbitohs currently have Peter Mamouzelos, Bronson Garlick and Brandon Smith at their disposal, but no one at the club would be opposed to bringing in Cook for one final swan song. Mathew Feagai After making his debut in 2021, Mathew Feagai looked set for a long career at the Dragons, playing almost every game in the 2022 and 2023 seasons. However, since Shane Flanagan's arrival, he has only managed 20 appearances for the club over the last three seasons. His twin brother, Max Feagai, departed at the end of the 2024 season, and is currently plying his trade at the Gold Coast Titans. With Philip Sami departing, the most likely destination for Feagai is to reunite with his brother in Queensland, who is contracted to the Titans till the end of the 2027 season. While he is primarily a centre, he can play on the wing too, providing extra depth for the Titans' outside backs. Emre Guler If Emre Guler is re-signed when the retention freeze is lifted, it may very well be the final straw for Dragons fans. An extremely underwhelming prop whose presence is ultimately preventing Loko Pasifiki Tonga's inclusion in first grade, it's hard to see Guler as a starting prop anywhere else in the NRL. The 28-year-old doesn't seem destined for the Super League, although it is certainly an option, and will most likely be picked up on a cut-price deal in the NRL. The Perth Bears could be on the hunt for depth and so might the Brisbane Broncos. The prop would certainly prefer to remain in NSW, but it's hard to see any of them wanting to add Guler to their roster, except for maybe the Newcastle Knights and Parramatta Eels. Blake Lawrie One of the Dragons' biggest retention blunders in recent years was re-signing Blake Lawrie on a deal worth $600,000 a season. At the time, it looked like a decent deal, but it can definitely be deemed a blunder now. The Dragons were reportedly shopping Lawrie around the league throughout the 2025 season, which indicates that even without the retention freeze, the 29-year-old would not and will not be offered a contract extension. Lawrie is certainly passionate, but considering he isn't getting game time at the worst team in the league, makes you think his time in the NRL may be up. With an opportunity for more minutes and potentially a similar contract to what he is on now, the Super League could be the destination for Lawrie. Nathan Lawson Unfortunately for Nathan Lawson, his transition from Rugby 7's to rugby league hasn't been smooth sailing with injuries hindering his progress. The 27-year-old has only managed four appearances for the Dragons since his arrival, albeit showing very promising glimpses of what he is capable of. However, it seems highly unlikely the Dragons will extend the contract of someone so injury prone. So, for Lawson, it doesn't seem like the NRL experiment will last any longer, and he may find himself returning to Rugby 7's ahead of the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. Luciano Leilua Often described as a forward with the ball-playing and creativity of a back, Luciano Leilua is another contract the Dragons will be hoping to reduce or get rid of entirely. A player who, if hot, can turn a game on its head, Leilua will certainly have a contract next year, whether at the Red V or somewhere else in the NRL. As stated though, if the Dragons decide on re-signing him, they will be trying to reduce his mammoth contract of $775,000 a season. Leilua is good, at times he is great, but he is too inconsistent to be on that kind of money as a second-rower. If moved on, the Broncos could be an option. They only have Brendan Piakura, Jordan Riki and Jack Gosiewski as second row options. Another option is the Sydney Roosters, with Angus Crichton leaving for rugby union it leaves a starting second row spot up for grabs. Hame Sele At this stage of his career, Hame Sele would prove a handy depth signing for any NRL club. He is a defensive workhorse with a tackle efficiency score over 99 per cent this season, but struggles going forward, averaging roughly 70 metres per game. Sele has also faced numerous injuries since returning to the club he made his debut at. However, if Sele can remain injury-free, there is no reason the Dragons should not retain him on an inexpensive deal, keeping him for depth and experience in the young emerging forward pack. If the club is serious about a total clean out, though, there are a few other options, but not many, considering Sele has spent his entire career in Sydney, and at 29 years old, he is unlikely to venture out of NSW. One potential option for Sele is the Eels. This relies on Western Sydney's club decision on extending Jack De Belin and Dylan Walker beyond this season, though, with the latter expected to re-sign. Tyrell Sloan If re-signing Guler isn't the final straw for Dragons fans, re-signing Tyrell Sloan would be. Sloan was shopped around in the 2025 season with links to the Penrith Panthers, Melbourne Storm and even the London Broncos, before a new rumour emerged earlier this year that the Titans were eyeing off Sloan as a replacement for the departing Sami. He may be starting at fullback while Clinton Gutherson is out, but simply put, Sloan has no future at the Dragons, even without the retention freeze, he was not going to be offered an extension. Sloan is still only 23, and a move to the Super League is certainly on the cards, with previous NRL live wires such as Jai Field, Matt Dufty and Blake Taaffe all making the move and finding success. If his heart is set on staying in the NRL, though, a move to the Storm would make sense. He already has the natural speed which you can't teach, and under the guidance of Craig Bellamy, Sloan would learn to maximise his attacking output and fix his defence. Christian Tuipulotu A genuine try-scoring winger who has shown real quality and unwavering passion during his time at the Saints, Christian Tuipulotu is let down by how injury prone he is. He has mustered only 21 games for the Red V across his first two seasons due to these injuries and would be a risk that any club would have to take on when offering Tuipulotu a contract. The Roosters are a realistic option with Mark Nawaqintawase departing at the season's end. Another option is the Cronulla Sharks. Sione Katoa is off-contract and Sam Stonestreet has been underwhelming to start the season, so bringing in 'CT' could be an option they would explore. Regardless of where he ends up, there still should be a place for the 25-year-old in the league, but as stated, his injury proneness certainly reduces his attractiveness to potential suitors.

		P	W	L	PTS	+/-
1	PEN	7	6	1	12	135
2	NZW	7	5	2	10	98
3	WST	5	4	1	10	64
4	MAN	6	3	3	8	38
5	SOU	5	3	2	8	12
6	NEW	6	4	2	8	12
7	CRO	6	3	3	8	6
8	CAN	5	3	2	8	5

Where could each off-contract Dragons player land?

The retention freeze could result in a roster clean out.

Nathan Lawson

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