While the annual NRL market frenzy is set to kick off in the coming weeks, we have taken a look internally to see who your club should lock down before they look externally.

14. St. George Illawarra Dragons

Blake Lawrie

With the Dragons having signed James Graham to a two year deal with an option for a third, I have tried to avoid the hypotheticals and go for a player who is genuinely off-contract, that being local junior Blake Lawrie.

After debuting back in 2017, Lawrie cemented himself as a bench option for St George Illawarra over the back half of 2018. The Junior Kangaroos representative utilises his unusual build to great effect in contact, this in combination with his surprising agility makes the man known as Blocker tough to bring down.

After the suspension of Jack De Belin and injury to Tyson Frizell, Lawrie has been thrust into the starting line-up and performed admirably. With the 22-year old averaging an impressive 106 running metres and 32 tackles per game over the early rounds of the season.

With Director of Rugby League Pathways Ian Milward having performed brilliant business for the joint venture club to retain almost all of their off-contract stars bar Josh Dugan in previous years, expect Paul McGregor and Milward to tie down the highly rated Lawrie to an extension sooner rather than later.

WOLLONGONG, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 23: Blake Lawrie of the Dragons is tackled during the NRL trail match between the St George Illawarra Dragons and the Newcastle Knights at WIN Stadium on February 23, 2019 in Wollongong, Australia. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

6 COMMENTS

  2. Te Marie Martin? Would most likely make a useful centre. He has pace & backs up. Still a useless 5/8th & sets up very little.
    Sione Katoa? If the juniors there come up with a useful hooker? That player would have an easy run into first grade. Nothing so far from either hooker that they’ve been using.

  3. The Roosters I hope re-sign Tetevano. Such a hard worker and all round top player. The rumour is getting louder and louder George Burgess wants a Roosters contract, but Pangai Junior is being linked with the Roosters also. We already have our own Pangai Junior in Taukeiaho, Tetevano is the bloke we need to retain regardless of who is linked or rumoured to be after a position at the Chooks. Sydney Roosters also need to make sure they retain development program rookie big prop Poasa Faamausili long term as they have with Lindsay Collins until 2022💪🐔👍