The Dragons have picked up NSW Origin hopeful Paul Vaughan for the 2017 NRL season after the Raiders agreed to release the prop.
The signing confirms one of the post-seasons worst kept secrets. The hulking prop will link with the Dragons on a three-year contract believed to be in the region of $1.75 million.
Vaughan has played his entire 85 game career to date with the Raiders but fell out of Ricky Stuart’s top 17 following the arrival of Junior Paulo and Joseph Tapine and the emergence of young stars Clay Priest and Luke Bateman.
It’s a massive boost to the Dragons heavily derided forward pack, which now features Australian international Tyson Frizell, English international Mike Cooper, and man-mountain Mose Masoe, who missed the entirety of 2016 with an ACL injury.
Dragons recruitment manager Ian Millward trumpeted the “welcome addition”.
“Paul is a big-sized front-rower who has played representative rugby league for several seasons now,” Millward said.
“His experience and presence will be a welcome addition to our current forward pack.”
Vaughan will start training with the Dragons in their first pre-season block next month and said he was excited by the talent he would be playing alongside.
“I’m very happy to be joining the Dragons who have such a rich history and looking forward to starting the pre-season alongside my new teammates,” Vaughan said.
In further signing news, Souths back-up hooker Damien Cook has knocked back an offer from premiers Cronulla to extend his stay at the Burrow until at least the end of 2019.
Cook’s extension now creates an interesting tussle for the No.9 jersey with incumbent NSW hooker Robbie Farah after his well-publicised departure from the Wests Tigers. The former Tigers hooker is expected to get first crack at the starting role.
It’s a welcome headache for the Redfern club after hooker Cameron McInness signed with the Dragons last month.
Albo
Guest
Yep ! Massive overs ! $600k per year for a 20 minute bruiser straight out of Mounties ! Seems the Dragons need to pay overs just to get anyone ?
Magnus M. Østergaard
Roar Guru
Sheesh.. that is massive overs for him, no wonder he took it up... For the dragons sakes I hope its mostly 3rd party. For someone yet to play any rep other than city country its a big risk!! Hopefully it doesnt cost the Dragons any of their juniors like Hutchinson or Leilui.
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Guest
Lets not get too carried away - Vaughan only played for 21 minutes in the prelim but did make 72 metres in that time. Junior Paulo played for 55 and ran 135 metres.
MAX
Guest
Agreed TB. Hope for Saints sake he gets a bit of ginger back.
Dutski
Roar Guru
Great pickup for the Dragons - adding size and aggression. I think he'll be feeling like he has something to prove.
Rocc
Guest
A great pick-up for the Dragons, best Raiders front rower in prelim. https://matchcentre.nrl.com/match/2016/111/20161112920/#player-stats
Craig
Guest
Vaughan is a good player, interesting to see what the Dragons can get out of him.
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Guest
Shame to see Vaughan - a local junior - leave the Raiders when you'd think he should be reaching his peak. I would have preferred to see him stay and fight for a spot in first grade but I guess he could see better opportunities elsewhere and the money on offer from the Dragons was too good to refuse. Vaughan dropped down the prop pecking order with the arrival of Paulo and Tapine and even the late bloomer Clay Priest was more highly regarded for much of the season. Not sure why Vaughan's form fell away so badly this season. I don't think it was injuries. He really struggled to make much yardage with his runs and struggled in defence when he was given an opportunity. Perhaps a change of scenery will do him good.
The Barry
Roar Guru
He's a very good player and will help the Dragons out but a tick under $600K a year is pretty pricey for a prop yet to play origin or test footy...
Tripehound
Guest
Yes he's gone back to Warrington.
Farqueue
Guest
Didn't Mike Cooper return to England?