If you are one of the few remaining diehard Dragons supporters, the past decade will have not only sorely tested your loyalty to the Red V, but also your enjoyment of the game as a whole.
Under the inept coaching of Paul McGregor and Anthony Griffin, the Dragons have become a shadow of the club that won the competition way back in 2010, and mediocrity has become the norm. No one really takes the club as a serious threat anymore.
Just look at their results over the last ten years. Their highest finish was 7th back in 2018 when they made it as far as the semi-finals, and their only other top 8 result was in 2015 when they crept into 8th place only to promptly disappear in week 1 of the finals.
On average, they’ve finished in 11th place over the past decade, just missed out on the wooden spoon last year, and will probably challenge the Tigers for last place in 2024.
Fortunately, Griffin has now been returned to Fox Sports and the club has now put its faith in the premiership-winning and highly controversial Shane Flanagan to hopefully revive the club before someone finally pulls the plug on the respirator.
The question is, does Flanno have the players to do it? I think the short answer to that question at the present time is a resounding no, certainly not in the short term, and the best outcome the Dragons could expect during Flanagan’s three-year tenure is to restructure their playing roster to the extent that they will be highly competitive from 2026 on.
Let’s not forget the insane recruitment and retention decisions made under Griffin, many of which can’t easily be resolved, so roster management will be the key to St George Illawarra’s future success.
In good news for the club, they have 18 players off contract, either currently or from the end of 2024, so it’s a great opportunity to get rid of some dead wood, free up some cash and get active in the player market. Billy Burns, Tyrell Fuimaono, Nick Lui-Toso, Tautau Moga are all off contract now, and only Moga should be offered an extension in my view, as he’s performed well when given the opportunity and will provide good cover for Zac Lomax if he’s moved to fullback.
A further 14 players come off contract at the end of 2024 and can begin contract negotiations from next week. Of that cohort, only the Molo brothers, Jaydn Su’A and Moses Suli look worth locking down before they go to market, while Talatau Amone should have his contract torn up ASAP after being found guilty of a serious assault.
I’ve now seen enough of the Feagai twins to be happy to let them go, Tyrell Sloan has proven to be the worst defender in the competition since Matt Dufty and should be set free, Cody Ramsey is highly unlikely to ever make it back on the field following his illness, Jack Bird was once a good player in 2016, while Jack De Belin and Ben Murdoch-Masila will be pretty long in the tooth by the time 2025 rolls around. Let them all go I say, and the sooner the better. After all, these are the players who have been setting the standard, and a poor standard at that.
Flanno also has “wantaway” captain Ben Hunt to deal with. Hunt will be 34 by the time the 2024 season kicks off, and although contracted to the Dragons until the end of 2025 at $1.1m per season, should be let go sooner rather than later if his heart isn’t in it. The club doesn’t need a sook for a captain.
Even if Hunt stays, the Dragons have a big problem with their spine. They stupidly let halfback Jayden Sullivan head to the Tigers this year, Amone should get punted as previously mentioned, the fullback options in Sloan and Ramsay are both injured, and the highlight reels of dummy halves in Jacob Liddle and the, as yet unsigned Connor Muhleisen will hardly keep opposition coaches up at night.
It really makes you wonder what, if anything, the Dragons were thinking? The only good news, if that’s what you call it, is that they’ve signed Kyle Flanagan who can play either half or hooker.
Looking through the players currently off contract at rival clubs there’s clearly not much for the Dragons to choose from, although the Roosters pair of Corey Allan and Billy Smith could be worth pursuing.
Allan is just 25, was in good form towards the end of the 2023 season and could immediately solve the fullback problem for the Dragons, at least in the short term, while Billy Smith is just 23, and is a very good outside back who’s finally playing injury free.
Signing Smith would allow Moses Suli to shift to the wing where he would be far more effective considering he’s passed the ball about four times since joining the club.
Ben Hunt. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
Of more interest to the Dragons will be the players coming off contract at the end of 2024, and here are some names that they certainly should have on their wish list:
Connor Tracey (Age 27) – The Cronulla utility would be a great fit at the Dragons and is equally at home at fullback, five eighth, or in the outside backs.
Nick Meaney (Age 26) – The Dragons should have signed him when he left the Bulldogs in 2021. A great fullback who also provides some utility value, Meaney might soon be feeling the pinch at the Storm with the return of Ryan Papenhuyzen and the sudden emergence of Sua Fa’alogo.
Jordan Riki (Age 23) – Another underpaid Bronco star who had a sensational year in 2023 would be a readymade replacement for Jaydn Su’A if he signs elsewhere.
Jacob Saifiti (Age 27) – Saifiti is a big, mean customer and would make a great enforcer for St George Illawarra, and it’s rumoured that the Knights are struggling to find the cash to keep him.
Tom Dearden (Age 22) – The Cowboys will try hard to keep this energetic little playmaker, but I doubt they’ll be able to come up with his current market price. I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Dragons pay overs to sign him.
Sunia Turuva (Age 21) – Turuva is the latest gun to emerge from the Penrith system and would look good in the Dragons’ No.1 jersey. He’ll be in hot demand, should be earning “fullback money”, and surely he doesn’t want to wait in the queue until Dylan Edwards hangs up his boots?
Nat Butcher (Age 26) – Butcher is one of the hardest working forwards in the game and would make a great forward leader at the Dragons. He might be hard to shift from Bondi, but money talks.
Mitch Kenny (Age 25) – Kenny has been a revelation since taking over at hooker from Apisai Koroisau and has played a big role in their premiership wins in both 2022 and 2023. I suspect he isn’t on big dollars at the moment and Penrith may struggle to pay him what he’s worth.
These are just some of the recruitment options for the Dragons, and clearly they won’t be signing them all, and there’s at least a dozen more quality players they should be looking at. Given the Dragons have got the same money to spend as every other club, they need to get active in the market now.
I suspect that 2024 could be another grim season for St George Illawarra fans, but I’ll be happy if the club can at least take the first steps to build a squad that Flanagan can work with.
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
I remember the Knights trying to repeat the glory days with another crop of locals but they weren't of the same standard and that's the problem. You get one Joey Johns every hundred years or so and he was the driving force behind a pair of titles.
Panthers
Roar Rookie
Perhaps it rarely happens, as clubs want to do everything the easy way? Are you outbidding the Roosters for the best of best buys? Or South’s , or a few others? Even the Roosters, Dogs . For all of their spending are looking to do their versions of building from within. Even if many of the players they do & will produce aren’t actually from their local areas. Producing your own players, if it can be sustained. Is cheaper in the long run. Besides the obvious benefits of producing your own players. It’s better for the game overall . In my opinion, it should be mandatory for any NRL club , to also be required to support a country area .
Tony
Roar Guru
Building from within has to be the ultimate goal, but they'll need to refresh their roster in the short term in order to be competitive
Tony
Roar Guru
Yes, I see your point, but in the end it will come down to money
Panthers
Roar Rookie
With some clubs , they are looking to buy so many players from elsewhere. That they may fail to keep many players they already have at the club. Players such as South’s Peter Mamouzelos ( hooker ), Dean Hawkins ( halfback ) & Cup player of the year. There’s a whole heap of such players, from the best NSW Cup sides from 2023. Best value players & good players. That’s where the Dragons should look first.
Panthers
Roar Rookie
Of course there’s always the thought , that building from within is the way to go? It’s not something that will be immediately evident with results . Just get the right people in place to keep the best of your young locals . Or in the Dragons case , the best Illawarra juniors. Good coaching. Add a few workers from elsewhere. A decent pathways system , for players from right down the south coast for example. You never know what can be achieved.
Panthers
Roar Rookie
The Dragons will have to get past the likes of the Rabbits, Bulldogs , Storm & Roosters. Plus the actual Queensland sides to get many good players from Queensland. Those clubs all have their Queensland feeder sides & always have more to spend. Plus they have eyes on the ground in that state. So will most likely be on the spot , to pick up the best of the locals . At least those that won’t be playing for the Queensland sides.
Tony
Roar Guru
Just so long as you didn’t swim in that
sewerriverjimmmy
Roar Rookie
I've been in the Florence of the South. Getting some Culcha ( oh and a RL Test Match ).
Tony
Roar Guru
:laughing: I've been waiting 5 days for your response Jimmy
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
' Cowboys aren't anything special'. Wash your mouth out young man.
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
It's good to see some people actually observe the game. Tommy is my favourite Cowboy but he has virtually no kicking game and doesn't really like ' organising' . He is what he is, a great runner, a superb defender and a guy who alwaysbacks up.
Tony
Roar Guru
You're not alone Damien. I wonder what Frank Facer would make of the way things are now? It's time for change at the Dragons, and it needs to begin now.
Damien Calgaro
Roar Rookie
The club is surely getting a spoon next season. Such an average squad and the culture there is toxic and has been for over a decade. Illawarra Dragons are the last resort for players these days just like the Magpies of the 80's and 90's. Its sad as a long time supporter to see a once proud club become so inept and embarrassing on and off the field.
Tony
Roar Guru
I don't think Dragons supporters can expect much in 2024 result wise, and the wooden spoon isn't out of the question, but it's an opportunity to clear out some of the rubbish on the roster and pick up some new (and better) players, from 2025 on.
jammel
Roar Rookie
Yeah, I am sold on Lomax as a #1 just yet. Sloan is great in attack, but his tackling at FB needs a lot of work. Needs to bulk up to assist in that regard. Dragons have plenty of solid players, and the squad may be able to be galvanised. But I am not confident that 2024 will be good for St george. I was in the pub with my mates the other day and we all agreed (5 of us) that STGI will be favourites for the spoon in 2024.... Saw Deardon mentioned above. He'd be superb for the Raiders at #6!! He'd be a better option than us going after Luai....
Tez
Roar Rookie
I am prepared to not expect too much in 2024 cos anyone decent we sign will probably not be available until 2025. Even if our side is young in age and experience I do want to see them tackling and putting in 2nd and 3rd efforts. Good defence will put us in the position to win some games we might not be expected to win.
andrew
Roar Rookie
He's probably going to wait for a telegram from King Charles when he hits the magic 100.
Tony
Roar Guru
Yep, the players need to be fit for purpose, regardless of where they come from.
Bunney
Roar Rookie
Cast your mind back a couple of years and there was huge amounts of optimism around a new batch of promising juniors coming through: O'Sullivan, Sloan, Amone & to a lesser extent, Ramsey...