Giant gun Jason Saab to ditch Mary’s Dragons as rivals circle
DRAGONS
- June 4, 2020 6:01pm
- by GEORGE CLARKE
- Source: FOX SPORTS
More bad news for Dragons fans with winger Jason Saab understood to be wanting a release. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Exclusive - The problems of besieged St George Illawarra coach Paul McGregor look set to go from bad to worse this week with giant winger Jason Saab expected to ask for a release as rival NRL clubs circle.
Saab, 19, is contracted to the Dragons until the end of 2022 but wants to explore his options in the coming days owing to his lack of gametime under McGregor’s tenure.
Foxsports.com.au understands that the 200cm tall winger, who bulked up to 110kg over the summer, has grown frustrated at McGregor’s unwillingness to back him in the top grade with other clubs after his services.
Saab, an Origin under-20s player for NSW, was part of the B Team that beat the Dragons A Team in a training session in Wollongong last week prior to the club’s embarrassing loss to the Warriors.
McGregor has persisted with wing combinations involving Zac Lomax, Jordan Pereira and Mikaele Ravalawa in the opening rounds.
Saab, who made his NRL debut last year and has scored three tries in as many games, has not been picked in the opening three rounds and that has led to sustained interest from rival clubs.
His size, aerial threat under the new rules, and ability to find the try-line has put plenty of clubs on red alert.
Jason Saab isn’t getting a look in for first grade. (AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts)Source: AAP
As it stands, only a handful of sides have top 30 spots available.
Melbourne, who are set to lose Josh Addo-Carr and Suliasi Vunivalu next year, have one space open and are said to be one potential suitor
The Wests Tigers, who are expected to release Corey Thompson to the Gold Coast, could also be an option.
Souths, the Warriors and Manly are also believed to have taken an interest in Saab but, like the Tigers, don’t have the current space in their roster as it stands, unless they were to move a player on.
Clune's ill-timed break
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Saab is not the only rising star to have struggled for an opportunity during the last year of McGregor’s reign.
Tristan Sailor, Jackson Ford and Lachlan Timm have all impressed in the lower grades over the last 12 months but have not received a sustained crack at the top grade.
Foxsports.com.au revealed earlier this year that the Dragons tabled a three-year deal worth close to $2million for Manly’s Moses Suli.
Jason Saab is understood to be asking for a release. (AAP Image/Glenn Hunt)Source: AAP
And it paints a pretty damning picture that he took unders to stay at Brookvale and snubbed the Red V.
McGregor reportedly has two games to save his job, beginning with Monday’s clash with the misfiring Bulldogs.
The coach has been under the pump since he re-signed a contract last year, with the club scraping two wins with both of them coming against the equally-poor Titans.
https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nr...s/news-story/e1759e03d29e287e32b4681ffc83c5a9
