Potential Dolphins target Jaydn Su’A heads the list of 24 Dragons in contract limbo
Up to 80 per cent of the St George Illawarra Dragons player roster could be offloaded within two years – some may see a crisis but for the right coach it could be a huge opportunity.
David Riccio
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Peter Badel
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Michael Carayannis
3 min read
March 31, 2023 - 4:00PM
News Corp Australia Sports Newsroom
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Dolphins coach Wayne Bennett has revealed his interest in signing Jaydn Su’A as the Queensland Origin hitman weighs up his future at the Dragons.
Su’A will be a key man for the Dragons in Saturday’s clash against the Dolphins at WIN Stadium, but Bennett is circling amid speculation the St George Illawarra enforcer may consider a return to Queensland for family reasons.
The development has emerged amid a backdrop of uncertainty surrounding head coach Anthony Griffin and the confronting reality that 80 per cent of the Dragons current roster are yet to be re-signed beyond next season.
As it stands, St George-Illawarra have 24 players that could be available from November 1 this year.
Among the list are the club’s biggest names including Tyrell Sloan, Junior Amone, Jack Bird, Moses Suli, Matthew Feagai, Max Feagai and Su’A.
The bloated list of players yet to commit to Saints could also prove beneficial, should the club move on Griffin.
(L-R) Tyrell Sloan, Jaydn Su'A and Jack Bird are among those available from November 1.
(L-R) Tyrell Sloan, Jaydn Su'A and Jack Bird are among those available from November 1.
It would allow an incoming coach to make immediate calls on the roster without inheriting players on long contracts.
The club isn’t sitting idle with discussions underway with winger Mikaele Ravalawa in the hope of locking him down on a multi-year deal.
Ravalawa has an option in his favour for 2024 that he is yet to take up, however the club are hopeful of making progress to keep him at the club.
Jack de Belin has already taken up his option to remain at the club for 2024.
The deal worth about $800,000 ensures de Belin is amongst the highest paid players at the club. De Belin will be 33 when his deal ends.
The rest of the uncontracted players including regular first team starters Moses Mbye, Jacob Liddle and Josh Kerr are yet to receive new deals.
However, Bennett’s interest in Su’A should be treated with alarm by Dragons officials.
Off-Contract Dragons (2023)
Billy Burns
Age: 24 NRL games: 31
Jacob Liddle
Age: 26 NRL games: 76
Josh Kerr
Age: 27 NRL games: 57
Moses Mbye
Age: 29 NRL games: 182
Nick Lui-Toso
Age: 26 NRL games: 0
Tautau Moga
Age: 29 NRL games: 84
Tyrell Fuimaono
Age: 27 NRL games: 65
Michael Molo (player option)
Age: 26 NRL games: 9
Mikaele Ravalawa (player option)
Age: 25 NRL games: 68
Jack de Belin (player option)
Age: 32 NRL games: 189
Off-Contract Dragons (2024)
Alec Tuitavake
Age: 22 NRL games: 0
Ben Murdoch-Masila
Age: 32 NRL games: 88
Cody Ramsey
Age: 23 NRL games: 36
Francis Molo
Age: 28 NRL games: 100
Jaiyden Hunt
Age: 24 NRL games: 7
Jaydn Su’A
Age: 25 NRL games: 104
Matthew Feagai
Age: 22 NRL games: 31
Max Feagai
Age: 22 NRL games: 6
Jack Bird (mutual option)
Age: 28 NRL games: 131
Moses Suli
Age: 24 NRL games: 99
Paul Turner
Age: 22 NRL games: 10
Talatau Amone
Age: 20 NRL games: 35
Tyrell Sloan
Age: NRL games:
Zane Musgrove
Age: 20 NRL games: 16
Su’A has a long history with Bennett, who gave the 25-year-old his Broncos debut in 2016, threw him a lifeline at Souths and also handed the hard-hitting back-rower his Queensland Origin baptism in 2020.
The Samoan World Cup star is contracted to the Dragons until the end of next year, but Bennett says if Su’A is open to a fresh start at the Dolphins, he is keen to talk to him.
“I would certainly be interested in Jaydn Su’A,” Bennett said ahead of the Dolphins-Dragons round 5 clash in Wollongong.
“From my understanding, Jaydn has another year to go with the Dragons but I have a good relationship with him.
“He was a very good player for me at the Broncos, I brought him into first grade and then I gave him a chance at South Sydney when he was struggling with injury (at Brisbane) and he was outstanding for us at the Rabbitohs.
“If and when he becomes a free agent, if Jaydn wants to come back to Queensland, I’m certainly keen to talk to him.”
Wayne Bennett talks to Jaydn Su'A at Maroons training.
Wayne Bennett talks to Jaydn Su'A at Maroons training.
It is understood Su’A considered asking for a release last year during a difficult 2022 season for the Red V, but he never formally advised Dragons bosses he wanted out.
Another disastrous campaign this season could convince Su’A to reunite with Bennett, especially due to his family ties in Queensland.
A veteran of 105 NRL games, Su’A said while he misses his family in Queensland, he is content with his football at the Dragons.
“I’m genuinely happy here at the Dragons,” he said.
“My partner is set-up down here, she works at one of the hospitals here.
“We obviously do miss our family. I don’t get to go home too much and that can be hard.
“There‘s obviously days where you miss home.
“But I’ve created a good bond with the boys. I need to play well to get that next extension.
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“The better you play, the more opportunities come up.
“Hopefully I can play well and it (interest in Su‘A) skyrockets.”
