Dragons roster security exposed: Alarm bells over squad contracts
St George Illawarra will head to November 1 with some room to move in their salary cap and with a target firmly on an elite front-rower — but that is only the beginning.
An analysis of the Dragons’ current long-term deals reveals that only incoming Sharks half Daniel Atkinson and current hooker Jacob Liddle are contracted beyond 2027.
It places Saints in an enviable position of having a war chest to spend over the next two seasons, and the flexibility to build around an emerging crop of young stars.
St George Illawarra management are about to target their brightest talent, including Jacob Halangahu, Hamish Stewart, Dylan Egan, Lyhkan King-Togia and Nick Tsougranis — who are all off contract at the end of 2027 — as priority re-signings to shape coach Shane Flanagan’s future.
Flanagan, whose own contract Dragons management extended until at least the end of 2028, has spent the past two years reshaping the roster to his style of play.
The process has taken time due to inherited contracts, which have restrained their salary cap spend and ability to invest in long-term deals.
But the Dragons are now getting clear air, coming right at the time that their pathways systems are delivering NRL-ready talent.
The appointment of former Sydney Roosters head of recruitment Daniel Anderson is a clear sign that St George Illawarra are stepping up their commitment to attract quality free agents.
In the mean time, they have already secured Dolphins prop Josh Kerr for 2026, but are still on the hunt for another enforcer to support the likes of Emre Guler and Kerr up front.
The Dragons are also working to retain off-contract prop David Klemmer, who doesn’t yet have a deal for next season.
They are also making moves to bolster their backline with interest in signing former Queensland State of Origin winger Philip Sami, while also pinching talented Panther David Fale.
St George Illawarra have also tabled Cody Ramsey a supplementary contract, which includes a base salary of around $85,000, plus match payments, should he progress to NRL.
The future proofing and blooding of eight rookies in 2025 was a major benefit in an otherwise frustrating season for Saints. The upgrading of teenage forward Halangahu to a top-30 deal is an indication of the belief in him.
However, a major priority for the Dragons will be the retention of talented young forward Stewart, who is free to hit the open market on November 1.