Aitken confirms Dragons departure to link with Warriors
Dragons Den
GONE: Euan Aitken has confirmed he will depart the Dragons at the end of the season to link with the Warriors. Picture: NRL Imagery
EUAN Aitken will follow Tyson Frizell out the door at season's end after confirming he will link with the Warriors on a three year deal from next season.
Aitken took to Instagram to confirm reports that emerged on Tuesday that he had inked the deal with the Warriors, after reportedly not being offered a contract by the Dragons.
"Firstly I would just like to thank @nrl_dragons for opportunity to play for such a proud club, I also want to thank the proud members and fans for the support over the years," Aitken wrote.
"Sadly my time at the dragons has come to end but I'm keen to finish the year of on a high with my mates.
"When one door closes another one opens and I'm super excited say I've signed with the
@nzwarriors and can't wait for the new challenge that lies ahead."
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Aitken debuted for the Dragons in 2015 and forced himself into the NSW Origin selection frame by 2018 before hitting the skids last season.
It saw him overlooked for Tim Lafai and Brayden Wiliame early in the season but he's re-found top form since being recalled - running for a huge 149 metres a game.
Landing Aitken is one of the first forays into the recruitment market for the Warriors since announcing Nathan Brown will take the reins next season.
Eels prop Kane Evans is also headed across the ditch while the Warriors have made stood-down Dragons star Jack de Belin a priority despite his legal dramas dragging.
The New Zealand club have offered de Belin a significant increase on his current contract with the Dragons - that expires at the end of this year - despite the fact he hasn't played for the best part of two seasons as he awaits the outcome of his sexual assault case.
He next appears in Wollongong Court on August 28 for a determination on pre-trial legal argument, with a trial date tentatively scheduled for November should the case proceed that far.
De Belin has also opened talks with the Dragons but luring Aitken - de Belin's closest mate at the club - across the Tasman could play in the Warriors favour.
Aitken will join an exodus that includes Frizell and James Graham, who was released from the remainder of the current season to link with St Helens.
The Dragons had been linked to Bulldogs back-rower Adam Elliott - another Warriors target - but it was announced he will remain at the Bulldogs on Thursday.
The Dragons had also been tossed up as a potential destination for Tevita Pangai jnr - who was on Wednesday fined $30,000 and stood down indefinitely by the NRL for biosecurity breaches - should he be given his marching orders by the Broncos though that interest is no longer there.
Roosters coach Trent Robinson also bluntly ruled out any interest in his services on Wednesday.
Aitken's departure will leave the Dragons in the market for an elite outside back having released Tim Lafai to the Bulldogs, with Wiliame the only recognised centre at the club alongside Zac Lomax.
The club launched a big-money pursuit of Moses Suli earlier this season, one he knocked it back to stay with the Sea Eagles.
Jacob Host and Tristan Sailor are other current Drgons off-contract, along with recent aquisition Kaide Ellis, while Adam Clune, Josh Kerr and Mikaele Ravalawa have signed extensions this season.
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