The Dragons can provide the following update about player recruitment and retention.
“This confirms multiple pieces that have been in the works for several months which provides a balance between retention of three of current top 30 players and three of our elite pathways players,” said Dragons General Manager of Football Ben Haran.
“Whilst our external recruitment has by necessity been on hold, internal workings have continued to progress in the background.
“Now with Shane Flanagan confirmed as head coach from 2024, all these things that have been underway can get locked in.”
Jack de Belin
Jack de Belin has activated a player option for 2024. The 32-year-old recently played his 200th game in the Red V after debuting for the club in 2011.
Mikaele Ravalawa
Ravalawa has signed a contract extension that includes an activation of his player option for 2024 as well as an extended contract through the 2025 and 2026 seasons. Ravalawa has so far scored 13 tries in 14 games this season, crossing the 50-try mark for the club in the process.
Michael Molo
The club has activated an option for Molo for the 2024 season. The 26-year-old debuted in 2022 before cementing himself as a key part of the Red V’s forward rotation across 12 games so far in 2023.
Dylan Egan
The 19-year-old Gerringong Lions junior has signed an upgraded and extended contract that will move him into the club’s development list in 2024 before he joins the top 30 in 2025. The SG Ball skipper graduated to the Jersey Flegg team earlier this season before making his Knock On Effect Cup debut in the round eight win over the Roosters. He has since played seven KOE Cup games although he has now unfortunately been ruled out for the rest of this season with a knee injury.
Nick Tsougranis
The highly-rated St George junior was recently selected for the NSW Under-19s Origin side. Prior to that he signed an upgraded contract with the Dragons that will see him training with the NRL squad in 2024 before moving onto the club’s development list in 2025. Tsougranis made a nine-minute KOE Cup debut as a replacement player against the Panthers in round 14 but has since been selected in the game-day 17 three times for three wins.
Hamish Stewart
The teenage middle forward is another local junior who graduated from Jersey Flegg to NSW Cup this year with two bench appearances so far. The Dragons have fended off interest from several clubs to sign Stewart to a development contract in 2024 before he joins the top 30 in 2025-6.
Savelio Tamale
Another member of the NSW U19s side, Tamale has made strong progression through the ranks from SG Ball before making his KOE Cup debut against the Roosters in April. The hard running outside back made the transition across from Rugby Union last December and will join the Dragons top 30 NRL squad for the upcoming 2024 season.
