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Issac Luke will become the first disgruntled Dragon to exit the club, with the Brisbane-bound hooker’s career in the Red V over after just 150 minutes of football.
The Sun-Herald can reveal Luke has been granted a release after becoming frustrated with the lack of opportunities and direction under embattled coach Paul McGregor. It follows revelations young guns Jason Saab and Tristan Sailor also want out due to a lack of opportunity, while fullback Matt Dufty is also considering his options.
Luke’s departure after just three games will raise further questions about recruitment and team selection at St George Illawarra. The former Kiwi international was signed as a backup to Cameron McInnes after Reece Robson shifted to North Queensland in the off season. But after just three appearances for the Dragons, Luke has been released to add experience to a Broncos outfit missing the injured Jake Turpin. The veteran rake’s arrival will also assist with the development of promising young dummy half Cory Paix.
Luke informed his Dragons teammates of his decision after coming to terms with Brisbane on a deal for the rest of the year.
The development comes just a week after Dragons recruitment target Moses Suli knocked back a three-year, $2 million deal to re-sign at Manly on a two-year deal worth half as much. Star forward Tyson Frizell will also leave at the end of the season in the belief he has a greater chance of winning a premiership at Newcastle. The dramas are hardly a ringing endorsement for the last-placed club, the only one yet to win a game in 2020.
The St George Illawarra board opted to publicly offer McGregor their full support following an emergency board meeting earlier in the week at which many pundits believed the coach would be axed. The Dragons have won just two of their past 14 games, both against wooden spooners Gold Coast, coming into their local derby with Cronulla at Campbelltown Stadium on Sunday.
Dragons chief executive Ryan Webb believed the decision to publicly back rather than sack McGregor would ease the pressure on the coach.
"He’s just appreciative of the club outwardly displaying support for him," Webb said during the week.
"I think he’s just keen to be getting on with the job now."
The Dragons again refused to grant Saab a release after a second meeting with his manager during the week. However, the 19-year-old winger remains unhappy at the club amid interest from other teams including the Tigers, Bulldogs, Warriors, Rabbitohs, Storm and Sea Eagles.
Dufty had been sounded out by the Gold Coast, although they are likely to instead settle on another fullback currently unable to crack a first-grade spot, Wests Tigers utility Corey Thompson.
Sailor, the son of dual international Wendell, is also losing patience after being unable to break into a winless team. The 21-year-old impressed during the last three games of last season and was a standout during the Nines, but has again been overlooked for selection despite an injury suffered by outside back Brayden Wiliame.
The Dragons are set for a massive roster overhaul with Sailor, James Graham, Jack de Belin, Tim Lafai, Euan Aitken, Jacob Host and Mikaele Ravalawa among the players uncontracted at the end of the year.
De Belin, who is facing rape charges, is scheduled for a court hearing in Wollongong on June 22. McInnes denied suggestions his presence at training had split the club and was an ongoing distraction.
The joint-venture outfit will be without NSW forward Tariq Sims for at least a month with a wrist injury.
The Sun-Herald can reveal Luke has been granted a release after becoming frustrated with the lack of opportunities and direction under embattled coach Paul McGregor. It follows revelations young guns Jason Saab and Tristan Sailor also want out due to a lack of opportunity, while fullback Matt Dufty is also considering his options.
Luke’s departure after just three games will raise further questions about recruitment and team selection at St George Illawarra. The former Kiwi international was signed as a backup to Cameron McInnes after Reece Robson shifted to North Queensland in the off season. But after just three appearances for the Dragons, Luke has been released to add experience to a Broncos outfit missing the injured Jake Turpin. The veteran rake’s arrival will also assist with the development of promising young dummy half Cory Paix.
Luke informed his Dragons teammates of his decision after coming to terms with Brisbane on a deal for the rest of the year.
The development comes just a week after Dragons recruitment target Moses Suli knocked back a three-year, $2 million deal to re-sign at Manly on a two-year deal worth half as much. Star forward Tyson Frizell will also leave at the end of the season in the belief he has a greater chance of winning a premiership at Newcastle. The dramas are hardly a ringing endorsement for the last-placed club, the only one yet to win a game in 2020.
The St George Illawarra board opted to publicly offer McGregor their full support following an emergency board meeting earlier in the week at which many pundits believed the coach would be axed. The Dragons have won just two of their past 14 games, both against wooden spooners Gold Coast, coming into their local derby with Cronulla at Campbelltown Stadium on Sunday.
Dragons chief executive Ryan Webb believed the decision to publicly back rather than sack McGregor would ease the pressure on the coach.
"He’s just appreciative of the club outwardly displaying support for him," Webb said during the week.
"I think he’s just keen to be getting on with the job now."
The Dragons again refused to grant Saab a release after a second meeting with his manager during the week. However, the 19-year-old winger remains unhappy at the club amid interest from other teams including the Tigers, Bulldogs, Warriors, Rabbitohs, Storm and Sea Eagles.
Dufty had been sounded out by the Gold Coast, although they are likely to instead settle on another fullback currently unable to crack a first-grade spot, Wests Tigers utility Corey Thompson.
Sailor, the son of dual international Wendell, is also losing patience after being unable to break into a winless team. The 21-year-old impressed during the last three games of last season and was a standout during the Nines, but has again been overlooked for selection despite an injury suffered by outside back Brayden Wiliame.
The Dragons are set for a massive roster overhaul with Sailor, James Graham, Jack de Belin, Tim Lafai, Euan Aitken, Jacob Host and Mikaele Ravalawa among the players uncontracted at the end of the year.
De Belin, who is facing rape charges, is scheduled for a court hearing in Wollongong on June 22. McInnes denied suggestions his presence at training had split the club and was an ongoing distraction.
The joint-venture outfit will be without NSW forward Tariq Sims for at least a month with a wrist injury.
