ST GEORGE-ILLAWARRA

While St George-Illawarra have strengthened their forward pack with the signing of Korbin Sims from Brisbane, the Dragons may be left with little depth in their backline, following the retirement of Jason Nightingale, and the loss of Nene McDonald to Gold Coast, and Kurt Mann to Newcastle.

Fullback Matt Dufty was the Dragons’ leading try scorer in 2018 with 13, and it seems unbelievable that there was any truth the rookie was being shopped around to accommodate Jarryd Hayne.  Goal kicking five-eighth Gareth Widdop seems like he wants to return to the UK, and halfback Ben Hunt is facing a make or break year.  Centres Euan Aitken and Tim Lafai will be as reliable as ever, but a spot must be found for exciting newcomer Zac Lomax.

The Dragons’ forward pack looks much stronger.  Paul Vaughan, Jack De Belin, James Graham, Tyson Frizell and Tariq Sims will strike fear into the hearts of any opposition, but St George-Illawarra will miss Leeson Ah Mau, who leaves to join the Warriors after perhaps his best season.  Hooker Cameron McInnes also had one of his best seasons in 2018, and must have been close to grabbing the spot in the Blues squad that now seems mortgaged by South Sydney’s Damien Cook.

You can read more about the history of the St George Illawarra Dragons, including the Illawarra Steelers, and the St George Dragons (1921-1998) here.