The Dragons rosters rebuild under incoming coach Shane Flanagan is starting to take shape with another two players told they’re free to leave the club.
Flanagan toldfoxsports.com.au he wants to “spark an attitude change” in Wollongong by signing up to five players ahead of the 2024 season.
That means space must be created in the St George Illawarra’s top 30 and several names are already on the chopping block.
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Zane Musgrove and Jaiyden Hunt both have contracts for 2024 but have been given permission to leave early, while Moses Mbye’s contract won’t be extended when it expires at the end of the season.
Musgrove, 27, has played just six games this year after the front-rower was embroiled in the club’s infamous pre-season controversy in Mudgee.
The Dragons were thumped 42-24 by the Rabbitohs in the Charity Shield back in February, but players were allowed to go out afterwards as they had the bye in Round 1.
The players were well behaved out on the town but there was an issue when they returned to their accommodation after Musgrove and Mikaele Ravalawa stayed up drinking.
The pair ended up in a heated exchange at 6am and needed to be separated by teammates, with Ravalawa later admitting he was “too drunk to remember” the incident.
Hunt, 25, has played seven games this season and backrower has 14 NRL appearances to his name since debuting in 2021.
The Dragons are looking at signing Bulldogs front-rower Luke Thompson and Papua New Guinea hooker Edwin Ipape, who Flanagan coached at the World Cup.
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Titans duo David Fifita and Tino Fa’asuamaleaui are also in Flanagan’s sights after the pair became free agents with the sacking of coach Justin Holbrook.
The 2016 premiership-winning coach confirmed last week that he’s after a hooker, two middles and two outside backs.
“I’m looking at bringing four or five new players in there to freshen it up, give us a bit of life,” Flanagan told foxsports.com.au last week.
“The roster is not that bad to be honest but with where they are on the table, we need some new players in there to spark a bit of attitude change.
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“I want to recruit some top-end players, whether I can do that this year I’m not quite sure.”
Flanagan rejected halfback Ben Hunt’s immediate release request last month and said he would sit down with the club captain after Origin.
Hunt captained St George Illawarra in their win over the Wests Tigers on Thursday night and is committed to the club for the rest of the season.
The 33-year-old is contracted until the end of 2025 and Flanagan is determined to ensure the club’s best player stays.
Tautau Moga and Billy Burns are off contract at the end of the season, while Michael Molo and Ravalawa have mutual and player options respectively for 2024.
Tyrell Sloan, Junior Amone, Jack de Belin, Ben Murdoch-Masila, Francis Molo, Jaydn Su’A, Mathew Feagai, Max Feagai and Zane Musgrove will all hit the open market on November 1.
