NRL NRL 2025 General Recruitment Thread

NZWarriors.com

NZWarriors.com

All signs point to him NOT wanting to be a top NRL player. No idea why you'd want that at your club, let alone make him the captain. Now theres talk of Europe as well as the ABs
Sometimes a player needs a change of culture that suits them. Remember Newcastle is a Moses club. It’s pretty bad there at the moment…

I do wonder how he would go under Webby and in an NZ environment… I think he’d be stronger being a good player in a strong team rather being THE GUY who everyone looks for to do something special every week…
 
St George Illawarra are facing a battle to retain off-contract rookie winger Sione Finau as NRL rivals circle the youngster.

The Dragons have expressed a desire to retain Finau beyond season 2025 but are yet to table the 23-year-old a formal offer.

It’s understood Finau is also weighing up to two other offers tabled by rival outfits in recent weeks, including a three-year deal.

It’s believed one potential suitor is a Queensland-based club.

A rare Victorian junior poached from the Melbourne Storm system, Finau has been limited to just six NRL games since arriving at the Dragons in 2023.

He’s played just four NRL games this year with coach Shane Flanagan favouring the likes of Corey Allan and rugby 7’s convert Nathan Lawson at different stages during the season.

But Finau’s limited opportunities have not dampened interest in the flyer, who is viewed as an untapped talent.

Finau has averaged 145 run metres and 15 carries per game during his four-game stint this season and bagged a double in the Dragons’ loss to the Sydney Roosters last weekend.

His try-scoring exploits have extended to the time he has spent plying his trade in NSW Cup, where has scored 37 tries from 49 games in reserve grade.

Finau was named on the wing again for Saturday’s clash against Canterbury but could find himself squeezed out the side with Christian Tuipulotu scheduled to return from a hamstring injury next week, and Lawson set to comeback from a shoulder injury in Round 23.

Finau’s uncertain Dragons future comes less than a month after this masthead revealed Tyrell Sloan, who has shifted from fullback onto the wing in 2025, has been given permission to speak to other clubs despite being contracted until the end of 2026.

Last year, the Dragons let boom rookie winger Savelio Tamale slip through their fingers to join ladder-leaders Canberra.

Like Finau, Tamale had struggled to earn a regular start in Wollongong but has been a revelation since joining the Raiders, emerging as a tackle breaking powerhouse before succumbing to long-term knee injury.

The Dragons had also recently met with out-of-favour Brisbane back Selwyn Cobbo before he agreed to join the Dolphins from 2025.

While the club’s pursuit of Cobbo is an indication of the club’s willingness to explore the market for outside backs, a number of juniors rising through the ranks have been earmarked for the future.

Jesse Williams is a 19-year old winger with speed and power, and who had his first taste of senior football earlier this month after he was elevated into the NSW Cup side.

Rising flyer Zachariah Nachar, who scored a double in the Dragons SG Ball title win in 2024, made his Jersey Flegg debut two weeks ago. A Kogarah Cougars junior, the 19-year old’s competitive nature and ability as a finisher is impressing coaching staff.

Adding further intrigue to St George Illawarra’s winger puzzle is Mikaele Ravalawa, the Fijian flyer will re-join the Dragons’ ranks for 2026 after he was released to join South Sydney this season.

Ravalawa had fallen out of favour midway through last season and was axed to NSW Cup before he was overlooked for the season opener earlier this year.
 
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