Market Watch: Mikaele Ravalawa set for move to Rabbitohs, Raiders sign Jayden Brailey
A forgotten Dragons winger is set to make a switch to a new club, a move that frees up a roster spot for disgruntled Tigers forward David Klemmer at the Red V. See the latest transfer news.
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Mikaele Ravalawa is set to become a Rabbitoh but the deal is expected to last just until the end of this season.
It is understood the Dragons winger has passed his medical at South Sydney with officials confident he will join the club following the clash between St George Illawarra and the Rabbitohs on Saturday.
However, Ravalawa will sign with South Sydney for just the rest of this season with the 27-year-old set to return to St George Illawarra next year to play out the final year of his contract if he is unable to find a deal elsewhere.
It is a similar agreement the Rabbitohs have in place with Jayden Sullivan. Sullivan joined South Sydney for 2025 but will return to the Tigers for 2026 and 2027.
The Rabbitohs have been crushed by injuries to their outside backs with Ravalawa a steady stop-gap solution for South Sydney. Young flyer Tyrone Munro will miss at least the next six weeks because of another broken collarbone. They are also without Latrell Mitchell, Euan Aitken and Alex Johnston while Jack Wighton is suspended for their game against St George Illawarra.
Ravalawa’s impending switch also allows for St George Illawarra the roster spot they need to accommodate David Klemmer with the Dragons desperately searching to add some man power to their front-row stocks as the Francis Molo situation is no closer to being resolved.
Ravalawa was overlooked for first grade in round one and did not play NSW Cup for the Dragons. He has also not been named in any grade this weekend as he prepares to join South Sydney.
Ravalawa lost his place on the wing last year and was dumped to NSW Cup during the midpoint of the season.
While the Dragons forward depth is being severely tested, they have a stack of players who could slot into the backline if needed with the likes of Tyrell Sloan, Corey Allan and Sione Finau all waiting for a call-up.
Roosters circle disgruntled Dragons prop
-Phil Rothfield
The Sydney Roosters are showing interest in signing former Queensland Origin prop Francis Molo from St George Illawarra as his contract standoff with the Dragons continues.
The embattled Roosters, flogged by the Broncos last week, are desperate to explore the availability of Molo in a bid to shore up their middle.
The Roosters have a substantial amount of spare cash in the salary cap which was originally kept aside for Joseph Manu at the back end of the year but he’s signed with French rugby.
They are also discussing a potential approach to old war horse Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, who is currently playing for Hull KR in the UK Super League, about buying out his contract and bringing him back to the Roosters immediately.
Another flogging against bogey side Penrith on Friday night would put enormous pressure on coach Trent Robinson and his recruitment team to look outside his current top-30 roster for extra clout and forward grunt.
The Dragons are reluctantly on the verge of releasing Molo to make way for Wests Tigers’ David Klemmer.
But not before Molo repays a significant amount of money that was advanced to him last year.
Raiders secure Knights hooker Jayden Brailey
-David Riccio, Brent Read
Jayden Brailey is a Raider.
The experienced hooker has agreed to terms on a two-year deal to move from Newcastle to Canberra in 2026.
As first revealed by News Corp, Brailey had been in negotiations with the Raiders for several weeks, with North Queensland and Manly, also showing interest in the 28-year-old.
However, after meeting with Raiders coach Ricky Stuart and passing the club’s medical assessment, Brailey has secured his future with a two-year deal.
Highly-regarded for his work-ethic, character and leadership qualities, the former Knights captain will join the Green Machine on the premise of adding much needed experience to their young spine.
The arrival of Brailey will also have a domino effect on the futures of current Raiders dummy-halves Tom Starling and Danny Levi, both of which are without a contract for 2026.
Brailey’s decision to leave the Knights emerged after the 131-game player was told by Newcastle management that they were not in position to make him an offer for next season.
The Raiders pounced on the skillful hooker - keen on using his experience to aid the development of rising star Owen Pattie.
Brailey played off the interchange bench in round one against the Wests Tigers, before coming into the game to replace Phoenix Crossland at hooker, where the latter then moved to a lock-forward role.
Originally published as Market Watch: Mikaele Ravalawa set for move to Rabbitohs, Raiders sign Jayden Brailey
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