St. George Illawarra Dragons sign replacement for Paul Vaughan in wake of Covid-19 breach

The Dragons have secured a temporary replacement for recently axed prop Paul Vaughan in the wake of his infamous Covid-19 breach.

Vaughan has been banned for eight game so is unlikely to pick up a new contract this season. Picture NRL Photos.

The St. George Illawarra Dragons have wasted little time securing a replacement for recently axed prop Paul Vaughan.

The joint venture announced on Monday that it had signed Warriors forward Jamayne Taunoa-Brown to a short-term deal commencing immediately.

Taunoa-Brown will join the Dragons on a loan basis for the next three weeks, allowing the Red V to replenish its stocks as Covid-19 sanctions decimate its playing roster.

The Dragons welcomed the 24-year-old to training on Monday, with the view to including him in the 17 to face the Sea Eagles this Friday.

“We have worked with the Warriors in recent days to make this happen and wish to thank them for their co-operation in allowing us to sign Jamayne,” Dragons general manager of football Ben Haran said.

“It’s an added benefit for the Warriors that we can provide Jamayne with game time he might not have seen otherwise over the coming period.

“There is no doubt that Jamayne is up to the challenges that the NRL presents and look forward to having him feature against the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles this Friday night.”

Jamayne Taunoa-Brown has played 28 games for the Warriors and two for the Indigenous All Stars at representative level. Picture: NRL Photos

Warriors CEO Cameron George added: “Through this arrangement with St George Illawarra, we’re able to ensure Jamayne will be playing football over the next three weeks to keep him match fit.

“We appreciate the Dragons giving us this opportunity and Jamayne, who has been out of our line-up recently, is thrilled he’ll have the chance to play football.

“It’s also a way for us to give back after clubs helped us with loan players when we were short of options last year.”

Meanwhile, Vaughan is on the lookout for a club of his own after he welcomed 12 other Dragons players into his Shellharbour home for an unsanctioned barbecue earlier this month.

He was fined $50,000 over the incident, banned for eight games and ultimately released from his contract.

The incident provoked furore among NRL pundits.

Repeat offender Paul Vaughan. Some blokes never learn. #NRL

— Mark Gottlieb (@MarkGottlieb) July 4, 2021

People really going in on the Dragons players penalties are too harsh?

Forget $$ for the individual

Every player in EVERY sport knows COVID protocol breaches risk not only their fellow players’ livelihoods, season over, but also $Billion broadcast deals being ripped up #NRL

— Trent Copeland (@copes9) July 6, 2021

If it's true @NRL_Dragons have sacked Paul Vaughan I don't blame them. If it is the case I hope other clubs don't touch him for year. Despite the heavy punishments the #NRL MUST have considered docking points from the club given the number of idiots that were involved.

— Bernie Coen (@berniecoen) July 6, 2021

The other barbecue breachers have been banned for one match each, with the Dragons to stagger the suspensions across the coming weeks.

All but two have signed sworn statements relating to the breach, permitting them to be repatriated into the Dragons Covid-19 bubble.

As of Monday evening, Zac Lomax and Daniel Alvaro had not signed documents, which means they risk missing out on travelling with the Dragons to South East Queensland.

The NRL announced on Sunday that 12 of the 16 clubs based outside Queensland would move to the Sunshine State for at least the next month as Sydney battles to contain its outbreak of Covid-19.

Originally published as St. George Illawarra Dragons sign replacement for Paul Vaughan in wake of Covid-19 breach