NRL 2021: St George Illawarra sign prop Francis Molo from Cowboys days before Round 2 clash

The Dragons will add another Queensland recruit next year, and in a twist of fate, the big Cowboy will take on his future teammates this weekend.

Dragons coach Anthony Griffin has continued his raid on Queensland clubs by poaching hulking Cowboys prop Frank Molo in a $1.5 million recruitment coup for the Red V.

News Corp can reveal Molo will quit North Queensland at season’s end after agreeing to terms with the Dragons on the richest deal of his career — a three-year contract worth at least $500,000 a season.

Griffin’s raid comes just days before Molo confronts his future club when the Cowboys clash with the Dragons this Saturday night in Townsville.

The 107kg enforcer stands to earn more if he meets performance bonuses and will link with St George Illawarra from 2022 with a view to being a starting prop in the Dragons’ pack.

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Francis Molo has signed a three-year deal with the Dragons. Picture: Evan Morgan

Griffin successfully brokered a transfer for Brisbane hooker Andrew McCullough in February and now the Dragons coach has landed Molo, whom he previously mentored as a rising bookend in the Broncos’ under-20s system.

Griffin’s Dragons are taking on a distinct Brisbane flavour with Molo set to reunite with former Broncos teammates Ben Hunt, Corey Norman and McCullough at St George Illawarra.

The lucrative Red V payday caps a courageous career turnaround for Molo, who nearly quit rugby league after he was suspended by the Queensland Rugby League for a tackle which led to the tragic death of Sunshine Coast player James Ackerman in 2015.

But Molo has fought back, overcoming his mental demons with the help of psychologists to build a handy a career at the Cowboys, amassing 52 games for the club since arriving in Townsville from Brisbane in 2018.

Molo was off-contract at season’s end and Cowboys football-operations chief Micheal Luck said North Queensland simply couldn’t compete with the Dragons’ offer.

“We are really disappointed to lose Frank,” Luck said.

“He has done a great job in the last few years, he came up to us at a difficult time in his life and has earned everything in his career while he has been here.

“Frank has developed into a very strong performer with his output over 40 minutes. We wanted to keep him, but the offer from the Dragons was just too good to refuse and we wish Frank all the best.

“He is a big part of our plans for this year so we’re hoping Frank can continue to play well for us before he goes to the Dragons.”

Molo will renew ties with former Broncos teammate Ben Hunt at the Red V. Picture: Getty Images

The 26-year-old Molo was a front-row star at Queensland junior representative level and was touted as a future Maroons Origin player before he lost his way amid the Ackerman tragedy.

Griffin believes Molo can bring an aggressive edge to the Dragons pack and sees him playing a dominant role alongside Paul Vaughan in the engine room from next season.

“Frank has improved out of sight,” Luck said.

“He has worked hard on his fitness and has really matured into an NRL player who can punch out more minutes and keep pushing through when the side needs a few more efforts from him.

“The teams who did well on the weekend have props who are strong in the middle. Frank has good leg speed for a big man and doesn’t make many defensive errors, he has developed into a quality NRL front-rower.

“While it’s disappointing to lose Frank, we now have some money to go to market with other players.”

St George Illawarra general manager of football Ben Haran believes Molo’s best is yet to come at the Red V.

“Francis is a proven player who displays the exact characteristics you want from a front-rower week-in, week-out,” Haran said.

“Francis is coming to the prime of his career considering his age and experience in the NRL. Throughout his time at the Cowboys he has proven his durability in handling the responsibility and role as a first-grade footballer.

“There is absolutely no doubt that Francis will add value to our squad and complement our roster for the 2022 season and beyond.”

Originally published as NRL 2021: St George Illawarra sign prop Francis Molo from Cowboys days before Round 2 clash