NRL 2024 scouting report: St George Illawarra burning issues, finals drought set to continue

It looms as another tough year for the Dragons, but there is some positivity around some unassuming recruits, rookie talent and even established Red-V stars tipped to take their games to the next level.

Dragons scouting report.

St George Illawarra are embarking on another long journey they hope will take them out of the mire and back into NRL finals contention.

No September football in five seasons is unacceptable for a club the size, and prestige, of the Dragons.

While they have been unable to land a marquee name in the free agency market, easily their biggest signing is Shane Flanagan, who is back in a head coaching role for the first time since 2018.

MICHAEL CARAYANNIS explains the task ahead for a man known for getting the best out of his players, and who stands to benefit the most.

2023 RICH 100 REPS: Ben Hunt (7, $1.1m), Jack de Belin (57, $700,000), Zac Lomax (58, $700,000), Jack Bird (79, $600,000), Francis Molo (88, $600,000), Jaydn Su’A (93, $590,000)

FREE AGENCY WRAP AND RATING

Local junior Hame Sele returns to the club as a seasoned first grader and will provide some much-needed punch to the forward pack.

Kyle Flanagan was originally bought to transition into hooker but now may play more in the halves. The late December pick-up of Warriors playmaker Ronald Volkman would have given the Dragons another option in the wake of Talatau Amone’s deregistration following his assault conviction, but the young playmaker is likely to be cut following a medicial exam which uncovered a prior shoulder injury.

RATING: B

Shane Flanagan and his assistant, Dean Young (left).

COACH STATUS AND SAFETY RATING: SHANE FLANAGAN (2026)

Flanagan returns to a head coaching role for the first time since 2018. He will need every bit of his coaching nous to navigate what is expected to be a tough year.

Hitting the free agency market for 2025 will bring the club some optimism for the future.

SAFETY RATING: A+

LIKELY DEBUTANTS

Savelio Tamale, Viliami Fifita, Alec Tuitavake: Winger Savelio Tamale signed from the Waratahs and made the NSW under-19s team in 2023. He gets a top-30 chance in 2024 and, as a genuine flyer, could press his claims for an NRL debut.

Promising front-row forwards Viliami Fifita and Alec Tuitavake had injury interrupted seasons after arriving late from Manly. Both will play first grade in 2024, barring further setbacks.

St George Illawarra Dragons young gun Savelio Tamale. Picture: NRL Images

WHO TAKES THE NEXT STEP

Zac Lomax: It seems silly to say, given Lomax is just seven games short of his 100th NRL appearance. However, his career has been filled with promise but he has yet to fulfil his enormous potential.

Lomax is one of the Dragons’ highest-paid players, too. Shane Flanagan will come up with a plan to ensure Lomax stays in the game, even if he is playing at centre. He could also spend time at fullback, but the real intrigue will be the influence of Flanagan, who is known for getting the best out of his players.

Zac Lomax is in for a big year.

BURNINGS ISSUES

1. How does the Hunt saga end?

How will this finally play out? Ben Hunt has begrudgingly given his commitment to the club for 2024 but 2025 remains up in the air. Expect rival clubs to make another late-season pitch for him.

2. Unstable spine

Ben Hunt is the only certain starter in the Dragons spine. The pressure is on Kyle Flanagan to hold down the five-eighth jersey following Ronald Volkman’s medical examination uncovering a prior injury. Tyrell Sloan had a mixed 2023 campaign and spent a large chunk of the pre-season sidelined. Jacob Liddle is serviceable but not a top-tier hooker.

3. Can they attract stars?

This isn’t a crack at Shane Flanagan, but instead the roster he has inherited. It is extremely likely they won’t feature in the top eight again this year without some late additions to the squad.

Can Flanagan – who was a major draw card during his time at the Sharks – replicate that formula and land some much needed, high-profile signings?

CRYSTAL BALL

The Dragons will struggle again in 2024 but there will be some improvements. Zac Lomax will finally become a consistent NRL player while a few youngsters will be unleashed. Furthermore the Dragons will sign at least two marquee players for 2025 which will have them pushing for a top-eight spot in two seasons.

FINISH THE LAST FIVE YEARS

2023: 16th

2022: 10th

2021: 11th

2020: 12th

2019: 15th

2024 TAB ODDS

Premiership: $10

Minor premiership: $9

Top four: $2.10

Top eight: $1.28

To miss the top eight: $1.09

To miss the top four: $1.01

Most losses: $101

Originally published as NRL 2024 scouting report: St George Illawarra burning issues, finals drought set to continue