NRL health check: How are Wests Tigers, Dragons placed for the future?
Dragons or Tigers? Both teams who have struggled of late but are making their way back. MICHAEL CARAYANNIS and DAVID RICCIO rank who is best-placed for success.
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The both came into 2024 among the favourites to take out the dreaded wooden spoon, but the Dragons and Wests Tigers have shown signs of improvement after two wins to start the season.
Michael Carayannis reviews the health of the recent cellar dwellers, and analyse who is better placed for the future.
SPINE
The Wests Tigers win this battle with their future proofing of their spine superior to the Dragons who have plenty of work to do.
Wests Tigers fullback Jahream Bula (2027), Jarome Luai (2025-2029), Lachlan Galvin (2025) and hooker Api Koroisau (2026) form a spine that should be making the finals next year.
At the Dragons, their spine is in a critical phase.
The jury remains out on fullback Tyrell Sloan, who is off-contract at the end of this season. Ben Hunt is without doubt the key to their fortunes. However, he is 34 and is off-contract at the end of 2025.
Five-eighth Kyle Flanagan, who is playing well, was originally signed as a dummy-half option through until the end of 2025. Starting hooker Jacob Liddle
is also contracted until the end of 2025, with the expiration of all four contracts providing the Dragons the opportunity to make four major calls.
TIGERS 8/10
DRAGONS 5/10
2025 RECRUITMENT/RETENTION
The Tigers have already landed a massive signing for 2025 after landing Penrith premiership winner Jarome Luai. The Dragons have been active in the marketplace but are still desperately looking to add a marquee into their mix.
Much of the Tigers focus will be on retaining boom prop Stefano Utoikamanu while the Dragons remain locked in talks with Jaydn Su’A who is their key player off-contract. They have re-signed Francis and Michael Molo but will be without Zac Lomax by the end of the season. The Lomax decision to free up more than $800,000 from their cap is a winner and with that cash to spend their recruitment rating is expected to improve significantly in the coming months.
TIGERS 8/10
DRAGONS 4/10
COACH
The Dragons have a proven premiership-winner in Shane Flanagan. Flanagan has identified what changes he needs to make to the on-field roster and has already made sweeping moves off the field to position the club better. The test for Flanagan will be to execute those players. The jury is naturally still out on Benji Marshall but he has so far shown that he has the hallmarks of a long-term coach.
TIGERS 7/10
DRAGONS 9/10
STABILITY
The Dragons partnership between St George and WIN has never been better. The boardroom squabbles of previous years looks to be behind them and both sides agreed to extend WIN’s Andrew Lancaster’s term as chairman to three years. The Tigers are still in the midst of leadership change following the dramatic departure of ex-CEO Justin Pascoe and former chairman Lee Hagipantelis. New chief executive Shane Richardson is yet to agree to a long-term deal and the new board is yet to be finalised.
TIGERS 6/10
DRAGONS 9/10
STADIUM
The Dragons have an advantage here with their two homes – Kogarah and Wollongong – secured. While both could do with some work, neither are at the depilated state of Leichhardt Oval. The Tigers have made it clear they plan to move away from their heartlands next season but nothing concrete has been confirmed.
TIGERS 5/10
DRAGONS 6/10
JUNIORS
The Magpies finished second in Harold Matthews while Balmain, Illawarra and St George failed to qualify for the finals. Both St George and Illawarra landed in the finals for SG Ball while neither of the Wests Tigers feeder sides did. Both clubs had three Australian Schoolboys selected last year.
TIGERS 8/10
DRAGONS 8/10
TOTALS
TIGERS 42
DRAGONS 41
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