Wendell Sailor slams Dragons’ McCullough signing and McInnes exit

Former Dragons star and cross-code great Wendell Sailor has savaged a move from his former club that saw the exit of one of its favourite sons.

New St George Illawarra Dragons coach Anthony Griffin has plenty of pressure on his shoulders.

Wendell Sailor has slammed the St George Illawarra Dragons culture in a week the side saw Cameron McInnes exit and Andrew McCullough set to join the club immediately.

The Dragons inspiring skipper has been one of the club’s shining lights in recent seasons but he shocked the NRL by revealing he would leave for the Cronulla Sharks in 2022.

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In an even more brutal blow, McInnes was ruled out for the season with an ACL injury at training that has seen him already play his last game for the Red V.

Arguably one of the best hookers in the NRL, McInnes was pushed to lock last season as the Dragons looked for a place for $1m a season star Ben Hunt.

Always the team man, McInnes shifted to 13, the position he’s set to play at the Sharks.

But with reports Hunt is set to move back to the halves, it appears as though Broncos rake McCullough appears certain to sign for the club with Brisbane already talking like he’s on the move.

And McInnes signed a four-year $2 million deal with the Sharks with NRL.com revealing that negotiations had started before Christmas with the Dragons reportedly never making an offer.

It’s all the more strange after McInnes was crowned the Dragons’ best-and-fairest player for the past two years.

Cameron McInnes has played his last game for the Dragons.

But Sailor, who played 229 NRL games as well as representing Australia in both rugby league and rugby union, said his former club

“Cam McInnes when he goes to the Sharks will play 13 – he’s an 18th man for the Blues,” Sailor told Triple M.

“He’s close to Cookie (Damien Cook in the NSW pecking order).

“The Dragons have made a massive mistakes there. he’s been one of their most consistent and best over the last five years.

“He brings culture, he’s got an aura and he’s nicest kid in the world.

“I can’t believe it, there’s something wrong with the Dragons’ culture when you’re letting a bloke like that go.

“And it’s not about the money, they didn’t even offer him a contract – it’s embarrassing.”

Sailor also slammed the call to go after McCullough, who is coming off a serious hamstring issue that ended his 2020 season on loan for the Newcastle Knights.

“Macca will be at the Dragons. Anthony Griffin and him have a bit of a bond there,” he said.

“I’m happy for Macca to be at the Dragons for two years.

“But if they’ve offered three years to a 31-year-old whose done his ACL … I think it’s a bad business decision.”

Andrew McCullough is reportedly set for a move to the Dragons.

Both Hunt and McCullough played under Griffin at the Broncos and Mark Geyer said the coach wanted some familiarity with the players he’s coaching.

“The Dragons need a really good start to the season. They’ve been the losers this off-season the Dragons because of the negativity that is surrounding them,” Geyer said.

“They need something to go their way. If McCullough is that man and Griffin is familiar and comfortable with then so be it.

“I’m not scared of that. It’s not a scary spine when you consider the Storm’s, Penrith’s, South Sydney’s. That’s the buzz word these days – the spine. If you have a good spine, you’re going to win 75 per cent of your games.”