Dragons reject Sloan’s release request, close in on Hunt deal

The Dragons want Tyrell Sloan to fight for the fullback spot over summer after turning down a request for him to be released from his contract to link with Wayne Bennett’s Dolphins.

On the same day captain Ben Hunt said a two-year extension with St George Illawarra was “heading in the right direction”, the Dragons dug their heels in over boom prospect Sloan, who has become frustrated at his lack of NRL opportunity and sought to walk from his deal.

The Dragons swiftly rejected the request during a board meeting on Tuesday, and club management told the 20-year-old they still considered him a huge part of their plans.

The Indigenous All-Star was limited to just eight NRL appearances this year and lost his first-choice fullback status to Moses Mbye and then Cody Ramsey after only three matches, but the Dragons want Sloan to persevere to establish himself as a regular first-grader.

He is still under contract with St George Illawarra until the end of 2024.

Bennett has been circling a No.1 for the Dolphins’ foundation side, and had hoped to lure Sloan to Brisbane as one of his main recruitment targets as they continue to pursue Cameron Munster for 2024.

Tyrell Sloan has had a request to be released from his contract rejected by the Dragons.Credit: Getty

Melbourne has previously lodged a complaint with the NRL over the Dolphins’ Munster chase, and the Dragons are considering following a similar path given Sloan cannot technically field a formal offer from a rival club until November next year.

The Dragons have told Sloan he is expected at pre-season training in November and still remains pivotal to their ambition to return to the finals as they try to lock down captain and Dally M contender Hunt on a two-year extension until the end of 2025.

St George Illawarra want Hunt’s future decided before he travels to the World Cup in England and the 32-year-old hinted he was closer to committing to the Red V after meeting with his management on Thursday.

The club had earlier dismissed the prospect of having his contract extension tied to the future of coach Anthony Griffin, who is fighting to retain his job beyond the end of the next year.

“I actually had a meeting with my manager [on Thursday] and I feel like we’re getting pretty close to sorting something out with the Dragons,” Hunt said before the Prime Minister’s XIII clash against a Papua New Guinea Prime Minister’s side in Brisbane on Sunday night.

“That’s pretty exciting. It’s something I want to get sorted out.

“I believe in the way the club’s going, the young guys we’ve got coming through and the direction the recruitment guys are going in.

“Myself and my wife, we’re all from Queensland and we’re going to get back up here one day, but as far as footy goes I’m just not too sure about that.

“I wouldn’t say it’s completely settled, but [the Dragons extension] is heading in the right direction.”

The extension would mean Hunt would be 35 by the time he finishes the deal and would have spent eight years at the Dragons after his controversial switch from the Broncos.

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