St George Illawarra are circling Dale Finucane for next season

St George Illawarra are circling Dale Finucane for next season as they prepare to use the money they saved by sacking Paul Vaughan.

NSW and Melbourne prop Dale Finucane during Origin III. Picture: Getty Images

Paul Vaughan’s departure has given St George Illawarra the financial muscle to enter the race for Dale Finucane as the Melbourne and NSW forward prepares to make a call on his future in the next week.

The Dragons have more than $800,000 burning a hole in their pocket next season following their decision to sever ties with Vaughan, who was sacked after hosting 12 of his teammates at his Shellharbour home in breach of biosecurity rules and government health guidelines.

As a result, St George Illawarra have turned their attention to Finucane, who is off contract at the end of the season and in the sights of half a dozen clubs. Melbourne have done their best to retain Finucane but they appear to be fighting a losing battle given the clamour for his signature from elsewhere.

North Queensland have tabled a three-year deal to the Storm captain, Newcastle have weighed in with an attractive offer and Gold Coast have targeted the 29-year-old to join a forward pack loaded with quality.

Wests Tigers and his former club Canterbury could yet enter the equation as they wait for a decision from Brisbane forward Tevita Pangai Junior on his future.

As it stands, The Australian understands the Finucane camp were particularly impressed with the Gold Coast, seemingly giving the Titans the edge in the race to land one of the game’s most respected and hardworking forwards.

The Dragons may yet have something to say about that. They initially harboured an interest in Finucane when a question mark lingered over the future of Jack de Belin, who was facing aggravated sexual assault charges.

When two juries were unable to reach a decision on de Belin and he was cleared to return to the NRL, the Dragons’ interest waned for financial reasons.

However, the departure of Vaughan has given freed significant money in the Dragons’ cap to make a move for Finucane and it is understood they are likely to make an official offer in coming days.

They can’t afford to waste time. It is understood the Finucane camp want to make a decision by the end of next week as they look to secure his future and allow him to concentrate on the remainder of the season with the Storm.

He did his cause no harm with his performance for NSW against Queensland on Wednesday night. Finucane was one of only two NSW forwards to run for more than 100 metres in their loss to the Maroons in Origin III – the other was Payne Haas.

Meanwhile, former Cronulla coach John Morris is poised to make his return to the NRL after being hired as an assistant coach at South Sydney next season.

Morris parted ways with the Sharks earlier this year after they decided that their future would be better placed in the hands of Sydney Roosters assistant Craig Fitzgibbon, starting from next season. Josh Hannay has acted in an interim capacity since Morris left.

However, Morris is set to make his return on the staff of incoming Rabbitohs head coach Jason Demetriou, who will take the reins from seven-time premiership winner Wayne Bennett at the end of the season.

Ben Hornby will remain in his role as the other assistant coach.

“We’re very happy with the calibre of coaches that will be leading the club in 2022 and beyond,” Souths head of football Mark Ellison said.

“Jason has done a long coaching apprenticeship in the NRL, United Kingdom, Queensland Cup and NSW Cup and he is certainly ready to step up into the head coach role.

“For him to be able to call on a young yet experienced group of assistant coaches for support is very important and we couldn’t be happier with the coaching team we’ve assembled with him.

“John has shown he has what it takes to coach at the top levels, as has Ben. They have a wealth of playing experience on their side but they have also developed a strong coaching background over the past decade to be the right men to appoint as assistant coaches to Jason.”