Family reason behind NRL forward Emre Guler’s shock Dragons defection

Raiders coach Ricky Stuart has let a star enforcer join a rival NRL club after the forward requested to move on compassionate grounds.

Emre Guler shares a tight bond with his family located in Sydney’s southwest. Image: NRL

Emre Guler’s decision to seek an early release from his Raiders deal had nothing to do with the team’s direction and everything to do with his family.

The Raiders were understood to be desperate to hold onto Guler – who has played for the club since debuting in 2018 – and were even considering offering him a new and improved deal before he approached coach Ricky Stuart and asked for permission to return to his Sydney home.

UFC 312: Du Plessis v Strickland 2 | SUN 9 FEB | Order Now with Main Event on Kayo Sports. Main Event on Kayo Sports is the exclusive home of UFC Pay-Per-View.

Stuart and Raiders chief executive Don Furner ultimately gave him the green light to seek a move home to Sydney for family reasons, with Guler officially signing a two-year deal with the Dragons on Tuesday.

Wide World of Sports reports the 27-year-old sought a release as a result of a ‘delicate family situation’ that required him to return to Sydney.

Guler’s parents Sahin and Derya and his siblings live in Sydney’s southwest where they operate three Turkish kebab shops ‘Watsup Brothers’.

Emre Guler pictured with his family. Image: NRL

Emre Guler has signed with the Dragons. NRL Imagery

The family has welcomed several of Guler’s Canberra sides into their establishment over the past decades when the Raiders make the trip north.

Unless it is an away game in Sydney, the reality is that Guler often goes several weeks without seeing them.

And while the push for a move to Sydney came as a surprise to many, Guler’s comments over the past 12 months suggested he felt it was time for him to give back to his parents and siblings, who have sacrificed so much for him and his career.

“I think about my family and how my parents and siblings all sacrificed something for me with time and their own lives and I probably can’t repay them but I try to do my best and let them know that I’m grateful for everything they’ve done,” Guler told NRL.com last year.

Dragons coach Shane Flanagan wanted an experienced middle forward. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Guler is also the latest part of what is a hefty recruitment drive at the Dragons as Shane Flanagan attempts to return the club to the finals for the first time in eight years.

Guler joins Clint Gutherson, Valentine Holmes and Damien Cook at the Red V in 2025, while

Lachlan Ilias was also brought on board to be their new halfback.

And Flanagan believes the front-rower will help supplement his pack.

“I’ve said consistently we need to bring another experienced middle into our roster for 2025,” Flanagan said upon the announcement of the signing. 

“Emre certainly fits that bill. With his size and experience, he will add plenty of value to our roster as well as help to mentor our emerging crop of middle forwards.” 

Originally published as Family reason behind NRL forward Emre Guler’s shock Dragons defection