NRLW news: Jamie Soward to stay on as Dragons coach for rest of 2024 season after shock sacking

Outgoing Dragons NRLW coach Jamie Soward has made a call on his immediate future at the club, after St George Illawarra showed him the door for the 2025 season.

St George Illawarra coach Jamie Soward will see out the rest of the NRLW season after he was sensationally sacked on Monday afternoon.

The club legend was told in a meeting with Dragons CEO Ryan Webb that he was not required beyond the end of the 2024 season, just days after a monster 42-14 win over Parramatta.

The timing of the meeting comes with three weeks left in the regular NRLW season, creating an awkward situation between the club and the coach they do not want.

However, it’s understood the 2010 premiership-winner, who has been head coach of the women’s side since 2021, will see continue on in his role until the end of the year.

Dragons coach Jamie Soward will see out the rest of the 2024 NRLW season after his surprise sacking. Picture: Richard Walker

He will name a team to face Canberra in a home game at Kogarah on Saturday afternoon, before facing Wests Tigers and then Brisbane in the final round.

Soward took to social media on Monday to express his disappointment over the decision.

“Guess it’s not meant to be. All good. Keep it movin’,” Soward said on X, formerly Twitter.

Guess it’s not meant to be. All good. Keep it movin ✌🏽

— Jamie Soward (@sowwowofficial6) September 2, 2024

He has also publicly put his hand up to replace current coach Kylie Hilder in the NSW Origin job after the Sky Blues lost their second-consecutive series earlier this year.

The Dragons have an unlikely chance of making the NRLW finals after just two wins, however, one of those was against premiers Newcastle in the upset of the season.

If they miss the top four as expected, it will be for the second year in a row.

A disconnect between coach and players is believed to be the reason for the sudden mid-season decision.

Dragons’ NRLW coach Jamie Soward won Coach of the Year in 2022. Picture: Steve Pohlner

The club believes players need a fresh new voice to take the young playing group to their potential in the future, although it’s not clear if they have a replacement already lined up.

It’s an important choice, with most of the NRLW squad off-contract at the end of 2025, including star fullback Teagan Berry and halfback Raecene McGregor.

The Dragons also have some of the best young talent in the women’s game, including the stars of the Illawarra Steelers’ Tarsha Gale Cup premiership winning side, headlined by halfback Kasey Reh who is locked in until the end of 2026.

Incoming NRLW side Canterbury has already pinched two Dragons stars for 2025 with Angelina Teakaraanga-Katoa and Alexis Tauaneai both announced on Monday.

DRAGONS AXE CLUB LEGEND FROM NRLW HEAD COACHING JOB

Axed St George Illawarra coach Jamie Soward is considering whether to see out the season with the NRLW side after he was shown the door in a shock move on Monday.

The former NSW Origin half was told in meeting with club CEO Ryan Webb he was not required beyond the end of the 2024 season with just three games left to play before finals.

The 2010 premiership winner has been given the option to continue coaching through the final three weeks of this year, however, he is considering whether it’s the right move to return, given the awkward situation.

It comes as a shock after the eighth-placed Dragons thumped Parramatta 42-14 over the weekend for just their second win of the season.

Guess it’s not meant to be. All good. Keep it movin ✌🏽

— Jamie Soward (@sowwowofficial6) September 2, 2024

The Dragons have a faint mathematical chance of making finals with three rounds to play before the end of the regular season, but are expected to miss the play-offs for the second year in a row.

Soward took to social media on Monday to express his disappointment over the decision.

“Guess it’s not meant to be. All good. Keep it movin’,” Soward said on X, formerly Twitter.

The former representative player was appointed NRLW head coach in 2021 and extended his time in the role for a further two seasons last year.

He has also publicly put his hand up to replace current coach Kylie Hilder in the NSW Origin job after the Sky Blues lost their second-consecutive series earlier this year.

Soward took the Dragons to the grand final in his first season in charge in 2021, but the club has since lost a stream of representative stars and results have plateaued, leading to the belief players need a new voice.

A decision on the future beyond Soward is an important one for the Dragons considering the depth of young talent at the club they are desperate to lock down beyond the end of this season.

Fullback Teagan Berry is one of the best players in the game and has signed until the end of 2025 along with Tyla King and Raecene McGregor, while Kasey Reh, who is one of the game’s most talented teenagers, has the longest term contact with the club until the end of 2026.

The majority of talent comes off contract within the next two seasons.

The news follows confirmation on Monday Dragons forwards Angelina Teakaraanga-Katoa and Alexis Tauaneai would join the Bulldogs in 2025, both turning down player options with the Dragons to take up a deal with the Bulldogs.

Originally published as NRLW news: Jamie Soward to stay on as Dragons coach for rest of 2024 season after shock sacking