Francis Molo set to sign with Dolphins after parting ways with St George Illawarra Dragons

The Francis Molo saga has a conclusion, with the former Dragons forward agreeing to a two-year deal with a new club which will see him return to Queensland.

Francis Molo will return to Queensland with the former St George Illawarra prop agreeing to a two year deal to join the Dolphins.

Molo will join the Dolphins until the end of next year on an immediate contract after being released from his St George Illawarra deal following a messy split.

He was free to join another club after being granted a release from St George Illawarra.

Molo had spoken with a host of Sydney-based clubs but wanted to return to Queensland having already played for the Broncos and North Queensland.

Molo is a handy addition for the struggling Dolphins and could make his club debut in their local derby clash against Brisbane next weekend.

Molo will be required to pay back a six figure sum in order to execute the release at St George Illawarra after agitating to get out of the club for the past two months. The Dragons had forward paid Molo part of his contract as part of an agreed advancement. That money must be paid back. The star forward, who signed a two-year contract extension with the Dragons just last April, has been in a contract standoff with the club for the past two months.

Francis Molo is set to return to Queensland.

Molo will add depth to the Dolphins’ forward pack who are still without Tom Flegler for an indefinite period while back-rower Connelly Lemuelu is due back in round six from a fractured eye socket.

He has not trained with the club since early February, when the club granted him sick leave.

However, the situation escalated recently when the Dragons decided against continuing to pay the former State of Origin prop in recent weeks after his sick leave entitlements ran out. The 30-year-old joined the Dragons in 2022 after stints with North Queensland and the Broncos.

The Dragons secured a replacement for Molo by signing former Wests Tigers prop David Klemmer on a deal to immediately join the Red-V, which came after they released winger Mikaele Ravalawa to South Sydney for this season. But the winger is due to return to the Dragons for the 2026 season.

The Dragons also signed ex-Raiders prop Emre Guler in the middle of the contract dramas with Molo.

The Dragons also have some promising young middle forwards coming through, including Loko Junior Pasifika Tonga, Jacob Halangahu and Finau Latu. Halangahu inked a contract extension last week keeping him a the Dragons until at least the end of 2027.

Originally published as Francis Molo set to sign with Dolphins after parting ways with St George Illawarra Dragons