St George Illawarra have given their pack a much-needed injection of muscle by signing Raiders prop Emre Guler, effective immediately.
Former Queensland prop Francis Molo looks like he may have played his last game for the club after missing pre-season training for the past weeks to take a mental health break amid reports that he wants to be released from the final two years of his contract.
Dragons coach Shane Flanagan has not mucked around in scouting out a replacement for Molo with Guler inking a two-year deal less than a fortnight before the pre-season trials kick off.
Guler was off contract at the end of this season but he will join the Dragons on a two-year deal, according to multiple reports.
The 27-year-old has made 93 NRL appearances for Canberra since his debut in 2018, including the grand final the following year from the bench.
He only played 11 times for the Green Machine last season, spending several weeks in the NSW Cup due to the presence of Joseph Tapine, Josh Papali’i, Morgan Smithies and Ata Mariota ahead of him on the pecking order.
With ex-Maroons prop Corey Horsburgh back in favour at the Raiders, the chances of Guler getting a start at the Dragons are much better than his prospects in the national capital.
Molo is set to discuss his future with Dragons officials at a meeting later this week.
The Dragons have been rocked by the departure of captain Ben Hunt and Test winger Zac Lomax from last season’s team after they both demanded an early exit from their contracts.
Molo, who played two matches for Queensland in 2021 when he was at the Cowboys, has played 62 matches for the Dragons since his arrival the following year after being recruited by former coach Anthony Griffin.
He played strongly last season, racking up 23 matches for the Dragons and was rewarded with selection for Samoa in their end-of-season tour to England, starting at prop in both Tests.
The Dragons have been trying to bring in an experienced middle forward to boost their pack with coach Shane Flanagan unsuccessfully trying to add Stefano Utoikamanu, Addin Fonua-Blake and Reagan Campbell-Gillard but they all chose to sign elsewhere.
They had been negotiating with journeyman prop Matt Lodge in recent weeks but that deal has fallen through and the Manly veteran remains without a deal for 2025.
The Dragons have seasoned campaigners in Hame Sele, Jack de Belin, Tom Eisenhuth and Blake Lawrie on their books along with rising stars Toby and Ryan Couchman to fill the middle forward spots as well as several uncapped forwards who are pushing for promotion to the NRL.
Flanagan has also recruited Eels skipper Clint Gutherson, Rabbitohs duo Damien Cook and Lachlan Ilias, and Cowboys centre Valentine Holmes in the off-season.
The Roarhttps://https://ift.tt/3EjHSU7 boosts Dragons pack by raiding Canberra’s ranks with immediate switch
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