Shane Flanagan is an admirer of Terrell May but says St George Illawarra will be keeping their options open as they search to add a playmaker as well as a prop to their ranks.
The Dragons have two roster spots left for 2025 after handing Nathan Lawson, a rugby sevens player, a chance to test himself in rugby league.
Lawson is expected to join the Red V following the conclusion of his commitments with Rugby Australia next month.
Flanagan explained the club’s priorities going forward were to sign a middle forward and a five-eighth or halfback following the decision to terminate the contract of captain Ben Hunt.
As it stands, Flanagan’s son Kyle and four-game rookie Lyhkan King-Togia are the Dragons’ first-choice halves pairing heading into round one.
May appears the most attractive front-rower available after surprisingly being told he was free to leave by the Sydney Roosters following a standout 2024 season.
But Flanagan is happy to leave May on the back-burner and see which other players could become available in the new year.
“We might leave one of those spots open until January or February, maybe even going into the season,” Flanagan said.
“We saw last year when Corey Allan did his ACL, we needed (the flexibility) to get someone else in.
“We talk to a lot of players … It’s like buying a house. You don’t put bids in for all of them and we’ll be similar with Terrell.
“We’re at talks but whether it’s at a point that we’re putting offers in and so on, we’ll see.”
Flanagan, meanwhile, was confident Lawson could make a fist of a transition to league after a successful career in sevens.
Lawson played for Australia at the Paris Olympics and was named the Australian male seven players of the season earlier this year.
“He’s got one more tournament to go and I’d like to think when he comes back he’ll be here,” Flanagan said.
Nathan Lawson. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)
“He’s big, fast and athletic. Go on ‘Nathan Lawson’ on YouTube and you’ll see the tries he scores and the tackles he makes.
“He’s a footy player and he’ll adapt to league pretty quickly, he loves league and has watched it (his entire life) … he went to school with Cameron Murray.
“The transition will not be that hard for him, he’ll play in the outside backs and I’m looking forward to him transitioning into an NRL player.”
Flanagan says Clint Gutherson’s arrival at St George Illawarra won’t stall Tyrell Sloan’s development, insisting the NRL club’s key off-season recruit can help the Dragons flyer reach new heights.
The acquisition of ex-Parramatta captain Gutherson is the Dragons’ most-significant off-season signing after the Red V terminated the contract of skipper Ben Hunt.
Flanagan on Friday said that Gutherson had already shown his commitment to the Dragons by renting a holiday home near to the club’s training base in Wollongong.
The Dragons coach said unless something “drastically happens”, Gutherson would be his fullback come round one.
That declaration will raise concerns over Sloan’s future given the fullback has shown the potential to be the club’s long-term No.1.
But rather than being disheartened, Flanagan explained the 22-year-old Sloan was excited at the prospect of shadowing Gutherson.
“I’ve spoken to Tyrell and ‘Gutho’ is only going to help him develop,” he said.
“When I had discussions with Tyrell I could feel a bit of excitement in his voice when we told him (Gutherson) was coming, which was surprising.
“He hasn’t had that mentor in our backline who can teach him. Sometimes it’s great to hear it from another player.
“Tyrell is going to play fullback, wing, maybe even centre because he’s a quality young players.
“He’ll develop and hopefully with Gutho here, he’ll develop a little bit quicker.”
Flanagan said Gutherson and fellow recruit Damien Cook were the standout contenders to replace Hunt as captain.
Gutherson may have already earned himself a head start in Flanagan’s thinking.
The Dragons revealed the 30-year-old had relocated to a rental property in Wollongong without his family in a bid to start life at his new club on the right foot.
He also won the team’s race up Mount Keira on Friday despite concerns over his fitness following an injury-plagued final year at Parramatta.
“Every player now knows that’s what we got him here for – to set examples and standards and not just his on-field ability,” Flanagan said.
“He’s down here already, away from family and he’ll do that before he finds somewhere to stay permanently – that’s a sign of how invested he is in our club.
“At the back end of last year, Clint was his own worst enemy and was playing with a torn quad and rib cartilage damage.
“He battled away and didn’t want to let his team down … people were saying he’s old and tired but he was standing up for his club and we are lucky to have him.”
Meanwhile, Flanagan said the exit of Hunt left no sour taste in his mouth after parting ways with the wantaway playmaker a fortnight ago.
Flanagan likened the split with Hunt, who has yet to find a new club but spent years agitating to leave the Dragons, to a break-up from a relationship.
“It just wasn’t a happy marriage and we needed to move and I wish Ben all the best,” Flanagan said.
“We never had an argument the whole time he was here … but some marriages work, some don’t.”
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