Soward sees Kiwi Ferns and Dally M in Tauaneai's bright future

Searching for positives after a trying fortnight in which he has lost his job and his Dragons have lost two games by a total of six points, Jamie Soward is wrapped he won't have to coach against Alexis Tauaneai next season.

The talented teenager is putting together a stunning 2024 campaign for the Red V, running for 265 metres against Wests Tigers on Thursday night to take her season average to 171 metres per game.

Come 2025 and Tauaneai will be donning the blue and white of the Bulldogs in their debut season, returning to the club where she earned Tarsha Gale Player of the Year honours in 2023.

"Alexis is only 19, it's amazing, she could be the next forward to win the Dally M, she'll play for New Zealand at the end of the year," said Soward.

"She is such a great person, a great family, I'm just lucky I have been able to coach her, she makes me smile.

"I've coached some middles in the time I've been coaching and she's the best I've ever coached.

"I'm not happy about losing my job but I'm wrapped that I don't have to coach against her next year."

Tauaneia's blazing season in 2023 earned her selection for the NSW U19s but she chose to declare her allegiance to the Kiwi Ferns and will look to pull on the black jersey in the Pacific Championships in October.

Relishing her role as a middle forward, Tauaneai has been a shining light in a disappointing season for the Dragons, who sit second last heading into their final match against the Broncos in Round 9.

"I've had a good association with the club, winning a premiership here [as a player], being able to coach a NRLW team to a grand final, so I'll be enjoying the week with my friends in the group and the staff and go up there and see what we can do," Soward said.

"We better be a bit better than we were tonight, otherwise it could be a long trip. I'm sure Princey [Broncos coach Scott Prince] will have them fired up.

"I can't imagine the coach being told he wasn't going to be renewed is a morale-booster [for the team]. I think that could have been handled a little bit differently.

"I would like to have coached out the season, sit down at the end of the year and talk about it, but we got told while we were still in the finals hunt.

"I disagree with how it was done, I've said that before, the players were probably a little bit shocked by it but the club has made a decision and I've moved on.

"It hurts but the sun will come up tomorrow, I'll be OK."