Act of Squad: Dragons predicted team and 2025 overview
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As year two of the Shane Flanagan era begins at the Dragons, the landing of a handful of big-name signings gives plenty of cause for optimism this coming season.
Having publicly chased some of the biggest off-contract names in the NRL over the past 12 months or so without success, the arrival of veteran fullback Clinton Gutherson, strike centre Valentine Holmes and representative No.9 Damien Cook gives the Red V a boost of star power that goes some way to balancing out the loss of Maroons halfback Ben Hunt, who heads home to the Broncos.
In Hunt's place discarded Rabbitoh Lachlan Ilias comes in to partner Kyle Flanagan in the halves, while the likely return of Corey Allan to the backline is effectively a new signing for them as well, given a knee injury meant he failed to play a single minute after signing with the Dragons last season.
The backline is arguably where St George Illawarra are best stocked and the battle for the wing spots will be particularly intriguing through the pre-season, with powerhouse Fijian Mikaele Ravalawa and Mathew Feagai – who played nine times in 2024 – also in the mix.
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James Graham dissects the Dragons 2025 NRL Draw
For most of last season the gap between their best and worst performances was simply too big to compete in the NRL, with eight of the Dragons' losses coming by margins of 20 or more, alongside three wins by at least 20 points. Just four of their 24 games ended with a one-score margin.
A competition-worst error rate didn't help, but coach Flanagan will also want to see a much tougher underbelly when things do start to go wrong in games throughout 2025.
Predicted Round 1 team
1. Clint Gutherson
2. Tyrell Sloan
3. Valentine Holmes
4. Moses Suli
5. Christian Tuipulotu
6. Kyle Flanagan
7. Lachlan Ilias
8. Jack de Belin
9. Damien Cook
10. Emre Guler
11. Luciano Leilua
12. Jaydn Su'A
13. Tom Eisenhuth
14. Jacob Liddle
15. Blake Lawrie
16. Toby Couchman
17. Raymond Faitala-Mariner
