2024 Dragons preview: Can Flanno save St George Illawarra from first trip to the cellar?

Boy, it’s not looking good for St George Illawarra heading into 2024, with the joint venture boasting one of the worst rosters in the NRL and very few major signings walking in the door. Heck, Ben Hunt even wants to leave.

There is one bright light⁠ for the Dragons though—new head coach Shane Flanagan knows how to get rugby league clubs winning.

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After a disastrous term under Anthony Griffin, the joint venture is now well and truly in a rebuilding phase. Flanagan has been going hard in the player market, though so far he’s mostly coming up empty-handed.

More interesting, he’s also declared that fans should ignore 2024 because “[the] real focus will be for 2025 and 2026.” Take that how you will, Dragons faithful, but it does suggest at least one thing: This season could be fairly rough as the new coach leaves his mark on the team and prepares for the backend of the decade.

Last year’s finish: Sixteenth, five wins and 19 losses

Last ten NRL campaigns: 16th, 10th, 11th, 12th, 15th, 7th (semi), 9th, 11th, 8th (qualifying), 11th

Predicted Round 1 lineup

1. Tyrell Sloan
2. Zac Lomax
3. Moses Suli
4. Jack Bird
5. Mikaele Ravalawa
6. Kyle Flanagan
7. Ben Hunt 
8. Hame Sele
9. Jacob Liddle
10. Blake Lawrie
11. Raymond Faitala-Mariner
12. Jaydn Su’A
13. Jack de Belin
14. Connor Muhleisen
15. Francis Molo
16. Michael Molo
17. Tom Eisenhuth

Coach: Shane Flanagan

Biggest losses: Junior Amone Biggest gains: Hame Sele, Tom Eisenhuth

How 2024 is looking for St George Illawarra

It’s going to be a very tight race to avoid the wooden spoon in 2024. The Dragons have never finished last since the joint-venture was brought together in 1998 and that’s all Flanagan will have on his mind in the next 26 rounds.

Several decent signings have improved the Dragons somewhat, including Heme Sele and Raymond Faitala-Mariner, but the season is again looking like it’s Ben Hunt or bust. If the club skipper can lock in⁠—and keep his head in Kogarah and Wollongong for at least the next twelve months, then St George Illawarra should dodge the spoon.

All signs point to Hunt being checked out though and five-eighth Kyle Flanagan simply doesn’t have it in him to stage a leading performance. If the Tigers and Bulldogs improve at all, it’s curtains for the sinking Dragons.

Predicted 2024 finish: 17th

First five: Titans (A), Dolphins (A), Cowboys (H), Sea Eagles (H), Knights (A)

TopSport odds: Premiers $126, Make Top 4: $17, Make Final 8: $8.50, Miss The Top 8: $1.06

Pass mark: Dodge a first spoon for the joint venture.