‘Deliberately lowkey’: Dragons held talks with Bula after Wests turmoil

The St George Illawarra Dragons may be hoping to use the civil war that exploded at the Wests Tigers late in 2025 as a chance to get themselves a fullback star for the future, with the joint venture quietly speaking to Jahream Bula recently.

Bula and the Dragons have been holding “deliberately lowkey” talks in recent weeks, according to new reports from Zero Tackle, with Shane Flanagan seeing the 22-year-old as a perfect long-term replacement for aging number one Clint Gutherson. The idea, this Base writer understands, is Bula would replace “Gutho” at no.1 sometime in 2027.

Win $500 Cash In Our Free Giveaway Here

“The Dragons’ interest is understood to be genuine, with multiple conversations believed to have taken place as the club canvasses the market,” Zero Tackle wrote on the situation in a report shared on Wednesday morning.

The latest this Base writer had heard about the whole affair was that the Tigers had been about to re-sign Bula before the whole club imploded in December, which then saw Bula decide to speak to other clubs before settling his affairs. He had already informally spoken to Canterbury, and it makes sense that he would sound out Flanagan and the Dragons, too.

He has also been unhappy with the Tigers since they released his wife, Aaliyah, from the club’s women’s program.

Are you reading on our app? Download now for the best Sporting Base experience.

Win $500 Cash In Our Free Giveaway Here

There’s been no indication that the Dragons have tabled anything official for Bula yet, though they could do so at any time with the 22-year-old a free agent for 2027 and beyond. The Tigers have a long-term deal on the table for their incumbent fullback, and they have been very eager for him to sign before the 2026 season begins to end the signing saga.

More NRL news

‘Stop whingeing’: Bennett bashes clubs against NRL’s kick-off changes

Howarth for Lomax? Eels ears prick at mooted Storm trade

From Bula’s side, it sounds like he’s in no rush to decide anything and wants to hear all options before putting pen to paper, giving the Dragons and the Bulldogs — as well as any other potential suitors — nearly 12 months to make their moves.