Dragons square up Bula as ‘franchise’ target if he can’t strike Tigers bargain

The St George Illawarra Dragons have long been interested in bringing Jahream Bula into Shane Flanagan’s rebuild, but they’re now stepping up the chase and will make a “huge play” for the young fullback should the Tigers fail to re-sign him.

There are plenty of questions around Bula’s future with the Tigers, with the 24-year-old holding a mutual option for 2027 that needs to be activated by May. The western Sydney joint venture has also laid down two extension offers for their no.1, though for the time being, he’s signed neither. Should all that pass by, Bula will hit free agency in eight weeks.

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That’s when the Dragons plan to strike — Adrian Proszenko at the Sydney Morning Herald is reporting Flanagan and the Red V will immediately table a formal signing offer for Bula that would see him follow Clint Gutherson at fullback.

The biggest selling point the rebuilding club will use, beyond the fact that they’re willing to offer near $1 million for the young gun, is that proven veteran “King Gutho” can teach Bula the tricks of the trade before handing over the reins. Dragons officials see Bulla as a “potential franchise player” and are licking their lips at the thought the Tigers may let him go.

There are also the tampering rules, of course, that mean the Dragons have to keep their powder dry until that May date, though they’ve also messaged the NRL to ask if they can hold any informal talks about contract details early.

Bula’s representatives and club officials from the Dragons held preliminary chats late last year.

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The Fijian international had been ready to re-sign with the Tigers before the whole Holman Barnes Group civil war in the offseason that saw chief Shane Richardson leave the club. Bula has since been wary of re-signing. Also not helping matters is that the Tigers dumped Bula’s wife, Aaliyah, from their extended NRLW squad after last season wrapped up.

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Should Bula leave the Tigers for the Dragons (or maybe the Bulldogs, who have also been interested), the Tigers would then look at bringing promising Australian Schoolboys star Jack Attard into the first-grade team immediately.

Attard has been learning his trade with the Penrith Panthers, but recently signed with Wests.