Leading ‘next era’ of young gun fowards sold Koloamatangi on Dragons future

Keaon Koloamatangi has signed with the St George Illawarra Dragons for the next five years, through to 2031, on a multimillion-dollar deal, choosing Shane Flanagan’s rebuilding club over the Rabbitohs and Eels.

While his current club, the Bunnies, and the very eager Parramatta Eels had both come in with similar cash offers (though one less year on the deal, in both regards) there was one big selling point that turned Koloamatangi’s towards the Red V: Their budding forward pack, built from a stunning stock of juniors that are just about NRL ready already.

Win $500 Cash In Our Free Giveaway Here

“I’m excited to be joining the Dragons. The club’s ambition really impressed me,” Keaon said today.

Most impressive, though, he identified, was the young guns like Hamish Stewart, Dylan Egan, Jacob Halangahu, and the Couchman twins, Toby and Ryan, all of whom already began breaking into the top-flight league through 2025.

“I’ve been watching the squad they’re building and the young forwards coming through, and I want to be part of driving that next era,” the pack’s now-future leader, Koloamatangi, explained after the signing was unveiled today. “I’ve loved my time at Souths, but I am looking forward to bringing my experience, my standards and everything I’ve got to the Red V.”

It was the same note Flanagan hit while celebrating the signing: “We have always wanted to bring elite representative players to the Dragons, and Keaon is exactly the type of team member we have been searching for,” he said.

“Pairing him with the young pack we have coming through is going to be something our members and fans will relish.”

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

Win $500 Cash In Our Free Giveaway Here

Dragons chief Tim Watsford similarly declared today was a “transformative moment” for the Dragons, especially considering Keaon can “drive standards every single day” — and it only helped the blockbuster signing, considering both the Rabbitohs and Eels had been just as desperate to sign the Kangaroos forward. “We have a group of exceptional young forwards coming through our system,” Watsford continued, “and bringing in a leader of Keaon’s calibre to guide and inspire them is critical for us.”

More NRL news

Close to done: Tigers confident they’ll keep Bula despite Bulldogs turning his head

Kickoffs, squads, penalty zone: NRL musing major ’26 rule changes

Koloamatangi has one more year to play with South Sydney before he joins in 2027. He will then likely play in a pack alongside Egan, Stewart, the Couchmans, Halangahu, as well as Jacob Liddle and returning Dragons prop Josh Kerr.

For the season ahead, Flanagan is still looking to retain David Klemmer to fill a veteran role.