Winning Drinkwater race sees Dragons finally land fullback with ‘genuine class’

Scott Drinkwater will officially become a Dragon this November, after the star fullback agreed to a huge $2.8 million deal to play for the struggling NRL club from 2027. The Dragons managed to beat Perth, Papua New Guinea, and several other suitors to sign the Cowboys’ number one.

The Cowboys had made it clear to Drinkwater they no longer saw him in their long-term plans and would be happy for him to leave a year early; he drew plenty of interest. The Red V faced the stiffest resistance from the expansion clubs. The joint venture got its man, though, signing Drinkwater on a deal that will see him paid $950,000 a season.

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He’ll replace aging veteran Clint Gutherson in the role next year. “Gutho” is expected to move into the centres until the end of his contract, which would also suggest Valentine Holmes – another veteran potentially over the hill – would shift back out to the wing. Setu Tu should at least get first crack at the other wing, while Moses Suli will be the other centre.

“I’m really looking forward to joining the Dragons and being part of what the club is building,” Drinkwater said. “You can see the young talent from the area making its way through the ranks, so it’s an exciting challenge to go on this journey with them.”

He added that his focus was on North Queensland for now, before he would then shift to Dragons mode. “I look forward to finishing strong at the Cowboys this year, and then arriving at the Dragons to do everything I can to contribute to the team’s success.’’

Dragons CEO Tim Watsford heralded the signing as a big get for the club, saying: “Scott is a player of genuine class in our competition, and we’re thrilled to have him commit to the Dragons.”

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His proven NRL experience, composure, skill, and attacking instinct were all what drew the Red V to the 29-year-old, Watsford explained. The club brass also thinks that Drinkwater will “fit in strongly” with the playing group they’ve already been building recently.

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It’s a huge get for the last-place, winless Dragons, who already have superstar South Sydney prop Keaon Koloamatangi and Gold Coast winger Phil Sami joining next season. The only major questions that remain for the club are who will be the head coach and whether Kade Reed and Daniel Atkinson can be the halves combo well into the future.

Back at the Cowboys, either Tom Chester or Jaxon Purdue is expected to become the club’s long-term fullback.