Flanno pours cold water on move for star duo; speedster’s NRL lifeline: Transfer Whispers

St George Illawarra Dragons coach Shane Flanagan has shut down speculation linking the club to outside back duo Jake Averillo and Murray Taulagi.

Free to negotiate and speak with rival teams, the two players found themselves linked with the Dragons as they look to land new deals for the 2027 season.

However, Flanagan has shut down these reports, insisting that the club are currently not interested in recruiting the two players as they continue to rebuild their roster into a premiership contender.

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“That’s just media speculation. We haven’t had any communication we them,” Dragons coach Shane Flanagan said on The Saints Podcast.

The comments from Flanagan come as the Dragons have made four new signings for this season with Daniel Atkinson, David Fale, Josh Kerr and Setu Tu joining the club.

Meanwhile, star Kangaroos forward Keaon Kolomatangi will make the switch to the Red V in 2027 on a landmark five-year contract worth around $5 million.

DUFTY’S NRL LIFELINE

Released by the Warrington Wolves in the Super League, former NRL fullback Matt Dufty has been handed a surprising lifeline which will see him wear Rabbitohs colours in 2026.

Formerly with the Canterbury Bulldogs and St George Illawarra Dragons, the former Under-20 NSW Blues representative has agreed to join the South Sydney Rabbitohs, but with a twist.

The contract will strictly be a NSW Cup deal meaning it will not include any NRL components and he will spend the entire season in reserve grade.

“It’s a NSW Cup contract – not top 30 or development list,” Rabbitohs CEO Blake Solly told Wide World of Sports.

Dufty last played in the NRL in 2022 and has spent the past three-and-a-half seasons in the Super League with Warrington but was released by mutual agreement last week.

“I’d like to thank all the players, staff, the board and especially the fans for making Warrington my home for the last three and a half years,” he said in a statement.

“Me and my partner have absolutely loved our time here, with so many amazing memories on and off the field. I wish the team all the best for this season.”

He appeared in 82 matches for the Dragons (2017-21) and a further 12 games for the Bulldogs (2022).

SUPER LEAGUE GUN ON RADAR OF NRL TEAMS

Super League hooker Jarrod O’Connor could potentially find himself becoming the latest Leeds Rhinos player to make the switch to the NRL, with the 24-year-old finding himself in hot demand.

According to rugbyleaguehub.com, the young dummy-half has attracted the interest of two clubs down under.

While the two teams have not yet been named, there are growing whispers that one of these clubs could be the Perth Bears who have already secured two of his current teammates in Harry Newman and James McDonnell.

“It’d always be interesting to listen and see what’s out there. There’s obviously different lifestyles over here and all different competition, which would be interesting, but I’m not pushing for it,” he told Serious About Rugby League.

“It’s always interesting, like it is with anyone who’s out of contracts, any clubs coming in, even if it’s over here, it’s someone to listen to, but I’m hopefully close to getting something sorted soon.”

As O’Connor contemplates his next move, English international Owen Trout has decided against a potential switch to the NRL and is set to re-sign with the Leigh Leopards on a multi-year contract, according to LoveRugbyLeague.

A member of England’s 2025 Ashes Series squad against Australia, Trout has established himself as one of the brightest forwards in the Super League competition and is entering the prime of his career.

Although he has extended with the Leopards, it is understood that clauses in his contract would still allow him to move down under at certain points and he has already commanded interest from NRL clubs.

“I’d love to go over there (to Australia) and have a crack,” Trout said at the backend of last year.

“I don’t really have a vision (for my career), but I want to keep playing for my country and have a nice, long career.

“I want to be able to make some good investments and some good money to sort out that things will look after themselves later on in life.

“I want to make sure I work hard enough in this part of my life to be able to relax a little bit more in later life.”