‘Bullies’ exposed as big money forward called out

St George Illawarra Dragons: 2023 finish: 16th | 2024 finish: 11th
In most circumstances, when a team jumps five places on the ladder in 12 months, it would be deemed a successful season.
But the start of the Shane Flanagan era at the Dragons, while undoubtedly an improvement on the dismal second last placing in 2023, was another year of frustration and angst for fans.
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The Dragons were far more competitive, so much so that for much of the year they looked like playing finals footy.
But a late collapse saw them slide down the ladder, losing five of their last seven games, including their final three on the bounce.
Adding to the frustration, Zac Lomax – the club’s most exciting attacking player – agitated for a release for several weeks before finally being granted his wish for 2025, with fans left wondering why the club would surrender such a rare talent.
Zac Lomax of the Dragons. Getty
And worse still, the rumbles continue that skipper Ben Hunt, who produced an incredible 34 try assists – almost as many as the rest of the entire squad combined – remains restless and wants to return to Queensland.
Remarkably, the Dragons’ two standout players also came first and second for most errors out of more than 400 NRL players in 2024 – Lomax with 50 and Hunt with 43.
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As well as the pair played, many of those 93 errors came at crucial times in games and proved the difference between winning and losing.
Wins in four of their first seven games saw the new-look Dragons begin brightly, but they soon fell back into their old ways and fans had a feeling of deja vu as they slipped slowly but surely out of the top eight.
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There were positives, though, especially compared to the dismal 2023 season.
Flanagan managed to rebuild enigmatic fullback Tyrell Sloan into a real NRL force, as his 13 tries and 12 try assists shows.
Sloan has that ‘wow’ factor when his game is on, but needs to work on his defence and add a few kilos to his slender frame over the off-season.
Winger Christian Tuipulotu (eight tries in 12 games) was a good pick-up from Manly and the coach’s son Kyle had some impressive moments, but still needs to develop his attacking game.
Big men Jack De Belin and Tom Eisenhuth both played every game and were strong in the middle while the Couchman twins were lively and should develop into regular first graders in 2025.
Hooker Jacob Liddle was superb, getting the Dragons on the front foot with his clever work from dummy half.
Tyrell Sloan of the Dragons scores a try. Getty
Back-rower Jaydn Su’a was another who reignited his career under Flanagan, proving a real weapon on the edges in attack.
With the likes of Moses Suli, Luciano Leilua and Blake Lawrie, the Dragons were arguably the bulkiest team in the NRL and were able to bully smaller opponents into submission.
But the class teams were able to exploit the lack of mobility of the Dragons’ big men in defence – the team had the second-most missed tackles in the league – and that is an issue that will need to be worked on over the summer.
Best player: Ben Hunt gave his heart and soul every week and most of the Dragons’ 11 wins can be put down to his never-say-die attitude in both attack and defence. One of the NRL’s most effective playmakers.
Needs to lift: Luciano Leilua is big, strong and has all the skills – but needs to show them more consistently to earn his hefty pay packet at the Red V.
Key signing: Damien Cook is one of the classiest hookers in the NRL and his combination with Liddle will give the Dragons a great one-two punch from dummy half.
2025 gains: Damien Cook (Rabbitohs), Val Holmes (Cowboys)
2025 losses: Zac Lomax (Eels), Savelio Tamale (Raiders)