The St George Illawarra Dragons have pulled off a major off-season coup with the official confirmation that powerhouse forward Keaon Koloamatangi will join the club on a five-year deal ahead of the 2026 NRL season.
The 27-year-old Kangaroos representative, fresh off his best season at the South Sydney Rabbitohs, opted for the Red V despite strong interest from the Parramatta Eels and a late push from Souths to retain their star middle.
Dragons coach Shane Flanagan hailed the signing as a “transformative moment” for the club, adding a proven leader to a young, emerging forward pack that already includes the Couchman brothers, Hamish Stewart and Dylan Egan.
“This is exactly the type of player we’ve been chasing,” Flanagan said. “Keaon brings elite representative quality, leadership and physicality. Pairing him with our young forwards gives our members something real to look forward to.”
Dragons CEO Tim Watsford also stressed Koloamatangi’s impact off the field, saying his standards and experience will be crucial in shaping the club’s next era.
For South Sydney, this marks a significant setback. Already set to lose Davvy Moale to the Melbourne Storm, the Bunnies now face the new season with questions around their middle rotation.
Koloamatangi, known for his aggressive metres making and leaderboard appearances with both Tonga and the Kangaroos, said he was impressed with the Dragons’ direction and excited to contribute to their resurgence.
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