Keaon Koloamatangi is the largest free agent signing of the latest NRL foolish season – however the Dragons-bound star’s transfer is about extra than simply cash.
In one of many greatest contract stunners in latest reminiscence, Koloamatangi turned his again on a suggestion to stick with South Sydney, in addition to a profitable cope with Parramatta, to hyperlink up with St George Illawarra on a five-year deal from 2027 onwards.
The contract is value a reported $5 million, making him one of many sport’s highest-paid forwards alongside the likes of Payne Haas, Joseph Tapine and Addin Fonua-Blake.
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His impending arrival is seen as the sunshine on the finish of the tunnel and a reputable beacon of hope for the Dragons, who have not performed finals since 2018 and have struggled to land marquee, in-demand gamers for a few years, which has been well-documented.
Keaon Koloamatangi in motion for the Kangaroos. CameraSport by way of Getty Photos
Koloamatangi is the membership’s greatest coup since Ben Hunt eight years in the past and sits proper up there with Gareth Widdop, Darius Boyd, Jeremy Smith and Wayne Bennett as the perfect signing they’ve made since St George and Illawarra first merged in 1998.
Whereas the cash on provide from the Eels and Dragons was related, the additional 12 months on a seven-figure wage is seen to be what swayed him to affix the membership.
The 28-year-old has a younger household and wished to set himself up for all times, which the Dragons contract actually ought to do for one of many sport’s actual good guys.
However if you happen to dig just a little bit deeper, there’s extra than simply {dollars} and cents behind it.
Firstly, the chance to reunite with two former Rabbitohs teammates in Jaydn Su’A and Damien Cook dinner was a significant factor for Koloamatangi’s change.
Chatting with Large World of Sports activities, Cook dinner conceded whereas he wished to “keep away” and let Koloamatangi make his personal thoughts up, it was actually a scorching matter between them.
“We had conversations, I might be mendacity if I mentioned we did not,” the Dragons captain mentioned.
“We’re very shut. I spent quite a lot of time with him over at Souths watching him come by and develop his sport over time.
Keaon Koloamatangi, Damien Cook dinner and Cameron Murray. Getty
“Clearly I used to be very eager to get him right here, realizing the standard participant he’s, however he is nonetheless bought quite a bit to enhance on as effectively and he can take his sport to a different degree.
“I would not say I put strain on him, however I used to be there to reply any questions he had. It is a powerful course of to undergo, particularly once you’ve been at one membership for thus lengthy.
“I attempted to remain away and ensure I let him make his personal determination, however on the identical time ensuring he knew how a lot I wished to have him right here to play alongside him.”
Su’A, who joined the Bunnies across the identical time Koloamatangi was bursting onto the scene as a primary grader, believes he can add lots to the Dragons on and off the sector.
“We had just a few discussions, however he had 5 million causes to come back,” Su’A laughed.
“I am excited to have him there, he is clearly a world high quality participant and the extra high quality like that we now have, the higher we’re gonna be.
“I do know he is gonna convey quite a lot of power and laughs to the membership and he’ll take to each other with all of the boys right here. He is a very good individual and little question an actual good footy participant.
“Hopefully I haven’t got to come back up towards him many extra instances now.”
Jaydn Su’Aa and Keaon Koloamatangi have been teammates and rivals. Getty Photos for RLWC
The prospect to hyperlink up with Su’A and Cook dinner, two of the senior gamers on the Dragons, is simply the tip of the iceberg because the three way partnership searches for long-term success.
Koloamatangi will headline a ahead pack plagued by younger weapons Jacob Halangahu, Dylan Egan, the Couchman brothers, Loko Pasifiki Tonga and Hamish Stewart.
“I am additionally excited by the problem of going to the Dragons, working with their younger forwards, and principally getting out of my consolation zone, which might assist me develop as a participant, a father and man,” he informed The Sydney Morning Herald.
Su’A believes the “sky is the restrict” for a lot of of these up-and-coming merchandise, who he believes might be sporting the well-known Purple V jersey for the subsequent decade.
“We’ve quite a lot of juniors coming by who’re going to be high quality,” he mentioned.
“They’re fairly uncooked in the mean time however with some expertise, the sky is the restrict.
Loko Pasifiki Tonga. Getty
“Jacob is gonna be a very good participant, the Couchies and Dylan Egan and Hamish are gonna be 200-plus sport gamers for the membership. Loko is there as effectively, the sky is the restrict for him.
“The followers could be excited for that subsequent technology coming by. I am trying ahead to enjoying with them and serving to them with their careers.”
It is an attention-grabbing interval for Su’A himself, who has tasted greater honours at each State of Origin and worldwide degree previously for Queensland and Samoa.
The aggressive back-rower is signed till the top of 2026 with an choice to increase for subsequent 12 months and is hoping to proceed cementing himself as a pacesetter on the Dragons – even when one specific individual does not see him that means.
“I believe I’m [a leader] – my coach [Shane Flanagan] does not agree,” he laughed.
“There’s quite a lot of gamers that I join effectively with. It is a arduous query to reply, but when the boys take a look at that as inspiration or one thing to observe, I assume I am doing my job.
Jaydn Su’A. Getty
“I believe there are talks underway [to re-sign], I am undecided how deep they’re.
“I nonetheless have an choice for subsequent 12 months so no matter occurs, occurs. I am having fun with my time right here, I have been right here for 5 years now and it is principally my dwelling away from dwelling.
“I might like to remain, however we’ll see what occurs.”
Cook dinner – the oldest participant within the Saints squad, who turns 35 in the midst of the 12 months – can also be hopeful of sticking round and increasing his stellar profession.
“I am positively eager to maintain going,” the previous NSW and Kangaroos hooker mentioned.
“Pre-season is an effective way to inform how you are feeling and I’ve come out the again of it in actually fine condition. I all the time speak to the excessive efficiency employees about how my numbers are in comparison with my previous few years and it is nonetheless proper up there.
Damien Cook dinner. Getty
“A very powerful factor is I nonetheless love going into coaching day-after-day and the second the place you lose that love, that is in all probability the time to maneuver on.
“In the mean time I nonetheless adore it and the transfer down right here for me has been nice, it was a little bit of a clean up that makes me need to hold going.
“We’re seeking to get one other 12 months and as soon as that occurs, you are taking it year-by-year, so we’ll see how that goes. I am assured we’ll get by just a few issues and get it completed.”
St George Illawarra will play their first trial on Saturday towards the Knights, ramping up preparations for his or her season opener towards the Bulldogs in Las Vegas on March 1.
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