Keaon Koloamatangi’s $5 million move to Dragons is about more than money; Jaydn Su’A, Damien Cook exclusive comments

Keaon Koloamatangi is the largest free agent signing of the newest NRL foolish season – however the Dragons-bound star’s transfer is about extra than simply cash.

In one of many largest contract stunners in current reminiscence, Koloamatangi turned his again on a proposal to stick with South Sydney, in addition to a profitable take care of Parramatta, to link 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 recreation’s highest-paid forwards alongside the likes of Payne Haas, Joseph Tapine and Addin Fonua-Blake.

READ MORE: How Aussie speed skater cheated death after horror accident

READ MORE: Australia’s perfect recipe to conquer Milano Cortina

READ MORE: US superstar Vonn rips rivals for hot mic slip

His impending arrival is seen as the sunshine on the finish of the tunnel and a reliable 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.

Koloamatangi is the membership’s largest 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.

While the money on offer from the Eels and Dragons was comparable, the additional yr 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 needed to set himself up for all times, which the Dragons contract definitely ought to do for one of many recreation’s actual good guys.

However if you happen to dig a little bit 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 was a significant factor for Koloamatangi’s change.

Talking to Huge World of Sports activities, Cook dinner conceded whereas he needed to “keep away” and let Koloamatangi make his personal thoughts up, it was definitely a scorching subject between them.

“We had conversations, I would be mendacity if I stated we did not,” the Dragons captain stated.

“We’re very shut. I spent quite a lot of time with him over at Souths watching him come via and develop his recreation through the years.

“Clearly I used to be very eager to get him right here, realizing the standard participant he’s, however he is nonetheless received quite a bit to enhance on as effectively and he can take his recreation 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 robust course of to undergo, particularly while you’ve been at one membership for therefore 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 needed 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 a lot to the Dragons on and off the sector.

“We had a couple of discussions, however he had 5 million causes to return,” Su’A laughed.

“I am excited to have him there, he is clearly a global high quality participant and the extra high quality like that now we have, the higher we’re gonna be.

“I do know he is gonna convey quite a lot of vitality and laughs to the membership and he’ll hit it off with all of the boys right here. He is a very good particular person and little doubt an actual good footy participant.

“Hopefully I haven’t got to return up in opposition to him many extra occasions now.”

The prospect to hyperlink up with Su’A and Cook dinner, two of the senior gamers on the Dragons, is just the tip of the iceberg because the three way partnership searches for long-term success.

Koloamatangi will headline a ahead pack suffering from 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 mainly getting out of my consolation zone, which might assist me develop as a participant, a father and man,” he advised 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 Crimson V jersey for the subsequent decade.

“We’ve got quite a lot of juniors coming via who’re going to be high quality,” he stated.

“They’re fairly uncooked in the intervening time however with some expertise, the sky is the restrict.

“Jacob is gonna be a very good participant, the Couchies and Dylan Egan and Hamish are gonna be 200-plus recreation gamers for the membership. Loko is there as effectively, the sky is the restrict for him.

“The followers may be excited for that subsequent era coming via. I am wanting ahead to taking part in with them and serving to them with their careers.”

It is an fascinating interval for Su’A himself, who has tasted increased honours at each State of Origin and worldwide degree up to now for Queensland and Samoa.

The aggressive back-rower is signed till the top of 2026 with an choice to increase for subsequent yr and is hoping to proceed cementing himself as a pacesetter on the Dragons – even when one specific particular person would not see him that means.

“I feel I’m [a leader] – my coach [Shane Flanagan] would 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 have a look at that as inspiration or one thing to comply with, I suppose I am doing my job.

“I feel there are talks underway [to re-sign], I am undecided how deep they’re.

“I nonetheless have an choice for subsequent yr 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 mainly my residence away from residence.

“I would like to remain, however we’ll see what occurs.”

Cook dinner – the oldest participant within the Saints squad, who turns 35 in the course of the yr – can also be hopeful of sticking round and lengthening his stellar profession.

“I am positively eager to maintain going,” the previous NSW and Kangaroos hooker stated.

“Pre-season is a good way to inform how you feel and I’ve come out the again of it in actually fine condition. I at all times speak to the excessive efficiency workers about how my numbers are in comparison with my previous few years and it is nonetheless proper up there.

“A very powerful factor is I nonetheless love going into coaching on daily basis and the second the place you lose that love, that is most likely the time to maneuver on.

“For the time being 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 preserve going.

“We’re seeking to get one other yr and as soon as that occurs, you’re taking it year-by-year, so we’ll see how that goes. I am assured we’ll get via a couple of issues and get it completed.”

St George Illawarra will play their first trial on Saturday in opposition to the Knights, ramping up preparations for his or her season opener against the Bulldogs in Las Vegas on March 1.