Australian Olympic sevens star Nathan Lawson has switched codes to join the Dragons for the 2025 season.The 25-year-old has appeared in 25 tournaments for the Australian Sevens team, including the Tokyo and Paris Olympics, scoring 69 tries.
āNathan is a terrific athlete,” said Dragons Head Coach Shane Flanagan
āHe is coming to us at the end of an outstanding season, which he finished off with the Australian Rugby Sevens player of the year award and a spot in the World Rugby Sevens team of the year.
“Heās a big, fast, powerful winger with good instincts. Heāll adjust to rugby league in no time and, once he does, heāll be a real asset to us.ā
Lawson’s signing comes after the Dragons took another step to solidify their future halves pairings by re-signingĀ Kyle FlanaganĀ for a further two years.
The playmaker will remain with the club through to the end of 2027 in a move that comes on the back of Wednesday’s announcement Sharks utilityĀ Daniel AtkinsonĀ will join the club in 2026.
Flanagan impressed in his first season at the Dragons, playing in 20 games to take his career total to 99 NRL appearances. He looks set to partner with off-season recruit Lachlan Ilias in the halves throughout 2025 following Ben Hunt’s off-season departure.
Dragons coach Shane Flanagan is excited by prospect of competition for starting halves positions in the coming years.
āKyle was an integral part of our team this year and will continue to be an important player for us moving forward,ā he said.
āHe plays his 100th NRL game at the start of next season and his experience and versatility will continue to be an asset for us.
āWith Daniel Atkinson joining the club from 2026 that competition for spots across the key spine positions will strengthen the whole squad.ā
The announcement comes a day after Atkinson’s three-year deal with the Dragons was confirmed.
The 23-year-old will play out the final year of his contract with the Sharks before joining St George Illawarra in 2026 on a deal that will see him remain with the club until the end of 2028.
Atkinson impressed in 2024 when filling in for Braydon Trindall and Nicho Hynes across 19 games for Cronulla and is set to take on greater playmaking responsibilities at the Dragons.
āWe’re really happy to be welcoming Daniel to the club in 2026,ā said Shane Flanagan.
āHe’s a classy player who has shown an ability to cover multiple positions as well as a strong competitor who will come in and improve our squad as a whole.”
The Rabbitohs, meanwhile, have signed playmakerĀ Jayden SullivanĀ for the 2025 season after he was released by Wests Tigers.
The 23-year-old made his NRL debut for the Dragons in 2020 and played 27 matches across four seasons before joining Wests Tigers in 2024 and racking up nine appearances.
āJayden is a great talent and we think he can play his best football here at the Rabbitohs under the guidance of Wayne Bennett,” said Rabbitohs head of
recruitment and retention Mark Ellison.
Another playmaker putting pen to paper in the lead-up to Christmas wasĀ Jonah Pezet, who has signed a four-year extension with the Storm through to the end of 2029.
The 2024 season saw Pezet feature at five-eighth for the opening three NRL matches before his campaign was cut short in April after suffering an ACL injury in Queensland Cup.
“Itās a special feeling to continue my career at the Storm. The club has put a lot of faith in me from a young age and hopefully I can repay that over the next few years,ā Pezet said.
England internationalĀ John BatemanĀ is set to play a mentoring role for the North Queensland pack after signing a two-year deal with the Cowboys.
The forward will join the club immediately after being granted a release from the final two years of his contract with the Wests Tigers.
Bateman has signed with the Cowboys for the 2025 and 2026 seasons, joining a pack featuring Reuben Cotter, Heilum Luki, Jeremiah Nanai and Griffin Neame, and North Queensland officials are looking for him to mentor his younger teammates on and off the field.
āWe have been in the market for an experienced forward with the ability to play either in the middle or on an edge,ā Cowboys General Manager of Football Micheal Luck said.
āJohn bases his game around defensive intent and willingness to compete in every situation ā a couple of areas weāve made no secret we want to improve significantly on in 2025.
āAlong with what he does on the field, we also believe he will be a valuable mentor for our younger forwards in Heilum Luki, Jeremiah Nanai and Griffin Neame.ā
Inspirational Sharks captainĀ Cameron McInnesĀ will continue to spearhead the club’s pursuit of premierships after extending his contract until the end of 2026.
McInnes’ new one-year deal comes after a season in which he guided Cronulla to a preliminary final and earned a long-awaited State of Origin debut for NSW.
The 30-year-old lock, renowned for his toughness and intensity, has played 204 NRL matches over the course of a decade. He joined the Sharks ahead of the 2022 season alongside coach Craig Fitzgibbon.
“It’s a really exciting and proud moment to re-sign,” McInnes said.
“I was lucky enough to sign here for four years in 2021 and to be able to extend here is all I wanted to do. I’m really glad the club are happy to have me.
“The club’s in such a secure place. It’s a high-performing environment and that’s what I want to be a part of.
“I’ve got no doubt under Fitzy, the coaches and the systems in place here ā I can’t see anything other than striving for the best each year.
“I’m going into my 11th year in the NRL, but I still have so many goals. I’m still trying to get better and get to the potential that I feel I have.”
The Sharks have also extended the contract of secondrowerĀ Teig WiltonĀ on a new two-year deal until the end of 2027.
The 25-year-old, who was already under contract for the upcoming season, has played 85 NRL matches since debuting for Cronulla in Round 11 of 2020.
“It was an easy decision for me. I knew if the club wanted to have me I was definitely going to stay,” Wilton said after inking his extension.
PropĀ Tuku Hau TapuhaĀ is another player to stay with the Sharks, signing on until at least the end of 2026 in a one-year extension.
The Storm has extended the contract of forwardĀ Trent LoieroĀ until the end of the 2028 season.
The Kawana Dolphins junior played for the Sunshine Coast Falcons and was part of Stormās Sunshine Coast Academy before making his NRL debut in Round 4 of the 2021 season and has since played 75 games for the club.
āI have loved my time at the Storm and Iām excited to re-sign for a few more years,āĀ Loiero said.
The Dolphins have extended the contract of Fijian internationalĀ Kurt DonoghoeĀ with a one-year contract extension that will see him remain with the club until at least the 2025 season.
This comes after extending the time of forwardĀ Connelly Lemuelu, who is now signed to the end of the 2026 season.
Lemuelu, who joined the Dolphins for their inaugural NRL campaign, has been a regular fixture for the club with 41 games over two seasons.
“I look forward to watching him continue to develop into the high-level backrower we know he can become,”Ā Dolphins coach Kristian Woolf said.
The Raiders have confirmed the re-signing ofĀ Xavier Savage, who will remain with the club until the end of the 2027 season.
The two-year extension will see Savage remain in Canberra for the next three seasons, as he looks to build on his impressive start to his NRL career.
āIām very happy with how I went last year but Iāve definitely got a lot more left in the tank. Now itās time to keep training hard and turn it up again next year. Itās exciting,”Ā Savage said.
In Melbourne, Storm fullbackĀ Ryan PapenhuyzenĀ has signed a one-year contract extension that will keep him in Melbourne until the end of the 2026 season.
One of the competitionās fan favourites, the deal will see the 2020 Clive Churchill Medallist and premiership player remain in Melbourne for the next two seasons, much to the delight of the purple faithful.
Papenhuyzen first joined Melbourne in 2017 and since cementing his place in the number one jersey at the back end of the 2019 season, the Dundas Shamrocks junior has developed into one of the premier fullbacks in the NRL.
āI feel like weāre building something special here and I have a real drive to see that through,ā Papenhuyzen said.
āWeāve had the core group of our squad together for a while and played a lot of footy alongside each other. To stay in Melbourne and hopefully enjoy success together is something that motivates me.
āIām excited for the season ahead and canāt wait to be back out on the field in front of a packed house at AAMI Park come Round 1. ā
NSW Origin hookerĀ Reece RobsonĀ will join Sydney Roosters on a four-year contract from 2026.
Robson informed the Cowboys he would depart the club following the 2025 season to take up an opportunity with another NRL club.
The Roosters later confirmed he had signed a four-year deal.
āWeāre pleased to have secured Reeceās signature and look forward to welcoming him to the Roosters in 2026,ā said Roosters head of recruitment, Daniel Anderson.
A North Queensland statement said Robson would remain an integral part of the Cowboys squad for the 2025 season.
āWe tabled our best possible offer but unfortunately were not able to compete with the final offer Reece received,ā Cowboys GM of football Micheal Luck said.
āReece now has a young family and we respect his decision.”
Robson was a member of the Blues team that won this year’s State of Origin series and was selected in the Australian squad for the Pacific Championships, but is yet to make his Test debut.
The 26-year-old, who made his NRL debut for St George Illawarra in 2018, has played 110 of his 119 NRL matches for the Cowboys after moving to North Queensland in 2020.
Meanwhile, Roosters captainĀ James TedescoĀ has signed a one-year contract extension, ensuring his continued leadership and presence at the club until the end of 2026.
āThe Roosters have been my home for the past seven years, and Iām excited to continue playing for this incredible club,ā Tedesco said.
āIām proud to represent the Roosters and thereās a strong bond among the group we have here, so Iām looking forward to what we can achieve together in 2025 and beyond.”
One of the gameās most decorated players, Tedesco has been an integral part of the Roosters since joining the Tricolours in 2018.
Since first donning the Roosters jersey, Tedesco has achieved a number of milestones, including winning back-to-back NRL Premierships in 2018 and 2019, claiming the Dally M Medal in 2019, and leading his state and country
He capped off a stellar 2024 season by being named the Dally M Fullback of the Year for the fourth time, and became a record six-time winner of the Clubās most coveted award, the Jack Gibson Medal.
āJames is not only a phenomenal player but also a leader who sets the standard for professionalism and performance, and Iām really pleased that his experience will continue to benefit the team around him,” Roosters coach Trent Robinson said.
Tedesco has played 251 first-grade games, 161 of those with the Roosters. In 2024, Tedesco featured in 25 of the Roostersā games, scoring 17 tries while setting up 24 more, and amassing 4,972 run metres.
On the back of his impressive return to the NRL in 2024,Ā Bronson XerriĀ has inked a new deal with the Bulldogs through to the end of the 2027 season.
The dynamic left centre played scoring 10 tries in 19 matches and averaged 145 metres per game as the Bulldogs surged into the finals in 2024.
“Ever since Bronson stepped foot into our clubās doors, he has shown great maturity and commitment to the Bulldog jersey,” said general manager of football Phil Gould.
“At 24 he still has plenty of rugby league ahead of him, and we believe he has a bright future ahead of him in our colours.ā
Talented young fullbackĀ Liam IsonĀ has committed to the Sharks until the end of 2027 after making his NRL debut and claiming NSW Cup glory in a meteoric rise this year.
Ison, who turns 20 this month, has put pen to paper on a two-year extension on top of his existing contract for 2025.
At Parramatta, back-rowerĀ Kelma TuilagiĀ has signed a one-year contract extension through to the end of the 2026 season.
Tuilagi played 16 games for the Eels in 2024 after joining the club from Manly.
Meanwhile the Brisbane Broncos have won the race to sign Kangaroos playmakerĀ Ben Hunt.
The 34-year-old will return to Brisbane on a two-year deal in a major boost for new coach Michael Maguire.
Hunt started his career at the Broncos, playing 187 games in nine seasonsĀ for the club before he joined the Dragons in 2018.
The veteran was granted an immediate release from his St George Illawarra contract in OctoberĀ and was courted by multiple clubs before ultimately settling on a return home.
āWeāre thrilled to be bringing Ben and his family home, where he belongs,”Ā Brisbane Broncos CEO Dave Donaghy said.
āPlayers of his calibre donāt stay available for long, and it was important to us for Ben to know he was very much wanted here, but we also understand that this was a big decision for Ben and his family.”
For Hunt – who was involved with the Broncos since the age of 13 – the chance to come home to Queensland was a factor in his decision.
āThis is very special. It was a tough decision for myself and my family, but my heart was really always driving me back to the Broncos, and in the end, it became really clear,” Hunt said.
āTo be able to finish my career at the Broncos is something that I never thought Iād have the opportunity to do and Iāll cherish it.
āIāve had a fair few calls from people back home (Central Queensland), but needed to make the best decision for myself, my wife and my family.”
At the Dragons, World Cup halfbackĀ Lachlan IliasĀ has joined the club on a two-year contract after being released by South Sydney.
The Dragons announced the signing of Ilias after the Rabbitohs agreed to a request from the 24-year-old and his management for an early release.
The Greek international will take over the halfback duties for the Red V following the departure of captain Ben Hunt.
Ilias broke his leg in April while attempting a kick and missed the rest of the NRL season.
āItās fantastic to have Lachlan join us at the Dragons,ā St George Illawarra coach Shane Flanagan said.
āHe is coming into the best years of his career. His skill set complements our current squad and he joins the exciting group of players we have recruited ahead of the 2025 season.
āHe is progressing well through his rehab, and he will be ready to go for the trials. Lachlan joins a squad that is working hard and are committed to an improved 2025. We canāt wait for him to rip in with us.ā
Ilias played 53 NRL games for South Sydney and has also played three Test matches for Greece at the 2021 Rugby League World Cup in England.
At the Warriors, rookie forwardĀ Demitric VaimaugaĀ has put pen to paper on a new deal through to the end of 2028.
Then known by the surname of Sifakula, Vaimauga made his NRL debut as a 19-year-old against the Roosters in 2023 and has added six more matches at the top level since then.
āDemitric brings so much energy and aggression to his game on both sides of the ball. We love what he provides on the field and also off it,ā said Warriors head coach Andrew Webster.
āGoing back to our first trial against Wests Tigers in 2023, he immediately showed he belonged at NRL level and everything he has done since has reinforced that.
āInjury impacted on his time on the field in the last two seasons but he has come back so well through a professional attitude. Heās our future, a great example of a locally produced and developed player.ā
Wests Tigers forwardĀ Fonua PoleĀ has put pen to paper on a two-year extension through to the end of the 2027 season.
The 22-year-old has played 56 games for Wests Tigers, making his NRL debut against the Warriors in Round 16, 2022.Ā In his three seasons in first grade, he has missed just two games.
āNow is such an exciting time for us as a club. I just want to keep working hard and continue to improve as a player,” he said.
Former BulldogĀ Josh Addo-CarrĀ has signed a two-year deal with the Parramatta Eels.
New head coach Jason Ryles – who worked with ‘The Foxx’ at the Melbourne Storm – is looking forward to adding Addo-Carr’s experience to the squad.
āIāve had the privilege of working with Josh before, and I know first-hand just how much he brings to a team ā his speed is electric, and his ability to break open games is second to none,”Ā Ryles said.
The agreement includes an option in the clubās favour for the 2026 season.
The Eels have also re-signedĀ Brendan HandsĀ andĀ Sean Russell.
Dummy half Hands has extended his contract with the club until the end of the 2026 season, while winger Russell has also extended his contract until the end of the 2026 season.
Powerhouse Samoa propĀ Terrell MayĀ hasĀ signed a three-year deal with Wests TigersĀ after he was released by the Roosters.
The Roosters confirmed in a statementĀ that May had been granted a release to pursue an opportunity at another club and it was Benji Marshall’s Tigers who secured his signature.
After making his debut in 2022, the 25-year-old had chalked up 57 games for the Roosters, including playing every game in the 2024 season as Trent Robinson’s men progressed to the preliminary final.
āTerrell is a good person first and foremost, and itās great that he will be joining us,ā said Marshall.
“Heās coming off an impressive season, and at 25, his best years are ahead of him.”
The Storm, meanwhile, have announced thatĀ Moses LeoĀ will arrive at AAMI Park a year early after New Zealand Rugby granted him an early release from his Sevens contract.
Melbourne initially signed Leo to a two-year deal starting in 2026, however the All Blacks Sevensā representative will now join his new teammates at training in late November.
āWe are looking forward to seeing Moses join his teammates for pre-season this year and appreciate the cooperation from New Zealand Rugby in supporting Moses with his request for an early release,ā Storm director of football Frank Ponissi said.
Leo debuted with the All Blacks Sevens in 2022 and represented New Zealand at the Olympic and Commonwealth Games.
Cowboys propĀ Jordan McLeanĀ will line up for an eighth season at the club after signing a one-year extension for 2025.
The 33-year-old has been the linchpin of the Cowboys pack since arriving in Townsville in 2018, racking up 137 games for North Queensland to go with the 86 games he played for the Storm.
“Itās great news for our club to secure Jordan McLean for another year,ā said Cowboys general manager of football Micheal Luck said.
āHis leadership quality was a really positive influence on our new captains in Reuben and Tom as well as the rest of the playing group.”
Blockbusting wingerĀ Raymond Tuaimalo VaegaĀ has inked a new deal with the Sea Eagles for the 2025 season.
The 24-year has played 12 games for Manly after making his NRL debut for the Sea Eagles against Canberra in 2022.
āRay has worked very hard on improving his game and has earnt this new one-year deal,āā said Sea Eagles coach Anthony Seibold.
āHe is a very good team first man who provides plenty of added depth to our outside backs.ā
The Sea Eagles also welcomeĀ Michael Chee KamĀ back to the northern beaches in 2025 after he started his career ar Manly a decade ago.
Chee Kam made his NRL debut for the Sea Eagles in 2014, playing five games over two seasons for the club. He later joined Wests Tigers in 2016 and South Sydney in 2022. He played 16 NRL games for the Rabbitohs last season.
Twin brothersĀ Toby and Ryan CouchmanĀ have committed to the Dragons until the end of the 2027 season after both signed contract extensions.
Having spent their junior days at the Thirroul Butchers, the twins progressed through the club’s pathways system with Ryan representing Australian Schoolboys in 2021 whilst at Bulli High and Toby representing the Blues in Under 19s Origin the following year.
Toby made his NRL debut in the opening round of the 2023 season against the Titans and has gone on to play 26 games for the Red V.
Ryan got his NRL call-up against Parramatta in Round 23 of 2023 and now has 11 games under his belt.
āIt was definitely important for the club to extend both of the boys,ā Dragons coach Shane Flanagan said.
āThey’re really good footballers, but also really good people who put in the work. They’re local products and they care about the club deeply, so it’s exciting to know they’re going to be here for a while.”
The Bulldogs have boosted their depth for next season after announcing the signing of versatile outside backĀ Enari TualaĀ on a two-year-deal.
The 26-year-old joins the club following five seasons at the Newcastle Knights after beginning his career at the North Queensland Cowboys.
āEnari has shown his capabilities as a reliable player and his addition will no doubt complement our squad,āĀ General Manager of Football Phil Gould AM said.
At the Sharks, classy back-rowerĀ Briton NikoraĀ has extended his deal through to the end of 2027.
Already locked in for 2025, Nikora has added two more years to his deal.
In other off-season signings news:
- The Knights have extended the contract of youngsterĀ Dylan LucasĀ until at least the end of 2027.
- The Knights have also signed forwardĀ Brodie JonesĀ to a one-year extension.
- Warriors fullbackĀ Taine TuaupikiĀ has signed a one-year contract extension through to the end of 2026.
- Storm captainĀ Harry GrantĀ has taken up his player option to stay in Melbourne until the end of the 2026 NRL season.
- The Eels have announced that Fijian starĀ Maika SivoĀ has been granted a release from his contract for the 2025 season to pursue opportunities that will allow him to further his career elsewhere.
- Wests Tigers have announced contract extensions forĀ Reuben PorterĀ andĀ Solomona Faataape.
- The Sharks have signedĀ Mawene Hiroti,Ā Niwhai Puru,Ā Billy Burns,Ā Jayden BerrellĀ andĀ Chris VeaĆlaĀ to one-year contract extensions through to the end of 2025.
- Fijian internationalĀ Marcelo MontoyaĀ will return to Belmore after signing a two-year deal with the Bulldogs.
- Warriors team-mateĀ Jazz TevagaĀ is set to bring plenty of experience and added toughness to the Manly pack after signing a one-year deal.
- The Titans have announced that experienced propĀ Reagan Campbell-GillardĀ will join the club in 2025 on a three-year deal.
- One of the young guns lining up alongside RCG in 2025 will beĀ Klese Haas, who has signed a new deal to remain with the Titans until 2027.
- Campbell-Gillard’s former club Parramatta have announced the signing ofĀ Jack WilliamsĀ on a three-year deal, starting from next season.
- Hard-working forwardĀ Josh CurranĀ has been rewarded for a stellar season at the Bulldogs, with the club extending his contract to the end of 2026.
- The Dolphins have struck a double blow in the recruitment race with former Blues Origin repĀ Daniel SaifitiĀ and promising outside backĀ Max FeagaiĀ joining Kristian Woolf’s squad in 2025.
- The Knights have re-signed hard-working forwardĀ Mat CrokerĀ through to the end of the 2025 season, which will be his fifth season in the top grade at Newcastle.
- The Rabbitohs have extended the contract of outside backĀ Isaiah TassĀ through to the end of the 2027 season.
