Dragons target Cowboys recruit Drinkwater | SBS News
St George Illawarra coach Paul McGregor admits the Dragons will be targeting new North Queensland recruit Scott Drinkwater in Friday's NRL clash.
www.sbs.com.auHere’s the latest on Scott Drinkwater and the Dragons:
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The Dragons reportedly secured Scott Drinkwater on a three-year deal beginning in 2027, with official confirmation coming from the club’s site on April 24, 2026. This marked a major off-season signing as they aimed to strengthen their spine for the future. [source: Dragons official announcement]
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Prior reporting indicated intense negotiations and strong interest from St George Illawarra, including initial offers and discussions about a move from North Queensland, but the situation evolved quickly before the signing was announced. [sources: ESPN (April 11), El-Balad reporting (April 14)]
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Public commentary around the pursuit included expectations from fans and media about how Drinkwater would fit as a fullback and how the Dragons’ roster plans would be affected, especially with coaching and staff changes at the club during that period. [sources: ESPN (April 11), Sporting News (April 14), Fox Sports/NRL360 discussions]
If you’d like, I can pull a concise timeline with exact dates and summarize each source’s key claims, or set up a quick comparison of what Drinkwater’s addition could mean for the Dragons’ 2027 lineup.
Citations:
- Dragons official announcement of the 3-year deal [Dragons official site, April 24, 2026]
- ESPN report on Dragons tableing deal (April 11, 2026) [ESPN]
- El-Balad coverage of deal talks and initial offers (April 14, 2026) [El-Balad]
- Sporting News report on Drinkwater rejecting earlier Dragons offer (April 14, 2026) [Sporting News]
- Additional context from Fox/NRL360 discussions [Fox Sports]