2025 Rookie Watch: The Dragons young guns preparing for big years

Preseason is in full swing with the club’s budding stars earning opportunities to mix it with the first graders and get a taste of what it takes to be an NRL player.

Four rookies are making the leap up to the NRL’s Top 30 squad this season with four others earning development contracts and a further half-dozen in the midst of their opening NRL preseason.

ROOKIE WATCH

DYLAN EGAN

Position 2nd Row
Age 20
Junior Club Gerringong Lions

The Steelers’ SG Ball captain in 2023, Egan made a smooth transition up to Jersey Flegg before slotting into the club’s NSW Cup side. His season was cut short by injury, but he was able to bounce back in 2024 appearing in all 24 NSW Cup matches playing in 1,871 of a possible 1,920 minutes. He made 849 tackles – the highest among all Dragons and third in the competition – at near 96 per cent efficiency whilst tallying seven tries, 11 line breaks, and 45 tackle breaks. Many fans would have spotted Egan in the club’s 2023 trial match against Super League powerhouse St Helens as well as this year’s Charity Shield. A hard-working edge forward, Egan moves into the club’s NRL squad for 2025 having spent the 2024 season on a development deal. Away from football, Egan is completing his Cert IV in Fitness.

FINAU LATU

Position Lock
Age 18
Junior Club Minchinbury Jets

The nephew of former Dragon Solomon Haumono, Latu linked up with St George’s Harold Matthews Cup squad in 2022 before earning an Australian Schoolboys nod the following year. He took part in his first NRL preseason off the back of it at just 17. Latu played a key role in St George’s run towards an SG Ball premiership in April before filtering into Jersey Flegg where he appeared in 14 games. He earnt a NSW Cup call-up for the side’s season finale running for 77 metres and breaking four tackles in just 20 minutes of action. A middle forward who possesses a clean mixture of power and finesse, Latu moves into the club’s NRL squad for the 2025 season. Off the paddock, he is completing his Cert II in Building and Construction.

HAMISH STEWART

Position Lock
Age 20
Junior Club Gerringong Lions

Another of the Gerringong contingent, Stewart progressed through the club’s pathways system with the Steelers before making Jersey Flegg and NSW Cup debuts in 2023. Over the past two seasons, the ball-playing middle has split his time between the competitions and was named on the extended NRL bench in Round 27. He has made 17 NSW Cup appearances bagging a pair of tries and this year moves into the club’s NRL squad having spent the 2024 season on a development deal. Away from rugby league, Stewart is a qualified carpenter.

LOKO PASIFIKI TONGA

Position Front Row
Age 19
Junior Club Bankstown Bulls, Chester Hill Hornets

Tonga grew up largely in southwest Sydney and came into the Dragons system fresh off an NRL Schoolboy Cup title with Ipswich State High School. He spent the 2023 SG Ball season with St George before earning an Australian Schoolboys nod and progressing into Jersey Flegg and eventually NSW Cup. That November, he got his first taste of NRL preseason before returning to SG Ball level for 2024 where he helped St George to a Grand Final victory. He was a part of NSW’s Under 19s State of Origin win later in the year before becoming a NSW Cup regular and being named on the extended NRL bench for the first time in Round 27. A hulking front rower with a big engine, Tonga moves into the club’s NRL squad for the 2025 season. Off the pitch, he is completing his Cert II in Building and Construction.

COREY ACKERS

Position Front Row
Age 19
Junior Club Arncliffe Scots, Brighton Seagulls, Kingsgrove Colts

A mobile middle forward with strong leg speed and an ability to sting in defence, Ackers has progressed through the club’s pathways with St George having spent three years in Harold Matthews Cup and two in SG Ball. After inking a development deal with the club, Ackers got his first taste of NRL preseason training in the lead-up to the 2024 season before scoring a try in St George’s SG Ball Grand Final win. His season was unfortunately cut short due to injury, but the local junior is back on a development deal for 2025. Away from footy, Ackers is studying with the NSW Police Force.

JONAH GLOVER

Position Halfback
Age 22
Junior Club Springfield Panthers

Glover won the Hastings Deering Colts Player of the Year with the Brisbane Tigers in 2022 and made the move to Sydney the following year to join the Bulldogs where he was a member of their Jersey Flegg premiership-winning side. He joined the Dragons ahead of the 2024 season and proved a NSW Cup stalwart scoring eight tries, kicking 49 goals, and leading the team in try assists as he took home the side’s Coach’s Award. A crafty halfback, Glover moves into a development deal for the 2025 season. Off the field, he is a Student Learning and Support Officer.

LYHKAN KING-TOGIA

Position Five-Eighth, Fullback
Age 19
Junior Club Dalby Devils

The nephew of Kiwis legend Steve Matai, King-Togia joined the club in 2023 after starring as a 16-year-old in Bundaberg’s A-Grade competition. He spent that SG Ball season with Illawarra before earning Jersey Flegg and NSW Cup debuts. The teenager found himself on a similar path in 2024 progressing through the grades and becoming a key member of the club’s NSW Cup squad scoring five tries from 10 outings whilst spending time at fullback and in the halves. His meteoric rise culminated with an NRL debut in the side’s Round 24 win over the Titans in Wollongong. King-Togia earnt the first start of his career in the side’s season finale against the Raiders at Kogarah managing a maiden four-pointer. He took home the club’s Geoff Selby Memorial Trophy for NRL Emerging Talent at the end of the year and moves into a development contract for the 2025 season. Away from football, King-Togia is completing a Bachelor of Social Science (Criminology).

NICK TSOUGRANIS

Position 2nd Row
Age 20
Junior Club Arncliffe Scots

An Arncliffe product, Tsougranis progressed through the grades at St George making his Jersey Flegg debut in 2022. A hard-working back rower with a penchant for hole running, Tsougranis was rewarded with a NSW Cup debut in June of 2023 before earning selection in NSW’s Under 19s State of Origin side. He went on to play seven NSW Cup matches before getting his first taste of NRL preseason later in the year. Fresh off a season which included 13 Jersey Flegg appearance and a NSW Cup outing, Tsougranis moves onto the club’s development list for the 2025 season. Off the paddock, he is studying a Bachelor of Physiotherapy.

HAYDEN BUCHANAN

Position Centre
Age 18
Junior Club Gerringong Lions, Yeppoon Seagulls, Mona Vale Raiders

Buchanan became a regular in Illawarra junior rep squads after his family settled in Gerringong and quickly made a name for himself as a strike centre. His Jersey Flegg debut came when he was just 17 before representing the Under 19s Blues a year young the following season. A genuine try-scorer with speed to burn, Buchanan made the leap up to NSW Cup mid-year and went on to make seven appearances assisting on four tries and averaging over 100 run metres. Away from rugby league, he is completing his Cert II in Building and Construction.

AAYMON FITZGIBBON

Position Halfback, Five-Eighth
Age 18
Junior Club Thirroul Butchers

The son of former Steeler and Dragon Craig, Fitzgibbon has progressed through the club’s pathways system with Illawarra. He made the jump up to SG Ball this past season and proved a valuable contributor as an injury-ravaged Steelers outfit qualified for the finals. The teenager helped his Butchers to an Under 18s Grand Final win in the Illawarra League taking out the competition’s Player of the Year Award. An athletic half with the ability to take on the line, Fitzgibbon earns his first taste of NRL training this season. Off the field, he is studying a Bachelor of Exercise Science.

JACOB HALANGAHU

Position 2nd Row
Age 18
Junior Club Minchinbury Jets, Brothers Penrith

Halangahu joined the club’s pathways system in 2022 playing Harold Matthews Cup with St George. He was named an Australian Schoolboy the following year before making the transition up to SG Ball where he took home Player of the Match honours in St George’s Grand Final win and was named the side’s Player of the Year. He represented NSW City Under 18s later in the year before coming off the bench in NSW’s Under 19s State of Origin victory. He was selected in the Australian Schoolboys squad for the second year in a row – this time as captain – before helping lead Patrician Brothers’ Blacktown to the 2024 NRL Schoolboy Cup Final. A destructive ball-runner and physical tackler, the 18-year-old earns his first taste of NRL training this preseason after spending the backend of the year with the club’s Jersey Flegg outfit.

KYAN HJALTASON

Position Hooker
Age 20
Junior Club Albion Park-Oat Flats Eagles, Western Suburbs Red Devils

A local junior, Hjaltason progressed through the club’s pathways system with the Steelers earning a NSW Country Under 18s nod in 2022. He made the leap up to Jersey Flegg the following year before spending this past season captaining the side. A hard-working No.9 with the ability to hurt teams with the ball around the ruck, Hjaltason is in the midst of his first NRL preseason having enjoyed a strong Under 21s campaign in which he appeared in 22 of the side’s 24 outings. Off the pitch, he is completing his Cert III in Carpentry.

JETT LIU

Position Front Row
Age 20
Junior Club Leeton Raiders, Wagga Wagga Kangaroos

Hailing from the Riverina, Liu moved over from the Raiders ahead of the 2023 season to play SG Ball for Illawarra. He quickly filtered into the Jersey Flegg set-up becoming a key member of the squad whilst also spending some time playing NSW Cup. A tall, athletic prop, Liu is fresh off a Jersey Flegg season in which he made 21 appearances and again earns the opportunity to spend preseason with the NRL squad. Away from football, he is completing a Bachelor of Law as well as a Bachelor of Criminology.

KADE REED

Position Halfback
Age 18
Junior Club Western Suburbs Red Devils

Reed has progressed through the club’s pathways system with the Steelers and last year earnt his first taste of NRL training. The 18-year-old helped lead NSWCHS to a Final berth at this year’s Schools Championships before scoring a try in Wests’ win in the Illawarra League decider. Reed possesses the hallmarks of all quality halfbacks – a strong organisational ability, elite kicking, and formidable instincts with ball in hand. Off the field, he is completing his Cert IV in Building and Construction.

BEN RUMBLE

Position Fullback, Wing, Centre
Age 21
Junior Club Cootamundra Bulldogs, Collegians Wollongong

Another Riverina native, Rumble came into the club’s system in 2021 playing Laurie Daley Cup with Illawarra South Coast before being rewarded with selection for NSW Country Under 18s. He moved into SG Ball the following season with the Steelers – the same year he helped lead Collegians to an Illawarra League title – before shifting into the club’s Jersey Flegg squad in 2023. Rumble, a lanky outside back, proved a revelation at Jersey Flegg level scoring 13 tries from 18 appearances in year one before backing that up with 20 tries from just 15 outings this past season. He also made his NSW Cup debut at the backend of 2023 bagging a runaway try with his first touch of the football. Away from football, Rumble is a Disability Support Worker.

CYRUS STANLEY-TRAILL

Position 2nd Row, Centre
Age 18
Junior Club Hurstville United

The nephew of former Dragons Kyle and Chase, Stanley-Traill earnt his first taste of Harold Matthews Cup in 2022 with St George. He made the jump up to SG Ball for 2024 and played a key role in the Red V’s Grand Final win before being selected for NSW City Under 18s. The teenager transitioned into the club’s Jersey Flegg squad scoring four tries from 14 outings. Strong and powerful with soft hands, Stanley-Traill is equally at home in the middle or on an edge even spending a chunk of the Jersey Flegg season in the centres. The teenager is in the midst of his first NRL preseason having inked an upgraded deal 12 months ago which will see him move onto the club’s development list in 2026 and the NRL squad the following year. Off the field, Stanley-Traill works as a pick and packer.

JARRAH TREWEEK

Position 2nd Row
Age 19
Junior Club Milton-Ulladulla Bulldogs

A Milton-Ulladulla junior, Treweek enjoyed a breakout season in 2023 with premiers Illawarra South Coast in the Laurie Daley Cup where he was named the competition’s Most Valuable Player before earning a NSW Country Under 18s nod. He backed that effort up in the 2024 SG Ball season with the Steelers scoring four tries in 10 outings. Blessed with the size and strength of a back rower and the vision and skill of a half, Treweek made his Jersey Flegg debut in the Dragons’ season finale this year and is now in the middle of his first NRL preseason. Away from footy, he is completing a Bachelor of Health and Physical Education.

LEEROY WEATHERALL

Position Front Row, 2nd Row
Age 17
Junior Club Western Suburbs Red Devils

The brother of former Dragons NRLW standout Maddison, Weatherall is another who has come through the club’s pathways system with the Steelers. A firebrand forward who leads from the front, Weatherall has the ability to play in the middle or on an edge. The youngest current member of the club’s preseason squad, Weatherall will this year make the permanent leap up to SG Ball after making his debut in the competition in week one of the Steelers’ postseason in 2024.