ST GEORGE Illawarra’s salary cap strain has claimed its first victim with prop Jack Stockwell expected to be granted a release to join Newcastle.

The Dragons cap is  about $500,000 over their salary limit for next season. Stockwell’s release and Brett Morris’ impending move to Canterbury will clear up some much needed funds 

The Dragons are expected to add Russell Packer and George Rose to their front-row stocks .

Stockwell re-signed with the club until 2017 last December. Dragons chief executive Peter Doust trumpeted his  re-signing at the time.

‘‘Jack has been a player we identified a number of years ago who we see as a key part of our future,’’ Doust said in December. 

Manly had also expressed an interest in signing the former Junior Kangaroo.