RUGBY LEAGUE
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The Dragons have taken the first step in bringing some much needed size to their lightweight forward pack by throwing cult figure George Rose an NRL lifeline.
The club announced on Tuesday the former Roosters, Manly and Melbourne prop will continue his career with the Dragons for at least one more season after signing a one-year deal.
The four-time Indigenous All-Star will bring 142 games of NRL experience to the young Dragons pack and with his sizeable frame could form an imposing front-row partnership with former Warriors prop Russell Packer - currently in jail for assault - who's also been linked to the club.
Coach Paul McGregor said the 31-year-old premiership winner will be a valuable addition to the Dragons roster.
"George has been playing NRL for nearly a decade and will provide valuable experience and depth to our forward pack."
The club also confirmed reports they have signed hulking former Parramatta under-20s prop Rulon Nutira on a one-year deal.
McGregor said the 24-year-old - who supplemented his football income from Gundagai last season with shifts in the local abattoir - was the big body his squad needed.
"Rulon boasts a large frame which will compliment that area of the squad and has a real desire to make the most of the opportunity provided to him by the club," McGregor said.
"He's got a nice young family and he's really looking forward to the opportunity.
"He played with Parramatta and Melbourne before and went away from the game and went back home [to New Zealand].
"As I said he's a big bopper and there's an opportunity there for him and it's just about how well he trains and whether he comes through that."
The signing of the pair will complement another large body in local junior Rory O'Brien who signed a two-year deal with the Dragons half way through this year, four years after abruptly giving the game away in 2010.
"Rory was another project who sort of went away from the game," McGregor said.
"He was a great local junior who came through the ranks with Trent Merrin.
"He's a giant, he's a 120 kilos and he's got very good skill, he's just got to learn how to train.
"There's an opportunity there for him and he knows how hard he has to work. He understands you don't get into first grade taking short cuts."