The Dragons roster overhaul has claimed another big name with Kiwi International Gerard Beale granted a release to take up a three-year deal with Cronulla.
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St George Illawarra also confirmed the signing of former Origin centre Dane Nielsen for the next two seasons after the 29-year-old was granted an early release by the Warriors.
The announcement on Wednesday that Beale would leave the Dragons ends months of speculation surrounding the future of the 24-year-old, who was also linked to the Warriors and the Titans amid coach Paul McGregor's clean out of the club.
"The Sharks are a club on the rise and I'm excited about this opportunity and to be playing with them over the next three seasons," Beale said.
"I've been living in the area for a little while now, my family is happy and settled and I'm really looking forward to the next few years."
It ends a two-year stint in Wollongong for Beale, who joined the Dragons on a three-year deal before the 2013 season with the aim of making the fullback position his own.
A season-ending knee injury restricted him to just five games in his first year at the club but Beale proved one of the Dragons' most durable players in 2014 - not missing a match and notching 11 tries for the season.
With just a year to run on his contract with the Dragons, coach Paul McGregor said the club didn't want to deny Beale — who lives in the shire — the chance to take up a long-term deal with the Sharks.
Beale will be joined at Cronulla by close mate Kyle Stanley, who has signed a one-year deal with the Sharks after the Dragons decided not to renew the 23-year-old utility's contract.
Nielsen is shaping as Beale's most likely replacement after the Dragons confirmed the signing of the former Origin centre on Wednesday.
Nielsen was a fixture of the Melbourne Storm outfit that won three grand finals between 2009 and 2012 under Craig Bellamy and played three games for Queensland in 2011-2012 series.
But the 29-year-old has struggled with injury and form since joining the Warriors in 2013, with the emergence of young-guns Konrad Hurrell, Ngani Laumape and David Fusitu'a and the arrival of former Raiders three-quarter Matt Allwood leaving him on the outer.
Beale's departure and Josh Dugan's likely return to the No 1 jersey leaves the Dragons light in the centres and McGregor said the former Indigenous All-Star's experience is valuable.