Nightingale made his first grade debut for St George Illawarra in 2007 and has become a reliable finisher as one of the Dragons' biggest attacking weapons.

But salary cap pressure could force him out of Wollongong next year as Dragons coach Paul McGregor and recruitment boss Peter Mulholland attempt to build a premiership-winning roster.

The club's money woes have already seen Brett Morris and Trent Merrin leave their junior base.

Josh Morris said it would be a disaster if Nightingale went the same way.

"It would be an absolute disgrace if someone like Gypsy [Nightingale] didn't get signed again," Morris said.

"He's the heart and soul of that club, both him and skipper Benny Creagh.

"It's very rare you see one-club players and he now has the perfect opportunity [to be one].

"All the fans love him and all the Dragons boys love him.

"I guess it's up to the board, but if I was on the board I'd be signing him straight away."

St George Illawarra is thought to be $600,000 over the salary cap for the current season.

Nightingale is on the radar on a number of rival clubs, including homeland outfit New Zealand Warriors.

Dragons halfback Benji Marshall said last week the NRL should allow salary cap concessions for long-term and one-club players to remain at a club.

Marshall only joined the Red V mid-2014 but had previously spent a decade at Wests Tigers.

He has publicly declared Nightingale should be allowed to stay in Wollongong to play out his career.

Morris agrees the governing body should be doing its best to help clubs retain long-term players.

"That loyalty that they have needs to be rewarded, so I'm all for that," Morris said.

"It is a very rare thing to see these days.

"Football is a business and you don't see too often a player staying at one club for his whole career."

Morris, himself, only played 46 games for the Dragons before being squeezed out of the club at the end of 2008.

His twin brother Brett suffered the same fate when he couldn't fit under St George Illawarra's salary cap for 2015 and he was forced to accept a lucrative deal to join Josh at the Canterbury Bulldogs.

Back-rower forward Trent Merrin reportedly wanted to stay in Wollongong but declined an offer from the Dragons late last year, said to be the largest offer ever made from the club to a forward.

Instead, he signed a three-year deal with the Penrith Panthers in March and will join the mountain club from 2016.

Both Merrin and Nightingale have remained good friends with Josh Morris since he left the Dragons in 2008.

"It's always good to see that, it doesn't matter who you play for," Morris said.

"The friendship still exists to this day."