RUGBY LEAGUE
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Thirroul junior Matt Prior concedes he could need to find another NRL club, as the Dragons hierarchy consider a major end-of-season overhaul at the club.
With Josh Dugan's long-term future at the Dragons undecided, St George Illawarra chief executive Peter Doust and recruitment manager Craig Young are considering a number of changes to turn their fortunes around next year.
Doust and Young have taken over the player negotiations to allow coach Steve Price to focus on football, after they missed out on Melbourne mentor Craig Bellamy earlier this year.
With Parramatta a potential option, Prior is one of a number of players off contract for next year at the Dragons.
Boom centre Charly Runciman, sidelined with a hamstring injury, and star mid-season recruit Dugan are yet to make a commitment for 2014.
As part of a likely cleanout of the club, experienced halfback Nathan Fien is looking elsewhere and hooker Cameron King may leave the Dragons early, possibly to the Eels.
Matt Cooper is considering retirement after suffering a pectoral muscle tear on return from a toe injury which kept him out for much of the season.
Chase Stanley is another off-contract and it is believed he is looking elsewhere, while Evander Cummins and Leeson Ah Mau are likely to be on the way out.
Prior has returned to form in the forward pack in recent weeks after spending time in the centres while Cooper was injured and Stanley shifted to five-eighth.
In the past two NRL games, he has run for at least 130 metres, as well as working tirelessly in defence in the 36-nil loss to the Roosters.
But it might not be enough to ensure he remains in Wollongong next season.
"Obviously I'd love to stick around, but I'm not too sure what's going on," he said.
"The way things are at St George Illawarra at the moment, maybe I'll have to move on.
"I've got to see my manager, I'll wait and see."
Since making his NRL debut in 2008, Prior's versatility has been a major asset of his game, having shifted from centre to second row and prop.
Prior said a return to the forwards had boosted his confidence and he hoped to secure an NRL contract with a club next year that resulted in him settling in the pack.
"I like to think I offer a bit more versatility, but I'd definitely prefer to settle down in a position and really make it my own," Prior said.
"It would be the best for my football, just always being able to train and play in the one position.
"But you also have to what's needed for the team."
The return to the front row means Prior will run headlong into the Bulldogs' imposing forward pack at Kogarah on Monday night.
Prior said containing the likes of Sam Kasiano, Aiden Tolman and James Graham would be the key to the Dragons producing an upset against the Dogs, like they did against Souths two weeks ago.
It may also help his career prospects for next year.
"It's going to be a really tough battle for us, with Kasiano and [Frank] Pritchard and that there," he said.
