ST GEORGE Illawarra will be the new home of Moses Suli, with the club succeeding in its second attempt at bringing the 23-year-old to Wollongong.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Dragons went all-out in a pitch for Suli's services when he was off-contract at Manly in 2020, with the Tongan International spurning the more lucrative offer to re-sign with the Sea Eagles for two years.
Suli cited a desire to repay the Sea Eagles faith after the club picked him up off the scrapheap following hugely underwhelming stints with the Bulldogs and Tigers - the latter having signed him to a $1.3 million deal as a teenager yet to feature in the NRL.
He played a key role in the Eagles 2019 finals push under the returning Des Hasler, with the deal signed in early 2020 expected to keep him on the Northern Beaches until end of 2022.
However, defensive frailties saw him slip behind Brad Parker and Morgan Harper in Hasler's pecking order this season.
It saw both parties agree to an early release, which the Sea Eagles formalised on Wednesday, allowing Suli to belatedly link with the Dragons on a three-year deal.
It's a key recruitment piece for a club that struggled for punch with the footy last season, finishing second-last in overall running metres and last in post-contact metres.
Suli's size and speed will be a valuable asset, particularly out of the backfield, while the recruitment of George Burgess and Queensland Origin reps Jaydn Su'A and Francis Molo point to the club playing more of a power game in 2022.
"It's exciting to bring someone of Moses's calibre to St George Illawarra," general manager of football Ben Haran said.
"To secure Moses for the next three years after trying to sign him a couple of seasons back is certainly pleasing. Our young outside back talent pool will only benefit from his arrival.
"Moses is a strong, powerful and skilful centre. Equally important, he is keen to make an immediate mark at the Dragons."
It is anticipated Suli will move into the left centre spot where he performed strongly when recalled for the Sea Eagles prelim final defeat at the hands of the Rabbitohs three weeks ago.
With Zac Lomax a lock at right centre, it will likely see Jack Bird shifted into the back row, be it on the edge or as a middle forward.
Suli will be part new-look backline, with Tyrell Sloan earmarked for fulltime fullback role and Talatau Amone and Jayden Sullivan expected to vie for the right to partner Ben Hunt in the halves.
Mikaele Ravalawa, who top-scored for the club with 14 tries despite missing eight weeks through suspension, should return on the right wing with Mat and Max Feagai and Cody Ramsey in the frame for a spot on the opposite flank.
It continues a complete roster overhaul that saw the club farewell 10 of its top 30 squad at season's end, Matt Dufty, Corey Norman, Cam McInnes and Paul Vaughan (sacked) the high-profile departures.
Tariq Sims was expected to join the exit list after he was told he was free to look elsewhere at the end of the season, though he's now tipped to stay and see out the final year of his current deal.
The club has also added Maroons utility back Moses Mbye and has been linked to former Test and NSW Origin prop Aaron Woods after he was deemed surplus to requirements by incoming coach Craig Fitzgibbon at Cronulla.
The Illawarra Mercury news app is now officially live on both iOS and Android devices. It is available for download in the Apple Store and Google Play.