Despite being the Dragons club captain and player of the year for the past two seasons, McInnes decision has cast an immediate cloud over his captaincy of the Red V for this season. There are senior elements within the club that began raising questions over the 27-year-old s leadership status as soon as the news of McInnes plans broke. The problem for new Dragons coach Anthony Griffin is his depth of quality leaders within his roster is thin, with Ben Hunt, Tariq Sims and Trent Merrin the only obvious candidates. Just how the Sharks snuck under the guard of the Dragons and the most interested party, the Wests Tigers, to sign McInnes, is what surprised many within the game.
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Sharks premiership captain Paul Gallen is stunned that the Dragons have lost inspirational skipper Cameron McInnes to their local rival, saying that he can have a similar impact on Cronulla as 2016 title hero Michael Ennis.
His exit had been speculated, with the Dragons trying to sign former Broncos, Knights and Queensland hooker Andrew McCullough; who worked with new Red V coach Anthony Griffin at Brisbane. Yet McInnes is switching clubs for a similar roster scenario, playing lock rather than hooker, and at a fair market rate of about $500,000 per season.
McInnes had explored his market options, previously being linked with his old Rabbitohs coach Michael Maguire at Wests Tigers, and was eager to sign a new contract before the upcoming season began. That didn t suit St George Illawarra and a possible reason emerged shortly after the McInnes bombshell - with the Dragons confirming interest in signing controversial cross
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Former St George Illawarra coach Paul McGregor was never going to bag his old club, but knows bitter rivals Cronulla backed a winner by signing inspirational skipper Cameron McInnes.
The majority of the Red V faithful were stunned to learn on Tuesday the clubâs best player would move to the Sharks next season on a four-year deal worth north of $2m.
Cameron McInnes is off to Cronulla on a four-year deal.
Credit:Getty
The Dragons and new coach Anthony Griffin have poured a lot of their efforts into signing another hooker, Andrew McCullough, for this season, and had not even tabled a formal offer to McInnes.
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New Dragons coach Anthony Griffin said Jack de Belin is focused on his trial in April after sending the NSW forward to train with St George Illawarra s reserve grade side, and not with the main group as he has done for the last two seasons.
The news emerged as star fullback Matt Dufty also expressed disappointment in the club for failing to begin talks about a potential new deal.
De Belin was nowhere to be seen as the Dragons slugged it out in the heat in Wollongong on Monday.
Jack de Belin is now training with St George Illawarra s reserve grade team, away from the main group, until his re-trial.
St George Illawarra have signed Parramatta Eels front-rower Daniel Alvaro for the next two seasons, until at least the end of the 2022 NRL Telstra Premiership season.
The Italian international made his first grade debut in 2015 and has played 95 NRL games to date, including a six-game loan spell at the New Zealand Warriors last season.
The Mittagong Lions junior also won the Ken Thornett Medal as the Eels Player of the Year in 2018.
Three spots now remain in the Dragons Top 30 for the 2021 NRL Telstra Premiership season following the signing of the former Country Origin representative Alvaro. Daniel has shown his competitiveness and capabilities as a first grade player over the past six years and we re excited to see how he complements our squad, General manager of football Ben Haran said.