After losing their opening five matches of the 2026 season for the first time in club history, the Dragons have put a halt to all contract talks involving all of their off-contract players.

As reported by Code Sports, St George Illawarra have surprisingly decided to pause contract talks with co-captain Damien Cook and a host of his teammates.

That move is in a big to to reshape their roster and free up space in their salary cap in an attempt to sign new players — with Shane Flanagan’s position also uncertain.

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The Dragons’ recruitment team were reportedly informed not to offer any extensions until their coaching situation was resolved.

This comes as Cook was closing in on a 12-month extension, which would have kept him at the Red V until at least the conclusion of the 2027 season.

“I want to keep playing. I think pre-season is always a good guide to see where your bodies at and I’ve come out of this one feeling really good, really fit and still loving it,” Cook told foxsports.com.au in February.

“I think that’s the most important part. My body’s good and I’m still loving what I’m doing. I love going to training every day and just want to get back to footy, which is coming around soon.

“If I was hating going to training and I wasn’t enjoying what I was doing, that’s when it gets a bit tough, but at the moment the love is still fully there and I want to keep going on.”

Fans raging as Dragons start 0-5 | 01:51

According to Code Sports, the Dragons have also indicated that they won’t enter contract extension talks with the remaining seven players in their squad who run off-contract at the end of the 2026 season.

This includes veteran forwards Blake Lawrie, Emre Guler and Hame Sele, outside backs Christian Tuipulotu, Nathan Lawson and Tyrell Sloan and back-rower Luciano Leilua.

Meanwhile, there have been no updates as to whether or not State of Origin back-rower Jaydn Su’A is set to take up his player option, which would keep him at the club for 2027.

If this isn’t taken up, he would likely become one of the most sought-after players on the open market.

Talks have halted between Cook and the Dragons.Source: Getty Images

PANTHERS DUO ON THE MOVE

The Penrith Panthers may be en route to claiming their fifth NRL premiership in six years, but that hasn’t stopped them from losing several players over the past few years.

Losing the likes of Apisai Koroisau, Jarome Luai, James Fisher-Harris, Stephen Crichton and Spencer Leniu, The Sydney Morning Herald reports that duo Liam Martin and Mitch Kenny could be the latest players to depart the club at the end of their contracts, which run until the end of 2027.

According to the publication, the duo are weighing up a potential move to the PNG Chiefs, who will enter the NRL competition in the 2028 season.

This comes as they are part of a group of 13 players who are able to speak and negotiate with rival clubs from November 1 later this year.

Others include Blaize Talagi, Brian To’o, Moses Leota and co-captains Nathan Cleary and Isaah Yeo.

The future of Liam Martin remains unclear.Source: Getty Images

While Kenny and Martin are yet to be quizzed on their long-term future, Cleary recently confirmed that he is not against testing the open market at the end of this season.

“It’s a process that’s pretty foreign to me, I’ve never done it,” Cleary said.

“That’s a discussion to be had in the coming weeks or months or whatever. I don’t know.

“(I’ve said) I wasn’t going to close off any avenues, like I was quite open to everything … I just didn’t want to really lock myself in too early.

“But I’ve always said as well that a week is such a long time in rugby league let alone a few months, so you just don’t know what’s going to happen.”

Could Mitch Kenny depart the Panthers?Source: Getty Images

DRAGONS HALT TALKS WITH EIGHT PLAYERS

After losing their opening five matches of the 2026 season for the first time in club history, the St George Illawarra Dragons have put a halt to all contract talks involving all of their off-contract players.

As reported by Code Sports, the Dragons have surprisingly decided to halt contract talks with co-captain Damien Cook as they attempt to reshape their roster and free up space in their salary cap in an attempt to sign new players.

This comes after the dummy-half was closing in on a 12-month extension, which would have kept him at the Red V until at least the conclusion of the 2027 season.

“I want to keep playing. I think pre-season is always a good guide to see where your bodies at and I’ve come out of this one feeling really good, really fit and still loving it,” Cook told foxsports.com.au in February.

“I think that’s the most important part. My body’s good and I’m still loving what I’m doing. I love going to training every day and just want to get back to footy, which is coming around soon.

“If I was hating going to training and I wasn’t enjoying what I was doing, that’s when it gets a bit tough, but at the moment the love is still fully there and I want to keep going on.”

Fans raging as Dragons start 0-5 | 01:51

According to Code Sports, the Dragons have also indicated that they won’t enter contract extension talks with the remaining seven players in their squad who run off-contract at the end of the 2026 season.

This includes veteran forwards Blake Lawrie, Emre Guler and Hame Sele, outside backs Christian Tuipulotu, Nathan Lawson and Tyrell Sloan and back-rower Luciano Leilua.

Meanwhile, there have been no updates as to whether or not State of Origin back-rower Jaydn Su’A is set to take up his player option, which would keep him at the club for 2027.

If this isn’t taken up, he would likely become one of the most sought-after players on the open market.

Talks have halted between Cook and the Dragons.Source: Getty Images

SHARKS FULLBACK OPEN TO SWITCHING CLUBS

Unsigned beyond the conclusion of the 2026 NRL season, Cronulla Sharks Will Kennedy has admitted that he is open to switching clubs and departing the Shire-based side.

Over the next few months, the Sharks are set to be forced into making some tough calls in regards to their roster as 13 players in their squad remain off-contract at the end of 2026.

This has already seen Chris Vea’ila (Perth Bears), Mawene Hiroti (Gold Coast Titans) and Siosifa Talakai (Perth Bears) squeezed out of the club due to salary cap restraints.

Now, Kennedy could be next.

Yet to open extension talks with the Sharks, the off-contract fullback has opened up on his future, revealing that he is open to all options as long as it is the best decision for his family

“I’ll do whatever is best for my family. I just had a newborn, so it was only right for me to stay that one more year here,” Kennedy told AAP on the weekend.

“I want to keep playing footy. If I stay here, happy days. I love this club. But if I have to do what’s best for my family then I have to do it.”

Fitzgibbon praises Sharks defence | 04:43

On a salary of around $350,000 at the moment, Kennedy was previously one of several players who were linked to the now-postponed R360 rebel competition alongside Ryan Papenhuyzen and Zac Lomax.

It is understood that he was also linked with the overseas Super League competition in the past.

Adding to the comments above, he told this columnist last year that his preference would be to remain in the NRL.

“I played a bit of rugby in school, so that’s all I’ve got in me,” Kennedy added last September.

“It looks like a fun game though, rugby union, but I want to stay in the NRL, especially having a little one on the way as well.”

Will Kennedy is one of 13 players at the Sharks who are off-contract at the end of 2026.Source: Getty Images