In one of the most chaotic weeks in St George Illawarra’s history, a ray of sunshine has finally emerged.
Wide World of Sports can reveal that boom young forward Loko Pasifiki Tonga has bought into the coaching changes at the club and will drop his request to leave the Dragons.
One of the best up-and-comers in the Dragons’ ranks, Pasifiki Tonga rocked the club last week with a request to leave.
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Adding fuel to the fire, his management sent a scathing email to the club about their grievances that was leaked to the media.
Dragons young gun Loko Pasifiki Tonga braces for contact against South Sydney. Getty
But sources close to Pasifiki Tonga have told Wide World of Sports that the former New South Wales under 19s and Australian Schoolboys star is happy to play under interim coach Dean Young.
The source added that Pasifiki Tonga was not impressed with his treatment under sacked coach Shane Flanagan and his deputy Michael Ennis, who was sent packing on Tuesday by Young.
The 20-year-old dynamo has been named in the squad to take on the Roosters in Saturday’s big Anzac Day clash.
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Shane Flanagan split with the Dragons this week. Getty
His decision to stay at the club represents a vote of confidence in Young and new head of football Ben Creagh and is a timely boost going into the big game.
It’s a monumental change in just a week after former international Mat Rogers, part of his management team, declared on radio that Pasifiki Tonga was “totally flabbergasted” with how he’s been treated and “not coached”.
The leaked email written by his manager Craig Clifton was even more scathing.
“This request is not made lightly. However, following extensive discussions with Loko regarding his current standing within the club and his future career trajectory, it has become evident that his continued tenure at the Dragons is no longer tenable or beneficial for either party,” Clifton wrote to sacked CEO Ben Haran and Creagh.
“While I note your written assurances that the Dragons hold Loko in high regard and see a genuine pathway for him, the reality of his situation at the club directly contradicts these sentiments. Words mean very little when they are not supported by action.
“Furthermore, your assertion that he has a genuine pathway is entirely undermined by the public comments made by your head coach.”