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 \u2014 with Shane Flanagan\u2019s position also uncertain.<\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/poster-fallback.png\"\/)
<\/p>\n
WHAT’S GAMBLING REALLY COSTING YOU? Set a deposit limit. For Free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au.<\/p>\n
Watch every game of every round of the Premiership Season LIVE with no ad-breaks during play on FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1<\/a>.<\/p>\n The Dragons\u2019 recruitment team were reportedly informed not to offer any extensions until their coaching situation was resolved.<\/p>\n This comes as Cook was closing in on a 12-month extension<\/a>, which would have kept him at the Red V until at least the conclusion of the 2027 season.<\/p>\n \u201cI want to keep playing. I think pre-season is always a good guide to see where your bodies at and I\u2019ve come out of this one feeling really good, really fit and still loving it,\u201d Cook told foxsports.com.au in February.<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cI think that\u2019s the most important part. My body\u2019s good and I\u2019m still loving what I\u2019m doing. I love going to training every day and just want to get back to footy, which is coming around soon.<\/p>\n \u201cIf I was hating going to training and I wasn\u2019t enjoying what I was doing, that\u2019s when it gets a bit tough, but at the moment the love is still fully there and I want to keep going on.\u201d<\/p>\n Fans raging as Dragons start 0-5 | 01:51<\/p>\n According to Code Sports<\/a>, the Dragons have also indicated that they won\u2019t enter contract extension talks with the remaining seven players in their squad who run off-contract at the end of the 2026 season.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, there have been no updates as to whether or not State of Origin back-rower Jaydn Su\u2019A is set to take up his player option, which would keep him at the club for 2027.<\/p>\n If this isn\u2019t taken up, he would likely become one of the most sought-after players on the open market.<\/p>\n Talks have halted between Cook and the Dragons.Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n PANTHERS DUO ON THE MOVE<\/p>\n The Penrith Panthers may be en route to claiming their fifth NRL premiership in six years, but that hasn\u2019t stopped them from losing several players over the past few years.<\/p>\n Losing the likes of Apisai Koroisau, Jarome Luai, James Fisher-Harris, Stephen Crichton and Spencer Leniu, The Sydney Morning Herald<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Others include Blaize Talagi, Brian To\u2019o, Moses Leota and co-captains Nathan Cleary and Isaah Yeo.<\/p>\n The future of Liam Martin remains unclear.Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a process that\u2019s pretty foreign to me, I\u2019ve never done it,\u201d Cleary said.<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s a discussion to be had in the coming weeks or months or whatever. I don\u2019t know.<\/p>\n \u201c(I\u2019ve said) I wasn\u2019t going to close off any avenues, like I was quite open to everything … I just didn\u2019t want to really lock myself in too early.<\/p>\n \u201cBut I\u2019ve always said as well that a week is such a long time in rugby league let alone a few months, so you just don\u2019t know what\u2019s going to happen.\u201d<\/p>\n Could Mitch Kenny depart the Panthers?Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n DRAGONS HALT TALKS WITH EIGHT PLAYERS<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n As reported by Code Sports<\/a>, 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.<\/p>\n This comes after the dummy-half was closing in on a 12-month extension<\/a>, which would have kept him at the Red V until at least the conclusion of the 2027 season.<\/p>\n \u201cI want to keep playing. I think pre-season is always a good guide to see where your bodies at and I\u2019ve come out of this one feeling really good, really fit and still loving it,\u201d Cook told foxsports.com.au in February.<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cI think that\u2019s the most important part. My body\u2019s good and I\u2019m still loving what I\u2019m doing. I love going to training every day and just want to get back to footy, which is coming around soon.<\/p>\n \u201cIf I was hating going to training and I wasn\u2019t enjoying what I was doing, that\u2019s when it gets a bit tough, but at the moment the love is still fully there and I want to keep going on.\u201d<\/p>\n Fans raging as Dragons start 0-5 | 01:51<\/p>\n