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Drinkwater is set to leave the Cowboys at the end of 2026, despite having one year remaining on his deal.<\/p>\n
The Cowboys are eyeing recently re-signed young gun Jaxon Purdue as their next fullback. <\/p>\n
Drinkwater was being chased by several rival NRL clubs, but the Dragons have won the race for his signature, despite sacking coach Shane Flanagan and football manager Ben Haran this week.<\/p>\n
The club is yet to sign a head coach for 2027, with Dean Young taking over Flanagan as interim coach until the end of the season, with the potential to take the job full-time. <\/p>\n
Drinkwater\u2019s arrival is set to push veteran fullback Clint Gutherson to the centres in the final year of his three-year deal in 2027. <\/p>\n
\u201cI 100 per cent welcome it, I\u2019ve sent him a few messages trying to get it across (the line),\u201d Gutherson said of the club\u2019s Drinkwater pursuit on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs I said I don\u2019t care (what position I play), I just want to play and I want to win.\u201d<\/p>\n
Taj Alvarez’s solo try lights up finals | 00:22<\/p>\n
Andrew Johns believes Drinkwater is a steal at $900k a season over three years. <\/p>\n
\u201cIf the Dragons get him for a million dollars a year for three years, that\u2019s a bargain,\u201d Johns said on Wide World of Sports\u2019 Immortal Behaviour.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey need desperately some creativity and he can do that from fullback. He\u2019s coming into that sweet spot, the next four years he\u2019s gonna be at his best.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo George Illawarra fans, if you get Drinkwater, it\u2019s a real plus. He looks like a bloke that just gets out there and plays.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut as long as it\u2019s not played out in the media by these managers, if you\u2019re gonna go just sign it, get it done.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Dragons are set to sign Scott Drinkwater on a three-year deal.Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n
CHIEFS TARGET STORM STAR IN TRIPLE PACKAGE DEAL<\/p>\n
The PNG Chiefs are set to make a bold triple bid for Storm star Xavier Coates and his two brothers Phillip and Basil for their inaugural season in 2028. <\/p>\n
The Daily Telegraph<\/a> reported rising star Basil Coates is the third member from the family targeted by the PNG Chiefs, as the expansion side eye a triple signing coup. <\/p>\n The youngest of the Coates brothers, Basil has been a star for Tweed in the Mal Meninga Cup and it has caught the attention of the Chiefs. <\/p>\n Xavier and Phillip Coates were already on the Chiefs\u2019 radar in light of their connections to Papua New Guinea. <\/p>\n Xavier was born in Port Moresby and their mother is from the Gulf Province in PNG.<\/p>\n Phillip recently signed a one-year extension with the Brisbane Broncos, which means he and Xavier are both off-contract in 2027. <\/p>\n Xavier Coates is one of the Chiefs\u2019 priority targets, given he is arguably the best winger in the NRL, but the Storm will be reluctant to give him up without a fight. <\/p>\n MORE NRL NEWS<\/p>\n TALKING PTS: Blunt reality in awkward halves headaches; \u2018ugly\u2019 fear in Dragons call<\/a><\/p>\n $50 STITCH-UP: Leichhardt miracle, simple two-word rule – Ricky\u2019s inner-sanctum<\/a><\/p>\n