Shane Flanagan, coach of the St George Illawarra Dragons, has spoken out regarding the situation involving young talent Loko Pasifiki Tonga, following reports of his desire to explore options with other clubs.
Tonga's manager, Craig Clifton, reportedly submitted a letter to the Dragons, urging the club to allow his client to seek fresh opportunities due to limited playing time at the NRL level.
In response, the Dragons declined Clifton's request, ensuring that Pasifiki Tonga remains with the team until at least 2027.
Last year, Tonga featured in 10 NRL matches for the Dragons and made a strong comeback from a neck injury last week, showcasing his skills in the NSW Cup against the Sea Eagles.
"He a bit sore around the neck and shoulders and so on and then NSW Cup had a bye. The intentions were always to get Loko match fit and play him in the NRL … He played really well in NSW Cup last week then you see him named in the 19," Flanagan explained.
Flanagan expressed his support for Tonga, stating, "I signed Loko, I re-signed Loko, I've got a high opinion of him, so some of the commentary around it is, I feel is pretty unfair because as a club we value him and he's a 20-year-old front rower we're looking after."
The context of this request is further complicated by the recent news that Jaydn Su'A has signed with the Parramatta Eels for the upcoming season.
"Jaydn decided he wanted to go elsewhere. These things happen in rugby league and we wish Jaydn well," Flanagan noted.
"I'm not saying we're just going to move on and we're not disappointed. We are disappointed that he's gone, but we've got some young kids coming through," he concluded.