Blake Lawrie is the most recent St George Illawarra Dragons player set to leave as part of a mass clean-out scheduled for the end of the 2026 season.
The Dragons currently sit at the bottom of the ladder and have confirmed Dean Young as their new permanent coach for the 2027 season, indicating a major roster overhaul is in the works.
Confirmed departures include Damien Cook, Mathew Feagai, and Tyrell Sloan, who will be joining the Castleford Tigers in the English Super League. Additionally, Jaydn Su'A has signed with the Parramatta Eels, while Nathan Lawson has been released.
Lawrie has faced ongoing speculation regarding his future, with Hame Sele and Luciano Leilua also expected to exit the club. There is continuing discussion about Clint Gutherson's role for the upcoming year.
Love Rugby League reports that Lawrie has been actively marketed to clubs within the English Super League, as interest in the prop exists despite his struggles to reach his potential in recent seasons.
Since Shane Flanagan took over, Lawrie's performance has noticeably declined, featuring only in nine games this year under both Flanagan and Young.
As his contract expires at the end of the year, the likelihood of Lawrie remaining with the Dragons seems slim, and his prospects in the NRL are also fading.
This shift coincides with the Dragons' focus on developing younger forwards.
Young players like Hamish Stewart, Toby Couchman, Ryan Couchman, Dylan Egan, and Loko Pasifiki Tonga have all established themselves as regulars, while Jacob Halangahu is close to joining them. Moreover, the team will need to accommodate Cyrus Stanely-Trail in the near future.