Joseph O'Neill, a fringe playmaker for the St George Illawarra Dragons, has signed on for another year with the club.
After transitioning from the Canterbury Bulldogs at the beginning of 2026, O'Neill has made a name for himself at the NSW Cup level.
The versatile 23-year-old can play both five-eighth and halfback but has yet to make his first-grade debut with the struggling Dragons this season.
Initially joining on a development contract, he has appeared in 15 NSW Cup matches this year, tallying 6 tries, 12 assists, and 7 forced dropouts, alongside an average of 364 kicking metres and 58 running metres per game.
Next year, O'Neill will face competition among the halves at the Dragons, confirmed by his management regarding the contract extension.
The club will introduce new players Kodi Nikorima from the Dolphins and Luke Metcalf from the New Zealand Warriors, while Lyhkan King-Togia, Kade Reed, Kyle Flanagan, and Daniel Atkinson remain under contract.
O'Neill will provide additional depth in crucial positions for head coach Dean Young as he enters his first full season in that role.
The Dragons are reportedly exploring trade options for Flanagan and King-Togia, while Atkinson may find a spot elsewhere on the team, particularly with Scott Drinkwater's arrival limiting his chances at fullback and potentially shifting Clint Gutherson to the centres or wing.
This scenario suggests that O'Neill may primarily see action in NSW Cup in 2027, after previously playing 42 games with the Bulldogs before joining the joint-venture club.