Another Dragon to Make His Mark on the Super League

St George Illawarra prop Hame Sele is on the verge of advancing his career in the Super League, as he prepares to sign a three-year deal with the Catalans Dragons starting next season.

This transition will mark Sele as the sixth player to leave the Red V for a spot in the Super League, concluding his second tenure at the club when his contract ends after the 2026 season.

Reports from The Daily Telegraph indicate that Sele will join his current teammate Luciano Leilua at the Catalans, where both will don the colors of the French team with the same Dragon mascot.

This move signifies an ongoing trend of departures from St George Illawarra, with players such as Damien Cook, Mathew Feagai, and Tyrell Sloan signing with the Castleford Tigers, while Emre Guler will join Wakefield Trinity.

The 29-year-old had faced speculation about an early exit before the June 30 transfer deadline this year but ultimately stayed on at St George Illawarra, as a mid-season release did not materialize.

Now, Sele will venture overseas in search of enhanced opportunities after falling further down the ranks at the Dragons.

A Tongan international, Sele has made just 11 NRL appearances over the past two seasons, including five this year. He has not appeared in first grade since Round 6 and has spent much of the season in the NSW Cup due to previous injuries and a loss of favor. Throughout his career, he has played a total of 94 NRL matches.

He began his first-grade journey with the Dragons in 2017, followed by a short five-game stint with the Penrith Panthers in 2019. Sele then spent four seasons with the South Sydney Rabbitohs before returning to St George Illawarra ahead of the 2024 season.

With first-grade chances scarce recently, this move to Catalans offers Sele the opportunity to rejuvenate his career and secure regular high-level football under a long-term Super League contract.