St. George Illawarra Dragons secure Keaon Koloamatangi on long-term deal

Keaon will be 28 at the start of next season, but, he’s played most of his career on an edge, and, has only really been a big minute player the last 2-3 seasons - a middle for 1-2 seasons? His best years are ahead of him.

A lot are judging Keaon’s worth but Jason Ryles believed he was worth 1mil a season, so he is worth 1mil to the Eels a season.

Ryles knows what he needs, and what a player (and position) is worth in his system. He is living a breathing the success of this roster, and like many of us, clearly believed KK improved our chances of success - which in turn improves our chances of signing more talented players.

That’s what matters. The coach, who we all back & believe in, wanted KK at the club & felt he was worth big $$.

Keaon is an experienced rep player, heading into his prime, and is a pack leader - exactly what the Eels need as Paulo is in his final seasons, with young middles coming through.

No wonder Ryles was willing to spend here.

It’s another public misfire, and Keaon specifically aside, one I’m not sure we could afford.

This is very disappointing on many levels.

With kids getting bigger and stronger then adding access to sport science programs at a young age, their speed, fitness, skills and endurance are getting better as well at younger ages.

There will be a number of players similar to what Haas was when he started within 3 or 4 years at a much cheaper rate then $1million a year that saints are locked into. I don't doubt we would have been paying overs in possibly the 3rd and definitely the 4th year of the contract. The 5th year is ridiculous.

I would have liked to have gotten Koloamatangi as he would have strengthened our squad for 2027, 2028 and possibly 2029 but 4 years is a long time in the NRL.

Halves get better with age but with the speed and intensity of the game forwards are getting knocked around a lot more with less interchange leading to decline in performance at 30yo.

Fowards rarely hold top form for long periods especially with big contracts as the willingness to run into brick wall defences diminishes when you are set up with $1 million a year for multiple years towards the end of your career regardless of how you play.

Look at Jason Taumolo who was only 24 when he signed his mega deal at cowboys and he was a bigger star and better player than Keaon Koloamatangi but has struggled as he approached 30yo. Koloamatangi would be arriving at eels at 29yo. We need to find a younger player with more years whether that is internally or from another club.

Signing a stupid deal just to get it done is why the Eels have struggled for so long. Successful clubs don't ruin their cap to fill a short term gap then worry about the back ended deal or extra years later. If they don't get what they want for a reasonable price or contract length they look within or find a young player they can develop. Name a top player Roosters, Storm or Penrith have signed for massive money beside Cronk and SBW. They target players to support those they develop which is how sustained success is achieved. Buying a million dollar player rarely delivers sustained success unless they are young and amongst the game top players. Koloamatangi isn't that.

The easy option was to match the 5th year to get a deal done. If we build towards a premiership the next few years and our young players need contract increases, we would be stuck with an aging forward who isn't delivering value for money so we lose a young star and go backwards. Just like after our last few grand final appearances. Missing out has probably made us worse for 2027-2028 but I think it is the right move for the club going beyond that.

Buying players a year out is fucked. The NRL need to scrap this stupid rule of signing players a year before they start. It's hard enough to.manage the cap and gauge form, changes to rules that affect the type of player you want without gambling on form a year out.

"Keep telling yourself that mate.
This club has had people running the joint who are not remotely qualified. Absolute idiots who had no idea how to run a chook raffle let alone a club. Most have only been there to feather their own nests and we…"

"He went to the Dragons ffs. They've made the finals once in ten years. That means every club in the game 'had the ability to get him'. They just needed to offer the most money. If we had offered the most we would've got him for sure."

"No it's because we're not a strong club. We've had a revolving door of board members, CEOs, general managers and coaches since 1986 and won nothing. 'Accepting mediocrity' hasn't been the problem. Market forces are what's held us back."

Replies

Kurupt - 1 Year Cuck December 26, 2025 at 9:53pm

Meh
KENDOZA December 26, 2025 at 10:45pm

Mark and jim couldn't organise a root at a brothel
Joeyboyz December 26, 2025 at 11:00pm

I'm glad. KK is a good player, but not worth $1M per season. To justify that sort of money you have to be a game breaker and he's no game breaker. Good news.
Nightmare Off-Season December 26, 2025 at 11:45pm

Keaon will be 28 at the start of next season, but, he’s played most of his career on an edge, and, has only really been a big minute player the last 2-3 seasons - a middle for 1-2 seasons? His best years are ahead of him.

A lot are judging Keaon’s worth but Jason Ryles believed he was worth 1mil a season, so he is worth 1mil to the Eels a season.

Ryles knows what he needs, and what a player (and position) is worth in his system. He is living a breathing the success of this roster, and like many of us, clearly believed KK improved our chances of success - which in turn improves our chances of signing more talented players.

That’s what matters. The coach, who we all back & believe in, wanted KK at the club & felt he was worth big $$.

Keaon is an experienced rep player, heading into his prime, and is a pack leader - exactly what the Eels need as Paulo is in his final seasons, with young middles coming through.

No wonder Ryles was willing to spend here.

It’s another public misfire, and Keaon specifically aside, one I’m not sure we could afford.

This is very disappointing on many levels.
fake midget pseudoachondroplasia December 27, 2025 at 1:04am

With kids getting bigger and stronger then adding access to sport science programs at a young age, their speed, fitness, skills and endurance are getting better as well at younger ages.

There will be a number of players similar to what Haas was when he started within 3 or 4 years at a much cheaper rate then $1million a year that saints are locked into. I don't doubt we would have been paying overs in possibly the 3rd and definitely the 4th year of the contract. The 5th year is ridiculous.

I would have liked to have gotten Koloamatangi as he would have strengthened our squad for 2027, 2028 and possibly 2029 but 4 years is a long time in the NRL.

Halves get better with age but with the speed and intensity of the game forwards are getting knocked around a lot more with less interchange leading to decline in performance at 30yo.

Fowards rarely hold top form for long periods especially with big contracts as the willingness to run into brick wall defences diminishes when you are set up with $1 million a year for multiple years towards the end of your career regardless of how you play.

Look at Jason Taumolo who was only 24 when he signed his mega deal at cowboys and he was a bigger star and better player than Keaon Koloamatangi but has struggled as he approached 30yo. Koloamatangi would be arriving at eels at 29yo. We need to find a younger player with more years whether that is internally or from another club.

Signing a stupid deal just to get it done is why the Eels have struggled for so long. Successful clubs don't ruin their cap to fill a short term gap then worry about the back ended deal or extra years later. If they don't get what they want for a reasonable price or contract length they look within or find a young player they can develop. Name a top player Roosters, Storm or Penrith have signed for massive money beside Cronk and SBW. They target players to support those they develop which is how sustained success is achieved. Buying a million dollar player rarely delivers sustained success unless they are young and amongst the game top players. Koloamatangi isn't that.

The easy option was to match the 5th year to get a deal done. If we build towards a premiership the next few years and our young players need contract increases, we would be stuck with an aging forward who isn't delivering value for money so we lose a young star and go backwards. Just like after our last few grand final appearances. Missing out has probably made us worse for 2027-2028 but I think it is the right move for the club going beyond that.

Buying players a year out is fucked. The NRL need to scrap this stupid rule of signing players a year before they start. It's hard enough to.manage the cap and gauge form, changes to rules that affect the type of player you want without gambling on form a year out.

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