South Sydney Rabbitohs superstar Keaon Koloamatangi has been one of the hottest names on the market this year, with several clubs vying for his signature.
Koloamatangi has reportedly made a final call on his future, informing Rabbitohs officials he will join the St George Illawarra Dragons from the 2027 NRL season.
According to CODE Sports, the 27-year-old has agreed to a blockbuster five-year deal worth approximately $5 million to switch to the Red V after receiving multiple offers.
Koloamatangi was among the most sought-after forwards on the open market, with multiple clubs circling as his contract situation at South Sydney remained unresolved.
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The Rabbitohs were understood to be desperate to retain the representative forward and even explored moving him to prop in an effort to keep him at the club long term.
Parramatta were also strongly linked to Koloamatangi during negotiations, but the Dragons’ offer ultimately won out after the star forward made a well-publicised tour of Dragons facilities last month, including a private helicopter charter to Wollongong.
Dragons coach Shane Flanagan is believed to have played a key role in landing the marquee signing as he continues reshaping the club’s forward pack, with the Rabbitohs big man immediately set to become the Dragons’ premier forward for 2027.
Koloamatangi has now entered the NRL’s mandatory 10-day cooling-off period, during which he can reconsider the agreement under contract rules, but it appears his future will lie away from Redfern.
If finalised, the deal would represent one of the most significant player acquisitions of the Dragons’ Flanagan era as they push to re-establish themselves as finals contenders.
The Rabbitohs, meanwhile, can ill afford to lose Koloamatangi as they look to rebound after narrowly avoiding the wooden spoon in 2025.
It would be a huge blow for the red and myrtle, who were shaping as one of the more formidable forward packs in the league with Koloamatangi, star acquisition David Fifita, skipper Cameron Murray and rising young gun Tallis Duncan.
With the Rabbitohs also losing middle forwards such as Davvy Moale and Shaq Mitchell, their middle rotation, a role Koloamatangi transitioned into successfully in recent seasons, suddenly looks extremely thin beyond 2027.
Koloamatangi is in his prime with his best football still ahead of him, so the response from the Rabbitohs in the coming days and indeed years will be fascinating to watch unfold.