The St. George Illawarra Dragons are in the market for a halfback, but based on comments—and body language—from Braith Anasta one of the NRL’s top young candidates seems unlikely to be interested.
Appearing on NRL 360, Anasta questioned the Dragons’ continued selection of Kyle Flanagan in a losing side—speaking not just as a pundit, but as the player manager responsible for the futures of both current Dragons squad member Lachlan Ilias and Melbourne Storm playmaker Jonah Pezet.
“I can’t win here,” Anasta said when asked how 25-year-old Ilias was coping with being on the outer at Kogarah for much of 2025 after joining from the Rabbitohs in the off-season.
“Shane and the Dragons will think I’m having a crack, but if you want my honest opinion he (Ilias) has gone back and done everything he was asked—they’ve won 10 of 11 games in NSW Cup.”
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‘What hope do you have?’
“I’ve sat pretty quiet, but I’m trying to keep him up because he’s losing hope, I’m sure the other kid there is as well (Jonah Glover),” Anasta continued.
“It’s very rare that a NSW Cup team wins 10 out of 11 games and the first grade team continues to lose and there are no changes, what hope do you have?
“Maybe I shouldn’t say this, but I have to,” he added.
Anasta’s comments on the Dragons pecking order carry significant weight, especially in a week that has seen star Melbourne Storm halfback Jahrome Hughes re-sign with the club until 2030.
That move is understood to have activated a contract release clause for 22-year-old Jonah Pezet should he wish to seek opportunities elsewhere in the NRL.
Given Pezet is currently stuck behind Hughes, Cameron Munster and most recently Tyran Wishart in Melbourne, it seems highly unlikely taking a number behind Kyle Flanagan at the Dragons will hold much, if any, appeal.