The crisis at St. George Illawarra has deepened with star forward Tyson Frizell's contract with Newcastle to officially be rubber-stamped by the NRL.
The Dragons confirmed back in March that Frizell had agreed to join the Knights at the start of the 2021 season after weighing up big-money offers from both clubs.
However, there were initial reservations over the deal being signed during the coronavirus lockdown amid increasing uncertainty surrounding the salary cap and player contracts.
The NSW Blues and Kangaroos backrower, meanwhile, released a statement admitting the move to the Hunter had been agreed upon but nothing had been signed.
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There was a small glimmer of hope among the Red V faithful the delay in Frizell's contract being registered would prompt the hard-hitting forward to reconsider the move.
But as revealed by The Daily Telegraph, the three-year deal, worth a reported $2.1 million, has been signed off at NRL headquarters and will be officially confirmed by the Knights.
It comes after Frizell declared back in January that tasting premiership success was a key driver in the decision for his next contract.
Dragons coach Paul McGregor admitted he was "disappointed and saddened" when it was first revealed Frizell was on the move, but left the door ajar for the 28-year-old to reconsider.
"Tyson has been a great role model at the club, he’s our most decorated player now for state and Australia, he’s worked very hard to achieve these honours," McGregor told Sky Sports Radio in March.
"It’s very hard to see a player like that walk out of your organisation, but in saying that we are a professional sport and you don’t always get what you want.
"I’m not sure whether that contract has been registered yet or how that goes, but he’s always welcome to stay if he likes."
But Frizell's eighth season in the Red V, after joining the club in 2013, will officially be his last before he joins Adam O'Brien's young Knights side.
It's a monumental blow to the Dragons, who find themselves in dire straits following the team's 0-3 start to the season and last weekend's horror performance in the 18-0 loss to the injury-riddled Warriors.
In a side that has lacked punch in the middle of the field and has struggled in attack over the past 18 months, the loss of the hard-running Frizell is a monumental blow and places further pressure on McGregor.
Entering the season under enormous scrutiny following last year's 15th-place finish, the fierce calls for McGregor to be axed have now begun to spill over after what has been nearly a decade of poor results for the once-proud club.
The coach signed a two-year contract extension in April last year, much to the surprise of Dragons fans, but has reportedly been given a fortnight to relieve himself of the axe midway through the year.
However, should the Dragons choice to sack McGregor this season it could cost them around $1 million to pay out the former club legend.
Meanwhile, fresh reports suggest a clause in McGregor's contract could save the cash-strapped club $350,000 if they wait until 2021 to end the coach's tenure rather than fire him this season.
The club has premiership-winning coach Shane Flanagan on their books, and reportedly could consider approaching the NRL about having his ban from head coaching lifted should McGregor be axed.
The Dragons face the winless Canterbury Bulldogs next, in what's shaping to be a battle of the coaches, with Dean Pay's future also under question.
