Towering winger Jason Saab has gone public in his bid to force St George Illawarra’s hand and secure a release from the final season of his Dragons deal.
The young gun has been negotiating an early release from his Red V contract for several months.
Saab managed just four appearances for the Dragons in 2020, taking his career tally to seven NRL games since making his debut late in the 2019 season.
The 20-year-old has cited his 90-minute commute from western Sydney to Wollongong – not a lack of game time – as his motivation for seeking a release on compassionate grounds.
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Saab was in September reportedly set to join the Manly Sea Eagles for the next three NRL seasons in a swap deal that would have sent Dragons junior Reuben Garrick home to Wollongong.
But a clearly frustrated Saab on Thursday told Channel 9 News the Dragons have backflipped on plans to release him following the appointment of new head coach Anthony Griffin on a two-year deal.
“What was meant to be max a two-month process has just dragged out over the whole year,” Saab told Channel 9 News.
“… I am hoping to move onto another club next year.
“… The Dragons want to be compensated for me so, we’ve been trying to do that and then ever since the new coach came in things have sort of changed on their end.”
