3 minute read
Terrell May is on St George Illawarra's radar but coach Shane Flanagan won't be jumping head first into a deal for the unwanted Sydney Roosters prop.
Shane Flanagan is an admirer of Terrell May but says St George Illawarra will be keeping their options open as they search to add a playmaker as well as a prop to their ranks.
The Dragons have two roster spots left for 2025 after handing Nathan Lawson, a rugby sevens player, a chance to test himself in rugby league.
Lawson is expected to join the Red V following the conclusion of his commitments with Rugby Australia next month.
Flanagan explained the club's priorities going forward were to sign a middle forward and a five-eighth or halfback following the decision to terminate the contract of captain Ben Hunt.
As it stands, Flanagan's son Kyle and four-game rookie Lyhkan King-Togia are the Dragons' first-choice halves pairing heading into round one.
May appears the most attractive front-rower available after surprisingly being told he was free to leave by the Sydney Roosters following a standout 2024 season.
But Flanagan is happy to leave May on the back-burner and see which other players could become available in the new year.
"We might leave one of those spots open until January or February, maybe even going into the season," Flanagan said.
"We saw last year when Corey Allan did his ACL, we needed (the flexibility) to get someone else in.
"We talk to a lot of players … It's like buying a house. You don't put bids in for all of them and we'll be similar with Terrell.
"We're at talks but whether it's at a point that we're putting offers in and so on, we'll see."
Flanagan, meanwhile, was confident Lawson could make a fist of a transition to league after a successful career in sevens.
Lawson played for Australia at the Paris Olympics and was named the Australian male seven players of the season earlier this year.
"He's got one more tournament to go and I'd like to think when he comes back he'll be here," Flanagan said.
"He's big, fast and athletic. Go on 'Nathan Lawson' on YouTube and you'll see the tries he scores and the tackles he makes.
"He's a footy player and he'll adapt to league pretty quickly, he loves league and has watched it (his entire life) … he went to school with Cameron Murray.
"The transition will not be that hard for him, he'll play in the outside backs and I'm looking forward to him transitioning into an NRL player."