Loko Pasifiki Tonga Seeks NRL Opportunity Amid Dragons Struggles
Loko Pasifiki Tonga has had enough of waiting.
The St George Illawarra Dragons young gun has formally asked for permission to test his value around the NRL, a flashpoint moment that lands just as the club slumps to a winless start to the season at zero and six.
Rising star stuck on the sidelines
Tonga’s frustration has been building. He played ten NRL games last year and looked set to be a key part of the Dragons’ next wave, yet he hasn’t played a single minute of first grade in 2026.
On form, he has a powerful case. Turning out in NSW Cup last weekend, the prop monstered the opposition: 252 running metres, almost 80 post-contact, and a try to cap it off. It still wasn’t enough.
When Shane Flanagan named his side on Tuesday for this weekend’s clash with the South Sydney Rabbitohs, many expected changes after another loss. They didn’t come. Aside from the enforced reshuffle in the centres with Moses Suli ruled out injured, the coach stuck solid. Tonga was overlooked again.
That was the breaking point.
Contracted long-term, but looking elsewhere
Zero Tackle has reported Tonga has been unhappy with his situation for several weeks. On Tuesday, as News Corp revealed, his management moved from quiet discontent to open action, formally requesting permission to explore options at rival clubs.
The timing is complicated by his contract. Tonga re-signed with the Dragons last year through to the end of 2027, a deal that, on paper, ties him to the Red V for this season and the next. Without the club’s consent, he can’t officially test the open market until November 1.
St George Illawarra are understood to have no interest in cutting him loose. They see him as part of their future, not a piece to trade away.
But the NRL calendar has a way of forcing decisions. If an agreement is struck before the June 30 transfer deadline, Tonga could yet be wearing different colours before the season is out.
A crowded pack and a big call looming
Part of the tension sits in the Dragons’ forward depth. The club has quietly assembled a promising group of young middles. Hamish Stewart, the Couchman brothers and Dylan Egan have all had moments where they’ve demanded attention. Jacob Halangahu, like Tonga on the fringe of the 19-man squad, is also regarded as a serious prospect.
Even in that company, Tonga stands out. He has junior Origin experience and was a key figure in the club’s drought-breaking SG Ball triumph in 2024, a campaign that stamped him as one of the best forwards of his age group anywhere in the country.
Now the Dragons face a brutal question: in a season already teetering at zero and six, can they afford to let one of their brightest young props walk away – or can they afford not to play him?
