Castleford Tigers bid for Dragons full-back Sloan
SYDNEY — Castleford Tigers have launched an ambitious bid to lure St George Illawarra Dragons full-back Tyrell Sloan to the Super League for the 2027 season, intensifying a tug-of-war over the 24-year-old who has repeatedly declared he wants to stay in the Red V.
Tyrell Sloan is a proud Indigenous All Stars representative who has scored 49 tries in 86 first-grade appearances since his NRL debut for the Dragons in 2021. He has also represented the Indigenous All Stars twice, scoring on both occasions. But this NRL season has been a fragmented one: just seven appearances, twice used as an interchange, shunted between wing, centre and his preferred full-back position. Despite the instability, his loyalty to the club he has supported since childhood runs deep. Sloan has previously stated he loves the club and wants to stay , calling it a home while acknowledging the business side of the sport.
For a player who has shown remarkable loyalty despite an unstable selection, the prospect of leaving for England is both an opportunity and an emotional crossroads. Sloan grew up in the Wollongong area and dreamed of playing for the Dragons. Now, that dream is being tested by the harsh economics of professional rugby league.
Two opposing forces are pulling Sloan apart. On one side, Castleford Tigers — led by head coach Ryan Carr who worked with Sloan as an assistant at the Dragons — are pursuing him as a cornerstone of their 2027 rebuild. The Tigers have already secured two other former Dragons in ,Damien Cook and Mat Feagai for the same season, signalling a deliberate strategy to raid the NRL club for proven talent. On the other side, Sloan’s heart remains in Wollongong, with the Dragons yet to offer a clear pathway to consistent first-grade football, especially with other full-back options arriving.
Adding to the tension, unnamed NRL rivals are also reportedly circling Sloan, who is off-contract after 2026. That means Castleford is not just competing against Sloan’s emotional attachment to the Dragons — they are also competing against rival Australian clubs who could offer him top-flight football without leaving the country.
The stakes are clear. For Castleford, landing Sloan would complete a transformative recruitment drive and give them a dynamic attacking weapon capable of changing games. For Sloan, leaving the NRL would mean sacrificing a lifelong dream and stepping into the unknown of English rugby league. And for the Dragons, losing a homegrown talent who wants to stay would raise serious questions about player retention and roster management.
The Dragons have been undergoing a major roster overhaul, with Sloan one of several players coming off contract. He was given permission to explore his options earlier this year, and his limited game time — combined with the expected arrival of other fullbacks — has fueled speculation that his time in the Red V is ending. Carr, who joined Castleford from the Dragons’ coaching staff, has already turned to his former club twice for signings, and a third would cement a clear pipeline between the two clubs. For Castleford fans, the pursuit of Sloan signals genuine ambition — a club no longer content to simply compete but ready to challenge the Super League establishment. Sponsors would welcome a marquee signing, and the local community in West Yorkshire would rally around an exciting NRL import. However, if Sloan rejects the move, the Tigers risk being seen as unable to close major deals, which could hurt future recruitment efforts. For the Dragons, keeping Sloan would reward loyalty and stabilise the roster; losing him would open a full-back hole and fuel fan frustration over yet another talented junior leaving.
Castleford head coach Ryan Carr addressed the speculation surrounding Sloan and the club’s recruitment strategy.
“We are definitely active. We are actively looking to add to our squad depth. Obviously, having lost Blake Taaffe and Fletcher Rooney to pretty much season ending injuries. That's two fullbacks we went into Pre-season with that we lost within a week. We probably need some depth in that outside back region. Ryan Carr said in an interview.”
When asked specifically about the club’s interest in Tyrell Sloan, Carr acknowledged the difficulties of signing an NRL talent still under contract for 2026.
“There's a lot of work being done on 2027, but we can't let this year go. We've been guilty of putting Band-Aids on things. If it continues to happen, then we will make changes. I don't care what people's contracts are. If we need change, we will make the change. Carr said in an interview.”
Carr’s previous relationship with Sloan gives him a direct line of communication that most rival clubs lack. Carr knows Sloan’s playing style, his strengths in broken field running and his defensive vulnerabilities. He also knows what motivates the young full-back: consistent game time and a clear role.
Sloan remains contracted to the Dragons for the 2026 season, but formal negotiations on a new deal are expected to intensify in the coming months. Castleford’s bid is likely to accelerate discussions between Sloan and St George Illawarra. If the Dragons fail to offer a competitive contract or guarantee more first-team football, Sloan may reconsider his stance. The next transfer window — and Sloan’s own patience — will determine whether this becomes a saga or a swift resolution. For now, the full-back wears the Red V with pride, but his future hangs in the balance, with one Super League club watching very closely.