Why Townsend is buying stocks in the Dragons

No team in NRL history has had a worse start than the St. George Illawarra Dragons in 2026.

In their first nine games, they have lost all nine with an average losing margin of 20.55 points.

But Chad Townsend believes now is the time to buy stocks in the club’s upside.

Despite their poor form on the field, it hasn’t stopped the club on the recruiting front with North Queensland fullback Scott Drinkwater and Warriors’ halfback Luke Metcalf committing their futures to the Red V from next season.

And alongside the signing of South Sydney’s Keaon Koloamatangi at the start of the year, the 2016 Premiership player believes the three signings will transform the side next year.

“If I'm a Dragons fan, I am buying Dragons’ stock right now,” Townsend said on SEN’s Kick-Off.

“Hear me out. You've just signed Luke Metcalf, and I know there'll be people who will criticise the signing of Luke Metcalf and say he hasn't played this many games and this and that, and look, everyone's entitled to that opinion.

“I really like the signing. I've seen what Luke Metcalf can do. I've seen the line breaks, I've seen the try assists, I've seen the development.

“I like what he can do, and I think it's a risk the Dragons need to take to bring him in.

“(Scott) Drinkwater, I've spoken at length about the stats that Drinkwater will bring to the attack of the Dragons, because they need that.

“They can get up the field, they cannot score points.

“And then Koloamatangi, you bring in three guys straight away, you change the whole dynamic of the football team.

“So, I'm buying Dragons’ stock right now.”

The Dragons will look to pull the mother of all upsets when they play the ladder-leading Panthers in the final match of Magic Round.

Kick off takes place at 6:25pm AEST with SEN League having live coverage of the game from 6pm on SEN’s radio network and on the SEN app.