Finals or fail: Vossy's big call on the Dragons for 2027

With St. George Illawarra continuing to build out their roster for next season, Andrew Voss believes that it's finals or bust for Dean Young’s men.

Despite the struggles on the field seeing them anchored to the wooden spoon, the Dragons are gearing up for a big 2027 following a spree of signings.

Already, they are set to welcome Scott Drinkwater, Luke Metcalf, Phillip Sami, Keaon Kolomatangi and Connor Watson into the Red V.

And last Wednesday, they continued to add to their already impressive list of recruits, having signed Dolphins five-eighth Kodi Nikorima on a two-year deal beginning from next year.

Coupled with the re-signings of the Couchman brothers to 2030, there is plenty of excitement surrounding the Dragons going into next season.

Following those moves, Voss believes that the club must make their first finals appearance since 2018 or else their season will be considered a failure.  

“Just have a think about the potential spine,” Voss said on SEN’s Front Office with Vossy.  

“(Scott) Drinkwater is gonna wear No.1 (in) Round 1 next year. Kodi Nikorima is gonna be your six.

“Luke Metcalf is gonna be your seven and (there’s a) very good chance they will start with Connor Watson at nine or he's coming off the bench.

“I see the Dragons right now and the players they've signed, finals is a must.

“Anything but finals will be a fail; without knowing how every other card's gonna land next year, I think my long-range forecast is non-finals will be a fail.”

And with most of those players unlikely to feature during this year’s Rugby League World Cup, it should mean they are able to hit the ground running when Round 1, 2027 rolls around.

“A lot of these clubs that will sign players, like for instance, Jarome Luai going to Parramatta,” he continued.

“Jarome Luai is going to play at the World Cup. Jarome Luai then has six weeks off at the World Cup. He won't train with Parramatta until midway through January.

“But I look at the players that (the Dragons) signed.

“Drinkwater, he won't play at the World Cup, Metcalf won't play at the World Cup, Connor Watson won't play at the World Cup (and there’s a) good chance Kodi Nikorima mightn't play at the World Cup, so they will get their spine.

“Working on their game from mid-November, possibly the start, just depending on finals football for those players this season, but certainly from mid-November, they're going to get a lot of quality work here.”

The Dragons will look to get a much-needed win against their rivals in Cronulla this Sunday at Kogarah Oval.

Kick-off takes place at 4:05pm.