He is coming to us at the end of an outstanding season, which he finished off with the Australian Rugby Sevens player of the year award and a spot in the World Rugby Sevens team of the year.
“He’s a big, fast, powerful winger with good instincts. He’ll adjust to rugby league in no time and, once he does, he’ll be a real asset to us.”
Lawson’s signing comes after the Dragons took another step to solidify their future halves pairings by re-signing Kyle Flanagan for a further two years.
The playmaker will remain with the club through to the end of 2027 in a move that comes on the back of Wednesday’s announcement Sharks utility Daniel Atkinson will join the club in 2026.
Flanagan impressed in his first season at the Dragons, playing in 20 games to take his career total to 99 NRL appearances. He looks set to partner with off-season recruit Lachlan Ilias in the halves throughout 2025 following Ben Hunt’s off-season departure.
Dragons coach Shane Flanagan is excited by prospect of competition for starting halves positions in the coming years.
“Kyle was an integral part of our team this year and will continue to be an important player for us moving forward,” he said.
“He plays his 100th NRL game at the start of next season and his experience and versatility will continue to be an asset for us.
“With Daniel Atkinson joining the club from 2026 that competition for spots across the key spine positions will strengthen the whole squad.”
The announcement comes a day after Atkinson’s three-year deal with the Dragons was confirmed.
The 23-year-old will play out the final year of his contract with the Sharks before joining St George Illawarra in 2026 on a deal that will see him remain with the club until the end of.
Atkinson impressed in 2024 when filling in for Braydon Trindall and Nicho Hynes across 19 games for Cronulla and is set to take on greater playmaking responsibilities at the Dragons.
“We’re really happy to be welcoming Daniel to the club in 2026,” said Shane Flanagan.
“He’s a classy player who has shown an ability to cover multiple positions as well as a strong competitor who will come in and improve our squad as a whole.”
The Rabbitohs, meanwhile, have signed playmaker Jayden Sullivan for the 2025 season after he was released by Wests Tigers.
The 23-year-old made his NRL debut for the Dragons in 2020 and played 27 matches across four seasons before joining Wests Tigers in 2024 and racking up nine appearances.
“Jayden is a great talent and we think he can play his best football here at the Rabbitohs under the guidance of Wayne Bennett,” said Rabbitohs head of
recruitment and retention Mark Ellison.
Another playmaker putting pen to paper in the lead-up to Christmas was Jonah Pezet, who has signed a four-year extension with the Storm through to the end of 2029.
The 2024 season saw Pezet feature at five-eighth for the opening three NRL matches before his campaign was cut short in April after suffering an ACL injury in Queensland Cup.
“It’s a special feeling to continue my career at the Storm. The club has put a lot of faith in me from a young age and hopefully I can repay that over the next few years,” Pezet said.
England international John Bateman is set to play a mentoring role for the North Queensland pack after signing a two-year deal with the Cowboys.
The forward will join the club immediately after being granted a release from the final two years of his contract with the Wests Tigers.
Bateman has signed with the Cowboys for the 2025 and 2026 seasons, joining a pack featuring Reuben Cotter, Heilum Luki, Jeremiah Nanai and Griffin Neame, and North Queensland officials are looking for him to mentor his younger teammates on and off the field.
“We have been in the market for an experienced forward with the ability to play either in the middle or on an edge,” Cowboys General Manager of Football Micheal Luck said.