Bulldogs Secure ‘Exceptional’ Emerging Talent from Dragons for $1.2 Million Deal

Canterbury has successfully secured the services of rising star Finau Latu, who will join the club from next season, getting one over their local rivals St George Illawarra.

As reported by Danny Weidler from Nine, the 18-year-old declined a contract extension from the Dragons and will now be heading to the Bulldogs.

The agreement is reportedly worth around $1.2 million over a three-year period.

Newcastle was also in contention to sign Latu, who is considered one of the finest young forwards in Australia and is on the verge of making his NRL debut.

After transferring from Penrith’s junior ranks to St George in 2022, Latu has made significant strides, playing a crucial role in the Red V’s historic SG Ball premiership victory last year, showcased by a commanding grand final win over Canterbury.

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Since then, Latu has progressed to the NSW Cup and has established himself as a vital player in the No.13 jersey for the joint venture.

The New South Wales Blues U19 and Australian Schoolboys representative came through the age-grade football alongside Loko Pafisiki Tonga and Jacob Halangahu, both of whom recently extended their contracts with the Dragons until 2026.

Under Shane Flanagan’s guidance, Latu has been included in the first-grade squad for the past two weeks, but it hasn’t been sufficient to secure his long-term future with the Dragons.

Meanwhile, St George Illawarra has managed to retain both Toby and Ryan Couchman, along with recent debutant Dylan Egan, for an additional two seasons.