“He wants out”: Dragons prop agitating for contract release after extended training absence

St George Illawarra Dragons prop Francis Molo will not return to the club, according to The Daily Telegraph’s Michael Carayannis.

Molo had signed a two-year contract extension in April 2024 but has refused to attend training sessions for over a week and has reportedly told those close to him that he wants out of the Dragons.

Carayannis told SEN that the Queensland State of Origin representative has not had a falling out with any members of the organisation but has maintained his position of wanting a release from his deal.

“Molo hasn’t been at Dragons training for 10 days which is remarkable,” Carayannis said on SEN 1170 Breakfast.

“He’s intimated to those close to him that he doesn’t want to be at the Dragons anymore and that he wants out.

“What those reasons are, I’m not exactly sure (because) his relationship with coach Shane Flanagan is really good.

“There’s not been a fallout or any off-field drama. The fact is he’s come to the decision that he wants out.

“There have been informal talks between his agent and the Dragons regarding a release but the club have intimated they won’t give him on.

“I don’t think we’ll see Francis Molo back at the Dragons. He hasn’t been at training for two weeks so I don’t know how you salvage the relationship.”

Molo’s situation is another blow to the Dragons who have had a plethora of talent leave their doors in the past six months. Former skipper Ben Hunt, NSW and Australia representative Zac Lomax and utility Jack Bird were all released from their contracts in 2024.

The major worry for Flanagan is the potential loss of one of his middle forwards which he has admitted is a priority for the club moving forward.

Former Manly and Roosters forward Matt Lodge was on the verge of signing with the Dragons but the deal fell through at the 11th hour following a breakdown in contract negotiations.

Carayannis believes that if Molo were to leave the Dragons, Flanagan’s side had no hope of breaking their finals drought in 2025.

“The concerning thing for the Dragons is that even with Francis Molo in the squad, the club is still looking for a middle.

“Without him, their middle rotation is diabolical.

“Molo may not be a marquee player but for the Dragons, he’s so important. They don’t have any genuine and really good middle players.

“If Francis Molo leaves and they can’t replace him, they can’t play finals.

“They’ll just get rolled through the middle.”

Molo has been granted extended leave from the club on mental health grounds.

The Dragons host the Bulldogs in Round 1 in Kogarah on March 8.