Dragons ready to pounce on Tigers young gun as $900,000 contract deadline approaches

St George Illawarra are preparing to pounce on Wests Tigers fullback Jahream Bula, as the deadline for his contract option approaches.

According to The Sydney Morning Herald, the club has until May to exercise a clause in Bula's deal for next season worth an estimated $900,000.

If the Tigers don't trigger the clause, Bula still has an option in his favour for next year which is worth $800,000 to remain at Concord.

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Should the two parties fail to come to an agreement, Dragons officials are ready to offer Bula a long-term contract, making him the heir to Clint Gutherson's fullback role.

Gutherson is signed with the Red V until the end of 2027 and has been a great addition to the squad, but is coming towards the end of his career.

The 24-year-old Fijian international is one of the game's most exciting stars and would add genuine X-factor to a Dragons outfit that has been lacking in that department.

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The Herald reports that St George Illawarra went to the NRL to get clarification on when they would be able to pursue Bula given the nature of his Tigers contract.

Flanagan has been open about the club's long-term strategy, fresh off landing arguably the biggest coup in the joint venture's history in Keaon Koloamatangi.

"We've got Keaon coming next year and hopefully two more marquee players coming in and we are building towards a premiership team," he told Triple M last month.

Along with the stack of young forwards at the club, Dragons hooker Jacob Liddle is signed until 2028, while young halves Kade Reed and Lyhkan King-Togia could be factored in alongside Daniel Atkinson long-term.

It would make Bula an ideal signing for the Red V, who have not made the finals since 2018 and haven't won a premiership since 2010.

The fullback has scored 23 tries in 57 first grade games since making his debut in 2023.

He was linked with an exit at the end of last year after his wife Aaliyah was axed from the club's NRLW squad

Another wrinkle in the bid to keep Bula at the club is the fact his agent, Isaac Moses, has been at odds with the Tigers in recent times.

Moses was a key figure behind Lachlan Galvin's messy mid-season move to Canterbury and is also the manager for coach Flanagan at the Dragons.

Bulla will play his first game of the season on Saturday afternoon against the Cowboys.