The Mole: 'Several clubs' keen on Scott Drinkwater as Dragons cop fresh recruitment blow

The struggling Dragons have suffered another body blow with Cowboys fullback Scott Drinkwater rejecting an offer to join the club.

St George Illawarra have made the star Cowboys fullback their first priority for 2027 but Drinkwater's manager knocked back an offer from the joint venture on Tuesday.

"I have said no to the offer," high-profile agent Gavin Orr told Wide World of Sports.

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"There are several clubs keen on Scott and the Dragons' bid was not what we are looking for at this stage.

"It's not to say that they are out of the mix - but they are going to have to come up with something better."

The Perth Bears are prepared to throw more money at Drinkwater than the Dragons, while several Sydney clubs are also keen.

North Queensland have given the 28-year-old fullback permission to test the market and are unlikely to retain him for next season, with boom youngster Jaxon Purdue likely to move to fullback after signing a bumper three-year extension.

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The winless Red V know they need more pace at fullback, with veteran captain Clint Gutherson likely to move to another position next season.

Look for the Dragons to come back with a better offer in coming days.

EELS OLD BOYS TO DELIVER DESPERATE PITCH

Parramatta are desperately in need of motivation at the moment and could find it this Sunday against the Bulldogs.

Some 40 years ago, the Eels won their last premiership - against the Bulldogs and the players from that memorable team will celebrate the achievement at the weekend game.

If the likes of Ray Price, Brett Kenny, Peter Sterling and Eric Grothe in the sheds before the game can't get this current dysfunctional Eels outfit back on track, no one can.

WHAT IS PAPENHUYZEN'S NEXT MOVE?

The lure of a return to the football field has finally hit Ryan Papenhuyzen.

The former Melbourne superstar shocked the league world when he retired at the end of last season at the age of just 27.

But the 2026 Clive Churchill Medal winner has revealed he wants to pull on the boots again - just not in rugby league or union, including R360.

He is set to have a red hot go at touch football and has set his sights on making the NSW State Cup squad later this season.

TALENT SPOTTER WANTED BY CLUBS

Former Knights recruitment Adam Doyle is in hot demand for next season.

Doyle has to get a lot of the credit for the Knights' resurgence this year, bringing the likes of Fletcher Hunt, Jermaine McEwen, Wilson De Coucey, Cody Hopwood and Connor Votano to the club.

Doyle was let go by the Knights when they brought in recruitment guru Peter O'Sullivan but he is well regarded in the league community.