‘Didn’t want to’: Dragons star’s big Super League admission
Super League bound Tyrell Sloan has declared he’d love to stay in the NRL after the Dragons survived a late fightback from the Tigers to finish 24–22 winners at CommBank Stadium.
The Tigers are now on an eight-match losing streak while the Red V has now claimed back-to-back wins.
Hamish Stewart celebrates his try with teammates. Getty Images
The Tigers had an injury problem come from the game too, with Sunia Turuva leaving the field carrying a knee issue.
Turuva was first to score when the stalemate was broken after 15 minutes before Sloan cut inside and beat two defenders to level the scores.
“I can’t believe he’s going to the Super League, he’s too good a player to be leaving the NRL at this age,” Andrew Johns said of Sloan on Nine.
“Eight games, eight tries. He has absolutely top-end speed. He’s been bouncing around at fullback and wing but I think left wing’s his spot. There’s a real player in Tyrell Sloan, I think he’s found his spot.”
By half-time, the Dragons were leading 18-6 following tries to Hamish Stewart and Moses Suli.
Following the break, the Tigers were first to strike through Samuela Fainu.
In the 60th minute, it looked like the Dragons had secured victory when Sloan broke the line, kicked inside and found Lyhkan King-Togia to make it 24-12.
However, a double to Tigers debutant Solomone Saukuru made it interesting but Adam Doueihi’s missed conversion from the first try meant there was a two-point difference and the Dragons held on for victory.
Sloan was one of the stars for the Dragons ahead of his move to Castleford Tigers and credited the influence of new coach Dean Young.
“(My confidence has come from) Dean, definitely Youngy, just the way he backs me,” he told Nine.
“He’s been able to have those tough conversations but also help me learn from what I’ve done and my mistakes. Just having him in my corner (is great) and finally having a great coach that’s backing me.”
The electric winger is set to link with former Dragons assistant Ryan Carr; however, that move is now a big watch with Carr likely to leave amid a chaotic situation.
Carr is currently on leave with the season still going as the Tigers conduct an internal investigation into incidents behind the scenes.
The suspension came after Carr had put a 48-18 loss against Warrington down to “some individuals”.
Tyrell Sloan speaks to Nine’s panel. Nine
Castleford’s director of rugby Chris Chester suggested Sloan and his teammates Mat Feagai and Damien Cook would still be on the way to the club despite the situation with Carr.
Sloan’s post-match comments suggest he’d still consider staying in Australia if the opportunity presented itself.
“It’s something I didn’t want to do, but unfortunately that’s how the footy world works and the decision was made a few months ago and there’s a bit in the background going on with Carry over there,” he said.
“It’s a tough decision to leave home but I’m looking forward to it, particularly with having Cookie over there too.”
Asked if he could stay by Johns, Sloan said, “I’d love to”.
“I’m not too sure what’s going on in the background, I haven’t heard much about what’s going on with the coaching staff over there,” he said.
“I’m just taking it week by week here and really enjoying my footy for the first time in a while.”
