Dragons best chance to win Chevy race with Sloan swap
7 months ago - Sportingbase
St George Illawarra may have just been handed the answer to their looming fullback question, with the Canberra Raiders very open to trading young Blues and Schoolboys star Chevy Stewart to the joint venture in return for Tyrell Sloan.
The Raiders originally pipped several NRL clubs to Stewart’s signature as he hunted NRL play time, but bosses in the nation’s capital have since decided Kaeo Weekes will be the team’s number one long-term.
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Weekes has exploded in 2025, helping the Raiders onto a spot atop the NRL regular season ladder and earning himself a mega extension that will now see him playing for Canberra through to 2029. The shock rise of the 23-year-old has left Stewart, 20, looking elsewhere for his playing future.
The Raiders understand his situation and are happy to let Stewart leave immediately.
They do want something in return if they can, though, and the Dragons have just that to offer.
Sloan was meant to be St George Illawarra’s no.1 option well into the late 2020s and beyond, but the Dapto Canaries junior has failed to truly excite in the NRL. While his on-the-ball attack is basically there, his defensive capabilities, first at fullback and then on the wing when he was shifted out wide for new captain Clint Gutherson, have been lacklustre at best.
The Dragons recently told Sloan he can find other options for 2026 – and that may slot everything into place for a trade deal between the joint venture and the table-topping Raiders, who each now have something the other wants.
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The Raiders like the idea of bringing Sloan to the capital as a Weekes backup; there would be no expectation that he plays first grade most weeks, but considering he can slot in at fullback or on the wing, he’s a ready-made injury replacement. The Sporting Base understands the Penrith Panthers have been sniffing around Sloan for similar reasons.
On the other side, St George Illawarra could have Clint Gutherson teach Stewart through 2026 before the Cronulla junior takes up the number one jersey in 2027 and beyond. If it sounds like a familiar playbook, it’s because that’s exactly what Shane Flanagan had planned for Sloan before he proved unable to conqueror his defensive issues.
The Dragons are also interested in the other young gun the Raiders are letting go, Trey Mooney, but they may never get the chance to properly woo the rising star prop with the Newcastle Knights already opening negotiations with the 23-year-old.
The Raiders have also been speaking to Sione Finau, who could be another player-swap bargaining chip.
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