In this article, we look at Shane Flanagan’s rebuild of the Dragons as part of a series profiling the expected Round 1 sides for all 17 NRL clubs in 2024. There are several spots up for grabs at St George Illawarra heading into Round 1, with key players eyeing off a change of positions. Ben Hunt is locked in at halfback, but very few other spots are set in stone. The Dragons still have plenty of money to spend for the 2024 season and will have much more the following year, but have been unable to land a high-profile recruit so far. Two of the players they’ve brought in to boost their depth, Corey Allan and Ronald Volkman, have already departed or are injured. Flanagan has a strong focus on defense, and Zac Lomax and Jack Bird are being considered for changing positions. Kyle Flanagan was purchased as a bench utility, but will likely start at five-eighth following Junior Amone being stood down due to being found guilty of assault. Hame Sele and Tom Eisenhuth from the Storm will also bolster the pack. Behind the scenes, the Dragons will scour the market to see if they can find another back-up playmaker due to Ronald Volkman’s shoulder problem. Several players have left, and the team is working to fill key spots and finalize the Round 1 team. Tyrell Sloan and Kyle Flanagan are expected to play key roles, but the team dynamics are yet to be fully determined.