St George Illawarra are the latest NRL club to embark on an English raid with reports emerging from the UK that the Dragons are close to signing Warrington prop Mike Cooper.

According to a report in The Sun newspaper in England, the 24-year-old is set to head down under in 2014.

The Dragons have been on a recruitment drive in recent weeks, having snared Melbourne’s English Test five-eighth Gareth Widdop and Canberra back-rower Joel Thompson, while coach Steve Price last week re-signed with the club for a further two years.

Following the recent success of Englishmen in the NRL, with Wests Tigers’ Gareth Ellis and the Burgess brothers at South Sydney, Australian clubs have taken a keen interest in UK-based players.

Parramatta last week agreed to terms with Wigan duo Lee Mossop and Gareth Hock to bolster the Eels’ forward stocks in 2014.

Superstar Wigan fullback Sam Tomkins has also been linked with a move to the NRL, with the Warriors, Gold Coast and Sydney Roosters believed to be in a bidding war for the 24-year-old.

The possible signing of Cooper could cast doubt on the future of former Test prop Michael Weyman in the ‘Red V’, with the 28-year-old off contract at the end of the season.