Their short-term future remains bleak, but St George Illawarra fans will get a glimpse of the long-term when teen sensation Jason Saab debuts on Friday.
Saab will make an anticipated graduation to first grade when he starts on the wing for coach Paul McGregor in Friday’s crunch clash with South Sydney.
“We’re having an early look of an exciting talent for the future,” McGregor said.
“Young Saaby’s been really putting pressure on the players consistently throughout the year in reserve grade with some really good performances.”
The Dragons had already earmarked Saab for big things when they signed the 18-year-old to a mammoth four-year extension last October.
The first two seasons were meant to be as a development player, before joining the top squad from 2021 onwards.
However some impressive performances in reserve grade forced McGregor to begin considering blooding the youngster this season.
Only some red tape prevented the coaching staff from picking Saab earlier in the year, with the club having already filled its 30-man squad.
Unless promoted into their full-time roster, development players are only allowed to play after the June 30 deadline.
“He had commitments the week before last with NSW (under-20s State of Origin), but now he’s ready for that opportunity,” McGregor said.
“He’s quite athletic, he’s six-foot-five.
“He’s still obviously growing and his best is in the future. But he was just playing too well to leave out and we wanted to really give him a taste of first grade now.”
McGregor dismissed suggestions the club had thrown the towel in on their finals chances by tossing the youngster in against the Rabbitohs.
“There’s a lot of good kids playing first grade at the moment and his performances in reserve grade warranted selection,” he said.
“Definitely we’re only thinking one week at a time right now.
“And this week was an opportunity that Jason had finished some commitments and he was available in the salary cap as it is with development players.”
Saab will form a new-look back three for the Dragons, with Corey Norman shifted to fullback following Gareth Widdop’s return, and Zac Lomax back from injury.
Mikaeale Ravalawa has been rested, Jonas Pearson was dropped, while Matt Dufty is now the utility on the bench.
“It was around the performance of what was happening in the back three, to be totally honest and where we need to improve our game,” McGregor said.