BY STAFF WRITERS
Loko Pasifiki Tonga’s management have blasted the struggling St George Illawarra Dragons after reports surfaced the rising star has officially requested permission from the Dragons to speak to rivals as he agitates for a release from the winless, 17th placed Red V.
The Dragons lost again on the weekend with Shane Flanagan telling the media he had no choice but to keep selecting the same team because nobody was challenging for a first grade spot.
St George Illawarra currently sit second in the NSW Cup after putting 50 points on Manly-Warringah on Saturday afternoon.
Now Mat Rogers has come to Pasifiki Tonga’s defence.
Pasifiki Tonga is signed to Rogers’ management company – Rogers Sports Management.
“He’s a tremendous young man,” Rogers said on SEN 1170 Sports Day.
“He played 10 games for the Dragons last year [and] e had a big off-season.
“He came back last week in [NSW Cup], ran for 250 metres, 70 post contact metres [and] scored a try.
“They’ve obviously got an opinion of him [and] that he’s not up to scratch. He doesn’t feel like he’s being developed and I guess we agree. It’s not a good sign for St George. You’ve got Jaydn Su’A walking out the door, you’ve got a young kid who’s just totally flabbergasted at the way he’s been sort of treated and not coached.
“He doesn’t know what to do.
“That’s the problem.
“Whether or not they will [release him], they might dig their heels in, they’ve got some more pressing issues in relation to winning games of football.
“There’s a very frustrated young man there who’s busting his butt and he’s playing the house down and scored two tries in the three matches he’s played.”
The Dragons play Souths this weekend.
