Dragons ready to make play for Kangaroos debutant

St George Illawarra intend to make a play for Blues and Australia outside back Jack Bostock if the Kangaroos debutant becomes a free agent on November 1.

Bostock is one of 11 Australian stars about to become off contract if they don’t re-sign with their incumbent clubs before the end of this month. The 24-year-old’s stocks are on the rise after a strong season for the Dolphins, which culminated in a State of Origin debut and a preliminary finals appearance.

His form prompted a call-up to the Kangaroos squad for the World Cup, with Bostock set to make his international debut on the wing in Thursday’s tournament opener against New Zealand in Sydney.

The Dolphins are desperate to retain Bostock, but are also attempting to sign fellow centre star Herbie Farnworth to a new deal. The England international, who will also be a free agent if he doesn’t recommit before November 1, has been heavily linked with the Roosters.

Sources not authorised to speak publicly said the Dragons are seeking to sign a marquee outside back for 2028 and that Bostock will be a priority if he becomes available. Ironically, the NSW Blues representative came up through the Red V’s lower grades, playing junior reps for the Illawarra Steelers.

Now that he is an established star, Bostock’s next contract will be a lucrative one. The Dragons have made it clear they want to keep their best young juniors, which in this case could include luring one back to their Wollongong training base.

St George Illawarra has little salary cap space for next year after a spending spree that has netted Keaon Koloamatangi, Scott Drinkwater, Connor Watson, Luke Metcalf, Kodi Nikorima and Phillip Sami. However, they will likely have room to move for 2028 given that Clint Gutherson, Valentine Holmes, Moses Suli and Kyle Flanagan are all unlikely to be re-signed.

Bostock said he was unsure whether he would make a call on his future before November 1.
“It’s still getting figured out now with my manager and the Dolphins,” Bostock said. “Obviously being in here [Kangaroos camp] doesn’t help the cause, but my manager’s on to it all, so whatever happens we’ll finalise soon.

“Like I said, being in here has made it a little bit difficult because we can’t all meet up, and obviously Woolfy [Dolphins coach Kristian Woolf] being in Tonga camp as well. It’s not been the easiest road to sort of get there, but it’s in the works.”

Asked if his preference was to remain in Brisbane, Bostock said: “I’m not too sure just yet, but I definitely do want to chat to the Dolphins and get that all rolling.”

Bostock is in good company when it comes to Australian stars yet to secure their future. Isaiah Yeo, Latrell Mitchell, Bradman Best, Sam Walker, James Tedesco, David Fifita, Harry Grant, Tom Trbojevic, Liam Martin and Cameron Munster are also just weeks away from free agency.

However, Bostock said his contractual situation wasn’t a distraction.

“Not for myself, no,” Bostock said. “I don’t feel like it’s a distraction for me at all. I’m going to be in here worrying about this, not worrying about contracts or what I’m doing in the future.

“My sole focus and sole purpose being in here is playing good for the Kangaroos and hopefully winning the World Cup.”

Bostock has established himself as an elite centre at the Dolphins, but has been spirited onto the wing in this camp due to the unavailability of Mark Nawaqanitawase and Josh Addo-Carr, who were the Australian flankers during last year’s tour of England. It’s a heady rise given Bostock suffered an ACL injury just last year.

“It was always something I believed I could do in my career,” Bostock said of his Australian call-up. “I always wanted to strive for that; I wasn’t sort of happy with just being an NRL player.

“I did want to be a representative player and represent my state and country. But at the start of my ACL rehab, it was probably a little bit further away than … I thought. But I did always have that belief and that desire to get into this arena.”