Dragons skipper McInnes joins bitter rivals Cronulla on four-year $2m deal
St George Illawarra have lost one of their best players to arch-rivals Cronulla.
Dragons skipper Cameron McInnes has signed a four-year deal worth around $2m to join the Shire club from next season, his management confirmed on Tuesday morning.
Cameron McInnes is off to Cronulla on a four-year deal. Credit:Getty
The Red V faithful were already stunned their club had dragged their feet with re-signing McInnes, and even entertained signing another hooker, Andrew McCullough, for 2021.
McInnes met with Cronulla coach John Morris before Christmas about joining the club where he is likely to play as a lock forward, rather than his preferred dummy-half role. The Sharks have Blayke Brailey, who is seen as a future representative No. 9.
Wests Tigers coach Michael Maguire also met with McInnes late last year, but the joint venture never got to the stage of tabling an offer.
McInnes was a big fan of former coach Paul McGregor, and McGregor urged his old club last year “to do everything to keep McInnes”.
Veteran radio host Ray Hadley took aim at McInnes this week when he suggested McInnes had “no confidence in coach” Anthony Griffin.
The McInnes camp, however, had no idea where that rumour had started, and believe Hadley is still upset with the 27-year-old for calling him out over claims last year the team was divided over Jack de Belin.
McInnes will come up against his future club in round one. He is expected to start the year at No. 9 after sharing the role last year with Ben Hunt.
More to come
Christian covers rugby league for The Sydney Morning Herald.