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St George Illawarra captain Cameron McInnes will leave the club at season's end and link up with NRL rivals Cronulla on a long-term deal.
St George Illawarra have copped a major blow with skipper Cameron McInnes leaving the club at the end of the season to join NRL rivals Cronulla on a four-year deal.
The 27-year-old has been the best player at the Dragons for the past two seasons but was not offered a contract by the club beyond the end of 2021.
It's a move that is sure to anger fans given McInnes has been the most consistent player for the side in recent campaigns and was only last year handed the club captaincy.
McInnes' leadership was thought to be crucial for the Dragons to rediscover success under new coach Anthony Griffin.
However, McInnes opted for security and signed the deal with the Sharks on Tuesday morning, with the Dragons confirming it soon after.
"We were well aware throughout our discussions with Cameron and his management that he wanted his future sorted prior to the season commencement," Dragons general manager of football Ben Haran said.
"There's always a process to contractual negotiations, but with our club going through a significant transition it's fair to say that Cameron and the club were working on different time frames.
"We understood why he wanted his future sorted immediately, which has since led to Cameron and his family securing an opportunity elsewhere.
"Cameron is a quality player and person who has brought a lot to St George Illawarra since arriving in 2017, and we're looking forward to him again playing a huge role in his final season at the club."
The Dragons have been linked for some time with a swoop for Brisbane hooker Andrew McCullough, who has worked with Griffin in the past.
While the Sharks already have Blayke Brailey at hooker, coach John Morris confirmed McInnes will play lock, where he has played intermittently for the Dragons in 2020.
"He can play lock equally as well as he can play dummy half and that versatility, especially in the modern game, is very attractive to our club," Morris said.
"Cameron has been brought mainly to play lock and will complement Blayke Brailey at hooker in a potent No.9 and No.13 combination that should have all Sharks fans very excited.
"Cameron ticks all the boxes for us in that he has great attitude, he competes on every play and is an excellent defender.
"But not only is he respected for what he can do on the field, he is of outstanding character, is a thorough professional who looks after himself and we are adding someone to our squad who is a leader and will be a major asset to our young developing players."
The Sharks will be the third club for NSW Origin hopeful McInnes, after starting his career with South Sydney in 2014 before moving to the Dragons in 2017.
