Announcement: Dragons emerge favourites in race to sign forward

The favourites for his signature have been revealed.

After re-signing with the team last year, Horsburgh has a contract with the Green Machine that will keep him there through at least the end of 2027.

But despite asking for a release earlier in the week, it appears he has little chance of spending that period of time out in the country’s capital.

It is understood that the request resulted from a breakdown in the forward’s connection with the club; similar circumstances are said to have led to the request in separate reports published in The Canberra Times and The Daily Telegraph.

According to his manager Jeff Jurotte, Horsburgh is seeking a new beginning with a rival team as a result of their broken relationship.

Furthermore, according to News Corp., the Dragons are now the front-runners in the race.

The Dragons have currently lost a number of players ahead of 2025 as Shane Flanagan attempts to accelerate the team’s rebuild. If all goes according to plan, they may play finals football this year and place in the top eight well ahead of schedule.

The joint venture has always made it clear that it wants to sign a high-profile player for the team. It has pursued Addin Fonua-Blake and Stefano Utoikamanu, and there is also word that the team is considering an offer for Daniel Saifiti.

Currently, the Dragons are pursuing Valentine Holmes from the North Queensland Cowboys and may sign both Saifiti and Horsburgh to bolster their forward group for 2025.

This year has seen a drastic decline in Horsburgh’s play, which hasn’t been helped by suspension, injuries, or the entrance of England’s Morgan Smithies. He made his State of Origin debut in 2023 after a breakout year in which he assumed control of the team’s lock forward jersey, but 2024 has been all but written off for the forward known as Big Red.