Brayden Wiliame is set for a return to the NRL after Catalans Dragons confirmed his departure from the club as he will look to join St George Illawarra.

The Fijian international leaves the French club after 72 appearances and 30 tries since joining in 2017, where he featured in the club's 2018 Challenge Cup Final at Wembley.

โ€œFirst of all, I want to thank Bernard and the coaching staff for giving me the opportunity to come to the Dragons back in 2017," Wiliame told the club's website.

"Itโ€™s been an experience Iโ€™ll cherish forever. Thank you to the members and fans for the endless support the past three years. And lastly to the players and families, thank you for making my family and I feel welcome from the start.

I wish you all nothing but the best. Allez les Dracs."

Wiliame played 29 NRL matches for Parramatta and Manly before his move to the Super League outfit.

The 26-year-old leaves the Perpignan club with a year remaining on his contract after not featuring in the clubs training schedule while holding out for release.

Dragons coach Steve McNamara commented on the void Wiliame will be leaving at Catalans.

โ€Whilst we are very disappointed that Brayden will leave our club immediately, he does so with our full support. We completely understand his reasons for asking for the release and the opportunity which he has in front of him for both himself and his family." McNamara said.

"Brayden will be a big loss to our team, his commitment and development as a player at Catalans has been a pleasure to see and he will always be remembered as a player who gave his all in every game.

We wish him and his family well for the future. Our search for a replacement will begin and we will look domestically in France, England and the Southern Hemisphere for the right player.โ€

12 COMMENTS

  3. I would say he’s been signed to add depth to the backs and can play anywhere in the backline. Les Catalans coach Steve McNamara seems to have a high opinion of him (”His commitment and development as a player at Catalans has been a pleasure to see”), so I’m willing to wait and see how he goes, unlike some others who bag him & the Dragons without giving the bloke a chance first.

  5. My understanding of a backline is Fullback, Winger and Centre Barry. You seem to criticise a lot of the decisions the Dragons make regarding recruitment & retention, but remember…..they can’t buy any marque players atm. Look at how many players Melbourne have lost and the job facing Craig Bellamy to rebuild his team. The Dragons aren’t the only club that loose good players.
    PS – If you need a break, don’t read the Zero Tackle posts for a while.

  6. This guy will be another major flop. Couldn’t cut the mustard when he played in the NRL last time and superleague were the only ones that wanted him.

  7. Thanks for the advice budgie.

    The difference between the Storm and the Dragons is that one of them will be a top four team next year, has a great coach, and turn duds like Wiliame into great players.

    The other is the Dragons.

    I’ll stand by my comments about the Dragons’ woeful attempts at recruitment and retention in recent years.

  8. Souths must of missed their big opportunity buying this dud, while they pursue a light weight wannabe enforcer, in Wooden Spooner Arrow. Who by the way lead the GC to a spoon.

  9. Shane Flanagan gets his first recruit. I trust Flanno to sign good players with potential. Dragons are on the way up. Note I hate the Dragons

  10. โ€ฆโ€ฆ..NEWS FLASHโ€ฆโ€ฆ..
    From the Turner story.

    Penso is indeed the BrisbaneBunnyโ€ฆ..lets look at his two separate logins and notice the exact same words used in this story by the same penso the clown individual.

    pensoDecember 13, 2019 at 8:54 pm

    โ€œF.. offโ€ฆ..Turner is a solid player and I wish he was still there, but he is notโ€

    brisbanebunnyDecember 15, 2019 at 9:08 pm

    โ€œTurner is solid player who can cover a number of positionsโ€

    The evidence is overwhelming that penso is still in love with his sacked hero Turner both as penso and as the BrisbaneBunny. Hahahaha. Your busted big time Shadow/penso/brizyrabbit!!!! Haha

  11. I honestly havenโ€™t seen him at all so canโ€™t comment. I hope he does well. Iโ€™m prepared to give Aitken another go but Iโ€™m over Lafai. IMO

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