Creagh re-signs with Dragons for three years

Kangaroo Tourist Ben Creagh has today agreed to terms with St George Illawarra for a further three seasons, until the end of 2009.

The versatile backrower is another NRL local junior to re-sign with the Club this year along with Dean Young, Matt Cooper, Mark Gasnier, Mathew Head, Justin Poore and Ashton Sims.

?This caps off a pretty big fortnight for the Dragons in completing our work to re-sign such a stand-out talent on and off the field in Ben Creagh,? said Dragons Chief Executive Officer Peter Doust.

?Everyone at the Dragons is extremely happy that the core of our young NRL roster is happy to stay together and I am sure our supporters will be as well.

?All have contributed to helping the Club balance our salary cap as I am sure they would have attracted significant offers on the open market?.

Creagh, 21, cut short a promising basketball career to begin playing rugby league with Wollongong University at 14 years of age. In 2002 he played in the Grand Final qualifying Jersey Flegg side coached by Nathan Brown, alongside many of his current NRL team mates.

The local junior made his NRL debut the following year against the Warriors in Round 22 and has played 56 first grade games to date. Last year Creagh was chosen in the NSW Origin Squad and was the youngest Kangaroo Tourist.

?I am very very happy to be staying with the Dragons,? said Creagh.

?This is a wonderful Club full of great people and I am looking forward to enjoying the next three years with the players and people around me?.

Dragons Coach Nathan Brown was equally as excited to retain another rising star.

?It is great news that we are able to keep Benny, he is a wonderful talent and it would have been disappointing for him to leave at 21 when he is yet to achieve his full potential,? said Brown.

?It just shows the commitment that he and the others who have decided to stay have to our Club?.