St George Illawarra Dragon CEO Ryan Webb quits as future of Ben Hunt hangs in balance

Dragons CEO Ryan Webb is stepping down as the club seeks to improve on its heartbreaking finish to the 2024 season where they narrowly missed out on a finals berth.

After five years in charge Webb is parting ways with the club, but will stay in his role until next April for a smooth transition of power as his successor is chosen.

Front and centre of the Dragons’ plans for 2025 is whether to continue with Ben Hunt as halfback and skipper.

Hunt suffered an embarrassing public dressing room tirade from coach Shane Flannagan - all of it captured on camera - earlier this month.

“Ryan is a great person and has been a strong leader for the club,’’ Dragons chairman Andrew Lancaster told the The Daily Telegraph.

“He took on the role during a testing time as Covid impacted the NRL, bringing in much-needed reforms and guiding us through a period of significant change over recent years.

“Ryan’s efforts have set us up for continued growth.

“He has worked closely with the board, players, staff and fans to ensure that the Dragons will continue building into the future.”

Webb said it was an “absolute privilege” being the club’s CEO.

Webb helped the Dragons navigate the tumultuous Covid-19 period after taking charge in April 2020, the club’s infamous biosecurity barbecue breach at the house of player Paul Vaughan proving a high-profile challenge for the club.

Under Webb’s leadership, the club talked captain Ben Hunt down from his release request following the axing of coach Anthony Griffin, though the halfback’s future will once again be in the spotlight given his contract is due to expire next year.

Webb had previously served as Wests Tigers’ chief operating officer for three-and-a-half years and as a marketing and commercial manager at AFL Victoria prior to that.

The shake-up comes after Flanagan promised St George Illawarra fans more signings over the off-season.

The club was linked to Parramatta forward Reagan Campbell-Gillard but he rejected a two-year over to head south.

Flanagan was forthright about the need to freshen up his squad after the Dragons’ 26-24 loss to Canberra in the final round, which put the final nail in their season’s coffin.

The Red V held their fate in their hands in the race for the top eight, before three disappointing losses to round out the season.

“It just shows no resilience, no patience,” Flanagan said after the Raiders loss.

“I have to instil that in them - that hard-nose, rugby league footy team. That’s my job in the off-season.”

The Dragons have already confirmed the addition of South Sydney hooker Damien Cook and winger Valentine Holmes, who won the premiership under Flanagan at Cronulla in 2016.

But star winger Zac Lomax is on the way to the Eels and youngster Savelio Tamale, who debuted against the Raiders, will join them next year.

Flanagan flagged more signings in the works.

“We’ve got to get some of those (hard-nosed) players in,” he said.

“I know Damien is that type of player. I know Val has been that type of player, so I’ll get them in and add some more.”

Hunt echoed his coach’s comments, saying they were “not a disciplined and hard-nosed enough team”, after their late capitulation, having led the Raiders from the first set of the game.