Dragons boss Ryan Webb quits after five years at the helm
St George Illawarra chief executive Ryan Webb will step down as the NRL club begins its fightback from another season without finals football.
The Dragons announced Webb will leave the club in April 2025 and are now on the search for a replacement.
The call looms as crucial as the Dragons look to build on improvements made during coach Shane Flanagan’s first season, which ended just short of a first finals berth since 2018.
Webb took charge in April 2020 and helped the club navigate its way through the COVID-19 years It was made even more difficult by the club’s infamous biosecurity barbecue breach at the house of player Paul Vaughan.
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 also helped oversee the hiring of coach Flanagan, and the recruitment of incoming players Valentine Holmes and Damien Cook.
“Ryan is a great person and has been a strong leader for club,” chairman Andrew Lancaster said.
“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 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 before that.
“Being CEO of St George Illawarra is an absolute privilege and an experience I will always be proud of,” Webb said.
The process of recruiting the next CEO will start shortly and Webb will remain involved in the transition phase to ensure a smooth handover of responsibilities, the Dragons said.
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