The Bulldogs ended the Dragons' season with a 26-20 victory at ANZ Stadium on Sunday.

St George Illawarra and the Canterbury Bulldogs are finalising the details of a deal that will see James Graham join the Dragons on a three-year deal next season.

St George Illawarra have blown their shot at qualifying for the NRL finals, finishing ninth on the ladder after they threw away a late lead to lose 26-20 to Canterbury.

Josh Dugan squabbled all year over his value as a "world class player", but Paul McGregor's half a million dollar gamble to recall the repentant Dragons centre could deliver the club he is about to walk out on a huge windfall just for making the finals.

When he first burst onto the scene with a rat's tail and sidestep, Josh Dugan represented everything that was good about rugby league. Now he represents what's worst about the modern-day player.

St George-Illawarra coach Paul McGregor warned players to be punctual just a day before Josh Dugan was dropped for missing the NRL team's bus.

​Cronulla captain Paul Gallen has cautioned Josh Dugan about the importance of buying into the Sharks' rebuilt team culture when he arrives in the Shire next NRL season.

A potentially season-ending knee injury suffered by fullback Dylan Edwards has thrown a further spanner in the works of Penrith's semi-finals ambitions ahead of an all-important final-round visit to Manly.

Josh Dugan addressed his St George Illawarra teammates after Sunday night's victory to apologise for failing to adhere to the club's strict new disciplinary policy enforced over the past month.

Paul McGregor has refused to guarantee Josh Dugan's place in St George Illawarra's team for the final round of the regular season after they courageously kept their finals tilt alive without him.

​Josh Dugan has been dropped for St George Illawarra's crucial clash with Penrith for disciplinary reasons.

St George Illawarra will ramp up efforts to lure New Zealand international Adam Blair to the club after becoming frustrated with their pursuit of English firebrand James Graham.

Penrith lock Trent Merrin has reflected on his premiership glory with St George Illawarra in 2010, saying there are similarities between the current Panthers and the Dragons team that won the title seven years ago.

The NRL has halved the fine originally dished out to St George Illawarra coach Paul McGregor.

Joel Thompson became the latest casualty among the flu-ridden Dragons squad, missing training as they prepare for a showdown against Penrith that could decide their finals fate.

The Broncos continued their quality run with a predictable 24-12 win at Suncorp Stadium that leaves the Dragons on the outside looking in once again.

The Canterbury Bulldogs have organised a recruitment and retention meeting for next week to outline a plan to get under the $9.4 million salary cap, with St George Illawarra making preliminary enquiries about the future of James Graham.

Wayne Bennett already has his name written in Dragons folklore. Now he stands to preside over the team that puts an end to a depleted St George Illawarra's hopes of scrambling into the top eight.

St George Illawarra centre Josh Dugan is a certain starter for Saturday's clash with Gold Coast after overcoming an ankle injury in time for the must-win showdown.