St George Illawarra Dragons chairman Andrew Lancaster made a considered statement about the Dragons CEO.

St George Illawarra chief executive Ryan Webb will resign as the NRL club begins its recovery after another season without finals participation. The Dragons announced the decision on Tuesday and will now seek a successor, with Webb set to leave in April. This development is significant as the Dragons aim to capitalize on the progress achieved during Shane Flanagan’s inaugural season as coach, which narrowly missed securing a finals spot for the first time since 2018.

Webb guided the Dragons through the challenging Covid-19 era after taking the reins in April 2020, including managing the fallout from the high-profile biosecurity barbecue breach involving player Paul Vaughan. During his tenure, Webb successfully persuaded captain Ben Hunt to withdraw his request for a release following the dismissal of coach Anthony Griffin, though Hunt’s future remains uncertain with his contract expiring next year. Additionally, Webb played a key role in hiring coach Shane Flanagan and in the recruitment of new players Valentine Holmes and Damien Cook.

“Ryan is an exceptional individual and has been a strong leader for the club,” said chairman Andrew Lancaster. “He stepped into the role during a challenging period impacted by COVID, implementing crucial reforms and steering us through a time of significant change in recent years.

“Ryan’s contributions have laid the foundation for our ongoing growth. “He has collaborated closely with the Board, players, staff, and fans to ensure the Dragons will continue to progress.” Before joining the Dragons, Webb served as the chief operating officer at Wests Tigers for three and a half years and worked as a marketing and commercial manager at AFL Victoria.