St George Illawarra have announced a coup ahead of the 2019 NRL women's premiership with the signing of Maddie Studdon.
Studdon, who plays in the NSWRL women's premiership with Cronulla, has joined the Dragons for the elite competition to be played in September.
The 24-year-old played the 2018 NRLW season with the Sydney Roosters but is now one of nine NSW State of Origin players to join the red V.
Studdon will play for the Blues against Queensland at North Sydney Oval on Friday night alongside future Dragons teammates Kezie Apps, Jessica Sergis, Shakiah Tungai, Holli Wheeler, Tiana Penitani, Botille Vette-Welsh, Shaylee Bent and Takilele Katoa.
Back-rower Apps, wingers Sergis and Tungai and inaugural Dragons women's player of the year Wheeler have all re-signed with the Dragons following their starring roles in the club's maiden campaign last season.
Studdon will be joined by recent National Championships MVP and Sharks teammate Penitani, Maori All Stars fullback Vette-Welsh, Indigenous All Stars centre Bent and NSW Country front-rower Katoa as new faces in the red V in 2019.
Dragons women's coach Daniel Lacey said he was excited to have acquired a player of Studdon's experience, with the five-eighth having represented NSW and Australia in rugby league and touch football.
"Maddie is a great get for us and will be a fantastic fit for the team. I've done a lot of homework on her in terms of not only how she'll help the Dragons' game but how we can help her game too," Lacey said.
"I was able to work with her in the NSW City team at the recent National Championships and I really took on board the importance that she does have on a team with her game management so she'll have a big influence on our team.
"There's been a lot of hard work done behind the scenes with more time and preparation. We as a staff had a clear mind of what the squad needed to look like as a result. Our focus still remains on the Dragons' women's pathway too. We are really proud with how it has come along and are still focused on developing our juniors into NRL players."
The Dragons have also announced the re-signing of a quartet of local juniors in Rikeya Horne, Keeley Davis, Maddison Weatherall and Aaliyah Fasavalu-Fa'amausili.
Jillaroos duo Horne and Davis have recommitted to the club after playing every game of the 2018 NRLW season while inaugural Dragons development players Weatherall and Fasavalu-Fa'amausili have been promoted to the squad.
