St George Illawarra winger Jordan Pereira has extended his stay at the Dragons until at least the end of 2021 NRL Telstra Premiership season.
Pereira re-signed with the Dragons for two years in September, but has been rewarded with a further year at the club following another strong pre-season.
Pereira didn't feature in any of the first grade trials 12 months ago, yet now finds himself embedded in the Dragons' NRL side after making his debut against the North Queensland Cowboys in Round 19 last year.
Having travelled to Samoa, Perth and Mackay throughout his sporting career, shoring up his long-term future is another important aspect to Pereira's development that has seen him play nine NRL games so far.
"The long-term future is the key for me. The security is huge for my partner and I. This will open many opportunities for us in the future as far as kids, buying a house and other things we're looking forward to," Pereira said.
"When I arrived at the Dragons, I knew I wasn't ready to play first grade but I knew if I was going to be ready I'd have to become a sponge and soak up all the information of the leaders and coaching staff around me.
"They have been crucial for my development, and the best thing is that I'm still learning."
Pereira's extension now gives the Dragons a real foundation for the club's wingers, according to Dragons Director of Rugby League Pathways and List Management Ian Millward.
"The biggest thing about Jordan is he's been on a fantastic journey and his attitude throughout has been admirable. He has improved significantly in training when you compare his first pre-season to now," Millward said.
"We see nothing but improvement in Jordan as he evolves off the field in his training and also with further experience in the NRL. It's a no-brainer to keep him at the club, considering also his ability."
Pereira's extension follows the recent key reacquisition of Dragons duo Tariq Sims and Matt Dufty.
