MITCH Rein will not be at St George Illawarra next season after the Dragons ceased ­negotiations with the off-­contract hooker.

And in what shapes as a ­defining week for under-fire coach Paul Mc­Gregor, Benji Marshall is expected to be dropped for Monday’s game against Parramatta.

Marshall won’t be at the club next year.

There is also continued speculation that McGregor’s position is under threat, and Ivan Cleary’s name has been linked to the club.

With only two rounds left to play, the Dragons officially lost any hope of making the finals on Sunday when they were embarrassed 42-6 by the Roosters.

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That led club legend Mark Gasnier to concede it was time to bring in 21-year-old local junior Drew Hutchison in place of Marshall.

Meanwhile, after months of negotiations, the Dragons have withdrawn their offer to Rein.

The Daily Telegraph understands Rein’s management and the Dragons could not come to a resolution on the hooker’s value.

It is believed Rein was asking for about $450,000 a season, and the Dragons were thinking more along the lines of $350,000.

It was only a few months ago Rein was being mentioned as a possible contender for the NSW hooking job.

Ironically, his future could now be determined by the unwanted Blues No. 9 Robbie Farah, who is being pushed out of the Wests Tigers.

With Farah still to decide where he will play in 2017, there is growing speculation he could end up at Cronulla instead of South Sydney, who were the favourites to sign him.

media_camera A break down in contract negotiations will likely see Mitch Rein leave the Dragons.

The Dragons are believed to be chasing Cameron McInnes if Farah moves to the Rabbitohs, but the club has been told McInnes is staying at Souths.

The Dragons are prepared to play the waiting game, with several options likely to emerge in the coming months as rival clubs finalise their rosters for next year.

While the Dragons now need a halfback and a hooker, Hutchison could finally get the chance to push his claims against the Eels.

It is understood McGregor has been wrestling with the decision on whether to give Hutchison a go in the wake of the loss to the Roosters.

McGregor is said to be divided between his loyalty and respect for Marshall, and the need to move forward for the betterment of the club’s future.

As wonderful a player as the former Golden Boot winner has been, Marshall’s form this year has been a long way from where it once was.

media_camera Benji Marshall’s immediate future at the Dragons is under a cloud. Picture: Gregg Porteous

To his credit, Marshall conceded on Monday that his time at the Dragons might be up, and he would accept whatever decision McGregor made.

Marshall told Channel Seven: “The Dragons don’t owe me anything. If anything I owe them for the opportunity.

“There is a fair chance that I am not going to be here next year so they need to probably have a look at some of those guys who are.

“And if they do, like I said to the coach this morning, if he goes that way I am not going to throw stones.”

After making his NRL debut last year, Hutchison has bided his time in NSW Cup this year.

Gasnier told Fox Sports that it was time to give the former Junior Kangaroo and NSW under 230 playmaker a shot: “I said it before the game (against the Roosters), if they are to lose they’ve got to think about the future.

“Drew Hutchison is that way because everyone remains unsigned at this stage. You’ve got to think about next year.”

Even if Marshall is not named in the NRL team on Tuesday, there is a strong chance McGregor would still pay him the respect to play him in the final round of the regular season against the Knights.