St George Illawarra have announced that young Dragons utility Tristan Sailor has re-signed with the club for a further two seasons.

Sailor will join the Dragons' full-time squad in 2018 and will remain there until at least the completion of the 2019 NRL Telstra Premiership season.

The 19-year-old represented the Queensland Under-20s side earlier this season and has played a crucial role in the young Dragons' rise to the top four on the Holden Cup ladder.

"Tristan has been quite exceptional this year. He played in Queensland's Under-20s side and as of next year will become a full-time Dragon," Director of Rugby League Pathways Ian Millward said.

"Tristan plays numerous positions – he's a very talented fullback and five-eighth – and he has really good vision, instinct and skills. We're really excited by his retention because we feel there's so much upside in him physically."

Millward has also ensured members and fans that the Dragons remain salary cap compliant for next season.

The ongoing negotiations between the NRL, the 16 clubs and the Rugby League Players Association haven't impacted the recruitment staff's patient approach in the marketplace.

"We're under specific instructions from the NRL about the salary cap and we're complying with that. We're in a really good position," Millward said.

"We have spots to fill which is why we're actively looking for a front-rower. We're being patient for the right players.

"The bottom line is we're sticking to the figure we've been given, we're complying with that and working our business around it."

Sailor joins the likes of skipper Gareth Widdop, Tyson Frizell, Euan Aitken, Jack de Belin, Paul Vaughan, Tim Lafai, Kurt Mann, Jai Field, Jacob Host, Blake Lawrie, Luciano Leilua and Reece Robson to extend their stay at the Dragons this season.