NSW forward Beau Scott is likely to make a shock return to Sydney, with St George Illawarra and Wests Tigers among the clubs jostling for his signature.

Fairfax Media can reveal Scott has a get-out clause in his Newcastle contract and plans to trigger it for family reasons. It appeared Scott would finish his career with the Knights when he re-signed until the end of 2017. However, the 30-year-old is preparing for a shift that will take place at the end of the year.

Scott, who has played eight games for NSW and three for Australia, is one of the most damaging defenders in the game. The veteran back-rower would bring experience to any pack he joins, having made 184 NRL appearances since his NRL debut for Cronulla in 2005.

He has strong ties to the Dragons, where he made the majority of his first-grade appearances during a five-year stint which ended in 2012. He enjoyed premiership success under Wayne Bennett in 2010 before following the veteran mentor to the Knights.

St George Illawarra are desperate to bolster their forwards stocks after Trent Merrin signed with Penrith for next year. The Dragons had hoped to engage in a player trade with the Panthers to allow Merrin to leave immediately, with Tyrone Peachey, Sika Manu and Adam Docker on their hit list. However, they were unable to come to terms, leaving them short in the back-row department for next season. The Dragons will also miss out on the signature of another target, Sam Kasiano, who is poised to re-sign with Canterbury. There is also no return date set for Russell Packer, who is sweating on the NRL to register a playing contract following a stint in jail.

The Tigers are also interested in Scott's services. The joint-venture outfit has several promising forwards coming through the ranks and officials view Scott as a potential mentor for them.

The Picton Magpies junior is also known as being a "bodyguard" for his halves, as evidenced by the way he eased the defensive workload on Jamie Soward at the Dragons. He could play a similar role for No.7 Luke Brooks, who missed more tackles than any other player last year. Scott would bolster a pack already boasting quality forwards including Robbie Farah, Aaron Woods, Martin Tapau and Curtis Sironen.

Scott's availability on the open market is likely to pique the interest of other Sydney clubs. Parramatta expressed interest the last time Scott was a free agent but may pass this time after assembling a strong pack predominantly comprised of local junior talent.

Scott has a reputation for his punishing defence, but some of the game's biggest names believe he has crossed the line. The Knights enforcer hammered North Queensland playmaker Johnathan Thurston during their win last weekend, with Queensland captain Cameron Smith labelling some of the shots "blatantly late" and a repeat of a tactic which resulted in Billy Slater getting injured last year.

Thurston was left battered and bruised following the encounter and Scott copped a grade one dangerous contact charge as a result. However, he entered an early guilty plea which will enable him to take his place for the clash with the Titans at Cbus Super Stadium on Sunday.

"If we are being honest with each other, it is a tactic to try to take the guy out of the game," Smith said of Scott's attack on Thurston.

"Everyone knows Johnathan Thurston is the most influential player for the North Queensland Cowboys so if he is not on the field you stand a fair chance of beating them."

Scott and Thurston will come together again when the State of Origin series kicks off on May 27 at ANZ Stadium.