St George Illawarra recruit Daniel Atkinson has declared he is ready to take control of the Dragons attack as he looks to lead the club back to the finals for the first time since 2018. 

It’s been nearly 12 months since the playmaker’s signing was announced, with fans forced to sit through a challenging season before having their first glimpse of Atkinson in red and white. 

The 24-year-old has completed his first two weeks of pre-season and is set to step straight into the No.7 jersey for a 2026 campaign that starts against the Bulldogs in Las Vegas. 

It’s a position Atkinson has long sought and the opportunity to act as the primary playmaker played a key role in his decision to depart Cronulla.


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Atkinson the hero for the Sharks

“I want to guide the team around the park,” Atkinson told Dragons Media. “I want the kicking duties, I want everything that comes with it.

“Yes it comes with responsibility but as a kid you want to be in those moments, you want to be that guy that’s there at the last minute. You’re not going to get it right every time, that’s part of learning, but I can tell you I’ll put my hand up when those situations arise.”

After a breakout season in 2024 filling in for Braydon Trindall and later Nicho Hynes, Atkinson endured a mixed year for the Sharks as his move south steadily approached.

While he had the opportunity to learn from the starting halves, playing time was hard to come by during the side’s run to the preliminary final.


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Talakai all class as he sets up two for Atkinson

Atkinson came off the bench in 15 games and started just once last season. 

As the playmaker bided his time in the Shire, down in Wollongong the Dragons battled an injury crisis on the way to a 15th-placed finish.

It was a season of possibilities for Shane Flanagan’s side, who lost eight games by six points or less.

The side struggled to find their attacking rhythm all year and ranked 14th in points scored.

It’s an area Atkinson is set to fix as he prepares to link up with five-eighth Kyle Flanagan. 

While the combination is still in its infancy, the halfback has enjoyed getting to know his new teammates.




Daniel Atkinson is working closely with new Dragons assistant coach Michael Ennis.


Daniel Atkinson is working closely with new Dragons assistant coach Michael Ennis.
©Dragons Media

“It’s good to be here,” he said. “It’s been a long time coming, having signed a year out. I was itching to get here and to be here now, to be around the group, walking in the doors on day one was like the first day of school.

“With how nice and caring all the boys are and the culture here, the boys are all mates and it feels like home. 

“I’ve fought to be where I am now, to be here. I just take the opportunity when it presents itself and that’s what I’m looking to do here.”

A challenging season in 2025 came with a silver lining for the Dragons, with Flanagan forced to blood multiple rookies throughout the year. 

Hamish Stewart, Dylan Egan and Loko Pasifiki Tonga headline a lengthy list of players to make their debut last season, while the Couchman twins continued to improve before suffering separate season-ending injuries.

With Clint Gutherson and Damien Cook leading the way, there is hope the young crop will take a big step forward in 2026 and St George Illawarra will challenge for the eight.

While there has been limited recent success, Atkinson is confident the club is building towards a new era as a perennial contender and he’s desperate to be a part of it.

“When I first met up with Flanno and [football boss] Ben Haran, they explained the picture moving forward and where they see the club not just this year or next year but in a couple of years’ time, their long-term picture,” Atkinson said. 

“The blokes they’ve got at the moment, Gutho, Val [Holmes], Cookie, and the trust and faith they had in me really attracted me to the club. I want to play a pivotal role in the club going forward and hopefully we can turn this club back into a powerhouse.”Â