Dragons roster state of play, Kyle Flanagan, Shane Flanagan, Daniel Atkinson, Jaydn Su’A, Damien Cook

Part of that was due to a horrific casualty ward that hurt their already thin depth given they are putting faith in youngsters, particularly in their pack.

But with 19 wins from 48 games at a win percentage of 39.8, the pressure is on Flanagan and his side to show improvements in a make or break 2026 season.

The Dragons have overhauled their roster with Jonah Glover (Rabbitohs), Sione Finau (Raiders), Cody Ramsey (Roosters), Jack de Belin (Eels), Lachlan Ilias (Titans) and David Klemmer (St Helens) departing from last year.

In their place come in Daniel Atkinson (Sharks), Josh Kerr (Dolphins), David Fale (Panthers), Setu Tu (Warriors) and Joseph O’Neill (Bulldogs) to bolster their depth.

However, of those recruits perhaps only Daniel Atkinson is a potential star and he is still yet to prove himself as a consistent first grade playmaker.

Whether they like it or not Shane Flanagan and son Kyle Flanagan can expect plenty of attention and criticism until the Dragons start winning games consistently.

That is not just up to Kyle, but as long as he is starting in the halves he will be under the blowtorch to get the team clicking in attack.

Flanagan junior was solid last season and is a strong defender, but even his dad admitted that he needs to do more in attack and chance his arm a bit more to create more try-scoring opportunities for himself and his team.

Being a strong defender is a bonus for a half, but their most important job is to lead the team around the park and create try-scoring opportunities for their teammates.

Flanagan senior confirmed that star recruit Daniel Atkinson will start with Kyle in the halves next season, with the former Sharks utility set to get first crack at the No.7 jersey.

Switching Flanagan back to No.6 will ease the pressure on him a little bit as a chief playmaker and organiser, but the pressure to use his running game and create more tries will only increase.

The issue the Dragons have is that they have other holes in their roster across the park, but the halves get the bulk of the criticism when they lose because they are the focal point of the side.

And ultimately the buck stops with the coach who is the chief selector for the team each week.

While no one doubts Shane Flanagan’s integrity as a coach, it is impossible not to admit that coaching your son is a unique situation in professional sport.

Kyle and Shane Flanagan.Source: Supplied

Unless your name is Nathan Cleary it is a difficult thing to coach and select your son in the NRL, particularly if your team is struggling and the wins aren’t coming consistently.

Originally when Flanagan took over as coach he planned to play Kyle at dummyhalf and many experts believe that is his best position, given he is a strong defender and has good service and the more defined role at dummyhalf means he doesn’t have to be overly creative and make opportunities for other players quite as much.

However, the Dragons have Jacob Liddle and Damien Cook at dummyhalf next season, but they also have Lyhkhan King-Togia as a halves option, so the pressure will be on Kyle to deliver early next year.

It looms as a make or break season for Kyle and even Shane if the Dragons don’t improve and push for a drought-breaking finals appearance.

If the club misses the top eight again and Flanagan keeps faith with Kyle all year, questions will be asked if they are the right men to take the club forward, given the perceived conflict of interest for the head coach.

In a way both Kyle and Shane’s time at the club is tied to each other and how well they can get the Dragons firing next season or both their futures could be uncertain.

R360 is real & still a threat! | 01:50

AWKWARD HALVES HEADACHE

The Dragons kept faith with a combination of Kyle Flanagan at halfback and Lyhkan King-Togia for most of last season after Lachlan Ilias was dropped, but they ended the season third last.

Of course that is not all on their playmakers and the club had a tough run with injuries, but ultimately the combinations they had in the halves didn’t work over the course of a long season.

Ilias and unused NSW Cup star Jonah Glover have moved to the Titans and Rabbitohs respectively, after feeling their cards were marked by Flanagan, while Daniel Atkinson has come to the club from the Sharks and Joseph O’Neill has joined from the Bulldogs.

O’Neill has not played a first grade game and will likely have to bide his time and continue his development in NSW Cup, but Atkinson is expected to be parachuted straight into the team at halfback.

That means incumbent No.7 Kyle Flanagan will likely shift back to five-eighth, with King-Togia dropped unless he can nab a bench role, but that seems unlikely with Cook and Liddle in the 17.

Atkinson is a late bloomer with plenty of potential, but he has only played 36 NRL games for the Sharks since debuting for the Storm in 2021.

He will be 25 by the time next season kicks off and this is Atkinson’s chance to realise his potential as a full-time NRL playmaker.

Had he not been at the Storm and Sharks it is arguable Atkinson would have played a lot more games by now, but essentially he is still untested and unproven as a full-time NRL playmaker to date.

Daniel Atkinson is set to play halfback.Source: Supplied

That doesn’t mean he can’t produce the goods and deliver on his potential, but the jury is out until he does it and he will have to do so behind a pack that is not at the elite level in the NRL at this stage.

Flanagan has a lot more NRL experience than Atkinson with 24 tries in 123 games for the Sharks, Roosters, Bulldogs and Dragons since his debut in 2018.

However, it is fair to say he hasn’t cemented a starting halves role since his lone season with the Roosters in 2020, until the last two years at the Dragons.

And while he has been solid with 12 tries in 44 games over the last two years, the Dragons haven’t produced wins consistently, as Shane Flanagan went about rebuilding the team with his vision.

King-Togia is still just 20 and has scored three tries in 21 games for the Dragons and is considered an exciting prospect for the future, but he is still very early in his development.

The problem the Dragons have is that on the surface Flanagan and Atkinson appear very similar players in that they are good organisers and willing defenders, but don’t offer the spark in attack that King-Togia does and that the Dragons desperately need.

That is why Shane Flanagan put Kyle on notice to come up with more in attack and play with a bit more freedom to increase try-scoring opportunities for himself and the players around him.

Time will tell if the combination of Atkinson and Flanagan clicks, but it will take time for them to develop a combination and time is not on the club’s side, as they aim to turn things around in 2026.

‘Fell out of love with the game’ | 04:10

THE DUMMYHALF DILEMMA

The Dragons are not short on dummyhalf options, but the issue is how to get the balance right to help the team win more footy games in 2026.

Last season Damien Cook and Jacob Liddle shared the dummyhalf duties, with Cook shifting to lock when Liddle came onto the field or he came off for a spell.

Cook turns 35 in June and is entering the last year of his deal before likely hanging up the boots and has scored 36 tries in 240 games for the Dragons, Bulldogs and Rabbitohs since his debut in 2013.

As one of the co-captains last year he was an excellent leader on and off the field at a time the club was rebuilding with a very young core.

However, Cook’s game has always been built on speed out of dummyhalf and supreme fitness and he has lost a yard or two in the last couple of seasons at Souths and St George Illawarra.

Cook scored one try in 24 games last year, but he was arguably overshadowed by Liddle over the course of the season.

Liddle scored nine tries in his 24 games last season and looked sharp out of dummyhalf when he came off the bench.

Damien Cook is closing in on retirement.Source: Getty Images

Cook will likely start next season at No.9, but the pressure will be on for the ageing rake to perform or there is an argument Liddle deserves to start and that transition could happen over the course of the year.

At 29, Liddle has played 142 games of NRL and has put his injury history behind him to be an excellent NRL dummyhalf, and at this stage of his career he probably deserves to start over Cook.

That could mean Cook comes off the pine and acts as a super sub to cover dummyhalf and lock in short bursts or if injuries strike.

Another option if Flanagan fails in the halves would be to switch him to the dummyhalf role off the bench, which may be where his future lies for the Dragons, with Atkinson and King-Togia in the halves when Cook retires.

The respectful thing would be to let Cook play out his final season, particularly because he is co-captain, but the Dragons are coming off a poor season and can’t afford another one, so there is no room for sentiment.

Paps shuts down talk of NRL return | 00:43

WAITING ON YOUNG GUNS

Shane Flanagan has made no secret of his desire to rebuild the club from within, with some impressive young players coming through the junior ranks into first grade.

However, Flanagan can’t afford to wait around for the cream to rise to the top and he needs to get the balance right between planning for the future and winning games now.

In the Couchman brothers Toby and Ryan, second-rower Dylan Egan and lock Hamish Stewart, the Dragons have an impressive crop of promising young forwards, but they need them to start delivering on their potential and promise more consistently.

Injuries didn’t help last season, as the Dragons’ pack was decimated at times and they will need some luck to shrink the casualty ward in 2026.

Particularly because their forward depth is not their strong suit, so like last season if injuries strike it will be difficult for them to stay competitive.

Stewart and Egan as well as Ryan Couchman are all workhorses and look like stars in the making, but they need to stay on the field and play more games to realise their immense potential.

And Loko Pasifiki Tonga is a man mountain with a big future, but his defensive lapses when he tired last season were an issue and he needs to get fitter to stay in the contest for longer.

Ryan Couchman Toby Couchman.Source: The Daily Telegraph

The Dragons have also been waiting on Tyrell Sloan to iron out the deficiencies in his game for a couple of seasons and while he is an out and out try-scorer, he can also let them in.

That is why the Dragons were open to releasing him if he can seal a move to another club, but if they don’t start Sloan it will make it difficult for them to find the tries needed to win in the NRL.

Hopefully Sloan can turn things around over the course of another pre-season because the Dragons desperately need his speed and strike in attack.

The Dragons might have enough young players to make them a force again in a couple of seasons, but they will hoping they can fast-track that development in order to be a finals contender in 2026.

Unless their young guns step up, it is hard to see the Dragons making a big stride up the ladder next season.

Fogarty ignoring comparison to DCE | 02:16

THIN FORWARD STOCKS

A quick look at the Dragons’ pack shows they are sort of elite forwards to set the platform for their backline out wide.

Jaydn Su’A is the only Origin calibre forward in their pack and he played the last of his six Origins for the Maroons in 2024.

Su’A is also off-contract in 2026 and is no guarantee to stay at the club, after rumblings he is on the lookout for a club that can contend for the title.

Su’A has a close relationship with Wayne Bennett and could opt to return to South Sydney for a second stint under the master coach in 2027.

The Dragons have also lost David Klemmer, who was their most experienced front-rower and while past his best, he still offered a lot of go-forward they are now missing.

The club also lost Francis Molo to the Dolphins last season, while Jack de Belin was shown the door to join the Eels on a two-year deal.

Jaydn Su’A is reportedly eyeing a club switch.Source: Getty Images

Meanwhile, Raymond Faitala-Mariner was released and Tom Eisenhuth retired, so the Dragons are clearly relying on their young guns to step up, after offloading most of their experienced forwards.

Josh Kerr returns to the club from the Dolphins, which will help their depth, but he is hardly the elite difference-maker the Dragons’ pack so desperately needs to build around.

That is why the Dragons went hard for Tino Fa’asuamaleaui to join the club and while it appears that is unlikely, that is the calibre of player they need.

Until their young forwards are ready to lead the team or they inject some stars from the open market, it is hard to see this Dragons team doing enough to make the top eight let alone challenge for the title any time soon.

Fogarty eager to forge his own path | 08:47

WHO THEY COULD TARGET

The Dragons’ might not want to admit it amid their youth policy, but they desperately need an injection of bona fide stars to turn them from a bottom four team into a top eight contender.

Valentine Holmes, Clint Gutherson and Jaydn Su’A are arguably their only elite players and they are closer to the end of their careers than the start.

Daniel Atkinson has been brought to the club to improve their playmaking department, but he is yet to establish himself as a consistent starter in the NRL.

The club need to open the checkbook and do whatever they can to sign a forward of the calibre of Tino Fa’asuamalaui or Payne Haas because that is what it is going to take to build their young forward pack into a contender.

Souths’ forward Keaon Koloamatangi or Panthers’ counterpart Lindsay Smith might be more realistic targets to lead their young pack.

A couple of hard-nosed back-rowers are also needed despite the promise of their youngsters and the Dragons should make a play for the likes of Sharks lock Jesse Colquhoun and Roosters star Siua Wong.

Keaon Koloamatangi should be a big target for the Dragons.Source: Getty Images

They also need an elite halfback, which is why Flanagan tried and missed at going for Daly Cherry-Evans when he first took over the Dragons head coach job.

Technically Cherry-Evans is off-contract in 2027 and if things don’t work out at the Roosters and he wants to play on, why not have another crack?

Broncos skipper Adam Reynolds is another halfback who could be looking for a new club if he wants to play on.

And Storm star Tyran Wishart is a local junior and someone they could build their future around, while Cowboys gun Jaxon Purdue is another young playmaker with enormous potential.

Storm star Tyran Wishart is a Dragons junior.Source: Getty Images

As harsh as it may seem, if the Dragons continue to give the keys to the team to Flanagan and Atkinson, they could be waiting a long time to get back to the top.

The Dragons could have won a lot more games last year if they had a playmaker to ice the big moments with their kicking game.

With the exception of Holmes, the Dragons are also lacking a strike backline player and should make a play for Eels centre Will Penisini or Sharks counterpart Jesse Ramien to give them some more firepower.

The Dragons’ might be keen to build from within and put faith in their youngsters, but unless they become elite stars soon they will need to go to market to get this team back competing for the finals, let alone a first title since 2010.

Concussions force Manly star to retire | 00:42

DRAGONS 2026 SQUAD

Top 30: Blake Lawrie (2026), Christian Tuipulotu (2026), Clint Gutherson (2027), Damien Cook (2026), Daniel Atkinson (2028), David Fale (2027), Dylan Egan (2027), Emre Guler (2026), Hame Sele (2026), Hamish Stewart (2029), Jacob Liddle (2028), Jaydn Su’A (2026), Jacob Halangahu (2027), Josh Kerr (2027), Kyle Flanagan (2027), Kade Reed (2028), Loko Pasifiki Tonga (2026), Luciano Leilua (2026), Mathew Feagai (2026), Max Feagai (2026), Michael Molo (2026), Moses Suli (2027), Nick Tsougranis (2027), Ryan Couchman (2027), Toby Couchman (2027), Tyrell Sloan (2026), Valentine Holmes (2027), Viliami Fifita (2025), Nathan Lawson (2026)

Development list: Setu Tu (2027), Cyrus Stanley-Traill (2027), Kade Reed (2028), Nick Tsougranis (2027)

2026 gains: Daniel Atkinson (Sharks), Josh Kerr (Dolphins), David Fale (Panthers), Setu Tu (Warriors)

2026 losses: Jack de Belin (Eels), Sione Finau (Raiders), Jonah Glover (Rabbitohs), Lachlan Ilias (Titans), David Klemmer (St Helens), Finau Latu (Bulldogs), Francis Molo (Dolphins), Ben Murdoch-Masila (retired), Cody Ramsey (Roosters), Mikaele Ravalawa (Castleford), Ray Faitala-Mariner (released), Tom Eisenhuth (retired)

OFF-CONTRACT IN 2026 BY POSITION

FULLBACK

Tom Chester, Kade Dykes, Sione Fonua, Trai Fuller, Jamayne Isaako, William Kennedy, Luke Laulilii, Heath Mason, Nick Meaney, Sean Russell, Tyrell Sloan, Connor Tracey, Taine Tuaupiki

WING

Michael Asomua, Selwyn Cobbo, Mathew Feagai, Moala Graham-Taufa, Sione Katoa, Greg Marzhew, Marcelo Montoya, Mark Nawaqanitawase, Jaxson Paulo, Richard Penisini, Phillip Sami, Sam Stonestreet, Jed Stuart, Jonathan Sua, Jake Tago, Murray Taulagi, Christian Tuipulotu, Daniel Tupou, Will Warbrick

CENTRE

Jesse Arthars, Jake Averillo, Rocco Berry, Jack Bird, Braidon Burns, Wilson De Courcey, Dane Gagai, Mawene Hiroti, Delouise Hoeter, Thomas Jenkins, Brian Kelly, Nathan Lawson, Will Penisini, Jesse Ramien, Solomone Saukuru, Aaron Schoupp, Jeral Skelton, Enari Tuala, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Chris Vea’ila

FIVE-EIGHTH

Jack Cole, Tyson Gamble, Te Maire Martin, Josh Rogers, Trent Toelau, Cody Walker

HALFBACK

Tanah Boyd, Daly Cherry-Evans, Jake Clifford, Tom Duffy, Chanel Harris-Tavita, Zac Herdegen, Kodi Nikorima, Jaxon Purdue, Niwhai Puru, Adam Reynolds, Brad Schneider, Ronald Volkman, Tyran Wishart

PROP

Tom Ale, Jake Clydsdale, Harrison Edwards, Sione Fainu, Emre Guler, Payne Haas, Braden Hamlin-Uele, Tuku Hau Tapuha, Liam Henry, Jack Hetherington, Samuel Hughes, Jaiyden Hunt, Jaimin Jolliffe, Tui Kamikamica, Sean Keppie, Kaiden Lahrs, Simione Laiafi, Blake Lawrie, Matthew Lodge, Ata Mariota, Sam McIntyre, Francis Molo, Michael Molo, Josh Papalii, Junior Paulo, Toby Rudolf, Lindsay Smith, Daniel Suluka-Fifita, Siosiua Taukeiaho, Xavier Va’a

HOOKER

Jayden Berrell, Damien Cook, Zach Dockar-Clay, Tristan Hope, Jamie Humphreys, Freddy Lussick, Cameron McInnes, Zaidas Muagututia, Cory Paix, Jake Turpin, Sam Verrills, Billy Walters, Patrick Young

SECOND ROW

John Bateman, Shawn Blore, Billy Burns, Thomas Cant, Kurt Capewell, Angus Crichton, Tyson Frizell, Luke Garner, Mavrik Geyer, Jack Gosiewski, Charlie Guymer, Eddie Ieremia-Toeava, Brodie Jones, Oryn Keeley, Viliame Kikau, Mason Kira, Keaon Koloamatangi, Karl Lawton, Luciano Leilua, Connelly Lemuelu, Zyon Maiu’u, Toni Mataele, Ryan Matterson, Max McCarthy, Marata Niukore, Kai O’Donnell, Joe Roddy, Scott Sorensen, Tony Sukkar, Siosifa Talakai, Kelma Tuilagi, Siua Wong

LOCK

Nathan Brown, Josh Curran, Matthew Eisenhuth, Jesse Colquhoun, Kalani Going, Lipoi Hopoi, Blake Hosking, Kit Laulilii, Liam Le Blanc, Kurt Mann, Hohepa Puru, Hame Sele, Morgan Smithies, Ray Stone, Jack Todd, Jake Trbojevic, Dylan Walker