Sign up now!!! <\/a><\/p>\nWHAT EXPERTS SAID<\/p>\n
Dragons in close games<\/p>\n
Braith Anasta: What I love about the Dragons and their season last year was, for the roster they had and the position they were in, for a lot of the year they fought hard. They have young kids getting better and better in the forwards. They were in a lot of games last year and could\u2019ve won a few more.<\/p>\n
Dan Ginnane: They blew four games when leading by 10 or more. Out of the nine times they led by 10 or more, they won only five of them. They lost to Souths, Eels, Warriors by one and lost to the Dogs by two after that Lachie Galvin pass. Yeah ok, coulda woulda, shoulda but they\u2019re never out of these games. 12 of their 24 games last season were decided by six or less. That\u2019s Shane Flanagan football. Tight, tough and in the fight so I don\u2019t think they will be anywhere near the spoon.<\/p>\n
On the Dragons\u2019 halves<\/p>\n
Braith Anasta: Dan Atkinson and Kyle Flanagan are an inexperienced halves combo with a hell of a lot of pressure on them. For their sake, I hope it works. Lyhkan King-Togia could be one of the best five-eighths. He can score points. How long do they wait before giving him a go? What if they start 1-5? Will they keep the same halves combination? They will get better this year but like the Bulldogs, Roosters and other sides, it\u2019s the halves. Will they work or will they not?<\/p>\n
‘Only question is where Sharpe fits in’ | 06:14<\/p>\n
THE BIG BREAKDOWN \u2014 Ethan Lee Chalk<\/p>\n
STRENGTH<\/p>\n
Youth. While the Dragons have struggled to find success in recent years, they have set themselves up for a bright future in the long-term. Dylan Egan, Hamish Stewart, Jacob Halangahu, Hayden Buchanan, David Fale and the Couchman brothers are just a few names that could turn themselves into stars this season.<\/p>\n
Shane Flanagan has made it no secret that the younger players are set to gain a ton of minutes on the field, and their drive could help turn matches in favour of the Dragons. <\/p>\n
Their stamina and pace will also allow the club to stay competitive in matches longer especially when it comes to the final 20 minutes of the contest. <\/p>\n
WEAKNESS<\/p>\n
The Halves. For the past few seasons, the Dragons have failed to get ir right when it comes to their halves. When examining last year\u2019s performances, Lachlan Ilias, Lyhkan King-Togia and Kyle Flanagan were unable to be that strong voice in attack that the club desperately needed.<\/p>\n
While there are big wraps on the arrival of Daniel Atkinson, he has yet to prove himself to be a regular starter and more importantly a reglar in the No.7 jumper and a partnership with Flanagan in the halves is currently at the beginning stages.<\/p>\n
The two playmakers could very easily surprise fans during this year\u2019s campaign but it is hard to see the Dragons reach any success until they breed or sign a top-tier star half.<\/p>\n
IT\u2019S A BIG YEAR FOR<\/p>\n
Luciano Leilua. Since making the move to the Dragons in 2024, Leilua has been the poster boy of inconsistency. A battering ram on his day, the 29-year-old only managed to average 88 running metres per match last season and failed to adjust to the growing speed of the game.<\/p>\n
Aiming to adapt, it has been reported that Leilua has lost around 12-15kg as he looks to return to his prime which saw him earn a $2.2 million deal with the Cowboys. Entering the final year of his current contract, he will need to perform extremely well if he is to remain at the Dragons beyond 2026.<\/p>\n
One of the more experienced members of the club\u2019s forward pack, he will look to not only help mentor the younger players coming through the ranks but make sure that he not overtaken by them in the pecking order.<\/p>\n
Luciano Leilua needs a big season.Source: Supplied<\/p>\n
WHO\u2019S UNDER PRESSURE?<\/p>\n
Daniel Atkinson. Recruited from the Cronulla Sharks to wear the No.7 jersey at the Dragons, it is a big season for Daniel Atkinson, who has yet to prove that he is more than a fringe first grade player.<\/p>\n
Moving from back-up to starter, Atkinson is under immense pressure to turn things around for the Red V and all the criticism will be pointed at him rather than others around him like what Nicho Hynes was at the Sharks.<\/p>\n
While he will get first shot at the halfback role and has the potential to make it his own, multiple poor showings could see him once again be relegated to being used as a utility option off the interchange bench.<\/p>\n
Daniel Atkinson has a big job ahead of him.Source: Instagram<\/p>\n
THE RISING STAR<\/p>\n
Jacob Halangahu. An Australian Schoolboy captain and Under-19s NSW Blues representative, Halangahu got his first taste of NRL game time last season and went on to rack up five appearances to his name.<\/p>\n
Showing glimpse of his massive potential, Halangauhu is bound for a breakout campaign and don\u2019t be surprised to see coach Shane Flanagan lean on him as early as the opening couple of rounds.<\/p>\n
A powerful back-rower with plenty of ability in attack and defence, he made two line-breaks, 148 tackles, 371 running metres and four offloads in limited time on the field.<\/p>\n
Jacob Halangahu has a big future.Source: Supplied<\/p>\n
PREDICTED FINISH: 13th<\/p>\n
BEST 17<\/p>\n
1. Clint Gutherson<\/p>\n
2. Christian Tuipulotu<\/p>\n
3. Moses Suli<\/p>\n
4. Valentine Holmes<\/p>\n
5. Tyrell Sloan<\/p>\n
6. Kyle Flanagan<\/p>\n
7. Daniel Atkinson<\/p>\n
8. Toby Couchman<\/p>\n
9. Damien Cook<\/p>\n
10. Emre Guler<\/p>\n
11. Jaydn Su\u2019A<\/p>\n
12. Dylan Egan<\/p>\n
13. Hamish Stewart<\/p>\n
14. Jacob Liddle<\/p>\n
15. Josh Kerr<\/p>\n
16. Luciano Leilua<\/p>\n
17. Loko Pasifiki Tonga<\/p>\n
DRAGONS SQUAD<\/p>\n
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\u2019A (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)<\/p>\n
2026 gains: Daniel Atkinson, David Fale, Josh Kerr)<\/p>\n
2026 losses: Jack de Belin (Parramatta Eels), Sione Finau (Canberra Raiders), Jonah Glover (South Sydney Rabbitohs), Lachlan Ilias (Gold Coast Titans), David Klemmer (St Helens Saints), Finau Latu (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs), Francis Molo (The Dolphins), Ben Murdoch-Masila (retired), Cody Ramsey (Sydney Roosters), Mikaele Ravalawa (Castleford Tigers), Ray Faitala-Mariner (released), Tom Eisenhuth (retired)<\/p>\n
Coach: Shane Flanagan (2028)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The salt air in Wollongong and the humidity of Kogarah carry a familiar scent: desperate hope mixed with…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":460744,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[568],"tags":[2095,236780,64,63,689,28070,78637,4504,137960,82632,4532,20531,217325,234633,6173,30901,236762,163,4565,4420,12732,4437,4509,4467,118619,236777,162,236763,236781,54493,222174,236776,236775,28067,12099,4612,68983,84257,4431,236773,231345,236782,231342,236772,81096,236783,7289,5098,41509,4533,29043,3761,231229,2623,222177,236771,223960,231333,56527,236765,32917,4511,236779,4464,7677,761,762,236767,2627,673,2041,2067,158,677,236774,11396,61495,122347,27153,54475,236768,236770,4583,236778,4439,85,4563,236764,670,1080,18394,89891,120986,2614,236769,236766,4412,4526],"class_list":["post-460743","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-nrl","tag-america","tag-attack-clicks","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-australia-and-new-zealand","tag-ben-murdoch-masila","tag-bench-utility","tag-blake-lawrie","tag-breakout-campaign","tag-broncos-v","tag-canberra-raiders","tag-castleford-tigers","tag-centre-pairing","tag-club-deal","tag-club-legend","tag-coaching-ranks","tag-costs-people","tag-cowboys","tag-cronulla-sharks","tag-damien-cook","tag-dan-ginnane","tag-daniel-atkinson","tag-david-fifita","tag-david-klemmer","tag-defensive-lines","tag-desperate-hope","tag-dolphins","tag-dragons-preview","tag-dragons-squad","tag-dylan-egan","tag-ethan-lee-chalk","tag-expert-dragons-verdict","tag-familiar-scent","tag-francis-molo","tag-game-time","tag-gold-coast-titans","tag-halfback-role","tag-halves-combination","tag-hamish-stewart","tag-hard-nosed-head-coach","tag-head-finals-bound-trio","tag-healthy-dose","tag-horror-top-eight","tag-hymn-sheet","tag-immense-pressure","tag-inexperienced-halves-combo","tag-interchange-bench","tag-ivan-cleary","tag-jack-de-belin","tag-jacob-liddle","tag-jonah-glover","tag-lachie-galvin","tag-ladder-bubble","tag-las-vegas","tag-lee-chalk","tag-lens-a-clinical","tag-lightning-rod","tag-luai-q-and","tag-luke-keary","tag-messy-building-sight","tag-michael-ennis","tag-michael-molo","tag-mick-crawley","tag-mitch-moses","tag-moses-suli","tag-national-rugby-league","tag-nationalrugbyleague","tag-neon-lights","tag-nevada","tag-new-south-wales","tag-north-america","tag-northern-america","tag-nrl","tag-oceania","tag-organizing-duties","tag-paul-crawley","tag-poster-boy","tag-regular-starter","tag-running-metres","tag-ryan-couchman","tag-safety-valve","tag-salt-air","tag-shane-flanagan","tag-sharpest-young-minds","tag-south-sydney-rabbitohs","tag-sports","tag-st-george-illawarra-dragons","tag-staff-recruitment","tag-sydney","tag-sydney-roosters","tag-talking-point","tag-toby-couchman","tag-tom-eisenhuth","tag-united-states-of-america","tag-utility-option","tag-utility-spark","tag-valentine-holmes","tag-wollongong"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/460743","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=460743"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/460743\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/460744"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=460743"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=460743"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=460743"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
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