No player in the comp had his name in the headlines more than Lachlan Galvin last season following his mid-season switch to the Bulldogs but he shut down any doubters for now with a classy performance at halfback. <\/p>\n
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Meanwhile, the Knights started the Justin Holbrook era with a bang and answered some questions around the halves… although there is an early speed bump.<\/p>\n
Read on for the NRL Talking Points from Las Vegas. <\/p>\n
LACHLAN GALVIN MAKES THE NO.7 HIS OWN<\/p>\n
Entering the 2026 under immense pressure, Lachlan Galvin has silenced doubters with a strong showing in the No.7 jersey to kick-off the regular season in Las Vegas.<\/p>\n
Arriving at the Bulldogs mid-way through last year, the youngster was made the scapegoat for the side\u2019s performances at the backend of the season which saw them exit the finals series in straight-sets.<\/p>\n
Joining the club after being embroiled in a messy exit from the Wests Tigers, many pundits and former players believed that the Bulldogs were wrong to replace Toby Sexton with him at the time.<\/p>\n
However, he has shown that he is truly the future of the Bulldogs.<\/p>\n
\u201cI thought last year when he came into the side unsurprisingly he looked lost at times. Tonight he\u2019s been very, very dominant. You can see he is comfortable within this team,\u201d Matthew Johns said.<\/p>\n
Growing up as a five-eighth, Galvin has been rocketed into the halfback role and while many fans may not see a large difference between the two positions, the reality is far more complex.<\/p>\n
Although it has taken him some time to get going and adjust to the role, he flourished against the St George Illawarra Dragons.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was the perfect start for Lachlan Galvin,\u201d Braith Anasta said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI love what he\u2019s doing tonight. He\u2019s playing square, he looks fit and that\u2019s a beautiful ball. It was exactly what Galvin and the Bulldogs needed.\u201d<\/p>\n
Crichton lucky to avoid the bin? | 00:33<\/p>\n
MORE NRL NEWS<\/p>\n
\u2018SERIOUSLY\u2019: Flanno fumes at \u2018six or seven\u2019 ref calls as game \u2018not decided the right way\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n \u2018TOUGH AS NAILS\u2019: Proof rugby league can work in USA <\/a><\/p>\n Finishing the contest with a try assist, a line-break assist and 46 running metres, Galvin was lethal in setting up the attack and his best moment came in the opening half when he put Jacob Preston over for a try.<\/p>\n The duo have developed a tremendous connection on the right-hand side. This saw Preston finish as the team\u2019s highest try-scorer last season.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is brilliant ball-playing from 20-year-old Lachlan Galvin. He takes the run down the right-hand side and then they rest the middle of the field,\u201d Cooper Cronk said.<\/p>\n \u201cInstead of allowing the ball to go to the left he calls it back to the right-hand side\u2026isolates Preston inside (Moses) Suli.\u201d<\/p>\n Johns added, \u201cHe\u2019s a good player isn\u2019t he. That was really good ball-playing. When you take the ball to the line, every ballplayer\u2019s got a target defender you\u2019ve got to get to then you look for your back-rower to replace that space.<\/p>\n \u201cHe gets to his target and Preston compliments it by hitting the right gap.\u201d<\/p>\n The former NRL playmakers and premiership-winners continued to praise Galvin\u2019s performance, in particular the way he requested the ball to put Preston over the line.<\/p>\n It is something that some playmakers are scared to do at the early points of their playing career.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s a good sign for a 20-year-old halfback who would normally allow the ball to go to the other side of the field with the senior playmaker but signs of confidence that he calls the ball and sets up the first try,\u201d Cronk said.<\/p>\n Lachlan Galvin has earned praise from three premiership winners.Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n HAVE KNIGHTS FOUND THEIR FUTURE SPINE?<\/p>\n They may have only played 25 minutes together but the Newcastle Knights have found their future spine.<\/p>\n Fielding one of the most expensive spine\u2019s in the NRL, Kalyn Ponga, Fletcher Shape, Dylan Brown and Phoenix Crossland produced moments of brilliance throughout their match against the Cowboys <\/p>\n While they were only on the field for a limited time before Sharpe excited with a non-contact leg injury, the quartet showed fans that the club is in for a bright future.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s only early doors here but Brown, Ponga and Sharpe are all looking so good,\u201d Braith Anasta said.<\/p>\n Matthew Johns added: \u201cWe talked about who is going to run the show? The concern was can Dylan Brown push the side around the park? You can see this already.<\/p>\n \u201cThey are sharing duties, and importantly they are setting up parts of the field which gets Kalyn Ponga into his sweet spot. Every time there is a bit of broken play or there is a loose ball, he (Sharpe) comes up with it.\u201d<\/p>\n Get all the latest news, highlights and analysis delivered straight to your inbox with Fox Sports NRL Sportmail. Sign up now!!! <\/a><\/p>\n Knights upset Cowboys in Las Vegas! | 04:10<\/p>\n After missing the opening two trial matches due to returning from a Lisfranc injury, Ponga looked in sensational form to open the clash and provided a beautiful kick which saw Sharpe leap onto it and cross the line for a try.<\/p>\n \u201cWithout a doubt he is Newcastle\u2019s most important player. We saw what he did when he won the Dally M,\u201d Cooper Cronk said.<\/p>\n \u201cIf he can turn up and start to become the everywhere man at Newcastle. Play first-receiver, play fullback, be the main kicker if he has to.\u201d<\/p>\n Meanwhile, Brown and Sharpe both provided a try assist of their own and their combination looked terrific before the latter departed the field.<\/p>\n This showed new coach Justin Holbrook that they should both be ahead of Sandon Smith in the pecking order.<\/p>\n \u201cEvery single one of them in the spine is doing their job,\u201d Braith Anasta said.<\/p>\n Even dummy-half Phoenix Crossland was able to put his mark on the game with some brilliant moments including a 40\/20. <\/p>\n Despite being a New Zealand Kiwis international, there were calls during the off-season that he hadn\u2019t done enough to be their regular No, 9 with Smith lurking in the background.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a beautiful kick from Phoenix Crossland and again it\u2019s the advantage of having so much strike power in the 6, 7 and 1 that takes all eyes of Phoenix,\u201d Braith Anasta said.<\/p>\n MORE NRL NEWS<\/p>\n \u2018REALLY DISAPPOINTED\u2019: Cowboys coach calls out double standards after serious injury<\/a><\/p>\n \u2018WE\u2019RE A NEW DRAGONS TEAM\u2019: Cook\u2019s emotional declaration on fresh Red V dawn<\/a><\/p>\n There were calls in the off-season to move Crossland to lock.Source: AFP<\/p>\n UNSUNG HERO FOR KNIGHTS SOLVES POTENTIAL INJURY ISSUE<\/p>\n There was plenty to like about the performance of Newcastle new-look spine (see above) before and after the injury to Fletcher Sharpe. <\/p>\n After a willing pre-season battle, Sharpe won the right to start alongside Dylan Brown in the halves, beating out former Rooster Sandon Smith.<\/p>\n Given Sharpe\u2019s scintillating 25 minutes before he suffered a knee injury, it was probably the right choice from Justin Holbrook.<\/p>\n As it turned out though, Smith would be given his chance much, much earlier than expected when Sharpe succumbed to injury.<\/p>\n Named in the No. 14 jersey, Smith was on the six-man bench to play a utility role or to cover halfback, five-eighth or hooker if injury struck. <\/p>\n In relief of Sharpe, Smith handed in a very classy performance, as Matty Johns noted in commentary.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you talk about this game, obviously Kalyn Ponga was outstanding. Sandon Smith though, while he won\u2019t attract many headlines, coming on in that No. 14 role to deputise and have a bit of insurance there,\u201d Johns said.<\/p>\n \u201cHe wasn\u2019t brilliant but he was good. He was strong.\u201d<\/p>\n Smith ran the ball five times for 47 metres and had a try assist and a line break assist. <\/p>\n He played a big part in Bradman Best\u2019s try early in the second half, giving a lovely inside ball to Ponga, who raced through a big hole before giving the last pass to an unmarked Best. <\/p>\n \u201cI love the work from Sandon Smith,\u201d Anasta said after the try.<\/p>\n \u201cThe recognition to know who to get the ball to and to play out to play in with the deception. He took Dearden on and then he knew Ponga was back on the inside.<\/p>\n Brown & Ponga react to big Knights win | 03:59<\/p>\n \u201cWhen you pass it to Kalyn at the right moment and give him any opportunity whatsoever he turns it into points.<\/p>\n \u201cNot just in case there is an injury, the fact is if that spine wasn\u2019t working. Very smart player. Great direction,\u201d Johns added.<\/p>\n Sharpe has been cleared of a serious knee injury but will go to scans and could miss a few weeks, meaning Smith will be tasked with the job of wearing the No. 6.<\/p>\n Based on his performance against the Cowboys, the Knights will be confident Smith can help lead this side to wins.<\/p>\n Holbrook certainly is.<\/p>\n \u201cThe fact Sandon (Smith) had to go there, he\u2019d done that much training there, I was really confident and obviously (he had) a really big play in that second half,\u201d Holbrook said in his post match press conference.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen he took the ball to the line and gave it on the inside to Kalyn (Ponga) for Bradman\u2019s try, I thought it could have gone either way at that stage.<\/p>\n \u201cTo score off that, you know, we needed it and it was a great play from Sandon, he slotted in perfectly which we needed.\u201d<\/p>\n Get all the latest news, highlights and analysis delivered straight to your inbox with Fox Sports NRL Sportmail. Sign up now!!! <\/a><\/p>\n Sandon Smith.Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n FORGET ATTACK, THIS IS WHY DRAGONS\u2019 NEW-LOOK HALVES GET A TICK<\/p>\n Another halves pairing that had been in the spotlight in the lead-up to the 2026 season was the Dragons.<\/p>\n The Red V\u2019s major signing, Daniel Atkinson, slotted straight into the No.7 jersey with a battle for the No.6 emerging between Kyle Flanagan and Lykhan King-Togia.<\/p>\n Flanagan emerged victorious, winning a spot for the Las Vegas season opener \u2013 and that duo came desperately close to winning in their first game as a halves pairing.<\/p>\n While it wasn\u2019t a dangerous attacking showing that impressed, it was the pair\u2019s defence that shined bright.<\/p>\n Although Flanagan was left wanting after an early Jacob Preston try, from there, Atkinson and his halves partner did not skip a beat.<\/p>\n The Dragons\u2019 halves made a staggering 49 tackles in total, missing eight, with a huge amount of traffic focused in their direction by Dogs coach Cameron Ciraldo.<\/p>\n Regardless, Shane Flanagan spoke glowingly of Atkinson\u2019s Dragons debut in the post-match press conference.<\/p>\n \u201cI didn\u2019t want to put too much pressure on him, he hasn\u2019t played a lot of games at halfback in the NRL\u2026 I thought he did a good job, his kicking was great,\u201d Flanagan said.<\/p>\n \u201cHe competed really hard, he will get better week in, week out.\u201d<\/p>\n Meanwhile, skipper Damien Cook explained that Atkinson and Flanagan\u2019s attributes balance each other out.<\/p>\n Dan Atkinson passed his first test in his Dragons debut according to coach Shane Flanagan.Source: News Corp Australia<\/p>\n While Atkinson takes the game on, with a focus on running the ball, Flanagan keeps a cool head and looks to get his team into prime field position.<\/p>\n \u201cI thought we gelled together really well, I loved playing with Atko (Atkinson) for the first time. He is someone who takes the ball on, he\u2019s very competitive,\u201d Cook said.<\/p>\n \u201cLooking to always take the game on, and I think that\u2019s where Kyle (Flanagan) has a really good balance. He keeps his calm, keeps us to the game plan.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s probably the same mix that Gutho (Gutherson) and myself have, really good mix amongst the spine. Tonight I felt like we were good.\u201d<\/p>\n The duo\u2019s performance comes after Flanagan opened up on the staggering abuse he and his family have received since he took over at the Dragons, coaching his son.<\/p>\n On Fox League\u2019s Face to Face, he explained the abuse has taken a toll, saying: \u201cI\u2019m not worried about me. I worry about Kyle, he\u2019s got a wife, a child, a young baby and I worry about his sisters and his mum.<\/p>\n \u201cThey see things and read things. That\u2019s what hurts me. I know that hurts Kyle as well. It doesn\u2019t worry me, I can get on with it. I\u2019ve been in this business for a while.<\/p>\n \u201cSometimes you got to use that (the criticism and commentary) as a plus because that\u2019s money to the game.<\/p>\n \u201cEventually that\u2019s siphoned through to the players and clubs. We\u2019re such a big game these days, but they\u2019re still that personal.\u201d<\/p>\n Regardless, Flanagan and Atkinson\u2019s performance, taking the Bulldogs to golden point, will give the Dragons\u2019 fan base a huge amount of confidence heading into the rest of the 2026 season.<\/p>\n MORE NRL NEWS<\/p>\n \u2018COMPLETELY DIFFERENT SIDE\u2019: Knights send big Vegas statement after late sin bin drama<\/a><\/p>\n \u2018I DIDN\u2019T AGONISE\u2019: Knights\u2019 honest admission on halves headache<\/a><\/p>\n