The Dragons have started 0-5 for the first time in franchise history and face a daunting task to try and halt the slide when they host the Sea Eagles in Wollongong.<\/p>\n
With coach Shane Flanagan under increasing pressure and the club’s senior players also feeling the heat another loss could prove catastrophic for the Red V.<\/p>\n
In stark contrast, Manly emerged from a tumultuous start to their own season to smash the Dolphins in club legend Kieran Foran’s first game as interim head coach.<\/p>\n
Big guns Haumole Olakau’atu, Tom Trbojevic and Jake Trbojevic took it upon themselves to turn the Sea Eagles’ season around in Round 5 and that’s exactly what Val Holmes, Damien Cook and Jaydn Su’A need to do in the Dragons’ hour of need.<\/p>\n
The last time these sides clashed was Round 26 last year when Manly piled on 40 points at Kogarah to inflict a third straight defeat on the Dragons.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Dragons then lost to Penrith in Round 27 and have now gone down five times in 2026 to make it nine in a row, the worst losing streak in the history of the joint venture.<\/p>\n
Team News<\/p>\n
Dragons: Tyrell Sloan is the new fullback with Clint Gutherson nursing a hamstring injury while Setu Tu returns on the wing in place of David Fale (suspended). Kyle Flanagan returns from concussion and shifts to halfback with Dan Atkinson moving to five-eighth. Young playmaker Kade Reed has been added to the six-man bench while Loko Pasifiki Tonga is among the reserves as he looks to return from a neck injury.<\/p>\n
Sea Eagles: Winger Jason Saab returns from suspension so Clayton Faulalo slides to the interchange and Josh Feledy drops to the reserves. Forward Nathan Brown is part of the extended squad as he looks to return from illness.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Stat Attack<\/p>\n
The Dragons have won nine of their last 10 games against the Sea Eagles at WIN Stadium.
\nSea Eagles fullback Tom Trbojevic has scored five tries in his last four games.
\nThe Dragons are aiming to avoid a 10th consecutive loss.
\nSea Eagles centre Tolu Koula has scored 11 tries in his last 13 NRL games.
\nDragons hooker Jacob Liddle has scored a try in his last three games against the Sea Eagles.<\/p>\n