Sign up now!!!<\/a><\/p>\nDogs a chance of picking up Metcalf? | 02:52<\/p>\n
THE KEY FOR THE REST OF DRAGONS\u2019 2026 NOT MEASURED IN WINS AND LOSSES<\/p>\n
Panthers v Dragons, Sunday 6:25pm @ Suncorp Stadium<\/p>\n
The Dragons remain the only team without a win this season and it is hard to see their first coming against the ladder leading Panthers in Magic Round. <\/p>\n
Dean Young has been handed a poisoned chalice as he looks to lead the Dragons off the bottom of the ladder, while putting their long-term future at the forefront, while also trying to win the race to be the club\u2019s next full time coach.<\/p>\n
Keary had a sobering reality for Dragons fans in that the rest of their 2026 campaign should not be measured by wins and losses. <\/p>\n
\u201cDevelopment,\u201d Keary told foxsports.com.au when asked what the rest of the Dragons\u2019 season should look like. <\/p>\n
\u201cI love that pack. I think all those kids are really good players. Now it\u2019s just about giving them enough minutes, giving them enough exposure, going through the hard times. <\/p>\n
\u201cBut knowing when maybe they need to rest at different stages and then all hands on deck. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s literally about development and building towards the start of pre-season on November 1.\u201d <\/p>\n
Keary conceded in a results driven business that will be hard for the club\u2019s fans, but wanred it could take them years to get back to the top of the NRL mountain. <\/p>\n
Dean Young needs to develop his young stars and plan for the future.Source: Instagram<\/p>\n
\u201cObviously that\u2019s really hard to hear and I don\u2019t think they\u2019ll be thinking about that because they\u2019re still trying to win every week,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut they need to clean it up and it\u2019s just a long process. The one word would be development. How do you develop their talent in a good way. <\/p>\n
\u201cObviously there\u2019s some guys there that are going to have to taste it and then go back to reserve ground at certain stages, so they all know November 1, what\u2019s expected of them going into that 2027 season.\u201d <\/p>\n
There is a glimmer of hope for the Dragons next season.<\/p>\n
Following Keaon Koloamatangi, Scott Drinkwater and Phil Sami to the club is perhaps the most exciting signing of them all, Luke Metcalf, who has linked up with the Red V on a three-year deal.<\/p>\n
Keary, who spoke to foxsports.com.au before news of Metcalf\u2019s signature, said the high-profile signings can help return the club to relevance.<\/p>\n
He also stressed how important it is for the Dragons to keep developing their talented young guns.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey should be a lot better with Koloamatangi and Drinkwater,\u201d Keary said. <\/p>\n
\u201cAnd then hopefully all those young guys, some of them already have 20, but they\u2019ll have 50 games, some of the real young ones will have 20 games and hopefully they get their recruitment right.\u201d <\/p>\n
Dragons cop injury hit for Penrith clash | 00:58<\/p>\n
CONTENDERS AND VERDICTS ON QLD ORIGIN SHOOTOUTS<\/p>\n
With the Origin teams being named just around the corner, Magic Round looms as the perfect stage for a number of incumbents, contenders and smokies to stake their claims. <\/p>\n
The most contentious Queensland position could also be the most important with Tom Dearden all but ruled out of the series with an ankle injury. <\/p>\n
Dearden was the Wally Lewis Medallist last season and will be very tough to replace, especially with Cameron Munster not in peak form. <\/p>\n
Contenders range from former skipper Daly Cherry-Evans to Sam Walker, Ben Hunt, Ezra Mam, Jamal Fogarty, Tanah Boyd and even Kalyn Ponga. <\/p>\n
Matty Johns feels the time has come to move on from Cherry-Evans. <\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019re talking DCE or Sam Walker at the moment and if you\u2019re going to go for a halfback for a halfback, I sort of think it\u2019s Sam\u2019s time,\u201d Johns said. <\/p>\n
\u201cDCE, he\u2019s got all the experience in the world and every chance Billy might pick him.\u201d <\/p>\n
However, Cooper Cronk feels Slater would be reluctant to go back to Cherry-Evans. <\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t think he\u2019d go back, he might, but I don\u2019t think he\u2019d go back,\u201d Cronk said.<\/p>\n
\u201cSam Walker will be an Origin player, but at the moment I think defensively, the way the game is, whether it\u2019s going to be officiated the same way, he conceded a try on the weekend against the Titans and that\u2019s just not Origin-level defence.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cronk\u2019s idea for the Maroons halves is a bit out of the box and requires a positional switch for skipper Cameron Munster. <\/p>\n
\u201cI think a little bit left of centre… but I would seriously be considering Munster at No.7 and Kalyn Ponga at No.6, Reece Walsh at number one,\u201d Cronk said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think Reece Walsh is the fullback. Kalyn Ponga has played very well for Queensland every time he\u2019s played. He\u2019s physically can get it. And sometimes, a little bit of responsibility on Cameron Munster \u2014 he rises to the occasion.\u201d <\/p>\n
Will Billy Slater go back to former skipper DCE?Source: Supplied<\/p>\n
Johns noted that the way the Knights are playing could suit Ponga stepping up in the halves for Queensland, with the fullback playing plenty of first receiver at club land.<\/p>\n
Cronk added: \u201cIt is a threat and I just feel like you need to get your best defensive players out there and those two guys are rock solid for Queensland.\u201d <\/p>\n
Centre is another contentious position for Queensland with incumbents Robert Toia and Gehamat Shibasaki starting the year slowly, but the Roosters star is peaking at the right time. <\/p>\n
Cronk feels the six-man bench could play a role in who gets the nod in the centres. <\/p>\n
\u201cI think this is where it starts getting tricky because now you\u2019ve got to understand the eligibility rules and some injuries and different things like that, but I think Rob Toia\u2019s the guy,\u201d Cronk said. <\/p>\n
\u201cShibasaki\u2019s thereabouts. Jaxon Purdue is doing a really good job at Cowboys. He could be that guy with a six-man bench, there could be something there. <\/p>\n
\u201cBut I think Billy has a history of making strong decisions and if people aren\u2019t playing in form, they\u2019re probably not going to get picked.\u201d <\/p>\n
Queensland hunting for Origin comeback | 01:47<\/p>\n
Almost every game one of an Origin series has a smoky and that was the case last year with Toia getting the nod after just 10 games in the NRL. <\/p>\n
And Cronk feels there could be a couple more unexpected calls in the team for Queensland in 2026 because Slater likes to pick on form. <\/p>\n
\u201cI think Max Plath has Origin written all over him,\u201d Cronk said. <\/p>\n
\u201cIf Harry Grant wasn\u2019t available, he\u2019s probably the guy, but he could come on and play long minutes and just do his job. <\/p>\n
\u201cA halfback\u2019s best friend is sometimes an edge back-rower and Heilum Luki his combination with Tom Dearden, who won\u2019t be there, was outstanding on the weekend. <\/p>\n
\u201cHe is big and physical and just runs a really good line. I think he could be a guy. <\/p>\n
\u201cAnd I\u2019ve already mentioned, Jaxon Purdue with the way the game is going, him and Chester for the Cowboys when they get moving, it\u2019s like if a retreating defensive line tries to tackle them, their ability to hip-swerve and move and just get through traffic. <\/p>\n
\u201cPurdue could be a guy that is on the six-man bench, covers basically every position in the backline, so it could be a guy that when points are needed he could come in or could cover someone too.\u201d <\/p>\n
‘Best in the comp!’ Trell set to return | 01:00<\/p>\n
CONTENDERS AND VERDICTS ON NSW ORIGIN SHOOTOUTS <\/p>\n
After losing the unlosable series last year, Laurie Daley has plenty of selection headaches he has to get right to win back the Shield in 2026. <\/p>\n
The Blues have always had a plethora of players to choose from and some in form contenders are putting some pressure on the incumbents, most notably in the centres, while Zac Lomax\u2019s code switch has opened up a spot on the wing. <\/p>\n
There have been calls for Broncos star Kotoni Staggs to get a NSW recall when he returns from suspension given Stephen Crichton\u2019s form slump, but Matty Johns is sticking with the Bulldogs skipper. <\/p>\n
\u201cRight centre there\u2019s probably 70 per cent were Stephen Crichton and 30 per cent with Kotoni Staggs, but I go with Crichton,\u201d Johns said. <\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s playing below his best for the Bulldogs, but he\u2019s a big game performer.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cooper Cronk agreed form for struggling teams at club level can be misleading and Crichton could still be man-of-the-match in Origin I. <\/p>\n
\u201cThere has been a history over State of Origin where good players are out of form and they rise to the responsibility of their state,\u201d Cronk said. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe have seen both sides and Crichton is a freak. He is absolutely the centre for me. On his day, and he will rise to the occasion, he won\u2019t let New South Wales down.\u201d<\/p>\n
The other troublesome spot for the Blues is how to replace Lomax, but Johns would go with a tried and tested rep star for game one. <\/p>\n
\u201cMilky Jenkins has been fantastic, but I\u2019d go the Foxx, Josh Addo-Carr,\u201d Johns said. <\/p>\n
\u201cNever lets NSW down, he\u2019s got a lot of experience. Can\u2019t beat Speed.\u201d <\/p>\n
However, Cooper Cronk found it too hard to leave one of the star fullback candidates out.<\/p>\n
Instead, the Maroons legend put forward a radical idea.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m probably going to solve two issues with one decision here, Tedesco\u2019s my fullback and I\u2019d be putting Dylan Edwards on the wing,\u201d Cronk said. <\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s played there for Australia. He\u2019s done a good job.\u201d <\/p>\n
Stephen Crichton is down on form.Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n
Another contentious spot is at hooker with incumbent Reece Robson facing stiff competition from Sharks star Blayke Brailey, but Daley has flagged he will likely use two hookers for game one. <\/p>\n
Johns feels the form of the incumbent for the Roosters has swung the battle in his favour, given the Sharks\u2019 inconsistency. <\/p>\n
\u201cI think the last couple of weeks Robson has put his nose in front,\u201d Johns said. <\/p>\n
\u201cOne of the things about Reece Robson, we know what he\u2019s got. He\u2019s got grit and tenacity and he\u2019s a really good defender. <\/p>\n
\u201cBut I thought in the last couple of weeks he\u2019s picked up his attack too. He\u2019s poking his nose through all the time. <\/p>\n
\u201cAnd if you\u2019re picking Brailey or you\u2019re picking Robson, I don\u2019t carry the other one on the bench. <\/p>\n
\u201cIf I\u2019m looking at a No.14 and with a six man bench, maybe the No.14 man role has changed a bit. I\u2019m looking at Ethan Strange. I like what he did on the weekend. I\u2019d find a spot from there.\u201d <\/p>\n
‘Best in the comp!’ Trell set to return | 01:00<\/p>\n
Cronk, however, warned the way Origin is officiated could determine who NSW and Queensland pick in the hooker roles. <\/p>\n
\u201cHow it is going to be officiated will be important,\u201d Cronk said.<\/p>\n
\u201cBefore the season started, I had Brailey. Now, the last month Robson\u2019s come through. Why? Because the Roosters have probably simplified their attack, centralised it. <\/p>\n
\u201cWhen they\u2019ve got a quick play the ball with the repeat sets and everything, he is just running arrow straight and he\u2019s got Tedesco next to him. <\/p>\n
\u201cThat is the style of player that if fatigue is set in an Origin where the physicality is through the roof in the first 20 minutes, that\u2019s going to be the style that you will need. Not a finesse crafty shift the ball around.\u201d <\/p>\n
Daley revealed this week that there will be debutants for the Blues in Game I.<\/p>\n
He didn\u2019t specify who, but there are several uncapped players who have put their names up in lights this season.<\/p>\n
Johns identified three of these that Daley and the Blues\u2019 coaching staff could be looking at. . <\/p>\n
\u201cThree left-field smokies, for NSW I have gone Dylan Lucas, I think would be fantastic on the bench,\u201d Johns said. <\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s been fantastic, great in the back row. I\u2019ve seen him play centre. He\u2019s equally as good at centre. A lot of Bradman Best about the way he plays centre. <\/p>\n
\u201cIs Jackson Ford a smoky? I suppose to a certain extent you don\u2019t know if they\u2019re going to be an Origin player until they\u2019re there. I think they\u2019ll have a look at him. <\/p>\n
\u201cI mentioned Ethan Strange before at No.14 but also Fletcher Sharpe, who I think could be a bloke you have as a 19th man. A niche player.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Magic Round is here and for the first time since its inception, Origin squads are announced the weekend…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":671293,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[568],"tags":[18743,10748,1813,64,63,689,323913,3539,21686,91888,11170,323894,4567,4600,323917,157138,23296,19061,53276,323919,323899,11101,163,4565,4430,11096,15424,163969,323914,323606,323900,4591,10743,20856,21683,10744,42583,323909,323902,6086,28053,4518,4582,11738,323918,4451,4484,1082,6406,1136,56527,10747,323908,4746,323912,18656,15903,322031,761,762,673,2613,4495,323898,158,677,323896,247041,11396,39567,50264,40619,323605,195734,323911,323901,11739,13391,323916,323897,26499,13214,31205,4542,323892,323915,4478,1085,323904,51343,83409,263600,323910,4439,323895,323893,85,323906,49980,4546,106656,323891,89894,7663,4477,28056,41649,9254,40623,323903,94874,43345,776,63143,81210,323905,323907,276611,29467,4515,106245,29646],"class_list":["post-671292","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-nrl","tag-adam-reynolds","tag-andrew-webster","tag-ankle-injury","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-australia-and-new-zealand","tag-awkward-broncos-dilemma","tag-back-injury","tag-ben-hunt","tag-bench-player","tag-billy-slater","tag-bulldog-ritchie","tag-cameron-munster","tag-chanel-harris-tavita","tag-channel-harris-tavita","tag-chief-playmaker-role","tag-club-land","tag-coaching-staff","tag-code-switch","tag-code-witch","tag-contentious-position","tag-cooper-cronk","tag-cowboys","tag-cronulla-sharks","tag-daly-cherry-evans","tag-daniel-nuttall","tag-defensive-players","tag-defensive-team","tag-demons-start","tag-die-state","tag-dragons-cop-injury","tag-dylan-edwards","tag-dylan-lucas","tag-eligibility-rules","tag-ezra-mam","tag-fletcher-sharpe","tag-fullback-battle","tag-game-performer","tag-hooker-roles","tag-interim-coach","tag-jake-clifford","tag-jamal-fogarty","tag-jarome-luai","tag-jaxon-purdue","tag-jaxon-purdue-purdue","tag-josh-addo-carr","tag-kieran-foran","tag-latrell-mitchell","tag-laurie-daley","tag-looks-set","tag-luke-keary","tag-luke-metcalf","tag-man-role","tag-mark-st-john","tag-match-game","tag-matty-johns","tag-max-plath","tag-mini-reset","tag-national-rugby-league","tag-nationalrugbyleague","tag-new-south-wales","tag-new-zealand-warriors","tag-newcastle-knights","tag-niche-player","tag-nrl","tag-oceania","tag-origin-shootouts","tag-panthers-v","tag-paul-crawley","tag-phil-sami","tag-player-exodus","tag-premiership-win","tag-queensland-hunting","tag-radical-idea","tag-real-salary","tag-real-young","tag-reece-robson","tag-reece-walsh","tag-release-request","tag-retreating-defensive-line","tag-right-call","tag-right-time","tag-rival-club","tag-robert-toia","tag-roster-call","tag-roster-stuff","tag-sam-walker","tag-scott-drinkwater","tag-selection-battles","tag-selection-headaches","tag-sharks-v","tag-six-man-bench","tag-six-man-bench-rule","tag-south-sydney-rabbitohs","tag-specialist-injury","tag-specialist-position","tag-sports","tag-star-fullback-candidates","tag-starting-side","tag-stephen-crichton","tag-stiff-competition","tag-stunnign-turnaround","tag-talented-young-guns","tag-talking-points","tag-tanah-boyd","tag-team-lists","tag-team-sheet","tag-the-key","tag-three-year-deal","tag-tigers-v-sea","tag-time-coach","tag-title-contenders","tag-tom-dearden","tag-tom-duffy","tag-utility-role","tag-v-sea-eagles","tag-wally-lewis-medallist","tag-warriors-v","tag-way-things","tag-wests-tigers","tag-young-guys","tag-young-stars"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/671292","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=671292"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/671292\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/671293"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=671292"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=671292"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=671292"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
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