The St George Illawarra Dragons’ 2026 Outlook
The St George Illawarra Dragons are entering the 2026 season with high hopes for a significant improvement in their performance. However, turning things around is expected to take some time. The Red V has one of the strongest groups of junior players in the competition, but whether they will all break through and become established NRL stars this year remains uncertain.
Off-season changes will also bring several questions for coach Shane Flanagan as he prepares for the 2026 campaign. One of the key issues is whether Daniel Atkinson can solidify his role within the team. Experienced players like Clint Gutherson, Damien Cook, and Valentine Holmes will need to continue leading from the front, even as their careers near their end.
Fitness and injury concerns were major challenges for the Dragons in 2025. Despite beating three of the top four teams, they finished well down the ladder. This sets the stage for several critical selection decisions that Flanagan must make heading into the new season.
Key Selection Questions for 2026
Does Kyle Flanagan remain in the 17?
The Dragons’ halves, and how coach Shane Flanagan selects them, will be among the biggest talking points in the NRL during the opening weeks of the season. Daniel Atkinson’s arrival could provide the spark the club needs to elevate their attack, but it comes with risks.
Atkinson, who has played as a utility at the Sharks, has shown promise whenever he has been tasked with playing in the halves. He is likely to take the number seven jumper for the Dragons. This could be a career-defining season for him, especially with young talent Kade Reed set to push for first-grade opportunities by 2027.
The more immediate question is whether Kyle Flanagan slides back into the number six jumper. His form there in 2024, when Ben Hunt was at halfback, was strong enough, and if he can recapture that, there shouldn’t be too many disputes. However, if he struggles, he could find himself reduced to a role on the new six-man bench or even dropped to reserve grade, with Lyhkan King-Togia pushing for a run.
What happens if Clint Gutherson coppers an injury?
Injuries are an unavoidable part of rugby league, and for the Dragons, they could once again play a significant role in 2026. Clint Gutherson managed to go through the 2025 season unscathed despite the team’s challenges. However, his knees are not in the best shape, and an injury this year could derail the Dragons’ campaign.
Cody Ramsey has left the club, and Tyrell Sloan, who has struggled to adapt to Flanagan’s defensive standards, may be the best, or even only, option. Atkinson could play at the back, but that’s not something Flanagan would want to upset if he is in the number seven jumper. Valentine Holmes is another option, but he is likely to be viewed as too important in the centres.
Who plays on the wings?
The focus has been on Setu Tu and David Fale as the likely starting wingers for the Red V. Both players joined the club over the off-season and have impressed during the pre-season. In the club’s opening pre-season challenge match against the Knights, Fale played in the centres, and Tu on the wing. Both had some nice moments, but they didn’t look like world-beaters.
Christian Tuipulotu is the likely main option to contend with the duo, particularly given that Sloan is out of favor with coach Flanagan. Ex-rugby union player Nathan Lawson is also a chance, although he struggled when given opportunities last year. Mat Feagai, who is the likely first back-up to Moses Suli and Valentine Holmes in the centres, looked good in the opening trial and could also shuffle out.
Which forwards find selection, and what is the experience balance?
One of the biggest challenges Flanagan will face in 2026 is finding enough minutes for his rising stars in the engine room while balancing experience and youth. The return of Josh Kerr means, at least in the middle, he, Emre Guler, and Hame Sele are the three players seen as providing experience.
There is a whole host of youngsters in the mix. Toby Couchman isn’t a rookie anymore and will likely start alongside one of the three aforementioned players. Hamish Stewart is a certainty to take over the lock role from Jack de Belin, who joined the Parramatta Eels during the off-season.
Blake Lawrie looks to have slimmed down and could be another option, but Loko Pasifiki Tonga, a young gun with enormous upside and leg drive, will be putting the pressure on for a spot. On the edge, Jaydn Su’A is a walk-up starter, Luciano Leilua has lost 15 kilograms, and Dylan Egan is injured until Round 10. The trio of Jacob Halangahu, Ryan Couchman, and Nick Tsougranis could well be fighting for a solitary spot, whether that be in the starting side or on the edge. Once Egan returns, that spot may well not exist at all.
