The St George Illawarra Dragons are quietly generating excitement ahead of the 2026 NRL season, with a strategic gamble in their halves pairing and the emergence of promising young talent. The club’s recent recruit, halfback Daniel Atkinson, has been described as a “hungry” scrapper by new Saints assistant coach Michael Ennis, who believes the young player could be the key to unlocking the Dragons’ potential in the upcoming campaign.
Although Atkinson spent much of his time on the bench at Cronulla last year, Ennis is confident that his arrival at the Dragons represents more than just added depth. “I love that he’s had to go the hard way around,” Ennis said on the Kayo Sports NRL podcast. “He’s had to sit there behind (Nicho) Hynes and (Braydon) Trindall. Just feeling his energy in the team has been infectious on a lot of guys. I like the bloke that has had to scrape for his spot because he’s hungry.”
The Dragons face heightened expectations in 2026 after parting ways with experienced playmakers Jonah Glover and Lachlan Ilias. This move signals a clear commitment to Kyle Flanagan, who will partner with Atkinson in a dynamic new halves combination. Ennis is optimistic that the pairing will have a strong impact on the Dragons’ attacking structure.
“Kyle is training extremely well, him and Daniel Atkinson seem to have a really good chemistry together,” Ennis said. “I’m really hopeful we can activate (Damien) Cook more out of nine. The game is fast and we have got some good, young, athletic middle forwards, and I feel like we can compensate that with some speed around the ruck as well.”
For Atkinson, the opportunity to step into the starting No.7 role is one he is embracing wholeheartedly. “I want to guide the team around the park,” he told Dragons Media. “I want the kicking duties, I want everything that comes with it. Yes, it comes with responsibility but as a kid you want to be in those moments, you want to be that guy that’s there at the last minute. You’re not going to get it right every time, that’s part of learning, but I can tell you I’ll put my hand up when those situations arise.”
In 2025, the Dragons relied heavily on Flanagan and Lyhkan King-Togia for much of the season, with King-Togia earning valuable experience as a young player. However, with Atkinson now in the mix, King-Togia will need to bide his time before earning another opportunity to start in the halves. Ennis sees this as part of the natural progression for a club looking to cultivate its next generation of talent.
Beyond the halves, Ennis is impressed by the work ethic and potential of the Dragons’ young squad. He singled out the Couchman brothers, Ryan and Toby, as well as second-rower Dylan Egan and lock Hamish Stewart, as players capable of shaping the club’s future. “I haven’t seen kids so invested, hardworking and love what you do … since we at the Bulldogs had Josh Jackson and Dale Finucane and David Klemmer and Josh Reynolds, and those type of kids come through,” he said.
Ennis reserved particular praise for Stewart, who made 19 NRL appearances last season. “Hamish Stewart, he’s very good. Any young kid that has the attraction from Brisbane, Penrith and Cronulla, you know you got a pretty decent one on your hands. Just the way he has applied himself to his training and just watching his ability and how he unlocks certain parts of our attack through that middle part of the field. It’s very impressive.”
The Dragons’ 2025 campaign was hampered by an injury crisis that forced coach Shane Flanagan to turn to local juniors. While some struggled under the pressure, others impressed and are now poised to become central figures in the club’s plans for 2026. Veteran players such as Clint Gutherson, Valentine Holmes, and Damien Cook are expected to provide leadership and stability, combining experience with the fresh energy of the young squad. “There’s some really good leaders there; (Clint) Gutherson, (Valentine) Holmes, Cook, these type of guys who have come back in motivated, good physical condition to attack the preseason and chase that improvement,” Ennis said.
The Dragons are also actively exploring options to strengthen their roster further. Ennis explained that he and head of recruitment Daniel Anderson are working diligently to add the right talent before the season begins. “There are still a few roster spots there,” he said. “They are working hard together to fill those spots. It’s important they get the right people. It’s not necessarily about what’s quick and flashy, it’s about long term, getting the right person there that’s going to make the team and the club better.”
Potential targets include a pair of Test props, South Sydney’s Keaon Koloamatangi and Penrith’s Lindsay Smith, who could bring additional power and experience to the Dragons’ forward pack. The club hopes that such additions, combined with the emergence of homegrown talent, will create a balanced squad capable of competing at the highest level.
Next season promises to be defining for the Dragons, with their campaign kicking off in Las Vegas against the Bulldogs on March 1. With a mix of hungry youngsters, experienced leaders, and strategic new signings, the Dragons are shaping up to be a team to watch as they aim to return to finals contention for the first time since 2018.
The combination of a bold recruitment strategy, a focus on youth development, and the infectious energy brought by players like Atkinson gives the Dragons renewed hope. As Ennis noted, the team’s future looks bright if these young stars continue to develop and integrate effectively into the squad. Fans will be watching closely to see whether this fresh approach can finally deliver the breakthrough season the Dragons have long sought.
