The St George Illawarra enter 2026 with expectations rising among fans, pundits and club personnel alike.
After finishing 15th in 2025, the Dragons put together a season that, while low on ladder position, was high on effort and close contests.
The Red V fought in game after game, with around a dozen matches decided by six points or less. They competed hard against some of the competition's best, grinding out big wins over teams such as Penrith and the Melbourne Storm, showing resilience that many hadn't seen from this joint venture for a long time.
Shane Flanagan arrived as head coach in 2024 after a premiership-winning tenure with the Cronulla Sharks. The belief at the club is that Flanagan's experience, tactical nous and eye for talent can rebuild the Dragons into a long-term competitive force. He has been given control of recruitment, development pathways and playing culture, and has blooded a series of young players from the 2024 SG Ball premiership winning side that demolished the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in the grand final.
Some of that young talent has already transitioned into 1st grade, and several of those players will take natural progression into 2026. The Dragons lost a few players to the Bulldogs after that SG Ball premiership, but most of the core that brought success at that level remain at the club and are pushing for NRL football already.
Despite the optimism, there are still question marks around key positions. There is genuine curiosity and pressure around whether Daniel Atkinson, a recruit from the Sharks, can solve the halfback problem at the club. There are lingering fan discussions and media noise over Kyle Flanagan's position in the halves, with some supporters referencing past nepotism claims and calling for clearer direction in the spine.
The joint venture's traditional fanbase in both Kogarah and Wollongong is passionate and vocal, and expectations are that this club should be much more competitive than their 2025 ladder position suggests.
The Dragons begin their 2026 campaign in Las Vegas against the Bulldogs, a match that could be treated almost like a grand final for both sides. For the Bulldogs it's a homecoming on the world stage, and for the Dragons it is an opportunity to beat a rival early, build confidence and set a tone for the season.
What the St George Illawarra showed in 2025 was that they could hang with strong opposition and compete across 80 minutes. What they need to improve is turning those close contests into consistent wins, finding stability in key spine positions, and converting gritty effort into football outcomes that matter on the ladder.
For that to happen, there are at least five players who will need to raise their performance in 2026. The Dragons' finals hopes, the security of the coaching staff, and the belief taking hold among supporters will hinge on those improvements.
4. Kyle Flanagan
Why his role is so important
Kyle Flanagan will enter his third season at the Dragons in 2026, and whether people like it or not, he remains one of the most important figures in the club's entire rebuild under Shane Flanagan. Not just because he wears the number 7, but because the Dragons have spent years searching for stability in the halves, and Kyle is the player they have committed to backing through the tough years.
Flanagan's career has taken a unique path. He burst onto the scene at the Sharks as a young half with genuine promise, earned a move to the Sydney Roosters, and was part of a side that qualified for the top four. But after the Roosters exited in straight sets, Flanagan was told he could move on, eventually landing at the Bulldogs at a time when the club was in complete disarray following salary cap mismanagement and a roster rebuild.
His first game at Canterbury showed exactly why clubs keep taking a chance on him, producing a beautiful early try assist against the Newcastle Knights. But after that, he struggled to lock down consistent form, and while he developed a reputation as a tough defender and a solid organising half, he never earned the full respect of the rugby league public for the parts of the game that separate good halves from genuine NRL match-winners.
By the end of his Bulldogs stint, he was even shifted into a hooker role at times, where he showed flashes of versatility and football IQ.
At the Dragons, Kyle has become a focal point of scrutiny because of the inevitable narrative surrounding father and son combinations. Whether it is fair or not, the club's performance directly affects how Kyle is viewed. If the Dragons lose, the criticism is immediate. If they win, the noise quietens.
That is the reality Kyle will be dealing with again in 2026, and it makes his role even more important, because he is not just trying to win games. He is trying to win trust.
What needs to improve
Kyle Flanagan's biggest limitation has always been the same. He does not possess the natural speed, explosiveness or line-breaking threat that forces defensive lines to compress and panic. Because of that, opposition teams are comfortable sliding across him. They do not fear him stepping inside them. They do not fear him skipping through the line. They can hold shape, stay connected, and wait for the pass. That makes life harder for his outside men, because defenders can hang off Kyle and shut down the space on the edge.
His kicking game also remains the defining improvement area. Kyle has a decent kicking technique, and at times he can land a quality kick, but too often he fails to find grass and instead finds the fullback on the full. The time it takes him to execute kicks can also leave him under pressure, and that pressure impacts consistency. When his kicking game is on point, his team often looks far more competitive. When it is not, the Dragons struggle to build pressure, struggle to win field position, and struggle to control matches.
There were positives in 2025, and it was arguably his best season at the Dragons. He improved as the year went on and was backed throughout the entire season by his father. Kyle did show growth in the way he moved the ball, the way he communicated, and the way he attempted to bring players onto the ball.
He looks like a half. His posture is good. His communication is good. He demands the football and tries to organise. He has clearly worked on his game.
He also improved in subtle attacking areas that do not always get noticed. At Canterbury, he began learning how to give earlier ball, and when he did take the ball to the line, he started engaging defenders better and better as he gained experience. There were moments where he surprised defenders by actually taking them on. While he rarely breaks the line, he has developed an ability to play the ball quickly after contact and set up the next play, which can lead to repeat sets or points. The issue is those moments are still too far and far between.
Kyle's effort in defence has never been the problem. He works his heart out. He is tough. He is determined. He can defend opposition second rowers strongly, and he is not a player who shies away from contact. But in 2026, effort will not be enough. The Dragons need output.
Why his improvement matters
Kyle Flanagan does not need to become a completely different footballer for the Dragons to improve. But he does need to become a more reliable one, because the Dragons cannot afford to carry inconsistency in the most important position on the field.
The narrative around nepotism, selection, and whether the club is holding back other halves will not disappear until the Dragons start winning consistently. That is the brutal truth. The media will continue to talk about it, social media will continue to pile on, and every loss will be used as ammunition. The only way to silence it is through performance, and performance starts with the team's ability to control games through the halves.
If Kyle can lift the consistency of his kicking game, become less predictable in attack, and bring his best football more regularly, the Dragons will instantly become harder to beat. That improvement would also unlock the rest of the spine, reduce pressure on their forward pack, and give their outside backs better field position and better attacking opportunities.
Kyle Flanagan is already a tough, committed NRL half. But the Dragons do not need tough. They need control. They need consistency. They need a halfback who can repeatedly turn effort into points and territory.
If Kyle can take another step in 2026, the Dragons can genuinely push for the top eight. If he cannot, the club risks another season where the halves are the headline, the fan base stays restless, and the rebuild stalls.
