The St George Illawarra Dragons enter 2026 looking for a dramatic turnaround in fortunes, but it may still be at least a year down the road.
The Red V have one of the better crops of junior players in the competition, but whether 2026 is the time they all break through and become established NRL stars or not remains to be seen.
Off-season shuffles will also raise their fair share of questions for coach Shane Flanagan heading into 2026.
Whether Daniel Atkinson can cement his role or not remains to be seen, while experienced players Clint Gutherson, Damien Cook and Valentine Holmes must lead from the front again, even as they approach the end of their careers.
General fitness and injuries were also a major headache for the Dragons in 2025, and despite beating three of the top four, they finished well down the ladder.
Here are the big selection questions for Flanagan heading into 2026.
Which forwards find selection, and what is the experience balance?
Maybe the biggest headache Flanagan will face in 2026 is finding enough minutes for his rising stars in the engine room, and finding a mix between experience and youth.
The return of Josh Kerr means, in the middle at least, he, Emre Guler and Hame Sele are the three players viewed as the ones likely to provide experience, while there is a whole host of youngsters.
Toby Couchman isn't a rookie anymore and will likely start alongside one of the three aforementioned players, while 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 it's Loko Pasifiki Tonga - a young gun with enormous upside and leg drive - who 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, Dylan Egan is injured until Round 10, and 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.
