Season 2026

[Gareth67]

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Lots of half backs debut at 18-20, Kade Reed will be 20 in March 2026.

If his frame is not developed yet for NRL is it just that he is a slow developer or has the club and Coaches stuffed up with this terrific talent?

I believe that the reason is not so dramatic, merely that young Reed is somewhat on the small size .Give the lad another 12 months and then he should be better equipped to handle the weekly grind of 1st grade rugby league , more so against the heavyweights of the game .

 

[Macedonian Dragon]

I think Reed should play a few NRL games this year to get him ready for 2027 like how King-Togia played a few in 2024 just to get him more used to NRL speed and physicality

 

[The Silverdale Phantom]

A

Always excuses why Dragons juniors are not ready for first grade other more successful clubs have no hesitation throwing young players into the NRL. Reed either has it or not and if the coaching staff cannot identify this yet then maybe the problem is with the systems within the club. If it were not for injuries Flanagan would not have thrown in Halangahu, Eagan, Pasifiki Tonga and Tsougranis into first grade in 2025 and some supporters would still be saying they need another 12 months development.

Yeah, I suspect we will see a lot of young players thrown into battle this year.

Some will manage, others will struggle.

But every second of fg is valuable experience

And it’s much better than watching fallen marquees on holiday like the bunnies are doing.

And hopefully no slow learners like Illias scrapes through this year. A troubled soul, no hard feelings.

A clump of juniors coming on and improving is on the menu. Give them time and support.

A clap for a neat copybook tackle. The little 1%, ers, it’s nice to see rookies getting the basics right.

 

[Gareth67]

I think Reed should play a few NRL games this year to get him ready for 2027 like how King-Togia played a few in 2024 just to get him more used to NRL speed and physicality

I am sure that he will at some stage Macedonian , however in saying that Flanagan will not rush it , as we are now aware Reed is a diamond that is almost ready to be placed into a jeweller’s box .

He merely requires to add a few kilos to his frame and hopefully grow a few extra inches without sacrificing that fantastic speed of his .

 

[possm]

My

My question is why was he not given more time in reserves in 2025? Illias and Glover should not have been given so much time it does not matter whether they were winning or not the reggies is where future First Graders should be developed this short sighted coaching has put Reed's development back another year.

Because if Reed is in at 7, then Atkinson to 6 and Kyle not in the halves. In my opinion this is the best scenario but Flanno has no intention of leaving Kyle out.

 

[Dragonslayer]

I'm not going to comment on the game yesterday, everything to be said has already been said.

However, I note that TU has been added to the Telstra Premiership teams list, but still no word on NT or others.

With TU added that makes 26 as per the Dragons website.

It will be interesting to see who will be added before game 1 as we need at least 2 more. It wouldn't surprise to see us actually go with 29 and hold 1 until later. I can't see us holding back 2 spots given the changes to the bench rules.

My guess would be NT (#27) and Bucky (#28). I would like Reed to be #29, but do we need a back or a forward? That's the greater question i mo.

 

[Huggies]

I'm not going to comment on the game yesterday, everything to be said has already been said.

However, I note that TU has been added to the Telstra Premiership teams list, but still no word on NT or others.

With TU added that makes 26 as per the Dragons website.

It will be interesting to see who will be added before game 1 as we need at least 2 more. It wouldn't surprise to see us actually go with 29 and hold 1 until later. I can't see us holding back 2 spots given the changes to the bench rules.

My guess would be NT (#27) and Bucky (#28). I would like Reed to be #29, but do we need a back or a forward? That's the greater question i mo.

Who will be our new coach in 2027 ?
I don't think Flanno will see this year out

 

[Dragonslayer]

Who will be our new coach in 2027 ?
I don't think Flanno will see this year out

I believe he'll see out this year unless the wheels completely fall off, and I don't think KK would have signed or Cook looking at re-signing if there was any doubt of who will be coach.

However, the blowtorch will definitely be applied late in '27.

 

[Auntie.Gerald]

I mean

Unless u can get Robinson, Bennett or Bellyache for 2026 or 2027 Flano makes sense

I’m sure Fitzy end of 2027 is being thought about as an option and would probably work well with Ando

but Fitzy probably needs a be in a GF or win in 26/27 ?

 

[jeffdragon]

Could be over after 3 games.
Dogs ,Storm, Parra.
Lucky to win 1.

 

[getsmarty]

Dragons launch 2026 season at WIN Entertainment Centre

The Dragons tonight held the club’s 2026 NRL Season Launch at the WIN Entertainment Centre.

www.dragons.com.au

 

[possm]

Who will be our new coach in 2027 ?
I don't think Flanno will see this year out

Be careful and quiet or we'll get Dean Young. Surely there is a good one available.

 

[Auntie.Gerald]

Could be over after 3 games.
Dogs ,Storm, Parra.
Lucky to win 1.

Yeah we really need to win 2/3 to start the season

then

Rd 4 - Titans away
Rd 5 - cowboys home
Rd 6 - Eagles home

So we should be able to win 3/6

I think we are an 10 to 12 win team for 2026 if we have a good run with minimal injuries

if we poach another serious winger and or prop asap for 2026 like a Sami from Titans then we are closer to 12 wins but I didn’t think we are likely to do any better than that for 2026

 

[Auntie.Gerald]

I went back and watched Tu and Ando

what’s really interesting is having skill sets compliment on the left and even more so on our right with Atko new to the team

Atko is a real jinking stepper that creates multiple options for a short kick, go urself and or short ball for another jinking winger

Sloan is not a inside stepping jinking winger

Tu is though and with a straight running Suli and or Fale that side could get interesting

Sua the same loves to jink step and cut back inside

I can see how Sloan won’t compliment with his more upside speed and moves but Tu willl complement Ando off the cuff type darting around

 

[possm]

Yeah we really need to win 2/3 to start the season

then

Rd 4 - Titans away
Rd 5 - cowboys home
Rd 6 - Eagles home

So we should be able to win 3/6

I think we are an 10 to 12 win team for 2026 if we have a good run with minimal injuries

if we poach another serious winger and or prop asap for 2026 like a Sami from Titans then we are closer to 12 wins but I didn’t think we are likely to do any better than that for 2026

The club has said for a while now that they see 2026 as a preparation for 2027. They seem to want to write off season after season, with a view to being more competitive in the following season.

 

[ground zero]

Could be over after 3 games.
Dogs ,Storm, Parra.
Lucky to win 1.

ha could be 1 from 8 games. look at the draw.

 

[Redvdragons21]

ha could be 1 from 8 games. look at the draw.

We will start 8-0 calling it now

 

[The Silverdale Phantom]

The club has said for a while now that they see 2026 as a preparation for 2027. They seem to want to write off season after season, with a view to being more competitive in the following season.

Yep.

The best example of this was the Flanno new year interview where Flanno said the side will be in every game, but top 8 is the realistic goal.

I guess it’s managing expectations, but I understand the waiting game gets lame.

Id like to see you nail at least half of the 50/50 chances you blew last year plus the wins. So a building up of some kind.

Then I think the next year promise is more justified.

That’s the season as a whole, but there’s so many variables. Only half of the players available from your first choice squad managed to present in the final round.

Looking at some quality issues, the recovery from the loss of marquee in recent years has been satisfactory. Just my personal view.

 

[Harry Bath]

The club has said for a while now that they see 2026 as a preparation for 2027. They seem to want to write off season after season, with a view to being more competitive in the following season.

Dragons have only signed Keon for 2027 one extra player will not move the dial much

We will start 8-0 calling it now

I hope you are wrong, I think they will be 1-3 with a win over the eels, the next 3 are all winnable, however I think they will win 1hopefully 2 out of those 3 as well for a 2(3)-6 (5)start for the year.

 

[Slippery Morris]

Tough start against 3 teams everyone is predicting will be top 8. The Dogs backline will run riot in Vegas. Leo Thompson out for 10 weeks may help. Moses/Pezet in the halves will be deadly. Moses is due for another long term injury. If he goes Saints would be a huge chance. Storm can be scrappy early on and it is a good time top play them.

If Saints can jag 1 win it would be great, 2 would be awesome and 3 wins, well we may start believing in a top 8 finish. Imagine the confidence the boys will have. They will be on a huge high coming off 3 wins. However 3 losses and that can be disastrous and a bottom 3 finish will look more like a reality and what most of the media experts expect from Saints in 2026.