LeagueNews.co | Cooper McEnroe
St George Illawarra Dragons head coach Shane Flanagan has indicated that the halves pairing for their opening match of the 2026 NRL season in Las Vegas against the Canterbury Bulldogs is still uncertain. Despite expectations that former Cronulla Sharks player Daniel Atkinson will take on the number seven jersey and Flanagan's son, Kyle, will transition to five-eighth, the final decision is yet to be made.
This configuration may exclude Lyhkan King-Togia from the main lineup; however, with the new six-man bench rule, there remains a possibility for him to join the team in some capacity.
During a recent media session, Flanagan shared that while the halves are not finalized, they are performing well in training. "They are going good. It's not set in stone, but they are definitely training well," he mentioned, referring to Atkinson and his son's progress.
Flanagan emphasized that their cohesion extends beyond just the pairing of the six and seven positions; it involves the entire edge of the team, including the fullback, hooker, back-rower, and center. "It's not just the six and seven gelling, it's the whole edge. There is a bit of work to do," he stated.
The coach acknowledged Atkinson's desire to play as halfback, noting that the expectations around him are largely amplified by media coverage. "He definitely wants it [to play halfback]. The expectation is probably more set from the media, which in a way I fully understand, but we have to give him time. He has played enough first-grade, but didn't play a lot last year. He comes here fresh ready to go, but probably has to temper his excitement to do things," Flanagan added, reflecting on the development of his potential new halfback.