St George Illawarra ponder new role for Daniel Atkinson
Jasper Bruce |
Under-fire playmaker Daniel Atkinson is likely to survive the axe at struggling St George Illawarra but may play five-eighth rather than halfback in round six.
Prized recruit Atkinson was criticised for his decision-making in the winless Dragons’ fifth-consecutive defeat to begin the 2026 season, a 32-0 loss at home to North Queensland.
Forward Emre Guler believes Atkinson has been too eager to please in his first five games as an NRL halfback, pointing to a kick on the second tackle that blew the side’s best attacking chance of Saturday’s first half.
“You can tell he’s trying too hard,” Guler said.
“He’s all effort, he gives his all in everything so I think he’s just trying to create something for us. It was just one of those moments where it didn’t work.
“His moments will come. It’s just our job to back him and defend his errors.”
Speculation was rife Atkinson could be dropped with Kyle Flanagan returning from his head knock for a crucial clash with Manly on Friday night.
Shane Flanagan’s already tenuous position will come further under fire should the last-placed Dragons fall to the Sea Eagles, who fired their own coach Anthony Seibold in March.
Early on Tuesday afternoon, the Dragons were seriously considering playing Atkinson at five-eighth and handing Flanagan the game-managing No.7 role in a bid to spark their attack.
Atkinson trained at five-eighth in Tuesday morning’s session, the team’s first since their record-breaking ninth consecutive loss.
Some Dragons players opted to come into the club’s new centre of excellence for training on their day off on Monday.
Flanagan is seen as much more of a natural organiser and would have licence to run the attack if named at No.7 in the final team.
Atkinson’s running game befits the traditional five-eighth role.
As of Tuesday afternoon, Flanagan had final concussion tests to pass but was expected to be available against the Sea Eagles.
Highly-rated Kade Reed could be named on an extended bench for the Dragons but the club is reticent to hand the undersized 20-year-old his NRL debut too early.
Setu Tu is expected to come onto a wing in place of the suspended David Fale, while Tyrell Sloan will slot into fullback given Clint Gutherson’s hamstring injury.
Facing Manly in Kieran Foran’s second game as interim coach will only further highlight to the Dragons the sobering reality that could come with more losses.
Guler accepted that unless the Dragons could rally off the bottom of the ladder, Flanagan may face the axe like Seibold did.
“You’ve got to be silly not to think that’s a possibility,” he said.
“But we know what we need to do this week and what we’re playing for and that’s for our club and our fans and our coach.”
The Cowboys loss provided plenty of lessons for the Dragons in Tuesday’s review session.
“Take ownership, take accountability for your own actions, your own game. There’s been too many errors so you just have to look at yourself in the mirror,” said hooker Jacob Liddle.
“We need to find some grit, some mongrel about us and put in a strong game.”
The Dragons were booed by their home crowd at halftime and fulltime at Kogarah Oval, which Guler said would fuel the side against Manly.
“Disappointing but on the other hand we understand,” Guler said.
“It’s started a fire within us to make sure we give our fans and members something to be proud of.”
AAP