St George Illawarra players are in Las Vegas for the NRL 2026 season opener. Photo: St George Illawarra Dragons Facebook.
The Australian cricket team has just blundered through another anonymous white-ball event, the Super Bowl is over and an NRL team has lost the World Club Challenge again. This can only mean the footy season is but a few sleeps away. Heaven.
Thankfully League High Command has ditched the stupid proposed “scorer’s kick” restart rule, but can we take them seriously with a raft of other rules imposed just five or so weeks from a season start?
Teams need to train for and recruit to major rule changes and everybody needs to see them trialled in a few dead rubber or lower tier games first. OK, the extended bench and less TV time for trainers are good ideas.
Over the past few weeks all the footy legends and demigods have pronounced their favourites to win in 2026, which usually means the Roosters, Storm, Panthers and Brisvegas. Ignore these professional pundits. Ask Sandra from accounts who has never played a game and always wins the office tipping comp.
The Titans looked surprisingly potent in their trial games, which suggests they’ll finish second last, again.
And what about the St George Illawarra Dragons, the heroes and heartbreakers for many readers?
They looked adequate during trials, albeit the inability to put away a second-string Bunnies outfit felt uncomfortably like their failure to finish off wounded enemy at times last year. See heartbreakers, above.
How will coach Flanagan shape the team for this season? Revealed form suggests a mistake-limited, grind and barge style (which can be a beautiful thing) but the riches in mobile backrowers says a more expansive game may suit the cattle.
The Couchman boys are positioned to make an impact and at least one of Dylan Egan or Hamish Stewart will play for Australia one day – no pressure lads. The pack is perhaps short of one enforcing giant in attack – Mr Loko Pasifiki Tonga, it’s your time to shine.
Every pub barfly will describe the halves appear more workman-like than loaded with zip and menace, quite possibly, but the outstanding trial display by Kade Reed vs the Knights showed there is a spare jack-in-the-box if needed.
Speaking of the new extended bench, you’d guess it means warehousing one outside back and one half to go with the forward rotations.
It will be interesting to see how coaches choose to work an extended bench. Will they cycle through three players as long as possible, perhaps well past the 60-minute mark, to keep their options open for the fourth and last player as a specialist injury cover?
Veterans Clint Gutherson and Val Holmes can provide spark while we wait to see if the new, improved larger version of Tyrell Sloan can stay on the right side of the brilliant/baffling ledger for the season. What’s with Gutho’s new clean shave and long hair disguise? Is he hiding from somebody he owes money to?
The season-opening Las Vegas clash with Canterbury will be a tough first assignment for the Dragons and the early draw is not exactly kind to them either. If they can go three and three they will be happy with their efforts.
Speaking of Vegas, who thought it was a good idea to invite Doggies fans to a 24-hour casino city?
