2025 Round 1 team

[Chris M]

He might become a good No.9 after all.

Kyle Flanagan is aiming to become one of the biggest five-eighths in the game, bulking on a hefty 10kgs as he prepares to help steer the Dragons back to the finals.
Focused in his training and settled off the field after getting married to high school sweetheart Caity in October, Flanagan revealed his gains in the gym will hopefully develop his running game in the halves.
A noted defender, Flanagan upped his show-and-go game in 2024 by producing five tries from six line breaks and 20 tackle busts.
Flanagan finished most games at 83kgs in 2024, but weighed in at 93kgs this week during St George-Illawarra’s pre-season training.

But "a noted defender"? What? Interesting they also cite those stats as being good when in fact they are disastrous.

 

[RedVictory]

He might become a good No.9 after all.

But "a noted defender"? What? Interesting they also cite those stats as being good when in fact they are disastrous.

I rate his defence as a half. Wouldn’t be an option at hooker if he couldn’t hold his own.

 

[Chris M]

I rate his defence as a half. Wouldn’t be an option at hooker if he couldn’t hold his own.

He's a legs defender. Something which in my view is underrated but admittedly doesn't work when defending on the line and was brutally exposed by the Roosters twice last season.

 

[Edward]

He might become a good No.9 after all.

But "a noted defender"? What? Interesting they also cite those stats as being good when in fact they are disastrous.

Much better depth next season. A lot more competition for spots.

 

[Dave03]

He might become a good No.9 after all.

But "a noted defender"? What? Interesting they also cite those stats as being good when in fact they are disastrous.

Love it, great to see players putting in extra effort to get the best out of themselves. Hopefully the added size gives him a bit more confidence to run the ball, he scored a few tries with his running game which was great to see.

 

[Chris M]

Love it, great to see players putting in extra effort to get the best out of themselves. Hopefully the added size gives him a bit more confidence to run the ball, he scored a few tries with his running game which was great to see.

Hope so but actually I'm looking forward to LKT getting a few games. I think the extra weight will help Kyle become a good hooker/#14. Seems like that might be his best position.

 

[Eric]

Hope so but actually I'm looking forward to LKT getting a few games. I think the extra weight will help Kyle become a good hooker/#14. Seems like that might be his best position.

Me thinks he has a good skill-set for a hooker. My only concern would have been his slight frame but if he's over 90kg now, that won't be a problem. But Flanno has recruited Cook so I guess that isn't on the agenda.

 

[Chris M]

ST. GEORGE-ILLAWARRA DRAGONS ​

Premiership window: 2026-2028​

The Dragons have gone all in with a big recruitment drive for some ageing stars in a bid to end their finals drought and push for a title in the next couple of seasons. Shane Flanagan’s side improved dramatically in 2024 and only missed the finals by a win, but they have lost their most influential player in Ben Hunt to the Broncos.

To offset Hunt’s loss the Dragons have recruited former representative hooker Damien Cook from Souths, current Queensland and Kangaroos star Valentine Holmes and former Eels skipper Clint Gutherson.

The only question mark over the three star recruits is they are over 30 and their best rugby league could be behind them. However, the trio will undoubtedly make a difference and help the Dragons younger players raise their standards both on the field and at training.

But the most important signing could be Hunt’s replacement halfback Lachlan Ilias and how his combination with Kyle Flanagan goes could decide how far the Dragons go in the next couple of seasons. But once the Dragons’ ageing players retire they will leave a massive void at the club, so they need to open their premiership window fast before it closes again.

---

Seems like a fair comment. So much will depend on the young players as well as Illias and Flanagan. Cook, Holmes and Gutherson are consistent. I think we know what we will get from them next year.

 

[Chris M]

Update on the round 1 team. Not the team I would pick but that which I think it will be:

1. Gutho
2. CT
3. Suli
4. Holmes
5. Finau
6. Flanagan
7. Illias
8. Frank Molo
9. Cook
10. Sele
11. Luciano
12. Su'A
13. JDB
    
    
14. Couchman
15. Couchman
16. Egan
17. Liddle

team I hope for but #6 is unlikely next year unless Shonkies have a salary cap crisis:

1. Gutho
2. Lawson
3. Suli
4. Holmes
5. Finau
6. Atkinson
7. Illias
8. Frank Molo
9. Cook
10. JDB
11. Luciano
12. Su'A
13. Couchman
    
    
14. LPT
15. Couchman
16. Egan
17. Liddle

 

[Chris M]

Top TEN NRL players under pressure in 2025​

4. Kyle Flanagan​

Kyle Flanagan is the Ben Hunt replacement. He is the face of the club. He will decide if the Red V play Finals footy for the first time in a long time.
None of the above are true ... but that is exactly how fans are viewing young Flanagan heading into 2025.

Ben Hunt, who carried the Dragons on his own back for many years, is out, and the coach's son is in. On a recently extended contract. To partner a thrown aside half in Lachlan Ilias. Talk about a pressure cooker! For the record I am a huge fan of Flanagan. Have been since Sharks days. He was made, unfairly, the scapegoat during his time at the Roosters.

Unfortunately he'll likely be targeted again if the Dragons don't fire next year, whether he deserves it or not.

---

I don't agree with a singe thing in this other than the title. Hunt didn't carry the team and Kyle is rightly under pressure. He is the senior half now. But pressure is also on llias and pressure is also on the forwards to give those two more room and time to get the attack humming. Good luck to both of them and good luck to LKT to continue putting pressure on both of them.

 

[RedV01]

Top TEN NRL players under pressure in 2025​

4. Kyle Flanagan​

Kyle Flanagan is the Ben Hunt replacement. He is the face of the club. He will decide if the Red V play Finals footy for the first time in a long time.
None of the above are true ... but that is exactly how fans are viewing young Flanagan heading into 2025.

Ben Hunt, who carried the Dragons on his own back for many years, is out, and the coach's son is in. On a recently extended contract. To partner a thrown aside half in Lachlan Ilias. Talk about a pressure cooker! For the record I am a huge fan of Flanagan. Have been since Sharks days. He was made, unfairly, the scapegoat during his time at the Roosters.

Unfortunately he'll likely be targeted again if the Dragons don't fire next year, whether he deserves it or not.

---

I don't agree with a singe thing in this other than the title. Hunt didn't carry the team and Kyle is rightly under pressure. He is the senior half now. But pressure is also on llias and pressure is also on the forwards to give those two more room and time to get the attack humming. Good luck to both of them and good luck to LKT to continue putting pressure on both of them.

No one is on way more money than everyone else. No one still knows who the C will be. Whole team should be under pressure except for JDB and Couchmans who should have a bit of slack even in the unlikely event they have a couple of shockers. Maybe Su'A as well. I guess Suli and Val as well not because they have deserved it but because there is no one else. Unless Sloan could be turned into a centre. Isn't he more suited to centre than wing? Where he has more opportunity to use his ball skills?

 

[Ryan]

I think this anonymous writer for the Roar has a very good idea about what is going on. Must be a real supporter. It's not the team I'd go with but wouldn't surprise me at all if this is the team Flanno goes with for round 1. Also some smart comments about halves shaping up as a possible problem. Disagree about Lawson needing half a season! What!? Needs a few rounds in NSW Cup to show if he is good enough in league or not. If he is, it comes down to how well Sloan and CT are playing.

Read the article by clicking on this

 

[RedV01]

I think this anonymous writer for the Roar has a very good idea about what is going on. Must be a real supporter. It's not the team I'd go with but wouldn't surprise me at all if this is the team Flanno goes with for round 1. Also some smart comments about halves shaping up as a possible problem. Disagree about Lawson needing half a season! What!? Needs a few rounds in NSW Cup to show if he is good enough in league or not. If he is, it comes down to how well Sloan and CT are playing.

Read the article by clicking on this

Egan in for RFM and whoever goes better in the trails out of Lawrie and Sele. Looks like a better balanced team than last year but the backline is still too slow.

 

[Chris M]

Fox sport at it again picking Lawrie to play in round one

 

[Ryan]

Hasler going to drop Foran in favour of Campbell 1/2 and Brimson 5/8. I don't know if its a good plan. Probably isn't but I love coaches who aren't afraid to make big calls like that.

 

[Chris M]

Hasler going to drop Foran in favour of Campbell 1/2 and Brimson 5/8. I don't know if its a good plan. Probably isn't but I love coaches who aren't afraid to make big calls like that.

Would be nice if Dragons had 3 young fullbacks to choose from like them. It was the 2nd game against the Titans where I finally came around to the idea Sloan wasn't good enough. Dragons won but Titans fullback, small and younger than Sloan was near unstoppable. Kept them in the game. Gave Sloan a bath.

But if he goes well in the trails, I think Flanno should pick LPT for round 1. I would have said the same of LKT but he's not in the top 30 so I think he can't be picked until after round 6 or 7.

 

[RedV01]

Would be nice if Dragons had 3 young fullbacks to choose from like them. It was the 2nd game against the Titans where I finally came around to the idea Sloan wasn't good enough. Dragons won but Titans fullback, small and younger than Sloan was near unstoppable. Kept them in the game. Gave Sloan a bath.

But if he goes well in the trails, I think Flanno should pick LPT for round 1. I would have said the same of LKT but he's not in the top 30 so I think he can't be picked until after round 6 or 7.

He isn't the only very good young prop. Isn't Hamish Stewart is a lock or prop? By the end of the season the front rower rotation might be Stewart, Tonga, JDB and ....... someone else other than Molo, Sele or Lawrie.

 

[Eric]

Would be nice if Dragons had 3 young fullbacks to choose from like them. It was the 2nd game against the Titans where I finally came around to the idea Sloan wasn't good enough. Dragons won but Titans fullback, small and younger than Sloan was near unstoppable. Kept them in the game. Gave Sloan a bath.

But if he goes well in the trails, I think Flanno should pick LPT for round 1. I would have said the same of LKT but he's not in the top 30 so I think he can't be picked until after round 6 or 7.

I trust Flanno knows what he is doing but from the point of view of a punter, I'd like to see the trails used to determine the round 1 team. At least half the team with half picking itself.

 

[Just a Mug Fan]

Fox sport at it again picking Lawrie to play in round one

I just looked at that team, swap Tom for Blocka and that will be the 17.

 

[Chris M]

I just looked at that team, swap Tom for Blocka and that will be the 17.

I meant to say picking Blocka to play lock. Tom still ahead of the Couchmans and Egan?