Game two of the Las Vegas double header sees the Canterbury Bulldogs taking on the St George Illawarra Dragons.
Both teams had very different seasons in 2025, with the Bulldogs making the finals and the Dragons finishing in 15th. Both teams made headlines last season, with Lachlan Galvin’s move to Belmore and its impact on a Bulldogs team that was winning games.
The Dragons were scrutinised for their inability to win games and for coach Shane Flanagan sticking with his son, Kyle, instead of calling up Lachlan Ilias when Ilias was killing it in the NSW Cup. Illas moved to the Titans in the offseason, but another poor showing from the Dragons while Kyle Flanagan is in the halves will no doubt make fans turn on the coach.
Instead of being the senior guy trying to lead around a team and a rookie five-eight, Flanagan will have former Sharks Player Daniel Atkinson as his halves partner this season. Atkinson is a more than capable player who can make a name for himself at the Dragons after sitting behind Nicho Hynes and Braydon Trindall.
Former Warriors NSW Cup player Setu Tu will make his debut on the wing, beating out Tyrell Sloan. Sloan had found a home on the wing last season and was the Dragons’ top tryscorer. For some reason, the winger seems to be on the outer with coach Flanagan. According to ‘The Mole,’ The Dragons tried to move Sloan on over the summer, but no one snapped him up. Depending on how Tu plays and injuries, Sloan may spend the 2026 season in the NSW Cup.
Josh Kerr is another new player to join the Dolphins’ ranks. The former Dolphins front-rower will add some much-needed size to the Dragons pack. They will be tested against a Bulldogs pack that doesn’t take a backward step.
Speaking of the Bulldogs, they will be without their star recruit, former Knights player Leo Thompson, who will miss 10 weeks with a calf tear. Though the forward pack is still one that will get them on the front foot. Obviously, Reed Mahoney has moved on to the Cowboys, but Bailey Hayward showed what he can do at hooker last year, and he may be a key player for them this season.
The Bulldogs’ backline just oozes class and try-scoring ability, and is head and shoulders above the Dragons. That’s not to say the Dragons backs are slouches, they are not, and Christian Tuipulotu, Moses Suli and Valentine Holmes can score a try, but they are going to struggle again this season.
Matt Burton and Lachlan Galvin now have the benefit of a full off-season, and they will click into gear in 2026. Both are good players, and while Galvin is still young, he has shown that he is a quality player in such a short time. He is only going to get better from here.
Dragons coach Shane Flanagan told the media he doesn’t expect his team to win the comp, but that they will win a lot of games is somewhat realistic. He is right in saying they won’t win the comp; however, this is not a team that can win many games.
Teams
Here is how both teams will line up on Sunday:
Bulldogs: 1, Connor Tracey. 2, Jacob Kiraz. 2, Bronson Xerri. 4, Stephen Cricton. 5, Macelo Montoya. 6, Matt Burton. 7, Lachlan Galvin. 8, Max King. 9, Bailey Haywood. 10, Samuel Hughes. 11, Villiame Kikau. 12, Jacob Preston. 13, Jaeman Salmon. 14, Kurt Mann. 15, Sitili Tupounia. 16, Harry Hayes. 17, Josh Curran. 19, Sean O’Sullivan. 20, Jake Turpin. Reserves: Enari Tuala.
Dragons: 1. Clinton Gutherson. 2, Christian Tuipulotu. 3, Moses Suli. 4, Valentine Holmes. 5, Stu Tu. 6, Kyle Flanagan. 7, Daniel Atkinson. 8, Emre Guler. 9, Damien Cook. 10, Toby Couchman. 11, Luciano Leilua. 12, Jaydn Su’A. 13, Hamish Stewart. 14, Hame Sele. 15, Josh Kerr. 16, Blake Lawrie. 17, Ryan Couchman. 18, Lyhkan King-Togia. 21, Mathew Feagai. Reserves: 22, Tyrell Sloan.
Merce’s Prediction: Bulldogs by 18.
