Dragons v Sea Eagles: Halves trade places; Saab back on deck
The Dragons have started 0-5 for the first time in franchise history and face a daunting task to try and halt the slide when they host the Sea Eagles in Wollongong.
With coach Shane Flanagan under increasing pressure and the club's senior players also feeling the heat another loss could prove catastrophic for the Red V.
In stark contrast, Manly emerged from a tumultuous start to their own season to smash the Dolphins in club legend Kieran Foran's first game as interim head coach.
Big guns Haumole Olakau'atu, Tom Trbojevic and Jake Trbojevic took it upon themselves to turn the Sea Eagles' season around in Round 5 and that's exactly what Val Holmes, Damien Cook and Jaydn Su'A need to do in the Dragons' hour of need.
The last time these sides clashed was Round 26 last year when Manly piled on 40 points at Kogarah to inflict a third straight defeat on the Dragons.
The Dragons then lost to Penrith in Round 27 and have now gone down five times in 2026 to make it nine in a row, the worst losing streak in the history of the joint venture.
Match: Dragons v Sea Eagles
Round 6 -
home Team
Dragons
17th Position
away Team
Sea Eagles
12th Position
Venue: WIN Stadium, Wollongong
Match broadcasters:
- WatchNRL
Team News
Dragons: Tyrell Sloan is the new fullback with Clint Gutherson nursing a hamstring injury while Setu Tu returns on the wing in place of David Fale (suspended). Kyle Flanagan returns from concussion and shifts to halfback with Dan Atkinson moving to five-eighth. Young playmaker Kade Reed has been added to the six-man bench while Loko Pasifiki Tonga is among the reserves as he looks to return from a neck injury.
Sea Eagles: Winger Jason Saab returns from suspension so Clayton Faulalo slides to the interchange and Josh Feledy drops to the reserves. Forward Nathan Brown is part of the extended squad as he looks to return from illness.
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Dragons is number 1 Tyrell SloanFullback for Sea Eagles is number 1 Tom Trbojevic
-
Winger for Dragons is number 2 Christian TuipulotuWinger for Sea Eagles is number 2 Jason Saab
-
Centre for Dragons is number 3 Moses SuliCentre for Sea Eagles is number 3 Tolutau Koula
-
Centre for Dragons is number 4 Valentine HolmesCentre for Sea Eagles is number 4 Reuben Garrick
-
Winger for Dragons is number 5 Setu TuWinger for Sea Eagles is number 5 Lehi Hopoate
-
Five-Eighth for Dragons is number 6 Daniel AtkinsonFive-Eighth for Sea Eagles is number 6 Luke Brooks
-
Halfback for Dragons is number 7 Kyle FlanaganHalfback for Sea Eagles is number 7 Jamal Fogarty
Forwards
-
Prop for Dragons is number 8 Emre GulerProp for Sea Eagles is number 8 Taniela Paseka
-
Hooker for Dragons is number 9 Damien CookHooker for Sea Eagles is number 9 Brandon Wakeham
-
Prop for Dragons is number 10 Toby CouchmanProp for Sea Eagles is number 10 Kobe Hetherington
-
2nd Row for Dragons is number 11 Luciano Leilua2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 11 Haumole Olakau'atu
-
2nd Row for Dragons is number 12 Jaydn Su'A2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 12 Ben Trbojevic
-
Lock for Dragons is number 13 Hamish StewartLock for Sea Eagles is number 13 Jake Trbojevic
Interchange
-
Interchange for Dragons is number 14 Jacob LiddleInterchange for Sea Eagles is number 14 Jake Simpkin
-
Interchange for Dragons is number 15 Blake LawrieInterchange for Sea Eagles is number 15 Corey Waddell
-
Interchange for Dragons is number 16 Jacob HalangahuInterchange for Sea Eagles is number 16 Ethan Bullemor
-
Interchange for Dragons is number 17 Josh KerrInterchange for Sea Eagles is number 17 Simione Laiafi
-
Interchange for Dragons is number 18 Hame SeleInterchange for Sea Eagles is number 18 Paul Bryan
-
Interchange for Dragons is number 19 Kade ReedInterchange for Sea Eagles is number 19 Clayton Faulalo
Reserves
-
Reserve for Dragons is number 20 Mathew FeagaiReserve for Sea Eagles is number 20 Joey Walsh
-
Reserve for Dragons is number 21 Loko Jnr Pasifiki TongaReserve for Sea Eagles is number 21 Josh Feledy
-
Reserve for Dragons is number 22 Lyhkan King-TogiaReserve for Sea Eagles is number 22 Nathan Brown
Dragons Ins
- Kade Reed
- Kyle Flanagan
- Loko Jnr Pasifiki Tonga
- Mathew Feagai
- Setu Tu
Sea Eagles Ins
- Jason Saab
- Joey Walsh
- Nathan Brown
Dragons Outs
- Clinton Gutherson
- David Fale
Sea Eagles Ins
Match Officials
- Referee: Adam Gee
- Touch Judge: Phil Henderson
- Senior Review Official: Grant Atkins
Last updated:
Stat Attack
- The Dragons have won nine of their last 10 games against the Sea Eagles at WIN Stadium.
- Sea Eagles fullback Tom Trbojevic has scored five tries in his last four games.
- The Dragons are aiming to avoid a 10th consecutive loss.
- Sea Eagles centre Tolu Koula has scored 11 tries in his last 13 NRL games.
- Dragons hooker Jacob Liddle has scored a try in his last three games against the Sea Eagles.
Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the official annual of the NRL.
