A decorated former NRL playmaker has publicly endorsed St George Illawarra's major off-season signing, declaring young half Daniel Atkinson the man to guide the team's fortunes in the 2026 season.
Veteran's Verdict on Vegas Halves Pairing
With the Dragons' round one blockbuster in Las Vegas now just over a month away, premiership-winning halfback Chad Townsend has weighed in on the club's crucial playmaking decisions. Townsend, who made 268 first-grade appearances across 15 seasons, believes the combination of Atkinson and Kyle Flanagan should be the preferred pairing to face the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in the United States.
"I like the signing, I think it's a great signing for the Dragons," Townsend said during an appearance on SEN League. "Atkinson was obviously sat behind Braydon Trindall and Nicho Hynes at Cronulla and was used as the utility. Now he gets more opportunity ... a chance to be the guy for a team."
Atkinson Tipped as the Key to Finals Football
Townsend delivered a blunt assessment of what the Red V require to break their prolonged finals absence. He directly linked the club's success to the performance of their new recruit.
"I'm expecting big things from Daniel," Townsend stated. "If the Dragons are to make the top eight this year, they will need Daniel Atkinson to have a very, very good year. I'm sure Atkinson will be the one to steer the ship. They'll be basing the game plan around bringing out his strengths."
The ex-Sharks star gave Flanagan the nod for the five-eighth role over young contender Lyhkan King-Togia, citing Flanagan's durability and effort. "He played all 24 games [in 2025] and had seven try assists," Townsend noted, adding that coach Shane Flanagan's desire for the playmaker to take more risks was a necessary evolution.
Defensive Concerns Shape Selection Call
A significant factor in Townsend's judgement was defence, an area where the Dragons struggled consistently last season. He suggested this was where the Flanagan-Atkinson duo held a clear advantage.
"I thought [King-Togia] really struggled with his defence last year, almost to the fact that every time they ran at him there were missed tackles [and] there were line breaks," Townsend said. "So, at this stage I'm going with Kyle ... with Atkinson."
He described the team's defensive lapses in 2025 as "hard to watch," implying that a more resilient halves partnership is essential for improvement. The club's final decisions on who will board the plane for the third NRL season opener in Las Vegas next month are yet to be confirmed, adding intrigue to the final stages of pre-season.
