Their own coach admits the Dragons can’t win the premiership this year so what can long-suffering St George Illawarra fans realistically hope for in 2026?

FOR one of the most decorated clubs in Australian rugby league, St George Illawarra have been waiting an eternity for play-off success.

Their last September appearance came way back in 2018. Their last and only title as a joint venture dates back to 2010.

There are Saints supporters well into their 40s for whom that’s their only taste of Grand Final glory — a famine compared to the feast of 15 premierships between 1941 and 1979.

Shane Flanagan is the man tasked with returning St George Illawarra to the promised land. And he’s got the credentials, having led local rivals Cronulla to their sole success in 2016.

But in year three of the Flanagan project, a premiership remains a long way away. Even the man himself admitted they “aren’t going to win the comp this year,” speaking to Australian broadcaster Channel Nine ahead of the Dragons’ season opener against the Bulldogs in Las Vegas.

After that candid concession raised eyebrows, Flanagan stuck to his guns.

“I’d love to say we are good enough with the big dog stuff to go at a premiership this year,” Flanagan told media.

“We’ll win a lot of footy games this year, but I’m just realistic — I don’t set stupid expectations.

“We’ve had a lot of new staff come in, some new players coming in, Keaon [Koloamatangi] coming in next year and we’d like to think we’re going to get two or three more signings, big ones, for next year.

“Every side would be saying finals [is their goal] without a doubt and we’re on that as well.”

Eight years after their last play-off appearance, long-suffering St George Illawarra supporters would certainly take that.

The Dragons won 11 games in Flanagan’s first season in charge in 2024, but took a step back last year.

Saints’ eight wins were fewer than all but Gold Coast and Newcastle, who both sacked their coaches.

There was no lack of fight or commitment. That will never be a worry with a side coached by Flanagan, a hard-nosed general who places a premium on defence and discipline.

The issue was losing the close ones.

In 2025, 16 of their games were decided by 12 points or less. The Dragons clinched just five of those.

They found a way to lose eight games by six points or less. Even up those hard-fought arm wrestles and all of a sudden the Red V are knocking on the door of the top eight.

Another big problem was bite with ball in hand.

St George Illawarra tallied just 498 points — one of only four clubs that failed to top 500.

Tasked with revamping Saints’ spluttering attack is Michael Ennis, Flanagan’s lion-hearted hooker in his premiership-winning Sharks side in 2016.

Ennis has become a respected and incisive commentator since retiring after that Grand Final and now has the chance to put his money where his mouth is.

Joining him on the coaching panel is Dean Young, another premiership-winning number nine.

Oozing club DNA, Young was a key figure in the Dragons’ 2010 triumph, and his father Craig captained Saints’ previous premiership way back in 1979.

Flanagan has also recruited Cronulla utility Daniel Atkinson to add some attacking spark.

Despite never having started an NRL match at half-back, Flanagan has entrusted the 25-year-old with the playmaking reins alongside his son Kyle, who shifts to stand-off.

Burdened by his surname, Flanagan junior is one of the NRL’s most maligned players.

Alongside the largely untried Atkinson, on paper they form one of the competition’s weakest halves combinations. This season presents an opportunity to prove the doubters wrong.

Atkinson and ex-Dolphins prop Josh Kerr are the only two NRL-experienced players Flanagan has brought in for 2026. But clearing out old faces to make room for youngsters is Flanagan’s priority.

Hamish Stewart, Dylan Egan, Jacob Halangahu, Hayden Buchanan, Nathan Lawson, Loko Pasifiki Tonga and Nicholas Tsougranis all made their first-grade debuts in 2025 and represent the future of the club.

The change is particularly apparent in the forward pack.

With Jack De Belin, David Klemmer and Ben Murdoch-Masila now gone, local products Stewart, Egan and the Couchman twins — Toby and Ryan — now lead the way in the middle.

A lot still depends on the experienced cohort.

Hooker Damien Cook (34), full-back Clint Gutherson (31) and centre Valentine Holmes (30) are their only real representative-calibre players.

Ex-Tigers pair Moses Suli and Luciano Leilua look like world-beaters when it’s their day and reserve-graders when it’s not.

Kerr, Emre Guler, Jaydn Su’A and Hame Sele add starch to the pack, protecting the raft of youngsters coming through.

St George Illawarra’s form to kick off this year makes their 2026 prospects difficult to read.

A season opener against the Bulldogs in Vegas followed by a visit from the ever-reliable Melbourne Storm isn’t a gentle entry into the campaign.

They rattled Canterbury at Allegiant Stadium, ending the 80 minutes locked 14-apiece with Atkinson producing an impressive club debut.

Saints looked certain to come away with one competition point as the clock ticked down on golden point until Stephen Crichton’s drop-goal stole victory for Canterbury.

The Dragons stunned the Storm 14-8 in March 2025 and looked set to do so again in round two, leading 20-18 after the hour mark.

But Melbourne shocked them with a late blitz to run out 46-20 winners — and following defeats against Parramatta Eels and Gold Coast Titans were only a further, stark reminder of how much work the Red V still have to do.

The club is clearly on board with Flanagan’s investment in youth.

St George Illawarra extended the 60-year-old’s contract until the end of the 2028 season last August, giving Flanagan plenty of time to see his project flourish.

Having waited eight years for a finals berth and 16 for a grand final, the patience of Saints fans has already been tested.

Flanagan might think a premiership tilt in 2026 is “stupid expectations”.

But if they’re not contending by 2028, the supporters’ patience will have well and truly expired.

First published in Rugby League World magazine, Issue 519 (April 2026)