NRL Round 11 Match Preview: Dragons take on Panthers at Magic Round

Author: St George Illawarra Dragons
Timestamp: Thu 14 May 2026, 09:23 AM

The Dragons journey to Suncorp Stadium for a Sunday evening face-off with the Penrith Panthers for Magic Round.

Round 11 - Round 11 - Sunday 17 May

8:25 am

Panthers

Dragons

Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane

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KEY INFO

Date: Sunday, May 17th
Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Watch: Kayo, Foxtel
Kick-Off: 6:25pm

250 FOR COOK

Dragons skipper Damien Cook is set to make his milestone 250th NRL appearance.

Cook made a long-awaited homecoming to the Dragons in 2025 having made his NRL debut for the club back in Round 6, 2013.

A Helensburgh Tigers junior, Cook would spend the 2014 and 2015 seasons with the Bulldogs before making the move to the Rabbitohs where he blossomed into one of the game’s elite No.9s over the course of nine seasons.

He made his State of Origin debut in Game I, 2018 before earning a Kangaroos debut later that year against New Zealand.

The 34-year-old now boasts a resumé including 17 State of Origin nods, four Kangaroos caps and a Dally M Hooker of the Year Award.

‘It’s been a hell of a journey’: Cook speaks ahead of milestone

HALVES SHAKE-UP, LEILUA RETURNS

A finger injury is set to sideline young half Kade Reed for an extended period paving the way for Daniel Atkinson and Kyle Flanagan to reunite in the halves.

Lyhkan King-Togia shifts back into the No.19 jersey whilst Ha’ele Finau has been named on the extended bench for the first time having proven himself as an integral member of the club’s Knock-On Effect NSW Cup outfit over a number of seasons.

Luciano Leilua (suspension) returns on the interchange whilst Loko Jnr Pasifiki Tonga earns a promotion into the run-on side.

YOUNG BACKS YOUTHFUL PACK

Hamish Stewart, Dylan Egan, and the Couchman twins last week played their first game as a quartet since they shared the field as Steelers in the 2022 SG Ball season.

Loko Jnr Pasifiki Tonga joins them in the run-on side for this weekend's clash whilst milestone man Damien Cook lines up at hooker.

All six members of the starting forward pack are Dragons Academy graduates with five also being local juniors.

“I picked the pack on performance,” Dean Young said.

“These young forwards will do their absolute best.”

TEAM NEWS

DRAGONS

Kade Reed (finger) and Mathew Feagai (back) are unavailable seeing Kyle Flanagan and Christian Tuipulotu come into the backline.
Daniel Atkinson (hand) also returns pushing Lyhkan King-Togia back onto the extended interchange.
Luciano Leilua (suspension) returns on the interchange whilst Loko Jnr Pasifiki Tonga earns a promotion into the run-on side.
Ha’ele Finau has been named on the extended bench for the first time having proven himself as an integral member of the club’s Knock-On Effect NSW Cup outfit over a number of seasons.

PANTHERS

Jack Cogger (suspension) comes back into the No.14 jersey with Jack Cole dropping out.

Round 11 - Round 11 - Sunday 17 May

8:25 am

Panthers

Dragons

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Panthers is number 1 Dylan Edwards

Fullback for Dragons is number 1 Clinton Gutherson
Winger for Panthers is number 2 Thomas Jenkins

Winger for Dragons is number 2 Setu Tu
Centre for Panthers is number 3 Paul Alamoti

Centre for Dragons is number 3 Moses Suli
Centre for Panthers is number 4 Casey McLean

Centre for Dragons is number 4 Valentine Holmes
Winger for Panthers is number 5 Brian To'o

Winger for Dragons is number 5 Christian Tuipulotu
Five-Eighth for Panthers is number 6 Blaize Talagi

Five-Eighth for Dragons is number 6 Daniel Atkinson
Halfback for Panthers is number 7 Nathan Cleary

Halfback for Dragons is number 7 Kyle Flanagan

Forwards

Prop for Panthers is number 8 Moses Leota

Prop for Dragons is number 8 Loko Jnr Pasifiki Tonga
Hooker for Panthers is number 9 Freddy Lussick

Hooker for Dragons is number 9 Damien Cook
Prop for Panthers is number 10 Lindsay Smith

Prop for Dragons is number 10 Toby Couchman
2nd Row for Panthers is number 11 Isaiah Papali'i

2nd Row for Dragons is number 11 Dylan Egan
2nd Row for Panthers is number 12 Luke Garner

2nd Row for Dragons is number 12 Hamish Stewart
Lock for Panthers is number 13 Isaah Yeo

Lock for Dragons is number 13 Ryan Couchman

Interchange

Interchange for Panthers is number 14 Jack Cogger

Interchange for Dragons is number 14 Luciano Leilua
Interchange for Panthers is number 15 Scott Sorensen

Interchange for Dragons is number 15 Emre Guler
Interchange for Panthers is number 16 Liam Henry

Interchange for Dragons is number 16 Josh Kerr
Interchange for Panthers is number 17 Izack Tago

Interchange for Dragons is number 17 Blake Lawrie
Interchange for Panthers is number 18 Billy Phillips

Interchange for Dragons is number 18 Tyrell Sloan
Interchange for Panthers is number 19 Billy Scott

Interchange for Dragons is number 19 Lyhkan King-Togia

Reserves

Reserve for Panthers is number 20 Jack Cole

Reserve for Dragons is number 20 Hayden Buchanan
Reserve for Panthers is number 21 Sione Fonua

Reserve for Dragons is number 21 Hame Sele
Reserve for Panthers is number 22 Luron Patea

Reserve for Dragons is number 22 Haele Finau