NRL Round 16 Match Preview: Dragons make Newcastle trip for Friday night battle

Author: St George Illawarra Dragons
Timestamp: Tue 16 Jun 2026, 07:25 PM

The Dragons journey to Newcastle on Friday for a battle under lights against the Knights.

The club's Knock-On Effect NSW Cup side will be in action in the lead-up to the NRL clash as they look to put an end to a four-game streak.

Round 16 - Round 16 - Friday 19 Jun

10:00 am

Knights

Dragons

Venue: McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle

WatchNRL

Team Lists Get Tickets

KEY INFO

Tickets: Available
Date: Friday, June 19th
Venue: McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle
Watch: Nine, 9Now, Kayo, Foxtel
Gates Open: 5:15pm
Knock-On Effect NSW Cup: 5:30pm
NRL: 8:00pm

ATKINSON BRINGS UP 50

Dragons five-eighth Daniel Atkinson has been named to start in his 50th NRL match.

Atkinson joined the Dragons on a three-year deal this year having plied his trade at Melbourne and Cronulla over a number of years.

An Albany Creek Crushers junior, he filtered into the Storm system as a teenager in 2020 before making his NRL debut in Round 25, 2021.

He earnt his first taste of international football in Italy’s tournament opener versus Scotland at the Rugby League World Cup in 2022 before linking up with the Sharks in 2023 where he went on to make 35 appearances.

EGAN EAGER TO MAKE AMENDS

Dylan Egan made his long-awaited return to the NRL in the side's Round 10 loss to the Knights in Wollongong.

With five games now under his belt, the Gerringong product has quickly rediscovered the form which saw him shoot into the spotlight a year ago.

The 21-year-old is averaging 75 run metres to go along with 218 total tackles at close to 97 per cent efficiency.

Egan: “I only want to get better”

TEAM NEWS

DRAGONS

Jaydn Su’A (pec) is out of action for the Red V with Luciano Leilua coming back onto the interchange.
Christian Tuipulotu has been named in jersey No.22 as he eyes a return from a hamstring injury.
Daniel Atkinson has been named to start at five-eighth in his 50th NRL match.

KNIGHTS

Bradman Best (hamstring) returns after five weeks off pushing Fletcher Hunt to the bench.
Kalyn Ponga and Dylan Lucas have been named to back up from Origin II and will be monitored on Thursday.
Thomas Cant comes into the starting side in place of Jermaine McEwen (suspension).

Round 16 - Round 16 - Friday 19 Jun

10:00 am

Knights

Dragons

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Knights is number 1 Kalyn Ponga

Fullback for Dragons is number 1 Clinton Gutherson
Winger for Knights is number 2 Dominic Young

Winger for Dragons is number 2 Setu Tu
Centre for Knights is number 3 Dane Gagai

Centre for Dragons is number 3 Moses Suli
Centre for Knights is number 4 Bradman Best

Centre for Dragons is number 4 Valentine Holmes
Winger for Knights is number 5 Greg Marzhew

Winger for Dragons is number 5 Mathew Feagai
Five-Eighth for Knights is number 6 Fletcher Sharpe

Five-Eighth for Dragons is number 6 Daniel Atkinson
Halfback for Knights is number 7 Dylan Brown

Halfback for Dragons is number 7 Kyle Flanagan

Forwards

Prop for Knights is number 8 Jacob Saifiti

Prop for Dragons is number 8 Loko Jnr Pasifiki Tonga
Hooker for Knights is number 9 Phoenix Crossland

Hooker for Dragons is number 9 Damien Cook
Prop for Knights is number 10 Trey Mooney

Prop for Dragons is number 10 Toby Couchman
2nd Row for Knights is number 11 Dylan Lucas

2nd Row for Dragons is number 11 Dylan Egan
2nd Row for Knights is number 12 Thomas Cant

2nd Row for Dragons is number 12 Hamish Stewart
Lock for Knights is number 13 Mat Croker

Lock for Dragons is number 13 Ryan Couchman

Interchange

Interchange for Knights is number 14 Harrison Graham

Interchange for Dragons is number 14 Jacob Liddle
Interchange for Knights is number 15 Tyson Frizell

Interchange for Dragons is number 15 Luciano Leilua
Interchange for Knights is number 16 Pasami Saulo

Interchange for Dragons is number 16 Josh Kerr
Interchange for Knights is number 17 Cody Hopwood

Interchange for Dragons is number 17 Blake Lawrie
Interchange for Knights is number 18 Fletcher Hunt

Interchange for Dragons is number 18 Emre Guler
Interchange for Knights is number 19 Francis Manuleleua

Interchange for Dragons is number 19 Tyrell Sloan

Reserves

Reserve for Knights is number 20 Sandon Smith

Reserve for Dragons is number 20 Hame Sele
Reserve for Knights is number 21 Tyson Gamble

Reserve for Dragons is number 21 Lyhkan King-Togia
Reserve for Knights is number 22 James Schiller

Reserve for Dragons is number 22 Christian Tuipulotu