NRL Round 26 Match Preview: Dragons journey to Northern Beaches for Friday face-off

Author: St George Illawarra Dragons
Timestamp: Thu 27 Aug 2026, 03:14 PM

The St George Illawarra Dragons make the trip up to 4 Pines Park for a Friday evening clash with the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles.

Round 26 - Round 26 - Friday 28 Aug

8:00 am

Sea Eagles

Dragons

Venue: 4 Pines Park, Sydney

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KEY INFO

Date: Friday, August 28th
Venue: 4 Pines Park, Brookvale
Watch: Kayo & Foxtel
NRL: 6:00pm

MUHLEISEN BACK IN THE NRL

Jacob Liddle's season-ending calf injury opens the door for Connor Muhleisen to make his first NRL appearance since Round 27, 2024.

Muhleisen played a starring role in the club's run to the 2025 Knock-On Effect NSW Cup Grand Final tallying a competition-best 806 tackles at 96 per cent efficiency before suffering an ACL rupture in the first half of the decider.

He made his return to the field in the club's Round 22 Knock-On Effect NSW Cup fixture this year and this week earns an opportunity on the big stage.

A native of Buxton in the Wollondilly Shire, Muhleisen grew up playing his juniors with the Thirlmere-Tahmoor Roosters before linking up with Illawarra as a teenager.

He represented the Steelers at Harold Matthews Cup and SG Ball level helping lead the side to a 2019 SG Ball Grand Final win.

He made the leap up to Jersey Flegg the following year before earning a maiden NSW Cup nod in Round 8, 2021.

A gritty No.9, Muhleisen grew into an integral member of the side before being rewarded with an NRL debut in Round 22, 2023.

COOK EAGER TO END ON HIGH

It's been an impressive ride for veteran rake Damien Cook who is on the home stretch of an illustrious, 14-year NRL career.

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 261 NRL appearances, 17 State of Origin nods, four Kangaroos caps and a Dally M Hooker of the Year Award.

Cook: “Trying to enjoy myself”

TEAM NEWS

DRAGONS

Jacob Liddle (calf) is out for the Red V with Damien Cook starting at hooker and Connor Muhleisen coming onto the interchange for his first NRL outing since Round 27, 2024.

SEA EAGLES

With Tolutau Koula (ankle) sidelined, Josh Feledy starts at centre and 19-year-old Onitoni Large has been added to the interchange for his NRL debut.

Round 26 - Round 26 - Friday 28 Aug

8:00 am

Sea Eagles

Dragons

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Sea Eagles is number 1 Tom Trbojevic

Fullback for Dragons is number 1 Daniel Atkinson
Winger for Sea Eagles is number 2 Jason Saab

Winger for Dragons is number 2 Mathew Feagai
Centre for Sea Eagles is number 3 Josh Feledy

Centre for Dragons is number 3 Moses Suli
Centre for Sea Eagles is number 4 Reuben Garrick

Centre for Dragons is number 4 Valentine Holmes
Winger for Sea Eagles is number 5 Lehi Hopoate

Winger for Dragons is number 5 Tyrell Sloan
Five-Eighth for Sea Eagles is number 6 Clayton Faulalo

Five-Eighth for Dragons is number 6 Lyhkan King-Togia
Halfback for Sea Eagles is number 7 Jamal Fogarty

Halfback for Dragons is number 7 Kyle Flanagan

Forwards

Prop for Sea Eagles is number 8 Simione Laiafi

Prop for Dragons is number 8 Loko Jnr Pasifiki Tonga
Hooker for Sea Eagles is number 9 Brandon Wakeham

Hooker for Dragons is number 9 Damien Cook
Prop for Sea Eagles is number 10 Nathan Brown

Prop for Dragons is number 10 Toby Couchman
2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 11 Haumole Olakau'atu

2nd Row for Dragons is number 11 Dylan Egan
2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 12 Ben Trbojevic

2nd Row for Dragons is number 12 Hamish Stewart
Lock for Sea Eagles is number 13 Jake Trbojevic

Lock for Dragons is number 13 Ryan Couchman

Interchange

Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 14 Jake Simpkin

Interchange for Dragons is number 14 Connor Muhleisen
Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 15 Nicholas Lenaz

Interchange for Dragons is number 15 Josh Kerr
Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 16 Corey Waddell

Interchange for Dragons is number 16 Jacob Halangahu
Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 17 Caleb Navale

Interchange for Dragons is number 17 Jacob Webster
Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 18 Onitoni Large

Interchange for Dragons is number 18 Blake Lawrie
Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 19 Fletcher Baker

Interchange for Dragons is number 19 Setu Tu

Reserves

Reserve for Sea Eagles is number 20 Blake Wilson

Reserve for Dragons is number 20 Luciano Leilua
Reserve for Sea Eagles is number 21 Jackson Shereb

Reserve for Dragons is number 21 Kade Reed
Reserve for Sea Eagles is number 22 Hugo Hart

Reserve for Dragons is number 22 Ryan Hutchinson