St George Illawarra Dragons captain Clint Gutherson has publicly defended the team’s new halves pairing of Kyle Flanagan and Atko, as the Dragons prepare for a challenging season opener against the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs.
Gutherson’s comments, reported on February 26, 2026, approach amid external scrutiny of the Dragons’ playmaking options following a 15th-place finish in the previous season. He asserted that criticism directed at Flanagan and Atko was “unfair,” emphasizing Flanagan’s consistent performance throughout the last year.
“It’s always unfair. It’s the way it is,” Gutherson said. “Kyle’s great, he’s got a great head on him. He just focuses on him and us as a team. Atko’s going to help him and he’s going to help Atko – they’re our halves, we’re going to back them until they’re not.”
Flanagan, who joined the Dragons in 2024 after stints with the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks, Sydney Roosters, and Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, played every minute of every game last season, a fact Gutherson highlighted as evidence of his value. According to Dragons team information, Flanagan debuted for the Sharks in Round 24, 2018, under the coaching of his father, Shane Flanagan.
Atko, signed from the Sharks on a three-year contract, is expected to take on the role of primary playmaker. Gutherson noted that Atko has been vocal about his desire to lead the team, having learned from experienced players like Nicho Hynes and Braydon Trindall during his time at Cronulla.
“He wants a chance to prove himself as a [number] seven and since the day he turned up he’s been loud, he’s been talking,” Gutherson stated. “He’s learned off a couple of great players in ‘Tricky’ [Trindall] and Nicho at the Sharks, so he’s got a lot of experience there, and as I said, he’s coming here for an opportunity to lead a team.”
Despite the Bulldogs being considered fifth favourites to win the competition, Gutherson maintained that the Dragons have a significant amount to lose in the early stages of the season. He emphasized the team’s commitment to upholding high standards and the potential consequences for failing to do so.
“We’ve got heaps to lose,” Gutherson said. “We grasp the team we want to be and we’ve got standards in our team that we want to live up to. If you’re not doing that, there’s, there’s pressure. If you’re not doing that, you’re not going to be in the [squad of] 17 or 19 this year, and it starts Saturday. We’re here to win.”
The Dragons are scheduled to face the Bulldogs on Saturday, March 8, 2026.
