Dragons vs Sea Eagles NRL Round 6: Preview, Team News and Tips

The St George Illawarra Dragons enter their Round 6 clash against the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles on Friday, April 10, 2026, facing the most difficult start in the history of the joint venture. The Dragons have begun the 2026 NRL season with five consecutive losses, marking the first time the franchise has started a season 0-5.

The team is currently struggling with a nine-game losing streak that extends back to the previous season. This slump includes a 32-0 defeat to the Cowboys and a loss to Penrith in Round 27 of the 2025 season. The pressure has intensified on head coach Shane Flanagan as the club seeks to avoid a catastrophic slide.

Dragons Roster Shifts and Returns

St George Illawarra has announced several significant changes to the lineup for the match at WIN Stadium in Wollongong. Tyrell Sloan will move to fullback to replace Clint Gutherson, who is sidelined with a hamstring injury.

The halves pairing has also been reshuffled. Kyle Flanagan returns from a concussion to take the halfback role, which results in Daniel Atkinson shifting to five-eighth. Setu Tu returns on the wing to replace the suspended David Fale.

The Dragons’ bench sees the introduction of young playmaker Kade Reed. However, the squad experienced late changes 24 hours before kick-off, with Loko Pasifiki Tonga and Lyhkan King-Togia dropping out of the team.

Sea Eagles Momentum Under New Leadership

In contrast to the Dragons, the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles are arriving in Wollongong following a dominant performance in Round 5. The team secured its first win of the season by scoring 52 points against the Dolphins.

This victory marked the beginning of Kieran Foran’s tenure as interim head coach. The turnaround was led by key players including Tom Trbojevic, Jake Trbojevic, and Haumole Olakau’atu.

Manly has made only one change to their lineup, with Jason Saab returning to the wing following a suspension. This move shifts Clayton Faulalo back to the bench.

Match Details and Betting Outlook

The game is scheduled for Friday, April 10, 2026, with a 6:00pm AEST kick-off at WIN Stadium. The match will be broadcast on Fox League and Kayo, with Adam Gee officiating as referee and Grant Atkins in the bunker.

Predictive analytics from Stats Insider give the Sea Eagles a 70% chance of winning. Bet365 lists the Sea Eagles as favorites at $1.42, while the Dragons are priced at $2.90. The betting line is set at 8.5 points, and the over/under for total points is 49.5.

Official Team Lists

The confirmed lineups for the Round 6 encounter are as follows:

St George Illawarra Dragons:

• 1. Tyrell Sloan
• 2. Christin Tuipulotu
• 3. Moses Suli
• 4. Valentine Holmes
• 5. Setu Tu
• 6. Daniel Atkinson
• 7. Kyle Flanagan
• 8. Emre Guler
• 9. Damien Cook
• 10. Toby Couchman
• 11. Luciana Leilua
• 12. Jaydn Su’A
• 13. Hamish Stewart
• 14. Jacob Liddle
• 15. Blake Lawrie
• 16. Jacob Halangahu
• 17. Josh Kerr
• 18. Hame Sele
• 19. Kade Reed
• 20. Mathew Feagai
• 21. Loko Jnr Pasifiki Tonga
• 22. Lyhkan King-Togia

Manly Warringah Sea Eagles:

• 1. Tom Trbojevic
• 2. Jason Saab
• 3. Tolutau Koula
• 4. Reuben Garrick
• 5. Lehi Hopoate
• 6. Luke Brooks
• 7. Jamal Fogarty
• 8. Taniela Paseka
• 9. Brandon Wakeham
• 10. Kobe Hetherington
• 11. Haumole Olakau’atu
• 12. Ben Trbojevic
• 13. Jake Trbojevic
• 14. Jake Simpkin
• 15. Corey Waddell
• 16. Ethan Bullemor
• 17. Simione Laiafi
• 18. Paul Bryan
• 19. Clayton Faulalo
• 20. Joey Walsh
• 21. Josh Feledy
• 22. Nathan Brown