Matchday Details
Saturday, 9 May 2026 – 3:00pm AEST – WIN Stadium, Wollongong
📺 Broadcast: Kayo / Foxtel
Referee: Todd Smith | Senior Review Official: Ashley Klein
St George Illawarra Dragons: 1. Clinton Gutherson, 2. Setu Tu, 3. Moses Suli, 4. Valentine Holmes, 5. Mathew Feagai, 6. Daniel Atkinson, 7. Kade Reed, 8. Emre Guler, 9. Damien Cook (c), 10. Toby Couchman, 11. Dylan Egan, 12. Ryan Couchman, 13. Hamish Stewart, 14. Josh Kerr, 15. Loko Jnr Pasifiki Tonga, 16. Blake Lawrie, 17. Jacob Halangahu, 18. Kyle Flanagan, 19. Tyrell Sloan, 20. Lyhkan King-Togia, 21. Hame Sele, 22. Christian Tuipulotu
Newcastle Knights: 1. Kalyn Ponga (c), 2. Dominic Young, 3. Dane Gagai, 4. Bradman Best, 5. Greg Marzhew, 6. Fletcher Sharpe, 7. Dylan Brown, 8. Jacob Saifiti, 9. Phoenix Crossland, 10. Trey Mooney, 11. Dylan Lucas, 12. Jermaine McEwen, 13. Mat Croker, 14. Sandon Smith, 15. Tyson Frizell, 16. Pasami Saulo, 17. Francis Manuleleua, 18. Harrison Graham, 19. Fletcher Hunt, 20. Cody Hopwood, 21. Kyle McCarthy, 22. James Schiller
Match Preview
Fresh off a bye (and their first competition points of the season), St George Illawarra (0–8) will be looking to start Dean Young’s reign on a more positive note and secure their first win since Round 23, 2025.
While they suffered a heavy ANZAC Day loss to the Sydney Roosters, Young’s faith in Kade Reed, along with his decision to separate the underachieving Daniel Atkinson/Kyle Flanagan halves combination, suggests the interim coach won’t sit still as the Dragons fight to avoid their first wooden spoon as a joint venture club.
Reed nearly had a dream start against the Roosters, throwing a beautiful cut-out pass for Mathew Feagai to score the opening try. Although it was disallowed, the confidence to attempt such a play so early was an excellent sign for Dragons fans.
Last year’s wooden spooners, Newcastle, have been revitalised under Justin Holbrook. They sit within reach of the top eight (5–4), and their 25-point attacking average this season is nearly double their return from 2025. They snapped a three-game losing streak with a Round 9 win over South Sydney, a match that produced 14 tries in total, including a hat-trick to Greg Marzhew and doubles to Trey Mooney and Dylan Lucas.
When fully available, Newcastle’s current spine of Kalyn Ponga, Fletcher Sharpe, Dylan Brown, and Phoenix Crossland has sparked a noticeable attacking improvement, allowing Dominic Young (nine tries) and Marzhew (eight) to reap the rewards out wide.
Gutherson’s return at fullback is a major boost for St George Illawarra. Tyrell Sloan shifts back to the six-man bench, while Young sticks with the Atkinson/Reed halves pairing and leaves Kyle Flanagan among the reserves. Dylan Egan replaces the suspended Luciano Leilua. Holbrook, meanwhile, has named the same starting side that defeated Souths, with Harrison Graham also named on the six-man bench.
Mooney, who was part of the Raiders’ 2021 SG Ball premiership side, struggled to cement a regular first-grade role in Canberra, playing 25 games across four seasons. That situation made a move north the best option, particularly after Raiders legend Josh Papali’i was re-signed. Mooney has now played eight first-grade games for Newcastle and has scored five tries, making 249 tackles, recording 203 post-contact metres, and running for 716 total metres.
His match-up with Toby Couchman shapes as a compelling clash between two emerging forwards. Now in his fourth NRL season, Couchman is approaching the 50-game milestone. His seven appearances in 2026 have yielded 360 post-contact metres, 272 tackles, and 923 total running metres—numbers that stack up favourably against Mooney’s output.
Since 1998, St George Illawarra hold a 30–15 advantage in this fixture, with the Dragons winning in 2025 and Newcastle answering back in 2024. On current form, however, the Knights look well placed to claim win number 16 on Saturday.
Prediction
RLZ Tip: Knights by 14.
Bold call: Trey Mooney to score at least one try.
Related
- NRL Round 9 Review
- NRL Round 10 Predictions
- NRL Round 10 Team Lists
- NRL Round 10 Hub
- NRL Injury List
- NRL Match Review Tracker
