‘Be better’: Gun recruit’s admission after Vegas heartbreak

LAS VEGAS: Amongst the chaos of a golden-point thriller marred in controversy had been some much-needed indicators of life for the oft-maligned Dragons.

Only a few, if any, gave St George Illawarra an opportunity to topple the Bulldogs within the season opener in Las Vegas on Sunday (AEDT), a lot much less inflicting any actual harm within the 2026 season.

Even head coach Shane Flanagan conceded within the lead-up to spherical one which his aspect had been unlikely to win the competitors this yr.

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However within the third and ultimate recreation of a Sin Metropolis triple-header, the Dragons confirmed they had been up for the combat and nearly snatched victory over an NRL premiership contender, happening 15-14 with simply seconds left after a Stephen Crichton discipline purpose.

It was a deflating method to finish what was a magical week in Vegas, however the normal consensus was that the Purple V had been exhausting completed by after some essential refereeing selections went towards them over the course of 90 minutes at Allegiant Stadium.

One of many standouts within the sturdy shedding effort was new recruit Daniel Atkinson, whose kicking recreation saved the Dragons within the contest till the dying phases.

Atkinson amassed 864 kicking metres basically play for the match and whereas he is aware of he’ll “have to be higher” in tense conditions like golden level, there are nonetheless positives to look again on.

“Clearly pissed off with the best way it ended – we had such week build up, the environment was good all week and we switched on once we needed to,” he instructed Extensive Phrase of Sports activities.

“We switched on in the course of the recreation too, it was a gritty recreation and I believed we turned up and confirmed a number of resilience.

“Clearly I took my probabilities (in further time) and on the finish of the day, it did not find yourself going via the posts, so I will look again on it and see how I might set myself up in a greater place. I am disenchanted that I did not ice it, however I will look again and be higher for it.

“This can be a new Dragons in 2026. We need to pleasure ourselves on placing our greatest foot ahead each single recreation.

“Loads of issues did not go our means, however we did not ‘um and ah’ about it – we simply received on with the job. We did not get the 2 factors, however there’s a number of positives to take out of that recreation.”

In his post-game press convention, coach Flanagan admitted the “frantic” nature of the latter phases shall be a lesson.

“We is usually a little bit higher, particularly in our discipline purpose arrange – but it surely was frantic and a number of fatigue goes into the sport,” he stated.

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The loss marked Atkinson’s first NRL recreation for the membership after spending the previous few years at Cronulla and there’s motive for optimism that this new-look backbone can get the job completed as a rule in 2026.

Dragons captain and hooker Damien Prepare dinner believes the steadiness between himself, Clint Gutherson, Atkinson and Kyle Flanagan is what ought to maintain them in good stead.

“I believed we gelled collectively rather well and I beloved taking part in with Atko for the primary time,” Prepare dinner stated.

“He is somebody who takes the sport on, he is a really aggressive participant and I believe Kyle brings an ideal steadiness there, he retains us calm and sticks to the sport plan … it’s most likely the identical combine that myself and Gutho have.

“There is a actually good combine amongst the backbone, tonight I felt like we had been actually good – it was very loud on the market so it was exhausting to speak, however I really feel like we received our plan on fairly properly and it’s a step in the best path.”

Including to the positivity in Dragons camp would be the looming return of Jacob Liddle, who might add the spark and X-factor many imagine the aspect lacked in Vegas.

Because the mud settles on every week that showcased the eagerness of rugby league supporters in one of many world’s most iconic cities, the Dragons now have time to replicate and push ahead earlier than a spherical two conflict at house towards the Melbourne Storm.

Atkinson is hopeful those self same Purple V trustworthy who took half within the Vegas festivities will soar on board and proceed to get behind the staff as they appear to usher in a brand new period with him steering the ship.

“I believed we had been excellent, to be sincere,” he stated.

“We’re solely a brand new backbone, so we had been good in some areas however we have to be higher in some. However for spherical one, I am fairly pleased with how we went however I am positive all of us boys shall be keen to observe the evaluate and determine get higher heading into spherical two.

“I beloved the week, I beloved the environment and what Fremont Avenue was about. The boys beloved each minute of the week, it introduced us nearer collectively.

“The quantity of Dragons followers that got here out, it is a credit score to them and a credit score to our membership and the way passionate everybody concerned is … I hope we made them proud in Vegas and might maintain making them proud this yr.”