"Seriously disappointing": Senior Dragons criticised after Eels loss

With a 0-3 start for the Dragons to begin 2026, David Riccio believes that coach Shane Flanagan needs to make some tough calls with his squad.

Despite their best efforts on Sunday, St George Illawarra were unable to get the job done, losing 30-20 against the Eels.

This means that the Dragons are one of two sides yet to secure a win in 2026, creating some pressure around the Red V.

While they have shown plenty of good signs throughout their opening matches, Riccio thinks that they should have beaten the Eels, noting that their senior players let them down.

“Seriously disappointing that they couldn’t get that job done,” Riccio noted on SEN’s Front Office with Vossy.

“With the amount of ball they had inside 20, repeat set after repeat set, 12 players on the field for the Parramatta Eels, they just couldn’t find a way.

“I thought they were let down by their senior figures. Clint Gutherson came up with some drops.

“Valentine Holmes pushed too many passes for his experience and placed the Dragons under too much pressure.

“I think right now, when they are fighting so hard to find wins, it’s those leaders that need to be doing that; they need to be leading and playing to their absolute elite potential.

“I will be surprised if Shane Flanagan doesn’t make some changes here.

“He can only go so long with the current side that he’s been going with over the past three weeks.

"I'd anticipate the likes of a Jacob Halangahu and some of those younger, talented players like a Hayden Buchanan, perhaps, will start to feature in Flanagan's side.

"I think he needs to make some tough calls."

While Chad Townsend believes the side lacks a player capable of single-handedly turning the game in their favour.

“I think the Dragons have held their gloves up for the most part of the opening three rounds,” the 2016 Premiership winner told SEN’s Arvos with Adam Peacock.

“I don't think they've been dreadful or awful. But looking across the teams and some of the teams that are going really well at the moment, a lot of these teams have X Factor players that can break the game open.

“Now, I look at the Dragons, and their centres are probably their two X Factor players at this stage, Holmes and (Moses) Suli.

“But other than that, Jaydn Su’A has been really good. Luciano Leilua, on the edge as well.

“I mean, you compare to someone like Sua Fa'alogo. He's an absolute excitement machine and can break the game open at any stage.

“The Dragons, I don't think they've got that player at this stage.”

The Dragons will look to win their first game of the season when they face fellow winless side, the Gold Coast Titans.

That takes place this Sunday from 6:15pm AEDT at Cbus Super Stadium, with SEN League having live coverage of the match from 5pm with the Bunnings Build-Up.

That can be heard across SEN’s radio network and on the SEN app.