The St George Illawarra Dragons and Newcastle Knights are gearing up for their pre-season showdown in Las Vegas, with both teams fine-tuning their halves combinations. The Dragons have announced their new halves pairing of Kyle Flanagan and Daniel Atkinson, with coach Shane Flanagan aiming to field a full-strength squad. Flanagan stated, 'We'll play our best team in the first half and then assess our performance for the second half.' This approach ensures the team's optimal performance. Meanwhile, the Knights' coach, Justin Holbrook, is yet to decide on the halves partner for Dylan Brown. The potential candidates are Fletcher Sharpe and Sandon Smith, both of whom have been training alongside Brown. The decision hinges on finding the best balance between Brown's X-factor and the complementary game management skills of either Sharpe or Smith. The outcome will significantly impact the team's performance and strategy for the upcoming season.
