Dragons key signing Daniel Atkinson reveals secret to turning around former NRL powerhouse
After an apprenticeship behind Nicho Hynes and Braydon Trindall, Daniel Atkinson is ready to step into the limelight with the Red V as he reveals building trust is his primary focus.
As a boy, Daniel Atkinson would run around his backyard, dreaming of the day he would lead his own NRL team.
That little boy’s dream is now a reality with the high-profile St George Illawarra recruit unveiling his plan to steer the Dragons to their first finals series since 2018.
“This is something I was really looking forward to and to be here now, it feels like home already,” Atkinson said.
“When I first met up with Flanno (Shane Flanagan) and Benny Haran (GM of football) 11 months ago, they gave their picture of the club and where they see the club going.
“Nothing in life is easy, and so why wouldn’t you want the chance to potentially turn a club around, to make it a powerhouse like it used to be.
“They’ve already got the cavalry here in Cookie (Damien Cook), Val (Holmes), Gutho (Clint Gutherson) and Shane, so when the opportunity came, it wasn’t hard to turn down.
“I wanted to be part of that long-term picture.”
Atkinson, 24, joins the Dragons after showing great signs of promise during two seasons and 36 games at Cronulla, where he was routinely called into first grade to cover an injury in the halves. He won 11 of 14 games at five-eighth.
Stuck behind Nicho Hynes and Braydon Trindall at the Sharks, the opportunity to secure a starting position was the motivating factor in taking up a three-year deal with the Red-V.
“As a young kid, this is all you ever wanted to do — to be in the halves,” Atkinson said.
“Seeing how proud my mum, dad and brother are, it hits home how special it is and it just makes you want to go harder.
“I know nothing is promised in footy.
“I’ve got to earn everything and if I can put my best foot forward by getting fit, learning my craft and helping this team win, that’s what I’m looking forward to the most.”
Atkinson is likely to launch the Dragons 2026 season alongside Kyle Flanagan in the halves against the Bulldogs in round one in March next year in Las Vegas.
After two intense weeks of pre-season training, including weekly boxing sessions, he outlined his plan to secure the key position in the Dragons’ spine.
“First of all I want to earn the boys’ trust,” Atkinson said.
“Trust in this game goes a long way and I’ve just got to rip into pre-season.
“I can’t look any further than that.
“I want to make myself fitter, learn my craft more and always make sure I’m learning to get better with my team.”
Atkinson is an all-effort player. He boasts an elite kick-chase game, is a resilient defender and isn’t afraid to run with the ball at the defensive line. He also has a tunnel-vision approach.
“I couldn’t care what the rest of the world, how they see me, I just want my teammates to know that I’ll compete on every play, no matter who we play, no matter where we play, they’ll get the same Daniel Atkinson,” he said.
“I’m (about) just the effort areas, competing and doing my job well.”
Asked if he preferred the number six or seven on his back, Atkinson replied: “To be honest, you put any number on my back, you’re going to get the same thing.
“I’ll focus on my running (game), my kicking game, my tackle and passing and all I have to do is my job and the team will do theirs.”
Atkinson said his combination building with Flanagan had already begun by car pooling with the Dragons playmaker from the Sutherland Shire to Wollongong for training.
“I remember my first day and Kyle driving me in, it was like my first day at school again,” he said.
“It all goes back to earning trust. If your teammates aren’t going to trust you, then it will show on the field.”
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