NRL Vegas teams: $13m man Dylan Brown named at halfback as Knights unveil plan

Newcastle has officially unveiled its halves plan with $13 million signing Dylan Brown named at halfback for the club's Las Vegas opening.

The expectation was that Brown would play five-eighth with Sandon Smith partnering him but the Roosters recruit will play at No.14 against the Cowboys.

Phoenix Crossland is at hooker with Kalyn Ponga in the No.1 to round off the club's spine.

READ MORE: NRL club 'very sad' as Origin star quits for personal reasons

READ MORE: Blues star snubs free agency to sign $10m extension

READ MORE: Gould lifts lid on Bears meeting amid Burton poaching raid

In more halves news, the Bulldogs have returned to having Lachlan Galvin at halfback with Matt Burton shrugging off a hamstring scare to play at five-eighth.

As for the Bulldogs' opposition, Kyle Flanagan and Daniel Atkinson will make their debut as a halves pairing for the Dragons.

Watch the 2026 NRL season live and free on Nine and 9Now.

SUNDAY MARCH 1 (ALL TIMES IN AEDT)

1:15pm | Newcastle Knights vs North Queensland Cowboys at Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas

KNIGHTS

1. Kalyn Ponga 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. Tyson Frizell 14. Sandon Smith 15. Mathew Croker 16. Thomas Cant 17. Pasami Saulo 18. Fletcher Hunt 19. Francis Manuleleua 20. Tyson Gamble 21. Cody Hopwood 22. James Schiller

ANALYSIS: Brown makes his debut for the Knights at halfback with Dane Gagai and Fletcher Sharpe recovering from injuries.

COWBOYS

1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Braidon Burns 3. Jaxon Purdue 4. Tomas Chester 5. Murray Taulagi 6. Jake Clifford 7. Tom Dearden 8. Coen Hess 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Jason Taumalolo 11. Heilum Luki 12. Sam McIntyre 13. Reuben Cotter 14. Soni Luke 15. Thomas Mikaele 16. Harrison Edwards 17. Kai O'Donnell 18. Griffin Neame 19. John Bateman 20. Liam Sutton 21. Matthew Lodge 22. Robert Derby

ANALYSIS: Tom Chester moves into the centres after Zac Laybutt's ban from trials. Jake Clifford and Tom Dearden are the halves with Jaxon Purdue in the centres, despite having a stint at five-eighth last season. Reed Mahoney will debut at hooker while Soni Luke is also a new face on the bench.

REFEREE: Ashley Klein

3:30pm | Cantebury Bulldogs vs St George Illawarra Dragons at Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas

BULLDOGS

1. Connor Tracey 2. Jacob Kiraz 3. Bronson Xerri 4. Stephen Crichton 5. Marcelo Montoya 6. Matt Burton 7. Lachlan Galvin 8. Max King 9. Bailey Hayward 10. Samuel Hughes 11. Viliame Kikau 12. Jacob Preston 13. Jaeman Salmon 14. Kurt Mann 15. Sitili Tupouniua 16. Harry Hayes 17. Josh Curran 19. Sean O'Sullivan 20. Jake Turpin 21. Enari Tuala 22. Jonathan Sua 23. Alekolasimi Jones

ANALYSIS: Marcelo Montoya makes a return from an ankle injury he suffered before finals last year. Sean O'Sullivan is a new face on the extended bench.

Watch the 2026 NRL season live and free on Nine and 9Now.

DRAGONS

1. Clinton Gutherson 2. Christian Tuipulotu 3. Moses Suli 4. Valentine Holmes 5. Setu Tu 6. Kyle Flanagan 7. Daniel Atkinson 8. Emre Guler 9. Damien Cook 10. Toby Couchman 11. Luciano Leilua 12. Jaydn Su'A 13. Hamish Stewart 14. Hame Sele 15. Josh Kerr 16. Blake Lawrie 17. Ryan Couchman 18. Lyhkan King-Togia 19. David Fale 20. Jacob Halangahu 21. Mathew Feagai 22. Tyrell Sloan

ANALYSIS: Josh Kerr has been named for his Dragons return off the bench. Hame Sele is also on the pine despite a head knock in trials. Atkinson and Setu Tu have been named for Dragosn debuts.

REFEREE: Grant Atkins