The St George Illawarra Dragons will commence their 2020 NRL Telstra Premiership campaign against the Wests Tigers at WIN Stadium, Wollongong on Sunday, March 15. This is your Round 1 game day guide.
Gates open – 3:30pm
Dragons v Western Suburbs Magpies (Canterbury Cup) – 3:45pm
Dragons v Wests Tigers (NRL) – 6:15pm
- Further game day information can be found here
- NRL.com match preview
- Four fresh faces named for Round 1
Round One for all
Round 1 of the 2020 season will be a round for all. A round where together as a game we say thank you, recognise and honour the thousands of people who helped with relief operations as well as those impacted by the recent Australia-wide bushfire devastation.
12 years between drinks
The Dragons are the Wests Tigers' third-most played opponent since their introduction to the league in 2000, so you'd be forgiven for thinking that a trip down the Princes Highway was the norm for them.
In fact, the Tigers haven't played a competition game in Wollongong in a dozen years – an 18-10 victory (Round 22, 2008). This Sunday night's game will only be the Tigers' fourth game in the Illawarra.
It's a fitting fixture for breaking droughts with WIN Stadium set to host their first Round 1 game in the Dragons' joint-venture's history.
New day for old Dragons
Tyson Frizell's switch to the left edge spells bad news for former teammate, Luciano Leilua.
Wests Tigers recruit Leilua has earned first crack in Michael Maguire's back row for what will be a day of reckoning against New South Wales and Australia veteran Frizell.
Five of Frizell's 22 NRL tries have come against the Tigers, the most four-pointers he's scored against any other club.
Old is new again for Trent Merrin too in his first NRL game for the Red V in four seasons, while evergreen Tigers playmaker Benji Marshall will enter WIN Stadium for the first time since 2016.
NRLW Perth Nines celebrations
The Dragons take the club's NRL Women's Premiership endeavours very seriously. Sunday will not only celebrate the opening of the 2020 season but also the recent success of our women at the Perth Nines.
The Dragons' 28-4 win over the Broncos in the final was sweet revenge for a similar flogging the Red V received in the NRLW grand final last October.
Red V members and fans will also have the opportunity to get a photo with the NRL Perth Nines premiership trophy.
Be sure to head to the Red V membership tent at the Harbour Street grass area to get close and personal with the Dragons' first piece of silverware in a decade.
