The St George Illawarra Dragons will face the Newcastle Knights at McDonald Jones Stadium on Easter Sunday (April 4 @ 4:05pm). This is your Round 4 game guide.
- "We stand with Mose": Fundraising appeal launched for former Dragon
- Hunt injury prognosis revealed
- Lower grades enjoy top four start to year
An important occasion
For the seventh-straight season, St George Illawarra and Newcastle will play for the Alex McKinnon Cup.
Played on the first occasion both clubs play each season, the Alex McKinnon Cup is a fitting way to recognise the now 29-year-old's contributions to both the Knights and Dragons.
McKinnon made his NRL debut for the Dragons in 2011 before moving to the Hunter the year following. His career would be tragically cut short in the early rounds of 2014, a tackle gone wrong resulted in the Country Origin representative becoming a quadriplegic.
It will be a much different lead in for the Dragons in 2021 given they won't defend the honour after losing it for the first time in Round 19 last year, an embarrassing 42-18 loss at McDonald Jones Stadium.
Meanwhile, an appeal to donate to former Dragon Mose Masoe's rehabilitation launched this week. More details on the "We stand with Mose" fundraiser can be found here.
The Bird, Hunt conundrum
The masses hailed Ben Hunt tougher than a $2 steak following his gritty performance against the Sea Eagles on Friday.
While the Dragons captain exited proceedings with 10 minutes remaining as a precaution, the next day uncovered Hunt suffered an impact fracture to his fibula.
In somewhat positive news, following further consultation it's hoped Hunt will be back playing within four weeks.
Andrew McCullough will skipper the Dragons for the first time in his absence.
McCullough: It's an honour to keep his seat warm
The blows kept coming for the Dragons over the weekend when Jack Bird took an early guilty plea on a grade two contrary conduct charge.
Brayden Wiliame will start in the centres as a result while Jackson Ford will play game one of season 2021 from the interchange.
Frizell reunion beckons
Tyson Frizell will go head-to-head against the St George Illawarra Dragons for the first time on Easter Sunday.
The 165-game Dragon never played the Red V in his formative seasons at the Sharks.
Frizell has been a dominant force for the Knights so far in 2021 and must be contained by his former teammates if victory is to ensue.
The Corrimal Cougars junior will be joined by the returning Blake Green (ACL) in the Knights' 17 while Starford To'a has been named on the wing at the expense of last start debutant Dominic Young.
Stats that matter
Zac Lomax put his 2021 season into overdrive in Round 3 against the Sea Eagles when he equalled the club record for most points in a game (22 points – two tries, seven goals).
Matt Dufty remarkable try-scoring record at WIN Stadium continued against Manly also. His two tries took him to 13 four-pointers in 14 Wollongong appearances.
Andrew McCullough's 53 tackles took him to outright second on the NRL tackle count, while Corey Norman continued his run of good form in 2021 with two try assists.
Distance shall not weary the merch van
The Dragons merchandise van knows the Princes Highway between Wollongong and Kogarah like the back of the hand, so this Easter weekend it will have no trouble heading to Newcastle (traffic pending on that god awful M1).
Purchase and collect all the latest Dragons merch from the southern entrance at McDonald Jones Stadium between gates P and Q.
