The St George Illawarra Dragons will face the Sydney Roosters at the Sydney Cricket Ground in the traditional Anzac Cup fixture on Sunday, April 25. This is your Round 7 game guide.
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- Dragons launch 2021 commemorative jersey
- Injured duo named in Dragons' Anzac Cup squad
The biggest game on the regular season calendar
The heading says it all.
Since 2002 (not including last year's pandemic-riddled season), the Dragons and Roosters have been the crown jewel of the NRL's Anzac Day commemorations.
The game will kick-off at 4:05pm, with the official Anzac Day ceremony to commence at 3:45pm.
The two teams have met on Anzac Day 18 times. The Dragons have won 11 Anzac Cup games to the Roosters' seven.
The Ashton-Collier Spirit of Anzac Medal will again be awarded to the Man of the Match.
St George Illawarra fans will again be given the opportunity to bid on player-worn commemorative jerseys leading into the NRL's Anzac Round. The auction will commence on Friday, April 23 with a proportion of the funds again to be donated to the Australian War Memorial.
The Australia Defence Force team will once again act as a curtain raiser, although this year they will play against the Turkish Residents (1:50pm).
Red V member note
Red V members, please note: This year's Anzac Cup fixture is a Roosters home game. Red V members do not receive access to this game with their membership and must purchase a ticket to attend
Tickets are available via Ticketek and members can receive a 20 per cent discount! It is encouraged that tickets be pre-purchased ahead of the anticipated sell out.
Opportunity created
Maybe long-term teammate Kaide Ellis came to mind.
Maybe it was Blake Lawrie, who will replace him in the 17 on Anzac Day.
By golly, it could have been Tyrell Fuimaono, who will play his 50th NRL game this weekend.
Either way, Trent Merrin showed his selflessness upon informing the world of his immediate retirement from the National Rugby League on Wednesday.
Merrin told a packed press conference said following the announcement: "With the way that Hook (coach Anthony Griffin) has the team going and the feeling among the playing group that we have, I feel that I would be doing more damage than good so my salary and my position can go to one of the young guys coming through."
A St George Illawarra legend, undoubtedly – the Dragons will celebrate the career of Mez next week when the Red V returns to WIN Stadium to tackle the Wests Tigers.
Press conference: Trent Merrin farewells Dragons
Tricolours' rally for huge game
The Dragons may get Ben Hunt back this week, but the Sydney Roosters have their own inclusions to puff their chest out about.
Not only was Victor Radley cleared by the NRL match review committee, his teammate Sam Verrills is set to return from a long-term knee injury.
Better yet for the Tricolours is that Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and Siosiua Taukeiaho have been cleared of serious injury after failing to finish their last start loss to the Melbourne Storm.
Stats that matter
St George Illawarra player No. 243 Josh McGuire earned many new admirers against the Warriors with a stirring debut performance.
McGuire played 57 minutes from the bench where he recorded 125 metres, two tackle breaks and 33 tackles.
Jack Bird is slowly returning to peak form too if his seven tackle breaks was anything to go by against the men from across the ditch.
Freeze frame
The result may not have gone the Dragons way last Sunday against the Warriors, but how good was it to see a packed hill at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium!
