The St George Illawarra Dragons will face the Wests Tigers at Bankwest Stadium on Friday, May 28. This is your Indigenous Round 12 game guide.
Club legend to headline Dragons' Indigenous Round celebrations
The Dragons will proudly wear their 2021 indigenous jersey and indigenous polo throughout Indigenous Round ahead of Friday night's clash against the Wests Tigers.
The Dragons are also blessed to have an Indigenous presence etched in the club's history, including Jamie Soward who is the club's most capped player of all-time (977 points – 39 tries, 398 goals, 25 field goals).
Soward and Amos Roberts also jointly hold the record for most points scored in a match (22) and most goals in a match (nine) alongside former skipper Gareth Widdop.
Former fan favourite Nathan Blacklock also scored 76 tries between seasons 1999 and 2001, including a whopping 27 in 2001 (the equal-sixth most by an individual in Australian premiership history).
Speaking of the man affectionately known as Tingha, the 25th most-capped St George Illawarra player will lead the boys out on Friday, including centre Jack Bird who hails from the Dharawal nation.
In a sad state of affairs, fellow Indigenous All Stars representatives Josh Kerr and Tyrell Fuimaono are suspended for the game.
Hear from Dragons inclusion and outreach consultant Paul Everill and 2021 indigenous jersey designer Johnny Robinson about our jersey and the week ahead below.
A deeper dive into the Dragons' 2021 indigenous jersey
Senior trio helps prevent absentee flux
Gerard Beale has been named in the centres for his first game for the Dragons since Round 26, 2014. Talatau Amone reverts to the bench with Adam Clune named in the reserves.
Cody Ramsey and last start debutant Jaiyden Hunt have been named despite their HIA woes in the Dragons' Round 11 golden point loss to the Sharks. The same cannot be said for Max Feagai who has been replaced by Brayden Wiliame (calf) on the wing.
Tariq Sims returns from suspension in place of the coincidentally suspended Kerr in the back row.
The inclusion of Sims, Wiliame and Beale is welcomed relief for a Red V side also missing Zac Lomax (thumb), Matt Dufty (shoulder), Trent Merrin (retirement), Josh McGuire, Fuimaono, Mikaele Ravalawa (all suspended) and Cameron McInnes (knee).
Jimmy the Jet returns
The Wests Tigers couldn't have picked a better round to unleash James Roberts back into the first grade fold.
The three-time Indigenous All Stars representative has been named on the wing for the Tigers in a huge test for the returning Brayden Wiliame.
With Roberts set to link up with the in-form Adam Doueihi on the right edge, the Dragons will have to be on the ball if they are to contend with a Tigers team who only beat them back in Round 8.
Freeze frame
You can never accuse the boys for not caring. Jackson Ford's reaction to our golden point loss to the Sharks last week says it all.
