Game day guide: NRL Round 3 + NRLW Round 5

Author: Jack Brady Dragons media and communications manager
Timestamp: Mon 21 Mar 2022, 05:10 PM

As another two huge home games for the Dragons' faithful quickly approaches, this is your game day guide for St George Illawarra's NRL Round 3 and NRLW Round 5 clashes this weekend.

Important update: Due to heavy rain in Kogarah overnight, today's (March 26) Tarsha Gale curtain-raiser (Dragons v Panthers) has been cancelled. Gates will now open at 11.30am. Sorry for any inconvenience.

Local derby gets diverse spin

You'll mistake your Round 3 ticket for a 'world-round' trip upon arriving at WIN Stadium on Thursday night.

The Dragons are taking the NRL's first ever Multicultural Round very seriously, with Bollywood, Samoan and Vietnamese performers, in addition to a Chinese Lion Dance routine, set to bring the precinct entertainment ahead of the local derby.

It's a fitting tribute to further highlight the multiculturalism throughout the club. The Dragons' initial 24-man squad includes players with proud backgrounds and heritages from Italy, Tonga, Great Britain, Bulgaria, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Poland, Gambia, New Zealand and Fiji.

The Dragons lost themselves no on-field admirers following their showing against the defending premiers last week. It sets the stage for a fascinating showdown against fierce rivals Cronulla who were equally brave in their last gasp Round 2 win over Parramatta.

Andrew McCullough (elbow) has been replaced by Moses Mbye, with Jackson Ford and Jack Gosiewski the new faces on the bench.

See all the game day information here

Round 3: Dragons v Sharks
Multicultural Round
Date: Thursday, March 24
Venue: WIN Stadium, Wollongong
Public gates: 6:30pm
Kick-off: 8:05pm

Kogarah first for women

Saturday marks the first time the Dragons' NRLW endeavours will play out at the club's traditional Kogarah home, Netstrata Jubilee Stadium.

Multicultural Round takes on a greater importance as the first themed round of its kind to crosspollinate across both the men's and women's competition.

Across the Dragons' initial 24-woman squad, 13 cultures are represented including Papua New Guinea, New Zealand, Samoa, Tonga and Fiji of the Pacific; European nations such as Greece, Malta, Great Britain, Turkey and Italy in addition to the Philippines.

Red V members can access the game for free with a ticket redemption, while general admission tickets are available for just $10. Kids 15 and under are also free with a paying adult.

NRLW Round 5: Dragons v Sydney Roosters
Multicultural Round
Date: Saturday, March 26
Venue: Netstrata Jubilee Stadium, Kogarah
Public gates (Gate A & D): 11.30am
Kick-off: 1pm

NRLW records tumble for Red V

Sunday afternoon was not only the Dragons' biggest NRLW win ever, it was also the biggest victory in the competition's history following the 40-4 demolition job of the Newcastle Knights.

The first ever NRLW team to score 40 points in one game came with its perks; the Dragons now sitting atop the Women's Premiership ladder with one round remaining.

Teagan Berry's two tries against Newcastle saw her jump teammate Rachael Pearson and now Rooster Jess Sergis into top billing on the Dragons' all-time NRLW point-scorers. Berry's five tries in five games now also a club record.

Half century for long-term Dragon

Josh Kerr's journey to the NRL didn't come without its challenges but he can safely say after Thursday night that he has played 50 first grade games with the Red V.

The Redcliffe junior joined the Dragons in 2017 but wouldn't make his NRL debut until Round 2, 2019, uniquely after he made his debut for the Indigenous All Stars.

20 games in back-to-back campaigns the past two years has set Kerr on a grander trajectory. A milestone he never thought possible is now within touching distance.