There's more than pride on the line for our NRL and NRLW teams this weekend in two huge games for St George Illawarra. This is your game day guide for the Dragons' NRLW semi-final showdown and NRL Round 5 clash this weekend.
Red V returns to finals
For the first time since 2019, St George Illawarra will play finals football.
The long-awaited return to the promise land follows the Dragons' run to the NRLW grand final two-and-a-half years ago.
Leichhardt Oval proved the second last stop of that campaign too. Spooky.
Newcomers Gold Coast proved an almighty challenge in Round 1 back in February. They have since beaten three-time defending premiers Brisbane – a summit the Dragons have never reached.
Sharpshooting halfback Rachael Pearson returns for the Dragons after being rested last week. She'll be looking to wrestle back the club's all-time point-scorer mantle from Teagan Berry, who is amidst her own try-scoring shootout with fellow winger Madison Bartlett.
NRLW Semi-Finals: Dragons v Gold Coast Titans
Date: Sunday, April 3
Venue: Leichhardt Oval
Kick-off: 12pm
Secure your semi-final seat here.
Hamstrung duo trade places
Cody Ramsey and Aaron Woods aren't like-for-like replacements in any sense of the word, although their recent hamstring injuries have certainly determined their availability for Round 4.
Ramsey is out indefinitely and replaced by Mat Feagai on the wing. On the flipside, Woods returns for the Dragons. He takes Jack Gosiewski's place on the interchange who has been promoted to the starting side for the suspended Jaydn Su'A.
Andrew McCullough has been named in the reserves as he closes in on his return from a dislocated elbow a fortnight ago.
Round 4: Dragons v Parramatta Eels
Date: Sunday, April 3
Venue: CommBank Stadium, Parramatta
Kick-off: 6:15pm
Bring your E-TAG
If you're going to make in-roads to Leichhardt Oval on Sunday afternoon to watch the NRLW Dragons fight for a spot in the grand final then there's absolutely no reason you can't hit the M4 thereafter and head straight to Parramatta's CommBank Stadium for the Dragons' NRL clash.
Two games in one day? What's stopping you!
We don't call our proud members, corporate partners and fans the Dragons faithful for nothing.
Pelite watch
Emma Tonegato has been a superstar signing for the Dragons this campaign, but the Titans haven't gone without a taste of Rugby Sevens talent either.
Fellow Olympic gold medallist Evania Pelite signed with the Titans from the Warriors ahead of this season and has proved an instant hit on the Gold Coast.
An ankle injury a fortnight ago has left her availability on a knife edge after being named in the Titans' reserves.
A replication of her 172 metres, five tackle breaks and one line break against the Dragons in Round 1 could be a huge loss (or gain) for the Titans this weekend.
Fickle Eels NRL record
The NRL Dragons' introduction to CommBank Stadium since its completion in 2019 has been mixed, to say the least.
Two wins in six appearances; not so good. However, those two wins have come against the Eels (in just three meetings).
The last time they collided in Parramatta it was an emotional affair for the Dragons, as former coach Paul McGregor departed the club thereafter.
There's no two ways about this weekend though. One win in four games to open any season is undesirable. The Dragons will be up for another huge showing at CommBank.
