The St George Illawarra Dragons have provided the perfect Easter Sunday afternoon offering when they take on the Newcastle Knights at WIN Stadium, Wollongong.
- See how the Knights will line-up on Sunday
- For the full Dragons team list see here
- Dragons announce joint winners for NRLW player of the year
Egg-travagant Easter Sunday special
After eating your weight in chocolate on Sunday make sure you swing by WIN Stadium to enjoy the egg-tra special day of activities planned.
The Easter Bunny will be bouncing around the precinct on Sunday, spreading the cheer and of course handing out more chocolatey goodness.
Make sure you check out the games area on Harbour Street (outside Gate A) and challenge your friends at carrothole (cornhole) and Conn-egg 4 (Connect 4).
Don't put all your eggs in one basket and make sure you see the face painters on the hill and treat yourself to a special Dragons showbag available from Gate A and C.
Plus, with a public holiday on Monday you can let your hare down while Aussie band Black Pallas jam out the tunes at half-time.
Will Sunday's Easter egg-travaganza be a great day for the family? You betcha.
NRL Round 6: Dragons v Newcastle Knights
Date: Sunday, April 17
Venue: WIN Stadium, Wollongong
KOE Cup kick-off: 1:40pm
NRL kick-off: 4:05pm
Secure your Easter Sunday seat here.
Suspended duo intrigue team list
Dragons coach Anthony Griffin has called upon his old faithful Josh McGuire to help turn the tide for the Red V.
McGuire, who copped a lengthy ban at the end of the 2021 season, will return for his first game of the new campaign at the expense of Jackson Ford.
Aaron Woods also finds him named in the extended squad alongside another intriguing name in Tyrell Fuimaono, who too returns from a suspension procured in the pre-season trials.
George Burgess is the new face in the Dragons' 17.
Defending the Alex McKinnon Cup
As they have done for the last eight years, the Dragons and Newcastle will play for the Alex McKinnon Cup.
Having made his NRL debut at the Dragons back in 2011, McKinnon moved to Newcastle the following year. His career would tragically be cut short in the early rounds of 2014; a tackle gone wrong resulting in the now 30-year-old becoming a quadriplegic.
McKinnon's namesake cup is a fitting way to recognise Alex's contribution to both clubs, which is played on the first occasion they meet each season.
The Dragons have a great record in Alex McKinnon Cup clashes, winning six of the seven matches so far.
Steel city showdown
There aren't too many similarities between the Knights and Dragons, even the towns they represent could be long-lost relatives.
Both Newcastle and Wollongong are situated on pristine coastline with a proud blue-collar following. A following that also certainly demand success.
The same can't be said for meetings on a football field, with the Knights more closely resembling tinfoil rather than steel.
The Dragons hold an emphatic record over the Novocastrians winning 28 of 41 matches resulting in the Newcastle's worst win-loss record against any other club (31.7 per cent).
Knights' two BIG ins
On paper, the returns of David Klemmer and Edrick Lee from injury is positive news for Newcastle.
On the field, the big bodies of the Origin representatives make the assignment even tougher for the Dragons on Sunday.
Lee's return ends 18 months of injury limbo. He replaces Dominic Young on the wing. Klemmer will start at the expense of Jirah Momoisea.
