One of the game's greatest rivals receives a local feel while also coinciding with one of the rugby league's most important rounds. This is your game day guide for the Dragons' Round 12 clash against the Bulldogs.
Indigenous Round takes centre stage
One of the most important rounds of the NRL kicks off this week as we recognise and celebrate Indigenous history and culture.
The Dragons are blessed to have a strong Indigenous presence etched in the club's history, including Jamie Soward, Amos Roberts, Nathan Blacklock, Anthony Mundine and more recently Jack Bird.
Soward and Roberts jointly hold the record for most points scored in a match (22) and most goals in a match (nine), while fan favourite Nathan Blacklock scored 76 tries between seasons 1999 and 2001, including a whopping 27 in 2001.
The Dragons and Bulldogs will meet on the home of the Dharug, Eora and Bediagal Peoples, proudly wearing Indigenous designed jerseys on Sunday afternoon.
Speaking of…
From the fiery breath of a Dragon to the totem of the Dharawal people, our 2022 Indigenous jersey is steeped in cultural significance.
Proud Torres Strait Islander Joanne Nikki was the winner of the Dragons' 2022 indigenous jersey design competition, as selected by the club's reconciliation action plan committee, staff, players and local elders.
Her artwork, titled 'Commitment', was so good that the Dragons will wear her jersey twice, once this week and again in Round 15 against the South Sydney Rabbitohs.
For a full breakdown of our 2022 Indigenous jersey, see here.
Old hands return
Two games shy of his 300th NRL game, Andrew McCullough will make a welcomed return to the Dragons' line-up on Sunday afternoon.
McCullough has been named on the bench at the expense of Jayden Sullivan who has done an admirable job out of position in the middle of the park.
The Bulldogs aren't without their changes as heralded premiership-winning Origin and Test representative Josh Addo-Carr makes his return from non-Covid related illness.
Jayden Okunbor makes way for the former Storm winger alongside Joe Stimson who is the odd man out for Corey Waddell's (concussion) return.
Penshurst RSL junior Matt Dufty will also face the Dragons for the first time since his departure from the Red V at the conclusion of the 2021 season.
Belmore debut
Despite only being a 20-minute trip across town from Kogarah, St George Illawarra have never graced the field at Belmore before.
You must cast your mind back all the way to 1996 when both of the joint venture's founding clubs St George Dragons and the Illawarra Steelers last played the Bulldogs in Belmore.
Prolific Indigenous try-scorer Anthony Mundine scored a double in St George's 26-6 victory while the Steelers were steadfast in a tight 12-0 defeat.
At least the Red V will have former Bulldogs Moses Mbye and Aaron Woods on hand to share some insider information on what it's like to play at Canterbury's spiritual home.
