The St George Illawarra Dragons will meet the Dolphins on Thursday, May 25th at Kayo Stadium, Redcliffe. This is your game day guide.
Origin stars unavailable
With Origin I preparations in full swing and those selected unavailable for club fixtures this weekend, both sides will be forced to rely on their depth on Thursday night.
Dragons skipper Ben Hunt has been named in Billy Slater’s Game I squad for the Maroons whilst the Dolphins will be without fullback Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow and back-rower Tom Gilbert.
14-game Origin veteran Felise Kaufusi will also be watching from the sidelines for the Dolphins after being hit with a grade-two careless high tackle charge from their last-start loss to the Storm.
Dragons prop Blake Lawrie is also set to spend several weeks on the sidelines after suffering a hand fracture in the side’s win over the Roosters on Friday night.
Key Timings:
Kick-off: 7.50pm
Where: Kayo Stadium, Redcliffe
Watch: Nine, Kayo & Foxtel
A maiden trip to Redcliffe
The Dragons will play their first ever premiership game at Redcliffe’s Kayo Stadium when they face the Dolphins on Thursday night.
It will be just the second of three times the Dolphins will host a game at the venue this season.
The clash will cap off a gruelling month of travel and short turnarounds – it marks the side’s third trip to Queensland this month and their fourth game in 19 days.
Looking to build on a miraculous win
The Dragons are fresh off a Friday night thriller against the Roosters at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium in which a miracle Mathew Feagai try on the last play of the contest spurred the Dragons to a memorable 24-22 win.
The clash marked Ryan Carr’s first match as interim coach and the 34-year-old will be hoping 1-0 improves to 2-0 this Thursday night.
The win ended what had been a difficult six weeks for the side and the squad will be eager to build on it when they face a Dolphins side coming off a loss to the Storm on Thursday.
Dragons face Wayne once more
Dolphins head coach Wayne Bennett will once again face off against a club that he has shared history with.
Bennett spent three seasons with the Dragons from 2009 to 2011 winning a famous premiership in 2010, a World Club Challenge, and a pair of minor premierships.
With Bennett at the helm, four Dragons made their international debut for the Kangaroos and eight made their Origin debut for the Blues.
Last time they met…
The Dragons hosted the Dolphins in front of 16,472 fans at WIN Stadium back in Round 5 with the Red V coming away with a convincing 38-12 win.
The hosts took a 12-8 lead into the break before five second-half tries – including a double to Mikaele Ravalawa – broke the game open.
Hunt took home six Dally M points as the Dragons handed the Dolphins their heaviest defeat of the season.
Match Highlights: Round 5 v Dolphins
