The St George Illawarra Dragons will meet the Canberra Raiders on Friday, July 7th at WIN Stadium, Wollongong. This is your game day guide.
- Get your tickets here!
- Dragons announce Round 19 team list
- Dragons lower grades team lists: Round 19
Raiders return to Wollongong
The Raiders will make the trip up to WIN Stadium for the fifth year in a row to face the Dragons in the final round impacted by State of Origin selections.
The Dragons have won the past two clashes between the sides in Wollongong and six of their past eight at the venue in total.
The most recent occasion that the sides met at WIN Stadium resulted in a 12-10 Dragons win in monsoon-like conditions last year with Junior Amone and Moses Suli snagging all-important tries.
On the occasion previous to that one, a debuting Tyrell Sloan notched a memorable chip-and-chase try that helped will the Dragons to a 22-20 win.
Be in that moment with your Dragons when we take on the Canberra Raiders at WIN Stadium this Friday night. Pre purchase your ticket online and save at Ticketmaster.
Key Timings:
Gates Open: 5.30pm
KOE NSW Cup kick-off v Raiders: 5.45pm
NRL kick-off v Raiders: 8.00pm
Where: WIN Stadium, Wollongong
Watch: Nine, Kayo & Foxtel
TripADeal Dance Cam
Just before kick-off and at the start of the second half make sure you are in your seats and ready to dance for your chance to WIN.
You have the chance to WIN 3 x $100 Vouchers and a 3-night Gold Coast escape for two people at the Vibe Hotel in Surfers Paradise, all thanks to our friends at TripADeal.
Win a New Car!
Make sure you are at Friday night's game for your chance to win a brand-new car thanks to Chery & Tynan Motors.
Keep your eyes peeled for the car or the QR codes around the ground to enter to win.
An NRL debut years in the making
Many years of hard work and sacrifice will pay off for Dan Russell when he takes the field for his NRL debut on Friday night at WIN Stadium.
The 27-year-old made his Queensland Cup debut for Souths Logan as a teenager back in 2015 and spent four seasons there before making the move north to the Mackay Cutters and eventually the Brisbane Tigers.
He made his international debut for Papua New Guinea in 2019 and played in all four of the Kumuls' outings at last year’s World Cup.
A capable back rower and centre, Russell linked up with the Dragons on a train and trial deal prior to the season and has started in 16 Knock On Effect Cup games under head coach Bronx Goodwin.
Turner makes Dragons debut
Māori All-Stars representative Paul Turner also makes his Dragons debut on Friday night with the former Warrior and Titan named to start at fullback as a result of Tyrell Sloan being ruled out with a calf strain.
Turner debuted for the Warriors as a 20-year-old in 2020 before making his way to the Gold Coast in 2022.
With 10 NRL games under his belt, the Whangārei-native made the move to the Dragons prior to the season and has started in a dozen Knock On Effect Cup games.
Dragons forced into changes
Interim coach Ryan Carr has been forced to make several changes to the 17 due to injury and State of Origin commitments.
With Ben Hunt on Origin duty, Junior Amone returns to the run-on side at five-eighth with Jayden Sullivan at halfback.
Blake Lawrie has been named skipper in Hunt's absence.
Moses Suli also returns in the centres at the expense of Tautau Moga after the Tongan international missed Round 18 due to concussion protocols.
Jaiyden Hunt is missing after displaying category one signs of concussion in the side’s Knock On Effect Cup win over the Jets on Saturday.
Russell comes onto the bench whilst Turner replaces Sloan at fullback.
Origin debutant Horsburgh missing for Canberra
The Raiders will be without Corey Horsburgh for Friday night's clash after the firebrand forward earnt a State of Origin call-up for the Maroons.
Pasami Saulo is missing for the Raiders after suffering a concussion in their last-start win over the Titans whilst Josh Papali'i remains sidelined with a hamstring complaint.
Emre Guler comes into the run-on side in the front row with Ata Mariota shifting to lock and Trey Mooney and Peter Hola joining Ricky Stuart's bench.
