NRL Round 2 Preview: Dragons look to build on strong opener

Author: Dragons.com.au dragons.com.au
Timestamp: Thu 14 Mar 2024, 03:59 PM

The Dragons will meet the Dolphins on Sunday, March 17th at Kayo Stadium, Redcliffe in Round 2 of the 2024 Telstra Premiership.

Shane Flanagan's men are fresh off a 28-4 Round 1 win over the Titans in which fullback Tyrell Sloan managed the first hat-trick of his NRL career.

Date: Sunday, March 17th
Time: 6:15pm AEDT / 5:15pm QLD
Where: Kayo Stadium, Redcliffe
Watch: Kayo & Foxtel

Luciano Leilua has been named on the interchange for his season debut after being unavailable for the side's win over the Titans last week.

Dragon #204, Leilua debuted for the club as a 20-year-old in Round 22 of the 2016 season and went on to make 43 appearances for the Red V before departing at the end of 2019.

Now 27, Leilua returns with 123 NRL games and three Samoan international caps to his name.

Blake Lawrie has also been named after sitting out last week's win with a rib issue.

'I'm good to go', Lawrie keen to run out against the Dolphins

His return to the side pushes Jack de Belin back to lock, Tom Eisenhuth into the second row, and Raymond Faitala-Mariner to the interchange.

Viliami Fifita and Ben Murdoch-Masila revert to the reserves list alongside new recruit Hame Sele as he works towards a return from a hamstring injury that he picked up during the preseason.

Round 2 - Round 2 - Sunday 17 Mar

Full Time

Dolphins

Dragons

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Dolphins is number 1 Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow

Fullback for Dragons is number 1 Tyrell Sloan
Winger for Dolphins is number 2 Jamayne Isaako

Winger for Dragons is number 2 Zac Lomax
Centre for Dolphins is number 3 Jake Averillo

Centre for Dragons is number 3 Mosese Suli
Centre for Dolphins is number 4 Herbie Farnworth

Centre for Dragons is number 4 Jack Bird
Winger for Dolphins is number 5 Jack Bostock

Winger for Dragons is number 5 Mikaele Ravalawa
Five-Eighth for Dolphins is number 6 Kodi Nikorima

Five-Eighth for Dragons is number 6 Kyle Flanagan
Halfback for Dolphins is number 7 Isaiya Katoa

Halfback for Dragons is number 7 Ben Hunt

Forwards

Prop for Dolphins is number 8 Jesse Bromwich

Prop for Dragons is number 8 Francis Molo
Hooker for Dolphins is number 9 Jeremy Marshall-King

Hooker for Dragons is number 9 Jacob Liddle
Prop for Dolphins is number 10 Thomas Flegler

Prop for Dragons is number 16 Raymond Faitala-Mariner
2nd Row for Dolphins is number 11 Felise Kaufusi

2nd Row for Dragons is number 11 Tom Eisenhuth
2nd Row for Dolphins is number 12 Euan Aitken

2nd Row for Dragons is number 12 Jaydn Su'a
Lock for Dolphins is number 13 Max Plath

Lock for Dragons is number 13 Jack De Belin

Interchange

Interchange for Dolphins is number 14 Josh Kerr

Interchange for Dragons is number 10 Blake Lawrie
Interchange for Dolphins is number 16 Mark Nicholls

Interchange for Dragons is number 14 Connor Muhleisen
Interchange for Dolphins is number 17 Jarrod Wallace

Interchange for Dragons is number 15 Michael Molo
Interchange for Dolphins is number 18 Kurt Donoghoe

Interchange for Dragons is number 17 Luciano Leilua

Reserves

Replacement for Dolphins is number 15 Kenneath Bromwich

Replacement for Dragons is number 18 Viliami Fifita

Match Officials

Referee: Grant Atkins
Touch Judge: Liam Kennedy
Touch Judge: Phil Henderson
Senior Review Official: Chris Butler

Last updated: 9/7/2024 12:25:50 PM

As for the hosts, Ray Stone (head knock) and Connelly Lemuelu (knee) are both out with Max Plath coming into the run-on side and Euan Aitken starting in the second row.

Tesi Niu and Sean O'Sullivan also drop out for the Dolphins with Jake Averillo and Isaiya Katoa earning starts.

The Dolphins fell to the Cowboys 43-18 in Round 1 at Suncorp Stadium.

The Dragons met the Dolphins twice in their inaugural season coming away with one win and one loss.