NRL Round 21 Match Preview: Dragons to greet defending premiers at WIN

Author: Joel Beatton
Timestamp: Fri 26 Jul 2024, 10:57 AM

The Dragons will meet the Panthers on Sunday, July 28th at WIN Stadium, Wollongong in Round 21 of the 2024 Telstra Premiership.

It firms as a massive occasion for the Red V with our NRLW squad opening their season against the Titans at midday.

The club will also be celebrating Heritage Round looking back on 25 Years of the St George Illawarra Dragons with a number of past players set to be on hand for the day.

The side will be wearing the club's 25 Years Jersey to celebrate Heritage Round on Sunday.

A collection of club legends will be making their way around the field pre-game before forming a guard of honour to welcome the side onto the field.

Passion, pride, and triumphs: Our 25 year Heritage Jersey

We will be partnering with Raising the Bar Foundation (The Barstool Brothers) for Round 21’s 50-50 Charity Raffle.

The Barstool Brothers was formed in 2019 in Wollongong burger bar His Boy Elroy with the idea of creating a safe environment where men could enjoy a free burger at an organised monthly catch-up in a comfortable setting conducive to healthy conversations about mental health.

The organisation currently runs four-to-five events every month ranging from dinner and brunch catch-ups to walks, yoga, golf, exercise sessions, pinball nights and basketball events.

They also have a working partnership with Wollongong City RSL Sub-Branch to host six family events a year combining our community with the veteran community.

KEY TIMINGS

Date: Sunday, July 28th
Gates Open: 11:30am
NRLW: 12:00pm
NRL: 2:00pm
Where: WIN Stadium, Wollongong
Watch: Kayo & Foxtel (+ 9Go! & 9Now for NRLW)

State of Origin stars Ben Hunt and Zac Lomax return to the side with Jesse Marschke (hamstring) and Mikaele Ravalawa the men to make way.

Raymond Faitala-Mariner (back) also returns pushing Luciano Leilua back to the interchange and Jack Bird to the reserves.

Mathew Feagai (shoulder) and Blake Lawrie (shoulder) have both been named among the reserves.

Round 21 - Round 21 - Sunday 28 Jul

Full Time

Dragons

Panthers

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Dragons is number 18 Mathew Feagai

Fullback for Panthers is number 1 Daine Laurie
Winger for Dragons is number 2 Zac Lomax

Winger for Panthers is number 2 Sunia Turuva
Centre for Dragons is number 3 Mosese Suli

Centre for Panthers is number 3 Izack Tago
Centre for Dragons is number 4 Max Feagai

Centre for Panthers is number 4 Casey McLean
Winger for Dragons is number 5 Christian Tuipulotu

Winger for Panthers is number 5 Brian To'o
Five-Eighth for Dragons is number 6 Kyle Flanagan

Five-Eighth for Panthers is number 6 Jarome Luai
Halfback for Dragons is number 7 Ben Hunt

Halfback for Panthers is number 7 Nathan Cleary

Forwards

Prop for Dragons is number 8 Francis Molo

Prop for Panthers is number 8 Moses Leota
Hooker for Dragons is number 9 Jacob Liddle

Hooker for Panthers is number 9 Mitch Kenny
Prop for Dragons is number 10 Jack De Belin

Prop for Panthers is number 10 James Fisher-Harris
2nd Row for Dragons is number 11 Raymond Faitala-Mariner

2nd Row for Panthers is number 11 Scott Sorensen
2nd Row for Dragons is number 12 Jaydn Su'A

2nd Row for Panthers is number 12 Liam Martin
Lock for Dragons is number 14 Hame Sele

Lock for Panthers is number 13 Isaah Yeo

Interchange

Interchange for Dragons is number 13 Tom Eisenhuth

Interchange for Panthers is number 14 Trent Toelau
Interchange for Dragons is number 15 Luciano Leilua

Interchange for Panthers is number 15 Lindsay Smith
Interchange for Dragons is number 16 Toby Couchman

Interchange for Panthers is number 16 Liam Henry
Interchange for Dragons is number 17 Ben Murdoch-Masila

Interchange for Panthers is number 17 Mavrik Geyer

Reserves

Replacement for Dragons is number 19 Blake Lawrie

Replacement for Panthers is number 18 Matthew Eisenhuth

Match Officials

Referee: Gerard Sutton
Touch Judge: Belinda Sharpe
Touch Judge: Jon Stone
Senior Review Official: Kasey Badger

Last updated: 9/7/2024 12:25:38 PM

Jarome Luai, Liam Martin, Isaah Yeo and Brian To’o are back on deck after sitting last week out in the aftermath of the Origin decider, but Dylan Edwards (knee) remains sidelined.

Liam Henry reverts to the interchange with Paul Alamoti (arm), Luron Patea, Matt Eisenhuth and Brad Schneider dropping out.

The clash marks the Panthers' first trip to Wollongong in over eight years with the side having won just two of their past 12 at the venue.