A desperate St George Illawarra will be out to claim its first victory of the year against the high-flying One New Zealand Warriors at St George Venues Jubilee Stadium tonight.
The challenges don't get any easier for the Dragons, who fought bravely but ultimately fell to Penrith last weekend.
The Warriors sit second on the ladder and are riding a five-game winning streak leading into the contest.
One New Zealand Warriors head coach Andrew Webster is without enforcer Mitch Barnett and back rower Kurt Capewell due to Origin duties but retains the services of in-form forwards Jackson Ford and Erin Clark.
The Warriors have been dealt a major blow with halfback Tanah Boyd rupturing his ACL last weekend and ruled out for the season. Te Maire Martin will step into the #7 jumper, having starred off the bench last weekend.
The Dragons' search for their first win of the year continues. Dean Young's squad pushed Penrith last Sunday night and continues to show promising signs for the future.
A young forward packed stocked with local juniors has taken it to the best packs in the league, with the Couchman twins and Dylan Egan impressing in recent weeks.
Match: Dragons v Warriors
Round 12 -
home Team
Dragons
17th Position
away Team
Warriors
2nd Position
Venue: St George Venues Jubilee Stadium, Kogarah
Team news
Dragons: A change 24-hours out from the game, with Jaydn Su'A, who had been named to return from a three-game suspension in the centres with Moses Suli nursing a back injury, ruled out after he injured his calf at training. Hayden Buchanan instead has been elevated to start. Earlier, Tyrell Sloan had overcome a groin injury to be named on the bench.
One New Zealand Warriors: Roger Tuivasa-Sheck has been named to make his return, slotting in at centre in place of Adam Pompey who remains in the reserves. Marata Niukore also makes way for Kayliss Fatialofa on the extended bench. Te Maire Martin takes over from injured halfback Tanah Boyd (ACL) while Jackson Ford and Jacob Laban come into the starting side with Mitch Barnett and Kurt Capewell on Origin duty. Eddie Ieremia-Toeava and Luke Hanson are the new faces on the six-man bench.
Match: Dragons v Warriors
Round 12 -
home Team
Dragons
away Team
Warriors
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Dragons is number 1 Clinton GuthersonFullback for Warriors is number 1 Taine Tuaupiki
-
Winger for Dragons is number 2 Setu TuWinger for Warriors is number 2 Dallin Watene-Zelezniak
-
Centre for Dragons is number 4 Valentine HolmesCentre for Warriors is number 3 Ali Leiataua
-
Centre for Dragons is number 20 Hayden BuchananCentre for Warriors is number 23 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
-
Winger for Dragons is number 5 Christian TuipulotuWinger for Warriors is number 5 Alofiana Khan-Pereira
-
Five-Eighth for Dragons is number 6 Daniel AtkinsonFive-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Chanel Harris-Tavita
-
Halfback for Dragons is number 7 Kyle FlanaganHalfback for Warriors is number 7 Te Maire Martin
Forwards
-
Prop for Dragons is number 8 Loko Jnr Pasifiki TongaProp for Warriors is number 8 James Fisher-Harris
-
Hooker for Dragons is number 9 Damien CookHooker for Warriors is number 9 Wayde Egan
-
Prop for Dragons is number 10 Toby CouchmanProp for Warriors is number 10 Jackson Ford
-
2nd Row for Dragons is number 11 Dylan Egan2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Leka Halasima
-
2nd Row for Dragons is number 12 Hamish Stewart2nd Row for Warriors is number 12 Jacob Laban
-
Lock for Dragons is number 13 Ryan CouchmanLock for Warriors is number 13 Erin Clark
Interchange
-
Interchange for Dragons is number 14 Luciano LeiluaInterchange for Warriors is number 14 Sam Healey
-
Interchange for Dragons is number 15 Emre GulerInterchange for Warriors is number 15 Tanner Stowers-Smith
-
Interchange for Dragons is number 16 Josh KerrInterchange for Warriors is number 16 Demitric Vaimauga
-
Interchange for Dragons is number 18 Tyrell SloanInterchange for Warriors is number 17 Eddie Ieremia-Toeava
Reserves
-
Reserve for Dragons is number 17 Blake LawrieReserve for Warriors is number 18 Luke Hanson
-
Reserve for Dragons is number 19 Lyhkan King-TogiaReserve for Warriors is number 21 Kayliss Fatialofa
Match Officials
- Referee: Adam Gee
- Touch Judge: Dave Munro
- Senior Review Official: Wyatt Raymond
Last updated:
Stat attack
- The Dragons have won three of their last four games against the Warriors at Kogarah.
- The Warriors have won four of their five games in Australia this season.
- Dragons winger Christian Tuipulotu has scored five tries in his last six games at Kogarah.
- Warriors winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak has scored 10 tries in his last six games.
- The Dragons have scored less than 20 points in each of their last six games.
Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the official annual of the NRL.
