Before the Dragons take to WIN Stadium and do battle with the Canberra Raiders, take a look at these five things to keep an eye out for during the match.
- Ben Hunt's text message to McGregor after Origin
- Reg Gasnier returns to Kogarah
- The game which ended a 10-year hoodoo against the Raiders
- How the Dragons have turned the tables on Ricky Stuarts men
Origin stars singular focus
The State of Origin period has come to a close with players able to now knuckle down and focus solely on charging towards the finals.
After three tough and physical Origin matches, the question still remains whether or not the New South Wales and Queensland players will turn out on Sunday.
Corey Norman has been named in the Dragons' starting side after playing his debut Origin match on Wednesday. Paul Vaughan, Tyson Frizell and Ben Hunt all played big roles for their respective states across the series and have been named on the extended bench.
Raiders duo Jack Wighton and Josh Papalii also featured in all three Origins for the Blues and Maroons respectively.
While there's no doubt they will be battered and bruised from the Origin campaign, they will be doing all they can to return to club level with a bang.
Taste of their own medicine
There's some debate whether 'hoodoos' in rugby league are real or just bad luck. The Raiders’ stranglehold over the Dragons over the past 20 years adds fuel to the fire that hoodoos are real.
From 2003 to 2013, the Dragons won only one game out of 16 matches against the Raiders. A 58-16 is the only shining light of the 10-year period, with the Dragons failing to win at all in Canberra during the decade.
The Dragons have turned the tides in the recent years and given the Raiders a taste of their own medicine. The Dragons have won five of the past six matches against the Raiders and are beginning to build their own nice record after years on the receiving end.
Far from over
After 16 rounds of the NRL, the competition ladder is still congested and the final top eight far from certain.
The Dragons are only two points outside the top eight, tied on 14 points with the Broncos, Cowboys and Warriors. A string of victories could easily see the Dragons slide into the top eight.
However, with the end of season fast approaching, it's time for the Dragons to start finding victories. Expect Paul McGregor's men to be fired up for Sunday's clash.
Final outing at WIN in 2019
For the past three weeks, the Dragons have been living at WIN Stadium. Sunday's game against the Raiders will be the last time they take the field in the Illawarra for the 2019 regular season.
The Dragons have won two of four matches at WIN Stadium this season, with victories over Manly and North Queensland. In their final match at fortress Wollongong, the Dragons will want to give the fans something to cheer about.
Raising money for the i98FM Illawarra Convoy
The Dragons have partnered with the i98FM Illawarra Convoy as match day partners on Sunday and will donate one dollar from every ticket sold to the convoy.
The money will be distributed to worthy charities and people across the region, with the NRL and Venues NSW also chipping in and matching the overall sum raised by the Dragons.
