The St George Illawarra Dragons welcomed Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles to Netstrata Jubilee Stadium this morning for a scrimmage as both teams prepare for the 2025 NRL Pre-Season Challenge.
Conditions were perfect with the sun shining on a pristine Kogarah surface just a month out from the Dragons' highly anticipated season opener against the Bulldogs.
Co-captains Clint Gutherson and Damien Cook took command of the side on the pitch for the first time whilst Kyle Flanagan and Lachlan Ilias earnt an opportunity to further craft their halves combination.
Recruits Valentine Holmes and Emre Guler also got some burn along with rookies Loko Pasifiki Tonga, Hamish Stewart, and Finau Latu.
For Manly, big guns Daly Cherry-Evans and Tom Trbojevic spent an extended stint on the paddock as well as new faces Siua Taukei'aho and Jazz Tevaga.
Dragons assistant coach Ryan Carr said that the players got plenty out of the hit-out.
"It was really good for the boys to go through a bit of a run-through here at Kogarah," Carr said.
"It's something we've done with Manly in the past and both teams get a fair bit out of it. Obviously, plenty of work has been done throughout the preseason but to put that to the test a little bit in a scrimmage is pretty beneficial. The boys went well. Everyone's looking fit and strong, which is what we want.
"It was great to see some of our younger boys get an opportunity to go up against NRL-calibre players. It's not always easy making that jump up, but they did a good job."
The hit-out featured simulated match scenarios and match-flow periods with NRL referees on-hand to adjudicate the run of play.
While no score was kept in the opposed session, the Dragons' backs enjoyed some of the attack scenarios with Mat Feagai and Christian Tuipulotu crossing for "tries" on the end of shape and Holmes touching down late in the scrimmage.
The likes of Tyrell Sloan (foot), Jacob Liddle (hand) and Corey Allan (knee) sat out of the scrimmage as they target a return to play in the upcoming trials.
The Dragons kick off their NRL Pre-Season Challenge with a clash against the Roosters at Kogarah.
Fans are urged to get in quick for next Sunday's Pre-Season Challenge opener where the Bulldogs will face the Wests Tigers before the Dragons and Roosters round out an electric double-header. Tickets are available for purchase through Ticketek.
Attention then firmly shifts to the side's Round 1 face-off against the Bulldogs which is set to sell-out.
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