NRL Match Preview: Magic Round v Wests Tigers

Author: Dragons.com.au dragons.com.au
Timestamp: Thu 1 May 2025, 09:01 AM

The Dragons are back at Magic Round on Saturday night and will face the Wests Tigers at a packed-out Suncorp Stadium.

Round 9 - Round 9 - Saturday 3 May

Full Time

Wests Tigers

Dragons

Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane

Highlights Latest

KEY INFO

Date Saturday, May 3rd
Venue Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Watch Kayo & Foxtel
7:45PM Dragons v Wests Tigers

TIME FOR MAGIC

The Dragons are back a part of Magic Round festivities after sitting out last year's fixture having had the bye.

The carnival of footy kicks off with Women's State of Origin on Thursday night before the Sharks and Eels meet at 6:00pm on Friday followed by the Roosters and Dolphins at 8:00pm.

A triple-header is slated for Saturday with the Rabbitohs and Knights kicking things off before Warriors and Cowboys do battle in the lead-up to the Dragons and Wests Tigers showdown at primetime.

The weekend wraps up with a Sunday triple-header featuring clashes including the Titans and Bulldogs, Panthers and Broncos, and Storm and Raiders.

ALLAN TO MAKE CLUB DEBUT

It's taken a little longer than he would've liked but Corey Allan is set to become St George Illawarra Dragon #286 on Saturday night.

Allan came to the club ahead of the 2024 season but suffered a torn ACL during preseason which ruled him out for the entirety of the year.

He made his return to the field via Knock-On Effect NSW Cup in Round 1 as the side's captain and has gone on to play in five games this season.

The 27-year-old has been named to start on the wing in place of Sione Finau.

KING-TOGIA WEARS THE NO.7

Lyhkan King-Togia also comes in for his first NRL outing of the season having impressed at Knock-On Effect NSW Cup season.

In seven Knock-On Effect NSW Cup appearances this year, King-Togia has scored three tries, assisted on nine others, and forced five dropouts.

The recently re-signed 20-year-old has been named to partner Kyle Flanagan in the halves with Lachlan Ilias named among the reserves.

A Dalby Devils junior and Dragons Academy graduate, King-Togia made his NRL debut in the side's Round 24 win over the Gold Coast last year and appeared in the final four games of the season.

TEAM NEWS

DRAGONS

Corey Allan will make his club debut on the wing in place of Sione Finau.
Lyhkan King-Togia earns his first shot of the year at halfback with Lachlan Ilias listed among the reserves.
Gerringong duo Dylan Egan and Hamish Stewart – who returns from a concussion layoff – have both been named to start in the back row with Jack de Belin and Luciano Leilua listed on the interchange and Blake Lawrie on the reserves list.
Rugby Sevens convert Nathan Lawson has been listed among the reserves for the first time in his NRL career.

WESTS TIGERS

Head Coach Benji Marshall has opted to keep the same 17 that downed the Sharks at Leichhardt Oval on Sunday afternoon.

Round 9 - Round 9 - Saturday 3 May

Full Time

Wests Tigers

Dragons

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Wests Tigers is number 1 Jahream Bula

Fullback for Dragons is number 1 Clinton Gutherson
Winger for Wests Tigers is number 2 Sunia Turuva

Winger for Dragons is number 2 Tyrell Sloan
Centre for Wests Tigers is number 3 Adam Doueihi

Centre for Dragons is number 3 Moses Suli
Centre for Wests Tigers is number 5 Brent Naden

Centre for Dragons is number 4 Valentine Holmes
Winger for Wests Tigers is number 23 Charlie Staines

Winger for Dragons is number 5 Corey Allan
Five-Eighth for Wests Tigers is number 6 Lachlan Galvin

Five-Eighth for Dragons is number 6 Kyle Flanagan
Halfback for Wests Tigers is number 7 Jarome Luai

Halfback for Dragons is number 7 Lyhkan King-Togia

Forwards

Prop for Wests Tigers is number 8 Terrell May

Prop for Dragons is number 8 Toby Couchman
Hooker for Wests Tigers is number 9 Apisai Koroisau

Hooker for Dragons is number 9 Damien Cook
Prop for Wests Tigers is number 10 Fonua Pole

Prop for Dragons is number 10 David Klemmer
2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 11 Samuela Fainu

2nd Row for Dragons is number 11 Dylan Egan
2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 12 Alex Seyfarth

2nd Row for Dragons is number 12 Jaydn Su'A
Lock for Wests Tigers is number 13 Alex Twal

Lock for Dragons is number 13 Hamish Stewart

Interchange

Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 14 Tallyn Da Silva

Interchange for Dragons is number 14 Jacob Liddle
Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 15 Royce Hunt

Interchange for Dragons is number 15 Jack De Belin
Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 16 Jack Bird

Interchange for Dragons is number 16 Emre Guler
Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 17 Sione Fainu

Interchange for Dragons is number 17 Luciano Leilua