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NRL Match Preview: Round 17 v Eels

The Dragons are back at WIN Stadium on Saturday for an anticipated showdown against the Eels.

The club's Knock-On Effect NSW Cup team will also be in action in the lead-up to the main game as they eye their ninth win in a row.

Tickets are selling fast, so be sure to secure your spot for Saturday's showdown in Wollongong!

Limited limited game day hospitality spots also remain – experience the action from the Captains Lounge or Legends Club!

KEY INFO

  • Buy Tickets
  • Date Saturday, June 28th
  • Venue WIN Stadium, Wollongong
  • Watch Kayo & Foxtel
  • 3:00PM Gates Open
  • 3:10PM Knock-On Effect NSW Cup | Dragons v Eels
  • 5:30PM NRL | Dragons v Eels

BEANIE FOR BRAIN CANCER ROUND

The NRL and Mark Hughes Foundation are teaming up for the ninth season in a row this weekend to continue the fight against brain cancer.

With over one million beanies purchased since the inaugural Beanie for Brain Cancer Round in 2017, rugby league fans have collectively raised over $25 million directly via beanie sales and donations.

The support has enabled the foundation to establish a national Brain Cancer research hub and fund over 100 researchers and cutting-edge technology to advance research and enhance the lives of those currently undergoing treatment.

Beanies will be available at every match in Round 17 as well as at all Lowes Australia stores and at participating Woolworths and IGA Australia stores.

'Hopefully everybody gets around it': Liddle urges Beanie for Brain Cancer support

A PAIR OF MILESTONES

David Klemmer and Emre Guler will both bring up big milestones on Saturday evening.

Klemmer is set to hit the 250-game mark whilst Guler will play his 100th NRL game.

An All Saints Toongabbie junior, Klemmer came through the grades at Canterbury before earning an NRL debut in Round 1, 2013.

Klemmer, who was a part of Australia’s 2017 World Cup winning side, spent six seasons with Canterbury before a four-year stay in Newcastle and two seasons with the Wests Tigers.

A veteran of 19 Tests and 14 Origins, Klemmer linked up with the Dragons this year and has made 11 starts in the front row.

Guler meanwhile joined the club this offseason having spent the past seven seasons at Canberra.

A Junior Kangaroo and Under 20s Origin representative, Guler’s NRL debut came in Round 23, 2018 before coming off the bench for the Raiders in the 2019 Grand Final.

NRLW SQUAD TO BE INTRODUCED

The club's 2025 NRLW squad will be officially introduced to the crowd prior to kick-off.

New Head Coach Nathan Cross will be on hand alongside recently named co-captains Raecene McGregor and Zali Hopkins as well as the rest of the squad.

Excitement is building with the squad kicking off their season against the Raiders in a double-header in Canberra next Saturday.

'A bit of confidence behind the girls': Co-captain Hopkins talks trial win

A PUMPING PRECINCT

Plenty will be happening around the precinct thanks to our Match Day Partner Squadron Energy.

Fans will be able to collect their own Squadron Energy Clap Banner as well as a 2025 NRLW Team Poster.

The Pass the Ball Tent will be outside Gate A whilst the stars of tomorrow will at half-time be in action in the CHiQ Dragons Dash.

TEAM NEWS

DRAGONS

  • Valentine Holmes (Origin selection), Christian Tuipulotu (hamstring), and Corey Allan (hamstring) all return into the backline for the Red V.
  • Jaydn Su’A (ankle) has also been named to make his return to the line-up with Luciano Leilua reverting to the interchange.
  • Viliami Fifita has been named on the interchange for his first NRL appearance since Round 3, 2024 having pieced together a strong Knock-On Effect NSW Cup campaign.

EELS

  • Dylan Brown (suspension) returns at five-eighth for Parramatta with Joash Papalii listed on the interchange and Ryley Smith (suspension) dropping out.
  • Jordan Samrani replaces Will Penisini (suspension) in the centres.

Team Lists

Backs

  • Fullback for Dragons is number 1 Clinton Gutherson
    Fullback for Eels is number 1 Isaiah Iongi
  • Winger for Dragons is number 2 Corey Allan
    Winger for Eels is number 2 Zac Lomax
  • Centre for Dragons is number 3 Moses Suli
    Centre for Eels is number 3 Jordan Samrani
  • Centre for Dragons is number 4 Valentine Holmes
    Centre for Eels is number 4 Sean Russell
  • Winger for Dragons is number 22 Nathan Lawson
    Winger for Eels is number 5 Josh Addo-Carr
  • Five-Eighth for Dragons is number 6 Lyhkan King-Togia
    Five-Eighth for Eels is number 6 Dylan Brown
  • Halfback for Dragons is number 7 Kyle Flanagan
    Halfback for Eels is number 7 Dean Hawkins

Forwards

  • Prop for Dragons is number 8 Emre Guler
    Prop for Eels is number 8 Jack Williams
  • Hooker for Dragons is number 9 Damien Cook
    Hooker for Eels is number 9 Joey Lussick
  • Prop for Dragons is number 10 David Klemmer
    Prop for Eels is number 10 Junior Paulo
  • 2nd Row for Dragons is number 12 Jaydn Su'A
    2nd Row for Eels is number 11 Kelma Tuilagi
  • 2nd Row for Dragons is number 17 Luciano Leilua
    2nd Row for Eels is number 12 Kitione Kautoga
  • Lock for Dragons is number 13 Jack De Belin
    Lock for Eels is number 13 J'maine Hopgood

Interchange

  • Interchange for Dragons is number 11 Toby Couchman
    Interchange for Eels is number 14 Dylan Walker
  • Interchange for Dragons is number 14 Jacob Liddle
    Interchange for Eels is number 15 Matt Doorey
  • Interchange for Dragons is number 15 Hamish Stewart
    Interchange for Eels is number 16 Charlie Guymer
  • Interchange for Dragons is number 16 Viliami Fifita
    Interchange for Eels is number 17 Joash Papalii

Reserves

  • Replacement for Dragons is number 18 Loko Pasifiki Tonga
    Replacement for Eels is number 18 Dan Keir

Match Officials

  • Referee: Liam Kennedy
  • Touch Judge: Dave Munro
  • Senior Review Official: Chris Butler

Last updated:

Acknowledgement of Country

St George Illawarra Dragons respect and honour the Traditional Custodians of the land and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders peoples, where our games are played, our programs are conducted and in the communities we support.

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