NRLW Match Preview: Indigenous Round v Sharks

Author: St George Illawarra Dragons
Timestamp: Thu 7 Aug 2025, 08:59 AM

Nathan Cross' Dragons are back at Jubilee for a Saturday Indigenous Round showdown against local rivals the Sharks.

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Our NRL squad will be in action following our NRLW showdown in an Indigenous Round local derby clash of their own.

Round 23 - Round 23 - Saturday 9 Aug

Full Time

Dragons

Sharks

Venue: Jubilee Stadium, Sydney

Highlights Latest

KEY INFO

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Date Saturday, August 9th
Venue Jubilee Stadium, Kogarah
Watch Nine, 9Now, Kayo & Foxtel
12:15PM Precinct Opens
12:30PM Gates Open
12:45PM NRLW | Dragons v Sharks
2:30PM Indigenous Performance
2:50PM Team Walk Out & Welcome to Country
3:00PM NRL | Dragons v Sharks

LOCAL DUO TO DEBUT

Nathan Cross has been forced into a raft of changes to cover injury and suspension concerns with a pair of local juniors named for their NRLW debuts.

Tori Shipton – a Thirroul Butchers junior – and Tahlia O’Brien – a Western Suburbs Red Devils junior – have both been named to make their NRLW debuts off the interchange.

Both made the leap up from Lisa Fiaola Cup to Tarsha Gale Cup earlier this year with the Steelers and pieced together strong campaigns as they made a run to the postseason.

Shipton and O’Brien were also a part of NSW's Under 19s Women's State of Origin winning squad in June.

They take the tally of local juniors making up this week's squad up to nine in a show of the club's commitment to nurturing our pathways system.

CELEBRATING INDIGENOUS ROUND

This year marks the first time ever that Indigenous Round will be played across two rounds in both the NRL and NRLW.

The round calls on the NRL community to be proud of and celebrate the contributions that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have made to rugby league.

At Jubilee on Saturday, both our NRL and NRLW teams will adorn our 2025 Indigenous Jersey.

Designed by proud Dharug man Kane Wright, the artwork brings to life the richness of the Dharawal calendar, the wisdom of Elders, and the deep connections between people, animals, and the environment.

All those in attendance will be treated to an Indigenous Performance at 2:30pm before a special team walk out and Welcome to Country ceremony.

Many great Indigenous players have donned the Red V over the years from club greats Ricky Walford, Nathan Blacklock, Jamie Soward, Jeff Hardy and Anthony Mundine to current day stars Tyrell Sloan, Bobbi Law, and Ella Koster.

A DOUBLE DOSE OF RIVALRY

Few rugby league rivalries compare to that of the Dragons and Sharks and both clubs' NRL and NRLW squads will be descending upon Jubilee for a key showdown on Saturday.

The Dragons' NRL side were able to get back in the winners circle last weekend toppling the ladder-leading Raiders whilst the club's NRLW squad suffered a last-ditch defeat to Eels at Magic Round.

Both teams will be in desperate to send the Jubilee faithful home happy come Saturday and tickets are still available, so be sure to secure yours and cheer your Dragons to victory in what beckons as a huge Kogarah double-header.

Or experience the rivalry of the local derby the premium way. Game Day Hospitality Packages are selling fast. Book now!

50-50 PARTNER: BURRAGA FOUNDATION

The Dragons are proud to be partnering with Burraga Foundation for this Saturday's 50-50 Charity Raffle.

The Burraga Foundation is an Aboriginal not-for-profit charity organisation whose initiatives aim to champion a better understanding of Aboriginal Australia for all Australians by working in partnership with Aboriginal communities to support cultural awareness, community engagement, training and employment opportunities.

The Burraga Foundation offers a range of services including on-country tours, cultural awareness training, cultural consultation, partnerships, Reconciliation Action Plan development and support, and digital resource and materials development.

We encourage all fans to show their support – every donation, big or small, helps make a difference.

Dragons proud to partner with Burraga Foundation for 50-50 Raffle

TEAM NEWS

DRAGONS

Local juniors Tori Shipton and Tahlia O’Brien have been named to make their NRLW debuts off the interchange.
Maddie Studdon, a former Jillaroos and Sky Blues star, has been named to make her NRLW return in the No.6 jumper to cover the loss of Raecene McGregor (suspension). It marks her first NRLW outing since Round 4, 2023 when she started at five-eighth for Cronulla against the Roosters.
Kasey Reh (head knock) returns at halfback with Zali Hopkins shifting into the hooking role to cover the absence of Nita Maynard-Perrin (knee).
Maria Paseka comes onto the wing for her first NRLW outing of the year replacing Margot Vella (ACL) whilst Bronte Wilson starts at prop with Trinity Tauaneai (shoulder) and Alice Gregory (finger) also unavailable.

SHARKS

Grace-Lee Weekes has been named at centre in place of Tiana Penitani Gray (head knock).
Annessa Biddle (shoulder) returns into the centres whilst Brooke Anderson (head knock) will line up at lock and Stephanie Faulkner (head knock) is back on the interchange.
Emma Verran (foot) has been named in the reserves and is a chance of returning.

Round 6 - Round 6 - Saturday 9 Aug

Full Time

Dragons

Sharks

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Dragons is number 1 Tyra Ekepati

Fullback for Sharks is number 22 Emma Verran
Winger for Dragons is number 2 Maria Paseka

Winger for Sharks is number 2 Cassie Staples
Centre for Dragons is number 3 Shenai Lendill

Centre for Sharks is number 3 Grace-Lee Weekes
Centre for Dragons is number 4 Keele Browne

Centre for Sharks is number 4 Annessa Biddle
Winger for Dragons is number 5 Jayme Millard

Winger for Sharks is number 5 Georgia Ravics
Five-Eighth for Dragons is number 6 Maddie Studdon

Five-Eighth for Sharks is number 6 Georgia Hannaway
Halfback for Dragons is number 7 Kasey Reh

Halfback for Sharks is number 7 Chantay Kiria-Ratu

Forwards

Prop for Dragons is number 8 Madison Mulhall

Prop for Sharks is number 8 Ellie Johnston
Hooker for Dragons is number 9 Zali Hopkins

Hooker for Sharks is number 9 Quincy Dodd
Prop for Dragons is number 10 Bronte Wilson

Prop for Sharks is number 10 Jacinta Carter
2nd Row for Dragons is number 11 Ella Koster

2nd Row for Sharks is number 11 Talei Holmes
2nd Row for Dragons is number 12 Charlotte Basham

2nd Row for Sharks is number 12 Anne-Marie Kiria-Ratu
Lock for Dragons is number 13 Hannah Southwell

Lock for Sharks is number 13 Brooke Anderson

Interchange

Interchange for Dragons is number 14 Tori Shipton

Interchange for Sharks is number 1 Tyla King
Interchange for Dragons is number 15 Ahlivia Ingram

Interchange for Sharks is number 15 Manilita Takapautolo
Interchange for Dragons is number 16 Jamilee McGregor

Interchange for Sharks is number 16 Nakia Davis-Welsh
Interchange for Dragons is number 17 Tahlia O'Brien

Interchange for Sharks is number 17 Stephanie Faulkner