NRLW Round 1 Match Preview: Dragons prep for awaited opener

Author: St George Illawarra Dragons
Timestamp: Wed 1 Jul 2026, 06:18 PM

The Dragons kick off their 2026 NRLW season with a highly-anticipated battle against the Raiders at St George Venues Jubilee Stadium on Saturday.

The squad will be in action in the opening leg of a Kogarah double-header with the club’s NRL side facing the Wests Tigers at 5:30pm.

Round 1 - Round 1 - Saturday 4 Jul

5:15 am

Dragons

Raiders

Venue: St George Venues Jubilee Stadium, Kogarah

WatchNRL

Team Lists Get Tickets

KEY INFO

Tickets: Available
Date: Saturday, July 4th
Venue: St George Venues Jubilee Stadium, Kogarah
Watch: Nine, 9Now, Kayo & Foxtel
Gates Open: 3:00pm
NRLW: 3:15pm
NRL: 5:30pm

CELEBRATING MEMBERS ROUND

This week we turn our attentiont to the club's annual Members Round where we shift the spotlight directly our loyal members.

Members Round is about recognising your energy in the stands, your dedication in the community, and your pride in our colours which drives us to succeed on and off the field.

2026 NRLW Season: Launched

A HUGE DOUBLE-HEADER

The Dragons kick off the club's NRLW campaign at 3:15pm in the opening leg of an action-packed double-header.

The club's NRL squad take to the field to face the Wests Tigers at 5:30pm in their first match at home in 42 days.

Nathan Cross' squad is back and ready for a big year with several new stars on show alongside our familiar faces.

CAPTAIN ANDERSON

Brooke Anderson will captain the St George Illawarra Dragons for the first time on Saturday.

A Brighton Seagulls junior, Anderson signed with the club last April and joined her new teammates this preseason.

The 30-year-old comes to the club boasting a résumé consisting of 37 NRLW appearances, three Tests for the Kiwi Ferns, two Māori All-Stars nods and a State of Origin cap.

The honour marks the culmination of a special, full-circle moment for the childhood Dragons supporter.

“To be able to captain the club I supported growing up is really special,” Anderson said.

“As a kid, all I wanted to do was play rugby league and, when we weren’t allowed to play anymore, it was devastating, and I didn’t ever think I’d get the opportunity to play rugby league... It just makes me really grateful, and to be able to captain such a strong, young side here at the Dragons, I just think is really exciting.”

Anderson: “It feels like I’m home now”

PALEPALE TO DEBUT, 4 SET FOR CLUB DEBUTS

Seriah Palepale has been named to make her NRLW debut off the interchange marking the culmination of years of hard work for the Auckland native.

An former Australian Schoolgirls representative, Palepale linked up with the club in 2025 and this season earnt a promotion up to the squad’s Top 24 list.

Four other players will make their Dragons debuts – captain Brooke Anderson, centre Shenae Ciesiolka, front-rower Ruby-Jean Kennard-Ellis and second-rower Montana Clifford.

Taliah Fuimaono is set for her first outing in the Red V since 2022 with the 27-year-old partnering Kasey Reh in the halves.

50-50 CHARITY RAFFLE PARTNER: GEORGES RIVER LIFE CARE

The Dragons are proud to be partnering with Georges River Life Care for this weekend's 50-50 Charity Raffle for our double-header at St George Venues Jubilee Stadium.

We encourage you to get along to Kogarah this Saturday to support Georges
River Life Care as our 50-50 Match Day Charity Raffle partner or, if you cannot
make the game, purchase a ticket online.

Georges River Life Care is a local, community not-for-profit that’s been in operation in Peakhurst since 2007 supporting and enriching the lives of people
in the Georges River community who have been impacted by domestic
violence and financial hardship through caring and compassionate services.

Georges River Life Care specialises in three main areas – Domestic and Family
violence support, Emergency Relief, and Artslife creative arts program.

Through these programs, they have been able to support a vast scope of
individuals and families with different circumstances.

We encourage fans to show their support by purchasing tickets on game day or clicking this link.

TEAM NEWS

DRAGONS

Seriah Palepale has been named to make her NRLW debut off the interchange marking the culmination of years of hard work for the Auckland native.
Brooke Anderson, Shenae Ciesiolka, Ruby-Jean Kennard-Ellis and Montana Clifford make their club debuts.
Taliah Fuimaono is set for her first outing in the Red V since 2022 having been named at five-eighth.

RAIDERS

Krystal Blackwell has been named at five-eighth and is set to partner co-captain Zahara Temara in the halves.
Fellow recruit Sheridan Gallagher will wear the No.1 jumper whilst former Dragons Bobbi Law and Charlotte Basham earn starts.
Simaima Taufa will line up at lock after recovering from off-season surgery that forced her out of the Origin series.

Round 1 - Round 1 - Saturday 4 Jul

5:15 am

Dragons

Raiders

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Dragons is number 1 Teagan Berry

Fullback for Raiders is number 1 Sheridan Gallagher
Winger for Dragons is number 2 Maria Paseka

Winger for Raiders is number 2 Elise Simpson
Centre for Dragons is number 3 Shenae Ciesiolka

Centre for Raiders is number 3 Leianne Tufuga
Centre for Dragons is number 4 Keele Browne

Centre for Raiders is number 4 Bobbi Law
Winger for Dragons is number 5 Jayme Millard

Winger for Raiders is number 5 Mackenzie Wiki
Five-Eighth for Dragons is number 6 Taliah Fuimaono

Five-Eighth for Raiders is number 6 Krystal Blackwell
Halfback for Dragons is number 7 Kasey Reh

Halfback for Raiders is number 7 Zahara Temara

Forwards

Prop for Dragons is number 8 Madison Mulhall

Prop for Raiders is number 8 Chloe Saunders
Hooker for Dragons is number 9 Nita Maynard-Perrin

Hooker for Raiders is number 9 Chanté Temara
Prop for Dragons is number 10 Ruby-Jean Kennard-Ellis

Prop for Raiders is number 10 Sophie Holyman
2nd Row for Dragons is number 11 Montana Clifford

2nd Row for Raiders is number 11 Jordyn Preston
2nd Row for Dragons is number 12 Hannah Southwell

2nd Row for Raiders is number 12 Charlotte Basham
Lock for Dragons is number 13 Brooke Anderson

Lock for Raiders is number 13 Simaima Taufa

Interchange

Interchange for Dragons is number 14 Tori Shipton

Interchange for Raiders is number 14 Emma Barnes
Interchange for Dragons is number 15 Trinity Tauaneai

Interchange for Raiders is number 15 Grace Kemp
Interchange for Dragons is number 16 Ella Koster

Interchange for Raiders is number 16 Hollie-Mae Dodd
Interchange for Dragons is number 17 Seriah Palepale

Interchange for Raiders is number 17 Grace Kukutai

Reserves

Replacement for Dragons is number 18 Zali Hopkins

Replacement for Raiders is number 18 Lili Boyle
Reserve for Dragons is number 19 Tahlia O'Brien

Reserve for Raiders is number 19 Relna Wuruki-Hosea
Reserve for Dragons is number 20 Ahlivia Ingram

Reserve for Raiders is number 20 Madison Bartlett
Reserve for Dragons is number 21 Lavinia Kitai

Reserve for Raiders is number 21 Sereana Naitokatoka
Reserve for Dragons is number 22 Tyra Ekepati

Reserve for Raiders is number 22 Ellie Brander