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Raiders v Dragons: Thomas to debut; Berry set to star

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94ddz.com
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A Raiders team with a new-look to the squad host St George Illawarra, with the visitors out to impress their new coach.

Former Queensland Maroons assistant coach Nathan Cross has taken over the reins as coach, with former Jillaroos star Sam Bremner the club's new Female Football Manager.

With Zali Hopkins joining Raecene McGregor as co-captain, the Dragons have a blend of youth and experience and will be hoping to get off to a good start against a Raiders side boasting plenty of representative stars including their leaders Simaina Taufa and Zahara Temara. 

Team News

Raiders: The off-season departure of Apii Nicholls has opened the door for Cheyelle Robins-Reti to shift to fullback, with Mackenzie Wiki and Leianne Tufuga  to start in the centres. Former Australian OzTag representative Georgia Thomas is set to make her NRLW debut, with the 27-year-old to line up at five-eighth alongside halfback Zahara Temara. Co-captain Simaima Taufa will start at lock with prop Grace Kemp looking to make an impact off the bench. 

Dragons: Kasey Reh and Raecene McGregor will combine in the halves as the Dragons look to get their season started with a win. Zali Hopkins will start at hooker, with new recruit Nita Maynard to make an impact off the bench in her first game for the club. Try-scoring talent Teagan Berry has been named at fullback, while Keele Browne and Bobbi Law will link up in the centres. Former Knight Hannah Southwell is set to add crucial experience to the pack and will start at lock. 

Team Lists

Backs

  • Fullback for Raiders is number 1 Kaeo Weekes
    Fullback for Dragons is number 1 Clinton Gutherson
  • Winger for Raiders is number 2 Jed Stuart
    Winger for Dragons is number 2 Sione Finau
  • Centre for Raiders is number 3 Matthew Timoko
    Centre for Dragons is number 3 Moses Suli
  • Centre for Raiders is number 4 Sebastian Kris
    Centre for Dragons is number 4 Corey Allan
  • Winger for Raiders is number 5 Xavier Savage
    Winger for Dragons is number 5 Tyrell Sloan
  • Five-Eighth for Raiders is number 6 Ethan Strange
    Five-Eighth for Dragons is number 6 Lyhkan King-Togia
  • Halfback for Raiders is number 7 Jamal Fogarty
    Halfback for Dragons is number 7 Kyle Flanagan

Forwards

  • Prop for Raiders is number 8 Corey Horsburgh
    Prop for Dragons is number 8 Emre Guler
  • Hooker for Raiders is number 9 Tom Starling
    Hooker for Dragons is number 9 Damien Cook
  • Prop for Raiders is number 10 Joseph Tapine
    Prop for Dragons is number 10 David Klemmer
  • 2nd Row for Raiders is number 11 Simi Sasagi
    2nd Row for Dragons is number 11 Raymond Faitala-Mariner
  • 2nd Row for Raiders is number 12 Zac Hosking
    2nd Row for Dragons is number 12 Jaydn Su'A
  • Lock for Raiders is number 13 Morgan Smithies
    Lock for Dragons is number 13 Jack De Belin

Interchange

  • Interchange for Raiders is number 14 Owen Pattie
    Interchange for Dragons is number 14 Jacob Liddle
  • Interchange for Raiders is number 15 Noah Martin
    Interchange for Dragons is number 15 Loko Pasifiki Tonga
  • Interchange for Raiders is number 16 Trey Mooney
    Interchange for Dragons is number 16 Hame Sele
  • Interchange for Raiders is number 17 Ata Mariota
    Interchange for Dragons is number 17 Michael Molo

Reserves

  • Replacement for Raiders is number 18 Chevy Stewart
    Replacement for Dragons is number 18 Blake Lawrie
  • Reserve for Raiders is number 19 Pasami Saulo
    Reserve for Dragons is number 19 Viliami Fifita
  • Reserve for Raiders is number 20 Joe Roddy
    Reserve for Dragons is number 20 Nick Tsougranis
  • Reserve for Raiders is number 21 Danny Levi
    Reserve for Dragons is number 21 Lachlan Ilias
  • Reserve for Raiders is number 22 Ethan Sanders
    Reserve for Dragons is number 22 Jacob Halangahu

Raiders Ins

  • Chevy Stewart
  • Danny Levi
  • Ethan Sanders
  • Joe Roddy
  • Pasami Saulo

Dragons Ins

  • Blake Lawrie
  • Hame Sele
  • Jacob Halangahu
  • Lachlan Ilias
  • Michael Molo
  • Nick Tsougranis
  • Raymond Faitala-Mariner
  • Sione Finau
  • Tyrell Sloan

Raiders Outs

  • Josh Papalii

Dragons Ins

  • Hamish Stewart
  • Luciano Leilua
  • Nathan Lawson
  • Toby Couchman
  • Valentine Holmes

Match Officials

  • Referee: Gerard Sutton
  • Touch Judge: Dave Munro
  • Senior Review Official: Ashley Klein

Last updated:

Stat Attack

  • The Raiders have won both games against the Dragons (2023 and 2024).
  • Dragons fullback Teagan Berry requires one try to become the first player to score 30 NRLW tries.
  • Raiders winger Madison Bartlett has scored 12 tries in her past 12 NRLW games.

Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the 

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