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Dragons v Panthers: RFM back on deck; Origin guns return

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The vastly improved Dragons get the sternest test of just how far they have come in 2024 when they host defending champs Penrith at WIN Stadium.

Sitting outside the eight on points differential only, the Dragons face the Panthers and then Melbourne in consecutive weeks - two games that hold the key to whether they surge into contention or fall out of the finals race.

Dragons coach Shane Flanagan will be proud of what his team have done so far but he knows if they are to be taken seriously they must aim up against the might of the Panthers, who welcomed their main man Nathan Cleary back on Sunday in a thrilling win over the Dolphins.

Barely skipping a beat after seven games out with a hamstring injury, the ice cool Cleary nailed a long-range field goal in golden point to get his team home 28-26 and with co-captain Isaah Yeo set to return from a rest this weekend the Panthers are looking ominous again.

The Dragons need look no further than Round 13 this year for inspiration, knocking off the Panthers 22-10 at BlueBet Stadium, although the premiers were missing their posse of Origin stars.

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Team News

Dragons: Tyrell Sloan played NSW Cup on Saturday after being dropped to the reserves list in a swap with Mat Feagai, who will play fullback. The return of Origin stars Zac Lomax and Ben Hunt sees Mikaele Ravalawa and Jesse Marschke (hamstring) make way while back-rower Raymond Faitala-Mariner is also good to go after missing the Broncos game with back spasms. Luciano Leilua shifts to the bench. Blake Lawrie is 18th man.

Panthers: The Panthers are 1-17 with no late changes. Origin stars Jarome Luai, Liam Martin, Isaah Yeo and Brian To'o are back on deck after being rested in Round 20 but fullback Dylan Edwards remains sidelined with a knee injury. Liam Henry goes back to the bench and Luron Patea makes way. Matt Eisenhuth drops to 18th man.

Team Lists

Backs

  • Fullback for Dragons is number 18 Mathew Feagai
    Fullback for Panthers is number 1 Daine Laurie
  • Winger for Dragons is number 2 Zac Lomax
    Winger for Panthers is number 2 Sunia Turuva
  • Centre for Dragons is number 3 Mosese Suli
    Centre for Panthers is number 3 Izack Tago
  • Centre for Dragons is number 4 Max Feagai
    Centre for Panthers is number 4 Casey McLean
  • Winger for Dragons is number 5 Christian Tuipulotu
    Winger for Panthers is number 5 Brian To'o
  • Five-Eighth for Dragons is number 6 Kyle Flanagan
    Five-Eighth for Panthers is number 6 Jarome Luai
  • Halfback for Dragons is number 7 Ben Hunt
    Halfback for Panthers is number 7 Nathan Cleary

Forwards

  • Prop for Dragons is number 8 Francis Molo
    Prop for Panthers is number 8 Moses Leota
  • Hooker for Dragons is number 9 Jacob Liddle
    Hooker for Panthers is number 9 Mitch Kenny
  • Prop for Dragons is number 10 Jack De Belin
    Prop for Panthers is number 10 James   Fisher-Harris
  • 2nd Row for Dragons is number 11 Raymond Faitala-Mariner
    2nd Row for Panthers is number 11 Scott Sorensen
  • 2nd Row for Dragons is number 12 Jaydn Su'A
    2nd Row for Panthers is number 12 Liam Martin
  • Lock for Dragons is number 14 Hame Sele
    Lock for Panthers is number 13 Isaah Yeo

Interchange

  • Interchange for Dragons is number 13 Tom Eisenhuth
    Interchange for Panthers is number 14 Trent Toelau
  • Interchange for Dragons is number 15 Luciano Leilua
    Interchange for Panthers is number 15 Lindsay Smith
  • Interchange for Dragons is number 16 Toby Couchman
    Interchange for Panthers is number 16 Liam Henry
  • Interchange for Dragons is number 17 Ben Murdoch-Masila
    Interchange for Panthers is number 17 Mavrik Geyer

Reserves

  • Replacement for Dragons is number 19 Blake Lawrie
    Replacement for Panthers is number 18 Matthew Eisenhuth

Match Officials

  • Referee: Gerard Sutton
  • Touch Judge: Belinda Sharpe
  • Touch Judge: Jon Stone
  • Senior Review Official: Kasey Badger

Last updated:

Stat Attack

  • The Dragons have won three from three at WIN Stadium in 2024.
  • The Panthers have won six of their past seven games against the Dragons.
  • Dragons winger Christian Tuipulotu has scored five tries in his past three games.
  • The Panthers have not won at Wollongong since 2014.
  • Dragons winger Mikaele Ravalawa has scored 10 tries in his past 10 games at WIN Stadium.

Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, 

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Acknowledgement of Country

National Rugby League respects and honours 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 Islander peoples on the lands we meet, gather and play on.