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Dragons v Warriors: Hunt backing up; Walker makes return

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With the Warriors needing a win to ensure they hold their place in the eight and the Dragons set to test their character after skipper Ben Hunt requested a release from the club, emotions will be running high in Friday night's Round 17 opener.

Both sides are coming off big wins in Round 15 before recharging their batteries with a bye last week and while the Warriors go in as clear favourites, the Dragons should have every confidence they can produce an upset after overcoming both the Roosters and Rabbitohs in recent weeks.

With Shaun Johnson back to career-best form and leading the Warriors' charge up the NRL ladder, Andrew Webster's side has been a revelation this season, with fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad and winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak capitalising on the form of their veteran halfback.

Having already chalked up eight wins this season, two more than they achieved in all of 2022, the Warriors will be hoping they can back up their big win over the Raiders and put themselves clear of the bottom-half of the eight.

Meanwhile, yet to string together back-to-back wins this season, Ryan Carr's Dragons are running out of time to turn their season around and are staring down a fifth consecutive year of missing the finals.

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Team News 

Dragons: The Dragons are 1-17 with no late changes. Jack Bird is back on deck after being rested since Round 13 to allow him to recover from niggling injuries, while Jack de Belin returns from a head knock and will play his 200th game. Jayden Sullivan remains the preferred five-eighth and is set to play alongside Ben Hunt, who backs up for his club just 48 hours after Origin II.

Warriors: The Warriors line up 1-17. Dylan Walker comes back onto the bench as a straight replacement for Mitch Barnett, who is serving a one-game suspension picked up in Round 15. An untimely hamstring injury following his NRL debut in Round 15 means Ali Leiataua is out, with Rocco Berry returning at centre after time out with concussion. Luke Metcalf remains the five-eighth, with Te Maire Martin still sidelined with a broken leg.

Team Lists

Backs

  • Fullback for Dragons is number 1 Tyrell Sloan
    Fullback for Warriors is number 1 Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 
  • Winger for Dragons is number 2 Mathew Feagai
    Winger for Warriors is number 2 Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 
  • Centre for Dragons is number 3 Mosese Suli
    Centre for Warriors is number 3 Rocco Berry
  • Centre for Dragons is number 4 Zac Lomax
    Centre for Warriors is number 4 Adam Pompey
  • Winger for Dragons is number 5 Mikaele Ravalawa
    Winger for Warriors is number 5 Marcelo Montoya
  • Five-Eighth for Dragons is number 6 Jayden Sullivan
    Five-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Luke Metcalf
  • Halfback for Dragons is number 7 Ben Hunt
    Halfback for Warriors is number 7 Shaun Johnson

Forwards

  • Prop for Dragons is number 8 Francis Molo
    Prop for Warriors is number 8 Addin Fonua-Blake  
  • Hooker for Dragons is number 9 Jacob Liddle
    Hooker for Warriors is number 9 Wayde Egan
  • Prop for Dragons is number 10 Blake Lawrie
    Prop for Warriors is number 10 Bunty Afoa
  • 2nd Row for Dragons is number 11 Jack Bird
    2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Jackson Ford
  • 2nd Row for Dragons is number 12 Jaydn Su'a
    2nd Row for Warriors is number 12 Marata Niukore
  • Lock for Dragons is number 13 Jack De Belin
    Lock for Warriors is number 13 Tohu Harris

Interchange

  • Interchange for Dragons is number 14 Talatau Amone
    Interchange for Warriors is number 14 Dylan Walker
  • Interchange for Dragons is number 15 Michael Molo
    Interchange for Warriors is number 15 Josh Curran
  • Interchange for Dragons is number 16 Ben Murdoch-Masila
    Interchange for Warriors is number 16 Bayley Sironen
  • Interchange for Dragons is number 17 Zane Musgrove
    Interchange for Warriors is number 17 Tom Ale

Reserves

  • Replacement for Dragons is number 18 Jaiyden Hunt
    Replacement for Warriors is number 18 Freddy Lussick

Match Officials

  • Referee: Adam Gee
  • Touch Judge: Phil Henderson
  • Touch Judge: Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski
  • Senior Review Official: Chris Butler

Last updated:

Stat Attack

  • Warriors halfback Shaun Johnson has kicked the most metres this season with 7,712, nearly 1000 more than Chad Townsend (6,865) who has kicked the second most.
  • St George Illawarra forward Jack de Belin will make his 200th NRL appearance against the Warriors at WIN Stadium.
  • The Dragons have won their past three games against the Warriors.
  • The Warriors have won only one of their past 11 games at WIN Stadium.
  • Dragons winger Mikaele Ravalawa has scored four tries in his past three games at WIN Stadium.
  • Warriors winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak has scored six tries in his past four games.

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

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