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Dragons v Raiders: Liddle returns; Fogarty in, Rapana out

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It's a case of so near and yet so far for the Dragons and Raiders in 2024, with the winner of this game finishing out of the top eight on points differential only.

The Dragons have let their opportunity to play finals slip away with losses to the Sharks and Eels in back-to-back matches while the Raiders showed plenty of ticker to take down the Roosters on Sunday but will still come up just short.

The only scenario that would allow the winner of this clash to sneak into eighth spot is if the Knights and Dolphins play out a draw on Sunday and both finish on 29 points, one behind the Raiders or Dragons.

The first part of the equation is to get the two points at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium and the Raiders will have to do it without Elliott Whitehead (suspended) and Jordan Rapana (cheekbone) if they are to salute.

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The Dragons, meanwhile. have only Jacob Liddle to come back and bolster their stocks after he missed Eels game for personal reasons.

When the dust settles the Dragons will reflect with pride on their climb from 16th in 2023 to get within a whisker of the top eight and the fact they downed the Panthers, Storm and Sea Eagles across the course of the season.

Team News

Dragons: No further late changes for the Red V after coach Shane Flanagan confirmed on Friday that Canberra-bound youngster Savelio Tamale will make his NRL debut after Jack Bird was ruled out with a back injury. St George Illawarra fans will get a taste of the future with emerging talent Lyhkan King-Togia lining up at five-eighth on Saturday afternoon. Moses Suli is also back from a knee injury in a major boost as the Dragons battle to keep their slim playoff hopes alive. Jacob Liddle is also back on deck after missing last week's game due to the birth of his child. 

Raiders: No changes to the 17 players who will take the field, but there were several positional tweaks an hour out from kick-off. Corey Horsburgh and Danny Levi come into the starting side at the expense of Josh Papali'i and Tom Starling who drop back to the bench. Halves Ethan Strange and Jamal Fogerty both return after missing last week's win over the Roosters, while Kaeo Weekes is back to fullback with Jordan Rapana out due to a facial fracture. Simi Sasagi has been promoted to the starting side in place of suspended captain Elliott Whitehead. 

Team Lists

Backs

  • Fullback for Dragons is number 1 Tyrell Sloan
    Fullback for Raiders is number 1 Kaeo Weekes
  • Winger for Dragons is number 2 Zac Lomax
    Winger for Raiders is number 2 Albert Hopoate
  • Centre for Dragons is number 3 Mosese Suli
    Centre for Raiders is number 3 Matthew Timoko
  • Centre for Dragons is number 20 Savelio Tamale
    Centre for Raiders is number 4 Sebastian Kris
  • Winger for Dragons is number 5 Mathew Feagai
    Winger for Raiders is number 5 Xavier Savage
  • Five-Eighth for Dragons is number 6 Lyhkan King-Togia
    Five-Eighth for Raiders is number 6 Ethan Strange
  • Halfback for Dragons is number 7 Ben Hunt
    Halfback for Raiders is number 7 Jamal Fogarty

Forwards

  • Prop for Dragons is number 8 Francis Molo
    Prop for Raiders is number 10 Joseph Tapine
  • Hooker for Dragons is number 9 Jacob Liddle
    Hooker for Raiders is number 14 Danny Levi
  • Prop for Dragons is number 10 Jack De Belin
    Prop for Raiders is number 15 Corey Horsburgh
  • 2nd Row for Dragons is number 11 Luciano Leilua
    2nd Row for Raiders is number 11 Hudson Young
  • 2nd Row for Dragons is number 12 Jaydn Su'A
    2nd Row for Raiders is number 12 Simi Sasagi
  • Lock for Dragons is number 13 Tom Eisenhuth
    Lock for Raiders is number 13 Morgan Smithies

Interchange

  • Interchange for Dragons is number 14 Connor Muhleisen
    Interchange for Raiders is number 8 Josh Papalii
  • Interchange for Dragons is number 15 Toby Couchman
    Interchange for Raiders is number 9 Tom Starling
  • Interchange for Dragons is number 16 Blake Lawrie
    Interchange for Raiders is number 16 Ata Mariota
  • Interchange for Dragons is number 17 Raymond Faitala-Mariner
    Interchange for Raiders is number 17 Trey Mooney

Reserves

  • Replacement for Dragons is number 18 Hamish Stewart
    Replacement for Raiders is number 18 James Schiller

Match Officials

  • Referee: Wyatt Raymond
  • Touch Judge: Dave Munro
  • Touch Judge: Phil Henderson
  • Senior Review Official: Ashley Klein

Last updated:

Stat Attack

  • The Dragons have won only two of their past nine games against the Raiders.
  • The Raiders have not defeated the Dragons at Kogarah since 2004.
  • Dragons winger Zac Lomax has scored four tries in four games at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium this season.
  • Raiders winger Xavier Savage has scored six tries in his past seven games.
  • The Dragons have conceded 82 points in back-to-back losses to the Sharks and Eels.

Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, 

Related

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.