NRL 2023, Warriors v Dragons, match preview, team lists, statistics, analysis

Author: NRL.com
Timestamp: Fri 25 Aug 2023, 05:00 PM

A win on Friday night will guarantee the Warriors a top-four finish, while victory for the Dragons will all but assure them of avoiding the dreaded wooden spoon in 2023.

Andrew Webster's men won their sixth game on the trot last week by beating the Sea Eagles, becoming the first Warriors side to do that since 2002, while they are now just two wins short of equaling the club record winning streak, also set in that season 21 years ago.

While it was a more convincing performance than what they dished up in the previous two weeks, some big question marks remain over the Warriors in defence right now, particularly their left edge which allowed Jason Saab to score three tries in Round 25.

The Dragons meanwhile have been in every game over the past month but have nothing to show for it, with late lapses costing them again in a 38-28 defeat to the Storm, in which they trailed by just two with six minutes to play.

St George Illawarra have played at Go Media Stadium only twice since 2015, losing on both occasions, and when they met the Warriors earlier this year in Wollongong they were on the wrong side of a 48-18 scoreline.

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Team News

Warriors: The Warriors are 1-17 with no late changes. Te Maire Martin's NRL return is on hold for at least another week, after he was cut from the squad when it was reduced to 19 on Thursday night. Forward Mitch Barnett remains sidelined due to a laceration on his leg. Taine Tuaupiki is 18th Man.

Dragons: A late change with winger Sione Finau coming in on for his NRL debut in place of Mat Feagai, who drops to 18th Man. A switch at hooker with Connor Muhleisen coming into the run-on side and Jacob Liddle going back to the bench again as they did last week. Centre Zac Lomax returns after being a late out last week with a shoulder injury.

Round 26 - Round 26 - Friday 25 Aug

Full Time

Warriors

Dragons

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Warriors is number 1 Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad

Fullback for Dragons is number 1 Tyrell Sloan
Winger for Warriors is number 2 Dallin Watene-Zelezniak

Winger for Dragons is number 5 Mikaele Ravalawa
Centre for Warriors is number 3 Rocco Berry

Centre for Dragons is number 3 Mosese Suli
Centre for Warriors is number 4 Adam Pompey

Centre for Dragons is number 4 Zac Lomax
Winger for Warriors is number 5 Marcelo Montoya

Winger for Dragons is number 21 Sione Finau
Five-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Luke Metcalf

Five-Eighth for Dragons is number 6 Talatau Amone
Halfback for Warriors is number 7 Shaun Johnson

Halfback for Dragons is number 7 Ben Hunt

Forwards

Prop for Warriors is number 8 Addin Fonua-Blake

Prop for Dragons is number 8 Francis Molo
Hooker for Warriors is number 9 Wayde Egan

Hooker for Dragons is number 14 Connor Muhleisen
Prop for Warriors is number 10 Bunty Afoa

Prop for Dragons is number 10 Blake Lawrie
2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Josh Curran

2nd Row for Dragons is number 11 Billy Burns
2nd Row for Warriors is number 12 Marata Niukore

2nd Row for Dragons is number 12 Dan Russell
Lock for Warriors is number 13 Tohu Harris

Lock for Dragons is number 13 Michael Molo

Interchange

Interchange for Warriors is number 14 Dylan Walker

Interchange for Dragons is number 9 Jacob Liddle
Interchange for Warriors is number 15 Jackson Ford

Interchange for Dragons is number 15 Ryan Couchman
Interchange for Warriors is number 16 Bayley Sironen

Interchange for Dragons is number 16 Ben Murdoch-Masila
Interchange for Warriors is number 17 Freddy Lussick

Interchange for Dragons is number 17 Zane Musgrove

Reserves

Replacement for Warriors is number 20 Taine Tuaupiki

Replacement for Dragons is number 2 Mathew Feagai

Match Officials

Referee: Peter Gough
Touch Judge: Matt Noyen
Touch Judge: Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski
Senior Review Official: Adam Gee

Last updated: 12/12/2023 11:06:30 PM

Stat Attack

Warriors winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak has scored at least one try in each of his past seven appearances. He has 19 tries in his past 12 games.
The Dragons have just one win since Round 19 but haven't lost by a margin of more than 12 points in that period.
Dragons prop Blake Lawrie hasn't made a single error in his 20 appearances this season.
The Warriors are aiming for seven consecutive wins for the first time since 2002.
The Dragons have lost all 11 games away from home in 2023.
Dragons winger Mikaele Ravalawa has scored 11 tries in his past seven games.
Warriors halfback Shaun Johnson will play his 250th NRL game.