Hampered by injuries throughout 2023, the Dragons will be determined to improve their fortunes in 2024 but know they'll need a much-improved start to the season for that to happen.
Jamie Soward's side won just one of their opening four games in 2023 and couldn't build any momentum throughout the year as a result – something they'll be determined to improve in order to return to finals contention this season.
Day-by-day breakdown
- Thursday: 1 game (0 home, 1 away)
- Saturday: 3 games (2 home, 1 away)
- Sunday: 5 games (3 home, 2 away)
Turnaround time
- 5 days: 1 game
- 6 days: 1 game
- 7 days: 5 games
- 8+ days: 1 game
The Dragons will face Wests Tigers in Round 8 on the back of a five-day turnaround following their home game against the Raiders in Round 7 but will then enjoy their longest break of the campaign ahead of their final regular season game – a trip north to face the Broncos in an NRLW doubleheader at Townsville.
Opening month
- Round 1: v Titans (H)
- Round 2: v Cowboys (A)
- Round 3: v Knights (A)
- Round 4: v Roosters (H)
St George Illawarra have a challenging start to the year with road games against the Cowboys and Knights bookended by games against two 2023 finals teams in the Titans and Roosters. After winning just one of their first four games in 2023, the Dragons know they'll need to start better in 2024 if they're to improve their finals fortunes, but it's far from an easy start to the year that they'll need to overcome.
NRL Doubleheaders
The Dragons will feature as part of Red V doubleheaders in Round 1 and 4 as well as part of a Knights doubleheader at McDonald Jones Stadium in Round 3. In Round 5 they'll host the Sharks at WIN Stadium in both the NRLW and NRL, while the Eels will return the favour in Round 6 with a CommBank Stadium doubleheader. The Dragons close out the season as the home team as part of an NRLW doubleheader at Queensland Country Bank Stadium in Round 9.
Can't miss game
Round 1 v Titans, Sunday at WIN Stadium (H)
The Red V will get the perfect chance to get their season off to a winning note when they welcome last year's grand finalists, the Gold Coast Titans, to WIN Stadium. Playing as part of a Dragons doubleheader should lead to a strong home crowd support as they look to overcome last year's heartbreaking defeat in this corresponding fixture – the Titans sneaking home 23-22 despite four tries from emerging superstar fullback Teagan Berry.
