New Zealand Warriors vs St. George Illawarra Dragons – Regular Season – Preview & Prediction | NRL 2022
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THE FACTS
When is New Zealand Warriors vs St. George Illawarra Dragons on and what time does it start? New Zealand Warriors vs St. George Illawarra Dragons will take place on Saturday 12th March, 2022 – 06:30 (UK)
Where is New Zealand Warriors vs St. George Illawarra Dragons taking place? New Zealand Warriors vs St. George Illawarra Dragons will take place at Sunshine Coast Stadium in Sunshine Coast, Australia
Where can I get tickets for New Zealand Warriors vs St. George Illawarra Dragons? Click here for ticket information on 2022 NRL matches
What channel is New Zealand Warriors vs St. George Illawarra Dragons on? Sky Sports Arena will be televising selected NRL games in the UK and you can find their schedule here. For Australian broadcasters, you can find a list here
Where can I stream New Zealand Warriors vs St. George Illawarra Dragons? If televised on Sky Sports, then subscribers will be able to stream the match live via Sky Go. Alternatively, the match will be available to subscribers of Watch NRL
THE TEAM NEWS
NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS
- New Zealand Warriors showed glimpses of what they are capable of last season but it is consistency that they need if they are to break into the top eight this year with three straight losses to finish last season costing them a spot in the finals.
- They will look to use that disappointment in their efforts to get off to a good start in 2022 but they will be without their talisman in the shape of Tohu Harris who is still out with a knee injury while boom youngster Reece Walsh is banned.
Starting 13: Harris-Tavita, Watene-Zelezniak, Vailea, Berry, Montoya, Nikorima, Johnson, Fonua-Blake, Egan, Afoa, Aitken, Katoa, Curran – Interchanges: Tevaga, Murdoch-Masila, Pene, Sironen – Reserves: Kosi, Murchie, Taylor, Pompey, Petterson-Robati, Otukolo, Arthars
Unavailable: Matt Lodge, Reece Walsh, Tohu Harris
ST. GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS
- St. George Illawarra Dragons started last season superbly but fell away in an alarming way as they suffered eight losses in succession to finish the season so their first task this year will be to end their losing streak.
- The Dragons will line-up with a very different side this season with the exciting Tyrell Sloan handed the fullback spot for this season opener while fellow youngster Talatau Amone is given a chance to star in the halves alongside the experienced Ben Hunt.
Starting 13: Sloan, Ramsey, Suli, Lomax, Ravalawa, Amone, B. Hunt, Lawrie, McCullough, Woods, Bird, Su’A, De Belin – Interchanges: Mbye, F. Molo, Kerr, Gosiewski – Reserves: Ford, Mat. Feagai, Alvaro, Faamausili, Moga, J. Hunt, M. Molo
Unavailable: Tariq Sims, George Burgess, Billy Burns, Jayden Sullivan, Tyrell Fuimaono, Josh McGuire, Max Feagai
THE PREDICTION
Two teams that will hope to challenge for the finals do battle here as New Zealand Warriors take on St. George Illawarra Dragons. The Warriors will spend another season outside of New Zealand so they will need to hope that a lack of home advantage does not hinder them this year. They did not let it impact them too much last season but they could get off to a slow start here owing to the absence of two key men and with the Dragons giving some impressive young guns a chance to shine, St. George can edge this opening encounter.