The St. George Illawarra Dragons are ready for the start of the 2025 NRL season, and Head Coach Shane Flanagan has named his squad to face the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs on Saturday, 8th March, at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium.
Hamish Stewart to Make NRL Debut
One of the biggest stories for the Dragons is the debut of local junior Hamish Stewart. The 20-year-old, who has come up through the club’s youth teams, will play his first NRL game off the interchange bench. Stewart’s journey began in the Harold Matthews Cup and SG Ball before making his way through Jersey Flegg and NSW Cup.
New Captains for the Dragons
Clint Gutherson and Damien Cook will both captain the team for the first time. These two players are ready to take on the leadership role and guide the team on the field.
Kyle Flanagan’s Milestone Game
Kyle Flanagan will play his 100th NRL game, making this match extra special for the five-eighth. It’s a big achievement in his career.
Dragons Squad for Round 1
Here’s the full team list for the opening round:
- Clint Gutherson (c)
- Mathew Feagai
- Moses Suli
- Valentine Holmes
- Christian Tuipulotu
- Kyle Flanagan
- Lachlan Ilias
- Toby Couchman
- Damien Cook (c)
- Emre Guler
- Luciano Leilua
- Jaydn Su’A
- Jack de Belin
Interchange:
14. Jacob Liddle
15. Ryan Couchman
16. Raymond Faitala-Mariner
17. Hamish Stewart
Reserves:
18. Dylan Egan
19. Tyrell Sloan
20. Lyhkan King-Togia
21. Loko Pasifiki Tonga
22. Tom Eisenhuth
Injuries
Blake Lawrie won’t play due to a hamstring injury, but he should be back in Round 2. Hame Sele is also out with a calf injury, and it’s unclear when he will return.
Game Details
The match will be played at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium, Sydney, at 12:00 pm on Saturday, 8th March. Fans can watch the game on WatchNRL.
Exciting Season Ahead
With new players and leadership, the Dragons are ready for an exciting start to the 2025 season. Fans are looking forward to seeing debutants like Hamish Stewart and the team’s new captains lead the charge.