Sunshine Coast Stadium will play host to Saturday's Round 1 NRL game between New Zealand Warriors and St George Illawarra Dragons. The game kicks off at 5:30 pm with New Zealand Warriors heading into the game as favourites with the bookmakers. Continue reading for our in-depth preview of the New Zealand Warriors vs. St George Illawarra Dragons game and give you our free tips and bets.

When: Saturday March 12, 2022 at 5:30 pm

Where: Sunshine Coast Stadium

Bet: Bet On This Match HERE

New Zealand Warriors vs St George Illawarra Dragons Odds

New Zealand Warriors vs St George Illawarra Dragons Preview

Two of the more likely swing teams of NRL 2022, it’s not hard to imagine the Warriors or Dragons squeaking into the playoffs…or landing a maiden wooden spoon. Both clubs are chasing a return to the finalS for the first time since 2018, both finished last year with 8-16 records after late-season slumps and both purchased soundly over the summer.

The Warriors welcome halfback great Shaun Johnson back with open arms and ex-Storm prop Aaron Pene shapes as an excellent pick-up. With Reece Walsh and Matt Lodge out suspended, Chanel Harris-Tavita is the surprise fullback replacement and Bunty Afoa will start up front with stand-in captain Addin Fonua-Blake. Kodi Nikorima received the nod at five-eighth ahead of Harris-Tavita and Ash Taylor. Fixing up a Warriors defence that leaked its most points since 2004 in Nathan Brown’s first year in charge is absolute essential.

Dragons arrivals Aaron Woods, Jaydn Su’A, Francis Molo, Moses Suli, Jack Gosiewski and Moses Mbye, who will fill the bench utility role, are set to make their club debuts. Experienced duo Ben Hunt and Andrew McCullough will steer the St George Illawarra ship but the development of spine young guns Tyrell Sloan and Talatau Amone is set to have a major say on how the team progresses this year. Tariq Sims and George Burgess are missing for Round 1.

The Warriors won their sole trial against a below-strength Storm. The Dragons impressed in their first Charity Shield win since 2012.

The Saints have historically dominated the Warriors – leading the head-to-head 22-10 – but the Warriors found their footing in the rivalry with five straight wins from 2018-21. But after gutsy early-season wins in the past two campaigns that featured unprecedented completion rates, the Warriors produced one of the all-time chokes against the Dragons in Round 16 last year. Winger Ed Kosi, among others, imploded as the Warriors bottled an eight-point lead with five minutes left before Corey Norman slotted a golden point field goal for a 19-18 win.

If the Dragons’ attack clicks, the Warriors could be exposed out wide. Centres Viliami Vailea and Rocco Berry have played just 10 NRL games between them and wingers Dallin Watene-Zelezniak and Marcelo Montoya are prone to defensive blunders.

Narrow favourites on the Sunshine Coast, the Warriors are likely to lean on Johnson’s class and direction immediately. The Dragons have closer to their first-choice line-up available, have had a more complete preparation and – despite losing their last three Round 1 fixtures by double digits – look a slightly stronger option. But count on it going down to the wire.

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