St George Illawarra Dragons have announced their pre-season matches in the lead-up to the 2016 NRL premiership.
The Dragons first hit-out of 2016 will be the third annual NRL Auckland Nines tournament which be at Eden Park, Auckland on Saturday, February 6 and Sunday, February 7.
“The NRL Auckland Nines tournament is an exciting competition which will allow the players to test themselves in a fast-tempo environment,” said Dragons coach Paul McGregor.
The Dragons players not involved in the nines event will play against Wynnum-Manly Seagulls at Pinklands Oval, Redlands, on Saturday, February 6.
The Dragons will then compete in the traditional Charity Shield match against the South Sydney Rabbitohs, to be held at ANZ Stadium, Olympic Park on Saturday, February 13.
Players not involved in the 33rd Charity Shield fixture will join representatives of the NSW Cup team, Illawarra Cutters, for a match against the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs at Belmore Sports Ground on Sunday, February 14.
A trial game will also be played against the New Zealand Warriors on Saturday, February 20, at Trafalgar Park, Nelson.
Dragons second rower Joel Thompson said it was good to back at training and to get ready for 2016.
He said he has overcome the hamstring injury which hampered him late in 2015.
‘‘What I needed for my hamstring was a really good rest and the hamstring is fine,’’ Thompson said.