Dragons prepare for annual ANZAC Day clash after seasons second loss

In round six of the 2021 NRL Telstra Premiership Season, the red hot Dragons faced the New Zealand Warriors at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium in Kogarah on Sunday, April 18.

After starting the season 4-1 and sitting in the top six on the table, the Dragons were just unable to get the job done against the Warriors.

They looked strong from the get-go, scoring in the seventh minute.

After some beautiful ball-in-hands play, the Dragons spread the ball wide, Cody Ramsey was free down the left sideline to cross for an easy four-pointer.

The Dragons were unable to capitalise on the early score and the Warriors crossed for back-to-back tries in the 12th and 15th minutes.

First down the middle, Wayde Egan set up Tohu Harris out of dummy-half, who crashed through the defence to ground the ball.

A few minutes later, Kodi Nikorima toed through a grubber that bounced awkwardly around Matt Dufty, who fumbled the grounding, allowing interchange Paul Turner to come flying through to score.

Dufty redeemed himself before half-time.

Trailing 4-12, the Dragons put themselves in a great position and again chose to use the hands to score.

The ball was spread to Dufty on the last tackle, who fired a brilliant cut-out pass to Mikaele Ravalawa, who barged his way over in the right corner.

The second half saw the Dragons on the attack, and after a no try call due to a knock-on, Dufty again had his hand in some brilliant play, this time on the receiving end.

A kick through by Adam Clune evaded the Warriors defence, allowing Dufty to ground it and level the scores. Zac Lomax knocked over his only conversion of the day to give the home side the lead, 14-12.

But the Warriors weren't done as their danger-man Roger Tuivasa-Sheck stepped through the Dragons defence to cross for a try in the 65th minute.

A conversion and quick penalty goal from Nikorima sealed the Dragons fate as they go down against the Warriors 14-20.

St George will now be looking forward to its 20th Annual ANZAC Day Cup match against the Sydney Roosters at the SCG.

Both sides sit equal on points in the season, but the Roosters have been tipped as the favourites.

The Dragons will be looking to get back to its winning ways, with hopes of star halfback Ben Hunt returning for the ANZAC Day match.

They will also be furthering integrating the club's new signing, Josh McGuire, into the side after his debut on Sunday.

The Roosters are battling with some injuries, as they try to navigate this season already without Luke Keary until 2022.

Scans confirmed that Siosiua Taukeiaho sustained a moderate rib cartilage injury during his side's loss to the Storm on Friday.

While Jared Waerea-Hargreaves sustained a shoulder capsule injury and will have scans upon the team's return to Sydney.

It's not just injuries that the Rooster is battling, as Victor Radley's chance to play in the commemorative clash was up for decision at the NRL Judiciary on Tuesday Night.

The Roosters have elected to enter an early guilty plea to the Grade Two Careless High Tackle charge; however, the Club will be disputing the grading of the charge.

The annual ANZAC Day test is one of the biggest regular-season matches in the NRL and is always a thrilling spectacle.

In the past two years, the Roosters have emerged victorious, but the Dragons will want to record its fifth win of the season.

The game is set to kick off on Sunday, April 25, at 4:05pm from the SCG.