The Warriors return to a sold-out Go Media Stadium looking to keep pace with Penrith in the race for the minor premiership, while the Dragons arrive with renewed confidence after showing signs of improvement in recent weeks. With key Warriors stars returning and both sides near full strength, the contest will feature an intriguing battle between Auckland’s powerful forward pack and the young, emerging Dragons engine room. Can the Dragons end an 11-year drought in Auckland, or will the Warriors continue their march towards the finals?

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Matchday Details

Saturday, 18 July 2026 – 5:35 pm AEST – Go Media Stadium, Auckland
📺 Fox League / Kayo
Referee: Jarrod Cole | Senior Review Official: Chris Butler

Warriors: 1. Taine Tuaupiki, 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, 3. Ali Leiataua, 4. Adam Pompey, 5. Alofiana Khan-Pereira, 6. Chanel Harris-Tavita, 7. Te Maire Martin, 8. James Fisher-Harris (c), 9. Wayde Egan, 10. Mitchell Barnett, 11. Kurt Capewell, 12. Jacob Laban, 13. Erin Clark, 14. Sam Healey, 15. Tanner Stowers-Smith, 16. Demitric Vaimauga, 17. Leka Halasima, 18. Eddie Ieremia-Toeava, 20. Marata Niukore, 21. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 22. Luke Metcalf, 23. Makaia Tafua

Dragons: 1. Clinton Gutherson, 2. Setu Tu, 3. Mathew Feagai, 4. Valentine Holmes, 5. Tyrell Sloan, 6. Daniel Atkinson, 7. Kyle Flanagan, 8. Loko Jnr Pasifiki Tonga, 9. Damien Cook (c), 10. Toby Couchman, 11. Dylan Egan, 12. Hamish Stewart, 13. Ryan Couchman, 14. Jacob Liddle, 15. Luciano Leilua, 16. Josh Kerr, 17. Jacob Halangahu, 18. Moses Suli, 19. Lyhkan King-Togia, 20. Emre Guler, 21. Christian Tuipulotu, 22. Jacob Webster

Match Preview

With eight games remaining in the regular season, the second-placed New Zealand Warriors will be hoping to bank two points at home and maintain pressure on the Penrith Panthers in the race for the minor premiership, while an improving and increasingly resilient St George-Illawarra Dragons will be desperate to lift itself off the bottom of the ladder and provide fans with some optimism heading into 2027.

The Warriors have won two of the last three games and will enter this contest with optimism facing the current bottom of the ladder Dragon outfit. Their three most recent losses have been against fellow top-eight teams (Sharks, Dolphins and Panthers) and each by two points apiece, whereby all games remained in the balance and could have gone either way. The Warriors have a three-win, two-loss record at Go Media Stadium in Auckland and a five win, two loss record when including other home matches in Wellington and Christchurch. The Warriors supporters are out in force this year, with the entire home ground season sold out and another 24,000+ expected this weekend.

The Dragons will recognise the challenge that lies ahead, but will enter this game with as much momentum as they have managed to build this year. An impressive 14-point win over the Wests Tigers last week led to their second win of the year. This followed narrow losses to the Raiders (eight points) and the fifth-placed knights (two points). Their much maligned attack which sits last in the competition for points scored (244), has managed to score 60 points in the last three rounds and is showing signs of improved cohesiveness.

Both teams will field close to full strength sides. The Warriors will welcome back Kurt Capewell and Mitchell Barnett from Origin duties, while outside back Dallin Watene-Zelezniak returns from injury. Long-term injuries to Warriors pair Tanah Boyd and Jackson Ford, along with Dragons forward Jaydn Su’A, remain unchanged.

The young Dragons forward pack led by potential future State of Origin players Hamish Stewart and the Couchman brothers, have been leading the way over the last few rounds and the Warriors strong forward pack will be keen to assert dominance early. The ultra-reliable Capewell will be looking to atone for a subpar State of Origin game 3 effort and will be particularly inspired to perform against the up-and-coming Dragons backrow.

In the spine, Te Maire Martin will bring up his 50th game for the Warriors and will be looking to maintain his run of form and keep hold of the number seven as his position continues to be a talking point. While Tanah Boyd will not return until deep into the new year, it is hard to imagine Luke Metcalf not featuring prominently in September. Pre-knee injury, Metcalf had one hand on the 2025 Dally M and Warriors coach Andrew Webster has provided only snippets on when he may return, despite being fit and ready to play. It is hard to overlook class at the selection table in big games and time will tell, but if Martin and the Warriors continue to perform, it is hard to change a winning line-up.

The limited number of tries scored by the Dragons’ outside backs continues to weigh heavily on the Danial Atkinson and Kyle Flanagan halves combination, but with the signing of Metcalf for 2027 they will be determined to show their worth and compete for the remaining position. Jacob Liddle brings up his 150th game in Auckland and, alongside starting rake Damien Cook will be looking to take advantage of former dragon Jackson Ford’s absence, although the more than capable Wayde Egan continues to fill the void.

History is not on the Dragons’ side. The last win in Auckland was 11 years ago with a 36 – 0 drubbing in 2015. Eleven years is a long time, and it would appear to be too large a mountain to climb with a resolute Warriors looking to solidify their premiership credentials.

Prediction

RLZ Tip: Warriors by 20
Full Round 20 tips → /nrl-round-20-predictions-2026/
Bold call: With reasonably dry conditions predicted and strong lineups, expect some points. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak to score a try.

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