WIN Stadium will play host to Friday's Round 17 NRL game between St. George Illawarra Dragons and New Zealand Warriors. The game kicks off at 8:00 pm with New Zealand Warriors heading into the game as favourites with the bookmakers. Continue reading for our in-depth preview of the St. George Illawarra Dragons vs. New Zealand Warriors game and give you our free tips and bets.

When: Friday June 23, 2023 at 8:00 pm

Where: WIN Stadium

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St. George Illawarra Dragons vs New Zealand Warriors Odds

St. George Illawarra Dragons vs New Zealand Warriors Preview

St George Illawarra’s season keeps going from bad to worse with Friday’s assignment overshadowed by wantaway halfback and captain Ben Hunt.

But can the Dragons harness that siege mentality to upset the in-form Warriors in Wollongong?

Both teams are coming off a bye, which for the Saints, followed their fourth win of the season in Round 15, holding off fast-finishing, under-strength Souths 36-30 where Hunt was instrumental.

Hunt has been named to back up 48 hours after the second Origin, despite his release request that has dominated headlines in recent days.

Ex-NSW reps Jack Bird and Jack De Belin also return, while pack mainstay Josh Kerr has made a mid-season switch to the Dolphins.

The 8-6 Warriors climbed to sixth after their two biggest wins of the season – a patchy 30-8 home defeat of the Dolphins and a rousing 36-14 victory over the Raiders at a sold-out GIO Stadium.

The Warriors produced a mighty defensive display in the first half and rolled over the Raiders in the second stanza with five tries to one.

Shaun Johnson was sensational again, while Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad is proving one of the buys of the year at fullback.

Impressive centre debutant Ali Leiataua (hamstring) has been ruled out, with Rocco Berry taking his place.

Valuable utility Dylan Walker returns from six weeks off in time to replace the suspended Mitch Barnett on the bench.

The Dragons boast a dominant 24-10 all-time record against the Warriors, including 1-12 margin wins in the teams’ last three encounters.

The Saints are also 10-1 at WIN Stadium in this rivalry, though the Warriors grabbed a drought-breaking win in the most recent clash there in 2018.

The Warriors have been excellent on the road this year – 4-4 overall and 7-1 against the line in Australia – and should bank another two competition points on the back of their defence, which ranks third in the NRL.

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