Dragons and Bulldogs fans deserve a big stadium for 2025 opening-round blockbuster
The rivalry between the Dragons and Bulldogs will reignite in round one next year.
And while the scenes at Kogarah Oval for a rare sell-out in 2024 were incredible, there is no doubt fans of both clubs deserve a grander stage for the 2025 opener.
The NRL formally announced the fixtures for the first round on Sunday, with some tantalising match-ups on the agenda including another double-header in Las Vegas.
READ MORE: 'Two maximum': AFL great's bold Jake Paul offer
READ MORE: Teen star among Tigers players breached for fitness issues
READ MORE: 'They don't want me': RCG lifts the lid on Parra exit
Brisbane will take on the Roosters in primetime Thursday night footy, while new Eels coach Jason Ryles will go head-to-head with his former mentor Craig Bellamy when they face premiership favourites Melbourne on Sunday afternoon.
But for the rugby league purists, the biggest game of the round will come on Saturday afternoon when St George Illawarra hosts old rivals Canterbury.
Dragons and Bulldogs fans packed the hill at Kogarah this year. Getty
As it stands, it will be a Dragons home game which would mean it likely takes place at one of their spiritual venues in Kogarah or Wollongong.
However, given the high demand for tickets when the two clubs squared off a few months ago, the decision should be made to move it to a bigger stadium.
If the match was to be held at Allianz Stadium, on the first weekend of the season, it's hard to imagine a world where it doesn't sell out.
Unfortunately, the biggest NRL venue in Sydney - Accor Stadium - is unavailable.
Both fanbases head into next year with room for optimism and are coming off much-improved campaigns under coaches Shane Flanagan and Cameron Ciraldo.
Shane Flanagan is rebuilding the Dragons. Getty
The joint venture has added three marquee names to their roster in Clint Gutherson, Valentine Holmes and Damien Cook, while the Dogs are brimming with confidence following their first finals appearance in more than half a decade.
There will also be the added wrinkle of Kyle Flanagan facing his former club once again, especially after his suspension for biting rival captain Stephen Crichton.
The easy option for the NRL and St George Illawarra is to keep the game at a smaller suburban ground, but rugby league is a business and there's no real reason to lock out thousands of fans from seeing their team kick off the year.
