WIN Stadium will see its fair share of NRL heavyweights in 2021, with the Dragons hosting three of four preliminary finalists in Wollongong next season.
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A round-22 clash with grand finalists' Penrith shapes as a grudge match for new coach Anthony Griffin after he was shown the door by the Panthers in 2018 despite being finals bound.
Assistant coach Matthew Elliott suffered the same fate at the foot of the mountains in 2011, adding further spice to the encounter in the home stretch of the season.
That match will come two weeks after a round-20 showdown with South Sydney - during the planned Origin period - with the Raiders making what's become a regular trip to the Gong during the Origin period in round 15.
Illawarra fans will get their first taste of the Griffin era in round three against Manly, a fortnight after the club opens its campaign with round-one derby against Cronulla at Kogarah.
The Dragons, featuring Group Seven product Tariq Sims, Jackson Ford (both Gerringong), Trent Merrin (Shellharbour) and Adam Clune (Albion Park-Oak Flats) will also host the Warriors and Tigers in Wollongong, with the joint-venture's12 home matches spread evenly between its traditional homes.
The full draw offers up just one Thursday night match, seven Friday fixtures, five Saturday and 10 Sunday games.
It's also been kind as far as road trips go, with a round-two trip to Townsville, Magic Round in Brisbane (round four) and a round-16 trip to Auckland the club's only trips out of state for the season.
"Allocating our home game venues is always an intricate process, one that was further complicated by the implications of the COVID-19 pandemic on other Australian sporting codes, when determining our 2021 home draw," Dragons CEO Ryan Webb said.
"Both our traditional venues in Kogarah and Wollongong will see their equal share of action in 2021.
"A huge local derby against the Sharks at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium is the perfect way to kick start a season, while we look forward to welcoming South Sydney and the Panthers back to WIN Stadium for the first time after many years."
Matches against the Knights (round four) and Canberra (round 21) are the only other trips out of the Sydney area across the 25 rounds.
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