Nick Tsougranis to make emotional NRL debut for the Dragons

·

Greek Australian young gun Nick Tsougranis will make his NRL debut for the St George Illawarra Dragons tonight as they take on rivals Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks in the southern Sydney derby at Sharks Stadium.

Tsougranis steps in at centre, replacing Val Holmes, in a match that marks a crucial Round 15 clash for both sides.

The Sharks, sitting fifth, are looking to rebound from a loss to the Warriors and cement their top-eight spot. The Dragons, in 11th place but level on points with the seventh-placed Dolphins, will also be seeking a return to form after a defeat to the Dolphins.

The Sharks have dominated recent meetings, winning the past nine straight and 11 of the last 12 encounters. St George Illawarra haven’t won at Sharks Stadium since 2018.

A local St George junior who rose through the club’s ranks, Tsougranis has overcome multiple injuries this season to earn his spot.

The 20-year-old centre has impressed in the NSW Cup with five tries, 111 average run metres, and a 91.2% tackle efficiency across 11 games.

In a heartfelt video shared by the club after his debut was announced, Tsougranis’ dad expressed pride in his son’s achievement: “Nick started [playing] as a 4-year-old kid… the fact he gets to play NRL for a club that my family and a lot of our friends have idolised our whole lifetimes makes it even all that more special.”

Tsougranis added: “I’ve been wanting to do this before I could even talk… I’d like to thank my parents, they’ve made endless sacrifices to get me where I am today. I can’t wait to represent our name on the biggest stage.”

The match kicks off at 7:50pm tonight and will be broadcast on Nine, Nine Now, Kayo and Foxtel.

Advertisement

Share:

KEEP UP TO DATE WITH TGH

By subscribing you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Advertisement

Latest News

The man for all jobs: How a Greek migrant turned setbacks into 7-figure success

When Christof Mantzanas stepped off the plane in Melbourne on 10 March 2015, he had just $1,000 in his pocket.

Jimmy’s Kitchen brings authentic Greek hospitality to The Rocks

Sydney diners can now experience the warmth, flavour, and soul of a traditional Greek taverna without the flight to Greece.

Greek Community of Melbourne enhances safety with defibrillator training seminar

The Greek Community of Melbourne (GCM) took a notable step towards enhancing community safety by organising a defibrillator training seminar.

Wills without the Trojan War

After nearly 15 years in the legal industry, I’ve lost track of how many matters I’ve worked on involving family disputes over estates.

From tech to health: Greek Australians driving innovation in 2025

Australia’s Top 100 Innovators celebrate those who turn setbacks into breakthroughs. This year, three Greek Australians are among them.

You May Also Like

Andreas Yannopoulos: Attracting foreign investment is key to the Greeks Are Back initiative

Andreas Yannopoulos has created from scratch 'The Greeks Are Back' initiative, which has become an institution in Greece.

COVID-19 vaccine rollout in Australia brought forward to February

Australian Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, says the first COVID-19 vaccines should be available to Australians in mid-to-late February.

Cyprus Community Club seeks community support for community redevelopment

Now, the Cyprus Community Club calls on the Greek community for support. The club is at a tipping point, ready to transform into a Greek-Cypriot centre.