Former Gerringong Lions player Hamish Stewart is set to make his NRL debut for the St George Illawarra Dragons on Saturday, 8 March.

The 20-year-old will wear the number 17 jersey when the Dragons face the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs at Jubilee Stadium in Kogarah for Round 1 of the 2025 season.

After his debut was announced, Stewart was ecstatic, telling the Dragons that it had been a dream come true. “It’s always been a dream since I was young. If you ask anyone, they knew I always wanted to play for the Dragons,” said Stewart.

Stewart after learning of his selection in the Round 1 Dragons team. Source: St George Illawarra Dragons.

Stewart continues the Gerringong Lions' incredible success of producing NRL players - like Tyran Wishart, Jackson Ford, Reuben Garrick, and many more - and he credits the club for making him the player he is today.

“Gerringong’s been successful down in Group 7 for a number of years,” he told the Dragons. “And I put it down to the older boys. Blokes like Nathan Ford and Rixon Russell, they’ve driven the standard for us young boys. We trained with them coming through. 

“They were in and around the system and they didn’t quite make it, but they know what it takes. They’ve pretty much nurtured us to compete and train hard. They’ve shown us the way.”

Stewart also continues his family’s tradition of producing top athletes, with his sister Grace captaining the Hockeyroos at last year's Olympics, and his father Scott recently coaching the Gerringong Lions to back-to-back premierships.

“He’s my harshest critic. Sometimes, he annoys me,” Hamish told the Dragons of his dad. “He’s a good judge of the game. He’s been around for a long time, so I listen to him as much as I can. He watches and he knows what it takes for someone to make the NRL.”

The Dragons take on the Bulldogs at 5:30pm. on 8 March. The Bugle congratulates him on this outstanding achievement and wishes him well for his debut!