Charity Shield NRL trial to be played outside of Sydney for first time in 30 years Sam Burgess on the charge during the Charity Shield. FOR THE first time in 30 years, the traditional Charity Shield - featuring powerhouse clubs St George Illawarra and South Sydney - will be played outside of Sydney. An announcement is expected as early as today that the popular pre-season fixture will be played on February 22 in Wollongong. It will be a huge boost for the Illawarra given the number of NRL matches in the region has been reduced from six to four this season. ANZ Stadium, which has hosted the Charity Shield in recent years, is unavailable because American rap idol Eminem will be performing a concert. And across town, Allianz Stadium is also off-limits because of the World Club Challenge involving the Sydney Roosters and Wigan. The Daily Telegraph understands WIN Stadium was given the nod ahead of WIN Jubilee Oval. It's also expected Fox Sports will push for an earlier kick-off so the coverage can lead directly into Channel 9's World Club Challenge. Star winger Jason Nightingale scores for the Dragons during a Charity Shield clash at ANZ Stadium. Passionate supporters of both clubs have been eagerly awaiting the details of the pre-season hit-out, which is expected to once again feature the big names from both clubs. Crowds of 20,000 have attended the summer showdown in recent years, including the 19,630 who attended last year's match won comfortably by the Bunnies. Souths' World Cup contingent, including superstar No. 1 Greg Inglis, will return to training next Monday. Souths will play their first trial against the Bulldogs on February 9 in a match being billed as 'Back To Belmore', which will become an annual fixture, and be hosted at Redfern every alternate year. Nathan Merritt celebrates a Charity Shield try. The Auckland Nines will be held on February 15 and 16, which left St George Illawarra and the Rabbitohs no other option but to lock in the following weekend. The Charity Shield has been played since 1982, and is sure to be well received by the Wollongong faithful. "Because ANZ Stadium is unavailable, there are several other venues being looked at," one Dragons insider said last night. The Bunnies will again loom as a serious premiership threat, while the Dragons are likely to see new Melbourne recruit Gareth Widdop in action for the first time.