The Mudgee Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours Event took on a red tinge as they talked all things Dragons ahead of this weekend’s NRL match.

Special guests included St George Illawarra CEO Michael McDonald and Dragons greats Shaun Timmins and Craig Young, along with representatives from sponsor Westfund.

After February’s Charity Shield match an influx of visitors to the region is expected this weekend.

Although the Dragons were downed in that match, Timmins said the effect on the area was positive.

“[For the Charity Shield] the place was buzzing and we’re quite excited to be back, we’ve got the two year deal with Mudgee and we can keep building on it next year,” he said. “It’s great for the community, great for the businesses, and it’s a great fit with Mudgee being the Dragons as well.

“It’s great, I’d like to see every club take a game out to the country, which a few are now, it’s good for the country kids to see the players out and about because they don’t get to see them as often as those in the city.

“It’s something that’s very important, we’ve got some great rugby league players that come from the country and I think we need to keep feeding those areas.”

Chamber president Greg Dowker added, “the money will go right throughout the whole town, it’s not just the accommodation and restaurants, because there’s a snowball effect”.

“The wages that you pay the people working in those sectors are spent with retailers and it keeps going and works really well for us.”