A potentially awkward trip to New Zealand for the Dragons has been avoided after in-demand forward Trent Merrin was left out of St George Illawarra’s Auckland Nines squad.
However, Benji Marshall is primed for a triumphant return to former rugby stomping ground Eden Park after being named Dragons skipper for the second annual Nines tournament.
The stage would have been set for NSW forward Merrin to personally look into a mooted offer by the New Zealand Warriors if he left with the Dragons for the January 31-February 1 Nines tournament.
Merrin’s manager had reportedly spoken with Warriors coach Andrew McFadden, joining a list of more than half a dozen NRL clubs interested in him for 2016 and beyond.
A question mark remains over Merrin’s future after he knocked back a Dragons offer in December.
Instead the off contract Merrin has been included in a St George Illawarra trial outfit that will line up against Queensland Cup team Mackay on the same weekend as the Nines.
Merrin will run out with Gareth Widdop and new recruits such as Dane Nielsen, George Rose, Heath L’Estrange and Kris Keating in the January 31 Mackay clash.
Meanwhile, Marshall will skipper the Dragons when he returns to Eden Park for the first time since his ill-fated Super Rugby stint with the Auckland-based Blues.
The former New Zealand league captain was a jealous onlooker last year during the inaugural Nines tournament at the Blues’ homeground as he struggled to find his feet in rugby.
He sought an early release and linked with the Dragons mid-last season.
Marshall will step up for rested club captain Ben Creagh at the Nines.
“It’s an honour to be captaining the Dragons and to do so while playing my first NRL Auckland Nines tournament is exciting,” Marshall said on the Dragons website.
“To be recognised as a leader means a lot to me and I definitely didn’t expect it to happen.
“I’m looking forward to getting out there onto the field and contributing to the attacking plays as I missed out on experiencing the tournament last season.”
Dragons coach Paul McGregor’s Nines squad also features stars Josh Dugan and Jason Nightingale and 19-year-old “next big thing” Euan Aitken.
Dragons’ Nines squad
Euan Aitken, Mike Cooper, Shannon Crook, Josh Dugan, Tyson Frizell, Craig Garvey, Nathan Green, Yaw Kiti Glymin, Beau Henry, Dan Hunt, Benji Marshall (c), Peter Matautia, Will Matthews, Eto Nabuli, Jason Nightingale, Adam Quinlan, Joel Thompson, Shannon Wakeman.
Dragons’ Mackay trial squad
Matt Dufty (NYC), Charly Runciman, Dane Nielsen, Dylan Farrell, Tyrone Cranston (Illawarra Cutters), Gareth Widdop, Drew Hutchison, Leeson Ah Mau, Mitch Rein, Rory O’Brien, Jake Marketo, Adam Tuimavave-Gerrard, Trent Merrin, Kris Keating, Heath L’Estrange, George Rose, Rulon Nutira, Tekina Vailea (Illawarra Cutters), Nathan Smith (Illawarra Cutters), Geoff Daniela (Illawarra Cutters), Andrew McCarthy (Illawarra Cutters).
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