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Dragons out to start the season breathing fire

Benji Marshall is off to the Broncos. (by Robb Cox ©nrlphotos.com)
Roar Guru
24th January, 2016
20

With a particularly tough draw this year, the Dragons will be looking to grab points early in the season rather than have to battle for them towards the end of the year.

St George Illawarra have an extended preseason planned, starting with the balance of the squad travelling to Brisbane the weekend of the Nines to play Wynnum-Manly Sea Eagles.

The Dragons have been drip feeding details of both squads.

Surprisingly, 130-kilogram Mose Masoe has been named alongside Jack De Belin as forwards in the Nines. Possibily coach Paul McGregor is looking to test their ball-playing skills.

New forwards Dunamis Lui, Tyrone McCarthy and Silivia Havili are all expected to be given their chance in the Nines.

The core of the Dragons pack, including Mike Cooper and Ben Creagh, are expected to play Wynnum-Manly in a more useful test for the Dragons forwards, particularly in defence.

The Dragon’s Nines squad is shaping to be the testing ground for backs, with Josh Dugan, Euan Aitken and Kurt Mann named, which gives Dugan and Mann a chance to switch between centre and fullback. Tim Lafai and Peter Mata’utia are also expected to be named.

With Gareth Widdop named against Wynnum-Manly, it is assumed Benji Marshall will captain the Nines squad in the absence of co-captains Widdop and Creagh.

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The team for the Sea Eagles game, although including winger Jason Nightingale, looks certain to trial the less prominent contenders for the backline, such as Dragons junior Kiti Glymin and new recruits Kalifa Faifai Loa and Taane Milne.

In the forwards we can expect to see a front row of Rusell Packer, Mitch Rein and Lesson Ah Mau, and backrowers Joel Thompson, Mike Cooper, Creagh, as well as new forwards on the bench to impress.

The main two trials come against Souths, in the Charity Shield (where both sides will be missing players to the All Stars match), and a week later against the Warriors in New Zealand.

Both games should provide McGregor with a sound gauge on the makeup of his team.

Finally, they have one final trial against Central Queensland Capras, at Browne Park, Rockhampton.

The planned travel to Queensland and New Zealand seem to be part of McGregor’s pre-season plan to bring the squad closer together, as the trip to the World Club Challenge did last year.

The Dragons need all the help they can get this year, with only four true home games in the first 12 rounds, and the first three matches this season away against the Storm, Sharks and Roosters.

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Draw Rounds 1-13
Round 1: Storm versus Dragons (Monday, March 7, 7pm at AAMI Park)
Round 2: Sharks versus Dragons (Sunday, March 13, 4pm at Shark Park)
Round 3: Dragons versus Rabbitohs (Sunday, March 20, 4pm at Sydney Cricket Ground)
Round 4: Dragons versus Panthers (Sunday, March 27, 4pm at WIN Stadium)
Round 5: Cowboys versus Dragons (Saturday, April 2, 7:30pm at 1300Smiles Stadium)
Round 6: Broncos versus Dragons (Thursday, April 7, 7:50pm at Suncorp Stadium)
Round 7: Titans versus Dragons (Saturday, April 16, 3pm at Cbus Super Stadium)
Round 8: Dragons versus Roosters (Monday, April 25, 4pm at Allianz Stadium)
Round 9: Warriors versus Dragons (Sunday, May 1, 12pm at Mt Smart Stadium)
Round 10: Dragons versus Raiders (Thursday, May 12, 7:50pm at Jubilee Oval)
Round 11: Rabbitohs versus Dragons (Thursday, May 19, 7:50pm at ANZ Stadium)
Round 12: Dragons versus Cowboys (Saturday, May 28, 7:30pm at WIN Stadium)
Round 13: Bye

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