Gasnier a definite to take on Panthers

St George Illawarra prodigal son Mark Gasnier will definitely make his NRL return against Penrith on Monday night, though there is still some doubt as to whether he will start the game or come off the bench.

Dragons coach Wayne Bennett intimated that Gasnier would not be in the run-on side as he looked to ease the former Test star back into the action for what will be his first game back in the NRL in almost 20 months.

Gasnier trained strongly in Sunday’s final training run, but the Dragons have lost New Zealand international Jeremy Smith who aggravated a calf injury in last week’s win over Wests Tigers.

Either Jarrod Saffy or Gasnier – with Matt Prior moving back to the forward pack – is expected to come off the bench into the starting line-up, with Jake Marketo set to drop off the extended bench named earlier in the week.