LeagueNews.co | Jess Malloy
The St George Illawarra Dragons are gearing up for their highly anticipated Charity Shield clash against the Rabbitohs, and head coach Shane Flanagan has revealed his strong 28-man squad for the game.
Flanagan, in his first game as the club's head coach, has included some new recruits in his team selection.
Players like Kyle Flanagan, Tom Eisenhuth, Christian Tuipulotu, and Jesse Marschke will be looking to make an impact in their first outing for the Dragons.
However, there are a couple of recruits, namely Hame Sele and Raymond Faitala-Mariner, who won't be featuring due to minor injuries sustained during the preseason.
The Dragons will rely heavily on the talents of Tyrell Sloan, who has been given the coveted No.1 jersey for this match, as he proved himself to be a force to be reckoned with in the previous season.
Jack Bird's positional change to the centres has pushed Zac Lomax onto the wing, adding more versatility to the Dragons' attacking options.
Flanagan himself will be playing alongside the influential captain Ben Hunt in the halves, forming a formidable partnership that will pose a significant threat to the Rabbitohs' defense.
In the second row, Eisenhuth will join forces with the returning Jaydn Su'A, who missed the final eight games of the previous season due to a shoulder injury.
The Dragons' bench is filled with a talented group of rookies who are eager to prove their worth, including Viliami Fifita, Dylan Egan, Savelio Tamale, Sione Finau, Ryan Couchman, and Alec Tuitavake.
With such a strong squad announced, the Dragons are poised to put up a spirited performance and give the Rabbitohs a run for their money in the Charity Shield.