St George Illawarra Dragons NRL head coach Shane Flanagan has announced his squad to face the Panthers at BlueBet Stadium in Round 13.
Flanagan has been forced into a number of changes with Ben Hunt, Jaydn Su’A, and Zac Lomax all unavailable due to State of Origin selection and Hame Sele (shoulder) and Jack Bird (ankle) ruled out through injury.
Sione Finau and Mathew Feagai make up a new-look wing pairing in place of Lomax and Mikaele Ravalawa.
Max Feagai comes into the centres in place of Bird with Jesse Marschke the new No.7 replacing Hunt.
Tom Eisenhuth starts at lock with Jack de Belin up front and Luciano Leilua and Raymond Faitala-Mariner partnering each other in the second row.
Eisenhuth and de Belin are set to co-captain the side in the absence of Hunt.
Ben Murdoch-Masila earns a recall on the interchange alongside Toby and Ryan Couchman who will both be making their first NRL appearance of 2024 having impressed at Knock-On Effect NSW Cup level throughout the year.
Fa’amanu Brown reverts to the reserves alongside Ravalawa, Michael Molo, Alec Tuitavake and Christian Tuipulotu.
The club’s Jersey Flegg Cup (1:20pm) and Knock-On Effect NSW Cup (3:05pm) sides will also be in action in the lead-up to the NRL (5:30pm) clash on Saturday.
DRAGONS ROUND 13 TEAM LIST
1. Tyrell Sloan – sponsored by EFEX
2. Sione Finau – sponsored by Floormania
3. Moses Suli – sponsored by Kingsgrove Sports Centre
4. Max Feagai – sponsored by Aspec Masonry
5. Mathew Feagai – sponsored by Wollongong City Jetski
6. Kyle Flanagan – sponsored by React Facility Solutions
7. Jesse Marschke – sponsored by St. George Leagues Club
8. Francis Molo – sponsored by UTECH
9. Jacob Liddle – sponsored by Active Forklifts
10. Jack de Belin (c) – sponsored by Deicorp
11. Luciano Leilua – sponsored by Squadron Energy
12. Raymond Faitala-Mariner – sponsored by Shire Steel
13. Tom Eisenhuth (c) – sponsored by CHiQ
Interchange
14. Blake Lawrie – sponsored by TripADeal
15. Ben Murdoch-Masila – sponsored by Konnect
16. Toby Couchman – sponsored by Professionals Padstow
17. Ryan Couchman – sponsored by HWLE
Reserves
18. Fa’amanu Brown
19. Michael Molo
20. Alec Tuitavake
21. Christian Tuipulotu
22. Mikaele Ravalawa
CASUALTY WARD
- Viliami Fifita (suspension, Round 15)
- Hame Sele (shoulder, TBC)
- Jack Bird (ankle, TBC)
- Corey Allan (ACL, season)