It's a shame most of our first string players only get one trial match to blow out the cobwebs and try out new combos. As a player I'd be taking this game fairly seriously, trial or not, unless you want to spend the year in CC. A squad of 24 is a bit much, the coaches must be very uncertain of their round 1 team to be running that many guys out. I'd have left Williame, Merrin, Clune and Ellis out for this one but would have given Wishart a run against the big boys - even 10-15 minutes would tell you a lot. Anyway, 3 weeks to go and all our questions will be answered. Let the fun begin. Just noticed a few people putting Kerr in the second row....why ? Aint gonna to happen....I hope.
Ben Hunt on Dragons captaincy TEAM LISTS Presented By 2021 Charity Shield squad named Author Dragons.com.au dragons.com.au Timestamp Tue 23 Feb 2021, 03:57 PM Share on social media Share via Facebook Share via Twitter Share via Reddit Share via Email St George Illawarra coach Anthony Griffin has named a strong 24-man squad for the 38th annual Charity Shield against the South Sydney Rabbitohs at Mudgee's Glen Willow Stadium on Saturday, February 27 (6:30pm). Charity Shield to remain in Mudgee Rabbitohs name strong side to face the Dragons Ben Hunt will lead the team for the first time while the likes of Daniel Alvaro, Jack Bird, Kaide Ellis, Poasa Faamausili, Max Feagai, Josh Kerr, Andrew McCullough, Cody Ramsey and Jayden Sullivan will all play their first Charity Shield game. The Dragons have lost both their pre-season trials to the Sharks and Eels so far, although the Charity Shield will allow players who featured in more than 12 games last year to have their first taste of footy in 2021. Proceeds from Saturday's Charity Shield 50-50 raffle will support the Dragons Community Foundation and in turn St George and Wollongong Public Hospitals. The Rabbitohs have held on to the Charity Shield since 2013 (seven wins, one draw) including a 26-12 victory last year. This will be the fourth consecutive edition of the annual pre-season fixture to be held in Mudgee. In their 37 previous Charity Shield clashes, the Dragons and Rabbitohs have recorded 16 wins each, with the two clubs drawing on five occasions. 2021 Charity Shield squad (alphabetical): Daniel Alvaro, Jack Bird, Adam Clune, Matt Dufty, Kaide Ellis, Poasa Faamausili, Max Feagai, Jackson Ford, Tyrell Fuimaono, Ben Hunt, Jaiyden Hunt, Josh Kerr, Blake Lawrie, Zac Lomax, Andrew McCullough, Trent Merrin, Corey Norman, Jordan Pereira, Cody Ramsey, Mikaele Ravalawa, Tariq Sims, Jayden Sullivan, Paul Vaughan, Brayden Wiliame. Timings for 2021 Charity Shield – Gates open: 5:30pm Main game: 6:30pm https://www.dragons.com.au/news/2021/02/23/2021-charity-shield-squad-named/
GAME DAY Game day guide: Charity Shield Author Dragons.com.au dragons.com.au Timestamp Tue 23 Feb 2021, 04:41 PM Share on social media Share via Facebook Share via Twitter Share via Reddit Share via Email The Charity Shield will celebrate its 38th edition on Saturday night when the St George Illawarra Dragons and the South Sydney Rabbitohs take the field at Mudgee's Glen Willow Stadium. Charity Shield to remain in Mudgee Dragons name Charity Shield squad Former Red V men named for Rabbitohs Strong squads for majority's first and final pre-season hit-out The Dragons and Rabbitohs have named their strongest possible line-ups ahead of Saturday evening's traditional pre-season trial. Cameron McInnes's tragic ACL injury aside, the Dragons have no injuries en route to the Central West of New South Wales. Ben Hunt will lead the team for the first time while the likes of Daniel Alvaro, Jack Bird, Kaide Ellis, Poasa Faamausili, Max Feagai, Josh Kerr, Andrew McCullough, Cody Ramsey and Jayden Sullivan will all play their first Charity Shield game. Latrell Mitchell (hamstring) makes his long-awaited return for South Sydney after playing a starring role for the Indigenous All Stars team last weekend. Jaydn Su'A and Liam Knight are unavailable, but the likes of Josh Mansour, Benji Marshall and Jai Arrow will don the myrtle and cardinal for the first time. Former Dragons Jacob Host, Steven Marsters and Hame Sele will also line up for Souths. The majority of players will feature in their first and final pre-season trial in accordance to the NRL's 2021 pre-season trial regulations. First grade spots up for grabs Jack Bird's pre-season might have been spent training in the forwards, but the local junior has made no secret of his desire to start his maiden Dragons campaigns in the centres. Not content playing second fiddle, Brayden Wiliame and Max Feagai will have their own opportunities to impress against Souths after spending time there at different points in 2020. Jordan Pereira, Mikaele Ravalawa and Cody Ramsey meanwhile are locked in a fierce battle for the two wing spots, while Tyson Frizell's departure has opened up a wide list of variables in the back row. New recruits Daniel Alvaro, Kaide Ellis and Poasa Faamausili will vie for their own Round 1 forward pack opportunities in Mudgee alongside incumbents Josh Kerr, Trent Merrin, Paul Vaughan and Blake Lawrie. Charity still the focus of annual tradition The crown jewel of the NRL's pre-season calendar began in 1982 and so too did the tradition of supporting charities close to both the Dragons and Rabbitohs' hearts. Proceeds from Saturday's Charity Shield 50-50 raffle will support the Dragons Community Foundation and in turn St George and Wollongong Public Hospitals. The Dragons will also spend the week leading into the weekend's clash visiting various schools across the Central West of New South Wales. Charity Shield's vicious cycle The Dragons are on the precipice of losing their edge in overall Charity Shield history. The Rabbitohs' sixth win in seven years, including 2020's 26-12 triumph, has each club on 16 victories apiece (with five draws to boot). The Red V can ill-afford to lose Mudgee's fourth iteration of the Charity Shield if they wish to maintain the edge over a much-fancied South Sydney outfit. https://www.dragons.com.au/news/2021/02/23/game-day-guide-charity-shield/
TEAM LISTS Behind enemy lines: Charity Shield v Rabbitohs Author Dragons.com.au dragons.com.au Timestamp Tue 23 Feb 2021, 04:10 PM Share on social media Share via Facebook Share via Twitter Share via Reddit Share via Email The South Sydney Rabbitohs have named their extended squad ahead of the annual Charity Shield match at Glen Willow Oval, Mudgee on Saturday, February 27th. Click here to see Anthony Griffin's team to face the Rabbitohs Andrew McCullough reflects on his first week at the club Charity Shield to remain in Mudgee Rabbitohs Head Coach Wayne Bennett has named a 25-man squad to travel to Mudgee as South Sydney aims to claim its ninth-straight Charity Shield title. Former Dragons Jacob Host, Steven Marsters and Hame Sele will line up against their old teammates. South Sydney Rabbitohs' squad for Charity Shield v St George Illawarra Dragons – 1. Latrell Mitchell 2. Jaxson Paulo 3. Dane Gagai 4. Campbell Graham 5. Alex Johnston 6. Cody Walker 7. Adam Reynolds (c) 8. Tom Burgess 9. Damien Cook 10. Junior Tatola 11. Keaon Koloamatangi 12. Jacob Host 13. Cameron Murray Interchange: 14. Blake Taaffe 15. Josh Mansour 16. Tautau Moga 17. Steven Marsters 18. Troy Dargan 19. Hame Sele 20. Benji Marshall 21. Mark Nicholls 22. Dean Hawkins 23. Patrick Mago 24. Jai Arrow 25. Joshua Cook https://www.dragons.com.au/news/2021/02/23/behind-enemy-lines-charity-shield-v-rabbitohs/
If McCullough is rested then I'm sure Hunt will move to hooker. I think in 2021, Wishart will come into calculations for the backup hooker role.
Tyran's only very young but then again the Brayley brothers were also precocious talents at dummy half and the Sharks were smart enough to give them their chance. They haven't looked back.
I'm guessing the reason is because we have poor depth in the back row which would give him more minutes. I know he's purely a prop, but imagine having him running at you if you were a halfback or edge forward. He's got a bit of footwork and an offload, imagine him becoming a Kikau type player (but obviously not as good as Kikau).
I think Kikau is overrated and us a bit lazy. has a few errors and penalties in him. Yeh sure the commentators love him from those tries he scored a few years ago but after last year he went missing for mine and plays like the gentle giant. he is big and can run into a hole provided for him and over small blokes but that’s it. Maybe it was the bleached hair... it has affected many JFH and Yeo are Penriths premium bigger men and carried them last year
it’s the bleached hair; Widdop’s formed dropped significantly after his blonde transformation; never the same!
This would have been a good opportunity to give Blacker another run, he showed some good signs in the earlier trials. We need to develop him quickly and get him in the 17, you don't want a big, strong 116kg prop being wasted in CC, at 21 years old he should be a regular very soon. He's got to be a better option than Ellis whose only good performance for us so far was last week against reserve graders like himself.
I was of the opinion that Blacker wasn’t going to be ready for a while. His game last year looked indecisive, and he seemed lazy and in defence laterally incapable. The first 15mins or so of the 1st trial game me a few images that I took for confirmation bias... but then he started to increase his efforts and with confidence I think I started to see real promise. Not saying he is ready, nor in the top 5 props we have for round1, but the next 12months may not be too early to give him some extra game time
Hopefully CC all goes smooth and he really cements his place as one the premier Reggies props going around. If our props go well there is a good chance Kerr, and possibly Vaughan get named for origin so he should get a few FG games throughout the year.
