St George Illawarra Dragons NRL head coach Shane Flanagan has announced his 28-man squad to face the Rabbitohs in Saturday night’s Charity Shield at Kogarah.
In his first hit-out as the club’s head coach, Flanagan has named a quartet of new recruits including Kyle Flanagan, Tom Eisenhuth, Christian Tuipulotu and Jesse Marschke.
Fellow recruits Hame Sele and Raymond Faitala-Mariner will sit out Saturday night’s clash as they work their way back from minor preseason niggles.
Tyrell Sloan will wear the same No.1 jersey that he occupied for all but one game a year ago whilst Jack Bird’s move back into the centres pushes Zac Lomax onto the wing.
Flanagan will play alongside captain Ben Hunt in the halves with Eisenhuth partnering Jaydn Su’A – who missed the final eight games of 2023 with a shoulder issue – in the second row.
A host of exciting rookies make up the bulk of an extended interchange including the likes of Viliami Fifita, Dylan Egan, Savelio Tamale, Sione Finau, Ryan Couchman and Alec Tuitavake.
Despite the clash being played at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium, it is a Rabbitohs home game and will count towards the NRL’s 2024 Pre-Season Challenge.
An intraclub trial match will also take place this weekend featuring the Dragons Knock-On Effect NSW Cup and Jersey Flegg Cup squads.
The match will be played on Saturday at 10:00am at Collegians Sporting Complex, Figtree.
