St George Illawarra have received a boost leading into the new season with Benji Marshall named to play in the Charity Shield on Saturday night.
The Dragons face South Sydney at ANZ Stadium in the next phase of their pre-season after last weekend’s Auckland Nines and trial against Wynnum-Manly.
Marshall will return from the ankle injury he suffered in the semi-final loss to Canterbury at the end of last season.
The 30-year-old said he looked forward to getting back on the field.
“The Dragons medical staff had opted to rest me from the Nines tournament to allow me some extra time to recover from the off-season ankle surgery but I feel fit and ready,” he said.
St George Illawarra will also be without captain Gareth Widdop and Joel Thompson who will play in the NRL All-Stars match in Brisbane.
Josh Dugan has been rested, with Kurt Mann named at fullback.
Drew Hutchison will play five-eighth with Jake Marketo named in the second row.
South Sydney will be without Adam Reynolds and Tom Burgess who will play for the World All-Stars, while Greg Inglis will play for the Indigenous team.
Alex Johnston and Chris Grevsmuhl will also be unavailable for the Rabbitohs after withdrawing from the All-Stars match.
Marshall said he was confident the club’s recruitment in the forward pack would see them challenge Souths who will also be without Sam Burgess.
“The Rabbitohs forward-pack always pose a threat but we have recruited a lot of size and depth within our own squad too and it will be good to see them in action come kick-off,” he said.
St George Illawarra Charity Shield squad:
1. Kurt Mann, 2. Peter Mata’utia, 3. Tim Lafai, 4. Euan Aitken, 5. Jason Nightingale, 6. Drew Hutchison, 7. Benji Marshall, 8. Leeson Ah Mau, 9. Mitch Rein, 10. Russell Packer, 11. Jake Marketo, 12. Will Matthews, 13. Jack de Belin, 14. Ben Creagh (c), 15. Mike Cooper, 16. Dunamis Lui, 17. Siliva Havili, 18. Tyrone McCarthy, 19. Josh McCrone, 20. Kalifa Faifai Loa, 21. Taane Milne, 22. Adam Quinlan, 23. Sebastine Ikahihifo, 24. Jacob Host, 25. Hame Sele.
