RUGBY LEAGUE
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Dragons young gun Euan Aitken is firming as a shock inclusion for round one of the NRL season after being named to start in the centres in Saturday's Charity Shield.
Aitken will partner veteran recruit Dane Nielsen in the centres with Dylan Farrell named on the wing with other centre contenders Peter Mata'utia and Charly Runciman named on the extended bench. Aitken will feature in a backline that sees Josh Dugan officially return to fullback and star halves Benji Marshall and Gareth Widdop reunited for the first time in 2015.
Skipper Ben Creagh will have his first hit-out of the season at lock with Trent Merrin rested ahead of his involvement in the All Stars match on February 13.
Saturday's Charity Shield comes just a week after the Rabbitohs' Auckland Nines triumph and the defending premiers have named a formidable line-up despite the notable omission of newly-named skipper Greg Inglis.
The annual fixture - traditionally the highest-profile trial match on the NRL calendar - brings high expectations from fans, something the Dragons are keenly aware of after enduring a barrage of criticism after their poor showing in last year's game that continued well into the season proper. Dugan was a casualty of the loss in Wollongong when he tore ligaments in his left knee trying to prevent a rampaging George Burgess from scoring in the Rabbitohs' 38-20 victory. He said the Dragons haven't forgotten last year's loss and will be looking for an improved showing at ANZ Stadium.
"There's always going to be critics but we weren't too happy with how we performed last year either. It wasn't just from other people it was pretty warranted from our point of view as well," Dugan said.
"They won the Nines as well, so they're definitely a side that will be tough to beat this year. I don't think any of the boys are going to treat it as a trial."