Plenty has been made of the looming rep season and it’s potential to derail the Dragons campaign, with a host of stars in line for Test and Origin call-ups.

The club’s rep aspirants include include the entire forward pack, halves Ben Hunt and Gareth Widdop and centre Euan Aitken, making Mann a key cog in his side’s premiership charge.

Coach Paul McGregor will use the 25-year-old as cover for any position in the back-line while his newfound ability to play in the middle makes him the likely shadow for Cam McInnes.

Hell, he’d even put his hand up to play in the front-row having ticked that box on his utility list against Gold Coast in round three.

Having played wildly differing minutes across multiple positions in his previous two seasons with the club, Mann said he's relishing the chance to make a regular contribution in the middle of the park.

“At points it gets pretty frustrating when you’re not playing long minutes or your constantly changing positions and that sort of thing,” Mann said.

“Middle is something I’ve added this year that I’m able to do week in week out and that’s something I’m really enjoying.

“It’s something that’s been pretty steady and consistent for me now. I get to get on in that period before halftime and [McGregor] gives me free reign to do what I want.

“I can still play a ball-playing role when I’m playing lock and I don’t mind the contact.

“I like it, it’s a bit of a change for me and I’ve played every position on the field now.”

While he's embraced the shift, Mann said he hasn't forgotten how to play in the halves or our out wide if called upon to do so.

“I’m pretty much playing like an extra half in the middle when I get out there at the moment,” Mann said.

“I play a bit different to how Bomber [Jack de Belin] plays. He’s our big enforcer and I get out there and play as a ball-player in the middle so I’ve still got that under raps.

“The centres [ability] is not something I’m going to lose the amount of times I’ve played there.”

It's yet to become a major talking point, but Mann said McGregor has touched on the contribution the club's second unit will have to make, on the playing and training paddock, when the big guns are away.

“Last year we started in a similar sort of fashion and then the Origin period disrupted us a little bit,” Mann said.

“Our focus got shifted there and we went downhill after that but I think this year everyone’s a lot more level-headed, us as players and the coaching staff.

“Mary’s spoken to me briefly about how I’m going to have to step up because I’ll probably be playing bigger minutes there along with Leeson [Ah Mau] and few of the other boys who are still going to be here.”