Coach Paul McGregor is refusing to allow the Dragons squad to be distracted by the Jack de Belin court case.
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Adamant they're firmly focused on their March 16 season opener against North Queensland, McGregor has other vulnerabilities to address.
"The decision has been made, we have got a squad now of 28 and we will pick our strongest 17 for round one," McGregor said. "That’s what we have got to focus on, the other distractions are gone, it is only other people who are talking about it now."
The old master Wayne Bennett has already handed the scouting report to North Queensland for round one.
Cowboys coach Paul Green now only need watch the brief highlights of Saturday night's game to be aware of St George Illawarra's pre-season frailties.
The Dragons can be thankful North Queensland are without Johnathan Thurston these days.
His left-sided show-and-go and deft kick would have created all forms of havoc to the Dragons defence, based on Saturday night's showing.
And of course, it is only a trial. No need to panic.
The new-look spine - with captain Gareth Widdop at fullback, Corey Norman pairing with Ben Hunt, Matt Dufty's bench impetus and hooker Cameron McInnes to spend short shifts tag-teaming at dummy-half - showed some promise.
But with Jack de Belin stood down indefinitely while facing rape allegations, the practicalities in the middle of the field has meant fellow NSW State of Origin forward Tyson Frizell will need to fill the void.
Suspended Korbin Sims - recruited from Brisbane in the off-season, after being part of the crushing 48-18 elimination final loss to the Dragons in September, Bennett's final game at the Broncos before joining the Bunnies - will provide precious defensive impact when he is available in round three.
The promising Jacob Host is likely to shift to the right edge, with Ben Hunt and whatever combination of Zac Lomax, Euan Aitken and Mikaele Ravalawa McGregor lands on following the retirement of Jason Nightingale and Nene Macdonald's exit to the Cowboys.
"They were a bit indecisive but Tyson has been training on that right edge all pre-season and obviously we have moved him this week so the next person who goes there [right second-row] will have a couple of weeks to prepare," McGregor said.
"I will name my centre and winger early next week so that combination can have a couple of weeks to get ready for round one.
"Tonight gave me a little bit of clarity of where I am going to go next week."
Tim Barrow
When it comes to sport - at professional and community level - in the Illawarra, I'm here to provide insight, context and opinion, as well as the latest news you won't find anywhere else.
When it comes to sport - at professional and community level - in the Illawarra, I'm here to provide insight, context and opinion, as well as the latest news you won't find anywhere else.
