Enigmatic playmaker Corey Norman has been dropped for St George Illawarra's clash with defending premiers the Roosters on Thursday night.
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Coach Paul McGregor has opted to shift Ben Hunt to five-eighth and pair with the returning Adam Clune, who missed the loss to South Sydney at Kogarah because of concussion the previous week against the Sharks.
The Dragons are two games and a sizeable for-and-against gap behind the eighth-placed Rabbitohs and would need to beat the Roosters, or overpower Parramatta next week to keep any hope of finals action alive.
Tristan Sailor has been named on the bench again, with Euan Aitken named despite a hamstring concern.
Trent Merrin also returns, named on the bench.
St George Illawarra surged to a 16-nil lead over Souths, but had handed the advantage back by half-time and eventually went down 32-24.
The Roosters have named Albion Park-Oak Flats junior Drew Hutchison on the bench, with Lachlan Lam to start in the halves in place of the injured Kyle Flanagan.
Kiama junior Josh Morris also comes back into the Roosters line-up, having recovered from a calf problem.
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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.
