The St George Illawarra Dragons have made two changes to their NRL Auckland Nines squad named to compete at Eden Park, Auckland this weekend.
Toa Samoa international Mose Masoe has been forced out of the two-day tournament with a minor side strain and has been replaced by fellow new recruit and Ireland international Tyrone McCarthy.
Dragons National Youth Competition team centre Reuben Garrick has also been added to the Nines Squad following strong performances with the first-grade full-time squad in the pre-season.
Garrick replaces Peter Mata’utai who will instead travel to Queensland with the non-Nines playing squad for the trial against the Wynnum-Manly Seagulls at Pinklands Oval, Redlands on Saturday.
Dragons NRL Nines captain Josh Dugan said that the entire squad is looking forward to this weekend's Nines.
“It is definitely an honour for me to captain such a great club and I am really looking forward to the Nines this weekend,” said Dugan.
“We haven’t done too much specific training for the Nines as yet, but it is definitely fun to play and there is a big prize at the end which we will be aiming for.
"I know that all the boys who are heading to the Nines are really looking forward to the weekend."
The Dragons Nines Squad is as follows:
1. Josh Dugan (c)
2. Reuben Garrick
3. Euan Aitken
4. Tim Lafai
5. Kurt Mann
6. Drew Hutchison
7. Josh McCrone
8. Dunamis Lui
9. Mitch Rein
11. Jacob Host
12. Jake Marketo
13. Jack De Belin
14. Yaw Kiti Glymin
15. Kalifa Faifai Loa
16. Matt Dufty (NYC)
17. Sebastine Ikahihifo
18. Jay Gallagher (Illawarra Cutters)
19. Tyrone McCarthy
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The Dragons have been included in the Piha Pool alongside the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks, Gold Coast Titans and Canberra Raiders in the two-day tournament to be staged on Saturday, February 6 and Sunday, February 7.
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