Dragons make plans to shut down former teammate Trent Merrin

ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA are making plans to shut down Trent Merrin as the former Dragon prepares for his first clash with his old club.

Trent Merrin of the Penrith Panthers during a media session at Pepper Stadium, Penrith. pic Mark Evans

NOT even the nasty effects of glandular fever will keep star Penrith recruit Trent Merrin from facing off against the Dragons for the first time on Easter Sunday.

Merrin was spotted doing some light running at training on Wednesday despite being hospitalised last week.

His former teammates are expecting the forward to come out firing in Wollongong.

Trent Merrin of the Penrith Panthers during a media session at Pepper Stadium, Penrith. Picture: Mark Evans

“It will be good to come up against Mez”, Dragons co-captain Ben Creagh said.

“I’ve played a lot of footy with him. He’s a good mate of mine. He’s a great player ... we’ll have our hands full with him and we’ll do our best to limit his involvement of the game”.

The Wollongong junior defected to the Panthers in 2015 on a mega three-year deal after he rejected a record offer to stay at the club which he won a premiership with in 2010.

Merrin committed to the Panthers with a year to run on his Dragons contract in a move which left Red V fans fuming and backrower Joel Thompson says he isn’t too sure what kind of reception will be waiting for the Blues forward.

“Not sure how our fans will treat him”, Thompson said.

“We miss him here but he’s moved on doing what’s best for him”.

Merrin spent seven seasons with the Dragons.

Despite the angst his switch created among the red and white faithful, Creagh insists there will be no hostility towards Merrin coming from the field or the stands.

“I think they’ll [the fans] be fine with him and I don’t think there will be any animosity” he said.

“There was none when he left here at the end of last year.

“He did a lot for the Dragons when he played here, he won a premiership here”.

The Dragons will be looking for back-to-back wins after upsetting the Rabbitohs in a gritty performance in testing conditions at the SCG last weekend and know they’ll need to be at their defensive best to shut down some of Penrith’s rising stars like last week’s debutant Te Maire Martin.

St George Illawarra Dragons veteran Ben Creagh will go up against an old mate in Merrin on Sunday.

“He seems like a very talented youngster and they’ve got a few of them in their side and we’re going to have to be on our best game on Sunday”, Creagh said.

“They’ve been playing well Penrith, they had a good win against Brisbane which is very impressive. Brisbane are a quality side. They’re a dangerous team. They’re not four hit-ups and a kick, they’ve got a lot of offloads, a lot of exciting players in the outside backs.

“We’ll have our hands full this week”.

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