St George Illawarra youngsters Max and Mat Feagai and Cody Ramsey putting the heat on veterans for a starting spot in 2021

St George Illawarra is stacked with talent in the backs and new coach Anthony Griffin has a headache to decide who makes the cut in the starting five for round one.

Dragons’ twin backs Max (left) and Mat Feagai will both compete for a starting spot in 2021.

It might be the only pre-season dilemma an NRL coach wants to have – a logjam for key positions.

That’s the headache facing new St George Illawarra coach Anthony Griffin with at least nine players vying for a starting spot in the back five including exciting twins Max and Mat Feagai, 19, and explosive winger Cody Ramsey.

Zac Lomax has the right centre spot sewn up after a standout 2020 season, which was rewarded with selection in Brad Fittler’s NSW Blues squad.

It leaves Brayden Wiliame in a fight for the left centre position with newcomer Jack Bird and Max Feagai, who made his NRL debut in round 19 this year.

Kayo is your ticket to the best sport streaming Live & On-Demand. New to Kayo? Get your 14-day free trial & start streaming instantly >

Dragons’ twin backs Max (left) and Mat Feagai will both compete for a starting spot in 2021.

“With a bloke like Birdy, he is a footy player so wherever you put him he is going to thrive and he is going to shine. He just needs to get his body right and wherever he gets put in he’s going to do his job plus more,” Wiliame said.

Griffin told The Daily Telegraph, Bird, who has been limited to 17 games in two seasons after suffering a second ACL injury in March, is likely to be eased back via the bench.

“He hasn’t played much footy in the last two to three years so there won’t be an expectation that he hits the ground and has to play 80 minutes every week,” Griffin said.

“I don’t want to push him. I want to make sure he is comfortable and to get some miles into his legs.”

Wiliame, 28, was axed after a ‘shocking’ display against Newcastle in round 19 and is now determined to beat Bird and Feagai for a starting spot in 2021.

Dragons back Brayden Wiliame during training. Picture: St George Illawarra

“Pressure wise, I seem to thrive under that sort of pressure. I wasn’t guaranteed anything last year and I came in and had a big pre-season and it feels exactly the same with a new set of coaching staff to impress,” Wiliame said.

Matt Dufty is the favourite to retain the No.1 jersey. It leaves more experienced campaigners Jordan Pereira, 27, and Mikaele Ravalawa, 23, to battle it out for a place on the edges with Ramsey, 20, who scored a double on his debut against Canberra in round 18.

As well as vying for a place at centre, the Feagai twins will also come into contention for an edge spot.

Like Wiliame, Pereira was dropped after his performance against the Knights and desperate to impress coach Griffin and reclaim a position on the wing.

“I have a chip of my shoulder now and I really want to work as hard as I can to earn my jersey back,” Pereira said.

“The way I look at it, it got taken away from me, it’s not mine anymore so I just have to put my best foot forward and get that jersey back.

Cody Ramsey celebrates after scoring his second try on debut. Picture: Getty Images

“Everyone in the NRL top 30, they are quality players, you always have to fight every single day to get a jersey.”

Despite the fierce competition, neither Pereira or Wiliame are willing to shy away from the challenge and are using the rise of the club’s young guns as motivation to perform in the pre-season.

“The Feagai boys and Cody Ramsey are going to be the ones that will come through the quickest,” Wilaime said.

“Junior Amone, he’s impressed me with his training. Real aggressive for a little dude and he’s only 18.

“The young guys are really good, they are stars of the future and I know that.

“It’s healthy competition. I don’t take it personally and they are really good kids as well so I’m enjoying training with them at the moment.”

Amone, 18, has been lighting up pre-season training after being upgraded to a development contract for season 2021. The playmaker won’t be eligible to make his NRL debut until after round 16 next season.

BACK FIVE CONTENDERS

Matt Dufty – off contract 2021

Zac Lomax – off contract 2025

Jordan Pereira – off contract 2021

Brayden Wiliame – off contract 2021

Mikaele Ravalawa – off contract 2023

Jack Bird – off contract 2022

Max Feagai – off contract 2022

Mat Feagai – off contract 2022, yet to debut

Cody Ramsey – off contract 2021

Shaun Sauni-Esau – Development player, yet to debut