NRL teams Round 18: Dragons name barely-recognisable side for Manly clash

Torn apart by Covid breaches, the Dragons have named a barely recognisable team for this weekend’s clash against Manly.

GOSFORD, AUSTRALIA – JULY 02: Josh McGuire of the Dragons is tackled during the round 16 NRL match between New Zealand Warriors and the St George Illawarra Dragons at Central Coast Stadium, on July 02, 2021, in Gosford, Australia. (Photo by Ashley Feder/Getty Images)

Seven of the St George Illawarra players who breached the NRL’s biosecruity protocols will play in Friday’s clash with Manly as the Dragons begin to grapple with the suspensions that could derail their season.

Jack Bird, Corey Norman, Gerard Beale, Blake Lawrie, Jack de Belin, Josh Kerr and Josh McGuire will all be named in the side to take on the Sea Eagles.

Fullback Matt Dufty, Tyrell Fuimaono and Kaide Ellis will be the first players to serve their one-match bans while Daniel Alvaro and Zac Lomax, the two holdouts who have refused to sign an NRL statement declaring nobody from outside the bubble was at Paul Vaughan’s infamous barbecue, have also been excluded.

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Vaughan was sacked by the Dragons for his role in organising and hosting the party while the other 11 players must serve one-match bans over the next four weeks.

Tyrell Sloan has replaced Dufty at fullback while loan signing Jamayne Taunoa-Brown will come in on the bench.

Origin pair Ben Hunt and Tariq Sims will also be named to back up but are not certain to play given they’ll play in Game III less than 48 hours beforehand.

Adam Clune will be named on an extended bench to cover for Hunt while Billy Burns could start if Sims pulls up sore after Blues duty.

St George Illawarra Dragons players pictured at WIN Stadium in Wollongong for one of their last training sessions before relocating to the Gold Coast. Picture: Toby Zerna

McGUIRE’S TAKE ON COVID BREACH

- Michael Carayannis

Josh McGuire has conceded the Dragons dirty dozen thought they would ‘get away with’ the now infamous BBQ which has severely damaged the club and resulted in Paul Vaughan’s sacking.

A candid McGuire put his hand up and said he and his St George Illawarra teammates knew they were doing the wrong thing when they got together at Vaughan’s house as they flouted the NSW health regulations.

But McGuire did not shy away from the error.

Josh McGuire is owning up to the mistake made by he and his teammates. Picture: Jason McCawley/Getty Images

“In hindsight no-one knew the magnitude of the situation owe got ourselves into,” McGuire said. “It‘s a massive ordeal that’s gone on. We warrant every bit of the repercussions. We can’t sit here and cry foul. We put ourselves into the situation. We didn’t think it would escalate to this magnitude.

“We can’t sit here and say we didn’t understand. We were in Shellharbour, a long way away from everything that was happening. We thought it wasn’t going to be a drama, we wouldn’t get caught.”

McGuire and his nine teammates rejoined the Dragons squad on Monday. He defended the two teammates – Zac Lomax and Daniel Alvaro – who were yet to sign the declaration which would allow the pair to return to the bubble. He added those who were invited to the BBQ lived nearby Vaughan.

“Everyone has their own legal advice,” McGuire said. “They are entitled to their opinion.

“(It is my understanding) they were under the impression if someone contracted Covid-19 and something happened over the next week, whether it was our fault or someone’s fault they will be found liable. They weren’t willing to take that risk.”

READ THE FULL STATUTORY DECLARATION HERE

The group were read the ‘Riot Act’ by coach Anthony Griffin when they returned with the rest of the group on Monday. McGuire conceded some players panicked when police arrived at Vaughan’s house which prompted some to hide and others to flee.

“I stood there,” McGuire said. “Some of the boys were scared. A few of us stood there and talked to police. A few boys didn’t want to hang around. A few of the boys just stayed where they were and a few of the guys came out and saw the police.

“It was a poor decision by us. It’s hard. We’re still quite upset and disappointed. I’m shattered I brought this club into this situation.

McGuire said he was unclear if his one-game ban would be served against the Sea Eagles on Friday night.

Teammate Blake Lawrie also fronted up to explain his actions but was a little more circumspect about the events at Vaughan’s house.

Blake Lawrie of the Dragons says the players were not aware of the magnitude of their mistake. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

“It was a get together with a couple of the boys who made a decision,” Lawrie said. “We didn’t think the repercussions were going to be this big. We are truly sorry what has happened to our wider community, club and teammates.

“I thought it was harmless. We were in our own bubble. We can’t do anything about what we’ve done. I can’t wait to prove to our teammates mainly that we are sorry.

“(We have to prove) we’re not disjointed.”

Lawrie also said he was “shattered” for Vaughan who had his contract ripped up last week.

“I’m worried about his mental health and wellbeing,” Lawrie said. “He will get another deal elsewhere.”

Veteran outside back Gerard Beale also wrote on Instagram on Monday that he ‘should have respected the rules’.

Originally published as NRL teams Round 18: Dragons name barely-recognisable side for Manly clash