Gasnier back in Dragons' No.3 jersey

Mark Gasnier has reclaimed the No.3 jersey in a St George Illawarra side reshuffled
by coach Wayne Bennett for Sunday's massive SCG clash with the red-hot Sydney
Roosters.
With the ladder-leading Dragons now having lost three of their last four, Bennett
has handed Gasnier the jersey he wore in his previous stint with the club in his
fifth game back from two seasons in French rugby union.
Gasnier started his first game in Sunday's loss to Brisbane, but in the No.19 jumper.
Bennett has re-jigged his forward pack to accommodate the returning Michael Weyman
(suspension) and a move for Beau Scott from Gasnier's right centre position to the
second row.
Neville Costigan moves from the back to the front row to partner Weyman and new
hooker Dean Young, with Luke Priddis named on a six-man bench.
Scott partners Ben Creagh in the second row with Jeremy Smith named at lock.
South Sydney's much vaunted pack will look a mere shadow of itself in Saturday's
crucial clash with the Wests Tigers.
Sam Burgess (suspension), Dave Taylor (collarbone), Luke Stuart (hand), Michael
Crocker (quad), Scott Geddes (knee) and Ben Ross (neck) will all be missing as the
Rabbitohs attempt to keep their finals hopes alive.
Into the side comes prop Jaiman Lowe, who rejoined Souths midseason and will play
his 100th NRL game, and, on the bench, journeyman Craig Stapleton and Shannan
McPherson.
The Tigers are hopeful centre Blake Ayshford (hand) will play.
Manly have named fullback Ben Farrar, despite him suffering a knee injury in Monday
night's disappointing 32-14 loss to Newcastle, for Saturday evening's Brookvale Oval
showdown with Melbourne.
The Storm have named former St George Illawarra back Chase Stanley as Justin
O'Neill's (cork) replacement on the wing.
Canberra captain Alan Tongue returns to the Raiders bench after more than three
months on the sidelines with a groin injury for the clash with Penrith in the
national capital on Monday night.
"Travis Waddell has been involved in three great wins recently so he gets to keep
his spot in the starting hooker role," Raiders coach David Furner said.
"It's tremendous to have Alan available again and he gives us cover at both hooker
and in the back row as well as someone who leads the team from the front."
Joining Tongue will be star fullback Josh Dugan, who returns from a week off with a
shoulder injury to face off with Panthers young gun Lachlan Coote.
Gold Coast welcome back Queensland lock Ashley Harrison, who missed two weeks with a
knee problem, for Friday night's crucial match against Parramatta at Skilled Park.
The Eels' Nathan Cayless will equal Brad Fittler's record of 216 games as an NRL
club captain.



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