Blacklock pays the price

Dragons winger Nathan Blacklock has become the second player this week to be dumped to Premier League for missing a training session.

The Dragons have the bye this weekend but Blacklock will play in the Premier League match against the Western Suburbs Magpies next Friday night at WIN Stadium, Wollongong.

Blacklock's misdemeanour comes hot on the heels of the axing of the Sydney Roosters' Justin Hodges after he skipped training.

Blacklock missed a planned training session last Monday morning. He also did not attend the Dragons' match against Penrith at Penrith Football Stadium in round 14, although he was out injured for that match.

St George Illawarra coach Nathan Brown will speak to Blacklock today about his reasons for missing training. But sources claim Blacklock had a night out before the training session.

"Nathan will be back in reserve grade next week," coach Brown admitted last night.

"I am disappointed Nathan missed our training session. He also didn't turn up for the Panthers game. He was injured but contracts state players must turn up.

"You have to start to wonder whether some players still have the hunger."