Cooper and Gasnier to play

The St George Illawarra Dragons have received a boost ahead of today?s match with South Sydney at Wollongong with the news that star centre pairing Matt Cooper and Mark Gasnier will take the field.

It?s a big turnaround from earlier in the week when both of them were ruled out through injury and missed the City v Country game last night. Cooper apparently had a groin strain and Gasnier a recurrence of the wrist injury which hampered his off-season.

Rabbitohs CEO Shaun McRae is unlikely to be happy at the developments, openly stating his disappointment earlier in the week if they were named. It does put the annual representative clash in a poor light in some ways, but can also give opportunities to other players on their way up. The move also seeks to highlight how important the Dragons are taking their club footy these days.

In a backline reshuffle, Albert Torrens will play fullback with Ben Creagh and Clint Greenshields moving back to the bench.