A MIXTURE of youth and experience has defined St George Illawarra coach Paul McGregor's 18-man squad, featuring Group Seven products Jackson Ford (Gerringong) and Adam Clune (Albion Park-Oak Flats) ahead of the Dragons' NRL Perth Nines campaign on February 14 and 15 at HBF Stadium.
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Victorious Australia Nines internationals Ben Hunt and Tyson Frizell headline the squad, alongside new skipper Cameron McInnes who has recovered from a broken leg suffered in the penultimate round of 2019.
Tim Lafai and Brayden Wiliame - who represented Samoa and Fiji at October's World Cup Nines respectively - have been included.
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McGregor has also handed dynamic quintet Euan Aitken, Matt Dufty, Mikaele Ravalawa, Jason Saab and Tristan Sailor a licence to thrill at the returning tournament.
The Nines will hail the return of club legend Jason Nightingale who last donned a Dragons jumper in 2018.
The Nines will also offer an opportunity for development players Adam Clune and Jayden Sullivan - who won the Koori Knockout with the South Coast Black Cockatoos - to test their mettle against some of the game's best.
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Dragons' reigning Under-20s Player of the Year Cody Ramsey will also make the trip to Western Australia.
The Dragons' Nines campaign will kick-off against local rivals Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks on Friday at 5:45pm (AWST).
The squad will run out again on Saturday against the Parramatta Eels at 12:25pm (AWST) with an eye to secure a spot in the quarter-finals later that day.