ST George Illawarra coach Paul McGregor has sprung a selection surprise, shifting big-money half Corey Norman to fullback to hand Group Seven's Adam Clune a top-grade debut.
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Norman and halves partner Ben Hunt wore the brunt of criticism following their side's dismal return effort against the Warriors last week, with the Dragons looking rudderless in an 18-nil defeat.
Both were facing the axe, with McGregor instead opting to drop fullback Matt Dufty from his 17 and shift Norman to the custodian role.
He will be the third man to don the number one jumper in four games, with young-gun Zac Lomax playing at the back in round one before Dufty earned a recall for a round-two loss to the Panthers.
Clune, who will celebrate his 25th birthday on Monday, will now partner Hunt in the halves, with McGregor resisting calls to shift his marquee man to the bench utility role in which he's excelled at Test and Origin level.
The Albion Park-Oak Flats product's selection is a reward for persistence, with the half being part of the club's pathway since 2011 when he played with the Illawarra Steelers Harold Matthews side.
Clune, who has played 99 senior games for the Red V (45 for the under 20s and 54 games in the Canterbury Cup NSW set-up), was elevated to the top 30 on the back of a strong pre-season and will get a long-awaited crack at the top grade in a bold call from McGregor whose job is reportedly be on the line over the next fortnight.
Josh Kerr has been elevated to the starting line-up in place of Gerringong's Korbin Sims, who was left out of the squad, while veterans Trent Merrin (a Shellharbour Sharks product) and Issac Luke have been recalled to interchange bench after being overlooked for the Warriors clash.
Gerringong's Tariq Sims will once again start in the back-row for the Red V.
Blake Lawrie and former Shellharbour Shark Euan Aitken have retained their spots in the 17 with Tyrell Fuimaono named on an extended bench with Dufty, Jacob Host and Gerringong's Jackson Ford.
Dogs coach Dean Pay is in the same boat as his former Origin teammate, with his side also 0-3 and coming off a disappointing last-start showing against Manly.
He'll be hoping the return of Keiran Foran from off-season shoulder surgery will spark his side in place of Jack Cogger.