Firman Only Change to Dragons Starting Line-Up
Report from: Dragons media release
26/08/03

Dragons halfback Brett Firman has overcome a hamstring injury to play in the club’s must-win round 25 Telstra Premiership clash with the Knights at Oki Jubilee Stadium on Sunday.

Firman, 21, was withdrawn just hours before last Friday’s 22-14 loss to Melbourne, and was sorely missed. He replaces Dean Byrne who filled the gap last week.

Dragons coach Nathan Brown is confident centre Mark Gasnier will play despite soreness in his quad. Gasnier, 22, thought he had re-injured the muscle which had sidelined him for four weeks prior to the Storm game, but he had just pulled up sore.

The only other change is the addition of Mathew Head to the bench of five (one to be omitted), in place of Craig Stapleton. The bench also includes John Cross, who was named on the interchange list early last week but not selected to play.

TEAM LIST – Sunday, August 31 – Oki Jubilee Stadium
3pm NRL: DRAGONS V KNIGHTS; 1pm Premier League: Dragons v Knights

NRL (Rd 25)
Coach: Nathan Brown

1 Ben HORNBY
2. Nathan BLACKLOCK
3. Mark GASNIER
4. Matt COOPER
5. Ben CREAGH
6. Shaun TIMMINS
7. Brett FIRMAN
8. Chris LEIKVOLL
9. Mark RIDDELL
10. Luke BAILEY
11. Brent KITE
12. Lance THOMPSON (c)
13. Dean YOUNG
INTERCHANGE
14. Ashton SIMS
15. John CROSS
16. Henry PERENARA
17. Damien BOWER
18. Mathew HEAD

*ONE TO BE OMITTED

Premier League (Rd 21)
Coach: Michael Potter

1. Mark CHRISTENSEN
2. Hassan SALEH
3. Chris NERO
4. John WILSHERE
5 Etuate UAISELE
6. Lachlan RUSSELL
7. Dean BYRNE (c)
8. Ian DONNELLY
9. Peter ELLIS
10. Craig STAPLETON
11. Justin POORE
12. Gary McBRIDE
13. Ryan POWELL
INTERCHANGE
14. Jason ELLEM
15. Mark DALLE CORT
16. Shannon FISH
17. Brendan WALL
18. Bryan NORRIE
20. Robbie SIMPSON