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“We thought it was harmless”: Dragons look to move forward as party players return to training

Anthony Griffin has read his players the riot act as they prepare to face the Sea Eagles.

Published by
Scott Pryde

10 of the 12 St George Illawarra Dragons' players who attended a house party last Saturday returned to training on Monday morning.

While Daniel Alvaro and Zac Lomax continue to hold out against signing the sworn document to return to training, the other ten are readying themselves for a move to the Queensland hub.

It's understood Alvaro and Lomax will be free to travel to Queensland on Sunday once their 14 days expires, however, they will then be forced into another two weeks of isolation, unless they sign the document and travel north with the remainder of the team.

Both Josh McGuire and Blake Lawrie, who were in attendance at the party, faced the media at the completion of training on Tuesday, with coach Anthony Griffin rather unimpressed.

The Dragons play the Sea Eagles on Friday night in their first game within the Queensland bubble.

"It was probably one of the hardest phone calls I have had to make to 'Hook'," McGuire said.

"He was quite ropeable and for myself I have got to earn back that trust and earn back that respect from the group.

"We had a big chat yesterday, we got read the riot act, which is very much deserved, and everyone was a bit remorseful, gun shy, and nervous around the group.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 24: Josh McGuire of the Maroons watches the big screen after a Blues penalty try was awarded during game two of the State of Origin series between the New South Wales Blues and the Queensland Maroons at ANZ Stadium on June 24, 2018 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Nolan/Getty Images)

McGuire said the club are looking to move on though.

"We trained really well yesterday, everything was put to bed and we just want to move forward as a football club and as a team. The 12 of us are very upset that we have let everyone down, especially the club, the fans and the NRL as well.

"It is a massive ordeal that has gone on and we warrant every repercussion that we have copped so we can't sit here and cry foul."

Lawrie said the group thought it was harmless.

"I knew we had to be safe, but I thought it was just a harmless little get-together. Because we are in our own bubble, we thought it was harmless," said Lawrie.

The Dragons will name their team for the encounter with Manly this afternoon. It's understood both Alvaro and Lomax will be overlooked, with the latter supposedly ready to finally return from a thumb injury.

St George Illawarra could also be without Ben Hunt and Tariq Sims, who would be backing up less than 48 hours after the competition of State of Origin Game 3.

WOLLONGONG, AUSTRALIA - JULY 14: Ben Hunt of the Dragons evades the tackle of Josh Hodgson of the Raiders during the round 17 NRL match between the St George Illawarra Dragons and the Canberra Raiders at WIN Stadium on July 14, 2019 in Wollongong, Australia. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)

It makes it unclear whether Griffin will use any of the other suspensions this week, with the Red V able to spread the 12 one-week suspensions out over a period of up to four games.

Published by
Scott Pryde