Dragon gets his chance to Lett fly
If there's anyone capable of filling the prolific boots of NSW winger Brett Morris, little-used St George Illawarra flyer Michael Lett could be the man.
With Morris in camp with the Blues ahead of Wednesday night's opening State of Origin clash, Lett has been handed the unenviable task of taking Morris' place on the Dragons' left wing against Canberra at WIN Stadium on Sunday.
The Dragons' left edge has been decimated by Origin call-ups.
Morris' partners in crime Matt Cooper and Ben Creagh are also out, with their places to be taken by prop turned centre Matt Prior and former Bronco Nick Emmett.
But while Prior and Emmett will no doubt have an important job to do, it's nothing compared to that of Lett, given Morris has crossed for 11 tries in ten matches this year and 36 in just 34 matches over the past two seasons.
It's a strike rate few can come close to, though Lett has given it his best shot in limited appearances in the top grade.
Since being given a chance by the club in 2007, Lett has played just six games in the 'red v', but has managed to cross the stripe in four of those games.
In his only other appearance of 2010 against Manly two weeks ago, filling in for the injured Jason Nightingale, Lett was denied a try by the video referee.
"I'm always in there around Origin time, I enjoy this time of year," Lett said.
"(Morris) is going good so it's pretty big shoes to fill." Asked if punters should take a stab at him for first try-scorer given Morris penchant for nabbing the first touchdown, Lett said: "I don't know about that.
"It's good just to get the run. I enjoy getting a run with the boys, just getting out and playing first grade." Another being given a chance is 19-year-old utility Kyle Stanley - the younger brother of former Dragons and now Melbourne centre Chase Stanley, who will make his debut at fullback in place of Queensland winger Darius Boyd.
Backrower Jake Marketo - son of former Balmain prop Mike Marketo - is another debutant as Dragons coach Wayne Bennett does his best to patch up a depleted squad.
Canberra will be missing forwards Tom Learoyd-Lahrs and David Shillington due to Origin commitments, but still have plenty of star-power in their ranks with Terry Campese and dynamic fullback Josh Dugan.
Having already had a bye and sitting four points out of the top eight, the Raiders desperately need a win or risk losing touch with the finals contenders before the halfway mark of the season.
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