Kurt Mann spent his final few months at the Storm picking the brain of Billy Slater. His arrival at St George Illawarra saw him shadow Josh Dugan. Now the 22-year-old has first crack at the Dragons No.1 spot when he starts at fullback in the annual Charity Shield match against South Sydney on Saturday.
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Mann has spent the bulk of the off-season swapping between centre, fullback and five-eighth as uncertainty surrounds the long-term position of Dugan. With Dugan rested from Saturday's game, and eying a permanent switch to the centres, Mann can cast aside any doubts over who will play fullback with a strong performance on Saturday.
"I've been training all over the shop lately," Mann said. "A little bit of centre, fullback, a little bit in the halves. I'm not 100 per cent sure where I'll play.
"Preference would be fullback or five-eighth where I get a little bit more involved.
"There was no position really mentioned [when I signed]. I was open-minded when I signed. I didn't know where I was going to play. It'll all pan out.
"I think I'll end up playing a few different positions [during the trials]. That's what Mary [coach Paul McGregor] has told me he has planned for us. I'll just have to wait and see."
Mann, who has started all but two of his 28 top grade games at centre, worked closely with Slater last season while the Kangaroo representative was sidelined through injury. Slater's Origin counterpart Dugan has helped Mann with his transition from the Storm with the pair rooming during last week's Auckland Nines.
"I learnt a lot off him," Mann said of Slater. "He is really professional player ... he has been a real big help. He grabs the young blokes and really shows them.
"[Dugan] has been a really big help with making the transition with learning the systems."
Mann will share the fullback role with the returning Adam Quinlan on Saturday. McGregor said Mann offers more value at fullback or in the halves than at centre and described him as a Matt Moylan-type of fullback.
"He is very fit," McGregor said. "He is more of ball-playing fullback and that's where we lacked a bit of try scoring last year. He is very quick.
"He has had a tough pre-season and has played most of it at fullback. This game and next game [he has a chance to show] that he is worthy of playing in the position.
"Josh is the current NSW fullback so someone has to play really well in these trials [for him to be moved].
"The biggest attraction [to signing Mann] was his age and he came from a good system. Melbourne needed him to play at centre. He shows me more of a seven, six, one type of player."
The Rabbitohs will unveil new recruits including Michael Oldfield and Damien Cook while Sam Burgess' return has been delayed another week.
