LIL' GAZ IS READY
Story By : Daily Telegraph
DRAGONS star Mark Gasnier says he's more than ready to the make the permanent switch to five-eight this year - filling the void left by Trent Barrett.

The world's best centre is confident he's up for the biggest challenge of his career and agrees with St George Illawarra coach Nathan Brown that it's the right move.

"So far this pre-season, Nathan thinks me playing five-eighth is still the best option for the team,'' Gasnier said. "I'm fine with that ... whatever best suits the team.

"I'm really excited about the start of this year and looking forward to playing five-eighth.''

But that's news to Lil' Gaz. The new action figure doll that's captured Gasnier's likeness in intricately eerie detail still has the Dragons star wearing the No.3 jersey.

After Gasnier's brief stint at pivot last year - most notably in the Origin decider - a lot of St George fans and league experts might be hoping Gasnier's choice of jumper is an omen. Apart from not having the right playing number - for now at least - big Gaz is mostly happy with the way Lil' Gaz looks.

"I thought my quads could've been bigger but my calves came up all right, actually I reckon I've over achieved in that department,'' Gasnier said. "It's weird looking at yourself as an action figure ... but they're pretty cool aren't they.''

Gasnier has been training exclusively at five-eighth during the pre-season and will get his first hitout next weekend in Wollongong when the Dragons host the Bulldogs. Injury-plagued Bulldogs forward Sonny Bill Williams, another one of the eight star players featuring in the first series of NRL action figures, is also playing in Wollongong and will be in the spotlight for different reasons.

Williams is hoping this season his body will be as durable as his action figure looks. "The little guy's body is a bit bigger compared to what I'm really like, it's massive,'' said Williams, who believes he's benefited enormously from a tough pre-season build-up.