Michael Oldfield backed to shine in Canberra Raiders return

Because Manly export Michael Oldfield is back in the NRL, and this may be his long-awaited chance to lock down a place in the Canberra Raiders' starting side.

Oldfield will line up at right centre when the Raiders face the St George Illawarra Dragons at Canberra Stadium on Friday night.

It is his 52^nd game in the NRL in a career which began against the Dragons in August 2010, when Oldfield was playing on the wing for the Sea Eagles.

Stints at Sydney, South Sydney, Catalans and Penrith followed before Oldfield found himself in lime green, where he has been Ricky Stuart's Mr Fix It.

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Someone out injured? Call Oldie. Someone called up for representative duties? Call Oldie. He always answers, even when Stuart has to bang on the door when Oldfield is in the bathroom.

"He'd be very excited, Oldie. We seem to speak about Oldie every time he gets a game, how professional he is and how unlucky he is not to be in the starting 17 every week," Canberra captain Jarrod Croker said.

"He's that sort of player that is so reliable and could easily make any 17 in the NRL. That goes to show the depth we have got in our squad.

"Oldie is excited, he will do a great job for us. He's excited to get back."

Oldfield has scored 30 tries in 51 NRL games, and 12 in 21 outings for Canberra. Now he has a chance to push for a long-term start.

The 29-year-old has been called in with Curtis Scott shuffling back to the bench as he searches for the confidence he needs to ignite his first campaign with the Raiders.

"It's just a confidence thing for Curtis. I had a bit of a chat to him and told him to get back to enjoying his footy, and make sure he is enjoying footy and training," Croker said.

"He has come from Melbourne where he has won a comp. We forget he is only 22-year-old as well. He is still a young kid with a massive future.

"For Curtis it will be an opportunity to relax and let the game unfold a little bit, and then come on and play his footy."

NRL ROUND EIGHT

Friday: Canberra Raiders v St George Illawarra Dragons at Canberra Stadium, 6pm.

Raiders squad: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 2. Bailey Simonsson, 3. Jarrod Croker (c), 4. Michael Oldfield, 5. Nick Cotric, 6. Jack Wighton, 7. George Williams, 8. Josh Papalii, 9. Josh Hodgson (c), 10. Sia Soliola, 11. Hudson Young, 12. Elliott Whitehead, 13. Joe Tapine. Interchange: 14. Curtis Scott, 15. Emre Guler, 16. Ryan Sutton, 17. Siliva Havili. Reserves: 18. Tom Starling, 19. Dunamis Lui, 20. Matt Frawley, 21. Kai O'Donnell.

Dragons squad: 1. Matthew Dufty, 2. Jason Saab, 3. Euan Aitken, 4. Zac Lomax, 5. Mikaele Ravalawa, 6. Corey Norman, 7. Adam Clune, 8. Blake Lawrie, 9. Cameron McInnes, 10. Paul Vaughan, 11. Tyson Frizell, 12. Tyrell Fuimaono, 13. Trent Merrin. Interchange: 14. Ben Hunt, 15. Josh Kerr, 16. Korbin Sims, 17. Jackson Ford. Reserves: 18. Eddie Blacker, 19. Tristan Sailor, 20. Billy Brittain, 21. Tim Lafai.