Coach Shane Flanagan has conceded Zac Lomax is likely disappointed to be moved to the wing but insists the outside back will not be leaving St George Illawarra.
Lomax will start on the wing in the Dragons' opening-round clash with Gold Coast on Saturday night despite publicly stating centre is his preferred position.
The shift has sparked rumours that Lomax is unhappy at the club, with Jack Bird moving to the centres in his old spot to partner Moses Suli.
But regardless Flanagan said that would not change Lomax's current deal running through until the end of 2026, meaning he cannot be approached by rivals until November 2025.
"He probably is (disappointed to be playing on the wing) ... it's really not a story for me. It's a player that wants to play in a position," Flanagan said.
"He is in our best 17. He is on the wing here at the moment. Does that stay like that? I am not quite sure.
"But at the moment my job is to pick the best 17 week-in, week-out. And at the moment my best 17 is Zac on the wing.
"He is contracted here for a couple of years so it's really interesting to read about other clubs, Parramatta and so, being interested in him. He is under contract."
Flanagan backed himself to get the best out of Lomax, who has gone from a talented prodigy at the Dragons to dropped by former coach Anthony Griffin last year.
"That's a challenge I have to find (the answer to)," Flanagan said.
"Some other coaches in the past four or five years have struggled with that. That's my job to get the best out of him. And I will. He is a super athlete."
St George Illawarra have lost forwards leader Blake Lawrie to a rib injury, while Jacob Liddle has been cleared to play after overcoming a hamstring injury.
Saturday night will mark Flanagan's first game back in charge since his 2018 NRL deregistration for failing to abide by the rules of his 2014 ban.
The ex-Cronulla coach has previously spoken at length about the pain of that, and said players would now see a calmer coach than when he was at the Sharks.
The match is also Des Hasler's first game back at the helm of a club, after being sacked by Manly in 2022 and signed by the Titans midway through last year.
He too has had positional decisions to make with AJ Brimson switched to the centres and 19-year-old Keano Kini filling in for injured fullback Jayden Campbell at No.1.
"(Kini) always asks questions," Hasler said.
"We are very fortunate with the way he performed last season and he's had a tremendous off-season. That is probably one position that we have good depth in.
"The great thing about AJ (at centre) is that he is a footballer and his IQ goes with that."
