It's not often an NRL side gets mistaken for a bunch of bush footy players but that has been the case for Dubbo junior Kaide Ellis and his St George Illawarra Dragons teammates at Mudgee this week.
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The Dragons have spent recent days in the Mudgee community, visiting schools and mixing with locals in the lead-up to Saturday's Charity Shield meeting with the South Sydney Rabbitohs.
"Not every place gets an NRL game coming to the town, so there has been a lot of smiles and they seem to enjoy it whether they like footy or not. It's really exciting," Ellis said on Friday.
"A lot of the people yesterday thought we were the Mudgee Dragons, but we had to let them know we are an NRL side.
"A lot of them said they played for the Dragons as well so it's pretty cool. It's good to know that they follow us and feel that connection through the Mudgee Dragons."
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Ellis is one of a number of Dragons who will make their Charity Shield debut at Glen Willow on Saturday night.
It's a chance the front-rower is eager to take, especially given the match is so close to where he played all his junior footy.
"I am nearly half-way home," the former Dubbo CYMS star said.
"It's always good to get out in the bush and get back to where you grew up to play footy, so I am pretty excited.
"I'm looking forward it (Charity Shield). Growing up as a kid it was always something you watched during the off-season, it always had a big hype and plenty of history."
The historic fixture hasn't been an enjoyable one for the Dragons in recent times as the Rabbitohs have held the shield since 2013.
"They have bought a couple of new players, so I am sure they will be looking to put a big one in tomorrow," Ellis said of Souths.
"I found out yesterday that it was seven years since we won it, so it would be nice to win it back."
The match offers Ellis another chance to push his claims for regular NRL minutes under new Dragons coach Anthony Griffin this season.
After making his NRL debut at the Panthers, Ellis made the switch to wear the Red V midway through last year.
He played eight matches for the Dragons last season.
Kick-off is 6.30pm on Saturday.
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