Former Canberra Raider Daniel Vidot has been invited back to train with St George Illawarra's first grade squad having served a three-week ban for arriving late to training.
Coach Steve Price is understood to have recalled the 21-year-old, whose penalty for the misdemeanour - shortly after the Christmas break - sends an ominous warning to the rest of the squad.
It is not yet known whether the temporary demotion has affected Vidot's chances of taking out the right centre position vacated by Mark Gasnier.
Both he and fellow recruit Chase Stanley were well-positioned contenders to don the No3 jumper - the final piece left to be addressed in Price's back-line jigsaw.
The decision is proof the rookie coach wants players to adhere to a broader team policy underlined by individual attitude.
''The number one thing is your work ethic and the way you buy into the system,'' Price said of positional selections, ''[and] we spoke about that when the group came together.''
Vidot dismissed any concerns yesterday, vowing to make his impact in the NRL this season.
''There's nothing really to say to be honest, it was just a few weeks ago I was a bit late to a session, that's all,'' the Canberra recruit, 21, said.
''I just got back from holidays and I was late. Of course I was disappointed but I've got things back on track now so it's all good. It's been a few weeks [since it happened].''
Pressed on the likelihood of Stanley grabbing the vacant centre position, Vidot said, ''We'll see what happens, I just have to prove myself.''
The prospect of Vidot joining the NSW Cup would play nicely into the hands of newly-assembled team Illawarra - the Dragons' official feeder side.
Coach Paul McGregor can already boast at least one NRL-quality player in his back line - former Canberra Raiders utility Bronx Goodwin, who is returning from off-season surgery to repair his knee.
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