ST GEORGE Illawarra coach Paul McGregor has explained the reasoning behind the shock benching of club stalwart Jason Nightingale against Canterbury on Monday.

After maintaining the same starting 13 through their opening 12 games of the season, the Dragons revealed one hour before kick-off that Nightingale had been benched in favour of utility Kurt Mann.

It was the first time Nightingale, who is off-contract, had come off the bench since 2009 when Wayne Bennett was in his first year as coach.

Mann had a mixed game making 141 metres to go with two errors, one of which led to a try to Bulldogs winger Brett Morris.

Nightingale was interchanged for prop James Graham in 73rd minute.

“We’ve been working on a part of Jason’s game for a number weeks,” McGregor said.

“We’d been talking player to coach quite often.

“We thought Kurt Mann deserved an opportunity to start and that’s how it worked out.”