SOUTH Sydney have dropped a selection bombshell ahead of tomorrow night’s clash against Brisbane, dropping top try-scorer Nathan Merritt to NSW Cup.

The veteran winger, who broke the club’s all-time try scoring record two weeks ago, did not join his teammates when they arrived at Sydney airport to fly north this afternoon.

Young winger Alex Johnston appeared instead and is expected to make his debut before a massive Anzac Day crowd at Suncorp Stadium.

News_Image_File: Alex Johnston at Sydney airport en route to Brisbane tomake his NRL debut.. Picture Craig Greenhill

News_Image_File: Chris McQueen congratulates Alex Johnston on his call-up to first grade. Picture Craig Greenhill

Merritt is also off contract at the end of the year, and his demotion raises questions over whether Souths will re-sign him.

Coach Michael Maguire has made a reputation for dropping big names, but Merritt’s axing is arguably the most sensitive.

The 30-year- old earned huge praise after breaking Benny Wearing’s 81-year-old record against Penrith, the local junior crossing for his 144th try for Souths.

News_Rich_Media: Lara Pitt and Laurie Daley preview the round eight NRL clash on Anzac Day between the Broncos and the Rabbitohs.

“We’ve decided to make a change there, we have Joel back and Alex Johnston is in the squad so I will have to make a decision there,” Maguire said.

“It’s purely a decision made on form.”

Despite losing to the Bulldogs following a late field goal from Trent Hodkinson, Maguire says he’s been relatively happy with how his side have performed in their past three matches.

“The last three weeks, our form has been quite good,” he said. “Prior to that, we were pretty disappointed with our performances. We were unlucky against Canterbury, we had a lot going on the sideline with injuries and, had we been a bit smarter at the end, we could have pulled it off.

“At halftime, I had no one on the bench but the boys put their hands up and almost won the game.”

Merritt has also made the second most appearances for Souths, just one game behind John Sutton.