South Sydney's Return to Redfern (Image credit: SportsFreak)
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South Sydney completed their first trial match of the year against English Super League side Warrington Wolves on a muggy evening last Saturday in their annual Return to Redfern clash, a tussle that threw up a few interesting points.
Souths have been going back to Redfern Oval for pre-season hit outs for a number of years now, and its a chance for the club’s faithful fans to get out and see the Rabbitohs play at their spiritual home.
There was a good turnout of around 4000 or more last weekend, with Redfern Oval packed out with supporters both old and new.
There was a lot of optimism and good cheer before the footy started, as typically greets every Souths season, but this dissipated somewhat with the Rabbitoh’s lame early display.
They shipped three quick tries to the Warrington Wolves, including one shocking effort when a grubber went straight through the legs of a South defender to be pounced on by a very thankful Wolves player .
Very embarrassing indeed. Groans in the crowd started, with many experiencing de ja vu and thinking “not again!”
Souths defended like a rabble, their tackling weak and ineffective, and will need to improve a hell of a lot in this area before the real games kick off.
Of course, this was just a trial, their first game of the year, and the red and green were missing probably 75 percent of their first grade team. Still, first impressions last, and their weak defense, which has been a constant over the past few years is a concern.
Surely new coach Michael Maguire would not have been happy.
But here is where the picture gets better.
As the game wore on, Souths got better and put on a few tries. Their defense tightened up a bit and made the game into a contest, only losing in the final minutes to a late try.
It was a respectable loss, going down in the end 34-28.
There were also good displays by Chris Sandow’s heirs, Adam Reynolds and Ryan Carr. Reynolds kicked two 40-20s and was solid in the halves. Carr did himself no disservice either. Filling Sandow’s shoes at halfback is a big ask, but either might do well in the number seven jumper.
What was also interesting about this match was the performance of South’s Super League opponent, Warrington. The Wolves looked very good and have some handy players, plenty known to NRL fans like Adrina Morely, Trent Waterhouse, Brett Hodgson, David Solomona, Michael and Joel Monaghan. They should have struggled in the conditions, but they were sharp and committed, and are clearly one of the better teams in England.
The gap between the NRL and the Super League clearly seems to be closing.
Regular games between clubs from both competitions can only help. A proposed four match series between the two best teams from each comp, which has been mooted in the media recently, would be an attractive prospect. Manly take on Leeds in the UK very soon, another chance for the Super League to show its wares.
A closing of the divide between English and Australia rugby league, at club if not international level, can only be a good thing for the health of the game.
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February 4th 2012 @ 9:22am
Matt Bungard said | February 4th 2012 @ 9:22am | Report comment
I was there and this is a pretty fair assessment.
Not concerned at all with the result as it was effectively a full strength Warrington (granted Monaghan and Hodgo were sitting on the bench) and it was pretty much a 2nd string Rabbitohs team. My only interests were with how Peats and Reynolds played and they were both good.
No team can be taken seriously with Fetuli Talanoa at fullback!
February 4th 2012 @ 11:04am
Leigh said | February 4th 2012 @ 11:04am | Report comment
I’m not sure if it is a good thing that the comps are becoming closer because the standard of super league is terrible. I unfortunately couldn’t go to the game but my brother reckons the standard of play ( i know it was only a trial) was atrocious. He did say the atmosphere was great.
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February 4th 2012 @ 12:36pm
Atawhai Drive said | February 4th 2012 @ 12:36pm | Report comment
Sports Freak, what were the Redfern Oval facilities like? I’m told the ground has been redeveloped.
I haven’t been to Redfern Oval since the 1980s. It always had plenty of atmosphere.
February 4th 2012 @ 12:43pm
mds1970 said | February 4th 2012 @ 12:43pm | Report comment
I’ve never been to a game there, but it’s open parkland now. Unless there was a temporary fence put up, there’d be no way to charge for admission.
February 4th 2012 @ 1:01pm
Matt Bungard said | February 4th 2012 @ 1:01pm | Report comment
Yeah, that’s what they did. I didn’t see anyone trying to sneak in either, which is nice.
February 5th 2012 @ 12:02am
Football United said | February 5th 2012 @ 12:02am | Report comment
wouldn’t it be great to see souths build up redfern to a modern 15-20k stadium
February 5th 2012 @ 10:45am
Kasey said | February 5th 2012 @ 10:45am | Report comment
Is there a chance SydneyFC and the Rabbitohs could share facilities? Or is the current capacity of Redfern too small for SFC? I just feel that the SFS is too cavernous a stadium for the Sky Blues.
February 5th 2012 @ 11:04am
Titus said | February 5th 2012 @ 11:04am | Report comment
The capacity is 5 000 with seating for maybe 1 000, so no chance. There was talk of Crowe/LaPaglia and co turning it into a 15 000/20 000 seater but it is pie in the sky stuff.
SFS is fine for both teams, they should be aiming to average around 20 000.
February 5th 2012 @ 12:26pm
Jaceman said | February 5th 2012 @ 12:26pm | Report comment
Zero parking and the Lord mayor is against it
February 5th 2012 @ 12:30pm
Kasey said | February 5th 2012 @ 12:30pm | Report comment
There looks to be a train station pretty close to it, never understood why us Aussies just ‘have’ to drive everywhere?
Lord Mayor? is that Clover Moore?
February 6th 2012 @ 1:28pm
Sports Freak said | February 6th 2012 @ 1:28pm | Report comment
Great atmosphere, but not a great standard. Redfern Oval facilities are great, they have a fence around and a decent grandstand. I’ve played soccer on it and the turf is pretty nice. Not good enough for NRL or A-League games though.
Yep Clover Moore is the Lord Mayor and MP of Sydney