Billed as the biggest event of the NRL pre-season, South Sydney’s return to Redfern looks like turning into a whimper with the Rabbitohs naming a virtual reserve grade line-up for Sunday’s clash with Wests Tigers.
Coach Jason Taylor has opted to rest almost all of his A-list stars – skipper Roy Asotasi, Craig Wing, John Sutton, Nathan Merritt, Chris Sandow, David Fa’alogo, Issac Luke – along with new recruits Colin Best and Rhys Wesser, to watch the game from the new Redfern Oval grandstand.
With Tigers coach Tim Sheens trotting out World Cup winning playmaker Benji Marshall and new recruit from Super League Gareth Ellis – the sold-out clash is shaping up as a decidedly one-sided match-up.
Not exactly the start to the season the Souths members would have been anticipating when ‘members only’ tickets went on sale late last year, with virtual unknowns such as halfback Jarryd Hogan and outside backs Shaune Corrigan and Chris McQueen left to carry the load.
Taylor on Tuesday said he would name his strongest possible side for the club’s final pre-season hit-out, the traditional Charity Shield clash against St George Illawarra on February 28.
Sheens has spilt his squad into two teams, the first one a powerful side featuring Dene Halatau and Chris Lawrence as well as Marshall and Ellis, while the second line-up is made up of predominantly Toyota Cup players.
Teams:
Rabbitohs – Fetuli Talanoa, Shaune Corrigan, Beau Champion, Jamie Simpson, Chris McQueen, Luke Capewell, Jarryd Hogan, Scott Geddes (capt), Beau Falloon, Garret Crossman, Eddy Pettybourne, Jaiman Lowe, Ben Lowe. Interchange: Dave Tyrrell, Daniel Sayegh, Brad Lupi, Samu Wara, Sean Dalton, Jason Clark, Aaron Hammett, Adam Reynolds, Kane Morgan, Malcolm Webster.
Tigers – Team 1: Shannon McDonnell, Taniela Tuiaki, Tim Moltzen, Chris Lawrence, Beau Ryan, John Morris, Benji Marshall, Bryce Gibbs, Dene Halatau, Keith Galloway, Gareth Ellis, Chris Heighington, Liam Fulton.
Team 2: Shannon Gallant, Sean Meaney, Blake Ayshford, Rhys Hanbury, Lee Bennett, Josh Lewis, Wayde Dunley, Jarrod Farlow, David Gower, Danny Galea, Daine Laurie, Nathan Waters, Matt Davidson, Blake Lazarus, Willie Mataka, Nu Akeripa, Ryan Carr, Rocky Trimarchi.
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Souths scored three unanswered tries in the second half, threatening to make a comeback. However, Melbourne quickly snuffed it out.
