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The Penrith Panthers have played the role of party-spoilers in this year’s Return to Redfern clash. It was an extremely scrappy affair – no doubt due to a combination of early-season rustiness from the players and the atrocious conditions in which the game was played.
» Click here for the full match report
Final score
South Sydney Rabbitohs 8
Penrith Panthers 28
The South Sydney Rabbitohs return to their spiritual home Redfern Oval, hosting the Penrith Panthers in week two of NRL trials on Saturday night. Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match, starting from 6pm AEDT.
While both sides have named many regular starters, don’t expect most of the big-name players to get much game time. Plenty of less experienced players have been named too – mostly on the bench. The young guns will want to make the most of their chance to impress incoming coaches Wayne Bennett and Ivan Cleary.
For the Rabbitohs, expect both Alex Johnston and Corey Allan to spend time at fullback as they battle it out for the right to deputize for Greg Inglis come State of Origin time. Johnston has done it before, but the Rabbitohs have big wraps on Allan too.
It’s also a big game for 2018 Intrust Super Premiership five-eighth of the year Connor Tracey, who’ll want to cement his status as next cab off the rank should one of Cody Walker or Adam Reynolds get injured during the season.
For the Panthers, Jarome Luai has impressed in his limited exposure to the NRL. He is a future star, and will want to make the most of a rare opportunity to play against top-line players.
Dylan Edwards too has a lot to play for. After injuring himself midway through 2018, stellar form from deputy Dallin Watene-Zelezniak saw him make the fullback role his own.
However a strong showing in this game from Edwards could force Watene-Zelezniak back to the wing, likely at the expense of his older brother Malaki.
Prediction
It’s always difficult to predict the outcome of trials. Teams like to use these games to try out different combinations and put players in different positions. As such the result is rarely an indication of who is actually the better team.
However, given the emotion surrounding this game – being the annual Return to Redfern as well as club legend John Sutton’s testimonial game – one would think that the Rabbitohs would have more desire to win this than the Panthers.
Rabbitohs by 10
Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match, starting from 6pm AEDT
Where: Redfern Oval
When: 6pm AEDT
TV: Fox League, Kayo Sports
Streaming: nrl.com
South Sydney Rabbitohs
1. Alex Johnston, 2. Corey Allan, 3. Dane Gagai, 4. Campbell Graham, 5. Jacob Gagan, 6. Cody Walker, 7. Connor Tracey, 8. Junior Tatola, 9. Damien Cook, 10. Thomas Burgess, 11. John Sutton (c), 12. Sam Burgess, 13. Cameron Murray. Interchange: 14. Mark Nicholls, 15. Kyle Turner, 16. Liam Knight, 17. Rhys Kennedy, 18. Bayley Sironen, 19. Jack Johns, 20. Mawene Hiroti, 21. Dean Hawkins, 5. Cory Denniss, 9. Billy Brittain, 10. Tom Amone, 12. Tarquinn Alatipi-Butler
Penrith Panthers
1. Dylan Edwards, 2. Malakai Watene-Zelezniak, 3. Waqa Blake, 4. Tyrell Fuimaono, 5. Josh Mansour, 6. Jarome Luai, 7. James Maloney, 8. Reagan Campbell-Gillard, 9. Sione Katoa, 10. Moses Leota, 11. Isaah Yeo, 12. Viliame Kikau, 13. Hame Sele. Interchange: 3. Liam Coleman, 11. Matheson Johns, 14. Tyrone May, 15. Wayde Egan, 16. Tim Grant, 17. Kaide Ellis, 18. Caleb Aekins, 19. Tyrone Phillips, 20. Jed Cartwright, 20. Paea Pua, 21. Liam Martin, 23. Nick Lui-Toso, 27. Brent Naden, 28. Brian Too
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