It's been close to a quarter of a century since the South Sydney Rabbitohs last played a match in the frontier country town of Albury. Coincidentally enough, it came against a Wayne Bennett coached side featuring the likes of Glenn Lazarus, Steve Renouf and Alfie Langer to name a few.
Souths on the other hand, coached by Club legend, Bob McCarthy would go on to win the match 27-26 and pocket $200,000 in the process. Underdogs against a star-studded Brisbane outfit. Winners of the 1994 Tooheys Challenge Cup.
Fast forward to 2019 and there's been plenty of water under the Murray Bridge along with a rising anticipation for the Rabbitohs season ahead with the former Broncos' mentor now in Rabbitohs colours.
Speaking to Albury Triple M via phone call, Bennett, who's spearheading the exhibition south, expressed his thoughts on returning once more.
"It was something I'd done with the Broncos for a long time in Queensland, and I thought it's important to make an effort and do something for the country areas because that's where a lot of our players come from," said Bennett.
"Some greats have come from those areas so we have to continue to make sure that we give something back. It's a great thing for our players as well to go out to those places and play, it's a great experience, I think everyone's a winner and that's what the concept is about in the back of my mind.
"We don't take anything out of the place, we leave everything we possibly can. We're not looking for dollars, we're looking to give back to Albury and help get their season underway.
"The game doesn't do enough these days to encourage these guys to go back out (to the country) and give back. They want to give back, they appreciate where they come from, what their parents did for them and their junior clubs, that hasn't changed one little bit."
Football won't be the only focus across the weekend with the Club's charity arm, Souths Cares to hold a number of clinics across local schools on Friday the 15th of February. Members, supporters and locals alike will have the chance to meet the players with an official signing session to be held that same day following on from the 5.00pm Captain's Run at the Albury Sports Ground.
To listen to the Wayne Bennett Triple M interview in full, CLICK HERE.
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