As you can see from the photo above of Greg and Issac with the Chief of the Defence Force and Rabbitohs Member General David Hurley at the Trans Tasman Charity Dinner in Canberra on Wednesday night, they are good friends and team mates for most of the year.
But on Friday night, they will be aiming to get one over each other as they play their best help their nation strike the first international blow of the season.
Despite having no Rabbitohs to watch in NRL competition, Members and supporters can have great interest in all four games with four players representing their countries, one representing their state and three representing their region.
Australian Kangaroos vs New Zealand Kiwis
The first international fixture of the weekend will see neighbours Australia take on New Zealand at Canberra Stadium on Friday night at 7:45pm.
Despite the pundits tipping this game to be a landslide victory to the Aussies, the Kiwis won't take a backward step and it will be a great battle of the forward packs.
It will be an aggressive confrontation up front, with the likes of Greg Bird, Sam Thaiday and Paul Gallen wanting to meet head-on the likes of Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Jesse Bromwich and Kevin Proctor.
But the key match up in the forwards will be Issac Luke and Cameron Smith. Both play different styles of games but both will be equally important in getting their packs on the front front foot through their work from dummy half.
Issac Luke | Cameron Smith | |
New Zealand | Rep Team | Australia |
22 | Test Matches | 30 |
3 | Test Tries | 8 |
18 | Test Goals | 23 |
48 | Test Points | 78 |
2008 | Test Debut | 2006 |
Rabbitohs | Club | Storm |
130 | Career NRL Games | 244 |
29 | Career NRL Tries | 33 |
110 | Career NRL Goals | 621 |
336 | Career NRL Points | 1374 |
2007 | NRL Debut | 2002 |
2013 | ||
6 | Games | 6 |
0 | Goals | 21 |
0 | Points | 42 |
61 | Runs | 44 |
63.2 | Average Minutes per Game | 77.5 |
449 | Run Metres | 333 |
0 | Line Breaks | 2 |
6 | Offloads | 6 |
158 | Tackles | 252 |
13 | Missed Tackles | 7 |
5 | Errors | 1 |
If the Australians can get on top in the forwards, it could open the floodgates for the backs in the second half, and no man will be more dangerous than our own Greg Inglis.
'GI' will be up against New Zealander Shaun Kenny-Dowall, and we all saw what Greg achieved against the Roosters running down Jenny-Dowall's right side in defence.
Inglis has scored more tries for their country than anyone else on the field on Friday night, and he could add a couple more to that tally this weekend.
Greg Inglis | Shaun Kenny-Dowall | |
Australia | Rep Team | New Zealand |
22 | Test Matches | 8 |
19 | Test Tries | 6 |
76 | Test Points | 24 |
2006 | Test Debut | 2007 |
Rabbitohs | Club | Roosters |
163 | Career NRL Games | 128 |
101 | Career NRL Tries | 76 |
9 | Career NRL Goals | 3 |
4 | Career NRL Field Goals | 0 |
426 | Career NRL Points | 310 |
2005 | NRL Debut | 2007 |
2013 | ||
6 | Games | 6 |
3 | Tries | 1 |
12 | Points | 4 |
73 | Runs | 65 |
80 | Average Minutes per Game | 80 |
1081 | Run Metres | 528 |
5 | Line Breaks | 3 |
1 | Offloads | 4 |
31 | Tackles | 100 |
8 | Missed Tackles | 17 |
4 | Errors | 7 |
Toa Samoa vs Mate Ma'a Tonga
The other international battle to take place this weekend will be the Samoa vs Tonga Test match to be played at Centrebet Stadium on Saturday at 7:30pm.
Both of these pacific nations have very passionate supporter bases and will through everything into winning this important game, as was evidenced by World Cup clash in 2008, played at the same ground.
Despite the teams looking vastly different to that occasion almost five years ago, they will play with the same passion and heart.
The interest for Rabbitohs Members and supporters will be up front, with South Sydney's Roy Asotasi and Jeff Lima donning the blue jersey of Samoa, up against Tonga's Brent Kite and Sam Moa.
Asotasi will captain Samoa, as he did New Zealand and South Sydney, with great passion and resolve. He wrote on his Twitter this week: "So honored 2 be named in the #samoa test team! Looking forward 2 representing my mum, dad & grandma this weekend!"
Both Asotasi and Lima will pushing their claims for a World Cup spot at the end of the year for the mighty Samoans.
Roy Asotasi (c) | Brent Kite (c) | |
Toa Samoa | Rep Team | Mate Ma'a Tonga |
24 (NZ) | Test Matches | 14 (Aus, Tonga) |
2004 | Test Debut | 2000 |
Rabbitohs | Club | Sea Eagles |
197 | Career NRL Games | 267 |
19 | Career NRL Tries | 21 |
76 | Career NRL Points | 84 |
2002 | NRL Debut | 2002 |
2013 | ||
5 | Games | 6 |
35 | Runs | 73 |
37 | Average Minutes per Game | 49 |
332 | Run Metres | 577 |
0 | Line Breaks | 1 |
0 | Offloads | 4 |
100 | Tackles | 160 |
5 | Missed Tackles | 6 |
0 | Errors | 2 |
Jeff Lima | Sam Moa | |
Toa Samoa | Rep Team | Mate Ma'a Tonga |
7 (NZ, Samoa) | Test Matches | 4 |
2006 | Test Debut | 2008 |
Rabbitohs | Club | Roosters |
104 | Career NRL Games | 7 |
9 | Career NRL Tries | 0 |
1 | Career NRL Goals | 0 |
38 | Career NRL Points | 0 |
2004 | NRL Debut | 2008 |
2013 | ||
6 | Games | 6 |
83 | Runs | 73 |
41.2 | Average Minutes per Game | 50 |
684 | Run Metres | 628 |
1 | Offloads | 1 |
102 | Tackles | 168 |
4 | Missed Tackles | 7 |
4 | Errors | 4 |
City Origin vs Country Origin
The much-maligned City Origin vs Country Origin match will played in familiar surroundings for the three Rabbitohs representatives in this game, being the BCU International Stadium in Coffs Harbour. The game is scheduled to kick off at 3pm on Sunday.
The Rabbitohs have three home-grown representatives in this game, all playing for City.
Nathan Merritt has earned his second City jersey in 2013, and will line up against former Australian international winger Akuila Uate.
Both players are try scoring machines, but Rabbitohs Members will argue that Merritt has a finely tuned V8 engine under the hood which is leading him towards the all-time record for tries for South Sydney by a player.
Merritt has been in top form so far in 2013, scoring eight tries in six appearances, and this is a chance to prove to all of the doubters that he is worthy of highers honours, that being a sky blue NSW jersey.
Nathan Merritt | Akuila Uate | |
City Origin | Rep Team | Country Origin |
Rabbitohs | Club | Knights |
206 | Career NRL Games | 96 |
145 | Career NRL Tries | 77 |
39 | Career NRL Goals | 0 |
1 | Career NRL Field Goals | 0 |
659 | Career NRL Points | 308 |
2002 | NRL Debut | 2008 |
2013 | ||
6 | Games | 6 |
8 | Tries | 7 |
32 | Points | 28 |
54 | Runs | 86 |
80 | Average Minutes per Game | 80 |
589 | Run Metres | 817 |
5 | Offloads | 5 |
10 | Tackles | 8 |
7 | Missed Tackles | 5 |
5 | Errors | 7 |
The next cab off the rank for South Sydney is halfback Adam Reynolds, who all-and-sundry are calling for to get a shot at a NSW jersey in 2013.
Reynolds will earn his first representative jersey in this match, outside of the NRL All Stars cap he won earlier this year.
Reynolds will come up against Josh McCrone who will wear the second Country jersey of his career, having played in the 2012 fixture.
Reynolds' kicking game is very strong and will provide plenty of pressure of which his City team mates can take advantage.
Don't be surprised to see the play head to Merritt's wing more than it heads the other way. Familiarity will lead Reynolds to give try scoring opportunities to his South Sydney brother, and wouldn't we all like to see that on Sunday afternoon!
Adam Reynolds | Josh McCrone | |
City Origin | Rep Team | Country Origin |
Rabbitohs | Club | Raiders |
33 | Career NRL Games | 87 |
3 | Career NRL Tries | 26 |
117 | Career NRL Goals | 0 |
3 | Career NRL Field Goals | 1 |
249 | Career NRL Points | 105 |
2012 | NRL Debut | 2009 |
2013 | ||
6 | Games | 6 |
0 | Tries | 1 |
21 | Goals | 0 |
1 | Field Goals | 0 |
43 | Points | 4 |
21 | Runs | 40 |
80 | Average Minutes per Game | 80 |
139 | Run Metres | 321 |
0 | Line Breaks | 1 |
2 | Offloads | 5 |
123 | Tackles | 98 |
16 | Missed Tackles | 11 |
5 | Errors | 4 |
Finally, Rabbitohs hooker Nathan Peats was called into the City team on Monday to replace the injured Robbie Farah, and Peats will be doing everything he can prove that he deserves a shot at this level.
Despite not getting a lot of game time for the Rabbitohs in recent weeks, and having actually played for North Sydney in the NSW Cup last weekend, City Coach Brad Fittler had no hesitation in bringing the Indigenous All Star into the team to replace the captain.
Peats is strong from dummy half and will be going head-to-head with Country captain Michael Ennis.
These two have come face-to-face a number of times in recent seasons and the judges are still checking the score cards.
It will be a great tussle and one all Rabbitohs' Members and supporters will be looking forward to.
Nathan Peats | Michael Ennis | |
City Origin | Rep Team | Country Origin |
Rabbitohs | Club | Bulldogs |
43 | Career NRL Games | 176 |
6 | Career NRL Tries | 24 |
0 | Career NRL Goals | 108 |
24 | Career NRL Points | 312 |
2011 | NRL Debut | 2003 |
2013 | ||
5 | Games | 6 |
0 | Tries | 1 |
0 | Points | 4 |
15 | Runs | 20 |
22.2 | Average Minutes per Game | 72.5 |
115 | Run Metres | 114 |
1 | Line Breaks | 1 |
0 | Offloads | 1 |
72 | Tackles | 212 |
1 | Missed Tackles | 20 |
0 | Errors | 1 |
NSW Under 20s vs QLD Under 20s
The final representative match of the weekend is the State of Origin clash between the NSW Under 20s and the QLD Under 20s, to played as a curtain raiser to the Samoa vs Tonga Test at Centrebet Stadium on Saturday, scheduled to kick off at 5:35pm.
Rabbitohs Holden Cup player Dylan Walker has been selected in the centres for NSW, a position in which he has played this season for the Rabbitohs under 20s outfit, as well as the North Sydney Bears in the NSW Cup. We also can't forget his first touch in the 2013 Charity Shield, which saw him score a try at right centre against the Dragons.
Walker is a fantastic positional player, is fantastic with the ball in the hand and had a quality kicking game.
The former Australian Schoolboys representative will be a real handful for the Queenslanders, especially his giant opposite Brenko Lee. Lee is equal second on the Holden Cup try scorers list with seven tries so far in 2013, but Walker is one of the top point scorers in the Holden Cup competition, despite having played only four of the available six games played this season.
This will be a great clash and one which could give fans an insight into future State of Origin players for both NSW and QLD.
Dylan Walker | Brenko Lee | |
NSW Under 20s | Rep Team | QLD Under 20s |
Rabbitohs | Club | Raiders |
15 | Career Under 20s Games | 6 |
9 | Career Under 20s Tries | 10 |
20 | Career Under 20s Goals | 0 |
76 | Career Under 20s Points | 40 |
2012 | Under 20s Debut | 2013 |
