Rabbitohs v Sea Eagles
Thursday 31 March 2016
8:05pm – NRL Kick Off
The South Sydney Rabbitohs will play their first Thursday night game of the season when they take on the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles at Brookvale Oval in Round 5 of the Telstra Premiership.
With both sides having registered two wins and two losses, the Red and Green’s will be regathering the momentum established in the opening two rounds of the season, while the Northern Beaches based team will be looking to extend their winning-streak to three matches.
Round 5 shapes as the 137th match-up between South Sydney and Manly and Maguire and his men will be out to meet the standards they have set internally this week following a loss to the Bulldogs on Good Friday.
“It’s about going out and meeting those (standards) this week,” said Maguire.
“Obviously our forwards need to aim up right in the middle of the park and we need to make sure we’re doing all the little things that we talk about and expect of each other.
Click here to watch Maguire’s Line-up for Round 5
“By doing that, you create your own opportunities and that’s what we’re looking for obviously this Thursday.”
The Rabbitohs will be bolstered by the return of Sam and Thomas Burgess who return from neck and foot injuries respectively. Alex Johnston – who was a late withdrawal from the Bulldogs clash – will however miss the match with Kirisome Auva’a set to deputise.
On the other side of the spectrum, the Sea Eagles will be missing a number of star players with Daly Cherry-Evans and Jamie Buhrer sidelined through injury. Despite this, the Silvertails will receive a boost with the return of enforcers; Martin Taupau and Brenton Lawrence, who both served one week suspensions in Round 4.
But Souths centre, Hymel Hunt, is adamant that the Sea Eagles will not be impeded by their injury list and will come out looking to prove a point.
“I don’t think it’s smart to underestimate a team,” said Hunt.
“Every week they come and put in 100% on the paddock. We just have to play it like they are full-strength.”
Spotlight: Sam Burgess
In his three games in 2016, Burgess has made his presence felt and will no doubt be ready to roll on Thursday after spending a week on the sidelines as a precaution. Burgess has averaged 143 metres, 23 tackles, 4 offloads and 61 minutes per game.
One feature of the match could well be the up-front battle between the two human wrecking-balls; Burgess and Martin Taupau. With Burgess and Taupau absent from their respective teams in Round 4, both enforcers will be rejuvenated and looking to make an impact in the match. Without a doubt, there will be some heavy contact when the two big units come together out in the middle.
NYC
Rabbitohs v Sea Eagles
Thursday 31 March 2016
5:50pm – NYC Kick Off
The South Sydney Rabbitohs NYC (under 20s) will be looking to secure their first back-to-back victories of the 2016 season when they take on the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles in Round 5 at Brookvale Oval.
Coming off the back of a 23-42 loss at the hands of the Roosters, the Sea Eagles will be looking to claim their first victory of the season, while the Junior Rabbitohs will be looking to improve upon their come-from-behind victory against the Bulldogs.
In a game characterised by fighting spirit and enterprising attack, the Rabbitohs posted 24 unanswered second-half points – including a hat-trick to Neihana Walters – to clinch a 28-10 victory on Good Friday.
Look out for the Rabbitohs centre pairing of Siosifa Talakai and Tevita Cottrell who have been a handful for opposition defences in recent weeks. Both of the powerful backs have been dangerous when running the ball to the line and linking up with their outside men, adding another element to the Souths attack out wide.
