Rabbitohs Head Coach Michael Maguire has given his insights into his side’s first trial match against the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles at Campbelltown Stadium on Saturday night.
The clash against the Northern Beaches based side will be the Rabbitohs first regular format fixture of the pre-season, providing the side with a chance to put their work on the training paddock into practice – something that excites Head Coach Michael Maguire.
“We’re really looking forward to getting the work that we’ve been doing over last two months out on the park,” said Maguire.
“The boys are ready to play and they’ve put a lot of time and effort into what we’ve done around training.
“It’s about playing games and that’s what we’re looking forward to.”
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Heading into the encounter, Maguire believes that a number of his players will be out to prove a point due to the significant competition for spots within the squad.
“It’s a great opportunity – because that’s what these trials are about – but our focus is this week and the boys that are playing are getting out there and doing their job.
“It’s obviously a fairly competitive squad at the moment. Training has been very competitive on the field, but once the games come, you make your decisions around where we’re going.
“There are a lot of good names there, which has brought that competitive nature to our training over these last couple of months, but the games now are going to give them a great opportunity to show what they’ve got.”
With the strength of the Rabbitohs squad posing a number of selection dilemmas come Round 1, the South Sydney mentor has admitted that he has not yet diverted his attention to the opposition.
“I probably haven’t put too much focus on the opposition at the moment. Manly will put out a strong line-up no doubt, but for us it’s really a focus on ourselves.
“The boys have built really good relationships around what they’re doing on and off the park and it’s about being really able to show that now with what they’ve been doing.”
As well as providing fans with the opportunity to see a host of new faces take the field in the Red and Green, Maguire is also excited by the thought of rewarding South Sydney Members living in Sydney’s south-west.
“I get to see all of the numbers with where all of our members are, and we have a great connection out there,” he said.
“We’re really looking forward to it and that’s the reason we’re going out there, to go out and give back to our Members.
“It’s just great for all of our Members that footy has started again, so it’s an exciting time.”
