Team list

The Rabbitohs Guide To The Rep Round

We've put together this guide to help you keep an eye on your Rabbitohs this weekend as they step up for Representative football!

With eight Rabbitohs called up for the rep squads this weekend, here's what you can look forward to:

Junior Kangaroos vs Junior Kiwis

The game's future stars take centre stage on Friday afternoon as the best young talent from Australia and New Zealand go toe-to-toe in a mouth-watering showdown in Canberra. 

19-year old Cam Murray will join the Junior Kangaroos for the first time while 20-year old Siosifa Talakai is making his second appearance for the Junior Kiwis.

Australia will head into Friday's clash boasting more NRL experience, but the Junior Kiwis have plenty of players in red-hot form who are capable of scoring from anywhere. 

Cam Murray completes a formidable triumvirate of classy forwards who all have first-grade experience and the odds are the Australians will take the honours, but don’t expect the Junior Kiwis to roll over without a fight.

 

Tonga vs Fiji

Sitiveni Moceidreke has been named in the Fiji Bati squad. Moceidreke was a part of the Rabbitohs Auckland 9s squad earlier this year and made his debut in our Round four clash with the Sydney Roosters.

Tonga and Fiji may have only played each other twice in two decades but with the 2017 Rugby League World Cup around the corner both sides will want to take the early chance to impress with international jerseys up for grabs at the end of the NRL Telstra Premiership season.

Tonga has named a strong line-up that includes former New Zealand winger Manu Vatuvei and Bulldogs fullback Will Hopoate for the first time.

Fiji also features plenty of NRL talent with Storm winger Suliasi Vunivalu making his international debut alongside Panthers centre Waqa Blake, while Wests Tigers utility back Kevin Naiqama will captain the side and start in the No.1 jersey.

Televised: Fox League – Live from 5.30pm.

 

England vs Samoa

The Representative Round has a different flavour this year with the addition of England, who will face off with Samoa as part of an historic triple-header on Saturday.

Sam and Thomas Burgess will take their place in England’s Wall of White and will have plenty of work to do against a fierce Samoan pack. Sam Burgess is averaging over 130 metres per game this season and will be a huge influence for England.

While they have met only once in a Test match previously, there is plenty of reason to think these two nations will be evenly matched this weekend with Samoa enjoying the luxury of having several players who are currently among the best in their positons in the NRL Telstra Premiership.

Televised: Fox Sports – Live coverage from 7.30pm (AEDT). Sky Sports - Live coverage from 9.30pm (NZT).

 

City vs Country

Country Origin will boast three Rabbitohs in the forms of Cody Walker, Damien Cook and Kyle Turner when they look to revenge their 44-30 loss to the City boys last year.

Despite a poor record historically, Country have had the slight edge over the past decade and have named a strong team despite concerns that the unavailability of large numbers of players would devalue the contest.

Despite a general acceptance that the fixture is no longer a genuine Origin trial, you can bet NSW coach Laurie Daley will have an eye on the likes of Country's Jack De Belin, Paul Vaughan, Dale Finucane and Tariq Sims. Hooker Damien Cook and centre Euan Aitken are also in the frame for higher honours down the track.

After letting in a huge 44 points last year, you can bet the Country lads will be out for revenge in a match where both squads will be desperate to say they notched a victory – for posterity's sake as much as anything.

Televised: Channel Nine – Live from 3.30pm. 

 

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