Top level Rugby League will return to the Metricon High Performance Centre at Redfern Oval this Saturday when the South Sydney Rabbitohs take on the Penrith Panthers in four grades at the John Sutton Testimonial game, with the NRL fixture set to kick off at 6pm.
| Date | Saturday 23 February |
| Venue | Metricon High Performance Centre, Redfern Oval |
| Gates Open | 12:30pm |
| Harold Matthews (16s) Kick-off | 12:40pm |
| SG Ball (18s) Kick-off | 2:00pm |
| Jersey Flegg (20s) Kick-off | 4:00pm |
| NRL (first-grade) Kick-off | 6:00pm |
The Rabbitohs have named a near full-strength squad for the NRL-approved Testimonial celebration of John Sutton’s career with the likes of Sam Burgess, Damien Cook, Cody Walker, Dane Gagai, Thomas Burgess and Cameron Murray all set to represent South Sydney at the Club’s spiritual home ground this Saturday.
The South Sydney Rabbitohs’ NRL squad for Saturday’s John Sutton Testimonial Match against the Panthers is:
| 1) Alex Johnston |
| 2) Corey Allan |
| 3) Dane Gagai |
| 4) Campbell Graham |
| 5) Jacob Gagan |
| 6) Cody Walker |
| 7) Connor Tracey |
| 8) Junior Tatola |
| 9) Damien Cook |
| 10) Thomas Burgess |
| 11) John Sutton (c) |
| 12) Sam Burgess |
| 13) Cameron Murray |
| Interchange |
| 14) Mark Nicholls |
| 15) Kyle Turner |
| 16) Liam Knight |
| 17) Rhys Kennedy |
| 18) Bayley Sironen |
| 19) Jack Johns |
| 20) Mawene Hiroti |
| 21) Dean Hawkins |
| 5) Cory Denniss |
| 9) Billy Brittain |
| 10) Tom Amone |
| 12) Tarquinn Alatipi-Butler |
| Head Coach: Wayne Bennett |
A host of the Rabbitohs’ young, up-and-coming players will also take to the turf at Redfern in the NRL, Jersey Flegg Cup (U20s), SG Ball Cup (U18s) and Harold Matthews Cup (U16s) matches throughout the day. Sutton has represented all of these grades for South Sydney during his tenure with the Club.
The South Sydney Rabbitohs Jersey Flegg squad for Saturday’s match against the Panthers is:
| 1) James Tautaiolefua |
| 2) Nick Mougios |
| 3) Volkan Er |
| 4) Tallis Angianga |
| 5) Kane Allan |
| 6) Lachlan Ilias |
| 7) Blake Taaffe |
| 8) Luke Mastroianni |
| 9) Jayden Griffin |
| 10) Aiden Manowski |
| 11) Maila Aluni-Chanfoon |
| 12) Josh Fepuleai |
| 13) Iizayah Iti |
| Interchange |
| 14) Luke Puru |
| 15) Matt French |
| 16) Luke Bain |
| 17) Augustine Stowers |
| 18) Jack Frasca |
| 19) Luke McDonald |
| 20) Cameron Akauola |
| 2) Myden Ong |
| 3) Faamanu Siaosi Kalolo |
| 6) Marc Zaurrini |
| 7) Ezra Gibson |
| 8) Joe Ngere |
| 9) Michael Goggins |
| 10) Grant Taulafo |
| 11) Jack Alipate |
| 12) Tevita Piukana |
| Head Coach: Ben Rogers |
The NRL fixture is scheduled to kick off at 6pm with the under 20s set to start at 4pm. The under 18s will kick off at 2pm with the under 16s due to commence at 12:40pm. Gates open at 12:30pm.
Members and supporters will have the opportunity to win $20,000 of travel credit from the Rabbitohs’ Pathways partner, Wotif, as part of the half time ‘Boot It or Bank It’ competition. The first 3,000 people through the gates will get a commemorative John Sutton face mask courtesy of Aqualand, and Members and supporters will be able to enjoy a Young Henrys beer and a Garlo’s Pie while watching the football.
The Harold Matthews and SG Ball Squads are as follows:
| Harold Matthews (16s) Squad |
|---|
| 1) Joseph Suaalii |
| 2) Joshua Mocevakaca |
| 3) Terrell Ka |
| 4) Faresa Palu |
| 5) Luca Ace-Nasteski |
| 6) Emmanuel De Bartolo |
| 7) Joseph Nohra |
| 8) Davvy Moale |
| 15) Ratu Vesikula |
| 10) Izayah Tuigamala |
| 11) Dranza Hawe-De-Thierry |
| 12) Braydon Jang |
| 13) William Taliai |
| Interchange |
| 16) Hennessy OFRIA-HUNT |
| 17) Epeli LAVAKI |
| 18) Ame Cottrell |
| 22) Naati Teaupa |
| Reserves |
| 14) Carson Kaho |
| SG Ball (18s) Squad |
|---|
| 1) Logan Aldridge |
| 2) Zane Bijorac |
| 3) Byron Parnell |
| 4) Salesi Malu |
| 5) Daylen Meredith |
| 6) Manaaki Sassine |
| 7) Bradley Zampech |
| 8) Tevita Taumoepenu |
| 9) Peter Mamouzelos |
| 10) Ben Olson |
| 11) Langi Gleeson |
| 12) John Dodds |
| 13) Kye Black |
| Interchange |
| 14) Benjamin Lloyd |
| 16) Tioata Fua |
| 17) Krystian Mapapalangi |
| 18) Darcy Shum-Cotrell |
| Reserves |
| 24) Lachlan Gale |
NRL Development officers will be on hand to teach the youngest Rabbitohs some footy skills at the Rabbitohs Kidzone, kids and their families can get more information about playing Rugby League in the Souths Juniors competition in 2019, and kids can play on the Tropical Slide courtesy of Sunshine Coast Council. Junior Rabbitohs can also get their faces painted for the big event in John Sutton’s honour.
Tickets for the match are available here or at the gate on Saturday. Prices for adults start from $20 and kids from $10, with a percentage of proceeds from the day going to support Souths Cares as well as Panthers on the Prowl.
