South Sydney Rabbitohs Auckland Nines Preview

Pool: Hunua Pool (Roosters, Raiders, Rabbitohs, Cowboys)

Squad: Angus Crichton, Damien Cook, Bryson Goodwin (c), Aaron Gray, Zane Musgrove, Siosifa Talakai, Brad Dietz, Tyrell Fuimaono, Braidon Burns, Kyle Turner, Alex Johnston, Anthony Cherrington, Cody Walker, Hymel Hunt, Robert Jennings, Thomas Burgess, Robbie Rochow, Cam Murray, Dave Tyrrell

Games

vs Canberra Raiders (1:05pm Feb 4 AEDT)
vs Sydney Roosters (5pm Feb 4 AEDT)
vs North Queensland Cowboys (11:05am Feb 5 AEDT)

South Sydney have made a bold move by naming arguably the strongest squad of the tournament so far, with fifteen players in the squad carrying first-grade experience. Four members of their 2014 NRL Grand Final winning team make the cross across the ditch, as well as electric half Cody Walker.

South Sydney fans will be excited to see new recruits Robbie Rochow, Robert Jennings, Braidon Burns, Tyrrell Fuimaono and Anthony Cherrington don the cardinal and myrtle for the first time, with Cherrington looking to play his first NRL game since 2009 this year. However, star recruit Robbie Farah won’t make the trip to the Nines, instead spending the time to recover on a torn bicep the hooker suffered in December.

Greg Inglis is the only player missing from the Rabbitoh’s backline, with Michael Maguire using the Nines to announce that Souths will be competitive again this year after a lacklustre 2016.

Who To Watch: Cody Walker. Last year saw a plethora of young halves emerge from the woodwork, Ash Taylor and Nathan Cleary the most notable. But while Cody Walker isn’t exactly a youngster at 26, he’s as good as any of them. His elusiveness saw him break more tackles than any other South’s player in 2016, including Sam Burgess and Greg Inglis. Walker’s speed may burn defences, but it’s his footy smarts that will really make them pay.

Why They Could Win: The mix. The Rabbitohs have nailed the mixture of talent in their squad, with props able to skittle defenders, halves able to create opportunities and backs capable of finishing them. Damien Cook adds creativity to the squad, while Walker has the ability to pin the opposition in their own half with his kicking game. If South Sydney can nail their interchange, they could very well win the tournament.

Why They Can’t Win: The forwards. While the assortment of forwards in the squad are quality, the lack of any genuine ball playing ability threatens to make the side predictable. While Kyle Turner, Robbie Rochow and Thomas Burgess carry rep experience, they’re more known for their defensive game, registering only two try assists between the duo in 2016. Playmakers Cook and Walker won’t always be on the field, so when they’re off they need someone to create chances for the side.

Prediction: Along with the Parramatta Eels, Brisbane Broncos, and North Queensland, Souths have one of the best squads in the tournament so far. If Cody Walker and Damien Cook can add spark to the team, then they could be nearly unstoppable. They’ve won it before, and they can certainly do it again this year.