Rabbitohs-Promising

Skyhunter · Posted: Sun May 06, 2007 4:46 pm Post subject: Rabbitohs-Promising

Promising...the bunnies look to have bounce in 2007. Pic: Gregg Porteous
South Sydney Rabbitohs

By Cornell van der Heyden with wires

A FOUNDATION club, Souths was established in 1908 and had won 20 premierships before being excluded from the 2000 and 2001 seasons by the National Rugby League.

Since appealing and being reinstated into the NRL in 2002, the Rabbitohs have only avoided the wooden spoon twice, and on one occasion only because the Bulldogs were docked 37 points for salary cap breaches.

But the besieged club may finally have found a mix that works in 2007. New recruits, which include coach Jason Taylor, Roy Asotasi, David Kidwell, Nigel Vagana and Jeremy Smith, will add plenty of class to the squad and, with the pre-season sponsorship successes, there'll be no excuses if the club wins another stirring implement this year.

The club may have failed in its bid to lure Lote Tuqiri back to rugby league but there's enough talent in this squad to squeeze into a top-eight spot, with a bit of luck in a few of the tighter games.

Key player: Roy Asotasi
The most expensive item on Souths' shopping list, Asotasi proved himself to be one of the game's elite front rowers at the Bulldogs. He was a notable absentee with a knee injury when the Dogs' finals campaign was halted by Brisbane. Strong, aggressive and mobile, the Rabbitohs need the Kiwi international to lay the platform in 2007 and earn the Bunnies some respect up front.

One to watch: Scott Geddes
The 110kg prop has been around a while, mostly nursing injuries on the sidelines. "Promise'' is the word most often used about him and this year he promises to be the third prong in a formidable Rabbitohs rotation up front with Asotasi and workhorse Peter Cusack. A powerful metre-gainer and one for opposition attackers to avoid unless collisions with brick walls are their idea of fun.

With AAP
Source: http://www.foxsports.com.au/league/rabbitohs