The South Sydney Rabbitohs are pleased to announce their team to take on the Gold Coast Titans in round 23 of the 2009 NRL Premiership this Friday 14 August at ANZ Stadium. Rabbitohs Head Coach Jason Taylor has named Luke Stuart as Rabbitohs captain for this important clash with the Titans in his 165th game for the Rabbitohs. David Fa’alogo has been named in the front row and Michael Crocker has been promoted to the starting side at lock, with Dave Tyrrell moving on to the interchange bench. Shannan McPherson will play his 50th NRL game this Friday night, all of which have been played in the red and green since making his first grade debut in 2005. The Rabbitohs vs Titans match is one of the first games to be played in the NRL’s Close the Gap Round, highlighting the 13-year difference in life expectancy between indigenous men and non-indigenous men in Australia. Rabbitohs halfback Chris Sandow is an ambassador for the Close the Gap campaign alongside Australian halfback Johnathan Thurston and Titans player Shannon Walker. The NRL match is scheduled for a 7:35pm kick off with the Toyota Cup match due to begin at 5:20pm. Gates open at 5:15pm. The Rabbitohs NRL side is:
1. Merritt, Nathan 2. Simpson, Jamie 3. Best, Colin 4. Champion, Beau 5. Talanoa, Fetuli 6. Sutton, John 7. Sandow, Chris 8. Stuart, Luke (c) 9. Luke, Issac 10. Fa'alogo, David 11. Lowe, Ben 12. Pettybourne, Eddy 13. Crocker, Michael 14. Wing, Craig 15. McPherson, Shannan 16. Tyrrell, Dave 17. Geddes, Scott Coach – Jason Taylor
The Rabbitohs Toyota Cup side is:
1. Capewell, Luke 2. Webster, Malcolm 3. Vaivai, Junior 4. Farrell, Dylan 5. Morgan, Kane 6. Mundine, Matt 7. Reynolds, Adam 8. Shearer, Jake 9. Peats, Nathan 10. Lupi, Brad 11. Hammett, Aaron 12. Molan, Brock 13. Clark, Jason (c) 14. Mansour, Joshua 15. Judd, Blake 16. Starling, Josh 17. Tulemau, Jack 21. Takairangi, Brad Coach – Daniel Irvine
The North Sydney Bears will take on the Western Suburbs Magpies in the NSW Cup this Saturday 15 August at 3pm at Campbelltown Stadium. The Bears team is:
1. Wara, Samu 2. McQueen, Chris 3. Nichols, Greg 4. Baird, Bladen 5. Robinson, Reece 6. Hunt, Justin 7. Hogan, Jarryd 8. Trembath, Chris 9. Falloon, Beau 10. Crossman, Garret 11. Kidwell, David 12. Lowe, Jaiman 13. Apps, Deon 14. Sayegh, Daniel 15. Kaifoto, John 16. Hunt, Matt 17. Dalton, Sean 18. Blaker, Brett 19. Ngaro, Vinnie Coach – Wayne Lambkin