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Round 2 - Broncos vs Rabbitohs: Friday 20th March 8:05pm @Suncorp Stadium

callmack1

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Time to move onto the Broncos in what will be one of the most interesting weeks in Rugby League. I know there is a lot of outside noise at the moment and we will be playing in front of no fans on Friday night but the boys have to try and block all of that stuff out and try to prepare as normal. We must have a business as usual approach. Hopefully that's the way the players look at it.

Brisbane might have a few outs still but they are a young team that in my opinion, oozes quality. Their forward pack especially is menacing so that is where we need to put a lot of our focus. We were pretty good for the first 60 in the middle against the Sharks but we're going to need to be even better against a Broncos side who despite having no crowd, will be up for this one.

Hopefully we can learn from last week and play for the full 80. It's gonna be an interesting week ahead as I said but we can do this! It'll be good for the boys to have a trip away together and who knows? Maybe playing with no fans on an away trip will help this week? Looking forward to it!
 

callmack1

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Here's my predicted Line Up for Round 2,

1. Mitchell
2. Gagai
3. Roberts
4. Burns
5. Graham
6. Walker
7. Reynolds (C)
8. Tatola
9. Cook
10. Burgess
11. Su'a
12. Murray
13. Knight

14. Amone
15. Lowe
16. Sele
17. Johnston

I want the same 13 with Amone coming in for Nicholls this week. Mark didn't have a massive impact on the game last week and feel that with the Broncos' explosive pack, we need a more explosive player on the bench to match that. Nicholls isn't explosive so I think Amone will be a better suit.

I think Wayne will most likely stick with the same 17 though.
 

CAFPOW

Juniors
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1,145
Here's my predicted Line Up for Round 2,

1. Mitchell
2. Gagai
3. Roberts
4. Burns
5. Graham
6. Walker
7. Reynolds (C)
8. Tatola
9. Cook
10. Burgess
11. Su'a
12. Murray
13. Knight

14. Amone
15. Lowe
16. Sele
17. Johnston

I want the same 13 with Amone coming in for Nicholls this week. Mark didn't have a massive impact on the game last week and feel that with the Broncos' explosive pack, we need a more explosive player on the bench to match that. Nicholls isn't explosive so I think Amone will be a better suit.

I think Wayne will most likely stick with the same 17 though.

I’m starting to think Nicholls is in our 17 because he is a nice guy :D
 

callmack1

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Travitoh

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5,156
Don't get me wrong, I like Nicholls and thing he's a great, solid player. I just think playing the Broncos, who have a pretty explosive and dynamic pack, it'd be better to fight fire with fire and pick more similar players of that style on our bench.

I feel that trying to go head to head with the Brisbane pack will play into their hands. Not saying Souths should be defensive but if they can frustrate Brisbane, they'll make mistakes.
 

assess5

Juniors
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403
Souths strive for normalcy in abnormal times: https://www.rabbitohs.com.au/news/2020/03/17/souths-strive-for-normalcy-in-abnormal-times/


Don't get me wrong, I like Nicholls and thing he's a great, solid player. I just think playing the Broncos, who have a pretty explosive and dynamic pack, it'd be better to fight fire with fire and pick more similar players of that style on our bench.


I would be happy to see Lowe dropped for a young up and coming forward, he gives away to many penalties and when it comes to 'explosive' he is on par with Nichols.

Only had one good game as far as I'm concerned and that was for Queensland.
 

callmack1

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Club greats join Rabbitohs coaching staff: https://www.rabbitohs.com.au/news/2020/03/18/club-greats-join-rabbitohs-coaching-staff/

Training Gallery - Round 2: https://www.rabbitohs.com.au/news/2020/03/18/training-week-two/

Damien Cook joins Inside The NRL: https://www.rabbitohs.com.au/news/2020/03/18/damien-cook-joins-inside-the-nrl/

"We wanna continue playing for our fans and Members" - Walker: https://www.rabbitohs.com.au/news/2020/03/18/cody-walker-media-round-two/

"We've still got a job to do" - Roberts: https://www.rabbitohs.com.au/news/2020/03/18/james-roberts-media-round-two/

I like the boys attitude this week. With everything going on, it'd be so hard to not be distracted but the boys appear to be quite focussed. They have all spoken about just wanting to 'get out there and play some footy' and 'get the job done.' Wheter or not that comes out in our performance or not remains to be seen but they are hopefully in a good headspace considering what is going on currently.
 

callmack1

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11,609
From the Daily Telegraph,

Latrell Mitchell avoids NRL lockdown by heading home to Taree

Faced with the choice of being stuck indoors in virus-hit Sydney or heading home to go fishing and to hand out footies, Latrell Mitchell took the obvious choice.

While the rest of the NRL has basically gone into lockdown, free-spirited South Sydney superstar Latrell Mitchell returned to his north coast home town of Taree on Wednesday with the blessing of his coach Wayne Bennett.

And instead of hiding indoors, Latrell got back to doing what he loves best: Fishing, jetskiing and handing out free footies to young locals.

Two days out from Friday night’s huge clash against Bennett’s old club in Brisbane, Bennett conceded that he wasn’t aware that Latrell had returned home.

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Latrell Mitchell arrives back from fishing from his jet ski on the Manning River at Taree. Photo: Peter Lorimer

But asked if Latrell had sought his permission before leaving Sydney, Bennett said: “I didn’t let him go. Nor should he (have asked). It is his day off.

“He’s not going to catch coronavirus off the fish, is he? He loves the bush. He’s happy up there. He goes up all the time. I’m pleased.”

Reading the mood of his players has always been one of Bennett’s greatest assets as a coach.

And it is certainly going to be a bonus coaching Latrell.

Listen! The Matty Johns podcast is back and they address the coronavirus crisis and the best from Round 1.

While his opening performance against Cronulla received mixed reviews, Bennett said after the game that he was content despite replacing him midway through the second half.

The Rabbitohs go into Friday night’s game as outsiders and they are going to need a more involved effort from Latrell if they are going to beat the Broncos who were super impressive in their opening win over North Queensland.

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The Souths star had a bag of signed footys to give away. Photo: Instagram

While there is going to be huge pressure on the Rabbitohs’ pack given the strength of Brisbane’s forwards, Latrell will also need to up his work rate after only having four runs for 48m against the Sharks.

There is no doubt when he injects himself in the game he looks dangerous, he just needs to do it more often.

But Bennett has vowed he won’t be pressured into making Latrell aim up to the critics’ expectations, adamant it is going to take some weeks before we see what Latrell is capable of in his new role at fullback.
 

Peter Quinn

Juniors
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984
Big game for us tomorrow night. Our defence has to be spot on and our forwards have to match theirs at least. I've got no doubt our boys will hold that middle. Every forward knows this game is a chance for them to prove themselves. I tip Souths 28-20 in a high scorer.
 

callmack1

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Renouf - Why the Broncos-Bunnies rivalry has us all so intrigued: https://www.nrl.com/news/2020/03/19/renouf-why-the-bennett-seibold-rivalry-is-good-for-footy/

Thomas Burgess Media Round 2: https://www.rabbitohs.com.au/news/2020/03/19/thomas-burgess-media-round-two/

Coaches Media Round 2: https://www.rabbitohs.com.au/news/2020/03/19/wayne-bennett-live-media/

Wayne Bennett considers coaching behind posts in crowd-less stadiums: https://wwos.nine.com.au/nrl/bennet...nd-posts/d0bf2e34-340c-44f1-9a9c-cf9cfde7f879

Who’ll pressure the refs now? The teams with the most to win and lose from NRL fan lockout: https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/wh...t/news-story/d26449e4c7f9521f076b2f829f03692d

Freddy's burning Latrell question as Souths face Broncos: https://wwos.nine.com.au/nrl/nrl-ti...-fittler/3d0878f6-b724-45b1-a6e5-ecbf082f708a
 

callmack1

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11,609
Well, here we are, Game Day is finally here!! Really looking forward to tonight! There might be no crowds and all that but this is still a big game against a side that has become one of our most fierce rivals. Of course, it'll be a bit different but I expect the players to play just as they normally would with a crowd which will hopefully make it a cracker.

The Broncos are a great side in my opinion, far better than last year. They would've taken a lot of confidence from last week and they should be up for this one. The main thing is shutting down their dynamic forwards. It's a lot easier said than done but if we can do that, it'll go a long way.

So we certainly need to be up for this one too because it's going to be tough, maybe having no crowd will help us. Need to see improvement from last week and the main focus should be improving the dicipline as well as playing and staying focussed for the full 80 minutes.

It's a big game today!!
 

callmack1

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Last Time They Met - Broncos v Rabbitohs Round 23, 2019: https://www.rabbitohs.com.au/news/2020/03/20/last-time-they-met-broncos-v-rabbitohs---round-23-2019/

Latrell Mitchell hits back at Cooper Cronk’s comments over his pre-Broncos clash trip to Taree: https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nr...e/news-story/911e5eb4e6857d59100382d86a523706

The longest day: Inside the Rabbitohs' 16-hour trip for the Broncos clash

By Christian Nicolussi

In normal circumstances, Wayne Bennett would take his South Sydney team up to Brisbane the day before an NRL game, and fly home a day after. In the new coronavirus world, the Bunnies will cram all their travel into one day.

Bennett and his players will embark on a 16-hour marathon trip on Friday that will kick off with a 10.30am bus trip to the airport, and end with a return home to their beds some time after 2am Saturday.

In a sign of things to come for the NRL and players in the COVID-19 era, Souths players will meet in Sydney's east at 10.30am and travel to Bankstown airport, where they will board a private charter flight at noon.

The team and staff will touch down in Brisbane at 12.30pm local time, and will be taken straight to Suncorp Stadium.
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The Souths group will have to wait about six hours before the clash against the Brisbane Broncos inside an empty venue.

A couple of rooms have been set up with beds and massage tables, and some players have already indicated they will pack PlayStations to pass the time. Players will not be allowed to leave the venue, to ensure they're not exposed to the public.

Souths support staff flew north on Thursday afternoon to assess the Suncorp facilities and have it all set up, to ensure there is minimal disruption when the players arrive.

The Rabbitohs and the Broncos will kick off at 8.05pm and players will do a short recovery process after the game in their dressing rooms.

The Souths itinerary has the players boarding a bus after the game at 11pm from Suncorp back to the airport. They will return home via a private air charter to Bankstown, where they can land after the curfew.

Mindful his players will be battered and bleary eyed, Bennett has spiked the usual recovery session on Saturday.

Because there will be no crowd and zero chance of being heckled, Bennett was still weighing up whether to call the shots from the sideline, instead of the coach's box. He said the best place to watch a game was behind the posts.

The coach respected the extreme circumstances but was also in a jovial mood when addressing journalists about the social distancing protocols at his press conference.

"A couple of players kissed me this morning, I don’t know why you are all standing back there,'' Bennett said.

"It’s crazy if you make it crazy. If you balance it out and realise everything is not perfect on any given day, it’s the best outcome to forget the hysteria going on around us."

As for the travel, Bennett said: "I was happy to go up this afternoon and stay overnight in a hotel, but they're telling us that's not what they want us to do.

"I’m not annoyed, I’m just following instructions. Hopefully the experts have given us the best advice. I’ve accepted what it is.

"I’ve been with the players and we have been close to one another. I’m just doing what I’m told.''

"We've asked for those [beds] and we need those things. We get up there at 1pm tomorrow so we've got five or six hours sitting around and it's important we've got something to do and not just sit there looking at the oval thinking 'we have to play'. That won't do us any good.''
 
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