2020 Rabbitohs Rumours, Signings and News

[Peter Quinn]

Yes definitely Scott Sorensen

OK. In case you guys haven't heard, he was training with the Souths squad today.

 

[Rabbits20]

Yes definitely Scott Sorensen

Maybe a train and trial contract.

I’d sign him up to our top 30, we need another second rower there is barely anything out there.

Sorensen on what I’ve seen is very similar to Turner and he’d replace him.

He will be 27 years old when the season begins and I reckon coming into his best years.

He is a bit better than Sironen on what I’ve seen.

Sorensen would definitely push for a spot in our top 17.

I’d personally have him ahead of Sironen and Mago.

 

[Rabbits20]

OK. In case you guys haven't heard, he was training with the Souths squad today.

You sure it was him Pete?

Did you get a close look?

 

[handyman2190]

Dont know if you fellas listen to the winemaker on triple m, he says Arrow all but done,contrary to what he has been telling everyone that his preference is to stay at the titans,he is actually desperate to leave,he is tired of loosing and wants a premiership

 

[Peter Quinn]

You sure it was him Pete?

Did you get a close look?

Yes mate. He looks a very fearsome guy. Hell rattle a few on the field I'm certain of that.

 

[Rabbits20]

Yes mate. He looks a very fearsome guy. Hell rattle a few on the field I'm certain of that.

He weighs around 99-100kg like Turner did too, very similar build, maybe he will be looking to put on a couple of kilos too over the pre season. He’s no frills but he could do a job for us Sorensen.

Also another Souths member today down at training apparently spotted Patrice Siolo who is back, he played with Norths for us a few years ago, apparently he saw him today at Erko in Bunnies Canterbury Cup gear, that’d be a handy pick up for our reserve grade side.

 

[Rabbits20]

Dont know if you fellas listen to the winemaker on triple m, he says Arrow all but done,contrary to what he has been telling everyone that his preference is to stay at the titans,he is actually desperate to leave,he is tired of loosing and wants a premiership

cheers Handyman didn’t hear that mate, did they say anything about Titans releasing him for 2020?

Rumour was Titans would want Edene Gebbie in return but we won’t give him to them.

Also apparently our offer to Arrow is closer to the 700k mark, 2.8 mil over 4 years and not the 800k a season the media has kept reporting.

 

[Rabbit toes]

cheers Handyman didn’t hear that mate, did they say anything about Titans releasing him for 2020?

Rumour was Titans would want Edene Gebbie in return but we won’t give him to them.

Also apparently our offer to Arrow is closer to the 700k mark, 2.8 mil over 4 years and not the 800k a season the media has kept reporting.

Interesting. If the media has reported 800k do you have a link for 700 figure.
800k seems appropriate

 

[Peter Quinn]

He weighs around 99-100kg like Turner did too, very similar build, maybe he will be looking to put on a couple of kilos too over the pre season. He’s no frills but he could do a job for us Sorensen.

Also another Souths member today down at training apparently spotted Patrice Siolo who is back, he played with Norths for us a few years ago, apparently he saw him today at Erko in Bunnies Canterbury Cup gear, that’d be a handy pick up for our reserve grade side.

Sorenson must have bulked up then. I was right next to him and he's nearly as big as me and I'm 115.

 

[Rabbit toes]

Common sense says that if Fifita is now off the table then there doesn't seem to be all that much available as far as forwards go, so with the dollars that are left may as well try to sign Mitchell I guess.

Souths still look light on for forwards having lost Sam, Sutto, George, Britt and only signed Arrow (hopefully).

What does your common sense tell you?

It’s says that even you don’t back you’re own “common sense”. You’re guess work is as good as everyone else’s on here.
Your just stirring the pot in a different direction.
Seems stupid to sign a pure back if, as you’re argument indicates, we need more forwards. Especially because 1 forward had been sewn up?

 

[southsport]

It’s says that even you don’t back you’re own “common sense”. You’re guess work is as good as everyone else’s on here.
Your just stirring the pot in a different direction.
Seems stupid to sign a pure back if, as you’re argument indicates, we need more forwards. Especially because 1 forward had been sewn up?

What would you do then genius?

 

[Peter Quinn]

It’s says that even you don’t back you’re own “common sense”. You’re guess work is as good as everyone else’s on here.
Your just stirring the pot in a different direction.
Seems stupid to sign a pure back if, as you’re argument indicates, we need more forwards. Especially because 1 forward had been sewn up?

I've now had a good look of the forwards that are at Souths now. We might have enough power.

 

[handyman2190]

It’s says that even you don’t back you’re own “common sense”. You’re guess work is as good as everyone else’s on here.
Your just stirring the pot in a different direction.
Seems stupid to sign a pure back if, as you’re argument indicates, we need more forwards. Especially because 1 forward had been sewn up?

There is no news on fafita,and no news is good news as far as im concerned, the longer he takes the more he is pondering that signing for 700k he will lose 300k giving us a chance

 

[Rabbit toes]

What would you do then genius?

No blow our cash on a outside back when we need forwards. Especially one who’s been playing off clubs against ea other.

 

[handyman2190]

I've now had a good look of the forwards that are at Souths now. We might have enough power.

Never enough Quinny, id like at least another prop

 

[Rabbit toes]

Fifita won’t be at Souths 2020. Happy to be wrong. But strong word up here he’s resigned

 

[Peter Quinn]

Never enough Quinny, id like at least another prop

Me too. But if he's stuffing around up there in arthritisville inning and ahring, I'd leave him there. His loss.

 

[handyman2190]

Fifita won’t be at Souths 2020. Happy to be wrong. But strong word up here he’s resigned

Up there its their dream result and all the talk would be that he has resigned but until its confirmed i will live in hope

 

[Rabbits20]

From the Daily Telegraph,

South Sydney ready to table a formal offer to boom young forward

South Sydney’s bold bid to lure Jai Arrow to Redfern will come to a head at a meeting on Monday with a formal offer expected to be tabled to the boom young Gold Coast forward.

It follows the NRL’s decision on Friday not to lump the Rabbitohs’ with Sam Burgess’ $1 million-a-season contract payout on their salary cap.

What this has done is immediately open up an opportunity for these negotiations to go to the next level.

Souths are expected to blow the Titans out of the water in respect to the money they can direct at one of the game’s most exciting middle forwards.

Rabbitohs general manager of football Shane Richardson has been handling all the negotiations so far with Arrow’s agent David Riolo, but Bennett also returns to training this week and will be eager to know where his squad stands going forward.

But while they haven’t given up hope, they are restricted by the fact they are already forking out huge money for several underperforming stars who they just can’t offload.

The Rabbitohs see Arrow as the perfect replacement for Burgess given what he brings on and off the field.

Bennett even took the unusual step of coming out last week and speaking publicly about his desire to coach Arrow.

Bennett rarely gets involved in the player market circus but the fact he chose to make those comments further highlights just how serious Souths are about getting this deal done.

Make no mistake, this could ultimately be a critical play in respect to Bennett’s lasting legacy at the Bunnies.

While the opportunity to play under Bennett would be a huge attraction to any young player, the Rabbitohs also need to regenerate their roster after losing the team’s two superstars in Burgess and Greg Inglis in the space of one season.

There is no way Bennett would have anticipated that would be the outcome when he took on the job to replace Anthony Seibold.

Bennett still has two more years to run on his current deal at Souths, but given he turns 70 in the New Year the most successful coach in the game’s history will be motivated to make next year count.

Souths did extremely well this year to finish one game short of the grand final given Inglis’ retirement and the fact Burgess was injured for much of the year.

But bringing on board a player like Arrow could really reinvigorate the pack alongside youngsters like Cameron Murray and Liam Knight who showed tremendous improvement in 2019.

Bennett knows better than anyone you don’t win premierships unless you have the right players and right now Arrow is the best forward on the open market along with Brisbane’s David Fifita.

While Arrow’s current deal at Gold Coast runs for next season there is a chance he could gain an early release if he was to settle his future in Sydney.

It would also potentially open up the salary cap space needed for the Titans to have a red hot crack at Latrell Mitchell.

From the Australian

Shane Richardson slams claims Rabbitohs win in Sam Burgess saga

Brent Read7:30PM December 9, 2019

South Sydney general manager of football Shane Richardson has rubbished claims the Rabbitohs have emerged unscathed from the sudden retirement of Sam Burgess, and insisted the club needs to be smart in replacing one of the greatest players in their history.

Rival clubs and supporters have poured scorn on the NRL over their handling of Burgess’s retirement, questioning why Souths were allowed to have the remaining $3.5m of his salary removed from their cap.

The NRL, in anticipation of a backlash, offered to take club officials through the process that led to their decision. Richardson, who confirmed the club was only days away from making a formal offer to Gold Coast forward Jai Arrow but was yet to signal an interest in Latrell Mitchell, slammed criticism of the Rabbitohs.

“I don’t understand that — we have lost one of the great players in the game,” Richardson said.

“Sam Burgess, the captain of our club. We saw him as the leader of our club for years to come. No matter who we bring in, you can’t replace him. It would be like the Roosters losing (James) Tedesco or Melbourne losing Cameron Smith. Those sort of players are impossible to replace.

“I was happy with our plan for Sam to lead us for the next four years. I don’t get it. It’s not a positive for us financially.

“I don’t see where the positives come out of it for us. The only positive is we’re able to replace him.

“But you don’t want to lose these guys. They are champions. To say we have an advantage out of it, I don’t get it. We have lost the greatest leader in our club.”

Burgess was forced into retirement due to a shoulder problem, independent medical advice confirming the Rabbitohs’ claim that it was a fresh injury caused by an infection that ate away at the bone.

Burgess is expected to stay with the club and receive the money that is owing to him in instalments over as many as 10 years. The Rabbitohs will be forced to carry his salary on their books for the foreseeable future.

Even so, some officials at rival clubs have viewed the NRL’s decision with suspicion, suggesting the Rabbitohs were given preferential treatment because they are one of the game’s glamour clubs, driving broadcasting revenue, creating interest and are owned by Russell Crowe and James Packer.

“It’s unfortunate what has happened,” Richardson said.

“We had a plan under the rules. We handed all the medical information in. They got their own medical people to look at it.

“There was no way it could have gone through if it wasn’t correct. It’s rubbish to say that.”

The next challenge for Richardson is to ensure the Rabbitohs don’t fritter away the money they now have to spend.

Arrow is at the top of their wish list and club officials have already held talks with the Gold Coast forward and his management.

The Rabbitohs will make him a competitive offer — suggestions are it could be worth as much as $2.8m over four years — but they won’t be held to ransom.

They could yet look at Mitchell, although that will largely be contingent on whether Cody Walker agrees to a contract extension.

Richardson is in no rush. He knows the next decision is crucial to a premiership tilt.

“We have got a lot of structures in place,” he said.

“We have to come up with a couple of players who are going to complement the guys we have already got. It is important we get it right.

“We don’t have to panic about it. We’re interested in Jai. We haven’t made him an offer. It’s just not a matter of going out and spending all the money.

“It’s given us the ability to move the Rubik’s cube the way we want to move it. We have not made any move on Latrell Mitchell. We haven’t spoken to anybody about Latrell Mitchell.

“We’re chasing a forward. We have to get it right. We lost the captain of our club, the Clive Churchill medallist and an inspirational leader.

“We have to be smart.”


@callmack1 I love the bit where it says we won’t be held to ransom re Arrow, 700k is very fair don’t you reckon?! @Peter Quinn @southsport @handyman2190

 

[Peter Quinn]

From the Australian

Shane Richardson slams claims Rabbitohs win in Sam Burgess saga

Brent Read7:30PM December 9, 2019

South Sydney general manager of football Shane Richardson has rubbished claims the Rabbitohs have emerged unscathed from the sudden retirement of Sam Burgess, and insisted the club needs to be smart in replacing one of the greatest players in their history.

Rival clubs and supporters have poured scorn on the NRL over their handling of Burgess’s retirement, questioning why Souths were allowed to have the remaining $3.5m of his salary removed from their cap.

The NRL, in anticipation of a backlash, offered to take club officials through the process that led to their decision. Richardson, who confirmed the club was only days away from making a formal offer to Gold Coast forward Jai Arrow but was yet to signal an interest in Latrell Mitchell, slammed criticism of the Rabbitohs.

“I don’t understand that — we have lost one of the great players in the game,” Richardson said.

“Sam Burgess, the captain of our club. We saw him as the leader of our club for years to come. No matter who we bring in, you can’t replace him. It would be like the Roosters losing (James) Tedesco or Melbourne losing Cameron Smith. Those sort of players are impossible to replace.

“I was happy with our plan for Sam to lead us for the next four years. I don’t get it. It’s not a positive for us financially.

“I don’t see where the positives come out of it for us. The only positive is we’re able to replace him.

“But you don’t want to lose these guys. They are champions. To say we have an advantage out of it, I don’t get it. We have lost the greatest leader in our club.”

Burgess was forced into retirement due to a shoulder problem, independent medical advice confirming the Rabbitohs’ claim that it was a fresh injury caused by an infection that ate away at the bone.

Burgess is expected to stay with the club and receive the money that is owing to him in instalments over as many as 10 years. The Rabbitohs will be forced to carry his salary on their books for the foreseeable future.

Even so, some officials at rival clubs have viewed the NRL’s decision with suspicion, suggesting the Rabbitohs were given preferential treatment because they are one of the game’s glamour clubs, driving broadcasting revenue, creating interest and are owned by Russell Crowe and James Packer.

“It’s unfortunate what has happened,” Richardson said.

“We had a plan under the rules. We handed all the medical information in. They got their own medical people to look at it.

“There was no way it could have gone through if it wasn’t correct. It’s rubbish to say that.”

The next challenge for Richardson is to ensure the Rabbitohs don’t fritter away the money they now have to spend.

Arrow is at the top of their wish list and club officials have already held talks with the Gold Coast forward and his management.

The Rabbitohs will make him a competitive offer — suggestions are it could be worth as much as $2.8m over four years — but they won’t be held to ransom.

They could yet look at Mitchell, although that will largely be contingent on whether Cody Walker agrees to a contract extension.

Richardson is in no rush. He knows the next decision is crucial to a premiership tilt.

“We have got a lot of structures in place,” he said.

“We have to come up with a couple of players who are going to complement the guys we have already got. It is important we get it right.

“We don’t have to panic about it. We’re interested in Jai. We haven’t made him an offer. It’s just not a matter of going out and spending all the money.

“It’s given us the ability to move the Rubik’s cube the way we want to move it. We have not made any move on Latrell Mitchell. We haven’t spoken to anybody about Latrell Mitchell.

“We’re chasing a forward. We have to get it right. We lost the captain of our club, the Clive Churchill medallist and an inspirational leader.

“We have to be smart.”


@callmack1 I love the bit where it says we won’t be held to ransom re Arrow, 700k is very fair don’t you reckon?! @Peter Quinn @southsport @handyman2190

More than fair. In my view he's unproven at heavy duty stuff.