Rabbitohs rumours, signings, injuries etc

[themacemaceman]

The MOLE:

Souths have signed a 'gun' prop or second-rower from Queensland league breeding ground Marsden High School.

Ranked among the best rising forwards in schoolboy football, Augustine Stowers will join the Rabbitohs next season.

Marsden High School has produced a host of NRL stars including Cameron Smith, Israel Folau and Jaydn Su'a and Souths are confident Stowers will also make the grade.

Stowers was crowned forward of the year in the NRL School Cup competition in Queensland this season.

A tall ball runner with ball playing ability, he is mature beyond his years and Souths are excited about his prospects after beating several clubs to gain his signature.

Perhaps the type of signing we wouldn’t have got without Wayne Bennett on board.

 

[uksouthsfan]

Just an update from here in the UK. Leeds reportedly still interested in George Burgess but they gave Marty Tapou and his wife a tour of their ground and facilities yesterday and his wife tweeted thanking Leeds and said they look forward to returning when the 2 new stands they have been building will be finished, which will be for the start of the new season. They have sold Mitch Garbutt to Hull KR yesterday which frees up a quota spot so that would let them sign a non UK player. I can’t see them paying Tapou what he earns in the NRL personally but their owners do have deep pockets. It looks like who ever they will be signing, should be announced by the end of the week.

 

[callmack1]

The MOLE:

Souths have signed a 'gun' prop or second-rower from Queensland league breeding ground Marsden High School.

Ranked among the best rising forwards in schoolboy football, Augustine Stowers will join the Rabbitohs next season.

Marsden High School has produced a host of NRL stars including Cameron Smith, Israel Folau and Jaydn Su'a and Souths are confident Stowers will also make the grade.

Stowers was crowned forward of the year in the NRL School Cup competition in Queensland this season.

A tall ball runner with ball playing ability, he is mature beyond his years and Souths are excited about his prospects after beating several clubs to gain his signature.

Sounds very promising that's for sure!!

 

[callmack1]

Transfer window set to be discussed at NRL clubs meeting: https://www.nrl.com/news/2018/11/13/transfer-window-set-to-be-discussed-at-nrl-clubs-meeting/

 

[Travitoh]

Transfer window set to be discussed at NRL clubs meeting: https://www.nrl.com/news/2018/11/13/transfer-window-set-to-be-discussed-at-nrl-clubs-meeting/

Personally, i like the current system.
Players will always be negotiating with other clubs in the final year of a contract, they have a legal right to do so. At least this way it is honest and in the open.

 

[Pablooo]

George and Tom will be at Souths in 2019 however 2020 May be a different story for one of them. I’m hoping we keep all our players including AJ and sign one more backrower. I believe we have the talent in our current squad to go all the way and with the addition of a few more young talented players like Allan, Sironen, Kennedy and Dillion, we will have good depth and a few good surprises to come.

 

[uksouthsfan]

Can confirm George has flown back to Aus a few hours ago, so looks like he’s staying which is good news. Tom has stayed in the UK but his misses has flown over to meet him and their off on holiday for a few weeks.

 

[tbunny]

George and Tom will be at Souths in 2019 however 2020 May be a different story for one of them. I’m hoping we keep all our players including AJ and sign one more backrower. I believe we have the talent in our current squad to go all the way and with the addition of a few more young talented players like Allan, Sironen, Kennedy and Dillion, we will have good depth and a few good surprises to come.

Are you sure? Other place burn down?

 

[ThingFish]

Edit - removed a dogey story about Bennett committing to Broncs for 2019. Realised it was old.

 

[southsport]

Edit - removed a dogey story about Bennett committing to Broncs for 2019. Realised it was old.

It might be old but it's still relevant, the story still doing the rounds that Bennett has dug his heels in at the broncs for 2019.

 

[Pauly1]

Bennett the salty old dog, been around the traps, knows whats going on.
Waiting for Broncos to move him on this week so he can collect x 2.

 

[CAFPOW]

According to Fox Sports, Bennett haven't spoken to the Broncos CEO since Oct 6. So, either the media got it wrong and there is no swap happening or Bennett is leaving the negotiations between his manager if he has one, Richo/Solly and the Broncos CEO. No headache for Bennett.

 

[handyman2190]

According to Fox Sports, Bennett haven't spoken to the Broncos CEO since Oct 6. So, either the media got it wrong and there is no swap happening or Bennett is leaving the negotiations between his manager if he has one, Richo/Solly and the Broncos CEO. No headache for Bennett.

That's what's happening, bennet cant be seen to be pushing the swop otherwise NO MONEY!!
It will be the execs,then bennet can play the burnt one and tell his players he has been pushed out,sob,sob,sob, that he wanted 1 more year with them and those bullies have taken it away from him, .....and whoever wants to come join the party are welcome to the greatest club of all,bahahahaha
Smart

 

[callmack1]

Is Bennett back in Aus yet? Man, I so want this swap to happen!!! Starting to get very impatient!!

On another note, the Lurker's final column of 2018 was all about Souths!

Lodge's future rosier with Rabbitohs

When Wayne Bennett moves to Souths any day now, controversial prop Matt Lodge seems certain to follow him.

Current Souths - and soon to be Brisbane coach - Anthony Seibold has no time for Lodge.

He was on the Melbourne coaching staff when Craig Bellamy sacked Lodge in 2013 - two years before his infamous wild night out in New York city.

Seibold knows what a ‘high maintenance’ player Lodge is and isn’t interested in having to deal with him.

But Bennett, on the other hand, thrives on such challenges and is close to Lodge after throwing him a lifeline this season.

Lodge repaid Bennett with a solid year, playing 25 matches in the engine room, and will only get better next season after a proper off season.

Starch on the way to Concord

Incoming Tigers coach Michael Maguire is likely to take one of his former Souths players with him - big prop Zane Musgrove.

The fiery forward is still contracted to the Bunnies but the club is believed to be ready to let him go to free up space in the salary cap.

The Samoan international has played 27 games since debuting for Souths in 2016 but had an injury-ravaged year in 2018 and failed to make a single appearance in the top grade.

Still only 22, Musgrove is a baby in front-rower’s terms and has the ability to develop into a top liner.

He’ll be a handy addition to the Tigers’ forward arsenal if he makes the switch.

Where does that leave McQueen?

If Musgrove does make the switch, there’s a big chance that Chris McQueen will return to Redfern.

The tall second-rower played his best football at the Bunnies and was a member of the club’s 2014 premiership-winning team.

He spent two seasons on the Gold Coast in 2016-17 before playing this season with the Tigers.

But he failed to make an impact at the Tigers and is keen to rejoin his old mates at the Rabbitohs.

 

[callmack1]

NRL to restrict back-ended deals and consider trade periods: https://www.nrl.com/news/2018/11/14/nrl-changes-rules-to-restrict-back-ended-contracts/

Refereeing restructure to promote more entertaining football: https://www.nrl.com/news/2018/11/14/refereeing-restructure-to-promote-more-entertaining-football/

 

[handyman2190]

Is Bennett back in Aus yet? Man, I so want this swap to happen!!! Starting to get very impatient!!

On another note, the Lurker's final column of 2018 was all about Souths!

Lodge's future rosier with Rabbitohs

When Wayne Bennett moves to Souths any day now, controversial prop Matt Lodge seems certain to follow him.

Current Souths - and soon to be Brisbane coach - Anthony Seibold has no time for Lodge.

He was on the Melbourne coaching staff when Craig Bellamy sacked Lodge in 2013 - two years before his infamous wild night out in New York city.

Seibold knows what a ‘high maintenance’ player Lodge is and isn’t interested in having to deal with him.

But Bennett, on the other hand, thrives on such challenges and is close to Lodge after throwing him a lifeline this season.

Lodge repaid Bennett with a solid year, playing 25 matches in the engine room, and will only get better next season after a proper off season.

Starch on the way to Concord

Incoming Tigers coach Michael Maguire is likely to take one of his former Souths players with him - big prop Zane Musgrove.

The fiery forward is still contracted to the Bunnies but the club is believed to be ready to let him go to free up space in the salary cap.

The Samoan international has played 27 games since debuting for Souths in 2016 but had an injury-ravaged year in 2018 and failed to make a single appearance in the top grade.

Still only 22, Musgrove is a baby in front-rower’s terms and has the ability to develop into a top liner.

He’ll be a handy addition to the Tigers’ forward arsenal if he makes the switch.

Where does that leave McQueen?

If Musgrove does make the switch, there’s a big chance that Chris McQueen will return to Redfern.

The tall second-rower played his best football at the Bunnies and was a member of the club’s 2014 premiership-winning team.

He spent two seasons on the Gold Coast in 2016-17 before playing this season with the Tigers.

But he failed to make an impact at the Tigers and is keen to rejoin his old mates at the Rabbitohs.

Mcqeen is old and past it,he had a similar neck injury as turner he should give it up. There is no way we would waste cap on him when we are trying to sign lodge pengai and uncle toby

 

[Mr Spock!]

Why do we want a grub like Lodge?

May as well have kept Walker, Avai et al.....

 

[handyman2190]

Why do we want a grub like Lodge?

May as well have kept Walker, Avai et al.....

Its the aussie way,forgive and forget....and he can play

 

[ThingFish]

Why do we want a grub like Lodge?

May as well have kept Walker, Avai et al.....

I think in WB we have a different beast. A coach that doesn’t judge indiscretion. He sees the players as men and footballers, and actually tries to make them better rather than make them someone else’s problem. He’s helped Lodge, he’s helped Jimmy the jet, he’s helped a young wild Sam Thaiday, the list goes on. I’m hoping the age of the no dickhead policy is over.

 

[handyman2190]

I think in WB we have a different beast. A coach that doesn’t judge indiscretion. He sees the players as men and footballers, and actually tries to make them better rather than make them someone else’s problem. He’s helped Lodge, he’s helped Jimmy the jet, he’s helped a young wild Sam Thaiday, the list goes on. I’m hoping the age of the dickhead policy if over.

Agreed, 100%, and they love him for it, we need something different to get to the next step, a few different players,we basically have had the same team for a few seasons. This will work.