South Sydney Rabbitohs recruit Dane Nielsen preparing for NRL redemption
Date February 15, 2016 - 2:18PM
- Axed by St George Illawarra and playing in front of a couple of thousand people in a semi-professional, second-tier competition in England, you could forgive Dane Nielsen for thinking his NRL career had come to an end.
After being thrown a late pre-season lifeline by South Sydney, the former Queensland centre is now preparing for another shot in the top grade. The 30-year-old made his return to the NRL in the second half of the Rabbitohs' 18-14 Charity Shield win against his former club on Saturday.
Nielsen was sacked by the Dragons, two games into a two-year deal, last March after a woman claimed he bit her on the leg during a drinking session at a Cronulla nightspot. His axing led to him finishing 2015 playing for the Bradford Bulls in the level below the English Super League before returning to Australia uncertain if he would again play in the NRL."[Getting sacked] was a difficult time," Nielsen said in his first interview since returning to Australia. "I'm not really worried about it any more. I am lucky enough to have been given an opportunity [at South Sydney]. I'm not even worried about that any more. It doesn't faze me. I've been given an opportunity now, I'm going to make the most of it. [Playing in England] was OK. It was a different style of footy. It was division one and the facilities and grounds were a lot different to what I'm used [to]. It was OK but I'm glad to be back here having an opportunity to play at Souths."Defensive mode: Souths centre Dane Nielsen tackles Dragons opponent Taane Milne during the Charity Shield match at ANZ Stadium. Photo: Mark Kolbe
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He has added some much-needed depth to a depleted Rabbitohs back line. While Greg Inglis, Alex Johnston and Bryson Goodwin pick themselves, Nielsen will battle it out with the likes of fellow new recruit Hymel Hunt, Kirisome Auva'a, Aaron Gray and John Olive for wing and centre spots. Hunt impressed during the Charity Shield.
Having only signed for the club late last month, Nielsen is realistic about his chances of starting the season in the top grade.
"I was training on my own in Queensland until we could sort something out," Nielsen said. "It took a while to get something sorted in terms of the salary cap. I got down on the next plane I could and started training.
"Most of the boys had been back since November and are looking fit and strong and have kilometres in their legs. I'm still playing catch-up. Every session I'm still trying to get the most out of. I'm still not at peak fitness. Taking small steps towards that.
"I'm just here training hard and seeing where that takes me. The boys have been training a lot longer than I have. This is my third week. I'm a bit behind so far. I knew that coming down here. I'll try and come through [feeder club] North Sydney and see where that takes me."
Nielsen's long association with Inglis and Rabbitohs coach Michael Maguire helped bring him to the Rabbitohs. Nielsen played alongside Inglis at Melbourne, where Maguire was an assistant coach.
"[Maguire] spoke to me just after New Years and we had a bit of a chat and he gave me an opportunity to try and do my best," Nielsen said.
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Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...redemption-20160215-gmu84t.html#ixzz40Dg4Done
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http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...aring-for-nrl-redemption-20160215-gmu84t.html
good news!![]()
i think cook would be better than sutto in the halves but yeah madge would probably want to keep cook at dummy half sharing that role with mcinnes which is fair enough
Thanks.saw this on facebook:
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supposedly this is the guy. already massive and he's only 18 o_o
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give him a run in the trial against the titans!![]()
South Sydney Rabbitohs recruit Dane Nielsen preparing for NRL redemption
Date February 15, 2016 - 2:18PM
- Axed by St George Illawarra and playing in front of a couple of thousand people in a semi-professional, second-tier competition in England, you could forgive Dane Nielsen for thinking his NRL career had come to an end.
After being thrown a late pre-season lifeline by South Sydney, the former Queensland centre is now preparing for another shot in the top grade. The 30-year-old made his return to the NRL in the second half of the Rabbitohs' 18-14 Charity Shield win against his former club on Saturday.
Nielsen was sacked by the Dragons, two games into a two-year deal, last March after a woman claimed he bit her on the leg during a drinking session at a Cronulla nightspot. His axing led to him finishing 2015 playing for the Bradford Bulls in the level below the English Super League before returning to Australia uncertain if he would again play in the NRL."[Getting sacked] was a difficult time," Nielsen said in his first interview since returning to Australia. "I'm not really worried about it any more. I am lucky enough to have been given an opportunity [at South Sydney]. I'm not even worried about that any more. It doesn't faze me. I've been given an opportunity now, I'm going to make the most of it. [Playing in England] was OK. It was a different style of footy. It was division one and the facilities and grounds were a lot different to what I'm used [to]. It was OK but I'm glad to be back here having an opportunity to play at Souths."Defensive mode: Souths centre Dane Nielsen tackles Dragons opponent Taane Milne during the Charity Shield match at ANZ Stadium. Photo: Mark Kolbe
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He has added some much-needed depth to a depleted Rabbitohs back line. While Greg Inglis, Alex Johnston and Bryson Goodwin pick themselves, Nielsen will battle it out with the likes of fellow new recruit Hymel Hunt, Kirisome Auva'a, Aaron Gray and John Olive for wing and centre spots. Hunt impressed during the Charity Shield.
Having only signed for the club late last month, Nielsen is realistic about his chances of starting the season in the top grade.
"I was training on my own in Queensland until we could sort something out," Nielsen said. "It took a while to get something sorted in terms of the salary cap. I got down on the next plane I could and started training.
"Most of the boys had been back since November and are looking fit and strong and have kilometres in their legs. I'm still playing catch-up. Every session I'm still trying to get the most out of. I'm still not at peak fitness. Taking small steps towards that.
"I'm just here training hard and seeing where that takes me. The boys have been training a lot longer than I have. This is my third week. I'm a bit behind so far. I knew that coming down here. I'll try and come through [feeder club] North Sydney and see where that takes me."
Nielsen's long association with Inglis and Rabbitohs coach Michael Maguire helped bring him to the Rabbitohs. Nielsen played alongside Inglis at Melbourne, where Maguire was an assistant coach.
"[Maguire] spoke to me just after New Years and we had a bit of a chat and he gave me an opportunity to try and do my best," Nielsen said.
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Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...redemption-20160215-gmu84t.html#ixzz40Dg4Done
Follow us: @smh on Twitter | sydneymorningherald on Facebook
http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...aring-for-nrl-redemption-20160215-gmu84t.html
its old news about this kid
It says GI, AJ, Goodwin pick themselves.
This guy knows Goodwin will be there
Auva'a will be there too.
I'd have Oldfield on the wing.
Hunt/A. Gray will put pressure on.
I think only three are locked in the backline AJ, GI and Auva'a.
Madge will make the call after this next trial with who gets the other centre and wing spot.
I know you don't like it but Bryson will be there.
You will see.
Still don't think he is locked in 100%, Madge was very happy how Hunt has been training and his performances in the 9s and the game on the weekend. Thats why he got longer minutes then Goodwin and the others.
Madge didn't want Bryson to possibly get injured;-) that's why he played 40mins.
Auva'a was going to play all of the second half so 40mins too but came off with a niggle.
Madge didn't want to risk either as he knows they'll be our centres.
Auva'a right centre
Goodwin left centre.
Not to sure about that yet but hey we will find out after the next trial who put there hand up.