See you tonight Willie
By Dean Ritchie
April 06, 2007 They have thrilled the NRL in winning three games but South Sydney prop Roy Asotasi admits tonight the Rabbitohs meet the benchmark of tough - the Bulldogs.
Asotasi, a former premiership-winning Bulldog, yesterday admitted he was nervous about squaring up against the hitmen of his old colours in Sonny Bill Williams, Reni Maitua and Willie Mason when Souths meet the Dogs at Telstra Stadium.
But on a day Jason Taylor claimed his side would not be intimidated by the ferocious Bulldogs, Asotasi added he couldn't wait to test himself against Mason and co.
"Let's get the ball rolling. May the best team win," Asotasi said.
"Willie is a great competitor and he'll be out there doing his best.
"He's sporting my number 10 jumper from last year.
"Willie's probably been their best for the first three games.
"If we stop him, then that will go a long way to us winning.
"I'm in different colours now and will be doing my best for Souths."
Asotasi, David Kidwell, David Fa'alogo and Peter Cusack form a powerful Souths pack against the aggressive Bulldogs forwards.
"It will be a real test for us. The Bulldogs are the benchmark," Asotasi said. "We want to test ourselves against their forwards. It will be a good confrontation.
"I know how good the Bulldogs are, I played there for a couple of years."
Souths finished their preparations with a 4pm training session yesterday at Telstra Stadium.Asotasi admitted he was nervous lining up against his former club.
"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't," he said. "But it is always exciting to play against your former club.
"I consider them one of the best packs. David Kidwell and the rest of us will test ourselves against them."
Taylor said his side had Test and grand final experience and would not be intimidated by the Bulldogs.
"That is a fair point," Taylor said. "If we'd had a team of youngsters who had not played in such a big game, then that might be a factor.
"But we've got guys who have played Test matches.
"Peter Cusack has played in a grand final. Shannon Hegarty has played for Australia and in a grand final. We have experience right across the team.
"There aren't too many who haven't been there in such a match. These will be the guys I look to to make sure we maintain our control."
It has been nearly five years since Souths played a Friday TV match.
"When I was at Penrith there was a time when we hadn't played a Friday night match in so long," said Souths chief executive Shane Richardson. "When we did get one there was a real buzz around the joint. It's like 'we've arrived'."
Asked about how his players felt about playing Friday night football, Taylor said: "This is why you play the game. The next step down from a semi-final is a Friday night game."
http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,21511519-23214,00.html
