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Souths players in the Four Nations?

alien

Referee
Messages
20,279
Where's the "Rookie of the Year" in this Australian squad? You know the one who led his team to a fantastic 13th place.





Oh, right...

rookie of the year, yet cant tackle. they'll have 2 halves next year that cant tackle. doesnt take an Einstein to work out where teams will target them next season

aj should have won rookie of the year!
 

Big Sam

First Grade
Messages
8,976
And with today's news, it would appear that Dylan will now be the starting centre for the NZ game.
 
Messages
14,937
Kangaroo Call-up a Dream – Johnston

Words: Tom Skolarikis I Photos: Nrlphotos.com
Wed 15th October, 03:57PM
A A http://www.rabbitohs.com.au/news/_jcr_content/par/newslist_95ce.rss







1413349158661.jpg



Rabbitohs Premiership winning winger, Alex Johnston, wasn’t expecting a call yesterday (Tuesday) – especially not one to say that he had made Tim Sheens’ Four Nations Kangaroos squad.
Johnston was asleep when he got the phone-call informing him that he had earned the right to be a part of Sheens’ 24 man Kangaroos squad, alongside Rabbitohs teammates Dylan Walker and Greg Inglis.
“Mark Ellison and Madge rang me together to tell me the news – I was in bed,” laughed Johnston, still pinching himself after his selection.
“I was half asleep when they called, but that changed pretty quickly when they gave me the news. Nobody else was home but I was so excited that I went around ringing my whole family in like 20 minutes to tell them the news.”
Johnston started the season in the Rabbitohs Holden Cup side, before quickly progressing through the NSW Cup competition to make his NRL debut in a round eight blockbuster against the Broncos on ANZAC Day – scoring a try on debut.
In just 18 appearances, the Rabbitohs’ speedster became the Clubs’ top try-scorer with 21 to his name (eight more than any other Rabbitoh) for a personal first season haul of 84 points.
In a season of many highlights for the La Perouse product, Johnston managed a hat-trick of four-pointers against the Newcastle Knights in round 21 in Cairns, before having the honour of becoming the first Rabbitoh to score a try in a Grand Final in 43 years.
The South Sydney Junior averaged 104.4 metres per match with the ball in hand, made 35 tackle breaks, 21 line breaks, six offloads and two try-assists – justifiably being named the 2014 John Sattler Rookie of the Year at last week’s Red and Green Ball .
“It’s been a pretty hectic two weeks – probably the greatest two weeks of my whole life,” admitted Johnston of his time since winning the Grand Final.

“At the beginning of the year, I wasn’t really expecting to play first grade. Now I’ve achieved that goal, and won a Grand Final. To be selected in the Australian team as well – it’s just a dream, but it’s definitely onwards and upwards from here.”
The speedster’s selection was made even sweeter with the knowledge that fellow Souths Junior and long-time friend, Dylan Walker, will also be a part of the squad.
“Dylan and I have played together since Harold Matthews, so to be selected in this team together – I’m just so proud of him,” said Johnston.
“It’s great for me as well because we have a combination having come through the grades at Souths. In the Australian Schoolboys we didn’t link up much because he (Walker) was playing hooker, but it’d be awesome to get the chance in the green and gold.”
Should both Johnston and Walker make their Test debut’s in the upcoming Four Nations, they will bring the total number of Souths Juniors who have become internationals to 57, and the total number of Rabbitohs to become Kangaroos while with South Sydney to 66.


SOUTH SYDNEY JUNIOR PLAYERS WHO BECAME INTERNATIONALS – 55
Braith Anasta, Bob Banham, Alf Blair, Ray Branighan, Gordon Clifford, Ron Coote, Les Cowie, Steve Darmody, Denis Donoghue, Col Donohoe, Angelo Dymock, Jim Dymock, Harry Finch, Bryan Fletcher, Tere Glassie, Brian Hambly, Ernie Hammerton, Greg Hawick, Terry Hill, Keith Holman, Harold Horder, Harry Kadwell, Clem Kennedy, John Kerwick, Eric Lewis, Reni Maitua, Martin Masella, Bob McCarthy, Brian Moore, Brett Mullins, Wally O’Connell, Alf O’Connor, Frank O’Connor, Bryan Orrock, Arthur Oxford, George Piggins, Bernie Purcell, Ian Roberts, Eddie Root, Paul Sait, Craig Salvatori, Jim Serdaris, Eric Simms, Tyran Smith, Bill Spence, Gary Stevens, Brad Takairangi, Billy Thompson, George Treweek, Jack Troy, Benny Wearing, Jack Why, Perce Williams, Graham Wilson, Craig Wing.

PLAYED FOR AUSTRALIA WHILE WITH SOUTH SYDNEY - 64
Tommy Anderson, Jim Armstrong, Alf Blair, Cecil Blinkhorn, Ray Branighan, Tim Brasher, Arthur Butler, Bill Cann, Mark Carroll, Clive Churchill, Michael Cleary, Ron Coote, Les Cowie, Frank Curran, Steve Darmody, Les Davidson, Jim Davis, Denis Donoghue, Terry Fahey, Harry Finch, Bryan Fletcher, Herb Gilbert, Bob Grant, John Graves, Howard Hallett, Ernie Hammerton, Greg Hawick, Arthur Hennessy, Bob Honan, Harold Horder, Greg Inglis, Brian James, Harry Kadwell, Clem Kennedy, John Kerwick, Jack Levison, Eric Lewis, Jim Lisle, Bob McCarthy, Eddie McGrath, Paddy Maher, Ian Moir, Ray Norman, Alf O’Connor, Frank O’Connor, John O’Neill, Arthur Oxford, George Piggins, Denis Pittard, Bernie Purcell, Jack Rayner, Eddie Root, John Rosewell, Paul Sait, John Sattler, Eric Simms, Bill Spence, Gary Stevens, David Taylor, George Treweek, Elwyn Walters, Benny Wearing, Jack Why, Perce Williams








http://www.rabbitohs.com.au/news/2014/10/15/kangaroo_call_up_a_dream_johnston.html
 
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14,937
South Sydney Rabbitohs Dylan Walker and Alex Johnston selected for Kangaroos

Date October 14, 2014

Michael Carayannis








"Next-gen baby": South Sydney's Dylan Walker has been named in the Kangaroos squad. Photo: Janie Barrett

A simple "next-gen baby" text exchange between Australia's Test debutants Alex Johnston and Dylan Walker was enough to symbolise a new era for the Kangaroos.
Johnston and Walker – lifelong friends – crawled their way up through South Sydney's junior ranks as 14-year-olds to become Test bolters. Still coming to terms with their premiership success, it was a text from Johnston to Walker that signified an exciting new generation of stars.
"He said 'congrats brother, next-gen baby'," Walker said. "I said 'yeah next-gen congrats brother'.
"It's a little saying we have at the Rabbitohs, mostly for the young boys. A bit of banter and a bit of a laugh."
Advertisement
Johnston and Walker headline a list of youngsters including Sione Mata'utia, David Klemmer, Josh Jackson and Daniel Tupou who are on the verge of Test debuts.
They were teammates at junior representative level but foes in South Sydney's junior league. Walker was smelling candles, as he eyed presents for his mother and sister, when Rabbitohs coach Michael Maguire called him. Johnston was barely awake at his father's Hurstville home when he was told the news.
The pair's celebrations were mixed with tears from their respective mothers.
"It's ridiculous," Johnston said. "Mum couldn't hold the tears in. She had me on speakerphone at work.
"My goal coming into this year was pretty much to play one first grade game. That was my dream to get that first run and say that I did make it.
"I've exceeded every expectation and I can't believe it."
Rabbitohs skipper John Sutton was also quick to congratulate the pair who are still eligible to play under-20s. Walker, 20, made his NRL debut last year while Johnston, 19, burst onto the scene scoring 21 tries in 18 games. If selected to play alongside Rabbitohs teammate Greg Inglis, it will be the first time South Sydney have had three players in a Test match since 1975.
Walker said he began to dream of Test selection after starring for the Rabbitohs in their premiership victory against Canterbury this month.
"I was happy about myself and the way I played this season," Walker said. "The papers were talking about it but I was thinking about that as noise. If I let that get to me, it would've distracted me from what I was doing week in, week out. I had to block that out.
"I worked really hard in the off-season. I went to Arizona and felt like that benefited me, especially mentally. I thought 'let's do this'. I told myself it was my time and no one can do it besides me. That's what I had in my head."
Walker is expected to start behind Michael Jennings and Jarryd Hayne at centre while Johnston will compete with fellow debutants Josh Mansour, Tupou and Mata'utia for spots on Australia's flanks.
Johnston said he was unsure how he would feel when he headed into camp with the rest of the squad on Friday.
"I don't know what to expect," Johnston said. "It's going to be confronting. I think I'll be nervous.
"[If I play], it'll be a mixture of emotions. I'll be excited and nervous. This is what we all dream about, and to live the dream, it'll be everything."
Meanwhile, Walker has revealed it was his decision to toss a chicken bone out to sea, which resulted in his premiership ring sinking to the bottom of Sydney harbour while on a boat during the Rabbitohs' grand final celebrations.
"I was having a drumstick and was going to chuck it overboard and the ring just slipped out at the same time," Walker said. "We were moving, so when I threw the chicken it came off and I froze. I started crying. It was shattering.
"The boys were comforting me and trying to pull me together and trying to give me their rings. I said 'no, I have to deal with it and whatever happens, happens'. It's shattering but you can't take away what we did this season."

http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...n-selected-for-kangaroos-20141014-115yws.html
 
Messages
14,937
Dylan Walker and Alex Johnston are the first Souths juniors to be selected for Australia in 40 years

  • by: James Hooper
  • From: The Sunday Telegraph
  • October 19, 2014 12:00AM
KANGAROO rookies Dylan Walker and Alex Johnston have smashed another 40-year hoodoo, becoming the first South Sydney juniors to be selected for Australia out of the club’s Redfern headquarters since George Piggins in 1975.

In a wonderful twist to the South Sydney premiership triumph, no South Sydney junior has represented the Kangaroos while contracted to the Bunnies since cardinal and myrtle patriarch Piggins.
Sure, Souths juniors like Ian Roberts, Terry Hill, Jim Dymock, Craig Wing and Craig Salvatori all proudly represented Australia, but they all did so while playing for rival NRL clubs.
Next Saturday night, the light-stepping and powerful Walker is expected to make his debut for Australia at right centre against New Zealand in the opening Four Nations Test at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium.
The Mascot Jets junior is expected to be paired alongside fellow international debutant Josh Mansour, with La Perouse Panthers junior Johnston also competing for a place on the Australian wing.





http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...alia-in-40-years/story-fni3fbgz-1227094922996
 
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Messages
14,937
Four Nations 2014: Dylan Walker proves there is life after Jarryd Hayne for Kangaroos

  • by: Chris Garry
  • From: The Courier-Mail
  • October 20, 2014 12:00AM


MEET the sliver-lining to Jarryd Hayne’s NFL defection: the Kangaroos new centre Dylan Walker.
Walker’s rapid rise to Australian honours is the best news to come out of Hayne’s American sojourn.
The South Sydney superstar is set to replace Hayne as Australia’s right centre.
Walker, a South Sydney premiership winner, trained at right centre on Sunday morning as the Kangaroos ramped up preparations for their Four Nations opener against New Zealand this Saturday.
Hayne was a certainty for Australia’s right centre position until he booked a ticket to Los Angeles.
While rugby league claims crisis because of his defection, the code’s next superstar in Walker strolls off the production line.
Walker is still unsure if he will receive another premiership ring after he lost his official one while eating chicken on a boat in Sydney Harbour.
A Kangaroos jersey would come close to replacing that embarrassment and he is all but certain to wear one this Saturday as Walker is the only natural right centre in the squad.
“I can’t wait to train with Cooper Cronk and Cameron. This is such a rare opportunity.
“I have only been playing in the NRL for 18 months and this is a surprise. This is a shock and a privilege.”
Walker, a passionate New South Welshman, revealed his sporting idol was Maroons great Karmichael Hunt.
Walker said while he was a proud blue and in awe of the Kangaroos stars he was in camp with, it was Hunt that remained his idol.
The two may cross paths this week with Hunt, a tri-code star, training with the Queensland Reds at Ballymore while Walker trains at Hunt’s old Broncos ground at Red Hill.
Dylan Walker spills the ball during a Kangaroos training session. Source: News Corp Australia

“He’s such a good player. I wanted to play like him,” Walker said.
“I was a big Karmichael Hunt fan when I was younger. The way he ran, that step … he just played tough mate.
“He wasn’t the biggest bloke on the park but would like he was. He was the player I really idolised growing up.”
Walker was partnered with Penrith winger Josh Mansour on Australia’s right edge at training.
Rookie winger and Walker’s teammate at South Sydney, Alex Johnston, was running in the defensive group.
Johnston’s combination with Walker could yet see him promoted to the 13 but Mansour is clearly preferred at this stage.
The Kangaroos’ left side attack featured the Sydney Roosters combination of Daniel Tupou and Michael Jennings with Greg Inglis roaming at fullback.
Originally published as Walker bolts into Hayne’s Roos spot

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...ne-for-kangaroos/story-fnp0lyn3-1227095387326
 
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Rabbits20

Immortal
Messages
41,951
Can't wait to see Dylan play on Saturday will be great.

Good to see Johnston isn't too far away as well. Maybe he will get a go against Samoa.
 

rabbitohs95

Bench
Messages
4,711
Shame AJ didn't get picked but i think overrall Mansour was the best winger all year.

Just don't know how the hell Mata'utia (named 20th man) gets a look in before AJ....
 
Messages
14,937
George & Thomas Burgess Named for England


Tue 21st October, 04:00PM
A A http://www.rabbitohs.com.au/news/_jcr_content/par/newslist_95ce.rss







1413870609483.jpg



Rabbitohs players George and Thomas Burgess have today (Tuesday) been named in Steve McNamara’s England side to take on Samoa this Saturday night in their opening Four Nations clash at Suncorp Stadium.
George Burgess will start the match in the front row wearing jumper number eight, partnering Bulldogs counterpart and England Captain James Graham, while Thomas will come off the bench wearing number 17.
England coach Steve McNamara has named four debutants in his 17-man squad – Wigan’s Matty Smith, Hull KR’s Josh Hodgson, who starts in the hooking role, Hull FC’s Joe Westerman and Castleford Tigers Daryl Clark, takes his place on the bench.
“We have four players in the squad making debut. They are ready. They’ve been in our system for a long time. All four have been in great form during the Super League season.
“There is a slight evolution to the squad this year with some new faces on show. The debutants are exciting and they can prove themselves on the international stage.”
Congratulations to both George on Thomas on their selection.
The England side to face Samoa is:

1. Sam Tomkins (Wigan Warriors, Wigan St Patricks)
2. Josh Charnley (Wigan Warriors, Wigan St Patricks)
3. Kallum Watkins (Leeds Rhinos, Latchford Albion)
4. Michael Shenton (Castleford Tigers, Upton)
5. Ryan Hall (Leeds Rhinos, Oulton Raiders)
6. Gareth Widdop (St George Illawarra Dragons, King Cross)
7. Matty Smith (Wigan Warriors, Blackbrook)
8. George Burgess (South Sydney Rabbitohs, Dewsbury Moor)
9. Josh Hodgson (Hull KR, East Hull)
10. James Graham (captain) (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, Blackbrook)
11. Liam Farrell (Wigan Warriors, Wigan St Patricks)
12. Joel Tomkins (Wigan Warriors, Wigan St Patricks)
13. Joe Westerman (Hull FC, Featherstone Lions)
14. Daryl Clark (Castleford Tigers, Fryston Warriors)
15. Brett Ferres (Huddersfield Giants, Smawthorne Panthers)
16. Thomas Burgess (South Sydney Rabbitohs, Dewsbury Moor)
17. Chris Hill (Warrington Wolves, New Spring Lions)

The Toa Samoa side coached by Matt Parish is:
1. Tim Simona
2. Antonio Winterstein
3. Ricky Leutele
4. Joey Leilua
5. Daniel Vidot
6. Ben Roberts
7. Kyle Stanley
8. Sam Tagaetese
9. Michael Sio
10. David Fa’alogo
11. Frank Pritchard
12. Leeson Ah Mau
13. Josh McGuire
14. Pita Godinet
15. Jesse Sene-Lefao
16. Isaac Liu
17. Mose Masoe
18. Dunamis Lui







http://www.rabbitohs.com.au/news/2014/10/21/george_thomas_burgess_named_for_england.html
 
Messages
14,937
Shame AJ didn't get picked but i think overrall Mansour was the best winger all year.

Just don't know how the hell Mata'utia (named 20th man) gets a look in before AJ....

How Topou got in ahead of AJ the competitions form winger is a travesty.Topou had a massive 2013,but his form dropped throughout 2014.
 
Messages
14,937
Burgess Says England are Ready

Words: Tony Webeck – Nrl.com I Photos: SWpix.com
Wed 22nd October, 08:30AM
A A http://www.rabbitohs.com.au/news/_jcr_content/par/newslist_95ce.rss







1413929309201.jpg



It's a record without international success that stretches back almost as long as South Sydney's premiership drought but England prop George Burgess believes his side is better prepared than ever to win a first Four Nations title.
Burgess and twin brother Tom were both named in coach Steve McNamara's team to face Samoa in the first of the double-header encounters at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night with George to partner Bulldogs enforcer James Graham in a formidable starting front row.
Warriors fullback Sam Tomkins and Dragons five-eighth Gareth Widdop round out the England players currently plying their trade in the NRL.
George Burgess and Graham were only shaded just by Sam Burgess for the Clive Churchill Medal in the Rabbitohs' Grand Final triumph but it is McNamara's season spent on the coaching staff with the Sydney Roosters that could pay the greatest dividends over the course of the tournament.
While the likes of halfback Matty Smith, hooker Josh Hodgson and centre Kallum Watkins remain relatively unknown in the southern hemisphere, McNamara has spent an entire Australian winter swotting up on the best talent that the Australians, Kiwis and Samoans can muster.
The last time an England team tasted success at an international tournament was the 1975 World Series but Burgess is a big believer in the power of knowing your opponent's strengths and weaknesses.
"It's a bit of an insight into our opposition," Burgess said of the bonus of NRL exposure. "In the past we've not always had a great deal of knowledge on who we're coming up against but a few of us have come up against them every week back in the NRL so it's been good for that experience so hopefully we'll be one step ahead of where we've been in the past few years.
"The Australian-based England players, we catch up a fair bit with Steve and have a meal; he shouts it for us so that's good. We catch up every now and again and go through some things that we'd usually do with the squad back in England and it's good to have those check points every now and again.
"[Steve] gets to know the NRL pretty well in his first year and he's at a pretty good club at the Roosters so he'll definitely be ahead of where he was last year I think."
Graham will captain the English team on Saturday in the absence of Sean O'Loughlin with a quad strain and having stood tall in the toughest rugby league competition in the world will drive a simple message into his teammates throughout the course of the tournament: They're only human.
"The only thing where it will helps, for me personally, is the confidence levels," Graham said. "For the new boys who have never played against them before there is always a bit of nervousness, but the lads have just got to give the non-NRL based players a bit of confidence, tell them they are human after all."
Rather than looking ahead to next week's blockbuster against the Kangaroos in Melbourne, Burgess insisted that the squad remains focused only on Samoa and meeting the challenge they present up front.
But rather than taking a leaf out of the Junior Kangaroos' pre-match approach to the haka in New Zealand last weekend, Burgess said they will give the Samoan Manu Siva Tau the respect it deserves.
"Nah we'll just enjoy it and enjoy the experience," said the 22-year-old who played in all five World Cup matches for England last year.
"You don't get to do it often so you've got to enjoy the experience every time you get the chance. I think it's a great spectacle for the fans and something I always look forward to.
"I think the competition is wide open and anyone can win it, Samoa included. You've just got to take each game one at a time and not underestimate anyone or overestimate anyone.
"Any team on its day is going to be tough to beat so you've got to stick to what you do best."
This article was first published on nrl.com


http://www.rabbitohs.com.au/news/2014/10/22/burgess_says_england_are_ready.html
 

Gerggerggerg

Juniors
Messages
2
How Topou got in ahead of AJ the competitions form winger is a travesty.Topou had a massive 2013,but his form dropped throughout 2014.

Yep, I don't get the love for Tupou at all. I've rarely seen him display urgency or intensity. Sure, he's a big unit with a good jump, but not much more than that. He also has the Lyon tendency to throw up his arms at the ref/touch judges when a try is on rather than do something about it.
 

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