2020 Rabbitoh News - Rabbitoh State of Origin Selections

2020 Representative Season Rabbitohs Selections

Damien Cook, Murray and Walker New South Wales State of Origin Selections

18th October 2020

The NSWRL have added the following South Sydney players to the Brydens Lawyers NSW Blues extended squad as they prepare to enter their four-and-a-half week biosecurity bubble for the State of Origin series in November. Cody Walker, Damien Cook and Cameron Murray (South Sydney Rabbitohs) were selected after their team was eliminated from the NRL’s finals series. They will gather at the NSWRL Centre of Excellence on Monday 19 October for medicals before departing for their Origin base at the Pullman Magenta Shores Resort. The opening game of the State of Origin series will be played at Adelaide Oval on 4 November, Game Two will be at ANZ Stadium in Sydney on 11 November and Game Three will be at Suncorp Stadium on 18 November.

Bennett Appointed Queensland State of Origin Coach

2nd October 2020

The Queensland Rugby League can confirm Wayne Bennett will be the head coach of the Queensland Maroons for the 2020 State of Origin series. Bennett takes the reins from Kevin Walters, who has relinquished the Maroons role to concentrate on his commitments with the Brisbane Broncos. Bennett’s return to the Origin arena sets the scene for a fascinating series next month, with the current South Sydney Rabbitohs mentor having a strong connection to the Maroons family after three previous coaching stints (1986 to 1988, 1998 and 2001 to 2003). He has won five of seven Origin series while in charge of the Maroons, and was at the helm when Queensland won its first series clean sweep in 1988. Bennett said he felt privileged to be given the opportunity to step up for Queensland in such a big series. "I love coaching Queensland and I’m extremely humbled to be invited to coach this team again, particularly in light of the challenging circumstances with Kevin moving on to coach the Broncos," Bennett said. "I’m very proud and pleased that I’m still able to do it. State of Origin means so much to the people of Queensland. It’s been a difficult year for many people and I just want to give something back if I can."

Corey Allan, Dane Gagai and Jaydn Su'A Queensland State of Origins Selections

21st October 2020

The Maroons have added three more players to their extended squad which now contains 14 players who are yet to play State of Origin football. South Sydney duo Jaydn Su’A and Corey Allan join teammate Dane Gagai in the squad additions named on Wednesday. Su’A, who was formerly Queensland under 20s captain and represented his state at 16s and 18s level, had enjoyed a breakout year and was ready for the next step, according to Rabbitohs assistant coach Jason Demetriou. "This year Jaydn has progressively got better each game and has learned to be a consistent NRL player and perform in the big games, especially over the last six weeks," Demetriou said. "He brings that aggression that Queensland will need. They need people who will go out there and play without fear, and Jaydn fears no one. "He is as aggressive as they come and has been ever since he came through the Broncos under 20s, and he has learned when to use that and when to conserve his energy and be tight and consistent with how he plays. The move up into Origin will be good for him and he will relish being around those elite players as well. Not only has he played a lot of footy this year, he has trained a lot as well and been able to stay healthy. I think attacking-wise he even plays a little bit better on the left because he comes off his left foot and plays nice and straight, but I don’t think it will bother him which side he plays on." Allan, who represented the Prime Minister’s XIII last year, will not be available for the opening game of the series after accepting a one-match suspension for a shoulder charge in the preliminary final loss to the Panthers. Demetriou said the 22-year-old’s Maroons squad selection was a fitting reward for the accomplished way he handled fullback for the Rabbitohs after a season-ending injury to Latrell Mitchell. "Corey took over a difficult role in filling Latrell’s boots and he did it off the back of playing no reserve grade as well," Demetriou said. "Our spine helped him a lot and he was able to realise what his job was and he stuck to it really well. The way he organised our defensive line against Penrith was outstanding and that is an area we have seen a big improvement in his game. Corey is starting to believe in his own potential which is important. The whole experience of being in camp with the Maroons will give him even more confidence and be a good lead-in to next pre-season." The 21 players named so far will go into camp with Bennett on Sunday on the Gold Coast.

New reuit Jai Arrow had also been added to Queensland squad at the end of the regular season.