2020 Rabbitoh News - Host and Milne Sign for 2021-23

Host and Milne Sign for 2021-23

22nd October 2020

The South Sydney Rabbitohs are delighted to confirm the signing of second rower Jacob Host until at least the end of the 2023 Season, as well as international centre Taane Milne until at least the end of the 2022 season.

Host, 24, has played 51 NRL matches for the St George Illawarra Dragons since making his NRL debut against the New Zealand Warriors in round nine, 2016. Host has previously been named in the City Origin squad in 2017, the Junior Kangaroos squad in 2016 and both the Australian Schoolboys and New South Wales under 18s squads in 2014. He was also part of Jason Demetriou’s NSW Cup premiership-winning team, the Illawarra Cutters, in 2016 where he was named in the NSW Cup team of the year.

Rabbitohs Head of Football, Mark Ellison, said Host will be a welcome addition to the Rabbitohs’ squad. "We’re really looking forward to Jacob joining us next season," Mr Ellison said. "Jacob comes highly recommended by JD (Demetriou) and he has been on our radar for a number of seasons. He has performed strongly for the Dragons in the opportunities he’s been given and we’re looking forward to him pushing for a spot in our top 17 on a weekly basis."


Jacob Host
Date of Birth  - 30 September 1996
Place of Birth - Sydney, NSW

Height: 190cm
Weight: 104kg

Position       - Second Row
Junior Club    - Renown United
Previous Clubs - St George-Illawarra (2014-20)
               - Illawarra (NSW Cup 2016)

NRL Games  - 51
NRL Points - 20 (from 5 tries)
NRL Debut  - St George-Illawarra vs Warriors, Mt Smart Stadium, 1 May 2016 (Rd09)

Awards     - NSW Cup Player of the Year (2012)
Representative Honours - Australian Schoolboys (2014)
                       - Junior Kangaroos (2016)
                       - NSW City Origin Squad (2017)

Milne, 25, has played 19 NRL matches for the St George Illawarra Dragons and New Zealand Warriors since making his NRL debut on ANZAC day for the Dragons against the Roosters in round eight, 2016. Milne has represented Fiji in nine Test matches, played for Fiji at the World Cup Nines in 2019, represented the Junior Kiwis for two years as well as the Australian Schoolboys Rugby Union team in 2013.

"We’re really looking forward to Taane joining us next season,” Mr Ellison said. "Taane has had limited opportunities to impress in the NRL, but when he has been given a shot, he has shown he has what it takes to perform consistently well at the top level. We’re looking forward to having them join our squad for the 2021 pre-season and seeing what they can achieve under the guidance of Wayne (Bennett) and ‘JD’."


Taane Milne
Date of Birth  - 19 May 1996
Place of Birth - Auckland, NZ

Height: 183cm
Weight: 104kg

Position       - Centre
Junior Club    - Clovelly Crocodiles
Previous Clubs - Randwick RU (2011-13)
               - Sydney Roosters NYC (2013-15)
               - Illawarra (NSW Cup - 2016)
               - St George-Illawarra (2016-17)
               - Wests-Tigers (2018 Pre-Season) 
               - Mt Pritchard (NSW Cup - 2018)
               - Warriors (2019-20)

NRL Games  - 19 (18 for the Dragons, 1 for the Warriors)
NRL Points - 4 (from 1 try for the Dragons)
NRL Debut  - St George-Illawarra vs Roosters, SFS, 25 Apr 2016 (Rd08)

Representative Honours - Australian Schoolboys RU (2013)
                       - Junior Kiwis (2014-15)
                       - New Zealand Maori (2016)
                       - Fiji (2017-19)