8 Juniors Contract Extenions
20th July 2009
The South Sydney Rabbitohs have extended the contracts of eight young stars of the Club from the NRL, Toyota Cup and junior representative ranks this week.
NRL rookie David Tyrrell heads the list of up-and-coming talent to show their allegiance to the South Sydney Club, extending his contract until the end of the 2011 season.
Joining him at the Club at least until the conclusion of 2011 are under 20s halfback Adam Reynolds, centre Dylan Farrell and winger Kane Morgan, as well as Harold Matthews star James Roberts.
Also committing to the Club for the 2010 season are NRL rake Beau Falloon, Toyota Cup prop Jacob Nansen and Harold Matthews centre Tyrone Ranuku-Phillips.
“We’re very pleased to have secured the services of these bright young players for the coming seasons,” Rabbitohs CEO Shane Richardson said. “Players such as Dave Tyrrell and Beau Falloon have shown they can play at the top level, and both players will only continue to improve as they get more opportunities in the top grade. “Reynolds, Morgan, Farrell and Nansen are some of strongest performers in the Toyota Cup and will push for first grade selection in the not-too-distant future. “Roberts and Ranuku-Phillips have been stand-outs all year in our junior rep teams and to have them contracted to the Rabbitohs is a sign that our young stars see a pathway to the top with the Rabbitohs. “Our Recruitment Manager Mark Hughes and the team at Souths Juniors have done a great job in producing these players and attracting them to our Club. These are the players of the future for the Rabbitohs and our Members and supporters will get to watch them develop their game in the South Sydney jersey. “It’s exciting for us to be able to extend the contracts of these players and to build our teams around young players such as these guys.”
Tyrrell, 20, made his NRL debut a fortnight ago in the Club’s victory against the Penrith Panthers, having played in the Club’s Toyota Cup side throughout 2008 and the North Sydney Bears in the NSW Cup in the first half of 2009. Tyrrell’s talents have been on the radar of the Rabbitohs for a number of seasons since he joined the Brisbane Easts Tigers in 2007 on a Rabbitohs contract.
Falloon, 22, made his first grade debut in the red and green in 2008, having now played 19 NRL games over the past two seasons. Falloon came through the grades at the Rabbitohs, graduating from the Mascot Jets to the Rabbitohs full time squad.
Reynolds, 19, has also progressed through the junior representative sides to represent South Sydney at the Toyota Cup level. Reynolds received his first taste of NRL-level competition when he played in the Return to Redfern trial match against the Wests Tigers in February. Reynolds has represented NSW under 17s and NSW Schoolboys and won the Peter Sterling Medal in 2007. Reynolds is a Kensington United South Sydney junior.
Morgan, 19, has been one of the stars of the Toyota Cup competition, currently leading the try scoring tally for the 2009 season. Morgan is a South Sydney junior coming through the grades from the Maroubra Lions.
Farrell, 18, represented NSW under 18s in the curtain raiser to the second State of Origin match this year, having been part of the Rabbitohs Toyota Cup side for the past two seasons.
Nansen, 19, has been the forward leader of the Rabbitohs’ under 20s pack in season 2009. Nansen is another South Sydney junior originating from the Kensington Club.
James Roberts, 16, was one of the star performers in the South Sydney Harold Matthews Cup team this year as a goal kicking fullback, earning the custodian’s jersey in the NSW under 16s side that played the curtain raiser to the first State of Origin match this year. Roberts is a South Sydney junior from the La Perouse Club.
Tyrone Ranuku-Phillips, 15, was one of the leading lights in the Harold Matthews side this season, scoring seven tries in ten games for South Sydney. The centre/fullback was judged player of the carnival at this year’s NSW CHS under 15s Schoolboys tournament. Ranuku-Phillips is also a South Sydney junior from the Mascot Jets