The South Sydney Rabbitohs are pleased to announce their team to take on the Penrith Panthers in round 24 of the 2009 NRL Premiership this Saturday 22 August at CUA Stadium. Rabbitohs Head Coach Jason Taylor has named Toyota Cup centre Junior Vaivai to replace the injured Beau Champion (hand). Vaivai, 19, has been in the Rabbitohs Toyota Cup side for the past two seasons, and has scored 20 tries in 2009 to sit in second position on the Toyota Cup try scorers list behind fellow Rabbitohs player Kane Morgan. He also leads the line break statistics with 26 for the season. Vaivai is a handy goal kicker having kicked 33 goals this season for a total of 146 points in the Toyota Cup competition. Vaivai was born in New Zealand but learnt his trade in Brisbane with the Goodna Eagles before being placed with the Easts Tigers, then moving to South Sydney in 2008. Chris McQueen comes on to the wing to replace the injured Fetuli Talanoa (knee). Scott Geddes has been promoted to the starting line up with David Fa’alogo shifting to lock to replace the injured Michael Crocker (ankle) and Jaiman Lowe being selected on the interchange bench. Beau Falloon comes on to the interchange bench to replace the injured Craig Wing (hamstring). The NRL match is scheduled for a 7:30pm kick off with the Toyota Cup match due to begin at 5:15pm. Gates open at 5pm. The Rabbitohs NRL side is:
1. Merritt, Nathan 2. Simpson, Jamie 3. Best, Colin 4. Vaivai, Junior 5. McQueen, Chris 6. Sutton, John 7. Sandow, Chris 8. Stuart, Luke (c) 9. Luke, Issac 10. Geddes, Scott 11. Lowe, Ben 12. Pettybourne, Eddy 13. Fa'alogo, David 14. Falloon, Beau 15. McPherson, Shannan 16. Tyrrell, Dave 17. Lowe, Jamian Coach – Jason Taylor
The Rabbitohs Toyota Cup side is:
1. Capewell, Luke 2. Webster, Malcolm 3. Mansour, Josh 4. Farrell, Dylan 5. Morgan, Kane 6. Mundine, Matt 7. Reynolds, Adam 8. Shearer, Jake 9. Peats, Nathan 10. Lupi, Brad 11. Hammett, Aaron 12. Molan, Brock 13. Clark, Jason (c) 14. Judd, Blake 16. Starling, Josh 18. Tulemau, Jack 19. Takairangi, Brad 22. Pettyborne, Kennedy Coach – Daniel Irvine
The North Sydney Bears do not play this weekend as it is a split weekend.