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It's Monsters Inc. at Redfern
By Dean Ritchie
From: The Daily Telegraph
November 06, 2009


Big boppers ... South Sydney's forwards train at Redfern. Photograph: Brett Costello Source: The Daily Telegraph

THEY were one of toughest and most intimidating packs of the modern era.

The fearsome 1989 Souths pack - under coach George Piggins - contained some of rugby league's hardest men, such as Les Davidson, Mario Fenech, Ian Roberts, Michael Andrews, David Boyle and Tony Rampling.

But when it comes to size and muscle, that pack has nothing on the one the Rabbitohs will trot out in 2010 led by new buys David Taylor and Englishman Sam Burgess.

John Lang's new model pack is 10kg per man heavier than their 1989 rivals. Only Ian Roberts weighed more than 100kg, while all the forwards next year - barring hooker Issac Luke - will top the century mark.

Roy Asotasi, Sam Burgess, Dave Taylor, Eddy Pettybourne, Michael Crocker and Ben Ross will form a formidable pack that will try to terrorise opposition sides.

Hard-working veterans Luke Stuart and Scott Geddes complete the line-up.

"It will be a fearsome pack," said Taylor, the Brisbane Broncos recruit who weighs a staggering 120kg. "There aren't many small blokes in there."

Fenech was one of the most intense footballers to represent the club, a bloke who hated the opposition - and hated losing. He can't wait until next season.

"I'm really excited about our pack next year," Fenech said. "It's a big pack and they have to have a pack mentality.

"It will all come down to them delivering the goods. I know the game has changed since I played, but when the pack rumbles forward the outside backs have a chance. Our pack in 1989 wasn't as big as this one, but the '89 pack fought to the death. I reckon this pack will do the same.

"South Sydney is a great club and we are on the rise. It will come down to attitude, style and our approach to the game."

Mark Ellison was lock in 1989 and is now an assistant coach at Redfern.

"Potentially it is a very strong forward pack," Ellison said. "There is plenty of size there, certainly more size than what we have had in the past."

Taylor has arrived at Souths after hammering opponents with Brisbane this year.

Despite being a prop, Taylor revealed he wanted to play second row for Souths.

"I feel fit. I've been spoken about as a State of Origin player and was in the Australian train-on squad," Taylor said.

"I have aspirations, so I want to come out next year all guns blazing. I just want to fit into the team as best I can and prepare for the battles of next year."

Taylor wants to start next season at 118kg.

"I would love to play in the second row. But I want to wait and get to know everybody before I talk about that," he said.

"You don't just walk into a side and choose your own position.

"I will have to work hard to earn a spot. But I want to prove that I can.

"I was excited about how I finished last season and want to continue that in 2010. I am looking to perform for the Rabbitohs as I did for Brisbane."

Luke vs Burgess in Four Nations this Weekend
06 Nov 2009

Rabbitohs hooker Issac Luke will come face-to-face with 2010 team mate Sam Burgess when New Zealand take on England in the early hours of Sunday morning (Sydney time) in the final round of the Four Nations tournament.

Both Luke and Burgess have been selected on the interchange for their respective countries, in a game that will decide who will play Australia in the Four Nations Final next weekend. South Sydney junior Eddy Pettybourne has been selected on a six-man bench for the Kiwis, being named as 19th man on his first international tour.

This match is also the first time that Burgess and Kiwi prop Fuifui Moimoi will face off since an 18-year-old Burgess smashed the Kiwi cult-figure in his international debut back in 2007. To watch the video trailer for the match developed by the English Rugby League click here.

Congratulations to Issac, Sam and Eddy on their selections in their respective national squads.

The New Zealand team is:

1) Lance Hohaia (Warriors)
2) Sam Perrett (Roosters)
3) Kieran Foran (Sea Eagles)
4) Junior Sa'u (Knights)
5) Bryson Goodwin (Bulldogs)
6) Benji Marshall (c) (Tigers)
7) Nathan Fien (Dragons)
8) Frank-Paul Nuuausala (Roosters)
9) Thomas Leuluai (Wigan)
10) Fuifui Moimoi (Eels)
11) Iosia Soliola (Roosters)
12) Frank Pritchards (Panthers)
13) Adam Blair (Storm)

Interchange:

14) Issac Luke (Rabbitohs)
15) Jeff Lima (Storm)
16) Ben Matulino (Warriors)
17) Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (Sea Eagles)
18) Jason Nightingale (Dragons)
19) Eddy Pettybourne (Rabbitohs)

Coach - Stephen Kearney

The English team is:

1) Shaun Briscoe (Hull KR)
2) Peter Fox (Hull KR)
3) Chris Bridge (Warrington)
4) Michael Shenton (Castleford)
5) Ryan Hall (Leeds)
6) Sam Tomkins (Wigan)
7) Kyle Eastmond (St Helens)
8) Adrian Morley (Warrington)
9) James Roby (St Helens)
10) James Graham (St Helens)
11) Jamie Peacock (c) (Leeds)
12) Gareth Ellis (Tigers)
13) Kevin Sinfield (Leeds)

Interchange:

14) Sam Burgess (Rabbitohs)
15) Eorl Crabtree (Huddersfield)
16) Ben Westwood (Warrington)
17) Jon Wilkin (St Helens)

Coach - Tony Smith

The Australian side for this weekend's clash with France is:

1) Kurt Gidley (Knights)
2) Brett Morris (Dragons)
3) Josh Morris (Bulldogs)
4) Michael Jennings (Panthers)
5) Jarryd Hayne (Eels)
6) Darren Lockyer (c) (Broncos)
7) Johnathan Thurston (Cowboys)
8) Ben Hannant (Bulldogs)
9) Robbie Farah (Tigers)
10) Petero Civoniceva (Panthers)
11) Trent Waterhouse (Panthers)
12) Ryan Hoffman (Storm)
13) Nathan Hindmarsh (Eels)

Interchange:

14) Sam Thaiday (Broncos)
15) David Shillington (Raiders)
16) Luke Lewis (Panthers)
17) Cooper Cronk (Storm)