Souths Sydney Rabbitohs fullback Latrell Mitchell returned to the training paddock at Redfern today having recovered from injury and Covid-19 setbacks.
Welcome back big fella!
By Steve Mavin & Grant Chappell
By Grant Chappell
What a memorable night out at the football.
I am so grateful that I got to share it with my two daughters, my Rabbitohs TV Co-hosts Browny and Mavo plus all the Souths faithful.
Nathan Merritt and Alex Johnston, two Indigenous local juniors from proud community’s were the talk of the town.
How’s this for irony, Souths Juniors A grade teams La-Perouse Panthers played the Redfern all Blacks in which AJ and Merro played for as kids respectively were in the curtain raiser game on Indigenous round, the night where one indigenous local legend breaks another’s record, you couldn’t make this stuff up.
Coincidentally AJ made his debut on the 25th of April 2014 replacing Nathan Merritt in the lineup wearing jumper number #21 and as you know later that year Souths went on to win our 21st premiership, the most by any club in the game.
Between them they have played 396 games for the Mighty South Sydney Rabbitohs and amassed a whopping 293 tries.
Let’s not forget the feats of Nathan Merritt who was a member of the team which finished in the bottom 4 in his early years at Souths.
Nathan only played in 4 finals matches whilst on the other hand Alex Johnson has played in two grand finals, 16 finals matches scoring 9 tries and he is only 27 years of age, who knows how many tries this bloke will finish on.
I hope my daughters tell their grandkids that they were at the game when AJ broke his hero Nathan Merritts try scoring record at this famous club.
On Rabbitohs TV today we took an in depth look at the Rabbitohs 32-12 loss to the Broncos last night at Accor Stadium, Sydney. In our recap we give an honest evaluation of the performance of both teams in the Thursday night footy clash.
Many thanks to my co-host Darren Brown for his efforts last night at the game. Browny was a guest of former Rabbitoh Jimmy Smith on his SEN League pre game show (listen below).
Once his radio spot was done Browny took a range of photos of the team warming up pre game. This was the first time he had used our new Sony zoom lens from the grandstand and the images he captured are excellent.
By Steve Mavin and Darren Brown
Mavo, Browny and Chaps present a Rabbitohs v Broncos pre game show on Rabbitohs TV.
Mavo and Browny are tipping Souths to win in a close game but Chaps thinks the Bunnies will pour on the points and win by 13+.
Rugby league reporter Emma Lawrence loves her job. We know this because she told us yesterday in a chat with Grant Chappell at Redfern Oval on Rabbitohs TV.
Emma grew up in Campbelltown, Sydney where there was “a lot of sport and a lot of rugby league”. Explaining her background Emma told us “My brother played footy and so many of my family played footy…we lived and breathed rugby league.”
Emmas’ brother Chris Lawrence is a West Tigers legend who played 253 NRL games for the club.
Six of Emmas relatives played for the Rabbitohs, Jack Lawrence is first grade player number #100 with 63 appearances, 15 tries and 41 goals for the club between 1920-28. Victor Lawrence #116 played for Waterloo before going on to play 95 games and scored 47 tries also between 1920-28.
Both Jack and Victor Lawrence won multiple premierships for the Rabbitohs in 1925, 1926, 1927 and 1928, a golden era for the club.
“We actually supported the Bunnies growing up…my pop loved the Bunnies so we’d go to his place and he’d sit there with a beer and we’d watch the Rabbitohs every time…it’s pretty special to know that I’ve got a bit of a family history with the Rabbitohs.”
Emma Lawrence is a well respected rugby league presenter on Channel Nine and also on Triple M NRL, she does a great job and that is no suprise considering her family upbringing and rugby league connection.
Emma admitted to a few nerves when meeting George Piggins yesterday but did a nice job with the Souths icon for a segment on the 6pm news.
Emma “George is it pretty special to come back to Redfern?” George “I’ve done it since I was a kid in 1964.”
By Steve Mavin and Grant Chappell
On Rabbitohs TV this evening Grant Chappell gave us a comprehensive recap of the Rabbitohs 40-22 victory over the Sea Eagles on Friday at Central Coast Stadium, Gosford.
Chaps pulled no punches and told us he thought Karl Lawton had to go after he lifted Souths skipper Cameron Murray into a dangerous position in the 8th minute of the game.
The NRL match review committee agreed and Lawton will spend up to four weeks off the field if he takes the early plea or five weeks if he chooses to fight the charge and is found guilty.
Chaps covers all the game action in our video and also points out that big Tommy Burgess has become ‘our most capped Burgess brother’.
The Rabbitohs move on to a blockbuster clash with the Broncos on Thursday at Accor Stadium, Sydney. The return of Adam Reynolds to face his former team is going to be huge.
By Steve Mavin
Chaps & Mavo recap the Rabbitohs 24-12 win over the Dragons at Accor Stadium on Rabbitohs TV. Click below to watch.
The Rabbitohs defeated the Dragons today after losing Latrell Mitchell early in what is being reported as a hamstring injury.
In a much needed win Lachlan Ilias had another big game, Keaon Kolomatangi was brilliant and Campbell Graham was outstanding. The Rabbitohs overall weren’t great, completing at just 71% but there were some good signs that the team is improving.
Davvy Moale made an instant impact with his first run of the game allowing the team to roll forward for Keaon Koloamatangi to score in the 34th minute.
Helping the Bunnies cause was a performance from the Dragons that can only be described as dreadful.
The Souths old boys made the trip to Accor Stadium tonight to witness the win.
Club legends Les Davidson, Rocky Laurie & Ziggy Niszczot were among the group who started the day at The Juniors Kingsford before making their way out to the game.
Darren Brown & Grant Chappell from Rabbitohs TV were both at the game to host the post match function in the P&O Members Deck. Browny & Chaps interviewed Liam Knight on stage in front of the Rabbitohs members.
By Steve Mavin
Grant Chappell had a chat today with Rabbitoh #1063 Jamie Simpson from his home in Rockhampton.
Jamie played 37 games for the Rabbitohs between 2008-2010 scoring 16 tries.
Jamies’ story is a great one, he beat cancer and shattered his thumb before he finally found his feet at the Rabbitohs. Jamie told Chaps that the “Souths family took me in” and he still supports the club to this day.
Chaps and Mavo reporting from Redfern today for Rabbitohs TV. After speaking to coach JD we can reveal that Hame Sele has recovered from a calf injury and will be back next week.
