PNG Hunters Puara Jnr, Tete start training with Rabbitohs

The South Sydney Rabbitohs returned to training yesterday following the Christmas and New Year’s break, with a brace of new faces blending in with familiar ones.

After a hard-fought Four Nations tournament, Kangaroo representatives, Dylan Walker and Alex Johnston returned to Redfern today to train alongside England reps George and Thomas Burgess and Kiwi hooker Issac Luke for the first time since winning the 2014 Premiership.

Meanwhile, the new faces came courtesy of the addition of ‘train and trial’ contracted players, Wartovo Puara Jnr and Thompson Teteh – both from the PNG Hunters – as well as Fijian international Daryl Millard – formerly of the Bulldogs, Dragons, Wakefield Trinity and Catalans.

Puara, 24, is a hooker who has also represented the PNG Kumuls against the Australian Prime Minister’s XIII, and was part of the Kumuls’ World Cup train on squad in 2013, while Teteh, 25, is a centre who also played with the PNG Hunters Queensland Cup side in 2014, and was also part of the Kumuls’ World Cup train on squad in 2013.

"We’ve had a number of people come in for an opportunity in the form of the two boys from PNG as well as Darryl, and a number of great juniors who are working their way up," said Rabbitohs Head Coach, Michael Maguire.