Wartovo, Teteh to play in Rabbitohs Return to Redfern Match

Wartovo Puara and Thompson Teteh to play in
Rabbitohs Return to Redfern Match

WARTOVO Puara Jr and Thompson Teteh have been named in coach Michael Maguire’s South Sydney Rabbitohs side for Saturday’s Return to Redfern match against Queensland Cup and NRL state champions, the Northern Pride.

 This will be the first time the pair get to play after being signed up by the reigning NRL premiers last month on a six-week train and trial deal which ends on February 15.

The match at Redfern Oval will kickoff at 6pm. 

Puara and Teteh are familiar with the annual preseason fixture having played for the Papua New Guinea Residents XIII against the Rabbitohs in the corresponding match in 2013.

Both have been named in an extended squad featuring the club’s Under-20 and NSW Cup players.

Teteh said the club would make a decision on their contracts after the Redfern match.

“I can’t say much right now but the club will let us know whether we will stay on after the weekend’s match,” Teteh said.

Hunters coach Michael Marum said both men would make the most of their opportunity this weekend.

“This will be a good experience for Thompson and Wartovo. I hope they impress the Rabbitohs coaching staff,” Marum said from Kokopo yesterday. 

“I hear they have been training well and now all they have to do is show Michael Maguire that they are up to the NRL level. 

“I hope they do that and get signed up,” he said.

The pair performed consistently in their first Q-Cup season last year with the Hunters and were given their chance at Souths.

Maguire named John Sutton, Glenn Stewart, Thomas Burgess and Ben Lowe in his starting forward pack, complemented by a host of young, up-and-coming players within the Rabbitohs’ ranks. 

Sutton will captain the side at the Rabbitohs’ spiritual home, with Stewart set to play in a Rabbitohs jersey for the first time. 

Return to Redfern will feature the traditional South Sydney jersey presentations to new recruits by South Sydney legends; the 2015 squad presentation; ceremonial kick off by club legend Eric Simms; plus  the displaying of the 2014 NRL premiership trophy and the 2015 NRL Auckland Nines trophy. 

South Sydney Rabbitohs: 1: Damon Goolagong, 2: Setefano Taukafa, 3: Aaron Gray, 4: Daryl Millard, 5: Sam Manuleleua, 6: Liam Coleman, 7: Jordie Hedges, 8: Thomas Burgess, 9: Scott Sorensen, 10: PJ Los’e, 11: Glenn Stewart, 12: John Sutton (c), 13: Ben Lowe; Interchange: 14: Wartovo Puara, 15: John Olive, 16: Cheyne Whitelaw, 17: Angus Crichton, 18: Tom Hughes, 19: Thompson Teteh, 20: Jack Gosiewski.  – South Sydney Rabbitohs Media