South Sydney Rabbitohs best juniors for 2021
It is one of the most famous and historic sporting clubs in Australian sport. Meet the next wave of stars coming through the ranks at the South Sydney Rabbitohs.
Southern Courier
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Meet the best young players at the South Sydney Rabbitohs.
The famous club has seen a big shake-up to its junior set-up over the past 12 months – a move which could see the historic club become the envy of the NRL.
The club has now revealed a list of their standout juniors from the class of 2021.
Rabbitohs head of elite pathways and player development Joe O’Callaghan revealed major changes had been put in place during the past 12 months to better support the club’s future stars.
That includes the introduction of a new elite squad called the Black Rabbits.
The Black Rabbits is the cream of the crop featuring the best young players hand-picked from the under-17, under-19 and under-21 teams as well as the best young stars from the women’s team.
O’Callaghan explained players in the Black Rabbits were chosen with positions in mind that may need to be filled in the senior side in the future.
The group of 24 train by themselves once a month and receive specialist coaching and assistance, from the likes of incoming Rabbitohs head coach Jason Demetriou, to help them on their way to the NRL and NRLW.
A satellite Black Rabbits squad has also been set up and is operating in southeast Queensland.
Another significant change has seen the under-17 and under-19 boys’ teams come under the operation and coaching of the South Sydney Rabbitohs, based out of Erskineville Oval.
Previously, those two age groups were operated by a separate organisation, Souths Juniors, which works in partnership with the Bunnies.
O’Callaghan said there were many benefits in bringing those two sides directly under the club including exposing players to the culture at the Bunnies, the “language” and “philosophy” of their playing style, and utilising the gym and other facilities.
Junior players are currently spoiled for coaches to turn to with the likes of club legend John Sutton among the ranks.
O’Callaghan said by strengthening their junior set-up it would make their NRL side a dominant force for many years to come.
“You can’t rest on your laurels with your current NRL squad, you have to make sure there is a constant flow,” O’Callaghan said.
“The biggest thing for us is we don’t want a rebuilding stage at the South Sydney Rabbitohs.
“You don’t want talk of a premiership window and talk of the window shutting. Why did it have to shut?
“We want to plan five years ahead and then five years after that.”
The club currently has plans to introduce a women’s under-17 and under-19 side next year and an NRLW side in 2023.
South Sydney Rabbitohs best young players of 2021:
Ashton Cini*
Position: Lock
Team: Harold Matthews Cup (u17s)
Romano Cook
Position: Hooker
Team: SG Ball Cup (u19s)
Monique Donovan
Position: Centre
Team: NSWRL Women’s Premiership side
Tallis Duncan
Position: Second row
Team: SG Ball Cup (u19s)
Lachlan Ilias
Position: Halfback
Team: Jersey Flegg Cup (u21s)
Elly Johnston
Position: Prop
Team: NSWRL Women’s Premiership side
Josiah Karapani
Position: Centre
Team: SG Ball Cup (u19s)
Akira Kelly
Position: Halfback
Team: NSWRL Women’s Premiership side
Ben Lovett
Position: Second row
Team: Jersey Flegg Cup (u21s)
Aaron Macey
Position: Centre
Team: Harold Matthews Cup (u17s)
Peter Mamouzelos
Position: Hooker
Team: Jersey Flegg (u21s) and NRL debutant this year
Tyrone Munro*
Position: Fullback
Team: Harold Matthews Cup (u17s)
Chaise Robinson*
Position: Fullback
Team: Jersey Flegg Cup (u21s)
*Chaise is the brother of former NRL players Reece and Travis Robinson; Ashton is the brother of Tigers NRL player Zac Cini; Tyrone is the cousin of NRL and Origin star Josh Addo-Carr.
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