Angus Crichton says Rabbitohs forwards ready for Penrith’s monster pack
STRING-beaned South Sydney rookie Adam Doueihi has drawn the shortest of short straws for his NRL debut, with the young playmaker set to line up opposite Penrith’s man mountain Viliame Kikau.
Rabbitohs
Don't miss out on the headlines from Rabbitohs. Followed categories will be added to My News.
THIS is how you prepare for a baptism of fire.
String-beaned South Sydney rookie Adam Doueihi has drawn the shortest of short straws for his NRL debut, with the young playmaker set to line up opposite Penrith’s man mountain Viliame Kikau.
Fresh from terrorising Parramatta’s defence in Round 1, the 120kg Kikau poses a huge challenge for Doueihi who gives away almost 25kg to the Panthers wrecking ball.
Doueihi has been given a crash course in how to stop the Fijian terror, with Rabbitohs coach Anthony Seibold commissioning his own big bopper in George Burgess to run at Doueihi all session during yesterday’s training run to ready the Lebanese international for the daunting defensive assignment.
There’s also the advice from teammate Angus Crichton, who has urged Doueihi to “get his shoulders out and do his best” when he steps in for injured halfback Adam Reynolds on Saturday night.
LATE MAIL: Rabbitohs’ Three-way shootout for goal kicking duties
“He’s pretty unfazed and not too much gets to him, he’s had that experience,” Crichton said.
“Today at training George Burgess was up there steaming right in front of him and he got his body up there and did the job.
“Viliame Kikau and George Burgess, there isn’t much between them. If he can tackle Georgey he can tackle Kikau.”
Crichton, who plays on the right edge for the Bunnies, will have the job of helping to protect the rookie half from the Fijian international, who caused carnage down that same channel against Parramatta.
He said the Bunnies needed to tighten their defence in general and it was the part of their game that hurt most against the Warriors.
“That was what we lacked last week, our defensive and for me personally with a new halve next to me that’s my biggest focus this week, I want to be strong,” Crichton said.
“Reno [Reynolds] was injured during the week. So I’ve had a bit of time training with Doueihi. He’s only 19 years old so he’s pretty raw boned.
“I think we have had enough time together and we’ve built a pretty good combination.”
But the backrower is confident Doueihi will be up to the task, especially in attack.
“He’s a big dude [tall] but he can run. If the play breaks down he does have the ability to take the ball forward and he’s pretty smart guy with a good kicking game. He’ll steer us around the park,” Crichton said.
Crichton is relishing the challenge of tackling the Panthers and their monster pack on Saturday.
“I can’t wait for it. That just makes the game a bit more juicier I think match-ups like that, that’s why we play,” he said.
“Obviously Panthers fans are backing (Kikau) and myself and Doueihi we’ve got a big job on our hands. But we can’t wait to rip in.
“Every forward doesn’t matter how big you are you try and run hard and try get over your opposite number and against the Panthers is no different.”
South Sydney’s starting pack gives away almost 32 kilograms to Anthony Griffin’s starting forwards but what they lack in size they make up for in mobility.
Cameron Murray, named to start at lock, will be the smallest forward on the field at only 90kg but Tom Burgess doesn’t see his lack of size as a problem.
“What he lacks in size he makes up for in speed and agility, he’s got a great tackle technique, he can take down anyone,” Burgess said.
“He’s one of our biggest workers and there’s not lacking in confidence there for Cameron in the middle.”