Wayne Bennett and the South Sydney Rabbitohs host Ivan Cleary and the Penrith Panthers for the first time since the 2021 Grand Final in a blockbuster clash at Accor Stadium.
Brad Schneider has come onto the bench in place of Blaize Talagi when the teams were updated 24-hours from the match.
Another injury blow for luckless star Campbell Graham has seen him ruled out of the clash with the Panthers in a massive setback for Souths’ chances of springing an upset. Graham missed all of last season due to injury and has already had a couple of setbacks this season. Souths are a far better side with him in it, particularly in defence and they will face a big task with Isaiah Tass and Mikaele Ravalawa on the edge. Graham also needs to string some games together to push for an elusive Blues Origin debut after injury ruled him out the last couple of seasons. Graham is one of the best centres in the game at full fitness and has already played for his country, but if his injury struggles continue he could join the unwanted club of most talented players never to taste the Origin arena, especially given how blessed NSW are in his position. In a timely boost Alex Johnston returns from an Achilles injury that cut short his 2024 campaign. Johnston comes onto the wing with Tass shifting to centre. Johnston is just 18 tries short of Ken Irvine’s unbreakable record of 212 and if he stays fit you wouldn’t bet against him getting there this season, especially if Latrell Mitchell can stay on the park for the rest of the season when he returns from injury. Wayne Bennett has also resisted the urge to shake up his halves, with Jamie Humphreys holding onto the No.7 jersey and Lewis Dodd remains in the reserves, despite hints he may switch Humphreys to lock and bring in Dodd for his Souths debut.
For the Panthers fullback Daine Laurie has overcome a quad injury while Tom Jenkins moves to centre and Paul Alamoti shifts to the wing in a backline reshuffle as Casey McLean loses his spot. But the biggest talking point in this side was who Ivan Cleary named in the No.7 jersey, with Brad Schneider, Trent Toelau and Blaize Talagi all a chance of coming into the halves to partner Jack Cole. Toelau was the man to get the nod, marking a huge shift in Penrith’s playmaking pecking order. The 25-year-old made his NRL debut in 2024 after making the switch from the Storm to the Panthers, making his first appearance for his new club off the bench in 2021. It took four years from there for Toelau to earn a full-time NRL contract, playing off the bench in his 10 appearances to date. But then came his crowning moment, having been left in Australia while the Penrith squad travelled to Las Vegas for the NRL’s season opener. Toelau led a team littered with handfuls of NRL experience to a shock victory over the Sea Eagles, who admittedly were missing Daly Cherry-Evans and the Trbojevic brothers. Regardless, that clash was considered a monumental mismatch, but it was Toelau, with the No.7 on his back who delivered a playmaking masterclass, scoring a try and assisting two more four-pointers. Speaking after that game, Toelau explained he had picked up a lot during training with superstar halfback Nathan Cleary. “He’s awesome… to watch at training every day. I don’t say too much when I’m there, I just watch him,” Toelau said. “But to be behind the likes of him is an awesome learning experience. “Obviously I won’t be there for round one, but going forward I’d like to be in the 17.” Toelau has now achieved that goal, leapfrogging Brad Schneider who was Cleary’s deputy last season. Talagi, meanwhile, has been named as the bench utility. Interestingly though, Toelau has only played one NSW Cup game this season, and that appearance came in the centres with Talagi and Schneider proffered as the halves pairing at that time.
