The South Sydney Rabbitohs are pleased to announce their team to take on the Penrith Panthers in round 24 of the 2009 NRL Premiership this Saturday 22 August at CUA Stadium. Rabbitohs Head Coach Jason Taylor has named Toyota Cup centre Junior Vaivai to replace the injured Beau Champion (hand). Vaivai, 19, has been in the Rabbitohs Toyota Cup side for the past two seasons, and has scored 20 tries in 2009 to sit in second position on the Toyota Cup try scorers list behind fellow Rabbitohs player Kane Morgan. He also leads the line break statistics with 26 for the season. Vaivai is a handy goal kicker having kicked 33 goals this season for a total of 146 points in the Toyota Cup competition. Vaivai was born in New Zealand but learnt his trade in Brisbane with the Goodna Eagles before being placed with the Easts Tigers, then moving to South Sydney in 2008. Chris McQueen comes on to the wing to replace the injured Fetuli Talanoa (knee). Scott Geddes has been promoted to the starting line up with David Fa’alogo shifting to lock to replace the injured Michael Crocker (ankle) and Jaiman Lowe being selected on the interchange bench. Beau Falloon comes on to the interchange bench to replace the injured Craig Wing (hamstring). The NRL match is scheduled for a 7:30pm kick off with the Toyota Cup match due to begin at 5:15pm. Gates open at 5pm. The Rabbitohs NRL side is:

1. Nathan Merritt
2. Jamie Simpson
3. Colin Best
4. Junior Vai Vai
5. Chris McQueen
6. John Sutton
7. Chris Sandow
8. Luke Stuart (c)
9. Issac Luke
10. Scott Geddes
11. Ben Lowe
12. Eddy Pettybourne
13. David Fa'alogo

14. Beau Falloon
15. Shannon McPherson
16. Dave Tyrrell
17. Jamian Lowe

Coach – Jason Taylor

The Rabbitohs Toyota Cup side is:

1. Luke Capewell
2. Malcolm Webster
3. Josh Mansour
4. Dylan Farrell
5. Kane Morgan
6. Matt Mundine
7. Adam Reynolds
8. Jake Shearer
9. Nathan Peats
10. Brad Lupi
11. Aaron Hammett
12. Brock Molan
13. Jason Clark (c)

14. Blake Judd
16. Josh Starling
18. Jack Tulemau
19. Brad Takairangi
22. Kennedy Pettyborne

Coach – Daniel Irvine

The North Sydney Bears do not play this weekend as it is a split weekend.