Burgess to make Bunnies bow

Correspondent

South Sydney recruit Sam Burgess will make his debut on Sunday when the Rabbitohs take on Manly in a trial match.

Burgess, who signed for Souths last September, will line up with another new signing Dave Taylor in the trial which is being held at Redfern Oval – the Rabbitohs’ traditional home.

Burgess and Taylor have been named in an inexperienced 26-man squad named by John Lang which includes just nine professional players.

The other members of the squad come from the club’s Toyota Cup squad and New South Wales Cup side North Sydney Bears.

The Rabbitohs have however received a word of warning from Gold Coast Titans coach John Cartwright.

Cartwright says despite their off-season signing’s the club will need to find the right ‘balance’ if they are to score NRL success.

“Burgess had a great Four Nations for England and Taylor was probably the form forward of the NRL going into the finals last year,” Cartwright told The Daily Express.

“While there is a lot of potential, there are still a few hurdles to jump. There’s no good having a team of monsters if you don’t have the right balance. You still have a 10-man interchange.”

South Sydney team to face Manly:

1. Josh Mansour
2. Kane Morgan
3. Dylan Farrell
4. Junior Vaivai
5. Shaune Corrigan
6. Luke Capewell
7. Adam Reynolds
8. Sam Burgess
9. Nathan Peats
10. Jacob Nansen
11. Deon Apps
12. David Taylor
13. Jason Clark (c)

Interchange:

14. Dave Tyrrell
15. Josh Starling
16. Jack Tulemau
17. Blake Judd
18. Eddie Paea
19. Curtis Johnston
20. Brock Molan
21. Kennedy Pettyborne
22. Matt Mundine
23. John Kaifoto
24. Zeb Tawha
25. Andre Itula
26. Jake Shearer