Wayne Bennett’s second South Sydney spell is set to begin against the Manly Sea Eagles in this afternoon’s Pre-Season Challenge clash.
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Bennett returns to the club he guided to the 2021 NRL Grand Final with the hope of reviving them from their poor 2024 and returning them to the summit of the ladder.
The first game of his second tenure at Industree Group Stadium in Gosford will be without many of the club’s main stars, including Latrell Mitchell, Cody Walker, Campbell Graham, and Cameron Murray, with the latter three racing the clock to be fit for Round 1.
However, the contest provides recruit Lewis Dodd to showcase his skills at halfback, following a pre-season of speculation about his position in Bennett’s starting side.
Elsewhere, Peter Mamouzelos will be out to prove to fans Damian Cook’s absence won’t be as glaring as some fear.
For Manly, coach Anthony Seibold has resisted the urge to name many of the club’s star players in a side headlined by 2024 Sea Eagles Rookie of the Year Lehi Hopoate, while smart signing Siosiua Taukeiaho will run out in his new colours for the first time.
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TEAMS
SOUTHS: 1. Jye Gray 2. Fletcher Myers 3. Declan Casey 4. Isaiah Tass 5. Talanoa Penitani 6. Jamie Humphreys 7. Lewis Dodd 8. Sean Keppie 9. Peter Mamouzelos 10. Davvy Moale 11. Max Mccarthy 12. Thomas Fletcher 13. Lachlan Hubner 14. Ashton Ward 15. Salesi Ataata 16. Nazareth Taua 17. Ryan Gray 18. Liam Le Blanc 19. Matthew Humphries 20. Siliva Havili 21. Bayleigh Bentley-Hape 22. Luke Webley 23. Joshua Stuckey 24. Bailey Biondi-Odo
MANLY: 1. Lehi Hopoate 2. Raymond Tuiamalo Vaega 3. Aaron Schoupp 4. Clayton Faulalo 5. Navren Willett 6. Dean Matterson 7. Jakob Arthur 8. Siosiua Taukeiaho 9. Jake Simpkin 10. Toafofoa Sipley 11. Michael Chee Kam 12. Corey Waddell 13. Caleb Navale 14. Gordon Chan Kum Tong 15. Chris Patolo 16. Aitasi James 17. Taniela Paseka 18. Zane Dunford 19. James Uesele 20. Charlie Thompson 21. Jordan Swann 22. D’Jazirhae Pua’avase 23. Max Haley 24. Hugo Hart
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