Lightweight Bunnies ready for Warriors - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Lightweight Bunnies ready for Warriors

Joe Barton And Ben Horne 21/05/2011 12:43:53 PM Comments (0)

Shannan McPherson believes South Sydney's no-name pack can run rings around their more fancied NRL rivals when the Rabbitohs take on the Warriors at Mt Smart Stadium on Sunday.

The Rabbitohs' once-mighty pack has been decimated by injury, with their two biggest stars, internationals Sam Burgess and Roy Asotasi, sidelined until late in the season while the ever-reliable Luke Stuart, Ben Lowe and Scott Geddes are also injured.

But McPherson feels it is this injury crisis which could work in Souths' favour against the big Warriors lineup that includes heavy-hitters Russell Packer (111kg), Ben Matulino (106kg) and Sione Lousi (106kg).

Souths, who have posted back-to-back wins after snapping a three-game losing streak, are rebuilding their season around the high workrates of comparatively lightweight forwards McPherson (98kg), Jason Clark (94kg), Dave Tyrell (100kg) and Eddy Pettybourne (103kg).

"They are a big side, but with size comes (problems) ... they can be less mobile, so we can take advantage there," McPherson told AAP.

"They're going to big and they're going to try and come at us. If we can handle their first few sets, maybe we can use our speed to take control of the ruck.

"With the injuries we are a bit of a smaller pack, but with me, Pettybourne, Jason Clark we've got some good leg drive there.

"Even though we're small, we're fast around the rucks.

"If we can set the pace and tone and use our speed to our advantage it's going to help us and then you've got Benny Ross, who is a bigger type and he can bump with the big boys.

"We've got a bit of variation there, but we're playing a lot smarter."

McPherson added that taking on one of the toughest road trips in the NRL will be a good test for Souths - who will be looking to replicate their hot start from last weekend's upset of Wests Tigers, where they led 27-0 at halftime.

"We'll be travelling and having a few players out, so that will test our mental toughness," he said.

"We've just got to do our job, do the best we can do and (coach John Lang) will be happy with that win or lose.

"But we've got to try and bring it.

"Hopefully we can have a good start, and when our bench comes on they can keep it going.

"It's all hands on deck ... Everyone has to share the work and do their job and I think it's working for us."

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