DYLAN Farrell has joined the much-hyped halves' race at South Sydney as new coach Michael Maguire sifts through his playmaking options.
While little-known Ryan Carr and Adam Reynolds will wear the No. 6 and No. 7 in the Return to Redfern trial against Warrington on Saturday week, Maguire is also prepared to give Farrell his own chance to impress during the trials.
Farrell, 20, spent most of last year at centre or on the wing before starting his only NRL game at five-eighth against Brisbane in round 25.
But Farrell started out as a pivot for the Rabbits in the Toyota Cup, and has been more than happy to train closer to the action.
Who will wear the No. 7 has been the burning question among Souths fans all off-season, and talk of Farrell will only add further confusion. Adding to the dilemma is club favourite John Sutton who is the current five-eighth incumbent.
POMMY prop Sam Burgess will definitely feature in the trials and be fit for round one, despite being pulled out of the All-Stars game because of an on-going ankle injury;As he ran a training session at Redfern yesterday, Maguire revealed:
ROY Asotasi and Michael Crocker will join Maguire for tomorrow's Charity Shield press conference, but who will skipper is yet to be decided; and,
CROCKER and star centre Greg Inglis have been two of the standouts at pre-season training, with Inglis "very, very fit at he moment".
Maguire was happy to give Reynolds and Carr first crack at the halfback role against Warrington.
"They've both been working extremely hard at their games, they're learning my style and what I want them to bring to the team," he said.
"They're two good kids who are improving daily. It's a big opportunity with the No. 7 jumper, so we'll wait to see what happens. I know 'Ryno' has a great kicking game and his voice around the place is getting stronger.
"And Ryan Carr has a good voice and can push the team around. He's done very well up in Queensland and another guy who is putting his hand up and working hard at his game. Dylan Farrell and a few others have been having go there as well.
"They (Reynolds and Carr) have got first opportunity for the Return to Redfern, but we'll take it as it comes. Dylan has played in many positions across his career, there's an opportunity for him there, and he's been training there at times. It will be how we start playing and performing, that's when we can work out which way we go there."
