Souths planning nothing special for Barba

Updated September 21, 2012 17:57:43

South Sydney coach Michael Maguire is resigned to Canterbury superstar Ben Barba having an impact on Saturday's NRL preliminary final, but is not making any special plans to stop him.

Barba has flourished this season under Des Hasler, who has turned him from an exciting but defensively suspect full-back into the league's player of the year.

The 2012 campaign has been littered with Barba highlights and his performances helped the Bulldogs claim a first minor premiership since 1994 - earning him the Dally M Medal in the process.

Barba scored a try in Canterbury's 23-18 win over Souths when the sides last met in round 13, but was largely subdued when the Rabbitohs prevailed 20-10 in the side's first meeting in April.

And Maguire is aware of what is required from his team to keep the 23-year-old in check and reach a first grand final in 41 years.

"He's going to come into the game at some stage," Maguire said.

"You've just got to make sure you're working together to nullify what he throws at you.

"If you kick the ball down to him on the full, he's going to bring it back with speed and he's going to have support there.

"Everyone knows what the players are capable of doing and it's a matter of making sure that you're concentrating on those periods."

Souths recovered well from the lesson handed to them by a red-hot Melbourne in the opening round of the finals to comfortably beat Canberra last week.

The victory co-coincided with Maguire's decision to restore hooker Issac Luke to the starting line-up.

A three-match suspension for a dangerous tackle on Sydney Roosters centre Shaun Kenny-Dowall in round 19 was followed by a week-long spell in reserve grade for the Kiwi rake after he broke a team curfew.

But he was back to his best in the 38-16 win over the Raiders with Nathan Peats dropping back to the bench to accommodate Luke and Maguire was delighted with his response.

"Issac came in and did his job really well for the team," he said.

"I was really impressed. He understood what we're creating here and he's a part of a culture that we're building here.

"He bounced back and he's performed the way he should."

AAP

Tags: nrl, rugby-league, sport, canterbury-2193, nsw, australia, redfern-2016

First posted September 21, 2012 17:57:43

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Origin speculation nothing new for Pearce

Updated April 19, 2012 15:57:51

Mitchell Pearce says he has learned to deal with the constant speculation surrounding his New South Wales position ahead of next month's State of Origin series opener in Melbourne.

Despite being the incumbent half-back for the Blues and performing well in last year's 2-1 series defeat, Pearce is not certain to keep his number seven shirt, with Newcastle's Jarrod Mullen and Brisbane's Peter Wallace breathing down his neck.

Former Sydney Roosters team-mate Todd Carney is also in the running, with the pair to face off in Sunday's City-Country match in Mudgee.

Pearce is pleased to see the Cronulla man back to his best after a controversy-filled 2011.

"Toddy is a great player and he's been real good this year and I am real pleased for him," Pearce said.

"Around this time of year, there is always talk about who'll make Origin and who'll miss out and this year's no different.

"I genuinely have no idea who Sticky (coach Ricky Stuart) is going to pick.

"I hope it's me, and there are three or four others probably thinking the same. But I can't do anything about the speculation. It is what it is - I just ignore it."

The City squad arrived in Mudgee on Wednesday night and were able to train in dry conditions on Thursday for the first time since linking up in camp in rain-soaked Sydney on Monday.

The session gave Pearce another chance to watch Jarryd Hayne at close quarters in the five-eighth role and the 22-year-old has been impressed with what he has seen from the versatile Parramatta superstar in what could potentially be yet another New South Wales halves combination.

"I think he will go real good," he said.

"He plays like a ball player when he's played at five-eighth for Parramatta and, the year he won the Dally M in 2009, he also played that way from full-back.

"He's a threat when he runs out the back of block plays and he's got ability to run with the ball.

"I honestly don't know what Sticky is thinking about, but he must like him as a five-eighth, which is why he's got him here and I'm looking forward to playing with him."

AAP

Tags: state-of-origin, rugby-league, sport, nsw, australia

First posted April 19, 2012 15:57:51

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