Rabbitohs extend contracts of three youngsters

The South Sydney Rabbitohs have extended the contracts of three talented South Sydney juniors, with Siosifa Talakai, Mawene Hiroti and Campbell Graham all re-signing until at least the end of the 2019 season.

Talakai, 19, is a centre or back rower who played three NRL matches in 2016, making his debut against the Gold Coast Titans in Perth in round 13. He also represented the Junior Kiwis in 2016 after graduating through the junior representative ranks where he captained the South Sydney SG Ball under 18s side to a Grand Final appearance in 2015.

Hiroti, 17, is an outside back who was an Australian Schoolboys representative in 2016, who also played in seven Holden Cup matches for the Rabbitohs after completing the SG Ball under 18s season.

Graham, 17, is also an outside back who played alongside Hiroti for the Australian Schoolboys, the Rabbitohs Holden Cup team and the South Sydney SG Ball team in 2016.

All three of these players will feature in trial matches against the Sea Eagles on Saturday night at Campbelltown Stadium, with Rabbitohs Head Coach Michael Maguire saying he is excited to see how these players perform now and how they develop into the future.

"I'm really happy to see Siosifa, Mawene and Campbell all re-sign with the Club as with hard work and dedication, we believe they have a great future in the game," Coach Maguire said.

"These three have all shown that they are willing to put in the hard work that is required and they have shown that they have the talent to play representative football in their age groups.

"They have been in our system for a while and it's always good to see young, local kids signing with the Club long term.

"The coaching staff and I are looking forward to continuing our work in developing these three young men, and I'm sure our Members will be keeping an eye on their progression as well."

Biographies:

Name:                                      Siosifa Talakai

Date of Birth:                          18 April 1997

Place of Birth:                         Sydney, NSW

Height:                                     178cm

Weight:                                    100kg

Position:                                  Centre, Second row

Junior Club:                            Mascot Jets

Rep Honours:                          Junior Kiwis (2016)

NRL Games:                            3 (all for the Rabbitohs)

NRL Points:                             4 (from one try)

NRL Debut:                              Rabbitohs vs Titans, nib Stadium, 5 June 2016 (Rd 13)

Name:                                      Mawene Hiroti

Date of Birth:                          6 March 1999

Place of Birth:                         Taranaki, NZ

Height:                                     191cm

Weight:                                    94kg

Position:                                  Wing, Centre, Fullback

Junior Club:                            Western Suburbs Tigers

Rep Honours:                          Two games for Australian Schoolboys (2016)

Name:                                      Campbell Graham

Date of Birth:                          2 June 1999

Place of Birth:                         Sydney, NSW

Height:                                     197cm

Weight:                                    95kg

Position:                                  Wing, Centre

Junior Club:                            Coogee Wombats

Rep Honours:                          Two games for Australian Schoolboys (2016)