NRL State champions Sea Swift Northern Pride will take on NRL premiers South Sydney Rabbitohs in an historic ‘Return to Redfern’ pre-season trial match on February 14 in Sydney.
Northern Pride are the inaugural NRL State Championship winners after beating Penrith Panthers 32-28 at ANZ Stadium on NRL Grand Final day earlier this month.
The same day also saw the Rabbitohs win their first premiership in 43 years when they beat the Canterbury Bulldogs 30-6 in the NRL Grand Final.
The trial game between the Pride and Rabbitohs at Redfern Oval will celebrate the Rabbitohs’ traditional home, with supporters able to get up close and personal with the Telstra Premiership Trophy before the Rabbitohs fly to England the next day for the World Club Challenge.
Pride Chief Executive Officer Brock Schaefer said the Return to Redfern game was another milestone moment in Pride’s short history.
“These are obviously exciting times for the Club, with our back-to-back minor premierships, Intrust Super Cup premiership, and then winning the NRL State Championship,” Schaefer said.
“This game will be a fantastic opportunity for our boys to test themselves against the best in the business in the Rabbitohs.
“It will be a superb occasion and another chance to showcase and raise the profile of the Pride on a national level.”
Schaefer said the Pride and Rabbitohs have formed a close relationship over the past couple of seasons.
“The two clubs have worked closely together on the NRL regular season games the Rabbitohs have brought to Cairns over the past two years,” he said.
“Our award-winning Take Pride Program and the Rabbitohs’ Souths Cares Program are also the best community programs in the game, so there are a lot of synergies between our two great Clubs.”
Tickets for the Return to Redfern clash will go on sale to Members of the Northern Pride on Tuesday 4 November.
Members of both Clubs will receive further information on ticketing in the coming week.
