Su'A ready, willing and stable for an NRL recall
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Back-rower Jaydn Su'A doesn't see much difference between the Wayne Bennett of the tropical north to the man now very much a part of the Rabbitohs tradition.
"Nothing really has changed. Wayne is Wayne and he keeps it old school," Su'A told NRL.com.
"I can't see any changes from what he was like in Brisbane to Sydney. He's still a very powerful figure."
Su'A made his NRL debut in 2016 under Bennett at the Broncos. But rumours linking him to South Sydney started in late 2018, when Anthony Seibold was still in command at the Rabbitohs.
As it panned out with the Seibold-Bennett coaching swap, Su'A ended up with the Rabbitohs anyway and back under Bennett.
His departure from the Broncos became mired in speculation he had fallen out with Seibold as he was playing Intrust Super Cup games earlier this season after making a return from a broken ankle in the loss to the Warriors in July last year.
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Su'A did not wish to revisit his exit from the Broncos after the round 14 loss to Parramatta.
But after three wins with the NRL side, he does find himself in Canterbury Cup matches. So he has the same goals for the Rabbitohs as he had for the Broncos – be a regular NRL back-rower.
"I came down here because I felt there was more opportunity. I'm not in the [NRL] team at the moment so I want to get back in there somehow," he said.
Su'A was named to play for South Sydney against the Warriors in Canterbury Cup at Central Coast Stadium on Sunday, as curtain-raiser to the Rabbitohs-Storm round 21 clash.
But he has been kept on the extended bench with Bennett having to reshuffle two places due to Braidon Burns (hamstring flare-up) and Sam Burgess (quad strain).
Regardless of when he makes is back into the NRL side, Su'A knows what he has to do.
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"We've got a very strong forward pack here so that will be difficult. But the only way I can do it, I guess, is to train hard and play well consistently in Canterbury Cup," he said.
"I'm not too sure how to keep in Wayne's sights. I don't think he comes to the games but he obviously speaks to our Cup coach [Shane Millard] a fair bit. Obviously if I'm playing good footy, he'll know.
"He is also knows what I'm capable of and what the best parts of my game are. So when I'm needed, and he wants me in the team, that's when I'll be in.
"I've played with a lot of good back-rowers coming out of Brisbane and then I come here with someone like 'Sutto' [John Sutton] who's done it all, and Sam Burgess – don't need to say much more about him as everyone knows what he does – Ethan Lowe and Cam Murray.
"They are all very consistent and that's what I want to bring to my game – very little difference between a good and a bad game. I'd also love to have Sammy's leadership and Sutto's ball skills.
"If I could take something out of each their games and put them into my own, that's what I want to do."
Su'A says he's up for the fight and has no regrets coming down to Sydney.
"None at all. I do miss my family but the club has been awesome. Everyone has been very welcoming.
"I feel like I'm already playing better footy. But I also know I've got to keep at it to be the sort of player I want to be."
