Suspended 'coal train' lifts Rabbitohs - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Suspended 'coal train' lifts Rabbitohs

By Russell Jackson 30/06/2011 06:38:16 PM Comments (0)

He should have been in Queensland preparing for the game of his life.

Instead, Dave Taylor cut a lone figure as he powered around Redfern Oval cheered on by a couple of South Sydney teammates and a handful of fans.

Taylor was back at Souths training a day after being suspended for five weeks, having failed to have his grade-two dangerous throw charge downgraded and ending his slim hopes of playing for the Maroons in Wednesday's State of Origin decider.

After completing a ballwork session with his teammates, who tackle Cronulla at Toyota Stadium on Sunday, Taylor was put through his paces in a solo session.

The giant second-rower ran several laps of Redfern Oval with a Souths' conditioner, barking times at him with every passing of the halfway line on the grandstand side of the famous ground.

A couple of fans clapped as Taylor rounded a corner of the ground, while one yelled "Bad luck about last night, Dave. Don't worry about it".

Rabbitohs' halfback Chris Sandow, who was practising his goalkicking, yelled encouragement every time the 'Coal Train' came roaring by the goalposts.

"Keep going Davey," Sandow said.

And with one lap to go, Souths' five-eighth John Sutton was within earshot as Taylor put in some big strides.

"One lap bra, one lap ... that's all", Sutton said.

Souths' backrower Dave Tyrrell, who lines up against the Sharks on Sunday, is proud of his teammate for getting on with things despite his obvious pain.

"We're all devastated by what happened to Dave. I know he's not too happy about what happened, but who would be?" Tyrrell said.

"Everyone here is really close and he's got plenty of support within the club, and we know he wants us to get on with things and concentrate on our footy."

Tyrrell believes last week's victory over Brisbane in the wet has given the side a massive confidence boost ahead of the clash with Cronulla.

The Rabbitohs produced a stoic defensive effort in atrocious conditions in Perth last Friday to beat the Broncos 16-12.

Tyrrell said it was a great win to be part of and he is looking forward to the game against the Sharks, with both sides chasing a hat-trick of wins.

"It was a real confidence booster to know we can defend those sets against a really good team like the Broncos, and we know we'll have to work hard again this week against another very good team," he said.

Souths have included injured star Sam Burgess' older brother Luke on the bench for the Sharks match.

"He only arrived on Saturday, when we were in Perth, but he's very much like Sam. He's a top bloke and he's very big. It's great to have him on board," Tyrrell said.

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