South Sydney will turn to a journeyman who has played just one game all year to fill the void left by injured winger Alex Johnston in the hope of pulling off a preliminary final upset over Penrith.
Richie Kennar has been drafted into the Rabbitohs’ starting side with Jason Demetriou confirming tryscoring machine Johnston will miss Saturday’s grand final qualifier at Accor Stadium.
Kennar arrived at Redfern this season on a train-and-trial deal for his second stint with the Rabbitohs, and scored a hat-trick in his lone appearance against Newcastle this year.
Now he will be tasked with covering for the NRL’s leading try scorer in Johnston, who has 30 to his name this year and is on his way to becoming the game’s leading try-scorer of all time.
Demetriou is confident the 27-year-old, who has played 32 games during seven seasons at Melbourne, Brisbane and South Sydney, will rise to the occasion with a grand final berth hanging in the balance.
Johnston trained away from the main group on Friday morning, with Kennar lining up on the left wing having beaten Josh Mansour to a place in Demetriou’s side.
Richard Kennar has been called in for a preliminary final.Credit:Getty
“[Johnston] was never really going to be a chance to play but we gave him every opportunity. If we get the job done, he’ll be back next week,” Demetriou said, while also confirming Jai Arrow will be fit to play.
“I’m really happy for Richie to get an opportunity. I think the game suits him, it’s going to be physical, and physicality is not AJ’s strength. There’s a bit of a win there.
“He has played one game, scored a hat-trick, he’s been awesome for us throughout the year. He really fits into our culture, the boys love him here and you could tell, when I told the boys he was playing, how excited they were.
“He’s 27, he’s been around the traps so he’s not going to be overawed by the occasion. He’s really good in the air which is really important, dealing with Nathan [Cleary’s] kicking game, so that’s a plus for us. Coming out of the back of the field, he’s as strong in yardage carries as anyone.
“[The decision] was based on today. We can’t afford a winger coming off the field. We made the right decision. I’m sure he’s gutted, but he is putting the team first and we move on.”
Kennar is likely to match up on Panthers winger Charlie Staines, with Brian To’o likely to move from the right to the left wing given the suspension of rookie Taylan May.
South Sydney enter the preliminary final as outsiders, with the competition seen by so many as Penrith’s to lose as the Rabbitohs look to become the first team to win a premiership from outside the top four in the NRL era.
“Obviously everyone says we can’t win or we’re not in the contest,” Demetriou said. “We know where we’re at, we know the journey we’ve been on this year and we’re excited that we’re here. We’re here on merit, people have been writing us off all year and they can write us off again.”
“We’ll be there in the 80 minutes and we’ll be having a good crack.”
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