Champion named for Souths league trial against PNG

South Sydney's prodigal son Beau Champion will make his Rabbitohs comeback in the NRL club's Return to Redfern trial match against Papua New Guinea next month.

The South Sydney junior played six seasons with the club before shifting to Melbourne to accommodate star recruit Greg Inglis prior to the 2011 season.

The 26-year-old spent one season with the Storm before linking up with Gold Coast, but he has said his heart always remained in South Sydney.

Champion will get his first chance to impress Michael Maguire and push his case for a fulltime spot in the centres after being named in an 18-man squad against PNG.

Champion is the biggest drawcard in a team largely made up of young stars, with a mix of recruits including former Canterbury winger Bryson Goodwin and the fourth Burgess brother, Thomas, who will come off the bench.

Former Penrith centre Greg Waddell, a highly rated schoolboy star whose career was derailed by successive knee injuries, has been picked on the bench.

First graders Chris McQueen, George Burgess, Ben Lowe, Jason Clark and Dave Tyrell have also been named.

Team:

Tyrone Phillips, Chris Centrone, Chris McQueen, Beau Champion, Bryson Goodwin, Justin Hunt, Luke Keary, Josh Starling, Apisai Koroisau, George Burgess, Kyle Turner, Ben Lowe, Jason Clark. Int: Dave Tyrrell, Thomas Burgess, Greg Waddell, Mitch Buckett, Aaron Gray.

AAP