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Footy is back for 2014 (and not a moment too soon!) as the NRL’s two oldest clubs, the South Sydney Rabbitohs and the Sydney Roosters, face off at ANZ Stadium. Join us for live score updates and commentary from 8:05pm AEDT.
Fresh off victory over Wigan in the World Club Challenge, defending premiers the Roosters start 2014 as hot favourites to go back-to-back, despite the fact no club has done so in a unified competition since 1992-93.
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The Rabbitohs, meanwhile, saw their 2013 season end prematurely, a bitter disappointment no doubt after going toe-to-toe with the Roosters for much of the season.
It’s no surprise these two great clubs start the season at shortest odds to win outright, and both will be looking to make an early statement of their intentions tonight.
The Roosters will field a full-strength side – in fact, it’s the exact same side that won the 2013 grand final, save for retired Luke O’Donnell who is replaced by Dylan Napa.
Dally M Winger of the Year Roger Tuivasa-Sheck has been declared fit despite suffering a leg fracture in November, while the likes of Michael Jennings, James Maloney, Mitchell Pearce, Jake Friend, Boyd Cordner and Sonny Bill Williams are all at full fitness and raring to go.
The Bunnies have been less fortunate with injuries – gun youngster Luke Keary suffered a torn pec during the Auckland Nines, while there’s also a question mark over halfback Adam Reynolds, who hurt his knee at training and is in doubt.
It also remains to be seen how Sam Burgess shapes up after news he’ll be leaving for rugby union at the end of the season.
It certainly hasn’t seemed slow down his irrepressible brother, George, who was dominant in his side’s pre-season victory over the Dragons in the Charity Shield. They’ll line-up alongside each other in the front row.
Emotions will be high as always when these sides clash, but in the end I think the Rabbitohs’ disrupted preparation will be exposed by a Roosters side carrying its 2013 form into the new season.
Roosters by 10.
Who will take first blood in season 2014? Join us for live scores and commentary from 8:05pm AEDT, and be sure to give us your opinion in the space below if you’re watching.
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