Expert
The Canberra Raiders have further enhanced their resume for the NRL season with a thumping 50-point win over South Sydney.
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Final score
Rabbitohs 4
Raiders 54
Pressure is off for the South Sydney Rabbitohs who dropped out of finals contention last week as they host the in-form Canberra Raiders, trying to keep their spot in the top four. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 2pm (AEST).
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The Rabbitohs, sitting 13th place on just 14 competition points have no chance of making the finals.
With the qualification point generally being 28, even winning every game from here on out will leave Souths on 26 points meaning the finals are now a stretch too far.
Either way, winning every game seems like a pipe dream. The Rabbitohs have been playing ordinary football for much of the season so far and it hasn’t been getting much better given they have now lost their last seven in a row.
They lack direction and execution in attack and any strength in defence, leaving them playing from behind more often than not and struggling to hold pace – being held scoreless against the North Queensland Cowboys last start added to their woes.
The Raiders on the other hand have played well above expectations this season coming into the round in the top four, although temporarily being removed by the Bulldogs. A win here though gets them back in.
Their form couldn’t be more different to the Rabbitohs either, as they come in on the back of four straight victories including over the Cowboys and New Zealand Warriors in a golden point game last time out.
Their attack has been exciting, defence on the mark and they are looking like one of the better teams behind the top three, considered the only ones that could win the premiership by many.
Aiden Sezer and Blake Austin are playing brilliantly and with everyone living up to expectation there is no reason the Raiders can’t go well into September this year.
In team news, the Raiders are unchanged as named on Tuesday, however Shaun Fensom played for Mounties yesterday.
The Rabbitohs have dropped Joe Burgess, with Michael Oldfield set to replace him while Zane Musgrove has been named to play at prop. Meanwhile, both Damien Cook and Jack Gosiewski have been named on an extended bench.
The sides are yet to face off this year but the overall head-to-head gives the Raiders a slight advantage which tips the scales even more so in their favour for this clash.
Prediction
South Sydney have been a bit of a rabble for most of the season, and while the likes of Adam Reynolds and Cody Walker could stand up, they have been underperforming and it is difficult to see them doing so. The Raiders attack with Austin and Sezer at the helm should have far too much for Souths.
Raiders by 14.
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Follow Scott on Twitter @sk_pryde