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The South Sydney Rabbitohs dealt the Newcastle Knights another blow on Sunday, winning by 22 points.
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Final score
Knights 12
Rabbitohs 34
The more than struggling Newcastle Knights play host to the South Sydney Rabbitohs this afternoon for your dose of Sunday arvo footy. Join The Roar from 4pm (AEST) for all the live highlights and action.
It may be Old Boys Day in Newcastle for the club, but the Knights have lost their last 16 games on the trot and don’t look to be in good shape to celebrate the occasion that the players and fans thrive on each year.
The Knights fought hard last week against the Titans, but a slow start cost them in the end, going down by 20 to add to that rather impressive record run of losses.
The Rabbitohs have faired much better in recent times after a disappointing overall season. The Bunnies took down competition heavyweights Cronulla last week after beating the Warriors in Round 23.
Even the week before that they only lost to league leaders Melbourne by a single point, showing off the form and ability that had them entrenched in the finals over the past seasons.
These two faced off earlier in the year, back in Round 2, with the Rabbitohs trampling the hapless Newcastle side 48-6 – the first real signs for Newcastle in what would turn out to be a record year of conceding points.
That loss was their sixth in a row against the Rabbits, having not beaten them in four years.
Unsurprisingly, the Knights have the worst defence in the competition (conceding over 33 points per game) and second worst attack, but the Rabbitohs are fifth and fourth last in those same disciplines.
To give the Knights fans something to get behind, Newcastle have only lost four of their last home games in 16 years since 2000.
Team News
Knights veteran playmaker Jarrod Mullen returns to boost his side this week from a leg injury, pushing youngster Will Pearsall out of the side.
Nathan Ross and Dani Levi will also miss out this week for Newcastle, Ross with a suspension and Levi undergoing back surgery.
Cory Denniss and Pat Mata’utia both make their way into the side for Ross and Levi. Denniss will go out onto the wing while Mata’utia finds a spot on the bench.
For the Rabbitohs, coach Michael Maguire has kept his starting 17 from last week, but announced an extended bench including Cameron McInnes, David Tyrrell and Zane Musgrove.
Prediction
Newcastle have a strong record in their final home game, but their numbers against the Rabbitohs in recent years and a certain losing streak are all working against them.
While South Sydney haven’t had the year they wanted, they’re still a very strong side and they’ve proven as much in the last two weeks. They should be too good against a scrappy Knights outfit.
Rabbitohs to win by 22