The stage is set at ANZ Stadium as fierce Sydney rivals the Canterbury Bulldogs and South Sydney Rabbitohs clash for the right to feature in the 2012 NRL grand final. Join us for NRL live scores and commentary from 7:30pm AEST.
An expected crowd of 70,000 will pack into ANZ stadium to witness what should be a tight and absorbing preliminary final between the Bulldogs and Rabbitohs.
Canterbury earned a week off following their strong victory over Manly in the first week of the playoffs and come into this clash with fresh legs.
South Sydney meanwhile bounced back from their loss to Melbourne a fortnight ago, cruising to a 38-16 victory over the inform Raiders last week.
Having secured their first finals win in over 20 years, the Rabbitohs will be desperate to go one step further and secure passage to their first grand final since 1971.
Expect plenty of niggle tonight between two sides blessed with strong mobile forwards capable of firing up their respective sides with a strong charge or big hit.
The battle between the hookers tonight should be intriguing, with Michael Ennis and Issac Luke expected to be at each other’s throats from the opening whistle.
Elsewhere, Sam Kasiano, James Graham and Frank Pritchard will line up against Rabbitohs forwards Sam Burgess, Dave Taylor and Michael Crocker.
The preceding forwards are all game breakers with each possessing the ability to offload in traffic or pass before the line.
If both sets of forwards play to their potential, the Rabbitohs and Bulldogs will fancy their chances of scoring tries given the wonderful attacking arsenal that both teams possess.
Bulldogs stars Krisnan Inu, Josh Morris and Ben Barba are all in terrific form and will burn South Sydney on the edges if the Bulldogs manage to kick start some second phase play.
The Rabbitohs however are also capable of inflicting just as much damage on the scoreboard, with Greg Inglis, Nathan Merritt and Andrew Everingham all deadly runners of the football when given the space to do so.
Although both teams are evenly matched in attack, the Bulldogs do possess an important advantage in defence, conceding 369 points this season in comparison to South Sydney’s 438.
Such statistics show that the Bulldogs are capable of withstanding pressure as evidenced by their strong defensive performance against Manly two weeks ago.
The Rabbitohs however remain an enigma in defence. They were never in the contest against Melbourne two weeks ago and it will be interesting to see how well they handle pressure when they face a Bulldogs side that plays with the same level of discipline and composure as their Storm counterparts.
If South Sydney can remain composed in defence, the Rabbitohs may just possess enough firepower to get over the Bulldogs tonight and secure a long awaited grand final birth.
If Canterbury though can score an early try and play the percentages well, South Sydney may get frustrated and produce the errors necessary that will allow the Bulldogs to pounce.
Overall, tonight’s contest should be a blockbuster between two teams capable of going on and winning the premiership. The Rabbitohs however have been building towards a big performance and may finally deliver on the big stage against Canterbury.
Rabbitohs by 6
Matt
Guest
They did at the 50th minute mark or some random time just before I switched to something else. They did not replay it at the time, nor did they at half time (they only showed the end snippet). They smother the defence with attackers who touch the defenders, then pass it behind them. You cannot touch a defender if you're a decoy, it's a black and white rule. Doesn't matter if they're 20m away, you can't run into them.
BA Sports
Guest
they did replay the play before the try and there was no obstruction. I looked closely for it given the Dogs push the boundaries with their style play.
shamball
Guest
yep you can judge what's really happening in a game by what 9 is not showing or talking about. as fascinating as playing the ball is, i would like to see just how far back the referees make opposing teams stand from it, but this is rarely shown by 9.
Rip Van Winkle
Guest
Looks like the AFL propaganda about outdrawing the NRL at ANZ failed miserably. Ouch, reality check.
Tahlia
Guest
I am so glad the bulldogs won gOod luck next week I have a felling it wil be a close game and good luck to all
Alan
Roar Guru
Canterbury have outplayed the Rabbitohs to the tune of 32-8 and will contest next week's decider against Melbourne. The Bulldogs were the better team throughout the night and deserve this win. The Rabbitohs were on top middway through the first half but the injury to Reynolds really hurt their chances big time. South Sydney really had no direction in attack and lost their way as the Bulldogs powered their way to victory. The Bulldogs pack was superb tonight with Tolman, Graham, Stagg, Kasiano, Eastwood and Pritchard all superb. They will take a power of stopping next week! Hasler once again has led his side to a Grand Final and he resumes his rivalry with coaching great Craig Bellamy. The Rabbitohs did well to hang on in the second half but were never really in the contest after Perrett scored the first try of the second half. Thanks for your company tonight and don't forget to join us next week for the NRL grand final on The Roar. Bulldogs 32 Rabbitohs 8
NF
Guest
Didn't expect a shocker from Souths maybe the occasion got to them. Bulldogs to win GF.
Alan
Roar Guru
CONVERSION SUCCESSFUL FULLTIME: Bulldogs 32 Rabbitohs 8 Bulldogs will play the Storm in next week's Grand Final. What a final that should be!
JR Salazar
Guest
What a joke of a performance from the Rabbitohs. Melbourne might be in for it next week.
Alan
Roar Guru
TRY BULLDOGS - Eastwood races away and he scores after the Rabbitohs muck up possession yet again! Story of the night to be honest! Bulldogs 30 Rabbitohs 8
Alan
Roar Guru
79' - Bulldogs back on the attack as the Rabbitohs make another error. Bulldogs really should score now but they muck up play yet again as the football goes loose and Merritt is ankle tapped without the football and that's almost a professional foul! Bulldogs 26 Rabbitohs 8
Alan
Roar Guru
78' - Barba kicks ahead and he finds touch easily as the clock winds down. Rabbitohs fans will leave very dissapointed tonight as the stadium starts to empty itself Bulldogs 26 Rabbitohs 8
Alan
Roar Guru
77' - How will the Rabbitohs bounce back next season? Can they go one step further next year? Barba defuses another bomb and the little magician has been solid tonight Bulldogs 26 Rabbitohs 8
Alan
Roar Guru
75' - Referee rules a knock on against South Sydney and the Bulldogs will get the scrum and this has been the second half from hell for South Sydney. They failed to recover after the injury to Reynolds. Keating with a little kick and nearly finds Perrett out wide but the footbal goes dead just! Bulldogs 26 Rabbitohs 8
Alan
Roar Guru
74' - Inu with a field goal attempt but its charged down but the Bulldogs regather possession and get six again and remain on the attack. Surely there is another try in the Bulldogs... Bulldogs 26 Rabbitohs 8
2BB (AKA 2 Bob Billy)
Guest
Burgess is a penalty magnet and from his second penalty in first half it was all down hill and I knew Bunnies would lose. Dogs scored off the set of six after that second Burgess penalty. Stupid, thick, over paid. He has some mates out there as well...Crocker Some poor refereeing decisions tonight (same old) but the better team has won. You can't reward stupidity...you need to bury it
Alan
Roar Guru
74' - Bulldogs back on the attack as Burgess loses possession thanks to a strong hit from the Bulldogs defence. Eastwood with the hit there. Bulldogs muscling their way toward victory Bulldogs 26 Rabbitohs 8
Johnno
Guest
dave taylor and IDRIS the BIGGEST DUDS IN THE NRL. Both going to to be at Gold cost next year. So glad the dogs got rid of Idris, both duds will ruin the gold coast salary cap.
Alan
Roar Guru
73' - Stagg passes to Inu but he fails to control possession as the football goes over the sideline. Both teams just playing out the clock here as the Bulldogs look ahead to the GF. Game has lost its intensity. Bulldogs 26 Rabbitohs 8
p.Tah
Guest
Burgess is having shocker