The South Sydney Rabbitohs will look to maintain their position on top of the NRL ladder when they clash against a Canberra Raiders side that has struggled to play its best away from home. Join us for live scores and commentary from 7.45pm AEST.
Despite being understrength last week, South Sydney still ran out convincing 30-10 winners over Parramatta and remain well on course to secure the minor premiership.
The Rabbitohs welcome back stars Greg Inglis, Nathan Merritt, Chris McQueen and Ben Te’o from Origin duty and should be favoured to fire against a Raiders team with a terrible away record this season.
Canberra on their day can be a genuine darkhorse for the premiership but their inability to play their best away from home raises huge concerns about their capacity to make the top eight, let alone challenge for the premiership.
The Raiders were awful against the injury ravaged Tigers last week and a repeat of such a performance will see them get thumped by South Sydney tonight.
Prediction
Whether this game ends up being a cracking contest or not will largely come down to which Raiders side turns up.
Canberra’s victory over Melbourne at AAMI Park earlier in the year showcases just how deadly the Raiders can be when they set their minds to the task.
When the Raiders are off however, they lose all direction in attack and lack the intensity required in defence to really cause teams trouble.
This was evident last week in Canberra’s shocking loss to the Tigers in a game they really should have won if they were to consider themselves serious finals contenders.
For the Raiders to stand a chance of causing the upset tonight, they will simply have to turn up with the same mindset and belief that allowed them to defeat Melbourne away from home.
If they can do that, Canberra will push South Sydney and we may be in for a cracking and high scoring contest as a result.
Anything less however and the Rabbitohs could easily rack up a cricket score tonight if Canberra are not careful.
Rabbitohs by 12.
Trent
Guest
Luke playd^^
jamesb
Guest
Not a bad win by the Bunnies. Especially when you consider the players they had out tonight. Luke and George Burgess, Everingham, King, Crocker, Farrell, Champion, McQueen and promising youngster Luke Keary. The rabbits have depth!
Fra-Dog
Roar Rookie
Rabbitohs continue to roll on!
Nathan of Perth
Guest
Given the conditions, they'd be very happy with that.
Planko
Guest
Sounds like a good game i would have taken North Qld out not Warriors ? Are you going to go ?
Alan
Roar Guru
The Rabbitohs were very professional in tough conditions tonight and secured a 32-2 victory over a Raiders side that was once again poor away from home. Raiders certainly had chances to post points but they either fumbled possession way too often or took the wrong options in attack. Rabbitohs however far more clinical, with Sutton and Reynolds in particular dictating terms brilliantly with their strong kicking games. I think they deserve to be in the reckoning for Origin 3. Thanks for your company tonight and join us tomorrow for Tigers - Storm Rabbitohs 32 Raiders 2
Planko
Guest
Well done souths easy winners
Nathan of Perth
Guest
32-2, brilliant work Souths!
Alan
Roar Guru
NO TRY RAIDERS - Ball touched the line and the Rabbitohs too strong yet again FULLTIME Rabbitohs 32 Raiders 2
Alan
Roar Guru
80' - McCrone with a grubber and Robinson may have scored in the corner but I think the ball went dead first. video referee Rabbitohs 32 Raiders 2
Nathan of Perth
Guest
Well over-cooked.
Alan
Roar Guru
79' - Walker nearly gets away but he loses possession. Raiders recover the football and will be desperate to hear the full time whistle so they can get back to Canberra and start winning matches again! Rabbitohs 32 Raiders 2
Alan
Roar Guru
78' - Campese with a kick and its out on the full. That sums up Canberra's night to be honest. Poor yet again. Rabbitohs 32 Raiders 2
Alan
Roar Guru
77' - Sutton with a kick and Milford gathers possession for Canberra. Rabbitohs just bullying the Raiders here Rabbitohs 32 Raiders 2
Nathan of Perth
Guest
Take me home, Botany Road! Back to where, I belong! Back to Redfern, South of Sydney, take me home, Botany Road!
Alan
Roar Guru
76' - Raiders back on the attack. Rabbitohs with numbers everywhere though. McCrone with a grubber and Merritt gathers possession and spread the football in his in-goal and Inglis eventually gets out of the field of play and is back toward the 10 metre line Rabbitohs 32 Raiders 2
Nathan of Perth
Guest
Botany Road sings out!
Alan
Roar Guru
75' - Raiders on the attack but their play with the football has been woeful tonight. Can they score here? They lose possession yet again and the Rabbitohs recover the football Rabbitohs 32 Raiders 2
Nathan of Perth
Guest
Good old fashioned thrashing!
Alan
Roar Guru
73' - Reynolds has to be very close to an Origin jersey for NSW. Game 3 perhaps? Rabbitohs enjoying themselves now. Very solid effort tonight. Sutton with a shocking bomb and the ball bounces into touch Rabbitohs 32 Raiders 2