After a painful preliminary final loss to Manly last year, the South Sydney Rabbitohs road to premiership redemption begins tonight when they face the St George Illawarra Dragons in the Charity Shield.
Join us for live scores and commentary from 5.00pm AEDT.
Tonight’s contest represents a great opportunity to witness how both South Sydney and St George Illawarra will line-up when the NRL season kicks off in March.
The Rabbitohs in particular face a selection dilemma in the halves with first choice five-eighth Luke Keary already out for five months with a pectoral injury.
Keary’s absence is a big blow for the Rabbitohs, but it hasn’t stopped coach Michael McGuire from naming last season’s five-eighth John Sutton at lock for tonight’s contest.
Rising star Dylan Walker has instead been opted to partner Adam Reynolds despite playing most of his first grade football at centre.
Although Walker has played at five-eighth at U-20 level, directing an NRL side around the park will prove to be one of the biggest challenges of his young career.
Given that it is his first game at five-eighth, expect Walker to run the ball frequently tonight while Reynolds assumes the majority of the playmaking responsibilities.
If the Walker experiment doesn’t pay off tonight, it will certainly be interesting to see if coach McGuire resists the temptation to move Sutton back into the halves.
The Dragons meanwhile are playing at home and will be keen to provide fans with some much needed optimism heading into the new season with a win tonight.
Of key interest to Dragons fans will be the performance of new recruit Gareth Widdop.
The Englishman built a solid reputation during his time at the Melbourne Storm and will be expected to add some much needed direction to the Dragons attack.
Widdop’s combination with Josh Dugan in particular will go a long way to dictating whether or not the Dragons have the firepower to beat the very best teams this season.
With a good Wollongong crowd expected, the Dragons might be primed for a big performance heading into the new season and may do just enough to cause the upset.
Prediction: Dragons by 4
Walter Penninger
Roar Guru
Souths have won the Charity shield and were very charitable to the Dragons as they ran out the game.
Alan
Roar Guru
A solid second half from the Dragons but the Rabbitohs far too good today, running out easy 38-20 winners over their great rivals. The Burgess brothers very solid today. Teo also very strong. Sutton ran the team well throughout the contest with Walker. The Dragons with plenty to work on in attack. Very flat footed at times in attack. Defence needs strengthening as well. Good hit out for the red v though against a quality opponent. Thanks for your company and Join us later for the Roosters - Wigan at 8.00pm Dragons 20 Rabbitohs 38
Alan
Roar Guru
FULLTIME Dragons 20 Rabbitohs 38
Alan
Roar Guru
80' - Dragons finishing with attacking intent as Morris kicks ahead but Merritt gathers possession for the bunnies. Dragons 20 Rabbitohs 38
Alan
Roar Guru
CONVERSION SUCCESSFUL - Widdop converts nicely Dragons 20 Rabbitohs 38
Alan
Roar Guru
TRY DRAGONS - Another try here for Mata'utai and the Dragons finishing strongly Dragons 18 Rabbitohs 38
Alan
Roar Guru
78' - Flat ball and the ball is loose. Mata'utai now goes and scores his second in the corner! video referee Dragons 14 Rabbitohs 38
Alan
Roar Guru
76' - Merrin with another good offload to Widdop. Dragons on the attack. Widdop with a good grubber and the bunnies bat the ball dead. Dragons 14 Rabbitohs 38
Alan
Roar Guru
75' - Shocking pass from dummy-half ends up in the hands of Picker and the bunnies claim possession. Gee lucky this is a trial. Dragons 14 Rabbitohs 38
Alan
Roar Guru
74' - Forward pass to Burgess and the Dragons back on the attack and with a chance to finish the game with the wet sail Dragons 14 Rabbitohs 38
Alan
Roar Guru
72' - Widdop loses possession and the bunnies get the ball back. Scrum. Dragons 14 Rabbitohs 38
Alan
Roar Guru
Luke kicks out on the full from the kickoff and the Dragons go on the attack from the halfway. Dragons 14 Rabbitohs 38
Alan
Roar Guru
Quinlan the scorer for the Dragons after being well set up by Merrin. Merrin a class forward. Right up there with the best the NRL has to offer. CONVERSION SUCCESSFUL - Widdop converts Dragons 14 Rabbitohs 38
Alan
Roar Guru
TRY DRAGONS - Dragons go on the attack as they win the penalty. Merrin with a great charge eventually finds support and the Dragons score again! Dragons 12 Rabbitohs 38
Alan
Roar Guru
66' - Dragons finally show some steel in defence as they hold out the bunnies here. Good goal line defence Dragons 8 Rabbitohs 38
Alan
Roar Guru
64' - good offload from Harrison allows the Dragons to make good yardage. Hunt though pushed backwards by Te'o and George Burgess. Rabbitohs get the 20 metre tap. Dragons 8 Rabbitohs 38
Alan
Roar Guru
CONVERSION UNSUCCESSFUL - Mata'uita the scorer for the Dragons. Spelling got me in a bind. Widdop wide again Dragons 8 Rabbitohs 38
Alan
Roar Guru
TRY DRAGONS - Dragons on the attack. Widdop with a great pass to Maieta who scores! Dragons 4 Rabbitohs 38
Alan
Roar Guru
60' - Sutton goes crossfield and Nightingale gathers possession and its a 20 metre tap. Zero tackle remember. That's the new rule Dragons 4 Rabbitohs 38
Alan
Roar Guru
59' - Well haven't I been made to look like a fool. I tipped the Dragons for some reason but the bunnies have flexed their muscle here and have shown that the gap between them and the Dragons is immense heading into the new season. Rabbitohs back on the attack Dragons 4 Rabbitohs 38