Good Friday sees a 2014 grand final rematch as the Canterbury Bulldogs take on the South Sydney Rabbitohs at ANZ Stadium, Homebush. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 3:45pm (AEDT).
Both sides have got off to a very good start in 2015. The Bulldogs are coming off a golden-point win against the Wests Tigers, thanks to a Moses Mbye field goal.
The win leaves the Bulldogs with a record of three wins and one loss after four rounds, sitting comfortably in the top four.
Meanwhile, the Rabbitohs launched their 2015 season with crushing wins over the Brisbane Broncos, the Sydney Roosters and the Wests Tigers. However talk of an undefeated season were ended last Friday to the Parramatta Eels at a packed Pirtek Stadium. The Bunnies now sit, like the Bulldogs, inside the top four with three wins and one loss.
The Bulldogs welcome back Josh Reynolds from injury, meaning last week’s match-winner Mbye will have to settle for being the 18th man, a harsh blow for the young man, who has been in excellent form. Other players returning for the Bulldogs include centre Tim Lafai and star fullback Brett Morris, who both missed last week’s win.
The Bulldogs have named a six-man bench, with Antonio Kaufusi dropping out of the side. Corey Thompson being named on the bench hints that there are some question marks over the fitness of both Lafai and Morris.
Meanwhile, the Rabbitohs have an unchanged 17 from their first loss of the season, with only Jason Clark and Nathan Brown added to the extended interchange bench.
The home ground advantage or lack thereof for this game is one factor to take into account, as both teams use ANZ Stadium as their base. With a massive Good Friday crowd expected, the ‘Kennel’ and the ‘Burrow’ will no doubt be making a lot of noise and there should be a cracking atmosphere.
Brett Morris versus Greg Inglis is a mouth-watering battle. Both have had impressive starts to the season and will be hard players to stop in defence. The way the pair connect with their halves will also go a long way to deciding the match. The only question mark over this battle is the potential fitness of Brett Morris.
Prediction
Despite the return of Josh Reynolds and the injury to Dylan Walker, the Rabbitohs should be a fraction too strong for the Bulldogs.
Rabbitohs by 4 in a close battle.
Join us here on The Roar from 3:45pm (AEDT) and be sure to leave your comments throughout the match.
Shame on James Graham
Guest
Well said 'Jacksyd' As a long time player of this sport I find the conduct of James Graham disgusting. There is so much more to this sports than cheap shots. How this pattern of behaviour is allowed to continue is outrageous. So how do the Bulldogs handle players who conduct themselves in this manner.....make them Captain! What kind of role model is James Graham for our kids playing the sport? Simply said, "Rugby League would be better without James Graham".
Mitch
Guest
The Rabbits player clearly pushed Morris extending the arms, clear as a day. If we are going to dissect the rules on the penalty that gave Souths the win why not dissect them and clearly see it was an illegal push. Now the refs where there they should have clearly called it. Scott, if he was in fact offside then why wasn't it called. It all proves the point the so called best refs are incompetent at best. "Souths cannot lose" is the new theme of the WWE. This game is fast running out of excuses, Gold Coast will soon go to AFL and the rest can live in denial.
Lachlan
Guest
Well, I'm a Bulldogs fan and I the referees dudded Souths. Morris should have been binned and McQueen was taken out illegally. This is fun. Thanks Steohen.
Steohen1978
Guest
I don't think that specific incident is what lost them the game. There are 2 other ref calls that lost them the game 1. The penalty that let sths even the scores up 16-16 was never a penalty. The ref got lichaa for holding down when he clearly didn't have a hand on him 2. The penalty that should have been given for josh Morris being pushed from the short kickoff. I'm a sths fan but the better team lost on the day due to silly refereeing decisions
SpongeBob
Guest
I've watched it again and Josh throws it at Reynolds as he's going back for the kickoff.
Scott Pryde
Expert
8-10 weeks is a bit much isn't it? I agree with the last sentence, for the Rabbitohs to be even in that game in the closing 10 minutes was an incredible feat in itself.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Catprog, This is what I have heard this morning as well. I have also just seen that some vision that it should have been a penalty to the Rabbitohs as Josh Morris was in fact offside after the kick off.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Yep, he should have been put in the bin after the 8 point try, but at the end he should have gone with Klemmer.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Yep, at the end of the day it doesn't really matter if it was accidental or not.
Scott Pryde
Expert
When I first saw the tackle I was against the penalty as I said in my blog. After watching some replays it was a penalty no doubt about it, and after reading some comments I can see that the penalty goal was taken in the correct position. So apologies to every one reading yesterday thinking what was this guy on about.
Scott Pryde
Expert
No problems BrumbyJack
Scott Pryde
Expert
Jack, On your point about Graham receiving 4-6 weeks my opinion of it as that yes he should cop some weeks for the tackle, but he should also get at least a week for showing dissent to the referees. That was disgusting behaviour from he and Klemmer.
Jacksyd
Guest
Read the rule book on the section covering attacking the legs of another player whilst attempting to kick the ball. Graham knew exactly what he was doing. Looking away at point of impact was an attempt to make it look innocent. The ignorant section of the bulldog fans should get a copy of the rules book and look up the section on attacking the legs of a player attempting to kick the ball. Should rightfully cop 4-6 weeks for this. It was a calculated attempt to break Adam Reynold's leg. Add to this; Biting Billy Slater's ear. Liverpool kiss on Burgess in GF- broken cheek bone Liverpool kiss on Tyrrell in GF- knocked him out Liverpool kiss on Tyrrell in R7 2014- knocked him out All coincidences? Wake up people.
BrumbyJack
Guest
Thanks for clarifying Scott.
john badseed
Guest
I have a slightly used tin foil hat, unused since 2013, I can pass on to you.
john badseed
Guest
next they'll have us believe dodgy refereeing handed a team a recent premiership.
Renegade
Roar Guru
Of course, but the leaders of the club are setting the example to follow....
Jay C
Roar Guru
Yeah
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
You don't blame the fans?
Prometheus
Guest
James Graham by his own words has said on several occasions he gets carried away by the emotion at times in games. This bloke seems to go into tackles with an absolute disregard to the safety of the player he is tackling. He has a history of head clashes from previous games. Let's not forget the biting accident. As well as some other incidents. The tackle on Reynolds was illegal every day of the week. The penalty was the correct decision you simply cannot come into contact the kickers legs The question is if the tackle was deliberate, accidental, or careless. I used to think it was accidental but given the frequency he is involved in these types of incidents I now think it is somewhere between careless and deliberate. Closer to deliberate.