Traditional rivals the Sydney Roosters and South Sydney Rabbitohs face off at Allianz Stadium, with both teams out to secure the best finals position possible. Join The Roar from 7:30pm (AEST) for live coverage.
The Roosters are well on their way to a third consecutive minor premiership, and a win over arch-enemies South Sydney will secure it.
The Bondi boys are coming off a 36-point win over the Manly Sea Eagles 46-10, done without the injured Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and Mitchell Pearce. But if rookies Jackson Hastings and Brendan Elliot continue their electric form, the Roosters will be unstoppable.
In the only change to Trent Robinson’s side, Michael Jennings returns from suspension at centre, pushing Mitchell Aubusson back onto the bench and Matt McIlwrick to 18th man.
The Rabbitohs are at seventh place, on equal points with the Storm and Bulldogs, yet still have a chance of making the top four if they win tonight and other results go their way.
They will likely struggle however, coming off a 12-47 thumping at the hands of the second-placed Brisbane Broncos last Thursday night.
Rabbitohs co-captains John Sutton and Greg Inglis are both injured, however Inglis may make an expected return tonight. Issac Luke is also out due to suspension, while Ben Lowe has retired.
Michael Maguire has named Cameron McInnes and Chris McQueen to start at hooker and back row, replacing Luke and Sutton respectively, while Paul Carter is 18th man.
The big match-up comes in the halves, with the Roosters’ combination of James Maloney and Jackson Hastings to go head-to-head with Luke Keary and Adam Reynolds.
Since 1998, the Roosters and Rabbitohs have met in 30 games, the Roosters winning 20, Souths victorious in only 10. Their most recent match-up came in Round 2, when the Rabbitohs were 34-26 winners.
Prediction
The Roosters will claim the minor premiership with an impressive win over the Rabbitohs.
Roosters by 10.
Join The Roar from 7:30pm (AEST) for score updates and debate in our live blog.
DB
Guest
If you're going to penalise them, you'll have to penalise every team because all teams are equally guilty of not playing the ball correctly.
Paul Winch
Guest
The Roosters do not play the ball. They roll it quickly back and fake playing it with the foot. This not only minimises mistakes but gives them quick play the balls to catch opponents on the back foot. Why aren't they penalised? It's cheating!
Samtwocan
Guest
The Roosters will not get beaten again this year .. And I wont be yawning at any given time...
Riley Pettigrew
Roar Guru
MAN OF THE MATCH: SAM MOA
Cugel
Roar Rookie
"Roosters are a class above every other side in the comp" Seems that way, finals are looking a bit of a yawnfest as result.
Zaccaa
Guest
Rabbitohs of old ?
eagleJack
Roar Guru
From a neutrals perspective I didn't find the 2nd half boring at all. The Roosters clearly changed tactics to work on their defensive structures, with repeat efforts. Was a clear sign that they are ahead of the pack heading into the finals, and showed a poor Rabbitohs outfit the respect they deserved.
Riley Pettigrew
Roar Guru
THE SYDNEY ROOSTERS ARE 2015 MINOR PREMIERS
Riley Pettigrew
Roar Guru
FULL-TIME The Roosters got off to a thrilling start against traditional rivals South Sydney with an early try going the way of Michael Jennings. South Sydney may have had a plethora of stars on the sideline but it was the Roosters who were needing the numbers as their jerseys began to fall apart. It wasn’t enough to stop them however with Blake Ferguson crashing over soon after. Boyd Cordner and Jake Friend were next to score, the Rabbitohs not even attempting to stop them. Aidan Guerra scored before the siren to put the Roosters’ in front by 30 points at the break. The second half was ordinary with no highlights coming. In one of the most boring 40 minutes of the year, it was errors and penalties galore. James Maloney and Dylan Napa are on report, Chris McQueen was sent to the sin-bin. The Roosters have held the Rabbitohs to nil with a 30-point win. Sydney Roosters 30 South Sydney Rabbitohs 0
jamesb
Guest
Roosters doing well in third party agreements, but they are losing RTS and Maloney.
eagleJack
Roar Guru
Roosters are a class above every other side in the comp. Robinson obviously wanted them to aim up in defence in the 2nd half with the game in the bag. Geez Moa and Napa can hit! Can't see any other side taking the premiership but stranger things have happened
Ben Smith
Guest
Roosters home game and they can only put on 30 points on the Rabbitohs! Have they lost their touch already?? They will be lucky to get past the Sharks that's for sure.
Riley Pettigrew
Roar Guru
FULL-TIME The Roosters have secured the minor premiership with a 30-point victory Sydney Roosters 30 South Sydney Rabbitohs 0
MJB
Guest
God this game is bollocks.
Riley Pettigrew
Roar Guru
NO TRY! 78' Hastings goes through the line, the decision goes upstairs, on-field decision is try. The halfback failed to ground the ball Sydney Roosters 30 South Sydney Rabbitohs 0
Riley Pettigrew
Roar Guru
78' This game has turned into an affair riddled by errors and penalties. One of the most unentertaining games of the season and Souths' worst game all season. Sydney Roosters 30 South Sydney Rabbitohs 0
Bronco Juggernaut
Guest
Disgraceful. Should be 30,000+
Riley Pettigrew
Roar Guru
76′ Knock-on RTS, South Sydney scrum-feed Sydney Roosters 30 South Sydney Rabbitohs 0
john neeson
Guest
thank goodness the salary cap has made the comp more even
Riley Pettigrew
Roar Guru
74' Penalty against the Rabbitohs, this second half has been pretty bland Sydney Roosters 30 South Sydney Rabbitohs 0