The Canberra Raiders have further enhanced their resume for the NRL season with a thumping 50-point win over South Sydney.
» Click here to read the full match report
Final score
Rabbitohs 4
Raiders 54
Pressure is off for the South Sydney Rabbitohs who dropped out of finals contention last week as they host the in-form Canberra Raiders, trying to keep their spot in the top four. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 2pm (AEST).
Read more:
» NRL talking points from the weekend
» The Wrap: Super Rugby semi-finals
» AFL talking points from Round 19
The Rabbitohs, sitting 13th place on just 14 competition points have no chance of making the finals.
With the qualification point generally being 28, even winning every game from here on out will leave Souths on 26 points meaning the finals are now a stretch too far.
Either way, winning every game seems like a pipe dream. The Rabbitohs have been playing ordinary football for much of the season so far and it hasn’t been getting much better given they have now lost their last seven in a row.
They lack direction and execution in attack and any strength in defence, leaving them playing from behind more often than not and struggling to hold pace – being held scoreless against the North Queensland Cowboys last start added to their woes.
The Raiders on the other hand have played well above expectations this season coming into the round in the top four, although temporarily being removed by the Bulldogs. A win here though gets them back in.
Their form couldn’t be more different to the Rabbitohs either, as they come in on the back of four straight victories including over the Cowboys and New Zealand Warriors in a golden point game last time out.
Their attack has been exciting, defence on the mark and they are looking like one of the better teams behind the top three, considered the only ones that could win the premiership by many.
Aiden Sezer and Blake Austin are playing brilliantly and with everyone living up to expectation there is no reason the Raiders can’t go well into September this year.
In team news, the Raiders are unchanged as named on Tuesday, however Shaun Fensom played for Mounties yesterday.
The Rabbitohs have dropped Joe Burgess, with Michael Oldfield set to replace him while Zane Musgrove has been named to play at prop. Meanwhile, both Damien Cook and Jack Gosiewski have been named on an extended bench.
The sides are yet to face off this year but the overall head-to-head gives the Raiders a slight advantage which tips the scales even more so in their favour for this clash.
Prediction
South Sydney have been a bit of a rabble for most of the season, and while the likes of Adam Reynolds and Cody Walker could stand up, they have been underperforming and it is difficult to see them doing so. The Raiders attack with Austin and Sezer at the helm should have far too much for Souths.
Raiders by 14.
Be sure to join The Roar from 2pm (AEST) for live coverage of this all important Round 21 match and don’t forget to get involved by adding a comment below.
Follow Scott on Twitter @sk_pryde
Jacksyd
Guest
Is it safe to say its only the 4th time you have said that this year?
Jacksyd
Guest
Gave away my roosters gear after round 3 for the same reason.
Muzz
Guest
What a great round of footy.
Big J
Guest
Anyone what a rabbits hat, flag and Jersey selling cheap can't support this lot anyone, this is getting embrassing
Scott Pryde
Expert
» Click here to read our NRL talking points from the weekend » Click here to read the full match report Final Score Canberra Raiders 54 South Sydney Rabbitohs 4
Dingo McNumbat
Roar Rookie
Good lord no. But it will be nice to see them have a finals run for this first time since... 2012?
Jono
Guest
Save Whitehead's second try it wasn't an overly flashy game from the Raiders, yet they put on 50 points. I don't mind that. They just played a fairly simple game and got it done because the Rabbitohs were their own worst enemy. That is something they have failed to do more often than not this year. They have let big leads either get run down or close to in positions where they really shouldn't have. Major tests in the next two weeks. If the Raiders can win or at least run close to winning against the Sharks and Storm it would be a positive sign for them going deep into the finals.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Feel sorry for you mate - tough day today.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Full report to come - stay tuned for that. Thanks for joining me this afternoon here on The Roar for our live coverage of the 2016 NRL season as the Canberra Raiders demolished the South Sydney Rabbitohs by 50 points. Hopefully you enjoyed the coverage. Round 21 continues now with Riley Pettigrew taking you through the Manly Sea Eagles vs Newcastle Knights clash - http://www.theroar.com.au/2016/07/31/manly-sea-eagles-vs-newcastle-knights-nrl-live-scores-blog-4/ I'll be back next weekend and during the week as Sri Lanka take on Australia in the cricket. Bye for now.
Steve C
Guest
Wow - I'm a long time Rabbits fan, not much joy here!
Scott Pryde
Expert
The Roar's NRL MVP 3 - Elliot Whitehead 2 - Aiden Sezer 1 - Jordan Rapana
Scott Pryde
Expert
STATS Tries: Rabbitohs (1), Raiders (10) Goals: Rabbitohs (0/1), Raiders (7/10) Possession: Rabbitohs (39%), Raiders (61%) Completions: Rabbitohs (19/27), Raiders (31/36) All runs: Rabbitohs (118), Raiders (181) All run metres: Rabbitohs (1024), Raiders (1872) Line breaks: Rabbitohs (3), Raiders (7) Offloads: Rabbitohs (9), Raiders (13) Tackles: Rabbitohs (359), Raiders (213) Missed tackles: Rabbitohs (25), Raiders (17) Penalties: Rabbitohs (3), Raiders (4) Errors: Rabbitohs (11), Raiders (8)
Scott Pryde
Expert
Stats, MVP and report to come. Thoughts Roarers? Can the Raiders challenge for the premiership?
Scott Pryde
Expert
FULLTIME What a smashing this has been. Raiders win by 50, go to 3rd on the ladder and record their biggest ever win over the Rabbitohs. South Sydney Rabbitohs 4 Canberra Raiders 54
Scott Pryde
Expert
CONVERSION SUCCESSFUL by JARROD CROKER Rabbitohs 4 Raiders 54
Scott Pryde
Expert
If Croker kicks this it will enter the record books as the Raiders biggest ever win over the Rabbitohs.
Scott Pryde
Expert
80' - TRY RAIDERS, IOSIA SOLIOLA What a way for the Raiders to finish off this game! They go left to Papalii who runs at the line, then offloads to Soliola who is streaking away up the touchline, putting a fend on Reynolds and beating everyone to the tryline! The Raiders have 50. Rabbitohs 4 Raiders 52
Scott Pryde
Expert
79' - The Rabbitohs will come away from the scrum through Johnston before they sweep right from Reynolds to Gray and he is shut down 20 short of halfway. Burgess back in towards the middle before Reynolds shuffles it on right for Walker and then Oldfield over halfway. Now they come left from Reynolds to Sutton and onto Walker who is taken 40 metres out. Last play and Sutton goes to Reynolds and then onto Gray before Burgess has to kick which he does, straight to Rapana who links with Croker and he is almost back to halfway. Rabbitohs 4 Raiders 48
Scott Pryde
Expert
78' - Raiders start this set 25 metres out and Papalii comes inside 20 now. Back into the middle through Soliola who works within 10 before they come right to Austin and a short flat ball to Paulo who has knocked it on in the tackle. Nice tackle from Sutton. Rabbitohs 4 Raiders 48
Scott Pryde
Expert
76' - Junior Paulo with a monster charge back from the kick-off before they come into the middle through Shannon Boyd. Priest with a run and he picks up about 15 metres before they come left and a ball is turned under for Boyd who crosses halfway picking up a penalty. Rabbitohs 4 Raiders 48