The South Sydney Rabbitohs dealt the Newcastle Knights another blow on Sunday, winning by 22 points.
» Click here to read the full match report
Final score
Knights 12
Rabbitohs 34
The more than struggling Newcastle Knights play host to the South Sydney Rabbitohs this afternoon for your dose of Sunday arvo footy. Join The Roar from 4pm (AEST) for all the live highlights and action.
It may be Old Boys Day in Newcastle for the club, but the Knights have lost their last 16 games on the trot and don’t look to be in good shape to celebrate the occasion that the players and fans thrive on each year.
The Knights fought hard last week against the Titans, but a slow start cost them in the end, going down by 20 to add to that rather impressive record run of losses.
The Rabbitohs have faired much better in recent times after a disappointing overall season. The Bunnies took down competition heavyweights Cronulla last week after beating the Warriors in Round 23.
Even the week before that they only lost to league leaders Melbourne by a single point, showing off the form and ability that had them entrenched in the finals over the past seasons.
These two faced off earlier in the year, back in Round 2, with the Rabbitohs trampling the hapless Newcastle side 48-6 – the first real signs for Newcastle in what would turn out to be a record year of conceding points.
That loss was their sixth in a row against the Rabbits, having not beaten them in four years.
Unsurprisingly, the Knights have the worst defence in the competition (conceding over 33 points per game) and second worst attack, but the Rabbitohs are fifth and fourth last in those same disciplines.
To give the Knights fans something to get behind, Newcastle have only lost four of their last home games in 16 years since 2000.
Team News
Knights veteran playmaker Jarrod Mullen returns to boost his side this week from a leg injury, pushing youngster Will Pearsall out of the side.
Nathan Ross and Dani Levi will also miss out this week for Newcastle, Ross with a suspension and Levi undergoing back surgery.
Cory Denniss and Pat Mata’utia both make their way into the side for Ross and Levi. Denniss will go out onto the wing while Mata’utia finds a spot on the bench.
For the Rabbitohs, coach Michael Maguire has kept his starting 17 from last week, but announced an extended bench including Cameron McInnes, David Tyrrell and Zane Musgrove.
Prediction
Newcastle have a strong record in their final home game, but their numbers against the Rabbitohs in recent years and a certain losing streak are all working against them.
While South Sydney haven’t had the year they wanted, they’re still a very strong side and they’ve proven as much in the last two weeks. They should be too good against a scrappy Knights outfit.
Rabbitohs to win by 22
Connor Bennett
Editor
» Click here to read the full match report The Roar's NRL MVP votes: 3 - Greg Inglis 2 - Adam Reynolds 1 - Sione Mata'utia
Connor Bennett
Editor
Just a side note of pride... My pre-game prediction was Rabbitohs by 22 points. Final score, Rabbitohs by 22 points.
Baracuda
Guest
It's official, this Newcastle Knights team has produced the worst performance of the NRL era with 1 win and 1 draw. The novocastrians needed 2 wins in their final 2 matches to escape such fathom. Replaces the Rabbitohs of 10 years ago, with 3 wins from 24 starts.
Connor Bennett
Editor
FULLTIME Newcastle suffer their 21st loss of the season and their final game at home for the year. The Rabbitohs jumped out to a 16 point lead in the first half, and as much as the Knights pressed in the second 40, the Bunnies were too good on the day. Newcastle fought hard but spent too much of the game inside their own half and simply couldn't contain sustained pressure for that long. Knights – 12 Rabbitohs – 34
Connor Bennett
Editor
Connor Bennett
Editor
80' Both sides just waltzing over to the scrum, with little interest of getting much more play in this game. A couple of tackles off to the left for South Sydney and the final siren sounds in the back ground to end the game. Knights – 12 Rabbitohs – 34
Connor Bennett
Editor
79' Newcastle caught on halfway with Hodkinson so it's Mullen who will take kicking duties on the last tackle. The former Origin half goes long, deep and towards the sideline, finding touch on the left edge just 12 metres from the Bunnies line. Knights – 12 Rabbitohs – 34
Connor Bennett
Editor
78' Newcastle haven't given up on defence here, they want to finish with that Mamo try. Pressure on the Souths backline forces the dropped ball and the turnover 10 metres from the Knights line. Knights – 12 Rabbitohs – 34
Connor Bennett
Editor
77' But the Knights have gone back to loose ball and penalties, giving away both of this in a 15 second period to gift the Bunnies possession about 25 metres out from their own line. Knights – 12 Rabbitohs – 34
Connor Bennett
Editor
76' TRY KNIGHTS!! Jak Mamo what a try!! Flashes of Billy Slater back in Origin 2004. Into space off the break but Mamo was running out of space very quickly, hits the chip and chase over the final defenders, toes it again just short of the line to get him that extra few metres over the chalk and falls on it with three defenders reigning down on him. And to top it all off, the retiring veteran Jeremy Smith converts from right in front with a big cheer from the home crowd. Knights – 12 Rabbitohs – 34
The Barry
Roar Guru
Lovely try from Mamo...brilliant skill.
Connor Bennett
Editor
74' Souths charging hard up the middle through a pair of Burgess'. Reynolds sends it high for Elliot who leaps well and takes the mark above the pack. Working it out of their own half now, looking to get something extra on the board to finish the home season. Knights – 6 Rabbitohs – 34
Jokerman
Guest
Your prediction was pretty good Connor. Mine was way off. I didn't really realise how bad Newcastle are. They're pretty average. I'm more astute with rugby. Your 22 is pretty close!
Connor Bennett
Editor
73' Third tackle and Dane Gagai has been rag dolled over the sideline by Aaron Gray, who nearly pulls the jumper off while he pulled him across the sideline. Knights – 6 Rabbitohs – 34
Connor Bennett
Editor
72' Rabbitohs knock on now!! The errors are flowing inside Hunter stadium and the Knights win a penalty on top of it. 20 metres out with a full set of six. Surely they can get something here. Knights – 6 Rabbitohs – 34
Connor Bennett
Editor
71' Quick hands for the Knights out towards the left wing and they have the overlap in play... but they've let it slip once again. The story of their season. Denniss can't control the pill with the pass just a little fast and little behind him. Knights – 6 Rabbitohs – 34
Connor Bennett
Editor
70' THERE'S A SCUFFLE IN BACK PLAY!! No more biffs theses days, just scuffles. There was a bit of a face massage in their that kicked it all off but it just turned into a big group hug after both sides stop playing footy and join in. Nothing to it in the end. Knights win the penalty out of all of it and will get the ball about 30 metres from the Rabbits line. Knights – 6 Rabbitohs – 34
Connor Bennett
Editor
69' Souths spreading it left from their own half, trying to find space down the flank but Reynolds wants it back in the middle and sends the bomb into the clouds. Mamo does well on the take and sets of Gagai down the left wing!! He's taken down over halfway. Knights – 6 Rabbitohs – 34
Connor Bennett
Editor
68' Newcastle kicking for the corner, bouncing awkwardly away from Inglis. Both sides happy to just walk around to the scrum, take a breath, slow down. Knights – 6 Rabbitohs – 34
Connor Bennett
Editor
67' The Knights need to make sure they don't let this game slip away for them. They're dangerously hanging on the edge of conceding the most points in a season... ever. So every try they can avoid is one step to avoiding one of the most unwanted records in the game. Knights – 6 Rabbitohs – 34