Primetime Friday football is back, with the South Sydney Rabbitohs looking to put a wasted 2016 behind them against a Wests Tigers side with their own ‘finals or bust’ scenario in 2017. Join The Roar from 8:05pm (AEDT) for live coverage.
There are new faces on both sides of this clash.
Starting with Souths, Robbie Rochow will add some starch off the bench, seemingly at the expense of George Burgess, while former Eels halfback Luke Kelly finds himself starting after regular Souths pivot Adam Reynolds went down with appendicitis.
And of course, there’s the man at dummyhalf for Souths, Robbie Farah. A Tigers legend, you can guarantee he’ll have fire in his eyes facing his old team. Whether he’ll be able to channel that fire for a positive outcome is another question.
Farah and Damien Cook worked well as a 1-2 punch in preseason and they will be more than a handful for Matt McIlwrick, one of plenty new face for the Tigers.
Jamal Idris is back in the NRL and on his day he’s capable of anything – the problem is, his ‘days’ tend to be spaced months apart. Coach Jason Taylor will be hoping that the big centre is primed for a year of creative destruction.
There’s also a brand new, shiny, million-dollar teenager on the Tigers’ wing; 18-year-old Moses Suli is a prodigious talent who Tigers fans will be hoping can make a Vunivalu-sized impact from this early stage.
The Tigers are a little banged up – Mitch Moses and Luke Brooks are shaking off ankle and hamstring complaints respectively, and Idris is carrying a slight knee concern.
Last year, the western suburbs side were on track for the lower reaches of the eight, before falling in a heap. Taylor now has the squad he wants playing the style he wants – there’s no excuse for underperformance this season.
As for Souths, their most important recruit for 2017 isn’t on the field.
David Furner has joined his former Canberra teammate Michael Maguire in the South Sydney coaching setup. While his career at the Raiders won’t have songs written about it, Furner’s work behind the scenes has been recognised as a key factor in the North Queensland Cowboys’ 2015 premiership and Australia’s 2013 World Cup win.
Souths were quietly chuffed about getting Furner over – and with good reason. Souths now have a formidable coaching line-up.
Prediction
Maguire used the second half of last season to give his Rabbitohs a solid on-field ‘who wants to be here’ examination. They finished the season strongly and early signs for 2017 are positive.
Reynolds’ illness aside, the Bunnies have come to Round 1 in pretty good nick and expect to be on the scene at the business end of the year.
Souths by 14.
AJ Mithen
Expert
I await your prediction next week, Madsaac! Maybe before the game's been played, too... :)
SSTID_1970
Roar Rookie
Hahahahahahaha You should try being me mate! Stream of consciousness stuff, very advanced. I seem to have tripped over a mixed metaphor (of sorts). I tried to include Taylor last minute and tried to put them in order of a Big Brother style eviction (something I don't watch btw). Actually there is some sense there... McGregor got to Centrelink first and was saving a spot for his mate Jason. So since Mary is obviously such a friendly bloke he was standing "NEXT TO" Des and having a chat, when hey presto in walks Taylor and now Mary jumps to the front of the queue and Taylor stands behind him in front of Des. Simples!! The BS is faster than the brain can conceive so the illusion is complete. LOL
Oingo Boingo
Guest
Renegade , I think by the end of the season these delusional wabbits fans will be as keen as the smart Tigers fans to see Anthrax moved on . Nothing surer that if Dopey Daley selects him to play for NSW , we fall over once again and the delusional NSW fans claim that " This QLD team , is a once in a lifetime team full of future immortals " .
SSTID_1970
Roar Rookie
I agree with you mate. Fortunately there is a good group of young players coming through (too bad the chooks stole Nate Butcher and Grant Garvey). Kyle Turner has been exceptionally brave to play in the forwards in the NRL with a spinal injury (neck). Some might say crazy to do so. It is such a pity as he is a good kid and showed so much potential until a wrestling grapple tackle detailed his career. I went to school and played football with both Kyle Turner and Nathan Merritt's dads and genuinely feel sorry for young Kyle and that Nathan missed the GF in his final year. New blood now though is the way to go. Starting with Angus Crichton and Braiden Burns.
Renegade
Roar Guru
Whether Taylor can coach or not is beside the point.... he made the right call regarding Robbie - his been proven correct a thousand times on that.
Madsaac
Guest
Ha Souths by 14.......credibility
Mark Howard
Guest
Time for Sutton ,turner ,Clark Tyrell to be laid off . Sutton now too old , lost his spark Clark is just too small to have any impact in attack or defense. Turner has never and will never recover fully from the neck injury I feel sorry for him . Tyrell hit his peak two years ago . I'm a Souths fan for decades but It's time to start the rebuild . The signs of all the above were obvious from last year .
SSTID_1970
Roar Rookie
Inglis was busted and defended most attacks on his side of the field by turning his back on the approaching attack and running with it to buy time for the sliding defence. This left Inglis' inside defender stranded and exposed and faced with all this space out wide most HBs would have had a field day. There will be much tougher tests to come for Luke Brooks. I wouldn't read too much into it. Tonight was a temporary aberration from the style of play the Rabbitohs are capable of. It was a perfect storm of everything going all at once (including losing Reynolds before hand). Souths need to dump Goodwin, Tyrrell, Clark, Talakai and Kelly. George Burgess and Angus Crichton need to be recalled and Anthony Cherrington, Braiden Burns and Robert Jennings given an opportunity IMO. Despite his 3 tries tonight Goodwin is not an outside back any more.
SSTID_1970
Roar Rookie
Our forwards were off. Only Sam Burgess and Zane Musgrove showed any signs of life. The Burgii twins need a transfusion fast! Cherrington showed promise in the the Charity Shield and looked like a better option than Rochow ATM. Braiden Burns and Robert Jennings have enough to give Souths outside backs a boost and should replace Talaki and Goodwin. Cook will then need to play 80 mins though as he would be our only option as goal kicker.
The Barry
Roar Guru
That's a logic problem and a half! Hasler and McGregor are standing next to each other. Taylor is behind McGregor. Yet he's in front of Hasler. Is there a prize for who comes up with the answer first?
SSTID_1970
Roar Rookie
If he does Madge has the same "something" against Cook (only giving him 27 mins!!) It WAS a mistake to leave Inglis on for so long. It is not worth risking further injury when you are only 1 game into the season. Cook should have moved into the halves and Walker (reluctantly) to FB and AJ to the wing. Which is kind of what happened only Cook went into hooker and Sutton to 5/8. That probably foreshadows the team for round 2 with Sutton at 5/8 and Walker at FB. I would love to see if Braiden Burns could cover FB (he could be a gun in that position) but no sense putting the kid under too much pressure too soon.
SSTID_1970
Roar Rookie
That's footy! Not the Tigers fault and they looked sharp and deserved their win.. But after so much second phase play which team wouldn't pile on the points? Cough, cough Big Red V... Ah thank you! (Austin Powers)
SSTID_1970
Roar Rookie
Here's a prediction... none of your predictions will come true. Souths won't finish in the bottom 4, the Tigers won't finish in the top 8, Madge won't get sacked. OK, maybe Hasler and McGregor will be standing next to each other at Centrelink but Taylor will be in the queue behind McGregor but ahead of Hasler.
SSTID_1970
Roar Rookie
Damn! How are Souths going to get rid of Noddy now? Braiden Burns is the Alex Johnston to Bryson Goodwin's Nathan Merritt (and I loved Merritt but when you are done you're done!)
Danielle
Guest
I'm not convinced Scott sought advice from his crystal ball, nor Japanese handicrafts - I'd say he watched the game. Injuries are an absolute mongrel - it was entirely unfortunate for Rabbits. I don't think anyone is dismissing that. Particularly crushing in Wk 1 - & not particularly comforting when the craving for match fitness becomes replaced by the reality of weekly battle scars. Scott wasn't thrashing you. He's been more deprecating of my Dragons than I can bear to read but The Barry has said nothing more offensive of your team than he has of his own. Have you learned nothing from your routine outbursts on Zero Tackle? Any wonder they got rid of their direct reply/post system. Take a breath before you post. Take another breath before you think posting a link on Japanese origami is a good idea around here. Am I remembering correctly that you advised Vincent to be mindful of his audience on a site such as this? I can't see any of us taking up an inclination for ikebana or alike at your suggestion.
SSTID_1970
Roar Rookie
I can see the benefits of Farah but Souths had a great spine and they were in "white hot" form and the back end of 2016 (Inglis, Walker, Reynolds, Cook). Such a pity they weren't in striking distance of the 8 last year. They were looking a lot like the Eels during their run in 2009 when the Hayne plane was a supersonic jet! Like I have said they have to share the role and Cook MUST play at least 55 mins! Let Robbie start the first 20-25 mins and then bring in Cook with 15 mins to half time and keep him on. Farah can play lock as a loose forward and follow the play the ball or be an attacking option on the fringe of the ruck. They could play in tandem around the ruck following each other and looking for a quick play the ball.
The Barry
Roar Guru
It normally takes Inglis four weeks to pull up lame...as long as he's right for origin.
SSTID_1970
Roar Rookie
Damo do you take everything literally? It's a figure of speech mate. Tedesco and Moses are the MVPs of the Tigers side. silvertail47 is just saying that IF you took them out of the Tigers side they wouldn't score a point. No need t call him stupid though. "Take your five eight and fullback from any team and they will struggle…" Precisely his point! Inglis injured early and a lame duck for most of the game and Reynolds (NSW HB) out for the whole game. NOW you're getting it! The difference in the game though was that Souths could not close down the ball, they allowed too many offloads and paid the price. Full credit to the Tigers who executed this perfectly... this time. Let's see how many times lightening strikes in the same place.
The Barry
Roar Guru
It happens...I'm sure you remember the first game of 2015 when the bunnies beat the Broncos pretty heavily. There were a lot of people saying the Broncos would get the spoon. Souths looked a bit flat and a bit rusty but will improve. Injury call out early?
SSTID_1970
Roar Rookie
Who do you go for jamesb? Come on ante up! You know who I go for so how about you show a little transparency. I would like to know just how far above the mark of "pragmatic and boring" your team is this year. And for the record, Reynolds (and the weather) nearly got the Doggies home.