It’s a bottom-half clash at ANZ Stadium, as the South Sydney Rabbitohs host the New Zealand Warriors. Join The Roar for live scores from the match and a live blog of the game at ANZ Stadium on Friday night, starting from 6pm AEST.
It’s been a disappointing season for Souths, playing average football for a majority of their games and failing to make any real impact on the competition.
However, the Bunnies enter this match following two straights wins, over the Bulldogs and long-time rivals St George Illawarra, which will put the home side in good stead.
However, they will have to overcome a Warriors side that, when playing well, can match it with the best.
The New Zealand outfit will be lacking confidence, after one win from their past eight matches. They have been poor in 2017, and their home fortress is no longer a venue teams fear to visit.
Really, the problems are all over the park, having been poor in defence, and lacking spark in attack, despite featuring some brilliant players in their side.
Unfortunately for both sides their respective struggles this year have kept them from being a finals threat, and they’re now playing only for pride.
The Rabbitohs have eight wins for the year, the Warriors seven – there’s simply no way left in the three weeks remaining to make up enough ground on the top eight.
That being the case, they must instead now have one eye turned towards 2018, and hope to build momentum towards the new year.
Prediction
The Rabbitohs enter this match with solid form and should be too good for the Warriors at home.
Souths by 16 points
Join The Roar for live scores from the match and a live blog of the game between the South Sydney Rabbitohs and the New Zealand Warriors at ANZ Stadium on Friday night, starting from 6pm AEST.
steveng
Roar Rookie
If you want to know, by past records, the AFL has attracted formidable crowd numbers, even when they are not doing so well. The Swans have proved that they are a formidable club and their administration are considered (in AFL circles) as one of their best. The NRL have allot to learn from the Swans as they will never ever achieve or can compete with the Swans with their current plans, the NRL look like an amateurish rabble in comparison. Out of 35 seasons and since the Swans were established in Sydney in 1982, the Swans have been in the finals 23 times and have won 2 grand finals with 2 other grand finals that they were beaten in. In the last 17 seasons the Swans have only missed out on the finals twice and have won 2 grand finals, 2005 and 2012. And the 2017 season, is another season where they could win another grand final. That's a pretty impressive record in the AFL comp, which is a far more competitive comp and more of Australian states, teams and players compete in.
Fush and Chaps
Guest
AFL is better to see at the ground than on TV - If Swans and GWS were down the bottom how many would be turning up to watch them though.
steveng
Roar Rookie
Yep, you've hit the nail on the head!!! The AFL with the Swans and GWS playing so well is far more exciting and rewarding for Sydney fans than the NRL will ever be!!! If the Swans and crows would have played at the ANZ the stadium would have been packed, that's the difference and has been like that all throughout 2017. With the Swans attracting 34k+ at the SCG while the game between Souths and the Dragons at the SCG, struggling to attract 10k.
Angela
Guest
They're all at the AFL
Big Daddy
Guest
The crowd was great. I think it was the same crowd that attended Thursday match but 700 of them didn't turn up. They must have got a refund and turned up again last night. Two matches and they still haven't got to the 15k average for one match. WTF is going on with Sydney RL fans.
PNG Broncos fan88
Roar Guru
Yep, his definitely put his hand up.
M.O.C.
Roar Guru
You're right Gaz, I think I have missed your point.
Haz
Guest
Has Alex committed to the Kumuls for the WC??
Stu
Guest
No they are not, Johnstone hasnt got 24 tries for nothing. Fullbacks miss plenty of 1 on 1s. RTS is clearly behind other fullbacks but hes not terrible. His effort and workrate is incredible and his attacking stats are amongst the best in NRL.
Gaz
Roar Rookie
With respect. You've missed the point entirely. Free to air television won't be controlling the game next year and so Friday night will be scheduled by the NRL. So can only guess you may be happy watching games at ANZ with a crowd like you've just witnessed. Stay tuned and see what the crowd at Lang Park looks like. But don't kid yourself - they won't be all Broncos supporters.
Samuel Ashton
Roar Guru
FULL TIME: SOUTHS 36-18 WARRIORS Post match analysis to come shortly
Sylvester
Guest
The top 5 fullbacks in the comp are stopping that try 9.5/10 though. That's the difference.
Stu
Guest
I dont think you can do alot. Think Kearney cops alot of crap for not dropping players but what choice does he have?
Stu
Guest
Wasnt great was it. But Foran and Fusitua were primarily responsible. The amount of times players run through at full speed is ridiculous
Sylvester
Guest
Half the 17 is barely first grade. Those subs are adding adding nothing, so what do you do?
Sylvester
Guest
Stu - you may have rethink your rebuttal of my view on RTS's defence after that last effort...
Samuel Ashton
Roar Guru
77TH MIN: Penalty Warriors Can they score a consolation try?
steveng
Roar Rookie
The Burgi twins are pulling their fingers out and our whole forward pack will be devastating in 2018. Go the RABBITS!!!
Samuel Ashton
Roar Guru
75TH MIN: Conversion Unsuccessful
Samuel Ashton
Roar Guru
TRY SOUTHS Alex Johnston gets a hat trick! 36-18 kick to come