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The Newcastle Knights will look to make it three straight when they host the South Sydney Rabbitohs in a battle of two top eight sides in Round 9. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 6pm (AEST).
Newcastle have won their last two on the trot, but neither were all that convincing with late tries against both the Wests Tigers in Tamworth and the Sea Eagles at Brookvale securing the four competition points.
There were plenty of positives to take from a victory at the supposed fortress of Brookvale though, particularly as they begin a four-month period without injured half and star recruit Mitchell Pearce.
While Manly have their own problems, to just be in the contest was positive enough, let alone to win it.
New halves combination Jack Cogger and the returning Connor Watson stood up to lead the side, while fullback Kalyn Ponga continued to go from strength to strength on the back of a forward pack which will be hard to contain for the red, white and green.
The Rabbitohs went down to the Broncos last week after being dominated during the second half, but the way they finished the game was positive.
Their left side through an in-form John Sutton and Cody Walker was dangerous and they will look to put that to the test this evening to see if they can get off to a good start on the scoreboard.
All in all, it was a disappointing loss at home to the travelling Broncos who were without Andrew McCullough, but they will be hoping the result is just a blip on the radar given their recent form saw them getting victories over the Sydney Roosters and Canberra Raiders.
Sam Burgess will still be missing for the Rabbitohs through suspension in what threatens to be the biggest hurdle to overcome. The Knights pack is tenacious and understands how to stay in games, so the Rabbitohs will need to grind them down from the start of the game if they are to get over the line.
Prediction
This is a tough one to tip in truth. It could go either way, but South Sydney looked strong at the end of their match against the Broncos and if they can pick up where they left off, the Knights will struggle to run up enough points without Pearce.
Rabbitohs by 6.
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