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Origin has struck the South Sydney Rabbitohs hard, but they will be out to strengthen their position in the top four when they take on the red-hot Cronulla Sharks. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 7:50pm (AEST).
South Sydney have been one of the competition’s form teams so far this year, cracking the top four on the back of consistently strong victories, including over the St George Illawarra Dragons and New Zealand Warriors in the last three weeks.
Beating the top teams has left them in good stead, but they will be under the pump now with Origin ripping their squad in half.
While the impact of Origin is lessened this season with each team guaranteed to only play one game without their stars, the Rabbitohs will be missing Dane Gagai, Greg Inglis, Damien Cook and Angus Crichton from this evening’s effort to beat the Sharks.
It’s the latter two who will be most of worry to coach Anthony Seibold, who has his side firing on six cylinders. The Sharks pack are known for dominating the middle and bullying their opposition, so without Crichton on the edge and Cook in the middle, things might be tough.
The big point ahead of this contest is the inclusion of Robbie Farah, who will have to replace the game’s most in-form hooker.
Cronulla have been surprisingly not so affected by Origin. Valentine Holmes has been picked for Queensland, but their squad is otherwise intact with the return of Andrew Fifita, who has aligned with Tonga rather than New South Wales, bolstering things further this weekend.
Fifita will lead the effort to unsettle the Bunnies pack up front, with the spine of Josh Dugan, Matt Moylan, Chad Townsend and Jayden Brailey working well together in a smashing of Newcastle last week. It brought up Cronulla’s sixth win in a row with the team fast rising into the top eight.
Defence will be the key for Cronulla. If they can strangle their opposition from the outset and dominate possession, they could run away.
Prediction
South Sydney might be down on man power, but they have been finding ways to get it done. A lot might hinge on how Farah fits back into first grade, but the Sharks are overdue for a loss.
Rabbitohs by 8.
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of this Round 13 fixture from 7:50pm (AEST) and don’t forget to add a comment in the section below.