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.
duck life 3
Guest
I’ve never seen anyone do it better!
Muzz
Guest
Souths are playing well and deserve their position on the ladder. This team looks better than the team that was gifted the 2014 premiership by the Smith administration.
3_Hats SSTID 2014
Roar Rookie
We were absolutely giving it to him, politely of course!
Dogs Boddy
Roar Rookie
That was hilarious.
steveng
Roar Rookie
Yeah 3 Hats 'They Just Won't Listen'. The Bunnies played that well that even a Sharkie player wanted to desert camp and play for us in the second half e.g. Ava Seumanufagai lol Go the Bunnies!!!!
JimboJones
Guest
Go the wabbits
3_Hats SSTID 2014
Roar Rookie
Johnston, Kennar and Musgrove were also out with Cook, GI, Gagai and Crichton. Young Burns went off a minute after Wade Graham. At 22 to 2 with 7 to go... Comprehensive to say the least., The Sharks a couple of consolation trys at the end The Sharks are definitely NOT a top 4 team.
3_Hats SSTID 2014
Roar Rookie
Are you blokes finally convinced? Were you entertained? There is way more to come!
Griffo
Guest
So we've got a tackle count and a ten metre penalty count. Do they say 4th and last. Much simpler for me would be a sin bin for the defensive team being offside when the opposition is inside their 10. There is no excuse for being offside because there's a white line that you have to put your foot on and many cases you don't even need to retreat 10m. Once you get to that part of the field a penalty can't improve your field position either. If a team knows that their opposition won't go for goal then they will not hesitate to give away a cynical penalty. No warnings necessary just sin bin
Dogs Boddy
Roar Rookie
Sorry my mistake. I'm always getting those blokes mixed up for some reason.
Me
Guest
Sam not George
Danno1
Guest
I missed the game and jagged some highlights, but after watching bunnies games this year, I want to recognise Siebold as a genius, he has somehow made the Burgess twins catch and hold on to the football, and occasionally pass as well. This is an achievement beyond Michael Maguire over all his time there. Siebold could be coach of the year if the twins can keep that up.
Renegade
Roar Guru
That was a high quality game, I’m sure these teams will cross paths again come September. Bunnies well deserved winners, score line probably fitting for the genuine contest it was but if there was a larger margin, you couldn’t say it was undeserved... said it last week, will say it again - they are the form team in the comp by a fair way right now. Sharkies shouldn’t be too disappointed, they didn’t go backwards in performance tonight, compared to previous weeks ... just outplayed by a team that is in some rare form. They displayed their usual resilience by certainly playing and putting the effort in for the full 80, good game to highlight there is still plenty of improvement though!
Peter Phelps
Guest
Good well deserved win for the bunnies. Its high time that Cronulla got got the lass that has been coming for weeks. Pity Souths took the foot off the pedal at the end there. Good win though!
Dogs Boddy
Roar Rookie
Scoerline flatters the Sharks there. Rabbits were by far the superior team tonight. They are playing a very attractive brand of footy at the moment and should be firming as serious contenders for this year.
Joe
Roar Rookie
Very good effort by the Souths boys considering their outs.. Sharks lost a fair bit too with Val and Dugan out and Wade out via HIA. Souths were just too good though and played some expansive footy and looked really good until they shut up shop with 10 to go. I think they're definitely in the premiership conversation now. Got all the ingredients and this game shows they have depth as well.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thanks for joining me this evening on The Roar for our live coverage of the 2018 NRL season as the South Sydney Rabbitohs got the better of the Cronulla Sharks. Hopefully you enjoyed the coverage this evening. That'll be me done in terms of NRL for the weekend, but I'll be back on Sunday afternoon for some AFL. My talking points will be up on Sunday night, but then, it'll be time for Origin 1. I'll be live here on The Roar from 8pm next Wednesday for the biggest sporting event in Australia. The Parramatta Eels play the Newcastle Knights tomorrow. MrX will be in the chair for that one from 7:30pm (AEST). Enjoy the rest of your evening.
Dogs Boddy
Roar Rookie
Haha George Burgess just got interviewed on TV and said he has a bit of a sore knee. I wonder if that's because Wade threw his head into it in an obviously calculated and malicious move designed to take the big fella out.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thoughts on the game Roarers?
Scott Pryde
Expert
The Sharks scored a couple of late tries there and it'll leave fans scratching their heads, asking where that was for the previous 75 minutes, but then, it was more or less the Rabbitohs defence and pressure from start to finish which caused the Sharks to play well below their best. South Sydney were absolutely fantastic. They came out of the gates strongly, defended with great line speed and ran the footy with purpose. The Burgess boys were the leaders of the pack, but every member of the side followed their lead, a Campbell Graham miracle try being the headlining moment of the evening. The left-side combination of John Sutton and Cody Walker continues to impress, while Adam Reynolds kicking game was also strong. Rabbitohs 22 Sharks 14