The Raiders have claimed their second consecutive top-four scalp with a 24-12 win over Souths at GIO Stadium in Canberra.
» Click here to read the full match report
Final score
Canberra Raiders 24
South Sydney Rabbitohs 12
The South Sydney Rabbitohs are looking to get back on the winners’ list when they take on the Canberra Raiders in the nation’s capital. Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match from 3pm (AEST).
The Rabbitohs have lost their last two matches, going down 38-18 to the Broncos and 18-14 to the Roosters. Despite those losses, they’re still level with the Storm and the Roosters, on 32 points, but they are third on the ladder due to for and against.
The tenth-placed Raiders have little to play for other than pride, but they showed last week with their win over the Roosters that they haven’t put the cue in the rack for the 2018 season just yet.
If the stats are anything to go by, we’re in for a high-scoring match – these are the two best attacking teams in the competition, both scoring an average of 23 points a game.
It’s in defence where the difference lies, as Canberra also leak an average of 23 points a game, while Souths concede 18.
The Bunnies will be bolstered by the return of centre Greg Inglis, fullback Alex Johnston and winger Campbell Graham. That has forced a backline reshuffle, with Dane Gagai moving from fullback to centre, Braidon Burns going back to the bench, and both Tyrell Fuimaono and Richard Kennar dropping out of the squad.
For the Raiders, Joseph Tapine is out with a broken thumb, seeing Elliott Whitehead move from centre to the backrow to take his spot, and Michael Oldfield come in at centre.
Prediction
Souths by 10 in a high-scoring game.
Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match from 3pm (AEST).
Gary Harvey
Guest
The whole season has been frustrating - again. Beating the chooks and bunnies, with heaps of injuries as well, sure feels good and shows some of the potential in the squad. But in someways it just makes the rest of the season even harder to fathom. We are also about to become the first team to score the most points in the regular season but miss the finals. Something is not right. I still think it is Stuart. I would love to be proven wrong because he isn't going anywhere for a long time!
farkurnell
Guest
The Bunnies are Cooked, Like Penrith there players have been reading all the great headlines about how great they are..Problem is you have to deliver on the field after reading all the great Press. Souths are a pretty easy side to beat,take care of Cook and Sam B and your half way there. The teams to beat in the finals will be the Roosters Broncs Warriors n Sharks.... all on an upward trajectory. The Storm will probably be in contention providing Smith is 100% fit..
steveng
Roar Rookie
Ren mate, we will do a Chautauqua at todays barrier trial (if you saw what he did) that is how the Bunnies will improve through the finals and win the GF lol yeah and but, Johnston had a shocker, I'm not one of his biggest fans at fullback
Cugel
Roar Rookie
Woohoo, two on the trot, start of a dynasty..
Gold Coast Bunny
Guest
That’s not true. We did have one but got rid of him. He now plays dummy half for the Dragons?
Duncan Smith
Roar Guru
That was pathetic, Souths. How can you beat Melbourne and then go and lose your next three games?
steveng
Roar Rookie
I'm still backing the Bunnies for a comeback and resurgence for the finals, no excuses this was a poor effort but, the boys will go through the magical metamorphosis for the finals and our true form will come out. Go Bunnies specials and No Worries!!! lol
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Roar Rookie
Yeah - where has that been all year. The line defence has been superb in the past two weeks. Soliola, Cotric and Austin were on fire today - fantastic stuff. The Bunnies were exhausted at the end after some so much defence. The Raiders would have been one of the most feared teams in the finals if they'd made the 8. Which makes all those early season close losses all the more frustrating.
John Coomer
Roar Guru
Match report Canberra 24 Souths 12 The Raiders have claimed their second consecutive top 4 scalp with a 24-12 win over Souths at GIO Stadium in Canberra. Canberra scored 18 unanswered second half points to win the match after heading into the sheds trailing 12-4 at half-time. The Rabbitohs scored the first try of the match in the 10th minute. Damien Cook darted out of dummy half close to the line before offloading and five-eighth Cody Walker stepped through the Canberra defence to score. The Bunnies were in again eight minutes later when Greg Inglis beat Joey Leilua close to the line to barge his way over. Today was Inglis' first game back after being out with a broken thumb for the past six weeks and he generally played strongly. The Raiders hit back nine minutes before half-time when centre Michael Oldfield grounded a Josh Hodgson grubber kick just before the dead ball line. They scored their first second half try in the 53rd minute just after Souths interchange forward Jason Clark was sin binned for a ruck infringement. Oldfield ran strongly onto a Josh Hodgson cut out ball close to the line to score his second try. That made the score 12-10 to Souths, but the Raiders hit the front for the first time in the match in the 64th minute when five-eighth Blake Austin threw a great ball to charging backrower Sia Soliola and he scored near the posts. Winger Nic Cotric then capped off a great performance with a determined try in the 71st minute. He burst onto the ball from dummy half and used his strength and footwork to get the ball down. The loss is Souths third on the trot after they were also beaten by the Broncos and the Roosters in the last few weeks. Raiders' supporters will be wondering what might have been if they had been able to string a few more wins together this year.
Tony
Guest
It was more than Hodgson and soliola...canberra stood up and souths went to sleep that second half
Jon
Roar Rookie
Good win by the Raiders. Was looking a bit dicey in that first half, but they came out in the 2nd and took it to the Rabbits. Sin bin didn't hurt either. Always nice to win your last home game of the season, particularly when things haven't gone as you might have wished.
PNG Broncos fan88
Roar Guru
Rabbits have hit a lull, but they will be in the mix still...Raiders were just too committed to let the visitors walk away with the two points. Soliola and Hodgson the difference. Now for the Titans and Broncos to complete the treble...a super Saturday of NRL it is!
Nat
Roar Guru
Nothing like throwing darts at a board to make the tips seem better. I took Raiders purely cause they have nothing to lose. These wins guarantee Ricky his job
Tony
Guest
Welcome to being a raiders supporter....the see-saw expectation of victory
Craig
Guest
Souths year is fizzling out
Rob
Guest
Maybe the 3 hats has a cunning plan. LOL. They’ playing dead?
sham
Guest
Shows what the Raiders can do such a shame they couldn't do this more often
Scott Pryde
Expert
This whole finals thing. I can't pick a damn winner at the moment. It makes talking points a nightmare!
John Coomer
Roar Guru
Full-time The hooter sounds and it's victory for CANBERRA! CANBERRA 24 SOUTHS 12
Scott Pryde
Expert
Yeah, cause no Bunnies player has ever taken a dive before.