We’re back to club football after a week away and it’s South Sydney playing Wests Tigers for the second time in five weeks.
Wayne Bennett’s Rabbitohs head to the new Bankwest Stadium for the second time this year on a three-game losing streak. After blasting to a 10-1 record, Souths sit second on 10-4 after consecutive losses to Parramatta, Newcastle and Penrith – all games they should have won.
Weirdly enough, the Bunnies’ last win was a 32-16 result over Wests Tigers in Round 11. Teams playing each other twice so closely together is one of the annoying quirks of the NRL draw.
In their first 15 weeks, the Bunnies will have played the Tigers and Penrith twice, but they don’t play Melbourne until round 21.
Cody Walker of the Rabbitohs (AAP Image/Darren England)
The Tigers have also played Penrith twice already. They don’t play Cronulla until the last round of the regular season.
I don’t get it, but I’m sure there’s a clever trick to why a club’s draw can play out that way.
Anyway, enough about that. This is a key game for both sides for their September intentions. Souths need to keep touch with the home final, Wests need wins and points to haul themselves back into the top eight. They’re ninth with a 6-7 record.
Including Round 11, Souths have won the last two meetings between these sides but it evens out to 5-5 in the last ten matchups.
While it’s five wins each, the average winning margin in the last ten game between these two is a fraction under 20 points – a stunning figure. Whoever gets out in front certainly does put the foot down.
The Tigers have definitely shown signs during the season that they can mix it with the top teams, but this has been interspersed with debacles against Canberra, Canterbury and most notably their 51-6 loss at this venue to Parramatta.
They too were coming off a three-game losing streak until they pipped north Queensland in golden point before the representative break.
Chris Lawrence starts in the second row so Michael Chee Kam goes to the bench, where he has injected some life into the side at times this year. Elijah Taylor returns to the team and Moses Mbye was named to start in the centres after getting past his allergic reaction dramas on Origin duty for Queensland. Corey Thompson will cover fullback.
It’s the same team coach Michael Maguire named for the win over the Cowboys with a few positional changes.
Wayne Bennett’s South Sydney have some key players missing, namely fullback Alex Johnson and the Burgess brothers Sam and Tom.
Reports are that the Burgii took the international break to have some minor surgery to get them tuned up for the finals run. Big bustling Liam Knight will partner George Burgess in the front row to make sure he doesn’t miss his brothers too much.
George Burgess. Or maybe it’s Tom. (Photo: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
Corey Allan takes the fullback spot for Souths, so possibly the first time in NRL history we’ve got two players named Corey starting at fullback for their sides.
Origin players Dane Gagai, Damien Cook and Cam Murray are all good to go after Sunday night’s State of Origin in Perth. It goes without saying that Cook is a fundamental part of South Sydney’s attack, leading the NRL in line break assists (12) and second for try assists (15).
Adam Reynolds is back, some good news after reports his back injury would keep him out ‘indefinitely’. Hopefully a familiar partner for Cody Walker can get the Bunnies number six back in business and out of his recent funk.
Souths are second for points scored (326) and lead the league line breaks (59). This is a big test for the Tigers’ defensive line, who have missed the least tackles this season by some margin (285 missed, next most is Melbourne with 330).
Can the Tigers keep their line intact against an elite NRL attack? Their ability to stick a tackle could cause some frustration and the Bunnies do have an error or two in their game.
Sauaso Sue of the Tigers. (Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images)
Prediction
Neither team have won at this venue so far – Wests have scored a total of six points here in two games while shipping an amazing 79. Souths lost to Parramatta by 12 in round 12.
They’ve also combined for just one win in their last six matches. It’s not really the recipe for a belter, but with most players rested and aware of what’s at stake we should get an interesting enough outing.
There’s some big outs for Souths, but they need to get things back on track and there’s still enough quality on the field to get the job done.
South Sydney by 12.
Teams
Tigers
1. Corey Thompson, 2. Robert Jennings, 3. Moses Mbye, 4. Esan Marsters, 5. David Nofoaluma, 6. Benji Marshall, 7. Luke Brooks, 8. Josh Aloiai, 9. Robbie Farah, 10. Alex Twal, 11. Ryan Matterson, 12. Chris Lawrence, 13. Michael Eisenhuth
Bench/Reserves: 14. Jacob Liddle, 15. Thomas Mikaele, 16. Elijah Taylor, 17. Michael Chee-Kam, 18. Paul Momirovski, 19. Chris McQueen
Rabbitohs
18. Corey Allan, 2. Dane Gagai, 3. James Roberts, 4. Braidon Burns, 5. Campbell Graham, 6. Cody Walker, 7. Adam Reynolds, 8. George Burgess, 9. Damien Cook, 10. Liam Knight, 11. John Sutton, 12. Ethan Lowe, 13. Cameron Murray
Bench/Reserves: 14. Tevita Tatola, 15. Mark Nicholls, 16. Dean Britt, 17. Kyle Turner, 19. Connor Tracey, 20. Adam Doeuihi
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Papi Smurf
Roar Rookie
Madge is a good coach and he deserved a better end to his time at Souths. It cost the Rabbitohs Angus Crichton in the end but life goes on. Liddle shows promise but Josh Reynolds who started his career as a hooker would be a better option and leader to take over from Farah IMO. Surely Farah and Marshall will retire at the end of this season so Josh Reynolds needs game time now.
Davico
Roar Pro
Not sure what Madge can do about paying Reynolds seeing he was not at the club when the bloke was signed and he has a contract. With the Tigers being so light on in decent centres I can understand him trying Mbye there as even though he is not a centre, he is pretty much better than what else we have. There is a massive clear out coming at the end of the year by the looks and I will trust in Madge. It is a shame that Liddle has been so plagued by injury over the years as he looks like a D Cook type when he is fit. Not the best spectacle of a game but will take the 2 points in a game the vast majority expected us to lose. (Myself included)
Papi Smurf
Roar Rookie
The Tigers are still in contention for the finals Sean even after the Rabbitohs smash them tonight. ;-) Madge is a good coach but the Tigers lack the cattle and need to focus on their recruitment now. Even at this time of the year the Rabbitohs, Broncos, Storm, Warriors, Eels and Cowboys are recruiting and releasing players. Meanwhile the Tigers are quiet in this area pinning their hopes on the aging combination of Marshall and Farah with no real light at the end of the tunnel concerning their replacements. They are also playing musical chairs with Moses Mbye and arw paying Josh Reynolds to play reserve grade when he is a player that can spark a change in the Tigers fortunes. All that isn't making Madge look too great I know but just look at what he has done for the Kiwis. Time and faith mate. Hang in there. If I had a dollar for every dead season I had to watch the Rabbitohs get through then I could retire now. It isn't only about winning it's also about showing effort abd character and losing with style. ;-)
Sean
Guest
You still have a pick of Sauaso Sue in Tigers colours.. I'm a Tigers man but haven't watched them in weeks due to the realisation it will be another year out of the finals.. Mikaele andAiloia are the only forwards that make post contact meters. Just don't have the firepower and until we dump some overpaid players we won't challenge the top teams.
The Barry
Roar Guru
When Johnson was named on Tuesday, the Souths backline was full strength for the first time since about round 3. As inconsistent as Johnson can be, it’s a massive step down to Allen who often looks like he’s trying to get away from the ball and the game. While the Rabbitohs have lost three on the hop (haha), it’s a pretty good position to be in with numbers coming back. Despite having shoulder surgery a little mid season freshen up could do Sam Burgess the world of good coming into the business end of the season. I’ve been pretty impressed with Tevita Tatola this season. He’s an absolute no frills player but he just gets through the work. With Liddle and Taylor, the Tigers bench looks a little light on. I think Souths will get this one.