South Sydney Rabbitohs
36
Match Complete
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
16
| A. Johnston |  | 79 | ||
| 77 |  | R. Garrick | ||
| 76 | | R. Garrick | ||
| 73 | | T. Trbojevic | ||
| J. Paulo | | 59 | ||
| B. Taaffe | | 51 | ||
| C. Graham | | 50 | ||
| 44 | | R. Garrick | ||
| 43 | | R. Garrick | ||
| J. Paulo | | 37 | ||
| B. Taaffe | | 30 | ||
| C. Walker | | 28 | ||
| B. Taaffe | | 23 | ||
| A. Johnston | | 22 | ||
| B. Taaffe | | 13 | ||
| C. Walker | | 12 |
| 7 | Tries | 3 | ||
| 4 | Conversions | 2 | ||
| 0 | Penalty Goals | 0 | ||
| 0 | Field Goals | 0 |
The preliminary finals get underway tonight when the South Sydney Rabbitohs take on the Manly Sea Eagles at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 7:50pm (AEST).
We are well and truly at the business end of the season now. Win tonight and a grand final awaits; lose, and it’s a case of so close, but yet so far.
With the exception of possibly Wayne Bennett, no one saw the Rabbitohs’ qualifying final win over the Panthers coming. While we knew that Souths have loads of attacking flair, it was their defence which won them the match and secured a home preliminary final – crucially, on the other side of the draw to minor premiers the Storm.
It’s hard to single out anyone in what was a great team performance. However, George Burgess, coming off the bench, made twice as many metres as any Penrith forward; and Cameron Murray got through a mountain of defence, whilst his quick play the balls repeatedly had Penrith’s defensive line under pressure.
With the benefit of the week off, Souths have the luxury of picking the same 17, all rested and ready to go.
After being thrashed by the Storm in week one of the finals, the Sea Eagles dealt out a hammering of their own with a 42-6 win over the Roosters last Friday night.
Daly Cherry-Evans and Tom Trbojevic were back to their best, but it was all off the back of a dominant Manly pack. Sean Keppie had the game of his life and Taniela Paseka, off the bench, simply couldn’t be stopped at times.
Once that happened, the holes started to appear in the Roosters and Manly were away.
The Sea Eagles have also named the same 17.
Prediction
The big question in this one is whether the Rabbits can repeat their defensive efforts from the first week of the finals.
If they can, they will minimise the impact of Cherry-Evans and Trbojevic.
On top of that, they will be sending plenty of attack to the Sea Eagles’ right edge, which has proved a weakness in recent games.
This will be tight, but the benefit of the week off will prove to be a large advantage.
South Sydney Rabbitohs by 6
Game information
Kick-off:7:50pm (AEST)
Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
TV: Channel Nine, Fox League
Online: Kayo Sports, Foxtel Now, Foxtel GO, NRL Live Pass
Betting: Rabbitohs $1.71, Sea Eagles $2.18 (odds via PlayUp)
Teams
South Sydney Rabbitohs
1. Blake Taaffe 2. Alex Johnston 3. Dane Gagai 4. Campbell Graham 5. Jaxson Paulo 6. Cody Walker 7. Adam Reynolds (c) 8. Mark Nicholls 9. Damien Cook 10. Tevita Tatola 11. Keaon Koloamatangi 12. Jaydn Su’A 13. Cameron Murray
Bench/Reserves: 14. Benji Marshall 15. Jacob Host 16. Thomas Burgess 17. Jai Arrow | 18. Taane Milne 19. Patrick Mago 20. Braidon Burns 21. Jed Cartwright
Manly Sea Eagles
1. Tom Trbojevic 2. Jason Saab 3. Brad Parker 4. Morgan Harper 5. Reuben Garrick 6. Kieran Foran 7. Daly Cherry-Evans (c) 8. Josh Aloiai 9. Lachlan Croker 10. Martin Taupau 11. Haumole Olakau’atu 12. Josh Schuster 13. Jake Trbojevic
Bench/Reserves: 14. Dylan Walker 15. Karl Lawton 16. Sean Keppie 17. Taniela Paseka | 18. Toafofoa Sipley 19. Moses Suli 20. Curtis Sironen 21. Tevita Funa
Kurt S
Roar Pro
I understand the context and respect you view but I simply disagree.
Mate, I’ve called you out on your hypocrisy, and rather than ‘manning-up’ and admitting wrong, your response is “..time to man up and tell me your team?
Mate, I’ve called you out on your hypocrisy, and rather than ‘manning-up’ and admitting wrong, your response is “..time to man up and tell me your team?”
The Final Word
Roar Rookie
Blind? No. There are too many profiles to keep track of. You said you didn't support the Rabbitohs. So who? Enlighten me.
Are you really that blind, or choosing too?
The Final Word
Roar Rookie
So which team do you support? Or are you too embarrassed to say?
This is one of your more sensible comments TFW. But I would say 'maybe' re right time and place. - I actually agree with Joel's comment - which is the original post I was responding too. Joel says it was an embarrassing way to end the season that "none of them showed anything close to the effort required to win finals tonight". That's none more damning, to me than none other than their leader/caption/highest-paid-player & most experienced. That he of all people, lacked effort. Ouch. As I've said before in this comment section, that's Manly cant just be a one trick pony, they have to play better whether Turbs is in the team or not. By the way, it appears that's exactly what Kerian Foran has said after their loss.
The Final Word
Roar Rookie
What hypocrisy? I said there is a time and a place. I get it right. You got it wrong. Face the facts. Still vacillating then about which team to support? Or are you just too scared to own up to it? Quit stalling…
The Final Word
Roar Rookie
I can't remember if I ever mentioned it, but I spent about 5 years as a member of the St George Leagues Club. I lived in Hurstville during that period and used to go to the club quite a lot. One day after a Rabbitohs vs Dragons game at Kogarah I literally bumped into Mark "Spud" Carroll who spilt a tray of beers (OK, slightly spilt). I thought he would deck me. But he apologised and asked if I was OK. Reminds of a time I bumped into the QLD Origin team at Sheila's Tavern in Sydney and big Sam Backo called me over and tried to give me a beer (he was clutching two bottles and wanted to hand me one). "Hey buddy. Come here. Come here. Do you want a beer?" Top bloke. I'll keep in mind mate you are a man of many talents... you got the skills! :stoked: :thumbup:
The Final Word
Roar Rookie
Oh, I HOPE so, DPS! :stoked: :thumbup:
Mate, I've called you out on your hypocrisy, and rather than 'manning-up' and admitting wrong, your response is "..time to man up and tell me your team?" :laughing:
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
Sweet, I played Dragon juniors, scored a classic wingers diving try on the sacred turf of Kogarah Jubilee. Got Penshurst RSL premiership blazer. Had the skills but not the drive at the time. :unhappy:
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
Claim it, but I doubt they'll be at full strength, whoever it is. I expect a brutal game this arvo.
The Final Word
Roar Rookie
"I see, humility is for others. Just not….." Me? Have the courage and conviction to finish your sentences, mate. You will never get a K.O. with a gentle slap. If intend to throw one, then throw it. Time to man up, defenda and stop playing games and tell us which team you support. Or are you miltontoaster (formerly BA Sports) and you support the Raiders? You use misdirection as comfortably as Ivan Cleary and look what happened to him when he started something he couldn't finish. You don't want to be that guy, defenda.
Mick Gold Coast QLD
Roar Guru
"while virtually nothing went wrong for Souths" I mused over that during the telecast - they backed up and backed up, the passes stuck and invariably someone turned up to ensure the attacker did not burst free of the first tackle. It will be a rare thing if they craft the same good fortune next outing and Craig Bellamy will come up with something to make that so. According to Wikipedia his winning rate (club level) is 70%, quite extraordinary and well ahead of Bennett at 63%. Cleary is at 52%. I do not think Ivan Cleary's response will concern Wayne Bennett as much - however I do not now follow the game closely enough to know if he is a clever tactician. They lost me in 1999 when they booted the Mighty Rabbitohs out - like slitting your grandfather's throat! The other characteristic in play for Souths is the volatile temperament that pervades the team. Whilst the worst of them is not playing it is a useful vulnerability for opposition coaches to target.
DavMan
Roar Rookie
Thanks mate. I just want to get Harry signed up for next year!
Tom, read my comment, " one of" who said it was all him?
Panthers3
Roar Rookie
Good old Outsider. He had an (awful) lot to say online about KF & his fam a few seasons ago, i wonder what he thinks now ..
I see, humility is for others. Just not.....
Mick Gold Coast QLD
Roar Guru
:stoked: :stoked: :stoked: