Become a member to join in Australia's biggest sporting debate, submit articles, receive updates straight to your inbox and keep up with your favourite teams and authors.
The South Sydney Rabbitohs will be looking to kickstart their season against a struggling St George Illawarra Dragons when they do battle in Sydney on Saturday night. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 5:30pm (AEST).
The Rabbitohs are still finding their feet in 2022, with a tough draw seeing them with just the one win from four games to start the year. The Dragons are in a similar predicament, opening their account with a win, but seemingly regressing ever since, a big loss over the Eels last start casting some doubt on this year’s campaign.
It has been slim pickings for the Dragons against South Sydney. In the last ten years, they have won on just three occasions in matches between the two. You have to go back to 2013 to find the last time the Dragons won against South Sydney at Accor Stadium. It is not a happy hunting ground for the Dragons in general, winning just 44 per cent of their games at the ground.
The Rabbitohs lose Jaxson Paulo (concussion) and the ever-reliable Mark Nicholls (syndesmosis) for this one. Josh Mansour returns on the wing for Paulo while Tom Burgess is into the run-on side. Davvy Moale and Blake Taafe are the new faces on the bench.
For the Dragons, Jayden Su’A returns from suspension. Aaron Woods is named to start, with Blake Lawrie back to the bench. Anthony Griffin has kept Moses Mybe at fullback.
Advertisement
Prediction
With the first month of football behind us, things are starting to get a little more desperate for these two sides. While the Rabbitohs have had some quality opposition and made a fairly good account of themselves, it will all count for nought if they can’t start to get some runs on the board.
The Dragons are a team that they should beat and they will be looking for a professional and controlled performance.
The Dragons have slumped big time. They got off to a good start, and backed it up with a gutsy performance over the Panthers in Round 2, but their last two weeks have had them looking like the Dragons of the past few seasons. They were diabolical against the Eels, particularly in defence, and with Souths capable of similar attacking footy they will need to be far better.
Advertisement
With another week of rain predicted in Sydney, it could be a heavy track on Saturday. If the Dragons are to win, it comes off the back of Ben Hunt and his kicking game putting the Rabbitohs under pressure.
There are just too many strike weapons for South Sydney. They will be lamenting the lack of polish in their display against the Panthers last week and the likes of Latrell Mitchell, Cody Walker and Damien Cook will be intent on getting their season back on the road again.
South Sydney by 14.
Match information
Advertisement
Kick-off: 5.30pm (AEST) Venue: Accor Stadium, Homebush TV: Fox League Online: Kayo, Foxtel Now, Foxtel Go Odds: Rabbitohs $1.28, Dragons $3.70 – odds via PlayUp
