South Sydney Rabbitohs
24
Match Complete
St. George Illawarra Dragons
12
| 79 |  | J. Bird | ||
| 78 |  | J. Su'A | ||
| B. Taaffe | | 77 | ||
| T. Milne | | 77 | ||
| B. Taaffe |  | 72 | ||
| B. Taaffe | | 52 | ||
| C. Graham | | 51 | ||
| 48 | | Z. Lomax | ||
| 46 | | M. Mbye | ||
| B. Taaffe | | 36 | ||
| K. Koloamatangi | | 34 | ||
| L. Mitchell | | 5 |
| 4 | Tries | 2 | ||
| 3 | Conversions | 2 | ||
| 1 | Penalty Goals | 0 | ||
| 0 | Field Goals | 0 |
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.
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.
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
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
Teams
South Sydney
1. Latrell Mitchell, 2. Alex Johnston, 3. Taane Milne, 4. Campbell Graham, 5. Josh Mansour, 6. Cody Walker, 7. Lachlan Ilias, 8. Tevita Tatola, 9. Damien Cook, 10. Tom Burgess, 11. Keaon Koloamatangi, 12. Jai Arrow, 13. Cameron Murray
Interchange: 14. Blake Taaffe, 15. Jacob Host, 16. Liam Knight, 17. Davvy Moale
St George Illawarra
1. Moses Mbye, 2. Mat Feagai, 3. Moses Suli, 4. Zac Lomax, 5. Mikaele Ravalawa, 6. Jack Bird, 7. Ben Hunt, 8. Francis Molo, 9. Andrew McCullough, 10. Aaron Woods, 11. Tariq Sims, 12. Jaydn Su’A, 13. Jack de Belin
Interchange: 14. Talatau Amone, 15. Josh Kerr, 16. Blake Lawrie, 17. Jackson Ford
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
After my last epic slap down in this Rabbitohs vs Dragons live call Adam you have just proven that Dumb and Dumber isn’t just a movie, it is a philosophy you live by. :laughing:
Adam Bagnall
Roar Guru
Mitchell is out for 8 weeks and Walker's failings have been badly exposed this season without Reynolds to steer the ship. Enjoy 9th they won't be getting any higher
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
Didn't take long for the dad's army of rejects to replace the youth. Must be the gang that hang's at Hook's place playing bingo....
Gold Coast Bunny
Roar Rookie
Commiserations DP. Thought after the Charity Shield the Dragons were in for a good year. Hopefully they can hold the ball in future games.
Rossi
Roar Rookie
I'm generally hesitant to bag Hunt as he has a go every week, but why does he continually kick early in the set? Does he like tackling?
Rossi
Roar Rookie
They’re bl00dy useless! My poiny which I communicated very poorly was that Souths had their worst game they could play and still won 24-12, so the Dragons were very terrible
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
Currently, South Sydney juniors Paul Momirovski, Joseph Suaalii and Billy Smith are unavailable for selection. Rabbitohs young guns Josiah Karapani, Zane Bijorac and Terrell Kalo Kalo are on junior development contracts which means, because of salary cap rules as I understand it, they aren't eligible to play in the NRL until June this year. At least that is my understanding. Souths also have promising young QLD Cup outside back Isaiah Tass who missed the start of the year due to a lower vack injury in the pre-season but was named in the Rabbitohs extended squad this week. Other than that Souths have Richie Kennar who is not the answer but still a better option than Josh Mansour and of course Jaxson Paulo who missed the Dragons game due to HIA concussion protocols and who should be playing next week. Although Paulo is error prone he does the job more often than not on the right wing. Paulo is NOT a centre though!
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
I think rugby union has been given enough exposure in another recent article. We don't want the rugby tr.olls invading any more NRL forums. We would have to rely too heavily on Google translate to decipher their nonsense.
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
As long as Will Smith isn't there. I'd die of embarrassment to be b!tch slapped instead of punched in public. I don't have a handbag to defend myself that is fit for such an occasion.
Justin
Guest
The sad thing for St.George is, they signed Griffin to an extension of his contract. It’s going to be expensive to get rid of him! When Gould was at Penrith. He signed Griffin as coach without asking anyone else & signed an extension for Griffin. Without asking anyone else about it. It cost them a lot to get rid of him! That must be how Griffin makes most of his money. Even worse than that. After last week’s game , he’s so stubborn & can’t admit that he’s wrong. So chooses the same line up again this week. Plus, he demands total control as coach , when he’s employed as head coach. Goodness help them!
Justin
Guest
Mansour’s the bad joke as a winger, that won’t go away. Good luck with that! Having said that. Paulo is almost as bad ! They’re both slow & pretty useless! I suppose Paulo may get off the ground a little to take a bomb? I just can’t understand why other clubs wouldn’t continue to bombard Mansour with high kicks? He’s never leaving the ground & virtually anyone can out jump him. Do South’s have zero decent up & coming wingers?
Choppy Zezers
Roar Rookie
Maybe tight head prop in rugby union?
UAP
Guest
Well said Mr GB very funny .. you could MC the academy awards next year.
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
He isn't a centre. He isn't even medium fast, he gets too confused with defensive reads, he makes poor decisions under pressure, he has no passing or kicking game to speak of and he has too many errors in his game. Even John Sutton's motor and workrate wasn't that great when he was moved to the back row but he developed. The same thing with Luciano Leilua when he played for the Dragons. But he grew into the position and his motor and workrate improved.
UAP
Guest
I have been a Saints supporter since early 70s and I must say this has been one of their most inept performances yet. I can't blame the players except for the inability to hold onto the ball even in wet conditions. This coach of ours has the audacity to shake his head yet he is responsible for collating a group of players who have no idea what the other is doing. They really had no idea. I saw the disappointed look in Amone's face when another ball was dropped. It shouldn't be like this. I agree with you dodgy .. Amone, Sloan and Sullivan should be in the side with Hunt to hooker. They have a proven combination developed from a young age. The enthusiasm level would automatically increase .. both players and supporters. Let them play coach ..
Choppy Zezers
Roar Rookie
Moses? He's good for a couple of big runs but that's about it. Doesn't have the motor or the workrate. That's coming from my mate who is a Manly fan who liked Suli for those bollocking runs. And not much else.
Dodgy Dragons
Roar Rookie
That has to be the worst game of footy I’ve seen in years, both teams enept, Dragons twice as bad as the bunnies and both will struggle to make the 8. Starts at the top with Saints, re-signing Hook before a ball kicked this season was a joke. Playing a pensioner in McCullough at hooker, Mbye at fullback and dropping Sloan and Amone from the starting side from Griffin is just ridiculous. If we are to have any chance of winning games this season, we have to pick and stick with our youth and have a spine of 1. Sloan, 6.Amone, 7. Sullivan and 9. Hunt. Mbye to the bench, Bird to the 2nd row, Sims to the Melbourne as he doesn’t want to be there watching him play the last few weeks and back Jackson Ford as a permanent in the 17. I’d rather watch these blokes have a good hard crack and lose than what we have dished up in the last few weeks. But I’m sure the usual rubbish will be trotted out next week, oh and Moose’s suspension must be almost up so he’ll be rushed back in. God help us dragons fans!!
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
Depends if Hook doubles down on his decision to stick with Mbye at FB and Bird at 5/8 or if he recalls Sloan and Amone. Also, Moses Suli could play like Luciano Leilua if they make him an edge back rower.
Choppy Zezers
Roar Rookie
Saints have the Knights next week. Wanna watch a dud game? Tune in.
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
A 50/50 chance and you still blew it! Just as I knew you would, Adam. You never disappoint mate. :laughing: . Enjoy the Dragons 2nd last position on the NRL ladder and continue to hope for the impossible. Meanwhile Souths sit in 9th place instead of 15th with an easy run ahead. . Clearly I was putting too much faith in you to think you could even be half right. :laughing: