Sydney Roosters
26
Match Complete
South Sydney Rabbitohs
16
| 70 |  | T. Milne | ||
| 52 |  | L. Mitchell | ||
| 50 | | T. Milne | ||
| S. Walker | | 45 | ||
| E. Butcher | | 43 | ||
| S. Walker | | 31 | ||
| S. Walker | | 30 | ||
| 26 | | L. Mitchell | ||
| 24 | | P. Mamouzelos | ||
| S. Walker | | 21 | ||
| J. Tedesco | | 20 | ||
| S. Walker |  | 17 | ||
| S. Walker | | 7 | ||
| A. Crichton | | 6 |
| 4 | Tries | 3 | ||
| 4 | Conversions | 2 | ||
| 1 | Penalty Goals | 0 | ||
| 0 | Field Goals | 0 |
Round 25 of the NRL premiership continues tonight when the Sydney Roosters host the South Sydney Rabbitohs at the brand new Allianz Stadium. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 7:55pm (AEST).
The top four is out of reach for both teams but they’d have watched last night’s shoutout for fourth place between Parramatta and Melbourne with great interest, with fifth place and a home final against either Canberra or Brisbane potentially up for grabs.
Unfortunately, Parramatta won and, while fifth is still technically within reach, Souths aren’t going to get there and the Roosters need to win by almost 60 to do so. Tonight is all about gaining home advantage for a blockbuster elimination final re-match next weekend.
The Roosters being even a small chance of finishing fifth is quite an achievement. Back on 1 July, they slumped to a fifth defeat in six games away to Penrith and, despite being many pundits’ premiership favourites, were in danger of not playing finals football. Seven victories later, including a brutal win over Melbourne last week, they’re a fringe grand final contender.
Souths are hard to predict. They’ve beaten four of the six teams ahead of them this season, including the Roosters in round three, while somehow managing to lose to the Tigers and be thrashed by the Dragons. But their recent form is pretty good, including victories over Parramatta and North Queensland on either side of defeat to Penrith in round 23.
In team news, the Roosters are without Lindsay Collins (suspension), Victor Radley and Daniel Tupou (concussion), with Paul Momirovski and Siosiua Taukeiaho coming into the run-on team and Fletcher Baker and Terrell May joining the bench.
Souths are still without Damien Cook through COVID-19 and Campbell Graham will miss this one through injury. Jaxson Paulo will play centre against his future club, while Hame Sele has been named to start with Tom Burgess dropping to the bench.
Prediction
I think the impact of last weekend’s demolition derby between the Roosters and Storm will carry over into this game. The Eels beat the Storm and the Rabbitohs will finish sixth after a narrow victory tonight.
Rabbitohs by 4.
Game information
Venue: Allianz Stadium, Sydney
Kick-off: 7:55pm (AEST)
TV/Stream: Foxtel, Kayo Sports, Channel Nine
Odds: Roosters $1.80 Rabbitohs $2.00 – odds via PlayUp
Roosters
1. James Tedesco 2. Paul Momirovski 3. Drew Hutchison 4. Joseph Manu 5. Joseph Suaalii 6. Luke Keary 7. Sam Walker 8. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves 9. Sam Verrills 10. Matthew Lodge 11. Angus Crichton 12. Nat Butcher 13. Siosiua Taukeiaho
Interchange: 14. Connor Watson 15. Egan Butcher 16. Fletcher Baker 17. Terrell May
Rabbitohs
1. Latrell Mitchell 2. Alex Johnston 3. Isaiah Tass 4. Jaxson Paulo 5. Taane Milnen 6. Cody Walker 7. Lachlan Ilias 8. Tevita Tatola 9. Siliva Havili 10. Tom Burgess 11. Keaon Koloamatangi 12. Jai Arrow 13. Cameron Murray
Interchange: 14. Peter Mamnuzelous 15. Mark Nicholls 16. Hame Sele 17. Michael Chee Kam
Bingo
Roar Rookie
30-14
Poss
Roar Rookie
Oh my goodness Steveng how can I top that!!! We'll just have to wait till next week,one of us will be eating humble pie.. :happy: :thumbup:
steveng
Roar Rookie
:laughing: NO excuses Poss, as I can say this and that and all sorts, that this game didn’t count blah blah blah for us either way, which was the case and we still come close. Of course youse don’t want to talk about the past as it aint good! Anyway I’m as humble as you are mate, as when things count we always WIN remember that >>>Go You Beautiful Bunnies :thumbup: :laughing:
Poss
Roar Rookie
Hey Steveng I don't really care about the past scores & statistics its next week that matters we have had a really shocker couple of years with injuries & who would of expected us to of gotten so far last year with so many out..I'm not being cocky about next week as I don't want to put the heebie jeebies on them..Just be humble & hopefully good things will happen!! Just remember last week yours & GB's comments of how the Rabbits were going to flog us this week..It was close yes but hopefully the Chookies can do it again.. And as far as I know we'll still be without Toupie, Joey Manu & Collins (due to suspension)...But I still disagree with your comment of Rabbitohs hving a 2nd grade team.. :thumbup:
JennyFromPenny
Guest
History favours the result changing in the second game. Runs at about 75% Both teams are a bit busted, but Roosters a bit more. Massive risk whether Murray or Radley play. Take heart though. Panthers were busted as, last year. Half-back, with half-shoulder.
steveng
Roar Rookie
Hey Poss, we are sick of all the Chooks excuses, just look at the recent record since 2019 in 8 games 6 wins for the Bunnies (the last win by the Roosters was in R2 2020) but remember as in 2020 we won 60-8 and the 2021 we won 54-12 scores, I say no more. Also, the Bunnies have tallied 238 points total to the Roosters 134 points, you make your mind up? As they just won last night with lots of mistakes that we made which and if we didnt do, we could have won this just. If thats the best the Roosters have then they will get a big shock next week.
Poss
Roar Rookie
How are they hopeless Steveng we won with 6 of our best out!!!So what's your point? Where's your 2nd grade team as far as I know they didn't rest players like Penrith,they rested 10 players,now that's what I'd call a 2nd grade team..
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
It was certainly a factor Jenny but I think even if Demetriou was there last night and Souths did not have a disrupted preparation losing their coach late in the run up to the game the result would probably have been the same. That would have been due to missing Cook and Graham and most importantly, losing Cameron Murray 18 seconds into the game! That was no small event. At the end of the day, rivalries aside, I think that game was always going to mean more to the Roosters desperately wanting to beat Souths for the grand opening of their (and Souths) new home stadium. Especially in light of the fact that Souths had won their last 4 encounters by an aggregate score of Rabbitohs 168 vs Roosters 52. Round 03 2022: Rabbitohs 28 vs Roosters 16 Round 23 2021: Rabbitohs 26 vs Roosters 16 Round 03 2021: Rabbitohs 54 vs Roosters 12 Round 20 2020: Rabbitohs 60 vs Roosters 8 On the other hand the Rabbitohs did not have the same motivation and, after losing Cameron Murray in the first 18 seconds of the game, their lack of intensity showed. Souths recent run of success came off the back of high intensity on both sides of the ball and high completion rate for the first 20 mins of each game. Souths were on the other side of those stats early last night and made things harder for themselves with costly errors and poor decisions. Like Latrell Mitchell crabbing across field and ending up tackled in-goal which lead to the Roosters first try. Additionally, the Rabbitohs lost the forwards battle early and never fully stamped their dominance despite winning the second half 16 - 10. Like I said, it was a dead rubber and despite the Roosters also missing players like Radley, Suaalii and Tupou I have said before that the Rabbitohs best 17 will beat the Roosters best 17 every day of the week as previous results indicate. Damien Cook and Cameron Murray are part of the backbone of the NSW Origin side and Graham is an Origin squad member so their returns next week will see Souths go to another level in a game that actually means something being sudden death. Congrats to the Roosters and their fans. Like I said, enjoy your last win of the 2022 season. Next week is coming fast and Joseph Manu will be a massive loss.
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
Unlike in the game last night when Souths the Dogs defence was shot to pieces after a 66 metre run by Greg Inglis (36:53) it occurred at the 25:27 mark in the 1st half. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZXtdG47mh8
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
No. I'm restating a Gould-ism. If you can't penalise an offence (rule breach) in a GF then don't penalise it in a regular game either. Go and look at what happened in the 2014 GF (15 sec clip link below). https://youtube.com/clip/UgkxN2-mRa0Vae6LXvfZOUMIE145ZOTXUK0g
JennyFromPenny
Guest
How much of the loss did you contribute to Demetriou out, Hornby in ?
Choppy Zezers
Roar Rookie
2014? You're comparing a 2022 sin bin to one game in 2014? Latrell is just dumb. Leave it at that.
Poss
Roar Rookie
Oh GB it is what it is,we were the best on the night,& we had 6 of our best out..Just hope we can replicate the same result next week..Go you little Chookies!!!! :happy:
Poss
Roar Rookie
You didn't expect to win? If I'm not mistaken Steveng you said last week how the Rabbits were going to flog the Roosters..
JGK
Roar Guru
Yeah, that’s madness. They’ve lost the right to complain about money and stadiums not being built if they won’t even use the ones they have.
Poss
Roar Rookie
He's back where he belongs Noel.. :happy:
JennyFromPenny
Guest
Murray is in as bad a shape as Ponga. Both of them at the cross-roads in their careers. Roosters have their own head injury problems with Radley, then there's Manu's Achilles, Waera-Hargreave's hammy, and Freddy just showed us Verril's busted hand. Collins would only be back from suspension if they made the GF. Roosters may have won the battle, but look like losing the war.
Poss
Roar Rookie
Well last week I read where you said we (The Chookies) were going to get a flogging this week..Typical Rabbit comment..
The Barry
Roar Guru
Good comment I enjoyed the game, very interesting… but I don’t think it informs next week’s game too much
The Barry
Roar Guru
Haha… not sure about that. I think we just changed cells…