Josh Mercer previews the final round clash between bitter rivals, the Roosters and the Rabbitohs.
MATCHDAY NEWS
MATCHDAY SCHEDULE
Sydney Roosters Vs South Sydney Rabbitohs
Venue: Allianz Stadium
Date: Friday, September 2, 7:55 pm
MATCHDAY TEAM NEWS
Related: NRL Team List Tuesday
Embed from Getty ImagesRoosters: 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 14. Connor Watson 15. Egan Butcher 16. Fletcher Baker 17. Terrell May 18. Adam Keighran 19. Ben Thomas 20. Kevin Naiqama 21. Oliver Gildart 22. Siua Wong
Victor Radley (concussion) is out, and Siosiua Taukeiaho moves into lock forward. Paul Momirovski comes into the starting side for Daniel Tupou (groin). Linsey Collins (suspension) is also out of the side Terrell May and Fletcher Baker moves on to the bench.
Embed from Getty ImagesRabbitohs: 1. Latrell Mitchell 2. Alex Johnston 3. Isaiah Tass 4. Jaxson Paulo 5. Taane Milne 6. Cody Walker 7. Lachlan Ilias 8. Tevita Tatola 9. Siliva Havili 10. Thomas Burgess 11. Keaon Koloamatangi 12. Jai Arrow 13. Cameron Murray 14. Peter Mamouzelos 15. Mark Nicholls 16. Hame Sele 17. Michael Chee Kam 18. Blake Taaffe 19. Kodi Nikorima 20. Davvy Moale 21. Richard Kennar 22. Josh Mansour
Damien Cook (COVID) will miss this week again, and Silvia Havili will stay as the hooker. Campbell Graham is also out, and Jaxson Paulo moves to centre. Kodi Nikorima moves to the reserves, with Peter Mamouzelos taking the bench spot.
Referee:
MATCHDAY PREVIEW
There is nothing like two traditional rivals playing each other, and you can feel the hatred in this before kick-off. They met back in round three, and the Rabbitohs ran out 28-16 winners.
This game will be the first National Rugby League game to be played at the new Allianz Stadium.
The difference between now and then is that Luke Keary and Sam Walker have finally started to gel like fans knew they could. While it couldn’t be as simple as moving Walker back to halfback and Keary back to five-eight, it seems to have done the trick.
Both teams have lost some key players, and it is the last round, so more players could be rested. The Roosters had a very hard-fought battle against the Storm. Hopefully, that match didn’t take it out of them (well, the players that came through unscathed anyway).
After conceding an early try, the Rabbitohs hit back to lead 14-6 at the break. While the Cowboys narrowed the score early in the first half, they didn’t look like winning. The Rabbitohs had it all over them.
Like last week’s game, this will also be very physical. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves will need to watch out, he got put on report last week, and anything else may see him miss finals. Though he is the enforcer, he does need to be careful of teams baiting him.
The spine holds the key for the Roosters. Sam Verrills is not up against Damien Cook this week, but if he’s not careful, Havili will make him pay. For the Rabbitohs, it will be up to their big three, Mitchell, Murray, and Walker. Murray has gone the extra mile at the back end of the season, and he is up there with Isaah Yeo as one of the best lock forwards in the competition.
Embed from Getty ImagesINTERESTING FACT
Allianz Stadium is a bit of a hoodoo ground for the Rabbitohs. They have only won 28 games out of 88 at the venue.
MATCHDAY PREDICTION
Roosters by 2.
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