Debra Sherwood provides an insight and preview for the upcoming round 13 match between the Rabbitohs and the Raiders.
MATCHDAY NEWS
MATCHDAY SCHEDULE
South Sydney Rabbitohs Vs Canberra Raiders
Venue: Accor Stadium, Sydney
Date: Saturday May 27, 7:35pm
MATCHDAY TEAM NEWS
Rabbitohs: 1. Blake Taaffe 2. Alex Johnston 3. Isaiah Tass 4. Campbell Graham 5. Taane Milne 6. Cody Walker 7. Lachlan Ilias 8. Tevita Tatola 9. Damien Cook 10. Hame Sele 11. Michael Chee Kam 12. Jacob Host 13. Liam Knight 14. Jed Cartwright 15. Tallis Duncan 16. Shaq Mitchell 17. Daniel Suluka-Fifita 18. Richard Kennar 19. Tyrone Munro 20. Peter Mamouzelos 21. Keaon Koloamatangi 22. Dean Hawkins
Raiders: 1. Sebastian Kris 2. Albert Hopoate 3. Jarrod Croker 4. Matthew Timoko 5. Jordan Rapana 6. Jack Wighton 7. Jamal Fogarty 8. Josh Papali’i 9. Zac Woolford 10. Pasami Saulo 11. Corey Harawira-Naera 12. Corey Horsburgh 13. Joseph Tapine 14. Tom Starling 15. Emre Guler 16. Nick Cotric 17. Ata Mariota 18. Hohepa Puru 19. Danny Levi 20. Matt Frawley 21. Harley Smith-Shields 22. Peter Hola
Referee: Grant Atkins
MATCHDAY PREVIEW
The Rabbitohs take on the Canberra Raiders on Saturday night at Accor Stadium in a game that could go either way.
The Raiders will fight to maintain their top eight position on the ladder taking on the second placed Rabbitohs who have a number of key players out due to Origin. Will this provide some relief for the Raiders after their heavy loss to the Sea Eagles last weekend?
The match between the Rabbitohs and the Eels last Friday saw the Eels strength and endurance no match for the waning Rabbitohs. They scored a try within the first two minutes of the match and a stunning break away between Ryan Matterson and Bailey Simonsson showed the Rabbitohs they were no match for the hungry Eels, eventually going down 36-16 in a massive upset.
The Rabbitohs will be without star players Latrell Mitchell, Cameron Murray, and Jai Arrow as they go into Origin camp. Keaon Koloamatangi will return after being out with a leg injury and is selected in the reserves. Liam Knight will replace Cameron Murray at lock.
Campbell Graham has been named to play despite having a sternum injury and being ruled out of the New South Wales Origin side.
South Sydney will have fresh faces on the bench in Shaquai Mitchell and talented youngster Tallis Duncan who will make his debut.
The Raiders took on the Sea Eagles at home last Sunday and struggled to keep up with the Tom Trbojevic show which saw the visitors swoop to take the win 42-14.
Canberra Raiders will be without Hudson Young as he goes into Origin camp but are boosted with Josh Papali’i and Jack Wighton being available after announcing their retirement from representative duties.
Zac Woolford will return from a head knock at hooker, winger Nick Cotric from a hamstring and Matt Frawley from a hand injury.
The match on Saturday will also be Jarrod Croker’s 299th game and Jordan Rapana requires only one try for 100 NRL career tries.
After his fancy foot work against the Sea Eagles last Sunday and first ever try in the NRL, Ata Mariota could put on the performance the Raiders might just need.
The Raiders have won seven of their last ten games against the Rabbitohs, but they must remain focused and disciplined to prevent even the simplest of errors on their path to success.
LAST TEN MATCHES
Raiders 7, Rabbitohs 3
MATCHDAY PREDICTION
Raiders by six points.
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