Check out the match preview and prediction for the round 19 clash between the Rabbitohs and Bulldogs.
MATCHDAY NEWS
MATCHDAY SCHEDULE
South Sydney Rabbitohs Vs Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
Venue: Accor Stadium, Sydney
Date: Saturday October 8th July, 7:35pm
MATCHDAY TEAM NEWS
Rabbitohs: 1. Blake Taaffe 2. Alex Johnston 3. Isaiah Tass 4. Taane Milne 5. Tyrone Munro 6. Dean Hawkins 7. Lachlan Ilias 8. Tevita Tatola 9. Siliva Havili 10. Thomas Burgess 11. Benjamin Lovett 12. Michael Chee Kam 13. Shaq Mitchell 14. Peter Mamouzelos 15. Tallis Duncan 16. Davvy Moale 17. Hame Sele 18. Richard Kennar 19. Josiah Karapani 20. Daniel Suluka-Fifita 21. Liam Knight 22. Jacob Gagai
Bulldogs: 1. Jake Averillo 2. Jacob Kiraz 3. Braidon Burns 4. Jackson Topine 5. Blake Wilson 6. Matt Burton 7. Toby Sexton 8. Max King 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Ryan Sutton 11. Jayden Okunbor 12. Jacob Preston 13. Raymond Faitala-Mariner 14. Kyle Flanagan 15. Kurtis Morrin 16. Tevita Pangai Junior 17. Harrison Edwards 19. Reece Hoffman 20. Karl Oloapu 21. Jeral Skelton 22. Ethan Quai-Ward 23. Chris Patolo
Referee: Liam Kennedy
Embed from Getty ImagesMATCHDAY PREVIEW
Amidst all the excitement of the upcoming State of Origin Game III, the South Sydney Rabbitohs will face off against the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs at Accor Stadium on Saturday night.
The seventh placed Rabbitohs will look to continue their winning performance following the defeat of the Warriors last week in Auckland, with the final score 28-6.
Their line-up will see a reshuffle with several players out from Origin duties, injury, and suspension.
Campbell Graham is out due to a sternum injury, Jai Arrow due to an ankle injury, Latrell Mitchell with a calf injury and Jacob Host is out due to suspension, with all returning in Round 21.
Playmaker Cody Walker is also out due to the Origin III call up with fellow teammates Cameron Murray, Damien Cook and Keaon Koloamatangi.
The Rabbitohs have won three from 11 without Cody Walker since his debut in 2016. Walker’s replacement Dean Hawkins, who has only played one game this season, will be joining the backline with Blake Taaffe, Isaiah Tass, Tyronne Munro and Alex Johnston.
Alex Johnston demonstrates some impressive stats, scoring 11 tries in the last seven games against the Bulldogs.
He became the first player in history of the game to score 30 tries in consecutive seasons. Blessed with blazing speed, already scoring 14 tries, 24 line-breaks, 42 tackle-breaks and averaging 112 running metres just this season.
Due to the absence of captain Cameron Murray, Shaquai Mitchell will help strengthen the Rabbitohs forward pack.
From only seven appearances this season so far, his stats are already remarkable, with 275.2 post contact metres, 8 tackle breaks and 138 defensive tackles made.
The Rabbitohs and the Bulldogs have both played seven games at Accor Stadium this year, with the Rabbitohs winning four and the Bulldogs two.
The Bulldogs will certainly need luck on their side this weekend. After coming off a bye last week, their performance was terrible being the worst this season, going down to the Knights 0-66.
History does not look favourable on the Bulldogs having lost the last five meetings against the Rabbitohs, stretching back to 2020.
Coach Cameron Ciraldo is confident that the team connection is there but will need to lift their confidence to find that winning culture.
They have made a significant shake up to their line up with Toby Sexton at half back, having only just joined the club on Tuesday from the Titans, with Matt Burton shifting to the five-eighth position.
Jake Averillo moves to fullback, Jackson Topine and Braidon Burns have been named in the centres.
Josh Addo-Carr, the only player from the Bulldogs selected for Origin III will be replaced by Blake Wilson, who has an impressive set of stats of 15 line breaks, 57 tackle breaks and 151 average running metres.
Combining with Matt Burton and Jake Averillo these players could look to fill the void in the back line.
Kyle Flanagan has returned to the bench while Khaled Rajab, Hayze Perham and Paul Alamoti have all been dropped from the team.
With both teams missing key players and being heavily reshuffled, who will be the victor on Saturday night?
LAST TEN MATCHES
Rabbitohs 8, Bulldogs 2
MATCHDAY PREDICTION
Rabbitohs by 22 points.
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