Andrew Pelechaty previews the Saturday afternoon clash between South Sydney and St George Illawarra.
MATCHDAY NEWS
MATCHDAY SCHEDULE
South Sydney Rabbitohs Vs St George Illawarra Dragons
Venue: Barlow Park, Cairns
Date: Saturday August 12, 3:00pm
MATCHDAY TEAM NEWS
Rabbitohs: 1.ย Latrell Mitchellย 2.ย Alex Johnstonย 3.ย Isaiah Tassย 4.ย Campbell Grahamย 5.ย Taane Milneย 6.ย Cody Walkerย 7.ย Lachlan Iliasย 8.ย Jai Arrowย 9.ย Damien Cookย 10. Shaquai Mitchell 11.ย Keaon Koloamatangiย 12.ย Jacob Hostย 13.ย Cameron Murrayย 14.ย Tallis Duncanย 15.ย Jed Cartwrightย 16.ย Siliva Haviliย 17.ย Davvy Moaleย 18.ย Benjamin Lovettย 19.ย Tyrone Munroย 20.ย Peter Mamouzelosย 21.ย Daniel Suluka-Fifitaย 22.ย Dean Hawkins
Dragons: 1.ย Tyrell Sloanย 2.ย Mathew Feagaiย 3.ย Moses Suliย 4.ย Max Feagaiย 5.ย Mikaele Ravalawaย 6.ย Talatau Amoneย 7.ย Ben Huntย 8.ย Michael Moloย 9.ย Jacob Liddleย 10.ย Blake Lawrieย 11.ย Billy Burnsย 12.ย Dan Russellย 13.ย Ben Murdoch-Masilaย 14.ย Connor Muhleisenย 15.ย Ryan Couchmanย 16.ย Toby Couchmanย 17.ย Zane Musgroveย 18.ย Jaiyden Huntย 19.ย Sione Finauย 20. Nick Lui-Toso 21.ย Paul Turnerย 22.ย Tautau Moga
Referee: Ben Cummins
Embed from Getty ImagesMATCHDAY PREVIEW
With a month to go until finals, South Sydney are entering “must win” territory.
Clinging onto eighth on points differential (ahead of Parramatta and North Queensland, with Manly Warringah one point behind them), Souths finish the regular season against St George Illawarra, the bye, an in-form Newcastle, and the old rivals the Sydney Roosters (always a spicy content regardless of ladder position).
While the Dragons game is probably the “easiest”, the joint venture side won’t be a pushover.
Mikaele Ravalawa scored all four of the Dragons’ tries as they led Parramatta 20-10 early in the second half. But the Eels – who are also pushing for the finals – scored three more tries (Sean Russell, Junior Paulo, Bryce Cartwright) to win 26-20.
Souths missed the chance to consolidate their top eight spot by losing to Cronulla-Sutherland 26-16 in Perth last weekend. A double to Braydon Trindall helped Cronulla to a 26-0 lead after 60 minutes, and tries to Alex Johnston, Lachlan Ilias, and Isaiah Tass were too little, too late for Souths.
After their home game in Perth, Souths have taken the Dragons game to Barlow Park; who can handle the Saturday afternoon Cairns heat better?
The last clash between the Rabbitohs and Dragons (Round 15) was bizarre: the Dragons led 36-14 with seven minutes left, then Jacob Host, Ilias, and Campbell Graham scored in the space of five minutes as Souths nearly pulled off a miracle.
Tom Burgess is out after copping a three-game ban for a careless high tackle against the Sharks, while – for the Dragons – Michael Molo replaces his brother Francis (concussion protocols). Moses Suli also returns while Max Feagai replaces Zac Lomax.
While the Dragons will throw everything at Souths, expect the desperate Rabbits to find enough to win here.
LAST TEN MATCHES
Rabbitohs 7, Dragons 3
MATCHDAY PREDICTION
Rabbitohs by 10 points.
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