Check out the match preview and prediction for the round 3 clash between the Sydney Roosters and the South Sydney Rabbitohs.
MATCHDAY NEWS
MATCHDAY SCHEDULE
Sydney Roosters Vs South Sydney Rabbitohs
Venue: Allianz Stadium, Sydney
Date: Friday March 22, 8:00pm AEDT
MATCHDAY TEAM NEWS
Roosters: 1. James Tedesco, 2. Daniel Tupou, 3. Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, 4. Joseph Manu, 5. Dominic Young, 6. Sandon Smith, 7. Sam Walker, 8. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, 9. Brandon Smith, 10. Lindsay Collins, 11. Nat Butcher, 12. Sitili Tupouniua, 13. Victor Radley, 14. Connor Watson, 15. Naufahu Whyte, 16. Terrell May 17 Angus Crichton, 18. Michael Jennings, 19. Egan Butcher, 20. Billy Smith, 21. Zach Dockar-Clay, 22. Siua Wong
Rabbitohs: 1. Latrell Mitchell, 2. Alex Johnston, 3. Jack Wighton, 4. Isaiah Tass, 5. Taane Milne, 6. Cody Walker, 7. Dean Hawkins, 8. Tevita Tatola, 9. Damien Cook, 10. Davvy Moale, 11. Keaon Koloamatangi, 12. Jacob Host, 13. Cameron Murray, 14. Siliva Havili, 15. Tallis Duncan, 16. Sean Keppie, 17. Thomas Burgess, 18. Michael Chee Kam, 19. Lachlan Ilias, 20. Shaquai Mitchell, 21. Peter Mamouzelos, 22. Richard Kennar
Referee: Ashley Klein
Embed from Getty ImagesMATCHDAY PREVIEW
Another chapter in the ‘book of feuds’ will be written on Friday night when the Roosters and Rabbitohs do battle for the 232nd time. They hold one of the fiercest rivalries in the NRL and it never fails to disappoint.
For the Roosters, Trent Robinson has made a few changes after they went down 21-14 against Manly at 4 Pines Park. Luke Keary failed his HIA on Sunday so will sit out the game, with Sandon Smith moving from the bench into five-eighth. That brings Connor Watson into the 14 jersey for his first game of the season. Siua Wong has dropped out of the 17, with Nat Butcher taking his place starting in the back row, and Angus Crichton coming onto the bench.
Following a tough loss to Manly, the Roosters will play their first game at Allianz for the year and will be hoping for some home crowd favouritism to get them back in the win column. With no Keary, the pressure will be on the young halves combo of Smith and Sam Walker to get the team around the park. James Tedesco has been at his best so far this year and looks primed for another highly involved performance. He usually saves his best for these rivalry games, which is a scary thought for the Rabbitohs.
Staring down the barrel of three straight losses, the Rabbitohs have made several changes with Jason Demetriou hoping to shake things up. A notable change at halfback with Lachlan Ilias dropped and Dean Hawkins promoted to start. Jack Wighton will make his much anticipated club debut after missing the first two games through suspension. He starts at centre with Richie Kennar dropping out. Jacob Host gets his first start of the year in the back row, with Shaquai Mitchell dropping back to the reserves, and Tallis Duncan moving to the bench.
This game is one the Rabbitohs have circled on their calendar each year and it couldn’t come at a better time for them. The emotion and passion that comes with this rivalry may just be enough to get them fired up. Having said that, they’ll need to be at their best to overcome a Roosters side coming off a loss. The key for them will be getting back to what works. Their left edge attack has arguably been the best in the competition the past few years, but they’ve struggled to utilise it thus far. They’ll be looking to get Wighton involved in his first game, so it wouldn’t be a surprise to see them go to that left side often.
Head-to-head stats can be found at Round 3 Number Crunch.
MATCHDAY PREDICTION
Roosters by 12 points.
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