Check out the match preview and prediction for the round 6 clash between the Rabbitohs and Sharks.
MATCHDAY NEWS
MATCHDAY SCHEDULE
South Sydney Rabbitohs vs Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
Venue: Accor Stadium, Sydney
Date: Saturday, 13 April 2024, 7:35pm
MATCHDAY TEAM NEWS
Rabbitohs: 1. Jye Gray, 2. Tyrone Munro, 3. Jack Wighton, 4. Isaiah Tass, 5. Taane Milne, 6. Cody Walker, 7. Dean Hawkins, 8. Tevita Tatola, 9. Peter Mamouzelos, 10. Thomas Burgess, 11. Keaon Koloamatangi, 12. Jacob Host, 13. Cameron Murray, 14. Michael Chee Kam, 15. Siliva Havili, 16. Shaquai Mitchell, 17. Davvy Moale, 18. Damien Cook, 19. Jacob Gagai, 20. Sean Keppie, 21. Tallis Duncan, 22. Dion Teaupa
Sharks: 1. William Kennedy, 2. Sione Katoa, 3. Jesse Ramien, 4. Kayal Iro, 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo, 6. Braydon Trindall, 7. Nicho Hynes, 8. Thomas Hazelton, 9. Blayke Brailey, 10. Oregon Kaufusi, 11. Briton Nikora, 12. Teig Wilton, 13. Cameron McInnes, 14. Billy Burns, 15. Jack Williams, 16. Siosifa Talakai, 17. Tuku Hau Tapuha, 18. Daniel Atkinson, 19. Jayden Berrell, 20. Toby Rudolf, 21. Samuel Stonestreet, 22. Braden Hamlin-Uele
Referee: Ashley Klein
Embed from Getty ImagesMATCHDAY PREVIEW
South Sydney have been the talk of rugby league media: the week starting out with coach Jason Demetriou allegedlyย having just one more game to save himself, then the news of Latrell Mitchell’s three-week suspension, and still ongoing as the Tuesday team list saw hooker Damien Cook becoming the Rabbitohs’ latest scapegoat. The former NSW Origin hooker has been dropped from the Top 17 squad and replaced by the promising Greek international Peter Mamouzelos.
Mitchell’s absence gives an opportunity for the Rabbitohs’ NSW Cup fullback Jye Gray a chance to shine at the back. His NSW Cup form is good, with three tries and three try assists in four games plus seven line breaks and averaging 164 run metres per game. Another exciting player returning from injury is Tyrone Munro, who scored three tries and showed a lot of promise in three NRL appearances last season.
For all the hype of Cook being dropped, Cody Walker must be getting close to the axe as well, with his combined return of two line break assists and two try assist not even in the top 30 for the season so far. Walker has just three tackle breaks and no line breaks so far in 2024. But maybe with some fresh blood in the backline it will spark the incumbent NSW Blues’ five eighth to re-capture that form.
Going back to Demetriou, some might find it extremely harsh to be on the cusp of the sack after just six games, but in reality the form slide is almost a season-long dive after leading the competition after round 11 last season. South Sydney’s stats from round 12 last season onwards is bottom four form, and three teams at that end of the stats have new coaches for 2024. The Rabbitohs are third last for win percentage from round 12 last season, have the fifth-worst attack and third-worst defence. Relevant to this weekend, South Sydney actually have the worst home record of all teams from round 12 onwards.
Much more settled and under the media radar are the Cronulla Sharks, who have only four new players added to an extended squad this weekend, and no outs from their last clash. Briton Nikora returns to the second row and that moves Siosifa Talakai to the bench. Braden Hamlin-Uele is named on the extended bench in jersey number 22, but one would think they won’t do without his power come kick-off time. So maybe some tinkering to come.
The Sharks enter this round 6 clash fresh from a bye. The results for the first game after the bye are mixed so far this season, with the last two teams winning and the first two teams losing. As for H2H stats South Sydney have actually won seven in a row against Cronulla at Accor Stadium, with a last loss coming in 2008. But then again, Souths had a similarly dominant recent record over the Warriors before being humbled last weekend. Cronulla have also scored more points than the Rabbitohs this season despite playing one less game, plus South Sydney have also conceded 90 more points than the Sharks.
With fresh blood and some exciting inclusions, plus a chance to save their coach’s job, there’s just a few reasons to tip Souths this weekend, but in reality only a really optimistic South Sydney fan would tip the Rabbitohs to beat a Sharks side who sit fourth and have lost just once this season. This tipster is giving the Rabbitohs one more week like the coach.
Head-to-head stats can be found at Round 6 Number Crunch.
MATCHDAY PREDICTION
Rabbitohs by 4 points.
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