Round 21: South Sydney Rabbitohs vs New Zealand Warriors

[Admin Team]

South Sydney Rabbitohs vs New Zealand Warriors

ANZ Stadium Saturday 7.30pm

WITH just six rounds to go, the finals hopes of the Rabbitohs have all but been extinguished but for the Warriors the dream is still well and truly alive ? especially after a morale-boosting win over Melbourne.

As such, this clash is of super importance as they strive to continue a climb up the ladder but they?ll know full well it?s not a result to take for granted.

It wasn?t long ago, round 13 in fact, that a Rabbitohs side travelled to Auckland to play a team they hadn?t beaten since 1999 ? and with a woeful season record of 1-10 ? yet prevailed 35-28.

Now, for the Warriors, it?s payback time.

They are 10th on the NRL ladder, with only differential keeping them from the top eight. With teams in and around the periphery of the finals zone either playing each other or being favoured to lose, this shapes as the perfect chance to put themselves in the box seat.

Coach Ivan Cleary has kept the side that beat the Storm intact for the trip to Sydney.

Souths won?t have completely given up on the finals.

As Lloyd Christmas would say, even a one-in-a-million chance is still a chance, but they know the only hope is wins.

They welcome Issac Luke back from suspension to the side that fell to Newcastle, which leaves George Ndaira out in the cold, while David Kidwell has once again been named as 18th man. He could get a run this week as David Fa?alogo has to beat a judiciary charge to take his place in the side.

Watch out Rabbitohs: The Warriors will be directing plenty of attack to the left wing knowing it is a strength of theirs and a weakness of the Rabbitohs.

Big Sonny Fai has been lurking out in the left centre position for the Warriors in recent times and he?ll be set to get plenty of ball against the Rabbitohs considering the Warriors have now scored 21 tries on the left sideline compared to just nine on the right.

Adding to this imbalance is the fact the Bunnies have conceded 21 tries in this same area compared to 11 on the other side.

Watch out Warriors: Issac Luke returns from a week off determined to boost his form against the Warriors, particularly the Kiwi contingent as he tries to consolidate a spot in the New Zealand side for the upcoming World Cup.

Luke has busted an incredible 65 tackles this season, not bad for a guy half the size of most NRL players.

His 85 metres gained a match is high for a hooker, but shows he is a keen runner of the football. Plus he is much more elusive than the five line breaks he has posted this year would indicate.

Look for a big performance from the youngster.

Where it will be won: Up front.

The Warriors showed they can arm wrestle with the best by beating Melbourne in the wet last weekend and if they are to stay out of the rabbit trap they need to do the same to the Bunnies.

Souths have exuberance and flair out wide with the likes of Chris Sandow, Craig Wing, Jamie Simpson, Nathan Merritt, Fetuli Talanoa, Beau Champion and Luke Capewell, so if the Warriors try to play up-tempo, touch football they will be in danger of another high score line (like back in round 13) and therefore in danger of another loss.

It?s important the Warriors keep the game in the engine room and starve the Bunnies of field position, which should keep some of their flair out of the game.

The History: Played 18; Rabbitohs 4, Warriors 14.

The Rabbitohs broke a 12-game run by the Warriors against the red and green with a 35-28 victory in round 13 so they?ll be confident despite the lopsided history.

However, there have been just two games between the sides at ANZ Stadium ? and the Warriors have won both.

Conclusion: If the Warriors are fair dinkum they?ll win this match.

They?ve proven themselves with a four-match winning streak but they are still playing catch-up on the top eight and this is a match they?re expected to win.

Should they drop these competition points it will be a long road to redemption.

But regardless of their underdog status you can expect the Rabbitohs to play entertaining football and with the young talent in the side, that is worth going along to see.

Match officials: Referee ? Steve Lyons; Sideline Officials ? Brett Suttor & Rod Lawrence; Video ref ? Graeme West.

Televised: Fox Sports 2 ? Delayed 9.30pm.

* Statistics: NRL Stats.

Source: http://www.nrl.com

[Admin Team]

RABBITOHS

1. Nathan Merritt 2. Luke Capewell 3. Jamie Simpson 4. Beau Champion 5. Fetuli Talanoa 6. Craig Wing 7. Chris Sandow 8. Scott Geddes 9. Issac Luke 10. Roy Asotasi (c) 11. Luke Stuart 12. David Fa'alogo 13. John Sutton

Interchange: 14. Beau Falloon 15. Shannan MacPherson 16. Manase Manuakafoa 17. Michael Greenfield

Reserves: 18. David Kidwell

WARRIORS

1. Lance Hohaia 2. Malo Solomona 3. Brent Tate 4. Sonny Fai 5. Aiden Kirk 6. Nathan Fien 7. Grant Rovelli 8. Ruben Wiki 9. Ian Henderson 10. Steve Price (c) 11. Simon Mannering 12. Logan Swann 13. Micheal Luck

Interchange: 14. Jerome Ropati 15. Evarn Tuimavave 16. Sam Rapira 17. Ben Matulino