Round 3: Rabbitohs v Roosters preview
Little has gone right for the South Sydney Rabbitohs in the opening two rounds of the post-Adam Reynolds era.
The hope though is that one of the league's oldest and fiercest rivalries will change all of that.
While the Rabbitohs were always expected to somewhat regress this year, few people were anticipating the drop in form to be this stark.
Lachlan Ilias is still growing into his role at halfback and needs time to do so, although it almost looks like Cody Walker and Latrell Mitchell are overcalling the rookie at his expense.
As much as it makes sense to have the team's two most confident ball-players demanding the ball in prime field position, that won't allow Ilias to grow and learn if he makes mistakes.
Regardless, opposition teams will easily work out where the ball is going, only further incentivising the need to get Ilias more involved.
The challenge for South Sydney, and more specifically Mitchell, will be playing will controlled aggression ahead of what is sure to be quite an emotionally-charged clash.
Of course, the last time these two sides met Mitchell came under scrutiny and was subsequently suspended for a high shot that broke Joey Manu's jaw.
Roosters fullback James Tedesco spoke earlier this week about the need for his side to control its emotions, guilty in the past of losing that battle and in turn the game itself.
Fortunately for Trent Robinson's men they find themselves in a very different situation to the Rabbitohs, coming off a 26-12 win over the Sea Eagles.
There are some injury concerns for the Roosters, although Connor Watson is expected to be fit to play despite appearing to pick up a shoulder complaint last week.
Elsewhere, Sitili Topouniua (head knock) and Joey Manu (knee) are also expected to be fit to play.
For South Sydney, the experiment in the centres is over with Taane Milne filling the void left by Dane Gagai and Jaxson Paulo back to the wing while Cameron Murray is back in the starting line-up.
Last meeting: Round 24 2021 - Roosters 12 Rabbitohs 54
Look away Roosters fans. The Rabbitohs ran away 54-12 victors in their Round 24 meeting last year.
Who to watch: For the Rabbitohs, look for Keaon Koloamatangi to wreak havoc on the edges. Sam Walker and Luke Keary are magicians with the ball in hand but both targets in defence and South Sydney will know it. Should the Rabbitohs be able to isolate either playmaker in the defensive line, early ball to Koloamatangi will do the trick given how hard he is to stop at full tilt.
Elsewhere, South Sydney will need to keep a close eye on Angus Crichton once he gets on the field. Crichton, like Koloamatangi, is a tough man to take down and will be even harder to defend coming off the bench. It makes sense to have the Blues forward on the interchange given it will keep him fresh and ready to inject against tired South Sydney forwards.
The favourite: The Roosters are well-backed to make it a 0-3 start to the season for last year's grand finalists.
My tip: This occasion may be exactly what the Rabbitohs need to lift and finally snag their first win of the season. There is not a whole lot of logic behind this tip given what South Sydney dished up in the first 65 minutes last week. But maybe, just maybe, the challenge of facing their bitter rivals will bring the best out of the Bunnies and in particular their forward pack. Rabbitohs by 10.
