Round 9: Broncos v Rabbitohs preview
Pretenders or contenders clash in Brisbane
Two of the best performing sides over the first third of the season will press their premiership credentials on Friday evening as the Brisbane Broncos and South Sydney Rabbitohs face off at Suncorp Stadium.
Sitting atop the premiership ladder following their best start to a season in seven years, the Brisbane Broncos will be forced to contend with a change in personnel brought on by injury and suspension.
Losing Corey Oates, Payne Haas and Ezra Mam from the team that defeated Parramatta 26-16 in Darwin last Friday, Jesse Arthars and Kennan Palasia will come back into the squad alongside club debutant Jock Madden in the number six jersey.
Winning both matches against the Rabbitohs last season, coach Kevin Walters has overseen the longest run in first position enjoyed by a Brisbane side since Wayne Bennett returned to the club in 2015.
Causing a major upset to stun the premiers at the death last week, the South Sydney Rabbitohs will be hoping to continue their winning ways with another major scalp.
Coming from behind to outlast Penrith 20-18 last Thursday on home soil, the Rabbitohs will welcome back Tevita Tatola in a forward reshuffle that sees Daniel Suluka-Fifita revert to extended bench.
Holding a poor historical record at Suncorp with six wins from 19 clashes against the Broncos, the Rabbitohs will be chasing four consecutive wins for the second time during Jason Demetriou's tenure.
Last meeting: Round 9 2022 - Rabbitohs 12 Broncos 32
Who to watch: Having spent the early part of his career with the league's perennial underachievers, Jock Madden will be out to impress in his maiden appearance for the competition front-runners. Coming into the halves following a one-match ban handed down to Ezra Mam for a hip drop tackle, the 23-year-old will be aiming to make the most of his opportunity and lock down a permanent place in Brisbane's best 17 going forward. Playing 17 games with the Tigers over the course of two seasons prior to making the move north, the opportunity to contribute to a side brimming with confidence could see Madden reach heights never seen in his first-grade career to date.
Enjoying a stellar start to the season with eight tries in as many appearances, Campbell Graham will be looking to press his credentials as a centre of representative calibre. Coming into calculations for an Origin call up following the representative retirement of future club teammate Jack Wighton, the 23-year-old equipped himself with distinction during the group stage at the World Cup last October. Producing 21 tackle breaks, ten line breaks and 141 running metres on average, the Rabbitohs will be looking for Graham to have a similar impact on Friday evening.
The favourite: While both sides have won three matches apiece in the six meetings since the onset of the pandemic, the Rabbitohs are slightly favoured to edge out the absentee-affected Broncos.
My tip: Brisbane have been incredibly fortunate to field a very consistent team over the opening two months of the season. With their star front-rower and exciting playmaker watching on from the sidelines, the Broncos will be hoping the home ground advantage can get them over the line. Broncos by 2.
