Round 24: Wests Tigers v Rabbitohs preview
With both the Tigers and Rabbitohs now out of the running for finals contention, there will be little more than pride to play for when these two teams meet on Saturday night.
Although, in the case of the Tigers, a Penrith comeback win last week keeps Parramatta squarely in their sights as they look to lift themselves off the bottom of the ladder.
If the Tigers are any hope of making a late season surge, however, they will need to improve their defence, having conceded over 40 points in five of their last seven games.
One of those losses came to the Rabbitohs, who finished strong to overpower the Tigers 42-28.
South Sydney's slim finals hopes are all but gone after a string of recent defeats, with the latest coming at the hands of a Storm side that barely had to get out of second gear last Thursday.
The Tigers, meanwhile, have shown some signs in their three most recent defeats but ill-discipline and poor defensive lapses have made it hard for them to genuinely compete for the 80 minutes.
In team news, Luke Laulilii returns from the concussion protocols on the wing with Solomon Alaimalo dropping out while Alex Seyfarth starts for Reuben Porter.
He is in the extended squad, with Sione Fainu joining the bench.
Elsewhere, Aidan Sezer looks alright to go despite failing to finish Sunday's game against the Knights with a knee issue.
As for South Sydney, there is just one change with Tallis Duncan replacing Michael Chee Kam (calf) in the back row.
In terms of the key numbers to know, the Tigers have a very poor record against the Rabbitohs, winning just one of their past nine while they haven't fared any better at Campbellton Sports Stadium in general - losing 10 of their last 11 games at the venue.
Last meeting: Round 20 2024 - Rabbitohs 42 Wests Tigers 28
Who to watch: Going back to the Tigers' last win in a thriller against the Raiders, any time they are a chance of causing an upset it starts with the work of Apisai Koroisau at dummy-half. For a team that is still raw and trying to find its way in first grade, Koroisau is an experienced option in the spine who makes the right plays while also offering game-breaking upside. If South Sydney is not switched on from the start, which may be the case given there is little to play for, Koroisau could get to work early scheming out of dummy-half and getting the Tigers on the front foot.
In a similar sense, this is the kind of game where Cody Walker could really pile on the try assists. The Tigers have been picked apart for the majority of the season and a ball-playing halfback like Walker, who is also capable of running or kicking the ball too, will have their defence in two minds all night. South Sydney may also benefit from having both Walker and Jack Wighton combining on the same side of the field at times. Just imagine Wighton on the inside as a running threat with Jye Gray wrapping around the outside with his speed - they could really rack up a score.
FAVOURITE: The Rabbitohs are favoured to win this one.
MY TIP: Logic says the Rabbitohs are the pick here given they have at least shown some semblance of consistent effort in defence recently. But the Tigers seemingly have more to play for, both when it comes to avoiding the wooden spoon and also giving their fans a reason to be optimistic for 2025. This may end up being completely wrong but I'm taking the Tigers to snap a seven-game losing skid purely on the basis they are overdue one of those games they seem to pull out every now and then. Tigers by 10.
