Round 9: Rabbitohs v Knights preview
This match is expected to be a rather close contest, but not in a good way.
After Souths beat Penrith and the Roosters in consecutive weeks, expectations around the club's fortunes started to rise. Since then though, they've scored 32 points in their last 2 games, all of which were losses.
If the Knights had an attack, it would be labelled as abysmal. They've scored 36 points in 5 games. Even Annandale scored more points in their first 7 games of 1910 (80) than the Knights have scored their first 7 games of 2025 (72). And Annandale had to deal with tries being worth 3 points, no ten metre rule and no limited tackles to more evenly share the possession in a game.
The Knights attack copped a thorough dressing down by this scribe last week. Instead of rehashing past comments, I'm just going to say - the Knights need to pull their finger out and this is the best time to do that - They have a bunch of home games coming up against some out of form and lowly ranked sides. Souths this week, followed by the Titans and Eels at home. Then Penrith and the Dragons before returning home for back-to-back games against Manly and the Roosters. In Round 16 they have the Dolphins. If they get their act together and start winning and scoring points this week - they have the potential to go on a lengthy run and get their season back on track.
But if they persist with this inept garbage they've been trotting out, their season will be over before the end of June.
Souths are frustrating for different reasons. They have strike weapons across the field but it looks like there's no cohesion. This week they'll have Jack Wighton at five-eighth - their third different five-eighth in 5 weeks, alongside Jayden Sullivan at halfback - their third different 7 for the season already. Souths disjointed form and spine are lucky that they are up against a team whose attack is less threatening than a purring kitten. If they take this opportunity to build some combinations, they could put a few tries on in the second half which could be enough to get a win.
Last meeting: Round 25 2024 - Rabbitohs 16 Knights 36
Who to watch: The exciting diminutive fullback Jye Gray has been Souths best attacking weapon this year and will undoubtedly be popping up everywhere in the middle looking for an offload, or on the edges when closer to the Knights line, looking for a gap to sneak through. Peter Mamouzelos has also been playing well in the hooking role, keeping his forwards on the front foot, while providing plenty of spark in attack and proving to be reliable in defence.
For the Knights, Greg Marzhew has been the Knights most productive and dangerous ball runner, while his fellow winger James Schiller has been the clubs most prolific tryscorer. The wingers have scored 6 of the Knights 14 tries this year. If the team could find a way to utilize both of the more closer to the line, they could probably start getting the scoreboard attendant to do something.
Favourite: Souths are the favourite for this one and their recent dominance in the head-to-head (Souths have won 12 of their last 16 games against the Knights) suggests it's a fair call too.
My tip: My head wants to say a boring, agonising, draw. But I'll go with a Knights win by 2 points.
