South Sydney Rabbitohs v Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
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11 hours ago | Sam Bourke
South Sydney v Canterbury preview
The South Sydney Rabbitohs host the Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs on Sunday night, at Cbus Super Stadum on the Gold Coast, of course, as the NRL season takes a COVID-forced bizarre turn.
Souths, without their Origin stars last weekend, overcame a slow start to absolutely trample the North Queensland Cowboys, turning a 12-2 deficit into a comfortable 46-18 win, up in Newcastle (of course).
The Bulldogs showed some real signs of life against the Sydney Roosters, however still fell 22-16, with the shock revelation that a high completion rate (83%) would lead to competitiveness. In this case, it was Easts explosive start to the game that proved the difference in the end.
In team news, the Rabbitohs have named their Origin stars (Latrell Mitchell, Cameron Murray, Damien Cook and Dane Gagai) to return, with the Sunday night fixture giving them every possible chance of taking their place in the lineup as they look to bring up their sixth win in a row.
Blake Taafe, Braidon Burns, Peter Mamouzelos, Jed Cartwright, Jaxson Paulo and Josh Mansour wait patiently on the extended bench in the event they will be required.
The Bulldogs have kept mostly the same lineup from last week, with a few cosmetic changes. Ava Seumanufagai returns from suspension on the bench, replacing Ofahiki Ogden.
Last week's administrative bungle has been corrected at the team list this week (Stimson bench, Atoni to start), so let's hope they all start as per the final team sheet. Jayden Okunbur has been named on the extended bench, as he returns from what has seemed like the longest injury of all time.
Last time these clubs met was in Round 4, when the world was a very different place. Souths ran out 38-0 winners in front of 23,000 people at Stadium Australia, with Cody Walker and Adam Reynolds ripping the Bulldogs to shreds.
Last meeting: Round 4 2021 - Bulldogs 0 Rabbitohs 38
Who to watch: For the Bulldogs, it's the curious case of Lachlan Lewis. He had possibly his best game for the Dogs last weekend against Easts, with this one performance in a losing team leading some fans into starting a petition to keep him, in another example of how the mighty have fallen. Regardless, for the Bulldogs to be in this game, he'll have to fire again
For the Rabbitohs, i'll be watching Taane Milne. The winger ran in a comfortable hat trick last week. Add in the Origin contingent to that Souths backline, and you have one explosive team.
The favourite: At the time of writing, Souths were $1.05 favourites, with the Bulldogs retuning $10 for your hard earned dollar.
My tip: This is where I ususally be really sarcastic and suggest Souths by 50, which might still happen. However, it is now bizzaro COVID-times, and an upset would not surprise in these conditions. Still... South Sydney to win.
20. Blake Taaffe 2. Alex Johnston 3. Dane Gagai 4. Campbell Graham 5. Taane Milne 6. Cody Walker 7. Adam Reynolds 8. Mark Nicholls 9. Damien Cook 10. Thomas Burgess 11. Keaon Koloamatangi 12. Jaydn Su'A 13. Cameron Murray 15. Liam Knight 16. Patrick Mago 17. Jacob Host 18. Braidon Burns 21. Peter Mamouzelos
1. Nick Meaney 2. Corey Allan 3. Will Hopoate 4. Aaron Schoupp 23. Jayden Okunbor 6. Lachlan Lewis 7. Jake Averillo 8. Jack Hetherington 9. Sione Katoa 10. Luke Thompson 11. Corey Waddell 21. Matt Doorey 12. Josh Jackson 14. Bailey Biondi-Odo 15. Dylan Napa 16. Ava Seumanufagai 20. Ofahiki Ogden 5. Falakiko Manu
Referees: Ben Cummins; Sideline Officials: Matt Noyen, Drew Oultram; Video Referees: Henry Perenara;