Neds Match Preview: Round 15
Wests Tigers will look to make it back-to-back wins tonight as they face South Sydney Rabbitohs at Bankwest Stadium.
Following a thrilling victory against North Queensland Cowboys in Round 14, Michael Maguire's side will head in to tonight's game well rested over the Representative Round and determined to put their best foot forward once more.
Despite recent defeats at Bankwest Stadium, Maguire's men will no doubt be determined to deliver a good performance at the state-of-the-art venue as they begin a run of three consecutive home games against three Sydney rivals.
Boosted by the inclusion of all eight of its representative players, Wests Tigers will field a similar lineup to the one that got the job done in North Queensland with the newly-resigned Corey Thompson retaining his spot at fullback.
Esan Marsters, Benji Marshall, David Nofoaluma and Robbie Farah have all been named after their respective international commitments, with the only change to the side that of Ben Matulino, who misses out after picking up a knee injury last week.
His omission sees Elijah Taylor add some extra experience to the bench, with the forward returning for his first NRL game since Round 8 — rounding out the interchange list with Jacob Liddle, Thomas Mikaele and Michael Chee Kam.
Final training session at Bankwest Stadium
The visitors head in to tonight's game with an unusual run of form following a blistering start to the season that saw them sit on top of the table with a 10-1 record after their victory over Wests Tigers in Round 11. However, since then, the Rabbitohs have recorded three consecutive defeats with injuries and State of Origin selections disrupting the momentum Wayne Bennett's side had previously built, and they'll no doubt be determined to ensure their mid-season slump is corrected soon.
South Sydney have been boosted by the return of several key players with Adam Reynolds (back), Braidon Burns (hamstring) and George Burgess (illness) named.
Their inclusions see Kyle Turner and Junior Tatola drop back to the bench, while Damien Cook, Cameron Murray and Dane Gagai will all back up from their State of Origin commitments. Alex Johnston was a late withdrawl on Wednesday night with Corey Allan shifting to fullback in place of the injured number one.
MATCH DETAILS
Date — Thursday, June 27, 2019
Time — 7:50pm AEST
Venue — Bankwest Stadium
TV, RADIO AND LIVE STREAM INFORMATION
TV — Live via Channel 9 and FOX League (Ch.502)
Radio — AM 702 ABC Grandstand and AM 873 2GB
Live Stream — Foxtel Go, KAYO, NRL Digital Pass, 9NOW and Watch NRL (int.)
LATEST TEAM NEWS
Wests Tigers: Chris Lawrence moves in to the run-on after returning from injury via the bench, while Ben Matulino is out injured. Corey Thompson starts at fullback while Moses Mbye shifts to the centres, having been passed fit by the club's medical staff following an allergic reaction in Queensland camp. Josh Aloiai was a late withdrawal on game day after falling ill and is replaced in the squad by Oliver Clark.
South Sydney Rabbitohs: Adam Reynolds will make his return from injury along with centre Braidon Burns. Origin representatives Damien Cook, Cameron Murray and Dane Gagai have all been named in the side. Sam Burgess and Alex Johnston won't play after being omitted from the squad 24 hours before kickoff.
Match: Wests Tigers v Rabbitohs
Round 15 -
home Team
Wests Tigers
away Team
Rabbitohs
Team Lists
Backs
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Fullback for Wests Tigers is number 1 Corey ThompsonFullback for Rabbitohs is number 18 Corey Allan
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Winger for Wests Tigers is number 2 Robert JenningsWinger for Rabbitohs is number 2 Dane Gagai
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Centre for Wests Tigers is number 3 Moses MbyeCentre for Rabbitohs is number 3 James Roberts
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Centre for Wests Tigers is number 4 Esan MarstersCentre for Rabbitohs is number 4 Braidon Burns
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Winger for Wests Tigers is number 5 David NofoalumaWinger for Rabbitohs is number 5 Campbell Graham
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Five-Eighth for Wests Tigers is number 6 Benji MarshallFive-Eighth for Rabbitohs is number 6 Cody Walker
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Halfback for Wests Tigers is number 7 Luke BrooksHalfback for Rabbitohs is number 7 Adam Reynolds
Forwards
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Prop for Wests Tigers is number 10 Alex TwalProp for Rabbitohs is number 8 George Burgess
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Hooker for Wests Tigers is number 9 Robbie FarahHooker for Rabbitohs is number 9 Damien Cook
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Prop for Wests Tigers is number 21 Oliver ClarkProp for Rabbitohs is number 10 Liam Knight
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2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 11 Ryan Matterson2nd Row for Rabbitohs is number 11 John Sutton
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2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 12 Chris Lawrence2nd Row for Rabbitohs is number 12 Ethan Lowe
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Lock for Wests Tigers is number 13 Matthew EisenhuthLock for Rabbitohs is number 13 Cameron Murray
Interchange
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Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 14 Jacob LiddleInterchange for Rabbitohs is number 14 Tevita Tatola
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Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 15 Thomas MikaeleInterchange for Rabbitohs is number 15 Mark Nicholls
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Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 16 Elijah TaylorInterchange for Rabbitohs is number 16 Dean Britt
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Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 17 Michael Chee KamInterchange for Rabbitohs is number 17 Kyle Turner
Match Officials
- Referee: Adam Gee
- Referee: Gavin Badger
- Touch Judge: Nick Morel
- Touch Judge: Chris Sutton
- Senior Review Official: Steve Chiddy
Last updated:
LATEST NEDS ODDS
H2H — Wests Tigers ($2.60), South Sydney Rabbitohs ($1.48)
Line — Wests Tigers +6.5 ($1.80), South Sydney Rabbitohs -6.5 ($2.00)
Odds correct on Thursday, June 27 — 18+ only and gamble responsibly
HEAD-TO-HEAD
Overall — Played 33, South Sydney Rabbitohs 18, Wests Tigers 15
At Bankwest Stadium — Tonight's fixture is the first meeting at Bankwest Stadium
Last Time They Met — South Sydney Rabbitohs 32 def. Wests Tigers 16 (Rd.11)
MATCH OFFICIALS
Match Referees — Adam Gee and Gavin Badger
Touch Judges — Nick Morel and Chris Sutton
Review Officials — Bryan Norrie and Steve Chiddy
NRL.com preview Rabbitohs clash
