Newcastle will be hoping to hop off their 2020 roller-coaster when they travel to Bankwest Stadium to take on a much more consistent Rabbitohs outfit.
The Knights have alternated wins and losses since drawing with Penrith when the competition resumed in round three while Souths have won four of five, including their past two, to sit just one point behind fifth-placed Newcastle.
A string of injuries and a recent emphasis on shoring up their defensive structures at training has seen Newcastle's attack splutter, the Knights putting just 18 points on the board in their two most recent outings.
The Rabbitohs are unbeaten in "home" games this season, winning for from four, while Newcastle are three and one on the road despite their recent struggles.
Match: Rabbitohs v Knights
Round 10 -
home Team
Rabbitohs
8th Position
away Team
Knights
4th Position
Venue: CommBank Stadium, Sydney
The Rundown
Team news
Rabbitohs: Prop Mark Nicholls is free to take his bench position after successfully challenging the grading of a dangerous contact charge at the judiciary on Tuesday.
Fullback Latrell Mitchell (suspension), centre Campbell Graham (facial fracture) and forward Liam Knight (ankle) are out, with Alex Johnston switching to fullback, Dane Gagai moving to centre and a new wing pairing called up in Corey Allan and debutant Jaxson Paulo. The Rabbitohs have won nine of their past 10 games against the Knights.
Steven Marsters and Cory Denniss were omitted from the reserves 24 hours before kick-off and Jack Johns and Kurt Dillion were cut on game day.
Knights: Jacob Saifiti starts at prop for his injured twin Daniel (knee). Connor Watson (ankle), Mitch Barnett (neck) and Sione Mata'utia (head knock) all return on the bench with Tex Hoy and Brodie Jones making way. The Knights have conceded their fewest number of tries after nine rounds since 2002.
Josh King and Phoenix Crossland were trimmed from the extended squad an hour before kick-off after Hoy and Gehamat Shibasaki were omitted on Friday.
Match: Rabbitohs v Knights
Round 10 -
home Team
Rabbitohs
away Team
Knights
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Rabbitohs is number 1 Alex JohnstonFullback for Knights is number 1 Kalyn Ponga
-
Winger for Rabbitohs is number 2 Jaxson PauloWinger for Knights is number 2 Enari Tuala
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Centre for Rabbitohs is number 3 James RobertsCentre for Knights is number 3 Tautau Moga
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Centre for Rabbitohs is number 4 Dane GagaiCentre for Knights is number 4 Bradman Best
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Winger for Rabbitohs is number 5 Corey AllanWinger for Knights is number 5 Hymel Hunt
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Five-Eighth for Rabbitohs is number 6 Cody WalkerFive-Eighth for Knights is number 6 Kurt Mann
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Halfback for Rabbitohs is number 7 Adam ReynoldsHalfback for Knights is number 7 Mitchell Pearce
Forwards
-
Prop for Rabbitohs is number 8 Tevita TatolaProp for Knights is number 8 David Klemmer
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Hooker for Rabbitohs is number 9 Damien CookHooker for Knights is number 9 Andrew McCullough
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Prop for Rabbitohs is number 10 Thomas BurgessProp for Knights is number 10 Jacob Saifiti
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2nd Row for Rabbitohs is number 11 Jaydn Su'a2nd Row for Knights is number 11 Lachlan Fitzgibbon
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2nd Row for Rabbitohs is number 12 Ethan Lowe2nd Row for Knights is number 12 Aidan Guerra
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Lock for Rabbitohs is number 13 Cameron MurrayLock for Knights is number 13 Herman Ese'ese
Interchange
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Interchange for Rabbitohs is number 14 Mark NichollsInterchange for Knights is number 14 Connor Watson
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Interchange for Rabbitohs is number 15 Hame SeleInterchange for Knights is number 15 Mitchell Barnett
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Interchange for Rabbitohs is number 16 Bayley SironenInterchange for Knights is number 16 Pasami Saulo
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Interchange for Rabbitohs is number 17 Patrick MagoInterchange for Knights is number 17 Sione Mata'utia
Match Officials
- Referee: Grant Atkins
- Touch Judge: Chris Butler
- Touch Judge: Todd Smith
Last updated:
Key match-up
Damien Cook v Andrew McCullough: Origin hooker Cook is slowly increasing in influence as the Rabbitohs refine their ruck tactics under the new rules while McCullough is settling nicely into his new home at Newcastle after a mid-season transfer with burrowing tries in his past two games.
Whichever veteran can provide the most spark from dummy-half will go a long way towards giving their team the upper hand.
Stat Attack
The Rabbitohs lead the 2020 premiership in intercepts, snagging opponents' passes on eight occasions (a rate of just under one a game) which is almost double the second-placed Bulldogs and Storm (five). The Knights, in contrast, sit a lowly 13th in that category with just two interceptions.
