Things are getting desperate for the Warriors when it comes to them featuring in the finals.
Not only are they four points adrift of the top eight with seven games remaining, there are six teams between them and eighth spot. Another loss this week could just about end their hopes of playing beyond round 25.
There are no such problems of that nature for the Rabbitohs. They would need to lose three of their final seven matches to have any chance of missing a top-four finish.
The minor premiership is still in the equation for Wayne Bennett's side.
Match: Rabbitohs v Warriors
Round 19 -
home Team
Rabbitohs
3rd Position
away Team
Warriors
14th Position
Venue: Sunshine Coast Stadium, Sunshine Coast
The rundown
Team news
Rabbitohs: Campbell Graham has been ruled out (concussion protocols) with Taane Milne elevated to the starting side at centre and Braidon Burns the new face on the interchange.
Milne has shifted to the interchange with Jaxson Paulo and Josh Mansour earning recalls on the edges with Alex Johnston sidelines with a hamstring injury.
Latrell Mitchell returns at fullback following a post-Origin III rest by coach Wayne Bennett.
Jai Arrow returns on the bench after serving a suspension for a breach of COVID protocols while in Maroons camp.
Blake Taaffe is the 18th man. Jed Cartwright was trimmed from the extended bench an hour before kick-off, after Dean Hawkins was culled from the reserves on Friday.
Rabbitohs five-eighth Cody Walker has scored eight tries in his past six games against the Warriors.
Warriors: Kodi Nikorima returns to the starting side at five-eighth with Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (concussion) sidelined.
Adam Pompey comes into the centres in place of Rocco Berry (hamstring) while Jazz Tevaga takes over at hooker for Wayde Egan (shoulder). Bunty Afoa and Taniela Otukolo are the new faces on the bench.
Edward Kosi is 18th man, with Kane Evans dropping off the reserves list on game day. Reserve forward Ben Murdoch-Masilia and utility Sean O'Sullivan dropped out of the extended squad 24 hours before kick-off.
Match: Rabbitohs v Warriors
Round 19 -
home Team
Rabbitohs
away Team
Warriors
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Rabbitohs is number 1 Latrell MitchellFullback for Warriors is number 1 Reece Walsh
-
Winger for Rabbitohs is number 2 Josh MansourWinger for Warriors is number 2 Dallin Watene-Zelezniak
-
Centre for Rabbitohs is number 3 Dane GagaiCentre for Warriors is number 3 Adam Pompey
-
Centre for Rabbitohs is number 14 Taane MilneCentre for Warriors is number 4 Euan Aitken
-
Winger for Rabbitohs is number 5 Jaxson PauloWinger for Warriors is number 5 Marcelo Montoya
-
Five-Eighth for Rabbitohs is number 6 Cody WalkerFive-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Kodi Nikorima
-
Halfback for Rabbitohs is number 7 Adam ReynoldsHalfback for Warriors is number 7 Chad Townsend
Forwards
-
Prop for Rabbitohs is number 8 Mark NichollsProp for Warriors is number 8 Addin Fonua-Blake
-
Hooker for Rabbitohs is number 9 Damien CookHooker for Warriors is number 9 Jazz Tevaga
-
Prop for Rabbitohs is number 10 Thomas BurgessProp for Warriors is number 10 Matthew Lodge
-
2nd Row for Rabbitohs is number 11 Keaon Koloamatangi2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Jack Murchie
-
2nd Row for Rabbitohs is number 12 Jaydn Su'A2nd Row for Warriors is number 12 Bayley Sironen
-
Lock for Rabbitohs is number 13 Cameron MurrayLock for Warriors is number 13 Josh Curran
Interchange
-
Interchange for Rabbitohs is number 15 Jacob HostInterchange for Warriors is number 14 Taniela Otukolo
-
Interchange for Rabbitohs is number 16 Patrick MagoInterchange for Warriors is number 15 Eliesa Katoa
-
Interchange for Rabbitohs is number 17 Jai ArrowInterchange for Warriors is number 16 Bunty Afoa
-
Interchange for Rabbitohs is number 18 Braidon BurnsInterchange for Warriors is number 17 Leeson Ah Mau
Reserves
-
Reserve for Rabbitohs is number 20 Blake TaaffeReserve for Warriors is number 20 Edward Kosi
Match Officials
- Referee: Chris Butler
- Touch Judge: Drew Oultram
- Touch Judge: Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski
- Senior Review Official: Grant Atkins
Last updated:
Key match-up
Adam Reynolds v Chad Townsend: Both men will be wearing different colours in 2022, but right now their focus remains on maximising the results of their respective sides this season.
It will be sad to see Reynolds walk off the field in Rabbitohs colours for the last time, but for Townsend, his half-season at the Warriors carry nowhere near as much sentimentality.
Stat attack
Addin Fonua-Blake arrived at the Warriors as one of the prized recruits of 2021. A knee injury meant a lengthy stint on the sidelines, but last weekend he showed just why the Warriors were so keen to sign him.
He ran for a momentous 257m, with 123 of those coming after contact. He also had a tackle efficiency rate of 94 per cent.
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