Wests Tigers will feel like the weight of the world has been lifted off their shoulders after they dug deep to down the Eels and break a five-game losing streak.
The move of Jackson Hastings to halfback and Luke Brooks to No.6 proved a masterstroke by Michael Maguire and the confidence flowing through those two players is sure to rub off on their team-mates.
CommBank Stadium will feel very comfortable indeed for Wests Tigers after their Easter Monday heroics but they'll need to be at their best defensively to contain a Rabbitohs side brimming with attacking threats.
From Lachlan Ilias and Cody Walker in the halves to Damien Cook out of dummy half and Cam Murray's elite ball-playing, the Bunnies can hurt an opponent any number of ways as they showed on Good Friday.
Sportsbet Betting preview: Wests Tigers v Rabbitohs
The Rundown
Team news
Wests Tigers: Alex Seyfarth has been called into the starting line-up in place of second-rower Kelma Tuilagi, with English centre Oliver Gildart joining the bench in the team named 60 minutes before kick-off. Jake Simpkin has failed to recover from an ankle injury suffered against the Eels so Jacob Liddle is the new hooker. James Roberts is also out, replaced in the centres by Luke Garner.
Rabbitohs: No late changes when the teams were finalised 60 minutes before kick-off. Davvy Moale has been recalled on the bench with Isaiah Tass going back to the reserves after debuting last week. Hame Sele has been named to start at prop with Tom Burgess on the bench. Tass is 18th man.
Match: Wests Tigers v Rabbitohs
Round 7 -
home Team
Wests Tigers
away Team
Rabbitohs
Team Lists
Backs
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Fullback for Wests Tigers is number 1 Daine LaurieFullback for Rabbitohs is number 1 Blake Taaffe
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Winger for Wests Tigers is number 2 David NofoalumaWinger for Rabbitohs is number 2 Alex Johnston
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Centre for Wests Tigers is number 4 Starford To'aCentre for Rabbitohs is number 3 Taane Milne
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Centre for Wests Tigers is number 17 Luke GarnerCentre for Rabbitohs is number 4 Campbell Graham
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Winger for Wests Tigers is number 5 Ken MaumaloWinger for Rabbitohs is number 5 Josh Mansour
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Five-Eighth for Wests Tigers is number 6 Luke BrooksFive-Eighth for Rabbitohs is number 6 Cody Walker
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Halfback for Wests Tigers is number 7 Jackson HastingsHalfback for Rabbitohs is number 7 Lachlan Ilias
Forwards
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Prop for Wests Tigers is number 8 James TamouProp for Rabbitohs is number 8 Tevita Tatola
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Hooker for Wests Tigers is number 19 Jacob LiddleHooker for Rabbitohs is number 9 Damien Cook
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Prop for Wests Tigers is number 10 Zane MusgroveProp for Rabbitohs is number 10 Hame Sele
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2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 12 Luciano Leilua2nd Row for Rabbitohs is number 11 Keaon Koloamatangi
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2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 18 Alex Seyfarth2nd Row for Rabbitohs is number 12 Jai Arrow
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Lock for Wests Tigers is number 13 Joe OfahengaueLock for Rabbitohs is number 13 Cameron Murray
Interchange
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Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 14 Jock MaddenInterchange for Rabbitohs is number 14 Thomas Burgess
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Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 15 Alex TwalInterchange for Rabbitohs is number 15 Jacob Host
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Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 16 Thomas MikaeleInterchange for Rabbitohs is number 16 Davvy Moale
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Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 20 Oliver GildartInterchange for Rabbitohs is number 17 Liam Knight
Reserves
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Replacement for Wests Tigers is number 21 Tyrone PeacheyReplacement for Rabbitohs is number 19 Isaiah Tass
Match Officials
- Referee: Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski
- Touch Judge: Jon Stone
- Touch Judge: Dave Munro
- Senior Review Official: Adam Gee
Last updated:
Key match-up
Luke Brooks v Cody Walker: Rejuvenated by his move to five-eighth, Brooks looked a new man against the Eels, racking up two try assists, two line break assists and making 30 tackles. With more room to move, Brooks was dangerous every time he touched the ball, much like the man he confronts this week in the Rabbitohs No.6 jersey. Walker has also had his share of critics to start the season but against the Bulldogs he ran the ball 11 times, laid on a try and had a couple of tackle busts and the red and green machine clicked into gear with six tries, the most they have scored in any game this season.
Stat attack
After six rounds the Rabbitohs and Wests Tigers sit first and second for errors, which won't please either coach. Jason Demetriou's men have committed 83 errors at an average of 14 per game while Michael Maguire's side has racked up 78 errors at 13 per game. Apart from banking two competition points another big positive for the Wests Tigers in round six was the fact they made just eight errors in a frenetic 80 minutes at CommBank Stadium.
Match: Wests Tigers v Rabbitohs
Round 7 -
home Team
Wests Tigers
13th Position
away Team
Rabbitohs
8th Position
Venue: CommBank Stadium, Sydney
