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Rabbitohs v Sea Eagles: Tass, Havili come in; Schuster returns

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With both sides coming off losses there's plenty of added spice in a contest that always brings out the best in the Rabbitohs and Sea Eagles.

The last time they locked horns it was the Rabbitohs ending Manly's 2021 season with a comprehensive 36-16 preliminary final victory but much has changed at Redfern since late September.

The departures of supercoach Wayne Bennett, premiership-winning halfback Adam Reynolds and rep centre Dane Gagai have taken some adjustment and Latrell Mitchell's injury has left them without their most dangerous attacking weapon.

The Sea Eagles are also making do without their own champion fullback in Tom Trbojevic and are coming off a rollercoaster round seven clash with Cronulla which saw them blown away in the first half before fighting back in the second term to restore respectability.

Sportsbet Betting preview: Rabbitohs v Sea Eagles

The Rundown

Team news

Rabbitohs: Shaquai Mitchell will make his NRL debut after he was added to the bench an hour before kick-off along with Jaxson Paulo.  

Trent Peoples drops back to 18th man and Liam Knight is also out.

Taane Milne's suspension paves the way for Isaiah Tass to come into the centres for his second NRL game. Jacob Host is out with a shoulder injury so Siliva Havili joins the bench. 

Sea Eagles: A huge boost an hour before kick-off with Josh Schuster coming into the team for his first game of the season. Toafofoa Sipley has also been promoted to the starting side with Martin Taupau and Ethan Bullemor going back to the bench. Kurt de Luis drops to 18th man.

Sean Keppie (head knock) returns but Haumole Olakau'atu (suspension) and Taniela Paseka (knee) are out so Ben Trbojevic comes in.

In the backline, Tolutau Koula comes into the starting side at centre with Morgan Harper left out. 

Team Lists

Backs

  • Fullback for Rabbitohs is number 1 Blake Taaffe
    Fullback for Sea Eagles is number 1 Reuben Garrick
  • Winger for Rabbitohs is number 2 Alex Johnston
    Winger for Sea Eagles is number 2 Jason Saab
  • Centre for Rabbitohs is number 3 Isaiah Tass
    Centre for Sea Eagles is number 3 Brad Parker
  • Centre for Rabbitohs is number 4 Campbell Graham
    Centre for Sea Eagles is number 4 Tolutau Koula
  • Winger for Rabbitohs is number 5 Josh Mansour
    Winger for Sea Eagles is number 5 Christian Tuipulotu
  • Five-Eighth for Rabbitohs is number 6 Cody Walker
    Five-Eighth for Sea Eagles is number 6 Kieran Foran
  • Halfback for Rabbitohs is number 7 Lachlan Ilias
    Halfback for Sea Eagles is number 7 Daly Cherry-Evans

Forwards

  • Prop for Rabbitohs is number 8 Tevita Tatola
    Prop for Sea Eagles is number 8 Sean Keppie
  • Hooker for Rabbitohs is number 9 Damien Cook
    Hooker for Sea Eagles is number 9 Lachlan Croker
  • Prop for Rabbitohs is number 10 Thomas Burgess
    Prop for Sea Eagles is number 17 Toafofoa Sipley
  • 2nd Row for Rabbitohs is number 11 Keaon Koloamatangi
    2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 11 Karl Lawton
  • 2nd Row for Rabbitohs is number 12 Jai Arrow
    2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 22 Joshua Schuster
  • Lock for Rabbitohs is number 13 Cameron Murray
    Lock for Sea Eagles is number 13 Jake Trbojevic

Interchange

  • Interchange for Rabbitohs is number 14 Siliva Havili
    Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 10 Martin Taupau
  • Interchange for Rabbitohs is number 16 Davvy Moale
    Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 12 Ethan Bullemor
  • Interchange for Rabbitohs is number 19 Jaxson Paulo
    Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 14 Dylan Walker
  • Interchange for Rabbitohs is number 24 Shaquai Mitchell
    Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 15 Ben Trbojevic

Reserves

  • Replacement for Rabbitohs is number 18 Trent Peoples
    Replacement for Sea Eagles is number 16 Kurt De Luis

Match Officials

  • Referee: Grant Atkins
  • Touch Judge: Chris Sutton
  • Touch Judge: Wyatt Raymond
  • Senior Review Official: Chris Butler

Last updated:

Key match-up

Cody Walker v Kieran Foran: Two men who know what it takes to win big games and know how to seize the moment when it presents itself. Walker's partnership with youngster Lachlan Ilias is starting to gel and a breakout attacking night could be just around the corner. Foran is making the most of an injury-free run and has played a leading role in Manly's four victories this season. Both No.6s have the ability to bust the line from close range and to lift their team with an inspirational play.

Stat attack

Rival hookers Damien Cook and Lachlan Croker are among the NRL's most reliable defenders in the middle of the ruck. Cook has chalked up 342 tackles this season at 97.2% efficiency while Croker's tally stands at 288 tackles at 92.6% efficiency. In last week's narrow loss to the Tigers, Cook made an astonishing 63 tackles with just a single miss. Croker made 42 against the Sharks and missed only two. 

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